Warning! Adult and sexual situations ahead!
I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol
I do own my own character – Jalyne
Author's Note: I am working on artwork for this story, hoping it will turn out the way I wish it to, though I haven't picked up a pencil in ages.
Chapter 12 – The Request
Jalyne floated above the helipad, watching the President work. It was nearing one in the morning and despite what she had just witnessed, there were answers she needed to seek out. She wondered what he would say, when it was realized she had returned. She watched the young blonde for a moment, lost in thought and struggling to find the words on what to say to him. How does one explain what happened? Jalyne did not want a fight and their previous meeting was left indecisive on whether they were friends or foes. Shifting slightly in the air, she whisked her hair up into a high ponytail to keep it out of her eyes and reached out lightly to nudge the young man in front of her to make her presence known.
Rufus was diligently working on plans to rebuild Midgar and make it even more splendid than it already was. He reviewed the information regarding the whereabouts of the Avalanche team and trusted Reeve enough to keep him informed. Rufus knew he should try to sleep, but like most nights, it did not come easy. His coat lay on the back of his chair and he idly ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to stay awake. He looked up to his office doors, suddenly aware of something near. Slowly turning around, he saw her, one of the most beautiful sights in the moon's light he had ever seen. Trained enough to keep his astonishment inside, Rufus rose to walk toward her.
Jalyne lowered herself to the ground as Rufus made his way toward her. She turned and walked to the railing upon which she had first encountered him for her test. Resting her hands lightly, Jalyne sighed with sorrow as conflicting emotions swirled in her head. She felt Rufus nearing her and still apprehensive, she fought the urge to leave.
Rufus stepped behind Jalyne, unsure what to do or even where to begin. Without thinking he reached out to her, placing his hands on her shoulders, if only to make sure she was real, for it had been three months since that day. He was relieved that she didn't shudder at his touch and after a few minutes, she turned to face him. Studying her eyes, Rufus knew she changed. There was a hardness in the emerald orbs that he did not detect before. There was also anger and sorrow that would flicker in the Mako light. She raised her chin in defiance almost like a challenge, but he saw the hurt behind the eyes. Something had happened. Unexpectedly, Rufus pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her and guiding her head to his shoulder. He massaged the nape of her neck and finally Jalyne placed her arms around him, reciprocating the gesture.
"Is Tseng here?" Jalyne finally asked quietly.
"I can check…but I don't think so." He answered. "Jalyne—"
"Tseng needs to be here." She pulled away from him lightly. "I really cannot bear to say this twice."
With a nod, Rufus pulled out his phone and dialed, waiting for Tseng to pick up. Rufus stopped and put the phone on mute. "Do you want to see the others?" Jalyne's eyes hardened, giving him one of the answers he was wondering. He would bet his company that she found Reno first. Jalyne shook her head in the negative and walked a bit away from him so he could finish the conversation. Rufus joined her a few minutes later.
"He'll be here in around thirty minutes." Rufus paused. "Jalyne, what happened?"
With a sigh she answered. "Depending on what you are referring to, more questions than answers." Jalyne turned to face him. "I need answers, Rufus."
The President stopped a moment, deep in thought. Looking at the young lady in front of him, he unexpectedly had a thought and closed the space between them. Rufus casually lifted her chin to meet his gaze and spoke.
"I'm sorry." He stated simply.
Taken aback by those words, Jalyne gasped slightly and returned his gaze questioningly. "For—"
"The way I was toward you, before." He paused. "It was not right, and I apologize. It should have never happened."
Jalyne studied him for a moment, grateful for the unexpected apology. She saw in those cerulean eyes remorse. She smiled softly at him and reached up to cup his cheek. Pulling him to her, she whispered in his ear.
"It wasn't all bad, Sir." Jalyne heard the light rumble in his chest. As she backed away from him, she looked at him pointedly. "But I would suggest not to do that again."
Rufus smirked lightly at her. "Noted." He waited a moment before asking a question. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"
"When Tseng gets here." Came the answer. Jalyne turned away from him, trying to hide the pain she was in.
"Why didn't you want the others here. I'm sure they'll be as surprised as I am on this turn of events."
"Because I cannot see him right now, Rufus." She looked over her shoulder. "Besides, I have a request that I need to make, and I would prefer that it goes no further than the three of us for the moment."
