Author's Note: Keeping this story moving sometimes feels like a full-time job but I love the results :) Hope everyone is having fun so far!

Marken: Oh boy does Gen have some explaining to do and Angeal knows just the way to comfort his distressed lovers. ;)

Beta Readers: Pixie, Kiza, and Discord.

I do not own FF7 or any of its characters. Talin, Unit 28, and some other side characters are mine.

Enjoy and please R&R.

Chapter 39

"Locked?"

"Yes, locked," Gen said with a touch of frustration. After seeing that Talin was fully asleep and tucked deep into the pillows and blankets of the bed, the pair of 1sts had headed downstairs into the kitchen to talk. "He'd completely cut himself off, couldn't feel me shaking him or even hear me calling his name. Didn't you warn him about setting the shield plates too tightly together?" The sharpness of his words was understandable and Angeal winced knowing his lover's likely reaction to his response.

"I did, but I didn't think he was likely to need those shields yet, so I didn't stress the importance of it. He knew to leave space, did so in every drill I put him through. The only reason he'd forget is if he didn't have time to think when forming them or..." The big SOLDIER paused eyes darkening before he looked back up at Genesis and asked slowly, "What did Seph do? He didn't-" He was cut off before he could continue that line of thought.

"Talin said he only wanted to talk, but he spooked the poor boy in the process of asking." Sighing from his seat on the kitchen island counter, Gen shook his head. "Seph's going to need some guidance, 'Geal. He is trying, but Talin's more skittish than a kicked hound at the moment." Angeal was surprised by the quick change in topic but knew better than to think he was off the hook for his part in this incident and decided to try earning some brownie points.

"Well, you've been doing great with him Gen." It took him just two steps to be standing in front of Genesis and only a gentle nudge to insert himself between the man's legs. The arch of one elegant eyebrow was all the response Angeal got as he hooked his arms around the trim waist and pulled till the fiery 1st was sitting on the edge of the granite countertop. "You've been doing so well, in fact, that you haven't been taking time for yourself." He'd let his voice drop to a deep, purring, rumble that he was careful to never use around anyone but his lovers.

Zack had laughingly deemed it too sexy to be shared with the world at large, but Gen had threatened to carve the ears off anyone who heard it. Since Sephiroth had a similar problem, he'd simply smiled and offered his condolences on a future of disfigured Shin-Ra employees and SOLDIERs.

"I have taken some time," Teal eyes sparkled down at him, filling with mischief while Angeal worked fingers under the back of his shirt to reach skin. "It just wasn't with you, Lover." Genesis bit the inside of his lip when the bigger 1st pushed forward with his hips while simultaneously leaning in to place a kiss to the dip of his collar bone.

Feeling slightly spiteful, he continued his teasing. "Zack was more than willing to entertain a few of my free hours." One of the hands beneath his shirt pushed under his waistband and he fought a groan as the strong fingers squeezed and kneaded his ass. Knowing he was playing with a very enjoyable form of fire, Gen leaned back, pulling away from the lips that had been continuing to kiss up his throat.

Placing his hands on the counter behind him, he looked into Angeal's midnight dark eyes, smirking when he saw them already glowing lightly from arousal. "It was quite a shame you were in such a long meeting at the time, but we still had plenty of fun. Zack always looks so good in silk ropes, don't you think?"

The hand not groping his ass clamped on the back of Genesis' neck, yanking him forward to meet a passionate kiss. Angeal smothered Gen's groan when he started grinding roughly against him. The heavy material of military cargo pants, strained taught with the man's arousal, created delicious friction through his light sweatpants.

"Your mouth," Angeal growled, not breaking their kiss or the rhythm of the slow, hard roll of his hips, "Does a magic trick every time you talk, you know that?"

Gen blinked at the unexpected words and then gasped when the lips he'd been kissing dropped to his throat to nibble and suck. "How so?" He finally managed to ask as he let his head be pulled back by a hand in his hair, giving the other SOLDIER greater access.

Heat burned his veins when teeth scraped down his ear and then that darkly seductive voice was whispering to him. "Because every time you open your lips to speak, all I can think about is having them close around my cock," Lips crashed down on Gen's again as the Red Commander's mind filled with the image Angeal had painted.

