Sephiroth drove to Genesis' house, going slow so he could focus on the road ahead of him. The radio was blaring music, no longer the classical tape he had been listening to when Reno was in the car, but symphony metal music that ripped at his ears and made him smile. No one would guess it, but Sephiroth was a metal-head at heart. A good metal song could lift the corners of his mouth no matter what the reasons for his frown were. Now the songs just added to the blissful bubble he already had in his chest. Reno had left quite the impression on him and he realized as he parked at Genesis' house that he couldn't wait for their next date. He was anxious to learn more about the young man and to learn more about himself by doing so. He had already learned that he had no idea how to date people.
Sephiroth locked his car and walked up to the house, blinking as he watched Genesis usher Cissnei out, not having met her before. She was a sweet looking girl with curly brown-red hair and creamy skin, but outside that Sephiroth really couldn't see much of her to describe as currently, her face was busy being lip-locked with Genesis. Sephiroth paused and waited for them to finish up, not wanting to intrude, but realized that he looked like a creeper standing in the middle of Genesis' yard in the dark. He sighed and finished walking up the yard, glad to see that Genesis was pulling away and he wouldn't feel too uncomfortable barging in on them. "Good evening."
Cissnei jumped and blushed, turning to Sephiroth and smiling sheepishly. "Hello, professor! Good to see you! Professor Genesis and I were-"
"Save it Cissnei, he knows. It's alright." Genesis smiled and nodded at Sephiroth.
Cissnei sighed in relief and smiled genuinely at him, extending her hand to him. "I'm Cissnei, nice to meet you in person!"
Sephiroth smiled and shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cissnei. Sorry to intrude on your date."
Cissnei smiled. "It's alright! We're finishing up anyways." She pecked Genesis on the cheek and smiled. "See you later, Genny."
Genesis blushed softly at the pet name but smiled anyways. "Bye, Cissy."
She took her turn at a blush and left, leaving Genesis and Sephiroth to stand in momentary awkward silence. Sephiroth cleared his throat, fighting a chuckle. "Are you going to let me inside, Genny?"
Genesis frowned and opened the door for Sephiroth. "Oh shut-up. You're going to get a sappy nickname someday too."
"And I give you full right to abuse it if it's ever used in your presence." Sephiroth chuckled and stepped inside, taking his shoes off.
Genesis smiled and shut the door. "So you wanted some coffee, right?"
"I definitely need some. French vanilla or hazelnut?" Sephiroth set his shoes by the door and stretched. He knew the only two flavors of coffee Genesis had and, while they weren't his favorites, he would drink either without protest.
"Hazelnut of course." Genesis led Sephiroth into the kitchen, his socked feet padding softly across the wooden floor. He started a pot of coffee brewing and then sat at the table, grinning widely. "So, what happened?"
Sephiroth sat across from Genesis and stretched. "Well…We went on a date?"
Genesis rolled his eyes. "Something had to have happened for you to be here instead of at home. What was so awesome or terrible about it?"
"Nothing terrible, at least I don't think so, but the awesome bits were…awesome?" Sephiroth was truly terrible at spilling out juicy facts.
Genesis couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose and squint his eyes as mental pain washed over him at Sephiroth's sudden stupidity. "I meant, what was good or bad about it? I wanted details."
"Oh, right." Sephiroth smiled sheepishly. "Well, we went to Josephine's and had dinner, he seemed pretty nervous the whole time but he kind of lightened up once we got to talking and didn't seem so skittish anymore. Then we went walking through the gardens across the street and then we window shopped and had ice cream and then I took him home."
"What do you mean by skittish?" Genesis raised an eyebrow.
Sephiroth rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "He acted like he wanted to run. It was quite endearing actually. It wasn't like he was scared, but more like his mind was going about a thousand miles an hour and his body wanted to run to keep up with it."
Genesis snorted and poured them coffee as the pot finished brewing. "So he was nervous and cute is what you're telling me?"
"Yes, that's what I'm telling you." Sephiroth chuckled softly.
"Well, that's good, I guess." Genesis passed Sephiroth coffee. "What did you talk about?"
"We talked about his future plans and I learned that he wants to be an engineer." Sephiroth ran a finger around the lip of his mug.
Genesis raised an eyebrow. "Your class isn't required for an engineering degree. None of your classes are. What the hell is he doing in your class?"
"That's what I asked." Sephiroth chuckled softly. "He said he took them to see if I was as good a teacher as he heard I was."
"So he spent a bunch of money to take your class on a whim?" Genesis scoffed softly over his coffee.
