Disclaimer: Characters and settings belong to Square Enix and the author makes no monetary profit from this exercise.
A/N: I swear, every time I get a little notification I absolutely squeal with happiness. It's a little embarrassing. Thank you for reviewing, those of you that have. The rest of you lurkers are welcome to join in the fun. I have been considering what I will do for NatNoWriMo and this is currently at the top. In November, or December if November is a busy time, this may be updated very rapidly. I hope I made somebody happy.
A quick warning. I used one of my favorite words rather gratuitously throughout. And it isn't fudge, if you know what I mean.
Sephiroth sat up with a groan and wiped his mouth. He winced as he heard Cass's voice through the walls and felt even more miserable. What had he done? He wanted to curl up and die, both physically and emotionally. He heard Cass coming and tried to make himself more presentable.
"Are you okay?" Cass asked, coming into the bathroom. Sephiroth looked up at her and shook his head, his eyes starting to brim with tears.
"No," he said. Cass was there in an instant.
"Shh," she said, rubbing his back in a way that always worked for the nightmares, "It's okay."
"I'm so sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to..."
"Shh," Cass said, "I know you didn't."
"Please don't be mad at me," Sephiroth said, "I didn't mean it."
"I'm not mad at you, Sephiroth," she said, "It isn't your fault."
"Please don't be mad," Sephiroth said. He felt something stirring in his gut again. No...
The phone Cass held in her hand went off. She glared at it before answering.
"What the fuck do you want now?" she barked into it, "No you can't talk to him!" Sephiroth tried to take deep breaths, that seemed to work a few times before. The feeling got stronger.
"I've told you before," Cass said, "He's not your toy. What? I don't give a fuck about your research. Sephiroth and I have been up since three A.M. and he as thrown up six-" Sephiroth scrambled for the toilet and his stomach heaved up whatever was left.
"Seven times," Cass finished, "What the fuck did you do to him, asswipe?"
"...Sorry," Sephiroth breathed as he sat back again. Cass covered the phone.
"Don't be sorry, dear," she said softly, "It's not your fault." She returned to the phone. "Are you fucking kidding me? You purposely gave him something to make him sick, just so you could see how it would affect him? Are you a fucking moron?" Cass flushed the toilet and handed Sephiroth a tissue to wipe his mouth with.
"I said no," she went on, "You can't talk to Sephiroth. Because I said so. Oh, why don't you come over here and make me?" She paused for a derisive snort. "That's cute you think we're coming over today. There's not a chance in hell that we're coming in today. Because he's fucking sick that's why. No...no, no, no. He's staying here. Because he throws up every two minutes. How the fuck is he supposed to do ANYTHING like that?" She paused again. Hojo seemed to be having another rant.
"You feeling any better?" she asked him. He shook his head, too demoralized to talk anymore.
"You and your superior care put him in this state," Cass barked back into the phone, "He stays here until he feels better and that is final. I don't give a fuck, Hojo. Send the goddamn president after me. Sephiroth is staying here. Don't you ever call here again." She hung up. She knelt next to Sephiroth again and started rubbing his back.
"Do you think you're done?" she asked.
"I don't know," he moaned. He felt terrible. Cass kept rubbing his back. "I'm sorry," he said again.
"Sephiroth, it's fine," she said, "I know you didn't mean to throw up. I'm not mad at you. I'm furious at Hojo, but I'm not mad at you." He looked up at her again, eyes watery from the exertion of vomiting. She gave him a sad smile.
"Do you want a shower or a bath?" she asked. He nodded. He glanced down at himself and nearly started crying again.
"I ruined them," he said as he looked at his clothes. Cass shook her head.
"I've cleaned up way worse than vomit, Sephiroth," she said, "You didn't ruin anything. Just take them off. I'll take care of everything."
"My bed..." he trailed off. He hadn't gotten up in time during the first round.
"I'll take care of it," Cass said, "It's okay." He got to his feet shakily. Cass started the water for him and left him to start the clean up. He climbed in, not even taking off his clothes, and sank back down. At least he wasn't puking anymore. He felt so tired, but knew he wouldn't get any sleep at all. His head started to hurt. He hadn't even heard the door open again. He felt Cass start stroking his hair.
"All rinsed off?" she asked him. He nodded. She pulled the curtain over. "Take off your clothes," she said. He complied wearily and tossed them out. "I'm going to take these down to the laundry room. Are you going to be okay all by yourself?" He murmured an agreement. He'd survive a few minutes alone. The toilet was nearby anyway.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes," he groaned.
