The Time We Spent Together
A/N: Something I wanted to try! Longest chapter ever! Let me know if I should continue!
Rufus's POV
I type diligently on my laptop on the couch in the middle of the Turks lounge. Tseng's office directly behind me, Verdot's to my right back behind the back of the couch. I lean up against the arm and continue to type away. It's almost midnight. Tseng is gonna chastise me when he comes out. I know he is almost done for the night, the flow of papers going in there has stopped so he should be close to getting done and when he does he's gonna come out here, give me a stern look and insist I go to bed. Like I'm 6.
I know that if I do not finish this 10,000 word essay on Economic Oppression I'm not going to finish it before my break is up. Then I'll get an F and friggen Doctor Stice will call my dad and tell him I am slacking in his class. Then my dad will beat the crap out of me more then he usually does and I just don't want to deal with it.
Pausing in typing I glance at the number of words I have on the pages. 7,859 words. I stare at it in silence for a moment, unable to comprehend what I just read. I have been working on his for about 6 hours and I only have 7,859 words down? I narrow my eyes, feeling a headache coming on. Damn.
"Rufus?" Tseng's low voice breaks me from my thoughts. I twist my neck around to look over my shoulder at my childhood bodyguard and best friend. His eyes fall onto my laptop for a moment before looking me in the eye. "Why are you still up? Mr. President is going to put you to work tomorrow." He tells me like I was zoned out while my own father was telling me.
I sigh, rubbing my temples. "Thanks for the lecture, Tseng. I realise I'm gonna have to work early tomorrow but if I don't finish this report I'm not going to want to do it later. So it's now or get beat later."
Tseng looks away at that. "I wish you wouldn't talk like that." he says softly. I feel a little bad for saying that so I try something else.
"I just have a couple thousand words left to go." I counter, turning back to my document and typing out some more. Tseng walks around and sits on the other side of the couch, loosening his tie.
"How many more?"
"A little less then 3,000."
Tseng shakes his head. He leans over and reads what's on the page. He's so close I can smell his cologne faintly. The first time we actually get to talk and all he wants to talk about is my work. Damn again.
So with Tseng's help I finish up my paper by one o'clock. I save the document and email it to my teacher. I lean back and close my eyes, they feel heavy and I'm sure there are bags under them. Tseng's hand on my shoulder makes me jump. Tseng's deep black eyes widen slightly before becoming unTurkishly gentle. Tseng... he was always gentle and kind to me. Sure he was a little rough around the edges as a kid but now he is my best friend. Best friend in whom I have not seen in almost 2 years.
My last break was about a year ago and he was on assignment the entire time. The only time I saw him was when I was about to hop onto the helicopter. He came walking up in that mysterious way that the Turks do and told me goodbye and that he was sorry he was gone the entire time and that he couldn't protect me from my father.
"I'm assigned to you." Tseng says suddenly. I blink the sleep from my mind for a moment. Everything is hazy. I must be half asleep.
"Huh?"
"Rufus," Tseng says softly, making me look at him with his forefinger and thumb cupping my chin. "I am assigned to you for the week you are here. Verdot has already approved it." That wakes me up a little.
Tseng is assigned to me? That means dad wont beat me. He may yell at me and call me bad things but that is all sticks and stones. He wont physically beat me if a Turk is there. Let alone if Tseng is there.
The Turks were made to ensure the future of Shinra. I am the future of Shinra and I'm sure my father has realised this. Verdot has already proved to me his dislike in my father. I bet Tseng was assigned to a butt load of mission for my week here but all the other Turks must have offered to take them all so Tseng is a free man.
I feel a light grin pass over my face. "So how many missions were you assigned to have?" I ask, sitting up a little. I lay my laptop onto the coffie table and look at my Turk intently. He shakes his head, black eyes distracted.
"145 missions. 175 if you consider the co-ed missions with the other Turks." Tseng shakes his head distastefully, releasing my chin.
I lean back and close my eyes. "Damn. He really wanted you out of the building."
"Out of country, actually." Tseng says.
I look at him, surprised. "Huh?"
Tseng gives me a blank controlled Turk face. "All my missions are out of country. Most of them are in Wutai."
"Damn was right. I wonder what I did wrong. I wonder what kind of hell he'll put me through while I'm here." I punch the closet pillow and close my eyes, trying to relax on the comfy couch. "I can't wait til the bastard is dead." I mutter, clenching my fist.
