I don't know why I did this. XD It was really spur-of-the-moment, and I'm not even really sure if I like the way it came out. But I heard the song "Lightning Crashes" by Live, and for some reason, when it got to the line "Pale blue colored eyes" I thought of Rufus, so I decided to write this. It's short, and might be a little choppy, but I'm posting it anyway. Please enjoy. ♥
By the way, the title of the story comes from the song "Son of Chaos" from the Voices of the Lifestream album (which is AMAZING). It's their version of the Shinra theme, so I thought it would be appropriate. ;)
Birth of a God, the Son of Chaos
The sky was in a rage. Thunder crashed overhead, letting the heavens scream out their frustrations with the world. Every few minutes, lightning lit up the sky, striking a path between the raindrops and cutting the air like a sword through flesh. Everything in nature was bleak and dark; animals cowered in their burrows, monsters reveled in the static air, and plants shuddered all the way down to their roots. The Planet was trembling under her sky's anger.
In a small, white hospital room, the sky's temper had leaked through the walls, taking hold of a young woman and choking strangled sounds of pain from her throat. The doctors around her bustled about, preparing for the worst. It happened not infrequently, this strange part of life that had the power to be so beautiful, but so devastating. The whole congregation shared the feeling of standing on a tightrope, and if anyone swayed the wrong way, everything would be ruined. One wrong move, and this premature birth would become a stillborn delivery.
A shot of lightning and a crash of thunder, and the young woman let out a cry that would split the eardrums of anyone standing too close, her last bit of strength zapped by one more push. But it turned out to be all that was needed, as the doctor in charge slowly let free a dripping bundle of human flesh, from which a burst of air and sound came forth, filling the room with a different kind of cry. A nurse worked quickly to cut the umbilical cord and clean up the wound, as well as the remnants of placenta and blood. The crying infant was immediately enshrouded in blankets and towels, that fragile little body wracking with the cries of life's first breaths. The staff went through all the most immediate testing they could, checking on how immanent the effects of premature birth were.
When all was finished, and the baby was determined momentarily healthy, the doctor carried the baby to the weakened woman, who gave him a tired smile behind damp blonde hair.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Shinra" the doctor said gently as he placed the baby in the woman's arms. "You've given birth to a beautiful little boy."
The woman cradled the infant in her arms, looking down at him with a most pure and loving expression. "Rufus. His name will be Rufus."
The baby's cries subdued as he opened his eyes, revealing already-deep spots of pale blue, just like his mother's eyes, though they were completely clouded with confusion before the doctor could even close the door. The tiny breaths moving in and out of those tiny lungs were quick and shallow, something that worried the doctors, but hadn't become so worrisome that it was life-threatening. They just made sure to keep a close eye on the babe, in case he should falter. This child was of the richest blood, and losing him was not an option.
Soon after, another doctor knocked and entered the room, his face grim. He approached the woman, who looked up at him inquiringly.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Shinra, but… your mother has just passed away in the room down the hall. I'm afraid there was nothing we could do."
Tears welled up in the young woman's eyes. It seemed as though the tightrope had swayed both ways. Life and death, on the same day. The woman nodded minutely, remaining dignified as she looked back to her sleeping son.Perhaps there was one life too many.
"May she return to the Planet safely," the doctor said quietly, and bowed before leaving the room to take care of his duty to the old woman.
Mrs. Shinra, wife of the current President Shinra of ShinRa Electric Company, cradled her heir in her arms as a tear slid down her cheek. "My Rufus… I guess my mother's spirit is yours now."
And outside, the lightning crashed.