AN ;; Uh oh. Hojo knows Cloud is a cetra from the way he can restore peoples'/creatures' memories from their other world spirits. So far, we've got Reeve (Cait Sith), Zack, Aeris, Elfé and now Nanaki (Red 13). Cloud's getting himself quite the party. However, where has Genesis gone off too? and what is up with Angeal? Maybe Zack can slap some sense into him this chapter, maybe not.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Running fingers through his raven hair, Zackary Fair let the blonde pass him, holding the door to his apartment open. Genesis had been gone for two days now, and throughout that entire time, Angeal had not moved from his place on the sofa; not to eat, not to sleep, not to piss. Zack wondered how he managed it, seeing as SOLDIERS required to eat and move constantly to burn off the mako in their systems. However Angeal was already starting to show signs that he was slowly weakening, his skin paling and cheekbones beginning to show through his stubble, while a deep, dark set of rings lay under his eyes. Zack had tried cooking something for his mentor and nearly set the kitchen on fire, but even then the first class did not move from where he sat, staring at his phone as though he expected a call.

When Angeal had been informed of Genesis' disappearance from ShinRa, he had simply flinched; lowering his cell phone and allowing it to drop to the side of his knee. Zack had been the one to suffer the crimson commander's rage and now bore the tiniest white mark on his throat where the blade had pierced his skin, the commander set on killing him had Tseng not shot him through the arm before the flames had collided with his head. Yet Angeal had not cared. The pup sat by his feet, trying to get some sort of response out of him as the burns on his arms ached beneath the bandages and ointment he had received from the infirmary, sounds similar to whines escaping him as he desperately begged his mentor to acknowledge his pain. Yet Angeal's eyes had not moved even in the slightest. Zack had given up after that, turning back to his duties until he gave Cloud a call and asked to meet him, having not seen the blonde since he had come running to him after Genesis' attack on the faculty. He worried about Cloud, who he had been told by his fellow second classes had been seen with Sephiroth on the balcony. Not fighting, simply…talking. And although Zack trusted the General not to turn on ShinRa, he did not believe his intentions for Cloud were any better than the ones Genesis had had planned for him with fire in his hands and eyes blazing like a madman, quoting Loveless near constantly as he battled with him. How Cloud had even managed to get to the balcony without a key card confused him; until he had been told the third class had simply got the elevator to the sixty ninth floor and then climbed up the wires to meet with Sephiroth, courtesy of the ever watching eyes of Cissnei and the other TURKS. Was Cloud really that desperate to be by the General's side? He had killed Aeris, torn his old world apart…yet Cloud was acting as though he worshipped the ground that Sephiroth walked on. It infuriated Zack, nearly as much as seeing Angeal in such a weak, pathetic state did.

Cloud entered the first class' apartment and sat down on the sofa opposite Angeal, noticing he did not even acknowledge his presence as he did so. He frowned slightly but chose not to say anything, knowing it was none of his business. Angeal was wearing a shirt, which had changed since Genesis' departure, so he must have got up at some point. Though in the state the commander was in, it seemed highly unlikely that he had moved other than that one time. Zack approached and stood over the both of them, seeming to glare at each of them in turn before exhaling loudly.

"Someone is going to explain to me," he began, his eyes closed, "what the fuck has been going on these past weeks?"

Angeal made no response. Cloud tilted his head slightly, staring up at the second class as though he was supposed to be carrying a huge secret. Well, other than the one about him being a cetra created by the lifestream; but Zack already knew that. When he also said nothing, Zack suddenly yelled at them.

"Why the hell aren't either of you saying anything!? Something is clearly going on behind my back and neither of you thought to tell me?! You two are tearing me apart!" he whipped his head to glare at Angeal, the first class SOLDIER still motionless, "Angeal! What the fuck happened between you and Genesis to make him go fucking AWOL on us!?" then he lashed round to Cloud, the blonde's eyes wide with confusion, "and you…why are you suddenly buddies with the General? After what he did to you!"

Angeal blinked. Cloud and Zack turned to him as the commander suddenly spoke for the first time in weeks.

"Sephiroth did something to you?"

Cloud blinked, swallowing. He wondered if Zack was referring to his past life with the silver hair, or the wound he received fighting with Sephiroth a while back. He did not know which one he was supposed to respond with as Angeal's hardened stare continued to mould onto him. He was soon saved by Zack, who was running hands through his hair.

"It was Sephiroth who hurt Cloud in the training rooms! If you gave a damn about anyone but yourself you would know that!" he turned to his mentor, unleashing his full fury he had tried to keep locked inside of him, "you obviously don't care about me, about Genesis, about anyone but yourself and your stupid honour!"

"My honour-!"

"Your honour is certainly helping right now, isn't it?! Genesis has gone mad and it's all your fault! He said you did this to him! What did you do to him!?" Zack was panting, tears threatening to break through his resolve as he glared at the bearded man.

Angeal stared at his pup, watching as a tear finally managed to break it's way past his eyelashes and run down his cheeks, the stress of the past weeks finally making it's way out of Zack's system. A low exhale made it's way past his lips.

