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It was quiet inside the basement office that belonged to the Turks. The only sounds were the steady ticking of the clock on the wall and the occasional scratching of pens on paper.
After a moment Reno lifted his head from the report he was reading, he blinked several times and glanced up towards the clock. Beside him Rude groaned, leaning back in his chair. He lifted both arms above his head, back clicking as he stretched. Elena stifled a large yawn behind one hand, one eye squinting as she noticed Reno suddenly stand.
“Shit! I forgot the time.” Reno muttered as he gathered his papers into a haphazard pile on the desk. “I gotta go.”
“Huh? Where?” Elena asked, frowning as Reno grabbed his jacket which he had slung over the back of his chair.
“None of your business, rookie.” Reno muttered distractedly, swinging his jacket on and sliding his arms into the holes. He ran across the room and yanked open the door, “See you guys tomorrow.”
Rude frowned at the door as it swung softly closed before he tilted his head from side to side, stretching out the muscles.
“Where do you think he goes?” Elena asked curiously, her pen tapping lightly against her lower lip.
“Who knows?” Rude shrugged.
“Hmm...does he usually leave early?”
“Not really. Usually it's only...” Rude checked his phone and nodded, “Today.”
Elena blinked and then a cheeky grin crossed her face, “He's got a girlfriend!”
“Reno? No way. He wouldn't date and not tell me.” Rude shook his head, pocketing his phone.
“You could find out for sure, you know.” Elena lifted an eyebrow, smirk widening, “We're Turks, right?”
“Maybe but he's a pretty private guy, don't think he'd like it if...” Rude trailed off, thoughts going back to the time Reno had followed him on one of his dates with Chelsea. He grunted.
“Come on, lets go! We can catch up and see where he goes!” Elena jumped to her feet and Rude followed reluctantly.
They found Reno in the lobby, making for the front entrance. They followed him slowly, blending in with the crowds leaving the building. Rude didn't like spying on Reno but a part of him wanted a bit of revenge. He could hold this over Reno's head for a while. Reno got into a cab that was waiting at the building exit, Elena and Rude found a free one and asked the driver to follow Reno's car.
Sector eight was busy, even on a weekday evening. The entertainment district had something for everyone, a perfect spot for a date. Rude watched Reno's cab pull up to the pavement and stop. Reno got out and went to speak to Aerith, she was smiling as she handed him a bunch of flowers.
“He's getting flowers?” Elena asked from the back seat of their own taxi, she craned her neck around the seats watching eagerly. “Definitely a girlfriend.”
Rude shot her a glance from behind his glasses, wondering if he should tell her Reno didn't swing that way. He decided against it and continued to watch his partner return to the taxi and take off once again.
“Follow them!” Elena ordered with glee. The driver sighed and pulled away, following Reno's cab.
They drove through sector eight, leaving the party district behind until it was little more than a haze of lights in the rear window. It began to rain again, droplets spattering the glass, quickly wiped away again by the wipers. Elena drummed her fingers on her thighs, head turning as she tried to see any sign of Reno. Rude sat beside her, still and frowning. Something about this didn't feel right.
They finally came to a halt in Sector Six. The rain was coming down hard but just ahead they could see the blinking red stop lights of Reno's cab. Elena made a soft noise in the back of her throat, “This is...” She trailed off, teeth digging briefly into her lower lip.
Rude followed her gaze, peering through the rain-spattered window and seeing a low building with a large gate and a sign. “Midgar Psychiatric Hospital.” Rude read out-loud.
“Oh.” Elena whispered quietly, “Do you think...?”
“Let's go.” Rude leaned forward, speaking to the driver, “Take us home.”
XXX
That evening Rude sat in front of his computer inside his company apartment. It was a small, single-bedroomed place that shared a thin wall with Reno. Rude had his desk lamp on, the only other light coming from his computer screen as he stared at the screen with a small frown. In a glass beside his hand amber liquid glowed, ice tinkling slightly as it melted. He picked it up, taking an absent sip as he stared at the hospital records he'd managed to find. The liquid stung a cut on his tongue, he swallowed and stared at a particular name and photograph.
