Beyond

Flora Winters

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, and I'm not making any money here either.

Summary: Sometimes the dead simply do not stay dead. This story will contain boy love, strong language, and scenes of explicit violence.

Chapter Twenty-Two

A loud boom caused Cloud's eyes to snap open. He carefully sat up and peered out of the shadows of a tall pillar where he'd been resting in darkness behind the altar. Heavy footsteps echoed in the silence and there was a sudden startling of dove wings from above. "Cloud!" Zack's voice thundered through the church and he could see the dark headed man stalking down the rows of pews looking left and right with blazing blue eyes. His blade was drawn and the sharp edges were filled with an angry, hungry white fire. Zack looked as though he were ready to take down an entire army.

"Here," Cloud softly said, slowly rising to his feet and stared across the altar at the approaching man.

Zack stopped in his tracks and Cloud read the mix of emotions that played across his handsome face. Relief, anger, relief, rage, relief, kill, relief, sugar, relief, caffeine. Before Cloud could say another word, Zack dropped his blade and raced forward. Zack moved so fast, Cloud hadn't registered that Zack had grabbed the marble altar with one hand and sent it flying to the left across the church where it crashed into a wall, shattering all to pieces. Before he could even blink, Zack had him in a death grip, squeezing him to the point where his face felt like it was beginning to turn blue.

The taller man was breathing heavily.

"I'm okay," Cloud managed to gasp out, hugging Zack back. "Genesis didn't hurt me. We just talked and then he let me go."

He felt Zack stiffen. He instantly knew he was going to get an earful.

~FF7~

It took Zack a few moments to pull himself together. There was just too many mixed emotions running through his brain. He was so happy that Cloud was okay and in his arms again, but he was also pissed as hell with Cloud and he didn't know why. He let Cloud go, but grabbed him by his arms and held the smaller man a few inches away from him. He gazed into those stunned blue eyes and then he let the blond have it.

"What's going on?" He yelled at Cloud, shaking him a little bit. "You're keeping something from me! I know you are. I can feel it! You lied to Sephiroth! You said I had some rare sleeping illness! I don't have any illnesses! You…You..drugged me? And…And..You don't look the same. You don't act the same. You don't talk the same. I'm having bad dreams about you. What is it, Cloud? Tell me!" He let Cloud go and squatted down, holding his head between his sweaty palms. "I'm sorry…I'm just…YOU MAKE ME FUCKING CRAZY!" He looked up into Cloud's eyes. They were so far away…like some distant blue sky…and yet they were right there, only looking at him. A sky that only looked at him. "Just tell me what's going on, Cloud. I feel like you're so far away…and I can't keep up." He started laughing. "God, my feet hurt."

"Drugged you?" Cloud asked, instantly feigning innocence.

Zack nodded. "I know you fucked me senseless, but come on, Cloud! Sephiroth carried me all over Midgar looking for you…and I didn't wake up?"

"I only want to protect you, Zack…"

"Protect me?" Zack snapped, wishing he could pull the blonde's hair real good. "Protect me from what, Cloud?"

The blond knelt down before him and wrapped his arms around his neck, resting his head on his broad shoulder. His breath was warm on Zack's neck and it sent shivers straight down to his toes. "If I tell you," Cloud whispered, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Will you listen?"

Zack pulled him closer and nodded his head. "Of course, I will listen. I always listen to you! Just tell me so I can understand why you felt the need to knock my ass out."

The blond leaned back and gently sighed. Crimson red lips smiled and that beloved dimple appeared. Zack instantly wanted to attack it with his mouth.

"Okay," The blond said, standing up and pulling Zack to his feet. "Do you want to know everything?"

Zack nodded his head. "Everything you want to tell me."

"I wish you'd told me you were having nightmares…" Cloud led him by the hand to a pew where they both sat down. "I'll start from the beginning then…"

~FF7~

"As you can see, I've never felt better," Genesis said, setting back on the bed with his back up against the wall. He took the last sip of dumbapple wine from his glass and tossed it aside, paying no attention as it shattered on the ground. "And that's everything."

Sephiroth was still bound to the bed spread-eagled and he was just staring up at the ceiling. Genesis wanted to grab him by his hair and rant and rave again about how horrible it was that he'd cut it, but he wanted to give the poor guy a chance to absorb and process everything he had just barraged him with.

Sephiroth turned his head to the side and looked at him. "And what if I don't believe you?"

Genesis laughed. "I have done lots of shitty things to you, Sephiroth," he giggled, playing with a shiny red lock. "But, I have never ever lied to you."

Sephiroth looked away.

"And if you choose not to believe me," Genesis went on. "We can always go see the Pretty-Shiny. He'll confirm everything I just told you." He loomed over the sprawled general. "He's a very busy butterfly, so you'll have to wait a while on that though. Lots of plans in that pretty blond head of his."

Sephiroth closed his eyes.

