Shedding Tears

Chapter Two

Rufus followed Tseng out of the room after being patched up and getting a change of clothes. They walked down the hallway quietly, he ignored the stares of the people and kept concentrated on what was in front of him. Not all of the scrapes and bruises went away and Rufus was pretty sure some of the people on this floor heard what happened in the office, but none dared to say anything because of the presents of Tseng.

"Ignore them, Rufus. Everyone that works on this floor is so far up the President's ass and so prissy it's not funny."

"But Tseng, don't you work up here too? Doesn't that make you just as bad as them?" Rufus kept a straight face.

Tseng looked down at Rufus and attempted to say something several times before smiling,"Your...mother wanted me here. She told me to keep a good eye on you. So I shot for the top of the Turks."

Rufus stopped at the elevator and pushed the down button, then turned around and glared at the few people that were still staring. If they still worked here when he was President he'd fire them, no questions about it. When the elevator finally came to the top, everyone had gone back to their duties. Rufus sighed and walked into the elevator pushing the button to the ground floor then turned to look over the city of Midgar. He placed his hands on the glass, and watched the night sky hug tightly around the large city. One day this would be his, the only thing that scared him was the possibility of becoming just like his father. Ruling by power, all of the people hating him, despising him every moment of the day. His thoughts were interrupted by Tseng's hand resting on his shoulder.

"You'll be fine." he said in a calming voice.

Rufus meekly smiled,"I know I will be I was just surveying over what will soon be mine."

Tseng smiled and stepped out of the elevator first when it came to a stop. Rufus followed looking at the two men that stood in front of him. One was a tall bald man that stood perfectly straight and his suit was pressed to perfection. He liked the way this man looked and had heard many good things about him, like that he scored near the top of the guard ranks. The only thing that set him apart from the others was his extreme loyalty and his ability to finish any task set in front of him. Rufus walked up to the man and looked up at him.

"What's your name?" he walked around the man.

"Uh..Randy..sir." the guy watched him walk around him.

Rufus stopped in front of him and looked into his eyes, he could tell just by looking at him that he had a family. Actually, Rufus had read the records so he knew that Randy had family. The man's wife was pretty well known throughout lower parts of Midgar. The records also stated that he also had a son, perhaps in the future he'd look him up. He continued his gaze to the other man whom had a cigarette hanging delicately from the edges of his lips. Rufus could already tell this man was going to be a pain. This was Rhett, also a guard, though he was known world over to be a big pain in the ass, his skills were way above normal.

Tseng walked over to Rhett and ripped the cigarette from him. Rufus shook his head and waved his hand.

"They'll do, but then again it's not up to me to make all the decisions. It's his choice." Rufus looked up at the two men,"You better kiss ass if you wanna get the job."

With that Rufus walked off away from the two now flabbergasted men. He walked outside and looked up at the sky. He knew that the President would be down soon to inspect possibly two new Turks. Rufus rubbed a sore spot on his cheek, he wanted that bastard to pay, he wanted him to suffer. He walked over to the side of the building and sat down on the ground. It was here that his mother died, after seventy floors of falling. Seventy stories to watch herself fall and realize that she would never see her child again, and it was seventy stories up that Rufus had seen her hit the ground. He didn't know which was worse, living the aftermath, or watching your death come closer until the end. What made him even more angry was that his "father" never gave her a burial, he just commanded the scientists to completely dispose of her. He looked up at the stars one final time, he knew she would watch over him. Rufus got up, dusted himself off and walked back inside past the President and to the glass elevator. He glanced briefly back at him then stepped into it and hit the up button. He would rest for now, and think of ways to rid himself of this pest.

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Rufus woke up to the annoying bright sun in his eyes, he squinted and slowly sat up from the bed. He had fallen asleep without thinking of a single way to get rid of the President. The only thing that he could do was just wait, patience was an ability that he inherited from his mother. It would be a while, but he would just have to let time takes it's course, or wish that someone would do all the dirty work for him. Rufus would hate to get his hands stained with blood so early. He got up and dressed slowly, not wanting to leave the safety of his room so soon. Watching his reflection in the mirror, he ran his fingers through his hair then walked out of the room. He was bearly acknowledged by the guards in the hallway, but he could really careless about anything today. He just wanted a day without grief, or even a first glance at the sperm donor. It was down to the Training Facility for him, he wished to see if either of the two he seen yesterday actually passed. Finally making there he looked around, only hearing the humming of the lights.

"Do you need something, sir?" the voice made Rufus jump a little.

He turned around to see Randy sitting behind him. Rufus looked him over inquisitively before finally relaxing again.

"Don't do that again," his eyes narrowed slightly, "I guess seeing you in the Training Facility means that you got the job?"

Randy nodded, "Sorry sir, and yes I did."

Rufus turned motioning for him to follow him, "So I take it you scored high?"

He followed silently for a few moments, "Well, yes, but Rhett did better by a few points, sir."

Rufus stopped and quickly spun around looking up at him, "I do hope your joking," Randy shook his head and Rufus turned back around then continued walking again, "I guess I misjudged him."

Randy straightened a part of his uniform before speaking up again, "I did better when it came to basic knowledge, but when it came to combat, he seemed more fit. I was told that I was too soft and submissive when it came to leadership qualities."

Rufus stopped in front of the Combat Practice room and turned pointing a finger at him, "That is a quality that my father will try to extract from you. I want you to never change. That is a direct order from me. Do you hear me? The last thing we need here are more over demanding idiots."

He smiled as he saluted him, "Yes, sir."

Rufus pushed the door open and walked in to see Rhett drop to his knees coated in sweat and blood. Looking over to the other side of the room he seen someone he had never seen before, a young man. His bright silver hair hung over his body glistening with sweat. His languid face focused on Rhett as he tightly gripped a rod, a typical Turk weapon. The only thing that was out of place was the man sitting in the corner gripping his clipboard grinning; his eyes completely transfixed on the man.

Rufus raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, "Professor Hojo what are you doing here?"

Hojo clutched the board to his chest glaring at the boy, "None of your business boy. I'm done here. Let's go," he stood up quickly leaving the room.

Rufus inwardly shuddered, he never really liked Hojo; there was just something about him that never really sat right. The man was a genius as he had heard countless times, but that gave him no rights to be liked. He was known throughout Midgar as a bastard, always in thought never sharing anything. He looked at the silver haired man, who to his surprise was gazing right back at him. His eyes glowing a bright green, Rufus suddenly felt as though he would get sucked into them and quickly averted his gaze. That man made him feel like an inferior being, as if Rufus were to take a step toward him, he'd be instantly killed. The man casually discarded the rod and quietly followed Hojo. After he left the room seemed lighter and a bit more cheerful.

Rhett collapsed onto the ground, "That bastard seriously gave me the creeps. It was as if he had no soul."

Rufus still staring at the doorway muttered, "That's what happens when you stay around Hojo too long."

Randy pulled his gaze from the doorway, "Who was that, sir?"

Rufus walked over to the rod and picked it up looking it over, "I'm...not quite sure. I've heard rumors of some powerful new SOLDIER, I guess that might have been him."

Rhett took ahold of the helping hand Randy held out,"That was Sephiroth, top ranking SOLDIER."

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11-26-07 Note: I plan on finishing Chapter 3 very soon (been busy), I've got a big chuck of it started I just...sorta forgot where I was going with it. I thank you guys for the reviews I've gotten back on track because of them, I need to go though some ideas in my head and then all be all set. Also, for some reason it's not showing that I update...help anyone? Again, thanks!