Title: Fairy Tale
Author: Enide Dear
Pairing: In this chapter implied AngealxGenesis, SephirothxCloud, KadajxReno. Will probably involve more or less everyone at some point.
Rating: this chapter rather work safe but will turn significantly darker. AU
Summary: The Jenovas are back! AU setting: Jenova rules the land through her chosen sons, exacting cruel dominion of all that lives there. Chocobo knights, 'damsels' in distress, swords, magic, harems and at least one dragon. Part of a series that might be quite long.
A/N: Thanks to padawan san and Yllet for encouraging me to continue this fic. I'm still not entirely sure about it, but I hope you will all like it.

"I have three new ones, my Lord." The heavy-boned man shrugged one unmoving body from his shoulder and pulled the ropes circling the other two's necks forward before bowing deeply. "I hope they meet with your satisfaction."

"You are most diligent in your work, Angeal." The smile gracing the Lord was thin and cruel, but indulgent. "I hope you are not wasting our time with another bunch of second rate good this time though. My patience is only so long after all, and I fear my brothers' are even shorter." He stroke a long fingered hand over the silver hair of the young boy sitting cheekily on the arm of the heavy throne, making the boy giggle. There was more than a hint of madness in the sound.

The two other brothers in the Jenova family stood by the sides of the throne, the biggest one yawning where he leaned over the golden back and the other one meticulously picking his already perfect nails, both feigning bored disinterest even though their glanced sought out the prisoners with cruel curiosity time and again.
The two most beloved by the Goddess Jenova, however, needed no such posing. The eldest and the youngest that shared the throne watched greedily and when they exchanged a few mumbled words, their laughs both had the same insanity ringing through them.

"Not this time, my Lord." Although he kept his eyes humbly averted, Angeal didn't back down from the threat. His own eyes were alight with a desperation that was almost madness unto itself. "I travelled far to find these. They are most fair to look upon." He pulled the ropes of the two prisoners again, forcing them to kneel on the hard marble floor; the shorter youngster with his hair in a shocking disarray fell down almost immediately, gasping with fear. But the red-haired one kicked and spat and snarled like a cat before Angeal managed to wrestle him down with brute force and holding him there.

"Hm. So I see." The eldest rose from his chair, holding back his brothers with a simple flick of a finger. There were no guards in the throne room, although there were a number of more or less frightened witless administrators and noble men, and once their Lord moved, it became obvious why. A fine, absurdly long sword was strapped on to his hip and when he moved it was obvious that he knew how to use it. The four brothers together were a force barely an army could stop and even Angeal, who had long ago sold his honour for love and survived more than one dark adventure on the long road, felt a twinge of unease. This was not an opponent he could ever hope to best.

But the silver haired Lord was not interested in fighting now. Stepping up to the kneeling blonde youngster he grabbed his chin and forced his head up, blue frightened eyes meeting the reptile green that marked the Lord as Jenova's incarnation on Gaia.

The blonde youngster looked like he'd faint or at least soil himself, but somehow he managed to keep eye contact for almost two whole seconds before instinctively starting to thrash. The Lord held him for another second or two - a cat playing with its prey - before smiling and letting him go.

"This one, most certainly. Well done, Angeal. What is his name?"

"Cloud Strife, my lord." Angeal's heart beat faster with a surge of hope. The boy was pretty, but you never knew with the Jenovas, you never knew…

"As for the other…" The silver haired lord turned to the red-head who was still fighting and trashing in Angeal's grip; he pursed his lips and for a second it looked like he would actually spit on the lord. But he must have seen something in the reptile eyes, for he quickly swallowed and looked away. "Pretty, but too unruly. I have no patience with rudeness…"

"Can I have him, brother?" The youngest brother - the only one to ever interrupt the lord and live to tell about it - chimed in. He was sitting with his legs on each side of the throne, dangling them wildly and watching the red-head with cruel amusement.

