Rufus sat leaning against the window once again, gazing into what seemed like eternal darkness, save for the moon, but even it seemed dim as clouds passed before it. Hugging his knees he sighed, how long would it be before all this madness stopped. Shinra, his company, had destroyed so much. Rather, his father's company. It was his father's influence that made him, and the weapon's attack which broke him, in more ways then one.
Still he wondered how he survived such an attack. All he could remember was the beam coming towards his office, then the bright light. Sounds of shattering glass around him, and feeling so hot that he thought for sure his skin had melted off his frame. Waking up later finding himself in comfortable surroundings and in company of the Turks, that event changed him forever.
Rufus thought to himself, you never life to it's fullest until it's almost taken away from you. That's when you really open your eyes and wake up. For me, it was stepping out of my father's power hungry destructive shadow, and finally living for myself. And well.. maybe a few other things.
"Mnh.." sounded a voice from the couch, causing Rufus to look over at his newest room mate. There lay Tifa Lockheart on the sofa, Riane resting upon her stomach, and looking something Rufus never thought possible. Harmless.
Rising and grabbing a blanket he tiptoed over to the sofa where the slumbering duo lay. Looking down for a second he looked at the figure below, she really hadn't changed all that much since he saw her last. Even if it had been a few years. She was less vicious, had more of a warm feeling to her, understanding he supposed. Her figure was the same as it'd always been, perfection to die for, though now she seemed to dress more conservative. Though he couldn't say he didn't mind the view that showed in her previous clothes, she definitely looked more mature now with her latest choice of fashion. Shaking his head, causing the blonde locks to fan out a little, he leaned down and put the blanket over Tifa, then quietly padded his way back to the window.
What am I thinking, looking at her like that. If she knew she'd snap me in half. Hmm.. aggressive, I like that. Argh! No.. not supposed to think that way.
Running a hand through his hair, as he often did when he was stressed or thinking about something, he sighed.
Tifa lay with her eyes closed, she had woken when she felt something soft laid upon her. Must be Rufus.. odd, I didn't even think he noticed anything except what's out the window.. Maybe I should talk to him. He seems kind of... depressed. But.. what to say...I'm so gutless..
She sat up, trying to stay as quiet as possible, yet when she moved, Riane awoke as well.
"Puurrrrr-owl?" mewed the small kitten as it popped its head out from under the blanket and started to purr.
Rufus turned around to inspect the sound and matched gazes with Tifa.
"Uh.. hey.." spoke the brunette with a lop sided grin as she scratched the back of her head. "I um, didn't expect to fall asleep."
"Don't worry about it, I'm not the easiest person to converse with, I know. Especially for you, I'm sure." replied the blonde as he leaned down and picked up a purring Riane who'd padded her way over to him and rubbed up against his leg.
"What do you mean by that?" questioned Tifa as she sat upright, her feet on the floor, and pushed the blanket off herself. Putting her full attention towards the blonde by the window who snaked his way down into a sitting position.
"I wouldn't blame you if you hated me, the Turks, any thing and everything about Shinra. Everything that's happened to you, you and your friends lives in danger, plus the sector seven plate.. I even ordered your execution at one point..." he sighed and seemed to shrink further into the corner. Only his bright blue eyes shone, as well as Riane's bright green could be seen reflecting.
"I don't hate the Turks.." Tifa stated. "After being around Vincent, I well.. kind of understand them, in a way. He's a prime example of what happens when you don't follow orders.. He and Lucretia.. Besides.. we, AVALANCHE, killed innocent people when we dropped the sector one plate. We're just as bad...just as much to blame.. that's why the Wolves have me here really."
Understand the Turks perhaps, but I'm sure you can't find it in yourself to forgive me. Thought Rufus silently, looking out the window at a moon that was even less visible than it was before. "For what it's worth Tifa, I'm sorry.. for everything that's happened."
"I forgive you.." Tifa stated and looked over towards the window to see Rufus who'd stopped patting Riane momentarily, and gazed back rather dumbstruck, eyes wide. He looked away, back out the window and continued to stoke the felinic hybrid in his lap.
"I don't see why.. I wouldn't if I were you," murmured Rufus as he looked down at Riane. He mentally kicked himself, he didn't mean to sound so weak or speak so much of how he felt. Though for some reason he felt compelled to share such with her. It bothered him.
"You blame yourself, don't you...?" questioned the brunette as she walked over to where Rufus was kneeling and sat down next to him.
"Of course I do!" he burst out, "there's no reason not to.." he looked at her, anguish filled his eyes for a moment, until me blinked then it was gone. Tifa thought she may have imagined such.
"You shouldn't.. you were in the same position as the Turks.. if you didn't do what your father asked, he would've gotten rid of you just as quick as he would have anyone else. Don't deny it, I know it's true, I finally realized such. It really helps explain why you weren't affected by his death at all.."
"It doesn't compensate for what I did after he was dead.." Rufus said coldly and leaned his face against the cold window and looked down. What I wouldn't do to just jump right now... but such would mean certain death.. from up here any way..
"It's all you knew.. he changed you Rufus, and you know it. Stop making excuses... Stop lying to yourself.."
"You're really the last person I expected to hear that from.. The only ones who've ever believed something like that are the Turks, all of them.." sighed Rufus, then decided to change the subject. "Enough about me, how about you. So, what happened to you and Strife?"
Tifa looked away now, and decided tracing shapes onto the window with her finger tip was enough to amuse her, "things just didn't work I guess.."
"How so?" Rufus titled his head to attempt to read the emotions on her face.
"He couldn't let go. He couldn't get over the past. He loved me as a friend I think.. but.. I try not to think about it.."
"Aeris.. you mean?"
"And Sephiroth. He said they haunted him. That everywhere he went he saw them, heard them. He.. stopped talking to me really. Just hid, whispering their names. Then one day I said I was leaving.. I don't think he really believed me. I don't believe he thought I'd ever leave Nibelheim again. But I did.. and I opened a new bar.."
"And did it make things any better..?" questioned Rufus.
"Not really. But it made me see.. he couldn't get over the past. I don't believe he was in love with Aeris. Just that he felt responsible for letting her die. I couldn't help him, so there was no point in my staying with him.."
"Then Vincent showed up?"
"Correct," Tifa took her hand off the window.
"And did that fix the problem."
"For my being alone yes. I hate being alone. We're only friends, but still, I value his company.." she trained off, looking out the window. If she didn't look so serious he would've thought she'd been mocking him.
No love of her life.. Maybe for once, I should just act on gut instinct.. And..
"Rufus..?" said Tifa as she looked up at him with wine colored eyes.
"Yeah...?" he replied, watching Riane move from his lap to Tifa's.
"Don't you ever.. you know... get lonely? I mean.. not friendwise.. but.. another way.. Oh I don't know what I'm trying to say.." Tifa glanced away, turning a light shade of pink, again out of her own mortification. As a hand cupped the side of her face her eyes darted back, and met cool blue ones.
"I know what you mean.." With those words he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. And when she kissed back, he knew he'd taken the right path for once.