001 A friend indeed

[whitesuited]

For anyone who has seen Midgar in her heyday, the scene is a familiar one. All one can see for a moment is the lit up cityscape of Midgar, then it focuses inward on a certain massive building which dominates the city. Or more aptly the two blonds engaged in a fight on a balcony area on the building.

It was shortly after Dark Nation went down, that Rufus's mind began thinking of strategic retreat. But he wouldn't be leaving alone, he'd already made up his mind about that. He drove Cloud back several paces with the shotgun to give himself space and time, then knelt down to gather the warm and thankfully still breathing black furred form against him. Holding it against his chest with the arm not holding the shotgun, he could hear the helicopter above descending and he fired two more rounds at the blond to keep him away still before throwing the shotgun at Cloud's head and turning toward where the helicopter came to hover. It killed his arms and shoulders to actually pull it off but he managed to grab one of the landing skids just above him, and allow it to bear him and his burden away and out of danger.

The scene blurs as this occurs and when it finally settles down and things regain proper shape and form, the setting has obviously changed to one which speaks of hospitals. It's just Rufus in the hallway, though he's currently without his coat, just in the black turtleneck and white suit pants. He's pacing a small part of the hall, eyes sliding down toward a certain door every few minutes when his pacing brings him to actually face it. It's been a couple hours at least since he arrived here with her and effectively demanded that they tend to her injuries immediately if they valued their lives and jobs. Fortunately there had been no argument and they taken her into surgery right then, leaving him out here to wait for news.

There were plenty of things he should be doing right now, he was now in control of the company, his father's body was still no doubt stuck to his desk unless someone had had the bright idea to remove him and clean things up. None of it matter though to him currently. The only thing which did matter to him right at this moment rested behind those operating room doors. Damn the blond SOLDIER-Wannabe for putting her there. The sudden crashing noises and shouts get his attention and pull him out of his thoughts and pacing.

"If she wants out, then by god let her out before she tears the room up further."

The sight of the door opening follows the words and a black furred form appears in the hall, covered in white bandages. Her head turns toward the blond and after a few long painful moments she actually makes it before Rufus, who drops to his knees in front of her. It doesn't take a genius to realize she'll never actually be able to properly fight like she did before, but it doesn't matter. All that actually matters is that she's alive and she's going to continue to live and be by his side. Reaching up, he carefully wrapped his arms around her head and buried his face against her wide black forehead, its only then with his face covered by hers that he actually lets himself cry, allowing the fur to catch and soak up the tears.

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[waterfell.livejournal.com]

"She'll gradually recover from now on," says the young doctor-turned-veterinarian for this dream. "However, keep her calm for the next several weeks." She tactfully avoids comment on the chaos caused in the process, or perhaps she's used to difficult patients.

She does not melt, as another young woman might, at the touching aspect of the man's reunion with his beloved pet. Instead, she wears a faint air of satisfaction and success, as though the real point is simply having won in the operating room, against the injuries that could have taken the patient's life.

[whitesuited]

Composing himself, he pulls away from Dark Nation to stand up straight. If his eyes betrayed the fact of the crying, it would be best for the woman to refrain from mentioning it. He lets his fingers rest lightly against the dark head before him as he studied the young woman. He doesn't know her, but then that isn't as strange as it might have been once. It's been awhile since he's been in Midgar after all.

"Of course."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

The reddened eyes are of course a clear sign, but the veterinarian says nothing.

"She'll be weak for awhile," she cautions. "Remember that." Don't expect running and jumping and yelping.

[whitesuited]

Not that Dark Nation ever did much unless ordered to, unless he was in danger that is. Then such actions were more than expected and taken until the threat had been dealt with or put into a retreat. Still, he would have to be careful of his own actions these following days so as not to cause her undue worry or possible unneeded and unwanted exertion.

"I won't forget, doctor. You can send the bill to my company, you'll be well compensated for your time and efforts tonight."

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

There's a temptation to pad the bill while he isn't looking; but she resists it. Even in the dream, she has a sense of her own fleeting presence here. Besides, it's never been money that she's chased after.

It'd just to be to teach him a lesson.

Secure in the thought she could do it, the urge dissipates, and she simply responds politely as expected. "I was happy to see her survive."

That, of course, is true. It's a testament to her knowledge and skill.

[whitesuited]

It wouldn't be the first time someone had charged their company for more than what their services actually cost. But then perhaps that would change now that he was in charge of it. Considering the way he's currently considering going about things, its best really that the urge to cheat the blond and his company does fade.

The blue eyes fall away from the woman to again rest on the panther-like guardian resting still before him. For a moment, a few precious seconds really, the eyes soften with honest emotion of gratitude and relief as he speaks. "I am too."

More than words could really express actually.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

People should never forget that Mercury is not only wisdom, messenger, and inventor; she is a thief and a trickster.

"You're very attached to your pet," she observes. "Why is it? When did you first know her?"

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

Sephiroth doesn't feel like he belongs here. It is a private moment, and he isn't the kind of man to intrude. He's an interloper now, which is not a role he enjoys playing. Yet he'd have to pass by the man and the animal to remove himself from the scene, so he stands watching.

Sephiroth recognizes the young man as President Shinra's son, but he's older now. Sephiroth can understand his emotion. He's never had a pet or anything of the kind, but he's been glad to see comrades alive after the battle.