Title :: Power Play

Authors :: alex69 (Genesis, Angeal),

Whiskey(Rufus, Tseng)

Pairing :: Genesis/Rufus, light Tseng/Rufus

Rating :: NC-17 overall

Warnings :: jailbait!Rufus, language, plot

Summary :: Lazard gives Genesis a mission that Genesis believes is beneath him, and he goes straight to the young vice president to appeal it. This is porn with a story lurking underneath, we think. Adapted from our RP, so this is part 2 of many.

Rufus had wanted Genesis to leave, but he didn't feel any better once the man was gone. He was covered in cum and sweat and he felt sore, humiliated, and scared. He was lucky that he didn't encounter anyone in the long hallway that connected his office and his suite. When Rufus got to his bedroom, he stripped immediately and threw his clothes into the laundry hamper with about as much ire as he could summon. He turned on the shower as hot as he could stand and stood in it for a full five minutes without moving, allowing the almost scalding heat to purify him of everything that had just happened. He grabbed a bar of soap from the shelf and lathered his entire body with abandon, still feeling like he could smell Genesis on him. He rinsed off in the spray and washed his hair, scrubbing it and running his fingers through it, desperately trying to get rid of any evidence that Genesis had ever touched it. When he was satisfied enough, he rinsed that, too, and allowed himself to lean against the wall of the shower, his body shaking with anger.

He immediately thought of the black-haired Turk. Tseng... he had wanted Tseng to be his first. The thought pained him, and he was so angry at Genesis for taking what wasn't his that he almost wanted to go straight to the SOLDIER Firsts' floor with his handgun and Dark Nation. The dog must've known he was thinking of him, because he dutifully trotted into the bathroom to make sure Rufus was okay.

Rufus shut off the shower and opened the curtain. "Hey, guy... I'm fine," he reassured his pet, drying his hands and face on his towel before scratching Dark Nation behind the ears. The dog was still skeptical, and he cocked his head at Rufus before leaving him alone again, presumably looking for food or whatever it was that dogs did. Rufus didn't like to be upset around him, because his pet could always tell how he was feeling. He supposed that was why Tseng had given him Dark Nation as a present in the first place. Tseng. Gods. Damn it. Rufus tried to put his fist through the wall, but the wall was made out of concrete and all he managed was a few knuckle bruises. "Fuck," he swore, rubbing his fist.

Rufus dressed quickly, not in the mood to see himself naked. He wasn't sure what to do from there, other than to try to find a way to get out some of his anger. He decided to go down to the Turks' shooting range to blow off some steam. "I'm leaving," he told his dog, and slammed the door behind him irritably, his gun concealed within his long white jacket.

Genesis had walked out wearing a smirk, and was satisfied with the fact that he wouldn't be going on assignment to Junon, but he still felt like an ass. Rufus was young, and so naive. Usually he wasn't opposed to taking advantage of people, but... He couldn't get those crystal blue eyes out of his head, looking up at him as if asking if he were doing a good job. He turned around. He really should go back and talk to Rufus, if only to make sure the boy was alright. He thought better of it. Rufus had been the one to challenge him. The teen thought he could play with the big boys. Fuck. He did punch the wall, and some of the concrete chipped. He could not justify what had just happened. It was only a blow job, but still. And then he had walked out. Maybe he should have stayed. Rufus probably had questions, and it wasn't likely that the boy could go to 'Fat Shinra' to talk about it, and it was unlikely that he would talk to Lazard. Okay, more than unlikely. He hated his brother. Damn it, Genesis, you are such an asshole. However, he did not go back; instead, he went to the simulation room. Having Rapier in hand always made him feel better. He jabbed and thrust, determined not to let those blue eyes distract him a moment longer. Too bad it didn't work.

Rufus loved the shooting range. Marksmanship was always one of his strengths, which gave him self-confidence when he found little to be happy about with his physical body. Rufus saw himself as tiny and weak, and nothing made that feeling disappear like holding a gun, particularly a large one, and firing it. He had felt so small and insignificant beside Genesis, and it had both turned him on and angered him. He had fucked with one of SOLDIER's best, and come out hurt. His jaw and lips were still sore, and he had huge bags under his eyes from stress. He felt incredibly stupid, and knew that the best way to get rid of all of his anxiety and pain was to pretend that the target at the end of the row was Genesis' head.

