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Sephiroth wonders if it's possible to die of mortification. And if it is, if he could maybe die this very instant, that would be great.
He has no idea how Rufus can stay so calm, but he envies him for it. Probably because there will be no more consequences for him after the meeting. This is the worst it gets, a little slap on the wrist and you're done. Dirt doesn't dare stick to him.
But for Sephiroth... this is just the beginning.
Principal Myers clears his throat. The way he keeps gathering up his papers and rearranging them betrays his nerves.
"When do you think your father will be joining us?" he addresses Rufus.
The clock on the wall audibly ticks away the seconds as they all wait for Rufus to answer and Sephiroth idly wonders how anyone can get any work done like this. He can't concentrate on anything but the ticking.
"Hmm?" Rufus looks up from his PHS with a smile so polite it's almost mocking. Knowing him, it very likely is. Putting on a show even here...
"Your father," the principal repeats. "He is coming, is he not?"
"Oh." Rufus's smile never falters. If anything, it just grows brighter. "He's not."
He did tell Myers earlier to just proceed, but the man thought that waiting for the biggest financial supporter of the school was the right thing to do. It would, under normal circumstances, but as Rufus keeps telling him, his father is too busy to care about what he gets up to.
"If we could just get this over with," Hojo says, voice dripping with self-importance.
Sephiroth has been trying to ignore his presence in the room even though he's sitting right beside him, playing the role of his concerned guardian. Even though it's evident he wants to be here as much as Mr. Shinra. He just likes to snoop into Sephiroth's affairs and if the principal has called him in, it has got to be something he can hold over Sephiroth's head for a long time.
Myers clears his throat again.
"As you know, at this school we have certain standards of, ah, decorum we expect our students to adhere to."
Oh, here we go. Sephiroth is still waiting for that hole in the floor to open up and swallow him.
"It has been brought to my attention that these two young gentlemen – how should I put this? – have been engaging in inappropriate behaviour on school grounds."
Rufus snorts delicately, and right this moment Sephiroth would like to smack him. If it weren't for him, they wouldn't even be here, and yet he's not chastened in the least. This nonchalance is one of the qualities Sephiroth finds attractive about him on a normal day, but sometimes he wishes Rufus weren't so safely cushioned in his privilege. For him, this is all just a bit of fun, a diversion from the ennui of everyday life, but for Sephiroth, having Hojo hear of this is a disaster.
"What kind of inappropriate behaviour?" Hojo asks and his voice is like an icicle down Sephiroth's spine.
"Well, there is no easy way to say this." Myers hems and haws. "The janitor found them... embracing... in the boys's locker room."
Sephiroth opens his mouth to tell them they were just making out, no need to make it sound any dirtier than that, thank you very much, but Rufus draws his gaze toward him and shakes his head almost imperceptibly, signaling him to just let them talk. Sephiroth answers with a disapproving stare of his own.
"Embracing?" Hojo sneers. "I have always suspected my son to have an interest in boys, but I hardly see the need to be informed of this... hug... you're describing."
Myers' fingers are restless, smoothing down the edges of the files on his desk, then interlacing to stop his hands from wringing. Watching him is not helping Sephiroth's nerves.
"The janitor informed me that... well, that your son was naked at the time."
Oh, for the love of Shiva. He was wearing a towel! Which, in hindsight, wouldn't make it sound any better if he brought it up. But still. Let him have a shred of integrity at least. Not that any of it would count for much. If the janitor had shown up five minutes later, they would have ended up in the exact situation that the principal is implying. All because he can't think, let alone say no when Rufus makes out with him.
"I see." Hojo's tone is dripping with disapproval and Sephiroth is not looking forward to being the recipient of it. "Will there be any disciplinary measures?"
"In light of your son's – and indeed Rufus's – academic achievements, I do not think that punishment would be beneficial at present. However, if this were to occur again, I cannot rule out suspension."
Sephiroth exhales. This was... less painful than what he expected. Apparently they'll both walk out of here with their skin intact. But if this verdict was a harmless one, the next one will be less so.
"Very well," Hojo says. "If that is all, I would like to have a stern word with my son before I go back to work."
His voice alone should have frosted the windows. It's difficult not to hear the implicit blame in it. Even Myers picks up on it and smiles apologetically to have wasted Hojo's time with such trivial information. Sephiroth would have expected this bowing and scraping for Mr. Shinra, who all but bankrolls the entire school, but Hojo is not investing a single gil in it.
Hojo grabs Sephiroth by the arm before he can think about it any further and drags him out of the principal's office.
"Have you no self-respect?" he hisses. "That Shinra boy is just using you for sport and you're letting it happen. I've always told you he's a bad influence, but did you listen? And now look at what you got yourself into! Getting caught playing his shameless games. Naked, no less! Have you never considered how this will reflect on me, to have a son with such loose morals?!"
