Hello everyone^^ Did you survive the Easter holidays in one piece? Got any chocolate you want to donate to us? In any case, here is our belated Easter present to you!

Once again we want to thank danslalune for putting in so much time and effort in the betaing, you are the bestest, dear!

Chapter 5

The room seemed suddenly empty to Genesis, but he only snorted derisively and continued to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling. How did it always occur that he was the one screwing everything up? Not sometimes something, but every time everything. What he had said was childish, it was provoking and nothing more. But that was what he had wanted to do, to hurt Sephiroth, to pull him out of his shell, to get any kind of emotion from him, apart from sarcasm perhaps. Anger seemed to be the only other feeling he felt able to evoke in the other.

He didn't understand his motivation for this either, it was like quarreling with your parents, insulting them and hurting them because you want their attention, any kind of attention. And it was not that Genesis didn't know how to get that. He had had a lot of practice with his own parents back in Banora.

Oh, how he hoped that Angeal would be done with the interrogation soon, or that someone would come to stop him from doing more unnecessary musing because of this prick of a SOLDIER.

About twenty minutes later the dark haired SOLDIER recruit finally poked his head inside the room,andseeing that Genesis was awake and relatively lucid, Angeal came in. When the door suddenly opened, pulling him out of his thoughts, Genesis' head moved upwards and turned , to face his best friend directly.

Angeal didn't look like he had taken any serious damage from the fight earlier today, just a few minor scratches. No bandages or patches, insofar as he could tell.

"I'm sorry, I didn't have time to buy you flowers, but I did manage to boast a bit about your part in the mission," the young man smiled, good-naturedly. Then he threw a glance at Genesis' bandaged arm, trying to estimate the damage. "How are you doing?"

"Why should you boast about me?" Genesis grinned idly, slowly shifting into a sitting position.

"I'm doing quite fine. I should be able to use the arm soon enough, at least I hope so. But what about you? No damages?"

"I am relatively fine, compared to you." Angeal made a dismissive gesture with his hands and sat down on a nearby chair. A light frown wrinkled his forehead, though. "Your mother is going to kill me if she hears about this."

A light chuckle escaped the red-head's throat at that and he had to smother it with his hand. "My mother will throw a fit and then act like she cares more about her precious garden," he said flatly. "And Father would rather tell me to start acting like a man and take it…" It was certainly the last thing he wanted to talk about now, but Angeal knew him and he knew his parents. So he knewwhat he was talking about and it didn't feel… out of place...to talk about them.

"Well, you are a bit of a hero now, so I guess they should be proud..." Angeal offered, shrugging his broad shoulders. "Everyone is asking about you." The smile that had accompanied the statement faded a bit and a slightly troubled expression briefly ghosted over Angeal's handsome face before quickly young man played it down with a hearty pat to Genesis' good shoulder. "You made an impression all right." He laughed.

Genesis immediately noticed the change in his friend's stance and expression and he itched to ask about it.

"And…?" he queried, his eyebrow arching upwards. If that was all, he couldn't quite be proud of himself yet. Not that he didn't feel a spark of pride over what he had done, but it was a surprisingly small feeling in comparison to others.

"Well..." Angeal inwardly squirmed under the scrutinizing look. Genesis knew him just too well and Angeal just couldn't lie. Lying was dishonorable and he was also very bad at it. Besides, Genesis would find out eventually and it was better if he was prepared. Angeal just hated to destroy his friend's glorious moment, because he surely deserved it. In all actuality Angeal was very impressed by what Genesis had done, and proud of him too.

"There are some that say that you are lying and that it was Sephiroth who did all the work. But don't worry about them, they are simply envious. I saw what you did," Angeal revealed calmly.

It was obvious that Angeal was afraid that his friend would be outraged by the news, but Genesis himself was taken aback because he felt none of it. For the first time in his whole life he didn't feel the need to prove himself because he had already done so in front of those who mat…

Did he really just think that Sephiroth mattered? Oh, he certainly did not!

Must be the stupid pain killers, Genesis thought dismissively and shrugged. "Let them talk… it's not like I care." He grinned at Angeal, his typical 'take it easy' grin to show that everything was perfectly fine. Apart from his still injured arm that is.

"It's just normal that people see their hero as, well… the hero they want him to be. So it doesn't matter what Sephiroth was actually doing, nobody cares," he explained, before sighing and shaking his head. "Let's grab something to eat, man I'm starving!"

"I could call the nurse," Angeal said, still frowning. " I'm not sure that you are free to eat whatever you want yet. Don't you have some eating schedule or something?"