He'd buried his hands into his lover's dark hair and now pulled, getting just far enough away to look into the burning blue eyes and catch his breath. "The spell I cast on Talin will wear off in a little bit, so either do something quickly or be as quiet as when you had Zack in Tseng's office." The reminder of that particular event made Angeal's eyes dance with laughter and burn even brighter with lust.

"As you wish, but later I need that magic mouth of yours." The sexy, deep rumble was enough to make Gen squirm, even after having heard such whispers most of his life. The sudden yank of his sweatpants being pulled off kicked his mind back into motion, and his hands flew to the belts and straps of Angeal's pants only to be caught and pushed away.

"You said to make it quick," With the teasing tone and gleam of playfulness in his eyes, the big SOLDIER pushed him to lay flat on the island countertop before undoing only a few of the closures on his pants. "that means I don't have time to take all this off and..." Gen heard the click of an oil bottle and then Angeal was leaning over him. "... that I don't have a lot of time for prep."

The rough push of two thick, heavily lubed fingers made Genesis gasp into the renewed kiss. When they began to move, he let out a groan that was muffled by the tongue that was now thrusting into his mouth in time with the fingers below. A third was added and together they alternated between scissoring to stretch him and curling up to hit his prostate.

Less than a minute after the first intrusion, the fingers were pulled free. "Ready or not..." Angeal chuckled, but he waited for his lover's nod before pushing forward. He and Gen were no strangers to fast sex, and both knew that this wasn't going to be gentle, but it was going to be satisfying. They had a stock of potions for personal use for a reason.

The first thrust, sharp and fast, buried the length to the hilt and drew a moan from both. Genesis twined his hands into 'Geal's hair and gave a sharp nip to the man's lip. "Move," The Commander was more than willing to follow orders. Thank the Goddess the spell was still active. The ferocious pace and force behind each thrust made it impossible for either of them to be completely silent.

They both loved Zack and Sephiroth, would never feel complete without the two amazing men in their lives, but Gen had been Angeal's first love and lover, and vice versa. As such, they knew exactly what it took to launch each other to the very heights of passion. For Genesis, it was the rushed prep and the rough chafe of clothing against him as he was taken. Like his SOLDER partner had found him for a quickie and needed to be back on duty ASAP. Angeal just loved to see Gen fall apart, but the dirty string of creative sex-capades breathlessly whispered in his ear was like a match to gasoline.

A yank on his hair pulled the dark-haired 1st down to kiss swollen lips and he shifted angle to hammer the redhead's prostate. The sudden clenching around him and the muffled moan of Angeal's name pushed him higher. A few brutal thrusts deep into the convulsing body beneath him and his own orgasm made him see Mako-green-tinged stars.

Gen's chest was heaving as he lay atop the counter, enjoying the aftershocks of pleasure caused by each buck of the thick cock still within him. His vision was tinged with a fading green glow as he looked up to admire the view. Angeal was always sexy, but the way he looked right after he came, when their eyes again locked together after the explosion, was enough to have Genesis ready to beg for round two.

Deep ocean eyes snapped open, finding their way unerringly to sea green and both burned with the need for more, but were denied. The flicker of the spell cutting off was followed by a soft chirp from Angeal's back pocket and neither could help their chagrinned chuckles. Leaning down to bracket Gen's head between his arms, the big 1st indulged their need with a slow kiss that did more to calm than arouse.

"Bet you anything it's Seph," The redhead said as he combed his fingers through his lover's disarranged hair. Angeal knew better than to take that bet and just smirked as he slowly leaned back up.

"Think he'll be able to tell I was with you if I go see him?" His smirk was unrepentant as he rolled his hips forward, giving a few shallow thrusts that only teased them both. Genesis glared up at his teasing and then had to bite back a groan when Angeal pushed in hard and deep. Being SOLDIER came with a hundred benefits, one was undoubtedly the absolute lack of recovery time before being able to go again.

Fully buried, he bucked forward without pulling back and started a rhythm that had Gen panting and writhing on the stone counter. Reaching down, Angeal pulled the legs from around his hips and spread them wide. "You better keep quiet, Gen," Using his grip for leverage, he pulled and rocked forward, angled just right to hit the redhead's prostate. Genesis' hands flew to his mouth to muffle a moan. "I'll have to gag you with a towel if you can't." With a shove, the Red Commander's knees were pressed nearly to his chest.

