Room C-022: The missing puzzle piece {TAG Reno}

Well at least Buddy got the hint to be quiet, much to Reno's relief. However, that now really meant nothign as Leon staretd to approach them with that killer look of his, demanding for asnwers. And to be fair, Leon had all the rights to do so. But with no killing, not in Reno's room. Pulling the shorter male to stand fully behidn him now, Reno returned Leon's look with a blank one of his own, not indtimated by his friend's growing anger. "Not unil you calm the fuck down," he said firmly, placing a hand on Leon's chest and prevented him from taking any step closer. "And tone down on that bloodlust of yours as well while you're at it. We're not in the slums anymore."

As Leon asked those two words what colour was left of Buddy's cheeks was suddenly gone: now he was screwed. With someone else he could have even erased this last moment, but Leon would have shielded himself against him! Last time he had to act during his sleep!!! He was so terribly glad that Reno was there with him and that, no matter how much shit he had to take because of him, he was still such a loyal friend: if he survived this, he would have done something nice for him! He didn't know what, but something nice for sure! Still... if Leon managed to connected his power to what was going on... well, he could easily figure out that it was his doing... he just hoped that Reno's protection would be enough against Leon's speed. And, twice in a day (that was actually a record) Buddy just shut up...

Leon stopped when Reno put his hand on his chest. He could easily just pass him, but he was an old friend after all and Leon didn't want to act overhasty. He counted down from ten, before he would hit the man in front of him. "I am calm. If I wasn't one of you would already lie on his back screaming of pain. Probably you.", he said and looked at the small redhaired bastard again. "You messed with my brain? Didn't I tell you to stay the hell away from it?? You're really playing with your life right now, little limb of Satan.", he spied out and squinted his eyes, but didn't move from his spot. For now. "Tell me, what the fuck did you do?", he said and barely was able to control his temper.

Reno stayed where he was as well as he watched Leon try and calm himsefl down, unmoving from his spot. He merely gave Leon an unimpressed look when insisted that he is calm. Yeah right, it still loked like the older was about to hit him. At least the male seem to hold enough respect for Reno to not just skip past him anyway. "Limb of Satan..." Reno couldn't help repeat to himself in half amusment, giving Buddy a funny look at the odd nickname. "Ok to be fair, he hasn't touched your brain during your stay here," he pointed out, still as calm as ever as he stared the older in the eye, and still standign protecvily infront of the smaller redhead. "But you deserve some asnwers, and he will give them to you. If you keep that damn temper of and threats of yours in check."

"If I wasn't one of you would already lie on his back screaming of pain. Probably you." Buddy tried his very best to keep an unbothered expression, but still he was sure that his fear was showing, at least in part. Cause he knew Leon was very much for real... and cause talking now wouldn't make things better. "You messed with my brain? Didn't I tell you to stay the hell away from it?? You're really playing with your life right now" And that... that felt weird cause it was something that 'his' Leon, Leon with his full memory back could have said as well... and, once again, didn't make the situation one bit better... Actually, the only thing that was making it better now was Reno, the small ginger couldn't be happier that the taller ginger was there and that apparently their friendship was so strong Reno would protect him no matter if he quite wanted to him him himself. He really owed big time to the redhead... So much so he didn't even comment with anything more than a little snort at Reno's amusement at Leon's stupid nickname; he was too glad that the ginger was talking and protecting him to dare speaking up, even if what he said sounded awfully dangerous to him... but well, he doubted that in that situation there was something that would have sounded safe. And then Reno said he would give answers... if Leon kept his temper under check... well, knowing Leon, that was probably the best he could do in such a situation... So... apparently it was time to talk. That made him feel sick, but running away had never been an option with Leon. "As the ginger said, it's nothing recent." He shrugged, pretending to be completely unbothered by the situation but his fake calm expression wasn't convincing at all "We knew each others, I took those memories away... there's not much to say, but you don't even like me, you sure you want those memories back?" Now, usually Buddy was a pretty great liar, but in this case... there was just so much at stake that it was just too evident there was more he wasn't saying...

