A/N: Finally. I wanted to upload this ages ago… But the first chapter is always such a crucial point. As usual, I'm still not really satisfied (and no, I don't want to know how many mistakes I made. Sometimes I felt like I never wrote in English before…)

Actually, all my writing is never finished, but given up at some point (when I decide to call it quits because things aren't improving anymore…).

Anyway, here it is. It's… fluffy :) (but hey, everybody familiar with the notion of 'newly found love' will understand…)

(Before I forget, the opening quote is taken from a song by Laura Pausini and James Blunt, called "Primavera in Anticipo")

The Present

I. Perfection?

~oOo~

All my hopes and my fears
In this moment are clear:
You are the one;
My moon, my stars, my sun…

~oOo~

Midgar. The most technologically advanced location ever constructed on the Planet. Nine sectors, two layers, eight Mako reactors, home to the most powerful men in the world. From a distance, the large circular structure, with the Shinra Headquarter as its dominating feature, looked like the techno-version of snail-shell, somehow artistic, almost delicate. From close up, it looked mainly grey, cold and lifeless. No birds, no butterflies, no flowers, not even the tiniest hint of green, apart from the artificial white-green Mako glow that lit the streets at night and still seemed to hover above everything during the day. Multiple steel constructions and tower cranes visible at the horizon suggested that the building process had not finished yet, and the metropolis was still growing. Living here was heaven to some, and hell to most others.

Without any intention to hurry, Angeal Hewley, newly promoted SOLDIER first class and still in the process of getting used to it, closed the office door behind him. Finally, he though, followed by an audible sigh, a behaviour he allowed himself only due to the empty hallway and the lack of witnesses.

For half of the morning and two hours of the afternoon, he had been trying to evaluate several written witness reports about a recent incident in sector four; and in exactly 28 minutes, he was supposed to take part in a meeting concerning said incident, though even after sitting over those papers for such a considerable amount of time, he still hadn't got the slightest idea why the executive board was making such a fuss about it.

The afternoon sun was shining through the large hallway windows with an unusual intensity, and his eyes needed a few minutes to adapt to this brightness after being confined to the almost clinical light of those omnipresent neon tubes, which seemed to be essential parts of every standard Shinra office complex. Still, Angeal knew precisely how lucky he was to see the sun at all, as only a minority of Midgar's immense population had that privilege.

A sudden discovery interrupted his thoughts. As deserted as the hallway had appeared on the first glance, Angeal now realized that this impression had been wrong. There was someone else, sitting casually on the window sill of one of those huge hallway windows. Angeal hadn't expected to see this particular person around here, but he still couldn't have thought of a more pleasant surprise.

Although Genesis had to be waiting for him (and knowing that made Angeal's heart beat faster almost immediately), he was not yet aware of the other's presence. His attention was completely focused on the papers he held in his lap, and Angeal could tell he was pondering about something by the way his legs gently dangled back and forth.

Angeal could not help but literally stare at that sight for a while in complete awe. The rays emitted by the intense afternoon sun seemed to play in those silky strands of hair, highlighting certain parts in shades that reminded of an artist's pallet.

Do you even know how beautiful you look whenever you are completely lost in your thoughts? Or how much I like to watch you in moments like this, when you don't even notice I'm there?

Like always in such moments, he felt strangely weak inside, a warm, fuzzy sensation he was not really used to, being a member of a special unit that was the symbol of strength within the Shinra Company. This confusing weakness was created by the knowledge that everything eradiating such an ethereal beauty was not meant to belong to anyone. Who could legitimately claim to posses the array of stars or the display of colours a dawning sun created in the morning sky? Yet… Do I really dare to think it? Dare to think that he could be mine…?

It took an almost inhuman strength to break free from this hypnotic fascination, but Angeal finally won that inner battle.

"Hey, beautiful. Have you been waiting for me?" With these words, he casually leaned against the same window sill, resting his arm lightly against Genesis' leg, in a way that made the touch look completely coincidental.

Instantly, Genesis turned his head to look at him. The smile that appeared on his lips just seconds later lit up his face even more than the rays of sun dancing on it, and Angeal was unable to tell which one of both influences created that intense gleaming in his opposite's eyes.

You are so beautiful when you are smiling. Really smiling, that is, when your face lights up and your eyes have that special sparkle… You should smile like that much more than you do. The only disadvantage is that it is so addictive. Knowing what your real smile looks like, I can't bear to see all those half-smiles, sad smiles and barely-there microscopic smiles that never really reach your eyes…

"Who else could I be waiting for?" Genesis finally returned with a subtle velvety undertone in his voice that instantly reminded Angeal of a purring cat. "I don't think anyone else here would appreciate my presence half as much as you do."

If they hadn't been standing right in the middle of an office hallway, which was as bad as any other public space within the Shinra Headquarters, Angeal could have thought of quite a few things he would have liked to do in this very moment to show Genesis exactly how much he appreciated his presence. Yet the knowledge that this was neither the right time nor the right place for any of those options made him decide to lean just a little bit closer and to reach out for those papers Genesis was holding, not because he was interested in their content (in fact, he could not have cared less) but because that gave him the chance to touch, almost to hold his beloved's hand for at least a few precious seconds.

