I know that the meeting between old friends doesn't quite make sense in this chapter, but it will come together later. Just bear with me. Enjoy the update. Thanks to all of you who are reading and reviewing. Strap yourself down; it's going to be a long ride from here.

There was just something about the way Cloud smiled at him that made Genesis hold himself back from going any further than just a kiss. The bursting forth of Cloud's brilliant wings had given Genesis the opportunity to seize the moment and take a step back. A part of him had wanted the kiss to lead to something more, but a voice inside of his head was telling him to hold back. They had not known each other but for two days now, and he could tell that patience - not haste - was the key to the blond's emotions. He could see it in the way that Cloud had blushed furiously after they laughed over his wings coming out, and had dashed for a glass of water when faced with the aftermath of their actions. Cloud had said that he was not afraid of Genesis, and that may have been so, but Genesis told himself that it didn't mean that Cloud was ready for anything further than just a kiss.

Cloud was the only man other than Angeal whom Genesis had kissed. Though his relationship with Angeal never went further than the one kiss they had shared one starry night as teenagers, he still kept Angeal in his heart all these years. He wasn't sure if he had truly loved Angeal or if the feelings were just scars of friendship. Watching the young blond hastily gulp down water in his kitchen, he thought he could feel the part of his heart that kept Angeal locked in it slowly start to chip away and fall into the past. Only time would tell.

Cloud set the empty glass down on the kitchen counter and let out a deep breath. He glanced up at Genesis then looked away, still blushing. "Sorry I kissed you," he said. "I don't know what happened with me. I guess it was just the feeling of the moment."

Genesis smiled slightly. "I thought I was the one who kissed you," he said slyly. They began to laugh together, and Genesis was relieved. He was so glad that they both had a sense of humor; it would make things more easy between the two of them. He tilted his head as he saw Cloud's face darken. "What's wrong?"

"I can't get my wings to go back in," Cloud answered, sighing heavily. Genesis began to laugh at him.

"Why don't you just take the opportunity to try them out some more? You could fly around the house a bit," Genesis told him. Cloud shrugged but flapped one of his wings and began to grin as one foot slowly began to rise from the ground. "There you go," Genesis encouraged him. "A word of warning, though. As you can see, my home has fairly low ceilings, so watch your head. Even though I've had my own wing for many years now, I've often made the mistake of not watching where I'm going inside the house."

Cloud snickered while visualizing the graceful Genesis slamming his head into a light fixture. He would try not to let himself get that carried away, and told Genesis so. Genesis rolled his eyes playfully and balled his fists up. His black wing came out and he lowered his eyes at Cloud in a challenging look.

"I'll bet you can't catch me," he said, then leaped into the air and began to fly out of the kitchen.

"No fair!" Cloud shouted. "You got a head start!" He flapped his wings quickly and was amazed to find himself flying again. Even though he was not as graceful as Genesis yet, with some practice, he could definitely work his way up to it. He found himself panting and trying to stay above the floor while he flew into the living room where Genesis was.

"Cloud, remember. Try not to think of your wings as a physical attribute. You're going to wear yourself out if you keep physically driving yourself like that! Your wings' strength and attributes are all in your head, remember that," Genesis instructed him, worried that Cloud would fall from the air and onto the hard, wooden floor. Instead, he watched as Cloud gathered himself and glided smoothly over to him. Reaching out a pale hand, he placed it on Genesis' shoulder and held it there.

"...I caught you."

Genesis tensed up and felt his breath catch in his throat. Cloud was looking at him with a strange expression in his eyes, one that reflected both vulnerability and what seemed to Genesis as an invitation to seize his lips again and go with the moment. He tossed the idea back and forth in his head while Cloud kept staring at him, and finally he decided on what he would do. He grabbed Cloud and pulled him forward to his chest, claiming those soft lips once more. It had surprised Cloud and he forgot to keep his mind focused on keeping himself afloat. All at once, the two of them were falling from the air and landing on the floor. Cloud groaned as his back hit the hard wood and Genesis tumbled down on top of him, shutting off his air for a moment. He gasped for a breath and Genesis clambered off of him quickly, slightly red in the face.

