Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

Lae to Waste	By : RikuRocks Category: Final Fantasy VII > Crossovers Views: 807 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Final Fantasy VII or Kingdom Hearts, nor am I making any money from this work of fiction.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Lae entered Seventh Heaven and looked around for a moment before approaching the bar. It was late, and it looked as though the woman behind the bar was starting to clean up, expecting her thinning number of patrons to dwindle soon.

The woman glanced at him oddly as he took a seat, and then gave him a scrutinising once-over before nodding to someone across the room. Lae followed her gaze and saw Rude sitting at a table in the far corner. The redhead nodded to the bald man, knowing he had already seen him, and then turned back to the bar, where a blonde man had joined the woman in cleaning up.

�Hey, I know it�s close to closing, but-�

�Rude already talked to us,� interrupted the blonde man, his voice clipped as though he would rather not be speaking to Lae�or perhaps anyone.

�I told him to take his time,� commented the woman in a friendlier, but still very businesslike, tone. �Can I get you a drink before you head over?�

Lae was not sure what to make of the couple behind the bar, but realised that they must have some sort of history with Rude, and clearly, they were on fair terms...or at least the woman was and the man was willing to trust her judgement. Neither seemed too keen on him however, and he wondered what the brawny Turk had said about him�he doubted it was much though, considering how taciturn the man seemed to be and how little he likely knew of the situation between Lae and his brother.

Deciding it really did not matter what these two people thought of him, Lae made his order, took his drink, and headed to the table in the corner.

�Thank you for meeting with me,� Rude stated as Lae sat down. The brawny man was wearing a pristine, dark suit, just as he had been the other few times Lae had seen him. He was also still wearing his sunglasses, despite the dim lighting in the bar, and his tone and posture were all business.

�You aren�t an easy guy to turn down,� the redhead sat across from the bald man, eyeing him as discreetly as he could. �So�obviously this is about Reno��

Rude nodded once. �I want to know what your intentions are regarding him.�

Green eyes blinked, �He�s my little brother; what do you think my intentions are? I just�I dunno, I want to be a part of his life again and I want him in mine.�

The tanned man seemed to consider this response briefly before he spoke again, his voice and body not giving away any thoughts that might have been running through his mind. Lae suddenly found the man to be intimidating in way that had very little to do with his size. �It�s been twelve years since you�ve had any contact with him and thirteen since he last saw you. What makes you think you have the right to be a part of his life any more?�

�I-� Lae suddenly frowned, thinking over the time span Rude had just laid out for him. �Shit�he�s twenty-one now, isn�t he?� Rude nodded once, and the redhead smiled sadly before taking a large gulp of his drink. �That would make me twenty-nine then�� He shook his head sadly, �I always thought I�d have my act together by thirty.� After releasing a dry chuckle and shaking his head, Lae sighed again. �Fuck, I can�t believe I missed him hitting legal drinking age.�

�You missed a lot,� commented Rude.

Lae arched an eyebrow, �How do you-? Just how long have you known Reno?� He glanced over the bald man, �And how old are you anyway?�

For a brief moment, the redhead thought the Turk would not answer; he did not speak and there were still no signs of what he was thinking or even that he was thinking. Then, just when the redhead was wondering if he should speak again or not, Rude answered, his deep voice seeming to smooth out slightly; �I�m twenty-eight. I met Reno nine years ago while on an assignment in the slums. He joined Turk a year later, and we were partnered up the following year. We became room-mates a little over a year after that�after I saw the shit hole he was living in.�

Lae nodded slowly, not considering Rude�s words as much as the way his voice changed when he was speaking of Reno. It was toned down notably from the rough, all-business tone he used the few other times Lae had heard him speak. That, along with what he seemed to be doing here and the clearly possessive body language he had when Lae had seen him with Reno during their last meeting, made the redhead feel his next question was completely reasonable; �And how long after that did you start fucking him?�

�Less than a year,� replied the bald man with no tension or hesitation.

