5. "Dear Planet, I can't believe I did THAT!"
They decided to stay the night in Rocket Town to give Tifa and Vincent a chance to recover. Tifa insisted on joining the others at the inn, determined not to bother Shera in her already worried state. But as the night came, she was unable to fall asleep and after hours of tossing and turning she decided to take a walk.
The stars seemed so distant now that Meteor lit up the sky in its ever closing race towards earth and bringing the end of everything with it. Tifa wrapped her arms around herself in a unknown attempt to rid herself of the chill she felt inside and let her gaze fall to the ground as she walked restlessly without any real destination.
Rocket Town had fallen completely still, not even a bird could be heard, and it could almost seem as if the monsters too had disappeared in a futile attempt to escape Meteor. Everything was dead quiet.
"Its a little dangerous for a midnight stroll, don't you think?" A voice suddenly said.
Tifa jumped around with a startled shriek to see Rufus leaning his shoulder against a tree with his arms crossed.
"I-I wasn't... What... You should talk!" She finally managed to stutter and gave him a furious look.
Rufus laughed silently. "Hey, I simply followed you."
Tifa forced herself calm again and walked over. "You followed me?"
She wasn't too sure what to make out of that. Suddenly the memory of what had happened between them in Nibelheim surfaces and a deep blush flushed her cheeks, luckily it was probably too dark for him to notice. She hoped anyway.
Rufus nodded and glanced up at Meteor. "I figured you either was sleep-walking or sneaking out to meet a Heidegger-soldier to tattle on us."
Tifa's eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in fury. "How... how dare you! I would never betray Cloud and the others! Just because you could do something like that doesn't mean that others would!"
She clenched her fists as she shook with anger, barely containing herself from slapping him for the mere nerve of accusing her of something so horrible. Her anger and harsh words didn't seem to have any affect on him whatsoever though, as Rufus merely glanced up at the sky.
"Its actually quite pretty if you look at it..." He said silently,
It took several seconds before Tifa replied. "What?"
Rufus glanced over at her before he nodded towards Meteor. "Its kinda amazing to look at, don't you think?"
Tifa blinked confused before she slowly gazed up at it. On its death-bringing way towards earth, Meteor had a blazing tail and numerous colours playing around it. It was beautiful in all its deadliness. Like a poisonous flower. Tifa's face softened in amazement and wonder, hypnotized as a deer caught in the headlights of the death-bringing vehicle.
"Death comes in so many shapes," she said silently, noticing how Rufus gazed over at her, yet kept her eyes on Meteor. "You never know... It comes in the shape of a friend... as a foe... or as a complete stranger. The only thing you 'do' know is it will come, eventually. Death can never be defeated." She finally gazed over at Rufus and apologized with a weak smile; "I'm rambling... I'm sorry."
He turned slightly to lean his back against the tree as he reached out a hand towards her.
Hesitating, Tifa took his hand rather nervously and allowed him to pull her closer to stand in front of him, not quite sure why her heart began racing.
Rufus met her uncertain eyes and gave a slight smile. "I knew you were no spy."
Tifa's eyes widened with wonder and she lifted her chin proudly. "I would never betray the others! I would rather die then fail them! Nothing could make me turn sides! Nothing!"
She was surprised to see the absence of any reaction from Rufus and fell silent.
The ex-president eventually let out something reminding of a silent laugh and released her hand. "The worst part is that you actually mean it! Are you sure you didn't come complete with wings and a halo as well, Miss Lockhart?"
Tifa smiled impishly and raised a cocky eyebrow. "Ah, but you forget about my evil sides, Mr ShinRa, thereby running the risk of meeting a frog in the late hours!"
Rufus broke out in a surprised and true laugh. "Oh my, will I ever dare approach my bed again?!"
He raised his hand just as Tifa also reached out to stroke away that very lock of his fiery hair which had fallen in his face. Rufus automatically took her hand.
Tifa's eyes darted up to meet his and neither moved for several seconds. Suddenly she remembered how she wondered how his lips felt and this time Tifa reached out and stroke two fingers over them, the temptation too hard to resist.
Rufus numbly released her and stroke his hand over her cheek, letting it slide behind her neck while allowing himself to get intoxicated by her wine-coloured eyes this time.
In return, he felt her stroke her hands up his chest, how they met behind his neck, causing Tifa to lean a little closer to him and she lifted her face up towards his as he moved down to meet her lips.
The first brushing touch sent shivers through them both and lead to a deeper kiss.
Rufus let his other arm go around Tifa's waist.
