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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody	By : DarkSeraphim1 Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1315 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, or Dirge of Cerberus. I do not profit from the writing and/or posting of this fic. I am just a humble fan paying tribute to another's wonderful creations.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
Chapter Nineteen
       ‘Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess. We seek it thus, and take it to the sky.’ -Loveless, ACT I
            Sephiroth strolled idly through a throng of well-dressed people, nodding silently in acknowledgement whenever one of the braver partygoers attempted to approach him, but never stopping in his restless wanderings. He did not want to be here, but as a SOLDIER 1st Class, he had no choice but to attend. Of course, not even a direct order from the President himself could keep him here if he chose to go, but he was not here for himself, nor for his publicity-hungry employers. He was here for Genesis.
            The ballroom was filled to capacity, people from the highest castes of society all gathered in one place—the Shinra Building. Their combined voices created a cacophonous din in the air around him, buzzing in his enhanced ears in such a way that he was reminded of a large swarm of very hungry bees. And Genesis was the flower which drew them all.
            He stood tall, his slender, well-muscled form accentuated by a close-fitting scarlet shirt and jet-black slacks. As always, he stood out amongst the sea of black dresses and tuxedos that surrounded him, a bright splash of color among a somber midnight sea. His smooth, cultured voice soothed Sephiroth’s senses, even as it created an aching void somewhere in the vicinity of his heart.
            Sephiroth ducked out onto the terrace, choosing a spot no more than four feet from the door. Tables had been set out here as well, although only a few of the celebrants had taken advantage of them. He chose a seat well away from the main path, one that gave him a clean line-of-sight to the open doorway, and settled back to observe.
            Genesis’ creamy skin was flushed, his excitement a palpable thing, for all of his carefully controlled movements. His azure eyes shone with a brilliance that had little to do with mako treatments, while his lush lips were curved in an incessant, if socially polite, smile. He was clearly enjoying his moment in the sun, and Sephiroth could not begrudge him that, no matter what that moment had cost him.
            The earlier press conference had gone off without a hitch, Rufus’ team of eager executives working tirelessly to assure it. Genesis had looked and sounded perfect as he had answered question after question with a patience that even Sephiroth hadn’t known he possessed. Genesis had always craved recognition, and finally, he had received it.
            He was a hero.
            Sephiroth had stood on that stage beside Angeal and Zack, his features carefully expressionless, and had watched with both hunger and pride as Genesis took his place among Shinra’s chosen few. A few questions had been thrown his way, but much like Angeal, he had directed the throng’s attention back to Genesis, where it belonged. Once it had ended, he had hurried away, taking refuge in his quarters, as he prepared for the reception that was scheduled to follow.
            And so here he was, wearing a surprisingly comfortable dress shirt with his leather pants and boots, hiding in the shadows while he watched the man he loved as though he were some sort of deranged stalker. He had seen little of Genesis in the three days since his return. They had done no more than exchange nods in the hallways as they had each gone about their business. Genesis had not yet approached him with a request to ‘talk’, but it was only a matter of time before he did so. He could never tolerate being ignored, and he wouldn’t allow Sephiroth to do so for very much longer. His kitten had claws and had never been afraid to use them.
            Sephiroth could only sit there and drink in the sight of him, sighing to himself as his eyes followed every graceful gesture that Genesis made. He was currently charming a very wealthy society matron and her rather plain granddaughter. Both women were smiling as they stood as close to Genesis as they dared, even going so far as to bat their eyelashes at him in an annoying--seemingly universal--indication of feminine interest. Sephiroth was only grateful that it was not he on the receiving end of their ridiculous flirtations. Even had he been inclined that way, he had always hated being fawned over in such a fashion.
            But, he could see for himself how much Genesis was enjoying the attention. Regardless of his lack of interest in the fairer sex, the other man had always done well at these sort of events. He may have been raised in a small town, but he was very much the social animal. He loathed being alone, actually seemed to fear it, and kept others around him whenever possible. Unlike Sephiroth himself, who had barely tolerated humanity before he’d learned that he wasn’t a part of it, Genesis only seemed to flourish when surrounded by its greedy, grasping masses.
            He saw Genesis raise his head, his azure eyes narrowing as he glanced around the room, and hastily looked away. He rose to his feet and wandered farther into the darkness of the terrace, keeping away from the mako-powered outdoor lamps that were placed strategically around the outdoor area. Genesis had obviously sensed his perusal, and it wouldn’t take him long to figure out who it was that had been watching him so intently. The very last thing he wanted was to be forced to into a polite conversation with the man who had broken his heart, especially not in a public setting. Genesis truly didn’t seem to be realize the pain his silent withdrawal had caused, and Sephiroth wanted to keep it that way.
            Perhaps, he did have too much pride, he thought with another sigh. He knew that Genesis cared for him. The other man had destroyed The Planet, so great had his grief over Sephiroth’s death become. It might not be love as Sephiroth had come to understand it, but it was love all the same. Something that he had forgotten in the past weeks, the knowledge buried under layer upon layer of anger and bitterness and heartache.
            As Sephiroth stood in the shadows and studied his own conflicted emotions, he realized that he’d been so focused on saving Genesis’ life that he had lost sight of his hopes for them. Yes, Genesis had hurt him terribly, but that was nothing new. Every time his passionate, tempestuous lover had stormed out of his life in a self-righteous temper, it had hurt. But he had always waited, knowing that Genesis would return just as soon as his own pride allowed it. So, why was he reacting this way now, when so much had changed for the better between them? When had he run out of patience for the man who meant everything to him?
