Chapter 16 – Exam
The three boys were sitting next to Shelke with rapt attention as she told them all about her first meeting with Sephiroth. She skipped over the part in the lab, since she still had a hard time dealing with those memories, but they were enthralled when she told them about the sleepover. That was as far as they got before there was another knock, and Sephiroth came in.
He was shocked to see the boys on the floor with Shelke, but it quickly turned to a smile when the girl jumped up and ran to him. She stopped just short of throwing herself at him like she had Clarissa, but she still beamed up at him. "I'm glad I get to see you today too!"
Sephiroth knelt, so he was closer to her level and put a hand on her head. Her grin widened when he spoke. "I know it has been some time since I last saw you. I'm glad to see you are doing well."
Shelke giggled at his stiff greeting, but she knew he meant it, so she didn't say anything. Not that she had a chance to. The boys had gotten closer as well, which prompted the General to turn their way. He also gave them a nod as he addressed them. "Are you three still willing to let Shalua evaluate you?"
Kadaj was the one to speak for them. "We are still uncertain what to believe, but we understand why you are asking. Before we agree, tell us what will be involved."
Shelke frowned at his cold tone, but Shalua was quick to answer when the other two adults turned her way. "I had planned to do a basic exam. I will check your vitals, your reflexes, and make sure there are no visible complications. I would also like to take a small blood sample from each of you to ensure there are no underlying issues I otherwise could not see."
Yazoo's eyes narrowed, and Kadaj's voice turned a little colder. "You want to take our blood?"
Shalua looked over at Clarissa for backup, but she just shook her head. She then turned to the boys. "I've already told you that this is your choice. If you do not want to submit to the blood sample, you don't have to. I will give you my word that she isn't asking so she can use it to harm you or to harm any others. If she says she wants to make sure you're healthy, then that's what she means."
By that point, Shelke stepped forward with a frown. There was more than a little hurt in her voice, as it didn't take long for her to realize the boys didn't trust Shalua. "My sister would never hurt anyone! She agreed to work here again because she wants to help people."
Sephiroth laid a gentle hand on her head as he tried to reassure her. "We know that to be true already. Please do not blame the boys for their mistrust. You must remember that Hojo has had them all their life."
Shelke took in a sharp gasp, and tears started to fill her eyes. She stepped forward as she tried to blink them away. She tentatively reached out and took Loz's hand before she looked at them all. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I can't imagine how bad that was. He only had me for a year, and I still-" She cut off with a choked sob.
Shalua was quickly there to wrap the girl in an embrace, but her tone was softer than it had been when she addressed the boys again. "I know you have your reasons for not trusting any of us, but I give you my word that I only want what's best for you. I will also swear that I will only do the tests you are comfortable with."
Clarissa could tell that Loz was close to crying already, though she wasn't sure if it was because Shelke had started to, or because of the thought of the exam. Still, she knew things were getting tenser than they needed to be, so she knelt at looked at the boys. "Tell you what. If you don't feel up to it today, we can put it off and let you think about it."
The boys all shared a look that lasted several seconds. Finally, Kadaj shook his head. "No, we will accept everything, but the blood draw. There is no point in making Shelke and Shalua have to come by again."
By that point, Shelke had calmed. She pulled away from her sister and gave the boys an earnest look. "But it isn't a problem." She paused and looked away while she wrung her hands. She still managed to continue, despite her obvious discomfort. "Besides, I hoped we could finish our talk sometime. I bet you all have lots to share, too, right?"
Shalua stood and gave them all a smile. "Don't worry, we can come by anytime. Though, if you are willing, I'll go ahead and get the basics out of the way today."
The boys shared one more look before they all nodded to her. After that, it was decided that it would be best if she examined them all at once. They asked that either Sephiroth or Clarissa be in the room as well. In the end, Sephiroth agreed to stand by them while Clarissa kept Shelke occupied.