"Okay then," she said. She disappeared and Sephiroth groaned once she was gone. He closed his eyes hoping that would make his head stop hurting. It didn't.
Cass took a little longer than he expected. He'd timed how long it took him to get to the laundry room and back: three minutes. Cass was nearing on ten. He heard the front door open this time.
"I'm back, "Cass called, "Sorry I took so long. The neighbors offered some help." Sephiroth stayed still as he heard Cass sit down outside.
"I'm keeping you here today," he heard her say, "You aren't going anywhere until you can keep something down."
"Mom?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes?" she replied.
"Can you sit in here with me?" He heard her get up and the door open.
"Of course I can," she said sitting down on the bathroom floor, "I just thought you would want some privacy." He felt a little better. "Just tell me when you want to come out." He turned the water down a little bit. It felt nicer when it was a little cooler.
"I think I'm done," Sephiroth said after a few more minutes. Cass didn't reply at first, then he heard her shoot to her feet.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" she said harshly.
"Mom?" he asked.
"Stay in there Sephiroth," Cass said, "Answer me twerp." He heard someone else clear their throat. Someone was in the apartment.
"Professor Hojo claimed that Sephiroth was being...kidnapped," a male voice said.
"Kidnapped by his own goddamn guardian?" Cass snarled, "He's sick!" There was no reply.
"Odin's balls, this didn't require the fucking Turks," Cass said, "You could have fucking knocked."
"...Do you always swear this much in front of him?" the man asked.
"That's none of your business," Cass snarled again, "but yes. Yes I do. He knows not to repeat everything he hears."
"Mom?" Sephiroth called again.
"It's alright sweetie," she replied. She only called him that to make Hojo cranky. This was a show. He relaxed a little.
"Get the fuck out," Cass said darkly.
"...How sick is he?" the man asked. Cass was silent for a moment.
"What?" she asked.
"You said he was sick," he said.
"He threw up a couple times and is generally miserable," she said, "From how much he upchucked, I'd say very."
"...Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.
"You can get the fuck out," Cass repeated. The man was quiet.
"Good goddess on a stick, you're serious?" Cass said, "Holy fucking shit." The man stayed quiet.
"Fine," Cass said, "Back at ShinRa, there's a sweater in my office. A black one. Bring it here. And fucking knock when you come back." Sephiroth didn't hear anything for a long time.
"You can come out now," Cass said, "We're alone again." Sephiroth turned off the water. Cass wasted no time wrapping him in a towel. Her face was all scrunched up.
"You're angry," Sephiroth said.
"Not at you," Cass assured him, "still at Hojo."
"Who was here?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said, "but he was here because of Hojo. You are still staying here until you feel better." He nodded. He wanted to sit down again. He felt so tired.
"Here," Cass said. Handing him a piece of clothing.
"but...this is yours," he said.
"I know," she said, "It's just in case you throw up again. It'll be easier to take off and to clean." He took it and pulled it on. Cass occupied herself with the towels. It felt really soft and smelled like Cass.
"...I'm sorry," he murmured.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Cass said.
"I got you in trouble," he said, "and I ruined your bed."
"It was your bed, Sephiroth," Cass said, "and Hojo is the one that made you sick. You've done nothing wrong and I promise that I'm not mad at you."
"...My head hurts," Sephiroth said. Cass laid a hand on it. It felt deliciously cool instead of comfortingly warm.
"Do you want to lie down?" she asked. He nodded. She led him out to the living room. She had made the couch into a makeshift bed. He crawled up onto it.
"Will you sit with me?" he asked.
"Of course, Sephiroth," she said. He laid his head in her lap. It didn't really make his head stop hurting, but it made him feel better. Especially when she started stroking his hair. He nearly growled when he heard the door knock. Cass got up.
"Was that so fucking hard?" he heard her say. He looked up. There was a man in a blue suit in the doorway. He looked at Sephiroth with mild interest, before handing over a black bundle. Cass snatched it away with an angry thanks.
"What's it for?" he asked.
"None of your business, once again," Cass said, "It makes him feel better after injections. It can't really hurt in this case." Sephiroth perked up when he recognized the black hoodie. He took it from Cass and wasted no time pulling it on. His arms barely came halfway down the sleeves and the bottom brushed at his feet. The man watched expressionlessly.
"You alright in there?" Cass asked. Sephiroth mumbled something in reply.
