Cloud woke up the next morning to find himself alone in Genesis' bed. He vaguely remembered snuggling into Genesis' touch the night before, and wondered if Genesis had awoken to find his arm around the blond. Cloud sighed and eased himself up from the pillow. He slowly lowered his feet to the floor and shivered at the coldness. When he tried to stand up, a wave of vertigo hit him and he fell back down to the bed. A sharp pain stabbed him in the shoulders, flowing all the way across his back. He cried out rather loudly and sat up, his shoulders hunched and tense from the pain. Flashes of light invaded his vision and he further hunched over. A jolt of even worse pain spread throughout his body and he fell to the floor onto his knees. He felt something dripping down his shoulder. Very carefully, he reached an arm back and touched it. When he pulled his hand back, there was blood smeared on his fingers. He cried out and yelled Genesis' name.

Within mere seconds, Genesis came rushing up the stairs and into the bedroom. Finding Cloud bleeding and on the floor, he slightly began to panic. "What's happened here?" he said loudly, his voice shaky. He exited the room and came back with a clean, wet washcloth from the bathroom. He knelt down and held it to Cloud's shoulder blade, applying pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. While he was doing so, he felt a familiar knot under Cloud's skin. He lifted up the cloth and peered closely at it. Glancing over at his other shoulder, he saw the same thing. "Shit," he muttered. "Cloud, I'm going to ask you to do something for me. Will you fight me?"

"What? Why would I fight you? I'm not going to fight you!" Cloud said, turning around quickly and wincing at another sharp pain that spread through his body. He choked out a cry. Genesis placed a hand calmly on his shoulder.

"I need you to get angry, Cloud. If you won't fight me, then think of something that makes you angry as hell. Think about Hollander. Anything," Genesis told him, standing up and backing away. Cloud bristled at the sound of Hollander's name, then remembered what the man had done to him. Anger burned inside of him and pooled in his belly. Genesis watched his face closely, then nodded.

"That's right. Pull that anger up, Cloud. Pull it up inside of your heart. Really feel it, and then let it burst. Tell me what you hated about him the most."

"I… He touched me!" Cloud screamed. He stood up and clenched his fists. "The sick bastard fucking touched me!"

Genesis took another step back as Cloud crossed the room and slammed his fist into the wall nearby. He pulled his fist back and shook his hand. He screamed as pain shot through his shoulders and he fell to the floor once more. Genesis watched and listened as the unfamiliar sound of skin being broken apart fell upon his ears, knowing what was happening. A pair of pure, snow-white wings burst forth from Cloud's shoulder blades and cut through the air like a graceful knife. Genesis' mouth dropped open. He had never seen wings this white before, so white that they almost blinded him. He felt his heart racing in his chest, and he held one hand over his heart, swallowing harshly.

"They are fucking beautiful, Cloud."

Just like you, he thought.

Cloud stood back up and looked in the mirror across the room. Still shirtless from the night before, and standing with blood dripping down his back, he hardly recognized himself. He crossed the room slowly and stepped up to the full-length mirror. He touched one of his wings in the reflection, his mouth gaping open. First the black streak in his hair, and now wings.

"Genesis… Why do I have two, and why are they white?" he asked. "Yours is black, and you only have one."

Because you are an angel.

"I don't know, Cloud. Perhaps there is just something in your genetics that allowed you to have more than one."

"…Can I fly?"

Genesis chuckled. "You'll have to learn, but I'm pretty sure you can," he replied. Cloud slowly turned to him and gave him a slight smile.

"This is weird," Cloud said, finally working up enough courage to lift a hand to one of his wings and stroke the feathers on it. He was surprised that he could actually feel the sensation of his touching it. He dropped his hand, then grinned at Genesis. "Will you teach me?"

"Absolutely. You want some breakfast first?"

"Gods, yes. I'm starved," Cloud replied, his stomach gurgling loudly. They walked downstairs together and went into the kitchen, where Cloud was met with a table set for two. Heaps of bacon and waffles were in the middle of the table.