"No, he said he used extra money from scholarships to take them." Sephiroth smiled, glad that Reno wasn't an idiot and was able to get free money from the school.
"Oh, that's good then. Otherwise it'd be creepy." Genesis snorted.
"I offered to help him with a scholarship. Not do it for him, but give him ideas for it and proofread the essay he'd have to submit. Is that good or awful?" Sephiroth looked at Genesis earnestly, wondering why the ethics behind the move hadn't occurred to him when he had made it. Mostly he had been preoccupied with trying to gaze into Reno's soul, he thought.
"That's fine; just don't write it for him. I've helped students I was a fuck-buddy with get scholarships before and nobody cared. Hell, I'm helping Cissnei with a ten page paper right now. She's still struggling through topic choices though." Genesis smiled at Sephiroth kindly, trying to make him feel better. "You'll be able to figure out what is acceptable and what isn't by watching Angeal and Zack. They've kept their relationship hidden for a good while. I'm not even sure how long they've been dating."
"Really? You don't know?" Sephiroth blinked.
"Nope, no idea. I have guesses, but they probably aren't right. However long it is, it's long enough that Angeal is comfortable with taking him to his mother's house. He's planning a trip for this summer, did you know?" Genesis cocked his head to the side and looked at Sephiroth quizzically.
"No, I didn't." Sephiroth smiled, "I'm glad they're happy though."
"Same. Angeal deserves it." Genesis smiled and sipped at his cooling coffee. "So, what else did you do on your date?"
"Not much, but we've got another one planned for Friday." Sephiroth smiled, "It's not really a date, more like I'm reading his rough draft for his essay and going over it with him."
"That's boring as shit." Genesis wrinkled his nose.
"I've never been accused of being exciting." Sephiroth snorted.
"But that's really, really boring. Even for you. That's not a date, that's a meeting." Genesis warmed his coffee.
"What do you suggest I do then? I thought sitting in my office talking would be a good way to spend time." Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, confused why his idea of a date didn't meet Genesis' standards.
"Take him out to lunch? Or dinner? Or something that isn't just sitting in your office talking? Something romantic?" Genesis sipped his re-invigorated coffee happily.
"There's nothing wrong with just talking, Genesis and I can be as romantic as I'd like in my office. It'll be fine." Sephiroth shrugged and sipped his coffee.
"And if someone else decides to be romantic to him while you're busy talking?" Genesis warned, looking at Sephiroth pointedly. "Then what do you think he'll do?"
"Genesis, we've only been on one date. It's not like we're head over heels in love or anything, we're just getting started. Take it easy." Sephiroth frowned.
"Sorry, I just don't want to see you get this tugged out from under your feet because you beat around the bush instead of being direct with him." Genesis stood and rinsed out his coffee mug. "You done with your coffee?"
"Yes, I am." Sephiroth brought Genesis his mug and sighed. "I'll be fine, you know. I can handle this."
"Says the man who spent an entire day sitting in his office crumpling a love note because he didn't know how to handle it." Genesis scoffed as he washed the mugs clean.
Sephiroth frowned. "Wow, way to be a bitch, Genesis."
"Hey, I call it as I see it." Genesis smiled and set the mugs upside down on a towel to dry. "Let's call it quits for tonight. You're getting grumpy at me again."
"Sorry." Sephiroth cleared his throat, realizing how angry he had sounded. "I didn't mean to be rude. I'll see you at work, okay?"
"Sure." Genesis smiled and led Sephiroth to the door. "Just remember what I suggested? Keep in mind that for every one relationship you've had, I've had four, and that I might know a little more about dating than you?"
"That's why I have you on speed dial, Genesis, so I can ask the stupid questions while pretending to take a bathroom break on a date." Sephiroth smiled and pulled his shoes on quickly.
"Right. By the way, next time you might want to actually use that excuse so you can take a breather. It's not rude." Genesis held the door open for Sephiroth.
"I'll try to remember that." Sephiroth stood and walked out. "Good night, Genny."
"Leave before I shoot you. If you tell Angeal about that, I will show Reno pictures of that Christmas party three years ago." Genesis frowned.
"You told me you destroyed them all!" Sephiroth turned and stared at Genesis in horror. The pictures the red-head was referring to were photos of the first time Sephiroth had ever been drunk and he had not handle his liquor well.
"No, I said I got rid of them. By that, I meant that I hid them in a scrapbook somewhere in my house for later use as blackmail." Genesis smiled wickedly and shut the door, leaving Sephiroth standing on his doormat with a look of abject horror.
Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I updated this story. I've been soooo busy! Thank you for your patience, since summer is here the story should pick back up with regular updates.