Title; An unlikely prospect
Themes; Angst, hurt/comfort, and romance. Possibly friendship too. :3
Summary; How can a mere mistake, an accident, shock events into action like falling dominoes? When Zack apprehends Genesis at Modeoheim, a Turk by the name of Cissnei finds herself tangled inside a situation she could never expect.
Rating; T
Pairings; Eventual GenesisxCissnei, but none hinted in this chapter. No yaoi, ever.
A/N: Go ahead, shoot me. |D It's another Genesisnei idea, with far less direction than my other story, Imaginings of You. It'll be angsty and filled with many moments where you'll want to snuggle Gen and cheer him up. But Cissnei's got that covered. Sshh!
Anyway, I'm not quite sure where this will lead, but I'm loving the concept. So, go forth and read! :D
'An Unlikely Prospect'
Chapter I ~ Apprehensions
It all began with one lucky hit; an accidental manoeuvre.
Before that fateful moment of time, the conflict had been raging on for what seemed like an eternity, SOLDIER and monster locked in fierce combat. Another onslaught made by one, another parry protecting the other, a sequence of sword strokes and seemingly choreographed footwork as the two figures performed their dance of death.
One's routine was cut short, however, as the other stabbed their sword effortlessly through wing muscle.
Zack Fair was almost horrified at his misguided aim, intending to only block the crimson rapier of his opponent but instead plunging his standard issue sword straight through the wing of Genesis Rhapsodos.
The rogue first class let out a howl in pain, temporarily stunned as the younger SOLDIER kept him pinned against the cold metal railing, blood dribbling down his feathers.
Despite his guilt about causing Genesis unintended agony, Zack was not one to miss an opportunity. Quickly assessing the situation, he managed to grasp the redhead's right hand as he flinched, twisting his wrist until Genesis was forced to release the handle of his rapier. The crimson sword hit the metal floor with a resounding clang, indicative of the conflict's surprising conclusion.
Genesis writhed in pure anguish, barely able to mount a resistance from the burning that coursed through his damaged wing. Twisting and turning as he might, his struggling amounted to nothing as his injuries and degrading illness got the better of him, forcing him to his knees despite his awkward position. A wave of exhaustion swept over him, sweat trailing down his neck as his heart hammered inside his chest, fearful of the events he was certain would follow.
Zack truly wished he could remove that sword, but in doing so, he knew the madness of Genesis and his degrading sanity would continue - and the desire to prevent that and obey orders was stronger than his sense of pity.
But even then, he could not kill.
Not a fellow SOLDIER who still had remnants of reason left - not Angeal's best friend.
"What…what are you waiting for…?" Genesis faltered, hardly ready to admit defeat and accept his fate. He could barely tolerate the screaming agony coursing through his stab wounds, the feelings alone turning him faint in the head. "Do the deed - kill me."
"No."
Zack turned his head away, his duties filling him with a feeling of dread. He knew if he wasn't the one to kill Genesis, ShinRa undoubtedly would - probably in ways much more akin to torture.
But he just couldn't have that blood on his hands - he couldn't do that to those who still cared remotely about the winged SOLDIER. Sephiroth, however stoic his appearances were, would suffer from internal torment at the loss of a comrade once close to him.
"I'm sorry, Genesis."
Turning back around, the young SOLDIER suppressed his hesitation and promptly gave the rogue SOLDIER a sharp punch in the side of the head, undoubtedly knocking him out. As soon as Zack saw the figure of Genesis crumple from being unconscious, he eased his sword out of the redhead's wing. At least he won't feel anything for now…
Stepping back slightly, Zack began digging for the PHS located in the pocket of his pants. His eyes darted about the body of Genesis, creased with pity and sadness over his fallen figure as he pulled his PHS to his ear. Maybe there's reception down here…
"Zack." A blunt voice crackled through the speaker of his phone.
"Ah…Tseng?" Zack mumbled, a little jumpy from the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
"Speaking. What is it?"
"I've, uh…immobilised the target."
"You did not kill him?" Tseng asked with a reserved tone.
"I know…it was orders, and all…"
"But you just couldn't do it, could you?" Zack could almost hear the sigh in the Turk's voice. "What is his condition?"
"Unconscious, and bleeding."
"I'll send for reinforcements. Don't forget to make sure he remains entirely disarmed."
Zack thought about this for a moment, unsure of what the Turk was asking until it clicked in his mind. Ah. Materia. Weapons. Gotcha.
"Will do, Tseng. Watch for copies."
The young SOLDIER suppressed the urge to roll his eyes as the line dropped dead - Tseng was never the one for long conversations, was he? With a heavy sigh he dismissed his irritation and focused on the job at hand, however much he was dreading it. Okay. Materia first.
