Vagaries of Fate

Expanded Family

Chapter 29 

Sephiroth looked back and forth between the boys and Clarissa several times and could not manage to find any words. Zack and Angeal had both stepped forward as well, but Angeal had pushed the Puppy back to keep him from saying what he obviously wanted to. It was easy for him to see that the three boys were uncomfortable.

Finally, Sephiroth remembered how Clarissa had dealt with Shelke and knelt, so he was closer to eye level with the three boys. He had to swallow a couple of times before his voice would work. "Would you mind introducing yourselves, so I can know which of you is which?"

Kadaj was the only one to step forward. "I am Kadaj." He then pointed to the other two in turn. "He is Loz, and he is Yazoo."

Once he was finished with that, he tilted his head a little as he eyed Sephiroth for a moment before he spoke again. "You feel more like us than Sister does. I suppose we really are your clones. Now that Mother is gone, we may not be able to rule this planet, but perhaps we can still be a family."

Sephiroth's eyes jerked up to Clarissa's. She sighed and nodded. "He is correct. It is a long story that would probably be best told somewhere else. I just wanted you to meet them first. It will be impossible for their presence not to cause an uproar as soon as we step foot in the building."

The Silver General groaned as the implications behind her words hit him. He could already see the headlines, and none of them would be good. Still, there was something the boy said that was true, even if they had just met. He looked them all in the eye before he spoke. "If you grew up in one of Hojo's labs, then I know exactly what that must have been like. I will promise you that it will never be like that for any of you again. I can also swear that if you want it, I would be more than happy to accept you as part of my family."

He glanced up at Clarissa with a smile before he continued. "Clarissa has already claimed me as a brother, and as you seem to have claimed her as well, I see no reason why we can't expand on that."

None of the boys spoke right away. It was only after several moments that Kadaj finally stepped forward and placed both his hands on each side of Sephiroth's face. The man's eyes widened in shock, but he didn't move to push the boy away. Not even when he felt the connection spring up between himself and the boys, though he did try to limit what was shared. So much of his childhood had been a living nightmare that he didn't want to subject them to it. He only realized after it was over that he needn't have bothered. They already knew what it was like, as it had been much the same for them.

When Kadaj released him, Sephiroth wasn't sure what to think. He could now feel the three boys distantly, and even Clarissa. It was odd. When he looked over at her, she shrugged. "I'll explain later."

His eyes widened as he realized that must mean she was also able to feel him in the same manner. That was something that was going to take some getting used to. He moved to stand at that point and was shocked when the boy took his hand and Clarissa's. He looked up to them both with a somber expression. "Where will we be staying?"

Clarissa sighed. She didn't need to think about it, but she wasn't sure if Sephiroth would have any input. Still, she doubted he would have the time. "You will continue to stay with me for now. We can all go to my apartment and sit and have a chat about the details."

Kadaj nodded and let go of her hand so Yazoo could take his other hand. Loz refused to let go of Clarissa. At that point, they all turned to go back inside but paused in front of Angeal. The boys all looked at the Commander with interest, and once again, it was Kadaj that spoke. "You are family as well. We did not know our family was so large."

Angeal's eyes widened, but it only took him a moment to understand what the boy meant. He finally grinned at them. "The more, the merrier, right?"

Yazoo's eyes narrowed, but Loz looked hopeful. Kadaj merely looked thoughtful for a moment before he responded. "I have been told that time will tell. I suppose we shall see."

Angeal looked taken aback by the adult response coming from the little boy, but he quickly erased his shock and grinned again. "I'm sure we'll all be friends before you know it." None of the boys said anything else as they walked with Clarissa and Sephiroth back into the building.

Zack tried to throw an arm around Clarissa's shoulder as she passed, but Loz shrank away from his presence, and she had to push her friend away with an apologetic look. She lowered her voice as she tried to help him understand. "Not now. I'm sure it'll get better. Maybe we'll have the chance to catch up later."

Zack looked slightly hurt, but he wasn't given much of a chance to stew on it. Angeal had come up and grabbed him as they walked off. He said something to him low enough that the rest couldn't hear. Whatever it was seemed to have done the trick as he smiled again and waved as the doors closed.

The walk through the building was just as bad as Clarissa feared it would be. She lost count of how many times people stopped and stared open-mouthed at their little group. She could only imagine how it looked to everyone. It wasn't like the rumors about she and Sephiroth hadn't spread before. She had hoped they would have gone away when she married Genesis, but given the looks that were circulating as they passed, it was likely they were going to be coming back with a vengeance.

She sighed as she pictured the next Silver Elite headlines. 'The Silver General's Secret Family.' God, she hoped that it was all out of their system before Genesis got home. Not that he would believe any of it, especially since he knew the truth of the boys' origin. Still, she didn't want to put up with him frying every person he caught talking about it.

She let out a sigh of relief when they finally made it to the apartments. Clarissa had never been so thankful to see the tiny place as she was at that moment. At least until she entered and found almost everything gone. She turned to Sephiroth with a frown.

She didn't even need to ask before he realized what the issue was. He sighed as he looked around the bare apartment. "We had all of your things taken to the new apartment. We thought that the two of you would want to move in as soon as you returned."

Clarissa cursed under her breath. He wasn't wrong, of course, but given the change in circumstances, that might not be possible. She didn't get to say anything before Sephiroth stepped closer and put a hand on her arm. He gave her a reassuring look. "We can have blankets and clothes brought for the boys for the next few days, so you can stay here. Though, you might want to check the apartment out anyway. It isn't far and does have more room. I can always come to visit during all my downtime. At least until Genesis returns."

Clarissa was grateful, but only until she remembered the walk they just endured. She frowned up at him. "What about-" She made a disgusted gesture around them.

Sephiroth laughed. "I learned a long time ago how to get around them. Don't worry that it will cause problems. Some things are more important than avoiding a troublesome headline anyway."

She still wasn't entirely convinced, but she nodded. At that point, she turned to the boys. "Why don't we see if there is anything to eat in this place, then we can get cleaned up and get to bed." She paused and looked at Sephiroth.

He gave her a nod. "I doubt there is any food here, but if you give me a few minutes, I am sure I can get something. I would be happy to help with everything else as well. Given the circumstances, I can put off things for the rest of the evening."

Clarissa knew what he was suggesting was a big deal, but she also knew these boys needed it. They needed to know that they would be looked after. That they had options and that they would not be left alone again. She gave Sephiroth a smile as he walked out. She was also proud of him. To know that she was not the one to instigate any of his suggestions. She had known when she promised the boys that he would accept them, that this would be the outcome, and she was gratified to see that she was correct.