Disclaimer: Final Fantasy does not belong to me...however much I may like it to. I own no characters, places etc. etc. so please don't sue me! I'm a nice person :)
Author's Note: Chapter Twelve...PLEASE review as I really enjoy reading your views and they inspire me to get better! It would make me very very happy! Anyway stop reading this and get on with reading the fic! Hope you enjoy! :)
Chapter Twelve: Fear, Respect and Calming Moments
A light echo reverberated around the office's four, perfectly symmetrical walls, as the panelled door fell back into its frame, leaving a metallic click to join the soft emittance as the concealed latch locked into place.
As the young man began to make his way across the room, his feet barely touched the carpeted surface, as though the beautiful black leather surrounding his feet, were immune to weight, and instead only brushed against the floor's fibrous covering, with an almost delicately unappreciated grace.
Whilst his silver blonde shaded hair almost melt away against the lightened paint brushed walls, his clothed form seemed to be jarringly out of place, and yet also brought a certain boldness, like a bright red detail upon an otherwise spray black car, or a single white lily floating upon a darkened green bed of pond algae.
That day, he had chosen, for no particular reason, to dress ever so slightly out of his normal style range, which usually consisted of pristine whites, jet blacks, and royal blues, though that morning, he had instead, found himself pulling on a rather purple hue pinstripe suit, which was both dark in shade, and yet obvious in its colouring, whose audacity only increased with the golden stitching which ran along the various seams.
Although the colouring would have looked shockingly bizarre on any other Shin-Ra employee, it seemed to work perfectly upon the young President, whom, unlike many other's, was happily at ease with his appearance.
True, it would be quite correct to say that he would never go to work looking less than his best, and always bought his clothing from the finest tailors residing in Edge, but it was also rather clear, that although he strived to present himself well, he never seemed bothered, or even moved by the odd comment or facial reaction from either his employee's or the city's inhabitants.
This fact, in turn almost made his image invincible, within its steadfast confidence and conviction; after all, if someone is shown to believe completely in their image, their work, and themselves, the other people surrounding them, tend to become drawn into it themselves.
Unlike the entrance, his own foot steps made no noticeable sound, which, along with his quietly controlled breathing and the gentle rustle of suited fabric, made the once empty atmosphere blend together with something ever so slightly more warming and serene.
The window had long been pulled free from its covering, thus allowing its reflective double paned structure to be pierced by pure, whitened rays, which freckled down, across the room's coutures, causing everything in its line to be warmed gently, especially the equipment which sat upon the wooden desk, placed merely a metre or so from the window, as its metal-plastic frame effortlessly conducted a massing degree.
His office had remained unused as of yet that day, although the time was considerably past the midday mark and the list of company details to be completed was as regenerative as ever. The President's absence was quite usual, and rather unsurprising, after all, he was effectively the company's controlled, thus he was expected to attend and take part in many an important meeting, though most of the time he found them to be dull in both content and delivery.
That morning, he'd had sat through a long-timed scheduled meeting withthe head of the new PR department, and a rather impromptu meeting to discuss and deliberate the rather sudden, yet growing concern surrounding one of his latest decisions made to, and carried out with the raven-haired Turk leader Tseng.
When Rufus had sat himself down upon the soft, cushioned surface of the desk's tailor-made chair, and awakened his computer from its blackened hibernation, his light shaded brow furrowed, as his icy blue gaze drifted across the now familiar screen display.
His mouse hovered uncertainly for a few moments, before his hand released it without instruction, as something inside him fought against the tug to open the folder which he had most desired to.
Something was wrong. He knew it. It was the only explanation, the only reasonable excuse for this collision of both new and unwanted emotions, which caused his mind to falter with confusion, whilst he tried, desperately, to control and quell the welling, unseen mass.
The young man lowered his lids for a few moments, as his focus attempted to return, though before he could manage to clear his storming thoughts, he was met with the sensory vibration of a few weighted thumps, which emitted from an approaching form just beyond his office door.
The wooden panel swung open with a degree of violent force, to reveal the last, and yet also the only person Rufus would allow to enter in such a way.
Her brunette hair dazzled as the sun-lightened rays played upon it, displaying all the deep, warming tones within its beautifully smooth strands.
