Past Hauntings

Past Hauntings
By Dora Cianfarra
Chapter 2

Vincent had made his way to the Community Midgar building in his office by 6:30am. Upon his entrance, the seating for the clients and receptionist desk were set up. The movers were working with his personal office. It had enough space for a huge corner sofa and a coffee table meanwhile his desk faced the room sized window. Vincent peered through it to see the city lights from the 6th floor, the sunrise had barely begun. The new world...he wondered could he really deal with ‘normal’ human routines. He had agreed to join this new assembly to help with setup, except there were still lingering doubts.

The movers had brought the last piece of furniture, interrupting his thoughts. The bar and stools were set up at the opposite wall facing the lounge area. Rufus seemed to think Vincent should entertain guests. He assumed Rufus included himself while he would come here to ‘help’. Thinking of Rufus’s handshake brought on tremors that Vincent could not decipher. Was it the human touch or Rufus that had him feeling this way?

Vincent thought to risk another handshake with the movers as to test his theory. “Gentlemen , thank you so much for the set up and here’s something for your troubles” he handed them a twenty gil with the hand shake. The men smiled, gave their appreciation with a strong hand shake. Vincent had kept the smiling façade even though he felt the eerie sensation, there were no tremors. The human touch was not in question.

At this point, the receptionist had walked in and introduced herself as Tayla, “Excuse me sir, would you like tea or coffee in the mornings? I was told to bring some to replenish the bar back there."

Vincent stared at lady for a while and decided he might as well get used to people calling him ‘sir’ and responded hesitantly, ”I would enjoy some tea but you can choose the brands you like”

He eyed the woman. How much of his personal space would he have to give up when working here every day? He had so much to consider.

“Sir, is there something wrong?” Tayla asked timidly after seeing he just gawked at her like there were two heads on her.

It just dawned on him, what his thinking might look like to her and forced a small smirk to ease her and said, “Sorry Tayla, my mind drifted to somewhere else. Please continue with the tea if you like.” He spun around and walked out to the roof of the building.

Stepping out the door, he was suddenly hit with the summer breeze which thoroughly refreshed his senses. He saw the stunning gardens paths as he walked to edge of the building to see the streets brimming with people. He noticed there were sidewalk merchants selling their wares to the pedestrians and smells of various food shops drifted nearby.

It seemed the city was beginning to live again. Could he really start all over again? He felt more at ease gutting monsters than penciling paper work.

Reeve had convinced him to try a new way of living until Vincent found his own path. The dangers to citizens were down to a minimum and Vincent did mention that he was sick and tired of the gore. Reeve challenged him then saying that he was afraid of change.

Yes, the change was the challenge but he denied admitting to fear of it. Reeve knew how much what he said affected the man’s pride but Reeve truly wished Vincent would see another way of life for himself.

It was time to heal old wounds and come back stronger. Reeve saw the loneliness that followed Vincent and wanted him to have some type of happiness. What Reeve offered was just the start on the road of recovery and Vincent knew his friends wanted him live again for himself. If that were possible, maybe this way of life would not be so much of a burden.

Vincent turned around to go back but froze. Rufus was standing at the doorway blocking his path. His mind had been too muddled by his troublesome thoughts to hear the sounds. It felt like he was being spied, how long had he been there standing, watching him?

Rufus had asked the receptionist where Vincent had gone. She wasn’t sure but garden roof was open, he could try there. Good, he would take a moment to converse with him without having anybody dropping in.

He climbed up the two flights of stairs and stepped out on the roof. As Rufus saw the gardens were working out great, his eyes zeroed in on an alluring vision of Vincent.

Vincent’s lithe body against the blue sky and mountain ridges filled the background however it was his sun-kissed auburn black hair swaying in the breeze that enchanted him the most.

Rufus’s buried emotions burst through and demanded claim. When Rufus had assumed Vincent had died and left him alone to face the world, his dreams had shriveled, leaving only his ego intact. The scarred youth of the past had made it through passage of time with the obsessive drive to overthrow his father. That man, in front of him gazing at the horizon, brought a spark of life to his barren soul. The tightness of his pants reminded him of his child–like crush had return with a vengeance

Thoughts of Vincent shattered when he heard the movement of someone turning around. He saw Vincent freeze in place as to say; what are you doing here?

Rufus quickly and visibly changed body language to a calm state and walked towards the man. “Hello, Vincent I’m sorry …was I interrupting something…If you want I can return later…I just wanted to see how you were adjusting to your office and secretary” asked in a casual tone. He thanked the gods for thought-jumping into a cold lake –made his ‘pressing hard on’ return to a subdued state.