"Sorry," Genesis mumbled and sat down on the floor, his wing slowly going back into his shoulder. He felt slightly ashamed of himself, knowing that he had agreed with himself earlier to start showing some restraint with his feelings for Cloud. He turned his face away and was surprised when he felt Cloud press against his side.

"Kiss me again?"

Genesis looked at Cloud and swallowed hard. He noticed that Cloud's wings had gone back into his shoulders. His fallen angel was now resting his cheek against his shoulder, looking up at him with eyes that held nothing but innocence. He reached a hand up and caressed Cloud's cheek gently and lowered his head, gently brushing his lips against Cloud's. Never had he wanted to keep kissing someone so badly. Cloud had a taste that he just couldn't explain or even try to describe with words. It was absolutely intoxicating. His hands lingered on Cloud's cheek for a while then lowered to his neck. His thumb grazed across sensitive skin and he felt Cloud shudder against him.

Their lips parted for a fleeting moment, which gave Genesis a chance to speak.

"I don't know if this is the right thing to do. I like you a lot, Cloud, but we really don't know each other very well. I have certain… baggage… that keeps me holed up in this house and hidden away from others," he explained. "I'm a deserter of Shinra. If I'm found, there will be hell to pay, and this could put you in danger."

"But you're not holding me here against my will," Cloud replied. "I could very well just up and leave you to die, but I'm not going to do that. You need me, and I need you now."

"Why do you need me?"

"Look at me, Genesis. I've got wings shooting out of my back. I've got a black streak in my hair that is unexplainable, and I can rarely feel much pain anymore. I need you to help me get through this. Also, you saved me from the hell I was being put through with Hollander, and you saved me from the hellish experiences I was having at Shinra. I wasn't going anywhere in that place. I was just wasting my time. Being here with you and having new experiences, it makes my life seem somewhat worthwhile," Cloud told him.

"Zack will want to know where you are."

"I know, and I've thought about that. He's probably going out of his mind with worry," Cloud replied.

"He's a good friend and very loyal. He was trained by the best, Commander Hewley. Angeal was my closest friend. We grew up together and entered SOLDIER together. I've not spoken to him in months, same as Zack," Genesis said.

"Genesis?"

"Hmm?"

"Exactly why did you leave Shinra? Why didn't you tell even your best friend where you were going?" Cloud asked.

Genesis hesitated, then sighed heavily. He let the question linger in the air for a moment, then began to speak.

"I left Shinra because I learned the truth about my childhood and how I was conceived. Shinra experiments turned me into a monster, Cloud. I didn't want to be a part of the company anymore. That's all I want to say about it right now, so just leave the matter alone, okay?" he said, turning his face away from Cloud.

"You're not a monster, Genesis. You have shown me nothing but kindness so far. You saved me, even if it was for a selfish reason and you knew that you would need me to stay alive. You have a goodness in your heart. I can even see it in your eyes," Cloud replied. He lifted and hand and cupped Genesis' face in his palm, turning his face toward his. "You are beautiful, not a monster."

"...Thank you."

"About Zack," Cloud said. "Should I call him and let him know that I'm okay? I… I want to see him."

Genesis froze with fear at the thought of anyone, even old friends, knowing where he had been hiding out for months, but he shrugged his consent anyway. "It would be a good idea, but I'm concerned that he will give away our location. If you can talk him into keeping quiet about everything, then I'll allow him to visit. He can bring Sephiroth and Angeal as well," he replied.

Cloud threw his arms around Genesis, giving him a tight squeeze. "Thank you!" he exclaimed. "You don't know how much this means to me."

"Yes, I do. It means a lot to me that I can do something for you that will make you happy," Genesis replied.

"Your friendship makes me happy enough, Gen."

"What did you call me?"

"…Gen?" Cloud replied, his eyes growing wide and his body tensing. Had he made a mistake in calling Genesis that? For some reason, it just felt right to him. It rolled off of his tongue lightly and he had not even though about it when he said it. "I'm sorry. Should I have not said that? I… I didn't mean anything by it."

