The Chosen Son

by Mayflyer

Summary:

Set within the FF7 Multiverse, a world where you are Sephiroth's mother. You hadn't seen him since he was born. But when you two finally reunited in his adulthood, he is determined to never let you go, at any cost.

Yandere Son Sephiroth/Mother Darling fic series.

Notes:

Hey guys, this is the start of my first DDDNE chapter series. Always wanted to do a fic series for so long, especially one focusing on a voluptuous/venus darling. This fic series was inspired by an ask from my tumblr so check that out when you can. But for future reference, this fic series and some of my other darker works will only be posted on AO3! Enjoy!

And if it isn't obvious, Darling does have some features (particularly her body type and wearing the tired mom fit) constantly mentioned within this fic. If that is an issue for you then please don't read the fic.

Chapter 1: Reunion

Whew. Finally.

You thought. You wiped the sweat off your forehead as you finished planting the last seed in the brand new garden. Considering that you needed to quickly go home and finish providing more intel to AVALANCHE, creating a new garden was something that should've been at the bottom of your to-do list. Yet, you knew this would touch the hearts of everyone at the orphanage you worked at. It's a small gesture, but it brings a glimmer of hope during these rough times, considering the lackluster funding and support the orphanage had been receiving. 

And today, was rather eventful. Your children at the orphanage were always sweet and obedient, but oh boy... this day they were bursting with energy. You wouldn't want to know the amount of excessive sugar in their candy. You couldn't count how many times they wandered off into the jungle, caused a mess at supper or any other antics they came up with.

Not to mention, it was a super hot day. Yes, it's Mideel. It's expected to be fairly warm, but the heat today was almost unbearable. You can't wait until you get home and take a nice, cool shower. With your tote bag in hand, you called out to one of your fellow caretakers to let them know you were leaving for the day. You went on the nearby walking trail into the jungle. The orphanage was located close to the town of Mideel, but couldn't be built within it due to space constraints.

As you walked on the trail, you made mental notes of the worn barricades that needed repair. You even had to hold your breath when you spotted pockets of Mako gas seeping from cracks in the ground. The kids always pouted when you and your fellow caretakers wouldn't allow them to venture too far without supervision. But the threat of Mako poisoning was too great to ignore.

Everyone was well aware that Mideel was situated dangerously close to the Lifestream, so you and the other adults always had to frequently scout the surrounding area to reinforce the barricades and make a note of any new cracks in the ground. You've already lost your first precious child... So you're sure as hell not going to lose more, especially to something preventable.

You shifted your tote bag to cover more of your sweaty, Venus body when you finally reached Mideel itself. You just had to wear a white blouse today and jeans, didn't you? The sweat accentuated the fine contours of your big, pillowy breasts and plumpish tummy, both of which had a gentle sway to them. Normally, you wouldn't care, but the unexpected sweat showed off more than you would've liked and your jeans felt tighter than normal. You made a quick stop at the market in town, grabbed your favorite starfruit and a box of spices, and paid swiftly without looking at the flustered cashier. Next time, you ought to check the weather forecast.

Thankfully, it was dusk, which meant most of the townspeople were already settled for the night. You pretty much knew almost everyone in the town since you're one of the biggest advocates for the town's sole orphanage. There wasn't a single town hall meeting where you didn't fail to mention the lack of funding for the orphanage. Just because most people here lived seemingly normal lives, doesn't mean everyone else was in the same position. In the past year, there was a significant increase in abandoned children, either by tourist parents or they are stay kids wandering from other parts of the world, so you and your fellow caretakers needed all the help you could get. The reason you cared so deeply was not only to maintain a civilian facade and stay out of Shinra's eye, but it's a tribute to your late son. A dire sin of yours you could never forget.

You found yourself stopping at a bulletin board not too far from your house. On it, there was a propaganda poster featuring him, holding his iconic Masamune and defiantly facing the forces of Wutai. Much focus was given to his angelic face and his beautiful, Rapunzel-length silver hair. Even from a poster, he still had a majestic aura. It's no wonder why he was well-loved by people. You just wished you could've taken him away from Shinra and gave him a completely different life, full of your love. If only you didn't agree to be their guinea pig from years back to make ends meet. No one would've expected being lied to, impregnated and thrown aside like trash... A part of you tried to convince yourself not to care. After all, there was a good chance he didn't even know you existed or even cared about you. You're a realistic, no-nonsense woman. You had to know there was just no way for you to get close to him, anyway.

...But, just like that glimmer of hope you planted in the orphanage's garden, maybe you should plant one within yourself, no matter how unlikely it is. As you closed the front door of your home, you made a split second decision, your gaze instinctively wandering to the starry sky above. With clasped hands, a silent prayer escaped your lips, a plea for the reunion with your son. You're not religious by any means, but you heard the Cetra did this often to give themselves fortune, so maybe it'd work for you too. Who knows.

With the front door closed, you sat at the kitchen table and began the boring task of sorting through classified documents. It was your last task for the day, but you're already wishing for tomorrow to be here already.

~~~

Sephiroth stared at the bulletin board, able to discern the words on the posters displayed despite the dark night thanks to his keen vision. His slit eyes narrowed when he glossed over his own poster that depicted him as some godly hero. He'd felt anything but a hero right now. He spent his entire life before this period as nothing more than a hunting dog for a wicked mega corporation. To think at one point, he actually believed that he could save anyone. He couldn't even save his best friends from their downfall.

His sword hand twitched, but he resisted the urge to summon Masamune and cut the bulletin board to pieces. He had just abandoned SOLDIER, using a small window in his company-granted vacation to make a getaway for good, although he already regretted his decision. Now, what was he to do? Find his mother? He closed his tired eyes, stifling a dark chuckle. All he knew was being a hunting dog. He supposed he would just wander until he found his purpose.

His vigilant ears picked up movement from nearby, causing his slit eyes to immediately gloss over toward the quiet sounds. In the distance, he spotted a curvaceous woman emerging from a house. She was rubbing her tired eyes, walking forth to bend down  to pick up a boxed item. Sephiroth didn't think too much of her action, but his eyes stayed on her face, studying it intently.

Why did she look so famil- he suddenly raised his gloved hand to his forehead, overwhelmed by a pounding headache that was accompanied by flickering green flashes in his vision. As soon as she fully opened her eyes, the woman let out a sharp gasp at him. Everything about her appearance started to make sense. His lost locket from his childhood had a picture of this very woman.

And now, he realized, that woman was you: his long-lost mother. As he approached you, his pupils dilated and his walking pace made him seem almost possessed. The green flashes in his mind continued, until his towering, muscular form almost pressed against your body. Your own eyes widened as you studied him, struggling to process this surreal encounter. Just an hour ago, you were out here, making a prayer to meet your son. And now, he was standing here with you. It felt like a sick dream. It probably was since you had dozed off earlier and only came back outside to get the box you had dropped.

"Mother!" He said. He quickly wrapped his arms around you tightly and nuzzled his teary face into your neck. There goes any possibility of this being a sick dream. No, this was real. He took in a deep breath, savoring the intoxicating scent that surrounded you for the first time ever. His gloved hands delicately squeezed your body, as if you were a human stress ball. As he lifted his face from your neck, a few silent tears streamed down your face. You tenderly held his cheek as his lips curved into a grateful yet sorrowful smile.

"My precious son," you whispered, feeling embarrassed that he hugged you while you were still sweaty. However, he couldn't care less about your sweat. In fact, your scent was intoxicating to him. Everything about you was intoxicating at this very moment. Because you were a distant dream he thought he would never achieve, until now. You took his hand, and led him inside your cottage to avoid attracting potential attention.

You two had a lot to catch up on.

 

Notes:

Comments are greatly appreciated and valued! 😊

Chapter 2: Lost in Time

Notes:

Chapter two is here! Seems like things are a bit tense...

On a additional note, I think "You're Not Here" from Silent Hill 3 is the perfect theme song for this AU!

Check it out here!

You shuffled the papers scattered on the kitchen table into a neat pile, creating a clear space for you and Sephiroth. If only you had finished sorting through these documents earlier, but it's not like you could’ve foreseen meeting your long-lost son tonight. So you had to give yourself some leniency here.

"Sorry for the mess here," you said as you took a seat next to him at the table. "I've been really busy..."

Sephiroth didn't respond, lost in deep thought. Only now he truly begun to process this reunion. Before all of this happened, his only solace and joy were the childhood memories of the fantasies he had about you. In those fantasies, you’re the one who loved him unconditionally, protected him, and told him the truth. You treated him as a person, not as an experiment, a monster, or a glorified celebrity. Most of all, you took him away from the painful world and gave him the normal life he desired. Finally finding you was euphoric, but now... He wondered if you could truly live up to his hopes. What if you were too good to be true? Sephiroth's blank expression turned into a frown as he noticed something on your black refrigerator.

"Shinra told me your name is JENOVA... and you died after giving birth to me," he said, a hitch in his voice.

You raised an eyebrow, surprised. "They did?" 

Following his gaze, you looked up and your face shifted into a worried frown as you realized what had caught his attention: a photograph of you embracing a boy from the orphanage, accompanied by a small note bearing your name at the bottom. The fridge had other pictures as well, including ones of you with other children or with groups of them. There were other pictures where you were enjoying yourself with your fellow caretakers, and one even showed you elegantly dressed, posing with the mayor of Mideel at a past ball. Sephiroth seemed especially focused on the picture of you and the boy.

"So, another lie they told you..." you uttered. The name JENOVA did sound familiar, but it certainly wasn’t yours. In response, his lips emitted a soft sob. His head hung low, with his silver bangs obscuring his side profile. Though you had just met him, your motherly instincts couldn't ignore a hurt soul in need. You inched closer to him, placing one hand softly on his gloved hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. You’re determined to help your son heal his pain or encourage him to share it with you. After having been separated from him for so long, it was the least you could do.

A sudden dark chuckle quickly overtook his brief sob as he lifted his hand to his forehead. Your expression didn’t change, even though goosebumps prickled over your skin.

"What happened?" His usually calm, velvety voice had cracks in it, as if he were trying desperately to keep his emotions in check. But he couldn't. Not now, when he was here with you, faced with more undeniable evidence that his entire life had been built on a web of lies.

You paused and pondered how to respond to his question. Each breath of yours felt labored as you struggled to remember the details of the past, but your mind drew a blank. This situation was uncharted territory for you, as you hadn’t been pressed to give details about your past before. Debating taxes with the perverted, pigheaded men at the town hall or explaining the birds and bees to younger children felt easier than this.

"I don't remember much," you said, your voice strained. "I was a paper pusher for Shinra's science department, barely making any money. Every day was a struggle." As you tried to remember more, your head pounded, and your vision became hazy. "They were offering opportunities to help with experimentation, but only if you were strong enough. I thought maybe if I helped, I could get a promotion, so I took the chance," you explained, wincing as your headache intensified and your vision blurred even more.

No matter how hard you tried to resist the painful haze, it persisted. Then, you saw a brief, clear image of Sephiroth. His narrowed, slit eyes fixated on you, like he was a snake studying his prey. But when you briefly closed your eyes and opened them again, he was still looking away from you. You shook your head and grunted. 

Damn migraines. Need to stop by the market tomorrow to get some meds. You thought.

You continued your story. "They told me they were going to inject some substance into me, and after that, things happened so fast. I was blacked out for most of the process. One moment, I was pregnant, and then suddenly, I wasn't… I didn't even get to hold you," you said. Sephiroth finally turned his head toward you, his mako-colored slit eyes intense but different from what you had imagined earlier. They seemed lost and hurt.

"I always wanted you… I didn't know how I got pregnant, but you were my baby, my only family. When I tried to fight for you, they exiled me… So, my only hope was to join AVALANCHE, in the slim chance that I might see you again," you finished. You couldn't finish recounting in this painful state.

Sephiroth remained silent, trying to make sense of your words... You can’t even remember what led to his birth. He's just never going to find out the truth, is he? It’s one spiral of another. His lips curved into a peculiar, small smile.

After recovering from your excruciating migraine, you scanned his face and concern overtook you. Underneath his eyes, dark bags were forming and his skin was starting to look unhealthy. And the sleeves of his dark trench coat stood out to you because they didn't appear as tight as they did in the last recent photos you had seen of him. While you knew the topic of your past was important to him, his physical well-being was now taking priority in your mind.

"Sephiroth, when was the last time you slept or ate?" you asked, concerned. He remained silent. Standing up, you placed one hand on his shoulder and the other on your hip. "Sephiroth," you said again, this time with a firm, just like you would use with your other children when you demanded their attention. 

Almost instantly, you noticed a change in him. He quickly stood up, his body tensed, chest heaving, and his gaze focused on your direction, yet it seemed like he was gazing past you rather than at you.

"I-I cannot recall. My apologies," he replied, looking down at the ground. After a moment, his body relaxed, his pupils returning to their normal shape. 

"No need for that, sweetheart. You’ve been through a lot lately." You walked over to your refrigerator and grabbed some star fruits for him. "Eat these, please. They should hold you over until I start and finish dinner,'' He sighed and obliged, taking a testing bite out of one. You giggled as you turned your back to set up. It had been a while since you had cooked for two. Usually, it was just for yourself or for thirty other empty bellies.

"You know," you said, "they say that the first person you share your starfruits with, your destinies will intertwine~." He didn't respond, though he heard you loud and clear.

We'll see about that, mother... He thought.

He then took a moment to analyze the starfruit he ate. It was a bit too sweet with a slightly rough texture. He had certainly tasted better, but he could say that this was an okay fruit. After he finished eating, he curiously observed your every move, much like a kitten in training. You quickly noticed this and saw it as an opportunity to steer the conversation away from the negativity earlier.

"I'm guessing you've never cooked before, have you?" you asked. 

"Not exactly a high priority for a specimen bred for war," he replied. You smirked, pleased to know that your son had some snark in him.

"Well, it's going to be a high priority for you around me now," you said. "Can you hand me the box of noodles on the refrigerator?" He nodded and complied. You murmured a quick thanks to him and carefully placed each lasagna noodle into the pot of water. It's still strange that your son happened to be wandering here in Mideel, and you saw no signs of Shinra's goons either. They must be looking for him by now.

"What were you doing here? Does Shinra know you're gone?" you asked. Sephiroth folded his arms, leaning against the kitchen wall.

"By now, they should… I left Midgar on vacation when they would at least suspect it…" He hesitated, unsure if he should tell you about his lost friends. 

"And?" 

"I wanted to see Banora."

"Didn't you know that town was destroyed some years ago?" 

His eyes widened at your remark. "How do you know?"

"We first noticed something going on during a town hall meeting... Shinra's war planes were flying over here on their way there. So we kept a close watch on them. The air was just filled with smoke and fire, and the seismometers went off the charts for several days. When the shipments from Banora stopped, we knew it was gone," you explained. His face turned into a sad grin. His final chance to visit the hometown of his lost friends was assuredly out of his reach. From the corner of your eye, you noticed his head hung low again. You changed the subject again.

"Did you finish eating the starfruit?" You asked.

"Yes, it was filling. Thank you."

You tilted your head slightly. "...So, did you like it?"

"It was adequate."

His terse behavior made you chuckle. Your sweet son was yet another enigma for you to figure out. Once you were finished making the Lasagna and setting the table, he shook his head at the plate you served him.

"The starfruit was enough."

No, it wasn't, mister. You're still starving. You thought.

"Really? That wasn't exactly a lot of star fruit I gave to you."

"Hmph."

"Sephiroth, you couldn't even tell me the last time you ate." You twirled a forkful of the meaty and cheesy lasagna and held it up to his mouth. "Eat."

He sighed, giving in because he lacked the energy to further resist. He took a flawless and graceful bite of the sample. As the flavors hit his taste buds, his slit eyes dilated. The seasoning of the meat was perfect, and the lasagna noodles were delightful with their creamy cheese and al dente texture. You leaned closer to him.

"Is it good?" You said. He smiled and moved his fork to have another bite.

You giggled. "I'm going to take that as a yes."

