It figures, that Reno starts talking the moment he wakes up in the hospital. And without his tongue, no less.

Folks, even their fellow Turks, can be disconcerted by how much Reno can say to Rude (and mostly only Rude, because he's the mostly only one who understands) in perfect silence. If energetic gesticulating could make sound, he'd be practically singing in the halls. But that's nothing out of the ordinary. Reno was always a mobile person; his movements are just a little more infused with actual purpose now. That's all.

An animated expression, a pantomime of a punch and the neck snapping back. Reno rolls his eyes back in an exaggeration of unconsciousness.

"Sorry I missed it," Rude says in perfect deadpan. "I'll get courtside seats next time."

He gets a grin and a single, eloquent finger for reply.

A week and half after the mission that cost Reno his tongue, he's already back on his feet and walking into the office with a fluid grace calculated to cover his limp. It's a technique all Turks learn early, because weakness isn't exactly one of the qualities they look for when they recruit. Tseng slid around like an goddamned oil slick after he came back from the dead.

"You'll be allowed to continue in active status," Tseng says--does Reno detect a smidgen of ruefulness?--"but you will be permanently assigned to Rude." No more solo missions for little ol' Boy Red.

He pauses, shuffles around some papers, then picks up what looks like a thin, almost invisible wire connected to a clear sticker on one end and an earpiece on the other. "You will wear this at all times."

A lift of the eyebrow, an uncomprehending shrug.

Another sigh. Rude may know Reno best, but Tseng's even better than Rufus at reading body language. "Place this device on your throat. It will pick up the vibrations and translate them into audible communications. You damage this, it gets docked from your pay."

Reno grumbles in the back of his throat.

Tseng fails to smile indulgently and dismisses the pair.

Out in the stairwell, Reno suddenly stops and tugs on Rude's sleeve, expression eager.

"Reno?" For once, Rude has no idea what whim has seized his partner.

Whatever said partner is trying to convey, it doesn't come through until Reno gives up, reaches for Rude's head and hauls his mouth down on him.

He was worried about kissing without a tongue? Rude thinks as he lifts Reno's legs up around him. Later he decides that tongue or no tongue, there was absolutely nothing lost in translation on what Reno was saying at that moment. None whatsoever.