There were perks to being chief of the Turks and having a private office with a large cushy leather chair to recline in while one sipped at a mug of rich afternoon coffee, made to just the right temperature, was one of them. Unfortunately, getting to stay seated in said comfortable chair and finishing the coffee, was something Tseng was more often than not, unable to manage.
Today was no exception.
Tseng paused in midsip to answer the persistent ring of his PHS.
"Yo boss, looks like we got a situation," Reno's voice filtered through the secured handset.
Tseng refrained from sighing as he replied, "Fill me in."
"Seems the VP's car got rammed by someone. Security detail just reported in, said the Vice-President's been taken to the Midgar Medical Center."
"Any indication it was an attack?" Tseng could not prevent the frown from creasing his distinctive Wutai features.
"No idea, I'm headed down to check. You going to the hospital?"
Tseng deliberately left the question unanswered. There was no question of doing anything else where Rufus was concerned.
"Report back to me when you find out more, Reno."
Depressing the off button, Tseng hung up on Reno, fully assured that his lieutenant would get the job done. Reno might appear lackadaisical but Tseng knew he was lethally competent when he wished to be. He eyed his half drunk mug and sighed, abandoning it to rise gracefully to collect his coat.
The trip took barely an hour, the majority of time spent in searching for a parking spot. Entering the hospital lobby, Tseng produced his ID and was swiftly directed to the VIP ward. Tseng often found it amusing to see his effect on people when they realized they were confronted by the head of the Turks. This time, he was just relieved it helped him bypass any bureaucratic red tape.
Approaching the nurses' station, he produced his ID once more and coolly asked to be briefed by the doctor in charge. The speed at which the man appeared was gratifying. Tseng listened carefully, asked a few pertinent questions and politely thanked him when he was done.
The room Tseng entered was obviously designed for a very important person. He noted the non-hospital regulation lace curtains that framed wide windows with the soothing view of a small park, and skirted across the plush tan carpeting to stand before the wide bed. Seated in the middle, dressed in a fine silk robe, appearing artistically tragic with a bandage around his head shading his pale features was Rufus ShinRa.
"It's you," Rufus said. There was something odd about the way he gazed at Tseng. It was as if he was trying hard to hide something, perhaps a spark of desperate joy at seeing a familiar face.
"Were you expecting your father?" Tseng countered, just a little curious about Rufus' expectations.
The young vice-president snorted in derision, his lips twisted into a bitter sneer. "I know better. Can I go home now?" he asked.
And that was the sad truth of it. Tseng knew the president had been informed but his only instruction had been to relay back the doctor's report.
"They're keeping you under observation tonight. The doctor said you may leave tomorrow but you should take it easy for a few days," he said at last.
Rufus shrugged. "Whether I can take it easy or not will depend entirely on the people who schedule my appointments."
Tseng considered the youth before him and not for the first time wondered at the unnatural childhood he had. Forced into taking on responsibilities far beyond his age but kept impotent towards doing anything useful. Tseng could sympathize with the seething frustration bottled up and given nowhere to go.
"Will you tell me what happened?" Tseng asked, changing the sensitive subject.
Once again that elegant shrug. "Not much I can tell you. I was on my way back from an inspection at the SOLDIER barracks. Suddenly there was a loud bang and jerked forward. Hit my head on the seat." Rufus waved a vague hand at his brow and brushed impatiently at a wisp of his overlong bangs covering the bandage.
Tseng gave in to the impulse to reach forward and adjust the dressing, his fingers sliding through the fine flaxen strands as he did.
Rufus stilled, his eyes widening in astonishment, fixated upon Tseng. There was no affront to his expression. Instead, he was holding his breath, as if afraid of frightening Tseng away from touching him. He uttered an inaudible sigh when inevitably Tseng withdrew.
For long moments, the two gazed at each other. Tseng uncomfortable with what he'd been tempted into doing, Rufus visibly disappointed that he'd stopped.
Tseng opened his mouth to apologize but was saved by the sudden ring of his PHS. He took a step back and flipped it open. His expression changed into stony blankness as he listened to the speaker at the other end.
At last he put the phone away. Tseng stood for a few long minutes in silent contemplation of Rufus. The young vice-president sat on the bed in growing discomfort under Tseng's intense stare.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rufus asked, frowning with confusion.
"Whatever possessed you to think you would be able to get away with it?" Tseng said in tones cold as ice.
It was now Rufus' turn to stare, growing comprehension and dismay leaking from his cracking facade of innocence.
"Reno tracked down the driver of the car. He says he was paid. You need to cover your tracks better, Vice-President Rufus." Tseng's chill tones could have frozen the flames in a bonfire.
"Don't," Rufus protested. He hated Tseng addressing him so formally. Denial was useless. For some reason, Tseng always knew everything.
Tseng continued, every word drawing a wince from Rufus as if he was being dissected. "So why? Was it to get the attention of your father?"
Rufus could only shake his head helplessly.
Suddenly Tseng grew still. Comprehension had dawned. "Oh, not your father at all. But someone else's attention. Someone who would have to be involved and come to you when you were injured. Someone you could not have approached in any other way..."
Rufus lifted his head to give Tseng a gaze filled with uncharacteristic supplication. "Are you really angry?" he asked finally.
Tseng blinked at the question and realized in a flash that he wavered between being flattered and impressed by the extent of Rufus' duplicity. There was some anger, but it was all for Rufus' injury. He sighed and the chill in his demeanor lessened. "No, I'm not really angry," he answered truthfully.
The leader of the Turks moved to sit down beside his vice-president, an oddly intimate position on the bed. "But you did take a huge risk to your own safety," he chided. However to show he forgave him, Tseng raised a hand to ruffle the top of Rufus' head, taking care not to dislodge his bandage.
Rufus appeared satisfied by the gesture, leaning unconsciously closer to Tseng. "I won't do anything like that again," he promised, a coy smile lifting his lips.
Tseng lifted his brow, debating whether to believe Rufus or not. The young vice-president was devious beyond belief. But for some reason, the knowledge made Tseng more exhilarated than exasperated. It was definitely going to be interesting keeping up with him.
"You know, next time, you could just drop me a memo and we'll go out for dinner," he said dryly, lifting Rufus' hand up to brush against his lips in a feather-light kiss. Yes, it was definitely going to be interesting keeping up with Rufus ShinRa.
Notes: I just love it when Rufus is being devious and manipulative and even more when Tseng is smart enough to keep up with him and see right through his schemes. I truly believe that Rufus loves attention and there's nobody else's attention that he'd love to have more than Tseng's, even if he has to think up convoluted ways to get it.