Disclaimer: I do not own CCFF7, FF7, the characters (minus Murphins), Loveless, or any of that other stuff Square Enix owns. There might be Crisis Core spoilers. There might not be. I doubt I'll be spoiling any game moments in these pseudo-oneshots.

Warning: Yaoi. If you no like, you no read. You may not get this if you have not read "The Memory of Falling" first, since this is full of scenes that happen in that storyline. If you are adverse to the idea of Sephiroth being gay, again, please leave this story before I offend you. Genesis is gay, and Squeenix does not hide this, so there should be no surprise there. Potentials for lemon, lime, language, alcohol, language, and dark themes. Not sure what exactly yet, though, since I write the warnings first. Oh yeah.

Author's Note: Remember how Curiosity was told entirely from Genesis' point of view? Well, guess what? This is that chapter, from Sephiroth's point of view. Enjoy, lovelies. This should be longer than one section, as well.

Music: Track 23 from Disk 1 of CCFF7 (don't feel like translating right now).

CURIOSITY v2

Ceremonies were never something he had liked. They were long, inefficient, and had too many people gathered in one place at a time, un-alert and unarmed. Sephiroth disapproved, especially since this was a ceremony for SOLDIER, which was supposed to be a composed private military. However, Sephiroth did not voice his disapproval. He would rather remain out of the spotlight as much as possible, especially this night.

The suit was uncomfortable, to say the very least. He preferred the freer range of motion allowed by his long jacket, and the breathing room. Having cloth over his chest for once felt foreign. It was a formal occasion. Ceremonies. Sephiroth listened to the words, all too glad when they were finished. Those words were hollow, meaningless, and the cadets just promoted to the rank of SOLDIER 3rd Class would not even remember them in the morning.

All except for one, he was sure. Sephiroth did his duty, walking down the line, shaking gloved hands, giving a clipped "Congratulations." and nothing more to each. He kept walking, strides meaningful, graceful, each one charted. He had done this before. The line was longer than usual. Apparently ShinRa's parading him around the world had done SOLDIER some good.

Sephiroth paused in his prowling, squeezing slightly tighter on this hand than the rest. His green eyes locked with blue ones. A slight smirk tugged up at his pale lips. "Finally made it, SOLDIER Third Class Rhapsodos. What a surprise." Sephiroth was baiting him, testing his dedication. If Rhapsodos said a word, he would not graduate from being a cadet and might never make it into SOLDIER. It seemed like Rhapsodos knew this, and was not willing to give it up so easily, just glaring. Good. Sephiroth had expected as such.

He moved to the next one in line, the redhead's best friend. "Keep an eye on your friend, Hewley." Letting go of Hewley's hand, Sephiroth continued on down the line, just shaking hands, barely nodding at those people. He could feel potential, and those two had so much more than any of the other cadets. Sephiroth felt more potential in them than he did in his fellow First Classes, even, not that there were many. First Class was an unattainable dream to most, so that was saying a lot.

The final salutes were given, and with those following words, they were all SOLDIER Third Classes. Sephiroth did not understand how such a ceremony could hold any weight. It was just a bunch of words. Then again, everyone did recognize the weight of these things, even if he did not. His understanding was not what mattered here.

First thing first, Sephiroth grabbed himself a glass. Wine was one of his guilty pleasures. It was near impossible to get him even buzzed, so it was for the flavor, really. Sephiroth rolled the glass in his fingers, swirling the crimson liquid. It clung to the glass a little once all the liquid settled again, and the aroma clung to the air; it was a good wine. ShinRa had spent a great deal of money on the occasion, which was expected by now. President ShinRa liked flaunting his money. Sephiroth took a sip, savoring it.

With long strides, Sephiroth carried himself through the bustling crowd, past congratulatory teachers and beaming students, and some executives too. The wall, off to the side and out of the commotion, was his target. He broke through the cram only to find someone had already taken his spot. If it was anyone else, he might have minded. Sephiroth crossed over, turning and resting his back against the wall.

"I never thought someone as charming as you would be a loner." Not looking over to see his reaction, Sephiroth lifted the glass back to his lips, taking another small sip. The flavor made him relax some. "President ShinRa says the same about me."

"Really?" Genesis truly sounded interested, Sephiroth not taking that as a sarcastic comment. It was his surprised tone. "I cannot stomach one more hollow compliment. Most people here do not know my file, my name, me."

A comfortable silence settled between them. Sephiroth was the same way. He despised the fact that so many people called him a hero, yet so few of them even knew why. So little of them cared why, in fact, just wanting someone to put up on a podium. Everyone who loved ShinRa loved him, the trump card, on principle. Everyone who hated ShinRa automatically feared him, though he was still held in awe. Sephiroth was partially to blame himself, he knew, as he never let anyone close. There were too many people who would just want to get close to him to bask in his glory, and he was wary of that.

Genesis, however, did not seem the same way. It was like Genesis did not care what title he had previously; he wanted him to prove it. It was a breath of fresh air. Sephiroth appreciated it.

"How do you deal with so many people fawning over you, day in and day out?"

"I ignore them." Sephiroth answered immediately, knowing his response before the question was even finished. He took another sip, this one slightly longer. Sephiroth's mako green eyes were locked on Hojo, who was talking to Hollander. Even through all the commotion, his finely tuned ears could hear that they were arguing. Hollander was promising to surprise, and stated that he had two test subjects that would do just that. "I like locking myself in the training room on SOLDIER floor when no one is using it."

