Disclaimer: FFVII and all respective characters belong to Square Enix

Updated: 13 March 2011

Glass Butterflies

Chapter 2

"...and I want you two to behave." Tseng sternly said, "There'll be a lot of executives present. Throw a scene and I will know where to find you." He shot Elena and Reno a warning look.

They all nodded in understanding, and turned to leave the room, Reno and Elena exchanging provoking glances on their way out.

"Don't start that again," Rude said when he caught their glances, "for all of our sakes."

"He/She started!" they protested in chorus.

"It doesn't matter who started! You're adults, act like it." he replied, agitated, and pinched his nose bridge as if he had a terrible headache coming up.

"If he doesn't read and quote letters that aren't addressed to him." Elena snorted, and glared sideways to her colleague.

Rude sighed, fearing all hope was lost, and left the two bickering colleagues in his office to grab some coffee.

"And if she doesn't throw dictionaries at my head or lock me in paper recycle containers." Reno added, returning the glare.

"Who got you out of that container anyway?" Elena sat down at the edge of Reno's desk, following his example.

There was a short silence before Reno answered. "Ehm… Everything happened so fast, like a blur, you know. I only recall this… tall, white figure. Blond…" Somewhere in his mind something clicked. "Fuck!" he cried out, and dropped his head onto the hard wood, "I kissed the vice-president."

"You kissed-" Elena echoed, and burst out laughing, "My… Reno, I didn't know you had a thing for men."

"Shut up. Don't you realize? The vice-president…"

"Could've been worse." the blonde chuckled, "It could've been Heidegger. Or Palmer."

Reno shuddered.

"How'd it taste?" she asked with glee.

"…what? Elena!" he angrily yelled, and half stood up from the desk, "It was just a kiss on his forehead, for crying out loud! Don't get any funny ideas!"

The blond woman just laughed and edged out of her colleague's range.

"What's so funny?" asked Rude, walking back into the room with a file in one hand and coffee in the other.

"Reno kissed the vice-president." Elena laughed before Reno could shut her up. Rude blinked in surprise, although most of his expression went hidden behind the shades.

"On his forehead, damn it! His forehead." the redhead defended himself, slamming one hand on the table, "And it's nothing like that! I wasn't thinking. I was just glad to get out of that damned container!"

Rude just stared at him, which only caused Reno to get more annoyed than he already was. He let out an exasperated sigh and threw his hands into the air. "I hate you people!"

The bald Turk sighed. Then Tseng stepped into the room, reminding them of more urgent matters, and they left for the conference room.

.

The meeting was as dreadful as usual, Reno decided, sitting next to Rude and Elena on bench next to the door. Nothing exciting ever happened. It was just executives arguing about what method of approach to use, always believing their own methods were the best.

The redhead sighed. If this affair hadn't concerned the Turks, none of them would've been here right now and they could've been doing more useful things. He hoped they would just decide to go in, kill the rebels and be done with it.

But no… they had to go make a fuss about the mako there, political issues and who knew what else. There always were hidden agendas.

The Turk's face clearly read annoyance when Scarlett spoke up and said something supposedly smart, and laughed. Which was – unfortunately – joined by Heidegger's laughter. He put his hand over his face and growled softly. If they didn't stop this soon, they'd give him a headache.

Suddenly, caught an amused face from between his fingers, and blinked as dropped his hand. The vice-president quickly looked away, and focused on Tseng who politely reminding Scarlett that things were more complicated than that and that her suggested actions would backfire at them.

Why did things always have to be so complicated?

.

By the end of the meeting, no one seemed to have changed their mind on what approach to use and a good four hours been wasted. Reno had caught the vice-president looking in his direction several more times, though not as amused as the first time. Slowly, he had begun to worry. Not really for his job, as he was a Turk. In other words, he knew too much to leave Shinra alive. That – or something worse - was what had him worried. Having caught the vice-president's attention never meant anything good.

Reno nonchalantly threw his jacket over his shoulder and headed for his private quarters. The elevator doors smoothly shut in front of his eyes… almost. At the very last second, they re-opened, and Reno cursed under his breath when the vice-president stepped in. Why him of all people?

Rufus said nothing and pressed the button to his floor. Much to his dismay, the elevator started to descend when the doors shut again. Reno secretly grinned, until the blond suddenly swiped a key card through the slot next to the control panel and the elevator halted, beginning its journey up.

…spoiled brat, he thought annoyed, you're not the only one who's tired from the meeting.

"You can talk when you've been to every last one of them." said Rufus, cross. The redhead startled. Had he said that aloud? "Maybe you should have. Your silent commentaries are a lot more interesting."

"Is that why you kept glancing in my direction?"

"Not originally." he said, and turned to face Reno, a small grin playing his lips, "To be honest, I couldn't get you out of my mind."

That caught the Turk off guard. The man put a step in his direction, and before he knew it, he'd been pressed up against the elevator's wall. Two hands were at either side of his head. He could almost feel the vice-president's breath ghost over his skin. "Mind telling me… exactly what you were thinking yesterday…?"

His voice was seductive, and yet… there was a dangerous undertone that involuntarily sent shivers down Reno's spine. This was a man that could back up his threats. It angered him that the blond had such an effect on him. This was his line of work. He was used to people flinging threats at him, as well as the other way around.

But… was it really the concealed threat that had taken him aback? All things accounted for, his demeanour was all but scary. Instead, it was rather… alluring.

"I… wasn't really thinking." he simply said, refusing to be beat at his own game, "I was just glad to get out of that container."

Reno noticed the short flicker of annoyance in the other man's eyes. So, he wanted to play? He grinned and snaked an arm around Rufus' waist, pulling him so much closer.

"Not the answer you were hoping for?" he asked, using his own variant of the blond's tone earlier.

"What gave you that idea?" Rufus replied, seemingly unfazed.

"Well, you're awfully close for such a simple question."

"That's not my doing."

"But you love it, don't you?" the redhead smugly grinned.

"You sure have funny ideas." Rufus scoffed, but something had changed in his earlier, somewhat nonchalant, attitude.

Reno's did not change his expression. "What do you want Rufus?"

Blue eyes stared at him, not amused. No reply came.

Suddenly, the elevator came to a halt and simultaneously with the chime of the doors, the blond pushed himself away, moving to a decent distance. When the doors had fully opened, it was as if nothing had ever happened. ...to anyone waiting outside.

There was no one.

Rufus stepped out and walked into the corridor. The metal doors were about to shut when he suddenly turned about, and looked the Turk straight in the eye. "I want so many things, Reno."

The doors connected and the elevator started to descend, subtly picking up speed. The redhead didn't move away from the wall, staring into the distance. There had been something in those deep blue, but cold eyes. It captivated him. For split second... he'd seen the man behind the mask. It was terrifying to see how human he actually was. Fragile almost. That was not the man he had learned to be Rufus Shinra, the man who did not bleed nor cry.