Rankin sat in a bar in Midgar. He had already finished tow beers and was working oh his third when Rufus walked in, wearing his white cloak, and took a seat in the back. There was a sigh as he pulled out the rose bud he had cut from the bush. Rankin turned back to his beer bottle. He didn't want to get involved with his boss.
Never the less, Rankin couldn't help himself from taking a second glance at him. "It's not polite to stare." Rufus said, putting the rose bud back in his pocket.
"Sorry 'bout that." Rankin said. "Wanna beer? My treat."
"Why not? It might help." Rufus said. Rankin picked up his beer bottle, and Rufus' and walked back to the table. He sat, and passed the bottle over to Rufus who took a long swing.
"What's with the rose?" Rankin asked.
"It's also not polite to pry into other people's business, especially if it's your boss." Rankin smirked.
"You gone tell me who it's for now, or am I going to get the whole story when you get drunk?" He said, gulping down the rest of his beer.
"You have a pint." Rufus said.
"Let me guess the first part." Rankin said. "The rose bud's for this woman you like, but you're too afraid to tell her in the fear that she might utterly hate you." He said. "That about right?"
"Pretty much." Rufus answered. He let out a sigh of depression.
"So, why don't you tell her?" Rankin said. "I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" Rufus sat there for a moment, looking at the bottle in front of him.
"Well," He said, taking a gulp of it. "She could cut my head off for starters."
Rankin choked on his beer looking at Rufus. "Who the hell is she?"
"Couri." Rufas said, in a small, child-like voice. Rankin stared at him for a long moment. It seemed like an eternity passed to Rufus.
"All right then." Rankin said, as calm as he could sound. "So there's a risk of possible death. So what. If you love her that much, go for it. Love should conquer all. It it's pure enough." He added casually.
Rufus pulled the rose bud out again. His finger tips stroked the outside pedals. "I don't know." He mumbled.
Rankin sighed. "Give her something, but maybe not a rose."
Rufus looked up. "Why?"
"Well, roses are all thorny. She might not like it."
"Then what would she like?"
"Something..." Rankin paused. He tried to think of another flower, but he wasn't familiar with any other names. "Pretty." He finished lamely.
"You sure you're not drunk?" Rufus said. "You've had three beers already. I think it's getting to your head."
"Naw." Rankin said. "It takes ten to tie me over. It's all the mako in my blood."
"So you were being serious?" Rufus asked.
"Why are you taking about your love like with me?" Rankin said, trying to defend himself, and hopefully his job. "I'm not exactly the hopeless romantic."
Rufus sat there a moment, and thought.
"You've got a point." He finally said. "But who else could I talk to? Not Tesng, and defiantly not Reno."
"I see what you mean." Rankin said. "You've just got ta' take that one step. Otherwise, someone is going to get there first."
"Thanks for the advice." Rufus said. He stood, turned, then turned back. "Then again, it doesn't exactly apply to Couri."
"Hey," Rankin said. "I tried."
"And here's the bonus to show for it." Rufus dropped a pouch on the table. It jingled when it hit.
"Thank you." Rankin said, quickly pocketing it. "What are you planning on doing now?"
"What else?" Rufus said. "I'll take the first step." He turned and walked out, pulling his hood up in the process.
"Good luck." Rankin said. "You're gonna need it."
####
Couri sat in a tree a few kilometers away from Midgar. She hadn't been into the city since she talked with Rankin. She let out a sigh, looking around. "What do you want, Shinra?" She snapped.
"Do you think of me as your enemy?" Rufus said, leaning up against the tree Couri was in.
"I honestly still think of you as my boss." She answered. "What's so important?"
"We've know each other since childhood. After all that time, is that all you think of me?" Rufus asked. Couri looked down at him. She had an odd expression on her face.
"What do you want me to think, sir?" She said. She had added the sir just for spite.
"I don't want you to think anything unless you want to." Rufus replied. "I mean, think what ever you want of me."
"What's this, the totally sentimental version of Shinra?" Couri said. "People will see this as a weakness."
"People think I'm dead right now." Rufus said. He sat down on the dry earth beneath the tree. "Why would they care now?"
"What about all your friends?" Couri asked. "All those people in the office. Everyone smiling."
"Business partners." Rufus said, dully. "CO-workers. That's all they were to me. My father taught me to never get close to anyone." He sighed, remembering himself as a child. "I never had any friends besides Tesng and yo-" He stopped abruptly. Couri stared down at him, but didn't say a word. Rufus shook his head, thinking better of it. "You don't want to her this boring story." He stood, and flipped his hood up again. "Sorry to bother you." He said, as he started to walk away.
"Rufus." Couri said, suddenly. Rufus stopped, but didn't look back. "I always think of you as a friend too." Rufus glanced over his shoulder to see a smirk of Couri's face.
Rufus slowly turned, and walked away.
####
Rankin walked into Tseng's office. He wandered to the chair, but didn't sit. Tseng stood behind his own chair. "Please sit." He said.
"No thanks." Rankin said. "I'd rather stand, sir." Tseng nodded. He remained standing as well. "You wanted to see me then?" Rankin said.
"I've called you here to talk about Rufus." Tseng said.
"What about him, sir?" Rankin said. "We just finished a round of drinks."
"Why does he seem so..." Tseng paused for a moment, searching for the right word. "Let's just say, distracted." Rankin nodded. "What's he hiding?" Tseng continued. "Why is he following Couri?"
"Do you want to know the truth?" Rankin said.
"I wouldn't have called you here if I wanted to hear a story you made up." Tseng said, a bit irritated.
"He seems to be in love with her." Rankin said. Tseng looked at him as if it was a joke. Rankin's mako eyes stared back at him. "I'm not lying."
"What does his plan to do? Turn into her stalker?"
"Dunno. He's doing something, that's for sure."
Tseng though a moment. "I wonder what he plans to do with Shinra." He said. Rankin shrugged. "Keep following him to make sure he doesn't screw up."
"Yes sir." Rankin said. He turned and left the office. Tseng looked around again. He turned on the intercom to the secretary.
"Yes sir?" The girl on the other end answered.
"Please send Reno in here. Tell him it's important." Tseng said.
"Yes sir, right away, sir." There was a click as the line was disconnected. Tseng sat down behind the desk waiting for Reno to enter.
"You wanted to see me, Tseng?" Reno said, walking up the stairs. He looked like he was in a bad mood. "Something better then following Rankin, who's following Rufus, who's following Couri."
Tseng smirked. "No. I wouldn't give that boring out. You are, after all, a Turk." He said. Reno nodded. "I am inclined to give you the best job so far."
"And that is...?" Reno said.
"How much do you dislike Scarlet and Heidgarr?" Tseng asked. Reno smirked.
"You're finally going to lit me kill them?" He asked. "You know I've always hated those two. I don't even see why they're still around."
"Good." Tseng said. "Just make it look like an accident."
"Every time." Reno said. "I've been working on this one for a while." He grinned with satisfaction. "Anything else you want me to do?"
"No." Tseng said. "Just get it over with fast. They're digging a bit too deep for my tastes. Those two are going to die by one of our hands, and it better not be mine. I have an image to keep."
"Sure thing." Reno said. He turned and walked back down the stairs. "Have fun Tseng."
"You too Reno."