Rufus and Cloud

His eyes scanned the grand landscape before him, taking in the plains and water so far away. Such beauty, such tranquillity. Sometimes, he wished he could escape to it all. Sometimes, he wished he was someone else completely. With AVALANCHE quickly covering ground on the middle continent, he couldn’t help but feel the stress. Rufus’ condition hadn’t gotten any better over the week; not once had he been able to leave his hospital bed. It pained his heart to see him slowly wasting away in there, unable to see what was going on in the world that was changing without him.

Over a week’s time, Zack and his group had gathered supplies in Cosmo Canyon and had made their way through Nibelheim. Nibelheim . . . what had been so special about that place? Cloud Shinra searched his memories, but drew a blank. It didn’t matter now; all that mattered at the moment was the present, not the past. AVALANCHE had looked around Nibelheim and then gone onto the Nibel Mountains. According to Reeve’s calculations, they would make their way out in less than two days. From there, they would head for Rocket Town.

With the help of Reeve, Tseng, and -- surprisingly -- Palmer, he had been able to make a plan to intercept AVALANCHE at Rocket Town. As a cover-up for their plans, Tseng had suggested that they use the Promised Land as their story. Cloud had been hesitant about agreeing with Tseng; he and Rufus hadn’t wanted to revert back to their father’s plans of searching for the Promised Land. But, with all that had happened, he didn’t have much of a choice. They would go to Rocket Town and ask the town’s "mayor," Cid "The Captain" Highwind, for his airplane. Although they had many airplanes, all of which probably were of better quality than Highwind’s, it would fit as an excuse.

Now, the only thing he had to do was get Rufus’ "okay."

Reno watched as Cloud strode through the hallway of the hospital, knowing what Cloud was there for. He shook his head and quickly confronted him before he could reach Rufus’ door. "Hey, Cloud," he greeted weakly, a smile not crossing his scarred face.

The younger man blinked in confusion, then smiled at the Turk. He hadn’t seen him all week, with his work and all. "Hi, Reno," he returned, nodding. "What’s up?"

In reply, Reno shrugged. "Nothing much," he murmured to the young man dressed in a blue suit. "I’ve noticed that you haven’t been around often, though. What’s with that?"

"Work," replied Cloud. He looked at the hospital door right behind Reno. "Uh, can I get by, Reno? I’d like to talk with Ruf."

"No."

Cloud frowned, not believing what he had just heard. "What’s that supposed to mean?" he demanded.

"That means that you can’t see Ruf right now," Reno explained, crossing his arms on his chest. He leaned against the door to prove his point.

"What are you doing?" Cloud was getting angry now. "Reno, let me get through!"

"I said no," hissed Reno, his green eyes narrowing. "Can’t you take a hint?"

"Why won’t you let me see Rufus?" the blond demanded. "I have every right to see him."

"Look, Cloud," began Reno, giving Cloud a look that almost appeared to be a glare, "the last thing Ruf needs to see right now is you. He doesn’t want to see you." He paused. "If you wanted to talk to him about AVALANCHE, he told me to tell you that anything is fine."

"I’d like to hear that from his own mouth."

"Can’t trust my word anymore or something?" Reno asked. He shook his head sadly. "Is this what you’re becoming, Cloud? Is this what Ruf’s burden does to you?" Cloud’s eyes widened as he listened to the red-haired Turk. " Are you changing like Ruf was?" His frown grew as he stared at Cloud. ". . . I don’t like what I’m seeing in you at the moment."

"Reno. . ." Cloud backed away slowly from Reno, his face draining of color. Shaking his head, Cloud turned and hurried back down the corridor, leaving the Turk at Rufus’ door.

A sigh escaped Reno’s lips as he opened Rufus’ door and entered, quietly shutting the door behind him. Rufus Shinra’s eyes flickered open and he gazed at his best friend for a second before speaking. "Did you tell him?" he asked.

"Yeah. . . You owe me big time for this one, Ruf," Reno said, sitting next to his friend’s bedside and smiling slightly at him.

"Thanks a lot, Reno," Rufus managed, leaning against his pillow as Reno gripped his hand. "I don’t think I would have been able to stand it if I had to tell Cloud."

Reno sighed again. "Like I said, Ruf, you owe me big time for this one."

He remained distraught as he boarded the helicopter, his gaze aimed outside to the open ocean that they would soon cross over. Reno’s words had greatly unnerved him; there was a truth to his words that Cloud didn’t like. It disturbed him further that Reno had said Rufus had agreed with him. Were they turning against him in some way? Had he done something incredibly wrong to deserve this? Cloud shook his head. No, it couldn’t be. They must have simply been trying to keep him from ending up like Rufus had. He shuddered at the thought of being as cold as Rufus had acted before.

