☆-- a place to lay your head. (Closed) - COMPLETE

[stray_redbird]

WHO: Rude (expert_stoic), Reno (stray_redbird).
WHAT: Hitting a bump, thanks so somebody's big mouth.
WHERE: Reno and Rude's apartment.
WHEN: After Reno's proud declaration.

Comments

[expert_stoic]

Most of the time, Rude just let Reno's antics slide right off him, but something about this most recent incident aggravated him. He hadn't bothered to confront Reno yet, since even he'd thought he would forgive Reno quickly. However, he found himself naturally avoiding Reno and, although he was always quiet, he made a point of avoiding conversations with Reno. He didn't like this anymore than Reno did. Yet, even he was only willing to take so much shit from Reno

[stray_redbird]

Peanut did exactly what Reno wanted to do the second he felt Rude's hand closing on the back of his shirt, jerking him a few staggering steps backwards. The puppy, not exactly exemplary of its Rottweiler blood, scampered off into one of the other rooms, leaving the redhead to fend for himself. That grip left no chance for escape, even for the self-titled fastest of the Turks.

Still, there wasn't a situation where Reno's mouth didn't have a mind of its own, and even with the thought that Rude could probably snap his spine with ease if he wanted, Reno couldn't shut himself up. He was restless and antsy, like a caught animal, not sure what to expect from the person he knew best. His fingers flexed absently at his sides.

"Yeah, well," he replied with a touch of wryness, mako eyes bright even hiding underneath lowered lashes. "It wasn't the first fuckin' time, and you damn well know it ain't gonna be the last."

[expert_stoic]

Rude sighed a crease forming between his eyebrows as he hauled Reno back a little further, the shirt bunching up between his fingers. He'd known that Reno would give him a smart ass remark, as per usual, and it didn't really bother Rude. He'd known Reno much too long for a little bitching to get under his skin, but Rude wasn't ready to let the issue drop just yet.

"Reno," he started before falling into a long, awkward silence, which he eventually broke by clearing his throat, "Why the hell did it have to be in public...?"

Figuring that Reno wouldn't try to make a run for it now, he released his shirt, but he stayed within reach just in case.

[stray_redbird]

Stubborn, Reno resisted being tugged back, digging his toes into the carpet. Rude probably didn't even notice this small show of defiance; Reno was easily tugged back by the taller Turk a few more steps anyways, though he had rebellion in his eyes and his expression. Everything about his face read as unapologetic.

Except, though his eyes were bright and the tension in his body spoke of a refusal to back down or feel sorry, the redhead's usually bold stare was averted. He wouldn't have even batted an eyelash if anybody else had confronted him about the same issue-- he had a big mouth, and anybody who didn't like it could go fuck themselves.

But he'd already been without his best friend, the person who knew his every quirk and habit, for two years before this. Rude was his keeper and his confidante, the guy who kept him in check and helped him with the laundry. Rude, who let him slide with just about anything. If Rude was upset at him

[expert_stoic]

Rude stared directly at Reno, so he couldn't help but notice the way Reno was avoiding any eye contact. However, other than a crease between his eyebrows, Rude's expression was bland. However, as Reno continued to speak his expression darkened and eventually he pulled his sunglasses off his face and rubbed the bridge of his nose before replacing them. There was no way he could do this without his sunglasses on.

As soon as the cigarette touched Reno's lips, Rude ripped it from his mouth and flicked it aside. The cigarette broke when he flicked it and the pieces of paper and tobacco scattered on the floor beside them. Then, Rude paused for a heart beat before smashing his fist into Reno's face. However, he didn't let Reno go far and he grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer.

"Don't say shit you don't mean, Reno," he growled, "Like hell I'm going to walk because of this. Idiot

[stray_redbird]

Reno felt the weight of Rude's gaze, which was somehow frighteningly more potent without the shield of his sunglasses. But Reno had never had much of a sense of self-preservation and a chronic case of cocky recklessness that was bound to prove fatal before he turned forty. Blatantly keeping his vibrant eyes turned away, the redhead lifted his cigarette to his mouth, still feeling his pockets down for his lucky lighter

[expert_stoic]

Rude's fingers were still curled around the fabric of Reno's shirt, but Reno's expression caught him off guard and his grip loosened, though he couldn't bring himself to move away. He had not expected Reno to accept his punch so easily and it was unnerving watching him give in so easily. They had fought before and sometimes those ended in fist fights, which was what he'd been expecting this time.

They'd fight until they were both bleeding and exhausted, but then things usually worked themselves out afterwards. That was how it was supposed to go. A fight and unspoken forgiveness.

