At Least Let Me Die in Your Arms
Angeal Hewley x Genesis Rhapsodos
1k words
A/N: teehee
Dropping like dew on a disturbed leaf, one after another, after another, the company’s standard issued sword was sheathed once again. It was odd, he thought, glancing back at the anonymous soldiers donned in attire unlike that of Wutai.
Then a glimpse of those oh so familiar auburn streaks caught his eye.
Surely, it was just a coincidence-
There's no way it could have been-
Approaching the body only to make a full stop, his stomach dropped and warped into sicknesses unimaginable. He couldn’t have done this, this couldn’t have been real-
Dropping to his knees, breath stilled and as frozen as his mind, his shaky hands reached for his beloved’s cheek. All in hopes that this was just some cruel dream, a nightmare that would only end, for the man he had been yearning for for so long to just come back, to come home by his side- That surely, he would wake up once again in the warmth of his other half, his soothing voice speaking to comfort:
“My, my Geal. Couldn’t have you at least let me die in your arms?”
His neck snapped towards the source in utter hopelessness, confusion reeking beyond what his mind would grasp. There he was. In his signature red leather coat. An overly smug grin, that faltered in only a way he could read, but a smug grin that he wanted to punch nonetheless.
“Genesis, I- Just- What the hell is the meaning of this!?” He snapped in a fit of what was ultimately summed up with confusion, the thought of tears flooding his eyes moments prior erased as now he only wanted answers. Genesis feigned a hum of thought, only to then kick off the helmet of another nearby soldier.
Yet again, was the solemn face of his lover.
“What do you think? Technically I suppose you could say Hollander made them.”
“Hollander? Just why the hell is he invol-”
“Remember our last training session with Sephiroth? I’m sure it’s not difficult to forget.” Genesis cut off, leaving Angeal to only remain as puzzled as he previously was. Genesis seemed determined to leave no time for Angeal to properly collect his thoughts however. “Since then, let’s say I have, discovered a few things…”
“But just what-” the world seemed determined to leave Angeal unanswered, as this time the faintest of calls for him heard from a distance.
That was right, Zack and Sephiroth were waiting for him.
Genesis seemed aware too, considering the circumstances and seeing as where they were, his brows could only seem to furrow even with how he seemed to play off his visible annoyance. Like the thought of Angeal even faltering attention irked him so. But he simply clicked his tongue and cast a materia before Angeal’s still lagging mind could keep up.
Only once it was too late did he finally comprehend Genesis’s actions. “Genesis! Just what are you doi-”
“Angeal.” Despite his body and mind still radiating of growing irritations, Angeal silenced for the moment. Even his annoyance couldn’t keep him from wanting even just one answer.
“We aren’t.. human.” Waiting for answers seemed pointless, even if he couldn’t bring himself to even raise a hand against Genesis with or without will, he couldn’t help but remain frustrated.
“Genesis, just what are you talking about.” This time, his answer of silence seemed genuinely conflicted, unsure of what to say next. But it was only a matter of time until the distraction was gone.
And so, did Angeal finally realize the truth behind Genesis’s implications. Shimmering under the moonlight, were pitch black deaths forming a crooked wing, a singular mass protruding out of the back of the man in front of him.
On the same side of the scar of the incident that very day.
Even if it was unlike anything he had ever imagined, he didn’t know what to think anymore. Nothing made sense anymore.
And the words that left Genesis’s mouth were of no comfort either.
“If I am correct, you too should be capable of this.”
Just what was he supposed to feel right now? Shock? Anger? Fear? His mind felt too full of thoughts pounding through his head, screaming for a proper, concise explanation-
Yet all at once was his mind as equally silent as the noise that left his mouth, his own breath practically inaudible.
In fact, it was getting hard to breathe. To hear. To focus on anything, a blurring mass of what was formerly piles of murken leaves in front of him. His senses one by one and all at once blending until hands placed upon his shoulders paused the static of his mind.
After that was all a blur, lost to the haziness of his memories.
.
.
.
.
.
It was cold.
How long ago has it been since he first found out the truth behind his past, his present, his existence.
Now, laying in the rain; his senses slowly numbed one by one.
It felt like not too long ago did Zack leave the premises, so why did it feel like he wasn’t alone? Was the lingering mako in his veins messing with him? Or was it the degradation messing with him? It didn’t matter.
It shouldn’t have mattered.
“Angeal… Angeal.. you-”
Oh.
He really wasn’t alone.
Despite his hearing being greatly diminished by now, it was odd to him that he wasn’t fully dead by now. Now, he just wondered if the world and those above wanted to play one last cruel joke on him.
“why..?” The voice that should have been muffled seemed all too clear, crackling under its own weight; he wished he could have reached out. To see him one last time. Perhaps as a dying wish.
But maybe that would be too cruel, for the both of them.
Desperate attempts of retaining any sense of composure, crippling into weak sobs as his limp body was cradled close to a fleeting warmth. Rain drowning out every last decibel of the grieving cries turned screams, only one last thought lingered for the briefest of moments:
At least I got to die in your arms.
