Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The problem with roses, of course, are the unavoidable fact that they have thorns.

ShinRa paid no mind to the thorns named after a disaster, which was their first mistake.

ShinRa paid no mind to the thorn of an escaped Cetra, which was their second mistake.

ShinRa, for all of its faults, failed for a third time when they sent their strongest SOLDIER to war.

War wasn't meant for children; both Calamity and Chaos would be wrought upon them for it.

-Sephiroth's Birthday; September 16; 0700 hrs-

Sephiroth stretched luxuriously and then yelped as he rolled out of bed at the sight of the time.

"I'm late, I'm late, I'm late—" he muttered before Chichiue gently caught him by the shoulders and hugged him. "Good morning, Chichiue."

"Good morning, my son. You're not late because you applied to have your birthday off months in advance. Angeal and Genesis will be here during breakfast and we have an outside excursion planned with Captain Highwind's help later on." Chichiue reassured as Sephiroth melted into the warmth of his Chichiue's embrace. "There may or not be presents on the table already."

So much had changed and presents...

He hadn't understood last year when Mom and Chichiue had handed him boxes wrapped in shiny paper and bows. Sephiroth had seen other people recieve them but hadn't made the connection until he'd peeled off the paper carefully and saw the set of daggers he now wore everywhere.

"Thank you." He sleepily replied as he scrubbed at his left eye and then his right, pillowing his cheek briefly against his Chichiue's chest out of habit. "Mom at work?"

"She's in the kitchens but she's not supervising," Chichiue teased. "something about cake for a special someone."

Sephiroth leaned into the absentminded petting Chichiue was doing, the claws of the gauntlet a gentle scritch against his scalp. He didn't flinch at the sound of a camera snap because it came with the scent of snow-cinnamon-hearth.

"Morning, Mom." He shuffled in Chichiue's grip to see her but made no move to get free.

Cameras were another thing that had changed for him too. He'd hated them, once, because they meant Hojo was about to document an experiment that would hurt him. Now they were moments captured that he could relive with the photo, especially since his family was behind the camera instead.

Mom hugged him and Chichiue, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He'd grown again but only to the point where Mom had to reach up for kisses instead of down. "Good morning, honey."

That was how Cloud found them, Sephiroth practically purring from all of the affection he was enjoying. He felt arms wrap around his waist and smiled serenely.

"Morning Cloud."

«Morning, Seph!»

A knock had Sephiroth slipping from his parents' grip and going on tip-toes to peer out of the eye hole.

Captain Highwind was frowning at Squad Delta, his white pilot's scarf haphazardly thrown over his shoulder and his boots untied from the ShinRa security search. 'Geal was about to knock again when Sephiroth opened the door with an amused huff.

"Happy birthday Seph." Angeal wiggled a wrapped package in SOLDIER purple while Genesis revealed another in crimson.

"Happy Womb Emanicpation Day," Genesis followed as as they kicked off their boots at the door. Both gave him one-arm hugs before shuffling into the apartment. "Oh nice! Present pile already?"

General Urial handed over a black box and gave a very relaxed salute that Sephiroth returned. "I hope I haven't gotten the wrong thing."

"You haven't sir." Sephiroth reassured.

Lt. Colonel Cleary handed over a box in forest green and did the same salute, a half-smile on his lips as General Urial squeezed his hand in reassurance. "Ours is sort of joint, Strife-Valentine."

"Good to know, sir." He answered.

"I've got a lot because I mentioned I was seeing you the day of; delivery Lt. Colonel at your service." Tyris chuckled and didn't bother saluting. "Wolf and Henderson send their regards as they're out on mission together but they left their presents with me in case they weren't back in time. I've got one from Major Milo, one each from Troop Platoons 14, 23, 25 and one from a Sgt. Porteous. Lt.s Kunsel and Johnson joined forces for this one. Oh yeah, and mine. You sure are popular this year, Strife-Valentine."

"Thank you sir." He accepted the basketful of gifts and tucked the black and green boxes amongst the pile.

"Pvt. O'Conor sent you a box of Chocobo droppings, which is rude but-"

"My Mom has a friend who'd love them down in Sector Five, sir. I'll be sure to thank him for helping her with her flowers." Sephiroth chuckled in reply to the disgusted faces of his superiors. "He may hold a grudge but I don't; there isn't any need for one, sirs. He was justly punished for his past mistakes."

"You're a lot more forgiving than I would be at your age, Strife-Valentine."

"He's forgiven, sir, but I haven't forgotten."

Only part of the Valentine family motto was to atone and ask for forgiveness, after all.

The full motto was:

"All sins can be atoned for if you ask for forgiveness. You may ask for forgiveness, you may forgive one who has wronged you but do not forget their deeds. Forgetting means you have absolved them of your wrath."

The Strife motto was simple but equally as effective:

"Above all others, tell the truth to yourself most often. Respect those who have earned it. Have compassion for the weak, the infirm, the lonely; do not fear the strong, for it manifests in many ways in the truest of forms."

Squad Delta blinked at that and shrugged. "Fair enough."

After Squad Delta left, Captain Highwind kicked his boots off at the door and straightened his scarf before walking inside like he lived there. Sephiroth chuckled quietly, looking forward to watching his Chichiue dance around the blond, smitten pilot as they made Behemoth calf eyes when the other wasn't looking.

"Happy Birthday, kiddo," Highwind frowned and clucked his tongue. "Yer doin' it again, call me Cid."

"Sorry Cid." Chichiue and Sephiroth apologized in unison before they looked at one another and laughed.

Cid flushed pink and scrubbed at his nose, his teeth digging into the filter of the ever-present cigarette. Mom narrowed her eyes at the cigarette so Cid plucked it out of his mouth and tucked it away into the half-way crushed pack.

"Sorry, ma'am."

"Just don't smoke around my sons and we're good." Mom huffed. "Drop the ma'am, I'm not old enough for it. My name's Anika."

"Anika—Corel High, right?" Cid lit up and Chichiue choked on his morning tea.

Sephiroth giggled at his Chichiue's expression and pulled down the breakfast pan, the clank of it on the gas burners somehow summoning his little brother and his best friends.

"Cid?! I thought you did that-Oh." Mom's hands went up and she started gesturing the same as Cid.

"Yeah." Cid's tone could've dried out Gongaga. "They cancelled it right as Ah signed up. Something about th' engines an' the paneling and how expensive th' damn thing was so now Ah run a transport biz. Ain't so bad."

'Geal and Gen watched as Sephiroth pulled down flour, brown sugar and cold butter. He cut the butter into the flour, motioning where the other ingredients were as he continued to add what was handed to him.

By the time Mom and Cid looked up, Sephiroth was putting the first squares of travel bread into the oven and his helpers were lightly dusted with flour and sugar.

Chichiue was laying out the present pile so that Sephiroth wouldn't have to sort through it by scent but his amusement was clear as Mom shooed them out of the kitchen; a whirlwind of blue gingham fabric and blonde braid that had breakfast out in under thirty minutes.

"I'm sorry Seph." She took a wet papertowel and dabbed off the flour out of sheer habit.

"It's okay. Does that mean I can call him Uncle Cid now?" He teased as he tucked into his meal.

All three adults spluttered magnificently. Sephiroth took the opportunity to snap a picture with the camera before his eyes crinkled at the corners as he laughed so hard it hurt a little.

Cid recovered first as he pulled out Mom's chair and then Chichiue's. "Sure, kiddo," He winked as he straddled a chair backwards and dug into his own meal. "so long as Ah get t' call ya Seph."

"It's a deal." he agreed, still warm from all of the affection and the surprising amount of gifts from fellow SOLDIERS, the troops under his command and his family.

"You do have the day off, right?" Genesis asked after he swallowed his mouthful of food.

"I requested the day off months in advance. I thought I gave Heather on Floor 36 a heart attack when I requested leave papers. Inger in HR actually fainted... I had to catch her." Sephiroth confessed easily now that he was more awake.

"Ya don't normally-?" Cid asked before his expression soured briefly. "Right. You said you had t' catch her?"

"Mm-hmm. She apologized for fainting and then for making me hold her while she roused from the smelling salts," He murmured as he wrapped his hands around his mug of silver needle tea, Mom's other gift to him last year. "I hope I reassured her that the reaction was normal, given that it was my first time putting in proper leave."

All three of the adults in his life exchanged a look Sephiroth couldn't decipher. He finished his breakfast, about to go put his plate in the sink when Angeal gently pressed him back into his seat and took it for him. "'Geal?"

"Mideelian birthday tradition," Gen explained as he gathered up the rest of the dishes. "You're not supposed to do squat on your birthday other than open presents, have fun and enjoy your day."

The oven meeped and Sephiroth yelped. "My travel bread!"

With the saved travel bread cooling on racks, Sephiroth settled into his favorite spot in the living room. The reading nook was filled with soft things and it was where he retreated if his memories got to be a bit much.

Now, however, it was perfectly situated to take in what little sunlight Midgar allowed.

"You've got a lot of presents, honey. Do you want to open a few now?" Mom asked as she patted his knee on her way to the couch.

"Maybe some in the basket?" He allowed hesitantly, nervously twisting a cushion in his hands. Being the sole focus of attention still brought out a fight-or-fight response in him at times. Sephiroth inhaled slowly, each breath reminding him that it was just family and, if he wanted to, he could pull the curtains closed for some privacy.

"Here you go," Mom pressed a kiss to his cheek and sat next to him, her presence making him relax again.

"Urial and Cleary's, I think." He murmured as he peeled open Urial's first.

Official looking papers and a boxed Materia were behind a note from the General.

'I hope this isn't overstepping my bounds but I feel like he'd have a better time with you than being stuck at that farm. Just tap him with the Lure and you can call him whenever you have need of him.

-General Urial'

"Oh!" The papers were owner transfer from the farm to Sephiroth, naming the enormous black racing Chocobo Jax as his personal transport. "He got me a Chocobo."

"That's certainly an impressive gift." Mom offered as he tore into Cleary's joint gift.

The silver bridle was understated elegance and apparently had resizable reins for when Sephiroth hit his full growth spurt.

'Chocobo Bill agreed with us pretty quickly that Jax was your bird in all but name. A breeder stopped by right after we finished the paperwork and wanted to take Jax out for a ride. That warbird of yours sat like a rock for fifteen minutes before the breeder gave up. He'll still housed and under Bill's care for now.

I hope you enjoy your new bird, Strife-Valentine.

-Lt. Colonel Cleary'

Chapter Text

Sephiroth ran for the stables after the Tiny Bronco set down, the purple Chocobo Lure clutched in one hand with the bridle in the other. He slowed down in order to not startle the loose adult Chocobos and shuffled to a stop outside of Jax's stall.

"Hi," He crooned softly as he hung up the bridle and offered a handful of Mimett greens.

Jax warked and gently took the greens before swallowing them one by one. The enormous bird nosed at the Lure and kwehed at the light it gave off. Sephiroth tucked the Materia away and just petted Jax until the warbird was snuggling into his chest.

""I'm telling you that bird sat for, I swear to Odin, fifteen minutes straight after I got a saddle on him. There ain't no way some kid-"" Sephiroth heard the man inhale sharply at the way Jax was with him. ""As I live and breathe.""

Neither one of them bothered to look up as Sephiroth dug his fingers into the thick fluffy cheek feathers of his Chocobo. "You ready to go for a ride, Jax?"

"Kweh!"

"I thought so." He laughed.

Sephiroth rode Jax out of the stable and hugged his warbird when he saw the rest of his family mounted.

"So this must be the rider of the black," Sephiroth turned Jax to face the breeder and narrowed his eyes. "I know, I know, you own him fair 'n square. I just wanted to see if he'd be good breedstock but blacks are picky about who they like. If you ever feel like breeding him, let Bill know."

"Hnn." Sephiroth sat up and tapped his knees into Jax's side. The Chocobo let out a fierce screech, flared his crest and wings as far as they'd go and settled when Sephiroth patted his neck. "He's a warbird. I doubt you'd want stock like that in your riding birds."

The breeder paled considerably at Sephiroth's response. "Warbird?"

"He took on a Levikron on by himself a few months ago," Sephiroth grinned as Jax rubbed beaks with the familiar white Chocobo Chichiue was riding. "not to mention half a pack of Fangs."

"Sorry to bother you." The man almost tripped as he practically bolted for the farmhouse on the property.

Chichiue traded a look with him and both of them were giggling when Mom rode up with Cloud sitting in front of her.

"That Pvt. O'Conor... Does he still work here?" Chichiue asked serenely.

"Chichiue, please. He's shoveling dung. I think that's good enough." Sephiroth pointed out dryly.

"Very well, my son. I'll defer to your judgement." Chichiue sighed before he smiled.

Cid choked on his breath and Sephiroth almost laughed as Chichiue rescued the pilot from himself.

Angeal and Genesis rode up on light blues and the birds nuzzled companionably.

"I don't see how that breeder didn't ask what kind of bird he was or didn't know who you were. ShinRa's been crowing about you for months now in the newsletters and announcements." 'Geal murmured.

"Maybe he's out farther. Those things take time to reach the boonies, y'know." Gen countered. "Besides, Seph may only be on one of the posters. General Urial was just featured in the latest one along with Wolf and Henderson's. Seph's on par with the Firsts but he's not a First or even a Second, which are usually PR's first choices. No offense Seph."

"None taken. I know that being featured was mostly... Well." Sephiroth didn't even want to say the man's name but both of his friends knew exactly what he meant.

"Yeah. Maybe it's better to earn your spot than to be thrust into it, huh?" 'Geal ribbed gently.

"I think Chichiue and Mom have been preventing my promotions. I've seen the paperwork on General Thomas's desk three times in the last year and each time it comes back with a red stamp of denial." He murmured as they headed out into the Kalm wilderness.

"That would explain why you're senior Third. This is just my opinion but I think they're trying to give you time to grow up." Gen offered and Sephiroth mulled it over.

"I think so too. Henderson admitted that the negotiations are going sour again. It's only a matter of time before they break down, even with ShinRa's false promises." Sephiroth confessed softly. "I'm trying not to worry but..."

"You can't help it. You're their last resort when it comes to strength but you're still not grown up. I can see why you'd be worried." 'Geal soothed and then gently bumped Sephiroth companionably. "They won't fall apart today though. Enjoy your birthday, Seph."

"C'mon, I wanna see if your warbird has any kick to him!" Gen ribbed. "Let's race!"

"You're on!" Sephiroth leaned forward and squeezed Jax with his thighs, cackling as his warbird left Gen and 'Geal in the dust.

When he reined in Jax, he breathed in the crisp fall air outside of Midgar with relish. The wind caught his hair and whipped it like a Wutainese standard.

The thunder of a herd of Chocobos halted behind him and he turned to see his family and friends gathered in a little knot at the bottom of the tiny hill. Jax wheeled and trotted easily down to the group, warking proudly as he went.

"I forgot to mention that Jax used to be a racing Choco." He hummed as he turned Jax back towards the stables. Gen stuck his tongue out and 'Geal shook his head. "Is everyone alright? I'm sorry for rushing off like that."

"As Angeal mentioned earlier, Seph, enjoy your day as you see fit. If exercising your warbird is what you want, then that's what we'll join you in doing." Chichiue reassured.

"Didn't you have something planned?" He questioned.

"Only if you wanted to do it." Mom gently corrected. "We wanted to take you to Ifalna and Aerith and then have fun out here on the plains."

"That 'r the Ramuh festival in Junon," Cid supplied with a shrug. "They've got fireworks."

"Oh." Sephiroth's fingers wound the reins until they creaked and then untangled his fingers into order to think. "Can we take Ms. Ifalna and Aerith to the festival?"

"Ah might have t' take two trips but sure." Cid agreed. "Th' fireworks are magic this time of year."

"... I've never seen fireworks." He revealed, his face flushing in embarassment.

"Me either." Gen admitted.

"Make that three." 'Geal confessed as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Four; Cloud's never seen them either. Nothing to be ashamed of, honey." Mom added in as Cloud nodded in agreement.

"All the more reason to see them then," Chichiue input as he nudged his Chocobo into brushing his leg against Sephiroth's own. "Shall we return to the Bronco?"

Chapter Text

Sephiroth preened Jax with wide sweeps of his fingers, assisting his bird before they had to leave. A cleared throat had Sephiroth tilting his head to see Pvt. O'Conor with a feather comb in hand, the trooper uniform as neat as it can be in field conditions.

"Thank you for the droppings." He murmured politely as he accepted the comb, not surprised when O'Conor flinched at the reminder. "They're appreciated by someone who grows flowers in Midgar."

"I'm sorry. I sent that when I was still angry." O'Conor muttered sheepishly as he leaned on the shovel. "I can't believe it even made it through ShinRa security."

"It didn't; Lt. Colonel Tyris let it through after I told him it was for someone in Sector Five." He offered as he started on Jax's enormous tail feathers.

"Ha. How is Delta these days?" O'Conor handed him the finishing oil easily as he stuck his hand out of the loose stall.

"... They're good. Cleary and Urial finally got together." Sephiroth answered as he hung Jax's bridle up and closed the gate behind him.

"About damn time," the man agreed and then, "I'm sorry." Sephiroth looked at O'Conor and O'Conor looked back, his scent reflecting his genuine apology. "I shouldn't have done what I did. You were under my watch, my command and I abused it. I took my temper out on a child barely past ten. That's wrong on so many levels."

"Do you want forgiveness?" He blurted before he could take it back.

"No." O'Conor scrubbed at his face and sighed. "It wouldn't be right to ask and I've still got things I need to work through in therapy. I wanted to apologize to you while I had a small measure of your time."

That caught Sephiroth by surprise. "I forgive you. You may have sent me on humiliating missions and taken pleasure in sending me on errands just to send me but you never physically hurt me."

O'Conor's scent welled over with confusion and relief. "Thank you, sir. I've, uh, gotta get back to my duties..."

"Dismissed."

He left the barn, a thoughtful look on his face as he sat in Chichiue's lap.

«Are you alright?» Chichiue asked quietly in Nibel.

«O'Conor apologized to me. He didn't want my forgiveness but when I told him I'd already done so, he seemed... relieved.» Sephiroth responded softly. «He's been going to the therapy sessions that were a part of his punishment.»

«Ah. People change, my son, but not everyone does so equally. Was he sincere?» Chichiue murmured.

«Yes.»

«If it was given honestly, then accept it and move forward.» Mom added as she patted his knee from the opposite bench in the Bronco's hold. «There's no reason to linger in the past but don't forget it. You've got plenty to look forward to, Seph.»

«I do, don't I?» Sephiroth hummed as he joined in the debate 'Geal and Gen had going about the differences between riding and war Chocobos. "Actually, Jax's feet are different..."

Cid set them down just outside of Midgar, Sephiroth hugging Cid briefly before he took off for Sector Five. The Chocobo droppings were in the church but neither Ms. Ifalna nor Aerith were tending to the flowers. He made his way to the Gainsborough house, Aerith running into his legs with a solid green sundress on and matching ribbon in her hair that he'd gotten for her on her birthday.

"Hi Seph."

"Hi Aerith. I like your dress."

"Thank you~" she chirruped before she handed up yellow lilies. "Those are for you; Mama said that they're charmed special so they won't die for a while."

"I'll be sure to thank her." Sephiroth promised as he hefted her onto his hip and tucked the flowers into his item pouch. "I take it you know that we're going somewhere together?"

"Mama didn't say but she said we had to be all pretty for it." Aerith nodded as she snuggled close. "Happy birthday, Seph."

"Thanks."

Everyone made it to the Gainsborough house just as Ms. Ifalna limped out of the house in a green gingham dress with her cane as support. Mom pressed a kiss to Cloud's hair before setting him down and helping Ms. Ifalna, a faint blush on her cheeks as she wrapped an arm around Ms. Ifalna's waist.

Ms. Ifalna leaned in close and then pressed a quick kiss to Mom's cheek. Mom squeaked but only held onto Ms. Ifalna a little tighter.

"Does that mean I have three Moms now?" Sephiroth's tongue betrayed him before his mind caught up.

Ms. Ifalna only laughed and agreed with, "Possibly. If Anika wouldn't mind."

"I don't mind," Mom replied even as she shyly glanced at Ms. Ifalna, joy suffusing her scent and spiking it with vanilla. "Ifalna's a wonderful mom."

It was Ms. Ifalna's turn to flush bright pink but she smiled even wider when Uncle Cid and Chichiue only laughed in a teasing manner.

"Alright, alright, let's get this show on th' road already. Ah know th' festival starts at six so we gotta do two trips." Cid's practicality reared up as he looked at the group. "Ah think Anika, Ms. Ifalna and th' little ones go first. That way they c'n stake out a spot fer the rest of us."

"Agreed. The Tiny Bronco cannot hold all of us and I can watch over the boys for a while. We'll be in Six to pass the time." Chichiue answered.

"Ladies, please watch yer step an' follow me." Cid paced himself as they left the Gainsborough property.

Chapter Text

Sector Six was where Sephiroth discovered something he wasn't good at; arcade games.

Chichiue watched as Sephiroth failed time and again with the games, offering his cloak when Sephiroth got frustrated.

"Why are they so hard?" He complained as 'Geal and Gen laughed at a hammer game called Smash the Tonberry.

"You're thinking too much, Seph." Chichiue tapped at the side of his temple gently and hummed, "You can't strategize with these games; just follow your instincts."

"I don't understand, Chichiue."

"Don't think, just do." came the response.

"Oh." He blinked at that, picked up the hammer and waited. A flicker of movement caught his eye and his hand snapped out to smack the fake Tonberry with a horrible -SQUEEEAK!- coming from it at the hard hit. "I see."

Genesis was good at the driving games, Angeal at the fighting ones but Sephiroth found his stride, of all places, in air hockey.

The game between him and Chichiue was so intense that when it ended, they found the crowd dispersed by an amused Uncle Cid.

"Are ya ready? Your Mom 'n Ms. Ifalna are enjoying the festival with th' kiddos."

Chichiue took one look at Sephiroth and declared, "We need to match the ladies, I think, or at least put in some effort like Cid."

Sephiroth spotted wooden sticks in a stall after they were done shopping, somehow out of purple for once and in more colors.

The burgundy t-shirt was paired with his black jeans and a button-down over it in a color the salesman swore was a stone-washed blue. Chichiue had rolled the sleeves so that they stopped at Sephiroth's elbow; the treatment had been repeated for Angeal and Genesis.

"Excuse me, sir, what are these?" He asked politely.

"Oh hello young... customer! These are hair sticks, made for hair like yours." The salesman glanced down briefly at Sephiroth's chest before cheerfully explaining. "It's a bit fancier than your everyday hairtie though."

"Chichiue?" Sephiroth tugged on his Chichiue's cloak.

"Yes, my son? Ah. Two of your thicker ones, please, and one with the wing design." Chichiue brightened at the sight of the sticks.

«Does my hair make me look like a girl?» Sephiroth asked absently in Nibel after they left the stall.

«... The salesman, I suppose? Your Mom and I fixed that ridiculous policy about a week ago. It hasn't come up in the conversation but if you wanted...?» Chichiue offered, the hand resting on Sephiroth's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze in reassurance.

Sephiroth shook his head and switched languages again as to not exclude his friends and Cid. "No, I don't think I want to cut it. I wouldn't know what to do with it and I've gotten used to the weight. Maybe a trim?"

"Ah know a guy in Sector Eight. He does SOLDIER hair too so he knows how to cut it." Cid replied. "He's pretty damn good."

"We'll make you an appointment when you're ready." Chichiue murmured. "Do you want to wear one? I'm afraid my styles are limited, as I haven't used them in years."

"Mm, I think so."

Chichiue carefully gathered his hair and clenched the winged hairstick between his teeth briefly as he worked. Sephiroth tilted his head side-to-side and then rolled his head out of habit but the stick stayed firmly where it was in his hair.

The entrance was beautiful, decorated as it was by rendered artistic versions of the Thunder Elemental.

Sephiroth's grip on his Chichiue's hand tightened when one of the priests for the Summon stood in their path to look him and Chichiue over. "Welcome... Beloved Sons of Bahamut and enjoy the Festival!" Angeal rolled his eyes at the pronouncement of, "Son of Leviathan," and laughed when Genesis got, "Beloved Son of Pheonix."

"What'd Mom get?" Sephiroth asked Cid.

"Beloved Daughter of the Knights," Mom answered with a laugh. "Cloud was a Son of Fenrir, Ifalna and Aerith Daughters of Alexander."

"Mom!" Sephiroth hugged her, his hand still in his Chichiue's before the noise of the Festival seemed to rush back upon them. He stiffened and looked down in worry, unsure. "Should... should I still...?"

"For as long as you like, sweetheart." Mom said as she hugged back with a familiar hum.

"Indeed. You know my feelings on the matter, my son." Chichiue maneuvered them off to the side of the crowds, using his height and his expression to clear the way.

Sephiroth glanced back at his best friends and they shrugged.

"No one's above a hug, Seph. If my Mom was here, you bet that I'd be doing what you just did." Angeal reassured before offering his own.

Sephiroth giggled when Genesis nearly tripped trying to get in on the hug. "What 'Geal said, Seph, and then some; besides, it's a Festival. There are reunions all over the place. You're not doing anything that other people would care about because they're doing it too."

"Right." He had to remember that; affection amongst friends and family was a given, not the exception.

Ms. Ifalna was watching Cloud and Aerith in the designated playground area, Cloud laughing as he spun with Aerith and... a familiar dark-haired friend.

"Oof!" Zack exclaimed even as all three of them fell down out of dizziness. "Seph's here!"

Sephiroth goes down under a pile of giggling kids, laughing himself as he scoops up all three of them for a brief hug.

"How's the knife-work, Zack?" He asked as he set all of them down and they huddled near his legs.

He ignored the sound of three separate cameras going off, two of them from Angeal and Chichiue's PHS cameras, the latter from Mom's Polaroid.

"Better! I got a Touch-Me yesterday allll by myself!" Zack's chest puffed out with pride before Sephiroth chuckled and poked it back to normal.

"Awesome," Sephiroth praised, palm up so that Zack could get a high-five. Zack hit well and grinned afterwards, tugging on Cloud's sleeve and holding his up so that Cloud could have a turn.

His little brother frowned in concentration and managed to smack it straight on. This, of course, prompted both boys to turn to Aerith and offer thier hands. She hummed as she hit on target and then ran back towards the playground.

Sephiroth wandered with 'Geal and Gen, watching the ribbon dancers and the people in costumes. He was holding 'Geal's hand, tugging his friends along to see the fans that mimicked storm clouds, the puppetry shows and the displays of devotion from the priests and priestesses of Ramuh.

The sky darkened imperceptibly until it was nearly sunset, Sephiroth now holding Gen's and Geal's hands while trailing behind.

"Time to go, honey! We're going to miss the fireworks—Oh! Hello, Sephiroth." Ms. Fran called from a bench down the way.

"Fran," Chichiue murmured and then she brightened.

"Sharpshooter!" Her smile was blinding and all Sephiroth could think was, oh so that's where Zack gets it from, "Alric's off with some hunter pals but we've got a spot for the fireworks."

"Would you mind sharing? It's Sephiroth's birthday and we've yet to pick a spot." Chichiue elaborated.

"Of course, of course. Alric'll be happy to see you. Happy birthday, Sephiroth. Have you had a good day so far?" Ms. Fran asked after answering Chichiue.

"I... It's been wonderful, Ms. Fran." Sephiroth admitted, "I've still got presents to open and I'm pretty sure Mom made my favorite cake."

"That's great. Time to gather the rascals and head on up then." She replied.

The first boom of the fireworks had Sephiroth gasping in awe, hands planted firmly on the ground as the colored explosion was joined by several others, glittering like otherworldly stars against the backdrop of the night sky.

"They're... They're beautiful." He whispered, not daring to break above the wash of awe he felt.

Sephiroth sought out his friend's hands and found them reaching just as he'd outstretched his hands.

Part of him desperately wanted to stay here, the warmth of his friends, the knowledge that his family was less than two feet away and the fact that they'd done this for him nearly overwhelmed Sephiroth.

The tears that spilled over and the trembling breath he released had 'Geal and Gen zeroing in on him.

"'m fine," he managed to get out. "Just... happy, I think."

"There is no hate, only joy," Genesis recited absently.

"For you are beloved by the goddess," Angeal picked it up where Gen left off.

Sephiroth snorted, "Y'know, somehow that's the first time LOVELESS has made sense."

Chapter Text

Most of his gifts and the cake were wonderful but Henderson and Wolf's... didn't make any sense until nearly a week after both superiors had been back from thier own mission.

"That? It's been passed down in my family for generations but no one's been wearing it and you'll probably fit it when you're old enough." Wolf shrugged when Sephiroth pulled the duster from his item pouch with a wordless question.

"You gave me a family heirloom, sir?!? I couldn't-"

"You can and you will, Strife-Valentine, because it's also a bit of a heads-up. SOLDIER Firsts get to wear whatever they want when they finally make it there. You need some pizazz to go with being the face of ShinRa in the future. There's only so long your parents can hold off on you being a Second, you know." Henderson countered with his usual practicality.

The reminder was sobering and he nodded as he put it away. "My standard Wutainese and palace dialect are coming along as well as can be managed in such a short period. Both of my tutors agree that I may need to pick up the pace, sir."

Henderson and Wolf traded a look that Sephiroth had never seen before; it was the scents (sour admiration and the sharp spearmint of regret) that accompanied it which gave him context.

"Kid, you don't—" Wolf started.

"Actually, sir, I do. I was made for this;" Sephiroth cut in, his chest aching. "the perfect SOLDIER, the perfect diplomat to represent ShinRa. I'm well aware that what I have now is a delicate balance."

In the past, he'd have let his superiors finish but he also knew that Hojo'd had only one thing in mind for Sephiroth—the perfect, unfeeling killing machine. The man, the myth, the monster had told him enough times that the message was engraved into him, physical or not.

The silence that hung in the SOLDIER Gym was broken by Angeal's cheery question of, "Anyone up for a rematch?!"

"... You're on, Hewley." He replied with a faint smile.

-Three Months Later-

Sephiroth stepped up his training again, using swear words he'd never say in front of his parents as he realized he'd slipped into complacency.

He trained harder, trained longer and challenged the other Third Squads in order to assess them. Correctively tapped elbows and knees and stances until they were a little closer to the standard Hojo had held him to, trying to impart his own knowledge without being overbearing.

Sephiroth dug into his duties, making sure to read the fine print on the negotiation contracts Chichiue could glean from his Turk position and hoped, perhaps against hope, that no one would notice his routine.

He kicked off his boots at the door, closing it to slide down the familiar wood with an exhausted sigh.

"My son." Chichiue didn't raise his voice but the clear disappointment made Sephiroth flinch. "Come here please." He stood, swayed and made his way over to the couch, collapsing against his Chichiue's left side out of sheer habit. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm trying to help." Sephiroth answered hoarsely, his voice cracking again. "My reaction time is three times slower than it should be, my multi-opponent approach is lacking and I need to be better. I need to be the best of the best because if I'm not the people I hold dear will get hurt."

Chichiue cradled his face and said quietly, "What you've been doing isn't the son I've come to know."

"The negotiations are worse this month," He responded grimly, "worse than they've been since my birthday."

"You shouldn't be reading those." came the stern reply as Chichue released his face.

"They're about Wutai. Why shouldn't I?" Sephiroth snapped back, anger welling up as he realized Chichiue couldn't see what he saw. "It'll break eventually. I just want to know when I'll be fulfilling my role as ShinRa's weapon—"

"You are not their weapon." Chichiue's voice sounded like the crack of lightning, sudden and thunderous. "You're a child, my child, and you cannot—" he cut himself off with a choked off sound of anger. "No parent should watch their child prepare for war and I am doing exactly that. I'm doing everything I can think of to keep you as far away from the front as possible."

"I was made for—"

"No." The single word was laced with rage but Sephiroth had the feeling it wasn't directed at him. "You were an expression of love shared between your Mother and I. You were not made for anything other than living, Sephiroth, and I'm scared for you."

"You're scared?" The strongest man Sephiroth knew and he was scared?

"Yes." Chichiue said quietly. "I don't want what happened to me to happen to you."

"...oh." Sephiroth deflated at that, hugging his Chichiue tightly.

"Killing is not something I ever want you to experience but I'm afraid that just this once, I cannot prevent it."

He pulled back after his talk with Chichiue, slowly going down to what his superiors called—with visible relief—acceptable standards.

The new Director of SOLDIER was none other than Mr. Deusericus, the wide-eyed look long gone. "1st Lt. Strife-Valentine, is it?"

"Yes, sir." Sephiroth stood at parade rest because the Dirctor had asked him to be a little less formal.

When the Director's white gloved hand skimmed over his enormous, heavily-redacted file, Sephiroth stiffened a minute amount. "Your superiors say that you're being too hard on yourself and that you're attempting, with some minor success, to whip the Thirds into shape. Your file says that you're being blocked from promotion until you're... fifteen. Fifteen?!"

"I'm thirteen, sir." He supplied in place of the unasked inquiry.

The Director's jaw worked and he asked flatly, "When did you enter ShinRa's service."

"When I was six, sir, courtesy of one Professor Hojo." Sephiroth answered back.

"... Well then. I would suggest coming up with a training regimen that you think will help your fellow Thirds and continue as is, Strife-Valentine." Director Deusericus sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Chapter Text

Chichiue somehow managed to get Sephiroth the time off he needed for his hair appointment, Uncle Cid in the lead as they made thier way through Sector Eight.

"Hey, Nate, ya in?"

"Cid! Today's a SOLDIER-Oh. You must be my new client." Slitted green locked with amused gold before the man winked at him. "Come on back, Mr....?"

"Strife-Valentine." He answered warily.

"Last name, huh? Fancy. Well, I'm Nathan but you can call me Nate. You can keep SOLDIER Second Battle company then while we figured out what to do with that glorious silver mane of yours." Nathan enthused and Sephiroth glanced back at his Chichiue. "Oh, doll, is this your first haircut?"

"... Not exactly." He gestured where the last cut had been as he sat down near SOLDIER Second Battle.

Battle's semi-spiky hair reminded him of Cloud's blond, only it was far longer than his little brother's. Battle cracked open a Mako-blue eye and snorted before he closed it again.

"Oh. Oh you cut it yourself. I see." Nate clucked his tongue but shrugged. "It's grown out well."

"Nate's a chatterbug but he gets it done," Battle murmured quietly, on a level only he and Chichiue could hear. "You'd be that Senior Third everyone keeps talking about then? The one that's got a sword taller than he is, the one that took down two Zoloms and even won our poor Base Com some help."

"I guess so," Sephiroth hummed, answering both. To Nathan, "My Chichue suggested a trim and some thinning."

"Hmm, he might not be far off," Nathan said as he eyed Sephiroth's hair critically.

Somehow, his head felt lighter after leaving the salon, both literally and figuratively; the time spent with SOLDIER Second Battle, who expected nothing of him and Chichiue, who'd been coaxed into his own trim, had done wonders for his mood.

Sitting at his cubicle, Sephiroth chewed on his pen as he tossed out ideas that were at Hojo's standards. He wanted them better, not bleeding, not overtaxing already torn muscle fibers. The tenuous balance between his body and theirs struck him here.

"Lt. Johnson, I need a favor." Sephiroth murmured, giving in as his knowledge of the subject wasn't good enough.

"What is it, 1st Lt. Strife-Valentine?" Johnson poked his head over the cubicle wall.

"Director Deusericus asked me for a decent training regimen for the Thirds. There is... a marked difference between myself and the average Third. As you stand somewhere in the center, I could use your opinion on what might work and what would not." He admitted reluctantly. The perfectionist in him wanted to take it back but the more practical side, the one that sounded an awful lot like Uncle Cid, squashed it.

"Huh. Sure, let me just scoot on over, sir."

"Strife-Valentine or my given name, please. This is a partnership and while you are technically my subordinate..." Sephiroth trailed off meaningfully.

Johnson grinned as he lifted his chair with a tiny grunt. "We're of almost equal rank and this is something we're both needed on, yeah?"

"Well said, Johnson."

"Thanks, Strife-Valentine. This have anything to do with your comment a while back? Something about weapons and ShinRa?" Johnson asked cautiously as he picked up the yellow pad and perused the notes Sephiroth had made in blocky shorthand from his month at BaseCom.

"It does, though I have been informed that I need to pull back or I will outstrip even the most ambitious of the SOLDIER Seconds. This is the compromise we reached." He said. "Well?"

"Okay, most of this is good but uh,"

"Out with it."

"... Not everyone can lift that much? We're staggered as far as Mako shots go so that we don't get poisoned. Some of us have more than others." Johnson pointed out.

"Ah." Sephiroth chewed on his pen some more, pausing when he heard the tell-tale crunch of plastic that meant he'd bitten through the end again but not close to the inkwell. He'd have had a mouthful of ink if he'd bitten down on that. He spat out the plastic, tossed the pen and dug into his desk for a new one amongst the near endless supply of them.

"Strife-Valentine, those are supposed to be damn near unbreakable."

"I break them on a weekly basis. It's a terrible habit I picked up from Major Henderson when he was still a Captain."

Johnson protested, peering into the garbage can full off shattered or bent pens and bits of paper. "No, I mean they fixed them to Henderson's specific habit and reinforced the ends. How are you still breaking them?"

Sephiroth gave a snort, lifted his lip and displayed the abnormally sharp canines he possessed. "My bite strength is not average amongst SOLDIERs. I temper it most of the time but when I'm thinking or not paying attention, things tend to shatter."

"Huh. You try R&D?" Johnson suggested.

"Useless." He replied with a scoff.

"... Urban Development?" came the hesitant offer.

"They did come up with the carbon fiber. Hmm. I'll have to check with them but I'd need an excuse." Sephiroth mulled it over.

"Break something vaguely important," Gen snarked as he leaned on the cubicle wall.

"I hate to admit it but yes, that seems to be the way to go. R&D is too busy building weapons so they'll make UD do it instead." Geal mentioned as he also leaned on the wall.

"VR Room is a good candidate," Urial responded as he walked past, "Wiring's been shitty since Rhapsodos burnt it and R&D's too busy to fix it but it's necessary for us to use so they have to fix it. You get the ear of Urban, we get a better VR Room. Win-win for everyone."

"Seconded," Wolf sounded off, walking in the other direction. "Also, it saves my poor pen stash so please, by all means."

Sephiroth's in the middle of sparring with his Chichiue when the VR Room finally broke, both of them able to use their strength when facing each other.

Neither noticed when Masamune carved into the ceiling nor when the Quicksilver's shot hit the wall but they noticed when it went pitch black.

"I think we may have done more than break the room." Chichiue's eyes glowed in the dark, crimson against the gloom.

"I think so too. The latch for the door should release right about," he paused and a pneumatic hiss signaled the door opening a faint amount. "now."

They stepped out into the brighter area and blinked before the Head of Weapons R&D marched down the hall, wrench in hand and hard boots stomping down the hall.

In an entirely unplanned move, both Sephiroth and Chichiue leveled their weapons at her out of sheer instinct.

Director Scarlet only smiled and gently eased Masamune's tip out of the way of her face with two fingers.

"Two of ShinRa's greatest assets and you're ruining our only VR Room?" She purred at Chichiue, ignoring Sephiroth entirely.

"It was already malfunctioning." Chichue corrected, his tone bland as he holstered the Quicksilver and Sephiroth sheathed Masamune. "We merely sought to gain the attention of the superior engineers and have it fixed properly."

Director Scarlet's nostrils flared at that. "And you? What do you have to say for yourself, SOLDIER?"