His stay here? Leon raised an eyebrow, but kept silent. Alright, calm down then. It can't be so bad then can it? But still he messed up his brain and that was something Leon just couldn't stand. It was his mind and his thoughts and his memories, nobody else's and nobody had the right to play around with them. Nobody. Looking now from Reno to gnome, he waited for him to say something. Of course he deserved answeres and finally his roommate opened his stupid mouth. It was obvious that he was trying to hide his fear, but Leon could easily tell by a single look into his eyes that he was afraid. Good. He should be. But that he pretended to be so unbothered made Leon angry again. He frowned again. They had known each other? What, had he been a victim of Stan or been working for one of his 'partners'? He was sure, it couldn't be more than that, otherwise he would have remembered. His mind was strong and really trained to keep such people away, that was one reason why he had been one of the closest to his boss. "Of course I want them back, they are mine, asshole. And sure I don't, not a bit. You must be the worst person I have ever met and believe me, I have met a lot of bad people. And you don't have the fucking right to just wash any of my memories away just because you can, no matter how small it is. Clear, gnome??", he gave back, again his deathglance put on. The only thing that was stopping Leon from strangling the small guy was that he needed him to recover his memories.

So, apparently this what being the third wheel feels like, Reno thought humorlessly to himself, finding ti quire ironiclly how he was littearly stuck between two of his old friends. However, even if Leon was keeping himself in check (for the most part) shoudl eh remove himself and leave the two alone, there was a high risk that Buddy would end up hospitalized. Or worse. And once again, as much as Reno despied having his mind messed with, he couldn't allow that to happen.
He stayed where he was, protecvitely infront of his much smaller friend, but also quiet as he slowly began to reval part of his secret to Leon. He could only sogh when Buddy once again tried to make the whole matter seem unimportant, not at all blamign Leon for getting pissed of again. Of course the male would want his memories back, painful or not. It was his head, his thoughts, his memories.
"Just give the man his memories back already," he sighed tireadly. "Better get it over with now, then maybe he'd be a bit more merciful."

The worst person he ever met... Yeah, right, if now he was going to give him his memories back that was something he would have to re-think about... or maybe not, seeing how he was most likely going to kill him... Buddy sighed, keep faking that unbotherd expression but the hand that he was keeping on Reno, holding the back of his jacket to make sure he wouldn't just walk away and leave him unprotected, suddenly tighened its grip. "You said it yourself, he doesn't do mercy" he replied to Reno, lowly, in hope that only Reno himself would hear him.
He gulped: if only there was another way... a way to buy time, to make things right... but he knew none, and beside, there was no way out of this situation now. He focused of Leon's mind, as always the guy was trying to protect it but he couldn't reach the safe without destroying his mental walls. Not that it was difficult or anything, just... he didn't want the guy to kill him before he could even start...
"Hold still, this is going to hurt a bit..." he said to Leon, getting even closer to Reno before he just knocked down his mental walls and then headed straight to the safe, opening it: now for Reno he tried to make sure the flux of memories didn't hurt much, but in Leon's case... he decided not to slow them down. Sure, it was going to be more painful for Leon, and it was going to leave him dizzy and breathless, but the memories would find their own place and that was quicker: otherwise, he risked not to have the time to finish...
He stared at the memories, all the memories they shared flash a second time that day in front of his eyes, this time from leon's point of view. Sure, the fact that he killed Stan and how he left... those weren't memories he had, but he was sure he could easily figure that part out once he had recollected his breath. Still hiding behind Reno, knowing that after all none of the guys were focusing on him, he allowd himself to show worry and fear on his face. He wasn't so sure Reno could protect him now, but the fact he was still here anyway was something he truly appreciated...
"Yo Reno..." he called the other guys, his grip still tight on his shirt "Sorry for the mess and... thanks." he said those words in the usual, unbothered tone of his, like they meant nothing, but for one who knew him well as Reno did, it could be easy to look beyond the lie and understand that he actually meant it