Cloud was broken away from his reverie by Tseng’s voice. "Sir, we are ready to leave," came the Turk’s voice. "Please prepare for take-off."

Nodding, Cloud leaned back into his seat and watched the water speed by in a blur underneath them. It wouldn’t take them too long to reach Rocket Town; at this rate, they could make it before noon. He kept his gaze steady the whole trip, still unable to quite grasp Reno’s words. Could he really be going through what Rufus had gone through at Junon after he and Reno had left? He decided then that he *was* changing like Rufus. He also decided then that he didn’t like changing into what Rufus now could easily become.

With that out of the way now, Cloud concentrated more towards his strength and weaknesses as a person. It seemed that wherever Rufus had faults, he had skills, and vice-versa. Was it possible that he was mentally weaker than Rufus? He shook his head to clear away the doubt; he *was* mentally weaker than his brother. To make up for that, he was quite stronger physically than Rufus; his SOLDIER training had done a lot for him. He paused in thought for a moment. Was it possible that they had a fault in the same place that neither would be able to fix? Cloud frowned at the thought of the Shinras being unable to depend on one another on something.

It only seemed like a few minutes after taking off that Tseng’s voice penetrated Cloud’s thoughts once again. "Mr. Vice President, we are here now."

Cloud didn’t reply as the helicopter touched ground and Tseng opened his door. Palmer walked -- waddled, actually -- around the vehicle and spoke to his young superior. "La la, I’ll go on ahead," he announced, somehow managing to smile and rock on the heels of his shoes the whole time.

"Any particular reasons why?" queried Cloud. Rocket Town was a relatively quiet place that didn’t seem very different as first sight. The space rocket, the Shinra No. 26, shadowed over the pleasant little town. If not for the rocket, Cloud could have easily mistaken Rocket Town for some place similar to Kalm.

"Tra la la! I know the Captain pretty well!" replied Palmer, still rocking on his heels. "We were pretty good friends up until the disaster of Shinra No. 26. La la la. . ."

Cloud looked heavenward for a moment. He couldn’t understand Palmer sometimes; the man was just to happy to be taken seriously. "Okay, Palmer," he sighed after a short while, "just make sure you remember what you’re supposed to do." He watched the older man nod and prance down the street, then looked skyward again. "How did Dad get by with these kind of executives?" he whispered to himself.

Tseng straightened his suit and approached him from the back. His usually-stoic face cracked with a wary smile at Cloud’s question. "I believe that your father was more experienced with incompetent help than you, sir," he stated. Cloud turned to the leader of the Turks, surprise dawning on his face. He had never thought to hear Tseng say such a thing. "Your father managed to make use of his executives even with their many flaws." He paused, thinking. "I believe the reason the executives seem hard to control for you is because they make it hard."

Cloud nodded solemnly at Tseng’s last remark, then said, "Tseng, you’ve been in Shinra Incorporated almost longer than anyone. You probably know everything about the executives, right?"

Tseng, in response, nodded slightly. "I have been employed by your father for twenty-two years." Cloud blinked. *That would mean that Tseng joined the Shinra when he was fifteen!* he thought. "The only executive that was with Shinra before me was Professor Hojo."

". . . And he’s ancient," Cloud muttered.

Tseng chuckled at that. "Yes, we would all like to believe that," he agreed. "As a Turk in service to Shinra Incorporated, I am obligated to the head of the company. That would be you, Mr. Vice President." Cloud frowned at the title, then shrugged. "You should consider yourself lucky, sir. Your brother, President Rufus, is highly protective of you. As is Reeve. . . I have even noticed that Reno and Elena think highly of you and your brother. If you keep such people close to you at all times, you will be untouchable."

"Tseng. . ."

"I know it may not be my place to say such things, as the leader of the Turks, but strength comes almost always in numbers; one person may be powerful, but will easily fall alone. Keep your friends close and you will flourish." Tseng sighed. "Even I, sir, will stay close for as long as I can."

A sudden thought occurred to Cloud. ". . . But aren’t you a friend of the Cetra, Aeris Gainsborough?" He remembered the rumors that had spread and how he had written letters to Rufus about it. Perhaps it was high time he made sure if the rumors were true.

A glimmer of something shone in Tseng’s dark eyes for a moment. "I may be friends with Aeris, but I am in no way affiliated to AVALANCHE. I will be on the side of the Shinra for as long as I live, no matter how much it hurts to be against Aeris."

". . . I’m sorry, Tseng." Cloud openly showed his compassion for the older man. "This must be awfully hard for you."

