Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
-by Amaranthos-
Chapter 38: Pitter patters of fear
My death had been long anticipated to be perverse and widely commemorated if my pestilence ever became a transgression; as it was, my pestilence indeed was manifold and death was assured and conceded.
I knew they wanted my death almost to be enjoyed like the delicacies they placed between their lips, and enjoying in their voluptuous sins they've committed, I knew without a doubt:
No humble man can escape the icy fingers of death…
Dragging me like a wounded dog through their halls, my royalty, my honor - my little salvaged constitution, fell broke and shattered in their great halls of sin and desecration. Soldiers littered the halls, with animated eyes glued aggressively to my ruined entity. With each step I took, I could feel the soles of my feet burn with reluctance, but it mattered not how much I agonized - how much I screamed - like before it all falls deft.
Their hands were tightly clutched around my arms, as they escorted me to heaven knows where. I tried with all my might - how pathetic it seems, to break from their hold but they don't budge to my frail writhing.
It was to be understood that it was not by their words was I caused into grief; rather in simple, their desire to punish was self-provoked, deliberate and easily donned; it was a belligerent abuse of power…
With a heavy spirit and even heavier heart, I'm pushed on an old wooden chair. My black locks settle around me disheveled; yet through them I find myself staring at black boots. Laces neatly tied and the boots reflecting a mirror shine; I gasped when I saw his reflection standing tall…
Frozen, it was the nibbling of his loquacious fingers that founded me back to reality. His touch is gentle across my cheek, no matter my latest theatrics and the uproar I left him. If I could imagine what I had donned Rufus Shinra, it would be pure chaos and catastrophe. Such a simple, easy man to sometimes read, but at other times - like now - when his touch is soft, and his smiles warm, I am absent at prediction to his character.
"Welcome back, princess" he sorts the words between his lips, something warm yet cold about his dialect.
I swallowed, absorbing the tension.
"Could I just say…" he pauses to smirk, "brava!" he smiles enchantingly, "brava, brava, brava!" he seems to roar the words into my head.
"You my dear, have managed to do the impossible. You've escaped!" he loudly explains, "and not from any such place, but from Black Crescents - the greatest empire of all. And here you are, claiming you have no smart and cunning in your bone, when clearly you've outdone yourself." he heartily laughs.
I can't find anything to say, but let him speak whatever morbid soliloquy he wishes.
"I must say Tifa" his voice drops, his eyes fading from bright blue to something dark and sinister, "you've really done, a superb job" he lifts my chin and stares me deeply in the eyes. I could feel him dig into my being with perverse eyes - a pair of pale blue eyes with a hollowness filmed over.
He gestures me to stand and I oblige without a muster of complaint.
"You've saved the maid" he scoffs, "but not yourself" he ends the sentence crudely
I twitched at the sentence, balling my hands into a fist.
"Damn you" I whisper incoherently.
He slowly turns to me, "what was that?" he asks amused.
I swallowed, saying nothing. My eyes alone spoke the hate.
He pulls me by the arm, "tell me" he says nicely, "tell me what you wanted to say" he jerks me, "tell me all the things you're just dying to say" he grins drawing closer, "you know you want to"
"Go to hell" I whispered fiercely.
"I already am!" he shouted in my face, "tell me, did you enjoy it - your freedom for however short it was, did you enjoy that weak thing call love you've shared with your friends and family?" he coarsely asks.
"What do you know?" I icily recoiled. "You're a murderer!"
"You know it simply does not bother me when you embellish it like that. In fact, you accentuate the name calling to something more of a pleasurably liking." he smirks.
I shook my head, Rufus Shinra was absolutely insane.
"So, what news from my good friend Arthur?" Rufus circles me, pulling gently on the tendrils of hair.
I stiffened, "he says go waste yourself. This war is for champions not rich, power-hungry boys who own the IQ of a stick. Not to sound rude your majesty, but perhaps you should allow your father the opportunity to practically perform - perhaps a better show, rather than the weak essentiality you call war -
*Slap*
A sharp slap was delivered to my cheek. Pulling my hair back gruffly, he angrily stares at me, "how dare you speak to me this way" he wrenches his hand tighter in my hair.
"Your father will die at the end of this war and I will make the Red Heart enthusiasts beg - beg for their lives. Everyone of you who wears that wretched crest will bare my torture… even you" he deliberates for a moment in silence.
