(Untitled)

[talionisshinra]

Who: Rufus, Cloud, whoever feels like joining
Status: Open
When: 1:00
Where: Starts at Shin-Ra, goes elsewhere.
What: Without his Turks, Rufus has been forced to hire Cloud Strife.

Comments

[stoic_heroism]

Sliding from around a building support pole, Cloud walked silently to where Rufus seemed to be in a hurry coming out of the elevator. He slid in behind the pair, flipping open his phone to check the time at the mention of being late for something.

He was perfectly on time according to his clock. He ignored the fact that Rufus was obviously in a hurry, as most presidents seemed to be. Looking between Reeve and Rufus, he was glad to taking a simplier life, not that he had the abilities for politics. Media politics were usually bad enough for him.

"You haven't told me where we are going, Shinra. Give me a location, and I'll get you there," he called softly behind Rufus. "Your Turks on a mission or just MIA?"

[stoic_heroism]

Cloud ignored the look as well as the huffed explanation. Rufus could say it wasn't secret, but he doubted it was publicized, and he also doubted that many people knew about it. The fact it was in Midgar said that much; few came out this far.

He trailed to Rufus' left, a little behind the man. He had never been here, and he made certain to keep an eye out for the new surroundings. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of the guards, but they in no means intimidated him.

He stepped into the elevator when it opened to off-handedly make certain it was safe and being able to cover Rufus' back. He turned and looked at the President. "The public's meaning of 'secret' and ShinRa's are two completely different things I've found."

[talionisshinra]

"It's hardly my fault that people stopped asking questions about what Shin-Ra did long ago

[stoic_heroism]

"You have not given my many good experiences in the past, Shinra," Cloud replied and cast his blue eyes over his shoulder to regard the president. It was not that he disliked Rufus; it was that he could not bring himself to trust the man just yet. Perhaps soon, but the past still occasionally reminded him that he was too trusting at times.

He walked out of the elevator and frowned as he spied what could only be described as a lab-type setting. He should have expected something like this, but his muscles instantly tensed as the cold feeling crawling along his skin.

His eyes flicked up to the rafters and narrowed before he risked a glance back at Rufus. He was not in the mood to be double-crossed, not like he thought Rufus could sink that low.

He stayed silent as he waited posed for anything.

[talionisshinra]

"You say that as if you expect me to care, Strife."

Once Cloud had stepped aside, Rufus followed him out of the elevator. The only thing he paid attention to was the scientist at the table. That was difference between those trained in combat and those not. His Turks would have checked the rafters first as Cloud did. Rufus had no thought for it, his mind running along to things he still had to do. There was no attention paid either to Cloud's upset at the lab.

In the floor to ceiling tubes, various things swam. A clawed hand swiped out of the darkness of one, screeching on the glass before withdrawing. Rufus walked by it as if it weren't there. He and the scientist fell into a quiet discussion, the man pointing out to Rufus various things on the papers before him.

Up in the rafters, that flicker of light on metal came again, the barrel of a rifle lowering and sighting in.

[stoic_heroism]

Cloud might have paid attention to Rufus' little comment, but his eyes were scanning the rafters again. His hand shifted back to settle on the blade attached to his back as Rufus passed him by, following more slowly

[talionisshinra]

Leaning over the table covered with paperwork, Rufus barely had time to register that Cloud had even moved. When the signal made it from his eye to brain, Rufus turned, hand already going for Lucille. Cloud was already up in the rafters and on his way back down when the sawed-off shotgun cleared its holster and was in hand

[stoic_heroism]

Listening in to Rufus, Cloud garnered enough of the conversation to not need further explanation. Ex-employees seemed to have a wonderful track-record of going on killing sprees on ShinRa. He said nothing on that matter and his frown deepened for a moment.

He turned away from where Rufus was and regarded the man in his grip. He didn't see rope, and his position wouldn't allow him to simply up and leave Rufus here. It was more than obvious now how much Rufus needed a bodyguard.

"Sorry... nothing personal," he murmured as his sword twisted in his grip and he slammed the blunt hilt into the back of the gunman's skull, knocking consciousness away. He dropped the man in a heap and simply lay his sword on the man; no way a normal man could lift it.

Walking back to Rufus, he seemed to loom a little closer. He was on higher guard and hoped this business would be done soon. No wonder Rufus needed so many Turks around.

[talionisshinra]

Out of the cornre of his eye, Rufus watched Cloud carefully. He didn't expect the man to put down his attacker, especially knowing that the Turks were waiting for him. That in itself was generally a death sentence. It was interesting to Rufus that Strife didn't argue with him over it, merely doing as was asked and returning to his side.

It was a brand of loyalty he didn't expect from anyone but the Turks.

"I believe we're finished here," Rufus finally said, turning back to the elevator. "I'll have the limo drop you off where you wish, Strife, as well as payment made."

[stoic_heroism]

Cloud took a step aside as Rufus turned for the elevator. He moved back to the fallen gunman and easily heaved his sword and attached it to his back. With his other hand, he grabbed the gunman and settled the man's weight over his shoulder.

He shrugged at Rufus' back as he also approached the elevator. "Back where we started is fine. That's where Fenrir is," he replied off-handedly.

As the elevator opened, he looked around to make certain it was clear before stepping in. "Feel free to hire me again," he added softly as he shifted the weight of the gunman.