To be or Not to be
Genesis was the second in command after the Great General Sephiroth. Scratch that he is the youngest second in command, after the youngest General in the Shinra army. So why, just why was he stuck in the building doing paperwork when the General and the youngest third in command was out doing missions! He should just burn this item from hell to smithereens, in fact it was very tempting to just do that. Why did he need to sign off how much toiletries was needed by the SOLDIERs, they should be able to request it themselves. He is not a mind reader for Gaia's sake, how would he know how much one person needs. Everyone is different, just take the three of them for example.
Genesis took a breath, 'Calm down! Calm down! Calm down!'
A knock came from the door and his personal teacher walked in grinning. The three youngest had gotten their own personal teachers after they became SOLDIER Thirds. Sephiroth had Terra who was currently teaching the younger recruits after Sephiroth had surpassed him. Angeal's teacher was Aeleus who passed away a few months ago during a mission gone awry, protecting his newest student, Kunsel. An honorable death, for an honourable SOLDIER and teacher. Kunsel was now training with Hewley, besides Zack Fair and one of the Turks as well. He was not sure which one but he knows he was being trained under them because of his penchant to be able to collect information.
Genesis, "Ansen, what brings you here?"
Ansen gave a grin, "I thought a break from work would be good for you and I."
Genesis looked at his papers, "Yes, yes it will."
Ansen smirked, "Come, there's a new interesting play coming up."
Genesis scoffed, "Nothing in this world can beat my dear Loveless."
Ansen chuckled, "Indeed, but it doesn't mean you can't try other plays. It's called Hamlet, written by a writer that goes by, The Golden Apple."
Genesis quirked an eyebrow, "That's an interesting pen name."
Ansen, "Hmm. Looks like Sephiroth finished his mission early."
Genesis looked at the helicopter podium, "He looks worse for wear. I'm gonna go steal him."
Sephiroth walked tensed across the landing podium, 'It is over. Relax! Though Heidegger is making me feel murderous. Calm! Calm!'
Genesis, "Seph!"
Genesis smirked as he saw Sephiroth's eyes light up slightly on seeing him, "We are going to see a new play."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, "Is it another new rendition of Loveless?"
Genesis huffed walking beside him, "I wish, but no, it is actually a new play that came out called Hamlet, by a brand new author. I just heard about it today, honestly."
Sephiroth looked at where Ansen was and nodded in respect, "I see, I suppose you want me to accompany you to this new play."
Genesis, "Correct, I would have called Ange but he is babysitting his two students in their first mission as 3rd class SOLDIERs."
Sephiroth snorted, "I see."
Genesis, "We'll be taking Ansen's car, so go clean up and join us at the garage."
Before Genesis could finish Sephiroth had disappeared and walking towards his apartment like a man on a mission. The sight made Genesis shake his head, moments like this made him think about what he and Angeal learned about their friend. The three of them had barely talked to each other in the beginning. Angeal and Genesis sticking to each other and Sephiroth sticking out as a sore thumb among the others. It was during a mission where they were stuck together separated from the other members, that Genesis decided to pester Sephiroth to spend time.
Flashback:
Genesis, "This cave looks safe."
Angeal, "We can use materia to make a campfire and a meal. It'll be best if we do it before it gets dark. It'll be too noticeable by the monsters once darkness hits."
Sephiroth, "I can go foraging and hunting. If you set up camp."
Angeal, "I'll get water and firewood."
Genesis, "Clean up, it is."
Angeal had returned to the cave first, arms filled with firewood and belt holding bottles of water. Genesis had set the cave up as a decent hide away for them. Sephiroth came a while later holding a roughly made basket filled with wild turnips, wild tomatoes, cashew nuts, chillies and truffles on one hand. Genesis had no idea where he got the truffles, on the other hand he was holding a Capra.
Angeal, "Well.. At least we don't have to worry about breakfast tomorrow, nor do we have to eat the goop the army feeds us."
Genesis drawled, "That's great and all but who's gonna cook?"
Sephiroth shuffled, "I know how to cook outside."
Angeal looked at him in consideration, "I know how to make a good salad. We can share. Genesis you are in charge of look out."
Genesis huffed and grumbled but compiled, "Who made you the boss?"
Angeal gave a smile, "A cook is always the boss."
Sephiroth for the first time smiled at that making Genesis stumble a bit, before he once again straightened. He was being looked at worriedly by the silverette and the red head couldn't help but think he had pretty eyes.
Genesis blurted, "You should smile more."
Sephiroth blinked as he rushed off, "Okay?"
Angeal snickered at his friend before getting Sephiroth's attention and preparing their food. The Salad was made quickly with the sweet wild tomatoes, toasted nuts, truffles and a dash of chilly. They decided to skin the Capra and divide it into half, first half for dinner and the next half for breakfast. Sephiroth showed Angeal the recipe he always used and his special pocket inside his jacket, that always carried his spice blend and salt. To say Angeal was impressed was an understatement, once the food was done with the sky starting to darken, he called Genesis to eat.
Genesis, "This roast is heavenly."
Angeal nodded, "You have talent."
Sephiroth smiled once again before it disappeared, "It was one of the things that my caretaker Ilfana shared with me. She left me her cookbook, I only know how to make a few dishes and an acorn cake."
Genesis, "Your parents would be proud."
Sephiroth, "Not really, Hojo doesn't care and I have no idea what happened to my mother."
Genesis blurted before he could stop, "You too?"
Sephiroth blinked, "What?"
Angeal sighed, "Guess, you do have something in common."
Sephiroth, "I suppose, we do?"
