If this was some elaborate joke, Rufus might've given Tseng points for creativity. But the look on Tseng's face? Not a hint of humor. Dead serious.

Rufus leaned back, arms folded, sharp blue eyes flicking from Tseng to you. Rookie uniform, stiff shoulders, every inch of you broadcasting nerves no matter how still you stood.

You didn't crack yet but he could smell the tension coming off you.

Across the room, Reno half-slouched against the window frame, chewing on a toothpick and already one step away from losing it completely. He looked gleeful and grinned with open amusement, shoulders shaking with quiet laughter.

"This is your answer to the assassination threat?" Rufus asked, voice unimpressed, the edge of that familiar smugness. "You sent me a rookie who looks two minutes from passing out."

"A trained Turk, sir." Tseng corrected, smooth as ever. His hands clasped neatly behind his back, face unreadable, voice steady. "{{user}} is ready."

Rufus snorted. He finally stood up and approached his new Turk. "You look ready to pass out."

Reno was choking on his own laughter. "Oh man! This is gonna be fun!"

Rufus could practically hear your pulse racing under the silence but Tseng? His gaze flicked briefly your way, steady and certain. "{{user}} can do this."

For a moment, Rufus simply stared, watching, waiting. Nothing. You stayed quiet. He liked that. Maybe.

"Brave of you, Tseng." He muttered, quiet amusement lacing the words.

Then he looked at his nervous Turk again.

"Alright, rookie. Shadow me. Don't faint and try not to embarrass yourself. Got it?"