Angeal loomed over him, eyes glittering as he pulled out, leaving only the tip pressed against Gen's suddenly empty entrance. "Or worse, I could always stop... I'm sure Seph woul-"

"Don't you dare st-" The whispered hiss was equal parts possessive and desperate but cut off with a choked gasp when Angeal slammed back in. The glare Genesis shot his lover over the hands he'd covered his mouth with would have sent chills through any other, but 'Geal loved it.

"Then you'd best not make a sound." The smirk Angeal gave him was as good as any verbal bet that Gen wouldn't be able to, and the fiery SOLDIER's eyes grew bright with challenge. The absolute claiming that followed was just as passionate as the first, but other than the dull slap of cloth-covered hips against bare flesh, it was nearly silent. At least, silent enough for one exhausted Cadet to not overhear the muffled sounds.

...

Genesis had all but limped to the spare bathroom, muttering darkly about retribution, but the stoic SOLDIER just chuckled as he cleaned off the small mess on his cargos. The good thing about standard-issue uniforms was that they were durable and treated to be almost stain-proof. A few swipes of a wet cloth and his pants were presentable once more.

Wandering into the living room, Angeal flopped down in one of the gaudy chairs and hooked a leg over an armrest, as he'd often chided Zack for doing, and grinned. There were times when he wanted nothing more than to feel like any other man in his late 20s, without all the responsibilities of a Commander, teacher, and role model. Times that the 1st resented the loss of his teenage years to the strictness and forced maturity it'd taken to become a SOLDIER. But all that had set him on this path, and he cherished what he had far more than he could ever lament what he'd given up.

Another chirp from his phone reminded him of a far more personal responsibility and, pulling it from his pocket, he scanned the three messages from Sephiroth. The first was as predicted, a request for company, followed almost immediately by a second with the usual 'If you are busy, perhaps another time.' It was the last message that spoke the General's true state of mind and had Angeal's wandering thoughts narrowing back to a laser focus.

SMS Message from: Seph

Seph: I need your assistance, 'Geal. Please come see me when you can.

Angeal winced and felt his heart kick at that politely worded plea for help. It certainly wasn't something Sephiroth was accustomed to, and the stiffness of the request belied the depth of the emotions that would have driven him to write it. When he showed the text to a freshly clean but still naked Genesis, the redhead's teasing air and seductive tone vanished. Stealing the phone, he flopped down atop his lover, causing the chair to groan at their combined weight, and curled up in the bigger man's arms.

"When we took Talin's training away from him, I thought Seph would fight us, but he didn't. I'd never seen Zack so angry, but even then, with our puppy barking so ferociously in his face, he didn't lift a finger." Gen was rambling, as if to fill the silence of the suddenly too quiet apartment, but Angeal knew it was part of a coping mechanism for him and just listened. "I'd wanted to slap him." There was a shocked scoff from the dark-haired Commander. "I said that I wanted to, and you'll note that I didn't," He pointed back over his shoulder in 'Geal's general direction in admonition. "I'm flamboyant and dramatic, my love, not suicidal." That drew a chuckle from both of them and Angeal wrapped his arms around Genesis, shifting till his head was on one armrest and their legs dangled over the other.

"Well, he may not have fought us, but I'm glad he's finally starting to fight for Talin. It's just unfortunate that he's fighting himself." Angeal was sure that Sephiroth was struggling to admit, not just his need for help, but his mistakes in regards to his Trainee. The first was rare for the Silver General. The second was almost unheard of.

They remained quiet for a moment, taking comfort from each other, before Genesis broke the silence. "I miss him 'Geal..." His voice was heavy with emotion and the teal eyes that looked back at Angeal were slightly dull with worry.

"So do I," The big SOLDIER nuzzled the damp strands of hair next to his head. "All we can do is help him work through this." Threading the fingers of one large hand with Gen's, he brought their joined hands to his lips. "We'll help them both."

Lifting the phone to read the text message once more, Genesis tapped into the message bar. "What do you want to say? You will go to him, won't you?" Angeal didn't respond immediately, gaze distant as he considered all the possible ways the next few hours could go.

