Peer Relationship Development

by Blood-Sucker-1428

Reno and Tseng are friends. They may not phrase it so. Reno might say their cool and Tseng might say they have a healthy working relationship. Now. They are friends now. To say Reno and Tseng started out on the wrong foot would be an understatement. To say that Reno messed up would be the best description of the scenario. The development of Reno and Tseng's working relationship.

Author's Note: Rebirth got me in all my Turk feels again. Half of this was written prior to Rebirth and then half while playing it (Just beat the Temple of the Ancients yesterday). I considered breaking this into chapters but I decided I liked it better flowing as one. If you need to take a break there's plenty of 'scene breaks' as I call them.

P.S. for people who like a soundtrack to read, I tend to listen to a lot of Muse when writing the Turks. This time I was listening to the Origin of Symmetry Album, original or rerelease is fine.

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Peer Relationship Development – By Blood-Sucker-1428

Reno and Tseng are friends. They may not phrase it so. Reno might say their cool and Tseng might say they have a healthy working relationship. However, using qualitative research methods, you can demonstrate that they are indeed friends. Now. They are friends now.

Tseng and Reno haven't always been friends. They haven't always been cool, and while for the most part their working relationship has been proven to bring results it most certainly hasn't always been good. In the early days of Reno's history as a Turk no one would describe he and Tseng as friends.

To say Reno and Tseng started out on the wrong foot would be an understatement. Tseng would describe it as less of a big deal than Reno would but Reno is the more emotive of the two. To say that Reno messed up would be the best description of the scenario.

Reno, unfortunately, was a product of the times and his environment. It was a contentious time between Wutai and Midgar. The media was constant pumping it into the minds of citizens that all issues were somehow Wutai's fault. Reno would learn later that this was not true and propaganda was one of the President's greatest tools. Coming from a bad sector of the slums, unlike platers who generally kept their racism as the covert kind the best they could, the slums often turned fear into anger.

If you were to ask Reno about it now he'd call himself an idiot and the embarrassment would be clear on his face. He likes to think he's made up for it anyway.

On his first day as a Turk Reno was first met by Director Veld. An intimidating figure of a man with scars on his face. Veld gave him the welcome speech where Reno first heard the phrase "once a Turk, always a Turk" and Reno didn't know if that meant they murder defectors or what. From what he'd heard of the Turks he wouldn't be surprised.

Then Veld took him to who would be his primary trainer, Tseng. A young man, too young to have one of the two enclosed offices within the Turk's working space. Onyx eyes, with matching coloured hair pulled back in a ponytail, and a peculiar dot on his forehead. He was clearly from Wutai. A Wutaiin having one of the two offices was even more shocking to Reno than someone his age having one. The Turks were Shinra's guard dogs. If Tseng noticed Reno's reaction he paid it no mind. Tseng had the very Tseng-like job of giving the rules to Reno, and Reno had the very Reno-like reaction of disliking this list heavily.

Don't do this, don't do this, make sure you do this, under no circumstance should you forget to do this. If you fail a training class you have one chance to repeat it. That's lucky because until a few years ago there were no chances until you got to the last two units. Tseng even gave him a lecture about how disrespectful Reno was being with the Turk uniform – particularly for his first day.

"And, Reno, I know your type. You think you can keep your friends down in Wall Market." Reno did think that. Weekend drinks, after all. "Save yourself some time and don't bother with friends outside of the company. Sooner or later all Turks learn that the Department is the closest most of us will have to family." This was all delivered in that dry professional voice. Reno had yet to learn to decode that flat voice and find the nuance behind it. He had yet to learn how Tseng pulled on his sleeves when he was nervous or if he looked you dead in the eye he was either being threatening or sincere. He'd yet to learn that this was not the veiled threat he took it as – along with Veld's line – and was instead an acknowledgement to the comradery of the team and some level of lament.

Reno actually remembers saying something similar to Elena on her first day. Of course the way he said it was different.

"Got a boyfriend, or girlfriend, or something, rookie?"

"N-No."

"Good. Sector zero or bust, here. We're all each other's got, ya know? Your sister's probably told you about that. I mean,"

"Once a Turk, always a Turk." Reno broke out into a grin when Elena said that. It's exactly what he was going to say.

"Yeah, that's the one."

Tseng took Reno to his secondary trainers (the ones who'd do most of the on job training) – Cissnei and Rude. Having already flirted with the pretty brunette with the wavy hair when he moved into the Turk's housing building – he was pleased to see her again. Her intelligent sly smirk was… well… hot, and she was fun to talk to. Reno and Rude just had a great report from the very beginning. The silent lug screamed scary Turk the same way Veld did but he just had this cool aura to him. The moment Reno teased him and he made a small retort back (two words) Reno knew this was the beginning of a good friendship.

Relaxing in one of the tables in the Turk's joint kitchenette and break room, Reno, Cissnei, and Rude were part talking about Reno's training and the classes he'd have to take (some by himself and some with SOLDIER hopefuls. This is the moment Reno put his foot in his mouth. He took his foot off the spare chair, placed it on the ground, and leaned in to Cissnei and Rude.

"Hey can I ask ya something?" He said.

"Sure." Cissnei nodded. Reno pointed his thumb behind him in the general direction of the wall the two offices came off of.

"Why the hell is there a Wute in the department?" He asked. Rude watched him with a carefully crafted blank expression. Cissnei looked behind Reno. "Is he a defector? Can we trust that?" Rude then also looked behind Reno.

"Sir." He said.

Reno leaned back on his chair to look behind him. Near the kitchen portion of the room just passed the doorway were Veld and Tseng. Veld looked furious while Tseng just looked a little tired. Reno would later learn that that meant he was actually quite exhausted – no doubt in hearing the same old thing. Tseng's masks were so trained into him that a slight slip of tiredness meant way more than it appeared. Veld pointed a very tense finger at Reno. His brown eyes were filled with a fury all Turks dread. Reno felt himself swallow against his own will.

"That Wute –" Veld began.

"Sir." Tseng sighed in an attempt to stop his boss. Veld ignored him the way Tseng expected he would. A good second knows his first well.

"Is the second in command of the Department - Your Assistant Director -" He Approached Reno so Reno had to look up to look at his face. "And, need I remind you, one of two people who decide if you're good enough so I'd watch that tongue if I were you."

"Sir." Tseng said with a little more force than the previous time. His weary eyes were glued to the back of Veld's head. Cissnei's were on Tseng. Rude was busying himself with his phone.

"No." Veld turned back to the young Wuitaiin man. "It's not okay, not in these walls." There was a pause. Tseng tilted his head to the side. Veld faintly shook his head. "Come, Tseng." Veld walked out of the room without getting the coffee he and Tseng had initially come in for. Tseng's mouth twitched as he watched the commander go.

Cissnei stood up.

"Tseng, I-" She began but Tseng closed his eyes and waved his hand silencing her.

"It's quite alright, Cissnei. I've heard far worse from people with far greater pedigree." His lips pulled into a small wry smile. Cissnei said nothing but Tseng read her. He quirked an eyebrow. "Rude, tell her." He hummed.

"He's fine." Rude reassured – not well but he did his job.

"See." Tseng hummed. The lies filled the room with thick air.

"Hm." Cissnei folded her arms across her chest. Tseng looked back at Rude.

"I suggest the first thing you teach the new recruit is how to be aware of your surroundings at all times." He spoke. Rude nodded. To give Reno credit – Turks were quiet. Even tall built men like Veld and Rude were quiet and even before his official training Tseng was a silent stepper. Tseng nodded back to Rude and left the room without the coffee as well, and without addressing Reno directly which was off putting, unnerving and left Reno feeling just off. Not apologetic, not scared, not insulted… just… off. Reno felt… gross.

Reno turned back to Rude and the now standing Cissnei.

"I didn't know he was there." Reno offered sheepishly. Rude picked some fluff off his gloves. Cissnei moved her head faintly to the left and back to centre.

"The commander didn't do him justice." Cissnei growled under her breath. "He's one of the greatest Turks to ever live." The respect and the second-hand hurt was clear in her voice even for the untrained.

"He's the Turk version of Sephiroth." Rude added.

"And he's one of my favourite people in this office so please, excuse me." She walked around the table and left the room no doubt in search of Tseng. Reno winced and rubbed the back of his neck. He shrugged to Rude.

"He's also Veld's adopted kid." A pause. "In an unofficial way." Whatever that meant. Knowing Shinra probably something slightly sinister. And that's when Reno learnt that Tseng's very faint accent wasn't from trying to assimilate but from spending the majority of his life around Turks, and other Shinra staff.

"Ah. Shit." Reno crinkled his nose.

"You could say that." Rude's voice was full of amusement.

"Please tell me he's not one of your buddies, too." Reno wished.

"He's up there."

"Shit." Reno hissed. Rude clasped Reno on the shoulder. No hard feelings on Rude's part at least.

"The commander won't forget that in a hurry." He said.

It was then that Reno was certain he was going to die in training. Either silently executed, erased, and forgotten about, or Cissnei and Veld were going to throw him out the window to make an example of him. Then Tseng would lecture his corpse about leaving blood on Shira property.

---

There were no classes today, and Cissnei and Rude were out on missions. That meant today was a primarily shadow Tseng and work on what he wants to do day. Those days sucked. They were spent mostly in silence and unless it was a question from Reno or an answer from Tseng anything one said to the other got under the other's skin.

Tseng was so uptight. A joke was never taken the right way. Cissnei would quip back and Rude would make a comment back. Even back at the office he'd gotten a laugh or two from scary Veld, and even Emma, nicknamed Gun, telling him he was awful was a better reaction than Tseng raising his eyebrows and looking bored.

This afternoon they found themselves in one of the Turk's interrogation rooms that Tseng favoured for lesson. Walls were specifically designed to make it look like your typical dank basement – water-stained cement walls and matching floors. However, there was technology in this. Those walls, Tseng had told him, were soundproofed better than any recording studio. You could break a kneecap in here and someone walking past would never know. Tseng had brought in a suitcase that contained the practice lock set – a mix of digital and old-school locks. Please, Reno was from the slums. He didn't need to work on these, he insisted when they began. Pride comes before any fall.

"Slower, Reno." Tseng said. The insistence in his voice just increased Reno's frustration. He'd already said that like five times. He just needed to shut up and let Reno do it.

"I've got it." Reno said through gritted teeth. This was an old-style lock. He's unlocked these styles with two bobby pins before. This should be no problem what-so-ever. He could do it in seconds and yet it had been minutes.

"You haven't got it." Reno had begun to pick up on changes in Tseng's voice. He sounded mildly frustrated which meant he was probably as frustrated as Reno. Ask Tseng later and he might compare it to teaching someone to use technology that they have no clue about where you just end up fighting with each other and consider giving up. "You need to slow down and give the pick time to slot into place."

"I've got it." Reno growled. "I've been picking locks my whole life. It's how I survived."

"And I've been using this set since I was ten years old." Reno's challenge was met with a reminder of how perfect the Assistant Director was. Later that night Reno would really consider a ten-year-old in this room trying to pick these locks and what that might actually be like. "This is a complicated lock, not one you'd find on someone's storage container." Reno slammed down the lock. He folded his arms against his chest and leant back against the chair.

