This is part 2/9 of my 'Cloud's Birthday Week 2k15' challenge over on tumblr. The second chapter will be part 8/9.
"Genesis," Angeal asked one day, "What got you into fashion in the first place?"
"Hm?" Genesis, stretched out on the couch, turned his head and didn't respond further for a moment as his mind disengaged from his book and focused on Angeal's question. "Um, I'm not entirely sure. I feel like I always have been. Why do you ask?"
"I dunno," Angeal said airily, tying his running shoes with all of his attention. "It's just something that's been interesting me more and more lately."
"Huh." Genesis scanned his boyfriend appreciatively for a moment. For years Genesis had attempted to play dress-up with his handsome, tall boyfriend with very little success; Angeal complained like a child when tags itched him or when something was a bit too tight for his liking.
You can't just kneel in the garden in these jeans, Ang, Genesis would say, crabby, I paid two hundred Gil to see your ass in them.
Then I don't want them, Angeal would reply, sneering back. And that's your fault for buying me such an expensive gift. That much Gil could complete our renovation of the living room, and you spent it on pants.
You just don't understand fashion!
I understand it's nonsense.
Thus, Genesis was instantly suspicious. Nevertheless, he twisted on the couch to reach for the latest edition of The Lifestream on the lower surface of their coffee table. He hadn't had a chance to go through it yet but it was already fairly beat up. Rough handling on their mailman's part no doubt—Cloud Strife really was a brute, as he always said.
"This is my current favorite," Genesis said, passing it over. Angeal took it, his face curious. Too curious. What a terrible actor. "Not so couture that even I don't deserve to look at it, but—" he snorted, "—a far cry more sophisticated than your Famous Gardens Monthly."
Angeal didn't even respond to the insult, making Genesis' eyebrows rise. He merely took the magazine and started leafing through it, his upcoming run all but forgotten.
"I never thought I'd see the day where you're being cultured," Genesis tried again, to satisfy his own curiosity. This also failed to get a response. Angeal was entranced by whatever he was looking at.
"Whatever," Genesis huffed, and went back to his book.
Strangely enough, Angeal's sudden interest in fashion didn't pass in a week, like some of his past fads (they still had a pile of unused paver stones in the shed from when Angeal got it into his head that he was going to upgrade their backyard, until he realized how much work it was going to be. There were also all sorts of weird shit in their cabinets from various diets he stuck to for two weeks before abandoning).
Genesis was overjoyed. He wrapped his arms around Angeal's waist and tugged him close for the beginning of the next major awards show on TV. He chattered away happily as reporters shoved microphones into celebrities' faces and asked who they were wearing.
Angeal seemed happy to cuddle but the smile on his face was strained.
"Ugh," Genesis said, wrinkling his nose at a famous couple posing on the red carpet. "That suit is so ill-fitting. And—ew—it looks like her boobs are crying. What stylist let her out in that tragedy?"
"Oh, uh. Haha," Angeal laughed blandly. It looked like he was staring through the TV instead of at it. Genesis' eyes narrowed.
Despite that strange incident Angeal seemed extremely interested in Genesis' issues of The Lifestream. Genesis even found one on their bed once, when he returned late from work; Angeal stuttered and blushed when he pointed it out, depositing the magazine with the previous issues under the coffee table.
"Don't be shy," Genesis crooned at him, his heart overwhelmed with how much he felt for his oldest friend, "You don't have to hide anything from me, dear. I support all your interests, you know that."
"Er. Thanks, Gen," Angeal responded, his red cheeks hot under Genesis' palms.
Truthfully, Genesis didn't quite buy it. Something was up, and naturally, he gossiped about it with the mailman the next time he caught him.
It was a little too chilly in the late-spring early-morning to be shirtless, but when Genesis spotted Cloud crossing the street with his heavy sack of mail over his shoulder he abandoned his breakfast and sleepily staggered outside.
His nipples betrayed how cold he was, and Cloud greeted as he came up the steps to their porch, "You're freezing. Go back inside."
"I'm not," Genesis lied.
"Don't you have a robe or something?"
Genesis changed tactics. "Your uniform looks warm."
Cloud was in the shorts version of his uniform, because it would warm up considerably in a few hours.
"If I took it off I'd be cold." Cloud's usual impassive expression didn't shift.
"Just put your arms around me."
"I can do that," came the voice of his boyfriend, not Cloud—and Angeal was awfully warm too. He kissed Genesis' neck before hooking his chin on his shoulder. "Hi, Cloud," he greeted, his voice a sleepy purr.
"Hi," Cloud said, beaming at him. Genesis frowned; maybe his own approach with the man was too strong, thus the lack of reaction. "Looks like you have a birthday coming up, Genesis." He handed him their mail, which included four letters from family and friends addressed to the redhead.
"Ah. Yes. It's next Monday. Thank you." Cloud also handed him the next edition of The Lifestream, which Genesis passed to Angeal.
"He's started reading these," Genesis said in a stage-whisper. "I'm being out-gayed."
"Don't stereotype," Angeal griped.
"That's a good magazine," Cloud said simply. "I have to get going, sorry guys."
