"You sure he would be efficient to lure in Sephiroth? From what we've gathered they seemed to be having trouble." Weiss addressed his newest ally.

"Oh, he will come. It's a matter of when." Genesis watched as Cloud fought the visions Nero induced.

"There's activity outside." Nero emerged from the shadows.

Weiss glanced at the cameras. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of Sephiroth literally cutting his way through a wall to invade. This was quicker than originally assumed.

Even so they can still react accordingly. He had hoped for a little longer time to fully control Cloud. However in his panic induced state that wouldn't take much longer.

"Nero, set the trap." Weiss instructed. His brother silently left to carry out their plans. As he left the leader caught sight of an unfamiliar face sneak inside.

"Azul, go take care of the other one."

"Who?" Genesis was surprised. He watched the cameras as Azul left.

"Anyone you know?" Weiss asked.

"No." Genesis scowled. "Maybe he's the one who helped find the facility that held you guys?"

"No matter. He won't change anything." He turned to Shelke. "Increase the levels."

"He's already at dangerous levels. Anymore he would go into a catatonic state." She advised.

"Just do as I say. He's proving to be much stronger mentally than before." Weiss glared.

"Very well." She typed away.

The darkness that can be harnessed by a machine increased. Weiss had his doubts that this thing would work, until they tested it. With its success Weiss killed Hollander without a second thought. The man wasn't useful anymore in his eyes.

Plus he didn't trust lab coats.

Weiss focused on the cameras while Sephiroth advanced. And he was falling for the trap as Nero activated the lights be on for specific hallways.

A smirk formed on his face. Yes, Sephiroth will be lured into a specific room. One rigged to release a gas to make him unconscious.

The smirk disappeared when Sephiroth paused. He stared down a dark hallway, as if debating. Alarm began to form and Weiss glanced at Cloud, who stopped attacking the air.

"Sephiroth..." The blond spoke softly.

A tenderness was in Cloud's voice. Something so foreign to Weiss. And yet he still recognized it for what it was when Sephiroth chose the darkened hallway. He was making his way towards Cloud.

"You didn't mention they were mates!" Weiss glared at Genesis.

"I didn't think it was vital information." He shrugged.

"Once Cloud has chosen someone, they're mates for life. And the stronger the bond they can have a connection that is similar to me and Nero." Weiss snarled.

This of course was a theory. A theory Weiss overheard from the lab coat that had created them. Even so he can see the evidence that what the man said was true.

"Oh. Well if I had known that detail then I would have said something." Genesis was still unbothered by this.

"Too late now." Weiss scowled.

"How will we trap Sephiroth now?" Nero approached, having seen the trap had failed.

"...The darkness. It might render him unable to move." Weiss wasn't completely sure if it would work.

Genesis remained silent on the matter. His eyes watched the caped gunslinger as he fought Azul. And he was beginning to see that perhaps he had chosen the wrong team.

xXx

Sephiroth felt a pull. His instincts told him it was Cloud. Calling out to him. And as he focused, it awoken something within.

He could sense Cloud. He sensed that Cloud was in trouble. A part of it could probably be because of the mark. But Sephiroth never returned the gesture.

So wouldn't it be a one way contact?

This was something else entirely. And it was because of Sephiroth. He didn't understand how he knew he was the source of this change. But as he thought about it, there was nothing else that made sense.

Sephiroth approached a door. It didn't open even though it had a sensor. Without a second thought the general cut his way through.

Inside he sees a mass of darkness surrounding someone. In a heartbeat Sephiroth lunged forward to wrap an arm around Cloud. The blond whimpered, still overwhelmed by the darkness.

"Allow me." Sephiroth spoke calmly as he began to absorb it.

As the darkness shifted to the general Cloud became clearer minded. His arms clung onto the taller body. Strangely, Sephiroth didn't feel the darkness effect his mind as he felt the power build.

"Mate," Cloud whispered with a hint of fear in his voice.

Around them the darkness drifted to Sephiroth as he allowed it all come to him. He faintly heard voices outside somewhere. But he couldn't focus. The darkness was nearly overwhelming. What kept him grounded was feeling Cloud so close.

Suddenly it began to center on his back. In particular his right shoulder. Sephiroth felt that something needed to give in and be released. So he did just that.

A black wing sprang outward from his shoulder. Cloud gasped, entranced at the sight. And then the darkness dispersed. Sephiroth breathed in to steady himself before studying his new limb.

It was a gift, he sensed.

Sephiroth briefly wondered why he wasn't panicking. After he had enough admiring the black wing he turned his attention to Cloud. The fury in his eyes were bright and the blond began to shake.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't cut you where you stand." His voice darkened. "You accepted the offer from an enemy. By all accounts I can have you for treason."

