Title: Three SOLDIERs and a Lady
Author: CrisisChild
Summary: AU Angeal always considered himself to be quite responsible and honourable and his mettle is put to the test when an unexpected turn of events leaves him a father. And Genesis and Sephiroth as the unwitting uncles.
Rated: T, mentions of character death
Prompt: 89 Messages
Disclaimer: I do not own Crisis Core. Enough said.
Author's Note: As you all well know my grandmother had been struggling against cancer for a while and while taking care of her I could work on this fanfic a bit. Most of the time I'd be working on this was when she was getting her treatments. Well, as of September this year, my grandmother lost in her fight against cancer. So, I dedicate this small story for her. She was the one who taught me how to write in the first place, so you all can thank her for my interest in writing stories now. She was always supportive and was the one who basically raised me from infancy.
This chapter is small ficlet is not a part of the main story and may even be considered in the actual timeline of the FFVII Compilation, rather than the happier AU I've made. I know you're all anxious to get back to the main storyline, but I couldn't even bring myself to write any of that until I managed to get this down. And now I am sharing it with all of you. My way of dealing with the loss, I suppose.
I really don't like how I wrote this, but I tried.
Grandma, may you finally rest in peace. This is dedicated to you.
89 Messages
"Persephone, you have to let go."
"No!"
"Persephone…"
"Papa Angeal I have a bad feeling about this."
Angeal had no idea what he was supposed to do right now. His life was in utter chaos – more so than usual. Sephiroth was growing distant, Genesis had gone AWOL with a huge section of SOLDIER following him, his student had finally made it to Second class and his little girl was giving him the biggest pair of puppy dog eyes ever. And Zack's own were already bad enough. The child would just not let go of his leg, clinging onto it as if her life depended on it. This very morning she had woken up with terrible nightmares about mansions and fire and frightening angels with black wings, which resulted in her being a lot clingier than she usually was.
Which, when the burly SOLDIER thought about it, wasn't that much at all.
Something was upsetting his girl and it wasn't just a bad dream, but what else could it be? She had a bad feeling, but it could be anything at this point.
The man crouched in front of his daughter, gently tugging her away from him and holding her small tiny shoulders in his hands. Gaia, she was so small still. And the way she looked at him made him not want to go, but the dutiful person within him knew that this was what had to be done.
Angeal gave Persephone a pleading, patient look.
"Seffie. I have to go," he stated. Tears filled her eyes and she shook her head. She didn't want him to go, why would she? He understood how she thought, though. Her biological parents had been shot down before her very eyes in a war torn country that had once been her mother's homeland. Her uncle had gone there naught, but six months ago and he had suddenly disappeared as well. And now her surrogate father was going there, too? If Angeal had been in Persephone's place, he'd be panicking himself.
Angeal gently wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks then held her for a few moments, just savouring the little time he had left with his little girl before he had no choice, but to leave. He stroked her hair and whispered sweet nothings, rocking her a little. There were sniffles that told the older man that she really wanted to just sob and wail and cry, but his brave Seffie kept it in, save for a few tears he could feel on the skin of his neck.
"It'll be okay."
"No, it won't. You won't be here anymore."
"Yes, I will. I'll come back, I promise."
She didn't believe him.
Angeal had to figure out a way to reassure his daughter that everything would be alright, but how?
The idea came in a sudden bout of inspiration. Angeal pulled out his phone and showed it to Persephone who peered up at her father with a confused, yet curious expression.
"Your phone," she said. He nodded.
"Yes, and you know the number. Now Persephone, I have to go –" The dark-haired girl made a small whine of protest, but the SOLDIER carried on. "– but it doesn't mean we can't keep in touch, right? You know my number so you can call me. Granted, I won't always be allowed to answer, but you could leave me messages. I won't be able to answer right away, but I promise I'll call you back. I'll try to check in with you as often as I can."
There was a considering look on the small girl's face; carefully weighing her options. It took her all of a minute to come to the logical conclusion that she was being silly and her father was right. Appeased as she was that her father wasn't going to drop off the Planet like so many others she knew, Persephone wasn't entirely convinced something wasn't going to go wrong.
"Don't worry. Zack will be there with me," Angeal tried, tenderly prying her slim fingers from his shirt. It was wrong thing to say as her eyes widened and her mouth opened with what was probably more protests, but he pre-empted her quickly. "And so is your uncle, Sephiroth."
That seemed to ease her troubles and she allowed herself to detach from her father's side. The little thing still seemed ready to burst into tears again, but did her best to stifle them as she gazed up at her father's form starting for the door again. Vaguely, Angeal wondered what it must be like to watch someone you love walk away from you like this; going off to war with the possibility of death hanging over theirs heads as long as he remained on the battlefield.
