[Fic] Priorities [Sephiroth/Genesis]
His name was Alex and he seemed a nice enough boy. Tall, blonde and handsome; the second son of one of the materia scientists that worked on the 49th Floor. He was polite and cultured and intelligent - in essence, all Genesis could want in a first boyfriend for his eldest.
His name was Alex and he seemed a nice enough boy, but Sephiroth had already marked him as public enemy number 1. And all because the boy was showing a genuine interest in Kadaj…
Genesis had planned a pleasant meal, he recalled, but he spent most of it languidly pushing peas across his plate with a fork. His eyes were focused solely upon Sephiroth in a seat across the table, wedged between Kadaj and Alex like his very presence was a six-foot thick concrete wall build to keep them separate. For as long as possible.
And the man acted so cool and blasé about it, seeing nothing wrong; occasionally glanced up at Genesis and smiled, and commented on how nice the meal was.
The two teens sporadically glanced at each other and smiled, each time Kadaj mouthing an apology before Sephiroth snapped his head to look at him, instantly silencing him. Similarly, conversation was curt and clipped, more like how Sephiroth spoke to executives and subordinates than family members; more interrogating the poor boy than showing an active interest.
The redhead sat passively though his foot conveniently slipped into Sephiroth's shin whenever something inappropriate or something that conflicted with Genesis' beliefs passed through his lips. As far as he was concerned, there was no need for this. Protectiveness was one thing… home-wrecking was another.
And then the entire scene had tessellated to the main living room, with the exception of Kadaj's little brother who had scurried away to the quieter territories of his room, preferring to re-enact battles that his parents had planned, fought and won with his mismatched figures rather than be a spectator in silent psychological warfare. There were times when Genesis felt oh-so-close to joining him.
Soon enough though, as the evening was drawing to a close and soon Alex would have to depart back to his parent's house outside of the ShinRa building, Sephiroth stood and took the young blonde outside of the apartment for… one of those talks that fathers apparently give to suitors to identify whether their intentions were honourable enough to respect. And Goddess forbid - allow. Angeal had already given Alex his seal of approval, which had to carry some weight - the man being able to sniff out despicable behaviour from one hundred miles away.
The poor boy looked terrified as he scampered behind Sephiroth's officious strut. Without doubt he was certain that past that door stood his own demise. Genesis felt as pitiful for the teen as he was angry at Sephiroth. They had spoken about the general's evident protectiveness before Alex had even arrived, but it stubbornly remained, never letting its presence be forgotten. Not for one moment.
As soon as the door swung shut Kadaj turned to Genesis, green eyes flaring in his temper. He was the perfect mix of his parents - every resemblance of his father with every ounce of his mother's temperament. At 18 it was hard to see why some other teen hadn't tried to snap him up before… then again, he was Sephiroth's first-born son.
"Why is he intent on ruining my life?!" was spoken loud enough that Sephiroth was sure to have heard it on the other side of the front door. And so he should, Genesis looked at his son, eyes making clear his pride. Proud that Kadaj had finally found someone brave enough with enough confidence to present himself to two legends and manage to impress one… and that Genesis had taught him just to be a miniature, silver version of himself.
Genesis sighed and slung his legs over the other side of the sofa where he sat and transferred his gaze to his wine glass. "His speciality, I find."
Huffing in frustration, Kadaj flung himself back into the armchair, arms crossed and lips pouting. "It's not fair. He's going to scare Alex awa-"
"-if Alex likes you that much, there's nothing Sephiroth can do," Genesis assured with a smile. One of those smiles that made children instinctually know that their mother knew best and was always right. Without a question, contrary comment or doubt. Sometimes Genesis loved being a mother.
There was another sharp expulsion of air before silence between the pair. The only sounds came from the muffled murmurs from the corridor outside the apartment, the hum of the dishwasher in the kitchenette in the far corner of the room and Yazoo making strange noises and laughing in his room down the hall.
Then, what seemed like an eternity later, the door opened again and Sephiroth stepped into the room. Alone. But there was no blood on his suit, nor had that stoic expression left his face. Silently, the general made his way over to the sofa; picked Genesis' legs up before sitting down and settling them back over his lap.
Kadaj's gaze flickered between the door, his missing boyfriend and his father. "What did you do to him?"
Clearing his throat in a gesture that failed to give him any authority, Sephiroth simply replied. "His father called and requested him back home immediately."
Genesis rolled his eyes and lowered his glass down to the small lamp-table besides the large black leather couch. "Where are your manners, Sephiroth?" He then turned back up to Kadaj, whilst he fished around for something in his trouser pocket. "Catch up with him, Kadaj, walk him home." With a grin, the redhead tossed a small, square plastic wrapper at his son.
Kadaj caught it out of instinct and inspected it with a single glance in the palm of his hand. The expression on his face was somewhat stunned… and excited and all those other emotions that made Genesis' heart feel that little bit lighter. "You're the best, mum," the teen beamed, quickly thanked him and rushed out through the front door.
"I try," Genesis said to the empty air. But the calm didn't last long. Not when the temperature of the room was dropping rapidly. And the hands on his legs were gripping tighter and tighter.
"You just gave him-"
"What? My condition might have passed onto him." Genesis shot back bluntly. Turning to Sephiroth, for the first time he saw the fright and disappointment that haunted mako green eyes.
There wasn't a question of why. Kadaj was growing up; he wasn't that sweet little boy any more, and soon Sephiroth would have to transfer all his duty of care over him to someone else. And after all the years, seeing Kadaj grow from a bump in Genesis' abdomen to the charming young man he was now, Sephiroth didn't exactly want to.
Sephiroth sighed and lessened his grip on Genesis' legs. "I still don't like it."
Smirking, Genesis shuffled across the sofa so he was nestled tightly against his lover, breathing hot air down his neck where the collar of his white dress shirt failed to cover. "Don't you remember when we were that age? The things we got up to?" There was no shame in where Genesis let his hands wander; no contemplation in undressing his lover like he had oh-so-many times before.
"Yes," Sephiroth muttered, wholly unimpressed. He did not yield to the hands that caressed him, although he did move his own to transfer Genesis onto his lap so he could look straight into mischievous blue eyes that hadn't lost a single speck of colour and beauty over the years. "That's what I was warning Alex about."