Lae figured his next tactic would either blow up in his face and set the brawny Turk on him, or would turn the tables in his favour and give him the upper hand for a moment. Either way, it would get things moving at a pace that was more familiar to him. �Hmm�by my math, that would have put him at what; sixteen? At best he was barely seventeen, but I doubt it. Have the rules changed that much since I�ve been gone, or was he still counted as an innocent youth then? I thought that sort of thing was frowned on in the upper plates-�

�He was a minor, but he hadn�t been an innocent youth for years,� cut in Rude, his voice hard. �You saw to that when you dumped him like you did, where you did. His only choice was to grow up fast.�

Lae swallowed, realising he had just jumped into a storm drain without checking for glass and rusty metal first�and it was obviously not done cutting into him yet.

�I�m not going to tell you all the fucked up shit that Reno�s been through, because how much you know should be Reno�s choice. If it were up to me, you wouldn�t know a damned thing about him because that�s all you deserve. You never did him any good before and I don�t believe you�re going to do him any good now. I will tell you that you hurt him bad when you cut him out of your life, but he still wasn�t willing to believe the worst of you�not until he got the chance to hear from you himself. The way you just showed up, acting as if it was all nothing�that hurt him worse than you will ever know.�

The burly man paused for a moment, as if to let his words sink in�and if that was his intention, it worked. Rude�s last statement especially, got Lae thinking; clearly, Rude was closer to Reno than he had thought. As he quickly considered the rest of what the other man had said, Lae realised that Rude had a right to think as he did. He was not sure what Reno had been through, but he knew the area he had left him in and he recognised the changes in his little brother to know that Rude as not over exaggerating. He had also seen the looks on people�s faces when he returned to the block he had left Reno in, and asked after the boy...those looks did not mean anything good.

The redhead frowned and took another gulp of his drink. �I guess the world kept on moving without me�things got a lot worse before they got better, didn�t they?�

The bald man nodded, and before the green-eyed man could ask anything else, Rude started speaking again. �Reno still wants to know why you left him like that and where the hell you�ve been all this time. He looked for you�for years. He even hired a private investigator after he became a Turk and saved up enough. I think he needs to know.� Rude�s voice lowered to a dangerous level, �But I�ll be damned if I�m gonna let you hurt him again.�

Lae straightened in his chair, suddenly realising that he had agreed to meet a particularly strong and efficient Turk in an otherwise abandoned bar -one that was clearly owned by associates of his- in the small hours when no one else would be up and about.

�So here�s what we�re going to do,� continued Rude. If he noticed the older man�s sudden anxiety, he did not react. �You tell me everything;� he punctuated the statement in a manner that let Lae know he truly meant everything and that denial was not an option. �Then, I�ll decide if I�m comfortable with the idea of you trying to be Reno�s brother again.�

Fear suddenly gave way to anger and the redhead was speaking before he even realised it. �Who the fuck do you think you are? I am Reno�s brother. You don�t get to decide shit. I know Reno�s changed and I don�t really know him any more, but he�s still my little brother. There is no way he�s going to cut me off just because you tell him to. You might be a hard ass, but remember that Reno and I come from the same stock. It takes more than a beating to keep me from something I want.�

�I never doubted that,� commented Rude, clearly undaunted by the redhead�s reaction. �Remember, I�ve been with Reno for a long time; pissed off wiry redheads don�t faze me�and I wasn�t planning on just a beating, even if you deserve one on principle alone.�

Lae�s mouth opened again, dozens of arguments and curses running through his mind before his thoughts halted on a very significant point that Rude had just said; I wasn�t planning on just a beating�and suddenly everything began to fall into place. �Wait�you mean, you asked me here to�� He trailed off, unsure of just what he was thinking.

Fortunately, Rude had no reservations in finishing the thought for him, �To determine if you are a threat to my partner.�

�And�if I am?�

�Then I will eliminate the threat.� The bald man might as well have been discussing a rat infestation.

