Reno was watching Johnny carefully. Ever since he'd told the man about Rufus' news the brunette had been really quiet and kind of pale.
"Do you want some lunch Johnny?"
"No…"
"What's wrong?"
Johnny sighed softly, "Nothing."
Reno shrugged one shoulder and went to rummage in the fridge for some lunch. "Okay then."
It seemed that Reno had forgotten that Johnny had a bruise too. Of course the brunette hadn't tried to use magic or potion on it yet, but now he was afraid to. With the other symptoms he had… Johnny was sure he had the same thing the President had.
Rufus poked at his lunch then took a sip of wine. A bit of his strength had returned after his most recent round of cures. Flesh had returned to his hands and soon he wouldn't need to wear gloves. However, this round of magic had also unearthed something disturbing. The flesh that had grown back on his right hand was not new and flawless. It was bruised… just like his arm. Rufus got a twinge of pain in said arm, but he ignored it.
"Sir?" Azure broke in on the intercom. "Your one o'clock is here."
"Send her in. I'm finished lunch."
"Yes sir."
Not even a few seconds later the doors to his office opened and Professor Trepe entered. The woman walked right up to Rufus' desk and extended her hand to him.
"Good afternoon Mr. President."
"Good afternoon Professor Trepe." Rufus replied, briefly shaking the woman's hand. "Your report?"
"Since it's now illegal to use Mako power people have been scrambling to find new resources. Wind, water, solar, and coal are the most popular ideas right now. We already have several systems in mind. However it will be difficult to keep these systems Shin-Ra only owned. More than likely other organizations will pop up with their own systems."
"That's fine."
"But we…w-what?" Prof. Trepe stammered. "B-but the fact that only the Shin-Ra could harness Mako is what made it so powerful. If you… if we are not the only company providing alternate fuels Shin-Ra's power will diminish and the company many even collapse."
"Good."
"Sir…!"
"Why are you arguing with me Ms. Trepe?" Rufus asked coldly. "Are you tired of living?"
"N-no sir…" Professor Trepe murmured.
"All right then. Junon's electricity is already being provided by a water system. I suggest similar systems for other coastal towns like Costa Del Sol. For Edge I would like a wind or solar system. Maybe even both."
"Yes sir."
"Healin is complete right?"
"Yes. It has a solar system."
"Thank-you. That is all. You're dismissed Professor."
"Thank-you sir."
Professor Trepe turned and quickly left Rufus' office. The blonde finished off his wine and stared up at the ceiling. Perhaps it would be a good thing if the Shin-Ra died out…
"Sir." Azure was on the intercom again. "Your one thirty appointment is here early."
"That's fine. Send him in."
The doors to Rufus' office opened slowly and Reeve poked his head inside, looking nervous.
"Come in, Reeve." Rufus said.
Reeve cleared his throat anxiously and stepped into the room. "Hello Mr. President…"
"I'm surprised you came to be honest."
"I'm surprised you sent a polite invitation by messenger instead of a kidnapping by Turks."
Rufus smiled softly. Reeve had guts.
"Please…" The blonde motioned to the chair in front of his desk. "Sit. My business with you won't last long."
Reeve walked over and sat in front of Rufus' desk.
"My sources tell me you're in the process of organizing something called the World Restoration Organization."
"That's right." Replied Reeve. "And my sources tell me you're planning to build a city called Edge outside of Midgar."
"That is correct."
The blonde pushed a piece of paper over to Reeve and the man picked it up. His eyes widened,
"R-Rufus… this is…?"
"My donation to your organization."
"Th-this is…so much…"
"It leaves me with enough gil to pursue my own endeavours… maybe with a little bit leftover for me to indulge with."
"What's the catch?"
Rufus smiled softly, "No catch. The Shin-Ra family owes a huge debt to the world. I know my donation doesn't come close to eradicating that debt, but it's a start."
"Rufus… sir…"
Rufus waved his hand dismissively at Reeve. He was starting to feel emotional in the older man's presence. "Just go before I change my mind, Reeve."
"…Thank-you Rufus. I'll never forget this."
"Go." Rufus repeated.
Reeve nodded, took his cheque, and left Rufus' office. Rufus sighed softly and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. The Shin-Ra still had a long way to go before its sins were absolved.
Johnny's alarm clock rang at 6:15 exactly. The brunette yawned and rolled over, turning his alarm off. He yawned again, stretched, and got out of bed. Johnny checked over his luggage then brought it downstairs. He chuckled lightly. Reno was fast asleep at the island in the middle of the kitchen. Johnny walked over to him and slid his hands over Reno's shoulders.
"Reno…wake up…"
"Hmn…?" The redhead grunted.
"You fell asleep."
"Coffee maker is broken…" Reno muttered, burying his face in his folded arms. "Sleep…"
"You can't sleep. We have to leave soon. I'll make you some breakfast."
Reno groaned and lifted his head up. "Coffee…"
"No coffee. Fruit. Fruit gives you energy."
The elder Turks sighed and thunked his head back down onto his arms.
"Your caffeine dependency isn't a good thing, Reno." Johnny said.
The brunette rummaged around in the fridge and managed to find enough fruit and other ingredients to make two fruit salads for their breakfast. He then sat beside Reno and slid one bowl in front of the redhead.
