AN: Hey, so this chapter is a little shorter then I planned again, but I have been sick the last few days and haven't had the energy to push on and make this the longer chapter I had planned. Oh, well hope you enjoy and don't forget to review. Thanks to all of you who have been so faithful with review. Really appreciate it!!!!!!!
Rain was falling and fast! Crap! This was going to hurt! 80 stories was a long way down and it gave ample time to contemplate a complete thought or two on the way down. The second thought being, how in the world was she going to talk herself out of the infirmary on this one? Her bones didn't break easily, but hitting the ground after falling 80 stories might just do it. Forget the might it would do it.
The ground was getting closer and closer, she might as well see if she would land this with the least amount of broken bones. She flipped her body from an eagle spread shape into a slightly bent and crouched position, so her feet and legs could absorb most of the shock on impact. Suddenly strong arms grabbed her from behind, wrapping around both her waist and chest.
What the...
There was a flapping sound and suddenly Rain was no longer falling, but soaring above the ground, gaining altitude.
Sephiroth! She cried out, twisting her body, but the arms were like iron and would not release. How could she think he would not pursue her! He after all had a wing, such a thing as his prey jumping out a window would not deter him.
A velvet voice suddenly spoke from above, full of amusement, "My friend do you fly away now to a world that abhors you and I?"
She immediately stilled. That voice! Though she had never heard it with her own ears it was as familiar to her as the words he quoted. Genesis!
Genesis had dived out the window head first and immediately caught sight of the cadet falling through the air. He was eagle spread as if to slow his descent, and Genesis was slightly surprised by the relaxed position. Part of him had expected to see a flailing, screaming cadet tumbling to his death. Instead here he was calmly free falling like he and Angeal sometimes did when they enjoyed the few pleasures of being a monster with wings.
Genesis was closing in fast on the boy and knew at this speed he would make it in time, but just barely. The cadet though suddenly changed positions in mid air. Flipping himself forward in a summersault, so his body was hurtling down like a bullet, feet first.
Genesis's eyes widened. He couldn't be thinking of landing the jump could he? Even a SOLIDER would be hard pressed to survive a fall of that speed.
Genesis extended his wing, feeling the skin on his back rip as the wing tore out of his back. He gave one hard beat and his speed down increased tenfold. Within a second his chest was pressed firmly against the cadet's back and he encircled his arms around the small waist and chest.
Fully extending his wing he let it catch the wind so they soared above the ground only a couple of stories below. With a few mighty beats of the wing they gained altitude. The cadet's small frame added no strain to the power behind Genesis's one wing.
As expected, the cadet started to struggle furiously, but with his feet dangling hundreds of feet above ground. There was not much leverage behind the struggles, only twisting and squirming and it did nothing to hamper Genesis's hold on the boy.
With amusement he brought his face close to the cadet's ear, "My friend do you fly away now to a world that abhors you and I?"
The cadet stilled, as if realizing this was not the General in pursuit, though why the cadet would think that he did not know. Cadets had such an extraordinary imagination of what the Sephiroth was capable of, and though most of it was true as far as abilities went, it still surprised Genesis at times.
Genesis smirked, wondering what the cadet's reaction would be once he figured out who it was that had rescued him instead. His reputation after all was not much better then Sephiroth's worse actually, for he was known to actually vent his rage and anger, which was legendary, on unsuspecting cadets.
Genesis did not however expect the cadet's response.
"All that awaits is a somber morrow. No matter where the wind may blow."
The cadet knew Loveless! Well, perhaps this wouldn't be as tiresome as he had thought, though from the feeling of the cadet in his arms a lot of things were starting to make sense.
They flew out to the border of Midgar, where Genesis finally dropped down to the top of one of the mako reactors that surrounded the city, far from any prying eyes and unreachable expect by air. Nothing would interrupt or disturb them up here. The cadet would be completely dependent on him with no escape.
Rain jerked from the SOLIDER's grasp as soon as she was steady on her feet, making sure to keep her back to him as she put up a hand to her neck, it came away wet. Aaaa crap!
"You are injured." It came as a casual observation, not out of worry and for once Rain was thankful this was Genesis Rhaspodos and not Zack or Angeal. Those two had similar personalities when it came for their concern and need to help other people.
Genesis on the other hand could care less. He had few friends and besides them, which he protected fiercely, his only concern was usually for himself.
