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Chapter Text

Insane Sephiroth is chained with their strongest binds. Cloud stares at him. He's silent and quiet. Fast asleep ever since they found him. With his head hanging low and legs sprawled over the chair.

No one speaks as they stare at him. He has short hair. Zack thinks for a moment that even without his long hair he's beautiful as a painting. Sephiroth is just like that, unattainable beauty out of this world.

"Is this who you told us became a god?" Genesis mocks future Sephiroth's state. Chained inside a cell from the labs makes him look pathetic. Any other day Genesis and Angeal would've hated the sight. But he is not their Sephiroth. Or so Cloud says. That doesn't stop Genesis and Angeal from feeling uneasy.

Their Sephiroth stands still as he studies his... insane self. That person is not him, he tries to tell himself. One glance at Angeal and Genesis reassures him of that. Zack squeezes his arm in support. From anyone else Sephiroth would've moved before they even dare to touch him. Unused to touch and unwilling to be the object of affection to others. Without his consent of course.

Strife is tense, as if his past demons are ready to jump and bite him. A common sign of PTSD. The others have tried to keep sane Sephiroth away from Cloud as much as possible. Sane Sephiroth hates walking eggshells around someone he doesn't even know. But he also understands their logic behind it. Even if he hates cutting time with his lovers when Strife is around them.

Insane Sephiroth opens his eyes and Cloud gets ready to attack. It feels ridiculous to the lovers because Sephiroth wouldn't hurt them. But this version of Sephiroth, who knows what he'll do.

"Cloud," his voice is a purr. He cocks his head to the side slowly. But not in a human way, but in an alien sort of way. It gives them an uncanny valley sort of feeling.

"He doesn't look human," Zack whispers. Angeal gives him a look after they watch sane Sephiroth purse his lips and narrow his eyes. "Right," Zack apologizes.

His gaze changes when he spots Genesis, Angeal, and Zack. His insane self seems to ignore him as if he doesn't exist. "Angeal...?" His voice is softer than Cloud's ever heard.

When Cloud first recalled his entire tale the FIRSTS called him a lunatic. Why wouldn't they? They are together after all, something Cloud did not know. They are keen on protecting Sephiroth, who Cloud has learned is more like a kicked puppy than anything else. It's weird for him to have a nice Sephiroth who looks hurt everytime Cloud flinches. Someone who doesn't laugh in delight as Cloud violently shakes and screams in rage.

What Cloud did not expect was for his Sephiroth to act coy and victimize himself in front of everyone. They're not going to believe Cloud now. Or even if they do, they will keep his Sephiroth alive to help him. Cloud knows there is no helping this man at all. "Don't listen to him. He's just playing." He means it, he hopes it's enough for them to get the hint.

"Zack..?" Sephiroth's voice breaks and waives. Genesis and Angeal are a little shocked. Even when their Sephiroth comes out of the labs looking like a roasted turkey who was eaten alive, he does not whimper. Their sex filled afternoons' sighs and pants do not count. Heaven knows how each member melted at hearing the General whimper and lose himself for the first time.

"Hey... buddy," Zack's tension from all the bad stuff Cloud's preached about insane Sephiroth is gone in an instant. He steps closer to the cell but Cloud screams no, he sounds terrified.

Sane Sephiroth from his part breathes shakily. Perhaps Cloud was wrong. Perhaps those horrible atrocities were not committed by him. Perhaps he is a wutai spy. Or a crazy hater. But all the evidence points to Cloud's story being true.

"Zack," Insane Sephiroth calls again. Everything hurts. Where is Mother? Oh, oh, he feels her running through his veins. But far away, distant. His head throbs as he tries to become one with Mother. Wetness spreads to his lips and down to his chin. The sounds that dare escape him are pathetic, beneath him. Yet he can't stop once he sets his eyes on Genesis and Angeal.

