Disclaimer: Final Fantasy is owned by Square Enix and this work is not intended to garner a profit.
A/N: Damn it guys. I really need to do homework now. I really do. I have to stop for a few days. I know, I'm awful. I couldn't help it. There might be more small interludes put in here and there in this story because I write them down and I like them, but they don't really belong anywhere. I'll title them like I did with the last chapter so you know it's not a real chapter, but something for my own entertainment. Right, next chapter.
Cass paused for a long moment at the end of the hallway where her apartment was. She recognized him immediately of course. She always remembered faces well and typically had a name to go with a face every time. That alone should have been a huge hint, but the name remained in the ether. The fact that he couldn't get the door open either should have been a dead giveaway. Oh well, she knew who would remember and he was on speed dial.
"You have a lot of problems with doors," she said. The man jumped and dropped his key card in the process. The look he gave her reminded her that she was technically dead to the rest of the world. Oops.
"I guess I do," he said, shakily bending down to pick the card up, unable to take his eyes off Cass, "I thought...you were supposed to be dead."
"Truth is often stranger than fiction," Cass said with a shrug, "that was a lie. I've been alive the whole time. The kidnapping charge was bogus, but it was just easier to say I died than to admit the lie." He nodded and relaxed a little.
"I was warned about people like you," he said.
"People who rise from the dead or people who wear blue suits?" Cass asked.
"Both, I suppose," he said.
"You can relax," Cass said, "I'm off duty. And I live here. What are the odds of that?"
"You would know," he said relaxing further, "What with that expensive Math degree and all."
"Not that it gets much use anymore," she agreed sadly. Her PHS buzzed. She grinned triumphantly as she read the message. Of course, he'd remember.
"I don't suppose you remember my name," he said, "you never did even when we were down the hall at our last apartment."
"Lazard right?" Cass said, knowing it was the right answer. He blinked with surprise.
"Y-you remembered," he said.
"Nah, not really," Cass said, "I had to ask Sephiroth. He remembers everything." Lazard gave a small chuckle.
"He still lives with you?" Lazard said.
"He was moved to the army barracks two years ago," Cass said with a trace of sadness, "He visits often though." Lazard shuffled uncomfortably, Cass decided to change the subject.
"Do you want me to show you how to get the door open?"
Angeal did not like Genesis's new game in the slightest. He felt bad for Sephiroth as it was. He didn't need Genesis to play Find-Out-Who-Sephiroth's-"Friend"-Is. Sephiroth deserved a little privacy considering how popular he was getting. He was damned impressive during his last campaign and he was easy to spot in a crowd.
The poor kid flailed helplessly in the spotlight. Just a simple demonstration in front of his peers made him so obviously uncomfortable. Even Genesis grimaced a little. It didn't stop him from poking around in things that were not his business though.
"I just want to know," Genesis said as if it were really that innocent. Angeal was certain he had more sinister motives, but he just couldn't think of what they were.
He wasn't quite certain what led him back towards a sparsely populated table in the mess hall again. Maybe it was curiosity, maybe it was pity, maybe he just liked him, but he walked directly up to Sephiroth again.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" Angeal asked. Sephiroth looked up from the facsimile of potatoes he was playing with and not eating. Angeal decided that he was daydreaming and never imagined someone would approach him.
"I don't mind," Sephiroth said and returned to his "potatoes". Angeal sat down. They sat in silence until Angeal heard a familiar sigh.
"Can I sit here?" Genesis said as if it were the last thing he wanted to do. Why hadn't Angeal killed him yet?
"I don't care," Sephiroth said. Genesis sat down with a bit of flair. Angeal nudged him and "ruined the effect" as Genesis liked to put it. Angeal didn't understand the need for his indifference to everything, but let Genesis imagine he pulled it off. Sephiroth seemed more interested in the meal he still wasn't eating. After an experimental taste, Angeal didn't blame him. Genesis didn't even bother.
"Not hungry?" Angeal prompted. Genesis snorted.
"I'd hardly call...whatever this is, food," Sephiroth said. Genesis looked up mildly shocked.
"You...you have an opinion," Genesis said. Sephiroth looked confused.
