Author note: I'm so sorry this is late! I try to update once a week. I ended up catching a bug and writing was out of the question. Totally better now though. Hope you all enjoy this chapter; Sophie is on the move!
Chapter start
Things became rapidly apparent. It wasn't as easy as one would have thought, navigating through three stubborn war heroes. While I still didn't know why the game had altered, or if it simply exaggerated the difference in popularity between the three, it was a welcome if annoying change.
It was impossible to go out with Genesis and not be mobbed. He quickly amassed the crazy to him like bees flocked to a flower. It was almost disturbing. However, it became apparent that he didn't enjoy touches not initiated by him, Angeal the only exception to that rule. Sephiroth was maybe getting there. His fans contented themselves with memorizing works of art he favored, and cameras flashing constantly.
Angeal was less high strung, thank the Gods. His fans were far more respectful and seemed to lean towards older women and men. Occasionally, there would be an outlier, but he was able to resolve the tendency to cling if needed.
Sephiroth was by far the safest to go on outings with. No one, not even his fans, dared to approach the taciturn man who towered over all of us. The few who tried, or flitted to close to me, were quickly sent packing by the glare he could levethe The phrase "If looks could kill" fit the man to a tee when he wanted it to.
Boulder of course was another deterrent. The Hound was tall as I was if he stood on back legs, and ferocious looking. That would never change no matter how many cute outfits he dressed in. Today was a forest green shirt with cute little bunny ears special made to fit his head. I thought him adorable. By the way others grimaced, they must not have shared the belief.
Well, who gave a fuck?
I learned them all, and found that the game versions were so off. Genesis was fiery, yes, but he held deep appreciation for both Sephiroth and Angeal. He wasn't as keen or obsessive on being seen as a hero like I'd thought either. And even his tone, while sassy and filled with hidden promises, wasn't the same as game verse.
Angeal was much the same, except the fact I was able to actually realize he had a personality. Truthfully, he'd been my least favorite from the games. Always going on about honor and dreams, and then just doing a one eighty as he had was too off kilter. The man I was getting to know wouldn't have abandoned his friends or the puppy he mentored.
So, what happened? The thought was a tease, refusing to be answered even as it baffled and taunted. Perhaps Genesis had degraded in the sense his loyalty dimmed while his narcissism grew. While Angeal lost his code of conduct and loyalty.
Nowhere did it say that the degradation couldn't have been degrading their brains as well. It was the only thought that made any sense to me. The same way I didn't think, after knowing him, that Sephiroth had any control over Jenova in the beginning. Later, when she'd corroded him beyond rational thought, he might have wrestled and subjugated the alien creature. But only after she'd decayed and twisted him to the point he couldn't return to himself.
Sephiroth was kind. In his own awkward way. Genesis was loyal, and loved his friends. Angeal was loyal too, to Sephiroth. Genesis would never attack Sephiroth out of jealousy. Angeal would never leave a friend behind. And Sephiroth would never destroy an entire town out of revenge. Seriously, the game sucked for this.
You would have thought Rufus would be a man of his word. He'd hinted that once Sephiroth was back, I could venture below plate. For a minute it had seemed like he'd let me too.
Until I'd gotten attacked by a throw away tomato the other day. Really, here I was pouring money into supplying food for those I could and they hurled it in my face. Reno had sprung quickly into action, grasping the man by the arm and hurling him to the ground in some complicated maneuver. Others had been so apologetic, terrified as more Turks materialized like some bad drama show.
Really, the tomato had hit my dress. The guy had terrible aim. I had merely brushed it off, soothed some old lady, and snapped at the Turks to stop causing a scene.
Reno had given me a look, before tossing the guy to Rude. I stared at the redhead, and shook my head. Of course, that had been ignored as he lifted me up into his arms. I hadn't bothered resisting, merely clasped my arms around his neck and tugged on his ponytail in retaliation.
Depositing me in front of Rufus, who looked less than impressed. And thus, I was banned from below the plate, until people calmed down. People were up in arms over the ongoing war, thinking it would drag even longer now the hero and his two generals were away from the field.
Truly, people were stupid. The three were still taking missions, only now they were localized and targeted rather than all encompassing. Rather than 'capture the whole of the eastern front', it was now, tragically, 'Kill the insurgents, destroy this village." It was disgusting, but at least they were back in Midgar.
