Chapter 10:
Everywhere they went, people greeted Rufus warmly, and every time he would include her, Tifa was introduced as his wife. They were both congratulated, the men on Rufus landing such a stunning wife and the women on Tifa marrying such a kind man.
Tifa didn't know what to make of it. People were warmly accepting her, no questions asked, even though Rufus had clearly been unattached just days before. Upper class citizens, lower class citizens, anyone they encountered, and especially those that Rufus was on a first name basis with, were all kind and accommodating. Halfway through their day, Tifa had a sneaking suspicion that he was showing her off and said as much to him. The throaty laugh he gave her did funny things to her insides.
"In a way, perhaps, but you're also making connections. If something were to happen to me, all of these people would ensure that you would be well taken care of," he replied, lifting one of her hands up to his face so he could place a kiss on her knuckles. That was another thing she had noticed about him. Every time he looked like he wanted to kiss her, he would kiss her knuckles instead. It took all of her self restraint to not wrench her hands out of his grasp when he did that. She had warrior hands, scarred up from her constant battles and the numerous fights she's been in. Although lately, she hadn't had a reason to fight. Looking at her hands in the bright Junon light, it was hard to see the white scars covering her hands, and for a moment, Tifa indulged herself in imagining what it would be like to have smooth skin. That moment quickly passed, and she lowered her hands to her sides. She hated having her hands bare, having them exposed. It was why her gloves covered so much. These past few days she's felt naked without them. . .but. . .
"What do you think would happen to you?" she asked curiously as they continued their stroll along the strip, dipping into an occasional shop when Rufus saw fit. He only frowned at her question.
"I am next in line for the Shinra Corporation. A lot of people are unhappy with the company, and would do anything to get back at us. Unfortunately, by donning the name of Shinra, you yourself will have a target painted onto your back, and I do apologize for that." His other concerns were waved away as Tifa interrupted him.
"I'm a big girl, I can fight my own battles," she told him playfully, lightly punching him in the arm. Knowing her own strength, she held back, and made it like a fist bumping motion.
"Oh, I can see that," Rufus replied, a grin on his face. "But you can't always fight through political battles. At least not until we've taught you a few things."
"We?" Tifa shot back, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Yes, we. I have an assistant as well. Being the Vice President of the company means that I still have to do work," the blond explained teasingly. This did nothing to lower the eyebrow Tifa had by her hairline.
"And when do I get to meet this assistant of yours?" she asked. "How long has she worked for you?" Just saying these words made Tifa feel slightly foolish. Was she. . .was she jealous?! Rufus' laughter didn't make her temper any better, and she directed her ire towards her husband. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, You'll get to meet Jean," Rufus explained. "Jean will actually be meeting us at the restaurant for dinner." Tifa felt a slight surge of annoyance at Rufus laughing at her. Knowing it was petty but doing it anyway, Tifa pouted for the whole 30 seconds it took her husband to lead her into the shop he had promised she would enjoy.
Tifa froze in the doorway, and it was only her hand tucked in Rufus' arm that broke her out of her trance as he pulled her further in.
"I remember you saying you enjoyed working out, back before we got married. I'm not too sure if you feel the same way now, but judging by how toned you are, you do something to keep fit," her husband commented a little nervously as Tifa just stood next to him and gaped at the sportsman store. There were weights and workout clothes, and machines galore that could be bought and put in the home. Rufus took her silence as his cue to keep talking. "I know our building has a workout center on one of the floors below us, but this way one of the unused rooms can be converted into a fitness center catering to your specific needs." At her continued silence, Rufus looked at her, slightly nervous. "Is this alright? I mean, I know I assumed a lot, but-"
Tifa kissed him to shut him up, their first kiss together since their forgotten wedding night. When she pulled back, she tried to ignore the heat in her cheeks, never mind the store associates that were hovering a few racks over in case the couple needed any help.
"This is a wonderful gift. Where I had been living, I had to do with the fight club in town and being my own bouncer for my bar when customers got too rowdy," she explained, a smile on her face at her husband's thoughtfulness. His weird expression gave her pause. "What is it?"
"You own a bar?" he asked, looking at her as if he was truly seeing her.
"I used to. I lived atop it, but it all got destroyed when the plate for Sector 7 fell." There must have been something in her voice, for in the next second, Rufus was hugging her. Her arms encircled around his back under his white suit coat and she held onto him, relishing in his nearness.
"I am sorry about that. I heard about the devastation AVALANCHE did. I always thought they had more potential than that," he murmured to her, managing to rest his cheek against her hair for a moment before she pulled out of his grasp, alarmed at what he just said.
"What do you mean, AVALANCHE had potential?" she asked, wondering exactly how deep in her husband was. Rufus shook his head before plastering a smile on his face to direct it towards the shopkeeper as he made his way over to them.
"I'll tell you over dinner. . .when we are in more private company," he explained to her quietly before raising his voice to greet the shopkeeper. Tifa silently promised this would not be the last time they talked of this matter.
"Do you see anything you like?" the man asked the power couple. Tifa's gaze once more wandered the store, and Rufus looked to her for direction. Upon seeing her gaze was everywhere but him, Rufus took the lead.
"We are just looking for now to see all that you have, but we are interested in buying. I just need my wife to make a list of what she would like and need. We're putting in a personal gym for her, so everything must be top notch quality." As her husband continued talking, Tifa extricated herself from his grasp and wandered the store, one of the shop assistants following her around with a notepad and pen. Tifa hadn't even noticed she had been talking aloud to herself until the shop assistant asked to clarify something with her.
