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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
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter Seven
       ‘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
            Sephiroth awoke to the obnoxious peal of a phone ringing. He lifted his head, squinting slightly, as he heard Genesis curse. The redhead dove out of bed and grabbed his scarlet coat, fumbling with it until he found what he was looking for. He flipped a small, red PHS open, scowling as the iridescent screen indicated that he had missed a call.
            “Shit!” he exclaimed, scrolling through the messages until he found what he was looking for. He listened to the message, his expression darkening until he snapped the phone closed with an exclamation of disgust. “It figures.”
            Sephiroth dragged himself up on one elbow, absently shoving long silver locks out of his face. “Who was it?”
            “Lazard.” Genesis shook his fiery head as he added, “I had a meeting with him this morning. I forgot all about it. Now, I‘ve been ordered to sit in on the President’s board meeting. Goddess, but this sucks!”
            “Ah.” Sephiroth sat up, settling back against the pillowed headboard. “Would you like me to. . .”
            His voice trailed off as his lover shot him a dark look. “Offer retracted,” he said with a trace of amusement.
            “It had damn well better be,” Genesis muttered under his breath. While he might be sleeping with the general, he would let no one accuse him of receiving preferential treatment. He had paid his dues as a cadet, and he would continue to do so as a First. “Goddess, but I smell like sex. Do you think I have time to take a shower?”
            “I’m sure Lazard will understand your desire to make yourself presentable,” Sephiroth said, doing his best to keep a straight face. He’d always found an intractable Genesis to be irresistible, but even he wasn’t stupid enough to risk the man’s early-morning wrath, even if the nature of their friendship was Shinra’s worst-kept secret.
            “Of course, he will.” Genesis sent him a suddenly cocky smile before disappearing into the bathroom.
            Sephiroth waited until he heard the muted roar of the shower before laughing aloud. He and Genesis had greeted the dawn together, and then returned to bed. They hadn’t gotten much sleep, but the few hours they’d managed had been quiet and uneventful. No more nightmares had plagued him, although Sephiroth suspected it had more to do with Genesis holding him than anything else. Genesis’ touch had always kept the voices--which he now knew to be both Mother’s and The Cetra’s--at bay. Something about the other man had always quieted his inner demons. It was only after losing him that Jenova’s stranglehold had begun to make itself known.
            He thrust the unpleasant memories aside and concentrated on what he could do now. First and foremost, he had to hack into Hollander’s records and find out exactly what had been done to Genesis and Angeal. He might not be the scientific genius that Hojo was, but having been raised in the man’s lab, he was quite familiar with scientific terminology. Whatever he didn’t understand could be researched, although he would have to be very careful while doing so. He would find a way to stabilize Genesis’ genetics, and he would do it without involving Angeal.
            Unlike Genesis in the past, he was armed with the knowledge of what the truth would do to their honor-driven friend. No, Angeal would remain forever in the dark, as would Genesis himself, if he had his way. He already knew that Hollander was unable to either cure or properly treat the degradation process. He also suspected that Hojo had hidden valuable knowledge from his rival’s creations, information that may very well have saved their lives had it been revealed, and Sephiroth was determined to undercover it.
            Of course, nothing was certain, but with Hojo, lies and secrecy were second nature. His own twisted origins were proof enough of that. Regardless, he would wait until he had secured Hojo’s cooperation to eliminate Hollander.
            A small, cruel smile--one reminiscent of the madman Jenova had once made of him--shaped his lips. While he had never been a particularly cruel man in life, he found that he was more than capable of sadism when it came to the man who had raised him. Not only would he be willing to torture Hojo until he complied, but he would enjoy it--immensely.
            The shower shut off and Sephiroth forced himself to rise. He had to act as though nothing had changed, even though a whole world of endless possibilities had been opened to him. He went to the closet and retrieved a set of black silk pajamas with silver piping, an expensive set that Genesis had given him to mark the anniversary of their first sexual encounter. They were the redhead’s favorite, and Sephiroth found that he liked them, as well. Though, he didn’t wear them often, for fear of causing too much wear. He had learned that even if you didn’t like a gift you were given, you should pretend to, to spare the giver’s feelings. Even had he hated the set, he would have worn them simply to please the other man, who meant so much to him.
            He was pulling his hair out of the collar when Genesis emerged, a tantalizing amount of creamy skin revealed by the large gray towel that hung low on his slender hips. Sephiroth settled against the wall next to the closet, crossed his arms over his chest, and simply watched the other man dress. Unlike the previous night, his movements were quick and efficient, although no more lacking in grace. Genesis was a SOLDIER through and through, and it showed.
