"Kat." I groan as Rude knocks in my door again before giving up and just opening it. "You're going to be late."
"I don' care," I slur into my pillow, too tired to give a rip. "Tell Tseng to @-$+ off." Moments later, my blankets are gone and laying in the floor across the room, my bald friend leaving the room. I huff and stomp out into the kitchen, grabbing my suit out of the small laundry closet, and walking to their bathroom. I pull the stupid thing on before going to the entryway and shoving my feet into my shoes. So flippin' sleepy. Rude tosses my usual banana to me. I just barely manage to catch it.
"Rufus..." He trails off before starting up again with a slight shake of his head. "Why does he call you to his office so often?" I shrug."I dunno. He's always buggin' me though. Like last night, he pestered me about Tseng forever. I mean, people act like it's the end of the world when they see him being lenient."
"It's refreshing to see him care about someone as much as he cares about you." I scoff.
"He doesn't care about me, Rude. He's just doing her a favor."
"Who?"
"Mom."
"..."
Sighing, I peel my breakfast and eat it quickly, just in time to slip out the door behind Rude.
"Hey, I didn't hear your stupid dog this morning."
"I locked him in my room."
"Aw. You're not very nice to your little devil."
"I'm plenty nice to you."
"Hey!" I shove his shoulder playfully, only letting that teeny smile at the side of his mouth grow a millimeter or two. Reeve steps into the elevator at its next stop up, offering us both a friendly but professional looking smile. I give him a small (but fake) smile back, nodding as a form of hello.
"Let me guess," I say once I've made my uninvited way into Tseng's office. "Stuck with Rufus?"
"Yes," he gives me an amused look. "Though Rude, Elena, and I will be heading out to the Mythril Mines."
"Is Avalanche there already?"
"Yes, rather, they stayed in the stables last night and most likely plan on crossing the marsh today." I scoff.
"Yeah, if they survive the Golem."
"You underestimate them."
"I'm being realistic."
"Well then you would know that an ex-SOLDIER and a band of strong fighters protecting Aerith will be perfectly fine."
"Whatever," I sigh, leaning back in my seat. "When do I gotta go up?"
"You're late."
"Joy."
I take the stairs instead of the lift this time, pushing into Rufus's office. The blonde is scribbling away at a piece of paper, probably signing a document for some issue in the city. Already working hard to be a better president than his father. I wait against the wall during the awkward silence. Or at least I find it awkward. He seems perfectly comfortable. Finally, he sets the pen down, looking over at me cooly.
"You'd have thought Tseng taught you to at least knock on a door."
"He didn't raise me," I frown.

YOU ARE READING
Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)
FantasyREWRITE UP NOW! YAY! Kat Mcgrail is a young woman with no memory of exactly three years of her life. Familiar actions of others and dreams bring back those days, but they're nothing like anyone suspected from her. No one thought she'd be seeing rive...