As promised...Happy White Day, everyone!
Minerva's Feast
-part two-
In the four months since Sephiroth had been living with them, they'd learned some very interesting things about him. One, he did not need to eat (annoying resurrected-with-pure-Jenova-cells form that he was). Two...he could clean.
"No, you turn the fitted sheet inside-out first and then tuck in the opposite corner like this…"
And boy did he.
"Being in a lab for the first twelve years of your life and in the military for the next ten doesn't leave a lot of room for disorganization," he explained, after the kids had witnessed him categorizing and alphabetizing the books in the sitting area. His room was always pristine, too — never a thing out of place, even in the drawers and closet.
"You went to war when you were twelve?" Marlene gasped.
"Shin-Ra recruited us early then," Cloud commented. "I left home when I was fourteen."
"...You were raised in a lab?" Denzel asked then.
A cough from Tifa effectively ended that conversation, though Denzel had asked Cloud to confirm the story later when Marlene wasn't around. He was getting more comfortable around Sephiroth, but not enough to ask personal questions directly. He always went through Cloud.
"Shin-Ra say what he wanted you for tonight?" Cloud asked, finally able to put the rag down. He poured himself some water and plopped down on one of the sofas. Minerva's Feast meant lots of people eating out or drinking. Tifa had been reluctant to close the bar completely, but Cloud insisted. They deserved a holiday too, this one was here, and who knew when they would be called on to save the world again? (Hopefully never, but they'd thought that before.) The bonuses he'd received taking on work from Shin-Ra were more than enough to cover a day's worth of revenue from the bar.
That said, Cloud still wanted it sparkling for tonight. Tifa had gone out with Elmyra and would pick up the kids on the way back, so the two ex-SOLDIERs had taken the time to clean from top-to-bottom.
"Rufus has some rendezvous or something," Sephiroth replied, putting the last of the sheets in the closet. He walked over to one of the cushy chairs and sat down, himself. In fact, Rufus had confirmed what Sephiroth already thought: he had no love of Minerva's Feast, no love for most holidays, period. "I need to be in Healen by six." The corner of Cloud's mouth rose briefly. Sephiroth cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Everyone at Shin-Ra always said what a workaholic you were," Cloud said, smirk widening. "I guess that part was true." Sephiroth squinted. He got the feeling Cloud was hiding something, but whatever it was, he was doing a marvelous job at concealing it and Sephiroth had promised he wouldn't read anybody's mind on purpose.
"He said he didn't want to bother anyone else," the ex-general replied at last, "and remembered that I worked through most holidays in the past..."
"Thus proving my point," Cloud said. His smirk stayed firmly in place.
"...Is something wrong, Cloud?" Sephiroth finally asked.
"Nope." A pause. "Thanks for your help with everything. I know Tifa was dreading tackling the laundry this week."
"A lot of drunken idiots?"
"More than usual, yeah," Cloud answered. They'd gone through a lot of towels. "She had to throw out one guy 'cause he took a swing at Denzel." Sephiroth's eyes widened — only a fraction — in shock.
"At a child?"
"Yeah. You know Denzel — he was all ready to go, but...Tifa stepped in before he could actually get hurt." Naturally, that had been the one night Cloud had been out late on deliveries, and Sephiroth had been in Healen with Shin-Ra (he usually stayed in his room during bar hours, but he heard everything that went on downstairs). Tifa was more than capable of handling it, of course, but just the sight of the ex-SOLDIERs' mako-enhanced eyes were usually enough to settle rowdier patrons down. Besides, there had been that rumor...that what Shin-Ra claimed was a Sephiroth 'clone' that had tried to destroy the planet...had actually not been a clone at all...
"She is a very tough lady," Sephiroth said then, offering a rare, true smile in lieu of his usual smirk. "You're lucky to have her." Cloud turned his head, squinting at the ex-general before him. Sephiroth was right of course (and boy didn't Cloud know it), but this struck him as an odd thing to say.
"...Did you...you know...have someone?"
"...What?"