She didn't seem to notice the surprisingly pleased smile gracing the blonde's features, and when he continued to observe her form within the few seconds left of silence between them, he was quick to find himself mesmerized; the hair, those eyes, that form, that face, everything was a joy to view, and yet, all he could manage to do in return, was to look upon her, with nothing but cold emotion.
The young woman took a firm, bravely confident step forwards, and placed her hands upon her curvaceous shape, before latching gaze with the President's own, ''I want some answers...''
The young blonde remained upon his cushioned seat, whilst allowing his brow to raise ever so slightly and his form to relax gently into its back, giving off an air of unimpressed amusement.
This undeclared fact only increased when his icy blue gaze narrowed towards his chosen direction of the brunette, with her own crimson-tinted gaze set into a burning glare.
Her face contorted lightly, as a fresh array of burning sparks freckled across its contours, ''Well...?''
The smallest hint of a smirk played upon the President's thin, pale lips, though when he spoke, his tone remained as steady and as calm as his demeanour, ''Well what? You said you wanted answers...that usually implies there has or will be a question asked first. You have stated no such thing, so I'm unfortunately unable to fulfil this little demand of yours.'' He almost lost control of his amusement as he observed her reaction of tightly clenched fists, and soon found his brow raising again in an attempt to withhold the break in restraint, as he added his unnecessary, but thoroughly self-enjoyed inquiry, ''I am right in thinking that even someone as unrefined as you has some familiarity with the procedures of conversation?''
''How dare you!'' Tifa'sarms unlocked from their previously closed position across her waist, and she took a few daring steps towards the desk, as her body trembled with a blend of anger, frustration, confusion and an almost unnoticeable degree of emotional hurt.
The young man eyed her with amusement for a few seconds, the silent torment he was enforcing upon her bringing both pleasure, and a strange form of curious interest.
She soon tired of his non-responsive attitude, and pushed forward her own continuation, rather unaware that her fuelled outbursts were only providing more dazzling entertainment for there recipient, ''You have no right to invade my privacy like that, I mean putting up those...-'' her youthfully soft face tautened slightly at the enforced knowledge, ''...things in my bar! My bar!''
His careful control seemed to falter without seeablereason, causing the brunette's own to waver withlight shock, though the moment only last for a few seconds and soon his familiar arrogance had returned, along with a delicately placed smirk, ''Come, come Miss. Lockhart, I'm actually quite surprised it's taken you so long...I've been expecting you to barge through my doors for quite some time now...'' A light, solitary eyebrow cocked before he allowed another unnecessary addition to slip out into the tensed air, like a wisp of unseen smoke, ''You've become quite slack since your time in AVALANCHE.''
The once strongly blazing flame within the brunette seemed to flicker dangerously, as her facial contours fell in an almost disappointed shame, and when she had gathered together her senses, the young woman's tone only mirrored her dimming embers, ''I thought you were trying to be...''
As her crimson-tinted gaze lowered, Rufus allowed his smirk to evaporate, in place of a half raised eyebrow, ''Trying to be...?''
''Nice.''
''You should know better that to associate such words with me.'' He smiled, although his arrogance didn't seem present within his tone.
A brief silence settled between them, before the young brunette directed her line of sight once again to the President's seated form, ''Why?'' She paused for a moment as she choked down her own angry confusion like a swallowed wave painfully rippling down her slender throat, ''Why did you do it?''
Rufus shifted his own icy stare, and chose silently to ignore, and dismiss the uncomfortable inquiry, because, he was, unknown to his unscheduled guest, he himself, truly unsure of the answer.
As the seconds of quiet tension ticked by, the young woman attempted to push the subject again, her voice airing with a definitively stronger tone, ''Tell me.''
''No.''
''But-''
She was cut off with a firmly placed hand, which the blondehovered between them as a silent demand to cease, as his authoritative demeanour returned with a seemingly unrelenting force, ''I don't have to tell you anything Miss. Lockhart, and in fact, you're luckily I haven't had you thrown out yet.'' He eyed her swiftly before picking picking up an unimportant piece of paperwork, in an attempt to redirect his attention, ''Now, if all that steam is out of your system-''
The brunette interrupted him with a signal word, which although small, was almost jarring in its impact of emotional importance to the speaker, ''Reno...''
Rufus refused to stop with his 'work related' actions, as he tried to made his tone as unmoved as possible, ''What about him?''
''Where is he?'' She took another step towards his desk, and laid to boldly placed hands upon its surface, thus bringing herself mere inches from the blonde, ''What have you done with him?''
