I've been thinking about Sephiroth being a cat owner again 🙄
Picture it! But Sephiroth wouldn't own a cat! Of course he wouldn't! Not by himself! So, who would be responsible for this unexpected development? Zack Fair. Golden-retriever Zack-attack, who can't read a room for shit, comes across Sephiroth doing nothing in between missions and comes to the conclusion that Sephiroth must be bored. Must be lonely. So, Zack gets this brilliant idea to give Sephiroth a companion for his days off.
So, days later, on a date with Aerith, he suddenly remembers his brilliant idea and coaxed her into brainstorming pets. It couldn't be a dog because he's the only golden-retriever in this outfit, thank you very much, and eventually they settle on a cat as they don't require constant attention. Especially from someone that goes on missions like the super SOLDIER in question.
It takes all day but they managed to trap and capture a cat. They do not come out of it unscathed. Zack's arms are littered with scratches by the end of it. Black and white with big, golden eyes. A small thing that's clearly underfed and by itself. Only a little dirty with surprisingly no fleas for something found in the undercity.
Zack immediately rushes off to deliver. He finds Sephiroth at his usual haunt, doing nothing and looking incredibly broody. Perfect. "Hey! Seph-Dog!" he greets, to which Sephiroth blandly replies not to call him that. "Seph-Dog! I have the best thing for you!"
The conversation is completely one-sided, and Sephiroth has no idea what Zack is rambling about but that's typical. And Sephiroth has a bit of a soft spot for Zack, so he allows it, mildly amused by the puppy's antics. Zack rushes off, as he does, exclaiming that he would return to see the cat later. Now, Sephiroth has a cat in his palms, looking down at the fluff that contained frazzled and offended eyes.
Sephiroth eyes the little creature, undoubtedly deciding to leave it where he stood. However, a shake of his hand makes the cat hold firm, tiny claws digging into leather gloves. Sephiroth recognizes the sting of pain even through the material of his gloves. A more intense effort to dislodge the cat ensues, only ending up with the cat clawing its way up his arm and nestling (hiding) within Sephiroth's hair.
Any further attempt only results in more pain, so Sephiroth leaves it. "Dangerous little thing," he remarks but is otherwise unbothered. He goes back to straight vibing, or meditating, or whatever the eff he was doing before Zack's untimely interruption, and ultimately forgets about the cat somewhere in his hair.
Eventually, he goes home and gets ready for bed. The cat is not on his person anymore so it must have fallen off somewhere. Anyway, he goes to sleep. But can't. Because the cat chooses this moment to start meowing and howling as it explores the apartment (or room in Shrina's Headquarters? 🤷♂️). It's so incessant to the point of annoying, so Sephiroth gets out of bed to put it out, but the cat dodges attempts at capture. Obviously because it has already battled such a SOLIDER combatant and now it is all kitten's play.
Sephiroth gives in and begrudgingly puts down a bowl of water and cracks open a, probably expired, can of tuna for the little ingrate. Then, goes to bed as the food/water combo finally stopped the loud meows. Such a little creature making that much of a racket should be impossible, he thinks.
Anywho, Sephiroth wakes up the next morning and the cat had found sleeping arrangements. Right on Sephiroth's chest. He blinks, for once, processing slow at this strange turn of events. The cat awakens, yawns, and then curls into a circle/ball to resume sleeping. The first crack in Sephiroth's indifference is subtle and silent. But there.
Over the next few days, Sephiroth has accumulated many cans of tuna and a small box with paper scraps inside. He tells himself this arrangement is temporary. That he will give the cat to Zack once the puppy returns for it. But Zack doesn't return--much too busy with tedious battle simulations, fucking around with the Turks, or becoming a squat champion.
More and more cracks form in the following days of no Zack, and eventually indifference shatters completely. The cat trots around and continues exploring its new habitat. The cat purrs. The cat bathes itself. The cat stares intensely at Sephiroth, seemingly for no reason. It is all mundane but a bit of a novel for the SOLDIER as he observes the unexpected roommate.
This creature smells nice, Sephiroth thinks. A latest observation. It transforms into him planting his face against its fur sometimes just to inhale the scent.
At some point, the mere existence of the cat--the sight of it lounging or stretching--causes near cardiac arrest. Several slow blinks at him later, and Sephiroth finds himself purchasing more things for the cat. Essential things at first. But then the spoiling begins. His home has no more than three cat towers, a fancy, self-cleaning litter box, a pile of cat toys, a drinking fountain, and two unused cat beds. A trip to a nearby vet indicates the cat's age and gender. Nearly two years of age and female. So obviously, she needs a name.