"Always have to have a better story than everyone else, yeah?" He took his annoyance out on Tseng. Tseng came very close to scowling but he stopped himself before he made the situation worse. Reno still got his disgust.

"Are you just not used to the idea that someone might be better than you?" Tseng asked coldly. "You might have been a criminal protégé in the slums, but the plate is for the big-leagues and to the Turks you are nothing but an upstart puppy dog."

"Piss off." Reno sneered. "You're just lucky Veld thought you were a cute kid, or else-"

"Or else what?" Tseng leaned in, his already dark eyes black and dangerous. "Or else what, Reno?" He repeated when Reno said nothing. Reno kicked the table leg.

"I don't need to say it. Sure you've read what happened to kids they found." Tseng hummed, the amusement in his voice still very dangerous.

"I have read it. It still happens. We've just gotten better at covering it up." He said. Reno searched Tseng's face. That was… kind of terrible. Anyone else and Reno might ask them how they feel about that. Does it make him feel sick? If it were Reno he's not sure he could do it… But he's not a full fledge Turk yet.

Reno looked down to the table. To the lock. He rubbed the back of his neck then ran his fingers through the front of his hair.

"Reno, look at me." Tseng sounded collected now. He sounded serious but his teacher voice was back into place. Reno's clear blue eyes met Tseng's onyx eyes. "I get it, you don't like me. That is not something I am foreign to. Turns out you can irritate people, also." Reno's pout threatened to turn into a smile. "Keep hating, that's fine, but trust me. If you're going to survive this you're going to need to work with me, a lot." He levelled. "I see so much potential in you – you have qualities that could make you an excellent Turk. You'll never get there if you don't trust me. It doesn't matter if we don't like each other – I will never lead the Department astray and losing you would be a terrible loss for us. I want you to succeed and you need to see that." Reno looked away then looked back. "If I tell you that you need to go slower picking a lock it's because you do. Your speed will ultimately increase if you learn to have a modicum of patience." The way he held his hands out above the table on the sentence demonstrated his internal frustration. Reno actually smiled. "Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I got it." He nodded. Tseng let out a breath.

"Good." He nodded to the lock. "Now, do you want to try again?"

Reno picked up the lock and tried again, this time patiently feeling for the correct locations and listening carefully. There was a faint click that could be heard in these quiet walls as the device slotted into place.

"Did you feel it?" Tseng asked. Reno nodded. Tseng nodded "Don't start rushing now. Finish the job." Smoothly the lock pulled open. Without the middle pep talk it probably took thirty seconds.

"Got it!" Reno exclaimed, slamming the lock back down on the table victoriously.

"You're welcome." Reno looked over to see Tseng with that pompous little smirk. Reno rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Thank you." Reno replied. He might have meant it.

Silence fell. Reno leaned back on the chair and slung one arm against the top of it. Tseng folded his arms against his chest.

"How's you training going?" Tseng asked. Reno shrugged. He hated these talks. It felt like reporting to a superior rather than to a friend or a mentor. Though that's what it was, really. That's all it was ever going to be.

"Good." He said. He could see Tseng looking him over and reading his body language for hints. He was such a Turk.

"How are your classes?" The older of the two asked.

"Yeah, alright, I guess." Reno scratched his ear. "Kicking the SOLDIER recruit's asses in that history and geography class."

"As Turks are known to do." Tseng nodded. He sounded pleased.

"Knocked Rude onto his ass yesterday sparring." Reno smirked to himself. Tseng did that annoying eyebrow raise.

"Why is it alright, 'you guess', then?" He asked. Reno shrugged. Tseng leaned forward. His folded arms rested on the table. "Is it your langue unit?" Reno's face crunched in a little, betraying him. The last person he wanted to discuss this with was Tseng. He had tried to get help everywhere else but not Tseng. That was too embarrassing after… before. Tseng smirked. "I thought so."

"Ah!" Reno took his arm off the back of the chair. "It's just…" He looked down at the table. How was he even supposed to talk about this? "Did you know some of the SOLDIER-boys are learning the indigenous languages around Cosmos Canyon?" Tseng nodded.

"I did that class." He offered. Reno sighed.

"See?" He said. "That's pretty cool. Makes you sound worldly and shit." Tseng raised an eyebrow. Again.

"Do you want to take it?" Reno scowled. Sympathy? Willingness to help him change? Or just throwing it in his face? Best not to take offence just in case.

"Nah. I just thought you got to pick the language." He said. Tseng took a moment to considered this.

"Not in the Turks." He almost sounded apologetic. "Veld assigns languages based off of needs and what we are lacking and with the war-" So it's Veld's fault.

"I know, we need heaps of people to speak Wutai, I know." Reno interrupted him.

"And the only reason I got to study the languages surrounding Cosmos Canyon is because-"

"Wutai is your first language, I know." Reno waved a hand. "You don't think Veld is punishing me because… ya know, my first day." Tseng smiled faintly and shook his head.

"Veld is more direct with his punishments. He would have told you if it was." Tseng offered. Reno sighed, accepting it. "You'll find Wutai language is far more straight forward than others we could have offered you. It's a good second language to learn past childhood." He stopped and tapped his fingers on the table a few times. "Perhaps when you pick up a third language you can learn something you have an interest in instead."

"Piss off, yo. I ain't going to learn another one." Today Reno speaks three languages. He did in fact pick up another when he became second. Tseng laughed. "And Wutai ain't easy." Tseng sobered and sat up in his chair.

"How so?" He asked.

"I'm behind the SOLDIER numbskulls, aren't I? Worst in the class. It's bloody embarrassing."

A pause as Tseng considered and Reno pouted.

"Have you been practicing out of class?" Tseng asked. Reno snorted.

"No."

"Why?" Reno gestured.

"I tried, yo! Cissnei can read it but she spends too long thinking of how to say what she wants to say and her slowness is annoying. Rude sounds like a tourist! I went to Legend but he says he has no time to teach anyone. So I gave up!" Tseng looked faintly amused and slightly concerned.

"You should try talking to me." Tseng replied in Wutaii. It was fluent and easy. It sounded way better the instructor – a war hero who'd been injured on duty and now taught. Reno spent a moment recognising the words he knew. He knew 'you', 'try talking to me'. Just one word he missed but it was enough to get it. Reno exhaled.

"Don't want to waste your time." He said. Tseng's brow furrowed.

"It's not a waste of time when I'm in charge of your training." He said. "I get paid to do it." He offered dryly. Reno snorted a laugh. "It would reflect terribly on me if you fail my language. Can you imagine what the other directors would say?"

"Veld's pet Wute couldn't even train a puppy to speak his language?" Reno saw a glimmer in Tseng's eyes.

"Precisely. I hate them enough already, I don't need added motivation." Tseng made Reno laugh.

"Guess I can give it a shot. Can't have you slapping Scarlet."

"I wish someone would." Tseng uttered. Reno snorted. "Where do you come from, Reno?"

"I come from Midgar in sector six slums."

"Good. Next time swap Midgar and sector six. The sentence structure is similar to ours but it sometimes has deviances." Reno nodded.

"Where are you from?"

"I come from a village in Wutai originally but I've spent most of my life in Sector Zero."

"I got I come from Wutai but I something something life in Sector Zero." Tseng flicked his wrist in the direction of the hidden door out of the interrogation space.

"Go get a notebook from your desk and a pen, and I'll break down what I said."

"Yes, sir." Reno answered in Wutai as he stood up. He strutted towards the door.

"Good, good." Tseng commended Reno. Reno kind of smiled as he opened the door. As he exited, he almost ran straight into Veld.

"Watch out kid, You still need to work on checking entrances and exits." The director said.

"It's soundproof in there, sir." Reno said. Veld clasped his shoulder.

"You'll get there." He said. Reno frowned and looked at the door to the soundproof room. Get there, what? Be able to hear through soundproofing? "Where you off to?" Reno scratched at his hair.

"Tseng's sent me to get a notebook." Reno offered. Under Veld's gaze Reno felt he needed to offer more. "We just did locks and somehow we got onto language…"

"Ah." Veld's grasped listed and he patted Reno's back. "Better hurry then, kid."

"Yes, sir."

Veld was friendlier than Tseng but Veld scared Reno way more than Tseng ever could.

---

Reno was sitting at his desk. He was supposed to be doing some study before Rude came and got him for a training session but it was so boring. It didn't matter – without trying he was doing pretty well. He could be doing better, sure. He was probably sitting at like 85% but for a kid from the slums who was always told how stupid he was he was okay with that kind of score. He wishes he could shove it in his father's face, wherever he was. Probably dead.

Day dreaming away, he was brought to attention by a light tap of fingers on the front of his desk. He was getting better at catching noises and the like. Following the hand up to the source he saw Tseng standing above his desk. Reno quirked his eyebrows, the senior Turk took that as his cue.

"I have received reports." He hummed. "It appears that you are indeed excelling in many areas and the ones that you were previously lagging behind in you have shown improvement." So professional. So annoying, so Tseng. Reno leaned back in his chair.

"Is this a 'good job, Reno.'?" He teased. Tseng looked away. His eyes shone with amusement.

"Good job, Reno." He said. Reno couldn't help but smile. Tseng tapped on the desk again and walked away, hands behind his back in his even silent steps. Man, Rude wasn't lying when he called Tseng the Sephiroth of the Turks.

Reno picked up the document he was supposed to be reading and tried to give it another shot.

---

Cissnei and Rude also got hold of Reno's results so far. Apparently it was good enough that they agreed to go to drinks with him after work. Well, Rude would have gone anyway. It was good enough for Cissnei. They went to Reno's favourite dive bar. Going in in Turk suits silenced the place but within half an hour the Turks were part of the background.

"Couldn't have done it without you guys!" Reno made them cheer for like the third time. "Seriously, you're the best." Cissnei chuckled.

"The Turks are family – we'll always help out." She said in a warm voice that made Reno feel warm as well. Rude nodded. He and Reno clinked glasses again.

"Yeah but siblings suck sometimes, yo." Reno teased. "I got some good ones."

"Speaking of." Cissnei put down her wine. Reno sighed. He looked at Rude as if he could stop whatever scolding was going to happen. "You should have invited Dad's favourite child. It would have been nice of you." Since when were Turks supposed to be nice?

"Yeah." Reno rubbed at his eyes. It felt like he suddenly sobered up. "But like, he wouldn't come even if I asked."

"Probably not." Rude was the one who responded. "But he likes to be asked sometimes." Reno scrunched up his nose.

"He doesn't look like it." He said/ Cissnei smiled.

"You don't know how to read him yet." She said.

"That's bull." Reno picked up his beer and took a sip to wash away the offence. "I can see things. He tidies when he's nervous and Veld tells him to stop because he knows."

"Everyone knows." Rude replied. Cissnei laughed.

"Like if he needs a moment to collect his thoughts, he'll delay answering by undoing his hair and retying it up." Cissnei smiled fondly.

"He used to tap his leg when waiting for news on missions." Rude offered. Cissnei laughed, Reno leaned in. "Veld used to forcibly stop him doing it." Reno laughed.

"Do you think that's where this has come from?" Reno asked, imitating the tapping on the desk. Rude smirked.