"Now scram," Cass said to the suited man.
"...You don't need anything else?" the man asked.
"Hojo's head on a silver platter would be nice," she said. The man almost cracked a smile. He turned.
"Thank you," Cass said to his back. He stopped for a moment.
"You're welcome," he said and started down the stairs.
"I think I feel better," Sephiroth said, pulling off the hoodie.
"You think?" Cass asked, "Are you hungry at all?"
"No," Sephiroth said.
"Do you think you could drink something?"
"I don't know," Sephiroth said, "maybe water."
"Let's try it," Cass said. She got him a glass. He took a tentative sip. He didn't feel anything. He tried a little more. Still okay. He took a good gulp. His stomach started to rebel again. He rushed back to the bathroom and promptly vomited again.
"Maybe not, huh?" Cass said kneeling next to him. Sephiroth shook his head, feeling miserable again. "At least you got it all in the toilet this time," Cass said, picking him up. He groaned as his headache came back.
Sephiroth sat up as Cass came back. She had a bag with her.
"The guy in 2B who gets stuck outside said to try ice," she said.
"Lazard?" Sephiroth croaked.
"Yeah, him," Cass said. She pulled out a small cube. "Chew on this." He did. It didn't make him worse. His stomach had no complaints against it.
"Let's just stick with this," Cass said. He nodded and got another cube. The cold felt kind of nice. He laid back down and sucked on it. Cass started running her fingers through his hair again.
"I'm sorry," he said again.
"Say that one more time and I will make you sorry," Cass said, but her tone was soft. It wasn't a real threat.
"Uh oh," Cass said.
"What?" Sephiroth said.
"What's that I see on the horizon?" she said. Sephiroth cocked his head.
"Is that...a little black rain cloud?" she said.
"Mo-om!" Sephiroth said with a slight smile.
"Good to see you up and about at long last," she said "Hungry?"
"No," Sephiroth said, "but I want to go to bed."
"Your sheets are still out," she said, "You can sleep my bed for the night. I have a feeling it's going to be a couch night anyway."
"Can I keep wearing your shirt?" he asked.
"That's fine," she said, "Want me to tuck you in?"
"Please?" he said. She followed him into her room. She pulled up the sheets and let him slide in. She gave him a quick kiss on the head. "Good night," she said, "Maybe you'll feel better in the morning." He nodded and rolled to his side. After a long, sore, miserable and sleepless day, he was out like a light.
Hojo was pissed at the Durmont bitch. How dare she think she could care for Sephiroth in that condition. Sephiroth hadn't reacted to the serum in the lab and he'd thought that the boy was immune to the bacteria. Apparently it was only a delayed reaction. At least the previous tests showed that he'd be incapacitated for a day at the most. Although he wouldn't put it past that whore to hold him another day to get a four day weekend.
Although, not having Sephiroth here did leave him open to his other leftover projects. Like the one Gast had left behind about the Cetras. Pity he'd taken his research with him, but Hojo had enough to start his own search. Even with his lost day on Project S, Hojo still counted that day as productive.
He found it was possible to track where a living Cetra could be.
Tseng watched outside the window. Cassoipia Durmont had asked, none too politely, that he leave her home and he had left, but he still had his assignment to watch her to make sure she didn't try anything. He wasn't sure what "anything" meant, but he watched anyway.
Partially out of obedience, partially out of curiosity.
He hadn't been a Turk for very long yet, but he held no illusions about what the job meant. He was high up enough to know about Sephiroth, but only a few vague details, such as that he was supposedly Hojo's son, but most definitely Hojo's experiment.
Cassiopia Durmont had stuck her neck out for this kid. That much was certain. She was on thin ice for the moment. She'd been on thin ice for most of her life it seemed. Yet she still lived. Tseng admired that just a little.
She had come from absolute hell, but was willing to go straight back in for a mere child. One she hadn't known three years ago. He was curious about what drew them together. Seeing her in action had only increased his interest.
She was a good mother. Far too young to be one, but she did a lot better than some people. She appeared to love Sephiroth, even if he wasn't hers. Her very countenance struck a chord with him, but he couldn't say why. She was nothing like his own mother, or any other female relative. She was something else.
He brushed off the notions and focused back on his task. The boy was asleep and she was on her sofa staring into space. He heard her sigh.
"Stop fucking staring at me, twerp" she said, loud enough for him to hear, "It's creepy."
Tseng let himself smirk.