A/N:
As a heads up: for at least the next chapter or two, I'm going to be switching to a biweekly update schedule. I was really trying to avoid it, but I've fallen behind and I've been burning myself out trying to catch up (I haven't played a video game in like 2 weeks ðŸ˜)
So, the next chapter will be out on the 14th. Hopefully by then I'll be feeling better and will be able to switch back to weekly updates, but we'll see. It's just whenever I do have another cliffhanger (it won't be for another few chapters at least), I don't want to leave people waiting longer than a week for the resolution.
Cloud had argued with Yuffie, had told her that she couldn't go around killing people just cause the fancy struck her. But in all reality, his words were just as much for him as they were for her. He had been fighting just as hard with his own rage and the overwhelming temptation, as Yuffie so aptly put it, to show those troopers just what tiny people were made of. He didn't like them already and now he finds out they had killed Zack? Hoo boy, where'd he put his gun? If it hadn't been for Zack's intervention – "They could have ended up with a fate worse than death if they had resisted. Like 'geal said, this is a second chance for all of us." – if not for that, he probably would have lost his fight against his conscience and given in to Yuffie's demands to go 'jerk hunting'.
But then they had stepped off the elevator and all thoughts of troopers and harbingers of death vanished the moment Yuffie laid her eyes on Rufus's secretary. Instantly charming the woman – "She's so pretty, Cloud…" – the secretary was already in the palm of Yuffie's hand as the girl started selling her increasingly elaborate fantasy of an evil Director terrorizing anyone he pleased. And as they passed the still-sniffling woman and started up the flight of stairs to Rufus's office, Cloud couldn't get rid of the sinking feeling that everybody in Midgar would know all about Heidegger and his 'nefarious' plot before the day was done.
.
.
.
"Yuffie, return the rest of the materia you stole."
"I already returned everything, though!" While there's no hint of deceit in her voice – none that Cloud can detect anyway – Yuffie still can't control the subtle glance she sends around the room, the girl squirming ever so slightly in front of Cloud. If he didn't already know she was lying, if he wasn't already painfully aware of her unhealthy obsession with materia, that would have been all the sign he needed.
"Oh? So you're telling me you didn't steal anything from anybody in this room?" He's somewhat tempted to let her keep what she stole from Sephiroth, but he shouldn't be encouraging her behavior. If you gave her an inch, she would steal the entire Shinra Building.
Stomping a foot in her frustration, Yuffie looks like she's not ready to give in just yet. "The agreement was I get all the materia!"
"All the…?" Cloud pauses as the echoes of a conversation long past return to him – Cloud… sign this… when the war is over, all the materia will belong to me… Running a weary hand down his face, Cloud lets out an exasperated sigh – he's so not getting paid enough for this. "That was the war with Sephiroth and I never signed that contract."
"Damn! My plan failed again!"
.
.
.
Convincing the girl to actually return Rhapsodos's materia proved to be far more painful than everything else Cloud had done that day. It had definitely not gone over well when he told Yuffie that no, actually, Rhapsodos probably loved Bahamut more than she did; she certainly didn't believe that was possible. But all of that paled in comparison to when he asked her to return what she had stolen from Sephiroth, the girl turning an entirely betrayed look his way.
"But you don't even like him!" While Yuffie didn't particularly care for the scolding she received for running amok – not from Rufus and definitely not from Cloud – she absolutely resented being told to return the materia she had 'liberated'.
"The point is you stole from him. We've been over this before."
Yuffie pouts, her arms swinging back and forth limply at her sides. "Aerith and second chances and all that…" When Cloud still doesn't cave, she heaves out a great, big sigh and trudges over to Sephiroth. "Kneel, peasant…" Her order lacks her normal exuberance, the girl acting absolutely miserable.
"Kneel…?" Sephiroth blinks, once, twice, the look of pure confusion on his face jarring Cloud even more – this was not the Sephiroth he knew.
Growling, the girl snaps her fingers and points at the floor. "You're too dang tall!"
"You're just tiny, Squirt!" Reno interjects, the red-head grinning impishly as Yuffie glares his way.
"Nobody asked you, Carrot Top!" Turning back to Sephiroth, Yuffie gives him the most expectant look she can manage and snaps her fingers once more. "Now!"
