Pulling off Butterfly Wings
By
Larpskendya
Yay! New chapter! Oh, I forgot to say that FFVII doesn't belong to me so all of those lawyers – get off my back already! I hope that this is okay but please review so that I know. Any suggestions will be welcome.
Chapter One
It was six o clock in the morning when she walked into his office. His hair was flluffed up in all directions and his head was lying on his desk, his paperwork serving as a cushion. She couldn't be certain as to whether he was drooling. Scarlet smiled. He looked so vulnerable when he was asleep although, mind you, he looked a little like a timid rabbit even when he was awake but she knew that if you threatened his precious city, the rabbit in him would turn out to be a fox.
Scarlet walked quietly over to him, her painful, high-heeled shoes making no sound and she tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He moaned and shifted slightly, finally opening his eyes. He saw someone's cleavage staring him full in the face, blushed and looked upwards, nearly falling out of his seat when he saw Scarlet's face.
"Scarlet!" he cried, standing up quickly, his chair falling against his soft carpeted floor. He noticed his wrinkled suit and the eleven polystyrene cups of coffee, now empy, littering his desk. He yawned.
"Good morning, Reeve," said Scarlet, smiling amusedly as he brushed himself off. He ran a hand through his messy hair.
"I, uh, I-I-I must have fallen asleep," he muttered distractedly, gathering the cups and throwing them away. Scarlet's grin widened when she saw the crease marks on his face and his blurred, bloodshot eyes. She sat down on his desk, elegantly crossing her legs.
"Perhaps you should go home," she said smoothly. "I can drive you there."
He shook his head quickly. "No, no I'll be fine. I'd better start working," he muttered. Scarlet frowned in concern but it quickly vanished when she realized that she was not supposed to show concern. A mewling sound distracted her and she looked around to see a cat walking towards her, black except for its face which wore a white mask. It looked decidedly intelligent as it gazed at her with slate green eyes, walking towards her with its usual predatory stalk.
"And who might you be?" she asked, watching it approach her feet and rub affectionately against her legs, purring deeply.
"Um…Cait…Cait Sith. My uh…cat…" murmured Reeve, watching the cat with astonishment and also being distinctly aware that keeping pets in the office was a major No No. "He's never been so affectionate before, though. He doesn't like people all that much," he continued, a little awed. Still, he supposed, they probably had a lot in common. Scarlet scratched the cat's head, behind its ears, making it purr louder and she smiled absent-mindedly.
"Why is it here?" she asked.
"Well, I end up spending a lot of time here and I can't really leave it at home. Besides, I need the company."
"If it's company you want…" purred Scarlet, her grin growing even wider as she noticed his blush.
"I uh…I'd better get started on my-" he waved his hand towards the paperwork mountains. Scarlet felt rather sorry for him. Still, it was his own fault for being so reliable. The more crap you take, the more gets piled on. Nevertheless, in a way she admired him. This man's work was his life and he cared deeply for the citizens of Midgar.
"Why don't you come and join me for breakfast?" she asked. He looked up, startled.
"I don't know. I have a lot of work," he said, the usual broken-record-excuse coming out quickly.
"But you cannot work on an empty stomach…"
"-I'll get some coffee!"
"That doesn't seem to have helped so far," Scarlet observed and he sighed in resignation.
"Okay, okay. You win. Just let me get dressed."
"What?" asked Scarlet, confused. She watched as Reeve pulled a spare suit out of his bottom desk drawer complete with socks and – he blushed when she noticed – underwear. Polka dot underwear. His mother had bought it for him, he thought defensively. This time it wasn't his fault.
"I often fall asleep round about two in the morning," he explained, seeing her confused expression. She sighed in exasperation.
"Reeve, you should be home at nine at the very latest. You don't get paid overtime," she said. He nodded.
"I know but there's always so much – anyway, I'll get changed now."
"Okay," said Scarlet. There was a long pause and an awkward silence, well, at least there was for Reeve. He cleared his throat.
