Be My Guiding Light
Hey I'm back, I had problems with this chap… I had a mental breakdown, but me fine now.
IMPORTANT NOTE- PLEASE READ:
If you are a regular reader of this fanfic, then could you please read back to the end of the last chapter? I changed it, so it sounded a lot better and more reasonable to the reader. Hope you find it better than before, just lets me add more chapters anyway, so you get more for the change.
Thank you.
Oh yeah…
Wish me happy birthday everyone… on 20th November I'll be 18…
'HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY TIGERLILY'
Sing with me:
"Happy birthday to you/me…
Happy birthday to you/me…
Happy birthday TigerLily…
Happy birthday to you/me."
GREAT!!! THANKS GUYS!
So for 3 days after that I'll be recovering from a massive hangover… so. Well ya get me…
On with the next chap.
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Chapter 5
She walked into the office to be greeted by a usual cloud of smoke, which meant only one thing… Reno must be back.
"Hey Elle, ya late! You'll get it in the neck."
She walked in, sitting on the chair closest to the door. She raised an eyebrow as she glanced over to Rude, who was sitting silently next to Reno.
"Why would you think that? I'm only…" She glanced at the silver watch on her wrist, "… what, 15, maybe 14 minutes late?"
The redhead stubbed out the cigarette and looked at her, smirking slightly.
"You missed a great lecture…" He threw his hands up to emphasize the point. "The bollocking of a lifetime, it was." He grinned, looking over to the bald Turk. "Wasn't it Rude?"
"………"
"See."
She watched as he nodded to Rude. She had no idea what he was talking about, all she knew was that they got told off about something, she didn't even know if she was involved, it could have something to do with the last mission.
"So who-"
"Half an hour we were getting' lectured!" He interrupted, and he said Elena spoke too much. She tried to get a word in as she leaned over, if she couldn't get a straight answer from Reno, there was always Rude. "We didn't even do nothing wrong this time! We got the job done… in advance too if I may add." He crossed his arms, leaning back in the blue chair.
Elena sighed heavily as she went to get a cup of coffee from the machine.
There was an awkward silence for a short time as Elena waited for the kettle to heat up as she got out a mug and filled it with milk and water, once it was hot enough. She collected her mug and sat back down in her seat, nestling the cup in her hands. She took a sip as Reno spoke again.
"We even took blame for you not bein' here! Didn't we?" He took his shades off his head and wiped them, before placing them back on top of his head.
"What?" She screeched softly, placing the cup down as she noticed Rude nodding to Reno's question.
"Yep, went ballistic coz you weren't here," he looked over at her.
Elena slanted her head wondering why she was getting blamed, sometimes Reno could be over 2 hours late and get away with it, but she was only 15 minutes and getting bollocked? She could have argued the point, and then wondered who it was. She immediately thought that it was Scarlet, doing her usual bitchiness to her. Anything to get her in trouble with the boss, all this trouble and over Rufus. She silently scorned herself, it's not like Scarlet had to be jealous of her getting close. She knew that Scarlet was trying to get her claws into him, only to get the company she gathered. Did she actually like Rufus? She very much doubted that and shuttered at the though of what Scarlet was like with the ex-president, Rufus' father. She heard rumours of what he was like and that he used to spend most of his time at the Honey Bee Inn, in Wall Market. Slut, that was the only word that she could describe Scarlet, that and whore.
"Scarlet shooting her poison tongue off again?!" She spat, relaxed.
"No," he said quizzical, "haven't seen her, have you Rude?"
"… She was sulking on floor 68 last time I saw her."
"Ah, she must have gotten a bollocking too."
Elena glanced over at the two men perplexed. She scratched her head, in wonder of what was going on.
"Who was?" The blonde urged, wafting her arms.
"Huh, who what?" He asked, lighting up a fag and taking a large drag. "Scarlet I said."
"Rufus." Rude answered Elena, completely ignoring Reno as he pouted, taking another drag of his cigarette and looking at his watch.
"Rufus?" She said shocked, curious as to why he was doing that.
It wasn't because of what happened last night, was it? I DID kick him out the house… but he shouldn't have been impolite, he could have knocked.
"What happened exactly? I'm intrigued." She was engrossed, but at the same time vexed that if it was about last night, that he was taking it out on everyone else. She stressed about whether anything was said, false actualisation.
"Well he was pissed… I've never seen the Prez so pissed off before in the time that I've known him. Barged in here and just started shoutin' and stuff." He looked at her. "I asked him what we did, sayin' that we didn't do anything, then he just replied 'precisely'"
Elena sniggered slightly by the way Reno was saying it, getting worked up about the whole ordeal, actions included.
