A Mentor

Zack lay in his own bed fast asleep. Angeal was on the phone to Genesis as he came around. He blinked up at the creamy yellow ceiling and listened for a while. Listening always gave him an advantage, weather it was for blackmail or gossip, or to know what was going on. It was one thing he hadn't dismissed in his cadet classes. Angeal spoke quietly, so as not to wake the sleeping teenager up.

"No, it was the Mako." He hissed.

"Are you sure?" Genesis asked unsurely down the phone. He'd never trusted Hojo, not with those creatures living in the confines of his labs.

"Yes, Hojo said it's just because he's so young, his body couldn't take the amount of Mako. It needed to be reduced." Angeal explained expertly.

"Oh…" Genesis replied, a little down that he couldn't dish up dirt on the ShinRa scientist. "How long will it take before Zack's back?"

"He should be waking up soon. It's been five hours now." Angeal said glancing over at the teen.
Five hours? Hojo you bastard! Zack thought to himself. A whole day's training wasted. Dickhead.
Genesis spoke again, angered.

"How fucking hard is it to measure out Mako? There are numbers on syringes aren't there?"

"Yes, but Hojo only asked me Zack's age after he injected him." Eww… Injected. That word disturbed Zack. He heard Genesis shriek into the phone.

"DON'T DEFEND THAT SKINNY SHIT, ANGEAL! YOU'VE SEEN WHAT HE'S DONE!"

"Genesis, take a few deep breaths, okay?" Genesis huffed into the phone before yelling again.

"I can't help it Angeal! Zack's just a KID! Next thing he's going to want his fucking BLOOD!" Zack sat up, unable to listen anymore. Angeal shut his phone and looked at the boy, his head was tilted in a questioning fashion and his eyes were now shimmering with Mako energy, but he looked slightly scared.

"Zack, how are you?" Angeal asked moving closer. Zack folded his arms and relaxed, while Angeal was here Hojo wasn't getting anywhere near his blood

"I-I'm okay. What happened?" He murmured. Apparently his very alert brain had not made contact with his sleepy vocal chords.

"Professor Hojo gave you too much Mako. You passed out, but it's out of your system now, or rather it's balanced itself out." Angeal explained. Zack didn't look too relieved.

"So why was Genesis freaking out?" He asked, one eyebrow cruising up his forehead. Angeal hesitated before answering.

"Genesis doesn't trust any of the ShinRa scientists." He replied vaguely. Zack gave an unsatisfied glare before getting out of his bed and walking to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and saw that his eyes had changed from a light blue to a darker blue with a sort of energetic green glow in the centre of his irises. He smiled, that was so gonna bag him some attention from the ladies. Not that he needed it. He turned on the tap and wet his hands then put some water on his face to wake him up at little more. He didn't know what it was but suddenly he could hear every movement that was surrounding him. it made him feel quite irritated and exhausted. He trudged back into his room and fell back onto his bed. Angeal looked at him a little surprised.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

"Mmmm. I can see everything." The teenager whined closing his eyes, trying to shut out how sharp everything had become, now he understood why the SOLDIER rooms were so much more comfortable than the cadet dorms. Angeal blinked and tried to think back to his SOLDIER third days. He remembered having no problem adjusting to the Mako… then again he hadn't been as young as Zack. Instead of telling the boy that he understood, he simply told him to sleep it off and left the room.

Zack let his head fall back into his pillow and glared at the ceiling. He could make out every lump of paint, it was giving him a slight headache, but he couldn't just lie there, he was so full of energy. He needed to do something.

Rolling out of his bed he strolled out of his room. He took the elevator down to the cadet floor where he strolled into the common room and looked around for Kunsel.

There he was sitting there with his cup of machined coffee and reading some thick book.
"Whatcha doin?" Zack asked, sliding into the seat next to him.

"I was reading," Kunsel replied, putting the book down. "But you're here now, so I suppose there won't be anymore time for that. How are you? Genesis said you were brutally attacked by Hojo." Zack grinned. Well Genesis would say that, wouldn't he? Kunsel looked at him properly. "Oh wow, Mako eyes?" Zack nodded.

"They make everything stand out. It's kinda headachey…" Zack said rubbing his temples for a second.

"What happened though?" Kunsel asked, slightly concerned.

"Uhh… let's see. Genesis had a little tantrum with his fireballs. Then Angeal gave me a potion… Um… Then we went down to the labs. And there was this really moody guy there and he stabbed me in the neck with a needle and… and then I blacked out. And then I woke up. And Angeal was on the phone and Genesis was yelling at him and Angeal was like 'Woah man, take a chill pill' and Genesis is all like 'No way mo'fucker, I wanna get that sicko fired!' And I was like 'dude!' and then Angeal told me to sleep it off, but I couldn't get back to sleep so I came to find you." Kunsel blinked at him. Zack nodded. There was an awkward silence before the cadet raised his eyebrows.

