(no subject)
Who: Reno and Rufus (clockedoutearly and watchingurclock)
What: Reno comes home after the disaster
Where: Rufus' place
When: Very early morning on the 13th
Why: Because
All things considered, Reno had to admit that the past few days had certainly been interesting. But that didn't make it exactly the most comfortable thing in the world when the clock struck midnight and all the memories he'd temporarily forgotten came flooding back. As a matter of fact, as the memories sorted themselves out properly the only thing he could manage to think for a moment was 'oh shit' closely followed by rather vivid pictures of a thoroughly displeased Rufus. He needed to get back, and he needed to get back now.
Managing to get the fish tank (and fish) he'd acquired into his little shuttle was a task and a half, but in the end he managed it, before headed off back 'home'. Not his home though. Not after something like this. There was something far more important to do. Hopefully it wouldn't get him shot at too much.
Of course, actually getting the tank up to Rufus' place was even more of a task, but a conveniently applied dose of Float made it easier if not any less awkward. Now all that was left was to hope that Rufus was asleep, or at least hadn't been woken up by the noise he couldn't entirely keep from making as he let himself in. This... was going to be interesting.
If Rufus had been sleeping, something that wasn't likely as he tried not to contemplate the loss of his Turk, he was very much woken by the warning beep of his security system. The fact that it hadn't gone shrill was testament the night visitor wasn't a threat.
Rufus left his warm bed behind, grabbing the robe wrapped around the back of his chair and slipped it on. Might as well see what was going on.
In this case, what was going was a red-headed Turk. Which by itself ought to have been more than enough explanation but add in the still-floating fish tank 'parked' rather haphazardly near one of the walls and the picture was more than a little strange.
"Hey, boss," Reno offered after a moment or so of pause. So much for having his arrival go unnoticed until the sun finally crawled its way over the horizon.
Rufus halted at the end of the hallway, hands still tying his robe closed as his eyes narrowed at the sight of Reno. While he felt a jolt of adrenaline at the sight of the redhead, he wasn't going to assume anything.
"Reno," Rufus neutrally answered.
Well, at least Rufus wasn't outright angry (yet). And given the way he'd been acting over the last few days he couldn't really blame the man for not being thrilled to see him. Although if asked, he would have been quick to point out that he'd have to at least have remembered a fair amount of what he'd temporarily forgotten to remember how to both find Rufus' place and not set all the security measures off in the process.
"Nice t' see you too," he answered, almost as if he were testing out the ground beneath his feet.
Rufus made a sound, non-committal and mostly to cover the fact that he actually wasn't sure where to go from there. While he wasn't happy with how things had turned out, it was a disaster, something Brawl was very well-known for and something that was more than likely out of any of their controls. On the other hand...
"And how are your parents? Doing well?" His tone was conversational as he strolled towards the tank, leaving no indication of the importance of that question. He stopped a few feet away to admire the fish swimming inside, waving a hand at the apparatus. "I assume these aren't for the chef?"
"I ain't got parents an' you know it," Reno retorted. The disaster may have made him think he had, true but in the end he was just another gutter born street rat.
"Thought you might like 'em," he answered with a shrug. It hadn't been the reason he'd picked them up from the thief-kid's alter ego, mind you, but still he had to admit the tank looked like it belonged here far more than it would have at the place he called his. "You c'n have 'em, yo."
"Things might have been different." At least, Reno might have had a better life, one not filled with violence and blood and loss.
"Like them? What use would I have for fish?" Reno of all people knew Rufus didn't like pretty, useless things.
"I ain't got much use for 'em," he answered with a shrug. "That an' they look better here then they would at my place."
The comment about things being different, on the other hand, wasn't answered immediately. Things had been different, no doubt about it. But in the end, this was the life that was his. He was and always would be a Turk. It would take more than a simple disaster to change that.
"I'm your Turk," he answered finally. "That's all there is to it."
They would in fact look better at Rufus' place, considering he had the lighting and space for the tank. However, Rufus wasn't naive enough not to know Reno was also passing the upkeep expense onto him.
Rufus was about to suggest that Reno find another home for his little wet pets, probably his previous parents, when the redhead's words got his full attention.
A hand latched onto the nape of Reno's neck, harshly pulling him forward. The hold Reno was pulled into was unyielding, betraying just how disturbed Rufus had been at the idea of losing the Turk.
