"Check mate, Sephiroth," Genesis drawled, hand propping up his chin as he easily bested his superior with his rook and his king. The rook was his favorite piece, and this set was especially gorgeous. It was a fine Swarovski crystal that caught the dying light as the two ended their two hour game. They were evenly matched, but Genesis would say he was better as he'd been playing longer, ever since he was a child. The game held a special fondness in his heart, for it was much like military warfare, and his maid had taught him how to play. She was his main caretaker, as his parents were often too busy to deal with him. She was very good, but she had taught him to be better. In capturing Sephiroth, he was playing out an age old fantasy of his of besting his childhood hero.
"Well played," Sephiroth sighed, admitting the defeat. The tension seemed to seep out of him. His hand unfurled—had it been tensed this whole time? This was not an easy thing for him. It was the first time they hadn't ended in a draw. He had never won—Genesis was too well-versed for all that, and he never made his General feel as though he was just playing a game of cat and mouse, although he very well might be.
Genesis was looking at him in a way he had never seen before. Was it pity? He hated pity. It made him feel like a child all over again after the labs, when Gast would give him such a look as to make him feel every bit the child he was.
"You almost had me," Genesis said breathily. His voice seemed more suited for poetry than pleasantries.
"You had me ten moves ago. You made sure I knew it," Sephiroth said in a dangerous tone.
"Be that as it may," the red headed youth laughed, "you had an opening. You were too hungry for my bloodshed to see it." Sephiroth's eyes glowed dangerously in the failing light. He did not take easily to being goaded into admitting he made mistakes. His job as a General, ever since he was fifteen, was to think calculatingly—to never make a mistake, or his men would meet cruel ends.
Genesis tipped Sephiroth's king over with a flourish and smiled softly. "You never should have let me keep my favorite piece." He picked up the rook lovingly and stroked its velvet bottom, then placed it back down again. "Go again?" He asked, eyes flashing with mako energy.
"Dinner would be more prudent than another two hour game," Sephiroth sighed. "You are welcome to stay." Sephiroth touched his fingers to a panel at the side of the wall and low light flooded the room, a soft yellow hue that would be easy on sensitive mako eyes. This wasn't Genesis's first time in the silver-haired General's apartment, but it's sheer functionality always fascinated him. There was no clutter, no books, just black and white, like a chessboard. It's pieces were the several panels which controlled mundane things like light, temperature, and the various technological gadgets that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was utilitarian in nature, just like its owner.
"I am hungry," Genesis admitted. He wasn't just hungry for food, though. Winning had made his body thrum with excitement, and seeing Sephiroth defeated was just as fine as any ripe fruit. But he knew these things went over Sephiroth's head. When it came to Genesis, winning was just as good as making love and being thoroughly sated, and the moment where Sephiroth knew he was defeated had made such a sweet expression cross his face until he had schooled his face into impassiveness. He briefly wondered what it would be like to make him take down that mask, to let himself succumb to passion. Let himself, Genesis mused, as if he ever would. Sephiroth never let himself look anything else but impassive, cool, like the silver hair and hard steel he possessed.
"Good. I have some left over stew from last night. I'll warm it for you," Sephiroth said, standing up smoothly. Genesis set about putting away the chess board as Sephiroth heated up the food. He looked up once or twice, always fascinated with how the young man moved about when he didn't know he was being watched. Seeing him doing such a menial thing as warming up food never lost its luster for Genesis, who once believed the General had people do this sort of thing for him. He was surprised to find out when they became friends that Sephiroth lived simply, like any other young man, even if his apartment reeked of money in only the way simplicity and beauty had any right to be. Genesis came from a background of flaunting money, whereas Sephiroth merely had it and the only way it showed was in that he had comfort where others did not. He had a large screen TV that hid inside a console that rolled out smoothly when he tapped a screen on his wall. He had heated floors. But his apartment held the bare minimum of things. The apartment didn't even have a lived in scent, probably owing to the fact that the man rarely spent time in it. He was usually gone on missions or locked in his office.
"Not still reveling in your victory, are we?" Sephiroth asked as he set a white bowl filled with delicious-smelling stew in front of Genesis. Genesis hadn't even noticed the approach. Sephiroth just seemed to materialize when he moved, which was rather annoying.
"Thinking about your apartment, actually," Genesis stated. "It's so different than mine."
"We don't all love poetry," Sephiroth replied, a smile playing at the corners of his lips as he sat beside Genesis with his own stew in a matching black bowl.