~~~

After the two of you finish eating, you lead Sephiroth to the guest room in your cottage. You can count on one hand the number of times you've had guests stay over. No matter what, you made sure the room was properly taken care of, because you yearned for someone or something to stay with you for longer. The fantasy might actually become a reality now, with the best person for the task.

You opened the door, gesturing for him to enter the room after you. The room wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either. Alongside the moogle plushie on the bed, there was a mini-library filled with books about planetology and the study of Mako Energy near it. On the other side of the room, there was an empty desk equipped with a dedicated chair and study light. You walked over to the bed and fluffed the pillow up for him. You then opened a corner of the white bedsheet to make it more inviting. It was a nice, spacious bed for most people. Your nearly seven-foot powerhouse of a son isn't "most people" though. You made a mental note to order a bigger mattress size for the future.

"You can stay here for now... Will this bed be okay for you?"

He walked forth. "I can manage."

You cradled his gloved hand. "You don't have to "manage" anymore, not with me. Because I will do everything I can to support you, Sephiroth." He turned to face you, his pupils dilating once again. His mako eyes had a slight glow to them as you continued.

"I know you wanted answers from me today and you got almost none... It's just so hard for me to remember. But maybe we can discover the answers together if you want to join me here in Mideel. We can't get back the time that was taken from us, but we can still create new memories together. But if you're angry with me and want nothing to do with me after tonight, I understand..." You looked away from him as you spoke those painful words. "I will still love you."

Sephiroth's breath hitched, as if time stood still, and his gaze was fixated on you. Just like during your reunion, Sephiroth wasted little time in embracing you. It was as if those childish fantasies he had created were becoming a reality. Despite everything, you still opened your heart to him. The intoxicating euphoria from before resurfaced within him. He gently squeezed the sides of your plumpish belly, exhaling deeply as he lifted his head from your shoulder, bringing your noses almost touching.

"You're as radiant as I imagined you to be, mother," he said sweetly. Despite Sephiroth being a bit close to your face, you were too distracted to care. He finally called you "mother" again after a long time. 

"I hope I can continue living up to that, my son," you replied, a smile gracing your own features. Your heart was swooning. After a few moments in his embrace, you broke away and walked towards the door. You couldn't help but sense a slight hint of hesitance from him to let you go, but it could just be your imagination playing tricks on you.

"Call for me if there is anything you need. My room is next door."

You closed the door behind you, leaving the now hollow Sephiroth alone with his thoughts. It was as if his euphoria was cruelly torn away so suddenly. He laid down and shifted his body into bed, trying to find some comfort in its restrictive confines. If he were to accept your enticing offer, perhaps the plagues surrounding his true purpose would leave him. He could learn about you and himself if he helped you get your memory back, but will he be able to adjust to a different life in Mideel? How long before Shinra comes here looking for him? Can he even keep you safe? 

Sigh.

Yet another sleepless night awaited him.

Chapter 3: Stillness

The soft rays of the sun shone through the window, signaling the daybreak. Well, at least the restless night for Sephiroth ended quickly. He sat up straight in bed, supporting himself against the wall and crossing his arms. The thought of accepting your offer to be together in Mideel still consumed his mind. He had already pondered every possible scenario, even the worst ones, but now he found himself doing it again, for the nth time. Decisions, decisions... Why was it so difficult for him to know what to do for himself? Apart from visiting Banora to verify your story of its destruction, what else was there for him to do? Still, it was difficult to estimate how things would go for him in this town. He wouldn't want to be pestered because he's a "hero" or whatever, and he also doesn't want Shinra ruining everything so quickly. However, regardless, there wasn't much for him to lose as his obsessive analysis came to an end once again.

His ears detected quiet movement from the room over, followed by a gentle humming that started to fill the air. As he listened, he immediately recognized the timbre of the humming—it belonged to you. It was a warm and soothing hum, somehow putting him at ease. The more he listened to your gentle humming, the slower his eyelids closed. However, he quickly forced them open, shaking his head.

Too late to sleep now. He thought.

As he rose from the bed, he walked over to the previously empty desk, where a basket of nicely-ordered toiletries and soft towels awaited him. He may still question who you truly are and if you're a good mother, but he couldn't deny your hospitality. With the towels and clothes in hand, he headed towards the bathroom to take his shower.

In the meantime, you took some time to tidy up your own room. Overall, it looked fine, but the classified documents about the reactors and Shinra's activities in the Mideel region were scattered all over your floor. You planned to show them to your son once things between you two were less tense. Hopefully, AVALANCHE wouldn't pester you too much about missing the deadline to send these documents to their spy on the island. Life happens, after all. Besides, it is important for you to have a conversation with Talia, one of your co-workers, about the finances of the orphanage. Currently, certain areas of the building are in poor condition, and you guys exhausted all available options to fix them on your own. It's necessary to use the limited funds in the orphanage's reserve for a few repairs. 

Next, you took the moment to check the weather forecast on your phone. You were relieved to see that it would be sunny and warm with little chance of rain. No way you’re going to repeat yesterday’s sweating disaster, so you decided to dress lightly for the day. You went to your closet and chose a cute black skirt and a white-colored shoulder tank-top. Despite being snug around your curvy rear, the skirt still looked great on you. And just to be safe, you tied one of your favorite cardigans around your waist, even though the forecast assured no rain. Moody weather like this always kept you on your toes.

Once you finished cleaning up the mess, you reached for your adorable white tote bag. It had a charming makeshift moogle keychain, which one of the girls from the orphanage, Lisa, had crafted for you. Although it looked worn, with one of the moogle's eyes being a mismatched button and one of its arms sewn on with brown thread instead of white like the rest of the doll, it was still precious to you.

You left your room and stopped at Sephiroth's door, gently knocking a few times. You deeply hoped that he would accept your offer to stay with you in Mideel and help unravel the mystery of the past together. But you had no intention of forcing him to stay. If he wanted to leave, it was his choice. And no matter how painful it would be to let him go again, you would support him.

As the door swung open, your eyes were met with the unexpected sight of Sephiroth, slightly wet and shirtless. His well-built body surprised you, as there wasn't a single scar to be seen. It was obvious that he had just come out of the shower, judging by his damp, lengthy silver hair and water droplets glistening on his pecs and abs, and the faint scent of vanilla-lavender shampoo lingered around him. Although his muscles were defined, they didn't reach bodybuilder proportions, yet he wasn't slender either. It's almost strange how the white shoulder pads he typically wore with his usual outfit made his body appear even wider than it actually was.

"Yes?" He said, interrupting your thoughts. 

"Oh, I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to town today. I took the day off from work, but I have to stop by there later anyway," you explained.

Sephiroth glanced to the side briefly, pondering if he should accept or not. Both of you should be focused on business, not leisurely strolls around town. However, considering that this place will soon become his base of operations, it made sense to familiarize himself with the surroundings.

"Not for long," he replied, turning around to put on the summer shirt you had provided. A smile spread across your face. Perhaps this could be the start of him loosening up? You can't wait to show him the joys life outside of SOLDIER had to offer.

"Okay!" you said. Your eyes scanned his face, noticing that his eyebags looked a bit darker. "Did you get enough sleep last night?" 

"I'm well awake," he said, but his confident voice betrayed a hint of trembles. You sighed. This might be a recurring problem after all. 

After you two finished preparing, Sephiroth had to force himself to stare forward when you both passed the kitchen on your way outside. The sight of your refrigerator served as a cruel reminder of how you had started a life of your own without him. His mind went to that picture of you and that boy especially. Could he be another one of your sons? You had mentioned taking a day off from work, so perhaps the boy was connected to that?  

You two made your way towards Mideel, guided by an open and visible trail near your cottage. Your cottage, much like the orphanage, was situated just beyond the town's reach, but it was never too far to walk. It’s why you choose to live here. The distance gave you an escape whenever you needed to be alone, while still allowing you to be close to the market that supplied your beloved starfruit. That fruit was your saving grace, especially during heated town hall meetings. 

Though the journey to Mideel should have been a quick fifteen minutes. But for both of you, it felt like an eternity. You could sense the lingering tension from last night, leaving you unsure of how to start a conversation with your son. Perhaps the visit to town would provide a welcomed distraction and help ease the negative energy between you. 

Finally arriving at the town, you two were greeted by the brilliant daylight that showcased the beauty of the wooden architecture all buildings in the town shared. The design of the wood allowed the buildings to seamlessly blend with the natural surroundings of the jungle. Sephiroth, who had only seen Mideel at night, took this opportunity to fully appreciate its splendor. He had expected a grand welcome, with people eagerly cheering his name and clamoring to take his picture. However, the townspeople merely glanced at him before quickly moving away, some even looking skeptical at his unexpected arrival. And none of them uttered not a single word. But for Sephiroth, this was a good break from the chaos that usually surrounded him. There wasn’t a place in Midgar he could go to without people screaming his name and trying to get his attention. And he couldn’t ignore the added perk of his eyes and ears finally being at ease.

However, for you, it was a bit unnerving. You tried to strike up conversations with the passing people, but all you received were no responses or hushed "hellos". Even when you went to pick up your migraine pain relief at the market, the cashier seemed in a hurry to check you out. You hoped this wouldn't make a negative impression on Sephiroth, but every time you looked over at him, he seemed apathetic. The thought of going to town hall to drop off the orphanage's tax forms crossed your mind, but you couldn't shake the feeling that it might not be the best idea. Perhaps you could do it tomorrow instead.

"I guess we could stop by at my job now… We need to talk to someone there," you said." And sorry if things seem a bit odd... Mideel is known to be closed off from the outside world, so everyone seeing you might be a bit of a whiplash." You nervously chuckled. But despite your words, Sephiroth kept walking as if he hadn't heard you. 

As you both made your way to the orphanage, you noticed Sephiroth increasing his pace, overtaking you by a few steps. Although he still followed your lead, his expression shifted from apathy to focused once you entered the jungle, away from the town's sphere.

 "There's no predators out here, I'm sure... The only threat is the unfiltered mako," you said.

 "Always expect the unexpected," he responded, his slit eyes constantly scanning the woods. Holding your breath, you both continued through the parts where cracks in the ground exuded mako gas. Afterwards, you took the opportunity to explain your role in the orphanage. 

"Whenever I'm not doing espionage for AVALANCHE, I work here at the orphanage," you said, averting your eyes from him, lost in a happy, dreaming daze. "Initially, it was to help me stay undercover, but I love it."

Sephiroth struggled to suppress his "hmph" in response to your words, his suspicions about the photo of you and the boy proving to be correct. Usually, he'd consider being a caretaker at an orphanage noble, but not in this case. As he listened to your accounts of the life you built in Mideel without him, his sword hand twitched. He knew you had been exiled, but it was still so painful, thinking about how the life you built could’ve had him in it if it wasn’t for Shinra… They took so much and gave nothing in return. That boy in the picture with you could've been- No, it should've been HIM.

You stopped talking for a brief second and studied the change in his aura. 

Shit. That must’ve came out wrong… you thought. 