He stood behind the rail, holding his gun in his right hand. Ready... aim... pow! Right in the center. Rufus was an excellent marksman. His chest filled with pride at the bulls-eye he got. "Great job, Vice President!" he heard a few bystanders call out behind him. Rufus grinned smugly, and took another shot. It landed right next to the previous one—right in the dead center of the space that Rufus imagined to be Genesis' forehead.

Suddenly he felt a strong, warm hand grip his shoulder. "Nice shot, Rufus," the voice purred. Rufus knew that voice, and he stiffened considerably. Oh, gods, it's him. Rufus turned around and blushed to the roots of his hair. Tseng stood behind him, a proud smile on his face. "Evidently you have been practicing as often as I advised. Keep up the good work."

Rufus beamed. His dark-haired hero was proud of him. "Thank you, Mr. Tseng," he breathed, exhilarated.

Tseng chuckled. "It has been long enough, Rufus, and you are almost a man now. You may dispense with the formality." Rufus felt his heart thud in his chest. Tseng wanted Rufus to call him by his first name. What a day this was turning out to be. Then he remembered Genesis, and his heart filled with pain. Tseng saw the change. "Is something wrong, Rufus?" His smile was so kind, so sincere.

Rufus wanted to speak, but found he was tongue-tied. What could he say? That Genesis Rhapsodos had taken his virginity and he would rather Tseng have done so? Blushing, he stammered, "I-I have some questions."

Tseng's brow furrowed briefly, but he was quick to smile reassuringly at Rufus and ruffle his hair. "What would you like to ask me, Rufus?"

Rufus looked around. There were Turks and guards and all sorts of people there... people who would hear it, would see how he behaved around Tseng, would ruin him, criticize him. Tseng saw the anxious look on the boy's face. Obviously these questions were much more private in nature than Tseng had originally anticipated. Therefore it would be prudent to take the boy somewhere private so he could air his grievances properly. Placing his hand in the middle of the boy's back, Tseng led him to the elevator. "Holster your gun," he instructed, and Rufus placed it back in his belt, shielding it from view with his jacket.

Rufus and Tseng got in the elevator and ascended to what Rufus assumed would be a break room that Tseng knew would be empty at this hour. He led Rufus down the hallway, still with his hand on the boy's back. However, they weren't headed anywhere Rufus was familiar with. Tseng led him up to a door and stuck a keycard in it, opening the door and ushering Rufus inside. "My apartment."

Tseng's apartment? Rufus shivered. Now he was really regretting fucking with Genesis, because it almost felt like he'd had a chance with Tseng. The place was beautiful, decorated with tapestries and wall scrolls of beauty that astounded Rufus. Tseng smiled. "I am glad that the Vice President likes my decor," he teased. Rufus jumped a little, but Tseng laughed gently and rubbed his shoulder affectionately. The touch was completely unexpected, and Rufus almost jumped again. "Please be seated in the living room. Would you like some tea, Rufus?" The boy nodded. He loved the tea Tseng drank; sometimes he would bring some into the office and fix Rufus and the other Turks a cup. Reno hated the stuff, but Elena had enjoyed it so much she had asked for the brand and where to purchase it.

Tseng left Rufus in the living room as he went to fix the tea. Rufus sat down on the couch. It was cushy and he sank into it, which relaxed him quite a bit. The conversation he was going to have, however, wasn't going to be easy.

Genesis had finally finished the simulation, but it really hadn't stopped him from feeling like a total prick. He threw his goggles aside, and sheathed Rapier at his hip. A hot shower and then a nice lunch with Angeal might be just what he needed. Angeal always had a way to make him feel better after one of his fuck-ups and he'd had many. Rufus was just one on a long list.

