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The surprise in Rufus' eyes turned into amusement. Everyone was staring at them in silence. She obviously didn't know who he was. The Turks started running towards him but Rufus raised his hand slightly to stop them.
"Yeah... Sorry about that."
Surprise was obvious in her green eyes as she dropped her gaze and started gathering the papers around her. He bent down and started gathering them too. People still stared, and some murmurs could be heard. He rolled his eyes. What was the problem?? He was just doing what he should be doing.
They made a huge stack on the floor. Rufus offered his hand so she could get up. He picked up the files and gave them to her.
She smiled gratefully and took the files. He suddenly felt that the weariness that clogged his chest was gone. He felt refreshed and he inhaled deeply. Then he realized that it was extremely ackward, leaving her while she stood with the huge stacks of papers that obviously blinded her. Feeling everyone's eyes on him now, he sighed and turned to her.
"Here, let me help you." He took the majority of the papers from her.
The girl smiled. "Thanks. so much." "No problem," replied Rufus, as he started back to the elevator. She followed him. He ignored the Turks' staring eyes and got on it.
"Where do you have to take them to?" he asked.
"All the rooms on the 74th floor." she replied.
A long silence followed as the elevator went up. It would take a good ten minutes for them to reach the top. Noticing the pace the elevator was rising, the girl set her stack down. Rufus did the same.
Rufus heard a loud sigh and turned to her. "Is something wrong?"
She just laughed slightly, but she looked sad. "Nothing, it's just the people in this building."
"What's wrong with them?"
"Nothing really. it's just that I think I'm gonna work here for a long time but they are so unfriendly and disrespectful." She smiled sadly. "You're the first person who showed any sign that they are alive and had a heart."
Rufus found himself nodding in agreement. "Yeah. these people sometimes seem like they don't' have a soul or something." He brushed a strand of hair that got into his eyes. "I guess you're new here."
"The very first day," she said laughing. "Ah. and I had such a wonderful time here."
They both chuckled.
"My name's Aeris Gainsborough," she said, smiling and holding out her badge. "What's yours?" Aeris looked up at him. Rufus found himself hesitating to tell her. She didn't know that he was the Vice President. and that's probably why she treated him like a normal person. He didn't want another employee. Besides, it wasn't that important.
"Rufus." he said the first word that came to his mind as he looked at the smiling girl. "Rose..n." He caught himself immediately. "Rufus Rossen," he held out his hand. 'What the hell was that!!' he thought angrily, amazed at his own stupidity. Aeris took his hand.
"Rossen? Nice to meet you, Rufus."
The elevator door opened, and they both picked their stacks of paper up. They went around the floor, stuffing the mailbox with the files. Rufus was getting nervous as he approached his office. Luckily the secretary was busy typing in something in the computer. but if he went too near she was sure to notice him.
"Uh, Aeris? You just give that to the secretary over there. I'll push the button for the elevator and wait."
Even though it sounded lame to his ears, to her it seemed reasonable and she just gave it to the secretary. She came back to the elevator, awed.
"Do you know whose office that is? It's absolutely huge!"
Rufus found himself chuckling, amused. "I think that's the Vice President's."
As they rode back downstairs, Aeris seemed to be thinking. Suddenly she spoke.
"You know, Rufus. Thanks for being so nice back there." she smiled, a hint of pink on her cheeks. "I was having an awful day. sorry I was so blunt."
Rufus grinned. "Hey, that's fine."
He started to say something else but the door opened. It was the first floor. They walked out together. however a redhead, with a smirk on his face, stepped in front of Rufus.
"Sir, may I speak to you for a minute?" He said in an overly professional tone.
"Well, then, bye Rufus!" Aeris said, walking away. She suddenly looked back and flashed him a smile. "See ya!"
With that she disappeared into a room.
Aeris, once she was in her boss's office, stepped into an waiting room and sat down on the couch. A slow smile lit her face as she remembered how. nice he was to her, how gentlemanly he was. 'Well, I guess not everyone in this building's so insensitive." she concluded.
On the other hand, Rufus was being led by Reno, back into the elevator.
"WHAT?" Rufus demanded as the door closed.
Reno's annoying smirk didn't disappear as he slyly asked, "Who's the girl?"
Rufus rolled his eyes. "I don't know, why?"
"Dunno, it seemed like the first time you. acted like that." Rufus wanted to rip that annoying smile off his face. "That girl got some spirit, standing up to you like that." Reno chuckled.
"She doesn't know I'm the VP," Rufus said, looking away.
"What did you tell her your name was?" Reno asked in a doubtful tone. "How can she not know? She does know that this is the SHINRA building, doesn't she?"
"Of course she knows!" Rufus faltered for a moment. "I just told her that my name's Rossen."
"Rossen?" Reno sounded disappointed. "Why didn't you just tell her?"
'I don't know.' Rufus thought, sighing. "Why is that so important?"
He leaned back on the railing as the Turk studied his face.