"What are you thinking?"
"That I need to stay here, if you are willing to have me."
Rufus raised an eyebrow at that statement. "You're apartment is still here, Jalyne. It's yours."
"I know," Jalyne stated turning to face him again. "but he would know where to find me. I need time to find my own place here in the city. If you would have me, I would appreciate staying in your guest quarters." Jalyne commented nodding at the rooms on the other side of his office. "But I would refrain from 'trying' anything."
He chuckled at that statement and reached for her, pulling her against him again. Jalyne looked imploringly at him when his phone went off. Laughing lightly, she stepped back, allowing him to look at it.
"Hm. Tseng is walking in now." He offered her an arm. "Shall we?"
Jalyne looked at him for a moment, studying his intentions. Finally, she slid her left arm around his right, accepting the gesture. As they walked towards the office, Rufus glanced at their reflections in the window. His eyes widened minutely in surprise at what he saw. Standing with him was not the Jalyne that was at his side. Her attire was totally different in that she wore a long flowing midnight blue gown, embroidered in silver. Draped below her shoulders and clasped in the front was the lushest white fur trimmed robe embroidered in dark blue he had seen. Her white hair was not in a high ponytail but flowing outward around her. In her right hand was her silver adorned staff, the one he witnessed in her battle with Reno only now, a black gem split the center of the two blades. What astonished him was the crown that adorned her head. Adorned in silver with high points encircling her that resembled the heavens, each point stood out as different as the colors swirled above. As her chin lifted upward, the president caught the glimpse of power emanating from her eyes. Rufus stopped suddenly, not believing his eyes. He took in the woman at his side, eyes scanning her form. Jalyne returned his gaze steadily.
"Yes?" she questioned, eyes flickering to the reflections noting nothing different in her appearance.
"Nothing at all." Rufus replied and continued on. Tseng was coming through the office door when they walked through the glass side door from the outside.
Tseng looked tired from what Jalyne saw. It was close to two in the morning, and Jalyne thought to make this quick. He located the President with eyes widening when he saw who he was with. Jalyne locked his gaze and nodded minutely. Tseng's mask slipped and he rushed to embrace Jalyne. Rufus barely unhooked his arm before the Director got there.
"I've missed you." Tseng whispered to her, tightening the hug.
"And I you." She returned. "But I have a request that I must make. Only you and Rufus are to know for the moment. I don't care if you share anything else with the others, but this one, I need kept secret for a while."
"Jalyne, what happened? Tseng implored. "Where have you been?"
"To start, the Lifestream took me. There I spent time with my mother, a woman I've only heard stories about." Jalyne spat. "There were many things that I learned about myself and of Trerran and Gaia, but what stood out to me what the fact that both of our worlds are connected. I am not entirely certain how yet, or why."
"What are you thinking, then?" Rufus questioned.
"That one, I am going after Sephiroth." She waited for the gasps and looks of incredulity to subside before continuing. "He has some answers that he might be able to give me."
"You do understand that he beat you." Tseng stated. Jalyne smirked a bit at that.
"Yes, he did depending on how you look at it." She paused, looking sidelong at the President. "And Rufus? Forget about the Promised Land. It's not what you think."
"How so?"
"My people are elementals, much like the Cetra. We draw our strength from the elements around us and the particular planet we are on." At their wild looks, Jalyne explained. "The T'Karvian Empire is not just made up of Trerran, but of quite a few systems, each different in their own aspects. A Lifestream flows throughout every planet that is born and we draw upon that power, much like the Cetra did here. Where you use Materia, which is only a power forged in the Lifestream, I can bypass that and tap into the source directly. The Promised Land is much like our Haevariendra, the afterlife or becoming one with the planet."
"And you need to go after Sephiroth, why?" Tseng asked.
"Because he's spent time in the Lifestream. He may be able to answer a few questions. And" Jalyne looked pointedly at Rufus. "I need to know what you can tell me about Jenova."
"Why?"
"Because from what I do know, she is not of this planet. Something doesn't quite add up between what mother said and the stories I learned as a child. It doesn't make sense. There's something I am missing. Which leads me to the request that doesn't go beyond the three of us."
Tseng whistled softly, looking at Jalyne with widened eyes. "You're going home."