"Look at you, using your skills." Rude tease. Reno puffed out his chest, proudly taking a sip of his drink. Cissnei laughed and rolled her eyes.

"I guess that's a start." She looked around the bar. "Let's play guess the backstory with people here and try to build up those skills."

---

Shit! Shit! Shit! Whatever shit is in Wutai times three.

Reno had a Wutai exam on Monday and all week he'd been telling himself to study but it was so damn boring. Going out on the streets with Cissnei or training with Rude was so much more fun. Trying to memories words and phrases and the order they go in just bored Reno. He felt like he couldn't even speak common sometimes when he listened to the fancy people around sectors 0 and 1 talk sometimes. He kept putting it off and here he was on Saturday. He'd opened up the practice test and felt like he understood none of it.

He was going to fail. He was going to fail and Veld would throw him out of that window. Tseng would be so disappointed. He wouldn't lecture his corpse he'd just give him that despaired look and it would follow Reno into the afterlife.

Damn it!

He shouldn't have gone out with Rude and Legend last night. He should have stayed home and had a few quiet drinks while he took Cissnei's advice and made stupid little flashcards.

There was only one person who could give Reno a hint of a chance now. Huffing, he closed his book, slung it under his arm, picked up the practice test, and left his apartment.

Tseng lived in one of the upper floors with the fancier apartments. These ones had a spare room that you could turn into another bedroom or an office or something and the kitchens were way nicer. Or so Reno had heard. It took him a few second to build up enough boldness to ring the doorbell.

The person who answered the door was not Tseng. Reno was looking at the height where he expected to meet Tseng's eyes. He had to look up. When he reached the face he was met with Mako eyes with cat like slit pupils and was immediately filled with dead.

Reno had seen Sephiroth around the place. He'd even seen him in the Turk office walking past all the desks to Tseng or Veld's office. Up close he was intimidating as all hell. His silver bangs did nothing to soften the sharpness of his features and those eyes look like the eyes of a predator. His altered First-Class uniform was fiercer than the typical uniform. It screamed elite.

"Hey." Reno managed to sound as chill and laid back as usual. The training was working. Sephiroth looked him up and down. He cocked his head to the side as he considered Reno and his red marks under his eyes. Reno heard him hum to himself. He left the door open and walked back into the apartment.

"Your troublemaker is here." Sephiroth's velvety voice echoed into the apartment. Troublemaker? They had talked about Reno and he had been deemed troublemaker. Sitting on a black couch was Tseng. He had his uniform on but his jacket was off and his sleeves were rolled up. Also of note – his hair was out. On the glass coffee table was an empty bottle of red wine, a second half empty one, and two half full wine glasses.

"Hello Reno." Tseng said before he even glanced over. "Come in." Reno stepped in and closed the door. As he did he heard Sephiroth talk again.

"Reno. That was the name. Wall Market, you said?" Tseng nodded. Sephiroth hummed again.

Wow. Tseng was friends with a SOLDIER? How did that happen? How often did they sit down with a bottle of wine like normal people?

"Sorry to barge in like this." Reno said, looking between the two almost soulless looking men.

"He's not." Tseng said to Sephiroth. The silver haired SOLDIER chuckled. Tseng smirked back. Shit, they were like real friends.

"Yeah, I'm not, cause if I didn't interrupt I'd be in big trouble." Reno said. Tseng sighed. Sephiroth picked up his glass and finished his wine.

"What is it, Reno?" Tseng asked. His words were ever so slightly slurred and his eyes gave off more life than they normally do – the mask not so firmly in place.

"There's a Wutai test on Monday and I have no bloody clue what I'm doing." Reno admitted, tapping on the book under his arm. Tseng exhaled. Sephiroth chuckled darkly. Before his training it might have sent a shiver down Reno's spine.

"I doubt any of the SOLDIER candidates are any more prepared." Sephiroth had such a soft voice it sounded like a whisper.

"Never-the-less." Tseng waved his hand. "Fine Reno, get set up at the kitchen bench while I apologise to Sephiroth here for kicking him out so unceremoniously." Sephiroth smirked. He picked his sword up off the ground as Tseng stood up. He lead the SOLDIER to the front door. The kitchenette was part of the living room so Reno listened as he set up.

"First time we've both had free in months and your puppy has an emergency."

"Wait until you have one of your own one day. I'll be laughing then." Sephiroth chuckled at Tseng's words.

"I'm in town next Friday if you want to attempt a do-over." The SOLDIER offered. Tseng made a noise.

"I'm not in town from Tuesday to late Friday." He said. "Saturday lunch?" Sephiroth made a disgruntled noise.

"It's Genesis' birthday. Angeal and I have the pleasure of being dragged to Loveless for the umpteenth time." Reno could practically sense those cat eyes rolling.

"Have fun." Tseng teased in his dry way. "It doesn't matter. We'll try again later."

"If I'm in the office on Monday I'll text you to get coffee."

"If?"

"If. There's a chance I might be paraded out like a show pony at some corporate event for Lazard." Tseng sniffed a silent laugh.

"See you around."

"See you."

Reno heard Tseng close the door followed by a sigh. Reno turned around to see Tseng collecting the glasses and bottles.

"You're friends with Sephiroth?" Reno questioned directly.

"You tend to make friends with the only other child you know, Reno." Tseng's tongue dripped sarcasm.

Oh shit. Yeah. Reno had heard rumours about Sephiroth and the labs. This meant they were true. Sephiroth and Tseng grew up in Shinra tower together. But if he was in the labs, then…

"How did you find him?" Reno asked. Tseng shot him a dark and fierce warning look. Reno held his hands up in a silent surrender. So the lab rumours were definitely true.

Tseng dumped the items into his sink for now, the only things that showed a person lived in the pristine kitchen. He turned on his coffee machine and took two mugs out of cabinet above the machine. Tseng's back was to Reno and he clearly wasn't in the mood for talking about his friendship so Reno decided to look around. He knew Tseng would be able to hear his footsteps so if he had a problem, he'd tell him to stop.

In the corner of the room adjacent to the television was an upright piano.

"Oh cool. You play piano?" Reno asked. He heard Tseng exhale sharply to himself.

"Veld believed it would increase dexterity." He replied.

"Did it?" Reno asked.

"Yes. Amongst other skills." He said sharply. After a pause he added "Music is one of the only skills that uses both sides of the brain." Reno shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. He pursed his lips and nodded.

"Cool. Did not know that." He said. Tseng said nothing from the kitchenette. "You know, I always wanted to learn an instrument." Still nothing in response. "But they're expensive, yo. Even if you steal something or find something its expensive to fix or get the shit to learn.

"What's stopping you now?" The velvet voice from the kitchen came. Reno looked over to see Tseng slightly turned away from the machine to look lazily at Reno. "You have a good pay check, do you not? It's a good hobby to keep you out of trouble." He turned back to the machine. "If you're lucky Veld might even approve of it as a business expense." Reno sniffed.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Just don't go expecting help from me." Tseng uttered more to himself than to Reno. "Gods forbid, if we spend any more time with one another one of us would end up dead." Reno laugh.

"Don't worry, piano's not my style anyway." Reno's crystal eyes fell back to the piano. "Too stuffy." He heard Tseng scoff and then take a breath like he was going to say something and then didn't. Reno kind of wished he had. Was it going to be a joke at Reno's expense or at his own? It would be nice to know where mask dropping faintly inebriated Tseng's humour fell.

With that line of conversation dead Reno turned to continue to look around.

The only picture on the wall was a really old group photo of Turks. Rude looked young and Tseng had to be a teenager. It was weird to see Rude with no sunglasses. Tseng's hair was still longish but too short to pull back into a pony. Veld had one less scar on his face.

"This is a really cool photo." Reno laughed. "Look at baby you. You can't drive a car and they give you a gun." There was a hum from the kitchen. "But I thought we weren't supposed to keep photos of friends and family." Reno said.

"It's a work photo." Tseng replied. Ah. Good point. No one would look at a work photo and find anyone new to blackmail or threaten to get to Tseng. They were all Turks anyway.

"That's cheating." Reno laughed. "I like it."

"Thank you." Softly came from the kitchen.

Reno leant down to touch the rug under the coffee table. It felt expensive and it looked imported. He was going to ask a question when he was stopped.

"Have you done analysing my home, yet?" Tseng barked. Reno stood up and shoved his hands back into his pocket.

"No. It's my job." He teased with a coy smile. "But I'll stop."

"Thank you." Tseng sighed. Reno came and sat on one of the stools at the kitchen bench.

"Man, tipsy Tseng has a bite." He teased.

"Tipsy Tseng wasn't prepared for normal Reno." Tseng replied as he brought over two cups of coffee. Funny that one was prepared just the way Reno likes it when he never remembers getting coffee with Tseng or telling him. Reno laughed and gratefully took the cup.

Tseng came around and sat next to Reno. He took a sip of his coffee, savoured the warmth for just a moment before putting the mug back down. He turned to look at Reno.

"So, you didn't study." He sounded like a disappointed parent.

"I got overwhelmed, yo." Reno replied.

"And yet you didn't come to me sooner." Tseng scolded.

"I'm here now." Reno defended.

"Reno." The dark-haired man sighed. "I told you to-"

"I know!" Reno interrupted. He held up a hand. "I'm here now, aren't I?"

"Fine." Tseng accepted begrudgingly. "What is the problem?" Tseng asked in Wutai.

"Everything." Reno replied dramatically.

"I don't know what everything is, Reno." Reno kind of liked Tipsy Tseng. He was straight forward with his sass. Reno handed Tseng the practice test. Tseng read through it. He scoffed and put it down on the bench. "You know all this." He said.

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do." Tseng rubbed his forehead. "It's just a culmination of your learning so far. You're letting the minutia confuse you."

"What?" Reno frowned. He was certain there were words in there he didn't know. Tseng ran fingers through his loose hair.

"I said it's a culmination of your learning so far and your getting caught up on all the finer details." Tseng explained.

"Now I know you didn't say it like that because I know how to say details." Reno pointed a finger accusingly at Tseng.

"No I didn't." Tseng said with mild frustration "But the point remains the same." He waved his hand at Reno's book. "Open your book to the first chapter and I'll show you where it is in this test."

"Tipsy Tseng is a bossy Tseng." Reno uttered teasingly as he opened his book.

"I'm always bossy." Tseng said flatly. "Did you want my help?"

"Sorry." Reno smirked.

---

Two weeks later Reno was on patrol with Tseng. Occasionally Turks are on call. They are in the office or given a section of Midgar to patrol to be nearby if any other Turk called for back- up. Today Tseng and Reno were walking the streets of plate sectors five and six. It was times like this that Reno realised the power of the Turk suit. There they were – a Wutaiin and a mutt from the slums – walking the plate and no one said anything. People avoided eye contact but not because they did not belong on theses streets or because they were out of their stations. No, because they were right where they were supposed to be and people were afraid to say the wrong thing in front of that suit. It made Reno smirk. A SOLDIER or a Turk outfit on and no one with any sense wanted to rub you the wrong way. Would he ever get used to this? Probably. For now, it was just nice not to get looked up and down from every second or third person he passed.

"You were complaining last week that you had yet to receive your language exam scores." Tseng spoke as the began their second circuit of their route. Reno sniffed with derision.