He's back, they're back. They're his again. They died and left him alone with nothing but Mother and Cloud. Their pity faces don't make him angry. The joy that bursts out of his chest is inexplicable. Suddenly he yearns to feel their touch again. When was the last time he let another's touch soothe him?

"Genesis, Angeal," His slurry voice comes out weak and fragile. Unlike his strong and steady baritone voice.

"Oh darling." Genesis lets out a shaky breath he was holding deep down in his being. The thought of actually fighting Sephiroth is nefarious. How can he harm poor, poor Sephiroth who doesn't even know himself half of the time. "All this time and you just needed us."

No, no, what he needed was Mother. He needs to- to harvest the energy and become a god. He glares and sneers at Genesis. He once told him to rot. The smell coming from the redhead is putrid and rancid. Sephiroth wonders how he did not notice a lifetime ago. It seems for all the hero Cloud is, he cared less about curing and saving Genesis and Angeal. Sephiroth can smell the degradation. Corrupting them, decaying them.

His usual pretentious and smug voice that is more of a purr at this point than a normal voice is gone. It startles Cloud up to the point of lowering the buster sword. But he stands to protect and destroy as that usual angry face is directed towards Genesis. He will never change. He tells himself and hopes the others see it too. He can't fight everyone at the same time if they decide Cloud is crazy.

Cloud's not even sure he has the strength to do so anymore. Vincent is comatose in Nibelheim. Arieth is nothing but a girl who doesn't have her powers yet. Tifa as well, she's stuck at Nibelheim in safety with her Father. Or will his Sephiroth fly away and burn down his town again? Cloud made sure Ma left the town. She will be safe away from the town. Jenova is not in the reactor. He's not sure where she is to be honest.

Surprising them all, Angeal is the one to step inside the cage. Cloud is not having it so he pushes him outside. Only to be met with Masamune straight to his chest.

No one breathes for a moment as Cloud also stabs insane Sephiroth to kill him.

Genesis's whole world tingles with blackness as the rage and despair take over. "What are you doing!" He cannot be serious. If Genesis doesn't cast cure soon enough Cloud and Sephiroth will be dead. Sane Sephiroth helps Cloud while everybody else runs to insane Sephiroth.

Zack's frozen because there is no way his buddy stabbed Sephiroth. Soldier FIRST class Sephiroth who wakes up in the mornings alongside Zack, completely tense and awkward. All because he's emotionally stunted. Sephiroth who tripped the first time Genesis and Angeal asked him out on a date. Sephiroth who snuggled into his apartment at three in the morning after a nasty lab session that left him shaking and panting mako. "NO!" His roar that leaves his lips is thunderous. Murderous. He has to painfully grab his Sephiroth's arm or he'll think he would disappear at any moment.

"You bastard." Cloud says through gritted teeth. The planet will surely not let him die. He is the last of her protectors either way. And his Sephiroth won't die like the cockroach he is.

"Stay out of the way, Cloud." His voice is so menacing and out of place Cloud stares. Even with Masamune inside him- well that sounded wrong- Cloud's mind wanders to all the times his Sephiroth has all but purred and preached Cloud is his puppet. A desire to make Cloud join Sephiroth's deranged reunion. In a weird creepy way. What Sephiroth is asking him now however… is what Cloud has wanted all along. To be left alone. Then why does it feel wrong? Everyone is alive. He should feel happy. But a tiny part of him fears- no, no, it must be Sephiroth who's putting ideas into his head. Cloud does not desire to be near his Sephiroth. He doesn't hate how his Sephiroth is pushing him away! He should be glad that insane Sephiroth is no longer talking about reunion and his weird alien mommy.

"Stop, stop controlling me!" He growls at Sephiroth. He won't be his puppet. He's not getting attached to Sephiroth due to some parasite alien cells that work like bluetooth.

Cloud splutters blood as something else hits him from behind. It's Angeal who looks the angriest Genesis has seen him. Then everything goes dark for Cloud. He needs- his team.