It wasn't the first time Rufus acknowledged he was a selfish man, but he knew, if he'd been given the choice of giving Reno a happy childhood and life with family versus suffering the horrors of his early life to become Rufus' Turk, he would choose the latter. "Agreed."
It hadn't been in Reno's plans in the least to leave Rufus like he had but later, when he'd had the time to properly think every through, it would occur to him that perhaps his 'leaving' would be a good thing - if only as sort of a reminder to Rufus how different his life would be without his presence. For the moment, he simply returned the gesture. He hadn't remembered forgetting Rufus, but there had been times that something had felt very distinctly ... off in some way couldn't quite remember. And now that he did remember, he wasn't letting go again any time soon.
"For now an' for always," he answered with a nod, choosing to ignore the fact that some day even he would die. "An'... I'm sorry f'r all th' shit I said."
"I'm of two minds whether I should accept that apology," Rufus roughly answered, his hold on Reno tightening to refute his words. It felt good, right to have Reno where he belonged again.
"Stubborn bastard," Reno grumbled, although there was no really malice in his voice and no real complaint about the tightening hold. After all, it was nice to be back where he should be, no two ways about it.
The insult earned a tug on Reno's pony tail, though it wasn't enough to cause pain. He kept the pressure steady, revealing the lines of Reno's throat. No one could really blame Rufus for putting that offering to work. "Sliding back into insults already, are we?
"You've gone woefully uninsulted lately, I'm bettin'," Reno answered with a more than slightly amused gleam in his eyes, even as the pressure on his ponytail forced him to tilt his head back. "Unless you got Tseng t' act as a stand in 'r somethin' an' I'm pretty sure he wouldn't've agreed t' that, yo."
Rufus smirked, the expression more natural than it was the last couple of days. "I'm sure he had matters of more importance to take care of. As I recall, he was still your boss." Pressing his lips briefly just below Reno's Adam's apple, Rufus allowed himself this much of an admittance of weakness before he released the fall of hair, stepping back from the wiry man and shaking his head at the tank.
"We'll deal with that tomorrow. I'm more interested in sleep at the moment. As I'm sure you are," Rufus observed.
"He was," Reno answered. That part, at least, had stayed the same. He couldn't exactly say the same about anything else though. Not like that was surprising though. Disasters were never less than thorough, it seemed.
"It's soundin' pretty good, yeah." For the moment he'd refrain from remarking that it looked like Rufus needed it more than he did. Who'd have thought that 'losing' him would leave such an impact on the man who claimed not to have emotions more often than not?
It's a good thing Reno doesn't mention that fact, or this might have morphed into a very long, anger filled night. As it was, Rufus turned and made his way back to his room.
It didn't seem quite so large and bare now.
Approximately six hours later found Rufus opening his eyes again, his internal clock stating quite succintly that it was time for work. Propping himself up on an elbow, he glanced down at the redhead sprawled all over his bed (taking up much more than his half of the sleeping space) and couldn't help but smirk.
Exactly where I left him.
Reno must have been tired indeed, since he failed to stir even through Rufus' daily morning ritual. It wasn't until Rufus was fully dressed minus his overcoat that he decided it was time to wake the sleeping man.
Rufus sat on Reno's edge of the bed, fingers running along the redhead's jawline before they cupped the side of his neck. "Reno."
Even for a man whose job rather regularly forced him into spending odd hours at work, staying up through much of the night wasn't exactly fun. And given that was what he'd fully intended to do until the stroke of midnight had returned his memories to him, yes, he had been tired although he'd been doing his best not to show it. He was not however, so tired as to be dead to the world, eyes blinking open sleepily at Rufus' touch.
"'Sit?" he managed to mumble.
Ruling out that Rufus was already sitting, he could guess that Reno was asking 'what is it'. He leaned down to kiss the sleepy Turk, unable to resist drawing it out a bit longer than necessary.
"Time to work," Rufus finally answered him.
Needless to say, Reno was quite willing to return the kiss, even sleepy as he still was. And with his mouth thus occupied it was likewise quite understandable that it was a bit before he actually got around to answering Rufus.
"Too early," he complained, although there wasn't much force behind it. "Don' wanna go."
"No choice, I'm afraid," Rufus returned in a tone that said with no doubts that no, he wasn't really afraid or particularly feeling sorry and that yes, Reno will have to get his butt up somehow, someway, eventually.