Cloud's not really sure what surprises him more, the fact that Yuffie expects Sephiroth to kneel before her or the reality that Sephiroth actually does, the man ever so hesitantly lowering himself down onto one knee, a bemused expression still covering his face. Cloud can hear Reno snickering to himself and can see Rhapsodos struggling between amusement at Sephiroth's plight and offense on his friend's behalf. But Cloud finds he is far too preoccupied with the fluttering in his own stomach, the fluttering that has him tensing from head to toe – was that a sign that Sephiroth was going to attack?
Before he can come to a conclusion, though, Yuffie has shot forward, two tiny hands grabbing Sephiroth's face, holding him in place while she scrutinizes him. She inspects him like that for an eternity, staring deep into his eyes – Sephiroth stunned, Yuffie determined, Cloud growing more and more antsy with each passing second – as she searches for something. Finally, her hands drop and Yuffie takes a step back with a rather dissatisfied grunt. "Huh. You really aren't crazy this time around."
Cloud has no idea how staring into the man's eyes is enough to come to that conclusion – not that Cloud would actually try – but Yuffie still plucks a green orb of materia from a hidden pocket and drops it somewhat reluctantly into Sephiroth's hand. Watching him thoughtfully as he places the orb in his jacket, Yuffie waits until the man has returned his attention to her before holding a hand up to the side of her mouth and stage whispering, "Do you wanna know a secret?"
Sephiroth tilts his head (not endearingly) to the side, the man looking entirely out of his element as he casts a glance at his fellow SOLDIERs. When all he receives are identical shrugs in return – apparently none of them aware of the correct response for the situation – he turns back to Yuffie, a perplexed look on his face. "I… suppose?"
"Fantastic!" Yuffie claps her hands happily, her mouth stretching into a toothy grin.
Cloud will admit that it takes him entirely too long to realize that the smile on Yuffie's face is not sincere in the slightest – she was getting better at this whole deception thing – and he only has the time to yell "Yuffie…!" before the girl has wound back a fist and decked Sephiroth straight in the face. "I still don't like you!"
Absolute chaos erupts around him as the force of Yuffie's punch sends Sephiroth falling backwards onto his butt – Reno left howling while Rude berates him for encouraging the girl. But Cloud doesn't have the time to worry about that, doesn't give himself the time – Sephiroth would surely kill Yuffie, just like he had with Aerith. Horror settles ice-cold in his veins at the thought, Cloud rushing forward to try save the girl before it was too late. He doesn't make it more than two steps, though, one arm outstretched to grab her by the scruff of her neck, when Sephiroth brings a hand up ever so tentatively to touch his (still perfect-looking) face. "…Ow?"
"That's what you get for messing with the Great Ninja Yuffie!"
"…I'll keep that in mind?"
Yuffie nods sagely. "Wise, peasant."
Cloud's hand falls limply back to his side as he stares uncomprehending at the scene in front of him. He already had no idea what to make of Yuffie actually enjoying herself around Sephiroth, but was the man actually playing along? "What just happened?"
It's not until nine sets of eyes are on him that Cloud realizes he had spoken out loud. Luckily, Rufus takes pity on his still-perplexed expression – he really was in no state of mind to deal with the man's manipulations – Rufus shaking his head ever so slightly, the hint of a smirk on his face as he responds, "Our beloved General just got his ass handed to him by a child, that's what."
"Huh."
He's still reeling by the time Yuffie tires of Sephiroth's shock, the girl returning to his side, a pleased look on her face. "Can we go see Aerith now?"
"Uhh… I guess so." He probably should scold her for punching Sephiroth, but honestly nobody else seems to mind that much and Cloud still has absolutely no idea what's going on.
"Awesome! Are you going to kiss Aerith when you see her?"
"Am I… What?" Her words finally break through the fog and he stares at the girl, alarmed. "Aerith is dating Zack."
"So?" Yuffie asks, hands on her hips, the girl looking at him like he was the most obtuse creature she had ever met. He wasn't the one who had forgotten that Zack was still in the room, though. Granted, Zack and Aerith kept offering to let him join them… but something about it just felt wrong. "Don't you love her?"
That's enough to give Cloud pause – did he love her? He certainly had thought so once. But now? Now he's not so sure. "I…" He tries to think of the girl – the woman – as she once was. Her laughter, her teasing, her smile. But while the thought of her alive and vibrant warms him to the core, it doesn't send sparks tingling through him like it once had. "I don't, no…" His words surprise him far more than they do Yuffie, but he knows they're not wrong. "Not like that. I thought I did, but that was probably just Zack's memories I was hiding behind."