"Yeah, two weeks is long enough." Reno scoffed. "Man, any longer and I might have to convince one of the SOLDIER boys to ask about it."

"You won't need to. I did." Tseng spoke so coolly. It was the exact opposite of Reno's energy. Reno's eyebrows raised to the top of his head. He looked at his superior. Tseng looked back. Reno nodded, asking him to elaborate quietly. Tseng's lips pulled into a smirk. "Ninety two percent. Top of the class." He said. Reno fisted the air.

"Hell yeah!" He yelled. "Top of the class, baby!" He classed. Tseng faintly shook his head but his eyes were shining bright for him. "Take that Zag!" Zag was a SOLDIER candidate who had previously been top of the class.

As Reno celebrated and told Tseng loudly about how pompous Zag was about being the best at one single bloody class, the Turk pair finally garnered a few strange looks from passer-by's. Tseng gave a few of them a nod to move on or to apologise. Reno couldn't care less about the looks right now.

"Are you done?" Tseng didn't so much ask as demand.

"No." Reno laughed. "But I'll save the rest for the bar tonight, yo." He patted Tseng's shoulder. Tseng's brows furrowed lightly at the touch. Reno caught it but ignored it as he assumed it would be for the best. "Man, I need a smoke." He joked.

To Reno's surprise, Tseng opened his jacket pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. He handed one to Reno. Reno took it.

"Thanks." He said, a little confused. "I thought you didn't smoke."

"Oh, I don't." Tseng uttered as he put the pack away. He then took out a lighter and passed it to Reno. Reno flipped the light over in his hands looking at it. It wasn't a disposable lighter. It was a nice silver one with some pretty engraving patterns on it. The scratches on it suggested it was old.

"This doesn't look like the lighter of someone who doesn't smoke." Reno hummed.

"I know." Tseng replied. He didn't elaborate. Reno light his smoke and handed the lighter back to Tseng who pocketed it away.

Reno took a long drag. He usually only smoked at the bar or after being with a girl, but turns out celebrating test results with a smoke was equally as sweet tasting.

"Thanks, man." Reno said through smoke as he exhaled. "And thanks for the help."

"You're welcome." Tseng answered. Reno took another drag.

"And, uh, sorry for barging over instead of calling or something." He said. Tseng chuckled.

"It's fine." His voice was reassuring. "I tend to have an open-door policy for Turks in crisis."

"Even if you make them feel shit for interrupting?" Reno teased.

"I have a reputation to uphold." Tseng hummed back. Reno laughed. He dropped the cigarette and stepped on it to put it out.

"Well if you ever need help with… I don't know," Reno shrugged. "How to talk like you were dragged up by your shoestrings you know where to find me." Tseng chuckled.

"I doubt I'll need that, but I appreciate the offer." He replied. Reno scrunched up his face.

"I'm going to invite Rude and some of the guys out for drinks to celebrate. Don't supposed you'd wanna come, would ya?" He asked while peering directly at the street ahead of him.

A pause.

"No. But I-"

"Appreciate the offer, yeah, yeah." Reno shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. At least this time Cissnei can't say he didn't try. "Do you actually have plans or do you just not want to come?" Tseng laughed.

"I have dinner with the director." Tseng explained. Reno wasn't sure if it was the truth or a lie, but even if it was a lie Tseng would probably organise to have dinner with his father figure just to cover his tracks. Turks were good at that. Reno nodded.

"Speaking of the few people you decide to grace your presence with in your free time," The redhead teased. Tseng rolled his eyes. "You manage to catch up with your scary SOLDIER friend again?" Tseng looked like he was considering whether to answer or not.

"I had coffee with him and Angelle." Tseng replied. Reno laughed and rubbed his neck.

"Two SOLDIER's and a Turk. Must have scared the shit out of the coffee shop workers." Reno breathed. Tseng fought the smirk that threatened to fall on his face.

"It was the café near the tower. They're used to it."

"Still. Bad for business having you lot sitting there, yo." Reno teased. Tseng sighed.

"Keep any eye out for anything noteworthy, please."

"Hey! You started the conversation." Reno rebutted. Tseng rubbed at his forehead. Reno beamed at him.

---

It was an office day for Reno and it was a hot day for Midgar in general. It was a blessing to have an office day in this heat. The air conditioning was so good in the tower that all the girls at their desks still wore their jackets. Plus; you didn't have to stay in the full uniform if you weren't going to be seen by anyone. Thing is Reno really wanted a burger for lunch so he had to don his jacket to go out and get it from his favourite local place. Usually, he'd eat outside the place and people watch but today he headed back to the building immediately.

Back in the office Reno stopped at his desk to shrug off his jacket. He was going to head the break room when one look at Two Gun's black eye reminded Reno of what Cissnei said happened to Two Guns and Knife's mission. Cissnei and Tseng were called in for backup and although they succeeded none of them came out unscathed. Cissnei was the best with a cut on her forehead, Two Guns also had some bruises on his chest under his uniform, and Knife was at home after being released this morning from the Infirmary with a concussion. Cissnei had mentioned that Tseng had hurt his wrist but kept saying it was nothing.

Well… Reno had checked in with Ciss and TG today, as well as shot off a text to Knife. He might as well go pop in on Tseng in his office before he sat down to eat… Reno picked up his paper take out bag, walked across the room, knocked on Tseng's door and entered before waiting for a reply.

Tseng's dark eyes drifted from the computer screen to meet Reno's bright eyes. He pursed his lips.

"Remind me to start locking my door." Tseng hummed.

"Why?" Reno sniffed, crinkling his nose. "'S not like you're going to be caught doing something, ah, indignant or something." He teased. Tseng took a terse breath. "Plus, you don't think we all keep track of whose in yours and Veld's offices?" Reno scoffed. "You guys have got a bunch of walking talking security cameras out there." Tseng's mouth pulled into a tight smile.

"How can I help you today, Reno?" He asked. He sounded tired – whether it was from being called out last night and then coming here or a side effect from the potion taking the edge off the pain, it was hard to say. Ciss was blaming the potion. Tseng's wrist was in a splint. It matched the colour of his suit.

Reno stepped into the office proper and closed the door behind him. He stayed standing.

"Was gonna go to lunch and realised you're the last person I need to tick off the list so I look like a good team player." Reno shrugged his shoulders. When Tseng softened it served only to make him look more tired. "So are you good?" Reno asked, cocking his head to the side. Tseng wave his off with his good hand.

"I'm fine." He hummed, looking back at the screen. Reno then plonked himself comfortably in the chair opposite to Tseng's facing the desk.

"So, just the wrist?" He asked. Tseng's brow creased as he clearly considered what to do – respond or kick Reno out. He locked his computer and swivelled the chair to face Reno, arms folded on the desk.

"Yes, only that." He responded with that hidden warmth Reno had learnt to pick up. Reno pouted and nodded. Could have been worse, he supposed.

"How'd the world's most perfect Turk get an injury?" Reno asked. Despite the light jab in there, his question was entirely sincere.

"Short answer?" Tseng asked. Reno nodded. "I was disarmed." Reno chewed on his cheek.

"Pretty easy to disarm people without hurting them." He said. A little proud, Tseng nodded.

"Not this way, however." He spoke. Reno leaned forward.

"Ooh, what'd they do?" He whispered like he was about to be told a juicy secret.

"You know that Electro-Mag Rod you've taken quite the interest in?" Tseng answered. Knew it? It was Reno's best weapon. It was practically his baby. He'd sleep with it in his bed if he wasn't a little nervous that he might accidentally shock himself in his sleep.

"Best weapon ever." Reno acknowledged with a nod. Tseng was immune to many of Reno's statements these days and continued as normal.

"Have you ever wondered what if feels like for your wrist to be hit down on hard by one of those?" Tseng asked. Reno winced and whistled.

"Yikes." He said. Tseng nodded. "So you dropped you gun?"

"I dropped my gun." Tseng confirmed. "I retrieved it before they could kick it way." That was a matter of pride to Tseng – Reno could sense it.

"Stomped on their hand?" Reno asked.

"Harder than necessary, yes." Tseng confirmed again. Reno busted into a laugh. Tseng smiled.

"Man, I hope you then punch him in the face."

"Unnecessary." A pause. "Cissnei did." Reno laughed again. He grinned at Tseng.

"You two, you're like sleeping behemoths. Leave you alone and you're all chill. Wake you up and someone's gonna die." Reno said. Tseng pulled a face.

"I don't think a behemoth is quite the right creature to use in that context, and I'm not entirely sure that is a compliment, but I'll take it as one." He thanked Reno in a roundabout kind of way.

"It was one." Reno assured with his goofy grin. Tseng smiled tentatively back as his free hand held his splinted wrist and his thumb rubbed gingerly in circles.

Reno frowned in the silence. He didn't like that rubbing action. Tseng and Rude were the most stoic people in the department. If they were showing any signs of pain then it had hurt. Reno had gotten Rude so hard in the gut during training once that he'd winded the brute. He'd just asked for a second to catch his breath and continue. When Rude, Tseng, and Cissnei all had their turn to wind Reno (all of them knocking him to his feet during early training) Reno had moaned about it.

"Good round." Rude had said while offering Reno off the ground.

"Quit moaning." Cissnei had laughed and fixed her hair.

"Take a break but get off the ground." Tseng had ordered, walking off to get a drink of water. "If you can't get up then you'd be dead."

Reno looked down at his bag of food, winced, then looked back up at Tseng.

"Ya know," He began. "If you'd made a fuss they'd have given you a hi-potion instead." Tseng's thumb halted.

"Let us save the expensive items for more serious injuries, hmm?" He teased. "God forbid the vice president get hurt and a Turk used the last hi-potion." Reno snorted.

"Company man, huh? Cos you know," Reno leant forward. "No one falls for your tough guy routine, yeah? That ain't what makes you scary."

"I know what makes me scary." Tseng hummed. Reno laughed, Tseng's smile broadened slightly.

Really it was incredible how any of the Turks managed to be frightening when they wanted to be once you got to know them. They were all idiots and goofs in their own way. There was a thirty six hour period where everyone was on call due to a terror alert. People brought in a deck of cards, Moogle Trap, some Queensblood booster packs, and a stereo. Knife and Katana read the same book all night. Cissnei and Rude played snap for a good two hours. Tseng made the rounds a few times but had seconded Cissnei's desk and read reports while being available to talk to. Reno took note and did the same – sort of – he spent most of his time with Rude but also jumped around to see how everyone was going. The fun sleepover atmosphere was ruined when the SOLDIER's found a guy with a bomb and the Turks had to go question him and find out clues.

A knock at Tseng's office door. Reno turned to face it. It opened and in stepped Commander Veld. His hand was on the handle still when he spoke.

"Sorry, son." Veld's gruff voice sounded. Reno could see the couple of grey hairs in Veld's hair. "Didn't think you'd have company." His suit and tie were always as neat as Tseng's was. Tseng moved his hand off his wrist and instead placed it over his hand.

"No, there's no meeting on the books, sir." Tseng explained. "Reno was simply keeping up appearances and pretending to care about my well-being." He teased again. Reno scoffed.