''The young man is not currently stationed within the city.''
Her brow furrowed with light confusion, ''What do you-''
He lifted his icy blue gaze up to the young woman positioned before him, and spoke with complete and utter convicted seriousness, unable to apply any amusement as his own anger set in, ''It became apparent that he had somewhat...lost sight of what it means to be a Turk.'' he allowed his attention to wander across her form before adding, ''His attentions were straying elsewhere.''
Tifa seemed taken aback, as she filled with both guilt and concern,''Is it dangerous?''
''That...'' The blonde pushed his chair back a few inches, as he prepared himself to rise, ''...is none of your concern.''
The brunette's angry flared once again, as the flame within her was fuelled by his refusal, ''He's my friend!''
''Oh really?'' Rufus lifted himself up swiftly, as his own emotions grew stronger than the walls controlling them, ''You seem more than a tad upset for it to just be about a mere...friend.'' His face was contorted lightly, though his voice had been filled with something stronger than annoyance, and the newly discovered feeling unnerved him as it worked its way through his psyche.
Tifa seemed not to notice and carried on withan added pinch of defiance, ''Just because you're incapable of finding anyone who actually likes you-'' His hand did not rise this time to silence her, but the frightening unreadable emotion flashing behind his cold gaze was more than enough to snatch away any vocal strength that remained.
He slowly walked around the wooden piece of office furniture, and drew his form closer to her own, forcing the tension between them to grow to an almost unbearable height, ''I think you'll find this conversation is over.''
The young woman backed off instinctively, though forced her gaze to remain upon the blonde's own, and as she studied him, she even allowed a small smirk to grace her lips, light pink frame, ''Fear and intimidation must be close personal friends.''
Rufus joined her, creating a mirrored facial effect, before slowly returning to his desk, though not to his seat.
As she watched him, her eyes drifted over the computer perched upon the wooden surface, and a barrage of images flooded her mind, causing something to snap within her, as her attention was redirected to the subject of her visit.
Tifa was quick in her approach, though before her finger tips could even brush against the plastic metallic mix, her arm was grabbed, and her body pulled away, resulting in her own form being held inches from her capturer's.
He tightened his grip as she attempted to free herself, though her restraint was never made to be painful, as his real anger was played out in his pre-conversation snarl, ''You need to be taught some respect.''
Tifalaughed with unimpressed protest, ''Do what you want! Hurt me, bully me, turn my world to ash...but nothing...nothing...will ever make me respect you.''
''Oh we'll see about that...'' The blonde's grip loosened immediately, as he leaned himself over to lift the phone's receiver which sat upon his desk.
The brunette's confidence flickered as she observed him with apprehensive interest, ''What are you doing...?'' A small grimace of obviously mocked fright played out upon her features, ''Calling someone to go smash my bar...''
The President's amusement seemed to return with her attempt, ''Now why would I want to do that? After all I spent so much of my own money making it beautiful.''
Her brow furrowed, ''Then what?''
''You said I could do what I like to you and you wouldn't respect me...but I wonder, if I took out your punishment upon Reno...would you feel the same?''
Her eyes widened with a painful suddenness, and soon she was drawing her form closer, shaking her head, whilst an almost inaudible whisper escaped, ''You wouldn't...''
''Oh, but you know that I would.'' He matched her gaze with a steady conviction, which mirrored his tone.
A swift smirk flashed across his lips, as he proceeded to dial, though the action was cut short by a forceful tug upon his jacket, which caused him to spin slightly, though his composure soon returned and within moments he'd realised himself from her grip and cornered her upon the desk's edge.
Both forms were leanttogether, and though both were aware of the lack of space between them, neither seemed able to move against.
''Don't...'' Her crimson-tinted gaze glinted as she pleaded softly.
His own tone took after the brunette's, though his was lined with something stronger, ''Persuade me.''
The word seemed to flow with ease, though Tifa had been made to use a great deal of will to release it, ''Please...''
''Please?'' The blonde's eyebrow raised expectantly.
Her facial contours flinched tightly before she allowed herself to succumb, ''Please...Sir.''
His hand's, which lay either side of her form upon the desk, released their pressured stance, as he brushed closer spoke with a teasing gentleness, ''Better, Miss Lockhart.''