Genesis felt a tug on his heart. He had not heard anyone call him by that pet name since his own mother when he was a child. Even Angeal had never called him that. "No," he replied. "You can call me that anytime you want to, Cloud." His reply was true, and he meant every word of it. He felt Cloud relax against him.

"I will take care of you," Cloud whispered. "It doesn't matter if we really just met. I will take care of you."

Genesis didn't reply. He had no reason to be worthy of such love and adoration, he knew this for a fact. He had done nothing honorable in his life, and he hadn't really done anything for Cloud except for rescue him. But maybe that was enough. Looking at Cloud, he decided that it was, and he would let himself be adored and loved. As long as Cloud wanted to, he would let him without restraint. There was no need to rush things, though; they had all the time in the world.

Later in the evening, after they had a simple meal of hot sandwiches, Cloud asked for Genesis' phone. He directed the blond to a table in the living room, for he no longer had his Shinra-issued cell phone. He had ditched it in the wilderness the day that he had decided to desert, mostly to throw searchers off of his path.

Cloud walked over and picked up the phone. Before dialing Zack's familiar number, he asked Genesis once more if it was okay to call. Genesis gave him the okay, and Cloud dialed with trembling fingers. How would Zack react? His hands began to sweat and he had to grip the phone firmly in his palm as he waited for Zack to pick up on the other end.

"Zack Fair speaking."

"Z-Zack. It's me. Cloud."

"Cloud! Where the hell are you, buddy? Everyone's been looking for you! I got reports that you were last seen with Hollander going into the lab. Now, we've got Hollander cooling in the 'fridge with a thorough stab wound. Cloud, did you hurt him… and are you okay?" Zack prodded, his voice high-pitched and hurried.

"I'm okay, don't worry. I'm here with… Genesis. He's been taking care of me."

"Genesis? What the hell are you doing with him? He's alive?"

"It's a long story, Zack. I'd rather explain it to you in person. Will you come see me?"

"…Of course I will, Spiky. Where are you at right now?"

Cloud explained his location to Zack, then made him promise not to tell anyone. "Genesis said that you can bring Sephiroth and Angeal as well. Please, Zack. Please don't let anyone know the location other than the three of you. I'll explain everything when you get here. I hope you can come soon," Cloud said. Zack quickly said goodbye and hung up. Cloud turned to Genesis after replacing the phone back on the cradle. "They're all coming. Zack said he would make sure no one else knew the location. They should be here later tonight."

Genesis nodded and said, "Zack may be a little excitable, but I do know that he is honorable and will keep his word." Cloud nodded back at him and sat down beside him on the couch. They sat in silence for a while until darkness had completely enclosed the house outside. Soon, Cloud was nodding off to sleep, his head resting gently on Genesis' arm. Genesis sighed contentedly. Seeing Cloud rest so peacefully on him like this was making his chest ache. All at once, he felt like crying and smiling at the same time. There was just such innocence in Cloud, such peace. He wrapped the old blanket around Cloud that was on the couch, then made his way upstairs and into the attic. He stood in the dusty room for a moment then walked over to the piano.

Pulling back the sheet that covered it, he grimaced at the amount of dust that had still gathered on the keys and the piano itself, even though he always kept it covered. He sat down and began to play a simple, slow melody. It was the same song that he had had in his heart for years, though he could never put words to it… until now.

He sang softly, the words coming to him suddenly, his head wrapped up in thoughts of Cloud and the future. He got so wrapped up in playing that he didn't notice that Cloud had crawled up the stairs into the attic and was standing near the entrance, wrapped in the tattered blanket that Genesis had covered him with. As he finished the song, he closed the lid to the keys and rested his head on top of it.

"That was beautiful."

Genesis jerked his head up and looked back at Cloud. He took in the image of Cloud standing there with the blanket around him, and he smiled. "Come here," he said, and motioned for Cloud to join him. Cloud walked over and sat down on the bench beside Genesis. "I'm sorry I didn't hear you come up."

"It's okay. I woke up not too long after you left the room… I missed your warmth," Cloud replied, nervously looking down. Genesis wrapped an arm around Cloud's shoulders and pulled him closely to him. He placed a kiss on top of the blond's head and rested his chin against it.

