Disclaimer: Don't sue me. I'm just playing with these guys 'cause Square Enix made them so fun.
A/N: Merry Christmas Adam for those of you that qualify. My family had Christmas yesterday because it was the only time we could all be together this season. The Wii U game controller is the coolest thing I've ever held. The Wind Waker lives up to all of my expectations. I still found time to write this out for you guys. It's mostly Angeal/Genesis centric but I fit some of my signature fluff in there somewhere.
PSA: It seems to me that a lot of people read this fic, but not as many Fav/Follow/Review it. If you do like it, please do one of the three. That is typically the sign that is given when a story is highly regarded, yes? If you don't, review anyway and tell me what you don't like. I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly. Please do it, or I'll keep begging.
Genesis caught his reflection in one of the mirrors in the back and once again found himself remarkably handsome. Their food may suck, but ShinRa's uniforms weren't too shabby once you actually had rank. Especially in SOLIDER. Third Class was looking good so far. If only the stupid ceremony would end. Heidegger really liked to hear himself talk.
The only downer about today was that his parents had come all the way from Banora to see him. Heaven knew they could afford it and used it, unlike some people. Angeal's mother, oh hell with it, they were on a first name basis, Gillian most certainly could not.
That was what made Angeal's face light up when he caught sight of her sitting in the audience. Genesis hoped she would be discreet and not mention a letter enclosed with enough gil to get her to and from Midgar as well as a little extra. He didn't need another lecture from Angeal about how people had to pay their own way. Gillian was deserving of this. She loved her son perhaps even more than his own parents loved him. He would have rather seen Gillian here than his own parents.
Finally Heidegger said his fill and they were dismissed. Thank Minerva. Now it was time to fake a smile for his parents. Goddess let it be quick.
Angeal could hardly believe the sight of his own mother sitting in the audience with a small smile on her face. They were scraping by when he left. She was surviving on what he sent back home, but there was no possible way she could have come here without becoming broke.
"Don't worry about it," she said when they were finally released. Angeal decided that most mothers must have some sort of mental telepathy because the words hadn't even left his mouth yet.
"Some good soul sent me a gift and who was I to refuse to use it?" she continued. Angeal frowned and looked at Genesis from the corner of his eye.
"Leave it," she said, "Genesis said he would have rather seen me here than his own parents. You would have done the same had your places been switched." Angeal turned back.
"You're right," he sighed.
"I know," she said, "Your father would be so proud of you." Angeal smiled and let her tousle his hair like she used to when he was small.
"Now I believe it is past time for you to show me around and buy me dinner," she said.
"It would be my pleasure."
Genesis was sitting by his vacated bunk all alone when Angeal came back from dropping his mother off at the train station. There was a slight hunch in his shoulders. He could feel a faint smolder in the air.
"Genesis?" he asked cautiously. Genesis jerked as if he hadn't heard Angeal coming (impossible, since their hearing had become enhanced).
"Hello, Angeal," Genesis said, "How is Gillian."
"She's just fine," Angeal said, "thrilled she could come and see me. How are your parents?" Genesis made a non-committal grunt. He nudged a box by his bed.
"They gave their blessing," he said. Angeal could hear the anger beneath the words. They hadn't stayed long past the ceremony, he guessed, and had bought off their son with a gift. Rather typical of Genesis's parents. Angeal new the invitation was there whether Genesis said it or not so he opened the box. A very elegant sword looked back at him.
"Gaia," Angeal said. They spared no expense this time. Genesis made another noise in his throat.
"Doesn't have half the worth of yours though," Genesis muttered. Angeal looked at his friend, full of concern. He replaced the lid gingerly. He laid a cautious hand on Genesis's shoulder, mind whirring as to what the problem could be.
"Let's go upstairs," had left his mouth before the thought finished processing in his mind.
The door opened a few seconds after knocking. Cass grinned as she looked out.