"Try and do something nice for a guy…" He muttered. He could see the mischief and amusement in Tseng's eyes. Veld laughed. It caused the hairs on Reno's arms to stand on end. He stood up. "I'll let you get to it, sir." He said to Veld. Veld shut the door.

"Don't run out." He said. Reno had that naughty child feeling again. Maybe it's his fault for creating this relationship with authority as… well… a naughty child.

"Nah," He shrugged. "Was just checking in before eating my lunch." He held up his take out back and felt kind of weird as Veld's sharp eyes observed the wrinkled paper.

"I'm only checking on the boy, too." His steps forward were silent. "I haven't had a moment in my schedule to check on our latest recruit, so we can kill two birds with one stone."

A pause.

Reno looked at Tseng. Tseng looked back, then looked at Veld.

"Sit. Eat your food." Veld commanded. Reno sat down. Tseng exhaled.

Reno opened the bag. The smell of the fast food filled the small office. Suddenly Reno found himself hungry again. Veld leant against the wall, arms folded against his chest.

Reno caught the pained look on Tseng's face as he went to put his chips down on his desk. Reno started to pull them away but Tseng shook his head to say it was allowed. Veld had caught it too, Reno could tell from the way he was watching Tseng, but said nothing.

"How are you doing?" Veld asked his protégé.

"Fine." Tseng said flatly and professionally.

"He's lying." Reno said, popping a chip in his mouth. Tseng glared at him. Veld smirked.

"I know." He agreed. His eagle sights turned to Reno. "But how can you tell?" This felt like an unofficial test. Reno swallowed a fry and pointed at Tseng with the other.

"He's not letting himself emote at all." Reno said. He bit the fry and started chewing before adding "And he gets all weird and extra tidy when he's uncomfortable." Tseng sat up straight. He looked like Reno just slapped him. Veld chuckled.

"He does." Veld nodded. "You're getting good, Reno, good to see." Reno was hoping he didn't blush.

"Uh, thanks." He uttered. Veld looked at Tseng.

"And how many times do I have to tell you." Veld looked at Tseng poignantly. "To stop… all that." He waved. Tseng looked down. Veld took a breath and appeared to have a mental argument with himself before turning the conversation back to Tseng's wrist. "Painful?" Veld asked. Tseng shook his head.

"To use Reno's word – uncomfortable." He replied. Reno sniffed. Tseng was also a child in front of Veld, not a naughty child, but one nevertheless.

"You need to head home?" Veld asked. Tseng shook his head. "I could ask Legend to cover and I could take this afternoon's meeting alone."

"No." Tseng asserted harder. "I'm fine."

"Maybe just get him a hi-potion, yo." Reno piped up.

"Reno." Tseng warned. His expression was cold. Veld made a noise in his throat.

"Not a bad call, kid." Reno would take Tseng's cold expression if it came with praise from Veld. He chose to hold Tseng's eye contact as he ate another fry. "Nice to see you fitting in." Veld interrupted the moment. Tseng looked up at their boss.

"I sent you his final results for his classes last week. Did you see them?" Reno couldn't tell now if Tseng was the kid looking for approval or the proud parent. Veld nodded.

"I did. Nice to see Red, here, might just live up to his potential yet." Such a Turk statement, and strangely cold, but it made Reno feel like a puppy being petted anyway and judging from Tseng's smirk it was the same for him. "I knew your team could break him in."

"Woah." Reno's eyes widened. "That's a weird statement."

"It's a chocobo metaphor, Reno." Tseng bemoaned.

"I know." Reno shrugged. He didn't know. "Still weird." Tseng rolled his eyes. Veld laughed. He walked over and patted Reno on the shoulder.

"Also knew he'd add some levity to your group." Veld said. Tseng looked slightly put off.

"I'll have you know that Cissnei is very clever and very witty." He defended. Veld scoffed.

"In a you kind of way. No offence, son." The smile he gave Tseng was the warmest smile Reno had seen from the boss and for a second he could have sworn he was in an alternate dimension.

"I'm choosing to take great offence, sir." Tseng replied indignantly.

"You'll live." Veld answered. Reno burst into laughter. Tseng looked at his father figure with a mixture of tiredness and admiration.

---

Reno was getting used to solo assignments. It might not seem like much to be trusted to do an on-foot patrol of a sector by yourself but after months of hand holding and scrutiny the level of trust shown by Turks of all people was enough to make his pride swell. He walked through the slums resting his mag-rod on his shoulder daring someone to do something to allow him to interject. He'd show them what messing with a Turk meant.

"Reno!"

The hairs on the back of Reno's neck stood on edge when he heard his name called out. He lowered the mag-rod from it's resting place and looked around.

"Reno!"

His crystalline blue eyes scanned the crowds until he saw it. A young girl with long brown hair running towards him with a big smile. A very exasperated woman following slower behind her.

Oh.

The flower girl and her mother. She was running towards a Turk – someone her mother warned her against. That couldn't be good. Why would she need him of all people? She caught up to him and bent over, hands on her knees to catch her breath.

"Hi Reno!" She smiled up at him once she recovered.

"Hey Aerith." Reno chimed happily even as he frowned and scanned the crowd. "What's up?" He asked. The mother caught up, looking like she wanted to get Aerith far away. Reno looked in her eyes. "Is something wrong?" The mother shook her head. Reno felt himself relax a little.

"Yes!" The young lady exclaimed. Her mother's mouth pulled into a bit of a smile and she shook her head again. "I haven't seen Tseng in eight days." Aerith held up her fingers to make the point. "I made something for him and he hasn't come by in over a week. Is he okay?" Reno relaxed entirely. He laughed, putting the mag-rod on his shoulder. No wonder Elmyra looked so annoyed. Aerith had come running after a Turk to ask about the wellbeing of another Turk. The Turk.

"Yeah, he's fine, kid." Reno patted her arm. "He's just been stuck in meetings." The annual budget release had sent all the departments except Heidegger's into a rage. There was a minor civil war happening between all the heads of departments and all the seconds or upper execs had been dragged into it. Urban Planning was demanding they deserved the most. The Turks and Soldier were teaming up to question why Heidegger deserved more than them. And how did Hojo get so much? All this was conjecture and rumour amongst the other employees of course but where there's smoke there's fire. Aerith pouted. He gentle eyes narrowed on Reno.

"Is it really meetings or are you just saying that." She pointed her finger at him. Reno smirked and pushed it away.

"I promise." He said. "But why the rush to ask me?" He looked up to the rooftops and then scanned any near dark ally. "Haven't you seen another Turk in that time?"

"Yes, but we don't trust just any old Turk." Aerith sung, swinging on her feet. "We only trust Tseng and his friends."

Friends?

That's an interesting choice of word.

It caught Reno off guard.

Who would that be? Cissnei for sure. She's definitely actually a friend. Probably Rude. Tseng and Rude were like two silent stoic pillars together.

Why Reno?

He looked at Elmyra who looked like she'd just been caught. He could practically hear her, the most distrustful of all Shinra, telling Aerith not to trust anyone of the Turks unless it's Tseng. Not that Tseng wouldn't follow through given an order to bring Aerith in – but he'd probably warn Elmyra or Aerith first and be straight forward about rather than trick the girl or hurt her.

"Good call." Reno said more to the mother. Elmyra's face soften a little.

"Anyway, can I give it to you?" Aerith asked.

"Hmm?" Reno's blue eyes fell back to the girl.

"Tseng's gift, silly!" Reno laughed. He waved her away.

"Go get it." He said. With a bounce Aerith went skipping back towards the church leaving Reno and Elmyra watching her.

The silence made the air thick. Before he was a Turk, and off duty, Reno would find it difficult to breathe in. He'd talk just to cut it. But silence was a Turk's tool.

"Don't you dare take advantage of her trust." Elmyra said. See? It's more powerful to not be the one to break the silence. Reno sniffed a laugh, half a smirk playing on his lips.

"No promises." He muttered. A beat. He kicked the ground. "But you've given her the right warning." Elmyra made a noise.

Aerith came running back from the church. She presented Reno, in two hands, with a flower crown made of purple and blue flowers.

"I've never had these colours before." Aerith's voice was full of pride and wonder.

"Wow." Reno sung in that way you do when you're pretending to be impressed but to be honest, he was. How did this girl manage to get such delicate and vibrant things to thrive in the dirt of the undercity? This ground wasn't exactly a gardener's delight and it's not like she had growing lamps to replace the sun. Then there was something about the fact that she saw these colours and thought you know who I want to give these two? That guy from that company who had me prisoner. "The boss will love these." Reno said, taking the crown gingerly in his hands. "I'll make sure he gets it right away."

"And this," Aerith pulled a single red flower out of her basket, "is for you." She tucked it behind Reno's ear. "For being a good delivery man." She smiled cheekily. Reno chuckled.

"I'm honoured." He ruffled her hair. She was not pleased.

---

Reno strutted through the Turk office, red flower still in his hair, flower crown held behind his back.

"Hi Reno" Emma greeted from her desk as he passed her.

"'Sup." Reno.

"What's up?" She asked.

"Nothing." Reno smirked. He walked right up to Veld's closed office door.

"You can't go in there." Cissnei called out. Reno looked at her and kept eye-contact as he knocked on the door. Cissnei rolled her eyes and went back to her work.

No answer.

He knocked again.

A pause.

The door creaked open. Legend, minus his sunglasses, looked Reno up and down.

"What?" He sounded done with everything. To be fair, Reno would also be done with everything had he been stuck in meetings on and off for the last week.

"I need to see Tseng." Reno said. Legend raised his eyebrows, challenging Reno. Reno smirked and stood his ground. Legend sighed and stepped aside.

"Reno's here." He said to the room. Veld sat at his desk, jacket off and sleeves rolled up to his elbow, cigarette in his mouth. Tseng stood over his shoulder looking at the same document. His hair was still tied up but loosened that strands fell in his face and framed it. Veld looked furious – no mask in place. Tseng looked quietly tired – the same way he had when Reno had said what he said.

"This better be good, Reno." Veld warned darkly, like a wolf growling at an intruder.

"It is, sir." Reno nodded; face stone serious in response despite the wish to smile again. "It's a delivery regarding one of our most important ongoing missions. I was told to make sure it got to Tseng directly as soon as possible." If possible, the atmosphere in the room dropped further. Veld's anger turned to the Turk mask, Tseng's eyes flashed with something unrecognisable, and Legend began actually listening.

"Yes?" Tseng's voice was like ice water compared to Veld's fire.

Reno threw the flower crown at Tseng. Surprised, Tseng caught it to his chest then brough it down to look at it. The other two looked two. Tseng's face flushed as he examined the delicate flowers.

Veld broke into a roar of a laugh, more of a lion now than a wolf. Legend looked amused. Tseng seemed to prickle. He cleared his throat. He placed the crown down gingerly on the edge of Veld's desk and absent mindedly patted it.

"Yes, thank you, Reno." His voice cold and emotionless as his onyx eyes shot him daggers. Reno grinned ear to ear.

"You're welcome, sir."

---

Reno was sitting on the corner of Rude's desk, arms folded across his chest. They were talking about girls and Friday night when the door when the door to Veld's office opened. Legend left first, sunglasses back in place, empty coffee mug in hand. Next left Tseng, neat as a pin again and the flower crown in his gloved hands. He walked passed Reno and Rude on his way to his office.