"The same; superior engineers and a better VR Room overall. If our destruction causes it... Well, out of chaos comes life, after all. Your department is hyper-focused and devoted to weaponry. Perhaps you can send Urban in your place? Give Director Tuetsi some actual work instead of busy work and maybe he'll stop bothering you." Sephiroth replied absently as he pulled a dagger and examined it for nicks and scratches out of habit. Director Scarlet was not someone you went around without a weapon of some sort on hand; even Hojo had kept his distance from her. "He fixed the wall I broke quite nicely."

She opened her mouth to object, closed it and rose a brow at him in consideration. "You word has merit, despite it's tone. Ask your Director and coordinate with Urban if you must. I do enjoy the knowledge that you know R&D to be the superior engineers and that we are, indeed, quite busy to be bothered by such matters as this. Carry on, I suppose."

Sephiroth and Chichiue glanced at one another as she left and then broke into giggles the second she was out of reach.

Director Deusericus and Director Tuetsi stood across from one another as Squad Delta and Squad Lima entered.

"Is there a reason I was called here?"

"Lt. Strife-Valentine, if you would explain." Director Deusericus waved his hand as he sat down at his desk.

"Since you fixed the problem with the wall so quickly, umm, we were wondering if you might take a look at the VR Room? Maybe build a few more?" Sephiroth blurted and then chewed on his lip as the Director of Urban Development blinked in with a waft of astonishment following the surprise. "And maybe work on the pens R&D suck at making?"

"We'd be offering a portion of SOLDIER's budget, if it helps any. We need more VR Rooms but trying to get R&D to do anything around here involves a lot more teeth-pulling than we'd like on a regular basis. We'd offer SOLDIERs to help it along, of course, since they can lift the heavier materials without too much strain on your regular workers." General Urial mentioned. "The SOLDIER Corps grows often and rotating Squads can only help while it's still fairly small."

"Why so much faith in the smallest department?" Director Tuetsi questioned after Urial had finished.

"Your work does it's own talking," Lt. Colonel Tyris snorted. "because that carbon fiber has yet to break on us, Strife-Valentine excluded."

"Ah." Director Tuetsi mulled it over and said, "I'll do it on one condition."

"Condition?" Director Deusericus asked.

"Well, I've got a project that need, ah, human interaction? It's-He's an AI. I was hoping Strife-Valentine would take care of it while I work on the rooms." came the hesitant reply. "It's quite harmless and comes in the form of a talking cat-"

"I'll take him." He decided, "Cloud could do with another friend."

"... Cloud?"

"My little brother." Sephiroth clarified.

"I suppose Cait Sith's not quite up to adults just yet; that would work out splendidly." Director Tuetsi smiled and so the deal was struck. "Do you mind taking Cait Sith home with you today?"

Chapter Text

"What manner o' man are ye droppin' me off with now?"

"He's a SOLDIER, so hold your tongue." The counter from Director Tuetsi meant that the AI questioned everything, orders included.

"Ach, why should-"

"Hello, Cait Sith." Sephiroth murmured. "You're technically with my little brother for most of the day."

"A wee bairn? Ye must be jokin'." The AI was indeed a black and white cat, though more like a plush one instead of the real thing, standing on two legs with a tiny red cape and gloved hands.

Cloud would love him.

«Cloud, this is Cait Sith. He'll be living with us for-»

"Yer a strong one, aye-eek!"

«You brought me a talking cat!» Cloud hummed, turning back and forth in place with Cait Sith in a bear hug. «Thankyouthankyouthankyou!»

Frankly, the sight of Cait Sith caught in Cloud's grip was an adorable one.

The snap of Mom's camera confirmed it.

«So, he'll be with us for how long?» she asked softly.

«Until the VR Rooms are done. Director Tuetsi wants to see what Cait Sith will do with an extended period away from him. He's a learning AI.» Sephiroth added as Cloud set Cait Sith down and took the AI's hand instead to lead him into the living room.

Their new housing was much larger and Mom said he'd had a choice between staying with Cloud or getting his own spot in the apartment.

Sephiroth had chosen his own room, taking the second to the left of the hallway. He displayed his feathers plus all of his knick-nacks from his friends, put up a poster of Fanta'si 7 and got to pick out his own sheets (a nice lavender) for his new bed. The leather duster hung on a dress mannequin donated by Ms. Ifalna and he had a rack for the weapons he wore.

He'd almost cried when he'd seen the end result and Mom had understood when he'd hugged a little too tightly as his words failed him.

A space to call his own, one that wasn't touched by Hojo or ShinRa but home in a way he couldn't explain.

He snapped out of his reviere to see Mom smiling at him fondly.

«Your Chichiue does that. Looks like it's a Valentine thing.»

«Mmm, just thinking about how this is a home... Our home.»

«Of course it is. Would you like to help with dinner? It's been a while since I've seen my other son.» Mom said even as she teased.

«I'd love nothing more.» Sephiroth agreed even as he stripped off his gloves and kicked out of his boots to pad into the kitchen.

They worked in tandem, Sephiroth hooking his chin over her shoulder to watch her dismantle the rotissere chicken that had been too small for ShinRa to use after chopping all of the accompanying vegetables.

«This is chicken fricasse. You use already cooked things and fresh to make a good meal. How's the rice going?"

Sephiroth cocked his head to listen to the bubbling rice and replied, «Another ten minutes.»

Mom only chuckled and nudged him to check it visually. He lifted up the lid and she gave an impressed hum. «Good ear. It's just about done.»

«Told you.» he said, groaning when his voice cracked again. «I hate puberty.»

«Mama, will I ever do that?» Cloud asked as he poked his head into the kitchen and Cait Sith followed.

«Of course you will, though you'll have to wait a few years.» Mom answered, ferrying the pot of chicken fricasse over to the table. Sephiroth followed with the pot of rice.

«But why?»

«It's... Hmm. It's a part of growing up. It'll happen to you and Zack, though not to Aerith.» Sephiroth offered. "'Geal and Gen still aren't done and I'm only just starting. It doesn't stop for a long time so don't be too quick to start.»

«So, it's just boys? Oh. Hey, can Cait eat?»

«Just boys. Dunno. Why don't you ask him in Common?» he answered the first question but parried the second to get Cloud thinking.

"Cait, do you eat?"

"No, laddie, I don't but thank ye for the offer. I eat electricity or the sun. I'll just plug myself into the wall socket."

"Huh." Cloud was frowning thoughtfully, chewing on his bottom lip as Sephiroth guided him to the table. "How do you eat the sun?"

"Well aren't you a curious laddie? I'd need some sun for that though."

"Midgar isn't exactly known for it's sun." Sephiroth hedged, "Maybe a day trip to Kalm?"

Cloud looked at Cait Sith and then at Sephiroth and asked quietly, «Is he gonna hurt Aerith if he knows where she is?»

«I don't think so but I don't want him knowing about either of them if I can help it. I'll see if I can't send a warning down with either Chichiue or the Captain.»

Cait Sith looked between them, looked at Mom and asked, "That's no' Common, is it?"

"No and we're not sharing that information with you." Mom told Cait Sith firmly. "That's between my sons and I, Cait Sith. It's personal. I'm sure Director Tuesti taught you the meaning of privacy."

"Aye, ma'am, he did."

When he invited Gen and 'Geal to his new room, Genesis immediately focused on the leather duster.

"What's this?"

"A gift from Wolf; something about being a First and making an impression."

"We should all get one," Genesis offered as he circled the duster.

'Geal started laughing, laughing all the harder at Gen's affronted expression. "My Mom said, and I quote, 'you're going to be built like a brick shithouse.' I won't fit a duster. I don't think there's enough leather on the Eastern Continent for me unless we skin a Zolom. Besides, I'm wielding the Buster; I need arm room."

"We'll cut off the sleeves." Genesis countered and then Sephiroth started laughing. "What?"

"So he's a hero from Fanta'si?"

Genesis chuckled at that, shrugging as he thought about it. "Too bad, I was looking forward to matching."

"I'd look more like a Turk enforcer than a hero." Angeal pointed out as he stood straight. "Best leave the leather and dusters to the two of you."

Chapter Text

Cloud and Cait Sith were attached at the hip, it seemed, in no time at all.

Mischievous to the max, Cait Sith managed to get Cloud into spots an eight-year-old should never be able to reach.

Silly things like fishing line trip wires with paint buckets, Saran Wrap doorway traps and other childish things that he laughed at when, not if, when someone else got caught in them.

Cloud didn't know the meaning of the word subtle when planning with Reno at the apartment.

Sticky note tags began to appear with the tags, C.S & R with a cat face underneath the initials.

While Aerith and Zack were Cloud's best friends, Reno was more... tricky. Cloud didn't want to share him, the same way he shared Aerith and Zack with Sephiroth.

A friend he'd made without help.

It reminded Sephiroth of himself when Angeal and Genesis had decided that he was part of their group.

He avoided the traps and let his friends know where they were; it didn't help that the Cadets and other Thirds were hit quite frequently.

When Gen and 'Geal joined in the planning, it went from goofy to tactical with a side of silliness. The motto was, after all, confuse, don't abuse.

Johnson wiped the teal paint off of his face and Sephiroth pointed up at the second bucket, which waited for the hapless soul caught by the paint.

"Step to the left three and jump forward and you should be safe from the powder."

Johnson followed his orders to the letter before he mourned his uniform. "This is my second uniform this month... How did you know about the second bucket?"

"I live with the perpetrators," He pointed out with amusement. "at least two of them."

"You mean littlest Strife? Really? That's... kinda impressive. Sir."

Sephiroth waved off the title, equipping the correct Materia to help poor Lt. Johnson.

"It would be more impressive if they managed to set both buckets off in sequence." Genesis pointed out as he snipped the fishing line and dodged the arc of baby powder with practiced ease.

Angeal pulled down the paint bucket with a jump and cradled it so that it didn't spill more paint, "Which, I believe, we taught them," even as Johnson laughed himself sick at the offended tone.

"To be fair, they're eight." He sighed as he washed Johnson off with a brief application of a combination spell.

"Did... Did you just cross-cast?! We're not supposed to know that until Second Class Materia Mastery Course!"

The reminder that not everyone had the same horrifying teaching experience he did reared it ugly head. Gone for two years and counting and the sins of Hojo piled higher still.

"Behemoths are immune once hit with an elemental attack." was all he said in response and Johnson's lips pressed thin. "You have to get... creative."

"I remember enough of ShinRa's past, sir. May I say good riddance to..."

"We call him dragon dung." Sephiroth supplied wryly.

"Pretty gods-damned appropriate, sir. Good riddance to that sorry sack of dragon dung. Thanks for cleaning my uniform."

"You're welcome."

Cait Sith stumbled, the tiny red shoes tripping on the carpet in their apartment.

This was the fourth time in under an hour.

"Cait?"

"I'm fine," this was broken by a yawn, "laddie."

"It doesn't look like you are." He murmured.

"I jus' need to charge—"

"That's what you said last time we played, Cait." Cloud butted in with a pout at the AI.

"I'll make you a deal. If you can stay awake for five more minutes without charging, then you can stay. If you can't, I take you back to the Director to get you fixed."

Cait Sith protested but flagged mid-sentence, going limp before Cloud caught him.

Sephiroth knew it was time to give the little AI back to Director Tuesti. "I'll take him back."

"Thanks, Seph." Cloud sounded relieved, which promoted Sephiroth to offer a hug.

Cloud snuggled close and patted Cait Sith's fur one last time before he let go.

"Excuse me, sir, I was wondering if you had a moment?"

"Ah, just the SOLDIER I wanted to see! The new VR Rooms are finished and I was wondering if you might-Oh dear." Concern laced his tone at the way Sephiroth was holding the little plush toy.

"He's been shutting down frequently lately and it's been upsetting Cloud. I think it might be his power source, Director." Sephiroth sighed even as he sat Cait Sith down with care. "That is good news about the VR Rooms though."

"... You've grown fond of him as well."

"Cait's a little foul-mouthed outside of Cloud's hearing range, sir, but," He admitted with a faint smile, "not all bad."

"Noted, Strife-Valentine."

The VR Rooms were incredible with repeated testing though, since they're all based on the original, Sephiroth still knew all of their faults.

"The projection's off on the left and flickers if you pass it too fast." He pointed out as he listened to the room. "The engine coils need to be wound tighter. Ventilation's better but the fan rattle gives away that it's artificial." Director Tuesti was blinking at his critique. "... Would you like me to apologize, Director? My opinion was not prompted."

"Don't apologize, 1st Lt.," the Director's eyes had lit up. "because I was going to ask what else I could fix. My department is working on the pen issue, taking into account your strength."

"Really?" He twisted the handle of the larger dagger in his hand, careful to keep his strength tempered.

"You're proving quite the challenge. I haven't had this much fun in absolute ages because Scarlet demands the larger work." Director Tuesti admitted with his lips tugging up into a brief smile. "Let me fix those and have you run a simulation, if you wouldn't mind? If the room can handle you it should work fine for the rest of the SOLDIER Program."

"... Of course, Director." When he listened to the room, the creak of the mechanicals were faint enough that he could ignore them, the fan was nonexistent and the flickered pixels of the leftmost projector were gone. "It's ready, sir."

"Test Sequence Beta; Mode Strife-Valentine. Noncombatant; Director Tuesti. Pick your enemy, 1st Lt., and take care; it's now voice-activated."

"Understood, Director." Sephiroth mulled it over and said, "Sea Worm, Level 35, high Mako content." The creature that formed was massive, the rich blue-n-red color scheme a direct contrast to the cold tungsten of the room's walls. "Home range, Mideel shore."

The ocean glimmered now, the shush of waves almost real enough to believe.

"Encounter rate, 10-3, battle start!"

He summoned Masamune and tucked his dagger along his right forearm, launching forward with determination. Ducking under its first bite, he spiraled to the right and brough Masamune down with force. The realistic effects had the green blood spattering all over Director Tuesti.

"Sorry Director!" He tossed over his shoulder as more Sea Worms spawned in its place.

Sephiroth essentially romped through them, returning to the man's side covered in a fair amount of virtual viscera. "Battle end! It works great, sir!"

The Director scowled at him through a curtain of snot-colored Sea Worm slime, gross even if it was virtual, until brown eyes crinkled at the corners and he laughed. "I suppose that's what I get from a young man who knows what he's doing when it comes to monsters. The trial run is successful."

Chapter Text

It was the scent of lilies that told him it was a dream.

The brilliant yellow flowers in the center of Ms. Ifalna's lilies were new though.

Sephiroth meandered toward it, summoning Masamune with a thought as he prodded aside the taller flowers.

"Is that the first greeting I get from my son? A sword?" the chiding tone had him jumping back as the flowers rustled to reveal-Oh. OH.

He pushed Masamune back into the ether and stumbled over his own feet trying to hug his Mother.

"Hello, my little angel."

"Mama." He breathed out, looking up into eyes that looked almost like his green.

"I see you've got the Crescent green." she said as she cradled his face in her hands. "The silver..."

"Chichiue says its not our fault, the silver." He offered as she took his left hand in her right. "Something about things yet to come but he wasn't sure if he'd heard right."

"You're... more trusting than I'd hoped."

Sephiroth read the words she didn't say out loud; he trusted her even with knowing what she'd done to Chichiue.

"Well, I guess you can thank Mom and Chichiue. What are those?" He pointed to the flowers that were taller than them both.

"Sunflowers, little angel. They're... my favorite."

Sephiroth whirled when he sensed others in the field with them.

"Seph! You're in the flowers~" Aerith chirruped. "Mom, does that mean he can do what we do?"

Ms. Ifalna chuckled as she trailed behind Aerith. "Yes, it does... Lu?"

"Hey Ifa." Mama gave a hesitant wave even as her grip tightened on his hand.

Sephiroth looked between them, locking eyes briefly with Aerith before he blurted out, "Are we related?!"

"Ifa's my sister; of course you're related."

"Oh."

"Cool!" Aerith crowed, followed by a happy noise. "Does that mean he can come grow flowers too?"

"If he wants to then I suppose so." Ms. Ifalna hummed. "Sephiroth, come here please."

Sephiroth looked between his Mother and Ms. Ifalna. He released her hand and her face twisted, her color spun to ash in an instant.

Get back here. She snarled, lunging for him even as he bolted for Ms. Ifalna and Aerith.

"No! You're not my Mother!" He summoned Masamune again, this version glowing green as he took in the shape that pretended to be his Mother.

The ash spiraled up and made his Mother look like a puppet, strings of vile, twisted grey holding her in place for the blue creature that rose up behind her. "What is that?"

The fall of familiar white hair made him flinch from the sheer want to touch it. Whatever it was, it was dangerous in a way that no other monster could be—come too close and it was asking for death.

"J—." Ms. Ifalna said even as she took his right hand. Sephiroth didn't understand why the name sounded like it had been muffled underwater but didn't question it. Thier enemy screeched as the first strings struck the Barrier he'd called on in haste. "She's using my sister as a puppet to get her way. Your Mother is in the sunflowers, Seph, and using every scrap of talent she has to hold her back."

"Can we help?" He asked, shuddering at the thought of being pulled into the bubbling, twisted grey.

Ms. Ifalna looked at the shadow, freed her hand from his and Aerith's, and braced her feet into a staff stance. A staff appeared in her hands and in Aerith's—Masamune vibrated in his hand but stayed put.

"When I count to three, I need both of you to chant Greater Gospel with me. It might hurt her but it's better than doing nothing. Ready?"

"Ready."

"Ready, Mama."

"One, two—"

J— howled and lunged forward, his Mother dragged in the cording.

Sephiroth lashed out with Masamune, aiming for the bubbling strings as Aerith and Ifalna cast at the creature. The lines shuddered and snapped with the sound of steel cording as he cut in the dreamscape.

Time and again they cut and tugged until his Mother raised a shaking hand freed of the grey.

"No more, please, my little angel. J— cannot be removed in one sitting, try as you might." The pained smile she gave him hurt more than the manipulation of the creature. "For now, rest. You look tired."

"I will..." His Mother was pulled back into the sunflowers, the stalks tall and decidedly wretched in the lilies. "Mama."

"I had only hoped you were like us."

"'Hoped?'" he parroted, prying his hand away from his blade and finding it scorched.

"A foolish wish that Hojo hadn't hurt more Cetra." Ms. Ifalna sighed as the staves dispersed into green light. "There are many things, Sephiroth, that I regret. Coaxing your Mother into coming with my husband and I is the greatest of them. Hubris is something all of us suffer from, Seph."

"Excessive pride and hindsight are all we can hope to avoid," he murmured as he pushed Masamune away and hugged her. "It's... kind of nice to have more family."

"And here I thought the Himura gone from the Valentine line," she chuckled as she held him and Aerith close. "Cutting through the Chocobo dung is an art not many keep."

"Chichiue says it's the one thing he'd like to keep of my Oba-San." he hummed as he listened to the beat of her heart.

"Rightfully so," his Aunt murmured as she looked over their heads at the sunflowers, "little angel."

He shot up in bed, Masamune clutched against his chest as though it were a particularly sharp security blanket, a scream clenched behind his teeth.

A knock on his door had him wilting as he said hoarsely, "Come in." Chichiue's gauntlet gripped the edge of the door and pulled it open enough to let him in. "'sjust a nightmare."

"Some nightmare if you've cut into the drywall like that." came the drawled reply.

The deep scoring in the lavender-painted walls and deep blue windowsill had Sephiroth dropping his sheathed blade onto the bed and burying his face in his hands. "It wasn't a dream."

"What do you mean, 'wasn't a dream'?" Chichiue pressed sharply, a command that promoted him to blurt out—

"I saw Mother. Only, she wasn't Mother all the way and there was this thing and—" he sucked in a deep breath and whispered the rest. "I think I'm related to Aerith. It's fading but... It had hair like mine and I wanted to touch it so badly. Ms. Ifalna blocked it and then we did something, together, to help Mother fight it. The name's like water, like it's there but I can't hear it."

"A name, hmm? Does it start with a J?"

"You know...?" he questioned even as he made room for his Chichiue on the bed, banishing Masamune back to its rack in his room.

"I do and I think, in this instance, that names have power. Were you to hear this name in full before you're ready for it, you would fall to the creature's influence."

"... Whatever's in the J-shot... Is that it?" Sephiroth snuggled into his favorite spot, the warmth of it lulling him back into relaxing.

"I could find out if you'd like, my son."

"Please."

Lt. Colonel Wolf took one look at him and motioned him out of formation. "Strife-Valentine, you look exhausted and not from a night filled with necking or whatever it is teenagers do these days."

"Bad dream, sir, but I ended up using Masamune in it. Housing has to fix my wall."

"Hmm. I haven't seen it on you before but... You might have MP exhaustion. You still feel tired?"

Sephiroth ran two or three scenarios where he admitted to the drag he felt or he went about his day and felt it even longer. He knew the sensation, had had it happened under Hojo's iron-fisted rule and he'd been expected to get over it.

"Strife-Valentine, if you're thinking about lying to me, you're swaying on your feet. Go to sick call like those idiots over there and feel better." Wolf ordered dryly, "Hewley, Rhapsodos, accompany Strife-Valentine. I send him alone and the poor bastard's not even gonna make it."

"Yes sir!"

Angeal jogged up and immediately put the back of his hand against Sephiroth's forehead. "You don't have a fever but I do think you need to go."

"Seph, even your hair is drooping. C'mon." Genesis coaxed and Sephiroth blinked at how gentle they were being.

"... Do I really look...?"

"Like Chocobo shit? Yes." Gen fired back, hovering on his left side while 'Geal escorted him on his right side.

"Good to know." He huffed as they sat in the sick bay chairs.

The receptionist did a double take at Lima Squad and then zeroed in on Sephiroth himself. "You're supposed to sign in."

Angeal picked up the paperwork and Sephiroth scrubbed at his face as he looked at the page. "Okay, you're in no condition to be looking at it so I'll fill it in, okay?"

Sephiroth pillowed his cheek on Angeal and nodded.

"Feeling sick, tired or exhausted?" Angeal questioned.

"Last one."

"Any bad dreams lately or stayed up too late?"

"Former." he sighed as Angeal wrote with his right hand.

"Have you had a Mako update in the last month?"

"... No. I'm probably due." Sephiroth grimaced at that.

"All done. Gen, hand it back please." 'Geal prodded quietly, "Why didn't your Chichiue catch this?"

"Didn't get a chance to tell him before formation. Negotiations with Wutai have gone sour; Lady Himura got sick again and her kids are squabbling over who leads it." He offered as the sick bay line moved slowly. "Haven't seen too much of him lately."

"Yeah, that sucks." Gen replied. "They've been harping on us to find a tutor but one who's loyal to ShinRa."

"I don't suppose I could offer my teachers? I've just about finished Imperial and I'm working on the nuances of regular Wutainese."

"How-? No, no, don't want to know how you managed to get a head-start on the rest of us poor souls."

"His name's Lt. Capala but you've met him before, 'Geal, and the other one is Chichiue."

"You mean the one that loves your mom half to death." Angeal replied before he levered Sephiroth off of his shoulder. "Your turn, Seph."

"Ugh, do I have to move?"

Angeal snickered and then teased as he helped Sephiroth up and to the exam room, "I think that's the first time you've sounded like an actual teenager."

"Blame the dragon dung."

"Chart says that you're overdue for a Mako boost, Lt. Strife."

"It's Strife-Valentine. I have one scheduled for next week."

Dr. Jakobs cheerfully barged into the room with a,"Good morning, Lt. Strife-Valentine! Ooo, you've got MP exhaustion."

"So they tell me."

"You'll need these elixirs, taken slowly throughout the day and then one before you go to bed. It shouldn't interfere with your boost. We'll talk more at your appointment." Dr. Jakobs shoved the nurse out of the room and let Angeal and Genesis stay. "You two, keep an eye out for this sort of thing. Take these and sip slowly but finish all of them. You're somehow in the negatives, which I didn't think was possible for a SOLDIER of your caliber, young man."

That would explain why he wanted to go back to sleep.

"You're also on forced-rest for the next three days."

"... Back to Base-Com?"

"Yup. Start drinking, please."

He sipped at his elixir until it was gone knowing that if he was in the negatives, somehow Aerith and Ifalna were too.

""I heard through your friends that you hit negative MP. Did you want me to check on our mutual friends?""

"If you could, Chichiue. I'm... worried."

""Of course, my son. Negotiations have stabilized for the moment. I'll be home in time for dinner.""

"Thank you."

""You're more than welcome, Sephiroth."

Chapter Text

Major Milo rose a brow when Sephiroth settled into a free chair at Base Com.

"I'm on forced rest and I have to drink a lot of elixirs. Doctor ordered me here, sir."

"At least you're coherent enough. Last guy they sent me, he needed to be on actual bed rest. What's the charge this time, kid?" Milo prodded as he handed over Sephiroth's mic set and the rubber-banded set of color-coded pens.

"MP exhaustion."

"What did you do?"

"No idea, sir, other than the fact that I destroyed a wall in my bedroom."

"A new Limit Break, maybe?"

"... It's possible but I haven't been in any monster scrapes lately."

"Leveling can be slow, like Hewley and Rhapsodos but whatever it was, it must've been powerful enough to drain you with continual usage. Got a color that comes to mind?" Milo pointed out.

"Green. It's like Mako but... different. Feels better."

"A healing Limit, huh? Is there anything you can't do, Strife-Valentine?"

Sephiroth looked at his boots and then chuckled. "Apparently I can't tie my own boot laces."

"... Explain."

"That's how Rhapsodos ties his laces, sir. He tied my shoes for me this morning while we were stuck waiting in sick call." The little bunny looped bows were not Sephiroth's style, nor were they the standard for tying boot laces.

"Sick call missed a burn on your hand too, Strife-Valentine. You can barely curl it in." Major Milo tapped his Materia braced to get the Cura to light up. "May I?" Sephiroth peeled off his left glove and hissed at the way the skin pulled against the leather. Somehow, Masamune's wrapping had imprinted itself on his hand. "Yup, that's a healing Limit alright."

"How so?"

"You burn yourself on those if you overdo it. It's not so bad, this one; must've been your first time. You've got a color. Do you mind me asking about the incantation?"

"Yes, sir, I do mind that." That was something between him, Aerith and Ms. Ifalna.

"Family Limit Break, huh? I get it."

That caught his attention even as his hand was able to curl inward. "There's... Is that a thing, sir?"

"With some people, it's a Summon, others, it's a Limit Break. Looks like yours is the latter, Strife-Valentine." Major Milo hummed. "Alright, you should be good to look at maps and drink about fifteen of those damn things. MP exhaustion should get you actual bed rest but-"

"SOLDIERs need to be prepared for everything." He teased.

Major Milo and the rest of Base Com snickered as he pulled his hair back and settled his mic set.

Sephiroth flagged about halfway through his day at Base Com.

"Go home, Strife-Valentine." Captain Ulric told him. "Go home before I call your scarily competent Mum up here to take you home."

"No need sir, Wolf sent us up here to collect him." Angeal replied. "Something about poor bastards and their inability to manage elevators or stairs while exhausted."

"With that attitude, 'Geal, you should just fireman carry me up the stairs so I can nap on your shoulder."

"His ridiculous shoulders, you mean. I can't believe he's grown again!" Genesis pouted even as he eased off Seph's mic set and turned it off with a deft flick of his fingers. "You doing okay?"

"Tired."

"You managed eight Elixirs," Angeal tilted his head to the side and Sephiroth saw the golden flash of Libra Scan before his best friend snorted. "and you need sleep. C'mon."

"How's my MP?"

"About halfway, Seph, now stop assessing whether or not you can go for another fifteen minutes to finish with your crew in the field." Angeal chided as he scooped Sephiroth out of his wheelie chair.

"I can walk, you–" Sephiroth squawked indignantly, swatting at Angeal's pauldrons like a grumpy Cuahl.

"You can but do you really want to?" Gen lightly tugged on his boot as Angeal carried him down the hall. "Walking down the hall or being carried by a strong, handsome-"

"Oh my Odin, Gen, shut up." Sephiroth rolled his eyes as Angeal shook him with silent laughter. "Not everyone's as into your boyfriend as you are." He slapped his hand over his mouth but all three of them froze at that, peering around the corner to find it empty. "I'm sorry."

"Everyone knows we're best friends already. It's not that far of a stretch." Angeal sighed as they continued forward. "However, ShinRa's policy on public displays of affection are limited and mention only those couples who are... conventional. I have no idea if they even have a company policy for people like Gen and I."

"It's not frowned on in Banora but then again, that's Banora, not here." Genesis grumbled.

"We'll," Sephiroth yawned, "find out. I don't want to lose..."

"Yeah."

Sephiroth groaned as his pillow moved and he buried his face in it, huffing when he realized his pillow was a person.

"-m telling you, Gen, he's like a freaking Blugu. He get all comfy and then-"

"Cuddle monster from Hel."

"It was a nice nap though."

"Mm, that it was. I feel sorry for whoever he does end up dating. That hair is a mouthful."

"He braids it, normally, but we all sort of..."

"Puppy piled?" He offered into the silence.

Angeal laughed, his 'pillow' moved and he chuckled softly, lifting his head to check how they were laying. Genesis had an arm slung over him, Angeal had curled around him and he was definitely Bluguing his best friends; one leg tucked under Genesis and the other slung over Angeal's calves. He was holding 'Geal like he did Cloud, both arms wrapped around his best friend's back.

His PHS went off, Angeal snagging it with his fingertips and handing it over with a faint smile. "It's your Chichiue."

""Our mutual friends were a bit woozy but better off than you. We need to talk when I get back."" Sephiroth winced at the chiding tone, though it softened as Chichiue continued, ""We can use your down time to review the last of the Imperial hand signs. Bring your friends, I know it's public knowledge that they need to find tutors and there's no doubt that they're listening in.""

"Hi Mr. Valentine." Angeal greeted and Genesis blew a raspberry at his PHS. "You'll have to excuse Gen."

""Only because you asked, Angeal. I'll see you soon, my son.""

The click had Sephiroth pulling his arm out from underneath Angeal, rolling over in Angeal's arms and flicking Genesis in the forehead. "Chichiue's trying to get you a headstart before they bring in shitty instructors. Be nice." Though he'd chided Gen, the idiot was still smiling fondly. "What?"

"Think about what you did."

He'd-Oh. He'd done it because it felt natural but casually touching someone outside of family had never been a priority. "That's okay, right?"

"You're fine, Seph. It's just that it's new for you." 'Geal reassured.

"Learned from the best, now didn't I?!" He lunged for Genesis and cackled at the shriek —"A manly yelp, godsdammit, stop tickling-Ahahaha!"—that left his other best friend.

All three of them were laying on the bed, giggling if they so much as glanced at one another. The doorbell going off had all of them jumping off the bed and heading for the door, Sephiroth reaching it first and cracking it open to see his Chichiue on the other side.

"Hi," he panted, shoving at Genesis' face with his hand as Angeal waved from behind him. "Gen, that's my foot, get off."

"Move, you two, and let him in."

"Sorry," they chorused in sync and then Sephiroth backed away from the door first.

"I see you're feeling better," Chichiue murmured as he kicked off his boots and hung up his cape before he closed the door with his foot. He tapped the doorframe three times for the Materia in it to activate. "This doesn't leave the room. Sephiroth, Aerith and Ifalna invited you down to help them with the flowers. Angeal, Genesis, Sephiroth is related to them. No one else can know this and you'll understand when you accompany him to Sector Five."

"This is the same reason we don't talk about them in ShinRa?"

"... It is. Now, I brought workbooks in basic Wutainese for you two and a finisher for Seph, mostly because his conjunctions need work in regular Wutainese."

"Why?" Gen prodded as he leafed through the pages.

"I keep using Imperial verbs for them. Imperial's more formal and well..."

"Easier, huh? Mostly because that's how you talk normally." Angeal said as he dragged a table over and sat down next to Seph in the window nook. "Regular's for people who haven't had to be that formal. You'll get it eventually."

"I know that but..." Sephiroth sighed.

Gen nudged him from the other side. "How about you teach us? If anything, teaching it to us will get it right in your brain without having to force it."

"A strategy we hadn't considered yet, Seph. Go ahead, I think it'll do you some good." Chichiue mentioned. "I'll be here if you need back-up."

The first half hour, they were atrocious. Sephiroth wondered how anyone could teach, even with understanding the material.

He groaned, sat back and then a lightbulb went off; he needed to teach them like Kunsel and the junior Thirds.

It went much better after that, demonstrating with the characters and the way it was said.

When Angeal handed him an elixir, he blinked and then realized why he'd been out of sorts. Sephiroth sipped it slowly and continued teaching the material, feeling much better.

"Okay, okay, break time!" Genesis pleaded, raising both hands in surrender. "Dinner before you feed me more Wutainese."

"We have been at it for a while."

"Sorry."

"Nah, we're just as bad. Besides, once you found your footing, it was kinda nice." Gen complimented and then stared down at the ink-covered workbook. "I actually understand most of this."

Sephiroth's chest filled with affection, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he sat back with his friends.

"That right there is reward enough."

"Huh?"

"That smile of yours definitely made it worth the language headache." 'Geal responded, "I mean, don't get us wrong, you smile more frequently than you did than when we met but that smile... That one is when you're absolutely satisfied with the work you've done."

Sephiroth flushed and then leaned his weight back on his friends some more, grumbling out, "Well, don't get used to it or anything."

"Party pooper."

"He's trying to make sure your head isn't as big as your ego, le sot." Angeal huffed out, the Banoran word a shock after so much Wutainese and Common.

"Why I oughta—"

Sephiroth growled, trapped each of them in a headlock and said sweetly, "I'd appreciate it if I wasn't right in the middle of it. I think we're tired and need some food before we continue this."

Gen actually wilted in his hold. "Way to channel your Mom, dude."

"... No kidding."

He released them and shrugged. "I didn't want to be in the middle of your scrap, that's all."

"He's, believe it or not, channeling his Mother." Chichiue commented dryly. "She used to crack down on interns like that, only she smacked their heads together and told them to sort it out."

Sephiroth pushed the table aside at that, stretching until his back popped and his stomach growled.

"Definitely time for food."

The cafeteria was full, Mom in her element as dinner was served.

He watched her fondly as he ate, chuckling as he saw Cloud's spikes weave through the crowd and then settle next to him. «Have a good day, Cloud?»

"Mmhmm! We did wilderness training and I got the fire to start without Materia!"

"That sounds fun. Did you catch anything?" Gen asked around his mouthful of food.

"Some lizards 'n stuff. We did find a baby Chikabo but it's Mama found us right when we found it! That was scary but Lt. Kunsel stood in front of us. Are all wild Chocobos mean?"

"Well, some of them are but she was only mean because you guys were too close to her Chickabo." Sephiroth hummed as Cloud leaned on him but didn't get into his lap. His brother was getting too big to fit and he missed it a little.

"That's what Kunsel said too. I got called a Chikabo."

"By who?" Sephiroth inquired with a bit of a growl.

"They didn't mean it like that. Mama Chocobo kinda poked my hair with her beak." Cloud said, motioning to the ever fluffy mess of spikes. "She warked for a bit and then left with the Chickabo. Can Chikabos be different colors than their Mamas?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, okay, 'cause the Chikabo was black and the Mama was green. Kinda like us, huh?"

"I guess so."

Chapter Text

The second day at Base-Com was much better, Sephiroth almost back to full MP with a full night's rest and more elixirs.

"Rumor has it that you've been practicing your Wutainese." Captain Ulric mentioned.

"Yes sir?" he replied hesitantly. His squadron was asleep, which allowed him to shove his mic to the side.

"Would you mind teaching the Thirds what you know? We've found an instructor for the Seconds and the Firsts have been teaching each other for well over a year now."

"Of course sir, but I don't think they'll listen to me." He admitted flat out. "I've been helping Hewley and Rhapsodos but that's because they're a part of my squad and won't down talk me. You're better off recruiting Lt. Capala, sir; he's the one who got me started."

"Lt. Capala is teaching the Seconds, Strife-Valentine. It's why Ulric was asking you." Major Milo pointed out as he he pushed his mic up to keep his squadron out of the conversation "At some point it's going to be mandatory. We might as well get a headstart, kid."

"Oh." Sephiroth mulled it over, his pen tapping sharply against his clipboard. He sighed when it shattered in his grip, wiping his hand with the wet wipes specifically for this purpose and plucked another pen out of his hair to chew on. "I... You'd have to rearrange the Materia classes, sir, if you want me to teach. I'll have to photocopy the blank workbooks and comb over them for mistakes," he paused, chewed some more on his pen, "and enlist Staff Sgt. Higurai for the basics."

"I thought you might want to run it over with your Dad." Captain Ulric murmured.

"I'm past Materia Mastery for Thirds, sir, and I've mastered both dialects. I was teaching Hewley and Rhapsodos yesterday to distract myself during recovery. I'd need some help but if you think they'll listen, I'm for it, sir." He told them as he kept an eye on his squardron's position. "It never hurts to be over-prepared."

"I suppose not, Strife-Valentine. I'll pass the information onto the other Firsts if you tell your Chichiue and let Staff Sgt. Higurai in on your plan."

"Affirmative, sir."

Sephiroth felt like a Levikron amongst Chocobos with the way the infantry parted ranks as he walked through the cubicles.

"Ah, sir, are you looking for someone?" Ah, good, Sgt. Porteous; someone he knew would help.

"I'm looking for Staff Sgt. Higurai, actually. Mission from higher ups for us both." he informed the man, acutely aware of the staring and whispers of the troopers.

""He can't possibly be a SOLDIER. He's a kid.""

""Sgt. Porteous says he's been here longer than him.""

""Master Sgt. Selkirk agrees. He's been here for years, dude, and been through some shit because of it.""

"Oh, he's out on a mission in the slums, sir."

"Which Sector?"

"The patrol should be getting back soon, sir. They're due in another twenty minutes."

"Then I'll wait." He settled into a chair and crossed his legs, settling into the meditation pose his Chichiue taught him in Cosmo Canyon. "Carry on, Sgt., and thank you for the information."

"... You're welcome, sir."

""That hair has got to get in the way of his fighting.""

""Where's that sword?""

""A sword?! He can't be older than my little cousin.""

""Carries this big ass sword while he's on duty. Must be off if its not on him right now.""

""He can hear all of you, you know. Stop gossiping."" Master Sgt. Selkirk ordered even as he heard her coming closer. "How's my favorite SOLDIER doing, sir?"

"I've been better but I've got MP exhaustion. Major Milo thinks it's another Limit Break."

"He's probably right, sir. You're overdue for another one." Brown eyes looked him over with care, her lips tightening as she took him in. "Don't like it if it's giving you exhaustion though."

"I don't think it's supposed to do that. It's a healing one." He mentioned, his knee pressed against her thigh. "Like yours, only..."

"A lot more, huh? How'd you like Cosmo?" She asked, her dark brown skin crinkling at the corners of her eyes.

"I met a Firewolf! His name's Nanaki, he's really little but he said that he's going to get a lot bigger. Nanaki bragged that his mane's going to be nicer than my hair, if you can believe that."

"A mane nicer than your hair's impossible koneko. Where's he get off on making that claim, sir?" Sgt. Selkirk teased and then he laughed.

"He doesn't but he said that he's going to get way older than me and still have nicer hair when he's three times the age I am right now. To be fair to him, he does have a well-maintained mane. You, umm, you wouldn't happen to know Staff Sgt. Higurai?" Sephiroth asked, knowing that he could lean on her.

"Hmmm. He's hard-working, a little heavy on the regs but a good fellow overall. Why, are you working with him?"

