Night Shift 24: M11-M20 Hallway
((OOC: Starting off in M13, moving into the hall.))Homura closed his eyes as that familiar voice filled the air, let out a slow breath to ease into the proper mindset for what was about to happen. Short this time, which was good, as he didn't have any desire to listen to the head doctor prattle on endlessly. No, Homura was eager to get things
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"And here I thought those stories about Turk Survival Camp were nothing but rumours or reasons Tseng made up to increase his budget. So they are true? I now feel rather fortunate that the worst he ever did to me was throw me around the training room whenever I did something he felt was foolish."
For Rufus, that had been bad enough. It didn't matter how quick Rufus thought he was on drawing his weapon, Tseng or the other Turks always managed to make him look like a beginner. There were few things more shameful than being thrown around like a stuffed animal until he was covered with bruises that he couldn't break his pride down enough to ask Medical for healing. Explaining how and why Tseng and his people had felt the need to toss him around for an hour or so was not something Rufus would ever do. Better to take the punishment than complain.
"We could make you the new Head Doctor, Reno. Put you in whatever the control room for this place is, install cameras and traps, and let you be in charge. Tseng might thank me for getting you a hobby."
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He wasn't even sure if Elena had ever ended up with the same training the rest of them had, given she was the only one who'd joined up after that disaster with Veld and the other Turks. He'd never asked, and she'd never told, but when he thought about it, it didn't make a whole lot of sense to maintain any specific program just for one person.
At any rate, training had always sucked a hell of a lot more than the actual job itself.
He laughed, reaching back to retie his hair. "Oh, Tseng would just accuse me of using the cameras as a means to my voyeuristic tendencies or something. 'Sides, I'm the only person at Shin-Ra who even knows what the goddamn concept of a hobby even is, thank you very much."
Sort of. Maybe not really. He bitched about his right to a vacation more than anyone, but in truth, he could be as much of a workaholic as any of them. The time off he'd taken following Sector Seven had bored him to fucking tears. After running around with the Turks for all these years, booze and sex just didn't offer as much entertainment by comparison. And maybe that was also part of the reason why Shin-Ra had managed to keep a hold of him for so long. Because really, what else was there for him to do?
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Rufus snorted at that. Damn it, but that seemed so long ago. What had it been? A week? Two? Time had lost meaning here in Landel's. It felt like months. Watching Reno tie back his hair, Rufus frowned faintly. Did Reno's hair look longer? Shaking his head, he put the matter out of his mind and smirked at Reno's words.
"I'll have you know that I do recognize what a hobby is, Reno. I have quite a few actually. I collect gems occasionally. I have a great fondness for precious blue ones."
The other things he tended to collect he wasn't going into. Schuldig had already hinted at Rufus' proclivity in that area.
"I can only imagine the videos you would make off a place like this. Then again, perhaps I shouldn't. You could make a fortune online. We executives were still debating whether or not it was you that caught my head of finance in the boardroom with the PR director that time and put it out for the public."
Rufus shook his head ruefully, stopping quick enough when a bolt of pain ran through what he felt was the mush making up his brain. That had been hilarious though.
"But yes, I do know what a hobby is an have a few of them. We're not all work and no play. Some of us simply don't broadcast it often."
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At the mention of the new Turks, Reno leaned his head back to peer up at Rufus. "Yeah? God knows we could use 'em."
He was always wary about the hiring of new Turks - expanding the circle to unknown faces was never the best way to keep things secure - but there was no denying they were short more than just a few hands. They'd operated all right with the four of them before because there were still the SOLDIERS and the various lower guards to back them up, but after Shin-Ra collapsed, those guys had all scattered. Coupled with the fact that their intelligence network had crumbled to dust, too - hard to keep your sources when you couldn't offer the same power and protection - there was no way they could keep going with just four goddamned employees.
Reno shook off a single strand of red hair that had come away with his fingers. He watched it float for a bit before plucking it from the air again and starting to wind and unwind it around his index finger.
A smile curved his lips. "Okay. I'll give you that. Nothing says social life like blue gems, yeah?" His tone was more lightly teasing, though, lacking most of his usual sarcasm.
He lifted an amused eyebrow at the mention of the video. He actually had no idea what Rufus was referring to, having not lived through that particular time period yet.