"You really should get out more. You're starting to look sick."
"Shut up."
Another silence followed. However, Reno brightened up.
"So, you're bringing her to the ball?"
.silence.
"WHAT? What ball???"
". The one that the President's having. to celebrate the Opening of Junon Office. You knew it for like two months now." Reno frowned. For these past months, his friend hadn't been himself.
Rufus put his hand on his forehead, remembering. 'Shit. Is it mandatory?"
"Everyone in Shinra's going, Rufus. And you're the President's Son."
"Who're you guys bringing?"
"We can't have dates. We're the Turks." Reno laughed quietly. "Elena seems happy though, she thinks it's like she's going with Tseng alone."
Rufus chuckled, remembering the girl's giddy attitude whenever she was talking to Tseng. She was always overly hyper when she was around him, then regretted it and hit herself on the head when he left.
"So, you're bringing her to the ball?" Reno again asked.
"I can't. I barely know her." Rufus frowned. Stupid ball. stupid Vice Presidency. This company was like a shackle around his ankle.
Ring. The door opened and they both stepped out. "What's her name?"
"Aeris."
Rufus looked at his friend.
"Reno. I'll see you soon then." Rufus looked tired, even depressed.
"Ok. See ya."
Rufus stepped into his office. Reno stood there, watching, worried.
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Rufus started on his paperwork. He just threw away the ones that didn't require his signature. After doing that, his work was considerably reduced.
He kept at it until he realized that it was late. It was almost midnight.
He stopped. He sighed. He realized he hadn't eaten anything the whole day. He kept staring at the outside view, and back at his computer screen.
Aeris. that was her name. 'I guess I WAS nice to her,' thought Rufus. He felt a new feeling creeping up his chest as he thought how her cheeks turned pink as she thanked him on the elevator.
He suddenly sat upright. He typed some letters into his computer, and it opened him the Shinra database.
He typed in 'Aeris Gainsborough'.
A picture appeared, along with some information of her. He stared at the picture. The picture showed a beautiful girl smiling. But the picture didn't do her justice. 'She's much prettier than that.' Rufus started to think, but stopped abruptly. He kept glancing at the information on the screen. She was eighteen, five feet four. and he stopped when he saw the status of her parents.
They were both labeled as 'deceased'.
"She's an orphan?" Rufus said aloud. No wonder she's working here when she's so young! When did they die? She must feel lonely. He felt sorry for her.
He turned the computer off. He slowly put on his coat and headed to his room.
The surprise in Rufus' eyes turned into amusement. Everyone was staring at them in silence. She obviously didn't know who he was. The Turks started running towards him but Rufus raised his hand slightly to stop them.
"Yeah... Sorry about that."
Surprise was obvious in her green eyes as she dropped her gaze and started gathering the papers around her. He bent down and started gathering them too. People still stared, and some murmurs could be heard. He rolled his eyes. What was the problem?? He was just doing what he should be doing.
They made a huge stack on the floor. Rufus offered his hand so she could get up. He picked up the files and gave them to her.
She smiled gratefully and took the files. He suddenly felt that the weariness that clogged his chest was gone. He felt refreshed and he inhaled deeply. Then he realized that it was extremely ackward, leaving her while she stood with the huge stacks of papers that obviously blinded her. Feeling everyone's eyes on him now, he sighed and turned to her.
"Here, let me help you." He took the majority of the papers from her.
The girl smiled. "Thanks. so much." "No problem," replied Rufus, as he started back to the elevator. She followed him. He ignored the Turks' staring eyes and got on it.
"Where do you have to take them to?" he asked.
"All the rooms on the 74th floor." she replied.
A long silence followed as the elevator went up. It would take a good ten minutes for them to reach the top. Noticing the pace the elevator was rising, the girl set her stack down. Rufus did the same.
Rufus heard a loud sigh and turned to her. "Is something wrong?"
She just laughed slightly, but she looked sad. "Nothing, it's just the people in this building."
"What's wrong with them?"
"Nothing really. it's just that I think I'm gonna work here for a long time but they are so unfriendly and disrespectful." She smiled sadly. "You're the first person who showed any sign that they are alive and had a heart."
Rufus found himself nodding in agreement. "Yeah. these people sometimes seem like they don't' have a soul or something." He brushed a strand of hair that got into his eyes. "I guess you're new here."
"The very first day," she said laughing. "Ah. and I had such a wonderful time here."
They both chuckled.
"My name's Aeris Gainsborough," she said, smiling and holding out her badge. "What's yours?" Aeris looked up at him. Rufus found himself hesitating to tell her. She didn't know that he was the Vice President. and that's probably why she treated him like a normal person. He didn't want another employee. Besides, it wasn't that important.
"Rufus." he said the first word that came to his mind as he looked at the smiling girl. "Rose..n." He caught himself immediately. "Rufus Rossen," he held out his hand. 'What the hell was that!!' he thought angrily, amazed at his own stupidity. Aeris took his hand.
