Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 26 ( Chapter 26 )

Ashen Skies"

Chapter 26

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Warnings: Het (graphic)

 

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*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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After resting for a while, the five officers returned to the colony to report to headquarters. Genesis dampened a handkerchief he kept on him and used it to wipe his face off as best he could as they walked the reconstructed paths of the city. He took one look at the soiled cloth after finishing and he scowled, tossing it in a public trash bin as they passed it. Civilians and military personnel alike stared at the group as they made their way through the city to the largest shell house in the center of it. Cloud couldn't really blame them for being curious. All of them except for Sephiroth were splattered with drying WEAPON blood and he imagined it raised a few questions in people's minds.

 

"Damn," Genesis muttered when he glanced at the clearing to the right, where the rovers and other ground transport vehicles were lined up.

 

"What is it?" Cloud followed his gaze with a frown. He couldn't see anything out of the ordinary: just a few low-ranking Soldiers doing inspections on the vehicles.

 

"Private Hill," grumbled the redhead in response. "Go left, go left."

 

"But the headquarters building is straight ahead," protested Zack.

 

"So we'll take the scenic route," hissed Genesis through his teeth. "I can't take another minute of his brown-nosing."

 

"Too late," Angeal murmured with a small, wry smile, "he's spotted you."

 

Cloud saw one of the cadets approaching hurriedly. He had sandy blond shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes. His gaze was fixed on Genesis and his expression was eager. Having experienced a combination of hero worship and infatuation himself, Cloud hid a smile of understanding.

 

"Lieutenant Rhapsodos," called the young private as he jogged over.

 

Genesis stopped and closed his eyes, sighing. "What is it, Private?"

 

The cadet stopped before him and a flush of color bloomed in his cheeks. "I…uh…what happened?" He looked each of the officers over with wide eyes.

 

"Is that proper protocol, Soldier?" Sephiroth asked smoothly.

 

The young man looked up at the tall general and paled a bit. "N-no sir. I'm sorry, it's none of my business."

 

"Is there something you want, Private Hill?" Genesis' tone was carefully controlled.

 

The cadet snapped to attention and hastily dug through his pockets until he found a slip of paper. He handed it over to Genesis and saluted him. "Sir, I've finished the tasks you assigned to me and I also patched up that crack in the outer wall of your house. Here's the report."

 

Genesis practically snatched it from the private's hand and he resumed walking. "Great, I'll put it up my ass with your nose. Dismissed."

 

The young man's face fell and Angeal hastily tried to salve his hurt feelings. "Good work, Private."

 

Angeal's kinder tone seemed to soften the blow and the cadet saluted him and thanked him before walking away. Cloud watched him go and he felt sorry for him. He knew he would have been devastated if Sephiroth ever responded to him that way.

 

"That was just plain mean, Gen," Zack accused with a disapproving frown as they fell into step together once more. "The guy was just trying to get your approval. Cut him some slack!"

 

Genesis gave Zack an exasperated look. "He pesters me at every turn. If he's going to suck up to someone, why me? Why not you, or Angeal for that matter? Angeal out-ranks me, therefore his brownie points are worth more."

 

"For one thing, he's under your command, not ours," Angeal pointed out.

 

"Yeah, and we aren't the ones he's crushing on," added Zack with a little snicker.

 

Genesis narrowed his eyes.

 

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed," Angeal said in a low voice.

 

Genesis sighed. "Fine. I've noticed. All the more reason for me to be unpleasant with him. I would hate the little idiot to suffer delusions. He needs to get over it." He looked at Sephiroth challengingly. "I suppose you would like to lecture me as well, General?"

 

Sephiroth shook his head, his silver hair swaying with the motion. "Under the circumstances, your logic is undeniably sound. Sometimes it's kinder to be cruel."

 

Genesis raised an eyebrow. "You're on my side? That's unusual."

 

"I'm aware that you've been suffering his doting for some time now," Sephiroth replied. "If this is the only way to deter his affections, so be it."

 

"I still think he could have gone a little easier on the poor kid," Zack grumbled.

 

~**************************************~

 

They had converted two of the bedrooms upstairs into offices for Lazard and Rufus. Lazard claimed the third bedroom as his own, rather than choose a separate home. He said it made more sense to live at headquarters than to take a home that could be used by a family. Sephiroth and the other officers climbed the stairs after informing the receptionist that they were there to give the Modeoheim report. Sephiroth knocked on Lazard's office door and waited until he heard the director's voice bidding him entry before opening it. He stepped inside and his companions followed, lining up beside him as they walked through the door. Sephiroth shut the door and gave Lazard a respectful nod.

 

"Good evening, Director."

 

Lazard raised one elegant blond brow as he looked them over. "I take it you ran into complications on your mission?"

 

"There was a WEAPON scouting Bone Village when we returned," explained Sephiroth.

 

"And, you didn't call it in?" Lazard didn't look pleased.

 

"We dispatched it ourselves," answered Sephiroth calmly. "There was no need to waste firepower. The carcass is outside the village, ready for scavenging if you wish to send teams out."

 

Lazard tapped his pen on the desk for a moment before nodding. "Very well. In the future, General, I would prefer you report it—even if you don't think backup is necessary. Should something have happened to any of you, we wouldn't have known to send medical or military help."

