Disclaimer: Square Enix = Final Fantasy ownership rights. Author = umm...nonprofit fiction.
A/N: Relavant drabbles! Yay! I know it's not long and it's super duper fluffy, but I'm the author and I wanted a trip down memory lane.
Just to reiterate, I'm adding a welcome to fan art. It's not necessary at all, and I'm not begging for it, but the invitation is out there. (Because I can't draw). You can if you want, but it's not required. Reading is required however, so hop to it.
Sephiroth eyed the stack of papers and packages laid on his bed warily. What was this? He hadn't requested anything. The only person he knew about that gave him gifts lived a few floors above and preferred to give them in person anyway. What was this?
Any jealousy Genesis felt about the golden boy receiving fan mail died when he saw that Sephiroth had no idea what it was and probably didn't even want it anyway. He sighed as he approached. Angeal reached him at about the same time.
"Looks like you've got mail," Angeal said. Sephiroth didn't look any less confused.
"I don't know from who," Sephiroth said, "I thought it was a mistake, but they all have my name on them. I don't know who these people are." Nope, Genesis was not jealous at all at this point.
"You apparently have admirers," Genesis said as he picked up a letter. He nearly dropped it as glitter sprinkled out.
"Why?" Sephiroth asked, "I haven't done anything special. I just obeyed orders."
"You obeyed them very well," Genesis said. That didn't explain anything for Sephiroth.
"You obey orders just as well," Sephiroth noted. The speck of jealousy died with a swell of pride at the compliment, but Genesis didn't let it show.
"People haven't seen me, though," Genesis pointed out, "they have seen you." That made more sense, but why the sudden fixation? He opened one letter cautiously.
"I don't think these people are emotionally balanced," Sephiroth said. Genesis peered at the desperate love poem and winced.
"Probably not," he agreed.
"I don't want any of this," Sephiroth said. Angeal and Genesis felt his pain.
"You can't really send it back though, can you," Angeal said, "It's not really polite to send back a gift."
"They didn't leave a return address either," Genesis added. Sephiroth refolded the first disturbing letter and eyed the rest of the stack. He had a horrible feeling the rest were about the same.
"You could probably get away with just throwing the letters away," Genesis noted, "its not as if you know or will meet any of these people in the future." Angeal frowned, but didn't argue. He was fairly certain he saw a letter with sequins on it. Sephiroth nodded with relief.
"Let's at least check out the packages," Genesis said, already opening one. Angeal started to chastise him, but gave up and joined in.
"Chocolates," Genesis said, "nice ones too."
"I don't like chocolate," Sephiroth said, "you can have them."
"What about your Mom?" Genesis asked, ignoring Angeal's knowing smirk entirely.
"I got her some specialty chocolates while I was in Wutai," Sephiroth said, "She has a lot already." Genesis shrugged and opened the box. It was really nice chocolate. Angeal peered inside his package and promptly closed it.
"I'm not sure what this is, but it's covered in glitter," Angeal said.
"Toss it," Genesis said, "Glitter is the herpes of all art supplies. You can never get rid of it." Angeal did so happily. The rest of the packages were made up of more chocolate, more horrible handmade artwork, and some dead flowers.
"I don't understand this," Sephiroth said.
"Neither do I," Angeal admitted.
"I don't want any more of this," Sephiroth said, "how do I make them stop?"
"I wish there was a way," Genesis said, "it might become less if someone else took away some of your popularity."
"Would you take away some of my popularity?" Sephiroth asked. Genesis grinned.
"It would be my pleasure."
Tseng pulled out his package from the bottom drawer in his desk. He looked over at its recipient, who was currently verbally abusing the new recruit. He hid his smirk as she snapped his goggles against his head after his comeback. By the look on her face, the shriek he emitted would be equated with a choir of angels. He was still rubbing it as Tseng approached.
"Happy Birthday," Tseng said. Cass looked up.
"Aww thanks sweetie," she drawled, "that was so thoughtful of you."
"I'd wait until you're with Sephiroth to open it," Tseng said. Cass glanced at it and shrugged.
"Okay then," Cass said, "Thanks Tseng." Tseng nodded. This would be one benefit from his...stalking.
"So how old are you?" the annoying redhead asked.
"Thirty," Cass said. He snickered quietly. "Shut up Reno, you're not too far behind."
"You can invite them."
"Are you sure?"
"Sephiroth, it's not a big deal. It's just a dinner. I give you a gift, you give me a gift. The end."
"Okay."
"Tseng got me something this year. He said it was for both of us."
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I'm waiting for you."
"I'll get Angeal and Genesis then."
"See you soon."
"You didn't tell me it was your birthday," Angeal said.
"I didn't think it was important," Sephiroth said.
"It's important enough for you and your Mom to celebrate," Genesis pointed out.