Upon arriving at the orphanage, you paused to admire the building's familiar wooden architecture, which it shared with the rest of Mideel's buildings. It was an intentional design choice to alert passing travelers to the purpose of this place. However, the sign sadly succumbed to rot and mold, obscuring the orphanage's name and making it difficult to read. And even though the building was old, the scent of freshly cut timber lingered in the air, mingling with the sounds of children's laughter and the gentle creaking of the wooden doors as they opened back and forth. You've seen this pass more times you could count, but the beauty and joy it brought you will always make you feel you're coming here for the first time.

You saw many of your familiar children playing in the front yard. At first, they seemed excited to see you and ran towards you, but their enthusiasm quickly faded when they spotted Sephiroth. They turned back around and retreated into the building. You frowned, wondering what could be wrong now. You walked up to one of the children, Lisa, and crouched down to her level. 

"Hi," you said, noticing the pink chalk in her hand as you scanned her. "What are you drawing?" But before Lisa answered you, she suddenly darted into the orphanage's building, too. Turning around, you quietly apologized to your son.

"I’m sorry again," you said, "usually they aren't like this... They always enjoyed it whenever new people from town visited." Sephiroth let out a sigh and shrugged. It's actually a nice change of pace for once. Right? The two of you entered the building shortly after the girl, as you hoped to find one of your fellow caretakers, Talia. You needed to know what's going on.

And maybe while you’re searching for her, you should pray to not make any more mistakes to upset your beloved son…

Chapter 4: Strife

If there was one thing you didn't like about the orphanage's building, it was the run-down state. Every few steps you and Sephiroth took, it felt like the weak wooden floor could give out at any second. It would've been a nasty fall to the basement since there's no padding on the floor. Fortunately, he had his eyes on you the whole time, prepared to catch you if needed.

But despite the building's deterioration and makeshift attempts to patch up holes in the ceilings with tape and other tools, there was still an homely atmosphere. Mostly because you and your fellow caretakers worked tirelessly to create it. The halls and bedrooms were spotless, free from even a hint of dust, even when they were vacant. The air had a fresh fragrant smell to it, and the brittle walls, though worn, were adorned with beautiful hanging ornaments, depicting an array of cactuars in vibrant colors. There were some toys scattered around, but not enough to be considered a mess. 

“This place isn’t in the best shape, but we try our best. If those bastards at town hall just gave us the support we need, we could make this place better.”

"Disgraceful for them to allow these conditions to persist...'" Sephiroth murmured, his brows furrowing as he passed by the rooms. He was no stranger to the careless cruelty of bureaucrats. Such cruel disregard was universal among these types, not just the department heads at Shinra. 

"It's because they, like most of the town, don't care about the lost children. They don't fit into their normal, close-minded perception of what children or families should be like. But at least we're here to support and protect them…" you said, stopping at a closed door and turning to him. His expression softened, a small, gentle smile forming on his face. It was still painful that you spent so much of life without him, yet he was amazed by the proof of what you accomplished in the meantime. You were dedicated to saving others who could be saved. It reminded him of the times when he, too, had done the same. Despite his past failures, maybe he could find the courage to do it again.

As his kitten-like eyes made you smile back, your heart melted. You couldn't resist clasping his hand and stepping closer to him. Before the moment got even better, a voice echoed through the room from behind the door. 

"Ugh, Talia... I guess the ' Headmistress ' rubbed off on you too..." You frowned instantly and let go of Sephiroth's hand. It was Ophelia, another caretaker of the orphanage. Her airy and aloof voice caught you off guard. You hadn't expected her to cover your call-off since she had already worked the last five days. While you admired her passion for helping the children like you, your methods for caring differed. And the orphanage was a cooperative effort between you and the other caretakers, not under any one person's control. But Ophelia seemed to turn it into a power game, especially when it came to you. Hearing movement approaching the door, you and Sephiroth took a few necessary steps back. 

"I'm so sorry that we are wasting your time, Mayor Brann," Ophelia finished.

"Don't be," he reassured her. "I understand and appreciate what you've all been doing to keep this place up to standard. I'll see what the rest of the town council thinks at the next meeting." 

"We need the support now! We can't wait much longer!" Talia interjected. Her sudden outburst surprised you, as you were used to her soft, gentle voice, even in the most tense moments. Upon opening the door, Talia and Mayor Brann stood in shock at Sephiroth’s presence. Ophelia, however, merely shot you a sidelong glance before noticing him herself, displaying little surprise compared to the other two.

“What are you doing- no, what is he doing here???” Ophelia put her hands on her hips. Right away, you stood in front of Sephiroth, forcing her to focus on you.

“He is on vacation and happened to be visiting. Is there something wrong with that?” You said. 

"No, I suppose not," she replied, her gaze fixed on Sephiroth as she scrutinized him. His typical stoic expression remained unchanged, his slit, mako eyes piercing through her. Mayor Brann interrupted their silent exchange with a series of coughs, capturing everyone's attention.

 "I’ll be going now," he announced, maneuvering past everyone before stealing one last glance at Sephiroth. "Mideel is pleased to have you, sir," he added, his gaze shifting towards you. “Why don’t you and your…”

“I’m his-” you almost said it, but you stopped yourself at the last second. “tour guide…” you said, with a tremble in your voice. You didn’t want to hide your connection to Sephiroth, but for now, it seemed the best that no one knew about you being his mother. Sephiroth himself briefly looked down at the ground, almost shaking his head. He quickly understood your lead, but wished it didn’t have to be that way. If only you two could be in a world happy and true to yourselves…You stepped in front of the mayor's path, determined to plead with him one last time. 

"With all due respect, sir," you began, "how can you simply return to your cozy mansion while these children continue to live in the most abhorrent conditions?" You pointed toward the worn ceiling, where water from the pipes slowly spilled out. "We've been doing our best to fix things ourselves, but we can’t fix everything. And we don't have enough money to hire professionals." 

"I understand, but I can't-"

“You CAN! You're the mayor for a reason! So do something now!"

"We can continue this discussion tomorrow with Mr. Sephiroth, and I'll treat you both to dinner," the mayor said with his trademark fake smile. He walked away, leaving you fuming.

Sephiroth stood with his arms crossed, watching the shorter man from the window as he climbed into his vehicle and drove off. Then, his gaze quickly shifted back to you, filled with concern. Ophelia let out a grunt and moved closer to you.

"Fantastic! Now you've got Talia wasting everyone's time.” She said, “We need to settle with what we have!”

"Yeah, and you see how that's working out!?" you retorted, then glanced over at Talia. "At least you understand the urgency." Yet, Talia couldn’t even look you in the eyes, still appearing nervous. You’re guessing it’s because of Sephiroth's unexpected presence, but she seemed even more on edge than usual. "Are you okay?"

“Y-yes. We just don’t have any money in the reserve right now,” Talia said. For the first time, both you and Ophelia stared at her in disbelief. 

“Talia, what do you mean? We should have enough emergency funds in the reserve to get a few repairs done!” You said.

“And I checked that reserve a few days ago,” Ophelia crossed her arms. Talia’s lips moved, but no words came out of them. 

Sephiroth stayed quiet, observing the ongoing conflict. Despite his reservations about the mayor and your past, he’s willing to go to that dinner tomorrow if it means supporting you and obtaining funds. Whatever helps, helps. 

Before you and Ophelia could continue questioning Talia about the missing money, she turned away and headed towards her office.

"I really don't know what happened. It just vanished!" she exclaimed. Ophelia pouted and quickly followed her into the office, leaving you and Sephiroth alone for a moment. It’s been a long time since you felt so awful… With the strange behavior of everyone in town and now the revelation that the reserve funds were completely gone, the despair is starting to get to you. This whole ordeal must have left a terrible impression on your son... But his kitten eyes and small smile returned to his face as he put a reassuring hand on your shoulder. 

“I want to help you, Mother,” he said. Now that he has seen how much effort and dedication you have put in, even during your rough times, he felt inspired to give it back. 

“But what about your “vacation?”

“I still haven't made my decision yet…But I think I can request an extension on it.” His voice had a slight hint of playfulness to it as you pressed your cheek against his hand.

At least he’s still considering your proposal.

Chapter 5: Protector

Notes:

Sorry for the long wait. Between work and low motivation, it's been hard to write. Hope you guys enjoy!

As you and Sephiroth stepped into your office, the fading sunlight poured through the windows, signaling dusk. It was hard to believe that the day was ending already. You could’ve sworn the day just started!

You tried to ignore the sparse decorations in your office as you two walked around it. You had never really enjoyed being here, always preferring to be out and about. However, you knew that adding more decor would make it more welcoming for guests. Though you always got sidetracked by other important tasks. The windowsill sported only a few fake flowers, while on your desk, the real flowers handpicked by some of your girls basked in the fading sunlight. To the left of your desk, there was a moogle doll resting on your makeshift office bed, just like the one in Sephiroth's room at your cottage. You went up to the doll. 

"We have a rotating schedule. Three of us stay here to watch the children while the other three go home for the night." Your mind flickered to Lisa as you squeezed the moogle doll a few times. She’s obsessed with these. It was understandable, as they were  adorable beings blessed by the planet.

"When's your turn?" he asked.

"Today's Saturday, so pretty soon." 

Before you could further explain the schedule to him, a sudden gasp escaped your lips as you felt the ground and the building trembling. Sephiroth swiftly wrapped his arm around you, holding you close until the shaking subsided. As you looked up at him, you couldn't help but notice the shift in his expression and aura. He’s just like a poised snake, ready to strike, while his flat lips are curving into a frown. One of the older children burst through the doors, gasping for breath. 

"We need help! There are monsters in the courtyard!" he exclaimed. Fear and concern instantly spread across your face. 

"But there should be nothing around here. We just did our weekly scout on Thursday." As you turned to your side, you noticed Sephiroth already darting off, his trusty Masamune in hand. You didn’t even see him pull it out! Did it materialize out of thin air or something? You rushed after him and the boy, ignoring the water dripping on your hair from the leaky pipes, and opened the creaky wooden doors.

As expected, the courtyard was indeed infested with monsters. These monsters, with their sharp claws and dark, scaly skin, looked remarkably similar to dragons. Yet, they seemed smaller than normal, only a few heads taller than Sephiroth, and without wings. It puzzled you to think about where they came from. Until now, you had never heard of any predators in this area. There was nothing you heard or saw during your walks on the trail or while the children played in the jungle that could've hinted at these monsters. 

While guiding the frightened children to safety, you paused to watch your son slaughtering the monsters in the courtyard. His silver tresses flowed in sync with his precise and calculated movements. Despite the brutality of his strikes, there was an undeniable elegance in the way he delivered each of them. The Masamune even seemed to shine as it cut through the monsters, like a scythe through wheat. His speed intensified, blurring his motions, making it even more difficult for your eyes to keep up with him. It was no surprise that he earned the reputation of being the strongest man on the planet. What, if anything, could possibly stand in his way?

You shook your head, reminding yourself of your duty to ensure the younger children’s safety. As each child huddled behind you, you mentally counted them, marking each one with a number in your head as they passed you. Eventually, you realized that one child was missing - Lisa. But you could only hope that she was still in the building since you had seen her run into it earlier. And during all of this, you couldn't forget about the one child fending off these fiends… 

Despite the carnage, Sephiroth remained pristine. The only blemish he accumulated was on Masamune, stained with the black blood of his enemies. Killing these creatures came naturally to him. It was what he had been bred and trained for. A normal life was never meant for him, especially not for you. It’s unfair that this was all he excelled at, that he was still fulfilling his purpose as a guard dog. This realization fueled his raging brutality towards the fiends even more.

For the very last fiend, Sephiroth leaped into the air, bringing down his Masamune in a powerful strike that pierced through the creature's abdomen. He then stepped away and  watched as it disintegrated into green flames. It was such an easy victory, even mere insects would have put up a better fight… The sound of jubilant cheers erupted from behind him, the children jumping up and down in awe of the spectacle he had provided. 

He turned around. The sight of so many cheerful faces was strange to him, as many had once been afraid of him.

They’re happy? He thought. Scanning every face in the crowd again, he still found no unhappy child.

And with each cheer, his emotions flickered, his brutal rage from earlier now mixing with… fulfillment? 

This appreciation from the children differed from the usual adulation he received from the press or his zealous fans. It was genuine recognition and gratitude for the good deed he did. Finally, he’s done what he always wanted to continue: saving those he could.

But when he caught sight of your gentle, loving smile, all other emotions faded away, replaced by that familiar euphoria from your initial reunion with him. The world around you both blurred in his vision with each step he took towards you. His lips trembled, accompanied by warm, tingling sensations that spread through his body, starting from his fingertips and reaching down to his toes. It felt as if every nerve in his body was put into overdrive. He couldn't even control his own movements, as if a magnetic force was drawing him closer to you. Not that he cared, though. The corners of his lips lifted even higher, forming a radiant smile that mirrored the warmth he felt within. The reward of seeing you like this made all the effort he had put in worth it.

You briefly felt that same euphoria until a pounding headache attacked you, but you didn't flinch. You forced yourself to keep your expression, not wanting to discourage your son during his moment of pride and joy. Yet, your smile slightly dropped when you saw a flashing image of Sephiroth in a different light. Instead of his radiant smile, he had an unhinged, gleeful smirk on his face. The weak, green flames behind him transformed into blazing red flames.

Your expression fully shifted when he pulled you close, embracing your plump body and nuzzling his nose into your neck. As his head rose slowly, his warm breath grazed your ear, and he whispered in a dark, husky voice.

"The very start of our destiny, Mother... The Reunion." 