He was surprised by how much the hot shower had done to relax his muscles. Once he was dressed again, this time in a pair of black jeans and a deep blue turtleneck sweater, he made his way to his best friend's apartment. Being First Class did have its perks, such as time off between missions. Both he and Angeal were enjoying such a rest. He knocked. Angeal opened the door a few moments later. "Gen, you look like hell." Genesis hated and loved the fact that his friend knew him so well. It must have been the face he was making. "What did you do this time?" Genesis was invited into the dwelling. "Or should I ask, who did you walk out on?"

Dammit, was he that transparent? Or was his reputation that bad? "It's bad this time, Ang. Real bad." The two took a seat on a plain but comfortable couch.

"It's always 'real bad this time', Gen."

Genesis sighed. "I can't tell you who, but I'm such a dick."

Angeal raised his brow. "You're a dick every time." It was just a statement of fact.

"Goddess damn, Angeal. It's a royal fuckup. And I don't know what to do."

Angeal fought down a smile. Same story, different day, different man. "You're going to do what you always do. You're going to whine to be about it, go out, get drunk, and by tomorrow, he, whoever he is, will be forgotten about."

Genesis sighed. "Angeal, it isn't that easy this time." He couldn't believe he was going to say it. But if there was anyone on Gaia he trusted, it was his best friend. "It was Rufus."

"WHAT?" After Angeal's initial shock wore off, he rose, his large hands clasped at the small of his back, and he started pacing. "Genesis, what happened?"

Genesis' head dropped back against the couch and he sighed in exasperation. "Lazard told me I was going to Junon," Genesis started the story. He told of his plan to blackmail the vice president, sneaking in the boy's suite, and ended with the blow job and walking out. He even told his friend about how he'd gotten into the office. He omitted the parts about Tseng.

All the while, Angeal was looking mortified. Finally, he stopped Genesis. "You do realize that even planning on blackmailing Rufus could constitute treason?"

Genesis closed his eyes. "I know Ang, but... but once the ball got rolling, well, it became a game, and I couldn't stop."

Angeal looked disgusted, but he had to know. "What now, Genesis? How will you make it up to him?"

Genesis shrugged. "I don't know. I've never had to make it up before."

The tall muscular man thought for a moment. Then he said something that floored Genesis. "You're going to do something else you've never done before. You're going to ask him out."

Genesis' eyes snapped open. "Excuse me? You mean, like a date?"

Angeal nodded, his face still grave. "Genesis, he is only sixteen years old. He should know that there is more to sex than just sex. You really should have done this beforehand, you know."

It was Genesis' turn to be horrified. "Wait... I am not asking Rufus Shinra out on a date. Besides, he already has his heart set on someone, so it would be pointless. And what if someone saw us? Then we'd both be fucked."

While his reason was sound, Angeal wasn't going to let his friend off the hook that easily. "You're going to do this Gen, or so help me... you can forget we were ever friends."

"You don't mean that?" Genesis was furious.

"I do." Angeal countered. "I will not watch you mess up your career because you don't know how to stop your... passions from getting the better of you. Besides, it will be the best way to apologize." With that, the argument was settled, and the two enjoyed a nice lunch without the Rufus topic coming back into play.

Tseng returned with the tea, and set it down on a small table in front of a couch. There was a teapot and tray and everything; it all looked very fancy, and it comforted Rufus immediately. Tseng poured a cup and handed it to him. "It's very hot. Please use caution." Rufus took the cup and held it carefully, using his sleeves to block some of the heat. He leaned forward and sniffed the tea; the scent was so relaxing and wonderful. Just like Tseng.

Rufus took a sip, and found that words came easier now than they had before. "Thank you," he whispered, taking another sip.

"What was it you wished to talk to me about?" Tseng asked gently. He didn't want to pry, but he did not want to burden the boy with awkward silence, either. Rufus blushed and averted his eyes, and Tseng realized that it must be something deeply personal. Tseng thought for a moment. The best way to get information out of a person was to interrogate or question them, but he needed to do it in such a way that Rufus would be comfortable answering. Perhaps a series of questions to see how Rufus responded, and then Tseng could frame his next set of questions accordingly.