Green eyes blinked, �You�re actually sitting here deciding whether or not you�re going to kill me?�

�You don�t catch on as fast as Reno,� stated Rude, a touch of pride tinting his voice. �He would have figured that out right after he received my invitation.�

�You would kill your lover�s brother?� the redhead questioned incredulously.

�If I think your death will hurt him less than you will alive, then yes,� replied the Turk simply.

�You can�t do that,� stated Lae angrily. The brawny Turk across from him did not speak or move and he realised that, yes, Rude could do just that. The redhead decided on a different tactic. �You actually think Reno will forgive you when he finds out you killed his brother?�

�I wouldn�t even apologise when I told him,� answered Rude levelly. Lae�s jaw fell open and the bald man continued, �Of course he�ll understand; he�d do the same thing for me.�

�Does he know?� questioned Lae, astonished at the absolute certainty and confidence that Rude projected.

�He knows I�m meeting you here tonight,� replied the bald man, taking a sip of his own drink. �Knowing Reno, he�s figured out the rest. Not stopping me or asking me to promise him anything is his way of letting me know that he understands and he�s willing to trust my judgement on this.�

�Damn,� Lae watched the man sitting across from him�and suddenly, he was glad that his little brother had Rude. �On one hand, that is really messed up, but on the other hand, I really hope I live so I can find someone who gets and accepts me like that.�

Rude nodded, �Then let�s both hope you have a damn good explanation for everything.�

Lae finished his drink and glanced at the bar. The woman had left, but the blonde man was still there. He was not paying any attention to the bar�s lone customers as he cleaned several swords that appeared to lock together. When he noticed the redhead watching him, the man nodded and started preparing a couple of drinks as Lae turned back to Rude. �I don�t know where to start��

�Start with when you left him at the pawnshop that day.� The green-eyed man wondered why he was surprised when Rude continued, �I already know everything up until then. Reno told me you said you would keep in touch and that you�d come back for him within a couple of years. He said you told him to do what the asshole pawnbroker told him to in the meantime.�

The redhead released a dry laugh, �Man, you and Reno really do have something, don�t you?�

The blonde man approached the table and placed a glass before both of them as the Turk simply nodded. Lae waited until the azure-eyed man returned to the bar and his swords before speaking again.

�I told Reno I�d gotten a job, but I think he knew I wasn�t exactly telling him the truth.� The green-eyed man frowned slightly when Rude nodded. �Did he figure out what I actually did?�

�You joined a gang,� Rude clearly was not looking for validation, so Lae just let him continue; �It was one of the smaller ones, but they had a bad reputation. You�re lucky Reno didn�t follow in your footsteps.�

�That�s why I didn�t tell him�well, that and I didn�t want him to worry or be disappointed in me.� The green-eyed man scoffed, �I guess I failed in both of those respects. Anyway, I�d been on good terms with a few of the gang�s members for a couple of years, but there was no way I was joining while ma was alive. I�m guessing Reno�s told you all about her?�

Rude nodded, and Lae saw the first hint of a smile tug at the brawny man�s mouth. Relaxing slightly, the redhead continued; �Both Reno and I were already working to help out before she died, but after�well, we couldn�t make enough to make ends meet. I was going to have to look for another job anyway and my buddies still wanted me to join, so I thought, �why not?��

The green-eyed man shook his head, �I thought it�d be fun�and I�d make more Gil with them than at any respectable place that would hire me�if you can call any place in the slums �respectable�. I couldn�t just leave Reno on the streets though, and there was no way I could take him with me. Hyde was always bitching about having too much work to do at his pawnshop after his wife left, so I made a deal with him; he�d let Reno stay in one of the storerooms and give him a couple of meals a day in exchange for work around the shop. I knew he�d work him hard, but it was better than Reno running odd jobs on the streets as he was and it put a roof over his head.