A moment of silence, then she heard him sigh, "Come here let me look at it. Sephiroth is never gentle after he has had his shots, and you are only a cadet..."
"I'm fine sir, there is no need." Rain cut him off.
There was silence again, than the velvet tone spoke again, "I've heard that before. Very well cadet, if you say so, but I still want you to turn around and look at me."
The last part came out as an order and her body immediately started to obey. She really had been in the army too long if already she was starting to respond automatically to that tone. She now faced him.
Rain's memories and glimpse of Genesis Rhaspodos had been few. Even Zack's memories of the man had been what he had turned into not what he was, so she took in his appearance with interest.
The tall figure was dressed in his trademark red leather. His deep copper hair was streaked with white, obviously the after effect of the degeneration of his cells, before they had been able to find a cure. It had become a fashion in Midgar over the last several years, especially among Genesis's fans.
The cadet meet Genesis's gaze unwavering, and took in his appearance without expression. No child like wonder at seeing the famous first class. No bewilderment or fear remained at just being attacked by the General himself and no surprise at having been caught by a flying man or facing him right now with wing fully visibly.
Genesis didn't expose his wing to just anyone. Few people in Shinra even knew of the existence of the wings among the Dark Trio, but he wanted to see the cadet's reaction. Interestingly there was none.
Genesis's eyes narrowed when he took in the nature of the cadet's injuries.
His lips were swollen and bruised, and his neck was trailing blood from what looked like a...bite mark? What had Sephiroth intended to do to the kid?
It was very much against his usually behaviour. When they had broken through the doorway he had honestly not expected much left of the cadet to be left. It appeared Sephiroth's intentions toward the kid had been quite different, interesting.
"Well, well what are we going to do with you cadet?" He mused out loud and was intrigued to see how the cadet's sudden battle ready forum swayed between attack and defensive as if he couldn't decide what he should do.
He turned his back to the cadet, though ever sense was in tune to the cadet's slightest movement. With a casual flick of his wrist he pulled his cell phone and pushed a button. The phone immediately started ringing. Angeal picked it up on the second ring.
"Gen, do you got him?"
Genesis drolled, "No, I called the cleaning service to clean up the mess on the ground floor."
"Genesis!" Angeal's tone was suddenly angry.
Genesis sighed, "Oh, course I got him Angeal."
"How is he?"
" Alive."
"Just alive?"
"I'm not a doctor or psychologist Angeal. The kid's alive and looking like he doesn't know whether to attack me or try jumping again. How long do I have to keep him, anyways?"
"At the very least until tomorrow." Came the reply and Genesis rolled his eyes in annoyance.
There was suddenly a commotion and the sound of a struggle.
"Genesis, where are you?" A new voice growled.
Genesis smiled, "Now Sephiroth, it is very rude to grab someone else's phone."
"Genesis, where?" Genesis suppressed a laugh. It was always so much fun to mess with Sephiroth when he was like this. It was the only time he ever could get a row out of him.
"Now, why would I tell you that? You had your fun, now it is my turn."
He pulled the phone away from his ear as Sephiroth shouted, "The cadet is MINE! MINE"
Genesis glanced over at the cadet who had suddenly sat down hard and was gripping his hair with both fists, obviously he had heard.
"I must say Sephiroth, I had no idea you preferred cadets. If I had known..."
Genesis laughed as he heard Zack yelling in the background and could only imagine what Sephiroth's reaction to that had been.
"Don't worry Seph. I don't swing in that particular direction myself. I like mine experienced and very much with all the curves in the right places. Though yours I could almost say could be called pretty. He really has such a delicate looking face."
Sephiroth made an obscure threat and Genesis smiled again, "Don't worry I wouldn't touch, but you can hardly expect me not to talk. After all we will be spending the night together."
"Genesis!" Angeal's voice suddenly barked on the phone, apparently he had gotten his phone back, "Not helping!"
"Never said I was Angeal, sleep well!"
Angeal muttered a curse at him, which was rare for Angeal who never swore. Then hung up the phone.
Genesis sighed then turned to look back at the cadet, who was still clenching his head in his hands. If he was going to be stuck on here all night with the cadet then he was going to have answers!
Rain gripped her head tightly. Now that her adrenaline levels were back to normal, she was aware of the splintering headache now protesting violently of her mind's brutal assault. Sephiroth's voice even over the phone, only amplified it.
Close! Everything had been too close! She had been there right there!