"We….we had…"

"What?! What could you possibly say to make any of this make sense!?"

"We had sex, Zack."

Cloud felt blood rushing to his cheeks as he unwillingly pictured the two commanders in such an act together. He coughed loudly, leaping to his feet and making his way past the two raven haired SOLDIERS, not wanting to know any of the details as he stepped outside the apartment door and waited in the hallway. Zack did not spare a glance at the blonde third class as he stared in absolute shock at his mentor.

"You…did…what?"

Angeal looked away from him, holding his head in one hand.

"We…well…" he cleared his throat, not wanting to discuss this with his apprentice but finding he was not going to get out of the situation without an explanation, "at the party…I had a bit to drink…"

"You never drink." Zack muttered partially to himself as he looked away, feeling incredibly awkward about this entire moment.

"Genesis and I…we…" Angeal ran the hand through his hair, "gods be damned, Zack. Do you not understand what I'm saying?!"

"I get what you're saying!" Zack snapped, eyes still blazing with fury, "what I don't get is why you two fucking would end up in Genesis tearing the place apart!"

"I don't know."

"Bullshit!" Zack slammed his hands down on the sofa arm, teeth bared as he bristled like a ferocious wolf, "what the fuck did you do to him, Angeal!?"

"Nothing!"

"Then why did he try to kill me!?" Zack's anger was not melting. In fact, it simply became more apparent with each passing moment the two men glared on at each other. After a minute of silence, Angeal murmured his response.

"I…I rejected him."

"…What?"

"After…that…" the commander closed his eyes, trying to keep the memories repressed deep in the back of his mind, "Zack, you have to understand, my honour...-"

"What does your honour have to do with this?!"

Angeal's eyes widened with his own scorn. He flew to his feet, nearly knocking the table over as he confronted his apprentice with unbent ire.

"He's a man!"

"So fucking what! You think anyone gives a shit anymore? Half the goddamn army is gay!" Zack threw his arms up in the air, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Rufus fucking ShinRa likes it up the ass! How does your honour affect where you stick your cock!?"

"It's a matter of self respect!" Angeal roared, "I will not engage in such relations with just anyone!"

"Genesis isn't just anyone though, is he!?" Zack snapped back, getting up on the balls of his feet so he was the same height as his mentor, "none of this crap matters if you love him!"

Angeal went silent. He sunk away from Zack, taking his place on the sofa yet again, composing himself as he ran his hands across his face. Zack panted, still glaring with narrowed eyes at his mentor as Angeal shook his head.

"I don't know, Zack…"

"Know what?!"

"I don't know if I love him."

Zack's breathing slowed, he stared down at Angeal as though he was not the same man he had known for over four years. Taking a few steps back, he shook his head.

"You slept with him without knowing how you really felt?" when Angeal did not reply, Zack seethed, "you fucking moron…"

Angeal's eyes widened as he stared at his apprentice in a mixture of shock and anger. He had never been so disrespectful as to openly, or even in secret, insult him. He snarled loudly.

"You think Genesis gave a damn!? No! he begged for it as though his life depended on it, just as he does with everyone, male or female!" Angeal replied bitterly, his insides twisting as he wondered how many people the crimson commander had actually been with.

"He only did that because you kept rejecting him!" Zack did not care it was the lustful, autocratic Genesis he was defending; Angeal's argument was immature and meaningless, "did you expect him to just sit back and wait for you? You've kept him hanging on a string for years!"

"I-" Angeal did not know what to respond with. He slunk back into his knees, curling up on the furniture as Zack glared down at him. How could his mentor be so intelligent, yet so insanely stupid? He turned, making his way back to the door to retrieve Cloud, when he heard that strange, deep laugh vibrating slightly beyond the doorway. The redness in his cheeks from shouting suddenly dispirited, as he realised who the blonde was talking to outside the entranceway.


Cloud wondered how long the two were going to argue for. He sat on the floor of the first class hallway, hoping none of them would come out and start listening to Angeal and Zack fighting in their shared apartment. Not that they probably couldn't already hear, the loudness coming from the room from each yell caused the walls to shake slightly. Cloud assumed the argument could be heard from at least three floors down. He sighed, leaning his head back against the wall as the elevator down the hallway slid open, the man making his way towards him with slow, perfectly balanced steps.

"Cloud?"

Turning his sapphire gaze up, Cloud found the black boots by his feet. He moved his gaze upward, taking in the General's form until he stopped at his feline eyes. He found he was no longer afraid, simply confused. Had Sephiroth heard the pair arguing and come to investigate? The General however, did not move to open the door. He leaned back against the wall and smiled slightly at the blonde. Cloud felt like an explanation for his being there was due.

"Zack and Angeal are-"

"Yes, I heard."

Cloud could have rolled his eyes. Of course he had. Everyone in the facility could probably hear the two SOLDIERS screaming at each other within the apartment. Cloud leaned his head back slightly, tilted it to the side as he pressed his now aching ear against a shoulder, no longer in his uniform as it was his afternoon off. He wore a simple pair of black trousers and a white shirt, nothing too fancy; he was only visiting Zack after all and had hardly any clothes other than the third class uniforms shared amongst the similar sized men.