"Did you say you liked the darker blue, or the green?" he asked hesitantly, writing as fast as he could. Flushing, Tifa nodded at him.
"I prefer the green. Sorry for mumbling, I actually didn't know you were there," she explained, fully embarrassed. She only got a grin in return.
"Don't worry, Ma'am. I'm quite used to that. It's what I'm good at," he replied, trying to reassure her, and Tifa had to put on a fake smile to appease him. Looking at him, standing there with his pen poised over the paper and looking at her expectantly, Tifa continued on with her product search, this time talking at normal volume for the shop assistant instead of just muttering under her breath.
At the end of her going through the entire store, Tifa looked over the pad of paper the assistant had taken notes on and scratched a few things off the list, having already found better replacements. The finalized list was brought to Rufus, and Tifa was stunned to see that he hadn't even requested prices for anything before handing the list over to the shopkeeper.
"Everything can be delivered to our penthouse. We'll let the doorman know and he'll direct you," Rufus explained, and the shopkeeper nodded back.
"It will take at least a week to get everything in, but we'll let you know before it gets delivered." Everyone was smiling when Rufus separated from the shopkeeper, and with an arm around Tifa's waist, he guided her into the workout clothes section.
"Don't forget about these, dear," he said politely, grinning at her as she shot him a look.
"I have enough clothes. You've ensured that already," Tifa stated, beginning to learn that money was no object to her husband, a fact that weirded her out after spending years of her life in poverty.
"Ah, but those are nice clothes. These you can get sweaty and dirty and bloody and no one will blink an eye at them. Why not try a few on?" Rufus then asked, and he handed her a pair of shorts and a top that was clearly too small for her. She shot him another look and the blond merely winked back at her. "I'll even help evaluate them, if need be," he added teasingly, and a grin appeared on Tifa's face, her eyes suddenly searching the racks.
"Only if you try clothes on too," Tifa said, reaching out and pulling off a pair of shorts and a tank in what she hoped was his size. Holding them out to Rufus, she thought for a moment that he would refuse, but he finally accepted the clothes without a word and led her over to the changing rooms.
"No pictures, promise?" he asked, teasing again, and Tifa actually gave off a giggle.
"No promises," she replied with a wink before disappearing into her changing room.
A few minutes later found the two of them showing off the workout clothes to each other and sharing laughs, continuing to try on different outfits. Tifa kept a mental note of which ones Rufus looked good in, and remembered to grab them to her clothing pile when they were done in the changing rooms. It was strange seeing him out of a suit, but he seemed to make nearly everything he wore look good. The bright orange and black tracksuit was up in the air with that decision, but Rufus seemed to work it, no matter how badly it clashed with his hair.
The hours afterwards seemed to just fly by as they went from shop to shop, even throwing in a trip to an art gallery where Tifa met a few of the more influential members of Junon's upper class society. Shaking hands and learning more names than she could remember, Tifa felt like she was finally able to breathe when the two of them finally sat down to dinner. Ordering a glass of wine to begin with, she was surprised when a man not their waiter approached their table.
"Ah, Jean! Glad you could make it," Rufus stated, standing up to greet the other man with a handshake. "This is my wife, Tifa," he then continued, directing the attention onto the brunette. She decided to stand as well, and shake Jean's hand.
"Nice to meet you," she commented quietly, a smile on her lips.
"Ah, the infamous mystery wife Mr. Vice here wouldn't let me look up. How are you tonight, Mrs. Shinra?" Jean asked as he joined their table.
"Flustered," she replied honestly, secretly pleased at being recognized as Rufus' wife, "but good." Both Mr. and Mrs. Shinra sat back down, and Rufus made proper introductions.
"Dear, this is Jean, my assistant. He's docile, so don't be alarmed by the energy he exudes. He wouldn't hurt a fly-"
"Unless that fly is trying to kill you, Sir, and then I have Kiani's full permission to use lethal force," Jean replied in all seriousness. Rufus gave a small chuckle that quickly died off when he noticed his secretary and his wife in a stare off. It was a good thing that Tifa decided to break the silence first.
"Good. Then I know at least that when my husband isn't around to be protected by me, he will have someone reliable to pull him out of any and all sticky situations," the brunette commented before picking up her wine glass and taking a drink from it, all without breaking eye contact. Jean smiled, and nodded, the two finally turning their gaze onto Rufus instead of each other. The blond found it a little unnerving that the two most important people in his life were so in sync, but easily hid that fact behind his menu.
As food was brought out and the dinner conversation turned towards physical experience, Rufus received a phone call. He stood up to take it and barely got a foot away from the table when he froze, Tifa and Jean instantly noticing.
"Rufus, what's wrong?" Tifa asked, getting to her feet. Jean was at his boss's side in an instant. Turning to look at his wife, he let the shock show on his face, while hiding the glee that wanted to peek through.
"My father is dead. . ."
A/N: Aaaaaand this is chapter 10! Things begin to pick up here! I have about four more chapters already written up and am slowly working on the ones following that. I have a plan! ^.^ Just remind me if I suddenly disappear again. I do apologize for long absences lol.
As always, follow if you liked it, fave if you loved it, and review only if you'd like. Until next Monday for the next chapter, my Lovelies! MWAH!