"Is it something you have told anyone else?" Tseng wondered. Rufus shook his head without speaking. Hmm. Interesting. "Well, may I say that I am honored that you would trust me with this information, Rufus." Those blue eyes returned to his gaze; Rufus must be feeling better. Perhaps more questions interspersed with compliments would be a better approach. Rufus was shy and seemed to need prodding and cautious persuasion. "Why did you decide to speak only with me, Rufus?"

There was hesitation, and then Rufus replied, "I didn't think anyone else would understand."

A curious answer indeed. "Why wouldn't anyone else understand? Is it very personal?" Rufus nodded shyly, cheeks reddening and blonde hair falling into his eyes. It was time to get him to be comfortable again. "I see. Would you mind telling me a little bit more?"

Rufus wanted to look at Tseng, but found that he couldn't. "Tseng... um... do you like men?"

A bold question, to be sure. "Yes, Rufus, I do like men. Why do you ask?"

Rufus hung his head, and stammered his response. "I-I like men, too, sir," he whispered, falling back into the formality he was used to. "But I can't tell Father because he has told Lazard and me that he would disown us if we liked men."

Tseng felt a pang of heartache for the boy when he heard this, and felt that the President was surely irrational for this decision, seeing as how both of his sons favored men. It was fairly well-known that Lazard took almost exclusively male company. Perhaps, then, that was why the President had chosen Rufus as his successor. At least there was the slightest chance for Rufus to prefer women and take a wife, whereas the chances of Lazard marrying were slim to none. "I am sorry to hear that, Rufus," Tseng murmured. "Know that your secrets and inclinations are always safe with me. I will never tell a soul anything you do not want me to tell. I serve you, Rufus, not your father, and my loyalty lies with you."

My loyalty lies with you. Rufus' heart surged at the thought. Tseng's loyalty. He blushed dark red. "Th-Thank you, sir," he managed to say at long last, and Tseng felt floored by the boy's emotion. Obviously Rufus had been very moved by a statement that Tseng found to be elementary. "I... There is a man that I like very much," Rufus whispered, refusing to meet Tseng's gaze. "I have dreams of him at night and I had imagined that ... I had imagined that..." He couldn't finish the statement, and decided to try it from a different angle. "I... had sex with someone," he blurted out immediately. Tseng's eyebrow arched slightly. "Well... he had sex with me, I guess," Rufus corrected.

Now Tseng's curiosity was piqued. What did Rufus mean? "Please explain what you are talking about, Rufus. If I am to help you, I need to understand completely what it is you are saying," Tseng said softly.

Rufus blushed, bit his lip and continued. "I.. I was in my office... drawing"-he broke Tseng's gaze for a few seconds-"and he came in wanting something out of me. He seduced me. He pushed me against the wall and then made me get on my knees for him." Rufus looked humiliated, and Tseng felt sorry for the boy.

"Did you acquiesce to his requests, all of them? Did you give consent, Rufus?" Tseng had a hard, protective look in his eye, and Rufus had never seen him look that way before.

"I... I think so. I said he could get what he wanted. He... didn't like the mission Lazard gave him. He came right to me and asked. I ... I liked parts of it... but when it was over I was so angry." He swallowed hard. "It was my first time, sir. And it wasn't with the man I like." Were those... the beginnings of tears in his eyes? They couldn't be. Rufus hadn't even cried when he was a child. Perhaps Tseng was merely imagining emotion that wasn't there, out of a desire to comfort the boy.

Tseng's chest hurt with sympathy for Rufus. He had a crush, and he was used by a man who didn't want... the mission Lazard gave him? Is that what Rufus said? Lazard... It must have been a SOLDIER who had touched the boy. Tseng felt his hands clench into fists. He would find out who it was who had threatened his charge, and he would ensure that no one ever hurt Rufus again. "Rufus, did I hear you correctly when you said Lazard?" Rufus nodded. "So, was it a SOLDIER who hurt you, Rufus?" Rufus nodded again. This time he was looking into Tseng's eyes, pleading. He wanted to climb into the man's lap like he always did when he was a child, but he couldn't. He was a man, or almost one, and had to be strong on his own.

