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Chapter Text

"Your mother name was Jenova, she died in childbirth" the scientist says, easily answering the question that took months of preparation for him to ask.

The silence that follows is suffocating, the callous words spoken without an ounce of consideration for the child that has been waiting to hear an answer all his life. He says them only once but Sephiroth can hear they echo in his head over and over again.

She died, she died, she died, SHE DIED

"Now stop wasting my time with questions and go back to your training" the Professor's voice breaks through his increasing despair. Once given the order, the scientist turns around to keep doing his work. Not paying attention to little boy whose entire world of hopes have been destroyed in a single sentence.

His mother is dead, she won't be coming for him, he will never get the chance to meet her, to be held by her, to be loved.

He's alone, he has always been.

Standing still behind the man that has tortured him all this time, surrounded by the lab machines that he knows better than his own life, he realises, there's nothing more than this. He's never getting out, there's no point in wishing and hoping because there's nobody out there that will save him.

It takes less than a week for the mad scientist to lose his patience.

"Did you call for me Professor?" The silver haired child announces while stepping into the room. In there Hojo stands looking at the computers' screens.

"Come here and tell me what do you understand from this boy" in the screen all the data concerning Sephiroth's process and development is displayed. You don't need to be a scientist to understand that there's something wrong with the information regarding the week's process.

"Do you understand what this is?" the man demands while making a show of gesturing towards the screens. Sephiroth chooses to remain silent, it's clear that Professor Hojo is very much displeased with his latest performance. "This, my boy, is the proof of your failures".

Without waiting for a response the scientist continues "Do you have any idea how much time and resources we're investing on you child" the silver haired kid doesn't bother shaking his head, he knows he's in trouble, he knew the moment he stepped foot in that room that the Professor would be angry with him and trying to defend himself will only make things worse.

"Don't you have anything to say for yourself" Hojo demands. Sneering at him he continues his tirade "What reason could you possibly had to slack on your duties like this".

Even though he tries Sephiroth can't help the expression taking place in his face, nor he can hide it. "You..." taking note of the child's anguish face the professor makes an inquisitive noise "I see... I see, is this about Jenova?" seeing the diminutive flinch of the child the man knows he's right. Turning around to look back at the data again, Hojo seems to make a decision.

Motioning to him, he moves towards the mansion's basement, "Follow me" the child knows that there's no point in questioning the Professor so he hurries to walk behind him. It takes a couple of minutes before they're walking towards a locked door that he never saw the scientists use before, "Come here boy" Hojo demands while working on the lock.

Unable to stop himself he asks "Where are we going?" He's curious about what's being kept there, he's pretty sure he's been in all the restricted places in the lab but he doesn't know what's behind that door and he's never seen anyone use it.

Once the lock is open the scientist turns back to face the silver haired child "You'll see", gesturing to the boy to follow him they enter what seems to be an old abandoned underground lab.

He follows the Professor until they're standing in front of a tank with a console close to it. Inside there's a man in a dark blue suit floating in what seems to be mako. He can't stop himself from moving towards the tank, he's curious about this man. This is the first time he's seen another person that is not himself be trapped in one. 

The black haired man doesn't look like any of the scientists he's met, nor does he looks like any of the other specimens the Professor keeps in the lab's tanks. He's pale and still in a way that makes him look dead, his shoulder-length black hair reaches his jaw, framing his face in a way that accentuates his sharp features, and by the way the clothes hang on his body it's clear that he's now too thin to fit in them correctly.

However, what gets his attention the most is the man's left arm. It's somewhat bigger than the other and has a sickly black colour, not to mention some long nails that if he were to look closely he's sure they could pass as claws. It doesn't look human but everything else about the man is completely normal. He's seen what creatures the professor keeps in the tanks of the main lab so he doesn't understand why this man is being kept here.

"Look at it boy" the scientist motions towards the man floating still within the mako, with a mocking tone in his voice he says "The only thing keeping it alive are these machines, a pathetic existence" looking back at the boy he asks "wouldn't you agree?".

He doesn't know what to say, nor does he understands why the Professor is calling the man an it, like he's an object to be studied. "It looks human" he says while trying not to think too much about the others creatures he's seen in the tanks, specially when he knows that just like this man, he's also put inside them for the scientists' tests. He's not like those monsters and neither is this man, no matter how uncanny his hand looks.

"Hmm you can say he used to be human before" After a moment of consideration and making a point to look at the boy's eyes Hojo demands "Do you know why this happened to him?". Trying not to anger the unpredictable man before him Sephiroth is quick to shake his head.

With clear distaste in his tone the scientist starts ranting "Because he got in the way of my project's success" he looks at Sephiroth "This is what happens when you become a hindrance to me" hovering over the child and sneering down at him he threatens "This is what will happen to you if you keep that idiotic rebellion of yours" raising one eyebrow Hojo lowers himself to the point he's breathing into the boy's face "you wouldn't want that, would you?".

Sephiroth knows what he should say, knows what is expected from him, he knows that he should shake his head. But in a traitorous part of his heart he can't stop thinking that maybe being like this, floating motionless in the tank forever and forgotten by everyone, is better than suffering the experiments and having your insides open day and night. 

Hojo must have noticed the hesitation in his face for he scowls before he turns around and says "I see, well then" he moves towards a console to the right of the man in the tank.

He looks towards Sephiroth and seems to hesitate for a moment before he makes a decision, with a calm voice he asks "Do you know who this man is?"

The child looks closely at the man floating within the mako tank trying to put a name to his face to no avail. After a moment of silence he chooses to shake his head. He doesn't know what the professor wants him to say, he's never seen this man and he can't recognise his face from any of the reading material he's been given. In that moment, he decides it's better if he just follows along without saying much.

However, when a dangerous glint appears in the scientist's eyes he can't stop the fear that takes over his body. A shiver runs through his back because he knows, he knows that look, he has seen it before the Professor does anything harmful, when he has a particular cruel idea involving him. It's a look that promises pain, in any way or form.

"Pay attention boy", he looks cautiously at the scientist trying to decipher his intentions before it's too late, but the Professor isn't looking at him. "This man", he starts walking towards the tank keeping an ugly smile in his face. Laying a hand in the glass of the tank he proclaims "This man is your father".

It only takes those words for Sephiroth to feel as if all the air has been punched out of his body, as if the ground has disappeared from under his feet. 

Feeling like the world has stopped, there's a moment of silence where nothing is said. A moment where the words run through his head over and over again, while he's incapable of processing them.

My... father...?

It takes a second for him to understand what the words mean but once he does he quickly looks back at the man in the tank, his eyes widening. This isn't a stranger, this is...

Father?

Now that he realises exactly who's trapped inside the mako tank, he can't stop his breaths from coming in erratic intervals. He can't stop his hands from shaking no matter how hard he tries.

He opens his mouth trying to say something, what, he doesn't know, he can't make sense of the frenzy of words running through his head. All he can hear are the words the scientist said while he's desperately trying to control both his despairing panic and the hope raising on his chest.

Looking satisfied the Professor turns back towards the console, laughing he says "And with this button" looking back into the boy's eyes he snarls "I can turn off his life support".

And just like that all Sephiroth's previous conflicting thoughts and emotions come to a screeching halt.

The Professor's face has gone back to his blank uncaring expression "Do you understand what I'm trying to say Sephiroth?"

He does, he really does, but he can't move or speak. He doesn't know what to do, he's paralysed by his all consuming panic.

The sudden knowledge of what he's gained and what he can lose overwhelming him in a matter of seconds.

"If you insist on sabotaging my work" the man makes a displeased face while keeping his voice low, then he threatens "You'll leave me no choice but" his hand moves back towards the console, his intention to press the button clear.

"NO!" he shrieks, he can't help it, all his training, all his ability to be impassive in the face of danger, gone. He desperately wants to run and physically separate the scientist from the console but he's body is paralysed by fear "No! no! I'll behave! I'll behave!" He shakes with the force of his uncontrolled emotions, the need to make the scientist listen "I promise I'll behave!" he screams.

The fear he feels is threatening to burst out of his body every second the scientist merely looks at him without saying anything.

"Do you really believe that's enough" once again the scientist words grip coldly at his fragile heart "You will work harder, you must be better than ever, I'll accept nothing but perfection" glaring at Sephiroth, Hojo hisses "Do you understand boy?"

"I do! I do!" Shaking, the young child begs "I'll work harder! I promise I won't make the same mistakes again! PLEASE!" He nearly screams, voice starting to break, body in the verge of hyperventilating. He doesn't know what he will do if the man refuses, he doesn't know what else he can possibly offer when the scientist already owns everything he is.

The Professor's face shows nothing and for a moment he worries that the fear he feels will tear him apart, that his body will collapse. However, just when he thinks that he won't be able to take the wait anymore, Hojo says "Very well then, let's head back" 

Moving past the boy, the scientist starts making his way back to the main lab, set on finally finishing his work now that he doesn't have to bother making sure the boy is doing his tasks. Satisfied that the child will listen to him now, he doesn't look back, not even once.

Sephiroth wants to follow, his mind is begging him to move while his heart still feels like it going to burst out of his chest. However, even though he understands the consequences of disobeying, he can't move a muscle. He stays rooted to his place looking at his father comatose face. Taking in his pale complexion, drinking in every detail he can find and trying to compare them to his owns.

The little boy tries to commit his father's face to memory, to always remember him. How he can not when he's now finally able to meet the family that was keep away from him his entire life.

All this time one of his parents was being kept here, in the same place as him, just a couple of meters away and he didn't know. All this time his father has been trapped and alone, being treated as something less than a person, an object. Just like me.

"Don't make me repeat myself boy", he jumps, startled from his thoughts by the Professor's voice "Do you want him to die after just meeting him?" He remarks without an ounce of care in his voice, as if he wasn't talking about turning off a person, his father's, life support.

With his heart in his throat Sephiroth rushes to follow the Professor. Once behind him they start making their way back towards the main lab. Although Sephiroth tries to make sure his body keeps moving, he can't stop himself from looking back towards the man in the tank. 

His father is here, in the same place as him, he won't be alone anymore. They won't be alone anymore. He'll make sure of it, by any means necessary.

In that moment, Sephiroth makes a decision.

Looking back towards the professor's back, keeping his feelings and thoughts under control, in his heart and mind he makes a promise.

Wait for me father, I'm going to get you out.

For now he's going to follow orders to keep him safe, he will do anything to protect him regardless of the danger. And once the time comes when he's strong enough to fight back against everyone that's wronged them, he's going to save him. He's going to get his family back. 

Even if he has to go against Hojo himself.

Chapter Text

The next three weeks of his training he makes sure to excel in every aspect. He knows that keeping that level of performance long term will bring consequences but he can't risk his father's well-being. Even when he tries to keep things moderate, the memory of the Professor reaching to end his father's life drives him forward beyond his limits.

The worst part isn't the training itself or the increase of tasks he's forced to complete. 

'Although they're certainly not pleasant'

No, the worst and most challenging part is going through the increase of medical procedures whose sole purpose is to test his strength and increase his endurance. He doesn't know how much more damage he will be able to sustain before he can't regenerate anymore and they actually manage to kill him.

'Not that they plan to ever do that'.

Professor Hojo has always made sure to let him know how much effort and resources they're investing on him. Reminding him of his status as the "perfect specimen" whenever he questions why he has to go through all of that torture.

''Why me?''

''Because you are meant to be the greatest of all"

'But I just want to be normal'

The Professor always insists on pushing him to his limits. Because of that, the only times he can truly rest are the days when they need him in top condition before trying an specially dangerous experiment. Along with the times they expect him to memorise an unknown amount of books in a certain given time.

Yet, even in his most peaceful days he's cursed.

Alongside his usual share of nightmares of his time under the hands of the scientists, now his dreams are also plagued with the suffering faces of his parents. 

He knows his mother is dead, and that it's his fault. His father is also trapped and in life support.

Just like him, he's at the mercy of Hojo and his scientists. 

They're both at the mercy of Shinra.

No matter how hard he tries, whenever he finds himself alone in the darkness of his room, he can't stop thinking about how hopeless all feels.

He can't stop his thoughts from going back to his father and that old lab.

Remembering the look of his father's hand and the Professor's comment about him being a failure, all his mind has to do is replace the creatures he's seen the scientist torture with his father's face.

That's all his mind needs to torment him.

Another month passes before he starts feeling paranoid. Every time he sees the cruel smile on the Professor's face, every time the man becomes displeased with him, he can't stop the dread that consumes him. It gets to the point where he begins wondering if the scientist punishes his father when he's not watching. If he was doing it before, when Sephiroth didn't know what was behind that locked door.

When the scientist starts leaving him with one of his assistants during his training, his apprehension worsens. He starts fearing that maybe the man is taking residence inside the old lab, working on a new project and taking advantage to experiment on his unconscious father held captive.

That's something he can't bear to allow to happen.

He makes the decision to do something but trying to follow the Professor doesn't work, there's always another scientist ready to stop him. Asking doesn't work either, not like any of the people here bothers speaking or answering his questions. They will never reveal confidential information to one of the specimens. Most of the important information he gets is usually thanks to the scientists gossiping or underestimating his heightened hearing.

However, much to his disappointment, none of them ever talk or seem to know about the closed door where his father is being kept.

With time his fear leaves place to an ingrowing frustration. Every other time he only had to worry about preparing himself for medical, physical and mental tests until he became familiar enough with them to know what to expect and when. It got to the point where they eventually became just another part of the routine he was never able to question or change.

But now, he's realising how much he doesn't know, all the things he doesn't understand, things he has always been unaware of.

Before Professor Gast disappeared he was given books about the world, he was permitted knowledge about the life outside that he never saw. Sometimes he was even allowed to eat food or play with things that weren't approved by Professor Hojo. 

At the time he didn't realise how precious all those moments were, how they would never repeat again. He didn't understand, not until he lost them along with Professor Gast.

These thoughts and the frustration behind them begin to take part of his every waking moment. It gets to the point where he can't really concentrate on his tasks anymore, when he's constantly thinking about what's going on at the old lab and getting himself ill with anger and worry.

'I need to know what the Professor is doing, I need to know that my father is okay'

With that thought in mind, he makes the decision of digging for answers the next time he sees Hojo. Even if he refuses to divulge the details of what's going on, he will find a way to know, he has to. He won't let this be a repeat of what happened after Professor Gast disappearance. This time he'll find what happened no matter what.

"Can you tell me how is my father?" The boy calmly asks the scientist taking notes in front of him. One of the things Hojo's never absent for are Sephiroth's medical checks.

Raising his head and looking up from the clipboard in which he was writing, he sneers, "What did you just say?!"

Not being threatened by the Professor's tone of voice, the boy repeats "My father, I want to know how he is"

Frowning and glaring at Sephiroth the man stresses "You don't need to know anything about that failed specimen"

Not letting himself be deterred by the words, the boy counters "Why?, you told me about my mother".

"Because Jenova is important, your most important connection, your purpose, you just don't understand it yet" Even if he's trying to sound unbothered to the boy, it's clear he's losing his patience.

"Can I least see him, I've been doing everything you told me" But Sephiroth won't stop, not until he gets what he wants.

"Stupid boy I said I wouldn't stop his life support not that I'll allow you to see him" Clearly done with the conversation Hojo goes back to his notes, he's sure that Sephiroth knows better than to keep pushing the topic at this point.

In that moment however, it becomes clear that he's been missing some changes in the boy because he doesn't stop but rather demands in a louder voice "I want to see him"

He gets ready to snap at the boy but one look at his face makes him pause. The silver haired child looks determined, in a way he's never been before.

'I can't have this boy trying to break into the room' Frowning at the child he starts to consider the best course of action 'This is most troublesome' but he pauses when he remembers his work for the day 'but no matter, I have other matters to attend'

Hojo grabs some keys from his pocket before throwing them at the kid's face. It is no surprise that the boy easily catches them.

'With how much the boy is improving it will take us only a couple of weeks more to able to move him to Midgar'

Seeing the awe in the eyes with which the boy looks at the keys the scientist starts planning.

'I might be able to use Valentine to speed the process'

"You have 30 minutes before your next medical procedure, you will arrive in time or you will face the consequences" Grabbing his belongings and paperwork the Professor gets ready to move to his next project.

Sephiroth keeps still while he waits for the scientist to leave, trying to keep a neutral face. Even when he's sure he's being unsuccessful. 

The moment the scientist is gone, he runs.

Chapter Text

It's easy for him to run through the lab dodging the other scientists working around. Most of them are too preoccupied with their own tasks to pay attention to the silver blur speeding past them.

Even if they had noticed him they wouldn't have been able to stop him. Not now, not when he has his mind set on something.

He's not going to let anybody get in his way. He's going to see his father.

It takes him less than a minute to arrive at the underground section of the mansion. His fast reflexes the only thing keeping him from crashing face first into the locked door of the old lab.

It takes a while before he can catch his breath to speak. "I'm here" he pants, gasping for breath and resting his head on the door. "I'm here".

After he takes a minute to calm down he separates himself from the surface and he looks at the lock. Raising his hand holding the keys, he chooses one 'I believe this is the right one'.

However, just before he tries to unlock the door he hesitates. The paranoia he has been feeling all these weeks comes crashing back in an instant.

'What if he's not here?' His traitorous thoughts whisper. The fear and doubt makes him lower his arm. 

He can't help but let his worries stop his movements. The uneasiness he feels about the situation consuming his thoughts. It has never been this easy for him to get something he wanted, specially not from Professor Hojo.

His thoughts go back to the lack of presence from the scientist during his daily training and study hours. He can't recall any other time Professor Hojo suffocating presence wasn't there at his side. The man was always watching his every move. 

'Could he be working on a new project?' Shaking his head he quickly discards the thought. 'It's not likely, he easily disregards other tasks and people when he wants to work on me'. Sephiroth is always his main priority. He's sure the scientist has never missed any of his medical sessions before, not once.

However...

'Could he had been working on father?' The thought alone is enough to freeze him. 'No...' He's sure the scientist would have said something by now, he's always ready to brag about his accomplishments to him. Specially if he knows they're going to bother him.

"He would have told me", he whispers out loud trying to reassure himself. Oh how he hopes that's the case, he doesn't know what he would do if he opens that door to find that his nightmares became true.

The image of his father laying on a metal table invading his thoughts no matter how much he tries to blink away the picture from his mind.

'Could this be some kind of trap? A ploy to test me?' He doesn't know. He wishes he knew but it's impossible to guess what Professor Hojo is thinking most of the time. 

His cruelty always reaches new levels.

Taking a deep but shaky breath, he grits his teeth and tries to reassure himself. 'It doesn't matter, whatever Professor Hojo has planned won't affect me'

Once having convinced himself, he reaches the lock with one hand, and with the other he reaches for the key. One he hears the click he lets go.

Holding his breath, he slowly opens the door and starts making his way inside. He tries to control his emotions even though he can hear his own heartbeat drumming in his head the closer he gets to the tank. At the same time he makes sure to inspect his surroundings. 

Anything can be a potential threat when it comes to Professor Hojo.

Only once he makes sure nothing is out of place, he dares move closer to the tank. Turning around to assure himself the door behind him is closed, he raises his head to look at his father. 

That is all it takes for his doubts and fear to vanish, his body relaxing and moving forward.

Once he's in front of the tank, he releases the breath he didn't realise he was holding "You're okay" he marvels.

The relief that consumes him is strong enough to make him feel lightheaded. He rests his body against the glass to catch his breath. He's going to need it before he's able to look back again towards his father.

'He's okay, he's okay, he's okay, he's okay, he's actually okay' he repeats the mantra in his mind while taking a moment to get back his composure.

Once he's finally able to look back to the tank, he starts checking his father for any sign of injury. At the same time he makes sure to retrace the details of his face, because unlike his mother, he doesn't have a photo to remember him. It might be childish since it's been only two months but he can't stop the dread he feels at the thought of ever forgetting one of his parents' faces.

He lays a hand in the glass without looking away from the man. Slowly shaking while he tries to find the rights words to say to him. There's so much he wants to say and so much more he wants to ask, even though he knows it's likely that he'll never hear the answers.

