Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

18) Real World

I stumble into the office tiredly, head pounding and throat sore. When I open the door, I walk straight into Rude, mumbling an apology and trying to walk away again. He shakes his head.

"Doing alright?"

"Not really," I sigh, grimacing when the stupid cleaning lady opens the blinds as wide as she can. She starts under my death glare and closes them again. "I feel like @&+%."

"What happened last night?"

"What do you think?"

"I meant after you went to..."

"That's what I was answering."

"..."

I sit down with a frown and close my aching eyes. @-+$ you, Shinra.

"Guess what?" Reno enters the room. "I heard Rufus called in sick this morning."

"To who?" I mumble.

"That Amelia lady. His secretary? Anyway, I asked what was wrong and she said he's just tired. You know how many -#-+%-#-# times I would call on sick if I was allowed to be 'just tired'?"

"Reno, he probably has a reason.."

"And there goes Rude, defending his lovely boss," Reno teases, sititng beside me. "So babe, you got a headache?"

"Hungover," I mutter. He laughs and leans back, hands behind his fluffy little head.

"Just get an elixer or something. Happens to me all the time."

"Aren't you supposed to be mad at me?"

"Nah."

"Stop going back and forth," I roll my eyes.

"I'll try. Hey Rude, when's the boss man getting back?" My expression darkens, yesterday's news coming closer to the surface than I'd prefer it to be. Unfortunately, only Reeve and I know that coward isn't going to open his mouth anytime soon.

"He's not." Both men look at me with questioning expressions. "He's dead."

"What?" Reno furrows his eyebrows.

"Sephiroth killed him in the Temple."

"How do you know?"

"Does it really matter?" I snap. He blinks and stares at the wall across from him.

"How're we supposed to get this guy?"

"I don't know."

"This officially sucks," he huffs. "Rude?" I look over at my tall friend, the bald man staring out the window and looking lost in thought. At the sound of his name, he blinks out of his trance and shakes his head at Reno, turning and closing himself in his office. Re shrugs. "What's up with him?"

"I don't know," I sigh, massaging my temples. I'm in so much trouble when Rufus gets off his butt. It'll get very awkward in the least. Why am I so stressed over this? You're mine. Oh yeah. That's why.

"You okay?" Reno asks with a frown, hand resting on my shoulder softly. I nod, knowing that I'm lying, but I don't even show weakness to my own best friends. "You're sure? You're not upset about Tseng?"