Lulu, Sephiroth settles for. Lulu is regal and content most of the time. Perhaps courtesy of the diamond-crusted black leather collar around her neck. Like a princess. Playful and fierce other times as she nabs at his hair or as Sephiroth drags his hand across the floor for her. She follows him nearly everywhere in his home, having taken a liking to using Sephiroth's shoulders as a bed more often than not.
Before long, a mostly empty place to rest after missions becomes a warm home he longs to return to. Because a delightful creature awaits his return. Every time. Sephiroth has become accustomed to meows greeting him after a long day. It is pleasant. To be wanted for something other than his strength.
Sephiroth spends his leisure time no longer looking at the setting sun and letting his mind wander with thoughts of old friends. He enjoys reading indoors now with Lulu curled at his side. He enjoys the sound of her purrs. He enjoys his modest free time. Perhaps more than he should.
It gets to a point where Sephiroth refuses most missions. Shinra doesn't like that and threatens to cut his stipend, salary, or however he's normally paid. Under normal circumstances, the meaningless threat would not bother Sephiroth. But he now has planned purchases in mind for his small ball of fluff. Lulu is in need of a heated blanket after all. A cheeky pet shop owner tell him he is her heated blanket. It isn't... an untrue statement, but he still plans the purchase.
Sephiroth agrees without fanfare, which surprises Shinra executives. They expected backlash based on his recent uncooperative behavior. Sephiroth pays their reaction no mind and sweeps out of the room. He will depart on this prolonged mission. But first, he procures an automatic feeding dispenser and fills it to the brim with rather expensive cat food.
"Be good for me, princess," Sephiroth tells her, gently caressing the cat's head. Lulu welcomes the leather against her head and spine with loud, motor-like, purring. It takes a bit longer to depart as Sephiroth continues petting. His gloved fingers softly grip her black tail, to which she bats at his hand, before he finally turns to go. "A quick investigation in Nibelheim and I'll return. Depending on the outcome, we might leave this place. Lulu, be prepared."
Because Shinra will not threaten his income a second time. Sephiroth would rather be a mercenary for hire at this rate. In fact. That sounds preferable. He intends to decide later.
A day later, it is the first time Sephiroth encounters Zack after the younger SOLDIER had deposited such a delightful intrusion in his life. He is as lively and talkative as normal. Yet Zack does not mention the cat. Of course, Sephiroth does not outwardly show it but he wants Zack to mention the cat. Not to finally relinquish his responsibility of Lulu but to compliment and praise the creature for its ever-growing battle prowess against wily fingers.
It takes nearly half the trip, and a fight with a dragon, for Zack to pause in his dramatic retelling of his misadventures. "Oh, yeah! Hey, Seph-Dog!" He stops his squatting as well. As usual, Zack ignores the mild reprimand of using that nickname. "How's that, uh, cat doing?"
"Lulu is well," Sephiroth says, pleased the one-sided conversation has shifted to a topic he wants. "And has a healthy weight now."
"You named her! Good! I knew it was the best idea ever!" Zack exclaims in triumph.
"Y-You have a cat?!" one of the infantrymen blurts before Sephiroth can go into details of how Lulu chitters at him when he points to her from across the room or how her ears flicker when he calls her name. The infantryman sounds bewildered and quite young. Sephiroth missed introductions--too busy staring at Zack to mentally coax the younger SOLDIER into asking about Lulu--and so he only had a vague memory of a name. Something, something Ramirez perhaps? "I didn't know that."
"A recent development," Sephiroth replies smoothly.
"I like cats too!" comes the enthused response. Then, a nervous clearing of his throat. "I-I mean, Nibelheim has, or had, tons of cats..."
"You like cats?" Zack questions. "Huh. Don't get what the big deal is myself. They kinda freak me out honestly."
"Truly...? Then why deliver Lulu to me?" Sephiroth asks.
"Because you're my Seph-Dog!" Zack says as though it explained everything. Perhaps it did. "And her eyes reminded me of yours kinda. Thought it'd be a good match and all."
Sephiroth hums, unable to form an adequate response.
"... Do you... um... have pictures of her?" the young infantryman asks after a pause.
Sephiroth's revelation strikes like a bolt of lightning. He did not. He had not considered preserving Lulu in photos before now. "No," he admits in a subdued fashion. As soon as he returns to Midgar, he intends to rectify the issue. Surely, this company-issued device of his contains more than just communication capability. Surely, it has a photo mode. Sephiroth comes to regret just learning the basic function. "However, I can describe her for you."