"Aww, sir, you're not wearing it?" Reno called out.

"Not now, Reno!" Tseng hissed with a fire that he didn't know was possible and yet all it did was make Reno laugh. The slam of the office door that followed made Reno laugh for a second longer.

"What was that about?" Rude asked. Reno's smirk faded into a soft smile.

"Nothin'." He sighed. "Just the flower girl being a good kid."

"She's always a good kid."

Reno nodded. He stretched out his back, hearing a satisfying click. Then it was back to the more important topic at hand. What bar had the best chance of hooking up on Friday.

---

Reno and Rude were coming back from a patrol when they entered the Shinra building. Upon approaching the elevator Reno paused.

"Talk about the two scariest people in all of Shinra to catch an elevator with." He laughed. Waiting next to the elevators were Tseng and Sephiroth. Tseng was looking up at Sephiroth, telling him something. Sephiroth, brows slightly furrowed was nodding along. It was impossible to tell if it was business or personal talk. Most would just assume business but Reno and Rude knew better. Rude made a noise of disagreement.

"You forget," His deep voice came. "Hojo works here." The name caused a shutter to go down Reno's spine involuntarily.

"Don't say it so loudly, yo." Reno hissed. "You might summon him." He looked around to make sure the scientist didn't just appear in a puff of smoke. Rude chuckled. The two Turks approached the unlikely yet apparently very likely pair who immediately stopped talking and watched the others.

"Sirs." Rude said. Tseng's mouth twitch into an almost smile and Sephiroth nodded.

"Uneventful patrol, I hope." Tseng hummed. Rude nodded and Reno shrugged.

"Usual problems. Nothing big." Reno said. Sephiroth's green eyes looked amused. Just as he was about to say something he immediately shut his mouth. He and Tseng turned to face the elevators. Hearing the clicks of heels on the floor, Rude and Reno glanced over their shoulders. Walking right past them to barge in and stand between Tseng and Sephiroth while waiting for the elevator was Scarlet. Reno rolled his eyes at Rude. Tseng and Sephiroth both awkwardly step to the side to make room for Scarlet.

"Gentlemen." She spoke in that ghastly singsong voice that sounded so fake. "You both look lovely today."

"Scarlet." Sephiroth replied.

"Thank you. As always, so do you." Tseng returned the fake compliment with an equally fake one. You could tell by his stiff body language. Scarlet hummed. Reno and Rude looked at each other again.

The elevator dinged open. Scarlet waltzed in and stood right in the middle of the elevator. You could practically feel everyone internally groan. Sephiroth held the elevator door open with a gloved hand and gestured for Tseng to enter. Tseng went in and stood at the front, probably to avoid looking at Scarlet. Sephiroth nodded to the two Turks. Reno and Rude both uttered a thanks and went to stand in the two back corners. Sephiroth joined Tseng at the front. Tseng scanned his authorisation card and then pressed the button for Sephiroth's floor, The Turks main floor, and then Weapon's Development's offices.

"Such good boys." Scarlet hummed in approval. Sephiroth glanced over his shoulder at her and then, though it could have been his imagination, Reno swears he looked straight at Reno and Rude with a hint of exasperation before facing the door once more.

Silence.

Why did the Shinra building have to be so large and why did all classified offices have to be so damn far from the lobby?

Scarlet sighed. Reno felt himself go on edge and saw Rude react the same way. It was like immediately being put into fighting mode.

"Did you boys read the news?" She asked. Very faintly Tseng and Sephiroth shared a glance. She was talking about the suicide bombing in Junon that was linked to Wutai. It's believed to be an extremist group but Shinra wasn't letting the public know that part. Scarlet clicked her tongue. "But of course, silly me, you wouldn't have needed to read about it. At least one Turk and SOLDIER each would have been dispatched immediately, wouldn't they?" She knew damn they would have. Reno pulled a face at Rude. Reno could see Rude roll his eyes behind the glasses.

"Three." Tseng answered shortly.

"Four." Sephiroth smirked at Tseng. "Genisis, a second, and two thirds." And a whole bunch of Heidegger's military, which she'd also know. Tseng nodded. It was one of his 'yeah I know' types of nods. Reno was used to those.

"No doubt taking away from important matters." Scarlet sighed. She clicked her tongue. "The havoc those savages can wreck." She sung and shook her head.

The air in the elevator went icy cold but Reno himself started to overheat. He clenched his fist. Rude watched him carefully.

What did she just dare to say in front of Tseng and Sephiroth? If the rumours of Sephiroth's father were true then he was half Wutaiin. Although sometimes Reno hoped for Sephiroth's sake those rumours weren't true. Imagine having that man as a father.

"Wouldn't you boys agree it would be easier if we just wiped out those primitive monsters?" She asked them. She actually asked them. Reno felt himself boil over.

"What the hell?" He spluttered. Rude took off his glasses and looked poignantly at Reno as he tucked them into his jacket. Scarlet glanced over her shoulder smirking.

"You're absolutely right." Tseng replied flatly.

"What?" Reno scoffed. He went to step forward only to be stopped by Rude's arm. Reno tried to push it away but couldn't. Rude was made of stone. "Nah, that ain't right." Reno saw Sephiroth look him up and down.

"Reno." Tseng hissed dangerously.

"But-"

"Stop." It was a command. Reno froze, looking in the direction of the Assistant Director. Scarlet chuckled. She turned and looked Reno up and down with a quirked eyebrow.

"See?" She sung. "Even when we so graciously try to work with the defectors who see the light and come to the side of progress it only leads to dangerous sympathisers within our ranks. We certainly can't have that, can we gentlemen?"

"Absolutely not." Sephiroth replied.

"I'll personally see to it that my team is reminded of the consequences of such unpatriotic thoughts and behaviours." Tseng said. Reno couldn't help but visibly scowl. We weren't talking about war criminals here. We were talking about people – a whole continent of people. Scarlet smirked.

"Such good boys." She said to Tseng and Sephiroth as she continued to smile maliciously at Reno. If it wasn't for Rude's calming presence besides him Reno might have attacked her then.

The elevator dinged. Scarlet's floor was first. She bid her goodbyes to the two people she deemed worthy of it and exited. As soon as the door closed Sephiroth and Tseng turned around to face Reno.

"What on Gaia what that?" Tseng hissed in an angry whisper. Sephiroth quirked and eyebrow at Reno and folded his arms against his chest. Reno's blue eyes were wide as he looked between them then at Rude who was not defending him.

"You're asking me?" He placed a hand to his chest. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Reno pointed at Tseng's chest and the man had the balls to look offended. "Why would you just take that?" Tseng's angry glance looked at Rude with confusion. Rude shook his head. The elevator dinged and opened at the SOILDIER floor. Sephiroth immediately pressed close and pressed the button for the roof.

"Reno, you – " Tseng cut himself of and breathed out. "You are never to talk to a director like that, do you hear me?" He was ordering again.

"But-"

"Do you hear me?"

"No!" Reno stepped closer to him. "You've dedicate your whole life to this company and she thinks she can do that?" Reno spat, scowling.

"She's a director."

"You're an assistant director. To The Turks."

The elevator opened to the Turk floor. Sephiroth held the door open. He and Tseng shared a look.

"Rude may go. Reno stay." Tseng uttered. Rude gave Reno a pat on the shoulder and left, sharing a nod with the General as he went. The elevator continued up. Tseng went back to glaring at Reno.

"Scarlet can do as she pleases. She could use you as a footstool for a day and we would all let her. Do you understand?" Tseng growled, pointing a finger in Reno's face. Reno swatted it away.

"She shouldn't be allowed to do that. Not to you." Reno growled. "You're more important than her. And you!" Reno turned his anger onto Sephiroth who looked bemused as he looked Reno up and down, really sizing him up. "You could kill anyone you wanted. You just gonna sit back and take that?" Sephiroth scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"I'm a war hero." He huffed. "Can you imagine the field day she would have feeding lines to the media should I say something? I'd be branded a traitor." Reno pulled a face.

"Who are they gonna believe, her or you?"

"Her." Sephiroth and Tseng said at the same time.

The elevator dinged open. Tseng grabbed Reno by the collar and went to drag him out to the roof but Reno shrugged him off. Immediately with one hand and with a ridiculously amount of ease, Sephiroth pushed Reno out before stepping out himself. Reno brushed himself off.

"That's bullshit." He spat. "What about Hojo?" Reno looked between the two powerful men. "No way she's more important than him."

Sephiroth chuckled.

"Hojo would agree with er." The green cat eyes rolled in their sockets. "He thinks anyone who isn't him is a savage."

Reno cursed.

"So, the assistant director of the Turks, The world's greatest SOILDIER, and the head of research and all of you just take it?" Tseng sighed.

"The propaganda benefits the company."

"Screw the company." Reno growled even though he knew Tseng was right. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked to the ledge to look out over the plate.

"You can go." Reno heard Tseng say to Sephiroth in a defeated tone.

"You can handle this?" Sephiroth asked. Tseng must have nodded because the next voice was Sephiroth's again. "Let me know if you need help burying the body."

The elevator dinged and the sound of Sephiroth's strut as he entered it. Then the doors closed.

No footsteps were heard but Reno was aware of Tseng's presence coming to stand next to him. He was much calmer. They both were. Still angry, but calm.

Tseng held out a cigarette. Reno took it. Tseng took another one from his pack and put it in his mouth as he put the packet away and took out that lighter. He light Reno's cigarette then his own. He took the drag of someone who does indeed smoke no matter what he says.

They stood in silence for a few minutes, surrounded by their smoke as they looked out over the green hazy city.

Tseng broke the silence.

"It's very sweet of you Reno, but there's no room for such kindness in the Turks." His voice was soft. "I can fight my own battles." Reno sneered. He dropped the cigarette and put it out with his shoe.

"But you don't." He uttered. "You don't even try." Never once had he seen Tseng try to fight that particular battle.

Tseng sighed his tired sigh. He put out his own cigarette on the guard rail and flicked the butt away.

"I'm so tired Reno." He admitted. "I don't have the energy to do it every time. I don't have the energy to do it every second time." He leant on the guardrail and rubbed his forehead. "I certainly don't have the energy to watch you or Veld try to fight that battle for me and lose every time. It's exhausting, Reno." The mask was down and you could see every bit of exhaustion on the slightly older man's face. He looked so world weary it made Reno feel even angrier. He stepped closer to Tseng.

"Veld won with me." He argued. Tseng looked at him with such sympathetic brown eyes.

"Did he?" He asked. "Or did forced exposure to me make you realise that perhaps I'm as human as you are?" A beat. Reno didn't say anything. He knew Tseng was right. Tseng rubbed his head again. "Maybe Scarlet was right about my mere presence creating dangerous sympathisers."

"Hey, don't do that, yo." Reno lightly pushed Tseng. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Tseng stood up.

"It's true." He said. He hesitated and tapped on the guardrail. "You, the rest of the Turks, Genesis and Angeal…" He laughed and shook his head. "I've seen Veld get emotional over photos of children in Wutaii. No doubt imagining me at that age." He rolled his eyes. Reno felt a put in his stomach for something that might have been said once. "Genesis almost skinned a military commander many years ago when he made a comment to Sephiroth."

