Yeah, I know I shouldn't be starting anything else until I've finished the last one, but I know if I don't write it down, I'll forget it like last time. So please forgive me! The fact that Rufus had Geostigma in Advent Children had been bugging me for a while, as the only two ways you could get it was either from being touched by the lifestream during Meteorfall (which was contaminated by JENOVA and Sephiroth), or if you'd have JENOVA cells already inside you. Using my most wonderful logic, I determined that Rufus must have been safely tucked up in a hospital or clinic or somewhere during Meteorfall, recovering from the WEAPON attack. (Don't ask me to explain that yet, I'm still concocting up fantasies of his survival :P) So the only way Rufus would have Geostigma, must have been due to JENOVA cells inside his body.
There. Logic. I haz it.
Disclaimer: The usual. I do not own. Bah.
A murmuring whir came from the leaves of President Shinra's plant pot that was sitting the corner of his room; too quiet to hear.
The President sat at his desk, gazing quietly outside the window at his empire below. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in." He called, turning to the door to see who was bothering him this time. "Ah! Scarlet, Heidegger, please; come in." He beckoned the pair to his desk.
"Thank you, Sir." Scarlet sauntered up to the desk, and perched herself down on it, quite casually. She ignored the frown from the President and smiled at Heidegger, who seemed to be sweating profusely.
"Mr. President, Sir." Heidegger began. "Scarlet and I have been talking and-"
"It's about your son, Sir." Scarlet interrupted, leaning over and flashing a sickening smile. Heidegger scowled but let her continue; he felt uncomfortable talking to the President about this matter, and the more Scarlet did; the better.
"Rufus? What's the matter? What has he done this time?" The President enquired; worried that he'd have to sort out something else his son had got himself into.
"Oh, he's done nothing wrong, Sir, quite the contrary." The blonde reassured him, "As I'm sure you're aware, you son has an amazing military mind; quite the little leader."
"Yes, I'm certainly aware of that fact; I dread the day that he takes over this company."
"Why, Sir? He will be brilliant, surely?" Heidegger snorted at the President's remark.
"That's exactly why..." Heidegger frowned... he didn't quite follow.
"Anyway, Sir. Heidegger and I, we were wondering, have you ever thought about having your son join the military?" Scarlet flashed her deep azure eyes. The President frowned, and got out of his chair; prompting Scarlet to also stand, if only out of respect.
"Only in passing. Whilst you're correct that he has a frighteningly keen mind, his body is far too weak to withstand such responsibility."
"But strong enough to withstand that of taking over the company?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Scarlet, you know full well that's completely different. As driven as my son is, there is no way his body could cope with it; it's not worth the risk!" Shinra glowered. Though he and his son did not get on, the threat of leaving the company in the hands of Scarlet or Heidegger if anything were to happen to him was unthinkable.
"But, Sir; there are ways of changing that." Heidegger stated.
The room fell silent.
"Mako exposure?"
"Why not? You've seen the success Hojo has had with the SOLDIER recruits."
Shinra frowned, walked over to the window and looked out across the city.
"Just think; your son could be assisting leading some of the finest warriors ever known! ShinRa Company would be unstoppable, why, he could become the next-"
Click
Rufus switched off the speakers on his computer. He couldn't listen anymore. He sighed and pushed the hair out of his eyes, glancing at the bugging device he'd fitted to the machine. Scoffing, he picked up the large stack of paperwork that sat upon his desk and began scanning through them. Though he'd only been gone a few days, it seemed that things piled up fast at ShrinRa Company.
"Rufus! Sir! I'm sorry; I thought you were away on a business trip!" Rufus turned around to see a very nervous looking Tseng standing at the door. Rufus glanced at him briefly, before turning back to his papers.
"I was sent home early." He said, immediately regretting his decision.
"Sent home? Why? What on earth is the matter? Are you ill?" Tseng probed, rushing over to see if he was okay.
"I'm fine, I just had a slight cough and the snooty bastards didn't want me contaminating their precious offices." Rufus spat, glowering fiercely at the files, as if they were the men themselves. "So you can relax, I'm not dying. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've plenty of work to catch up on."
Tseng looked doubtful, but did as he was told anyway, making sure to shut the door quietly behind him.
"Yo, Tseng! What were you doing in Rufus' office?" Tseng cringed as Reno's voice called him from across the corridor.
"It's none of your business. Now get back to work!" Tseng replied, walking over to the Turk's station, removing Reno's beer from his hand.
"Is 'Master Shinra' back already?" Reno joked, chuckling as Tseng threw the empty can in the bin.
"He's back? Bloody hell that was quick." Shotgun peeped over from behind her desk. Tseng sighed in frustration.
"He's bunking off business meetings as well now? Jeeze, that kid's slipping, I know he's young an' all, but I thought he was meant to be Vice President." Two Guns joined in the conversation, casually leaning against Reno's desk.
"Hey watch it man! Don't mess up the paperwork, yo!"
"So, can we go and say hi?" Knife smiled, tripping over the trash can as she made her way across the room.