Running his fingers once lingeringly through the spill of hair taking over Reno's pillow (there was no question that he would much rather spend the morning in bed with a certain person, but business beckoned), Rufus rose, tucking his overcoat over a forearm to be doned after he left the penthouse.
"Tseng is expecting you in an hour. It seems you're always in the habit of making up for missed work. It's a good thing you don't have that many bills to pay, hm?"
"Nnn, don' remin' me," Reno grumbled, slowly pulling himself to something approximating a sitting position. For that he had been going in to 'work' he had no doubts about the fact that Tseng both could and likely would be working him hard to make up for him not having spent his hours where he should've been.
"Sure you gotta go jus' now?" he asked, more on reflex than any real curiosity on his part although he certainly wouldn't mind what would inevitably come of Rufus not haring off to the office just yet.
Reno most assuredly made a charming figure, half sitting as he was with his hair loose and framing his face in disarray. Rufus was tempted, very tempted to just forsake his business deals, peel off his suit and reacquaint himself with how giving his mattress really was.
Very tempting.
But he'd let his business slide enough, being distracted as he was the last couple of days. And if he didn't close out that deal today, he would have to pay a premium to get the project up and running again. "Yes. We'll talk tonight, after dinner."
"Guess I'll just have t' find time t' come an' ... talk ... t' you later then," Reno answered with a distinct hint of a smirk. There was a brief pause and the smirk vanished. "'F I c'n get away from Tseng long enough. How pissed's he been, by th' way?"
Better to have a rough estimate and thus be better able to take care of things than go walking into a battlefield unprepared and unarmed.
It certainly gave him something to look forward to. He'd missed Reno's not so impromptu visits to his office during the day.
"Enough. Although, he did mention factoring your hours worked at the training center. I suppose your work ethics were more solid in your previous state."
"Hey, 've got some ethics," Reno answered. Not many, and he ignored them more often then not but they were still there. Just... very well-hidden.
"'Sides, you know I like beatin' people's heads in for 'em."
"Yes, I'm sure they appreciate the service," Rufus sardonically said. "Fifty minutes, Reno," he reminded the sleep disheveled man. "Don't be late. I would rather not hear about discipline measures being enacted in my absence."
Rufus turned and left the room without looking back, knowing that if he did, he wouldn't be able to make it out the door.
What: Reno comes home after the disaster
Where: Rufus' place
When: Very early morning on the 13th
Why: Because
All things considered, Reno had to admit that the past few days had certainly been interesting. But that didn't make it exactly the most comfortable thing in the world when the clock struck midnight and all the memories he'd temporarily forgotten came flooding back. As a matter of fact, as the memories sorted themselves out properly the only thing he could manage to think for a moment was 'oh shit' closely followed by rather vivid pictures of a thoroughly displeased Rufus. He needed to get back, and he needed to get back now.
Managing to get the fish tank (and fish) he'd acquired into his little shuttle was a task and a half, but in the end he managed it, before headed off back 'home'. Not his home though. Not after something like this. There was something far more important to do. Hopefully it wouldn't get him shot at too much.
Of course, actually getting the tank up to Rufus' place was even more of a task, but a conveniently applied dose of Float made it easier if not any less awkward. Now all that was left was to hope that Rufus was asleep, or at least hadn't been woken up by the noise he couldn't entirely keep from making as he let himself in. This... was going to be interesting.
If Rufus had been sleeping, something that wasn't likely as he tried not to contemplate the loss of his Turk, he was very much woken by the warning beep of his security system. The fact that it hadn't gone shrill was testament the night visitor wasn't a threat.
Rufus left his warm bed behind, grabbing the robe wrapped around the back of his chair and slipped it on. Might as well see what was going on.
In this case, what was going was a red-headed Turk. Which by itself ought to have been more than enough explanation but add in the still-floating fish tank 'parked' rather haphazardly near one of the walls and the picture was more than a little strange.
"Hey, boss," Reno offered after a moment or so of pause. So much for having his arrival go unnoticed until the sun finally crawled its way over the horizon.
Rufus halted at the end of the hallway, hands still tying his robe closed as his eyes narrowed at the sight of Reno. While he felt a jolt of adrenaline at the sight of the redhead, he wasn't going to assume anything.
"Reno," Rufus neutrally answered.
Well, at least Rufus wasn't outright angry (yet). And given the way he'd been acting over the last few days he couldn't really blame the man for not being thrilled to see him. Although if asked, he would have been quick to point out that he'd have to at least have remembered a fair amount of what he'd temporarily forgotten to remember how to both find Rufus' place and not set all the security measures off in the process.