As Rufus stepped back and turned, his face displayed a smirk of satisfaction, though as he reached the office furniture's closest edge, his ears picked up on the softest, most trembling sound.
His blonde locks whipped through the air like blades, as he swiftly returned his icy gaze to the brunette still leaning against his desk, now slumped, as her arms encircled and cradled her distraught, emotionally weakened form, ''Are you crying?''
She didn't answer him, as though to admit the action she was quite clearly carrying out would somehow make it far to real, and the shame she would feel at the admittance would consequently be to much to bear.
Rufus remained rooted to the spot, somewhat paralysed but the unexpected outburst, which was softly being emitted from the young woman, and as he spoke, his tone was filled more with quiet distress than anger or vexation, ''Stop it.''
The brunette's form gave a tiny jerk as she fought to choke back the lump within her throat, ''I can't help-''
Within a single blurred moment, Tifa found her body being straightened forcibly, though not uncomfortably, by two strongly controlled hands encircling her shoulders and when she managed to focus through the reflective wet film across her crimson-tinted eyes, she was compelled to stare deeply into the neighbouring gaze.
The feeling only intensified as the young blonde's thin lips parted, and he spoke, with a degree of soft, almost uncertain emotion, through his ever still remaining expression, ''I said...stop crying.'' he paused so much shortly, it was almost unnoticeable, before adding, ''Tifa.''
Her eyes gave a twitch of recognition, as the use of her name sent shock waves of fear down her spine, though not the distressing sort, but rather the nervous kind, as the use of such a term by him, was suddenly being made to feel strangely intimate.
The two lingered within their held position for a while, seemingly mesmerized, as their opposing breathes collided with one another'ssensitive skin, with a tingling delicacy.
They only moved when the President leaned against her slightly, and reached across to the desk surface, where he gracefully pulled a tissue from its cardboard box and proceeded to hand it to the young woman, whose face glistened with light, moist trails, before backing off.
As she watch him reposition himself by one of the desks joining sides, Tifa raised the thin piece of paper-like material to her face and dabbed gently, though the display of tears was not nearly as effecting, as the confusion which had suddenly replaced her pitiful distress.
She almost wanted to thank him for the brush of kindness, but before the words were even allowed to process within her mind, the pool of outrage welled up once again, and soon she had swiftly snapped back to her entrance demount, as she spoke through gritted teeth, ''I want those cameras down.''
The blonde noticed the revert but seemed unbotheredby it, as he calmly responded, with the refined arrogance which had become his familiar trademark, ''I have a right to keep them in place. I'm protecting my investment after all.''
Tifa gave an unimpressed huff, ''It isn't an investment, you don't own any of it.''
''Still, try and take me on, in any court of law and you will fail.'' He didn't smile as her face dimmed with the realisation of truth behind his statement.
There was a short pause, before she tried again, this time with a different tactical approach, but still her voice remained steady, and controlled, ''I don't want to be watched.''
''You've been watched for over a month now, and you haven't even remotely cared.''
Her mouth almost fell open in disbelief at the blatant attempt at moral reasoning, ''But I didn't know, I-'' She stopped abruptly as her eyes experienced a lightening fast flash of anger, ''I'll take them down myself.''
Rufus, again, seemed somewhat unmoved by the threat to his equipment, ''We'll see.''
The brunette spun upon the carpeted foot, with a defiant dig of her heels, and made to leave the room, though when she was but a metre from the door, she stopped and shifted her upper torso so she was able to direct her attention back to the President.
''If anything happens to him...''She didn't need to say his name, as the emotional tug from her tone clearly displayed their identity.
The young blonde raised his brow a fraction, ''You'll what?''
Her crimson-tinted eyes glassed over for a moment, before, she herself raised a solitary eyebrow, and spoke through trembling lips; the sight both beautiful and terrifying in its conviction , ''I'll kill you.''
The President's gaze remained steady, and his expression never changed, even when she spoke her threatening words, neither a painful grimace or frightening twitch appeared, and when he decided to respond, his tone completely and utterly controlled, without a hint of emotion, ''Leave now.''
Tifastared with confusion at his form for a few moments, before turned back, once again to the door, and as five of her slender fingers wrapped themselves around its handle, she smirked, though not hatefully, but rather triumphantly.
''By the way, I think you should look up the term 'respect'.'' Her body didn't move to face its comment's recipient this time, though her confident smile could be heard well enough through her tone.