It was a woman, a beautiful woman. She was tall, her face thin with dark hair and sharp cheek bones. She had a cold stare, like she was carved out of ice, her eyes were the colour of faded jade. Rude rubbed a hand down his face, he recognised her vaguely but couldn't place from where. He scrolled through the information and only found a date of admittance, all the rest of her details had been redacted. Rude leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling.
XXX
The next day Rude went into work early. He found Tseng already behind his desk, some new dark circles growing underneath his eyes. Tseng looked up when he approached and placed a printed copy of the hospital records in front of him. Tseng's eyes dropped to the paper.
“Who is she?” Rude asked.
Tseng looked away, back to his computer, “Are you sure you want to be looking into this?” He asked slowly, his face impassive.
“Not really.” Rude admitted, “But he's keeping secrets from me.”
“Everyone has secrets. Perhaps, you should be asking Reno these questions.”
“Maybe, but I'm askin' you, chief.”
Tseng huffed a small laugh, “He'll be angry.”
“He's always angry.”
“Hm,” Tseng tilted his head, then leaned forward. He rested his elbows on the desk and his chin on one hand, “She was an actress, once.” He said finally, regarding Rude with his cold stare.
“An actress?”
“Yes.”
“Is she...?” Rude winced, cutting himself off and shaking his head, “She is, isn't she?”
“Ask him.”
Rude stared down at the woman's face, at the angle of her jaw and the familiar slant of her eyes. He reached out and picked up the paper, “Maybe I will.” He turned away and left Tseng to his work.
Later that morning, when Reno arrived he bore a darkening bruise on his face and a nasty looking cut just above his left eye. Elena watched him a little too closely as he took a seat beside Rude, he leaned back in his chair and yawned broadly before putting one foot up on the table. “Take a picture, rookie, it'll last longer.” He muttered, rubbing at his eye as he glanced over at Elena.
Elena cleared her throat and straightened up, looking firmly away at the opposite wall.
Reno turned his attention to Rude, “And we gotta talk, partner.” He said in a low voice, “Soon as we get a break, yo.”
Rude nodded.
XXX
Break came and Reno stood up, he went to the door and Rude followed him, they turned left and walked down the silent corridor towards a group of small rooms. Reno turned to one of the closest ones and pulled it open, he stepped into a small storage room full of unused desks. Rude entered behind him and closed the door, trapping them both inside.
“So,” Reno leaned against one of the desks, arms folded tightly across his chest. “Why've you been following me?”
Rude sighed, rubbing his neck, “Was worried.”
“Worried?” Reno's eyebrow rose, creasing the band-aid he'd put over the new wound.
“You disappear every year, partner. Elena thought you had a relationship.”
“Uh-huh...so what if I do?” Reno's eyes moved away, they both knew he was lying.
“You're a shit liar, Reno.”
Reno sighed, “So...what, you thought I was into somethin' dangerous?”
“Maybe. You come back injured.”
“What, this? This is nothing, partner. You know we've had worse.”
“Maybe but it's still weird.”
Reno paused then, looking down at his boots, “Ok. So...what do you know?”
Rude reluctantly pulled out the photograph and held it out, Reno took it and stared down at the woman. “Who is she?”
“You already know.” Reno replied, crumpling the picture in his fist.
“Your mother.”
“Yeah.”
“Thought your family was dead?” Rude felt a small shock of betrayal run through him, Reno had always told him he was an orphan.
“May as well be, yo. Most of the time she don't know who she is or where.” Reno shifted, eyes still low and avoiding Rude's gaze.
“I found articles about some actress going missing about twenty-six years ago.”
“Yeah...” Reno swallowed, his frown deepening. He gripped his upper arms with his hands tightly until finally he slumped, a sigh left his lips and he straightened up. He met Rude's gaze.
Rude watched as Reno's nimble fingers pulled open his jacket. He wore a tight frown, lips turned downwards and pressed tightly together. He started on the buttons of his shirt, eyes fixed on the wall just to the right of Rude's shoulder.
“Reno, what-”
Reno stepped back, out of Rude's reach and shook his head sharply. “Just...” He trailed off, eyes lowering as he pulled both shirt and jacket down to expose his shoulders. He closed his eyes, took a small breath and then turned.
