Not So Different

by Requiem's-Razor

Genesis & Reno find out they are not as different as they first thought. As their friendship grows, so do other feelings. GenesisXRenoXSephiroth, RufXTseng, Pre-Crisis Core, Yaoi, Language, etc. Lousy summary, sorry.

41. Chapter 41

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, scenery, or towns; Square Enix does.

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41 - Limitless

Genesis entered the hut and joined his companions at the kitchen table, taking a seat to Reno's right and across from Sephiroth. He plastered a smile on his face and began spooning pasta salad onto his plate. "Thanks," he said as Reno plopped a fish next to his pasta mound.

"Sure thing," replied the Turk, taking a bite of fish. He made a contented sound as it flaked apart and practically melted in his mouth. The auburn followed his lead and soon made a pleasant noise of his own.

"This is delicious."

"I agree," added Sephiroth.

"Thanks. If we ever get stranded again maybe I won't be completely useless yo."

"You weren't useless last time," the auburn replied.

"Heh, so you say."

"You were injured yet still took on a Behemoth, traveled Gaia knows how far on foot, played mediator countless times, and helped strategize. I hardly consider that useless."

Picking up the Turk's discomfort Sephiroth interjected, "Have you contacted your boss yet?"

"Talked to him earlier. He was headin' back ta Midgar and is supposed to call sometime after work hours. Yer presence was requested for the callback."

"Why?"

"No idea yo."

The silver nodded, wondering if the Wutain had discovered something or merely wished to check in on them. Probably the latter. If the man had learned something then he likely wouldn't wait to inform them since minor developments didn't exist at this point. Anything and everything that anyone learned was potentially valuable.

"Would you please pass me the fish?" asked Genesis.

Reno blinked at the STC's empty plate as he passed the fish over. "You, eh, chew that or just swallow?"

The auburn scowled. "I haven't eaten properly in days. I'm entitled to be hungry."

"Ya ate properly this morning."

"That was hours ago!"

"Not that long ago."

"Are you trying to make me feel bad?"

"Hardly. In fact ya could stand to gain a few pounds yo."

"Are you serious?" Genesis blinked, face an interesting mix of annoyance and horror.

Sensing danger, Reno quickly shoveled in a bite of pasta salad, giving him time to phrase his words carefully. He knew the auburn was self-conscious about many things, looks probably being one of the many. "I'm not lyin' when I say yer sexy as hell just the way you are, however you're awfully light."

"I see… well there's nothing to be done about it."

"Why? You aren't anorexic or bulimic or something are you?"

"Pfft, no. It's just that I've always had a hard time gaining weight, even if I eat like a pig. Hell, since I joined SOLDIER I'm lucky if I don't lose weight."

"It's the Mako," the silver said. "It keeps your metabolism high, as does exercise. Incidentally Mako probably has something to do with your current hunger."

"Really?"

"Yes. As I said, Mako boosts ones metabolism and you've had a great deal of Mako exposure lately. It's probably burning up almost everything you throw at it rather quickly. It's like the ultimate diet drug."

"Shit, hope that never gets out," Reno said. "People'd start drowning in Mako pools because they think they're fat."

"You're joking."

"Sadly Seph, I'm not. People are awfully touchy when it comes to how they look yo."

"I wasn't aware of that."

"It doesn't hold true for everyone but for quite a few it does," the Turk said. "Take Gen here. He gets all bent out of shape if he can't blow dry his hair."

"I do not!"

"Heh, do to."

"Hmphf, and what about you? You dye your hair!"

"Hate ta break it to ya but I don't dye my hair."

"Your eyebrows and roots aren't red Reno," the auburn scowled.

"I'm aware of that."

"You seriously don't dye it?"

"I seriously don't. My Mom's hair is a light ta medium brown and my Dad's is a medium ta dark henna red. Mine got all confused about what color it wanted ta be."

"Okay fine, you don't dye it but you do style it."

"The spiky shit is natural too, but yer right, I do keep it a certain length and stuff. Anyway we both prove my point right? We're picky about the way we look."

"You're right," sighed Genesis. Truth be told he was vain and was well aware of it. That of course didn't mean he liked having the fact pointed out to him. Yet since the Turk wasn't being spiteful or picking on him so he was okay with the conversation.

"I'm assuming your substandard dress code is also part of you being picky?" Sephiroth asked, looking straight at Reno.

"Yep. I look seriously weird with a fully buttoned shirt and a zipped up blazer. Not ta mention I feel like a stiff and it makes me move funny yo."

"Mmm, and the sloppy look looks so much more badass. At least on you," purred Genesis.

"I know right?" laughed Reno. "Plus, while I love bein' a Turk I hate havin' to be identical to each other. I like difference damnit, not carbon copies."

"Me too, but unfortunately I don't have a choice," the auburn lamented.

"Maybe someday yo."

"Maybe."

"Why do you value difference?" asked Sephiroth.

"'Cause it keeps things interesting. Can you imagine how boring it would be if everyone in the world was exactly alike?"

"Seeing as we wouldn't harass each other over insignificant things, wouldn't it be a more peaceful place?"

"Pfft, doubtful. Society as a whole might be content for awhile but eventually somebody's gonna destroy everything."

"Explain."

"Think about what happened to the Turks yo. We were a big, mostly happy but somewhat dysfunctional family. We weren't completely identical but we basically had the same values and agreed on the big issues yet we had a few people that went and destroyed it all."

"You mean Veld?"

"Mostly, but there were a few others."

"Wasn't it due to his daughter?"

