"It went very well," Angeal positively beamed at Director Lazard. "The new recruits are settling in comfortably, and there are even a few I would suggest for promotion already!"

Lazard nodded reservedly, eyes glazing over slightly behind his crescent glasses. "Tell me more, Angeal..."

The conversation drifted in and out of Sephiroth's attention, mostly consisting of Angeal exhorting the virtues of SOLDIER honour and pride while Lazard let him talk; they had all heard it countless times before.

Genesis, lounging in a leather chair at the conference table, raised a hand to brush his hair out of his eyes as he contributed to the discussion; an unremarkable movement in itself, but as if there was a bell attached to his wrist Sephiroth's attention snapped to the movement, eyes following the graceful fingers and the flow of flaming hair.

He didn't know why he could not look away; it was as if all the colour had leached from his surroundings and into the red-haired SOLDIER opposite him.

"...so we may begin their training in the virtual reality rooms soon," Angeal said, referring to his fledgling SOLDIERs. He swivelled a little in his chair to address Genesis. "That reminds me - Sephiroth mentioned you two had just finished a session in there - how did it go?"

Genesis' eyes flicked to where Sephiroth had jumped slightly, half unfolding his arms in alarm, concentration dragged back to the other three men.

"We didn't get far before you called," Genesis said deliberately. "We were just... warming up, shall we say."

Sephiroth started again and looked at the curious expression on Angeal's face - Director

Lazard seemed to have fallen asleep - with distinct alarm.

"Y-yes, we had just finished off the first wave," he stuttered after desperately trying to think of something to say. After a momentary pause, Angeal nodded and smiled.

"You can get back to that if you like," he said. "I'm only going to go over a few more training plans with Director Lazard, you two don't have to stay."

Lazard's look was almost of panic as Genesis swung gracefully to his feet and he and Sephiroth moved to the door.

"Have fun!" Genesis cast the words over his shoulder with a backhanded gesture as he followed Sephiroth out of the room, earning what sounded like a whimper from the slim blonde man.

After the glass door had slid shut, the only sounds were the humming of machinery, the muffled drone of Angeal's voice and their soft breathing. Sephiroth found himself listening to the way air rushed gently in and out of Genesis, the swish of his coat, the faint jingle of his earring as he moved to the lockers.

The silver-haired SOLDIER pressed two fingertips to his forehead and tried to make sense of these strange feelings - why did he want nothing more than to go to the man standing with his back to him, to run his fingers through that auburn hair, to...

He hit his head with a fist to stop that train of thought. What's happening? he thought desperately. He's my friend, nothing more! Why am I...?

"Are you all right?"

Sephiroth looked up to see Genesis watching him with a concerned expression. "It's nothing," he lied hastily, trying to empty his mind. "Just... a headache, that's all. I'll be fine in a while, I'm sure."

Genesis took a step closer. "Do you want to go to the infirmary? I'll come with you-"

"Genesis, it's just a headache! There's nothing wrong with me!" Sephiroth spoke quickly and moved towards the door. "And why would I need you to come with me?"

Genesis' face coloured and he swiftly turned away to hide it. "I just thought... well, if my assistance is not required, I've got things to do." He made to open the door, but Sephiroth caught his arm and he froze.

Sephiroth winced inwardly at his recklessness; he had not meant to complete the action, and now he had to try to ignore the tingling in his fingers at the contact and think of something to repair the damage he was sure he had done.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend," he said hesitantly. Genesis' fringe obscured his eyes, making it impossible for Sephiroth to gauge what to say next. "Perhaps we should discuss this elsewhere...?"

Genesis inclined his head in agreement, his eyes still concealed from Sephiroth's view. The latter hesitated a moment before removing his hand from Genesis' arm and leading the way out into the SOLDIER floor.

The pale concrete corridors were now taken up with milling groups of second and third class SOLDIERs, a sharp contrast from a few hours ago when the two first classes had almost had the entire building to themselves. Sephiroth found it surprisingly easy, given his current roiling state of emotions, to maintain his usual detached and cold demeanour around the subordinates who stopped their chatter and stared in awe as the two elites passed them by.

Without a sideways glance, Sephiroth knew that Genesis was staring straight ahead, most likely with a half smile on his lips suggesting a private amusement; just as Sephiroth hid behind a cold exterior, Genesis exuded an air of aloofness which was just as effective in keeping away unwelcome admirers.

They reached the lifts and the door opened almost immediately, much to Sephiroth's relief. In the state he was in, he wanted to spend as little time as possible in the view of others, especially in Genesis' company.

Without a word spoken between them, they moved into the lift, Sephiroth pressing the button to take them down to the rooms reserved for SOLDIER first-class use with more force than was strictly necessary. He retreated to a corner, trying in vain to avoid looking to where Genesis stood with his back to him watching the world slide upwards through the glass side of the little box.

The short journey seemed like a slow torture, as if there was some twisted device that drew Sephiroth's eyes again and again to the figure by the window, his mind working frantically, even though he knew that by looking he was fuelling the fire that was building and growing hotter and hotter in his chest.

Finally, the world stopped its ascent and with an optimistic ping the doors slid open.

Sephiroth almost jumped out of the lift, taking a deep breath of cool filtered air as if the journey had been stiflingly hot. He paused to wait for Genesis, forcing himself to remain still when he wanted to fidget, and in some part of his mind to run away from the unwelcome emotions plaguing him at the redhead's approach - though he did not know whether he would take Genesis with him.

Somehow, the very thought of leaving even the building without him seemed an empty prospect that could only end in loneliness - and he felt a sharp pain in his chest that he knew more fanciful minds would call... heartbreak.

He shook his head in angry denial. Why in all hells would he be 'heartbroken' at leaving Genesis?

Suddenly he realised that they were standing close together in the corridor, and he hastened to lead the way to the large luxurious common room made for the first-classes. Sephiroth had always thought that the space was wasted on just the three of them; ShinRa was obviously optimistic about additions to their ranks.

For now though, he was glad of the extra room to put between himself and Genesis, who perched on the edge of the opaque white glass table in the centre of the room while Sephiroth dropped into a nearby leather chair. Genesis had still not made eye contact, and it made Sephiroth slightly nervous.

"Genesis," he said quietly, still unable to focus on anything else. "I think... well, earlier, I... I didn't mean..." He stopped and pushed two fingers against his forehead with a noise of frustration. "What I mean is, I think there's something wrong with me." He spoke quickly with his eyes tightly shut, not daring to look up. "I can't stop thinking..." He hesitated and then pushed on. "I can't stop thinking about you."

He finally looked up and saw why Genesis had avoided meeting eye contact earlier.

Such powerful longing blazed from his glowing azure eyes that Sephiroth almost moved backwards with the force of it, unaware that his own gaze matched the redhead's. They sat in silence for over a minute, lost in each others' stare, neither daring to move or even breathe for fear of breaking the moment like shattering glass.

Finally, Genesis looked away, intense regret mirrored in the movement.

"I think it would be better for us to stay away from each other for a while," he said quietly, and though Sephiroth wanted to scream that no, it wouldn't be better, it was the last thing he wanted to do - he nodded in acquiescence, not trusting his voice or the words he knew he would say if he tried to speak.

There was a tense silence for a while, and then without a word Sephiroth slowly got to his feet and left the room, feeling as though he left a part of himself behind.