Disclaimer: Final Fantasy is owned exclusively by Square Enix and the author had no intentions of finding loopholes around that.

A/N: Look at how fast I updated. Aren't you proud of me? You don't have to answer that, but it would be nice if you reviewed. Just a brief FYI. I don't respond to all of my reviews, not because I don't care, but because I am extremely lazy. If you feel insulted because of this I am sorry. I love all of my reviews very much. I read them all, I promise.

I feel like I fail and Genesis and Angeal. I'll probably change my mind in an hour or so, but right now I fail.

"I cannot believe you Genesis," Angeal Hewley said.

"What?" Genesis Rhapsados replied.

"He didn't even know how to respond to you," Angeal continued, "I don't even know how to respond to you. What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing at all," Genesis said breezily.

"You insulted him in front of everyone," Angeal said, "I haven't seen him since. He must be mortified."

"Angeal it wasn't even that harsh compared to some of the other things-"

"You should apologize," Angeal interrupted firmly.

"For what?" Genesis said, "It was just a little barrack talk."

"He's one of our coworkers, a colleague."

"That's a big word for you Angeal."

"Shut up egghead," Angeal said, "We have to work together. How can we do that when your stupid mouth keeps running the way it does? You should apologize. It's the honorable thing to do." Genesis sighed.

"That's your Dad talking," Genesis said.

"Yep," Angeal replied, "One of us has to be responsible."

"Thanks for that," Genesis said, "but you're probably right."

"Of course I am," Angeal said.

Sephiroth managed not to run into the infirmary this time. He had already forgotten the name of the Turk who was kind enough to pass on the news. Apparently there was a sort of voluntary system for such an occasion. Even now Tseng was looking out for his arrival and signaling for him to come closer.

"It's not as bad as I thought," Tseng said, "but they are keeping her overnight for observation." Sephiroth nodded, noting the injuries even Tseng had. The Turk ushered the SOLDIER behind the curtain.

"Sephiroth?" Cass said, "I thought you had training."

"One of the Turks made up an excuse," Sephiroth said taking a seat next to her, "Are you okay? Who did this to you?"

"Calm down," Cass said, "It's just a mild concussion. I've had way way worse. And don't you dare think about tracking someone down to skin them alive. It was an accident." Sephiroth chafed at her tone, but didn't argue.

"Tseng seemed worried," Sephiroth said.

"Pfft, he's never heard a bone break before," Cass scoffed, "It was just a nasty crack, I'll be cleared in a day. There are safety precautions for when the helicopter crashes and we followed them. Tseng did his best to avoid the anti-aircraft fire and nobody was seriously hurt. Except me." Sephiroth's fists clenched, but Cass kept moving on.

"At least I got out of working for an entire day," Cass said cheerfully, "Tseng has to babysit all by himself now."

"You owe me," Tseng called over the curtain.

"Do not," Cass shouted back, "It's workers compensation. So how was your day?" Sephiroth took a moment to adjust to the change of subject before shrugging.

"It was fine," he said.

"How are the new recruits?" Cass asked. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm a Turk. It's my job to know these sort of things."

"Fine," Sephiroth said, "Most of them are younger. There's one I don't understand at all."

"He the one that spouts poetry?" Cass asked.

"I think so," Sephiroth said, "I don't get poetry."

"Nor do I," Cass said, "I'm more of a prose person."

"He said something about me and shoving sticks," Sephiroth said, "It didn't make much sense."

"Did he say you had a stick shoved up your ass?" Cass asked.

"I don't know," Sephiroth said.

"He was insulting you," Cass said, "He's kind of mouthy from what I've heard, though the fact that you don't understand and don't respond will probably make that crash and burn before long."

"I feel stupid now," Sephiroth said.

"Don't," Cass said, "You never took to my Insult 101 Course, which is probably for the best. It's just not for you. Besides, you can wipe the floor with that boy."

"Do you mind if I stay?" Sephiroth said, "I've done enough saluting training. They just make me be the example anyway."

"They make you do saluting training?" Cass said, "Of course you can stay if that's what you were doing. When do you have to be back?"

"Curfew," Sephiroth said.

"No, I meant when was curfew, dear."

Angeal sighed. He knew Genesis was going to cause a fit about what he was going to do, but he didn't see a better way around it. Genesis was taking his sweet time with that apology. Sephiroth had disappeared for the remainder of that afternoon. Genesis said he was probably ditching saluting training, but Angeal couldn't stop the worry that it was because of what Genesis had said. Angeal wouldn't have blamed him either way. You could only salute so many times before it became pointless.

