7

Lack of speech.

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"Zack what the hell are you doing?" Angeal was at his wits end. Zack had been acting like a prat and this kid had sealed his mouth up so tight, Angeal wasn't even sure he was breating anymore. Little cloud hadn't spoken a word since he'd woken up and hadn't opened his gob either, not even to eat or drink.

They'd tryed everything they could think of that was stressless but that boy seemed determined not to talk. Infact he seemed too ashamed to talk.

After a while, he had given up. It wasn't worth it. But Zack hadn't, he had continued to terrorise the child.

"C'mon Cloud. Please say something kid, we're worried about you!" No responce.

Zack sat eye to eye with him. "Cloud," his words weren't harsh but they weren't gentle either, it was purly his tone that intimidated Cloud so much. "Cloud this is important, how far has gone before? It wasn't always beatings, was it?" Now it was the words.

Cloud brought his knees up and his eyes. He didn't want to remember any of that. He wanted Reno here, he needed that comfert. He needed his arms around him now, to hold him, to love him.

Zack sat beside him on the sofa and put his arms around him, Angeal followed his movements and mirrored them, also sliding an arm over Cloud.

Angeal turned. "Thats enough. We're not going to get responce." He scoled. He held Cloud appligetically and Zack did the same.

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Reno was now on his way back to his room. He hadn't found his love. That's what ate at him most. He loved Cloud, he wanted to protect him, to hold him when he cried, to wipe away his tears.

But he couldn't, and that was what pissed him off most.

When he rounded the corner to his room his eyes grew wide with shock.

Outside his room, was that creep Zack!

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Zack had been waiting for over an hour for Reno to come back to the dorm room. Geeze I'm soooooooo board! when's that kid going to get here?! The reason? Angeal had told him to go get Reno. Why? Now that was something Zack didn't know.

The said kid was infact heading towards him at an alarming rate. And passed him.

"Hey kid, can I talk to you for a minute." And ignoring him. "Wait a minute it's important!" And still ignoring him.

Then came the magic words: "It's about Cloud."

Reno froze, did he just mention Cloud? Reno turned to face him. "What about Cloud?"

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Cloud still hadn't spoken and Angeal waas begining to worry, if Zack didn't come back soon he would have to go out and find him, and that ment leaving Cloud alone and he was terrified that in the state he was in, Cloud might be tempted by one of the knifes in the kitchen.... No he could do that.

Cloud was currently asleep against Angeal chest. From time to time he mumbled in his sleep, of which had been making Angeal worry more.

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Unaware of all of this, Genesis was currently in his apartment, searching for some asprin or a pain killer of some sort.

Kitchen...no, bathroom...no, living room....no. Where the hell did he put them?

He returned to the bed room - for some reason most of the things he lost turned up in his waredrobe. Sure enough, top shelf.

Genesis stole a glance at his friend, still sound asleep under the covers. Trust you to drink that much Sephiroth, he laughted softly at that thought accidentally waking his sleeping comarade, for which Genesis mentally kicked himself.

"Genesis is that you?" Sephiroth rolled over to face him. "What are doing?" He added noticing the open waredrobe.

"Looking for asprin-"

"In the waredrobe?"

"You'd be surprised."

"Really?" Sephiroth had now crawled across to Genesis and was grasping the collar of his shirt with one hand urging him closer. Genesis sat down beside him, using his hand to guide Sephiroth into a gental kiss. The other disappeared behind Sephiroth's back and pulled him closer.

"You're feeling better I take it?" Sephiroth nuzzled into Genesis' neck while Genesis petted his hair lovingly, he was very tempted to tease Sephiroth about the fact he was only wearing boxers and an open shirt but he decided not to, his Sephie was on the verge of sleep.

The phone interupted their moment of absolute peace, And Genesis was trying his to gather all the self control that he could possibly muster not to tear the damn thing to pieces.

He left Sephiroth with promises to come back soon. He went through to the kitchen and almost ripped the phone out of the socket. "What?"

"Hey Genesis, it's Lizard. The mission is being posponed until further notice as a result of bad planning. Does that cause you any problems?"

"Ofcourse not. It can't be helped." Inside his head Genesis was jumping around the living shouting for joy, but he couldn't do that while Seph was in next room.

"However," Uh-oh that can't be good. "There is something else that needs to be sorted as soon as possible and I'd like you to look into it."

Genesis groaned. "Isn't that a Turk's job?"

"Normally, but Tseng is busy, and almost every body else is unaveilable at the moment for some reason or another."

"And if I told you I also was...?" He inquired slighly.

"I'd know you were lying and find something interesting to 'motivate' you." Genesis almost growled.

"And what might this something be?"

"Unpleasent to say the least. So I'll be meeting you in the office with the briefings tomorrow morning at lets say, 9:30? I'll see you there." And hung up.

"Who was that?" Asked an unseen voice from the other room.

"Lizard. He wants me to check something out for him." Genesis said moving back through to see Seph.

"But isn't that what Turks are for?" Genesis plaused, turning round to lock the door.

"They're all pulling sickies today, except Tseng but he's busy." He moved back over to the bed and sat beside Sephiroth.

"So you won't be here when I wake up in the morning..." Sephiroth pouted. Not that face. Genesis thought, that face, why that face? It not fair you know my weaknesses too well Seph...

Genesis held him tightly. "But I will be here when you go to bed at night."

Then they sat and enjoyed the peace, and each others company.

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Until next time.......

I have a treat this time. A preview.

"Moving changing."

I didn't say it was a good preview. I'll put a lemon in it if I feel like it, but don't expect anything because I might not...