"Be safe, papa."
Angeal stood at the door. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at his daughter.
"I'll see you soon."
And he shut the door behind him, locking it before starting down the hallway of the apartment complex.
His phone rang immediately and he chuckled when he recognized the caller ID. He flipped his cell open and said wryly, "I've only been gone a minute."
"I love you!" Persephone's voice squeaked on the other end.
Angeal smiled warmly. That girl…
"I love you, too, Persephone. Now hang up. Your papa has to go to work."
Beep - Messages - Beep
Persephone had always been an obedient (mostly) girl who did her chores, did her homework without complaint and ate all of her vegetables and liked it. However, she was also only eight years old, prone to loneliness and suffered from abandonment issues. No one could blame her for phoning her father at least one every few days to check up on him and leave a few messages on his voice mail. The SOLDIER did not call back right away – or at all – but the girl did not give up hope that her calls would eventually be returned.
No matter the terrible feeling she had in her stomach with each passing day. But the sound of her father's voice asking to leave a message always soothed her and though she did not always leave a message, Persephone often found herself dialling him up just to listen to that message play.
"This is Angeal Hewley. I'm away right now, but if you leave a message at the tone I'll get back to you as soon as possible."
Message 1
"Papa Angeal! How are you? Did you find Uncle Genesis yet? It's only been a day, but I miss you already. Miss Shalua comes in every day to stay with me, so don't worry. I'm not alone. Aaron comes over to play, too. So don't worry, papa. Just keep looking for Uncle Genesis."
Message 2
"I miss you, papa Angeal. Are you doing okay? I'm taking care of the plants. Sharon is wilting a lot and I don't know what to do. Miss Shalua doesn't know either. Please call back soon. Love you lots."
Message 3
"Papa, I'm worried. You haven't called back yet. I know you're busy an' all, but please, please, please, please, please call home. Sharon misses you, too. I think she's wilting because you're gone."
Message 4
"Hello, Papa Angeal! I have a loose tooth! Miss Shalua helped me get it out, though. She made me bite into an apple and it popped right out without hurting! Miss Shalua says that if I put it under my pillow the Tooth Fairy will leave me ten Gil. I wonder if I could trade my tooth for you instead. Miss Shalua says the Tooth Fairy only trades teeth for money though…Do you think I have enough teeth to pay the company so I could have you back? I wouldn't mind eating baby food! Anyways see you so –" Beep.
Message 5
"Papa I got your mail! But it's only a picture! Did you turn your camera on by mistake? Silly, papa! Next time, be careful, alright? See you soon!"
Message 6
"Hello? Papa? Where are you? You haven't called back in a while. Please call back soon."
Message 7
"Hello, papa. I miss you a lot. You promised you'd call, but I haven't gotten any messages. I get it if you're busy, though. Don't worry, though. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."
Message 8
"Good morning, papa! Miss Shalua let me stay up late so I could call you at the right time. We were hoping to call you before you go somewhere, but I guess I was too late again. It's okay. I understand. Be safe, papa. I love you."
Message 9
"Just calling to remind you that I'm waiting. And I love you lots, papa. I can't wait until you come home."
Message 10
"Papa, I'm lonely."
Beep – Message - Beep
Angeal Hewley had not returned from Wutai. Neither did Genesis, though that thought did not trouble young Persephone as much as the idea that her father had gone missing as well. Sephiroth had been the one to give her the news with a cold detachment the girl had never seen in him before – not whenever he addressed her. Zack had tried to reassure her that things would be alright, that Angeal would come back, but there was this cold feeling of dread that filled her being.
And she ran.
Persephone had gone straight to Shinra Headquarters every day to see if her father had come back from his tour yet. She could not get any further than the lobby, of course, since she didn't have a keycard that allowed her access to the higher levels, but one of the receptionists recognized her as Angeal's daughter and had helped her call the correct departments every visit. She went every day for weeks in the hope of getting news where her home phone could not, but she had always ended up empty-handed and now this.
Angeal was gone, too.
She couldn't accept that though. She wouldn't. He promised he'd come home. He promised. He promised!
Running with no sense of direction had led Persephone to Loveless Avenue. Her feet immediately went to the nearest pay phone and she fished around in her pockets for change so she could call the well-practiced number of Angeal's phone. She heard the dial tone, her heart pounding in her chest. Each ring seemed to rumble in her entire being and all the dark-haired child could do was wait until someone picked up.
"This is Angeal Hewley."