"Hello father" he whispers, his expression becoming soft towards the man. It's the first words he's said to him, the first words he has spoken to his family, and he hopes in a small part of his heart that his father is able to hear them. 

He really tries not to wait for a reaction, he knows he shouldn't. He knows better than that. Having hope can only hurt you in this place but it still rises stubbornly on his chest, unstoppable. 

All he's ever wanted was a family, to be loved unconditionally, to have someone look at him as something more than an object. He wanted someone to see him as a person worth loving. 

Having his parents, at least one of them with him, was something possible only on his wildest dreams. Something for the imaginary Sephiroth that didn't exist.

But now it's different, his father is right in front of him and even though he tries his hardest not to, he still wants nothing more than the man's acknowledgement of his presence. Any reaction from him would be enough, anything. 

Eventually though, the breath he has unknowingly been holding gets out. His body aching in relief while inside he feels like he's breaking. Looking at his father's still prone form makes him feel cold all of a sudden.

There's a sting on his eyes he refuses to acknowledge, and he tries his best to ignore the painful hollowness that aches in his chest.

He reminds himself that he's not alone, that he's still with one of his parents. It doesn't matter that he can't see Sephiroth, that he won't react to him. That he won't hold him.

He has finally met one person who he can belong to. And that remainder alone is enough for the chill to leave and for warmth to spread across his chest.

He remembers all the times he's tried to find any information about himself and his parents on the data books he's allowed to read. He's never found anything, and he wonders if there is anything to be found at all. He doesn't even know where he was born, his birthday or how long he's been here.

He wonders if his father would know. It also makes him wonder how long his own father has been kept here. 'Was he here before I was born? Or...' He ponders 'Was he able to care of me when I was a newborn?'

With that thought a sudden intrusive question comes to his mind 'Does father even know about me?'. His breath hitches and catches in his throat as he tries his hardest to stop his rising panic. Laying his other hand on the glass, he focus his wild eyes on his father 'He must know about me right? RIGHT?! because if he doesn't...'

"Ye-yes, father knows, he knows, he MUST know, there's no way he doesn't know" he babbles while putting pressure on the tank. "He knows about me, he knows, he knows" while he pleads, the tanks creaks. It takes one second for him to notice the noise but once he does he gasps and abruptly detaches his hands from the tank.

'Stop!' Calm down!' He reproaches himself and tries to focus on controlling himself. He needs to keep control of his strength. He can't let his desperate need for the answer make him put his father in danger.

He doesn't know how long he stands there, clenching his fists while he avoids leaning on the glass. The only sounds in the room are his erratic breaths and the bubbles rising in the tank. 

After taking slow deep breaths to calm down he tries to reason with himself "Even, even" he gulps "Even if father didn't know about me, I can just tell him". There's no need to panic. Once Father knows about him he'll accept him.

Closing his eyes, he leans his head against the tank until his forehead touches the glass. 'I can just tell him'. He repeats those words in his head until he's able to reign in his fear.

He takes a step back to look at the face of the resting man. 'I only need to tell him, just to make sure, just in case he doesn't already know'.

'But what if he doesn't believe me?'

Shaking his head he keeps reassuring himself 'It's most likely that he already knows, and I'm just overthinking' he fidgets, 'still...'

Clenching his fists and raising his chin as he were preparing for a difficult task, he starts "Father, I-" but he falters. It's not so easy to ignore the nerves and the subtle panic he feels. There's a thought that he doesn't let take form. 'Will father even accept me as his son?'

Heart racing he steels himself and forces himself to continue "I'm your son Se-" but his mouth quickly snaps shut when he hears the sound of footsteps getting closer.

He run out of time. He needs to get out. He needs to leave now.

He rushes to the exit, not looking back. However, just a second before closing the door he hesitates. 

"I'm your son Sephiroth" he says into the room before finally getting out. Turning and locking the door, he starts to spring towards the sound of the people getting closer, he can't let them find him there.

Inside the room the trapped man stirs.

Chapter Text

Sephiroth follows the scientists leading him to medical without a word. He doesn't want to show that he's scared, that the fact that they came for him makes him nervous. He knows what it means.

He's late to his appointment.

The last time he was late Professor Hojo made sure to lengthen all the procedures he had for that day. And with every test being longer than the last, all the damage he took nearly put him into a coma.

'Was that what happened to father?' The sudden thought makes him sick. 

He's been trying to avoid thinking about how his father ended up comatose in that tank. At first he was curious, desperate for information regarding his family, but now anything he imagines only serves to terrify him and feed into his nightmares.

With every possibility being worse that the other, he'd rather force himself to believe that his father's condition is alright, that he can get better. It's easier than facing his previous knowledge of the experiments and accepting that there's a probability that he's never going to leave that tank.

Being so consumed by his thoughts Sephiroth nearly doesn't notice when they arrive at the medical wing of the lab. If it weren't for his body tensing the moment the room came into view, he would just kept walking.

He sees that inside the room Professor Hojo is already waiting for him, his back turned towards the door. As he enters the other scientists take their places around the room without a word.

"Lay down" Professor Hojo orders in a harsh voice without even turning to look at him.

It's clear he's in a bad mood, knowing better than to speak, Sephiroth just follows the order.

Being careful to avoid making noise, he moves towards the metal table and tries not to flinch when the cold surface touches his back.

Breathing deeply he prepares mentally for what is to come. After having these sessions for years, he's become capable of guessing what procedures they'll do for every day. 

Or at least, he thought he did.

He could never have guessed what would happen next. 

One second Professor Hojo is calling out to the other scientists, the next they're surrounding him "Strap him to the table" the scientist commands.

Sephiroth's eyes widen, panic clouding his head and making him twitch with the need to fight. 'They've never done that before'. He can feel the scientists grabbing at his legs and arms but he forces himself to stay still. Fighting back only ever serves to make things worse.

"It's done Professor" one short-haired woman says. Sephiroth recognises her, she's part of the main team that works for the scientist.

"Very well" Professor Hojo turns around holding a syringe in his hand. Looking to the men at the entrance of the room he orders "Lock the doors".

'Something is wrong', he doesn't recognise the liquid in the syringe the scientist is holding. It doesn't look like the one he always uses.

He knows he shouldn't but he's scared. He can't stop the words leaving his mouth "What is that?"

The Professor's expression doesn't change but there's a glint in his eyes when he answers "This? Oh is nothing that you won't be able to fight"

'Fight? Is it poison?' Seeing the look on the boy's face the Professor merely smirks and says "Were you expecting anaesthesia?" His mocking expression turns into a snarl, "Not this time" 

Towering over the child Professor Hojo raises the arm holding the syringe, he laughs "Consider this your punishment for asking to go to that room" and stabs it into the boy's eye.

It takes days but he's returned to his room eventually. He's thankful for that, even if he doesn't want to be.

His room might not be comfortable in any way but after what he went through, even the cold thin sheets of his bed are a relief.

His mind goes back to that day in medical. Those hours he spend strapped to the steel table were one of the worst of his life. Never before had he feel pain like the one they inflicted on him that day. 

He never thought he'll feel relief at being thrown into a mako tank but after hours of suffering under Professor Hojo's hands, even the mako burning through his wounds was better than going back to that room.

Better but not less painful.

He would have preferred to spend most of his time in the tank unconscious, however, there were times where Sephiroth woke up. Moments where he could hear the faint voices of the scientists working around him. It made his mind wander off to the tank in the old lab.

Sometimes when he was awake and conscious enough to think clearly, he would think about his father, wishing they had been put together. 

At least that way he wouldn't have been alone. He could have kept him company during his torment. He's sure that would have made things more bearable.

He doesn't know how long he spent there wishing and dreaming. He assumes a couple of days passed before they deemed him good enough to be let out. He barely remembers getting out and being so weak that they had to help him get to his room. 

The memory of being placed on his bed and told to rest, the only clear one he has.

Those words should have been a comfort but at that moment he couldn't bring himself to care about them.

He knew that the next day he would be expected to perform his tasks normally anyway.

When he steps foot in the training room, he sees that Professor Hojo is already there waiting for him.

Without looking away from his clipboard the man lectures "I hope you learned the lesson and you won't ask to go to that room again" The finality in his voice leaves no room for argument.

However, the words only serve to anger Sephiroth, he's tired of the scientist's control. Against his better judgement he exclaims "I want more time with my father", proudly raising his chin and clenching his fists he gets ready to argue back against the man, even if his belly is churning with anxiety.

The scientist stops writing, in less than a second his face twists in an ugly snarl and he snaps "What did you just say?". The hands holding both clipboard and pen clenching to the point that his knuckles turn white. Both objects looking like they might be broken at any moment.

Sephiroth's heart is beating wildly in his chest but he forces himself to continue, taking back his words won't save him from the man's ire anyway "I want more time with my father, if you're going to punish me for it, at least I want more time with him".

He swallows, refusing to look away from the scientist, refusing to be intimidated. For a moment the look on the Professor's face makes him believe the man will grab at him to slap him. However, the scientist just goes back to his writing, his face showing nothing but disdain "Very well, let's see if you can endure it until the end". It's not a promise, it's a threat, but Sephiroth doesn't care.

The next five hours of his training are spent in silence, the scientist face impassive but his anger clear in the tasks he makes him complete. By the time they arrive at medical he's too tired to care about the tests. He thinks is sheer spite that allows him to put out with them until the end.

He's limping when he visits the old lab later but for him it's worth it.

"Hello father" Sephiroth rasps, his throat raw after spending hours screaming. His legs barely hold his body up but he carries on until he's standing in front of the tank.

It's the third time he visits this month, and he can feel the exhaustion from the week weighing his body down.

"I learned about different types of birds' mutations this time" Sephiroth says, easily starting a conversation about his latest favourite topic. It's routine by now. After coming here every week for the last month, he now has a schedule that he follows when he comes to visit.

He likes telling his father about his study sessions, about the books he has to read. Being able to come here and talk to him makes everything more bearable.

Thinking that every new subject he learns gives him more topics of conversation with his father helps him enjoy what was once just a duty.

However, there are still topics that he refuses to speak about, things that don't feel right to share with his father.

He doesn't talk about the books that teach him how kill. How he is being taught to find the weaker parts of the body, the vital parts. He doesn't tell his father that he now knows how to permanently damage to the body of a living being.

He refuses to talk about how he is being forced to make use of that knowledge on monsters. Of how he knows that in time, they're going to make him use it on people too.

Sephiroth hates those books the most. They scare him and feed his nightmares. Those books make him understand what the scientists do to him. They make him imagine what organs the scientists will target next and how.

What's worse, it's that those books make him think about the reasons for his father's condition. The many invisible wounds that may litter his body. The many ways a person can die from internal damage when looking like nothing is wrong.

Because of that knowledge he refuses to talk about those topics. Maybe if he doesn't voice those fears, they won't come true.

But those books aren't the only thing Sephiroth refuses to talk about. Anything related to the lab and his development as a SOLDIER is a forbidden topic in this room. The hours spent fighting and strapped to a table something he'll rather forget. He also doesn't want to burden his father with his pain, there's no point, not when he can't do anything about it.

It's better to pretend that here in this old abandoned lab he's something else from what he's told to be. That here, he can have something normal. Be something normal.

A son and not someone's weapon.

Those thoughts bring him back to the present, to the man who rests in front of his eyes. Looking at his father Sephiroth decides to ignore his fears and continue talking about something else.

"Professor Gast also had books about birds, I liked those books better" speaking aloud about the man hurts but not as much as before, "They had pictures and some of them told stories. Sometimes when we were alone he would read them to me". His voice goes quieter the longer he speaks about the man.

It's been a long time since he had someone do something like that for him. It makes Sephiroth take a moment to reflect in his oldest memories with the kind scientist. He can't stop the feeling that he took those moments for granted, even if he could have never predicted that they'll stop suddenly one day.

"None of the books the scientists give me now have stories because Professor Hojo says they're a waste of time, stupid things for kids" looking at his father's face he shows his confusion and frustration "But you can learn from them too right? That's what Professor Gast said! So they're not bad!" The frustration makes Sephiroth clench his fists. His angers suddenly leaves, however, and he just lowers his head "and, am I not a kid?"

He never talks about how unfair he thinks everyone is to him, how he knows that nobody else in the mansion is forced to follow the same rules as him. Sephiroth knows from the books Professor Gast showed him that the things he does are not what children his age do. Children are not supposed to have blood in their hands.

"Last week one of the scientists told me I was 8 years old... I remember being told I was 7 before" looking back towards his father he adds "I think that means that my birthday was last month but I'm not sure"

With a wishful look in his face Sephiroth whispers "I wish I knew my birthday" There's so many things he wishes he knew.

He lets out a tired sigh, the kind no child his age should do, the kind that only someone who's been shown nothing but cruelty would do.

"Father..., Professor Gast... he said that birthdays were to be celebrated with family and friends but, ...I don't have friends" he's never even met someone the same age as him. Someone younger or older.

It makes him think about what having a friend his age would be like. 'Are birthdays with friends nice?...fun?'

He also wonders about the birthday celebrations with family members that he heard about. How would it feel to be surrounded by loved ones, to get a hug from both his mother and father? To smile in their hold while everybody sings to him?

That kind of image was always a dream of his. A dream he had before he decided to ask about his mother to the Professor.

Knowing what he does now...

In a weak voice he wonders "Father..., would you had celebrated my birthday?" His gaze focus on the black haired man floating in the tank.

His words are followed by silence. A long all consuming silence.

As per usual Sephiroth doesn't receive an answer. It doesn't hurt, not anymore, he has gotten used to his father silence. He knows what is like to be trapped in the tanks, he doesn't blame him.

In the silence of the room he suddenly wonders if his father will ever wake up. If he is in a coma or if he's on those medicines that makes you weak. The kind the scientists use before they cut you open.

In that moment the picture of his father in pain appears in his mind, unprovoked.

Hitting his head against the tank he makes his best effort to push the image out of his mind. He's successful but it doesn't stop him from fighting back the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

"Does it hurt?" He whispers and looks towards the tank, hoping against all odds that the answer to that question is no.

Because he knows the feeling of mako burning you from the inside out. How it takes days or even weeks before all the wounds are healed and the scientists let you out. How even if the mako is gone, the pain persists, acid burning through every vein and bone.

His heart aches at the thought of his father going through the same.

Resting his cheek against the glass he tries to think. He doesn't know what to do to make things better. He wants to reassure his father, speak of plans to get him out and help him but he's so lost. And so, so scared.

He can't bring himself to speak words of reassurance so instead, Sephiroth raises his arms and hugs the tank, hoping his father can sense him somehow. Hoping against all odds that his father knows he's there. That he's not alone.

Closing his eyes, he allows himself a moment to pretend. 

If he tries hard enough he can imagine that the surface touching his cheek is his father's body and not the cold glass of the tank. He can pretend that there's a soft arm under the back of his head, a warm hand caressing his hair.

He so dearly misses that kind of touch. The type of kindness only Professor Gast used to reward him with.

So for now, before he has to go back to the lab, before he's back to being under the scientists' hands, he's going to pretend.

Sephiroth doesn't know how long he stands there but eventually he lets go of the tank and moves a couple of steps back. He can hear footsteps coming closer and he knows that if Professor Hojo sees him like this, he's not going to be happy.

Turning around to look at the door he reminds himself 'I can't show weakness'.

As soon as that thought crosses his mind the doors burst open and he's face to face with the irate scientist, who doesn't waste a moment before he snaps "Come, it's time for your tests".

And Sephiroth follows. Even knowing that he's going to spend the next hours in nothing but pain and suffering, he follows.

Because if it allows him to be with his father then it's worth it.

For him, that pain is worth it.

Chapter Text

Even though Hojo makes sure to keep punishing Sephiroth after every visit to the failure, the boy keeps going to that room. Insisting on visiting even after the numerous experiments. As soon as he's able to walk he limps towards that old lab.

He despises the fact that he's been forced to modify Sephiroth's training schedule to make time for the boy's frivolous visits.

It would be frustrating if it hadn't been so rewarding, as the highly dangerous experiments did wonders for the boy endurance. They allowed for the child to reach the desired outcomes ahead of the scheduled time.

The boy's development has finally reached the necessary levels to surpass every high ranking officer at Shinra. No one will be able to deny his the boy's greatness and superiority.

Even if he hates letting his masterpiece be around a failure like Valentine, he has to admit that it's thanks to his patience putting up with the boy's ridiculous whims, that they're finally ready to move to Midgar.

There won't be anymore senseless requests and wasted time there.

It's time for the boy's official training as SOLDIER to start.

"Pack your belongings" The scientist orders from the door to his room, as always the man doesn't bother knocking. 

He wishes his room was a safe space but privacy was one the first things he realised Professor Hojo will never let him have.

"Why?" Sephiroth asks without hesitation. Lately he's been more willing to voice his thoughts, to question. He has noticed that when he keeps eye contact he can make the scientists nervous enough to answer. This has made him realise that the power the scientists have over him is not absolute. They can't do anything against him if he doesn't let himself be intimidated.

"We're moving to Midgar, your training to be best SOLDIER of Shinra will start there" without bothering to give him any details Professor Hojo  just turns around and leaves. 

Inside the room, the silver haired boy sits frozen on the spot, body paralysed by shock. 

'We're... moving?...'

There was a time where the news would have made him vibrate with excitement. Before, when Professor Gast would show him the pictures of his books and tell him stories about the world, before, when he couldn't wait to be able to leave manor and get to see the outside. 

Now, however, he has a reason to stay, a place to be. The last months have given him time to get used to the routine of visiting his father at least once a week.

He can't imagine a reality where his father isn't there.

Before the scientist can get very far the child zooms after him. Catching up to the man in a blink.

"What about father?" He blurts from behind.

"Huh?" Hojo turns around, looking down on him with an unimpressed look. It's clear he doesn't really care about what Sephiroth is saying.

"What's going to happen to my father?" Sephiroth nearly screams the question to the scientist, his voice high-pitched and cracking.

"Hmm, he will stay here obviously" The scientist begins to turn but the child grabs his coat.

"Can't you bring him with us?" Sephiroth begs, his hand releasing the man's coat once he realises the way Hojo is glaring at his hand.

Looking back towards the child's face once he releases his hold, the scientist answers "Now why would I do that?", he hums "I won't waste resources to relocate an useless specimen".

Turning his back and walking away Professor Hojo orders "Now go back and pack your belongings". His voice calm but with an undertone of amusement.

He doesn't look back, not even once as Sephiroth just stands there, paralysed, in the middle of the hallway.

Eventually after a while, he just turns and starts walking back towards his room. Moving numbly through the halls he notices how all around him people are moving and taking away equipment. It seems everybody already knew they were leaving.

He doesn't notice when he arrives to his room, doesn't register his body hitting the floor. All he can think about is the fact that they're moving.

And that his father is going to be left behind.

Some time later Sephiroth is told to just stay in his room. Because of the moving, all his activities for the day have been postponed and there is nothing for him to do but stay put until they leave.

He lasts hardly a minute before he's running around the lab looking for Professor Hojo.

In spite of his desperation he's forced to be careful moving around as everyone seems to be busy. Everywhere he looks there are scientists running and carrying papers or equipment.

He eventually finds Professor Hojo next to the lab's mako tanks giving orders and working with his assistants. 

Seeing the boy enter the room the scientist snaps "What are you doing here?" Hojo knows his assistant told Sephiroth already that his duties are postponed, there's no reason for the boy to be out of his room right now, 'I don't have time for this'

"Go to your room" glaring at the kid, Hojo walks angrily towards him ready to push him away to the door if necessary.

Not intimidated by the scientist at all Sephiroth waits until the man is close enough to make his request "Professor may I see my father one last time?" 

"What?!" Hojo stops in place, the request is not surprising but it doesn't make Hojo less angry 'The nerve of this child!'

Before he can answer however, two scientist enter the room "Professor we need your help cataloguing these samples". 

And then, "Professor!" The assistants working behind him call. He turns around "Professor what shall we do with the Specimen in the tank 9?". Just before he can answer he gets interrupted.