Insane Sephiroth blinks. He did not expect anyone to save him like a damsel in distress. Much less hurt Cloud, hero of the planet. Angeal runs towards him despite his hostility towards Cloud. He looks down at the tears that freely fall from his eyes. No one's trusted him in a decade. Yet Angeal and Zack are willing to trust him so easily despite what Cloud has surely poisoned them with. Which is the truth.

With a slight delight he realizes he has control over Cloud. He is back at Shinra where he is loved by everyone. Sephiroth's word will be trusted more than Cloud's.

People are willing to kill for him. Similar to Angeal who attacked Cloud even though Sephiroth gave the first deadly blow. 'Fucking Chocobo' He thinks. He won't let Cloud die so easily. He is his puppet whether he likes it or not. His resources are vast and enormous with Shinra and all Midgar backing him up. Who could ever believe Cloud over their beloved General? The problem of course, is his younger self who looks like a kicked puppy.

Sephiroth abhors to admit it but his younger self looks like a drowned wet kitten. The bangs that give an illusion to cat ears don't help. Suddenly all those memories from all those years come back. People who randomly compare him to cats. The Wutainese usually compared him to a snake. After all that's happened, Sephiroth knows there are no words to describe what Mother is. She is a Goddess. Infinite in her wisdom. But where he sits his younger self looks like a drowned cat who just got their favorite toy taken away. His younger self looks disappointed and sad Cloud stabbed future him. What was he expecting? A kiss? Insane Sephiroth laughs. That is… that is…

He stills. A kiss from Cloud. Thinking of a kiss shouldn't make him all tingly. It's this weak human body. Insane Sephiroth detests it.

Angeal lays him down. An action Sephiroth would've ripped anyone apart for trying. It's almost adorable the way Genesis starts casting spell after spell. Not knowing Sephiroth is a god. Thinking quickly, insane Sephiroth lets himself be pampered. His wounds do not close like they should've with Mother's cells. He lets them do all the work because- because Genesis is warming him with his magic and Angeal is softly brushing his lips against-

He gasps slowly and quietly. Almost like a kiss to the wind. He parts his lips open and blinks at the bright lights above him. How long has it been since he felt his past lovers' touch? Sephiroth isn't aware he's sobbing until Zack whispers small reassurances in his ear. "I hate seeing you cry Seph. We're all here for you ok?" His spikes are less and softer than Clouds.

Sephiroth knows how spiky and pointy Cloud's hair is. After all the times he's run his hands through them. Even when Cloud was unwilling to let Sephiroth get near him. Why is he comparing Zack to Cloud anyway? He frowns slightly. Sephiroth barely gave it any thought. But Cloud has Zack's memories. Perhaps that is why. Perhaps that is why Sephiroth toyed with Cloud instead of killing him. He is his toy to play with, his puppet. Everything Cloud does and is, Sephiroth demands it.

He wonders if Cloud ever loved hi- no. The thought is criminal. To think Cloud stole even that from Zack. Really, he chuckles mentally with all the disdain in the world. Cloud tried to take away everything that Zack is. First class soldier. A SOLDIER. Even Arieth's friendship. Sephiroth frowns, that cetra who runs among his puppet and Zack. He clenches his fist, only to lose all of its strength and vigor as Zack squeezes their hands together. He looks so scared to lose Sephiroth. It's almost funny, a few hours ago everyone on the planet would be glad to see him dead.

Sephiroth lets Angeal lick and bite his lips. He needs him. He needs Angeal. He wants Genesis. He wants Zack. "Please- I-"

"Shhh, save your strength, love. Everything's going to be ok." Genesis's usual sweet as sugar and snobby tone is replaced with worry and calm. Like he's supposed to be calm for his sake. It only makes him sob more uncontrollative. So out of character for him. This day continues to surprise him.

