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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
- 48
- 49
Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody
Chapter 50
'My friend, do you fly away now? To a world that abhors you and I? All that awaits you is a somber morrow, no matter where the winds may blow' -Loveless, ACT III
"Welcome to sunny Costa del Sol!"
Sephiroth aimed a narrow look at the half-naked man who greeted him as he stepped off the gangplank onto Costa del Sol's large dock. Too-white teeth flashed in a tanned face, while sun streaked hair fell haphazardly around it. The man was wearing nothing more than a pair of swimming trunks, even though it was nearly sunset, and Sephiroth was far from impressed. He only grunted and stepped passed him, effectively dismissing the stranger, and his cheerful greeting, as he waited for the rest of the party to disembark.
The stranger only waved, his grin widening impossibly, and trotted back over to the other side of the dock, undaunted by Sephiroth's unfriendliness. Sephiroth crossed his arms over his chest, already disliking the suffocating heat, even as he was grateful that it wasn't as humid as Wutai. It was unpleasant, but far from oppressive, and that was something he could live with. After all, it wasn't as though they would be spending a great deal of time in Costa del Sol; Two days, three at most, just long enough to rest and restock their supplies, and they would be gone.
As he waited for the others to join him, Sephiroth's eyes locked on Genesis as he descended the gangway. The redhead looked tired as he came towards him, his vibrant blue eyes half-covered by delicate lids, his stunning features haggard, and Sephiroth's heart turned over. The journey to Costa del Sol had started out innocuously enough, but had soon become beset by troubles. The weather had taken a turn for the worst, and the captain had been forced to moor the ship along the coast of the Eastern Continent, disturbingly close to Junon. Three tense days had been spent hiding below deck, hoping that Shinra would not send troops out to investigate.
They hadn't, and the journey had continued, albeit roughly. The ocean which separated the Eastern Continent from the Central Continent had remained turbulent for the entire trip, and Cloud's motion-sickness had made a surprising resurgence. Kadaj had spent most of the trip caring for his sick lover, showing a patience that had surprised them all, even as the boy had been mystified by what he saw as a wholly human failing.
Sephiroth had felt sympathy for the young warrior, even though he himself had never suffered from the malady. The closest comparison he'd had were the nights when Hojo's treatments had left him nauseous and disoriented, when every little movement had brought waves of nausea, and even the sensation of the air on his skin had triggered pain. Genesis and Angeal had helped him through those dark times, and so he had done his best to help Cloud through his.
The boy had been surprised by his silent ministrations, but he had made sure to have either Genesis or one of the boys with him at all times, so that Cloud wouldn't feel threatened by his presence. Cloud had been suspicious, and unquestionably nervous in his presence, but he had allowed it, and Sephiroth believed that the unspoken truce between them had been strengthened as a result. While they might never become friends, they were no longer enemies, and that was enough for Sephiroth.
Sephiroth switched his attention back to his lover, who was frowning as he made his way towards him. "Finally!"
He suppressed a laugh as Genesis came to a halt before him, one hand on the strap of the army-issue duffel bag which hung from his shoulder, the other shoving through his fire-imbued hair. "Thank the Goddess for land!"
Sephiroth smiled faintly as he uncrossed his arms. "Yes, it is pleasant to have solid ground beneath our feet again, isn't it?"
Genesis nodded, and then surprised him by leaning against him. He laid his fiery head on Sephiroth's shoulder and closed his eyes. "Gods, I'm beat," he murmured, slipping his arms around the other man's waist and clinging to him loosely. "I can't wait to take a bath and crash."
Sephiroth wrapped his arms around him, setting his chin on the crown of his head. "Nor can I, Gen."
"Hhhmmm." That fiery head shifted as Genesis nuzzled his throat. "I could fall asleep right here."
"Only if you want the entire populace of Costa del Sol to see you being carried like a child," Sephiroth responded wryly.
"Might be worth it." The other man yawned and lifted his head, contradicting his murmured declaration. "I think I'm too tired to even wash your hair, Seph. You might be on your own tonight."
Sephiroth quickly covered his pang of concern with an indulgent smile. He stroked the other man's back comfortingly, grateful when the older man only sighed and melted into him. "If you can stay awake a little while longer, I'll rub your back for you."
Half-closed blue eyes popped open at that. "A backrub?" Genesis exclaimed with delight. "You're on, moonbeam."
He chuckled lightly and pressed a kiss to his lover's temple. "It is decided, then. Come," he squeezed the other man's shoulders and urged him forward, "I'm sure there's a bed awaiting us the local inn."
"There had better be," Genesis grumbled as he allowed himself to be guided. His back had been bothering him for over a week now, and it was pissing him off to no end. He was a mako-enhanced SOLDIER, for Gaia's sake! He didn't get "sore". "Gods, I can't wait to soak in a hot bubble bath!"
Sephiroth sighed at that, the sound heavy with resignation. "You brought it with you?"
"Of course." Genesis slanted a pale imitation of his usual wicked smile Sephiroth's way. "You didn't really think I'd forget it, did you?"
Sephiroth sent him a sidelong glance, taking refuge behind the overlong veil of his hair. "I had hoped," he muttered under his breath.
Sky-blue eyes narrowed warningly. "I heard that, Sephiroth." Genesis tossed his head in a defiant, albeit tired, gesture. "If you're not careful, I'm going to make you sit in that bathtub with me!"
Sephiroth only shrugged. "It is nothing I have not endured before, Genesis," he pointed out simply.
"Hhhhmmmppphhh." Genesis pulled away and literally flounced away from him. "I'll get us the room, and I'll draw the bath. Don't take too long, or I'll make you rub my feet, too!"
Sephiroth merely raised one silver brow as his lover strode away, determination echoed in the lines of his lithe body, and smiled to himself. Little did Genesis know that rubbing his feet was not a dreaded task. His kitten had beautiful feet, even if he did insist on encasing them in impractically-heeled boots. Genesis insisted that the heels made his legs and ass look better, and while Sephiroth couldn't deny that they did just that, he himself wasn't willing to sacrifice comfort for such a superficial thing.
There was some small comfort in the fact that, if nothing else, Genesis would likely respond well to the foot rub. The way that he always moaned and sighed and carried on when Sephiroth touched him—any part of him—was something Sephiroth would never tire of. Genesis was a vocal man no matter what the situation, and when he was being pampered, he was at his most vocal. Perhaps, the dreaded bubble-bath wasn't such a terrible thing after all. . .
"Well, Gen seems to be in a better mood, now," Angeal said as he and Zack drew near. "What did you have to promise him to accomplish that?"
