~!~

CHAPTER 15

~!~

After Angeal was out of sight, Cid found himself scratching his head thoughtfully. At first, he found the guy's constant stares unnerving, but quickly found himself befriending the man rather quickly and have a good time in the process.

The blonde decided to continue exploring this floor, but soon regretted his choice when he spotted a familiar red head in crimson clothes hanging around the large lounge of this SOLDIER floor, one with a magnificent view of the city below and the horizon ahead.

Cid tried to turn and leave unnoticed, not wishing to get himself into trouble, but Genesis had caught on the presence of someone. He raised his gaze up from his book only to frown.

"Oh, it's you."

Cid shrugged, ignoring the man's displeased tone.

"Yeah, it's me, Cid. You're Genesis, rite?"

"Hn."

Cid frowned at the other man's coldness, but decided to try again.

"Look, can't we jus' start over? An' on the right foot, this time?"

Genesis placed his book down on his lap and leaned on his seat with an amused look.

"And what makes you think that I want to be friends with someone like you?"

"Be that way, then."

Cid waved one arm in anger while turning himself around to leave the lounge.

~What was I thinkin', givin' this jackass a chance?~

Cid ran a hand through his golden spikes. He tried to be friends with Genesis for Sephiroth's sake, but there was no way he would allow the red head to constantly treat him like an unwanted bug.

~!~

Genesis watched the blonde leave, his glare boring into the other man's back.

~What an idiot! I will never be his friend!~

The red head frowned. He managed to calm himself down by reading alone in a quiet place, giving that he was supposed to be the only resident with no duties during the morning in that floor.

But he forgot about the new 'guest', and the idiotic man tried to act like a friend towards him.

~He took away the one I loved all my life!~

Genesis felt the sides of his mouth twist in an angry snarl, his heart aching with the need to chase after the blonde man and pierce him with his crimson blade.

The sudden announcement of a message arriving from his phone drawn the line, and Genesis found himself hastily sliding open one of the windows and throw his phone out into the world.

"God damn it!"

Genesis growled out, not concerned with whoever it was that tried to call him.

~!~

Cid stopped in his tracks when he heard a loud scream, and he quickly recognized the voice to belong to the red head.

"Fuckin' idiot."

Cid mumbled to himself and decided to retreat himself out of the hallway, and back into Sephiroth's apartment. He would busy himself by exploring the interior, just until he got bored enough to want to go out there again.

~!~

"Why isn't he answering?"

Weiss was caught off guard by the sudden outburst coming from both the door and from his lover, Nero.

"What?"

He watched in confusion the slim form of the dark head march angrily towards his desk, and Weiss was wise enough as to pick up his pile of paperwork and put it safely aside, before Nero came closer.

"I tried calling Genesis and see how he was going."

Nero fumed, slamming his hands on the other man's desk.

"Okay. And?"

Weiss could guess what was happening, but decided to humor the other man by leaning on his desk and place both elbows on it so he could rest his chin on his hands.

"And he's not answering."

Nero finished, narrowed his eyes in annoyance, not pleased at his lover's lack of interest.

"Nero, you dropped a huge bomb on Genesis, last night. It's normal if he's panicking and hiding from us."

Weiss's calm explanation didn't satisfy the dark haired man in the slightest.

"I'm going up there and face him."

Nero announced, turning on his heels.

"You will do no such thing."

The serious and authoritarian tone from the white SOLDIER was enough to freeze Nero in his tracks.

"But, Weiss-"

"Need I remind you that you and Rosso should 'be' dealing with a certain matter?"

Weiss had raised himself from his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. Nero could only swallow dry and obey. There was no way to change the white haired man's mind during business hours.

"Sir."

Weiss nodded, allowing his features to soften up in front of the other man.

"I will be taking my leave then."

Nero spoke, and after getting a confirmation nod from the other man, turned to leave.

"Don't rush it, or I will notice, Nero."

Weiss warned, watching his lover's retreat.

"I'm never sloppy on my work, and you know it."

"Yes, now have fun with Rosso."

Weiss laughed out loudly to himself, imagining the disgusted features on Nero at the mention of their female colleague.

~!~

"You are late, darling. Were you giving nice treats to Weiss?"

A female voice spoke with amusement, acknowledging the presence of the dark haired man.

"None of your business."

Nero spoke coldly, not allowing any emotions shown to the red haired woman leaning against the wall close to a door.

"Can we get started, now?"

"Yes."

Nero sighed at Rosso, sliding open the door and walking inside the dark room. He could hear the tapping of the woman's heels from behind as she followed.

"It's so dark. I want to see the pitiful thing."

