DOGS of War

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Once they were airborne, Angeal undid his safety restraints, moving across the cabin to sit beside Zack. Haine was once again leaning limply against the young brunet, caught somewhere between sleep and unconsciousness. Genesis was absorbed in a book, periodically glancing over the top of the pages to make sure their precious cargo was still hanging in there. Angeal reached up into the storage compartment above them, grabbing a couple of blankets and handing them to Zack to wrap himself and Haine in. “When we get back we’ll get some boots for you guys so you won’t be walking around barefoot.” Angeal glanced around, looking everywhere but at the younger soldier. “Lazard wants us to report to him directly. Our departure from the front was a bit… abrupt. After that we’ll get you into the infirmary so they can check you over.” Angeal’s guilt was still weighing heavily on his conscience as he stared at the floor. He felt a hand on his knee and looked up into Zack’s bright eyes.

“It wasn’t your fault. I decided to use myself as bait and maybe it backfired a little bit, but…” He glanced down at the ghost of a boy who leaned against his side. “I will never regret it.”

Angeal’s eyes were inevitably drawn to the gleaming metal around Zack’s neck and he reached up to brush his fingertips against the new scar tissue surrounding where the thick band was attached, making sure to avoid the black stitches that ran the length of his student’s spine. “Does it hurt?”

Zack shook his head. “No. I mean, it did at first, but I feel pretty much fine now… Honestly, all I really need is something to eat, a nice hot shower, and my bed,” he said smiling softly.

Angeal nodded, not allowing his concern to show on his face. Right now Zack needed to focus on recovering. He didn’t want the other to have to worry about anything, but that didn’t stop Angeal from being concerned about what this might mean for Zack’s future in SOLDIER. He hoped with everything he had that the lady just really was a loon and the damage would be nothing more than cosmetic.

Angeal realized that he was still running his fingers along the back of Zack’s neck when the young soldier leaned into the larger man, his eyes closed in comfortable sleep. Angeal froze with his arm now around his subordinate, looking up to see Genesis’ eyes just barely peeking over the top of his book. His concern was assuaged when the book was lowered just enough to show Genesis’ soft smile of understanding, and he settled in more comfortably, holding on to the two survivors as the redhead continued smiling behind the pages of his book. The rest of the flight passed in peace.

= = =

~Sir, commanders Hewley and Rhapsodos have just landed.~

Lazard pressed a small button on the tabletop. “Send them in.” He leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table, weaving his fingers together in front of his face and glancing around to the other persons assembled in the conference room. The meeting was a formality, really. Not only was it to report their findings in the underground structure-which could have been handled in Lazard’s own office, but Angeal and Genesis had gone AWOL, and they had to face the repercussions. When he’d been informed that Genesis had abandoned the front, he’d been relatively unsurprised-the man always did have more passion than sense; but when Angeal had called in to report that he had, in fact, incited the abandonment, Lazard was intrigued. He knew that President ShinRa would be pleased to hear that the person responsible for the kidnapping of the children over the last ten years had finally been caught-good PR, you know-but a man with such solid virtues surely must have had a more pressing reason for his immediate departure. Regardless, he was quite sure that the two commanders would be rather surprised by the newest information on the situation in Wutai…

= = =

By the time they touched down on the ShinRa HQ rooftop, even Angeal had begun to drift off, the stress of the past several days having finally caught up with him. Genesis could hear the people outside, shouting to be heard over the slowing blades of the chopper. They weren’t important. Reno silently slid the cabin door open, noting the unconscious state of the majority of his passengers. He leaned back to look at Genesis and gave the fellow redhead a nod to let him know that he’d buy them some time. Genesis quietly stood, tucking his book away in an inner pocket of his long coat before leaning over Angeal and gently squeezing one of his broad shoulders. The larger soldier’s eyes opened slowly to look up at Genesis.

“We’re here. Time to face the music, Reno’s going to distract them for as long as he can, but we need to get everyone up and mobile,” the redhead said quietly.

Angeal frowned, but nodded anyway as he looked down at the two sleeping boys. Correction: One sleeping boy. A pair of red eyes looked up at him, still slightly glazed over from sleep and trauma. Angeal’s heart twinged as he wondered if there would ever be a spark of life in those eyes again. “We’ve landed,” he said, though Haine had probably heard Genesis announce the same thing a moment earlier. Haine said nothing, but looked to Zack’s still sleeping face, as if he were awaiting confirmation from him. Angeal’s arm was still wrapped protectively around him, and he was suddenly very conscious of it. He pulled back, the action finally rousing Zack from his light slumber.

Sleepy blue eyes looked up at Angeal in confusion. For a split second, something flashed in Zack’s eyes that Angeal couldn’t identify, but it was gone as soon as it had come. Zack stretched as best he could while sandwiched between the two bodies as he stifled a yawn with the back of his hand. Zack finally noticed the three sets of eyes on him. “What? Was everyone watching me sleep or something?”