"He asked where you were." Rude said, taking his black glasses off and placed them on the brown coffee table, revealing his dark eyes. (I don't know what colour eyes he has… he never takes the glasses off!)
The female Turk's eyes widened upon hearing this piece of information, she only prayed that he was inquiring about her for another reason, one that couldn't come to mind at the moment. She shook her head, running a hand through her short blonde locks, conflicting with herself silently. If it was about yesterday's incident, then he was taking it out on the other Turks, then why take it out on Scarlet? It wasn't that big a deal to get this worked up about. There has to be another reason. He could have wanted to know about a mission, but he knew about Icicle Inn, and she hadn't been on any other missions since then. It then suddenly came to mind, the only thing that it could be was that report that she did… it was done in a rush, but wasn't that bad. She was lost in though when she heard Reno's voice came booming back into context. She shook her head lightly, listening to what he said.
"Yeah, he did… blaring that he pays you to work, not sit at home doing fuck all, and when you do go on a mission he expects successful results," he mocked.
She reddened as she recalled the Icicle Inn event.
Take it Reno and Rude know that I messed up big time then?
"Huh, did he mention anything else?" She drove on more. "Anything about what happened yesterday?"
Reno scratched his head, raising an eyebrow.
"Er, no." He looked perplexed, then smiled deviously. "Why, what happened yesterday?"
She hesitated, knowing that whatever she said wouldn't turn out the way it was supposed to and if she said nothing then it'd be clear obvious that she were hiding something.
"Nothing," she blurted absently.
"Nothing aye? If it were nothing, why'd you ask? Seems like more than just… 'nothing' to me."
"Really, nothing happened…" She laughed and scratched her head carefully.
"Nothing?" he pried.
"Erm, just that report I was doing yesterday, that's all." She lied truthfully (the irony… well she DID do a report.)
"You're a crap liar Elle," he laughed, "I keep tellin' you that you talk to much… today proved it, you blew it. I know you're hiding something… you can't keep secrets in this business-- you can't keep secrets from me! I won't allow it!"
She felt all the pressure pummel down on her at full force, all at once. Blood rushed to her cheeks as Reno pried into the matter further, she'd do anything to get out of the situation she was in.
"… He's only just been informed that the Airship (I really wanna name it something other than 'airship', but it wasn't Highwind before. Thing of a name for me fans!) was stolen by AVALANCHE. So whatever happened yesterday was never mentioned."
"The Airship!?" she sighed in relief. "But that happened days ago."
"Yeah, and Rude said 'he's only JUST, been informed.'"
"Oh, right."
"I still wanna know what happened yesterday… don't you Rude?" He looked over to the bald Turk casually. "He does too, now spill." He pushed himself off the chair he was on and sat on the coffee table, leaning closer to Elena.
She looked around the room, eagerly trying to escape Reno's piecing gaze, but no matter where she looked, she felt his eyes burning into her. She glanced at the room and never realise how white it looked from the un-trained eye… white walls, white ceiling, maybe just a little darker than white.
It was only when she heard Reno give an annoyed cough that she tried to think of an excuse.
I can't tell Reno what happened, he'd make false actualisations… I just wanna forget it and go back to reality.
"Erm… well-"
The door was suddenly flung open as all three Turks looked to see who it was. Standing there in a blue suit was Reeve; he crossed his arms and smiled.
"Guys, the President wants to see you all on the double."
"I ain't goin' to get bollocked again!" Reno said defensively.
Reeve lowered his arms and leaned in the doorway.
"I think he wants you lot for a mission, not to shout at."
"Is he still in a pissed mood?"
"… Maybe," he said unconvincing.
"Then were gonna get bollocked."
Elena looked on at the conversation that was taking place in the placid office, laughing at Reno's Theory of what's going to happen when they see Rufus. He was currently retelling what happened earlier to Reeve, who looked on unconvinced in some areas. Elena listened again, catching parts that she wasn't informed on. She wasn't 100% sure herself if some of the story was true, some of the things that were said didn't sound like the types of things that Rufus Shinra was likely to say, but by the mood she gathered he was in, anything was possible. So far from both sources of information at least every person in Shinra had felt Rufus' wrath today, the workers that had supposed to be guarding the Airship were fired and at least 100 of the workers in Junon Airport got their pay docked.
"Yes Reno, I get it. But if you're late that'll be another reason for him to shout." The Shinra executive placed his hands in his pockets as he smiled at them. "Then it'll be your fault that you got done… so quit talking' and start walkin'." He pointed to the upper floor before walking off and leaving all three Turks alone.