"Which SOLDIER was it, Rufus?" Tseng's gaze pierced him. "You need to tell me this if nothing else, because threatening the Vice President is treason." His eyes turned cold, and he fixed his gaze at a spot over Rufus' head. "I will personally see to it that whoever was unfortunate enough to have threatened Rufus Shinra will never be able to seek gainful employment in the city of Midgar again."

Rufus felt his chest swell with admiration. Tseng was willing to get Genesis fired. Tseng was willing to do all sorts of things for him. "Genesis Rhapsodos, sir. He came into my office and wanted to go over Lazard's head. I told him no, that it's wrong to do such a thing, but he wouldn't listen. He had sex with me and then told me to go talk to Lazard." The boy's face turned dark. "I don't want to talk to Lazard," he sulked. That was something Tseng could have guessed for himself.

"I can speak to Lazard for you, Rufus," Tseng offered immediately. "Director Deusericus needs to know that such a thing has happened with one of his men. If he does not offer adequate punishment for Genesis," Tseng's eyes sparkled, "rest assured that I will assist him."

"Thank you... Ts-Tseng," he stuttered on the name of the man he had been speaking of previously, the man he wished he had slept with instead of Genesis.

"Do not worry," Tseng stated, "your Turks will solve all your problems for you." He reached over and took Rufus' empty teacup out of his hands and placed it on the tray. Then he stood, beckoning Rufus to stand with him. "Is this all you wanted to talk about?" Rufus nodded. "Then I think it's best you got some rest, Rufus. I will walk you back to your suite. Do you wish me to guard you this evening?"

Rufus shook his head; he could never sleep if Tseng was there. Nor could he masturbate, because Tseng would hear him. He wanted to make up for the day's events by lying in bed and imagining his real first time with Tseng, imagining those beautiful hips riding his cock, those dark eyes piercing him, and that long hair taken down for Rufus to play with. "Very well."

The two of them walked mostly wordlessly back to Rufus' suite, and then Tseng smiled encouragingly at the boy. "You know where to find me if you need me. Good night, Rufus." He bowed slightly, and ruffled Rufus' hair again, before turning and leaving. Rufus stared at Tseng as he walked, burning the image in his mind.

Genesis and Angeal had gone to Kalm right after lunch. Their destination: a flower shop. They had to leave Midgar, because flowers weren't accessible in the metropolis. Genesis really didn't want to do this. The whole idea of getting flowers and asking Rufus on a date was preposterous. Yes, he still felt bad for how he'd gotten the vice president to agree to help him, but he didn't understand why a simple "I'm sorry" and maybe a poem wouldn't suffice. It wasn't that Genesis wasn't a romantic at heart, and it wasn't that he didn't know how to woo and court a potential lover, but Rufus Shinra? The boy's ego was enormous, and frankly it annoyed him. How anyone could have an ego that big was beyond him. However, Angeal had reminded him over and over again that it was the correct thing to do. Genesis still didn't get it. He'd already gotten a blow job and didn't have to go to Junon, so how could taking the boy on a date after the fact be the right thing to do?

Three hours and a purchase of one dozen long-stemmed white roses later, Genesis stood at Rufus' apartment. He had the flowers behind his back as he knocked on the vice president's door.

Rufus heard a knock on his door. Who the hell could that be? Dark Nation whined at the door, waiting for Rufus to open it. Was it Tseng? Had he come back, having decided that the risk against Rufus was too much, that he needed to stay and protect the boy? Heart pounding, Rufus opened the door breathlessly, only to find that it was that bastard Genesis, who had used him, blown in his face, and left with a sneer. "What the hell do you want?" His eyes were fixed into the cruelest glare Genesis had ever seen. "And better yet, how did you find my private residence? You better explain yourself, Rhapsodos," the boy warned. "Because I've got the best bodyguard in all of Shinra, and I can order him to kick your ass whenever I want!"