"Nice t' see you too," he answered, almost as if he were testing out the ground beneath his feet.
Rufus made a sound, non-committal and mostly to cover the fact that he actually wasn't sure where to go from there. While he wasn't happy with how things had turned out, it was a disaster, something Brawl was very well-known for and something that was more than likely out of any of their controls. On the other hand...
"And how are your parents? Doing well?" His tone was conversational as he strolled towards the tank, leaving no indication of the importance of that question. He stopped a few feet away to admire the fish swimming inside, waving a hand at the apparatus. "I assume these aren't for the chef?"
"I ain't got parents an' you know it," Reno retorted. The disaster may have made him think he had, true but in the end he was just another gutter born street rat.
"Thought you might like 'em," he answered with a shrug. It hadn't been the reason he'd picked them up from the thief-kid's alter ego, mind you, but still he had to admit the tank looked like it belonged here far more than it would have at the place he called his. "You c'n have 'em, yo."
"Things might have been different." At least, Reno might have had a better life, one not filled with violence and blood and loss.
"Like them? What use would I have for fish?" Reno of all people knew Rufus didn't like pretty, useless things.
"I ain't got much use for 'em," he answered with a shrug. "That an' they look better here then they would at my place."
The comment about things being different, on the other hand, wasn't answered immediately. Things had been different, no doubt about it. But in the end, this was the life that was his. He was and always would be a Turk. It would take more than a simple disaster to change that.
"I'm your Turk," he answered finally. "That's all there is to it."
They would in fact look better at Rufus' place, considering he had the lighting and space for the tank. However, Rufus wasn't naive enough not to know Reno was also passing the upkeep expense onto him.
Rufus was about to suggest that Reno find another home for his little wet pets, probably his previous parents, when the redhead's words got his full attention.
A hand latched onto the nape of Reno's neck, harshly pulling him forward. The hold Reno was pulled into was unyielding, betraying just how disturbed Rufus had been at the idea of losing the Turk.
It wasn't the first time Rufus acknowledged he was a selfish man, but he knew, if he'd been given the choice of giving Reno a happy childhood and life with family versus suffering the horrors of his early life to become Rufus' Turk, he would choose the latter. "Agreed."
It hadn't been in Reno's plans in the least to leave Rufus like he had but later, when he'd had the time to properly think every through, it would occur to him that perhaps his 'leaving' would be a good thing - if only as sort of a reminder to Rufus how different his life would be without his presence. For the moment, he simply returned the gesture. He hadn't remembered forgetting Rufus, but there had been times that something had felt very distinctly ... off in some way couldn't quite remember. And now that he did remember, he wasn't letting go again any time soon.
"For now an' for always," he answered with a nod, choosing to ignore the fact that some day even he would die. "An'... I'm sorry f'r all th' shit I said."
"I'm of two minds whether I should accept that apology," Rufus roughly answered, his hold on Reno tightening to refute his words. It felt good, right to have Reno where he belonged again.
"Stubborn bastard," Reno grumbled, although there was no really malice in his voice and no real complaint about the tightening hold. After all, it was nice to be back where he should be, no two ways about it.
The insult earned a tug on Reno's pony tail, though it wasn't enough to cause pain. He kept the pressure steady, revealing the lines of Reno's throat. No one could really blame Rufus for putting that offering to work. "Sliding back into insults already, are we?
"You've gone woefully uninsulted lately, I'm bettin'," Reno answered with a more than slightly amused gleam in his eyes, even as the pressure on his ponytail forced him to tilt his head back. "Unless you got Tseng t' act as a stand in 'r somethin' an' I'm pretty sure he wouldn't've agreed t' that, yo."
Rufus smirked, the expression more natural than it was the last couple of days. "I'm sure he had matters of more importance to take care of. As I recall, he was still your boss." Pressing his lips briefly just below Reno's Adam's apple, Rufus allowed himself this much of an admittance of weakness before he released the fall of hair, stepping back from the wiry man and shaking his head at the tank.
"We'll deal with that tomorrow. I'm more interested in sleep at the moment. As I'm sure you are," Rufus observed.
"He was," Reno answered. That part, at least, had stayed the same. He couldn't exactly say the same about anything else though. Not like that was surprising though. Disasters were never less than thorough, it seemed.