            A high, lilting laugh danced through his head, and his breath caught as comprehension seared him. Mother, he thought venomously, and was rewarded with another light, eerie feminine laugh. Sephiroth shut his eyes and focused on closing his mind, ignoring his near-panic as he carefully searched each and every crevice for signs of Jenova’s passing. He was appalled to discover that she had been active within him for a long while now, likely since the day of Genesis’ departure. When he thought back on all of his doubts, all of his fears concerning Genesis’ assignment in Kenji, he cursed to realize how blind he had been. All of his negative feelings had been magnified by her, until he’d had no choice but to retreat from them to protect himself. He had even cut himself off from Angeal in order to better control his battered emotions, leaving himself alone and vulnerable to her malevolent influence.
            No more, Sephiroth growled mentally, building barriers in his mind until all trace of her had faded. Jenova was much stronger than he remembered her, her effect on him so subtle that he hadn’t even thought to look for her presence. She had always been a shadow in his mind, an insidious whisper until that second day in Nibelheim. Before that, he had always assumed that his own longing for a parent who loved him had created the voice which had comforted him as a child. Once she had drawn him to her, the whispers had changed, becoming shouts of rage that he had reeled under the impact of. No, Jenova had never been subtle in her demands, which led him to wonder if she hadn’t somehow retained her own memories of their inglorious past together, and had changed her tactics accordingly.
            If she had, he and Strife were in trouble. While Cloud could ignore her subliminal summons, the call for Reunion, he feared that he could not. There was too much of her in him, her very essence entwined so deeply with his own that his susceptibility was still intolerably high. Without Genesis’ stabilizing influence in his life, Jenova could very well take him, and he might not be able to stop her.
            He raised a gloved hand to his forehead, squeezing his eyes closed as sought to calm himself. There would be no repeat of Nibelheim, on any scale, so long as he could retain his sense of self. He knew exactly who—and what—he was, and there was nothing left for Mother to use against him, except his own feelings. He wouldn’t let his love for Genesis break him as it had once before. He would use the indomitable will he had inherited from Jenova herself to thwart her, or he would die trying.
            “Headache?”
            Sephiroth released a shaky breath as the rich melody that was Genesis’ voice reached his ears. “Yes,” he answered simply, not surprised that he had missed the other’s approach. Protecting his mind from the alien bitch had taken all of his focus, after all. He turned to find the other man standing less than a foot away, close enough to touch, had he possessed the courage to try. “It will pass. They always do.”
            Genesis lifted his chin in an unconsciously defensive gesture as he fought the urge to reach out and soothe the other man. His pale blue gaze roved over his former lover, concern and longing swirling together inside of him. Sephiroth was wearing a loose white shirt—silk, if Genesis wasn’t mistaken—over his usual leathers. He had always hated Sephiroth in white, but for some reason, he liked the way it looked on him tonight. Silver hair flowed over his shoulders and down his back, and Genesis was startled to see that it had grown during his absence. The ends of his bangs fell to the center of his chest, although they still arched high above his forehead, while the rest of the elegant moonlit mass fell to the backs of his knees. He was forcibly reminded of the time they’d spent apart, and guilt ate at him even as his body sprang to life.
            He shifted to ease the sudden ache between his legs, forcing himself to meet that compelling silver-green gaze. “You look good,” he said at last, wincing at the triteness of his words, even though he was all too sincere.
            Sephiroth smiled so faintly that it was almost impossible to discern the change in his expression. “You do, as well.”
            Genesis ran one gloveless hand down the sleeve of his expensive, tailor-made crimson shirt. “Thank you,” he said softly, knowing that compliments didn’t come easily to the other man. “I heard about the proposal you made to the Board.”
            Sephiroth only nodded, lost in the sea of blue that were Genesis’ unforgettable eyes. He knew that he was making the other man uncomfortable, but once again, he could not force himself to look away. It had been too long since they had been this close to one another, and he was starved for the contact, even if he couldn’t touch him as he longed to. Genesis was the first to look away, his lashes sweeping down until only a sliver of sky remained, and Sephiroth felt the loss like a physical blow.
            “It will be good for our SOLDIERs to see more of us,” he murmured in belated explanation. “And the addition of assistants will help with all of the paperwork that Shinra so sadistically insists upon.”
            Genesis looked up at that, smiling warmly in a moment of pleased remembrance. “You remembered,” he said, his voice softening once again.
            Sephiroth’s own expression softened at that. “Of course. I wouldn’t want my most competent General to drown in it, after all.”
            A low laugh escaped Genesis at that. “You expect the President to give his approval, then?”
            Pale green eyes gleamed on his. “If he knows what’s good for him, he will,” came the rather arrogant response.
            Genesis laughed again, thinking of how much he had missed Sephiroth, and wishing he had never put this distance between them in the first place. He had been so sure of himself, and of the decision that he’d made, and he knew that he had to have devastated the other man. Yet here he stood, smiling at Genesis as though nothing had changed. How could he look at him so lovingly, after the way that Genesis had betrayed him?