Why is he so weak? Sephiroth tries to stand up only to fall back. His head bursts with white hot pain. His vision turns all gray for a moment. The ringing on his ears is familiar. He almost fainted by trying to stand up alone. Genesis is shocked. He can see it in the way his eyebrows knit together in confusion. Then the horror comes next. Zack's usual puppy energy fades in an instant. Sephiroth has to look at him twice. He's still as a log, staring into his eyes. "Let's get you out of this cell. You need a proper bed."

Sephiroth doesn't have the heart to tell Angeal he's used to sleeping in a cold cell while injured.

Chapter Text

Insane Sephiroth opens his eyes. He closes them again when they burn his retinas. "Seph hey," He feels Zack squeezing his hand again. Was this something Zack used to do regularly? Remembering hurts yet those calloused fingers feel familiar and right between his own. He trails his eyes through the room, not quite understanding what he's seen. He only feels Zack, like an invalid Sephiroth, can only rely on someone he betrayed a long time ago. And isn't that funny? Zack is caressing him despite Sephiroth beating him up in another life. The crushing guilt makes him shut his eyes, he was so deep into his Mother's embrace that Sephiroth barely had time to think about Zack's death. But now he's here, alive between his fingers. With his usual sweetness and puppy-like energy. Sephiroth thinks he doesn't deserve this. Those fingers that clutch his own like a lifesaver. But Sephiroth doesn't deserve to be saved. Not anymore.

"Gaia-" Angeal starts when the nurse shows them pictures of the massive cut behind his brain. Unfortunately, his hair had to be cut down. His once long silver hair is reduced to neck hair length. Angeal is able to see a larger portion of the neck he has bitten so many times. He has to shake himself before openly drooling at future Sephiroth's neck. He does not belong to them. He must remind himself.

Insane Sephiroth growls and thinks, Gaia, Gaia, always the planet. She is a source of obsession for humans. Who's calling the planet now? He has a great deal of disdain for her.

He does not comprehend that Angeal was calling her name.

Genesis gives a look to Angeal. Their Sephiroth always stays composed, growling is reserved for when they are in a tight spot in Wutai. The future ex-General sounds more like a lion that has been cornered than a graceful cat.

Zack is in disbelief as he is still learning about the real Sephiroth... their Sephiroth, not the short-haired, crazy, insane Sephiroth, and it's surprising to hear him be so aggressive. They all instinctively step back a little. Zack pulls his hand away. Future Sephiroth's eyebrows twitches. He wants my touch Aren't they all dead in the future? Zack shutters. Maybe what he needs is just a hug. He looks so sad, angry, and beaten down and defeated and- nothing like their Sephiroth. Zack must suppress his tears as he sits there frozen. The weight of their reality is sinking in. Sephiroth looks like he has gone through hell and back.

"You attempted to destroy the planet. It is evident that you have a dislike for Gaia." Sane Sephiroth is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. While searching for something in the room, his future self blinks. Is he trying to find the source of my voice? Is he blind... or- "And you have a neurological problem." He states as a fact.

"I don't think it's the time to dwell on his actions. He's barely cohen-" Angeal begins. The last thing they need is to aggravate future Sephiroth. Angeal is quite shaken at staring at Sephiroth, even a future one, in a hospital gown. He wants nothing more than to squeeze his form and whisper sweet reassurances in that ear. He knows it won't help. And it is certainly not his place. This is not their Sephiroth. Angeal has to remind himself.

Cloud cuts him off, "Let him finish." He says angrily directed at Sane Sephiroth. Insane Sephiroth can't even see him so he'll settle on burning a hole through the younger Sephiroth. This one shrinks as a child who did something wrong.

"Go fuck youself Cloud." Insane Sephiroth growls. If his head wasn't injured Cloud would be perched on the wall. Who is he to berate Angeal? He can hear the soft gasps from everyone. His vision or rather neurons get better as he sees his younger self's shocked expression. Hojo drilled into him the perfect speech so he knows his younger self will combust at his improper use of language. But insane Sephiroth is above these humans, he is above their language. He does not need to make a sound to communicate with Mother.