Rain hadn't been fooled enough to think Jenova was gone when they cast her into the reactor. As long as there were her cells left in the bodies of those alive, she was never truly dead.
Most people with her cells though were like Genesis and Angeal. They had her cells, but they were so few and weak that Jenova could not even whisper through them. Rain's own body barley even recognized them within Genesis's body. The only she even recognized it at all was because she knew they were there. Angeal and Genesis probably felt nothing.
Then there was Sephiroth, Cloud and herself. People who didn't just have a couple cells, but whose body were practically alive with them and Cloud had not just been injected with Jenova's cell, but a mixture of cells from Sephiroth too.
It provided an even stronger connection between Rain and Sephiroth. A connection that pulled them together, that brought on feelings of need, possession and desire. Rain had felt it and knew Sephiroth had too though he had not shown it until now. Rain knew what those emotions had meant and was able to stay in control, Sephiroth had not. It was what had driven him to try and consume her blood, body and mind. It was Jenova's attempt to get what she was truly after.
A Reunion!
Jenova had thought it would be enough, Rain and Sephiroth. She had been wrong. After all Rain was in an essence only a copy of the original.
It was that and that alone that had stopped Jenova. Had prevented her from touching Rain's mind beyond a whisper, and given Sephiroth's state of mind when Jenova had taken over, Rain doubted Sephiroth heeded Jenova's whispers or let her have much control over him. There was still time then. The question was did she have much time left?
Things had not been handled inconspicuous and now with Genesis there, she knew there would be questions.
She felt him sit down beside her and stiffened. He however ignored her, and after a moment the pain in her head lessened enough for her to release her hands from their death grip on her head. She tilted her head to the side.
Genesis's wing was on the side facing her. So even though he sat a good couple feet away, his wing brushed her shoulder slightly. Rain now took time to examine them. They were white! Pure white like snow, but Genesis was supposed to have a black wing. Angeal was the only one whose wing had been white. Obviously something had changed. Stupid, just them being alive was change enough.
Genesis noticed her observation of his wing.
"Does it bother you?"
The cadet jerked his gaze away, "No, not really."
"Something's bothering you. I can see it in your expression. What is it cadet?"
The corner of the boy's lip moved almost as if he was amused, "I was just surprised it was white was all. You seem more of a black person to me."
Genesis froze. His wing had been black in the beginning, and so had Sephiroth's. Genesis thought back to that time all those years ago when they had first learned the truth about Sephiroth and Jenova. They had nearly lost him, and in the midst of that struggle Genesis had forgotten about his own.
It had been a dark time, that period in their lives, one that they would all prefer to forget. The official report of the disappearance of the four SOLIDERS had been an undercover mission in Wutia, but no one really believed it. How could the great General after all ever go on an undercover mission? He was known in nearly every corner of the world.
Truth be told, they had not eve left Midgar. Deepground was a vast and complex network underground and they had spent a month down there. It had turned out to be the perfect place not just to find a cure, but also for every SOLIDER to face his inner demons.
Sephiroth's and Genesis had been violent and within themselves. Zack's and Angeal's personal and with each other, as they attempted to reconnect the trust that had bound them so tightly together and had been so brutally cut.
In the end, each had come out with their own sense of victory, in one way or another. Genesis with his degeneration cured, which had also turned his wing white and Sephiroth coming to terms with what he was. It was then that his wing had also turned white.
Genesis always suspected the change was because with the degeneration of his cells healed, they became what they were suppose to have been, white like Angeal's, but with Sephiroth he suspected it was because of that creature inside of him, that he finally got under control. Ironic, that the wings and their color was a symbol of what they were and what they had strived to become. Genesis though had always wondered what would have happened if they remained black.
"Your name is Strife, is it not?" He suddenly asked wanted to get back in control again. The cadet had an uncanny way of letting it slip from him.
"Yes, sire!" The response was immediate and professional, "Cloud Strife."
"What kind of name is Cloud?" Genesis's response was mocking, trying to faze the boy. The boy flushed and looked down, but Genesis could hear him mutter under his breath.
"What kind of name is Genesis?"
"What was cadet?" Genesis snapped.
Strife looked up at him seeming confused, "I didn't say anything, sir."
Genesis starred at him and smirked. The kid was a good liar. He'd have to remember that.
"Um sir? How long are we going to have to stay up here?"
Genesis glances down at him, "Do you not like my company, Cadet Strife?"