"Partially but not entirely. If you want my opinion he got tired of his own damned rules."

"What makes you think that?" asked Genesis.

"The fact that he broke the majority of them when he left. If they were so fucking important why would he do that?"

The auburn started to ask Reno to clarify but stopped as he registered the Turk's harsh tone. Whatever had happened was still a sore spot that he felt he shouldn't press. At least not yet. "So basically you believe that without individuality, society would stagnate and that it would eventually destroy itself in the end."

"Pretty much yo."

"I can see your point," Sephiroth nodded. "However if everyone truly was the same, wouldn't they think the same?"

"Highly doubtful. Again look at the Turks, or you SOLDIERs for that matter. Shinra makes us dress alike and to an extent demands we act alike but we don't think alike. Not even close. Reason being is we all have different backgrounds. People's pasts and experiences shape who they are. Even if we say everyone in society is alike, they really aren't simply because of where they came from and what they've been through. That is what shapes a person and therefore their thoughts."

Once again the silver nodded. Noticing everyone was finished eating he began clearing the table while pondering the Turk's words. He had to admit the man had some valid points. A person's past did shape them to some extent or another and therefore it helped shape their thoughts. A person's individuality could be an expression of their difference, of how they were shaped. In that regard he could somewhat understand why the redhead valued it.

Conversation having come to a natural conclusion, Reno and Genesis rose and began helping the silver without a word. Though the space was tight the trio worked seamlessly. Before long, the leftovers had been stored and the dishes had been washed, dried, and put away. Reno leaned his butt against the counter to watch the auburn finish wiping down the kitchen table, but the silver spoke, redirecting his attention.

"If memory serves me correctly you demanded a rematch Genesis."

"Excuse me?"

"The last time we sparred I believe you were greatly displeased that I ambushed you and demanded a fair fight," Sephiroth replied, retrieving his sword from where it leaned against the kitchen wall. Weapon in hand, he ventured into the living room, opened the small closet, removed a second sword, and held it out to the STC along with a pair of boots and a pair of socks. "These should fit you."

"Are you two serious?" Reno exclaimed as Genesis took the offered items. He threw his hands into the air as both SOLDIERs blinked at him. "No offense but seriously? Less than 24 hours ago he damn near burnt the place down simply because of a flashback and you wanna go fight with him? Get him all riled up with something to actually focus on?"

The Turk's words triggered something in the auburn's head. Thankfully it had nothing to do with his kidnapping, but rather an incident following his almost burning the hut down. Reno did know he and the silver had almost kissed and had known before their earlier conversation. Somewhere along the way he'd forgotten Reno's mentioning the incident. While totally random it made him feel better. If the man knew about the almost kiss it was extremely unlikely their conversation about sleeping with Sephiroth had bothered or unsettled him much. How could it when the Turk had already known the desire and attraction was there? Although it made the auburn feel better, the whole situation made his head hurt and he snapped, "I'm not a child Reno. Stop treating me like one."

"I know ya ain't and I'm not tryin' to but even you have to admit your control ain't the greatest right now." The auburn glared at him and he glared right back.

"This isn't just for fun Reno," Sephiroth said, breaking the staring contest. "Sparring will help burn some of the Mako out of his system, thereby improving his control. Besides that, we can't move forward until we know how much control Genesis actually has. If I, as you put it, rile him up and he doesn't lose it we have a better idea of what to do next and when."

Genesis sighed, understanding both arguments. If he sparred with Sephiroth and lost control, he could injure one or both of his friends. On the other hand, he had to know how much control he had before returning to an environment where he would be surrounded by people. "If I have any indication that I'm about to lose it I'll say so."

Reno opened his mouth, preparing to point out the fact that the auburn didn't always have any kind of a warning but stopped the words. Whether he liked it or not Sephiroth was right, they needed to know if the STC was dangerous and if he was just how dangerous. Even so it was the determined look in Genesis's eyes that made him nod acceptance. He'd just have to trust that Sephiroth could handle things if they got out of hand.

"Thank you for understanding Reno," the auburn said, tying the laces on his borrowed boots. They fit perfectly and he wondered where they came from.

"If you wish to watch you may do so, however please cast your Pyramid and stay inside it. Even with ironclad control, spells don't always behave as the caster intends."

"Gotcha."

"Wait, what? What Pyramid?" the auburn asked.

"You, eh, don't remember yo?"

"Obviously not. Why else would I have asked?"

"Heh, sorry," replied Reno, realizing all the times he'd used the Pyramid around the auburn he'd been out of it. "I can cast a Pyramid that can trap someone in it, including myself. So far nothing's been able to penetrate it."

"Huh, I've never heard of a Materia like that. Must be pretty rare."

"It's, ah, not a Materia."

"Then what is it? Some kind of infused item?" Genesis arched an eyebrow as the Turk broke out in a sudden flurry of nervous activity. Evidently not an item either, he thought, seeing no reason why Reno was suddenly jittery. Finally something clicked and the auburn blinked. "Are you saying this Pyramid is truly yours? That you can cast it without Materia?"

"Yes."

The auburn's mouth opened and closed several times before he finally said, "Clearly I don't know what to say."

Seeing Reno's nervousness and hearing the slight edge of anger in Genesis's voice, Sephiroth broke his silence. "It is unclear how or when, but Reno has been exposed to Mako."

"Recently? D-does it have anything to do with me? Oh Gods it isn't something I did is it?"