"I think it's best if we left him be for now." Tseng frowned.
"Why? Is he emo'ing again?" Reno sniggered, gently kicking Two Guns off his desk.
"Ah, Reno. Rufus doesn't emo, you know that. You need to be capable of emotion to do that." Two Guns quipped as he kicked him back.
"Ah, yes, our dear Ice Prince. How is he, oh Tseng of the North?" Shotgun winked at Tseng, noticing he was getting slightly agitated.
"Fine, but you should all leave him rest for now." Tseng tried to wade his way through the increasing gaggle of Turks to the other side of the room.
"Why? Is he sick again?" Knife asked, biting her lip anxiously, before realising she'd bit it too hard...
"No, just... just a bit pale that's all." Tseng hoped that that would shut them all up.
"Pale? Pale?! He's always pale! Hell, if I didn't know any better, I would swear he was a vampire or something, yo!" Reno said, winking at Shotgun who was desperately trying to suppress a fit of giggles.
"Uuuugh, Vampire!!! Let me suck your bloooood!!!" Reno got up and started to pretend to chew on Two Gun's head.
"Hey watch it! You're meant to be a vampire not a zombie!! Leave my hair out of this!!!" He batted the red head away.
"Oh you're right, yo! But not just a vampire, a Rufus vampire!!!" Reno flicked his hair out of his eyes, mimicking Rufus perfectly, and proceeded to stalk Two Guns around the room, flicking his hair all the while. Shotgun and Knife were now in fits of laughter; even Tseng couldn't help but smile.
"Batten down the hatches everyone, Scarlet alert." Martial Arts appeared from around the corner, exasperated look on her face.
"Yo, Martia, glad you could join us!" Reno giggled, before abruptly shutting up as Scarlet appeared, with the usual superior smirk plastered on her face.
"Oh look, it's the chimps. What are we all up to today than?" Scarlet walked over to Reno, who was glaring intensely at her. "Hmm, I think somebody has been drinking; I can smell it on your breath."
"Least it's better than yours, dog breath." Reno snapped. Martia laughed, before clasping her hand to her mouth as Scarlet suddenly turned on her.
"And what do you think is so funny?" She snarled. Martia simply stared right back, trying to control her temper. Normally, she could keep a very level head; but Scarlet was the one thing that drove her insane.
"Hey, you leave Martia outta this, yo. It was me, not her!" Reno yelled; fully aware of his friends weakness.
"Oh, so you're calling her Martia now? I suppose that's so you don't confuse the two Martial Arts up then? Gender wasn't a distinction enough was it? Well... just look at her I'm not surprised....Kya ha ha ha!"
"That's it!!!" Martia leapt forwards at Scarlet, before being quickly restrained by Knife and Shotgun.
"Leave her! She's not worth it! She's just a bitch!" Knife tried to reason with the furious Turk.
"Well let me at her then! I'll rip the bitch right outta her!!!" She yelled.
Scarlet grinned, pleased with the reaction she got.
"Well, I'll leave you monkeys to it. I've got work to do, and I'll never get anything done talking to you rabble, why, I wouldn't be surprised if my IQ dropped ten points simply from talking to you!"
"So you're in negative numbers now then?" Reno muttered quietly to himself. Fortunately, Scarlet didn't hear him, and left the room, slamming the door behind her.
Martia kicked the trash can across the room, scattering across the floor; but for once, nobody reprimanded her.
"God, that woman drives me insane!" She snarled, clenching her teeth.
"Who does she think she is, coming in here and deliberately causing trouble?" Knife shook her head and began clearing up the mess.
"She thinks she's so special....just because she's on good terms with the President seems to make her think she can get away with anything." Shotgun sighed. "She's like: 'Hi, I'm Scarlet, I think I'm so wonderful, because I sound like a donkey's ass and have plastic breasts, KYA HA HA HA!!'"
Martia grinned at her friends.
"KYA HA HA HA!!" The others joined in.
"Quick! Let's flash my breasts at the President so I don't have to work this weekend!"
"KYA HA HA HA!!!!"
"I walk around with Heidegger all day, so people don't notice this dress is two sizes too small!!"
"KYA HA HA HA!!!!!"
"What the hell is going on here?"
The others immediately turned around, only to see a fuming Rufus standing at the doorway.
"Nothing, Sir." Tseng tried to reassure the Vice President.
"Thank god, for a moment I thought there were more of them." He said, dryly. The Turks didn't know whether they were allowed to laugh.
"Good to have you back, Sir. How was it?" Knife smiled, hoping her question would break the tension in the room.
"Complete waste of time, but no matter. It cannot be helped." He coughed and made his way across the room to the door on the other side.
"You okay, Ruffy? Nasty cough you've got." Reno frowned, the suddenly wincing as Shotgun punched his shoulder.
"Don't call him Ruffy!" She hissed, as the Vice President glared back at him. Rufus merely looked around at them, before exiting the room in silence.
"So... I'll take that as a yes then shall I?" Reno raised and eyebrow before shaking his head.
"I think it'd be in your best interest if you did." Tseng said, sternly.