Hurt a bit? COme on, he was  used to pain, so how bad could it be to release a memory  or  two? Leon rolled his eyes anpatiently, but before he could tell the gnome to just do it, he recognized his inner walls being crashed down and soon after a huge twitch was transfixing his brain. Fuck, he didn't know it would hurt that much, so he hadn't been attuned to it. He burried a hand into his hair on the right and stumbled a few steps back. The pain wasn't just a twich anymore, it was a really painful flow, like his brain would explode, but after a  few  seconds it was gone, just leaving a dazed feeling in it. He blinked and slowly looked at the gnome, his gnome. His husband. His eyes widened in disbelieve at the memories he had just recieved. Leon would never had believed when Buddy would have told him, but he knew the memories weren't fake. There was noting more true in his brain than those. Everything came to the boil in himself again: all the memories, all the feelings, especially the love for the other guy. He remembered how they met, how they slowly started to build up a relationship, their feelings for each other and their small marriage. What was the last thing he remembered? They had been fighting and then skipped talking to each other for a  few days... Because of what? Right, because of Stan and that Buddy wanted to leave.... Leon started to frown. So he just ereased his memories - when, when he had been sleeping? - and just left. He had left everything, his life, his friends and him. How could he even dare to do this?? And why did he just ignore their past together when they became roommates?! And what did Stan say- Leon didn't even finish this thought but quickly combined that Buddy had killed Stan and got even more angry at the small ginger. He seriously had just killed the person who came as close to a father to him as possible?! His glance got darker and darker and finally almost hateful. Of course, he would just be extremely angry to the person who had killed Stan, but the fact that it had been Buddy who had killed him, really hurted him and turned the anger into hate and rage. And on top of all, he just ran away showing the white feather. Leon squeezed his eyes. "You.....!", he hissed and in the next blink of an eye, he had pushed Reno aside to grab Buddy's neck, pulling him up, his face right in front of his. He was so angry that he needed a moment to find words. "How dare you?!", was the only thing coming out of his mouth, but he was sure that the other one would exactly know what was going on in his mind. He didn't even care to rebuild his mental walls right now.

Reno knew what was about to happen, but didn't even have to time blink before he was pushed aside from Buddy. "Leon!" he cried out, quickly catching himself and launching himself back at his two friends, grabbing hold of Leon's arm and trying to pry the male's hands off Buddy's throat before he chocked the guy. He could imagine how Leon must be feeling, and while he was still trying to protect Buddy, he did not blame Leon at all for his reaction and outrage. The man had all the rights to feel angry, hurt, [betrayed[/bAnd as much as Reno wanted to walk out of this and leave the both to it on their on, he still didn't want the smaller male to get hurt. Well, not more than he already was.
With a growl of frustration, he finally managed to push Leon off of the other, protective wrapping an arm around Buddy and keeping him up on his feet.
"There will be no fighting, much less killing in this room. As long as Buddy's in here, you are not allowed to touch him," he spoke firmly, straing Leon straigt in the eye as he said this, no fear or hesitation in his voice. Just beacuse he always came back, no matter how much or many times he got beaten down, didn't mean he could keep Buddy out of harms ways, especially from Leon. But god damn it, they're drage dhim into this, and both of them would now just ahv to deal with him meddling in the middle, and do as he fucking said.
"Leon, you have all the rights to be pissed off, and hurt this guy here for what he did," he said, still in a stern voice but with so much understanding in it. "But I can't let you do that, not while I'm here."

Buddy could easily see and recognise all the emotions passing on Leon's face: pain at first, and then disbelief, maybe fondness? But that didn't last, since Leon quickly started putting together all the missing details: the fact Buddy had abandoned, erasing his memories, and the reason for that... it happened all so quickly, in less than a minute he could see Leon's anger starting to rise, making him hold his breath, until it exploded in that hissed 'you': Buddy could feel a strong shiver down his spine, making his legs feel like jelly. And then in just a split second Buddy found himself pinned against the wall, his neck tightly grasped by Leon's hand, his feet weren't even touching the floor anymore and he was having high troubles breathing. Still... he couldn't stop his mind from thinking that if Leon had to kill him anyway, at least he got to see him one last time, the real Leon his Leon, with all his memories, their memories... "Hey Leon..." he mouthed more than said "Missed you..." his bittersweet smile though quickly turned into a grimace of pain since his hands didn't manage to loosen Leon's grasp on him. And even if he tried to speak with the usual teasing ways, it still came out as quite too honest, and he really was... even if he had given up his memories as well, still, he had no power on emotions, and in those last 2 years he had tried to ignore the mess his own emotions were... well, now he knew the reason...
He was close to passing out, barely conscious of the fact that Reno was trying to push Leon away, when the taller ginger actually managed to free him, standing once again in front of him as Buddy fell on his knees, breathing heavily, looking down, feeling dizzy. That had been close... He was so focused on breathing again he couldn't even hear Reno's first words, but he was able to hear what he said in the end: 'you have all the right to hurt this guy here' wait what? What the hell!? Well... at least he was sticking to his promise and he was still defending him...