            The SOLDIER in question cast a quick glance his way as he tugged on the collar of his scarlet duster. “You’re supposed to be resting,” he snapped as he drew close, the waspish quality of his words not detracting from the concern behind them.
            Sephiroth smiled faintly, fondly, reaching out with a casual hand to make an unnecessary adjustment to that collar. “I know.”
            Genesis raised one auburn brow pointedly, and he couldn’t suppress a low laugh. “I will rest while you are gone, Genesis. I give you my word.”
            The other man sniffed somewhat disdainfully, blue eyes full of skepticism as they studied him, and he returned that gaze steadily. Genesis looked away as he pulled crimson gloves over his deceptively slender hands, though his words showed that he was far from convinced. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Don’t even think about leaving the apartment. If you try to go into the office, I’ll know. Angeal will tell me,” he added simply.
            “I would expect nothing less,” he assured the other man dryly.
            “Mmmmph.” Genesis ran his hands through his hair still-damp hair, tousling it just so, before turning to face him. “I’ll be back soon,” he repeated, reaching out to cup his face with a tentative hand. He studied him for a long moment, those clear blue eyes flickering indecipherably, as he said, “No more nightmares, alright?”
            Sephiroth only smiled again, the faint gesture tinged with embarrassment. “I’ll be fine, Gen. You don’t need to worry about me.”
            Genesis snorted his opinion of that as he leaned forward and brushed his lips over the other man’s. “Get some rest,” he murmured, sighing a little as he drew away. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
            “I’ll be waiting,” Sephiroth murmured with a sigh of his own.
            He watched as the other man strode confidently from the room, the bottom of his crimson trench flaring dramatically around his legs with each sure step. He heard the front door open and close, and sighed once again. While he had a great deal to do today, he wouldn’t be able to properly relax until Genesis returned. After all he had lived through, he would never again take the other man’s presence in his life for granted. Life was as short as it was unpredictable, and with The Planet itself against them, he knew better than to believe that the mission he had set for himself would be easy.
            But it was a mission he would not fail, Sephiroth vowed as he went into the kitchen. He prepared a quick breakfast of eggs and bacon, smiling as he imagined the reaction Hojo would have if he ever discovered that his prized ‘subject’ had not kept to the strict dietary regimen he had implemented so long ago. The image of Hojo, red-faced and sputtering with indignant fury, was enough to keep a smile on his face even as he booted up his personal computer and began to delve into Hollander’s secret, encrypted files.
            Two hours later, he was reading all the information that Shinra had on ‘Project G’, the smile gone. He wasn’t surprised to learn that Genesis’ natural parents had been chosen for their superior genetic strength, nor that they had been eliminated shortly after his birth. He’d always suspected that Mayor Rhapsodos and his socialite wife weren’t Genesis’ blood relations. They were far too cold, too indifferent, to have given birth to such a passionate man. He was only grateful that Gillian Hewley hadn’t proven to be Genesis’ natural mother, considering the past nature of Genesis’ ‘friendship’ with her son.
            He also discovered that Hollander kept rather personal notes in his private files. What Zack had once told him was true--Hollander was Angeal’s biological father. And it hadn’t only been a result of the project. He and Gillian had been lovers for years before Project G, so the decision to create a specimen together--Sephiroth scowled at the term used to describe one of his closest friends--had been made quite easily.
            For a moment, he was tempted to fly down to Banora and kill the woman for what she had done, then reminded himself how impractical such an impulse was. Angeal’s mother had taken her own life--again, according to Zack--after Angeal had confronted her with the origins of his birth. Such a drastic response showed that she likely regretted her role in the project, and what she had done to her son during the course of it. And, there was the possibility, no matter how remote, that he might need her intimate knowledge of Project G if his own half-formed plans did not yield satisfactory results. Especially, once Hollander had been eliminated.
            Unfortunately, Sephiroth knew that it would likely come down to bartering with Hojo for his assistance. Not that if would be an even trade, of course, but he thought that allowing Hojo to continue his useless existence would be a significant step in securing the monster’s aid. Of course, once he realized just how important this was to Sephiroth, he might not be so eager to help. But, Sephiroth had other methods of persuasion, and not all of them included physical discomfort.