"Oh, come on. Does that really sound like me? I mean, I would've kept it and used it as blackmail."
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A moue of displeasure came and went on Rufus' face at that particular memory. He recalled a bit too well some of the things from that era, ones he didn't care to dwell on. He was grateful for the subject change or what he pounced on as a subject change.
Glancing down at Reno, Rufus nodding, shoulders lifting in a vague shrug. "Tseng had wanted some, ones that he was willing to work with and build up since we're lacking the Shin-Ra Military Academy still. I'm not sure how it will go exactly, but that's not my area. I leave that in his capable hands. I ended up getting The Look for even thinking that he not let the rookies be my guards. He made it very clear that he thought I was the fool for even suggesting he would do such."
The horror of 'The Look' from Tseng didn't need further explained in Rufus' opinion. Many feared it and few stood against it.
Glancing down at Reno, Rufus' smirking smile took on a dark edge as he leaned heavier on the chair. Make fun of his gems would he? Rufus was rather proud of those. Few of them were found on Gaia and finding someone who could sculpt them without breakage occuring was even less. It might be time for revenge.
"Now Reno," he said in a low voice, dropping to the lower tones that was just shy of a growl. One fingertip rose in a warning gesture before Rufus tried to touch along Reno's jawline and brush a few more of those hairs away lightly as he returned the favour by invading Reno's personal space. Turnabout was fair play, and after all, he did want to just once see Reno back down. Revenge was just a good excuse.
"You should never, ever, ever belittle another man's stones, especially when you've never seen them."
Schuldig might be a really, really bad influence on Rufus after all if he was resorting to the telepath's tactics.
It was really too bad that Rufus' one thought was 'Please don't let Elena walk in now and see or hear that'. He'd never live it down if she did.
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Reno couldn't deny that Tseng had a damn good eye for new recruits. Whether it was through instinct or some sort of complex system the man had come up with, Tseng never failed to pick out the potential few others saw.
Tseng's "look" did, indeed, need no elaboration. Reno had probably received it the most out of everyone. If Tseng wasn't careful, Reno would start developing an immunity against it soon.
He was about to say something else, but stopped when he caught the look on Rufus's face. It wasn't one he'd ever seen with Rufus before, but he'd certainly encountered it on others. Hell, he'd flirted with plenty of people in the exact same way.
Wait. Flirted. Was the President flirting with him?
No, stupid question. Obviously, he was. Well, damn. This was new. Granted, Rufus was likely just trying to take revenge over his...gems (what? Christ, of all things).
If he hadn't had prior warning to Rufus' new state of mind, he probably would've pulled away on instinct. As it was, he let Rufus run a finger along his jaw, one eyebrow raised in a mixture of curiosity and amusement. He wasn't sure if he found this interesting or just kind of a turn-on. Maybe both. If there was one person who would be willing to admit that their boss was pretty damned attractive, it was probably Reno.
A faint smirk played on his lips, though someone who knew him well enough might've noticed a split second of hesitation as he wavered between dodging the challenge or taking it on.
But really, who was he kidding? He'd back down over something important. Over this, when Rufus was clearly just daring him for the sake of daring him?
Yeah, right.
Reno had been playing with the strand of hair out of boredom, but now he twisted it around his finger slower and more deliberately.
"Wasn't aware that blue stones were something to be fond of. You might want to get someone...to look into fixing that."
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The flaw in his plan was apparent soon enough when Reno failed to be properly cowed by Rufus' revenge tactic. That was unexpected.
Uhh... shit.
A dark thought surfaced in Rufus' mind, he seizing on that quickly like a drowning man would a life preserver. It was a long shot, but it might just work. One way or another, he needed to win this. Had to. The amusement in Reno's eyes was welcomed, not wanting to chance pissing off his one of two allies here. If Reno had showed the slightest sign of discomfort (or at least discomfort that Rufus would have known him well enough to pick up on) Rufus would have backed off. Since he didn't, Rufus leaned a little closer, his hair brushing against Reno's own.
"Do you know how I knew you weren't my Reno?" he asked, that low growl still in his voice. "My Reno had two scars. One is barely visible right here..."