"A pity, that. I would love to hear you recite some, with that voice."
"A task more suited to you," Sephiroth stated, placing a mouthful of food into his mouth and then chewing thoughtfully.
"I'll recite it for the both of us, then. Infinite in mystery—"
"Is the gift of the goddess. I know."
"You've been listening," Genesis smiled genuinely.
"How can I not?" Sephiroth teased. Genesis would have bristled at that, but if he was being honest with himself, he loved this game more than chess. If only Sephiroth would let his guard down just a little, just enough to see what they could really be once those walls he put up were done away with.
Silence passed between the two of them as they ate. Genesis contemplated Sephirioth's civilian clothes. He wondered if he had a closet full of the same pressed white shirts and black pants as he had never seen him wear anything but those items aside from his leathers. He couldn't imagine The Great General pressing his clothes, but then he'd never imagined he'd cook for himself either. Oh he wanted to be a fly on the wall one day just to see how Sephiroth went about his life on a regular day. He had glimpses, but oh, it could be so much more.
Sephiroth, for his part, was unaware of Genesis's feelings. As far as he was concerned, Genesis was his second-in-command, a friend made out of the necessity of war. Friends did not come easily to Gast had been his friend once, but that was a lifetime ago, or so it felt like that. He never knew the circumstances of his death, but had always assumed Professor Hojo had something to do with it. Genesis and Angeal were close to his age, and they were different—military men. Boys, really, but then he was also a boy. He often forgot that, feeling and acting much older. Death does that to a person. He was eight when he'd first sunk fine steel into another person, taking their life. The man had been surprised, and wore that mask of surprise in death. Sephiroth had merely carried out an order, but he had surprised himself with the pleasure he felt at defeating his enemy. Death came way too easy to him, even then. It was why he'd been so reluctant to befriend Genesis and Angeal. He feared that one day he'd be ordered to kill these men he'd called friends, and that terrified him in the feeling of his own humanity. Even now, with Genesis so close, he was uncomfortable, waiting for the eventual time when he would leave so he'd be alone with his thoughts instead of engaged in this game played. It wasn't the chess or the sparring that made up the game, but something more primal.
"What are you thinking about? You're quieter than usual, and that's impressive." Genesis made a show of sliding back a long silver bang to look in the other young man's eyes, as Sephiroth often hid behind the fringe of his hair.
"You would not like what I am thinking about," Sephiroth said honestly. This surprised Genesis. It was rare that he had any insight to the inner workings of the other boy's mind. And he doubted he'd get much more out of him. But he had to try.
"Try me," Genesis said silkily.
"I just don't understand," Sephiroth started, but then stopped, looking away. If he couldn't hide behind hid hair, then he didn't have to look into those eyes. He knew Genesis was far from innocent, having killed his fair share of men, but he didn't think he had ever enjoyed it. Sephiroth knew in that moment that he was a monster, an abomination of everything he held dear. Only…what did he hold dear? There wasn't much. He had friends. Before that, he had had nothing to lose. He almost missed that time before Angeal and Genesis. It seemed more….more what? He wasn't sure.
"What don't you understand?" Genesis asked, one delicate brow arched. He was staring intently and Sephiroth could feel the gaze of those icy blue eyes.
"Why you're my friend."
"Are you serious?" Genesis laughed. Sephiroth blinked, eyes taking on a confused light.
"Wasn't that obvious?" He asked.
"Oh my dear sweet Sephiroth. Little Sephiroth, you know not a thing. I dreamt of being your friend since I was…what, nine? Do you have any idea how much your friendship matters to me?" Genesis laughed, a melodic sound that Sephiroth was surprised to hear. That he was the cause of that laughter made his cheeks color a bit. He was not pleased with being called affectionate terms, but had completely missed them in the meaning of Genesis's words.
"Would you really be my friend if you knew what darkness lay in my heart?" Sephiroth wondered aloud.
"Ah," Genesis said, understanding now. "But darkness needs light—Just like fire needs ice. You will always be the ice to my flame. Perhaps more."
"More?" Sephiroth asked innocently. He looked unflinchingly into those icy blue eyes that were such a contrast to the red hair that the young man possessed. He didn't understand the meaning even then, so he looked down to his hands, which had unconsciously clenched. He released them now, and colored more at realizing how close Genesis had become to him, both bodily and spiritually.
"I've always wanted more from you. Do you remember my letters?"
"I still have them. In my office."