"Everyone has an opinion," Sephiroth said.
"You never bother to honor us with yours," Genesis said. Angeal smacked him.
"You never ask," Sephiroth said.
"He's got a point," Angeal said, "Besides that wasn't really his opinion. More of a statement of fact." Genesis glanced at his extremely meager portion of what looked like vegetables.
"What it lacks in taste does it make up for in nutritional value?" He mused to himself.
"No," Sephiroth said. Angeal laughed quietly.
"You look like you recovered from your injection," Angeal noted. Sephiroth nodded.
"The effects don't last very long," Sephiroth said, "And I've been told that my reaction is more adverse than what is typical." Genesis felt relief. Perhaps his would be more survivable.
"Sorry to hear about it," Angeal said, he paused, "any advice for how to handle it?" Sephiroth was quiet. Genesis thought he wasn't going to answer.
"Try to avoid light and sound," Sephiroth said, "Sleep if you can."
"That's all?" Genesis said.
"That's all I came up with," Sephiroth said, "It almost entirely relies on what your reaction is like. It wears off with time."
"Good to know," Angeal said with a hard stare at Genesis. For once, Genesis obeyed. He almost looked thoughtful. Then he sighed and looked at the food that he was not touching either.
"I don't know how much longer I can stomach this," Genesis muttered to himself.
"The floor above us has better food," Sephiroth said, "and lots of leftovers." Angeal and Genesis both started.
"How do you know that?" Genesis asked.
"Experience," Sephiroth said.
"I thought we weren't supposed to leave the training floors," Angeal said.
"No," Sephiroth agreed, "but they don't tell."
"I had you pegged to be a stickler for the rules," Genesis said.
"No one could eat this," Sephiroth said, "It was edible when I started, but no longer. Just take the stairs, no one but trainees use them anyway."
"I should have come to you a long time ago," Angeal murmured as he pushed his tray away from himself, giving up any pretense of wanting it. A buzzing noise came out. Sephiroth pulled out his PHS and quickly typed a response.
"Talking to your friend?" Genesis asked. Angeal felt the need to drag Genesis away. He smelled blood. Sephiroth was oblivious.
"Just answering a question," he said slipping it away. The announcement came and they all stood up. Angeal placed himself rather strategically so Genesis couldn't pickpocket Sephiroth again. Genesis stuck his tongue out in response, but didn't try anything else.
Sephiroth liked privacy when he called Mom. Most of the others did the same when they called their parents. It was only slightly different with him because he had a private phone and his parent was in the same building more or less.
"Hey Seph," Mom's voice said clearly.
"Hello," Sephiroth said in reply.
"So I found out what the sassy one's been quoting," she said, "It's a play, Loveless, or something like that. Tseng recognized it and told me." Sephiroth digested this silently.
"It's been on my bookshelf for years and I never read it," she went on, "you want dibs?"
"No," Sephiroth said, "you can go first."
"It's not very long," she said, "and it's mostly poetry. Yuck."
"I talked to him today," Sephiroth said.
"I heard," she said, "is he getting any friendlier with you?"
"I don't know," he said, "I think he might be sitting with me because Angeal does."
"What about Angeal then?"
"He's...easier," Sephiroth said.
"That's what I've heard too," Mom said, "He's seems to have a lot of potential and has a better temperament than his friend. Is Angeal the one with black hair?"
"Yes."
"Ha! You owe me ten gil, Tseng," she said, "You remember the Lazard guy who lived in 2B and always got stuck outside?"
"The one you asked me about earlier?" Sephiroth said, "yes."
"He lives down the hall. Again! What are the odds?"
"...Not very good I'd imagine," Sephiroth said.
"He said the same thing," she said, "He's trying to be the Director of SOLDIER. He's got my vote." Sephiroth thought it over. The man he vaguely remembered was more open minded than the other directors, with the exception of Veld. He smiled more and seemed less likely to use any of the backstabbing behavior that was rampant almost everywhere else. Given the choice between those two extremes...
"Yes," Sephiroth agreed.
"Are you coming home this weekend?" she asked. Sephiroth smiled unconsciously.