"Good." Reno shoved his hands in his pockets. "War is shit but both sides are human no matter what you believe. Maybe we should remember that sometimes." Tseng sniffed, then smiled. The after careful consideration put a hand on Reno's shoulder.

"That's kind." He sighed. "And it has no place in the Turks."

Silence.

Tseng removed his hand from Reno's shoulder and turned to face him.

"This rule has been unspoken for so long but of course you of all people are making me speak it and therefore make it official." He rolled his dark eyes. As they landed on reno there was a level on honesty and sincerity in them Reno had never seen before. "Anything like this, behind closed doors in the Turks office you can say to me." He place a hand on his chest emphatically. "Anything that upsets you about the company, please come directly to me. I'll decide if anything can be done, but out here," He gestured to the roof and the city below. "All Turks are emotionless. Nothing. We do not care. An enemy calls me a filthy savage and you are free to tear them limb from limb." A dark flash of humour across his face and Reno couldn't help but smirk a little. "Another Turk is angry at me and says something they normally wouldn't? Tell them to take a breath and think about what they're saying. It always works. I got flowers once." Reno snorted. "Scarlet says the worst thing you can imagine and the only thing Veld and I will allow is a derisive smile." Any sign of mirth from Reno dropped. "I'm serious, Reno." Tseng raised his eyebrows. "The company comes before all of us. This was a key point made throughout your training." Reno scoffed and kicked the floor.

"'S not the only thing." He muttered. "Who was the first one to say the Department is the closest thing to family, yo?" Reno glared out to the city.

Tseng pursed his lips. He placed both hands on the guardrail and glanced over the city. He opened his mouth to say something, closed it and inhaled. All while Reno glared at nothing.

"It doesn't matter." Tseng ended up uttering. "The company comes first." Reno blew air from his mouth.

"Seriously?" Reno sneered. Tseng said nothing. "You're telling me if you were ordered to shoot your dear pal Cissnei and you'd do it?"

"In a heartbeat." Tseng answered quickly. Ridiculous. Reno laughed.

"I don't believe you." Reno spoke more to himself than to Tseng. The assistant director quirked an eyebrow.

"Want to test me?" He asked. Reno shook his head. He took out his own cigarettes. He offered one to Tseng he held a hand up and shook his head. With a shrug, Reno put the pack away and light is smoke. He took a long drag.

"I don't need to." He breathed out the smoke and watched it dance. "Something about unspoken rules, yeah." Tseng was the perfect Turk after all and if Reno had learnt anything about the Turks it was that the only person who had your back was each other. Even friendships within the company couldn't be trusted the way you could trust your partner. Reno would already die for Rude – his best friend. He might die for most of the others too. If he could say that then what would the perfect Turk do?

"You suspect me capable of such kindness?" Tseng asked. Reno looked at his cigarette. He watched as ash fell to the ground.

"Not if kindness doesn't belong in the Turks, I don't." He replied. Tseng rolled his eyes but seemed to step closer to Reno.

They stood in silence for a few minutes, watching the upper city below them. Watched as tiny figures entered and exited the building that was the centre of the city and their world.

"I'm going to have to tell Veld about this." Tseng announced Reno cursed. "Don't worry. No doubt you'll be both reprimanded and rewarded."

Reno was taken off duty for a week.

With pay.

---

Reno was on a delivery to Kalm with Carol (Knife) and Emma. They'd had to secure their delivery first (stolen it back from a terrorist group who'd made camp somewhere between Midgar and Junon). Then they'd checked for everything, made a list of anything missing, and then set out on the easy part of driving it personally back to it's initial intended destination.

This part of the mission was a breeze. With the girls up in the front and Reno lying down on the back seat of the truck, it was like a road trip with friends. You chill and shoot the shit. They'd initially started with your usual chatter; latest work stories, talking about life before and around the Turks. Emma talked about how her sister was going. Then they'd moved on to road trip games – coming up with words from licence plates, marry, kiss, kill, and different variations of stuck on a dessert island; what would you take, who would you take, etc.

"Okay, I've got one for Reno." Carol said from the front. Reno was staring at the roof of the car. "Plane's crashing and you can only save one other person."

"Ooh." Emma sung in excitement from the driver's seat. This was a new one.

"Your choices are Legend, Rude, and Tseng." Carol finished. Reno frowned at the little turned off light between the girls and the roof of the car. Legend, Rude, and Tseng…. That was harder than expected. All very valuable Turks. Tseng most important. Legend had the most experience. And Rude… was well Rude.

"Carol!" Emma whined. She took a hand off the steering wheel and swatted the other woman. "That's too mean." Carol laughed, inferring that she knew it what Emma was referring too. "Asking Reno to pick Tseng or Rude." Emma shook her head. Legend had been completely forgotten apparently. "That's like asking Tseng to pick Cissnei or Veld."

"I know." Carol spoke with such mirth for her apparently devious plan. Reno's brows creased together and the redhead shot up – sitting up properly for the first time during the whole drive.

"How?" He scoffed. He honestly couldn't see it. Cissnei was Tseng's partner the way Rude was Reno's but what was the correlation between Tseng's relationship with Veld and Reno's relationship with Tseng.

"Your partner and your mentor." Carol replied. "I just threw Legend in there to see if you'd take the easier option and save yourself the choice." She looked over her shoulder the best she could with a seatbelt on and smiled at Reno. Reno's lip pulled up into a sneer.

"Mentor?" Reno laughed.

"Oh, Reno." Emma sighed. Carol chuckled at some insider joke.

"Whoa, whoa," Reno leant forward, hand on Carol's headrest as he waved his other hand in between the girls. "No. Trainer, not mentor." Carol nodded sarcastically. Reno sat back and kicked her seat. "Seriously. Can you imagine me and Tseng going out to dinner, yo? Shit like that?" Reno shook his head. "Nah."

"You're right." Emma agreed. "He's right." She said, glancing away from the road to look at Carol. "They're too close in age. Instead of father-son it's big brother-little brother."

"What?" Reno pulled a face. Carol made a noise in her throat in agreement with Emma.

"Yeah, all the 'I hate you. I wish you were dead' like siblings but then when push comes to shove."

"We'd all be there push comes to shove." Reno argued. "Even for you." He kicked Carol's seat again. She laughed.

"Give him an easier one." Emma chided.

"Fine, fine." Carol said. She hummed quietly while she thought of another. Reno flopped back down into his previous position. "Oh I've got it. You're stuck on a desert island with Hojo, Heidegger, and Scarlet. You have to eat one of them and find a way to escape with the others. Who do you eat?"

"Oooh." Emma sung, finding it interested. Reno rolled his eyes.

"Too easy, Knife!" Reno scoffed at Carol. "Kill Hojo immediately." Reno held his fingers to his head, miming a gun. Carol and Emma exchanged a look.

"Really?" Carol asked.

"Hojo is the most likely to find a way off the island." Emma said thoughtfully. "You'd still kill him."

"Ah-huh." Reno hummed. "Is he gonna find a way off before or after he finds a way to genetically combine you to some bird or sea slug?" Reno asked. "Man's too scary. Kill him."

"Hojo's scary but Heidegger is Heidegger." Emma said. Reno smirked.

"And didn't you say to the whole office a few days ago that you'd like to wipe Scarlet's smirk off her face with one of her heels?" Carol asked. Reno sniffed a silent laugh as he smiled.

"Yeah but that's because she's her, yo." He said.

"And Heidegger is Heidegger!" Emma reiterated. "They're the biggest blowhards in the whole company."

"And not scary at all." Reno said. Not when you have to talk to Veld and Tseng when you make a mistake. Especially the behemoth of Veld. "Hojo is dangerous, and dangerous without back up is scarier than any island." The girls hummed and pondered this. "I'm picking Hojo to go."

"Good call." Knife laughed nervously.

"No more Hojo options." Emma pleaded for future games.

---

"So here's a funny story, yo." Reno said between bites of fries. He was sitting in the spare seat in Tseng's office eating his lunch while Tseng typed up some reports. Reno did most of the talking while Tseng listened and occasionally gave advise or opinions.

Reno desperately wanted to put his feet up on Tseng's desk but the last time he tried that a few weeks ago when Tseng was stressed, he was promptly kicked out of the office. Rude had found it hilarious.

"On our way to Kalm the girls and I were just hanging out." Tseng quirked an eyebrow.

"Hanging out?" He repeated, a slight glare into his computer screen.

"Working and chatting." Reno corrected. Tseng hummed in disapproval. Reno ignored it, the condemnation going over him like watch over a duck's back. "And we were playing this game." Reno stopped as he heard the typing stop for a moment. When it continued, he continued. "This game where, you know, if you could save one person who would it be." He naturally paused as in a normal conversation this is where someone would add a nicety like 'how fun' or 'oh cool'. Tseng kept working. "So, Carol says my choices are you, Rude and Legend."

"And naturally you picked Rude." Tseng answered easily without thought as he clicked on something a few times then continued typing. Reno watched his hands for a while.

"Well I was gonna." Reno replied, vision going to the corner of the desk. He ate some more fries then looked back at the man working. "But when I was about to Emma said that one was too hard." Tseng sniffed.

"Has she seen you and Rude together?" He let a bit of amusement slip through his mask. Reno smiled. He'd have to tell Rude that later.

"I know, right?" Reno laughed fondly. He shook his hand. "But Emma said it wasn't fair." Reno pulled a face. Tseng's typing stopped. He folded his hands together in front of himself to study Reno. "She said-" Reno sat up in his chair. "That it was like asking you to pick between Ciss and the big boss." Reno scoffed and laughed. He expected some sort of amusement or bemusement from Tseng. Instead, Tseng pursed his lips, considered it, raised his eyebrows once and then turned back to work. Reno squinted at his superior.

"What was that?" He waved in the direction of Tseng's face with a fry. "Don't tell me you agree."

"No." Tseng hummed deeply. "But I see Emma's reasoning."

"What reasoning?" Reno questions. "That's she's making shit up?" Tseng took a soft breath as Reno paused. "Anyway," Reno slumped down in the chair. "I said you're my trainer not my mentor."

Tseng stopped typing. He clicked on something closing it. He turned his chair so he could look more directly at Reno and then folded his hands together on the desk once more.

"Reno," Tseng spoke softly. "The bulk of your training ended quite some time ago." He spoke. Reno nodded. "All you have left is ongoing infield training before you are taken off your initial probation." Reno nodded again. "And my involvement in that infield training is slim." Reno ate a chip.

"Yeah." He chewed. Tseng's bottom hand tapped on the desk once.

"And yet at least once a week, here you are," Tseng looked Reno up and down with cold dark eyes. It didn't bother Reno in the slightest "eating your lunch in my office, talking at me while I do my best to ignore you."

"And?" Reno asked, slouching further in the chair. "What's your point?" He ate another fry. Reno knew the point he was trying to make. He simply judged it irrelevant and stupid and was therefore not acknowledging it. Tseng cocked his head to the side.

"No point. I'm simply making an observation." Tseng hummed. He turned back to his computer. Reno rolled his eyes. "I saw that." Tseng warned. "Do it again and I'm going to start locking the door." Reno came close to rolling his eyes again but caught himself and busied himself with stuffing his empty fry box into his paper bag.

