Chapter Text
A beep broke through his apartment, and Cloud hastened to grab his PHS from the table near him. He ended up falling off the couch in the process but resolutely sat on the ground reading the message. A grim frown pulled at his face as he read the content of said message:
From: [Zack]
Time received: 21:27
Subject: We’re back
Body: Hey Cloud, we’re back from the mission. It turned out awful, and I think Genesis took it the worst. He’s in a downright awful mood, so if you visit him, be careful? I’ll see you tomorrow
Cloud’s frown only deepened and he bit the inside of his cheek as he contemplated the message. Just what had happened? As he wasn’t on the mission, he didn’t receive any of the details except what Genesis and Zack had told him: that they and a few other Soldiers would be gone for around two weeks.
Thankfully they hadn’t taken more than the two weeks to complete it, but Cloud could feel anxiety drop like a stone in his stomach.
He weighed his options, to visit Zack or Gen or to stay here and see them in the morning, and chose to visit Gen. He needed to know how Genesis was doing, if he was at the very least physically alright.
He hit reply on the message and wrote a quick reply.
To: [Zack]
Time sent: 21:29
Subject: Re: We’re Back
Body: Thanks for letting me know. I’m going to check up on him. What happened on the mission?
I’m leaving for a mission tomorrow at 0800, just to let you know.
He hit send and remained seated, passively observing the loading icon until it blinked with [Message Sent]. He then stood up, glancing down at his Soldier uniform and briefly wondered if he should change into something else. He dismissed the notion and padded over to his front door. He toed on his boots, not bothering with lacing them as he would be only going a floor up, grabbed his keycard and left his apartment. The door locked behind him automatically with a beep as he headed to the stairwell at the end of the hall.
A quick walk up, faster than taking the elevator, and Cloud was on the floor for the Firsts. A rapid flash of his keycard and he was in the hallway. There, he paused, second-guessing himself for a brief moment. Should he really visit when Zack had said that Gen was in such a bad mood? He shook his head, clearing those thoughts. It’s only a quick visit. He assured himself, and he strode down the hallway to Genesis’s door, twenty five steps away from the stairwell. His eyes flicked from one minute detail on the walls to the other as the weight of nerves increased in his stomach.
Resolutely, he pressed the back of his keycard, where the card that Genesis had given him for First Class permissions resided to the security pad next to the door. He only ever used it to visit Genesis and Zack, both of which were Firsts. He himself was a Second class, promoted three months back.
With a nervous roll of his shoulders, he knocked twice the door. He could already feel an oppressive silence weigh on him as he slowly opened it.
Quietly, Cloud closed the door behind him, taking note of the dimly lit apartment, the only light coming from the windows and the bathroom. The resounding silence was broken by the running and few splashes of water, by a worn-down sigh and the click of a light flicked off.
He hesitated to break the oppressive silence by taking any steps or making any movements; he hardly dared breathe. He finally took a hesitant step forward as a figure exited the bathroom to be bathed by the quiet light from the windows.
“… Genesis?” he whispered, taking another step forward.
Genesis twitched violently, whirling around with an extended hand, looking ready to blast his face off. He lowered his hand slowly as he recognized Cloud, and his shoulders slumped from their tensed position.
“Cloud… what are you doing here?” Genesis wearily questioned, blinking a few times and running a hand through his hair. He looked extremely guarded still, facing slightly away from Cloud where normally he would facing him fully, and shoulders still more tense than usual.
Cloud swallowed and stepped forward until he was in front of Genesis.
“Zack told me you guys got back.” He let his eyes quickly glance over Genesis, checking for signs of bandages, injuries, for anything that was off. Cloud met his eyes for his next statement. “I wanted to check that you were alright.”
Genesis looked away and his expression became guarded. His frown deepened, and Cloud could see the line of Genesis’s mouth hardening. He looked exhausted, bags and dark circles under his eyes and face pulled taut with stress.
“I… I need some space right now, Cloud. I appreciate your concern but I would like to be left alone.” Genesis still didn’t meet his eyes.
Cloud blinked, and worry flooded his stomach, pulling that nervous weight down even more. He bit back an ‘are you sure?’ and simply nodded. His throat was tight, and the beep from his PHS as it signaled a new message right at that instant cut into the newfound silence. Genesis’s eyes flashed down to where the PHS lay in Cloud’s pocket before he turned away from Cloud in dismissal.
Cloud’s heart stung as Genesis turned away, but he recognized and respected the other’s need for privacy. Without another word, even though words wanted to come out and fill that silence before he left, he slipped through the front door.
He swallowed, working past a swell of emotions and opened his PHS.
From: [Zack]
Time: 21:35
Subject: Re: Re: We’re Back
Body: It’s classified. Do you want to stop in for a quick visit before you go back to your place to sleep?
Cloud quickly strode over a few doors down to Zack’s apartment, feeling tense and worried, unable to do anything for Genesis even though he ached to help. He knocked twice and reached for his keycard, only to have Zack open the door and sweep him into a hug. Surprised, Cloud hesitated before hugging back but returning the tightness in favour as the two clung to each other in the doorway.
After a few minutes, Cloud’s tension somewhat relieved and Zack’s nervous energy dissipated, they drew into the apartment and closed the door behind them.