Tseng is quite for a few minutes before tugging on my am. "Time for bed." he says simply. I dejectedly follow him as he escorts me to my room with my laptop in his hands. Once we get to my room he turns to me and hands me my laptop. "Goodnight Rufus. Sleep tight. I'll come and get you for work." With that he turns and heads off down the hall with a little wave of goodbye.
I close and lock my door behind me. Carelessly I toss my laptop onto my desk and strip out of my white suit and into some comfy pajamas.I throw my cloths into the dirty laundry basket and then I turn on the ceiling fan and climb into bed. My body falling onto the bed like a ton of bricks and trust me- it felt like it.
Dark Nation yawns softly and climbs onto the bed and cuddles up next to me. I pet her head affectionately for a moment, in thought. Sleep was like bliss in my mind.
Going to bed late... waking up early for boring work... I can tell tomorrow is gonna be a nightmare. And to make it worse... I didn't get a wink of sleep.
There is a light knock on the door. It waits a moment before opening the door and entering the room. Even though I am wide awake, I keep my eyes closed. Almost wishing it was a dream and that I was in fact asleep. Maybe Tseng would have pity on my soul and let me take some kind of medicine and let me sleep.
"Rufus?" Tseng says in the quite morning. "I know you are awake."
I open my eyes and look over at the open door. There is the hall light on that lights up that side of the room. Dark Nation uncurls from around me, her tail wrapped protectively around my waist. I pet her black head and nudge her off the bed.
"Fine. Take Dark Nation out? I'll get my shower." I mumble glancing at the clock, sleepily. 6:30. I click my tongue and narrow my eyes. "Damn Tseng. 5 hours? Seriously? That's all you could give me?" I look over to my dark haired Turk who was petting Dark Nations black head affectionately.
"Hello girl," he says softly before looking up at me. "Sorry, Mr. Vice-President (oh so we're back to that huh, Tseng?) You have a meeting at 7:45 and I need to brief you on the overall basis."
I stare at him for a moment trying to comprehend what was just said to me. "Does it have anything to do with Economic Oppression?"
Tseng stares at me blankly for a moment. "No, sorry." he smiles a tiny apologetic smile.
Damn. "Damn." I mumble. Hey, got to speak my mind, right? I'm rich. I was born with that right. -Gag-
Tsemg cocks his head to the left slightly. "Sorry," he repeats. "I'll be back." He turns to the door and whistles for Dark Nation to follow him. She purrs in that weird way she does and follows after him. He closes the door behind her. I listen to them leave till I can no longer hear their footsteps.
"Damn." I say agian. I'm real tired. Just my luck.
My dad is unhappy. Tseng stands loyally at my side. All the Directors debate the newest issues they have with one another. I'm bored and tired and Sephiroth looks like he would rather be training the SOLDIERs.
"It has happened on multiple occasions, Mr. President." Scarlet was saying. "Hojo and his creep crawlies are suppose to be out of the office room at exactly 12:30 and I end up having to wait till 5:00 before I can even get my work set up. Thus only leaving me two hours to test out certain projects."
Hojo huffs, barely even listening to her, I can tell. His eyes glued to a clip board that seems to of been glued to his had some time ago.
My father sighs, seems like he'd rather not deal with this bull either. At least we have that in common. "Hojo, have your people out of there by 12:30, you hear?"
"Yes, yes. Whatever you say, Mr. President." Hojo says in that nazzily voice of his-not even listening to my father either. Sephiroth rubs his temples. Yes, Sephiroth definitely looks like he'd rather be somewhere else.
"Any more enternal conflics?" my father asks, eyes narrowed, scanning the table at all his Directors. I glance down at my watch to see that we have been in this meeting for two and a half hours and we have only gone through he internal conflicts. I might just kill myself here and now if I have to go through mush more of this.
Sephiroth's cat like blue eyes, look through the faces, threatening to kill anyone who speaks up. He feels the same as me. Fantastic.
"Good," My father sighs, rubbing his temples. "Now, external conflicts. Verdot," he turns to the Turk Director who was in the seat next to me. On the other side of Tseng. "How is the handling's on AVALANCH?"
Verdot narrows his eyes- a deep brown with a touch of silver. "As usual, Sir. My Turks were able to track a lead to another of their bases. There was some useful data but nothing of great importance. Like I previously said, 'just another base', sir." Verdot says evenly, eyes looking toward the glass of water in front of him.
My father frowns. "That is not good enough, Verdot. I want them found, you hear me?"
Verdot meets my fathers eyes. He's not afraid of my father- and why should he? He can kill my father at least 32 different ways with just that glass of water alone. Think of what he could do if he could be- oh I don't know... a room with multiple items. All in which he knows many affective ways of killing you with. Yeah, I wouldn't be afraid of the fat bastard myself if I were you, Verdot.
"Yes, sir." Verdot says, not backing down.
My father looks away with a huff and looks to Lazard who shakes his head. "Nothing new to report, sir."
My dad nods slowly, eyes trailing around the face, stopping at the kindness of the Directors. Reeve Tuesti. "Reeve," My father barks. "how about you?"
Reeve wipes his eyes with his hand and clears his throat. "We are still reconstructing after AVALANCHE's recent attack on the base in the 5th sector." Reeve says calmly, looking up to the presidents eyes. Not a challenge-not like Verdot- but to merely show his respect for his higher up and employer.
I stifle a yawn as my father drones on and orders the Directors around. I slouch slightly in my seat and focus on the papers in front of me. All the words are blurry and my eye lids are heavy. I could just fall asleep right now...
I sit up a little and force my eyes open. I can't fall asleep. My father would kill me. On and on my father drones and I feel myself being lulled to sleep by his "want want want" and "demand demand demand" but force my eyes open again- determined to not fall asleep in the middle of this meeting.
I look to Tseng who continues to stand loyally by my side, an impassive look upon his face. Same with Rude and Legendary who were stationed right behind my father as some kind of silent reminder that he is the boss here.
"Tseng," I whisper, my words slightly slurred. I clear my throat to try and clear them up. "Tseng." I repeat.
The black haired Turk leans down to look me in the eye. "Yes, sir, what may I do for you?"
I try to blink away some of the sleep. "Get me something that'll wake me up. Like coffee." I note the look on his face and sigh. "Fine how about water with a lot of ice."
With a satisfied nod, Tseng was away. I slump back in my chair.
"Rufus!"
I jump at the sound of my name, my heart leaping with me but stopping in my throat. I swallow thickly and look to my father who's voice jolted me out of my half sleepiness.
"Yeah?" I mumble, looking extremely unprofessional in my fathers eyes. I can tell with the frown he's giving me.
"Are you listening?"
No. "Yes sir." I say slowly.
Please don't quiz me. Please don't quiz me. Please don't quiz me!
With narrowed eyes my dad asks, "What was I just saying?" Damn it!
"You were just saying..." I trail off as something taps my shoulder. I look over to see Tseng holding out a cup of water with a napkin. What a neat freak. "Uhh, thanks..." I take the cup and notice something on the napkin. It's writing.
Advances in the reccreation of the base by Rocket town.
"About how we can recreate the base by Rocket town." I say simply and take a sip of the cold water. The cold water sends shivers up my spine making me shiver.
My dad gives me a hard look before continuing. Success!
I lay the cup down on the table and lean back slightly and tap Tsengs hand- like I had when he helped me out a long time ago.
I get into my office and plop down onto my couch in the corner of the room and close my eyes. My entire body is exhausted. Two meetings- one right after the other- both about 2-3 hours. I really want to kill myself.
That idea didn't necessarily fly with Tseng so that is why I'm still living right now.
Said Turk enters my office and close the door behind himself. I drape my arm over my eyes and sigh deeply, trying to release all the stress in my body.
"How do you feel?" Tseng asks blandly still in full blown Turk mode.
"Tired." I admit, I peek over to Tseng who was standing by the door studying me. His cold calculating eyes, soften and turn sympathetic.
"I bet. You didn't get a wink of sleep last night." he says.
I open my mouth, questionably but the words wouldn't come out. How the hell did he know that? When I voice my question Tseng cracks a tiny smile and laughs quietly. "The bags under your eyes, how quick you were falling asleep, the way you were walking and talking. It's easy to tell, so I pushed back all your meetings so you could have a bit of time to rest."
I stare at him dumbly. Did he say I have to sleep now?
"I can sleep?"
"I'm not sure," Tseng says thoughtfully. "can you?"
I grin at him. "Not without a back rub."
Rolling his eyes, Tseng walks over to the couch as I flip over and lay my head on the soft leather so I can see Tseng's face as he sits on the ground and helps me remove my coat.
In mere moments I am in a dazed half sleep. I close my eyes and relax as Tseng's uncharacteristically soft hand moves over my back. His nails creating a slow soothing motion.
"Thanks Tseng..." I murmer, slipping into dreamland.
A/N: How was that? Should I continue? Let me know!
