The reprimand irritated him, even more so than Kadaj's presence. Rufus could've told him to shut up or given him a look and Reno would've heeded without much complaint, but being scolded like a child—by someone who was actually younger than him, no less—was the one thing that just pissed him off. It was only due to Rufus being the President and Kadaj being there that he didn't snarl something back.

That, and he couldn't deny that Rufus was right. There was no winning in getting the nurses to pull out their pointy weapons on him. Though if he could rip out Kadaj’s throat, it'd be worth it, but given that he probably couldn’t, it would be stupid to lose control in front of the little bastard for nothing.

Biting back his ready retort to Kadaj, Reno shifted narrowed eyes away towards a neutral spot ahead of him. He closed them for a second, trying to keep his cool and clear out his clutter of thoughts. He managed the former. Not so much the latter.

As Rufus continued to speak, Reno glanced back at him, chin resting on top of his hand. He kept his gaze casual as he made an attempt at reading the President. It wasn’t until Rufus hinted at Yazoo’s possible deception at the end, with a carefully placed pause, that something finally clicked.

Reno’s initial suspicion had been right. Rufus was playing Kadaj. Or was he? But then why bother with the deal about the damned water in the first place? Had he known Kadaj would be cut off from his powers or had he just been betting on it? Or was it something he’d actually been considering on doing?

There was no asking anything, though. Not with Kadaj here.

Fuck. Fine. He’d see how things played out, and save his questions for later.