Final Fantasy VII: "Something Wicked This Way Comes."

Summary: "((An Angeal x Zack, Sephiroth x Genesis story)) It began with the incident that shook SOLDIER to its core. It continues with the meeting that will create the foundation for their futures. And all the while, as something wicked stalks the ShinRa SOLDIERs, bonds will be created and bonds shall be shattered- then mended again... And the broken might just find their true reason to live again— because they have something that no one else has... this really is love, right?"

Warning: "This will be a Yaoi ((male x male)), first off. It will have rape, reference to rape and childhood abuse, and also implied rape. There is a reason that this Fan-fiction is rated "M," and by continuing to read this story, I am no longer responsible for any offense taken by the manuscript, and will not receive any more complaints and/or hate mail because you have hereby been warned."

Disclaimer: "I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters so don't haul off and think I do. I do, however, own 1st Class SOLIDER Marshall Willowstaff, Cadet Captain/Commander Benjamin ((Ben)) Adler, and Head Physician Julian Jake."

A_ _ _N

Zack Fair was totally ready to impress the 1st Class SOLDIER that had been assigned to provide backup for their helicopter set to fly to Wutai. He'd been more than thrilled to discover that the SOLDIER was a 1st Class. It was incredibly rare for a 1st Class SOLDIER to come along on an assignment with mere Cadets. Usually they went alone, or were accompanied by the 2nd or 3rd Class. Never was it a 1st Class before.

The SOLDIER's name was Marshall Willowstaff, and he'd been a 1st Class SOLDIER for two years. Like the other 1st Classes, he didn't wear the 1st Class uniform, but a black turtleneck, jeans, a pair of combat boots, and a pair of gloves. To Zack's utter excitement, Willowstaff had taken the seat next to him, and Zack timidly started a conversation with him when the chopper lifted off. There were about ten other cadets in the chopper, yet Marshall seemed focused on him most of all.

Marshall, the SOLDIER known to ShinRa and Wutai alike as the "Dragon-man," had shoulder-length dark brown hair and even darker eyes. He carried a silver shotgun, which was odd in itself because SOLDIERs usually carried blades. Despite his Rank, Willowstaff was a very interesting person to talk to. He was lively and joked quite a bit, unlike any other SOLDIER Zack had encountered before.

Willowstaff revealed that Zack's name was known to SOLDIER, and revealed in a gentle whisper that based on Zack's performance on this assignment to Wutai; he'd be recommended for 3rd Class SOLDIER by next week. Zack had been ecstatic and told Willowstaff what every other Cadet knew about him: he wanted to join SOLDIER and become a hero.

Willowstaff had smiled at him and wished him luck.

A_ _ _N

They were coming for him, Marshall knew they were. They always got what they wanted, no matter who stood in their way. It wasn't as if Marshall hadn't expected them to come after him. It's just that he hadn't expected them to come after the boy, either. At least, not at the same time. They must have known that he was planning on telling one of the 1st Class SOLDIERs about them. And Marshall, even years ago when all this came to his attention, standing in their way was nothing less than suicide.

Marshall didn't really know why they decided to take the boy. Or this entire squad of Cadets- most of them was only fifteen years old. Maybe they wanted to make a statement. But no matter what it was, Marshall Willowstaff was not going to let them have their way. He'd screw with them one more time before he died. Maybe with his death, the other 1st Classes would open their eyes to the world beyond them. Maybe with his death, something would change for the better.

Marshall hoped with all his soul that it would.

Looking over at Zack, their intended target, he smiled. The boy was cheery, despite everything. Marshall hoped that what was about to happen wouldn't hurt him too badly.

What was that saying? No pain, no gain? Marshall thought, shaking his head. Now wasn't the time to be brooding. It was time to finish this, once and for all- at least for him. I wish you luck, Zack Fair. Maybe, despite everything, your dream of becoming a hero might come true.

A_ _ _N

As they entered Wutai airspace, Willowstaff had gone silent, and suddenly he stood and ordered in a commanding way that the pilot reduce altitude. When the pilot questioned him, Willowstaff had roared at him that unless he wanted to get hit with missiles, he'd do as he was told. The pilot decreased altitude so much that they were barely missing the tops of the trees below them.

Willowstaff never took out his weapon as he'd stayed silent for several long moments before he told Zack to get up- there was more than one missile, and the other was aiming right for the metal behind Zack. He then told the Cadets in the chopper that, two at a time, they were to jump.