At that moment Tifa was sure her knees was giving in but still let one hand run through his hair as she intensely responded to him. Time and place faded, until finally Tifa withdrew and Rufus made no attempt to prevent her. She gently pushed herself out of his embrace and tired to gather her reeling mind; "We should... I think... get some sleep. Alone! Uhm, I mean... We're going to Midgar tomorrow..."
Rufus glanced over at her and smiled. "Yeah... "
He automatically flicked back his hair and made sign for her to take the lead back to the inn. Tifa gave him a quick, nervous smile and then forced her feet to work and unsteadily started on the way back, followed by a strangely silent Rufus ShinRa.
Closing the door silently behind him, Rufus halted for a few seconds, then let out a heavy sigh as he walked over to his bed. Luckily they got separate rooms in this inn. He really didn't feel like talking to any of the others, and sat down on the bed. Confusing thoughts troubled his mind and a new kind of restlessness had come over him.
Wringing of his jacket, Rufus walked over to hang it up and caught his reflection in the mirror. He dropped the jacket and walked closer to study his reflection, driven by some unknown force. That face represented everything he was; cold, arrogant and distant. Rufus remembered he hadn't always been like that. Most of his life, granted, but not always.
He sighed again and let his fingertips meet their reflection next to his mirrored face.
What was he going to do? Rebuild ShinRa? The ex-president knew that would be no easy task, but then again that was what he liked. A good challenge! There was only one slight problem; Meteor would probably kill them all. That was if Sephiroth didn't wipe them out first.
Rufus let his hand fall and stared blankly at his own blue eyes, remembering a pair of deep wine coloured eyes. He didn't know what came over him, but right there and then she made it feel damn right!
Turning away to walk back to the bed, Rufus shed his long coat as well and threw it in the direction of his jacket. Tifa Lockhart was like a constant irritation to him! She had the looks that made men stare after her when she passed them, a decent working mind, and was an over-qualified contestant for the Miss Goodie two shoes-title!
Rufus sat down on his bed and fell back as he placed his hands behind his neck while staring at the ceiling. That silly girl wanted to be friends with everyone, and automatically looked in herself for faults if something went wrong. Dear Planet! She annoyed him! ...and allured him.
Closing his eyes, Rufus recalled the feeling of having her close and drew a deep breath.
This was one thing he did not need right now! He needed to stay cool. He needed to focus; and not on a couple of wine coloured eyes! Grasping the pillow, Rufus held it to his face as he groaned frustrated. Maybe his father was right after all. Maybe women were the root of all evil? Rufus flung the pillow away and sat up rigid. No way he was going to agree with his father on anything! Tonight's episode was an unfortunate accident, and it would not repeat itself!
Finally back in control, Rufus got up and walked over to hang up his jacket and coat properly or they would wrinkle...
The next day they gathered outside the inn and Rufus noticed Tifa's quick glimpses over at him, but firmly ignored her.
The brunette was slightly surprised at the change in him, but she would be damned before she would run after him. Tifa already had her heart torn by one man and weren't quite ready to do the same mistake all over again! Not even when the mere memory of the kiss made her cheeks flush and stomach flutter. Tifa gazed surprised over when Shera declared she was going with them.
Cloud objected weakly, knowing that Cid would most likely kill him if he brought Shera into danger, but for once she wouldn't listen to reason.
"Don't worry about me, Mr Strife. I know how to use Materia and I'm not so foolish that I will seek out danger, but do not doubt that I'm coming with you," Shera stated.
Tifa had to smile and merely shrugged at Clouds pleading look.
"Alright..." Cloud sighed, but gave Shera a warning glance, "but you stay out of trouble and keep in the back!"
Rufus snorted despicably and glared over at the former SOLDIER. "Some leader..."
Cloud barely managed to keep from loosing his temper over the comment, and clenched his jaw angrily as he turned to address the others; "Alright... Everybody here? Then we're off!" Before anyone could object, he stalked off.
Little was said on the way to Midgar and they only had one brief stop to get clothes that wouldn't attract attention like Rufus' white coat. With a lot of sour objections, even the young ShinRa agreed to change and lay low as they approached the smuggler-tunnel.
"Just let me do the talking," Rain said in a low voice and Tifa pulled her brown coat a little closer around herself. She did not like the new surroundings, reminding her too much about sector 7, the slum she had lived in so many years.
Rufus was staring blankly at the ShinRa tower with a pale face, forcing himself not to shudder at the memory of being in that office when the fire hit him. Tifa gazed carefully over at him, guessing what he was reliving, but knew better then to approach him or even talk to him. Meanwhile, Rain was talking to two scruffy looking men guarding a closed door and a few minutes later, she waved them over.