It surprised him that Genesis was so calm about the incident. He certainly had become mature in a very short time... but actually it wasn't Genesis' reaction to the news that he had feared. It was what those dumb asses who talked behind Genesis back would do to the redhead in their self-righteous anger...

"Nothing that I am aware of…" Genesis replied, looking around to find any kind of menu that might contain orderable food for him. "And damn them, if the food is not good here I'm going on a rampage, I promise you…" His eyes started searching around the small table next to him, but he found nothing at all.

"Well, I guess it would be good to call the nurse then," the red-haired said with a small smile, noting Angeal's still somewhat worried face. "Hey… what's truly bothering you, 'Geal?"

"I... It's nothing. Just be careful." Then man managed a weak, cautious smile before he stood. "I will get us something to eat."

Ten minutes later Angeal was back with a tray that held two plates, eachcovered with a lukewarm puddle of mush that didn't look too inviting.

"I am sorry, there was nothing else." Angeal grimaced but bravely set the tray down and reached for his dinner.

During Angeal's absence , Genesis had felt a sudden rush of confusion and dread pulsing through his veins. He didn't understand what his friend had meant, advising him to watch out. There was nothing to be afraid of. Okay, he had messed a little with Sephiroth, but not enough to make the man want to kill him – at least he didn't think so – and besides, Angeal didn't even know about that particular conversation. He actually hadn't messed with anyone apart from Sephiroth so far, which was really something for him.

When Angeal had came back, balancing two plates with unidentifiable jelly on them, he couldn't help but grimace. "Yeah well, at least you tried," he said, defeated, having hoped to receive a decent hospital meal at least once.

After a couple of minutes of silent eating – Genesis had to admit that the food didn't taste as bad as it looked, but it didn't taste like heaven either – he also couldn't keep his curiosity at bay.

"'Geal… truly, what is it? You're talking all cryptically since you got here. Why do you fear me being hurt?"

Angeal wasn't able to evade those inquiring eyes, so he put his half finished plate aside, intertwining his fingers. "I overheard a few students from our class as they were talking about the incident. They are angry at you, because they believe that you lied about what happened. I am not sure, but I am afraid that they are planning something to... 'to put you in your place'. I can imagine that they feel the need to defend the honor of their hero. Maybe you should talk to Sephiroth and ask him to clear things up."

Genesis snorted disdainfully, putting the last bit of the rubber food in his mouth before moving the tray aside. "Bastards…" he snapped, anger contorting his normally aristocratic features as he tried to control his temper. It wasn't that they wanted to put him into his place – as Angeal had so kindly put it – but that they were doing this because of someone like Sephiroth.

"As if I would ever talk to Sephiroth about this…" There was his pride again, putting self-imposed stones into his way. He noticed it, but he couldn't change it. He was a proud person, self-centered even and he couldn't change that, at least not if there was no proper reason to do so.

"I'd rather take a few punches for this than have to beghim to keep his fucking groupies in line…"

Angeal sighed heavily and leaned back. He hadn't really expected any other reaction. Maybe he should go talk to Sephiroth himself... But if Genesis found out he would never be forgiven and there was just no way the honor-conscious man would risk that.

"You could at least inform him about what is going on. Your injury was partly his fault as well. I do not want to see you hurt, Genesis, and over such a thing, on top of it."

"Don't let him hear you say that, 'Geal'…he'd chop your head off." Genesis answered, while rolling his eyes, emphasizing that he didn't take the other seriously at all. "I don't even think he'd give a damn about it. All he cares about is his stupid reputation and the stupid phrases they teach the more experienced SOLDIERs in order to make them seem to care for the younger ones." A low growl escaped his throat, the fingers of his left hand curling into a tight fist. He sharply blew out some pent-up air before turning his gaze away from Angeal, towards the window.

"You two still don't seem to get along," Angeal pondered, opening a can of soda he had brought with him. "That's strange considering that you threw yourself in front of him to save his life."

Genesis' eye twitched dangerously at that. "I quite know that…" he ground out, trying not to jump his friend for mentioning the one thing he couldn't explain even to himself.

"You are going to have to live with him for a while, I suggest you find a way to get along with him. He would not be an enemy to be taken lightly." Angeal knew that he sounded patronizing again, but he couldn't help it. Genesis' strong reactions towards the man were just too curious and strange and Angeal was quite worried. The last thing they needed was unwanted attention from their superiors because of some childish quarrel that would ruin their careers and dreams before they had even started.