"When he injected his cells into my failing heart…oh, the things I saw, Sephiroth. Such horrors…such nightmares…such pain. The power he possesses makes me look tiny in comparison. You…you can keep up with him…but not forever. He's…perfect."

He curled up beside Sephiroth, resting his head on top of his broad chest. "You have no idea how much I've missed you, my love. These moments right here…where I let my crazy out and you just hold me and let me."

"I've never been tied before," Sephiroth spoke under his breath.

"You'll hit me," Genesis pouted something terrible. "If I let you go, you'll yell at me and attack me…I HAD TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO! YOU DIDN'T LISTEN!"

"YOU NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING!" Sephiroth yelled right back at him, struggling to break free. "IF YOU HAD OPENED YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH AND TALKED TO ME, I'D HAVE BEEN WITH YOU! I FUCKING LOVED YOU, YOU GODDAMNED IDIOT!"

Genesis bared his teeth, showing his sharp canines.

"If you had just told me," Sephiroth whispered, turning his face away again. "If you had trusted me…I would have helped you. I would have gone with you. Instead…you're the one who left me…"

Genesis wanted to strike him. He wanted to make him bleed.

HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME FEEL GUILTY!?

He felt guilty. His chest ached.

It is my fault. Damn you! Damn you! DAMN YOU!

"SELFISH!" Sephiroth snapped at him, barring his own teeth. "You always have been. You, you, you! EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ABOUT YOU!"

Genesis grabbed him by his hair and yanked. "YOU NEVER TALK!"

"NO!" Sephiroth snarled, hissing in pain. "I LISTEN!"

Genesis felt like he'd been slapped across the face by the flat side of a big ass sword. He screwed his face up and collapsed on top of Sephiroth, hugging him close. He just let himself cry.

"You knew how lonely I was," Sephiroth said, no longer moving to free himself. "And then you just left me…"

Moments passed in silence, except for a few hiccups from Genesis every now and then. Genesis knew he shouldn't have drank the whole bottle. Alcohol turned him into a big crying sob of a mess.

In one swift, sudden movement of silver and darkness, Genesis was flat on his back with Sephiroth straddling him. The redhead's wrists were pinned over his head and brilliant emerald green eyes were gazing down at him.

"H…How?" Genesis asked, eyes wide and he suddenly felt a little fearful and then he laughed. "You were toying with me. You could have freed yourself at any time. You were waiting for me to get drunk…"

"I'm only going to give you one chance," Sephiroth said in dead seriousness. "Say it. Say it like you mean it…and I'll think about breaking your spine before I tear your head off."

Genesis smirked and then giggled like a demon possessed little choir boy. Sephiroth never blinked, but he did tighten his hold on his wrists to where Genesis was really starting to feel some real discomfort. He lifted up his head and a lock of red hair fell across one eye. "I…I was afraid. So, I ran." He laughed again and lowered his head back down to the pillow. "You're right, Sephiroth. I am selfish." Then he let all the sadness he'd ever felt show on his beautifully handsome face. "I'm sorry I didn't trust you…"

Sephiroth squeezed his wrists even harder and Genesis winced, looking up at him with wet eyes.

"I never stopped missing you," Genesis turned his face away then and Sephiroth shook him so he'd look at him. His face turned pink. "And…" he squeezed his eyes shut. "And I never stopped loving you…"

He was instantly flipped over onto his back and had a knee right in his spine. It was right in the spot that kept him from being able to move a single limb.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Genesis yelled.

"Considering," Sephiroth replied nonchalantly. "What you just said has made me very happy, Genesis. And I still love you so much, I just want to break you into a few pieces. That's all."

"Let me go, Sephiroth," Genesis snapped, grinding his teeth together. "I've had my fun. Now you've had yours. Time to be serious again."

"I'm always serious, my love," Sephiroth said in his most loving voice. It chilled Genesis straight to the bone. "I'm being very serious right now. I'm wondering which would hurt more. Breaking your spine and then ripping your head off, or ripping your head off and then breaking your spine. Choices, choices."

"I am going to count to three, Sephiroth," Genesis said, taking a deep breath to calm his growing rage. "And then I'm going to kick your ass."

Sephiroth actually laughed and that really spooked Genesis. It was a genuine fucking laugh.

"You're going to count to three, my love?" Sephiroth asked. "Why waste precious time counting so high? You'll be spineless or headless on one."

Genesis laughed loud and Genesis laughed hard. Then he yelled, "Get him, boys!"

Two copies came out of the walls as if they'd been there the whole time, like chameleons. There was a bright flash. Sephiroth was standing over two fallen copies with his bare feet right on their throats. Both were struggling to get up, but couldn't. He had his toes on pressure points that kept them right where they were.

Genesis sat up on the bed rubbing his injured wrists, pouting at the bruises that were already beginning to darken. "You always did play rough." He rolled his eyes and then pointed at his copies. "You can let them up now. I don't want them getting rashes from your athlete's foot!"