Rude didn't outwardly react when his eyes landed on the scars scattering Reno's back. Scars were normal in their line of work, but these were old. Stark white against the rest of Reno's skin they stood out like polka dots. Small raised circles covered his shoulders and dipped below the fall of his clothes. Reno's muscles were tense as Rude approached, one hand rising briefly before he thought better of it and let it fall uselessly back to his side. “Reno...” He said again, his voice softer this time.
“You were right, partner. She...was an actress. Damn good from what I saw in the old magazines she kept around the house, yo.” Reno laughed, the sound devoid of humour. He lowered his head, bright red hair shifting to reveal more of those tell-tale marks. “She didn't...disappear though. She just...couldn't work no more.” Slowly he turned, gaze finally lifting to Rude's impassive face. “See, the director of her last play raped her one day after rehearsals.” He shivered a little, eyes drifting across the room to fix on the plain white wall.
“She got pregnant.” Rude surmised and Reno nodded.
“Yeah. She had a kid, yo.” He lifted his arms as if to say 'ta-da' with a wry sort of smile. “A kid who ruined her career and life.”
“So she took it out on you.”
“She liked her cigarettes. Fancy ones, when we could afford it she'd buy 'em and...well, she didn't have no ashtrays around.” He squinted, upper lip lifting from his teeth in a sneer.
“But you visit her?”
“Every year.” Reno shrugged on his clothes again but left them open, his arms dropped to his sides, fingers opening and closing as he stared at the floor between his feet. “Half my pay-check goes into keepin' her at that home, yo. Some days she doesn't even know who I am...I think...I think I like it better that way.”
“Because when she remembers-” Rude glanced at the bruise on Reno's face.
“She'll never forgive me. Not that I need her to.”
“Reno,” Rude stepped closer, his voice changing a little. Reno looked up, his eyes widening when Rude lifted one large hand and curled it around his jaw.
“Rude, wha-”
Rude silenced him by pressing his thumb against the lump of his Adams apple. Not enough to hurt but enough to dry up whatever it was Reno had been about to say. The wall coming up against Reno's back was a shock, he almost tried to step forward, deeper into Rude's arms but Rude pressed against him, tilting his head up and back. Rude's other hand went to his hair, tangling tightly into the long tail at the base of his neck.
It was too hot in that small room. The air was too close. Reno's breath felt thick in his lungs, it was hard to move, hard to breathe. Rude leaned down, adjusting the tilt of Reno's head until their faces were aligned.
Reno's hand rose, fingers curling around Rude's wrist. He could feel the fluttering of his pulse against his bare fingertips. Engulfed in Rude's shadow he felt a little too small, too vulnerable and fear rose up inside his chest. The moment was brief. Between one hesitant heartbeat and the next Rude's lips were on his. His tongue was inside his mouth. Reno tensed, preparing to try and shove his partner away but he froze. Body stiff, breath utterly gone and then he was kissing back. His fingers tightened on Rude's wrist, making him pull harder on his hair. An involuntary moan escaped into Rude's mouth. Reno shuddered, sucking in a sharp breath through his nose.
After a second, two seconds...three...Rude stepped away. Reno's hair trailed with him for a moment, some clinging to his gloved hands like spider silk. Reno stared at him, lips parted, eyes wide.
Rude cleared his throat, face growing too hot. He tugged at his collar as he turned away. He took several steps towards the door, the only thought in his mind was to flee. Flee Reno's shocked expression, the wounds of the past etched into his skin. He had no idea what had come over him. It was stupid. Dumb. What had he been thinking?
“Rude!” Reno grabbed Rude's arm, fingers digging painfully into his biceps. “No. No you can't just...just run away. Not...not after that! What the fuck, man?!” He sounded out of breath, like he'd been running.
Rude's hands curled into fists at his sides, he wanted to run but his feet wouldn't obey him. “I...” Rude's voice came out like a croak. He couldn't make any other sound. His tongue felt too thick, like it was going to choke him. His face was too hot. The room was too small.
“Shit.” Reno whispered, breathless.
Rude remained silent and still.
“Was that...?” Reno licked his lips, trying to make sense of it. “What...what was that?”
Rude managed a small grunt.
“Ok. Ok. It was a kiss...you...you kissed me.” Reno said with a touch of wonder in his voice. “I thought...” He swallowed, throat suddenly dry. “I thought you liked...chicks.”
Rude frowned at that but didn't turn around. He couldn't stand to see the look of horror on Reno's face.
