"So," Reno said, lifting his shades a little so his partner could see him "Explain to me why we're here again?".
Shifting in his seat; the larger man tried to find some comfort in the wooden chair, readjusting himself every couple of minutes. He lifted the glass to his lips and sipped some water before resting it back down on the table. "Tseng said it would be...a nice break." It didn't take a genius to guess that Rude was not comfortable with the situation. These kinds of arrangements always made him edgy to say the least.
The red-haired man sighed and kicked back on his chair, balancing on the back two legs "That guy." He grasped out suddenly, almost falling flat on his back as he lost control of the chair. Annoyed by a short laugh from his comrade, Reno snapped back. "I guess he sent me to make sure you didn't mess it up?".
"What?!" Rude squinted, shocked by Reno's approach to this matter.
"Relax. I'm your wingman." He laughed, a big grin present on his face.
On the other side of the restaurant, two women walked through the door, dressed fashionably and yet still out of place. They were quickly approached by the hostess on hand, who had instantly felt that they did not belong and might be lost.
"Excuse me ladies. Do you have a reservation?"
"Hmph, and if I don't?" The tanned girl responded, in a husky tone.
"Well I may have to ask you to leave. We are fully booked for the rest of the evening."
"Oh yea--" The same woman responded, but was quickly cut off by the other.
"Relax Fang." The pink-haired girl then addressed the hostess "The reservation is booked under 'Turks'."
The employee picked up a couple of menus and started to show the two women to their table, a lingering glare resting on Fang for a while before she continued to the table.
Fang turned to her friend and laughed a little. "Jeez Lightning, sometimes you're no fun."
Blue eyes scoured the menu as Reno looked from one item to the nest. Nothing jumped out of the page at him as much as a simple burger would. Unfortunately Tseng had chosen to send them to a posh foreign restaurant. Everything on the list was either loaded with Onions, Mushrooms or some kind of seafood.
"Yo, what is it with this crap? How am I supposed to decide what I want when I can't read what's good?"
"Reno." Rude said, getting his partner's attention. He pointed just past the red-haired turk as two young ladys walked in the direction of their table.
"Heh. It's about time."
_____________________________________________________________________________
"--To get to the Ether side!" Reno yelled.
Lightning seemed completely unamused by Reno's 'Why did the chocobo cross the road' joke. She hadn't spoken much since sitting at the table, and any time she did it was done in a monotoneous tone. Fang on the other hand had been having the time of her life with Rude. Her thick laughter could be heard all night long as the two exchanged stories of battles they had been in.
Reno had grown jealous that his 'date' was not as easily pleased. "Tsch, So what's your story anyway?"
"It's none of your business." Lightning replied dryly, not even paying much attention to Reno.
"Alright," He leaned back on his chair once more, placing his arms behind his head as he finished his meal "Well, that was interesting." He wanted to get out of their immediatly. He'd rather be drinking in a bar with the other Turks than spend anymore time trying to have a conversation with this pink-haired stranger.
"And you hit the wolf right in the face?" Fang asked, leaning forward as she heard every last detail.
"Right in the face." Rude reiterated, his lips forming a slight smile.
"Nice! Listen lets go to a bar or something eh?" Fang asked as she got up from her chair and stretched out her arms.
Rude was shocked by the sudden proposition, looking to Reno for a brief moment for some kind of authorization.
"Yeah sure." He sighed as he closed his eyelids. He was planning to get out of there then anyway. However, as soon as the thought popped into his head, his phone rang. He excused himself momentarily and walked away from the table to answer the call.
"Reno, here." He answered.
"Reno. It's Tseng."
"Ach, what do you want now. This date sucks. I'd have more chance picking up a SOLDIER."
He waved his arm as he saw Fang and Rude leaving the building.
"I have an important mission for you."
"Yeah what is it?"
As Tseng spoke, Reno couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"No way! I refuse, I refuse dammit."
"It is non-negotiable--"
The call was cut off and Reno was left standing there. He flipped his phone back into his pocket as he hung his head on the spot.
"You gotta be kidding me."
He quickly returned to the table, as Tseng had requested of him. He sat back down at his seat and started fiddling with his glass of soda in front of him. His job was to keep Lightning with him for as long as possible. Tseng and Elena were handling some kind recon mission and it was important that the girl didn't interfere. The problem was, it looked like she was going to leave aswell.
"I should go."
"N-No wait!" Reno fumbled as he stood up before she did "Why don't we get a dessert."
Lightning only let out a small smile as she got her stuff and stood up herself. "Sorry kid, you're not my type."
"Yeah? Well....well...you're not mine!" He gritted his teeth, feeling a little insulted as the girl walked off. He exhaled as he too started leaving for the door but something caught his attention.
"Excuse me ma'am! You can't just leave without paying your bill" One of the waiters yelled as Lightning brushed past them. Another two staff members were rallied in and blocked her exit.
"I can do what I like."
"No you can't you arrogant bitch, you're gonna give us the money now!" A chef yelled as he grabbed hold of the girls arm.
"Get off of her!" Reno yelled.
"Oh yeah tough guy? You really wanna do this?" The man let get of her and instead came at Reno. He took a swing for the Turk but he narrowly missed his target as Reno swung his head out of the way. The red-head then pulled out his nightstick and sent the chef hurtling to the ground, blood dripping from his nose.
"The chicken was undercooked anyway." Reno laughed as he stepped over him. The other members of staff had run away and many of the customers had taken to fleeing the restaurant. With the issue sorted, Reno too made his way for the exit, as he fumbled in his pocket finding the keys to his motorcycle. He was interrupted by somebody behind him.
"Hey."
"Huh?" Reno replied as he spun around, surprised by the fact that Lightning was still here after the incident. Lightning wasted no time in punching the Turk in the face, flooring him. "Argh- what was that for?!"
"I don't need people to fight for me." She replied, rubbing her fist "Now get up. You're taking me for a drink."
Reno couldn't tell whether he lucky or extremely unlucky. Either way, he got up and did as the girl said.
As the two exited the restaurant side by side, another pair entered it, walking past them.
"Was that, Reno?" Tifa asked Cloud as she put her arm around his waist.
"I think it was."