Disclaimer: I'm too busy with my own life to take charge of Final Fantasy as well. I make no money from this.
P.S. There is a spoiler alert for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring within this chapter. If you have not read or seen it, then read at your own risk.
Angeal entered the V.R. observation deck hoping it was empty. It was not, however, he was in good company. Cass was writing copious notes and muttering under her breath.
"I'm not interrupting am I?"he asked. She spared a glance up.
"No," she said, "this dumbass is almost done."
"Not going well?" he asked. He winced as he glanced out the window.
"That's the third time he's set himself on fire," she said as she made another note. Angeal snorted and tried to cover it up as a cough.
"Sadistic bastard," she said.
"Like you're any better," he shot back.
"You got me," she said, "Did I tell you what I got Rufus to do last week?"
"I heard something about him doing fifty pushups," Angeal said, "That was true?"
"Hell yeah it was," she said, "I challenged him to a competition, then I stopped after three and he kept going." Angeal snickered. "He got pissed of course. Said I ruined his new coat and I told him it made him look stupid anyway." Angeal laughed harder.
"I'm not sure why he keeps me at this point," she said, "I'm just a total bitch to him."
"I think he's a masochist," Angeal said, "No one else will talk to him that way."
"This is true," she admitted, "I take shit from none." Angeal snorted again.
"Who are you watching? Cass asked.
"Uh...some kid. Zackary Fair," Angeal said, "Wilwarding said I'd like him."
"I don't feel like making my kid cry harder," Cass said, "care if I stay and fake finishing his final score?"
"Nah, I could use a second eye." Cass left to tell her baby Turk he would need to try again at a later date, preferably after his burns had been had been healed. She returned with a sigh. She propped her feet up on the desk lazily.
"Nice hair," she said as a black haired kid bounced into the room.
"Wilwarding says it stays up even when wet," Angeal noted.
"Interesting," she said.
"What happened to the other guy?" Angeal asked still keeping an eye on the kid, "the one you usually work with, Tseng?"
"Nothing," she said, "he's in a higher position than I am, that's all."
"Really?" Angeal said, "I thought you were pretty high up."
"On a different rating scale," she said, "I hold sway over Rufus and am a top notch instructor. With missions I get sloppier, but I still have one of the higher success rates. Tseng is a better mission guy."
"So..." Angeal prompted.
"So he's doing more missions," Cass said, "I'm training some other guys to guard Rufus. It works out better. Reno and Rude are closer to Rufus's age than I am."
"The hyper redhead?" Angeal said.
"He's hyper and sloppy, but he gets the job done. Somehow he's fourth in the ranks," Cass said, "Doesn't look like yours is much better." Angeal shook his head.
"No...no he doesn't," Angeal said.
"Other than that he looks okay though," Cass said, "room for improvement is all I'm saying." Angeal shook his head.
"What did you say his name was again?" Cass asked, "I wasn't paying attention the first time."
"Zackary Fair," Angeal said.
"Zack Fair?" she said, "the top of the current batch?"
"He's what?"
"The best scoring candidate for SOLDIER," she said, "Almost made straight to second class...except his hyperactivity and lack of attention drug him down. Sounds like most men actually."
"I resent that," Angeal said, "how the hell do you know all that and I don't?"
"Uhhh...'cause it's my job?" Cass tried.
"Uh huh, add in a kid who is the tippity top of the program and I might just buy that," Angeal said.
"You could pop him up to Second," Cass said changing the subject. Angeal turned back to what he was supposed to be doing.
"He's not exactly the ideal SOLDIER, but he's not the worst I've ever seen, considering I've seen you, Gen, and Sephiroth all at his age," Cass said.
"I don't think we were-"
"You were," Cass interjected, "You all fucked up at least once. It worked itself out. Think about how much nicer it would have been had someone been there to, you know, help out." Angeal watched for a few minutes in silence. Zack really wasn't all that bad. He could see the lack of attention and sloppy form, but also saw Zack manage to correct it a few times on his own. He knew what was right, he just needed a few pointers. He could be pretty good with some one-on-one.
"I'll consider it," Angeal said, "And not just because you told me to."
"I'd be sarcastic, but I have a feeling you're being honest with me."
"There's no way Genesis," Sephiroth said.
"It is so possible," Genesis continued to argue.
"I find my scenario much more plausible," Sephiroth continued.
