A.N. I would like to apologise, first and foremost, for the amount of time it has taken to upload this next chapter. I'm so Sorry! But I hope it is enjoyable anyway!
Rufus Shinra sat in his office, gazing out of the window over the sprawling city below him. It was grey and dull and dark and entirely oppressive, but recently he found he had grown fond of it.
He had recovered from the geostigma with a new outlook on life; he had been spared twice now. He wasn't so sure there would be a third.
The large desk in front of him had been delivered to his office with a tag that read simply: 'New start, new paperwork, new desk. Reeve.' It had been a convenient gift; he had needed a new desk anyway, moving back into the old building. And it was a nice desk too. Solid and smooth with a mahogany finish.
Absentmindedly, he ran his fingers along it.
He did wish that it had been someone other than Reeve though. The man was irritating with his senseless optimism. Rufus was a realist, and working with the director of the WRO sometimes gave him a headache.
He was brought out of his musings by the sound of the door opening behind him. Startled, he turned his head towards the door. The familiar figure of a lanky redhead shifted in the shadows.
"What is it, Reno?"
His father would have been proud of that: not a hint of emotion.
"I was just wondering if you could help me."
Rufus sighed.
"Reno, we've been through this already. You are to convince Cloud as a punishment for costing me another substantial amount of money and paperwork: the last thing we need when getting started again."
Reno shifted uncomfortably, shrugging his shoulders as though trying to adjust his jacket.
"That's not what I meant."
Rufus frowned.
"Then what?"
"Actually, there are a number of things I think you can tell me." The redhead moved forward, to stand beside Rufus' chair. He stared out of the window. "Firstly, how long have I worked for you?"
Rufus stared at the other man for a moment, trying to decide whether or not he was joking.
"I… don't know, Reno. Maybe ten years. Maybe more." He paused. "But even drunk you have enough memory to know that. Why do you ask?"
He narrowed his eyes, just slightly. The question had, he admitted silently, unnerved him. Reno didn't usually beat about the bush when he wanted something, he just said it.
"Ten years…" Reno continued to stare out of the window, crossing his arms across his chest and frowning, as though racking his brains.
"I hate liars."
Rufus, despite all his practise, his experience at being completely and utterly non-responsive, at giving as little away as possible, jumped. He couldn't help it. Less than four months ago, someone else had said that. Reno had sounded like Kadaj.
"Reno? What's-"
The redhead turned towards him and cocked his head to one side, considering. A grin slowly spread across his foxy features.
Rufus regarded him for a moment and then began to slide his hand under the desk, towards the alarm button. His fingers had almost found it, when Reno darted forward, snatching at his wrist and pushing him in his chair backwards across the room.
"Now, now. Play nicely and I might even let you live."
Rufus took a deep, steadying breath, and forced himself to stare up at the Turk, who was still standing by his desk. He lifted up the nameplate and studied it.
"'President R. Shinra.' Today, Mr Shinra, you are going to play my game." He began to walk, purposefully, towards the chair. "Don't make this difficult for me. If you do, I may have to change the rules."
He leant close to the younger man and pressed the cold metal of his EMR against the pale cheek.
"Shall we begin?"