            He had been certain that Sephiroth wouldn’t be able to forgive him that he had spent the last three days avoiding him as a result. Goddess, how he wished that he could go back to that night in Wutai and do things differently. He would answer his phone, let Sephiroth talk him through his fear, and they would have spent the night of his return fucking until exhaustion claimed them both. Instead, he had spent the last four weeks making both of them wretchedly miserable, and he was fucking tired of it.
            Genesis stepped forward, his decision made, and hoped that the acceptance Sephiroth had always shown him in the past had survived his selfish attempt at self-protection. “What are you doing later?” he asked, his voice dropping to a low, suggestive murmur.
            One fine silver brow crept upwards in response to that sensual tone. “I have no plans,” Sephiroth replied, carefully neutral.
            “You do, now.” Genesis tipped his head back to gaze up at him through a thick fringe of deep copper lashes. “Meet me in the VR Room in an hour.”
            A combination of fear and anticipation coursed through Sephiroth at the heated command. “And will Angeal be joining us?” he asked, hoping against hope that his instincts were correct, and that Genesis wanted to be alone with him.
            “No, we’ll be alone,” Genesis answered, his smile taking on a wicked cast as he unknowingly granted Sephiroth’s wish. “You can show off for me, and I’ll kick your ass to hell and back. How does that sound?”
            “I can think of nothing I’d like more,” Sephiroth answered honestly in response.
            “Let’s make this interesting, then, hhmmmm?” Genesis leaned towards him until they were a mere breath apart. “If you win, I’m yours for the night. We’ll do anything and everything you want. If I win. . .”
            Sephiroth’s heart pounded so fiercely that he wondered how the whole of Shinra could miss hearing it. “Yes?”
            Azure eyes glinted with heat. “You let me fuck you where you fall.”
            Sephiroth blinked before allowing a slow, equally wicked smile to curl his own lips. This was something new, although he should have seen it coming, knowing the way his lover’s devious mind had always worked. “I will make you fight for your victory,” he shifted and placed his lips next to the other man’s ear, “kitten.”
            A shudder worked its way through the length of Genesis’ body, a faint moan escaping his parted lips, as he swayed towards him. Sephiroth laughed, the low, dark laugh that never failed to excite him, and smoothly stepped away. “You have not yet earned me, Genesis. I will see you in an hour.”
            Genesis watched him walk away with consternation. There was a slight bounce to his step that he hadn’t seen since his return, which caused that sexy fall of silver hair to sway enticingly over his backside, and Genesis sighed in appreciation. He really had missed him, so fucking much. He couldn’t wait for this spar to be over. He wanted to feel Sephiroth’s hands on his body, to curl up in his arms afterwards, and to fall asleep knowing that he wouldn’t wake up alone.
            Genesis grinned suddenly, his mood shifting as he realized that Sephiroth had given him his second chance. He hadn’t asked for an explanation, or censured Genesis for his selfish behavior. No, Sephiroth had welcomed him back into his life, in his usual quiet way, and he was willing to fulfill Genesis’ most coveted fantasy, which consisted of kicking his ass and fucking him senseless afterwards. Gods, he was a lucky bastard, and this time, he was smart enough realize it.
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            The Sector 5 cathedral was much the same as Nanaki remembered it, its weathered spire rising high into the sky, easily one of the tallest buildings in the slums. It dwarfed the other buildings around it, and as it sat just at the outer edge of Sector 5, it sat bathed in the moonlight which crept in just beyond The Plate’s edge. It didn’t look exactly as it had after Sephiroth’s remnants had gotten through with it, but it wasn’t far off. The only difference he had been able to ascertain were the flowerbed where the pool of water had once been, and the lack of broken pillars from Cloud’s fight with Kadaj. The holes that had been in the ceiling were still there, leading him to believe that they probably always had been.
            He had only been to the church, Aerith’s church, that one time, when Cloud had miraculously returned from the Lifestream to rejoin them. He had sensed Aerith’s presence there that day, as well as another’s he had only recognized from Cloud’s past description. Nanaki had no doubts that Zack Fair had been the hazy, spiky-haired figure beside Aerith, the one who had waved at Cloud before following his lady back into the light. The stunned, yet happy expression on his friend’s too-young face had only confirmed that. Cloud had come full circle, had dealt with his guilt regarding the two friends who had sacrificed their lives to save him, and a new world should have opened up for him.
            Instead, Nanaki had seen the ghost of a silver-haired man every time he looked into those mako-brilliant blue eyes. Not Sephiroth, his insane former idol, but a boy who had tried to destroy the world to please the mother they all shared. He and Vincent were the only ones who had seen the suffering Cloud had tried so hard to hide. He, because he was sensitive to such things being close to The Planet, and Vincent, because he himself had experienced a very similar loss.
            When the world had ended, he had been at home in Cosmo Canyon, tending to the details of Grandfather’s memorial service. When he had seen the fiery conflagration sweeping across Gaia’s sacred skies, he’d known that there was no way to fight it. He could feel the not only the searing heat of the flames, but the unending agony which had fueled it. He hadn’t recognized the essence of the person responsible for that anguished pain, or the grief-stricken rage which had accompanied it, but he had sensed the faint, undying presence of Jenova just before Cosmo Canyon had been engulfed in crimson death.
