Author note: Hello, lovelies! I hope everyone is doing well. Here we have a time skip, as we're delving further ahead. So I guess season two of the fic, really. Hope everyone had a good fourth!
Chapter start
One would think by now, I'd have a bit more of a brain. Really, there wasn't much of an excuse. All together I would be considered middle aged by now had that accident never happened. Living proof, ha, of how age doesn't equate brains. That was me.
It was well established I hated the cold. While I'd kept my promise, making brief visits to Nibelheim over the years, always with Cloud in tow, never again was it in winter. I stuck to the spring and fall months, finding those far more palatable for my air-conditioned existence previous to the freedom of travel.
With the passing of my sixteenth birthday, Rufus had finally relinquished the grip of steel he had on my movements. To a degree. I could explore to my heart's content, often leaving Midgar for stretches. Another year had come and went, three years total waiting with growing impatience for something. Anything.
When Sephiroth requested it, I'd decided to leave the matter of Hojo in his hands, Hollander with Angeal and Genesis. He had divulged things to Rufus over me, much to my chagrin. What had transpired had been a complete and utter explosion within the Shinra family. I'd witnessed the complete and absolute difference between Rufus and me, and seen traces of who he was in game.
With ruthless efficiency he sliced through any familial tie he'd had to our father, backed by the three firsts, and members of the Turks. Family meant little to him in the face of politics, and the whole of Shinra tower divided between the father and son. It still continued, made all the worse by the fact it was becoming more vindictive.
Rufus had approached me for any information I had regarding the Nibelheim experiments, and then asked if I thought protection of the firsts was valuable. My answer hadn't been hard. As a result, Hojo and Hollander had lost all access to the three firsts, under whatever collateral Rufus gained, and it became known Rufus was digging for alternative methods for electricity. He'd also neatly claimed Aerith as his, making it publicly clear he regarded her as a sister. Thus, giving the Ancient more freedom.
At the end, I was merely glad he hadn't tried to kill our father like he had in the games. He did however take frequent trips to his new home, barely spending more than the weekends if that in Midgar. Which was the cause for my newest pain.
I hated the cold. I also hated the extreme heat, and cursed Rufus for choosing the beach resort town as his blasted home away from home. The splash of the waves was a ticklish coolness nipping at my heels, while the rest of my exposed skin sizzled into a light tan. Today I'd huddled in the surf, laying back, too lazy to swim but drug out by the exuberance of a puppy and Ancient.
My Gods, did they feed off of each other. And Boulder was a traitor, prancing along with them merrily. Any brief thoughts Aerith had a crush on Rufus dissolved easily. The moment she'd met Zach, the two had a strange easy pattern, slotting together like pieces of a puzzle. His loud laugh mixing with her softer giggle as they splashed around somewhat made this torment worth it.
… Almost. As the salty water rushed over my face and chest from them coming to close, I decided I hated them.
Aerith helpfully patted along my back as I coughed and spluttered, while Zach cackled. Yes, hate. Why couldn't I be intimidating like Sephiroth? One cool deadpan had been more than enough to send Zach scampering away. Genesis had handled it far fierier. Or flirty. It was always hard to tell with the redhead.
"Ah, darling if you want heat I can surely oblige without the sand." His sultry tone had been betrayed by the fact his hand was wrapping in flames. Zach had wisely given up on SOLDIER first frolicking in the clear waters.
Meaning the two drug out were poor me and the chocobo of our group. Cloud of course hadn't been bothered as of yet, something Zack seemed to finally notice. His annoyed grumbles gradually built up. The two had begun a playful, on Zacks part, wrestle. Zack was trying to tug Cloud into the water. It was difficult even with his SOLDIER strength, as Cloud had completed his Turk training under Reno, meaning that he wasn't a powerhouse. What he was though was slippery and quick as a flash, sliding away from whatever holds Zack put him in.
Cocky Cloud wasn't that bad, really. He was still a little shy sometimes, but without the failures of never reaching SOLDIER, and without the trauma of a fractured mind. I could take happiness from that. Cloud was healthy, Aerith wasn't locked into Midgar like a prized pet, and my boys weren't being further experimented on.
Cloud had finally had enough of Zack. With a charge, he unbalanced the SOLDIER and sent him sprawling into the surf. His smug smirk didn't last long, though. Zack hooked a long-fingered hand around Clouds ankle. Totally ruining the cool image Cloud yelped as he toppled over, landing beside Zack.
