Disclaimer: I own nothing. FFVII belongs elsewhere and I just liked the idea.
A/N: To my male readers: I'm so sorry. I tried to make this not so girly. I truly did. To my female readers: I'm not a dress-up sort of person and neither is Cass so deal with it.
Angeal knew that look. He'd seen it a lot lately and knew that Genesis wasn't doing it on purpose.
He was jealous.
But he was trying to hide it. He had worked hard to get to this very point, but Sephiroth remained just ahead of him. He and Angeal were promoted to Captain after joining Sephiroth's very successful mutiny and campaign made entirely of SOLDIERs. Sephiroth had been pushed up to major after his "superior" officer died in battle. They were riding his coattails in a way and Genesis did not like that notion at all.
Still, it wasn't like Sephiroth was doing it on purpose. He didn't demand that anyone use his plan, he hadn't even had one until someone asked him to lead. It was a good plan as well.
Angeal knew that Genesis's ire was not too terribly deep either. He'd seen it with his own eyes. Sephiroth, being the fastest, took the lead on the initial charge. He was far enough ahead to be surrounded and blocked off in a total onslaught. It was Genesis who broke formation to go and help. It was Genesis that pulled a shuriken from Sephiroth's shoulder and Cured it so they could keep going. Genesis hadn't left Sephiroth on his own; his first move was to go and help. A jealous friend wouldn't do that, but good friend would.
The real cause for jealousy was not Sephiroth but the attention Sephiroth received. They were pulled back for reprimand and reward, putting a halt in the war and foolishly allowing Wutai to recover slightly. The only thing Genesis and Angeal had heard was about was that Sephiroth had been wounded.
Not about his rescuer or comrades.
His wounds.
Sephiroth on the other hand was pointedly ignoring any and all P.R. directed at him. He gave shrugs when asked about his health. The only word anyone besides other SOLDIERs had gotten out of him was "fine".
Except until Cass had jumped him. She was currently hanging off his neck. He blinked, still hardened from his gauntlet of fangirls and the façade melted and he bent down and set her on her feet.
"I'm okay," he said quietly. Whatever she replied with was muffled and indecipherable. Angeal looked over at Genesis. His face was hard again. Of course Cass would be worried about her son. She'd probably been on pins and needles since he left.
Genesis sighed and forced himself to relax and forget about it. He moved along, let them catch up. Then he was being jerked back. He was wrapped in a hug before he knew it.
"Thank you," Cass whispered to him, "thank you." Angeal smiled at how much he resembled Sephiroth. He was stiff and unsure then slowly relaxed.
"You're welcome," he said.
Sephiroth was on a self-made mission. He was looking for one of three people, the first he found would be the one he would ask. He knew they were nervous around him, but he didn't know who else to ask.
He found one, a redhead Mom had introduced him to. Cissnei. She carried a shuriken and used it pretty well. He tried to look as non-threatening as possible (then decided it was a lost cause. If being out of uniform didn't do it, nothing would) before clearing his throat and approaching more slowly.
Cissnei, for her part, thought she hid her fear very well. She reminded herself he was socially awkward over and over. He looked more...stressed than usual.
"Cissnei?" he asked. He sounded...very much like his own age. Hard to believe he was not even an adult yet, just four or five years above herself.
"I need help," he said.
Tseng listened carefully as Sephiroth explained what he was tentatively planning/hoping for. Their relationship revolved entirely around Cass. Tseng was not uncomfortable when Cass was present and didn't object to greeting in the hallways. It was only now that he realized Sephiroth did have some measure of respect for him. It was rather flattering. He didn't know they interacted enough for that to happen.
Still it wasn't in his power to say yes, but judging from the look on Cissnei's face as well as the three other girls, it was going to happen regardless.
"I might be her superior and her partner, but it isn't really my say as to when and where she works," Tseng said.
"May I speak to them then?" Sephiroth asked.
"Veld will say yes," Tseng said, "there's no need to talk to him, but...Rufus ShinRa." Sephiroth nodded.
Cass finished savoring her coffee of the morning, thinking it was a rather lovely day outside of the smog cloud that surrounded Midgar.
Then she found herself surrounded by a very upbeat group of females and being ushered into an office.
"Dark in here," Cass said.
"We just wanted someplace quiet," Cissnei said pushing her way up front.
"Uh huh," Cass said, "what do you want that requires privacy?"
"Let's just say it's a surprise," Cissnei said.
"I don't like the surprise so far," Cass said, "Can I go back to work?"
"No," Cissnei said, "you're coming with us."
"What if I don't want to?" Cass said.
"We've requisitioned some sleep materia," someone said, "we can drag you."
"No you haven't" Cass said, "I'm in charge of materia dispersal. I didn't sign off on it. Besides I drool in my sleep."