"Youthful folly." The lord smiled indulgently at his favourite. "As you wish then, but don't come running to me if you break him."

The red-head sneered at the boy, who only smiled back, showing a lot of teeth.

"His name?" The lord was already walking back to his throne, long sword swaying.

"Reno, my lord." Angeal's heart beat fast as a drum; two accepted 'gifts' in one delivery was very good, very good indeed. Even the nobles were mumbling to themselves. Should he push his luck? He had to. "And…and the last one, my lord?" He had to lick his lips nervously as the lord turned around, frowning. He cast a quick glance at the unconscious man, a heavy, big man with faint brown skin and a bald head.

"Dross." Contemptuously, the lord waved a hand in the air. "Unless one of my brothers want him for sparring or playing?"

All three shook their heads, and Angeal's heart slowed down a little. It had been a gamble he hadn't expected to win anyway; Rude was handsome, but the Jenova's preferred pretty. Still, he'd been hanging around Reno and it would be a loss not to try. He had to try. He had to do…anything. And two gifts were good, were very good.

Although nowhere near good enough.

"Take the two gifts to Tseng, he will administer them. You know the way." The lord sat down again, smiling. "And you may choose two new chocobos in the stables and a new weapon if you need it. As long as you keep bringing me gifts like this, I want you to have anything you desire."

Angeal bowed, outwardly for his gratitude but inwardly to hide his rage. *You are already keeping what I mostly desire for yourself.* He took a deep breath.

"My lord….may I…may I see him? Please? It has been almost two years…"

For a second, the whole throne room held their breath, frightened like rabbits and ready to bolt at the slightest movement; their lord was not know to handle demands well. Or to be predictable. Of course, once they saw him move it would be too late to do anything.

"Of course." The lord's eyes were still on the blonde youngster and he waved a hand graciously through the air. "Let Tseng know I gave you a fourth of a bell to meet." Cruel eyes darted to Angeal before again resting on the one named Cloud. "I understand Genesis still keeps that cumbersome sword of yours oiled and polished."

"Thank you, my lord." Angeal managed to rasp as his throat contorted. He bowed again, this time to hide tears.

Tseng's office was beautiful; as far as Angeal had seen all rooms in the palace were beautiful. The Jenovas didn't abide anything else. This was the second time in five years he'd been here to deliver his 'gifts' and the exotic man had let his hair grow, long and lush down his back. Apart from that, all was the same. Tseng greeted him solemnly, took his name and those of the two prisoners and added them to a scroll of pergament that held one name before. Three; a meagre list. A meagre list to sell your soul and honour for, in exchange for foolish, futile hope.

"Seven left." Tseng must have seen his face, because he added. "In only five years. That makes you the best deliverer currently in action, Angeal."

"The best isn't good enough." He stared at the seven empty rows, the exhilaration he'd felt before turning to lead. He couldn't do this…he had to do this.

Tseng hesitated, then gently touched the bigger man's shoulder.

"At least Genesis has someone out there fighting for him. That is more than most in here can say. You two still have hope."

"I brought him some dumb apples." Angeal didn't even know why he said it. The two prisoners stared at him, but he ignored them for now. "Will I be allowed to give them to him?"

Tseng nodded slowly.

"But you won't be alone. I'll be there myself." He rang a bell on the desk and a black haired man with an easy smile stepped in, doing a salute. "Zack, take the new gifts to the top tower room. They can share for now. Fill them in on the rules and report to me later." He took Angeal's shoulder as if to lead him away, but the bigger man turned towards the prisoners.

"I don't expect you to forgive me, but I need you to know. I don't know if love is worth more than honour, but…it is the path I chose. I am sorry this had to happen to you, but I would not to different another time."

Cloud just stared, too wide-eyed with fear perhaps to even understand the words. Reno, at the other hand, spat on the floor.

Angeal just sighed and turned away, letting Tseng lead him to see the man he loved and hadn't seen for almost two years. With a gift of dumb apples and two men sold to slavery

TBC