Sephiroth's eyes flashed. "I only had that one time and I now take precautions. I spray down the shower and wear those flip-flops before getting in."

Genesis rolled his eyes again. "You can let them up now. They're turning purple from holding their breaths."

Sephiroth didn't like the fact that Genesis was referring that his feet stunk. His feet never did that. He took special care to make sure they didn't. He wanted to punch him in the throat and make him apologize. Genesis knew how conscious he was of perfectly flawless hygiene.

The silver haired general released them. The copies rose to their feet with eerie grace and just stood there like mindless zombies.

"Go and stand outside the door," Genesis said, waving his hand.

Both copies obeyed him without question. It was all they could do.

"I am sure the puppy has found the pretty-shiny by now," Genesis said, falling over onto his side with a giggle.

Sephiroth crossed his arms across his chest and looked at him. His eyes were still narrowed and filled with venom.

Genesis smiled and held out a beckoning hand. "Come here."

Sephiroth made a face.

"Please?"

Sephiroth looked at the beckoning hand and instantly remembered what it felt like to be touched by it. All this time, he'd been longing to be touched again. He'd missed feeling the touch of another.

He took a step towards the redhead and Genesis scooted over, making room for him. He laid down beside Genesis and the redhead took him into his arms, squeezing him and breathing deeply against his chest. Several moments passed and Sephiroth put his arms around him as well and squeezed.

"A night hasn't gone by that I've not thought of you," Genesis whispered, breathing Sephiroth in.

Sephiroth didn't answer, but squeezed him a little more. He didn't trust his voice. He didn't trust what he might say either.

"I've told you everything," Genesis continued, lifting up his leg and placing it over Sephiroth's. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Sephiroth muttered, closing his eyes now.

He didn't understand half the shit Genesis had been going on about. Jenova Project, METEOR, The Promised Land, Cloud and him being mortal enemies, the betrayal of Shin-Ra, arriving from another time stream, destroying reactors, blowing up head quarters, etc, etc, etc. All he did know was that Cloud was now a terrorist and extremely dangerous if he could lull in Genesis.

"Shin-Ra did this to me, Sephiroth," Genesis said, lifting himself up to look at him now. "Shin-Ra did this to all of us. Oh, if you could only see what I have seen…if you could only see what he has seen…"

"Hush now," Sephiroth told him, pulling his head back down against his chest. "You're quite mad and need to be put down."

Genesis laughed. "You're making me blush."

Sephiroth didn't reply, but Genesis was right about him needing to speak with Cloud. The two of them were going to have to have a very long and very intimate talk. Blowing up the Shin-Ra Building was a heavy offense. One that would get him far more than just scrubbing toilets for the rest of his occupancy.

"Sephiroth?" Genesis asked.

"Hmm?"

"Do you mind if I rest a little bit? I've not had real sleep in such a long time. …Would you…you know…watch over me?"

"Uh huh."

Genesis smiled and fell fast asleep.

Sephiroth was even more dumbfounded. Genesis had fallen right to sleep in his arms without a single thought.

"You always did puzzle me, Genesis."

He moved just a little bit in order to make himself more comfortable without disturbing Genesis at all. He kept his arms around the redhead, because he didn't want to lose the physical contact himself. It had been far too long since he'd been touched or embraced.

What Genesis had said explained so much through. Cloud's weird behavior…how he suddenly looked and acted like a totally different person just hours after arriving in Nibelheim…his sudden mastery of Materia…the destruction of the Shin-Ra mansion…the destruction of the Nibelheim Reactor…it all just added up.

He's from the future…

The way those blue eyes had burned right into him. Those blue eyes knew everything there was to know about him. Cloud had tried to kill him that night. The running, the screaming, the insanity, the wide eyed hysteria…He'd come back to himself in the past…seeing dead people all around him…he'd thought he'd gone insane…

WHY WON'T YOU STAY DEAD!? YOU'RE ALL DEAD! PLEASE DON'T LET HIM GET ME! ZACK!

Sephiroth closed his eyes. What was I to Cloud? Was I a monster?

Shin-Ra has real reason to fear Cloud Strife, Genesis had giggled, while playing with his hair. And so do you, my dear, Sephiroth. Oh, the horrors I have seen. That boy's nights have been long and dark and filled with terrors. He possesses a strength we can't even begin to fathom. The Life Stream chose him…I can't even begin to describe the symmetrical perfection of that face…

Genesis snickered in his sleep, bringing Sephiroth back to himself. He gently squeezed the redhead and Genesis was soon snoring very softly. He put his lips to Genesis' head and quickly caught himself before actually kissing him. He quickly removed his lips, feeling horrified that he'd been so quick to forget what Genesis had done to him.

The door to the room suddenly opened and Sephiroth's eyes widened. Another dark headed man with spiky hair stood in the doorway.

"Angeal…"

To be continued…

~I am so sorry it has taken so long to update this story. I have been so very busy. I hope everyone is doing well. If you have the time, please review and let me know what you think. Blessings!~