Rufus fingertip slid slowly down Reno's throat, drawing a line just shy of touching the man's cartoid artery. Even he was smart enough not to do that. Given Reno's profession, he doubted the Turk would want a caress that intimate or potentially dangerous.
"The other is right..."
The fingertip dropped down without warning, following the line of Reno's Landel's wear collar at first and then lower to the man's mid-chest. A fingernail scraped against the material.
"There."
Rufus tilted his head, trying to brush his lips against Reno's ear as he spoke. "My Reno was nearly gutted keeping some crazy man from gutting me about a week before Geostigma surfaced and ended up getting stabbed himself in the process. Then again, there's also the fact that I know for sure if he's a natural redhead or not. Would you like to guess how?"
Rufus drew back some, enough to meet Reno's gaze. He had to remind himself that this Reno didn't know he was lying his arse off. It wasn't the first time Rufus had completely lied to win. What was business but a complete and utter fabrication at times?
"That and he has this fondness for being on top that I don't think you share."
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He shifted his leg, brushing it lightly against Rufus' as he did. He didn't comment as Rufus spoke, only locked his gaze with Rufus, lowering his eyelids just enough to draw attention to his eyelashes. He didn't bother moving away from Rufus's touch, either, even leaning into it slightly. It wasn't like it was unwelcome or anything. Maybe the fact that he'd been here for almost a week without any real action (the closest he'd gotten was flirting with Lust) had something to do with this.
Reno was tempted to turn his head as Rufus's lips brushed against his ear, knowing full well where the President's mouth would end up if he did so. But he wasn't about to take it quite that far yet.
Rufus likely would've been able to pull his little story off - he always was a hell of a good liar - if he hadn't made a reference to the timeline. But he had, and he apparently didn't realize that Reno was fully aware of every event up to and past Geostigma. Reno was pretty damned sure that he hadn't gotten stabbed a week before Rufus came down with the infection. He'd taken plenty of hits for a number of people before. That one wasn't on the list.
Of course, Rufus could very well be telling the truth about the latter half. It wasn't that difficult to see himself bedding the President. Actually, that prospect was looking closer and closer right now.
In any case, there was at least one bluff for him to call Rufus out on. That didn't mean he'd do it, though. He wanted to play along and see where Rufus was willing to take this.
"Hmmm. Did you want to confirm for certain, that second scar? Don't tell me you can see through my shirt." He cocked his head, as though considering, before finally discarding the loose strand of hair and leaning forward enough to close the gap created when Rufus had pulled back.
"Actually, we can confirm that and your assumption about my preferences in bed all in one go. Efficiency. That's your thing, yeah?"
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The brush of the Turk's leg against his own was a spark of heat, one he pointedly chose to ignore. He wouldn't win this game by giving into a weakness like lust. There was a moment of (very) faint worry when Reno didn't pull back but leaned into his fingers some instead. Well, that wasn't expected. This might call for a change of plan on his part.
This became even more apparent a moment later when Reno more or less propositioned him to find out if it were all true. The question now was how far was he willing to go to say he'd beaten Reno in something.
That smirk never left Rufus' face as he stood his ground, letting Reno close that gap between him that he'd created. He stayed standing, enjoying the short time he was able to tower over the other man. Height gave him the illusion of being in control, of being higher up that Reno was. It was something he'd used to his advantage. The tip of his tongue touched lightly against the centre of his own upper lip, sliding along to the cornre as he pretended to think over Reno's question.
"I suppose you would have no compunction about cheating on yourself."
His fingers ticked against the strands of Reno's hair that were free of the tie at the front, aimlessly moving until he reached the tail of red hair and tried to flip it over Reno's shoulder and into his own grasp. Rufus had lost count of the number of time over the years that he'd wanted to grab ahold of that hair and throw Reno into a wall with it. He tried to use it to force the Turk's head up, Rufus wanting to loom over him.
"I know my Reno is worth the time, but what makes you worth it?" he asked, sounding as bored as he would have been if forced to give interviews for mailroom positions. He was the very picture of Shin-Ra arrogance, that better-than-thou attitude that made his eyes cold and the archness of his smirk all the worse. "Efficiency has its place, but I prefer to take other things... slow and enjoy them. You look more like the fast and unable to control himself sorts."