"Shit, we'd better get goin' before the Prez throws another shoutin' fit at us." He shoved his hands in his pockets in and walked out of the room, followed by the other Turks. "Coz I ain't sittin' and listenin' to him go on."
"You didn't sit and listen last time." Rude spoke from behind.
Reno stopped and looked at Rude.
"Yeah I did," he argued defensively.
"You stood and argued the point."
"Well, I wasn't going to take blame for something I didn't do… that would just be stupid," he smiled.
"It wasn't until he proved you wrong that you backed down." Rude took the pair of black glasses from out of his pocket, glad that he remembered to pick them up from off the coffee table, and placed them over his eyes.
"Oh yeah, I remember now," he ran a hand through his fiery red hair, laughing that miss mistake. "C'mon, lets go."
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The three Turks took the elevator up to the 69th floor and walked passed all the other rooms where the Shinra workers were typing away hard and pressing away fast to gather all information that was requested for the next important mission. The next mission was one of valuable importance and not a single person could afford to mess up, not only the people of Midgar, but the world was relying on them, they couldn't mess up at all.
They were half way up the large staircase leading up to Rufus' office when they heard a familiar voice.
"I can't believe you two were stupid enough to try and keep this a secret from me!"
"But Mr President-" The female tried, but hardly succeeded.
"Did you think I wouldn't find out?!"
Elena glanced back at the two Turks behind her; somehow she was pushed first and ended up leading the way. Reno's idea that she needed to get her fair share, so she should at least lead the way.
"I think he's still pissed off," she whispered, hearing Reno let out a sarcastic comment.
"Ya think?"
She shot him a glare, but said nothing.
"Should we stay here, or go up?"
"Hmm, by sounds of it…" He listened carefully before continuing, smiling gratefully. "It's Scarlet and Porky. Let's see them get outta this one. We'll wait here."
Rufus stood in his large, light filled office, back turned to the two employees that stood in front of his desk. He muttered something before turning to look at the two. The blonde woman who wore nothing but a skimpy crimson dress with black high heels, and the other who stood next to her, a large bearded man clad in a green suit. Scarlet, head of the weaponry development, and Heidegger, head of public safety maintenance. (I think that's right, I'm not sure on Scarlet, I know she's weaponry, but not sure if that's the actual title.) Both stood with their hands by their sides.
Rufus placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward, thinking of an appropriate thing to say to the two. He looked at them carefully, one then the next.
"Why?" He spoke in a strangely calm voice. Both Scarlet and Heidegger looked at each other, looking to see which one would answer the spoken question.
"Why what, sir?"
"Hmm, why don't you answer that Heidegger?" He looked at the female. "Scarlet?"
"Umm," they both murmured.
Rufus sigh impatiently, knowing that both of them had no idea what to say, it wasn't that hard a question to answer.
"Why?" he said, placing his hands in his white pants. "Do you want me to give you a hand?" He walked around the desk and stood in front of them. "Why did they get hold of the Airship? Why weren't any of them seen? It mustn't be too hard for you to spot an odd-looking group walking around Junon Airport, is it?"
He noticed that both of them were looking at the ground and avoided his glare.
"Why were they walking around? What happened to that public execution? Are you so incompetent? Was it too hard a task to get rid of one girl?! What did you do? Let her go freely… 'Oh it doesn't matter at all, it's only the President's reputation at stake!!'" His voice suddenly rose, full of anger and spite.
"Umm, sir?"
"What is it Heidegger?!"
"Officially, it was Scarlet's job to depose of the vermin." He said, slyly looking at Scarlet and immediately seeing her face fume.
"Why you scrawny little man?!-"
"SILENCE!" Rufus shouted, causing Scarlet to drop her fist. "You will have your say after, if it's really worth my time."
"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted by this vulgar-"
"Right now you two are really trying my patience. All I've asked of you two is to produce a reasonable explanation as to why AVALANCHE are travelling around in my airship?! Because right now I'm prepared to dispatch the both of you!"
"I was with you the whole time sir, I knew nothing of it… it was Scarlet's fault." He said cowardly, placing his hands behind his back.
The President crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at both of them.
"So, you knew nothing of it?" He saw Heidegger nod. "Then why are you so nervous if you had nothing to do with it?"
The bearded man wiped his brow, finding it hard to avoid anything.
"Erm… well."
"So you just stood in front of me and spoke a pack of lies?" He said carefully.
"No… well, maybe."
Scarlet sneered silently as she saw Heidegger quiver and sweat in the President, finding no way to get back to the right road.
"You have no reason to laugh Scarlet, you are just as much as to blame as he is! You both knew and never informed me that the Airship was stolen, didn't you?"