            Cloud hadn’t been able to answer his questions concerning that. He himself hadn’t recognized the presence fueling those destructive, cleansing flames. He had only said that he’d known it wasn’t Sephiroth, and left it at that. Neither knew of any being that could possibly be that powerful, and they both hoped to discover who was responsible for Gaia’s demise, so that they could stop The Planet’s ultimate destruction before it happened again.
            Nanaki had been surprised, but not shocked, to hear Cloud describe Sephiroth as he’d appeared during their first meeting here, in the past. No longer mad, but not quite sane, more emotionally unbalanced than anything else, he was driven by an intense desire to save a loved one from a fate that was eerily similar to his own. While Nanaki didn’t remember ever hearing of Sephiroth with a lover, that wasn’t saying much. He had rarely been let out of his cage in Hojo’s lab, and only when being strapped to a surgical table for more ‘tests’. It was quite possible that Sephiroth had been intimately involved with another; after all, he had had a life before going mad in Nibelheim.
            He sighed, resting his nose on his paws, and curled his body as comfortably as he could on the cold, damp wood beneath him. He had been hiding here, in the exposed attic of the church, for nearly three days now. He had left the Shinra Building the same night Cloud had freed him, wanting to put as much distance as possible between he and Professor Hojo as he could. He had been watching Aerith as she tended her garden, talking to each and every flower as though it were a person. Of course, at one time, they probably had been, before passing through the Lifestream and being reborn. He rather liked the thought.
            Unfortunately, he’d had no chance to approach her, as the Turks kept watch over her with even more diligence than they would in five years time. Much to his disappointment, Tseng and Rude were they only two Turks that he recognized. The other five were strangers to him, and Reno had yet to put in an appearance. Which meant that, unless he wanted to chance exposing himself to Shinra’s assassins, he had no choice but to wait until Aerith herself created an opportunity to meet.
            Nanaki frowned, his feline features distorting, as he thought of it. He had no way of knowing if she had been affected by her own actions, or if she would have no memory of the past she had sent them back to. While he might be connected to The Planet, he did not have the same deep relationship with Gaia that Aerith did as a Cetra. Cloud might have confidence that she would remember all, but he found that he could not share it. How cruel would it be of The Planet to leave such a sweet, giving young woman the memory of her own horrific death?
            That she had given the man who had killed her a second chance was enough to show just good a person Aerith Gainsborough truly was. From what Cloud had told him, it hadn’t been Sephiroth at all, but one of his clones, manipulated by Jenova herself. However, he had his doubts. He would never forget the strength of will he had sensed that fateful day in the Northern Crater. After they had defeated the avatar, the last mutation which had combined the alien being called Jenova with the son who had so violently embraced her, he had felt Sephiroth’s strength. Sephiroth’s, not Jenova’s.
            Cloud had entered a trance-like state while still clinging to the inside of the crater, his essence entering the Lifestream for one final battle with his hated nemesis. It hadn’t taken long for Sephiroth’s spirit energy to fade, and Cloud had returned to himself just minutes later, more himself than he had been at any other time during their journey. If it hadn’t been for Aerith’s murder at Sephiroth’s hands, he might have recovered from all that Shinra, Hojo, and Sephiroth had done to him.
            Instead, he had carried the guilt of her death--and Zack Fair’s--with him until the day he himself had killed the one he loved to protect them all. He had forgiven himself for his perceived failure of them, but not for his inability to save Kadaj from his own self-destructive actions. Cloud was one of the strongest men he’d ever known, but even he had his limits. Losing his silver-haired lover had been the last of them.
            The sounds of the church doors opening came to his ears, and Nanaki cautiously straightened until his head hovered just over the darkened rafters. The doors closed once again, but not before he saw the slim, delicate form of Aerith Gainsborough revealed by the moon’s light, the Princess Guard strapped to her slender back. He was astonished when the young Cetra--he realized that she was actually twenty-six now--turned and looked straight at him, a rather impish smile lighting her classically pretty features.
            “You can come down, now,” she called out. “The Turks have taken the night off.”
            Nanaki blinked, his topaz eyes locked on hers, before pushing himself to his feet. He made his way carefully over the thin wooden beams, all that were left of the cathedral’s ceiling, and padded down the ruined stairs that led to the flowerbed where the altar had once laid. He approached the young girl with what passed for a smile, his cat-like eyes full of feline affection as he came to a halt before her.
            “Hello, Aerith.”
            “Hello, Nanaki.” Aerith Gainsborough gentled her smile as she leaned down and ran her hands through the thin layer of reddish fur behind his ears. “It’s good to see you.”
            He closed his eyes and purred into the caress. “It’s good to see you, as well,” he said at last, opening his eyes to gaze up at her. “I was wondering how much you would remember.”
            Aerith’s smile took on a sad cast for a moment before brightening. “I remember enough to be glad that Cloud freed you. I knew he would,” she added simply.
            Nanaki only dipped his snout in a nod and sat back on his haunches. “You’re faith in him was never misplaced, Aerith.”
            “I know, it wasn’t.” She gazed at him with those astute green eyes, the accumulated wisdom of the Ancients swirling in their sage depths. “I couldn’t leave them like that, Nanaki. They didn’t deserve to die because their hearts had betrayed them. I had to try.”
            He knew that ‘they’ included the man who had killed her. “So, what Cloud says is true?” he murmured, more a statement of fact than a question. “Sephiroth had a lover before. . .everything.”