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As Rufus tugged on his ponytail, he went with the motion, knowing what Rufus was trying to do and not particularly bothered by the display of dominance. Reno didn't have anything to prove to the President; Rufus was well aware of what he was capable of.
He leaned his head back all the way, slinging a casual arm over the backrest of the chair. His smirk widened until it was almost a lazy grin.
"Well now, but that would be telling, right?" He slipped a lock of hair out of Rufus's grasp, fingers coming into contact with Rufus's hand for a split second, the barest hint of a touch. He brushed the strands over his lower lip, tongue darting out to wet the tips. "You'll have to find out for yourself just how...worth it I am."
Even as he spoke, he was aware of how absurd this whole situation was, that it never would've happened had they been anywhere but here. He could almost hear Tseng hyperventilating in the background.
Speaking of the other Turks. Wasn't Elena making her way here right about now?
Oh, damn. This is gonna be fucking priceless.
"Y'know," he began slowly, "I could beg to differ. I could tell you that I'm actually controlling myself pretty damn well right now. But really - I think that might just be a lie. I think it might just be that your...attempts...haven't been able to cause me to fall into those violent throes of passion I can't control."
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Thoughts of Schuldig were far from his mind. He hadn't forgotten the telepath by any stretch of the imagination. The headache haunting the back of his head made sure of that. Schuldig simply wasn't something on his mind right now since it was a Schwarz only night, especially with Farfarello's reappearance. Had he known the Irishman was stalking the halls, Schwarz would have taken a higher precedence in his mind. Had he kept in mind that Elena was around somewhere or on the way, he probably wouldn't be pushing this so far.
Unfortunately, he was thinking with a lower power at present, one that was already consuming his intelligence. Or at least diverting it elsewhere.
Rufus' head tilted, real amusement that was tinged with exasperation overtaking that cold expression some. That bare touch there brought another spark, one that he quickly killed off. Reaction on his part wouldn't do right now. And his eyes didn't stray to that flick of tongue. Not at all. Or that's what he told himself. Okay, he had to get control of this back somehow.
"Oh, I know exactly how much you're worth, Reno. Roughly four million gil last I checked the company records," he drawled. "Of course, that's not counting the damage you do. That might drop your value to far less."
Rufus bent down enough to bring them within a few inches of space between them.
"I don't think you're controlling yourself at all. As I said, you're not my Reno. Mine probably all ready would have had me flat on my back by this point. He always did like my desk. Something about wanting Tseng to see fingernail marks on it and have to wonder or not be able to do anything about it. Then again, he did have a fondness for the helicopter as well. Amazing that he could steer the thing during."
Rufus' sharp smile came back, a fingertip rubbing against his own lower lip in a rather pointed manner.
"I don't expect you to fall into 'violent throes of passion' unless you happen to be a woman under there."
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Granted, Rude would be able get away with it, too, except it wasn't in his partner's nature to be all touchy-feely and intimate.
At the hint of amusement in Rufus' expression, Reno's satisfaction only grew. So he really was getting to the President.
Points for me.
Though Rufus did surprise him a little by naming an actual price. He wasn't aware Rufus kept tabs on these things. True, that number might've just been one he'd made up on the fly, but Rufus was also certainly detailed and obsessive enough to sit there calculating how much each of his Turks cost.
"Four million, huh? So assuming that's the wholesale price, how much do I go for on the market? Or am I not for sale because you're just possessive like that? Being a collector and all."
Reno chose to dodge the issue of damages. That was one point he'd never win. Not even he could deny he'd destroyed...several things. Or, fine. A bit more than several.
"Yeah? He probably also likes the desk because that's where the drawers are, and I'm sure you know all the little surprises you keep in there." He paused, as though contemplating. "Or maybe that was only my President Shin-Ra. You might have them hidden somewhere else."
His turn to offer up complete bullshit, as well. Except this wasn’t so much intended to be believed as it was just to put a few images into Rufus’s head. Rufus was actually putting a number of images in Reno’s head, too-none of which were a turn-off. The opposite, really. But he'd be damned if he ever let Rufus know that.
"Nah. Sorry if that's your kink." He leaned forward slightly, but kept enough distance between them to avoid any actual contact. "I do, however, have plenty of other interesting things under there."
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Tseng would be having a coniption.