A breath of relief escaped her. Angeal was fine. Her father was fine and well and safe and he was coming home and –
"I'm away right now, but if you leave a message at the tone I'll get back to you as soon as possible."
There was a tone and Persephone felt numb. She couldn't find her voice as the silence stretched on in the phone booth. Her hands shook terribly, so much so that the recorded message would have would be the telltale trembling of the receiver and the beginnings of soft sobs. Pushing herself, Persephone tried to speak, but could only manage some squeaks and choked sobs.
No, no, no. This couldn't be. It just couldn't.
"Papa…"
The girl let out as wail as she slid down the wall of the phone booth, her heart unable to comprehend the reasoning of why her father would leave her like this. By the time Sephiroth and Zack had found her, Persephone had unloaded a week's worth of her allowance into the payphone and had left a good dozen messages on her father's voice mail.
Beep – Message - Beep
Sephiroth had taken temporary custody of Persephone, leaving Zack to do the legwork on finding Angeal. Although the second had protested this profusely, the general countered any complaints that their ward needed stability right now, in her time of crisis, as well as a few other issues. As their friendship was not a secret, the board of directors would not allow the Silver General to personally lead the investigation concerning Genesis' defection and Angeal's sudden disappearance.
Zack did not like this, but had relented in view of what happened and had gone to Banora along with Tseng in search of more clues concerning Genesis and Angeal. It was their hometown; a place that his mentor had always wanted to show his little girl, but now a place she would never get to see as long as her only parent was missing in action.
This was such a terrible time.
Persephone had taken to calling Angeal every day now at every chance she got. Sephiroth questioned this and wondered if the girl had developed some kind of nervous habit, but Shalua, the girl's caretaker, said that this was a natural reaction for Persephone; it was the only way she could cope with her father being missing for so long without contacting her.
The girl couldn't help it, though. Her father had promised to return to her and he had always been a man of his word. Plus, to simply just get up and leave a child alone without so much as a word? It was very unlike Angeal who was morally upright and responsible.
One day Sephiroth had to leave for negotiations with Wutai dignitaries. But he had the foresight to give Persephone a phone. Most people would question giving a child such an expensive piece of electronics, but he knew she needed this lifeline. Not only for calling Angeal to ease her nerves, but to also reach him if she needed it. It was a practical, if slightly extravagant gift that some people might accuse was enabling the girl, but Sephiroth would immediately quell any flapping lips pertaining to his choices.
In stead of her father, Sephiroth would watch over Persephone until Angeal and Genesis returned.
Persephone was grateful for her uncle's thoughtfulness. While at school it was hard to get to any phones and with limited money, the girl could not use the public pay phones. Though she knew Sephiroth made more than he truly needed, the girl had tried to curb her need to hear her father's voice and settled for doing that when she was at home only. At school, she'd send him mails in the hopes he would have an easier time of responding to them. The girl could only hope the older man could forgive her inability to tap out a text on the unfamiliar phone keys.
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: (none)
'Hello p2p2. Uncle Sephiroth got me a new phone so I could c2ll you. It's h2rd to write you mails but ill try.'
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: Hello
'Miss Shalua taught me how to mail. It isn't easy but just need to concentrate and learn how the numbers can be letters too.'
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: Miss you
'Papa, why did you have to go? Please tell me.'
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: Banora
'Zack came home from Banora. He looked really sad. He didn't want to talk to me. Do you know what happened, papa?'
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: Wutai
'Papa Angeal. The war is over now. Everyone seems happy. But I miss you still. Where did you go? When are you coming home? My birthday is coming soon. Uncle Sephiroth is nice, but it's not the same without you.'
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: SOLDIER First
'Zack became a First today. Just thought you should know, papa. He'd make you really proud.'
Persephone smiled to herself as she sent off the mail. Sephiroth had heard the news first thing that morning and had told her, so she could bake him cookies or something like that, if she wanted. As long as she didn't burn down the kitchen. Zack and Sephiroth had both been a balm to her soul in these turbulent times, especially when he presented her with the news that her father had been labelled as a traitor. Strangely enough, the girl hadn't overreacted about it as she had when Zack returned from Wutai by himself.
Somehow, she felt strangely at ease the last couple of days leading to Zack's promotion.
That morning she had found a white feather on the windowsill of her bedroom when she first woke-up. Seeing as it was so pretty, she kept it as a sort of bookmark; it was stuffed in her personal copy of Loveless. Shalua had mentioned that finding a snow white feather was a sign of good fortune and Persephone hoped that this was a sign that their luck would turn around.
She had it now, on her lap, as she sat in Sephiroth's office writing her mail.