"I can't manage to teach all of the Thirds Wutainese by myself. They're bringing in Instructors soon but... I was asked if I minded teaching my fellow Thirds." He volunteered quietly.

"... Well shit."

"That's what I thought too," Sephiroth snorted. "I doubt the class will like me very much."

"They don't have to like you to learn, sir." Selkirk pointed out. "Do you think you could send some of the easy stuff down with Higurai for us Infantry pukes?"

"Of course."

"You were about to tell me better over-prepared, huh, koneko?"

"... Yeah. I've been... working on it." Sephiroth admitted reluctantly. "I fall back, sometimes. Scared my superiors a little."

Selkirk snorted at that, shaking her head, "What's your old man been telling you?"

"That it takes time and that the future cannot be planned, only anticipated; there are a great many things I cannot control and controlling myself like that is... limiting. My therapist says I'm backsliding but only when I get a reminder of, ah, Hojo."

"Pretty reasonable considering his stench lingers. The ghost of his deeds and his actions stay with people longer than they like," Selkirk tapped her chest and then her temple at that. "here and here."

Sephiroth leaned on her for a moment, giving comfort and receiving it when she pressed her cheek to his hair.

He paced in his room, a tight, measured thing as he ran over the basics of Wutainese again, reciting them in order.

«Seph?» The Nibel had him smiling and cutting his pacing short. «Oh, there you are honey. Was that Wutainese?»

«I've been asked to teach my fellow Thirds. I... I have no idea where to start. Some of them are older than me by a good five years—»

He sank into the arms that wrapped around him, Mom smelling of home and Cloud and everything good in his life.

Mom's fingers carded through his hair as she coaxed him onto his bed. «Mm, you know, there's this phrase I heard in Nibelheim from my husband.»

«Dilly-dally, shilly-shally.»

«You worry too much, Seph, far too much for someone your age. The world isn't on your shoulders just yet, so quit making every problem yours. » Mom's fingers tapped his forehead in a chiding manner. «Besides, the cafeteria is where the gossip gets filtered. General consensus is that you're too young to be teaching but if you know the language, they're not going to argue with an expert. Your friends puzzling over the books without you certainly helped the image.»

«What if... What if I mess it up?» he whispered, lookin at the glow-in-the-dark stars Cloud had helped him put up on the ceiling.

«Then you mess up.» came the reassuring answer. «You're not perfect, sweetheart; no one is and anyone who claims otherwise is very much a liar.»

«Thanks, Mom.» Sephiroth sat up and snuggled close. «You're letting Ms. Jones run the kitchen?»

Mom shrugged, «Her little one is old enough to tuck into a quiet space of the kitchen and she does want to get out of the office one of these days.»

«That's good for her, even if I'll miss the sticky notes.»

«Ah, her pitfall traps, downright unethical and badly worded ShinRa paperwork freers? I suppose you could ask her in her free time and yours, how she spots such things.»

«That requires that I have free time at all, Mom.» He snorted.

«Your Chichiue is avoiding SOLDIER HR because he promised you'd take some days off a while back.» Mom offered wryly.

«... Hmm. A day off sounds nice.»

Chapter Text

He was off-duty, off of work for a solid week and a half and... yet here he was teaching his fellow Thirds in a class of his own squad and one other. Thankfully it was Mike, which made up of at least two familiar faces with Cloud rounding it out to three.

"Johnson, Kunsel. Mind introducing me to the rest of your squad?"

"Ah, this is 1st Lt. Strife-Valentine but..."

"Since I'm off-duty, you may request my given name if you feel comfortable enough." Sephiroth filled in at Kunsel's hesitance, noticing when Johnson looked at his winged hairstick. "It's not always down, Johnson, only most of the time."

"Well, that's Ferra, that's Noctua and that's Vidar, sir." Kunsel finished with a thankful smile.

"'Geal, you've got the workbooks?" He prodded as they sat at one end of an old boardroom table.

"Right here."

"Lt. Hewley and Lt. Rhapsodos are also off-duty and will help you when you get stuck. They're a little further ahead than you but don't feel the need to catch up. Work at your own pace." He continued as he also handed Cloud a workbook, that one slightly easier. "We'll start with honorifics, which are ways to address people in Wutainese society, and work our way from there."

"Umm, sir?"

"... Yes, Lt. Vidar?"

"Who's the little guy?"

"My brother. He'll be completing his own homework and join in with Wutainese exercises that are age-appropriate for him." Sephiroth admitted easily. "He was interested in my lessons when I was being taught so I thought it might be prudent for him to join at least one class."

"Understood, sir." Vidar glanced at Cloud and then tapped Noctua, Noctua's hands moving as Vidar does the same.

"Sir, what if I don't want to be here?"

"ShinRa keeps it's teeth behind wording, so be careful about your next words, Lt. Ferra. If you do not attend my 'class' you will be forced to take the 'remedial' course with the Drill Sargeants and the Infantry squads; many of whom are much larger than the SOLDIER ones." He countered serenely, "You may also take the course with my instructor, Turk Sharpshooter."

"Why... now, sir?" Ferra pressed.

"... There are enough reports to suggest that if the current negotiator dies, Wutai will descend into chaos. Who do you think they'll send as peacekeepers?" Sephiroth pointed out. "Languages take time to learn, Lt. Ferra. We'll need every scrap of it we can wrest from the jaws of peace."

Mike Squad sat back at that, Angeal and Genesis's expressions grim enough to match his own.

«Hey, Seph, I can't get this addition right. Can you help me?» Cloud's tongue was sticking out of the side of his mouth, blond brows furrowed as he concentrated on the paper.

The mood in the room lightened considerably as he helped Cloud figure it out, ruffling his brother's mess of spikes and pressing a kiss to his hair as an afterthought.

Sephiroth rose up and made his way back to the end of the table where Mike and his own squad sat. He dared any of Mike to say something, a look that sailed over their heads as Ferra started to tuck away his PHS.

"What did you photograph?" He growled, the edge of the table creaking as he gripped it. Ferra turned the phone around, Sephiroth captured being affectionate with Cloud. "Delete it. Now."

"But Hewley-"

"Hewley is a squadmate and one of my friends. You do not qualify as either." Sephiroth informed him coldly.

Kunsel neatly flicked it out of Ferra's fingertips and deleted it. "My apologies, sir, some of Mike's not up to snuff. I take it lesson's now?"

"It is," he allowed, settling his temper and smoothing out his expression. "Honorifics, which we do not have in Common..."

After Mike left, Sephiroth slumped into a seat too large for his body and dragged his hands down his face.

"How bad was it?" He asked 'Geal and Gen, Cloud squished into the chair with him.

"Aside from the Ferra incident... Pretty good." Sephiroth peeked from behind his fingers. "Look, it's well-known that you're protective of Cloud and your own privacy. I think Ferra's part of that-what was it?-SOLDIER Admiration thing."

"He can damn well admire anyone else in the SOLDIER Corps." Sephiroth grumbled. "Cloud, don't tell Mom."

«Okay. Can you teach me that knife thingy? The one Kunsel said he liked.» That Sephiroth knew in his sleep but he was exhausted from teaching others. «Later, though, cause I gotta finish my workbook first.»

He pulled Cloud against his side, pillowing his chin in Cloud's hair. «Yeah. Sounds like fun.»

The week he was teaching Thirds, Sephiroth found patience that he hadn't realized he'd had within himself. Mispronounced words were gently corrected, basic kanji corrected with adjustments of the brushpen or wrist or finger positions and the types of bowing between social classes corrected with a tap or flick of his fingers.

In his downtime, he found himself drafting lessons and bouncing his ideas off of Nicky, who had the week off, both of them paid extra for the time they were putting in.

"How did you do it with me?" He asked plaintively over their evening tea in the cafeteria. "I must've misprounced so many words..."

"You, koneko, were a damn dream. You misprounced maybe one word in five and kanji script was perfect for your handwriting, which is halfway to calligraphy anyways. I'd actually stab someone for the chance to teach you over again. The Seconds are so bad, just thinking about them compared to your Thirds is giving me a headache."

"At least they listen to you, Nicky." Sephiroth groaned. "'You're not even an adult, how dare you correct my pronounciation.' Ugh."

"I'd trade you in a heartbeat."

"... Actually..."

Nicky caught on with a cackle. "We should switch it up, huh? Show them how the other side learns."

"I am 1st Lt. Strife-Valentine—"

"Where's Capala?"

Sephiroth stared down the new Captain, recently promoted out of the Thirds and clearly high off of his new-found power. "Ah yes, Captain Marina. He noted you would be a problem and that I was to treat you with the same respect you gave to me; which is to say, none at all. I am doing this in my spare time, Captain. I don't have to be here, you do."

The unspoken question came as he rose a brow at the man, Are you really going to fuck this up for your fellow Seconds?

The Captain's jaw worked as Sephiroth blithely continued. "You're adults. You're well aware of what is happening in Wutai. I don't need to spell it out for you the same way I spelled it out for my students. This is to ensure that there are the least amount of casualties amongst soldiers and civilians alike in the island nation of Wutai. Now, where did he leave off?"

Ulric sighed, raised his hand and offered, "Battle jargon and tactics... sir."

"Thank you Captain Ulric."

"Umm, sir, why are you teaching us?" A Major, this one also new to him.

Sephiroth grimaced at the thought of him lacking depth on his superiors other than those in direct contact with him; he'd have to fix that at some point. He'd not let his own personal standards slacken now. "I will be right next to you, Major. ShinRa uses all of its weapons, human and machine. I've no doubt you've heard the rumors that I'm the latter."

"... Yes, sir."

"Don't put too much stock into them, Major. I'm as human as all of you barring the enhancements." He snorted. "Wutainese battle tactics are unlike our own and you would do well to remember it..."

Sephiroth wandered amongst the Seconds, absently correcting pronounciation as he took in the much larger class. Thanks to his enhancements, he could correct on the spot and hear mistakes from one corner of the room to the next. Next came the kanji and that was when the SOLDIERs understood that he wasn't like Lt. Capala at all.

"Brushstroke the wrong way and you've gone from agreeing to accept supplies to accepting something... a little more risqué." He chuckled as he stroked the correct way on the board. "I take it you don't want that so please, for the love of Bahamut, write it correctly."

He noticed a hand, nodded to hear what his superior had to say. "Major Higsby, sir. If I may, how old are you?"

The new face then, hesitant to speak out after his biting remarks against Marina.

"Thirteen, Major." The room went silent at that. "Yes, I'm still going to be on the front lines with you and the Firsts, even with the intervention of my parents. It wouldn't do, you see, for ShinRa to 'forget' its 'strongest weapon' at home." He filled in with a wry chuckle. "Don't think about it for too long, SOLDIERs, the Firsts are doing what they can to help. I likely won't join in until I'm at least fifteen."

"I... I see, sir."

"Mm-hm. Let's see, now for the kanji for formation and troop movement, you write it like this." Sephiroth forged past the oppressive silence with a deliberate wrenching back to the correct topic.

The class went on, though Sephiroth felt the long looks at his smaller frame. He wasn't fragile, despite his looks, and he could tell them to talk to the Firsts or test his knowledge themselves. In the end, he let them come to terms with him on thier own.

"Class dismissed. Capala will see to your progress tomorrow when we compare notes." He said at the end of the day. Ulric cleared his throat, worry clear in his blue eyes as he stood next to Sephiroth. "May I help you, sir?"

"Strife-Valentine..."

"You can test me if you like, sir." He offered. "I know the Seconds are worried but I've been training with Henderson and my Chichiue. I'll be fine, Captain."

"Your... father?"

"He's a Turk." He explained with a chuckle. "I'm learning lots of things, sir."

"... He wouldn't happen to be that new one running around with a cape?" Ulric muttered.

"He is, sir."

"He didn't even pull out his gun when he asked me to practice with him."

Sephiroth did laugh at that, knowing his Chichiue like he did. "He does that, sir, to keep himself on his toes."

Ulric made a face and then sighed. "Well, I suppose you're in good hands then. I'll pass it along to my squad."

Chapter Text

With Sephiroth back on duty and in the uniform, the Seconds kept their distance. The burning sensation of having someone stare at him and then look away when he looked up was getting to be a bit much, however.

He'd had quite enough of that once, let alone twice.

Henderson deliberately sat next to him and his friends, raising a copper brow at him as he chewed. "Why do I have Seconds begging to assess you?"

Sephiroth rolled his eyes and swallowed his mouthful of pot roast. "They asked about my age. You can imagine how well that went down in a roomful of adults who aren't as informed about my situation as the Firsts or the Thirds are, sir."

"... That would definitely cause concern."

Sephiroth opened his mouth to reply when Angeal, Bahamut bless him, provided the perfect solution. "He could spar with you in an observation room, sir, or with his Chichiue."

Henderson blinked at that but agreed with aplomb, "That should settle some of thier fears."

"Please," he grumbled, "I'm tired of avoiding three floors of SOLDIER Second apartments."

Sephiroth adjusted his stomacher, surprised to find that it sat a little looser than normal and that he had to adjust the straps on the back. He rolled his shoulders out and then grumbled as the pauldrons sat tighter.

"Sir, can't believe I'm saying this but I need to change out," his voice squeaked, which was mortifying on its own, and then deepened as he finished. "my armor. Ugh!"

Henderson chuckled, helped him out of the armor and into the one Angeal had grown out of but now fit him perfectly. Two years did a lot to his body, the least of which was growing up. "I think that's the first time I've heard you speak with a different register and if you're anything like your Chichiue, it's going to crack quite a bit more."

"I'm aware, sir." He sighed as he scraped back his bangs. "... Means I trust you though."

Henderson smiled at that, brief and so quick that Sephiroth nearly missed it, the fondness remaining on his face. "That's good to know, Strife-Valentine."

The one thing he could trust was his own body. He and Chichiue trained so often that even if he had grown more, he was used to the extra length.

Sephiroth summoned Masamune and unsheathed her even as Henderson lit up Gungir's runes with a flashy display of magic. They touched backs, walked ten paces and saluted with their swords, shifting their stances minutely.

Henderson attacked without warning, a dent left in the ground.

Sephiroth feinted right before he shot up, spiraling mid-air to strike from above.

Henderson barely blocked, Masamune and Gungir ringing out against one another. He used Henderson's thighs as a kick-off point and pushed Masamune into the ether as he back-flipped to a safer spot.

Summoning her again in the space between an inhale and an exhale, he snapped out three of his throwing daggers from habit.

The battle dragged across the walls, the floor and—quite memorably—on top of the observation glass, Sephiroth using every available surface to attack his opponent.

He bounced, spiraled and used his momentum or Henderson's to press Masamune's advantage.

Masamune sang as she flew through the air, sparks flying as she hit Gungir.

It ended with a dagger beneath Henderson's chin, Masamune at the back of his superior's neck.

Gungir hovered underneath his left armpit, aimed straight for his heart, both of them breathing hard as the blade sizzled.

"Draw... sir?"

"Ifrit's balls... Strife... Valentine. Your old man's a killer trainer." Henderson panted as he deactivated Gungir's runes.

Sephiroth banished Masamune to the ether and inspected his dagger for blood, pulling away to collect the rest he'd thrown throughout the battle.

Last minute, he instinctively threw the daggers he had on hand, dropping to his knees and skidding to the right to avoid whatever was headed his way.

Henderson yelped as a dagger caught the outside of his thigh and one caught the Gravity headed his way, the blade shimmering as it caught the magic and pinned it to the ground.

"Chichiue... had them... Shielded." He offered wryly as Henderson had to stop casting the Gravity. Collecting the last of his daggers and sheathing them made him want to go again. "Rematch, sir?"

"You're certainly eager today, Strife-Valentine. Face off against your squadmates, tire them out," Henderson waved his hand at him, grimacing as he pulled his non-dominant hand away from the cut.

"May I, sir?" Sephiroth pushed Masamune away and extended his hand towards the wound.

"Hels, go for it. Color me curious about your new Limit," his superior murmured. "Milo blabbed, before you ask, Strife-Valentine." Henderson let him come closer, his hand hovering over the wound.

He closed his eyes and thought Greater Gospel. Cracking open an eye, he watched as green spilled from his hand and closed the cut as though it had never been. "Oh! It worked."

Henderson wiggled his leg and put weight on it. "Best my leg's felt in years. Good job, Strife-Valentine. Seriously, tire out your squadmates. Rhapsodos has been driving everyone up a wall with his worry about you."

"Understood, sir." Sephiroth gave a cheeky salute that had Henderson rolling his own eyes.

Genesis and Angeal entered after thier superior had left, 'Geal with a sword nearly as tall as he was and Gen with a new one as well.

"The Buster finally made it from Banora! Look at her, isn't she beautiful?" Angeal slung it off of his back, the distinct click of magnetics causing Sephiroth to look at his harness. "New from R&D and they actually work; I think Director Scarlet's pissed that Tuesti did a good job on the rooms."

"Give her a swing for me?" Sephiroth asked as Angeal hefted the blade.

A wide swing later and 'Geal was grinning. "She can handle Masamune, I think, better than all of the other ones here aside from personal weapons."

"What about you, Gen?"

"Colonel Jaega had it made for me, modeled a bit after Gungir. Look, look, it came with a Materia slot!" Gen was practically bubbling over with pride.

"Swing it!" The noise it made was pure music, the runes lighting up as Genesis ran his hand over the rich red blade. "Oh wow, that's incredible. They won't break against mine; now we can practice together!"

The feeling in his chest came close to the fluttering of butterflies, the feeling new to him.

"You okay?" Gen murmured as he deactivated the runes with a flick of his fingers.

He scrubbed at his heated cheeks. "Yeah, I'm fine. Practice rules?"

"Oh, didn't even think about that," Angeal clicked the Buster back into place, stretching his arms with a few cracks. "We better be careful now that we've all got real blades, huh?"

"Flats and the back edge only until we get used to practicing together, we stop if there's any blood and try to figure out what went wrong. Agreed?" Sephiroth asked easily, locking his hands behind his head without Masamune in his left.

"Yup."

"Sounds good."

All three of them came out of the observation room with bruises, a few shallow cuts and a better understand about thier weapons when they fought together.

"That was..." Sephiroth hummed, squished between his best friends.

"Enlightening."

"Painful. I had no idea you could use the Buster like that, 'Geal." Genesis finished in his other side.

"Me either but now we know where to step it up when we practice again. Seph, please pull your kicks, my thighs are burning." Angeal grunted as they made their way to the elevator.

"Sorry. I'm used to Chichue. I'll pull back-"

"Oh no you don't. Just—a little less until we catch up, okay?" Gen countered, ruffling his hair as they headed for Gen and 'Geal's apartment. "Shower first though. Ugh, we stink."

Sephiroth inhaled and then wrinkled his nose at the sweat they gave off. "We do stink. Wait, since when do I stink?"

"Puberty's worst bit, honestly; you start to stink. Asked 'Geal's Mama and she said its all hormone-based stuff mostly. You, uh, don't stink as bad though, weirdly enough."

"Maybe that plant-base I get for Angeal?" His relation to Aerith and Aunt Ifalna aside, it might've been an effect the Planet hasn't intended on.

"... Maybe."

"Eh, lucky bastard regardless." Gen teased as he ran his fingers through Angeal's sweat-soaked neck hairs. "Now you'll smell like us!"

Sephiroth ducked out of the way and laughed as Gen chased him, Angeal slowly limping along the corridor after the elevator doors opened on their floor. He doubled back and picked Angeal up entirely, the carry overdoing it but Sephiroth hated seeing his friends hurt. "Sorry, 'Geal. I'll heal it when we get to your place."

"Hey, it gives me a base-line to work with when it comes to you. It's not all bad." Angeal reassured. "It probably doesn't help that my stance is pretty solid for spring-boarding."

"No, it doesn't." He murmured, carrying 'Geal through the door.

Genesis had peeled his pants to his hip, making a face at a mostly-healed bruise in the side-hall mirror. "Okay, yeah, 'Geal was right."

Sephiroth gently kicked the door shut, triple-tapped the doorframe with the same foot and set Angeal down on the couch.

He murmured, "Greater Gospel," as he held his hand over the bruises.

Angeal gasped, gripping the couch as he felt the effects. "S-Seph, umm, is it supposed to be that warm?"

"Is it? I can't cast it on myself so I have no idea what it feels like." Sephiroth asked with concern. "Does it hurt?"

"No, just an initial warmth. I wasn't expecting it, I guess." Angeal questioned even as the Gospel did its work and healed him. "What do you mean you can't cast it on yourself?"

"Cura, Curaga... Even my own Limit Break doesn't work on me. Hojo—" He choked on the name but fought past it to explain, pulling off his right glove with a long, defeated sigh. "He cut me open to the bone, told me to heal myself and left a Cure Materia within five feet of me. I tried for three days and by that point, I was past MP exhaustion. Wolf found me, healed me and well..."

"Ever since, you've been traumatized." Genesis finished softly. "Shit, Seph, what part of your life wasn't an outright disaster?"

"Two years ago, some stranger in the kitchen said that she wanted me. Life's kinda been looking up since then." He shuffled so that he was pillowing his cheek on 'Geal's knee and continued slowly, breathing out one of his secrets to his friends. "I owe a lot to the Strifes, it turns out. My first caretaker, he was Cloud's Dad. Four years of games and fun and green eyes almost like mine, so Chichiue tells me. There's... video, somewhere."

Genesis gently but firmly lifted Sephiroth up and tucked him between them, the sweat mostly dried and leaving them scented stronger than usual. "Look, I'm the first to tell you I suck at this—that's totally 'Geal's gig and I'll gladly leave it to him most of the time but—You've got us. You've got your scarily competent parents and the most adorable little brother this side of the sea. You even have the loyalty of like, three trooper squads and most of your superiors. So, uh, it sucked Behemoth balls to get here but it's only up from here. Hopefully."

Sephiroth snorted as Angeal shook his head and said, "What Gen's trying to say is that we've got your back. We definitely won't judge you if you don't know stuff or that you've got some... intense issues to work through. Plus, we're not always going to be perfect. You'll have to tell us if you think we're..."

"Breaking our promise." Genesis blurted, flushing bright red after that. "What? It's just-"

"Pinkie promise?" Sephiroth offered, holding up both of his pinkies.

"How do you even know about those?" Gen grumbled as he latched his pinkie around Sephiroth's as Angeal mimicked him on the other side. "I promise to watch your back and try not to be a jerk."

"I promise to watch your back and to keep your faith."

"I promise to watch your back... and to tell you if you're breaking your promises."

Chapter Text

They took turns showering after that, Sephiroth wearing Angeal's favorite Chocobo racer shirt and sleep-pants he'd left by accident a few months back. He toweled his hair gently, squeezing out most of the water and letting it air-dry.

He pulled maintenance on Masamune and his daggers, happy to find that they'd sustained such little damage that they didn't need a brush of the Restore Materia Chichiue insisted he keep. Neither Gen or 'Geal's blades needed it, confirming his theory that they could handle Masamune at full strength.

"Did you two seek out blades that could take her?"

"Yes."

"Nope. The Buster's been with the Hewley's for generations."

Sephiroth turned to Genesis, curiosity warring with his sense of propriety.

"Look, not many things can take you or your blade at full strength. When we get there, not if, when we get to where you are, I want to say that I really am your equal." Gen told him flatly.

"Don't you see?" he blurted. "You already are,"

Gen flinched as though he'd been struck. "I don't-"

"The list of people who can take a kick from me is so small I can count it on one hand, Gen. Five people, including you, and that's it. You two are like me—enhanced past our actual rank. Let me see the bruise and I'll prove it to you." Sephiroth emphasized, being serious.

Genesis tugged his sleep-pants to the side and fresh skin greeted all three of them, when not even an hour ago it had been purple. "... oh."

"Seph, umm, we... haven't been entirely honest with you." Angeal confessed, his hands twisting in his shirt, the fibers creaking dangerously before Sephiroth took his hand and laced thier fingers. "Hojo wasn't the only one running experiments."

Sephiroth paled, looking between Genesis and Angeal as it clicked, horribly so, why they'd been put together in a squad.

"Hollander," He choked out. "on the two of you?"

"When he fled, 'Geal's Mama sent us here, hoping that whatever he'd done to us could be managed by a doctor here at ShinRa. We're different, Seph, and we have no idea what else he intended to do." Genesis explained, the bitterness in his voice making an awful sense. "You were the first but..."

"They based SOLDIER on me, not on you." Sephiroth finished, anger turning into tears. "So you think that you're not like me."

"I... He told us if we'd been better, we could've been at ShinRa for real." Gen spat out, sniffling as he reached for Seph's other hand.

"He's a liar," he snarled, "A liar, just like Hojo, just like ShinRa. But... There isn't anything we can do right now. We're kids."

Angeal's face, tear tracks stiffening, was thoughtful instead of aggrieved. "So we wait."

"What?" Genesis asked.

"Tear ShinRa apart from the inside."

"What do you mean?" He pressed, surprised at Angeal's vehement rejection of ShinRa but understanding it.

"Gen already said it. You've got the support of nearly a third of ShinRa's staff and human firepower. Your Dad could rustle up some his hunter friends. There's even... that one organization. The one that's been blowing up old research facilities." Angeal murmured, his fingers squeezing Sephiroth's in reassurance. "We wait until we can do something about it."

"How long?" Gen questioned.

"Until Seph's twenty. We can't let them know that we want to shred them into the dirt of the Plains."

"It's a long haul, 'Geal, even if my Chichiue's only here for me. He'd turn on them if I asked him." He muttered.

"Better than leaving now and dying of something we can fix."

Sephiroth shuddered as though someone had stepped somewhere they shouldn't. "Don't say that."

"Yeah." Gen agreed with a shudder of his own.

For plotting the downfall of a company they worked for, the following day was surprisingly normal.

The Wutainese instructors arrived as a contingent, their clothing elegant and volumous enough to conceal multiple weapons. They hadn't brought any, obviously, having been being searched by the Turks upon arrival.

They were, however, insistent that they meet the ShinRa 'instructors' in order to gauge how thoroughly they would have to tutor their students.

Sephiroth was ordered to dress as he would on a 'day off' but he wasn't foolish enough to show up in clothing that would put ShinRa to shame.

He found clothing on his bed, however, with a note in Nibel from his Chichiue.

Sephiroth,

I took the liberty of ordering Wutainese clothing in case we ever visited. I suggest you follow the diagram that came with them and visit me at my office before you meet the Instructors.

Love, Chichiue

He chuckled, followed it to a T and then tugged his boots on underneath the layers. Sephiroth found it both easier and harder to move in the silken fabric, the longer sleeves a hinderance to his movements. He figured out how to wrap them so that he could still move, balancing on the staircase's handlebars in order to get used to moving in it.

Landing on the 45th floor, he ducked around some of the Turks to make a beeline for his Chichiue's open office door.

«I'm not sure what to do with my hair, Chichiue.» he complained in Nibel.

Chichiue looked him over, a fond smile gracing his lips as he shut the door on his coworkers, tapping the frame out of habit. «Hmm. Mostly up but not with a hairstick; hair sticks are normally for women in Wutai. I suppose you could get away with it.»

Quick claws and fingers sorted his hair out and used a strip of cloak as a ribbon which, much to their surprise, repaired itself in front of them. Gold flickered briefly in Chichiue's eyes, meaning that Chaos had had a hand in it.

His bangs spilled out of the half-ponytail, too short to stay contained without some sort of hair product.

«Good enough?»

«I'm unfortunately back on Presidental guard duty, otherwise I would accompany you. You look wonderful.» Chichiue hummed as he pressed a kiss to Sephiroth's forehead. «Go greet the instructors.»

Nicky nodded in approval as he spotted Sephiroth, sporting a similar look, only his hair was too short for anything fancy. "Good choice. I take it your Chichiue used that Turk logic of his and got this in advance."

"We thought about visiting Wutai before the Honorable Lord Himura passed. He can't come though." Sephiroth shrugged, his head snapping over to the door. "They're here."

The instructors shuffled in and thier expressions flexed minutely at the sight of Sephiroth and Nicky in near-matching clothing.

«If only all their faces were as fair as this.» came the sigh from the back of the contingent.

«One does not judge the merits of a place by its beauty but by its knowledge.» Sephiroth countered with a serene expression.

«ShinRa lacks subtlety but that does not mean it takes well to insult.» Nicky offered dryly. «Weapons take to it even less, forged as they are in ShinRa's fire.»

There was a grunt from the back as the voice in question got elbowed. «Our apologies, he is rather new to our training. ShinRa is indeed a magnificent forge to produce the two of you. You and your... companion, you have lesson plans?»

«We would be pleased to present them. Might we offer you tea?» Sephiroth asked-having raided his personal stash for the meeting-motioning to the service set up and kept warm through the use of Materia. «Silver needle and green are available, though you may have brought your own to suit your tastes.»

«Forgive this one; you are equal?» The leader's right hand asked, trying not to directly step on any toes.

«Equal only in rank, sir, though not in age.» Sephiroth allowed with a faint bow. «My tutor and I were requested to teach our superiors and equals in the art of language. My other tutor, unfortunately, could not make this meeting as he had duties to attend to.»

«Our names do not translate so well into Wutainese but if you would like them, we would try our best.» Nicky presented and recieved a nod. «This is Strife-San. I am Swift-San, though these are literal translations of thier true meaning. Strife-San has another name but that one doesn't translate from Common to Wutainese quite as well.»

«Strife-San, might we see your lessons first?»

«Of course, honored instructors.»

The instructors came away from the lessons with a rather sobering reminder that war could break out at any moment with Lady Himura's health in the balance.

«Such terms... from someone younger, it is unsettling.» The Head Instructor, Sensei Setsugen frowned as he looked over the pages.

«We wish Lady Himura a long life,» Sephiroth murmured, «for such terms become prevalent if she enters Leviathan's Domain.»

«ShinRa is well informed,» Sensei Setsugen spoke delicately, obviously aware of the cameras in the room. «though the Lady remains in health enough.» Setsugen took his hand and traced Wutainese characters against his palm out of sight of the cameras. 'We also wish to see her remain healthy. There are those who would relish war, should it come to it, with ShinRa.'

«I see, Sensei. Might I trouble you for some advice? You see, my other instructor, he says that I fall back into Imperial upon occasion.» Sephiroth flipped thier hands and wrote, 'We are doing what we can to delay on this side. If you see me on the island, your time is up.'

The man blinked and nodded, «Yes, he is correct. Your speech registers as most formal, though this is an informal meeting. Were you raised with such speech?»

«... Yes, Sensei. I am trying to be less so, that I may sound less... conceited.» Sephiroth managed as he thought of his family, not of the dragon dung.

«Ah, I see your problem. Your vocabulary is extensive and you seek to use it, surrounded as you are by those older than you. I will give you as much advice as I can, so that we may work together in the future with more kindness.»

Sephiroth snickered as Nicky and Sensei argued over who would keep up with his tutelage.

«You know, Sensei, Swift-San, I do have a PHS I can use to contact you both.» he informed them wryly.

Both of them huffed, crossed their arms and then broke into amused chuckles.

«Trust Kitten to stop the fighting and still win.» Nicky quipped

«Nicky, don't you dare—»

«Have I told you the story of how he threw knives to save me?»

"Nicky, go further and you'll remember exactly why I have frighteningly good aim." He growled, his voice rumbling out a full octave lower.

«... You're a child.» Sensei muttered, horror dawning.

Sephiroth gave a sharp smile, one that was tempered by a warning look. «Yes. You'll find there is much of ShinRa that looks the other way on this regard.»

So should you, came the warning behind it.

«... What was that about the knives, then, Swift-San?»

Sephiroth groaned and buried his face in his hands as Nicky gleefully told the story again to a rapturous audience of instructors.

Chapter Text

He flopped onto his bed, not even bothering to kick out of anything but his boots.

Small but familiar fingers played with the half of his hair that was free, the small tugs indicating braids. Sephiroth huffed out a laugh into the pillow.

Trust Cloud to appear when he was needed most, with no grown ups around and his friends still stuck in Sensei's assessment drill.

«Hey Cloud.» he sat up and steadied Cloud on the bed, surprised when Cloud buried himself in his arms.

«Why don't you cuddle anymore?» Blue eyes were serious but still soft, some hurt in them that Sephiroth wanted to fix.

«Well... A lot of grown ups would say its weird but I think-I think some stuff is just plain dumb sometimes Cloud. You can cuddle me as long as you like.»

They sat like that for a while and then Sephiroth prodded, «How's Reno?»

«He's good. I miss Aerith though.»

«... Do you want to see her now?» He asked, digging for his PHS and texting both Chichue and Mom.

Seph: Going to see about some plant material for Geal.

Seph: Taking a little storm with me

His screen lit up with Mom's reply.

Mom: Be careful

Mom: Make sure the storm has a lightning bolt.

They took the train, Sephiroth strapping a spare dagger to Cloud's left leg.

«Remember what I taught you.» He said, nearly swallowed by the oversized purple hoodie that said 'Banoran Dumbapples' with the insignia of Gen's orchard stamped across the front. Sephiroth had shoved the sleeves up to his elbows to keep his arms free. Gen said he'd grow into it, mostly because a large was all they'd had on hand. The fingerless gloves 'Geal had given him helped too.

Wearing the gifts from his friends made him happy.

""Aww, they look adorable, I wonder where-"" Sephiroth's head snapped up and he stared long enough for the person commenting to be uncomfortable.

«I will, I will. Geez.»

«What are Mom's rules?»

«Don't trust strangers. If someone asks if I'm lost an' they don't feel nice, kick 'em in the shins. Find Ms. Gainsborough, Ms. Ifalna or Aerith in Sector Five if I get separated from you. Reno's Mama will do in a pinch but she's in Sector Six an' not an option normally.» Cloud recited with a roll of his eyes. «I know what to do.»

«I know you do but we're only kids down here, not what we are up there.» Sephiroth murmured, sheathing and unsheathing the long dagger on his right thigh. «Chichiue says they do awful stuff to kids down here.»

«Yeah, Reno said his Mama was happy to see him at ShinRa cause down here is bad for kids.» Cloud hummed, kicking his feet back-n-forth on the train's bench. «Aerith's okay cause her Mama can kick butt though, right?»

«They're safe here. It's not right but...»

«Grown ups can be mean, 'specially to Aerith and Ms. Ifalna.» Cloud finished as he leaned on Sephiroth's shoulder. «Don't like it though.»

Sephiroth cleared his throat, murmured, «Maybe some day they can see the sunlight again, really be free.»

«Seph?»

«Sometimes the wolves have to track prey for miles, little Storm Cloud, play a long game. So am I.»

«If you're the Nibel Wolf, who's the prey?»

«Shiva.» he murmured. «Shiva that Mom and Chichiue work for and that we'll take down like the bloated Grand Horn it is. Me an' Geal and Gen and anyone else who's a wolf.»

It was like a lightbulb had flicked on in Cloud's head. «Can I help?»

«If Mom says you can.»

«Boo, you're no fun. Even puppies grow up, Seph.»

«What if I want you to be a puppy a little while longer, huh? Don't be so quick to grow up, Cloud. It's not all that fun.» Sephiroth sighed as the stop was called in at least three languages. «This one's ours.»

They snuck around adults and dove into the crowd at Wall Market, Sephiroth pulling up his and Cloud's hoods and smearing mud on them both.

Sephiroth hesitated at the doors of the church, finally whistling out an old lullaby Ms. Ifalna used to hum. The harmony sounded back, Sephiroth relaxing as he tugged Cloud into the church's sanctuary.

Aerith shrieked and nearly knocked him over with her hug. "Seph, you're here! Hi Cloud!"

Cloud did topple over when she hugged him too, laughing as he hugged her back. "Hi Aerith, I missed you too!"

"Mama wants to see you by the tulips, Seph. She's gonna teach you how to talk to the flowers~" Aerith chirruped as she picked Cloud up off the ground and tapped him in a familiar game of Tag. "You're it, slowpoke!"

"Hey!" Cloud protested before he took off after her.

Sephiroth's boots made no sound on the boards but Ms. Ifalna-Aunt, she was his Aunt-looked up with a sweet smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come down until now, Ms... Aunt Ifalna. Aerith said something about talking to the flowers?" he asked as he flipped the hood down and sat next to her, their shoulders brushing.

"You're more than welcome to use both, Seph, but yes, being Cetra means that the Planet talks to you and you can talk back." She explained, drawing her fingers through the dirt and—Oh.

"That's not Mako but... it's what I feel when I use my Limit Break. What is it?" He blurted, his fingers brushing the glimmering green threads that then turned to curling around his hands.

"The LifeStream, the source of all things, be they living or dead."

Sephiroth's entire body jerked at that, "Even... Even Him?"

"Oh no, sweetheart, he's recycled into the tulips and dies each time they do." The vicious and unexpected tone had him smiling.

"You trapped him, didn't you?"

"Plant food is so useful." She agreed with a razored smile of her own before she nudged Sephiroth gently. "It takes years of training and willpower to do that though, little Chikabo. Needless to say, the LifeStream runs through every living thing and is, normally, returned upon death. No one soul is the same part of the Stream at any time. The exception might be your Chichiue but we're not discussing that just yet."

"So when I use my Limit...?"

"You're Curing using the LifeStream to purge them of any and all hurts, regardless of the injury you're targeting."

"That would explain why Henderson's knee doesn't hurt anymore." Sephiroth muttered, flexing his fingers around the playful 'Stream. "Why can't I heal myself? Am I... Am I tainted somehow? Broken?"

Aunt Ifalna sighed, taking his hands in hers, "No, Seph, you're not tainted or broken. May I?"

"Go ahead."

She took his hands in hers and closed her eyes, Sephiroth following her cues.

He waited for what seemed like an eternity and then Ifalna's grip tightened. "Ah-AH, Aunt Ifalna...!" Pain seared into the back of his neck, a shuddering breath his only defense as the grip became like fire, agony sharp as it spiraled down his right hand.

Just as suddenly, she released him, her chest heaving as she clutched something bloody in her palm. Magic flooded him, sending him flat on his back as it strafed through his body and settled in his sternum.

"What-What is that?" He gasped out as he sat up, elbows scraping the ground in his struggle upwards.

"Hojo... He liked to pinch the MP nerve on Aerith and myself to see how long it would take us to heal from the damage he delivered. It never worked because he only disabled one of us at a time and we could... we could heal each other." She admitted as she hugged him close.

"I was alone and didn't know to reach out." Sephiroth said somberly, gingerly rubbing at the back of his neck with his left hand.

"The damage done after the pinching will stay with you for life but now you have a fighting chance-"

Sephiroth sank his hands into the dirt, instinct telling him that much magic in his thinned MP state would hurt him. He shoved it into the ground, the air around him thick with the scent of lilies before Aunt Ifalna caught into what he was trying to do.

"The bare patch over there, I wanted saffron crocus from the East. Just pour your magic, Seph, I'll do the rest."

He nodded, pulled his hands out of the dirt and then dug them into the bare patch. Deep purple flowers bloomed at his touch, the red of the stamens familiar to his eyes. "Mom'll want some, I think?"

"That she will; they are the flowers needed for the spice. Well spotted, nephew."

They filled that corner of the church with the crocus and then Seph sat back, his hands still dirty as he felt his magic subside. "Thank you."

"It will take a while to fix your MP nerve and most of the energy will go there for now after the initial purge. Be careful when you do magic now; Cetra draw on everything that has energy, even people." Aunt Ifalna warned as she stroked a stray strand back into his dusty bangs.

"Tell me as much as you can, please?"

"Of course."