"No, you didn't have anything to do with it," Reno replied, wondering if that was entirely correct or not. It was true the Mako in his system had probably been there for years, yet he hadn't obtained the Pyramid until after the auburn's kidnapping. For that matter he thought his hearing had only increased after meeting Genesis. The same might be true for his agility and eyesight since it wasn't like he'd had a chance to test anything. He sure as hell wasn't going to point any of that out though. "From what me and Seph have been able to piece together I was probably exposed to it a long time ago."

"If that's true why didn't you realize it before?"

Shit, thought the Turk but it was Sephiroth who spoke. "We believe the Mako he was exposed to in Gongaga interacted with what was already within his system."

"Gongaga… that's the place where the reactor exploded right? The one you told me about when we went to dinner before all this happened?" The silver nodded. "So what, the Mako he was exposed to there heightened what he already had? Made it more powerful?"

"Perhaps, yes."

"Shit," the auburn replied. "That could be bad Reno! It could kill you! You should have gone back to Midgar! Go back now and have Hollander examine you!"

"Hollander examined me in Gongaga. He evidently didn't find anything unusual or he would have said something yo."

"Did he actually have all the details?"

"He took a blood sample. Even if he wasn't aware of my previous exposure it probably woulda shown up on the tests. Sure as hell woulda shown up if there'd been a problem."

"It has been several days since Reno was in Gongaga and there have been no incidents nor has he been ill. Aside from his newfound ability to cast a Pyramid without Materia, I believe his speed, hearing, and eyesight have improved slightly."

"Is that all?"

"So far as we can tell, yes," the silver replied.

The STC went quiet, likely processing the information and Reno gave the silver a look of thanks. He hated hiding things from Genesis however there was so much for the man to process right now that some of it could wait, like the possible link between them. Even more of a reason was the fact that the STC appeared intent on blaming himself, regardless as to whether he was the cause or not.

"I suppose there is nothing to be done about it then," said finally Genesis, realizing fighting over it was futile. He was worried about the redhead but if Sephiroth didn't think there was a problem there probably wasn't. As his words sunk in Reno visibly relaxed and he smiled faintly. "So can I see this Pyramid of yours?"

"Sure," nodded the Turk, heading for the door. He knew without looking that the SOLDIERs silently followed him. Once he was far enough away from the hut, he faced his companions and closed his eyes. When he reopened them he was surrounded by the shimmering, golden haze that was the Pyramid.

Genesis froze, momentarily taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Turk's Pyramid. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting but what he was seeing hadn't been it. "It's beautiful," he whispered.

"It is visually stunning," agreed Sephiroth, walking toward one of the shining walls.

"Can he hear me in there?"

"If you speak loudly."

The auburn stuck the point of his sword into the ground and slowly approached the Pyramid. "Can I touch it?" Inside the Pyramid Reno tilted his head to the side as his face scrunched up in confusion. Genesis took a few steps closer and repeated his question, almost yelling. This time the Turk's head bobbed up and down.

Tentatively, Genesis reached out his right hand and touched the glowing structure with the tips of his fingers. Though it was transparent and seemingly made of nothing more than light the Pyramid was quite solid. After a few minutes of exploration he pressed both of his palms against it and leaned toward it, doing a standing push up. The Pyramid didn't give an inch and remained smooth, almost glasslike, under his hands. "It's warm! Like it's been in the sun for a long time!"

"Is it?" came the Turk's muffled reply. "I can't touch it."

"Why?" In answer, Reno reached out and ran his fingers through the structure, causing it to burst.

"That's why," the redhead said, smiling at the auburn, who appeared to be transfixed by the sight of the destroyed Pyramid fragments.

"I've never seen anything like it."

"Me either. Course it figures I'd get somethin' pretty and nonlethal yo," Reno chuckled. "Least it's useful I guess." The auburn smiled up at him and nodded.

Following a slight lull Genesis said, "Reno?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what yo?"

"Saving my life, keeping me safe, saving my life again. You know, everything."

"You don't need ta thank me for that," Reno replied, brushing his right hand down the SOLDIERs cheek.

"Yes I do."

"You still love me right?"

"Of course," scowled Genesis. "What a stupid thing to ask."

"That's all the thanks I need."

"Reno…"

"Listen to me," the Turk said, pressing a finger to Genesis's lips to halt his words. "I don't give my love freely and once I do… well that's that. It takes a hell of a lot to get me to stop loving a person. So much so that's it's never been done."

"I don't know if I should be happy about that or not," the auburn mumbled against the finger still constraining his lips.

"Do I gotta use my whole hand ta keep ya quiet or what?" Reno chuckled, removing his finger. "If it makes you feel any better you're the first person I've ever loved romantically." The auburn's eyes widened but he remained silent. "Point is my love comes with few stipulations and a ton of loyalty and friendship. I did what I did because I love you and I'll do it over and over again if necessary. I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe but unfortunately, I won't always be with you. If something happens while I'm away I'll do my best to find and help you and whoever harmed you won't even be safe in hell itself." The redhead stopped speaking and used his thumbs to wipe away the tears falling from Genesis's eyes.

"Can I speak now?"

"Ya just did," Reno grinned.

"I'm speechless and I love you," said Genesis, throwing himself against the Turk and snuggling in close. His cheek vibrated as Reno laughed and closed his arms around him. Though he knew there were enemies out there he felt peaceful and safe. Everything simply felt right.

"Can I have a kiss yo?"

