Part I

Between Breaths

Sephiroth Crescent didn't remember much of his early years at Shinra. Or, more accurately, his first years as a SOLDIER. One lesson blurred into another, one day into the next. Most SOLDIERs remembered the tough lessons-- the ones that took them too long to learn-- but he'd never had any of those. He'd always been top of the class. The only lectures he'd ever received had been because he'd done damage to the other trainees.

He couldn't help it. It wasn't his fault that they couldn't keep up; couldn't parry every strike. It wasn't his fault he was faster than they were; stronger than they were.

There was only one who could keep up with him. Only one who'd ever presented a challenge.

He remembered the day they'd first met. It was their first day at Shinra. The room had been packed with recruits from all over the world. All hopeful that they would join SOLDIER; all eager to be the next hero. Sephiroth had sat down toward the back of the auditorium and kept to himself. Most of them already knew he was Hojo's little tag-along; why sit at the front when it would just earn him stares.

Only a moment later the seat next to him was taken by a head of fiery red hair. Or, more accurately, the owner of said red hair.

Slim build, dainty hands, long, shapely legs, soft blue eyes, and a well made-up face. Not to mention the sparkling silver earrings and the knee-length red wool coat. The trainee seated next to him had to be a girl. But there were no girls in SOLDIER, weren't there? Overcoming his uncertainty-- he refused to call it shyness-- Sephiroth looked over.

The other trainee looked just as shy; her head down, her legs crossed. Her hair slipped down, hiding her delicate features and her plump, painted lips. She had a small cream book clutched in her lap. Embossed letters on the cover said 'LOVELESS'.

"I didn't know they were accepting girls into SOLDIER now," Sephiroth said.

The redhead turned to look at him. She giggled, her lips twitching into an amused smile.

"I'm not a girl."

Oh shit. Wait... what?!

At Sephiroth's shocked look-- equal parts confusion and embarrassment-- the redhead laughed again. "Don't worry. I get that a lot." He extended his hand. "Genesis Rhapsodos."

"Sephiroth Crescent," the still gobsmacked youth replied, taking the pro-offered hand. Genesis' skin was smooth and soft; not like a boy's at all. His long eyelashes caught the light in the room, framing his eyes with a halo of red.

Their hands parted-- if somewhat reluctantly on Sephiroth's part-- and Genesis batted aside his fiery hair, clearing his face.

"And there I was thinking I'd be the only one with a weird name," Genesis remarked.

Sephiroth felt his uncertainty-- fine, shyness-- melting away. "Genesis isn't a weird name."

"You don't think so?" The redhead's face was open and unguarded. It made for a nice change from the way Hojo always looked at him. Like he was a bomb about to go off.

"Not at all. It's kind of nice, actually."

Genesis smiled, his eyes sparkling. As the house lights lowered and a uniformed man stepped onto the stage below, Sephiroth noticed a slight pink flush rise on the other boy's cheeks.

"Thanks."

So it all began.

Do you remember the first time?
Time stopped and sped so fast.
In just three minutes you were mine.
Don't think that it was the last.

Sephiroth hadn't realised that day that the little jump he'd felt in his chest had been the beginning of something more than just friendship. But as days became weeks, and he spent more and more time with Genesis, he started to notice that what he felt was different. Deeper than the love you felt for a friend.

But he didn't dwell on it. He kept it to himself, and immersed himself in his training.

It didn't take the instructors long to discover that he and Genesis worked marvelously together. As it turned out, the redhead's girlish figure had hidden a strength that nearly matched Sephiroth's. A strength that quickly propelled him to the top of the class-- just behind Sephiroth himself.

That strength had allowed the two of them to spar for two hours straight, and still arrive at a stalemate.

"Aww, come on! You're losing your touch!" Genesis taunted, his sword held in a loose grip. His left hand brushed fiery hair from his eyes.

Sephiroth surged forward, his katana slashing back and forth in movements so fast they blurred. Movements which Genesis blocked just as quickly.

"Perhaps you're simply getting stronger."