Your pupils dilated and your body tensed up. What in the world was that? What did he mean!? The pounding headache eventually subsided. Sephiroth still had you in his grasp, his radiant smile still beaming at you. And his lips was not too far from yours. You smiled again, unable to resist his kitten-like eyes. What you just saw earlier must be the damn migraines and stress getting to you. 

Just pop another pill when you go to bed tonight. You thought. 

“The prince is finally with his princess at last~!” One of the orphan girls said behind you two.

“Kiss!” another girl chimed in. 

Immediately, Sephiroth released his grip on you and moved away, averting his gaze while you chuckled. You weren't sure when or if you would reveal Sephiroth's true connection to you to everyone, but moments like these will always be funny and adorable to you. 

You started a second count of the orphans now that you were in a clearer state of mind and found that Lisa was still missing, just like before. Hopefully, she was still inside the building, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask the kids if they had seen her recently, too. 

"Has anyone seen Lisa?" You asked. Many children shrugged and shook their heads, but a few became pale and silent. Then a boy stepped forward.

"Some of those things took her and went into the jungle,” he revealed. You placed your hands on his shoulders. 

"Are you absolutely sure that's what you saw!?" you said. He nodded.

“They might be going towards the red cave.” He added on. Stepping away from him, you exchanged a worried glance with Sephiroth.

"I…I need to go find her. To make sure," you murmured, your joy slowly being replaced with heartbreak. The thought of losing another one of your children was unbearable. Besides, if the fiends had taken her alive, there might still be a chance of her survival, so there’s no time to mope. 

"I'll come with you," he said, determination flickering in his eyes, leaving no room for you to debate within him. 

"EVERYONE INSIDE, NOW!" Ophelia shouted to the kids.

“In proper formation, please!” Talia added, and propped the wooden doors open. Ophelia approached you and Sephiroth, glaring at you both.

"Where's Lisa?" she inquired.

"One of the boys said those things took her alive into the jungle. We're going to find her or what’s left…" You didn't want to finish the last sentence, not wanting to jinx for the worst possible scenario.

"You're crazy!" she exclaimed. "There could be more of those monsters roaming around!"  

"I have Sephiroth with me, so I'll be fine," you raised a finger to her lips to prevent her from interrupting. "Call for the town militia to hold the fort down until we return. This is a direct order from the headmistress.” Ignoring Ophelia's angry grunts, you turned away and nodded at Sephiroth. Both of you hurriedly entered the dark jungle, praying for time to be on your side…

Chapter 6: Save

Honestly, it was difficult to match your son's pace, even though he intentionally slowed himself down to stay with you. 

Okay, so you did tell Mayor Brann and the others you were Sephiroth's tour guide. But little did you expect the job description to extend to leading a dangerous rescue mission within Mideel’s jungles. You thought you knew it all about this place, but apparently not. There were so many plants and trees you have never seen or heard of.

It seemed like Sephiroth was adapting to this place just fine, unlike you. It should be no surprise, considering his extensive experience navigating various jungles during his missions. If only you could share that complacency. The mixture of strange bird calls and buzzing insects was driving you closer to madness with every passing minute.

As you both ventured deeper into the jungle, the towering palm trees swayed slowly. The scent of something sweet and intoxicating invaded your nostrils, causing you to pinch your nose in response. You didn't know what the scent was and you didn't want to find out. You felt the ground trembling slightly with each step you took, undoubtedly due to the pulsating Lifestream beneath. Doesn't help that the tangled roots on the ground made you think of the danger of slipping and falling into a crack exuding mako gas. But you couldn't fret about this, especially when time was not on your side. The monsters who attacked the orphanage and kidnapped Lisa must be lurking somewhere nearby.

Though, you need to be cautious about this too. You and Sephiroth had no clue what else is here, so it's smart to preserve as much energy as possible. And you're going to need plenty of energy when or IF you find Lisa... She'll need all the comfort and reassurance you could give.

So far, you both found pieces of her clothing, creating a trail of where the monsters are taking her: the Red Cave. You stopped to take a break and to analyze the clues so far.

"I don't think we're too far from it," you said, wiping the sweat off your brow while you observed the clothing pieces. The jungle felt humid and lacked air. It made sense, given the congestion of several trees and plants within the same area. Sephiroth scrutinized you with his slit eyes, checking for any injuries you might have sustained so far, fortunately finding none.

"Perhaps she is still alive," he said, his gaze now fixed on the surrounding woods. "If the intention was to eat her themselves, they wouldn't have brought her this far," he added, furrowing his brows.

"Which means... they might want to feed her to their babies." You weren't fully prepared to face the harsh reality just yet. All you wanted was to find out what had happened to Lisa. It was the least you could do to honor her memory and fulfill the wishes of others at the orphanage, particularly Ophelia, who had a strong bond with her.

Sephiroth briefly gave you a sad frown before his expression quickly shifted to a serious one. "Get back!"

He quickly grabbed your waist and drew you closer to him. As he did, a vibrant green parasitic plant, with its massive open mouth, swooped down from above, narrowly missing your head. It crashed into the ground, emitting a squishy, wet thud that echoed throughout the jungle. A gasp escaped your lips as you witnessed a thick, saliva-like substance oozing from the head plant's cunt-like mouth, followed by small white tendrils coming out of it as well. The appearance of the head plant reminded you of a venus fly-trap, but it was fully circular and had no spikes around its massive, gushing mouth.

"...W-was that aiming for my head!?" you said. You didn't even notice your hands resting on his chest or your clothed, bulging nipples pressing against his torso.

"It seemed so," Sephiroth said, his Masamune glowering and poised to strike at any moment. As you pinched your nose once more, the sweet and intoxicating scent that you had noticed earlier became even more pungent. It enveloped you, making you feel warmer and strangely needy. You realized it must come from this parasitic plant, or perhaps from others like it, attempting to distract their prey.

Sephiroth, still holding you by the waist, glanced down at you. Even though the threat had been neutralized, he had an instinctive desire to keep you close to him. And that he loved having you as his human stress ball. But when he caught sight of your bulging nipples pressing against his torso, his pupils dilated, while a faint blush started to appear on his cheeks.

"...Keep moving," he said, hesitantly letting go of your waist. You withdrew your hands from his chest, realizing your own slip-up. You covered your bulging nipples with your arms, looking away from him.