"Like that night, two months ago?"

"Yes." A smile tugged at his lips, Sephiroth keeping the glass up to hide it. If anyone in the media saw him smiling, the news would be buzzing for weeks. Sephiroth wanted to vanish from the spotlight, not draw it back to him with a stupid slip. A small laugh did escape though, not that they could hear it. It was too loud, and only Genesis was close enough to catch it. "We should do that again some time. You are the first person to present any challenge. Most people are either too intimidated or too star struck to fight me."

"I am sure Angeal would like to try sometime."

"Not tonight. He has quite the crowd around him. Second in class, correct?"

Sephiroth glanced over, catching the nod. Genesis looked at him, asking, "Were you planning on sneaking away from the revelry?"

Tipping back his glass, he finished the last of it, which wasn't all that much since he had been sipping at it the entire time. He set the glass on the nearest table, where someone was bound to pick it up rather than knock it over. Sephiroth glanced back at Genesis, eyes locking again. The redhead probably had no idea what the General was thinking, and that was probably for the best. The last thing Sephiroth wanted to get out to the media was the fact that he was capable of having a crush, so it would best be hidden. "Want to come?"

"How couldn't I?"

That said, Sephiroth turned and led the way to the doors, barely glancing around to make sure no one was looking. Who would miss their presences? No one. Sephiroth was sure of that. They went straight to the elevator, Sephiroth scanning his card. It was not needed, since Genesis had the security clearance to get to the SOLDIER floor, but he was the first one to reach the scanner, and lacked the patience to wait. As soon as they were on the empty SOLDIER floor, Sephiroth undid the one clasped button of his blazer, taking it off. He set to rolling up his white dress sleeves, knowing he would need what added movement he could get. On that thought, Sephiroth undid another button at the top of his shirt, leaving three open. Yes, it was something an opponent could grab onto, but his hair was even more of an issue in that department, so he hardly worried.

Setting his jacket down in the control room, Sephiroth headed straight into the training room, getting ready. It was his turn to strike first. As soon as Genesis was in the door, Sephiroth came at him, a few quick punches, a swipe, all knocked aside. They were moving towards the back wall, Sephiroth wondering how much force that structure could take before fracturing. That minor distraction gave Genesis a chance to attack, their moving back away from the wall.

It was easy to block everything, to just twist his body to dodge out of things. Sephiroth tried grabbing for the attacking hands here and there, but Genesis had learned to move out of that by now. He was a quick learner, which Sephiroth liked.

Why not change things up a bit? Sephiroth kicked and Genesis jumped back, and then was charging at him the moment his feet were on the ground. Sephiroth did not have a chance to get both of his feet planted and bracing for impact. They both went backwards, General's back hitting the ground. He dug his heels in, flipping them. As soon as the maneuver was done, he pinned both of Genesis' hands above his head.

That had taken more than he expected, breathing slightly faster than usual, though his chest was not heaving. Sephiroth watched Genesis carefully, noting that there was no surrender. There was a plan in those eyes, he knew it. When the whole world flipped and he was on his back again, Sephiroth knew.

He went to move his right hand, a knee moving to hold it down. Those hands, still held together by Sephiroth's left, were now pinning it down over his head. There was a wicked smile on Genesis' lips. "Now what, General?"

Sephiroth leaned up without a second thought, pressing his lips to those cruelly curved ones. He worked his mouth against that unmoving one, and instantly his heart dropped. Flutters started in his stomach. Dejected, nervous, Sephiroth lowered his head back to the floor. He had to cover up that weakness, and fast. It was obvious Genesis had not wanted it. Sephiroth did not want to ruin their potential friendship. "You easily could have blocked that. Distraction can come from anywhere in a live battle situation. You must be prepared for everything."

"And if I did not want to block it?"

Sephiroth's heart stopped for a second. The flutters returned full force, and he even surprised himself. "At least respond, then." He leaned up again, eagerly, all too happy when Genesis moved own to meet him half way. Their lips locked, meshing together, Sephiroth relishing in how plump and soft those lips were. He tested with his tongue, the redhead letting it in. Genesis' taste was intoxicating, spicy even, and he couldn't get enough of it.

And suddenly, Genesis was rolling off him frantically, his moving revealing that they were no longer alone. A blond SOLDIER, another of the graduating cadets, stood in the door, looking like he might piss himself. "I…" He was gaping, eyes wide. Sephiroth hoped those eyes fell out for interrupting them. "I… I was sent to look for you two, General, Sir."

"And what did you see here?" He growled it out, the words rumbling from deep in his chest.

"Ah…" The blond was a dumb one, as he quickly proved. Sephiroth just wanted him to go away. Why did someone want to locate them? This was beyond frustrating, and the blond gaping at them hardly helped. "Nothing, General. President ShinRa requested I bring you back." The man saluted, standing in that position. This was awkward.

"Tell him we will be there in a few minutes."

"Yes, General." The man saluted again before scurrying off like the insignificant bug he was.

"What was that?!"

Sephiroth smiled. "Curiosity."

Genesis rolled his head to the side, blue eyes on the General. Sephiroth could not get the amusement off his face. That, minus the intrusion, had just made his day. No, more like his week. Sephiroth had wanted to do that since he first met the redhead in Banora, and now he finally had. It was definitely worth the wait.

"They say curiosity killed the cat."

"Luckily, I am not a cat." Sephiroth stood easily, rolling his sleeves back down as he walked from the training room. He could not get the pleased smile off his lips for the rest of the night.