"Professor!" Another scientist carrying some papers enters the room running.

'I'm surrounded by incompetents' Gritting his teeth Professor Hojo turns around towards Sephiroth and throws the keys to the old lab in his face.

"Go and stay there until I'm done, you're getting in my way". Giving his back to the boy the scientist goes back to his work.

Meanwhile Sephiroth stares at the keys in his hands, shaking. Without even a moment of hesitation he runs. He's not going to risk staying enough time to let the scientist regret his decision.

With his heart in his throat, he rushes to the old lab dodging the scientists working left and right.

Once he reaches the secluded area of the old lab and sees the door he bursts into the room. 

"Father!" He stumbles and nearly crashes into the tank. Regaining his balance at the last second he clings to the tank.

"Father!" Sephiroth's eyes fill with tears and this time he doesn't bother stopping them. He can't bring himself to care about what the Professor will think or do if he sees him like this. Not now.

His only focus is his family.

"Father..." he whispers, grabbing at the glass with his shaking hands "I'm scared".

His breath hitches and his chest hurts "I don't want to be alone", he's never felt such strong emotions before. The desperation in his chest is eating at him. He tries to see his father's face but the tears make it hard for him, "I don't want to leave".

He's gotten used to his father's silent presence, of being able to talk to him about anything and everything. He's become used to pretending that here in this room, they can be a normal family. That here, he's just a son spending time with his father.

In this place, there's no syringe, no medicine, no pain. Just him and the man he adores.

He doesn't know what will happen once they move to Midgar, what they'll make him do, what he will have to go through.

He doesn't want to think about what will happen to him once everything becomes too much and he doesn't have the comfort of his father presence.

He knows that in Midgar they're going to push him to his limits, and he'll have no one to rely on.

All because he's not a normal person, all because he's Shinra property.

Because... he's a weapon. 'That's what everyone always said'.

Sephiroth's been told his purpose was to be one of Shinra's best SOLDIERS for as long as he can remember. All his life he has known that he was meant to be at the service mercy of Shinra.

And he's tired, he's so tired of not having a choice. Of always being told what to do, what to listen, what to say.

He doesn't want to lose his safe space.

"Father, I don't want to leave you" The words come out choked. Even though he tries to control his breathing he can't stop the sobs starting to wreck his body.

He's long lost the fight to keep his cool.

"Father I-" Sephiroth's chokes in his words again, his breath harsh and erratic. A cry getting stuck in his throat. He wants to curse, to scream, he hates how unfair everything is.

His dreams of being held and loved by his mother, destroyed. His desire to stay with his father, denied.

His hope of having his parents, crushed.

'Why does this happen to me?' Did he do anything to deserve this? Is he such a bad person? Why doesn't anybody care about him? about what he wants?.

"Father" Sephiroth voice comes out through gritted teeth. Breathing has become a chore at this point.

"Father" another choked gasp, "Help-" just before he can continue, he sees it. It might have been impossible for everyone else but for him and his heightened senses is easy to notice. 

'It can't be...'

His breath catches in his throat. Holding his breath he keeps his gaze into his father's hand while he desperately tries to blink away the tears to clear his vision.

"Father?" He asks in a weak voice through his damaged throat. The tone of his voice imploring and the hope high in his chest.

Hope that is rewarded when seconds after the words leave his mouth, his father's fingers twitch.

'HE'S REACTING'

The surprised gasp he lets out is strong enough to hurt his already sore throat. And yet, he's blind to the pain, his gaze deeply focused on the little twitches of his father's fingers.

The young boy can hardly believe what he sees, his gaze so intense that his puffy red eyes have gone dry from all the time he hasn't blinked.

At the moment however, nothing but his father matters to him.

'He's reacting to my voice!'

The excitement he feels takes over his entire being. His chest feels tight with all the emotions that invade him.

With a small smile on his face he glues himself to the tank and speaks again with hope in his voice, "Can you hear me Father?". He spends the next minutes practically vibrating in anticipation for any kind of answer.

But the lack of movement has new tears start to form in his eyes. 'It's okay, I'm used to this', he gulps and prepares to try again 'I just have to keep trying'. He's going to try until he gets a response.

He's been through so much. They've been through so much. He's not giving up just yet.

In the end, he manages to sob out loud some words "Father? Please?" He doesn't even know what he's asking for. And it doesn't matter because by some miracle, those words seem to work. There's some movement around his arm this time.

It makes him realise that what his father is reacting to is his distress. Every time he lets out a sob, more twitching happens. Only this time he notices that the twitching is accompanied by some bubbles raising in the tank. Sephiroth can't help but be mesmerised at the sight of them.

He can't remember a moment in time when he felt as happy and excited, so scared and desperate. 

All those emotions fighting in his body makes him fear he might get a heart attack just by the speed of his beating heart. He removes his hands from the tank and touches his chest while trying to control his breathing. 

The hope he had for his father recovery increasing tenfold.

Just then a thought crosses his head, freezing him. The happiness he felt leaving as soon as the thoughts of Professor Hojo finding out about his father invade him. If the scientist finds out that his father is getting better he'll definitely do something to him with the goal of hurting Sephiroth.

The man always found ways to use what he loved against him.

'I can't let that happen... I can't let Professor Hojo know about father's current condition!'

The scientist never hid his disdain for his father, if he finds out that he's waking up, that he's getting better, the man might do something to hurt both of them or worse. 'He can't know'

Professor Hojo finding out about his father condition would only put him in danger. And he doesn't know how much his father can take in his already delicate condition.

Looking at the resting man Sephiroth whispers "I'm sorry I'm not strong or smart enough to help you yet"

He can't fight back against their tormentors and he doesn't know how to help with what ails his father. He can't do anything because of his own lack of power and knowledge.

There's so many questions he needs answers to, why does his father need to be on life support, why doesn't he wake up, how did he end up like that?

The answers wouldn't be so difficult to get if the man keeping all those secrets wasn't Hojo. But even then Sephiroth's not going to stop trying "I'll find a way to help you father, I promise". He wipes out his tears and lays down next to the tank. His body finally catching up with the exhaustion of crying for a such a long time.

Before he lets sleep take him, a single thought lingers on his mind, a promise to both of them, "I'll save you, no matter what"

Sephiroth doesn't know how much time passes but eventually he's woken up by the sound of footsteps coming closer.

'Did I fell sleep?' Rubbing his eyes, he stands up and yawns.

Moving away from the tank Sephiroth then walks closer to the door. He's learned that Professor Hojo doesn't like when he finds him next to his father. And at the moment, it's better if he keeps the scientist's attention away from the tank.

The door opens and the scientist enters. He looks displeased at finding Sephiroth still there but it's not like it hasn't happened before.

"Have you been here all this time?" The man frowns. It seems the Professor is particularly annoyed this time.

Knowing that at this point, anything he answers will just anger the Professor, Sephiroth just nods.

Instead of screaming and insulting him like usual the scientist just says "Go to your room and get ready to leave"

"Now?" Sephiroth asks.

"Yes, we're leaving now" Sephiroth frowns but knows there's nothing he can say to refuse. So he walks through the door and leaves to follow the orders given to him.

Hojo merely looks at Sephiroth as he slowly leaves and waits until the door is closed before walking towards the console. 'Just like I thought' he frowns while looking at the data 'There was another response from Valentine, more than once and stronger than before'

The door opens again and he turns to see one of his main assistants entering. "Professor the specimen from the experiment 406 has been disposed" a young man declares.

"Hmm, very well" he acknowledges before turning back towards the console "Bring me four of your people and tell the rest of your team to prepare the basement to contain a humanoid specimen" 

"Of course, anything else Professor?" The assistant questions.

Watching the vitals displayed by the computers he frowns "Bring me more sedatives, the strongest we have". He starts working on the console to ensure the trapped man doesn't make trouble for them.

He waits until the door closes again to finally take a look at the Turk floating in the tank "Your usefulness to me has reached his end Valentine". With their operations moving to Midgar, Sephiroth will finally be free of distractions.

"It's time for you to go back to sleep"

Chapter Text

The moment they arrive at Midgar he's pushed alongside the lab equipment through what seems to be a hidden entrance.

There isn't a single new face between the people moving him around the building. He doesn't even hear voices in the nearby hallways. It makes him wonder if the scientists are isolating him on purpose.

He shouldn't be disappointed considering that any new person he'll meet will most likely be scientists or Shinra executives. And yet, a part of him is desperately wishing for something new, something different from what's used to.

They walk a long time through an unknown number of hallways and stairs before they arrive to what seems to be the main lab. It's nothing like the previous one by sheer size only. 

Before he can start analysing the place, one of the scientists tells him to follow her. The fear of the unknown makes him hesitate but he knows it's not a good idea to be on bad terms with the Professor's assistants now. He nods and follows behind the woman.

She guides him through an empty hallway connected directly to the lab they came from. At the end there's a lone room with no windows and a security device at the door.

"This is your room" she proceeds to enter a code that makes the door open, "stay here until the Professor calls for you".

Sephiroth looks inside the new place, he doesn't like it. It's not like his old room was better but at least it looked like the rest of the building's rooms. This one looks like a cell devoid of any life. Different but at the same time similar to the rest of the rooms surrounding the lab.

Everything around looks mechanical, there's not a single colourful object inside. There's barely any space for anything but the most basic necessities.

There's only a small bed and a table next to it. No wardrobe, clothes or books on sight. He hopes there's at least a bathroom nearby, and that he doesn't have an schedule to use it.

Dread starts sinking into his stomach. He knew that his new life in Midgar was going to be different but he can already tell that they're going to take away every little piece of freedom he had before.

The scientist next to him starts nudging him inside once she realises he's not moving. She's gentle, like she wants to coax him to move rather than shove him inside.

Sephiroth used to dream of gestures like this, beg for any form of kindness. But in his current situation he can't bring himself to be thankful for any mercy they can offer him. Not now, not anymore. 

He doesn't want any kindness from people that are going to eventually hurt him. 

Sephiroth now knows better than to show that kind of weakness. Better not to give the people that want to control him something to take away from him.

"Someone will bring your belongings at some point so don't try to leave" Without saying anything else the scientist leaves him alone and locks the room.

With nothing to do but wait Sephiroth moves to lay in his bed. He's emotionally and physically exhausted, he can't stop his tired eyes from closing.

Eventually he falls asleep.

When he wakes up Sephiroth finds out that nothing changed, he's still alone in his room. 

He doesn't know how much time has passed. There's nothing for him to check the time of the day, and no windows to see the outside.

There isn't even books to distract himself until the scientists come back to give him his belongings or to check on him. 

Not even insects for him to at least distract himself watching.

Sephiroth doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to sleep because he knows how dangerous it can be to be found in that state. However, he doesn't have any other choices since staying awake means being alone with his thoughts. And in his opinion, that's currently the worse outcome for him.

With nothing to do and nothing to distract him, he won't be able to keep away the thoughts of his father. To find himself alone in this new place with no means to reach or find him is one of the worst punishment given to him.

Sephiroth knows that thinking about their situation will only send him into a panic.

The mere reminder that he doesn't know in what condition his father is makes his eyes burn. And knowing that he can't do anything about it hurts more than any of the tests he's been through lately.

The silver haired child feels trapped and alone in this place. And if Sephiroth focus too much on those feelings he doubts he'll be able to handle what Shinra has prepared for him.

His only choice right now it's to numb himself to the pain. To move forward and get stronger, so he can someday escape and save his father and himself.

That is the only thing that matters.

He figures that at least 12 hours have passed by the time the scientists open his door again. With slow steps he follows them to the main lab, in there Professor Hojo waits ready to introduce him to his new routine at Shinra.

They lead him to a steel table that feels much sturdier than the ones he was used to. From that point on he spends an incommensurable amount of time being submitted to test after test. 

At some point he realises that Professor Hojo has been watching him all this time, the man stands writing behind a wall made of glass on the far end of the room. He never moves from his position. The scientist keeps his focus on Sephiroth and stays in the same place until the moment some assistants move to release him from his restraints.

"Let's move towards the training room" Those are the only words Hojo speaks to him that day. The man turns away from him and along with the other scientists they move to the room where Sephiroth spends the rest of his day in.

Eventually after being showered and feed Sephiroth returns to his room with an aching body and a heavy heart.

He's been informed of his new schedule for the rest of the year until he's ready to officially take part in SOLDIER.

Wake up, go to the labs, train and go back to his room. All day everyday. No rests, no study sessions, no time for any frivolous activities unless necessary.

That's the routine that Sephiroth would then follow for months to come. 

At least, until the day comes when he dares to ask another question that will change his life.

Chapter Text

Two years since his first meeting with his father, and three months since he's been moved to Midgar, Sephiroth dares to ask the question that has been eating at him all this time. A question he knows Hojo most likely won't answer but he's done holding back.

"What's my father's name?" He asks the scientist working in front of him, no emotions slipping into his voice whatsoever.

The two of them are alone on one of the training rooms of the facility. The scientist checking his latest results being displayed on the room's console.

It's not unusual for Sephiroth to find himself in this kind of situation with the man. Even if the Professor has more work than before, ever since his new routine started he hasn't missed any of his tests.

Sephiroth wishes the man would leave him alone, he doesn't want to be here with him. 

He doesn't even want to be here at all.

He wants to go back to his father, it's been a long time since the last time he saw him. Time he spent harboring resentment towards the man that separated them.

Without even looking at the boy Professor Hojo answers "It's not necessary for you to know". The scientist clearly doesn't give the question the same importance the silver haired child does.

At his words Sephiroth can't help but allow an annoyed tone to appear in his voice "Why shouldn't I know my own father's name?"

The question makes the scientist turn around with a frown in his face "You won't gain anything from knowing" turning to go back to work on the console he tries to end the conversation "what the specimen is called is of no importance"

Glaring at his back the silver haired boy allows himself to silently bristle with rage 'I hate it when he dismisses father like that'.

"It's important to me, you told me my mother's name, I want to know my father's name too!" Sephiroth demands, he's not the same tight-lipped boy he was some time ago. The constant disrespect and mistreatment of his father and himself has turned his fear into anger, giving him the drive to fight back.

Sephiroth won't let Hojo keep commanding him without fighting back now. He won't allow him to keep ignoring his questions. The silver haired child is determined to know more about his only family left, and he's done waiting.

Turning back to look at Sephiroth's determined face the scientist reiterates "That man, that thing is unimportant" he looks at Sephiroth and makes sure to answer his glare with a frown of his own "Go back to your training" Hojo tries to order the boy.

'If any of those Turks hear that name it'll bring complications to my work' the mere idea fills him with anger, anger that shows on his gaze, 'I can't let that name reach the ears of any of them, specially not of the Turk named Verdot'.

His thoughts are interrupted by the angry voice of the silver haired boy, "If you're not going to tell me my father's name then I want you to let me see him" Sephiroth demands, refusing to back down.

'This brat!' the scientist thinks gritting his teeth in anger. The mere idea of delaying his work on a child's whim is ridiculous. There is no way that he would allow that. 

He won't take Sephiroth back and much less bring the failure here. Valentine's body stayed in Nibelheim for a reason, he couldn't risk that abomination trying to escape once they arrived to Midgar.

However, in the same way, he also cannot risk the boy trying to leave to see the failure. 

'The boy's emotions are a serious hindrance to my work'.

"Very well then, I'll tell you his name" he conceded. "But I have conditions you'll have to follow". 

The boy clearly perks at his agreement but refuses to stop glaring at the scientist "What are the conditions?"

"You won't speak that name to anyone" Hojo orders. "I know you used to ask people about your mother Jenova, don't think I didn't notice", he gives Sephiroth a frightening glare, "I won't allow you to divulge more confidential information boy, if you do it again I'll make you regret your dreadful existence". 

The scientist wishes he could give Sephiroth more detailed warnings and restrictions. However, telling the boy that he's not allowed to look for information about Valentine will only make him suspicious. The kid is smart, he knows, he raised him to be like that.

'This is the most optimal choice, he won't be able to find data related to the Turks anyway', he scoffs 'Not like there is anything relevant about Valentine anymore, I made sure of that'.

Looking at the boy's eyes he stresses "Do you understand?"

"I do" Sephiroth calmly answers. He knew that it was highly unlikely that the Professor would allow him to see his father. However he also knew that by doing things this way he would be able to get at least one of his wishes. 

'I'm going to know my father's name'. The thought hits him suddenly, filling him with hope. 'Once I know father's name I'll be able to find more information about him'

Getting to know more about his family might help him fill some of the void left by the separation.

And even if he doesn't learn anything more from it, just knowing his father's name will be enough to make him happy until he gets his family back.

Anything he can find of his father is precious to him.

Keeping his eyes focused on the scientist Sephiroth eagerly awaits the answer. 

After some tense moment, Hojo turns his back to the boy and goes back to his work, he'll rather not have to look at the silver haired child when he says that name. The scientist lets out an annoyed breath, the only show of his displeasure, and starts writing on the console. In the silence that forms between them Hojo hisses "Vincent Valentine"

The words send an electric shock through Sephiroth body and he's forced to hold back the gasp that threatens to slip out.

He takes a moment to compose himself, a hand moving to his chest in a desperate attempt to slow down his erratic heartbeat.

Once he calms down and makes sure that the scientist isn't watching Sephiroth allows his gaze to soften. They were only two words but he's been waiting ever since that day in the underground lab to know them.

He can't stop how they make him feel. Like some weight has been lifted from his shoulders, like he found a piece of himself he didn't know he was missing.

There's a light-headedness, a feeling of contentment taking over his body.
'Vincent...Valentine...' 

A soft smile appears on his face. He finally has his answer.

Making sure to speak lowly so the scientist can't hear him he allows himself to whisper 'My father's name is Vincent Valentine'.

He feels complete.

_____

"Here's the information we managed to gather on the science department" a man with black hair puts a stack of papers on a desk.

"Is this all?"

"Is all we managed to get". The man sighs, "They've improved the security, whatever they're trying to hide must be a big deal"

The scarred man sitting at the desk opens the files and starts scanning through them, "SOLDIER'S WEAPON? Is this supposed to be a machine or?"

A shake of the head "A person, whoever this is", the black haired man points to some pages "must be a beast of a human being given the information, if it is human at all. We're talking about the science department after all."

"Anything we can use?"

"There seems to be plans to start some projects around nests of monsters in the slums, by the amount security and secrecy surrounding them I imagine they may be related to their new weapon."

The man sitting at the desk spends some moments in silent consideration, "Alright, continue the investigation and keep an eye on those projects" he starts tapping on the table, "I want as much as information we can get on that weapon and its possible level of threat"

"You got it boss!" With those words the man standing up leaves.

In the silence that follows the man on the desk ponders.

'I wonder... if I'll ever find out what happened on that place... Nibelheim'

"If only you were still here to answer my questions partner".

Chapter Text

"Gather all your gear, you're going on a extermination mission in an hour" Hojo orders from the door of the training room.

"A mission?" Sephiroth lowers his sword, he was in the middle of an exercise when the scientist interrupted him.

"We're going to the slums where you'll have to exterminate a nest of monsters under team A supervision" The scientist isn't even looking at him while he talks, busy reading something on his clipboard.

In that moment one of the assistants enters the room. Sephiroth recognises him as one of the members of the second team under Hojo's command "Professor the personnel and devices are ready"

"I see, very well, take your team to the installations and start the security protocol" the scientist orders.

"Understood" with a nod the assistant leaves the training room.

Once the child and the scientist are alone, Hojo proceeds to give Sephiroth the details of his mission, his orders and the protocol he must follow.

Unlike his other assignments this is going to be the first time he'll be allowed outside the building. 

He'll be finally able to see the world and the city that he's been kept away from.

Not even during the moving to Midgar was he allowed to watch the exterior, the vehicle they used to transport him didn't have windows. By the time he was let out there wasn't anything that let him see beyond the building's walls.

Even if this is a mission he's going to use this chance to learn as much as he can about the world and the people that live in it.

"Go on, gather your things and follow me" Hojo instructs while he moves to leave the room, "and remember" the man turns and glares at the kid, "your mission is to kill the monsters, do not interact with anyone. Do I make myself clear?".

