Author's note: I swear, this must be the side of fanfiction where great fics go to die. I started reading some excellent RufTi fics on this page that actually made me lose sleep because I was dying to know what happened next. Now most of them are coming up to the one year mark of not being updated and it makes me sad. T_T Why u no give me closure! ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

Well that's enough of my rant. Here's chapter 2 everyone. Please enjoy. ~Zeldafreak701

"Now get undressed," Rufus said, pistol still cocked in his hand.

Tifa started to tremble slightly. She turned her back to him, her messy hair splayed behind her from the earlier scuffle. "Do you have to watch?"

"Yes," Rufus said simply. "You've already tried to escape me twice. I won't allow it to happen again."

"I promise I won't try to get away. Please just let me shut the door." Tifa looked behind her shoulder, her back still to him.

Rufus shook his head. "Not a chance," he replied sternly. Tifa faced away from him again, kicking off her shoes and removing the gear on her arms, tossing them near the discarded shoes. Then she slowly began lowering down her suspenders. They dangled on either side of her while she crossed her arms in front of her to grasp the bottom of her shirt and slowly began to lift it. Rufus tapped his foot and tilted his head, impatient at her deliberately sluggish pace.

Slowly she inched it over her head, her knees and elbows shaking. Finally she had it lifted over her head, the back of her white bra visible to Rufus' eyes. Tifa took the shirt in front of her and began to fold it. Rufus used his free hand to hit door frame as he shouted, "Quit stalling!" Tifa jumped and looked back behind her. "I don't have all night!"

Tifa took a deep breath and turned away from him again, hooking her thumbs into the waistband of her skirt, and pulled them down, this time at a faster pace. Her white panties matched her white top, he noticed. Rufus took a moment to look at the almost naked female before him. Even if she was from the slums, with a body like that she could live comfortably enough in Don Corneo's mansion in Sector 6. Having paid several trips to the degenerate, Rufus knew the man's type: short in stature, large breasts and sizeable bottoms. Tifa had all of those things, and he knew many of colleagues that would pay top dollar to have a night with her. Enough so that she could live off it for a year.

But Rufus had other plans for her. He watched as the terrified woman unhooked her bra but still held it up to her chest, not wanting to be completely exposed. Rufus threw his head back in frustration, yanking a nearby towel off of the nearby rack. He tossed it at her. "For Gaia's sake! Just put this on and get in!"

Tifa quickly unfolded the white towel and wrapped it around herself, taking off the rest of her undergarments underneath its protection. She drew back the curtains of the shower and stepped in. Once she started the hot top, Rufus finally put his arm down. "I'll be waiting right here."

Once he heard Tifa begin to shower, Rufus gathered up her garments and felt the rough material. "Slum dwellers actually wear this garbage?" he thought. He tossed the dirty clothes under his bed and stalked toward his closet, taking out any firearms that could be hidden inside as well as one of his white button up shirts and a couple of belts. He put the two spare loaded pistols into his safe and then went to his dresser, pulling out a pair of spare boxer shorts. He then walked back into the bathroom in his original spot, Tifa likely unaware that he even left. The steam of the hot shower filled the space. Rufus mused that she probably hadn't had a hot shower for a long time, judging by how hot the water must be.

He began to prepare the belts when he heard the water shut off. After a few moments of Tifa drying herself off with a towel, she drew back the curtain and stepped out with the towel wrapped about her. Rufus saw the heated water made the small scratches on her shoulders and arms more visible. Her face looked flushed and fresh while her dark wet hair fell flat and clung to her neck and face. She looked at the area of the floor where her clothing sat before. She looked at Rufus questioningly, but he merely answered her gaze by tossing his white shirt and boxer shorts at her, and then resumed to hold his pistol toward her. "A shower would be useless if you're just going to get dressed in dirty clothes again." She dangled the boxer shorts on her right index finger, her face contorted in dissatisfaction. Rufus smirked. "Don't give me that look, when are you going to get another chance to wear couture clothing?"

Tifa huffed again and began to put on the boxer shorts and then the white shirt. With her body covered all the way down her arms to the middle of her thighs, she turned around and threw the towel on the floor and finished buttoning up the shirt, the top buttons slightly open as it strained around her large chest. Rufus scoffed. "Were you raised in a barn? Hang up the towel."