Sephiroth braces himself for the slap that's sure to come, public place be damned.
"If I may interrupt your family moment for a second," Rufus says and slips between the two of them.
Not only that, he slings his arms around Sephiroth and pulls him close. They just got reprimanded for having been too intimate on campus and Rufus has to go and do this! Sephiroth doesn't know if he's trembling in outrage or something else.
"Play along," Rufus whispers and, just like that, releases Sephiroth again. Out loud, he says to Hojo: "I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
"Find out what exactly? That you used my son to sate your craven appetites?"
Rufus remains perfectly unfazed by those accusations. In fact, he beams at Hojo with his best liar's face.
"That Sephiroth and I are together, of course."
Sephiroth nearly has a heart attack when Rufus dares to take his hand.
"You are what?" Hojo asks the question Sephiroth is thinking.
"I know, it's all still very new to us, too."
Sephiroth stares at him, unable to believe what he's saying. Unable to believe that performance. Rufus actually manages an abashed laugh – a clear sign that he is faking to anyone who knows him, but convincing enough to anyone who doesn't. Rufus really does play to his audience.
"And I admit I got a little ahead of myself when I visited him in the locker room – but I assure you, nothing untoward happened." Only because they were caught before anything untoward could happen. "Seph had asked me to pick him up after he was done practicing kendo and that's what I did. He'd just stepped out of the showers, a bath towel wrapped around him, and I couldn't help it. I kissed him. That's all. That's how the janitor found us."
Those excuses sound exceedingly strange coming out of Rufus's mouth. Rufus squeezes his hand and despite everything, Sephiroth finds himself squeezing back. Possibly just to reassure himself that this is real and he's not dreaming.
"I know what you think of me and my past exploits," he addresses Hojo again. Though Sephiroth very much doubts Rufus knows the extent of what Hojo thinks of him. Which is not very much to begin with. "So it might be difficult to believe when I say this, but I am quite serious about your son."
He smiles at Sephiroth then as if he'd practiced every beat of this speech and it's so artificial that Sephiroth wants to laugh hysterically, right after he punches him in the face for a) doing this, and b) calling him Hojo's son. He has yet to see a shred of genetic evidence tying them together and even if he saw it, he'd refuse to believe it or else he would descend into madness. And yet, his heart is reacting to that damned smile, tripping over itself in its haste to beat for this stupid boy.
He's so overwhelmed by, well, everything that he doesn't even know what to think. It's obvious that Rufus is doing this to shield him from Hojo's ire, but what is he getting out of it? Sephiroth's gratitude, which would equate to more casual sex and free blow jobs he doesn't have to reciprocate?
He's effectively trapped them both in a fake relationship they can't escape from for a while, or else they'd be announcing him for the bullshitter that he is. And this after Sephiroth has resigned himself to pining from a distance. Not a very safe one, but a distance nonetheless. Of some sort. Of course Sephiroth has been idly dreaming about a relationship for the better part of a year now, but he's always dismissed it as ludicrous because no way is Rufus going to tie himself down like that.
And Hojo is aware of that.
"Is that so?" he says, eyeing them both like bugs under a magnifying glass.
He seems to be expecting Sephiroth to speak, but what is he supposed to say? 'Sorry we didn't tell you?' Even if he'd had something to tell, it would be none of Hojo's business. He's not even sorry the whole thing leading up to this moment happened. Yes, it was stupid and embarrassing, but he's made plenty of stupid and embarrassing choices of late, and he has yet to regret any of them in the long run.
Okay, he does regret that Hojo had to find out, but that's more out of a feeling of inconvenience than remorse.
"Well," Hojo says, "don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
Sephiroth takes a deep breath. "We have caused you trouble with our carelessness. For that, I apologise."
Hojo scoffs, but seems mollified for the moment. "Very well, then. I accept your apology."
"Is everything all right out there?" The principal's secretary peeks her head through the door of her office. Perhaps they should have moved this discussion away from the administrative tract.
"Nothing, nothing," Hojo assures her with a smarmy grin. "My son was just telling me how he's in a relationship with this young gentleman here. Isn't that right, son?"
Sephiroth grits his teeth and hopes his expression is closer to a friendly smile than the taste of sour grapes.
"Aw, that's lovely," she says. "I'm happy for you two! It's always heart-warming when they find each other young, isn't it? Boys can be so stubborn when it comes to admitting their feelings."
Oh, boy. And here Sephiroth thought today couldn't be anymore awkward.
Hojo makes a sound that might be mistaken for affirmation and starts herding Sephiroth away from her door, as though he was afraid Sephiroth might disappear behind it and beg her to adopt him or something.