"No it's not that sir!" Despite his words though Genesis noticed the boy had a way of pulling back without actually moving.
The kid was frightened of him. No, frightened was not the right word, wary and Genesis could not really blame the kid. After all he had just been attacked by his commanding officer, and Genesis suspected not just physically.
Sephiroth had that way with people, getting inside their heads in one way or another. Especially those that had mako in his system; it was partially how he kept his SOLIDERS in line. He could only imagine what he had done to the kid given Sephiroth's state of mind. What else would make a kid jump out a window to his death, but then again had it been to his death? The kid certainly hadn't looked like it. It was a question Genesis decided to put to the kid and see his reaction.
"You did not expect to die when you jumped out the window did you, cadet?"
The boy started visibly, "What?"
Genesis could see he wasn't going to get anywhere being nice and supportive with the kid, time to press.
"Don't give me that crap, cadet! You know exactly what I mean. You didn't expect to die when you jumped out of that window. You certainly didn't look like someone who was falling to their death."
"Maybe I just decided to accept my fate with dignity and pride." The response was sharp, shaper then one was allowed to use with their commanding officer.
Genesis eyes narrowed and he leaned closer, watching the kid draw sharply away from him. His voice was quite, "So then tell me cadet, what happened that would make someone like you rather choose death. Surly it couldn't be because the General got a little physical with you? What are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding anything!" The report came too quickly, and Genesis saw Strife bite his lip.
He smiled knowing he had snared his prey, "You can't have it both ways cadet. You are going to answer one of my questions. What do you got to hide from the General or how did you acquire you unusual skills? I've seen you record Cloud and how you fight. Who do you think turned you in to the General?"
The cadet's eyes widened.
"Now you can choose which question you will answer...but you will answer it cadet." Genesis added seeing the determined clench in the boy's jaw. "We have all night here, you and me. I must warn you, I am not always a patient man. Especially with cadets."
They starred hard at each and it seemed to Genesis a battle of the wills and he was surprised how long the cadet lasted before giving in and dropping his eyes.
"All right," the cadet signed in defeat, "I read!"
Genesis blinked, "What?"
"I read! That is how I acquired my unusual skills. I am able to read something in a book, and know how it is done, just by reading about it. You don't think I read Loveless more than once did you? I'm not one of your fans that have memorized the book, purely for your sake. No offense sir, but not even you are worth that."
Genesis despite himself couldn't help but let out an amused chuckle, "So you're saying you're a genius?"
"No, I'm saying that is how I learn all right. Some learn by doing, I learn by reading. Studying fighting techniques is a hobby of mine, which is why I might seem good at it."
Genesis shook his head, "Not good enough. There is no way you got your speed and agility from a book."
"I have mako in my blood." The cadet patiently explained, "I grew up near a reactor, I explained all this to the General when we first met. I am hiding nothing and I have answered your question."
Genesis was wrong the kid wasn't just a good liar. He was a great liar and Genesis like all SOLIDERS did not like being lied to. The kid though was stubborn though. He would have to be content with watching and waiting. He would eventually slip up again and Genesis would be there to catch him every time he did.
"So pray tell, why am I not worth memorizing Loveless for?"
A couple hours later Genesis watched the boy as he slept. It was dark now and the kid had curled up on his side as far away from him as he could get, which was a good distance.
It had taken him hours to actually fall asleep. Genesis's sensitive ears though had picked up the minute his breathing had changed. Now as he slept he slightly moved over to the boy, and his eyes glowed as his sharp eyes took in every detail of the small frame. Every patch of smooth skin, lashes that seemed impossibly long, shoulders that were too narrow even for a boy of his age. As his gaze moved down, they noted the arms crossed across his chest almost protectively. His gaze stopped when it reached farther down.
It the baggy uniform that was slightly too big for the cadet it hid everything well. Especially when he was standing up and it all drooped of him, but laying on his side the clothes clung around his side showing it perfectly. The dip between the rib cage and hip bone, showing the slender waist. So this is what the cadet had been hiding!
Genesis ran options over in his head. Did the Sephiroth know? No, if he did he would have thrown the cadet out of Shinra, fascination or not.
If might be amusing to see how long it would take for him to figure it out on his own, Zack and Angeal too.
AN: Hoped you all liked it. I was trying to show Genesis's competitive side with Sephiroth here, by having Genesis decide not to turn Rain in and try and discover more on his own.