Chapter Sixteen: Acceptance of an Enemy
Rufus nodded, dismissing Rude by tilting his head slightly toward the door. When the door clicked behind the Turk, Aralyn waited for Rufus to speak. He didn't, and Aralyn's patience was the first to break.
"So talk," she whispered bitterly.
"Let's start with the basic formalities then. How have you been?"
Aralyn stared at him. "Fine. Just fine." She answered cautiously, wondering where he would go with it.
"We could see every one of your ribs through your skin. Care to elaborate?"
Aralyn started, wrapping her arms around her slim torso as if to hide herself. "I…times have been hard."
"Times have been hard, Aralyn?" He looked at her for a long time, waiting for her to continue, but when she didn't, he elaborated for her.
"There was nothing in your cabinet but half a loaf of stale bread and scarce remnants of peanut butter."
"I…"
"There are holes in your roof that are plugged with rags, some of them appearing to have come from beautiful evening gowns. What was in your closet was clearly purchased years ago, and the only thing of value in there was a carefully preserved wedding dress."
"It's none of your business!"
"You only live in the apartment you do because the payments were made in full seven years ago. Since then, you have been largely unemployed. Not because you are lazy, or unintelligent, or unethical. To the contrary, you are the ideal worker. Why, then, would any company seeking a profit refuse the help of such a woman? Tell me, Aralyn."
"For the exact same reason that Shinra refused to employ me!" she shot back.
"That is not true."
"Don't you dare try to tell me that!" she cried. "I came here first thing, and I was violently evicted. No one treated me worse than your company."
Rufus was quiet for a long time. Aralyn did not apologize for her words, and refused to be the first to speak.
"We may not be guiltless," Rufus admitted. "But at the time, we thought it might offer you some kind of protection to keep you at a distance from this place."
"Even if I was to ignore the manner in which I was 'kept at a distance', it's still a fancy way of saying that Sephiroth's wife had—has—no place here." She shrugged the blankets up higher and drew her knees into her. "It's the same thing everyone else said too."
"You would make this easier on yourself if you left him. I know it may hurt, Aralyn, but he's not coming back. He has not been faithful to you, and you owe him nothing. Being married to him can only hurt you."
The thought was like a physical blow to Aralyn. "I…can't," she whispered. "Not…no…"
"Then can I at least persuade you to sell the wedding dress?"
"No!"
"It would put food on the table for at least a month."
"Which would only postpone my death."
Rufus hesitated, but nodded solemnly. "I am aware of your medical condition. I am…sorry. It is hard to see you consuming far more medications than food."
"It shouldn't be. You're the one that let this happen to me in the first place, why should you regret it now?"
"I am trying to make things right, Aralyn."
"I don't want it. I won't take it. I'll turn away anything you offer and if you put it in my house I'll give it away!"
"I may be forced to sedate you and put you on an IV until you regain your strength. I will do it. And if you still resist, I will wipe your memory and erase any thought you ever had of him."
Aralyn was silent, and she clenched her hands together to try to stop them from shaking. She knew that he would too, without a second thought.
"It's tempting, isn't it?" Rufus continued, thinking her silence was the contemplation of his offer. "All the pain and heartache he's caused you…gone."
"That will not be necessary."
There had been no knock or prelude; a dark gunman let himself in, sweeping the door closed behind him.
"Ah, Vincent Valentine," Rufus greeted with a curt nod of his head. "Come to check on Aralyn?"
"The others were worried. I got voted for intelligence duty this time." Vincent strode foreword, throwing his cloak behind him with one gauntleted hand. Though his face was passive and his expression unwavering, Aralyn got the strange feeling that he wasn't being entirely truthful.
"She's fine, as you can see. No permanent damage done, I should think."
"Hm." Vincent tilted his head back only a little, his eyes flaring dangerously. "Then, seeing that she has recovered, I will escort her to her home."
"She and I have business to settle, Valentine."
"I have settled the matter of her employment," Vincent stated simply.
It was quiet for quite a long time.
"You did what?" Aralyn asked uncertainly.
"The pay will not be near what one of your level of education would deserve," Vincent clarified. "But you will at least have enough to eat more than one meal a week."
"It wasn't that bad," Aralyn argued.
Vincent slightly arched one eyebrow. "Wasn't it?"
Aralyn thought it best to remain silent.
"Is there anything else, Shinra?" Vincent asked Rufus.
Rufus looked from Aralyn to Vincent. "No," he said. "No, that is all. You may leave."
Aralyn sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed and slowly raising herself to her feet. She wavered slightly, but soon regained balance. Vincent nodded his approval and beckoned for her to follow him. She did so, but stopped as she passed by Rufus. Etiquette told her that she owed him at least some sort of farewell, even though he frightened her.
"Thank you," she said quietly, bowing her head slightly in respect.
Rufus frowned but nodded, holding the door open for her stiffly. She walked through quickly, running to keep up with Vincent's long strides.
It was much easier for the both of them to breathe once they had exited the Shinra building.