"Why are you sat out here?"

Sephiroth's question was oddly…friendly. He acted as though they were friends. Friends? Was that the right word to use? Acquaintances. Yes, that sounded much better, considering who it was he was talking about. Cloud sighed.

"Didn't want to hear all the details." he didn't mention those details being of the two commanders getting it on. He shivered internally at the thought. Genesis Rhapsodos, the ever lustful pest of ShinRa, with the honourable Angeal Hewley? He could barely picture it, imagining two entirely different beings instead. He shook his head, wondering why Sephiroth was there. "Why are you here?" he forgot to add the 'sir' after his question but decided he'd see how far he could go in talking to the General like they were on equal standing. If the General didn't like it, he could simply ignore him.

"I came to see Angeal." another loud shout was heard in the apartment as Sephiroth replied, "but I see he is presently engaged."

Cloud felt a soft laugh escape him. Sephiroth tilted his head, questioning the blonde's sudden amusement.

"You talk funny." Cloud knew he sounded like a child but could not help it. He had been so used to the General being his enemy, that talking to him without receiving threats or a sword in the gut was incredibly strange to him.

"Funny? I rarely engage in humour."

Cloud just laughed even harder. When he turned his eyes back to Sephiroth, a small smile was tugging on the corners of his lips. The General was usually so emotionless, that even a tiny smirk like the one he displayed now made Cloud feel warm inside. This was most definitely not the man who had tormented him so.

The door slid open, Zack stepping out of the room to find the two perfectly content in the corridor, Sephiroth's blade still sheathed while Cloud simply sat laughing to himself. Zack stared at the two in confusion; did Cloud not tell him about how Sephiroth tried to destroy the world? Even if they were not the same man, how could he be so calm, so relaxed beside a monster who could do that? He turned his hardened sapphire gaze to the General, who made no movement, nor acknowledgment of him being there, simply continuing to stare down at the blonde. Zack let out a loud exhale.

"Cloud," he smiled to his friend slightly, then turned to the General, "Sephiroth."

"Zack." the silver haired man finally turned his gaze to the second class when Cloud got to his feet.

"Are you alright?" Cloud asked, concern tinged in every word. Zack was silent, leaning into him and pulling him into a tight hug, then grinned widely.

"Course I am! Made of nails me!" he turned his stare to the General, who's eyes seemed to radiate a bitter frost as he examined the display before him, Zack refusing to move his arms from around the teenager, "come on, let's watch a film or something. Sephy here will keep Angeal out the way." Zack noticed the small smirk playing on Sephiroth's lips as he turned, pulling Cloud into the apartment living area with him.

He near carried the blonde to the sofa where Angeal had taken refuge for a few weeks, the first class now standing numbly in the kitchen, motionless until he saw the General and nodded, his eyes softening considerably. Sephiroth approached him as Zack continued to cling to Cloud, holding him on his lap with one arm while he used the remote to flick through the channels on the television to find something to watch. He eventually stopped on a movie channel, grinning widely as Cloud sat limply in his arms, like a doll.

"Found one." he glanced around, noticing Sephiroth thoroughly engaged in conversation quietly in the kitchen with his fellow first class, and released Cloud from his arms. The blonde shifted off of him, sitting on the sofa beside him as he smiled slightly at the television. "It's called 'Lovesick'."

"What's it about?" sixteen year old Cloud Strife had not seen many films as a child, due to living with his mother in the mountainous town of Nibelheim, where the radars seemed uninterested in their little village and so television consisted only of films brought to them from nearby villages, rather than the television itself.

"This girl is in love with a guy, but when she finds out her old enemy isn't what he appears, she falls in love with him too," Zack informed, keeping an eye on the silver haired General in the kitchen as he consolidated his mentor, "the girl is confused and doesn't know who to pick. The men are at war, and she has to fight her love for old enemy, whilst being engaged to the guy on her side. In the end, the men fight, and one is killed." he grinned, "it's a great film, I saw it a few months ago in the pictures with Aeris."

Cloud, however, was frowning. He could feel Sephiroth very close by and found he wanted to be beside him, despite his comfortableness around Zack. He turned his head to glance at the two first classes in the kitchen area when Zack began to laugh at the television, finding his eyes came locked on to Sephiroth's. The two refused to break eye contact, Cloud's heart beginning to beat faster as his lower lip fell ever so slightly away from the rest of his mouth, his entire body beginning to shiver as cold trails made their way down his spine and towards his lower regions, colliding with a burning fire within him. When Sephiroth smiled, it was all it took to drive Cloud over the edge. He turned away, jolting his head to face the television screen rather than the General. Zack glanced at him before dropping his arm over his shoulders again and pulling him close, his warmth radiating into Cloud's small structure. But inside of him, the feeling of the ice in his heart refused to be melted by the heat emanating from the second class.

AN ;; there we have it. The board is set. Cloud has feelings for both Zack and Sephiroth now, and he knows it. Feel free to leave me a small review with your thoughts? ^_^

~ Nightfall