all that jazz
theme 09: the third wheel
1.
"Good morning sunshine! Don't you look fabulous today? Don't I look fabulous today?"
A sigh, an awkward shoulder roll, and: "… hello, Reno."
"Well, hello, Rude. Do you know – or have you guessed it – I'm finally out of the accursed hospital!" Flouncing, Reno melded with the scenery of lush grass, a clear blue sky and flowers floating in the air, as he threw them up, golden in morning of stupendous bliss—
"And… who's this?" Green eyes blinked wide, like an innocent bunny rabbit flopping its ears and scrunching his nose right before an eagle came and killed it; Reno curiously inspected the blushing blonde stranger. "Your girlfriend? Or my future wife?"
Flustered, the blonde woman straightened up, cheeks vermillion. "I am certainly not!"
"Whoa, chill, babe." Reno waved the anger away with a flick of his hand. "I'm just messing. Who are you?"
"I'm—" She stopped, when Rude placed his hand on her shoulder.
"She's Elena. The newest recruit." Rude explained, in a rather gentle tone.
Elena wondered if actually, being a Turk for her stoic mentor was the wrong profession, since he appeared to have such a gentle manner.
"… oh." And the change that happened was unexpected, and completely Reno. "Bye Rude."
He strutted off, his red hair shimmering in the air, determined to never acknowledge the newest recruit ever again.
Rude snorted. "… I knew he'd act like this. Freaking egoist."
Elena was understandable shaken.
2.
"Good morning star shine! Rude, hello. Cheryl, hi. Tracy, let go out sometime." Gleaming into a smile, he ignored a fellow Stranger That Must Never Be Associated With. "Tseng! Top of the morning, boss."
The Stranger That Must Never Be Associated With looked liked It was about to burst into tears.
"… Reno." Tseng stiffly greeted. "You're here early."
"Indeed. Feels like it's my lucky day today." His smile felt magnificent, even if it might not look it. Oh wait, Reno caught himself dazzled in the reflection of the mirror. His smile looked magnificent.
He was magnificent. How much better could his day get?
"You have a mission." Tseng's smile, for all its rumour to be renowned for his stiff upper lip, looked rather snarky.
"With who?"
And the world stopped.
"Elena."
Despite looking utterly crestfallen, Reno still thought his smile was magnificent considering the terrible, terrible turn of events.
3.
"I'll never believe in Lucky Days again." Reno miserably sighed, nursing a beer, and wondering if he could find the meaning of life within the bottom of the bottle. "Not if they include… it."
"Oh, be quiet, princess." Rude scowled, nothing short of amused. "The mission was a success."
"The mission was a success." Reno agreed, and then returned to his slumped posture. "It—"
"Elena." He couldn't help it, he had grown fond of the quirky girl.
"Elena, then, was a complete failure."
"And…" With the attitude of an accomplished psychiatrist, Rude sparkled his shirt to catch the attention of the pretty barmaid. "Why is this?"
"Because – not only did she save my life by acting like a complete spaz; but somehow endeared herself to me. She's cute, that girl." Reno wrinkled his nose, disproving of the emotions that he couldn't erase. "Too cute, and so easy to wind up. I can't resist teasing her."
"… she still thinks that you hate her." Rude sighed, as Elena arrived, looking strangely out of place before beaming as she recognized them, fitting into place.
"It'll be a while for Elena to realize it, but I have faith in her." Reno admitted, downing the rest of his drink.
4.
… or maybe he didn't, when Elena crashed the car due to her jitterbug nature.
Which was, incidentally, how she saved Reno; and that jitterbug nature would always continue to surprise Rude.