While Tseng returns the cup to the kitchen and starts running the bath, Rufus pulls himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. He's not going to try walking without help right away while he's still recovering from the blood loss, he's sure that Tseng will be back to help him to the bath.
And as soon as he does return, Rufus reaches out to take his hand. His legs feel slightly week but he manages to stay on his feet as he leans against Tseng. Over the last two years, he had developed a dislike of being carried since it made him feel helpless. "Thank you, Tseng," he murmured as he sinks into the water of the bath once Tseng helps him in. The water turns red as he starts to wash off the now dried blood. He could finally see the lotus on his chest more clearly, pleased with how it turned out.
Tseng turns on the jets to cycle through the water. No sense in marinating the president in his own blood. He offers helpful ministrations here and there, soaping up the spots that Rufus's cannot reach, his fingers kneading and scrubbing.
The similarities between this night and the night that started this whole thing are not lost on him. He'd been so resolute. He'd had no idea.
"Better?" he asks, scrubbing the flecks of blood from Rufus's hair. He can hear someone coming up the hall, feels his phone in his pocket vibrate, requesting entry. Must be the cleaners. He confirms with a brief tap and turns back to his work.
Rufus hears the sounds of someone in his room moving things around but he's not worried. No one can get in without being granted access by Tseng and he assumes his bed is being prepared. He relaxes in the water under Tseng's hands, letting out a sigh.
"Much better, though you need to get cleaned up as well," he remarks as he reaches up to touch Tseng's cheek to wipe away a little bit of the blood. He's not going to order Tseng to stay the night but this is his way of asking if he could. "Can't have you get the clean sheets dirty."
Tseng understands the question. He frowns, though that is all the effect that he will reveal from the deep pang of guilt seizing in his chest. He should stay. He knows he can't, but he should do it anyway.
"I would," he says, softening his tone, his fingers in Rufus's hair, for as long as it takes for him to explain. "I have to make preparations, sir. What transpired today cannot happen again."
He brushes his fingers over a mass of stains collected at the back of Rufus's neck. This was too much blood. He'll have to rein it in next time.
"I understand." And he did, he knew they had to be practical. They both had their respective duties that would come first. He was sure that Sephiroth would retaliate against anything they did to Zack, things were going to escalate very soon.
"Alright." He didn't hear any sounds from his room as he stood, putting his hand out for Tseng to take so he could carefully step out of the tub once the last of the blood had been washed away. He felt steadier on his feet now, though still exhausted. He was going to sleep well tonight.
"I have some early morning meetings tomorrow with some contractors but I'll contact you in the afternoon so we can coordinate our efforts," he remarks as he grabs a towel. He was supposed to have gotten through some proposals tonight but he figured he would just plan to wake up early instead.
It feels very wrong to speak outright against Rufus like this, but this situation... It's not normal. This is not even a death threat. The Turks could handle an assassin. They could outmaneuver whoever intends to do Rufus harm and put them down forever.
But there is no putting anyone down forever, not anymore. No matter what they do, they have to play a very, very long game here. One that is absolutely unprecedented.
"I'll reschedule your meetings. You can be nowhere that the enemy could find you, sir. Because he will be looking, when he discovers what we have planned." He knows. He knows that Rufus does not like hiding, he knows that he wants to be at the forefront with his men, he knows that he wants to be different than his father. It's his hope that all of those protests will be subverted by the gentle, lingering kiss that he presses to his lips, by his low voice insisting, "You promised."
All it took was that single word for Rufus to wake up slightly, narrowing his eyes at Tseng as he was pulling on his robe. "Tseng- I-" but before he could say anything else Tseng's lips met his and as much as he wants to argue, he knows he can't.
He had promised.
And he would uphold that. He's quiet for a moment when their lips parted and he looks at Tseng, his head resting against his. He can't refuse even though every part of him wants to. "Just don't let me become my father, Tseng. Don't let me become someone who is so weak they have to hide behind everyone else. I won't become that."
He already felt trapped by his father's legacy, he didn't want it to consume him as well. He pulled his robe closed, tying the sash as he made his way towards the bed. Everything was spotless once more and he didn't question how that happened as he sank into the clean sheets.
Tseng watches Rufus as they journey into the room. He does not have to check to ensure the sheets are up to standard; his men do not make mistakes. Everything will be cleaned as if it never was.