Sephiroth blinked as he was dragged out of his heated daydream. He shrugged self-consciously even as he answered, "A backrub."
Zack grinned at that. "You're a soft-touch, aren't you, Sephiroth?"
"Hmph." Sephiroth sent him a hard glance which was belied by the amused gleam in his pale green eyes. "Repeating that could be hazardous to your health, Zack."
Angeal laughed shortly and shook his dark head, causing the shorter hair of his bangs to slide forward with the motion. "It's enough to have Genesis in a good mood, Pup. Don't rock the boat."
"Now that was a bad analogy, Angeal." Reno yawned as he made his way passed them, his loose-limbed gait indicating his own weariness. "No more boats, yo. I'm done."
"Yeah, me too," Loz said as he and Cissnei trailed after him. "At least, Nii-san didn't puke on you."
Reno snorted. "Only because I wasn't stupid enough to go near him, yo."
Cissnei covered a laugh with her hand as Kadaj glared at them both. "Shut the fuck up, Reno!" he snapped as he helped Cloud down the gangplank. "You too, Loz! Nii-san can't help that he was sick!"
"Sorry, 'Daj," the older boy said meekly, his fine yet masculine features taking on a guilty cast as he gestured towards Cloud. "You want me to help with him?"
"No, I want you to go get us a room," Kadaj ordered angrily. "Yazoo, go with him. Make sure it's big enough for all of us!"
Yazoo merely traded an amused glance with Vincent before slipping passed his irate brother. Vincent only shook his head as he followed, albeit at a much slower pace. Yazoo might have the patience of a saint, but he did not. Putting up with both Genesis' caustic remarks and Kadaj's temper tantrums for three weeks straight had frayed his nerves, and the further he stayed away from both men, the better.
"Sorry, Vince."
He glanced over his shoulder, where his closest friend was finally beginning to lose the green tinge his skin had held for most of the voyage, and smiled faintly. Regardless of how he personally felt about Kadaj, Cloud loved him. Vincent could ignore a lot, in light of that.
He nodded as he passed his son, who was conversing with Angeal and Zack. Sephiroth flashed him a solemnly sympathetic smile, and Vincent returned it before turning to catch up to Yazoo. "You're brother is amazingly difficult," he murmured as he casually reached for the younger man's hand. "I don't know how you tolerate him as well as you do."
Yazoo sent him an amused glance. "Kadaj is merely worried about Nii-san. He fears losing him a second time. Once Cloud's health returns to normal, he will become more reasonable."
Vincent only nodded and shifted closer, his lips brushing over smooth skin and satin hair. "I know how he feels," he murmured before drawing back.
"As do I, Vincent." Yazoo squeezed his hand, marveling that he had the courage to be so open with the other man, and was reassured when his dark one squeezed back. "But no more regrets. We've had enough of those, I believe."
"Yes, we have."
Reno rolled his eyes as he walked ahead of them, wishing they'd shut the hell up, and that he'd done Yazoo when he had the chance. He might be in love with someone else, but that didn't mean that he had to go without, did it? "Fuck," he mumbled under his breath, "I miss Boss Man."
Damn it, he wanted to go home.
He slipped his hand into the pocket of his pants and gripped his PHS tightly. He'd put off calling Rufus, because he didn't know if the other man would welcome his call, but being away from him seriously sucked. Yeah, Rufus had fucking hurt him, but as twisted as it might seem to everyone else, he understood why it had happened. Rufus had a lot of serious issues, and Reno should have remembered that, and been a little more diplomatic when he'd decided to warn Sephiroth of his boyfriend's plans. Of course, Rufus had seen it as a betrayal. Considering how he'd been raised, it would have surprised Reno if he had seen it as anything else!
But, he couldn't go back. Not yet. He had to stick with this, and help Sephiroth save the fucking world. Personally, he thought The Planet was doomed, no matter what they did, but Sephiroth believed otherwise, and Reno was determined to help him be a hero, instead of the half-alien freakshow Jenova had turned him into.
And yeah, wasn't that going to be fun, he thought sourly. Going to Nibelheim to take on Mommy Dearest wasn't the smartest thing they could do—not by a long shot—but it was something that had to be done. Otherwise, Sephiroth would just go crazy again, and he'd probably take Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz with him.
And that would just be a waste of hotness, Reno thought with a sudden grin. Baby might be a pain in the ass, but he was a pretty pain in the ass, just like his brothers, just like Sephiroth, and the rest of the world deserved the chance to bask in that hotness, even if they couldn't touch without losing their hands.
Yeah, he definitively needed to get laid!
The door to the inn opened as they approached, and Genesis stepped outside, his smile intolerably smug as he raised his hand. "These are for you," he announced, throwing three room keys their way. He didn't look to see who caught what as he lobbed a final key over their heads. "Seph, I'll see you upstairs."
Sephiroth snatched the key out of the air in a casual, almost absent motion. "Well, my friend, I will see you in the morning," he told Angeal with a shrug. "Zack, no pranks while we are here. We don't want to draw any more attention to ourselves than we have to."
Zack only nodded and rocked back on heels. "Gotcha, Seph."
Sephiroth offered a final smile and entered the inn, making his way up the stairs, to the room number etched into the key. He let himself into the room, not the least bit surprised to hear the water running in the distance. He glanced around the room, a spacious area that resembled a suite more than a simple bedroom, and spied Genesis' duffel bag lying on the floor beside the bed. He set his own bag beside it and made his way towards the only other door in the room. The door was partially open, and a flash of red told him that Genesis had already disrobed, and was likely in the bathtub itself.
Sephiroth stifled another sigh and pushed the door open. Sure enough, Genesis was ensconced in the large bathtub, a rather light concentration of soapy bubbles surrounding him, his crimson finery scattered across the tiled floor. He opened his eyes, smiled tiredly, and closed them again. "Close the door," he ordered. "You're letting all of the warm air out."
Sephiroth did as he was asked and pushed the door closed. "I thought you would opt for more bubbles," he said, his tone casual as he began to remove his clothes.
"Mmmm." Genesis shrugged his slender shoulders, never opening his eyes, as he slipped even lower in the hot water. "I thought I'd spare you—this time. Don't think it'll happen again, though."
Sephiroth smiled at those tart words as he folded his clothes and set them on the counter. He didn't reply as he stepped up to the tub, only turned the water off and turned back to his lover, who had scooted forward in a manner that Sephiroth knew all too well. He chuckled to himself as he stepped over the rim and very carefully lowered himself into the water behind him. Genesis waited until he had settled behind him to scoot back into place, and Sephiroth wrapped loving arms around him.