            “Yes,” she confirmed softly, “and quite a handsome one, to boot. Red hair, pretty pale blue eyes. In fact,” she giggled here, fully herself again, “his eyes are prettier than Cloud and Zack’s combined. But don’t tell them I said so.”
            If Nanaki had possessed eyebrows, they would have shot up upon hearing that. “Have you seen Zack, yet?” he asked as gently as possible.
            Aerith’s smile dimmed but didn’t disappear as she shook her head negatively. “Not yet,” she said on a sigh. “Angeal is still. . .himself. I don’t want to be what comes between them this time.”
            Nanaki only tilted his head to one side as he gazed at her. He hadn’t realized that Zack had had a male lover before Aerith. But, there was a lot he didn’t know the man who had died to protect Avalanche’s de facto leader. Cloud’s memories of his friend and mentor were rather disjointed, and probably always would be. It pained Cloud to speak of him, so they rarely did.
            “And Cloud?” he questioned quietly. “When will you see him?”
            “Not yet.” Those deep green eyes took on an inward cast as she looked at something only she could see. “There are things we must both do first.”
            “Such as?”
            “Vincent.” Aerith looked down him and smiled again, this time sympathetically. “I’m sure you would like to go home, but I have a favor to ask of you, Nanaki.”
            He only gave a deep, gusting sigh. “We go to Nibelheim, then?” he asked with resignation.
            “Only if you are truly willing.” She knelt before him, folding her hands in her lap, as she met his gaze. “I can understand your desire to see Bugenhagen, again. If you choose to go home, I will understand. Cloud will, too.”
            Nanaki hesitated, torn between his desire to his grandfather, and the new twist Fate had thrown his way. “I miss Grandpa,” he admitted in a quiet voice, “but I don’t think I can ignore the chance you yourself have given us. I will travel with you, but only until Vincent joins us. Once he is with you, I must return to Cosmo Canyon. I want to go home.”
            “Thank you, Nanaki.”
            Aerith rose to her feet, dusting off the pink dress and red denim jacket that she had bought especially for this trip. She wanted to look as familiar to Vincent as she possibly could, if only to make sure that he recognized her. While she had done her best to send him back as she had the others, his connection to his demons had been so strong that she couldn’t separate them, nor reincorporate his shape-shifting form properly. She had been forced to settle for sending his torn soul back to the body which it had inhabited nine years ago. She couldn’t be sure how much he would remember, if anything at all, but she had no intention of dying at the hands of Chaos, who was the most dominant of Vincent Valentine’s demons.
            No, all she could do was continue to pray, to commune with her ancestors in The Promised Land, and hope that the dreams they sent him would be enough. Cloud and Sephiroth weren’t the only ones who had lost loved ones to Gaia’s unintentional cruelty, after all. Vincent deserved a chance for happiness every bit as much as any of them, and she was going to her best to give it to him, no matter how hard he fought her.
            Aerith thought of Zack and smiled wistfully. It was he who had encouraged her to sell her flowers in Midgar. ‘Midgar full of flowers, wallet full of money’, was how he had put it. He was also the one who had taught her to fight, and had encouraged her to develop her inherent Cetra skills as a healer. But he had loved Angeal so much, and losing him had hurt Zack in ways even she didn’t fully understand, and she was determined not to let it happen again, even if she had to stand aside and be nothing more than his friend.
            Of course, that was only as a last result. She had other plans for herself and Zack Fair, plans that included his very handsome 1st Class lover.
            “Aerith?”
            “Are you hungry?” she asked brightly, focusing on the patient teenage Gi once more. “Those Shinra rations must be just about gone by now.”
            Nanaki’s jaw dropped at the unexpected statement. “How did you know Cloud gave me military rations?” he asked with surprise.
            She merely smiled again, the mysterious smile that spoke of things even Nanaki couldn’t decipher. “Perhaps, we should wait until we’re outside of the city,” he suggested, eager to be on their way, so that he could return home. “Oh, before I forget, this is for you.”
            Aerith leaned down and gently untangled the small PHS from the Barrette which was threaded through his deep red mane. “Thank you,” she said, flipping the phone open. “How do I reach Cloud?”
            “He’s the first number on speed-dial.” Nanaki hesitated before adding, “He’s asked that you not call him until you’ve secured Vincent’s cooperation.”
            “But that could take weeks,” she protested, and then sighed with sudden comprehension. “I understand, Nanaki. It would raise questions with Zack that he couldn’t exactly answer, wouldn’t it?”
            “I believe so.” Nanaki padded over to church doors, looking over his shoulder as he said, “We should be going. It’s a long way between here and the Central Continent.”
            Aerith only nodded, her rich brown hair swaying gently, as she folder her hands before her. She offered a prayer not only to her Cetra ancestors, but to The Planet, for a safe journey. Once done, she lifted her head, took the ornate staff off of her back, and offered a deceptively innocent smile. Nanaki returned it as she opened the doors, content to follow as she led the way to a better, brighter future for them all.
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            Genesis took one step into the VR Room and promptly burst out laughing. The remains of some unknown prehistoric creature rose up from the earthen ground, arching high into the sky like some sort of primitive cathedral. A bluff rose up behind it, dotted with a dense cluster of pine trees. At the very center of these trees was a narrow path, left in shadow by the thick foliage that led to the mysterious maze that was the Sleeping Forest.
