Sort of missing-scenes. Three possible ways Diamond’s attack on Rufus’ office might have gone, two possible explanations for the look in Rufus’ eyes, one possible explanation for Jenova exposure. (And a partridge in a pear tree~. Or maybe that should be a president in a penthouse…).
“If you want to commit suicide, sir, I’m afraid we’re going to need advance notification.”
Rufus gives Reno an assignment; or tries to. Written because I don’t, for an instant, believe Reno doesn’t take his job seriously.
Rufus looked like he wanted to run a hand through his hair, except it would mess up his styling. “Goddammit, Reno, when you think it’s a bad plan, can’t you just say so?”
Reno distracts a tense Rufus, as, really, only Reno can.
Reno liked danger and dangerous things; he’d long ago figured out what he stayed in the Turks for.
Tseng rather abruptly sees Rufus in a new light and is struck by all the things Rufus has become that he’s been trying not to hope for. Baroque and self-indulgent loyalty porn! Clothing porn! Even some porn porn! Assumes some Lullabye for the New World Order history.
It was one week before Shinra Corporation’s Yule ball, the offices were gaudy with decorations, the backstabbing over seating arrangements had reached its annual fever pitch, and Tseng was airing out his formal robes.
More loyalty-porn! It’s the new year, and after Recent Events Tseng is particularly susceptible to the rightness of his place at Rufus’ side. Post-game, very loosely in the Lullabye for the New World Order AU continuum.
No moment of Rufus’ presence had been without a faint glow, ever since they’d come back to Midgar, but the new year had fanned that fire, and their journey itself had stripped away the dimness from Tseng’s sight. That light pulled at him, like the desire to mark the paths of the city’s life only far stronger; it closed over him like water as Rufus stepped past him into his home.
Rufus is not prepared to let Tseng die. Tseng is not prepared to refuse him. Written for the Oh My God We Need Some Porn in Here Stat meme, and the prompt Rufus/Tseng, command.
“Understand me, Tseng. You do not have my permission to die.”