His mind was spinning even as he taught Aerith and his Aunt the basics of stick fighting. It was mostly from the books he'd managed to coax off of his dubious Combatives Instructors. It helped that Johnson knew what Sephiroth was doing wrong and Captain Battle was willing to correct him.

Sephiroth even had Cloud drilling on the knife techniques, both of them working in near tandem when Sephiroth felt a presence at the doors.

He spun on the ball of his foot and threw the dagger, manifesting an unsheathed Masamune from sheer habit.

Chichiue only smiled, the dagger's blade caught in his gauntlet fingers with the faintest shriek of metal-on-metal. He threw it back with equal strength, Sephiroth catching it by the handle and sheathing it as he threw himself at his Chichiue.

They met in the middle, Chichiue lifting off of his feet with a familiar laugh. "You're getting better, my son."

"I am?" He was set down and released, though Chichue stayed close to him.

"Mm-hmm."

"He's been learning quite a bit, so I'm not surprised." Aunt Ifalna offered as she leaned on her staff, Aerith copying her move and looking so much like her that he chuckled.

"Can I write it out in Nibel shorthand? It's a lot." He asked, flicking Masamune away now that they were in no danger.

"Of course. So long as no one else can decipher it, you should be fine writing it down, Seph." She reassured and he softened, his shoulders dropping as he relaxed. "He also had a remnant of Hojo's work, so watch for magical surges."

Chichiue's crimson eys burned like hellfire, the skin of his left eye twitching as he ground out, "An MP lock? That's... They don't even use that on prisoners of war. How much power does a Regen need in your hands to bring him back, even if just for a-"

"There are still pews that need to be broken into firewood," Aunt Ifalna suggested politely. Chichiue roared as his gauntlet ripped through three pews at once, eyes sickly green instead of their usual crimson. "It's not healthy to keep your anger in but never take it out on a person, children, not if you can help it in any way."

"Can we do it in self-defense?" Sephiroth asked dryly.

"One of the few exceptions." Chichiue replied as he flexed his gauntlet and smashed another pew. "Church pews work remarkably well, for one, and so do monsters-I'll be back in a moment, my sons. Stay put please."

"'Sons?' Am I...?" Cloud looked both surprised and pleased in the same expression, reaching for Aerith's hand as she reached for his.

True to his word, Chichiue was back in a moment, shaking unnamable gunk from his claws with a serene look on his face. "Yes, I consider you my son as well, Cloud. I do apologize if you ever got the impression that you were not as equally as precious to me as Sephiroth."

"It's just... I saw Mama with a pen and one of my letters... Papa's not here, is he?" Cloud turned to Aunt Ifalna and she shook her head. "I thought so. She looks sad when she does it. Can we tell her she can stop?"

"... Of course, Cloud."

"Besides, I think Papa's happy that I've got you as a Chichiue." Cloud reasoned.

Sephiroth snorted as he gave Cloud a noogie, sticking his tongue out when Cloud blew a raspberry into his arm skin.

"Yeah, I think he wouldn't mind you watching out for Cloud." he said as he spotted a smiling blond at the edge of his vision. "Not one bit."

Chapter Text

The ride back up to ShinRa was quiet but thoughtful for all of them, Cloud squished between them because they didn't trust the other passengers.

«Chichiue, can you read me a story after dinner? One of the big ones, not the little ones.» Cloud piped up roughly a third of the way.

«Of course, Cloud.» Chichiue hummed in answer.

«Seph, can we share a bed, just for tonight?»

«I... guess so. You want to hang out and listen to stories?» Sephiroth prodded with a teasing lilt.

Cloud grumbled as he shoved at Sephiroth's cheek. «Just wanna share, fart face.»

Sephiroth gently ruffled Cloud's spikes and said, «Then yeah, just for tonight... Puppy.»

«You take that back, Zack's more of a puppy than I am!» Cloud protested as Chichiue let out a snort of laughter.

«Nope, you're a fluffier puppy than he is, just not as loud.»

«Mamaaaa, Seph keeps calling me a puppy!» Cloud whined as they all trooped into the doorway and toed off their shoes, two sets of boots and one set of sneakers matching the final set of boots.

«He also called me fart face so it's entirely justified,» Sephiroth countered. «He knows, by the way, about the letter thing. Aunt Ifalna confirmed it for him.»

Mom's shoulders dropped at that, startled when Cloud hugged her tightly. «They make you sad. Papa wouldn't want you sad, Mama.»

She swiped at her tears and then hefted Cloud up with a grunt. «Is that so? How's Ms. Ifalna, huh, and Aerith?»

«She says hi and that if you wanted, there's a new place in Sector Seven that has a bakery that just opened.» Cloud repeated verbatim what Aunt Ifalna had passed along, «She makes you happy, right Mama? Like Aerith and Zack and me!»

«Mmhmm.» Mom's face lit up, her smile making Cloud giggle. «It's Aerith, Zack and I, Cloud. How about some dinner?»

«Sounds good, Mom, but I've got to wash my hands. I've got dirt under my nails.» Sephiroth hummed, peeling off his fingerless gloves and washing his hands in the sink.

«Flower lessons?»

«Plenty of flower lessons. I, um, I had...»

«An MP lock, though Ifalna removed it.» Chichiue supplied with a heavy sigh.

Mom's expression turned to thunder and fury for a moment before it cleared with a sense of victory. «Well, I'm glad she caught it. Meatloaf okay with everyone?»

Sephiroth's stomach answered for him with a loud growl.

Mom laughed, «I should've known that would be the answer!»

They caught up on each other's days and relaxed back into the family rhythm, Cloud and Sephiroth elbowing for room above the sink after sticking the plates in the dishwasher.

Cloud brushed diligently but didn't mind the rim of toothpaste foam until he got to the end, Sephiroth carefully wiping his face for him with a washcloth.

«I got it, Seph.»

«Okay.» Sephiroth let him handle it, accepting the washcloth back after Cloud was done wiping. «Did you rinse twice?»

Cloud pouted but rinsed again, making a grabbing motion for the cloth.

Sephiroth handed it over even as he rinsed out his own mouth twice, tossing the washcloth into the bathroom's hamper.

Cloud waited by his door, looking up as Sephiroth opened it and motioned him inside.

«What's that?» he pointed to the leather duster.

«One of my birthday gifts, Cloud. Why?»

«Dunno. Feels like its not done.» his little brother chirruped, the same thought that had been lingering since he'd gotten the coat.

«Mm, needs something more, doesn't it?» he asked.

«Maybe... Oh, oh, pick me up!» Cloud grabbed his new armor, the one where the pauldrons were still a little big on him and placed the armor on top of the duster.

Both of them cocked thier heads to the side and went, «Hmm.»

«Bigger, I think, and double layers.» He muttered, «Wolf and Henderson said I needed to make an impression when I hit 1st but I might wear it when I hit 2nd, maybe.»

«Mmhmm! Down please.» Sephiroth set Cloud down and shuffled under the covers so that he left space for Cloud in his new bed. «Chichiue, we're ready for story time!»

Chichiue glided into his room, rose a brow at the awkwardly placed armor and offered, «Perhaps a new project for the two of us? I do know how to metalforge.»

Sephiroth sat up at that, impatiently shoving his hair over his shoulder so that he wouldn't be distracted by it tickling his collar. «Really?»

«I make all of my bullets and the modifications to my Quicksilvers. Who's to say I-or rather we-can't bend the ability a little to create something new?" The brief flash of gold told him Chaos was at least partically behind Chichiue's suggestion. «Hair please.»

Sephiroth happily turned around and practically purred when Chichiue carded through his hair and braided it, eyes half-closed from the simple touch. Cloud sprawled next to him, Chichiue warm at his back... A faint creak of the floorboards announced Mom's presence too.

«Aren't you three quite the puppy pile?» she teased, shuffling her skirts as she pressed a light kiss to his forehead and then another to Cloud's.

Mom sat on the edge of the bed as Sephiroth and Cloud took the center, Chichiue absently snagging Sephiroth's desk chair to read to them.

«Tonight's story is one I learned from my aunt years ago and adapted from a far older version of the story. The Lost Empire, better known as Journey to the West, is a story about a scholar, a monkey king and a...» Chichiue didn't read a book for this one, the epic tale long memorized and clearly one of his favorites.

Cloud fell asleep after the sand demon turned into an ally, Sephiroth's head jerking up and then down as he listened to Chichiue talk about Pigsy.

«Rest, my son. There is always time for more later.» Chichiue soothed, coaxing Sephiroth into lying down. Mom stroked at his bangs and he drifted off to sleep.

He dove into his paperwork, sorting through it thanks to Ms. Jones' tips and then stretched as he absently chewed on his pen.

Director Tuesti cleared his throat and offered him a new pen over the edge of his cubicle. "This one might do you better."

Sephiroth plucked the shitty ShinRa pen out of his mouth before it shattered and stuck the new one in, surprised to find the material dense enough for him to chew on without it cracking. He spit it out, wiped it down and looked it over.

"Is... Is this the stuff Dark Nation's toys are made out of?" The off-white color cued him in on the possible origin point and Director Tuesti shrugged. "Sir?" He hastily tacked it on but the man didn't seem to care, thankfully, nor take offense.

"Human-compatible and I assumed, rightfully so, that your teeth are built like Dark Nation's if they kept shearing through reinforced ShinRa pens. I can darken the color, if you like." The Director mentioned, "A few other SOLDIERs also requested pens of a like nature but to save ShinRa money and time, I used resources already available."

"What exactly is it, Director?"

"Dual-Horn calcium composite mixed with chewing gum rubber, Lt. Strife-Valentine." Director Tuesti hummed. "You know, I think you're the first person to ask me that."

"... And Cait Sith, sir?"

"Calibrations are good and he's almost back online in the cat frame but I keep losing power if he's out of reach of a Mako socket. The solar might work but... it's still incredibly faulty."

"I don't suppose you've tried transferring him to a PHS? Just for the time being, sir?"

"... You might be into something there... Hmm. These are your prototype pens, I'd like some feedback if you wouldn't mind but I've had just the thought..." Tuesti wandered off, scribbling furiously into the small notebook he kept on his person at all times, having delivered the bone-colored pens in a pack of sixteen, one of which was in his mouth.

Sephiroth put the pen through its paces as he looked over training plans for the junior Thirds.

"Sir, do you have-?"

He cracked down on the pen at the sound of Lt. Vidar's voice, expecting it to shatter like every other pen.

Lt.s Noctua and Vidar watched as he pulled the pen out and found only a dent in it. "Oh thank Bahamut, Director Tuesti finally managed to make a pen I won't bite through. What was it you needed, Lt.s?"

"Ah, Noctua was wondering if there were any Wutainese hand signs he could learn? He's, ah, deaf, sir. I'm his interpreter." Lt. Vidar asked, glancing at Noctua as if to confirm it was alright to reveal this to a superior.

"There are, in fact, two sets. One Imperial, one regular, Lt. Noctua. If you wish, I will teach them to you directly." Sephiroth said directly to Noctua. "Lt. Vidar, please convey that I would also wish to learn his style of hand signs in order to effectively communicate with a fellow member of the Corps."

Noctua's gold-green eyes widened at that, his hands nearly flying as he used them to talk to Vidar.

"He says its called sign language, sir, and that he'd be delighted to learn from you. I'll teach you sign, if you don't mind. I don't want him confusing the signs, sir." Lt. Vidar offered brightly.

"Fair enough. I look forward to our lessons; I trust you'll be free..." Sephiroth paused, dug through his mental roster of squads and snapped his fingers when he caught it. "Monday evening?"

Lt. Vidar dug for his PHS and his eyes widened as he looked at the schedule. "Yessir, we are. How did you...?"

"I memorize the rosters. It's habit, before you ask, Lt.s."

"Thank you... for answering, sir." Noctua said, his voice soft but firm.

"You're welcome. Monday evening, meet me here please."

Chapter Text

Sephiroth spun Masamune in a lazy arc, the song of Wutainese steel against the stale air of ShinRa a little sad.

"Bored of beating each other up, huh?" Lt. Colonel Tyris drawled as he leaned against the practice room's doorway.

He brightened at the sight of Squad Delta, all of them ready for another mission. "No, sir, just bored I think."

"Lucky you, we've been ordered to tackle a monster in Corel."

"All of us, sir?" Angeal inquired, his tone genial but the strain in his body saying otherwise. It wasn't noticeable to those unfamiliar with one of his best friends but Sephiroth was and he didn't want to leave them behind again.

"That is the definition of we, after all sirs." Genesis offered with cheek, leaning on Angeal.

"What was it that book said... Ah yes. All for one, one for all, sirs." Sephiroth murmured.

Urial looked between the three of them and gave a chuckle of disbelief. He remarked to his squadmates, "Somehow, when we weren't looking, those three managed to turn into an actual squad."

General Urial chewed his lip briefly, appeared to be making mental calculations and then dumped his gear behind the Shield meant for such things. "Tell you what, if all three of you manage a hit on all three of us and get away with minor scrapes, you can all go. If not, Strife-Valentine has to come alone."

They traded looks, Sephiroth rose a brow and both of them nodded. "Agreed, sir."

His hand flicked briefly in a Nibel sign: Don't hold back.

Angeal smiled and Genesis huffed out a laugh; of course they weren't, they were tired of being separated too.

Sephiroth flicked Masamune and drew his throwing daggers, Genesis tapped his blade awake and Angeal drew the massive Buster.

Urial, Cleary and Tyris drew their weapons with little flare but settled into different stances than those of fighting monsters.

«Be careful.» he murmured in Nibel, knowing they'd get the general gist of it.

"Noticed that did you? You fight monsters and people a bit differently."

"Yessir."

Sephiroth didn't wait. He snapped out a single dagger to test the waters.

It spiraled back to him in a strike that he nearly missed.

He barely caught the end of his dagger with his right two fingers.

Apologizing to the room, he spun on the ball of his foot and threw it back, the backwash of force enough to send his hair flying.

Cleary yelped, the dagger cutting across his main shoulder and slamming into the wall hard enough to crack it. "Fuck! Strife-Valentine!"

Shrapnel pelted Urial and Tyris, making them sharpen.

"Sorry sir!" He replied as he spun in the opposite direction, attacking Tyris with the blunt force of Masamune's handle. "Ang, spring!"

Angeal skidded under his backflip, the Buster coming up hard and heavy to nail Tyris in the ribs.

The blunt edge got something, though, the snap of it muffled slightly by the cloth.

"Tyris out!" Genesis crowed, "Angeal broke-Yeek!" Gen barely dodged Cleary's glaive, using the wall and landing on a roofing beam. "Angeal broke a rib for sure!"

"Two, actually," Tyris managed before he slumped where he stood. "Good one."

Urial was holding his own, blocking each of Sephiroth's strikes until he grinned, dodged and heard his poor commander squawk as Genesis' Limit Break roared forth.

"Infernos!"

"Rhapsodos!" Urial growled as he patted himself out.

"Sorry sir!"

"No you're not." Cleary huffed as he kicked under Angeal's block, Sephiroth taking the hit with a grunt. "Stop protecting them!"

"No can do sir~" he chirruped, dodging Urial's foot swipe.

"Strife-Valentine, please stop blocking us." Urial grumbled as he launched after Genesis.

"Go ahead, Seph. We've got it." Angeal tapped his hip, his gaze hardening as he faced off against Cleary.

Sephiroth turned to tend to Tyris, surprised to find the man already healing himself. "Can I, sir?"

"No. We're not done yet." Tyris murmured. "We've yet to land a hit on any of you and none of you have done more than superficial damage to us. Try harder."

"But-"

"Attack, Strife-Valentine!"

"I don't want to hurt you!" He snapped, dodging the hits as they came.

"Learn!" Tyris snapped back. "Not that accidental shit you pulled with Cleary!"

"No!" Sephiroth snarled this time, Masamune's song of steel ringing as he carved into the ground next to Tyris.

"It'll heal!"

"No. Chichiue," he ducked a kick from Urial and Genesis's battle, "said that once you approach someone with the intent to hurt, you better do it to the death. I'm not killing you, sir."

Tyris froze, as did the rest of the battle. "Your old man said that?"

"What is hurt but a step above death?" He countered quietly, "Sparring is fine, sir, and well intentioned. This was not."

Urial deflated, wiping his weapon down and turning to Tyris. "They're more than ready and we were going beyond that."

"My apologies, Strife-Valentine. I took the spar too seriously. Might we start over?" Tyris murmured.

"Yessir."

"Alright, so I'm with Rhapsodos, Cleary with Strife-Valentine and Hewley with Tyris." Urial separated them, Sephiroth pushing Masamune away to check on Cleary.

"May I, sir? I'm sorry I hurt you." He asked, the Gospel lighting hand up green.

"Go right ahead, kid. Hels, you surprised me by catching it, let alone having enough strength to cut through the Barrier I had." Cleary allowed him to brush over his shoulder, his ribs and the shattered collarbone he had. "Ooo, that's nice."

"The force was enough that I almost shattered your arm, sir. That Barrier saved you a great deal of pain." He countered seriously.

"Huh. You and your old man throw daggers like that all the time?"

"Back and forth, sir. It's good hand-eye coordination."

In the end, Sephiroth watched the cut Cleary had managed to get on him heal over.

"Your assessment, sir?"

"Well, it looks like all three of you are coming with. Strife-Valentine, a moment?" Sephiroth nodded and Urial cast the normal privacy barriers. "What you told Tyris... Did you mean it?"

"Chichiue wishes I had no part in the war but understand that should it come to pass —I will be front and center whether I wish to be or not. To that extent, he's taught me to kill only when absolutely necessary. Death is a burden to the soul you cannot remove but a human death is something you can never come back from. My other teacher... She says that even if they're reborn or revived, you still carry it with you. Mom only confirmed it."

"A SOLDIER who knows well the lessons a battlefield could teach but wants to remain as peaceful as possible in the face of death." Urial cleaned his sword as an afterthought, the trace of Genesis's blood riling something in Sephiroth that he couldn't name. "When your friends are injured, there is something that lurks in your gaze reminiscent of your old man. It promises death if you get to them first and they're not safe. Your resolve not to be a weapon is the best resolve but should you be pushed to your limit, you will be feared. You're growing up to be a good man, Strife-Valentine. Keep that with you if you can."

Chapter Text

The long flight was spent teasing Gen and 'Geal into one-armed, upright pushup contests, checking Masamune's sharpness on various pieces of old equipment and taking unscheduled naps piled like Chikabos with his friends.

"... too mature for his age, I'm telling you." Urial sighed, Sephiroth lingering in that state between sleep and wakefulness.

"It's the trauma." Tyris snorted, the skiff of paracord being braided audible over the muffled rumble of airship engines.

"You felt it, right? When you hurt his friends? That..." Cleary murmured as he held the end of the paracord braid. They were making paracord bracelets, useful to all SOLDIERs and troopers, which helped to pass the time on long, intercontinental missions like this one.

"Despair. He felt like Wolf or Henderson, frankly, and that's no easy feat. A good man going to war and you fear what demons he keeps locked away if he reacts like that." Urial finished. "Once he gets past his gangly phase, Strife-Valentine is going to be properly terrifying."

"Hells, he's terrifying now and he's still a child. What other SOLDIER would hold back from hurting you, knowing your capabilities?" Tyris corrected. "That wall could've crashed down and killed us. He pulled back; pulled back against us when he goes all out with his Chichiue and his squad mates. What the fuck did Hojo put in him that he's that strong?"

Sephiroth stirred, said quietly as to not disturb Gen and 'Geal in his lap, "A monster. He put a monster in me that has no mercy."

"Strife-Valentine-" the ache of sympathy in his commander's voice hurt but he forged ahead anyway.

"You're all right. I don't know what I'm capable of, if given the opportunity. I've met it—Her—only once. She triggered a family Limit Break in her presence." Urial's brow furrowed, Cleary's shot up and Tyris blinked from the shock of his blunt wording.

"Would she be in your huge, redacted-to-the-Hells-and-back files?" Cleary asked frankly. "I hate that, by the way, that you have multiple fucking files."

"Yes. I doubt you could get access, sir. I hate that fact just as much as you do Lt. Colonel." He admitted, "I can count on one hand the amount of people who understand the threat she represents to everyone. One of them is dead, sirs."

"I swear to Odin, if I ever get my hands on that man's body-" Cleary snarled lowly, his hands curling into make-shift claws.

Tyris made the ward of Ifrit out of what appeared to be sheer habit at the mention of dragon dung.

"He's flower food, sir." Sephiroth hummed, "Though I'd pick you some and give you the pleasure of watching them die."

All three older SOLDIERs perked up at that. "What kind of flowers?"

"What colors?"

"You know where he's buried."

"Tulips, sir, red and purple ones." He replied with a smugness that he didn't bother suppressing, putting a finger to his lips about the location. "They bloom year-round. When would you want them, sirs?"

"After the mission, Strife-Valentine."

"I'll get them to you ASAP, sirs." He chuckled, slightly more at ease as he heard Gen and Angeal's breathing patterns shift into deep sleep. "If you'll excuse me, I've a dream that needs getting back to, sirs."

The hunt went off without a hitch, the enormous Bagnadrana herd and infestation of Cactuars taken care of swiftly. They were in the town proper, seated away from the general populace that was giving them a wide berth.

Sephiroth wiped down Masamune, tossing a cloth to Genesis and Angeal each. Chichiue had stressed that a clean weapon was a ready one, whether it was a blade or a firearm.

SOLDIERs were greeted with a mix of reluctant admiration and distaste. They hated relying on ShinRa or its SOLDIERs and preferred hunters for most monsters.

The hunters mentioned to Chichiue that if they couldn't handle a situation, they let ShinRa know through the hunting bulletins.

The woman that approached him, however, was neither of the previous. "Excuse me, Third Class SOLDIER, would you know a man that goes by the name of Sharpshooter?"

He stopped wiping down his blade and chewing on the dried monster meat in his mouth, tucking both away to answer. That was the name Chichiue had used while he was making his way to Midgar. "Yes ma'am."

"Sorry, I wasn't sure but you look a lot like him and I was wondering if you might," she broke off into a coughing fit and Sephiroth's hands hovered as she recovered. "Oh, don't worry about me, young man. Is he doing well?"

"Take my seat, ma'am. He's well." He offered.

"That's good to hear," She sat down and then smiled up at him. "Thank you. My name's Myrna Wallace."

"My pleasure, Ms. Wallace."

"My, my, I've never been so respected in my life by a ShinRa SOLDIER. It's Mrs., actually."

"I might not be in a moment, ma'am. May I Scan you?" Sephiroth countered as he dug for his Libra Materia.

"Feel free. I doubt it'll read any different than it does to my Doc." Mrs. Wallace huffed.

He dug further, growled under his breath when he couldn't find the Materia and reached like Aunt Ifalna had taught him, Scanning her with the energy of the ground around him.

Several stats popped up but her lungs flared red on the Scan. She was obviously on medications for it but... was the Gospel enough? He didn't think he could cure her all the way but a liberal application of Greater Gospel might help her breathe easier for a while.

"My lungs don't look so pretty, do they?" She asked wryly as she watched the gold of the Scan disperse.

"Mmn."

"Now that's a face I recognize. Are you and Sharpshooter related?" Mrs. Wallace questioned.

"He's my Chichiue." He absently filled in as he mulled over the consequences of using his own MP to cure someone on a ShinRa-sanctioned mission.

"Strife-Valentine, wheels up in ten!" Cleary barked, shaking him out of his contemplative mood.

"Mrs. Wallace, may I have your permission to use a Limit Break on you?" He asked bluntly. "I have little time, ma'am, but I want to help."

"A Limit Break? That's about the only thing I haven't tried; it's not like you could make it any worse, young man. Go ahead."

"Thank you." He knelt, pressed his hands to her ribs and closed his eyes.

Greater Gospel, Sephiroth thought, the green glow fighting against another green current. He pushed at it, heard her breathing stutter and then he felt the Gospel wash over and through the stream.

He stumbled back as the other green current surged, his butt meeting the dirt as Mrs. Wallace drew in a deep breath.

"Strife-Valentine, let's go!"

"Yessir!" He replied by rote, scrambling to get to the helicopter that would take them back to the airship, feeling tired but accomplished.

"What were you doing, Lt.?"

"Talking with someone who'd met my Chichiue, sir. Sorry sir." He said, pulling an elixir out of his pouch and downing it. "Might've used more MP than I wanted against those Cactuars, though."

"Slippery eel bastards so I wouldn't be surprised if we all need one. Haste is no fun to cast on repeat. Good thinking, son." Urial patted his pauldrons and took one himself. "Drink an elixir, Strife-Valentine made an excellent point."

The tulips were easy. Sephiroth slipped down to Sector Five, mud on his face and his hair hidden by the hood of the jacket he'd "borrowed" from Angeal, the thumb holes worn in perfectly.

He snipped a handful for each of his officers, tucking them into a willow basket woven by his own hand, having learned from Mrs. Gainsborough.

"Hey, you're not Ms. Faramis," the man accused. Sephiroth ignored him, listening as he tended to the lilies and the crocus flowers with a watering can. "Hey-"

"You would do well to leave," Chichiue mentioned as he carried Aunt Ifalna through the doorway.

"He's a client." Aunt Ifalna said, motioning to be set down on a pew. "The child is of no interest to you. I hired him to tend to my flowers and take what he thinks fit in payment. He likes the tulips best."

Sephiroth continued working, wove a flower crown of lilies and then set them on his Aunt's head as she spoke with her client and left.

""You're doing him a kindness, Ms. Faramis, just like you do to us slum folks. I'm sorry.""

Aunt Ifalna chuckled, ""He just needs to get away every now and again and the church is a sanctuary from his responsibilities.""

""A sanctuary he appreciates deeply."" Chichiue added as the man left. ""You may come down from the rafters, my son."""

He somersaulted back into the church, picked up his basket of tulips and snuggled against Chichiue.

"I felt you using our Limit Break. How did it go?" Aunt Ifalna inquired as she examined his flower crown and healed over the cuts he'd made by brushing a fingertip over them.

"I don't know. I had limited time, Aunt Ifalna." He admitted outright.

"Here, another lesson then," She set the lilies back onto her head and held out her hands.

Sephiroth took them in his own and the world exploded into brilliant color.

Chapter Text

People felt different like this, the Planet wreathed in different shades of green and people even more individual. Chichiue was gold/green/blue/orange where Aunt Ifalna was a sharp green/teal/aquamarine. Both of them glowed bright, brighter than the undercurrent of LifeStream that was absolutely everywhere.

Sephiroth hummed, happy to stay in the current and sway in it.

It's nice, isn't it? At his Aunt's voice, he blinked and the current's grip faded slightly. A bit overwhelming at first, I'll grant you that. I was much younger when my Mother helped me to see the Planet.

"It's..." Sephiroth felt tears on his face but no shame. The beauty of the souls around him in Midgar was an experience he wasn't likely to forget. "Everyone's so breathtaking..." He looked down and saw the same tangle of grey that wrapped his Mama. "Everyone but me."

Look again.

Sephiroth looked again and saw that it was woven into his own colors, more silver than the grey, winding around the green that he saw in the mirror every morning and a streak of teal much wider than either color.

The teal is us, the Cetra. Aerith's is just as big. Now, did you catch that person's name? She asked gently.

"Myrna Wallace." A sharp tug and they were standing in front of a familiar silhouette. "Her lungs were bad."

""Wallace? She was on medication the last time I saw her, my son."" Chichiue's spike of gold color meant surprise.

Well, she looks better. Her lungs, were they red in your Scan?

"Mm-hmm."

They're a solid yellow now! Good job, it looks like you're leveling the Gospel~ His Aunt praised and Sephiroth flushed. Is there anyone you want to see while we're connected to the 'Stream?

"Zack." A secondary tug and Sephiroth was looking at an excited Zack in a classroom, waving his hand up in the air, colors an absolute whirlwind of blue/black/gold that flared with an outline of violet.

Oh, was this the little one at the Festival? I thought those might be his colors.

"The violet... what is that?" He blurted, watching it shift with Zack as though it were a second skin.

Aunt Ifalna chuckled as she squeezed his hands. That's the color of a pure soul. He's not naive but he trusts more than he should and it gets him in trouble most of the time, yes?

"... That sounds like Zack alright." He huffed out as the colors faded from his vision. "Can we do that again?"

Of course. I'm glad you healed her, Seph, it means a lot in the long run.

He looked for Mom, her colors a surprise; orange, red and a shade of steel closest to Masamune. "Mom's umm... "

Like the dragon I compared her to years ago. Cloud is much the same: warmth but with a core of sword steel waiting to be unsheathed. his Aunt supplied wryly. Have you tried your friends?

No, but he wasn't about to give up the opportunity while it was there.

Sephiroth focused on Angeal first, the wash of blue/gold/green threaded with a faint teal. Genesis was like his hair, vibrant crimson/gold—grey?!?

Sephiroth yelped and clung to his Aunt's hands. "J— is on Genesis!"

Let me see. Aunt Ifalna looked and then nodded in solemn agreement. She is indeed, though she was also in your other friend, for you to leave a trace of Cetra behind like that. Let me show you how to look by yourself. You'll need it but it counts as partially Leveling the Gospel as a result. Will you do it?

"For them? Anything."

My, my, that's quite the reply.

""My son is a Valentine; why should we expect anything less for the friends he has?""

Sephiroth was quiet on the way back up from Sector 5, mind still roiling with the image of Genesis encircled by a hated presence.

Just how had Hollander gotten his hands on something that dragon dung had watched like a territorial Griffon?

He frowned his way through ShinRa security, startling the poor Corporal on duty.

"Sir?!"

"I'm fine, Corporal...?"

"Linea, sir."

"There's a lot on my mind, Corporal Linea, but nothing I cannot fix. Rest assured, you're doing your duty admirably." He sighed. "Don't try searching the man behind me, he's a Turk. He can and will shoot you if you try to retain the Quicksilvers and the larger revolver."

"... Yes sir, duly noted, sir. C-card, sir?"

"Here." Chichiue presented the Turk ID card with a quick flick of his wrist as Sephiroth leaned next to the elevator. "Are we done?"

"Yes sir." Linea murmured, handing back the card. "Thank you sir. Next!"

Seph: Where are you?

The reply text was to the point, which meant that they were busy with the weekly-

Geal: Spar w Gen in VRR 3

Sephiroth gave Chichiue a brief hug but split off from him to meet his friends.

"Be home in time for dinner, my son."

"Yes Chichiue." He hummed as he took to the rafters for easier travel. It was better than braving the after-shift crowds and got him to where he needed to be faster than usual.

He landed in front of the VR Room 3, startling the queue of Second squads waiting for Room 4 to open.

"Strife-Valentine, you off duty?" Captain Ulric asked, "You, uh, you got a little..."

"Mud and the answer's yes, sir."

"The rumor mill of the Firsts has it that you know where dragon dung is buried." Major Higsby, apparently more comfortable with a sword in hand than he was in a classroom. "Is it true?"

"... Truth, sir? From the Firsts?" Gen poked his head out of VR Room 3 and clucked his tongue. "Everyone knows it's best to take the rumors of the Firsts with a grain of incredibly large salt, sir." He slung an arm over Sephiroth's shoulder. "C'mon, we have to spar, Seph. Bye sirs!"

He tugged Sephiroth inside the room and handed over a wet wipe.

"Thanks."

"What was so urgent that you had to interrupt the weekly spar?" 'Geal asked, leaning on the handle of the Buster with the tip in the 'ground.'

"... is this Banora?" The wide swaths of apple orchards to the left and right were beautiful, the trees in full bloom and dropping fake petals when the fans blew.

"Yeah, but like, the outskirts." Gen deflected. "Seriously, you never interrupt. What's up?"

He flicked up a Silence, a Libra and a Shield so strong it was opaque. "Umm, it has to do with your dragon dung." Sephiroth twisted his fingers until Genesis slapped them down and put a throwing dagger in his hands.

"Oh." Angeal looked as though he'd run into a fake tree trunk.

"My friend, the fates are cruel. I take you found something out about Hollander?" Gen prodded.

"You're sick." He blurted, the creak of the plastic handle a warning that he was about to shatter it in his grip. "I can help."

"... just me?" Genesis' jaw worked as he sheathed and unsheathed the red blade.

"'Geal was too before I got to him."

"Oh. Your family thing. Is that why you're here?"

"Yeah."

"I did cut myself pretty deep yesterday sparring with Osiria. Do I need to be injured or-?"

Sephiroth shook his head, reaching for the still throbbing cut on Gen's palm. Greater Gospel, he thought hard, feeling the green wave that belonged to Genesis fight hard before their waves washed over one another.

He looked to see if Genesis was healed and chuckled at the final color to reveal itself; green, just like his and Angeal's.

"What? What's funny?"

"Your soul matches mine and 'Geal's," He answered, "at least partially."

"Wait, really?" came the surprised yelp from his best friends.

Chapter Text

-Three Months Later-

Sephiroth yawned as he followed Cloud into the kitchen, both of them pouring separate cereals for breakfast and then Dual Horn milk.

He ruffled Cloud's spikes out of habit. Cloud pulled his hair into a top knot with his tongue sticking out on the edge of Sephiroth's peripheral vision.

They rinsed their dishes, parted with their secret handshake at the door before Sephiroth took off for formation.

He didn't want to miss the morning spar sessions that ShinRa had begun to incorporate into the usual routine. Skidding in just before the bugle went off, he shared a grin with Gen and 'Geal as they were paired off with their Mentors. Apparently, however, the Firsts bickered about who got to spar with him. Captain Ulric rolled his eyes at the knot of Firsts and tapped his pauldron.

"Let's go spar while the Firsts figure it out, hmm, Strife-Valentine?" Ulric offered.

"Sorry, sir, I've actually already been taken. I'm supposed to spar with part of Mike Squad this morning," he admitted, "I'm practicing my sign with Lt.s Noctua and Vidar, sir."

Ulric shook his head but shrugged. "I suppose I could take Ferra today. He needs footwork training anyway. Enjoy your spar, Strife-Valentine."

:Did you just refuse Captain Ulric?: Noctua signed with a look between him and Ulric's back as the man headed for a fumbling Ferra.

"We had a previous engagement. I'm not one to break my word, Noctua." He spoke as he signed, glancing at Vidar to see if he'd gotten it right.

:Your second to last sign was wrong but you're getting better!: Noctua waited for Sephiroth to nod before he fixed the sign physically. :Try again, without speaking.:

Sephiroth signed the phrase again and Noctua's green-gold gaze lit up. ::I was correct this time.::

:You learn quickly and you finger spell what you don't know yet, which helps a lot.:

A scuffle amongst the Firsts had him looking at them. Henderson emerged with a grin as he bee-lined straight for Sephiroth.

"Only if you're ready for a three-to-one, sir," Sephiroth warned. "Noctua, Vidar and I had an agreement for sign practice this morning."

Henderson's grin widened. "I was going to ask why you were over here with part of Mike Squad and why Ulric's been riding Ferra's footwork but eh, three-to-one sounds good. Think you can practice with sign still or...?

Noctua signed, :I'll take that challenge if he takes us as seriously as he takes you, Strife-Valentine.:

:Noted.: He flicked off, turning to Henderson. "We'll take the challenge, sir."

:I may be rusty,: Henderson was slow but steady, :but I still know a little.:

Sephiroth and Noctua grinned as they traded glances. "That won't be a problem."

"What...? No, no, I don't want to know."

"Okaaa-ay~" Sephiroth drew out.

Henderson swore, loudly, after Sephiroth, Noctua and Vidar had him in a three way lock.

"How the fu—"

"You said you didn't want to know, sir."

"I take it back, Strife-Valentine, by Ifrit's balls do I take it back."

"Wutainese hand signs, sir. Imperial." Vidar disclosed, Noctua wheezing in the background in his form of a laugh.

"You're shittin' me," Henderson scrubbed at his neck where the swords had been and then huffed out with a wry grin, "There I go underestimating you again."

"Not just me sir, but my companions as well," Sephiroth teased lightly.

"That too," Henderson shrugged, turned to Noctua and spoke while signing slowly, "I want to be your mentor. We could use a man or two like that."

:Only if Vidar is with me, sir.: Noctua replied.

"I'm not about to separate battle buddies. That offer was for you both." came the amused response. "Guess you can teach an old dog new tricks."

Sephiroth dug through the hair ornament bin, scowling at what the man had on offer, the hairstick in his hair notwithstanding.

"I need something really special," he challenged the owner of the cart. "It's for my cousin's birthday and I haven't found the right one yet."

"Special, huh?" Mrs. Fair?!? Sephiroth whirled in his surprise and opened his arms for Zack, who jumped into them with glee. "Who's the lucky cousin?"

"Aerith. She's been grumpy about her hair lately and I wanted to show off her curls so I need a solid ribbon." He sighed, setting Zack down and resuming his search. "Pink or white since those are her favorites right now."

"Oh? Like that one?" Zack pointed and sure enough, the girl walking past him had the perfect ribbon but the wrong shade of pink.

"Yes!"

"Excuse me, Miss, could I ask where you got that!?" Zack blurted.

The little girl (around Cloud's age) looked between Sephiroth and Zack and then giggled. "That way! She was running out so you better be quick!"

Sephiroth spotted the vendor and ran just slow enough for Zack and Mrs. Fair to keep up with him. "Oh! Hello! And what have we here?!"

"I, umm, I need a ribbon for my cousin." He scrolled, flipped his PHS around to show her and then spotted the perfect color, only... it was in the saleswoman's hair. "That's her."

Sephiroth sighed softly but begrudged that the universe was forever putting things out of his reach. The perfect gift but it was soft and worn and clearly loved. He couldn't ask for it.

"Oh! I have the perfect color~" She chirruped and dug deep into the cart. She came back out with a thicker ribbon than he'd imagined, one that would grow with Aerith as she grew up. "It's a little thick right now and a bit heavy for such a small girl but—"

"It's perfect. How much?" He blurted and then flushed.

"For you? Oh, I suppose I could let you have it for, say, a hundred?"

"Five hundred and I'm not negotiating." Sephiroth pulled the gil out and put it down. "Please?"

She blinked in astonishment. "Why would you pay so much?"

"I..."

"Aerith's his favorite and my friend! And well, I might've forgotten it's her birthday soon?" Zack wheedled, pulling out his infamous Puppy eyes to seal the deal.

"Alright, alright, five hundred for the Minerva Ribbon." She accepted with a laugh, tucking the gil away and wrapping the ribbon in a beautiful paper and then an even prettier paper bag. «What a sweet pair.» The woman murmured in Wutainese.

"Thank you!" He and Zack chorused together, Sephiroth briefly dragging Zack into a noogie before returning to Mrs. Fair and her fond expression.

"I'm glad Zack was so polite and asked that lovely little girl about her ribbon."

"Ah. I'm sorry about that, what brings you here to Midgar's undercity?" Sephiroth inquired a little sheepishly.

"Oh, just a little shopping here and there for things we can't get in Corel. Alric should be in Sector Seven, bartering his hunting items with the others. Would you like to join us?" Mrs. Fair asked.

"I have to get back, ShinRa lunch breaks aren't long. It was nice seeing you?" He apologized, grumbling as the timer for the train went off. "I've got to catch that but I'll be down here again when Aerith's birthday comes. It's the seventh of next month, in Sector 5. I'll text Mr. Fair the details!"

"Sounds good! Be safe!" She called after him.

"I will be!"

Chapter Text

-Aerith's Birthday-

Sephiroth hated puberty, but it clearly hated him back with equal fervor; why else would he be nervous and sweaty and smelly?

"Why do I smell?!" Sephiroth hissed to himself, pacing back and forth as he waited for Mom to finish getting Cloud ready.