Jalyne looked at Tseng and pursed her lips. Slowly she nodded and the corners of her mouth uplifted a smidge. "Nothing gets by you, Director."
"And how do you suppose you'll get there?" Rufus questioned.
"I'll open Heaven's Gate."
"Say again?" Tseng looked bewildered.
"How much did you see with my battle with Sephiroth?" she answered with another question.
"Not much until the whispers disappeared." Rufus answered, staring intently at his Turk. "Why?"
Jalyne was lost in thought on whether to show them or not. There were so many questions unanswered and she was undecided on how to proceed. Finally, she looked at them, eyes travelling to each.
"Fine." She muttered. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Both raised their eyebrows in question at the statement. Jalyne flexed her left shoulder, willing the wing to appear. The familiar tingle ran throughout her body and she exhaled slowly. From her back sprang the white iridescent single wing that plagued her existence for as long as she could remember. Both men tried to stay impassive in their reactions but failed to some capacity. Tseng walked around Jalyne and reached out to touch the wing. Rufus suddenly stood and approached to stand in front of her. Slowly she dissolved the wing and bowed her head to Rufus.
"I've told you; I'm broken. Incomplete." She sighed. "I am the only one of my people that have one wing. Despite what mother says, I do not believe her story. The hieroglyphs in the Lifestream say something else."
"How so?" Rufus questioned.
"I'm a one-winged angel, forever searching for completion or the other half." She answered. "Sephiroth is the same, however created versus born, as I am." She stopped. "Mother says my wing was a result of an accident while I was first born. However, as far as I know, she was exiled fairly quickly after she had me. How would she know an accident befell me? Also, the tapestries show a pheonaie taking a wing, so I don't know what truth is and what is lie. Is the Lifestream correct or the story my mother adamantly states."
"But why are you going home?" Tseng questioned. "and why do you not want the others to know?"
"Because I may not return." Jalyne stated solemnly. "I don't know what will happen. Father can answer one particular question. A suspicion I have that I am loathe to admit."
"Heaven's Gate?" Rufus pressed.
"Yes." She looked up to him. "In simplest terms, a doorway to another place or time. I used it unexpectedly when I fought Sephiroth. I opened it on my descent and pushed him through. I'm not surprised if no one saw it. I did it rather hurriedly."
"So that's what happened." Rufus commented walking and sitting behind his desk. "We wondered why he vanished suddenly."
"The Turks can help, Jalyne." Tseng commented. "We can offer surveillance, if need be." Tseng watched the pained look cross her face and knew something happened that she wasn't saying. Touching her elbow lightly, he led Jalyne off to the side.
"What aren't you saying, Jalyne." Tseng pressed. "Something happened."
"I don't want to see him, Tseng." She admitted. "I saw him earlier with someone else and…I can't decipher the feelings. It is new to me."
Tseng swore under his breath before speaking again. "You would have to understand Reno. It's his way of coping, Jalyne. He took your 'death' quite hard actually. I've never seen him like that."
"Well, he moved on, Tseng. Rather quickly, I may add." She spat. She looked over at Rufus waiting patiently. "This is a conversation for later."
With a sigh, Tseng went back to his place at Rufus's side. After a minute of silence, Jalyne spoke persuasively.
"If you want the Turks in this, fine." She commented. "I don't know how much help they would be without Sephiroth trying to kill them on site. As for me going home, I would strongly suggest not to let them know. At least wait until I'm gone."
"And when would that be?" Rufus asked.
"Per my earlier request, I would like to find a place of my own today, hopefully. With your acceptance, Rufus, I'll stay here until I move in. It shouldn't be long. Then I will go after Sephiroth. Depending on what I learn from that encounter will determine when I leave to go home."
"Call them in, Tseng. I know it's been a long night for them, being Friday, but this is important." Rufus commanded. "We need to get a game plan. In the meanwhile." He added looking at Jalyne pointedly. "I'll show you to your new quarters. Let me know when they arrive."
Tseng turned to start making phone calls while Rufus rose to escort Jalyne to her temporary quarters. She obediently followed him, walking a few steps behind. As she walked through the doorway to the guest suite, she marveled at how beautiful it was and didn't notice when Rufus closed the door behind them. Jalyne walked pass the entryway and onto the bedroom, suddenly wanting to relax a moment. As she took the room in, she spied Rufus through the mirror. She turned to him then and spoke.
