Chapter 93 - What Happens in the Wake of Destruction

April, 2001

Sephiroth watches Genesis. The irrational words that have been streaming out of his mouth finally dried up. Zack's footsteps are gone. He will grab Hollander. There is no doubt of that. That leaves him with the problem child.

The man who is supposed to be a monster. The wing that has grown on his back flinches as Sephiroth stares at it. Still, Sephiroth holds on. There has to be a reason for all this beyond what this science says. A science abomination or not, Genesis is standing and breathing in front of him. He is not foaming at the mouth. He is altered but still clearly physically Genesis Rhapsodos.

"Well, are you going to do it?" Genesis asks. The smile on his face grows more and more self assured by the moment. Seeing him has been a shock. The contrast between the man before him and the one who had hugged him outside his apartment is vast. This Genesis is off kilter. A wildness runs through his movements as he steps closer.

Sephiroth holds his ground and remembers that he knows how to fight him. "Am I going to do what, Gen?"

"Gen." It comes out in a half laugh. It curls him forward before he straightens again.

"Is it not your name?"

His sword hand moves but it only moves in gesture, not action. "Gen died the moment that he got hurt. I am what is left. I am the wreckage of a ship lost in a wake from many many years ago."

He moves closer again until only a few feet stand between them. Sephiroth has to force himself not to move. Genesis' eyes scan up and down him. They pluck at the leather coat, the skin on his chest and the grandeur painted on him. It is a lie. Sephiroth's uniform is showy and overconfident, nothing as he is now. Genesis drinks him in like he used to sip on a glass of red after a long night.

It's a familiar expression of satisfaction. Dregs of their years of friendship are coming back. No. Sephiroth's teeth click together. All the years of a false friendship.

Genesis cocks his head before he raises his free hand, reaching to touch his shoulder.

Sephiroth locks his hand around that wrist.

The connection stings like a burn. After being so long apart, the physical connection rattles them. Even the confidence in Genesis' eyes falters. All Sephiroth wants to do is shake him until he sees the truth of his actions. He wants to punch him, to force him to see sense that there must be some other way than that.

Sephiroth wants to ignore the files that he has just seen.

But Rapier gleams patient and sharp in Genesis' other hand and makes it impossible.

"Why are you doing this?" He asks instead, low and quiet. "Why didn't you ask for help?"

That breaks a laugh out of Genesis. He rips away his hand. "Oh my dear Sephiroth. I thought you had realized just how fucked up Shinra is."

"They make bad decisi-"

"No," Genesis cuts him off. "They've lied to me. They used me. They were going to leave me to rot. They were going to watch me go insane. They were going to let me die slowly and in pain. They are going to let us all die."

Sephiroth blinks and waits for the echoes of the shouting to disappear from the walls.

"Genesis, we are all going to die," Sephiroth says it softly, "it is our nature."

The fury on Genesis' face is impossible to miss.

"Fuck off, Sephiroth."

"There are stabilizers for degradation. I don't understand why-"

Genesis waives his free hand. "You aren't trying to understand-"

Sephiroth dares to cut him off. "I am. I am here."

It doesn't work.

Genesis shakes his head and points at him. "You are not. You are here because Shinra put you here. Just like a piece on a chessboard. Gods. Don't you see how sick they've made you? How screwed up in the head you are?"

These words are just a child lashing out. They have to be. Sephiroth grits his teeth and takes it.

"Help me understand. I have read this paperwork but none of it makes sense. You disappeared without saying anything. I question if we were ever truly friends."

It's like Genesis notices the files rifled through around him for the first time. He steps back from them.

"Talk to me." Sephiroth takes a folder off the desk. "Talk to me about what has been happening. Why do you have a wing now?"

It's a full broken laugh that comes out of him. Genesis leans forward, places the sword across his knees and shakes with laughter.

"You? Talk? Help? What the hell do you think you can do?" He straightens slowly and runs his fingers through his hair. There are tears in his eyes. "By the goddess, before us, you didn't know how to have a friend, let alone be a friend. You didn't know how to be a person. You couldn't even relax on a couch in Angeal's living room for months no matter what we tried."

Sephiroth sucks in his breath.

"We had to teach you how to live again."

The blush rises high, pounding against his face. "You need to stop."

"Do you know how fucked up that is? And you are even questioning if we were friends? Sephiroth. Come on. Why can't you see things as they are? How can you look at me and not see how bad Shinra is? Do I need to grow fangs too?"