"But just us," Sephiroth said, "although I didn't have friends before." He turned thoughtful as he led them back up to Cass's apartment. They arrived quickly enough. Sephiroth knocked before sliding his card.
"Hello boys," Cass called, "Happy Birthday Sephiroth."
"Happy Birthday Mom," Sephiroth returned.
"It's your birthday too?" Angeal asked. Cass nodded.
"A nice coincidence," she noted, "I hope you're hungry. Three people ordered me takeout. I have a feast." Indeed it was: A strange and delightful mix of Wutaiian, pizza, and pasta. There were even leftovers when they finished. Cass dug out tupperware and insisted Genesis and Angeal take the rest.
"I'm never going to finish this on my own," she said, "and you guys are getting left out of the present party." They accepted happily.
"No cake and candles?" Genesis asked.
"Sephiroth doesn't like cake," Cass said, "and I don't believe in wishes." Angeal and Genesis let it slide. They couldn't eat it if it were available anyway.
"I want to be first," Sephiroth said.
"You're always first anyway," Cass said, "what didja get me?" Sephiroth pulled a small package out of his pocket. Cass tore off the wrapping without fanfare. It was a coffee mug.
"Thank the gods," Cass murmured, "Tseng's spare is way too small for me. And I hate drinking out of something with the ShinRa logo on it. Thank you Sephiroth." She looked up at Genesis and Angeal. "I may have a slight coffee addiction. And I broke my last cup a month ago. It's been really rough lately." Angeal chuckled quietly.
"My turn," Cass said. She tossed a larger gift to Sephiroth who caught it deftly. He unwrapped it and smiled. A Materia bracer.
"Thank you," Sephiroth said, "how did you know mine broke?"
"I forget who told me," Cass said, "and I know the ones they give out are crap." Genesis suddenly had an inkling as to where Sephiroth got his fancy toys. It wasn't from the company, it was from...his birthdays. He wasn't as irked by it anymore.
"There, present party is over," Cass said.
"You said Tseng got you something," Sephiroth reminded her.
"Oh yeah," Cass said. She went out to the living room and brought back a black package. "He said to open it while I was with you. You two don't mind?"
"No," Genesis said, "it's not my birthday." Angeal nodded. She unwrapped it.
"Huh," she mused. It was a small leather-bound book. No title or inscription was given. She opened it. Her hand rose to her mouth and her eyes widened in shock. Sephiroth leaned over.
"That's us," he said. She nodded wordlessly.
"I never...we never..." she said, "I don't have any pictures of you growing up." She turned the page, her eyes glistening.
"I remember that," Sephiroth said. Cass nodded.
"I remember all of these," Cass said, "that creepy son of a bitch. He took pictures..."
Angeal and Genesis got them to move out to the living room where everyone could see it. Genesis made comments about wanting to see embarrassing pictures of Sephiroth and did get his wish once or twice. Angeal saw moments where Sephiroth was almost normal.
Cass and Sephiroth walking hand in hand. "He never wanted to let me go." "I remember. Your hands were always warm."
Sephiroth in Cass's lap, being read to. "You loved reading. You had us read every night. I'd read a page, you'd read a page." "I still like reading."
A much younger Sephiroth sleeping on Cass's shoulder. "Injection day was always horrible. You never let anyone pick you up unless it was injection day. Then you'd pass out, without fail." "You took care of me though."
Cass brushing Sephiroth's hair. "Some asshole technician stuck chewing gum in his hair. It was a nightmare." "The peanut butter did a good job though. It was messy, but it worked."
The duo in a rainstorm. "You and rain. I met you because of rain. You got us stuck in at least a dozen rainstorms and to this day I can't get mad at you for that."
The Sephiroth before them now, in mid-tackle of Cass. "I missed you so much. I was terrified for you, but once that passed all I wanted was for you to come back. I don't want you to go again." "I missed you too. I'll be okay."
Long after the boys had left, Cass kept looking through her new photo album. Every picture was a treasure to her, no matter how it came into her hands. She couldn't tease Tseng about this. Not when it made her so happy.
She looked at her five-year-old from so long ago. The poor boy who wanted to know how rain worked, who wanted attention that didn't require needles and tests, but words and contact. The boy who couldn't touch her without asking permission first. The one that called her Mom without quite knowing what it meant, but knew it was the proper title.
She saw the lonely ten-year-old who wasn't ready to leave home, but knew there was somewhere else to go. Who was so paranoid about losing his mother, that he could barely let her out of his sight. The boy who wanted to give a birthday present in return, instead of a simple kiss. The one who swore to protect her when his nightmare came true.
She saw her Sephiroth. Nearly a man and breaking her heart. He still loved her so much, but he was making friends. Good friends who were guiding him in the direction she had begun to point him to. A fifteen-year old who wasn't afraid to hug her in public and called her almost every night.
She could hardly bring herself to close the book that night.