            Sephiroth chuckled to himself as he pulled a container of blank CD-R’s from a desk drawer and began to copy all of the information. He didn’t know how much time he had before Genesis returned, but he didn’t want to chance being caught. Not only would this be considered treason, but Genesis would become unhinged if he discovered the truth behind his and Angeal’s births, and that was exactly what he was trying to avoid.
            Once done, he stashed the disks in the back of the drawer, taking the precaution of engaging the lock. He briefly considered going for Hojo’s files, but he knew that the old man was paranoid enough to have taken extreme security measures to keep them private. It would take much too long to find where he had hidden all of them. He would have to wait until he could be assured of privacy before tackling that particular task, since he had no one he could ask for assistance. Unless. . .
            Sephiroth smiled coldly to himself and logged onto the SOLDIER database. He pulled the SOLDIER cadet files and began to search them. And there he was, Sephiroth thought with cool satisfaction. Cloud Strife, born in Nibelheim, sixteen years of age, holding the dismal rank of Private. He studied the accompanying picture, disappointed to see a small, average-looking teenager with wild blond hair and ordinary--if lovely--blue eyes. Of course, the picture had been taken last year, when Strife had first entered Shinra, so that told him nothing. He himself had been here less than a day, and if Gaia had somehow sent his nemesis back as a countermeasure, he would have changed seemingly overnight.
            He would have to personally observe him, Sephiroth realized with dismay. He would have to find a way to observe the boy while keeping his own presence hidden. He called up the boy’s grades, which ranged from laughable to merely competent, depending on the class and the instructor, but there was nothing to indicate that Cloud Strife would someday save the world.
            Sephiroth sighed irritably at that. As The General, he had the authority to call any cadet to his office at any time and remain unquestioned. Unfortunately, he was not in his office today, nor would he be, unless he wanted to risk upsetting both Genesis and Angeal.
            He grimaced at the thought. Angeal would give him yet another lecture, probably centered around pushing himself too hard, and Genesis would simply lose it. He’d find himself on the wrong end of Genesis’ sharp tongue at the very least, or of his sword if his friend became truly enraged. Sometimes, having people who cared about you could be quite a bother, though he wouldn’t change it for anything.
            He couldn’t even ask Zack to introduce them, because they hadn’t actually met yet. They wouldn’t meet for more than a year--on the mission to Modeoheim that would result in Angeal’s death--unless he himself did something to change it. And why not? he asked himself. Why couldn’t he take this matter into his own hands and introduce the two boys himself? He knew they would become fast friends, and if Strife had been granted the same boon as he, he would welcome Zack’s infectious, yet irritating, presence in his joyless life.
            The idea that was forming was absurd, but it could be done. The next time that he saw Angeal and Zack together and he would mention the young cadet he had spied recently while walking past the training room. He would infer enough of an interest that Zack would probably approach the boy himself, if only to appease his own curiosity. Once that was done, Sephiroth would merely ask for his opinion. If Strife was simply a teenage boy with a hero complex, he would do the unthinkable and personally train the boy to pass the SOLDIER exams. If he was a man who merely resembled the boy he had once been, Sephiroth would attempt to make peace with him and recruit him for his ‘mission’.
            And hope that the boy didn’t merely take his head the moment he saw him, Sephiroth thought with an undignified snort. To think, the only person ever able to defeat him in battle was a too-short, overly-pretty child from the Nibel Mountains. Gaia truly did have a sense of humor.
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           Genesis glanced around the boardroom, azure eyes flicking restlessly from one dull face to another. President Shinra sat at the head of the table, gesturing with one pudgy hand as he talked to the blond woman on his left. His overweight body had been stuffed into an unflattering red suit--his favorite color--and Genesis found himself appalled to share even that much with the power-hungry tyrant. Goddess, but the man was an imbecile! he thought as he watched the man leer at Scarlet. How he had ever managed enough mental cohesion to form, much less run, Shinra Electric Power Company was something Genesis would never understand, especially as he tended to surround himself with equally idiotic employees.
            Take Scarlet, for example. She ran the Weapons Development Department, and she ran it badly. The robots she and her underlings kept developing were small, structurally unstable, and so unintelligent that they couldn’t tell the difference between a SOLDIER and a common monster. She was a loud, ruthless woman who had the President’s ear--among other things--in her hot little hand, and fucked anyone who would have her.
            Of course, she hated SOLDIER--and not just because the program was allotted funds she thought her department deserved--he and Sephiroth in particular. She caught his gaze on her and glared at him with contempt. Genesis only grinned to himself, remembering the day when a younger, more innocent Sephiroth had shut her down without so much as an apology. He had been cold, succinct, and unintentionally callous in his rejection of her, and Scarlet had never forgiven him.
