So despite the fact that I made him an absolute bastard in my last story, I actually really love Rufus Shinra. And since I was bored, I wrote this sort of as an apology to the character I guess. XD ~Rei
It was late. From the windows on his office floor, Reno could see the stars and he knew that he should be getting home, but there was one thing preventing him from doing so, and that was his boss President Rufus Shinra. He'd been acting strange ever since Meteorfall, and Reno could hardly blame him. Nearly losing your life was the sort of thing that made you reconsider your values. It put things in perspective, so to speak. But the President had been acting even stranger lately.
Reno shifted a stack of papers from one side of his desk to another. Picking up a folder, he began to thumb through it, his eyes beginning to water from lack of sleep.
The President looked sick. His gait seemed to be off. Spidery blue veins in his hands and around his eyes were visible through his now translucent skin. He often fell asleep at his desk, and dark circles were forming around his ice blue eyes, making them appear sunken. There was just something off, and it made Reno worry.
Reno dropped the folder and massaged his eyes. He stood and walked out into the hallway. He was the only one there; it wasn't worth staying any longer. However, once in the elevator, Reno automatically pushed the button for the top floor. The President's office.
Reno wasn't even sure why he worried about him so much. Rude said the President was just under a lot of stress, due to the fact that the new "Geostigma" disease was being blamed on Shinra, and though it made perfect sense, Reno didn't buy it.
Reno exited the elevator and walked down the long and dimly lit hallway towards Rufus Shinra's office. It was quiet, and the silence made Reno uneasy. Something wasn't right. Reno quickened his pace, eventually running down the hall, panicked. Throwing the door open, Reno saw his boss on the floor next to his desk, curled into a ball as black ooze seemed to flood from dark smudges on his hands and forehead.
"Sir!" Reno cried, running to his boss and picking him up from the ground slightly. The attack was soon over, and Reno looked over the President, concerned. "Sir, why didn't you tell us you had the Stigma?"
Rufus, breathing heavily, tried to regain his composure. He stood and limped over to his office chair, collapsing into it.
"Why are you still here Reno? It's late."
The redhead rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, and you're here too, now give me an answer."
The President looked up at his subordinate and could tell from his eyes he wasn't leaving until he received the truth. He smiled slightly, glad to know at least there was one person who worried about him.
"I didn't know," he admitted. Reno made a sound of disbelief.
"No cure huh?" he inquired. Rufus nodded gravely. Reno gave a cynical laugh, shaking his head. "Figures. I guess we'll have our hands full then."
Reno walked towards the door to leave. He felt sad almost, and at the door he paused and looked back at his boss. He was sitting at the desk, staring out the window, the black splotches looking like mere bruises from the distance. He looked lonely, and Reno couldn't help but wanting to cheer him up.
"Heyuh, boss?" Rufus looked up at Reno, his expectant eyes telling the Turk to go on. "Uhh... Well Rude, Tseng, Elena and me… you know we'll stand by you through this, right?"
Rufus smiled.
"Thank you Reno. I'm glad to hear that."