His eyes skate away instantly.

They both hear it.

Off in the distance, the hinges on a door explode.

The army has gotten impatient. It breaks the anger between them. Genesis swallows, eying upwards before coming back to him. They are going to be forced apart now. As much as this fight is something they need, the threat of being driven apart without the words being said is more important.

It breaks the tension like glass shattering on the floor. Their window alone is closing rapidly.

"We have run out of time, my dear friend," Genesis says, "Are you going to keep your promise? Are those foolish words of yours going to stay true? Are you not going to fight me?"

Sephiroth feels like he should hesitate and think about this. He doesn't. There is no need. Genesis is a threat but not to him.

"I will not."

"Are you going to stay with Shinra?"

Sephiroth shifts his weight and glances up at the closed door. "I have no choice. You know that. Not until I am off my medications."

Genesis scoffs, annoyed. A gun goes off in the distance. There were monsters and copies within the building that they didn't clear out. That is almost a blessing now. They are buying them minutes that they otherwise wouldn't have. A scream, a human one, echoes off a wall.

"Are you going to attack me?" Sephiroth asks.

Genesis pauses. "No."

The boots get louder. They are on the floor above them.

"You just talking to me would cause you a lot of problems if you are staying with them." Genesis almost sounds rational, familiar.

Reno's eyes lit up from the cigarette come back to him.

"Yes."

Genesis takes a step forward, studying his face. "Should we make this look realistic then?"

"I suppose we must."

"Do you want to do it?"

Sephiroth's chest tightens. "The Turks will know the difference."

Genesis nods and sheaths the sword. He looks him over. Grief is in his eyes. Sephiroth's heart pounds as once again Genesis gets within striking distance. This time it is different. This time there is going to be violence and pain.

"Tell them that I tricked you. That I was surrendering and then I got you," Genesis whispers it.

Honestly, Sephiroth couldn't give a fuck to what they think.

"Is Angeal okay?" He has to ask it before it is too late.

"None of us are Sephiroth but yes, he is okay." It's the first time that Genesis smiles.

"Good."

He looks up sharply. "You miss him?"

"I miss both of you so much it hurts." It pours out of him.

Genesis freezes. Sephiroth doesn't know what to say. The words are self explanatory but the admission is complex. Seeing him has made it all clear to him. Sephiroth had opened himself up to them and yes, they had hurt them, but it is a byproduct. Genesis is mad at Shinra. He is not mad at him. Even after the slander, the stated betrayal, every second of grief, Sephiroth still missed them.

He misses the only friends he ever got to have.

Guns pepper the noise close to the door. Both of them glance in the direction of the noise. They stand listening to it for a moment before it cuts off again.

They've run out of time.

Genesis pulls himself away from his thoughts and stands directly in front of Sephiroth. His breath tickles his neck. Something is wrong with Genesis' skin. He can see it. Parts are crackling, rippling on his face. Sephiroth prides himself in not flinching as Genesis lays a hand against his cheek. Emotions roll through his eyes. Remorse lays bare in them.

His thumb rolls against his skin.

Sephiroth almost closes his eyes. He relishes it.

How much time could they have had?

"The only time I get to beat you and you stand still for it," he says with a strange smile.

"You could still miss." Sephiroth swallows. "Your aim has always been terrible."

If Sephiroth wasn't who he was, if Genesis' past wasn't as it seemed, how many years could they have all spent together enjoying each other's company? Could they have spent their lives together in friendship and happiness?

The false future sits between them, dead and broken.

"Just forget about us, Sephiroth. It's easier," Genesis's voice is hoarse and raw, "please. We'll be gone soon anyways."

"I can't."

Genesis doesn't respond. He holds his breath and lashes out instead, quick and hard. The impact against Sephiroth's temple is sharp. It's not enough to knock him out cold but it breaks his focus and blurs the world. The sound is heavy in his head as he stumbles to the left under the momentum. The third step is wobble. He is going to fall. Sephiroth doesn't fight it, instead he crumples into it. It feels good to give up.

There will be bruises but they will heal.

It's good enough for appearances.

Sephiroth doesn't expect the hands that catch him. Genesis mutters something. Sephiroth slumps in them completely as his knees go. The mutters turn to soft curses. He is laid out on the floor. A finger combs back his hair from his mouth. He can't move, the weight of his muscles is too much.

Genesis pauses, hovering over him.

Then he disappears, boots pounding against the metal grid.