(Cloud had to look away and stifle a snort; he would forever remember this moment: the model SOLDIER and ever-unflappable General Sephiroth...well, flapped. Wing-puns completely intended. His silver eyebrows almost touched his hairline, and his serpentine pupils had widened to the point of being nearly full circles.)
Sephiroth's stare was still on him. After another moment, when he felt he could hide his amusement well enough, Cloud turned to face him again.
"I just...the way you'd commented on Tifa...I wondered if you'd remembered something. You know...if you...had anyone."
"...I don't…" Sephiroth closed his mouth. His comments had been an honest observation, nothing more...but now that Cloud had brought up the subject, he found himself curious, too.
"...I...don't think I've had what they call a 'crush', if that's what you're asking," Sephiroth finally said. "But...there have been those I have been more...interested in, yes." Cloud raised his eyebrows. Sephiroth paused again, thinking. "Well...really, just one."
Cloud stared. He had never heard this, not even from Genesis. "Who?" the blond asked.
"...We fought," Sephiroth answered, speaking slowly. The details were not all clear, but at least they were present. "In Junon. She was... the one who initially made me question things. Made me think about Shin-Ra, and their influences. She asked me what I fought for. I couldn't answer her then. I didn't know."
"...'She'?" This time, Cloud couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice. Popular theory around the old SOLDIER base had said that Sephiroth was either gay or asexual, yet the words he'd exchanged with Cloud over Midgar's ruins had lead the blond to believe otherwise: that particular Sephiroth had spoken of finding a new planet and 'building a shining future' (how said shining future was to be built lead to any number of other disturbing theories and images, but Cloud did not want to dwell on those). Still...it was quite something to finally put those old rumors to rest. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, irritation coming off him in droves.
"I'm well aware of the rumors surrounding my sexuality," he said. "But I'm not attracted to men and never have been." His annoyed gaze didn't waver as Cloud was obviously trying not to laugh and not doing a very good job of it (besides, his mirth leaked over the S-cells).
"What could you possibly find amusing in that statement?"
"I just...hearing a word like 'sexuality' come out of your mouth is kinda the last thing I expected to hear, yanno? You spend a year or two in Shin-Ra and you hear pretty much every rumor about you there is."
"I'm not asexual, either," Sephiroth grunted. "I simply didn't spend a lot of time with women. Partially because there weren't a lot in SOLDIER,and partially because most of the ones I did interact with were only interested in my status."
Cloud nodded. Sephiroth's reasoning did make sense, after all. He'd been Midgar's most eligible bachelor back in the day (heck, he probably still was).
"So...who was she, exactly?"
"I don't remember her name," Sephiroth said, frowning. "Just her words, and her appearance. She was a brilliant swordswoman — she blocked my attacks almost as easily as you do." Cloud rolled his eyes. Swordswoman, yeah — that'd do it. His former commander was astoundingly predictable at times. That said, Cloud couldn't deny his own curiosity had been piqued as well. He and Tifa sparred regularly, but he never used his sword, and wasn't sure he could use his full strength, either. If Sephiroth and this woman were in a combat situation, that meant life-or-death. The silver-haired SOLDIER before him did not know the full extent of his powers; he'd never used them. All the times they'd fought him as an enemy...all the times he'd faced enemies or opponents...and apparently, all those times he had been holding back.
Which mention a fraction of his power could and would decimate most. That this woman had been able to block even those attacks spoke volumes about her own abilities; it was no wonder she'd made an impression.
"...What happened to her?" Cloud asked.
"I think...she was the leader of the old AVALANCHE group," Sephiroth answered, sighing. "They were more violent than your group was...more willing to allow people to get hurt. I did not kill her, but I'm sure Shin-Ra won the battle." — Of course they did, they called you in, Cloud thought—"If I ever saw them again, I don't remember it."
"...I'm sorry," Cloud said, not really knowing what else to say. Sephiroth shook his head.
