Author's Note: Uh, hi. Now that I've lured you to click into my fic, just thought I'd say a few things.

Warning: Spoilers galore, so if you haven't finished the game, get out!

Pairing: Genesis/Angeal, with hints of Genesis/Lazard.

Angeal: I have problems believing Angeal is a good character—just cuz he spews the "pride and dreams" motto doesn't mean I can ignore his willingness to deal physical and emotional violence on Zack and Genesis who are supposedly his close friends--he is one twisted guy. If you're looking for fluffy, harmless Angeal, he's not in my fic. You need to look elsewhere.

Translation: I am unhappy about the English translation. I think 'hokori' should have been translated as 'pride' rather than 'honour', and I'll use 'pride'.

Disclaimer: Don't own CC, but own the time spent writing this.

COLOUR OF SIN
By J CAE

PROLOGUE

CRISIS CORE ON THE WUTAI BATTLE FRONT

LAZARD

There was something stale on the Wutai wind.

Lazard knew the reek as the omen of a losing battle. It was not Wutai he was thinking of—Wutai was already within his grasp. All he had to do was to unleash SOLDIER and it would be over. But there was another war waging, more discreet, far darker.

Six months ago, he pulled his SOLDIERs out of Wutai and Heidegger had been losing men faster than a punctured bucket could bleed water. Lazard was not so heartless to enjoy power play while lives were spent on the fields, but the president must be made to recognize SOLDIER for what they were. They were stronger, faster and better trained, but they needed to eat and their operation costs had to be offset. Lazard held his SOLDIERs back until the president granted them extra resources.

Naturally, he kept his side of the bargain. He sent Genesis Rhapsodos with a platoon of Second and Third Class SOLDIERs back to Wutai to finish the war—yet another arrangement to settle old debts. The battle went well, the end was in sight, and Lazard looked to days when he could finally sleep easy.

But he made the mistake of assuming Genesis was uncomplicated.

When they met, it was the first year with SOLDIER for them both. Genesis was so young and smart and aggressive but his intents were always upfront. He had an undisguised hero complex and ran a bit of a rivalry with Sephiroth which Lazard found convenient. He kept Genesis closer than most—as long as the young SOLDIER wanted to be a hero, he was not so likely to backstab his superior, and he would keep an eye on Sephiroth. After six years of close but professional affiliation, Lazard realized he had let Genesis into more of his strategies and confidence than anyone.

He knew everything there was to know about Genesis. He knew about Project G before Genesis did. He knew about the degradation and how the SOLDIER responded to the big revelation. Lazard acknowledged the decision to send him to Wutai was made with his heart—Genesis was dying and dependent on medication at this point. But Genesis wanted to be a hero all his life, so Lazard let him go.

Going M.I.A. was never part of the plan.

At first, this had the smell of Heidegger over it. Heidegger was still a loyal hound to the president, but he had his eyes on SOLDIER which the president had refused to grant and instead entrusted to a no-name kid with null field experience. The president did not have to explain his decision, but Heidegger could not abide by the rejection and was determined not to make life easy for Lazard since. Turning Lazard's favourite against him was but one of the things that he could try—after all, Jenova Projects were really an extension of Heidegger's control. Lazard was always cautious Sephiroth might cross to the side of power—why not Genesis too?

But when Heidegger displayed genuine ignorance over Genesis's disappearance, things went from bad to worse. Lazard was concerned this would eventually bring down an investigation on the SOLDIER department. There were a few things he would find difficult to explain, including a portion of hard-bargained SOLDIER funding that went to Dr. Hollander to research a cure for Genesis. If Genesis decided to betray Shinra, Lazard would be implicated in that way.

Lazard stalled for time by securing Hollander—Genesis would have to go back to the doctor for treatment. There was no need to question Hollander—whether he was an accomplice would make no difference to Lazard's condition. The only thing he had to do was to recover Genesis and make sure he stayed. He hoped there was another explanation than treachery. Lazard did not enjoy the thought he might have to kill Genesis.

The Wutai night was hauntingly muted even with all the activity that transpired. Shinra's bastion was alive with doubt, with blame, and still so quiet.

Three choppers were sent to scout over the ink forest canopies. Once airborne they grew smaller and smaller until they were only red blinking lights amidst the stars. Lazard retreated inside their military complex—what intended to be a temporary structure turned out to be a testimony of the eight-year battle.

Sephiroth was there to ensure operations were smooth but even the Silver SOLDIER looked drawn. He twice attempted to have Lazard out of the way while he took over the commands but the director refused to be sent off to rest. The time was 01:22, but there was no chance anyone could sleep tonight.

Lazard pulled his suit jacket tighter to him. What he planned as a short field trip took up the whole day and more, and he had not the insight to bring a change of clothes. He felt filthy in this compound stench of gasoline and death. But it was true what the veterans said—he would never understand a SOLDIER until he saw their war. This place must have been what changed Genesis's heart, what made him not want to be a hero anymore. In the past, whenever he came to Lazard's office in the headquarters, he was always so pallid and clean and groomed. It was hard to imagine him, in another reality, covered in blood and grime and sweat like the rest of the SOLDIERs here.

A conductor who monitored the radios reported to Sephiroth—while the general was there, no one seemed to pay much mind to his superior. Lazard knew he was still a stranger in the barracks and a neophyte in the battlefield. He forgave them for forgetting him, but crossed the room not to be left out of their discussion.

"Sir, the first of the Dragonflies is coming back." The conductor told them both, "Negative so far."

Lazard heard without hearing. "Keep trying."

"This won't do, director. They can't see a thing in this darkness."

Sephiroth's sigh was audible but he said, "Tell them to make another round."

"Yes, general."

Sephiroth waited for news with crossed arms. He said nothing but his body language showed he did not expect the result to come back any different. Perhaps what the conductor said was true, that it was already too dark for a search and they should desist until morning. But Lazard could not rest until he was certain.

What could have been half an hour later, one of the helicopters requested to come in as it was low on fuel. After a brief consultation with the general, Lazard relented and gave the order to bring the choppers back. He met the crew outside in the brown barren spot sheared out of the forest as a makeshift helipad. The men saluted him. "Executive!"

"Report."

"Still negative, Sir. We have made three rounds on our assigned routes, but did not find Commander Hewley."

Lazard sighed. Aside from Genesis, he now had another stray SOLDIER to deal with. He thought he already knew the why.

He's my best friend since we were four years old, Angeal Hewley had said. I need to find him.

"Very well. We will resume search at daybreak."