"'Geal… you know, I know you are right…" he started, the anger boiling inside of him still, even as he tried to temper it. Angeal was not his object of hate here, Angeal wanted to help him. And the hot-tempered red-head did know that his friend was right, he nearly always was. Angeal was just too rational tonot be right. It was something Genesis liked and disliked about him at the same time. "I guess I'll just try to … get out of his way or something."

"That sounds like a good plan." It also sounded quite impossible but Angeal had to be supportive here, Genesis was trying hard. "All right, I need to go back to my room now, curfew is close. I'll come to see you again tomorrow, I think you will be discharged by then?" He tilted his head in question.

"I'm not too sure… I haven't heard anything yet because the nurse went running shortly after I woke up. But I guess I'll be questioned and some doc will eventually come by… at least I think so." He smiled openly and started leaning back again. "If I'm out of here by tomorrow, I'll drop by and see you, okay?"

"Sounds good. Night then." Angeal gave him another light pat on the shoulder. "And don't forget to call your mother." He was out of the room before Genesis could give him his patented aggravated glare and went back to his room, still worrying some.

"Yes, mom," Genesis called after him, shaking his head in disbelief about his idiot friend. At least Angeal could still be funny, even if he didn't intend to be. But he did have to call his mother… or well, he should. He could also let the whole thing slip. It was a rather nice idea, considering the uproar his mother would cause as soon as she heard what big, bad ShinRa had done to her baby – though she hadn't cared about Genesis for years. Ah well, it could still wait one day longer. What she didn't know…

Genesis must have dozed off because when he woke up next time, he found the nurse checking his vitals again. Did she only come by when he was asleep, or what?

"Excuse me, mam?" he said groggily to get her attention.

"Yes, what is it dear?" the woman asked kindly, leaning over to help him sit up and holding a fresh glass of water towards him. The patient needed to drink so he wouldn't be dehydrated. "You are looking a lot better already," she commented, smiling.

He only smiled and took the offered glass. "I've been wondering when I'll be ready to train and well… leave this bed again," he said, taking a large gulp of water before setting it down again. "Nobody has told me so far."

"Well, you can leave today if you promise to be careful. There will be no training for a while though young man," she replied strictly. "You have to be careful with that arm and wait until it is fully healed. If you risk further injury you might not be able to use it properly ever again." She knew these eager young men, they were always too reckless and most likely this one wouldn't listen to her either.

The color left his face almost immediately. Never use his arm again? Fuck, he hadn't thought that he had been injured so badly. But as it was, it could always be that this was nothing too unusual around ShinRa.

"Yeah, well I guess that I'll have to be extra careful. I intend to wield a sword again some day soon," he said with a hopeful smile and thanking her properly for the information. His gaze drifted towards his bandaged arm. Silly Zolom… why had he even prevented that too-tall snake from eating Sephiroth whole?

But he shook his head at that. Genesis had done the right thing, even if it had brought him some pain and troubles, it had certainly been the correct thing to do.

The nurse just sighed. "Don't overdo it." Then she stepped back to check his vitals and finally asked, "Should I call someone to get you? I think your roommate is supposed to take care of you now."

Genesis' face contorted a little at that. "I won't…" He muttered silently, "Well… I could always try it on my own, right? I mean, I can't move my arm, but I can still walk." To prove his point, he pulled his bare legs out from under the blanket, dangling them from the bed.

"That is not an option!" the nurse snapped strictly, putting a hand on her hips, as all of a sudden her sweet attitude was like, ' wiped away'. "You either get someone to come and get you and take care of you, or you are not leaving this room!" Dark clouds of terror whirled around her as she hovered over him menacingly, her sharp eyes piercing Genesis' skull and the room suddenly feeling about 10 degrees colder.

Oh damn, he had forgotten how evil nurses could be. Genesis made himself as small as possible, blinking up at her with big, round eyes.

"Well… yeah, then I suppose you should call my roommate…?" He smiled a little, apologetic.

"That's what I thought," the nurse nodded in satisfaction and a small smile made her radiate in a gentle light. "You wait here, I will call him and you can leave when he gets here."

She turned on her heels and left Genesis to himself again. In the nurse's station she browsed her patient's file and finally got the right number to call. A deep voice answered but the man didn't sound too enthused about the task she had for him. Nonetheless, he promised to be on his way, and the nurse went to tell Genesis.

He will most definitely hate me even more now, Genesis mused idly. Not that he was extremely bothered by that, but he could have done without Sephiroth being forced to take care of him. Hadn't he just promised Angeal to get out of the silver-haired's way? Well… it had all failed epically then.

