[A/N: Eheh, this one is a little… *coughgraphicish* towards the end ^^; It's not THAT bad [haha compared to others I've read xD] but yeah, just a warning :3Also, yeyme for finally getting my act together to type this up! Enjoy, fwee~!]
Sephiroth watched the men file off the ship and begin to set out the equipment on the beach with a curious sense of detachment. He could see their efficiency an took slight pride in it, knowing that it was at least partly due to the 'unified leadership' he and Genesis had been able to show during the briefing on the ship – little did they know that it was all a lie.
They had not spoken a word to one another since the event in Genesis' cabin, emotions too chaotic to explain unsettling them both. The only constant in their shifting mindsets was their attraction and need for each other, yet also the frustration of the presence of others and the last vestiges of reluctance to cross that ephemeral line.
Soon, the equipment was ready and each SOLDIER shouldered his load with only slight reluctance, some piling into the buggies and the rest filing into neat formation in anticipation of the move from the beach.
Night was beginning to spread its onyx wings over the landscape, shadows lengthening and providing shelter for the insurgents.
"You know where we are to camp?" Genesis asked Sephiroth quietly in the front of their buggy, the roar of the engine muffling his voice with the murmured chatter of the Second-Classes huddled in the back. Sephiroth nodded in a businesslike fashion.
"The Director picked out a likely spot before we left; it was marked in the briefing file." Genesis cleared his throat unobtrusively and Sephiroth glanced at him with a coy smile.
"I guess you never got round to reading it then?"
Looking straight ahead in embarrassment, Genesis began to hum to himself, half-smiling as Sephiroth laughed.
"That's not like you! You usually read whatever's put in front of you!" he teased, elbowing Genesis casually in the ribs, but as if he had stabbed him Genesis started and stared down at the contact, then raised his gaze to Sephiroth's eyes.
Knowing that if he looked back there would be no stopping him, Sephiroth stared pointedly out of the windscreen, clenching his fists around the roll bar in front of him and wishing that he hadn't been so careless.
Inviting danger…
They travelled in tense silence for nearly an hour, the only sound from the two of them being Sephiroth's occasional directions to the driver; Genesis remained wordless. The designated campsite was situated near the coast, nestled in a stand of trees atop a small cliff, the small shingly beach accessed by a narrow but not overly precipitous path that meandered down and across the cliff. The ShinRa force trundled to the site; scouts sent ahead reported no sign of Wutain occupation anywhere in sight.
The empty clearing became buzzing with activity as the SOLDIERs extricated themselves from the buggies and began the business of setting up camp, erecting tents and gathering dead wood for cook fires as well as to ward off the chill of evening.
Sephiroth and Genesis split up without a word to one another and moved off around the camp, talking to the men with practised ease and giving encouragement for the assignment ahead.
By the time it was all finished and provisions were available, it was true night and the stars twinkled silently in the heavens, each one like a diamond dropped by a careless angel.
In the mess tent, Genesis stretched and yawned with one hand over his mouth after finishing the meal, Sephiroth trying to ignore the luxurious movement. Standing, Genesis caught the attention of the men to speak.
"Right, finish your meals and get to your beds," he announced with one of his half-smiles. "We have an early start tomorrow, and you all need to be alert and –" He paused, "- in control of yourselves."
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes slightly, knowing that the last words had been meant for him and taking heed of the advice.
Hmph.
Taking their plates, the men began to vacate the tent, murmuring "good night sir"s to the First-Classes. Genesis had gone to clean his cutlery and chivvy the last stragglers away while Sephiroth remained seated, eyes closed in weariness. He felt Genesis return and stand in front of him, and when no speech was forthcoming he opened his eyes to look.
"Should we… retire to your tent to… prepare for the assignment?" Genesis asked hesitatingly, Sephiroth was, for a moment, puzzled – both of them had been on countless missions like this before, so why would they need extra preparation time…?
It took his sleep-starved brain a few seconds to realise that it would mean they could be alone together… to continue the encounter in the cabin?
Nodding in sudden and immediate acceptance, Sephiroth stood and followed Genesis through the maze of tents to two large ones standing a little apart from the others. The redhead held open the entrance flap of the left-hand tent and waited for Sephiroth to enter. The tent was illuminated by two lamps, one on either side; this ensured privacy by casting no shadow on the walls that could be seen by any happenstance passerby.
The element of secrecy jumpstarted a fluttering movement in Sephiroth's stomach and the more he tried to quell it, the worse it became.
The fastening to the tent securely sealed, Genesis moved into the space in the centre of the tent, positioning himself so that he and Sephiroth faced each other with only a few strides' gap between them. With no one around to witness and with little chance of interruption, Sephiroth finally allowed himself to look at Genesis fully, taking in his strong yet delicate build, vivid hair and those eyes – those glorious, blazing, inviting eyes.
Before he knew what was happening, Sephiroth had covered the distance between them – or had Genesis? – and suddenly they were there, together, lips meeting and parting, tongues seeking, delving, hands exploring – all in the space of a few unimaginably ecstatic seconds. Breath exploding and rushing in harsh pants, Genesis twined his fingers in Sephiroth's hair as the SOLDIER moved his attention to the redhead's neck, caressing, stroking, moving his collar down and away with a hand to kiss the flickering pulse, the marble-pale skin.
He moved back upwards again, tracing Genesis' jawline lightly with his tongue before Genesis caught his mouth determinedly and pushed against him, the force returned equally in kind. Caught up in the released desire and incredible new sensations, Sephiroth pushed Genesis down onto the metal bed at the side of the tent, and planting his hands on either side of Genesis' shoulders leaned down to him, never breaking contact.
The redhead did not seem to mind; twisting his fingers further into Sephiroth's hair he pulled him down, at the same time straining upwards to reach further into his mouth with a questing tongue.
"Goddess, Sephiroth," he hissed through clenched teeth as they paused momentarily for breath. Smiling, Sephiroth silenced him again with another deep kiss, now freeing Genesis' shoulder guards as the redhead clawed his coat away from him.
Pulling away slightly, Genesis rolled so that their positions were reversed, and he was the one towering over Sephiroth. "I'll show you," he grinned and bent to make good of his threat.
Beginning at the throat, he administered hundreds of light burning kisses like the flutter of butterfly wings against Sephiroth's skin, pinpricks of sensation the spread to envelop the whole of his shoulders in exquisite pleasure masquerading as pain. His chest rose and fell with increasing rapidity and his heart beat a tattoo against his ribs as Genesis continued, licking and kissing with unbearable slowness.
Sephiroth gritted his teeth to stifle a moan as Genesis' mouth returned to his, tasting of sweat and the unmistakeable mixture of scents that was just… Genesis.
"Fine," gasped Sephiroth between kisses, "you – win,"
Genesis pulled back again, a mischievous glow in his eyes.
"I do hope not," he said breathlessly, "for that would mean the game was over."
He reached back down to cover Sephiroth's mouth with his once more, but suddenly something felt… wrong. Twisting his head away, Sephiroth placed a hand on Genesis' mouth to stop him. There was an awkward pause as Genesis leaned back again, expression confused.
"What's wrong?" he asked, then when he got no answer, "… Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth shook his head without looking, staring intently at the side of the tent. "I… I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I can't do this." He felt his eyes begin to prickle with tears and blinked furiously to clear them. "Too much, too fast… I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
Genesis was silent for a moment a he rolled off the bed and stood, dressing quickly. "I understand," he said quietly, pausing at the entrance to the tent with his back to Sephiroth. "See you in the morning."
The tent flap swayed and shut, and like a wraith he was gone.