Lovely, Genesis thought. Not only did he not want to ask this little bastard out, but the kid was making that post-it note "sorry" with a poem even more tantalizing. He was trying to ignore Rufus' cruel gaze, yet those crystal blue eyes that had haunted him all day were here, made manifest. He steadied his resolve. He was going to do this, dammit, despite how the brat was talking to him. Not only for the sake of his friendship with Angeal (who at this point was hiding around the corner, keeping an eye on Genesis to make sure he followed through with it), but also because it would piss Rufus off to no end. He suddenly realized that pissing off the little vice president could easily become one of his favorite pastimes. Genesis' lips curled into a pompous smirk, and he peeked his head around Rufus, looking inside the room. "So, which part of your body is being guarded, Rufus?" Then he couldn't help but add, as his eyes fell on the big dog that would be no problem for him to take with his bare hands, "Well, since I don't see General Sephiroth around, I disbelieve you when you say that you have a bodyguard who can kick my ass." He then put on his charming smile, the half-smirk that made his fangirls swoon. "But alas, pretty little butterfly, I came not to fight with you," yeah, go for the poetics, "but to ask if I could ever be so lucky as to have one such as yourself, who was kissed by the sun and given gifts of sapphires upon your very birth, accompany me on the morrow's eve." He fell to a knee and dramatically revealed the roses to the boy.

Which part of your body is being guarded, Rufus? Immediately an image popped into Rufus' head that made him blush to the roots of his hair. "You know what the fuck I meant," he snapped, avoiding Genesis' gaze. "And no, it's not General Sephiroth. But he could still kick your ass," he added, slightly hurt. Then Genesis was... spouting poetry! Rufus loved poetry. Damn him! Granted, he preferred war poetry, or possibly sonnets, but still. He glared violently at Genesis, but then the man dropped to his knees and held out the roses. White. White was Rufus' color. He stood there speechless. For him? No one had ever given Rufus flowers in his life. But wait, flowers were for girls! "I don't want any flowers, I'm a grown man!" the boy insisted, yet betrayed himself by snatching them out of Genesis' outstretched arms. He immediately tossed them onto the table next to the door, but intended to cut the ends—on an angle, of course—and put them into a vase as soon as Genesis left. Of course he wasn't about to let the man see him liking the damn things. He was Rufus fucking Shinra! Rufus Shinra didn't like flowers, damn it. Or any of that stupid girly crap. Rufus Shinra liked guns and his guard dog and war and his Turks. And men who were strong and would pledge their neverending loyalty to him, men who would take bullets and die for him.

Suddenly Rufus did a double take. Had Genesis... asked him out? "Wait... what did you say, Rhapsodos? I lost the meaning of your statement in that awful poetry," he sneered.

Genesis rose to his full height, his entire face flushing red with anger. Did this little pink-faced motherfucking brat just call his poetry awful? Rapier, where was Rapier? Down in his room, of course, because unless there were a serious emergency, such as enemies besieging the Shinra mega-structure, Genesis would never bring a weapon to the executive suites. And right now, Rufus didn't know how lucky he really was. Genesis sucked down a calming breath. "Well, because you're not actually intelligent enough to decipher true poetry," he said through clenched teeth, "I was asking if you wanted to go on a date tomorrow night. But you know what...fuc..." He bit his bottom lip to prevent himself from continuing. He swore to Angeal that he would try his hardest, and he might be a lot of things, but a liar was not one of them. He stood there waiting for Rufus to answer.

Rufus' eyes went wide. He was sure Genesis hadn't been serious. But this was still the man who had used him the previous day, and he had doubts. "Why bother?" he spat. "You already got what you wanted, didn't you?" A pause. He felt a bit bad for saying that, especially since he had wanted it. "But if it'll shut you up and get you out of my face..." He sighed. "Fine. But just one date. And I'm bringing my bodyguard!" he insisted, blushing suddenly. Damn his body's physical reactions.