Genesis leapt into the air, spinning like a top, his sword held down at his flank-- a twirling blade at level with Sephiroth's head. Sephiroth brought his katana up to parry, but the force of Genesis' strike knocked the weapon from his hand.

Sephiroth didn't waste a second being surprised, instead lunging for where his katana had fallen. Genesis landed, his sword cleaving the air where Sephiroth had stood only a moment ago. His blade hit the floor of the training room with a loud clang.

Sephiroth swept his katana up off the floor and spun, slicing the air. The blade connected with Genesis' sword as the redhead brought it up to parry. The blades ground together, shrieking and spitting sparks.

To any other eye it would have looked like an even weaponlock. But Sephiroth could see how unsteady Genesis was, and he took advantage of it. All it took was for him to plant his right foot and shove.

Genesis stumbled backward, his sword flying away to the ground, bouncing and clattering as its owner slammed to the floor. Sephiroth was about to gloat, but his boot caught and his momentum prevented him from catching himself. He was falling before he'd even realized what had happened.

When Sephiroth landed it was atop Genesis, who looked horrified for a moment as the other trainee fell toward him, and grunted in pain as the air was blasted out of his lungs.

The two of them lay there, Sephiroth grimacing as leather straps and metal shoulder guards dug into him. Both of them panted, Genesis struggling to fill his winded lungs.

It wasn't until the pain of the impact subsided that Sephiroth realized how awkward a position they were in. Genesis' legs were splayed, Sephiroth's hips between them. Their chests were pressed together and each heavy breath blew moist and hot against each other's skin.

Sephiroth pushed himself up-- affording him a fine view indeed of the prostrate redhead-- and hastily apologized.

"I'm sorry... I--" he began, then noticed Genesis' expression.

The other SOLDIER's cheeks were flushed, his eyes shut tight behind those long crimson lashes. He gently bit his lip. The look was one of pleasure.

"Genesis?"

Genesis gasped, his eyes snapping open. The pleasure left his face, replaced with a flicker of fear. His gaze met Sephiroth's.

"I'm sorry."

Sephiroth watched Genesis' forget-me-not eyes fill with regret. The redhead squirmed and started to push the young man atop him away, but Sephiroth held him still.

Genesis' gaze returned to Sephiroth, questioning, his breath still rapid, his chest constricted with an arousal he couldn't control. They looked at each other for a long moment before Sephiroth leaned in, pressing his lips to Genesis'.

The kiss was brief, but set Sephiroth's nerves alight. The redhead's lips were soft and supple; smooth and warm against his own. The only sound in the room was the quiet, wet sound of kisses. When they parted, Genesis was limp and breathless. His eyes were closed, but when they opened they were burning.

"I never thought you'd do that," he rasped, his tongue absentmindedly sweeping across his lower lip. Sephiroth watched the flash of pink and felt his gut twist in-- was that arousal?

"How long have you wanted me to?" he asked, his own voice shaky and breathy.

Genesis gulped, his eyes sparkling as they looked into Sephiroth's. "Since the day I met you."

Sephiroth bit his lower lip, tentatively moving his left hand to Genesis' waist. He felt the redhead shudder beneath him when his palm made contact, despite the ribbed sweater between them. His mouth opened in a near silent gasp.

Sephiroth smirked, and feeling inordinately brave, unlatched one of Genesis' leather braces. When he looked up at the other boy, his eyes were wide.

"What are you...?"

"What do you think?" Sephiroth smiled, and unlatched the other brace. The braces took the pauldrons with them, revealing Genesis' sloped, feminine shoulders.

The redhead was still looking at Sephiroth in disbelief when he reached for the SOLDIER belt, but nevertheless arched his back to give him better access. The thick leather garment was removed without a fuss, and was discarded in a heap.

Sephiroth could see Genesis' stomach heaving with each breath; his lips parted and flushed. Hastily unclipping his own braces and tossing them aside, the silver-haired young man leaned down to kiss Genesis again.