Vincent had stared at him quietly as allowed himself to pass by Rufus. Then he spoke, “I was just returning to the office when you came.” Vincent could read Rufus’s body language as it gave him the insight to leave. He did not want to face Rufus right now. All these changes of today had overwhelmed him. A hand on his shoulder hindered his way back. His golden claw readied for the strike.

Eyes drawn to sight of Vincent’s claw clenched, Rufus quickly stepped away “Vincent stay…please. I am trying to make some amendments for what my father did to you. I know whatever I do cannot change the past but I need to find a way -.”

“Stop. What your father did does not concern you and don’t take the blame for it.” He closed his eyes as he said, “You are right, there will be no amount to make up for it, so let it go and let me be” Vincent spun around and walked back to the office.

Rufus was tired of only seeing Vincent’s back and planned to change the routine. Rufus was aware of Vincent’s need to be isolated from human touch, thanks to old fuck of a father who destroyed all his chances to have Vincent in his life. Whether Vincent knew or not, he was determined to undo the wrong. He may not have had the power in the past to do anything to help him, nonetheless, he wanted to prove to Vincent he can live again. Rufus went on his way back to the office determined to get a chance.

Vincent searched through his papers to see which applicant had the best requirements for the position he held. Working for Rufus Shinra was not ideal and making sure who would be hired had to prove would better than he. He didn’t want to be responsible to leave the place in shambles. This new beginning needed a strong foundation and Vincent had to make sure of that.

Tayla had come in with his tea. “Sir this tea is called ‘Earl Grey’. I hope you enjoy it. If you need anything sir, please don’t hesitate to ask by using the intercom on the phone.”

Vincent’s knowledge of today’s tech was very little, the blush rising was the tip that led Tayla to show what to do with the phone. He muttered thanks and picked up a file to quickly hide himself in.

That’s when Rufus entered and asked Tayla to make him some coffee-black. Turned to look at Vincent, curious about the stain on his cheeks, “What’s wrong Vincent? Did she make a rude comment to have you in that shade of pink?”

“No, why are you here anyway, don’t you have some work to read through?”

“No…I told you I stopped by to see if you needed anything” Rufus took a moment to look about the room and saw the bar. He made a mental list to what needed replenishing. “I see you’ll need frames to put on the walls. Would you like to go shopping to find one of your liking and maybe a new wardrobe for the office?”

Vincent’s eyebrows shot up and answered briskly, “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

Rufus smiled gently, Vincent hadn’t been in public for some decades, so it would take awhile for the adjustment. “Well, you need a presentation to the people who visit you. It will not do for them to see the claw and a shredded cape as to represent the administrator of this office. We will design a new fit for the arm which not overbear the clothing you will be wearing. Let me bring in my personal tailor before we go anywhere else.”

Rufus called in his tailor from his cell as he stared back at Vincent, whose eyes glowed a furious amber. “I will not give up my armor…I would feel too strange without it.” He honestly thought to himself that he would feel naked without it.

Vincent felt flustered; {damn all these adjustments} he understood what Rufus saying but he could barely endure it.

Rufus saw his dilemma and added,” You would get to keep it as change of wardrobe; the new one for office only.”

Vincent stood up to witness world outside his window. Rufus was pushing too far. Unfortunately it made sense. Change was always resistant.

In the window’s reflection, Vincent noted the changes to Rufus; no longer needed his cane, the long cream spring coat barely hid the powerful body encased in long sleek black pants and white shirt opened enough to see his chiseled chest.

Vincent felt his heartbeat skipping a beat and strange sensations coming from below the belt. Why was his body reacting to the sight of him? Vincent was glad that his back was to Rufus, his flushed face and tightness was too difficult to mask. He took a few minutes to calm these unruly feelings…until he felt a hand to the waist.

The tremors began. It played havoc with his mind; memories of the hidden feelings bubbled forward. These hidden ones were so few but devastating. Flash of need masked to protect his loved one from his father's wrath. . {Love?!!} Flash of his hand holding back the father’s from slapping his son in front of his men. Flash held in chains, shirt split apart as the whip kept on falling on his bleeding back…Flash young Rufus’s silent tears as he had to watch the punishment.{What are these memories??? I don’t remember any of it before now.} He couldn’t stop breathing hard…when did he fall to the floor? “Vincent …hey ...are you alright? What happened…you seemed in daze…then you yelled and fell to the floor.” Rufus was embracing him to break the fall “LET …ME….GO” he answered in a deadly soft voice.

TBC