"Yes Professor" 

"If you disobey, be ready to never leave this building ever again".

Once Sephiroth returns from his mission, he goes back to his room and lays in bed grateful for the experience. 

Yes, he was under strict orders and restrictions, but he was still able to look around the city, to see the sky and the faces of the people living here.

He might have had to put out with every scientist in there watching his every move but it was worth it. Besides, it's not like that kind of attention by them was foreign to him.

The routine continues from that day on. He is taken on extermination missions twice a week, all supervised by one team of assistants under Professor Hojo.

The man himself only being present for the first missions. The prospect of watching Sephiroth kill the same monsters all the time clearly not of his interest.

It doesn't bother Sephiroth, on the contrary, he would prefer to stop being one of the scientist's main priorities. 

Without Hojo's presence Sephiroth can allow himself to enjoy the new freedom he's gained.

Even if that freedom is just a imaginary temporary privilege.

It's during one of his supervised missions on the slums that something unusual happens.

The mission starts the same way as the previous ones, he is armed and then transported by Shinra personnel to the location of the monsters.

"Once we arrive at the outskirts of Sector 5 you'll be send alone to investigate the surroundings" one of the assistants tells him "Your mission is to find the nest of Wererats that has been attacking the locals of the area"

Sephiroth nods, 'it's an easy mission this time', he's dealt with this type of monsters already and he doesn't find them a problem at all. Only an annoyance by the sheer number of them sometimes.

"It should be easy enough for you to deal with, don't linger around and return as soon as you finish" the scientist that's leading the supervision team intones.

With another nod of his head he turns and starts walking, the scientist team watching him. Then, in a flash Sephiroth quickly moves forward to start the search. 

It doesn't take too long before the team of scientists tries to follow him. Rushing ahead with purpose Sephiroth makes sure to leave them behind. He knows they'll just give up eventually, they're used to his speed by now, they know they can't keep up.

The mission is nearly done and he's dealing with the last of monsters when he feels it, 'Somebody has been watching me' Sephiroth does his best to check the surroundings in his peripheral while fighting his enemies. 'It's not a scientist, whoever it is knows how to stalk their prey'.

From that point on Sephiroth is careful not to make any sudden movements that might let his stalker know that they've been spotted. If he wants to surprise his new opponent he'll need a plan, to be fast and deadly.

He makes sure to memorise the location of his stalker before he starts attacking the last remaining wererats.

The moment he cuts the last monster he runs towards the opposite side and proceeds to get lost on the rubble. By the time his opponent tries to follow him Sephiroth is already behind him, ready to strike, his speed unparalleled.

Only to stop once he realises that his stalker is a man with black hair wearing a dark blue suit.

The words are out of his mouth before he can stop them.

"Father?" He shouts.

The man turns around at his voice and Sephiroth's face falls. 'It's not him'.

The man has black hair like his father but it's not him, doesn't look like him.

Unlike his father the man has a scar on his cheek and a pair of glasses adorning his face. Looking closer his hair doesn't even look the same, the last time he saw his father his hair length was around his neck.

There are similarities but it's not him.

And it hurts.

Sephiroth knows he must move but he can't attack or run away. He's too busy trying to stop the tears forming in his eyes.

It was only for a second but he allowed himself to hope. The disappointment he now feels could last him a lifetime.

"Hey" Sephiroth thoughts are interrupted by the man speaking to him, "how old are you?"

The silver haired child doesn't answer, it's already bad that he let the man get close to him, not to mention talk to him.

But even knowing this he can't bring himself to attack, not when the stranger is wearing the same clothes as his father. 

This is the closest he's been to know something about one of his parents. He doesn't know if he should follow the rules Hojo gave him or to disobey and maybe get answers from this man.

Sephiroth's train of thought is once again interrupted by the man's voice "Hey kid, do think you could keep a secret" 

The silver haired child hesitates but nods in the end. He doesn't know what this person wants but it maybe be beneficial for him to play along until he finds out.

"Don't tell anyone you saw me, okay?" There's a strained smile on the man's face, like he wants to be reassuring but he can't bring himself to do it. "You'll get in trouble if anyone saw you, am I right?"

Sephiroth heartbeat raises. He barely manages to keep his gasp contained. However, by the man minuscule rise of eyebrows he knows something must have shown in his expression.

"How about we keep this meeting a secret between you and I?" The black haired man tries again, his voice calm. 

Sephiroth knows he should accept, the deal works for him too after all. However, if the man is being this insistent then maybe...

"I will, but only if you tell me why are you wearing those clothes" The boy hopes he made the right choice trying to get something in exchange from the man.

"My clothes?" There's a small twitch in the man's smile but his eyes show some curiosity.

"Yes, I only met one person dressed exactly like you, everybody else wears white coats. I want to know why you wear the dark suit." Sephiroth really hopes the black haired man gives him an answer he can work with, an answer worth the danger of keeping on with this conversation.

The suited man seems to ponder and whispers "White coats... so people from the Science Department". He hums in thought and looks at Sephiroth for a while, he must find whatever he searches for in his eyes for he answers "These are the clothes of a Turk, we work in the General Affairs Department"

'A Turk?'

Sephiroth heartbeat races. Finally, finally he has a lead, something to help him learn more about his father. Something that might be able to help him find him.

"Gotta go kid" the turk looks around, "you're going to keep our secret right?" He looks back at Sephiroth and the young boy nods causing the man to smile "Good". With that word the Turk leaves and disappears between the rubble.

Finding himself alone Sephiroth takes a moment for himself before he rushes to the location of the scientist's team. The assistants should be wondering about his whereabouts by now.

Once he arrives he sees that nothing is out of the ordinary and that the leader of the assistants is waiting for him in his usual spot.

"Have you finished?" The man asks the same question every time he comes back from the mission.

"I have" Sephiroth answer is the same as always too.

"Let's go back to the training room to analyse your progress of today's extermination" following those words the rest of the scientists start grabbing the equipment and moving everything back towards the tower.

Behind them Sephiroth follows, his mind running the same words over and over.

'Turk..., my father could be a Turk'

"I'm back" Katana, a black haired man with glasses, enters the office where the leader of the Turks awaits.

"What did you find?" Verdot, better known as Director Veld, asks from his seat at the Turks office.

The black haired man passes him a folder "They weren't lying when they called their new operative a weapon. The speed and strength that soldier used to kill the slums monsters was terrific. It was unlike anything I've ever seen before."

Veld frowns while he scrolls through the report, 'Fast reflexes, unparalleled speed and strength, ability to handle high level spells, inhuman characteristics, intelligence and strategy on par of a seasoned warrior'. Veld eyebrows raise with every word he reads. 'It's certainly worrisome that the Science Department has been working on something like this for so long without the knowledge of the Investigation Sector'.

Before he can continue reading the next pages with the details of the fight and its analysis, Veld is interrupted by the hesitant voice of his subordinate "There's something else boss, the new soldier operative, he...". It's certainly unusual for one of his men to hesitate to speak, it makes Veld lay down the papers on the table and pay full attention to what his subordinate is about the say. Eventually Katana continues "he, the weapon, he was a kid".

It takes a moment for the words to register. 

"A kid?" The director of the Turks is not easily surprised but this information manages to baffle him. 'A mere kid accomplished all of this?', looking back towards the papers on his desk Veld lets the thought to sink in, 'Science managed to turn a kid into a weapon?'.

Looking back towards his subordinate Veld asks "Can you confirm that?". None of the information on the report screamed child to him, far from it actually. He couldn't imagine anyone but a grown man doing all of this. "What made you come to that conclusion?" If there's a chance Katana is wrong he'll take it, (even if he knows that it is unlikely one of his senior Turks could make such a rookie mistake). 

The idea of having to consider a child as a threat and possible enemy is... uncomfortable, to say the least.

"Yes I can confirm it, I saw him with my own eyes, short little thing with silver hair and inhuman green eyes, thin but scarily strong body. Dangerous but a child nonetheless" Katana finishes.

"I see", Veld says, 'That explains why the science department is so tight lipped about it' his gaze goes back to the papers as he once again grabs them in his hands. 'Not many would agree with a child fighting monsters, much less having him in the front lines. They might be waiting for him to grow up enough to not be questioned'.

Verdot goes back to read the inform before looking again to his subordinate. There's some emotion dancing on Katana's eyes that has picked his curiosity. 

While the revelation of a literal child being used for SOLDIER is troubling, the truth is that seeing children involved in dark environments isn't unusual. There's even some recruits on the Turks that started young because of their previous precarious lifestyle. Although, most of them are teenagers not... children.

It wouldn't do to have his subordinate's worries unaddressed, it's never a good idea to let emotions get to you on the job.

"What's on your mind?" Veld asks the Turk standing in front of him.

It takes a second but Katana finally answers "Something else happened".

The deep sigh and words leave Veld wary. Anything left excluded from a report means delicate information that must be handled by certain people only.

"The kid spotted me"

"What?!" Whatever Veld was expecting wasn't that.

"It's nothing to panic, I managed to convince him to stay quiet about our meeting, but," there it is again, that unknown emotion, a look between uneasiness and worry.

"I can tell that getting caught isn't what's troubling you, just tell me what it is". Whatever managed to shake one of his men is sign of worry. Although, he can't imagine what could be more worrying than seeing a child being used by the Science Department.

"The kid called me father" Katana says interrupting his thoughts, "I didn't even notice he moved behind me until he spoke" By his subordinate's expression he realises what shook him wasn't being bested by a kid.

'So the kid called him father... that's what affected him?' It makes Veld ponder. Being a father himself he can imagine how something like that could shake you, but only one of his Turks is a father and it's not Katana so why...

"The moment I turned around however, the kid looked completely disappointed, heartbroken even, I swear I even saw some tears in his eyes" Katana continues.

Veld feels like there's more to this than what's he's hearing. "Did he tell you what caused him to mistake you?" 

"No but" and then his subordinate looks right into his eyes "the kid wanted to know why I was wearing the suit, said he met someone dressed exactly like me" the black haired man frowns, "and yet he didn't know about us Turks, it seems he's only around scientists".

'The kid met a Turk...?'

"How old did the kid look?" Veld asks, keeping his emotions from slipping into his voice. The answer to that question has the possibility to send his thoughts spiralling.

A sigh from the Turk in front of him. "I'm not sure but he's certainly too mature for whatever his age is. Physically, the kid looked around nine to eleven years old. His expression made him look older though".

"I see... anything else?" 

Katana shakes his head "Anything else of notice is on my report".

After a moment of silence Veld speaks again "Very well, tell me if you find anything else. You're dismissed".

"Sir!" With those words the man leaves Veld alone with his thoughts.

'Around eight to eleven years old, met someone who had black hair and dressed like a Turk. Whom the kid apparently considers his father...'

'It can't be, the timeline doesn't match.'

'But... if it were true, if it's him the kid met, it could mean that he was alive at some point and we didn't know'.

Have we been deceived all this time...

...could it be...that you were alive...

Vincent...

Chapter Text

Sephiroth is sent to more extermination missions the following week. During those times he makes sure to pay attention to his surroundings but there isn't anyone following him.

He repeats this behaviour for weeks until a month has passed but just like the other times there's nobody following on him. Sephiroth goes to the slums, he finishes his missions the same way he always does and returns without any inconveniences.

Having his routine uninterrupted shouldn't bother him as much as it does but he can't help being disappointed.

The second month however, a meeting with someone new changes things.

His day starts the same as always. 

Sephiroth is called to work during one of his training sessions. This time is team B who's taking him out to the slums and supervising his mission. Like the other times, their job consists on measuring his progress and comparing it to his previous data.

The mission however, is a little unusual. For the last two weeks the residents of the South area of Sector 5 had been forced to abandon their homes because of an infestation of ringmaw.

The extermination mission consists on inspecting the slums and eliminating any monsters nests he finds. He has to search the place and destroy the nests around the buildings, get the monsters out of the houses and also kill them with minimal property damage. Once he finishes he'll be taken back to the building as usual.

It won't be difficult but it will certainly take him time.

Two hours later, Sephiroth and the scientists arrive at the given location. And just like the other times, Sephiroth goes to investigate the area leaving the scientists behind.

He finds the first monsters and falls into the familial habit of getting rid of them. Sephiroth advances through the neighbourhoods taking care of the monsters until he's close to the Sector's outskirts.

He's finishing one of the last monsters when he feels it, someone's watching him. His body tenses, his vision sharpens, and his senses go into overdrive, unlike last time this opponent feels much more dangerous.

The silver haired child turns around and finds himself face to face with a brown haired man in a dark blue suit. A Turk, but different from before. This man is older, more experienced, with scars on his left cheek to show for it.

His serious demeanour and the stern look on his face sends shivers down his spine.

The SOLDIER child and the older Turk hold gazes for a while, analysing each other. Sephiroth can tell this man is dangerous and probably more knowledgeable in battle than he is. 

So he stays in place and waits for the man to make the first move.

The Turk turns around and starts walking, and after a moment of hesitation Sephiroth follows. Who knows, maybe this man could have the answers he's been looking for.

He's guided away from the centre of the street to more isolated and destroyed buildings where the monsters used to stay. It makes him suspicious but his senses tell him they're the only ones in the area so he continues walking.

They enter one of the abandoned buildings, moving around until they reach the hallway. The older Turk enters the room at the end, with Sephiroth following behind. 

Inside there's only a table and two chairs. The man stops and sits down resting his elbows on the table and his chin on his hands.

"Please sit down"

Finally meeting the boy and being face-to-face to him has Veld struggling to hide his emotions and intentions from his face.

It's certainly one of the most difficult tasks he's done in years.

The nose, the lips, the eyebrows, even the eye shape, the first time he caught sight of those features his heartbeat started rising. Even the posture and demeanour. The boy shares so many similarities to Vincent that it scares him. The probability scares him.

Could it really be true? Could he have been alive? 

Did Vincent had a child before dying? Is that how the kid fell into the hands of the Science Department?

Because that's the only way this could have happened. Veld refuses to consider any other option. The idea that Vincent would have given away his son just like that is inconceivable. That isn't like the man Veld would have asked to be Felicia's Godfather.

His gaze focus on the child in front of him. Despite telling him to sit down the boy remains standing.

If it's true that he has only interacted with scientists all this time, well, Veld can't blame him for not trusting him yet.

The Turk sighs, it appears his best bet now will be to take things slow and try to gain the child's trust first. 'I hope I can manage to make the kid cooperate'.

Veld tries to keep an open expression and says in a reassuring voice "I'm not here to harm you kid, I just want to talk". 

And it's the truth, weapon or not, Veld is not going to fight a kid. Because that's what this soldier is. Just a child.

A child that might be his friend's son.

If there was any doubt of Katana's words they would be gone by now. No matter what missions this boy may have accomplished, he's still nothing but a kid. 

A young boy who can't be older than twelve. 'He barely looks older than Felicia' Veld realises.

The silver haired boy looks behind him back towards the door, his head not turning away completely. By the way he stands, the kid's body is on guard. It's clear he's paying attention to any noise inside and outside the building, besides keeping his attention on Veld.

The Turk isn't blind to his behaviour 'This kid is ready to bolt or attack at any sign of trouble'.

"Don't worry about your supervisors, my men are making sure to make distractions so we can have a moment to talk".

His words manage to catch the boy's attention. The kid mouth twitches and his body language shifts. For a moment it seems like he'll ask a question but in the end the kid just stays silent.

When nothing else happens Veld takes the initiative again, "My name is Verdot, I'm the director of the General Affairs Department, otherwise known as the Turks. You met one of my men two months ago".

Giving information is a good tactic to gain trust, the Turk knows that, but the boy's face is so blank that if it wasn't because of Katana's report Veld would have believed the boy doesn't care.

Seconds pass by and the kid just keeps looking at the Turk director without saying anything.

It makes Veld sigh again. 'This is getting us nowhere' his hand goes to lay around his breast pocket, he hesitates for a second before making a decision.

'If he's really Vincent's, if he knows about him then maybe...'

He reaches into his pocket and pulls a photo.

A nostalgic feeling consumes him while he looks at it, but he can't allow himself to linger on them, with a sigh he lays the photo on the table. 

On it there's a man with short black hair facing the camera. He has red eyes, sharp features and a serious gaze. A look so neutral that it's impossible to guess what he could have been thinking the moment the photo was taken.

The man stands straight with his arms by his sides, his dark blue suit in perfect condition. The clear picture of a professional Turk. 

The bottom the photo reads 'Vincent Valentine'

It doesn't take long for the kid to lower his gaze to the photo. The moment he realises what's on the picture his eyes widen. In the blink of an eye he's closer to the table, empty chair pushed to the side.

The kid's green eyes have a laser focus on the picture of the Turk. His eyes growing larger the more time he looks at it, clearly taking on every detail he can find.

The boy's small hands tremble while he gets closer, his intention to touch the photo clear. However, before he can even reach the table, the kid freezes.

Suddenly the kid's eyes snap to look at Veld's face and his hand quickly retracts. His face then goes completely blank, as if his previous reaction didn't happen or matter.

The entire scene raises alarm bells for the veteran Turk. 

He knows that what he saw wasn't a common reaction for a kid. And that the level of fear in the boy's eyes wasn't normal for such a small reaction either.

It was as if he was afraid of the consequences of touching the picture. And at the same time, he looked terrified that if he showed he wanted it, Veld would take it away.

Imagining his own daughter in the boy's place makes the Turk's chest hurt. He wants to say something but he also knows that he shouldn't raise attention to what he saw, the kid doesn't trust him yet, now's not the time.

Taking a deep breath Veld tries to focus on the actual reason he's here and asks "Do you know who the man in the photo is?", and then he waits.

The kid stays silent, lips pressed in a thin line. Reluctant to even make a noise now.

But Veld won't stop trying, not after seeing the boy's reaction. He searches inside his pocket again and pulls out another photo.

This time there's two people in the picture. A young Vincent standing next to a younger Veld, both men smiling proudly with their arms on each other's shoulders.

The boy's eyes follow every movement from Veld. From the moment he touches his pocket to the moment his hand lays the new photo on the table.

It's somewhat unnerving to have the kid complete attention focused on him, the predatory glint of slitted green eyes sends shivers down his spine. And it's not until those eyes remain glued to the new photo that he's able to breath again. 'I didn't even realise that I was holding my breath'.

Now that he has caught the boy's interest Veld dares to try again, he points to the picture and declares "This photo was taken more than a decade ago, after my partner and I successfully finished our first mission together as a team".

The Turk can tell the kid is listening intently by the diminutive tilt of his head. It seems he made the right choice. Checking his pocket again he then proceeds to lay another photo on the table.

This time the photo only shows the black haired man sitting at a desk frowning at some papers. Veld pointedly avoids looking at the photo.

There's no point in letting his thoughts wander. He spend enough time the last years sitting in his office regretting his choices. There's was nothing he could do then, but now, now he might have the chance.

He lets the kid analyse the photo for some time before speaking. "This is the last photo that I have of my partner before he left for a mission and never returned"

The silence that follows is suffocating.

Veld eyes linger on the boy, the boy that reminds him so much of his friend. The kid who could be a small copy of Vincent if it wasn't for the silver hair and the cat-like green eyes.

'How did that even happened? Was he just born like that or is it Science's doing?'

Veld's thoughts suddenly come to a stop when he looks at the kid's face and he notices the shine of the boy's eyes.

'Are those...? Is he about to cry?!'

The kid's eyes had filled with tears while looking at the photos, but he's not crying yet. It looks like he's holding back his tears, his face twitching but not moving or showing any emotions.

'Who told you that you couldn't cry kid?' The Turk can't help but wonder with a heavy heart.

He debates saying something but in the end Veld just stays silent, looks to the side and lets the silver haired kid have a moment to himself. 

The boy doesn't make any noise but when Veld dares to look back again he finds tears running down the boy's cheeks. He's also looking at Veld, waiting.

It seems he can finally starts making questions, the Turk decides to ask the same one again, "Do you know who this man is?"