"Thank you." She stated simply turning back to the room. Rufus came behind her and pulled her ponytail to the side exposing her neck. Jalyne kept watch through the mirror but remained calm as he placed his hands on her arms. He leaned down to her ear and whispered.
"Allow me to take the pain away."
"I am not sure that is a good idea, Rufus." She smirked. "As much as I need a release right now." Jalyne turned within his light grasp to look at him. Cupping his cheek, she leaned up and kissed him lightly. "Perhaps later, when I'm not so tired."
Rufus chuckled at that. "Still hung up on the slum-rat." And pulled her into another embrace. She chuckled a little about his boyish charm he was exhibiting.
"I'm not really sure, but for now, yes." She replied. "This is new to me. This feeling of jealousy. He is free to be with whomever he wishes. I don't know why it bothers me so. It would have never provoked this reaction in the past."
"What do you mean, you've never felt this way? Wanting something you can't have?" the President questioned lightly. "I find that hard to believe."
"And you would have to be on Trerran to understand." Jalyne quipped. "All my other dalliances meant nothing emotionally."
"Friends with benefits?" Rufus breathed into her hair.
"I did not have any friends on Trerran." She laughed. "That was bad for their health." Jalyne breathed a moment. "I was used as a way to retrieve information. The people I slept with were of power and intrigue. It is a game on Trerran."
"No friends at all? No confidants?" Rufus pressed on.
"I'm the Emperor's daughter, Rufus. Being my friend meant having a target placed on your back." Jalyne sighed.
"I know what you mean. It was the same for me. Never know to whom you can trust."
"I wish I could be steel like you. I have a habit of showing my emotions too much which is unacceptable on Trerran."
"It's a learn trait." Rufus commented running a hand through Jalyne's hair, taking out the ponytail and eliciting a shiver and a light groan. Tseng took that moment to clear his throat from the doorway. Upon both of them looking inquiringly at him, he spoke.
"They will be here in roughly an hour, Sir."
Jalyne took the opportunity to disengage herself from Rufus and walked by him, heading out to the office once more. Tseng raised an eyebrow to the President. The young man shrugged in response.
"You may not want to cross that line again, Sir." Tseng commented. "Did you not learn the first time? And is allowing her to stay here a good idea?"
"There is no line." Rufus shrugged. "And it was her that requested to stay. All I offered was help." He stated and walked the way Jalyne went.
The trio settled around the President's desk. Jalyne had asked to see what Jenova was all about. They had discussed her finding, the experiments and the components that made the SOLDIER program. Rufus explained what he could about Sephiroth's conception and the data behind it. Jalyne requested that she tell the Turks what the plan was. Rufus agreed hesitantly but continued on the narrative. They were looking at a hologram of Gaia when Tseng announced the others should be entering the office in a few minutes. Rufus reached up and motioned to Jalyne to lean down. Tseng was on his right side and she was on his left. When she leaned down, he whispered lightly.
"Are you ready for this?" He reached up and threaded his hand in her hair behind the ear tilting her head lightly to him.
"I'll be fine." She whispered back. He pulled slightly on her hair, eliciting a slight intake of breath and turning her head more to face him. Rufus leaned in and brushed his lips softly with hers, prompting a gasp of which he further deepened the kiss.
"You're treading the line, Mr. President." Jalyne whispered coyly as she pulled back.
"I know." Rufus smirked. "I couldn't help myself. You're just so tempting."
"It's a gift."
It was then that the doors opened, and three Turks stumbled through the doorway in the early Saturday morning.
"It is three in the morning! I was a little busy at the moment! What is so fucking important that it couldn't—" Reno was complaining when he caught the view in front of them. Rufus had let go of Jalyne while they entered and slid his hand down her cheek and neck as she straightened at his left. Tseng was perfectly pristine on his right. Reno looked at the scene in disbelief. He stared at her, mouth open and not really sure what to say. Jalyne tore her eyes from him and looked to the left, avoiding eye contact as her jealousy flared within her.
Rude's eyebrows were visible above his glasses and though Elena looked the worst for wear, her shriek of exuberance rang through the office.
