Disclaimer: I haven't made a monetary profit from this. I guess that means I don't own Final Fantasy.
"Is that a good name?" Sephiroth asked.
"My opinion doesn't matter," Cass said simply, "the naming of a weapon is an entirely internal decision for you."
"I want to know your opinion though," Sephiroth said, "I don't know if it's a good name."
"Doesn't matter," Cass said, "If it's a shitty name, but still means something to you then it will stick regardless of what I think."
"Is it a shitty name?"Sephiroth asked.
"No," Cass said, "but that doesn't matter."
"How did you come up with your name?" Sephiroth asked.
"Fergus was a character in a story I read once a long time ago," Cass said, "I can't remember what it was about. I remember he was a king, and he gave up the crown and his country, but I can't remember why. I liked Fergus and I remembered his name. When I needed a name he came back up and it just seemed right." Sephiroth nodded.
"You want to tell me your story?" Cass said. Sephiroth nodded again. Cass waited. Sephiroth would say when he was ready. He liked his words precise. He felt awkward when he just winged it.
"There was this sword maker, in Wutai," Sephiroth said, "A long time ago. He was quite good. Some of the Wutaiian warriors still use some of them. They're still quite excellent."
"Like her," Cass said with a nod towards the sheath on the table.
"Yes," Sephiroth said, gaining some more confidence, "Like her. His name was Masamune. Or that's what I heard his name was." Cass nodded.
"That's not strange is it?" Sephiroth asked, faltering just slightly. Cass shook her head
"Not at all," Cass said, "You heard something that struck a countenance with you. That's your business. It sounds a bit like an homage to a fellow swordsman. An artist within your own field, if you will." Sephiroth mulled that over.
"When you look at her to you automatically think Masamune instead of my sword?" Cass asked.
"Yes," Sephiroth said.
"Then I guess she's Masamune now," Cass said. Sephiroth glanced towards her with a small smile.
Cass looked between them sternly. Sephiroth was on edge. Angeal was on the outer edges of neutral. Genesis was hopeful.
"You want me to what?" she asked.
"You don't have to," Sephiroth said quickly, "We can-"
"Sephiroth relax," Cass said. He went quiet, but most certainly did not relax. Angeal went ahead and lost all hope that they would get to. Genesis, however, did not.
"Angeal and I are getting shipped out next week," Genesis said, but Cass undoubtedly already knew that, "The three of us just wanted one last fun night."
"And I'm guessing it's not sitting here and playing cards 'till dawn," Cass said drily.
"No," Genesis said, "It was more like sneaking out to explore the nighttime Midgar."
"So that's where me shutting off the mainframe cameras comes in handy," Cass said.
"Yes," Genesis said, "but we weren't planning on doing anything serious. Just check out Sector Eight mostly."
"And that new bar in Five," Cass said.
"Not...necessarily," Genesis said, a little guiltily.
"Just forget it," Sephiroth said, "We're not-"
"Sephiroth, for god's sake relax," Cass said, "I'm not going to be upset with you wanting a little nightlife. I think it comes with the age group."
"You're not?" he said, with a little hope in his voice. Cass ignored him and gave a hard stare to Angeal and Genesis.
"You're back by midnight," she said. Angeal practically fell over, he was so shocked. Genesis opened his mouth to thank her.
"Ah ah ah," she cut him off, "At midnight I will cut out the cameras for fifteen minutes, any time after that, you're on your own. In addition...You cut yourself off on three drinks. You eat before and after and drink water once the three are up, no exceptions.
"Stay on top of the plate," she said, "you go down and get in trouble I'll call in your superiors to come and save you and I cannot help you then. Stay within five through eight as well, and stay away from the Honey Bee! No girls. I doubt any of you even know what to do with one."
"That was not part of the plan," Genesis said, being entirely honest for once.
"It had better stay that way," Cass said, "Midnight, no later. I'll cut the cameras at 1800. Oh and boys?" They all jerked up.
"Have fun."
"You're seriously letting them out?"
"Sephiroth wouldn't have even dreamed of doing it without my permission. I think he needs a little less military in his life for the moment."
"I think you just broke every parenting rule in the book."
"I didn't hand them money and tell them to get wasted. I gave them a very stringent set of rules."
"Rhapsodos will break them."
"And Sephiroth will uphold them. It's a wonderful contrast the two make."
"I can't even comprehend your logic behind this one."
"Have you ever done the walk of shame, Tseng?"
"That's none of your business."
"I have. In several variations. My mother yelled at me often, but rarely without reason. Yet she always was there to sort out the pieces. I made my own mistakes and learned my lessons. I can either tell Sephiroth horror stories about sixteen-year-old me, which was not a very pretty me if you ask me, or I can let him figure out his own self and we can swap stories when he feels comfortable with it."
"That is horrible and reasonable."
"Oh, oh, looky looky."
