Liss sat there for a few minutes before the loud rumbling from her stomach scrambled her meditative thoughts. Sighing as she got up, Liss grabbed some fresh clothes and heading into the bathroom for a thorough shower.

Her hunger could wait, the stench of alcohol coming from her pores couldn't. And honestly, the thought of a long hot shower to wipe away the day's events seemed just the therapy she needed. Once out of the shower, with some comfy sweatpants and a t-shirt on and a white fluffy towel wrapped around her head she padded out of what is now her room and went looking for Rufus and food.

Calling out for her boss several times and getting no response, Liss went about exploring the apartment. Surprisingly it was a lot smaller than she would have imagined his apartment would be. He was Rufus Shinra after all. It should have been a penthouse apartment with ten thousand square feet of space, but instead it was almost normal in its design and layout. From her room, which she assumed was the junior master suite she walked down a short hallway and saw a simple guest bedroom and a half bath. The hallway opened up into a larger formal living room that looked as if it was rarely used. She headed straight down from her hallway to the one on the other side she came to Rufus' home office and the master bedroom. The desire to snoop was overwhelming but she quickly backed away and headed into the living space.

The living room's design was sleek and modern. It was decorated in all shades of white, grey and black with a splash of ice blue here and there. This wasn't a room for daily activity Liss thought as she searched for a television and found none. Liss quickly found the kitchen that was off the living room and went searching for something to eat. Not finding anything that really looked like it would satisfy her; she grabbed some fruit and a bottle of water and headed back to her room.

"Why do I feel as if I'm trapped in cage," she asked herself out loud. Finishing off the apple she was eating, Liss tossed the core into the wastebasket in the bathroom, "A nicely gilded one, but still a cage."

Even though it was still relatively early in the evening, Liss was just drained mentally by everything. She crawled in between the smooth sheets and closed her eyes. Sleep overtook her almost immediately.

xXxXxXxXx

Downstairs in Rufus' office tension and tempers ran high. Rufus was sitting behind his desk half listening to Reeve's assessment of the latest situation and what would be needed to make reparations. Rufus to be honest was more focused on the staring contest he was determined to win against the blonde warrior that was lounging in the chair directly in front of his desk.

"Reeve, get to the point," Rufus drawled as he continued to bore holes into Cloud's head with his eyes.

"Right. The point," Reeve said as he stood up and paced around the office. "The point is, is that this could have been much worse but thanks to the quick response of both the Turks and then the WRO the damage was minimal and utilities are back up and running for that neighborhood. We will start rebuilding once you decide what you would like to do with that property. Tseng advised me that it is now Shinra owned."

Rufus finally looked away from Cloud and towards Reeve.

"Do what you wish with the property. I assume those that have been displaced have been given sufficient compensation?" At Reeve's nod, the President continued on, "Good. Use that property for something important. A shelter or clinic, something like that just make sure it carries the Shinra name, understood?"

Reeve nodded and quickly excused himself to go to his office. The man was almost as bad of a workaholic as Rufus was. Almost. Once Reeve left the room, all that was left was Rufus, the Turks, Vincent Valentine and Cloud Strife. Vincent was given a certain amount of respect and acceptance into the Turk fold. The motto the Turks lived by, "Once a Turk, always a Turk" applied to him.

"Why are you still here?" Rufus sneered at Cloud.
"Awh. I've missed you too RooRoo," Cloud replied. "Seems like only yesterday I was standing outside your office taking a pretty little thing home for some fun."

Rufus knew that Cloud was just taunting him but the President wouldn't let it go.

"That so Strife? I really do hate to wipe that smug look off of your face but where is Ms. Hill right now? Oh. That's right. She's upstairs warming my bed."

Cloud shot Rufus an immediate dirty look.

"Relax. She's staying with me upstairs. I may be many things but I am the gentleman my mother wished me to be."
"Rufus… if you hurt her…"
"What Cloud? You'll come after me? Trust me, you'd be the last person I would concern myself with," Rufus said as he gingerly touched his cheek.

Rufus suddenly felt exhaustion seep into his bones as he stood up and walked to the doors.

"Tseng, I expect a full report on my desk in the morning. Gentlemen, Strife, I trust you can see yourselves out."

With that, Rufus Shinra headed upstairs to his apartment. For the first time in years, he couldn't wait to go home. It was a taxing day but he didn't intentionally work himself to near sleep.

As he entered his apartment, if even felt different. The normally austere feeling was suddenly a bit warmer and brighter. He knew that it was all in his head, white walls were just white walls after all but he couldn't help the smile spread across his lips as he checked in on his assistant.

Rufus tiptoed quietly over to her bed and pulled the covers up over her shoulder, and then before he could stop himself he placed a sweet kiss on her lips.

XxXxXxXxXx

When Liss next woke it was no thanks to a pounding headache caused by over sleeping. She had somehow managed to not only sleep the entire night on Saturday but off and on all day Sunday. She didn't remember getting out of bed to get food but somehow, there was a tray of empty dishes on her nightstand when she finally and fully woke on early Monday morning.

Liss noted that it was about five o'clock in the morning. Under normal circumstances, she would have woken up in another hour and rushed to take a shower and get ready for work. Now, she was literally only one floor up she could take her leisurely time.

After a luxurious hot shower, the redhead quickly dressed in one of her new suits for work and was putting the finishing touches on her bun as she stepped out of the apartment to head downstairs.