Missed him?! Was this guy fucking serious??? That was only making him more furious and intensified his grip. Leon then felt a stong force on his arm through his fog of rage and eventually let go of Buddy's throat, who was falling to the ground immediately. He turned around to Reno, who still got hold of his arm. Under his angry glance, he moved to Buddy and acted all protective. Great. Not allowed to touch him? Fuck him. Fuck Reno. Leon snarled. "Fine. Then I'll wait until he get's out of your room.", he said dangerously calm and looked back at Buddy with a minacious look. "You're lucky Reno's here, otherwise you'd already dead. Or at least screaming in pain.", he hissed and turned around to the door to leave the two gingers.

Reno rolled his eyes, really hoping he wouldn't be greeted by an overly pissed of Leon whenever he stepped outside his room now. Flynn sure a shell wouldn't be amused.... And much less the Puppy! Oh shit, Tadashi would be left traumatized by the mere sight of Leon. "I better not be finding you camping outside my door now," he muttered after the speedster, turning to focus on Buddy and make sure he was actually sil breathing. Which he was, thankful. At least Leon still respected him enough to not go on a killing spree in his room. That was always nice to know.
"Ok midget, up ya go," he sighed, hauling Buddy up to his feet effortlessly and then gently setting him down on the couch.

Buddy didn't even dare to look up at Leon when he talked, he honestly didn't expect it to be so painful to hear him using that tone toward him... even his grip on his neck couldn't compare to the pain of that, though, of course, he wouldn't admit that. He was still panting quite heavily when Reno helped him up and then let him sit on the couch: he usually didn't like to be moved around like a fucking doll, but this time he didn't complain and instead he gave Reno a half smile "I need to give you credit, ginger: you said you'd keep me alive and I'm still here..." still, for how long... that was hard to guess... though, judging from Leon's rage, Buddy could guess not for long. Beside, he couldn't ask Reno to let him stay for much longer, the ginger would have ended up killing him himself, he had no doubt!

He stopped for a moment to say: "Nope, I'll just  wait until he comes to me. ANd he has to, we live in the same room after all...." Leon took a look back from the corner of his eyes and then left the two gingers, going to his own room. He tried to calm down again, but he just couldn't. There was far too much he had in his mind right now and too many feelings at once... He would need quite some time to process it....

Reno scoffed at Buddy's words, looking over his shoulder to give Leone one last look as the man walked out of the room and left them alone. "One of my bigger flaws, is my fucking loyalty to those very few I genuinely care about," he muttered, looking back to the other redhead on his couch. "I must've grown soft since comming here, for still standing up to you like this after what you did..." he sighed, rubbing his temple tireadly.

As Leon spoke up again Buddy felt a chill trough his spine: yeah... fat chance he was going back to their room... leon could wait forever there for him, he sure as hell wasn't heading back, he wasn't eager to die... even his masochism had limits...
At Reno's words he just couldn't stop himself from smiling light: the ones he cared about... stupid ginger, like it wasn't obvious enough that caring for him was a mistake... and still and yet, he couldn't deny he was glad that Reno still saw him as a friend, even after all this crap he had put him through... Buddy didn't cope well with guiltiness, he had stopped feeling guilty for anything at all a long time before for self perseverance, but he couldn't deny that the ginger almost managed to make him feel guilty even now. "Yup, you've surely grown soft. You could have got rid of me so easily..." As always, he just couldn't help but saying the most inappropriate, nastiest thing. A 'thank you' was just so rarely part of his vocabulary... and the situation was getting too emotional for his taste, though he realized himself he was once again pushing his luck and stopped himself with a sigh "Look, give me half an hour and I'll be out of here, kay? Just to make sure Leon won't lurk aroud..."

It wasn't the comment of how he's gone soft that pissed him off this time, but how Buddy just so casually said how easy it would have been for Reno to get rid of him. And in that fucking typical way of his, trying to sound as if none of what just happened even matters. Reno hadn't been expecting a thank you, or any sort of gratitude from the man. Of course not, that just wasn't him. But still, enough was fucking enough. So that's why the next second Reno had slapped him across the face.
"Fuck you Buddy," he muttered, not even sounding angry at this point, just.... exhausted. And he still felt hurt, even if it may not show, he really was. "You can stay here for the night, all I'm asking of you is to keep that damn trap of yours shut..."

