Prompt - Parenting, Part 1
Little Cassandra Rhapsodos rolled over in her bed, her eyes still wide open.
Genesis sat next to her cot. His chin was propped up on his hand and he held a newly released book on materia theory. He wasn't getting much reading done though because the squirming three year old was clearly still awake.
This was getting absurd. He could outlast hidden snipers, patiently plan out month long sieges, and endure even the most tedious of board meetings. He was not going to be beaten by a two year old.
By all the laws of man and nature she should have been exhausted. Even he was exhausted.
He put his hand on her back and rubbed soothing circles. Surely she was going to fall asleep soon. Surely.
Curious eyes that glowed just like his own blinked up at him. She had inherited his hair as well, but the rest was all Hawke. Baby fat made her cute now but there was no doubt that 15 years from now she was going to be absolutely stunning, with the same sharp features as her mother. She already smiled like her, with a charming little grin that hinted at endless mischief.
He'd had enough mischief for one day.
As a bachelor he had been a very selfish man. But he wasn't prepared to be a selfish father. He was embarrassed to recall the silliness he'd displayed on the subject of changing nappies back when Cassandra was still a new born. It wasn't dignified, it wasn't hygienic, he was a First Class SOLDIER and he didn't want to.
He'd told Hawke he couldn't see his own parents ever doing such a thing. She'd quietly asked if he wanted to be like his own parents. That had instantly silenced his complaints.
He'd been fully involved in the fine art of parenting ever since. His daughter would only have one childhood; he wouldn't waste it being selfish.
She rolled over again, snuggling into her blanket and a much chewed stuffed fox. He held his breathe, thinking his watch might be nearing its end. Then she started humming a little tune and wiggling her head and his head dropped into his hand.
"Cassandra." He snapped. "Stop that. You are here to sleep not to sing."
She froze and the humming ended. Then she gave a great sigh of how terribly put upon she was, and rolled herself back over again.
He couldn't leave while she was still awake because his darling daughter had inherited far too much of her mother, the stubborn thing. When left alone she would immediately get up and start scheming her way out of the cot. You would think a two year old wouldn't be able to get very far, but you would be woefully mistaken. She had become truly adept at breaking out. Attempts at keeping her in had only honed her skill further.
When desperation had them installing a lock on the cot, it had taken her 15 minutes to figure out how to wriggle her little arm around and slide the bolt out again. The more complicated they made the cot the more effort she put into escaping. Then she would climb out and find them and start the whole cycle again.
No matter how angry they got she kept it up. She was a curious child who hated being away from the action and had been blessed with the determination of both her parents. Genesis had a sneaking suspicion that she viewed their attempts at preventing her from getting back up as a challenge.
Eventually they'd been left with no option but to actually be in the room with her until she fell asleep. Assuming she ever did fall asleep.
He ran a hand down his face, feeling weary himself. His work hadn't become any easier over the years and being a SOLDIER was no office job. The long hours and gruelling physicality of it was all the harder when you were kept up to all hours by a troublemaking toddler.
She lifted her head a little and looked around.
"Don't even think about it." He said.
She sheepishly lowered her head again.
"Sowy." She mumbled through the blankets.
He loved Cassandra more than anything else in the world. But was it truly so much to ask that she just go to sleep? For once?
Hawke, despite her misgivings, had proven herself an excellent mother. For someone whose default position was apathy, she would gladly kill scores of people for the sake of her own. It made her very reliable in these matters. No matter how much they could infuriate each other, it didn't matter. Genesis and Cass were hers and therefore she'd give the universe to keep them safe and make them happy. Nothing else was relevant as far as she was concerned.
Which was why she was going to practically combust with fury when she got back.
The day had started off peacefully enough. Hawke was helping Aerith with something (wedding plans he was pretty sure, Aerith had been buzzing with excitement) and he had the day off.
As a treat for her he'd taken Cass to the petting Zoo. She loved all the different animals and had squealed with absolute glee. His fangirls, still unreasonably devoted despite his having morphed into a family man, had cooed at the red headed toddler and taken as many photos as they could. Cass enjoyed the attention, though she had no problem voicing her displeasure once she got sick of them. The littlest Rhapsodos was a shamelessly melodramatic.
From there things had taken an unexpected turn for the worse.
It had only been a second. He always kept a close eye on Cass when in public, both he and Hawke were famous and not everyone wished them well. They couldn't shelter her from the dreariness of reality forever but he took every measure to ensure she wouldn't be involved in the politics of it.
Yet it only took one second for an ambitious Avalanche member to snatch up the toddler and bolt.
Cassandra bit the hand of her kidnapper and screamed as loud as her lungs would allow, which was far louder than the kidnapper had been prepared for.
Whatever the environmentalist terrorists had planned he had no idea and he didn't stop to theorize. In the sudden scramble as the kidnapper tried to make off with his daughter Genesis had already immolated the pathetic grunts left to stall him. He sprinted after them with his sword flaming hotter than it ever had before and his eyes screaming bloody murder.
By the time the terrorists realised they had vastly overestimated their chances it was far too late for them. Genesis sliced through them like the child stealing vermin they were. The absolute panic in his heart as he carved his way through them was something he never wanted to feel again.
It hadn't been long before Cassandra was safe in his arms again, but it had felt like a lifetime. Sheer relief flooded him. She hadn't been hurt, just frightened, and now the short episode was over.
Unfortunately it had been on camera. Almost immediately headlines all over Midgar read 'SOLDIER's Child Kidnapped!', 'Rhapsodos Girl Taken by Terrorists!' and the like.
Hawke was going to kill him.
But Cass was safe. And that was enough.
He didn't notice when his head started to droop. Soon the book fell from his grasp and his eyes closed, and he didn't notice that either.
Cassandra did though.
Not long after, Hawke came home. She hadn't decided yet whether she was going to electrocute the love of her life to hell and back, or scream at him for a bit and then start the electrocuting.
She'd only been gone for five hours. Five hours and Genesis had managed to make all the headlines and get Cassandra kidnapped by an infamous terrorist organization. Oh yeah, there was definitely going to be screaming. But where were they?
There wasn't anyone in the living room, or the master bedroom. Most of the lights were off, but the little nightlight from Cass's room was on.
She snuck into the toddler's room, needing to check that her daughter was safe and sound after whatever madness her Father had gotten them into.
She breathed a prayer to the Maker that she was actually sleeping, but found her worry evaporate at the sight before her.
Genesis was sitting on the chair by the bed, head drooping forward and sound asleep. Cassandra was not in her cot but curled up in his lap. She was snuggled into her Father's chest and clinging to his shirt. Her little blanket was partly draped over his legs from when she'd climbed up. His hand held her securely against him, stopping her from accidentally rolling off in her sleep.
Hawke leaned back against the door frame, just watching them. Her budding little rogue of a daughter and her meticulous SOLDIER husband slept peacefully, unaware of the tender sight they made.
She could yell at Genesis in the morning. Not only were they unbelievably sweet together, he had gotten Cass to go to sleep. Everything else was secondary.
A/N: I am not a parent but I do work with toddlers. This was largely autobiographical. Thanks for reading! Leave a review or a prompt if you like :)