"The waffles are homemade. Something Angeal's mother taught me to make when we were young," Genesis said, sitting down. He motioned to the other chair, and Cloud joined him quickly. They filled their plates with the feast and Cloud all but stuffed the bacon into his mouth, two thick slices at one time. With the other hand, he busied himself with smothering his waffles with syrup. He cut through one of the waffles with his fork and shoved it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and sighed contentedly. If Genesis cooked like this all of the time, he would stay here forever.

"You're a good cook," Cloud said. "Thank you for making this for us."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you like it," Genesis said.

They ate in silence for the rest of the breakfast, then cleaned up together. Standing side by side at the sink, Cloud couldn't help but notice how graceful Genesis' hands were as he washed the dishes, handing them over to Cloud to rinse. He studied the curves of his fingers, the shape of his nails and the outline of strong veins flowing underneath his skin. Pale white was the color of his skin and his palms were embedded with lines that he tried to memorize. His hand had felt so good on his skin last night. To feel that touch again would be a dream come true… but he would wait. He didn't even know if Genesis felt the same way as Cloud was beginning to feel about him, so he wouldn't say a single word. If anything happened between them, it would happen naturally, as it had happened the night before.

Unknown to Cloud, Genesis was thinking along the same lines. He secretly inhaled Cloud's scent as they stood next to each other, completely entranced in the feeling of being so close to him. He had woken up earlier that morning to find himself holding the blond, his hand resting on his chest and his arm wrapped tightly around him. He had quickly moved away, afraid that Cloud would wake up and catch him. He hoped like hell that Cloud hadn't caught on, and he would go on pretending that it never happened unless Cloud ever mentioned it.

When they finished putting the dishes away, Genesis put his hands on his hips. "You ready?" he asked Cloud, who grinned at him and nodded his head vigorously. "Good," he said, then walked to the stairway. "We'll go to the roof." Cloud's face went dark, then he blanched.

"I'm a little afraid of heights," he replied. Genesis laughed.

"You're afraid of heights but you want to learn to fly? That's fucked up, if you don't mind me saying so," Genesis said. They smiled at each other and Genesis felt his heart jump a little at the sight of Cloud's lips curving up so sensually. He quickly looked away and began to climb the stairs. When he reached the top, he pulled on a cord that opened a panel in the ceiling. Pulling down a folded ladder, he climbed up halfway then held his hand out to Cloud. "Come on. It'll be alright, Cloud," he said gently. Cloud nodded and took his hand, shivering slightly at the feeling of Genesis' large hand folded over his. Up they went, Cloud's nerves on edge the entire time. When Genesis pulled him into the dark attic, Cloud stood and looked around. Here, he could barely make out an old dusty piano covered slightly with a white sheet and several boxes of unknown items.

"Do you play?" he asked Genesis, motioning toward the piano.

Genesis shrugged. "Sometimes."

"I'd like to hear you play sometime."

Genesis blushed slightly and turned away so that Cloud couldn't see him doing so. "Okay, maybe later tonight. First, though, we have to get you flying," he said. Opening a single window across the room, he easily slipped out of it and pulled himself onto the roof. He reached down and said, "Take my hands and I'll pull you up with me." Cloud did so hesitatingly, and he closed his eyes as he felt himself being pulled and lifted through the window and onto the roof. As he was pulled up, he tripped over his own feet and fell forward onto Genesis, who caught him easily. His hands now gripping Genesis around his torso, Cloud looked up at him with crystal blue eyes that tore at the strings on Genesis' heart. "You're alright, Cloud," he said, then kindly pushed him away, hoping he wouldn't hurt the blond's feelings in doing so.

Cloud pretended to pay no mind and tried to hide his embarrassment as he drew in a deep breath and tried to calmly look around at his surroundings. They were so high up from the ground. He hadn't realized that the house was this tall. He felt his stomach turn and he swallowed quickly, praying for the nausea to go away. Genesis closed his eyes and lowered his head in concentration. Cloud watched as Genesis' single black wing burst free from his shoulder and gasped in awe at the way the sun hit his raven feathers. It was quite beautiful, to say the least.