Genesis didn't even see the boy turn red. Well, he did, but that was because that was the only color he was seeing right now. No, Genesis Rhapsodos, do not reach out, take that itty-bitty neck in your hands and twist, he told himself over and over. Instead, he decided he would stab the kid with words. He was just as deadly with phrases as he was with his sword. "You know, Shinra, it figures you would want to take your crush out on a date with me. Here, let me help you with that. You give him those flowers, you ask him to go out with you, and if he says yes, I will pay for your fucking date." Those usual azure spheres of his had taken on the color of a raging storm. "However, please allow me to point out that, as far as I can tell, he hasn't asked you out, and I doubt he plans to. But, eh, whatever." He then looked down on Rufus, stepping dangerously close. "And Mr. Vice President, I wasn't doing this for myself. I was asking you because no one has taking a real interest in your gods-damn pathetic life. Until now. And look how the fuck you treat me. Sorry I wasted my time." Genesis couldn't even turn around, he was so angry. No, he was seething. He couldn't even contemplate that what he just said was true. That he in fact had taken a real interest in the boy. Maybe later, when he wasn't about to kill the kid, he would think about it.

If Rufus hadn't been shocked before, he sure as hell was now. First was the comment about crushing on his bodyguard; his face was hot with embarrassment and anger. But the next bit... He hasn't asked you out, and I doubt he plans to... cut him right to the core. It was true. Genesis was right. Tseng hadn't asked him... was never going to ask him. He felt his eyes well up a bit, but angrily swallowed it all back. No one has taken a real interest in your pathetic life... His life was not pathetic! He was the second richest man in the world, and... and... Rufus hung his head in shame. It was true. Tseng had been the closest thing to a father, mother, brother, lover he had ever had, and yet Tseng was none of those things to Rufus, and never would be. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he suddenly felt lonely and scared. He truly had been kidding himself all along. The drawings, the dreams... none of it mattered. None of it was true. But here was someone who was trying. Here was someone who had fucked up bad, who had come back... "Genesis," Rufus choked. He couldn't believe he was even about to say this. "I'm... I'm sorry." He slapped himself mentally, but he had been raised with class, and when classy people fucked up, they apologized, even if all they wanted to do was slam the door in peoples' faces.

I wasn't doing this for myself... It went through his head over and over again. Did that mean he was doing it for Rufus? Did that mean he cared about him? Genesis wasn't a Turk. He wasn't paid exclusively to take care of the vice president. In fact, Genesis truly didn't even answer to Rufus or his father, he answered to Lazard, and Lazard was a man who took care of business, a man who ran a clean shift. No, Genesis was there because he wanted to be, or at least thought he should be. Genesis was there out of the kindness of his heart. Rufus didn't understand kindness, but perhaps he could try.

"So..." Rufus swallowed hard. "Tomorrow, you said?"

Genesis shook his head, hit with confusion. Did Rufus just apologize? No way in Ifrit's hell did Rufus Shinra just say he was sorry. Genesis inhaled, trying to calm himself. After a minute he was able to see the boy again. He could only nod to that. Then he found his voice. "6:00 sound good? I'm taking you to the Gold Saucer."

The Gold Saucer? Rufus had never been. He had heard of how fun it was, and the Turks would go as a group once in a while, but he had always been too young to attend. But being able to go and be the center of someone's attention, someone who wasn't being paid to protect him? (He wasn't sure why it had just occurred to him that Tseng was paid by his father; perhaps there was more clarity in his mind when he was hurting.) Of course it sounded good. "Yeah... yeah, sure," Rufus stumbled over the words. "See you then." He was dazed. So much had happened, and it was all going by in a blur.

It took Genesis a moment to realize that Rufus had just agreed to the date. He nodded, feeling his anger ebb. "Hn," the reply was snorted. Again he felt that Rufus had just dismissed him. He turned around, not really a spin this time, and left the boy standing in his doorway. He turned the corner in the hallway, only to find his best friend standing there with his bulky arms crossed.

"You could have done much better, Gen," Angeal opened when they were in the elevator.

Genesis sighed, slumped against one of the metal walls, and closed his eyes. "Yeah," was his only answer.

"What came over you? I thought I was going to have to stop you from killing Mr. Shinra, Gen. You cannot lose your temper like that. Especially around someone like the vice president. Not only is it against honor, but he could have you court-marshaled."

Genesis sighed again. "Yeah, I know." He sounded exhausted. One blue eye opened, and glanced at his friend. "But hey, he said yes."

