Never tried this point of view before. I was just reading (re-reading in a couple cases) some time-travel fics and started wondering how they got to be friends in the first place. Genesis's character is hard to nail down since we don't really get to see him before he went nuts.

Human

"So this is the great hero Sephiroth!"

The young man in question turned slightly. Normally he would ignore such a statement, except it lacked both the adoration of a fan and the condescension of a scientist. He wasn't sure how to describe the tone exactly. Perhaps challenging?

The boy (though, to be honest, they were probably about the same age) standing behind him seemed far too pleased with himself and the freshly laundered third class uniform he wore.

Then he did something highly peculiar.

"There is no hate, only joy/For you are beloved by the goddess/Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds."

Sephiroth raised a single eyebrow. "What."

"Loveless, Act II." When Sephiroth did not react, the boy's mouth gaped like a landed fish. Sephiroth found the expression highly amusing. "You... Don't tell me you've never heard of Loveless!"

He thought for a moment, not so much to remember if he had or not but on how to phrase his response. "It's a play of some sort, correct?"

More gaping. The boy looked positively horrified now. He continued to make odd noises until another boy, this one dark haired and broader, turned a corner of the hallway into view.

"Genesis? What's going on?"

The first boy, Genesis, apparently, turned to the newcomer while pointing back at Sephiroth. "This, this barbarian posing as a hero called Loveless a play! Of some sort!

The newcomer chuckled. "Well, that is technically accurate."

"I don't care! He has insulted me! I... I challenge you to a duel!" Genesis even went so far as to remove one of his gloves and throw it at Sephiroth. The bit of newly sewn leather flopped uselessly at Sephiroth's feet.

For a moment, Sephiroth wasn't sure how to respond. He'd been challenged before, certainly, mostly by new thirds wanting to test their skill against the best or older recruits who had a hard time believing the rumors. Both learned their lessons quickly.

But a duel? Over an insult? Maybe in Wutai, he still hadn't fully learned the language (perhaps because he wasn't trying) and not all of the enemy soldiers there bothered to use Continental. It struck him as odd to take something as petty as literary preferences so personally.

Well, he had provoked the new third, the least he could do was spare the boy further embarrassment.

"I refuse."

"What!?" Genesis's eyes widened to the point where Sephiroth almost considered the possibility that they would pop out of his head. "The hero is not only illiterate but a coward?"

"Genesis."

"Angeal." Ah, so the dark-haired youth had a name. "I am attempting to defend my honor. I should think you of all people would understand that."

Honor? What an interesting concept. Sephiroth considered that it might be best to find another way to defuse this situation. "You are a third class, and newly raised at that from the state of your uniform. A fight between us at this point would only serve to wound your honor further."

Angeal smiled, or, rather, smiled again, as he had been smiling until Genesis made that comment about literacy. Genesis, on the other hand, simply stuck his nose in the air.

"I see. In that case I will put my challenge on hold until I catch up with you. And mark my words, I will catch up with you. 'Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return.'"

Both Angeal and Sephiroth watched Genesis stalk away, one with understanding amusement and the other with well-hidden confusion.

"Sorry about that. My friend can be rather excitable." Angeal extended a hand toward Sephiroth. "You probably already caught it, but my name is Angeal."

It took a moment for Sephiroth to realize he was supposed to shake the offered hand. "Sephiroth."

Angeal laughed. "So I heard. Perhaps if you aren't busy you could sit with us at supper. It might help smooth Genesis's ruffled feathers."

Something told Sephiroth it would be a bad idea to point out that Genesis didn't have feathers. "I'll... see."

"Good! I'll be looking for you in the mess hall!" With that, Angeal disappeared down the hall, probably in search of his overly emotional friend.

Friends. Sephiroth stared at his now empty hand. He wasn't sure what might happen in the future, but he thought he would like to get to know those two a little better.

Even if they weren't friends, they were the first people to treat him as a human being. It felt... good.