"This isn't how I imagined the mission would be." Cloud whispered to Cissinei.
This was a party the president was hosting. Although Cloud wasn't so sure the man himself would appear. He was warned that he seldomly appeared. However, the VP frequently dropped by.
"Relax. This is the easiest part of the job. All you gotta do is stand there, play guard duty and entertain the guests if they wanna talk." She winks at him. "You should be more in your element in comparison to Elena over there."
He glanced over at her. The poor girl looked so serious it was putting off the guests. Elena wasn't winning herself any favors as a promising Turk.
"I suppose, I will work my magic." Anything to one up Elena.
"Good, then I'll leave you to it. Should anything happen, let Tseng and myself take care of it, all right?"
He nods, understanding. He wasn't going to play hero but instead guide the guests to the emergency exits. Not that many situations happened at these events, but since Avalanche's attempt to kill the president it was better to be careful.
He just hoped Elena got the memo.
So Cloud welcomed the guests with his best smiles and lovely voice. Soon ladies would swirl around him. Since he felt like showing off, Cloud would use a few dancing tricks he learned to serve the drinks.
Soon more people gathered around him in awe. Cloud worked his magic as he relaxed. Yes, this he was used to. And in a way he was in his element. That was until he turns his attention to someone who moved through the crowd, and they were accompanied by a suit. Cloud looks up and was caught off guard to see -
"Rufus ShinRa, Vice President of ShinRa Electric Power Company." He introduced himself. "I heard of two more promising Turks, I imagine you're one of them?"
"Yes, sir. Cloud, at your service." He nods, offering the last drink on the tray. "Care for a drink, sir?"
"Thank you, Cloud." Rufus accepts the glass. However, instead of taking a sip, he eyes the blonde suit curiously. "You look strangely familiar."
Oh? Cloud couldn't see how.
"Forgive me for saying, but I would remember you if we had met before."
"Oh, I understand. I'm not one to be forgotten. It's just that..." He studied the new Turk's face. "You look like someone familiar. I just can't place a name."
Cloud almost broke eye contact to look at Tseng for help. He blinks, pushing that urge away. Instead he kept his focus on the VP. Now that he thought about it, there was almost something familiar with Rufus' facial structure. It was narrower, more of a triangle than the president's intimidating square facial structure.
"Mr. Vice President!" Another guest called out.
"We will speak of this on a later date. Perhaps more privately, if you will excuse me. Enjoy your night, Cloud." Rufus takes a sip of the champagne and turns heel towards the group that called for him.
Tseng gave him a strange look as he followed the VP. All Cloud could do was shrug. He didn't know what that was about, either.
The rest of the night was boring and uneventful.
xXx
"What was last night about, Cloud?" Tseng didn't narrow down at what point he was specifically asking for, but itdidn't take a lot for Cloud to understand.
"I don't know. He approached me first." He shrugged.
"Because you were showing off." Apparently Tseng was upset about something.
"What's got your panties in a twist?" He couldn't help but ask.
"Cloud!" Cissinei hissed in her attempt to reprimand him.
"What? I don't understand why talking to the VP is a crime when he approached me first."
"I believe he's upset about that moment you had with the VP." Elena spilled it out for him.
Oh? Oh. So he's his boss's chosen partner.
"It wasn't anything like that. He's not my type and I doubt I'm his. I don't have long enough hair." Cloud resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Was that really what this was about? Just when Tseng earned his admiration he pulls this. Apparently he stepped on a line which he didn't know about until now.
"That's not the point." Tseng tried to recollect himself.
"You're making it sound like it is to me." Cloud wasn't letting it go.
"Just don't stare him off again." He insisted, and left the argument with that.
This time Cloud rolled his eyes.
"Damn. You're ballsy, baby." Reno said once Tseng was gone.
"It wasn't anything special? I don't understand how I could have stepped on a boundary I didn't know was there." Cloud defended, and the redhead raised his arms in defense.
"I get it, yo. Those two are so good at hiding their thing with each other that it took a while for us to figure out."
"Really?" Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it would be bad for the company's image, blah blah blah." Reno lost interest in explaining.
"No, I get it. I mean it shouldn't be that tight of a secret from us, right?"
"While he's the VP? Yes, yes it does." Reno didn't have to say the rest out loud.
When he's the president, then it wouldn't be such a huge issue. If and when that happens. The current president has an incredible amount of luck on his side.
"What did the VP say to you, anyway?" Cissinei wondered curiously.
"That I looked familiar. He couldn't place a name as to who I reminded him of."
"Really? Because from where I was standing, the two of you could be mirror images." Elena snickered, trying to make it sound like an insult.
It clicked in Cloud's head that was what made Rufus so familiar. But that made everything even less sense. Whatever. He didn't think anything will come of it.
In that moment Cloud heard the door to their floor open. Curious, as everyone who worked here was on their floor, he turned to see none other than Zack.
"Spikey! It is you!" He ran forward and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Zack!" Cloud was more surprised. "I can't breathe."
"Oops, sorry!" Zack pulls away and smiles in his adorable smile.
"Missed you too." Cloud returned the smile.