Automatically, he holds his hand out for Rufus to take, to stabilize him as he slips into bed. He draws the covers down and tucks the cool sheets around his shoulders. And then he stands for a moment, looking at Rufus, curled in his bed and blue eyes gleaming. He is as beautiful as he is powerful—no one could ever aspire to match these two enviable gifts that are his birthright.
"You will never be your father," he says. "You will never be like anyone, because there is no one like you in this world."
"You're biased since I gave you a budget increase yesterday," he remarks with amusement as he yawns, letting Tseng pull the covers over him. But Tseng knows him better than anyone else sometimes, his words are not simply empty flattery to get what he wants. He looks up at Tseng for a few moments before yawning once more and rolling over on his side to hug his pillow comfortably.
"Have housekeeping give me my wake up call at 7, I need time to organize everything to pass others to take care of while I'm gone," he murmurs sleepily, eyes drifting closed.
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no subject
And as soon as he does return, Rufus reaches out to take his hand. His legs feel slightly week but he manages to stay on his feet as he leans against Tseng. Over the last two years, he had developed a dislike of being carried since it made him feel helpless. "Thank you, Tseng," he murmured as he sinks into the water of the bath once Tseng helps him in. The water turns red as he starts to wash off the now dried blood. He could finally see the lotus on his chest more clearly, pleased with how it turned out.
no subject
The similarities between this night and the night that started this whole thing are not lost on him. He'd been so resolute. He'd had no idea.
"Better?" he asks, scrubbing the flecks of blood from Rufus's hair. He can hear someone coming up the hall, feels his phone in his pocket vibrate, requesting entry. Must be the cleaners. He confirms with a brief tap and turns back to his work.
no subject
"Much better, though you need to get cleaned up as well," he remarks as he reaches up to touch Tseng's cheek to wipe away a little bit of the blood. He's not going to order Tseng to stay the night but this is his way of asking if he could. "Can't have you get the clean sheets dirty."
no subject
"I would," he says, softening his tone, his fingers in Rufus's hair, for as long as it takes for him to explain. "I have to make preparations, sir. What transpired today cannot happen again."
He brushes his fingers over a mass of stains collected at the back of Rufus's neck. This was too much blood. He'll have to rein it in next time.
"I will see you to bed."
no subject
"Alright." He didn't hear any sounds from his room as he stood, putting his hand out for Tseng to take so he could carefully step out of the tub once the last of the blood had been washed away. He felt steadier on his feet now, though still exhausted. He was going to sleep well tonight.
"I have some early morning meetings tomorrow with some contractors but I'll contact you in the afternoon so we can coordinate our efforts," he remarks as he grabs a towel. He was supposed to have gotten through some proposals tonight but he figured he would just plan to wake up early instead.
no subject
It feels very wrong to speak outright against Rufus like this, but this situation... It's not normal. This is not even a death threat. The Turks could handle an assassin. They could outmaneuver whoever intends to do Rufus harm and put them down forever.
But there is no putting anyone down forever, not anymore. No matter what they do, they have to play a very, very long game here. One that is absolutely unprecedented.
"I'll reschedule your meetings. You can be nowhere that the enemy could find you, sir. Because he will be looking, when he discovers what we have planned." He knows. He knows that Rufus does not like hiding, he knows that he wants to be at the forefront with his men, he knows that he wants to be different than his father. It's his hope that all of those protests will be subverted by the gentle, lingering kiss that he presses to his lips, by his low voice insisting, "You promised."
no subject
He had promised.
And he would uphold that. He's quiet for a moment when their lips parted and he looks at Tseng, his head resting against his. He can't refuse even though every part of him wants to. "Just don't let me become my father, Tseng. Don't let me become someone who is so weak they have to hide behind everyone else. I won't become that."
He already felt trapped by his father's legacy, he didn't want it to consume him as well. He pulled his robe closed, tying the sash as he made his way towards the bed. Everything was spotless once more and he didn't question how that happened as he sank into the clean sheets.
no subject
Automatically, he holds his hand out for Rufus to take, to stabilize him as he slips into bed. He draws the covers down and tucks the cool sheets around his shoulders. And then he stands for a moment, looking at Rufus, curled in his bed and blue eyes gleaming. He is as beautiful as he is powerful—no one could ever aspire to match these two enviable gifts that are his birthright.
"You will never be your father," he says. "You will never be like anyone, because there is no one like you in this world."
no subject
"Have housekeeping give me my wake up call at 7, I need time to organize everything to pass others to take care of while I'm gone," he murmurs sleepily, eyes drifting closed.