This time, as their lips met, Genesis gave a desperate, pleasured cry, weaving his fingers through moonlight hair. His body arched, pressing up against the warmth of Sephiroth's. He kissed back, sucking Sephiroth's bottom lip.

When Sephiroth's tongue swept across Genesis' lips, the redhead opened his mouth, allowing it unfettered access. Sephiroth stroked the soft, silky auburn hair spilling around Genesis' face, tangling his fingers in it.

You knew I knew the ways that I could make you say
"Please, please, please don't take it easy on me.
Just make it harder to breathe."

His hands found the sweater next, pulling up and over Genesis' head. It joined the heap of leather on the floor, and Sephiroth let his hands slide down over Genesis' naked chest.

The redhead moaned-- the most glorious sound he'd ever heard, Sephiroth decided. His eyes fluttered shut as Sephiroth explored him, fingers dancing over his flesh, discovering all the places that made him squirm and gasp. They ran down his sides, traced his collarbone, flicked over sensitive nipples, and roamed down to the hem of Genesis' blue-grey pants.

That was when azure eyes snapped open again, locking with Sephiroth's mako teal-- wild with nerves and equally ferocious desire.

"Do you even know what you're doing?" Genesis asked, breathless with anticipation, but at the same time nervously fiddling with Sephiroth's sweater.

"Not really," Sephiroth replied. "But how hard can it be, right?"

"It's just..." Genesis paused. "I've never done this before either, and... I'm a little... nervous."

Sephiroth gently caressed Genesis' cheek. "If you want me to stop, just say so."

Genesis nodded, his face splitting into a grin that spread to those glowing sky-blue eyes. "So are you gonna take your shirt off or what?"

Sephiroth smiled back. "Your arms are kind of in the way."

"So they are," Genesis replied, snaking his hands down Sephiroth's shoulders and along his flanks. His fingers worked their way under the blue, sleeveless garment and drew it up, exposing ivory flesh warm with arousal.

Sephiroth ducked down to kiss Genesis, gasping at the feeling of the redhead's warm palms on the small of his back. Flesh on flesh and gods it felt fantastic. Genesis' hands were smooth and dainty, not like a swordsman's hands at all; more like an artist's.

Sephiroth's sweater was the next item to hit the floor, along with two pairs of brown leather gloves. Before Genesis' fingers could begin undoing the catch on his pants, Sephiroth moved down, laying himself atop Genesis and pressing their naked chests together.

Genesis' eyes fluttered shut, and his hips twitched up against Sephiroth's. Through the redhead's pants, Sephiroth felt a hard, hot ridge, and as their hips brushed, he became painfully aware of his own.

Impatient fingers found zippers and buttons, and boots were fiercely kicked from feet. Pants and undergarments joined the rest on the training room floor; quickly forgotten.

Sephiroth paused, looking over the imaculate body sprawled before him. Porcelain skin shining with perspiration. Azure eyes gleaming in the dim light, his face framed by a flare of cinnamon strands. Genesis' chest heaved with ragged breaths, his lips parted, flushed and moist with mingled saliva. Between his slightly spread thighs, Sephiroth's eyes found his erection-- dark and weeping.

Sephiroth's hands nervously reached out, fingertips brushing down the top of Genesis' thighs, raising goosebumps and eliciting a soft whimper. Enjoying the reaction, he leaned closer, pressing his palm to Genesis' stomach. This time, instead of a whimper, Sephiroth was rewarded with a deep, needy groan.

"Please, Sephiroth..." Genesis cried, his body writhing impatiently on the cold floor.

Had it been any other situation, Sephiroth would have asked the normally eloquent redhead to elaborate, but he knew there was only one thing Genesis could be asking for.

To be frank, Sephiroth had no idea what he was doing, but nevertheless, he confidently pushed Genesis' thighs apart and bent his knees. He'd heard a couple of Second Classes say once that sex was like a battle-- it was all angles. Sephiroth figured if Genesis' spine was straight what they were about to do would be easier.