"Feel better?" he asked, unable to mask his amusement as Genesis half-turned and immediately pulled a large section of his hair around him. "You're going to get tangled in it, Gen."
"I can't think of a better way to go," the older man purred as he righted himself once again. He settled back against Sephiroth, a happy sigh escaping his lips, one hand settling over Sephiroth's, the other stroking the damp silver locks that flowed over his own chest. "This is nice, Seph. We should do this more often."
"We will, Gen." Sephiroth brushed his lips over the top of his lover's head, closing his eyes as he straightened and laid his head back against the cool tiled wall. "We'll have a lifetime of moments such as these."
The simply stated words were a spoken with such conviction that Genesis couldn't prevent the wide smile that curled his lips. "A lifetime," he echoed happily. "I can't wait."
A similar smile curved Sephiroth's own lips at the thought. "Nor can I, kitten."
A comfortable silence fell over the room, a quiet stillness only broken by the occasional lap of the water against their bodies, and their own calm breathing. Genesis's slender body was slack as it rested against his own, as much a testament to his weariness as it was to his contentment. The voyage had been hard on him, as had become evident by his increasing physical discomfort during the journey, as well as his verbal declaration of it. Stubborn and proud by nature, he had refused to allow Sephiroth to examine him, evidently preferring to ignore whatever physical symptoms were plaguing him. They had argued over the matter twice before Sephiroth had finally given way and relented, but he hadn't stopped worrying, nor watching for signs of degradation.
So far, he had seen none, but Genesis' continued back pain was a concern he could not ignore. As soon as they had reached an agreement with Lord Godo and settled in his domain, Sephiroth would send for Dr. Hollander, and this time, he would not be denied. Genesis would undergo a full physical examination, if Sephiroth had to personally restrain him to accomplish it. He would take no chances with his love's safety.
"Your heart's pounding." Genesis shifted to his side and rested a hand over the aforementioned organ. It leapt beneath his touch, and he smiled as he pressed a kiss to the smooth skin covering it. "What are you thinking about, to cause such a strong response? "
Sephiroth opened his eyes, grateful that Genesis couldn't see his expression, as he responded, "You," with simple, misleading intensity.
The smaller curled into him slightly, his pleasure evident as he pressed a longer, more lingering kiss to Sephiroth's chest. "I love hearing you say that," he purred, catlike. "Tell me more."
Sephiroth cast an exasperated yet loving look at the crown of his fiery head. "Your ego is big enough, Genesis. I don't believe I should add to it."
Genesis stilled against him suddenly. "Gods, it's been years since you said something like that to me," he murmured, his surprise obvious. "I wasn't expecting it."
Sephiroth's heart skipped a beat as the other man stirred against him once more. Genesis placed both hands on his chest and pushed himself away from him, and Sephiroth felt the first twinges of panic. "I meant no insult," he said as calmly as he could manage. "It was meant as a jest, Genesis."
"I know that, Seph." A frown marred the smooth skin of Genesis' brow, his azure eyes dark as he lifted his gaze to Sephiroth's own. "When did we stop being friends?"
Sephiroth's breath caught in his chest at the stunned look in those brilliant blue orbs. "I don't know," he admitted at length. And he didn't. He only knew that, somewhere along the way, the easy camaraderie the three of them shared had been lost. They were brothers-in-arms, friends still, but not as close as they had once been. "We are very different men. Perhaps, it was inevitable."
"No, I don't accept that." Genesis shook his head fiercely, sending ribbons of damp fire dancing around his beautiful face. "We were close once, Seph. We were brothers. When did that change? Why did it change?"
Sephiroth could only gaze at him sadly. Genesis did not share the memories that haunted him. He had no knowledge of the ruin which awaited them should his own unhappiness overwhelm him. Sephiroth had no choice but to weigh his every action, his every spoken word, as carefully as he could to forestall that ruin. If he was to save Genesis, and the rest of them by extension, he could not allow himself to fall back into old habits. Teasing Genesis about the size of his ego was one of those habits.
"It has always been hard for me to balance my feelings for you with our friendship," he said at last. "As your friend, I could say such things freely, with little fear of repercussions. As your lover," Sephiroth trailed his fingertips down the side of his face, "I have learned to be cautious with my words, if only to spare your feelings. You can be. . .sensitive, at times, and I do not like to upset you."
Genesis scowled and looked away, even as he silently acknowledged the truth of his lover's words. He was a tad bit sensitive sometimes, and he didn't always take being teased well, but he certainly hadn't meant to make Sephiroth feel that he couldn't speak his mind, or joke around with him when he wanted to. He loved Sephiroth's dry, deadpan sense of humor, damn it!
"You have every right to say whatever the hell you want to," he bit out fiercely, turning his head to pin the younger man under an intense stare. "I like your sense of humor, Seph. I like it when you tease me, even when it pisses me off. It shows that you care. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Sephiroth merely gazed at him in silence, his vivid green eyes veiled, and Genesis cursed aloud. "You don't have to handle me with kid gloves, Seph. I'm a grown man, and I can take a little ribbing. I know that I have a huge ego, and that I'm arrogant as hell, and you're allowed to call me on it. What's more, I expect you to."
Sephiroth finally blinked, golden lashes sweeping down to cover his eyes, even as a faint smile curved his lips. "Your arrogance is well deserved, Genesis." His expression softened as he lifted his head and cupped that beautiful face in one large hand. "Ten'imuhou, koneko."
Genesis flushed with pleasure at the outrageous compliment, knowing that in Sephiroth's mind, it was perfectly justified. And while he was not modest when it came to acknowledging his looks, even he knew that he was not a "perfect beauty". "You're biased, Seph," he said in a warm, husky voice, "but notice that I'm not complaining."
Sephiroth only shook his head and stroked his cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I only speak the truth as I see it, Gen."
Genesis couldn't prevent the pleased smile which spread across his lips at that. "Well, I never said you didn't have good taste," he responded a small laugh, "but there are other men out there who are better looking than me, Sephiroth. Cloud, for example."
A startled look flitted across the other man's face, quickly replaced by an expression of astonishment. "You think that Cloud is beautiful?" he asked with surprise.
"Of course he is." Sephiroth frowned darkly, and Genesis couldn't help but laugh again. "He's not as beautiful as you are, but he's got me beat."
Sephiroth grunted, expressing his opinion of that without uttering a word, and Genesis grinned hugely. "I'm glad you're so single-minded, Sephiroth," he leaned forward and slid his arms around the younger man's shoulders, "or I might have killed the puppy's apprentice a long time ago."
Sephiroth shook his head negatively, realizing that he was being teased, and that his lover was doing quite a good job of it. "I do not care for blonds," he returned, deadpan.
