"I do believe I saw our dear General stumble there." Genesis had on a smirk so satisfied that it would have had a Gold Saucer jackpot winner reconsidering their good fortune.

Sephiroth scowled down at his legs as if it was all their fault before blanking his expression and acting as if nothing had happened at all.

"You did stumble a little," Angeal conceded. Far be it from him to take sides in their ridiculous rivalry in any fashion, but Sephiroth had almost tripped over the coffee table on his way back from the bathroom.

Which was impressive, considering the coffee table was two feet further than Sephiroth had needed to go to get back to his chair. A chair which he was not even sitting in, instead choosing to stand by it as if to prove he could.

"See?" Genesis all but crooned. He draped his arm around Sephiroth's shoulders. "Angeal agrees."

"Angeal's been drinking. I can't consider his report of the events to be accurate."

Angeal snorted. "I haven't drunk nearly as much as you."

Genesis had taken it upon himself to test the "quality of the Bahamut's Deathwish." Mainly by plying Sephiroth with more and more alcohol until even the Silver General couldn't help but flush and sway. Genesis, for his part, had remained stubbornly sober. Not even Sephiroth's thinly veiled taunts had gotten him to pick up his glass after those initial sips. The idea of seeing Seph completely shitfaced was apparently enough of a motivator to smooth down whatever feathers Sephiroth managed to ruffle in the process.

Angeal shook his head as Genesis offered Sephiroth another glass.

"Don't look so stern, old friend. This is hardly the worst we've done together."

"What worries me is when we're not together," Angeal said dryly. Genesis only gave him a grin in return.

He could feel his own smile creeping along the edges of his lips as Genesis "accidentally" bumped his hip against Sephiroth's, causing the other man to tilt dangerously towards the chair. Angeal had to remind himself that he didn't approve of people getting drunk, and he definitely didn't approve of people getting others drunk. The reminder did little in the face of the fact that it was Genesis and Sephiroth.

Their rivalry might be legendary, but Genesis would never do anything to Sephiroth. Nothing more than a few embarrassing photographs, anyway, and maybe not even that. His friend would relish being one of only two people to have seen Sephiroth fall over his own feet.

If anything, he was bound to be more protective, considering how he fretted over him like a distraught mother who'd just been reunited with her kidnapped child whenever Sephiroth came stumbling out of the labs. Angeal pointedly ignored the steadying hand Genesis had placed on Sephiroth's elbow.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" Sephiroth asked as Genesis handed him yet another drink. He narrowed his eyes at the liquid, as if it would tell him what Genesis' end game was.

Angeal's laughter rang out in the suddenly quiet room. Genesis gaped at the other SOLDIER.

"What in the world made you think that?"

"You have a habit of sleeping with people when drinking is involved."

"That is when I drink. I assure you, if I wanted to sleep with you, you'd have known long before you had the pleasure of tripping over Angeal's furniture."

Sephiroth shrugged and downed the glass in one go. Angeal shook his head again. Only he could chug the "SOLDIER killer" - as the rookie Thirds liked to call it - as if it were no more than common beer. Gaia, the man probably burned more alcohol than he absorbed with all the mako in him. Mako and whatever else Hojo had thrown in during his mad scientist creation process.

Still, that didn't stop him from jerking back and then almost toppling onto the floor when someone knocked at the door. Luckily Genesis was there to catch him, something which the other First looked all too smug about.

"Gen." Angeal nodded towards the chair.

Genesis steered Sephiroth into it without comment. They were the only ones allowed to see him so vulnerable. ShinRa would probably ban them from buying alcohol if it got out that their prized poster boy had got himself too drunk to stand properly. And Angeal wasn't about to ask Zack to sneak them booze.

Speaking of his student…

"Zack. You're up late. Something the matter?" Angeal ran his eyes over the other SOLDIER, but nothing appeared out of place. That is if you didn't count the obvious way he was hiding his hands behind his back or the way he stared down at the floor as if he were hoping it might suddenly attack him and put an end to this unexpected visit.

"Can I come in? I-" Zack rubbed at the back of his neck. Angeal noted that whatever he was carrying was small enough to fit into one hand. "I have something I need to tell you." Zack sighed and then wilted, his shoulders slumping. "You're probably gonna lecture me."

Angeal's eyebrows rose. Zack had never been dishonest with him, but he'd also never specifically asked for a punishment before Angeal even knew what he'd done wrong. He glanced back and found Genesis and Sephiroth both back in their chairs, doing an admirable job of looking as if they weren't listening to every word of the conversation.

