Here's a lullaby to close your eyes

A/N: Happy new year everybody

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Final Fantasy

Zack, Zack!"

I jerked awake and blinked. "What is it?"

Sephiroth shook his head pityingly, a slight smile crossing his lips. "You fell asleep, Zack. I guess you lied about being well."

"Oh shut up, Seph." I pushed him playfully and then bolted upright. I'd forgotten about Genesis! Dear Gaia, I was so screwed! "How long was I asleep?"

"About four hours," he stared at me worriedly. "Is something wrong, Zack?"

"Yes, I mean no!" I took a deep breath. "Listen Seph, I kinda have to go now."

He tilted his head. "Oh?"

"I'm supposed to be meeting someone." I ran a hand through my hair distractedly, trying not to clutch onto it in my panic.

He nodded. "I understand. I've taken too much of your time." He stood up and pushed his hair out of his eyes. "Thank you for staying with me."

I grinned at him, but it took a surprising amount of control to maintain the expression. "Anything for a friend. I'll see you later!" I waved cheerily then dashed for the door.

Genesis is going to kill me! I thought as I sped down the corridors, and this is just great. I finally get him to sort of trust me, and then I go and break a promise. Now he's going to bloody kill me!

I swore as I collided with the door, but managed to right myself quickly. I fumbled with the keys, dropping them several times before I managed to get them into the lock.

"Genesis!" I burst into the living room and looked around anxiously. "Genesis!"

"Zack."

I turned towards the balcony and saw black feathers brushing against the glass. I swore and ran to the door, wrenching it open with a cry of relief as he fell against my feet. "Gaia Genesis, you scared the hell out of me!"

He was upright in a second, whirling me round and pushing me against the glass by my throat. "Where were you!"

I clawed at his hand, trying to drag it away. "With Sephiroth," I choked, "I'm sorry, I fell asleep, I didn't mean to be away that long. I'm sorry." I focused on him properly, and then frowned. "Why the hell have you taken your jumper off?"

His grip relaxed and he rolled his eyes. "Only you could say something like that when pushed up against the wall by your neck."

"Point taken, but why?"

He shrugged, black feathers rippling slightly against his bandaged shoulder. "I felt hot."

"But...your hand is freezing." I stared at him carefully for a moment, and then it clicked. I think we both came to the same conclusion at the exact same time. Needless to say our reactions were a little different.

"Damning hell," I muttered. Genesis threw up, and then swayed, his wing flailing in an attempt to keep him upright. I moved out of the way and went to his right side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "You know, you could have given me a bit of warning," I complained.

"I didn't know, and I should have known!" he snarled.

"Well, you didn't, and there's nothing you can do about it but get better."

"Or die."

"Genesis!"

"What?"

I glared at him. "Listen Genesis, and pay attention because I'm not going to say this again. I am not going to let another friend die while I'm there to stop it!" I shook him slightly to get my message across completely. "Got it?"

He stared at me, slowly letting his emotions show through his face. The mix I saw frightened me a little. "You consider me a friend?"

I felt a surge of pity and deliberately put my hand on his left shoulder. He flinched but didn't stop me, meeting my gaze with a confused expression. "I'm not going to let you die," I said quietly.

He moved his arm off my shoulders, and before he could do anything to stop me, I hugged him tightly. He stiffened for a moment, but returned the embrace, resting his burning forehead against my neck. At that point I was finally, completely aware of how sick he was. I noticed how he trembled with the effort of standing, the flush in his normally pale cheeks and the glazed look in his eyes. How long has it been since someone showed you any compassion? I thought sadly. How long have you been alone? Any hatred I had for him melted away and I stroked his wing soothingly, humming tunelessly, trying to let him know that I cared.

He whimpered. "Zack-" I heard his breath hitch in his throat. "I'm going to be-"

"No, no, you're not," I interrupted softly, "not until I've brought the bin over, okay?"

He shuddered and moaned. "I don't know..."

"You can try, right?" I grinned at him, slipping back into my more cheerful personality.

Genesis sighed. "How can you smile, Zack the puppy, after all you've been through?"

I pulled away from him and gently pushed him down onto the sofa. "If I didn't smile, I'd cry all the time. I just live one day at a time and try to make them worthwhile. Killing Angeal taught me one thing - life's too short to waste on being sad. I had my time to grieve, and it was terrible, but," I shrugged, "I guess, since I had other people who were going through the same thing, I had to sober up to help them."

I left him sitting on the sofa and went into the bedroom, glancing warily at the bin. I sighed with relief when I found it empty and carried it back in. "What about you?" I asked, setting the bin in front of him. "How did you deal with it?"

"I didn't." He leaned forward and I turned away with a grimace.

"What do you mean, you didn't?" Kind of impolite, since I know I should have waited, but I was curious now...and who said curiosity didn't kill dogs as well?

He leaned back and closed his eyes, his damp hair sticking to his forehead. "I mean that I refused to believe it. I didn't want to accept he was dead, and since there've been so many sightings of him, I had a reasonable excuse to stay in my little fantasy."

"I know, I mean, I've been hoping too." I pushed him back down as he tried to get up. "No way Genesis, you've got a fever!" I sighed and rubbed my temples, "and it's my fault. I shouldn't have fallen asleep." I went out of the room before he could respond and filled a bowl with cold water, throwing a cloth into it distractedly. "And don't try to deny it," I called as I put several ice cubes into a glass and filled that with water as well. "I know it's my fault."

Genesis was shaking his head as I went back in. "And I thought you were the type that didn't dwell on mistakes." He smiled at my expression.

"I don't."

"Then why did you keep on saying that it was your fault?"

"...because it was."

He sighed and took the glass from me. "You're more stubborn than I thought."

"Wonder who I got it from?"

He glared at me for a moment. "Seriously, Zack..."

I smirked and put my hand over his mouth. "Shut up and lie down. This fever won't go away if you don't rest."

He did as I asked without protest and I gently pressed the wet cloth to his forehead. "You're a quite a mystery, Genesis."

"And I hope to stay a mystery." He smiled at my expression and closed his eyes. "You, however, are an open book."

I scowled at him as I failed to come up with a suitable comeback.

Bloody poets always have to have the last laugh.

Beta note; O. M. G. I am in love with the friendship that is developing here. It's so...I don't know, sweet...and nice. I mean, Genesis is finally opening himself up, after spending all these hours with Zack. It's just so nice to see a platonic connection developing for once. -happysniff- Anyway, don't forget to drop a review~!