            Of course, the fact that the object of her desires was sleeping with another man hadn’t helped matters any. If she hated Sephiroth for his complete lack of interest in her, then she positively loathed Genesis because he was the one who held it. She had tried her luck with Angeal once, but once he began expounding on the lack of honor inherent in such an arrangement, she had quickly lost interest. She hadn’t propositioned Zack yet, but given her track record, Genesis knew it was only a matter of time. He wondered how Angeal’s puppy would react?
            Then there was Palmer, the head of the Space Department. Another fat cat, this time in gray, Palmer was an incompetent buffoon. As far as Genesis could tell, he did no real work. He sat in his office all day, drinking tea with lard, of all things, and talking his secretary’s ear off, usually about flying through the stars someday, if company scuttlebutt was correct. Yet another sycophant who leeched off the President while contributing nothing. Typical.
            And let’s not forget the head of Public Safety, Genesis thought mockingly. Heidigger was also overweight, larger than either Shinra or Palmer, and a pig to boot. He was loud, obnoxious, and wholly unintelligent. How he ever gained his position as official head of the military was a complete mystery to Genesis. Thank the Goddess for Lazard, he thought fervently. If anything ever happened to him, SOLDIER would be completely screwed.
            After all, look at what had happened to the Turks after Veld had been branded a traitor. Heidigger had been given direct control over them, and had proceeded to get most of them killed in skirmishes with the various branches of AVALANCHE. Genesis was only grateful that the one seemingly intelligent member of the board had recommended that Tseng replace Heidigger as Turk commander. Otherwise, SOLDIER might have ended up as the President’s personal bodyguards, and wouldn’t that have sucked!
            Genesis glanced over at Reeve Tuesti, a slender, olive-skinned man in a tasteful blue suit, who was the head of Urban Development. He was the only one of these morons who truly seemed to care about the people of Midgar, though Genesis couldn‘t imagine why. He was always coming up with simple, inexpensive plans to clean up the slums below The Plate. Unfortunately, the President couldn’t care less about the ‘little people’ or how they lived. Tuesti’s ideas were always shot down, usually by Scarlet or Heidigger, who were constantly vying with Hojo and Hollander for more funds.
            He cast a casual glance at Lazard, who was trying to look interested as Scarlet expounded on the need for money for her department. Of course, the bored look in his blue eyes belied that interest, but he was trying. And, it wasn’t like anyone was paying attention to him anyway. The President tended to ignore things he found unpleasant, and for some reason, Lazard seemed to be one of them.
He looked to the far corner of the room, where a young blond man in an immaculate white suit sat silently. Tseng and a Turk he didn’t know very well stood guard on either side of him, ready to protect the President’s heir with their lives.
            Ah, the crowned Prince, Genesis thought with a silent laugh. Rufus Shinra, The President’s only--acknowledged--son, recently made Vice President at the tender age of fifteen. The boy didn’t say much, but then with a father like his, he wouldn‘t. Rumor had it the President wasn’t the kindest man behind closed doors, which was the reason the kid didn’t have a mother anymore. Still, the boy observed everything through a pair of pale blue-gray eyes that rivaled Sephiroth’s in their coldness, and Genesis got the feeling that he didn‘t miss much.
            Neither, however, did he. Genesis didn’t miss the looks that Rufus had been sending Lazard for the last hour, nor the way Lazard studiously ignored them. While neither man might look the President, they bore a startling resemblance to each other. Maybe, scuttlebutt was right this time, and President Shinra had knocked up some slum-babe years ago, and Lazard was the result. He didn’t know, and most of the time, he couldn’t bring himself to care. He had enough on his plate just maintaining the illusion of a First Class elite.
            He snorted to himself, looking away from the table, and caught the warning look Angeal shot him. His best friend’s dark blue eyes pleaded with him to keep his thoughts to himself, and Genesis only smiled innocently in return. Angeal didn’t look reassured, but he had no reason to worry. Unless Hojo himself showed up and began spouting his usual nonsense, he had no intention of speaking.
            The boardroom door chose that moment to slide open, and Genesis found himself straightening in his seat. Thank you, Goddess! he thought as Hojo entered the room. This meeting had just gotten a hellova lot more interesting! The short, skinny scientist shuffled along the length of the table, not speaking, his head down and arms clasped behind his back. Greasy black hair had been pulled into a careless ponytail at the back of his head, while the light hit his glasses just right, nearly blinding anyone who tried to look him in the eye.