Zack gasps. His Sephiroth would never, ever- he had to fight for an entire year before getting Sephiroth to say poop. His perfect speech and vocal communication are top notch. Who calls poop feces?!

"Did you just swear? What did that chocobo do to our poor Sephiroth!" Genesis throws his hands in the air. Cloud looks offended. At least insane Sephiroth can finally see the room. He burns holes through Cloud and stays quiet. They have a staring contest, with satisfaction insane Sephiroth can see Cloud is next to his bed. Laying down with bandages across his chest. Serves him right.

"You stop trying to kill each other. How could you-" insane Sephiroth drowns out Angeal's lecture voice that he hasn't heard in years. Nothing's changed between Genesis and Angeal apparently. They are taking him lightly compared to Cloud. Insane Sephiroth realizes it's because they don't know what he's capable of. Much less what he's done. But soon he'll show them all. If only he could get to Mother and get healed. His head is throbbing in pain. He's weak... there are eyes staring at him. Like a predator's. Sephiroth moves his eyes through the room.

Genesis is studying insane Sephiroth with so much precision that insane Sephiroth almost, almost gets inside his head just to know what he's thinking. After all, he has read the mind of Cloud countless times before. Twisted his feelings and thoughts to harm him. But... he can't do that to Genesis. He won't. Some part of him could never hurt Genesis in such a way. A non-consenting way. He must have stared for too long because Genesis walks to him and covers Cloud from his vision. Good. Very good. He thinks.

Genesis kisses his hand. The touch burns his hand. If he hadn't frozen Sephiroth would've flinched. It's one thing for Zack to caress his palm. But Genesis kissing him? He wanted to choke but his training prevented him from further humiliating himself. It's been years since Genesis kissed him.

"I'm not going to vanish if you take your eyes off me for a minute my dear." Sephiroth admits the whimper he made was beyond his control. Zack follows Genesis' example and kisses his other hand. Was it the whimper that made Zack practically jump towards him? He thinks. Just a couple of days before he was a god. And Just a couple of days ago Genesis, Angeal and Zack were dead.

Zack throws a look to Genesis when future Sephiroth whimpers. Even Angeal seemed shaken by the gesture. They know there is something seriously wrong because the General is usually composed and calm. Future Sephiroth should be the same right? What happened in those years?

His pupils are tiny slits. People from Midgar joke that he looks like a cat. But right now? Zack thinks future Sephiroth's eyes look completely reptilian. Cold and crazy. Like one of those insane characters from the TV. That expression should never grace his face. It looks wrong. Like all his anger at the entire planet can be shown in his cold expression. Genesis even stops rubbing circles in his palm. They are shocked but remain cautious. The last thing they need is to, as Angeal says, aggravate him.

Someone clears their throat and it's not Angeal. Sane Sephiroth does and just like that the spell is lifted. Genesis goes back to nursing future Sephiroth who now starts to look like a content household cat and not a snake.

Cloud stares at Zack kissing Sephiroth like he didn't almost kill him at Nibelheim. Of course, he doesn't know. This Zack isn't his Zack and it hurts. Cloud... Cloud had placed a soft kiss on his cold lips. But his Zack was long gone before he could register Cloud kissing him. Cloud couldn't let his Zack know how much he loved hi- it doesn't matter now does it? Zack is alive and happy without Cloud. With... with Sephiroth.

Sephiroth has what he wanted the most. Cloud can see it in his eyes. They are softer than he remembers. Cruel and purple, full of Jenova and all their alien shit. He can't stand to look at them. It's disgusting but at the same time... it isn't. Cloud doesn't know what he wishes for, to be among them or to just... have Zack all to himself. He looks away, unable to see this side of his Sephiroth and Zack.