The child gulps and looks down. Veld merely waits, it's clear to him that the kid is just taking a moment to think about what to say. And after all he's seen he believes the kid deserves a little patience.

It's painful to see how someone so young can have such an iron control over himself as to cry and yet not show any emotions. It breaks his heart.

Vincent's kid or not, this is still a child who is being used as a weapon by a group of people who cares about nothing but results. It's clear to him that for the scientists this boy's innocence and childlike nature were never a concern.

'What a cruel life you've been living boy'.

His focus goes back to the silver haired child when he sees him move. 

Getting closer to the table and looking at him in the eyes the kid answers his question in a calm voice, "Yes, I know who he is".

Veld waits. And eventually, he's rewarded for it.

"The man in the photo... is Vincent Valentine". The boy softy adds.

There's something in the kid's voice that the Turk can't decipher. Mainly because he can't really concentrate. Not when his emotions are all over the place.

Under the table Veld's hands tightly grip the fabric of his pants, his mind running wild, 'How long has it been since I heard anyone say that name? Years? A decade?'.

Against his better judgement he dares to ask another question. "How do you know about him?".

'Please don't say, please don't say it. Please-'

"He's... he's my father". The boy whimpers.

There's a certain vulnerability in the kid's eyes that feels wrong to see. It makes him look so much younger 'Young as Felicia'.

Veld closes his eyes to avoid looking at the boy while he tries his best to keep his emotions hidden but his voice still catches when he asks "Your... father?"

There aren't enough words to describe all that he's feeling; anguish, despair, anger, the feeling that he failed both his partner and this child he just met.

He wants answers. No, he needs answers.

What happened to Vincent, what happened to this kid, who's the mother, what happened to her.

Before he can try to ask more questions, however, his phone vibrates. 

It's a message from his Turks.

They've run out of time.

"Kid, you need to go back, your supervisors will be checking on you soon". As much as it pains him to say those words he can't put the kid and himself in danger. Nobody can know about their meeting, the risk is too high.

The boy, however, doesn't move, his eyes remain glued to the photos.

"Kid you need to go" Veld stands up ready to try to coarse the boy to leave when he speaks.

"Please" the kid's brittle voice is barely audible but it still manages to freeze the Turk. When the young boy sees that Veld isn't angry or about to reprimand him, he continues "Can I keep one photo?" The kid's lower lip trembles, "Please"

The director of the Turks knows he can't risk information regarding him or any other Turk falling into outsiders' hands, and yet before he can even consider telling the kid 'no'...

"Please" 

The pain in that voice has him faltering.

'If the kid is telling the truth and he's really Vincent's...'

Veld sighs and looks to the table. Without giving himself time to change his mind he grabs the first photo and offers it to kid.

"Keep it hidden, don't let anybody see it" he orders.

He doesn't even get to see the boy's reaction to his words because by the moment he finishes his sentence the kid is already in front of him leaning on table.

Veld can't help it, he flinches. 'Right, inhuman speed, I can't forget that'. 

The child looked so pitiful while begging that he couldn't stop himself from lowering his guard. He has to be careful not to repeat that mistake.

Veld looks down at his hand holding the photo of his partner. He's half expecting the kid to just rip the photo from his fingers but instead of doing that, the boy slowly reaches with his hands and gently grabs the photo. 

Holding it close with such a reverence and care that if it wasn't for the earlier display he wouldn't have believed he was the so called weapon of SOLDIER.

"I'll find you another time and then we'll talk more, okay? I'll make sure we have more time next time. All I ask is that you don't speak about this meeting to anybody. If somebody asks you don't know me or anyone from the Turks, you never saw us, understood?"

The boy hesitates before quickly nodding.

Standing like this, face impassive but eyes full of emotion, Veld can't stop the thought that he looks just like Vincent did before he left. When he found him standing alone in the office and holding the deceased Dr. Grimoire Valentine's possessions.

Now having himself faced with the same picture again, he can't stop himself from wishing fate wasn't so cruel.

Shaking his head he looks to the silver haired child who unlike before, now seems completely unaware of his surroundings. The so called weapon just keeps gently running his fingers through the surface of photo, eyes soft. 

Once kid chooses the pocket closer to his heart to keep the photo, Veld just closes his eyes painfully and lets out a breath. 

His eyes open wide, however, when the kid speaks to him on his own volition for the first time since they met.

In a soft hoarse voice and with eyes full of gratitude, the kid gently says, "Thank you sir" and leaves so quickly that the Turk doesn't even have the time to answer him back.

Finding himself alone in the room Veld just stands still for a while before his legs start to fail and he needs to sit down. 

Curling into himself, he lets his head fall into his hands and sighs.

In the solitude of the empty house the leader of the Turks weeps.

"Are you done boy?"

Sephiroth nods, he arrived just in time to avoid having the scientists' search for him.

"Let's go back, we'll check your progress at the lab". With another nod the silver haired boy follows behind the group.

In that moment if the scientists had cared enough to turn around and check on Sephiroth they would have seen him what at that point marked the start of their end.

The boy's genuine smile, the tears in his eyes and the small hand on his chest shaking, they showed his first change ever since coming to Midgar.

The hope Sephiroth had thought he lost, he had it back. Now, now Sephiroth had reasons to believe that his father could be helped.

And he would stop at nothing to save him.

Chapter Text

During one of his extermination missions, when he's alone and done with the monsters, Sephiroth takes a moment to appreciate the photos he has of his parents.

He keeps both, his father's photo and his mother's, in the front pocket of his uniform. A place where they're secured and of easy access.

Every time he takes them out to observe them he's mindful of his surroundings, checking beforehand that there's no people or cameras around. Sephiroth is always careful.

He's aware that if he makes a mistake and Hojo finds out about the photo of his father, he won't be the only one suffering the consequences. He knows the scientist will find a way to know about his meeting with the Turks.

And beyond that, as childish as it may be, Sephiroth doesn't know what he'll do if the photo is found and taken from him.

Right now, the photos of his parents are his main comfort from the suffering in the labs. They're what keeps him strong.

When the scientists take his battered body to his room and he finds himself alone in the dark, trying to imagine what a normal life could have been like is what keeps his mind away from the lingering pain in his body.

He spends hours daydreaming about how different his life could have been with a loving family.

To have his parents read to him, tuck him into bed, take him outside and teach him about the world.

He can't be blamed for wanting that kind of life, right?

It is what comforts him when he's pushed to his limits and everything becomes too much.

And if Sephiroth sometimes imagines himself in his parents' arms with brown hair and red eyes that's also only for him to know.

'Is it so bad for me to wish for a normal life?'

'To dream of being... like everybody else?'

Sephiroth always knew that he was different from the rest, unusual. The scientists would often whisper about his appearance, how they found his eyes frightening, his silver hair uncanny.

They thought he didn't hear them but he did. He heard their speculations, their theories, their suspicions. Everything.

Seeing his parents' appearance only confirmed what Sephiroth has always suspected, always known.

That whatever they were doing to him in those labs was making him different, an abomination.

And he knows that his abilities, his power, makes people afraid. He knows that every time he grows stronger people become more wary, distrustful, watchful.

All dangerous reactions when it comes to scientists.

It only fuels his desire to escape from the labs and the tests.

It's all he's ever known, and yet, he refuses to let it be what defines him.

Sephiroth used to tell himself that there was no point in wishing for something different, that nothing ever changed for the better. But now it's different, now there is hope.

Hope that makes Sephiroth want to leave. He wants his father back, to get away, with him, have a taste of the normal life that he's always been denied.

Meeting the Turks has allowed him to hope for something different, something better. The fact that they became possible allies makes Sephiroth eager to see them once again.

He tries not to but he's on the look out for the Turk's director on all of his missions. He knows the man won't approach him so soon after their last meeting but he can't stop his eagerness.

When he went back to his room after their encounter he had the time to think about what was said during their meeting. And now he can't wait see them again, to have the answers to all the questions that have plagued him all these years.

That man, Verdot, he knew his father. He knew him.

He said they were partners, and in the photo he showed Sephiroth they looked comfortable with each other, happy. 

They looked like the kind of friends Professor Gast told him about.

It might be foolish to trust in someone he just met but he hopes the man isn't lying to him, that he can convince him to help him save his father.

Because this is the first chance Sephiroth has had in months and he has no plans to waste it.

In another place of the company, more specifically the Turk department, Veld has been locked in his office for days trying to find anything he can on the boy. 

He hates to admit it but most of his attempts have been unsuccessful. 

Everything about the SOLDIER project is confidential, so tightly guarded that not even his best Turks can find anything either. 

What little data Veld managed to gather in the documents from the last ten years, has nothing on the silver haired boy.

And as a Turk, is frustrating to find so little of something so important like this.

All he actually knows about the kid comes from what Katana told him and from what he saw from his meeting with the boy.

And that information doesn't paint a nice picture, at all.

From what Veld understands, the boy is probably being kept a secret from everyone outside Science.

After all, the company's directors and the other departments lack any information about SOLDIER, much less of their best "WEAPON".

In addition to that, the kid has been most likely isolated since birth because nobody saw him until now. There's not even video or audio material to prove his existence.

The boy's comment about only being surrounded by scientists would make sense in that context too.

What's worse is that it seems that the kid is traumatised too.

'Ignoring his reactions, there's no way the kid's mental health hasn't suffered by his living conditions'.

It makes Veld sigh, the more he thinks about the kid's life the more exhausted he feels.

'And adding his connection to Vincent...'

Vincent, who left for Nibelheim and never returned. 

He won't admit it aloud but he's starting to have doubts about the reports of his partner's death. There wasn't even a body left after all, nothing concrete to show his demise but for the fact that he never returned.

Not to mention that the Nibelheim team didn't even report his death on time but did it only once updates were expected from them. Making it impossible for Veld to investigate since it was already too late to take any meaningful actions.

As a Shinra employee he knows not to doubt or question the company but as a Turk...

Veld lets out a deep sigh again.

'It seems the only way to get answers is to ask the SOLDIER kid. The kid who may know more or less the same as us considering he didn't even know what a Turk was'.

The thought makes Veld run his hands through his hair in frustration, 'What a fucking nightmare'.

His train of thought gets interrupted by a knock on the door.

Since Veld has asked not to be bothered unless it was an emergency, and nobody would be as foolish as to interrupt him after that warning, it's probably Katana who's knocking.

"Come in." The Turk Director orders while he rests his chin on his hands, elbows on the table.

Katana enters the room, "Boss, we managed to get the information on the kid's next mission", and offers Veld a stack of papers. "We believe they're going to take him to Sector 7. There's been a rise of monsters in that area".

Veld takes the papers from him and quickly scans them, searching for the information his subordinate is giving.

"There's been an increase of security on the surroundings areas as well as more activity from unidentified Shinra personnel, and everything else we found makes this place the best possible for another SOLDIER mission." The Turk waits until Veld finishes reading before adding in an quiet voice, "Boss, I have to ask... is this truly necessary?"

Veld can't help but raise his head at those words, and having the director's full attention the younger Turk continues, "We're risking a lot by doing this, if the science department were to find out or anyone else for that matter..."

When Katana's voice lowers, Veld lays the papers on the table and properly faces his subordinate "I understand your worries, but this isn't a matter of only investigating a threat from another department anymore". The older Turk's words give Katana a pause.

After a moment of consideration Veld decides to elaborate further. 'If things escalate I'll have to involve the entire department anyway, might as well give them a warning first'. "What are Turks loyal to?"

"We're loyal to Shinra". As expected Katana doesn't even falter on his answer. 

But that answer won't be enough in this situation. "Let me ask again, what are Turks ultimately loyal to?"

Veld's words give Katana a pause, once he understands however, his eyes widen, turning sharp and serious in an instant. "First and foremost Turks are loyal to the Turks". 

Satisfied with the answer Veld nods and continues "And that's the reason why I'm investigating this matter regardless of the risks". He sighs and hesitates, before looking at his subordinate with what must be the most serious expression he's had in years. "It's possible that the boy holds information about what happened to one of ours. Most specifically what happened to my partner, Vincent Valentine, ten years ago".

Katana is frozen in shock by the information. Everyone that was a Turk around ten years ago knows how the death of his partner affected the Director. And he wasn't the only one, the other Turks were also shaken by the circumstances. The lack of concern by the company regarding the demise of a fellow Turk was a cause of indignation for all of them.

Katana suddenly understands how serious and delicate the situation is. He nods and declares confidently "And as Turks we take care of our own. I understand now Boss. Shall I notify the others about this?"

After a moment of consideration Veld makes a decision "Yes, I'll like to get as much time as I can to talk to the boy, and for that we'll need to be as prepared as we can be during this mission".

With a nod Katana says "Understood" and exits the room, leaving the Turk Director to his own devices.

Now finding himself alone again Veld looks back to the papers on the table and ponders. 'If the boy actually knows what happened... if he's telling the truth and he's really Vincent's son....'

'If that's the case, then, beyond being an ally that will also make him family'

'And we Turks take care of our family'.

Chapter Text

"Get your gear ready, we're leaving in ten"

Sephiroth stops all his movements, sword suspended in the air. It seems his routine in the training room will get interrupted once again by one of Hojo's scientists.

"You have a new mission, don't be late" with those words the lab assistant leaves the room leaving Sephiroth alone. With a sigh the silver haired boy lowers his katana and moves towards the lockers. 'There's nothing I can do about this but listen'.

Finding his belongings, the boy starts taking out his equipment for field missions.

He doesn't want to get his hopes up but who knows, maybe he'll get lucky and he'll finally see the Turks this time.

Like Sephiroth hoped, Hojo is sending him on an extermination mission in the slums. Which means more chances for him to meet the Turk leader or his subordinates. His last missions were on the upper plate and he's pretty sure the Turks wouldn't have tried to contact him there.

As for his mission this time, he's tasked with the elimination of a nest of monsters on one of the biggest neighbourhoods of Sector 5. 

Trying not to get his hopes up, he follows the group of scientists tasked with the job of gathering information on his fighting progress.

Everything is the same as always.

He is told to to follow the protocol, and then when they get the machines ready, they let Sephiroth go get rid of the monsters.

Sephiroth is advancing through the west part of the neighbourhood when he notices movement from his peripheral. In the shadows of an alley, a man in dark suit drops something in the ground before quickly disappearing. Making sure to act natural, he manages to get close of the location while dodging some of the monsters' attacks. In the dark he finds a small can with a paper inside, it has a location written on it, along with instructions for him to follow.

The silver haired boy takes care of the last of the monsters before moving to speak with the scientists supervising him. Making sure not to show anything on his face Sephiroth declares "I've taken care of the monsters. However, after analysing their behaviour I believe they might be hiding a nest closer to the outskirts. I'm going there to investigate and take care of anything that might need my attention".

"We'll follow you. Everybody! gather the equipment and prepare to mov-" 

The scientist turns to address his team but Sephiroth interrupts him. "No, stay here. If you try to follow me you'll only slow me down and get in the way." 

"We can't let you go on your own, we have to gath-"

"You already gathered enough data from my fight just now, your presence is not necessary anymore", with a frown the boy declares "I'll go alone and you'll wait here, end of discussion". It takes every ounce of control for him not to show how truly scared he actually feels. Sephiroth never fought back against the assistants or tried to order them around, he doesn't how they'll react.

The scientist in charge angrily stalks towards Sephiroth and tries to threaten him, "Listen here kid, you don't give the orders, you're just-", he makes a move to grab Sephiroth, but the silver haired boy is faster, gripping the man's arm he warns, "If we get back late to the labs only to deliver the same useless information, it won't be because of my lack abilities but rather because of your incompetence" his grip tightens, "And you know how Professor Hojo reacts to incompetent people. I can take the punishments but can you?".

The boy's words manage to silence the man, the other scientists look at each other without saying anything. After a while their team leader tries to free himself again to no avail. When his efforts prove to be in vain the man just sighs and relents "You better come back before someone else realises you're gone". His words would have been taken more seriously if there wasn't a noticeable tremble in the man's voice. In the end, Sephiroth lets go of the man and allows him to get away from him. Luckily for the boy the scientist doesn't look angry anymore, just frustrated. 

The silver haired boy nods in agreement "I will return as soon as possible" and with those words he turns and speeds towards the location given to him. Moving in different directions just in case someone tries to follow or record him.

You can never be too careful when dealing with scientists.

Following the instructions on the paper he found, Sephiroth arrives to a deserted part of the outskirts of Sector 5. He's looking for the building hidden between destroyed machines when he notices a few people in suits making their way towards the place where he left the scientists.

Trying not to think too much about it Sephiroth just moves to the meeting place. Once inside the designated building he uses his senses to find the location of the only heartbeat in the building. And when he enters the room, he finds himself face to face with the person in charge of the Turks. The man who also knew his father and that might be his only hope now. Director Verdot.

Nodding to the boy in greeting Veld smiles and gestures to the chair in front of him saying, "Please, sit down". The older man clearly has the intention to lead the conversation but the boy interrupts him before he can even continue.

"Can you tell me about my father?" The kid suddenly blurts. There's now an unexpected light shinning in Sephiroth's eyes, the boy shows none of the hesitation to speak that he had in his previous meeting with the Turk.

Veld can't help but look at the kid in shock. He wasn't expecting the boy's new behaviour but he has to admit that it's a pleasant surprise. And, by the boy's widening eyes it seems he wasn't the only one surprised by the action. The older man can't help but find himself relieved to see the boy do such an innocent gesture such as trying to hide his embarrassed face inside his collar. 'It reminds me of Vincent hiding his face behind his bangs'.

Letting out an amused huff Veld smiles sadly and motions towards the chair once again, "Is there anything specific you would like to know?". They have more time now than they did before, it won't hurt to answer some of the kid's questions.

The kid eagerly sits down and leans forward before his face falls, "I- I don't know" all the questions he practised before are forgotten at the prospect of finally getting answers.

Veld takes pity on the boy and says "Well, why don't you tell me what you know about Vincent and I can fill in with what I know".

It should be impossible but the kid's face falls further, "Then anything you can tell me is good, I only know father's name and looks". The boy looks down and seems to shrink on himself, all his previous excitement gone, something clearly bothering him by the haunted look in his eyes.

'So he doesn't know much about Vincent, not a surprise considering he wouldn't have gotten to meet him but' he sighs, 'What can I tell this child who looks ready to cry at the mere mention of who he believes is his father...' it doesn't take long for Veld to make up his mind.

"He... Vincent, he was a good man, not the most sociable of men but certainly one of the few ones that had their heart in the right place". The kid looks up at hearing Verdot's words, "Vince was... of the best of us, stern, logical and a beast with guns, but he was also kind when the situation warranted it, showing compassion that others didn't have". He might have his doubts about the boy's story but there's something so earnest on his eyes while he listens... it makes it difficult for him not to believe him or to look directly at his eyes.

'I'm telling him what anyone who knew Vincent could tell him and yet, he's looking at me like I hanged the moon and stars'. Veld doesn't feel like he deserves to be looked upon with such reference by those big awed green eyes of the kid that hangs on his every word.

His thoughts get interrupted by the soft and timid voice of the young boy who asks, "You... Were you and my father... friends?"

And at that Veld can't help but smile fondly, "We were, he was my partner and for us Turks, your partner is someone you're willing to die for, someone you can always trust to stay by your side and watch your back", his smile vanishes "In the past you hardly saw Turks without their pair..."

The kid easily notices the change in Veld's demeanour and after a moment of thinking in silence he frowns and lightly reprimands, "Then, why weren't you with my father? You said he left for a mission and never returned, why weren't you with him on that mission if partners are always together?"

It seems that it was easy for the boy to notice Veld's sombre mood and follow his line of thought, 'Smart kid'.

"That mission, the one Vincent was sent off, was of high confidentiality, only one Turk was allowed to participate and I thought," his throat closes and he swallows, "I thought it would be good for him, for Vincent". He doesn't say what else is running through his mind. That he thought it would help on taking his friend's mind off their failures, of the fact that no matter how hard they tried they couldn't find evidence of what truly happened to Grimoire Valentine. Despite their best efforts they never discovered what happened to Vincent's father, what killed him.