"Please sit." Tseng commanded, motioning to the chairs in front of Rufus' desk. Reno was about to walk around the desk to Jalyne when Tseng's superior voice rang out. "Reno, sit."
Looking incredulously at his superior, Reno opted to listen and took the seat closed to Jalyne, staring at her for a few minutes. She looked at the other two but didn't make eye contact with him.
"I'll make this as quick as possible." Rufus stated. "I know you all have had a long night." He looked pointedly at Reno. "Especially you." Reno spread his hands in defense. "As you can see, Jalyne returned to us."
"Umm, can we elaborate on that a bit?" Reno stated glancing at her. "It has been three months."
"Later." Rufus continued. "She's here and there are some answers she needs to find. You are going to help her when she needs it." Rufus looked up at her and nodded.
"To make it short, I'm going after Sephiroth." Jalyne stated succinctly. "There are answers he may potentially have."
Reno raised his hand hesitantly though it swayed as drunk as he was and coughed. "You do realize that he whooped your ass the first time, right?"
Jalyne smirked at him, though he caught the hurt that was behind her eyes. "I'm not going there to fight."
"And you know where he is?" Rude asked.
"I can find him." Jalyne said confidently. "What I need is information on Jenova."
Reno whistled and looked at Rude and nodded slightly. They knew what needed to be done. Personal questions and feelings aside, they had a job and an assignment to do.
"Alright, you've waited long enough." Rufus said calmly. "Get to it."
Elena was the first to rise and beat the other two to Jalyne, hugging her fiercely. Tseng had held Reno back for a moment to speak with his second.
"Be careful with her, Reno." Tseng warned. "She's not the same. Time in the Lifestream does that I suppose. She's hurting." Reno nodded as he watched Rude lift her off the ground with a grunt and a laugh from her, begging him to put her down. Reno approached her timidly. He knew deep down his eyes earlier in the night did not deceive him. It was her in the alleyway and apprehension was rising.
Jalyne watched him approach warily, not sure what to do or say to him. As he approached, he looked into her green orbs and saw the hurt, and the sorrow. The remorse for earlier in the night rose even further and, in his way, he broke. Reaching for her, Reno embraced her guiding her head to his shoulder. She reciprocated if nothing more than to maintain the façade of everything is all right in front of everyone, though her heart broke even more. Jalyne caught the look of remorse in his turquoise eyes and it tugged at her, but she couldn't get the previous image of Reno with another out of her mind. Jalyne heaved a heavy breath on his shoulder and broke away from him. Reno reached to touch her cheek and she smiled sadly.
"Talk later?" Reno offered. Jalyne nodded weakly in acceptance, not trusting herself to speak. The others took the opportunity to swarm her with questions. She answered as much as she could, reminiscing with her 'family' of the few times they had. There was laughter and banter, even Reno sobered up enough to relax. Jalyne answered what happened to her and some of the information she gleaned from the Lifestream. After about an hour, Rufus called it quits to let Jalyne rest.
"When do you want us, Chief?" Reno asked heading for the door.
"Monday, Reno. Or I'll call if needed earlier." Tseng answered.
The Turks left, leaving the President, Director and Jalyne in the office for a moment of silence. Tseng bid his farewell with the promise to come get Jalyne to look for her own place later in the morning. Rufus poured a drink and handed it to her and walked to face the window, looking out at the beginnings of the morning.
"I'm sorry I kept you up, Sir." Jalyne said walking to his side. "I should have waited until morning to come see you."
"I really didn't have much planned for today, Jalyne. It's Saturday." Came the reply.
"By your leave?" she asked downing her drink. "I think I'll attempt to get some rest." Rufus nodded, downed his drink and headed for his suite.
Jalyne had taken her time in the shower, letting the hot water soothe her muscles and her mind. There was a lot to take in for the information that she gleaned in the Lifestream. She slowly dried off and wrapped her hair in a towel. Looking into the bathroom mirror, she noticed the circles under her eyes. Jalyne felt the tiredness and weariness finally hit her, draining her of strength. Jalyne dried her hair and threw a robe on loosely and made her way to the bedroom. She came to the side of the bed where the full-length mirror was placed. Opening her robe, she inspected the wound that Sephiroth gave her. A smooth wound with only a thin line of scar tissue present, the Lifestream had healed her. Jalyne closed her eyes and remembered the battle for it felt like it just happened. Feeling the sorrow of the events, she felt a presence near. Slowly opening her eyes, her lips formed a small, albeit sad smile at the reflection in the mirror. Leaning on the door frame was the President, with hands in his pockets, wearing nothing but white lounge pants.