"Pfft, you didn't even need to ask," the auburn replied, pulling his head upright and pressing his lips against Reno's. After a few gentle pecks Genesis parted his lips and licked the redhead's, seeking entrance. His request was granted and he reveled in the taste of his lover. He melted as his tongue slid against Reno's and each explored the others mouth. It was a slow, sensual kiss that made him crave more. So much so that when the redhead pulled away he whimpered.

"Heh, sorry yo. We keep that up and I'm gonna rape you right here and now."

"Trust me, it wouldn't be rape."

Reno groaned, pressed his forehead against the auburn's, and inhaled deeply. "Not makin' this easy ya know."

"I never make anything easy. I like it hard."

"Shit," breathed the Turk.

"Okay, okay," Genesis chuckled. "I'll go take my frustration out on Sephiroth."

"Heh, I'm sure he'll appreciate that."

"Are you sure you'll be safe in your Pyramid? If not go back inside or take a cold shower or something."

"Like I'd miss the fireworks. I'll be fine."

With that Reno pulled away, gave the auburn a quick kiss, and forced himself to take a few steps back. He moved stiffly as his legs didn't wish to cooperate. The redhead watched Genesis retrieve his sword and head toward the silver before moving closer to the hut and recasting his Pyramid. Once finished he plopped down in the sand and willed his member to go down.

"Sorry about that," Genesis said, stopping in front of Sephiroth.

"I can give you two some alone time if you'd like."

"We can just as easily keep our hands to ourselves."

"From what I saw tongues would have fit better in that sentence," the silver smirked. A blush crept up from the auburn's neck and made his face almost match his hair, causing him to chuckle. "I couldn't resist, I apologize."

"Truth is truth," the STC grinned. "Rules?"

"None," Sephiroth replied, knowing the auburn meant rules for their upcoming match.

"What?" Genesis breathed, taken aback. Sparring matches always had restrictions, even if it was light contact only. In most cases, protection, both on the weapon and the wielder, was required as well as supervision. In addition it wasn't uncommon to restrict or ban the use of magic. He could understand the lack of supervision but everything else? A match without conditions was bound to lead to injury. "I'm sure I don't need to point out the fact that these are real weapons?"

"No, you don't. Under normal circumstances I would never condone such a match, however current circumstances are far from normal. I need to gauge your abilities in order to assist you. Any constraint would hinder my ability to get an accurate reading."

"We could seriously injure each other Sephiroth!"

"Possibly. We will just have to trust each other to not deliver a fatal blow."

"Normally that would be fine but I can guarantee nothing, especially when it comes to magic!"

"Then you will have to trust that I can protect myself. Hopefully I can get out of the way but if not I know how to take a blow," replied Sephiroth, reaching into his pocket, withdrawing a green Materia, and holding it out to the STC. "A fully mastered Restore Materia. I have one as well."

Genesis took the Materia, feeling a healthy amount of trepidation. He couldn't deny the tingle of excitement racing through his veins however. It wasn't every day that one was able to have a limitless match with anyone, let alone with Sephiroth. The auburn finally nodded, placed the Materia in his pocket, and followed the silver to where the match would begin. Once there the SSC faced him, sword in hand.

"Are you ready?"

The auburn cast a look over his shoulder, eyes landing on Reno encased within his Pyramid. "Ready."

With no further preamble the silver struck. The two collided with such force that sparks flew from their blades and the auburn slid backward, feet not finding any purchase in the soft sand. Although somewhat startled Genesis had been expecting the attack and it answered the question as to whether Sephiroth was going to limit himself. Since he hadn't even seen the man move he was guessing not. On one hand, that fact thrilled him to no end. If the SSC wasn't holding back, he obviously considered Genesis a worthy opponent. On the other hand, that made the match even more dangerous. Sephiroth was a master swordsman and it showed. He had a tendency to switch attacks and change tactics without warning, constantly keeping his opponent off balance and forcing them to try to guess the man's next move. Genesis knew he was going to have to rely heavily on instinct, as too much thinking during a fight, spar or not, was hazardous.

Sephiroth sprang away from the auburn, pleased that the man had blocked his attack. Even better, once the blades had connected he hadn't felt any indicators that the STC was having difficulty maintaining his stance or keeping his opponents sword at bay. Considering the attack had been fast and powerful, that meant Genesis was indeed strong. He had no way to know whether he was stronger than before his kidnapping but it pleased him just the same.

The silver's feet had barely touched the ground when Genesis was upon him. He raised his weapon to block the attack, somewhat taken aback. He'd expected the auburn to hang back at first, gauging him before initiating a direct advance. It was a bold move and a smirk curled his lips as he sprang upward and landed just behind the STC, bladed aimed toward the man's right shoulder. The smirk grew as the auburn blocked the move and rolled out from under him, moving so quickly he disappeared.

Reno blinked, wondering where the hell Genesis had gotten too. He figured the auburn had moved so quickly his eyes couldn't keep up, at least until he saw Sephiroth tense slightly and bring his sword in front of him. The Turk had a feeling that even he hadn't seen where the STC had gone. Holy shit.

Though he was safe inside his Pyramid, the redhead's nerves were so on edge it was almost painful. He understood the reasoning behind the spar but he sure as hell didn't like it. On top of that, he'd expected a controlled match not a free for all. Unfortunately he knew there was nothing he could do about it. Trying to stop the fight was likely to get him injured or worse, not to mention he knew Genesis would be beyond furious with him. Although irritating he could relate as he didn't like people telling him what to do either. It took all his willpower to not break his Pyramid and scream at both of them, but in the end he knew they wouldn't listen and that there was nothing to be done but try and keep a grip on himself.