 

Sephiroth nodded curtly. "Of course, Director."

 

Lazard studied them all again his eyes settling on each grim face in turn before resting on Sephiroth once more. "What did you find in Modeoheim?"

 

"It was untouched when we arrived," Sephiroth answered. Before Lazard could relax, he finished: "The WEAPONS closed in while we were there. They converged on and destroyed the base."

 

Lazard's expression hardened briefly before slipping back into a cool, professional mask. "I see. Does this have something to do with the breach of protocol?"

 

Sephiroth cast a sidelong glance at each of his fellow officers before giving another curt nod. "It does."

 

"Are any of you injured?"

 

"Only minor bruises and scrapes," replied Sephiroth.

 

Lazard seemed impressed. "Very good, then. I want a full report in the morning. I'll send scavenger teams out to collect any viable parts from the remains of the creature. You are all dismissed."

 

Sephiroth nodded and he waited for the others to begin filing out before joining them. He paused at the door and turned to regard the director again.

 

"Was there something else, General?" Lazard's voice was polite and respectful.

 

"Yes, actually." Sephiroth motioned the others to come back in and they exchanged glances before doing so. "I think it's time for a change in ranks."

 

~*********************************~

 

Lazard agreed with Sephiroth's proposal. Angeal was bumped up from Lieutenant to Commander. While he still had to answer to Sephiroth, his new rank gave him greater authority over more Soldiers and his role was now more of a partnership with Sephiroth. Genesis was promoted to Angeal's Second in Command, while Zack was promoted to Sephiroth's. Last but not least, Cloud was promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant. As the five of them walked out of headquarters, Angeal was the one to speak up first.

 

"I'm not sure I understand," he said in a low voice. "I lost control out there and you've decided its grounds for a promotion?"

 

"But you didn't 'lose control'," Sephiroth answered, "not completely. Even in your rage, your attacks were focused and coordinated. You didn't turn on your comrades. If I'm going to have an officer give into a moment of fury, I'd prefer him to do it your way."

 

Angeal's dark brows hedged. "Interesting logic."

 

"As for the rest of you, Zackary again demonstrated his ability to improvise and find an advantage, even in unfavorable conditions." Sephiroth gave a nod to the one-eyed Soldier, who grinned and shrugged modestly.

 

"Genesis practiced remarkable restraint and worked well with his team," Sephiroth went on. "Until today, I wasn't certain he was capable of doing that."

 

Genesis rolled his eyes but he smiled a little.

 

Sephiroth looked at Cloud. "As for you, Cloud, I don't think a single one of us weren't impressed by your show of courage, tact and strength. It was your first time on the field without an entire army backing you, yet you kept your wits and fought well."

 

Cloud lowered his head shyly and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Thank you."

 

Zack chuckled and ruffled the blond's soft spikes affectionately. "Next he'll be saying: 'aww, shucks'."

 

Sephiroth graced his lover with an amused, crooked smile. "Well, have I given sufficient explanation or do you all require further ego stroking?"

 

"I vote for more ego stroking," Zack replied, raising his hand.

 

~***************************************~

 

"This is me," Zack said as they approached the house he shared with his wife. "Catch you guys later. Good fight."

 

The front door opened and Aerith stepped out, hardly giving Zack a chance to set foot on the path before she hurried over to him. She moved with surprising ease for a woman in her second trimester and Genesis swore under his breath as her green eyes immediately went from her husband to him.

 

"Wow, you're all filthy," Aerith said in relieved tones. She started to hug Zack but he warded her off.

 

"Like you said, I'm filthy and I don't want to get this stuff on your pretty little dress," he said after planting a quick kiss on her cheek.

 

Aerith nodded in understanding and her eyes settled on Genesis again, just as he was beginning to walk away with the others. "You didn't throw him, did you?"

 

Zack nearly laughed when Genesis flinched. It was so subtle it was nearly imperceptible. The redhead turned to regard her, his blotted face uncommonly solemn. "No, I did not." He looked at Zack and ratted on him. "He threw himself, this time."

 

Zack's amusement quickly faded to dread as his wife turned on him with a perplexed expression on her face. "What does that mean?"

 

"It means Gen's a tattle-tale," Zack growled, glaring at the poet. "Thanks a lot, man."

 

Genesis shrugged. "Better you than me. Good luck, Zack." Angeal and Cloud hid grins of amusement but Sephiroth continued walking. Genesis and the others joined him, leaving Zack to face Aerith alone.

 

Zack faced his wife with a sheepish grin. "Hey, I can explain."

 

Aerith pressed her lips together for a moment before responding. "I'd like to hear that. How do you throw yourself at a WEAPON?"

 

Zack waggled his eyebrows. "I could throw myself at you for a demonstration." He closed the distance between the two of them and Aerith cried his name and giggled in spite of herself as he put his arms around her and pretended to bite her neck.

 

"I thought you didn't want to get my dress dirty," she reminded him, putting up a minor struggle.

 

Zack backed off, grimacing as he checked her forest green dress for dirt. Thankfully, most of the stuff was dried so he only got a little bit on her. "Sorry honey."