"Sure." Angeal stepped out of the way. "But I have guests. Are you sure it isn't something that can wait until tomorrow?" Zack clearly felt like he couldn't if he was willing to come to his apartment in the middle of the night, but it was best to double-check before he kicked the other two out.

Zack caught sight of the two and he let out a noise that sounded suspiciously like the death-moan of a monster after you stabbed them. He took a hesitant step back and for a moment Angeal thought he was going to bolt again. His wide eyes certainly made him look like a terrified chocobo ready to run from predator.

"Don't stand there," Genesis snapped, "Either show us what you're hiding or leave."

"Gen." Angeal shook his head at him.

The words seemed to break Zack out of whatever horror he'd found himself in, and he blurted, "I can't show it to you!"

Of course, because it was Zack, and because Zack sometimes had more emotion than common sense, he'd flung his arms out as he'd shouted. Angeal really should try to break him of that habit.

"What's Country Boys Monthly?" Sephiroth asked.

Zack snapped his hands back behind his body, but the truth had already been revealed. The action didn't stop Angeal from flushing, and it certainly didn't stop Genesis from swooping over and wrestling the magazine out of Zack's grasp.

"Where did you find this? I thought ShinRa had destroyed them all!" Genesis looked absolutely delighted as he flipped through the pages. Angeal sighed when he stopped in the middle.

"You…" Zack's gaze darted between them. "You've seen it?"

"Naturally," Genesis drawled, as if it should be obvious, "Who do you think got him to agree to it?" Zack apparently didn't know how to respond to that. "Of course, once ShinRa realized their famed SOLDIERs were in compromising positions, they saw to it that all copies were bought and destroyed. Well, almost all copies." He waved the magazine. "Luckily, it was several years old by that time and a few of them managed to escape."

"SOLDIERs, plural. You were in it too?" Sephiroth stood. Angeal snatched the magazine from Genesis before he could see it. They may have shared a locker room together, and even the occasional tent when ShinRa was feeling stingy about the SOLDIER supplies, but that didn't mean he wanted one of his closest friends seeing him like he was auditioning to be the next big star of the Honeybee Inn.

Sephiroth frowned. "Fair has seen it." He sounded oddly put out.

"Genesis is in a different magazine. Ask to see his copy." Angeal had no doubt that Genesis had multiple.

Genesis shrugged when Sephiroth sent him a questioning glance. The other man had never been modest.

"But why?" Zack's eyes were back to the size of 'terrified chocobo.' "Was it a bet?"

"A bet?" Angeal turned towards his dearest friends and crossed his arms. If they'd been involving Zack in their ridiculous antics…

Sephiroth's face blanked, which was annoying enough on any day, considering he could keep it up seemingly indefinitely, but then Genesis topped that by actually pulling out LOVELESS and proceeding to read.

Angeal scowled at them. It was one thing if they wanted to get themselves shot - as Tseng had not-so-subtly hinted at when he'd sent him a falsely polite email asking him to inform the other two SOLDIERs that while seeing how his fellow Turks handled an unexpected Firaga was useful information, the Turks did have their own training capabilities - but Zack couldn't yet dodge that many bullets.

"Uh…" Zack's gaze darted between the three of them.

"My friend, the fates are cruel

There are no dreams, no honor remains

The arrow has left the bow of the goddess"

Genesis snapped his book closed.

That was as good as a confession as Angeal would probably ever get. Angeal resisted the urge to rub at his temples. He'd have to talk to Zack about listening to anything these two overgrown children said.

"We weren't yet SOLDIERs and the pay was good," Genesis answered, apparently trying to move the conversation back to the topic at hand. The topic of Angeal being naked in an adult magazine that Zack had somehow managed to find. Gaia, what a mess.

"Angeal said you were rich."

Genesis merely grinned in response.

Angeal sighed. He was not about to explain exhibitionism to his student. "Ok you two, I think it's time you both left. Genesis, take Sephiroth."

"Of course," Genesis purred, wrapping an arm around Sephiroth's waist.

Sephiroth glanced down at the appendage. "I've already burned off most of the alcohol."

"Then we'll just have to take this with us." Genesis snatched the bottle from the counter before returning to drag Sephiroth out the door.

"I didn't know the General could get drunk."

