A/N: YES! X.O The DARK...MWAHAHAHA o_O the suspense will be enough to cause permanent mental damage. . .as if I haven't suffered that already XD Warning, This chapter is somewhat uneventful. . .but love it anyway, because it's a PART OF THIS STORY X.O
Disclaimer: durr. no FF7. ;-; Uh. . .yeah. XD
---
//What do I do?// Cloud paced back and forth inside the operations room, hands behind his back and a map of the Planet laid out neatly on the table; his brow furrowed in thought, and he had been like this for about 45 minutes now, prompting worry from those he hadn't managed to piss off by this time. He paused upon remembering that Rufus escaped from the hospital naught but two weeks ago--a little before Tifa's absence. Of course, this was based upon nothing but conjecture. . .
Cloud suddenly banged his fist on the table in frustration, almost smashing off that point of impact on the wood. It was a crappy lead, and as much as he hated to admit it, Reno was right--maybe he *didn't* know what he was doing. However, the mercenary absolutely refused to believe it. . .
Holding a small ray of hope, he turned on the flat-screen television set Cid installed in the wall, and flicked it to the news channel. After watching a small bit on how to breed red Chocobos, the newsman with large glasses and stupid-looking hair suddenly popped up, a stack of papers in hand. Cloud pulled himself onto the table, holding the remote on one hand.
". . .in later news, former president of the Shin-Ra company Rufus Shinra has been spotted at the Five-Star Hotel. The hotel manager described him as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed man about 5'11", and accompanied by a young lady whom he referred to as 'Lockheart'." the reporter droned, a small mini-screen showing the scene in which the Hotel manager accused Tifa of sneaking in without paying. Cloud, in an expression is shock and amazement, fell off his spot in the table to the side, where he bounded off the wall with a dull thud, but he raised his head to continue listening eagerly for a lead. "This 'Lockheart' is supposedly, as stated by the hotel manager, Rufus's wife. Described as around 5'6" to 5'7" with long brown hair and red eyes. The hotel cameras have caught all this on action, and SOLDIER seem to want to locate Rufus as soon as possible. . ."
Cloud gaped at the footage that clicked onto the screen, showing Tifa exit the rooms.
+"Miss! Did you come in without paying?! Miss, please answer me!"
"Excuse me. She's with me."
"O-oh! Mr. Shinra! Well then! I apologize. . .Ms. Shinra!"
"Uh, it's okay, I guess."
"Lockheart. You forgot this."
"Thanks, Rufus."
"Let's go."+
As the footage ended, Cloud, still on the floor, couldn't take his eyes off, even as the tape ended; his stare was dumbfounded, and his head lowered to face the floor, his expression unknown and unseen. Struck by new resolve, he scrambled to his feet and dashed out of the operations room, expression indescribable as he raced corners, often slamming into a wall or two hollering the name of the red-headed Turk. Heads turned to watched the spikey-headed hero, until Reno appeared over a corner and nearly smashed into Cloud.
"Damnit Strife, watch where you're going." Reno commented after almost leaping to the side to avoid a collison. Cloud shrugged, scratching the back of his blonde head with his gloved hand, then regained his composure. "So, is there a particular reason why you seem to find my name exciting today?"
"Cut the crap, Reno." Cloud retorted icily.
"I could say the same to you."
". . .Do you have any idea where Rufus is?" Cloud asked Reno, without a witty reply to Reno's "rubber glue, back to you"-esque comment. Reno's aquamarine eyes shifted up, and his mouth curling down in a thinking type of way that would often suggest there was something other then happy hour in his head.
". . .I dunno. A first-class tracker from SOLDIER said he was heading South."
Cloud promptly sprinted to the front of the ship, racing past Yuffie and almost pushing the green-faced ninja into the mechanical mess of wires below the bridge, causing her to shake her fist and yell profanities at the spikey-headed guy--the cries which he ignored as he stumbled into the front. He skidded to a halt as he approached Cid Highwind and the master pilot handling the steering wheel.
"We're heading South."
Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an "L" on her forehead
---
"Good morning~!" The voice of Tifa rang out in Rufus's ears, annoyingly encouraged as he shifted in his sleeping position, atop his elongated inner coat. Tifa seemed a lot more buoyant since that ex-Turk joined their little posse last night; a thought that made Rufus shudder, as he figured they would do well on their own. Tifa's face peered over Rufus's, as he moved his arm to shield his eyes from the sun. "C'mon Rufus." She grabbed him by the arm and forced him into a sitting-up position.
"Lockheart. . ." he mumbled spitefully, placing his left arm on the ground and rubbing his eyes with the other. He pushed off the outer coat which had been used as a makeshift blanket. . .wait, he didn't take off his coat. ". . .Did you touch my coat?" he asked incredulously, examining it as if it had lime-green stripes.
"You and Vincent both fell asleep with all your clothes on. You guys looked pretty uncomfortable, so I helped out." she stated simply, as if there was no problem. Indeed, Rufus glanced at Vincent, who looked equally disheveled at the lack of cape and gloves, and rolled his eyes, prompting Tifa to roll hers and state, "You're so ungrateful." Rufus's eyes shifted to the side in some form of "apology," causing Tifa to smile at him again and stand up. He stood up as well, tying his turtleneck around his waist and leaving his coats on the ground.
Rufus was kind of disturbed at the fact that Tifa had become so nice to him over the past week or so, seeing as how they were once enemies; Tifa had said, maybe two days ago, that it was because she "never got to know him".
What the hell was so different about him now then he was back then?
Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
"Are we going to be on the move again?" Rufus inquired, tilting his head in Tifa's direction.
"Well, now that Vincent's here"--this prompting a wince--"I figured we could stay for a bit." she replied, apparently fixing up some sort of mini-kitchen as she pulled out of her pack things that didn't look like they'd fit--packets of little things, empty bottles, some bags of potato chips, beef jerky, small tupperware containers of salad and other things. Vincent grabbed a pack of potato chips.
". . .With *him*?" Rufus retorted.
Vincent crushed the bag in his hand, causing it to pop and the chips to fly into the fire violently; Tifa looked in the direction only to see Vincent toss the empty bag over his shoulder, and Rufus disregarded it completely. Tifa nodded at Rufus, who rolled his eyes in a "I can't believe this bull" manner and running a hand through his hair--something he only did when he was feeling. .ah, particularly sardonic. Tifa placed her hands behind her back and tilted forward, her eyes shifting up to eye Rufus.
"It's not that bad, Rufus. Vincent is a good guy." Tifa commented, Vincent folding his arms and observing from a distance, almost *smugly*, like "I'm staying and you can't make me move". . .and to that extent, it kinda pissed Rufus off, prompting the former president to give the former Turk a rather rude gesture that involved the lifting of the middle finger.
"Bitch."
"Rufus!"
"Sorry." The apology's tone was less then remorseful, in a I-can't-help-it tone as he exchanged immoral glances with Vincent that changed every few seconds, making Tifa grateful that she wasn't staring at Vincent right about now. Then again, the extent of Vincent's emotions were raising an eyebrow, or two, or smirking, but it never ceased to make Rufus retaliate in a less professional behavior. Tifa sighed, pressing one hand to her forehead and slumping over.
"Hopeless. Really. Hopeless." Cue the tiny blue lines that appear under the eyes of Anime characters revealing stress as Rufus and Vincent exchanged vulgar insults and glares. (Interesting to note: Vincent tended to use larger, more sophisticated words in this, such as "imbecile" and "ignoramus," whereas Rufus was like, "bitch" "asshole" "$&@&".)
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
"Assclown."
"Vandal."
"Bitch."
"Featherbrain."
"Stupid."
"Simpleton."
"Ass. . .fart."
"Nitwit."
"Turd eater."
"Meathead."
"Motherfu--"
"Are you two quite *done*?!" Tifa screeched, spinning around with a vein pulsating in her forehead. She proceeded to kick the hell out of the two ex-Shin-Ra employees until both of them were lying face-down on the ground breathing heavily. The martial artist had had enough of this. . .erm, idiocy, and to put it quite plainly, Tifa Lockheart was pissed to the extreme.
"Ribs. . .broken. . .lungs. . .crushed. . ." Rufus coughed. "Spleen. . .unaccounted for."
