Tseng IX: The best president

Tseng entered his office and sat down at his desk. He had come here primarily to check up on the vice president and sign a few reports before they would be taken to long-term archiving. But he would not have come if not for Rufus. He took the first report from the pile and started skimming it while looking at the phone repeatedly.

Rufus usually called immediately whenever he came in the office, most of the time because he actually wanted something, sometimes just to talk to him. He respected Rufus' privacy despite the unfortunate arrangement he had found himself in, and only came into his room when he was called. But Rufus usually did call immediately after Tseng sat down.

Tseng looked over his shoulder. Was the camera broken? He picked up the telephone receiver and pressed the button for the phone in the cell. It tooted a few times, but Rufus did not pick up. Was he not feeling well?

He hesitated for a moment and then brought up the observation feed from Rufus' cell. He could see his breakfast sitting on a tray on the small table. Rufus was still in bed, hugging the blanket, his body uncovered.

Tseng turned off the monitor, burying his burning face in his hands. Rufus had never slept in since Tseng had taken over the duty of guarding him. Not even once. It had not occurred to him either that Rufus would sleep naked in a cell where he was being under surveillance 24/7.

It was already hard enough to resist this beautiful young man. He did not need to know what he looked like underneath the many layers of bespoke fashion he usually wore. Tseng closed his eyes for a second. He could not wait today for Rufus to wake up by himself. He would need all morning to get Sephiroth to go to the research department. But if he did not check in on Rufus in the morning, he would act like a brat again later.

Tseng smiled to himself. It did not feel that bad to have someone waiting for him. And he did not want Rufus to be disappointed either. He pressed the button for the speaker in the cell and spoke into the receiver: "Good morning, Mr. Vice President. I hope you're sleeping well. Your breakfast is sitting on the table. If you need anything, put on some clothes and let me know. I'll wait for ten minutes."

That was the most diplomatic approach he could muster. If Rufus wanted to continue to sleep, he would leave in ten minutes, but if he decided to be a brat later on, he would know that he had only himself to blame.

He continued skimming reports and signing them off one by one when the phone rang after a few minutes later. "Yes?", Tseng spoke into the receiver. "The coffee is cold", Rufus complained. Tseng hung up without further words and proceeded to prepare the usual two cups of coffee. Rufus hardly ever gave direct orders, but rather shrouded them in questions that made it seem as if it was Tseng's choice whether or not to fulfill his requests, or used specific statements to get Tseng to do what he wanted.

Tseng was uncertain if Rufus' behavior was manipulative or if he was just trying not to lose face. Tseng had permission to refuse Rufus' orders if they were in conflict with higher orders or were not in the company's best interest, but the vice president knew better than to give orders that would be refused anyway, and so he hardly ever gave any.

He put the mugs on a small tray and passed the lock into the cell. Rufus was sitting on the couch, scrolling through his tablet, dressed in shorts and a thin white shirt that obscured his body only marginally better than nothing at all. Tseng tried not to look at him, set down the tray and replaced the mug with cold coffee on Rufus' breakfast tray with the fresh one.

The quick glance at the vice president was enough to tell him that Rufus looked annoyed. "I'm sorry for waking you up", Tseng began, still without looking at Rufus. "I have an important assignment later and I probably won't be able to stop by again until tonight." Rufus glanced at him from the side. "I didn't know you were a prude."

Tseng sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm not. But I refuse to exploit your situation." Rufus snorted in the mockery of a laugh. "We discussed this yesterday, but I would appreciate it if you did the same", he added politely. Rufus set down his half-empty mug and laid down on the couch, stretching out his long legs. As he continued to scroll through his tablet, he said: "You're boring. Remind me not to become like you when I get older."

Tseng frowned. He was not that much older. In an attempt to appear less boring, he bowed over Rufus, his arms folded. His hair fell down over his shoulder as he said: "You know, I'm a Turk, sir. If you want me to do something, you can just order me to." Rufus' bright blue eyes looked up at him inquisitively.

Rufus' hand reached up and twirled Tseng's hair around his fingers. "It's not fun if you don't want it." He smiled. "And I'm not letting you off the hook so easily", he added flirtatiously. Tseng cursed himself for falling for Rufus' ruse again.