"I didn't really know them," he replied. "But...I think I might have liked to...if things perhaps had been different. Zack told me I'd been contemplating leaving Shin-Ra, before...well, before that mission." Cloud squinted. He recalled Zack mentioning something like that. Had Shin-Ra known? Possibly. Probably. They couldn't stand to lose their star player. Genesis' suggestion of Nibelheim being at least a partially-inside job was looking more and more plausible.
"Did they know you were thinking of leaving?"
"...Probably." Zack had told him about them disobeying the orders to kill Angeal and Genesis, on Sephiroth's own word. It hadn't occurred to him then that Shin-Ra might bug their phones.
"So how is it you remember this, but not whether or not you celebrated Minerva's Feast? I thought you said you got rid of your 'human' memories," Cloud said.
"Most of them," Sephiroth replied. "I kept a certain few that I considered 'made' me what I was."
"And she did?"
"The situation did," he corrected. Cloud smirked; Sephiroth narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing." A glance at the clock. "It's after four. Didn't you say you had to be in Healen by six?"
"Yes — of course. I should get going." Sephiroth grabbed his glass and quickly washed it so as not to spoil the hard work they'd done, then headed for the back door, Cloud at his heels.
"Try not to be too hard on the monsters," Cloud said as they exited the door. Sephiroth rolled his eyes.
"If they want to attack me, they are inviting it on themselves," he said flatly. Giving his former subordinate a half-hearted salute, the ex-general climbed on his motorcycle, kicked the bike into drive and blew down the street.
Cloud headed back inside, smirking to himself. Tifa and the kids would be home soon.
.:I:I:V:I:I:.
At half-past four, Tifa arrived at Seventh Heaven with not only Denzel and Marlene in tow, but Elmyra Gainsborough as well. Neither Cloud nor Tifa had wanted her to be alone on a holiday, even one that typically focused more on lovers. Aerith was family, and Elmyra had cared for both Marlene and later Denzel as well while the group had been off saving the world multiple times.
"Cloud, you're home already?" Denzel asked, lighting up. Cloud smiled, reaching out to ruffle the kid's hair.
"Day off," he said. "You two have a good day at school? No issues with your classmates?" he asked, referencing a day not so long ago where Marlene had been picked on by another little girl at school. Marlene shook her head.
"Tayla hasn't said anything else about us," she chirped. Cloud nodded.
"Good." He paused, glancing at Tifa. She smiled.
"Why don't you two go inside and look on your beds?" she suggested. Denzel and Marlene looked at each other, then laughed and hurried through the door, the adults following after.
"Oh, it's so cute!"
"Yea-ah a chocolate chocobo! 100 gil! Marlene, we can get the new Gaia Knights video with that!" Two sets of young feet ran back down the stairs, Denzel's face already smeared with chocolate and Marlene clutching her new Carbuncle plushie.
"Thank you so much!" Denzel exclaimed, holding up a book on motorcycles. "Are you gonna teach me to ride, Cloud?!"
"...We'll talk about it," Cloud said, after receiving a raised eyebrow from Tifa and Elmyra both. Denzel frowned.
"Awwww…"
"How about some dinner?" Tifa changed the subject. "There's pizza in the fridge." This proved a suitable substitute (for the moment, anyway), and before long the delectable smell of tomato sauce and garlic filled the kitchen. At 5 o'clock, there came a knock on the door. Marlene turned to Cloud.
"I thought you said we were closed all night?" she asked, confused.
"Well, how about you go tell whoever it is that we're sorry and we'll be open tomorrow?" he said.
"Okay," she replied. Tifa followed as Marlene unlocked the door. "I'm sorry, but we're-Daddy!" The little girl jumped into the big man's arms for a hug.
"How's my Marlene? That girl hasn't been giving you more trouble at school?" Barret asked. Marlene smiled and shook her head.
"No, Daddy. And look!" She held up her new toy. "Tifa and Cloud got it for me!"
"A Carbuncle, huh? He's very cute," Barret said, smiling at his daughter's excitement.
"And Mrs. Gainsborough bought me and Denzel some new Monsters & Magic cards and ice cream when we went out today!"
