AN ;; I've gone back through the old chapters and changed the word 'faculty' to 'facility'. I never noticed I had been using that word by mistake ;_;' forgive my bad author skills. Also updated some chapters quite a considerable bit before I started this one. Thank you to the reviewers who pointed out my mistakes. Also got rid of a couple of Genesis' 'purring' situations so he doesn't seem /too/ much like a cat. I really do appreciate your reviews, guys, it helps me hunt down any errors I make and improves the story as a whole :3 So, time for a new chapter.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Genesis raised an eyebrow as the blonde third class approached him, a leg hanging over the banister ledge as he waited impatiently upon the balcony of the President's office. Cloud had not taken long at all, at the most thirty minutes. Maybe Sephiroth wasn't as cut up to slack as Genesis had first thought. A feral smirk made it's way across his lips, white hair flickering in the night breeze. His jacket had turned a dark grey, his degradation was near complete, his wing was now slumped upon the ground, appearing broken. He did not move when Cloud stopped before him, holding a single vial of blood in his hands. Genesis mused to himself. How had the boy managed to get a hold of that, unless he broke into the science department… which would explain why he did not seem as though he would collapse from pain in his hips at any moment. The third class must have chosen to include Sephiroth in of their transaction. This was very pleasing to the crimson commander. It simply meant he would set fire to the boy as soon as he received the S cells.
"I see you have…brought me…the cells…" he held out a hand, wheezing as he spoke, "give them to me…"
"No."
Genesis' eyes widened, fury pouring through his veins. Insolent runt! He tried to unleash the flames within him, yet the sword he held stayed quiet, refusing to take to blaze, his powers completely drained. He had no way of forcing the boy to give him his cure, Angeal's cure. Stubbornly, the crimson commander lowered his head, knowing full well that he would do anything to save his lover, and replied with slow, weakened words, lost of all the passion Genesis Rhapsodos once held.
"Why…?"
"I do not trust you, Genesis. I will not give you the cells, not until you promise me something." Cloud replied, his sapphire irises hardening, pretending that he did not care that the crimson commander was on death's doorstep, ready to be cast into a wooden box and buried six feet down. Yet he would not give Genesis the cure, not if he did not have the complete loyalty of the man. Genesis could simply heal himself and continue his onslaught of the facility, of the world, but this way, Cloud held the power.
"What…do you want…?" Genesis questioned meekly, his eyes closing, a sigh escaping his lips.
"You will pledge your loyalty to me." Cloud stated his demands, holding the vial of blood in his right hand, unarmed but knowing that the degrading man before him could do nothing, "you will come when I command, fight by my side as a warrior, as a friend…"
"A friend...? I am your enemy, you stupid boy..."
"No. You are ShinRa's enemy. Not my own."
"I am...a monster..." Genesis' eyes narrowed, "I am the world's enemy..."
"You are just as human as I am, Genesis."
His eyes widening, the crimson commander glowered at Cloud with a mixture of disbelief and interest in his stare.
"What...?"
"I am a cetra, a champion of the lifestream. It doesn't matter if you're not human, because I'm not either. If ShinRa ever discovered what I truly am..." he smiled softly, shaking his head, "humans have forgotten what their mother race did for them, so long ago...they would hunt me down, pull my body apart, spit on my corpse...humans fear what they do not understand...there are no such things as monsters, only the misunderstood..." he explained, Genesis continuing to glower at him, as though he was taking in the reasoning but not quite willing to accept it. He changed his direction, refusing to become nothing more than a dog for another man, be it President ShinRa or Cloud, without good reason.
"And what…if I refuse…?" Genesis' autocracy was still present, showing Cloud that despite the man losing nearly everything - his title, his body, his mind… he was still the same crimson commander. A man with unwavering loyalty, a phoenix cast in golden chains, blazing through entire armies in the name of whoever held his allegiance.
"The planet is dying, Genesis." Cloud began to walk closer to the man, the black feathers growing out from that fifth limb weakly shifting beneath the evening winds, "I need your help. The planet needs your help."
"You sound like…AVALANCHE…" Genesis tried to chuckle but coughed out blackness from his mouth, spilling out the oil like liquid down his chest, running over his chin and lower lip, teeth darkened with the sickness.
"I don't want you to die, Commander. But if you stand in my way, I have no choice but to leave you to your fate. Join me, be the warrior you were truly meant to be, burn through our enemies." Cloud's eyes narrowed into sharp blue slits, "for Angeal…"
Genesis' gaze widened at this. He turned to Cloud fully, grimacing, pulling away from the banister and falling to his knees, reaching out his weapon towards the blonde's legs, trying desperately to gain the strength to fight.
