Rufus

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy

There was very little that happened in the ShinRa headquarters that escaped the eyes of one Rufus ShinRa. At times this was a very good thing because it was always inevitable that some piece of random information would become useful at any given moment. However this was also a very bad thing when attempting to plan a surprise party.

Rufus ShinRa's first ever birthday party happening at his…eighteenth birthday. So it was a couple years late, and probably the most jaded thing that the young ShinRa would ever have to sit through, but whatever. It had actually been Reno that suggested that they plan a party for Rufus but then Elena mentioned how Rufus would probably try to dissuade them so Rude, in his deep baritone voice, suggested a surprise party. Tseng had just sat back and watched as the idea caught fire with amazing speed. It seemed as if within the next hour or so (slow for the Turks, but they didn't want to risk Rufus finding out) every Turk knew what was going down in a week.

And the preparations had started instantaneously. Tseng watched with amusement as the Turks sent each other secret smiles and codes, it was adorable how they treated this like a mission. But then again, the entire thing was a big operation. At any given time anyone could slip and Rufus could find out about his secret bash. Which would be horrendous of course, not to mention life threatening to the Turk that gave away their plan. Tseng had never seen Reno so dedicated to anything his life before, not to mention Rude actually supporting him on it.

The big bash was set for the next evening in the 'ball room', a good turn out because unless something happened Rufus would have no need to go anywhere near there any time soon. Also coincidently, Rufus suddenly had to deal with an urgent meeting in sector 9 meaning that he would get home very late. The Turks were banking on his tiredness to keep him from snooping around. If everything worked out, around seven pm tomorrow Rufus would be one surprised heir, if not well then there would be some very upset Turks around. And by upset, it was understood that it also meant homicidal.

The preparations to the party not only included ridiculous party favors which Elena and Reno had found somewhere under the plate, but the guests. Only after they had hacked into the mainframe and cell phone of Rufus' did they realize that the man really had no social life. There were only three people that the Turks didn't know on Rufus's phone, all three of which Tseng identified as distant relatives. But, since they were Turks, if they had a problem they found a solution. Simple as that. Reno, of course went a little wild inviting people that Rufus 'knew'. The three generals were surprised when were suddenly invited a 'secret' birthday party. The first class soldiers wondered if there had been some sort of mistake when they received invitations, and the few second class that received them wondered exactly how the three seconds they saw Rufus ShinRa was equivalent to being invited to the man's birthday party.

Heidegger, Scarlet, and Reeve were in the middle of a heated discussion when the shaking Cadet walked up to them to issue the invites. The poor cadet would never forget the day the three turned on him and asked if it was a joke while reaching for their respective weapons. Zack had been doing laps when the messenger came and forced the boy to run alongside him because he felt if he stopped he would have to start over. Kunsel's invite came in the mail and he wondered if it was Zack attempting another prank. Lazard received his invite from a Turk who suggested that it would be wise if he showed up. Needless to say the man had not been amused but grudgingly agreed.

The only people it seemed, that were not invited, were the doctors (especially Hojo) and ShinRa himself. That is, ShinRa senior. Reno had begged and pleaded until Tseng agreed and dumped an extensive load of paperwork on his bosses head. The only thing the old man would do is ruin the fun night Reno had planned.

And what a night it was. When it finally came time to let the young ShinRa meander his way to the ball room, it turned out that he didn't want to. Reno forced Rufus out of his office saying the fresh air would be good for him all while ignoring the open bay windows in said man's office. Getting Rufus into the car also proved to be a challenge because the man wanted to know where they were going. Lying at first proved to be hazardous to their health because Rufus whipped out his gun and asked if they were kidnapping him.

Finally after ten minutes of cajoling and promising that no, they weren't taking him off to dispose of his body in some unseemly way, they managed to get the young blond into the car. Rude had convinced him that they were just going for a spin and would stop by the entertainment building to pick up something that Reno left there. Of course when they actually got there Rufus question why he had to get out of the car and Reno had to force him out saying that the walk would be good for him. To which Rufus responded in question of whether the Turk was implying something and Rude walked behind the two wondering if he could get through the rest of the party without headache potion.

Reno's excitement grew as they walked down the hallway bickering with Rufus and had to stop himself from bouncing in place when they actually reached the location. He wretched to door open and dragged Rufus inside playfully, feeling the man's shock through their connected hands as the lights went on and the more excited members in the room screamed out surprised (mainly the Turks).

The look on Rufus's face was worth all the trouble the Turks had gone through. Especially since it was not only remembered in memories but in dozens of different photos that were taken by people that Reno had paid off.

Xxx

Sometimes Reno got jealous of Tseng. But it wasn't for any of the reasons anyone may have possibly imagined in their life time. The truth was that Reno and Rufus were actually very good friends. And according to Reno friends were supposed to know about each others 'small things'.

The first time Reno had bought up this conversation with Rufus, the blond had dropped his pen on the desk and promptly asked him if he was drunk. The red head had scowled at his friend and then proceeded to nag Rufus for the rest of the day. Soon enough Rufus had manipulated the conversation enough so that they were nowhere near the subject of 'small things'. Reno had caught onto the new topic and was blathering away missing the small look of relief in Rufus's eyes.

The second time Reno had bought up the subject Rufus had a harder time evading the conversation seeing as they were the only ones in the copter with another couple of hours ahead of them. He could only distract the red head so many times before they went back to the same subject. So Rufus did the only thing left: he faked sickness. Air sickness that is. On that fateful day Rufus ShinRa had lowered himself down the sticking his finger down the back of his throat four times to fully convince Reno that there was something wrong. And after that his personal pilot had been too worried to say anything other than reassurances.

The third time had been the closest call there ever had been. After it Rufus vowed to himself never to get that drunk and burden his already damaged friend with details of his life. He vowed never to scream out again and he vowed never to cry in front of anyone again. Rufus vowed never to wish on a rarely glimpsed star again because there would be someone else out there that needed the wish more than him.

The fourth time never happened.

Xxx

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