Be My Guiding Light
A Final Fantasy VII
by Tokigami
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII. All characters and ideas belong to Square.
Chapter 1
Elena slumped down on large black padded office chair and relaxed as she felt the softness ease her pain, but it could only ease the physical pain, not the pain that struck deep inside her heart. She closed her light hazel eyes and watched as all the 'good ol' times' ran through her mind. Times of her childhood, times of her training and times of her job … but most of all times of him…
She sighed as she stood up and slowly walked over to the water fountain, grabbing a small white paper cup as she slotted it under and watched as the clear liquid flowed into the cup. Her eyes locked on the fluid before walking back to her chair. The room was silent and very pastel, nothing but several chairs and a table in the middle.
She sat back down and took a small sip from the water and placed it onto the mahogany coffee table. She was all alone in this room, together it looked rather small, but alone the room consumed her. Now she felt more alone than she did a few moments ago.
Her two colleges were out of a mission, sent out to receive a special kind of weapon for President Shinra. They wouldn't be expected back for a couple of days. Actually, she thought, they probably already have the weapon and are spending the next couple of days in a nearby pub getting absolutely smashed, well Reno will. Rude… well … he does have more sense that Reno does - any one has more sense than him. Then again, at least Reno can get a job done and done right. She had just recently come back from her latest mission, to guard Icicle Inn and make sure no one gets through, but she couldn't even do that right. A failure, a complete and utter failure, that's what she was, she didn't deserve to have the job she was in.
She picked up her water and took a huge gulp, finishing off the rest. She crushed up the cup and threw it into the nearby bin. She sat up straight and slowly began to take off her navy jacket; she neatly folded it up and placed it down gently next to her. She loved her uniform; she loved the idea that she had such a high privileged job, it was better than her last job in the slums, working in a tacky little bar in Wall Market, she hated it, she hated the way she was treated and the pay wasn't great either. Then she got her chance, her big chance finally came. She got out of living in the slums and out of that dead-end job. So, she never immediately got the job of being a Turk, but the other job got her a small house outside of Midgar. It was quite by accident that she acquired the job. The Shinra building was attacked by a small mercenary group, not AVALANCHE though. She was a receptionist at the time and was the only one who stay clam, and the only one who came prepared with a gun, ("hey, a girl needs to protect herself in the slums, don't she?") She managed to stop them, but also managed to get herself hurt in the process, but it was worth it when they asked her if she wanted a higher position, a position that would highly suit her.
Those were the good times, all the excitement and thrill of something new each day. Sure, this job was something new; she never expected to be paid to do what she did, that was also a thrill. She didn't enjoy killing people, she knew that for a fact, but growing up in the slums she learnt one vital rule - survival of the fittest. Do your best to stay alive (and boy she did that) and you will be greatly rewarded. It was one of the only things she could do, but she was pleased in a small way. It was like she was destined to do this job.
She heaved a sigh as she rolled up her blouse sleeves and looked down at her left arm. The pale bandage that was wrapped around her wrist, a remembrance of her latest failure at Icicle Inn. It was Cloud's fault. All Cloud's fault! He was the one who made her make a mess of her mission, the one who humiliated her in the way he did. Why did he dodge! Why couldn't he have been knocked out? Why? He was just a thorn in her side, right from day one. She loathed him, and she wasn't afraid to admit it either. He humiliated her, he benefited in rescuing her (remember Wutai?) … and to top it all off he killed Tseng. Tseng, her boss, and the one she believed she loved. Just when she had her chance, he was taken from her, just like that.
She let her head droop. Maybe it wasn't Cloud's fault, maybe it was hers, she shouldn't have run off like that. If she had any sense she would have stayed and done her job. No, it wasn't. It just wasn't. She was just kidding herself; believing what she wanted, that's how she got around things.
"It can't have been my fault, it just can't be. I loved him, why would I want to kill him? It may be my job, but still… it was Cloud! Cloud's fault! Why, what did I possibly do? What have I done? I did my job; I've what any normal person living in the slums would've… I made my way to the top, well my top anyway. I don't want anymore, I don't need anymore. I have everything." She dropped her head to her knees. "Then why do I feel so bad? Why do I feel so bad? What have I done wrong? I only did what I thought was best, best for me."