"Oh, uh, thank you for that... And sorry!" you said. However, he didn't respond. Instead, he slowly walked away, trying to escape the awkwardness. You cursed that plant in your head for causing such an embarrassing moment.

~~~

It took a little while longer, but you and Sephiroth finally located the Red Cave. Despite its name, there was no trace of red from the outside. Turning on your flashlight, Sephiroth took the lead as you followed closely behind. As you explored further, you stumbled upon another piece of Lisa's clothing, this time from her white skirt. Upon inspection, you noticed it was more torn than the previous scraps of clothing you had found.

A thought crossed your mind–had something gnawed on her during the journey? Just as you were processing this, both you and Sephiroth heard sudden bursts of whimpering up ahead, the sound eerily similar to Lisa's voice. Ready to rush forward, you were stopped by Sephiroth's firm hand on your shoulder.

"Stay back." He ordered. You suppressed your grunt. Yes, he's the professional SOLDIER here, but damn it, you need to get your sweet girl to safety as soon as possible! As you both approached the source of the whimpering, it grew more intense, echoing off the cave walls. Your eyes were drawn to a corner, where a green glow emanated and casted a light that shone through the darkness. You turned off your flashlight, no longer needing its beam to guide you.

There, you spotted Lisa, curled up into a whimpering ball as many smaller baby dragons gathered around her, ready to feast on her. Just as one of them lunged at her, your son jumped into action, his Masamune cutting it into pieces.

Refusing to let your son bear the burden of the battle alone, you swiftly unsheathed your trusted throwing daggers that had Materia embedded in the steel hilt. Using the Wind Materia, you cast a bladestorm spell that sent daggers hurtling towards your targets, firmly embedding themselves in the skulls of the advancing dragons.

You were still a novice with bladed weapons, as you recently started learning the art when Talia suggested it to you when you both talked about defensive contingencies for the orphanage. Good thing it came in handy now. While you were busy stabbing more of the creatures, Sephiroth whispered close to your ear for a brief moment.

"Not bad," he said. He effortlessly flipped over the remaining baby dragons and sliced them in half. He then approached Lisa, who was still terrified for her life.

"It's okay, I'm here to help" he reassured her, extending a helping hand. The ground shook and growls echoed in the pitch black darkness, making it difficult for you to concentrate on their conversation. Right before the hidden massive beast could strike, Sephiroth swiftly scooped up Lisa to shield her from a sudden eruption of green flames. He glided towards you, quickly placing the girl into your waiting arms before turning back to face the now enraged Mother Dragon.

"Please be careful, so-" You cut yourself off. " S-Sephiroth..." You almost let it slip again. Once the battle between the beast and Sephiroth commenced, your eyes were fixed solely on Lisa. Examining her small body, you noticed cuts scattered all over her. Her clothing was in tatters, with her typical red cardigan nowhere to be seen. However, what worried you the most was the sight of her Achilles tendon on her left leg, sliced open. You cooed and stroked her head, comforting her as she let out a quiet cry.

"You'll be fine, Lisa," you reassured, gently gripping her hand. "Bear with me." With your other hand, you swiftly tore off a piece of your cardigan, which was tied around your waist, using it to cover the exposed sliced tendon. "Have you been exposed to any mako gas?" She nodded, increasing your worry. Retrieving a small antiseptic bottle from your pocket, you applied it to her cuts. Although it was meant for minor playground injuries among the orphans, it was better than nothing in this situation. As she whimpered from the burning sensations, you cooed her once more.

"This'll help prevent infection. We'll be out of here soon enough. " You said as you trickled some of it on her. It didn't take long for the bottle to run dry. You redirected your attention to Sephiroth's fight with the Mother Dragon. She's still viciously attacking him despite her gruesome injuries and lost limbs. Sephiroth didn't have a single blemish on him, as usual. Though he displayed a touch of fatigue as he paused to rest on his knee.

When his slit eyes darted to you holding the injured Lisa, he felt a sudden surge of determination. He couldn't falter now. Not when your lives depended on him.

Stay Strong. You can save everyone. He thought.

With the last ounce of his strength, he focused it into Masamune and rushed up to the beast. The blade pierced through the first layer of her natural scaled armor, and as he tightened his grip around the hilt, vibrations resonated through his fingertips. Masamune continued to delve deeper, drawing a surge of green blood out of her. The beast let out a deafening roar, desperately trying to shake Sephiroth off her. However, he held on tight, refusing to be dislodged. Finally, Masamune found its mark, piercing through the Mother Dragon's heart fully.

She collapsed, making the ground shake. Your son, the Hero, did it, again. You held Lisa carefully and strolled over to him, giving him a half hug of pride.

"I was so worried, my sweet boy," you murmured and saw the exhaustion in his eyes when he weakly smiled at you. It was understandable considering he had spent the entire day on his feet, battling beasts for half of it. "Take a quick breather," you urged gently. "You've been through a lot today."

"I'm fine," he insisted, but you gave him a firm look, clearly not falling for that charade. After all, mother knows best. While keeping one hand firmly gripping Lisa, your other hand inspected Sephiroth and discovered a small cut on his cheek. Unfortunately, you realized you had run out of your antiseptic bottle. It seemed you would have to resort to the old-fashioned way. Licking your thumb, you gently rubbed the saliva over his small cut. As you did so, a glimmer of radiance appeared in his eyes, and he chuckled softly. So this was just one of the many things he missed out in his childhood...

"I never had anyone do that to me before," he said.

"Well, now you did," you giggled. His slit eyes darted down to Lisa, who seemed a bit woozy.

"How is she?"

As you observed the half-asleep Lisa, your lips curved into a slight frown. "Stable but there's a possibility of mako poisoning."

"Lisa, I'm going to need you to stay awake, sweetie," you said to her before glancing back up at Sephiroth. "We should get going. Everyone else must be worried sick back at home."

"I'll lead the way." 

 

Chapter 7: Respite

Notes:

I know it's been a while since I had some pretty major life events happening. But hopefully, things will get better!

By the time you, Sephiroth, and Lisa returned to the orphanage, the sun had already risen. The pounding migraine that begged for your attention will have to wait, as there was still much to be done. You could already see Ophelia and Talia rushing down the hallway when Sephiroth opened the creaking wooden doors.

Hey!" you exclaimed, as Ophelia practically snatched the girl from your grasp. "Be careful with her!" you shouted. She didn't spare anyone else another glance as she took off with the girl. Talia put a reassuring hand on your arm.

"Thank goodness you three are finally back, we were worried sick,"

"How's everyone else?"

"Some kids are still spooked," she said, "but according to the doctor from town, no one seemed to have any serious injuries." Your heart rate spiked at the mention of the doctor. There's no way in hell the orphanage could pay them off, at least not in the near future. But you supposed that there is no use fretting about it now. At the moment, you needed to check on your son as the journey to and from the Red Cave was quite long. The poor thing must be exhausted. And you still needed to plan for the upcoming dinner with the mayor. Maybe you can assess any damages or injuries that occurred and check if the town can handle the expenses. If you got the time today to do so...

"Where’s the militia?" you asked her.

"They didn't have enough men to deploy for tonight. Most of them were out on a hunting trip, I was told..." You had to stop yourself from fuming after those words came out of her mouth. Of fucking course . One would’ve thought they had sufficient staff for emergencies like this, but apparently, that’s too much to ask. 

"Thank you for letting me know, Talia. We'll continue our conversation later," you said. She nodded in response and returned to tending to others. As you shifted your gaze towards your son, you noticed a slight blemish on his pecs. He took more damage in that fight back at the cave than you thought. You stepped closer to him, concerned.

"You're even more hurt..."

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Sephiroth said in his stoic voice, though the weariness in his eyes and voice was obvious. That’s just among the things you couldn’t hide from mothers. "Please, Sephiroth... You've done so much for us today. Let me take care of you," your son sighed, offering a gentle smile as you led him to your office once more.

Once inside, you fetched clean sheets and pillows from the closet to make your makeshift office bed comfortable and soft, just like a mattress. After that, you reached for his trench coat, but stopped short to remind yourself to ask for his permission.

"May I?" you asked. He nodded, giving you the go-ahead to proceed. So you carefully removed everything, baring his pants and boots. Although he had a few more wounds than you initially realized, they weren’t as severe as Lisa's. You got a bottle of antiseptic out of your desk and started applying antiseptic to his wounds, gently dabbing at them with a small cloth. You’re surprised that he remained completely still, showing no reaction to the sting.

"Doesn't it hurt?" He simply shook his head.

"I've dealt with worse," he responded, causing you to chuckle while you continued applying first aid. 

You began to hum your favorite tune to help pass the time. The soothing melody brought a sense of home to Sephiroth’s ears and his heart. It was enough to convince himself to finally let go and relax. He didn’t think being cared for in this manner would’ve felt so good. Your loving touch was a stark contrast to the uncaring and invasive scientists and medics he was used to. 

As you softly traced his collarbone and finished disinfecting his last wound, a sudden rush of joy flowed through him. Maybe, after all, he could start a new life with you. He couldn’t get back what was lost, but now he saw the possibility of forging even more new memories with you, his precious mother.

"You really are the hero they made you to be," you murmured. He turned his head, taking in your gentle words. "You saved an entire orphanage and continued to risk your own well-being to rescue an injured little girl. And despite everything, you're still here with me... I couldn't be prouder." A moment of silence followed, causing you to question if you should have expressed your feelings. Instead, he intertwined his larger hand with yours and flashed you his sweet, kitten smile.

"We're more similar than I thought," he whispered. He leaned his head closer to you. "You cared for these orphans and defended them when none other would. That is commendable." With your other hand, you caressed his head and ran your fingers through his silver tresses, reciprocating his smile. Just before you could say more, a loud cough interrupted you. Both of you snapped your heads to the doorway where a restless Ophelia awaited. You then hesitantly tore your hands away from Sephiroth, looking back at him. Leave it to her to disrupt your moments...

"Do you need anything else?" you asked. He shook his head. With a smile, you declared, "Okay, I will be right back!" You walked away, but he kept his half-lidded, loving eyes fixed on you, observing until the door closed. You saw Ophelia sneak a final glance into the room, probably just to give Sephiroth a dirty look before shutting the door.

"How's Lisa?" you whispered to her. She snapped back at you with an equally dirty look.

"She's in stable condition. Should be able to walk normally in a few months..." she murmured. You breathed a relaxed sigh at the news. You ought to visit her soon, it might support her recovery... Ophelia's glare deepened at you.

"And I'm so sorry to interrupt your "fancy "informational" tour meeting… but we're in deep shit! " You crossed your arms and rolled your eyes at her. We are? I didn't notice a single thing wrong so far. You thought. As much as you'd love to give her a piece of your mind, you're running on limited energy. Best not to waste on a petty fight.

"I know, Ophelia. We'll get through this, just like we've been doing," You tried to assure her, but her frustration only grew.

"How now?" she exclaimed, gesturing towards the destroyed ceiling. "The building is in even worse shape. And there are more medical bills," she added, pulling out a series of invoices from the village doctor from her pocket. "Lastly, that demon tourist of yours is attracting beasts here!" She glanced towards your office door. 

"Don't you call him that!" you retorted, the blood in your veins boiling. "You saw with your own eyes how he defended us and brought Lisa back to safety!"

"That was the least he could do! And don't you wonder why nothing ever attacked until HE came here? Well?"

"That's enough, Ophelia! You're only searching for reasons to be angry, but we won't be your targets any longer!" You stormed back into your office, slamming the door shut before she could have the last say. Soon after, your palm instinctively went to your forehead as you tried to soothe the growing migraine. You settled beside Sephiroth and noticed the sorrowful expression on his face. It’s clear that while he appreciated your defense of him, he didn’t want it to come at your expense.

"Lay down," he said, almost commanding, but you weren't having it.

"No, no, sweetie. I'm fine. I'm not the one who did most of the fighting."

"But you are the one who did the guiding and caring. Rest."

"No, you've been through more. Besides, I should help with lunch and-"

He gently grasped your forearm, pulling you onto the bed with him. It was definitely unexpected, but also welcomed? Sephiroth himself didn't know why he did it, but something within him couldn't stand to see you in such distress. He had to make it better somehow, with or without your say. He already involved himself with the orphanage, so why not continue to support you? You eventually gave up the struggle and completely embraced him, a small smile creeping onto your face.

"I didn't know my sweet boy had such a stubborn side,"

"He got it from the best," he murmured, smirking and nuzzling into your neck. You stroked his head once more.

Maybe I could help out with food a little later? You pondered. 

 

Chapter 8: The Moogle Queen

"I'm telling you, it won't be long before they make it official!”

 “Can you please lower your voice? They’re going to hear us!"

The office door made a slight creak noise as a purple eye peered through. Sephiroth opened his own eyes and watched as the intruder quickly shut the door. Already, this antic gave him flashbacks of the Silver Elite being nuisances just like this. He could only hope that this won’t be a common occurrence here.  

As he looked down at your sleeping form, his irritation waned, disappearing altogether when he realized how tightly you clung to him. He struggled to imagine giving up this precious moment for anything else in the world. It still hadn’t been long since you two reunited, and yet, you were comfortable enough to sleep in his arms, knowing who he was. Knowing the things he did for Shinra… As he began to question whether he deserved this rare, fleeting moment of happiness, you opened your eyes and greeted him with a weary smile. 

“Finally awake, aren’t you?” he whispered teasingly.

“It was a busy day yesterday!” You pouted, glaring at him. “Give me a break!” You rubbed your eyes and moved away from him a bit to get a good look at the clock on the wall. Damn. Almost evening time. You thought. Sephiroth grunted softly as you fully broke away from him and fixed your messy hair. Next, you put on your cardigan that was sitting on the desk. You had your brief respite, time to help out with whatever you can before you pay that bastard a visit tonight.  

“...I’ll go to dinner with you.” Sephiroth declared. You looked at him, surprised.

“You what? No, you don’t have to! Besides, that bastard probably doesn’t-”  He shook his head at you and rose from the makeshift bed. 

"Do you remember what you said? We save who we can," he reminded you, his hand reaching out. Right before it reached you and gave a tight squeeze, it hesitated briefly, trembling a bit. “I want to go.” It was hard to contain your excitement at this breakthrough. Tearing down your son's walls seemed impossible, but here you were, making progress.

“I-I will be ready to go in an hour!” You stumbled over your words a bit. “Just let me check in Lisa and help with dinner!” He nodded at you as you walked out. Once the door was completely shut, you did a small celebratory dance (hopefully, no one was watching).

He reached out to me! My baby boy wanted my affection! You nuzzled your face into your hands. If he is already showing signs of opening up to you, maybe he’d eventually agree to your proposal to start a new life together in Mideel? Though, you can’t get your hopes up. Your son is no young boy. If he wanted to settle down elsewhere, without you, then that is his prerogative. You’re still so hopeful that he will, however.

Your hope and enthusiasm gradually waned when you started walking to the infirmary, and saw the extent of the damages caused by the monsters to the orphanage. Several more holes marred the ceiling and flooring, and dusty debris was spread around from the winds outside. Some of the children’s rooms were completely devastated. Even the bright decorations of cactuars that were hanging on the walls lost their shine, if they already weren’t destroyed. Walking nearby the few crying children in the hallway was difficult, but at least your fellow caretakers were there to comfort them, promising to rebuild what was lost. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Even with Sephiroth’s support at the upcoming dinner tonight, would that bastard mayor and his yes-men at the City Hall even bother supplying funds for reconstruction? And what about the area now, since there could be even more monsters roaming? 

Once you were in the infamy, you were glad to see not many children there. It was as Talia said. There were minor injuries for most, barring poor Lisa, who you’re visiting. At her door, you gave it a few gentle knocks before Opehlia’s muffled voice told you to come in. Lisa's face lit up as you came in, watching you approach her from the left and placing your hand on top of hers. Lisa had Ophelia on her right side, who was softly caressing her head, while Talia folded the bed sheets nearby.

“Feeling better, sweetie?” You said.

“All thanks to you!” She babbled, but changed her timbre. ”..and that man,”

“His name is Sephiroth.” You weren’t looking at her, but you knew Ophelia was side-eyeing you the moment you said his name.” If it weren’t for him watching my back in the jungle, we may never have found you.”

“Oh…”

“Now, are you going to say thank you to Mr. Sephiroth before we leave tonight?”

“Y-yes…” You giggled at the slight blush on her cheeks as she grew silent for a moment. “are you two boyfriend and girlfriend???” 

“Eh!? No…What made you ask that?”

“You called him your sweet boy and touched him a lot when we were in that cave.” She tilted her head at you as you covered your warm cheeks. Talia and Ophelia chuckled at her callout. You didn’t think she was listening intently at that moment.

"You know it's bad when even the little ones notice." Talia's purple eyes twinkled mischievously at you.

“Try limiting the PDA when you’re on orphanage business, alright?” Ophelia added, pressing her knuckles against her cheek. 

“Shut up, you two,” you mumbled out, shaking your head. "Anyway, Sephiroth and I will have dinner with the mayor tonight. It's the perfect opportunity to rally support for our cause and get the help we need for this place." Talia celebrated your words with a jump of joy, but Ophelia remained unusually silent and kept her gaze fixed on Lisa. You were tempted to elicit a reaction from her before Lisa spoke up.

“Does that mean we could get more moogle plushies?” Lisa asked. 

“Oh Lisa, you already have so much of those as is…” you let out a relaxed sigh. “But yes, it could mean more moogle plushies! She leaped to hug you, but let out a sharp gasp when you caught her in your arms.

"Lisa, be careful! You’re still hurt," Ophelia said, concerned. You gently stroked Lisa's back and carefully helped her back into bed, soothing her whimpering.

“The village doctor said it’d be some time before she can walk again,” Talia mentioned, hovering over you. “Her left Achilles was torn open…” “I see…” You somberly peered over to the clock on the wall. You still had a little more time to help out before you had to leave with Sephiroth. “Do you guys need help with preparing dinner? Or reinforcing some barricades? Or with anything-”

“No. Just take the rest of the week off.” Ophelia cut you off, her thoughtful gaze still lingered on Lisa. 

“You’ve already done so much in one day already,” Talia added, putting a hand on your shoulder. “No need to overwork yourself further. We’ll be fine.” As much as you hated to admit it, they were right. Between the orphanage and doing espionage for AVALANCHE, you’ve been working your ass off, even long before Sephiroth came to Mideel. This might just be the very first vacation you’ve gotten in a while. 

“If you two insist, I suppose I will…”

“Have fun and relax for once! Maybe a little vacation to the nearby islands? Or maybe some quality time with Sephiroth~?” Talia playfully clashed her hip against yours. 

"Alright, alright! You've made your point!" You got up, bidding Lisa and Talia farewell. Just as you were about to close the door, Ophelia called your name. You looked at her curiously.

“Hey. About that discussion between us earlier… I’m… ugh…” She paused and facepalmed. “Just don’t leave with Sephiroth yet, okay? Lisa and I will come to him in a few minutes.” You muttered an “Understood” and closed the door, walking back to your office. Just what got into Ophelia? She was just yelling at you not too long ago. And you don’t recall her ever being so solemn before. Maybe this brief meeting was enough for the woman to gain some sense for once.

By the time you returned to your office, Sephiroth was ready to depart. He approached you, awaiting your next rule of business.

“Before we go, a little someone has something nice to say to you,”

“What is it about?” 

"You'll see," both of you turned around as the door opened. Ophelia was pushing Lisa in a wheelchair towards you and Sephiroth. The moment your eyes met Lisa's, who was tightly holding a Moogle plushie, you knew exactly what she’s going to do. 

“Mr. "Sephiroth, thank you for saving me," she said, clutching the moogle plushie tighter. His gaze softened as he knelt down, smiling at the girl.

"It's my pleasure, Lisa. It was only possible with her help, " he replied, glancing at you. Though he was saddened by her current condition, at least you two got her out of the cave. Lisa closed her eyes, lifting the moogle plushie towards him. Her hands trembled as she babbed out, "Please accept my offering!"

"When the Moogle queen makes an offering to you, it’d be in your best interest to take it!" you teased. Sephiroth turned his head and sighed at you, as he never was a fan of accepting unexpected gifts, especially if he was just doing his duty. But he could make an exception. Just this one time. 

“Thank you, Lisa.” He said. They exchanged their final ecstatic smiles for the other as Ophelia stepped forth, wheeling Lisa back to her room after giving you and Sephiroth a lingering glance. Sephiroth examined the doll, observing how his oversized, gloved hand made it look small. Despite showing signs of damage from yesterday’s battles, it remained in decent shape. 

“Are we ready to leave now?” He asked. 

“Yes! "I'll need to stop by the cottage to put on something fancy," you giggled, suggesting, "Shall we get some formal clothing for you as well? After all, we have to go through town on the way back."

“No, I’ll wear my SOLDIER uniform.” 

'Suit yourself!' You locked the office door after you two stepped out, anticipating the dinner night that awaited you both. 

 

Chapter 9: Triumph

Notes:

WHEW. It has been a while, I know. Had many life events happen. Still currently dealing with: the preparation of a wedding, the aftermath of an nasty ear infection I've caught, workplace politics at my job and my PC dying! I just want to thank those still following this story for their support and words of encouragement! You guys are the only reason the story had came so far! Stay tuned for for some fic-specific updates at the end notes of Chapter Ten!

You had never been so relieved to be right back in your cozy cottage—and never so pained to leave it so shortly. If only you could have sunk your tired body into your comfy bed, but there was no time for it at the moment. It was almost time for dinner with the mayor. 

Sephiroth left you to your devices for the time being, taking the time to get a little more acquainted with your cottage. He already put his cleaned SOLDIER uniform back on. He was tempted to rest on the futon since he's still tired from the fighting the past few days, but he knew there was more work to be done, so he got up and started pacing around the kitchen and living room.

He came face to face with your decorated refrigerator once more, glossing over the pictures he already saw. The picture of you and the young boy together didn’t make him angry as it did before. Only his sorrow lingered. The lost time with you is something you both can’t get back, regardless of your attempts to make up for it. 

But now, he understood the importance of your role in the orphanage, so it only left him with one question: your relationship with AVALANCHE. How did you even meet them? How are you working for them and the orphanage at the same time? It bothered him that he still didn’t have all the questions about you, but at least now, he realized he could trust you. You already proved your good will to him. He could only hope that your affiliation with AVALANCHE wouldn’t lead to unfortunate trouble down the line. The very thought of having to strike you down is… No. He won’t even begin to fathom that.

He removed the picture of you and the young boy from the refrigerator. His eyes grew heavy-lidded. The boy's features were gradually transforming into his own, eventually resembling himself as the young child standing beside you instead.

"I'll be out in a second!" you yelled from your room. The lack of response from Sephiroth worried you, which may or may not meant that you’re taking too long. In front of your mirror, you put on light makeup and dark lipstick before opening your closet. 

You needed to ditch the ‘tired mom’ look for now, so it’s great you had a variety of cocktail dresses to choose from. Some were more revealing, exposing your back, cleavage, and other areas of your body. But none of them could hide the curves of your squishy venus body or the subtle sway of your plump tummy. Not that you wanted to, anyway. You're well beyond that point, and you're far too stressed and busy to even entertain the idea of feeling self-conscious about your body.

Since it was going to be a bit warm tonight, you opted for a dark green cocktail dress. It had an open back and a mid-rise cut that showcased your cleavage. The top of your shoulders had ripples, and there was a slit on your left side that revealed some of your thigh. You twirled around in the mirror to examine your figure now.

Yep. The dress definitely emphasized your curves more… Right?

You couldn’t tell. But whatever. As long as you looked good.

Next, was unraveling that messy bun of yours and styling your hair into a more presentable style. So… why not an elegant bun? Probably not the most creative style, but it’s the best thing you can think of for now. The last thing left  for you to slip on was a pair of medium-length heels that gave you a bit more height, but not too much, so you’d have a lower risk of falling over because you hadn’t walked in the damned hellware in so long.  After that, you glanced at your highest heels and chuckled, thinking of how even if you had those on, your silver lion of a son would still tower over you. It’s great to know he’s been well-nourished growing up at least.

Just as you closed your bedroom door, you quickly went back in to grab your fancy, matching wallet to your dark green dress. You’d never know if someone from AVALANCHE or the orphanage is gonna call you on your PHS or you need to stop by the market for a quick second. Always be prepared. 

You tried to move a bit quietly to surprise Sephiroth with your transformation, but gave up after your damn heels made you move slowly enough. You lightly knocked on the kitchen wall to divert his attention from the photo he was holding.

"What do you think?" you asked, placing a hand on your hip and walking confidently towards him. A gentle smile graced his face as he slipped the photograph of you and the boy into his pocket, and approached you. It didn't matter what you wore or how you appeared; he couldn't think of you any less radiant.

"Mother," he whispered, half closing his eyes, "you're just as beautiful as the day we first met." 

You snortled. “Oh? Is that considering the fact that I was sweating?” He nodded, his kitten-like his slowly blinking at you. And maybe you're just seeing things. Did his pupils dilate briefly? You wouldn’t be too surprised at this point. 

You examined yourself one last time before opening the front door. “Does this dress make my ass look bigger?”

“...Somewhat.”