"If you…hurt him…"
"You have mistaken me," Cloud murmured softly, stepping past the blade and getting down to the crimson commander's level, crouching, "I want Angeal by my side, too."
Genesis was glaring, yet when he heard this statement from the blonde third class, he lowered his head, staring down at the hand holding out the blood to him. When he tried to reach for it with his left hand, the vial nearly spilled in Cloud's hand to the floor, Genesis almost knocking it over, too weak to grip down on it. Cloud frowned, running a hand under the crimson commander's chin, he pressed the open bottle against the man's lips, pouring in the S cells. Genesis swallowed them weakly, but as soon as the DNA came into contact with his body, he began to convulse, coughing out the blackness over Cloud's body and pulling back, desperately gasping for air, the wing on his back shifting and pulsating, the black feathers pulling away, escaping into the wind and turning to ash. Genesis fell to the side, his hair suddenly shifting from white to a dark grey, then the auburn rippled through each strand from the roots to tips, his skin darkening from pale to mocha tan, his jacket becoming scarlet once more. His wounds sealing, bullets pushing out of the flesh and landing onto the ground, Genesis let out an exasperated sigh, finally free of the agony which had been pulsating within him for so long. Restored to his former glory, the flames exploding around the crimson commander's arms and burned wildly, a grin spreading across Genesis' lips. The wing upon his back began to grow out feathers again, but this time, they were as white as newborn snowflakes, falling from the winter sky. The crimson commander sat on one knee for a while, absorbing his newly regained strength, before tilting his head back and releasing a low, husky laugh.
Cloud frowned. He pulled out the second vial from his pocket, holding it before the commander. Genesis twitched, turning to the blonde, still smirking that grotesque, signature sneer.
"My friend, the fates are cruel…" shifting from where he was positioned, Genesis stood up fully, the wing spreading out behind him, releasing a gust of wind across the concrete rooftop, tilting his head to the side, "you trust this traitor enough to restore his powers, unsure if he would turn his blade on you now, unarmed maiden?"
"I know you will not hurt me." Cloud replied simply, holding the vial in his hands, "Angeal is not the only man with unbreakable honour."
"Heh, you compare me to Angeal?" Genesis found this amusing. Never had anyone thought of him similar to his lover. It...pleased him. He took to one knee, that over confidence within him shining through, acting out the part of the fully restored warrior. Bowing on one knee before the blonde, Genesis let draw a soft purr, "I pledge my loyalty to you, Cloud Strife. Yet why you have chosen to give me a second chance escapes my knowledge."
"You are not an evil man, Genesis." the third class gave the vial to Genesis, who took it and stared intensely at the scarlet liquid, tinted with a strange green sheen, "you were simply made that way by the world around us."
"There is no hate, only joy…" the red head murmured, standing and staring down at the shorter male, "for you…are beloved by the goddess…" slipping the vial into a jacket pocket, Genesis turned his head away, approaching the banister once again, walking slow enough to signal for the blonde to follow, "and what would you ask of me first, my liege?"
"Take Angeal and wait for my command in Cosmo Canyon." Cloud informed, Genesis placing a foot onto the banister before pulling himself up and squatting on the metal, wing held safely by his side, "my friends will keep you both safe until the time is right."
"I am to be cast aside like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind?" Genesis raised an eyebrow, continuing to grin, "very well, Cloud. I shall bid you, adeu." Cloud took a step back when Genesis released his fifth limb, a flurry of white feathers erupting into the sky, the wind catching them to create a ripple of blinding white, "out of curiosity's sake, Cloud…" Cloud slowed, Genesis glancing back at him with a cerulean iris, "how did you convince Sephiroth to give you the cells?"
Cloud smiled softly.
"You're not the only one who has a beloved waiting for them, Genesis."
Genesis laughed softly at this. His attempts to get Sephiroth a lover had finally worked. He felt fulfilled by the prospect, considering he had gone through hundreds of individuals searching for the right one to complete the silver General. His old friend had finally become whole. Leaping forward, he leapt into the skies, plummeting towards the ground before beating his wing, gliding upward and through the night sky, glistening beneath the winter starlight.
