In the beginning

Chapter TWO. Quit the honor.

"Don't expect me to start easy out on the girl, Lazard", Genesis said in a-matter-of-fact-voice. "She joined SOLDIER, and then she'll just have to cope with the hard training".

"I think she is aware of that, Genesis", Lazard replied flatly. "But don't be rude to her", he added with an icy glare.

He has defiantly slept with her Genesis thought dryly. "I'll behave just in the way I want!" He snarled. "Please, relax, try and get the best out of it, will you", Angeal said. Genesis turned to look at his childhood friend in an offended manner.

"I am going to have a girl…. No, I'm going to live with a girl, Angeal, and you ask me to relax?!"

"SHUT UP GENESIS!" Lazard shouted. Lazard never shouted. Genesis straightened up a little and cleared his throat. "No need to get all hysterical, Director", he said. Both Lazard and Angeal just stared at him in disbelief.

Okay, maybe he was the one hysterical and overreacting a little, but of course he would rather die, than ever admit it. A man had to hold on to his principles.

"Your students will arrive in 2 minutes. Have you cleared a room in your apartments?" Lazard raised an eyebrow. Both SOLDIERs nodded. "Good, and remember that your students still have their normal classes, but I will make sure to change their schedules, so it will fit with yours better. Here, this is the report on Zackary Fair and the report on Skylar Williams", Lazard handed Genesis a paper folder.

Hmm… So that's her name, Skylar Williams.

"Nowremember to make them feel comfortable in your apartments, right?" Lazard only looked at Genesis at this point. Genesis ignored him.

"Genesis, I hope you really do try to…" Lazard began, but was cut off by a knock on the door. Both Genesis and Angeal straightened up, and Lazard called "come in".

A young boy with spiky black hair, big purpleblue eyes and an enormous smile planted on his face, literally bounced into the office. He was followed by the girl, and Genesis couldn't help but blink a few times. He would be lying big time, if he said the girl was ugly. She was pretty, no… she was beautiful. Her hair was the color of sunkissed, shiny blond. Her eyes were light blue, and filled with excitement, they were framed by long dark eyelashes, her lips were a natural shade of pink, and her cheeks a little blushed. She was cute.

Damn it.

It only took Genesis a second to get all those details in, a skill that had taken ages to learn. She would never know that he in a second had gaped over her beauty.

Both Zackary and Skylar made a salute at their superiors. "Alright then…" Lazard began.
"Angeal Hewley, this is Zackary Fair, Zackary, this is Angeal Hewley". Genesis watched with amusement, as the boy's smile grew even wider and how his eyes shone.

Probably a fan.

"Sir! I have to say that you are my idol, my hero, and I want to become…" The happy boy was cut off by Angeal, who was slightly chuckling. "Easy SOLDIER", he laughed, "I'm on first name basis with my students Zackary; just forget the 'sir' thing". The boy was one big smiley, a shining smiley. "Call me Zack, then", he beamed.

Not fair, Angeal get the happy smiling…puppy like boy, and I get…

"Skylar Williams, this is Genesis Rhapsodos, Genesis, this is Skylar Williams", Lazard said. Genesis just made a quick nod to the girl. "Feel free to call me Genesis", he said in a flat voice. He really didn't care whether she'd call him sir or not. "Sky, then", she answered. Just as flat. Genesis arched an elegant eyebrow at her. "Right, now get out and get to know each other", Lazard said in a weird, too happy voice. He sounded like they were about to go on a date or something.

Lazard and all his 'ShinRa are one big, happy family crap!

Genesis went out the door without looking at Sky, he just expected her to follow. She did.
Her bags were placed outside the door, along with Zack's.
She picked up her things, and Genesis didn't offer any help.

She has to learn this isn't going to be easy.

In silence they entered one of the elevators, and Genesis pushed the button of floor 49th. Being one of the only and best 1st class SOLDIERs sure did have its privileges.

The girl didn't exactly look pleased, to stand in an elevator with him, but she didn't look scared or angry either. Which was a good sign, after all he had to cope with her for quite some time now. The doors finally slid open with a 'ding'.
"This way", Genesis told her and went down the corridor to their left. He stopped in front of a dark metal door. He pulled out his keycard, slid it through the electronic lock, and the door clicked open.
He pulled it open some more and let Sky enter his apartment.

I am so going to regret this.

Genesis Rhapsodos' apartment was cool. Frankly, it was the fanciest home, Sky had ever seen.

It was all steel, dark wood, glass and light. The back wall was all glass, with a lovely view over all of Midgar. His couches were of black, soft looking leather, his coffee table was of dark wood, with a tabletop of glass. A ridiculously big, and very thin, flat screen was standing on a TV table, matching his coffee table. Everything seemed so clean and perfect.

Genesis led Sky down a hallway, and opened a door. "This is you room now", he said.
Sky walked in. It was very plain; bare, white walls, a double bed with white sheets. A closet and a dresser stood side by side against one of the walls. She dumped her bags on the bed. She had never slept in a double bed before. Genesis entered as well, and opened another door, on the other side of the bed.

"This is your private bathroom", he said. Sky looked in; it was also very plain, white toilet, white sink, white shower cabin, white bathtub. Uh Bathtub! Nice.

