Title: Loving Corpses
Summary: Everyone knows what Cloud is, and they put it to good use. He just wishes that a night of passion didn't always have to be rewarded with waking to another dead lover.
Warnings: boy/boy, dark themes
Disclaimer: Do I really need to say it? Not mine.

Cloud feels it, trying to unfold from the left of his back. It's hurting him to keep it there, but releasing it would mean he lost. He can't let that happen. He takes a different sword, not for practice. He won't be so easily beaten, not again. Not by anyone...

"What are you doing so far up here? People will start to to think you're suicidal," a familiar voice calls from behind.

"That would be pointless, Genesis. I can't die; not anymore."

"So, you have realized. Tell me: how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?"

"To know that you have to bow to the one who defeats you, of course." Cloud turns, the Force edge right against the older man's neck. "Could you relax for two minutes? That is not why I'm here."

"What do you want, Genesis? If you give me a good enough answer, I might just let you leave alive," he says, newly clawed hand rising with dark energy: an Ultima spell.

"To help you, of course. Why else would I have pushed you so far?"

"Echidna?"

The demoness slithers to his side, more solidified than before. He speaks the truth.

"Cloud!"

"Leave this place, Sephiroth!" the blond demands.

"Cloud, come back. You aren't healed."

The blond shakes his head in disbelief, a bitter smile marking his face. "That's what you're worried about? I'm fine Sephiroth. That is...if you consider this fine!" the blond howls, clawed hand flaring to the side. Behind it, a dark, leathery wing stretches. The general takes half a step back. "Where are your reassuring words now, Sephiroth? How can you claim I'm not a monster...with this?!" The silveret looks away. "That's right. You can't!" he shrieks, grabbing the snake woman around the waist, throwing himself from the building. His lover runs forward in surprise, the blond flying away from him.

"What did you do?!"

Genesis shakes his head. "You really don't get it, do you?" The redhead brings his hand to his forehead, pulling it away. With it, a feathered version of the other's. "We are all liars, Sephiroth. Who do you want to be?" Genesis, too, leaps from the tower, flying away and leaving him there.

When did things get so bad? he thinks. But, no one can answer.

"What?! No! Why?!"

"Calm down, Zack. There is nothing we can do," the general says.

"What do you mean 'nothing we can do?' We just bring them back, right?"

"It's not as simple as you want to believe," Angeal denies. "Deserters as powerful as Cloud and Genesis are 'eliminate on site.'"

"We can't let that happen!"

"No. We can't," the silveret agrees cryptically, exiting the room.

Zack glares at the floor, teeth grit tightly. What's gotten into everyone? Sephiroth hadn't told him a key piece. Hadn't told him of the protruding mass at the executioner's back. Hadn't told anyone. Wouldn't tell anyone.

Sephiroth is unable to focus, accomplishing little by the end of the day, most of which he'd spent holding his head, a splitting migraine never resting, or rather, never letting him rest.

Silent as ever, Cloud stares out the dusty window, seeing everything and nothing all at once. It could never be simple for him, could it? Echidna looks with him, arms circling his waist from behind. It didn't bother her in the least how dejected the change had made him; she'd gotten her way, and soon she could exist completely on her own. That did bother her, mildly, however. What could she say when that happened? How could she tell him she wanted to remain? He certainly didn't want her to...

"'Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess, We seek it thus, and take it to the sky, Ripples form on the water's surface, The wandering soul knows no rest,'" Genesis quotes. "I can tell, you are already lying in regret."

"Loveless...One becomes a hero, one wanders the land, and the last is taken prisoner." Echidna keeps quiet, listening to the exchange between the men, slithering slightly away from her 'child.'

"Yes, but which are we?"

"'The wandering soul knows no rest.' That would be me, I suppose. Sephiroth of course, will always be my hero. That would leave you, Genesis. The prisoner to your own heart."

"Interesting interpretation. Cold, yes. But interesting. I'm still deciding, of course. Will I fight you to become the hero? Or him?"

"You tend to forget I know how to defeat you," the blond comments, turning to his counterpart.

"Ah, yes. Decapitation is the best solution for quick-healing enemies. That goes for you as well, though. I wonder: who would be able to strike first?"

"Do you want to try it?" the executioner asks, lifting the blade as if in invitation.

"Afraid not, at least for today. We still have to finish the story, after all."

"You and your stories... Am I the only one not sick of them, yet?"

"Would be ill surprising if you are. Come, we must find that men I spoke of."

A/N: Well, it seems like it sucks to be everyone except Genesis right about now...

Skystrife: I'm glad you're enjoying this so far, and yes, it is pretty confusing. They were all together, but they kind of had favorites and sides. So, for Genesis, that was Sephiroth and Angeal. For Sephiroth: Angeal, Genesis, and Cloud. For Angeal: Genesis, Sephiroth and Zack. For Zack: Angeal, and Cloud and for Cloud: Zack and Sephiroth. So, yes, super confusing, which is why I refer to all of them as lovers, no matter which two I'm talking about.

Guest: Thank you for supporting the story ^_^

Sis: Didn't hear from you before posting this, hoping to soon ^_^

I hope my silent readers out there enjoyed this as well!