"I thought of a birthday present you can get me," Genesis said, thinking fast, "Finally come have dinner with us."
Cloud jogged back to the sidewalk. "I'm really busy next week," he explained, "But I'd like that, eventually."
"Stay hydrated," Angeal blurted. Cloud flashed him a thumbs-up before heading to their neighbor's front porch.
"That's what you come up with?" Genesis asked as they went back inside.
"Shut up."
"Oh, Cloud," Genesis growled, his voice a deep imitation of Angeal's, "I've got a thick load waiting for you. That'll keep you hydrated, all right."
"Stop it," Angeal gasped, scandalized. He whacked him with the magazine. Notably, however, he didn't let go of it—in fact, Genesis didn't see that particular issue for a week, until it appeared innocently—but clearly well-used and loved—on the coffee table.
In a private conversation with Cloud a few days later the blond mentioned that The Lifestream was his favorite fashion magazine as well, though he didn't give a reason as to why. He suggested that maybe Angeal's new interest meant he was insecure about what he currently wore, or maybe he was doing it to try to get closer to Genesis, to establish something else for them to have in common.
"You think so?" Genesis asked, delighted. "That's adorable. He should know he doesn't have to do anything extra to please me. I love him as he is."
Cloud nodded approvingly. "He seems pretty smitten with you, and he's a selfless guy. I can see him doing that."
"Aww." Genesis basked in the thought for a moment. "But what about you, sunshine?" Cloud's hat never stayed on his ridiculous spikes well; Genesis re-adjusted it, tugging it down firmly (it was mostly just an excuse to touch him). "We can't be the only couple flirting all the time with someone as cute as you."
"Actually," Cloud began, making Genesis freeze, "You're not. There's another couple that, uh—well, they're friends of mine—but they're not too subtle about it either. There is a woman down the block who jokes with me that way too."
"Angeal and I aren't joking," Genesis said flatly. "Our dinner invitation is very real." He shrugged. "If you're uncomfortable having a date at our house we can go out. If it's that there's two of us that makes you uncomfortable, I can't help you."
Genesis was utterly charmed by Cloud's stutters and the wobbly way he walked off their porch.
On Genesis' birthday he planned to drag Angeal out to a club and get shitfaced, but he ended up falling asleep on the couch after getting home from work. He woke groggy, sweaty, and disoriented, and stumbled to the bedroom, looking for Angeal.
His boyfriend was fucking jerking off on their bed, the latest copy of The Lifestream in hand.
"What the fuck!" Genesis interrupted, as Angeal let out a mortified cry and grabbed a pillow. The issue wasn't that he was walked in on while beating it—that just happened sometimes, and could be hot in the right context. It was the magazine.
"I knew you weren't genuinely into fashion," he accused as he crawled onto the bed and ripped it out of his hands.
Genesis dreaded to see what Angeal was getting off to—Goddess forbid, a shoe advertisement? He didn't have tiny, feminine feet.
It was an underwear ad actually, featuring a man with a cocky smile and a big dick in tight blue briefs. Angeal covered his face with a hand. With the magazine open he could see that the three most well-used pages, with more crinkles than the rest, all featured the same man.
"Angeal," Genesis said, slowly at first, then picking up speed, "You're thinking of leaving me for some sexy underwear model. I knew this day would come."
"What?"
"I'm not boring you these days, am I? Is it that you don't find me attractive anymore? You can only get off to strange men in tighty-whities?"
He was only half-joking.
"No," Angeal said, casting the pillow aside momentarily to hug his boyfriend. "Don't be ridiculous. He's just…" He paused, and ended rather quietly, "really hot."
Genesis exhaled gustily, allowing himself a moment of weakness as he leant against Angeal. Then he sat up straight. "Let's talk about this," he said firmly.
"Can we not?" Angeal was still blushing, bless him.
"No. This man is why you've become so interested in my magazines?"
At first Angeal was still, and then he gave a stiff nod.
"The same man? Is he in all the issues?"
Genesis spread out the magazine on the comforter, sitting cross-legged. "Er. Most of them," Angeal murmured. "Seems like he's a regular model for V Valentine."
The model really was attractive—his eyes were full of humor as he posed. The lighting highlighted his physique and the curve of his ass. Genesis noted the x-shaped scar on his cheek—usually that sort of thing was photoshopped out, but it looked so perfect (maybe it was purposeful scarification, from a tattoo parlor?) and rather charming, actually. Made him distinctive.
Valentine was printed on the waistband of the briefs. Genesis hummed thoughtfully as he turned the page. The previous had his bangs in his face, but this time they were pushed back, exposing his rather handsome forehead.
"He's sexy," Genesis admitted. "What do you like so much about him?"
"I don't know," Angeal muttered, looking uncomfortable. "Look, Gen, can we—"
"No," Genesis repeated. "I'm not going to lie. I'm feeling a little insecure right now, Angeal. You've been jerking off to the same male model for how long? Look at him. I want to know what he has that I don't."
"Hey," Angeal chastised, reaching for him. "It's not like that. You're the sexiest thing I've ever set my eyes on."
