"I think Tseng's Chinese, no idea why he has a bindi in the middle of his forehead" Seiji laughed drunkenly. I had never drunk before but after a few shots of vodka and a couple bottles of some beer, I seem to be doing well. I felt so warm and a bit dizzy.
"So what's your deal you guys? How do you know each other?" I slurred slightly to the group.
"Aki-chan and me met in jr high. After we graduated from high school we applied at Shinra. We met those two the same day you went boom, haha." Koji said taking another sip from his beer. Sono sipped a bit of his sake and looked at Seiji who was starting to turn green.
"Are you going to be alright Seiji?" he nodded and the conversation continued on.
"So speaking of that day you guys, who exactly saved me?" I asked leaning back in my chair.
"You don't know?" Aki asked. His face was flushed from the drinking.
"Uh no, I wouldn't be asking if I knew" I laughed. He giggled a bit.
"I'M GONNA BE SICK!" Seiji yelled getting up running to the rest room. Sono ran after him. Aki rolled his eyes.
"I want some air, we should go any way, we got to be up early tomorrow. " Aki said getting up from the table. I agreed and followed him. Koji followed after to him.
The group insisted that they walk me home. As we walked up to my apartment building their jaws dropped.
"Wow Reno you even live in the brothers boss' old apartment building?" Aki asked astounded.
"Heh, building? I stay in his old apartment yo" I laughed. The group laughed along with me.
"I can't believe you were hired, let alone by Rufus Shinra." Koji said in disbelief, trying to hold back his laughter.
"So we'll see you in the morning Reno," Sono said smiling. "You have a good night."
"G'night Reno."
"Night."
I waved to them and walked upstairs. Walking down the hall to get to my door, I pulled out my keys and opened the door and there was the same rain cloud I had left before. The hole was gone. Oh Mr. Vice President you shouldn't have you've really outdone yourself.
"Where the hell have you been!? Why did you take your stuff and leave!?" came a familiar feminine yell.
I turned around and Alex was standing in my door way in a night robe.
"How the hell did you get up the stair so quickly without me noticing?" I asked trying to keep his face in focus.
He made what looked like a face. "Seems someone was introduced to Midgar's night life."
"Just had a few drinks, nothing major yo." I walked over to a vacant area of my living room. "Where's my sofa?"
"You never had a sofa , that was at the Vice President's house." That's right, I'm home.
"Alex, I'm really tired. I'll see you tomorrow ok?"
"Alright, nite kid." He closed the door behind him and I walked over to it and locked it. I went into my bedroom and laid in the only furniture I have in the apartment. The sheets were cool on my legs and made me feel lonely. Just like Rufus I guess. But those four, seems like I won't be very lonely much longer.
Two Years Later
After fixing myself breakfast, I walked down the stairs of my apartment with a bounce in my step. Alex was leaning against the railing on his floor, sipping coffee staring into space. He was shaken out of his trance when he saw me passing him by.
"Well good morning, aren't we up early?" He said in a teasing voice.
"Yup, todays the day I get a partner, gotta be early yo." I said getting to the ground floor.
"Oh now it makes sense. Here I am thinking it's going to rain on this beautiful spring morning." He giggled. I shot a sarcastic smile and turned the corner towards the garage. Clicking the garage door open I looked at my baby once more. I had just bought a brand new red corvette and it brought me joy every time I looked at it. I wasn't doing much as a turk but the pay is so freakin' unnecessary, just the way I liked it.
"Morning Reno." I looked and say Koji walking behind me.
"You're here early too huh?" I asked him as he walked along side of me.
"Yup, hoping to get a shot at Aki's partner."
"They would never split you two apart."
"You don't know that though, I hear they're mixing us together with those "elite turks".
"You mean the turks that weren't in our group, the ones who take their jobs waaaaaay too seriously?" I chuckled at the thought.
"The very same."
"Well I hope all goes well yo"
"me too."
"Hi good morning you two."Sono said greeting us at the elevator. "I guess we all had the same idea." We stepped into the elevator. "I'm just so eager to find out, this is the person who you'll be working with for the rest of your career here. I guess it's not that important to Seiji…" Sono trailed off looking down at his shoes. Koji and I said nothing. It was obvious that Sono and Seiji liked each other, almost as obvious as Alex and Chance. When the elevator opened we say Seiji waiting there smiling brightly.
"What is it Seiji?"Sono asked bewildered.
"We're partners!"He said excitedly, grabbing Sono and kissing him. Koji and I walked past the still kissing partners and made are way to the training room. Aki walked out the room before I got a chance to slide my card.
"Reno, hey."
"Hey did you see?"
"Yeah, I got Koji as expected, turks always get pair based on their bonds weather Shinra wants to admit or not." How could that be true if everyone I know already knew had a partner? Unless they stuck me with Tseng… kill me now.
"Your partner is inside Reno, you can't miss him. He's the only one inside."Aki said.