"Don't you want to know what your surprise is?" Cissnei asked. Cass rolled her eyes.
"Fine, what's my surprise?"
Rufus never thought he'd meet Sephiroth face-to-face. Yet, here he was: Front and center in at at ease position. To be honest, he had a lot of questions to ask should this meeting ever really happen, all of them childish and stupid. But now, Sephiroth was the one asking the question. He really hadn't thought their first meeting would have been about this, but then again, he hadn't expected even an introduction.
"I am requesting that one of the members of your payroll, a Cassiopia Durmont, be excused for the evening," Sephiroth said. Rufus didn't know what to say to that. Why did Sephiroth want her for this evening specifically? Rufus thought he might need her for some ceremonial function this evening for amusement and morale support (that's what he called it. He survived these things on the mutterings Cass said behind his back). It was some dance that he had to attend for like half and hour and-
Wait. It was for the major heads of company divisions. Sephiroth counted as one as he was the highest ranking SOLDIER. Was he taking Cass as his...plus one?
Immediately Rufus found a list of reasons that outweighed his half hour of boredom: she'd talk to him, she let him shoot a gun, she let him try out her cure one time, she'd tell him all the things she found amusing the day after...
He made his decision.
"I'll let you know," he said to Sephiroth, but signaled for Tseng to stay behind.
"Sephiroth," Tseng called down the hall. Sephiroth turned. Tseng handed him a note when he caught up. His face gave nothing away. Sephiroth opened it.
I'm sorry I have to act like that, but if my father ever caught wind of it, I would never be able to make a decision like this again. Officially, Tseng is now my acting body guard at social functions because he looks better. Unofficially, you should have a good evening.
There was no signature, but it didn't need one. Mom said Rufus ShinRa was a spoiled brat, but somewhat decent underneath it all. He could see it now.
Cass's apartment was full of chaos. Every female Turk (or so it seemed) had shown up for the cause. For Cass, it was a living nightmare.
"You don't own any dresses," one said rather harshly.
"On what occasion would I even wear a dress?" Cass replied, "Me and my ugly sweaters are happy without your opinion thank you."
"You don't own any make-up," another said.
"I've never owned any," Cass said.
"You have no jewelry."
"I have one piece, don't exaggerate," Cass said, "It gets ripped off. I'm not a dress-up person. I wear the suit and shut up." It was a fiercely organized campaign usually reserved for the most immediate of operations. They split up into separate factions to take care of certain points of Cass's look and attire. They had it carefully planned out as to what to get and who would put it on.
"It's worse than I ever imagined," Cass moaned, "Deep down inside you're all girly girls and I'm the only tomboy."
"Come on," Cissnei said far too cheerfully, "let's fix up your hair."
It was a much easier task for Sephiroth. Angeal knew a place where he could get a suit and it was an in and out process (they were so wonderfully discreet as well). Simple with a black tie. Genesis was supplying the general banter as Sephiroth remembered how to put it all back on himself.
"You might be the only boy I know who would take his mother to a late night party like this," he said.
"My other options were Scarlet or risk it with a fangirl," Sephiroth said, "I can't not go. She never does anything like this anyway. I thought it could be a nice break."
"Ignore him, Seph," Angeal said, "he just hasn't figured out a hard fact of life."
"Oh and what fact would that be Angeal the wise one?" Genesis asked.
"Our parents are the coolest people ever," Angeal said. Genesis snorted. "Well at least they muddled through life a little farther than we have," Angeal said, "at some point you will realize you have more in common with them than you think."
"I really hope that's not true," Genesis said.
"Nope," Angeal said, "you're an unintentional asshole just like the old man." Genesis gave a quiet laugh to that.
"Some parents are awesome," Genesis agreed.
"I believe you once said my Mom was cool," Sephiroth said.
"Indeed I did," Genesis said, "and it still holds some truth in it."
It hadn't been as completely horrendous as Cass had thought. The girls didn't bring back excessive amounts of make-up or jewelry, just simple essentials, they had called it.
The large group hadn't gone overboard with the dress either. It wasn't strapless to Cass's relief (it wasn't her style. She was not going to be spending the evening holding up her dress) nor was it over the top. It was simple. It was a dark green thing with delicate sleeves, that would show just the texture of skin. The bodice was the only thing that would cling, the rest fell away in a rather pleasing flow.
Cissnei had already finished her hair. She had undone the up-do and curled the back. Her bangs were braided and held together by an opal butterfly.
The girls shoved her in her bathroom and demanded she put on the dress. It fit to a tee. What else did she expect after all that measuring and complaining? Then they had to spend an eternity oohing and ahhing over it before getting to the horrible make-up. For Cass that ordeal would be to excruciating to tell. (She now knew she hated mascara, though eye-liner was strangely okay). The end result did not look like Cass. It was hard to admit it, but she had to after a good look in the mirror.