So I'll climb on top and I'll never stop
till I make you forget who you are, and just feel

Sephiroth moistened a finger and circled the tight pink opening before him. Genesis whined, nails scrabbling at the floor. The whine became a pleasured shout when Sephiroth's finger pushed inside.

Genesis' body enveloped Sephiroth's finger with tightness and heat, and Genesis moaned. One look at the readhead's face was enough to be sure that it felt good. His eyes were screwed shut, his mouth open, panting. His body shifted restlessly, and he pressed himself down on Sephiroth's hand.

Carefully, Sephiroth drew his finger back and pushed it back inside, finding a small ridge within Genesis and pressing it. The ensuing howl was pure animal pleasure.

"Gods, Sephiroth... I'm gonna come soon if... if you keep doing that." Genesis' eyes opened, looking into Sephiroth's. "I don't want it to be over that fast," he said, breathlessly.

Sephiroth gulped. "I just wanted to take it slow. I don't want to hurt you." His teal eyes were an equal mixture of passion and concern.

"I'm ready for you," Genesis whispered shyly.

Sephiroth was certain he was blushing. Licking his lips, he leaned forward, over Genesis, withdrawing his finger from the other boy's body.

"Wrap your legs around my waist," Sephiroth instructed, once again considering angle. As Genesis complied, his firm, dancer-like legs a burning heat against Sephiroth's skin, the silver-haired youth spit into his left palm. He reached down to slick himself and watched Genesis' eyes follow every move.

Sephiroth shifted forward, positioning himself at Genesis' entrance. Heels against his backside urged him on, and he carefully thrust.

Genesis gave a small cry as the head of Sephiroth's cock slipped inside him, and grimaced in obvious discomfort. Experimentally, Sephiroth pushed a little further, and Genesis whimpered. It was a sound of pain.

"Genesis?"

The redhead gasped. "It's okay. It just hurts a little."

Sephiroth thrust again, sinking himself halfway into Genesis' lithe body and feeling the tight passage clench around him. Genesis' face was scrunched with agony. This wasn't how it was supposed to be... It was supposed to feel good.

"No. I can't do this, I'm hurting you," Sephiroth whispered hoarsely, shifting to pull out. But as he did so, Genesis' eyes widened and he shouted in pleasure.

"Wait! Wait. Oh gods... do that again!" All the discomfort on the boy's face had been washed away, replaced with euphoria.

"What?" Sephiroth asked.

"You hit that spot... inside," Genesis panted, reaching up to hook his arms around Sephiroth's neck.

Sephiroth remembered Genesis' reaction when he'd brushed it with a finger-- remembered how good it had apparently felt. Whatever it was, it had halted the pain he'd been causing the redhead.

Sephiroth thrust again, aiming perfectly and hitting the ridge dead on. Genesis moaned loudly, his thighs clenching around Sephiroth's waist. His fingers wove into moonlight strands and held on.

Sephiroth felt Genesis relax around him, watched his mouth start to fall open again, and he pushed, sheathing himself fully in the other boy. Genesis moaned again, arching his back and pressing his body against Sephiroth's.

Genesis' hips bucked up to meet the next powerful thrust, driving Sephiroth deeper. Simultaneous cries of pleasure bounced off the walls. Sephiroth's head fell, his shoulders hunching as he set up a fast rhythm, his hair falling like a curtain about his face.

Sweat beaded on pale skin; whimpers, cries, and pants broke the quiet. Hands slid on wet flesh. Genesis moved fervently beneath Sephiroth, back arching, hips pressing into every movement.

When the redhead's cries reached a new pitch-- starting to sound desperate-- and his body started to tighten around Sephiroth, the other boy knew it meant he was about to climax.

Sephiroth wished it could have lasted longer. He'd never felt something as intimate as this, and he was loathe to leave the gripping heat that was Genesis' body. But there was no slowing the road they were on.

Genesis' breaths were short, ragged gasps, and his whole body tensed.