The words and the gentle kiss pressed to his cheekbone brought a weak smile to Genesis' face. "I love you," Angeal said, kissing his mouth, and then again, without the inflection, "I love you."
"I love you too."
Genesis pressed himself against Angeal's naked form. His boyfriend's fingers tangled in his hair and Genesis straddled his waist. The magazine was almost forgotten, but then one of their feet jostled it and it made a sound.
Pulling back, Genesis asked, "So what gives?"
"Zack's gorgeous."
"Pfft. On a first-name basis?"
"He's got a perfect face," Angeal blurted, "And such a nice ass. Gaia, I want to fuck him."
Genesis giggled childishly before he could bite it back, and soothed Angeal with gentle touches as he eyed the ass in question. "I could model underwear for you," he said absently.
"You look good in everything," Angeal flirted, attempting to draw him back.
"No," Genesis amended his previous thought, "You should model. I didn't realize you were such an ass man."
"I'm not," Angeal protested weakly. He let Genesis push him onto his back, and let out a choked noise as Genesis slapped his asscheek with his hand. The redhead grabbed at the firm flesh, really dug in his fingers—he pushed until Angeal's hole was exposed and shifted so he could lie on his belly, face hovering close.
"What's his name again?"
"Zack." Angeal watched warily, but correctly guessed that something he'd enjoy was going to happen, because he started to idly stroke his half-hard cock, an eyebrow raised.
"What do you want to do to him, exactly?"
"Lots of things."
"Throw me a bone here, dearest."
"I want to bite that ass," Angeal blurted again, like all his filthy thoughts about this man couldn't be contained any longer.
Genesis mentally prepared himself for a second, then ducked his head and bit Angeal's left cheek. It wasn't a nip, though not intended to hurt or wound, either, but a solid bite with as many teeth as he could manage. His boyfriend made a noise of surprise; Genesis soothed the bite with his tongue, then gave him another gentle, tingling swat.
"And what else?" He purred.
Everyone had these sorts of fantasies, after all. A good boyfriend would do his best to indulge the ones he was willing and able.
Angeal peered down at him with wide eyes. "Rim him?" he asked, a question.
Genesis gamely circled his entrance with his tongue, teasingly at first as Angeal let out a breathy sound of wonder. Then he pushed in.
Angeal fucking loved it, of course; he worked his erection as he spread his legs further to accommodate Genesis. Though his jaw started to ache Genesis did his best to work his love over right. He deserved it. Angeal's eyes were closed and Genesis didn't know whether he was focusing on Genesis doing this to him or he was imagining doing it to Zack. Perhaps a complicated mix of both.
"You wanna finger him?" Genesis asked when he came up, wiping at his drooly chin.
"Yeah," Angeal breathed.
"Grab me the lube, Ang."
Genesis' fingers soon crooked into his boyfriend and Angeal murmured, "Fuck, Zack's so cute."
"You're cute."
Angeal grinned, and Genesis laughed. He watched Angeal's eyes move beneath his lowered lids, enjoying his imagination for the time being. He really was cute. Angeal asked for so extremely little, and more often than not was actually too shy to speak plainly about the things he wanted, or convinced himself it was foolish. It felt surprisingly good to give him this.
"And you said you wanted to fuck him, hmm?" Genesis' clever fingers sought his prostate again and Angeal groaned throatily. His hips stuttered as the pace of his hand increased, undoubtedly imagining he was inside his handsome model crush. Even so, he muttered, "Fuck me, Gen, come on," and blindly hooked a leg over Genesis' shoulder.
The redhead chuckled as he shifted higher up on his knees, easing his hard cock out of his pants. "That," he said as nonchalantly as he could as he slicked his length with lube, "I can do."
Angeal let out a deep ooogh as Genesis fucked in, until his balls sat snug against the curve of his ass. Genesis' smile was wicked. "Zack likes it when you're inside him, yes? Filling him up?"
"Oh, yeah," Angeal groaned. Genesis shifted his hips, pulling out until Angeal's hole stretched around the widest part of the head of his cock.
"And I bet you'd like to see him clenching around you, hm?"
Angeal did just that, his inner muscles working the length of Genesis's dick as he thrust back in. It seemed unintentional. "Fuuuck," was all Angeal could say, flushed and desperately pumping his erection.
Gaia, he was so goddamn precious. Genesis decided to stop messing with him and give him a bit of what he wanted—which was to get fucked, really, and to enjoy his damn model fantasy. So Genesis got to work, fucking his boyfriend with solid and enthusiastic thrusts of his hips, driving himself as deep as he could get time and time again, just as Angeal liked.
Angeal whimpered at a particularly forceful thrust in a way Genesis had rarely heard him. "Zack likes this?" Genesis asked. He shrugged off Angeal's leg from his shoulder and encouraged Angeal to wrap them around his hips instead.
To Genesis' absolute delight, Angeal began to narrate his most pressing fantasy. It was clumsy and disjointed—Angeal lost his train of thought every time Genesis changed up the angle or their rhythm—but Genesis gradually understood Angeal's dream of getting Zack right after a shoot. Hell, he still had the makeup on and gel in his hair, and Angeal corners him in his dressing room.