"Go put up your hair, rinse off and then put this under your arms. It's a basic deoderant and should stop the smell temporarily. Once the Mako kicks after you mature, it shouldn't be as bad as it seems now. You are only nervous due to the surprise you set up with the Fairs; relax, Sephiroth." Chichiue advised quietly, his soothing tone betrayed by the waft of amusement that followed it.

He tossed his hair into a bun with the hairstick, hopped into the shower, hissed at the cold water before it warmed up and then pressed his head against the cool tile.

The steam of the shower made him relax.

Sephiroth applied the deoderant quickly but thoroughly afterwards, giving himself a subtle sniff to see if it had helped.

The kickback of mint, cedar and faint hint of pine made him snort a little. Chichiue had chosen well; it gave no hint of his own smell through it.

He dressed and then narrowed his eyes at the messy bun.

"No, my son." Chichiue murmured as he reached for the hairstick. "It looks fine."

"Oh, that's a new style, Seph. Wish I could get mine to cooperate like that!" Mom teased, her gentle waves mostly pulled away from her face with a headband but her bangs still in place. "Ready to go see your Aunt and cousin?"

"Mn, I have to give the Fairs-"

"Already done, Sephiroth." Sephiroth opened his mouth and then sighed. "Is something bothering you?"

"I... I'm not sure."

"Hmm, I see. Would a hug help?"

"Yes, actually." Sephiroth buried himself against his Chichiue's chest, nose firmly pressed against his collar. The pressure of the hug soothed his nerves, the warmth around his shoulders easing the faint ache there. "Thank you."

"This is your first time knowing they are family. She will love your gift and the surprise, whether they came from you as family or only a friend. Aerith is remarkably perceptive. She will treat your gifts much the way you treat hers, with earnest attention and the utmost care." Chichiue murmured.

"I know but..."

"No butts~" Cloud reminded him with a sing-song tone. "Only pans."

"No buts, only ands, Cloud." Sephiroth corrected absently. "I guess you're right though. I won't know until we get there—Or else we'll be late!"

"Aunt Ifalna!" He picked her up and gently spun her, the smile on his face utterly content. Of course Aerith would love it. "Seems like I'm growing again."

"Such is the way of little boys, they get big. Seph, have you been having... dreams about J again?"

"Not about Her, no, but about the Lifestream," he offered as he set her down and held out his elbow for her to take. "Deep in it, like there's a root place and it keeps tugging me deeper."

"Hmm. Let me know if that changes. It seems she's not quite done interfering with you just yet, nephew."

Sephiroth nodded his agreement, flexing his shoulders back briefly before he settled for being his Aunt's support.

"Hi Seph!!" Zack skidded to a halt just before him and Aunt Ifalna, "Hi, Ms. Ifalna! Where's Aerith?"

"She should be coming out shortly, Zack," his Aunt chuckled fondly. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you and Cloud."

"Yeah!" Zack fidgeted in place and then blurted, "Thank you for inviting us!"

"You're more than welcome, dear." Ms. Gainsborough replied before his Aunt could, balancing a bowl of salad in one arm. "Would you mind taking this to that table over there for me, young man?"

"Yes ma'am!" He grunted under the weight of the noodle salad but stuck his tongue out and carefully made his way over to the table. Zack shoved it onto the table, Mom placing it in a slightly safer place before patting him on the head.

He leaned into the touch, eyes closed and his expression pleased befor he bounced off to go see Cloud in the flower fields.

Sephiroth couldn't help but shake his head fondly. Cloud all but tackled Zack in a hug and they both giggled, drawing out Aerith in her adorable green dress.

"Seph!" She hugged his leg, her glee at seeing him returned twofold.

"Aerith. Happy birthday, I might have brought you something or..." here he glanced over at the fields, "a few someones."

"Cloud?!" Sephiroth inclined his head, smiling as she gasped, "Zack too!?"

"Mmhmm."

"Thank you!" She dashed off, her tiny boots leaving imprints in the damp ground as she spotted her friends. "Hi!"

For a moment, however brief, the fields were filled with laughter. Sephiroth wanted to immortalize it, keep it cradled close to his chest. "Aunt Ifalna?"

"One of those moments, hmm? Feels like a soap bubble, but you want to keep it forever?" She hummed as she watched them.

"... How did-?" He did a double-take; Cetra weren't mind-readers after all.

"I have them all the time. Between you and my daughter, there is enough wanting for a lifetime. I keep them close, pull them out when the world seems a little too grim for my tastes. We can, technically, immortalize it but such a Materia would be useless to all but five."

"'Five?'" He echoed in surprise before— "We can make Materia?!"

"You, Aerith, myself, your mother and your grandmother."

Sephiroth ran it over in his mind, confused enough to ask, "Grandmother?"

"My mother and your mother's mother. Alas you've got only the one grandparent but she's still alive."

"There are more of us." He repeated with awe.

More family when he'd started out with so little.

"Well, that and the cousins in Cosmo but they're more connected to the Contient than the full Lifestream, those Selkirks."

"... I know a Selkirk. She's ShinRa Infantry and Ho—dragon dung hurt her too."

"Oh dear. Give her our regards then."

Aerith tore into her gifts, nearly stacking them into a pile and then turning to the one given to her by the Turks.

She frowned, opened it and then twisted the medium steel drum, squeaking when it extended into a staff.

"Well, I guess its... useful." She muttered doubtfully, setting it off to the side to focus on his and Zack's joint gift. Chichiue's shoulders were shaking with silent laughter under the cloak.

"'From Seph and Zack'," Aerith read off before she carefully peeled it open. "Oh! Thank you! Tie it on for me?"

Zack tied the first knot and then Sephiroth neatly tied the second, the ribbon draping exactly like he'd imagined it would.

"Sorry that it's a bit big but I thought it might grow with you." He admitted.

"That's alright," She turned to Chichiue (who was still highly amused) and pointedly asked, "Which one of them sent it, Mr. Red?"

"...Tseng, I believe. He anticipates that you'll need it in the future and more than likely caught wind of your practices with my son." Chichiue hazarded a guess.

"Okay then, tell him I said thank you." She shrugged.

"Why not tell him yourself?" Chichiue posited with a raised brow.

"'Cause then he'll know that we know and..."

"That's no fun at all~" Aunt Ifalna finished with a laugh. "We know they're there but we don't want them knowing that we know. Leave us to our game, hmm?" She winked.

Chichiue only huffed out a laugh. "... Very well, I shall pass it along."

Chapter Text

The ache across his shoulders continued, silently twinging during missions, mealtimes and even sparring.

The last heave, both Angeal and Genesis felt, because it was with their arms around his shoulders.

"... Seph?"

"Something you wanna tell us?"

Sephiroth blew out a breath, winced at the ache and muttered, "Its been happening on and off for a while since before Aerith's birthday."

"Missed that one too! Ah well, always next year?" Gen offered.

"She'd like that, I think," he admitted before, "It's on my right shoulder mostly. I don't know if... If it's a Her thing, if it's a family thing or just a me thing, I guess?"

"Tough call. What do you think it is?" 'Geal gently rubbed small circles over it and that eased the pain.

"Feathers? That's all I get."

"A wing?! Maybe you can fly? Oh that'd be amaz—Okay yeah, nevermind, that looks awful." Gen crowed before Sephiroth's shoulders wrenched again.

"Wish it would hurry up and stop," he blurted and then instantly regretted his words.

With a crack he barely heard over the agony wracking his frame, Sephiroth bit his lip so hard it bled and tried to endure it.

"Seph?!"

"—ePH?! Oh Gods this is bad..." Gen yelped as Sephiroth stumbled out of their grip. "Don't move yet-"

He froze as his vision faded in and out, zeroing in on the slick red that seemed to seep from his boots.

"... Not... good." He slurred.

"Alexander give me guidance," Angeal and how odd, he sounded worried—

Sephiroth groaned as he recognized the sharp kick of peroxide and cleaning materia.

Med Ward.

He hadn't been back for injury related bedstay since the Zoloms; the personnel would be fluttering again.

They hated seeing him in here.

"Lt. Strife-Valentine, you shouldn't even be awake. Those are top-tier pain killers." Nurse Kunsel and she smelled worried too.

Like 'Geal and Gen and—

Ow.

Shoulder thing.

"Wh-wh-" Nurse Kunsel clicked her tongue, poked the straw between his lips let him drink to wet his throat. He shoved the straw away with his tongue. "'geal? Gen?"

"Your friends?"

"Mn."

"Sleeping in chairs next to you, worried out of their minds. Your Chichiue has already stopped by, as has your Mom, both of them want to talk when you're feeling marginally better."

"Hmm."

Oblivion rose up to meet him and he fell into it.

The second time around was much more coherent, the rustling of feathers startling him awake.

"Ow! Watch where you swing that thing?" Gen grumbled as he shoved the feathers out of his face. "Guess I was right?"

"I think it's a Her thing," he twisted his fingers, Angeal tapped his palms and took one of his hands. "My dreams were bad again."

"Does that mean we'll get them too?" 'Geal asked after a long moment.

"... I... hold on." Sephiroth reached for the Lifestream, for the wash of light that made up the souls of the Planet. "Maybe? I've taken Her grey away but I'm not sure."

"Well shit," Genesis blurted and Sephiroth laughed.

It was that or cry and he refused to bend to the dragon dung that had ruled his life for so long, "We'll see if you get any shoulder twinges."

"Can I touch?" Gen asked, "Sorry about earlier, waking up to a mouthful of feathers was a lot."

"Of course," Sephiroth felt it tug at his back and then stretch open, the enormous wing almost enough to overbalance him before Genesis poked at the arch of it.

Sephiroth suspected that it would take Masamune's weight to counterbalance.

It slapped against his side, furling around Genesis and then fluffing up.

"Uh, oops? It's soft at least." came Gen's muffled assessment.

"'Geal?"

"Definitely soft," Angeal's free fingers carded through them and Sephiroth made a noise he thought was confined to his Chichiue. "Are... are you purring?"

"I believe so," he tried to stop but Gen carded through the inside feathers and he couldn't help himself, "Hn, little to the left."

It was how Nurse Shada found them five minutes later, the carding getting out bits of dried blood and pieces of what Sephiroth was studiously ignoring because they matched his skin.

"Okay, Head Nurse Kunsel wasn't joking," Shada murmured faintly.

"She rarely does," Chichiue rumbled softly from the doorway. "Check his vitals."

Shada tested his reflexes, tested the wing's range of movement before it snapped him away with a quiet ruffle. Sephiroth opened his mouth to apologize when the wing arched out and shook softly in Shada's direction.

The wing mantled, matching Sephiroth's mood, and covered his bare torso.

It read his emotions out to the world loud and clear. He thought about cutting it off, since it made him even more of a—

Feathers scattered as it disappeared, the soft black down floating into his suddenly open palm.

Chichiue took one look at his face and draped his cloak over Sephiroth's bare shoulders, the warmth of the burgundy cloth a comfort as always.

Sephiroth was infinitely grateful when Chichiue picked him up and allowed him to hide away for a while.

He fisted his hand in the thick suiting fabric and inhaled gun oil, brimstone and crepe myrtle, another scent that read as home to his desperate heart.

Angeal and Genesis flanked Chichiue to thier apartment.

Chichiue tapped the frame four times, all three of them curling up on the window seat pressed together like Chikabos just free of the nest.

"I'm upset you didn't share this with us but I understand your need to keep it private." Mom stated quietly. "How are you feeling?"

"... Like a Griffon chewed on me and pooped me out." He croaked, blinking in surprise at the sports bottle of electrolyte enhancer Angeal handed over. "Thanks."

He drank it and Angeal handed over a nutrient shake right after.

"My Mom... She said that growing a limb like that needs nutrients and a rebalancing of your system's loss. Saline drip and pain killers aren't enough." 'Geal offered at his incredulous look.

"She made us as much as Hollader did," Gen agreed with a shrug. "She ought to know; dragon dung wasn't the only one of his kind."

Chichiue growled and his eyes flashed gold for a moment, signaling that Chaos knew.

"She's helping Seph now though. I called her in a panic, mostly, and on a untraceable PHS I picked up in Sector Six." Angeal sighed. "... There was a lot of blood."

"I know, the Turks cleaned up the rest."

"We took the back ways, the ones Seph showed us. The ones with no cameras." Gen mentioned carefully. "... Can we take down ShinRa?"

Chapter Text

"Hn, not yet, but soon." Chichiue granted with an amused smile.

"We figured when we were twenty, we'd take it apart from the inside. What's another seven years?" Sephiroth inquired wryly, Summoning Masamune to hug her close. "I think the wing is Hers. Aunt Ifalna was asking me if I'd had bad dreams lately but they didn't appear until about a week ago."

"Hnn, did any of the feathers stay?"

"This one," Sephiroth offered the large one that had fallen into his palm.

Chichiue plucked it up with his talons, examined it critically and then tucked it into his inventory pouch. "Would you feel comfortable in releasing it here? I know that Angeal and Genesis were cleaning it earlier but there may be some remaining debris."

Sephiroth nodded but then, "I... I don't... I'm not sure how?"

"Seph?" Mom had stayed in the rocking chair and suddenly all he wanted was her.

Black down swirled, a tug that ran deep within his core and then—

He was in Mom's lap, spilling over thanks to his legs and the wing was back. Mom grunted at his sudden appearance but smiled as she held him close.

The weight that had settled on top of his chest like an overgrown Behemoth eased at her touch.

She still wanted him.

Chichiue still wanted him.

They wouldn't leave him.

"May we groom you, my son?"

"Mmhmm," he tucked himself against Mom, squeaking in surprise when she braced his right side at the base of the wing.

Chichue carefully went over each feather ruffling out more... debris and then went searching for something on or near his wing's base.

"Ah, there it is," A careful press against the inner edge where wing met body and there was the scent of bird, similar to the Griffon and Cockatrice feathers he kept in his room. "Keep this in mind when the wing comes out, Sephiroth. This is the gland that produces oil, which will keep the feathers neat and clean. You'll need some help getting the back feathers."

They groomed the feathers into order, the sheen of them iridescent in the light. The edges of the feathers upon coming out had been in rough shape. Groomed, they were clean and sharp, practically natural blades aligning with the curvature of his wing.

Sephiroth mantled his wing to see Gen and 'Geal watching with matching expressions of hopeful interest.

"Are you coming over or what?" He grumbled. They fell out of the window seat to take turns grooming him.

Genesis wrinkled his nose at the oil sticking to his fingers. Angeal, who had a measuring look on his face, looked at the oil, puffed an annoying strand away from his face and then used the remainder on his hair. It pulled back the shorter strands and made them more manageable.

"Thank you Seph, for letting me figure out that I need to grow out my hair. This buzz cut does absolutely nothing good for me." 'Geal said sincerely.

Gen rolled his eyes, shook his slightly longer hair and sniped back with, "I told you so."

"Yes. Well," Angeal smeared the oil into Genesis's carefully styled mop and it was on.

Sephiroth watched their bickering for the moment, perfectly content to be in Mom's lap.

"Honey, I love you dearly but I'm afraid you're a bit heavy. Could you shuffle back over to the window seat so that we can cuddle, just with you not entirely on my lap?" Mom asked gently, her fingers brushing aside his bangs to look him in the eyes.

"Oh! Umm, yes." Sephiroth removed himself from her lap, helped her out of the chair and over to the window seat, all without letting go of her hand.

She sat, stacking a few pillows to her left and right before offering her lap again. "You worried me, you know."

"Mn. I didn't mean to,"

"I highly doubt you would deliberately try to give me a shock, sweetheart. I sort of chalk it up to growing pains." Mom told him softly.

"... I." He swallowed sharply, fought past the urge to shut down and muttered, "I thought you might not want me anymore."

"Oh Seph," Mom clicked her tongue, shook her head, "I will always want you. Fenris and I made our choice when you were three, just starting to talk gibberish to us. Strifes never, ever, let go of those they love—not even in death." She gave a faint laugh and said, "Maybe not even then, considering your hold on the Lifestream."

The warmth that flooded his chest overflowed and spilled out of his eyes as he held her close. "Thanks Mom."

"That's what I'm here for, honey."

"I'm home—Whoa! What's on your back Seph?" Cloud was hopping up and down on one foot trying to kick off his tiny, military-style boots as he looked at the enormous wing.

'Just like yours!' He'd crowed last year, when Sephiroth had gifted them to him for Yule.

"Umm, a wing." He swiped at his tears and Cloud offered a hanky out of habit, pulled from his inventory. "You wanna touch?"

"I can?! Awesome," Cloud very gently patted and then carded through the feathers, coming away with a handful of down. "Umm? Was it supposed to do that?"

"Try again," Chichiue urged. Cloud carded again and out came more down as well as some tiny debris. "Sephiroth, shake it a little without hitting your brother."

He ruffled it and the black down carelessly floated to the floor, displaying new feathers nearly the same shade as Cloud's hair.

"Strife feathers," came the bemused decision from Chichiue after several moments of staring at it. "They come in all three colors."

Sephiroth arched the wing to look, smiling at the brand new feathers on the inner curve.

The down floated again, but the feathers stayed black down the center, this time with shading on the edges that mimicked Angeal and Genesis's hair. "Those are my favorites."

"Do you remember how it came out the second time, my son?"

"Mm-hmm, I think I can put it back." He concentrated and it flicked away into the ether, the feeling similar to Summoning Masamune. "Okay, I'm going to get a shirt and go see Aunt Ifalna," Sephiroth pecked Mom and Cloud on the forehead, turning to get one from Chichiue.

'Geal and Gen followed him as he tugged on a shirt, this one covered in the practice kanji of Masamune's full Wutainese name.

"You okay?"

"... I think so. I'm sorry I scared you into calling your Mom, 'Geal-"

"I'd call her a thousand times if it meant you were okay," he fired back wetly as he hugged Seph to him. Genesis wrapped his arms around his waist, the warmth of his chest plastered along Sephiroth's back.

"I'll be alright," He snuggled in after he reached up and wiped away the saltwater trickling into his hair. "more worried about you two."

Sephiroth hummed a snatch of a Nibel lullaby, swaying them back and forth to reassure his best friends.

Chapter Text

His back was tender but didn't hurt all that much after the second summoning.

Sephiroth made his way down to the slums through all of the back staircases along the pillar. He paused to look at the graffiti of ShinRa's latest attempt at child-friendly media, the Puppy somehow a mockery of SOLDIERs.

The security trio Materia snapped to attention at his fingertips as he cast it at the cameras throughout Midgar.

Sephiroth jumped down onto the roof of the train, fiddling with the holes in the sleeves of his hoodie. He leaned on his elbows and observed as the train took the single track all the way down to Sector 5.

He backflipped off, the balls of his feet barely touching the ground as he picked his way through the old slum rooftops to get to the church.

Sephiroth somersaulted onto the hard packed earth to disperse force as he whistled out the old Cetra lullaby.

Aunt Ifalna replied with her own whistle, followed by a slightly higher whistle.

Aerith was in too, the place that passed for a school in the Slums out for the day.

He knocked back his hood as he entered the church, bee-lining for the tulips with a Fira already at his fingertips. "Hi Aunt Ifalna, hi Aerith, I'll be right there,"

Sephiroth plucked several, holding the first in his palm and incinerating it on the spot. The second one followed the first in a wave of ash, though the third was slow and steady. The rest he burned at varying speeds; the last one burnt slow enough that it threatened to burn the leather of his fingerless gloves.

He scattered the ashes into the ground again, wiped his hands on his pants and turned around.

"Something happened, hmm?" Aunt Ifalna asked as she snipped flowers for sale in Aerith's little basket.

He unfurled the massive wing, all unknown feet of it and sighed, "You could say that."

"Oh dear. I thought we might get something from the J-Shot but a wing..." Ifalna looked over the black iridescent feathers with worry.

"I've been having bad dreams again and it came out this morning," Sephiroth admitted as Aerith walked over but didn't touch. "It's okay to touch it."

"Lift it up for me?" His Aunt squinted as she spotted the blond feathers on the inner curve.

"Those showed up after Cloud touched it. Chichiue says they're Strife feathers; one for each hair color."

She mouthed the count and then grinned. "There are four," she pointed out slyly.

"Four?!" The wing arched forward as if to show them off, the gleam of platinum, honey and pale blond matched by a single silver one tucked next them all. He sniffed, swiped at his watery eyes and said, "Oh."

"Want us to pick a spot too?" Aerith asked as she smiled at the patch that marked Angeal and Genesis.

"Yeah,"

A stroke and black down fell onto the church's floorboards, a pair of dark brown and light brown feathers taking their place.

Family.

"Whose are those?" Aerith chirruped as she pointed down.

Sephiroth blinked at the subtle sheen to the secondaries, each shining a unique color. Crimson, gold, blue, green and a deep orange next to the edge of his oil gland.

"I... I think they're Chichiue's? I've never met the blue, the green or the orange but I know Chaos."

"They are your Chichiue's; I hope you never meet the green but the other two are welcoming enough, considering you're of Vincent's blood." His Aunt supplied wryly.

"Green is...?"

"He is the reason Dreyfus had to have a closed casket ceremony," she pointed out.

Sephiroth blinked at that, made a mental note to thank the green, and shrugged. "Any of the others?"

"Orange is the reason your Chichiue purrs," she mentioned as she looked over the wing. "It's been groomed."

"Mnn, three times! Once by 'Geal and Gen, once by Chichiue and then once by everyone." He flushed when it opened fully, as if to display all of the new feathers. "It does what it wants," Sephiroth scowled at it and it cheekily waved.

"I think it's time to talk about the paths." Aunt Ifalna murmured.

"Paths?" He cocked his head to the side and the wing mantled with a sharp flap.

"Specifically, the path-that-was, the path-that-is and the path-that-will-be. More flower lessons, so to speak," she offered carefully. "Some of the path-that-will-be has changed and I'm not sure if it's for the better."

"Past, present and future, I gather?" He questioned.

"No, I meant exactly that. Hmm, how to explain it, each decision you ever make has consequences on each of the paths. You coming down here, showing us the wing takes you on one path-that-will-be but there's also a path where you made the decision to hide it. It lives on elsewhere and elsewhen, though we never get to see the 'what ifs', so to speak." Aunt Ifalna elaborated, "There is never The Path, only ever a Path and the choice to make your own path."

"... We choose our fate." He murmured, slightly perturbed that his choices would lead him to someone like dragon dung.

She clicked her tongue and corrected gently, "I didn't say there wasn't a design, Sephiroth, only that it's hard to see the weave for the threads of our lives. Children are never to blame for the mistakes and actions of adults, particularly when they're like dragon dung."

"Oh. So what does that make the Cetra?"

"We're, hmm, we're the shuttle; we can help alter the chosen path but we cannot force it to go our way. That way lies madness." She stated quietly, "I've seen how it goes when a Cetra tries to force the world to their way of thinking."

"You could've..."

"Yes, I could have controlled Hojo if he hadn't known where to place the MP Lock," his Aunt reprimanded sharply, "Never do that. Never control the LifeStream within someone."

Sephiroth's eyes widened at the implications. "We can...?!"

"If we wanted," she added sourly, "we could use the ShinRas as puppets for our own purposes but that takes away their free will. It is forbidden by Cetra tenets and with good reason."

He rocked back and sat in the dirt, the information both mind-blowing and completely sobering within the same breath. "Have I...?"

"You'd know and you can never take it back," her expression said she'd done it.

"Like killing;" Sephiroth hesitated but said it anyway, "something in you irrevocably changes."

"It does," Aunt Ifalna snipped another flower with a pensive look. "I did it, the night of our escape. I 'suggested' that the guards look the other way and that you be sent out on a high level mission to get you out of the building."

"When?"

"When Dreyfus came to gloat with Hojo after our third MP lock test." She confessed as she spun the stem in her hand. "It... there are no words but if it happens, I'll know, Aerith will know and maybe even your Grandma will. It's not something to be done lightly, Sephiroth."

He came away with a woven lily flower crown and deep in thought, taking the train back up after he'd returned the wing to its place in the ether.

""... where did he get that flower crown?""

""Don't, he's a SOLDIER.""

""No-Oh. Not touching him with a ten-foot pole.""

"Can I sit here?" Mrs. Gainsborough, he thought absently, shuffling to make room. "I take you went to the church?"

"Hmm,"

"Everything alright?"

"My lessons were... a lot, today. Fertilizer and nutrients and many other things."

"Ahh, I see." They descended into silence, comfortable in each others presence until, "If you ever need a break, come down and see me, hmm? Plenty of flower material there too. Baking, if you want it."

"... Baking?"

"Mmhmm." Ms. Elmyra agreed. "Your Mom is doing a fine job but a break for you boys every now and again might be good."

Sephiroth smiled softly, thinking to himself that even with paths unknown, kindness was still there, unplanned but warming all the same.

"I'll swing down when I get the chance then," he agreed easily.

Chapter Text

None of them spoke about the wing, though those who had been in the Med Bay when it had come out would eyeball the spot before shrugging it off again.

Not until his appointment with Dr. Jakobs a week later did the matter come back up.

"May I see the wing? Strictly for posterity as I at least want to note that it's there in case it gets injured." She inquired carefully.

"I..."

"There is zero judgment from me as you are technically the lead of the SOLDIER Program and if it happens to others, I'd like to make sure the limb is healthy."

"... Oh." The thought that it might happen to the older SOLDIERs hadn't occured to him. The ones he hadn't healed of Her. "Okay."

It snapped out, this time with no feathers at all as Angeal and Genesis had taken to grooming it at least every other day.

"Anything you'd like to volunteer about it would be helpful but again, zero pressure, Lt. Strife-Valentine." She admitted as she examined the wing, measured the length and then blinked in surprise at the multicolored patches.

"They're people I'm close to," Sephiroth offered hesitantly. "Chichiue, Mom, Cloud,  Gen and 'Geal; my teachers."

"Huh. Well, it's healthy, Nurse Shada said it had a full range of movement. Can you fly with it?"

"... I'm not sure? I haven't tried it yet." He blurted and then flushed.

Dr. Jakobs smelled mildly surprised before she chuckled, "Well, try a VR or sparring room if you can? Better and slightly safer in there."

"I'll give it a go? Report back what it does?"

"Sounds good, Strife-Valentine."

The Turk sparring room was full of mats, same as the last time he'd been in here with Chichiue for kunai training* and cool down.

He jumped up onto the rafters, unfurled the wing and then stepped off the rafter, wing snapping open and beating in time with his shaking breaths.

Sephiroth whooped, the wing went stiff and he tumbled, yelping as the wing caught him again, hovering only a few inches off the ground.

"Okay! Umm, practice is needed!?" He squeaked into the Turk headset he was wearing.

""Try holding Masamune next time; it looks like you're slightly off balance, Strife-Valentine."" Tseng offered after a long moment.

"But what if I lose her? What do I do then?"

""Practice both, my son, but for now, Masamune will help. There is no shame in needing something to lean on."" Chichiue agreed, the way he spoke making Sephitoth relax enough to touch the mats. ""No one is perfect at everything, my son.""

"We can add flying to kunai throwing and sign language, I guess." He grumbled, jumping up to try again.

Sephiroth doesn't understand it, but somehow—practically overnight—he starts noticing people differently.

The girl in Sector Five, the one that hid her hair in her cap, or the way Nicky's hair fell into his eyes.

He tried to ignore it, as it didn't affect his ability to perform in any way.

After the third afternoon fighting with Henderson and Chichiue, they somehow noticed.

"Who's the crush?" Henderson teased after their four-hour session, all three of them sitting on the bench.

Sephiroth scrunched his nose at the smell they gave off but ignored it in favor of Henderson's question.

"Crush?"

"Oh. Oh, you haven't had The Talk yet with Strife-Valentine yet, Daddio?" Henderson practically cackled at Chichiue.

"... I was waiting until he showed interest or didn't. We Valentines are slower than others to do so," Chichiue replied coolly, "and sometimes not at all."

"Well shit; seems I have a case of foot-in-mouth," Henderson shrugged, "I'm sorry, that was rude of me."

Sephiroth kicked his feet and replied, "It's... I'm noticing things? Stuff that I didn't think about before, like ribbons and smells and the way they sound nice?" Chichiue hummed encouragement and Sephiroth admitted, "I don't know if that's something..."

Henderson finished gently, "that you can do? That's perfectly alright for a kid your age?"

"Hn. Despite your foot-in-mouth syndrome, you make up for it. Yes, my son, it is perfect alright to look at people in a way you hadn't before. If it gets more intense, seek me out before you do anything about the feelings. We'll have that talk that Henderson spoke of then, not when you're not quite there."

Mom made breakfast as both 'Geal and Gen piled into Sephiroth's room.

Sephiroth released the wing, yawning into his hands as he sat up on the bed, the ruffle of feathers a sound he'd grown used to over time.

Angeal's fingers found the oil gland, pressed and then swept from the primaries to the secondaries, Genesis getting the top half of the coverts and digging into the scapulars.

He leaned into the contact, still half-asleep when Angeal's shoulder accidentally knocked against the gland again but much harder than usual.

Sephiroth yelped, flushed and then fled to the bathroom.

"Seph?! You okay?" Angeal asked against the door. "What'd I do?"

"I'm... not sure?"

"If you're okay?"

"It's, um," Sephiroth glanced down and immediately looked away again. "awkward."

"... Oh." Angeal hesitantly inquired. "Down or up?"

Sephiroth managed to swallow around the lump in his throat. "Down."

"Take a cold shower. It helps." Gen advised quietly. "The wing itself is okay?"

"Y-yeah. Umm, shower. Got it."

The shower did help and Sephiroth carefully cleaned around the uropygial gland, not touching it full on. He shook out the wing and the feathers fluffed before he pulled it in.

Chichiue was on the other side of the door and Sephiroth buried himself under the cloak.

They stood like that for several moments before Chichiue murmured, "Certainly not how I expected for your first encounter to go but when dealing with wings, one learns to adjust in all matters."

"...Is it time for that talk?"

"If you'd like," Chichiue offered gently. "Such an experience can be upsetting, however, and I understand if you wish to take a few days."

Sephiroth mulled it over, pulled back to scrub at his cheeks a little and said, "I'd like to try now?"

"You're already on the firing line, might as well get it over with?" Chichiue remarked wryly.

"I guess."

Chapter Text

"I... suppose we'll start with consent, which, given all of our pasts, is important."

Chichiue cleared his throat when all three of them held hands, continuing with, "We'll move onto anatomy, how it's supposed to go with a man and a woman, man and man and ah, woman and woman. Best to be thorough about this sort of thing if we're doing it now..." Chichiue looked as uncomfortable as they felt.

None of them really had made eye contact after Sephiroth's icy, icy shower.

Nearly an hour later with Angeal and Genesis, all three of them squirming in embarrassment, Chichiue finished with, "Any other questions?"

Sephiroth flicked out his wing, "Why the gland?"

"Centered close enough to your spine and also plenty of nerve endings to stimulate at best guess, my son."

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess,"

"Gen, no—"

"Gen yes—"

The eyeroll he shared with Angeal broke the tension of the room and he laughed.

Trust Genesis to make everything about Loveless.

He ran the conversation over in his mind, his face heating up every time he thought about the intern to the secretaries, the one with her hair done up in an elaborate fishtail most days.

Sephiroth very carefully thought over his plan, gathered flowers from the church and then braced himself for the upcoming conversation.

He must have lint-rolled his uniform until it was fuzz free at least five times.

His boots made it all the way to Floor 36 and then his knees gave out in the waiting area.

Sephiroth folded himself into a window seat, mentally running through the kata for Masamune. He breathed deeply and blew out long breaths to calm himself. Part of him wanted to leave immediately.

«I can't do this,» he muttered to himself in Wutainese, carding his hands through his hair and hissing at the knots. «This was stupid—»

«What's stupid?»

Oh gods, she understood Wutainese—

He scrubbed at his cheeks and blurted, «I think your hair is pretty.»

She laughed, a dimple in her cheek as she replied, «Well, I think you have me beat there!» Dark brown eyes wandered over his hair, «My name's Mayumi, what's yours?»

«Ah, it's Sephiroth,» The tiny thrill he felt at being able to give his first name as a familiarity would always be there.

Mayumi smiled faintly at that, «Sounds like your Mom must've been a school teacher!»

«She, um, she liked the tales of the Ancients. Chichiue said I was named after a hero.» he mentioned, «She worked here as a scientist.»

Mayumi looked him over and asked in Common, "... Are you a Cadet?"

"I'm a Third-Class," he admitted freely with a shrug.

"A lot of the Cadets have been, um, asking me out. As a joke. Are you?" She asked point blank.

"I was asking of my own volition," Sephiroth frowned at that; deliberately tricking people wasn't something he condoned. "Could you get me the names of those Cadets? That is not the behavior of a SOLDIER-in-training. They will be soundly punished or summarily be removed from the Program."

Mayumi blinked at his tone and this time, her smile reached her eyes, the edges crinkling all the way up. "If you were going to do it properly, did you bring flowers?"

Sephiroth scrambled to his feet, Mayumi the slightest bit taller than him, digging carefully in his inventory for the lilies. He pulled them out and offered them, cheeks somehow turning red again. "Would, um, would you like to go on a date?"

"Yeah. Where are we going?"

"Sector Four's shopping district," he immediately responded.

"... Are you afraid of the slums?" She prodded.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want to go,"

"Huh," she sounded like she enjoyed that he'd thought ahead. Sephiroth disliked not knowing on principle and preferred an honest approach. "Well, anything you like down there?"

"Theres a food stall in Five slums, the Train Graveyard, the hunter's stalls in Seven and Eight,"

She brushed one of the petals with a tentative finger and squeaked at the pollen that fell, "Wait, these are real?!"

"I know someone who grows them in Sector Five?" He offered with a shrug.

Sephiroth's stomach ached, he had no idea if he was doing this right but he seemed to be passing her tests.

At least these didn't hurt if he failed them.

"Okay, nobody joking would've brought me real flowers. Can I go find a vase? I'll get you my PHS number after and we can plan the date." Mayumi cradled the flowers close to her chest.

"Of course," Her braid swished as she spun with the flowers in hand back to the secretarial pool.

Sephiroth inhaled and was met with a flicker of perfume, clean linen and some kind of floral that wasn't overwhelming.

She'd followed the guidelines for strong scents around SOLDIERs and Sephiroth might've liked her a little more for it as she bounced back over.

"All the girls are jealous! Here's my number, type yours into mine," she absently shoved her PHS into his hands as she snagged his with a practiced hand.

Sephiroth typed it in by rote, having long since memorized his own number to give to superiors.

"Okay, so," Mayumi paused, tilted her head to look at him properly and gently asked, "Is this your first date?"

"Yes,"

"Okay, so, I like movies but I've been looking to level. How's the monster situation in Five?"

"Five's good, there's a lot in the junk piles down there," Sephiroth answered as he ran through the list of monsters, "anything you're allergic to?"

"Hedgehog Pie spikes,"

"Mn, then Five's no good. How about Seven? The hunters might have something for us to tackle and then we could see a movie afterwards?" He countered with another suggestion.

"... I've never been to Seven. Let's go there... How's your Thursday?"

"It's free," he blurted, cursing his fair skin for flushing yet again, "HR begs me to take days off."

"Thursday it is~" Mayumi leaned down and her lips pecked his already warm cheek. "Thanks for being real."

"You're welcome." Sephiroth inhaled and then, "I still want those names of those Cadets; I'll not work with, with..."

"Jerks?"

"Yes,"

"I'll text them to you, my break's about up! See you Thursday, right here?"

"... Yeah," Mayumi giggled and bolted back for the secretary pool.

Sephiroth reached up to touch where she'd pressed a kiss to his cheek with wonder.

He had a date.

Chapter Text

Angeal found him still touching his face at his desk and asked what'd happened.

"I think I have a date on Thurday to go kill monsters in Seven's slums?"

His PHS beeped with a new notification,

Yumi: the cadets r Hannibal

Yumi: & Watts

" ... and I've got two Cadets to kick out or reprimand for asking Mayumi out on a date as a joke."

"Wait, wait, they asked Ms. Tsubasa out as a joke?!" 'Geal growled.

"Likely due to her Wutainese heritage,"

"High time such behavior comes crashing down on them then," Gen sneered as he rounded the corner.

Recently re-instated Third Class O'Connor escorted the former Cadets to the Chocobo Stables, his face beneath the visor like a storm cloud.

"Sir,"

"O'Connor," he nodded shortly.

"... Heard you picked up that big beastie in the Highwind Stables, sir."

"He's amazing," Sephiroth agreed easily.

"Good luck with him, sir, I've got these two to look after now," O'Connor murmured as he tightly gripped the two former Cadets by the shoulders. "Racism?! In ShinRa? When we're a hairsbreadth from either fighting or making a contract with a whole country?! Morons!"

Sephiroth studiously ignored what was absolutely the sound of two helmets being thunked together.

When he set foot in the apartment, he kicked off his boots, ambled over to Chichiue and lounged on him like a Cuahl on a tree branch.

"... I heard some interesting news on the grapevine."

"Is it about my date with Mayumi?" Sephiroth murmured as he plucked at the cloak fabric.

Chichue captured his hand and patted it absently with the gauntlet, "Mn,"

"I've read all the etiquette manuals,"

The faint shaking of Chichiue's laughter made him huff. "My son, you can read every manual from here to Nibelhiem and still not understand. I would know,"

"Not understand?"

"Ah," Chichue stood carefully, shuffled them over to the couch and lifted his left arm, Sephiroth snuggling close. "Some women appreciate it, some don't but it is better to extend the courtesy and have it rejected."

"Oh. She seemed to like the flowers,"

"From your Aunt?"

"Mm-hmm," he agreed easily.

"Well done," Sephiroth smiled at the praise, "and you offered her options, according to Ms. Jones,"

"I did. The safe and less safe,"

"Did you want help picking out the outfit?"

"Maybe? I want to try something."

"If you need it, we're here, your Mom and I."

"Thank you," he sighed.

"Did you want to run through possible scenarios?"

"... Yes, yes I do."

Thursday seemed impossible; it came too slow and yet not fast enough.

He wondered if it was like this everytime he had to wait for something.

Sephiroth attempted a one-handed handstand, grunting with the effort as his bangs stuck to his forehead.

"Seph?!"

He rolled into a somersault and looked up at the familiar tone.

Nanaki?!

Here in ShinRa?

"Nanaki!"

The Firewolf cub left his escort in the dust as they met in the middle, Sephiroth hugging the other cub around the middle. He buried his face in the lush fur and inhaled the dust of the Canyon.

He gently set down his friend and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Bugenhagen says I need to learn more of how the world works outside the Canyon for perspective. Would you mind if I joined you?"

The visitor's badge clacked against Nanaki's equipped headdress and Seph grinned.

"Of course not! It's a bit boring though?"

"I am here to learn. Patience is the least of my lessons." Nanaki said solemnly before he grinned. "Race you to the showers?"

"You're on!"

He emerged from the showers to find Nanaki giving his back a long, hard stare.

"... They're from my time under... Him."

Nanaki's eyes flicked over the many, many, silver scars and then he snorted. "By Canyon standards, you're a warrior, you know."

"Huh?"

"Scars are a sign of a battle but one that you've managed to win and live to fight another day. You've had a great many battles, hmm?" Nanaki said simply, as though it were a feat and not him...

Could he do that? Reclaim his meaning through his scars, through the therapy they asked him to come to every week?

Sephiroth mulled it over as he dressed on automatic, tying his hair in a manner similar to Nanaki's; the high ponytail in the back followed by two braids in the front.