            A whisper of movement to his right brought his gaze back to the colossal skeleton. Sephiroth was smiling as he pushed away from a giant rib-bone, and Genesis could only shake his head with fond exasperation. “Bone Village?” he questioned laughingly. “Don’t you think you’re taking this interest in history a little too far?”
            “Perhaps,” Sephiroth responded with a shrug, turning Masamune so that it gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. “I thought that, if you were going to despoil me after our battle, I should be placated as much as possible beforehand.”
            The laughter increased at that. Genesis clutched his stomach with his free hand, thinking that it was no wonder he loved this man, with his wonderfully dry sense of humor. “Gods, you’re too much, Seph,” he said as he straightened and drew Rapier. “You think I’m going to despoil you, do you?”
            Sephiroth watched lovingly as Genesis raised his weapon and ran his fingertips over the blade. “I am counting on it,” he returned softly.
            Genesis lowered the glowing sword and shifted into a battle stance. “I won’t disappoint you, moonbeam.”
            Sephiroth lifted Masamune until it was level with his shoulder, the edge facing up. “I know you won’t, Genesis.”
            Genesis smiled and launched himself towards the other man. Sephiroth met him with halfway, smiling himself as steel clashed and sparked. The dirt beneath their feet disappeared in a flash of raw power, a small crater forming beneath them, and Genesis didn’t wait for it to dissipate. He leapt back and immediately launched himself into the air. Sephiroth leapt after him, Masamune colliding with Rapier in several rapid strikes, before they both fell away and landed solidly on the ground. Genesis was grinning like a madman, his azure eyes shining with happiness, and Sephiroth felt a surge of emotion so strong that he nearly missed the next assault.
            The redheaded First rushed him again, and this time it was Sephiroth who retreated, his own smile widening as he leapt up and back. He floated gracefully onto the top of the prehistoric rib-cage, which was easily the size of a small village--hence the name Bone Village--and gazed down at the other man. “Come,” he called out, lifting one hand and curling his fingers in challenge. “I am waiting, Genesis.”
            Never one to hold himself back, Genesis jumped high into the air, sending an arc of pure energy whizzing towards his lover. Sephiroth merely stepped backwards and deflected the beam with Masamune, watching with eyes that were both tender and hungry as Genesis landed in a graceful crouch. His crimson trench flared around his shapely legs, triggering memories of those legs wrapped tightly around him, and the pleasure which had swiftly followed.
            Genesis’ fiery head came up as he straightened, his pale blue eyes gleaming with excitement and something more, an emotion Sephiroth had never before seen from him, and it only added to his own exhilaration. There was still much to learn about his fierce kitten, the only man who would ever be his equal, and he looked forward to each and every lesson.

            He lifted Masamune once again, smiling as Genesis did the same with Rapier, and went on the offensive. He kept up a steady pace of rhythmic strikes, watching Genesis closely for any signs of frustration or physical pain. The other man wasn’t content to merely defend. Every so often he would turn Rapier and slip past Sephiroth’s guard, only to be caught and deflected by Masamune at the last possible moment.
            They danced back and forth across the aged carcass, the occasional sweep cutting through ancient bone, creating pitfalls on their unusual battlefield. Genesis never lost his own smile, not even when his left hand began to glow tellingly. He was thoroughly enjoying himself, and so far, was keeping a level head. Unlike their previous encounters, there were no angry outbursts, no bitter quoting of Loveless, just the two of them sword-to-sword, as Sephiroth had always longed for it to be.
            Genesis felt Sephiroth increase the strength of his attack and let himself be pushed back several feet. He released the spell he had been casting, watching as the non-elemental Shadow Flare sped towards Sephiroth in a heat-filled flash. Sephiroth took to the air to avoid it, but the charcoal colored fireball followed, honing in on him with unfailing accuracy, before being joined by several smaller ones.
            Sephiroth slashed at the spheres of colorless flames which engulfed him, wincing as he felt the heat of Genesis’ dark spell begin its work. There would be no visible blisters or burns from the non-elemental materia, but the physical discomfort would be felt. As he gathered his own energy to combat the intense heat, he remembered the last time this had happened, and the disastrous results. While defending himself, he had lost his own formidable temper, and Genesis had been injured as a result. Yes, this would hurt for a short while, but the pain would be well worth it if it kept Genesis safe and whole and in his life.
            He kept only enough spirit energy to keep himself from being overwhelmed and let himself drop out of the sky. He landed hard on the skeleton’s spine, feeling it shudder under the impact. He fell to his knees, Masamune slipping from his hands to clatter to the dirt below. He threw both hands out before him to steady himself as he gave Genesis the victory that would assure their reunion.
            Genesis watched with an unsettling combination of triumph and concern as Sephiroth disappeared behind the multiple spheres of black flames. He waited with growing impatience for Sephiroth to break free, to send the dark spell blasting back at him, as he had done several times in the past with Genesis’ usual Fire3 spell. He was shocked when the fireball that was Sephiroth fell from the sky, landing on the prehistoric skeleton so hard that the entire frame shook beneath them. The black flames continue to burn, concealing Sephiroth completely, and Genesis’ concern changed to outright panic.
            “Seph!” He ran towards the other man, activating the Full Cure materia he had carried on him since Sephiroth’s last appointment with Hojo. The flames were already dying as he skidded to a stop and dropped to his knees before him, his azure eyes searching frantically for any sign of remaining injury. “Goddess, are you all right?”