Tifa pursed her lips and shot him a glare. She lifted the towel and stamped her foot and put her free hand on her hip. "Weren't you raised in high society? Can't you just get your maids to pick it up?"

Her pose and angry face made Rufus want to laugh. "The little low-life is mad. How adorable," he thought. "Of course I can," he grinned but narrowed his eyes menacingly. "But you are not high society. And you will pick up after yourself when you are here." Tifa stiffened, obviously resigning herself to the fact that she was safer in Rufus' captivity than the rest of Shinra. She did as she was told as Rufus placed the pistol in his coat pocket.

Once Tifa put the wet towel on the rack, Rufus came up behind her and took her right wrist in his left hand and spun her around. Tifa was stunned as he took hold of her other wrist and bound them both in the prepared belt. He put his finger through the loop in the space between the leather and her wrists to test its tightness. "Is this really necessary?" she asked.

"I don't answer your questions," he replied without looking at her.

Tifa looked to the side and mumbled, "You answered the question about the towel."

He pulled on the wrist causing her to lose her balance and almost fall into him. "What was that?" he snapped and glared down at her.

She looked up at him. "Nothing."

He spun her around and gently nudged her. "Now walk." He led her back into the main sitting room and to his opened closet. The break away from the warm air of the bathroom caused Tifa to breathe sharply in the newfound cold. He flicked on the closet light and kicked a few shoes off of his shoe rack that was screwed into the wall. "Get on the floor." Red color rose to Tifa's cheeks in a furious blush. She started to tremble again and held her legs tightly together. Rufus rolled his eyes. "Unless you want to stand all night."

Tifa hesitantly got onto the floor. Rufus took her bound wrists put them near the empty bar on the bottom of the shoe rack. He took the second belt and tied it into the loop of the first belt and then bound it to the rack. "What are you going to do to me?" Tifa asked, the fear evident in her scarlet eyes.

"Once again, I don't answer your questions," he said. "You will be kept here under my guard and follow my instructions. You do so, everyone wins. If you don't," Rufus tightened the second belt until its grip became almost painful on Tifa's wrist, "it will be a bad day for you." In this position, Tifa could at least lie down and rest her head on her arms, but she would be confined to the floor. It wouldn't be very uncomfortable, but she could manage. She wiggled her wrist as if testing their tightness. Her hands were not turning purple, a sign that circulation was running freely.

Rufus leaned back and looked at his captive to ensure there was nothing around her she could use to escape. The dangling shirts on the hangers would be useless as would be the shoes. He looked back at her shaking form, the chill in the air causing her nipples to get hard as they taunted him through the thin fabric of the shirt. He could feel his lower regions stir. He looked away, hoping she didn't catch on that he was staring at her chest. "Why don't you take a picture?" she asked wryly.

He shot a glare back at her. "That's enough of that insolent attitude of yours!" Rufus stood up and looked down at her, his fists clenched at either side of him. She looked different now. She was irritated, her brows were furrowed and her eyes gleamed with anger. She was aggravated. She was defiant.

"Well excuse me, Mr. Big Shot. Being kidnapped tends to put a damper on one's manners!" she spoke with a new ferocity.

Rufus reeled his head back. "The wench!" he thought. "Kidnapped?" he said incredulously. He didn't know whether to laugh or give her a good slap for her cheeky comment. He got down on one knee to meet her eye level. "This isn't a kidnap," he pointed his finger back and forth from her to himself. "You trespass on my company's property, you are affiliated with a hostile terrorist organization and you attacked the Vice President of the Shinra Company, twice. And now that you have been disarmed, you are currently being detained for your crimes!"

Tifa was stunned into silence as she looked away shyly, the guilt written clearly on her face. "You don't understand," she said. "Hurting you wasn't even part of our plan."