People parted ways around them both, Nanaki's escort eventually throwing their hands up and handing the paperwork off to Sephiroth himself.

"You're in charge of the Firewolf. I don't want to hear it if... the charge gets injured on Lt. Strife-Valentine's watch."

"I have a name, you know," Nanaki murmured as he rolled his eyes. "You could ask me."

"... Right. Well, it seems you know the Lt. well enough to accompany him. Good luck in your lessons, I think."

"They're uncomfortable," Nanaki snorted as he put his enormous paws on Sephiroth's desk, head just peeking above the cubicles.

"Mn, people generally are when it comes to something different," Sephiroth answered absently as he read over his reports.

"Good morning, sir!" Johnson greeted cheerily before he spotted Nanaki. "Hello there,"

"Good morning," Johnson jumped but held his ground.

"Oh! You're a Firewolf?!"

"That I am," he turned to Sephiroth, "Is this going to continue to happen?"

"You learn to live with it after a while," he replied, "It's been a while since I've dealt with it though."

"Ah. My name is Nanaki. I don't suppose you could spread the word that I'm visiting with Sephiroth?"

"I... can do that. Yeah."

"I can help too," Major Wolf teased as he leaned on the cubicle. "Heard a commotion, thought I'd start with you and work my way through the rest of the place."

Sephiroth cracked a small grin, "I can't always be the commotion, sir."

"No, but I'm running off of experience," Wolf chuckled. "Looks like I was right, just this once; Nanaki, wasn't it?"

"Yes. Must I call you sir as well?"

"If you feel like it, about the only people I'd be super deferential to is the Lt.'s Mom, Sharpshooter and maybe the Executives of you run across 'em. The latter is awfully pedantic about that sort of thing if they don't run screamin' first."

"I see, sir, I will do my best to be respectful,"

Nanaki accompanied him to lunch, gently gripping a tray in his teeth and setting it up to the meat portion of the line.

"One meatloaf please?"

".... You want that with gravy or without?"

"With please."

"Next!"

Sephiroth chuckled as he sat at his usual spot, missing Cloud since the school-aged kids had lunch sent up to them via courier.

He ignored the deep-seated twinge that he'd missed out on that type of education and focused on Nanaki.

The Firewolf cub set the tray onto the table and hopped up onto the bench.

"Where is your Mom?" He asked as he licked at the gravy.

"In the kitchen," he pointed her out, her hair pinned tight under a hairnet and swanning gracefully around the kitchen chaos.

"Hey, Gen, pinch me, I think there's a Firewolf sitting at our table?!" Three, two, one— "Ouch! Not that hard, Gen!"

"You said-"

Sephiroth laughed at their bickering and watched as they approached the table.

"Hi, I'm Angeal and this is Genesis," 'Geal introduced himself, setting his tray on the opposite side of Nanaki. "What brings you here?"

"I'm Nanaki," he replied between bites of meatloaf, "and I'm here to learn about how the rest of the world lives outside of Cosmo Canyon."

"How'd you meet Seph?" Gen prodded and Nanaki grinned.

"We met..."

Somehow, Nanaki and Genesis ended up sparring in the VR Room.

Chapter Text

It was a bit nippy the morning of the date so Sephiroth pulled on his Moogle hoodie as he wandered around the apartment bare-foot.

He'd finally managed to get his wing to materialize through clothing, thanks to Aunt Ifalna's help, and it mantled with a quiet flap. He wasn't going to fight his instincts when he was already feeling nervous.

Mayumi had agreed to meet around 11, which left him time to dig through his Materia, selecting several for the hunt. Sephiroth's head shot up at the doorbell ring, curious because it was still well before the date.

He peered through the door, surprised to find Director Tuesti on the other side.

Sephiroth dissipated his wing and pulled on some house-slippers before he cracked open the door.

"... Director?"

"I was informed that you'd taken the day off and I would be best suited in finding you at home. I've managed to get Cait Sith into a... program chip. Would you mind taking him? That is, if you'd like; I do understand taking personal time and space."

"Ah," Sephiroth glanced at the clock now nearing 11 and made up his mind. "not today, sir."

"Of course. You have a good day, Lt. Strife-Valentine." The Director smiled easily and gave a polite nod before turning towards the elevator.

"Sir?"

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow works better."

"I see."

Sephiroth waited patiently in Floor 36's reception area, absently flicking through his notes on Cetra tenets and adding in a few more as he waited for the clock to strike 11 am.

"Cute hoodie!"

"Thank... you." Mayumi smelled like the lilies he'd given her, the scent and her appearance giving him pause.

Sephiroth wondered if his heart should be beating this fast.

Her hair was still in the fishtail but in a bun, similar to Sephiroth's topknot, both secured with a wooden hair stick, but strands had snuck out of containment and framed her face.

He inhaled again, offered his right hand and part of him relaxed as they walked together to the elevator, fingers linked and hands gently swaying.

"So—" they both started and Sephiroth motioned that she start first.

Mayumi laughed, then frowned at the scars on his hand. "Did those hurt?"

"... Yeah." He admitted. "I can cover-"

"Mn-mm. Means you lived through them." She lifted their joined hands, turned his hand to hers and pressed her lips briefly to the widest scar on his hand.

Sephiroth thought he was going to combust from the heat of his face.

"Any movie preference?" He asked, determined to ignore his cheeks.

"Hmm," she tapped her chin, grinning as the elevator got stuck on Floor 22. "Not the adult movies. Can't get in without a grownup; not to mention, some of them are gross. Um, guess we'll see at the theatre?"

"Mn. Got your equipment?"

"Yup! Have my ST Shooter and a Quicksilver as backup; you?"

"I have Masamune, a long dagger and my kunai plus some Materia they let me keep because it was so low-leveled. Potions?"

"I'm practically drowning in them thanks to the ladies in the secretary pool," Mayumi shook her head fondly. "They mean well!"

"My Chichiue's the same," Sephiroth confessed ruefully.

"I've been meaning to ask, how did you learn Wutainese? Yours is very clean for, ah,"

"No, no, Chichiue says as much. Well, through Nicky? Ah, Lt. Capala, I mean. I asked him when I was down in the slums a while back and..." Sephiroth happily offered.

He hoped he was doing this right.

"Eyyy, little Sharpshooter! What brings you down here?"

He looked at Mayumi and said, "A leveling date?"

"Oh-ho-ho! Have I got the hunt for you two!"

"Huh, they do have hunts."

"Easier for us to take on a few and keep the residents safe but they're not Hedgehog Pies."

They did a party-tap before heading to the monster-infested parts of the Seven Slums.

He stood back and watched how Mayumi did against the monsters before he stepped in to fight some of his own.

The —boom-boom-boom!— of the gun was one he was used to with simulation fights with Chichiue and he wove around her aim to strike his own.

"Oh wow! You're really good at this!"

Sephiroth shrugged, "I train a lot."

"Yeah but that's amazing anyways! Some of the Cadets that are nice flinch when we practice in the VR meant for us office temps!" Sephiroth made a mental note and tacked it high on his list of things to train out of the Cadets he had on hand and the other Thirds.

"Chichiue uses a Quicksilver and his Cerberus model-"

"Oh my gosh!? A Cerberus? Wait, wait, does it fire as well as its reviews say it does?"

"He... mentioned it was smooth?" Seph offered as he cut down yet another Guard Dog variant.

"Oh man, I'm definitely pestering my 'tou-san for one for Yule!"

"Chichiue says I'm due for another whet stone or my sword will start eating it again," he teased, sending out a low-grade Thunder towards the Rats.

They cleared the area and Sephiroth fended off a much larger, more ferocious Guard Dog Variant that lunged for Mayumi, both of them taking it down.

"That was a surprise!"

"Didn't pick it up on my Libra scan either," he admitted sheepishly.

"Ah, don't worry too much. Lunch?"

"I know you offered to pay but I leveled way more than I thought I would with you! My treat," Mayumi paid for kabobs, both of them chewing on the food as they wandered back up to the station to see the movie in Sector 5.

"Okay, but I get the tickets and the snacks?"

"Yeah!"

Both of them walked out into the setting sun with a grimace, getting corndogs as a snack.

"Was it just me or...?"

"Oh gods, no. That was awful."

"I know we're not grownups but that was..."

"Gil wasted." She laughed. "Happens sometimes,"

"Ready to head back?"

"Yeah." Mayumi reached for his right hand again and he let her, tracing his thumb over the back of her hand like he'd seen 'Geal do to Gen. "Wanna do this again next Thursday?"

"Mn, can't," he shook his head, "Monster mission in Kalm. Next Tuesday?"

"... I think I can swing Tuesday. I'll let you know on the PHS. What about Wednesday?"

"I've got an appointment." Therapy days; Sephiroth both hated it and wanted to go at the same time. His therapist said he'd made a lot of progress.

"Can't move it?"

"More like its ShinRa mandated," he shrugged, worrying at the new stick between his teeth.

"Ah. I'll try for Tuesday. Mission a three day or...?"

"Dunno. It's with Squad Delta so it could be anywhere between three to five."

"Huh, okay,"

He walked her back to the reception, strangely reluctant to let go. Her hand fit in his nicely.

"Was it... okay?"

"It was great! I'll see about Tuesday, okay?"

Sephiroth inhaled, chewed at his lip and then blurted, "Can I... kiss you?"

Oh gods, bury him now, she'd laugh at him—

"Sure."

He leaned in, had to lean up a little and pressed a kiss to her lips, pulling back as his tongue darted out to taste the berry scented gloss that lingered.

"... Wanna go do that again by the monstera plants?" She asked, eyes sparkling with mirth.

"Yeah," he breathed out, letting her lead.

Sephiroth closed the door to the family apartment, slid down the door and touched his lips in wonder.

She'd kissed him seven times behind the monstera.

He couldn't wait to do it again.

Chapter Text

He rode the second date high into therapy, whistling as he stepped into Dr. Candelis' office.

"Had a good day then?"

"Umm," He paused, murmured shyly, "more like a good date."

"Oh! Wonderful. Is that something you're interested in sharing?"

Sephiroth paced, his strides growing longer as he thought about it, halting behind the couch. "No."

He wanted to keep it to himself a little longer.

"That's alright." Dr. Candelis said warmly. She was much better than the other one. "Anything else you'd like to share with me?"

"... My wing's gotten bigger."

"Mmn. Is that the first time it's done so?"

"No." He vaulted over the couch and released it, all now ten feet of it spilling over the couch and onto the floor.

"May I touch or is this a look only?" She questioned lightly. She'd never done anything without his express permission, saying that he'd had too many boundaries broken and then broken again when he'd tried to set them forward with Hojo.

They were working on saying the name comfortably.

He could say it in his mind without flinching.

"... Look for now." He groomed the feathers, slowly relaxing in the space. "I asked Mayumi on a date two weeks ago."

"Thank you for sharing."

"... We had our first date last Thursday."

"That's well-done."

Sephiroth released his wing, let it furl around him and admitted, "She kissed me."

"Did you want it?"

"I asked for one." He continued, "Chichiue says consent is important when on dates."

"And when did you two have that talk?"

"The Talk."

"The Talk? As in...?"

"Consent, followed by anatomy, what to do and when to stop." He blithely supplied, "My wing made something happen."

"Hmm. Did it hurt?"

"No. Umm." He scrubbed at his heating cheeks and mumbled, "Down was up."

"Oh dear."

"Gen says cold showers help."

"Puberty is always an interesting experience."

"You can say that again," he huffed. Sephiroth faced her properly, her salt-and-pepper hair curled, glasses dangling from a chain like always. "Is... is it always this awkward?"

"It can be. It varies from individual to individual," Dr. Candelis admitted with her own shrug. "I found the awkward to come and go, in my time."

"It's awkward for girls too?!" He blurted.

"Oh yes, Sephiroth, it's that way for everyone. Hormones shift, things change but the awkward is universal."

"... How come Mayumi makes it seem like she's got it under control?" He prodded.

"Well, girls are told from a young age to keep themselves together."

"... Like he told me."

"Similar but more societal pressure, less experimentation."

"So she's only mostly pulled together or it only looks that way."

"Generally, I find it's a bit of both,"

"Why does she smell like blood?" Dr. Candelis rose a black brow at that. "She said she'd have to move our next date because she wasn't going to feel good by then."

"Ah. Did your Chichue cover what happens to girls?"

"He said he wasn't as informed as he'd like to be and that we'd look later."

"Would you like to know?"

"Yes."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes. If it can help Mayumi, I will learn,"

Sephiroth showed up on the day of their cancelled date with chocolate, a heating pad and painkillers.

Mayumi's perfume smelt blood-stained but Sephiroth did his best to tune out the scent as she sank gratefully into the heating pad on her desk chair.

He ignored the voice of Dr. Candelis that said he shouldn't be used to the smell of blood in any situation.

"Would you like to fill out paperwork together to distract from the pain?" She shook her head slowly and Sephiroth asked, "Is there anything else I can do?"

Mayumi smiled wanly as she peeled a chocolate and popped it into her mouth. "Not really, unless you'd like to move to the couch and just cuddle. I won't be up for much chit-chat."

He gently scooped her up after making a pillow nest out of the couch, settling the heating pad under a blanket but still accessible and placed her in it.

"How did you know?"

"You smelled like blood the last time we spoke and I asked ... someone... if there was a reason. She was very," he paused, "thorough but I wanted to help you."

"That's very sweet of you."

"Puberty is universally awkward, no need to make it worse."

They texted during downtime of missions, at lunch when neither could catch a solid time slot and Sephiroth began to understand the myriad differences between smiles at the PHS.

Some were like him, some were glad for something else or even a new mission because they were bored at HQ.

Sometimes it was a mixed bag, as Gen put it, being happy for a mission but not happy to be separated from their loved one.

Sephiroth didn't know if what he and Mayumi had was love.

It felt nice; he knew he wanted to see her again, make her smile and laugh and, well, kisses too.

Chichiue had called it puppy love, though his smile suggested that it was okay to just be in the moment.

He hummed softly to himself as he made his way up to Floor 36, bounding up the staircase because he'd gotten tired of waiting for the elevator.

Sephiroth clicked open the access door carefully, knowing he'd bumped many a secretary before when he'd come through hard.

Mayumi was chattering with the other interns, strands of hair escaping her fishtail braid and framing her face. Her brown eyes sparkled and her hands flung up, telling the others something.

He wanted to reach out and stoke them away from her face, press kisses to the dimples in her cheeks but held back; he'd wait until she could turn her full focus on him.

""Hey, 'Yumiii~ Looks like your SOLDIER boy is here to pick you up!""

""Oh stop!""

""Well, he is leaning on the access door and looking awful sweet on Mayumi?""

"Seph! C'mon, come meet the girls!"

Sephiroth levered himself off the door and carefully wound around the desks to stop just short of her. "May I?"

"Of course,"

He cradled her face and pressed a kiss to each dimple and then her lips, smiling into it when she stroked his cheekbones. Sephiroth pulled back, gave an apologetic nod and offered his hand to her as well.

She laced their fingers out of habit, Sephiroth tracing the back of her hand with his thumb.

"This is Stacy, Hilde, Ophelia and Hosta—"

"Ms. Jones," he murmured and she startled, the same dark hair and light eyes widening at his recognition. "My apologies, I work with-"

"Heather, yeah, I know. Most people don't get that though," Hosta shrugged.

"... I've also met Mistle and Holly."

"Oh boy," Hosta made a grimace at that.

"Mn,"

"Anyways, we're off!" Mayumi scooped up her bag and swayed their hands. "Good memory, I take it?"

"... I've met most of her sisters in one form or another during my time here." He admitted bluntly. "The Jones are nothing if not a family with connections and the confidence to pull them off. Better to stay on the good side of at least one."

"Huh. Good to know."

Chapter Text

Sephiroth bounded off the wall, swinging hard against Rapier and whirling as the Buster swept in from the side.

They all panted heavily as they flicked out hand signals for 'match over' in Wutainese.

He leaned against Angeal as they picked apart the spar, arm slung over a broad shoulder as Genesis ruffled his bangs.

"Having fun?" Mayumi asked at the doorway.

"Are we having fun, Seph?" Gen teased.

"You went too low that last swipe," he chided even as he leaned into the contact.

"Says the SOLDIER who moves like a Cuahl at the worst of days—"

"Cuahl, I'll show you Cuahl–" he play growled, baring his teeth and laughing as Geal reached around to tickle him.

Mayumi shook her head and offered her hand; Sephiroth took it and brushed his thumb over the back of it.

"I'll meet you in the lobby? Gotta shower,"

"Yeah but you're cute when you're sweaty,"

"I... huh?"

"Oh, I get it," Gen teased, arm looped around 'Geal.

Normally, Sephiroth slept on away missions but he was staring at the bars on his PHS in dismay.

"Ah, kid, you're alright," Lan sympathized with a pat on his shoulder.

"Will she understand?"

"If she doesn't, she's not for you," Henderson chipped in.

"..."

"Don't give us the stink-eye, cub," Wolf snorted. "It is what it is; besides, the PHS is still new enough that we don't have enough towers for long distance, hence our cabin out by Cosmo."

"Cosmo?" He perked up at that. If he helped finish the mission faster... maybe he could go see Nanaki.

"You know someone?" Lan rose a dark brow in surprise.

"Mn, took a trip with Chichiue a while back and met Nanaki."

"... That sounds an awful lot like a Firewolf name, cub."

"He is," he blithely supplied, giving up the PHS as hopeless for the time being, digging through his inventory because he wanted to resort it.

The trip was a long one after all.

He settled and sorted, humming timelessly to himself as he set which supplies he needed for this mission in his quick access pouch.

Sephiroth frowned at the list his inventory produced; his brow furrowed at the two items in Important, because he'd never noticed them before.

"... Mom's Ribbon?" He switched compartments and tugged it out, the length of the ribbon clearly meant for hair just as long as his if not longer. "Photo?"

"What's that?"

"Dunno, it was buried in my Inventory. But one of you got me this. I don't understand..."

"Pull the photo, kid," Henderson offered gently. "Might be more details on the back."

"Okay," he pulled out the photo and—Oh. Mama. Sephiroth flipped it over, surprised to find almost his handwriting staring back at him.

'By the time you read this, I'll probably be gone, kind, but I wanted you to have a photo of your Mama Lu. I've had it and the ribbon altered; it travels with your MP signature so you don't lose 'em.'

'— Love, Fen-Fen'

"Oh."

"... You need a hug, kid?" Henderson prodded gently.

"I... Maybe?" He blurted out, swiping at the tears that came. "He... he protected me from Him for a long time. Chichiue and Mom said he thought of me as his own." Wolf offered and he buried his face against a familiar chest. Sephiroth inhaled, the deep scent of—"Sunflowers?"

"Heh, knew that would come to bite me in the ass." Wolf rumbled fondly, "May I?" His broad, square-tipped fingers hovered over Sephiroth's hair and Seph nodded. The calloused skin never caught against his hair but the strokes were long and light enough that he leaned into them.

"... I don't understand?" Lan questioned.

"Ah, right, Henderson 'n I were in the first wave of SOLDIER injections. You came, what, third?"

"Mm, third wave, second set, I think?"

"Well, our third squad member had abysmal Mako results to the point that he was projectile vomiting onto dragon dung who lead the experiments. Suffice to say, we needed a new squad member, hm?"

"... How old was Lt. Strife-Valentine?"

"Five." He admitted bluntly, shuffling so that Wolf could pet a little harder.

"Fucking Ramuh–"

"Easy now, Lan, dragon dung ate it, what, six years later for trying to take this one's younger brother from his Ma. Don't have to say what she did it with but,"

"Strife-Valentine was due for an assessment," Henderson picked up the story, parts of it sounding vaguely familiar. "Wolf was supposed to be judging as he was squad leader but almost ended up revoking his time as a SOLDIER candidate."

"I'm sorry, what?!" Lan looked between the three of them, dark brows furrowed in confusion.

"The lights went out and I may or may not have threatened him into cutting Strife-Valentine some slack. Dragon dung made an explicit threat to my injection permissions if I tried to defend Strife-Valentine again." Wolf shrugged, "Joke's on him, really, considering we both got the last laugh."

Lan hummed at that. "Good."

By the time they got back to ShinRa, Sephiroth had tied his hair back with his Mama's ribbon.

All four of them were filthy, at least two of their PHS had eaten it in the mud of the plains they'd been in and Wolf had acquired a hatred for the standard SOLDIER MRE slurry packets that none of them would begrudge him.

"If I never see another one of those things, it'll still be too damn soon," Wolf grumbled. "Go clear the Mythril Mines on your way back, they said, it'll be a good team-building exercise they said—"

Sephiroth checked his PHS and blinked at the amount of messages.

Seventeen were from Mayumi.

He read them slowly on the transport back,

Yumi: hope your mission is going well

Yumi: we did a briefing today

Yumi: Did you know your brother can

Yumi: can get into vents?

Yumi: I miss u

The longer he read, the more he missed her.

Towards the end of the messages, she'd gotten very sweet.

Yumi: Can't wait to see you again

Yumi: can I have a kiss when you get back?

Yumi: Unless you'd like 2 wash off mission?

Yumi: the secretaries r laughing at me

Yumi: Puppy love, they call it

He texted back to the last one, having been more recent than the rest.

Seph: Chichiue says the same

Seph: I would like mission grime off but

Seph: I wouldn't say no to kisses b4?

He took the stairwells three at a time–still streaked in dirt and monster gunk–and carefully cracked open the door to the 36th floor as always.

Mayumi was chatting with the other interns, tea in one hand as he approached.

"Hey Yuuuumi~" Stella, Sephiroth tried to remember, liked teasing Mayumi about him.

"Looks like you fell through a bush, Strife-Valentine!" Hosta shook her head.

"I did," he replied with a wry grin.

Mayumi whirled at that, her eyes lighting up before she laughed. "Oh Seph, I didn't mean that literally!"

"Ah, should I-?" He gestured with his thumb to the door, wincing at the crackle of mud coming off his arm.

"Hmm-mm," she set down her tea and gave him a soft peck. "Go shower."

"Can do," he smiled around his reply, noting with a faint start that he'd grown again.

He was taller than Mayumi now.

Chapter Text

The tenth long mission in half as many weeks strained Mayumi's texting.

Her answers became shorter, her replies spaced much further than usual.

Sephiroth blew out a long breath as he walked back up to the secretary pool.

Something wasn't quite right.

"Seph," her eyes searched his and she offered her hand. He took it easily, thumb starting to slide over the back of her hand when she stopped it. "Walk with me?"

He followed her out onto the Shielded balcony of 37, having taken the escalator up.

"Look," she let go of his hand.

Sephiroth realized she was trying not to cry, the drag of salt water tears a kick to the chest.

"Yumi, what–?"

"It's not you," her lips wobbled as she tried to smile. "you're amazing and sweet and so, so good but—"

"... Are you saying we should breakup?" He blurted, his chest aching even as he processed her words. "Why isn't it me?"

"I get so lonely on your missions and I know that it's your job to go out, and protect and do all the good that you can but–"

He inhaled, swiped at his own tears, and said slowly, "... I think need a moment."

Sephiroth turned sharply on his heel and paced, trying to see it from her view.

As much as he missed her on missions–he had things to do–but what would it be like to go into work and worry over someone you wanted safe? To constantly have a signal but no reply?

Sephiroth's strides widened, the length of his strides taking him the breadth of the balcony as he walked himself through her side.

Just as therapy had taught him; but empathy, even here, hurt worse.

He turned back around and held out his hands again, Mayumi taking them even as she sniffled.

"I like you a lot," Sephiroth sighed, "but I'm not going to hurt you by making you stay. It's going to take me a while to see you without... Are you okay if Hosta takes my paperwork to her sister so you don't see me?"

She blinked at that, "I don't want to avoid you."

"I can't..."

"I get it though."

"... Thank you,"

"You know," she stroked her thumbs over his palms, "whoever you do end up with is going to be one lucky person."

"Why?"

"You'll know when you get there," she replied with a shrug.

Sephiroth barely made it to the VR room that had been set to his calibration and typed in the code on autopilot.

He tapped in the field of flowers near Kalm and sank down into the virtual flowers, tears cutting hot tracks down his face.

Knowing that the reason wasn't him didn't make it hurt any less.

It was how Mom found him a few hours later, tear tracks dry and making his face stiff.

"Oh Seph, honey," Mom engulfed him in a hug and he found himself crying again.

He swiped at them, snarling now, but Mom only held a little tighter before he sank back into her scent of snow-cinnamon-hearth-steel with a choked sob.

"I-hic!-I did it ri-right-hic!-right?" He asked wetly against her now soaked apron.

"Of course you did,"

"So w-why?"

"To steal a phrase from Genesis? Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess," she said wryly. "I doubt either of you intended to hurt one another but breaking up can be hurtful, sometimes because it's mutual. I'm not saying forget her or the times you had together but don't forget that we're here for you, okay? Grieve for a while."

"... it's okay to feel bad?" He croaked softly.

"Of course it is," Mom smoothed back his bangs but didn't make him look up. "My first one, I cried for a week straight."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. I was all of fourteen, thought I was going to marry that girl." Sephiroth released her and sat back. Mom chuckled softly and said, "Yes, you heard that right."

"But...?" He flicked a look at the cameras and found the shimmer of security Materia blocking the film.

"And yes, it was very much not safe for us to be together like that back then. She did the right thing, even if it hurt me at the time."

"... Who?"

"She works in Corel nowadays, My... Myrna. Mn, her name was Myrna."

"She's sick," he blurted, "and married? At least, that's what Chichiue says."

Mom blinked and then smiled. "Oh I hope she went for Barret instead of Dyne. Shame about her being sick, though."

"I helped. I think," he sank into the Cetra meditation and reached for Myrna, pleased to find her lungs settling at a medium yellow-green. Sephiroth reached for Mayumi and stopped just short of her.

Her colors were muted and the ache in his chest seemed to beat in time with her own. Sephiroth shook himself and curled back against his Mom, heaving out a long sigh.

"Mrs. Wallace is okay. Can... can I just lay here?"

"At least until formation," she agreed, holding him close to her.

"Awww hells, Strife-Valentine, get out of formation," Wolf barked at end of day. He was gently pulled to the side, golden eyes looking him over in concern. "You okay cub?"

"Mayumi broke up with me," he admitted miserably, his voice cracking down into another octave. Sephiroth blew out a breath and added, "We decided that it wasn't working."

"'We?'"

"'S mutual," he sighed and quietly marveled at the way he talked.

Hojo would've been angry at him slurring his words.

He'd done it anyway.

"Huh, those suck, quite literally, major balls. Give yourself some time, cub, couple of months and you'll be different for it but okay overall, eh?"

"... I'm trying sir."

Chapter Text

Sephiroth took to the rafters for two months to travel ShinRa, making sure to avoid the 36th floor entirely aside from Hosta and Heather Jones.

Chichiue looked up, spotting him unerringly on the second rafter from the Turk headquarters.

A swirl, a shift of crimson cloak and Chichiue was balancing on the beam as well, sabatons making no sound as they approached.

Crimson locked with verdant green and Chichiue settled next to him, lifting his left arm on habit. Sephiroth heaved out a sigh and snuggled close.

"... Would you like a change in scenery?"

"I..." Chichiue waited, purring loudly to fill the silence that pressed between them as Sephiroth picked up his gauntlet and tweaked the tips of the talons. "I don't know?"

"If you want distance, when that was what caused it or that you want to go but feel it necessary you stay?"

Sephiroth opened his mouth at that and the thought occured to him that maybe he could do both.

"... Can I stay with Aunt Ifalna?"

"If that's what you want," Chichiue replied, "or, and I would appreciate it if you hear me out, Junon?"

Sephiroth mulled it over, cheek pillowed on Chichiue's chest and his feet dangling over the rafter as he kicked them back and forth freely.

"Both," he said.

"Both," Chichiue hummed, more a question than statement.

"I can, right?"

"Of course you can, Sephiroth, and I'll sort the paperwork with Ms. Jones, if you'd like me to?"

Sephiroth chewed at his bottom lip until it was almost bloody before he huffed out a breath. "No, I want to see the floor. I need to see her and know that it's okay to move on."

"It's only been a few months, are you sure?"

"... I..." he paused, still tugging on the tips of Chichiue's gauntlet, "I have to try. For me, if nothing else?"

"I see," Chichiue murmured, "I will be out in the lobby."

"But not with me," he finished.

"Mn."

"That helps."

"She took a leave of absence, citing family time," Ms. Jones offered when his eyes flicked towards the slightly dusty desk, "she'll be back by the end of the week but I see you're going off when she gets back." She looked him over, "Time away will be good. Helps reorient the senses and your awareness of a space."

"Thank you, Ms. Jones,"

"Heather, please, or Ms. Heather, if you absolutely must,"

"Too many Ms. Jones'?" He offered wryly.

"Got it in one,"

Mrs. Gainsborough took one look at him and opened her arms. "If you'd like one? I've been told they're good."

He inhaled, blew out his breath and then slowly sank into her arms. It was how his Aunt found them ten minutes later, Sephiroth tucked under her chin and swaying them both.

"Kidnapping my nephew, Elmyra?"

"Of course," he heard the smile in her voice and he gave a faint chuckle.

"Thank you," he murmured.

"None needed," she said, "may I give you a kiss?"

Sephiroth nodded and smiled when she gently kissed his hair before letting go.

"If you don't mind, we'll be running errands today," Aunt Ifalna admitted.

"Do you need...?" He wiggled his fingers and she shook her head.

"We'll see how I feel," she replied.

Gathering flowers and herbs, tailing his Aunt and just being with his cousin helped immensely.

By the time the week had ended, he was a familiar sight to those in the Sector Five Slums. He picked up Aerith from the Leaf House, fended off low-level monsters and just relished in the quiet.

When Chichiue showed up to collect him for Junon he was feeling much better with daily calls to both Mom and Cloud.

His PHS was filled with fast and furious emails as well as texts between him, Gen and 'Geal.

They called up Jax and Wind Storm, Sephiroth sitting light in the saddle as they crossed the Midgar Plains to the ferry.

Mistle and Holly Jones were there waiting.

"Sharp, what are you feeding your boy!?" Holly teased, "He's growing like Plains grass!"

"Good food and good company," Chichiue supplied wryly.

"Even better," Mistle snorted as she unwound the rope from the dock.

He left Jax in the open box with a pat and asked, "Show me?"

"Sharp? You mind?"

"Sephiroth will learn everything you have to offer and then some; he needs no permission from me."

"... Strange approach to raising a teenager but okay." Mistle shrugged, "Alright, first things first, this is called casting off..."

It was the first thing he heard in the port town.

"CLANG!-clink-CLANG!-clink—"

His head snapped around to see sparks flying from molten metal and the swing of a hammer coming from well-defined... Oh.

Sephiroth scrubbed at his cheeks, spun on his heel and dismissed Jax with the Lure.

He wasn't looking.

He wasn't—

"CLANG!-clink-CLANG!-clink—"

"... I need my kunai sharpened. Would you like to come along with or would you like to explore by yourself?"

"I think my kunai need sharpening too," he managed without flushing or stuttering or anything of the sort. Sephiroth was so, so proud for not taking notice that he almost swallowed his tongue at the sight of sweaty muscles reaching for Chichiue's kunai.

He mentally scolded himself, reached for the the indifferent calm of his lessons and mantled it around himself like Chichiue's cloak.

"And you, sir?"

"My kunai also need sharpening, sir," he managed with a steady tone, embarrased when his voice dropped again but pointedly ignored it.

What was wrong with him? He'd just gotten over Mayumi, now wasn't the time to be looking at someone who wasn't even his age or interested.

The bright blue eyes crinkled at the corners, "I'm no sir, I'm just a journeyman. I'm glad you swung by our shop and are trusting us with your weapons,"

"... I see."

"I do need a name to go with each order...?"

"Sharpshooter–"

"A hunter! Would you mind, ah, that is, there's a notice for materials we need?" The journeyman perked up, hands settling on–No, no, Sephiroth was not here to objectify.

"Of course," Chichiue answered. "Son, I trust you'll find your way to the Inn after settling the matter of your kunai?"

"Yes, Chichiue," he agreed absently.

"He's your Da? He's gotta be no older than 30?!"

Sephiroth laughed, his calm falling away thanks to the sheer disbelief in the journeyman's tone. "He's 41, we age well."

"Then you're-"

"No, I'm not secretly just as old," he admitted wryly. "I'm a teenager."

"No way,"

"Yes way,"

"Prove it."

"Says the twenty-something running a—"

"Pfft, twenty!" Dark brown hair was pushed back, ruffled and then gloved hands settled again at the V of, well, he wasn't going to look. "Look, I'm 14, jus' hit my growth spurt is all."

"Oh."

"If he's you're Da, you get there like two summers from now, max of three. Gonna grow like a damn weed at some point. Kunai and a name for the both of 'em since your Da's gone for the notice."

"It's... Sephiroth."

"Mine's Talbot, they'll be done tomorrow."

Sephiroth handed over his kunai sheath and immediately strapped the dagger there in their place. "Tomorrow then,"

He gave a short nod, spun on his heel and made his way through the crowd to the Inn, searching for where Chichiue was with a faint Libra cast.

Chapter Text

"Sephiroth,"

"Hmm?"

"You keep staring into the middle distance. Something wrong?"

"I..." he scrubbed at his cheeks again, "Remember that talk we had?"

"I take it you mean The Talk," Chichiue answered with a raised brow.

"I think I wanna... maybe... make out with the journeyman." He blurted and then buried his face in his hands. "But I just... Mayumi."

"Oh my son, such is puppy love. If you want a fling, just ask. The worst he can do is say no but ask it after he's returned our kunai. No sense in wasting a good sharpening."

"Really?"

"I will shoot him if he chooses to get violent, however."

"Chichiueeeee!" He groaned, burying his face back into his hands.

He paced in the Inn room, turned to squats and light calisthenics and then blew out a long breath.

Sephiroth braided his hair into the waterfall braid that Mom had done the first time into the slums, looked at it in the mirror and was about to take it back out when the gauntlet stilled his hand.

"Relax, Sephiroth,"

"But I don't even know if he's going to say yes,"

"And if he does?" Sephiroth froze at that. "Now, I'm not saying Valentines are Casanovas but," here Chichiue gave a faint smile, "we catch our fair share of people."

"I'll give it a go?"

"Only if you're comfortable, Sephiroth. Theres no pressure; you can admire and never say a word if that's also your choice."

He wanted a hug. It would help, he was sure of it.

"I need a hug." Chichiue opened his arms and Sephiroth pillowed his cheek against the slower heartbeat, all of his tension draining out of him. "Thank you,"

The rumble of the chuckle that worked it's way out of Chichiue's mouth made him smile. "No thanks needed, my son. Now, kunai?"

Sephiroth ignored the fluttering in his stomach, ignored the wind and marched over to the weaponsmith shop, Talbot talking to another customer.

He waited, carefully spinning the dagger in his hands until, "You're back bright and early!"

"Mmn," he sheathed the dagger without nicking himself and handed over the gil for the sharpening, noting absently that it was below market value. "I owe you more."

"No, I'm a journeyman. I get three quarters pay for my work until I'm a master weaponsmith."

"Hn," he tested the blade by pulling out a sticky note from his inventory, remembering the Look Head Nurse Kunsel had given him the last time he'd attempted to test it on himself. "Work done well, I see."

"Your Da's looking awful scary over there by the street corn stall,"

"Chichiue!" He hissed under his breath and the red cloak at the edge of his vision spun to face the other way. Sephiroth tucked the other set into his inventory, returned his dagger to the weapons pouch and strapped his kunai back on in under thirty seconds. "I wanted–"

"Would you mind–Ah go ahead?" Talbot shuffled, cheeks turning pink.

"Would you..." he spun the first kunai, chewed at his lip and blurted, "wanna go for a walk on the beach?"

Blue eyes widened, large hands flexed and then Talbot grinned, "Sure,"

"Huh?" Sephiroth blinked at that, sheathing the kunai as he did so.

He'd been so braced for a no that the yes had swept his feet out from underneath him.

Talbot scrubbed at the back of his neck, said, "You were so cool and calm and, well, way out of my league,"

He laughed, the relief nearly bowling him over, "No, I'm really not. When do you get off shift?"

"Late." Talbot wrinkled his nose at that, "I can take you on my lunch?"

"Sounds great," here Sephiroth stepped into the forge and leaned up, "May I?"

"Er, here?" Sephiroth frowned, pulling back. "No, no, I do want it, just, in the forge? It's not safe for your hair."

"Ah," he flushed, having forgotten the open fire banked on either side. Sephiroth backed out of the forge, stopping just short of the entrance.

Talbot leaned forward with a smile, "Now?" Sephiroth reached up, gently pulled him down and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thanks. Noonish sound good?"

"Mm-hmm," Sephiroth agreed, still shocked that he'd been said yes to.

"Hey, you good?"

"Kind of braced myself for a no," he mentioned.

"... You have no idea how you look, huh?" Talbot shook his head, "I'm sure you could ask any local teen in Junon and they'd say yes just to see you light up."

Sephiroth cursed his fair skin as his cheeks heated. "I don't think so,"

Talbot looked him over, slowly running his gaze across Sephiroth's hunting outfit and shook his head, "Guess I'm lucky, then," here he glanced at the front and hissed, "Ifirit's balls, gotta go,"

"'Bye," Sephiroth sighed, tilting his head and smiling to himself at the play of muscles bunching as Talbot walked.

"... That went better than expected, hn?" Chichiue teased.

Sephiroth rolled his eyes and bemoaned his amused parental figure with, "Chichiue!"

"I'm sure your Mom would be pleased as punch to see you flirting again," he replied.

Sephiroth threw his hands up to the sound of Chichiue's laughter.

He wandered with Chichiue through most of Junon's open air market, taking in the sights and keeping an eye on the clock.

Then it was Chichiue's turn to stop and clear his throat at the sound of, "Well, well, well, what have we here?"

"... Augi."

"Really now, Sharp, just because we're older doesn't mea-Oh. I take it you're here on business then." The red hair looked awfully familiar but Sephiroth pushed it to the side. "Protége or...?"

"My son," Chichiue corrected sharply.

"Touchy, touchy, hmm, same as always," the flick of a hand through the hair made him blurt—

"Genesis?!"

"Oh, you know my boy!" Augi lit up, green eyes sparkling with almost the same overflow Gen got sometimes.

"... Your boy?" If Sephiroth didn't know any better, he'd say Chichiue was one step below angry on behalf of Genesis.

"Oh it's been ages," Augi waved off Chichiue's concern and anger, "I'll share the tale over a glass and a serious security trio, seeing as how this involves a ShinRa NDA but since you know him..."

"Sephiroth, can you make your way back to your date?" Chichiue sighed, switching over to Nibel, «I'll tell you once you get back, I want you not to miss it.»

«Thank you, Chichiue,»

«I count him as close as family, I will do what I can to get to the bottom of this,» Chichiue reassured with a squeeze to his shoulder. «Go.»

Sephiroth skidded to a halt before the shop five minutes to noon, having taken to Junon's rooftops tracking Talbot via his own Cetra senses.

He pulled out the bladed comb from Ms. Heather, checking over his hair with a quick comb through when he felt he was being watched. Flicking his hair behind him, he gripped three kunai and waited with the patience of a Cuahl.

The first he pinned with the kunai, the second with two more and then summoned Masamune within the span of a breath.

"Do tell me why I shouldn't let this slide right through," he said flatly, tilting the blade edge against the jugular of the third, watching the skin curve in against the steel.