However, that smile was an apology. A fucking apologyRude exhaled slowly, his breath seeming unusually loud in the silence that followed Reno's question. The corner of his mouth turned down into a bemused frown as he stared down at Reno. The silence stretched on and Rude lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck, looking away from Reno momentarily

[stray_redbird]

Maybe that was the real beauty of Reno's personality: he was always surprising someone. Even to himself, his moves were sometimes unpredictable. And though the sting in his cheek, flushed from being struck, made him wonder if he'd ought to have met this argument fighting tooth and nail, that baffled frown on Rude's face nearly made the whole ordeal worth it in itself

[expert_stoic]

Rude stopped short when Reno stepped around him and he shot Reno a bland look before he raised his eyebrows. He was amused, and admittedly relieved, to see Reno back to his usual self so quickly. But this was familiar ground for both of them and with the tension between them finally diffused, they were feel to fall back into their usual patterns. Rude had long since stopped being bothered by Reno's constant flirting. It was just something Reno did. It didn't have much significance behind it

[stray_redbird]

It was true that Rude put up with a lot of Reno's strange and sometimes obnoxious habits-- everything from his perpetual flirting, the attempts to steal Rude's boxers, to the insistence on the pet Rottweiler that was always peeing on one thing or another. Rude was probably the only person who remembered the real color of Reno's eyes, or knew what Reno's face looked like when he first woke up in the mornings. If Rude couldn't stand Reno, nobody could. And the fact that Rude was bantering back with him was the reassurance that Reno needed-- things were patched, for now

[expert_stoic]

The moment Reno's hands touched his face, Rude knew what was coming, but he didn't even try to resist. Instead, he just sighed and gave in to Reno's coaxing and bent slightly so that Reno could reach. This was something else he'd grown used to ever since he started shaving his head. Even so, the feel of Reno's tongue against his scalp sent goosebumps creeping down his nape. He reached around Reno and grabbed his ponytail, using it to tug Reno's head away

[stray_redbird]

Reno only gave a light sound of complaint when his face was forced from Rude's head by a firm grip on the tail of his wild hair, though the brief sulk was mostly for show. Inwardly, he was happy. It showed in eyes that were mako-bright-- not with nervous energy, or anger, but with the boundless energy that defined Reno in his best moods.

Mischievous, he tagged along with his best friend to the closet, waiting until both of Rude's hands were occupied with hanging up his jacket before fast fingers snuck around him to steal his sunglasses out from the inner pocket. Reno gave a cheeky little grin, tugging his goggles down around his neck to slide the stolen shades into his hair.

One casual question wiped the grin right off his face.

"What the fuck, Rude?" he demanded immediately, not waiting for an explanation or giving the inquiry a second's chance. His expression was open, speaking of temper, anxiousness, and surprise. "What the hell are you talking about, you bald motherfucker

[expert_stoic]

"Reno. Reno," Rude nearly shouted as Reno continued to babble out questions without giving him a single chance to respond. He hadn't expected that kind of reaction from Reno at all, since he had only planned on staying here until he found a place of his own. After all, Reno's couch was hardly a comfortable place to sleep since it was much, much too short for his height.

"What does this have to do with being mad?" Rude asked as a crease formed between his eyebrows. When Reno grabbed his sleeve Rude blatantly stared, but without the protection of his sunglasses Rude soon forced himself to look away. "Hell. Reno. You..."

Rude dropped his gaze to the hand holding his sleeve and, seeming oddly nervous, he shook off Reno's grasp. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he slammed the closet door shut with his free hand. Hadn't they just made up?

"...You're expecting me just to stay here? There isn't even a place for me to sleep, Reno." He managed to keep his tone bland, but he was completely confused and no matter how he tried

[stray_redbird]

"Why the hell shouldn't I expect you to jus' stay here?" the redhead asked back a little sharply, his anxiousness making him visibly irritable, "If you don't like the fucking couch, there's room enough on the bed, yeah? I swear I won't kick. I mean, fuck, you're walkin' out on me 'cause you don't like my damn couch?"

Obviously, the fact that they'd agreed Rude was only staying until he found a place of his own was of little relevance to Reno, who had long decided he liked having his best mate on hand and in his apartment. Maybe it was making up for the two years work had taken Rude away from him, or just the naturally possessive part of his personality that so often decided to make him publicly call Rude "his" all the time.

His expression was stubborn, as if he thought if he wasn't pushy about it-- if he didn't put his foot down about this-- then Rude really would go. Reno was selfish enough that it didn't really matter to him if Rude wanted to go or not. Maybe he was missing the point, but it sufficed to say, he honestly didn't

[expert_stoic]

Rude fell silent in the face of Reno's offer and accusation; however, it wasn't because Reno was right about him 'walking out.' He hadn't even thought of it like that nor had he expected Reno to be quite this possessive. He stared at Reno, bemused, as he fumbled for the words to say. Although, he wasn't going to go anywhere near the bed sharing issue.

"Fuck. Reno," he looked away as he reached up to rub the back of his neck, "...I won't go then."

Aside from the constant mess, Rude did enjoy living with Reno and after this it was clear that Reno still needed him around. He wasn't devoted to the idea of leaving, it had just seemed like the most convenient option given the size of Reno's apartment.

Rude glanced at Reno one more time before he pulled open the closet door again and fished around in his jacket pocket. After a moment, he found his pack of cigarettes and tapped one out of the carton for himself before holding out the pack towards Reno, wanting to replace the cigarette he'd broken earlier.

[stray_redbird]

Reno opened his mouth as if he had expected Rude to protest and had already prepared a verbal counter attack, but stopped, backtracking. His expression could be summed up in one syllable: oh. It was like he had built up fire and temper for another argument, then had been abruptly deflated with a single sentence. But, then again, Rude always could manage to do that to him