Maybe, just maybe…her father would be able to hear her calls for him, finally.
Beep – Message - Beep
Eventually there came a time when Angeal's service had been cut. And that meant that Persephone could not hear his voice mail's message every time she called him. She could not hear his voice speak to her through the little speaker in her phone. But she did not lose hope and kept trying to send him mails. The man would have to get them eventually.
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: Miss you
'I miss you, papa. Call me soon.'
Keeping a stiff upper lip was always hard, especially in light of the fact that no matter how many mails Persephone would try to send, she would always get an 'unsent mail' text from her service provider. Hope was the only thing keeping the girl going right now…kept her from breaking down again in despair.
Patience, she'd remind herself as she made another text. Papa Angeal always said that patience delivered everything to you, or something close to that. She didn't remember and that worried her.
Persephone clung to the memories of his deep voice and stern, yet girl words.
Patience, Seffie. Patience. Papa promised he'd come back for you.
Beep – Message - Beep
It was a rainy day in Midgar. The run from her school to the Shinra Headquarters had soaked Persephone to the bone, but she didn't mind. When she got to the lobby she was dripping water everywhere and her boots were squishing from the moisture trapped within. It was an unusually cheerful day for the girl as her best friend had come to visit her at school that day, when he would normally be busy with school work. So she entered the tall corporate building in high spirits that afternoon, telling her father about her day though he couldn't hear her voice anymore. Though the line was long disconnected, Persephone had the habit of still calling her father's number and speaking to it. An odd quirk, to be sure. She must have left over forty 'messages' now, for Angeal.
On most days the child had to get one of the lobby receptionists to call up Sephiroth so he (or another one of the SOLDIERs they knew) could come down to pick her up, but today, the general was already waiting for her, standing as still as a statue.
Their eyes met and Persephone knew in that one instance that something terrible had happened.
The whole first floor lobby was treated to the rare sight of the Great Silver General trying to soothe an inconsolable young girl who sobbed with everything she had. His leather coat did not soak her tears, rather they rolled down and joined the moisture already soaking her clothing from the rain outside. The man did not care what anyone thought of him, but knew how sensitive and vulnerable his niece was right now and picked her up, carrying her out of sight. To the safety of the elevator and, eventually, his office.
Persephone didn't know what was going on around her anymore, everything just a blur of activity around her after she had received the news of Angeal's death. How he had died, no one would say, but there was this dreadful feeling in the pit of the child's stomach that if someone told her the truth that she wouldn't like the answer. There was a memorial service wherein Zack avoided her at all costs, though she had no idea why. The older male looked every bit as miserable as she did – possibly even more.
She couldn't believe it though. Angeal couldn't be dead. He was a strong First Class SOLDIER! An elite fighter! It just didn't click in her young mind that a man like her father could be taken down at all.
It wasn't surprising that she returned to her nervous habit of constantly making calls to her father, demanding he call her back tell her he was alright and not dead and buried under six feet and lying in a casket and…
Gaia, why?
As the coffin was lowered and Sephiroth wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she watched her father be buried for the second time in her life, Persephone just couldn't take the fact that she had lost a father again. Turning towards her uncle, the girl buried her face into his coat and cried and cried for the man that would never come back to her, no matter how hard she shed her tears.
Beep – Message - Beep
"Hmmm…you really don't look a lot like your father, do you?"
"I'm adopted."
"Ah, that explains it."
"Explains what?"
"Your lashes are so long…I'm jealous."
Sephiroth watched as the Turk, Cissnei hefted up Persephone into her arms with no problem. For someone of such small stature, the female Turk was deceptively strong. Then again, while obviously still growing, Angeal's daughter was also quite small for her age. But she was also quite pretty, too. Looking at the girl's face, Sephiroth saw the promise of beauty and wondered what his friend would think if his daughter grew up to be a beautiful lady who attracted all kinds of men. Probably have a heart attack. Or become overly protective. Sephiroth couldn't help having this overwhelming feeling to protect his niece whenever he looked at her.
He couldn't understand why Angeal would leave her all alone like this.
"Hmm…I might even say she has your eyes, general," the brunette woman noted, staring into her new charge's face. There was a roundness that came with still having baby fat and her dark hair was obviously from her mother's side of the family, but her eyes? Yes, those big cerulean eyes were quite interesting…
Sephiroth scoffed at this. "Just take care of her."
Cissnei nodded. "Yes, sir."
That order done with, the silver-haired man looked upon his niece, probably for the last time in the next little while. There was a mission out in the Western Continent that needed his attention, so it was with great reluctance that he left. It had barely been that long since they had buried Angeal and Persephone still needed him to be there for her, but he could not refuse this one. The president himself had been extremely insistent that he went.