"It was a joke, oh gods, it was a joke, we never meant any harm—"

"Sephiroth, are you–Huh." Talbot bolted out of the shop and took in the mess that the other three had created in front of the shop. "Sadly, those three idiots are related to me. Cousins."

"My cousin isn't half so bad but then again she's less of an idiot," he replied with a raised brow as he removed Masamune from the trembling neck, inspecting the blade for any blood. "They're lucky that my first response is disable and not kill." He chided them all as he retrieved his kunai, handing them over to Talbot for inspection. "I hope they didn't ruin your hard work."

"No, surprisingly," Talbot gave him a considering look, eyes going wide at the sight of Masamune, "Err, how strong are you?"

He shrugged, took a moment to think it through and admitted, "Strong enough to kill a Zolom, at least. Dunno if I can even calculate it properly."

"... did he just say... Zolom."

"As in Midgar Zolom?!"

"One and the same."

All three of them blanched, gibbered out something that approached apologetic and then fled. Sephiroth wondered if this was what would chase Talbot away from anything to do with him.

Talbot rose a brown brow, looked at Masamune and whistled lowly as he handed back the kunai. "Gods do I know how to pick 'em; you a SOLDIER?"

"... Yes."

"Huh. Bagged me a cute one, at least."

Sephiroth sheathed the knives, pushed Masamune into the ether and offered his shaking hand. Talbot smiled as he took it, pressed a kiss to the back of it and laced their fingers. "You don't... mind?"

"We got Cadets and candidates with Mako runnin' around here plenty. Never met an actual SOLDIER though."

Sephiroth grimaced and muttered, "Long story but I used to be the face of ShinRa's publicity campaign."

"That's rough, buddy," Talbot gave his hand a gentle squeeze, "Ever had a fish taco?"

"... is that a euphemism or...?"

Talbot laughed as he swung their hands, "No! Gods, thought I had a filthy mind,"

"I live and work with SOLDIERs," he shrugged. "I think I've heard most innuendos by now, even if some of them flew over my head when I was a bit younger."

"... Were you adopted by a SOLDIER? Sounds like you've been there a while."

Sephiroth wondered what it was like to be, well–not entirely free of ShinRa inner politics–to be so oblivious of what had happened just below the polite veneer ShinRa put up.

"Hmm, my Mom's Head Chef at HQ, they spotted me for some special training since I pick things up quickly and now I'm a Third." The minefield that had been his past was smoothed over in a brief sentence but it was, to be fair to Talbot, mostly the truth.

"Huh, good to know,"

Chapter Text

Chichiue was there when he returned, his boots and socks in one hand and brand new, extremely squeaky shoes called flip flops.

The frown Chichiue was wearing spoke of not so good news. Sephiroth quietly kicked off the flip flops, set down his boots and padded over to him.

"... Will a hug make it better?"

"Hnn, it can't hurt any," he opened his arms and Sephiroth snuggled close. "Enjoy your date?"

"He's fun? Different. Honest and down-to-earth," he replied slowly. "What happened?"

Chichiue inhaled, blew out a long breath and started with, "ShinRa's sins are many, as well you know, my son,"

"Mmn,"

"They had Augi sign an NDA for security reason and well,"

Sephiroth listened to the tale his Chichiue sounds with slowly growing horror and then waited for him to finish because he'd had a revelation in the midst of it all. "So... even though I was an oops baby, you actually wanted me. Both of you,"

"Wanted and loved deeply long before you ever came into this world, my son,"

"... we should give Gen and Geal their numbers," he blurted, no longer taking the time to think it through.

That felt like more of a victory than he could ever voice out loud; he'd have to talk to Dr. Candelis about it whenever they got back.

"It has waited many a year, a week more won't hurt," came Chichiue's practical answer. "You're only here for so long, best make the most of it, hmm?"

Somewhere, Sephiroth found it in himself to tease his Chichiue, "More like see Augi again, huh?"

"Not like that, my son," the eyeroll made him laugh.

Though it weighed in the back of his mind, Sephiroth chose to look to the future instead of the past which would catch him up when he returned to Midgar.

He tied his hair up into the topknot, full wetsuit zipped up as he picked up what the shop keep had sworn was a beginner board.

Fingerless gloves firmly in place, he jogged up to Talbot and cleared his throat.

"Fancy meeting you here,"

Talbot spun and let out a long, low whistle. "I'm pretty sure you could make a burlap sack fashion, Seph,"

He didn't quite understand why Talbot's friends were looking him over but he shrugged it off. He was here for Talbot, not other people's amusement.

"Your inventory's still strapped? You're gonna lose it, kid—"

"I go nowhere without it," he fired back quietly, cinching the hip and leg straps tighter, "and it's waterproofed."

"Damn Tal, you bring a Cadet or somethin?"

"... or something," Sephiroth answered with a sharp grin. "Talbot, show me how?"

"Okay, place your hands here," the large hands covered his own and Sephiroth valiantly ignored the heat of Talbot's body covering his own to pay attention.

He managed to swim out to sea, balance a little on the board before he crashed into the waves.

""You okay there newbie?""

"I'll get it," he called back, facing the waves again with a look he often gave opponents on his assessments.

Soaking wet and covered in Talbot's spare towel, Sephiroth found himself laughing with a warm cup of tea in hand.

"Damn, I thought I liked the waves! You're terrifyingly competent, where'd he pick you up?"

"At my job, looking like he fell out of a fantasy novel," Talbot joked, Sephiroth rolling his eyes fondly.

"Chichiue said we needed our kunai sharpened,"

"Hunters, huh?"

"Mostly,"

"This have anything to do with my snark earlier, little silver?"

"Figure it out," he replied with a raised brow.

"Pilot,"

"Uh-uh," Talbot answered, playing along, "try again,"

"ShinRa guard,"

Sephiroth snorted, "Aim higher,"

"You can't be Infantry, they'd never let that hair of yours sli—SOLDIER?!"

"No way,"

"You're not old enough —"

"Prove it!"

Sephiroth looked at the metal cup of warm tea, finished it and asked, "Anyone super attached to their camp cup?" Three were offered and he took the thickest of the trio. Crushing it was the work of moments before he continued blithely at the gaped jaws, "Long story short, I showed potential and they took me up on it."

"There anything you can't do!?"

"Plenty," he admitted wryly, "can't hold a tune to save my life, learning three languages and making different mistakes in each, still can't throw my kunai without breaking things..." Sephiroth shrugged.

"That list ain't helping your case, little silver,"

"Put my pants on one leg at a time like everyone else," he replied.

"Are you seriously giving us the I'm an average SOLDIER schtick right now?"

"... Maybe," he replied as though butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

"Oh my gods, Talbot, you do know how to pick 'em,"

"Ey, he picked me," Talbot countered, "and who the Hells was I to say no?"

"Fuck it," one of the other surfers said, apparently deciding to just roll with it, "Biggest monster you've ever faced?"

"Midgar Zolom," he grimaced, "broke my leg on that one,"

"... a Zolom?!"

"My team and I faced two; had to impale the second one on a spire because my sword wasn't going to go through it," he mentioned absently, rubbing at his leg where the bone had broken.

"Shit, and here I thought the hunters that pass through here were joking about the Zolom skeleton on top of Kalm Peak Spire..."

"Your team?"

"Mn, SOLDIERs go out in teams of three or four to combat the monsters hunters can't get through. Better odds of coming out of it alive." Sephiroth replied easily.

He received several impressed whistles after that remark and decided to change the subject, "Anyways, you have any tips or tricks so that I can do this whole surfing thing better?"

Kissing Talbot one last time, he let everything he'd bottled up over the week spill into this kiss.

Talbot matched him breath for breath, pulling away with a ragged gasp. "Damn, I know you don't do long distance but uh, if you're ever in Junon and you've got a moment, I'm game if you are,"

Sephiroth licked at his lips and offered quietly, "... Think I'd like that very much but let me know if you've gone serious with someone else. SOLDIERs try not to have a homewrecker reputation,"

"Roger, roger, Seph,"

"Eww, now you need to kiss me to make up for that terrible answer," he chided, laughing into the next three kisses.

He watched the sun glint off of the Sister Ray as he texted Gen and Geal.

Seph: Heading back

Gen: Get into trouble?

Geal: Gen!

Gen: I kid, I kid

Seph: Met someone

There was a satisfying moment of a long silence before his PHS went off, Gen's number on the screen.

"You what?!"

"Met someone. He's... fun."

"'He's fun?'" Geal parroted back.

"His name's Talbot, he's a journeyman blacksmith and uh, he kisses nice."

"Oooo, Seph, didn't know you had it in you! Look at you, Mr. Casanova!" Gen teased but quickly sobered with, "He didn't pressure, right?"

"Hm-mm," he confirmed easily, "we talked a lot because his Mama said to make sure everyone was on the same page."

"Just making sure we don't have to shish kebab your latest beau," Gen huffed and Geal laughed in the background.

"Him no, but his cousins..."

"Oh gods, tell me you left them with the fear of Alexander..."

He laughed, giving them the story as Chichiue waited patiently at the corner of his vision. "Mn, on that note, Chichiue and I, uh, ran into someone. Two someones, actually."

"I'm not following, Seph,"

"Remember how you always wondered about your, ah, father figures?"

The sudden snap of plastic and the line going dead had him looking at his PHS in dismay.

Angeal's number immediately followed and he picked it right back up, "I take it Gen just snapped the entire thing in half?"

"Something like it," came Geal's wry rejoinder. "Couldn't wait to tell us in person?"

"Put your PHS down, I'm not calling your landline for you to snap that too," he chided. He heard a quick clatter and Angeal huffing but waiting. "We met Gen's Dad out on a walk through Junon. Chichiue ran into yours after figuring out what went down and needing to go hunt."

"Holy shit," Angeal breathed out.

"That's what I said," he replied quietly even as he heard Gen also inhale three times and blow it out all at once. "They signed, uh,"

"May I interject?" Chichiue offered quietly.

Sephiroth kicked his PHS onto speaker and listened.

Chapter Text

Sephiroth grunted as he was tackled off his feet by his friends.

"Hello to you too," he wheezed as his back met the ground, hair flying out.

"Missed you," Gen grumbled.

"What he said," Geal echoed even as his hand cradled the back of Sephiroth's head.

"Where's your dignity," he replied with a grin.

"Pfffttttt," Gen blew a raspberry and settled against his shoulder. "No dignity, only cuddles,"

"Mood,"

"Oh gods,"

All three of them dissolved into laughter.

"Okay, so, your Chichiue laid down the basics but like, what actually happened?" Gen asked as they laid on the shared couch in Gen and Geal's apartment.

"We were just wandering Junon, y'know,"

"As one does," Gen teased,

"Anyway, just as I'm about to leave for my date—"

"Wait, wait, like date-date?" 'Geal prodded.

"A uh, very nice... someone. A someone I'm still getting used to," he hedged. "We ran into one of Chichiue's old friends? I think he was something more, years ago but Gen, I swear it was like looking at an older version of you. Hair was way lighter though, by quite a few shades,"

"... Augi, right?"

"Mn,"

"Turned out ShinRa made him sign an NDA about being your donor and that he'd get updated on how you were doing and..."

"ShinRa is as ShinRa does?" Gen filled in sourly.

"Something like it," Sephiroth snorted, "and then Chichiue ran into yours when he went to work out his anger on Gen's behalf," here he looked over Angeal, who was wringing his hands and Sephiroth laced their fingers easily. The full body droop as he relaxed into the touch made Sephiroth hum softly. "Same thing, except uh,"

"My Mom," 'Geal said quietly.

"She convinced both of them that it was for a double-blind study of children's illnesses." He sighed.

"I mean, I knew Mom wasn't the best Mom but..." the grimace which accompanied it was one that Sephiroth understood viscerally.

"Feels like that wholesome was a little less wholesome now," Genesis sighed, pillowing his cheek against Sephiroth's left shoulder. "Hollander was still worse,"

"Hate him," he blurted.

"I'm sorry, how do you–?" Gen blurted, confusion spiking in his scent.

"He used to come crashing through the doors if I ever failed in some small way, swearing up and down that the Project he had would never fail that way," he admitted quietly. "To which dragon dung would usually reply that it would be better if he had a Project that hadn't failed right from the start,"

"... Don't know if that hurts or it's funny," 'Geal muttered.

"It can be both," Gen scoffed, "or even three things,"

"Huh?"

"Funny, cause Hollander never got put in his place by anyone but Mrs. Hewley," Gen ticked off with his fingers, "messed up because that's us dragon dung is talking about and sad because we weren't there to help you,"

"Where is that sad sack of Behemoth dung anyways?" Geal murmured out of curiosity.

"Last I heard through the ShinRa grapevine, uh, Western Continent, they think," Sephiroth answered, "the outposts are trying to track him because Dr. Jakobs has some, uh, pointed questions she'd like to ask him,"

"Why'd he run so quickly? He could've easily been the next ShinRa Head of the Science Department," Geal murmured.

"... I think I know the answer to that," he responded, the corners of his mouth curving up as he valiantly repressed a smile.

"Huh?"

"How?!" His best friends blurted in tandem.

"He was one of the few medical personnel after dragon dung ate it that was willing to make sure he was fully dead,"

"And why does—oh. Oh." the smile that spread across Angeal's face was cruel in a way Sephiroth had never seen before.

"I don't —Oh my Gods." Genesis followed with the same look.

"Gods had nothing to do with it," he chuckled darkly, "just a solid 20 year old cast iron frying pan."

"Seph!" came the chiding, laughing reply from both of them.

"... I have their numbers," he mentioned after awhile. "Only if you want,"

"Hmm. Give us a while?" Geal asked quietly, his thumb tracing silly patterns against the side of Sephiroth's right hand.

"Of course, just wanted to offer them," They fell into silent companionship, the three of them just basking in each others company. "... Missed you guys,"

"Same," Gen offered after a moment, "I kept turning to tell you something and, y'know,"

"Not there," Angeal finished, "weird as hell, zero out of ten would recommend,"

"Only zero?" He teased, squawking as 'Geal gave him a half-assed headlock, "Hey!"

"Subzero," Gen cackled, yelping as Sephiroth's fingers found his side. "No fair!"

"I'll show you Fair—" Angeal said as he reached for Gen's other side, only to squeak as Sephiroth found his weak-spot, "Ack! No!"

They fell on top of Sephiroth and he grunted, "off! Off, you're heavy!"

He grumbled through his morning stretches and then grunted in surprise when his toes touched the end of his bed with his arms touching the headboard.

Sephiroth sat up, impatiently shoved at his hair and then padded into the bathroom.

He didn't feel any different.

When he tugged on the uniform top, it creaked dangerously and wouldn't meet his pants.

«Mom!!» He hollered at the top of his lungs, trying on his pants as well and finding they wouldn't go past his thighs. She stopped in the doorway and made a sympathetic face as he said, «I don't think they're going to come off the correct way,»

«No, I don't think so either, let me get a blade; scissors or knife, dear?» she clicked her tongue at his predicament but immediately went to fix it.

«Knife is fine, Mom,» he went to close the door and the shirt gave a horrible —SCHHHHRIP!— «Just the pants, Mom,»

«Oh dear, I heard that out here!» she laughed, «Here, cut those off and I'll get Angeal's spares, I think you'll fit those,»

He cut through the fabric before it cut off his circulation and looked mournfully at the only that did still fit, his socks still Chocobo printed.

He pulled on Angeal's shirt and sweats and thankfully his standard issued boots still fit.

«I'll go down to the quartermaster's then, Mom, I can't go on duty like this,»

«Text your superior,» she mentioned as she made her way out of the door.

«Will do!»

Sephiroth: Sir, I may no longer have a uniform to wear

Wolf: What happened? Shrink it in the wash?

Sephiroth: This

He sent a photo of his shredded uniform.

Sephiroth: I put it on this morning & it ripped

There was a long pause, longer than Sephiroth expected and then he huffed because his superior was likely laughing his ass off.

Wolf: I'm sure you're already headed towards the quartermaster's then

Sephiroth: Yessir

Wolf: See you when you're in proper gear, son

Chapter Text

"Now that's a face I haven't seen in a while!" Captain Battle, blond spikes so eerily reminiscent of Cloud's own that he had to give a second look, grinned around his toothpick. "Monster hunt or...?"

"I, ah, put it on this morning and," he gently placed the remnants on the counter and Captain Battle gave a long, low whistle.

"Growth spurt, ey? Let me see, did the shirt ride up?"

"Yessir,"

"Pants not go past your knees?"

Sephiroth flushed, which appeared to be answer enough.

"And you're wearing who's spares?"

"Ah, Lt. Hewley's, sir," he allowed, privately marveling that Angeal's old spares fit him now.

He was starting to think he'd stay that size forever.

"Two sizes up, not bad, not bad," Captain Battle chuckled softly, "I'll be out in a moment,"

Sephiroth sighed as he perched himself on the counter, head snapping up when he heard Delta come through the door.

"... and I'm telling you, that nasty Poodler tried to eat me?!" Lt. Colonel Tyris grumbled even as he walked with the uniform half off and the lash of a tentacle still clearing up on his shoulder and exposed back.

"Shouldn't have gotten that close then, sir," he teased, grinning as they looked at him. "Good morning sirs!"

"Why are you wear... Oh my Gods you went through another growth spurt, look at those puppy paws!" General Urial grinned in return, "Tyris swore he had it and then, well,"

"It had him," Lt. Colonel Cleary snorted dryly, "looking good, Strife-Valentine!"

"Thank you sir,"

"Hey, hey, no parties in, awww come on sir, can't you keep one shirt!?"

"Hey, Strife-Valentine just ruined his—"

"Through hormonal growth!!! That he didn't ask for?! You're good, Lt., get going to formation or sparring, whichever you manage to make in time," Battle snapped, handing Sephiroth two new sets gently before he whirled on Lt. Colonel Tyris, "And you, I told you no more tentacled things!"

Sephiroth laughed his way out of Supply, much to the indignation of Lt. Colonel Tyris.

"Awww come on, that's just patently unfair!"

"All's Fair in love and war, sir," he teased as he picked up the pace.

The elevator closed upon the laughter of the rest of Squad Delta and Captain Battle.

He skidded into sparring, grumbling as he readjusted his Inventory straps for the first time in years.

"Hey, Strife-Valen-oh. Oh Congrats, sir, on the growth spurt!" Lt. Johnson said as Sephiroth finished clicking the belts back into place against his hips and thigh.

Sephiroth stepped back and forth, side-to-side to check the fit before nodding to himself, "Damned annoying is what it is," he rumbled, starting at the sound of his own voice. He'd swear on any Summon that he'd sounded, a little, like Chichiue.

"That was you, sir?" Lt. Kunsel let out a low whistle, "Almost sounded like a grownup!"

"I can still kick your ass," Sephiroth replied absently, pulling Masamune unsheathed from the ether and going through his kata flow, teeth bared as he found flaws in his usual routine.

"Seph! Legs!!" Gen, careful of Masamune, hugged Sephiroth around the middle, his arms coming around Sephiroth's chest instead of his mid-back.

"And torso, apparently," he sighed, pillowing his chin on Gen's shoulder. "I'm all wonky, help me fix it?"

"Heard you had to steal my clothes," 'Geal teased as he ruffled Sephiroth's bangs.

He faked a snap of his teeth just to grin as Angeal barely moved away from his longer reach. "Wanna fight about it?"

"A spar probably would help but, uh, not our usual, not until you get used to it,"

He nodded in agreement and suggested, "Bokken?"

"Bokken,"

"Yeah, yeah, bokken,"

The spar was quick, dirty and Sephiroth left it with a welt down his arm but feeling much better in his own frame again.

What he didn't expect was for the 3rd gym to be so quiet, the panting of the three of them practically the only sound.

"Holy shit, when did that happen? Sir?" Kunsel blurted.

"Huh?"

"I think we might need to up our training if that's Squad Lima play fighting," Major Milo muttered, Major Higsby nodding in agreement.

"I... we're just sparring," he protested weakly, the deep-seated fear of being a weapon in truth rising to the surface again.

"Kiddo," Major Milo started, took a long look at Sephiroth's expression and said gently, "not saying you have to be the best. I don't think we've seen you spar since you were smaller, is all. You're fine, you're making good progress and there's nothing wrong with your spar or with your squad."

The tension in his shoulders loosened bit by bit the longer his superior talked. "Hewley, if you could teach me that parry?"

"Rhapsodos, did you light the bokken on fire?! What have I said about fucking up the equip? Do you want to see Battle again today and be smoked?" Higsby chided Genesis, taking the attention right off of him.

Lt. Colonel Wolf motioned with his head and Sephiroth followed cautiously, "Glad to see your new uniform fits,"

"Thank you sir,"

Golden eyes looked him over and he gave a wry grin to Sephiroth as he said, "Look at you growing up on me without my say so, eh?"

"Pardon, sir?"

"I've watched over you for a long time, kid," he murmured, the snap of a security trio making Sephiroth relax further. "Guess the others are surprised that time is catching up to us old fellas,"

"You're not that old, sir—" he countered quickly, drawing a laugh from Wolf.

"I was 23 when I met you, almost a decade ago," came drawled response, "you've come a long way with the help of Mrs. Strife and your Pops,"

"Mn,"

Wolf bumped their pauldrons gently and asked, "You hungry?"

"Mm-mm, had two bars and a shake from—" he flushed as his stomach growled horribly.

"Might wanna keep some Choco-Kick Meteors on you for a while, think your metabolism is changing again to grow," came the recommendation. "Here, Lemon and Blueberry, I think?"

Sephiroth unwrapped it and shoved it into his mouth, nodding in agreement.

"... You actually might wanna rope your Primary into this," Wolf also offered, "we are flying blind when it comes to teenage hormones versus Mako,"

Sephiroth mulled it over as his stomach growled again and he pulled out another SOLDIER bar. He tucked the Choco-Kick to one side and snarfed the bar, which finally seemed to settle his body for the moment.

"Okay, these are loaded with a shitton of calories but," here Wolf turned the wrapper to show the date they were made, "think we might need to calibrate it off those new standards your Mom came up with,"

He couldn't help it, his face spoke before his mouth ever opened, "I know, I know, you don't like being the center of attention but you have to look out for yourself first,"

He hated being here but it was unfortunately necessary.

Calling Mom had crossed his mind twice on the way over but he wanted to try it by himself.

"Oh, good morning...? Why the face, Lt. Strife-Valentine?"

"I had a growth spurt," his voice cracked again, the deep rumble one he winced at this time. It hurt when it did that. "and now my stomach won't stop growling," he admitted point blank.

"Ahhh, I thought this might come up eventually. Now, I'm not specialized in teenage metabolism but I have a friend who is and, while I didn't disclose your details, I did pose her a hypothetical situation similar to yours. She came up with a nutrient plan that I have already incorporated into the system and I need you, for a while there, to eat at least three bars per meal. You're going to hate them but I do have better ones coming in by the end of the month," Dr. Jakobs responded gently. "Those you'll only need one,"

"... for how long!? Do I need to restrict my activity?" He yelped.

"Oh, no, business as usual, just more nutrient bars for quite a while. I'd say until your mid-twenties," she shrugged, making notations in her newly printed paper chart. He could still smell the heat on the ink.

"Mid... I..." Sephiroth's throat worked and he breathed out one of his deep-seated fears, "Am I going to even make it there?"

"Given your family genetics, so far so good," she hummed as she looked through his records, "I don't see why not," Sephiroth sat, hard, on the crinkly paper of the exam table. "Ah, I had wondered,"

"... should talk to Dr. Candelis about it, right?"

"Patient confidentially is in effect, and this is a special case,"

"Huh?"

"You willingly came to me, of your own volition, and asked," she filled in gently. "I am honored by your trust in me,"

Sephiroth opened his mouth, closed it and frowned deeply. He had come willingly, on the advice of one of his superiors, openly and without fear for himself.

"... then I am honored to give it," he replied quietly, "Three bars until the new ones come on and at least one meal from the Caf?"

"You got it,"

"I will do so,"

"That I don't have to worry about," Dr. Jakobs laughed, "you're a good kid, Lt. Strife-Valentine,"

"... Sephiroth, please," he blurted, "don't like always being a rank,"

A dark brow rose in response and he flexed his left hand on habit. "Sephiroth it is," she agreed with a look he didn't quite understand but accepted, "I do believe you have an intra-squad exercise in roughly," she glanced at her watch, "20 minutes?"

"Oh Bahamut, that's today?! What a time to grow up," he grumbled as he headed for the door. "... Thank you,"

"You're welcome," she waved her fingers in a pushing motion.

Chapter Text

Sephiroth made it with five minutes to spare, having launched himself down the stairwell instead of risking the elevator stopping at a critical moment.

He literally skidded into formation as it was happening, barely controlling his breathing at the end of the row.

"You good?" 'Geal murmured as Sephiroth's chest heaved while he stood at attention.

"Fine," he hissed in reply, noting that his shoulder was closer than it had ever been to Angeal's.

"Alright, Lima, Whiskey and Alpha are together!" Wolf barked.

"Yessir!" All three of them replied in perfect sync.

"We know anyone in Whiskey? Or Alpha for that matter??" Gen blurted after formation had been dismissed and they were to meet up with their new squadrons.

"Maybe?" Angeal muttered.

"They're heading our way, heads up," Sephiroth answered point blank. "Sirs,"

"Hmn, not what I expected of the famous Lima squad," one of Whiskey rose a brown brow and looked them over critically. "Aren't you three a little young to be in SOLDIER in the first place?"

"Son, don't go down that Mu hole, there is no backing out of it," General Thomas sighed, the frown tweaking his facial scars.

"Permission to speak freely, sir?" He requested.

"Have at, Strife-Valentine,"

"We're enhanced. Have been since birth or shortly afterwards and I am the reason we have a Program at all. Suffice to say that is all you need to know and if you want to know more, you may request my extremely redacted records at your convenience; there are precisely 14 boxes at the moment, sir."

"... boxes. As in plural."

"Yessir,"

"You were right sir, that is, in fact, not a Mu hole I would like to go down," he sighed, "Captain Harrier, Strife-Valentine. Your squadmates?"

"Lt. Rhapsodos,"

"Lt. Hewley, sir, and your squadmates?"

"Major Kite and that there is our Demo guy, Major Firehawk, yes, the name is more than on the nose,"

"Sir, your squadmates...?"

"Lt. Colonel Wallach and Lt. Colonel Perry, at your service, little warrior," the giant man gave a slight bow with his hand over his heart, "Cousin Selkirk said you were small but I see we've grown!"

Sephiroth returned the gesture, noting Geal and Gen mirroring a heartbeat behind him.

"Cousin Selkirk, sir?"

"Ah, her Mamie married into Canyon folk, so she's a cousin th' same way th' Firewolves are, part & parcel!"

"I see,"

"Think you're the first aside from my squadmates to understand, little warrior! Now, I think this is a game of capture the flag?" Wallach turned to General Thomas and was met with a fraction of a nod. "How fast are you and can you tolerate heights?"

Sephiroth grinned with all of his teeth as he answered, "Very, sir, better question is, how high can you throw?"

"You should see our spars, sir," Angeal teased gently, "we pretty much use all the surfaces available to match each other,"

"Anyone want to sneak around the back while they're distracted and steal their flags?" Gen blurted, shoulders stiffening as the other squads face him full on.

"Oh, what an interesting little warrior!" Wallach laughed, "Most excellent, most excellent, here, come show me what you mean?"

Sephiroth wondered how long it would be before someone realized he'd snapped up a privacy barrier stronger than necessary so that no one would be able to see their plans until the last moment.

The exercise went off with only two hitches and their group had gotten the most flags.

Sephiroth hadn't accounted for Mike squad but more specifically Noctua, and the fact that he could read lips.

"Great run!" Sephiroth said as he signed at speed with Noctua, "I didn't take into account that you can read lips fairly well, even from a distance,"

::You telegraphed your movements with Wutainese hand signs, sir,:: Noctua shrugged as he replied.

"Ahhhhhh," now he knew why Noctua had blocked that last flag catch, "need to start learning Canyon signs!"

::Canyon signs?::

"Mn, regional signs are different! Nibel, Gongaga, Kalm, Junon... you know, accents?"

::Accents?::

"Where you're from gives you a unique 'voice' and the same is true of sign," he clarified, "here, this is Nibel,"

::I don't know that one,::

"Nibel," he fingerspelled in the sign language Noctua had taught him.

::That's Nibel sign?!::

"Yeah,"

:: ... How many do you know?!::

"Hmmm, let's see, Nibel, Wutainese, yours, Junon and Gongagan but that was out of necessity on the last two, Chichiue hunts pretty frequently out there,"

:: Is the name Wutainese?::

"Oh, I... had a bad guardian and I have a bad association with... Father," he fingerspelled the last one, his expression clear, "So yes, it is Wutainese for that,"

The speed at which Noctua signed was still a bit much for Sephiroth, who caught bits of it to Vidar, some of it quite vulgar by sign standards, who in turn sighed, "He wants to know if the bad guardian is gone, sir,"

"Mn, he tripped and cracked his head open in the kitchen a few years back and Mom picked me right up," he snapped up a security trio, then a shrouded one with an Aero combination, "but that's the official version."

"... What's the actual version?" Vidar asked wryly.

"The rumored version is that my Mom caught Hojo trying to take my little brother and found himself at the end of her best cast iron pan. My Mom used to be a Knight Errant, with a family lance. You can guess about how well that went down," he replied with a teasing grin.

:: Good for her, :: Noctua signed with a matching grin.

Sephiroth dispersed the twin security trio's as he laughed.

"Ah, Lt. Colonel Wallach...?"

"I figured you might be by, little warrior,"

"Guess my question's pretty obvious?"

"Male, for one, technically also only half Canyoner and th' other half is a Knight Errant out of Icicle."

"Same last name, sir? My Mom, she's —"

"Knight Errant Strife née Lancer, we've spoken, little warrior,"

"Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Granted, little warrior!"

"Is she always going to be a Knight Errant?"

"Mn, yes, runs in the blood; means yon little one is also a Knight Errant,"

"Cloud?!" Sephiroth whirled at the nod towards the spectator bleachers, grinning as he spotted his brother and Mom both. "Permission to depart, sir?"

"Have at, I won't keep family waiting, little warrior," Wallach waved him off absently, turning to compare notes with Whiskey Squad, by the sound of it.

"Hi Mom, hi Cloud," he knelt to hug Cloud and found that he was too big to do so now without engulfing Cloud completely. "Did you enjoy the exercise?"

"Yeah! Super cool!"

Chapter Text

The day dawned as bright as it could get, Cloud tucked under his chin and snoozing away.

He missed the little, quiet moments with his brother sometimes so he would soak this one in.

The sunlight unfurled past his curtains and slowly crept up Cloud's soft cheek, Sephiroth blocking it from reaching Cloud's eyes with his hand.

"Hmmm-mn," Cloud scrunched his nose and Sephiroth let out a soft, extremely fond huff. «Nooooo, no cookies,»

He chuckled at that and Cloud's bright blue eyes blinked open to see him.

There was something else to them now, a deep but faint glow. But Cloud didn't have Mako in him; was this what Lt. Colonel Wallach had meant?

«What? Something on my face, Seph?»

«Your eyes, they're glowing? Really faintly and if you weren't facing me head-on, I'd never be able to tell,»

«Mama said they might, they might not? She got hers at eight!» Cloud wiggled so that could sit upright. «Will you help me with my Lance? Training, I mean?»

«As long as you want me to, Cloud,» he reassured as he ruffled soft blond spikes. «Big Brother Rule # 95 in the handbook, don't you know?»

«No way! There's no way that book has that many rules!» Cloud refuted pretty much instantly.

«Is too,» he teased, pretending to read from an invisible book, «Rule # 153, tickle doubtful little brothers!»

«I thought that was Rule # 2!?» Cloud squawked as he scrabbled off of Sephiroth's bed to get out of his new-found range.

«Gonna getcha!» he grinned as he lunged at the end of the bed, half-hearted as Cloud squeaked and bolted down the hall towards the bathroom. Sephiroth laughed as Cloud muttered under his breath about stupid older brothers and began the process to untangle himself from his own sheets.

Untangling had taken long enough that by the time he'd done his morning ablutions and padded to the living room, Cloud had been ripping through wrapping paper to get to— Oh.

The Lance was as tall as Cloud was, just barely, and the wide grin that split his brother's face was worth all the Gil in the world when he immediately offered it to Sephiroth. The snap of the camera was dismissed almost as immediately as it happened, safe and secure as this place was to him.

He gently took the Lance, finding it well balanced and flipped it carefully across the back of his hand to present the handle back to Cloud, «Well balanced. Good choice?»

«Not a choice,» Cloud huffed. «Mama, can I show him?!»

«Of course you can,»

Sephiroth wondered briefly what that was about when the Lance, which had clearly been a Lance, dissipated to show a smaller, heavily charged magical handle.

"Now that is interesting my son," Chichiue murmured as his brows touched his headband.

"That is our secret," Mom murmured, pulling her own handle from the ether and activating it. The enormous Lance nearly spanned the length of the living room, stopping just shy of the window seat. "We were... protectors, once upon a time. Our duty was to protect the Ancients but there are none—"

Chichiue tapped the floor twice, closing the entire space in a twin security trio and made a motion that Sephiroth might say something,

He blurted it out before he could think it through, "... They're, um, not all gone."

Twin pairs of blue snapped up to look at him.

"You, um, already know some," Sephiroth finished sheepishly.

"Aerith," Cloud followed along easily, nodding to himself.

"And my Aunt Ifalna,"

"... Which means you're also one," Mom murmured to herself, more than anything. "Do I have that right, Seph?"

"Yes,"

"My cast iron frying pan was still too good a death, I see," she grumbled, her fingers ruffling Cloud's spikes.

"The flowers I bring you," Chichiue murmured, "Ifalna may or may not have put his life force into them,"

Mom's eyes widened before she gave a satisfied chuckle. "So, since I keep forgetting to water them, does that count as an extra slow death?"

"Something like it," crimson eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Cloud, would you like to go see Aerith then? And perhaps, speak of things that we cannot while here?"

"Yeah!"

The journey down, Sephiroth kept a look-out but with the twin Lances in full view, not many people were keen on sitting next to them.

He couldn't imagine why, the Lances weren't meant to go in people, after all.

Rude.

The Lances were sheathed once they hit the Sector 5 Slums station and they started making their way over to the church.

"Beggin yer pardon, ma'am," a man cleared his throat, "would ye be a Knight Errant?"

"I am," Mom answered clearly, hand in hand with Cloud. "Knight Errant Strife,"

"Can I ask ye a favor?"

"Depends on the favor," Mom replied easily.

"Yon mosters, back in the alley, they have my things," he hunched a little, "if'n ye could?"

"Sharp, watch Cloud, Seph, with me,"

"Mn, come, let us watch your Mother at her craft,"

Mom snapped out the Lance once more, leveraging her weight to sprint towards the alley, Sephiroth hot on her heels.

She skewered the first, flinging it high as Sephiroth caught the second one square on with his kunai, the Lifestream dissipating in a flash as he dove into battle with his Mom.

Fling!-parry-block-dodge-stab-parry—!

He watched as Mom rousted them all without damaging her environment, the last monster impaled on the Lance. Mom snapped it to the side and the wave of a Limit Break washed over the back of his tongue, the blue wave of «Onslaught!» pulverizing the monster into so much dust.

"Can you teach me that?!" He asked in delight.

«Sadly, no. That's for Cloud to learn,»

"Ah,"

Mom cradled his cheek briefly with the hand not holding the Lance, "Doesn't mean I love you any less,"

"I know," he replied before ducking to retrieve his kunai. "Of that I have no doubt,"

Chapter Text

The pathway to the church was empty, little wildflowers flowing in the breeze.

He was surprised to find that the closer they came to the church, the more flowers seemed to bloom in large swathes.

Cloud was learning how to run with his Lance in hand from Mom, Sephiroth darting ahead only to double back and tease his little brother with a hair ruffle.

"Can't catch—Whoa!"

Cloud grinned as he lunged again, the blue glow of his feet perhaps a sign of a building Limit Break.

"Cloud!" Aerith called and Cloud abandoned his pursuit of Sephiroth in an instant.

"Look! Look, watch!" Cloud dismissed the end of the Lance and Aerith clapped with glee.

She touched it before Sephiroth could do more than close his fingers around the handle too—something in him knowing that it was important—and all three of them braced for impact.

"Now that is something I haven't seen," Aunt Ifalna chuckled. Sephiroth cracked open an eye to see the LifeStream swirling at thier feet and swishing around all three of them.

"Oh, that's pretty," Aerith mentioned absently as she let the LifeStream curl around her fingers.

Cloud's eyes were even brighter as he cracked one and then the other. "Huh, guess Seph was right, there are some... friends who need us."

Sephiroth sighed and replied, "And this is what I was trying to prevent happening in view of things we can't control,"

Aunt Ifalna laughed, leaning on her cane. "I'm fairly certain that they're going to have much more trouble getting it back online after that surge!"

Surge? Power surge, magic surge....? "Huh?"

"Inside,"

"Yes mama,"

"Yes, Ms. Ifalna!"

"Coming," he replied, pulling his hand away from the Lance.

The sharp inhale from Mom made him glance back but she shook her head.

Cloud balked, holding it out with Aerith's hand still on it, "Not yet,"

Sephiroth rolled his eyes, picked up both of them and wrapped his fingers back around the hilt. "Happy now, Cloud?"

"Yeah,"

"Oh look, you're at nomming level,"

"Nooo!" Cloud laughed, tolerating his shenanigans with good grace.

"Okay," he said as they entered the church, the deep wash of a triple security trio the work of all three of their parental figures,"when can I let go?"

Cloud thought about it, his tiny brow furrowing as he appeared to be thinking it through properly this time.

Sephiroth let him do it, tweaking Aerith's ribbon and sighing as he sat down on the edge of the lilies.

"Can... can we do an hour?"

"An hour,"

"Woulda been less if you didn't leave," Cloud grumbled.

"Leave? I just let go,"

"You left," Cloud reiterated as though Sephiroth hadn't heard him the first time, as though he was missing the obvious issue, "we weren't done yet,"

"Done with what?"

"Bonding, I think," Mom offered wryly from his right side, perched on a pew with his Aunt. Her hilt was in Aunt Ifalna's hands, the faint arc of LifeStream between them making her point for her.

"... oh. Oh. I'm sorry Cloud,"

"'Sokay, we're better now," he chirruped sweetly, Cloud's easy way with him swaying him to stay put.

"Alright, since we're here for an hour, now what?"

"Nap,"

"But we just got up,"

Cloud huffed, motioned to their grip on the now extended hilt, "Can't do anything until then,"

"Aerith and I could grow some-"

"Nap, bonding takes a lot out of the Knight Errants," Mom backed Cloud up, her cheek pillowed on Aunt Ifalna's shoulder. "Your Chichiue will guard us,"

Well, when she put it that way...

Sephiroth didn't quite nap, choosing instead to meditate with the thrum of the LifeStream under his legs.

The timer beeped on his PHS and everyone who had rested stretched and sighed and, in Cloud's case, smacked his lips a little.

When he released the hilt this time, the feeling of overwhelming joy from Cloud made him stagger a little.

"How long does that last?" He gasped out.

"No more than a few moments," Mom offered with a soft smile. "Right, honey?"

"Right indeed, my beloved Knight," the soft, sweet snicker of his Aunt as she pressed a kiss to his Mom's cheek making him huff out a laugh in dry amusement.

"Mamaaaa," Cloud pouted, "no smooching!!! We're supposed to bake cookies!"