"But I thought you broke up with Tifa cause you still had feelings for Aerith!"
"It was a mutual breakup, Yuf. We realized that we cared for each other more as friends than as lovers." While his words are meant for his youngest companion, Cloud doesn't miss the way Rude perks up, doesn't miss the hope that now shines in the Turk's eyes. Oh, so the man still has feelings for Tifa, does he? Cloud was so going to get some amusement out of that.
So caught up in Rude's lingering crush, Cloud doesn't notice Yuffie's changing mood until it's much too late. "Wait… No…" The girl's voice is soft, her face scandalized as she gawks at him. "I didn't think he had actually gotten to you…"
Cloud sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose – he has absolutely no idea what she's getting at, but whatever it is, it cannot be good. "Whatever it is, Yuffie, no. Just no."
"No, no, no. I wanna hear this, yo."
He turns to tell Reno to shut up, but the moment he takes his eyes off Yuffie is the moment everything goes to hell in a handbasket. "I didn't think you actually liked him! You always acted like he annoyed you!" Yuffie looks him up and down like she was finally seeing him in a new light. "But I guess they say opposites attract and all that…"
"Yuffie, what the hell are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about! That blond guy who followed you everywhere!"
"I'm going to need you to be a bit more specific."
Yuffie growls. "How do you not remember your own lover?"
Were they really going to do this now? He's not sure what's worse, the betrayed look on Yuffie's face for not telling her about this fake lover of his or the pinched one on Sephiroth's – and he really doesn't have the mental capacity needed to focus on the latter right now. Best to save it for later… or never. "We've been over this before. The only lover I've ever had was Tifa and that ended before this time rewind thing."
The girl's eyes narrow as she scrutinizes him for any sign of deceit. She wouldn't find any, though. "So, you're telling me that there was never anything between you and that blondie?"
"Yuffie, I still have absolutely no idea who you're talking about."
"The guy with the long blond hair! Who liked motorcycles! What did Cid call him again?" Her hand comes up to cradle her face as she thinks. "Oh, right! Mulletcycle! Are you really saying nothing happened between the two of you?"
"Mullet…? You're not talking about Roche, are you?"
Throwing her hands into the air, she gripes, "I don't know his name! The guy with the mullet and the motorcycle!"
Cloud groans – that was Roche. How had Yuffie come up with the idea that the two of them were a thing? "There's nothing going on between me and Roche." Yuffie opens her mouth to object, but he doesn't give her the chance. "There never was anything between us."
"Aww, c'mon, Mr. First Class – " Cloud twitches at the nickname. Would Reno never give that one up? " – We're all friends here. Why dontcha tell us – is Roche as much of a speed demon in bed, too?"
"Reno," Rufus's smooth voice cuts in, saving Cloud the trouble of having to come up with a response, "If Cloud decides to kill you, just know that you brought it upon yourself."
Cloud knows he should be thankful that Rufus intervened – and that's a thought he never expected to have – but it just leaves him even more flabbergasted. He already couldn't decide whether he should punch Reno or firmly deny any and all sexual involvement with Roche – he really doesn't want Sephiroth to think he and Roche were an item, and that frustrates him even more – but what was he supposed to think of Rufus helping him? Why would the man choose him over one of his own Turks? Sure, he knows even Rufus must get tired of Reno's shit, but they were all like family. Cloud was not. Rufus hadn't taken this 'might be brothers' thing to heart that quickly, had he?
But even with how dumbfounded he is, he doesn't miss the glare that Sephiroth sends Reno – and that, that just serves to tear him further in two. That look will always remind him of Nibelheim. Of fire and pain – so much pain. But he can't deny the sparks that dance throughout his entire body at the thought that Sephiroth might be angry at Reno because of him. Can't stop the warmth that fills him from head to toe at the idea that Sephiroth might be jealous… No. No. Now is not the time to be thinking about that. He does not have a crush on Sephiroth.
…And even if he did, Sephiroth surely couldn't feel the same way.
No. Stop it.
Taking a deep breath, he tries to clear his head. Clear his head of everything. The wandering thoughts, his straying feelings, the frustratingly pathetic pleas of touch me. Things would be better in a few days, right? He can't take much more of this.
But right now, his best way out is by diverting attention. "Why are you asking me, Reno? You and Roche would be perfect for each other. You're both super obnoxious."