She ran a hand through her short fair hair.
"This is what I get for listening to orders. No one appreciates me … Reno always says I talk too much, what am I suppose to do? Stay like Rude? The one who hardly ever speaks? I can't do that…"
Suddenly someone barged through the door. Elena looked up, only to see a head of blonde hair and a nasty grin. It was none other than Scarlet, the office slut… well that what's she thought of her. She had in her hands a stack load of papers. The blonde sneered at Elena before slamming the papers down hard on the table. She flicked her hair before speaking.
"This paper work needs to be done! They need to be handed in to President Rufus before you leave tonight."
Elena stared at the papers then looked at Scarlet.
"You have to be kidding me! It's nearly 3:00pm and these won't be done by 8:00 tonight, it'll take me all day and night to finish them."
"Then you also need to give a full account to President Rufus on the Turks… latest mission success," she sniggered, referring to Elena's last fiasco.
How was she going to tell President Rufus that she make a complete mess of things and completely embarrassed the name of the Turks, making everyone to believe a misapprehension?
"I trust you are capable of doing that without making a mockery out of Shinra Inc." She placed her hands on her hips and gave Elena a scornful look.
"But, I can't get it all do tonight." She tried her hardest to make the temptress see sense, but the more she tried, the more she failed.
"Well then…" She put her hand on the stack of papers. "I suggest you start right now."
"But, I can't get them done by tonight, it's near on impossible." She was beginning to get impatient, but she didn't want to lose her patience, not now.
"Then work fast," she said in a ridiculing tone.
Before the Turk had a chance to strike back she heard a loud bang, as the door was slammed shut. Scarlet was gone.
"Urhhhhh!" She slammed her hands down hard on the table, and then cringed as she cradled her left hand. "Who does she think she is? I can't believe her! Why! I can't get it finished; no matter how hard I try I will never get this done by eight tonight!"
She sighed and looked at the papers.
"Looks like I'm on free overtime tonight… again!"
She pulled the table closer to her and looked at the work, but soon put them down just as quickly.
"God I hate Scarlet so much! What a nerve she has! Just because I messed up one time… she messed up the moment she bought that dress, which may I add is two sizes too small. She's just a little… urhhh! I hate her!"
She grabbed the first paper roughly and read the contents quickly before complaining again.
---
After hour upon hour of diligent work, she had it finished; all the paper work was completed. Caput! Done and dusted with. She neatly placed the papers in a pile on the coffee table, next to the five empty coffee mugs. She had it all arranged in her mind what she was going to say to Rufus, all she had to do was hope and pray that she didn't mess up. Tell it in a professional way. Professional! She nodded and took a deep breath as she picked up the papers delicately and held them close to her chest, walking out of the open white door. She glanced around the building; hardly anyone was around, just the odd person walking around: the evening staff, security guards, and the floor receptionists.
She walked over to the new glass elevators; the shape of them was almost diamond-like, not smooth, but jagged. She carefully took out a key card and swiped it down in a box compartment, careful not to drop any of the papers. She waited a moment and then it opened. She walked in and put the card in into the small slit and pressed number sixty-nine. The elevator jutted a little bit before moving. She placed the documents down on a glass panel and looked around at the view. Darkness, that was all to be seen and silence heard. Bright lights filled certain parts of the slums, parts that still stood strong after the pillar collapsed. She smiled for a small moment; it was, in a small way, a beautiful sight. But you would think it was picturesque when you were born and raised in the slums… but a small part of her was delighted that she was out of the slums and that the only time she had to be here was because of work.
The lift stopped then jerked, sounding off a loud ping. The card quickly slid out of the compartment and Elena took a hold of it and went to slot it in her navy jacket pocket, until she realised that she left it back down in the faculty lounge.
"Dammit!" she cursed, taking hold of the card and picking up the papers.
She then continued to make her way up to the President's office. She smiled at some of the male workers who she knew and some who she didn't. It was late; at least she'd get some recognition for her hard work.