 

"I don't mind," she assured him with a sweet smile. "I really do want to know how you threw yourself at a WEAPON though. You can tell me while you get cleaned up, okay?"

 

Zack put a hand on her shoulder, the closest to putting an arm around her as he dared. He planted another little kiss on her cheek. "The lady drives a hard bargain."

 

They went inside together and Aerith drew a warm bath for him while he removed his gear and undressed. He put his armor and weapon on the old rocking chair by the fireplace, so that he could clean it later. He dropped his soiled clothes in the empty washbucket, not wanting to mix it with other clothing articles. He reluctantly took his eyepatch off and dropped it on the kitchen counter by the sink. By now, he knew his wife hardly noticed his disfigurement but there was still some residual uncertainty he had to work through. Wearing nothing except the ID tags around his neck, he strolled into the bathroom. Aerith was seated on the edge of the tub, checking the water temperature.

 

"So are you going to scrub my back for me?" Zack said teasingly.

 

Aerith jumped a little and turned to look up at him. "Oh." Her gaze traveled below his waistline and she blatantly stared at his groin. "Um…hi."

 

Zack laughed outright. "Hey, I'm up here, babe." He pointed at his face and winked when she blushingly looked up from his jewels. "You don't get to complain anymore when I stare at your boobies."

 

"Okay, you've had your fun," she grumbled, averting her eyes bashfully. "Come and get in the tub."

 

Zack approached and he tried to curb his amusement as the pretty Cetra did her best not to stare at him. The fact that her belly was rounding out nicely with the pregnancy caused by their passion didn't seem to deter her bashfulness.

 

"You're cute," Zack complimented helplessly as he stepped into the tub and lowered his body. "Funny how we can do so much together and you still blush like a virgin when I'm—"

 

"Okay, Zack," Aerith interrupted, waving a hand blindly in his direction. She seated herself of the small stool, despite her obvious shyness.

 

Zack chuckled and reclined in the tub, enjoying the warm water. He reached for the soap and began to lather up. When he noticed that Aerith hadn't left her seat on the stool, he turned his head to grin at her. "You can scrub more than my back if you want, sweetheart."

 

"I...I'll just watch," she said. "And help you clean your hair. It's got some goop in it." Bless her, it looked like she'd planted her face on top of the oven, she was blushing so hard.

 

Zack fought another fit of laughter and he soaped up his face, neck and chest. "Aerith, I'm your husband," he reminded her. He took the washcloth hanging over the side of the tub and he began to bathe the lather from his skin.

 

"I know," she said in a slightly impatient tone, "but I like looking at you too much. I don't want you to think I'm a...a...you know...glutton."

 

Zack felt his groin stir warningly beneath the water and he carefully reigned himself in, casting a sidelong look at her distended belly. "That makes me feel good, Aerith."

 

She shifted restlessly on the stool. "I'm glad that my drooling over you makes you happy. Now duck, so I can shampoo your hair."

 

Zack narrowly avoided a snicker before obediently sliding down and ducking his head under the water to wet his hair. When he emerged again, she poured some shampoo into one palm and began to gently work it through his dark hair.

 

"So tell me," she prompted as he shut his eyes in bliss, "what happened in that fight?"

 

Zack told her all of the details. He considered leaving some out for the sake of her nerves but he couldn't even bring himself to tell her a white lie. She scrubbed his scalp lovingly as he explained and she instructed him to duck so that she could rinse out the suds. She finished cleaning his hair for him by the time he completed the "report" and Zack laid his damp head on her skirted thigh and sighed.

 

"Are you mad at me?"

 

He heard a soft giggle and he lifted his head hopefully to look up at her. Aerith was shaking her head slowly, gazing down at him with amused green eyes. "How can I be mad at you when you're so honest?"

 

"Well," Zack muttered, at a loss, "because you said you didn't want to hear about anyone throwing me at WEAPONS. I figured you'd be kind of pissed if you found out I did it."

 

She stroked his face and jaw with damp fingertips and she sighed. "I won't lie and say I'm happy about it, but you were doing this sort of thing long before you met me. I think you know what you're doing, Zack. It scares me, but I've got to learn to accept that part of who you are."

 

Zack impulsively placed a kiss on her rounded belly whilst catching one of her hands. "God, you're just so...cool! You were so harsh with Gen over it, I thought I was a dead man when he blabbered on me."

 

Aerith smirked. "It was a shock to hear that one of your friends threw you at a WEAPON. I really didn't know how to deal with it and we had so much going on...maybe I should apologize to Genesis."

 

Zack nearly agreed with her but a wicked impulse took hold. He shook his head and nuzzled her abdomen again. "Hold up on that. I think Gen's had it coming for a while and for some reason, you've got a vice on his balls."

 

"Zack!" Aerith sounded properly scandalized, but she ruined it with a chuckle and she reached into the tub to splash him playfully. "That's mean."

 

"I'm just saying, maybe you shouldn't be so quick to apologize," Zack suggested. He arose enough in the tub to give her a kiss on the mouth. "You've been holding that grudge for this long, right?"

 

Aerith smiled, betraying her moral speech. "Maybe he does," she said in a neutral tone. She traced the outer shell of Zack's left ear with a fingertip. "You have cute ears."