"No matter how bad it gets, Cloud," Tseng said, surprising Cloud by using his first name, "I stand with your brother and you. Even if everyone else turns against you, myself and the Turks will never abandon the heirs of Shinra."

"Thank you . . . Tseng." Cloud smiled at the Turk. "Your fierce loyalty is. . ." He shook his head in wonder, unable to think of a word.

"Think nothing of it, sir. We must go now."

Cloud watched Tseng walk past him for a moment, smiled, then hurried after him.

Zack Ebony’s eyes remained on the foul-mouthed pilot before him. A little grubby-looking and always with a cigarette in his mouth, Cid Highwind was quite a character. "Well?" Cid growled out, averting his gaze to his guests. "Are you gonna take a damn seat or not? Ain’t my goddamn hospitality enough for ya?!"

Not wanting to enrage the man further, Zack and Tifa immediately went for the closest seats and sat down. The third member of their group remained standing, not at all fazed by Cid’s words. Taller than both of his comrades and much darker in appearance, Vincent Valentine’s eyes glimmered red in the lighting of Cid’s home. His hands fell to his sides, his left arm encased completely in a claw-like casing. Silent and as pale as death, the dark-haired man’s eyes snapped to the door as someone knocked on it.

Shera walked to the door and opened it. "Oh!" she gasped. "It’s you!"

A familiar, pudgy-faced man waddled into the room. Cid arose from his seat to greet the man. "Well, if isn’t Fatman Palmer!" he chuckled, taking his cigarette out long enough to blow a smoke ring.

"Hey-hey, don’t say ‘fat’!" huffed Palmer, although it was clear he wasn’t angry.

"So, who’s with ya? Is Shinra gonna restart the space exploration program?" queried Cid.

"Ah, the Vice President, tra laaa. . ." Palmer grinned. "He should be right behind me. Hey-hey, you might want to ask him yourself!"

Cid, his eyes gleaming with hope, strode outside as the others looked on. Shera looked over at Palmer from the counter. "Do you want some tea, Palmer?" she asked. Apparently, she and Cid were no strangers to Palmer.

"Hey-hey! Tea??" Palmer hopped over to her side. "Don’t forget the lard!"

Zack stared at Palmer, then exchanged glances with Tifa and Vincent. "Let’s get outside," he said, rising from his seat. Tifa and Vincent nodded and hurried after their leader out the door.

"What do you mean you’re not gonna restart the program!!??"

Cloud just barely kept himself from wincing at the sound of Cid’s voice. It took a lot of strength to keep his voice level and calm. "Exactly what I mean, Mr. Highwind." He wondered how Rufus managed to pull these facades off so easily. "We’re actually here to relieve you of your airplane."

"Like hell you will!" snapped back Cid, his face red with anger. "You’ve already taken the stars away from me, but you’re not taking the skies from me too!"

"Dammit," Zack hissed from the doorway of Cid’s house. "Look over there."

Tifa’s eyes followed Zack’s pointing finger to the approaching Shinra soldiers that were walking up behind Cloud. "Where did they come from?" she gasped.

Vincent frowned within the folds of his cloak and replied, "There’s a Shinra outpost near Wutai. That’s probably where they came from." He eyed the three soldiers, then the one leading them. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the familiar blue suit. "A Turk. . ."

"What?" Zack looked where Vincent was looking and cursed. "It’s Tseng. He’s the leader of the Turks."

"Tseng? Why would the leader of the Turks come out this far?" asked Tifa. "Isn’t the leader of the Turks usually the bodyguard of the president?"

"Something must have happened to Rufus, then," Zack stated.

". . . Excuse me?" The three turned to see Shera standing behind them. "Didn’t you three mention that you wanted the Tiny Bronco?" When she was answered by nods, Shera led them to the back of the house. "Shinra isn’t going to rest until they have that airplane, and I’m sure the Captain will be happier to see it in your care than in Shinra’s."

"Thank you, Shera," Zack said to the woman as she opened the door.

She nodded. "You better hurry, though; Palmer just went back there to get the plane."

Zack unsheathed his sword as they approached the plane in the back. Palmer stood on one of the wings, looking into the cockpit and fiddling with some of the switches. "Um, la la, now how do you start this up. . .?" he whispered. "Darn it, I should know how to do this. . ."

"Palmer!" Zack shouted.

Palmer leapt into the air, just barely staying on the wing. "W-- what!??" His eyes focused on the three -- Zack in particular. "He-- hey! You’re the one from the Shinra Building!!" He looked around in a panic. "S-- security!!"