~~~

The town hall.  

Your heels echoed softly on the marble floors, blending with the shuffle of papers and hushed whispers. The sounds together created an echo off‌ the plant-adorned high ceilings.On the walls were the portraits of past mayors and council members of Mideel, from the very first men who founded the town down to their current lackluster predecessors. The one last thing to know if you were in the right place was to have the scent of old books and polished wood hit your nostril the moment you entered this place.

The many times you came to this building have burnt every detail about it into your mind. Whether to participate in the meetings, or to lecture the mayor or the councilmen on their partnership with Shinra or rallying for more resources by the orphanage. You just wished there was ONE time you didn’t need to come here on with such bad business. There’s still hope that there’ll be a day to fully enjoy this building’s beauty, and the extensive history of the Lifestream contained within it.

The shuffling noises got louder. It must’ve come from the library, since it was connected to this place. In the distance, you saw tall bookshelves line the walls, reaching up to the ceiling, housing volumes upon volumes of books. Further into the library was a darkness only slightly illuminated by the soft glow of reading lamps. You wouldn’t mind going in there for a nice book to read.

This made you briefly think of a woman from AVALANCHE, the one who brought you to Mideel. She advised you to learn the area by spending some time in the library. You wondered where she was now. Perhaps she’s still in the region, being the mysterious informant you were leaking information to until Sephiroth arrived. 

A young man soon approached you and Sephiroth, offering to guide you two to the mayor. The three of you took the grand, spiral staircase which seemed to take ages to walk.. You had to before, yourself from looking down, as it made you a bit woozy. Like at the orphanage, Sephiroth lurked behind, ready to support your body if needed. 

After the staircase, you passed by various artifacts on stands, some of which displayed unique colored Materia you had never seen before. But who knew if these were decorative or could actually do something. Near the dining room, there were stained glass windows, depicting scenes from the town’s past, including a mural of Shinra building the first mako reactor. You kept your head down after seeing that one. No need to get sick just before dinner. 

When the dining room doors opened, Mayor Brann stood up from his chair and approached you both for greetings.

"You look lovely today," he said. You instantly noticed his eyes wandering all over your voluptuous form, causing your brows to furrow slightly. Your son grunted loudly to catch his attention. You then quickly hooked one of your arms around his own, hugging it closely.

"And here we have the War Hero himself!" the Mayor said. "I'm truly honored to have you two as my guests tonight." Both of you nodded and forced a smile. But when Brann extended his hand to shake yours and Sephiroth's, neither of you bothered to accept it.

Sitting at the table, both of you wore unamused expressions as Brann began discussing the "exuberant" history of Mideel. He shared several fun facts that you already knew, and Sephiroth knew via the bits he had picked up during his missions. 

And despite even more time passing, he was still blabbering. You barely touched your food, and Sephiroth didn't even touch his plate. With every dull moment that passes, the familiar signs of a migraine attack on your head slowly crept in. It started as a small sting that became bigger and more painful. Almost like some invisible force just decided you needed to suffer even more for whatever reason. So that cemented you as the loser of this waiting game between you and Sephiroth. 

“Thank you for the lovely history lesson, Mayor Brann… I’m sure you’re aware of the reason why we came today,” you said. He raised an eyebrow at you, already gearing up to play his game of pretending to know what you’re talking about or downplaying every concern you have. 

“No, I’m not aware. Please indulge me, my lady.” That was your sign to drop the pleasantries.

“The Orphanage. You know, that ONE building and crumbling system you and your bureaucratic friends had done nothing to support? Enough with the games. I know you know what’s going on. And you were certainly briefed on the recent attack that happened.” 

“It is unfortunate that such an event had happened. I assure you, we will work on a solution to ensure everyone’s safety-”

“You ‘will’? We need solutions now. The building is in complete”

 “There could be more monsters roaming in that area as we speak. We encountered a nest not too far from the orphanage when rescuing a girl that was taken.” Sephiroth added in. His voice was calm, unlike yours, but it still had traces of ire and disgust at the mayor’s indifference.

"...Yes, I was informed by Miss Ophelia about your heroic acts. However, the issue we face is the lack of available space in town to accommodate the children," Brann responded.

“Then have your militia man posted around the orphanage to help clear the area. I can assist with the culling.” Sephiroth said. You looked at him, your eyes slightly widened. You certainly weren’t expecting that. Neither was Brann, considering how much more interested in this conversation he became.

“Your assistance would be amazing to have, sir! How long do you think you’d be doing this for? He asked.

"For as long as it takes." Sephiroth said.

Did he really mean that? Is he going to stay with me after all? You pondered.

You reached out and placed your hand on top of Sephiroth's. He only gave you a small smile before slipping back into his icy facade with Brann. 

Brann himself seemed ecstatic. You wondered if he's just happy to have bragging rights of having the most famous man stay in his town or he thinks Sephiroth is going to do all the work himself.

"Then we have a deal! I'll have the men stationed there by tomorrow and we will find a nice place for you to stay in the meantime," you shook your head at him.

 "I'll be housing him for now," you said, and Brann nodded in agreement. Your hand instinctively reached for your temples, realizing that the pounding ache hadn't subsided. Sephiroth mirrored your movements as you stood up. "I'm sorry to cut tonight short, but I'm not feeling well at the moment. Your focus should be on rallying the men and securing the necessary funds for the orphanage."

“A shame, but I understand. I will be seeing more of you two in the coming week!” He said, as you two walked out of the room. You wiped the slight traces of sweat off your forehead and pinched your temples. Normally, such good news and progress would’ve made you happy, but… something isn’t right. Sephiroth worryingly held your shoulders, whispering,

“Mother, what’s wrong?” You gently took his hands off your shoulders.

“I’m fine. I think I just had enough being here…” His concerned face was clearly unconvinced by your words. You hated to see him like that, but thankfully, a neat idea came into your mind to distract him and yourself. “Come on, let me show you a special place I like to retreat to.” You took his hand and led him away from the dining room. 

Maybe a little nostalgic retreat could help kick-start this victory celebration for you. 

 

Chapter 10: New Beginning

You and Sephiroth ventured just beyond the town's boundaries to reach your retreat. It’s not the orphanage. Not your cottage. Not anywhere that could mean “work” for you. It’s the one place where you could finally feel free for once.  Sephiroth followed closely behind you, intrigued by this special place of yours, but still worried about what had happened at dinner. Even when you finally secured aid for the orphanage, you didn’t seem too happy about it. 

“Mother, you should rest after this,” he said. 

“I will. Just let me take you to my special spot for a moment.” 

From the change in elevation on the path, ‌it became apparent to him you two were walking uphill. There’s a handful of trees in the distance on the hill, some appearing to be dying, likely because of mako pollution from the nearby reactor. He wondered if he should be allowed to keep on pushing so far, but you seemed rather insistent. After this, he’s certain he’d have to carry you home to get you to sit down for once. 

Well-needed relief set in once you two reached the hill. Looking down at Mideel below, you took a deep breath and scanned the area. The orphanage was a little further to the west. Turning your gaze to the east, you saw your own cottage, sitting peacefully. It would’ve been completely dark if it wasn’t for that kitchen light you always leave on. 

Sephiroth enjoyed the view as well, given his satisfied mumble as he looked around, trying to discern as many buildings as he could recognize in the distance. How amazing it’d be just to permanently stay away from the loud, bustling cities he’s used to. He wouldn’t mind a life just like this.

"Do you come here often?" he asked. 

You smiled. "Not very often, I'm afraid. I don't really have the time. Plus, that mako reactor nearby is an eyesore." Glancing to your right, you noticed that it wasn't too far from the hill where the two of you were standing.

Sitting on the ground, you patted the nearby patch, inviting Sephiroth to join you. “Even though I can’t remember much of my past, I feel like there is something about this spot that feels so… familiar? And comforting,”  When he sat down beside you, you lazily leaned your head on his shoulder pad. "I'm sorry about earlier. "I don't think I told you about these migraines I've been getting lately. I believe they stem from the constant load of stress I've been under."

"Yet another good reason for you to rest," he stated firmly.

“I know! But it’s hard being a workaholic!” You pouted.

"I suppose it'll be my turn to take care of you during our next bonding event," he said. 

“Deal! It’d be a perfect opportunity to test your bedside manner! Maybe we could make use of you at the orphanage!” You joked, evoking a chuckle from him.

After a few moments of silence had passed, you decided to confront him on what he said at the dinner. “About what you said to Brann at the dinner. Did that really mean you’re staying here… with me?”

“...Yes, Mother. I want to stay with you,” He slowly reached out and wrapped an arm around your form. With his other few loved ones, he would’ve hesitated to return their affection. But with you, it’s different. Something in him always screamed out for you until you two finally met. Then, that scream became quiet and quieter. At this rate, he’s certain it could stay silent, as long he’s with you. A few tears escaped from your eyes, their blurriness causing the stars in the sky to twinkle even more. And here you were, fearing that he might leave you or even cut you off when he’s been so indecisive about what to do with his life. You can't erase the pain the world has caused him in the past, but now you held the chance to be his safe haven. As his mother. His confidant. His companion. 

