"You aggravating little imp!" Genesis roared as he paced up and down the length of Angeal's living room. After Arinna had finished apologizing for the rest of the year, Angeal was able to get her settled down on the couch with a glass of iced tea in one hand before he decided to call in Genesis. To say the least Genesis wasn't happy.
"You have any idea of what you've done? By the gods, I shouldn't have to be lecturing you! I leave that to Angeal!" He snarled out stopping in front of Angeal who sat beside the flushing teen with a light hearted chuckle.
"I'm not going to lecture anyone, Genesis. You can't blame her. If anything this was brought upon by yourself. If you had let Zack take the paper work instead of Arinna-"
"He would have chewed right through all my work. I very much doubt that President Shinra would believe the excuse of 'Angeal's puppy ate my assignment!'" Genesis argued throwing up his hands before he lowered himself onto the armchair across from the darker haired couple. He moaned pressing his head into his hands all the while disrupting his usual hairstyle.
"You know very well that Zack would have delivered the paperwork properly. You simply wanted to see-" Angeal began to say when Genesis's head snapped up and shot the First Class a deathly glare. Meanwhile Arinna sank deeper and deeper into the couch feeling like there was more to this than meets the eye…it seemed like that was today's theme.
"Don't you dare go there, Angeal. Especially with her sitting right there!" Genesis hissed shooting a look in Arinna's direction as her embarrassment increased as well as agitation.
"Since I just love that you talk about me like I'm not here!" Arinna growled back at Genesis more angry with him than with Angeal, who remained silent through the spat between the roommates. He was curious to see how this would turn out…usually with Genesis, not good.
"Did you even consider contacting me once you woke up? Do you have any idea of the hell you've put me through-"
"What about me? I was the one who was electrocuted and woke up in the General's bed! It was like he was interrogating me and I swear to God, I don't think I'm scared of much else anymore!"
"I should hope so after giving me the fright of my life!"
"I was in his freaking bed! You were scared but trust me there's nothing more frightening-"
"Try explaining your convenient disappearance to Director Lazard! He'd have my head for letting suspicious child out onto the streets of Midgar-"
"I have done nothing wrong!" She shouted as she leapt up from her spot on the couch just as Genesis rose from his as well. Angeal had the blink of an eye to step between then and barely did it just in time as both young adults tried to have a go at each other. However his real focus was stopping Arinna since it seemed like she was the one trying to actually land a hit on the First Class while Genesis seemed to want nothing more than to glower over the frustrated teen.
"Let go of me! One swing! Just one hard hit across his head is all I want!" She growled out as Angeal's arms quickly wrapped around her torso while pinning her arms to her sides thus nullifying any chance she had of attacking the LOVELESS enthusiast. All the while Genesis stepped back as his hand covered his lips as he tried to stifle laughter at the sight of Angeal actually holding back Arinna. He figured Angeal's honor wouldn't allow him to stop the girl so forcefully and definitely not as gentlemanly as he's known for being.
"Throwing a temper tantrum? How petty, Arinna. I thought you were better than that-" He snickered as her nostrils flared at the comment and fought even harder against Angeal. She didn't care at that moment of Angeal seeing her so unhinged…but she wanted nothing more than to tackle Genesis to the ground and continuously hit him.
"Angeal!" She growled out as she continued to fight but it was like trying to punch a hole into a steel beam with just your bare hand. "Just once can you forget that he's your friend and let me hit him!"
"Sorry, sweetheart." Genesis said with a sickly sweet voice, obviously meant to antagonize her further. "We made a pact to stop whatever fan girl who tried to strangle and/or hurt the other."
"Genesis, you're not helping the situation." Angeal snapped as he tightened his grip around Arinna as she fought even harder than before. She never really had a chance of breaking away from Angeal's grasp but the sheer determination was certainly not something to be trifled with.
"Never said I was going to help." Genesis snickered out as Arinna glared and if it were possible snarled at him. The red haired Lieutenant smirked then turned toward the door as the inevitable words came to pass and continued to annoy Arinna. "My friend, the fates are cruel. There are no dreams, no honor remains. The arrow has left the bow of the goddes-."
Genesis didn't know what hit him. Actually he did, but he certainly wasn't expecting it. Angeal drew the line at LOVELESS, he usually could ignore the taunts and LOVELESS quoting. However, when it came to friends and when Genesis was especially trying to antagonize them, Angeal would 'accidentally' let them have their way. Such as this case. By the time Genesis had gotten out 'There are no dreams' Angeal had released Arinna, who momentarily stared up at him confused then began to grin wickedly before she tackled the LOVELESS fanatic to the ground, sat on his muscled torso and promptly began to land blows. Angeal knew very well that Arinna couldn't actually hurt Genesis and that she wasn't all that strong, but he knew she needed a let out. After all that she's gone through and all the anger, frustration, fear and worry, it was about time for her to have her moment.
