The General's Bad Day

Everyone's favorite psychopathic momma's boy wakes up feeling under the weather. A mission goes awry on the General's watch, and the repercussions of Sephiroth's ailment just might leave Shinra in ruins. Pre-Crisis Core timeline.

Chapter 1: Angeal's Morning Run

Angeal woke at 5:30am. After showering and shrugging into his SOLDIER 1st Class uniform, he trudged down to the coffee room and poured himself a cup of joe, preparing for another typical day at Shinra.

Except it would be anything but.

It started normally enough—after coffee, he walked back to the SOLDIER barracks and hammered on Zack's door until the peppy 2nd Class stuck his head out, still half-asleep.

"It's past seven, Zack." Angeal smirked at Zack's unruly bedhead, the previous day's spikes sent into disorder as the puppy undoubtedly rolled around in his sleep.

"Only seven? Angeaaal…" Zack whined, rubbing his eyes.

Angeal shoved Zack's face back into his room, shutting the door. "Training starts at seven-thirty. And don't go back to sleep!"

Once he had received a groan in reply, Angeal headed down the hall to wake up Genesis.

"Genesis," He pounded on the Commander's door, knowing that subtlety wasn't going to rouse the red-haired man.

There was no answer.

"Gen, get up." Angeal tried again, with the same result. "Genesis!" Finally, Angeal gave up and let himself in.

Genesis was curled up on his bed, still slumbering away. Angeal shook him roughly. "Genesis, it's past seven. Don't you have a mission around nine?"

"Urrrgh…" Genesis rolled over, swatting away Angeal's hand.

Angeal folded his arms, trying to figure out a better way to wake up his companion. "Aha," Angeal shuffled through the mound of papers littering Genesis's desk, looking for the Commander's favorite copy of LOVELESS. Perhaps if he threatened to throw it out a window or set it on fire, Genesis would wake up.

It wasn't there.

Angeal frowned and turned back to his sleeping friend. Genesis rolled over again, and Angeal realized why he couldn't find the leather-bound book.

'Gen sleeps with the damn thing?! Geez…' Angeal yanked the book out of Genesis's arms and hit the red-haired man over the head with it. "Genesis!"

Genesis opened his eyes.

"Finally…" Angeal said.

The Commander took his sweet time sitting up and stretching. Then he held out his hand. "LOVELESS, please."

Angeal tossed the stolen play back to its owner. "Late night reading?"

Genesis caught it with a flourish. "But, of course."

"Heh," Angeal shrugged, deciding to leave his friend in peace. "Anyways, you've got a mission at nine. Don't be late."