"If you see any teeth lying around. . .they're mine." Vincent hacked, expression unseen as he remained face-down in the mud.
Tifa rolled her eyes, placing her hand on her waist. After cooling her wits, she murmured a quick incantation of a Regen spell, cracking her knuckles and looking rather triumphant as Vincent and Rufus slowly gathered together what remained of their insides and stood up, wobbly.
"Regen? Why not Cure 3?" Rufus asked meekly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Because if you heal slower then it'll be longer 'till the next time you start bitching."
"Strategic." Vincent commented, rubbing his temple with his thumb and index finger.
"Very much so."
Hey now you're an All Star get your game on, go play
Hey now you're a Rock Star get the show on get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
"I feel refreshed now~!" Tifa stretched her arms out above her head, then punching and kicking an invisible opponent in front of her to exemplify the adrenaline coursing through her body.
"You mean beating the shit out of me and the vampire rejuvenates?" Rufus asked incredulously, running a hand through his hair as he suffered from. . . discomfiture.
"The vampire and *I*." Vincent corrected.
Though Vincent Valentine rarely showed emotion or anything such whatsoever, he seemed to particularly enjoy pissing off Rufus. And it worked well, too; Vincent had a killer Poker face, and hardly ever showed signs of being provoked. And anyone with an arrogant 'tude like Rufus Shinra would get perfectly infuriated with this lack of effect. . .
"Don't start, Vincent."
". . ."
It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now but wait 'til you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
"Well, we better get going." Tifa retorted, back to her gentle self and boarding Rydia. Vincent moved to his own shiny golden Chocobo, Auron, whereas Rufus walked with a blah expression to Dark Nation. "I was thinking we move West, toward Wutai. . ." She patted Rydia a few times, then adjusted her hair ribbon as it began trotting slowly in said direction. "Oh yeah. . .If you guys enjoy having all your teeth in your mouth, I ask you not to argue too much on the way."
"In other words, don't piss me off and everything will be flowers and sunshine."
". . ."
"Rufus, don't start."
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The waters getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire how about yours
That's the way I like it and I never get bored
Hey now you're an All Star get your game on, go play
Hey now you're a Rock Star get the show on get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
Disclaimer: durr. no FF7. ;-; Uh. . .yeah. XD
---
//What do I do?// Cloud paced back and forth inside the operations room, hands behind his back and a map of the Planet laid out neatly on the table; his brow furrowed in thought, and he had been like this for about 45 minutes now, prompting worry from those he hadn't managed to piss off by this time. He paused upon remembering that Rufus escaped from the hospital naught but two weeks ago--a little before Tifa's absence. Of course, this was based upon nothing but conjecture. . .
Cloud suddenly banged his fist on the table in frustration, almost smashing off that point of impact on the wood. It was a crappy lead, and as much as he hated to admit it, Reno was right--maybe he *didn't* know what he was doing. However, the mercenary absolutely refused to believe it. . .
Holding a small ray of hope, he turned on the flat-screen television set Cid installed in the wall, and flicked it to the news channel. After watching a small bit on how to breed red Chocobos, the newsman with large glasses and stupid-looking hair suddenly popped up, a stack of papers in hand. Cloud pulled himself onto the table, holding the remote on one hand.
". . .in later news, former president of the Shin-Ra company Rufus Shinra has been spotted at the Five-Star Hotel. The hotel manager described him as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed man about 5'11", and accompanied by a young lady whom he referred to as 'Lockheart'." the reporter droned, a small mini-screen showing the scene in which the Hotel manager accused Tifa of sneaking in without paying. Cloud, in an expression is shock and amazement, fell off his spot in the table to the side, where he bounded off the wall with a dull thud, but he raised his head to continue listening eagerly for a lead. "This 'Lockheart' is supposedly, as stated by the hotel manager, Rufus's wife. Described as around 5'6" to 5'7" with long brown hair and red eyes. The hotel cameras have caught all this on action, and SOLDIER seem to want to locate Rufus as soon as possible. . ."
Cloud gaped at the footage that clicked onto the screen, showing Tifa exit the rooms.
+"Miss! Did you come in without paying?! Miss, please answer me!"