Rufus raised his gaze slightly, although his voice was filled with disinterest, ''Oh yes?''
''You seem to think respect and fear is the same thing.'' She pushed the door open now, so her exit was cleared, through she took her time in delivering her closing line, ''I am right in thinking that someone as refined as yourself, would have some familiarity withthe concept of a thesaurus?'' and with that she allowed herself to pass over the frame and the wooden panel to fall back behind her, leaving the young blonde feeling intrigued, amused, and also uncomfortable, as he experienced his first few waves of conscious guilt.
The remaining day-light hours had proceeded to drift by like mere moments, with the sun having long since set, leaving the young man's office now, no longer bathed in like warming light, but rather left in a pale, almost painfully dim glow, as the clouded moon bathed its whitened shine.
Having completed the last pieces of most self-needed paperwork, Rufus let out a silent groan, and leant back against the cushioned backed seat, which creaked, and rustled softly in response.
His day had been interesting to say the least, and after enduring both the predictable and unexpected events, the blonde found himself to be rather tired, with his body aching for rest, whilst his mind cried out for silence.
Though, with this being said, his mental workings seemed to refuse the quiet request, as they instead chose to power through some rather painfully exhausting overtime.
Rufus let out a rumbling growl of agitation as he slumped back forwards, so his elbows hit the desk top surface with a dulled thump, before lowering one of his arms, so as to get within touching distance of the metallic piece of plastic covered equipment, proceeding to swiftly direct its internal orders, finally allowing it to rest for a few hours, and cool down its overrun workings.
When the screen had blackened and the internal drive had ceased to vibrate with mechanical action, the young blonde rose from his chair and made his way back across the room and towards the door, whilst subconsciously finding himself bringing a splayed hand up and over his brow, in some vain attempt at forcing his still thought-clogged mind to behave.
As he opened up the partition, Rufus was met with a somewhat familiar, soft, lingering smell, which must have been left hanging across the threshold, and as he continued through the invisible haze of the light, strangely calming, and somewhat delightfully sensory perfume, Rufus failed to notice his mind had finally joined with him in his desire for peace.
A/N= Sorry for the wait! I've been super busy this week, because finally, after...nearly nineteen years I'll be getting my own room...
Me and my sister have always shared a room...forever, but three years ago she left for Uni...and left all her junk behind; bed, cupboards, books, toys...meaning that although I had my own room,it was still as though I was sharing...
But now, after deciding to take her MA and then move up to Birmingham (where she's studying) afterwards, she's (after much protesting from me) moved all her stuff down to the spare room we have downstairs (which used to be the computer room till we moved them somewhere else about six months ago), I'm finally getting it to myself!
We've re-painted, re-carpeted, got new curtains, new duvet covers, new bed...well futon, new furniture which I never could fit in before (wardrobe, desk, desk chair, nice big shelving unit, light, nice flat screen TV, beanbag, rug, mirror) along with my old stuff, not to mention four beautifully amazing Final Fantasy VII wall scrolls...I literally start salivating just thinking about them...
But yeah...basically I've been/am still in the process of finishing it... thus it has been rather distracting...not to mention hard work...
Anyway, onto the actual chapter!...
Dear me.. Rufus is a little mean in this chapter...but don't worry! I promised he would change to some extent, and that time is coming soon...just not quite yet XD
I mean there was looooads of stuff that I wanted to put in here about Rufus, but it wouldn't all fit! Plus it seemed to work much better for the future chapters, rather than me trying to cram it all into one section.
I mean I can't just have him suddenly change within the space of just one chapter...that would be weird not to mention totally unbelievable!
But I am trying to soften him slightly, and start the slight transition in this chapter...hopefully that came across...
Now, on to the subject of my next update!...
On Friday my parents are going away on holiday again for a week, thus leaving me again with a free house, but unlike last month, my mate is/will be back from University! So basically she'll be coming over for nearly the entire week to keep me company, and enjoy my new room!
Now this will basically mean I'll have no time and actually no opportunity to write anything during those few days, which means it'll be a little longer till you get an update, but not too long!
But I will still be checking my email/profile, so I will read reviews... (hint hint)
And the next chapter should be out sometime early in the week beginning 6th-12th July, :)
Oh and for anyone who reads my RenoxTifa chaptered fic, I'll also be putting this note at the bottom of that one too...