"Let me show you the rest of the apartment".

Genesis showed her around his place. He just lived so nice! Sky didn't dare touching anything. The kitchen looked like it had never been used, and when she saw his bedroom, she moped. One of the walls were painted a dark red, his big king size bed was made of a beautiful dark wood color, the sheets were black silk, and another flat screen hang on the red wall. It was just so… so complete. He told her this is was the only room she wasn't allowed to enter.

"Otherwise, you have free access to the kitchen and the TV, you can do whatever you want to your room, paint it purple if you like. And here's you keycard", Genesis pulled out a dark blue platinum-card.

"Keep it to yourself, I really don't want to find some random idiot lying on my couch, one day", the commander said in serious tone. Sky was close to chuckle, but thought it probably wouldn't be the best idea. "Training starts tomorrow", with that turned and went out of the door.

This is could be a challenge… but I guess I just have to get to know him. Oh! I have to buy paint for my room.

Genesis dashed into Sephiroth's office and threw himself in a black leather chair. The silver haired didn't even look up from his paperwork.

"What is it?" He asked, Genesis rubbed his forehead, "I don't think this is going to be good, Seph," he said. "And why is that so? If I may ask,"
"Well, It's just... I don't know, it really just bothers me that she is a girl,"

Sephiroth looked at him, "Genesis, may I introduce you to the modern society and a modern global company, who does support equal rights for women and men,"
Genesis rolled his eyes, "I know, it's just my opinion that women shouldn't be SOLDIERs - they can't handle a job like this."

"Have you even seen her fight or train?"
"no, but I don't have to... She's a girl, enough said"
"Genesis, you really have to stop behaving like a brat who's not allowed to have ice-cream for dinner. You can't change it, so suck it up"
"...I just wished Angeal had got the girl, instead of me"
"Yeah, but he didn't, and I promise you, Skylar is a very talented SOLDIER and it's not for fun, that Zack AND her, has been chosen,"

Genesis looked at Sephiroth in confusion, "wait... How do you know that..?" Then he realized it. "You told Lazard to pick her, didn't you?" He growled. The general shrugged, "Of course I did. Look, he came to me with videos of five promising 3rd Class SOLDIERs, and asked me which two I found skilled the most. And I told him I saw great potential in Zack Fair and Skylar Williams. It's my job, Genesis,"

Genesis couldn't really argue against that. Sephiroth was right. He sighed, "I just wish she would just quit already," Sephiroth raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"you are pathetic," he stated. Before Genesis could answer to that, Angeal stepped in. He was smiling. "Zack is just great, I think we will get along just fine," Sephiroth smiled back, "good to hear, my friend," Genesis didn't even bother to comment. "Where is he now, then?" He just asked dryly, "he went to the mess hall to grab something to eat," Genesis just let out a "hmpfr," Angeal sighed, but was still looking quite happy, "cheer up now, she's cute,"
"And I am beginning to think she was only chosen because of that fact."

Sky stared suspiciously at the brown-orange something on her plate. She wasn't really sure if it was safe to eat. She was about to stand up and throw it out, as Zack, her only friend, dumped into the chair beside her. "Hey Blondie! Had a good time with Genesis?" Sky bit her lip, "I think it could have been worse,"

She thought about it for a moment. The commander hadn't seem to be very thrilled when they had met, while Angeal and Zack had clicked already. "but how is Angeal?"
"Angeal's just great! I feel so comfortable around him already you know, he tells jokes and he he is really nice. He's even able to mock ShinRa!" Zack beamed and Sky sent him a smile, "I am really happy for you. I hope you two will get the best out of it,"

Zack looked at her, "is Genesis bad?" Sky shook her head, "No, I think I just have to get to know him, he just don't seem very interested, that's all... But this isn't about making friends, so I guess i'll be fine," she cracked her friend another smile. Zack frowned, "yeah... But Angeal actually did tell me, that Genesis can be quite a sexist sometimes, and that he has a hard time accepting girls in SOLDIER"

Sky sighed, just what I needed.

"oh, but I guess i'll just have to prove to him, that I can make it to 1st class, right?" She smirked a little, and Zack winked, "right! Just flirt a little and you should be fine, I mean, no one can resist your beauty," Sky blushed, "oh I think he can," She got up, "I have to buy paint for my room, see you later?" "sure"

"I think I can make her quit" Both Sephiroth and Angeal looked at Genesis, "I beg your pardon?" Angeal said. "Yeah, I think that if I train her really hard and all, she quits. She will realize SOLDIER isn't the place for her, and I can use my time on a really promising young man with ambitions, and then everybody's happy"

"You dare sink so low," Angeal warned. "Think about your moral and your honor as a SOLDIER. You can't make her quit intentionally, in fact, you should be nice to her. Zack told me she had a kind of a tough childhood," Genesis snorted, "yeah and so did Sephiroth, but it's not like we go out of our ways to make sure he's fine all the time or letting him win every fight when we are training,"

"You know, you don't even have to let me win" Sephiroth said. Matter of fact. "...-"

Second Chapter. Hoped you liked it! ^^

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