Final Fantasy VII: "Something Wicked This Way Comes."

Summary: "((An Angeal x Zack, Sephiroth x Genesis story)) It begins with the incident that will shake SOLDIER to its core. It continues with the meeting that will create the foundation for their future. And all the while, as something sinister stalks the ShinRa SOLDIERs, bonds will be created and bonds shall be shattered- then mended again... And the broken might just find their true reason to live again—Because they have something that no one else has... this really is love, right?"

Warning: "This story will not be a full-blown Yaoi unless I finally figure out how to write it exactly how I want it. However, this will eventually be a Yaoi, and it will have plenty of angst, suffering, and everything related to that pair, because I can really be a horrible person when I work at it."

Disclaimer: "I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters so don't haul off and think I do. I do, however, own 1st Class SOLIDER Marshall Willowstaff, Cadet Captain/Commander Benjamin ((Ben)) Adler, and Head Physician Julian Jake."

A_ _ _N

Chapter Six: Something More.

Disclaimer: "I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of it's characters, so don't haul off and think I do. I do, however, own 1st Class SOLIDER Marshall Willowstaff, Cadet Captain/ Commander Benjamin ((Ben)) Adler, Head Physician Julian Jake, and Assistant Head Physician Sven Cry."

A_ _ _N

After biding Angeal good night, Sephiroth made his way back to the apartment he and Genesis now shared together, separate from Angeal. This arrangement had been requested (ordered) by ShinRa, as the President wanted Sephiroth closer to the ShinRa building. Sephiroth hadn't wanted to be alone, and because Genesis and Sephiroth were (tentatively) lovers, Genesis had insisted that he remain with Sephiroth- and Angeal had agreed.

Genesis' voice could be heard through the door. Alarmed, Sephiroth entered the apartment to find Genesis in the hall, shouting into his cell. Genesis noticed Sephiroth and gestured for him to stay silent and go away.

Sephiroth ignored him.

Genesis was obviously distressed. His azure eyes were narrowed and angry- but at the same time, they were pained. Finally, after about fifteen minutes more of shouting at whoever it was on the other end of the line, he shut the cell with a loud snap while someone (a male, obviously) continued to shout. With a low groan, Genesis leaned against the wall, seeming to have completely forgotten that Sephiroth was standing in front of him.

Sephiroth reached out and touched Genesis' cheek, gently pulling Genesis' head up so he could look into Genesis' eyes. Genesis was clearly still hurt, as he wouldn't look directly into Sephiroth's eyes. Finally, he attempted to push Sephiroth away.

"Don't."

The word escaped Sephiroth as he pulled Genesis closer to him, protectively. After a long moment, Genesis sighed and returned the embrace, resting his head on Sephiroth's shoulder.

"Why do you do this to yourself?" Sephiroth finally asked, gently. Genesis merely shook his head in response. Knowing that Genesis' mind was probably focusing on the pain, Sephiroth lead Genesis to the couch.

"Do you want anything?" Sephiroth asked, quietly.

Genesis shook his head. "This is bullshit, Sephiroth." He finally said, finally looking into Sephiroth's eyes. "They're not going to leave me alone, and they're calling me every night now." The anger Genesis felt melted into something Sephiroth rarely saw from his usually confident (sometimes overly so), strong lover: helplessness.

In this situation, Sephiroth knew there was little he could do to soothe Genesis. He was clearly upset and brooding over what his parents had told him, and this sort of angered Sephiroth- how dare those two hurt the one that they birthed and raised? Parents were supposed to be the ones that took the pain away- not be the reason for it in the first place!

But Sephiroth knew that Genesis would (probably) never recover from his past- Sephiroth knew from experience that one couldn't just "forget about" the pain caused by one or two people that he would be forced to see (or speak to) as a part of their daily lives.

The world didn't work that way, and it never would.

A_ _ _N

Angeal found Zack waiting for him by the Courtyard. The yard had become their meeting place, much to Zack's apparent excitement. The Courtyard seemed to fascinate the young man to no end- he never ceased to stare at the simple beauty of the flowers, especially the roses, which always seemed to have been his favorite from the moment he entered the place.

It was refreshing, for some reason, to watch Zack pull the weeds. Sephiroth and Genesis had been pleasantly surprised to find Angeal and Zack watering, pruning, and weeding the roses when they entered during their lunch break together, and Sephiroth had commented on it later that night to Angeal, saying that he was pleased that a Cadet could take so much care in tending to roses.

Angeal took that complement to heart, and had told Zack, much to the boy's embarrassment.