"Keeping surveillance on me?" Jalyne quipped. Rufus entered the room and stood behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. He impulsively reached up and pulled her hair back from her eyes.
"Not really." He stated. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." He was threading his hands through her hair lightly, feeling the soft silky strands. Jalyne laughed lightly and barely shook her head. She bit her tongue on stating that having her hair fondled was an instant arousal for her. He gave her a questioning look.
"What is it with men and my hair?" she answered his look.
"It's soft, silky and white." Rufus stated. "We don't see pure white hair around here often."
"Kind of like Trerran's red heads are exceedingly rare. I wasn't always white-haired, you know." Jalyne commented.
"Oh?"
Jalyne raised her hand slightly and concentrated watching Rufus' expression as her hair turned from white to black. "This is what it looked like before—" and she stopped, sadness creeping into her expression.
"Before what?" the blond inquired. Jalyne closed her hand into a fist allowing the black hair to return to white.
"Before my first awakening." She whispered. Jalyne shook her head and took a deep breath. "I can't change that fact."
"The past is just that – the past." Rufus commented. "We can regret it, study it, and dwell on it. It is important, though, to learn from history."
"All I've learned is that I am extremely powerful, and that I belong to no one, or nowhere." She bowed her head. "I have no right to expect Reno not to move on, and yet—"
"It hurts." Rufus supplied. Jalyne raised her head to look at his reflection in the mirror.
"Yes. And it shouldn't." she said. "I have no idea why, either." Rufus chuckled lightly, blatantly seeing what was happening between her and his Turk and amazed she never considered the possibility.
"Stop overthinking, Jalyne." The President finally commented. "You need to relax. You're mind is overloaded right now." He rubbed her shoulders, watching her in the mirror as the emotions flickered in her eyes.
"I—" she started. "I can't turn it off. My mind won't stop replaying events."
"I know the feeling." Rufus chuckled lightly. "But you need to rest and relax a moment." He leaned into her, pulling her against him. "My offer still stands, you know."
Jalyne closed her eyes, thinking rapidly. She could not think clearly anymore and being pulled up against Rufus was not helping the situation for her. Come what may. Jalyne turned within his grasp and opened her eyes. Rufus was unprepared for the dangerous look that he saw within them.
Jalyne launched herself at him, pulled him into a kiss that took him aback slightly, threading one hand through his hair and the other under his arm to curl around his shoulder. The passion behind her is what took him by surprise and as she lifted onto her toes to deepen it, Rufus grabbed her under the thighs and lifted her up. Turning, he placed her on the bed, looking appraisingly at her form with the splayed-out robe exposing her and shrugged out of his pants. He nestled between her legs, lightly treading his fingertips along her side, making her giddy and shudder. Jalyne raised her leg and wrapped it around his hips, guiding him to her once more. Rufus relented and kissed her with the same passion she had to him, causing a moan to escape her.
The focus of pleasure cleared Jalyne's mind. All that mattered was the slender blonde President who was playfully teasing the hell out of her with his ministrations. This was what she needed, to relax and just be her passionate, confident, and seductive self. She gripped Rufus's hips with her legs and rolled him over onto his back, snuggling herself on top of him. Jalyne reared up on her knees allowing him greater access to her hips and ass and slowly rubbed herself against him, eliciting moans from his mouth. Breathing heavier, eyes glazed and slit open with lust, she looked at him and saw the façade of being the president fall away from his features. Taking his hands with hers, she leaned down and kissed him, then trailed kisses down to his ear. She pulled back just enough to almost touch nose to nose and smiled lightly at him.
"Thank you." She whispered heavily to him and paused to stare into cerulean eyes. "For this." Jalyne squeezed his hands lightly and slid him into her, arching her back and throwing her head back with an exhale of pleasure. She could feel every inch of him and reveled in it.
Rufus moaned appreciably, not realizing how aroused she really had become when she planted herself upon him. He could feel her muscles tightening with each rock of her hips. Jalyne let go of his hands, placing them on either side of his head to continue her motion. He pulled his right hand around to knead her breast as she continued the pace, her whines ringing sweetly to his ears. This was far different than their first encounter and Rufus relaxed further, letting the emotions guide him. Jalyne leaned in to kiss him, teasing him by lightly grazing his lips then biting her lower lip lightly and backing away slightly. After a few times of playing hard to get, Rufus grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her in for a deep kiss, not letting her get away and sliding out of her. Jalyne whimpered lightly against him from the lack of warmth and stimulation.
Rufus climbed behind her threading his right arm under her and gathering her hair in his hand to pull it aside. Jalyne braced for the dominance Rufus was known to exhibit. He saw the crescent moon mark his father had given her and traced it lightly with his other hand.
"Midnight." He whispered huskily to her accidently, sliding smoothly into her.
"Yes?" she gasped, more surprised of the tenderness he was giving her.
Rufus was taken with amazement of her answering him and nuzzled her neck for a moment, keeping an even pace. "Be mine for this moment." Came his request as he nipped lightly at her markings at the nape of her neck. He picked up his pace within her, causing her to grip the duvet with both her hands and pushing back into hips with want. Her groans escalated and Rufus knew she was close to orgasm as he was. Jalyne relaxed suddenly and he felt the warmth and an emotion he's rarely felt flood over him. He nudged her hair pulling her head so she could look at him fully over her left shoulder. What he saw in those beautiful vibrant green eyes was not hatred, fear or turmoil; but an unabashed calm passion.
"Please…" Jalyne's whispered plea reached his ears between lusty breaths. "Rufus…please."
Silently answering her plea, Rufus picked up his pace for the final time, feeling her muscles within contract. Jalyne's moans grew in audible strength and with a final thrust, claimed her lips, drowning his name within it.
They laid there for a few minutes basking in the aftermath, until Jalyne shivered lightly.
"You're cold." Rufus commented, sliding out of her and pulling the covers back. Climbing in, he motioned her to follow.
"I'm exhausted, truthfully." She answered taking his cue. "Coldness is the side effect." Jalyne climbed under the covers and at his tug and insistence, curled up to him. They stayed silent for minutes, her accepting his warmth and lazily tracing circles across his chest as her mind slowed down and cleared.
"Why did you answer when I called you Midnight?" Rufus finally questioned. Jalyne tilted her head to look at him incredulously.
"Because that is my nickname." She indulged. "My father named me that because I dislike the common color of black that most of rank wear. I prefer midnight blue." She hesitated. "He always said my light shines."
Jalyne snuggled back into the President and continued lightly tracing circles. It was her this time that broke the peace. "Rufus?"
"Hm?"
"May I call you friend?" she asked formally in a girlish voice. He placed a kiss on her head and answered.
"Of course." Rufus had unconsciously started rubbing her back. She was fighting sleep but soon her body was resting further, and he could her breathing become more even. Wanting to plant an idea in her head, Rufus whispered softly to her. "You should really give Reno a chance, Jalyne. He's not a bad guy."
"Well, this just turned into one of the weirdest conversations after sex I think I've ever had." She chuckled.
"Oh? Just one of the weirdest. What were the other topics?"
"I'll let you know when I am not tired and think of one."
There was the Jalyne he knew and heard of, with quick wit and banter. Rufus smiled at the ceiling and squeezed her lightly. "I'm serious."
"Strange request, Sir." Jalyne drawled, propping herself up to look fully at him. He returned her gaze evenly. "Considering the situation." She elaborated glancing down at the two of them lying in bed. "You're willing to give me up?"
"Friends with benefits." He chuckled and latched his hand to her side, tickling her. She broke out in laughter and swatted at his hand. Jalyne looked at him then, seriousness creeping into her features.
"Perhaps I will take your advice. But until then…" she leaned in and kissed him, then snuggled back into place. "Wake me when Tseng arrives."
After a few minutes, Jalyne's even breathing told him she was fast asleep, secure within his grasp and exhausted of the recent events.
Rufus couldn't keep the image of the reflection he saw out of his mind as he drifted off to sleep himself. There was much more to this woman than he currently knew.