"Well if it isn't two dashing heroes coming to pay little ole' me a visit," she said cheerily. Angeal could tell Genesis's smile was fake, but guessed it was a good sign that he was still trying to impress his crush. She ushered them in.
"I would have snuck into the ceremony, but Rufus ShinRa decided to be a little bitch this morning," she said apologetically, "Did Heidegger give that eighty minute speech again?"
"Yes," Angeal said with a slight groan.
"Well now you get to listen to a Lazard Deusericus," she said, "he's greener, but is not as long winded." Angeal nodded with a slight smile. He hadn't really talked to Director Deusericus, but liked him immediately when he asked merely to be called Lazard, or Director Lazard.
"Did you get to see your parents today?" Cass continued.
"Yes," Angeal said, "It was wonderful to see my mother again."
"What about you Genesis?" Cass asked. Genesis paused for a moment.
"Fine," he said, "they're both fine." Cass glance at Angeal revealed a lot of concern on the boy's face. She raised an eyebrow and Angeal spilled.
"They gave him a sword," he said.
"Well that was nice of them," she said. Genesis gave another long pause.
"I suppose it was," he said.
"Then why did you say that mine was better?" Angeal snapped out, unable to bear the tension any longer.
"I didn't say that," Genesis said, "I said that yours was worth more." Cass sat back, face still calm and composed.
"I have a feeling that this argument isn't about swords," she said.
"We're not arguing," Genesis said with a frown.
"You are trying to persuade the other towards your own view," Cass said, "by definition, this is an argument, but for now just think about what I said. No, do me one better. Go down and both of you bring your swords up here." They both froze at that.
"Oh please," Cass said, "it's not the first time I've had a sword up here. Who do you think got Sephiroth his own? Just do it." They did as she said. Angeal carefully picked his up and, without a better way to handle it, hooked it to his back. Genesis seemed ready to snatch up the box, but then changed his mind. He carefully picked it up and carried it respectfully. Cass had remained precisely where they left her. She stood up.
"Angeal may I see your sword?" she asked. Angeal hesitated, then carefully maneuvered the Buster Sword into Cass's hands, dull side facing her. To his utter surprise, she was able to hold it up. She needed both hands and was only able to hold it for a few minutes, but she was able.
"It's a good blade," she said, "not that I'm an expert or anything. What's so special about it."
"It was my father's," Angeal said, "He left it to me when he died. He told me to uphold my family's honor and do what was right." Cass nodded.
"A promise you've been working towards since the minute you arrived here," Cass noted. She mused over it a second.
"So your sword represents honor, hard work, and no small amount of love," Cass said, "By my standards, that sword is priceless." Angeal nodded and was about to put it back on his back.
"Just lean it against the wall and take a seat," Cass said, "I'm considering getting new carpet so ruin it as much as possible in the process." Unable to help himself, Angeal snorted. Cass turned to Genesis.
"I'm guessing yours does not have quite the same connotation," Cass said. Genesis said nothing, then finally shook his head.
"No," he said, "It means nothing."
"I didn't say that," Cass said, "I'm guessing you're not upset about the sword. You really seem to be upset with your parents." Genesis looked away.
"They didn't want me to come here," he said, "they expected me to fail and when I didn't they stayed long enough to drop off this...peace offering."
"It certainly isn't playing the part," Cass muttered.
"They never wanted me," Genesis said, "they just took me in to make themselves look like charitable people."
"Gen-" Angeal started. He thought this had been a phase Genesis went through years ago. Apparently not.
"You were adopted?" Cass asked. Genesis grimaced. "That's nothing to be ashamed of," Cass said, "it isn't as if you had control of who your parents were. Besides, Sephiroth is adopted."
"That's different," Genesis said.
"How so?" Cass asked.
"He's got..." he trailed off.
"He's got me," Cass guessed, "that is true, but quite honestly I was the better option. The other was Hojo." Genesis said nothing.
"What about me?" Cass asked. "I'm adopted" Genesis looked up.