"You make me feel content. For the first time in my life, I can say that I'm truly happy. I'm very glad you're here with me," Genesis said.

"Me too," Cloud replied.

They sat together for a few minutes, letting their words sink in to each others' hearts, then were startled by a knock on the door. Genesis froze, then stood up quickly. Racing toward the attic stairs, he quickly made his way to the second floor, where he ran into the bedroom and grabbed his rapier. "Who's there?" he shouted out as he quickly went downstairs to the first floor.

"Genesis, it's Zack!" Zack called out from the outside of the house. Genesis let out a sigh of relief and placed his rapier against the wall. He quickly unlocked the door and opened it, letting Zack in. He gave a quick nod to Angeal and Sephiroth as well, then closed the door behind them quickly, in case they had been followed.

"Genesis, we thought you were dead," Angeal began, his face full of concern for his childhood best friend. "We knew that you had deserted Shinra, but there have been several reports that you died. I am happy to see you alive and well."

Genesis scoffed at this remark. "I may be alive, Angeal, but I'm not well. I was a fucking mess, degrading quickly and feeling like a fucking monster. You know exactly what I'm talking about," he said. "When I finally got the nerve to go see Hollander at the Shinra lab, I walked in on him with Cloud." He looked at Zack, who put a hand on his hip and cocked his head. "Zack, Cloud was supposed to be under your watch, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean that I was able to have access to him twenty-four hours a day. What the hell happened?" Zack asked angrily.

"When I walked into the lab, I caught Hollander abusing Cloud. He was restrained and had been injected with the last of the S Cells. Hollander was fondling him too, Zack. And you weren't there to protect him," Genesis spat. He couldn't believe that he felt such hatred toward Zack until this moment. "I let Hollander be on the receiving end of my rapier, and I took Cloud home with me. His blood… no, his very being… holds the essence of my livelihood. If I don't have the S Cells, I cannot live. Cloud has agreed to help me, partially in return for my saving him from even worse abuse from the hands of that twisted fuck, Hollander."

Zack let this all sink into his head, then sighed. "Thank you, Genesis, for being there when I couldn't. Where is he right now?" he asked.

"Zack."

Zack looked up at the sound of Cloud's voice coming from the stairs and saw the young blond coming down to greet him. He rushed over and took Cloud into his arms. "Are you okay, Cloud? Has Genesis been treating you badly?" he shouted anxiously.

"No! Zack, no! Genesis has been nothing but good to me! We get along great," Cloud replied. Zack looked at Genesis, and Genesis nodded at him. "It's true, Zack. I'm doing okay. If Genesis had not come when he did, who knows what would have happened to me?" Cloud added.

"You have a black streak in your hair. Is this from the S Cells?" Sephiroth asked, walking over to them.

"Yes. And…" Cloud pulled away from Zack and backed away from the stairs. He lowered his head and balled his fists at his side, as he had seen Genesis do. He was determined to do this right this time, and he was pleased when he felt the slight sting and burn of the wings coming out of his shoulder blades, and heard the whoosh of them cutting through the air. Zack gasped and covered his mouth with his hand. Sephiroth and Angeal groaned and shook their heads. They, like Genesis each had one wing, all of them projects of experimentation by Shinra, even before they were born. They knew and understood what it meant to go through so many changes, but Cloud was different. This was all tossed upon him suddenly, his body completely absorbing every single last S Cell and possibly countless liters of mako. The young man had to have suffered greatly at the hands of Hollander, and to top it off, Cloud had been fondled, molested.

Genesis had been Cloud's guardian angel.

Abruptly, Sephiroth said, "Genesis, I need some answers. Tell me why you deserted the company." Genesis stared him down like he was stupid for asking such a question.

"You know my reasons, Sephiroth," he said darkly.

Sephiroth and Angeal looked at one another. "Fair enough," Angeal answered for the both of them. Sephiroth sat down on the couch and held his head in his hands, slowly shaking it back and forth, groaning as if the entire situation was giving him a migraine.