�I thought I would take care of myself, send a little Gil Reno�s way to make sure he didn�t have to completely rely on Hyde, and I�d save the rest until I had enough to put down on a shitty little apartment for Reno and me. Then, I�d stay with the gang, he could find easier work until he was older or even stick to the pawnshop if he wanted to, just taking pay instead of food and board.� Lae shook his head and took a gulp of his drink, his eyes distant, �I didn�t realise how bad I am at resisting temptation�or just how much of a selfish prick I really am.�

The redhead sighed and ran a hand through his hair. �Do you mind if I smoke?� He normally never asked, but decided to play it safe with the large Turk. Rude shook his head and motioned for him to go ahead.

After lighting his cigarette and taking a slow drag, the redhead started speaking again, looking over the pictures that decorated the walls of the bar. �I�m sure you know what these mean,� he touched one of the tattoos under his eyes. �I got them right about the time I stopped writing to Reno. I was already getting in deep for months though. I just finally got in too deep. It started with the lighter shit, like theft and smoking. Then, assault and drinking, soon sex and arson were thrown into the mix, and finally, drugs and murder.�

The redhead downed half of his drink and then looked at the glass with a sad chuckle before shaking his head. �Believe it or not, this is me nearly 100% better than I was. I would like to say I stayed away from Reno for his own good, but neither of us would believe it, so why bother? I fucked up, all right? I know that. I wish he hadn�t paid for it, but�look; I don�t have some grand explanation for what I did. It happened gradually; not that I didn�t know what I was doing, but I just didn�t think it through, I guess.�

Rude remained silent for another moment, and Lae was beginning to wonder if he expected more from him when the man finally spoke; �The PI lost your trail at the time that the Heartless arrived. Where did you go?�

Lae blinked away the slight haze he was beginning to feel and then narrowed his eyes slightly, �How do you know about the Heartless? I haven�t heard anything about them on this world.�

�We�re well prepared for defence,� commented Rude, seeming to ignore the redhead�s final statement. �Only a few Heartless showed up before ShinRa acted. A specialist took care of their method of origin and that�s all I am at liberty to say on the matter. Sufficient to say, the threat was taken care of with minimal casualties.�

Lae frowned; his memories of Axel were almost as hazy as his memories of himself had been while he was a non-being. Something struck him at that moment, however, �You mean, one of the Keybearers-?�

�That�s all I am at liberty to say on the matter,� Rude repeated, his voice emotionless. �All evidence suggests you disappeared when the Heartless attacked. What happened to you?�

�They took my heart,� the green-eyed man strained to remember, but nearly everything between his and Axel�s �deaths� was muddled. �My soul and my body still lived though�but I wasn�t on this world any more. Then�someone took me somewhere. I could travel between worlds and I had abilities I didn�t have here, but I couldn�t feel anything�not physically, I mean, in my heart. It was as if it was gone. There was an organisation, for beings like I was, and we were trying to be whole again...to feel. I didn�t remember my life before�I didn�t even remember Reno. Then, this kid, or the Nobody of some kid, joined and I started to remember feeling. I think he reminded me of Reno in a way. Not in looks, but something about him...his determination� Anyway, I turned on the organisation and died to help him destroy it in the end.�

Lae was easily able to explain what had happened immediately after Axel�s death. He considered leaving out the part about the voice and having to find Reno for his own salvation, but he doubted Rude would be forgiving if he learned that he was not being completely honest with him. The redhead finished off his drink and started a second cigarette while he waited for the bald man to process all that he had said.

�Then you started looking for Reno.� It was not a question, so Lae said nothing in response. Rude took a sip of his own drink before setting the glass aside. �How did you find him? You mentioned a tall man with a dot on his head�?�

The green-eyed man explained about Grey first, noting that the man�s muscles twitched slightly at the mention of Hyde�s suspicious activity with the boys who worked for him. However, Lae could not tell if it was the first time he was hearing it or not. ��So after I left the pawnshop, I decided to head towards our old block to ask around. First thing I did was confirm that Hyde and his shop were gone. They were. I talked to a few people at a local tavern and they said the same thing Grey had. Like I said on the other day, it took weeks of asking questions just to find someone who would say anything about Reno from after he was seen talking to some Turk. Everyone else either apologised, saying they couldn�t help me in a way that made me think they felt indebted to whoever this Dot-Head is, so I figure he bribed them�or they seemed terrified to talk about any of it, especially once I mentioned Reno or Dot-Head specifically. Whoever this guy is, he did his research well and then covered his tracks by any means necessary.�

�Research?� questioned Rude.

