Disclaimer: All Characters are owned and operated by their respective owners. No animals were harmed in the making of this fiction.

Hojo was furious. Sephiroth knew that much. He did not want Sephiroth to go with Cass and told Sephiroth he was not to see her anymore.

Cass was now a social pariah within the labs, which actually raised her status a little more. Before she was walked over by almost everyone. Now she could bite back more since it was obvious her time in the labs was nearly up. She prowled about the coffee machine after some stupid sod stole her coffee mug and took her fill from the unsuspecting assistants. The mug was returned by the end of the day with a chocolate bar. Her language skills really took off as well No one was exactly sure what a spineless douche cannon or a brainless fucktard was, but it was fun to try and imagine it.

Sephiroth ignored Hojo's order and kept going to Cass. He never asked about the adoption, or if it would come to fruition. Cass didn't tell him either. They were holding their breath, in all honesty. To an outsider it appeared nothing had changed, with the exception that Sephiroth was continuously dragged back by an unfortunate technician who would run from Cass before the verbal abuse, or whatever else she was capable of (no one was really certain anymore) could happen.

Cass was rightfully feared in the labs now. Because of her position, she had enormous control over what might happen, meaning she was the first defense against explosions like the last one. Each experiment was now conducted with extreme caution. At one point a fire broke out and everyone nearly lost it. Cass watched the pandemonium calmly, before checking what she had handed in, assuring everyone that she was correct and simply writing it more neatly. The second time was better.

She also had a decent punch, as two or three technicians would say after coming in with black eyes.

The rumor that she slept with a loaded shotgun was accepted as fact with the addition that she named it Bob.

The only one who did not run or cower in her presence was Hojo. He had a special glare reserved only for her, that she returned with her own. They had stopped any civility and just were silent, with the occasional insult thrown in. To everyone else it was obvious what was happening: It was on. The victor would get the kid, the loser...well it depended on the loser.

Hojo was thrilled when President ShinRa informed Hojo that Cass would be followed by a Turk for a forty-eight hour assessment. Surely they would see that she was unfit for Sephiroth's care.

The Turk disagreed. The bitch was boring. She did math all day. She stole coffee on occasion, which was admittedly hilarious, but was still boring. Her vocabulary was interesting, however. He did make a note to find her when he was off duty to get some intel on that.

The kid was interesting. He snuck off twice in one day to sit in her office and watch her do math. He was kind of freaky looking in the Turk's opinion, but the girl (woman?) didn't mind. They did not appear to talk much.

It got interesting after hours though.

She rode a bike to work. Good for her, kept her in shape while she sat around and calculated.

Then she was being mugged. Uh-oh.

Then one of the muggers went down hard and the other got his head smashed into a wall. Okay, that wasn't bad. She walked away as if nothing had happened, and hopped back on the bike. Not bad at all.

The most impressive part had to be when she got home. She lived very modestly. The Turk wasn't exactly sure what she was paid, but surely more than this place was worth. She fiddled with the door, which apparently got stuck often and carried her bike up two floors. She lounged around for a bit, before standing up.

"I'm going to bed," she said out loud, "If you want to be a pervert you can watch, otherwise get the hell out until 5 when I wake up."

Was she talking to him?

"Come on," she said, "You've been following me all day. Did you think I wouldn't notice? I seriously don't have anything better to do than watch flies on the wall."

Damn. She was good. Turk material if she weren't already employed. Oh well. He stayed all night anyway. Orders were orders.

She puttered around efficiently the next day. She left him a cup of coffee even, which was nice and there were no rules against accepting it. Then the whole process began anew and...she was boring again.

That's exactly what the Turk reported, with the addition of Turk spotter and mugger vanquisher.

"You can't honestly be considering this!" Hojo spat. The glare he sent in the Durmont woman's direction (What was her name again?) received an exasperated eye roll. ShinRa almost laughed at the scene before him. It was all too childish.

"I am considering it," ShinRa reiterated, "I see no reason why I shouldn't."

"My resignation," Hojo said, "Is that enough?"

"Praise Bahamut," the woman muttered. Hojo looked ready to kill, but ShinRa knew he wouldn't dare stain the carpets in his office.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hojo demanded.

"That the labs would be nicer without you in them," she replied. ShinRa silenced them both with a look. Hojo sat down as far away as possible from the woman. She didn't react, but seemed pleased with that.

"Ms. Durmont has simply brought up several good reasons to why Sephiroth should be granted outside guardianship," ShinRa explained, "Quite frankly I agree with them, though I do not desire your resignation." He made sure to look at the Durmont woman. She did not pout like he expected her to. Pity.