When the nurse came back, he couldn't mirror her blinding smile at all. I can at least make the best of it.

"Your friend will be here in a few minutes," the nurse told him. "Is there anything I can get you till then? Maybe you want to call your parents?"

A tiny chuckle escaped Genesis at the mentioning of Sephiroth as his 'friend'.

"No…" he said carefully, not willing to deal with his mother just yet. "I'm fine, but thank you." The edge in his voice was obvious to even him and it made him wince inwardly. He hadn't wanted it to sound like that.

"I am here, let's go," the deep voice of Sephiroth ended the conversation with the nurse, who just nodded and left the boys alone. Sephiroth had crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Genesis to get up and get his stuff.

Sighing, Genesis got up from the bed, feeling a bit wobbly on his naked feet and holding on to the bed with his uninjured left hand. The world spun for a moment before everything came into focus again.

"Do you know where they put my things?" he asked, looking around to distract Sephiroth and himself from his small moment of weakness.

Of course he had no idea where Genesis' stuff was, but Sephiroth got the message, and besides, it was only common courtesy to turn away as the young man got up and wavered around in his very short hospital gown. The SOLDIER checked one of the small wardrobes and found a bundle of clothes that he laid on the bed. With his bandaged arm to contend with, maybe this would take longer than he had thought...

"Why didn't you call your parents?" he asked, with his back to the redhead to give him some privacy. Naturally he had overheard the last bits of their conversation as he had entered the room.

Grabbing his boxers first, Genesis looked behind him to make sure that Sephiroth definitely wasn't peaking – even though the Second had already seen him without anything on, Genesis remembered with heating cheeks.

"It's none of your business," he said flatly, but without any offence intended . He didn't need to justify his actions in front of the other, superior or not. And Genesis didn't even feel the need to ask why or how Sephiroth would know... Enhanced hearing through mako, the words echoed in his head.

He struggled with his boxers and eventually managed them on his own. A bit more relaxed than before, the red-head now sat down on the bed again to put on his socks. Who had brought him fresh clothes, anyways?

"It is my business because you are not legal yet and therefore your parents have to be informed about your injuries. You either do it yourself or I will," Sephiroth retorted fretfully. He should have stopped there and kept his other thoughts to himself, but he continued. "They are your parents, it is a matter of respect and affection to inform them. It is your duty to call them."

"Then you do it if you are so eager," Genesis said in the same monotone voice he had used before. Inside he was seething with anger, but he wouldn't show it now. He had promised Angeal and he would at least try to keep that promise for once. "You don't know my parents, so do not tell me anything about duty and respect, let alone affection."

It was rather difficult to dress up with only one arm and when Genesis finally managed the second sock he was fed up with his injury already.

"What I do know is that you are an annoying, spoiled brat and I certainly will call them if I have to," Sephiroth snapped, glaring daggers at the insolent redhead over his shoulders. He didn't care if Genesis was half naked or not; this was a matter of heart to him. "They raised you and they didn't ask for anything in return, so the least you can do is make the damned call."

"I don't need you to tell me when to speak to my parents and when not to," Genesis spat back, but he didn't raise his head to look at Sephiroth. A broken chuckle escaped him at the other's argument. This was ridiculous.

"Yeah…speaking of raising me, I would rather actually call the caretaker that they hired for me and who they fired when I gotolder, who now lives in poverty somewhere in I don't know what, but wait… she hasn't got a telephone now, too bad."

"And of course it is their fault and their fault alone that your relationship is dysfunctional," Sephiroth snorted derisively. He didn't need to know about any family details and he didn't want to either. It was just that he hated it when people whined about their awful family relations, because he had been there, done that, and it was just too easy to blame it on the other side.

Genesis sighed and shook his head dismissively. "Why am I under the impression that you don't care about that..." he asked, while struggling with his trousers. They were usually easy to put on, but with only one arm intact it was a challenge. "Come on... I don't want to argue about it, okay? Let's just leave it at that I won't call them."

"Your mother will know eventually. She will be worried," Sephiroth pointed out, his voice getting calmer. He had gotten emotional again; this was none of his business aside from the technical part and he could simply delegate the call to someone else. Why was it that he lost his professionalism with that brat? The topic was a delicate one, of course, but that was no excuse. There was also no excuse for Sephiroth trying to push his own point of view on Genesis. He really didn't know anything about their family ties. It was just that...