            Not that anyone besides him seemed interested in making eye contact. Genesis forced his body to relax, none of his loathing visible on his fine-bred features, slouching as best he could in his rather uncomfortable chair. His mako-bright eyes never left the scientist, and only a complete moron would be able to mistake the lethal expression in their too-blue depths. Angeal looked more alarmed than ever as his gaze shot back and forth between he and the good professor, and this time, Genesis couldn’t reassure him. After what he had done to Sephiroth, the old man was lucky he hadn’t already stuck him like the unfeeling pig that he was!
            “Ah, Professor Hojo,” the President greeted with false joviality. “How goes the SOLDIER preliminary tests?”
            “Hmmmph.” Hojo made his disgust plain without saying an actual word as he came to a stop at their end of the table. The scientist reached up to adjust his glasses, his dark gaze sweeping the room, curling one lip repugnantly as he paused on both and Angeal and himself.
            Genesis found himself smiling, a cruel smile that was a warning in itself. Hojo sniffed disdainfully and looked away, answering President Shinra in a voice that could break glass. “There are absolutely no viable specimens for the SOLDIER program in this last batch of cadets. Totally useless,” he added with a shake of his head.
            Angeal’s deep blue eyes narrowed at that. While Zack might be the only cadet he had ever taken under his wing, he made it a point to personally observe each sword training class at least once a week when not on a mission. There were quite a few hopefuls in the lower ranks, and one or two who were already showing superior swordsmanship. That Hojo was willing to simply dismiss them was enough to offend his SOLDIER honor.
            “I disagree.” Ten heads swiveled towards Angeal as he stood, and Genesis coughed to cover a highly inappropriate laugh. Since neither First usually said anything more than a polite hello at these meetings, it actually seemed to mean something when one of them chose to speak.
            “As you know,” Angeal began, “I make it a point to observe the lower ranks.”
There were several murmurs of agreement, though most of them clearly couldn’t have cared less. Not that that would stop Angeal, Genesis thought fondly. “I have observed several promising candidates for 2nd Class, and possibly two who have shown enough to talent to eventually make 1st.”
            “Really?” Hojo questioned doubtfully. He eyed Angeal for a long moment before smiling slowly. “Give me their names, and I’ll have them retested.”
            “No.” Angeal turned away from the evil little man, his gaze meeting President Shinra’s. “While we have competent instructors, some of these students would benefit from one-on-one training.”
            Lazard spoke up then, a faint smile on his patrician features. “Are you thinking of taking on another pupil, General Hewley?”
            “In a sense.” Angeal shifted his weight, the President and Hojo forgotten as he spoke solely to his direct superior. “I believe that Zack would make an excellent mentor for at least one of them.”
            The blond man looked surprised as he leaned forward, clasping his gloved hands together on the table before him. “You know, of course, that only a 1st may become a mentor?”
            “I am aware of the rule,” was all Angeal said in response.
            Lazard only held his gaze for a moment longer before nodding. “Come by my office later this afternoon and we’ll discuss it.”
            Angeal nodded once in response and regained his seat. He cast Genesis a patently satisfied look, and Genesis only smiled once again. He’d known how badly Angeal wanted Zack to be promoted to 1st Class, he just hadn’t expected the other man to take the initiative in such a way. By stating his desires in front of the Board of Directors, he was essentially assuring that Zack would be promoted. The President couldn’t afford to look as incompetent as he truly was, and he valued Angeal in a way that he would never value Genesis or Sephiroth.
            Genesis himself was nothing more than a glorified posterboy in Shinra’s eyes. He was handsome, well-educated, a warrior who preferred poetry to politics. And with his wealthy background, his presence tended to draw boys from more affluent families into the SOLDIER program. These boys would sign up, realize that becoming a 1st Class required work, and Genesis would be the example raised up before their well-heeled eyes. The parents would meet him, let themselves be charmed, and offer large donations to further their sons careers.
            Sephiroth, on the other hand, had been Shinra’s boy-wonder, the draw for nearly every cadet who signed his name to the standard military contract. At seventeen, the young SOLDIER, already a First, had been sent to Wutai. The war had been raging for two years, with no end in sight, when Hojo had deemed Sephiroth ready. Seven years later, Wutai had been all but crushed, largely due to Sephiroth’s influence. The Wutiaian people had dubbed him the ‘Silver Demon of Wutai’, and spoke his name only in superstitious whispers.