"Your crass attitude towards my research is disturbing," Hojo said, "If you really wanted the results I promised-"

"He's six!" the woman snapped, "He's not your toy. If you bothered to ask, you'd know he wants to leave."

"You assume-"

"Too much," she finished, "I know. I get it. Now get over it, for Gaia's sake." ShinRa was about ready to yell at them, but they silenced themselves, apparently finished for the moment.

"I expect nothing but the highest results from your research," ShinRa said, "and the initial screenings are very promising, but Ms. Durmont has pointed out some unforeseen flaws. I have taken the liberty to consult several psychologists and they all agree with Ms. Durmont's assessment. I will not have Sephiroth fly off the handle because my head scientist threw a fit. I've invested far too much into this as it is." Hojo looked incensed.

"However," ShinRa continued, "I do agree that it is not quite time to have Sephiroth acquainted with the rest of the world. I will release him to Ms. Durmont's custody with the agreement that she uses discretion. Sephiroth will continue the testing and training within the labs. Ms. Durmont will have custody of him and you will retain him for your research purposes." Neither looked happy with this arrangement.

"Fine," Durmont said, "but I get him on weekends."

"What!" Hojo said.

"It's not like you actually do anything on weekends," she said, "He deserves a break after what he does at his age. Besides it will be a good way to test his retention skills."

"I-" Hojo stopped, "You actually have a valid point."

"It happens from time to time," she said.

"No so fast," ShinRa said, "I don't just hand out assets on a whim. There will be a trial period. If I am not satisfied with Sephiroth's progress then he will be returned to the lab." Hojo looked thrilled with that idea.

"Very well," Durmont agreed, "For how long?"

"Let's say...one week to perhaps a month," ShinRa said. She grimaced, but nodded.

"We'll be poking around your personal life for certain and checking in at random intervals," ShinRa said, "nothing that wouldn't happen if it were a real adoption." She nodded.

"Fine," she said.

"Anything to add Professor?" ShinRa asked.

"Only that this venture is foolish," Hojo said.

"If that is all then I would like to speak to Ms. Durmont in private," ShinRa said. Hojo slunk out with one last glare in her direction. Durmont stayed sitting.

"About your request to be removed from the labs," ShinRa said, "I believe I have a much better solution. It involves some departments we are trying to develop. You seem to have some skills that could certainly help with that."

"Will it get me out of the labs?" she asked.

"And a pay raise," ShinRa added before sitting down to explain his plans further.

Sephiroth couldn't believe his ears. He was leaving. He was leaving the labs. Hojo was clearly upset with that notion and made sure that it had been dragged out to the last possible moment, but it was coming.

He was more excited than he ever had been in his life.

He had been strictly forbidden from going to Cass until that day. The assistants had gotten better at stopping him, but they had a secret weapon.

Silence.

They talked to each other across the lab, in the hall, where ever they happened to see each other. No one was ever the wiser, because not a word was spoken. It looked odd, but to anyone not really paying close attention, it merely looked like they were fidgeting.

"Hello Sephiroth."

"Hello Cass."

"How are you?"

"Normal. How are you?"

"I'm very well, thank you."

"How many days left?"

The door burst open.

"Stop sending Bandersnatches to my apartment. The neighbors are getting annoyed."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't play stupid. Who else had a squadron of enhanced monsters and a vendetta against me?"

"I don't appreciate these accusations."

"I don't appreciate hauling a dead 400 pound cat off the doorstep each morning. We can't always get what we want."

"...How do you do it?"

"What? Survive? Like I'd tell you."

"I'm not sure it's safe to have Sephiroth around someone who can take down a Bandersnatch by themselves."

"I'm not by myself. I live in an apartment. Besides, this wouldn't be a problem if you didn't sent them out. Stop it, or I'll inform someone who can."

"A false threat."

"You haven't seen what my new job is have you?"

"So long as it keeps you away."

"It won't. I work for everybody now. You, Finance, Space, Weapons, whoever needs me. I'm extremely popular nowadays. And I get a bigger office. And my own coffee machine. I talk to an awful lot of people these days. I'd hate to let some laboratory gossip slip out."

"They won't believe you."

"Maybe, maybe not. Keep sending the furballs and we'll find out. Your attempts to have me killed are getting annoying. Either do a proper job of it or let Sephiroth go."

"Get out of my lab."

"With pleasure. I'll be taking Sephiroth with me tomorrow though. No more delays. Better send more than one tonight. Maybe that'll do the trick."

"You think?"

"Not really. The street's too narrow for two to attack at once."

A/N: This chapter feels really short and desperate to me. The next chapter might be a little fluffy and nearly Hojo free. Until then...