"You're going to love it here, Sephiroth. The kids at the orphanage have already started to adore you, so I know that the townspeople will too, eventually. We can make this work together," you said, grinning at your statement. "And who knows, you'll may even find a cute girl in town to settle down with~" 

He sighed at your comment. "Perhaps when I’m settled in," he said. You responded with a defeated "Okay" and leaned back against him, forcing a smile on your face. The orphanage finally getting support? Your son’s decision? And getting the time to be on your special hill? You should be ecstatic about these recent developments. But you aren’t. The throbbing pain in your head cannot be ignored. In fact, it  only intensified. Even being in your favorite spot isn’t helping you. 

Hurt all you want when we get home, damn it.

You weren't sure what else to say to Sephiroth since you didn't want to dampen a beautiful moment of peace between you two, so you needed to think about something to distract yourself from that pain. Something more interesting. Something that had nothing to do with work, the orphanage, AVALANCHE… Yes! Why not think of more ways to deepen your bond with your son? Since he’d be staying with you for the foreseeable future, you should plan some activities. Maybe even a picnic at this very spot in the daylight. Just like you used to do with-

Thump. Thump.

Your free hand immediately clutched your head, messing up the elegant bun you styled earlier. The searing pain in your head intensified, spreading like wildfire through your skull. It felt like that invisible force from earlier was now forcibly ripping it apart, piece by piece.

"Ah!"

Sephiroth spun his head towards you, his previous concern resurfacing. "What's wrong? Can you-"

You writhed on the ground in pain, the rest of his words becoming inaudible. Your vision flashed and became blurry, drowning out the surrounding sounds with white noise. The excruciating pain was almost unbearable. It migrated from your head to your whole body now.

Through the haze, you could faintly make out your son reaching over, pulling you closer. You vision cleared somewhat, as you recognized bits of his figure. But to your surprise, he seemed to be wearing a suit of some sort? You remembered him deciding NOT to dress up for dinner tonight.

You were effortlessly lifted away from the tree you were both under, feeling his long bangs tickle your face. Before you closed your eyes for good, you noticed your son's hair color also changing, shifting from his typical silver-gray to a jet-black hue. With your little strength left, you gently cupped his cheek before losing it again…

~~~

We’ll make it through.

I’ll hold you to that.

~~~

The familiar chirping of birds outside brought you back to reality as your eyes fluttered open. You were back in your cottage, your bedroom. You’re surprised that it’s morning time already, which only meant you spent most of last night out cold.

You never had a migraine attack that bad before. Maybe it is time to visit a doctor, no matter how much the very thought of it hurts your soul-and wallet. 

"Mother, it's good to see you're awake," Sephiroth's voice rang out from behind you. As you turned, you met his relieved but weary eyes. 

“Sephiroth,” you grasped his hand. “Did you sleep last night?” 

"I couldn't, not when you were suffering," his voice trembled, tinged with a hint of sadness, prompting you to hug him.

"Shh, my sweet boy. I'm feeling better now... Please don't be sad," you whispered as he lifted his head from your shoulder. His face was inches away from yours, and you saw how hard he was trying to stay composed. "You don't have to hold back anymore. Let it all out, cry your heart out." 

As soon as he heard your words, silent tears fell from his eyes. You pulled him onto the bed, cradling his head against your chest. His reaction made you realize the gravity of your current health situation. You had been ignoring it far too much. Your hard work for his sake would've become mute if you went into an early grave. 

"I promise, I won't leave you," you said as a single tear cascaded down your cheek. "Even if we're physically apart, we'll still be in each other's hearts" He responded with silence, but it didn't bother you. You knew he had heard your words loud and clear, his head still resting on your chest. 

The future may be uncertain as you both embark on this new beginning, but with him by your side, you're ready to embrace whatever it may bring - joy, fear, or despair.  

Chapter 11: Whispers of the Forgotten

Your eyes narrowed at the beaming sunlight peeking through your kitchen windows, finding it rather distracting. You almost cut your finger cutting these carrots because of how bright it was. Bleeding all over your son’s lunch was not exactly what you want, so you moved to pull the shade down, so you could continue in peace.

It had been weeks since your son made that fateful decision to stay with you in Mideel. And so far, you couldn’t have asked for anything better. A part of you still can’t believe he chose to start a new life with you. He struggled to adjust at first, but you’re proud of him for trying. Most of his SOLDIER gear was stashed away in his room, including that trench coat of his that he loved to wear. It’s almost odd to think that he willingly traded that for cotton shirts, but hey, whatever it takes for a better life. You noticed he was still a little tense while walking around town, and his head would quickly turn (in vigilance) at any sudden or loud movements, but he slightly let his guard down around the orphanage. 

He also increased his visits there, albeit he’d only come around when you were present. Still, he’s been a huge help; clearing out nearby fiends, offering to help with heavy boxes, learning to fix creaky doors and the failing roof, and even reading to the kids! You never knew he had an aptitude for science fiction until you secretly listened to him reading a science-themed chapter book to the younger kids one day.

You smiled at the warm thoughts popping into your mind while slicing away at the carrots. You figured it’d be a nice surprise to craft a tasty lunch while he’s out scouring the orphanage’s outskirts for fiends. So, A hearty vegetable stew with herbs, and starfruit slices for dessert should be enough to make him drool. After finishing the dish, you sealed the stew in a tin and grabbed your tote bag, setting out to the orphanage. Yes, you were off today but you needed to come by anyways, aside from the purpose of delivering Sephiroth’s lunch. Talia had mentioned new supplies coming in, and you wanted to check on Lisa. Word said she’s still skittish and quiet after her rescue a little while ago… Your heart breaks for the poor thing, but therapy sessions were out of budget for now. The best you can do is continue to provide support and stability  for her fragile mental state. 

~~~

The orphanage’s rusted gate croaked loudly as you pushed through. The children’s voices spilled across the courtyard. Some of them chased a tattered ball, others drew murals on the weakened walls. Talia waved at you from the porch, her long braid bouncing as she held massive crates. “We finally got new supplies! Food, clothes, books, games!” You smiled and approached her, gripping to your tote bag as she continued and set the crates down, opening them. “Woah, even new card decks for Queen’s Blood! The kids are gonna lose their minds over this!”

You chuckled, setting your tote bag down for a moment. “Probably gonna trade their snacks for the newest cards, eh?”

“No doubt,” Talia said, grinning. 

You two walked inside, going into the common room. The chalky-tinged air made you cough a little. You really gotta tell these rascals to ease up on the chalks one day. They don’t grow on trees for Gaia’s sake. By the window, two of the older kids sat cross-legged on a threadbare rug, a Queen’s Blood board between them. The girl with messy pigtails, was about thirteen you think. She slapped down a Behemoth card, her cheery voice runged out. “Take that, Kael! Your Leviathan’s sunk!” Kael, a lanky, auburn-haired boy around her age, groaned at her. He threw down an Alexander card in retaliation. You were a bit surprised upon observing him more closely. It’s been some time since you seriously thought about his appearance. He’s grown so much, compared to the picture of you two on your fridge back at home. 

You leaned against the doorframe, half-listening to Talia’s excited rambles about the new supplies while staring at the two teens engaged in the intense card duel. It looks like the orphanage is pinned to crown a new king, or likely queen, of games today. But then a sudden, searing pressure slowly built up in your head as the moment continued. You tried to ignore it but the pounding continued, determined to ruin this great time for you. “Hngh—” you hissed through clenched teeth, your hands flying to your head a few moments later.

Talia stopped mid-sentence and turned to you, brows knitting. “Um, are you...”
She placed a hand on your back in worry. Her words became white noise to you as you tried to shake off the pain.

The room blurred, a green haze flickering at the corners of your vision. Your breath hitched as the scene warped: the girl’s pigtails melded into a familiar hairstyle you had as a teenager. And the girl’s face turned into yours. Your younger self laughed as you laid a card down in triumph. Kael’s form morphed into a young man with jet-black hair and red eyes. He leaned closer, his voice murmuring. “You’re too good at this,” He smiled, but then, his expression suddenly changed.  “...I… don’t want to let you go,” His hand brushed yours, hints of sorrow in his crimson gaze. Was this... someone from your past!? A friend or maybe more? Yet his name, his purpose, slipped you. 

Your heart pounded, feeling like a jackhammer is hitting it over and over again. You stumbled and rubbed your eyes furiously. When you opened them up again, the vision was gone. Kael was just Kael, muttering about his lost lane, and the girl continued to gloat about her eventual victory to him as her pigtails bobbed. The Queen’s Blood board was unchanged and the world around you was steady, as if nothing happened. You exhaled deeply and your hands trembled. Who was he? That man, so familiar, yet lost to you? You pressed a hand to your chest.

“Are you okay?” Lisa’s weak voice cut through, her moogle plushie clutched tight. She was suddenly beside you, her gray eyes wide with concern. You didn’t notice her coming into the room during your migraine attack. 

“Yeah… it seemed like you were in terrible pain,” Talia murmured, her hand still on your back. 

You gave Talia a reassuring nod and knelt down to Lisa’s level, forcing a smile as you ruffled her hair. “Just a headache, sweetie. I’ll be fine.” But each word tasted like bile. Holy fuck. That migraine attack was almost as bad as the one you had at the hill. But you couldn’t worry your colleagues and the kids, not after all that transpired in the previous weeks. You then stood up, brushing off your person, and went back to the porch to start sorting the new supplies: the clothes, books, card decks, fucking anything to distract you from what happened. Talia and Lisa exchanged a look of worry and confusion as they followed you to the porch in silence. Talia watched you hastily sort for a moment before starting her own sorting piles.

Kael and the pigtail girl didn't know what transpired, as they were still focused on their duel.

~~~

By afternoon, you finished the sorting and stepped into the courtyard, looking at the dark jungle in the distance. Your head still hurts, but it wasn't too bad. But your damn mind kept wanting to recap on that migraine attack, but you aren't letting it. So, you go through any other memory that you can think of... So, you closed your eyes. The memory of that parasitic cunt plant and its slimy maw nearly engulfing your head, flickered in your mind, stirring a tiny hint of desire within you. Out of all things to remember, that came to mind?! You shook your head, focusing on the children’s chatter instead. Some footsteps crunched ahead.

Sephiroth strode through the gate, his silver hair having a nice shine thanks to the sun. His was notably damp with sweat, clinging to the lines of his hard, muscular chest. Masamune rested at his side, but his eyes softened when they met yours. “Mother,” he said, his voice steady. “We cleared the outskirts today. Some tonberries, nothing more.”

You smiled, handing him the lunch tin. “Good work. Made your stew, with some starfruit dessert on the side. Don’t let it get cold.” His gloved fingers brushed yours as he took it.

“Thank you,” he said, sitting on a nearby bench to eat. You joined him, sipping water in a cup from the kitchen. He ate quietly, his quiet grunt of approval warming your heart, but his gaze kept drifting to you, as if sensing your unease.

“Mother,” he said after a moment, setting the tin aside. “I’ve been thinking about Banora, it can’t be too far, can it?” His voice was soft, careful. “Genesis and Angeal grew up there. I want to see it, to understand who they were. It might… help me find my place.”

You frowned, Banora stirring even more unease within you. “Sephiroth, I’m not sure that’s wise. Shinra razed Banora during Genesis’s rebellion. It’s likely just ruins now, and worse, crawling with their dogs.”

He met your eyes, his expression earnest, almost pleading. “I know it’s risky. But I need to see it, even if it’s only ashes. They were my friends... ”

You softened at his resolve, though you were still doubtful and anxious. You sighed, touching his hand. “Alright, my sweet boy. If it means that much to you, we’ll go. But we’ll be cautious, plan every step. Promise me that.”

He nodded, a faint smile breaking through. “I promise. We’ll do it together.”

