Title: Hysterical Tinge

Pairings: Undecided for now, but probably going to ZackxAngeal, CloudxSephiroth. Genesisx? (I made a decision finally)

Warnings: Descriptions of kidnapping, assault, rape...you get the picture. Remarkably, Zack's actually not too hurt in this one. Physically anyways...

Notes: Thank you to anyone who read/reviewed/alerted/favorited my story. I love you all.

They were in a car, heading for some unknown destination. Zack squirmed in his bonds, exhaling with frustration. The rope was tight, cutting into his wrists. Cloud was motionless next to him, eyes wide in fright. Tears rolled down every so often, but Cloud paid them no attention. Zack wanted to give some sort of acknowledgment of comfort. He settled for nudging the blond with his foot. Cloud jerked, staring fearfully at Zack.

"What's going to happen to us?"

The older teenager leaned back against the wall of the vehicle, his own fear creeping up. "I don't know, spikey. I just don't know."

It was hours before they were let out. Hojo grabbed them and dragged them to what looked like an abandoned warehouse. Raised voices came from inside, stopping when Hojo banged on the door. A large man opened the door, eyes suspicious. They lightened up with wolf-like hunger when he saw who was there. He stepped back, allowing the trio to step within. A group of mean-looking men were milling around. Zack looked away. Some of them were the ones who had taken part in his and Cloud's torture. On a raise platform another man had his back turned to them. Zack froze when he saw pictures of himself. Some where he was talking to friends, Angeal. Others he was on by himself. All of them were at a distance. He shuddered. It was creepy to know that someone was taking your picture without your knowledge.

The man turned around. Zack's eyes widened in horror and Cloud gave a mewl of fright. Everything was scarily perfect, from the greying blond hair to the impeccable white tuxedo. But the man's face...The man's face was grotesque. One side was perfectly normal, the skin flawless. The other side was burned, the eye almost completely white. He smiled widely when he saw Zack.

"Ah, puppy. It's so good to see you." Zack bit back his anger at the use of that nickname. Only Angeal was allowed to use it. "You don't know who I am, do you?" The question was light.

Zack shrugged. "Should I?"

The man bared his teeth in laughter."Oh, I can see why Angeal picked you." Again, Zack bristled. Something in the way this man said Angeal's name made him angry and afraid. "My name is Steelson. I was a SOLDIER much like Angeal and his friends. Much like you." The man's tone of voice was almost wistful "Until Angeal did this to me." He gestured to the burns.

Zack's eyes widened. Angeal...did that? No, it was impossible. Angeal would never do something like that. Steelson grinned at the doubt written across Zack's face. "It's true, little puppy. He did this to me. And just like that, I was no longer a SOLDIER."

Zack grit his teeth. "You're lying. He wouldn't do something like that."

"Oh, Zack. You're so young and naive. You'll find out that there is so much you don't know about Angeal. Or about Sephiroth and Genesis." He snapped his fingers, and two men materialized out of the darkness. "Take him to my room." The two complied, dragging a struggling Zack off. Steelson approached Cloud, who was shrinking in terror in Hojo's grasp. The blond man reached out, gently cupping Cloud's face. "Cloud, it's so good to see you again. I was most upset when I found you had run off."

Angeal growled, moving quickly down the hall. Genesis followed quickly behind him. All traces of awkwardness of the earlier 'kiss' disappeared with the information that Zack and Cloud were missing. They had phoned everyone they could think of, Sephiroth included, but so far nothing had come up. The two were on their way to Sephiroth's place so they could all search together. A voice floated up to them.

"Commander Hewley! Commander Hewley!" Angeal stopped turning around. A young girl came running up to them, heels clicking on the floor. She paused, panting. "I have a message for you, from Hojo." Another pause. She looked confused. "It says that the people you are looking for are in the basement garage."

Angeal frowned. "When did this message come in?"

She bit her lip, thinking. "Maybe ten minutes ago. He said to deliver it to you personally."

He smiled tightly. "Thank you." She nodded and walked off.

Genesis twitched his lips. "It could be a trap."

"That's a risk I am willing to take."

Sephiroth joined them on the staircase. Down and down they went until they reached the door leading to the basement. Sephiroth paused. There was a noise, but he couldn't place it. The garage was empty.

Genesis scowled. "I told you." Sephiroth rubbed his ears. The sound was faint, but still there. "What is it?"

Sephiroth sighed, listening harder. "There's a noise. It's..." His green eyed widened. "Ticking." Moving fast, even for him, Sephiroth grabbed both Angeal and Genesis and wedged them under a support. Seconds later, a blast rocked the garage. There was falling debris and the support rocked with the force of the explosion. The three were knocked back, their clothes singed but otherwise unharmed. Genesis sat up first, eyebrow raised.

"I don't know about you two, but I think someone is trying to kill us."

Zack struggled in his bonds, feeling fed up. He was tied up AGAIN. The door opened and Steelson came in.

"Comfortable?"

Zack glared, not giving him the satisfaction of an answer. "I can understand why you want me, but let Cloud go. He has no part in this."

"No, see, I can't do that. Between me and Hojo, that boy is going to be able to finance an army big enough to take over Shinra. I'll be president, and you two will be at my side. As my pets."

Zack made a face. "Angeal is going to stop you."

Steelson laughed. "How is he going to do that when he's dead?"

