Disclaimer: This fanfiction is written in the Compilation of FFVII, with respect to the original canon and in accordance with the permissions of Fair Use as a transformative work. No profit is being made and the author only claims original characters used within to help flesh out the story.
Note: No spoilers in this chapter, fits between chapters two & three of TBH.
It took a little while for Genesis to come around after he'd landed in the basement of the factory, hitting hard and driving the breath from him even with a more controlled fall. The metal was cold, he could tell it had to be - he could see his breath in the air - but he was still so hot. Feverish, some part of his brain that sounded an awful lot like Angeal said.
Angeal… his friend was still up there, and he needed to see him. He'd been increasingly withdrawn lately, and was always upset after seeing the puppy. The boy meant well, he just didn't - couldn't - understand.
Genesis got to his feet, blinking blearily, and stretched his wing out. Everything hurt, but no more than usual. It wouldn't be too much to fly back around to the bath house Angeal had taken to staying at. It was a good spot for him, kept him warm. Kept him safe. Angeal had to be safe. He didn't want to think of what things would be like without him. There had been that horrible stretch of time in Wutai, days that merged together into one long stretch of agony and despair, where he was alone save all but his clones and Hollander. It was hardly a step above being alone. Only when Angeal had come for him did he feel grounded again.
The younger man had always done so, had always been his rock no matter how hard it was to focus otherwise. Genesis had never questioned that Angeal would find him eventually - Angeal always came for him. He'd been a fixed presence in his life ever since they'd been old enough to chase after each other in stolen moments between classes and chores. Even in the haze of pain that made it so hard to think, he knew he needed to get back to Angeal. Even with the exhaustion that made every step a struggle, the fever ravaging his body and the pain that had nagged him for months until he couldn't remember when it hadn't been a constant companion, he knew he needed to see Angeal.
Unfortunately, when Genesis managed to come back around, he couldn't find him.
Angeal was gone.
Genesis had searched to be sure, desperate to be wrong but-
Angeal was gone.
There was no sign of his friend, the icy rain having frosted over various footprints. He saw some of them leaving the area. Leaving… but surely not Angeal, Angeal never left. He was never alone anymore. Angeal wouldn't leave him alone, he was Genesis' rock, he knew he knew Genesis needed him. He'd come for him in Wutai. He'd stayed after Banora. Angeal was always there. He-
Angeal was gone.
He couldn't find him. Nowhere. Genesis felt himself growing unsteady, mind clouding with the rising panic that always made things worse. He'd been doing a little better, he had plans, other options. He'd been going to deal with Hollander, then go back to Modeoheim proper and talk with Angeal only Angeal was gone.
Gone gone GONE
Genesis went through stages of understanding this fact, or more accurately being aware of it. He didn't - couldn't - truly comprehend that Angeal was just… no longer there.
Angeal was always there. Ever since they were old enough to toddle after each other, Angeal had always found him. No matter where he went, Angeal wasn't too far behind. Even if he had to hurry to catch up.
But he's gone.
He was coming back, surely. He couldn't… Angeal wouldn't leave him. He knew he was needed. He knew better than Genesis knew.
He knew Genesis better than Genesis knew himself. He knew he was needed.
Dying. I'm -dying- and now Angeal's gone.
Was he dead? Was that why Angeal was gone? He'd seemed so sad….
Banora… I apologized. I didn't mean it. I hadn't raised a hand to Gillian, not even knowing how she'd damned us, she was always so kind I could never hurt Gillian…
Gillian was gone too. She'd taken her life. It was too much for her to bear, to see them now. Fallen angels. Demons. Monsters.
Had the son followed his mother's footsteps?
Angeal's gone.
Had he been betrayed?
Angeal would never betray me.
But they were monsters, was that not in their nature?
We're not monsters, you hear me? We're SOLDIER. Where's your honor?
He's gone.