“Is this...is this a joke? You...you were joking...right?”
Rude felt his chest go tight. He could nod. He could let Reno assume it was some shit excuse for a practical joke...but he didn't want that. He didn't want Reno thinking that. Instead he shook his head, quickly, back and forth.
“Not...not a joke?” Reno's voice dropped to a whisper. Rude felt him move closer, felt his forehead press against his back. Reno's breath warmed his skin through the layers of dark suit. “How long?” Reno asked.
Rude couldn't answer that. He wasn't entirely sure himself when it had started. Reno was almost like a part of him now, he sometimes wondered where he ended and Reno began. Too long, he supposed. Years of long glances behind dark glasses. Years of subtle touches, of fingers brushing. Years and years. Forever.
“Rude...turn around.” Reno's voice cracked a little but he frowned and cleared his throat, “You can't...leave it like this.”
“...I...” Rude curled his hands into fists, trying to force words out. Any words.
“I never really had much of a home,” Reno continued, as if he hadn't heard Rude try and speak at all. His hands lifted and gripped Rude's suit, as if he was afraid he was going to fling open the door and run. “I mean...I suppose I had a roof, technically speaking, but I didn't...spend much time there. Not while Ma was...was...” He sighed heavily, “I couldn't. So I spent my childhood on the streets. It wasn't until Veld...not until you that I found out what home really feels like.”
Rude stiffened, feeling Reno against his back. He wanted to turn around and see Reno's face, see the vulnerability there but he was also much too afraid to. They didn't do this. This wasn't how they worked. Rude felt Reno release him and step back, there was a soft thud that made Rude turn around. Reno was sat on the floor, one knee drawn up and one arm dangling over it. Without looking Reno patted the tiles behind him in invitation. Rude hesitated only for a second before he sat, back to Reno's. They stayed like that for a moment before Reno spoke again, “I never told you. I know we weren't sposed to have any secrets but...I was too embarrassed. She was kinda famous, people might recognise her, ya'know? And I didn't want her reputation ruined. I already messed up her life. I couldn't hurt her anymore.” Reno plucked at the fabric of his trouser leg, frowning at it.
Rude shifted, folding his legs in front of him and let Reno lean against him. Reno's hair brushed the back of Rude's neck, he shivered.
“So...so I'm sorry. I'm sorry I lied.”
“It's...ok.” Rude finally managed to speak, somehow it was easier this way. He didn't have to look into Reno's face, they weren't so exposed.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Reno chuckled a little, leaning even more of his weight against Rude's back. He sighed and looked up at the slightly damaged ceiling tiles, “So, now it's your turn, partner.”
Rude tensed again, “What do you wanna know?”
“How long?” Reno's voice grew a strange, soft edge. Rude almost hated it.
“I...don't know.” Rude admitted finally, forcing himself to relax. To breathe. “I just...”
“I think...I get it.”
“You do?”
“Maybe.”
He could smell Reno's cologne, it was tangy, familiar. As well-known as his own skin.
“I think I...” Reno cleared his throat again, “Me too.”
Rude felt his heart beat stutter a little. He lowered his head, “Really? How long?”
“That day...” Reno paused and then ploughed on, forcing each word out as if it cost him something painful, “The day of our first jobs as rookies. After we got back, you put a hand out and put it on my shoulder.”
“That long, huh?”
“Yeah.” Reno's voice dropped to a quiet whisper, Rude could hear the smile in it.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Reno sighed, “Because I thought you were straight, yo.”
“Huh. Maybe...you should've just asked.”
“Maybe I should've.” Reno laughed a little then, his voice shaking almost as much as the hand that rested on his knee did.
“So...what now?” Rude asked after a moment of silence.
“Tonight...do you...wanna go get a drink?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” Reno turned his head, Rude felt every movement. “Maybe...go back to my place after?”
Rude cleared his throat, “Yeah. Yeah...I'd...like that.”
“Good.” Reno lifted a hand, fingers catching at Rude's collar, he traced one down his neck. Then he stood, taking all the warmth with him. “We better get back, yo.”
Rude nodded and made to get up too but a hand entered his line of sight, he looked up into Reno's flushed face. Slowly he took the hand and let Reno pull him to his feet. “Let's go, partner.” Reno grinned.