"Four million, six hundred, twenty-two thousand, four hundred and seventy three gil if you want the actual price that you were worth to Shin-Ra Company however long ago it was that I left. Only Tseng exceeded you in cost. Rude was just under you because he lacked your ability to move in and out of situations. His size lessens his value slightly on the covert operations front," Rufus said lazily, gaze sliding to Reno's hair instead of his face. It was safer until he had himself firmly back under control.
He chuckled at the mention of his desk drawers. "I keep an EMR in the top drawer actually. Most wondered how I survived the Tower falling on me after Diamond Weapon's attack. He gave me one of his EMRs loaded with Barrier incase an assassin ever got past my guards. I activated it just as the Tower was falling. Kept me alive."
That was true and false. It had been an EMR that Rufus had used, but it wasn't Reno's. It had been a new prototype Shin-Ra had been working on. It had been luck it was there. A faint tug was given to Reno's ponytail, Rufus' fingers edging to where hair met skull, picking idly at the hair tie. So close and so far away. So far, it was the only point they connected despite being a bare inch or two apart.
"Is this where I ask you for a show then? Or do you prefer those who simply move in and take? It's so hard to decide since you two aren't exactly the same."
Master of bullshit still it would seem.
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"Fascinating," he said.
Actually, it really kinda was, in spite of his bored tone. He'd never questioned his exact worth before. He knew he was worth a hell of a lot - the shit he was able to get away with made at least that much clear - and that'd always been good enough for him.
"You mean I managed to save you even though I wasn't even there? Damn, I'm good."
He could feel Rufus's fingers tickling the back of his neck, sending a slight shiver down his spine. Dammit, this was distracting. If he hadn’t been engaged in the most screwed up pissing contest in his life right now, he would've let his eyes close and enjoy the gentle, almost playful, touch.
Instead, Reno snorted and rolled his eyes, though there was more amusement than exasperation. "Spare me, boss. Since when are you ever indecisive? I've already lost count of the number of assumptions you've jumped to over the past several days, despite me not being 'yours'. Or..." He drew his leg up onto the seat of his chair, making sure to brush against Rufus's hip as he did. "...am I just making it that hard for you to draw all those clear, logical conclusions you usually come up with?"
One finger started to trace a path from his knee, sliding along his thigh and towards his waist, stopping just before he got too far. His eyes never strayed from Rufus.
"Of course, if you really don't know...then take a guess, yeah?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Not scared you might be wrong, are you?"
It wouldn't tell him anything if he made the first move, after all. No, he wanted to see if Rufus wanted him enough to go for it.
Besides, Rufus had started this whole deal. Only fair that he finished it, too.
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It was time to try to swing things back into his court instead of watching the path of that fingertip all too closely. He told himself that he wasn't staring at it, holding his breath until it stopped short. Nope, not him.
Reno just had to go and say 'hard' didn't he, especially in that voice. Had Rufus been in a more serious state of mind, he would have mused that the universe was assuredly against him.
Rufus' fingers spread out, tickling against the short hairs at the back of Reno's neck, letting the rest of the tail lay loosely curled around his hand. Damn it, he had to win this. He had to keep control somehow. If he backed down from this, he'd never live it down. The taunt of fear only made him more determined. Show fear or reluctance in front of his own bodyguards? Never.
That, of course, led to his next action. Leaning down without warning, Rufus tried to touch his lips to Reno's own, a tenative gesture for a man who ran the world. Or had. It would be better to be turned down than not try at all. Or so he told himself. What was the worst that could happen really?
If anyone walks in, I'm promptly shooting them, he decided.
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But it was a little harder to keep with that logic ever since they'd been yanked from the professional environment of Shin-Ra. And then Rufus went and initiated things, and now he figured, fuck it. For all he knew, he could be dead within the next ten minutes. So why the hell not?
Before Rufus had leaned forward all the way, Reno was already moving to meet him, catching him in a kiss that began slow until he tried to deepen it. One hand snaked upwards, fingers curling around Rufus's arm. It was almost an unconscious gesture, made without much thought.
He had no idea if they were still playing...whatever it was they'd been playing at, but he didn't give a damn. There were times when it was appropriate to analyze the situation, and then there were times when it was far better to just shut the hell up and make out with your boss.
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