A_ _ _N

What Angeal hadn't counted on that morning was Genesis, sitting in the tree, with Zack sitting at the base of it, when Angeal arrived at the Courtyard. Genesis jumped expertly from the tree, landing in front of Angeal. Zack had gotten up, his midnight blue eyes already glistening in that excitement Angeal had yet to get used to.

"I see you two have met formally." Angeal observed. Genesis snorted. "I was waiting in the tree by the time Zachary got here. Your student ought to look more closely at things- otherwise he won't last a moment in Wutai, even with you at your side. Had I been an enemy, young Zachary here wouldn't have lasted a moment." Genesis announced.

"Hey, I wasn't ready- sir," Zack exclaimed.

Genesis winked at Angeal. "I scared the living daylights out of him when I came out of the tree." He told Angeal, who couldn't help but roll his eyes- Genesis had the reputation of "scaring the daylights" out of the new Cadets, and was apparently carrying on the tradition.

"Scary..." Zack breathed as Genesis walked off, staring at the legendary 1st's Rapier, which was tied tightly to Genesis' waist.

"He's not scary," Angeal replied, "He's just high-spirited. Likes messing with others." He added, looking over at Genesis again. The crimson-warrior had met Sephiroth. Angeal felt Zack stiffen from beside him when Sephiroth looked their way, his cat-like jade eyes watching not Angeal, but Zack.

Sephiroth said something to Genesis, and Genesis nodded. Angeal could feel the Cadet's slight trembling as Sephiroth and Genesis walked towards them, Genesis smiling innocently the entire way. He placed his hand on Zack's shoulder, stopping the boy's shaking almost instantaneously. Meanwhile, Sephiroth's eyes hadn't left the boy at all.

"Sephiroth, you haven't met him yet, have you?" Angeal finally broke the uncomfortable silence. "This is Zack Fair, the Cadet that Benjamin Adler recommended."

Sephiroth held out his right hand to Zack, which a wide-eyed Zack took. Sephiroth shook Zack's hand before letting go quickly. "I look forward," Sephiroth stated, "to seeing you become a 1st Class SOLDIER someday, Zack Fair," He continued, "the world is short of heroes these days- don't you think so, Fair?" He added, his jade-eyes looking intently into Zack's.

"Y-yes, sir." Zack said, eyes still wide- this time in wonder.

Sephiroth turned his attention to Angeal. "The President has ordered, that because of the fact that you have Zack to worry of now, that Genesis and I shall be taking your place in Wutai from here on out, or at least until the boy is ready for Wutai himself. We're being sent out this afternoon, and Genesis insisted that we come here and wish you two good luck."

"And? Seph, say it right." Genesis admonished, gently.

Sephiroth's right eye twitched ever so slightly as he obeyed his lover. "We... came to say goodbye." He said, glancing at Genesis as he said this. Genesis nodded. "And?" He prompted.

This time, Sephiroth said nothing.

Genesis sighed, stepped up, and embraced Angeal, saying gently, "We're going to be away for a while- at least two months this time. Take care of yourself." He added, nodding.

"You too, Gen," Angeal replied, as Genesis broke the embrace and stepped back. This time, Genesis addressed Zack. "I'm expecting great things from you, Zachary. Great things, indeed. You came recommended straight from the Corps, so you must have great potential... personally, I look forward to the day that you and I fight together as equals."

With that, Sephiroth and Genesis turned and walked off together.

Angeal looked over at Zack to find that the boy was grinning. The boy's eyes weren't shining with excitement anymore- but with pure determination that Angeal couldn't help but admire.

A_ _ _N

Julian Jake, too, had been called out to Wutai alongside Genesis and Sephiroth, Angeal learned. Julian's assistant, Sven Cry, had been appointed Head in Julian's absence.

Sven was shuffling some files when Angeal entered Julian's office.

"Oh, Commander, what can I do for you tonight?" Sven asked, looking up to meet Angeal's gaze. "I wanted to know whether Julian left a file on a Cadet before he left." Angeal replied. Sven gave him a searching gaze, and then he nodded.

"Told you about that, did he? Nasty case, isn't it? Normally, Cadets are found mangled in the Wastes, by monsters and such. Never found in coffins, are they?" Sven said, bluntly, handing over a rather thick file. "Still don't know the name of the poor bastard- Adler might know, or maybe that kid of yours."

Angeal nodded, taking the file.

"Hey, Hewley!" Sven's call made Angeal turn his head.

"That won't make a good bedtime story!"

Angeal couldn't help but chuckle as he made his way toward the Cadet Captain's quarters. Perhaps old Benjamin might know something on this mystery Cadet...

A_ _ _N