            If only they knew the way the war had haunted their demon, they might not have been so quick to sign those short-lived treaties. Sephiroth had been haunted by nightmares for years, horrible dreams where he cut through endless swatches of Wutiaian troops, while blood painted the entire world crimson-red. Genesis had spent nearly six of those years comforting him in the dark of night, doing his best to convince him that what he’d done didn’t make him a monster. He was a SOLDIER, not a monster, and Genesis could see the distinction, even if his lover sometimes couldn’t.
            Angeal was the rational one, the patient one, the one everyone ran to with their problems. Genesis had no patience for anyone outside of his tight-knit circle of friends, while Sephiroth simply didn’t understand normal social interaction. But Angeal was always there, a comforting rock when small ripples became devastating waves, a steady presence that one couldn’t help but feel safe with.
            Angeal would get what he had asked for. Of that, Genesis had doubt. Zack Fair would soon be promoted to SOLDIER 1st Class, and would take on a student of his own. Their meager ranks would swell by at least one, and Genesis would have to walk Sephiroth through the fine art of personal interactions once again.
            Genesis’ smile softened unconsciously at the thought. Poor Seph really was horrible with people. He often said the wrong thing, or rather, said the right thing using the wrong terms. He also had an uncanny knack for offending others when all he meant to do was give them an honest answer. What he didn’t understand was that people rarely wanted to hear the truth. They would rather hear a pleasant lie than be confronted by what they feared most. It was stupid and perverse, but it was human nature.
            And Sephiroth’s social inadequacies could laid at the feet of only one man. Genesis focused on Hojo once more, sky-blue eyes narrowing fractionally as he listened to the man drone on about one of his pet projects. Something about a place called The Promised Land, an old Cetra legend that Genesis couldn’t believe was being taken seriously. The man was supposed to be brilliant, yet here he was, researching something that was little more than a myth. Yep, Shinra, Inc. at its finest.
            Suddenly, Hojo’s dark, empty eyes latched onto his, and Genesis gave him his full, complete attention. “Are we boring you, General?” he asked with a sneer.
            Genesis raised one eyebrow in an arrogant gesture even as he smiled coolly. “Of course not, Professor,” he answered in a smooth, overly-polite tone. He reached up to toy with the long silver earring he wore in his right ear, a gesture that made a mockery of his words. “After all, I so enjoy listening to fairy tales while on the clock.”
            “Why-why you. . .ignorant little--”
            “Now, now, Professor,” he cooed, his hand dropping to the hilt of his sword as he spoke, “that’s hardly the way for a professional to conduct himself. I’m sure Sephiroth would agree,” he added for good measure.
            Angeal’s face tightened with alarm as he quickly shifted closer. “Genesis, what are you doing?” he hissed in a low voice.
            “Why, nothing, Angeal. Merely answering the Professor’s question.” Genesis sent a patently false smile towards the man in question, his hand tightening on Rapier’s hilt as he waited. Come on, he urged silently. Give me an excuse. Call me Hollander’s pet, tell me I’m a monster, anything, just fucking do it already!
            Much to his disappointment, self-preservation seemed to win out over Hojo’s hatred of his rival’s favorites. He visibly reigned himself in, straightening his tie, smoothing the lapels of his lab coat, as he turned back to the President. Genesis watched him take his leave and shuffle out of the room, his hand clenching and unclenching around Rapier’s hilt. Gods damn him! he thought angrily. Someday, he would shove his sword through the organ that passed as Hojo’s heart. It was a promise, a vow to both himself and Sephiroth, one he would follow through on.
            But not now. Genesis forced himself to release his stranglehold on his sword, drawing several deep breaths in succession to reign in his own emotions. He knew that Sephiroth wouldn’t be pleased to hear that he had gone after the man in public, even if only verbally, but he couldn’t regret it. He had just let the man know that he knew what had been done to Sephiroth, and that he wouldn’t allow it to happen again. Hojo wasn’t a stupid man. He got the message. All that remained was to see how he chose to respond to the not-so-subtle challenge.
            He glanced up and caught Rufus Shinra staring at him, the expression in his ice-blue eyes calculating. He sent the boy a tight smile and looked away, not impressed in the least. Rufus was a child, whether he held the Vice Presidency or not. He was of no consequence in the mind of the angry First, and he was dismissed just that easily.