"She will most definitely be…" Genesis answered with a sigh. "I will call them tomorrow, okay? I just don't have any patience for them right now." It was somehow true. He didn't want to be confronted with his mother's hysteria and his father's disapproval just now.

A happy noise escaped him, despite the situation at hand, when he finally managed to get his trousers up and closed. "Uhm… would you mind helping me with the shirt?" he queried quietly.

Sephiroth accepted the ceasefire with a nod. He turned, his eyes only trailing briefly over the white, smooth skin that was blemished by a few scratches and bruises. Unwanted images of wet, hot flesh against his tongue and under his fingertips evaded his mind but he pushed them back. Instead he grabbed the shirt and awkwardly pulled it over Genesis' upper body. He wished he had a routine in this as well.

"Director Lazard wishes to see you when you feel in the condition to meet him," he informed, pulling the fabric over soft, red hair. This basically translated to 'as soon as you can stand up again', which was 'now'.

Instantly Genesis reached for his hair and shook his head to fluff it up. "Ah, right. I guessed that somebody would want to talk to me, after all. Would you like… tell me where his office is then?" He hated to ask Sephiroth to bring him there, but he didn't know where SOLDIER headquarters was either – okay, so he hadn't really listened to the instructions whatsoever.

A dull ache had settled in his arm during the dressing. He could at least move it a little, even though his fingers still felt like they had been frozen off. Anyways, pain indicated that it was still there, so he wouldn't complain.

"I will come with you," Sephiroth replied, inspecting his work critically. All right, that could have been better, but it would have to do. Absently he stroked Genesis' hair into an orderly side parting, as he usually did with Kadaj.

"There will be general questions about the incident yesterday. Make sure to answer them shortly and precisely. Be polite and respectful. Do not argue. If Lazard tells you that you were sliced by a zombie flower, you were sliced by a zombie flower, understood?"

"Hey, hey, shoosh." Genesis padded the other's hands away in a rather dramatic gesture. "Not the hair!" he warned, but the gaze he shot Sephiroth did not contain any heat. But he couldn't hold the smirk back that found its way onto his lips.

"Okay, no problem. I'll be on my best behavior and not be cheeky to the big boss," he agreed freely, nodding his head, while trying to restore the mess of his hair that Sephiroth had so systematically destroyed.

Clearly, Sephiroth was not pleased when his orderly side parting was messed up again, but he let it slide this time. He wasn't dealing with one of his brothers, after all. Still, he wasn't quite convinced that Genesis would be able to behave...

"Follow me," Sephiroth instructed, leaving the room and walking to the elevators. The hospital happened to be on the 7th floor of the ShinRa building,so they needed to go up a few floors to reach the upstairs level where Lazard's office was located.

Reminding himself that he should keep his temper at bay for once, Genesis followed the taller man to the elevators and to Lazard's office. He didn't quite know what to expect from the head of the SOLDIER program. Of course, here and there the name Lazard had been dropped, but he hadn't been able to collect any valuable information on the man.

Man, that sounds like you're a spy or something. I should have joined the Turks instead, Genesis scoffed silently to himself. And even though he would never admit it, he was relieved that Sephiroth was going with him.

The secretary eyed them coolly when they entered the office, finally turning her gaze lazily back to the computer screen in front of her. "Mister Rhapsodos, I assume?" she said dryly. Genesis felt a sudden urge to turn around and leave this office as quickly as possible.

"Yes," he breathed out, opening his mouth to tell her that her boss wanted to see him, but she already had her long, pink-polished fore-finger on the intercom.

"The SOLDIER Third class you were expecting is here, Sir," she announced, her voice being forced friendly and trying to hide her obvious distaste for the said SOLDIER Third . "Shall I send him in?"

"Yes," was the curt reply. The secretary waved them in and Sephiroth went ahead, since he frequented Lazard's office regularly. After they walked in he remained by the door though, leaning against a table and crossing his arms, as he was not the one who would be talking to Lazard.

Lazard himself gestured towards a chair in front of his desk, looking at the SOLDIER Third Class through his elegant glasses. A rookie he was and nervous he seemed. That was good.

"Genesis Rhapsodos, I assume?"

"Yes, Sir." Genesis sat down on the offered chair, trying to make the tension fade from his body, but it wasn't working so well. "You wanted to have a talk with me?" he asked neutrally, covering his jumpiness with something akin to professionalism. Deep down he was nervous as hell.

"I heard about your mission," Lazard replied, almost lazily, twirling a pen between his long slender fingers. His eyes briefly wandered to Sephiroth before they settled on the redhead again and he summoned a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, though it was not dishonest. "I would like you to tell me about it."

Nodding absently, the redhead briefly contemplated where to start. He started with the beginning of the mission and the routine kill of the Fangs, and then to precisely explaining what had happened with the Zolom. He left out that he didn't know why exactly he had made himself a target for the deadly snake, because Lazard did not need to know that.

His report showed that he could be every inch a professional if he wanted to be – which was admittedly not too often.

"I passed out, assumingly from the poison, and woke up in the hospital today." Genesis ended, the dread having finally bled out from his body altogether during the speech.

"I see..." Lazard leaned back, making a pause that turned from seconds into minutes. He looked faintly thoughtful before finally he opened his mouth. "You acted correctly, SOLDIER Third Class Genesis Rhapsodos. Your actions of aiding your comrades in battle and sacrificing yourself are admirable. Your friends must be proud of you."

Pf, Sephiroth and he must have attended the same 'How to deal with injured SOLDIERs' workshop, was the first thing that came to Genesis' mind that moment. Shaking the thought off, he focused his attention on Lazard again.

"Thank you, Sir." The reply was made matter-of-factly, not giving away anything about his emotions. "I did what I assumed was best."

"You certainly did." Lazard leaned forward now, intertwining his fingers and delicately placing them on the desktop. "ShinRa is proud to call you its SOLDIER, Genesis. You did a good thing indeed, and you know it, don't you?"

Genesis' shapely eyebrow rose slightly at that question, his face gaining the contortion of confusion. What was Lazard aiming at? It appeared to Genesis that he had something in mind with that question.

"Is that a trick question, Sir?" he asked cautiously, without even switching his tone.

Sephiroth could have face palmed but he had too much dignity. So much about paying respect to their superior and not starting an argument...

Lazard himself looked a bit taken off-guard, as he had not anticipated a question. SOLDIERs were supposed to answer questions, not ask them. Then his smile widened though and it became warmer.

"Why, you are an attentive one. It is in a way, yes. Though I can tell you that in personal terms, the company is proud of your achievements, we can not acknowledge them officially."

For a short moment, Genesis considered this response to be utterly wrong, for when Lazard had finally – finally – gotten to the real point of this meeting – because he did not have to hear the whole story from Genesis himself, as Angeal and Sephiroth had already filled him in – he found the whole thing to be a bit bewildering.

He wanted to nod in agreement, to say 'Yes, I understand, it's okay' as Sephiroth had told him to do, but he couldn't keep himself from wanting to question the other's reasons for this decision.

"I am sorry if I appear rude or retarded but… what does that mean?" Lazard definitely did not have good news to tell.

"It means that our official report and our media statement will differ significantly from your report," Lazard pointed out gingerly, donning his business attitude. He got up to slowly pace the room, calmly gesturing with his hand. "As SOLDIER it is also your duty to keep the public safe. We want to avoid a panic. Obviously the appearance of that Zolom was not a part of your mission and its existence is to be kept confidential. The official version will state that you got injured during an ordinary mission and that Sephiroth rescued you."

Genesis cringed at that and was lucky that Lazard was momentarily turning his back to him, which meant he didn't see it.

Sephiroth rescued me? What the hell?, he thought gloomily, already knowing that there was no way to change the whole affair anymore. He nodded slowly in understanding.

"So, you just switch the story about 180 degrees and that's it?" Now he could'nt hold his voice flat and unfazed. Angeal had said he was worried that some of the students might want to pay him back for dishonoring their hero, Sephiroth, and now that Lazard had told him how the press would read, they would certainly have some fuel for that action. This couldn't be possible. Even Genesis couldn't have that amount of bad luck.

"That is it," Lazard confirmed, his voice firm with just the slightest warning undertone. Again, he made brief eye-contact with Sephiroth. Their prominent Second Class had already informed the director that Genesis was not exactly an easy-going personality. Well, they would try it this way first, but if Genesis proved to be too difficult there were always other ways to handle the problem. It would be a shame to get rid of him, since he had displayed courage and some obvious skill, but they would do it, if necessary. Another dirty job for the Turks it was, nothing more, nothing less.

"I must ask you to keep quiet about this conversation and the true nature of this mission. You are not to talk about it with anyone or there will be severe consequences. Do you understand?"

Bristling with anger, Genesis was barely able to keep his cool stance upright. He wondered if this was how ShinRa was boosting their precious wunderkindall the time. Nevertheless, he took Lazard seriously; he didn't seem to be the kind of guy to mess with.