He does. In great detail. Enough to put Zack to sleep. Yet the infantryman pays rapt attention. He and Sephiroth spends the rest of the ride discussing cats in the passionate way cat lovers do when given the chance. The infantryman is quite knowledgeable despite not owning a cat himself, sharing tips and tricks when interacting with even the most feisty of felines. Sephiroth believes he and this Ramirez will get on well in the future.
The envoy arrives in Nibelheim, and as Sephiroth decided, the investigation of the monster sightings is swift. Zack fixes the cause in the abandoned research facility while Sephiroth oversees the progress. He sees the name Jenova and a strange feeling pricks at the corner of his mind and heart. The name of his mother. This project. The monsters. Suspicions rises. But ultimately fall in lieu of regret.
Sephiroth could have named Lulu after his mother. Either Jen or Nova. Even the same name Jenova could have honored his mother's memory. But cats were particular, according to Ramirez. Once they adhered to a name, they will not entertain the concept of another. Lulu would remain Lulu.
So, with his disappointment immeasurable and day ruined, Sephiroth hurries to leave. Unfortunately, Genesis appears, spouting nonsensical things of cells and monsters and projects. Sephiroth barely gives him the attention he so keenly desires, especially when Genesis begins citing Loveless. Memorization aside, he had begun to loathe mentions of Loveless. The plethora of advertisements is the reason for his focus on the skies. Of course, it all goes in the back of his mind, but the earlier regret has not ebbed in the slightest. Sephiroth banefully tells his former friend to rot because who is he to tell him his mother was a monster?
Besides, he is more interested in this cat nip Ramirez spoke of and its effects on the feline species. Sephiroth looks forward to watching his normally composed cat rolling around excitedly because of a plant. He realizes he misses Lulu too much to delve deeply into his earlier suspicions. Therefore, he leaves in search of the infantryman, resolving to think of Genesis' words at a later time.
The day becomes mildly better when Ramirez takes him to a makeshift cat haven within Nibelheim. They are not Lulu. But they will suffice until he could return to his princess. Ramirez also shows him the photo mode on his phone, which of course sparks a promise of buying a real camera for better picture quality.
Sephiroth returns to Midgar, his insides pulsing. He foregoes a mission debriefing, leaving it to Zack and heads home. Opening the door, he finds Lulu sitting patiently near the entrance. Same as always. The casual welcoming ignites within and for the first time, Sephiroth swoops Lulu up to kiss her forehead. She does not like that and nips at his cheek as though scandalized by his physical affection.
What bliss, Sephiroth thinks going in for another kiss. He ignores the sting of her bite and walks further into his home. Turns out, her name does not matter as much as his regret indicated.
In the end, Sephiroth decides to leave Shinra (because who's gon check him, boo?) but not before confronting Hojo about the things discovered in Nibelheim. After threats of bodily harm--and actual bodily harm--Hojo spills the beans about Sephiroth's origins. His mother, not Jenova, a human woman by the name of Lucrecia Crescent had been injected with Jenova cells while carrying him in her womb. He is no monster. He is human. And this man, this father of his, subjected him to a life of tortured misunderstanding for the sole purpose of his research.
Sephiroth kills Hojo (because fuck him) and even a grotesque transformation does not stop the death.
A weight lifts. A purpose rebuilds.
He has found answers. And he will find his mother.
But first, Sephiroth returns home to Lulu. Somehow, he had subconsciously named his cat child after his mother after all. He spends the rest of the night cuddling and petting Lulu. The comfort that brings knows no bounds and sleep comes easy despite the emotional tidal wave of the days events.
Through the power of mako, Jenova cells, and bullshit magic, Sephiroth finds Lucrecia and frees her from her crystal coffin. Mother and son has the reunion of a lifetime and begin a long process of healing with the help of Lulu. A family unit of three.
Sephiroth ends up joining a terrorist group called Avalanche (because if the planet dies then there's no cat nip for Lulu. Desperate times calls for desperate measures after all) with a boisterous leader called Barret Wallace, whom he eventually comes to think of as besto friendo. "You ain't so bad for a war hero SOLDIER!" Barret exclaims one day while Sephiroth plants a bomb.
"Former SOLDIER," he tells him as he sets the timer for five minutes.
"Now, why the hell would you make it five minutes?!"
"A challenge. Shall we depart instead of arguing?"
"You crazy bastard!" Barret grins, dashing towards the exit with Sephiroth taking the lead.
Along with a tentative bond with Wedge, who shares his newfound love of all things related to kitties. And Sephiroth continues a close friendship with Zack and Ramirez (actually, Cloud Strife--finally got the name right after several months of awkwardly dancing around the subject lol). The ragtag group of misfits and friends somewhat easily takes down the Shinra corporation and the planet is saved. Cheers.