She was beautiful.
Sephiroth couldn't figure out the tie. It seemed so simple, but it escaped him somehow. He would be late though. He had to pick up Mom and bring her in. Maybe along the way? Angeal and Genesis did not envy him this privilege after realizing he would probably be shoved next to Heidegger for most of the evening and probably had to dance at least once. Besides, Cass had already called (from her closet, hiding from the girl Turks) and said they could crash at her place if they wanted.
"Food in the fridge, no supervision, go nuts," had been her words.
Sephiroth scanned the waiting area Mom said she would meet him in. He thought it would be easier. Most of the women were with a date. He didn't recognize any of the single ones. Then an arm was leaning on his shoulder.
"Spiffy suit," a voice said. He turned and froze. It was Mom, but then again she wasn't. She was prettier, lovelier, beautiful.
"Holy shit," he muttered.
"Indeed," Cass said, "get an eyeful now because you'll never see this again." She looked down and smirked.
"Give it here," she said. It took Sephiroth a moment to register what she was asking for. The tie. He passed it up. She threw it around his neck and started working.
"I couldn't figure it out," he said.
"Many people can't" Cass said, "but I can. I wear one every day." Sure enough she made it nice and neat.
"You look beautiful," Sephiroth said.
"I know," Cass said, "I'm always beautiful, just not like this. You're not too terrible either although...next to me you probably look like crap."
They did not sit next to Heidegger, thankfully. SOLDIER was now recognized as it's own separate entity, therefore, they had their own table now.
"Holy shit," Lazard said.
"I know," Cass replied, "I feel like I need to kick somebody's ass to get my street cred back. Too bad Hojo never comes up for these things."
"I wouldn't have recognized you if the cockiness didn't come back," Lazard finished.
"Come back?" Cass said, "it never left. It's just buried under a dress."
Rufus's only indication as to which one was Cass, was the head of silver at her side. It just didn't look like her. She by no means was the most beautiful person here, but she was unrecognizable.
"I'm thinking of using this as fuel," Tseng said behind him. Rufus glanced back. Tseng usually didn't talk unless it was to chastise Cass for something she was saying.
"She's in a dress," Tseng said, "I wonder how long she complained about it before it finally got pulled on." Rufus felt a smirk rising. It wasn't a bad idea. The next time Cass made a drawling comment on his attitude, remember that time you wore a dress?
But for now she should have a nice evening. Rufus didn't know where the kind thought had come from. Perhaps he was just used to her. Perhaps he still felt that guilt that went with the thought of how his own mother died. Cass was not his mother at all, but Rufus felt a similar attachment regardless. Perhaps...an aunt? He wasn't aware he had any of those.
Dinner was nice, more refined that what Mom made, but edible. Sephiroth found out why Tseng always looked tense before social gatherings and relaxed after. She had their table giggling uncontrollably at more than one point. Sephiroth wondered if she did that in front of Rufus and if he thought it was funny too. He wouldn't mind.
Then the music started. Sephiroth was ready to leave now, the rest of the table looked the same. They were the odd ones out. They only had one female at the table. He felt a poke to the ribs.
"Are you just going to sit here and be bored?" Mom asked.
"I don't know how to dance," Sephiroth said.
"I know that," Cass said, "but I'm still going to make you get up and dance with me." He blinked once then gave in. If Mom wanted to, then he could try at least once.
"I know how dance a simple waltz," Cass said, "just follow my lead and count to three." Sephiroth nodded. Now that he paid attention the music seemed to be divided into threes. That made things easier. Cass pulled his hands into position. She started guiding him with nudges. It was the very basic skeleton on this type of dance. Mostly shifting in circles in time to the music. Other couples were more graceful and talented. Cass seemed happy with what they could do. He was mostly worried about running into others and stepping on Mom's feet. When the music stopped they clapped.
"There," Cass said, "you can be done now." Then there was a cleared throat to their left.
"Or maybe I'll have to play partner for your whole table," Cass said. She did. She danced with all of them once. Even Lazard, who was the only one who seemed to know what he was doing. Sephiroth watched, content not to be back out there. Mom looked nice there though.
"One more?" Cass asked him, "this time you lead." It was asked like a question, but Sephiroth knew that no wouldn't be accepted as an answer. He took the position again. This time there was no guidance. He started moving again, watching other couples in his peripheral vision. He also made sure no to step on feet again. It was easier that he thought actually. Mom let him drag her about (gently of course) and seemed happy enough.
"I'm ready to go home," she said. He nodded.
"Me too," he said.
"Escort me out," Cass said, "then I'm going to burn these shoes in the elevator. My feet are dying a painful death because of them."
He took up her arm, one of his rare smiles on his face. He wouldn't mind dancing with Mom again.