"You...you are?" he asked. She nodded.
"From my perspective you were lucky," Cass said, "I had foster families. You just had one family and it sounds like they treated you well."
"...Yes," Genesis admitted, "I never wanted for anything." Cass nodded.
"I understand your frustration," she said, "I'm going to tell you a story, but you have to listen to all of it to understand what I want to tell you." Genesis nodded.
"When I was nine, I started living with a family. There was a mother and father and they had two children of their own and let me into their home out of the good of their hearts. They told me that often. They gave me some chores to do and I did them gratefully since I had a home to live in. Then I started to doing more of the chores. When I complained, I was reminded that I was allowed here out of the good of their hearts.
"One night I was doing the dishes and I dropped a plate and broke it. It was just a plate. They could have afforded a new set of them. The father locked me into the trunk of his car as punishment. They forgot I was in there and I stayed out all night.
"I got tired of this and I ran away. I ran into the meanest old lady you can imagine. She yelled at me something awful, but she took me inside and let me spend the night. When the foster family came by she told them more or less to go away. By the time legal action started being taken that mean old lady started saying she'd rather just take custody of me.
"I had a happy ending with that mean old lady, but I never sought revenge. It just happened. I don't think it ever affected me outside of helping me find the home I was happy in. What I have learned is that there is no such thing as destiny or fate. The only fate you have is the one you make for yourself.
"Even with Sephiroth, that was a conscious decision on my part. Ten years ago I wouldn't have even considered adopting Sephiroth, or anyone else for that matter. Sephiroth wasn't mine, I just watched him when I needed to. I chose to take Sephiroth and everything that comes with him. I made my own choice, my own fate."
"Take out your sword," Cass said. Genesis obeyed. He hesitated at first, then he picked it up.
"You can think of this as a sloppy peace offering from your parents who never quite figured out what they needed to give you, or you can think of this as the start of your own story. You don't need to be hindered by the past and what it means to you. You have the opportunity that Angeal never had: you can make your own honor.
"Your sword means just as much as Angeal's does, but you have to give it that worth. This here, is a clean slate given to you, maybe unwittingly, by parents who at least tried. This is yours now." Genesis looked at the intricate handle and smooth blade that spoke of wealth and money. He sighed. When he opened his eyes again he saw his own reflection. He felt terrified and eager, but the anger and loathing were gone.
Sephiroth sighed as he stepped off the transport. The entire operation was worthless. They succeeded in nothing but wasting time and money as Wutai ninja's ran circles around them. It was painful for Sephiroth to notice each flaw in the plans and not point them out. It wasn't his place to question orders. When he tried he was almost punished for insubordination. Well...one thing had happened.
He was promoted to Captain.
He didn't really care about that now. He was back in Midgar and he was homesick as hell. He wanted to find Mom before another person tried to talk to him, Hojo tried to make him go through a test, or he got shipped out again.
The only problem was he couldn't find her. She wasn't at home and she wasn't in the office. He even checked the infirmary to be safe. No luck. She was probably with Rufus ShinRa. There apparently was a big assassination problem at the moment.
He turned a corner, slightly downtrodden, when a blurry navy blue figure rushed at him.
"Mom!" he said, recovering quickly and picking her up. He might have spun her around a little too. He set her down at last.
"Aww man," she said, "you had your last growth spurt." He now was taller than her, thus his ability to pick her up. It didn't stop her from jerking his head down so he could be close to her face. He moved to the side and kissed her on the cheek.
"You were gone far too long," she said.
"I know," he said.
"And I heard about your promotion Captain," she said, "But I'm not going to call you sir." Sephiroth snorted.
"Of course not," he said.
"I expect you to be back in half the time during your next mission," she said. He nodded.
"Anything for you," he said.
"Oh yeah," she challenged, "stop growing." He laughed and hugged her again.
"I missed you," he said. As the words left his mouth, he realized how true they were.