She walked up the stairs and looked down at the red carpet that ran all the way to the top. She shook her head as she continued to slowly climb the steps.
The Turk looked around the office and saw the President standing in front of the window with his back to her; clearly he hadn't noticed her at all. The windows were situated all the way around the office then stopped where the stairs were, both leading up to the same place. The desk was large and almost a golden brown, it looked almost authentic gold, but could easily be known as wood. The carpet and the large office chair were a light ruby shade. Papers were scattered around the large desk, but still seemed neat and tidy at the same time. A small office lamp was right next to the chair, but was hardly needed, as the large light, which hung from the ceiling, was bright enough to illuminate the whole room.
She walked in further and looked around nervously.
"Um, Mr President?"
Rufus Shinra smiled to himself and slowly turned around.
"Um, I have those reports and the paper work that you requested."
"Ah, yes… those." His voice was of a normal tone, but had some small hints mischief in it. "Come, take a seat."
She nodded her head and walked over to one of the office chairs opposite his. She placed the papers down onto his desk and sat down, waiting for him to sit down too.
He looked at her, the sweet looking blonde that sat in his office. He had never actually found time to speak or get acquainted with her, all he knew was that he had hired a female Turk as a temporally replacement for Reno, but Reno was back in fighting shape… but now another Turk had been lost. Tseng, leader of the Turks. Right now the Turks had no leader; however, Rufus had not considered that they needed one. Reno gave the impression that he was in charge, so let him believe. The Turks were the only part of the organisation that he could actually trust; unlike Heideggar and Scarlet. They were the types of employees that played up to him, but ridiculed him when he left the building.
He smiled softly as he walked over behind her. She looked around nervously at him, but all he did was smile casually.
"From the out of the new weapon device, the input would be of a much higher velocity, Mr President."
"You don't have to call me 'Mr President' or 'President Rufus' all the time… just call me … Rufus."
"Y- yes sir, Mr Pres- Rufus." She quickly corrected herself and went back to giving her report. "Well, the higher velocity would mean a much larger and damaging fire range, approximately 564,00-" She stopped talking as she felt him caressing her hair.
"We don't need to get into the small details, do we?"
"I guess," Elena mumbled, staying on the alert and waiting for him to stop what it was he was doing.
"Why don't we get better acquainted?" His hand left her hair and slowly moved to her fair face.
"I- if you like." Her voice was shaky, but she tried to calm herself down.
He removed his hands and laughed softly at her.
"Why so tense? You should relax a little … just because you work for me doesn't meant that you have to act all professional. I like to get acquainted with my employees, have a good friendly … relationship."
She nodded and looked down at her knees, she had no idea what was going on and no idea how to get out of it. But, she shouldn't completely do that; he was just trying to be friendly, wasn't he? She wanted to believe so. This is just a nice, friendly conversation. Yes. That's all…
He gradually walked next to her and sat on the side of the desk, at least she could see him, all the better.
"Maybe we should have just a general conversation, just to make you a little more relaxed." His voice was too persuasive for her to refuse his request.
"I guess there's no harm in that," she smiled, and looked up at him.
"Now we're on the right lines." Rufus returned the smile, but one of much satisfaction of getting what he wanted. "You are?"
"Oh, Elena…" Her voice was slowly beginning to perk back up a little, but still had a bit of an edge to it.
She had no idea whether she should trust him or not, she didn't want to get getting herself into trouble, especially with the boss. Definitely not with the boss. She shook her head.
"So, are you enjoying your work here?"
Her hazel eyes nearly lit up when he asked her, all she had to do was speak the truth.
"Oh yes, it's really nice working for you… I love my job, whether I'm good at it is another story, but I enjoy it… every minute of it."
"A beautiful woman such as you should be able to do a job like that," he said sweetly, yet slyly.
She blushed at his comment and looked away; she didn't want to get embarrassed, not now.
"You don't mean that…"
"Of course I do." He moved forward so that he was looking straight into her eyes. "You have beautiful eyes, too."
End of Chapter 1