Genesis only laughed, the sound rife with a confidence that was well earned, as he pressed his lips against the other man's. "Or brunettes, or women, or other redheads. Only me," he stated with smug certainty.
"Only you," Sephiroth agreed, his mock solemnity not detracting from the truth of his words. "Now that you have had your ego sufficiently stroked, would you like me to do the same for your back?"
He swept his palms down his lover's back as he spoke, and Genesis' rich, infectious laughter became a deep moan. "Oh Gods, Seph, please."
Sephiroth chuckled and hugged the smaller man to him. "Let me up, and I'll take care of it."
Genesis made a soft sound of protest even as he pulled away. He stood with surprising swiftness and stepped out of the tub, grabbing a towel and beginning to dry himself off before Sephiroth could do more than sit up. Sephiroth smiled fondly as he reached for the plug and pulled it, leaving the tub to drain as he dried his own body. Genesis soon tossed his own towel aside and left the room, the sudden creaking of bedsprings betraying his eagerness, and Sephiroth found himself laughing quietly to himself as he did the same.
Sure enough, Genesis had thrown himself facedown on the large bed, and was even now bunching a pillow beneath his face. Sephiroth laughed again, approaching the bed on silent feet, and very carefully knelt beside him. Even as he reached for him, Genesis wiggled his lithe body, causing his taut ass to shimmy enticingly, in a wholly unsubtle hint. Sephiroth grinned to himself as he set his hands on the older man's back lightly.
"Where would you like me to begin?" he asked, his voice deepening seductively.
Genesis' breath caught audibly, a tremor running visibly along the line of his spine, even as he raised one hand in a backwards wave. "Start with my shoulders," he ordered, the stern command belied by the breathlessness of his voice. "That's where it hurts the most."
Sephiroth's heart stopped as his eyes followed the curve of his lover's spine to his slender shoulders. He hesitated, remembering the ebony richness of Genesis' wing, and the way it had sprung from his left shoulder. Sephiroth had once read reports on Project "G", and he had read a cold, clinical account of the wing's first appearance. He knew that Genesis had lost a great deal of blood, and that his mood had been documented as "near-hysterical".
Sephiroth's lip curled with unconscious disgust as he began to gently rub those creamy shoulders. Of course, Genesis had been hysterical, he remembered thinking at the time. He'd just learned that he was a monster in the worst possible way. His kitten had to have been terrified by the changes in his body, and he had been all alone in his time of need. He had kept the truth from everyone, even Angeal, in the beginning. Only when Sephiroth had begun to actively pursue him had he drawn close to their stoic friend, drawing both comfort and protection from the younger man, as his world continued to crumble around him.
Sephiroth knew that he shouldn't have been surprised when, a mere month after Genesis' desertion, Angeal followed suit. Honor aside, Genesis had been his closest friend, as well as a former lover. Whenever Sephiroth and Genesis had fought, it had been Angeal that he turned to, Angeal whose comfort he had sought. Their bond had always been strong, and it had never been stronger than when Angeal left Shinra to help his devastated friend.
Sephiroth looked down at the man who moaned so wantonly under his touch, and had to suppress a flare of remembered anger. No, he hadn't been truly surprised when Angeal had deserted to join their beautiful, passionate friend. He had, however, been shocked when Angeal had left his beloved puppy behind. Angeal had loved Zack wholeheartedly, risking his career and his reputation to be with the young SOLDIER, only to leave him behind in Sephiroth's care.
Bow lips tightened at that. He had been reeling from Genesis' betrayal, angry and confused and heartbroken, clinging to his work because he'd had nothing else. And Angeal had burdened him with Zack. Cheerful to the point of nausea, so hyperactive that his very presence grated on one's nerves, so damned insistent that Angeal would return for him that Sephiroth had been ready to strangle him to gain a moment's peace.
Sephiroth sighed to himself, grateful that he and Zack had finally come to an understanding, even as he regretted the fact that their own friendship hadn't been enough to save the boy. For all of his reluctant fondness for Angeal's puppy, he had been a burden, a responsibility that Sephiroth had not been ready for. Perhaps, had he made an effort to befriend Zachary before Angeal's desertion, their bond would have been stronger, and the young First would have survived Sephiroth's maddened assault in the Nibelheim reactor.
Unfortunately, he would never know. Everything he had done since his return, everything he was doing, was designed to prevent the disaster that had destroyed so many lives. No more innocents would be lost to his madness, or to Mother's ambition. He would save them all, or he would die trying. It was as simple as that.
A sharp cry dragged him from his silent reverie. He looked down to find Genesis squirming away from his touch, and quickly lifted his hands. "Did I hurt you?" he asked quickly, silently damning himself for his inattention.
Genesis was quick to shake his head negatively, looking over his shoulder with a rueful, faintly embarrassed smile. "I don't know what nerve you hit, but I liked it a little too much," he admitted in a husky voice.
Sephiroth let out a relieved breath, noticing for the first time the rich scent that hung in the air around them. Genesis had been aroused by his absent ministrations, so much so that even now, his slender body moved restlessly on the rented mattress beneath him. Sephiroth forced himself to focus on the moment, and the man who filled it with his majestic presence, reminding himself that he had more than he had ever dared hope for, and that if he wanted to keep it, he couldn't lose himself in his less-than-glorious past.
He forced a smile to his lips, hoping to recapture the peaceful, happy mood that his memories had so easily shattered. "You liked my hands on you, did you?" he asked, his voice little more than a velvety purr as he bent over the other man. "Where else would like to feel my touch, Genesis?"
He pressed his lips to the back of his kitten's slender neck, inhaling the spicy scent that belonged to Genesis alone, and bit down lightly. Genesis' entire body jerked at the sensual, dominant caress, his breath catching on a high cry, and Sephiroth smiled against that soft skin. "Where?" he repeated, dragging his lips down the line of his spine, pausing every so often to nip at smooth, creamy skin, following the path his hands as he massaged every inch of that same skin. "Where, Genesis?"
"Goddess," Genesis moaned, trembling as he twisted and arched beneath the devastating dual assault, "everywhere, Seph. Everywhere."
Sephiroth laughed darkly, wringing another groan from the man in his arms, as his own excitement swiftly rose. His fingertips found sore muscles and gently dug in, working the inflamed nerve-endings, even as his lips smoothed over each sensitive spot. Genesis continued to moan and writhe beneath him, occasionally directing him to particularly sore area, but more content to let Sephiroth have his way, as it was giving him such pleasure. Sephiroth loved the way Genesis gave himself over to him, trusting him with his body in such an intimate way. It showed that he truly did trust him, but more, that he loved him, and Sephiroth wanted to reward that loving trust in full.