But his diversion falls flat, Yuffie choosing that moment to embarrass him even more completely than she already had. "Nuh-uh! Mulletcycle never woulda looked twice at Carrot Top! He only ever had eyes for you!" And if that wasn't bad enough, Yuffie drops her voice and does a scarily accurate imitation of Roche. "Looks like you could use a tune up, my dearest friend. I would love to offer my assistance."
Cloud's sure his face must be absolutely scarlet by now – of course it sounded bad if Yuffie put it that way. "There wasn't anything between us!" His voice is higher-pitched than he cares to admit, but it's all Yuffie's fault. "Roche was probably just happy to have found somebody who could actually keep up with him."
Unfortunately, it's not until the words are out of his mouth that he realizes the innuendo hiding there. From the vicious smirk that spreads across Yuffie's misleadingly innocent face, he can tell that she didn't miss it either. "Yeeeaaaahhhh. He just liked the way you handled your motorcycle."
.
.
.
It takes Cloud a painfully long time to convince everybody that no, there really wasn't anything between him and Roche. Ever. And an even longer time for Reno's cackling to subside, and that was with Rude taking pity on Cloud and speeding up the process, the bald Turk whacking his sorry excuse for a partner over the back of the head. Rude would definitely be getting brownie points for that.
So, sure, it shouldn't come as that big of a surprise that Cloud was already itching to leave long before he warned Rufus about Don Corneo's rather unexpected demise. It doesn't stop him from recommending three potential replacements, though – he doubts they remember, but Andrea, Madam M, and (to some extent) Sam were all good people.
And with that taken care of, he almost thinks he's in the clear to wrangle Rude into dropping them off in the slums – he definitely wasn't going anywhere near Reno right now – but there's still one last thing he wants to bring up. "Rufus, I'll take that back pay now." Cloud takes no small amount of pleasure in the confused look that passes over the man's face. It was about damn time that somebody else got thrown off kilter for once. Granted, right about now he would have preferred it to be Reno, but Rufus should do nicely.
"What back pay?"
"The pay that was withheld from me when I was purposefully labelled KIA and then given to Hojo to play with." He doesn't miss the way that both Zack and Sephiroth wince at his words. But while he feels sorry for reminding Zack of the creep, he has no idea what to make of Sephiroth. "I never did get it. You know, Meteor and all that."
"Cloud," Rufus sighs as if he was being particularly bothersome. "That hasn't happened yet and Hojo's dead."
"Tell that to the PTSD I still suffer from."
Rufus grimaces at the revelation, but doesn't shoot him down right away. Well, that was a start. "…We'll work something out."
"Good."
"Oh darling," Sephiroth can tell from the amused tone to Genesis's voice that he won't be getting any paperwork done today. Oh well, it wasn't like he was really paying attention to it anyway. "I was afraid for a second there that somebody would have had to clean Reno off of your sword."
"What are you getting at, Genesis?"
Leaning a hip against Sephiroth's desk, his back to the door, Genesis seems to be entirely within his element. The man inspects his nails idly, but Sephiroth can tell that his attention is undividedly on him – like a cat about to strike. "So you're saying that you weren't glaring death at our resident troublemaker for teasing Cloud?"
Sephiroth sighs – perhaps he would have preferred paperwork to another botched session in relationship advice. "Cloud said that there was nothing between him and that other man."
"You're changing the subject, don't think I don't notice." Genesis sniffs down at him, unimpressed, but doesn't push. "But whatever. I'll play along. Sure, there was nothing between the two of them, but you're still pouting."
"Genesis…"
"Oh, please don't tell me you're not pouting, I can see your face right now." From the smirk on Genesis's face, Sephiroth just knows that this conversation is far from over. "I can understand, though. Cloud is quite the looker even now. Tell me, was he just as pretty as an adult?"
Groaning, Sephiroth tries to shoves all thoughts, all images of adult Cloud to the back of his mind – it certainly wouldn't help his conflicted feelings now. "I didn't pay attention to any of that, Genesis. I was too busy trying to make him suffer."
Genesis raises an eyebrow at him, and Sephiroth can tell that the man doesn't believe him in the slightest. "Sure you didn't."
"Genesis, Cloud's love life is none of my business. Nor is it any of yours."
Instead of telling him that he'll do what he pleases like Sephiroth would have guessed, Genesis remains quiet for a moment, the man giving him a long, searching look before pulling the rug right out from under him. "I don't think you have to worry about the Puppy either."