"Are you sure this isn't some trap?" Rufus asked cautiously as they approached the tunnel.
Vincent glanced over at him with a undefinable look. "She wont betray us."
Rufus opened his mouth to object, but the former Turk's eyes held something that made him decide to stay silent.
As they entered the dark and damp tunnel, the ex-president no longer wondered how the smugglers had been able to dodge his guards; it could hardly be called a tunnel. The walls were more made of mud and mould than wood and concrete, and their only source of light were the lamp Cloud held high.
Rufus shuddered as they were wading in water combined with the Planet knew what up to their ankles and the smell was barely tolerable. He couldn't believe the level he'd fallen to; crawling through pitch-dark sewers like a common criminal! The others didn't seem bothered by it, save perhaps Red who was closer to the floor than the rest of them, and after what seemed an eternity, Cloud turned and signaled them to be quiet.
He handed the light over to Barret and carefully peeked out a hole in the door they'd reached. "I think were in sector 5...!"
Cloud turned back to the others and made sure his long coat covered the sword which hung low on his back. "We should split up so that we don't draw that much attention."
Vincent nodded and checked the Death Penalty before putting it back in its holster; "I agree. How should we divide?"
Taking a quick overlook, Cloud sighed; "Me, Barret, Yuffie and Red will go after Cid."
Shera glanced up and took a step forward. "Please, Mister Strife, let me come too!"
Cloud shook his head. "Forget it, Shera. You promised to keep out of trouble and stay in the back! Second group will be Vincent, Rain, and Shera. You'll make sure our escape-route stays open. I trust you to keep them safe, Vincent"
The former Turk nodded solemnly, while Shera's shoulders sank in disappointment.
Cloud cleared his throat and hesitated before he met Tifa's eyes. "Final group; Tifa, Rufus and Cait Sith. You'll come with us as a back-up and ShinRa should know where they would keep Cid." Rufus straightened slightly, but refrained from saying anything. "Alright, lets mosey." Cloud declared before the gang split up.
"I thought we agreed on never climbing these stairs again!" Barret wheezed.
Rufus shook his head while fighting for breath; "I still don't understand," he gasped, "why we just couldn't take the damn elevator!"
Cloud didn't have the strength to glare, struggling to stay on his feet. "Because we'd get noticed that way...!"
Tifa weakly waved a hand as she passed the two. "Save your breath, boys. You'll need your strength later."
They fell silent as they stepped over Yuffie, who'd insisted on that she could run up all the stairs, and didn't speak again until they'd reached the top and caught their breaths.
"Alright, you stay here. Me, Barret, Red and Yuffie get Cid," Cloud declared and threw off his coat, feeling pretty sure that he knew where Rufus meant Cid was most probably kept.
Tifa wanted to object, not quite willing to let Cloud wander off into danger alone, but it was clear that he'd made his choice. He didn't want her to come along.
The door closed behind the first group, leaving Rufus, Tifa and Cait Sith to the silence. Cait Sith turned to throw dices in a corner, Tifa sat down in the stairs and leaned drowsily against the railing while Rufus stood leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. And so they waited. And waited.
Then suddenly the alarm started blaring and Tifa jumped to her feet. "They've been discovered!"
Rufus straightened with a jerk and flung off his coat as he pulled forward his shotgun. "You don't say?" He sneered, cursing the former SOLDIERS clumsiness.
Cait Sith jumped towards the door and grabbed the handle. "We gotta help them!"
And just as Rufus were to call out for them to wait a damn minute, the toy cat ripped open the door, followed by Tifa, and ran straight into a minor army of Heidegger soldiers.
Rufus froze in the doorway, clutching the shot gun as he saw Tifa scream in protest as two soldiers held her captive and Cait Sith were squirming in the grip of two others. Slowly raising the shot gun, he calculate his chances against the soldiers and his blue eyes narrowed.
"I wouldn't advice you to do that, Mr ShinRa," a familiar voice said, and Rufus quickly gazed over to see a figure appear as the soldiers parted on his right to reveal a slightly smiling Scarlet.
"Scarlet. Of course," Rufus said, sounding almost relieved, and flicked back his hair with his free hand, "I knew it was you. You're behind all this. You're the person behind Heidegger."
Scarlet placed a manicured hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. "And I would be very disappointed if you really thought that fat jackass was able to think all of this up by himself!" Her crimson mouth parted in a blending smile and she gesticulated softly for a soldier to take Rufus' shotgun, and Tifa froze in her squirming when she saw him quietly give it up. "Bring them to my office," Scarlet ordered, turning to lead the way.