            Sephiroth lifted his head and smiled a bit, letting him know without words that the Full Cure had done its job. Genesis’ response was to throw his arms around him in a stranglehold of an embrace. “Genesis,” he said at last, his own arms coming around the smaller man to hold him close, “I am fine. You worry needlessly.”
            “Shut the fuck up, Seph.” Genesis closed his eyes as relief poured through him, clutching handfuls of silken silver hair as he clung to Sephiroth with all of his strength. “You scared the shit out of me,” he whispered fiercely. “Don’t you ever fucking do that, again.”
            Sephiroth laughed involuntarily as he ran his hands over Genesis’ slender back. “I did not mean to frighten you, Genesis.”
            “Well, you did,” the other man snapped as he drew back, eyes flashing with azure fire. “Why the fuck didn’t you kill the spell before it could hurt you?”
            He lifted one silver brow at that. “You think I did not try?” he countered mildly. “You know me better than that, Gen.”
            “But. . .” Genesis’ voice trailed off as he studied his lover with confusion. “That would mean--”
            A faint cracking sound was all the warning they had before the brittle, ancient bone crumbled beneath them. The skeleton gave way, and they were falling through the air, breaking apart to correct their positions for a hard landing. Sephiroth hit the ground in a crouch, his head coming up as Genesis did the same. The fiery First was shaking his head, sending short strands of auburn fire flying around his breathtaking features, and muttering obscenities under his breath.
            Sephiroth chuckled to himself, the swearing a sign that Genesis had not been hurt in the fall. He started to push himself to his feet and hesitated. He had promised Genesis victory sex, and he had fallen here, even if he had not been defeated here. He dropped back to the ground, crossing his legs and pulling them towards his body, as he waited for the other man to finish dusting himself off.
            “You realize that that is a waste of time,” he told the other man casually. “If you are going to ‘fuck me where I fall’, then you’re just going to get dirty again.”
            Genesis slowed in his movements, one fiery eyebrow climbing upwards. “You know,” he said slowly, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use that word before, Sephiroth.”
            “It must be your influence,” Sephiroth returned wryly. “I do not recall ever hearing that word before I met you, much less speaking it.”
            Genesis tipped his head to one side as he considered him. “I guess, I’ve given you a lot of your firsts, huh?”
            Sephiroth gazed at him affectionately. “All of the ones which matter, yes.”
            “Shit, Seph, I hate it when you say things like that.” Genesis shook his head again as he crossed the few feet that separated them. He gazed down at Sephiroth for a long moment before running a hand over his hair. “You make me feel like such a cold-hearted bastard sometimes. How the hell have put up with my shit all of these years?”
            “I love all of your ‘shit’, Genesis.” Sephiroth trapped his hand in his own and tugged. The other man tumbled into his arms, and he pulled him into his lap, wrapping his arms around his waist to hold him in place. “It is not simply a part of you, it is you, and I love everything about you.”
            The words hung in the air between them, but this time, Genesis wouldn’t let them go unanswered. “That’s part of what I was afraid of, you know.” He hesitated, glancing around the simulated ruins, before looking back at his lover. This really wasn’t the time or place, but if he didn’t do this now, he might lose his nerve, and Sephiroth deserved to know how he felt about him, fear and all.
            “I don’t understand,” Sephiroth said with a faint frown.
            “I know you don’t, Seph.” Sephiroth was watching him with loving yet wary green eyes, and Genesis sighed heavily. “You’ve always scared the hell out of me, Sephiroth. You’re so fucking alpha when it comes to me, to us, that I was afraid to let myself love you. I was terrified that I would lose everything that made me me if I did, that you would take it all, and there would be nothing left but your kitten.”
            The frown deepened at that. “But you are my kitten, Genesis. Claws, teeth, temper, and all. I would change nothing about you.”
            “That’s what I don’t understand.” Genesis sighed again and returned the embrace, resting his cheek on the crown of his lover’s head. “I spent my entire childhood being ignored by my parents. The only time they ever noticed me was when I lost my temper, or did something that reflected badly on them. Angeal was the only person I’d ever known who actually liked me as I was, and even he didn’t hesitate to scold me when I fucked up.”
            “But you,” he continued, “you’re different, Seph. You’ve always accepted everything I’ve done, even when it’s hurt you, and you’ve never censured me for it. You’re just. . .there, waiting for me, and that fucking scares me to death.”
            “Genesis--” Sephiroth broke off, completely out of his element when it came to matters such as these. He didn’t know how to respond to Genesis’ words, but he knew that he couldn’t remain silent. Genesis was bearing his own soul, and he had to find a way respond to that. “Why?” he asked at last. “Why does the thought of belonging to me frighten you so badly?”
            Genesis sounded frightened as he whispered, “Because loving you gives you the power to hurt me, Sephiroth.”
            Sephiroth only shook his head negatively, tightening his hold as pressed a kiss to the rich cream of Genesis’ throat. “I could never hurt you, Gen. Hurting you would be like striking a blow at myself.”
            The words were stated with such certainty that Genesis had to blink back tears. “And yet, I’ve hurt you,” he countered in a whisper. “I’ve always waited for you to say, ‘Enough’, and walk away. Why haven’t you?”