Zack was just about to jump when Willowstaff stopped him. He ordered the pilot to eject with the final Cadet that wasn't Zack. Once that happened, the 1st Class SOLDIER handed Zack Fair a small pendant that seemed to have once been attached to some kind of chain, and told him that under no circumstance was he to stop running once they hit the ground, and to ensure that the pendant was given to a 1st Class General named Angeal Hewley. He then grabbed the sixteen year old Cadet around the waist, and jumped.

A_ _ _N

Julian Jake was a thirty-something-year-old ShinRa Physician who'd worked alongside SOLDIERs in Wutai as Head Physician for over ten years.He was almost as tall as Sephiroth was, and had midnight black hair and even darker eyes. Julian was a well-respected Physician who was responsible for saving hundreds, if not thousands, of SOLDIER's lives during his time either in Wutai or even in ShinRa itself.

Julian entered Angeal Hewley's tent that evening grim-faced and pale. From experience, Angeal knew that look. Although he was credited with being collected and cool on the field of battle, if Julian had one weakness, it would be the after-effects of a failure to save someone's life and watching them die in his care. His eyes had the habit of growing sad and depressed, which would hint at this. Now, they were sadder and darker than ever. Only something truly terrible could have happened.

"What happened?" Angeal asked, concerned by Julian's silence.

"Marshall Willowstaff's chopper was shot down two miles off from here. By the Wutais. We're still looking, but it is highly improbable that there were any survivors." Julian's voice was shaking by the time he was finished, and he refused to meet Angeal's eyes.

Angeal moved past Julian, trying his hardest to look calm. He knew that Marshall, a good friend of Sephiroth himself, was close to Sephiroth's heart even though Sephiroth had chosen Genesis as his lover several months ago. "I'll go out and find the site. I'm leaving you in charge, Julian." Angeal added to the Physician as the tent's flaps closed.

He didn't want to think about what obviously awaited him.

A_ _ _N

Zack refused to obey Marshall Willowstaff's orders when the two hit the ground. Even though Zack was scared to death at being in this unfamiliar environment, something told him to stay close to Willowstaff. Willowstaff had barely had enough strength to stand, let alone tell Zack to run.

Zack helped his superior to lie at the foot of a tree. Willowstaff was barely conscious. It scared Zack to think that the 1st Class might die right there.

Zack could already hear the Wutai soldiers coming toward them, and readied his standard rifle- which, incidentally, he could barely shoot. He'd always preferred the blade to the damn gun, but standard issues were standard issues...

At his feet, Marshall hadn't moved or awoke.

He'll be damned first before he left Marshall behind...but before he could make a decision, he saw a flash of dark blue and black, and then a flash of silver. The Wutais around Zack all crumpled, leaving only the victor in their place.

The SOLDIER 1st Class turned, and walked toward them. He saw Zack, and then he saw Marshall. He knelt beside the fallen SOLDIER and waited a few moments before shaking his head and muttering something under his breath. Zack recognized the 1st from somewhere, he couldn't remember where, though he was sure he'd seen him before.

A_ _ _N

Julian was waiting for Angeal when he returned. His eyes were sad and Angeal could tell that the Physician had been crying- he'd known the ending of this, just as much like Angeal had. Julian followed Angeal, who was still carrying the Cadet. "So he's dead." It wasn't a question. Angeal nodded silently in reply.

Julian only gave a wary sigh at Angeal's response. "I've secured a retreat from ShinRa." The Physician reported as he and Angeal entered Angeal's tent. "It will arrive in the morning." He added. Angeal nodded again, laying the Cadet on the military-issue mattress and stepping aside. Julian knelt by the Cadet and began checking vital signs. Julian nodded at the boy and smiled slightly despite how he felt at the moment. When he stood up a few minutes later, Angeal asked, "Is he alright?"

"It's just shock and a few scratches. Luckily you found him out there. Had you not, if he had even managed to escape the Wutais, he would have, most likely, frozen to death. I suggest bed-rest and a bowl of soup when he gets back." Julian said, obviously trying to sound cheerful. Angeal knew why: it was evident that Willowstaff had died protecting this Cadet. It was like Willowstaff, and it was an honorable way to die, something Angeal knew he should have been proud of.

And yet...

"I suggest you call Sephiroth and Genesis and tell them before they get the reports. Numb them before they get that bullshit lecture from the President about 'responsibility' and how important it is for them to stay alive. Again." Julian added, bitterly. Angeal agreed and Julian walked out, disappearing into the campgrounds.

Leave it to Julian to get Angeal stuck with delivering the bad news.

A_ _ _N