Keeping that thought in the forefront of his mind, he lowered his hands to the firm mounds of Genesis' ass. Taut muscles flexed beneath his hands, slim hips rising and falling as the smaller man began to move in a primal, wholly instinctive way, his body unconsciously mimicking the movements of sex, and Sephiroth shuddered at the unspoken invitation, his own arousal sharpening until it was nearly unbearable.
"Not yet," he said in response to that silently sensuous plea, his voice little more than a grating rasp, as he slid his hands over those muscular mounds, down to the enticing length of Genesis' long legs. "Soon, kitten, soon."
Genesis whimpered, both in disappointment and pleasure, as Sephiroth began to knead the muscles of his thighs. Pain and pleasure combined as his sore muscles were worked with firm, gentle hands, his pleasure increasing until he felt ready to explode, but he bit his lip to keep his pleas contained. Sephiroth was slowly making his way down his legs, pausing to work on the muscles in his calves, but Genesis knew where he was going, and there was no way in hell that he would do anything to stop him.
Those strong, graceful hands encased first one foot, then the other, pressing and massaging until Genesis thought he would go mad. Sephiroth rarely touched his feet, and Genesis had always been too proud to ask, even though foot rubs were one of his favorite things. Thanks to his boots, his feet were always sore. He'd always seen it as a small price to pay for looking good, and the boots added a good two inches to his height, so that Sephiroth didn't always seem that much taller than him. Still, they did hurt, and it was nice to be pampered like this, even if his pain was brought on by his own stupidity.
When Sephiroth finally released him, he was nearly sobbing with a combination of relief and lust. Sephiroth grasped his shoulders and turned him over with gentle hands, and he immediately reached up and yanked him down to him. "Fuck me," he begged, nearly mindless with need as he lifted his head and pressed his lips to the other man's. "No more games, Seph. Fuck me."
Pale malachite gleamed from beneath heavy lids as Sephiroth smiled against his lips. A voracious mouth closed over his own, a slick tongue thrusting between his teeth, and Genesis lost his fragile hold on his self-control. He wrapped his arms around Sephiroth's, tangling his hands in the silky fall of his hair, even as he brought his legs up to encircle his waist. He locked his ankles at the base of Sephiroth's back and began to thrust against him, moaning wildly as Sephiroth's cock rubbed against his own. He reached down and worked a hand between them, grasping their joined erections and stroking them together with rough urgency.
Sephiroth groaned deeply, sharply, the sound nearly lost in the intimate tangle of their lips, and reached down to capture that insistent hand. Splaying his fingers wide over Genesis' own, he took control of the intimate caress, dragging their hands up over the head of their cocks, until their hands were coated with precome. They strained together, each sensual touch increasing their shared pleasure, each driving the other closer and closer towards completion. Genesis began to shake violently against him, his every breath a passionate cry that overwhelmed Sephiroth's senses and threatened to undo him.
He hastily disengaged his hand and began to stretch the other man, knowing it was only a matter of minutes before his own control failed him. Genesis began thrusting against him immediately, trying to impale himself on Sephiroth's fingers, his cries rising in volume until Sephiroth had no choice but to comply with his passionate demands.
Praying that he had stretched his kitten enough to prevent injuring him, Sephiroth pried Genesis' hand from his cock, pulled back despite the resistance from his lover's legs, and pushed himself home. Sephiroth grimaced as he was swallowed whole, the tight cavern of Genesis' body clamping down on his aching erection, the other man's frantic scream reverberating through the room. He dropped both hands to the slender span of Genesis' hips, gripped tightly, and thrust for all he was worth.
Gentleness was forgotten as he slanted his mouth across the other man's and deepened the already violent kiss. Blunt nails scored his back as Genesis' own pleasure mounted, those long legs tightening around his waist until just this side of pain, and then it no longer mattered. He orgasm washed over him in a blistering wave of unrelenting pleasure, everything else falling away, until only Genesis remained.
Sephiroth was only vaguely aware of Genesis as he screamed beneath him, his body stiffening and jerking as his own orgasm hit him. Searing heat flowed between their sweat-slickened bodies, and Sephiroth found that he was smiling. Genesis gasped and mewled through the rapidly gentling kiss, his legs falling away, even as his arms kept Sephiroth close. Sephiroth's smile only widened as he raised his hands to his lover's face, cupping it in shaking palms as he eased back just enough to gaze down at him.
Genesis' near-perfect features were flushed, his haunting azure eyes glowing with contentment, his rose-colored lips swollen from their passionate kisses. Even as he watched, those lush lips curled into a satisfied smile, and he couldn't resist the urge that had him bending down to taste them once again. Genesis returned the kiss lazily, his hands stroking the damp hair that clung to Sephiroth's shoulders, one foot moving languidly over Sephiroth's calf.
"You came before me," came the breathless, rather smug whisper.
Sephiroth uttered a deep, albeit unsteady, laugh and stroked the high arch of aristocratic cheekbones with his thumbs. "So I did," he returned in a murmur. "A testament to the power of your. . .charm, I believe."
It was Genesis' turn to laugh as he combed his fingers through all that silver. "My charm, hmmm?" He pretended to consider that, his blue eyes gleaming with both arrogance and mirth, before shrugging once. "I'll take it."
"I'm sure you will," Sephiroth returned very dryly.
Genesis snorted, one of his favorite affectations, and whacked him on the shoulder. "Don't get cocky, moonbeam," he warned with the beginnings of another smile. "I know how to take you down a peg or two."
Yes, you do, Sephiroth responded silently. Aloud, he only said, "You may 'peg' me as much as you like, Genesis. I will not complain."
Another laugh sounded, rich and full of genuine amusement, as Genesis hugged him closer. "I'll 'peg' you later," he whispered seductively into his ear. "For now, I was hoping you wouldn't mind cleaning us up. We do have to sleep here, you know."
Sephiroth pressed a smiling kiss to the fiery silk of his kitten's hair and began the difficult job of untangling himself. He ignored his lover's disappointed whine when he pulled out of his body, grateful to see that he hadn't hurt him in his own frenzy of lust. He went into the bathroom and washed himself, and then returned to the bed with a damp washcloth. He ran the cloth gently, lovingly over Genesis' body, basking in the warm light that shone from those unforgettably blue eyes, in the love that the other man didn't even attempt to hide. It was what he had always wanted, for his heart to gaze upon him as though he were the most important thing on The Planet, and no words could ever properly convey how the knowledge of Genesis' love made him feel.