"I love you." Cloud's answer surprised them both. It gave the blond enough time to speak his mind.

"I thought...I thought if I double crossed them, and escape, then I could make you proud. Disappointing you was the last thing I ever wanted to do."

"I see. This time, I'll forgive you. However, you'll have a lot to atone for. Later. Right now we should focus on our own escape." Sephiroth released his hold on the blond.

They both glanced up towards the three at the controls. Weiss seemed most furious at the situation at hand. Sephiroth wasn't sure what to make of Genesis being with them now.

"How is it possible you're unaffected by the darkness?" Weiss demanded.

Before Sephiroth could answer there was an explosion. The general can only assume it was related to Vincent. Weiss and Genesis checked the security cameras.

"What? How can he defeat Azul?"

"Your days are numbered." Sephiroth took flight.

A dark portal opened. Weiss pushed a red button.

"WARNING! Self Destruction Activated. All personal please leave the premises. WARNING!"

"I'd like to see you make it out alive." Weiss turned to leap into the portal. Behind him Genesis and Shelke followed. Nero went in last and the portal closed.

Sephiroth dived down to Cloud. Everything was flashing red as the system gave its warning on repeat. He grasped the blond again before taking flight down the hallway he had used.

The hallways became too narrow at a point. So together they ran at top speed with Sephiroth in the lead. A few twists and turns later Vincent joined them.

Upon breaching the hole Sephiroth had created he grasped Cloud once more and took flight. Vincent was a crimson blur as he kept pace.

The explosion was fiery and destructive. A wave of air rushed Sephiroth to land. His wing wrapped protectively around Cloud to protect him of debris. Vincent stayed beside them, turning to watch as the flames reached high.

"I think we're safe. I assume you didn't get to Weiss." Vincent spoke as the the last explosion sounded.

"No. They got away." Sephiroth unwrapped his wing. "A former comrade of mine has joined them. However, he was last seen taking another friend of mine with him."

"That weapon they used on me. He might have been a test subject for it." Cloud wouldn't put it past them.

"And then kill Hollander as well once it was completed." Sephiroth wasn't surprised.

"...I hate to ask, but how did this come to pass?" Vincent gestured to the wing.

"They had a weapon that could create darkness. And it would then infect and tear apart those within the vicinity. However I wasn't effected by it." Sephiroth wondered how that could be.

"But it effected Cloud?" Vincent blinked.

"Not enough to destroy him. However he still needed my help. I absorbed all of it. And then this sprung." Sephiroth stretched the wing out a bit.

"How did you find me anyway?" Cloud asked them.

"Your earring doubles as a tracker. I wiped the details of that from the laboratory systems and hoped Weiss didn't know either."

"So then I was bait." The blond frowned.

"Needless to say it won't happen again." The Ex Turk knew it wouldn't.

Weiss would understand something drew Sephiroth to Cloud so quickly. However Vincent sensed there was something else going on. He studied them with wonder.

Cloud refused to release his hold on the general. He clung onto him as if he were afraid that if he let go, then Sephiroth will disappear. The general gave him no mind. However he returned the gesture with one arm, albeit not as tightly.

"You two are together." Vincent concluded.

"I would have assumed he told you?" Sephiroth glanced at the blond.

"He wouldn't give me answers. So I told him nothing." Cloud huffed.

"I suppose that's fair." The general let it be.

"Did you at least learn what they were after?" Vincent hoped.

"I believe they were trying to trap me. But that didn't work. Curious, though. What about me is it that they desire?"

"Maybe a cure for Genesis?" Cloud wondered.

"...Why would Weiss go out o his way to help Genesis, though? Long term, Genesis is strong. But he's seen as weak in his current state." Sephiroth wondered.

"Perhaps he has answers he is withholding until he is cured." Vincent theorized.

"Answers to what, exactly? Hollander would have been a better source. And fool enough to give them what they needed." The general was still at a loss.

"Again it might be related to you."

"And you know something." Sephiroth turned to the Ex Turk.

Vincent studied them both. Cloud placed his face against Sephiroth's chest. By all means he seemed exhausted already. And although Vincent didn't know Sephiroth well, he assumed he was similar enough to the blond in being done for the day.

"...Give me a little more time before I reveal what I know. I would like to present some form of proof." Vincent promised.

"I suppose we will wait, then." Sephiroth saw no reason to argue.

Not long afterwards Vincent left. He knew when he was trespassing an important moment between a couple. Soon as he was gone Sephiroth claimed Cloud's mouth in a soul sucking kiss.

Cloud didn't fight as gloved hands grasped his wrists tightly. When the kiss ended he gasped desperately. He stared into Sephiroth's eyes and trembled.

"Part of your atonement begins now." Sephiroth promised.

Cloud silently nodded.