 

"Huh?" Zack blushed and resisted the urge to cover said ears with his hands. "How'd we get on that subject?" He had always thought his ears were a bit too big.

 

"Made you blush." Aerith favored him with a delighted grin. "But, it's true. You really do have cute ears."

 

"I've got cute other things, too," Zack mumbled as her lips closed the distance to kiss him. One of those "other things" was now peeking out of the water because of Aerith's sweet flirtation.

 

"Yes," Aerith agreed softly when their lips parted again. She reached down and petted the flushed tip of Zack's erection, which was displaying itself like a playful dolphin. "Very cute."

 

Zack was caught somewhere between laughter and arousal. Aerith was always so timid until provoked.

 

~***************************************~

 

Lazard was halfway through reading the construction progress reports when there was a knock on his office door. He put the document down and gave permission to enter. Reeve opened the door and walked in.

 

"Good evening, Director. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important. Professor Rui wants to see you in the lab."

 

Lazard stacked the pile of documents neatly on his desk and stood up. "What is this about?"

 

"It's about the flu virus going around. She's developed a vaccine for it but she wants your approval to start administering it to the public." Reeve was looking at him oddly, as if waiting for something.

 

Lazard shrugged and sat back down. "Tell her she has my approval." He began to resume his work, wishing to get to sleep before midnight.

 

Reeve cleared his throat. "She wants to speak with you personally."

 

The Director frowned up at him. "Whatever for? You said she needed authorization and I'm giving it to her."

 

"She didn't go into details," Reeve explained with an elegant shrug. "She only said that she wants to speak with you. I assume she has something else to discuss."

 

Lazard sighed. He wasn't comfortable around Shalua Rui, for reasons he refused to admit. Being alone with her only made him more...uncomfortable. "Fine. I suppose you'll be heading that way?"

 

"Well, my workshop is in the basement of the same building, so yes." Reeve's dark eyes were far too studious for Lazard's liking. "Let's go together, shall we?"

 

~***********************************~

 

"Well, you wanted to speak with me. Here I am." Lazard's lack of formality was a by-product of his annoyance. Reeve was beside him. He didn't know why the man chose to visit Shalua's lab with him but he was distantly grateful.

 

Shalua stopped peering into the microscope on the counter and got off of the stool she was sitting on. Lazard noticed with annoyance that as always, she was wearing a skirt and top combination that was better suited to a nightclub than lab work. This time, she had chosen black and purple colors. The white lab coat she wore over it was open, doing nothing to conceal her attire or other...parts.

 

"Good of you to come, Lazard." A little smile graced her lips, as if she knew it annoyed him when she addressed him by his given name. "Have you considered my request?"

 

"Yes. You have my approval to go ahead with the vaccinations."

 

She nodded, her thick brown hair stirring with the motion. "Thank you. We'll get started on it right away, then."

 

Lazard waited and she turned her back to him and started toward the microscope. "Was there something else?" He persisted. Now that he considered it, there was something strange about Reeve coming with him into her lab, if she wanted to have a private word with him.

 

Shalua half-turned to regard him. Her cybernetic hand held a pen and she tapped it on her outer thigh as if in thought. "Nothing in particular. Oh, I'm being rude, aren't I? I didn't say goodnight. Have a good evening, Lazard."

 

"I thought you wanted to speak with me about something." Lazard was confused and a little suspicious.

 

Her good eye met his gaze and her brows furrowed over the rims of her glasses. "Yes, I wanted your approval for inoculations. Now you've given it." She returned to the microscope on the counter and began to write something down on a pad of paper sitting beside it. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything important with my request."

 

Lazard glanced at Reeve narrowly, but the engineer was walking away from him, to Shalua's side. "How is your sister?" Reeve asked her.

 

"She's getting better with each day," answered Shalua. "Although I'd prefer not to see her badgered with questions until she can go for more than three hours without getting tired."

 

"Of course," Reeve assured her. "My main interest is in the Protomateria." He gestured at the microscope. "May I?"

 

"Help yourself," she invited.

 

Lazard was just about to leave, deciding he could question Reeve over dragging him here later. Reeve bumped Shalua's pen with his elbow as he leaned over the microscope and it rolled off the counter and onto the floor.

 

"Oh, I'm sorry," Reeve apologized, stepping aside. "I seem to be clumsy, today."

 

"It's all right, Shalua soothed. "I'll get it."

 

Lazard had taken three steps toward the door and he stopped when the woman bent over to pick the pen up. Her back was to him and her action presented him with a good view of her calves. The material of her lab coat stretched taut over her bottom and Lazard's eyes did a sweep of the sight before he tore them away. His glasses were fogging up.

 

"Good evening," he bade the two of them in a deceptively even voice. He avoided looking at Shalua again and he left the lab.

 

Reeve watched him go and when Lazard was out the door, he smiled. "I thought so."

 

Shalua straightened up again and placed her pen back on the counter. "Pardon?"

 

"Pay no attention to me," he answered smoothly. "I tend to ramble when I'm in the middle of discovering something."

 

~*******************************~

 

Lazard returned to headquarters with the intention of finishing his paperwork. Tseng was in the reception area when he walked through the door and Lazard paused, guessing the Turk Director had a reason for being there. None of the other Turks were present and Tseng stood near the kitchen with his hands clasped behind his back and a pensive frown on his face.