It was a little more than an hour later that they all came out of the bedroom to find Clarissa and Shelke singing a silly song together. They were both fighting giggles as they got to the chorus. Clarissa pushed Shelke over the edge when she prodded her side slightly, and the girl fell over laughing.
The other two adults smiled at the sight of them laughing together, but the boys were staring at them wide-eyed. When Clarissa caught sight of them, she sobered somewhat. She still grinned at them when she explained. "I found out that Shelke has been going to the company daycare and some of the children there were telling her about the songs I used to sing when I worked there. No one else knew them, so she asked if I could show her."
Shalua moved to help her sister up as she responded. "Ah, yes. I think I've heard about that. The bunny song, right?"
Clarissa chuckled as she stood. "Yeah, that's one of them." She then turned to the boys. "So, is everything good?"
They all gave her a nod before Kadaj answered. "We are healthy, which is not unexpected. We are perfect physical specimens."
Clarissa took a deep breath before she responded. She should have known that arrogance would surface eventually. Even Sephiroth had it to an extent. Still, she managed to keep her censure from her voice. "Be that as it may, I'm glad to know there aren't any immediate problems." She then turned to Shalua. "Thanks for coming. Feel free to call on me to return the favor when things are less hectic."
Shalua shook her head with a wry smile. "There is no need. What you and the others did for Shelke was more than enough." She then paused and looked to where Shelke had gone over to check on the boys. Her eyes still looked worried, but that didn't stop her. "Although, I may see about checking back with you all again in a few days. I can already tell that Shelke would love to."
Clarissa smiled at the four children as well. "I'm sure that would be great." She then turned back to Shalua. "By the way, how are the energy options coming along?"
Shalua sighed and gave her a wry grin. "Better than I expected, though the sticker shock is hitting the board harder than anticipated. Still, I think that we can start to see some changes here in Midgar within the year."
Clarissa was glad to hear it, and not at all surprised that the board was having a hard time stomaching the cost. That was something that would take time to overcome. Still, it was a start.
By that point, Shalua had gathered Shelke up again so they could leave. They both waved goodbye with a promise to be back as soon as they could get the time. After they left, there was silence in the room for several moments, before Clarissa turned to the boys with a smile. "You three looked like you might be interested in the song I was singing earlier. Would you like me to show you?"
It wasn't unexpected that Yazoo sneered, but she was shocked when Loz didn't even consult the others before he nodded and answered. "What was it about?"
Clarissa knelt again and then looked over to where Sephiroth was still standing. She motioned him over. "Why don't you join us. You never know when this skill might come in handy."
He frowned at her, but it didn't take him long to understand what she was trying to do. She wanted the boys to see that life was not all about pain and hardship. That it was alright to be silly sometimes, even for a man like him. He took a deep breath before he knelt across from. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt for me to learn something new for once."
Clarissa grinned at him, and it only grew when the other two boys joined them as well. Despite knowing it was for a good reason, it took all she had not to fall over laughing as she watched all four of the others try to stiffly follow along with bunny Fufu. Especially since it wasn't that she thought it was ridiculous. No, she was just glad to see they were willing to let go of their worry a little. Sephiroth included.
They went through a few more songs that Clarissa could think of as well. By the time they got to the fourth one, at least the boys had relaxed a little. She almost fell over when Kadaj showed a hint of a smile. It was the most beautiful thing she had seen in a long time.
After that, she called a halt to their antics, as they still had dinner to prepare. When she shooed the boys into the bathroom to clean up, Sephiroth turned to her with a solemn look. "Don't ever mention that to Genesis."
That was too much. Clarissa nearly fell over she was laughing so hard. She had to grab the wall to keep herself upright. When she caught sight of Sephiroth's frown, she laughed even harder. Though she did try to wave off his concern. It took her a moment before she could speak. "I will promise that I will not tell him. At least not before I get him to do it too."