And so, he had sought help from the Turks. Zack had recommended Cissnei of the Turks, who apparently had a soft spot for children. Persephone's former nanny, one Shalua Rui, was no longer available.
"Persephone….I'll be home soon."
Persephone looked at him disbelievingly, which made the general wince inwardly. No child should ever have to sport such an expression at such a tender age.
"Wait for me." Always to the point. Even after all these years, Sephiroth found he had trouble expressing himself to others in a friendly manner. Though having Persephone around had helped the man some, her presence (along with that of his friends) hadn't entirely washed away years and years of socially awkwardness.
After a small stretch of silence, the girl nodded. "I will."
"You have my number," he reminded her, before sweeping out of the room to head out with Zack. It was time to head to their next mission…what was the town called again? Ah, yes. Nibelheim.
Persephone watched him go, step by step, her blue eyes memorizing every detail of her uncle as he left. She had her own phone in her hands, her thumb smoothing over the slightly faded keys. The little machine had been well used, though it carried a handful of numbers.
The young lady would eventually find out that Sephiroth's number was disconnected only a month after he left on his mission.
From: Persephone Hewley
Subject: They're all gone
'Papa Angeal…Sephiroth's gone, too. And Zack. You, Uncle Genesis, Uncle Sephiroth and big brother Zack…Why?'
Beep – Message – Beep
Persephone grew up under the care of ex-Turk leader Verdot and his daughter, Felicia. When it became apparent that the girl was up for grabs when Sephiroth had died in Nibelheim, Tseng and Cissnei had whisked the girl away to their hideaway in Mideel, before Hojo got it into his head to kidnap the girl and use her in his experiments. It was more in honour of Zack, rather than the Silver General or his comrades.
The girl child grew up well, after having adjusted to her new foster home. Verdot was kinder than he looked and Felicia was every bit the protective, doting older sister any girl might have wanted. Together they taught the girl everything they knew, training her in order to keep her safe from harm; Verdot always believed that a woman should be able to defend herself from hooligans (and monsters looking for a bite-sized snack). Persephone took to all of it well, becoming an upstanding young lady any man would have been proud of.
However, as the years passed, and world ending catastrophes came and went Verdot noticed something a bit off about his foster child. Something was holding her back, keeping her from fully enjoying her life. As if she was waiting for something…something that might never come.
Persephone lived her life, but not truly lived. She couldn't live until the ghost of Angeal Hewley no longer haunted her young soul. The old man expressed his worry over her and so did her friends at the WRO, when they were notified of her strange behaviour. After extensive nudging and prodding the young woman gave in to their wishes and tried to let go. It was no easy task, however.
But, eventually, she came to a decision.
Persephone sighed. Alright. Time to do it. No way around it.
She flipped her phone open and dialled the number. She placed the cell close to her ear and listened to the dial tone before an automated message played. 'This number is not in service. Please hang up or try again.' No matter how many times she would try, though, the result would always be the same. However, this would be the last time. It was high time she ended this. It had been a decade since Angeal had walked out of her life with the promise to return.
It took her a while, but she had finally decided to let go. She couldn't keep clinging onto Angeal's memory forever, lest he never be able to rest in peace.
Taking a deep breath, Persephone began to speak.
"Hey, Papa Angeal? It's me, Persephone. How are you doing?" she asked, starting to pace in the room she was in. On the one side there were empty booths, with the other side having a counter and a wall filled with liquor. The room was otherwise devoid of anyone else. The proprietor of this establishment was currently out and the regulars didn't normally show up until later in the evening. The dark-haired woman had the whole of Seventh Heaven to herself.
"I'm doing just fine." A pause and she stared outside at the slowly changing sky. The streets were also empty, a troubling sign. Then again, these were troubling times. "Listen, Papa Angeal…there's something I have to tell you…"
A sigh escaped Persephone's lips and she ran a hand through her jet black hair.
"Thank you, for everything. For taking me in and raising me and looking out for me and loving me so much. But…I'll be okay now. So don't worry. I'm…not alone."
A few tears filled her eyes and she sniffled.
"I've…sent you so many messages…maybe almost a hundred. Maybe eighty-nine. Telling you how I miss you and want you there with me…But I'll be fine, papa. I'll be just fine. So…yes. That's all I really wanted you to know. I love you and thank you so much and…"
She took a shuddering breath, then shut the old, worn phone.
It was over.
"Good-bye."
A/N: I apologize for this. If I made any of you cry with this, I am terribly sorry. The fanfic will resume its actual storyline, soon.