"Yes, Sir." He gnashed, crossing his arms defensively in front of his chest. He knew exactly how companies like ShinRa got rid of those who didn't follow their rules. The Turks were certainly no invention of ShinRa.

"Well then, I am glad we have an agreement. You should rest now, Sephiroth will bring you back to your room." Lazard dismissed them, his smile friendly and sharp. Sephiroth nodded and pushed himself off his table to open the door and wait for Genesis to follow him to the elevator.

After getting up from his chair, Genesis worked to make his expression return to neutral again. He saluted – perhaps a bit sharper than normally – and turned to follow Sephiroth to the elevators. He didn't speak, he didn't explode like he would expect himself to do, but he was fuming on the inside.

These idiots… if that was how they made Sephiroth appear so heroic in public,he disliked him even more now. And not to mention his respect for him was completely lacking now. This was totally ridiculous.

Genesis did understand that they could not tell the public that a giant killer snake had been so near the city, ready to attack them at any moment. But turning the story to say that the already worshiped Second Class had – again – rescued a lowly Third Class – who could apparently not even look after himself – was truly unacceptable and humiliating for the redhead.

"I am not proud of this," Sephiroth said eventually, sensing the redhead's distress. "You have every right to be disappointed and angry, but this is how politics work. If you want to make it in SOLDIER you will have to accept that and deal with it. There will be other opportunities for you to show what you are capable of."

"It's not about showing off at all, Sephiroth," Genesis snapped at him, while watching the floor of the elevator doing… well nothing.

"I understand that they cannot go around telling how epically they have failed to detect a threat to the city… What I do not understand is why they have to make this," he waved towards his motionless arm, "seem like a silly mistake of a Third Class."

He hotly blew out the air he had been holding in his lungs without even noticing. "I cannot believe that they are going to serve me on a silver platter like this for all of your fans…" He murmured to himself absently.

"It is a simple distraction tactic," Sephiroth replied a bit tersely. "It does not appeal to my sense of honor and you are wrong if you think that this is not about showing off. It is all about showing off, that is the point." Sephiroth didn't expect Genesis to understand; he had been here for only a few days and had been thrown right into ShinRa's ugly politics. "They make it seem like a silly mistake of a Third because it is excusable."

"Yeah, whatever. It's not like you understand…" Genesis answered dejectedly. Right now, he saw his dreams, what he was working and reaching for, being stripped down to nothing more than a gross game of privileged adults, who wanted to mess around with the people of Midgar – perhaps even with all people of Gaia. The company that created heroes and legends seemed suddenly only an illusion.

And for the first time in his life Genesis questioned the choice of his wish to be a hero. It sounded so childish all of sudden. If he had to play these games, if he had to play along with shit like this, he rather wanted to go back to Banora and forget about ShinRa and the Soldier program.

Sephiroth remained quiet. There was no use in arguing now, as Genesis was being emotional. They would have to get lunch soon, but Sephiroth didn't really feel like it. "Are you hungry?" he asked neutrally. It was his duty now to look after the injured, sulking young man. This day could only get worse.

"Not really… I had some food with Angeal, when he visited… and I'm not too eager to consume more than necessary of the stuff they label as food here." He stepped out of the elevator once they reached their floor. Waiting for Sephiroth to follow – because he honestly didn't have any clue where their room was – he wished he had Angeal to fluster about it. Just then it (appeared) came to him that Lazard had forbidden him to tell anybody… most definitely even Angeal.

"I'm not even allowed to tell Angeal, am I?"

"No, you are not. Nothing ever happened so there is nothing to talk about either. You better keep it that way. They will know if you violate your orders. And this is enough talk now."

Sephiroth walked down the hall, his eyes scanning the area. They most likely would be under surveillance now; Genesis most certainly was and since Sephiroth had to stick with him, he was too. Besides, it was his responsibility to make sure that Genesis kept quiet. Angeal would be summoned to Lazard again and he would get the same speech Genesis had received today.

"We will go to our room now. You missed your class this morning and will have to study to catch up and not fall behind."

As if that was my most important matter, the redhead thought angrily, following Sephiroth to their room without opening his mouth again, just for once.

This was truly absurd. How could he explain to Angeal what ShinRa said about the mission when he wasn't allowed to talk about it? Angeal had been with them on the mission. It gave Genesis headaches to even thinkabout it, let alone deal with it.

They passed by some other students and he felt their crucifying gazes in his neck, his hairs standing straight. Doing his best to ignore them, he focused on the linoleum floor and how his feet walked over it.