Zack froze. "What?" Steelson reached over and flicked on a radio. A voice crackled over the speaker.

"...reports coming in of a bomb going off at Shinra headquarters. No injuries, but the rumoured deaths of General Sephiroth, and Commanders Angeal and Genesis have not been confirmed yet. Stay tuned in as we bring you more on this story. General Sephiroth..." Steelson turned off the radio. Zack stared at it, a distant wailing in his mind.

"So you see, puppy. Your precious mentor is dead. No one is coming to save you now."

Genesis paused, watching the accident crews scurry over the site where the bomb had gone off. "Remind me again why we want them to think we are dead?"

Sephiroth sighed. "It is to our advantage. Our supposed deaths buys us some time, which we desperately need right now." Angeal nodded. He led them through the streets of Midgar. "What I don't know is where we are going."

The burly SOLDIER turned, his dark eyes thoughtful. "We're going to see an old friend."

The house in front of them was rundown, dilaptated. Angeal paused, before turning to his friends. "Rules. Do not report anything you see in here, even if it is illegal. Don't stare at anyone too long. Try not to let anyone know you are with SOLDIER and for gaia's sake Genesis, keep your hands to yourself." The auburn haired SOLDIER glared, indignant. With that, Angeal turned back to the door. He knocked three times.

There was a pause, then soft footsteps were heard. The door swung open, revealing a girl of about eighteen. She had dirty blonde hair with streaks of varying colors. Here jeans were ripped. A man's shirt, unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled up, hung of her body. She grinned, leaning against the door.

"Well, here's something you don't see every day. Hello, Angeal."

The man sighed. "Hello Kenzi. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need your help." Sephiroth and Genesis exchanged a look. When did Angeal sound so pleading? The girl named Kenzi, tilted her head. Her purple, lupus eyes curious. Apparently, this was new to her too.

"Of course. Come in."

Kenzi led them through the house. Despite Angeal's warning, Sephiroth's eyes wandered. There were a few people there, sad thin forms that seemed so lost. Kenzi ignored them. She entered a wide room that was filled with computer equipment. Genesis was amused to see that the computers all had 'property of Shinra' stamped on them. Angeal raised an eyebrow, face netural.

Kenzi shrugged. "Don't ask." She sat down. "What do you need?"

"I need you to hack into the Shinra mainframe."

The blonde girl stared at him."Okay."

Genesis piped up. "You can't do it?"

She glared at him. "Of course I can. I just don't like people to know I can do it." She stretched her fingers, then started to type quickly.

Sephiroth leaned over to Angeal, eyes dubious. "You do realize how long..."

"Done." The girl leaned back with a smile. "What do you wanna know?"

Shock was so rare an emotion on Sephiroth's face. Angeal wanted to laugh, but wisely decided against it. "I need anything on Hojo."

There was a few clicks. "Okay, he had a car ordered for him. The destination wasn't specified." Angeal let his head drop forward. "But, there is GPS." His head snapped up. "Says here the car is up in mountains. Near an old abandoned chemical plant." Something akin to familiarity prickled in the back of Angeal's mind, but he brushed it off. Kenzi hit a button. A printer whirred to life. "Here's the coordinates. Now go."

Angeal took the paper. He met Kenzi's eyes, suddenly uncomfortable. "Will you tell your mother I stopped by?"

The girl smiled sadly. "Of course."

Steelson back fisted Zack again, getting frustrated. He had been at this for nearly an hour. The boy refused to make a sound.

Zack was empty inside. Angeal was dead. He forgot everything, the pain from his beating, Cloud, escape; everything just seemed less important now. He closed his eyes.

"Come on, pup. Your owner's dead. You should be screaming now." The words were accompanied with a kick to the ribs. Zack was silent. Steelson growled with frustration. He wanted to watch this lovely boy in front of him break into a million pieces. Only then would his revenge be complete. "What is wrong with you?" He slapped Zack, the teenager's head jerking back with the force.

Zack spat up some blood, staring at Steelson with haunted eyes. "I'll never belong to you." His voice was hollow. "I love Angeal."

Steelson's scream of rage echoed across the warehouse.

It was déjà vu all over again. They snuck up on Reno, who was guarding the helicopter. Only this time, the red haired man was crying. Angeal and Sephiroth exchanged looks, a silent conversation taking place between them. At the same time, they turned to look at Genesis, who looked ashamed. The auburn haired man pushed past them, smiling at Reno disarmingly. Only to get a punch to the jaw.

"You, bastard! Why didn't you tell me you were alive?" Angeal raised an eyebrow. Reno went to hit Genesis again, but the man acted first. He pushed Reno against the wall, kissing him hard. Reno gave a muffled squeak, but reacted just as fiercely. Sephiroth blinked, slightly embarrassed. When the two red heads pulled away, Reno smiled slightly. "What about your friends never finding out?"

Genesis waved that off. "They are big boys. They can handle it."

Reno nodded, lips kiss-bruised. "Well, I'll consider that your first apology." He handed over the keys. "Gen, if you get killed, I swear to god, I am coming into the lifestream after you." The SOLDIER grinned stupidly. Angeal cleared his throat.

Genesis shook his head. "I'll explain later." The three climbed onto the copter.

Angeal mentally whispered, 'hold on a little longer Zack. I'm coming to get you.'

Oh, oh. It's almost over. (wibbles). Please review.