"I'll try," he said, "At least a visit. I really want to see you."
"I miss you too," Mom said, "Don't snicker Tseng, you don't have kids. Oh shit, I'm sorry. I have to go."
"I understand," Sephiroth said, "be careful."
"I love you Sephiroth."
"I love you too." He hung up first and sighed. It came less often, but sometimes, he just wanted to go home.
Genesis knew Angeal wouldn't understand. It wasn't that Sephiroth had a friend outside of the army. That seemed...pretty normal actually. It was the idea that Angeal had put into his head. The one where Sephiroth had been trained from birth to be...well...Sephiroth. Doesn't leave a lot of time to make friends.
So who was his friend? Who could snag away the "perfect SOLDIER's" attention with a mere text? It was just the mystery that dragged him in. It was almost as good as the missing act of Loveless. (Okay that was an exaggeration, but it wasn't too terribly far off).
And it was the fact that this friend was so damn elusive. The few times he observed them conversing (meaning when Genesis stole his PHS to read his texts) the other party gave nothing away. Not a name, not a location, not even a gender. Who the hell was it?
Finally Genesis caught a small break. He was coming back from the talk he had to have with his parents at least once every two weeks. This week was absolutely grueling since his father insisted on berating him again. Angeal certainly didn't have this problem with his mother. Of course, Angeal had asked permission while Genesis had just up and gone saying he'd call when he could (which would mean never if it was possible).
Sephiroth had found a secluded place to have a call of his own. Genesis held back so he wouldn't be seen. He managed to catch the end of the conversation.
"...I really want to see you...I understand, be careful...I love you too." Genesis held his breath as Sephiroth left. He felt both giddy and more confused at the same time. This was practically scandalous.
Angeal felt much better than he thought he should have. So many of the upperclassmen had horror stories about their first injection. Passing out, throwing up, contemplating suicide, that sort of thing. He certainly wasn't chipper, but he was functioning. Maybe it was the person who had given him his injection. She had been rather nice through the whole ordeal and even gave him some advice.
Genesis stumbled in, looking much worse for wear.
Gen!" Angeal said. The self-same individual flinched and held his head. Angeal hurried over.
"In here." Angeal turned towards the familiar voice. Sephiroth held a door open. Angeal pushed Genesis through. Genesis relaxed in the darkened room, but still wavered on his feet.
"Sit down," Sephiroth said so softly Angeal was surprised he heard it, "It feels better when you sit down." Genesis more or less collapsed on a cot in the darkened barracks hall. He sighed in mild relief.
"A-am...I?" Genesis started.
"Don't talk," Sephiroth said, "That makes it worse."
"Am I...going to get...kicked out?" Genesis said through the obvious pain. Sephiroth blinked.
"No," he said, "You wouldn't have made it this far if your reaction was too life-threatening. They did test you before you entered the training?" Angeal remembered that, but it hadn't been nearly as horrifying. Genesis released a choked breath that was immensely relieved.
"I...I thought," Genesis started again.
"I know you like talking, but you will feel a lot better if you just shut up," Sephiroth said. Angeal nearly giggled. Sephiroth had a backbone after all. Genesis obeyed and fell silent. After another moment, his body seemed to fail and he slumped against Sephiroth. Sephiroth barely reacted.
"Why?" Genesis asked after another few silent moments.
"I don't understand," Sephiroth said.
"Why are you...doing this?" Genesis asked.
"I don't know," Sephiroth said, "It seemed like the right thing to do." Angeal sat on the other end and supported Genesis's other side.
An hour passed and Genesis perked up considerably. He sat up and fixed a glare at the other two.
"Never speak of this," he said firmly.
"Why not?" Sephiroth asked. Genesis blinked at him as if he were an idiot. "The same thing happens to me when I get an injection. I'm just used to it by now. It gets easier. I don't see a reason to have shame for needing assistance for the first one." Genesis blinked again in surprise.
"Did you need help during your first one?" Genesis asked tentatively.
"Yes," Sephiroth said, "the first several actually." Genesis perked up a little more. If the golden boy had flaws during his injections then surely his own wouldn't be a bad thing.
