Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Interludes – Scene 9

Author’s Note: So… unlike most of the other interludes, this one isn’t referenced anywhere in the existing series. It’s a scene I wrote as an intro to Chapter 25: The Games We Play, and dropped in favor of Reno getting suckered into babysitting. But I liked it too much to just let it go to waste.

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Reno stared at the rookie as she silently read over the short message printed on the card for the fourth time since she’d sat down.

“Okay… whatever the hell’s written on that, it can’t possibly be that interesting.”

She jumped slightly, startled by the unexpected interruption and Reno grinned. Sometimes, it was just too easy. Elena set the card aside, and settled back in her chair trying to look casual and unconcerned. Reno wasn’t buying it.

“It’s nothing. It’s just… Nothing.”

“Yeah… sure sounds like it. So what’s up?” he asked, propping his feet up on the edge of his desk and leaning his chair back at a somewhat precarious angle. He laced his fingers together behind his head and stared at her.

“… Reno?” she queried, looking up at him almost pleadingly, “Can I ask you for a really big favor?”

“Ya can always ask…” he replied, though really… it would have to be one hell of an inconvenience before he’d consider refusing her. He enjoyed doing things for his friends… Elena in particular. That didn’t mean he wasn’t still fond of making the rookie squirm a little from time to time. Old habits were hard to break, after all…

“Will you be my boyfriend?”

“What?!” Reno tried, and failed, to sit up from the entirely too relaxed position he’d let himself fall into. With his legs on the desk, he couldn’t find the leverage needed to push himself upright. The redhead suddenly found himself tilting dangerously in the opposite direction he wanted to go. The chair toppled over backwards, spilling the surprised Turk onto the tile floor with a resounding crash.

“Are you alright?!” Elena was on her feet by then, moving toward him to help. Reno winced and dragged himself to his feet before she could cover the distance between them, staggering slightly as he nearly tripped over the fallen office furniture in the process.

“Uh… ‘Lena, don’t get me wrong… you’re awesome and I love ya and all, but… what the hell?”

The rookie sniggered quietly and picked up the chair for him. “I need a boyfriend,” she reiterated. “For a wedding.”

“Wouldn’t that make me your fiance?” Reno asked, looking at her askance with no small amount of trepidation.

“Oh, for… I. Need. A. Date.” She shook her head, giggling a little. “You know… someone to take me to a wedding.”

He sighed in relief. “Why the hell didn’t you just say that in the first place? Fuck, ‘Lena… ya almost gave me a heart attack. One night stands I’m good with… commitment, not so much.”

“Well, it’s just that… I need you for a little more than just a date…” she explained, hesitating.

He flashed her a teasingly lecherous smirk and sidled up to her. “Yeah? How much more?” Elena rolled her eyes and removed the arm he’d draped over her shoulders.

“I’m serious.”

“Okay… So ya want me to… what? Sweet-talk the maid of honor into a quickie in the coat room at the reception or somethin’?” he joked, wondering just what it was Elena was planning.

“NO!” she all but shouted at him. Reno blinked, slightly taken aback by the angry look in Elena’s eyes. She dropped her gaze, and he realized she was blushing a little. “Look… This is going to sound really, really shallow, okay? The wedding is for one of my best friends from school, and I really want to go… but…”

“But…”

“But, her maid of honor is a girl named Penta, and… ugh. She made high school a living hell for me. The only reason she’s even the maid of honor at all is because she’s the groom’s sister. Chai doesn’t even really like her… but her choice had to bow out at the last minute.”

“Still not quite seein’ how I fit in here…”

“You absolutely cannot laugh,” she said firmly.

“Me? Laugh?” He let his grin widen at the sight of her scowl. She had to know better by now… saying something like that was the best way to ensure that’s exactly what he’d do.

“Penta stole every guy I was even remotely interested in in high school. I couldn’t even get a date for senior prom because of her and she did it just to spite me.”

“… Why?” he asked, feeling perplexed as to how someone could dislike Elena to such an extent. Sure, maybe he was biased… but Elena was incredibly sweet – even if she could, admittedly, be a little scary when she was pissed off. He’d always had her figured for one of the popular kids. Maybe even a cheerleader. She certainly fit the stereotype, anyway. Blond… pretty… outgoing…

“Because I offered to tutor her boyfriend in history once. I felt bad for him… he was a nice guy, and he was failing the class because his mom was sick and he didn’t have time to study. She thought I was trying to steal him, and… yeah. After that, I was basically a social pariah until I graduated because of her.” The bitterness in her voice was practically tangible. Reno found himself instantly disliking this Penta woman.

“So… basically ya want me to be your trophy boyfriend for the night so you can rub it in her face…” he snickered. He could handle that. Elena flushed bright red.

“… No! Well… kinda… yeah. Look, I told you it was really shallow! I just want to see the look on her face when I walk in with… someone like you.” She looked away slightly, not quite able to make eye contact.

“Someone like me? Come on ‘Lena… just say it. I’m pretty…” he teased, though he couldn’t help but feel a little flattered by the request. Elena rolled her eyes yet again. “Ya keep doin’ that, they’re gonna get stuck back there…”

“Will you do it or not?”

“Open bar at the reception?” he asked. Of course he was going to do it… but he might as well find out what he was getting out of the deal before letting her know that.

“Yes. And a buffet.”

“Count me in…”

The rookie gave him a relieved look. “Thanks, Reno…”

“… IF ya tell me I’m pretty…” He couldn’t resist… He’d come close a few times to getting the perky young woman to admit she found him attractive, but had never gotten her to actually say the words. It had become something of a personal challenge, and Reno just couldn’t resist a challenge. Besides which… it was good for the rookie to be shoved out of her comfort zone ever now and then. Kept things interesting.

“W-what?”

“Two little words and I’m all yours.”

“Are you really serious?” she asked, hands on her hips, her posture radiating annoyance.

“Come on… You can do it…” he prodded her, grinning maniacally.

Elena groaned and rubbed her temples. “Fine… You’re pretty.”

“There… now was that so bad?”

She shook her head and walked back over to her desk. “You’re pretty, alright… pretty irritating.”

Reno laughed, unable to honestly deny the accusation.

~fin~