 

"Hello, Tseng." Lazard shut the front door and approached him, giving the man a respectful nod. "Conducting a late-night meeting?"

 

The Wutaian Turk shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Director. I came looking for you."

 

"I see." Lazard was used to people coming and going but there was something in the raven-haired man's expression that gave him pause. The grim look on his face seemed more pronounced than average because he usually gave nothing away. "What do you need to speak with me about?"

 

"I think we should discuss this in your office," suggested Tseng. "To ensure privacy."

 

Lazard inclined his head in agreement and the two of them went upstairs together. Once his office door was shut and locked, Tseng resumed speaking.

 

"It's the President," answered Tseng. "He decided to have a more thorough examination for his cough and the results have come in."

 

Lazard almost asked what business it was of his but he knew Tseng wouldn't be here discussing it with him if it weren't significant. "What did they find?"

 

"He has a growth in his lungs."

 

"Cancer?" Lazard was surprised. Rufus wasn't a smoker and he was young and healthy. Cancer didn't run in their family; at least, not on their father's side. Perhaps Rufus' mother was a different matter.

 

Tseng shook his head. "No, it isn't a typical cancer growth. It behaves in much the same way, however."

 

Lazard didn't know how he should feel. The resentment between the two of them ran deep, but he had never actually wished Rufus dead. His company destroyed and his reputation ruined, certainly. Not this, though. "Do they know the cause?"

 

"They'll send the biopsy data to the lab for further analysis, but it's believed that the culprit is the chemical exposure he suffered in an accident, approximately ten months ago."

 

Lazard knew nothing of any accident, but it was hardly surprising. Up until their colonies merged, he and Rufus avoided all but the most necessary communication with one another. "What accident?"

 

"The weapons development team was researching a new kind of explosive. They hoped to create bombs powerful enough to destroy the large WEAPONS in one strike." Tseng paused and regarded the Director coolly. "The only reason I'm telling you this is because you share the highest level of authority with the President. You will have full command of all our forces, should his condition advance to a stage where he cannot perform his duties."

 

"I understand," assured Lazard grimly. "Please, continue."

 

"There was an incident in the lab when President Shinra went in for a progress report. The chemical mixture was unstable. The container storing it broke open and the President was exposed to the fumes that leaked out. He and Scarlet sealed off the lab until the gas could be cleared. They were both examined after the incident but no adverse effects were found. Needless to say, the project was abandoned and the mixture was disposed of."

 

Lazard visualized it in his head against his will, imagining his half-brother choking on mysterious fumes. It wasn't a pleasant thought, despite his contempt for the man. "What was the mixture composed of?"

 

"It's my understanding that the primary ingredient was Mako," clarified the Turk. "The secondary ingredients were common explosive chemicals. There was an unexpected reaction, which caused the build-up of fumes and changed the properties."

 

"And there were no signs at all of illness?"

 

Tseng shook his head. "None. The President's cough was at first thought to be a symptoms of dust allergies."

 

"What about Scarlet?" Lazard pressed, "has she shown symptoms as well?"

 

"She's begun to develop a cough too," confirmed Tseng grimly. "Hers is mild in comparison, but they've also scanned and tested her. The growth is forming in her lungs as well."

 

"What treatment options are they considering?"

 

"The first consideration was Mako therapy," answered Tseng with a shake of his raven head, "but though the growth behaves like cancer, Mako therapy isn't a likely option due to the nature of the cause. It might even encourage the growth, rather than kill it. They need to run more tests."

 

Lazard started to sigh, but he checked himself. "Tseng, have they confirmed that this could be fatal, or are you simply covering bases by discussing this with me?"

 

The Turk hesitated and his jaw tightened visibly for a moment. "If they can't find a way to treat it, I'm afraid it will eventually kill both of them."

 

So that was it, then. Tseng's reasons for coming to him were twofold. A bleak, hollow feeling grew in Lazard's breast. Being slowly eaten alive from the inside was no way for a man like Rufus Shinra to go out. Differences aside, there was a genetic sense of pride distilled in both of them and the indignity of it was just...wrong.

 

"I presume Rufus isn't aware that you've come to inform me of all this?" His voice was cool, business-like. His confused emotions were anything but.

 

"No. I'd like to keep it that way, Director."

 

Lazard nodded, understanding that Tseng's choice to come to him with this information might be seen as a betrayal of confidence. "I'll leave it to him to speak to me, when he feels the time is right. Thank you, Tseng."

 

~*********************************~

 

The morning brought with it a desire to wake her boyfriend up in a most interesting way. Tifa lay in the bed they shared with her head on Reno's chest and before she consciously realized what she was doing, she slipped a hand beneath the covers and stroked him off until he was hard. Smiling in satisfaction, she gracefully straddled him and kissed his parted lips. He began to wake and he grinned up at her, his tourmaline gaze sliding over her nudity with interest.

 

"So, what are you after, sexy thing?"

 

Tifa smirked at him, admiring the way his unbound hair spread out beneath him like a red fan. "Guess."