Sephiroth froze at that point. It was several seconds before his brow rose, and he smirked. "That is something I would like to see."
Clarissa gave him a grin. "I'll make sure you both have a chance to participate."
He took a step back when he noticed the glint in her eyes. He also realized what she meant, and decided that perhaps it was time to change the subject. He didn't get a chance to before the boys came out. They all looked at him before Yazoo spoke. "Will you be staying for dinner again?"
Sephiroth swallowed a sigh as he realized he would need to reevaluate what was important. He then gave them all a nod. "Of course."
They didn't need any further confirmation from him before they turned to the kitchen. Though Loz stopped and turned back with a curious look. "Could we possibly-"
He cut off and looked away with a frown, but Yazoo was there by his side. He rolled his eyes at his brother before he looked back at Sephiroth and finished the sentence for him. "He wants to know if we could have a sleepover soon. Like the one Shelke told us about."
Sephiroth looked shocked for a moment. That was an unexpected request. His gaze flicked to Clarissa, and she gave him an expectant look. This was going to be up to him. Finally, he turned back to the boys, and his gaze firmed. "Of course. Besides, it would be best if a Soldier stays with you at night if you decide to move into the larger apartment. It would be like a sleepover every night."
That was enough of an answer for the boys, and they both went to join Kadaj. However, Clarissa turned a curious look to her commanding officer. "I know you mentioned it before, but I forgot about the other place. I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea, since there is a park near that location. Still, it may be some time before we are up to that."
Sephiroth didn't speak right away. Instead, he watched the doorway where he could still see the boys moving around, gathering the things from the refrigerator. They were more mature than they should be at that age, but he was beginning to see they had more of a chance to gain back what he had lost, what Hojo and the other scientists had stolen from them all. He finally turned back to Clarissa with a wry smile. "I think that those three will shock us. Perhaps it would not be a bad thing to ask them, at least."
After a second, she gave him a nod and a grin. "You're right. I was also thinking about asking them if they wanted to go to the company daycare with me. It would do them good to interact with other children their age. Maybe not for a while, but the park would be a great place to start." Sephiroth gave her a nod before they moved into the kitchen to finish making the evening meal.
It wasn't until they were almost finished that Kadaj finally brought up what they were all thinking. "We heard you mention moving and also going to the same place where Shelke goes during the day."
He stopped at that point. Clarissa waited to see if there was a question to go with the statement, but when he didn't continue, she nodded. "Yes, I was going to ask you if that was something you might be interested in soon."
None of the boys looked up from their plates, but their silence was a good indication they were all communicating. Finally, Kadaj looked up with a slight frown. "There is still so much we don't understand."
Clarissa could tell that admission was difficult for him, so she tried to ease his worry with a smile. "There is no rush. I will say that I think it would help for you to get to know more people your age, but that can come in time. Although I think we would all be more comfortable in the other apartment. There is more room, and all mine and Genesis's things are there already. Plus, it would allow more space for toys and such."
"Toys?" The confusion on all three of the boys' faces was not faked.
Clarissa felt her heart break a little at how foreign the concept was to them. Her voice was soft when she continued. "Yes, toys. I'm not sure what that means to you, but in the end, what they will be depends on you. I'm not suggesting you have teddy bears and such. Anything to help you learn and keep you entertained. That is what is important."
Her response didn't seem to clear their confusion. Though after a few moments, Kadaj finally looked up. "We do not think we could relax around other people. We know you say we can trust, but-"
She put her hand on his arm in reassurance when he cut off. "I know. Trust is hard-won. I don't expect you to believe everything has changed right away. Only time will allow you to see the truth."
Sephiroth had watched the whole exchange with a grim expression. He could easily see himself as a child trying to work through the issues presented to these boys, and he knew his reaction would have been no different. He was still struggling with the changes that having friends wrought on his personality. It was not easy for him. His only hope was that the boys were still young. Hopefully, that would make it easier for them to adapt.