Sephiroth can't stop his flinch at the mention of their fellow SOLDIER, but thankfully Genesis chooses not to call him out on it. "Zack is a much better fit for him than I am."
"You heard him turn Zack down, for the second time from the sound of it. Besides, even if there is anything there, it's probably just Puppy love."
"Puppy love?" Sephiroth feels his eyes narrow as exasperation sets in. "You did that on purpose."
Genesis just waves a hand in annoyance as he settles more firmly against the edge of Sephiroth's desk. "What I'm trying to say is you shouldn't lose hope so soon. If they do start a relationship, they might not be together for long. We didn't last, after all."
"That's because you and Angeal deserted."
"Yes, yes, and then you lost yourself to Jenova, I know. But even though we've been given this second chance, we still haven't gotten back together."
"It was just 'friends with benefits' for me, not like with you and Angeal. I know you still pine over him."
"How did you…" Genesis scowls at him, the man's voice aggravated, as if he didn't like being found out by Sephiroth of all people. "How did you figure that out when you couldn't even realize your own crush?"
"I've been around you and Angeal for half of my life, Genesis. I can tell that you still look at him the same way you did before. Why don't you tell him?"
Something like grief passes through the man's eyes before he scoffs at the very idea. "I lost him once, I won't do it again. Especially if this alien freak is out to get us all."
.
"Shouldn't I have a say in that?"
.
Genesis whirls around at the sound of the new voice, the man stumbling as he loses his perch on the edge of Sephiroth's desk. If he's embarrassed at all by his blunder, he doesn't have the time to dwell on it, the usually outspoken Commander freezing in place and falling nearly silent at the sight of the familiar intruder. "An…geal."
Intense gaze rooting Genesis to the spot, Angeal prowls towards him, the man spurred on by the soft gasp that Genesis makes. Stopping a foot's-breadth away, his eyes never leaving Genesis's own, their honor-bound friend looks entirely tempted to ravish Genesis right then and there. Sephiroth hopes he doesn't, though, his office had just been cleaned.
"Genesis."
Sephiroth can't help his own smirk – it was about damn time. The two had been dancing around each other for over a year, and Sephiroth was starting to get sick of it. "You were eavesdropping, Angeal."
"I did knock," Angeal responds, his gaze remaining fixed on Genesis.
"You were still eavesdropping. That's not very honorable."
"I know."
Sephiroth chuckles. "I can hold down the fort if you two need to talk."
Genesis spins to glare at him, but doesn't get any further than "Sephiroth, what are you – " before his wrist is caught in a vice grip, Angeal sending a stiff nod of thanks to Sephiroth before dragging their friend bodily from the room. "Angeal! Just what do you think you're doing?!"
Sephiroth can only imagine that the phrase "What I should have done a long time ago" is on the tip of Angeal's tongue. Though, whether the man actually says it or not is anyone's guess.
But, anyway, Sephiroth hopes that the two of them will be able to work something out. Though, he does wonder if Genesis will be able to walk tomorrow.
"Thanks for giving us a lift, Rude," Cloud says as he slides into the copilot chair next to the Turk. He can't make out Rude's eyes behind his sunglasses, but he's pretty sure the man is surprised that Cloud is still here rather than outside with Zack and Yuffie. True, they had already landed in the Sector 5 slums, but Cloud had something he needed to take care of first.
"After everything you've done for us, it's the least I could do."
While Rude certainly has a point, Cloud's not going to dwell on it. If he had offered Reno an olive branch, he could certainly do the same for Rude. Especially with the assistance the Turk had provided him earlier. "Thanks for the help with Reno, too."
"I very much doubt that you needed my help to put Reno in his place, but I know just how… annoying he can be."
"How do you deal with him?"
"I ignore him."
"…Does that actually work?"
Rude sends him a very significant look over the rim of his sunglasses before snorting. "No."
Cloud shouldn't be surprised – of course ignoring Reno wouldn't actually work. Shaking his head, he almost says that the red-head would probably just take it as a challenge to be as insufferable as possible. But then he notices the trouble that Yuffie and Zack have gotten up to. Somehow, Yuffie had convinced Zack to join her for an improvised game of Dodge Shuriken, though Cloud's not entirely sure why the teen had agreed – Yuffie's ideas were normally bad. But more perplexing is the fact that Zack apparently seemed to think that batting the giant thing away with his sword was a good idea… Well, whatever. Rude had found a small opening near the church to land in, so at least there was no one else around to watch. He could let the two have their fun for now.