Stepping towards Genesis with hesitation, Zack slowly stooped down in front of his unconscious form and took hold of his left wrist, sliding the sleeve of leather up his arm.
Oh.
Oh.
The SOLDIER blinked with shock, seeing what appeared to be a very expensive accessory which was banded around Genesis' forearm, no doubt loaded with mastered, dangerous materia only harnessed by the best.
Beyond that, however, was just bare skin…that…
…appeared to be mottled with the scars of degradation.
Zack pulled a face, one of disgust but mixed with an almost sympathetic emotion as he quickly undid the unsurprising leather strap around the wide band of materia. Carefully, he eased it off the fallen SOLDIER's muscled forearm and pulled the leather sleeve down, resting Genesis' hand where it was before.
Holding the strap into the dim light of the mako excavation facility, he was astonished to observe the quality of materia embedded inside; summons, mastered magic, and a few he couldn't identify. Goddess knew what other summons he hadn't used in his arsenal yet…
Standing up, Zack pocketed the leather accessory strap and then took a step to his left, bending his knees to close his hand around the hilt of the intricate rapier. He lifted the sword up from the grated floor, pale light glinting off the blade as he manoeuvred it, quite surprised at the actual length in comparison to his shorter, heavier sword. No wonder he managed to clip me a few times…
"…should I wait?" Zack murmured to himself as he slipped the elegant sword through his belt strap, never the one to capture enemies of ShinRa terribly often. He could only assume that Tseng had managed to call for another helicopter and it was simply a task of waiting for a few more troops to arrive.
At least for now.
"Hmm…" the young SOLDIER gave a hesitant sigh, taking a glance at his surroundings.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.
If he were going to be waiting, there was still the remote chance that the effects of his punch to the side of the ex-SOLDIER's head would wear off, even though five minutes had barely elapsed after his defeat. Despite the fact that Genesis was incapacitated in terms of flying and was probably exhausted, Zack did not doubt his ability to resist or attempt an escape. Better restrain him too.
To his displeasure, Zack produced a tightly coiled strap from his other pocket located in his baggy pants, feeling uncomfortable being so close to the other man but also in tying him up like an animal, a monster. It wasn't very dignifying, and he knew Genesis would not be thrilled by the time his consciousness returned. Just suck it up like a man, Zack.
And that he did, quickly returning to the redhead's side and grasping both his hands behind his back, uncoiling part of the strap and tying it in a complex knot he had learned during his younger years. He hesitated before side stepping a little, hands hovering over the arching wing belonging to Genesis. Sucking in a breath, Zack took hold of the edge of muscle near the large primary feathers, tentatively retracting it towards redhead's tattered shoulder. Biting his lip, he then proceeded to take the other strap he had and bound it around the huge feathers, pressing them against Genesis' side as he wrapped the cord around his waist. After securing another cord around the his legs, Zack quickly stepped away, guilt edging in his heart seeing the once proud SOLDIER so pitifully degraded, tied up like some mongrel.
With a defeated sigh, Zack ceremoniously sat down on the cold floor and waited, eyes glancing at his hollow surroundings and occasionally at Genesis to check his condition.
He closed his eyes briefly, already twitchy at the lack of activity.
It was going to be a long wait.
The first thing he opened his eyes to was pain; pure agony, pulsing through his entire body like a fire consuming him from the inside.
The force of it was enough to send shuddering convulsions throughout his weak figure, pitiful cries turning his eyes damp as he struggled to clear his hazy vision. Panic struck him as he felt the restraints, his muscles pulling against the tightly coiled straps as best he could, which was poor in comparison to his normal strength. Goddess…where am-
"Watch it."
Genesis craned his neck around, searching for the source of the voice as he tried to remember what exactly he was doing, bound and exhausted, against a freezing metal floor. Before too long his brain kicked into gear as he managed to catch sight of the puppy, who was watching him intently with wide eyes.
In reminiscence of his pitiful sobs of pain, a scowl formed on the redhead's face, embarrassment seeping into him as he struggled to pull himself into a kneeling position. He despised the fact that he was so vulnerable, so exposed, so weak, especially in front of that runt of Angeal's who had defeated him. At those thoughts, realisation dawned in his mind - that puppy had refused to kill him, meaning…
…he was bound for ShinRa. Torture…hell…death…
He refused to let his apprehension or fear display on his facial features, but the shadows of fright reflected in his eyes - he could tell, because Zack's facial features had softened to show slight compassion.
"Save your pity," Genesis spat, turning his throbbing head away, "though you are taking me to the hounds of hell."