"What am I going to do with you two?" he groaned.

"You can leave us alone and not tell anyone where we are. Just leave us in peace. We have each other," Genesis said, easily going up to Cloud and snaking an arm around his waist. "See?" Cloud's mouth dropped open as he looked at Genesis with wide eyes. He could not believe that Genesis was openly broadcasting that they were together. Hell, were they? This was news to Cloud, and he laughed nervously, not sure if he should say anything.

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, and Angeal looked at Zack, who appeared to be crestfallen. Angeal had known that Zack had had a crush on the cadet for some time now, ever since they had first started training together, though he had never admitted it to Cloud. Looks like you've fallen out of luck, puppy, Angeal thought to himself and shrugged.

"That's not true, is it?" Cloud hissed at Genesis, low enough to where no one else could hear it except for him. Genesis smirked back at him and shrugged one shoulder, but gave no answer.

All five of them finally found themselves seated at the kitchen table, quickly working out a plan on what to do. It was decided that Genesis and Cloud would stay together, as if they would have it any other way. Zack and Angeal would go on about their business as if nothing happened, and Sephiroth would file a report stating that the hunt for Genesis was to be called off. He hoped that the report would work, which would get Shinra off of Genesis' back. It would mean that Genesis would no longer have to hide, and he would be free again to show his face back in towns. As it was, he could only be outside in the immediate surroundings of his home, and could only have groceries and other necessities delivered to his home at night.

When the three of them got ready to leave, Zack walked over to Cloud and held him tightly. "You're gonna be alright here, right?" he asked. Cloud nodded and sighed against his chest, his face crushed into Zack's hardened muscles.

"I'll be fine, Zack. Just please, remember where we are and drop in sometime, okay?" Cloud mumbled.

"I will, Spiky. You take care of yourself and don't worry about a thing topside. We'll keep your asses covered and will keep you updated on the progress with Shinra," Zack told him, then pulled back and ruffled Cloud's hair. "Your wings are beautiful, but the black streak in your hair is just nuts." He laughed and winked at Cloud, who gave him a smile. "Be good," he concluded, then joined Sephiroth and Angeal outside the house.

"Do you two need anything before we go?" Angeal offered. Genesis shook his head and waved them goodbye. He could feel Cloud staring a hole in his back, and he was eager to close the door and be done with the meeting of old friends. He knew, though, that as soon as the door was closed, he would be bombarded with questions from the blond. And he was right: as his hand left the doorknob and reached up to click the lock over, Cloud started in on him.

"…'We have each other'? What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, one hand on his hip. His wings had gone back inside of his body minutes ago, and now he just looked like a half-nude blond nymph, his skin pale in the half-darkness of the living room and his pants resting low on his bony hips. Genesis couldn't keep his dirty thoughts from coming to him as he looked Cloud over with half-lidded eyes. He desired Cloud so much, but was also so afraid to make any moves other than kissing and holding him. As far as he knew, Cloud was more than likely a virgin. And Genesis?

"You're only the second person I've ever kissed!" Genesis blurted out. His face twisted into a shocked expression as he realized what he had said. Cloud wrinkled his forehead and cocked his head.

"Talk about random information, Genesis. What does that have to do with what you said?" he asked, confused. Genesis laughed it off nervously and made his way to the kitchen where he grabbed the bottle of whiskey and took a drink straight from it, his lips closing around the neck of it and pounding it down. He set the bottle down and gulped, laughing again.

"I don't know what I was talking about earlier," he said. "It seemed like a good idea at the time to say that we had each other, then maybe they would not talk anymore about splitting us up. I could see it in Zack's eyes that he wanted to take you away from me, and I couldn't let that happen."

"Zack? But he's just a friend, Genesis," Cloud said.

"He's had a thing for you ever since he first laid eyes on you. You didn't know?" Genesis said, and Cloud shook his head. "Anyway, back to what I was saying, Cloud. I've never been with anyone. I'm not sure how to handle all of this. It's all so new to me. You and I… We've kissed. We've bonded quite a bit. You have given me the elixir of life, your own cell-laced blood. Doesn't that make us lovers or something?"