"Take her to the prison." he turns his back on me "no more comfort for the princess" he leaves the room.
"You wanted to see me" came a cold voice.
Rufus scowls aloud, his annoyance very obvious. He flicks back his head, "talk about timing" came the subtle reply.
Standing in the center of the hall was a black suited man with long silver hair nursing a bandaged arm.
"I try" he sarcastically replied.
Rufus places done the folder, augmenting his father to begin the discussions.
"Seems like you've suffered injury to the Red Hearts?" Velrog begins "and here it is they a raise a pacifist uncultured to violence. How exactly does that work?" he shakes his head.
Sephiroth said nothing, remaining silent and stoic.
Velrog ushers the General to sit, who humbly obliges.
"I must ask you" Velrog leans over the table, "Are any devices known and prepared by Arthur?"
Sephiroth notices suddenly the reason for his call. The afternoon could not wait for the interrogation that was hungry from both power-hungry men. Velrog's face radiates with a sort of excitement - a kind of fascination which follows the lines of a sick fanaticism. There he say, the man enjoyed war tactics almost as much as he enjoys a good propaganda - seemingly, that is.
Rufus leans into his chair, quieter than usual, eager perhaps like his old man.
Sephiroth at length, inhales a deep breath and begins, "they have indeed hired the works of Mack Knights in the creation of the Mechs. As you already know, there are 5 pieces to this puzzle. The Mech we control is a central hub to the other four. In my limited time spent with the Red Hearts, they've abrasively interrogated me in attempt of gaining our information - they've always been very foolish in their inquisition. There questions were designed with their insecurities as the pivot, as such, I found that - this 'Weapon' is not a single Mech, it is a combination of five. They've also decided to scrap the machines, including this one, which I presume is already dead. At best, we should modify the mech, employing Mack Knight scientists, programmers and engineers into our work. I've already found a few scientists and programmers, for the most part I think it can be done" Sephiroth informs.
"You 'think', what does that mean?" Rufus was quick to discharge.
"It means that there is a probability that the machine might not work even with scientists and programmers involved. We can't anticipate whole-heartedly that even with the probing of scientists the machine will work. The fact that we're on the eve of war and we don't have a weapon, or rather a weapon that is 'brain' dead, makes it invaluable to our cause. Our options are limited as well as the resources to further them. Being prudent, resourceful and productive should be our agenda right now. To build a Mech of such architecture would only incur costs, and potentially create trouble when considering Lockhart - has scouts and allies everywhere. We wouldn't want our Mech's parts coming from the enemy, indirectly. This is all a suggestion" he pauses, "consider it my tenacious involvement in understanding our status quo and the environmental factors that are against us." Sephiroth explains, maintaining eye contact with Rufus.
Velrog leans into his chair, "interesting." the man mumbles, "very good General Sephiroth. Again you've brought ideas to the table for consideration, I'll certainly have the council take these factors into consideration" Velrog stated.
"With all due respect father… Sephiroth" Rufus begins in the same ungrateful tone. "Exactly how does a captured General show his tenacious involvement into the war when, bluntly putting it you were damn well captured. How is it that you found scientists and programmers and we here have not? Doesn't that spark a bit of fishiness?" Rufus narrows his eyes on Sephiroth.
Velrog sighs.
Sephiroth eyes the man menacingly. If it was one thing Rufus Shinra had to be other than mischievous, was annoying.
"Do you enjoy framing me a criminal? It must be quite an enjoyable pastime. Personally speaking, I'd prefer you tell me right now what you think my agenda was and then label me perpetually the enemy or savior because surely I am not the latter. To waste my time at the expense of your lucrative insults, mocks the very solemnity of this war and the understanding of our prerogative. However the chances of you understanding such a mundane thing is beyond your simple brain's intellect." Sephiroth was quick to bite back.
"Have I touched a nerve?" Rufus' eyes were dark and diabolical-looking.
"Careful Shinra, my mutual understandings are through the affiliate of your father. It is not by your penmanship do I stay with Black Crescents; perhaps when the time is right and your eyes are checked, you should redress yourself to learn, it is your father's signature dotted on my contract of fidelity and honor to Black Crescents, not by yours" Sephiroth lecherously adds.