"Excuse me. She's with me."
"O-oh! Mr. Shinra! Well then! I apologize. . .Ms. Shinra!"
"Uh, it's okay, I guess."
"Lockheart. You forgot this."
"Thanks, Rufus."
"Let's go."+
As the footage ended, Cloud, still on the floor, couldn't take his eyes off, even as the tape ended; his stare was dumbfounded, and his head lowered to face the floor, his expression unknown and unseen. Struck by new resolve, he scrambled to his feet and dashed out of the operations room, expression indescribable as he raced corners, often slamming into a wall or two hollering the name of the red-headed Turk. Heads turned to watched the spikey-headed hero, until Reno appeared over a corner and nearly smashed into Cloud.
"Damnit Strife, watch where you're going." Reno commented after almost leaping to the side to avoid a collison. Cloud shrugged, scratching the back of his blonde head with his gloved hand, then regained his composure. "So, is there a particular reason why you seem to find my name exciting today?"
"Cut the crap, Reno." Cloud retorted icily.
"I could say the same to you."
". . .Do you have any idea where Rufus is?" Cloud asked Reno, without a witty reply to Reno's "rubber glue, back to you"-esque comment. Reno's aquamarine eyes shifted up, and his mouth curling down in a thinking type of way that would often suggest there was something other then happy hour in his head.
". . .I dunno. A first-class tracker from SOLDIER said he was heading South."
Cloud promptly sprinted to the front of the ship, racing past Yuffie and almost pushing the green-faced ninja into the mechanical mess of wires below the bridge, causing her to shake her fist and yell profanities at the spikey-headed guy--the cries which he ignored as he stumbled into the front. He skidded to a halt as he approached Cid Highwind and the master pilot handling the steering wheel.
"We're heading South."
Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an "L" on her forehead
---
"Good morning~!" The voice of Tifa rang out in Rufus's ears, annoyingly encouraged as he shifted in his sleeping position, atop his elongated inner coat. Tifa seemed a lot more buoyant since that ex-Turk joined their little posse last night; a thought that made Rufus shudder, as he figured they would do well on their own. Tifa's face peered over Rufus's, as he moved his arm to shield his eyes from the sun. "C'mon Rufus." She grabbed him by the arm and forced him into a sitting-up position.
"Lockheart. . ." he mumbled spitefully, placing his left arm on the ground and rubbing his eyes with the other. He pushed off the outer coat which had been used as a makeshift blanket. . .wait, he didn't take off his coat. ". . .Did you touch my coat?" he asked incredulously, examining it as if it had lime-green stripes.
"You and Vincent both fell asleep with all your clothes on. You guys looked pretty uncomfortable, so I helped out." she stated simply, as if there was no problem. Indeed, Rufus glanced at Vincent, who looked equally disheveled at the lack of cape and gloves, and rolled his eyes, prompting Tifa to roll hers and state, "You're so ungrateful." Rufus's eyes shifted to the side in some form of "apology," causing Tifa to smile at him again and stand up. He stood up as well, tying his turtleneck around his waist and leaving his coats on the ground.
Rufus was kind of disturbed at the fact that Tifa had become so nice to him over the past week or so, seeing as how they were once enemies; Tifa had said, maybe two days ago, that it was because she "never got to know him".
What the hell was so different about him now then he was back then?
Well the years start coming and they don't stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
"Are we going to be on the move again?" Rufus inquired, tilting his head in Tifa's direction.
"Well, now that Vincent's here"--this prompting a wince--"I figured we could stay for a bit." she replied, apparently fixing up some sort of mini-kitchen as she pulled out of her pack things that didn't look like they'd fit--packets of little things, empty bottles, some bags of potato chips, beef jerky, small tupperware containers of salad and other things. Vincent grabbed a pack of potato chips.
". . .With *him*?" Rufus retorted.
Vincent crushed the bag in his hand, causing it to pop and the chips to fly into the fire violently; Tifa looked in the direction only to see Vincent toss the empty bag over his shoulder, and Rufus disregarded it completely. Tifa nodded at Rufus, who rolled his eyes in a "I can't believe this bull" manner and running a hand through his hair--something he only did when he was feeling. .ah, particularly sardonic. Tifa placed her hands behind her back and tilted forward, her eyes shifting up to eye Rufus.