Tifa bit her teeth together and kicked furiously at the soldier wringing her left arm behind her back, but fell quiet when Rufus silently took a gentle hold of her other arm, making the soldier back off with his ice blue eyes. Tifa stood rigid until Rufus lead her forward, then she jerked her arm free and stared angrily up at him. "You traitor!" She hissed, and would have slapped his cold face if he hadn't made her walk with a firm hand against her back.
"And what would you have me do, Miss Lockhart? Hmm? To insist on fighting such bad odds as this would be suicide, and that is not my style." Rufus sounded utterly calm and Tifa had to send him a final disbelieving look before jerking free of his hand again.
"Save it, ShinRa! You're just out to team up with that slut again!" She stomped off and Rufus bent his head with a sigh.
He wasn't too sure what would happen to them, not putting it pass Scarlet to kill them all, including him, without a blink of the eye. He was quickly brought back to the present when a soldier stuck his gun in his back, but sent the poor soul a look so cold it made him back away, and only then did Rufus see it fit to walk on.
Scarlet's office was indeed one of Rufus old ones, only reformed to her very feminine taste. "So..." Scarlet said, as they stood in front of her desk with two guards at the door, "I must say I was a little surprised when Heidegger reported that he'd captured you with Strife's friends, Mr ShinRa."
Rufus took a step forward as she sat down on the edge of her desk and smirked. "I couldn't very well wander around on my own, now could I? Strife and his gang happened to be there and they were kind enough to watch my back until I decided what to do."
Scarlet placed one hand on the desk and lazily corrected her hair with the other. "But, Mr ShinRa, you 'know' your place is up here with us. The company was falling apart after your... apparent death..."
Rufus took another step forward and his smile grew malicious. "And you were so considerate to prevent it from crumbling entirely. All this... for me?"
Scarlet laughed softly and got up to stand in front of him, stroking a long, red nail along his jawline. "Ah, Mr ShinRa, I'm afraid there might be a tad self-serving involved in this."
Rufus managed a slight smile as his eyes dwelled cautiously at her hand, where he felt her poisoned nail move across his skin. "Why am I not surprised?" His voice sounded calm, and oddly enough, he felt quite calm. Despite how he knew the poison in her nail was strong enough to kill him within minutes if she broke his skin, Scarlet's eyes still held that fascination for him he knew gave him liberties.
Tifa clenched her fists as tight as possible and shivered with rage. She wasn't sure what hurt the most; the fact that maybe Cloud needed her and she wasn't there, that Rufus had betrayed them, or the fact that he seemed to prefer that bimbo to her! Obviously there had to be something horrible about Tifa that made every guy flee from her to the first girl he met! Scarlet's purring voice was getting on her nerves and Tifa stared harshly out the window. She refused to watch this!
Scarlet put one daring hand on Rufus chest and the other slid around his neck as she gazed up at him under long dark eyelashes. "Stay with me, Rufus. Stay with me and we'll rule this wretched planet. Together well destroy Meteor, Sephiroth and all the Weapons."
Rufus inhaled slowly and Scarlet's perfume filled the air. "Together, huh? Together we'll rule the company my no-good father worked all his life to build up for me, his only son," he asked in a smooth voice as he let his hand go around her waist.
"Scarlet, Scarlet..." Rufus let his voice drop to a low murmur, "my dear hellion, I'm afraid..." Scarlet gasped as Rufus took a hold of the knife she carried in the- back of her dress-waist and whirled her around to stand in front of him with that very knife to her throat, "that I'll have to pass. Its late, and we have to be going. Be an angel and follow us to the exit, will you?"
Tifa stared surprised at him while Cait Sith applauded loudly.
"I wouldn't, if I were you!" Rufus warned the guards who held their guns aimed at them.
Scarlet sneered angrily. "Drop the guns, you morons!"
Hesitating, the guards obeyed and Rufus smirked. "Good girl." He made sign for the guards to move,and slowly moved over to open the door. Gazing back, he raised his eyebrows to Tifa and Cait Sith. "Are you planning on staying here?"
Snapping out of the shock, Tifa quickly ran over, followed by the toy cat. As they made their way towards the elevators, Scarlet cringed at the sharp steel pressing against her sensitive skin despite how her lips held a slight smile. She knew he would do this. Even before she offered him the deal, Scarlet knew he would decline and fight her all the way. Rufus would never take orders from anyone; not even her. If he hadn't done this, he wouldn't be the Rufus she loved.
Some secret part of her had wished desperately for him to agree, but she knew him too well, and in a way Scarlet was relived that he hadn't changed.