"It's soundin' pretty good, yeah." For the moment he'd refrain from remarking that it looked like Rufus needed it more than he did. Who'd have thought that 'losing' him would leave such an impact on the man who claimed not to have emotions more often than not?
It's a good thing Reno doesn't mention that fact, or this might have morphed into a very long, anger filled night. As it was, Rufus turned and made his way back to his room.
It didn't seem quite so large and bare now.
Approximately six hours later found Rufus opening his eyes again, his internal clock stating quite succintly that it was time for work. Propping himself up on an elbow, he glanced down at the redhead sprawled all over his bed (taking up much more than his half of the sleeping space) and couldn't help but smirk.
Exactly where I left him.
Reno must have been tired indeed, since he failed to stir even through Rufus' daily morning ritual. It wasn't until Rufus was fully dressed minus his overcoat that he decided it was time to wake the sleeping man.
Rufus sat on Reno's edge of the bed, fingers running along the redhead's jawline before they cupped the side of his neck. "Reno."
Even for a man whose job rather regularly forced him into spending odd hours at work, staying up through much of the night wasn't exactly fun. And given that was what he'd fully intended to do until the stroke of midnight had returned his memories to him, yes, he had been tired although he'd been doing his best not to show it. He was not however, so tired as to be dead to the world, eyes blinking open sleepily at Rufus' touch.
"'Sit?" he managed to mumble.
Ruling out that Rufus was already sitting, he could guess that Reno was asking 'what is it'. He leaned down to kiss the sleepy Turk, unable to resist drawing it out a bit longer than necessary.
"Time to work," Rufus finally answered him.
Needless to say, Reno was quite willing to return the kiss, even sleepy as he still was. And with his mouth thus occupied it was likewise quite understandable that it was a bit before he actually got around to answering Rufus.
"Too early," he complained, although there wasn't much force behind it. "Don' wanna go."
"No choice, I'm afraid," Rufus returned in a tone that said with no doubts that no, he wasn't really afraid or particularly feeling sorry and that yes, Reno will have to get his butt up somehow, someway, eventually.
Running his fingers once lingeringly through the spill of hair taking over Reno's pillow (there was no question that he would much rather spend the morning in bed with a certain person, but business beckoned), Rufus rose, tucking his overcoat over a forearm to be doned after he left the penthouse.
"Tseng is expecting you in an hour. It seems you're always in the habit of making up for missed work. It's a good thing you don't have that many bills to pay, hm?"
"Nnn, don' remin' me," Reno grumbled, slowly pulling himself to something approximating a sitting position. For that he had been going in to 'work' he had no doubts about the fact that Tseng both could and likely would be working him hard to make up for him not having spent his hours where he should've been.
"Sure you gotta go jus' now?" he asked, more on reflex than any real curiosity on his part although he certainly wouldn't mind what would inevitably come of Rufus not haring off to the office just yet.
Reno most assuredly made a charming figure, half sitting as he was with his hair loose and framing his face in disarray. Rufus was tempted, very tempted to just forsake his business deals, peel off his suit and reacquaint himself with how giving his mattress really was.
Very tempting.
But he'd let his business slide enough, being distracted as he was the last couple of days. And if he didn't close out that deal today, he would have to pay a premium to get the project up and running again. "Yes. We'll talk tonight, after dinner."
"Guess I'll just have t' find time t' come an' ... talk ... t' you later then," Reno answered with a distinct hint of a smirk. There was a brief pause and the smirk vanished. "'F I c'n get away from Tseng long enough. How pissed's he been, by th' way?"
Better to have a rough estimate and thus be better able to take care of things than go walking into a battlefield unprepared and unarmed.
It certainly gave him something to look forward to. He'd missed Reno's not so impromptu visits to his office during the day.
"Enough. Although, he did mention factoring your hours worked at the training center. I suppose your work ethics were more solid in your previous state."
"Hey, 've got some ethics," Reno answered. Not many, and he ignored them more often then not but they were still there. Just... very well-hidden.
"'Sides, you know I like beatin' people's heads in for 'em."
"Yes, I'm sure they appreciate the service," Rufus sardonically said. "Fifty minutes, Reno," he reminded the sleep disheveled man. "Don't be late. I would rather not hear about discipline measures being enacted in my absence."
Rufus turned and left the room without looking back, knowing that if he did, he wouldn't be able to make it out the door.