"Now. I want you to concentrate on giving your wings strength. Take those emotions that you felt earlier and pool them into your soul again. As time goes on and you get more and more used to your wings, you'll find that you won't need to make yourself emotional for your wings to come out, and you'll find that flying is actually quite simple and a mindless thing to do. It just takes some practice. I should know… I've been like this for a very long time," Genesis told him. Cloud nodded and closed his eyes, making himself think back to his experience with Hollander, for it was the only thing that could make him emotional now. Nothing, not even failing at becoming a SOLIDER, could compare to the humiliation and anger he had felt at the hands of Hollander.

His wings seemed to come alive as he pulled every ounce of emotion into the pit of his stomach. Gasping, he opened his eyes as he both felt and heard the quick, strong flap of one of his wings. "Ha!" he shouted with glee, his eyes lighting up like a child on his birthday. "Genesis!" He rolled one shoulder and squeezed his eyes shut, making the other wing begin to flap. He suddenly felt his feet leaving the roof, slowly but surely. He didn't dare open his eyes, but he could feel himself lifting gently. "G-Genesis…" he whispered, his voice shaky and unsure. He felt a quick movement of the air around him, then a strong arm around his waist.

"I'm here, Cloud. I'm not going to let you fall. When you're ready, open your eyes," Genesis whispered back to him, his breath hot near Cloud's ear. Cloud shivered and tried to keep concentrating. He could feel them lifting higher and higher. Slowly, he opened one eye, catching a glimpse of the roof fairly far below them. He gasped and began to shake, his nerves getting the better of him. "Concentrate, Cloud. I've got you. I'm not going to let you fall," Genesis repeated.

"I can't!" Cloud gasped. "Please, put me down!"

Genesis chuckled softly near his ear. "You're the one who got us up here. You get us down," he said, smirking.

"Genesis!"

"Did you know that you're doing this all by yourself? I haven't had to use my wing once."

"…Huh?" Cloud stopped shaking for a moment, the idea making him feel rather proud. For once in his life, he felt like he had actually done something right.

"That's right. Your wings have carried us straight up into the air. You're the one carrying me. See?" Genesis said, then flapped his wing, which made them go a little higher. Cringing, Cloud flapped his own wings, trying to figure out how to make them go lower. Genesis chuckled at him again. "Spread your wings all of the way out, then slowly push those bad emotions out of yourself. Trust me," he said.

"A-Alright," Cloud replied. He closed his eyes and made himself push his poisonous thoughts from the bottom of his stomach to the top of his skull. He was shocked when he found out that Genesis was telling him the truth. It had worked. Now, their feet touched the roof again, and Genesis let his waist go. Cloud felt a little sad that the sensation was gone, but shrugged it off as Genesis threw him a light, friendly punch to his arm and grinned.

"Not bad for your first time," he said.

Cloud sighed heavily and laughed. "Maybe next time I'll try having a hard drink of alcohol before I do this. The only thing that was hard was my fear of heights," he said.

Genesis shrugged. "Care to have one right now?" he asked.

"Sure."

They climbed back inside to the attic through the open window and made their way back downstairs. In the kitchen, Genesis reached into one of his cabinets and pulled out an old bottle of whiskey. He plunked it down on the table and grabbed two glasses from another cabinet. He gave one to Cloud, then opened the bottle and poured both of their drinks. He capped off the bottle and lifted the glass to his lips, inhaling the scent of the liquor and finally giving it a long sip. He winced at the burning sensation as the alcohol slid easily down his throat and warmed him. Cloud took a sip as well, then sat his glass down. He turned it around and around with one hand, then finally looked up at Genesis.

"Hey, um… How do I pull my wings back in?" he asked, feeling slightly dumb at asking the question. Genesis smiled at him, though, and balled up his fist at the side of his body. Quickly, his wing swooped in and disappeared beneath his skin. Not missing a beat, Genesis took another sip of his drink and smiled up at him.

"That's easy. Just feel yourself mentally pulling your wings back in. It might hurt the first time, but after that, you'll get used to it. There probably won't be any bleeding the next time they come out, either. Your skin and muscles will get used to it rather quickly. You just have to practice," Genesis told him.