"Rossen? Nice to meet you, Rufus."
The elevator door opened, and they both picked their stacks of paper up. They went around the floor, stuffing the mailbox with the files. Rufus was getting nervous as he approached his office. Luckily the secretary was busy typing in something in the computer. but if he went too near she was sure to notice him.
"Uh, Aeris? You just give that to the secretary over there. I'll push the button for the elevator and wait."
Even though it sounded lame to his ears, to her it seemed reasonable and she just gave it to the secretary. She came back to the elevator, awed.
"Do you know whose office that is? It's absolutely huge!"
Rufus found himself chuckling, amused. "I think that's the Vice President's."
As they rode back downstairs, Aeris seemed to be thinking. Suddenly she spoke.
"You know, Rufus. Thanks for being so nice back there." she smiled, a hint of pink on her cheeks. "I was having an awful day. sorry I was so blunt."
Rufus grinned. "Hey, that's fine."
He started to say something else but the door opened. It was the first floor. They walked out together. however a redhead, with a smirk on his face, stepped in front of Rufus.
"Sir, may I speak to you for a minute?" He said in an overly professional tone.
"Well, then, bye Rufus!" Aeris said, walking away. She suddenly looked back and flashed him a smile. "See ya!"
With that she disappeared into a room.
Aeris, once she was in her boss's office, stepped into an waiting room and sat down on the couch. A slow smile lit her face as she remembered how. nice he was to her, how gentlemanly he was. 'Well, I guess not everyone in this building's so insensitive." she concluded.
On the other hand, Rufus was being led by Reno, back into the elevator.
"WHAT?" Rufus demanded as the door closed.
Reno's annoying smirk didn't disappear as he slyly asked, "Who's the girl?"
Rufus rolled his eyes. "I don't know, why?"
"Dunno, it seemed like the first time you. acted like that." Rufus wanted to rip that annoying smile off his face. "That girl got some spirit, standing up to you like that." Reno chuckled.
"She doesn't know I'm the VP," Rufus said, looking away.
"What did you tell her your name was?" Reno asked in a doubtful tone. "How can she not know? She does know that this is the SHINRA building, doesn't she?"
"Of course she knows!" Rufus faltered for a moment. "I just told her that my name's Rossen."
"Rossen?" Reno sounded disappointed. "Why didn't you just tell her?"
'I don't know.' Rufus thought, sighing. "Why is that so important?"
He leaned back on the railing as the Turk studied his face.
"You really should get out more. You're starting to look sick."
"Shut up."
Another silence followed. However, Reno brightened up.
"So, you're bringing her to the ball?"
.silence.
"WHAT? What ball???"
". The one that the President's having. to celebrate the Opening of Junon Office. You knew it for like two months now." Reno frowned. For these past months, his friend hadn't been himself.
Rufus put his hand on his forehead, remembering. 'Shit. Is it mandatory?"
"Everyone in Shinra's going, Rufus. And you're the President's Son."
"Who're you guys bringing?"
"We can't have dates. We're the Turks." Reno laughed quietly. "Elena seems happy though, she thinks it's like she's going with Tseng alone."
Rufus chuckled, remembering the girl's giddy attitude whenever she was talking to Tseng. She was always overly hyper when she was around him, then regretted it and hit herself on the head when he left.
"So, you're bringing her to the ball?" Reno again asked.
"I can't. I barely know her." Rufus frowned. Stupid ball. stupid Vice Presidency. This company was like a shackle around his ankle.
Ring. The door opened and they both stepped out. "What's her name?"
"Aeris."
Rufus looked at his friend.
"Reno. I'll see you soon then." Rufus looked tired, even depressed.
"Ok. See ya."
Rufus stepped into his office. Reno stood there, watching, worried.
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Rufus started on his paperwork. He just threw away the ones that didn't require his signature. After doing that, his work was considerably reduced.
He kept at it until he realized that it was late. It was almost midnight.
He stopped. He sighed. He realized he hadn't eaten anything the whole day. He kept staring at the outside view, and back at his computer screen.
Aeris. that was her name. 'I guess I WAS nice to her,' thought Rufus. He felt a new feeling creeping up his chest as he thought how her cheeks turned pink as she thanked him on the elevator.
He suddenly sat upright. He typed some letters into his computer, and it opened him the Shinra database.
He typed in 'Aeris Gainsborough'.
A picture appeared, along with some information of her. He stared at the picture. The picture showed a beautiful girl smiling. But the picture didn't do her justice. 'She's much prettier than that.' Rufus started to think, but stopped abruptly. He kept glancing at the information on the screen. She was eighteen, five feet four. and he stopped when he saw the status of her parents.
They were both labeled as 'deceased'.
"She's an orphan?" Rufus said aloud. No wonder she's working here when she's so young! When did they die? She must feel lonely. He felt sorry for her.
He turned the computer off. He slowly put on his coat and headed to his room.