"It isn't Tseng is it?"
"Hell no!" He laughed.
I slid my card and saw a tall man with semi dark skin's back facing me. I walked from behind him and tapped on his shoulder. He turned around revealing a bald head and sunglasses.
"Hey I think we're partners."I said simply. He stared at me emotionlessly, nodded and walked out.
"Nice meeting you too!" I called out.
"Your partners not much of a people person huh?" Koji asked meeting me at the door.
"humph." I said rolling my eyes. Aki stared at the couple still in a lip lock, Seiji had Sono pinned against the wall.
"Will you to knock it off? We are at work if you know." You could hear the annoyance Aki's voice. "We do have a meeting to get to." Sono and Seiji broke apart and wiped their mouths..
"What is this going to be for? "I asked Aki as we walked down the hall to the assembly.
"Trust exercise." Aki said trailing off. I couldn't even trust my new partner to say a word to me so far.
When we arrived in the room, it was filled with turks I have never even seen before. On the stage walked in Tseng.
"Attention newly partnered up turks, the point of a partnership is so you have a greater chance at completely the missions you are assigned. With two of you on site of a mission, if one fails to carry their own weight, the other can pick up the slack. Your job as a partner is to know how your partner ticks, know their likes and dislikes, what they are capable of. Normally we perform trust exercises to make sure the ground is covered however, Alex Marshall the director of the education program has an idea for a new method." Tsueg finished and stepped to the side. Alex came on stage, boots clacking against the stage floor. A few laughs were audio at the very feminine man. He didn't seem to let it bother him though.
"The other method has been proved effective. However I have come up with a method to increase the chances of getting to know your new partner. For a course of eight months you will live with your partner. The home that will be hosting is the senior to the company. If you and your partner were hired the same time, then it will depend alphabetically." The crowd made groaning and hissing sounds at Alex's proposal and I personally wasn't a fan of it either.
"All of you of course will receive a bonus for your corporations." Alex added. The assembly fell silent. Alex nodded and walked off. Tsueg walked back up to the mic. "You are you to start as soon as possible."Tsueg said walking off of the stage. The turks stood up walking out with their partners. My friends remain seated. Sono and Seiji filled with so much excitement; finally they had an excuse to live with each other. Not that they needed an excuse since they pretty much almost got busy in the hall way. Koji and Aki however didn't have the same enthusiasm. Koji had this look of shock and worry and Aki didn't seem to care at all. Sono shook himself out of the dream of staring at Seiji and turned to me.
"Reno are you okay with this?" I shrugged my shoulders. I didn't really know the guy I paired up with. Not only that but he seemed to not really want to get to know me at all. The room cleared out and only the five of us remained.
"Shinra is really asking a lot out of the turks division." Aki said he's getting in his "why" phase. He always comes off like he hates the company so much. I don't know why he works here if he is so bothered by it. I catch Koji in the corner of my eye and I figured out the reason. We all stared at Aki waiting for him to rant but he didn't start.
"I'm just worried about Reno, he has to stay with a complete stranger. The rest of us lucked out but what about him?" My friends stared at me worried.
"Hey guys, it's not a problem, your forgetting I stayed with the Vice President for a while remember?"
"Yeah for a few days."Seiji corrected me. I started to say something reassuring when my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID but it was a number I didn't recognize. I answered it anyway.
"Hey, Reno right?" said a slick voice.
"Speaking, can I help you?"
"This is Rude, your partner. "The voice said identifying itself.
I chuckled. "You know, that explains so much" I joked. He ignored my humor.
"I guess we'll be staying together at my place, since I've been here longer. I'll give you the key and directions after work."
"Sounds like a plan, I hope your more open than this partner, if you have to tell me this over the phone when were in the same building it makes me kind of worried." I heard a small sigh and then a dial tone. The bastard hung up on me.
"Who was that?"Seiji asked me.
"My partner."I answered walking away. I could hear Aki complaining about Rude's lack of contact with me within the first 2 hours since the announcement.
I waited for by the elevator and the place was starting to look like a ghost town. Tseng walked into the elevator.
"Get in Reno,"
"I can't I'm waiting for my partner."
:I'm the last one here and I'm locking up so come on," I winced at the thought of my partner who doesn't even know me, ditching me the very first day. I walked in the elevator and slummed in a corner. The two of us remained silent. Tseng wasn't exactly my biggest fan. When we got to the ground the doors parted and there stood before us was Rufus Shinra.
"Reno, what are you still doing here?" The VP looked bewildered but then gave a tired smile."
"I was waiting for my new partner but it turns out he ditched me." Tseng and I stepped out of the elevator.
"I see. Tseng, meet me with the limo, I'm going to walk Reno to his car." Tseng solemly nodded and left us alone.