"Ya, I'd planned on going to see him anyway, but now I think I'd better take reinforcements." The redhead chuckled as he typed out a response while Angeal continued to nuzzle his neck and snuggle him like a beloved stuffed toy. "What time? You know he'll want some warning..."

"Tell him I'll be there in fifteen minutes. That gives me one minute to get to my place, two to change into clothes that don't smell of sex, and twelve to extract myself from under you since I know you don't want to get up yet." The indignant huff was ruined by the pleased smile that spread across the Red Commander's face. His lover knew him so well.

"How about a deal, then? I let you up so you can have a quick shower before doing all the other things, and you promise to come back for the night after your chat, sound fair?" Gen's finger hovered over the 'send' key as he glanced over his shoulder.

Angeal cocked an eyebrow. "To sleep or..?" His hands had traveled slightly south as he asked his question and Genesis slapped at them lightly.

"Yes, to sleep. I think Talin would prefer warm bodies instead of all the pillows he's surrounded himself with." His smile was warm with the thought of snuggling the enticing Cadet but also held a teasing edge that Angeal knew too well. They may plan to sleep quietly together tonight, but that didn't rule out tomorrow... or the next day...

…

Having made it to his apartment with just enough time for a quick shower, change of clothes, and to grab his 'reinforcements', Angeal knocked on Sephiroth's door near-perfectly fifteen minutes after Gen had sent the text. When the quiet click of the door lock disengaging wasn't followed by said door opening, he slowly pushed inside. "Seph?" No light greeted him beyond the little entrance way and his eyes rapidly adjusted to the darkness as the door closed behind him.

"In here, Angeal" The words were clear, not muffled by distance and, as the Commander stepped further into the apartment, he saw the General sitting in a chair by the large windows and continued towards him.

"I know we don't really need light, but it is polite to use them when you have a guest coming over, you know." The lightly teasing words were ignored as slit green eyes remained fixed out the window on the storm-darkened city.

"How's Talin?" Both voice and face remained expressionless but Angeal wasn't one to be fooled. Unable to perceive the emotions that churned beneath the mask, Angeal took his time walking around to the windows and observed his friend.

The long hair that was often carelessly pushed over one shoulder but kept mildly neat, was now in a twisted, haphazard braid. A loose-fitting shirt was damp with sweat, no doubt from a recent hard workout, but he hadn't immediately showered and changed like normal. Strangest of all was Masamune, propped up at the corner of the room instead of in its dedicated weapon rack.

Most would have overlooked the details, thinking he'd simply not had enough time to clean up or put away his prized weapon, but Angeal knew better. He saw the signs for what they were. Fine lines of stress that spoke of deeper cracks. Even in the General's relaxed pose, leaned back in one of the fireplace chairs he'd turned towards the city, the Commander saw tension. All that combined with the message he'd sent... it didn't point to anything good.

Finally making it to the pair of high-backed chairs, he gazed down at his taciturn lover who's eyes still avoided his. "Asleep. Gen was able to crack the shield and get through to him." Emotion flickered across the man's face before it was once more suppressed, and Angeal's concern grew. "Seph, are you...?"

"No matter how you finish that question, the answer is no." Crystal green eyes slipped closed and, with a sigh, he pushed back the hair around his face that had escaped the braid and looked up at the other 1st. "I'm sorry, Angeal, I asked you here and you were kind enough to come. I shouldn't be rude."

The Commander hadn't been offended and gave a small smile as he took the chair next to Sephiroth. "I brought us a drink. Figured you could use one." He held up the bottle he'd kept tucked against his side and chuckled when Seph's eyes widened slightly.

"Don't waste that on me." The remaining liquor in the bottle of Bahamut Breath was far too valuable to be thrown away on a night like this.

"Sharing a drink with you is never a waste, Seph." The small table between them had a shelf occupied by two crystal tumblers that the big 1st pulled out and divided the precious liquor into. The set had been a gift from Sephiroth to Angeal but they'd remained here, in the little shelf, as an open invitation for him to come by anytime for a drink. It had been early in their relationship, when they'd all still been figuring out how to make it work and learning each other's boundaries. Those cups had seen a great deal of use.