"N-No. I don't think it does. We can't be called lovers if we've never…" Cloud trailed off, blushing and turning his face away from Genesis.

"…Fucked?" Genesis answered for him. Cloud nodded. "I'm not ready for that, Cloud. Don't get me wrong. I've thought about it several times since you've been with me, but I can't bring myself to do that just yet."

"So have I," Cloud whispered, slowly looking at Genesis, who returned his gaze.

The room fell silent as they looked at one another, then Genesis capped off the bottle of whiskey and put it back in the cabinet. "I'm going to bed. Are you coming with me?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm tired."

They went upstairs together and got into the bed. This time, neither one of them hesitated too much when it came to what they were going to wear in bed. Cloud stayed in his loose pants and Genesis tossed his shirt onto the floor. When the lights went out, Genesis stayed on his side of the bed until he felt Cloud clandestinely trying to scoot closer to his side. "Come here," he whispered and held his arms out for Cloud. He held the blond until they were both feeling drowsy. "This is nice, hmm?" Genesis said. He felt Cloud nod and he kissed his pale cheek. "We don't have to hide our feelings from one another anymore," he said.

"Genesis?" Cloud said abruptly, his words spilling from trembling lips.

"Hmm?"

"…Will you touch me?"

Genesis' breath hitched and he felt his heart drop to his knees. "Touch you?" he asked.

"Y-yes. I want your hands on me."

Cloud shifted around and faced Genesis. Pressing up against his well-toned body, Cloud lifted a hand to Genesis' face. "I don't want you to make love to me. I just want your hands on me," he whispered, raining kisses down the side of his face. Genesis let out a soft moan and let his hands run up and down Cloud's spine, lightly tickling his skin. Cloud shivered and pressed himself even harder against Genesis. "Just like that," he whispered, letting his own hands roam. They rested on the small of Genesis' back and stayed there while Genesis found sensitive skin at the edge of Cloud's pants. He rubbed his fingers gently along the waistband and his mouth sought out Cloud's mouth in the dark. When he found it, he growled lightly and gently bit Cloud's lower lip, tugging on it and running his tongue along it. Cloud gasped and moaned softly, his blunt fingernails biting gently into Genesis' skin.

"Cloud…"

Genesis began to say something, but couldn't remember what he was going to say. His brain was clouded with lust now, and he felt his fingers tugging on the waistband of Cloud's pants, eager to gain access to what he knew was hidden beneath the material. He held himself back, though, and forced himself to stop short of thrusting one of his hands deep into those damned pants and grasping a hard length of hot flesh. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Touch me, Gen."

At the sound of his pet name, Genesis reached inside of Cloud's pants and found what he was searching for. Wrapping his hand around Cloud's firm erection, he slid his palm up and down it smoothly. Seconds later, Cloud gasped and bit into the flesh of Genesis' shoulder, trying to keep himself from crying out. He grunted as Genesis sped up his movements and began to thrust up into Genesis' hand. As long minutes passed and Cloud writhed against him, Genesis sucked gently on the blond's neck, causing red blotches to appear on his pale skin. Suddenly, Cloud cried out his release and jerked against Genesis. Hot, sticky cum ran along the length of Genesis' hand as he finished the last few strokes. When he pulled his hand from Cloud's pants, he reached off the side of the bed and grabbed his shirt. Wiping the essence from his hand and fingers, he tossed the shirt into the corner of the dark room and turned back over to face Cloud, who was lying on his back and panting.

"Was it okay?" Genesis asked. Cloud chuckled.

"More than okay."

Genesis sighed in relief. He was worried that maybe he hadn't been good enough for Cloud. He had never done that before, and only repeated the actions on Cloud from what he knew from touching his own self. Before he had time to say anything else to Cloud, he heard a soft snoring. He smiled; his angel was worn out. It had been a long day for them both and full of surprises. Now that they had taken an abrupt freefall into intimacy, who knew what the next day would bring? ...And what had Genesis been thinking? Cloud needed patience? Yeah, right. Genesis stifled a laugh and shook his head. The blond was full of surprises.