 

Reno groaned softly as she grasped his erection and stroked it. "I'm all yours, toots."

 

Tifa suppressed a giggle. It was so nice to have their own private little house, where they could conduct intimate moments like this without worrying about who might be listening. The tragedy of losing Cosmo Canyon and Modeoheim faded with each day, as she grew accustomed to living in the Forgotten City. It was a shame to lose the bases to Gaia's forces, but she was quietly grateful to live like a true villager again. The city and individual homes brought a gift of freedom.

 

She was ready and eager for him, having woken in a state of arousal. She positioned his sex and carefully sank down on it, moaning softly with pleasure. Reno's hands settled on her hips supportively and his eyes grew heavy-lidded as she slowly sheathed him.

 

"Can't get enough of you," he confessed breathlessly when he was completely inside of her.

 

She lowered her head to kiss him and she began to undulate, slowly at first. His hands stroked her ass and he grunted softly as he began to reciprocate her movements. Tifa parted her lips and allowed his tongue to slide into her mouth and fence with hers. She brushed her dark hair over one shoulder and placed her hands flat against his chest for support as she broke the kiss and sat up.

 

Tifa rocked steadily on top of Reno, gasping softly with pleasure as she gazed down at him. His hands cupped her ample breasts, fondling them as she rode him. He shifted beneath her, matching her pelvic motions with his own.

 

"God, you're so fucking good, baby," Reno gasped, his eyes fluttering shut.

 

"Glad you approve," she murmured back in a breathless voice.

 

She arched her back and shut her eyes, enjoying the feel of him shifting inside of her and the tingling pleasure of his hands stroking her nipples. One of his hands ceased its fondling and caressed its way down her stomach. Tifa shuddered as Reno's skilled fingers slipped between her thighs to rub her clit. Maybe she was good but when it came to taking care of her needs, Reno was the best.

 

Tifa moved faster, bouncing a little as his touch ignited her passion further. "Reno," she panted, feeling a familiar coil of tension tightening inside of her.

 

"That's it," he encouraged huskily, "use me, Tifa. I wanna feel you squeezing me tight, baby."

 

She distantly wondered how he'd react if she used his own handcuffs on him. Reno seemed to get off on being owned. Tifa couldn't think about it further, though. Her climax was approaching quickly and her breath caught as she stared down at him. His pale features were flushed with pleasure and his eyes were intense. The crescent tattoos over his cheekbones weren't as obvious due to the color in his cheeks. She arched over him and kissed him as she came, her soft cry of release muffled by his lips.

 

"Unh...shit," Reno blurted against her mouth as she clenched rhythmically around his cock.

 

Tifa felt the warm spurt of his release as he twitched inside of her. She broke the kiss and smiled down at him, enjoying his expression of pleasure. Reno gasped and moaned as his orgasm played out, his hips lifting to drive his sex deeply into her body.

 

"Marry me," Reno panted, grinning.

 

Tifa chuckled and kissed his parted mouth. He always said that when she surprised him with sex. "You're silly."

 

"What?" He replied breathlessly, "who wouldn't want to marry a chick that wakes him up this way in the morning?"

 

"I thought Turks weren't allowed to marry," she teased. She relaxed on top of him and laid her head on his chest, appreciating the feel of his softening member inside of her.

 

Reno shrugged. "Tseng did. It's more of a guideline than a rule, yo. I say we go for it."

 

"Let's just save the world first, then we'll see if you still feel that way." Tifa smiled and lifted up to give him another kiss. She knew he was being flippant when he said it and it didn't bother her. "I'm hungry."

 

Reno kissed her in return and he settled his hand on her hips again to help her dismount him. "I'll make us some flapjacks, kiddo. After a lay like that, you deserve it." He gave her a light smack on the bottom and grinned as she got off the bed.

 

"You enjoy doing that too much," Tifa accused with a soft smile. She grabbed the black bathrobe she had draped over the chair beside the bed and she pulled it on.

 

"What, sex?" Reno propped himself up on one elbow and winked at her. "Hello, man here."

 

She chuckled and tied the robe shut, shaking her head. "I mean the smacking. You're always smacking me on the butt."

 

He shrugged, his eyes straying to said body part. "What can I say? It's a cute butt and it begs to be smacked." He reached out to do it again but she nimbly dodged aside. "Party pooper."

 

"You just worry about making breakfast, like you promised." She gave him a wink of her own. "I'm going to the restroom."

 

Reno sighed. "I spoil ya, you know."

 

Tifa leaned over him and gave him one last kiss. "I like your pancakes."

 

With that said, she went to the bathroom to clean up. She listened to the sound of him getting breakfast ready and she smiled. Reno really did make the best pancakes she'd ever eaten. He might grumble about it but she knew he enjoyed cooking them for her. She flushed the toilet and brushed her hair before leaving the bathroom.

 

Tifa threw a smile Reno's way as she passed by the small kitchen and he returned it with a wink. She went outside to look at the sunrise and she spotted Rude stepping out of the house across the path. Tifa waved at him and he gave her a nod and a reserved smile of greeting. Rude was sharing a house with Elena and it was common knowledge that he was dating Jessie. Tifa couldn't guess how serious it was but thankfully; Jessie didn't seem to have any issues with him having a woman as a roommate. Tifa guessed it was because she shared a house with Biggs and Wedge. It would be hypocritical for her to be upset over her boyfriend living with another woman when she lived with two men.