"Rufus, again. Seriously?"
"Do you want to try my rationale on him?"
"It's so horrendously tempting, but we shouldn't."
"Why not? he's disguised."
"You and your ideas. Should we follow him or not?"
"I love it when you give in Tseng."
Sephiroth couldn't believe she had done it. He had expected her to refuse from what Genesis said his experiences were. Angeal seemed similarly shocked. Genesis was quite pleased with himself. Sure enough. Six o'clock and the cameras were stationary and dark.
"You sure you don't want something a little...less warm, Seph?" Genesis asked. Sephiroth merely pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up.
"No," he said, "The last time I went out...it was unpleasant. This will be better if no one knows who I am. Trust me." Genesis shrugged and led them on.
They slipped out and into the city.
Rufus spared one glance behind him to make sure Tseng and Cass hadn't noticed he was gone yet. He couldn't stand the quarantine any longer. He moved towards the back exit and heard voices. He caught sight of a flash of silver before it was stuffed into a black backdrop.
He followed the three out, making sure to be far enough behind that they wouldn't notice him.
He was so focused on his own target that he didn't notice the shadow tailing him.
They started out simply. Sector Eight. It was just starting to become lively. Genesis and Angeal were in front as Sephiroth walked cautiously behind them.
"You're making me feel like you're stalking us Seph," Genesis said.
"I'm not," Sephiroth said.
"That hoodie isn't helping," Genesis muttered.
"Yes it is," Sephiroth said.
"Angeal why are you stopping?" Genesis said.
"I'm not, I'm window shopping," Angeal said, "Figured I'd get something nice for Ma before leaving town."
"Why?" Genesis asked.
"Why not?" Angeal countered. Sephiroth had moved closer to Angeal. "Ma has a nice collection of hair combs from my grandmother," he said, "I was thinking of helping her expand it a little." Sephiroth was quiet a moment.
"I rather like the butterfly one," he said.
"It's nice," Angeal said, "but she's got one like it. I was thinking one above that." To Genesis's dismay they both went in. He sighed and followed them. Angeal was inquiring about that stupid pin. Sephiroth was handling the aforementioned butterfly one with reverent care.
"That would look lovely with your exquisite tresses," Genesis remarked. A hint of a smile flitted across Sephiroth's mouth at the tease.
"I was thinking more along the lines of Mom," Sephiroth said, "but she'd never have the excuse to wear it."
"You don't know that," Genesis said offhandedly, "I believe there is a saying that it is the thought that counts." Sephiroth considered it further. He turned to the shopkeeper.
"How much?" he asked quietly.
"Normally, 300 gil," the man said, "for you, half price." Genesis took pause at that.
"Not every day I get boys like you buying nice gifts for your mothers," he said gruffly, "gift wrapping two gil extra." Sephiroth laid down the money.
"Please," he said.
Rufus found problems with tailing as soon as he realized that they would not be moving along at a steady pace. To stop with them would be suspicious so he had to keep moving and risk losing them. They blended in rather well too. Even with the hoodie, the tall one looked like anyone else, just more lumpy.
He sighed and kept after them, wondering what they could be up to.
Tseng nearly smirked as he realized what Rufus was doing. It was almost cute.
Genesis eventually dragged Angeal and Sephiroth to the destination he had in mind.
"Three drinks," Angeal said sternly. Genesis waved him off. This did not bode well.
"One would think they would raise the drinking age," Angeal muttered. Sixteen was a little low in his opinion. Banora had been eighteen and that seemed okay. Sephiroth wasn't even carded and he was fucking underage. Genesis was carded and inspected for longer than it takes to bake a pie, or at least that's what it felt like. He nearly laughed when Sephiroth asked the bartender's recommendation.
"Really?" the bartender said.
"Isn't that part of your job?" Sephiroth countered. He shrugged.
"I'm personally partial to Mideel Ale, but it an acquired taste," he said.
As it turned out, Sephiroth was not really interested in alcohol. He did not particularly like the taste of his own, or of what Angeal or Genesis offered him. Perhaps all alcohol was an acquired taste. He ordered water next and the bartender nodded knowingly.
Disaster struck when he heard a rather loud and girly noise enter the building. The bartender even winced. Sephiroth moved closer to the wall and hoped they would keep to themselves.
They did not. One openly flirted with Genesis. Angeal had to help him shut her down. Her friend started to drag her back, when she caught interest in the black lump next to them. She moved away for the moment.
Please lose interest, Sephiroth begged her silently. She didn't listen very well. One or two kept passing the table every few minutes. Sephiroth was about to suggest that they leave, when he felt the tug.
Someone pulled off his hood.
"IT IS HIM!" a girl shrieked. Genesis and Angeal had three solid minutes of the reason why Sephiroth wore the hoodie, before they gave up and started running.
They went three blocks before stopping.
"We forgot our tab," Angeal said.
