Final Fantasy VII: Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Summary: "((An Angeal x Zack, Sephiroth x Genesis story)) With one of their greatest allies unable to help them, bodies piling up and being discovered by the dozen, and uncovering secrets that were never meant to be revealed, men who know much more than they tell, and when dead men speak again, time is running out as the ShinRa Stalker comes ever closer to fulfilling his dark mission. And as the SOLDIERs rush to solve the mystery, save their friends, can it be that one they never expected to know anything knows more than what he let on? Will anyone be saved, or will they all fall for good?"

Warning: "This will be a Yaoi ((male x male)), first off. It will have rape, reference to rape, and implied rape. There is a reason that this Fanfiction is rated "M," and by continuing to read this story, I am no longer responsible for any offense taken by the manuscript."

Disclaimer: "I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters so don't haul off and think I do. However, the following characters are actually mine, whether or not these characters actually appear in this particular story: 1st Class SOLIDER Marshall Willowstaff, Cadet Captain Benjamin ((Ben)) Adler, Captain Daniel Marks, and Head Physician Julian Jake."

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Chapter Twenty-Four: What Friends Are For.

"I'm never taking another vacation again. This is fucking ridiculous!" Julian Jake said to the remaining 1sts ((Genesis and Sephiroth)) as soon as he was on the ground and able to see or talk again. "Those fucking lunatics actually tried to lynch me! They tried to fucking lynch me!" He ranted on and on again as he got back up to his feet.

Leave it to Angeal to take off after Zack and leaving Genesis and Sephiroth to frantically get ((the irate)) Julian out of his predicament. The good physician, thankfully, was fine. He was a little scratched up and a little bloody, but perfectly fine. He told Sephiroth and Genesis in a very annoyed tone that he'd been hiding in a hidden closet in his apartment with a couple dead bodies for several hours, but had been, quite unfortunately, caught by someone and "hung out to dry," as his attacker put it.

After ranting on for a few more minutes, Julian went back to his apartment, showered, changed, and then returned to the Med Labs in good spirit. Later that evening, Sephiroth would be told by a Med Lab tech that Julian had all his work done in less than ten minutes and was slumbering quietly under his desk in his office while his assistant Sven took charge for the next few days.

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Genesis told Sephiroth to wait for Angeal to come back before heading back to his office. He'd send Angeal back while he himself spoke with him, and to his surprise, Sephiroth agreed with him. "You'll be back?" Sephiroth questioned, softly, bringing the azure-eyed man into his embrace. "Of course. I'll wait for you," Genesis promised, knowingly. Sephiroth nodded and gave him a gentle kiss before turning and beginning to walk away.

I love you, too… Sephiroth. Genesis thought to himself. How could he not? Although when they met they did not hit it off too well, the Silver General had been Genesis' hero since childhood. Though Genesis knew he wouldn't have dreamed of telling Sephiroth such a thing four years ago. Sephiroth had not only saved him from the Ring, he had saved him from his parents, and from his own inner demons. In trade, Genesis knew he'd given Sephiroth something to fight for- someone to keep him away from the Labs and from Hojo. And although Genesis hated it being so cliche, Genesis knew he'd given Sephiroth what he knew Sephiroth been deprived of for many years- love.

In these years that I've known Sephiroth… I believe the greatest fact that I've learned is that love can go a long way, Genesis mused, And I am… grateful I could give it to someone who needed it more than anyone I'd ever met before.

Genesis met Angeal in the Courtyard. Seeing as Angeal was alone, Genesis guessed that Angeal had already spoken with Zack and sent him on his way. As he came closer, Angeal turned to see him. Those wise, dark eyes- unaffected it seemed, by all the Mako in his veins- studied him with some interest, and Angeal nodded as Genesis sat next to him.

"Why did you never tell me?" Was the first thing that Angeal asked.

"Angeal… I was sixteen. Fresh from what my parents did to me. I was scared. How was I to know if they wouldn't do anything to you if I refused them?" Genesis asked, quietly, looking over to meet Angeal's eyes again.

"Why did you tell Sephiroth, then?"

Genesis gaped. Was Angeal… jealous? "I didn't tell him! You remember what he was like four years ago- and he was my room-mate, too! He practically had to hold me down and force me to tell him." Genesis defended himself, raising his eyebrows at his friend. "After Sephiroth became General, he used what I told him to get rid of Shelton Anderson and most of the Ring."

Angeal nodded. "Even after the danger was gone you still didn't say anything. Why?"

"Goddess, Angeal, you're a fool…" Genesis sighed. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you going through what you did years ago in Banora. You were miserable there, even before your father passed away." Angeal now gave him a piercing, warning glare, which Genesis duly ignored. "You were miserable because of what you knew. I wasn't about to put you through that again. It would be cruel of me to do so, especially because there was no more danger."

"It was cruel of you not to tell me. I am your friend, Gen. You can tell me anything- anything at all. That's what friends are for, isn't it?" Angeal asked, patting Genesis' shoulder.

"Except in Seph's case. He just holds you down after you take a shower and demands to know why you have scars and bruises." Genesis replied, grinning almost naughtily. Angeal's eyes flashed in amusement and the two of them began laughing.

Little did the two SOLDIERs know that tonight would be the last time that the two of them would laugh together for many days and nights.

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