Seeing how everything turned up, he can't help but find the situation ironic, 'Had I known what would happen, I would have pushed for the boss to sent me with him, I would have tried harder to support him in any way I could'. But there's no point in getting stuck in the what ifs and his regrets now.

"Kid, I need you to know that I never intended for your father to meet his end in that place. He was my friend, I never wanted anything bad to happen to him" it doesn't surprise Veld to see that the kid is not longer listening to him, he can guess what part of his speech has gotten his attention on.

"Meet... his end? What do you- You can't mean- that's- that's not-"

Here it goes, he's been dreading speaking of this since he realised the kid was looking for Vincent. Taking a deep breath Veld prepares to tell the truth to the young boy.

"Because kiddo, your father... he was reported dead years ago,", he sends the kid a soft sympathetic look, "more specifically, ten years ago"

He expects tears, shock, maybe anger from the kid that has been listening so eagerly and intently to Veld talk about his partner. But instead what he finds is confusion and strong denial in the boy's eyes

"That's, you're wrong..." silver hair flows everywhere when the kid vehemently shakes his head.

"Kid, I know it's difficult-"

"You're wrong!" the panicked boy raises from his seat sending his chair clattering to the ground "Father is not dead! I saw him! I saw him! He was breathing!" The little boy insists desperately.

Veld gasps in shock, "Kid-"

"He was alive! Father was..." the young boy shakes his head, "Father is alive!", he hoarsely screams before brokenly repeating the same whispers over and over again, "Father is alive... I saw him, I saw him". 

Veld's thoughts are mess wondering if he should comfort the boy while he tries to desperately process his words.

"You... you saw him?" The Turk gulps and starts to rise shakily from his chair, "You saw him... and he was... alive? Breathing?"

"Yes" the kid's answer is clear but there's tears forming on his eyes, his little arms move to hug himself, "I met father when I was seven years old and... I know he's alive"

"You met him..." Veld can't keep the disbelief from showing on his face. His hands shake.

"Father was breathing when I last saw him, he was moving too, twitching..."

"When you were seven..." the information makes Veld pause, "That's..., how old are you?"

"I'm ten", the boy whispers seeming to shrink on himself, it makes him look smaller than he is, "I was nine when I saw father for the last time"

"If what you're saying it's true then, you met Vincent three years ago... you... you knew him for nearly three years..." there's wonder in Veld's voice before he pauses and frowns "You say you've met him, if that's true how come you don't really know much about him?"

He doesn't want to doubt the boy now, there's a lot he could do with the information he's been giving him but there's also a lot of things that don't make sense. 

Asking that question however, seem like it is the wrong thing to do because now the kid is trying to curl harder into himself, his little arms holding onto his sides for dear life, knuckles white.

"Father... father couldn't speak, he, Profess-, Hojo-, he kept him in a tank on life support"

The kid's words freeze the Turk in place. Veld cannot speak, absently he realises he's not even breathing. 'Hojo kept Vincent in a tank? Hojo? The same scientist who sent the report that Vincent died in a lab accident? The same man that took over the department that is now keeping Vincent's son hidden from the world?'

Veld sharply stands up and turns away from the boy. He faces the wall while his body shakes with barely retrained rage and disbelief. The indignation he feels is so strong that he doesn't know if wants to laugh or scream.

He wants answers, no, he needs the answers. Veld needs to know how everything went so wrong. But he doesn't want to start making demands at the kid. Not when it's so obvious that he's barely holding himself together, it's a difficult topic for him too.

He focus on his Turk training to force his body to calm down and find any resemblance of control back first. Once he thinks his voice won't betray him, he turns around back towards the kid and asks, "Do you-" Veld clears his throat, "Do you know what happened to him? How Vincent ended up in that condition?"

'If it was Hojo's doing...' The Turk clenches his fists.

"I don't know", lowering his head the kid whispers, "I'm sorry".

At seeing the state of the kid, all the anger leaves Veld's body. He deflates, sitting down back again "It's alright, you didn't do anything wrong", he tries to reassure the kid and questions softly "Do you know where he was? Anything you can tell me helps"

At that the boy perks a little, "I don't know the exact location but Father was in the same building the scientists and I were before. I know we were both underground, but father was kept in a different lab, an old one"

'The same building the kid and the scientist were before, that is...'

...Nibelheim

Vincent has been in Nibelheim all this time...

"FUCK!"

All of Veld's previous composure is lost as he slams his hands on the table and rises from his chair, "FUCK!", he turns away from the kid and wildly runs his hands through his hair while he tries to breath "All this time! All this fucking time! I can't fucking believe-" Before he can start his tirade however, a cold voice snaps.

"Mister Verdot"

Suddenly all his thoughts come to an stop and he turns his shocked face to look at the boy.

The kid is hugging himself for dear life, hands grabbing tightly at his sides, knuckles white from the effort. He's truly scared, it's obvious and yet...

"Mister Verdot..." There's a fire in those green eyes that wasn't there before, "Are you going to help me save my father?"

The kid is struggling to breath, hardly managing to keep at bay the tears forming in his eyes. And yet, he still manages to glare at Veld with a viciousness he's only seen on people who are ready to do anything to get what they want, those who have nothing to lose.

"Are you going to get him out?". Bright green eyes stay focused on him.

But Veld already made his mind before the kid even dared to ask.

"Yes", Veld declares, he properly faces the silver haired boy and with clenched fists he declares once again, "Yes. I promise you, I'm going to get Vincent out of there. I'll be damned if I let things stay like this, I'll take action, you have my word".

It seems those were the words the kid was waiting for to finally release the tears he's been holding. Making sure his steps are loud and noticeable Veld gets closer to the boy and softly puts a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I'm sure this must have been difficult for you" trying not to scare the boy Veld gently grabs his other shoulder and gives him a squeeze, "You did a great job kid, I promise that I'll do anything in my power to bring Vincent back to us okay? I promise".

The kid nods and looks back at Veld with a tear stained face and red puffy eyes. The older man can't help but give the boy a soft smile. "What's your name kid?". 'I can't believe it took me this long to ask this, I have to get my shit together'.

He sees the boy sniff and quickly clean his face with his arms and hands before looking at Veld with a serious expression that honestly looks out of place on his young face.

"Sephiroth Sir, my name is Sephiroth." With a straight posture the kid offers his hand to the Turk leader in a way that brings back memories of his old partner "It's a pleasure to meet you"

And Veld hit by the nostalgia of his first meeting with his friend, can't help but he let out a deep and wet laugh. Taking the offered hand, he shakes it firmly and declares, "It's a pleasure to meet you too Sephiroth".

It's only once he's back at his office that Veld can fully digest the all the information the kid has given him. 

He's glad he finds himself alone when he's hit by the full horror of all of it.

Dark... alone...

"I know we were both underground, but father was kept in a different lab, an old one"

Scared... tortured...

...

A lab, Vincent was kept in a lab.

...

And so was the kid.

...FUCK

Chapter Text

It's easy for Veld to gather a team to travel to Nibelheim. Katana made sure to inform only the oldest and more experienced Turks about the situation regarding Science, because of that, they were ready to jump in action the moment Veld called them. Having everything ready for the mission, the group of Turks leave Midgar.

The trip to Nibelheim is tense, as nobody dares to say a word after hearing the updates Veld gave of the situation. 

Yes, the Turks' ultimately loyalty isn't to Shinra, is to the Turks, that's the truth, but that doesn't change the fact that only the Turks know about that. On the outside they serve Shinra with utmost professionalism and unwavering loyalty, it is their impeccable performance on duty what makes them invaluable assets to the company. So for the Turks to discover that one of their own (and a great Turk at that) was used and kept hidden by the Science Department, is inconceivable. It's the ultimate insult to each of them who ever risked and lost their lives for the company. And to know that all of that happened years ago under their very nose, that it took a decade for them to known, well, it's not a surprise that all the Turks are filled with rage. 

"You say you don't know what happened to Vincent right?"

"I don't but, Professor- Hojo, he- the things he did to the creatures he kept in the tanks... they could never stay alive for long, they couldn't, not after all that torture..."

The lack of morals of the Science Department, Hojo and the President (because none of that could have been possible without his approval) is specially disturbing to the Turks with a family waiting for them back home.

Knowing that the company they serve sees them as nothing but disposable waste is not really surprising. However, knowing that Shinra is willing to use not only them but also their families enrages them. It's infuriating and absolutely terrifying to think that any of them or their loved ones could end up as nothing but lab subjects one day. 

The possibility that that could have already happened and they might not even know it is a fear they refuse to give voice to yet.

"What can you tell me about the place Vincent was kept?"

"It was... dark, just like the other parts of the lab. I know now that the reason for that was because we were underground"

"They never took you outside?"

"No, the first time I saw the exterior... it was on my last day there. I couldn't see much with all the rush but I managed to look outside the window just for a moment. I still remember them..., the mountains..."

They arrive at night, when all the villagers of Nibelheim are sleeping, or at least most of them are. But for a group of experienced Turks a little inconvenience isn't a problem.

The weather is cold and the night is calm. Which means that there won't be any dangerous monsters in the forest surrounding the Shinra Manor. An advantage for the team that wants to avoid anyone noticing them.

Once they set a path through the forest it doesn't take long for the Turks to arrive at the Manor's door, nor is it a struggle for them to break in and start to investigate.

"Both of you were underground right? In the... labs..."

"We were but, it wasn't the same, I had a bedroom but father..., he was always in the tank"

"I imagine you two weren't near the other considering how you described the old lab being isolated from the rest of the place"

"No... we weren't..."

"..., but?"

"Nothing, it's just... I was remembering when I managed to sneak out for the first time"

"Oh? Were you trying to escape or...?"

"No! I- I wanted to sleep in the old lab... to stay with father, I really tried but... "

"...They found out, didn't they?"

"They did... and- and it wasn't fair! I just!- ...I just didn't want father to be alone..."

The Shinra Manor is completely abandoned but there are still some boxes left by the scientists laying around. 

The Turks take what they can, leaving important papers untouched, just in case someone returns before they can properly erase the proof of being there.

They check the rooms, take photographs and investigate the place, all while looking for the old room the kid told them about. 

Eventually their search leads them to the main labs where they find all kinds of scientific research, varying from normal human health investigations to results of trials consisting on horrifying inhuman experimentation. The complete lack of ethics and morals leaves more than one of them nauseous.

Ignoring the horrors they find takes much more effort than they could ever have expected but in the end they manage to move forward. They have no choice but to ignore the implications of what they read until they find the moment when they are able to fully process them.

Soon they reach the isolated door that is meant to lead into the old lab. If anything the kid said is true then behind that door they will find the missing Vincent Valentine.

With a sign from Veld the Turks break into the room. 

Inside, everything is like they were told, everything but one thing. The room is abandoned, much more neglected than the rest of the manor. The Turks find the tank and the console Sephiroth described, but what they don't find is their comrade.

Veld is probably lucky that one of his men choses that very moment to burst into the room and interrupt them, or else he has no idea how he would have reacted.

All that work, all that hope and in the end they didn't find Vincent.

"Boss... sorry to interrupt but, we found something you might want to see"

At least, not until they follow the clues Hojo left behind.

It takes them hours of work, battle and investigation to find the key to the basement, the mocking mess of notes left by Hojo only serving to increase Veld's hate for the man. (Still, that anger is better than the sheer despair that hit him when he saw the empty mako tank).

Their combined teamwork allows them to find the basement without any life threatening injuries or lost comrades. It's a successful endeavour all in all, at least until they enter the basement and the Turks find themselves in an abandoned room and surrounded by coffins. 

Veld's feet freeze at the entrance, the sight of the coffins would have made him gasp, if that same gasp didn't get stuck on his throat by the force of his emotions. 

Reminding himself that he's not alone and that he has a team to lead, Veld takes a moment to breath deeply and to get back his composure. He can't let himself break, not now.

If anyone notices his reaction, nobody says a word.

Not when on the inside they're all struggling the same.

What's worse, however, is the realisation that abruptly cross their minds. The possibility that Hojo left all those clues behind merely to mess with the person that came to find Vincent.

And they're all aware of who that person would have been if they had never learnt the truth.

Sephiroth.

The kid who was so eager to find Vincent that accidentally approached one of them. The kid who had every right to distrust them but chose to believe they could help him.

The mere idea that that man has planned to toy with the boy to this point makes Veld clench his hand in anger to the point of breaking skin.

Before any of them can give into their anger, however, the tension gets broken by a soft barely audible groan. It's impossible for them to miss it in the deadly silence of the room. 

They all hear it, the harsh breathing of someone in pain.

In that moment the hope they started losing returns with the force of a raging inferno.

Even if it is a very painful and fragile hope.

Veld's pulse quickens, whether it's Vincent or not, there's someone most likely hurt and trapped here.

With a gesture of his hand the Turk director motions to his men to retreat. 

There's a second of hesitation from them but they trust his Director so eventually, they retreat and leave Veld alone at the door. 

'If it isn't Vincent who's here...' Veld takes out his gun, 'or even if he is', he gulps. 'I have no way to know in what condition he might be in, if he's hurt and I startle him...'

'Nothing's more dangerous than an injured person feeling caged. I must be careful'.

Raising his weapon and getting ready to attack or defend himself, Veld steps into the room.

It's so dark that even with the barely there illumination Veld has to rely on his hearing to move around.

He tries to slowly walks towards the noise but only manages to get some steps closer before the coffin burst open and a figure in black and red jumps from inside it. 

He tries to point the gun at the stranger but the mysterious figure flips away in the air before elegantly landing far away from him. It's difficult for Veld to keep calm when this person can easily dodge his aim and move with grace foreign to that of normal human beings. 

(A grace that briefly reminds him of Sephiroth in the battlefield).

It's clear that this mysterious person's has some dangerous reflexes, whoever this is they're not to be underestimated. But neither should Veld.

Before any of them can even say a word, guns are pointed at their faces. Both of them ready to take out the other. 

There's a tense atmosphere in the air but neither the Turk director nor the unknown individual dare to look away. Both knowing what a momentary distraction can cost.

At the same time, the stalemate that follows gives Veld a window of opportunity to analyse the figure in front of him.

Starting with the man's unusual choice of clothes.

Black leather, several straps and sharp golden accessories, including a gauntlet and a pair of pointy sabatons. A design that would seem to have been made for stealth, if it wasn't for the striking gold colour and the showy red cloak.

It would certainly be difficult to keep a low-profile and be inconspicuous while wearing such noticeable and eye-catching attire but given how fluid and silent the man is, Veld is sure he could manage.

The fact that they're face-to-face and the man is still capable of keeping most of his face and body shape hidden by the lack of light, posture and his cape,  is proof enough of his skill.

At the same time the Turk can't help but think there's something else going on with that red cape of his. It looks worn and old, and yet, there was something almost uncanny about the way it moved in the air.

Although, telling the truth everything about this man screams otherworldly, ranging from his presence to his clothes. 

Just trying to assess this man's true level of danger has Veld's thoughts running a mile per minute. At least, that is, until the man tilts his head in question and what little details Veld manages to see freeze him in place. 

Pale skin, sharp features and red eyes that shine with mako level brightness, Veld recognises them. Even the messy mane of black hair, despite the longer length and spikes it now displays, becomes familiar once he truly pays attention to it.

Veld realises he recognises these features, even if they changed.

His instincts and his mind scream at him not to lower his guard to the danger, but his heart urges him to take the chance, to trust. So against his better judgement the Turk director makes a decision and slowly lowers his gun. 

The action seems to take aback the man, who frowns, head tilting to the side again, now having his bangs covering his face. And Veld wants to laugh because now that he knows, he can still recognise the sharp features that hide behind them. 

Specially considering the fact that it appears his partner hasn't aged a year since the last time he saw him.

Having made a decision Veld takes a breath and raises his hands in surrender. He forces his body to relax and hopes that the man understands that he's showing that he's not a threat anymore.

It works. 

His moves make the dangerous man relax the arm holding his gun and give the Turk director some careful consideration.

Now is his chance.

With those red eyes focused on his face, Veld says, "Hey partner".

And waits, holding his breath.

Silence.

Deathly and tense silence.

At least at first.

Then there's confusion, and then, bewilderment and disbelief enter the man's eyes. His mouth opens but no words come out so Veld continues with, "It's been a long while my friend", and hopes for the best.

The last words give the man a pause. His eyes then narrow and focus on the Turk's face with intense scrutiny. 

A moment.

Some seconds pass and then, the gun pointing at Veld slowly lowers.

"Veld?" The man, no, Vincent Valentine says, recognition flashing through his now glowing red eyes.

He sounds tired and there's clear signs of disuse in his voice, along with a touch of distrust made more obvious by Vincent's now tense posture. Even if he now knows who's the person standing in front of him, it's clear he's troubled.

In the silence that consumes the room once again, Vincent's the one who now makes sure to analyse the person in front of him.

He's surprised by the other's appearance.

Unlike Vincent, whose face hasn't changed since he left Midgar, Veld's face shows the passing of the years. 

He's not the same young man sporting the smug smirk Vincent remembers. 

The scars on Veld's face and the look in his eyes carry the weight of years of unknown struggles. His body seems healthy, his posture shows confidence but at the same time it betrays the stress he now carries. Even his Turk uniform is different from the one Vincent used to wear, now being a dark blue that is practically black instead of the simple blue one.

All these details make it clear a lot time has passed. And at the same time it makes it impossible for the ex-turk to tell just how long.

He's not sure he wants to know the answer.

While Vincent is submerged in his thoughts Veld patiently waits. The older Turk hopes he hasn't forgotten how to read his friend's silence. That if his partner is anything like he remembers then it's only a matter of time before he speaks. 'You always took your sweet time to say what was in your mind, right Vincent?'

The silence stretches and Veld starts to worry and doubt himself but then he's rewarded for his patience when Vincent tilts his head and asks reluctantly, "How long, has it been... since the last time we met?".

And Veld would smile if only the answer to that question hasn't been a heavy weight on his mind since the moment he spoke to Sephiroth. 

Carefully Veld answers "It's been around a decade since you left Midgar for the Nibelheim mission", and regrets it the moment Vincent's face changes.

Even if Veld was able to recognise one of Vincent's old habits, the expression on his face right now is another story. 

Any sense of small accomplishment he felt in that moment died, because unlike before, Veld is now unable to read his partner's face.

The silence weights heavily on both of them. 

For a long while Vincent says nothing, and the longer he stays still without showing any reaction, the more Veld worries.

Eventually though, Vincent lowers his face into the neck of his coat and monotonously utters, "I see". 

The lack of emotion in the spoken words troubles Veld. He knows something is wrong. However, before he can say or ask anything, Vincent suddenly raises his head and with a fierce glare commands, "Leave."

Veld flinches. The sudden change in the atmosphere feels like a slap in the face. But, he quickly recovers and manages to argue back in offence, "No way! I'm not leaving!"

However his words don't deter Vincent in the least, his glare only deepens as he stresses harshly "Veld, you shouldn't be here".

The sudden dismissal hurts and at the same time makes Veld bristle. He doesn't hesitates to fight back, "Neither should you!".

The quick response leaves Vincent bewildered, it's clear he wasn't expecting Veld to object. But the surprise doesn't last long as he declares, "That's where you're wrong" and aims an angry glare at Veld's face.

The reaction surprises the Turk director who wasn't used to having his partner rage directed at him. A part of Veld wants to snap back, to argue and fall back into old habits. But it's been years, he's matured, so he stops himself and thinks back to all the things Sephiroth said to him. 

A sombre mood quickly takes over and Veld makes a point to look directly at his friend's face when he softly and carefully inquiries, "What happened Vince?"

Silence befalls them, this time without none of before's tension. Just a dull feeling of pain and resignation permeating the air.

Vincent's face lost all the anger he had before, leaving behind just the tormented face of a man with nothing to live for. With a turn Vincent moves his body so he's not directly looking at Veld anymore when he repeats "...you must leave, you shouldn't be here"

It makes Veld sigh sadly, he remembers how stubborn Vincent got when he made up his mind about something. And in the past he was never able to get Vincent to listen to him, no matter how hard he tried.

