A/N: I suck at updates. Sorry. I'm old now.

Disclaimer: Maturity has given me the knowledge that it will never be mine. Mid-life crisis is making me still play with the characters.

Rude continued to run his fingers through her sweaty hair as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Come on," he said, placing his sunglasses back on his face. He stood and held a hand out to help her to her feet. "I'll drive you home."

Kandi flinched at that. Rude tried to extract his hand from her grasp, thinking it was the continued contact that caused her reaction. He was confused when she tightened her grip. "I can't go home," she whispered. "It's still too full of Zack there."

Nodding in understanding, he began removing the tape from her hands and wrists. "Can't stay in your office," he rumbled, starting slightly when one of her hands reached up and removed his sunglasses again. He smirked as she blushed and put them on her head, holding her hair back.

"Sorry," she said, glancing up at him. "I just like seeing your eyes."

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed one bruised knuckle. "I don't mind," he answered, continuing with his task, rolling the discarded tape into a ball. "I could take you to Reno's."

"Fuck Reno," she grumbled, flexing her abused fingers.

Rude chuckled slightly. "Valid point," he replied.

Kandi looked up at him. "He told you what happened?"

"Yeah," he affirmed. He knocked her chin gently. "He's a fucking asshat; but he does love you."

"Yeah, right," she snorted, taking the tape ball from him and chucking it into the trash can. "Loves my tits and ass."

"Nope," the bald man said. "Trust me. I know him on a whole different level. You don't want to continue that relationship with him because it reminds you of what you lost."

"Right, and if he can't understand th-"

"Reno wants to continue that relationship with you because it reminds him of what he lost," Rude continued. Large, red-rimmed brown eyes stared into his own. "It keeps them alive in his head."

Kandi's head dropped a little. "Oh," she said softly. "I just can't do that, though."

"Understandable," he nodded, taking his sunglasses back. When she protested, he tucked them into his jacket pocket. She gave him a small smile. "Reno will respect that. He doesn't want to lose you. So, if that means being friends with you, a hot chick, and not fucking you regularly, he'll deal with it. If not, you've got a hell of a right hook, and you can knock his ass out."

She laughed and grabbed his hand as they began walking across the gym. "You'll cover for me?"

"Anytime."

Rude waited as she finished showering and changing, texting Reno that he'd found the trainee and that she was fine. He rolled his eyes when his phone rang, the red head's name flashing across his screen.

"…you realize texting is an acceptable form of communication, correct?"

A pause, then, "Dude, did you lose your sunglasses?! What's with the stream of words?"

"They're in my pocket," he replied. "Kandi took them off."

A snicker. "What else did she take off?"

"Can you not, you fucking dick?"

"Shiva, fine," Reno grumbled. Seriousness returned to his voice. "She's really okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine," Rude replied, leaning back in his seat. "She doesn't want to go back to her apartment. Too much of Zack there, she says."

"Bring her ass here, then," Reno offered. "Swear down, Buddy, I won't try anything with her. She can have the bed; I'll crash on the couch. If she wants to cuddle up, fine. No funny business, I promise."

"Already offered that and she turned it down," Rude explained. "You seriously fucked up, Red."

"I know, I know," the red head groaned. "I have got to start thinking with my other head with her. I can't lose that girl, Partner. She means the world to me."

"That part of your relationship is over. You do realize that, right?"

"I'd be lying if I said I won't miss it, but I'd rather have that part gone than all of it," Reno told him. "You're getting to know her, Man. She is wicked cool, funny, smart as fuck, sexy as hell…just overall one of the coolest people I know. I can't not have her in my life, even as just a platonic friend. I'll still ogle her though. Can't help that."

Rude chuckled. "I think she'd be okay with that," he said. "I've got to figure out a place for her to stay."

"You could take her home with you."

"And you could detonate a bomb up your ass."

"Harsh, Partner," the red head chuckled. "Give her the guest room."

Rude arched an eyebrow. "That could work," he said. He heard her heels coming from the locker room. "She's back. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Take care of her, Buddy."

"I will," he answered before sliding his phone closed. He stood when Kandi walked over to him, running her fingers through her freshly washed and dried hair. "Better?"

"Yeah," she said with a smile.

"Good," he answered, returning the smile. He hesitated for a moment before making his offer. "Listen. If you want it, I have a guest room at my place. You are more than welcome to use that for as long as you need."

She giggled slightly, stepping forward and taking his hand. "Don't take this the wrong way, but fuck no," she told him. Rude schooled his features to keep the disappointment from showing on his face. Kandi leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I really don't want the first time I spend the night at your place to be because I've been crying over another guy; and I sure as hell don't want to stay in your guest bedroom. Don't friendzone me yet, Dude."

Rude's stomach flipped at that. He cleared his throat. "All right, then," he answered, giving her a small smile. "You're still not staying in your office. That's not healthy."

"Yes, and I must be healthy, right, oh great trainer?" She teased. They began walking, still hand in hand. "I could call Ram and see if I could stay with her and Katrina. They have an extra room that is available right now."

"Need to grab some stuff from your place first?" He asked, holding the door open for her.

She flipped out her phone and began texting the blond. "Yeah, I need to get Axel," she answered. She looked up at him. "You know, maybe I could just move in with them. They need a third roommate anyway."

"Could work," he answered. "Who's Axel?"

"My puppy."

He opened the door of his car for her. "Let's get him, then," he said. "We'll get this sorted out."

A/N: Remake and Rebirth are giving me feelings again, you guys.