"This is ridiculous," I muttered.
The chuckle that came from behind was totally not appreciated. I made sure he knew it too, as I gave him a look over my shoulder.
"You think my pain is funny, do you? How will I ever reunite with my darling if this keeps happening?"
Despite the small irritation I held it didn't stop me from smiling when Angeal sat a delicious looking slice of apple pie on the table. Sephiroth and Genesis hadn't exaggerated at all. The man was wasted in military life. He should have been this world's version of a humble Gordon Ramsey. Although, it might be funny to see Angeal call someone an idiot sandwich. Maybe not.
Still, I couldn't help the delighted noise that escaped my lips when I tucked in. It was still warm, fresh from the oven. The crust perfectly flaky, crisp slices of apple. The work of art melted once it hit the tongue.
Licking my lips, I studied his profile. Absolutely wasted on military life indeed. Angeal oddly enough was becoming a favorite friend. Of course, he could never replace Sephiroth or Aerith. And there was something to be said about ones only friends being military or, sorry Vergil, Turk assassins. Maybe Rufus was right to be concerned. Nah.
If anything, he should want me to see Aerith. She was the closest to normal either of us had. I knew full well she'd been sending letters to him as well, and by the fact she wasn't whining to me, he at least occasionally responded.
Still, it was true the city was filled with unrest since the war continued. The people were divided into those who wanted it to stop and those who wanted Wutai crushed. The divide went further, as groups such as Avalanche used the war as a platform to throw dirt at Shinra. Which caused others to stand idly by, as siding with said groups could be a death warrant. Such a fine mess.
Riots had begun breaking out randomly, mostly oddly enough, above plate. I knew it would end eventually. The when was the problem.
"He is just worried for you." Angeal had sat down as well with his own slice. "What that man did might not have been much to you."
"But to Rufus it meant worse could happen." I tapped my fork idly on the plate, listening to the ting it made. "I know what he's thinking."
"What that man did could be a prelude." The gentle being sighed. "I know it isn't easy being kept in here."
"Like a criminal," I added.
"More a person worthy of protection than a criminal."
"How flattering," I cooed and he chuckled.
"Most days," he added on and I smiled. A few months in my company, and he didn't blush so easily. Disappointing, really.
I took another slice of the pie. Angeal was going to make me gain all the weight.
Then inspiration struck and I froze. I didn't know when the war would end. All I knew was Zack would most definitely appear and be a second class once the countdown started. Zack the puppy, accompanied by our favorite little chocobo.
Where was Jenova currently housed? Surely not in Nibelheim yet. Wouldn't it make more sense, for now, to have her here and close? In case they needed more of her cells. Yet Nibelheim was a veritable hotbed of dangers, all contained in that damned basement library.
Hojo really had played the long game, and to what purpose? Even I didn't think the man crazy enough to have dreamed his son would overthrow Jenova. Or become a homicidal maniac. Had he planted and erased all evidence of Lucrecia to break Sephiroth? Or had that all been merely an unforeseen variable that had then been planned around? To test the silver wonder was obviously his goal. In typical Hojo fashion, he just hadn't cared what the end result was so long as there was one.
But maybe…
"Angeal, what do you think about snow?"
"Snow?" His brow furrowed.
My smile was slow, hand sliding across the table palm up. He placed his fingers against mine, letting me tap away at his hand with my nails. Touch was a way I used to keep myself grounded recently. I'd adapted it for Sephiroth, to help him feel more human, or maybe to humanize myself as I calculated the chance of him going haywire. Eventually I realized all these future "I'm a monster" speech givers needed bonds. Not just to each other, but to people outside of the situation. People who could say, confidently and without fear, that no they were not.
"Yes, snow. On TV it looks so fluffy."
"You've never seen it in real life?"
Humming, my head shook, as I pouted. "The weather never does anything in Midgar. It rained maybe once last year. Always the same."
It was because, I believed, the very air around this toxic city was unable to alter. There was nothing except the bodies inside it, and the very few and little patches of green Shinra was able to force alive, pitiful and weakening daily.