'But that was then' Veld clenches his fists.

Veld is not the person Vincent has to answer to now.

'I made a promise. I'm not leaving until I can fulfil it'.

He's not gonna make the kid cry.

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me, I won't insist" Veld declares, before determination takes over his face and he takes a step forward "However, what I'm not gonna do is leave you here to rot"

Without turning back to look at Veld Vincent answers, "You must". Then his gaze lowers and focus on his golden claw before he continues "This body, and this place... they're my punishment"

Indignation and sadness fills Veld's chest.

"Punish- bullshit!" The Turk yells. 

Veld takes a step forward in anger before he stops and takes a deep breath trying to calm himself. It's difficult but he manages to find the words to express what he means. "Look, I may not know what happened here, to you, but, Vincent, you can't expect me to be fine just leaving you here" he begs.

The words make Vincent look at Veld in surprise, "You..." before he closes his eyes and sadly reiterates, "you have to...". Vincent's gaze then lowers back to his left arm, his golden claw shines in the dark "I'm not fit to be around... people, not anymore. I'm... this, this is where I belong"

Veld's frustration, sadness and anger rise at Vincent's words "Don't speak about yourself like that!. I don't know what's wrong but you can't expect me to just let you rot in this place!". He resumes walking forward, intent on getting close to Vincent, to make him understand "There's people waiting for you!"

"Veld I'm not going back to Shinra". Seeing Veld approach has Vincent trying to move away but his last words make him stop.

Realising that he might have a chance now. Veld gauges Vincent's reaction before he starts to explain, "You don't have to rejoin Shinra if you don't want to", and the statement seem to surprise Vincent, "I didn't came here for that. I know there's a lot I don't know or understand about what happened to you. And I know you must have your reasons for believing what you do. We can work with that, I swear". 

Veld gulps and closes his eyes. When he opens them his gaze burns, "But, Vincent, you have to come with me to Midgar, you have to, I made a promise". The words make Vincent narrow his eyes, his body tenses, moving a step behind when Veld continues, "I promised your son I'll get you out of this place Vincent, please don't make me break that promise"

At those words Vincent freezes and stops trying to get away.

Veld sees this and is glad. But what he doesn't know is that his words sent a shock to Vincent's mind, running through his head over and over again without being fully registered or processed.

Then the confusion finally shows on Vincent's face.

His mouth opens and closes but he can't say anything. Seconds passes and in the end the distressed man only barely manages to say "...Son? I don't-", before he's falling to the ground. 

In that moment memories hit him.

Bluish green surface, a strong overwhelming smell, aches, all over his body, burning in his scars, a deep pain in both his mind and soul.

Hojo, Lucrecia, suffering and loneliness.

The darkness, long never-ending darkness.

And then, one day, light, the sound of footsteps, words from a soft timid voice.

"I'm your son Sephiroth"

Vincent gasps at the memory, his body bends, already on his knees his head hits the floor.

"I'm your son Sephiroth"

His hands move to his head, to desperately hold onto his hair, to the point he can feel his clawed gauntlet breaking the skin.

Another memory then bursts into his mind.

"Fath..."

"...ther..."

"Does.... hurt?"

He doesn't know the answer, he doesn't think he knew it then either. He can't focus on anything, not even his breath. His panic and pain forgotten in the face of his sudden realisation.

'It wasn't a dream...'

'It wasn't a dream...'

'It wasn't a dream...'

'Sephiroth...'

One after the other, they start to reappear.

The memories.

Birds, dragons, swords, materia, friends, family, anything and everything he wanted to talk.

He remembers now.

The visits.

Sephiroth's visits.

But.

He wasn't the only one.

He remembers becoming more and more exhausted after every encounter. The afterwards of the visits consisting on him being surrounded by blurry white figures working around his tank, hearing Hojo's grating voice, getting sleepy.

Until...

"Father!"

The new and stronger memory makes him flinch. He can feel the tears start to gather in his eyes.

"Father!"

"Fath..."

"I'm scared..."

"don't... want..."

"Don't... leave..."

"Father"

"I don't want... leave"

"Father"

"Father"

"Help-"

He remembers the desperation.

He remembers his body tensing, paralysed, struggling and failing to wake up.

"Father?"

The voices in his head urging him to act, to move, to protect, to try, anything.

"Can... hear me?"

He remembers the frustration, the fear, the heartbreak, because no matter how much he tried he was unable to answer to the call of the small voice.

"Father? Please?"

His weak awareness only serving him to drown in a heavy feeling of being useless and powerless.

"I'm sorry"

'Please don't apologise'

"I'm not strong"

'You shouldn't have to be'

"or smart enough"

'Don't say that'

"to help you yet"

'You shouldn't'  'I don't deserve it'

The pain those words caused was stronger than any other pain that had ever been inflicted on him.

Because this young child was apologising. 

To him. 

Him. The man who failed him. The man who couldn't save him, who couldn't save his mother.

The man who couldn't even save himself.

He didn't deserve it.

He didn't deserve having this sweet boy trying to help him.

"I'll find a way to help you father"

"I promise"

He didn't deserve Sephiroth's kindness.

Not when he should have done more, should have tried harder, should have stopped them.

"I'll save you, no matter what"

He should have put a stop to it all before it was too late.

It was him who should have been apologising.

"I'm your son Sephiroth"

"I'm your son Sephiroth"

"I'm your son Sephiroth"

"I'm your son Sephiroth"

Vincent gasps and chokes, there's tears running through his face and for a long while he finds himself unable to properly breath. When he manages to open his mouth to speak, he's barely able to rasp the word, "Seph..." but that's enough for Veld to understand.

"Sephiroth?" When Vincent raises his head, he finds Veld in front of him, his arms reaching towards him without touching, "You really know him? He's really your son? Wha- how?"

The questions have Vincent's throat closing in. He gulps and lowers his head to the ground, "Sephiroth... he's Lucrecia's son"

"Lucrecia?" Veld is confused at first before he falls back into Turk mode, his mind running through the information he remembers, "Wasn't she one of the scientists you were supposed to guard?"

"...Yes..."

"Oh..., Vincent..."

"Please, I need you to tell me" he gasps, shuddering, "Was it- was it Sephiroth who told you where to find me?" 'Did he ask you to save me'

Veld doesn't drop his Turk mannerisms but his eyes do soften, "Yes, Sephiroth told me where you were, he's been looking for you"

"I thought, I thought it was my imagination, that my mind was playing tricks, tormenting me with dreams of my failure"

"I'm your son Sephiroth"

The memory makes Vincent close his eyes painfully.

"I thought he couldn't have been real", Vincent whispers, his head dropping in shame before he takes a breath to try and compose himself. Without raising his head to avoid looking at Veld, Vincent softly asks, "Where is he? Is he... safe...?", there's worry in his voice, along with a note of desperation hidden under it.

Veld hesitates to answer, but he decides that there's no point in hiding anything now, "He's at Shinra, he, the science department... has him"

The speed at which Vincent raises his head is unnatural, he looks at Veld with wide shinning red eyes and snarls, "Hojo"

The fear Veld feels at the sight can't top the rage that has him answering the question, "Yes"

The confirmation has Vincent standing up and declaring, "I'm going to kill him", all trace of doubt gone.

Quick to stand, Veld makes sure to move next to Vincent when he says "And I won't stop you, but you have to be careful about it, we can work a strategy"

"I'm not returning to Shinra"

"I know, but you should still come with us"

Vincent looks at Veld waiting for an explanation. 

"The science department has that kid under lock and key partner. It's nearly impossible to find him but we know how and when to contact him" Looking directly at Vincent, so he can tell how serious he is, Veld declares "He's listened to us before and I know he'll listen now, I'm sure".

Reaching out and patting Vincent in the arm Veld continues with a smile, "After all I promised the kid I'll get you of here so he'll be expecting us anyway".

Veld's face returns back to stoic when he continues, "It's also the safest way to go about this" then his eyes alight with a rage that Vincent can't help but reciprocate, "That is until we know how to deal with those bastards".

Having been reassured and also knowing that Veld's offer is the best chance he has to meet Sephiroth, Vincent accepts, "I understand, I'll go with you"

With another pat, this time on the back Veld smiles and says "Good, I'll hate to disappoint the kid"

The smile doesn't last long when the Turk director notices his friend's downturn and pensive expression, Vincent asks, "Lucrecia... she wasn't with Sephiroth?"

Veld sighs, a deep weary sigh, "No, as far as we know the kid is only surrounded by Hojo's assistants."

The mention of Hojo has Vincent clenching his fists before his eyes soften and he ask Veld in a hopeful voice, "Do you know what happened to her?"

The truth is that when Veld was investigating the mission to Nibelheim he didn't pay much attention to the pretty doctor's information besides her suspicious resignation. But now knowing her role, the entire thing doesn't paint a good picture. Veld uneasily frowns, "Reports say she went missing but the information leads to believe she might be dead"

There's sadness and worry in Vincent's eyes but what he asks next is "Does Sephiroth know?"

Veld shakes his head, "I don't know, I didn't want to ask about his mother and he never mentioned her. He looked stressed enough talking about you so I didn't want to risk making things worse by asking about other family members".

With another sigh Veld continues telling Vincent what he knows about Lucrecia, "Doctor Crescent was reported missing a couple years back, long time after you were declared dead. After the time of the report there were no sightings of her in Nibelheim from that point on".

"Is it possible that she may have just left the village?"

"If she left she didn't take any of her belongings, no food or materia since nothing was missing and neither the shop keeper and the villagers saw her" Veld frowns, he may not have cared personally for the young doctor but he did find her situation worrying and suspicious, "Her missing report was presented some years after yours and I did try to found more about the case but there was nothing, no recent investigations nor body found".

Vincent looks away and keeps silent. If Veld didn't know better he'll say he's processing the information but he recognises his frown. "You want to find out what happened to her, don't you?"

Vincent's frown deepens but his face eventually soften when he declares "I don't know if she's alive or not at this point but I want to search for her"

Looking at the expression on his friend's face and the determination on his eyes, Veld has to ask "You loved her, didn't you?"

He doesn't get an answer but the heartbroken and devastated look in Vincent's face says enough. Thinking about everything he now knows about Nibelheim Veld can't help but feel deeply concerned "Just... what the hell happened here Vincent?"

"It's a long story"

"We have time".

Chapter Text

After his meeting with the leader of the Turks, Sephiroth can hardly pay attention to what's going on around him. He follows the scientists to the lab and stays for the report, the checkup and others examinations without a word of complaint.

Not even the usual pain and discomfort of the tests can take his mind away from Mister Verdot's words.

"I promise you, I'm going to get Vincent out of there. I'll be damned if I allow things to stay like this, you have my word"

The words made his chest ache.

Hope. He feels hope again.

He never allowed himself to fall into despair but it was difficult to stay positive when he was under the control of the scientists all the time.

His optimism was losing power the longer he continued to be trapped by Shinra.

But now, with the support and help of Mister Verdot, he feels like he can finally take a breath.

Or at least he could, for the first day.

Logically, Sephiroth knows that the Turk Director won't go looking for his father immediately after their talk, but the excitement of a possible search has him feeling suffocated in his small room.

His body hurts with how tense he's been since he got up. The excitement made him wake up much earlier than usual and because of that, he's been stuck with a bundle of energy that he has no way to get rid of.

Sephiroth hopes the scientists realise he's awake and take him to the training room soon. He's been pretty excited to try out new techniques lately.

He's realised that he actually likes fighting and using the simulations when he doesn't have to kill an actual living being. Trying to break his records against virtual enemies is also pretty fun if he sees it as a personal challenge to get stronger rather than an obligation or a task by the scientists.

Anything that can make his routine a little more bearable is worth pursuing to him.

However, being prepared if he ever needs to save his father is still his main motivation.

By the fourth day his new excitement is gone. Instead, it's been replaced by the anxious energy he's more familiar with.

He hasn't been taken on any extermination missions yet. And while that itself isn't unusual, since Shinra doesn't really care about the slums, he also hasn't been taken above the plate.

It's nothing to worry about but after his meeting with Mister Verdot he's anxious to get any news from the Turks. Even catching a glimpse of them would be enough, at least that way he'll know they're alive and around.

He doubts they'll reach out to him so soon but just seeing them might give him some peace of mind.

Two weeks later he's finally taken out on an extermination mission again. Sadly he's unable to catch a glimpse of the Turks but he's at least able to release some of his bottled up energy.

He hadn't been sent to any place in Midgar for two weeks, just the training room and the occasional lab session were part of his routine. It was honestly making him feel paranoid but he couldn't find anything else out of the ordinary.

Hojo and the other scientists were behaving the same as always, even if they seemed more preoccupied with other experiments rather than with him. 

He did feel bad for the animals and monsters that were probably turned into lab subjects but, at the same time, he was glad for every little respite he got from the lab.

Looking towards the group of scientists moving the equipment Sephiroth turns to follow them. He hopes he manages to see one of the Turks on his next mission.

His next mission happens to be closer than he expected, on the following week, however, he's once again disappointed by the lack of news. 

He knows the Turks won't just approach him to inform him of whatever they've been doing but he can't help but still feel disheartened at their absence.

It doesn't help that Hojo has been on one of his awful moods lately. Whatever he might been working on must have been a failure because he's been taking his anger on Sephiroth and the other scientists, even his assistants weren't spared.

The dark sombre mood that has taken over the labs only makes him even more miserable.

On the third week he has another extermination mission.

Hojo's mood is back to normal but Sephiroth is still glad for the opportunity to be away from him. Any chance he gets to be away from that man and the lab is like a precious gift to him.

He follows the group of scientists supervising him to some buildings' ruins on Sector 5 slums. Whatever monsters must have been around have caused some pretty big destruction given the amount of infrastructure damage that surrounds them.

It makes the scientists have trouble moving the equipment around and in return, it also makes them more inclined to accept Sephiroth's request to advance on his own.

"Return to this place before it gets dark" the leader of this week's team orders. Sephiroth merely gives a nod in return before he's sprinting away.

It takes him some time before finding the monsters but he's able to take care of them easily enough.

"I'm surprised they managed to cause this much destruction" he mumbles before turning around and landing the final blow to the last group of monsters terrorising Sector 5.

Finally done with the mission Sephiroth turns around to leave, disappointed once again by the lack of presence of the Turks.

He's been keeping watch of his surroundings hoping to get a sign of Mister Verdot but it's been to no avail.

Sephiroth knows he shouldn't expect anything so soon and yet he despairs all the same, he's becoming more desperate with the passing of the days.

Before he can let himself sulk he hears another monster's roar nearby. Knowing there shouldn't be any monsters in that part of the slums, he moves.

And arrives to the place to find the Turks waiting for him.

"What-" he's interrupted by the roar of some monsters close by, however, before he can even think of eliminating them Katana stops him, "Sephiroth, Director Veld is waiting for you in that building" he grabs the boy's shoulder and points to his left before he continues, "we're going to take care of the monsters while you talk, so the scientists don't get suspicious"

Releasing the boy's shoulder Katana continues, "We know there's no cameras here so hopefully all this noise will be able to fool them" 

"Thanks" Sephiroth says, barely processing what is being said, his brain still stuck on the fact that Mister Verdot is here to see him.

The implications and possibilities are too much for him, and yet, he nods and runs.

He moves towards the building's location, at first he was running but now he just walks, body numb. He can't focus on what's going on, his legs just move in autopilot, he's too scared to think about the possible outcomes of this meeting. He knows he should prepare himself for disappointment, just in case, but he just can't.

He's been waiting so long for this, and the moment is finally here. He's excited, he's terrified. Everything feels too good to be true.

The hope in his chest fights against the all consuming fear that threatens his heart. The intrusive thoughts make his body sweat, his arms and legs starting to shake.

He doesn't know what Mister Veld is here to say, if he has any news, if he succeed. If he failed.

He doesn't want to think, he doesn't want to know the answers to his questions. He's not sure if his heart could take it if his father isn't okay. If he's dead like Mister Verdot believed.

Sephiroth arrives to the location to find the Turk Director waiting for him, back towards the front door of the building.

Walking towards him, Sephiroth tries focus on the sound of the man's heartbeat to calm himself, 'I have to get myself together'.

His efforts are in vain however, when he's about to open his mouth and suddenly notices something that makes him gasp instead.

Deep inside the building, behind the front door, he can hear a very weak and slow heartbeat.

There's someone else here.

Suddenly, breathing becomes too difficult.

"Mister Veld?" He whispers to the man, his hands shake.

"Hey kid..., you okay?" The older man approaches him slowly, kneeling and resting his hands on his shoulders gently, "You're looking kind of pale kiddo"

"I-, is?, I can hear-" Sephiroth gulps before looking at the door from above Veld's shoulder. Hands closing and opening over and over again.

Veld just waits patiently, gently pressing on the kid's shoulders to ground him, giving him time to regain his composure.

"My father..., did you-, did you manage- is he, is he... there?" The boy's voice breaks at the end of the sentence.

Veld watches him intently, then, he answers carefully, "He is".

Sephiroth's breath catches in his throat.

As much as a part of him wants to break the door and rush into the room, another part of him is scared. He feels the need to run away with every doubt that starts festering his thoughts.

It was so easy to talk to his father when they were stuck in the old lab, when he couldn't answer. There was no judgement, no reprimands, no screams.

Sephiroth wasn't silenced. 

He doubts his father could be someone as cruel as Hojo, but that doesn't mean the man won't come to hate him eventually. Would his father find him annoying, idiotic, once he realises Sephiroth isn't worth his time?

He can ask him anything now and get his answers, he can speak to his father and have him talk back, something he wished for every day that he spent rambling alone on that lab. 

However, the truth is that because his father couldn't speak, couldn't answer to him, he also couldn't reject him.

During that time Sephiroth had convinced himself that there was no way his father couldn't know about him, couldn't have accepted him. He told him who he was after all.

He should know who he is, even Mister Verdot could have told him if he didn't. The Turk Director didn't look worried, so everything must be okay, right?

They wouldn't be here otherwise, 'right?'

His father knows about him and accepts him.

That must be the truth.

He should believe that, and yet, he doubts.

The mere possibility that his father might have not known about his existence, might have not wanted him. Might not want him still. 

It scares him.

The possibility, the fear, that his father might not want anything to do with him. 

That his father might not even love him. 

It paralyses him.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Sephiroth's face becoming paler and paler made Veld wish he could know what the kid was thinking about, the pain and tears forming in the kid's eyes only serve to make his worry rise, "kid, please, tell me what's wrong"

Hearing Mister Veld's soft, worried and comforting tone has Sephiroth slowly looking at him, searching, hoping for any kind of reassurance.

"What if..., what if... father doesn't want me?" Sephiroth gulps, "want if..., what if... he doesn't want to see me?"

Veld's eyes soften, he squeezes Sephiroth's shoulders before he looks intently into his eyes.

Inside the building, the now self called ex-Turk listens the conversation taking place outside the door with trepidation.

It's easy for him to hear what the two people are saying given his body's new enhancements. What is truly difficult, is staying in place.

Vincent rests with his back against the wall that faces the door. Veld and him decided it was for the best if he stayed inside while the Turk Director approached the kid outside first.

Considering how delicate the situation was, it was better for Veld and Sephiroth to talk before the silver haired child met Vincent.

He had hesitated to follow the plan at first, eager to meet with Sephiroth as soon as possible. But now, he's glad that he went along with the plan in the end. Hearing the conversation between the older man and the child has Vincent gripping his arms to stop himself from pacing the room in worry.

It was already difficult for him to stay in place when he first hear the soft and timid voice. Now, hearing every word the kid has to say, every doubt, every fear. It makes Vincent want to rush through that door just to reassure him.

He knows it's not the best idea, and that they should be careful and patient with Sephiroth given the situation and the trauma he most likely has.

But the desire to comfort Lucrecia's boy threatens to consume him. 

Vincent sighs and remembers what Veld knew about the boy, and what he suspected. He can't help but go back to before, gripping his arms to keep himself still. He doesn't want to scare or overwhelm the kid by acting too harshly but now that he has finally decided to take action it's difficult for him to hold back.