"Tired…"
Johnny chuckled and picked up half a strawberry, holding it to Reno's lips, "Come on. Eat. It'll wake you up."
Reno sighed but ate the slice of strawberry offered to him. Johnny started to eat his own breakfast, checking on Reno once in a while to make sure the older man was eating as well. By the time they were both done eating Reno had perked up considerably.
"See?" Johnny smirked. "You don't need coffee."
"I'm amazed…" Reno laughed. "But I still want coffee."
The brunette sighed and shook his head. He took the dishes to the sink and washed them out. Reno disposed of what very little food they had left and then the pair were on their way. They locked the front door and headed out onto the sidewalk. Rude was already waiting there for them with his own luggage. Elena joined them a few moments later.
"…Is Tseng coming?" Johnny asked.
"No. Not yet." Rude replied. "He's still recovering. He should be joining us in a week."
Johnny nodded and the Turks headed for the airport. Rufus and some of his bodyguards were waiting for them there.
"We will be flying to Healin Lodge. You will live there and commute to Edge every day." Rufus said.
The Turks nodded and boarded the plane with their President. It was a four hour flight to Healin. Johnny sat next to Reno and strapped himself in. Reno watched as Rufus' bodyguards strapped the President into a seat then left the plane, closing the door behind them.
"They're not coming?" Reno asked.
"No. I cannot afford bodyguards and the Turks so I cut my bodyguard budget out. Today was their last day. You are my bodyguards now. One of you will remain behind at Healin Lodge with me."
"Elena." Reno said.
Elena glared at Reno.
"Actually I'm keeping Mr. Williams with me for the first week." Rufus replied.
The redhead pouted slightly and Elena gave him a smug grin. Johnny just chuckled. He didn't mind the assignment. Guarding Rufus sounded a lot more exciting than guarding a construction site. The plane rocked slightly as it took off.
"How are you feeling, sir?" Rude suddenly asked.
Rufus smiled slightly, "Better. Thank-you."
"Bad news for me." Reno smirked.
Rufus laughed darkly and Elena raised an eyebrow.
"It's a guy thing…" The redhead said.
"Hmph. Sexist." Elena snorted.
"You don't want to know, Elena." Rude said.
Elena looked at Rude briefly before shrugging and grabbing a magazine. The plane hit a small bit of turbulence and shook again. Johnny held onto his seat tightly, feeling slightly nervous.
"Hey sir… want to change a rule for me?" Reno asked.
"Which one?" Rufus replied.
"The one about fucking while on duty." The Turks replied, smirking at Johnny.
"You're such a whore, Reno." Elena said, not looking up from her magazine.
"It's part of my charm, baby." Reno said with a grin and a shrug. "So? Whatta say Mr. President?"
"We'll take it for a test drive. The rule is temporarily void. We'll see if you're distracted or not."
"Reno is always distracted." Elena put in.
"Suck my balls." Reno responded.
"Now children…" Rufus chuckled. "Don't make me turn this plane around…"
"I'll be good." The redhead smirked.
Reno leaned back in his seat, grinning widely. That stupid ass rule has been thrown out. Score…
The turbulence came to an end and the plane stopped rocking. Johnny was about to reach for a magazine when a sharp stabbing pain hit him in the gut. At the same time a blinding pain tore through the side of his head. It felt like someone had hit him with a blunt object. Sparkles and weird colors flashed before his eyes.
"Johnny? Are you all right?"
Elena was talking to him, but she sounded miles away. Johnny just nodded and unbuckled his seatbelt. He walked stiffly to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Had he not been so pale Johnny probably wouldn't have noticed the discoloration poking out of his hairline. Johnny frowned and leaned closer to the mirror. It was a bruise. There was a bruise on the side of his head. It wasn't very wide but it was long. It extended from his temple, through his sideburn, and down behind his ear. More pain jarred his head and Johnny was horrified to see that the bruise on the side of his head was leaking some sort of viscous black fluid. The brunette quickly wadded up a bunch of toilet paper and pressed it to his head. There was a twinge from his gut and Johnny looked down to see a black stain forming on his shirt.
"Shit." He cussed.
The man wadded up more toilet paper and put it to the bruise on his abdomen.
Rufus wasn't doing too well either. He jerked forward in his seat, clutching his arm.
"Sir!" Elena exclaimed, watching with wide eyes as black liquid seeped through the sleeve of Rufus' robe and through his glove.
Both Reno and Rude jumped to their feet and quickly unstrapped Rufus. The blonde had no control over his muscles and his fingers curled up painfully.
"Shit…" Reno cussed, wrapping Rufus' arm in a bandage. "What is this? A side effect from the cures?"
"No…" Rufus growled through gritted teeth. "It's the disease…"
The baby that had been born from the Lifestream was not a baby any longer. It shouldn't have been possible… but there he was. Loz looked to be almost three years old now. The toddler stood at the edge of the Lifestream, watching it tremble and boil. A bubble of black sludge rose up and lazily floated over to Loz. The boy held his arms out and the bubble popped, dropping a baby into his arms.
"Hewo Yawzoo." Loz smiled down at the new baby brother Mother had given him.
TBC
Awww. Loz is so cute and scary all at the same time XD;; R&R Please :)