"Materia class notes," Genesis broke the silence to explain, "Stevenson wants me to help out in some of his lessons as long as I can't do anything useful."

The last part of that statement sounded clearly frustrated. Genesis still had difficulties to accept the fact that despite his recent promotion, he still hadn't been given the permission to perform full first class duty. After his rather grave accident during one of the practical exams a few weeks ago, he had been told repeatedly to take things slowly and to wait for the full recovery of his strength, an advice he had tried to ignore as far as possible. Basically on the very first day Genesis had been allowed to leave the hospital section, he had thrown himself back into the usual work and training schedule, and only the orders of their superiors, Angeal's worried comments and last but not least the obvious limits of his own body had slowed him down at least a little bit.

"I feel your pain, precious," Angeal reassured him. "But you are doing so well. Don't risk that by pushing yourself too hard, unless you are keen on another hospital holiday."

"I try to keep that in mind, Sir," Genesis answered in a mock-obedience tone. He still playfully dangled his legs, in a way that one of them kept touching Angeal's arm. Impossible to tell if he was doing it on purpose, but there was an actual chance…

"Anyway, how was your day so far?" Angeal asked in a serious effort to get his thoughts back on the right track.

"Ordinary. You don't want to hear all the boring details, do you?"

"If it's about you, there are no boring details." For Angeal, paying such an obvious compliment was a clear sign of affection and commitment, and aware of it, Genesis reacted with a chuckle that sounded both amused and flattered, before he stated: "You have been warned, so don't complain afterwards. Well, I got up, I went to Advanced Materia Class – at least that's something they allow me to do - and…"

"You skipped breakfast again?" Angeal couldn't help but to interrupted with a slight frown.

"Yes, mom, I skipped breakfast. I wasn't hungry, and I was running late anyway," Genesis returned, and added in a mischievous tone: "Which was your fault, by the way. You shouldn't have made me stay that long last night."

Well, this statement surely sounded more meaningful than it was… True, Genesis had been at Angeal's room for half of the night, but they had not actually done anything… indecent. Not even close to that, Angeal thought. Too bad actually…

Meanwhile, Genesis continued his list of activities: "After that, Stevenson ordered me to his office to inform me about these here", he pointed at the papers Angeal was still holding, "before I had to listen to him ranting about the science department and their many deficiencies – and that's a polite way of putting it – for almost an hour. After lunch break, I joined this training you missed because of your office duty… total waste of time and utterly boring, 'cause I'm still not allowed to participate properly."

"That's all?"

"Pretty much. Oh, Marlowe told me after said training that in his very personal opinion, whoever signed my promotion to first class must have been either a raging lunatic or a complete idiot. And Harvey called me a nuisance, plus something else I didn't quite get."

The usual quarrels. Although they were part of every employee's life, especially at the Shinra Company, difficulties like that were virtually unknown to Angeal. Thanks to his calm and agreeable personality, he got along well with almost everybody, and if he wasn't liked, he was at least respected. Ever since their childhood, it had always been Genesis who had to struggle more for acceptance. Due to his rather unique and sometimes unpredictable behaviour, the number of people actually trying to keep up some sort of positive contact was quite limited, a fact that Genesis did not seem to mind. 'I'm not here to win a popularity award,' he used to say, but Angeal suspected that somewhere deep down, his friend was bothered more than he chose to admit.

Marlowe, one of the senior instructors, had the bad habit to pick on Genesis on a regular basis and insisted ever since third class that 'certain people' (underlined by a meaningful glance, of course) should not have been allowed to join the SOLDIER unit in the first place, which had made Genesis even more eager to prove him wrong. Quarrels like this between superiors and subordinates were a daily occurrence, and the usually harsh tone just came as part of army life.

SOLDIER first class Phil Harvey was an entirely different chapter. He and Genesis had also decided from day one that they fiercely hated each other, but while Marlowe at least tried to keep his critique on an appropriate level, Harvey was just plain rude, constantly. Unfortunately, he also knew quite well which buttons to push in order to make Genesis go completely berserk. So far, Angeal had always tried to anticipate the worst whenever possible, but sometimes he wasn't sure how much longer he could prevent a serious clash. Strangely enough, on this very day Genesis seemed to be in a rather balanced mood that not even his favourite enemy had been able to disrupt.

"Sounds like a normal day to me."

"Perfectly normal," Genesis confirmed. Though right in the next moment, he seemed to remember something, and his smile showed a painful edge for a few seconds. It was only a hint, something everybody else would have missed, but Angeal knew his best friend just too well.

"So what else is on your schedule for today?" he inquired, careful to make it sound like small talk, not like an investigation.

"Well…" Genesis looked down to the ground for a moment, then up again. "You know, I have this appointment…"

Angeal silently scolded himself. Of course, how could he have forgotten? One of those medical check-ups Genesis had basically been sentenced to, another result of the infamous accident. Being so aware of his childhood friend's dislikes and preferences, Angeal was in on the fact that Genesis loathed anything having to do with people in white coats and clinical surroundings, but was this reason enough for that hint of uneasiness, almost a first onset of panic?