"I don't doubt my father is robbed to your title, breath and mask of trickery. What man you couldn't be rob with that sword and legacy of yours." he scoffs, "all the world is bowed to your knees, faltered back to your awesome entity. By word, to trifle with the Great General Sephiroth is to trifle with death head-on… a most foolish engagement I know, but to tell me I lack the intellect of understanding your 'true' character would be a direct insult to me. These simpletons worship you, blindly trusting you for all you have done and for once I can say you have done something - you've stimulated a race of blind believers. You see Sephiroth, it is not that I don't trust my 'most' accomplished player, no, what really bothers me is empty records, empty archives. Who the hell are you is what I want to know, is your name even really Sephiroth?" Shinra explains.
"Gentlemen!" Velrog shouts out, stamping his hands loudly into the table.
Sephiroth and Rufus look away.
"It is the eve of war and our enemy is already 3 steps ahead of us with little to no hesitation on inaugurating the war. Please, for the sake of Black Crescents and for what is most important, refrain from this immature idiocy." Velrog orders.
Rufus and Sephiroth said nothing.
Aerith sat there listening to Scarlett talk about things she never thought imaginable. Being on the field for so long, one might consider the nature of being a reconnaissance commander worthwhile and perhaps too, beneficial to the 'other' important aspects of her life. Aerith noted that she was no match for the Scarlett.
"That Lockhart girl is really driving me up a wall" Scarlett starts bitterly.
Aerith lightly grins, "what female prisoner doesn't drive you mad?"
Scarlett dodges the playful attack, "its different Aerith" she informs.
Aerith sighed and listened to Scarlett's jealousy this time.
"Lets hear it" Aerith gestures to her friend.
Scarlett was flush from anger, "its just every time Rufus is around her, he acts differently. It's not like the other prisoner girls, she's different" she explains, "I can't explain it. Something about her makes him mesmerized…silly really. By nature the most Rufus wants from his prisoners is tantalizing but with Lockhart he's almost …bended to her." she shakes her head, "at first I thought nothing of the pacifist, but when I found Rufus in his room with promiscuous women apparel about him, I honestly grew concerned. Something tells me he really likes her and not just in the simple: 'I want to get in your bed' but in the very serious 'I want you in my bed'. Totally different" she explained.
Aerith blinks back, "okay so let me get this straight. You think he likes her because of some hidden mesmerizing trait?" she looked at the woman inquiringly.
Scarlett nodded, "I don't know what it is about her, but she's got him good" she scowls, "and damn her for taking him away from me"
Aerith sighs, "you do know you're taking this out of perspective right? She's the enemy, Scarlett. Fantasizing sexually about her is one thing, but literally liking her anymore than that is completely unrealistic. He's the son of Velrog - heir of Black Crescents. There's no possible way she, of all people could wrap him around her finger like that" she explained.
Scarlett's expression remains grim. She complacently stares at the floor, fixated in time.
"What is it?" the younger girl asks.
"Aerith" she starts, "I don't like this pacifist for lots of reasons. My biggest reason being because I'm insecure, but" she draws out the last word, "its not just Rufus that has the hots for Tifa, in fact loads of soldiers are being condemned for their sudden attractions to the vixen"
'Here we go again' thought Aerith.
Scarlett looks up, "what I'm about to tell you is real hush-hush. You can't tell anyone" she explains.
Aerith realized the tone and atmosphere had changed. It would seem she had something to say of total secrecy.
Scarlett scans the door behind them ensuring the coast was clear. Lowering her voice she beacons for Aerith to draw closer.
"About a month ago, there was a so-called scandal at Black Crescents. In fact nobody knew, not even the old man. It would seem one morning when the Lockhart girl had to be interrogated by Rufus, he discovered something which he believes unbelievable." she paused, "it would seem the 'innocent' pacifist-my-ass, was caught in an engaging manner with General Sephiroth." she explained.
Aerith heard one word and her heart sank. Sephiroth?
Notes: I know I am super late with the update and I'm not sure if anyone is reading anymore but for sake of clearing the waves, I want to finish this story too. So go ahead, i know some of you wanna cuss...hey, go right ahead, i deserve it. No excuses from me other than i kinna messed up.
Please drop me a comment, lets chat like old times, cuss like old times and tell me what you think.
Thank you for reading, sincerely.