"Well then what was your plan?" he asked, if he could get her talking, he could get some useful information to bring back to his father. "To kill my father?" Tifa didn't answer. She pursed her lips together. Rufus took her chin in his thumb and forefinger, and gently made her face him. "Or were you trying to steal something? Documents? Reports?" his voice went hauntingly quiet and he could see the fear in Tifa's eyes once again. "Yes," Rufus thought. "That's what I like to see." Still, she didn't respond. "You better start talking soon, or I'll have to-" his sentence was cut short at the sound of her stomach growling.

Tifa grimaced. "How long had it been since she'd last eaten?" he thought. "I feel dizzy," she said weakly. "And I'm cold." She shook again but not from fear or cold, but from holding back tears. She looked utterly pathetic and unwilling to speak further. Wet hair splayed on her back and dampened the fabric of his expensive shirt. He almost felt sorry for her.

Rufus took a deep breath. Though she wasn't close to death, he knew how an empty stomach could keep one from concentrating. He certainly didn't want her answers to be marred with malnutrition. Suddenly, there was a muffled knock on the main bedroom door of the apartment. "Yo boss! You in there?" his red-headed Turk's muffled voice came through.

Rufus looked back at Tifa. "He's on my father's payroll too," he lied. "If he finds out you're here, he'll turn you over to head of public safety and I won't be able to stop him. So you just keep that bratty mouth of yours shut. You're in my world now." He turned and closed the closet door behind him. While Reno would certainly not tell anyone of Tifa's presence if he was ordered not to, he didn't want to complicate things by bringing in more people. "Come in, Reno."

The sloppily dressed Turk entered, his night stick in his hand, resting on his shoulder. His face was slightly bruised. "I see you didn't run into any trouble," he said. "I was worried when you didn't pick up your PHS."

"Wish I could say the same for you," said Rufus.

"Oh this is nothing, you should see the other guy."

"Were any of them captured?"

Reno sighed. "No unfortunately. The lower level guards were toppled easily and I was outnumbered. I tried chasing them on foot but they fled in a van."

"Did you get a good look at any of them?"

"Yes, there's a large black man with a gun for an arm and what is believed to be a member of SOLDIER."

"Have we confirmed them to be AVALANCHE members?"

"Just about. So far there are no reports of any bombs being planted around on the premises or injuries to any employees save for security." Reno pointed at the fresh bruise to his left cheek for emphasis.

"Very good. I want you and Elena to report to me in the morning."

"Sure thing, boss, though that's not why I'm here." Rufus tilted his chin and raised his eyebrows, inviting Reno to continue speaking. "Well your father is asking why you haven't come back for tea."

Rufus closed his eyes and threw his head back in frustration. In the whole episode with Tifa he completely forgot about the whole after dinner tea gathering. "Shit," he hissed. "Is he still there now?"

"Yeah, though the party's dwindling down."

"Then there's not really any point in me going." Rufus was frustrated. Usually after dinner his father would be intoxicated enough to not notice Rufus leave. If he was there now, he probably wouldn't notice him speaking to the other executives about business. But it didn't bother him as much as it could have. He now had something to work with in that AVALANCHE member. He just needed to get her to talk, somehow. Though he couldn't go about torturing her, that wasn't his style, doubly so if she started screaming she'd draw attention and then be taken away most likely. No, Rufus would have to try something else. Maybe start at least by making her a bit more comfortable, she was shivering when he saw her last. "Reno, listen to me. I have an assignment for you tonight."

Reno cringed. "Oh come on boss, I've had a rough night."

"You and me both!" he snapped, not in the mood to deal with another impudent attitude. Reno stiffened and assumed a serious stance at the boss' sudden outburst. "I need you log into our security mainframe and get me every file you have on AVALANCHE and its members for the past two years. Have them here by nine tomorrow morning and bring Elena with you too."

Reno nodded. "I'm on it, boss."

"Good. You're dismissed." Reno turned to leave but Rufus called to him. "Wait a moment. I'm a bit hungry. Can you go down to the kitchen and bring me something that's already made?"

"You're still hungry after that large dinner?"

"I don't answer your questions either."

"Either? What?"

Rufus shook his head. "I mean bring up a spare blanket too. It's cold. And a pillow."

Reno arched an eyebrow. To him it was clear that his boss was either intoxicated or had his mind warped from sleep deprivation. "Whatever you say, boss." Reno turned and left.