He set the washcloth on the nightstand and stretched out beside the other man, who immediately turned into his embrace. Sephiroth wrapped his arms around him and lowered his face to cinnamon-scented fire. "You know that I love you, don't you?" he asked in a low voice.
He could sense Genesis' surprise, could feel it in the sudden stillness of his body. "Of course, I do," the other responded, his voice taking on a concerned quality as he hugged him tightly. "That, I don't ever doubt."
"Even though I've cost you so much?" Genesis whispered his name in protest, and he quickly continued, "I've taken you away from your career, your family. You're a fugitive now, because of me. You might never be able to return to a normal life, because I have asked it of you. It's important that you believe that I love you, Genesis."
"I know you do, Sephiroth." Genesis closed his eyes as he smoothed his cheek over the warm alabaster skin of his lover's shoulder. "I think I've always known it. As for my career, I'm still a First, still your second-in-command. That's enough for me."
"Genesis—"
"I'm not done." Sephiroth fell silent, and Genesis tilted his head back to look up at him. "When you talk about family, you fail to realize that you are my family now. You, and our boys. Hell, even Angeal and Zack, the little nuisance, are my family. What more do I need?"
Sephiroth's expression showed uncertainty as he raised one hand to sift through short strands of auburn fire. "What about your parents?" he asked quietly. "I know that you love them, and there's a good chance you'll never see them again. How can you not blame me for that?"
"You know that my parents and I have never been close." Sephiroth nodded slowly, the expression in his pale emerald eyes one of caution, and Genesis smiled gently. "I love them, yes, but they've never really been a part of my life. You have always been there, Seph, even when I didn't want you to be. You have never turned your back on me, never purposely done anything to make me unhappy. You spoil me," he added, "even when I'm being difficult. You've made me the most important thing in your life."
"No, Sephiroth," Genesis shook his head with fond exasperation, "I have no doubts whatsoever that you love me."
Relief flashed across those perfect, angelic features, and Genesis could only marvel at his lover's ridiculous insecurities. "Now," he said sternly, "kiss me, tell me that you love me properly, and go to sleep. We've got a beach to conquer tomorrow."
Sephiroth's smile was shyly endearing as he did just that. He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to Genesis lips, whispered his love in a hushed voiced, dutifully closed his eyes. Genesis lowered his head to his favorite spot over Sephiroth's heart, and let his lover's heartbeat lull him into slumber. His last thought was that, if he were to die tomorrow, his only regret would be leaving Sephiroth behind. Nothing else mattered to him, nothing at all.

Genesis opened his eyes to find himself in a ruined landscape that he didn't recognize. He frowned as he ran his gaze over what appeared to be modern ruins, but of what, he didn't know. It almost looked like a damaged mako reactor, but that was not quite right. Rows upon rows of narrowed, rectangular hollows surrounded him, and he was surprised to realize that they were actually windows, most of which had been shattered by some sort of calamitous force.
The remnants of some sort of skyscraper, he mused as he turned to look around him. He must be in Midgar—it was the only large industrial city on The Planet—but he had no idea what sort of disaster could have wrought this amount of damage to the crowned jewel of Shinra's empire.
The distinctive sound of metal-on-metal came to his ears, and Genesis' curiosity was peaked. He hurried in its direction, his sensitive ears detecting the occasional high-pitched cry, which was almost always followed by a lower, deeper grunt. Each sound was accompanied by the loud reverberation of swords clashing, and he knew that it had to be a swordfight, and an intense one, at that!
There was a sudden cry, gut-deep and tinged with desperation, quickly followed by one final strike. As Genesis climbed and leapt his way towards where he had heard it, he heard a young, achingly familiar voice ring out in the sudden stillness.
"My Reunion," he could have sworn he head Kadaj say. "I know you're dying to watch."
A loud buzz filled the air, a low drone that nonetheless echoed through the metal carcass surrounding him. It changed in pitch, rising sharply, and Genesis winced as the sound cut painfully through his skull, and then stopped abruptly.
"Good to see you, Cloud."
Sephiroth!
Genesis didn't question the certainty of the thought—he'd know that deep, velvety voice anywhere—as he spun around and ran in the direction of his lover's call. He came to a low wall, which looked as though it had once been a helipad, and gracefully leapt over it. He landed just in time to see Sephiroth soar high above him, his tall, graceful form nearly floating as he turned in midair. Sephiroth landed on an elevated section of the building, his black trench coat flaring out gracefully around his leather-clad legs, as he faced a terrified-looking Cloud Strife.
"What the fuck?" he whispered, rushing to the nearest bank of windows and climbing his way up.
"Your Geostigma is gone," he heard Sephiroth say, his voice smooth and nearly mocking. "That's too bad."
Cloud sounded eerily calm as he said, "Sephiroth, what do you want?"
"The last thoughts of Geostigma's dead." Genesis shuddered at the artificial silkiness of Sephiroth's voice. Seph didn't talk like that! he thought as he doggedly pulled himself up over the edge. "Those remnants will join the Lifestream and girdle The Planet, choking it, corroding it. What I want, Cloud, is to sail the darkness of the cosmos with this planet as my vessel . . ."
"Vessel?" Genesis repeated with confusion, frowning as he found a stable section of the ruined building to stand on. "Seph, what are you talking about?"
He watched bewilderedly as Sephiroth smiled with a nearly sadistic enjoyment. Those perfect, angelic features were alight with it, his green eyes shining with a dark light that Genesis had never seen before. His long, silky silver hair swirled beautifully around lean body, Masamune glinting menacingly from his left hand, as he slowly began to raise his right hand.
". . .just as my mother did long ago."
Mother?! Genesis thought incredulously. Oh, shit!
Genesis watched in shock as Sephiroth lifted his hand over his head in a languid, almost sensual motion, and then splayed his fingers wide. The sky above him began to darken, ominous clouds gathering to swirl towards the air above him, as though in answer to a silent call. Cloud gasped and lifted his sword—First Tsurugi—and gripped it with both hands, obviously afraid, and equally determined not to show it.
"And then one day we'll we find a new planet, and on its soil we'll create a shining future."
"And what about this planet?"
"Well. . ."Sephiroth's smile deepened, taking on that malevolent quality that even now had Genesis' cock hardening in automatic response, ". . .that's up to you, Cloud."
This was wrong, Genesis thought with panic, watching as Cloud's bright blue eyes narrowed with sudden, deadly determination. Sephiroth merely watched him with bright, predatory green eyes, his slitted pupils contracting as the bright afternoon light was replaced by a dark, tumultuous sky. His anticipation was as dark as it was obvious, and as both men continued to stare at one another, Genesis shivered in instinctive response.