"Um…Scarlet?"
"Yes?"
"I really need to get changed."
"Sure."
"Alone."
"Ah, right," said Scarlet, smiling evilly as she left the room.
He joined her in five minutes and she lead him to her car, a silver, top of the range convertible. Reeve had something similar himself. Devoted employees were richly rewarded. Not that he thought that she was devoted. Just beautiful. Well, other people considered her beautiful. Not him. Definitely not him. Uh oh. Maybe it was her perfume that was affecting his brain. She certainly wore a lot of it, he mused.
Scarlet climbed into the driver's seat and pushed a button, making the roof of the car slide down. She climbed behind the steering wheel and started the car. It purred to life and Scarlet slammed her foot on the accelerator. Reeve was shoved against the cool hard leather seats as the car flew through the carport and onto the road.
"Scarlet!" Reeve yelled, certain that his lips were probably peeling back.
"Mmhmm?" Scarlet murmured distractedly.
"I believe that there is such a creature as a speed limit!" he cried. Scarlet looked at him in a puzzled manner before laughing softly.
"Come on Reeve. Enjoy the wind in your hair. It'll wake you up some. Don't you love the freedom that speed gives you?"
Reeve glanced at his colleague. Her blonde hair streamed behind her, her face was regal, held high and her crimson lips wore a savage smile of enjoyment. Had she been sitting on a horse, Reeve thought that Scarlet would have made a pretty decent Valkyrie. Once reassured that Scarlet wouldn't crash into the nearest wall, Reeve allowed himself to relax about three hairs.
Twenty-five minutes later and they walked into the restaurant. Scarlet's favourite of course.
"What's this place called again?" Reeve asked as she imperiously demanded a table for two.
"La Pomme de Terre," she said, a humorously knowing glint to her oceanic eyes. He knew instantly what she was laughing at.
"Apple of the Earth. Potato?" he asked, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from turning up slightly. She nodded, inwardly delighted that her prey had realized what she had, many years ago. So many of the men that she had brought here hadn't. Still, it wasn't as if she slept with them because of their brains.
"I suppose that it's because all they wanted was a fancy name. It doesn't matter what it really means. Only what it appears to be. Besides, so many people never really find out," she answered, smiling suggestively. Although Reeve thought that Scarlet could probably pick her nose suggestively. It was just how she was. A slut.
Is she?
They were shown to their seats and Reeve admired the décor. The walls were of dark wood, as was the floor, and a clear vase filled with red roses and a confused goldfish adorned every round wooded table. The seats were wooden too, with cream silk cushions placed there for the customer's sensitive rear. Penguin-like waiters swarmed throughout the restaurant, taking orders. Reeve gazed quizzically at Scarlet, who appeared to be absorbed in watching the goldfish that was repeatedly bumping into the glass. She did not appear troubled by this obvious cruelty. Merely curious and analytical, a cat observing it's prey.
"All this for breakfast?" he asked. She shrugged elegantly (and yes, suggestively).
"I felt as if I owed you for that dance you gave me last night. After all, you were so busy and went to the trouble of making a woman like me happy," purred Scarlet, leaning forwards a little and noticing that Reeve inched back as far as he could against the back of his chair. Frowning slightly, she leaned back and watched him relax a little. Hmm…definitely a challenge.
"It was no trouble," muttered Reeve, signaling to a waiter. The man arrived and Reeve allowed Scarlet to order for him, trusting her taste. Still, two fillet steaks, the house wine and Italian kisses were a little too much for breakfast, he thought, infinitely preferring fries to fillets and coffee to wine. Their drinks were brought and Reeve looked suspiciously at the wine before taking a sip. Scarlet laughed.
"Relax, Reeve. It's only wine. You can't possibly desire water, can you?" she asked, taking a lady-like sip herself. "Besides, it's not as if I'm trying to get you drunk." She wondered what Reeve drunk would be like. He might act like a human being for one thing.