"We will be out of your hair now," he says in parting. "Have a nice day."
Once they're outside of the administrative wing, his pleasant exterior falls away like an insect shell and his dissatisfaction shines through again.
"See that you behave properly from now on," he says sternly.
Sephiroth puts on his best repentant expression as he waits for Hojo to leave. That was a close one. He hopes that there won't be any more lectures waiting for him when he comes home tonight. Perhaps he should ask the secretary to adopt him. She's always nice to him. But no. He wouldn't want to burden her with his particular kind of baggage.
Baggage that Rufus somehow manages to keep adding to.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he hisses once Hojo is out of sight.
Rufus is already heading towards his first class of the morning as though nothing at all had just occured, but Sephiroth can't deal with his business-as-usual attitude right now.
Rufus shrugs and spreads his hands. "Saving you from Hojo's disapproval, is what. You can thank me later."
"Thank you? Rufus, apart from the fact that Hojo is always going to disapprove, do you even realise what you've done?"
"You make it sound so dire," Rufus says and turns to face him. "Enlighten me, then. What have I done?"
"Well for one," Sephiroth enumerates on his fingers, "you told Hojo that we're in a relationship. And for another, do you know who that woman was just now?"
"The principal's secretary, why?"
"Why?" He draws Rufus aside before they reach the science wing. The hallways are already beginning to fill with students and Rufus has a habit of letting anyone chat him up just to get out of conversations he doesn't want to have. "Because she just congratulated us on that relationship we supposedly have."
"You're acting like she'll even care if we break up in a week."
"What if she did? I'm pretty sure she's going to ask us how it's going the next time either of us has a meeting with Myers."
"I don't see how that is my problem."
"You told her this lie."
"Correction: I told Hojo this lie and he then repeated it to her."
"Because he believed you."
"Yeah," Rufus laughs. "Can you believe how gullible he is? I mean, certainly good for us in this instance, but seriously? Who could see us working out?"
Ordinarily, Sephiroth would have agreed. Self-effacement and denial of his feelings comes natural to him. But perhaps he's had enough of all the little humiliations he's had to endure today. He backs Rufus against the wall.
"I take it you haven't heard about the betting pool," he says in a low, almost threatening voice.
"There's always some kind of bet going on, you'll have to be more specific."
Sephiroth leans in closer. "About when the two of us are finally gonna make out."
"That's still going on?"
"Uh-huh."
Rufus laughs and Sephiroth can feel his breath against his lips. "Easiest money you'll ever make. Could have told them it already happened."
"Oh really? And here I thought you wouldn't want that known. To protect your 'reputation', you know."
"Pfff, if my reputation can't take that, then what the hell have I been doing?"
Sephiroth knows Rufus is more than just the bravado he puts on but he'll be damned if it's not a good look on him.
"In that case I guess I'll tell everyone. I mean, why not let the entire school know?"
"Let the entire school know what?" someone asks.
In sync, their heads swivel toward the newcomer. It's Reno, along with Tseng and Rude. Rufus's inner circle.
"Nothing, really," Rufus says nonchalantly and shrugs, looking for all the world as though Sephiroth wasn't still pressing him against the wall. "Just that Seph and I are in a relationship."
"Yo, for real?" Reno almost drops his juice packet in shock. "You two lovebirds finally confessed to each other?"
Well, at least someone thinks they could work. Sephiroth might actually blush.
"Reno," Tseng says softly and shakes his head. "Don't you see that Sephiroth is upset?"
"How can you tell?" Reno peers at him and puts his straw back between his teeth. "He looks as ready to skewer me as he always does."
Then he peers back at Tseng, looking for approval of his comedic routine. And indeed, the smallest of smiles dimples the corners of Tseng's mouth before he schools his face to stillness again.
"I was just as surprised as you are when I found out about it a few minutes ago," Sephiroth says, trying to mask his bitterness with a thin smile.
"So it's not for real?" Reno asks.
"No, it's just another one of Rufus's pranks."
"Oh. Boring."
He's so over his feelings for Rufus. He wishes they would stop so that he could get on with his life and not have his heart flutter at the mere idea of Rufus telling his friends about them. Even if it's fake.
"What happened?" Rude asks, always straight to the point.
"Yeah," Reno chimes in again. "You said you'd be in school early. Tseng thought that's code for 'you got called in to the principal's.' So whatcha get in trouble for?"
"Having a sex life," Rufus sighs as though the whole world was out to get him. "Or wanting to have one, rather. We didn't even get to the good part before we got caught."
Sephiroth is going to have a headache. A big one. He can feel it.
