Chapter 12: What Are Friends For?
Through careful coordination, Sephiroth and Genesis met at Angeal's door at precisely 6:29 pm to present a united front—not a difficult accomplishment because they all had apartments near one another.
Many of the First Class SOLDIERs were housed on the same level of the official SOLDIER Housing Community. Though they weren't required to live on site, Sephiroth found it convenient. Genesis and Angeal also found it so, which was even more convenient as any of the three only had to walk down the hall when they wanted to harass one another.
Having donned casual clothing, Sephiroth wore black slacks and a black polo shirt. He had pulled his hair back into a ponytail. Genesis had changed into designer blue jeans with a black and red tee-shirt displaying a bizarre optical illusion pattern of a curving tunnel.
They came bearing alcohol and mixers in tote bags, as they had also collaborated on providing drinks in case their friend needed some oiling to loosen his tongue. Sephiroth had brought the ingredients to make Blood of the Ancients in honor of his friends, as the recipe called for sour apple liqueur. It was one of several recipes Genesis had provided to choose among. Genesis had naturally selected the Loveless as his beverage of choice. Both cocktails were fairly strong and easy to mix, major points in their favor.
"Is that the divine scent of homemade chocolate cake?" Genesis asked, making a show of sniffing the air.
"With fudge frosting," Sephiroth added. Enhanced senses could be a blessing sometimes. He could also detect the smell of cut vegetables, and noted the sound of voices on either a television or radio. But he was more interested in the dessert. "Made with dark chocolate and topped with maraschino cherries and almonds, I believe."
"Now I'm getting worried. He's definitely concerned about how we'll take his news." Genesis rang the doorbell. "Whatever it is."
"More worried, you mean."
The door opened, revealing Angeal in a plain navy tee-shirt and jeans, covered with a white bib apron proclaiming "The last time I cooked hardly anyone got sick" in block letters. Sephiroth wondered if it had been a gag gift from Genesis (seemed likely) or if he'd picked it out himself (seemed less likely). There was a dusting of flour on it as well as in his hair, and a thin smear of frosting above his right eyebrow.
He comically held up his hand as though shielding his eyes from an unbearable glare. "That shirt's going to give everyone motion sickness, Genesis."
"At least it's not as boring as Mister Black-On-Black here," Genesis said, pushing past Angeal. "Even when he's in civvies, he's in uniform." He sniffed at Angeal's unimaginative get-up, adding, "And you're no better." After that shot, he went straight to the kitchen, plopped his bag on the island counter, and started unloading bottles.
Angeal said, "Come on in, Sephiroth. Make yourself at home. Invade my kitchen, cover my countertops with your stuff, use my ice maker, raid my cupboards for glassware, whatever, just like Genesis."
"He is being a bad guest," Sephiroth commented as he walked in. Angeal closed the door after him.
"I heard that!" Genesis called over the sound of ice clinking against glass, then gurgling liquids. "For your information, I'm being a very good guest. I'm making fancy drinks for you."
"We're having shrimp curry. Alcohol doesn't mix with woks and hot oil," Angeal replied.
"Don't be such a spoilsport."
Sephiroth deposited his own bag of alcohol and mixers onto the dining table where a masterpiece of a multilayered chocolate cake took pride of place.
Genesis brought two glasses over and handed them to Angeal and Sephiroth. "It's called the Loveless."
"Of course it is," Angeal said, accepting the drink but giving it a dubious look.
"Live a little. You know you'll burn most of it off before you even get near your wok. One of the many advantages of mako. Or disadvantages. Depends on what you're aiming for." Genesis gave him a critical assessment. "You need to wash your face. You've got frosting above your right eyebrow." He touched his own to indicate the location.
Angeal's hand immediately went to the left side of his forehead. "I don't feel anything."
"Your other right."
Grumbling, Angeal set his glass down on the coffee table and wandered off to the bathroom.
Drink in hand, Sephiroth sauntered into the kitchen to snoop because, quite frankly, he hadn't eaten since lunch and he was hungry. It was a miracle Genesis had found a corner of space to mix his drinks. On the counter rested bowls of peeled shrimp, chopped vegetables, and assorted odd ingredients, like lime, ginger, and curry powder, as well as a few bottles. Soy sauce at least looked familiar, though he wondered why a dish would require both coconut oil and coconut milk. Well, Angeal was the one cooking, so the ingredient list was his problem.
He stole a couple pieces of sliced bell pepper and went to the window in the dining area. He had the same lovely view of hazy greenish sky in his own quarters, and preferred to look at the random collection of photos Angeal had hung. Sephiroth knew his friend had talent with a camera and had taken all of them. The houseplants on the windowsill were small, but Angeal somehow managed to keep them alive despite the odds against them in polluted Midgar. Sephiroth noted with a small smile that there were no bugs around any of them. Angeal clearly saved those kinds of plants for Genesis.
Sephiroth kept his amusement to himself and very carefully did not point out the lack of insect pests when he joined Genesis in the living room, opting to take the armchair set at a right angle to the couch. The television was on and set to a nightly news show.
"Did you turn on the news?" he asked Genesis.
"Nope. It was already on this channel."
"Hmmm. He doesn't usually have the TV on when he's got company."
"He's keeping an eye out for something, I'd guess." Genesis took a sip of his alcoholic concoction and eyed the Buster Sword, secured in a wall mount to the left of the television. "Possibly related to his meeting with Veld."
"You think it was about something important or unusual enough to make the news?"
"Can't really say, but we'll know soon, won't we?" Genesis shrugged. "So, do we grill him before or after dinner?"
"You do not need to grill me," came an exasperated response. Angeal walked into the living room, his face clean and the flour gone from his hair. "I had hoped it would wait until after we ate." He took a moment to very deliberately shut off the television.
"Softening us up first with food?" Genesis asked with a knowing smirk.
"Something like that." Angeal went into the kitchen, banged around a bit in his cupboards and pulled out his rice cooker. After starting the rice, he put the wok on the stove and poured in some oil to heat. He also turned the fan on high, which conveniently meant that if anyone wanted to talk to him they'd have to shout.
"My friend, do you fly away now?" Genesis quoted, only a little sarcastically, but Angeal either didn't hear him over the fan or chose to ignore him.
Sephiroth thought it intriguing how intensely focused his friend had become about cooking this particular meal. He and Genesis exchanged a look; Genesis silently mouthed "after dinner." Sephiroth nodded. They could wait that long to interrogate their friend.