After Reno left, Rufus saw Dark Nation emerge from the other room. She yawned and stretched and then padded her way over to her master. "How nice of you to join me," he said wryly. The feline purred and rubbed up against his leg. "Thanks for your help back there." Rufus found himself staring in the direction of the closet door. "The dumb girl," he thought. "She's in way over her head."

Rufus took the time to undress himself and get dressed in a robe. The shed layers made him feel infinitely lighter. For the rest of the night he didn't need to keep up appearances or fake smiles. He could just be…free. He pulled out his PHS and sent a message to his father that he was too rattled by the threat of attacks to join him for tea. It would likely earn him condescending insults from his father the next day, but he at least wouldn't have to explain himself further.

He stalked over to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a small glass of scotch. He began to pace back and forth, almost expecting to hear some sort of noise come from behind the closet door, but it didn't. He chewed his lip and sat down on the couch, inadvertently staring at the closet door. The silence rang in his ears. Reno's sharp knock startled Rufus, causing him to jump. He exhaled sharply and downed the rest of the scotch. "Come in!" he called.

Rufus stood up and turned to find Reno enter. He had the blanket draped over his shoulder and held the pillow and a sandwich wrapped in cellophane in either hand. Rufus smirked at the thought of an elite Shinra employee fetching him a pillow and food. But he was his employee and he needed him to be sharp for his mission. "Thank you Reno. I'll be sure to remember this when signing your bonus check."

Reno perked up and nodded swiftly while handing over his items. "Thanks boss. Is there anything else you need?"

"No you're dismissed. See you in the morning."

Rufus watched the redhead turn and leave, shutting the door behind him. He looked at the small sandwich distastefully. He couldn't remember the last time he had a sandwich. But he did request something that was already made and judging by how quickly Reno returned to the room, approximately twenty minutes, he had to have literally picked up what was closest to the door. He took his bounty back to the closet. He opened the door and found Tifa burying her face in her forearms. "You did well, Miss Tifa," he said. "I think you've earned yourself a meal and a blanket."

Tifa leaned up and looked at him with tired eyes. Rufus draped the blanket on top of her and placed the pillow beneath her head. It sank into the soft fabric instantly. She closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek to and fro, as if feeling softness for the first time. She opened her eyes again to see Rufus towering over her.

"Lean up," he ordered. Tifa did so, the prospect of food causing her to momentarily forgo her defiance. She held her bound hands to her side and tugged, as if signaling that she needed her hands to take what was being offered. "Not happening."

Tifa pouted but didn't press the issue. Rufus unwrapped the cellophane from the sandwich and held it to her mouth. Tifa took small bites as Rufus held it to her mouth. It was reminiscent of feeding Dark Nation when she was a cub. Small wisps of air as Tifa sucked in loose crumbs touched Rufus' fingers, but she did not lick his fingers the way Dark Nation did. She took her time with her bites, obviously not forgetting some semblance of civility by not devouring the sandwich whole.

"Now listen up because I'm not repeating myself," he explained as she ate. "You are to be detained here indefinitely. You will be kept in here and be allowed to use the bathroom twice a day and shower once a day. I will answer your cooperation with continued courtesy."

Tifa took the last bits of food from him until there was nothing left but the cellophane and a few scattered crumbs. She must have been hungry. Rufus gently tilted her head to his. He leaned in so close to her face, she wrinkled her nose as she smelled the scotch on his breath. "Do you understand?"

Tifa slowly nodded. "Thank you," she said quietly.

Rufus released her and leaned back. "I beg your pardon."

"I said thank you, " she said a bit more loudly. "For the blanket."

Rufus was a bit taken aback. The captive was actually thanking him for something. He didn't answer her. He merely stood up and turned to leave the closet. He tossed the cellophane in the trash and stalked off to his room. He had wanted to question Tifa tonight, but the scotch must have must have clouded his head. Besides, he wasn't prepared to question her and she wasn't prepared to answer. Rufus leaned back on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He discarded his robe and curled into the sheets. The early departure from Junon and the subsequent events of the day had tired him. He drifted off to sleep.