Sephiroth stood rooted to the ground, eyes scanning his surroundings, ears straining to detect the tiniest sound. After some moments he heard a faint rush of air above him. Without looking he brought his sword up just in time to stop the auburn's from slicing down on him. "Nice move," he said, finally tilting his head back and locking his eyes onto Genesis's.

"Thanks," replied the auburn, springing off Sephiroth's sword and landing several feet in front of him. "I've wanted to try that move for ages."

"You've never preformed it before?"

Genesis chuckled at the surprised look on the silver's face. "No. Not exactly a move to use on Third's."

Sephiroth nodded, then darted forward. The next few minutes were defined by the clangs and screeching of metal on metal. The SOLDIERs movements were so fast that few would see them. The only evidence of their presence would be the noise and shifting air currents caused by their movements. By the time the whirlwind ceased both SOLDIERs were covered in cuts, forcing Reno to sit on his hands before he really did break his Pyramid.

"Your speed, agility, and swordsmanship are excellent," Sephiroth said. "I commend you."

"That's a hell of a complement coming from you."

"Indeed it is," smirked the silver, springing into the air. He landed almost instantly less than a foot away from Genesis. The move was an attempt to throw the man off and get inside his guard but he wasn't surprised when it failed. He wasn't even entirely surprised when three fireballs rushed passed him; however, the one that hit him in the chest was a different matter.

"Sorry," Genesis chimed, not sounding one bit apologetic. He made sure the silver had put out any flames before dancing away. Yet grace nor distance saved him from the ice block suddenly encasing his legs. Had it not moved more of his body would be locked inside the ice. "Shit."

"Serves you right."

Movement drew the auburn's attention and Sephiroth was once again upon him. Their blades clashed and he cast a Fire spell at his lower half, freeing himself just enough so that the silver's Bolt spell missed him. Before the man could make another move or cast another spell Genesis threw another Fire spell at his legs. Though he was free, his legs were stiff and prickly. "You have more than one Materia, you should have shared," the auburn called, pointing his blade at the silver.

"Deal with it."

"Oh I will," smirked the auburn.

With the addition of magic on the playing field, Reno knew that any chance he even remotely had of stopping the fight was gone. The best he could do was hope that both parties kept their cool in the heat of battle. Though in all honesty he was counting on Sephiroth. He loved Genesis dearly but the man was one hell of a hot head, especially when challenged in any fashion.

"You're ability to cast repeatedly in such a short time span is most impressive."

"Thank you, though I can't really take the credit. Have either the Lifestream or Hojo to thank for that. Hell, maybe even Hollander for all I know."

"I understand," replied Sephiroth, looking the auburn up and down. "I have the information I require. Shall we finish this?"

"Let's."

Once again the SOLDIERs closed the distance and their blades screamed. With both men fully warmed up their movements were even faster than before. Though he knew it was silly, Reno half wondered if the noise he was hearing was delayed. They can't break the sound barrier… can they? Of course not, they'd be torn apart! Right? Right… In truth he had no idea what the limits for SOLDIERs were, much less whether those limits applied to these two. He had a feeling normality most certainly didn't apply here. Still, as good as they were he didn't think they could break the sound barrier. At least not the way they were fighting. On the other hand if they were plummeting from a great height… who knew?

During his musings Reno's subconscious registered the fact that all sound had stopped but it took his conscious a few minutes to catch up. It took his brain even longer to realize he didn't see the SOLDIERs anywhere. He jerked to his feet, casting his gaze in every direction but coming up empty. A few more minutes and some panicked heartbeats later he snapped. Driven by the silence and lack of visual he broke his Pyramid and took off running, praying the SOLDIERs had enough since not to slice him or that he wouldn't get caught by an errant spell. He prayed even harder for the men to be okay, that they hadn't lost their common sense and destroyed each other. "Genesis! Sephiroth! Where are you?"

Hidden behind a 15-foot boulder stood Genesis and Sephiroth. The SOLDIERs stood less than two feet apart with the auburn's back against the boulder and the SSC facing him. Both men looked somewhat dazed.

"This is most unpleasant," said Sephiroth.

"I agree."

"Reno has breached his Pyramid and does not sound happy."

"No, he doesn't. Probably wouldn't do for him to find us like this."

"We shoul-" Sephiroth's reply was interrupted by a coughing fit. To reduce the sound, he placed his right hand over his mouth. When he removed it, it was covered in blood.

"Please tell me a Cure will heal that."

"It will," Sephiroth rasped.

Genesis nodded, knowing that if the spell failed he'd be in an even worse situation than he currently was. In the distance, he heard Reno call again and winced. "So, how do you want to do this?" he asked, using his left hand to gesture to the weapons and sorely regretting it. At present, he was pinned to the boulder by Sephiroth's sword, which entered his body just under his collarbone and came out the back. He wasn't sure how serious his injuries were but breathing was difficult and hurt like hell. His ribs ached and the blade was grating against some bone or another.

While Genesis's injuries were bad he had a feeling Sephiroth's were worse. His sword had entered the silver's left side and come out somewhere to the left of the man's spine. Some of the man's ribs were probably shattered and he'd obviously punctured a lung. Gaia knew what else had been damaged. Though the situation wasn't the greatest, it could be worse. Had his blade struck a fraction of an inch higher it would have pierced the man's heart.