"Ahh... Oh gods... Sephiroth." The moment the name left his lips he cried out, his body clenching and spasming. His cock twitched and spat his thick fluid onto his taut stomach. Moans and howls left his throat, singing his pleasure to the air.

Only a moment after Genesis released, Sephiroth felt himself tip into that same fall. With a shout he buried himself deep into his friend, gasping as pleasure jumped from nerve to nerve, lighting his body on fire. He could barely breathe as spasms wracked him and he spilled himself. He vaguely heard Genesis' soft, pleasured noise at the feeling of the hot fluid spreading within him.

Do you remember your last look?
Well, you were smiling, and drowning,
and I knew exactly what it took
to make you beg and pray

Sephiroth came back to himself slowly. His every muscle felt fatigued, and he could feel the fine sheen of sweat on his skin. He was still buried inside Genesis' body, could still feel that glorious heat clenched around him.

He opened his mako-teal eyes to see Genesis' face, flushed and full of pleasure. His eyes were closed, full, auburn lashes shining in the room's lights. The redhead was smiling, and gasping for air through his parted lips. His hands were still gripping Sephiroth's hair.

The younger trainee leaned down to press his lips to those of the fiery youth beneath him-- full, swollen, and smudged with what remained of the lipstick he'd been wearing.

Eyes the colour of a tropical sea flashed open and locked on the glowing teal of Sephiroth's. Feline pupils were wide in the dim light. For a long moment neither of them said anything, content to allow their eyes to speak for them.

Eventually, however, Genesis' quivering voice broke the silence.

"Does this make us lovers?"

Sephiroth felt the corner of his mouth twitch up into a smile.

"I suppose it does." He carefully slipped his softening erection free of Genesis' passage, watching weary pleasure wash over his effeminate features.

Feeling his heart still hammering, Sephiroth sluggishly pushed himself to the side, flopping to the floor next to his sated lover. Only a moment later, however, their arms found each other once again-- pulling each other close against the overly air-conditioned room. Genesis shivered in Sephiroth's embrace, his ivory skin covered in goosebumps.

"I hadn't realized how cold it is in here," Genesis remarked, snuggling his naked body against the smooth, pale flesh of Sephiroth's; ignoring the sticky mess on his stomach.

"Maybe we should get back in our clothes." Sephiroth let his eyes wander to the haphazard pile of cotton, metal, and leather nearby, but made no move toward it. The farthest he let his hand venture was to the smooth flare of Genesis' hip.

"Do we have to?" The redhead whispered.

"You do realize that someone will come in here eventually? What if it was Angeal?"

Sephiroth wasn't prepared for the loud laugh that erupted from Genesis' throat at the mention of their stoic friend.

"Can you imagine his face?" Genesis chuckled, his features lighting, a smile splitting his face, his eyes sparkling. Sephiroth decided he'd never seen anything more beautiful.

Smiling, the silver-haired teenager reluctantly sat up, his gaze lingering on his lover-- all fiery hair and porcelain skin-- where he lay, spent and limp, his body drunk on endorphines.

"Come on. As much as I'd like to see Angeal splutter..." Sephiroth let the sentence hang, retrieving his clothing from the pile.

Genesis sighed, wiping the cum from his belly with his boxers, and pulling his pants from amidst the myriad garments. He smiled to himself, managing to look shy and demure when he turned to Sephiroth.

"So... can we do this again?"

When Sephiroth looked over at him, Genesis was blushing, but his eyes flashed with hope.

"Not in here," Sephiroth replied, watching the colour in Genesis' cheeks deepen. "A bed would be nice next time."

Genesis looked about ready to burst with joy, but he kept his emotions contained-- aside from the beaming grin that stayed on his face for days, and the glow in his eyes that had nothing to do with Mako.

That day, everything changed. No longer was Sephiroth's life simply the dull blur between sessions with Hojo. A fiery being named Genesis had entered his world and something fundamental had been altered. The auburn-haired boy had awakened something in Sephiroth that he hadn't been aware of before.

His heart.

So just feel and play with me,
and just steal away with me.