At first, Angeal peels down those tight V Valentine briefs only far enough to expose the round globes of his ass, and fucks him in them right on the floor, Zack on his hands and knees. Genesis was happy to flip his boyfriend over and do just that, loving how Angeal braced his forearms on the bed, his head pressed down into the bedding.
Eventually, once Zack was trembling and gasping for it—and indeed, so was Angeal in the present moment—Zack spreads out on his back and Angeal fucks him from above, staring down into his face, claiming this handsome model. Him, the average guy, all Zack can see, inside him and above him.
Genesis could echo that. He gazed down at his boyfriend, his oldest friend, his soulmate—and was in awe as he watched Angeal bite his lip, so fucking turned on he was nearly incoherent at this point. Sometimes this dazzling man made him feel rather average in comparison as well. Zack was a lucky guy—and so was he. It was him Angeal came for, even as he groaned Zack's name as come spurted from his cock, dribbling down his shaking fist.
But after that, the fantasy fulfilled, it was all Gen—he opened his hazy eyes and drew his knees back towards his chest some more, encouraging his boyfriend to finish as well. "Genesis," he purred, clenching around him from the inside again, "Gen, my love. Let me have it."
"You're gonna get it," Genesis breathed back, his eyes narrowed. And fuck—Angeal got it all right, letting out a hum of pleasure as Genesis came. The redhead's thrusts slowed until he was gently rolling his hips, gently stimulating himself as he rode out the last few waves. He kept it up until he was too soft to continue, and even then he pushed his hips against Angeal's, as if he could keep fucking him forever.
"That was hot," sighed Angeal after a moment, growling approvingly as Genesis rubbed a thumb over his sticky-slick asshole, further smearing some stray come around. "A little weird. But hot."
Genesis chuckled against his knee, kissing the inside of it before easing Angeal's legs down. "Anything for you, Ang."
Angeal chuckled, clearly not knowing the extent to which Genesis meant that. He drew Genesis to his chest, cuddling him, pressing kisses to the side of his face. "Thank you. Really. I don't know how many people would be so understanding about their partner jerking off to an underwear model. I've always been lucky to have you in my life, Gen."
"Oh, stop," Genesis said, sure he was blushing. He did not actually mean that sentence, though, and let Angeal say it to him again, and in a few new ways—the reassurance helped.
That Saturday Genesis was actually awake early enough to catch Cloud. He greeted his cute, grumpy mailman, accepted his mail, and launched into his juicy story.
"I figured out why Angeal's been so interested in The Lifestream. Turns out he has the hots for one of the models in it. Some underwear model named Zack."
Cloud stared at him for a long moment. He tilted his head, and his goofy hat threatened to fall to the ground. "For V Valentine?"
"Yes?"
"I know him." Cloud frowned. "I know him really well, actually."
Genesis held up a finger, turned, and opened the front door just enough for him to get his head through. "ANGEAL!" he screamed.
The man came out looking spooked and frazzled, and one side of his hair was sticking up from sleep. His face turned cherry red when Cloud told him he was friends with one Zack Fair.
"I could get you two in contact," Cloud said earnestly, nodding to himself, "If you wanted to meet him. Zack loves knowing he has fans, and you're cool." He paused, and then glanced at Genesis. "I mean, if that's not appropriate, I understand—sorry for offering, I didn't mean to make it complicated."
"Cloud," Genesis said smoothly, "One—or both of us—being interested in another person doesn't mean that we're going to split up. We talk often about this. The way we construct our poly relationship means we do things together." Genesis glanced at Cloud meaningfully, and the blond frowned even as he blushed, his gaze cutting to one of Angeal's hanging flower pots on the porch.
Stubborn, Cloud changed the topic, "So it's okay to meet him?"
"Sure," Genesis said, shrugging.
"What?" Angeal squeaked.
"Aww, he's shy! You get to meet your idol, look happy."
"I don't—" Angeal sighed and ran a hand over his stubbled jaw. "How do you two know each other? Is he even in this city?"
"He lives in Sector Five," Cloud said, shrugging, "And we're from the same hometown. Reconnected about a year ago."
"I just can't believe…"
Genesis, more because he wanted to see Angeal's reaction than any real desire to meet the model himself, made the decision. "We'd love that. You're too kind, Cloud."
"Okay." Cloud looked pleased as punch to be helpful—he was always like that, unknowingly more selfless than he thought even Angeal was, and while it concerned Genesis he let it slide this time. "I'll call him, let you know when he has some time in his schedule to hang out."
"That sounds great. Thank you."
Cloud had a job to do, so Genesis steered his boyfriend in their house.
"Meeting him in person wasn't even a possibility twenty minutes ago," Angeal sighed, staring at his bare feet, "I didn't even consider it."
"Who actually expects to meet someone they see in an underwear ad?"
"What are the odds."
"I dunno. I'm not surprised Cloud has many connections to people—mailmen get around. Not literally, I don't think, we're still working on that one…"
Angeal wasn't paying enough attention to laugh at the joke.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Cloud said, giving a quick shake of his head. "I just get nervous in cars sometimes, it's okay."
"But you drive that mail truck around every day."
"That's different. I'm the one driving it. And it's tiny."
Angeal asked, as he parked his vehicle, "What do you drive normally?"
"Motorcycle."
"No shit," Genesis said, impressed. Cloud looked sheepish for a moment.
It was a Thursday evening—Cloud finished his rounds around one p.m., and had his afternoons off. He came by their place, not needing to be told directions since he visited it six times a week, after all. They climbed into Angeal's car and Genesis drove them downtown, Angeal wringing his hands in the passenger's seat. From the back Cloud reached for him and grabbed his shoulder, rubbing comfortingly with his thumb. Genesis glanced approvingly at the display of affection before returning his attention back to the road.
Now that they were walking in the lobby of a very tall, imposing building in downtown Midgar Angeal seemed even more nervous than before. Every muscle Genesis could see was tense, his biceps bulging as he crossed his arms over his chest, the frown on his face even deeper than usual.
Genesis rubbed his back and dropped a quick kiss to his shoulder as they entered an elevator after Cloud had an awkward talk with someone behind a desk (the blond was so relaxed talking to them but so stiff and uncomfortable with strangers. It was interesting to witness).
"Relax," Genesis soothed, keeping his hand on Angeal's back all the way up, despite getting an odd look from a person in the elevator.
"You seriously don't need to worry," Cloud offered. "Zack's the nicest guy I know. I'm amazed he even hangs out with me, really—he's that great."
"Don't say that," Angeal replied, before Genesis could. "No matter how great he is, I'd be offended if he didn't like you."
Good one, Genesis thought, giving his boyfriend a small squeeze of encouragement. Cloud reddened and stared at his feet.
They emerged on the 19th floor and took a few lefts. "I've only been here once before," Cloud warned—and despite one wrong turn he got them to their destination. It was a small lounge at the end of a hallway with doors that had important-looking plaques. Someone walked by them in a tank-top and tight boxer briefs; Genesis and Cloud both failed to resist staring. Angeal seemed to have tunnel vision, however, and nearly walked right into the door they were supposed to go through.
The lounge had a bar in the back, ridiculous futuristic-looking furniture with small neon lights built in, and the man of Angeal's recent fantasies sitting on a couch, tapping away on his phone.
"Zack," Cloud greeted, going in first. Angeal tried to trail in the back so Genesis pushed on his spine and steered him inside. Genesis, at least, was not afraid to see the man who had captured his boyfriend's attention—he stood as straight as he could and fixed his expression into something strong and determined, eyes blazing.
"Spike!" said the model, rising. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that made him look… normal, not quite the sexy, playful God wearing V Valentine's name.
To Genesis' surprise the two men embraced in the middle of the room. This Zack's arms wound around his mailman with an easy familiarity. Cloud didn't even hesitate to do the same.
Zack looked over Cloud's shoulder at the two men waiting awkwardly in the doorway. A brilliant grin spread over his handsome face. "Hey," he greeted, "So which one of you is this fan of mine Cloud's been tellin' me about?"
Genesis happily took a step away from Angeal and gestured at him. Angeal, bless him, looked frozen, fixing Zack with wide blue eyes. He was even blushing. Precious.
Zack let go of Cloud, dragging a hand across his shoulders as he disengaged. He cocked his hands on his hips as he walked over to Angeal. He was only an inch or two shorter than Angeal, and looked so good in his casual clothes. He rocked back on his heels and grinned again as he looked Angeal up and down.
"Wow," he said after a moment, "Am I the luckiest guy ever, or what? Can I get a hug?"
Zack opened his arms, and Angeal made a soft choking noise before jerkily moving into them. The model laughed, not unkindly, as Angeal dropped his flushed face to Zack's shoulders.
Genesis had seen Angeal shy and flustered many times before. It was different observing it here and now, though, when he wasn't the cause or at least involved. The two of them looked good together too, and the sounds of Zack's amusement even brought a smile to his own face. Cloud looked at them tenderly, Genesis noticed. He caught the redhead's eye and the two men grinned at each other, happy to witness this exchange.
When the two eventually withdrew after a long, tight squeeze where Zack tried to start conversation and Angeal responded in muffled grunts, Zack's palms slid down Angeal's arms until he could hold his hands, gently swinging them back and forth. He seemed genuinely happy, and maybe a bit moved, by Angeal's behavior—being seen as a celebrity would brighten most people's moods, Genesis was sure.
"So, what's your name?" Zack asked, staring earnestly into Angeal's eyes.
"Angeal," he replied, blinking rapidly. "And—that's Genesis, my boyfriend. Thanks for freeing a few minutes in your schedule to meet with us."
Zack turned his head to lock gazes with Genesis. It was a powerful look—full of charisma, one that looked right into the core of him. Models, honestly. "Hi, Genesis," Zack said smoothly, still smiling. "It's nice to meet you."
"And you."
"And," Zack started, turning back to Angeal, "It's no problem. I'd do anything for Spike." He threw a wink over his shoulder at Cloud. "And I'm really not doing anything important, I'm done for the day. I'm just waiting for someone right now."
"Seph?" Cloud asked. His posture straightened as he asked it—he was excited.
"Yup!"
Angeal still seemed overwhelmed. His star-struck expression was cute on so big and imposing a man.
"Hey…" Zack trailed off for a second, seeming to lose track of what he was going to say. He tugged on Angeal's hands—still holding them, surprisingly—and tried again. "Would you want to… sit down, or something? There's a couch."
"Oh. Sure."
The two men relocated, sitting next to each other and angling their knees in so they almost touched and could face each other. They looked awfully cozy, Genesis noted, for having met five minutes previous.
Cloud took a step towards the opposite couch too, but froze in the middle of it, like he didn't know if he should. Genesis moved forward and steered Cloud to his seat with a hand on his lower back much like he had with Angeal. They sat, Genesis crossed one leg over the other at the knee and stretched an arm out behind Cloud, and watched the other two with narrowed eyes.
Angeal was telling Zack about the most recent issue of The Lifestream, and Zack was laughing. "Oh, yeah, that shot. You can't see it, but I'm balanced on the toes of one foot to get that pose, and they had me hold it for over a minute 'cause I blinked once and the camera wasn't focusing right. It killed."
"You made it look effortless," Angeal said, gaze fixed on Zack's face. "Sorry you hurt, though."
"Aw." Zack covered his face with one hand and waved at Angeal with the other. "I'm blushin', shucks."
They were in their own little world. Cloud smiled gently at him and Genesis returned it, masking his uneasiness. It was hard to be chill with his boyfriend making goo-goo eyes at a model. Still, he tried—he could be the cool boyfriend about all this. Angeal glanced at him finally, just a quick glance, and Genesis beamed.
His carefully-constructed calm crumbled when a strange man strode into the lounge, the sounds of his heeled boots echoing off the too-white walls. Cloud jumped out of his seat, leaving Genesis' side cold.
"Seph," Cloud greeted. This 'Seph' was clad in a three-piece suit, all black, and a deep frown. He had his hands in his pockets, tall, lean, and long.
"This is your fan?" He asked Zack.
Genesis saw red. He got to his feet too, hands clenching into fists. No one noticed, though—Cloud and the man gave each other one-armed hugs. The man's arm stayed around Cloud when it was over.
Angeal, the angel, didn't seem upset that he had just been dissed. "Yeah," Zack was saying, "This is him. Angeal, Sephiroth. Sephiroth, Angeal. Oh, and–"
They finally turned to him, and Genesis was still glaring daggers at the newcomer.
"Gen?" Angeal asked, his eyes all annoyance, and a bit of concern.
"Yes?" Genesis replied, smiling sweetly while his eyes shot venom. "I'm Genesis, Angeal's boyfriend. It's nice to meet you, Sephiroth."
Later Angeal would ask him what his problem was, and Genesis said that he just didn't like the man. He had his arm around Cloud still and had insulted Angeal's honor and had the gall to try to intimidate them all in his thousand dollar suit and good looks. Wait—was he a model too?
"Genesis," Sephiroth said slowly, and Genesis fought the shiver that ran down his spine. He looked back at Angeal. "Nice to meet you both. You arranged this, Cloud?"
The blond nodded. "Yeah, I guess. Didn't think we'd get to see you, though." Cloud grinned, and surprisingly, this apparently grumpy man did too.
"Come sit," Zack encouraged.
"I have to change out of this, they need to press it again before tomorrow. I'll be back."
He left almost as quickly as he came. Zack laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah—that's Seph. He can seem kinda prickly if you don't know him well."
"Even after," Cloud snorted.
"Yeah. I've been dating him for three years and he still gets me sometimes."
Genesis watched Angeal's reaction to that information. His eyebrows rose but he didn't seem deterred; Zack hadn't, after all.
"He seems lovely," Genesis said, a fake smile making his face ache.
"I'll sit on the end."
"No," Genesis and Sephiroth said simultaneously. They spared a split-second glance at each other, both sets of brows furrowed.
Cloud was so clearly awkward at being the fifth wheel of sorts. Somehow the five men were at a restaurant for dinner, and seated at what was usually a table for four, just with a spare chair dragged down to the end. Regardless of the situation, Genesis didn't want to see his friend feel uncomfortable this evening. He was nice enough to set this up for Angeal, and deserved better.
Zack and Angeal were already sitting next to each other, too caught up in their conversation to realize that left the rest of the group in a rather awkward position. Sephiroth, now clad in jeans and a black sweater, said, "I'll sit on the end. Please get comfortable, Cloud."
"Oh, no, no," Genesis interrupted, smiling cheerfully. "I insist—I'll sit on the end, it's no trouble."
"No, I—"
"I insist."
With some glaring masked by too-bright grins they duked it out for a second or two more, and then Sephiroth sat. Genesis gloated about having alpha-maled his way to victory for just a moment, because as he sat realized Cloud and Angeal were in the booth seats against the wall. Directly adjacent to him on either side was Sephiroth and Zack.
Shit.
Angeal seemed pleased as punch to be caged against the wall by Zack—Genesis could see the hearts in his eyes from here. He hoped the others didn't think he always had such a dopey look on his face. Cloud, too—the man was nearly always calm and unruffled, unless he was being flirted with; that's what seemed to be happening, though. Sephiroth leant in, a waterfall of stupid, ridiculous hair spilling over his shoulders, and said something to the blond in a low voice. Cloud chuckled as he surveyed the menu.
"You look real nice today, Spike," Zack told him over the top of his own.
"Thanks," Cloud muttered, raising it a few inches to block him from Zack's gaze, "…You too."
Wait, didn't Cloud say that there was another couple who flirted regularly with him, too? He'd noticed it from the very beginning, when Zack and Cloud hugged back at the studio. Cloud seemed more comfortable with these two than he and Angeal, as well.
Double shit.
Someone came to take their orders and Genesis realized with a jolt that he'd been so involved with observing that he hadn't put any thought into what he wanted. Triple shit. He waved for Zack to start, and by the time it circled back to him he still didn't have anything. What kind of restaurant was this, anyway?
What Sephiroth ordered directly before him didn't sound like any of the dishes he hated, so he said coolly, "I'll have what he's having, too." The menus were gathered and only then Genesis realized what he just did—ordered the same thing as this man, like a date! Surely enough, Sephiroth was staring intently at him. His eyes were so damn bright, even with his sour expression.
Genesis looked away. Zack was giving them a curious look too. The first half of his sentence started slow, then evened out. "…It's cool that we all managed to go out like this. We haven't had a double date in ages, huh, Seph?" He grinned, then corrected himself. "Well, triple date? I dunno how to categorize you, Cloud, but you'd call this a date with me at least, yeah?" He finished it off with a wink. Genesis wanted to hate him too, but couldn't.
Cloud took a slow sip of water. "I think we all know what's going on here," he said. Genesis tensed— "I'm taking all four of you out on a date with me. Try not to get too jealous of each other."
Everyone found that amusing, and whatever tension there was dissipated.
"Is this something you do often?" Angeal asked. "Take fans out for dinner?"
Zack snorted. "No. One, because I never meet any 'fans,' I didn't really think I had any, and two, even if I did, they'd have to be as cute as you to take out for food, and that doesn't just happen every day, you know?"
"Oh, brother," Genesis muttered, suddenly wishing he ordered wine. Cloud heard him and chuckled on Sephiroth's other side.
Sephiroth, it seemed, did not like the diss on Zack's flirting ability, and the look he kept shooting Genesis increased a few notches in intensity.
Angeal seemed delighted, however. "So how long have you been a model? You too, Sephiroth?"
"Mm. Seven years? I started out with some pretty weak stuff—MoogleMart ads, commercials, y'know, worked my way up."
"Four years," Sephiroth said; Genesis thought his voice was rather intimate for a dinner table. "I started out with Valentine—he is a cousin of mine, but he quickly gave me over to Sable."
"You didn't like working with your cousin, or something?"
"You see a lot of dicks in the underwear business," Sephiroth said gravely, and something about the serious way he said it tickled Genesis; he laughed as he took a sip of water and started coughing. Zack patted his back through his mortification.
When Genesis subsided Sephiroth continued, "Working with Nero has been more rewarding anyway, in my opinion."
"That's how we met, though." Zack grabbed Sephiroth's hand over the table. "I was newly working with Vincent and Seph had just left, but because he's related to Vince and all he was in and out sometimes."
"Cute," Angeal said, and Sephiroth actually smiled at him—what the fuck? It made sense that no one could resist his boyfriend's charm, but—this guy? "And what about you, Cloud?"
"Oh. I mentioned before that Zack and I grew up in the same hometown. He moved to Nibelheim from Gongaga when he was eight, and went to Midgar when he was… fifteen?"
"Sixteen."
"Sixteen. I moved here when I was twenty, and we met back up a year or so ago."
"And, it's been, like, the best year ever. I never thought I'd see Cloud again."
"It's good you two were close."
"Close, pfft, yeah. Spike's how I figured out I'm bisexual, back in the day."
"What?" This time it was Cloud who choked on his water.
Zack just grinned cheekily. "Yup. You don't just forget your first crush on a dude like that."
The arrival of their food was a welcome distraction from Cloud's stress and Zack's constant flirting with everybody. Genesis stared at his plate. Angeal got a steak and potatoes with broccoli, the predictable bastard. Genesis' plate was unidentifiable. Sephiroth was already eating.
Genesis hesitantly touched Sephiroth's thigh under the table to get his attention. "What the hell are we eating?"
"It's an Icicle dish."
"Okay, but—what the hell are we eating?"
Sephiroth's handsome forehead was all contorted from the strength of his frown. He leant in a bit, to keep their conversation private. "Why did you order it if you didn't know what it was?"
Genesis glared back defiantly, turning in and deflecting onlookers with his body language. "I didn't have enough time. And I trusted your judgement."
Sephiroth just blinked. His pupils were irregular. "Why?"
Genesis didn't have an answer for that, and settled for glowering.