 

"Maybe they'll move in together sometime," Tifa reasoned softly as Rude walked back into his house and shut the door.

 

She liked Reno's quiet, bald partner. He was a gentleman and he kept Reno from doing stupid things in combat. Tifa imagined her boyfriend going into a fight without his levelheaded companion at his side and she shivered. Yes, she greatly appreciated Rude. The aroma of cooking pancakes wafted through the open window and she inhaled deeply with appreciation. Her stomach rumbled and she started to go back inside when she noticed a Soldier standing outside Lieutenant Rhapsodos' and Hewley's house a few buildings down.

 

There was something peculiar about the way the young man was standing. He looked nervous. Tifa's instinctive urge to soothe kicked in and she walked over to him on slipper-bedecked feet, concerned. He noticed her approaching and he looked even more uncomfortable.

 

"Good morning," Tifa greeted, "Is everything all right?" She thought she could hear the sound of sloshing water through the small window that the Soldier was standing next to.

 

"F-fine, ma'am. I was just...uh...checking the crack I worked on yesterday." He patted the side of the outer wall, where Tifa could see a thin, freshly patched area. "Looks okay. Um, have a good morning!"

 

The man took off before Tifa could say anything else to him. In his haste, he dropped his phone and she bent over to pick it up. "Hey, you dropped—" Tifa began but when she saw the screen, her words lodged in her throat. "—this."

 

~********************************~

 

Zack groaned and stirred at the incessant sound of knocking on the front door. Aerith murmured and he kissed her and told her to go back to sleep as he rolled out of bed and tugged his pajama pants on. Who the hell could be knocking at this hour? His first thought was that there might be a WEAPON in their territory. It was the most reasonable cause he could think of for someone to be knocking at his door at the crack of dawn. He climbed down the ladder and stumbled to the front door, covering his mouth on a yawn. He wasn't expecting to find Cloud's friend Tifa standing there in a robe and slippers.

 

"Oh, hey," Zack greeted sleepily. "Something wrong?"

 

Tifa's brown eyes were wide and she thrust a satellite phone at him. "I'm sorry to disturb you. I tried to get Cloud," she explained, "but nobody answered the door. I guess he's in a tree somewhere with Sephiroth. Just look at this!"

 

Zack rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and took the phone from her. When he saw the image on the screen, he blinked. "Uh...that's Gen. Naked Gen."

 

Tifa nodded rapidly. "Uh-huh. I thought about taking it to them but I wasn't sure that was a good idea!"

 

Zack stared at the picture of his friend in the bathtub and he felt his brows hedge. "What the hell...whose phone is this?" His sleep-fogged mind immediately assumed it was Angeal's phone, but imagining his mentor taking naked pictures of his lover was not only too disturbing to cope with, but highly unlikely.

 

"There was a Soldier standing outside Lieutenant Hewley and Lieutenant Rhapsodos' house," Tifa explained, blushing, "He said he was looking at a crack he fixed yesterday and he ran off and dropped the phone."

 

"Private Hill," guessed Zack. He cycled through the photos stored on the phone and grimaced. "Shit, every single one of these are pictures of Gen-Gen." Genesis in the tub, Genesis by the transports, Genesis leaving the city. There were older ones of Genesis in Modeoheim, hinting that the owner of the phone had been taking photos of him without his knowledge for some time, now.

 

"Did I do the right thing, bringing it to you?" Tifa sounded uncertain. "Maybe I should have brought it to Lieutenant Rhapsodos first."

 

Zack thought of Genesis' temper and the way Angeal went off the deep end the day before. "Yeah, you did the right thing bringing it to me first. Don't say anything to anybody, Tifa. That kid will be dead meat if Gen or Ange find out about this. I'll handle it."

 

"What are you going to do?" Tifa asked.

 

Zack powered down the phone and sighed. "I'm going to try to find the General. I think a court martial might be coming, here." He gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Thanks for letting me know, sweetheart. I'll handle it from here out."

 

"I just hope nobody gets hurt," Tifa responded in a guilty tone.

 

"That's why I'm gonna handle it," Zack assured her.

 

When she left, Zack got dressed and considered his options. Telling Gen or Angeal about this was out of the question, at least for now. Tifa said she had tried knocking on Cloud's door but he guessed the blond and Sephiroth just chose not to answer it. Shaking his head, Zack called out to Aerith that he had something to take care of and he assured her it had nothing to do with battle.

 

~****************************~

 

"Go away," Cloud grumbled into the pillow. "Sleeping."

 

The insistent knocking continued and Sephiroth raised his head from the pillow, his shiny hair tangled and unkempt. "Who in the hell is that?" If there were an emergency, he expected to be contacted by phone.

 

"Don't know," Cloud grumbled, "but I'm going to kill them." He tugged the covers aside and stumbled out of bed, grabbing blindly for his robe. He yanked the robe on and he didn't bother using the ladder leading from the bedroom to the main part of the house. He jumped down with a "thump" and staggered to the front door with his eyes half-shut.