No, that would be too unsubtle, thought Reeve, although not too far from her usual behavior. Still, at least she couldn't possibly have spiked the drinks…could she?
She may, he mused, have a standing arrangement with the staff.
There was an awkward silence. They were, thought Reeve, too frequent when he was around her. Still, she seemed relaxed as she waited for her drink, a crimson fingernail inattentively tapping the glass, causing the goldfish to race around in a dizzy confusion of bubbles. He tried to drink as little as possible without seeming impolite. Their food arrived and eased the awkwardness a little because both of them had to eat. She was a very dainty eater too, Reeve noticed. Although it was probably because of all the experience she must have had, dragging suitors here over the years. She probably ate her men very delicately too, sharp white teeth nibbling prettily. Her victims didn't seem to mind though.
Unfortunately, there is only so long that a man can chew and eventually the torturous meal was over and the pudding arrived. Reeve looked up into her dangerously blue eyes and frantically tried to think of something to say.
"So…how's your work going, Scarlet?" he asked, almost cringing at the feeble line of conversation that he had chosen. Her eyes widened, if only for a second, as if she were surprised at the question.
She was probably expecting me to ask what kinds of unconventional positions she preferred, he thought sarcastically. She smiled at him though and licked her lips before replying.
"Well, your department seems to be stealing all of the funds that we so desperately need," she said, her hand inching closer to his unsuspecting one, "but we're doing well. Last night the President very kindly agreed to let us research Huge Materia. I'm interested in the energy sources that we could get from such powerful items. I'm sure that your department might benefit from such research too."
Reeve was so astonished by her intelligent observation that he hardly noticed her clawed hand resting atop his. "How so?" he asked, his free hand absently holding an Italian kiss halfway to his mouth. Scarlet smiled and inclined her head towards the morsel which was starting to melt, vanilla ice cream dripping steadily onto the wooden table.
His blush is just too cute, she thought, watching him drop the kiss and mop up the table with both a cloth and an embarrassed expression. He pulled his arm away and she found herself missing the dry coolness of his hand. He bit his lip nervously and watched her, waiting for her answer so that he might forget his silent, agonizing humiliation.
"Well, you are in charge of the reactors, aren't you?" she asked and continued when he nodded. "I know how many 'Save the Planet' leaflets you must be getting from various environmental groups. I have absolute faith that if we could find this Huge Materia, you wouldn't be draining the planet as much as you are by using Mako. It would keep the people happy, at any rate. Your expenses would also go down."
"The Huge Materia would dry out, though, wouldn't it? We'd just end up using raw energy once more," answered Reeve, frowning slightly as he pondered her statement. "And there isn't much Huge Materia in existence. There couldn't possibly be enough for all the reactors."
"That last point is true but materia doesn't dry out, does it? I don't think you'd have a problem using Huge Materia. It's true that we'd have to fight over the pieces that we did find though, and you shouldn't expect to win that particular battle."
"All's fair in love and war, huh?" laughed Reeve and then instantly regretted letting those hateful words pass his treacherous lips. Scarlet smiled however, icicle eyes shining, caught up in the hunt.
"Exactly," she answered, delighted with his slip. "I wonder which you prefer."
"I don't know if I'm partial to either," Reeve joked, a wry smile on his face.
"No steady relationships?" Scarlet's gaze was keen. Reeve grinned.
He really is quite handsome when he smiles
"Only with my computer and my cat, I'm afraid. I have no strings of lovers to pine for me. You on the other hand…" he left the sentence hanging and his words did not cause offense because Scarlet knew them to be true. She smiled, taking it as a compliment and silently laughing because she knew that many a secretary or young programmer had been passionately, yet secretly in love with the Secretary of Urban Developments. His quiet, indifferent air made him quite the mystery man to some. She wondered if he knew this but decided that he probably didn't. When it came to other people he had the social skills of a blocked nostril.