"Well, I'm not so certain you'd enjoy it. It can get pretty chilly when there's snow around." He smiled softly, setting the remains of the pie down for Boulder to scarf up. He had an additional one for Sephiroth and Genesis, when they returned later.
"I'd like to see it… in fact, I think I'm due for a vacation."
Never mind I knew damned good and well what snow was. I hated the powdery nonsense. As a child sure, it was all fun and games. Building a snowman or making snowballs, leaving messy imprints of "angels" everywhere. Sipping hot chocolate when you were done playing, now warm and cozy in pajamas. Then you had to drive in it and realized mother nature was a two-sided brat.
Angeal had hesitation written all over his face. His hand in mine had tensed a second before relaxing again. He thought leaving Midgar would be a bad idea. Who knew how other, especially towns, would react to Shinra right now?
But we had a good relationship, for now, with Nibelheim. And a perfectly nice, unused Mansion.
"You would need an impressive guard," he allowed after a moment. His features were soft. He was on my side, if not agreeable to what I wanted. "And your father would have to allow it."
"I'm sure I can get him on board."
Later, and I knew that the old man hated looking at me at times. He had more sentiment than I'd ever thought possible. A picture of his late wife was on his desk at all times, the personal room that was his hadn't changed at all. Still her touches everywhere here and there in his office and study. He'd loved her. Not enough to be faithful, but to him the two hadn't been and weren't mutually exclusive.
Her eyes were mirrors of my own. The delicate chin, the way my hair fell. Even my growth followed her, roughly only an inch or so shorter. When I went into that office my hair had been styled to as close as I could manage without outright copying. Even the smile, I imitated hers at first, before my natural one took over. Letting the image of her fade back to the reality. Manipulative, yes. Necessary, I believed so.
His eyes had widened marginally, flickering over my face, darting to the picture. It had jarred him, all the way to when I settled on the corner of his desk as I always did. Then he seemed to shake off his thoughts, but they would be close to the surface for days. He'd go out in frustration, or perhaps no further than the secretary halls, and take out that frustration. His loneliness. Maybe in nine months we'd have another Shinra bastard he'd sneak quietly into the company when it reached an age. One we never spoke of, but Rufus and I knew of.
Such a sad existence. Still, I had what I wanted. He couldn't get me out of that office fast enough, telling me I could have my vacation. Momentary sympathy overcame me, and I grasped him, arms around his shoulders as I thanked him.
"Let's have lunch together, okay?" I released him and stepped back. He hadn't returned the hug fully, merely pat me on the head. I thought he might have tried to undue a hair clasp.
He cleared his throat, swallowing. "I have some things that need to be handled. Perhaps another time."
"Oh," I murmured. "Of course. Maybe before I leave for the trip, then."
Something seemed to quicken in him, some semblance of fatherly duty rarely seen. "Dinner, tonight. I should be free by then. We'll go out."
I forgave myself if I smiled a little genuinely. "It's a promise, Papa."
This was a relationship doomed to always be a bit lonely. The other one, however…
Rufus was irritated. "You'll take Sephiroth."
"No, I won't. He just got back from a mission. He needs his rest, as do the other two."
"Then you aren't going." He leveled me with a stare I knew meant he wanted no arguments. Too bad.
"Papa already said I could. And agreed to me taking the fire cracker and Vergil."
"Papa," he muttered. His eyes trailed over my hairstyle and I knew he knew what game I'd played. "You're very resourceful when you want to be."
"It's a gift," I allowed.
Truthfully, I would have loved to take my boys, even one of them. Fear kept me from it. If Jenova was there, the last thing that needed to happen was Sephiroth being near her. It? Whatever.
Victory was mine though. Rufus knew he couldn't overrule the President. But he could make his own stipulations. He tilted his head and Tseng came forward.
"Make sure she stays out of trouble," he said.
"Of course," the man murmured, eyes sliding carefully from Rufus to me.
So, I got Reno, my dear Vergil, and Tseng the serious. What a fun trip this was going to be.
End chapter
Review responses:
Xenocanaan: I love writing them together, truly. And here I go separating them again. For good reason, I promise! No Aerith yet, but I have a plan that is Sophie in general to get to Aerith. Hope this was worth the wait!
Kayumee: Absolutely! I'm glad you're enjoying so far.