Nevertheless, Vincent understands that it's for the best if they let Sephiroth have the control of the situation.

So, even if the uncertainty makes him want to crawl out of his skin, he just stays in place and waits.

"Your father.... he was very worried about you..." Veld gently explains to the kid.

"He... was?", the words catch Sephiroth off guard, 'he knows of me?', He asks then, hope in his voice, "He... does he remember me?". 'Did he actually hear what I said all those times?'

"Yes, he remembers you, he actually wanted to know if you were okay" Veld continues, "that was one of the first things he wanted to know"

Sephiroth's eyes start to tear up as he looks down, "I see..."

Veld takes one of his hands from the boy's shoulders and reaches up, his hand gently laying on top of the kid's hair to ruffle it softly, and then promises, "It's going to be okay kid, trust me, your father wants to see you", his other hand grips his shoulder tightly, Veld fiercely wishes for his words to reach through the boy's doubts, "He cares about you". 'He always did' Veld doesn't say, it's not his place to tell that story.

Sephiroth stays silent for a while and then, he nods slowly, taking a deep breath. Noticing the change in the kid's behaviour Veld then stands up and moves to the side, letting Sephiroth pass by. With one hand on his heart the silver haired boy takes another deep breath and then, he grabs the doorknob.

It's now or never.

He opens the door.

The first thing that crosses Vincent's mind is, 'he looks so much like Lucrecia'. 

The second is, 'I should have tried harder'. 

Because the boy is young, so so young, so small. 

How could he ever have allowed them, both, Lucrecia and Hojo, to continue the experiment.

Short silver hair and sharp slit green eyes, added to the unnatural pale skin they give the boy an otherworldly appearance.

But they cannot hide the truth.

What stands before Vincent is nothing but a child.

An innocent, scared child.

The small stature, round face, full cheeks and big shiny eyes, betray the true horror of what Hojo and Lucrecia have done.

The subject of the JENOVA project was, is, but a child.

A small innocent child who was hurt by the adults that were supposed to protect him.

A small innocent scared child, who must have been through hell and back and yet, still keeps innocent hope in his eyes.

Hope directed towards Vincent.

Hope he isn't worthy or deserving of.

Vincent and Sephiroth stand completely still, looking at each other in silence. 

Sizing each other. 

And isn't that tragic? 

That a boy no older than ten has the same level of paranoia that a seasoned Turk has after seeing the true ugliness of this world.

Vincent looks into the boy's face, and can't help but soften at the sight. 'He's Lucrecia's son alright'. 

When he notices that the big bluish green eyes are looking at him in awe and longing, he can't help it, Vincent yearns, he moves, his hands unconsciously reaching towards the kid.

He opens his mouth to speak, to apologise, to beg but he barely manages to mutter the word "Seph-" before his body is being hit with the full strength of a charging adult behemoth.

Sephiroth couldn't help himself, couldn't stop. He didn't have the time to focus on his father's new appearance, his mental state or anything else. The moment he entered the room wide red eyes focused on him, making him freeze in place. He didn't even have time to let his doubts take hold before he saw those same red eyes soften with such a tenderness that it physically hurt him.

That look of care was already too much, it was much more than he had dared to hope for, and yet, his father went further still from his expectations by reaching towards him. 

Once he heard the start of his name he couldn't help himself, he rushed ahead, hugging the man and gripping onto his waist for dear life.

The collision takes Vincent's breath away, a small grunt leaving his mouth but he's able to quickly compose himself. Before he can grab onto the boy's shoulders to comfort him, however, Sephiroth quickly pulls away, still gripping onto Vincent's clothes.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that! I know I'm supposed to control my strength, I know! It won't happen again! I promise! I'm so sorry! Please don't hate me! Please!" Sephiroth says desperately, his breathing becoming increasingly panicked the more he speaks.

It breaks Vincent's heart.

Everything Veld told him about the kid's life hadn't prepared him for the heartbreak of seeing the boy's distress and realising the true level of emotional and mental damage the scientists did to him.

He slowly crouches on one knee while the boy rambles, tenderly reaching to cup his cheeks. No matter how gentle, slow and careful he is, Sephiroth still flinches.

The reaction makes Vincent and his head-mates rage, and he has temporarily close his eyes to calm down. Then, he works on hiding his feelings, after all he can't let his anger distract him from what he must do.

He starts with, "I'm not angry", 'Not at you', "I know you didn't mean any harm". Gently moving to squeeze the boy's shoulders Vincent reassures him, "You acted on instinct, and you didn't hurt me, you don't have to apologise to me for having a normal reaction".

His words sound loud in the silent and empty room.

At first, Sephiroth doesn't even breath, he just stares blankly at Vincent, like he doesn't understand what he's saying, like he can't process the words.

Then, a moment later, his eyes fill with tears. 

Before Vincent can even consider panicking, he gets pushed back once again by the force of their coalition. When he manages to get his balance back he finds that his arms are now full of a bawling child.

His chest gets squeezed painfully and he holds back a grunt, he's not about to let the kid sent himself into a panic again by worrying over Vincent. Instead he moves his arms to cradle the small child, one arm supporting his back and the other grabbing the silver haired head. 

It shouldn't be possible, but the sobs become louder, harsher. 

Vincent has to hide his face on boy's hair to stop his own tears that he can feel forming on his eyes. Every choked gasp from Sephiroth feels like a stab to his heart. 

Like a painful reminder of all the ways he has failed this boy.

They stay like that for a while, Sephiroth crying his heart out from all the pain he had been holding back and Vincent feeling like he's fighting against his very own existence to keep himself together.

It feels like an eternity for both of them but eventually Sephiroth's breathing becomes stable enough for him to try and talk. 

Before he does that, however, the silver haired boy realises that at some point Vincent had begun to card his finger through his hair while carefully imitating a normal breathing pattern, probably as a way to help Sephiroth calm down. A gesture that shows not only care but also careful consideration.

Noticing that fact only serves to make the silver haired boy want to start crying all over again.

His father hadn't shushed him, hadn't screamed at him, hadn't forcefully silenced him. He only held Sephiroth while making sure he didn't overwhelm himself at the same time.

It's everything and more than he could ever had hoped for.

As Sephiroth feels the threat of the start of another sobbing fit, Vincent's hand quickly moves to rub Sephiroth's back. Pressing him tighter against his chest as if to shield the child from the pain of the entire world.

It's that action what manages to finally soothe Sephiroth's feelings.

The small child sniffs wet, one last time before trying to speak, it takes him some tries before he can manage to utter a word.

"Fath...er..." The word comes out broken, his throat already burning from the effort but his father merely hums gently in response. His hand rubbing soothing circles on his back to comfort him.

"Father" Sephiroth tries again, "I'm... I'm sorry"

Suddenly the room stills, the overwhelming silence presses into him.

Sephiroth hurries to explain.

"I- I tried, I'm so sorry, I did try! I'm sorry I couldn't help-". 

It's then Sephiroth's turn to get his breath knocked out of his chest.

His father presses him harder to his chest, squeezing him tightly, to the point is nearly painful.

Before he can even start to apologise again or ask what he did wrong, his father speaks.

"Don't apologise, not to me", the grip on Sephiroth loosens slowly and he's carefully separated from his father's chest so he can look into his eyes. His glistening red eyes. "I'm the one who should be apologising"

Sephiroth starts to shake his head, ready to voice his disagreement before he's interrupted again. "I should have done more to protect you"

And at that Sephiroth actually pauses, his green eyes focus on his father's anguished red ones, "I should have stopped L- them- the scientists-" a choked breath, then, a hand cups his cheek, fingers caressing his skin, "I should have tried harder to stop them"

While Sephiroth processes the words, his eyes start to tear up again.

His father had tried to stop them. His father had tried, for him. Someone had tried. Someone had cared.

Silent tears fall from his eyes.

Tears his father tenderly wipes them away.

The gentle touch makes his chest hurt. Not even Professor Gast had wiped his tears. He just patted his head or squeezed his shoulder, with those sad, sad eyes.

But his father is different. He's wiping his tears, caressing his cheek, and even if his eyes are sad too they're also soft, gentle and loving.

He's looking at Sephiroth like he's precious.

Like he's worth loving.

More tears stream down his face, so his father grabs the red cape he's wearing and cleans Sephiroth's face, slowly and carefully.

The care makes Sephiroth happy, so, so very happy.

He might have smiled because his father's gaze softened and then without warning he was being held again, then he was lifted.

Sephiroth didn't even have to think before he was moving to lay his head on his father's shoulder and his arms moved to curl around his neck.

With a careful caress Vincent's hand goes to support Sephiroth's weight. He holds him while staying in place for a while before he starts to walk.

With slow measured steps he carries Sephiroth towards the door and knocks once.

And after retreating back towards the centre of the room, Vincent waits.

It doesn't take long before Veld carefully enters the room, swiftly and stealthy closing the door.

The Turk Director takes one look at the pair inside the room and can't help but smile, relief and sadness in his eyes, "I take it everything went well?"

Faced with Veld's careful enthusiasm and approval Vincent finally relaxes. The worry and relief he feels is evident on his face now that he knows Sephiroth can't see his expression.

"Yes", gently rubbing the boy's back Vincent continues, "everything is okay, right Sephiroth?"

The silver haired boy nods, uttering a muffled 'Yes' before reluctantly raising his head from Vincent's shoulder to look at Veld with gratitude. 

"Mister Verdot... thank you", Sephiroth says softly, his voice still hoarse. He looks at Veld with sincerity and a seriousness that looks out of place on a kid's face.

Vincent and Veld share a look before the Turk Director nonchalantly tells the boy, "Don't worry about it kid, Vince's my partner, I would have done everything to help no matter what", with casual strides the older man steps closer and ruffles Sephiroth's hair, "Also, stop calling me Mister Verdot, just Veld is fine, or Uncle Veld if you want", he finishes with a small smile.

The offer makes Sephiroth's eyes widen, a astonished look taking over his face.

'Uncle' is not a term he could ever had imagined using, not for himself. He was just glad to have been able to known and meet one of his parents, he never expected to have more than that, not in this life.

There's a fragile vulnerability in Sephiroth's eyes and voice when he asks, "Can I?".

It makes the hardened Director soften, "Of course you can kiddo, us, Turks, we're a family", he ruffles the silver hair again, "and family takes care of each other"

The Turk Director's soft gaze then turns to Vincent who now looks away, lips pressed together and Veld sighs, his eyes turning wary as he carefully continues, "and... speaking of family..."

This time when Vincent and Veld share a guarded look, Sephiroth does notice. The action makes him nervous, it was never something good when that happened in the labs. Adults suddenly communicating without words meant something went wrong or that something bad was going happen.

He sees the Turk Director hesitate to speak and he braces himself for what's coming. He should have expected the question that came next but he's still surprised.

"Kid...," Veld starts, "you said Hojo told you about Vincent being you dad...", the older man hesitates again before he continues, "did he tell you anything about... your mum?"

"My... mother?" It's like a switch turns on, Sephiroth's previous vulnerable eyes go blank as if locking every emotion behind a wall before he speaks, "Profess- Hojo. Hojo said mother died on childbirth"

There's silence and then.

A low grow takes both Sephiroth and Veld off guard.

"Hojo...", Vincent keeps his eyes closed while Sephiroth looks at him in wonder, a childlike curiosity changing the look of his eyes, "It doesn't matter, did that man tell you anything else about her?"

The young child shakes his head and stays silent. 

Hojo did say more, much more, but he doubts the adults in the room would want to hear about the scientist's rambling of greatness. 

'Or how the scientist told him it was his fault his mother was dead'.

Sephiroth's line of thought is interrupted by a hand slowly cupping his cheek gently, when Vincent speaks, he has a forlorn pained look in his eyes, "You should know, that no matter what the scientists did, you still look just like her. You have the same face shape, her nose, hair bangs", the hand then moves to caress his hair, "you don't need her brown tones to prove that you're Lucrecia's very own blood"

"Lucrecia?" Sephiroth's confusion makes Vincent's pause, the older man's face then turns into some odd mix of despair and sadness.

"You didn't know her name?"

Sephiroth's confusion grows, now with a touch of panic, suspicion and desperation on it, "I-..., Hojo..., Hojo said my mother's name was... Jenova...?"

Both Vincent and Veld freeze before anger and displeasure takes over their faces, Vincent's eyes flash yellow for a second, a detail not missed by the silver haired boy but he's too distracted by the revelation of his mother's name to focus on that.

"Your mother..., she was a kind, smart and beautiful woman named Lucrecia..., Lucrecia Crescent", the ex-turk takes a breath before continuing, "Jenova..., that..., it wasn't a person, that was... the name of a project, that Hojo was working on"

There's a tense silence between the three of them that is broken when, with trembling hands, the Sephiroth searches inside his breast pocket and takes out a necklace with a locket, he opens it and takes out the photo of a woman.

A beautiful brunette woman in a lab coat who barely smiles as she looks at the camera.

He gives the photo to Vincent who gasps once he sees it, "Lucrecia...", he whispers, caressing the photo before looking at Sephiroth and gently asking him, "where did you find this?"

Neither men like the blank look that takes over the kid's face, the silence that follows feels heavy and suffocating before the kid finally whispers, "I didn't find it..., Hojo gave it to me".

The silence that permeates the air feels charged.

Eventually Veld speaks slowly, "Hojo... gave it to you? Hojo... he gave you a photo of your mother while also telling you the wrong name..., that's..."

"Cruel", both Sephiroth and Veld look at Vincent then, his eyes are a golden yellow now but he doesn't hide them, "he most likely did it to avoid Sephiroth finding information about her. Knowing Hojo it could also be that he had a goal for doing that, some form of manipulation or"

"He did it to make it hurt" Veld finishes, his hands closing tightly, "to see..." the older Turk looks at Sephiroth but doesn't say how Hojo probably enjoyed the distress the misinformation caused him, "that... asshole has always been a sadistic bastard"

They look at each other and frown, however, before both men can be distracted by their own rage Sephiroth hoarse voice breaks the silence, "Lu- Lucrecia...?"

The silver haired boy reaches shyly towards the photo on Vincent's hand, and the man gently gives it back to him, "Lucrecia..., that's... that's my mother's real name?"

Vincent's expression softens, his eyes slowly turn back to red, "Yes", he runs his fingers through Sephiroth's bangs with care, whispering, "You have so much of her in you"

At those words Sephiroth's eyes glint and he has to blink rapidly to avoid crying again, instead he focus on Vincent's expression and looking incredibly vulnerable he asks "Could you... could you tell me about her... father?"

The last word has Vincent closing his eyes so the silver haired child can't see the sea of conflicted emotions behind them. He then takes a deep breath before he answers in a brittle voice, "Yes, I-, I can tell you about her".

Both father and son look painfully into each other’s eyes but there's not time for the despair to settle in their hearts before they're interrupted.

"Vincent", Veld calls out, his severe tone breaking the moment, "We have to go".

They've run out of time.

There's a look of regret on the Turk's director eyes when he looks at the pair but his face is completely serious.

They all know the moment of levity has ended.

Sephiroth understands instantly what this means, what he has to do, but his hands grip tightly onto father's clothes. 

For Vincent is also the same, the hold the older man has on the child gets stronger, his body tense and his teeth clenched tight.

"Vincent", Veld calls again, there's a note of sympathy in his voice but he's also stern when he repeats, "Vincent. I hate it as much as you do but you know we need to be careful about this", his gaze briefly moves to Sephiroth before it goes back to Vincent, "We won't be the ones paying the price if something goes wrong"

Vincent grits his teeth, unconsciously tightening his hold before he sighs, gulps and nods. There's a painful look on his eyes when he relents and mutters, "I know". 

Despite Sephiroth's physical rejection towards the separation Vincent manages to detach him from his clothes and gently put him down. "Sephiroth", he grabs onto the boy's shoulders, ignoring the way his stomach churns at the sight of the increasing panic on the boy, "Sephiroth, please..., I swear I-,... I would want nothing more than to keep you by my side now and forever", Vincent closes his eyes in pain at the sight of the teary green eyes again, but he soldiers on, "but it's too risky now so we have to let you go back before anyone finds out you're here, you understand that right?"

The silver haired boy nods quickly before he tries to speak, struggling to breath once again, "I-, I know, I-" his young voice still breaks over the words, "I-, understand... father".

Vincent blinks away the tears and gently pulls Sephiroth closer, draping him in a tight tender hug, burying the boy in his embrace as if to protect him from the world, "I promise I never wanted this for you, and I promise that we'll get you out of there no matter what, I swear on my life", the warm hold becomes suffocating, to the point it hurts the two of them but they refuse to let go, "I promise you", 'this time', "I'll stop him".

The sound of hitched breaths and contained sobs echo on the room as Veld looks away to give them their privacy.

Eventually, he interrupts, voice hoarse, "We have to go", there's remorse in his eyes as he speaks but he still opens the door.

The small boy clings to Vincent even as he tries to let go, his fingers releasing the heavy red cloak one by one before he reluctantly moves away. His hands and Vincent's grab onto each other's and hold in the middle as they try to pull away and Sephiroth starts, "Fa-, father, I don't-" but he can't bring himself to finish. 

It doesn't matter in the end because his father understands anyway. The older man's hold tightens on the boy's fingers, his red eyes glassy.

With a pained gulp, Veld decides then to grab Sephiroth and guide him towards the door, helping both Vincent and Sephiroth to finally and reluctantly let go of each others hands.

The older Turk sighs and helps Sephiroth towards the door, it takes a while before the kid can look away from Vincent and look at the door instead.

As the silver haired child steps out of the door he hears one last promise from his father, "Sephiroth, I'll find you, I promise, if anything happens... I promise, I'll find you"

Gulping and holding back new tears Sephiroth just nods and lets Veld take him out of the building, softly closing the door behind them. The older man rubs his shoulder, softly trying to reassure him, "It's gonna be okay kid, you two are gonna be okay, we're gonna get you reunited soon", and unable to speak, Sephiroth merely nods.

Veld then takes out his phone, one look is enough before he says "Go to the left kid, and keep that way until you reach the wreckage, then go back to where you started, you'll reach the scientists from behind". Sephiroth nods, before he can step forward however, Veld grabs his arm, a gentle and understanding look on his eyes, "Your father loves you kid, you'll see him soon and then things will be okay, I promise", and with those words, the Turk Director lets him go.

And Sephiroth, he runs, he runs as fast as he can, without looking back, because he knows that if he does, he won't be able to stop himself from going back.

Every step he takes feels like a new crack in his heart but he doesn't stop. He can't.

Not now.

"Have you find him?" The leading scientist asks his team that's looking around.

Another scientist, a young woman with blonde hair looks at him and shakes her head, "We haven't"

With a click of his tongue the team leading scientist turns around to look at the rest and orders, "Keep looking everybody, we have to find that kid and return sooner rather than later" then to himself he whispers, "because I'll rather die than face the professor's wrath again"

However, just as he finishes his words the scientists turn to see a small figure appear among the ruined buildings. 

A soft voice then monotonously declares, "I finished the mission"

Another scientist, an older dark haired man, angrily demands then, "Where the hell did you go brat?! You were supposed to finish the extermination and return!"

And Sephiroth just nods, head lowered, "I apologise, I heard more monsters to the north of my location and went to dispose of them immediately", still avoiding looking at the scientists' eyes the young boy continues, "I'll make sure to return and inform the team of any changes before acting next time"

The older man is not pleased by the words but the team leader stops the other scientist from berating Sephiroth and just tiredly says "Let's return right now before more times passes or else the Professor will have all of our heads", with a nod and some grumbles everybody goes back to move the equipment to return to the Shinra building.

It barely takes a moment before everyone is on their way. The scientist and their equipment on the front, casual talk and conversation here and then.

Nobody pays attention to the silver haired boy on the back. Nobody notices that Sephiroth refuses to raise his head. 

If they did, then maybe they would be able to notice the way his tears hit the pavement or how there's a heartbroken smile wobbling on his lips.

But just like any other day, nobody pays attention to the broken silver haired boy that trails behind them.

Nobody, but the lone red and black shadow that watches them from afar.