I don't own FFVII.
At three years of age (almost 4 thank you very much), Kadaj Sora Strife is completely in charge of his life. He knows his birthday is on January 2nd and he can hold up the right fingers too. He knows that Souba is a wolf and that two plus two equals four. He even knows that Zack is his daddy though he looks more like Uncle Seph. Kadaj knows that if he is this smart now, he'll definitely be a genius by the time he's five.
"Kadaj. You awake, kiddo?"
That's Daddy calling, it must be time for breakfast. Kadaj hastily makes his way out of his room, a worn and well-loved Souba in tow. As he nears the kitchen and smells a non-burnt breakfast, Kadaj realizes his mother is off at work. Again. His good day is all ruined. Today is Parent's Day and she won't be there. A liquid emotion, which is his and not his, wells up deep inside as he slumps into his chair grumpily and tries his hardest not to pout (cry).
Zack is busy making smiley face pancakes, but his soldier-enhanced ears let him know Kadaj is in the room. When he turns around, he catches an all too familiar expression on the boy's face. He quickly does his best to turn the situation around; Kadaj in his toddlerhood has become infamous for grand-mal tantrums.
"Hey, chin up, sprout," he says gently chucking the boy under the chin. Kadaj just turns his head and crosses his arms.
"Oy," Zack continues to cajole, "don't be like that."
Zack's words only make Kadaj put on his best pout and stomp stormily to face the wall. Zack can smell the tears before the crocodile wailing starts and he is already calculating whether ice-cream would be a good barter.
"Hey now, hey now. Come on, buddy stop all this. You wanna drown Souba in all the big ole crocodile tears?" he says gently as he scoops the wailing child up.
Settling down on the abandoned chair, he carefully rocks his little boy side to side.
"What's got you all in a tizzy? It's not even breakfast yet."
Kadaj hiccups twice before he ends the theatrics and sulks out something about a "Take your parent to school" day. Zack's eyes slide to the calendar that Kadaj often scribbles on and silently curses to himself. They have royally fucked up but somehow he will save this situation.
"You could take me," he offers but he met with an indignant screech and a "you came last time" before Kadaj angrily kicks the table. Zack abruptly taps the angry little leg and scolds Kadaj lightly. There will be none of that here. Kadaj goes back to wailing.
Five minutes and two cooling breakfasts later, Zack suddenly gets a bright idea.
"How about Uncle Seph," he whispers excitedly and Kadaj immediately quiets.
"S'not a parent," the boy huffily sniffles back.
Zack is determined to win but secretly a green part of him is thrilled by the boy's admission.
"Yeah, maybe not but you see him all the time. Plus, he's got that cool sword. That'd definitely make all the other kids jealous."
Kadaj is silent while he considers Zack's offer, eventually, a slightly optimistic "kay" makes it way out of him. Zack quickly sets the boy down with a bribe of pancakes and ice cream and proceeds to make an important call.
"I take it you need help with Kadaj. I've already taken leave."
The voice that answers the phone is cool and omnipotent as if it knows about Aerith's failure and therefore Zack's. He will swallow his pride because this is not about him; this is about the little boy at the kitchen table. And, Zack will be damned if he lets his boy down. No. His mother does enough of that. So he will swallow his pride, it is a small penance to pay for the grievances his selfishness has caused his son. Still, Zack grits his teeth as the words slide out.
"Seph, I need a favor."