“Skill issue.”

ᴄᴀɪɴ.

I had to reply to this because oh man, that comment about my Rufus hit me right in the heart. Thank you so much, I’m so glad to hear you like him considering how rusty I feel picking him back up after so long.

Indeed, lips were ever so slightly parted for the smallest, slyest little grin and the President’s eyes narrowed deviously.

“You hold Shinra responsible for a lot of your woes, but none of it was exactly personal.

You and your friends were but a distraction, save for the Cetra of course.”

something you’ll have to figure out for yourself if it’s what you truly want.

But why don’t you humour me? Tell me what you think your best revenge against me would look like.”

personal.”

Rufus tilted his head, contemplating the flower in his gentle grasp before blue eyes slid to gaze at Aerith out of their corners.

“As for revenge on me?” A chuckle built in the depths of his throat and lips actually parted for a peek of perfect, white teeth. “I’m not foolish, that’s +

depends on the person you seek revenge against.

Were it Hojo? It’s no secret his work serviced as an exploitable weakness. Sephiroth? JENOVA is a sticking point, his dear ‘mother’. These are, of course, surface level answers as revenge is at its best when it’s well and truly +

pushed those thoughts down, buried them under the tundra that crushed all memories and emotions that weren’t conducive to his ambition, and instead chose to focus on Aerith’s question.

Much easier to play against, future moves already manifesting clearly in his mind.

“Well now, that truly +

it more likely that he simply wished to achieve what his father could never achieve, to prove himself better? To spit on those cloying memories of their bitter excuse for a ‘relationship’, though calling it such felt disingenuous; he often wondered if his father remembered his name.

Still. Rufus +

could tell.

Like recognised like, after all.

“You look at me with such hatred in your eyes,” he murmured, leaning forward and resting his chin in a hand. “Do you really resent Shinra that much?”

ᴄᴀɪɴ.

No because same with Rufus. Like god his story is actually so sad if you dig into the extended media for FFVII, he’s such a product of his upbringing (or lack thereof?).

Ships that have characters to trying rebuild walls as the other gently breaks them down, only to fail because. Emotions.

“You don’t desire revenge? Not at all? My my, but of course no one is without some selfish desires.”

twirled the gifted lily between fingertips. Casual enough, and yet as elegant as if the gesture were planned weeks in advance.

“Sometimes anger can drive a person to their greatest heights,” he replied, voice soft but cool.

and calculated.

Sharp words and cold glares simply marked the eye of the storm, however, and navigating his tumultuous life, his scarred mental state, was something Rufus would keep behind walls of ice.

Now, he smiled. He smiled a smile that didn’t reach those brilliant blue eyes and he +

his psyche only to claw their way to the surface the moment confrontation reared its ugly head.

It manifested in unregulated snark and sass at best, and at worst? Well, although unmarred to the naked eye, the white fabric of that perfectly cut suit dripped with red.

Outwardly Rufus seemed calm +