Tifa pressed the elevator-button repeatedly in hopes of speeding up its arrival and finally the doors opened. "Rufus! Lets go!" She jumped in, quickly followed by Cait Sith.
Rufus gave Scarlet a light squeeze with a grin. "Thanks for the offer though!"
As he released her, Scarlet whirled around and grasped his shirt-collar, quickly pulling him down for an intense kiss.
Tifa's heart sank as she saw he wasn't even trying to push her away and quickly gazed down at the floor. Rufus withdrew slightly, and stroke a light hand over Scarlet's cheek before giving her one of his crooked grins that made her heart melt, before backing into the elevator. Their eyes were locked until he disappeared, and Scarlet didn't move until her soldiers came running.
"Let him go," she said quietly and walked back to her office.
Tifa stared at Rufus back, but didn't say anything. He obviously had feelings for that horrible woman, and for some reason that knowledge felt like a bullet through her heart. She'd just thought that... Well, after what had happened in Nibelheim, and from what Red had told her, and not to speak of that evening in Rocket Town... Tifa had obviously misunderstood that he might have had some liking and concern for her! She clenched her fists and swallowed hard. Rufus ShinRa would never come close to her again! Tifa glanced up as the doors opened and Rufus strode out, only to freeze rigid.
Tifa barely avoided to walk straight into him and frowned irritated. "Now what's the matter with you...?" Her eyes widened when she peered over his shoulder and saw the Turks eyeing them coolly.
The red-head called Reno tapped his nightstick against the side of his leg and gave a slight grin. "Well, I'll be... Rufus ShinRa IS alive."
Rufus stuck his chin out and swallowed. "As you can see. The last I heard of the Turks were that you had left Midgar...?"
Reno shrugged lazily and stuck his free hand into his jacket pocket. "We did. Only then we got hired by President Heidegger."
Rufus eyes narrowed and he forced himself to stay calm. "And I assume its on his orders you are here to dispose of me?"
Reno lifted the nightstick to let it rest over his shoulder and bent his head slightly. "Right again. You can imagine our surprise when we were told to kill someone we figured was already dead."
"I can only imagine." Rufus managed a cold smile and shrugged. "But your orders only involves me, so leave the girl out of this."
Tifa's eyes widened and she grasped his arm. "What? Rufus, no!"
The ex-president didn't seem to hear her as his eyes were firmly locked with Reno's.
Finally the Turk nodded. "We've got no business with the girl."
Tifa gazed desperately up at Rufus, her heart beating wildly. "No! Rufus, listen to me! Listen!"
Suddenly the thought of him dying made her hands shake and her eyes water with tears. Tifa could see the blonde woman known as Elena smiling despicably at her, but right now she didn't care. Rufus merely pushed her gently, yet determined, back.
"Alright, an order is an order," he stated calmly, with no sign of fear in his blue eyes.
Even Reno the Turk gave a slight nod of respect as he acknowledged the ex-presidents statement. "That is right, and you know that a Turk never disobeys an order, Mr ShinRa."
Rufus got a wry smile. "I remember."
Elena stuck her chin out and straightened. "And a Turk never lets down a contract."
Rufus frowned slightly and gazed from her to Reno again. If they wanted him dead, he would've been by now. What was going on?
"That's right, Elena. A Turk never lets down a contract," Reno let his nightstick sink and tapped it against his leg again. "And as I seem to remember; our contract with President Rufus ShinRa was for life and made before any with Heidegger."
The silent Turk, Rude, even went as far as nodding his consent and Rufus exhaled surprised. Loyalty was a rare thing and the last ones he'd expected it from were namely the Turks, who were known to go where the pay-check told them to.
"So what do you say... sir?" Reno asked, still smirking and Rufus was unable to hold back a grin himself; "I say Ill remember this and you'll all be rewarded for your loyalty."
Reno shrugged. "Any reward will be fine in gill."
Rufus nodded dismissively before his blue eyes narrowed dangerously. "Your first new mission: kill that pompous joke that calls himself President Heidegger!"
With a predatory grin, Reno made a slight bow. "Consider it done, sir."
And so the Turks disappeared. Rufus didn't move for several seconds then glanced back at the pale and shivering Tifa. "We should get going before any of the guards notices us. Lets just hope that Strife managed to get the pilot of the cells and not get himself put in as well!"
Fighting with a ridiculous urge to beat him senseless, Tifa numbly watched him take off and started as Cait Sith tugged her arm; "He's right. We should go."
The toy cat said softly and wobbled after the ex-president. "Yeah..." Tifa mumbled, and stumbled after them.