"So, then they changed it to you're stuck on an island with Hojo, Heidegger, and Scarlet and you have to kill one of them and find a way off with the others." Reno started explain.

"Oh." Tseng hummed. "Hojo." He nodded. Reno smirked. "Always Hojo. Next."

"That's basically what I said." Reno gestured to the heavens emphatically and then laughed. "Fine, fine. You're stuck on an island with Sephiroth, Genisis and Angeal and-"

"Genisis." Tseng cut Reno off. He clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Honestly Reno, are these supposed to be difficult?" Reno laughed a deep belly laugh.

"You're so brutal." He sniggered. Tseng's lips twitched to pull up just a little into a smile.

---

Reno, Rude, and Cissnei were out together again. The three of them almost always went out together on Friday nights, with or without the other Turks. Or to put it better, Reno and Rude always went out together on Friday nights and whenever she wanted to (a bit more than half the time) Cissnei came. They always had a good time too. Even if it started out rough due to one of them having a tough week the mood always lifted quickly.

This Friday, however, they were already on their second round of drinks and there hadn't been many laughs yet. Rude leant back with his arm across the back of the booth. Reno, next to him, slumped forward picking the paper coaster apart. Cissnei in the other side of the booth was quietly people watching. Cissnei's warm brown eyes flickered back to the booth and onto Reno's cold crystal eyes.

"Did you invite Tseng?" She asked. Reno rolled his eyes. It felt like déjà vu.

"No." Reno snorted into the table. "Why would I?"

"I did." Rude replied cooly. Cissnei's gaze fell onto him quizzically. Rude adjusted his sunglasses. Reno had tried to snatch them one drink ago, asking why he was wearing them in a dark bar, only to be swatted away with swift precession. "He said he had thirty-two hours and forty minutes before he had to see another Turk again and if he saw any of us before then he might just implode." Rude said with a smirk. Reno snorted again and Cissnei's lips pulled into a pleasant smile.

"At least he was honest." She said with a laugh in her voice. "Last week all I got was;" She sat up straight in the booth and folded her hands in front of her "It's very kind of you. I'd love to but I simply have too much paperwork." When Reno and Rude laughed she relaxed back into her seat. "He didn't have any paperwork." She shook her head. "He forgets I know his schedule and Veld did all that stuff last week."

"I get told to piss off." Reno uttered. Cissnei glared at him.

"No you don't." Rude chuckled. Cissnei smiled again. Reno sat up and folded his arms across his chest.

"I get the Tseng version of piss off."

"Are you talking about three weeks ago?" Cissnei asked wryly. "Because you came up to us while we were working and said 'everyone's going out this week and anyone who doesn't come is officially a loser'. And he told you to go away." Rude laughed in that quiet way of his that Reno knew meant it was definitely at Reno's expense.

"I was trying to be funny." Reno defended.

"It was funny." Cissnei nodded. "For me it was funny. Not for you." Rude laughed again. Reno took it. He deserved it and Cissnei looked kind of cute when she thought she had one over on you. He even allowed himself to smile back at two of his favourite fellow Turks.

"Point is, why do we bother?" Reno asked.

"Because it's nice." Cissnei lectured.

"Niceness has no place in the Turks." Reno mocked, pulling a face. Cissnei rolled her eyes.

"Because I want him to come." She pulled a matching face. "Better?" It was. Reno nodded triumphantly.

"I kind of do, too." Reno scratched the back of his hair, looking out into the crowd. "I've seen him after a few drinks and he was great." Reno looked back to his friends. "I'd love to see Drunk Tseng." Cissnei's knowing smile was back.

"He's pretty great." She replied.

"He is." Rude replied. Reno looked incredulously between them. Cissnei answered first.

"I get to be his plus one whenever he's invited to the First-Class SOILDERs' parties and he can't get out of it. Say what you will about Genesis," She picked up her drink and took a sip "The man can throw good parties."

"I've known him since he was young and stupid." Rude gave his answer. Upon seeing Reno and Cissnei's body language Rude added. "All kids are stupid at some point." True. Hard to believe in this case, or in the case of Sephiroth, but still true nevertheless.

"What's he like?" Reno asked.

Cissnei and Rude looked at each other.

They both picked up their drinks, took a sip and looked away.

"Don't Turk me!" Reno kicked Cissnei under the table. She yelped in surprise and kicked him back harder. The smiled at each other.

"Can't snitch on the second in command." Rude said.

"Honour amongst Thieves." Cissnei agreed. Reno put his hand on Rude's shoulder.

"Come on partner, ain't no secrets between Turks." He pleaded. Cissnei scoffed at that blatant lie.

"Sorry partner." Rude patted Reno's hand like placating a child.

One drink later and the mood had only picked up a little. At least they were laughing now. The topic of discussion from before still weighed on Reno's mind. He rubbed his face and blew air out from his lips.

"I don't get it, yo." He moaned, gaining Cissnei's gaze and bringing Rude to attention. "Veld's always calling us Tseng's group like we're Tseng's Turks not his." Reno hands slammed down on the table. "If that's supposed to be true then-"

"It can't be true." Cissnei interrupted, all mirth gone from her face. Even Rude next to Reno seemed stiffer. "That would be treasonous." She warned. Funny how different she could look when she wasn't smiling. She was sweet looking with a smile. Without one she looked dangerous. Perfect for a Turk.

"The company comes first." Rude repeated the same old line. Shrinking in on himself a little, Reno rolled his eyes as a defence mechanism.

"Yeah, yeah." He waved them off and leaned back against the booth.

"But let's just say that is what Veld means when he says that." Rude said with a cock of his head. Reno felt his smile return as he looked up at his big lug of a partner. "You were saying if that is supposed to be true, then…" Reno perked up. He slapped Rude on the shoulder.

"Then he's supposed to hang out with us." Reno finished. He took his hand off Rude's shoulder to take the sunglasses only to be swatted away again. This time he laughed as he nursed his hand. Cissnei inhaled and exhaled loudly.

"Ever heard of work friends, Reno?" She asked. "A lot of people don't see their work colleagues out of work."

"Most people aren't told on their first day to not bother with friends outside of work, Cissnei." Reno mimicked her tone of voice. She couldn't help but silently laugh once as she shook her head at Reno.

"So?" Rude asked. Both smaller Turks looked up at him. "What are we going to do about it?" Rude asked Reno. "If what you say Veld thinks is true and we need to see Tseng out of work to make that true, how do we fix it?" Reno grinned like a cheshire cat.

"I have an idea." He spoke.

---

Reno and Rude came out of the elevator at staff housing laughing. Cissnei, behind them, shushed them in fear of waking someone up. Rude stopped, smiling. Reno, wearing Rude's sunglasses on the tip of his nose giggled quietly. Reno carried a bottle of wine in each hand, Cissnei held two to her chest with both arms. Rude was carrying a carton of beer.

"Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea?" Cissnei questions from behind the partners.

"Yeah, of course!" Reno dismissed her concerns. "What's the worst that can happen? He doesn't answer the door?"

"We get fired?" Cissnei asks.

"Turks don't get fired." Rude reminded. They disappear. Cissnei and Reno glanced at Rude. Talk about a killjoy move. Reno shook off the bad vibes.

"He doesn't have that power." Reno shook his head. "And if Veld didn't punish me for throwing flowers at Tseng during a meeting, he ain't firing us for bothering Tseng without him around." Cissnei's brows furrowed.

"You did what?" She asked.

Rude laughed. Reno didn't answer, only smirked.

They reached Tseng's door. Cissnei rung the doorbell.

No answer.

They waited precisely two minutes.

Reno kicked the door lightly with his boot.

Two more minutes.

Reno kicked it three times and much harder. The noise echoed in the empty hallway.

"Shhh." Cissnei warned but it came out warbling with a bit of a laugh.

The door was pulled open. A very unimpressed Tseng was standing there. He was still in his work slacks and shirt but the tie and jacket were gone. His hair was out and there was a slight kink in it from where the lackey had held it tied up all day. With the other three all still in full uniform (kind of for Reno) he looked the least Turk of all of them. His hand held firmly to the edge of the door.

"Surprise!"

"Hey."

"Sorry!"

All three voices sounded at once.

Tseng pursed his lips. His eyes scanned the alcohol and then fell upon Rude.

"I thought I politely told you to leave me alone." He said flatly.

"I told them." Rude said. Tseng hummed.

"But hey, we brought beer and good wine!" Reno held up the bottles in his hand. Cissnei pulled a face.

"It's okay wine." She smirked.

Tseng looked from Reno, to Cissnei, back to Reno.

Silence.

Reno squirmed.

"So…" He spoke. Tseng said nothing. "You going to let us in?"

"Why?" Tseng asked. Reno's crystal eyes blinked.

"Why?" Reno asked back. He glanced over to Cissnei who refused to assist him in his goal. "You know," Reno turned back. "I'm starting to ask myself that, too." Tseng studied Reno before looking at Cissnei.

"You, too?" He asked. Cissnei smirked and shrugged.

"I think I may have accidentally started it. Sorry." She replied. Tseng gave her quite the forlorn expression before turning it into the faintest of friendly smiles. Cissnei's smirk held in place.

"Look," Reno level. "We're all a bit shitty today and we ain't having a great time. For some reason, insanity washed over us and we thought hanging out with you might break the mood." Tseng quirked an eyebrow. "You told me we can come to you, didn't you?" A softness crossed Tseng's face. His finger tapped on the door.

"Reno…" He went to make an argument for it only to stop before it came out of his mouth.

"Please, big brother." Cissnei softly teased. "We promise not to tell the other sibling's that Dad's favourite played with us. We won't make them jealous." She shook her head.

"I paid for all this." Rude added, meaning the alcohol.

"It'll be fun." Reno reassured. Tseng looked passed them and sighed. His mask was completely gone as he looked conflicted. He glanced inside then back at the Turks at his door.

"Alright then." He sighed softly. He stepped aside and gestured for the three to enter. Cissnei and Reno cheered and Rude chuckled.

Cissnei went in first, Rude behind her. Cissnei patted Tseng on the arm and they shared a warm look. Rude nodded to him in thanks as he passed. After Reno entered, he stopped and waiting for Tseng to shut the door. After Tseng turned around Reno slung and arm around his superior. Tseng stiffened for a moment, bristling at the touch.

"You ain't gonna regret this, bud." Reno grinned. Tseng relaxed a little.

"I already do." Tseng uttered. Reno laughed then shoved the bottles of wine into Tseng's arms before walking off to the kitchen. He started opening cupboards to find wine glasses for Tseng and Cissnei. Rude was placing the beer carton down besides the couch.

"Above the stove." Tseng called out as he walked briskly to stop Reno rifling. "Honestly, Reno." He sighed. Cissnei laughed, she and Rude sharing a smile.

Reno and Tseng are friends. They may not phrase it so. Reno might say he's just making it easier to work together and Tseng might say he humours Reno's extroverted tendencies. Despite Reno sticking his large foot in his even larger mouth on his first day, despite innumerable difference, they are indeed friends. Now.

---

Author's Note: I had so much fun writing this. I love anything where I can study character and I'd love to write more for the Turks so if you liked this and you wouldn't mind more from me let me know! Let me know what you thought and your favourite part.