"Sounds like you two had a fun day," Barret replied. "But it's not over yet! I've got something for you, too." He handed her a package wrapped in pretty paper. Setting her Carbuncle on one of the bar's tables, she tore open the paper to reveal three new hair ribbons and a set of pink barrettes with flowers on the ends.
"Daddy, they're so beautiful!" she exclaimed, staring at the delicate little flowers. She threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you! I'm going to go put them on right now." She rushed out of the room with the box in hand. Barret withdrew a second package from his parcel and held it out toward Denzel, who stared.
"For me?" Barret chuckled.
"You didn't think I'd forget you, didja?" he asked, and Denzel grinned, tearing into the wrapping. Marlene reentered with the barrettes in her hair, and Denzel turned to her.
"Your dad got me a model airship kit — it looks just like the Shera!" he said excitedly, and she hurried over to see. "Thanks, Mr. Wallace!"
.:I:I:V:I:I:.
Sephiroth arrived in Healen shortly before six. Reluctantly, he got off the bike and went up the stairs to enter the building, wondering if this so-called mission was actually that, or if Rufus had something else up his sleeve. Gaia, he hoped it wasn't an office party.
He punched in his code and let the door scan his eye to open. The interior of the building was decorated in pinks and whites and hearts...and the smell of Costa Del Sol cuisine wafted through the air. And it was coming from his office.
"What in the world…" His door slid open to reveal that his guest chairs normally in front of his desk were now sitting at a small table for two. And where was his desk, anyway? Sephiroth stepped inside, irritated. Had Rufus actually set him up with—
"Hello, my son." The voice would have been unmistakable even without his enhanced hearing. Sephiroth turned his head to his left. The 'missing' desk had been pushed a little further back toward the wall...and next to it stood Lucrecia.
"Mother?" He relaxed. What was this?
"I'm sorry for the deception," she said, fiddling with her bracelet. "I mentioned to Rufus how awful I felt that you'd never had a real holiday with your family, and he suggested we set this up. I know it can't make up for anything you've missed or the horrors you went through...a-and of course you don't have to stay if you don't want to, but I hope that-"
"It's all right," he interrupted. "I'll stay." When Lucrecia looked at him, her smile could have lit the whole of Edge.
"...How's the mission going?" Cloud's voice echoed in his head. Suddenly, Sephiroth knew why he'd seemed so smug earlier.
"Did you know about this?"
"...Maybe." Sephiroth couldn't find it in himself to retort at Cloud for getting in his head; his heart was too warmed by his mother's gesture. No, this could not and would not make up for the years lost...but neither could his own sins be erased. They were here now...and perhaps, just perhaps, they could move forward and forge a better future.
That was, after all, what Zack and Aerith wanted.
.:I:I:V:I:I:.
"Did you have a good holiday, Tifa?" Cloud asked, as they were sitting together late on one of the sofas downstairs. Barret and Elmyra had headed to bed not long before, and the children had been put to sleep a couple hours ago.
"It was really nice, Cloud," she responded, smiling. "And the bar looks amazing; thank you."
"Yeah, I had help with that," he said with a laugh, standing and grabbing their drinking glasses. He moved to wash them; his hearing was sufficient that he could hear Tifa even above the running water.
"I figured," she said. "He did the laundry again?"
"How'd you guess?"
"The fitted sheets are actually folded the right way." The water shut off, and she heard a clinkling of glass as Cloud put them away.
"Hey, I can fold them the right way...I just...forgot how."
"Mmm." For all Tifa's amusement, however, she knew that Cloud was probably telling the truth (though why Sephiroth had thought a god would need to know how to fold fitted sheets was a mystery).
"Tifa." The brunette's eyes widened as she saw the wrapped box in Cloud's hands.
"Cloud...you didn't...I mean...you've already done plenty today..."
