Rude listens and stays silent even after Rufus is finished speaking. He'd plotted his method of attack but not what he would do once he got the information he was looking for. A rookie mistake, for sure. Thankfully this was Rufus and not some target he had been assigned to.
Eventually he goes over the response in his head enough times that he's sure what he wants to say. "What would have to change?" Besides Rufus not impulsively acting on spite or jealousy, Rude can't think of anything that would need working out. Things have been alright so far, and he's almost certain they've been able to keep things quiet. If anyone else has noticed otherwise, they haven't brought it up. "I don't want you to change for me, Rufus. That's the last thing I'd want."
"What do you want from our arrangement? If you could ask anything from me, what would it be?" He knew he was putting this back on Rude, he had an idea what the answer will be but he wants to hear it from Rude.
He gives a small smile that is genuine for a fleeting moment- Rude is most likely the only person who would say that.
"I didn't think I was the type to get jealous. But I saw you with the intern and something just happened."
What doesn't he want from Rufus? That's easy: money. Everything else, he'll take what he's given and still want more. Time, attention, anything. He inhales deeply like he's going to sigh, but never exhales. Instead Rude cants his head to one side like he's really trying to sort out what he knows to be true.
"I don't care if you get jealous." That in itself isn't an issue. "I just want you to understand that there's no basis for it." Meaning, in fewer words, that he already belongs to Rufus. Not just contractually--although that is part of it. There's no one else he would do anything for. Even Reno has limitations on what his partner would allow him. Rufus doesn't have any such restrictions, but he may not even realize it.
"Something just happened?" Rude smiles, but doesn't laugh. "Oh how the mighty have fallen."
Rufus appreciates that Rude isn't teasing him with a laugh because this is new territory for him. He had been taught and had accepted that things like love was not possible or advised in his position.
But Rude had come in and changed the rules and made Rufus have to admit that it was something he wanted and yes, needed.
And was something Rude wanted as well. "I can't explain it. One morning I woke up earlier than you did and just that one moment I knew."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2021-02-24 02:32 pm (UTC)Eventually he goes over the response in his head enough times that he's sure what he wants to say. "What would have to change?" Besides Rufus not impulsively acting on spite or jealousy, Rude can't think of anything that would need working out. Things have been alright so far, and he's almost certain they've been able to keep things quiet. If anyone else has noticed otherwise, they haven't brought it up. "I don't want you to change for me, Rufus. That's the last thing I'd want."
no subject
Date: 2021-02-24 04:30 pm (UTC)He gives a small smile that is genuine for a fleeting moment- Rude is most likely the only person who would say that.
"I didn't think I was the type to get jealous. But I saw you with the intern and something just happened."
no subject
Date: 2021-07-12 12:00 am (UTC)"I don't care if you get jealous." That in itself isn't an issue. "I just want you to understand that there's no basis for it." Meaning, in fewer words, that he already belongs to Rufus. Not just contractually--although that is part of it. There's no one else he would do anything for. Even Reno has limitations on what his partner would allow him. Rufus doesn't have any such restrictions, but he may not even realize it.
"Something just happened?" Rude smiles, but doesn't laugh. "Oh how the mighty have fallen."
no subject
Date: 2021-07-12 12:28 am (UTC)But Rude had come in and changed the rules and made Rufus have to admit that it was something he wanted and yes, needed.
And was something Rude wanted as well. "I can't explain it. One morning I woke up earlier than you did and just that one moment I knew."