He scanned the mess hall, looking for the sparsely occupied table that would hold a few of the more advanced trainees. Including one with silver hair. He spotted it and made his way over.

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind. The weeding out process had a been a breeze for Angeal and Genesis, but they were still ecstatic about being accepted into the SOLIDER training program. It been an unfortunate ego boost for Genesis. It had been step one for the promise Angeal had made his father before he died.

Now they were in training and were shocked to see so many familiar faces in their own barracks. Young men who had stood out during the first campaign to Wutai, were not too far ahead of Genesis and Angeal and they were only about two weeks in.

Angeal almost hadn't recognized the one called Sephiroth. He and Genesis had been entirely awed by his display in Wutai not two months ago. It was hard to compromise the two together. The coat and sword had been replaced by the standard uniform and weapon they were all given. His hair had been tied back and kept out of the way when it had billowed extravagantly around him on the battlefield. He was even a tad shorter than Angeal had imagined. He had a good foot or so on him right now.

That hardly excused Genesis's behavior and Angeal was going to make sure amends were made if necessary.

Even at the lonely advanced table, Sephiroth was rather separate. He was the youngest of all of them, but not too far from Angeal. There wasn't a class system to where you sat in the mess. It was a take what you can get sort of deal. Still, there were plenty of other open seats and it would be obvious that Angeal was purposefully choosing this spot.

"Is this spot taken?" Angeal asked. Sephiroth blinked and and looked up.

"Pardon?" Sephiroth asked. Was he daydreaming or was he shocked that someone wanted to sit with him?

"Is this spot taken?" Angeal asked again.

"No," Sephiroth said with a small shake of his head.

"Do you mind if I sit here then?" Angeal asked.

"No, I don't mind," Sephiroth said. Angeal sat down.

"I'm Angeal Hewley, by the way," he said. Sephiroth nodded in acknowledgement.

"Sephiroth," he said. Everybody knew who he was, introductions weren't actually necessary, but it appeared that Sephiroth was taught to be somewhat polite, unlike some people Angeal knew. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Genesis was scanning the hall. His eyes narrowed when he saw where Angeal was. For a moment, Angeal thought he might sit somewhere else just to be difficult. He tried to hide his smug expression as Genesis made his way over.

"I'm guessing the spot next to you is empty," Genesis said with a weary sigh.

"Yes," Sephiroth said.

"So can I sit there?" Genesis asked.

"I don't care," Sephiroth said. Genesis sat down, shooting a glare at Angeal. Angeal gave him a kick under the table and a meaningful nod towards the person sitting with them. Genesis sighed again.

"Genesis Rhapsodos," Genesis said. Sephiroth nodded.

"Sephiroth," he said.

"I couldn't tell," Genesis said. Angeal kicked him under the table again. Genesis grimaced, but said nothing. Sephiroth frowned.

"Was that sarcasm?" Sephiroth asked. Angeal tried to stop it, but it was too late.

"No," Genesis said sassily, managing to avoid Angeal's kick this time.

"Genesis stop it," Angeal chastised, "yes it was sarcasm." Sephiroth nodded and looked down at his food. It hadn't looked like he touched it.

"Have problems talking to people?" Genesis asked. Angeal really wanted to kill him. This wasn't going at all the way he planned.

"I don't have much to talk about," Sephiroth said.

"I'm sure you have loads of tales to tell," Genesis said dramatically. That's it, Angeal was going to kill him. Sephiroth looked up again.

"That was sarcasm," he said.

"What is it with you and sarcasm?" Genesis asked.

"I don't catch it very well," Sephiroth said, "I don't have a lot of experience with irony."

"What do you mean you don't catch it very well?" Genesis asked.

"I take it seriously," Sephiroth said, "Most people are straightforward with me." Angeal noticed Genesis's sneer soften slightly. It had to be hard not quite knowing if he was being insulted or not. Being ignorant of it entirely was even worse. Still, Genesis became hardened again all too quickly.

"How can you be sixteen and not get sarcasm?" Genesis said.

"Fourteen," Sephiroth said.

"What?"

"I'm fourteen," Sephiroth corrected. Angeal would have been jubilant about Sephiroth making Genesis falter, except that he was just as shocked. Here they had assumed that Sephiroth was their elder, when in fact they were the older party.

"I thought you had to be sixteen to enlist," Angeal said.

"They made an exception," Sephiroth said simply. That would explain his height. It explained a lot of things really.

"They seem to make a lot of exceptions for you," Genesis noted, recovering his former façade.

"How do you mean?" Sephiroth asked.