Gaia must have taken pity on him because Sane Sephiroth covers them with the curtain. "Strife. I must apologize-"

"Don't. That's not you. And you won't become him no matter what. So do me a favor and kill him the moment he moves his pieces." Cloud is cold and stern. He has everything back and won't let his Sephiroth destroy it again. Aerith is alive, everyone is alive. He should go and wake up Vincent. He didn't last time.

"I understand." Sane Sephiroth replies to his words.

No you don't

"Can you do me a favor?" He can't stay a meter near his Sephiroth. What were they even thinking putting their beds together in the hospital?

"Of course."

"Get me out of this room. I doubt he will try anything. He has this... way about him. I know when he'll try something."

This side of evil Sephiroth is strange. Wrong. Cloud has never heard Sephiroth of all people whimper or be vulnerable around people he loves.

This isn't like his delight when talking about Jenova.

He looks more human, less intimidating, less insane and crazy. This Sephiroth in front of him? Sane and wounded look like wet cat. With his shoulders hunched and tense expression. Like a scolded child who did something wrong. Is he feeling bad for how his future self is behaving? Cloud narrows his eyes at that.

Sane Sephiroth moves before Cloud can even think of getting up himself. He is in no state of moving.

Sephiroth starts to move the bed to another room.

"You're lucky to be alive. His Masamune tore a hole through your main vein. Materia isn't enough to heal it. The doctor said it should take at least two months to heal."

Cloud studies him. His voice is neutral and compassionate. It's hard to see how this man cracked and turned into a Jenovian or whatever the hell his Sephiroth is.

Sephiroth missteps but regains his composure. He felt something vibrate through his entire body. He felt so elated for a moment he thinks he hallucinated it. He shakes his head and sighs. Opting to ignore the world around him until he can talk with his lovers in the safety of their apartments.

"It's Gaia protecting me from you." Cloud quickly explains why he's not dead. Any other person would be dead. But Gaia can't let her protector die.

The General winces at the words and Cloud feels bad. He shouldn't, but he has to remind himself this Sephiroth hasn't done anything. He is not the same man a few rooms behind them. And if he turns out to be like Cloud's Sephiroth, then Cloud will stop him again. As many times as he has to.

Sephiroth has his heart on his throat. So it is true after all. He went insane and tried to blow up the planet with a meteor.

That man wears his face and his voice. Zack, Angeal, and Genesis all think he is him. Or at least they can't differentiate the two, if their caresses for his insane self meant for him are any indication.

He does not feel any jealousy. It feels like he can feel what his insane self feels. He doesn't know what it means, but perhaps it's a sign his mind is also deteriorating. He clenches the bed while he continues to move it through the corridors to the furthest room away from his insane self. Hoping Strife can't see through his turmoil. Sane Sephiroth hasn't spent too much time around Clous to read him well. Maybe he just wants to be away from any Sephiroth.

"How are you feeling?" Cloud suddenly asks.

"I do not know." He decides to tell the truth. He's too shocked to dissect this situation and assess it from a logical point. He has to speak with his lovers in private. Strife doesn't say anything for the reminder of the trip. He's glad because Sephiroth isn't sure he wouldn't disclose how scared he feels. Scared of becoming something worse than Hojo.

Thinking about his dubious parentage, they seem more alike now than ever. He has to stop and hide his face with his gloves. Did he truly... became like Hojo in the future? How can he even think about genociding the whole human race? What went wrong with him? Is it his alien-

He can't even say it outloud. His strange biology forced him to do this?

"So do you have a spaceship?" Zack with his starry eyes gets too close to Sephiroth. This one blinks.

"Zack!" Angeal scolds him.

Ah, that is right. His younger self should break down at any mention of his greatness. Insane Sephiroth thinks. Angeal is trying to protect him but Sephiroth is no longer a naive human.

He stops to think for a moment. That sounded so much like the Professor. It's disgusting. But the truth. Mother is a Goddess among these humans. Which makes him a god. Truly exceptional. Younger him was othered and tortured for his god-like progress.