When a particularly skilled swing sends Yuffie's shuriken flying high to land on top of a large pile of rubble, Cloud ignores Yuffie's squawking – "Be more careful, pretty boy!" – in favor of turning back to Rude. Unable to help the smirk that stretches across his face, he watches as Rude tenses uncomfortably in front of him before revealing the entire reason he had stayed behind in the first place. "Well, anyway, I appreciate the help. I'll make sure to put in a good word with Tifa."
Rude's reaction is as instant and pronounced as Cloud was hoping for, the bald Turk choking on his breath and jerking so violently that he's almost sent falling from his seat. Well, perhaps it was good Cloud had waited until after they had landed to mess with the man. If they had still been flying, Yuffie would no doubt have been sent crashing to the floor. And with the girl's motion sickness and the shuriken still strapped to her back at the time, that would have just been mean, even if she had embarrassed him so thoroughly in front of everybody.
As the silence stretches between them, Cloud can tell from the man's floundering and red face that he has no idea how to respond. That's fine. Cloud wasn't done yet. "You'll have to wait until Tifa's of age again, but you seem like an ok enough guy. I'll still be watching you, of course. Don't think that I won't. Gotta make sure you're right for my friend, she deserves the best."
Breathless.
That's probably the best way to describe it. For they hadn't even made it further than the entryway of Angeal's apartment before Genesis found himself pinned, the solid weight that was Angeal's body holding him firm to the door behind him, warm lips devouring his own. He hadn't even noticed Angeal store the Buster Sword and his own Rapier in the weapon rack on the wall. No, he had been far too busy grousing, because of course Angeal would drag him back to his own apartment. The man knows how much he hates those damn plants!
He had been a moment away from warning the man that if he saw even a single bug, he would be lighting this whole Goddess-forsaken apartment on fire. But then, Angeal had descended on him, one hand on his hip pressing him into the door, the other curling around the back of his head, holding him in place while the man pressed a searing kiss to his mouth, Angeal swallowing any and all complaints.
They shouldn't be doing this, Genesis knows that. He tries to convince himself that he wouldn't be able to live through Angeal's death again. Tries to build up the willpower to pull away, to stop himself before things go too far. But when Angeal's tongue glides its way across the roof of his mouth, Genesis's brain short-circuits and he finds himself letting out a low, needy moan and clinging to the man in front of him as if he were his only salvation.
The Goddess only knows how long he stays melded with the man like that, hands dragging him impossibly closer rather than pushing away, before a thick, muscular thigh slots its way between his own. As Angeal grinds into him – hard – Genesis is left to groan pathetically at the friction. From this close, he can feel the evidence of Angeal's arousal, and Gaia, he had almost forgotten how big the man was.
"Gen." Angeal pulls back just enough to breathe his name, voice thick, before claiming his lips once more. If the man's thorough attentions hadn't been enough to send all of Genesis's blood rushing south, then the usually calm and collected SOLDIER sounding so entirely debauched already definitely would have been.
Genesis had long since started kissing back – Goddess was the man good with that tongue of his – his lips meshing seamlessly with Angeal's in an all-too-familiar dance. A dance he could never forget no matter how he had tried. But why had he even tried? The Goddess had guided him to bliss, to her gift everlasting. Why on all of Gaia would he have given him up?
What was he forgetting?
That thought is lost as the hand on his hip starts to map a slow, smooth, burning trail up his side, the fingers on his face grazing down his neck and across his collarbone. Angeal's hands meet at Genesis's chest, the man easing his jacket up and over his shoulders and ever so sensually down his arms, their lips never separating once.
It's only when his jacket and pauldrons are sent clattering to the floor that a single, horrifying thought manages to force its way through the haze that had so thoroughly seized his mind.
Jenova.
.
.
.
Cursing his pitiful lovesick heart for allowing himself to get so lost in his passion, he wrenches himself away from Angeal with a loud pop, a thin trail of saliva still connecting them. "By the Goddess, Angeal! Stop!"
"Stop? It's been over a year, Genesis!" He's never seen Angeal look so incredulous – and the man had Zack for a student – impossibly dark mako eyes boring into his own as if Angeal thought he could reach straight into his soul. "You haven't let me touch you for over a year now! And all you've talked about—all you've raved about for months is Cloud this and Cloud that! I finally find out that you still feel the same about me and you actually expect me to be able to stop?"
