Fandom: FFVII
Pair: Rufus/Reeve
If he thought the nagging was bad before it had increased tenfold since the young President began courting Reeve. Rufus was commonly threatened by assassinations, bombings, and anything else the local terrorists could think up and the company higher-ups were on him constantly about kicking Reeve to the curb and getting a woman. Two men could not produce an heir and the future of the Shinra Corporation was tentative at best. Several times the dark haired man had tried to relent but Rufus would hear none of it. He loved Reeve, honest and truly loved the man, an emotion he'd never truly understood before, and he'd be damned if he'd let anyone take his beloved away. If they wanted an heir then he'd get one, one way or another.
This led to an impromptu visit one weekend to the 7th Heaven bar where Rufus knew Cloud kept Marlene and the other orphan boy. All eyes were immediately on the President as he entered, the air bristling when he looked at Denzel. The child stared right back as if daring Rufus to try anything. Reeve latched onto the blonde's arm and kissed his cheek, petting his chest gently trying to disarm the tension. Rufus eased into the other's touch but the air of authority remained, challenged by the spiky-haired ex-SOLDIER propped at the bar.
"What brings you here?" Cloud asked.
Rufus chuckled. "All work and no play, Cloud? My advisors have been on me to produce an heir to take control of the company when I am gone and since I refuse to let them take Reeve away I am looking elsewhere." At this he looked at Denzel. The child looked none too keen on this arrangement.
Cloud wasn't too appeased by this notion either. Denzel, a Shinra? There was no way Rufus knew anything about being a proper parent and he dreaded to think what that child would endure. Personal bias could not justify letting the child go into the lion's den.
"Cloud." Reeve detached from Rufus and stepped towards Denzel, gently holding a hand out to the child. He watched Reeve's hand warily, knowing the dark haired man was pretty trustworthy in Avaanche's book even if Rufus was not. "Please.. we really are at wit's end and... I.. I don't want to leave him."
"I won't let you leave." Rufus snapped in his business voice. "Stop talking like that."
"Y-Yes sir... I'm sorry."
Cloud sighed, watching the drama unfold. Reeve would be around and Cloud knew the man adored chidlren. If anything would go awry with this twisted family it was definietly be in the "father" figure of the trio. Rufus worried him still, he treated this more like a business transaction than dealing with the life of a child. He could only surmise that was the way his father treated him. He shook his head, refusing to let Denzel go so easily.
"He's an orphan. There's no way they'll allow it."
"At this point, Cloud, I've gotten away with quite a bit." Rufus held Reeve's hand tight. "I'm desperate at this point and since you are the one man I cannot bribe my way through I am prepared to prove myself as an adequate parent."
Cloud blinked. "Oh? And how do you suppose this?"
"Give me one month with him. If during this time I prove to be unfit then I will leave him be."
Denzel placed a hand on Cloud's arm, giving a tough little nod. Somethign stung in the blonde's chest at the hope shining in those dark blue eyes. He was so desperate for a real chance at family. "I'll try it Cloud.. I'll be okay, I promise."
Cloud gently brought Denzel over to Reeve, staring stern into Rufus's face. "I want to hear from him regularly. If I hear he's unhappy then the deal is off."
"Deal. Come along." He took Reeve's hand and motioned for Denzel to follow, heading back out into the dark streets of Midgar. Cloud shook his head, praying the sense of impending doom was just paranoia.