Tseng's Apartment, No, Really, Edge
It was never going to be normal, those mornings when Elena woke up at Tseng's apartment instead of her own. But there were perks. Like the fact that he made much better coffee than she did. Or how much nicer the water pressure was, in his shower.
It meant they got into the office a little later than his usual -- that being dawn if not before -- ( Read more... )
It meant they got into the office a little later than his usual -- that being dawn if not before -- ( Read more... )
This one was a long shot, really. Maybe they were off on a mission or something, but Reno came bearing pretty damn important news, all things considered, and he was going to be damned if they made it all the way to Junon and he still hadn't given Tseng fair warning about this.
So? Here was Reno, at Tseng's door. Knocking.
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And so, being Tseng, he had simply incorporated some of the recent changes in his life into a new pattern of order. A new routine. On the nights in which Elena shared his bed, he allowed himself to sleep later, though not by any means late. He awoke first, showered, and set the coffee to brew.
One could have many routines, after all.
The knock at the door was unexpected, a break from his expected morning ritual. He wasted no time answering the door, frown lines creasing his forehead as he took in his (possibly former, though he was going to ignore that) underling, and the somewhat distressed look he presented.
All of that added up to a very basic fact: Reno must have news of the urgent variety.
"Reno," he said. "What has happened?"
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... Right, Reno. That was totally what's happened.
"Okay, somethin'. But you gotta promise not to hang me up by my toenails or nothin' here, okay?"
That was an excellent way to start the conversation, yes. This was going well.
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In fact, that one sounded like ... Reno.
Fuck.
Elena was going to finish brushing her teeth as quickly as possible and try to make absolutely no noise, in the process. Time to think fast.
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"I make no such promises," he said. He sighed, once, before returning to his kitchen to check the progress of this morning's coffee. 'Come in' was unnecessary, and moreover, it might give Reno the mistaken impression that his visit was welcome.
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"Classy even when you should be packin'. A guy's gotta appreciate that," he mused.
Because musing about the boss' decorating habits was way safer than out and confessing that he'd told the Rookie to bring her puppy.
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"I will pack when it becomes necessary," he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Politeness would dictate that he offer some to Reno, but he was quite willing to snub his erstwhile Turk this morning. No coffee for Reno.
"Is your phone damaged?"
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Which totally explained why Reno had to barge in on the boss first thing in the morning in his own home, yes.
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Reno was still not getting any of Tseng's coffee. Logic only went so far.
"Has the move been compromised?" he asked. "Is someone in Junon causing difficulties?"
Even in a company town, there would still be plenty who would not welcome them.
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They were old friends, Tseng and the Reno-induced headache.
"Reno," he said, and his tone had an edge to it. "I dislike games. Whatever information you have, you deemed important enough to interrupt me at my home. And yet, it isn't important enough for you to volunteer it without me pulling it from you. It's evident that you fear my reaction. You should realize that stalling is only worsening my mood."
A mood that had been quite nice only five minutes ago. Thanks so much for that, Reno.
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Which was why, instead of beating around the bush any longer, Reno took a deep breath.
"I might'a told one of my Fandom Rookies to meet me in Junon," he said, ever-so-casually. "Some massive hell went down back home for her, she needed to get outta there, wasn't up for facin' the island anymore. Just she kinda didn't wanna come alone, so I kinda maybe sorta told her to bring the guy she's seein'? So she could, you know... not feel all lost an' shit."
Okay. Maybe he was still beating around the bush, some.
"Uh. Zack."
RENO WAS ENTIRELY UNREPENTANT.
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"Of all the ridiculous, unprofessional stunts," Tseng snarled. "Do you find it amusing to toy with the fate of the entire planet? Do you have any concept of the possible repercussions of such a trip? Did you have the least concern floating somewhere in that head of yours, or is thinking frowned on in that island you are all so terribly fond of?"
And did it amuse Reno to hurl ghosts and painful memories at Tseng's face? Zack, in Junon. Edge was haunted by Midgar. Tseng had hoped Junon might be different.
So much for a new beginning.
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She had found her suit, and put it on. It wasn't even that badly wrinkled. She hadn't showered, because wet hair would be a giveaway, but she had brushed her hair in a desperate attempt to quell the light bedhead she had going. And she had grabbed a folder containing what could easily pass for important paperwork. Now was the time to flush the toilet and run the sink at full blast, hoping the sound from both would carry to the kitchen.
"Sorry about that," she called out. She had totally just been using the bathroom, everyone. "Like I was saying, the Holzoff file. I can't find the authentication codes to put in the database. Do you think it might be under ( ... )
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But at least his screaming answer was bitten back for a moment. A brief moment. So that he could say something that might make Tseng's urge to kill him even stronger.
"Huh. About friggin' time."
Yep. Gonna strategically place himself on the other side of Tseng's table, now.
While wondering if Elena was ever going to be clean again. Ew.
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Tseng was going to pour himself another cup of coffee in order to smother the hint of a smile that had crossed his face. It was unsurprising that Reno had seen through Elena's ruse, being that her hair was somewhat inclined to stand up at odd angles and her shirt had a definite crease from where it had lain on the floor. Still, it had been a commendable effort, and somewhat touching as a result.
"I'm afraid you'll have to," Tseng said, to Elena. He wasn't going to dignify Reno's comment with a response, and he was, furthermore, going to sidestep both Elena's subterfuge and Reno's dismissal of it. "Reno has done something ill-advised and thoroughly incompetent, as usual. Only this time it may bring about the destruction of all life on Gaia, which you must admit is a new low even for him."
Just because he was slightly less pissed did not mean he was going to be any less of a dick.
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