“We’ve landed.” Haine’s soft voice took them all by surprise.

Zack grinned brilliantly down at the albino, all traces of sleepy confusion replaced with happiness. “Thanks,” he said, undoing his safety restraints and turning to do the same for the smaller male. Once Haine had been unbuckled, Zack carefully re-wrapped the blanket around his thin frame, pulling him close to nuzzle his hair. Zack could tell that Angeal and Genesis were watching him, and he didn’t care. To be honest, he had no idea why he felt such a compulsion to be in constant contact with Haine. Zack had always been a 'touchy-feely' person, but this was unusual for even him. He shrugged inwardly, it felt right and Haine didn’t seem to mind. If it became a problem, he’d deal with it then. “Still feel okay enough to walk?” A nod. Zack stood, keeping one arm around Haine to support and keep the blanket wrapped around him. Midgar wasn’t necessarily all that cold, but on top of the tower it could get hella windy. On top of that, Zack knew that there would be at least a few people standing around on the platform, let alone once they made it into the building. He didn’t think Haine could have much in the way of modesty left, but he decided to cover what he could regardless, making sure that his collar was well hidden in the folds of the blanket. He turned to Angeal and Genesis. “Okay, let’s do this.”

= = =

Haine shuffled down the hallway, Genesis and Zack on either side. Angeal was on the far side of Zack and all four of them were flanked by guards. Genesis suppressed a snort at the thought of the guards trying to stand up to two of the three most powerful men in ShinRa. He glanced sidelong at the shorter boy scuffling along beside him. When they had stepped out of the helicopter, there had been a grunt waiting for them with boots in hand, just as Angeal had said. Unfortunately, small-footed persons were hard to come by in SOLDIER, so the boots he had acquired were far too large for Haine. Not that he had complained. From looking at him, you would think he hadn’t even noticed that the boots had been put on his feet. His eyes were dead, lifeless, empty… on the surface. But Genesis had seen it. The flash of something, and it intrigued him. They finally reached the doorway to the conference room, Angeal heading in first while the others followed silently. Haine suddenly backpedaled, dragging Zack out of the room and running full into Genesis who stumbled backward, catching Haine before the three of them fell to the floor. Angeal, spun around in the doorway trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. His words died when he saw Haine in Genesis’ arms, his eyes wide with terror and pain as he clutched his head with both hands.

The various ShinRa execs who were gathered in the meeting room turned to the door when they heard the commotion. They could see Angeal first looking confused, then shocked and concerned. Zack then appeared in the doorway, glancing in, before turning back to Angeal and pointing animatedly at Scarlet, speaking in a hurried whisper before disappearing again. Angeal looked into the room, leaned out again to say something, then finally entered the room fully, shutting the door behind himself. The burly man strode purposefully over to the table, stopping to stand a few feet from it. “I’m sorry, Scarlet, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave the room.”

+ + +

“Haine! It’s okay, that isn’t her, I swear it!”

Haine was curled in on himself on the floor, his eyes still wide as he stared at nothing. Genesis was behind him, his arms still wrapped around the youth, having slid to the floor with him when his knees had buckled. Zack was crouching in front of the pair, trying to grasp the pale boy’s hands to keep him from tearing his own hair out or clawing deep gouges into his scalp with his black nails. Zack had been just as surprised by the outburst as Angeal and Genesis, but after taking one look into the room, he’d figured out what had caused it. He looked at the now closed door, hoping that there was another exit from the conference room. If that blonde woman with the cold eyes tried to walk past Haine… he wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle it. Finally, Haine began to calm and Zack was able to release his hands, instead moving to cup his face, turning the young boy to look at him. “It’s okay, she’s gone. You’re safe here. Einstürzen can’t hurt you any more. I promise. I’ll keep you safe.” Haine’s eyes remained foggy, but the pain and fear in them slowly drained away as the boy slumped limply into Zack’s gentle caress.

Genesis watched in amazement at the effect that Zack had on Haine. He loosened his grip on the now boneless boy, as Zack pulled him close, the young soldier’s eyes full of pained understanding. It was obvious that Zack was feeling responsible for Haine’s condition. He’d saved the boy, and in his mind that made him the boy’s protector. Angeal had mentioned Zack’s dream of becoming a hero, perhaps for him, being a hero to just one person was enough.

A few moments later the door opened again and Angeal’s large frame filled the doorway. He looked down on them, concern still etched into his features. “Is he alright?”

Genesis stood as Zack looked up at Angeal. “Is she gone?” Angeal nodded and Zack turned his attention back to Haine. “Hey, she’s gone now. Do you think you can go in there now?” he asked softly, brushing the long white strands out of Haine’s face. The smaller boy didn’t look up to meet his eyes, but he didn’t have to, his small nod enough of an answer. Zack stood slowly, pulling the other up with him. He took a moment to readjust Haine’s blanket again before turning to Angeal and Genesis who were both standing in the open doorway. “Okay, let’s try this again.”

~ ~ ~