"It is not," Genesis said.
"They can create scenery and opponents that we can fight within a room," Sephiroth said, "I think a few amateurs could create a fictional world."
"I'd submit to that," Genesis said, "but 'Loveless" is a better story."
"That is debatable," Sephiroth countered, "I myself prefer the works of Tolkien over your choice of poetry."
"You just hate poetry," Genesis jabbed.
"Untrue, I like the songs in The Lord of the Rings. Those count as poems when spoken."
"They will make a movie out of 'Loveless' before they touch Middle Earth," Genesis stated firmly.
"While the 'Loveless' fanbase is devoted and rapidly growing, those that prefer Tolkien are still more numerous, more faithful, and more organized," Sephiroth said.
"You're only saying that because you are among them," Genesis said.
"Then we need an unbiased third party," Sephiroth said.
"Are you two fighting again?" Angeal asked.
"I was under the impression that it was a simple argument," Sephiroth said.
"No offense Seph, but you only can tell when someone is annoyed at you when they come at you with a sword," Angeal said, "What's it about this time?"
"Movies," Sephiroth said.
"Whether Sephiroth's favored fantasy drabble would be preferred over 'Loveless'." Genesis added.
"It's not drabble Genesis," Sephiroth said, "had you continued after The Fellowship you would have seen the story was very well thought out."
"And you like maps," Genesis said.
"It is an added bonus," Sephiroth admitted.
"I'm not deciding between you two," Angeal said, "and I don't like either of them frankly." The discussion carried on through the day until a pre-organized dinner at Cass's apartment. She was heading a co-op mission between SOLDIER and the Turks and she wanted their opinion on who to take. She needed one First at the very least.
"I don't like that you're in charge," Sephiroth said.
"The First leads the charge," Cass said, "I hang in a dark room and tell everyone what to do. Tseng is the man power for this one. The targets have already seen my face so it's not worth the risk." He relaxed.
"It sounds like your movie theory," Genesis put in.
"I disagree," Sephiroth countered.
"Are you two fighting again?" Cass asked, "because it sounds like you are."
"Genesis and I are at odds at which literary masterpiece would make a better movie," Sephiroth said.
"Did you have a meeting today? Your speech sounds so eloquent," Cass noted.
"I did," Sephiroth said, "would you mind being our unbiased opinion?"
"That depends, what books are you talking about?" Cass asked.
"The Lord of the Rings or 'Loveless'," Sephiroth said.
"Lord of the Rings," Cass said without missing a beat.
"What?" Genesis said.
"Don't get me wrong, 'Loveless' is a work of art, but Lord of the Rings has an advantage in that it has a concrete beginning middle and end. 'Loveless' is left ambiguous and for many people that is part of the appeal. I personally believe it is a better stage production than a cinematic one. The ending changes and that is entertaining. A movie would either leave it ambiguous, which if done correctly might be quite excellent, but the odds are not in it's favor. Lord of the Rings, however, would be visually stunning in my opinion.
"I also know that you were very upset when Boromir died," Cass said, "that is the cause of most of your hatred for the novel if I am not mistaken."
"He was seen as an antagonist, but he was only doing what he thought was right," Genesis said, "He tried to take the ring because he believed it would help save his country. He only realized that it wouldn't when he died. That is disappointing. He had no chance to redeem himself."
"He died trying to protect the others though," Sephiroth added, "he died doing the right thing. Is that not in and of itself a redeeming factor for Boromir?"
"Please stop," Angeal said.
"Oh shit," Genesis grumbled, "You're right. Dammit."
"Do not ask me which one is better," Cass said, "I never pick between favorites. I love them all."
Sephiroth gave a brief nod as he entered the elevator.
"Nuh uh," Cass said, "You do not live in my house and settle for giving me a nod when we meet again." He cracked a smile, but didn't budge.
"Either I get a hug or I stop the elevator," she said, "I may be older and slower, but I sure as hell can fake you out."
"Of course," Sephrioth said as he bestowed it upon her. At twenty three he felt no oddness about it, but had now graduated to teasing her about it.
"I feel like I haven't seen you in weeks," she said.
"I'm sorry, but I am busy," Sephrioth said.
"I know, I am too," Cass said, "I feel like every time I make a plan to meet up with you something happens." Sephiroth smiled.
"What?" Cass asked, "what's so funny to you."