Lae frowned and took another drag from his cigarette. He could not tell if Rude knew the man he was talking about or not. For all the redhead could tell, the Turk might have just been making sure he did not know too much at this point. Not seeing any way out of the situation, Lae decided to explain and hope that Reno really was the only concern behind this meeting. �Well, Grey and one or two others mentioned seeing him asking after Reno right after he disappeared. They�re descriptions of him match the Turk's too, only without the suit, just like Grey�s. Anyway, I know he had to have done some digging because he hit everyone who knew anything about Reno. Aside from some people mentioning a skinny redhead in passing, as if he was just a kid who took odd jobs or was just seen around, you won�t find anyone who can tell you shit about Reno. Anyone who might have known him remotely well, like was seen talking to him often or let him crash at their place a few nights, is gone; between Dot-Head, the Heartless, and whatever else happened here, they�re either dead or have just disappeared. It�s no wonder a PI couldn�t find me, the few people left who really knew me are all from after I left Reno.�

The green-eyed man downed the rest of his drink and took a deep breath, hoping he was not about to send anyone to their grave but not honestly caring enough to stop there either way. He knew the burly man sitting across from him was not going to accept anything less than the full truth and any chance of saving himself and his relationship with his brother depended on Rude�s acceptance, as much as Lae hated to admit it. �Finally, I found an old woman named Marley�she runs a bakery down by where Reno and I used to live with our mom; she watched me sometimes while my mom was working, when I was little�after my old man left; that was before Reno was born. Anyway, she remembered us. Turns out, Reno helped around her bakery sometimes after he left Hyde. She couldn�t hire him full time or anything -didn�t have the funds- but she helped as much as she could and Reno did more than he was paid for.� A grin ghosted over Lae�s lips before dissolving into a somewhat pensive expression.

�Marley�s daughter had hooked up with a guy from the upper plates in her late teens, and Marley encouraged her to get out when he wanted her to move in with him. She hasn�t seen or heard from her since. I guess she sort of thought of Reno and me as surrogate grandchildren or something. For a lady who�s had to work by herself for so long and hasn�t gotten any help from her kid, she�s set up pretty well down there though. I figured that Dot-Head had something to do with that at first, but I�m not so sure now.�

After a thoughtful pause, the green-eyed man continued, now looking slightly touched by a memory. �She said she wasn�t supposed to say anything, but she knew that Reno had been searching for me, just like I was now looking for him�so she told me that Dot-Head, Turk or not, she didn�t know -she�s a little senile anyway- seemed like a nice young man to her, and he had taken a liking to Reno. She said Reno came to her, not all that different from how her daughter had years before, and asked; if he�d had a chance to leave the slums, should he take it. He was worried about leaving; whether I�d be able to find him or not if I ever came back��

Lae shook his head, �Shit. He almost passed his chance on the possibility that I�d come back for him�and I just left him without a thought. Anyway, she told him to go, just like her daughter�but unlike her daughter, she said Reno checked on her from time to time. So I knew he was alive and in the upper plates. I�m just glad it turned out Dot-Head was a Turk after all�I�d hate to think of who else might have picked Reno up like that.� He sighed and looked at Rude again, �Well, that�s pretty much it. I already told you about waking up alive again, and I�m sure you know when I finally caught sight of Reno. That was dumb luck, really. I lost him a few times too, but I finally managed to see where he reported in most mornings and where he returned to most evenings, so it became easier to follow him after that�it also helps that he doesn�t seem to react to my presence like he does everyone else�s. I got the feeling he sensed me before he ever saw me -he definitely reacted like he did- but I think he figured it was his imagination or something.�

The redhead shrugged and put out his cigarette. Half of him hoped that Rude would ask more questions, because if his tale really was over, then it might actually be the end for him, he knew.