It was Sephiroth who finally chose to end the stalemate. He dropped his right arm suddenly, shooting forward in a blur of preternatural speed. He brought Masamune up as he moved, grasping it with both hands, his intent as obvious as it was disturbing. Cloud shot towards him at the same moment, swinging his own sword around to meet Sephiroth's strike, and Masamune met First Tsurugi in a flash of bright, nearly blinding white, light.
Suddenly, they were inside of the building itself, both warriors circling one another as they lashed out, their swords meeting only to spring apart. Genesis was simply along for the ride, a helpless bystander who could only watch in horror as the man he loved tormented someone who had already suffered too much in his short life.
Masamune met First Tsurugi, sparks flying as each combatant pulled back for a second strike. Both men struggled, swords locked, neither willing to give way, as the contact practically lit up the area around them. "Oh, where did you find this strength?"
Genesis winced at the sardonic purr, and Cloud's equally fierce response. "I'm not about to tell you."
Cloud shoved the bigger, taller man away from him with a sudden burst of strength, and Genesis gasped as Sephiroth was thrown back and up, his back breaking several beams and at least two walls, before he disappeared into the darkness beyond. Cloud leapt after him with a grunt of exertion, and the scene changed again.
"I've thought of a wonderful present for you."
Sephiroth was soaring through the air, graceful and deadly and so damned beautiful that Genesis wanted to weep. The silver-haired warrior cut through a section of the building, and sent it tumbling down towards Cloud, who cut his way through it as he soared after him. Their swords clashed several times in quick succession before Sephiroth spoke again, and his words chilled Genesis to the bone.
"Shall I give you despair?"
He kicked Cloud away from him, and the young warrior only saved himself by wedging his blade into the side of the building and swinging himself up onto it. Sephiroth landed above him and whirled around, his black trench flaring around his long legs and trim waist, one arm extended in an almost godlike manner. Even as Genesis watched, his lover's hand clenched into a fist, the action betraying his anger in a way that the Sephiroth he knew would never allow to be seen during battle.
"On your knees," Sephiroth told the puppy's apprentice, his deep voice laced with contempt. "I want you to beg for forgiveness."
As Sephiroth turned away and swung Masamune to his left, Genesis caught the first glimpse of anger on his lover's perfect features. Sephiroth wasn't just angry, he was enraged, and that knowledge scared Genesis as little else could. "Seph. . ." he whispered thickly, "what's happened to you?"
Sephiroth cut through the bullet-shaped crown of the wrecked building, and Genesis was horrified to realize that it was Shinra Tower that lay in ruins around them. "Goddess, what the fuck is going on here?!"
Genesis suddenly found himself stumbling as the very ground beneath him shifted, and the scene before him burred out of focus. When the world finally sharpened once again, it was to find Cloud leaping at Sephiroth, surrounded by a fiery blue light, an outer reflection of an inner will that his quiet demeanor had only hinted at before. He and Sephiroth traded blows, the latter looking almost bored as he parried every strike with the ease that used to make Genesis see red with envy.
Genesis didn't envy Sephiroth, now. As his lover used nothing more than Masamune's edge to shove Cloud away from him, Genesis realized that there was very little of the man before him that resembled his moonbeam. This wasn't the man who had held him beneath the shade of a Banora White Tree and made his deepest dream come true. This was a madman, a soulless monster who wore his lover's face, and he wanted out of here—now!
Instead, he was forced to watch as Cloud made a bewildering miscalculation, a rookie mistake, and was nearly killed as a result. He raised First Tsurugi above his head with both hands and leapt at Sephiroth, only to find himself impaled on Masamune's great length. Sephiroth lifted the enormous odachi into the air with one hand, Cloud's added weight nothing when compared to Sephiroth's astonishing physical strength, a cruel smile lighting those perfect features.
"Is this the pain you felt before. . ." Sephiroth's voice took on that silky, almost oily quality that made Genesis' skin crawl as he spoke, " . . .Cloud? Let me remind you. This time, you won't forget."
As Gaia's strongest warrior stood tall and proud and undefeatable, the wind blew suddenly. Genesis narrowed his eyes as debris from both their battle and whatever previous catastrophe had occurred here stung his eyes, causing them to water. Through blurred vision, he saw a flash of black and silver, a sudden, startling phenomenon that he found incomprehensible. It almost looked as though a wing had sprung from his lover's back, which was absolutely ridiculous, and utterly impossible.
What the hell was going on here? Genesis thought as he blinked furiously to clear his vision. The dark, uneven shape continued to taunt his hazy eyes, and he raised a gloved hand to furiously scrub them. He couldn't be seeing a fucking wing here. Humans didn't have them, and Sephiroth wasn't a fucking bird. This was all wrong, and it was beginning to piss him the fuck off.
He lowered his hand and scowled as the indistinct ebony mass seemed to ripple in an almost mocking way. "This is bullshit!" he exclaimed to himself furiously. "I don't know what the fuck I'm seeing, but it is not a fucking wing."
He thought of the way Sephiroth's black leather trench had swirled around his deceptively lean body throughout the battle, and realized that that was what he was seeing. The silver had been Sephiroth's gorgeous silver hair, and the black had been his coat. Nothing so fantastic as a wing, Genesis told himself with a quick shake of his head. Seph might be different, but he wasn't that different.
Genesis finally blinked his eyes clear, and nearly groaned as he realized that his surroundings had changed yet again. This time, he was in a deep, dark place, one where little light penetrated. Yet, he could see Sephiroth clearly, Masamune drawn and held on level with his left shoulder, both hands gripping its hilt tightly, his face an arrogant mask. He was shirtless, his alabaster skin flawless as it rippled over his taut muscles. This time, Sephiroth didn't speak. He merely gazed at Cloud, who looked even younger than the man Genesis knew now did, and was wearing the black uniform of a newly promoted SOLDIER 1st Class. Cloud held a sword similar to Zack's Crystal Sword, only with an inner lining of deep midnight blue. Naturally formed crystals decorated the pommel and hilt, while the sword itself fairly glowed with power.
Sephiroth merely smirked, his expression one of challenge, and one that Genesis had seen many times before. The resignation in those brilliant, catlike green eyes, however, was new. He had never seen Sephiroth look so. . .so defeated, and like just about everything else in this crazy ass dream, it frightened him. It was almost as though Sephiroth wanted to die, that he wanted for this—whatever the hell it was—to be over.
"No!" he cried out, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "Don't give up! Sephiroth, listen to me! Don't give up, Seph. Fight him, moonbeam. Fight him! Please!"