Nero heard the woman speak, but continued to walk deeper into the room.

"Do as you like."

With that said, Rosso flicked the lights on and smiled sweetly when she was able to see the trapped form of a man on a chair in the center of the room.

"Who are you?"

Rosso walked over to the trapped man with elegancy, the SOLDIER armor around her waist following the soft swings from left to right.

"We are the ones asking questions here, darling."

Rosso spoke, raising her hand to a certain level so she could reveal a clawed glove to the captive, as if it was a threatening warning.

"Break him, Rosso. After we get the information we need, you can do whatever you want."

Nero spoke from the spot on the wall he claimed as his own, watching the woman's actions warily.

"My, you're awfully hasty, today. Did Weiss bought a new toy for you?"

Rosso giggled with amusement, unfazed when the dark man shot an angry glare murderous towards her way.

"We have two more prisoners to interrogate, and I know this is going to take us all day long."

The man swallowed with fear, watching the two SOLDIER's speak among themselves like he wasn't there.

"Oh, you are so boring, Nero."

Rosso complained, walking over to the table to pick up some tools of her choice before turning her attention to the captive man.

"Why don't you start interrogating the next prisoner, then? I don't need your help with this one."

The woman said, before laughing manically when she watched the man's horrified face at the sight of the torture tool.

"Good idea."

Nero moved from the wall he was leaning onto and quickly left the room, completely oblivious of the pleading and screaming sounds coming from inside.

But before he came into the next torture room, he took one minute to call Genesis once more. He frowned when the phone kept ringing, but no answer would come out of it.

He sighed in defeat, placing his phone back in his pocket, before entering the room.

~If he won't answer me, I will personally come to him~

~!~

"What took you so long?"

Zack inquired, swirling his SOLDIER standard sword around his hand, an impatient look on his face complete with a tapping foot on the floor.

"I got held back, Zack."

Angeal merely said, walking over to the younger man.

"Huh? Alright. Did you get that super cool materia that you promised to show me?"

Zack spoke excitedly, eyes wide with anticipation.

"Actually, no."

The taller man shook his head.

"Huh? You forgot?!"

Zack spoke with disappointment, his shoulders slumping down.

"No, I simply decided that you're not ready for it, just yet."

"You forgot."

Zack narrowed his eyes, not trusting his mentor's excuse one bit. Angeal just sighed at the end.

"Hmpf."

"So, what was so important that made you forget it?"

Zack inquired curiously, placing his hands around his waist.

"Did you complete the warming exercises, like I instructed you?"

The Dark General asked while crossing his arms.

"Of course! Hey, it's Sephiroth!"

Angeal watched the younger spiky head jump and wave, and decided to turn around, curious about the Silver General's visit to the training room.

~Wonder what he wants?~

"Zack, do some extra squats. I'll be right back."

"Got it!"

Zack shook a fist with excitement, starting a new count to try and beat his own records.

When the older dark head stepped out of the simulation room, he found himself facing the silver head, curiosity visible in his face.

"What brings you here, Sephiroth?"

"Angeal, I got word from Lazard about this."

Sephiroth spoke while raising his hand to reveal a file with big bold letters saying 'top secret'. He decided to let the file speak for itself, waiting for the Dark General to finish reading it.

"I see. This is rather unexpected. When do we leave?"

~So much for showing up on Cid's first air force's presentation~

"Tomorrow. That will give us both the time to make the necessary preparations."

Sephiroth stated, receiving a nod from his dark haired friend.

"Agreed. I will need to find a substitute to train Zack."

"Why not Genesis? He needs something to keep him busy."

Sephiroth suggested, putting emphasis on the last word.

"Thanks, I will try asking him."

"I will speak with you later, then."

With a nod, Sephiroth walked out of the training room and Angeal returned to his student.

"What's up, Angeal?"

"I got a new mission assigned to me, Zack."

"Well, obviously! I mean, what you got? Thiefs? Pirates? Dragons?"

With each question, Zack bounced in his place, holding both his fists close to his bright mako blue eyes.

Angeal merely shook his head at his pupil's childish antics, preventing a chuckle from escaping his lips at the young man's cuteness.

"I'm going to be away for two weeks, according to this."

Angeal finished, waving the yellow file in his hand, watching Zack's excitement abandon his features.

"Two weeks?! But who will train me during that time?"

"Don't worry. I will ask Genesis to replace me."

"Oh?"

Angeal could see uncertainty in the man's tone, but chose to ignore it.

"Yes. Now back to your position, Zack."

With that order, the dark spiky head quickly regained his composure and readied the sword in his hand.

"Sir!"

~!~

TBC