"Most of these are root vegetables that only grow near Icicle and other cold, northern climates," the model said eventually. "On noodles, in what is known as Shiva sauce. It's sweet."
Genesis poked at his plate with his fork. "Are those mushrooms right there?"
"Yes."
"Do you want them?"
"…I dislike these green vegetables," Sephiroth admitted, quietly, spearing one of the small cubes in question. Then, like small children at a restaurant not nearly as fancy as the one they were currently at, they swapped food. It was a difficult and meticulous affair, full of the scraping of forks and occasional soft grunts of recognition when their hands or forearms bumped. Eventually they stopped the courtesies, as it happened so many times.
When done Genesis nodded solemnly to Sephiroth and finally scooted away—wow, he'd had one knee between Sephiroth's legs and one of Sephiroth's knees between his. It felt like the air was lighter three feet away as opposed to one, or something.
Zack had an eyebrow raised. "Uh, you guys okay?"
"Fine," they both said, and did not look at each other again for a long while.
They talked about it a little bit, of course, but it wasn't until later that week Angeal brought their strange 'triple date' up again. At a weird moment, too. No one had even gotten up to get a cloth to wipe up with yet; Angeal was still breathing hard, had one hand spread on Genesis' belly, and was pressed up intimately behind him, damp breath hot on the back of Genesis' neck.
"You got along well with Sephiroth, huh?"
"What?" Genesis twitched at the mention of his name. He turned his name and Angeal distracted him with kisses, long, patient tangling of tongues. The hand on Genesis' body gave a loving little pet. "I told you already, I couldn't stand him. Why are you bringing him up now?"
"I don't know, really. And you don't mean that."
"Try me," Genesis said flatly. He rolled over and his boyfriend moved to accommodate him, letting him rest his sweaty head on his broad shoulder.
"Even Cloud noticed. He says he didn't expect there to be so much chemistry between you two."
"Wh—" Genesis sputtered. "Please. We hated each other. What—what about you? Your Zack-craving satisfied?"
Angeal got a soft look in his eyes. "I suppose. I didn't expect him to be so… fun, or nice, or engaging. Just a pretty face. I actually think he might have honestly, well… enjoyed meeting me too."
"Of course he did." Genesis entwined their fingers. "You two got along great."
"…I'm glad we went, Gen."
"We'll have to thank Cloud."
"With our mouthes."
Genesis laughed, snuggling a little closer to his love. Weird, how their pillow talk was about so many other men these days. "I think those two are the couple he mentioned to me."
"Hm." Angeal considered that. "That makes sense. It looks like they make him happy."
"We could make him happy."
"We could, but that comes second to whoever he feels makes him happiest. It's his choice."
"I know that, obviously. Fighting over him with them is… stupid, and archaic." Genesis sighed. "I just wish we knew more about what he wants, you know? He's so quick to deflect."
"We'll just have to be more direct."
"I suppose."
Genesis kissed him, and Angeal offered his charming, albeit tired, smile. He always looked his best when they were together.
Being 'direct' proved difficult, because the next time Genesis saw Cloud, the blond opened up with, "Zack wants to hang out with you guys again."
It took Genesis' brain a few seconds to stop stuttering and get back on track. "H-Huh?"
Cloud shrugged as he passed over the mail. "If you wanted. He said he had fun, and liked you guys."
"But he's a V Valentine model." Genesis raised an eyebrow. "We're peasants."
Cloud scowled. "Don't sell yourself short. Zack's not like that anyway—he has lots of friends from all over. It's not a big deal."
"He wants me there too?"
"Zack liked you, even if he spent most of his time with Angeal. And Seph'll be there."
Genesis blanched at Cloud's sly smirk. "You think that sways me? He's a jerk."
Cloud laughed. "You two got along so well. I bet Seph will be happy to see you again."
"Ugh. Will you be there?"
"Well, Zack offered, but—"
"We want you there."
Cloud studied Genesis' open, earnest expression. "…Okay."
"And speaking of that…" Genesis shifted the mail to one hand, and placed the freed one on Cloud's forearm. When he got no negative reaction it slid down to hold Cloud's. "Have you put any thought into that date Angeal and I proposed?"
"You're serious," Cloud breathed.
"Of course we are. We've been chasing you for months, Cloud. We'll keep waiting if you want. It's just a date though. It won't mean anything you don't want it to. Doesn't mean you're our boyfriend."
"And if it goes badly?"
"Then at least we tried. If it goes well, we'll have another, if you want. And it still won't mean you're dating us officially, or anything."
They were trying to create an atmosphere of as little stress as possible. Dating a couple had to be difficult and confusing at first, especially for someone who had only been in monogamous relationships in the past.
"I don't know how any of it works, or what to do," Cloud sighed, "But… I like you two. A lot. I guess a date won't hurt."
"No, it won't." Genesis squeezed his hand encouragingly. "Saturday evening fine?"
"…Sure."
"And let us know when Zack wants to see us, mm?"
That night, after returning from work and flopping onto the couch with his head in Angeal's lap Genesis said, "So I scored us a date with Cloud on Saturday."
Angeal scritched his scalp, eyes bright. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."