"Everyone can get drunk. You just have to have the right drink." It would be a good thing for Zack to remember.

"Ah. Gotcha." Zack grinned up at him.

Angeal gave him a soft smile in return.

They both seemed to realize how quiet the apartment was at the same time. Angeal tensed while Zack's grin slowly slid off his face.

"So…" Zack's gaze moved to rest on the coffee table: his discomfort apparently back in full force now that the excitement was over.

"Thank you for bringing this to me," Angeal said, his voice taking on the soothing cadence he usually reserved for terrified rookies who got more than they'd expected their first real battle, "I realize it's not exactly the type of thing you want to bring up during training."

"Definitely not."

Angeal flipped open the magazine. Had he really posed so…wantonly? "If I'd known this was going to upset my future students-"

"I'm not upset! I like the picture! You wouldn't believe how many times I- uh…I mean…" Zack trailed off awkwardly. A flush raced across his cheeks.

Angeal pressed a hand to his lips to stop himself from laughing. It didn't seem to help, and he let out a completely unconvincing cough instead.

"Don't you laugh at me too!" Zack whined good-naturedly. The flush darkened despite the attempt at playfulness.

"Too?" Angeal tried not to think about the many other things that could turn skin the color of summon materia. He was doomed to feel warm himself if he allowed his brain to get caught up in the thoughts of one reason in particular.

Zack was quiet for a moment and then a change came over him as he apparently decided on something. He stood up straighter and placed his hands on his hips. "I spoke to some friends about the situation."

Angeal grimaced. Who else had seen the folly of his youth?

"Not about the magazine!" Zack waved his hands frantically. "About me. And you. Us, I guess." Zack rubbed the back of his neck. "If-If you wanted there to be an us. At all. Or not at all! We don't have to." Zack was back to waving his hands. "I just thought if you wanted to- Which you probably don't since I didn't tell you about the magazine like I should have and we're not even the same rank or age and I'm probably just not your type, and even if I was your type, you probably already lo- like someone else, and I totally understand all of that! No problem at all! It's just that Kunsel said if I wanted to try I'd have to tell you how I felt and Cloud agreed and-and-" Zack didn't look like he knew what else to say as he ran out of steam and came to a stuttering halt in the middle of the tracks. "I-"

Angeal placed a hand on his shoulder. Zack's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and Angeal found himself swallowing in turn. He gave himself a moment to run through Zack's words before replying. It sounded like…

Some of the weight lifted from his shoulders. It sounded like maybe he wasn't the only one here with more than just a "crush." He recalled his thoughts from earlier. It would be nice to try.

"Funny," Angeal said slowly, trying to gauge Zack's reaction to every word, "I talked to my friends as well." He felt Zack tense under his fingers.

"Yeah?"

He took a steadying breath. "I probably shouldn't be saying this, but you're not the only one in this room who's interested. And no, I'm not talking about admiring myself," Angeal joked as he held up the magazine.

It took Zack all of three seconds to process the words and then Angeal's hand was sliding off his shoulder as the younger man leapt into his arms. Angeal caught him easily enough. He was well-versed in Zack's antics.

"Are you for real!"

"Yes, but it's not something we can just jump into." Angeal set him back on the ground. Zack rolled his eyes at the pun. "There are certain things we need to discuss first." So many things.

Zack wilted. "Yeah, you're right. I got a little too excited there."

Angeal winced at the disappointment in his voice. He'd ruined the moment. What a great way to start a relationship.

He considered Zack for a moment before reaching out hesitantly. Zack ducked his head when Angeal ran his fingers through his hair but his eyes came back up when Angeal's hand drifted down to his neck. Angeal put the slightest pressure behind it – enough that Zack could pretend not to have noticed if he wanted.

They were both blushing when they kissed.

It didn't last long, and it was hardly what Genesis would have considered a "proper" kiss, but it was good enough. More than good enough.

"How about we just relax for now?" Angeal asked softly. He indicated the sofa with the hand not occupied with Zack.

Zack pulled away, and immediately Angeal wished he'd wrapped his arms around him instead. Zack plopped himself onto the sofa and almost immediately began bouncing his leg. Angeal shook his head, amused. So much energy.

Zack was going to kill him in bed. And in everything else.

Sitting down next to him, Angeal held up the magazine. "Now then, why don't you tell me where you got this?"

AN: What'd you guys think? I'd love to hear your opinions! Constructive criticism is ok. :)