Sephiroth ignored the fan boys and closed the door to their room behind him once they had reached it. A few of the recruits had been bold enough to follow. Once they were inside, Sephiroth relaxed a bit and took off his armor, sitting down on his bed.

"You have a writing assignment, on which you were supposed to reflect on your mission. ShinRa took the liberty of writing it for you," he informed calmly.

Sitting down on the opposite bed, Genesis took off his boots and sat cross legged on the soft cushion. "Guess I should thank them then," he said with a shrug, leaning back against the empty wall behind him and grabbing Loveless from the nightstand, where he had last put it to rest.

Opening the book, he started reading the first act, even though he knew the poem by heart by now. Some of the anger melted away from his soul and soothed his rage to a dull throbbing. This piece of poetry did wonders!

Sephiroth stared at the ceiling for a bit and tried to motivate himself to do something productive, but he couldn't work up the enthusiasm. On the other hand, he grew bored pretty quickly when he didn't have something to do. His gaze was inadvertently drawn to the strange redhead as he was the only remotely interesting thing in this room. Sephiroth wondered how long Genesis would be able to make it in SOLDIER. That attitude of his could either be his downfall or his ticket to becoming a renowned hero.

"Why are you reading that crap?" he finally asked, frowning. The comment was not meant to anger the other but was simply a question asked because Sephiroth honestly couldn't figure out why someone would read poems voluntarily!

Genesis ignored him until he reached the end of the first act, looking up to meet Sephiroth's gaze with one raised eyebrow.

"Well, firstly, it certainly is no crap, it's called poetry." There was mockery in his voice, sensing that the silver haired man was definitely not a friend of literature so far. It showed in his eyes. Genesis assumed the other would read something as boring as… history novels or historical essays even. But it was his own fault if he did not enjoy the gift of written art.

"And I read it because it's a precious kind of poetry, Loveless… for me it is the peak of modern poetry."

"I see." Sephiroth looked like anything but. "And what is so precious about it?" He seriously didn't get it. He didn't mind studying and gaining knowledge, on the contrary (though he was more focused on his physical development in battle) he read useful things with interest. But Loveless was not useful. It was strange and boring and there was nothing to learn from it.

A light giggle escaped Genesis at that. "No, you don't seeit," he stated positively. "Poetry is something you have to feel. A good poet is able to convey the feelings of the topic he's dealing with by using just the smallest amount of words. But then again, those words are the most precise, most accurate ones to use for what is to be said."

He sighed lovingly while shutting the book closed. "That's what Loveless is. It's a story about a hero...but you have to feel the hero, feel the goddess, feel the struggle and battle...and eventually the dissolving. It's not about reading the poem and then being able to know what is going on there. You have to interpret Loveless to do it justice. And that's what I like about it… it… well, it gives me hope."

Sephiroth felt a headache coming on and he tried hard to stay focused during Genesis' little monologue. It was apparent that his mind was more rational and scientific, whereas Genesis' was more emotional and pretty much irrational. "Hope for what?"

Cocking his head, the red-head considered the question for a brief moment. Hope for what? He had never asked himself that, he just felt that Loveless built him up every time he read it. Assuming that he was hoping for a lot in his life, it could be anything.

"Hope for being a hero someday." He hadn't noticed his mouth working faster than his mind when deciding on what to answer. And now that he had spoken it out, it sounded so childish and foolish,and a small blush crept to his cheeks.

tbc?

Review replies: Mary Murderprincess replying/ BMIK replying

HikariFighter: They are adorable indeed :3 Time for cutiepies, even Kadaj! Good, good, that's the spirit! Thanks for the comment and have fun with the next chapter :) Ah, luckily fanfictionnet stopped being troublesome, it drove me crazy! Yes, when we started to plot the story we agreed pretty quickly that the remnants should be included too; they make such a cute dysfunctional family XD

mizperceived: Wow, that's quite a list :D But Gen and Seph work so perfectly fine together, one has to love them. And Kadaj of course too, he's the best :P Thanks a lot for the feedback, it makes me go all shiny eyes ;) Have fun! Thank you! I am so happy to hear that! And that you like the new fic too^^ I only came to enjoy the Sephesis pairing recently, thanks to the wonderful soyna, and writing it is a lot of fun XD Again, thanks for the feedback and I hope you enjoy the new chapter too!

Shadow Haloed Angel: Yay is certainly enough! Thank you! :D Hahaha, woot! Glad to make you go yay XDDD

omgitskirby: Thanks a lot :) We definitely will if you keep commenting ;P Have fun! Thanks! And here's new chappy for ya :3

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