You took another sip of your water as he resumed eating. You really wanted to tell him about the vision, the man who felt so close yet nameless, but fear held you back. What if his own painful memories will trigger? You couldn’t burden him, not when he was on the path of finding peace.

~~~

Back at the cottage, you were brewing some chamomile tea to soothe your aching head. Then, a quiet knock was heard from your door. A folded letter slipped through the crack, its wax seal blank. Your stomach knotted as you picked it up and opened it, the paper cold against your fingers. The handwriting was sharp and clear: “We know your past. Meet us at the old mill at the stroke of midnight, three nights from now. Come alone, or your secrets reach Shinra.”

Your breath hitched, that familiar green haze creeping at the corners of your vision. You rubbed your eyes like you did earlier, just to be sure that what you’re holding and reading was real. Yep. It’s still in your hand. The handwriting was clear and sharp as ever. What the hell is going on? Did this come from AVALANCHE? One of their operatives sent to confront you for not giving them enough intel? Or is it a Turk “observing” you? You quickly glanced at Sephiroth, now polishing his Masamune in the living room. You quietly slipped the letter into your skirt pocket before calling out to him, asking if he wanted tea. Maybe you should tell him, but for now, this is something you need to deal with on your own. 

Notes:

Wowsers, it has been a hot minute. And I couldn't just come back with only one chapter... So enjoy three new chapters!

Chapter 12: Shadows

The morning sun hung low over the farmer's market as you navigated through the bustle. Stalls were overflowed with woven baskets, fresh fish, and fruits from the jungle surrounding Mideel. You adjusted your heavy tote bag, filled with supplies for the orphanage. There were medical supplies like bandages, dried herbs, and a few notebooks for the older kids who liked to write. Your dark blue dress hugged your full hips, the hem fluttering against your knee as you moved.

You came here alone, leaving Sephiroth to rest after his late-night patrol. He probably wouldn’t mind if you asked him to come, but today you needed space to think. That letter from last night was still on your mind, even as you woke up earlier. You repeated the sharp words in your mind. 

We know your past. Meet us at the old mill at the stroke of midnight, three nights from now. Come alone, or your secrets reach Shinra.  

You're still trying to figure out what to do and who would have sent this. Perhaps that woman from AVALANCHE who introduced you to Mideel? You hadn’t talked to her in a long time. The potential secrets that could be released gnawed at you. You’d hate it for this new life with your son to come crashing down so soon if word gets out to Shinra about you two. You paused at a stall, inspecting a pile of starfruit. Their golden skins gleamed in the sun’s light. “How much for five?” you asked the vendor.

“Three gil each,” he said, but his eyes flicked past you, narrowing as he raised a brow. You followed his gaze and froze. A stranger stood across the market, half-hidden by a crate of chocobo greens. He was rather tall, and clad in a dark cloak. He stuck out like a sore thumb, and you had to wonder why the hell was he dressed like that in the middle of the hot summer. You also noticed how most of his face was obscured by his hood, but you could see his lightly-colored goatee clearly. His strange movements were almost robotic. But you could tell, even with his eyes not visible, that his gaze was on you, sharp enough to cut through the crowd. Your pulse quickened, sweat starting to form on your forehead. Was he the letter’s sender?! 

You turned around and forced a smile on your face at the vendor, paying for the fruit before speed walking to another stall. Okay. You thought. Maybe he’s just some strange traveler out of town. No reason to suspect him of anything. 

You inspected a beautiful flower basket at the new stall, but without even turning around, you quickly sensed that the stranger followed in your direction. Your fingers begun to graze your trusty daggers beneath your dress as you kept walking forth. You really don’t want any trouble if possible, but if this bastard forced your hand…

So to lose him, you gained some more distance, using the increasing numbers of people entering the market to break his line of sight. Once you did, you then ducked behind a fishmonger’s cart, and peered out, watching his next move. The stranger paused, scanning the crowd, then slipped into an alley. You were relieved for a second before your eyes widened, as he toyed with something in his hand.

The bastard had your moogle keychain! It must’ve dropped when you were trying to lose him!

“Hey, give that back!” you shouted. You rose from your hiding place, pushing past people in the crowd to get to him. You couldn’t afford to lose that precious keepsake; Lisa made that for you! But before you reached the alleyway, he vanishes, his form evaporating into a wisp of purple-tinted smoke. Your heart dropped upon scanning the alley. There was no sign of the stolen keychain…

~~~

You hurried back to the cottage, the market’s noise fading as you rushed inside, slamming the door shut. Sephiroth sat at the kitchen table, a map of the southern continent spread before him. He made a few notes on the map with a pencil before his eyes lifted to meet yours, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “Mother, you’re back early. Is something wrong?”

You set the heavy tote bag down, forcing a casual tone. “Just crowded at the market. Got some starfruit for us.” You slid the fruit toward him, avoiding his gaze. 

His eyes narrowed at you for a second, suspicious of what may’ve transpired. He took a starfruit, slicing it with a knife. “Thank you,” he said, his voice soft. “I’ve been studying routes to Banora. The jungle paths are treacherous, but there’s a coastal trail that might be safer.” He paused, his knife stilling. “And I remembered something today. Genesis said he often read under the biggest dumbapple tree in the village, where he and Angel spent time at. I want to see if that tree is still there.”

“He was reading LOVELESS, right?” you giggled, sitting across from him. Your expression shifted to a solemn one. “I have to admit, I’m still worried about what could be lurking there...”

Sephiroth’s eyes held yours. “I know it can be dangerous. But those memories, they’re all I have of them. I need to see it, even if it’s just dust.”

You hesitated, the stranger’s shadow lingering in your mind. Shinra’s reach felt closer than ever, but Sephiroth’s quiet plea stirred your resolve. You touched his hand. “Alright, then. But I’m making an adjustment to our deal: if it feels wrong the moment we get there, we turn back.”

He nodded, a faint smile breaking through. “Thank you, Mother.”

“Of course,” you said, while rubbing your temples. “Ugh, headache’s acting up again. Time to take more of those meds,” You yawned and stretched your arms. 

He frowned, setting his pencil down. “You should rest. Banora can wait if you’re unwell.”

“I’ll be fine,” you said, sitting beside him. “Let’s keep planning. We’ll need supplies, maybe a chocobo for the coastal trail.” Your voice was steady, but the letter’s deadline loomed in your mind. “Start some more preparations while I prepare dinner, alright?” you said, rising from your seat and walking to the kitchen. 

When you entered, the first thing you noticed was that picture of you and Kael missing, making you pause for a moment. Did it fall underneath the fridge? You shook your head. I'll worry about it later. 

Just as you gathered utensils for dinner, a sharp knock rattled the door. You froze, the knife in your hand trembling. Sephiroth rose, Masamune nearby, his instincts sharp. “Stay back,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

Shit. Did the blackmailer strike again? You don’t want your son finding out about the letter now. He opened the door, revealing a mere kid, probably no older than twelve, clutching a small package. “Delivery,” the boy mumbled, thrusting it forward before darting off.

Sephiroth brought the package inside, his eyes scanning it warily before handing it off to you. It was a plain box, wrapped in brown paper, with no sender’s mark. Your stomach churned as you cut it open, revealing a single item: a cracked locket, its silver surface etched with a faint crescent moon. Your breath hitched, a faint memory stirring in your mind… A smaller hand, maybe yours when you were younger, clutched that same locket. Someone’s voice echoed in your mind: I swore I’d protect you.

“Mother?” Sephiroth’s voice pulled you back, his hand on your shoulder, gentle but grounding. “What is it?”

You closed the locket, your fingers trembling. “Just… something old,” you tucked it into your pocket. “It’s from… A friend I hadn’t seen in a while!" you blurted, trying to hide your anxiety. 

Sephiroth's quiet concern was obvious at this point. But he didn’t press. He hoped you’d tell him eventually, before this Banora mission commenced tomorrow preferably. You walked away from him, going back to the dinner you were preparing, wondering what kind of web you’ve got caught in… 

Chapter 13: The Reunion Lullaby

You stood near a wooden table, surrounded by children wielding paintbrushes and glue, their chatter a lively hum as they crafted paper lanterns for the upcoming town harvest festival. Your cream-colored blouse clung to your venus body as you rolled the sleeves up, accidentally getting a streak of blue paint smudged on your cheek in the process. You wore the crescent locket from yesterday around your neck. Strange choice, but you thought it’d look good with the outfit for today when you fixed it up this morning. 

Lisa was seated at the table, her moogle plushie tucked under one arm. Her small hands was shaping a paper lantern into a wobbly star. “Is Mr. Sephiroth coming to the festival?” she asked, her gaze bright with hope. You’re glad she started to talk a little more and became less skittish since more time had passed. 

You grinned, brushing a strand of her hair back. “Well, I don’t think he’d miss it if he knew we were coming! But first, he’s gotta help Ms. Ophelia with the heavy stuff today.” You peered at Ophelia across from the table. She wrestled with a stack of wooden crates, muttering about “stupid lanterns.” Sephiroth was beside her, his silver hair tied back, effortlessly lifting several crates she’d struggled with. He offered Ophelia a rare, patient nod when she grudgingly thanked him after he finished.

“Show off,” Ophelia mumbled loudly, which netted an immediate side-eye from you.

Don’t. Even. Start. You thought, tilting your head slightly at her. She rolled her eyes, her way of acknowledging your warning. 

You turned your head toward Sephiroth, and his gaze softened when connecting with yours. Your heart warmed at how he’d started to weave himself into this lovely found family. To think you’d thought that he’d continue to have trouble, but he proved you wrong. The children adored him the more he came around. Now, you’d never hear the end of the endless chatter by the boys, who were impressed by his sword training sessions. Even Opehlia warmed up to him a bit. Though, you still hear her occasional complaints about how he’s “corrupting the boys” behind closed doors.  

Talia poked you on the shoulder, signaling you to step away for a moment. 

“Hey, we’re low on funds again,” Talia said, setting a tray of desserts down. Her long braid swung as she wiped her brow. “Mayor Brann promised more gil after the festival, but you know how he drags his feet. Sephiroth’s help’s been a godsend, though.”

You nodded, a pang of gratitude mixing with worry. It’s great that Brann kept his end of the deal, with sending militia men to help protect the orphanage and supplies for the kids, but it looks like you’d need to ask for a gil adjustment in your next meeting with him. The orphanage just had a lot of new kids added to its roster in the past weeks, so it's only natural that the money is running out faster. “We’ll make it work,” you said. “We always do.”

You went over to Lisa, whose lantern was collapsing, and began to hum your favorite melody as you helped her to repair it. Yeah, it could be more cheery, but you always liked the bittersweet tone of it. Thankfully, it seemed to calm her, evidenced by her fingers steadying. This tune was just another unearthed piece of your past. All you knew was that you learnt it when you were young and kept humming it in times of need. 

Sephiroth paused, listening to the familiar melody. He remembered the time you hummed this when you were patching him up. He started to hum alongside you, his voice was low and resonant compared to yours. Lisa giggled, joining in. She got some notes wrong, but you didn’t mind at all. You’re just glad to share this sweet moment with them both.

~~~

The moon shined brightly on you when you peered at the old mill in the distance. The dark green cloak you’re wearing did a great job of blending you within the dark night, and it also hid your daggers. It didn’t hurt to be cautious. 

It wasn’t time for the meeting yet. Still a few nights away, but you decided to scout the area in advance before you guys left for Banora. It’s always good to do your homework early, right? Earlier, you told Sephiroth you were fetching herbs after you two came home from the orphanage, so you wouldn’t have to worry about him interfering. He should be too busy making preparations for the trip to Banora, anyway. 

The rusted blades of the old mill got louder as you got closer. Your nose wrinkled at the heavy scent of wet wood and mako, likely a result of the reactor being nearby. You scanned the area for signs of the letter’s sender, when a mechanical whir startled you. A Slug-Ray, a weaponized, flying drone made by Shinra’s twisted weapon division, hovered above, its red eye sweeping the area. You hurriedly ducked behind a crumbling wall, the drone’s light barely missing you by inches. Was this a trap waiting to spring into action!?

Wait. No. Calm down. It’s probably surveying this area because of the reactor nearby. 

Still, a sharp throb pulsed in your skull. Thankfully, it wasn’t a full migraine, but enough to slightly blur your vision. The world shifted around you, and you saw Mideel in the distance, its streets ablaze, smoke choking the sky. Sephiroth stood amid the flames, his silver hair moving with the strong winds. His Masamune was dripping blood. His voice echoed in your mind. “Wait for me, I’m coming…” Next thing you knew, he was in front of you, reaching out for you. The lullaby you’d hummed earlier was now hummed by him once more, this time as a twisted, sinister variant. Afterwards, the vision cut short, the world went back to normal. 

You pressed a hand to your head as the ache faded The drone vanished, its whir gone. Ok, what the fuck is going on? These migraines. These visions… You probably had them before. But admittedly, they didn’t occur so rapidly until Sephiroth showed up at your doorstep… Just what the hell did these sick fucks at Shinra’s science department do to you during those experiments?   

You turned back to the cottage before you had any more trouble come your way.

~~~

Back at the cottage, you found Sephiroth at the nearby stable, brushing a golden chocobo rented for the Banora trip. His long black cloak hung loose, the fabric swaying as he worked. “Mother,” he said, turning, his smile soft. “You’re back. I was getting worried.” 

“Got the herbs,” you lied, joining him. You adjusted his cloak’s collar, your fingers brushing his neck. “This chocobo looks sturdy. Ready for Banora?”

He nodded, his hand covering yours briefly. “I am. I was thinking of Angeal today. How much he’d lecture to me and Genesis about honor…as we used each other’s heads for dumbapple target practice,” He then laughed, surprising you briefly. It was such a rare, beautiful gift, you’d have to smile warmly in response. After he was done, you spoke quietly.

“We’ll find something of them there,” you said. “Even if it’s just memories.” You hummed the lullaby again instinctively, and Sephiroth joined in, his hum being a gentle echo this time. 

Afterwards, you went inside to do a last-minute check and collected the packed up food for the brief trip. Your ears picked up a soft scrape sound after you almost finished packing. It was yet another letter on the floor. It was slipped through a window, its wax seal bearing a faint crescent moon this time. You took a deep breath and opened it. At least Sephiroth was still outside. The handwriting was sharper and urgent: “You carried their weapon. Mill, two midnights from now, or Shinra learns everything. Bring the locket.” A rough sketch of a crescent moon adorned the page, identical to the locket’s etching.

Your breath caught as you shoved the letter into your pocket, your hands trembling. So the sender knew more about this locket than I thought... 

Sephiroth entered the cottage a few moments later, his nose perking at the scent in the kitchen. “It smells good, makes me almost want to eat,” he said. His calm smile eased your fear. He steps a little closer to you, looking at the dried, blue paint smudge still on your cheek. He reached out, wiping it gently with his thumb. “There we go,” he said, his voice low. “Pristine.”

You leaned into his touch, beaming at him with utter love. No matter what the future could bring, you’d always stay with your sweet son, even if Shinra’s truth burned everything down…

Notes:

Wew. Three chapters at once. I'm gonna try to update this fic more when I can! Thanks to those still here!

Also, check out my tumblr blog for other fics and updates!

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