What Lies Within

Chapter Seventeen

Sephiroth was expecting Angeal to meet with him. He, however, wasn’t expecting his friend to take the window instead of the door and he especially wasn’t expecting to meet Zack Fair in the condition he was in. The General stood up with a concerned frown, attempting to puzzle this situation out.

“What’s happened?” The silver haired man questioned, raising a brow at the blood and Angeal’s wing in full view.

“Genesis…” Angeal growled out, his midnight blue eyes narrowed to slits. Sephiroth nodded curtly, aware of the auburn haired man’s insanity and short fuse. He had been a suspect in a pending investigation of a series of murders within the SOLDIER ranks, but it had yet to pass through all the legalities. The silver haired General motioned to his desk and Angeal frowned, holding Zack closer.

“There will be blood all over your paperwork…”

“Damn it, Angeal, put your possessiveness aside and put Fair down so we can see the extent of the damage. You should know better.” Sephiroth murmured; green eyes on the nude 2nd Class. Angeal flushed in embarrassment and nodded, cursing himself for belittling his friend, much less the General. Sephiroth frowned down at the teen, touching a gloved finger to the blood flowing onto his desk from between the boy’s thighs.

“We need to heal him, or he’ll require yet another blood transfusion. Now Angeal, you have to listen to me and not lose your head. Understand?” The taller man asked, looking pointedly at his long haired friend. Angeal nodded, watching Sephiroth pull a Cure Materia and whispering the strongest spell.

“Judging from the injuries, Zack was brutally raped. As for his unresponsiveness, even an unconscious individual would still react to being moved and the heat off of someone’s skin. He likely has been drugged with the same thing you used on him during slave initiation.” Sephiroth watched coolly as Angeal’s hands fisted and the eyes haze over with green mako, but the man was still in control.

“Genesis… Are you sure?” Angeal murmured, anger festering below the surface of his voice. Sephiroth nodded and Angeal cursed.

“That was Zack’s… Is he still conscious?” The SOLDIER questioned, deciding not to voice the heart-wrenching truth. The silver haired man hummed and looked down at Zack with intent green eyes.

“Yes, I believe he is. It was a traumatic incident, so he probably has his eyes closed as a defensive measure. He will likely retract inside himself, so this will be a good time to find out how deep your new connection with Zack goes.” Angeal looked up at Sephiroth in confusion.

“Connection?”

“Yes, try to will Zack to open his eyes. If he can see us, that will be helpful to make him recover. He’s healed, but his mind isn’t. He needs you more now than ever, Angeal…” Sephiroth nodded and moved aside to let his winged friend closer to Zack. Angeal ran a hand through Zack’s soft spikes, his wing curling protectively around his slave.

Puppy… Open your eyes… Angeal pleaded in his mind, petting through the soft strands slowly. He kept repeating those words over and over, watching Zack’s face intently. When the teen’s lips curled into a gentle frown, the 1st Class SOLDIER gritted his teeth and repeated it once more vehemently. Pale blue mako eyes cracked open halfway and they stared blankly at Angeal for a few moments before tears bit at the edges of Zack’s vision. An ungloved hand reached up and brushed against the white feathers of Angeal’s wing, but the softness of the feathers couldn’t be felt against the pads of the youth’s fingers, nor could he confirm the reality of the situation by touch. Angeal took the outstretched hand into his, twining their fingers.

“It’s alright, puppy…” Angeal murmured, knowing that his slave couldn’t hear him but whispering the reassuring words nonetheless.

“What are you going to do about Genesis?” Sephiroth questioned, knowing Zack couldn’t see him through the wing Angeal had draped over him protectively. The long haired man kept his expression carefully neutral, knowing that Zack would react badly if he appeared angry in anyway.

“I’ll find a way to make his life painful without satisfying his masochism ways. Just killing him isn’t enough…” Angeal frowned in concern when Zack whimpered softly; running a hand through the spiky hair even though the teen couldn’t feel it. Sephiroth nodded curtly in understanding.

“The drug will take time to wear off, plus the feeling of non-being it instills in the victim. I suggest you take Zack to Rude’s apartment until we can repair yours and add higher security. Bathe him and keep him calm until then… You may also want to hide your wing, Angeal.” The silver haired General added with a slight smirk. His friend was usually repulsed by his inhuman appendage. It was especially surprising that he was so comfortable around his slave in this state. Angeal nodded slightly and reached out to cup Zack’s face, locking eyes with the smaller SOLDIER.

“It will be alright, Zack.” He mouthed slowly, watching the teen carefully to make sure his message was understood. Those blue eyes fell to his lips as he said it and read the words on them, though they were hard to believe. Angeal winced slightly as his wing curled against his body and faded from sight. Sephiroth closed his cat-like green eyes with a smile, dialing Tseng’s number on his phone with deft fingers.

“Tseng, I need Rude and Reno in my office immediately…. Yes… A situation has arisen with Fair… I need you and Cissnei to track Genesis Rhapsodos and keep me informed on his activities. Do not approach him or make your presence known… Call me when you pinpoint his location.” Sephiroth hummed softly at something the Turk Commander said next and then shut his phone. Angeal slid his arms underneath the teen’s legs and back, picking him up carefully to cradle against his broad chest. Sephiroth shrugged his leather coat off and laid it over Zack’s body to cover his nakedness. Wide blue eyes met his green ones and the General smiled gently before stepping back to put distance between them.

Not even five minutes later, Rude and his Sub entered the office with startled expressions.

“You called for us, General?” Rude questioned and then he adverted his eyes to Angeal and the quivering bundle he held, making a slight noise of shock. Reno’s green eyes widened.

“What happened now?!” The red haired Turk questioned, taking a step towards the pair only to be stopped by Rude. The bald Turk looked between Sephiroth and Angeal, waiting patiently for an explanation.

“Angeal and Zack will be taking up residence in your quarters for an undetermined amount of time. Zack’s life has been threatened and he will be sensitive for a while from the trauma experienced. You two are to guard them and keep me updated. Do you understand?” Sephiroth questioned, watching the two Turks intently. Rude nodded immediately, but the smaller green eyed teen made a soft noise of distress.

“If only I had stayed with Zack, then maybe this wouldn’t have happened, if only…Ow!” Reno yelped, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish look. Rude withdrew his hand and looked pointedly at Angeal.

“Thanks, Rude. I needed that.” Reno murmured with a soft grin.

“We’ll keep an eye on them, General. You can count on our quarters being secure and our watch to be vigilant.” Rude informed. Sephiroth nodded, satisfied.

“Escort Angeal and Zack back to your place. I will join Tseng and Cissnei in their search… Angeal…” Sephiroth’s cat-like mako eyes locked on his friend’s, waiting until those midnight blue eyes met his.

“Take care of him, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Save that for Genesis.” Sephiroth murmured. Angeal nodded, holding Zack closer.

“I understand.” The 1st Class SOLDIER answered, keeping his expression free of anger since Zack’s eyes had never closed this entire time. The teen was holding on to his only sense of reality with desperation, barely pausing to blink. Rude nodded and motioned to the pair.

“Let’s get going. The hallways are relatively clear.” The large Turk stepped out of the way for Angeal to exit the office with Zack in his arms, he and Reno flanking the SOLDIER on both sides all the way to their apartment.

To be continued...