Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

12) Not Okay

When we get back to the tiny apartment (really, I need to get my own place soon), I grab Rude's suited wrist and drag him to Reno's bedroom. I've been sleeping on the couch for the few days I've been here, and every morning Elixer tries to tear my face off. I don't think he'd appreciate me in Rude's room.
"What did you want to know? I completely forgot," I say, stretching my arms over my head.

"Marx. There has to be some connection."

"Well duh," I roll my eyes, plopping down in the edge of Re's unmade bed. What's he doing right now? Probably getting a drink... "He did say he erased all the crap from my brain."

"Are you sure they're memories though?" Rude frowns at the mess in his partner's room.

"What do you mean?"

"He could be stimulating strange dreams to confuse you."

"Why would he do that though?" I huff and roughly yank my shoes off.

"Kat, what exactly goes on in those dreams?"

"..." I pause, only to blink away my momentary hesitation and pull my hair tie out. "It's a bunch of stuff. They usually only last for about three seconds or so, but that last one felt like forever." I think back to the first few. "If they are memories, then it seems that we were lovers or something years ago."

"That's it?"

"Hm... There was one where he injected me with mako, but it felt so familiar that I'm sure it wasn't the first time he'd done that."

"Are they all about Marx?"

"Geeze Rude, feeling talkative? The dream I had in the helicopter. It was me in some medical facility when I was way younger. Like ten years ago younger. Anyway, I saw Tseng and all these weird head voices kept telling me to kill him, so I tried. Marx was there too."

"... I think you should stay away from him."

"Actually," I cock my head to the side. "I should ask hin about it. He always seems ready to answer my questions about him in a round-a-bout way."

"Kat..."

"Rude, did you find anything on an 'Annabelle' in that file?" He stiffens, looking at the wall for a long moment before shaking his head.

"No."

Then he's out the door and walking to the living room. He's lying. Huffing, I leave my shoes where they are (like one pair of shoes gonna make a difference) and follow, tossing my tie onto the counter and leaning back against the smooth surface with my elbows. Reno sits at the table, bottle of some alcoholic beverage open while he fiddles with some crap in his EMR.

"I really need a woman," Rude grumbles as he puts his instant noodles in the microwave.

"I feel ya," Reno chuckles. I scoff and put my hands on my hips.

"Guys, I'm a woman!"

"Nah, not the kind we need," Re smirks, leaning back in his seat, greenish eyes meeting mine. "We need a hot chick that don't mind doin' a few chores. And one that can cook."

"I'm not hot enough?" I cross my arms.

"Not really."

"I hate you both," I stick my tongue out at him.

"I didn't say anything," Rude points out, opening the door to the appliance he's in front of.

"I still love you, Rudie," I say, throwing my arms around him tightly. Unfortunately, that was the moment he was pulling his super hot instant ramen out, and the liquid splashes out and burns his entire front and my right forearm. I hiss and jerk away, Rude grunting and quickly placing the bowl on the counter.