"After you told him no one in the world cared about him."

Genesis growled. "Okay, Angeal, you know what, I admit it. I keep fucking up with him." He was becoming angry again. Why was a simple blow job from a cute boy getting under his skin so badly? "But let me remind you, this date thing was your idea... Besides, the prick insulted my poetry. And I made it up just for him!"

The elevator stopped on their floor. "Go get some rest, Gen. I think you need some sleep. It will help you greatly."

Genesis was alone on his bed, trying to will himself into slumber. However, each time he reached the point between the waking world and dreams, the image of a golden-haired, blue-eyed cherub would flash under his lids. Gen gave up the fantasy of sleep and sat up. All right, jailbait, what is it about you? He let his mind ponder the mystery that was Rufus. The boy was egotistical, pompous, arrogant, (yes, Genesis knew they all meant the same thing) disrespectful, rude, selfish, childish, needy, self-absorbed, was terrible at giving head, and was somehow utterly amazing.

What the fuck?

He stood up and began to pace the floor. Rufus, damn you, get out of my head. Well, that didn't work. He didn't really expect it to, not when innocent eyes, a taut body, and an explosive orgasm kept replaying like a broken record through his memory. I think I hate him, his mind said.

Then it argued, Why, then, are you looking forward to tomorrow night?

Because I'm a sadist, that's why.

No, it's because he's everything you see in yourself.

Bullshit.

Oh, really? Let's see. He is arrogant and self-absorbed, just like you. He's spoiled and pompous, same as you. He enjoys the finer things in life, and—

Okay, that's enough, I get it!

But the voice refused to stop there. No one in the world gives a damn about him; it was the same for you at that age… Genesis groaned, a hand going over his eyes to shut up that voice, which hammered you both into being willful men with strong personalities.

He is not a man, Genesis protested feebly.

More so than you realize

Fuck!

What just happened? Rufus was still confused. Had he really just agreed to go on a date with Genesis? Were those flowers, lying so carelessly on the table, really from Genesis as well? Were they his color? Rufus scooped them up and took them out of their cellophane wrapping, snipped the ends off with a pair of kitchen scissors, and put them in a black vase. Rufus loved contrasting colors. He filled the vase with water and decided to set it on his bedside table, so that the white roses would be the first thing he saw when he woke up the next morning.

And oh, gods, had he really apologized? Rufus fumed at himself. If he were to ever become a true politician, he would need to drop that childhood belief that all wrongs were made right through apology. He knew that his father and Lazard suffered from no such idiocy. Then again, as of when had Rufus ever considered either of them to be role models? Somehow, apologizing to Genesis had felt like the right thing to do, even though he was mentally kicking himself for displaying weakness. Perhaps if he gave the SOLDIER incentive, he wouldn't feel the need to gallivant around and tell others what a pathetic little weakling Rufus Shinra was, and how easy it was to get under his skin with crappy poetry and a second-rate hand job in his office.

Rufus paused. Had it really been a second-rate hand job? It had been his first. Feeling a hand that wasn't his, that was stronger and rougher from use, had pushed him over the edge so quickly that he had barely even been aware of what went on afterwards. He closed his eyes and backed himself up against the wall of his kitchen, imagining Genesis against him once again, hot breath and rough hands and cruel taunting.

When Rufus Shinra fell asleep that night, he had his first wet dream in over four years. He had thought himself far too old for such things, but the dream had been full of war and dead soldiers, and standing atop a crimson-stained grassy hill was Genesis Rhapsodos, bloodlust in his eyes and that gigantic sword in his hand, glowing red and dripping with blood. "For you, Rufus," the man whispered, and gestured toward the field of bodies. Rufus could easily see his father among the dead; it appeared that Genesis had made quite a spectacle of him. President Shinra lay on his back, twisted and broken at funny angles, his platinum hair matted with blood and his suit stained. "The world is yours," Genesis breathed wickedly, and Rufus felt a rush of lust that he knew wasn't healthy, but frankly he didn't care. Genesis then turned around, his trenchcoat and auburn hair flapping in the wind, and walked off into the distance. Rufus followed him.