The auburn was jerked from his thoughts as Sephiroth stirred. He let go of his sword, which remained in place due to the boulder, and lurched backward, freeing himself from the STC's sword. The blade had apparently been acting as a tourniquet and once removed, blood gushed from the man's wounds. Without even flinching the silver removed his Materia and cast a high level Cure spell. Within seconds he was no longer gasping for breath and was standing fully upright. A wave of relief washed over Genesis, temporarily making him forget about his own predicament.

The spell crashed over Sephiroth and he felt a few ribs snap violently back into place. Immediately after he was able to take a full breath for the first time in minutes. It made him somewhat dizzy and helped dampen the pain created by everything else that was healing. Within a minute he was healed enough to yank his sword out of the rock and Genesis. Without missing a beat the man cast a Cure spell of his own. 30 seconds later the only sign of their injuries were their torn and bloodstained clothes.

"That's better," Genesis grinned, rotating his right shoulder without pain.

"If you weren't so short your injuries would have been worse."

"Then for once I'm glad I'm short," the auburn laughed.

"Genesis? Sephiroth? The hell are ya?"

"Over here," the SOLDIERs replied in unison. They heard the Turk's footsteps stop, change direction slightly, and pound toward them. A few minutes later Reno rounded the rock, his face a mask of concern that was quickly covered by a scowl.

"Gaia I thought you two had offed each other or something!"

"It was close," Sephiroth said.

"Don't fucking tell me that!" groaned Reno, lunging toward Genesis and quickly patting him down.

"I'm fine Reno," Genesis said. The Turk's scowl deepened and he continued his exam, obviously not convinced by the words. Once finished, the man turned on Sephiroth, giving him a similar exam. The silver's surprised expression quickly vanished and was replaced resignation.

"Gods you two really did almost kill each other!" Reno yelped, fingering the holes in Sephiroth's shirt. "The hell is wrong with you!"

"We were a bit overzealous," shrugged the silver.

"Overzealous? Overzealous? That's what you call almost killing each other?"

"Calm down Reno," Genesis said, knowing the man was truly upset by his unbroken speech pattern. "We did get a bit carried away but what happened was an accident more than anything. Besides, the point is that we're okay, right?"

"That's not- I can't-," Reno cut himself off and took a deep breath. He was still concerned, however anger and acceptance were vying for control. Had the pair not decided to have a full on battle the 'accident' wouldn't have happened in the first place. On top of that, they had enough problems without adding possible long-term injuries. Yet he couldn't entirely blame the duo. It probably wasn't every day that they were able to spar with someone who was on the same level as themselves. Hell, not too long ago he'd had a similar match with Rude and it had been exhilarating. "Alright I get it. Just… can you not do that again for awhile yo?"

"Very well," nodded Sephiroth, somehow knowing the Turk wanted or needed to hear some form of agreement.

"I think we can wait awhile before the next match," Genesis grinned.

"Gaia's sake you two are gonna give me a heart attack," grumbled Reno, turning and heading in the direction of the hut.

Lost in thought, the SOLDIERs silently followed the redhead. Though he'd been injured, and somewhat badly, Sephiroth was extremely satisfied with the auburn's performance. In his opinion, the man's skills were above that of an average Second Class SOLDIER. He would have to discuss some things with him, but so far as he could tell he wasn't a danger to those around him. Unless involved in an unrestrained sparring match of course.

For his part, Genesis was also pleased with his performance, never mind the fact that spearing Sephiroth had actually been an accident. One he'd never admit to anyone. He'd actually been trying to raise his sword to block the SSC's but had been to slow compared to the man's forward rush. The end result had been his half-raised sword getting jammed into the silver's side. Yet even though it was an accident the effect threw the SSC's attack off, making his blow less damaging while simultaneously making his own attack more damaging. That was a perfectly acceptable outcome in battle, though he wouldn't rely on accidents and hated making them in the first place. Next time I won't make such a mistake.

As the trio finally made the hut Reno tossed open the door and flopped onto the bed. Kicking off his shoes, he swung his legs up and laid on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Though his mind was blank he felt anxious and fought to still his foot, which was wagging like a dog's tail.

"Naptime?" Genesis asked, stretching out on the bed next to Reno.

"Nah, just need to chill for a minute."

"You sure? You look a little tired."

"Really?"

"Yes, really," the STC chuckled.

"Weird. I'm actually kinda wired. Probably couldn't sleep if I tried. 'Sides that, why should I be tired, you two are the ones who should be tired, what after burning up yer energy fightin' and all."

"Watching can be just as draining as fighting. Sometimes more so," Sephiroth tossed in. "Especially when holding yourself back."

"Was I that obvious yo?"

"Just a little," the silver grinned, holding a thumb and index finger a millimeter apart.

"Heh, have ta work on that."

"I don't know about you two but I could go for a snack right now," said Genesis.

"Mako really is turnin' you into me."

"Does that mean you could snack as well?"

"Hell yes!"

"I have cheese, crackers, and two kinds of deli meat," said the silver. "We could have that or I could make sandwiches."

"Up ta Gen. He's the one that brought it up."

"Gee thanks. Finger food is fine with me."

"Very well."

"How much more food we got yo?"

"We're in no danger of starving if that's what you're asking. I brought as much food as possible, just in case."

"Just in case?" parroted Genesis.

"Worst case scenario," Reno answered. "Better ta have too much than not enough."

"Exactly," came Sephiroth's muffled reply. He pulled the meat and cheese out of the refrigerator, sat them on the table, then retrieved the crackers, a knife, and a large platter.

"Does that mean the situation isn't as bad as you expected?" the auburn inquired.