"You've never loved?" she asked, curious.
"A few times although I think that I was more in love with the idea of being in love. What I'd like to know is, have you?" His words were meant as a jest but he could see that Scarlet was stunned. She hid it well but he noticed her eyes grow cold and her face become stony.
She could feel her fist clenching, not because she was angry with Reeve but because every time she remembered that…that asshole, that Prince Fucking Charming that had rode up in his silver convertible and had taught her how to do her tricks like a good little bitch she felt murderous thoughts enter her head, her jaw clench and her fists itch. He who had stolen what couldn't really be returned. Her innocence. She would never forgive him.
"Once," she answered, after the silence had become to long. "Just once." She tried to calm herself but whenever she remembered she couldn't stop her furious thoughts. She checked her watch and smiled at Reeve, who was still gazing at her with his silent, calculating look.
"Is anything the matter?" asked Reeve, not really caring but slightly curious all the same. She shook her head.
"No, but I'm afraid that I'll have to cut this breakfast short. I have a meeting to attend. I'll instruct the waiter to put it on my tab. Thank you, Reeve, this was lovely. Till next time," she said hurriedly before walking out of the restaurant, hips swaying enticingly.
Reeve sat at his table, a slight frown of confusion connecting his two eyebrows before realization dawned.
"Shit!" he exclaimed, standing up so quickly that he knocked his chair over. Blushing furiously, he set it right again and then dashed from the room as well, running outside only to see Scarlet's car disappearing round the corner. He sighed and tugged at his scalp as he pulled at his hair in mild frustration.
"I guess I'll be walking, then," he muttered to himself before starting the long walk back.
Scarlet arrived at the office, thoughts still pounding in her head when she remembered that she should have given Reeve a lift. She swore in irritation and then thought no more of it. He could walk. It wasn't too far. She wished that he hadn't asked her that question. She had been enjoying their "date". She smiled, tapping her chin with a blood-red nail. It had gone well. He had seemed to have warmed up a little.
Have you ever been in love?
What a stupid question to ask. It was a question that was just waiting to turn around and kick her in the ass. Yes, she had loved, if only for a while. After that she had discovered how she had been used and that a fist in her face didn't mean that he loved her back or that sleeping with three other women besides her wasn't love. No, at the tender age of fourteen, Scarlet had learned to tell the difference between love and lust.
She had found out which was the better choice as well. Maybe people called her a slut behind and to her face but at least she had gotten somewhere. Love had only held her down. Besides, who was going to promote an ordinary woman? She had spent two years in a weapon shop and a further seven years training in Weapon Development. Now, at twenty-seven years old, she was more successful than women twice her age. She had more money than she could possible spend and she lived in the lap of luxury, all because she sacrificed a few nights per week to reverting to her fourteen year-old self who had learnt that it was a man's world and doing what was required. Maybe it was sexist. Maybe it was unfair and maybe she was a whore. She didn't care. She had climbed the ladder of success, breaking more than a nail on the way.
She had broken bones.
She had a broken heart.
Rufus came towards her just as she entered her corridor. She was sure to smile at him.
"Why, Mr. Vice President, I didn't know you were still here," she said, shifting her weight to one hip, allowing the slit in one side to fall open a little, revealing the barest glimpse of a thigh.
"Well, I decided to spend a week or so in order to familiarize myself with the building since I may be working here quite a lot in the near future. By the way, I was wondering if you'd like to…go through a few of those requests that you filed for the Huge Materia? Shall we say…tonight?"
"Of course," smiled Scarlet, her blue eyes as hard as diamonds. "Your place or mine?"
AN: Hi. Well, here's chapter one, I hope it was enjoyable, especially since it took quite some time to write. It's quite hard to keep Reeve near her, he keeps trying to escape . I know that Scarlet seems quite slutty at the moment but hopefully she'll improve under Reeve's influence. Press the little magic button beneath and your heart's desire will be granted! Well…mine will at any rate