"Like yesterday, when you got to skip out on training," Genesis offered.

"I wasn't excused," Sephiroth said, "I have to write reports this evening to make up for it."

"I thought we had sword training," Angeal said.

"I have both," Sephiroth said.

"They make you write reports?" Genesis said. There was a slight whine to his voice. It appeared that Sephiroth picked up on it.

"That starts after your first injection," Sephiroth said. Genesis deflated slightly.

"Why did you skip?" Genesis asked.

"Because saluting is not training," Sephiroth said, "and I am not eager to demonstrate it." Angeal cracked a smile. He hit the nail on the head. He could like Sephiroth, whatever Genesis's grudge against him was.

"Where'd you go?" Genesis asked.

"That's not your business Gen," Angeal warned.

"To see a friend," Sephiroth said. The announcement came for them to vacate the hall and Sephiroth stood up without another word.

Later, Angeal sought out Sephiroth again. Genesis managed to weasel out of the apology again, but Angeal felt like he had to bridge the gap somehow. He was not as eloquent or poetic as Genesis would be, but it would have to do.

"I-er excuse me?" Angeal said. Sephiroth looked up from the report he was reading, or proof-reading. Angeal floundered as Sephiroth's full attention focused on him. Did he always look like this? Like he was always in a war zone?

"I...I just wanted to apologize," Angeal said, "for Genesis." He got the answer to the question he never asked as Sephiroth's gaze softened minutely. Would mako injections make his eyes look like that too? Sephiroth nodded.

"Thank you," Sephiroth said. It felt sort of like a dismissal, but Angeal wasn't quite ready to be turned away.

"He's not normally like this," Angeal said, "he's usually fairly easygoing. I'm sorry he's being...difficult." Angeal swore he had more to say than this.

"I haven't really noticed," Sephiroth said. Angeal could believe that. Sephiroth was doing way more than what Angeal and Genesis were expected to do, if the size of the report was anything to go by.

"I don't really understand a lot of what he says," Sephiroth said. Angeal was struck silent by the admission. Genesis certainly had a way with words, but he wasn't a mystery. Sephiroth missed a lot of things: insults, sarcasm, all the things Genesis was just plain good at. He wasn't just straightforward, Sephiroth just didn't get most social cues. It was like he had been trained by the military for years. Angeal had this sneaking suspicion that this was the truth the moment Sephiroth told him the seat was empty. What sort of things did that to a person, made them...robotic? Angeal became more determined to get that apology out of Genesis.

"I'll make sure he tells you this himself," Angeal said.

"Thank you," Sephiroth said again. Angeal used the dismissal this time and started hunting for a redhead.

"Look, I'll get to that apolo-"

"Sit down, Gen."

"Touchy, touchy. What did I do this time?"

"...Can't you be...just nicer to him?"

"What? He needs big ol' Angeal to protect him now?"

"Look I talked to him again-"

"Making friends in high places, I see."

"Just shut up Genesis. I don't think he knows how to have a real conversation."

"You're just figuring this out now?"

"He can talk, but...I don't think he knows...people."

"There's a difference?"

"Course there is Genesis. Look, he told me he doesn't know what you're talking about half the time."

"Figures, he wouldn't know much about Loveless."

"Forget about Loveless for one minute. He doesn't know how to interact with people Genesis. He doesn't know you insulted him. He doesn't get sarcasm. I dont thing he even knows I was trying to apologize. I think they might have kept him locked up in here. Think about it. He's able to enlist two years early, he's the most advanced trainee here, he's socially awkward..."

"That's putting it lightly."

"Exactly."

"Are...are you trying to make me feel guilty?"

"A little, but that's not the point. The point is-"

"He doesn't know what real life is like."

"...That's a little harsh, but yeah."

"So what am I supposed to do about it? After I apologize I assume?"

"Just, be nicer to him."

Genesis felt mildly annoyed. Apparently Sephiroth was a hard person to catch on his own. He'd been chasing him around for the better part of the day so he could deliver the long-awaited apology for inferring that the loner had a stick up his ass.

It was nearly dinner by the time he caught up with the kid. His dramatic approach was deflated by Sephiroth's less than chipper appearance.

He looked dead tired. Genesis decided to do what Angeal would do. He wasn't a complete asshole.

"Hey," he started, "are you okay?" Sephiroth paused wearily before answering.

"Fine," he said, or muttered really, "just injection day." Suddenly Genesis was no longer looking forward to that.

"Right then," he said awkwardly, "I just wanted to apologize for...earlier." Sephiroth nodded.