            “Why would I want to?” Sephiroth his head, gazing up at him with so much love that Genesis actually hurt to see it. “You are everything I never knew I wanted in a lover, Gen. You are so different from me, passionate, spirited, and so fierce in your desire for me. I know that I am not an exciting person, that I lack many of the qualities necessary to successfully interact with others. Many find merely speaking with me a chore. Yet you have spent six years with me, not ignoring my inadequacies, but helping me learn to improve them. You have allowed me to love you all these years, when you could have easily chosen another. You have given me the only happiness I have ever known in my life. Why would I ever wish to walk away from that?”
            Genesis could only stare down at him, mesmerized by the sincerity behind his words, even as he wondered how the hell Sephiroth could ever believe that he was less than everything. “Oh, fucking hell!” he whispered as the last of restraint was ripped away.
            He plunging his hands into that awe-inspiring fall of hair and slammed his lips to his lover’s. As Sephiroth’s mouth opened to him, his tongue coming up to tangle urgently with his, he knew that he was doomed. He might never understand what Sephiroth saw in him that was worth loving, but that didn’t matter anymore. He loved the man with everything in him, and he was going to spend the rest of the night showing him just that.
            “Goddess, but I want you,” he muttered, swiping his tongue across the heated satin of Sephiroth’s bottom lip. “It’s been so fucking long, Seph. Too fucking long.”
            Sephiroth laughed into his mouth as he hugged him to him. “Has the time finally come to despoil me, then?” he asked in a low voice, his tone both heated and hopeful.
            Genesis purred like the kitten he had been named for as he twisted his body and slowly rubbed against the other man. As Sephiroth let out a deep moan and turned him in his arms, the fantasy didn’t seem quite so important. “Actually,” he whispered, nipping at parted bow lips as spoke, “I was hoping that you wouldn’t mind despoiling me.”
            “And what of your victory?” Sephiroth asked in a ragged, yet solemn voice. “You have earned the right to--”
            “I don’t care about that,” Genesis cut in stubbornly. “I don’t need to dominate you to be happy, Seph. I just want. . .,” Genesis sighed deeply, “I just want you. Isn’t that enough?”
            Sephiroth nodded as he threaded one hand through short ribbons of fire. “It has always been enough for me, Genesis.” He hesitated before adding, “Are you sure?”
            Genesis leaned into the gentle caress, his eyes closing as contentment spread through him. “This is where I want to be,” he murmured on a breathy moan. “I don’t want to be without you any more. It hurts too fucking much, Seph.”
            “I know,” Sephiroth returned in a quiet voice. He pulled the other man close and simply held him, his own loneliness melting away as Genesis stroked his hair. “Do you still wish to have sex here?”
            A startled laugh escaped Genesis as he pulled back just enough meet his lover’s gaze. “I think I’d rather go home,” he answered with a smile. “As nice as the fantasy was, fucking in the dirt wasn’t really a part of it.”
            “Ah.” Sephiroth brushed his lips across his and released him. “And exactly what locale had you imagined taking me in?”
            “On top of the Junon Canon,” came the prompt answer. “I thought it would be great symbolism, if you know what I mean.”
            Sephiroth threw back his head and laughed, not his usual quiet sound, but a full belly laugh, complete with volume. Genesis could only gaze at him, grinning in what he was sure was a stupid way, as his heart melted even more. “Come on,” he said as he stood and extended his hand. “Let’s go home.”
            A slow smile curved Sephiroth’s lips as he took that hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Genesis squeezed his hand briefly and released him, wandering over to where Masamune lay ingloriously in the dirt. He watched with interest as the other man picked up the seven-foot odachi. Although he grimaced at the sword’s immense weight, Genesis was able to heft it over his shoulder, blunt side down. Genesis sauntered to the door, a slight shimmy to his hips as he walked. It slid open, leaving him bathed in a soft halo of light. He half-turned, smiled over his shoulder, and strolled from the room.
            It was the smile that did it, Sephiroth thought as he rushed to follow. That naughty, come-hither smile, the one that promised hotly wicked things, and caused Sephiroth’s heart to pound and his body to harden. He remembered the simulation at the last minute, and hastily used his phone to abort it. As he strode quickly into the hall, he caught a flash of crimson and silver rounding the corner at the end of the corridor, and quickened his pace. He didn’t want to miss a moment of whatever his unpredictable lover had planned.
            He caught up with the other man as he reached the elevator, sliding between the doors before they could close on him. He settled back against the wall, watching with avid green eyes as Genesis set Masamune against the railing and crossed the short distance between them. The older man reached out and simply tore his trench open, throwing his head back to maintain eye contact as he stepped into his body.
            “I have so much I want to say to you,” Genesis murmured as he tilted his head to one side. He traced the seam of Sephiroth’s lips with his tongue, smiling again as they parted on a soft gasp. “But not here. Once we’re home, and no one,” his gaze flicked meaningfully to the camera, “can hear us, I’ll tell you why I’ve spent the last six years with you. Just promise me that you’ll leave me something for myself, alright?”
            “I promise,” he swore solemnly, even as he wondered exactly what the other man meant. What could he possibly take that Genesis wasn’t willing to give?
            “Then, I know you will. You’ve never broken a promise to me.” The elevator came to a stop, and Genesis backed away. He lifted Masamune, returned her to her owner, and threaded his fingers through Sephiroth’s. “Let’s go home.”
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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody