Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

3) First Day

Getting ready with a lazy Turk is never fun when you've got to get somewhere. I come out of my room to see him already awake, just laying there on the couch and the TV still on. Huffing, I push my hair out of my face and prepare my morning cup of coffee, walking to my room while it brews. I throw a random shirt on over my head, pulling on a pair of jeans, and pulling my hair back quickly. I push my feet into my shoes and walk back out to the kitchen only to see Reno taking a mug down out of the cabinet.

"You'd better not be drinking my coffee," I raise an eyebrow at him, arms crossed. He looks over his shoulder with a cheeky grin.

"Course not, Kat."

"Then what're you doing?"

"Makin' it for you," he yawns. "Thought you'd take a longer time than that to get ready."

"Nope," I shake my head, inching around him. "But thanks. You need a ride?"

"Nah," he brushes me off, walking back to the couch. " 's my day off."

"Well you can't stay all day, just remember that," I elbow him. He rolls his eyes with a smirk and leans back against the counter.

"Don't worry. Tseng usually tries to make me do something anyway."

"Don't make a mess," I warn him before leaving, hopping into my truck and speeding off toward the Shinra building with the windows down. Once at the building, I'm surprised to find that no one stops me as I go right through the doors to the elevator that brigs me to the second to the top floor. Riding the glass tube-like lift is slightly unsettling, the ground getting farther and farther away while the city of Midgar grows into a dark haze beneath my feet. Spooky.

Tseng's office is fairly easy to find due to my photographic memory that I don't wish to discuss. My balled up hand finds the door, knuckles rapping on the wood to get the director's attention.

"Come in." Silently, I open the door, closing it behind me. "Ah, I see you actually showed up. You're late."

"Reno decided to be talkative this morning," I cross my arms. Tseng gives me a small smile.

"What else is new?" He sets down his pen and stands. "Come with me. The president wishes to meet you."

"Of course he does," I grumble, stepping back into that cursed elevator.

"He wants to see the oh so wonderful maniac that I'm hiring to work for his elite branch," he raises an eyebrow. I scoff. Maniac?

"I highly doubt he wants to hire me at all."

"We'll see."

The lifts dings and the doors slide open, allowing me to escape the small space. Tseng gives me a skeptical look and leads the way down the hall and toward a set of curving stairs.

"You realize that his son is both the vice president and in charge of the Turks, correct?"

"Yeah," I nod. "Rufus, right?" The director's eyes grow darker than their usual black-brown mixture somehow.

"Kat," he turns to look at me. "You are to refer to them both as 'Sir' unless you are advised to use a different title. And for Shiva's sake, use your manners."

"Pff, what're those," I wave my hand dramatically. He scowls and starts walking again.

"I'm serious. You attitude can get you shot on this floor."

"But not on any other?"

"Mcgrail, don't be difficult," he snaps. I give him a cheeky smile and stop outside the president's office. Tseng knocks and waits until permission to enter is granted to open the frosted glass door. I drop my smile and put up my wall like I always do around those I don't know. Specifically those who can shoot my through the head without a second thought. "Sir, this is the girl I was talking you about the other day," he says, closing the door behind me and motioning for me to follow him closer to the enormous desk. A fat man in a crimson suit smokes a cigar behind the wood, screens and stack of paper surrounding him. President Shinra looks up with a in impassive look, not impressed.