And boy did she. She put all her might into those punches and all the while Genesis was yelping out for Angeal to get Arinna off of him as he tried to grab hold of the furious teen's wrists. Meanwhile Angeal leaned against the far wall trying to hold back his booming laughter at the sight. He had never seen Genesis so…flustered.
"Let her have her fun, Genesis." Angeal snickered as Arinna landed a fairly loud thwack on Genesis's chest as he finally caught hold of one of her arms. The darker haired SOLDIER First normally didn't tolerate this, especially since it seemed like Arinna had the upper hand even thought she was against a SOLDIER Lieutenant. It wasn't very honorable for her to sit on top of Genesis and furiously whack at him but he'd make the exception for her.
Then Commander Hewley's azure eyes began to soften as he saw Arinna's struggling and fighting begin to die down to weak slaps and teary eyes. Genesis also noticed the blinding rage die down and quickly took advantage of it as he snatched up her other wrist. By the time he had her completely incapacitated she weakly crying. For a moment Genesis just stared up at the girl in utter shock. What happened to mad teenage that seemed intent on bludgeoning him to death? Genesis slowly sat up, his hands still keeping a firm grip on the crying teen as he glanced to Angeal for help. He had no clue of what do to with the sobbing teen and neither did Angeal.
Genesis released Arinna's wrists and was about to push her off of him when she abruptly threw her arms around his neck and continued to sob into his shoulder. All of Genesis's hopes of understanding the emotional girl was shattered as she continued to cry, but there were something's that he could see why she was upset. He knew he wasn't the kindest person around and he knew he asked a lot of the girl who managed his apartment and yet never once asked for any kind of pay. Sighing Genesis hesitantly wrapped his arms around the teen as her tears began to stop and her sniffling was dying down. As he held the upset teen a memory of his own childhood sent him on a nostalgia trip…
"Its not fair! Its not fair!" He shouted out with a stamp of his foot, within the Hewley residence in Banora. He was seven years old and it was summertime. A time where most kids would gather together and hurry towards the closest waterfall in the region, which was about a two mile hike, to beat the heat.
"They never let me do anything!" He cried out again before he threw himself into Mrs. Hewley's arms and loudly sobbed out all his hurt and anger. All the while the older woman drew him up onto her lap and let him pour out all his sorrows. The Rhapsodos's hated the fact Genesis had become friends with Angeal, one of the poorer citizens of the community, and they absolutely did not want him to go trekking through the fields to play in a waterfall. It simply wasn't done. The news practically broke the seven year old's heart and it was shattered beyond comprehension when he ran to the Hewley home to discover that Angeal had been allowed to go.
"There, there, Genesis." She soothed gently smoothing out the boy's flame like hair. He was more her son than his actual parents, and she loved him just as much as her own son. She was more than comfortable reprimanding Genesis and as unlikely as it seemed, Genesis took her scolding better than his own parents. He'd always apologize then hug the woman before he took off with her son to do something that would end up with them returning cut up and bruised…but happy. And it was for that reason that Genesis's parents loathed Gillian Hewley, simply because their son seemed to care for her than the Rhapsodos's. But really? Who's the blame to that?
"There, there, Arinna. We'll…find a way to work through this." Genesis murmured drawing his head close to Arinna's as she continued to cling to him and the smell of her hair wafted up to his nose. Rain. The cool, clean, crisp scent of air after a long rain. He thought momentarily then released his hold on the girl as she began to move out of his grasp and climb away from him. She took in a breath and quickly brought up her hand to rub away the tears.
"I'm sorry." She said rather weakly then looked up to Angeal then back to Genesis who seemed to stare at the girl like she was some piece of literature to be studied. Her cheeks flushed as her dark hazel eyes darted to the carpeting that her fingernails were currently digging into nervously. "That was really stupid of me. I'm sorry. I don't know- I just…I'm sorry. Letting my stupid emotions get the better of me."
"Its alright, Arinna. You've been keeping a lot to yourself, haven't you?" Angeal said as he crouched down to her level and gently placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. The distraught teen looked up at him and shook her head with a pathetic excuse for a smile.
"More than you will ever know, Angeal." She said silently laughing at the irony of it all. Every moment of the day, every time she saw Zack or Cloud, when Angeal and Genesis would come into the apartment the urge to tell them everything about the future was unbearable. How could she continue doing what she was doing and still know that they were all doomed to die? That Cloud would be suffering endless guilt for what would happen? That Genesis would go through the degradation and when he's finally cured, lock himself away underneath Midgar? That the cheery Zack Fair would one day be forced to kill his own mentor? It was unbearable.