"You see Mr President."
"Yes," he urged.
"We were planning on telling you, but-"
"Bullshit! You two have just stood there for the past 15 minutes and told me nothing but lies! Now get outta my sight, you're dismissed!" He said as he turned around and walked to the window and gazed out of it at the scenery, at Meteor. He watched in the window, the two Shinra execs walk out, cursing his name.
"That stupid President, wait till…" They cursed; walking down the stairs passed the Turks, and passed Reno, who had a large grin on his face.
"That was worth seeing, did ya see them squirm?" He turned to look at Elena. "Go on Elena, you lead."
"What, but I though." She shook her head and walked up the stairs that lead to the Presidents office, bringing back memories for her.
She looked around and saw Rufus with his back to them, looking out the window.
This is like a bad case of dé-já-vu.
"You're late! I sent for you three over 30 minutes ago! When I send for staff I expect them to show almost immediately!"
"Um, well you see, sir."
Rufus turned around and looked at them carefully, his mood still not lifting. He gave them all a scornful glare, but said nothing for a while.
"I need you three to go on an important mission to Mt Nibel and to retrieve the Huge Materia from the Nibelheim Reactor. Will you three be able to do that?" His voice softened slightly, but still, had a hint of anger in it.
"Sure we can, but what's Huge Materia?" asked Reno.
"It's more powerful than ordinary materia, that's all you need to know for the time being. It will be revealed later on, but all you need to do is acquire that Huge Materia."
"Right then."
"You may go," he said coldly.
The Turks nodded and walked out of the office and to their next mission.
"Well I was expecting us to get bollocked."
"Be glad we didn't Reno." Elena whispered, walking down the stairs. She found it almost strange, yesterday he was all over her.
Maybe he really isn't interested in me… I'm glad.
"Oh Elena!"
She spun on the spot and glanced over at Rufus, wondering what he could possibly want to say to her, and in front of the other. It can't be that bad, could it?
"I expect you to show for work on time, attendance is vital in this business. If catch you being late again I'll dock your pay… and that goes for all of you. I don't pay you to slack off, got that Reno?"
Reno sniggered and scratched his head, hurrying down the stairs.
Elena nodded as she followed suit of her other team members. A though came to mind, but she shrugged it away and rushed to catch up with Reno, who was currently teasing her about being catch skiving off work, telling her that you should try 'not' to be caught, that's just stupid.
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Hey, I finished that chap… soz about the ending being not very descriptive, the ending are always like that, and also it's 2:36 in about 23 more seconds.
Did you guys notice that this chap was my longest ever? It was 9 maybe 10 pages… but there is more conversation in it, most of the others were block paragraph.
I got Reno and Reeve in the chap… we all love them, and Rude too. I don't really like Scarlet and Heidegger, so I liked the telling off, best part.
Next chap will be them gathering the Huge Materia… hopefully It'll be up in a couple of days… just hope… and review, yes review, that's what we should all do.
Ya know? I'm still trying to think where I'm gonna take this fic to… I need to devise more plot twists, I also want to somehow involve Cloud and the others and I'll think that later. I don't want it to revolve around Shinra… actually I would like that, but would you guys get bored if I did it just around Shinra? I'll think about that when the time comes, which won't be for another couple of chapters… in this fic all the gathering of the Huge Materia takes place over a couple of months… maybe three. I've read somewhere, where it takes place over a couple of weeks or days, and honestly I can't see that happening? Can you?
1) Cloud's in a coma and I don't think he'll wake up *Puff* just like that. Comas take time.
2) It probably would take time for Cloud to recall all of what happened before FF7
3) Cloud and co go into space… it takes quite a long time to travel into space and back, doesn't it?
4) Travelling alone in the Highwind will take days… it doesn't travel at the speed of light. Let's see, you go to Mideel to Corel, to Fort Condor, back to Mideel where Lifestream bursts through. A recollection of Cloud's memories. To Junon and the underwater reactor. Then you go to Rocket Town and get sent into space, after which you take all the pieces of Huge Materia to Bugenhagen at Cosmo Canyon, after that you hop back into Highwind, travel to the Ancient City to find the White Materia, you have to go down into the sub and search for the key (how long does it take to travel underwater 'and' avoid an encounter with Emerald WEAPON??) Blah blah blah, Diamond WEAPON blah blah blah… ya see? Overall I think quite some time…
Well see ya in the next chap, bye
xxTigerLilyxx
Oh yeah… if you guys are like Sasammi and want to know if Rufus is gonna die in the fic… I'll tell you the same as I told her… you'll have to wait… and REVIEW!!
Bye