"That we are,"

They all trooped over to Mrs. Gainsborough's house, her hands on her hips as she spotted them coming down the winding path.

"Your friends are very helpful," she said as soon as she figured they were in earshot.

"Helpful! Did you hear that, Seph, we're helpful!" Gen called from inside the house.

"Gen, you burn water, helpful is staying out of the way—"

"You take that back! Take it back!"

"No take backs in this relationship,"

"Oh don't you start, Mr. my poor plants, they're dying above the Plate, boo-hoo-hoo—" Gen snipped and then squeaked.

"You like my plants," and then Sephiroth rolled his eyes as the argument devolved into kissing noises.

"Such is the way of their relationship," Chichiue chuckled, "they'll have forgotten in half as many minutes,"

"Hmph,"

"Missing your Junon friend?" came the subtle nudge from his Mom.

"... maybe," he allowed briefly, leaning against her shoulder.

"Nothing wrong with that," Aunt Ifalna offered softly.

"Seph!"

"There you are, Mrs. Gainsborough swore up and down you'd be here but-"

Sephiroth melted into his friend's hugs, smiling all the brighter as Cloud tugged him along, fingers sticky with cookie dough. "C'mon, you promised!"

"So I did,"

Cloud made as many flavors as he could think of and then plunked himself down into Sephiroth's lap in front of the stove to watch them bake in batches.

Sephiroth pilowed his chin in Cloud's spikes, feeling for all the world like a lazy Cuahl. "Having fun, mm?"

"Lots," Cloud hummed, "but I like this best,"

"Mn, that so?"

"You're gone a lot more than you used to, Seph," came the solemn reply.

"So I am," he agreed with a sigh, "miss me?"

"Lots,"

"Hmm, might be able to fix that,"

"Being gone?"

"No, sadly," he disagreed, "but how about a PHS?"

Cloud sat for a long moment, mulling the idea over.

"I can talk to you whenever I like?"

"Text, maybe, can't answer the phone in the middle of battle after all, little Knight,"

"Okay, you'll teach me how, right?"

"Of course,"

"Good, lemme get up, I think this one's done?" Cloud squirmed out of his lap like an overeager puppy and stepped hard on his thigh.

"Ow, you little—I think so too,"

Chapter Text

As they took the train back up to the Tower, Sephiroth vowed to keep his little brother safe at all costs.

Cloud's head lolled on his shoulder, Sephiroth holding him close and pressing an absent kiss to the soft spikes.

Squad Delta cornered him the day after Cloud's birthday.

"Strife-Valentine, we... need to have a talk," General Urial said, the shade of it just slightly an order. "Meet us in Training Room 25a in one hour,"

"... Yessir," he paused, "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Granted,"

"With my squad or...?"

"Alone, Strife-Valentine, this is private material,"

"Yessir, will do,"

Mystified as he was, Sephiroth filled in his back-dated AARs*, gnawing on the special pens Tuesti had given him and then frowned as the pen stroke released no ink.

He moved to his scrap paper, still no ink, and then pressed a little harder than his usual.

Still no ink.

"Oh, ran out of ink, did we sir?" Johnson asked as he passed Sephiroth's desk.

"I'm sorry, what?!" He blurted out, rather embarrassingly.

"... Sir, did you not know? You change the inner portion... Oh. Right." The still full canister of shattered pens across from Sephiroth's desk had apparently caught his line of sight. "You used to just snap them, sir, and this is—"

"my first, I believe," he finished sheepishly. "Would you have a moment to show me how to replace them then?"

"Gladly, sir!"

Sephiroth was spinning his refreshed pen in his fingers as he made his way to Training Room 25a.

It had taken him that long to find a pen able to withstand his teeth that the simple fact that pens ran out of ink when they didn't shatter was new to him.

He opened the door and said, "Pens run out of ink, did you know that, sirs?"

"Oh my gods, you finally found a pen that can survive your teeth!" Cleary guffawed.

"Mn, Assistant Director Tuesti found a bone composite that can withstand my bite, sir,"

"... Bone composite, Strife-Valentine?" General Urial inquired, the raised brow leading him to explain.

"My teeth, they're ah, they're sharp. Break pens kind of sharp, sir," he admitted with a sigh, "so today I learned pens run out of ink when they're not shattered on teeth,"

All three blinked, looked at the dents in his current pen and shrugged as one.

"Okay, time for that chat, Lt. Strife-Valentine," General Urial triple tapped the floor and then added another triple layer. What needed such secrecy that they weren't trusting the base layer? "When you faced the Zolom, Cleary did a scan. He found," here the man paused, aged in between one breath and the next, and said, "you have an MP Lock."

"Had one," he corrected quietly with a wry twist of his lips. "It's gone. Been gone for the better part of almost 2 years soon, sir,"

"Gone?!" Cleary blurted and Tyris' eyes bugged at the casual way he'd said it.

"you knew!?" Tyris stressed.

"I... know someone. They fixed it, sir,"

"... Her name wouldn't happen to start with an 'I', would it?" Cleary regained himself the fastest, his wording cryptic enough that Sephiroth caught on.

"It might, sir,"

"You're okay?"

"Yessir,"

The tension slid out of the room so quickly, Sephiroth almost wouldn't have known it was there if he hadn't been there.

"Personal question and you're allowed to refuse this one; how big are your reserves now?" Cleary stated upfront.

"Big enough, sir," he answered.

"Sneaky," his superior chuckled, "but the right answer. Say, isn't your birthday coming up soon?"

"Next month, sir,"

"Damn I feel old," Tyris grumbled as he and General Urial shook out of their surprise as well. Tyris removed the double triple layering as they all headed for the door.

"You feel old, I feel ancient!" Urial protested, "Thompson and I were both just talking about how little you used to be, you know that Strife-Valentine?"

"No, sir,"

"Hey, doesn't he get to be in the big lounge now anyway?" Tyris asked.

"Bi—Oh that's right! Alright, Strife-Valentine, I have a proposal for you; do you want to spend the rest of the day with your squadmates and with us or do you want to repeat that Materia course that you've already taken?" Cleary asked and it was clear that he was genuinely asking, not ordering as Sephiroth might have thought in the past.

"May I have some time to think, sir?"

"Asking for information or sussing out intention, son?" Urial prodded gently.

"No sir. I have backdated AARs from... him." All three of his superiors made a face at that. "I would finish them sooner rather than later, if you catch my meaning, sirs,"

"Oh gods, absolutely," Cleary agreed near instantly. "Okay, finish as many as you can stomach and then meet us on Floor 67 if you're still interested before EOD; you can bring your squad for this one."

"Understood, sir,"

Sephiroth paused mid-type to mull over the fact that Squad Delta had known about his MP Lock and not only hadn't said anything to anyone else but had also informed him about it.

They'd obviously been trying to hunt down an answer for him without knowing whether or not he would or could ever have it removed.

Sephiroth briefly touched his chest at the warmth that flashed through it.

They'd cared enough to warn him.

That he would cherish.

The thought helped him power through about three more AARs before he needed to stop.

Color him curious about the offer, whatever it might be.

Floor 67 wasn't one he often came to but it was nice to have his friends with him.

"Oh, I love the plants up here!" Geal enthused, gloved fingers tracing a shiny green leaf.

"More plants than you see in Midgar proper these days," Cleary chuckled. "Plant fan, Hewley?"

"Yessir! Grow as many as I can in Gen and I's shared apartment, sir," Angeal glowed at the mention of his plants, Gen's fond eyeroll and Sephiroth's own head shake cluing in their superior that he'd be at it for hours.

"Sir, this lounge you mentioned?" He cut in before Angeal could fully get started, as much as he loved his best friend, such a chat was best done sitting down.

"Ah, right this way and yes, Lt. Hewley I will absolutely hear all about your plants once we have a café drink in hand," the Lt. Colonel eased Geal's frown with a smile.

At that, Geal brightened again and picked up the pace.

Chapter Text

The lobby space was clean, clear and had little cubbies with the security trio Materia on display and those activated were glowing to show the cubby was occupied.

"Get Squad Lima what they need, we're over in Cubby 12," he said to the counter person and to Sephiroth's shock, he knew this one.

"Nicky!" He blurted, smiling as the man spun on his heel to lean on the counter.

«Koneko! Been a while, ey? Wait, wait you turn 14 soon? Geez, I'm getting old!» Nicky shook a finger at him. «Practice time for you and your squad, see how those lessons are coming along,»

«Hn, I...» he looked at the menu and frowned, all of them unfamiliar to him. «I've not had... quite a lot of these before.»

Nicky's resigned look made him shrug a little. «Right, right, guest of dragon dung, let me think... Sweet or not sweet?»

«Sweet?»

"Not to interrupt or anything but can I come get my—Little warrior! Nice to see you in the big lounge!" Major Koplin reached past them to snag what was already on the counter. "Never had any?"

He shook his head.

"May I interject?" Gen blurted out.

"Go for it," Sephiroth answered, the sharp relief at not having to make a choice sweeping through him.

"Two of each of the most common ones and a ... pastry each?" Gen suggested.

"Sounds good, gives you all something to try and see if you like it or not," Nicky nodded. "And it's on my tab, courtesy of it being an experience for koneko here,"

"I got it, Capala, my idea to bring them up here," General Urial stated point blank. "Good idea, Rhapsodos, and we'll finish what you three don't care for,"

Teas were first, something he was a little more familiar with and then the coffees.

"I like some more than others?"

"Valid,"

"... Caramel is..."

"Yeah, no thanks," Geal agreed even as Gen finished that one.

"Actually enjoyed this one," he ran a lazy finger around the rim of the ceramic cup Nicky had made the cappuccino in. "The cookie was nice too,"

"Cookies are always good but they're a Capala speciality. He won't cough up the recipe!" Tyris bemoaned, his arm around a decent sized bag of them.

"I... could ask? He'll give it to Mom, I think,"

"No, no, it's a tradition," Tyris waved in his general direction with a huff. "I ask, he refuses and then I get a whole bag to myself!"

"Wutainese thing," Sephiroth blurted.

"Oh?" Five pairs of eyes looked at him and he shrugged.

"Part of the culture is to refuse and then be generous as a result... it's in the texts they sent us?" He filled in hesitantly.

"Oh! Oh that makes so much more sense, thank you,"

"On the subject of gift giving, I know we got you a Chocobo last year and it's pretty damn hard to one up that but—"

"Could get me a matching saddle," he replied with a cheeky grin.

"Shit, that's right you had a growth spurt!" Cleary guffawed. "Yeah, think we can get you a matching saddle. Got anything solid planned for the day?"

"... I don't but I did take the day off?"

"Smart to get ahead of the game," General Urial murmured, "but uh, your leave paperwork said a week, kiddo,"

"Chichiue must have a plan," he hummed softly.

"Oh yeah your old man takes you everywhere," Tyris agreed with a nod. "Must be fun,"

"Think you two are going with, leave packets were on my desk this morning and pending approval," Cleary pointed out.

"I'll find out soon, sirs," Sephiroth said, knowing that Chichiue would tell him.

He never kept secrets unless they were important—like Chaos.

Sephiroth cocked his head to the side as Squad Delta shared a long, wordless look between the three of them.

"... You're not gonna ask you old man what's up?" Tyris prodded.

"No, sir,"

"Not even a little?" The General pressed.

"Sirs," here Sephiroth straightened his back and said carefully but firmly, "Chichiue has never betrayed my trust in him and certainly will not start on the eve of my 14th birthday,"

Cleary chuckled and murmured dryly, "He's got y'all there," he rolled his eyes at his squadmates and continued, "good to know your old man has your back, kiddo,"

Sephiroth waited patiently as Squad Delta left, gently closed the door to the cubby, flicked on the security trio and then grumbled under his breath, "Chichiue would never—"

"I don't think they... meant it like that?" Gen offered.

"Can I make an attempt as to what I think happened?" Geal requested gently.

Sephiroth made the 'go ahead' motion with his left hand, cradling the second cappuccino which had been, he thought, a quiet sort of apology from Cleary.

"They're used to looking out for you," Angeal listed off on his fingers.

"...yes," he replied.

"And dragon dung was not to be trusted with you in... any capacity,"

"... yes."

"They're not used to you having someone else back you up and mean it?" He finished with a third finger

"But Mom—"

"A male figure," Gen blurted out and it dawned on Sephiroth.

"Oh. Oh."

"Yup, there we go," Gen patted his pauldron in sympathy. "Not that your Mom isn't a complete badass and wayyyy more scary than your Chichiue buuuut,"

"Mostly male militaristic structures and not a lot of trust in my former... caretakers lead to suspicion?"

"Worry," Geal corrected with a shrug.

"Implicitly trusting someone isn't something you do often Seph," Gen pointed out in an uncharacteristically thoughtful way.

Sephiroth ran over his... admittedly small group over in his mind and began to see where Squad Delta might have been worried at the sharp and seemly sudden line in the sand. "Hn,"

"That is your Chichiue's thinking noise!" Gen cackled.

"Thinking....?"

"Yeah, you make this," here Gen's expression went serious for a hairsbreadth before he shrugged, "face and then the noise."

"If I didn't know the two of you were related, I'd definitely think so after the face," Geal agreed.

True to Sephiroth's own word, Chichiue motioned him over after dinner and lifted his arm in invite.

Sephiroth snuggled in, surprised to find he was a little too tall to tuck under completely.

They readjusted smoothly before, "I put in leave for a week during your birthday,"

"I know, it passed Squad Delta's desk today,"

"I also put in leave for your friends?"

"They told me that too,"

"Hn," and oh, wasn't that funny, Sephiroth thought as Chichiue's expression carefully slid back to the present, "This is... merely a suggestion. You may do as you please with that week,"

"I'd like to hear your suggestion," he replied absently.

"I would like to take you and your friends to see your Grandmother," Sephiroth's eyes widened, "You have but the one remaining and I would like to see her sooner rather than later,"

"Your...?"

Chichiue's lips thinned. "No, sadly, both of your grandparents on my side are gone. One to cancer, one to an accident. Your Grandfather died shielding your Mother from an experiment gone wrong. No, she's your Aunt and Mother's mother,"

"A Cetra!?"

"One of the few left," Chichiue agreed easily, "yourself among that count,"

"I'd like to see her but why are Gen and Geal coming?"

"She lives in their hometown and I thought you might like the support?" came the easy response.

"I... would, actually, thank you Chichiue," he pillowed himself more firmly into Chichiue's embrace and smiled at the purr that began to sound. "Would be nice to see Captain Highwind again, huh?"

"Why you little—"

Sephiroth sprinted away from Chichiue's half-hearted lunge, laughing as he knew there was no danger.

Chapter Text

He whipped through his kata, braid snapping as he fought an imaginary opponent in the gym before formation.

He liked the quiet, the liminal space between the day starting and the hush made it easier to spot his mistakes.

The freedom was something he cherished.

Sephiroth spun, juked and then released his wing, surprised when a semi-familiar blade clashed with Masamune.

General Thomas took a long, long look at his wing, the sleek black feathers iridescent in the right lighting.

"... That's new," he remarked carefully, the grey-blue eyes looking him over properly for the first time in almost a year.

"... happened nearly six months ago, sir," he replied just as carefully. "You can thank... Him."

The scars bunched and creased as the General bared his teeth in a sharp and dismissive way against Sephiroth's former guardian. "Training with it?"

"Yessir, I would rather know how to fight with it out,"

"Spar?" This wasn't an order, Sephiroth found, rather an offer.

He wondered how many he'd taken at face value and never questioned it. "Sir, permission to speak freely?"

"Have at, I'm not easily offended,"

"When you offer a spar... they're not an order."

"No, son, they're not."

"I took them at face value." He continued.

"I know."

"You... took it easy on me." Sephiroth accused lightly.

"We did."

"Thank you," He finished quietly.

"None needed, son," the General snorted with an eyeroll. "So, you game?"

"Yessir!"

They walked to formation together, General Thomas chuckling as Sephiroth gestured at his recently healed arm.

"I'm so sorry sir!"

"Son, if I can't avoid you, I need to step up my game," came the sardonic reply.

"But sir, I-"

"Been sparring with your squadmates and are much faster as a result," Thomas replied easily.

"I had an advantage, sir!"

"Pffttt," the General blew a raspberry at him like they were five. "You kicked my ass, I need to step up!"

"You spar with Strife-Valentine, sir?" Lt. Colonel Wolf prodded with a raised brow.

"Did I think my ass would be handed to me my a 13 year old? No. Did it get handed to me? Yes, yes it did."

"Sir!" Sephiroth's muffled protest from his hands over his face was soundly ignored.

"Go stand with your squad, Strife-Valentine, day's about to start," Wolf waved him off but not dismissively.

"You spared with the General?!" Gen hissed.

"How was it?"

"... Slow. Calculated. I learned a lot but I'm faster than everyone I know aside from you two, Chichiue, Mr. Fair and Mom,"

"Captain Highwind is wicked sharp with his spear," Geal muttered, "he might be in that pile,"

"He was giving 60 maybe 70 percent,"

"60?!" Geal continued with a raised brow.

"He kept pulling his blows," he grumbled.

"Pulling?! Against you?" Gen huffed in mutual disgust. "Well that's rude of him,"

"I'll spar him again, just you watch," he replied with a nod.

Dr. Candelis watched as he paced the length of the room, wing loose and soft.

"... I'm frustrated by my superiors," he mentioned, wing flicking out the same way his hand did, gesturing in distinct frustration. "I trust Chichiue with my life, with my well-being and they can't seem to wrap their minds around it? It's a little insulting,"

Sephiroth paused and then said, "Gen and Geal said it was because they saw... Hojo... being a bad figure," he choked on the last name but said it anyway.

"Did you want to say his name?"

"I... I don't want to fear it. I want to make my own choices without him clouding up my past," he replied bitterly.

"But you're not forcing it," she prodded gently.

"He's been gone from my life for almost three years! How is he still here?!" Sephiroth snarled, wing snapping out and up aggressively. "Malingering, treacherous.... I want him out of my life!"

He shouted that last bit, slapping both hands over his mouth afterwards with a hitched sob.

"May I offer a hug?" She asked, not moving from behind her desk but the way her fingers dug into the wood meant she was also feeling things.

He sank to his knees, shook his head sharply and gave a wet inhale. "A moment, please,"

Sephiroth closed his eyes, thought about his family, thought about last night when Mom was in the kitchen dancing around Chichiue and Cloud tugging him along to dance with him. The morning's goof-off with his friends, the way General Thomas had grinned during their spar...

When he opened his eyes again, Dr. Candelis was giving him a raised eyebrow. "That's a very interesting technique there, Sephiroth,"

"I... thought about everyone, about how they make my life better,"

"That's good,"

"... yes, I would like a hug."

"Are you sure?" She checked on him gently.

"Yes, and I'm not pressured,"

"Okay," she stood, the desk still between them, "may I come to you?"

"I'll get up," he sighed, levering himself off of the soft carpet, snapping his wing to the space where it hid when it wasn't out. Sephiroth slid into her arms and relaxed in increments when all she did was pat his shoulder.

"Let go when you're ready to talk some more; we can also end the session here, it was pretty intense today," she reminded him softly.

"I'm... sorry about my outburst,"

"It was an outburst but one I wouldn't apologize for," she continued, "that is an expression of genuine emotion and one that clearly needed to happen,"

"Huh?"

"How long do you think that anger was bubbling, Sephiroth?"

"... a while?"

"Probably,"

"... not good to keep it in?"

"Generally, no, but you're also at an age where this particular thorn may be egregious on many levels," Dr. Candelis mentioned, "I fully expect you to be extremely angry about him for quite some time,"

"Angry?"

"At what he did and you understanding that it wasn't anywhere near the right thing for a guardian to do to a child entrusted in their care, Sephiroth,"

"...Oh. Is that why...?"

"Certainly a part of it,"

He inhaled and leaned into her contact, said, "I'm going to see my Grandmother,"

"Mm, and when is that?"

"The week of my birthday,"

"Anything else?"

"My friends are coming with, she lives in their hometown,"

"That's a great idea,"

"Chichiue thought so too, he booked our leave side-by-side,"

"So your faith in your Chichiue is fully founded," she teased gently.

"Yeah,"

"And how do we feel about continuing the less liked conversation?"

"No."

"Noted, we'll table that for now,"

"I want snuggles, not struggles," he blurted, remembering Kunsel's shot at Johnson.

"Now where did you hear that?" Dr. Candelis chuckled.

"From some of the other Thirds..."

Chapter Text

The formation lined up, got their end-of-day news and was dismissed shortly thereafter.

"Strife-Valentine, a word?" Wolf asked, golden eyes lingering on his frame.

"Yessir," a security trio later, he turned to his superior with a wordless head tilt.

"Thomas wasn't playing you,"

Sephiroth flushed. He'd thought the snap trio would be enough to keep it sort of private.

"I read lips, kid, whatever you did kept the sound out of it," Wolf snorted at his expression. "He wasn't pulling his blows,"

Sephiroth's jaw dropped before he snapped it shut.

"He was, however, not giving it his all; good assessment there," he gave a quick shrug, "Now I know that seems unfair to you but answer me this; if you had to go all out against Thomas, fight to the death, are you certain you could win?"

Sephiroth chewed at his lower lip, added another layer of security trio and said, "... Yes. At great personal cost."

"I'm not following kid,"

"... You will. I'm... different." He pointed down at his foot and coaxed the LifeStream up a flicker so quick that if Wolf hadn't been looking, he never would have seen it. "Sir, I'm going to have to fight opponents his size in the future. Would you say he did me a disservice by pulling back?"

Golden eyes swept over his lankier frame, lips pressed thin as he said, "That bit that's... different. Does it help you out?"

"Not in a way you'd enjoy, sir,"

"Dishonorable?"

"Very, sir,"

"Ever gonna use it?"

"I'll do my best to not but its... instinct. I have to always be on guard, sir,"

"Mm, I see," he replied carefully. "In that case, I would say you're still in training but he was wrong to hold back that much. You tell anyone else that bit?"

"My family and friends all know, sir,"

"... That nice lady down in 5, the one you get your fun little tulips from...?"

"Related,"

"Ahhhhh," Wolf grinned and said, "May he rot for all eternity,"

"... Think my Aunt beat you to that punch," he muttered before dismissing his trio.

"Well then, Strife-Valentine, tell you what," here the second trio was dismissed, "I'll train with you and I want you to come at me with, hmm, about 90 percent? And we'll see from there if I give you my all."

"Sounds good sir," Sephiroth paused, "Solo or squad, sir?"

"Solo, we got some things to talk about assessment wise anyway," he ordered.

"Yessir,"

"Good, now go on, get,"

"Yessir!"

Geal and Gen listened as Sephiroth went over what he'd told Wolf.

"Still worried about... Wutai?" Geal prodded.

"Negotiations are back on strike but I don't know for how long," he sighed as he sat at Gen's feet as fingers carded through his hair.

"They won't hold it forever," Gen sighed, "and certainly not in time for us to grow up,"

A shudder ran through his frame before he said, "Next year,"

"... that your family thing?"

"Not sure,"

Aunt Ifalna?

I'm listening,

I just... Next year I think... I think I'll be going to Wutai.

Premonitions, not every Cetra gets a full glimpse at what will be but I find myself in agreement. Be careful about what you say, Seph, Aunt Ifalna agreed.

... While I'm there?

Yes, and that's all I'm getting as well, she warned him.

I'll do my best

You usually do,

Bye

Come down before your birthday, I have a gift for you,

Will do

He disengaged, felt the sweep of his wing and blinked in surprise.

"Did..."

"Yeah, popped out while you were, uh, doing your thing," Gen mentioned even as he ruffled the feathers to see if there were any loose ones. "Figured we'd groom while we waited; that okay with you?"

"Mn, haven't groomed it in a while, I appreciate it," the wing pressed into familiar hands and Sephiroth melted into a puddle of contentment, eyes half-closed as they gently took care of his wing.

"So, I know we're going to Banora but have you ever been?" Geal asked as he sorted through the tiny scapular feathers.

"No,"

"Dragon dung?" Gen questioned wryly.

"... I was never assigned there and... He took offense if I was," he filled in. "I... had an outburst about him... today."

"Therapy," came Geal's assessment.

"Mm-hm," they waited, fingers stilled. "Screamed about it, actually,"

"Good," Gen snorted. Sephiroth looked back and up to lock eyes with him, "seriously,"

"Sounds, y'know, counter-intuitive, but no, I think you're right to be mad about it,"

"I was so angry and it felt good? Like I had control," he paused, "and then I started crying,"

"Happens sometimes," Geal agreed easily, "too much emotion and it sorta just...spills over,"

"That's... a thing?"

"Oh gods yeah," Gen chuckled even as he finished the last set of feathers in his hands. "Happens to me a ton,"

"Really?"

"Yup, when I get all up in arms or frustrated or upset or happy... perfectly safe and healthy." Genesis recites like he heard it from somewhere else, "they want me to go to therapy too but I don't like the one they assigned me."

"Change it," Sephiroth pointed out.

"... Just haven't been going since she said I needed to work on my jealousy about other people hanging off of Geal like he's their personal gym!"

"Oh,"

"Yeah, and with how we are, I'm not sure how dangerous it is to be declaring... us,"

"Out loud and for public record," Sephiroth filled in quietly.

"Yeah, that," Gen hissed sourly.

"If it helps any, I think sometimes it is just friendly?" Sephiroth volunteered. "They do it with me too and I'm younger than you by two years,"

Gen wiped his hand off with a towel that Angeal managed to snag around their conversation. "... okay, you do have a good point there."

"... Chichiue did say it's better than what it was when he—"

"Oh my gods," Angeal's eyes had gone wide and the whites were showing more than normal. "Your Dad slept with our parents!!!"

"Wait—oh my gods, your Chichiue is a Lothario!" Gen cackled, "both of us!"

"What-oh, nooooo," Sephiroth bemoaned, burying his face in both hands. "You're never gonna let that go, are you?"

"Absolutely not," Gen wheezed even as he recovered before cackling again every time he so much as glanced in their direction.

"Hey, hey, no! Your parents picked Chichiue! Deliberately!" He managed to splutter out.

Angeal started shaking from surpressed laughter before he burst out laughing, "Got us there, Seph,"

"... also Chichiue has terrible taste,"

"Hey! Oh, yeah, come to think... A burlesque dancer, not one but two scientists and...?"

"Oh, him and Captain Highwind have a Thing that they're not talking about," Sephiroth huffed out in reply to Gen's question.

"No way," Geal retorted, shoulder pressing to his as he settled down on the floor next to Sephiroth.

"I'm telling you, Behemoth calf eyes for daaaays," he snorted, "hard to unsee once you've seen it,"

"Dual Horn shit,"

"Grand Horn shit,"

"Bet you a—no two—hang outs under the Plate that you're going to believe me on the plane ride to Banora; Chichiue trusts no other pilot," he countered with a wicked, tiny grin.

"Deal!" They said in sync.

Sephiroth would relish being the Cuahl that got the cream, the chicken and the fish for dinner.

Chapter Text

"So, gimme 90 percent; not the full, I–killed–a–Zolom bit but close enough,"

"Sir, that was out of desperation, never again," he replied with a wince.

"... Good to know," Wolf snorted wryly, "your strength doubles when you're desperate,"

"Strength, sir?"

"... that wasn't..." the color drained from Wolf's face. "Speed?"

"My Limit Break, Sonic Strength, sir, I'm not normally capable of that kind of thing," he reassured, "My other one is Class S-Speed,"

"Ahhh, that makes more sense now!"

Sephiroth warmed up with his kata, went through his knife forms as well and then did some Wutainese stretches to limber up all the way.

"Quite the warm up,"

"Yessir,"

"Good, no tweaked muscles that way," his superior chuckled even as he ran through the standard ShinRa calisthenics and sword forms that were unfamiliar to Sephiroth. "Wanna learn em after we're done?"

"Doesn't that give me an advantage sir?"

"Nah, that's not something you master in a short time, Strife-Valentine," came the mirthful response.

"Understood, sir,"

Between the span of one breath and the next, their blades clashed.

Sephiroth wondered briefly at the shape of the blade before he slid under his superior's wider stance and braced himself for the next strike with a kunai in his right hand.

"Wha-Oh! This is gonna be good," Wolf spun on the ball of his foot and lunged, Sephiroth blocking the oncoming hit only to yelp as a second blade nicked his cheek.

He spun out and away, throwing his kunai hard enough to cause a ripple in the air.

Wolf let loose a blue-streak as the kunai shredded his left pant leg and broke the ground behind him. "Fucking hell!"

"You said 90, sir!" He taunted with a grin that tweaked his facial cut.

Block-parry-opening—there!—dodge-parry—opening—here!—strike-strike—dodge!!!—

The exhilaration that pumped through his blood was cut short as he pinned Wolf to the ground with four kunai and Masamune just under his superior's chin, the blade curving against the unshaven skin.

"Damn! Now I can see why you're grumpy with Thomas!" He yielded with his blades up and then gently placed them backwards on the ground. "Care to release me, kiddo?"

"Yessir," Sephiroth had collected quite a few cuts and minor scrapes to his uniform and belt. He yanked all of his kunai out, inspected them for damage and sighed, "They're going to have to fix the floor, sir,"

"Wh-Oh. That almost hit me!" He chided and Sephiroth rose a wordless brow in answer, "I did say 90, didn't I?" Wolf paused, cocked his head to the side and asked, "That your doing about the back wall of Sparring Room Three?"

"It was, sir, courtesy of First Class Henderson insisting I 'let go' of my control," he replied. "Hope I didn't break anything important, sir,"

"Nah, nothin' structural anyway, so that wasn't quite 90 but I can see why you'd not want to break the building you so happen to live and work in," he chuckled softly, the glaze of Libra leaving his eyes.

"Yessir,"

"Speak freely, because I'm about to,"

"... Sir?"

"When they rank you up, and it's a matter of when, kid, not if, the War really is on us because none of your defenders will be there to block the paperwork," he said quietly, offering Sephiroth a cleaning cloth for Masamune and the kunai.

"A year," he sighed, "the... something different, before you ask, sir,"

Golden eyes looked him over, the deep and tempered affection something he was just now noticing, "Shit, kid, I hope it helps in the long run,"

"... sir, may I ask you something?"

"Have at, it can't hurt my feelings more than the spar,"

"... You care about me. Why?"

Wolf blinked, shook his head and said, "I met you when you were all of five, kid. I had a niece your age at the time, you know that?"

Sephiroth mutely shook his head.

"Now, I want you to imagine seeing a kid your brother's age picking up a sword very much against his will,"

He blanched at the idea of Cloud being forced to pick up a sword like Masamune.

"That's about how I felt seeing you and your tiny frame heft Masamune; like shit. I almost lost my position in the Program when the lights went out on you and I heard you crying, kid,"

Sephiroth remembered something, Wolf's soft hold and— "You took me to my Aunt, sir,"

He kicked in a triple-layered security trio before anything else would be said unsecured.

"Subject—Your Aunt?!"

"Subject I and Subject A are my Aunt and niece respectively, sir," Sephiroth said with a wry twist of his lips, "As Subject L is my Mother," he looked long and hard into Wolf's gaze and said, "I—"

"Sorry kid, didn't hear a thing from you," Wolf mimed cleaning out his ears and huffed, "terrible earwax, don't you know,"

"Yessir, terrible affliction," he dispersed the triplicate trio, "About that rank-up sir?"

"You get promoted, we're at War. The real kind, not this skirmish and blush bit," he sighed, drawing a hand down his face. "You should know that your parents have been extremely firm about not being promoted before next year; they've been fighting it and wouldn't ya know it, your paperwork gets 'lost' an awful lot except where it matters most, like leave and missions,"

"You're protecting me,"

"Bingo, kid, knew you were a smart cookie," Wolf praised, shaking his head as he added quietly, "All of us at the rank of Major or above have been playing paperwork chicken since you got adopted by Mrs. Strife,"

"Thank you, sir,"

"None needed, kid, because that's what you are; a kid," his superior sighed.

"... But not forever," he followed up cynically.

"But not forever," Wolf agreed sadly with an offer of a fist bump, "Now, I need you to show me how the fuck you're throwing those kunai, I almost didn't see the fucker until the last second,"

Sephiroth tapped it with his own fist, unsheathing the kunai to explain, "It's the positioning of the sheath, sir, and the way..."

Riding the high off of his spar with Wolf, he slid to a stop on the corner of Floor 51's stairwell, tilting his head to the side at the severe dent which had been made years ago and never repaired.

His PHS beeped, he flicked it open to see a solo mission in Slums 5, courtesy of Wolf, with the tag, Hedgehog Pies are terribly annoying, you know, would you mind?

Assessment, sir?

Something like it

Yessir, on my way now

He considered his gear, nodded to himself and jumped down the stairwell shaft, bounding down between the concrete layers until he hit the floor with a muffled thud.

Seph: Going on a solo mission

Seph: Need anything 4 the garden?

Gen: Tulips, a good handful >:)

Geal: Same :-)

Geal: Materia Class is driving me nuts

Seph: Will do

Chapter Text

The Hedgehog pies were, as Wolf said, annoying but Sephiroth dealt with them swiftly, clearing the area needed and further in all directions for the safety of the inhabitants below the Plate.

He made sure to clear it out extra closer to the school Aerith went to, the Leaf House a bright spot in Slums Five.

"Ain't he kinda... dunno, young t' be a SOLDIER?"

"Hush, he can hear you!"

"Ahhh, that's Mrs. Faramis' guest, y'know, kid needs a break if he's a SOLDIER,"

"Mrs. Faramis don't need no SOLDIER lookin'—"

"Hush up, I said, he's not like that,"

His Aunt's amused feeling lilted across their connection as she carefully made her way to him with her cane. "Nice to see you down here," she hummed, "monster mission?"

"Yes, Mrs. Faramis," he responded easily, "How are the flowers? Might I help you get there?"

"Oh, you know how to treat a lady right,"

"Mom would have my head, you mean," he muttered under his breath and she snorted out a laugh as he gently picked her up and tucked her cane under his arm.

She fit easily, much to his surprise. "Grown again, have we?"

"Didn't realize," he sighed, "never seem to,"

"Growing like a dandelion, Seph," she teased even as they headed for the church, her cheek pillowed on his pauldron.

Sephiroth set her down just before the flagstones of the church, pressing a low, slow Cura against her spine as they walked up the stairs together.

"... can I ask you something?" He blurted after they reached the door.

"The Knight Errant bonding," she remarked with a wry twist of her lips as they reached the sanctuary of the building. "I'm sure the thoughts have been chasing each other like Mus,"

He grimaced but acknowledged with a nod, heading for the tulips and cutting the entire batch with a well-placed Aero, pushing energy back up through the cut stems to make them bloom again. Tucking away the batch for Geal and Gen, he found his Aunt watching him.

"You've come a long way," she said and Sephiroth waited patiently, knowing that whatever she had to say would be worth it, "The Knight Bonding is to protect the Cetra but it also protects the Knight."

"I... don't follow?"

"Come, come, let me comb your hair while I explain?"

Sephiroth handed over the bladed comb and sat in front of his Aunt on the low chaise left in the church from years ago. She combed carefully, starting from the bottom up, gently wiping any mud or gunk as she started again. "Knights are the Planet's way of protecting us,"

"From what?"

"Cetra weren't always kind, Sephiroth,"

"... With our abilities..." he paused, thought about her warning about pulling from people and winced.

"Oh yes, all out war it was," she replied, "so the Planet took some of our powers and gave it to humans, told us to take care of her instead of killing each other,"

"Why did Cloud insist...?"

"You'll figure it out when you get there, not any sooner," she shrugged, her arm finally touching the crown of his hair. "About that, I have something for you since I can't be there day of, if you'd like it now?"

He flicked his hair to settle in front of him and shuffled to where their knees were touching. "Anything you'd like to give, I will take with both hands, Aunt Ifa,"

Her smile was soft, fond and she reached up to cup his cheek briefly before she reached for her Inventory pouch.

He waited, hands absently winding around his Aunt's free one and gently massaging their Family Limit into her frame.

She found it, looked at her hand and then chuckled faintly. "Should have realized that the moment you had it, you'd try that on me; take a look, tell me if it's working?"

He concentrated and watched as his turquoise met hers and sparked a light all through her body.

She hissed in a breath and Sephiroth made to pull back.

"No, no, I'm alright, its just been a while since it's not hurt as much, little sunflower," she reassured quickly.

"Not hurting?"

"Okay, a little but the relief... I can bear it," she admitted as they pressed thier foreheads together.

He pressed only a moment more but her relief was clear in the lines of her soul. Closing his eyes to come back to the world as it was, he asked, "It wont fix everything but...?"

"I can mend better now but like you, some of the damage is permanent," she corrected.

"He—! In you?!!!" Sephiroth snarled, whirled to Firaga V the entire patch, waited until the ash had settled and then lit it on fire again. "Excuse me a moment—"

He shot up off the cushion, reached deep and good and pulled as he never had before, the flowers five feet high as he swung Masamune through the ashes to decapitate them all. The silent rage whipped through him and died as the ashes of his third, entirely unplanned Firaga tinted blue wiped them out.

His chest heaved, saya and handle creaking from where he had a hold of them, briefly seeing a wall of red.

Water doused the entire thing, the Gospel washing the ash away as his Aunt gave him a wry smile.

"I had it removed by your Chichiue a while back, same as I did for you,"

"Chichiue—?"

"Chaos," she corrected with a wry smile, "and he wasn't asking,"

"I... don't follow,"

"Director Veld was dying, Chaos couldn't pass his LifeStream to Veld without hurting him more and so asked what he could do to fix me so that I could help," she replied as she gently directed a cross cast over him to clear away the ash that had settled over him.

"Oh, is that what happened?" He murmured as he turned back to her, curiosity out-weighing his need to possibly burn the flowers for a fourth time.

"Mn, Veld is much better, I'm recovering faster with the Bond I made with your Mom and things are looking up," she concluded as she watched him sheathe Masamune and push her into the ether gently.

"But not forever," he replied as the wind kicked up loose flower petals from the lilies, swept around the church and right back out again.

"No, little sunflower, not forever. Nothing ever is," his Aunt admitted, "Now, where were we?"

"You... said something about a gift?"

"That I did! Let me see," here she started pulling things out of her Inventory and handing them absently into his waiting arms.

He allowed it with a bemused expression, surprise coloring his face when a very familiar ribbon was dropped on top of the pile.

"... Aunt Ifa?" He asked, eyes locked on the sliding ribbon.

"Hmm, one more-Oh. That's the ribbon— ah." She caught it, tied it into her hair and gave him a look filled with old grief. "Lu and I shared that ribbon set between us for so long. You lost a Mom, I lost my sister and the Planet lost one of her defenders,"

"Path-that-is," Sephiroth answered the unspoken question in her gaze.

"Mn, better than path-that-was," she agreed sadly as she appeared to find his gift at long last, tucking away the rest. "This is a Summon. Cetra are usually gifted a Summon by their parents but..."

"Mama is in the shadows and Chichiue wouldn't know how?" He blurted, his fingers reaching for the ribbon.

She let him, their eyes at level and they pressed their foreheads together.

"Something like it," she sighed, "this is Bahamut SIN,"

The purple swirled softly in her hand but the second it touched his, he gasped.

"Oh hello," he crooned softly, gently using his thumb to pet the Materia.

"And don't worry, Aerith's has been picked for years,"

"Good," he managed, unable to articulate what this meant to him.

His Aunt reached up and he leaned into her touch. "It's our family tradition now, if that helps?"

"Mn."

"They stood together in the church, lilies swaying in the wind as they felt the Planet beneath them.