Theme: Parents
Disowned
A picture had always rested upon his deck, through the good times, and the bad. It held the beloved depiction of mother, and father stood stoically behind her. At times he could even remember the warmth of their embraces.
But not this day. Today the frame had been violently slammed down, the glass cracked as a result. Somehow he couldn't find it in him to care. Betrayal could do that to anyone, even the best of them.
The phone was ringing incessantly, but still it did not matter to him. It was almost as if the ability to care was beyond him at the moment. Maybe it was because all emotions save shock were beyond him at the moment.
And still the wretched bell rang, demanding his attention. Finally it stopped. Now the intercom went off, buzzing all the while.
"Mister Tuesti? Are you okay?"
No response did he offer her. How could he? Why would he? He was too busy resting his burned-out mind and shattered heart. Trying to understand why exactly this had happened had consumed him. He wasn't really a bad guy was he? But that was what he'd been called, by his own father none the less. And just before them man said that Reeve's own daughter was coming to live with him and his new wife.
Now there was knocking, worse than the ringing and buzzing really. This was because that particular knock indicated a new and specific menace.
"…" no words as the imposing bald Turk strolled into the room.
"Go away Rude."
"Sir," he finally spoke, "Are you injured?"
Yes. Mentally, emotionally, but that wasn't what Rude was asking.
"No."
"Floor?" the Turk questioned. That was Rude for 'Why are you on the floor you jackass?' Well, maybe not jackass, but close enough anyway.
"Comfortable," Reeve replied in Rude's native tongue.
"Problem?" Rude questioned, probably so that he could pass the information on to Tseng.
"Family."
"And?"
"Disowned."
"And?"
"Taking daughter."
"Why?"
"Shin-Ra."
Silence. Reeve could tell that Rude was pondering his situation. As Rude let the silence extend, Reeve grew to realize that there was no way to win.
"Sorry," finally came to fill the gap.
"Yeah," Reeve said, finally sitting up. "Me too."