"And what are we doin'" Reno drawled as he lounged against the wall opposite the apartment doors.
"OH SWEET SHIVA! You scared the shit out of me asswad!" Liss yelped.
"Asswad? That's a new one. I'm stealin it yo. But seriously, why are you out here?"
"Uh. I know you sometimes think it's optional but some of us do have to actually go to work and well, work."
"Hey! I work… sometimes," Reno said to Liss' as she walked towards the elevator. "Hey wait! Hold up. Ya can't go downstairs, yo!"
"I… can't?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Heh. Yeah. Bossman and Tseng agreed for you to lay low so, ya get to chill in Chateau du Rufus for a week or so annnnnnnnnnnd I get to play bodyguard," He said with a huge grin.
"Oh Gaia. Someone shoot me now!"
"Yo, I'm a good bodyguard," Reno growled.

Realizing that she insulted a Turk, Liss quickly explained herself.

"Oh! No no no, it's not that Reno. It's just…" Liss turned around and gave a weary sigh to the apartment door, "so boring in there. I haven't found a television in that place!"
"Yeah it is. Gotta remember, Bossman just sleeps here, he basically lives in his office."
"But, the compound in Junon-"
"Was built by dear old dad," Reno sneered. "Rufus may have money but he only does with what he needs yanno."
"I see." Liss said thoughtfully. "But, it's still boring. Are you sure I can't sneak down there and do something? Or at least work from here? Anything Reno! ANYTHING!" Liss said as she grabbed Reno's collar to emphasize her point.
"Weeell."
"What? What is it?"
"They only said that I had ta make sure ya stood on this floor and relaxed."
"Isn't that a bit much?"
"Naw, Rufus just likes to protect his interests and incase ya hadn't noticed but ah… he's innerested," Reno said with a wink.

The assistant did her best to turn her head and hide her blush but failed. Coughing slightly to get back on topic she charged ahead.

"So, you had an idea or something?"
"Huh? Oh, ya! Well they only said you had to stay on this floor right?"

Reno waited for Liss to nod.

"Kay, but they didn't say you hadta stay in that apartment."

Liss looked at Reno to see what he was getting at. Suddenly Reno rolled his eyes and grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her a little ways down the hall.

"Where are you taking me?"
"My place! Dude, yer gonna love it!"

Liss swallowed the unnerving feeling she was experiencing. She had no clue what Reno's apartment would look like, and truth be told, she was terrified at what she might find.

"LuLu I'm home!" Reno shouted in a really poor attempt at a Costa Del Solian accent.

Liss stepped around Reno and looked at the massive living room that must have taken up most of the apartment.

"I only have two bedrooms, I had them change the lay out so it's more like an open floor plan yanno," he was explaining but the words didn't register on the woman who was slowly walking around the living room.

"That..." She said as she pointed in awe at the wall.
"My other baby, yo. All eighty-two inches of 1080 dpi HD…"

Once again Liss ignored Reno. The television was a site to behold but what caught her eye was the huge selection of video games tossed all over the place. With a squeal she reached down and grabbed a title that wasn't due to be released for another two months.

"Dude! What the hell? How?" she asked.

Reno looked at her and rolled his eyes as he plucked the case out of her fingers.

"I work fer Rufus Shinra, duh."
"He… can get this stuff?"
"I repeat; duh," Reno said. "Betcha thinkin twice bout not taking advantage huh?"
"Maybe," Liss joked as she ran towards the gaming system and popped in the most anticipated game ever. "I bet I can kick your ass in this game."
"Pft! I'm the muthafuckin' pro at this shit," Reno scoffed.
"Whatever, but I call 'Dante and DeadPool and uhmmm… Captain America!" Liss grinned as she got her team together.
"How tha fuck ya gonna put those psychopaths with a hero?"
"Same way you and Rude have teamed up with Cloud in the past," Liss deadpanned.

In the middle of their nonstop tourney of doom as they called it, both Liss and Reno talked and joked. He was glad that he was able to keep her at ease, even if the stress levels were running high. The idea of her taking a weeklong vacation was just a front. An anonymous and untraceable email had come in that morning gloating that the bomber had killed the Shinra whore as Liss was referred to as and that Rufus would be next.

AN: As always, THANK YOU to you FANTABULOUS people that read and review my nonsense. I try to write a little something for everyone and every review (I hope I have responded to everyone) brings a smile to my face and Reno does a jig o_O. Here's another filler chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The characters and settings therein are the sole creative property of their respective owners. I just happen to own all editions of Advent Children, Final Fantasy 7 for the PS3, and as hinted to in here, Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. =)

Extra: The Boys meet Dante from Devil May Cry

Reno: *sneering* Who tha fuck is that, BossLady?
*being fed pizza by a super smexi demon halfbreed merc* Hmm? Oh, that's Dante *dreamy sigh*
Genesis: He's wearing a red leather coat like mine! *stamps foot*
*scoffs* He makes it look better.
Sephiroth: Hmph. He carries guns. That's so… Turk.
Hey, hey. Ebony and Ivory are cool. 'Sides, Masamune maybe like 7ft long but he wields Yamato sometimes and Rebellion. Both are sexy, lets not forget about his Devil Trigger. *shivers* Oh yeah and Seph… OmniSlash only makes him giggle. He makes getting impaled by swords an art form.
Cloud: But I…
Dante: *laughing* LOOK! It's got wings! *pointing at Vincent*