Chapter two!

Authors note: the reviews were appreciated! Thank you for supporting me, and more reviews please!

Rufus fixed his tie uncomfortably, looking in the mirror. He hated ties. He avoided them as often as possible; however, he very rarely had dinner with his father so he wanted to look presentable. He turned to Tseng and Rude.

"How do I look?" he asked.

The Turks didn't reply for a moment, and then Tseng smiled.

"You look wonderful, but, this is just a dinner date with your father, nothing more than that. Don't be so worried," the long haired Turk said with a smile.

Rufus frowned, and Tseng grimaced, knowing he had said the wrong thing.

"My father expects the best - Tseng - " Rufus stressed the name - "And he will certainly not approve if I appear looking like a common - common - urg -" Rufus turned and looked in the mirror, again adjusting his tie. He glimpsed his reflection in the mirror, and noticed his left eye was slightly darker than his right. He glanced at the two Turks. Neither said anything. Maybe they didn't notice.

"I'll be waiting outside," Tseng said, and walked out. Rude raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Rufus said tentatively.

Rude shrugged and approached Rufus. He reached one of his massive hands out and touched Rufus' face. Rufus snapped back.

"Don't touch me -" he retorted curtly. The corner of Rude's mouth twitched and he turned and followed Tseng. Rufus caught his breath.

Rufus arrived after his father. He entered the massive dining room, his footsteps making small echoes, and he looked across the table at his father.

"You're late. Sit down," his father said gruffly.

Rufus sat abruptly, rubbing his knuckles nervously. Fortunately, they were far enough apart so that his father would not see the bruise on his eye.

"I'm...I'm sorry, I couldn't find a decent tie -" Rufus started, but his father cut him off by saying, "It's an ugly tie."

Rufus felt blood go to his face.

"Of course it is," he murmured.

"What? Speak up," his father grunted.

"I - I said, Of course, you're right -"

"A good politician always makes the right decisions, even about the ties he wears, and he speaks loudly and clearly enough for everyone to be able to hear him," his father said accusingly.

Rufus felt the heat radiate from his face. He deeply regretted coming to visit his father.

"I'm sorry, I just - ," Rufus started.

"What's more, a good politician makes eye contact when he speaks - ," his father interrupted.

Rufus stood up.

"I'm sorry, I can't take this. My whole life you said I don't take no for an answer, that I'm better than everyone out there, and then you pull this shit, and -"

"Watch your mouth!"

"And I don't want to take it from you! No! I am not going to wear this stupid tie -" Rufus ripped the tie from his neck - "And I'm not eating dinner with you! I'm going to my room."

The president stood up.

"You selfish brat, is all you ever think about yourself?!" he growled, making his way towards his son. Rufus took steps back, finding himself pressed against the wall.

"I - I'm sorry, I only -"

SMACK!

Rufus went silent as his father's large hand struck his face, except for a tiny squeal of pain. His father raised his fist, but the butler cleared his throat, and said, "The general is here to see you, sir, can I let him in?"

"Not now, tell him later."

Rufus covered his face with his arms, knowing the next blow would be worse than the last, but his arms were pulled down and his father hissed, "What are you, a fucking faggot?! You act like a little girl - sometimes I really wonder if you are my son!"

"I am - of course I'm your son, I didn't mean it, I'm sorry, it was very rude of me, I won't do it again, I promise, I'm very sorry -"

There came another blow, but then Rufus was shoved away.

"Get out of here, you little bastard, and I don't want to see you until you can prove exactly who your father is!

Rufus ran out as fast as he possibly could, blinking away tears, fleeing blindly until he ran hard into -

"Sephiroth! I - I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention - " Rufus said, his voice cracking as he backed away, not looking the general in the face. He wondered if he was bruising, his father had hit him hard, that's all he needed, more bruises, God DAMN it!

"Oh, it's quite fine. Are you alright, sir?"

"What? Oh, yes -" Rufus hugged himself. "I - I have to go to my room. I'm sorry -" He walked around Sephiroth, but Sephiroth put his arm in front of him, causing him to stop. Rufus pulled away quickly.

"Don't touch me - " he said softly.

"Let me put some ice on that, sir."

No, he couldn't let him. This was all a mistake, a huge mistake, his whole life, a mistake -

"Yes..." he whispered.

Sephiroth's bedroom was connected to his office. It wasn't quite as large as Rufus', but it was nice, nothing like Rufus had expected. Paintings of Angels were hung on the walls. Baby angels, women angels, men angels, androgynous angels, scores of angels, everywhere. Rufus was surprised at the innocence the general, a war hero, had possessed.

"Sit," Sephiroth said, and Rufus did, admiring the paintings. Sephiroth put a bag of ice wrapped in a towel against Rufus' face, but Rufus merely looked around more.

"Those damn stairs. They never know when to quit, do they?" Sephiroth chuckled softly.

"Oh - well, it wasn't the stairs this time, it was just - "

"Sh. I know who it was."

Rufus fell silent. Everyone knew. But no one did anything.

"I...like your angels," Rufus said as he took the bage of ice in his own hand.

"Thank you."

"Where did you get them?"

"I painted them."

Rufus looked at Sephiroth, surprised.

"You?"

Sephiroth smiled.

"I'm versatile."

"I see. You're amazing."

"Thank you."

Rufus pressed the cold ice pack against his swollen cheek.

"I wish I was talented."

Sephiroth laughed.

"What's so funny?!"

"Nothing, you - you're such a little boy."

Rufus glared at Sephiroth.

"How dare you - "

Sephiroth shook his head.

"It's cute."

Rufus blinked. Cute? The general had called him.cute?

Strange.

If he had called him something more, like, sexy, or delicious - no, that sounded like food - but cute? That made him sound like he was still twelve.

Sephiroth was more than cute. Sephiroth was dead hot.

Wait, no. Don't think things like that.

"Cute?"

"Yes. Cute," Sephiroth said simply.

"Oh. Alright, cute."

You're more than cute, Sephiroth. You're like one of those angels in your paintings. Beautiful. No, truly, beautiful.

"Why? You don't like cute?"

Rufus shrugged. "Well, I'm not four anymore. Four year olds are cute."

Sephiroth bopped the end of Rufus' nose gently.

"Well, you're cute."
I hope you like it, I tried to lean more towards Sephi here, but kept a lot of Rufie too. Review, and suggestions welcome, too. I like to know what you guys like!!