"Angeal said you would," Sephiroth said, "Thank you." This kid was beyond socially awkward, Genesis decided. Angeal might have been right. Or maybe it was the mako.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Genesis asked. Sephiroth looked ready to collapse. The fourteen-year-old who practically lead everyone else was about to collapse.

"Fine," Sephiroth said, "It...was better than previous experiences." Genesis was ready to offer assistance, when a quiet buzzing began. Sephiroth winced at it (buzzing, hurt his ears? Good Gods what was in that injection besides mako?) and pulled out a PHS. Genesis felt a wave of annoyance. The golden boy got free toys. Whoop-de-doo.

Sephiroth flipped it open and something amazing happened. His entire profile softened. A small smile was gracing the stern mouth and his eyes looked warm instead of the cold mako tint. He closed it, but the change didn't disappear right away. What was on that PHS? Genesis Rhapsodos had to find out.

"Gen, where have you been all day?" Angeal asked, he stopped when he saw Sephiroth's condition.

"I was apologizing," Genesis said breezily, "and now that I'm all forgiven I thought I'd try being nice." Angeal rolled his eyes at the snipe.

"Are you okay?" Angeal asked, "you look terrible."

"Mako injection," Sephiroth said, "It will wear off." Angeal winced.

"Are they all this awful?"

"More or less," Sephiroth said, "I'm used to it." How on Gaia did someone get used to that? An announcement came on announcing dinner. Sephiroth grimaced and covered his ears. Genesis took the chance. Much to Angeal's horror, he more or less pickpocketed Sephiroth in plain view. Genesis flicked open the PHS just as another message came through. What he read did not satisfy his curiosity in the least. He closed it and slid it back as the announcement came to an end. Sephiroth sighed and lowered his hands. He hadn't noticed.

"I...I have to go," Sephiroth said and walked away remarkably steadily. Angeal smacked Genesis in the back of his head.

"What the hell are you doing?" Angeal said.

"I was naughty and I'm sorry," Genesis said.

"You don't steal things!" Angeal continued.

"I gave it back if you didn't notice," Genesis said, "I only read a text message."

"You could have asked!"

"Don't you want to know what they said though?" Genesis asked, "The first one asked him to come upstairs when he was available. The second told him to come up anyway if he was busy."

"So?" Angeal said, "that doesn't excuse you."

"He's meeting with someone," Genesis said, "Aren't you the least bit curious as to who that might be?"

"Nope and you owe him another apology," Angeal said.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," Genesis said and sauntered off to the mess with a fuming Angeal in tow.

Come upstairs with all haste when available.

If unavailable come anyway. Sephiroth grinned as the last message came through.

Could be dangerous. He hated injections with all his heart, but Mom always knew how to ease the pain, just a little. Even if it was just a cheesy joke. He took the stairs if only because the elevator aggravated his head even further. It was pounding. He walked down the hall, his keycard already out and waiting.

He knocked before sliding it, so Mom would have decent warning. The lights were off, except for the kitchen.

"Hello Sephiroth," Mom whispered quietly. He nodded in reply. Talking made his head feel like it was being crushed and Mom knew it. Without waiting for an invitation, he sank into her arms in a sloppy embrace. She pulled him onto the sofa and left him there. In peace and quiet.

He felt better when she finished cooking dinner: macaroni and cheese with mashed potatoes. A combination that had worked since Sephrioth first began living with Cass. He walked into the kitchen to eat and didn't flinch under the lights.

"When did you start giving injections?" Sephiroth asked. No repercussions, it was wearing off.

"Today," Cass said quietly, "you have a pretty bad reaction when you get yours. I thought if I gave it, it might be easier."

"It was," Sephiroth said, "thank you."

"Not a problem," Cass said. They ate in silence for a few moments.

"Mom?" Sephiroth asked.

"Mmm?"

"How do I get friends?" he asked. Cass set down her fork.

"I'm not the best person to ask that question to," she said, "I don't have very many friends."

"But how did you become friends?" Sephrioth asked.

"They just...stuck with me," Cass said, "I had very little to do with it. Is there someone you wanted to be friends with?"

"I don't know," Sephiroth said, "A couple have tried talking to me outside of training."

"I heard you had company at your mess table," Cass said. Sephiroth nodded.

"I kind of liked it," Sephiroth said, "I didn't know what to talk about, but it was almost like talking to you."

"Sometimes I wish there were kids that lived around us," Cass said, "so you could have made friends. So you wouldn't have had just me." She paused.

"The best I can tell you is to just be yourself," Cass said, "If they like you enough they'll make you their friend. That's how it always worked for me."