Shedding Tears
Chapter 3
It was several months later and Rufus was staring deep into his cup of hot chocolate. The President had a big press conference in Junon, and figured that Rufus would make him look better in the eyes of the people. Rufus looked about the extravagant restaurant, it was furnished with only the best, shipped directly Wutai. It wasn't his favorite place to be but seeing as how he was with "dad" he needed to look his best. Reporters were all over the President swamping him with questions left and right about the newly finished canon. Of course, he was weaving around some of the questions, some of them even blatant lies, but it did keep the reporters happy. They didn't bother with Rufus, seeing him as only a kid they figured him useless. The only real reason he didn't put up a big fight was the fact that Tseng would be coming along, as his escort, which pleased him. Rhett had the pleasure of guarding the over-sized blimp, his hands were currently full with trying to keep the reporters at bay and keeping his attitude in check. Rufus thought of that as a miracle all in itself.
"You know their thought of as some of the most down right evil people, but they can't see all those obvious lies." Tseng spoke up sitting down beside him.
Rufus took a large gulp of his drink still watching the crowd, "He's the President, they have to believe him. If they don't funds are cut, not good for business."
Tseng stood up quickly before lightly nudging him in the side, journalist. Rufus quickly brushed his hair back and took in a deep breath before smiling as the woman approached him.
"Hello Rufus, we don't get to see much of you do we?" the woman smiled brightly at him, "Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"
Yes.
"No, not at all, please ask anything you want." he kept calm inviting the woman to sit down.
She quickly sat taking out a small notepad, "Well, my name is Narisa, I'm from the Junon Daily."
No doubt wanting something from the President. Funds? Popularity?
He continued to smile, "Of course I know all about the Junon Daily it's one of the most popular papers here."
For a brief moment she seemed at a loss for words, "The...public wants to know more about their future President. How old are you Rufus?"
"I'm eleven."
"Oh your getting so old and might I add even more handsome as the days go by," she winked at him.
Geez woman. I'm eleven not four, flattery will get you no where with me.
"What grade are you going into? Or are you perhaps home tutored?"
Rufus took a small sip before calmly answering, "I'm done with schooling. I finished last year, I guess I'm not like most children."
Yet again the woman seemed at a loss of words, "Oh my, I guess I can skip all the little things and go straight to the more important questions. As you might know your father is one of the most popular Presidents we've had, are you confident enough to fill those shoes?"
Popular? Please...an chocobo has more class than him.
"Well like father like son. I'm sure I'll do just as good as he does if not better. If you'll excuse me I'm feeling a little..tired, I hate to leave you so soon perhaps you should ask my father about the Tax increase."
She blinked, "...Tax...increase?"
Rufus smiled, "He hasn't said anything yet? Surely there has to be something coming up that canon costed well near twelve billion gil."
At once Narisa's eyes lit up then immediately turned and dashed back to the President attacking him with question after question. Soon after all the reports crowded around him begging for answers. Rufus smiled into his cup wishing he could bust up laughing, but swallowed it with the rest of his drink. He looked up at Tseng with an innocent look on his face.
"Far from," Tseng took him by the hand and started making his way toward the exit, "Perhaps we should leave. You know your father's not going to be happy."
"Call it payback and since when has he ever been happy?" Rufus allowed himself to be pulled from the restaurant.
Tseng looked at him unable to scold him, "Well, what do we do now?"
"Fight me." Rufus said calmly.
Tseng stopped dead in his tracks, "Fight...you?"
"I want to learn how to defend myself," Rufus continued walking.
"I'm not sure that your father would agree with me teaching you. Don't you have instructors for that?" Tseng walked in front of him.
"They're not training me quick enough. I want to learn from the best.." Rufus looked up at the sky.
"But I'm not the best, I'm sure that there's stronger people that would train you much better."
"Tseng," Rufus grabbed a fist full of his suit and pulled him down to his level, "I want you to train me, only you, I trust that your skills are the best," he let go of him and started walking away then stopped and turned his head around,"...please."
Tseng's eyes widen briefly then he smiled and walked over to him placing a hand on his head,"Fine."
Rufus smiled and ran ahead,"Come on let's go somewhere secluded."
Rufus continued running ahead when something dashed out of the shadows and snatched him up within seconds. Tseng quickly ran after, going down the alley way that the shadow darted down, but found nothing when he reached it.
"Dammit.." Tseng tightly gripped his phone.
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Rhett was sucking his third cigarette down like water when he received a call, he sighed praying it wasn't Randy begging for a break. He slowly reached for the switch on his headset and turned it on, then returned to his cigarette.
"Rhett...I need your help...are you busy? Tseng's voice sounded rather distraught.
"Anything to get away from my current duties," he flicked his cigarette and glanced in at the President.
"Rufus...was...he was...kidnapped," Rhett could tell that Tseng was running.
"Alright then, stay calm where are you?" Rhett remained calm.
"I'm...in the side alley by the Materia Store." Tseng stopped to take a breath.
"Stay there catch your breath and stay calm I'll be there in a minute,"Rhett hung up and snuck away before either Randy or the President knew he was missing.
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Rufus was thrown down into a corner with his arms tied tightly behind his back, he was bearly aware of what happened. He looked about the dark room and figured that he had to be in the poorest section of Junon. There were five men in the room the smallest one that took him was leaning in a shadowed corner.He was approached by a larger man, that reminded him of his father, he shuddered and looked up at him with a glare. The man looked him over for a brief moment before quickly grabbing a large chunk of his hair and pulling him up to look at him.
"So how much you think daddy will pay for you," the man breathed in his face and grinned.
Rufus could clearly smell alcohol on his breath he continued to glare,"Not as much as you think your going to get."
"A smart ass little brat are you?" he let go of his hair and turned to the others, "What do you think? Should we just kill the little freak?"
Most of them laughed then the one in the shadows walked out and looked down at Rufus like he was mud on his shoes, the man was horribly disfigured, scars over his entire face. He casually walked over to Rufus and stuck the point of his knife under Rufus' chin. Rufus didn't cringe as he felt the tip lightly pierce his skin. A light trickle ran down the knife's edge the man brought the knife up and licked the blood off.
"I think we should torture him like Shinra tortures us.." the man finally spoke up.
Rufus remained quiet as the other men laughed evilly, obviously liking the plan too. He wanted to scream, he wanted to cry, but he was a Shinra and remained quiet. Not begging for them to spare him, not telling them that his father wouldn't even care. Not that anyone would really care...right now he just wanted..
"Tseng..."
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Side Note: Well I finally got Chapter 3 up, thanks to Belldandy for pushing me into putting up the chapter. I'll start working on the next chapter soon, I promise. If I don't I give my readers permission to hold me at gun point (if your so inclinde to). As you might guess, the next chapter is going to be a bit...bloody...and it'll be a kinda first time thing for me. So laugh, cry, eat pudding or what not, but if you eat pudding you must share with me!