"Why's Genesis want Hojo fired?"

"Duh, he's an ugly little fuck who can't do his job properly!" Zack laughed, though he could feel his skin heat up. Kunsel walked to the coffee machine and re-filled his cup. Zack decided he was feeling a little parched himself.

"Can you-"

"No."

"Aw, but-" Zack's face fell.

"No."

"Why?" Zack demanded.

"You're already jittery."

"Yeah, but-"

"No, Zack." Kunsel told the SOLDIER firmly.

"You suck, Kunsel."

"Love you too!" Kunsel smiled pleasantly before sitting down again and opening his book.

"What's the time?" Zack asked after a few moments. The cadet checked his watch.

"It's almost one; don't you have training to get to?" He asked a little impatiently. Zack backed away, feeling a little hurt.

"Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." He muttered before folding his arms in a dignified fashion and marching out of the room. Kunsel shook his head slightly, waiting for Zack to return. About thirty seconds later he heard Zack padding back into the room and addressing Kunsel.

"Where's Angeal?" The black haired teen asked his friend. Kunsel knew everything. Oh yes he did.

"I'm guessing taking a training sesh or he's in his office."

"Thanks." Zack smiled tapping his friend's helmet. How the hell could he read that book with that visor on? That wasn't good for your eyes…

Zack found himself bounding along the corridor to where Angeal's office was, and sure enough, there he was. And so was Genesis. On the phone… yelling.
It wasn't that hard ass drill sergeant yelling either. It was very pissy what the fuck is wrong with you yelling that made the teenager back up against the wall to listen. His enhanced hearing allowing him to listen to what the person on the other line was yelling back. Eeeew, that's that scientist guy! Zack thought, grimacing.

"Genesis, control yourself!" Angeal was shouting as his redheaded friend continued to scream down the phone.

"Excuse me, Angeal, I'm on the phone." Genesis replied sweetly before furrowing his eyebrows and shaking his fist as he shouted into the phone.

"Are you AWARE that I could have you FIRED for that?!"

"ARE YOU AWARE THAT I COULD HAVE YOU FIRED FOR YOUR BEHAVIOUR RHAPSODOS?!" The scientist shrieked back. Zack felt his ears bleed.

"I WASN'T FINISHED YET, PROFESSOR HOJO! May I ask why Fair wasn't taken straight to the hospital floor? WHY IS THAT, SIR?!"

"DON'T YOU DARE QUESTION MY AUTHORITY! The boy was not severely injured! I saw no need to-" Hojo tried to explain.

"SERVERELY INJURED… Don't give me that BULLSHIT!" Genesis spat. Angeal told Genesis once again, quietly yet firmly to calm down. But Genesis wasn't listening. Genesis was furious, on the brink of running down to the labs and personally strangling the ShinRa scientist himself.

"Genesis, watch your mouth." The slick haired SOLDIER warned his friend. The redhead took no notice, he was listening to Hojo attempt an explanation.

"Commander Rhapsodos, Private Fair was under my supervision for two of the worst hours, and-"

"Supervision?" The red leather clad warrior scoffed. "You mean you wanted to check if he'd sprouted wings and learnt to fly."

"ENOUGH! I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS. I BID YOU GOOD DAY TO YOU, SIR." Hojo hung up the phone, leaving Genesis blinking at the phone.

Eventually Genesis slumped into a chair, breathing heavily. Angeal sat down in front of his desk, he thought that his younger friend had calmed down before Genesis stood up and threw his chair across the room. Angeal looked up and blinked at his window – well, what was once his window…

"I told you not to call him." He said, shaking his head. That was coming out of his wages.

"So?"

"Genesis, you just threw a chair through my window." Angeal stated folding his arms.

"…I know that…" There was a silence, and Zack decided to make his entrance. He knocked on the door and listened for Angeal to allow him inside. He heard a deep sigh and Angeal told him to come in. When he saw it was Zack he lifted his head a little in greeting. Zack gave a 'sup nod too.

"Whoa, what happened here?" He asked, raising his eyebrows and looking at the window. He wanted to find out what was going on, but he knew that he should try a subtle approach at towards it. Genesis didn't turn to face him but smiled sheepishly from where he was standing. Zack realised his subtle approach wasn't getting him any answers. So he stood tall and pointed his chin in the air. "Hmph, so that's how it is. I know, 'Zack's just a kid, he doesn't need to be involved with the serious matters.' But believe it or not, I heard that phone call. And I heard Hojo say my name…. what's he want from me?" He tried one of Sephiroth's stern glares. This caused Genesis to twitch his head to the right so that he could just make out Zack's facial expressions.