"Your office?" Genesis laughed.
"Don't laugh," Sephiroth said. "I keep everything important there under lock and key."
"I'm flattered, truly. But look, I know you won't get what I mean unless I spell it out for you."
Sephiroth looked up, surprised to find Genesis had moved even closer.
"Have you ever thought what you mean to me?" Genesis asked. Their knees were touching now, and Genesis's scent invaded Sephiroth's personal space. It was a scent of apples and a hint of cinnamon and spice. Sephiroth himself, having showered before Genesis arrived, smelled only of soap and a faint trace of his shampoo and conditioner.
"I…no," Sephiroth admitted.
"You mean the world to me," Genesis admitted. It was not easy for him to say so. Just hours before they had been locking swords, and taunts were tumbling out of both boys' mouths at that point, as they usually were wont to do. Angeal, tired of apologizing for the poor fate of every regeneration of the holodeck on Level 49, had successfully intervened this time. Genesis could still feel Sephiroth's hand around his neck as they fought.
"I do?" Sephiroth quieried.
"How can you be so blind when you're so brilliant?" Genesis asked. The backhanded compliment stunned Sephiroth into more silence. "I've wanted to be more than friends for a while now, but…."
"More than friends?" Sephiroth asked, uncertain of the implication.
"Yes. More than friends. Lovers. Oh, think about it. What it could be like." He unconsciously touched his throat where undoubtedly bruises would be forming now. They wouldn't stay for long, not with mako in his system, but Sephiroth had really choked him to the point where his vision swam.
"Lovers?" Sephiroth repeated incredulously. "Are….is this some new game?"
"No, you idiot. I like you."
"You…..you do? Why?"
"He asks why," Genesis sighed frustratedly as if to an audience, splaying his hands wide. "Why, one just has to look at you, at us, to find the answer to that."
"I've never—" Sephiroth found that Genesis pressed a finger to his lips, looking at him insistently.
"I know you had no idea I felt this way. It was a part of the game. But I'm tired of a game I'll always lose, Sephiroth. I realized the only way to play was to tell you. Don't lie to me and tell you me you don't feel that exhilaration when our swords cross. When our blood pumps the same fire. It's in our makeup. We were destined for one another."
"That sounds suspiciously like poetry," Sephiroth laughed mirthlessly. "Are you toying with me even now?"
"What would be my endgame in that?" Genesis asked. "When you choked me earlier, I saw stars. I wanted you to kiss me. I wanted you to feel the same desire I feel for you." Sephiroth couldn't help the heat rising off his face and surely thought he must be red by now.
"I….I felt it too. I just." He shook his head, looking far away. Genesis forced his head back to him with his fingers, staring into blue-green eyes.
"You what?" He asked, lips a mere millimeter from Sephiroth's.
"Don't think I deserve it," Sephiroth replied weakly. He felt drained having admitted it.
"Oh, my dear dear Sephiroth. You are not the monster you make yourself out to be. We are all of us with one foot in darkness. You, me, Angeal. We are warriors. We kill. We're good at it."
"I was eight when I first took a life," Sephiroth said miserably, eyes downcast. Genesis could force his chin, but not his eyes.
"You don't owe me any explanations, Sephiroth. I know you were bred to kill. But Sephiroth? You are human. We are human."
"I'm not so sure…."
"Well, I am. I believe I was meant to show you that humanity you have inside you."
"How do you mean to do that?" Sephiroth's eyes rose up to meet Genesis's.
"Kiss me," Genesis breathed. "I want you to. I've always wanted you to."
"What if I'm bad at it?" He asked, which garnered a genuine musical laugh from his red headed friend.
"So is thar a yes?" He asked softly. He took Sephiroth's hand and slid in closer, their chests pressing together. Sephiroth's heart hammered in his chest, and he felt that Genesis's was too.
"Yes," Sephiroth said, pressing his lips to Genesis's. He stayed there for what felt like eternity before he deepened the kiss. Genesis moaned softly and placed the hand he'd captured against his chest.
"Do you feel that?" Genesis asked when their lips parted. Sephiroth nodded. Genesis was trembling with desire.
"Yes," he answered.
"Was that your first kiss, sweet Sephiroth?"
"Yes….."
"Is that all you can say?" Genesis laughed.
"Y—" Before he could say it again, Genesis snared him in a deep kiss that stole his breath away.
So this is going to be a multi-parter. Not sure how many parts yet. Hope you liked it!