Disclaimer: Final Fantasy (c) Square Enix
It had been an agonizingly long mission. Instead of the estimated three days, Angeal had spent a week away trudging through foliage twice his height and thick mud. To say he was relieved to finally be home would be a sore understatement. It wasn't terribly late yet, but Soldiers had a habit of turning in early especially if the day had been busy. He slid his card and entered the room quietly, removing his dirt-caked boots at the door. Genesis would throw a fit if he tracked the outdoors inside.
It was dark, as he half expected, aside from the light coming off the television. The sound was lowered, but loud enough to hear. It was turned to some old movie that he didn't recognize. On the couch Genesis and Cloud slept. Angeal smiled fondly at the pair. In the beginning Cloud had been intimidated by Genesis, but that was quickly wearing as the two found small things to bond over.
Blue eyes opened and a sleepy smile was offered. "Welcome back," Cloud greeted softly. Angeal brushed a hand through blond spikes and kissed his forehead. "Thank you. Go back to sleep," he murmured against Cloud's hair. He then gently ran a hand across auburn bangs, causing the first to shift and pull his arms tighter around the cadet. Cloud closed his eyes and fell back asleep.
Angeal stopped at the shower, feeling in desperate need of one, before heading to the bedroom. Apparently it had been a 'sleep where you drop' day, because Zack was sprawled on top of the covers still dressed. His boots and armor had been removed and an open book lay over his eyes. Sephiroth was under the covers, indicating he'd actually chosen to sleep there instead of falling unconscious in the middle of something.
Angeal carefully lifted the book and put it on the end table before crawling into bed. Zack muttered in his sleep and shifted closer to Angeal.
It was good to be home…