Aerith giggled again. "They have so much energy."
I hummed in placid agreement. Better them than me. One worry I'd had was would Aerith become split between the two. My worries had been completely unfounded, the two falling into familial affection easily. It was plain to see Aerith had eyes only for Zack now, while Cloud sent letters to Nibelheim for his two precious women.
Maybe that first spark between them in game had been the influence of Zack.
"You know, if we could convince them to kiss and got a picture, we'd make millions." I pondered the logistics of alcohol and if it could be done.
Aerith choked on a laugh, pressing her face into my shoulder. "A chocobo and a puppy."
"Forbidden attraction," I cooed.
"Crossing all boundaries for their love." Aerith glanced at them fondly.
"Loveless won't have anything on them."
We dissolved into giggles, loud enough that the two glanced over. Cloud and Zacks hair could only be described as supernatural at this point. Even soaked the spikes barely drooped down.
"Think we wanna know spiky," Zack mock whispered.
Cloud tilted his head, eyes drifting over us. "Could be dangerous."
Aerith stood up; arms crossed as she hummed. She glanced at me, still smiling. "I could give him up…"
"Hey!" Zack yelped.
"So long as you turn me into a spoiled wife," Aerith finished.
I stood up too, brushing sand off my legs as I did so. "I could make you my trophy wife, sure."
Cloud sighed. "You know, when you say things like that it's why Rufus gets mad at us. He thinks we're teaching you bad things."
"It would be wrong of us to stand in the way of true love," I shrugged.
"Yeah, right. You girls are trouble." Zack pouted.
They let me slink away after I'd spent an hour actually fully in the water. Poor Cloud wasn't so lucky, now dealing with the attention of both the airheaded duo solo. If I was religious, I'd have sent up a prayer.
Luckily enough, Rufus had bought a private strip of beach, right behind the mini mansion he'd had custom built. So, no one could see the mixture of Turks and SOLDIERS acting sometimes less than professional.
The SOLDIER three were gathered in the kitchen, Rufus with them, along with Tseng. Angeal and Rufus were murmuring quietly between them, while Genesis badgered at Sephiroth and Tseng. The two shared a long-suffering look.
"You're dripping on the floors," Tseng said placidly. It worked as a distraction as Genesis turned his attention to me.
"You look positively frightful." He eyed me up and down, from the hair sticking to my cheek, to the sand I hadn't been able to dust off. I'd wrapped myself in a towel. "I see the puppy managed to knock you into the water."
"If you were worried you could have come save me," I muttered. I snagged the cup of coffee in front of Rufus, who raised a brow.
Genesis chuckled. "Hardly. Leather doesn't do well in water darling."
"So glad to know you'll choose clothing over me," I cooed. "I knew we were doomed."
"Yet how delicious the burn," he returned agreeably.
"Let's pretend Sophie is still too young for innuendo." Rufus broke in with a sigh. "Which she is."
"Seventeen, brother dearest. I can even drink."
"Just because one doesn't stop a Shinra doesn't mean it's necessarily legal," Tseng put in.
"It's only illegal if one gets caught and stopped," I said, smiling as I debated where to sit.
Genesis glared. Flat-out rejecting it. Rufus wouldn't let me curl into his lap, and neither would Tseng. Angeal was getting up to check the oven, a delicious scent wafting from it. No way I would get in the way of that perfection waiting to happen. Sephiroth glanced up and caught my eye, sighing. Gracefully he uncrossed his long legs.
I slid into his lap easily, relishing in the way Genesis winced. "The leather."
"It's fine," Sephiroth mumbled.
Really, he was too used to my antics to bat an eye at them. I burrowed into his arms, leeching his warmth. I knew logically the time was coming. All of them were wearing the Canon outfits now. Thanks to this I could press my face into his chest, feel and hear his calm heartbeat.
It soothed me. Since that night when everything came out into the open, I'd made a few concessions. Canon was useless now. Too many things had been altered, for the original story to even get off the ground. Cloud wouldn't be experimented on, as he was a Turk loyal to Rufus, who never surrendered his people. Same with Zack, and the others.
My biggest worry now was Jenova and degradation. Genesis hadn't been injured yet, and we still didn't know where Jenova was. That was the one thing Rufus hadn't been able to interfere in, where president Shinra and his loyal Turks drew a line. They wouldn't hand over the being that created their super warriors.
Aerith was just as nervous. While she communed with the planet, trying to find ways to safely eradicate Jenova I contemplated next moves. The girl said it was easier yet not to talk to the planet in Costa Del Sol.
Talking to the planet, she explained, was similar go speaking to a teasing toddler. Half images, and pure emotion would bombard her at intervals. The emotions were usually useless when in regard to Jenova, as there was mainly raw terror and resignation to her existence. With Jenova being dormant, Sephiroth couldn't sense her, or at least he didn't seem to be withdrawing and muttering about "mother".
My sigh attracted his attention. He shifted a gloved hand to pat along my hair, and I couldn't help but sigh again. Gods, his comforting skills still weren't the greatest.
"What's wrong?" He murmured gently.
I let myself yawn. "Oh… just thinking about how nice that guy was when we first arrived. Wonder what he's doing?"
Rufus had turned to me, watching as I had a dreamy little half smile on my face. Really, the guy had been attractive in a fit boy next door kind of way, all hard tanned muscles and big dopey smile. The kind who would be in love while it lasted, but over it quickly. My kind of guy, really.
"You must be joking," Rufus set his cup down. His brows had furrowed, and his smile seemed a tad dangerous. Still the protective brother, even to this day. Probably for my life.
I feigned surprise. "Why? Didn't you like him? He was really nice, and he said he'd teach me how to surf!"
"Well, how charitable to offer you some fun." Rufus said grandly. Then his smile turned sharp. "I think not."
"Give me one good reason." I challenged him carelessly, head tilted.
Rufus surprised us all though. Before he could go on a rant forbidding me from contact with men, Tseng cleared his throat. It caused my brother to swallow his words, fingers clinking along his cup once before he took a breath.
"What your brother is meaning is perhaps you want to choose your companions more… thoroughly." Tseng fixed me with a look.
I pretended to think, finger tapping my cheek. "I mean… great body, check. Terrific hair, check. Nice smile, tall… all my checks are there."
I hopped off of Sephiroth, tossing my towel off and clicking my tongue. "I think I'm gonna go say hi. How do I look?"
Angeal coughed, whereas Genesis actually took the question seriously. His voice was dryer than the dessert. "You look as though you're going there for something other than a friendly hi."
Sephiroth was supposed to be my oblivious friend, but even he shook his head. "If you must have a dalliance perhaps you can choose one that won't send your brother to his grave. We need him."
"So sweet," I cooed. Rufus had paled slightly, but he held his smile. His fingers gave him away though, white knuckled around his cup.
"If Sophie wants to become better acquainted with a beach bum…" Tseng cleared his throat again, and Rufus clicked his tongue. "I don't have any objections to her making friends."
"That seemed painful for you to say," Sephiroth mentioned.
"Careful, my friend. He's liable to explode." Genesis teased, voice filled with a mocking tone and delight.
Really, I hadn't expected to get this far. I'd merely wanted to tease Rufus about his sister complex, yet it seemed he was trying to let me go a little bit. Now if I didn't go, it would reinforce his control over my life.
Well, the other guy had been adorable. I leaned down, giving Rufus a kiss on the cheek. "I won't be out too late!"
Then, I gave Tseng a hug, surprising him. He stiffened rather than return it, and I suppose I understood. Hugging his boss's sister wasn't proper no matter how odd our group really was. "And thank you for teaching him some manners."
"Remember, one of us will be watching." He mentioned. "Try to have some decorum."
"Messily make out and let him hump my leg, got it!" I mock saluted, quickly darting away before Rufus could grab me reflexively. Angeal choked on air, Sephiroth helpfully slapping his back.
"Sophie, you-"
The door swung shut on his words, and cut off the way Genesis was dying of laughter.
Well, now what to do. The sun beat down again, and I sighed. I heard the sounds of Zach and Aerith bullying Cloud, smiling. I knew what to do.
Canon was good as dead now. Aerith needed more knowledge, knowledge on how to make sense of the planet's way of communication, and also in general knowledge. There was one place I could think of.
My body naturally shuddered. If Nibelheim was cold, I wondered how much worse this place would be. But even still, things had to move.
This was the only way forward I could see.