"Yeah, but...I can help clean the bar any day," Cloud responded. "It's a holiday. I...you know...I wanted to get you something special." With an indulging smile, she took the box. It was beautifully wrapped, blue-and-white swirling patterns on the paper, a cerulean bow topping it all. She pulled it apart carefully, so as to use it later. Bonuses from Rufus had done quite a bit to refill their pockets, but why waste where unnecessary?
"Oh...Cloud!" Tears filled Tifa's eyes as her father's face stared back at her. How had Cloud managed to get hold of this?
"There's more," he said. Glancing up at him, she carefully took the first photo from the box and laid it on the coffee table in front of her. Now she was looking at the street she grew up on...then the dojo, then the old Inn and general store. From the dates on the bottom, she could see that these were the original buildings — not the imitations that Shin-Ra had placed there after the Incident. She looked up at Cloud again.
"How...how did you...get these?" she asked. "I thought...everything was-"
"Apparently, Shin-Ra keeps backups of everything...but you need a really high level of clearance to access them." She knitted her eyebrows.
"...Like...a Turk?"
"Or a general," Cloud said, scratching the back of his head. "Well, ex-general, technically, in his case. The pictures were his idea, actually…" Tifa's brow furrowed.
"You mean-"
"We went to Healen yesterday. He found those and printed them off for us. Besides the clearance itself, you need a Shin-Ra computer directly at one of their facilities to access the old Nibelheim files."
"That's…" Tifa looked back down at the photos again, wiping at her eyes. "That was very...sweet."
"You...do...like them, right?" Cloud asked. Tifa nodded, cupping a hand to her mouth. Cloud passed her a tissue.
"I do," she said, giving him a sallow smile. "I do. I know we both had our problems there… especially… with my father...but now-"
"It's all we have," he finished. Tifa carefully set the photos back in the box, then leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"I know it...probably wasn't easy on you...seeing these again…" she said softly, laying her head on his shoulder.
"It wasn't, but...I thought you might like them." He shifted, adjusting himself to wrap an arm around her. "If your dad hasn't been recycled through the Lifestream yet...maybe he sees me differently now." Tifa closed her eyes.
"I hope so." She lifted herself just a little, twisting her head to look at Cloud. "This has been an...absolutely wonderful day." She smiled. "Thank you."
He smiled himself, pulling her closer for a quick kiss on the lips.
"That's all I wanted, Tifa. That's all I wanted."
.:I:I:V:I:I:.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I apologize if Barret is off; I've never written him before (constructive criticism is welcomed).
Yes, I am setting up for Sephiroth x Elfé. And credit due where credit due: I read LuckyLadybug's "Rainbows, True Love, and Twister" YEARS ago; the characters' discussion in that made some very good points, and since then it has been something of a guideline for 1) the types of ladies I see Sephiroth with, and 2) how I write him in romantic relationships. When sane, he's warm, but still definitely stoic (Newbern captures his subtle emotions perfectly). Elfé shares similar traits and history, and seems independent enough to not take away from his own personality.
LuckyLadybug's "Rainbows, True Love, and Twister" (take out the braces, and where it says "colon", "slash", or "dot", put those in instead...the site is getting VERY clever about linking...even to its own stuff!): [h]t[t]p[s]colon[w]w[w]dot[fanfiction]dotnetslash[s]slash[4541281]slash[1]slash[Rainbows-True-Love-and-Twister]
—"Gaia Knights" and "Monsters & Magic" are my own inventions. The first is based off of Power Rangers, while the second can be thought of as a cross between Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!.
—Tifa is relatively okay with Sephiroth by this point because he has demonstrated over the last few months several instances of protectiveness (if you pay attention to his sane personality's actions and reactions in Crisis Core, you'll notice that protectiveness is actually a running trait of his, and arguably continues to be so even after his downfall...except he starts protecting the wrong things). She was also privy to his return to sanity and Genesis'/Zack's account of what actually happened at the Nibelheim reactor.
—The incident with Marlene features more Sane!Sephiroth and will be a future oneshot.
Thank you all for reading; leave a review if you liked it!
Keep On Rockin' in 2020!
~MoonlightTyger