Standing Still
Rufus stood in the building of the ShinRa Headquarters, observing the scene before him. He had been contacted by Palmer and had come as fast as he could with his Guard Hound, but there didn't seem to be much he could do now. As far as he could tell, everyone that had been in the building was now dead.
Including his father, who lay on the ground in front of him.
Rufus wanted to leave. He wanted to walk out of that room with the proud feeling that he was now going to be the President of ShinRa. But all he could think was that now he had no father.
He was frozen where he stood, staring at the pale and lifeless skin on the man who he had never really liked.
Had he?
What am I doing? I should be happy!
Rufus closed his eyes, telling himself over and over again that it didn't matter. His father had put him under house arrest before, hadn't he? So there was no one to tell him what to do any more. He was free.
Why does it hurt so much?
His eyes burned, wanting so much to open and check that his father might still be alive, but he squeezed them shut tighter. He would not be weak. He would not!
His fingers curled into fists by his sides and he turned his face away in an attempt to escape what was happening.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Forcing his feet to turn himself around, he opened his eyes and walked from the room silently. He could hear his Guard Hound padding along behind him slowly, and was thankful that there was no one else around to witness this.
No one else... will witness... my tears.