"Though…", Rufus started again, while continuing to play with Tseng's hair. "I do have an order for you." Tseng straightened up and his hair slid out of Rufus' fingers. "At your command, sir." Rufus smirked as he lowered his hand and said: "Don't you think you'd look even more stunning if you let your hair down?"

Tseng raised his eyebrows. "That wasn't an order." Rufus waved the remark away and turned back to his tablet. "I told you I won't let you off the hook so easily." He continued to scroll through the news without paying any more attention to the Turk. "No coffee for you today?", Rufus changed the topic.

Tseng took a step back. He had had coffee at home, but he had not had his second cup yet. He sat down in the armchair and reached for his coffee. Rufus' underhanded compliments were confusing. And for him to change the topic so quickly? Was he embarrassed? Tseng's hair was his pride and joy, but wearing it open would be highly impractical for this job. Maybe he could make an exception for these visits? Since Rufus was so enthusiastic about it and he was the boss… could there be any harm in it?

"So what's Sephiroth up to?", Rufus inquired suddenly, which broke Tseng's train of thought and made him realize he was staring at the future president of the Shinra company. Tseng lowered his gaze and said: "I'll go see him in a bit. That's actually my assignment for today." Rufus looked up in surprise. "So going to see him is an assignment that requires the service of the Turks now?"

Tseng lightly shook his head. "No, sir. He was called in by the research department." Rufus raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Is it so bad that they have to make up cover-up stores for him being away?" Tseng contemplated for a moment. "It is said that when one of a pair of lovebirds passes, the other one will die as well shortly after."

Rufus closed his eyes and crossed his arms behind his head. "That seems like a weakness", he responded finally. "I don't think either of us can truly understand it", Tseng admitted. Rufus was silent.

"I was wondering, Mr. Vice President, if I may ask", Tseng broke the silence. Rufus looked at him. "What is it?" Tseng cleared his throat and asked: "Does anyone else know?" Rufus raised his eyebrows. "Know what?" Tseng avoided his eyes.

Tapping his fingers on the armrest, he continued: "About you being…" Rufus sat up and leaned forward. His loose shirt fell forward and revealed his collarbones. "Me being what?" Tseng swallowed hard as he tried not to stare.

"You know, it's funny", Rufus continued as he leaned back and folded his hands behind his head. "I've been controlled and spied on all my life and here you are asking me if someone knows something about me. Isn't it your job to know these things?"

That was technically true, but he had severely underestimated Rufus, as almost everyone in the company had. The amount of secrets that had come out about Rufus' conspiracy with Avalanche and the actions he had pulled off without bein discovered was mind-boggling. In the aftermath of the scandal, questions had been asked and it had come out that Veld had known about some of Rufus' activities for some time and that he had initially taken the fall for it. He had been covering for him in order to give the vice president a false sense of security with the goal of obtaining more information about Avalanche's activities. Unbeknownst to the vice president himself, he had been used to spy on Avalanche. Veld had placed his bet, and the company had won in the end.

Tseng closed his eyes. He trusted Veld. "Besides…", Rufus continued. "What's it to you?" Tseng frowned. "It's my job." Rufus waved his hand. "Why don't you just do your job then?" Without awaiting Tseng's response, Rufus got up and said: "I don't think it matters." As he grabbed his tablet and walked back to the bed, he said: "I know you're busy. I won't keep you here any longer."

Tseng was confused. Was he pretending not to care? He knew that he himself was fortunate because the Turks, as an organization, tolerated everyone being different, despite their outwardly uniform appearance. He had mustered the courage to come out only after joining the Turks and now it did not matter anymore because his whole identity as "Tseng" was forged, and "Tseng" had no relatives and no close friends. Whatever he did, be it as a Turk or as his own person, would affect only him alone.

He rose from the armchair. "Are you trying to get disowned?" It was a realistic possibility. He doubted that Rufus had had any say in who the president chose. But he would not have been appointed as a successor if he had not given his all to impress his father. There had been other suitable candidates and Rufus had outshined all of them.

Rufus looked over his shoulder and smirked. "I'll be the best president this company has ever seen." Tseng smiled and bowed ever so slightly, pressing one hand to his chest. That was all he needed to know.