The muscular Turk nodded, and then linked his fingers together and rested his arms on the tabletop, although he still looked poised to fight at a second�s notice. Lae could tell the burly man was staring at him through the sunglasses. �Back to my original question,� Rude stated, �What are your intentions regarding Reno now?�

�It isn�t what it sounds like, I promise you,� Lae mentally berated himself for his choice of words, as Rude likely knew how worthless his promises were better than anyone, save for Reno. �I�m not just out to save my own skin. I haven�t felt anything for a long time, but when I remembered Reno -when I�d realised that I�d forgotten him, and learned how I�d hurt him- I felt�terrible. I don�t know how I can make up what I�ve done to him, or if it�s even possible, but I want to be the brother I was before I made all those mistakes. I feel like I�ve been given another chance, and I want to do things better this time. I don�t want to be the asshole that I was.

�If I start doing that shit again, if I start hurting Reno, then I won�t blame you at all for taking me out,� Lae doubted the man across from him cared whether he blamed him or not, but he really needed to make his point; �And if he doesn�t want anything to do with me, then fine. I�ll leave him alone�but I want to at least try to set things right between me and him.�

Rude watched him for a moment longer before nodding once, �Good.�

�Good�?� Green eyes blinked in confusion, �I figured you�d be pissed at those answers.�

�You fucked up,� stated Rude simply, �There�s nothing to be done about it now. Trying to excuse your actions means you aren�t willing to admit you were wrong or you�re lying to try to save your ass. Reno can understand everything you just said; he won�t necessarily like it, and it�ll still hurt, but it�s the most acceptable answer you were going to be able to offer.�

�So, you just wanted to make sure I was going to tell the truth when he asked me about all of this?� questioned Lae, staring at the man across the table. ��And you were actually going to kill me if I had lied or tried to cover my ass?�

Rude simply nodded, and Lae lit another cigarette. After a long moment of uncomfortable silence, for the redhead anyway, Lae braved speaking again. �So what now?�

�Go back to your hotel room,� replied the brawny Turk as he removed his wallet and placed enough Gil on the table to cover their drinks before nodding toward the man at the bar as he stood. �If Reno wants to see you, he will; if he doesn't, you�ll leave him alone.� There was no room for argument, not that the redhead planned to argue by that point.

Lae stood as well, �Hey, before you go�can I ask you something?� Rude said nothing, but did not walk away, so the redhead decided to push his luck a little. �This Dot-Head guy�he is a Turk, right? I mean, Marley didn�t know exactly how old Reno was when he took him, so I�ve just assumed -or hoped- that he just took him to Turk since everyone figured he was one and Reno�s in Turk now. Is that how it all went down, or did something else happen to the kid?�

�I already told you that what you know about Reno is up to Reno,� replied the bald man evenly. Then, with a slight edge of anger, he added, �I�m not here to fill in any blanks for you. I'm only talking to you now because it�s in his best interest.�

The redhead nodded, having expected such a response. Rude had made it clear from the beginning that he would just as soon scratch Lae out of his little brother�s life for good. However, with Reno�s reaction to him a few days prior, he knew that asking anything of Reno might not be an option for a while. He needed to prove himself first, and find a way to be somewhat close to his brother in the meantime.

