You saw it coming the second you stepped off the elevator. Reno's eyes locked on you like a predator spotting the weakest member of the herd. Grin already forming. Trouble practically radiating off him.

"Hey, rookie~!"

That tone. That voice. That disaster waiting to happen.

You considered turning around. Running. Faking an injury. Too late.

Reno was already across the office, long strides closing the gap, spinning a pen between his fingers like it doubled as a weapon.

"Big day today?" he teased, circling you like a vulture. "Important reports? Confidential files? Shiny new suit?"

A wicked grin. "Would be a shame if someone… tripped you."

You barely got to flinch before a shadow loomed beside you. Reno's sentence cut off as he walked straight into… Rude.

Like hitting a brick wall. A brick wall that casually sipped coffee with one hand and stopped a human disaster with the other.

"Really?" Rude asked flatly, not even looking at him. His palm was braced casually against Reno's forehead, holding him at arm's length like an unruly puppy.

Reno struggled dramatically, arms flailing for effect. "C'mon, I wasn't gonna break 'em! Just… inconvenience 'em a little."

Rude finally glanced down at him. Unimpressed.

"Go." One word. Final.

Reno huffed, bouncing back a step like this was a familiar routine. "You ruin all my fun, man."

He pointed vaguely at you, still grinning. "Rookie, one day you're on your own."

Rude's sunglasses tilted your way, unreadable. But you caught the faintest ghost of amusement at the corner of his mouth.

"Not today."

Without another word, Rude adjusted his coffee, guided you forward and casually body-blocked Reno the entire way down the hall like it was part of the job description.