The following battle was easy; Palmer somehow managed to get the airplane started and almost lost his head when a propeller swung at him. Tifa’s punches drove him backwards, and after a few taunts and a brief exchange of blows, Palmer ran away. Sadly, he didn’t get far; a truck suddenly came out of nowhere and struck him to the side, sending him flying to the front of Cid’s house. The three AVALANCHE members looked at each other in shock, then leapt onto the moving plane.

"What the hell--!?" Cloud hurried to Palmer as soon as the man landed, his gaze rising from Palmer’s unconscious form to the small airplane rising into the air unsteadily. Onboard, he realized, was Zack and his comrades. "AVALANCHE!"

Tseng spun and pointed at the airplane that was dipping over them. "Shoot them down!" he ordered of the Shinra soldiers. As bullets flew and dented the plane, Cid cursed and ran after his Tiny Bronco, just barely catching a wing as it once again rose into the air.

"They’re getting away!" Cloud yelled, standing as the plane rose higher.

"Dammit, give that to me!" Tseng suddenly hissed, grabbing the gun of the closest soldier. He quickly took aim and fired, his eyes slitting as he heard something explode on the airplane.

Cloud, astounded by Tseng’s expertise, sputtered out, "Th-- they’re going to crash into the ocean!" He held his breath as he lost sight of the airplane, a trail of smoke following it in its descent.

"That takes care of AVALANCHE for now." Tseng nodded at Cloud’s statement as they walked towards the Junon base. "At Hojo’s suggestion, we’re going to start looking for this Keystone. Since AVALANCHE will start looking for it as well, it would be a good idea to find it ahead of time and use it to capture all of them."

"Keystone, sir?"

"According to Hojo, the Keystone is what AVALANCHE needs to open the Temple of the Ancients. Reeve has already said that they’re going there because there’s a chance Sephiroth might also go that way." Tseng remained silent at the mention of Sephiroth. Cloud Shinra sighed and looked at the Turk. "Tseng, I’m going to give you and the rest of the Turks a vacation. After all that’s happened . . . I think you guys deserve it."

"Thank you, sir. I’ll go tell my Turks now." Tseng saluted and strode away.

Cloud managed a grin despite all that had happened that day. He turned and walked into the base, climbing stairs and passing through doors until he reached the office that Rufus had used as his own. As he walked through the room, however, he became aware that he wasn’t alone.

"Who’s in here?" he demanded. "Whoever’s there, show yourself!"

"Is that the way you speak to siblings, Cloud? I’d hate to see what you say to your enemies," came Rufus’ voice, as smooth as silk.

Cloud blinked in confusion and watched the chair behind the president’s desk spin to reveal Rufus. The older Shinra smirked and stood up, walking around the desk to cover the gap between himself and Cloud. "You’re all right!" Cloud crowed in delight, running and embracing his brother.

Rufus managed a choked laugh in Cloud’s grip. "I won’t be in a moment if you don’t let me breathe!" he chuckled. Cloud loosened his grip and took a step back, his eyes sparkling happily. "Boy, I’m glad to see you so happy, bro."

"You scared me to death, okay?" Cloud laughed, squeezing his brother’s shoulder. "I’m just glad you’re not paralyzed or something."

"You don’t have to worry about that," Rufus sighed. "I’m perfectly fine now. You should get some rest, though; I heard from Reno what Tseng reported from Rocket Town."

"Yeah, I guess you’re right. . . By the way, Palmer’ll be all right. The paramedics said he regained consciousness on the way to the hospital."

A sigh of relief passed Rufus’ lips. "That’s great news; I heard that he got hit by a truck." When Cloud nodded in affirmation, the older man’s eyes widened. "Oh, boy. That must have hurt."

"I bet," Cloud agreed wryly. He let out a yawn, then smiled. "Well, I think I’ll go to sleep now." He hugged Rufus once more. "I’m glad you’re all right. . . I don’t know what I’d do if you had died, Ruf." When he looked at his brother’s face again, he noticed the frown on it. "Ruf. . . Whatever happened to our promise?"

"Well . . . I didn’t think it was fair anymore; Scarlet’s not a threat to anyone now."

Cloud laughed. "Just keep smiling, Ruf." With that, he turned and exited the room.

Rufus looked at the door his brother had exited for a moment, then allowed a grimace to crack his face. He fell to his knees in agony, feeling the tingling pain from his waist and below. He groaned and cursed, not allowing tears to form at the edges of his eyes. He just barely managed to hold out standing while Cloud was present, even though he knew he shouldn’t have been standing; the doctors had warned him about the pain. But . . . he didn’t want Cloud to worry about him. . .

His eyes rolled back into his head and he pitched forward, and did not rise again.

On to Chapter 9.

Back to Rufus and Cloud.