But he will soon understand, insane Sephiroth must contact Mother first. Then all will be clear for his younger self and he can join the "Reunion."

He can feel his younger self almost falling when he feels Mother. It seems whenever insane Sephiroth murmurs reunion his younger self reacts to it. What a pity that he's not strong enough to completely make his younger self see the truth at once. He'll settle on slowly introducing reunion to his younger self. He will definitely feel his cells vibrating. Calling him to where he belongs. With Mother.

"Huh?" Zack says ignoring Angeal who busies himself talking with Genesis.

"I don't know." Incredulous Sephiroth responds after remembering Zack's earlier question. Mother and him are supposed to use the planet as their vessel to travel across the cosmos. He can see how piloting a spaceship is faster and more efficient than moving a planet. He'll have to ask Mother after he meets her again.

"So maybe you have one! Seph you always loved space! If you have one can you take me? Pleaseeeeee-'' Zack's screeching makes his ears bleed. His ears are too sensitive. It feels like mako in his brain. "Stop!" He pleads.

Everyone quiets down to study insane Sephiroth.

Zack wants to say he's sorry. Sephiroth has his eyes shut down and face contorted into pain. The electrocardiogram beeps faster. Zack motions to Genesis with his fingers that his ears hurt. Genesis leaves the room for a moment and comes back with a pair of headphones meant to protect their ears while riding the helicopters. He walks to Sephiroth and places them gently on his ears. Moving the soft bangs with his fingers Genesis accommodates his short hair the best he can. "You look bald-"

Sephiroth screams and grabs Genesis by the neck. "Don't ever call me bald!"

"Alright darling you can choke me later!" Sephiroth softens his grip and pulls Genesis towards him. The redhead falls on top of him and starts to make out with him on the bed.

Insane Sephiroth from his part feels on cloud nine. Genesis betrayed him. Genesis betrayed him. Yet he eagerly licks the redhead's lips and tongue. Genesis smells like dumbapples; his hot breath bringing back so many memories. Hidden, forbidden and locked inside his mind. They come back crashing like a tsunami. The first time Genesis dared pressed a hand on his lower back. The way Sephiroth flinched at his touch but leaned into it. They way Angeal and Genesis ignored his reaction but made the effort to caress him more. They became the only source of affection to Sephiroth even before they became lovers.

The Wutainese had surrounded them. The bombs almost scratched their heads. Sephiroth was covered in mud, blood, and tears. He thought he was going to perish. Genesis and Angeal held themselves close because what could they do? They were surrounded by many enemies. The look they had shared had broken his heart. Genesis was the first one to hug his side. Sephiroth remembers being surprised. Shouldn't he hug Angeal? They are boyfriends right? Then Angeal had done the same. At that moment Sephiroth thought their friendship had peaked, and perhaps it did. Because Genesis and Angeal both kissed his lips. No one had touched his lips in such an intimate way before. The mud tasted disgusting but he had cared less. The cold freezing air from the temperatures was gone in an instant. He felt like the sun itself, burning a billion times over. The rest was a blur. Sephiroth acquired a new shining medal out of that mission.

Maybe... maybe his Jenova cells activated in that trench. Once they touched him... perhaps reunion was activated. The way he slaughtered all their enemies was impossible. But Sephiroth is alien, other. Humans can't compare to him. He made the impossible and got Genesis and Angeal out of there alive. That is not to dismiss their actions. But that is the first time reunion had traveled through his veins giving him a burst of energy. Sephiroth can't believe he's realizing this decades later.

"Guys. Gen stop. We don't even know if he can have sex. Now that I think about it. We haven't talked with our Sephiroth." At that Genesis separates himself completely. For the first time in his life Sephiroth envies himself. He frowns, well this won't do. If his younger self denies him his lovers, then Sephiroth will have no choice but to mind control him like one of his puppets.

"Even if our Sephiroth is not ok with you joining us. We will be here for you Seph."

And they mean it.

Sephiroth is not comforted by the words.