"Thank you," Genesis said, "you...you were right." Sephiroth nodded, but didn't say anything. Another thought struck Genesis and he turned to Angeal.
"I see you're right as rain," he grumbled.
"Mine wasn't that bad," Angeal admitted, "It sucked, but it wasn't awful."
"Asshole took forever to push the plunger," Genesis said, "He dug around for at least two minutes."
"I've been trying to get him fired since I was five," Sephiroth said apologetically.
"I had a nice lady," Angeal said, "she talked me through the whole thing."
"Lucky you," Genesis said drily.
"I'm almost certain that was sarcasm," Sephiroth said. Genesis looked back at him.
"I'll teach you it yet," Genesis said.
All was quiet in Genesis's search for Sephiroth's friend. Since, the injection he'd seen the light of some Angeal's points. Sephiroth was...halfway decent if you tried. Of course Angeal would see that first. He'd seen it in Genesis, hadn't he? Still...he wanted to know. He'd just be more, dare he say it, honorable in his search. As in he'd stop trying to steal his PHS again.
However, what happens in the barracks is up for grabs.
Genesis would swear he was a borderline insomniac. Some nights he'd toss and turn for hours before finally drifting off. He envied Angeal, who was snoring beneath him. On this night, however, his sleeplessness would bring another clue.
He heard the sound of bare feet hitting the floor. As bad as the injection was, the enhancements it brought were amazing. He looked out in the dark and saw a familiar pale figure slipping past the bunks. He moved without a sound. Genesis was envious of that and curious as to where Sephiroth thought he was going. He nearly decided to alert their superiors and get the golden boy in trouble, just for the hell of it. His better capabilities shushed him. Why waste such an opportunity? Perhaps he would lead him right to that little "friend."
He slid off the top bunk. Almost immediately, Angeal's snoring halted.
"Gen," Angeal said, "what are you doing?"
"Look," Genesis said. Angeal turned his head in time to see a silver ponytail slip out the door. Genesis started to follow.
"Gen!" Angeal whispered angrily, "We'll get in trouble."
"So will he," Genesis countered, "We're not hurting anything." Angeal sighed and got up to hurry after Genesis.
They nearly lost him several times. He walked through the maze of halls without a pause and more than once they had to split up to hunt for that flash of silver. It paid off, however. They crouched at the end of what looked like a residential hallway. Sephiroth walked down it as if he lived here. Perhaps he did, at least part of the time anyway. Sephiroth produced a card from his pocket and slid it through a reader for a door at the end of the hall. He shut the door behind him.
"Happy?" Angeal asked.
"You're still not curious?" Genesis said, "He had a key to someone's home!"
"So?" Angeal said, "What if he has a friend there and is making a midnight visit?"
"Why would they need midnight visits though? Hmm?" Genesis asked, "Do you want to know what I think?"
"Not really. No," Angeal said starting back.
"I think he's having some sort of affair," Genesis said. Angeal snorted.
"I think you watched to many of your mother's soap operas," Angeal said.
"I overheard him end a call with 'I love you' and now he's making midnight liaisons with a mystery 'friend'. What else am I supposed to think?"
"How about your bed?" Angeal said, "Why don't you think about that?"
Sephiroth shut the door quietly. He felt more guilty about doing this. He made his way to the bedroom, not needing to see to know what to expect. Table on the left, turn right down the hall, three steps then a left to the bedroom.
As carefully as possible he picked up the bedspread and slid between the sheets. She woke up anyway. She always did.
"You're too old for this," Cass grumbled.
"I know," Sephiroth said, "This is the last time." She paused at that. He wrapped an arm around her waist and to his surprise, she did the same. They didn't say anything else. Sephiroth drifted off easily. Cass did not. For a long time she cherished the last time her son would crawl into bed with her. Sephiroth never made empty statements and this would be the last time.
She didn't care what it meant that he was fourteen when he stopped. She hadn't expected it to be this hard on her when he started to grow up. He wasn't a little black rain cloud anymore. She almost wished he was five-years-old again as she quietly readjusted the covers so he could have more.