"I am not going back," Sephiroth said, pulling his hood back on firmly.
"Here," Genesis said passing over some cash, "Pay it off for us. We owe you one." His flirt had come back in full force during Sephiroth's onslaught. He still looked rather pale. That girl was determined, he'd give her that.
"Actually," Angeal said, "this one's free since you two caught the short end of the stick." He heard Genesis offer to tape down the hood before he rounded the corner.
All of the girls perked up when Angeal came back, then looked glum when they realized he was alone. The bartender was laughing quietly at him.
"Sorry," Angeal muttered and laid down the money. The bartender nudged some back.
"Your friend's is on the house," he said, "if he comes back we'll get him a bouncer or something."
Rufus dodged the stampede of fangirls with great ire. What on Gaia? He caught the flash of silver in the front before it sprinted away.
He decided to wait for it to emerge instead of following. The frown on their faces indicated great inner turmoil and the last thing Rufus wanted was to get caught by angry SOLDIERs.
"Genesis, come on," Sephiroth said. Genesis had broken the rule of three drink max and was on around five. Angeal had not and Sephiroth had stuck with water. No other fangirls had interrupted them again.
However, it was eleven thirty.
"Midnight, Gen," Angeal said, "What happens at midnight?"
"Cinderella goes home?" Genesis giggled. Angeal rolled his eyes.
"The cameras go of and we can sneak in," Sephiroth said. Genesis got to wobbly feet.
"I will carry you if I have to," Sephiroth said lowly. That sobered him up some.
"No," Sephiroth said, and buried his face in his hands. The sign in front of him made his blood run cold. Trains closed for maintenance.
"Who the hell closes the trains after happy hour?" Genesis slurred.
Thirty feet away Rufus wondered the same thing.
"We'll have to walk," Angeal said turning around.
"We're not going to make it," Sephiroth said.
"It would be worse to go AWOL," Angeal said.
"...Mom is going to kill me," Sephiroth said.
"Genesis, for the love of Minerva, get your drunk ass past the camera!" Angeal hissed. Genesis finally did as he was bid. It was one thirty. One hour and thirty minutes past the assigned curfew. Sephiroth looked like a man facing an army.
"She might not know," Angeal said, "We'd cover for you. It was Gen's fault anyway."
"Oh she knows," Cass's voice drifted behind them. They turned around guiltily, but none as guilty as Sephiroth.
"I'm so sorry, Mom," he said, "I-" She waved him off.
"One hour and thirty minutes past my curfew," she said. Sephiroth bowed his head mournfully.
"It's not his fault," Angeal said. Cass turned to him. Angeal stood tall and reported like the soldier he was. "Genesis got himself drunk."
"Shitfaced, it looks like," Cass noted.
"Not quite," Angeal added, "then the trains closed for maintenance. We had every intention of being here on time, perhaps early."
"Intentions aren't actions," Cass said, "but it appears that you three are victims of unlucky circumstance." Sephiroth peered up hopefully.
"You're grounded for two weeks," Cass said.
"You're still punishing him?" Angeal said incredulously.
"You're not mad?" Sephiroth said with the same amount of shock.
"Next time you'll remember to check the train schedule and find a way back," Cass said. Sephiroth nodded. Then jumped.
"I...got this for you," he said holding out a small wrapped package. Cass smiled.
"I'll open it in the morning," she said, "right now lets make sure Genesis gets into bed with a cup of water." The moved off, but something still nagged at Angeal.
"How does him being grounded equate to you not being mad?" he asked Cass.
"Me grounding him is meaningless," Cass said, "This evening was probably the most time he's spent unsupervised by me or the military. I just said he goes back to life as normal. If I was really mad I'd make him do extra chores and take away Masamune." Angeal nodded. That made so much more sense.
"I should also add that the cameras have been down since eleven thirty for maintenance," Cass said with a smirk.
Rufus had thought the mission was accomplished as he slid into the penthouse. He had followed his intended targets and gotten in and out unseen.
"Have a nice adventure?" an annoyingly familiar voice said. Cass was in her chair again. How...
"It's past your bedtime brat," Cass said. Rufus sent her a glare and moved off.
"Oh Rufus?" Cass asked. He turned back stiffly.
"Not a bad reconnaissance mission you put yourself on," Cass said, "they didn't even know you were there." His eyes widened a little.
"I am learning from the best," he said softly.
"Damn right," Cass said, "Bed." Rufus went in without another word.
A/N: I have a cold, so I might have been mildly delirious while writing this. My list of cute shit for Cass 'n' Seph to do it getting rather short, so if you guys have an idea and really, really, really want it to be written, I might just do it. HOWEVER, in return, you have to review. That's the way it's going to work because I'm the author and I say what goes. I also kind of suck at requests so ask at your own risk. It might end up less of your vision and more of my revision. You can review for free however, I don't charge for those.