            Thankfully, the President ended the meeting, and they were free to go. Genesis was the first out the door, Angeal hot on his heels. Neither spoke as they took the elevator up to the 69th floor, Genesis clenching his teeth to keep from spouting the kind of nonsense that would immediately brand him a traitor all the while. He glanced up and bared his teeth at the camera embedded in the wall, suddenly hating that nearly every facet of his life was under surveillance. There were no cameras or recording devices in his quarters, though. He looked for bugs every night to assure it.
            The elevator finally stopped, and Angeal squeezed his shoulder briefly. “Come on,” was all he said, and Genesis pushed away from the glass wall to follow.
            The 69th floor, where the rest of the Firsts--all two of them--had their quarters, was nice. It had thick carpeting, surprisingly tasteful wallpaper, and only one set of guards near the main elevator. Genesis cast the faceless troopers an uninterested look, barely noticing them in his emotional state. He followed Angeal to his apartment door, waiting until they were securely inside, to begin his rant.
            “I should’ve just fucking killed him!” Genesis began to pace, his long legs eating the distance of the living room in quick, graceless strides. “How dare that man even speak to me after what he did to Sephiroth! Worthless, gutless piece of shit!”
            Angeal sighed and took a seat on the sofa, knowing that anything he said would only add fuel to the fire of Genesis’ temper. But he couldn’t remain silent. What Hojo had done to Sephiroth had hurt him, as well. “I know how you feel, Gen, but you shouldn’t have said anything. It’ll just make things worse for him.”
            “You don’t understand, Angeal!” Genesis threw himself down on the couch next to him, his furious expression changing to a more vulnerable one. “Seph had a nightmare last night, ‘geal. A bad one.”
            Angeal winced at that, remembering nights when Genesis had called him to help him calm a nearly psychotic Sephiroth. “How bad?” he asked in a too-quiet voice.
            “Bad enough.” Genesis sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “I found him all curled up on the floor in the kitchen, of all places. And Angeal, he was fucking crying.”
            Sapphire eyes widened dramatically at his words. Neither man had ever seen Sephiroth cry; Angeal hadn’t believed that he could. “Gods,” he groaned, understanding now why Genesis was so upset. “Did he tell you what the dream was about?”
            Genesis shook his red head negatively. “I didn’t even think to ask. He was so upset that all I could do was try to comfort him, you know?”
            Angeal nodded his understanding. Seeing Sephiroth withdraw into himself was bad enough, he could only imagine how hard it been to witness the man break down in such an uncharacteristic way. “Did he sleep at all after that?” he asked as calmly as he could.
            Genesis’s smile was so gentle that it surprised him. “He slept like a baby the rest of the night,” he said softly, memories of simply holding the other man coming to the fore.
            “Ah, that’s, uh, that’s good, Gen.” Angeal could only shake his head. He’d known that Genesis cared for Sephiroth, but he hadn’t believed that he loved him, even with nearly ten years of friendship between them. Now, he could see that he did, or that he was beginning to, and it eased something inside of him. He had always afraid been that--someday--Genesis would break Sephiroth’s heart and cause permanent damage. Maybe, he wouldn’t have to worry about their vulnerable friend quite so much anymore.
            “I should get back,” Genesis announced abruptly, rising to his feet. “I promised Seph I’d come home as fast as I could, and I’ve been gone too long already.”
            One black brow shot up at that. Since when had Sephiroth’s apartment become home? “Well, I won’t keep you any longer, then.” He stood and walked Genesis to the door, lingering long enough to say, “Call me if you need anything, okay, Gen?”
            “I will, ‘geal. Thanks.”
            Angeal only laughed silently as Genesis strode down the hall, his presence already forgotten. He closed the door, locked it, and burst out laughing. Finally, he thought with relief. Sephiroth had finally found a way to get past Genesis’ defenses, and he had done it accidentally.
            “What’s so funny?”
            He looked up to see Zack standing in the archway that led to the hallway, his thick black hair standing up every which way as he scratched his head. It was obvious that the boy had been asleep, and equally obvious that he had missed Genesis’ short fireworks display. He only shook his head as he approached his student, reaching out to cup his face in hand, his own expression gentling.
            “I recommended you for First today,” he informed him, smiling affectionately as the seventeen-year-old’s deep blue eyes widened dramatically. “I have to see Lazard later to discuss it, but it will probably be made official soon.”
            “Ah, Angeal!” Zack threw himself at him, clinging with all his strength. “I love you, man. You’re the best!”
            He only chuckled and held the boy close, looking forward to the day when Zack would be his equal, and they wouldn’t have to hide their relationship any longer. “You’ve earned this, pup. Don’t ever let anyone convince you otherwise.”