"When I left Midgar I didn't have a full grasp on the situation so I planned accordingly. That said, the situation is indeed better than expected," replied Sephiroth, slicing the cheese. "At least I think it is. When we were sparring was it difficult to control your magic?"

"Not at all. I never once felt like I was going to throw a random spell or otherwise lose control."

"How difficult was it to cast a spell when you wished to?"

Genesis thought for a moment before replying, "Not difficult. In fact I think it's more reliable and easier than using Materia."

"How so?"

"With Materia there is sometimes a delay, as though the Materia has to wake up or interrupt your thoughts or something before it will work. It's minor, but a delay is a delay."

"I understand. Your Fire spells have no delay?"

"It's pretty instantaneous. So much so that one might accidently blast themselves."

"Eh? How's that yo?"

"Since the spell is so immediate you have to make sure your hand is pointed in the right direction before you activate it."

"Oh I get it. Yer sayin' that if you activate it you might not have time to aim before the spell goes off right?"

"Yes."

"I'll have ta remember that. Would suck to accidently imprison myself at a key moment, not ta mention it'd be embarrassing as hell."

"Though caution is required it sounds as though the lack of Materia is advantageous," Sephiroth said, placing the now full platter on the edge of the bed. "You can cast a spell on the fly without having to reposition or worry about your primary weapon." Genesis nodded, munching a cracker loaded with meat. "How draining is it?"

"That I'm not sure. Things were moving so quickly that it was hard to separate one thing from another. Best way to tell that would be for me to toss some spells at the ocean for a while. Also might help me determine if I have to wait before casting again."

"Well, now we know what we're doin' after snack time yo."

"Agreed."

"So do you think I'm safe to be around people?" the auburn asked.

"As far as I can tell yes." The SSC raised an eyebrow at Genesis's expression. He appeared almost disappointed. "You are unhappy?"

"No, it's not that. I'm glad I'm not hazardous or anything but that also means we'll have to leave soon."

"You wish to stay here?"

"You sound surprised," Genesis laughed.

"I am."

"Why? It's great here! Great friends, great food, an amazing bathtub. But the best thing? No Shinra! Which means no one yelling at us, ordering us around, or trying to kidnap or kill us. What's not to love about that?"

"When you put it that way I see your point. Unfortunately we've no choice but to go back."

"I know," the STC sighed.

"How about this; from now on consider this our spot. We'll come here as often as we can without drawing too much attention."

"Like a secret spot," grinned the auburn.

"Yes."

"Eh, does that include me yo?"

"Of course it includes you. Why wouldn't it?" asked Sephiroth.

"Dunno, guess 'cause I'm not part of the SOLDER brotherhood."

"That may be true but you're part of our brotherhood," the auburn replied, laying a cracker across the Turk's lips and chuckling as he inhaled it.

"Thanks," Reno replied around a mouthful of cracker and cheese.

"Just to be clear you may also come here even if I am unavailable."

"Would be weird comin' here without you yo."

"It's up to you but I've no problem with it. Do keep the place clean though."

"If you can't come with us and we want to come here, we'll at least let you know beforehand as well. Assuming you're available at all that is," Genesis said as Reno nodded.

Important matters out of the way, the trio began chatting about anything that popped into their heads. Sometime during the talking the platter was picked clean and Sephiroth refilled it. He'd just sat the restocked item onto the bed when Reno's PHS beeped.

"New message?" Genesis asked as Reno withdrew the device from his pocket.

"Nah, it's bitchin' 'cause it's dying. Got a charger Seph?"

"Of course. Why do you think it hasn't died yet?"

"Eh?"

"I've recharged it several times."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"This thing is new and shouldn't have ta charge that much. Wonder if the battery is bad yo."

"It is possible."

"The hell'd you get it anyway?"

"You leave it on the end table while you sleep. I pick it up and plug it in."

"Oh. For a second there I thought ya molested me ta get it or somethin'," the Turk chuckled.

"Would it bother you if I had?" PHS in hand, Reno froze, as did Genesis. Startled, the two looked at each other with wide eyes.

"Well, yeah."

"You are confusing," the silver sighed.

"Why's that?"

"You say contradictory things."

"Li-" Reno cut himself off as understanding dawned. "I'd be pissed at anybody, Gen included, for doing something to me when I was asleep."

"Does that mean I can't wake you up with a blowjob?"

"Waking up is one thing, completely doing things without my consent or knowledge is another yo."

"Would you be upset if I molested you when you are awake?"

"I…" Reno trailed off, eyes locking onto the auburn's. What was he supposed to say to that? It seemed that no matter what he said there was a fifty-fifty chance that the answer might piss off one or both SOLDIERs. "No, probably not," he finally said, following his instincts. His gaze immediately traveled to Genesis's, whose eyes sparkled not with anger, but with mischief and a trace of relief.

"I will… keep that in mind," Sephiroth said, picking apart a slice of meat and eating the pieces.

Oh shit, Reno thought, wondering what that meant. Better yet, did the silver's line of inquiry have anything to do with his earlier conversation with Genesis? It wasn't hard to fathom that Sephiroth had heard most of, if not all, of that chat. Yet if that was the case shouldn't he be grilling the STC? Then again, why would he ask Gen when his feelings on the subject had been fairly straightforward and verbal. Mine weren't.

Genesis nibbled a piece of cheese and watched the Turk, amused. So he really wasn't the only one attracted to Sephiroth, nor was he the only one willing to be more than just friends. While the situation was quite intriguing, he knew it was also dangerous.

"Do you want to molest me yo?" Reno asked, tired of the weight of his own thoughts and wondering where this was heading.