The green-eyed man hoped the term �it doesn't hurt to ask� would prove true just once more as he looked to Rude again. �Look, I don�t want to bother you any more, but I don�t want to ask Reno for any favours right now. So, this is the last thing I�ll ask you. Would it be possible for me to meet with your boss? Any of them, I mean�not actually the boss-boss��

The large Turk�s expression and voice altered slightly, as though he was now a Turk foremost�it frightened Lae somewhat to think that the man had been talking as a lover first before. �Tseng has already arranged for you to be picked up in the morning. Someone will be there at nine; be ready. You will be seeing the president as well.�

Lae blinked and took a long drag from his cigarette as he considered that last part. �Damn�should I be scared?�

�Only if you plan to piss off Tseng or the president tomorrow.�

�Oh, okay�uh, thanks.� The redhead frowned for a moment as he wondered whom �Tseng� was and why he was expected to hold some level of respect for the man. �Wait�how do they even know about me? Did you arrange this?�

�Tseng did. Neither he nor I want you to ask Reno for any favours either.� Clearly, Rude seemed to think this statement explained everything.

�Okay,� the green-eyed man frowned, and decided to risk asking one more question. �Who�s Tseng anyway?�

�He�s the head of ShinRa�s Investigative Division of General Affairs Department.� Rude remained still and silent for a moment, while Lae stared t him blankly; �He�s the boss you were just asking to meet with.�

�The head Turk�? Fuck, I'm a dead man, aren't I?� the redhead took a particularly deep drag from his cigarette.

�Only if you plan to piss off Tseng or the president tomorrow,� repeated the burly Turk emotionlessly. Lae could not tell if it was meant to be a joke, a warning, or simply an answer to his question.

The redhead sighed out a puff of smoke and then smirked slightly, �You know, I�m actually kind of glad my brother has you�even if you seem like a jerk to me.�

There was a grunt of acknowledgement before Rude spoke in a finalising tone, �If there isn�t anything else, Reno�s waiting for me at home.�

�Oh, er, no, I guess that�s it. Thanks for-� The large man turned and left the tavern before he could finished the sentence. Lae blinked and looked at the door for a moment. �I guess what they say about kids growing into their names is true�� Considering that the large Turk was clearly trying to take care of his little brother, Lae decided that probably was not a fair assessment, but he still did not like the man.

The redhead turned to the bar and saw that the blonde man was still there, apparently waiting for him to leave as well. Lae nodded and waved a hand, �Thanks.�

The blonde man looked him over slowly, and then held his gaze, looking distrustful. �You�re�related to Reno or something?�

�Yeah,� the green-eyed man rubbed the back of his neck, �We haven�t spoken in a really long time though. That�s what this was all about�I�m hoping to change that.�

�Why wasn�t Reno here, then?� questioned the azure-eyed man as he crossed his arms and leant back against the wall behind him. �I don�t usually see Rude without him.�

�This was sort of a test.� Lae smirked at the blonde man, �You know how families with two kids usually refer to one as the good kid and one as the bad one?� The smirk grew when the man nodded uncertainly, �Well, I�m the bad brother.�

The green-eyed man took a moment to enjoy the look of surprise that crossed the shorter man�s featured before he added, �By the way, I�m Lae�commit it to memory.� He paused briefly as he caught himself pointing to his temple, wondering why he had suddenly made that last comment, but decided it did not really matter. Without another word, he turned and left the tavern.

While teasing the man at the tavern had been a nice way to release some tension, Lae still found himself feeling bothered by something as he made his way back to the little hotel he had checked into several nights before. Although Rude had been far from friendly or trusting, he had not seemed so set against the older redhead when they met briefly a few days prior. Either Reno had not filled the man in completely before that, which Lae doubted, or the blue-eyed youth�s reaction to the encounter had been upsetting enough to cause Rude to switch to his current tactic.

The tall redhead did not like what that implied. He pondered how strongly and negatively his appearance could have possibly affected his little brother, and guessed it must have been significant for Rude to suddenly prefer him dead -the man did not seem like the sort to over-react-, as he entered his room.

Once he settled in, green eyes sought out the alarm clock to set it for the next day, which was when he discovered that it was well past four in the morning. �Damn it.� He glared at the clock lying innocently on the bedside table, �He expects me to meet with the president and the head of Turk with less than five hours of sleep?� He sighed heavily as he put out his cigarette and then striped down to his underwear before climbing into bed.

Kiddo�you�d better figure out that your big brother still loves you after this.
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Lae to Waste