Sephiroth never looked his way as Cloud shifted his stance and launched himself forward. Genesis was forced to watch, horrified, as the man he loved lowered his sword at the last possible moment. Sephiroth took blow after blow, each faster than the last, so fast that even Genesis' enhanced eyesight couldn't follow them all. And when it was over, Sephiroth staggered, Masamune wavering in his hand, as his life's blood poured from wounds too numerous to count. He dropped to his knees, his legendary sword slipping from his grasp, and then fell back.
Genesis rushed to him, screaming at Cloud to stay, and was surprised by the regret he saw on those fine features. Cloud hadn't wanted to kill Sephiroth, and it showed as the young warrior turned and walked away. As Genesis tore his gaze from the boy's retreating back, he dropped to his knees beside his fallen lover, his hands shaking as he cupped that angelic, blood-soaked face in his palms.
"Seph?" he questioned uncertainly.
Those pale emerald eyes finally focused on him, and Sephiroth's lips moved soundlessly as he tried to speak and failed. Genesis didn't need to hear his name to know that Sephiroth had finally seen him. As he had once told Genesis, he was always aware of him.
A breathtaking blue-green light began to swirl around the pale perfection that was Sephiroth. Genesis' eyes widened, his lips parting on a stunned gasp, as he realized what was happening. Sephiroth's physical body was breaking down, beginning to dissolve, as his spirit began to leave it.
Sephiroth was dying!
"No!" he screamed, bending over the younger man as he tried to embrace him. His hands met only empty air and ephemeral aquamarine light, and he began to sob as his reason for living was ripped away from him. "Seph, come back! You can't fucking leave me like this! You can't leave me alone! Damn you, come back!"
"Genesis?"
The sound of Sephiroth's velvety voice, thick with sleep, soft with concern, was enough to jar Genesis to wakefulness. His opened his eyes only to find himself sitting upright, his heart hammering in chest, his vision blurred by the tears that ran unchecked down his face. He was clinging to Sephiroth, who was kneeling beside him, his powerful arms banding around him, his voice tinged with confusion as he asked him what was wrong.
Genesis shook his head violently and clung to him, needing to feel Sephiroth's body against his own, so warm with life, his heart beating steadily against Genesis' own. "Genesis, please don't cry," he heard Sephiroth whisper, his rich voice wavering precariously, and Genesis sniffled piteously in response.
"Gen. . ." Sephiroth's arms tightened to just this side of pain, a long-fingered hand sliding into his hair to cup the back of his head, and Genesis couldn't contain a sudden shudder of relief. "Ssshhh, kitten. All is well. I am here."
He turned his head into the thick, untamed fall of his lover's hair, nuzzling the strong column of the other man's throat as he trembled uncontrollably. "You're alive," he wept, pressing his lips to the pulse that beat steadily beneath Sephiroth's ear. "You're fucking alive."
"Of course I'm alive." He could hear the frown in Sephiroth's voice as the younger man smoothed his free hand down his back. "Kitten. . .what is wrong?"
"It was horrible, Seph." Genesis shuddered and clung to him even more tightly. "You and Cloud were fighting, Shinra Tower was a wreck, and you kept saying the most horrible things. It was like you were gone, and someone else was wearing your skin. It looked like you, it sounded like you, but it wasn't you."
He drew a deep, shuddering breath, and then cried harder. "You died," he choked out. "Cloud killed you, you died, and I couldn't save you. You left me all alone in that dark place, and you didn't come back!" he finished on a sob.
Sephiroth froze as those confused, disjointed words penetrated his sleep-filled mind. Gaia, he thought venomously. Gaia had sent Genesis a dream, just as she had him so many weeks ago. Once again, The Planet was trying to wrench its champion from her enemy's grasp, with little care as to what damage she did to either in the process.
He pushed back a surge of rage and concentrated on soothing his distraught lover. "I am here, Genesis," he said in a soft, almost crooning voice. He ran his hands over the fluid lines of the other man's back, hating the tremors which racked its slender length, as well as the moisture that tricked down his own chest, all evidence of his lover's unquestionable upset.
Sephiroth slipped an arm beneath Genesis' knees and lifted him. He sat back against the headboard and set Genesis on his lap, pulling the comforter up over them both, and continued to comfort the terrified man in his arms. He made soothing, nonsensical sounds, which he knew Genesis liked, as he reassured the other man with his physical presence. He stroked Genesis' back, his arms, ran his fingers through the fiery tangle of his hair, rained soft kisses on the damp skin of his face. Genesis merely whimpered and continued to cling to him, his eyes squeezed shut as his tears continued to flow, his anguish a palpable thing.
Whatever doubts Sephiroth might have harbored about the depth of the other man's feelings were banished by the severity of his reaction to Gaia's dream. Genesis did love him, and he would never again allow himself to think otherwise.
He held Genesis that way as night faded into morning, and sun began to rise in the dawn sky. He didn't know what time it was when Genesis finally cried himself to sleep, he only knew relief, and a deepening sense of dread. Gaia had gone after Genesis without provocation, attacking him when and where he was weakest, in an attempt to separate them. Unlike Sephiroth himself, Genesis was ignorant of their true situation, and so had no way to protect himself from it. It was up to Sephiroth to do so, and he found himself unsure as to how he should proceed.
Unlike the alien bitch who claimed paternity of him, Sephiroth did not know how to enter another's mind unbidden. He didn't even know if such a thing were possible with one whose cells were not active. He knew next to nothing about the abilities he possessed—the few he had mastered he had done so instinctively during his madness—and he realized that he could not hide from what he was any longer. While he had no intention of revealing the truth of his monstrous nature to those who cared for him, it was time for him to accept his alien heritage, if only to teach himself how to use it to defend those he loved.
He would talk to the boys at the first opportunity, Sephiroth decided. He would ask them to teach him how to use his telepathic powers, and he would find a way to strengthen Genesis' mental defenses. If Genesis found himself uncomfortable with the thought of Sephiroth in his mind, then he would convince him to allow Yazoo to do so. Genesis already trusted the young remnant, in a way that he had never trusted Sephiroth himself, and Sephiroth could only hope that that would be enough. It would be a violation of the worst kind, but Sephiroth would do whatever it took to protect the man who held his heart, even if he had to alienate him in the process.
Sephiroth shivered at the thought of life without his fierce kitten, but he knew that he would do it, if it came to a choice between Genesis' life and his own. He would never again betray the man who had suffered so much for love of him. He would protect Genesis, he would cure him, and he would allow him to walk away, if that was his wont. So long as Genesis survived, Sephiroth could endure anything.
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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody