Ficlet: "Innate Leaders" (Rufus+Cloud) G
Just a little drabble type thingy. Based on one of the ideas of the identity of Cloud's father. Post-AC.
Warning: Character death.
Innate Leaders
Rufus Shinra's Geostigma had gone away, yet he walked around with a walking stick, limping as he circled behind his desk.
"Ex-SOILDER Cloud," he mocked, "I want you to see this." He pushed a small photograph across the hard wood.
Cloud picked it up and looked at it. It was of a blonde woman in the arms of a stocky blonde man. The picture was old and faded. "It's a picture of my mother," Cloud stated.
Rufus smirked. "Yes, that is your mother. And he is my father."
Cloud glanced up and threw the picture on the desk. "Why did you call me?"
Rufus pulled some papers from his drawer and lay them on a desk.
Then Cloud asked, "What is that?"
"It's my will," Rufus told him. "You may read it if you like. After what I'm about to tell you, I'm sure you'll need some proof."
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say," Cloud said sternly. "I'm leaving – "
"And I'm dying, Cloud," Rufus said quietly.
There was a pause as Cloud was quiet. Then Rufus said, "It's some incurable disease. The doctors gave me only four months to live and yet I lived for another two years. I'm too strong for stupid doctors who talk like they know who I am, what I'm like. But even then... I'm dying."
A part of Cloud wanted to say he was sorry, but he knew it wouldn't be appreciated.
Rufus hobbled towards the window and looked out. "You and I, we are strong people, we were born to rule. We are..." he paused to laugh humorously. "We are innate leaders; after all, we have our father's genes."
Cloud frowned and Rufus turned to him. "I haven't sired an heir; my mother and our father are dead. You are my only living relative." He gestured towards the Healin landscape outside – trees and bushes with lush leaves, a waterfall. "I own Healin, I own Midgar, I own Junon. This will all be yours... oh, within the year, I should think."
Rufus looked at him with eyes the same blue as his own. "You will enjoy owning Shinra, ex-SOILDER Cloud."
Two weeks later Rufus died and Cloud attended his funeral. He stood at the back and watched rather than participated. He didn't grieve for this person.
When it ended, Cloud wandered outside the cemetery gates. Someone cleared his throat from behind.
Rude was expressionless as he said, "Mr President, the limousine is this way."
Cloud looked at him. "What did you say?"
Rude gestured towards the long black car parked nearby. "I said, 'Mr President, the limousine is this way'."
"Right," Cloud murmured. He followed Rude to the limousine on which Reno was leaning, having a smoke. Reno smiled wryly. "Good day for a cruise, wouldn't you say, Mr President?"
"He can't today!" a woman said shrilly from behind Cloud. "Mr President has appointments scheduled. He's booked up all week!"
Reno just laughed at Scarlet as Rude opened the limousine door for Cloud.
End.