"When exactly is that appointment?" Angeal asked, still in a rather casual tone. Genesis always reacted quite hurt to any allusions on weaknesses or fears, so that was something Angeal usually tried to avoid.

"Sixteen hundred fifteen," Genesis replied, using the military time specification. "Which is quite soon. I better get going."

Concealing his darkened mood by playful behaviour, he jumped off the window sill with a light, effortless movement. Although Angeal was used to the way his friend moved, and frequently stated that Genesis belonged to that rare breed of people still looking graceful when they tripped over their own feet, he could not help but being mesmerized once again. Another inner battle was necessary to break that spell.

Even though he had noticed the suddenly hardened expression on his friend's face, Angeal decided not to broach the issue any further, but to try and be supportive nonetheless. "If you want, I can walk you over to the science department. I have just enough time until that meeting I'm supposed to attend."

His pride was definitely the last thing Genesis would ever give up on. So betraying the glimmer of hope in his eyes, he returned in a rather brisk tone: "Thanks, but I don't need a babysitter."

"My offer only included escorting, not babysitting. And besides, it's not as generous as you might think. I'm being completely selfish."

A spark of interest returned into Genesis' gaze. "Why that?"

"Because if I stay, there is an actual chance that one of our superiors will come up with some important task, which I won't finish in that short amount of time anyway. So I just happen to be in bad need for an excuse to get away from here for a few minutes."

Satisfied that the situation now looked as if he was doing Angeal a favour and not vice versa, Genesis finally agreed and they made there way over to another wing of the huge building, the infamous Shinra Science Department.

~°oOo°oOo°oOo°~

"Level 52," Genesis briefly announced after they had entered the elevator.

Angeal hardly suppressed a frown. Anything above level 30 meant not medical, but 'ordinary' science, a rather uncomfortable thought. Leaning to the cold metal surface of the elevator cabin's back panel, he said: "You know, that meeting is in fact just another pointless discussion of the recent incident in sector four. As I wasn't even there when things happened, I guess they can do without me…" he did not continue, knowing that Genesis could tell what he wanted to imply.

To his surprise, Genesis reacted less fiercely than before. He moved over to Angeal's side, leaning likewise to the back wall, and eyes fixed on the display over the door that had just started to count the floors, he said in a low voice: "Thanks; but no, thanks. I can handle that on my own."

While Genesis still spoke those words, Angeal felt an almost inconsiderable movement against his back, and virtually in the same second, his hand reached there to entwine with the other, smaller one.

Like every other elevator in an official Shinra building, this one was issued with a camera, located right above the door, next to the level display. Recently, they had found out that the only not-too-obvious way to hold hands in an elevator was to do so behind their backs, making it look as if they were just leaning to the wall. It was not like someone was watching all of that footage from the elevators constantly, but working for Shinra, you learned pretty fast that you just never knew anything for sure…

Angeal gently ran his thumb over the slender fingers that held on to his hand. Another one of these rare little moments, so pure and intense it almost hurt.

Accompanied by a merciless low 'pling' sound, the doors slit open, and with a sigh that was more sensible than audible, Genesis let go of Angeal's hand and walked ahead. After a few steps he turned around and waited for his friend to catch up.

"Well, would you say I look… acceptable?" Genesis asked out of the blue, suddenly appearing nervous again.

The situation somehow reminded Angeal of their promotion to first class, the day they had first been allowed to switch their dark blue second class uniforms for the first class black.

Just like now, Genesis had looked a bit pale and nervous, something Angeal had not necessarily wanted to tell him, not any more than he did now. So in order to avoid the truth without being dishonest, he simply focussed on a different aspect: "I still think blue suited you better than black. Nicer match to your eyes, that's why."

Genesis gave him a grateful smile. "Well, I'm off then…" he announced, followed by an almost shy: "See you later?"

"You bet," Angeal returned as firmly as he could, resisting the urge to reach out and pull the other closer for a final embrace. A ridiculous urge, given the fact that they would see each other again in two hours, tops. "I'll come and pick you up right after that meeting. I'm not on duty tonight, just stuck with paperwork."

"Same for me, as usual," Genesis returned. "Don't bother coming over, I have no idea how long this is going to take. As soon as I'm done, I'll come and find you." His eyes suddenly seemed to eradiate an almost incredible warmth. "See you," he whispered before he turned to leave, but not without resting his hand on Angeal's arm for a second, a touch so lightly that it was almost imperceptible, if it hadn't been for the sensation of heat it created.

Angeal watched Genesis walk over to one of those doors, and waited until he had disappeared behind it, before turning back to the elevator. A famous person, some kind of artist, if Angeal remembered correctly, had once said: Don't be afraid of perfection. You can never reach it. True, doubtlessly, though sometimes, even an ordinary day seemed to contain moments that came eerily close to that ideal.