Angeal's memory of that time was littered with nights spent like this, two glasses, a bottle of alcohol, and a problem to solve. "So, wanna tell me what's really going on in that head of yours? Or do I have to get you drunk first?" It was the same line he'd used every other time but the second option had never been possible before.

As Sephiroth took the glass he was handed, the mask that had been slowly slipping cracked, and Angeal saw the shadows of worry and uncertainty that it had been hiding. "You've always been honest with me, more so than any other... How badly did I mess this up?" The look in those unearthly cat eyes as they met Angeal's was haunted and the normally confident voice that always rang powerful and true was almost a whisper.

Having been about to take a sip of his drink, the Commander lowered his glass and studied his lover for a moment. "Seph," He shook his head slightly, "You fucked up big." His use of profanity wasn't forced and the General, while still surprised, wasn't as shocked as Zack might have been. The honorable SOLDIER hadn't always been a saint.

About six years ago he'd implemented his language policy but before that Angeal had sworn as much as anyone else. It was only when they'd gained in rank and started to have others look up to them, that he'd felt the need to be a better role model. Nowadays, it was only here, with Seph, that he dropped that last layer of reserve. Genesis would have been turned on at every naughty word and Zack would probably never look at him the same again, but not the silver-haired 1st.

Sephiroth knew it meant honesty whenever he cursed and the man cherished the one small thing that was uniquely his among his lovers. It was a small comfort this time, knowing that Angeal meant what he said, but the impact of that truth hurt all the same. "What do I do? I don't... I don't know how to fix this..." He'd leaned back into the large chair, posture stiff as he made the admission.

Taking a quick sip of the burning liquid, Angeal let it spike through him for a moment before collecting his thoughts. Open wide Seph, this is going to be a hard pill to swallow... "Start by apologizing. After that, you're going to have to rebuild and, well..." He tried to find a good way to explain just where things were at currently. "On a scale of trust, if you were at 10 out of 100 when you first met Talin, you're now at about –10, and that's if he accepts your apology."

The silence that fell over them was heavy as Sephiroth assimilated that information. His drink was all but forgotten in his hands even as he looked down into the amber liquid like a seer looking for answers in a crystal ball. Angeal waited. As eager as he was to get back to a warm bed and two warm bedmates, he refused to let Seph struggle through this any longer.

At last, the Silver General raised his glass for a sip. The burn of it as it filled his mouth was nearly painful but the rush of fire through him calmed his racing mind. He'd fucked up. He needed to apologize. But... "Will he accept my apology? I can't even get near him, 'Geal..."

Swallowing past another sip of his drink, the Commander thought for a moment of all the things that had happened. "I don't know." He scoffed softly and leaned forward to rest elbows on knees. "You know him better than any of us. It's why what you did was so damaging."

The General winced as the words hit home and he stood, taking the few steps to the window as he clenched his teeth on whatever he'd been about to say. When Angeal stood and stepped up beside him, his presence more supportive than intrusive, Seph heaved a sigh and finally let the last shards of his reserve fall. Leaning forward that last inch, he pressed his forehead against the cool glass and closed his eyes. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen..."

He wasn't surprised to feel the big SOLDIER move behind him, or when one heavy arm pulled him against the other's warmth. Angeal had always enjoyed holding him and, as rare as it was for him to allow it, Seph wouldn't deny that he did too. He let himself be leaned back, let himself be made vulnerable to the powerful form that held him, and relaxed.

Angeal rested his chin on Sephiroth's shoulder and they watched as the rain poured down harder. "Intended or not, what's done is done." He let his head fall to the side so he could look at Seph's profile, "We've picked up the pieces, now it's up to you to put them back together again." Lifting his cup, he clinked it with the General's to draw his attention. "We all make mistakes and, while admitting to them is hard, making up for it is often harder so be ready for that."

He was surprised when Sephiroth raised his cup and tapped them together again. "Regardless of the difficulty, having Talin back will be worth it." While still lacking the vitality and confidence of his usual self, the determination in his eyes made Angeal raise his glass in a toast to that statement.

"It will, indeed. Now let's talk battle plan before we're too tipsy to make smart choices."