The Continuing Tormentation of Tseng [M]

Reno chuckled. "If you want somewhere sleazy with alcohol then my apartment is available," he grinned. "It might be a little more up market than your standard slum bar, but the prices are definitely better."

He glanced at Tseng out of the corner of his eye - he had no problem with self-depreciating humour, and wasn't going to start having a problem with it now.

Tseng looked at Reno thoughtfully. "And what exactly are you proposing, Reno?" He asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Well, if you don't want to go home and go to bed... then you should come to mine for the night cap you're looking for..?" He ventured, not really sure himself. It would have been much easier for him if they would both phrase things simply instead of masking it with banter. "What, I'm trying to save you wasting your money on crap booze? I have a particularly nice collection of whiskey and brandy, and a few nice bottles of wine..."

"I might have to take you up on that then." Tseng nodded and walked out of the elevator into the car park, heading over to his car.

"I'd suggest we take my car then - leave yours in the guest parking space and you can guarantee it won't be there by the time you get back," he warned. "They know not to touch mine after I beat a few folks that tried with their own crowbars."

Tseng snorted softly. "Somehow in your neighbour that doesn't surprise me at all, very well." He nodded and followed Reno towards the red head's car. "Though I must say I am surprised you drove here today rather than using that accursed death trap of yours." He commented, referring to Reno's beloved motorbike.

Reno grinned and unlocked the car, slipping behind the wheel. "The weather forecast rain - and I'm not stupid enough to risk bad weather on my bike. Besides, the water messes up her shine."

He shifted the seat - it never felt quite right to him - and waited for Tseng to join him. "In any case, you love my bike - you appreciate how they look, you just hate the way I ride them."

"Like I said," Tseng said as he slipped into the car and did up his seat belt. "It's a death trap." He felt weird being on this side of the car since usually it was himself driving when he went out anywhere, with and without company.

"One day I'll get you to brave it and ride pillion through the Grasslands track - sun shining, gentle breeze in the trees and grass... And then if after that you can't appreciate why I love my bikes, I'll accept it."

He grinned at him and pulled out of the parking lot - on his best behaviour and not speeding out like he usually would, adopting the scarier behaviour of obeying the speed limit.

Tseng shook his head. "You just keep hoping for that day, Reno. I don't see it happening any time in the near future." He glanced at the speedometer and was mildly amused that Reno was actually keeping to the speed limit, or even knew how to keep to it. Tseng sped it was true, but only when he was in pursuit of someone or rushing to a mission or something else work related. Otherwise he always obeyed the rules.

"Sometimes hope is all we have," he said with a quiet laugh, his foot itching to press down on the accelerator and get them to his place much faster. "And when you dream about something impossible, the hope never fades."

It wasn't a long journey, even within the speed limit - he knew enough back roads and short cuts to have them there in under twenty minutes. He also conveniently didn't live too far away from the HQ to cut down on how long it took to get to work.

He pulled into his parking space and got out, stretching a little and giving a pointed look at a figure hulking in the shadows. The figure made a quick retreat and Reno smirked - no need for his gun this time at least.

"Like I said, they learn."

"Hope can also lead to major disappointment." Tseng replied as he got out of the car, watching the figure disappear. "For not it seems." He mused and headed towards the building without waiting for the red head. He already knew the code for the building seeing as he was the one who told it to Reno in the first place.

"You know, if I ever wake to a figure at the end of my bed - I'm just going to assume it's you," he snorted as Tseng tapped in the security code and swanned into the building as though it was he who lived there. "No one else would even try to break into my place."

He followed Tseng up, letting him feel like he was taking charge of something by leading Reno to his own doorstep. "Do you want my key or do you have one of those hidden up your sleeve too?" He teased.

Tseng glanced at Reno with an almost coy smirk. "If I do or don't you're not finding out tonight." He said and stepped aside to let Reno unlock the door himself. "Besides if someone is at the foot of your bed it could also be Rude." He added lightly.

Reno gave a shake of his head as he unlocked the door, pushing it open and letting Tseng enter first. "I think I'd prefer it was you. Rude just stares at you from behind his sunglasses... and doesn't move... it's very unnerving to wake up to."

He flicked on the light and locked the door behind him, glad that he'd bothered to clean the place recently - he wasn't immune to random spurts of leaving beer bottles about with half filled ash trays.

"Can I get you a drink, something to eat?" He offered, kicking his shoes off.