"I take it you're not a big fan of Alex's new method for the Turks are you?" He asked walking along side of me. "I don't mind it to be honest I just wish my partner wasn't so awkward" I admitted shoving my fist in my pants pockets. My red corvette was in view as we got closer to it. "I see. Well how about this, why don't you come over tonight for dinner and tomorrow morning I will have Veld talk to your partner and we'll get everything sorted out." I felt myself smile as I opened my car door. I haven't sat down with the Vice President in a long while and I missed it. I was about to tell him "that sounds awesome! I'll meet you there" but an envelope on my passenger's seat caught my eye. On the front of the envelope, written neatly and in the center was my name. I opened it up to find a note telling me Rude's address and a house key inside of the envelope. Rufus held my car door open and tried to get a quick peek at the note.
"Well sir, looks like I'm gonna have to take a rain check, seems my partner came through after all. He winced a little and his limo pulled up in front of my car. Tseng got out and opened the limo door for him.
"That's good news. I hope things go a little better with your partner." "Thanks sir, see you later?"
"I most certainly hope so." his smile turned into a frown as he walked back to his limo, Tseng got in after Rufus and I watched them drive away trying to imagine how showing up at Rude's place would go down as I put my key in the ignition slowly and started the car. Why was Rude going to such extreme measures to avoid having a conversation with me? I mean were partners now. How can we be expected to get the job done if he was going to keep avoid me like this?
I pulled up in front of my apartment so I could grab some things for my extended sleepover. Climbing up the stone steps a heard sharp yelps come from Alex's apartment. I froze. He sounded hurt I took caution and was about to run into my apartment and grab my gun but I inched in closer so I could hear more of what was going on. Alex's grunting came next.
"Superior you're so fucking tight." Came a gruff murmur. My eyes widen. Oh.. my ..God …ew Chance and him are actually getting it on!. I walked away quickly and unlocked my door and went to start packing in a hurry.
I arrived at Rude's place a gated apartment complex on the opposite side of town. It looked like a pretty nice neighborhood, for Midgar anyway. There wasn't much vegetation here in Midgar but Rude's place looked like there could be one day. I walked up stairs to his apartment and used the key he gave me and let myself in. He sat there on the couch in sweat pants and a wife beater, still wearing his sunglasses watching tv.
"You know I waited for you past closing" I asked him slightly irritated. He still said nothing, getting up and walking over to me and taking my bags then walking over to a hallway opening a bedroom door and setting my bags inside. I stared in disbelief He's still not talking to me.
"Know what? If you're not going to talk to me tonight, I can easily go out and find some who will." He still said nothing mouth made him appear that he was slightly shocked but he still didn't utter a word so I turned around and headed out the door.
I sat there at the bar with Koji, complaining about my day with Rude so far. He took a sip of his beer and sat it down.
"Don't sweat it, at least you showed up. Aki told me he'll meet me at my place when we got off work but he still hasn't showed up yet. I just said fuck it and came here."
I furrowed my eyebrow, that wasn't like Aki to not show up.
"Did you try calling him?" I asked
"Yeah, he picked up. Said he still was getting stuff together. Asked him if he needed help he said he was fine."
He took a shot of whiskey and looked in my direction but passed me and smiled.
"You have an admirer Reno" He laughed to himself
"Wha?" I looked around.
"Over there at the end of the bar."
I looked to me side and saw a clean cut, brunette man smiling at me
"Well that's just weird." I said taking another sip of my beer.
"It's not really that strange Reno, you're always coming here looking like that, it's amazing no one has picked you up yet?" He tried to control his laughter
"What do you mean "looking like that"? And another thing what makes you think I'm gay? I could be straight."
"With that body and that ponytail? Yeah right you know what they say about red heads." He looked up. I looked up and saw my so called, "admirer" standing in front of me.
"Buy you a drink?" he asked slyly.
"No thanks." I said coldly and taking a sip of my beer."
"Now how can you expect me to walk away when you go and tease me like that?" He said leaning on the bar next to me. Koji laughed.
"Seriously man; I'm not teasing you." I shot at him.
"I know that, that's because you're the kind of guy who likes to be teased am I right?"
Oh brother.
"Give me a chance, you come in here with your friends all the time, always the fifth wheel, why don't you give me a ride and see how you like it?" He handed me his phone number and blew a kiss as he left. As obnoxious as he was, he was telling the truth. I haven't been on a date since I left home and I was kind of lacking in the relationship department.
Koji's phone went off.
"It's Aki" He answered.
"Hey, I'm at Ramses. Well you were taking your sweet time so I came here to have a few drinks" He mouthed that he had to go and threw a couple of 20s on the counter and rushed out. I looked at the number for a second then got up and left.
I opened the door to Rude's apartment and found him asleep on the couch sitting up, arms draped along the back of the couch and sunglasses still on his eyes. I quietly closed the door behind me and turned off the TV. I looked at my new partner and I wanted to tell him to go to bed but I still didn't know him that well, so I left him perched there.