"Zack, you heard the phone call?"

"I'm not talking to you mister I-didn't-kill-you-I-just-roasted-you!" Zack spun around and folded his arms, half serious.

"Uh. Sorry?" Genesis shrugged.

"…okay." Zack grinned. "Anyways what happened?" Before Genesis could put in a word Angeal was looking down on his redheaded friend and explaining to Zack why Genesis had thrown a tantrum.

"Genesis was under the impression that professor Hojo knocked you out on purpose, and that he was going to use you for… an experiment." He smirked at this last bit. Genesis tensed up under Angeal's icy gaze.

"Angeal, we all know that's Hojo's only purpose in life." Genesis defended. "Admit it, old friend."

"Are you serious?" Zack interrupted, checking himself to make sure he hadn't sprouted tentacles or the like. "Nope, all good here."

"Ah, you wouldn't understand, Private Fair." Genesis said wisely.

"Then educate me, please!" Zack decided he wanted the full story weather he understood or not.

"Perhaps you should see it… for yourself…" Genesis thought aloud. Angeal furrowed his eyebrows in distaste.

"I don't think so, Rhapsodos, we're not returning to those labs today." He stepped in. "Anyway, you have to go and explain to the gamekeeper why we have a broken window, no?"

"…No…" Genesis smiled innocently. "The chair does." Angeal couldn't help but laugh at this. An e-mail appeared on his computer. It was from the weaponry department. Zack was supposed to receive three different materia, a basic shield and of course, a flat sword and hand gun. The redhead took the liberty to read it. Angeal frowned with disapproval but Genesis had already opened it the message.

"We received intelligence that your student Zack Fair has had to take the day off due to a mild case of Mako poisoning." Genesis scoffed.

"Mild…?"

"Genesis." Angeal sighed.

"We intend to see him back in training tomorrow, without fail. This is the military, not the playground-" Genesis blinked. Were they actually allowed to say that? Zack tilted his head and opened his mouth, letting out a small sound. "Yours sincerely, Scarlet, Armoury."

"Oh! So that was from the bitch—"

"Zack, watch your language!" Angeal snapped. Genesis laughed.

"Haaah! Angeal's getting a bad grade on his first day. The shame." Genesis chuckled, then he caught Angeal's eye and put his head down. "Soz."

"Whatever… Anyway, Zack since you didn't make most of your training sessions today; I decided to cancel your all of your lessons today." Angeal took his keyboard and started a reply to the blonde woman.

There was another knock at the door. Genesis peered through the glass, and made a face of disgust.

"Reno is here."

"Let him in…" Angeal sighed, not looking up. Genesis reluctantly opened the door. The new redhead sauntered in.

"What's up guys? Uh, ew, group orgy…" He smirked and held out a hand, which Zack high-fived, finding the joke quite funny. Genesis couldn't stand this Turk and growled at him. Zack found this combined with Reno's raised eyebrows absolutely hilarious, dodging a swipe from Genesis in the progress.

"What do you want, Reno?" Angeal sighed leaning back in his swivel chair. Reno swung around to face the SOLDIER 1st.

"You got a visitor, yo."

"And you're here because…?"

"Because the new receptionist doesn't know her way around the building, yo? I thought I'd show your visitor the way." Genesis snorted.

"How polite of you, Reno."

"I know! I was like whoa she's hot, and then I was like aw, she's lost. And then I was like yo, you want some help? And then—"

"I don't need your life story. Who's here to see me?" Angeal asked, resisting the urge to grit his teeth.

"It's ya mom, yo. Don't leave the ladies waiting…" and with that Reno Sinclair left the room, Angeal sat a little uncomfortably, before asking his friends to leave for a while. They obeyed and left the room, Genesis and Zack both sent a smile to a frail looking woman with greying hair. She smiled at them warmly, probably thinking what nice young men.

Zack had to jog to keep up with Genesis' fast strides.

"So, Genesis, why don't you show me what's lurking in Hojo's lab?" Genesis stopped, turned, and grinned a little wickedly.

"Are you sure you want to see them? After your mentor said no?"

"Yeah." Zack shrugged. He had nothing better to do for the rest of the day.

"All right, then. Let's go."

END OF CHAPTER FOUR! NOTES:

Again, thanks for the reviews. They really helped me! I love you all so much. 333

OKAY, SO. RENO! Whoop! We all love him, right? Zack and him are homies, Okay. Genesis really dislikes him. Angeal just gets a little frustrated by his childish acts. I tried a little bit of humor in this chapter, I don't know if it worked but, meh. Tell me what you thought of Genesis' two faces (sweet and sour)? I found them kind of amusing. Revieeeeew! xxx