            “I won’t.” Zack pulled back, his handsome features uncharacteristically sober. “Will you still love me as a First?”
            Angeal saw the twinkle in his eyes and rolled his own. “You’re horrible, Zack.”
            “But you love me, anyway,” the boy said a bit smugly.
            “Yes, I suppose I do,” he said with a long, drawn-out sigh.
            “Hey!”
            He laughed at the indignant protest, hugging the younger man close. “You know I love you, pup. I wouldn’t have compromised myself for anyone but you.”
            “Ah, I love it when you go all girly on me, Angeal.”
            Angeal rewarded him with a light smack on his ass, which had the boy squirming to get closer. “So, do you want to celebrate a little early?” Zack breathed suggestively, thinking idly that life was good, even if he was still only a 2nd. “I have an hour before my next class.”
            When the older man merely tossed him over his shoulder and headed for the bedroom, Zack could only grin with satisfaction. Yep, life was damned good, 2nd Class or not.
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            Genesis approached the door to Sephiroth’s apartment with an eagerness he hadn’t felt in years. The door flew open before he could even slide his cardkey, startling him. Wide-eyed, he found himself pulled into the apartment, pressed against a warm, solid Sephiroth.
            “Well, hello to you, too,” he said in greeting, half-angry, half-amused, as he found himself clinging to Sephiroth‘s broad shoulders. “To what do I owe the pleasure of such an unexpected welcome?”
            Holding his slim, muscled body against his own, Sephiroth pushed the door closed before pressing him back against it. “I missed you,” the other man murmured just before his mouth covered his.
            Genesis responded immediately, thrusting his hands into the long fall of silver hair, lips parting to accept a marauding tongue. Sephiroth groaned quietly, his hands falling to the other man’s hips, holding him in place as he ground against him. Genesis made a high keening sound as Sephiroth’s erection rubbed against his own. Even through the barrier of their clothes, the friction was enough send Genesis hurtling towards the edge. He tore his mouth from the other man’s, throwing his head back against the door as pleasure burned through him. Sephiroth shuddered and surged even closer, lowering head to nip at the sensitive skin of Genesis’ neck.
            When Genesis responded with a whimper, his gloved hands digging almost painfully into his scalp, Sephiroth realized that he was on the verge of doing something that might hurt them both and forced himself to draw back. It was only a few inches, but his body screamed in protest as the contact was lost. His heart hammered in his chest, his breath coming in harsh pants, as he gazed down the other half of his soul.
            Genesis had his eyes closed, and Sephiroth found himself silently urging him to open them. He wanted to stare into that mako-bright sky and assure himself that his aggression hadn’t cost him what little bit of trust he had gained last night.
            Genesis slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times to bring the world back into focus. Sephiroth’s face hovered mere inches above his own, need etched into those beautiful patrician features. “Why the hell did you stop?” he demanded, tugging on the silver strands wrapped around his gloved fingers.
            A faint blush worked its way through pale alabaster skin, even as relief threatened to buckle his knees. “I wanted to see your eyes,” Sephiroth answered softly, grateful to see nothing more than caring and arousal in those beloved azure orbs.
            One auburn brow crept upwards in a deliberately arrogant manner, even as kiss-reddened lips curled into a gentle smile. Those haunting blue eyes locked onto his, and Sephiroth’s breath caught at the tender look that crept into them. “You like my eyes, do you?”
            Sephiroth laughed softly at the silky, heated tone the other man used. “You have beautiful eyes, Genesis,” he said, adding, “as you well know.”
            “Of course, I do,” Genesis returned without modesty. “However, I have always been partial to green.”
            “Something which I am immensely thankful for,” Sephiroth returned wryly. He raised one hand to Genesis’ face, any trace of humor gone, as he struggled with his next words. “I realize that I can be. . .domineering at times, but I truly do not mean to be. I merely wanted you to know that.”
            “And now I do.” Genesis leaned into him, kissing him with as much tenderness as he could muster. “So, any chance of you fucking me into this door anytime soon, or do I have to take care of it myself?”
            One silver brow shot up, easily matching Genesis’ own arrogance. “I’d like to see you try,” he purred tauntingly, grasping one of Genesis’ slender hands and lowering to his own straining arousal.
            Genesis only smiled, the slow, infinitely wicked smile that spoke of naughty thoughts and even nastier deeds, and accepted the challenge.
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Final Fantasy VII: Angelic Threnody