Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Interludes – Scene 27

Scene Notes: Reno gets a little surprise when he returns to work. This takes place between Chapters 23 and 24, after Reno has been released from the hospital following his run-in with a zolom in the Mythril Mines.

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“Just… Stop. That’s not how it –”

“I can do it… Hold it here.”

“You have to –”

“I told you… I can do it. It’s hardly rocket science.”

“Well, if you’re gonna do it, then do it. He’ll be here any minute.”

“How does it look?” Tseng asked, holding up his handiwork. Rude shook his head.

“Like a blanket wrapped around a football.”

“Oh, for Shiva’s sake…” Elena said at last, standing up from her desk and walking across the room. “Just let me do it.” She’d initially refused to take part in the joke at all – Reno had only been released from the hospital few days before, and this would be the first time he’d be setting foot in the office again since his injury – but this was ridiculous. The rookie sighed, and unwrapped the little bundle, straightened a few things out, and then carefully rewrapped it in the flannel blanket. “There.”

Rude snickered softly, and glanced over at Tseng. “Told you she wouldn’t be able to resist.”

“I still think this is just downright mean,” Elena replied. “He almost died and you two are playing pranks on him the second he’s cleared for duty!”

Tseng set the the bundle down on Rude’s desk. “That is precisely the reason we’re doing this, Elena. There are few things Reno enjoys more than a good joke. Even one at his own expense.”

“We’re just welcoming him back in the most Reno way we can think of,” Rude added with a smirk, “Besides… if he gets mad about it, we’re just going to blame you.”

“Me?” she echoed, incredulously. “How is any of this my fault? I didn’t want anything to do with it!”

The bald Turk chuckled and held up his PHS. Elena cringed when she saw what was displayed on the screen. She never should have snapped that photo in Kalm.

“Oh… Right.” the rookie sighed, defeated. She groaned quietly and slunk back to her own desk to await the inevitable. She didn’t have to wait long, however. The elevator’s chime was heard from out in the hall, and a few short seconds later, it was followed by quiet footsteps. Rude grinned and grabbed the object of their prior undivided attention and cradled it in his arms, hurrying to position himself just inside the door.

He’d barely made it into position when said door swung open, admitting a slightly pale-looking redhead.

“Mornin’!” he greeted them, grinning ear to ear in spite of his less than ideal appearance. “Anyone miss me?”

Instead of answering, Rude hurriedly shoved the bundle into his arms. “Hold this…” he said, brushing past his somewhat surprised partner and into the hallway. Reno blinked and looked down at what he was holding and suddenly froze upon seeing the tiny face staring back up at him from the folds of the soft pale-pink blanket. He swallowed sharply and slowly lifted his gaze to look over at Tseng, eyes wide.

Elena did have to admit… the doll was pretty realistic. And as much as she disapproved of torturing their newly recovered compatriot, she still had to bite down hard on her lower lip to stop herself from laughing as the expression on his face morphed from shock to outright panic. Rude peered around the doorframe from the hallway, sniggering silently behind his stock-still partner’s back.

“Is something wrong?” Tseng asked in a casual tone of voice, calmly leafing through a stack of unfiled reports. Reno didn’t move a muscle, except to turn his head minutely to cast Elena a pleading look. She raised a hand to her mouth, trying to smother a giggle… and failed.

Her laughter set Rude off, as well, and he slipped back into their office, clapping the redhead on the back so hard, he very nearly dropped the doll, yelping as he fumbled to keep hold of it. It took him several more seconds to realize that it wasn’t real, and when he finally did, he flung it at Rude, who deftly caught it.

“Not. Funny.” He punctuated each word with a harsh jab of his finger into Rude’s chest.

“I beg to differ,” Tseng spoke up from the other side of the room. “Welcome back.” He smiled cattishly and vanished into his own office without a further word.

Rude snickered and took a seat as well, making a point of carefully cradling the ‘baby’ in one arm as he checked his email. Reno glared at him and then stormed up to Elena.

“I’m gettin’ you back for this…” he promised, before turning on his heel and marching off to his own desk.

“B-but… It wasn’t even my idea!” Elena lamented.

~fin~