 

"What do you—" Cloud muttered as he pulled the door open. A phone was thrust in his face, with an image of Genesis in the bathtub gracing the screen. "—want?"

 

Cloud's eyes went round as his brain registered what he was seeing. "Umglaublich!"

 

Zack nodded. "I don't know what that means but that was pretty much my reaction too, buddy."

 

Cloud stared stupidly as Zack's fingers pressed the buttons and cycled through various snapshots of Genesis doing things from eating to walking to taking a piss. "Uh...never knew you went that way, Zack."

 

"It's not my phone," Zack chuckled. "Your girlfriend Tifa found it. She caught Private Hill peeping in Gen and Angeal's window and he dropped it when he ran away."

 

Cloud blinked. "So...he's been taking these pictures all this time?" His pity for the Soldier in question rapidly declined and he felt nauseous.

 

Zack nodded. "Yup. He's not just some guy crushing on Gen—he's a fucking stalker."

 

Sephiroth came up behind Cloud, dressed in a pair of drawstring pants. "What is this about?"

 

Zack showed him the photos and Sephiroth's eyebrows migrated to his hairline. "I...see."

 

Zack put the phone in his pocket. "So what are we going to do about this? I mean, we can't just let it go but I think Gen would skin this kid alive if he found out. Angeal's so stressed out right now, I don't think he'd handle it with his regular stoicism."

 

"We'll investigate Private Hill's home ourselves," Sephiroth answered. "We'll confiscate anything relating to Genesis and put him under arrest. There's no need to drag Genesis or Angeal into this, right now."

 

"Man, I'm glad you said that," Zack sighed with relief.

 

~*******************************~

 

Some time later, Sephiroth knocked on the door of the house that Private Hill shared with a handful of other cadets. A woman peeked out and her eyes rounded at the sight of the General.

 

"Sir," she said respectfully as she pulled the door open. "Is there something I can—"

 

"I need a word with Private Hill," Sephiroth interrupted coolly.

 

"H-he's not in right now," she answered, standing aside to allow Sephiroth, Cloud and Zack in. "I think you can find him at the grocery."

 

"Cloud, go and find Private Hill," ordered Sephiroth with a nod at the blond. "Zackary and I will investigate his personal affects."

 

Cloud took off without a word and the woman cadet stared up at Sephiroth as if she'd swallowed a bug. "Investigate, sir?"

 

"We have reason to believe that Hill has been conducting behavior un-suitable for a Soldier," Sephiroth explained in a monotone. "Have you noticed anything odd about his reactions? Particularly around Lieutenant Rhapsodos."

 

She seemed confused. "Not really, Sir. I know he looks up to the Lieutenant, but he hasn't done anything strange, as far as I know."

 

"Show us where he keeps his belongings."

 

She saluted him, not daring to question his authority. "Yes sir. Right this way."

 

Zack and Sephiroth followed the woman up the ladder, into the bedroom. There were four single beds and she indicated a trunk at the foot of the one in the middle. "This is his. He keeps it locked—"

 

Sephiroth knelt down before the trunk and forcibly pulled the lock open with one hand before she finished speaking. "You are dismissed, Private."

 

She ogled him with wide eyes for a moment before gathering her wits and saluting. "Sir." She left without another word.

 

Zack put his hand on his knees and leaned over as Sephiroth opened the trunk. "I don't know what you think we're going to find here, Seph."

 

Sephiroth shrugged and pulled a stack of books out. "Possibly nothing. I'd rather not miss evidence, however." He found something and lifted it out of the trunk with a bemused expression.

 

Zack stared at the object and he felt his face screw up. "Um...okay. Looks like a dreamcatcher."

 

Sephiroth let the hand-made item dangle and spin. The black feathers tied to the dreamcatcher were undeniably from Genesis' wing. "And I thought my obsessions were unhealthy."

 

"He...he made a dreamcatcher from Gen's feathers?" Zack stared at the item for a moment before the absurdity of it struck his funny bone. He started to snicker helplessly. "Oh man...oh fuck...this is just too funny!"

 

"I fail to see the humor." Sephiroth watched the dreamcatcher slowly spin and he frowned. As a recipient of inappropriate adoration himself, he didn't find the situation particularly funny. Cloud was the only person whose affections he welcomed. Zack, however, seemed to think it was a knee-slapper.

 

"Oh god, I can't breathe," Zack complained between chuckles. "Shiva's tits, that's so twisted! Poor Gen!"

 

Sephiroth wanted to reprimand Zack, but he unwittingly pictured the look on Genesis' face when he discovered how deeply his subordinate's infatuation went. Without meaning to, the silver warrior began to join Zack's laughter—though at a more reserved volume.

 

"All right," Sephiroth said when he regained control of his amusement. "We've had fun at Genesis' expense. Concentrate, Zackary. We need to check for further evidence to prosecute this man."

 

"Sure thing." Zack cleared his throat and tried to look serious, but he burst into laughter again as soon as Sephiroth put the dreamcatcher aside. "Sorry man," he snickered when the General glared at him. "It's just...Gen's going to have a fucking cow!"

 

Sephiroth had to cover his mouth for a moment as his lips twitched of their own volition. "Indeed, he will."

 

~*********************************~

 

-To be continued