"Well now that's taken care of, I think its time we stop burdening Angeal with our company. Don't you agree, Arinna?" Genesis asked as he moved to stand up and lightly dust himself off then held out his hand to help the teen to her feet. She stared up at then looked at the hand offered to her. Things seemed even more confusing than before. The whole time she was crying and hitting him, she was tensed for the moment Genesis would throw her off of him and begin to yell about her uncivilized and unlady like behavior. But he did neither. He simply held her. And not that she wasn't grateful…but it did send her nerves haywire at the odd change of attitude.
"You're right." She said placing her hand in his as he pulled her up then she looked to see Angeal smirking at the sight. Her face reddened even more when she realized that he was looking more to her than Genesis…what she couldn't get was why he was smirking. The mischievous glimmer in his eye and the deathly glare Genesis sent in return.
"Don't you dare say a word, Hewley!" Genesis growled out as he began to lead Arinna out of Angeal's apartment, who in turn shrugged at Genesis's threat and followed the two to walk them out the door.
"I didn't say anything, Genesis. You're the one making assumptions and the simple fact that those thoughts are in your head must mean-" Angeal teased as Genesis paused in the middle of the door way then looked back to Arinna as anger seemed to roll off of him.
"Why don't you head back to the apartment, Arinna. I have a few things to discuss with Angeal." Genesis bit out as Arinna quickly nodded and was about to take off down the hall before Genesis's explosion erupted when she paused for a moment to look back at Angeal.
"Goodnight, Angeal. Thanks for everything." She said with a shy smile then winced as Genesis whirled on her.
"Thanks? What on Gaia has he done?"
"Genesis, just leave the girl alone." Angeal reprimanded as Genesis turned to his childhood friend and roughly pushed him back inside his apartment.
"You! I'm not finished with you!" He snarled out as the apartment door shut leaving Arinna outside a bit worried…and a bit amused that Angeal could get Genesis so worked up. How she loved being around them. Never a dull moment.
Meanwhile Angeal was receiving the scolding of his life. Genesis was furiously pacing up and down his apartment while Angeal desperately tried to hold back his laughter. To him, Genesis was an open book.
"What on Gaia were you thinking! Saying such things in front of her!" Genesis shouted at the SOLDIER First who simply winced at the volume of his friend's voice.
"No need to shout, Genesis-"
"Yes there is because you've just humiliated me in front of her!"
"I thought you didn't care what she thought of you-"
"I-I don't!" He sputtered out realizing his mistake. "I simply don't want her going around and blurting out this nonsense to others in the building-"
"She never leaves the apartment, Genesis-"
"Your puppy comes by on a daily basis and eats my food! Which is another thing I've been meaning to speak to you about!"
"Don't change the subject, Genesis."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Is it that hard for you to admit that she's more than an employee to you." Angeal said as he lowered himself onto his couch and watched as Genesis froze in the middle of his hallway and sighed in defeat.
"Will it get you to quit with the remarks?"
"I never said-"
"Yes. Angeal. She's more than an employee. After living with someone for an amount of time, your thoughts of them change. But-" He said slowly turning to his best friend to make sure he knew exactly what he meant. "I could never think of her in that light. She's become…a dear friend to me."
Angeal smiled then shook his head before pushing himself up and towards his friend once more to place a hand on his shoulder. Genesis's eyes narrowed then pushed Angeal's hand off of him before sauntering towards the door once more.
"Was that so hard to admit?" Angeal called out as Genesis tightly gripped the door knob.
"There are times that I really hate you, Angeal."
"Oh, I know. And yet, we're still friends."
"Simply because I decide to put up with you." Genesis smirked then left the Angeal's apartment and towards the elevator. Angeal however was roaring with laughter. Genesis put up with him? If he only knew that it was the other way around.
Wow. I can only say wow. Actually I can say more, but wow is the first thing. I got soo many reviews wanting Ari and Zack...BUT the poll says you all want Arinna and Genesis? One person I can recall asked for Genesis in the reviews and now its three? Goodness, people like pairing the heroine with the villian, huh? But I still stress that ArinnaX- pairing is still a go for ANY character (as long as its not a girl because I just...ew. Don't approve of that.)
Thanks for all the lovely reviews! And time traveling? Maybe or maybe it is luck...probably not. Everyone's favorite and least known character of the Final Fantasy VII series will finally be making his short lived appearance. Nosy little 2nd class that he is, has to meet Zack's new girlfriend who's a girl and a friend...and Arinna finally gets to go outside! Woot!
Reviews much obliged! ~God Bless!~