In his contemplation, he had tuned out the conversation, so it took him a moment to realize they were all looking at him. He blinked a few times and tried not to frown as he spoke to Clarissa. "My apologies. I didn't hear what you asked."
She gave him an understanding look and spoke again. "No worries. The boys just said they would be willing to move tomorrow, and I wanted to see if we could spare a couple people to help. Not that there is much here, but-"
Sephiroth immediately understood what she wasn't saying. They all knew she was competent and could protect the boys against most threats, but that was no reason for them to be lax with security. He smiled at the boys as he answered. "Of course. I'm glad to hear that you all are willing to take that first step."
Once that was settled, the small group worked together to clear the meal and get ready for bed. Sephiroth promised that he would come to spend the night their first night in their new home before he left. Clarissa had been shocked that he had volunteered, but she was still grinning about how well the four had taken to each other as she helped the boys get ready for bed.
The next day was hectic. It didn't take them long to pack what they wanted to take, as they didn't have more than a few changes of clothes. The hassle came when Angeal and Zack showed up to take them to the new apartment. The boys were less skittish with Angeal then they had been, but they still avoided getting anywhere near Zack. Thankfully it didn't dim the Second's ever-present grin.
It was late afternoon when they finally got to the apartment. Clarissa was glad to see the boys looking through the rooms. She was even happier when they discovered the many bookshelves that housed Genesis's book collection. They immediately stopped everything else to look through the selection. So, at least she knew she had been correct that they would like to read. She already had a list of things that she wanted to get for them to play with.
She thanked both Zack and Angeal for the help once she was sure the boys were settled. Her friend gave her a rib-cracking hug before he stepped back and allowed Angeal to speak. "Sephiroth said he will be by later tonight, so we'll head back. If you need anything, let me know, and I'll see if we can send it with him or have one of the guys bring it by."
She gave him a grin. "Actually, I do have a few things that would be nice to have soon. It doesn't have to be today, but as soon as you can get it would be great."
Zack had been watching the boys go through the books, but at her request, he looked back with a grin. "I can take a list back. I've got the rest of the afternoon off and would be happy to do some shopping."
She gave him a reluctant look that caused him to give her his infamous puppy dog eyes. "Aw, come on. You know I'm capable of just about anything."
She finally laughed and nodded. "Fine. None of it should be too hard to find. Give me a moment." She turned to find some paper, but paused and looked back before she lowered her voice. "Just make sure you don't come in without me when you get back, okay?"
He gave her a firm nod. "Got it. I understand, so don't worry about me."
Clarissa gave him a strained smile. Part of her wondered if it was even possible for the effervescent Second to understand the level of hardship those boys had endured. Still, she couldn't hold it against him. It might even work out that his bubbly personality would win the boys over. She could only hope.
It wasn't long until she had a list ready for them to take back with them. She grinned at Zack. "You don't have to worry about getting that all back today. Anytime in the next few days will be fine. Something tells me those three will have enough to occupy them for at least that long."
Zack looked down at the list before he grinned back up at her. "You got it!"
After that, both Angeal and Zack gave their goodbyes before they left to head back. Once they were gone, Clarissa turned to watch the boys for a few moments. She was glad to see them already lost in reading. Maybe the transition wouldn't be as hard as she had feared. But like she had told them already, time would tell.
A/N: See! I told you I had a new inspiration for this one. I hope this chapter was what those of you wanting some family fluff were looking for. We have a little more next chapter, but as you know, not everything is perfect yet. I hope you are all ready for the action to start again soon. Also, for my guest reviewer that I couldn't answer directly - I have thought about doing a Vincent story, but if I do, then it will likely take place either after Dirge of Cerberus or before Crisis Core. As for Shelke and Shalua, I have them in many of my fics, but I don't know that I have the inspiration to write a story with them as the lead. I do appreciate you thinking that I would do a good job with it though. For everyone else, thanks for reading and cheers!