Cloud closed his eyes and tried to will his wings back into his body, but nothing was happening. He opened one eye and saw Genesis grinning at him. He watched as Genesis got up and walked over to him, his shirtless torso flat and muscular. Cloud shifted in his chair and tried to ignore the heat pooling in his groin. He felt Genesis place his hands on his shoulder blades, then felt slight pressure as he began to lightly massage the area around his wings. "Concentrate, Cloud. Feel what I'm doing? Push your energy up to your shoulders and imagine your wings going in. You can do it… I believe in you," he said.

He believes in me… When has anyone ever believed in me my whole life? Genesis… Where have you been all of my life?

Cloud suddenly felt his wings quickly returning into his body, and he let out a deep breath, then laughed nervously. Genesis was still massaging him. Shouldn't he have stopped by now? Cloud felt himself leaning into his touch, trying not to let on that he was doing so. He felt Genesis stop suddenly.

"Cloud… May I?"

"What is it?" Cloud asked, his voice coming out almost in a whisper.

"Your blood. May I use this opportunity to… to…" he trailed off, not knowing exactly what to say. He was almost afraid that Cloud had come to his senses today and would refuse him. Would he have to take his blood, his life source, by force? He hoped not, but he didn't have to wonder for long, as he saw the back of Cloud's head begin to nod.

"Yes," he whispered. Gods, yes, he had wanted to say. He felt himself tense up then relax as he felt Genesis' lips lower to his left shoulder. His eyes closed automatically as he felt that sensuous, wet mouth covering the wound that had been created by his wing. He felt as if he were floating in the middle of an ocean on a bliss-laden boat, and carved into the weathered wood was the name of Genesis Rhapsodos, the sweetest name he had ever known. He drifted even further into his haze when Genesis wrapped an arm around his chest.

Genesis let his hot lips drag from one wound to the other, cleaning Cloud's wounds carefully with his tongue and mouth. Let me take care of you, my white-winged angel… He sighed softly as he recovered from inhaling the scent of Cloud's skin. He had to stop, right now. He was too intoxicated with Cloud, and made even more so by the taste of his flesh and blood. He made himself pull his mouth away, but kept his arm around Cloud and rested his chin on the blond's shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered. He reached up with his free hand and gently touched Cloud's cheek with the back of it. "I'm never going to hurt you. You know that, right?"

Cloud nodded, unable to speak. Genesis drew in a ragged breath and continued. "We're a part of each other now," he said. "Maybe it's the little bit of alcohol talking, but I think that we can feel what each other is feeling. Can you tell me what I'm feeling right now?"

Cloud hesitated, but understood instantly what Genesis was talking about. He had felt the connection as well, but not as clear as it was now. "...You are feeling that holding me is nice. You like it but you're afraid to let your true emotions show because you've been outcast before," he said softly, almost afraid that his observation was wrong. He felt Genesis tense up around him, then felt him relax.

"That's a part of it, yes," he replied. He took a deep breath then gently brushed a strand of Cloud's hair from his cheek. "And you are thinking that you enjoy being held by me, but you're afraid that I'll reject you if you voice your feelings."

Cloud shivered and nodded.

"Don't be afraid. Please, Cloud. Don't be afraid of me."

Cloud slowly turned his face to look at Genesis, who was gazing at him with the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. "I'm not afraid," he whispered, then felt himself pulling toward Genesis' face, brushing his cheek against the softest skin he had ever felt. Genesis moved his head slightly, and all at once their lips brushed against each other. "I'm not afraid," Cloud whispered again, then fully pressed his lips against Genesis'. Genesis sighed softly and allowed himself to melt into the sweetness of the moment. Cloud was now fully turned toward him in the chair, his arms wrapped around Genesis' neck. Genesis let his arms fully enclose Cloud, holding him gently as their lips parted and their tongues met. Cloud could taste his own blood on Genesis' lips and in his mouth, but this fact did not bother him.

It was all he could do to keep from crying out when he suddenly felt his wings burst free. Startling both of them, they broke away from each other, their mouths wide open in shock. They began to laugh, and it was then that Cloud fully understood how easy it really was going to be to fly: Genesis had already made him soar higher than his own wings would ever take him.