When Reno slapped him, Buddy actually shut up. Fine, he deserved it or, to quote Leon, he asked for it. For a moment he was event tempted to say he was sorry, but... to do what? Lighten his consciousness? Cause surely enough that wouldn't make Reno feel better, and he had fucked him up enough... He looked away, trying to regain his usual mask, trying to pretend as usual he didn't care at all, but he was still shaken up but the recent event so it was still hard to fake as always. Chewing his inner cheek, he let Reno talk and only after a moment he shook his head slowly with a bittersweet smile "Nah, I'll pass... don't wanna tempt you to kill me too..." he said with a small shrug, and by his tone this time he at least wasn't trying to irk and annoy Reno

Reno was looking eslewhere in the room, for the moment unable to keept his eye son his friend. He narrowed his eyes at Buddy's words, but the urge to hit him again was gone thanks to his tone this time, letting the taller redhead know that he wasn't trying to annoy or upset him this time around. "Haven't I lost enough already?" he mutterd, running a hand down his face. "...don't go get yourself killed, at least try and do that for me." No matter how hurt or angry he waas at the man, Reno was tired of losing people close to him, including Buddy. Call hims soft or whatever, but Reno did come here to turn his life around afterall.

Buddy stood up and looked up at Reno with a curious glance, a hint of surprise and even fondness in his eyes, but soon enough he shook his head "Can't make promises, ginger. You heard Leon yourself, he's not gonna give up easily..." what was the point in lying after all? In saying he would be careful and shits like that? The chances Leon wouldn't get him were so terribly slim... He just didn't want to think about it, it was gonna happen soon enough anyway... for a moment, though, his mind went to Molly... "Reno..." he started, frowning, but then he shook his head. No, Molly had enough money and... he was sure she would be fine... somehow...
Although... the ginger had been incredibly nice to him, done for him so much more than he deserved... Buddy shifted uncomfortably on his place, there wasn't much he could do to make up with him and he never believed in forgiveness, but he still wanted to do something nice for the ginger, he deserved it, and... from his point of view there was only one thing he could do... and he better had to hurry too at this point...
"Hey, wanna pay a visit to Nolan? We can drink a beer, for old time's sake... and recover those old times in his mind too." he said with an half smile, not saying it opely but it was clear enough how he wanted to do the job now that, well, he was still alive...

"I said try, not promise. I know you're incapable of that," Reno almost hissed at his friend, but managed to keep himself calm nontheless. Buddy had been thrugh enough pnushiemnt for one afternoon, the guy was obviously feeling guilty and shitty for his actions. Even if he tried to hide it...
He glanced back at Buddy as he staretd saying something, and then paitnelty waited for him to continue as he grew silent for a moment. After he finished speaking however, all Reno did was give him a tired look. "No," he said, sighing deeply to himself. "I'm done. I can't deal with more of this right now," he said hnestly, running a ahnd throguh his hair and began to dragg himself towards his bedroom. "Or today..." he went on. "I'm just...." Another sigh. "Not now."

At Reno's reply he was ready to receive another slap, or a punch or something, and he was quite surprised and grateful that the ginger had decided otherwise. Yeah, 'try'... it wasn't like he wasn't gonna try, he just didn't think it was going to change the result.
As Reno said no to his offer he frowned: did he even get how serious that was? As always when he was worried and sad, the most natural instinct is to diverge his emotions to rage at the first occasion, and that was the perfect occasion, though even if upset he did nothing more than snort. "Fine then." As Reno moved toward the bedroom, Buddy himself moved toward the main door, opening it. It had been only 10 minutes or so since Leon had left, but he was sure it was safe enough, At least so he hoped. He couldn't stay any longer anyway, he had had enough to be eaten alive from guilt and regret, any more of this and he was going to erase his own memories once again.
Just before he actually left the room, he turned briefly toward Reno and muttered and a, weirdly enough for his standards, honest tone "Thanks, ginger". Immediately after, without even waiting for an answer, he closed the door behind him and started moving away.