Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

20) Inside Man

"I need you guys to get Rufus over here at the Northern Crater!" Elena demands into my ear. I groan, rubbing one temple with my free hand, my phone in the other. "Get him on the airship or something!"

"Why didn't you tell Rude to do it?"

"He kept ignoring me calls! Can you believe it?!" Yes. "What's so wrong with Rufus that you can't deliver a message?"

"Nothing, I'm just tired. And I also have to tell Elmyra what happened to Aerith."

"The Ancient? I heard that she died. @-+$ Sephiorth killed her too!"

"So you actually believe me?"

"Yeah... There's no way Cloud could've taken him down!" Maybe. "Just get the president here, okay?" Then she hangs up. I sigh and open my desk drawer, grabbing one of my two elixers and swallowing it quickly. It's been four days and we haven't told Elmyra. Exactly one week since Tseng died. It makes me feel like a horrible person. No, I should've already felt that way.

"To Rufus we go, I suppose," I mutter, opening my door. Ow. Light. This hangover's killing me. I step into the elevator, giving a slight nod in Amelia's direction. The other workers ignore me.

"Hello Kat. Doing alright?"

"I guess."

"That's good. Haven't seen you around D in awhile."

"Been busy."

"Oh." She awkwardly adjusts the bottom of her shirt. "Am I bothering you?"

"Not at all. My head hurts."

"Ooooh, okay. Did you take something for it?" I nod.

"Should kick in soon."

"Okay. See you around then, hopefully," she steps out, the doors closing with less passengers than before. One happens to be Heidegger, a man I don't ever remember speaking to.

"Kat, right?" The bearded man raises an eyebrow. I nod. "You're Tseng's niece. I've been told you have potential. That'd better be right." I shrug. "You don't care?" Then that stupid laugh. "Gya ha ha! I'll have you know something, Miss. I don't care if you're a Turk, I'm supposed to be in charge of you. I have the authority to fire you or get you killed."

Another shrug. The other passangers look around and shift nervously. The man grabs my ddangling tie in one meaty fist and yanks me forward, tightening the long material into a practical noose. I wince, jerking back instinctively, but that only makes it tighter. My head throbs terribly when it suddenly gets thrown backward by a hard strike to my jaw. "I'll have you know that I voted against your survival years ago. Now be on your way."

Rubbing the sore spot with a scowl, I slowly get to my feet and leave the elevator. Moron. If it wouldn't have made my headache worse, I would've fought back. I think. It feels awkward walking up to the president's door, but it must just be a girl thing, because it doesn't seme to bother him when I just walk in after not having seen him for seven days. And let me tell you, he looks terrible. Dark marls under his heavy lidded eyes, white suit wrinkled, but not that badly, and his desk's messy for once.

"Are you okay?" I blurt, scolding myself mentally quickly after. No no no, stupid! Wrong question! You're not supposed to care! Rufus raises a blonde eyebrow.