Cloud continued to stand there smiling to himself until Genesis disappeared from sight, the last flicker of red blur vanishing into the darkness beyond. He sighed softly, turning, sapphire eyes moving to the General who stood watching from just outside the President's office, lime green optics locked onto the blonde. Cloud approached the General, who held out a hand to him, a small smile making it's way across his lips. Cloud pressed the palm of his hand against the black leather glove, allowing Sephiroth to pull him into his chest, fingers running through his hair, their lips meeting in a gentle embrace.
Yet throughout the scene, the TURK watching had been horrified, the disbelief evident on her youthful face. Holding the sniper ready to shoot the crimson commander down, she had held back when Cloud had appeared, then made no attempt to fight with Genesis, instead giving him something which restored all of his powers, before turning and falling into the arms of the General. Cissnei stared aghast, unsure what to think, the communicator in her ear releasing static as one of her superiors questioned if she had completed the mission. Pressing down on the respond command, Cissnei's lips parted, yet no words drew out, until she heard Veld question if she was alright.
"I…I'm fine…the mission… I failed. The target took flight before I could get an accurate aim…"
The ShinRa facility was very much quiet the next morning. Employees busied themselves with their mundane tasks, while SOLDIERS trained cadets among the grounds outside, Corporeal Riley using his 'cross country' method to root out the trouble makers in his class. He had nearly pissed himself when Genesis Rhapsodos of all people had appeared in the apartment, but quickly dismissed it as a false memory when he awoke with an empty bottle of Midgardian vodka by his side and the blonde acting as though he was delusional. And so now he was left to cadet duties, his least favourable job other than elevator guard hours, while Cloud Strife was swanning about on the forty ninth floor, being congratulated by SOLDIERS of all rankings for his brilliant performance against the Genesis clones, while even the TURKS managed to crack a few smiles towards him.
Cloud was tackled to the floor by a group of fellow third classes, knuckling his head and cheering him on, before throwing him up in the air and carrying him around the no longer burnt forty ninth floor, the refurbishments having been completed, much to the irritation of President ShinRa and his wallet. Moving around the floor until stopping abruptly, dropping the blonde to the floor and scampering away, the third classes seemed to be spooked by something and abandoned their entertainment, rushing back to their posts. Cloud groaned, having landed on his back, he sat up, reaching back to rub his shoulder with one hand before turning his sapphire gaze to the second class stood looking down at him.
Zack said nothing, his eyes narrowed into sharp blue slits. Cloud swallowed, wondering what he had done to infuriate his friend so much. Zack must have just arrived back from Gongaga - he looked weary and was still wearing his uniform from the day before, which was covered in large patches of thick, dried murk, obviously from trekking through jungle terrain. When his glare soon dissipated, the second class grinning widely, he held out a hand to Cloud. Cloud smiled and took the hand, pulling himself to his feet with the help of the raven head. Zack threw him into a head lock, holding him tight.
"You did it!" he released Cloud for a moment so he could breath, then tugged him back into his arms, "I was so worried! But you did it! You saved ShinRa!"
Cloud rolled his eyes, pulling away from Zack who simply winked to him, as though he was saying, 'ok, we both don't like this company, but you're safe and that's what matters'. Cloud stumbled back slightly, regaining the use of his legs after being near crushed by the SOLDIER, Zack continued to laugh and held him steady, before turning and leading him towards the elevator.
"I got sent to bring you up to Lazard's office," Zack explained as they entered the metal box, Zack using his key card to get them up to the correct floor, "he wants to talk to you, probably to tell you how much he appreciates you saving this shithole."
Cloud smiled at Zack's new term for the building. It was very Reno-like. Yet what he did not mention during their conversation on the way up was of how his mission went. Cloud had received a text from Reno telling him they were alright, but explained in no further detail what had happened during the mission. Cloud moved his hand to Zack's arm, running his fingers over one of the muscles, drawing the raven head's attention to him.
"Zack, what happened…with Angeal?"
Zack stared at him with softened eyes, the hatred now gone from his stare when he was reminded of his old mentor. He sighed quietly.
"I let him go."
"What…?"
"He was dying," Zack murmured, turning his gaze away from his blonde friend, the one he adored with all his heart, "I didn't need to kill him."
"But, Reno-"
"He understood….eventually." Zack turned to the door as the metal sheets pulled open, revealing the corridor leading to the SOLDIER Director's office, "it doesn't matter anymore. It's just you and me now, alright, Spiky?" he grinned, pulling Cloud along behind him as he near skipped through the hall, stopping when they came to the door before knocking loudly.