"It's not that bad, Rufus. Vincent is a good guy." Tifa commented, Vincent folding his arms and observing from a distance, almost *smugly*, like "I'm staying and you can't make me move". . .and to that extent, it kinda pissed Rufus off, prompting the former president to give the former Turk a rather rude gesture that involved the lifting of the middle finger.
"Bitch."
"Rufus!"
"Sorry." The apology's tone was less then remorseful, in a I-can't-help-it tone as he exchanged immoral glances with Vincent that changed every few seconds, making Tifa grateful that she wasn't staring at Vincent right about now. Then again, the extent of Vincent's emotions were raising an eyebrow, or two, or smirking, but it never ceased to make Rufus retaliate in a less professional behavior. Tifa sighed, pressing one hand to her forehead and slumping over.
"Hopeless. Really. Hopeless." Cue the tiny blue lines that appear under the eyes of Anime characters revealing stress as Rufus and Vincent exchanged vulgar insults and glares. (Interesting to note: Vincent tended to use larger, more sophisticated words in this, such as "imbecile" and "ignoramus," whereas Rufus was like, "bitch" "asshole" "$&@&".)
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
"Assclown."
"Vandal."
"Bitch."
"Featherbrain."
"Stupid."
"Simpleton."
"Ass. . .fart."
"Nitwit."
"Turd eater."
"Meathead."
"Motherfu--"
"Are you two quite *done*?!" Tifa screeched, spinning around with a vein pulsating in her forehead. She proceeded to kick the hell out of the two ex-Shin-Ra employees until both of them were lying face-down on the ground breathing heavily. The martial artist had had enough of this. . .erm, idiocy, and to put it quite plainly, Tifa Lockheart was pissed to the extreme.
"Ribs. . .broken. . .lungs. . .crushed. . ." Rufus coughed. "Spleen. . .unaccounted for."
"If you see any teeth lying around. . .they're mine." Vincent hacked, expression unseen as he remained face-down in the mud.
Tifa rolled her eyes, placing her hand on her waist. After cooling her wits, she murmured a quick incantation of a Regen spell, cracking her knuckles and looking rather triumphant as Vincent and Rufus slowly gathered together what remained of their insides and stood up, wobbly.
"Regen? Why not Cure 3?" Rufus asked meekly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Because if you heal slower then it'll be longer 'till the next time you start bitching."
"Strategic." Vincent commented, rubbing his temple with his thumb and index finger.
"Very much so."
Hey now you're an All Star get your game on, go play
Hey now you're a Rock Star get the show on get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
"I feel refreshed now~!" Tifa stretched her arms out above her head, then punching and kicking an invisible opponent in front of her to exemplify the adrenaline coursing through her body.
"You mean beating the shit out of me and the vampire rejuvenates?" Rufus asked incredulously, running a hand through his hair as he suffered from. . . discomfiture.
"The vampire and *I*." Vincent corrected.
Though Vincent Valentine rarely showed emotion or anything such whatsoever, he seemed to particularly enjoy pissing off Rufus. And it worked well, too; Vincent had a killer Poker face, and hardly ever showed signs of being provoked. And anyone with an arrogant 'tude like Rufus Shinra would get perfectly infuriated with this lack of effect. . .
"Don't start, Vincent."
". . ."
It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now but wait 'til you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
"Well, we better get going." Tifa retorted, back to her gentle self and boarding Rydia. Vincent moved to his own shiny golden Chocobo, Auron, whereas Rufus walked with a blah expression to Dark Nation. "I was thinking we move West, toward Wutai. . ." She patted Rydia a few times, then adjusted her hair ribbon as it began trotting slowly in said direction. "Oh yeah. . .If you guys enjoy having all your teeth in your mouth, I ask you not to argue too much on the way."
"In other words, don't piss me off and everything will be flowers and sunshine."
". . ."
"Rufus, don't start."
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The waters getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire how about yours
That's the way I like it and I never get bored
Hey now you're an All Star get your game on, go play
Hey now you're a Rock Star get the show on get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold