AN: Thank you for all the reviews, I hope you like it. Another relatively short chapter, but it means I can update more quickly! Next chapter will be longer as the boys go to Banora.
Warnings: absolutely none – aside from teeth melting sugary sweetness

Angeal, aka Experiment A, walked into the room, rubbing at the fresh injection site on his arm. It stung, and if it wasn't for the fact that he wanted to be brave, he would have been sniffling at the pain. As it was, he fought to keep his head held high. He smiled at the other boy sitting in the cell, which was the only home that either of them knew. It was almost a year since it had been decided that they should be able to interact, with Hojo hoping that A's extra strength would lead to G becoming stronger, letting the boys do some of their training via playfights.

Genesis looked up from where he had been struggling through the opening few lines of a book which Angeal had managed to get from a scientist a few weeks ago. It was "A child's illustrated guide to loveless", and Genesis had been utterly besotted with it. Angeal wasn't interested in reading really, but having broken all the top scores in his training, and offered a present, he had still asked for a book, knowing how much his friend loved them.
"Are you alright?" Genesis asked, walking over, lifting Angeal's hand to reveal the bruise of the injection. He frowned, nuzzling against it. "Kiss it better..." He looked around, then disappeared into the bathroom, returning a few moments later with a roll of toilet paper. "Stay still!" He tried to bandage the injection.

Angeal smiled happily, letting Genesis patch him up again. He hid a slight flinch when Genesis put pressure on it. When some toilet paper had been untidily wrapped around his arm, he cuddled the other boy.
"Is it better?" Genesis asked hopefully. Injections were horrible, and he wanted to make Angeal feel better again. Angeal nodded, smiling.
"Yep!" Genesis grinned, cuddling back contently. He liked being able to help his friend. He liked fighting too, but Angeal was a lot stronger than him. He frowned, thinking of why Angeal was stronger than him. The other kept going for injections, and taking medicine that was meant for him. Injections and medicine and mako tubes scared Genesis, but Angeal was a brave hero and volunteered for them, lying about who he was if it was Genesis's turn.

Making Angeal feel better though, that was something that Genesis could do. It was something that he liked doing. He didn't notice when the toilet paper fell off Angeal's arm, just cuddling up against him contently. They had been given food, weren't being trained too hard, there were no mako tubes, and they were together. As far as Genesis could see, life was pretty perfect right now.

A few seconds later, Genesis's happiness was destroyed. A man walked in, a stranger, someone they didn't know and who didn't know them. He had a serious face, a scary one, and was dressed in a lab coat. Genesis started to shake, rocking backwards and forwards slightly where he was sat, whimpering to himself.

The scientist gazed at the two boys dispassionately. Here were the two experiments who were not doing quite as well as was hoped, though they were still doing very well. He paused, gazing at them both.

"Specimen G... you need to have an injection. Come with me."
Genesis whimpered audibly, tensing in Angeal's grasp. Angeal squeezed his arm, then stood up and stepped forwards, going with the scientist.