"And the relationship thing?" Reno asks. "Don't tell me you gave Myers a whole production about how you just recently got together so he'd go easy on you."
"Myers relies on my father's donations. There's no way he'd suspend me. And they're selling Seph as the face of the school. No way they'd suspend him either. We were safe even before we went in there. The talk, that was all just a performance the school goes through so they don't look like they're turning a blind eye, even though that's exactly what they're going to do."
"That's not what Hojo thinks," Sephiroth mutters.
"Yeah, well, Hojo..." Rufus gestures dismissively. "He can screw himself."
"Spoken like someone who doesn't have to deal with him every day."
Sephiroth crosses his arms.
"Ooh, we're about to witness their first tiff here," Reno throws in excitedly. It's enough to cut the tension.
Sephiroth deflates again. He's been simmering for so long, he can get through another school day without coming to blows with Rufus. Or baring his heart to him. Either way.
"You know that for Hojo's sake we'll have to keep this charade up for a while?"
"Is that going to be a problem for you?" Rufus asks. "Or did you have any prospective suitors waiting in line? Because I wasn't aware of any."
That's because I've only ever had eyes for you, stupid. "No, but I thought you might."
"They'll just have to wait until you break up with me."
"Um, this has been fun and all," Reno says, "but I have to head to class now. I don't want to, but you know, Tseng ain't gonna be happy if I'm late for economics."
He pulls a face, indicating that he would be happy to be late.
"Say hi to Mrs Romero for me," Tseng says with a knife-like smile.
"Yeah, yeah," Reno responds as he leaves, waving with his back to them.
"I better head to chemistry as well," Rude says and nods at them in farewell.
That only leaves Tseng, who's leaning against the wall, likely waiting for Rufus to cut this short so they can go to class together. They're taking all the AP classes together.
When Rufus doesn't send him ahead, Sephiroth resigns himself to having this conversation with someone listening in. At least Tseng is polite enough to pretend that's not what he's doing by checking his PHS.
"You're not going to break it up yourself?" Sephiroth asks. "I mean, you started this."
"What, I'm offering you the privilege of getting to break up with me and you don't want it?" Rufus shakes his head in disbelief. "I thought it would be obvious. Hojo doesn't think I'm serious about this relationship, and if I were the one to call it off again, we'd be proving him right. So you have to do it."
"Ah, so it's your pride at stake here."
"Spoken like someone who can't already hear Hojo's 'I told you so's."
And what if I don't want to break up with you? Sephiroth wonders.
It's not even real, and yet the idea of having to call it off pains him. He must have been hopelessly pining for a few moments too long if he'd take a fake relationship over anything real. Hojo was right. The stupid games they've been playing has truly eroded his integrity. And this is their stupidest game yet.
Still, he's willing to ride out even this if it means he can have Rufus to himself for a little while longer.
"How long do you think you can make it without flirting with anyone?" he asks half-teasingly.
"Oh come on, flirting is harmless."
"You're welcome to take up that topic with Hojo and explain to him why you're flirting with people who are not me."
"He's right, you know?" Tseng says without taking his eyes off his PHS. "If you want your ruse to be convincing, you're better off not sending out signals that you care about others more than him."
"You too, Tseng? I thought you were pretending not to listen."
Tseng looks up then and shrugs. "I thought you'd be quicker about it."
"Alright, alright, we're done here. Just one moment." When he turns back to Sephiroth, he zeroes in on him like the interruption just now had never happened. He even picks up their conversation where they left it off: "Then I guess I'll just have to flirt with you all the more to make up for it."
Sephiroth's face heats. Rufus is so close his aftershave is clouding Sephiroth's senses.
"Good start," he grits out, barely managing not to stammer.
"You know it," Rufus says with a wink.
And just like that, he's off with Tseng to their next class, leaving Sephiroth to deal with his conflicting feelings. But what else is new? Apart from, well... everything? So far, he and Rufus have managed to confine their games to the privacy of their own homes. Up until now, Hojo wasn't aware of anything going on between them. The only ones who knew that they were sleeping together were Rufus's tight-knit circle of friends because Rufus didn't or couldn't keep it a secret from them. Not to mention Angeal and Genesis, whom Sephiroth was unable to keep it a secret from. Incidentally, they're also all more or less aware of Sephiroth's persistent crush on Rufus.
Oh, Ifrit. If Genesis finds out about this new development, Sephiroth will never hear the end of it.
But who knows? It might be worth it to be the centre of Rufus's attention for a while. He's aware that this might end badly unless he calls the whole thing off soon. Still, there's no harm in milking it for all it's worth until he does. At least no more than they've already done harm. And besides, he's earned it for putting up with Rufus for so long. Let him be the recipient of relentless teasing for a change.