Zack remained silent, wishing his ever growing guilt would cease.
"I suppose…it would be a monster's fate," the redhead murmured quietly, suppressing bitter emotion from his voice.
That was when the puppy spat out his invisible muzzle.
"You - we're not monsters!" Zack said defensively, scrambling to his feet as if to make his point clearer. Genesis suppressed a sadistic chuckle; he'd seen enough of himself to know he was a monster, without a doubt. All he needed was a self reflection, or a touch of feathers.
Fortunately, Zack was then distracted by his PHS, clambering to find his mobile cellular device in his pocket. The brief thought of escape crossed Genesis' mind, but his desire to fulfil these actions was cut short as energy seeped out of his body; exhaustion sweeping over his form. The redhead took deep breaths, trying to cope as his muscles ached and throbbed, worked to their capacity from the previous conflict and deterioration.
Goddess… my wing… Genesis visibly winced at the painful throbs pulsing through his tightly restrained appendage, longing to stretch the feathers to have it sit more comfortably.
He sighed heavily, deciding to eavesdrop on the puppy's phone conversation as a distraction.
"…he's still down, but awake…yeah, I'm still watching him…ah! They're here?…alright…what? Isn't that a little extreme?…fair enough, I guess…yeah, thanks." The young SOLDIER gave a frustrated sigh as he snapped his phone shut.
Despite Genesis' intentions of keeping a tough exterior, his eyebrows creased in worry as Zack slipped his phone away. One wonders what exactly is meant by 'extreme'…
He suspected his questioning would receive a swift answer as he detected the footfalls of ShinRa dogs rattling the aging platforms of the excavation facility, orders barked sharply and loudly to one another. Zack himself became aware of their presences mere seconds afterwards, and Genesis found himself staring down the blade of a standard regulation SOLDIER sword that the puppy was wielding as a precaution.
"Don't struggle," Zack mumbled, knowing inside that if Genesis physically resisted, his pain would be tenfold. Sedation whilst standing wasn't exactly a pleasant experience, considering losing one's balance would result in substantial pain when connecting with a harsh metal floor.
Of course, Genesis was unaware of what kind of situation was upon him. Despite Zack's pitiful warning, he painfully struggled to his feet, ignoring the press of a sword against his neck. The puppy had already demonstrated 'mercy' once, so he knew that attempting resistance would not cost him his life. At least at the hands of Zack, however.
Zack took a hissing breath, unsuccessfully trying to suppress his guilt at the pain the redhead would face. He barely had time to gather his thoughts when the his fellow troops had arrived, swords thrust forward towards Genesis. All kept their expressions stoic underneath their masks, many refusing to acknowledge the fact that a man they had trusted and placed their lives with was now violently opposed to their cause.
"I see the hounds have arrived," Genesis snarled, his expression menacing as he stared down the troops before him. Each SOLDIER maintained their stance, eyes locked forward as the rogue before them glanced at each one, challenging them with a glare that betrayed his true anxiety.
Genesis retained the edge of malice in his voice, despite his pitiful appearance. "What, dare I say, are we waiting f-"
His voice, filled with bitterness, was suddenly replaced by a startled cry.
Zack and a few of his fellow comrades restrained a wince as Genesis frantically shook his head this way and that, trying to locate the reason behind his apparent discomfort like a wounded animal. Crouching behind the line of SOLDIERs was an experienced sharpshooter, who was already reloading his tranquiliser gun in the event a second dosage was needed.
Before another second elapsed, Genesis had locked his gaze upon a jagged dart protruding from his right arm, eyes widening as realisation dawned in his mind. They've…they're…sedating me? Like a…monster?
The rogue SOLDIER became physically alarmed, feeling consciousness gradually and painfully slipping away as his thoughts began to run together, forming an incoherent stream of panic. All knowledge that he was being held at sword point, bound and tied like a beast, drifted from his mind as he awkwardly slid to his knees, eyes wide with confusion. He paid no attention to the tips of metal that followed his neck during his movement, all manner of adult reason escaping his mind to leave him with nothing more than a simple, childlike wonderment that he was feeling awfully tired.
He barely managed another thought before the darkness of unconsciousness claimed him. He remembered…falling, and then…
A/N; WHEE NEW STORY IDEA
Yep.
This one popped into my head months and months ago, because progress on Imaginings of You was slowling waayy down due to a block.
And so I thought of another idea. :D
I hope you're all intrigued. Mwhaha.
Bwaahhh angsty sad GenGen i_i
- Lioneh
Disclaimer: Genesis Rhapsodos, Zack Fair, SOLDIER, Modeoheim and everything else related to FFVII belongs to Square Enix. Not me. D:
