Author's Note: Look at that, yet more proof that I can bullshit my way through a chapter. We are working our way back into the story again, so I apologize for the wait. Thank you all so much for your support! Things are going to start picking up again in the next few chapters! Let me know what you think! Enjoy!

Angeal makes soup for Zack, that he finishes two bowls of, with Sephiroth's hand on his arm as he ate, before the boy looks around at everyone with drooping eyes, obviously still tired. Sephiroth didn't seem to mind having to touch the boy to ease his pain, especially after the one time that he pulled away while Zack was awake and the raven-haired boy's full-body flinched in pain at the action.

Thankfully the boy was so out of it that he didn't think to wonder why Sephiroth was staying so close to him - touching him - the whole time, and just rolled with it. And even though he'd been sleeping all this time, it hadn't been restful and while Sephiroth was alleviating the headache from the mako, the drowsiness remained and before long he was curled back up into a little ball in bed, sleeping soundly with Sephiroth holding his hand.

But even the great SOLDIER General has his limits and deeming that to be enough physical contact for one day, Sephiroth finally pulls his hand away. Zack flinches slightly but doesn't awaken. That and his peripheral interest in the whys behind this happening has faded enough that he's willing to separate from Zack now. Angeal isn't mad in the slightest. He's just relieved that Zack was offered a minute bit of comfort.

"I'm sorry," Sephiroth says awkwardly, rubbing his hands together, stepping into Angeal's room with Genesis as Shalua and Tyler monitor Zack in the other room and Emerson headed out for the day. He has a mission in the morning that he has to go prepare for. Sephiroth walks over to Angeal's bed and sits down as if the whole ordeal has drained him of all of his energy. His face is drawn and tired and honestly, Angeal is so proud of him for holding out as long as he did, even knowing that he isn't good with people and physical connection. And while he doesn't have a problem with Zack, Angeal and Genesis are the only ones he's really comfortable around.

Angeal walks over to the sitting man, knowing that even though he would accept touch from Angeal, the dark-haired man had to be quick about it. He cups the white-haired man's face in his hands and kisses his lips, swift and chaste before letting him go. Sephiroth accepts the kiss with a strained smile. He didn't mind the kiss itself, but he needed his space. Enough touching for a while.

Angeal kneels down and stares up into Sephiroth's eyes as he stares back. "You have nothing to be sorry about, Sephiroth. Thank you for everything you did. I know it wasn't easy for you."

"It wasn't bad at first," Sephiroth admits softly. "I was... intrigued by the similarities between us... but I had to stop. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Angeal says again, shaking his head. "You helped us out so much. Thank you for helping Zack. Thank you." He stares into the eyes of the man sitting on his bed, hoping that his eyes were conveying everything his words and voice couldn't. Sephiroth wasn't usually one for the subtle acts. He didn't really understand stuff like that, but hopefully, this was enough for him.

"There isn't a need to thank me," Sephiroth says easily. "It wasn't anything strenuous, nor was I really going out of my way."

"Maybe," Angeal says slowly, "but it wasn't easy for you either. I can tell."

"It was fine," Sephiroth insists, his voice low. But this look crosses his face that Angeal knows too well. He'll push himself if he feels like he has to. He cares too much for Angeal and Genesis, and Angeal holds strong affection for Zack. If by helping Zack, it'll make Angeal happy, he's willing to sacrifice his comfort for it. "I could keep going if it is needed."

Genesis walks over, sitting next to the white-haired man, but doesn't touch him. "Listen, Seph," Genesis says, using that voice that Angeal recognizes well, "you did everything right. We just wanted to thank you for your help and admire your perfection. Beauty, brains, brawn and now you're able to protect people from visions? I have to ask, how does it feel to be the pinnacle of perfection I have ever laid eyes on?"

Sephiroth looks at him through long lashes. "I am not perfect, Genesis," he says. But the way he tilts his head and a soft smile cross his lips, Angeal knew that Genesis had succeeded in what he set out to do. Genesis always had this way of saying the right thing to Sephiroth in those moments. A true orator to the complex ways of Sephiroth.

Angeal could watch them forever. Two of his favorite people in the entire world. Genesis; fiery, selfish, rude, thoughtless, crude, and sometimes cruel would transform into this gentle, loving man when it came to Sephiroth. And the man himself took everything so literal, not fully grasping sarcasm or really anything aside from brutal honesty that he often looked to Genesis and Angeal to help him understand. Angeal knew that he would always have Genesis's back even if he was wrong, or upset with him, but Sephiroth made both of them fiercely protective. His traumatic past or perhaps the innocence that shines in his eyes despite everything he's been through and done is enough to keep them wrapped around his finger for life.

Not that Sephiroth would ever know what that meant or what to do with it.

"You are perfect to me," Genesis says sweetly, no doubt still feeling bad about snapping at the other man earlier. "Now, you look exhausted. Get some sleep."

"Yes," Angeal agrees as soon as Sephiroth opens his mouth to protest. "Use my room. I know you're going in for more meetings tomorrow, so stay here. I got some extra clothes for you and it's closer to the elevator than your room is."

Sephiroth gives him a look. "That is because you insisted that your room be the closest to the end of the hall." And he's right. When they all got to pick their apartments, Angeal made sure that he was closest to the elevator for the same reason he's got to sleep closer to the door when others are in bed with him. It's in his nature to be protective. If someone stormed the SOLDIER floor or busted into his room, it was him they were going to run into first, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I wish there was more I could do," Sephiroth says softly, looking down at the carpet with half-lidded eyes. "I wish I wasn't like this. It's just holding his hand. It's just touching his arm. Zack isn't bad. He isn't a bad person. He's never hurt me and has been more than understanding about my standoffish nature. It shouldn't be this hard."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Angeal says sternly. "You're great, just the way you are. The only person you should ever change for, is yourself. If you don't want to change then you shouldn't have to. Don't worry about Zack. He's being considerate because he's a good boy and that's how he is. He doesn't want you to change. He just doesn't want you to feel like he's trying to take Gen and me away from you."

Sephiroth looks sad at that, and the worst part is that he probably doesn't understand what he's really sad about. Zack is a nice kid who is trying hard to be considerate of Sephiroth, but it's a difficult thing to do. The level of consideration needed for Sephiroth isn't easy to maintain without years of practice. Angeal and Genesis have learned the hard way just how easy it is to shut Sephiroth down for weeks. He doesn't process emotions as normal people do, and either he'll see something completely impartially even if it has everything to do with him, or he will take something personal that has nothing to do with him. And Angeal blames a lot of people for him being like this.

"I don't think he would take you guys away from me," Sephiroth says slowly. "I just don't understand him most of the time."

And that's the truth. It's the reality that Angeal and Genesis have come to accept. It's how some of those Firsts get into their circle of trust, how people like Shalua get into the circle of trust. It's understanding that one fact for exactly what it is. For people to be in that trusted circle, they have to understand how emotionally stunted Sephiroth is and to what to help him to understand without making him feel like a fool. Emerson Cole is one of those Firsts that is exceptionally good at it.

"It'll take some time," Angeal says delicately. "But once he becomes a SOLDIER, the two of you will be able to spend more time together, and get to know each other better."

Sephiroth runs his fingers through his hair, not sure exactly what he thinks about that but his lips press together tightly. He's done talking about it.

Angeal and Genesis share a look, both respecting Sephiroth's desire to end this discussion for now. Genesis stands up, stretching before heading for the door. "Get some sleep, Sephiroth. Goodnight!" He waves his hand to the silver-haired before leaving, knowing he can't give Sephiroth a second to come up with a reason to leave. Angeal is quick to follow him out.

Angeal goes to check in on Zack to see that is still sleeping and Shalua has sent Tyler home for the night. She looks over Zack one more time before telling Angeal and Genesis that Zack was going to be alright, just to keep checking in on him throughout the night and she would be back in the morning. Angeal and Genesis thanked her and walked her to the door. She waved them off when they offered to walk her back to the lab, or home, where she was going, but she wasn't going home, and she didn't need an escort.

She bid them goodnight and left.

"Go get some rest," Angeal says to Genesis, "I'm going to go sit in with Zack to keep an eye on him. That's his second dose of mako in a week, I just want to keep an eye on him to make sure he's okay."

Genesis rubs at his neck. "Are you sure?"

Angeal nods. "Yes, go ahead. Get some sleep. Thanks for all your help, Genesis."

Genesis pats his shoulder, a yawn unintentionally escaping him. "Okay. I'll get cuddle up with the socially awkward bean stock, then, while you sit in an uncomfortable chair all night."

"You'd better not have sex in my bed, Genesis, I will kill you," Angeal warns, shaking his head.

"Without you? Never," Genesis teases, heading for Angeal's bedroom while Angeal goes back into Zack's room - because at this point, Zack is the only person who uses it, so it might as well be his - while shaking his head. Angeal checks over Zack again, admiring how peacefully the boy slept now. He didn't awaken at Angeal coming into the room. He was out like a light, but at least he wasn't panting and sweating, looking like he was in pain like before. It was a relief. So long as he was getting better, that was all that Angeal cared about.

Genesis found Sephiroth curled up into a ball on his side, eyes screwed tightly closed. He dropped his jacket, socks, and extra belts, opting to sleep in his pants alone. Not as polite as Sephiroth, Genesis raids Angeal's dressers to find some pants and a simple white t-shirt to sleep in before crawling into bed behind Sephiroth, carefully. He jerks at the movement of the bed, opening his eyes and looking over his shoulder, but when he sees Genesis, he relaxes again and closes his eyes.

"Sephiroth?"

The silver-haired man hums softly, already half asleep again. "Hm?"

"Can I place my arms around you?"

"...yes," Sephiroth murmurs. Genesis presses close, wrapping his arm around Sephiroth's ribs and burying his face into the back of his head. Genesis loved curling around the silver-haired man. He was always so much warmer than everyone else. Mako made their bodies burn hotter than normal people's bodies, and Sephiroth's burned hotter still than even that. After a few moments of silence, Sephiroth asks, "Where is Angeal?"

"He's going to look after Zack tonight."

Sephiroth nods his head a bit, humming under his breath as sleep threatens to take him once more. "I'm sorry I'm difficult."

Genesis scoffs, nuzzling into Sephiroth's back. "A serious conversation with Zack is difficult. Sitting through a meeting with the directors is difficult. Hell, even going through mission briefings with director Lazard is difficult. You, you are not difficult."

Sephiroth huffs, shaking his head a bit, relaxing into Genesis' touch. "I don't believe you. It's not polite to lie, Genesis."

"I wouldn't dare lie to you," Genesis murmurs, breathing in Sephiroth's hair. They fall into another few moments of silence before Genesis says, "You know that you don't have to worry about Zack, right?"

Sephiroth opens his eyes slowly, staring at the clock on the nightstand next to the bed. It's well past one in the morning. Sephiroth doesn't know how to respond to that, not even sure he understood what Genesis was even referring to.

"Zack makes you weary, we know. All new people do, especially when they get close to us, but Angeal adores him and I've got a soft spot for him," Genesis admits. "I know you're way too reserved to be enamored like we are, as fast as we are. But I just want to make something clear, despite my jokes, he's fifteen. If something is to ever happen between all of us, it's going to be in a few years."

Sephiroth blinks slowly. "You mean when he's legal?"

"If it's what all of us want. You, me, Angeal, and Zack. I mean, three years is a long time, and he's young. Who's to say what we all think or want in three years. Maybe Zack will only be interested in being our friend. Maybe he'll be dating a pretty girl and wondering how he was going to get her to marry him once he becomes a big hero, I don't know. I can't see into the future, but I don't want you to worry. If there is going to be a dramatic shift in our dynamic, it's not going to be soon," Genesis says softly. He stretches his legs out as far as he can, listening to his hips, knees, and ankles crack before relaxing again.

"It is smart to wait, regardless," Sephiroth says just as softly. "He should be a kid for as long as he can. He can worry about everything else later." He feels Genesis press a kiss into his shoulder.

"We can talk more later," Genesis says, yawning a bit.

"Okay," Sephiroth agrees, not sure if he's really going to be getting any sleep tonight regardless. But he closes his eyes and tries to clear his mind and tries to relax. Usually sleep was the thing that eludes him the most, but he hasn't been able to sleep at all these last few weeks other than in small increments at a time. But he falls asleep almost immediately afterward.

"Good morning!" Zack cheers, peeking his head into the living room, dining room, and kitchen hybrid, seeing the three people gathered around the peninsula that separates the kitchen from the rest of the room all turn to look at him.

"Zack," Angeal says, mildly surprised. "How do you feel?"

Zack leans against the doorframe, rubbing at his eyes tiredly. "I feel okay, I guess. I would come in there but I'm putrid, I need a shower." He laughs, despite his headache. He feels good. At least a lot better than he's felt in what feels like forever.

Genesis grins at him playfully. "Well, I'm glad I got to see you before I head out. As fun and as good as this has all been, I've got to head back to work at some point. But I'll be checking in. Shower, get some food in you, and then back to bed. You might feel okay now but give yourself some time, alright, Zack? Angeal would be heartbroken if you pushed yourself too hard and passed out again." Even though he said it flippantly and with an even look on his face, there is a hint of worry to his tone.

Zack rubs at the back of his neck, grinning crookedly. "I'm okay. I feel good like I said. But you should go to work," Zack says, turning soft, tired eyes to the red-head, staring at him through long dark lashes. "It's bad enough that Angeal feels like he has to babysit me. There's no need for you too."

Angeal shakes his head but doesn't respond. Genesis offers a charming smile to the youngest in the room. "Well, it's only because he's a worry wort by nature. But I really do have to run. I'll come to check in with you later, alright? Later, pup."

"Bye-bye," Zack says waving his hand a bit. Genesis turns to look at Shalua, offering her a nod before turning his mako-enhanced eyes toward Angeal and staring into them for a moment. Angeal nods slowly, not needing any words to know what Genesis is trying to say. He wasn't in as bad of shape as he was these last few days. Now that he knows that Zack is going to be okay, he can start to relax a bit.

"We'll see you later, Genesis," he says quietly.

"No doubt," Genesis says, before looking back over at Shalua. "Do you need an escort, Shalua?"

She shakes her head. "No, thank you. Now that he's awake, I'm going to check in on him again once he's out of the shower before I head back. Thank you for offering, though."

Genesis nods before heading to the door, giving them all one final wave before he goes. Zack, yawning, turns around and heads back into his borrowed room, going through the duffle bag that he packed for the stay here, pulling out some more clothes, and heading for the bathroom.

Zack turns on the shower before peeling his sticky, crusty clothes off of his body and dumping them into a pile on the floor before stepping under the spray despite it still being cold. The shock to his system makes him tense up painfully, but he forces himself to stay like that, willing the heat from his body to cool down. It feels like he's been suffering from a fever, nonstop for the last year and a half. And it has left him physically exhausted. The cold water helps a bit in making him feel better.

While under the cold water, he washes his hair and body thoroughly before finally turning up the heat in the shower and sitting down on the tub floor under the spray with his eyes closed. He feels the warm water flow down his neck and back making him relax. After how gross he feels after these mako injections, a simple shower never seems to be enough to make him feel better. He's going to need a few to get the feeling of dried sweat off his skin.

Once more, Zack doesn't remember anything from his dreams, and while his head still hurts, it's not as terrible has it has been. Which hopefully means he's near the tail-end of this adjustment period. He definitely still has a long way to go, but at least there's a chance that it's starting to get easier. Then again, it's probably just wishful thinking.

After about ten minutes of Zack just half dozing under the spray, he finally turns the water off and stands up. He reaches out to the towel rack and grabs a towel to dry his hair and body with before hanging it back up and grabbing at his pile of clothes, slipping on some boxers, black shorts, and a loose white t-shirt before stopping to look at himself in his reflection, something catching his eye.

He wipes away some of the condensation building up on the mirror to see himself looking back at him. But his brain didn't immediately register himself. He hadn't noticed, over the last few weeks that he was finally starting to lose the baby fat on his face, trimming his cheeks down, and his dark hair has definitely grown longer and wilder even though it's weighed down by the water from his shower. Being in the Cadet Program has really beaten out any small bit of vanity that Zack might have had. His sun-kissed skin was paler, which only attributed to how sick he's been seeing as last he checked, he had a nice tan going on from being out in the sun all day every day both since being in the Cadet Program itself and even before that, since living in Gongaga. But what really caught his eye, was... well, his eyes.

They weren't glowing. Not like Angeal's or Genesis', which is to be expected since they are Firsts and have so much more mako in their systems than he does. But his eyes are definitely bluer than he knows they should be. And if he leans close, he can see the soft motion of mako in them. Now, Zack has always had blue eyes, but his eyes were closer to a white-blue, these were darkening almost to a greenish-blue that would glow - like Angeal's and Genesis's. All blue with the smallest hint of green to them, and glowing brightly - a SOLDIER trademark.

It wasn't significantly different, but Zack always has really light eyes, so he was able to notice that they were getting darker in color. Zack lets out a long, slow breath in amazement, shaking his head.

"I'm getting there," Zack assures himself, a zing of excitement passing through him, helping him forget how tired he is.

Zack grabs his clothes and heads back into his room to put them in his basket to wash later. He shakes his head, water droplets that were dripping from his hair now flying around the room.

A laugh pulls his eyes over to Angeal leaning against the doorframe with an amused, but tired look on his face.

"What?" Zack asks innocently.

"I'm sorry," Angeal says, amused. "You just looked exactly like a dog, doing that."

Zack laughs, turning around to face his mentor completely, noticing the way his glowing eyes softened at the sight of his smile. "Don't say that. And besides, you know I can't deal with long wet hair." He rubs at his forehead, the rattling of his brain hurting from the shacking.

"It's nice to see you a bit more lively," Angeal admits fondly.

"I've worried you again, haven't I?" Zack asks, feeling bad. He understands how privileged he is to have Angeal's attention and knows that he does little in the way of thanking him for working so hard on his behalf, that he feels bad that Angeal is dedicating so much of his time and energy on him with nothing benefitting him coming from it.

Zack doesn't need super-enhanced eyes to see the tired, draw-out look on Angeal's face. And to know that he's the cause. Or, at least, he's partly to blame for it. And Zack has the decency to at least feel bad about it. Angeal is his mentor and Zack really looks up to him and respects him. It just makes Zack sad to think that he's causing his mentor so much needless hardship.

"I was worried, but it's not your fault," Angeal says, shaking his head. He stares into Zack's eyes, taking in how they are changing, and the softness in his expression increases a bit. "In fact, whenever you're ready, I would like for you to come out here and have my friend take a look at you. She'll be able to explain what's been going on with you."

Zack hadn't been aware that something had been going on with him, but he nods in agreement and follows Angeal out into the living room area where he sees the woman from earlier that was with Angeal and Genesis. He hardly noticed her at first, and it wasn't until Genesis spoke with her that he really gave her a lot of thought.

"Hello," Zack says politely.

The woman's smile is loose and uncomfortable like she doesn't smile a lot, which is sad considering how young she looks. "Hello, Zack. My name is Shalua Rui. We met yesterday, do you remember that?"

It takes Zack a moment to fight through the haze of memory from right after his mako injection until now. But he does... faintly remember her. Her name slipped his memory but he does remember her face. Even if it is through hazy images.

"Yeah," Zack says, half surprised that he did somewhat remember her. "I mean, kinda. It's all really hazy, to be honest, but your face is familiar."

Shalua's smile becomes a touch more affectionate. "That's to be expected. Your fever was very high these last few days, so it's no surprise that you're having trouble remembering things. You see, growing up near a reactor exposes you to a degree of mako throughout your life. When coming to Shinra and being exposed to mako through the trials, you should have been given a special dose. These last two trials, you weren't, which is why you've been suffering significantly worse than you should have. Now that it's marked in your file, you should have a somewhat easier time of it."

Zack blinks a few times, curiously. "Wait, so because I grew up near a reactor... that's the reason that this has sucked so bad? I thought that symptoms were a normal thing when going through these trials."

"They are," Shalua admits, lowering down at the kitchen table, nodding for Zack to do the same. He does while Angeal sits between them at the head of the table. "But you're exhibiting signs of a very interesting reaction, that I would like to explore with your permission."

Zack tilts his head to the side a bit. "An interesting reaction? I have a headache and sleep the whole time."

"Angeal was telling me about how sometimes you would wake up out of a dead sleep screaming or crying. Or that sometimes you would mumble about things that don't make sense," Shalua explains.

"I do?" Zack says, perplexed. He doesn't remember this.

Angeal presses his lips together tightly as Shalua says, "Yes, and not only that but technically, you are on day two of a mako shot and this would usually be the time when you're at your worst - in anyone's case, not just your own - but here you are. Awake, alert, and able to hold down a full conversation. Your eyes are clear and I recorded your fever having broken this morning. Your mako adaptability is impressive, to say the least, and with your permission, I would like to study it."

Zack shrugs. "I'm not sure what I'm doing that's so interesting but sure." He blinks a few times, finally registering what Shalua said. "Wait, what do you mean I'm on day two?"