DISCLAIMER: Nope, still don't own!

Thanks so much to all our wonderful reviewers and everyone who favorited it and put it on alert! You've made us very happy! :D


He felt...fuzzy; like a warm blanket had been placed over his face. A tan hand came up to rub at his eyelids and he groaned. "What...happened?" His vision cleared slowly, a smudged shape slowly forming in from of him. A few blinks later he was staring at his face- older and scarred.

"Morning, Kid. I think you need to move over."

A pain split his forehead and once again, black was filling his vision.

"Hello."

He knew that voice...

"Hello," it called again, gentle tones washing over him.

"Who are you?"

"It's me, silly. Don't forget me, okay?"

"Yeah..." That voice... why couldn't he remember?

"It's time for you to wake up," the voice said. He felt something warm brush his cheek and the smell of flowers wash over him. "Open your eyes, Zack."

Zack had experienced many things in his life; Touch Mes, love, meeting Sephiroth, torture at the hands of a mad scientist. However, none of those things could leave an imprint on one's mind quite like getting electrocuted could.

He groaned and grabbed his head. "Holy fuck, was I really that stupid at fifteen?" That had been a dumb question. If he remembered correctly, that was his fourth strike; his first in Midgar though. "Shiva's tits that one hurt."

He blinked rapidly, trying to clear away the grey spots in his vision. The smell of antiseptic hit him and he had to reign in the urge to gag. Some memories needed to be kept memories.

Kunsel's soft voice could be heard coming around the corner, talking with another man as they approached from around the curtain. "... so he should be ok, though?"

"You don't give up when you want information, do you, SOLDIER?" As Kunsel rounded the corner, blinking in surprise at Zack, the doctor stopped to grab the file. "Yes, you SOLDIERs are all a resilient bunch - even young thirds like Mr. Fair here."

Zack froze. Hospital. He was in the hospital. His eyes widened as he stared at Kunsel. "K-kunsel?" He squeaked. There was a reason, he knew there was, that Kunsel was standing there; living and breathing, his mind was just too fuzzy to remember it. A hand came up to pat his neck and he let out a sigh of relief. The necklace was there- that was important somehow.

Kunsel smiled widely and waved at his friend, coming over to plop into the chair by his bedside. "Hey. Doc says your mind may be a little fuzzy on the details so I'll fill you in on your little stunt - you were out playing in the thunderstorm and got yourself struck by lightning. Mind, it didn't help that you were, at the time, using Thunder. I told you it wasn't safe, man. Seriously, even if it looked cool."

The aforementioned doctor came around, chart in hand, slipping a thin pair of wire rimmed glasses from the pocket of his coat to read it. "Yes, Mr. Fair, I would appreciate if you didn't engage in such activities in the future. You're bouncing back amazingly well, but things could easily have gone the other way."

Silence fell in the room as Zack blinked owlishly at the man. When the doctor looked up, the wire frames caught the light, flashing once. The dark haired third was out of the bed with a horrified scream and barely past the two before the doctor got the chance to get any closer. His heart was pounding in his chest and the rushing in his ears was drowning out everything. He skidded to a stop, throwing the large metal door open before taking off again.

Apologies were forgotten as he dodged anyone in the halls, not sure where exactly he was going but needing to get away before they forced him into another Mako tank.

If he remembered right, the elevator was down this way. Zack rounded a corner at full speed and was instantly thrown back, landing in a heap of frightened limbs and tangled tubes that had stuck with him from the hospital room. "Don't touch me!" he shouted, scooting back as quickly as he could, arms raised to shield himself and prepared to fight. "Get that shit away from me, I'm not getting in it. I won't let you cut me open anymore you sick bastard!"

Lazard Deusericus, Director of SOLDIER, was generally good at anticipating his men. He had to be, to deal with them. But, being slightly under the weather and a little drugged for that purpose, it was forgivable that he didn't see the blur of black and blue headed his way. Bowled down just as he was heading for the elevator, small bag of cold medicines in hand, he hit the ground hard and threw his arms up in feeble protection.

It was then that he realized he wasn't being attacked.

Far from, the SOLDIER - he could tell that much from the brief sight of Mako eyes - skidded away from him and started shouting at him in a way that suggested he was hallucinating. Alarmed, Lazard sat up carefully. "Calm down, SOLDIER. No one's going to hurt you. You're safe here. You're in the ShinRa Building."

Zack blinked up at the vaguely familiar blond man. His eyes flicked to the dropped bag at the man's side and he glared. "Fuck you," he snapped right before placing a well timed kick to the man's face. He scrambled up, not waiting to see if the man was bleeding, dying, or furious, and booked it into the closing elevator.

"Director Lazard!" Kunsel turned the corner in time to hear and see everything, and boggled at the strange behavior of the normally cheery, gentle Third. "Sir, are you all right?"

"I'b fide." Lazard waved off his concern, despite a clearly broken nose, more concerned about the rogue SOLDIER that managed to have just enough sense to operate an elevator.

This didn't bode well. "Ged Cobbader Hewley dowd here to abbrehed the SOLDIER. He seebs... troubled."

"Sir, yes sir!" Kunsel saluted, just grateful Zack wasn't in more trouble than he was. After being assured that the director would be taken care of, he flipped open his PHS and slipped into its hidden contact files. It wasn't Commander Hewley's private number, he hadn't gotten that bold - yet - but it was the number to his office. Which was just as good, since all the secretaries liked him. "May? Listen, there's been a bit of trouble on the Infirmary floor... yeah. My friend Zack - you know the one, crazy hair, great sense of humor? - yeah him - he got shocked the other day and something spooked him bad when he came to in the infirmary. Now he's running wild and we need Commander Hewley to track him down. Should be easy to find. Just follow the chaos. - what? Of course I'll help. But the director wants him on it. Ok? Thanks a bundle."

Kunsel finished the call and snapped his PHS shut, heading for the elevator as he tried to reason out his friend's strange behavior. He'd seemed... unnerved, in the very least, unsettled, when coming to, and had completely lost it when the doctor came in. Then, there was the matter of what he'd said and done since. 'don't touch me' - 'I'm not getting in it' - 'I won't let you cut me open anymore' - the last part was the most troubling. Cut him open anymore? Had something happened to Zack that no one was aware of? And why, oh why, did he attack Director Lazard - who was no physical threat at his best, let alone when he was clearly ill?

It was puzzling and warranted investigation. First, though, he needed to find Zack and make sure he was ok. Not everyone would shrug off a hostile move like the director had. There was a very good chance the spiky haired third was in for some serious trouble if he didn't calm down soon. Frowning, Kunsel dimly heard the buzz of his PHS and unclipped it from his belt. "Kunsel."

"Kunsel, this is Commander Hewley." Angeal's soft, deep voice rumbled through the phone, the first on the other side making his way down the hall toward the elevators. "May said there's a rogue Third that is confused and upset - escaped from the infirmary onto the elevators? A friend of yours?"

"Yes, sir. His name's Zack Fair. He's a new SOLDIER Third, suffering from a lightning shock two nights ago - he's moving pretty fast, but he's still in hospital garb and hooked up to monitor wires. He should be easy to spot."

Angeal nodded, humming. "All right. I have the elevators under watch now. He'll be found as soon as he gets off and I'll follow him. We'll keep in touch." Closing the call, the commander blinked in surprise as a message flashed on his screen. Now what could Genesis want...?

Genesis Rhapsodos was many things; patient was not one of them. All he really wanted was a cup of coffee, nothing more, nothing less. He just needed to wake up a bit. He did not expect to be run into by a crazy looking third class with tubes hanging everywhere waving around a green sword and shouting at him to back away before he cut his 'copy head off'.

He held his rapier out at the Third as he flipped open his PHS, sending off a quick message to Angeal to move his ass and get to the break room now. "Who are you?"

The younger man just waved the sword and Genesis had to frown. It looked remarkably like the Buster Angeal was so fond of. He got no answer and growled. "Fine." He snapped the phone open once again and hit the speed dial for his best friend.

Angeal took the call as he stepped into the elevator, surprised to see it was Genesis once again, and on a hunch, punched in the number for the break room. "Gen?"

"Hurry up and get to the break room. There's some third looking like a kicked puppy and waving your sword at me. The little shit is shouting about 'copies' or something!" He snapped into the receiver. The Third appeared to be calming down somewhat; his sword was still at the ready but he was losing some of the haziness in his eyes. "Just hurry up, Angeal!"

He watched with more than a little surprise as the young man's eyes widened. "Angeal?"

"That would be Commander Hewley, to you." He gave the Third a poisonous glare.

Angeal nearly choked when he heard the description. "He's armed?" The thought of it being 'his' sword was dismissed, the Buster's significant, comforting weight omnipresent on his back. But, the thought that this might be the rouge Third was not so quickly dismissed. "Genesis, there was an escape from the infirmary - a Third Class. Supposed to be a bit confused and possibly hostile. I wasn't informed he was armed... but, I suppose he could have run into someone in the elevator and taken their weapon... can you tell if this is the escapee?"

Genesis snorted, "Definitely him. Tubes hanging everywhere and he's definitely armed- some kind of green blade. Fuck, Angeal it looks just like the Buster. I came through the door and there he was, he knocked me down and I swear on the damn Goddess that he didn't have a weapon beforehand but there it is."

Angeal paced the glass elevator, waiting impatiently for it to arrive on the floor that housed his best friend and the unknown variable that was the SOLDIER Third, puzzling over what Genesis said. If the sword was as big as the Buster Sword, it couldn't be easily concealed... where did the Third manage to produce it from? Surely Genesis hadn't overlooked a massive blade! Especially - "Green?"

"Yes, damnit! It's green! Green the color that grass should be only lighter, glowing much like it's fused with materia."

The doors dinged, and he sighed in relief, striding out into the break room, eyes widening slightly at the sight; Genesis was standing facing him, rapier drawn and pointed at a... well damn, he was just a kid, wasn't he? Of course, most Thirds were, but it was still sobering. Seeing the teen standing there, in hospital scrubs, tubes and wires attached to his arms and torso and - Holy mother of Gaia! - he reached back to touch the handle of his blade, to be sure it was there. Because the pale green blade wielded by the teenager was nearly it's double, down to the two materia slots and its intricate hilt.

And it was still in ready-to-use mode. Well, he'd have to do something about that. Using his best commander's voice, he demanded - of both of them, "SOLDIERs! Weapons down!"

Genesis gaped as the Third snapped to attention immediately, sword stuck into the floor at his side. "Sir!"

He blinked at Angeal. "What the hell is going on?" He hissed then blinked, reaching up to rub his eyes. The green glow of the Buster replica was gone, leaving it looking like a near perfect match.

Angeal was incredibly relieved that the SOLDIER had seemingly snapped out of it, but also wanted to know what was going on. Looking the youth over, from the crown of his wild, dark spikes, to his Mako bright eyes - a little too bright for a Third, really - over his lithe form in the white scrubs with all the tubes and wires that must have been ripped from machines by a sudden leap from his bed, judging by their ragged appearance, he asked. "SOLDIER Third Class Zack Fair, is it?"

"Yes, sir." Zack felt the beginnings of a headache forming at the base of his skull. A rush of memories his him and he groaned, dropping his salute to hold his head in his hands. "Oh shit."

He rubbed his eyes and looked up at the two men watching him. "Uh," Zack chuckled nervously, pulling the tubes out of his arms and the stickies off his chest. "Hi guys, that was. Uh, I think I should apologize to the Director..."

Angeal arched a dark brow at that; clearly, Kunsel had left something out. "Why don't you tell me what happened here?"

"Tell us," Genesis amended.

Zack ran a hand through his dark locks and smiled nervously. "Right well, uh I was electrocuted last night- or was it two nights ago?- anyway I got zapped and Kunsel took me to the infirmary and then I had the strangest damn dream, you wouldn't believe it. Weirder than Touch Mes, seriously. Anyway I kind of-uh...was still...asleep when the doc came in and he er...scared me and you know, fighting instinct and all that crap. I ran out of the room and hit something- the Director- I didn't know who he was and I had a HUGE muscle spasm! I sort of...kicked him in the face." He raised a hand to rub the back of his neck while he continued. "And then I got in the elevator, finally took long enough to find the damn thing. Then got out on a random floor and hid in here where some guy ran into me."

"And well Uh, th-that's it. I really should go apologize to the Director," he said, grabbing the sword and scooting toward the door.

Angeal shook his head, moving quickly and coming to stand in front of Zack. "Assuming I'm believing that... where did you get your... unique... weapon?"

"Oh that. Right. It's sort of a long story..."

His brow arched again and he made a show of checking his schedule on his PHS before sending off a quick text to Kunsel, letting him know he'd found his friend. Then, he looked up at the escaped Third with a small smile. "Well, lucky you, I have the afternoon off to hear it."

Zack bit back the urge to growl in frustration. Had Angeal always been this stubborn? The Lifestream must have mellowed him out... "Well, it's like this. A uh, long time ago?" He frowned, technically it was in the future right? But...it happened two days ago...He shook his head and refocused on Angeal. "Right, a while ago this lady I know gave me a sword. A friend of mine always told me to hold onto my dreams...and my honor, so I took the sword she offered and came to be a SOLDIER." ~Not a complete lie...just...mixed around a bit...~

Genesis glanced at Angeal, hoping to judge the man's reaction. The 'dreams and honor' the Third was speaking of sounded an awful lot like something his childhood friend would- and did frequently- say. ~Could they know each other?~ He mentally berated himself. Angeal would have told him; lying wasn't in his nature. Though...it would explain the sword...

He turned his attention back to the fidgeting young man and replaced Rapier at his side.

Angeal blinked, and narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to think if he had ever met this youth before. Coming up blank, he frowned slightly. While he had answered the question, he hadn't answered what he'd really been after, and he'd presented more questions. He sighed, shaking his head. "Zack, I'm afraid your story isn't adding up. Commander Rhapsodos was very clear that you didn't have a weapon upon leaving the elevator... yet you have one now." The question, while unspoken, was clear.

"I've had it the whole time," he raised two fingers. "Scouts honor, sir." He was pleased to note that his answer was completely honest. He had had the blade the whole time, just not in... such a solid state.

The dark Commander frowned; a stickler for honesty, he personally thought himself a good judge of character. And all his instincts said that, while his variation of what happened since he got out of the infirmary seemed... questionable... the rest was true. Or close enough to fool him. "All right then. But, I'm going to have to ask you to hand it over to me until you're discharged from the infirmary officially. We can't have another incident like this."

Zack bit his lip and looked down at the sword in his hand. He wasn't so much worried about what would happen to the blade as he was what would happen to him when it heeded his call. With some reluctance, he held out the sword for Angeal to take. "Please be careful with it," he said on impulse and could have slapped himself. This was the man who never- never- used his own blade. Though, he didn't doubt the Reiki was going to be thoroughly inspected.

Genesis watched the exchange with a critical eye. There was something very wrong here. Well, perhaps wrong wasn't the right word; strange, off, distinctly fucked up was more like it. He flipped open his PHS and sent off a quick message to Sephiroth, briefly summarizing the situation for the man.

Angeal accepted the blade, nodding in understanding at the younger man's clearly heartfelt request, noting with some amazement that it was no longer green, but the same steel and burnished gold hilt - even the same delicate swirls marking it. The only differences he could visibly see, were that the handle was wrapped in black leather, and it possessed a double blade.

He was about to ask a question, perhaps about the woman who got it for him - he couldn't help himself, the design was too uncanny not to ask - when Zack released the blade... and suddenly the First found himself gasping slightly at the ridiculous weight of it. Grunting, but not daring to drop it, he set the tip against the floor and let his breath out in a ragged exhale, staring at Zack incredulously. "That's a hell of a lot heavier than the Buster."

Zack's eyes widened but he remained silent. If Angeal hadn't already suspected him of something he definitely would be now. The Buster was notoriously unwieldy, much like First Tsurugi. Speaking of Cloud's sword… he patted his chest and heaved a sigh of relief that the necklace was still on place and hadn't gotten lost during his mad dash. Not that Cloud would ever know...but he'd never forgive himself if he didn't present the sword to his friend when he was ready for it. Those swords were meant for Cloud.

Sighing and leaning the sword against his body, instead of attempting to hold it upright, the commander frowned in concern, seeing the youth go wide-eyed, patting his chest before sighing. "Are you all right?"

Genesis gaped. "You're asking him if he's alright after he gave you a sword, which might I point out is a replica of your own Gaia damned sword, that you can barely lift? What the hell is going on here?" He snapped, looking between the two of them.

Zack jumped at the sudden outburst and clutched the pendant tightly. "I didn't realize it was that heavy," he said with a shrug, trying to take the attitude in stride. He'd only met Genesis a handful of times, most of them to battle the man. If his anger hadn't been directed at Zack, the younger man might have found it quite hilarious to watch the Red Commander steam in confusion.

Hewley stared at him in disbelief. "Didn't... realize...?" How could he not know how heavy the sword was? Even at his own level of strength, which was considerable, Angeal remained aware that his blade was heavy. How could a mere third class - not only that, but one who was supposed to be in the infirmary - be so indifferent?

Not only that, but Genesis had a point - the blade looked to match his own custom blade. How on Gaia had that happened? Pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh, he filed all this away as 'things to think about - LATER' and dealt with the matter at hand. The young man - Zack - hadn't been officially released from the infirmary, and might still need to be there. He'd get him back, then start unraveling this. "We'll discuss this later. Right now, I need to take Zack back to the infirmary to be checked over, to make sure his little run didn't do any damage. Genesis, you're welcome to come along if you're free."

"No!" He shouted, back peddling into the far wall. "I'm not going back there!" Unconsciously, his hands rose to scratch at the sensitive skin on his forearms hard enough to draw blood.

Angeal frowned at the violent reaction to what he thought was a mild suggestion. Raising a hand calmingly, he took a half-step forward without thinking. "Zack -"

Instinctively Zack reached for the handle of his sword as he moved farther away from the other man. He brought the comforting weight forward and shook his head. "No! Angeal, I'm not going back there!"

Blue eyes widened and Genesis latched onto Angeal's arm, flapping one hand in Zack's direction. "Angeal, Angeal, Angeal, Look!" He tugged on the arm a little harder than necessary as the sword his friend had been holding materialized in Zack's grip, blade the glowing green from earlier. "Holy. Fucking. Planet. Angeal, it's just like Seph."

Angeal stared at his empty hands, then at the youth before him, his eyes and sword glowing fiercely. Indeed, it was a great deal like Sephiroth. So much so, that he found himself using the same soft tone he'd used when they were young, and the General was upset. "Zack... Zack, calm down. Tell me why you're upset."

"I just don't like doctors," he spit the word like it left a foul taste in his mouth. "I'm fine, I've been struck before and never went to the hospital."

"That would explain a lot..." Genesis muttered, still holding onto Angeal.

Zack scowled at the red head. "I'm fine. If you want me back in that place you'll have drag me, or knock me the fuck out and take my comatose body."

He brought the sword in front of him like a shield and took a ready stance, just in case.

There was something familiar about the stance... but Angeal couldn't quite place it, and didn't have time to. He had to defuse the situation. "Zack, we don't want a fight. I'm just concerned that you could have been more seriously hurt than you know... please, just let a nurse look you over."

"I'm fine," he stated. "But...a nurse...only. No doctors and one of you has to be there." Zack clenched his teeth, fighting back the panic. He wasn't in Nibelheim, hell Nibelheim hadn't even happened yet- and wouldn't for years- there was no need to be afraid. He repeated those thoughts a few times, taking deep breaths and counting them out. "Relax," he murmured to himself. "They're just memories now."

"What the hell is going on?" Genesis hissed, taking advantage of the Third's distracted state. He in no way thought that Zack wasn't aware of where they were, which he found odd. There were some Second's that couldn't catalog their surroundings in such a way. The slant of the boy's wrists and the aware light behind the glassy eyes gave him away though.

"Too much like Seph." Angeal murmured softly, not daring to move as he watched the youth trying to pull himself together. Heard him murmur a little pep talk and felt his blood run cold. What memories would a boy so young have to have made such a deep impression? "Zack."

"Yes, sir?" Zack asked, more relaxed now and feeling a little more in control of himself. The feeling of being split in two finally subsiding.

Angeal frowned, looking seriously at the youth. "Zack, this..." he wouldn't say 'fear' and risk offending him "dislike of doctors... you have to understand, even the best SOLDIERs need to see the doctors occasionally. Checkups and Mako shots if things are going smoothly, but, eventually you'll likely be injured and need actual care. Did no one explain this to you?"

Zack tensed. "I know," he said simply. He sounded defeated, but resolved in a way. "I was just...shocked, seeing the lab coat and the glasses when I woke up. The lightning probably fried my brain into some extra doses of fear or something..." He continued to ramble.

~Labcoat and glasses?~ Why was that significant? Well, obviously he associated them with doctors - bad doctors - but where would he have been exposed to them? Before or after joining ShinRa?

Angeal sighed softly; this boy was too much like Seph. Far, far too much. "All right, Zack. I'll come with you and we'll see a nurse. I can't promise we won't run into any doctors in the infirmary, but I'll be there, ok? It will be fine."

The young Third seemed to consider it then nodded slowly, lowering the sword. The green slowly faded and Zack tried to blink away the Mako glow; he could feel it moving through his system and it made him a little more shaky than usual. "Okay."

"You will need to give your sword back," Genesis said. Aiming for tact over answers, he lowered his tone to give a gentle suggestion.

Zack frowned as he extended his arm, handing the sword to Angeal once again.

Angeal took the blade as reluctantly as it was given, and, even bracing himself, nearly staggered at the weight once Zack released it. Wondering how he was going to make it to the infirmary ward bearing such a weighty blade, let alone how he'd be able to react to anything... he couldn't strap it to his hip, like Genesis and Rapier. He all ready had Buster on his back. And only Sephiroth could –

Sephiroth. The youth's relation to the sword was just like the General's with Masamune. Which led him to wonder... "Can you make it vanish?"

"Uh..."

The boy tilted his head, looking adorably confused, black bangs that framed his face swaying slightly, and Angeal couldn't help but think of a curious puppy. Smiling faintly but keeping that thought to himself, he tried to explain. "You seem to have a... unique bond with your blade. So rare I've only seen it once before. And, the person I'm thinking of can make theirs appear and disappear at will. Can you?"

Genesis nodded once. "There is no way Angeal, or I, could carry an extra blade."

Zack glanced down at the sword in Angeal's hands. Make the Reiki...disappear. The Goddess had mentioned that some things would be rather unique about the sword. Angeal was right- his bond with it was strong. As most swordsman, he felt as if it were an extension of himself; not just a tool. It was, essentially a piece of his being. "Honestly, I've never tried. But I'll...give it a go?"

Running through a list of ideas in his head he chose the simplest one- calling it back to his body. It made sense, in his mind, that a piece of himself would have a place within himself. He shut his eyes and reached out with his mind, much like he did when speaking to Cloud while he was in the Lifestream.

It took some time, but he eventually felt the heavy weight in his hand and then the weight dissolved; settling into the right side of his back. He shifted his shoulder and opened his eyes, trying to adjust to the feeling of cold water settling across his skin.

Though Angeal had almost expected it - after all, he'd asked for it - it was still unnerving to watch the blade float from his hand and into Zack's outstretched palm, staying held almost casually for a few spaces of breath and then - in a burst of green sparks, like a thousand tiny, colored fireflies - it was gone. And it didn't matter that he'd seen Sephiroth do it hundreds of times with Masamune. Here was this little SOLDIER Third he'd never heard of, with a sword HE could barely lift, doing the same thing. "Holy mother of Gaia."

Did he just say that out loud?

The red head beside him took a sharp intake of breath as the sword disappeared. "Fuck," he muttered, chancing a glance at Angeal. He dropped his voice as quiet as he could, "We have to find Seph after this."

Zack watched the two for a moment then took a hesitant step forward. He trusted Angeal. Genesis however...he'd been close to insane with revenge the few times he'd had the unfortunate pleasure of encountering the man. When all of this was said and done he was going to punch his pretty face- once for each of the summons the bastard sent after him. No one should have to face off Bahamut that many times in a row- even if it wasn't, technically, this Genesis that did it. Or was it? It wasn't this past Genesis...but his future Genesis... Zack shook his head; deciding not to ponder the complexities the Goddess seemed to love.

Angeal nodded at Genesis' assertion, then cleared his throat to catch Zack's attention. "All right. Let's head to the infirmary ward." Insight hit suddenly, and he looked to his best friend. "I don't suppose you could go ahead of us...? Explain the situation and get one of the nurses to come out?"

"Mm." Genesis nodded, gave Zack a once over, then hurried out and to the elevator.

Zack moved over to Angeal and let out a loud breath of air. "I'm sorry in advance," that said he flung his arms around the man's shoulders and squeezed as tightly as he could, his eyes stinging.

Angeal was solid. Alive.

He bit his lip and then released the man, taking a few steps back. "Like I said, sorry," he whispered.

Angeal blinked, startled by the sudden contact, the younger man holding onto him like... like he was someone special to him, that he'd missed terribly. Or... maybe he was just really happy he didn't have to face the doctors.

Shrugging it off as another 'something to be discussed later' he impulsively reached over and ruffled the wild black spikes, amazed by how soft they were. "Hey, it's all right. Now, let's go get this over with, all right?"

Zack stared up at him, eyes welling up then nodded, shuffling around him and into the hall. He touched his head and quickly dropped his hand when he realized what he was doing. ~You're not a damn girl, Fair. Get a hold of yourself.~ If he were honest with himself, he'd have to admit that internal voice always sounded remarkably like Kunsel.

Angeal found himself wondering at the strange expression Zack gave him for the simple act of affection, and quickly moved to follow him. "Zack, hold the elevator for me." In any case, he needed to make sure the boy didn't go alone. He'd made a promise.

He nodded and slipped a hand through the closing doors, expression soft and distant.

Angeal slipped in beside Zack, punching in the number for the Infirmary floor, hoping Genesis was doing as told, and offered Zack a reassuring smile. "It'll be all right, Zack."

The distinct sound of the elevator starting its descent echoed through the room and Tseng stepped out from his hiding place on the far side of the refrigerator. "Hmm..." Third Class Fair would need to be watched.


Genesis always hated elevators. They were slow as shit and broke down when you least expected them to. Happily, today was not one of those days. The doors slid open and he hopped out, scanning the hall for some one that could be on the medical staff.

His eyes landed on a shining helmet with a worried set to its lips. "Kunsel," he called, striding over to the younger man

"Commander!" Though the helmet hid his eyes, it was easy to hear the way he would have lit up in the nuances of the younger man's voice. "I don't suppose you've heard anything about SOLDIER Zack Fair...?"

"I have, actually. He crashed into me in the lounge. Angeal is bringing him down, I came to head off the doctor and find a non-idiotic nurse." He shrugged, seemingly uncaring but the twitch in his right hand said otherwise. "Your friend is quite interesting. Anything you can tell me about certain occurrences today?"

"Interesting?" Kunsel raised a brow beneath his visor. That was one word for him. Sidling closer to the Red Commander, he lowered his voice a touch. "You seem... familiar... with his... 'issue' with doctors?" It was a stretch - Zack had never said as much. As far as Kunsel knew, this was an overnight development... but a passionate one.

A sharp nod was his answer. "He seems to have extra Mako in his stream," he replied quietly. "There were no disturbances reported from the labs. We would have been called to deal with a rogue SOLDIER's before...this is a new fear I'm assuming?"

Kunsel nodded. "Practically overnight. He's never shown a sign of it before - heck, was always one to come in and visit the wounded. It's not logical at all." Not that Zack particularly was, but still... it worried him.

"I see. Has he always had the sword?"

Kunsel looked at his superior sharply, assessing, voice dropping to his "business" tone. "Sword?"

An auburn brow arched. "I'll take that as a no." He shifted slightly, glancing around. "He came at me with a sword, almost a replica of Angeal's Buster- double bladed, looked like two materia slots, glowing green. Fair had a Mako glow going on to rival a Second in battle. Rambling garbage about not going back and something about 'you can't take him'."

If there was one thing to be said about the temperamental commander, it was that he was very observant.

"'Not going back'?" Kunsel murmured softly, frowning. That... that wasn't painting a pretty picture. His memory - trained obsessively to almost perfect recall - remembered Zack snarling at the Director... "Don't touch me! ... Get that shit away from me, I'm not getting in it. I won't let you cut me open anymore, you sick bastard!" Where had Zack gone in his head? What did he think was happening?

"Did he say something similar before our meeting in the break room?"

The SOLDIER Third snapped out of his reverie, nodding curtly. "Something... that would imply he'd had some prior trauma... cut open. Put in... something. Some... containment." He grimaced in distaste, mind whirring. ~Zack, what's going on?~

Genesis frowned, ideas of Zack being another experiment flickering across his mind- the only answer that made much sense.

He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. Really, he'd just wanted a cup of coffee. "They should be down soon and I need to find a damn nurse." He looked over to Kunsel and in a rare show of affection, gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "We'll figure this out, for now just keep your eyes peeled- not that I have to tell you that. Come by tonight at the usual time. I'll be expecting some extra company." He gave the younger man a pointed look before walking off to find someone not in a lab coat or packing around a bunch or surgical equipment.

Kunsel waited by the elevators, a bit lost in thought, face set in a slight frown. Things weren't adding up; he'd known the wild-haired Gongagan since they were cadets in the academy, and he'd shown no signs of such a dark past before. In fact, other than running away from home and hitchhiking to Midgar, he'd seemed to have it pretty easy. Of course, there was the matter of that gap when he was traveling, presumably alone... something might have happened to him... he could conceivably have repressed it, and the traumatic shock he received the other night brought it back to mind. But... his gut told him no. And he listened to his instincts.

The elevator dinging brought him out of his musings and he turned, sighing softly in relief when he saw Zack, despite his friend's tension. "Zack!"

The dark haired third raised his hand in a wave. "Heya Kunsel. Uh...sorry about earlier," He gave a sheepish smile, stepping out into the hall and looking around. He bounced on the balls of his feet, directing his nervous energy into staying in the infirmary and not running again.

Kunsel waved dismissively, then snapped a quick salute to Angeal as he stepped out behind him. "Commander, Sir! Commander Rhapsodos is looking for a nurse and should be back shortly. I assume you sent him?"

Angeal nodded, looking over the helmed Third. "Yes... you're Kunsel, then?" At his nod, the commander smiled. "I'd like to speak with you later, if you have time."

"Sir, I've given a full report to Commander Rhapsodos." He assured him. Really, he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Zack before his meeting with Genesis that night.

A dark brow arched at that. Genesis had spoken to him? How had he known to...? Humming thoughtfully, he nodded. "All right, then. I'll speak with him."

Zack stood near the two men, eyes flicking around the hall. It wasn't that bad when he stopped to look at it. He'd spent a lot of time talking to patients and helping out when he could during his years before Nibelheim. He relaxed a bit as the memories came back.

Genesis appeared a moment later with a nurse in tow. He waved a hand at Zack, directing her to speak to him. He tensed a bit when the young man very carefully followed her into a cleared room. Not wanting to leave him alone, he followed them in.

The young woman went through the normal tests and nodded to them. "He should be fine. We'd like to take a blood test to make sure there was no drug use involved."

"No," Zack snapped, pulling his arms close.

She arched a brow at that but nodded, not wanting to wrestle with a SOLDIER anytime soon. "Fine. Please remove your shirt so I can check your breathing and your heartbeat and then you are free to go."

Zack shrugged out of the ShinRa issue white garb and tossed it at Kunsel.

Kunsel didn't make a show of looking at Zack when he was naked, but, as roommates... well, it was bound to happen. In the very least, he had seen the younger teen shirtless plenty of times in the privacy of their quarters.

He had never seen the tattoo on Zack's back before.

And he would have remembered it. It was a sword - Gaia, it looked...! He slanted his gaze at Commander Hewley's back just to be sure and nearly gasped at the resemblance. Zack had a tattoo of a double-bladed Buster Sword on his back, the handle's rounded end dipping into his pants, and the blade stretching up diagonally to his opposite shoulder blade. It was a monstrous piece of work that would have taken quite a while to complete. And here Zack was acting afraid of needles?

While Kunsel's mind whirred subtly, Angeal made an audibly startled sound at the image of Zack's sword emblazoned on his back. Whimsically, he wondered if that implied that the sword was somehow absorbed into him now? "Damn."

Genesis, for all his training, was blatantly staring at the younger man. He raised a hand to grab onto Angeal once more and made a questioning sound in the back of his throat.

This day was just too much.

Zack took in their different expressions and cocked his head to the side. "What are you guys lookin' at? I know I'm hot but damn...is there a bug on me or something?"

The nurse rolled her eyes and scribbled a note onto the chart. "You're free to go Mr. Fair, please refrain from being electrocuted again. You were lucky this time." That said she left them to their business, not for the first time thinking that SOLDIERs were a strange bunch.

Kunsel blinked, mind going into overdrive. Zack... didn't know? Ok, this was too weird. About to ask, he suddenly remembered where they were. ~Not safe, Kun. Get him home, where you've 'fixed' all the bugs.~ Sliding around the table, he shoved the shirt over his friend's head, muttering. "You've got a damn tattoo now. We're going to talk." Leaving him to struggle with the garment, he turned to the commanders, thinking. He trusted Genesis. The man was a friend, and sometimes mentor. And Genesis trusted Angeal, who was known for his honorable behavior in the first place. Deeming them acceptable companions, he addressed Genesis, trusting the older man to recognize his "business" tone. "It's been a rough day... I'm going to take Zack back to our room. But, you two are welcome to come with for some coffee if you want."

Genesis shrugged, shaking his mind clear for the moment. "You owe me a cup of coffee." He gave Angeal a pointed look. "Let's escort Third Class Fair back to his quarters. If he gets out of hand, no doubt we can contain him."

With a nervous chuckle Zack stood and moved to Kunsel's side. "Tattoo?"

Angeal blinked at the lithe Third, noting the small hint of steel in his seemingly casual tone. If he didn't know better, he'd think he was being shepherded.

Kunsel smiled, seeing the bewildered look in the commander's eyes. Yes, it was working... good. Gently placing a hand on Zack's shoulder, he steered him toward the elevators, murmuring in his ear. "Damn huge. We'll talk at home, all right? Just play it cool."

Zack nodded, all too familiar with the way Kunsel got things done. Some days he wondered who really ran ShinRa.


The trip to the wing housing the third class apartments was uneventful, as it was a weekend and most of the SOLDIERs who weren't on missions were out partying. Zack and Kunsel's third roommate, Luxiere, was currently on a mission and would be out, which pleased Kunsel immensely. He liked Lux, but the teen was ShinRa-bought through and through - he had no doubt he'd been placed with the two of them in response to Kunsel's repeated 'fixing' of the standard bugs that were placed in the lower class apartments.

Sliding his card, he let the others into the small apartment's main living space, locking the door by reflex and then heading to the kitchen to make Genesis a cup of coffee. "Zack? Commander Hewley? Want anything?"

Normally, Angeal would have declined, but after this rough of a morning he could use a drink. Of course, the teen probably - hopefully - didn't have alcohol... so he'd settle for coffee. "Coffee, black."

Zack shook his head and flopped down on the old couch with a sigh. There was no reason to rush his friend. Kunsel would get to the point when he wanted to. "No thanks."

Genesis sat down in the arm of the couch, looking around the room.

He'd known Kunsel for quite some time but he'd never seen where the young man lived. Somehow, he'd expected something more...mysterious. Not the homey, mismatched room they were sitting in. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He was temperamental at best- without a crazed third class showing up with a sword that was fucking glowing green and threatening to cut his head off.

"Definitely one of those days," he muttered under his breath.

Kunsel kept an eye on the others with the discretion provided by his helmet, getting out a few special ingredients to add to the Red Commander's coffee. He could tell by the set of his shoulders that the older man was close to losing his usually flash fire temper and wanted to placate him as soon as possible. Pouring the hot, sable liquid into a large mug for Angeal, he set about making Genesis' drink - cocoa, cinnamon, and cream whisked together and poured with the coffee to make a heavenly blend that he had gotten the temperamental First all but addicted to. Setting the mugs onto a tray, he added two water bottles - Zack would need something to fiddle with, he was sure - and returned to the living room.

Distributing the coffee and water bottle, he leaned against the bar where he could see the three of them clearly. Taking a swallow of his own, he remarked evenly. "Commanders. You may have noticed a distinct lack of background noise in our quarters... I like my privacy. If you plan on talking about what you hear today outside these walls, I kindly suggest you leave. For both our sakes. Because, I will find out. And I won't be happy."

Angeal stared a bit incredulously at the presumptuous third. "SOLDIER, are you... threatening us?"

Kunsel snorted. "Don't be silly, Commander. Threats are for bullies." His normally pleasant tenor dropped deeper, a bit ominous in its deadly sincerity. "However, I do make promises."

Genesis snorted and grinned up at Kunsel. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

Zack's eyes flicked between the group. Since when did Kunsel get so...so...forceful?

Angeal blinked widely at Genesis, shocked that he was... okay... with this show of blatant insubordination. Beyond that, approved! Where was his legendary temper? "Genesis?"

"Yes, 'Geal?" He asked, hiding his smile behind the cup. Damn, the kid sure knew how to make coffee...

Angeal wasn't fooled, and crossed his arms over his broad chest, glaring at him with the same stern look that was known to make the lower classes shuffle in shame.

Kunsel, not one to see his mentor figure chastised, spoke up. "Sir..." Blue eyes flicked to him. Good, he had his attention off Genesis. Best make himself look a bit more humble. Hewley was like a dormant volcano... majestic, silent and steady. But, he had a feeling that if something ever provoked him, the fallout would be immense. "If Commander Genesis was in Zack's position... don't you think you'd be a little protective?"

What Kunsel didn't know, was he knew all too well where he was coming from - had gone through it with Sephiroth, if what he suspected about young Fair was true. But, the appeal did its job, visibly softening him. "Your intentions are noble, even if the way you go about achieving your ends is less-than."

Genesis and Zack both stifled their laughter at Angeal's words.

He rolled his eyes goodnaturedly, settling down once more. "So... you managed to do what to ensure your privacy?"

The third shrugged casually, taking a swig of his water. "Jammed the bugs. Occasionally play-back polka or bad-porn audio back to whoever is on duty listening."

Angeal stared. Then, he listened. Normally, by the time you were a First, your senses were so enhanced you would detect the annoying buzzing of the bugs placed in the lower quarters. Clearly enough that all the Firsts were able to find and remove their own. But how had Kunsel...?

"My secret." He hadn't realized he'd spoken aloud, but Kunsel was smirking. "One of many. And maybe, someday... we'll swap a few. For now, though... are you in?"

"We're in," Gen nodded to Kunsel and shrugged.

"What the hell are we doing sitting on the damn couch?" Zack scowled, losing his patience finally. "Can we get on with this? I know you probably have some questions or something so...let's go. I'm getting bouncy again." He pushed a hand down on his knee trying to stop the motion.

The redhead nodded, content to sit and ask questions when one came up. The coffee had done wonders and he was feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time. He made a mental note to stop by every morning to get a cup.

Kunsel nodded, looking at Zack; it was, actually, part of the plan to drag this out. An impatient Zack was more likely to be snappish and say things he wasn't meaning to say. Also, he could tell that Genesis had finally wound down. ~Perfect.~ "First, the tattoo. I saw you just the other day when they were putting those wires on you. You didn't have it. And it's not a little mark either. It's a big ass, from hipbone to shoulder blade, stretch across your back, mark. So tell me, Zack, any ideas?" He had a few of his own... but he'd save them for after Zack gave his.

"When you fell asleep I snuck out and ran my ass to the slums. Some old Wutain dude was waving a tattoo gun around and, of course, I was like 'Fuck yeah!' and ripped off my shirt and told him to go to town," Zack replied, huge grin firmly in place.

Genesis clapped a hand over his mouth, trapping any wayward giggles before they could get out.

Kunsel feigned disbelief. "You snuck past me?"

"Yeah, man. You sleep like a fuckin' behemoth."

Kunsel smirked. ~Hook, line, and sinker.~ "You're lying, Fair."

Zack blinked up at him, eyes getting big and watery. "No, really?"

The older third considered tossing his bottle at him, but just continued smirking a moment, nodding. "They wouldn't let me stay overnight. So I hacked the surveillance and watched you." He ignored Angeal's incredulous stare. The man would have to get used to it. "Want to try again?"

Zack bit his lip, trying valiantly- but failing- to not laugh. He finally gave up and doubled over, tears leaking out of his eyes. "Fuck, man. I always knew you were crazy." I missed it, was left out.

"You hacked the cameras?" The red commander arched an eyebrow at his young friend. "Impressive, you'll have to show me how after this pile of shit is straightened out."

Kunsel tipped his head towards the commander, smirking. He would likely indulge him. Of course, it would be at the cost of some more materia lessons... but Genesis never seemed to mind, as he was a quick study. Walking forward, he nudged Zack's boot with his. "Zack. Focus. Why do you have a big-ass replica of Commander Hewley's blade tattooed to your back?"

Zack leaned back into the couch and shrugged. "Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess." ~Oh how true that was,~ he thought with a wry grin.

The drink that Genesis had just taken made a sudden reappearance as he spat it out. Coughing he turned to Zack, eyes wide.

Kunsel blinked at Zack slowly. Something - his intuition - was tingling down his spine in a way that the poetry had never before evoked, even from the dramatic commander. There was some meaning here... something significant, as if Zack were speaking in code, and someone had neglected to give him the key. Best start small... edge around this matter carefully. "You know Loveless?"

"Better than you could imagine," He muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "It's a good poem," he said louder. Zack was frantically searching his mind, hoping beyond hope he hadn't bad mouthed the Commander and his need to spout poetic drivel during his years with Kunsel.

Genesis continued to gape, giving Angeal and incredulous look. This was not the type of boy he'd peg for liking poetry- especially Loveless.

Kunsel couldn't help himself. It was something he blamed on being around Zack - sometimes his tongue, so carefully guarded, slipped and he said something he knew better than to say. "So, what's the 'gift of the Goddess'?" Shit.

"To quote someone I knew uh...a long time ago, 'To contemplate the mystery is, in itself, a gift'." Outside he was smiling, but internally Zack was repeatedly bashing his head into a wall. Kunsel was a blood hound when it came to lies and getting answers. Stalling would only work for so long.

"To quote someone!" Genesis jumped up, temper flaring. "What the fuck is going on he-"

"Genesis, sit. Zack, none of those are answers," growled Angeal, pinching the bridge of his nose and internally groaning in confusion. That sounded like something Genesis would say. In fact, he was pretty sure Genesis had said it. More than once. But, he couldn't be quoting Genesis... the fiery first made it clear they didn't know each other.

Genesis crossed his arms and scowled but opted for silence in the current situation.

"To be honest, I don't know. Someone told me the sword was special, they didn't mention I'd get a tat the size of my back though."

Angeal frowned, and Kunsel spoke up, stunned. "You mean to tell me that is a picture of the blade Ge- the commander said you had?"

"Well I guess. I can't exactly see my back," He said, tugging his shirt off and craning his neck around to try and get a glimpse of it.

Kunsel whipped out his PHS and snapped a picture of it, saving it into his hidden files before showing it to Zack. "Well?"

He studied the picture and nodded. "Yep."

While Zack was distracted, Genesis held up a hand and pointed at his PHS, mouthing the words, 'Send to me'. He knew the General was probably waiting for an update on the situation, pictures would make convincing him much easier.

Kunsel inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement that he would, well aware of why he wanted it. While Zack put his shirt back on, he quickly sent the photo to Genesis and then closed the phone. A sudden thought occurred to him. "Zack... where is the sword?"

Zack glanced at Angeal, unconsciously rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, about that..." He trailed off.

Genesis instead pointed at his back. "Right there," he stated flatly.

He was quick to make the implied connection. "I see. Can you get it out again?"

With a sigh, he stood and stepped out, he reached up, like he would be grabbing it off his back and felt the comforting weight appear in his hand. There was no glow, just a normal blade. He swung it once experimentally, careful not to come too close to anything. "Yep."

Angeal frowned deeply, his voice soft but commanding. "Zack, where did the sword come from? The Buster Sword was custom made - before I was born. And the smith who made it is dead."

Zack studied the blade, resting his forehead gently against the cool metal. "It was a gift to help me."

Angeal's eyes widened at the familiarity of the gesture... then narrowed. "That's why you have the sword. I want to know where it came from."

He set the sword down, leaning it against the wall and took his seat on the couch.

Raising his hands to rub his face he shook his head slowly. "I can't tell you. I doubt you'd believe it anyway."

Genesis shifted to stand near Angeal. "Any why not?"

"You just wouldn't believe it, okay?" Zack snapped, getting irritated. He understood Kunsel wanting to help but some of these things were just so...incredible- and being put in a psych ward wasn't conducive to stopping the apocalyptic future.

Angeal blinked as it suddenly clicked. Zack was afraid. Afraid that they wouldn't take him seriously, or would tell the wrong person... maybe that they'd think he was crazy and turn him over to the doctors for 'help'... he'd all ready proven to be terrified of them.

Softening considerably, Angeal knelt before where the troubled third sat, looking up into worried blue eyes, past the flash of irritation to the insecurity and uncertainty. He needed to reassure him that they were on his side. "Zack. Listen to me... we're not going to report anything. You've displayed some... behavior... that has us worried - about you. We just want to help. Please, give us a chance."

"Angeal," he whined, rubbing his face a couple times then dropping his hands. He was tired, more so than he would like to be. "I'll answer the questions," he said finally. "Some of my answers might be vague, or 'unsatisfactory' but you'll just have to accept that for now."

He looked at the other three men. "I'm not repeating myself so if you plan on telling Seph you should just invite him over." Shit, he mentally slapped himself at the use of the nickname he was so fond of. Shit, shit, shit.

Genesis' eyes flicked to Angeal, arching an eyebrow upon hearing the nickname.

Angeal raised a brow as well. Since when did any of the thirds have the balls to call Sephiroth 'Seph'?

Kunsel was also surprised. As far as he'd known, Zack wasn't on first name basis with the General yet... still. "He has a point. He'll want to hear this."

"He will," Genesis excused himself to the other room, pulling out his PHS to call the man in question.

Kunsel leaned against the bar once more, thinking once more. They would have to come up with a feasible lie to tell Luxiere... but, that would come later. For now, he needed to focus on making sense out of whatever they could drag out of Zack.