Permitted to enter by the doorway flashing green, the two SOLDIERS piled into the room, Zack clinging onto Cloud and knuckling a fist into the blonde spikes, not stopping until Lazard turned to them, sat on his leather chair with an eyebrow raised at their immaturity. Zack released his friend and straightened up, the third class following immediately before his sapphire eyes trailed to the fourth individual stood in the room.
Sephiroth said nothing, watching Cloud from the corner of his eyes. He was wearing his battle armour, Masamune resting by his side as he leaned against the wall. Silver hair spilling down his clothing, Cloud realising he was having to hold back the smile attempting to break across his lips at the sight of the General, his heart fluttering. As Lazard requested they come closer, the two males made their way towards his desk, noticing the video footage behind him was of the battle outside the facility, Cloud and Sephiroth fighting side by side against the summon Ifrit. Zack's eyes widened considerably - for although he had been told of the battle, he had no idea it had been so powerful, so mind-blowing. Zack shot a grin towards Cloud, who was blushing slightly, which Zack assumed was due to being put on the spot before the Director for a second time in his year at the facility.
"Cloud Strife…" Lazard shook his head, "never in my life have I seen a boy raise up from being a cadet one minute, to fighting summons at the next." he ran his hands through his hair, "how do you do it? Is there some new kind of drug you young ones are into these days?"
Hearing Zack stifle a laugh beside him, Cloud threw him a playful glare, trying to get him to be quiet.
"Sir, no sir. I…" there wasn't really an explanation for it. Well, there was, but he had no intentions of telling the SOLDIER Director of his being from another planet and a freaking cetra.
"No need to explain, Strife." Lazard exhaled, both his eyebrows now raised, "I don't know if I really want to know the details. All I do know, is that I can see a SOLDIER before me who deserves a higher ranking than his current position in this company."
Cloud's eyes widened as Lazard smiled, his reaction of pure shock evident. Zack had gone silent beside him other than the wide grin across his lips, evidently proud of his beloved blonde. Cloud hoped that the raven head would not jump onto him and send them tumbling to the floor right in front of President ShinRa's illegitimate heir, nor in front of his silver haired lover watching quietly from the side.
"Therefore, it is my duty, and an honour, to promote you, Cloud Strife, to SOLDIER second class." Lazard declared quietly, waiting for the predictable Zackary Fair's attack. Which happened not moments later, Zack leaping onto Cloud's side and hanging on, the blonde struggling to keep on his feet until Zack tripped him over playfully, the two landing in a heap on the carpet before Lazard.
Lazard rolled his eyes at the two, continuing.
"Furthermore, I received reports from the TURK Reno who accompanied you, Zack Fair," Zack's imaginary puppy ears perked at this, releasing Cloud for long enough for them both to sit up on the floor, the blonde's face bright red, "it would be a shame if I were to ignore your own accomplishments, in the blinding light of Strife's golden battle. Therefore, I am also promoting you, to SOLDIER first class."
Zack nearly imploded with joy. He leapt up, arms flailing on Lazard's table, reaching out to hug the Director, held back by Cloud hanging onto his leg to stop him making a fool of himself. When Lazard coughed roughly, the two SOLDIERS clambered back to their feet, both burning scarlet with a mixture of joy and embarrassment. The General continued to say nothing, simply examining the situation silently. Cloud caught onto his feline slit orbs and flustered even more, Sephiroth holding back a small smile.
"It seems you are both too…excitable… to be stood in my presence for long." Lazard muttered, the two children before him nearly jumping on the spot if it were not for his exasperated glower, "very well. You may both take the evening off. Strife, you will receive your first orders tomorrow at six am. Until then, you are both dismissed."
Zack grabbed onto Cloud and practically dragged him after him through the office before the two fell into heaps of laughter, Zack tickling the blonde now second class.
"You did it! You're a second!"
"You made it to first, too, remember?" Cloud jested and pressed a finger against Zack's chest, his friend grinning madly.
"Yeah…" he turned his sapphire gaze away for a moment, appearing slightly down, murmuring, "I…just wish Angeal had been here to see it…is all."
Cloud smiled and leaned into Zack, wrapping his arms around his neck and holding him tight.
"It's alright…" should he mention to Zack that the commanders were both very much still alive, hidden in Cosmo Canyon with Elfé and the rest of his gathered team? Cloud sighed internally, deciding against it. At least for a few days. Let Zack enjoy his promotion for now. After all, it was the happiest they would feel for a long, long time. "I'll never leave you."