"I've considered it."

The lack of hesitation and sincerity in Sephiroth's answer gave Reno pause. "What about Gen? You want to molest him too?" he asked, finally plugging in his PHS so it could charge.

"I've considered that as well."

Reno couldn't keep the grin off his face as Genesis choked on a cracker. "Well, ain't this just one hell of a quagmire yo."

"That is one way to put it," replied Sephiroth, picking up another slice of meat.

"I'll be honest here," Reno said, suddenly intense. "I know we haven't been dating long but I do not want to lose you Gen. Especially not before we even have a chance to really explore our relationship."

"No one's talking about you losing me Reno."

"Yeah? What happens if we do this and you start liking him more than me?"

Genesis started to say 'that won't happen' but stopped himself. After all he couldn't predict the future, therefore saying so might be a lie. The best he could say was, "I don't see that happening. You two are not interchangeable."

"What's that mean yo?"

"It's hard to explain," the auburn sighed. "I'm sure you realize I love 'Geal." The Turk nodded and he continued. "It's not a platonic love, nor is it a physical or romantic love. It's a strange mix of all of them that keeps me from loving him in any one way."

"Meaning you can't just have sex with him, nor can you have a relationship with him or treat him like nothing but a brother, right?" Reno asked, somewhat confused.

"Right. Yet my love for you is both romantic and physical, so you and 'Geal aren't interchangeable anymore than you and Sephiroth would ever be."

"Okay let me see if I've got this straight," the Turk said, jumping to his feet and starting to pace. "You don't think any love you develop for Sephiroth will be the same type of love that you have for me? So even if you do start to love him, you couldn't replace me with him."

"Exactly."

"While that pleases me it's also kinda harsh. I mean, guy's sitting right there yo."

"It does not bother me," Sephiroth shrugged. "I'm sure you both realize I'm emotionally stunted. I do not even know if I can love, let alone to the extent that a one on one relationship requires."

"Oddly I understand what you mean," Reno replied. Part of the reason he'd never been in a relationship was that he knew they were both taxing and demanding. On top of that, he had a hard time forming solid attachments with others. Least til Gen. "What do you want from me Seph? From us?"

"I do not understand."

"Do you want to be friends? Do you want to have a physical relationship with no strings attached? Or do you want something else entirely?"

"I cannot answer that because I do not know."

"Screw quagmire, we're in quicksand," the Turk chuckled.

"I agree. I have feelings for you both but I do not understand them. While I am interested in exploring them I have no desire to put a strain on your relationship nor do I wish to put a strain on the relationship that we currently share," the silver stated.

"Think that about sums up how we all feel yo."

"Pretty much," Genesis agreed, unable to keep himself from grinning. "Gods what a mess!"

"Not really. Easiest thing to do is just let whatever happens happen," the redhead shrugged.

"You make it sound so simple," the auburn snickered, rolling his eyes.

"Look, I've got a feeling we're making shit far more complicated than it is. The best thing we can do is just let things happen."

"Even if that means sleeping with each other?" Genesis asked.

"Even if. Mind you this only applies to Seph. Anyone else and I'm gonna be fucking pissed yo."

"Ditto. I know it's weird but I think I'd be okay if you two were together," the auburn said. "Especially if I get to watch," he added, grinning from ear to ear.

"Heh, voyeur."

"Does that mean we are a threesome?" inquired Sephiroth.

"I have no idea. I guess if you want it to be, then yeah," Reno replied.

"Do I have to take you on dates?"

"I'm not much of a date guy yo."

"In a way we've already been on a date," Genesis chuckled.

"Hmm, and both of you are okay with this?"

"I am," Reno shrugged.

"Me too."

"Then I would not mind being in a loose threesome with you."

"Heh, now comes the fun part yo."

"What is that?"

"Waiting to see what happens next!" Reno exclaimed, flopping back down into the bed and grabbing a cracker and some cheese. Genesis snatched the items out of his hand and proceeded to feed them to him. "Seph?" he called in between bites.

"Yes?"

"Treat him right and love him if you can, but if you steal him from me I'll fucking kill you."

"Understood."

Reno nodded, taking another bit of cheese and cracker. Genesis ran a hand down his cheek and smiled at him, making his declaration solidify. He honestly didn't see the silver taking Gen from him but there was concern and fear surrounding the topic in his mind. Truth be told he wasn't sure if he was entirely happy about the situation but he knew that keeping two people apart often had worse consequences than just letting things happen. Certainly didn't hurt that he was interested in Sephiroth himself.

"I feel tranquil and… pleased," Sephiroth said quietly.

"Good," replied the redhead, pulling a slice of meat apart and holding a piece in front of the silver's mouth. He arched an eyebrow but opened his mouth and let him feed him.

"Sexy," breathed the auburn.

"Heh, that's my line yo."

"Now it's mine as well, just like you. Like both of you."

"Shit Seph, he's already marking you as his."

"I do not mind."

"Well I do. He's not yours Gen, he's ours and we're his. Got it?"

"Got it," Genesis giggled. "Now hurry up and finish off the platter."

"You in a hurry to abuse the ocean with fireballs yo?"

"Damn straight."

"Grab the platter Seph. We can munch while Gen flings fire."

"Sounds like fun."

With that the trio headed outside and made their way toward the ocean. Though things were still far from certain, they were all relieved to have one less matter to worry about. At least for now. Down the road? No telling since not a one of them could predict the future. With any luck things would turn out just fine and if not, well they were bound to have a good time before things exploded. Right?