"Have you forgotten about Jeno—"
"I don't give a damn about Jenova!" Angeal's voice reverberates around the hallway, his eyes wild, his hands shaking from where they clutch almost desperately at Genesis's shoulders. "All I want is you!"
Genesis growls. "I can't lose you again, Angeal! The first time nearly killed me!" Sure, perhaps he was being melodramatic – they were fond of telling him that. And if Angeal brought it up this time, he wouldn't even try to Firaga him in the face… again. "And I sure as hell won't watch that alien freak turn you into her bitch!"
Genesis hadn't expected it to be that easy, had figured (not hoped) that the man would try to convince him still. So, he can't deny his surprise (not disappointment) when Angeal slowly and ever so deliberately removes his hands from Genesis's shoulders. Well, it would seem that Angeal had finally given in. Good. It'll make it easier for Genesis to pretend that this had never happened. To trick himself into believing that he didn't long for Angeal to be pressed up against him again.
But then Angeal crosses his arms over his chest, the man keeping Genesis crowded up against the door. And, oh, Genesis really hates the smirk on his face – the man knew just how to push his buttons. "I never thought I'd see the day when the great Genesis Rhapsodos – " Genesis so does not twitch " – was afraid of an alien. Whatever shall I tell Sephiroth?"
You know what, Genesis might just reconsider that cease-Firaga thing. Angeal should know better than to bring Sephiroth into this. "I. am. not. afraid."
"Then why are you doing all of this?"
"I already told you, I won't lose you again."
Angeal sighs as if he was being overly difficult. He wasn't the one who had dragged Angeal to his apartment. But if he had, at least there wouldn't be any damn plants. "If you push me away, then you've already lost me." Whatever witty retort, whatever sharp comeback was on the tip of Genesis's tongue is lost with those words, and he's left gaping up unattractively at his oldest friend. "Jenova's hold on Sephiroth was stronger because he thought himself to be all alone. What if our connections to those we love is our greatest defense?"
Greatest defense? Was it really that simple? Was loving him really enough to ward off Jenova?
Wait… Love?
Genesis's thoughts come screeching to a halt as he finally processes Angeal's confession. Angeal loves him? Would Genesis really be able to give the man up after hearing that? Would he honestly be able to forget the man after touching him again, after tasting him again?
He doesn't think so. But, more importantly, he doesn't want to.
"My friend, your desire. Is the bringer of life, the gift of the Goddess."
Jenova be damned. Genesis wasn't afraid of that freak. Hell if he would let her have Angeal. He would burn her and the entire reactor to ash before he let her dig her alien claws into his man.
His recitation and the determination now shining in his eyes are all that are needed for Angeal's face to melt into an expression of pure hope. Oh, the darling probably thought that Genesis was going to make things easy for him. The man should know him better by now.
Balling his hands up in Angeal's sweater, he allows the besotted smile to spread across the man's face for a second, before giving Angeal a good, solid tug, using his grip on the man's sweater to quickly and skillfully swap their positions. As he presses the length of his body up against Angeal's, he weaves a hand into the hair at the back of the man's head and tugs, hard. "I'll have you know, Angeal – " he relishes the way Angeal shudders as he drawls his name " – I'm not the submissive type."
Angeal's voice is only slightly shaky as he responds, "I wouldn't have you any other way."
Drawing himself up to his full height – not because he was upset that Angeal was taller than him, no matter what that tiny child would say – he allows his mouth to ghost over Angeal's as he orders, "Bedroom. Now."
A/N:
- This chapter originally had a scene with Rufus and Tseng at the end. That has been moved to its own piece (Should We Really Be Doing This Here, Sir?) so I could keep the teen rating for this main fic.
- Just a reminder that the next chapter won't be posted for two weeks. Hopefully, this chapter is enough to tide people over until then.
- In the original game, if you talk to Yuffie before entering the final dungeon, she'll ask you to sign a contract saying that when the war is over, all the materia will belong to her. Cloud will refuse to sign, but the excuse he gives is because they're on the airship and when he reads he gets airsick... Which as far as reasons go for not giving Yuffie all of your materia, that wouldn't have been my choice. But anyway, that's where that reference comes from. (When Cloud says no, Yuffie's like "Damn! My plan failed. Let's pick on Red XIII later to let off steam.")
- Roche's nickname in the Remake is Speed Demon (or Speed Junkie in Japanese, I think).
- This was my first time writing anything like the scene with Angeal and Genesis - so I hope it worked out well for everybody!