Genesis, "It was Miss Hewley who took care of me, my parents couldn't be bothered."
Sephiroth, "Oh! How do you deal with it?"
Genesis, "Before, I tried hard to make them proud of me. Then, a few years or rather two years ago I just got really tired of it."
Sephiroth nodded, "That is similar to what I did."
Genesis looked at him with a new light, "Who took care of you?"
Sephiroth hesitated, "I.. That's..."
Angeal, "We will not tell anyone."
Sephiroth, "It was the scientists who watched over me."
Genesis shook his head although his mind was filled with a little dread, "No, no, I meant who cared for you as a child."
Sephiroth, "I.. When I was younger it was Miss Ilfana and another Turk. They were kind to me, told me stories, but Hojo didn't like that. I don't know what happened to them after I turned four."
Angeal and Genesis shared a look before dropping the subject and placing more food in Sephiroth's plate. The silver head blinked and looked at them in confusion but they just smiled and encouraged him to eat. Later on, Sephiroth volunteered to watch for the first few hours as Angeal and Genesis prepared to rest.
Genesis, "He's situation is worse off then mine was."
Angeal, "Gen?"
Genesis, "I had you by my side. Seph had no one."
Angeal's lips quirked in amusement, "Nick names already Gen?"
Genesis, "Wake me, up when it's my turn."
Angeal shook his head at his friend's antics and decided to rest while Sephiroth was keeping watch. He woke Genesis for the morning watch after his turn was done but instead of sleeping, he decided to make breakfast for the three of them. Luckily, they were not attacked by any monsters while sleeping or Genesis would have been really cranky. He used the rest of the vegetables and Capra that was left for breakfast. He lit the fire before mincing half of the meat and cutting the other half in stripes. Mixed the minced meat with the vegetables before wrapping it up with the meat stripes in neat little packages, one for each of them. Once that was done he wrapped it up in large green leaves tight and snug before burying all three under hot charcoal to cook.
Angeal decided to rest after that and waited for Sephiroth to wake up. Sephiroth woke up getting the smell of something cooking and burning and tensed up first. He then felt his comrade Angeal close by and started to relax before gradually waking up and greeting him. Angeal nodded in greeting and went to get Genesis while Sephiroth freshened up. They ate breakfast before heading out and meeting the other members. Genesis didn't know when it happened but after that mission, Sephiroth started to stick close to the two of them whenever they were assigned together. Not that he was complaining, he enjoyed debating with the silver head who was well learned and read just like him. If he has a crush, that was his secret, not like he could hide from Angeal but hey, no else needed to know.
Flashback end!
Genesis leaned against his mentor's car before looking up, "Ready?"
Sephiroth nodded, "Indeed."
Ansen, "Get in lads, the play starts in half an hour."
Sephiroth nodded while Genesis grinned and jokingly opened the door for the silver haired General. The taller man snorted at the action but still accepted it and entered the car. Genesis went around the back to sit on his own seat and chat with Sephiroth. The red head half wondered how Angeal was doing in his mission before shrugging it off. After a few minutes drive they reached the theater located near wall market.
Ansen, "We are here boys. Go grab something to eat, I'll check on our seats."
Genesis pulled Sephiroth to the booth, "So, what do you want for a drink?"
Sephiroth, "Water."
Genesis, "Two large water and one large soda, and three large buckets of popcorn, sweetheart."
The two young teens behind the counter could only blush and nod as they prepared their order. Genesis smirked at the effect the two of them had on the young brats, because that's what they were in his opinion. Little brats, who just started to enter adulthood, they'll soon loose that starry eyed look soon enough. Not that it was a bad thing, quiet the opposite, he would not have to worry about competing with others for his Seph's attention.
Sephiroth got the tray, "Let's go!"
Genesis, "Sure~"
The two teens behind them squealed and started to whisper furiously asking each other if they are together now. Genesis smirked feeling smug at that, he has gone out more than once during their missions when the two of them were together. Especially, if they were in towns, he always asked Sephiroth out to eat with him. The towns people didn't bat an eye at them and went on with their lives unlike their fan group in the Plates. The Keepers of Honour, Red Leather which had a secondary group called Study Group and lastly the Silver Elite.
Ansen, "There you are. Let's get going."
Genesis, "Here's your share, Teach."
Ansen, "Not your teacher anymore, brat."
Sephiroth, "You still guide us when we need it."
Genesis, "Ergo, our teacher."
Ansen, "Stubborn brats."
It was quite interesting Genesis decided after the first chapter of the play was over. He had already picked his favorite sayings from the play to use for himself to annoy others. Especially the the two lines, 'There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so' and 'To be or not to be: that is the question.' Genesis didn't know why but these two lines stuck with him through the play.
Sephiroth, "It's a pity Angeal couldn't join us."
Ansen, "True that was an interesting play. He would have enjoyed it."
Genesis grinned, "We can book a date with him and watch it again. And I'm so using those lines to annoy everyone."
Sephiroth snorted quietly while Ansen huffed in amusement. Before he pulled them towards a restaurant called Hospitus that had the best pot roast. Genesis hoped Angeal was able to join them soon. As much as he enjoyed his time together with Sephiroth he missed his best friend. And he could tell Sephiroth missed him too, he had become quite adept in reading his minute expressions. On top of that Genesis is pretty sure Ansen is chaperoning them. Yup! He couldn't hide how he felt about Sephiroth from that sharp eyed ice magician for long.
Genesis sighed, 'Too bad the person I'm interested in is a bit oblivious to notice. Nah! I always loved a challenge.'