"Nothing," Sephiroth said, "I just realized, that I started out being friends with you, then became family, and now I feel like we're friends again." She smiled back.
"I guess that means I didn't screw up too badly raising you," Cass said.
"You never screwed up," Sephiroth said.
"I wasn't perfect either," Cass said.
"You were to me," Sephiroth said. Cass was silent.
"Does Genesis seem a little...off to you?" Sephiroth asked changing the subject. Cass was secretly relieved.
"He was really quiet during his last injection," she said, "he stayed longer than usual down there, but he said he felt fine."
"He just seems distracted to me," Sephiroth said.
"Angeal mentioned something about him being more short tempered that usual," Cass said, "and you two argue more often." Sephiroth said nothing.
"We'll talk to him," she said, "Maybe it's nothing."
"What are you worried about?" Sephiroth asked.
"I might have to adjust his mako levels again," she said, "he needed a heavy elevation about nine months ago for no reason."
"That happened to me," Sephiroth said.
"During puberty," Cass said, "at this age I can't come up with a reason why." She chose to shrug it off.
"I heard Angeal has become a mentor," she said.
"That he has," Sephiroth said, "he's kind of attached to the young man. He talks about him a lot. Zero attention span, impatient as a puppy." Cass snorted. The visual was rather on the dot.
"I was the exact same with you," Cass said, "except without the puppy part. I talked about you to anyone who had the security clearance." Sephiroth smiled again.
"Is it a parent thing?" he asked.
"I think so," she said, "It looks and sounds weird until you get put into that position, then all of a sudden it makes sense."
"Do you think I will ever get into that position?" Sephiroth asked, playfully.
"I am not going to object to grandchildren," Cass said, "though right now I'm a little young to be a grandmother." The elevator chimed and Cass slipped out.
"Remember you don't have to be a stranger," Cass said, "stop by sometime."
Three weeks later, Cass returned to her apartment and found Sephiroth pacing in her living room. He had to have been worrying for several hours to become this agitated. He was out of uniform and had his hair tied back, he had changed and showered to try and calm himself down.
"Sephrioth?" she asked, "are you okay?" Sephiroth brushed his bangs back and shook his head.
"I hurt Genesis," he said.
Cass listened to the entire story Sephiroth told, from Genesis overreacting during a spar to him getting sliced by a ShinRa's cheap weaponry. She took pause when he got to the part where Angeal gave cells to help with the healing process.
"Mako should heal that on it's own," she said, "did Hollander say why Angeal had to do it?"
"Just that mine weren't viable," Sephiroth said.
"...I'm not actually certain of all the things Hojo did to your genetic structure so that might actually have some truth to it," she admitted, "I don't understand why he would need a transfusion." Sephiroth looked worried.
"I'll talk to Angeal," she said. Except Angeal wasn't sure either. He had done it and Genesis said he felt fine afterwards, but there had been no explanation. Cass didn't like it. She had never liked Hollander to begin with. She hunted down the last trustworthy party.
"Genesis, you okay?" Cass asked. The redhead spared her a glance.
"I'm fine," he said sharply.
"You've been acting strange lately," she said, "you've been fighting with Sephiroth a lot more than usual and you just don't seem on top of the weather."
"I'm just sick and tired of being cooped up here," Genesis said brushing it off. Cass was only momentarily relieved by his usual grin.
"I'm getting sent out to Wutai, hopefully to end this whole sad ordeal," he said, "I'll be my same old, asshole self when I get back. You'll see."
Angeal sighed as Zack went out of view. He felt tired and agitated and he didn't know why. He figured a good night's sleep and a hot shower would fix it.
"Hey," Cass said as she walked by. Angeal grunted in return.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, just tired," he said, "I guess that mako spike I got a few months ago is coming back to bite me." He managed a grin, but Cass just became more sober.
"That's exactly what happened to Genesis," she said. Angeal still didn't see why that would be cause for worry, until Genesis disappeared entirely while in Wutai. Then he began to think that perhaps something was off.
A/N: I'd apologize, but simply adding in a character does not change the genetic make-up of the main characters. This is the beginning of the downward spiral. However, this story will not end at rock bottom so keep reading if you want your spirits to ever rise again.
I am a book nerd. The whole thing about Boromir hit me after I finished reading The Fellowship of the Ring yesterday, so why not use the character to foreshadow future events?