Chapter Four

Nicolae

I sat on the black leather couch, watching as Aria and Yazoo sat on the floor coloring, well Aria was doing the coloring, the teenager at my feet who my daughter seemed to enjoy having around more than I desired his existence, and that was by a very generous amount. Since I don't care for the silver-haired trio of Midgar Edge, though the three are my younger brothers, they oozed the emotions of their creator, Sephiroth. The feelings of having the three around were unsettling, even for my liking. Aria, however, feels completely different. The power of innocence and being a child. I sighed, setting back to relax further in my seat, closing my eyes to hear Yazoo's voice break that silence with a sigh. I opened my eyes. "Brother, what happened to your home? Dents in the floor, your bookshelf broke,"

I interrupted him, "Reno, Rude, and I had a small misunderstanding. Nothing out of the ordinary." I folded my arms across my chest, looking out the window, not desiring to take this conversation forward. One thing I have learned from my younger brothers, they were smart. And could tell when the conversation was going to end or continue. Yazoo and Kadaj were the sorts that didn't seem to be concerned or interested in my affairs, mostly. Loz, however, not so much. Though more of the powerhouse of the three, he could be the most childish of the three as well.

"This is more than a small misunderstanding brother, beneath the cleaning chemicals you used to clean up, I can see the understanding was personal, the broken bookshelf speaks for itself, since you didn't bother to pick up your books, your favorite things before Aria got here, you probably considered those things like children at one time. What did Reno do this time?"

"How do you assume it was Reno?" The teen had my interest. I looked at him as he stood to his feet. "Brother, you're easy to figure out. Reno always seems to be the target of your affliction ability. The one who seems to suffer that ability the most." Yazoo sat down on the cushion beside me. I sighed. Most of the time, Yazoo seemed the least interested in my affairs. His sudden interest was not the time and honestly not the place, the teen beside me usually considered that it was none of his business, or the pleasure should Leonard or I snap and endanger the population of the town to resurrect an old terror, on new soil, I've not figured it out yet.

"This was about Aria. Am I correct, brother? It usually revolves around the child when your affliction ability is triggered. A small misunderstanding hardly requires brutal effects. Reno said something about Aria again, didn't he?" I sighed in frustration at how this entire day had unfolded, now it seemed I was being interviewed by my crazy younger brother, "Rufus, sent some papers for me to look at, he seems more interested in young Aria's origins than I am, and he wants me to know as well. I had planned on looking at them wh,"

"When you gathered the courage to investigate the mystery behind the child that you have so willingly called your daughter, allowed her to call you daddy. That is a bitter pill to swallow, but since when were you a coward, cowering in fear for a six-year-old girl's background?"

"Stay out of my head, Yazoo." I stood up, glaring at the teenager walking into the kitchen. Yazoo followed me. "Who needs to invade your thoughts Nicolae, truth does sting brother. You and Leonard are complex to AVALANCHE but to those you hate, we have the two of you figured out. You're not alone in this world. You have no reason to feel fear. This world and its people fear you, and know just what you two can and will do should they push you to your limits. Your children just keep you at bay, at least until someone says or does something to them.'

I bit my lower lip, glaring at him once more, "I've heard enough Yazoo, it's Aria's bedtime, you should leave now.' I walked to the door, opening it the teenager smirked taking his leave. I slammed the door sighing, and walked into the living room looking at Aria, who looked at me. "It's bedtime Aria."

I walked upstairs messaging my temple to prepare Aria for bed and hoping to calm down.

Aria

I watched as my dad walked out of the room and up the stairs, I gathered my crayons and coloring books walking upstairs behind him, he seemed upset again I frowned, once I got to my room, I placed my crayons and coloring books on my table getting into bed, I watched as my daddy walked into the room covering me up placing a kiss on my forehead, I got comfortable, watching daddy pull a chair to my bedside setting down in it. I looked at him, "Daddy, are you still mad at CID and Yuffie?"

He looked at me with a sigh. " No, I'm just tired. We've both had a long day try to get some sleep." He stood up, walking over to the door and turning off the light.

I sighed, "he is still upset. He can say he isn't all he wants, but I know him better than that." I closed my eyes and sighed. 'I wish I could help him feel better... I'll draw him a picture tomorrow. He always seems to like those." I smiled at the thought, forcing myself to fall asleep in hopes of a better day tomorrow.

Nicolae

I got to my room across the hall from Aria. I sat on the bed, messaging my throbbing temple, to no avail in calming my thoughts. I reach over to the lamp that sat on the nightstand, turning it on, as the warm light lit up the once dark bedroom. My gray jogging pants and long sleeve grey sweater hung from the back of the wooden chair. Feeling the exhaustion of this crazy day settle into my mind, my body felt sore from the lack of sleep I have been getting. For three days I have been running on coffee. I felt that my mind and body screamed, pleading with me to let the events of these three days go and get some rest. I was becoming persuaded with every passing moment to do Leonard's trick of erasing bad memories and starting fresh, seemed like it would help me relax, heck at this moment it would probably bring some sleep my way. I sighed, retrieving the clothes from the chair, and changing from my clothes to the pajamas. Once back on the bed, I lay down, turned the light off, and was greeted into the world of dreams.