Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Interludes – Scene 43

Scene Notes: At 26 years old, Reno still doesn’t know how to tie a tie… despite multiple attempts on Tseng’s part to get him to learn.

From Chapter 30: Wedding Bells:

Reno rolled his eyes and stood aside so the man could come in. “Funny, Tseng. Yes, I’ve already got plans, and no I’m not gonna show up at work on Monday lookin’ like this… this is a special-occasion-only sacrifice of my comfort.” He paused a moment, then sighed. “Uh… since you’re here, though…” He held the tie out to him, imploringly.

Tseng chuckled softly, accepting the accessory and looping it around Reno’s neck, knotting it with the ease of years of practice.

“Thanks,” Reno grudgingly murmured.

---

Reno frowned at his reflection. Even with the suit, he still didn’t look much like a Turk… at least not in his opinion. He sighed and did his best to tuck in his shirt before shrugging on the jacket. It really didn’t help.

He’d found himself growing intensely nervous the closer it got to time to leave… so much so that he was starting to wish he hadn’t scarfed down every crumb of food Tseng had set in front of him earlier. It hadn’t even been particularly good… though what it lacked in flavor it had certainly made up for in quantity. It was probably the most he’d eaten in one sitting… ever.

Tseng desperately needed some cooking lessons, though.

Now, though, his stomach was as uneasy as he was. Yesterday, he’d thought this was a dream come true. He was leaving the slums… He was working for fucking Shinra Company… He even had a place to stay and someone to look after him – which, though he would never in a million year admit it, made him feel a lot more relaxed about being in such strange surroundings.

But today was his first day on the job. And he was terrified.

The redhead reach for the narrow strip of fabric hanging from the corner of the dresser mirror. It was the final part of his new uniform, and he’d saved it for last. With an uncertain glance in the mirror, he looped it around the back of his neck and froze, suddenly realizing that he had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do from there.

He shrugged. After all, how hard could it be? Half the people on the damn Plate seemed to wear them. It couldn’t be that tricky.

---

Tseng glanced at his watch. They needed to leave soon, or they’d be late… and that certainly wasn’t the first impression he wanted his new rookie to make on his new team. The redhead had disappeared into his bedroom to get dressed almost fifteen minutes ago, and the Turk lieutenant was beginning to wonder just what in Leviathan’s name the teen was doing in there.

With a slightly irritated sigh he walked over and tapped on the door.

“Reno? We’re going to be late.”

The door opened a moment later, revealing a very frustrated looking young man, who forcibly yanked the untied necktie off of himself and held it up, glaring at it petulantly.

“Okay… I fuckin’ give up. What’s the trick to this?” he growled. Tseng had to try very hard to resist the urge to laugh… and he wasn’t quite certain that he was entirely successful in banishing the amused smile that threatened to spread over his face.

“Give it here,” he replied, calmly, and the redhead gladly handed the accessory over. Tseng draped it over the teenager’s neck. “Under, then over twice, up from behind, then down through the front,” he continued, tying the knot as he spoke.

“… Swear I already tried that,” the redhead muttered as his mentor gently tighten the loop until the knot rested snugly against his throat. The Wutaiian Turk smiled.

“You can practice later. I’m sure it won’t take you long to figure it out. Right now, however, we need to leave for the office.”

Reno obediently followed him out to the car, and climbed into the passenger seat, and fidgeting with the tie as he sat down.

“Does it gotta be so fuckin’ tight?” he asked when Tseng slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. “Feels like I’m bein’ strangled…”

“It’s meant to be snug, yes,” Tseng replied.

“… Do I have to wear it all day?” the redhead asked, hesitantly. This time, Tseng did laugh. The teenager sounded so utterly despondent over the very idea.

“Our dress code is… fairly lenient… on such minutia. For today, however, I would prefer you strive to make a good impression. Give yourself some time to get used to it. You may actually end up liking it.”

Reno snorted, disbelievingly.

“… Yeah. I doubt it.”

Tseng only smiled. He was sure his rookie would warm to the idea eventually.

~fin~