For Honor or Glory

Breakthrough

Chapter 32 

As soon as Angeal left, Alex turned back to Genesis with a strained smile. Now that they were alone again, the earlier comfortableness between them was replaced with an awkward feeling. At least on her part. She had so much going through her brain that it was hard to pin down, especially after that talk.

She was so absorbed that she didn't even realize when Genesis stood to join her. He pulled her into a loose embrace and brushed his lips across hers before he said, "Whatever it is on your mind, quit worrying about it. Today is our day off, and if it has anything to do with us, there is no need to do more than take it a day at a time."

Alex sighed as she laid her head on his shoulder. It was several moments before she whispered, "Yeah, but our problems aren't like other people's."

She wanted to kick herself when she realized he probably heard her anyway, but she was thankful when all he said was, "Be that as it may, we cannot solve them all in a day. Besides, there is something I wished to talk to you about."

She swallowed her sigh as she stood and gave him a small smile. "Oh? I hope it involves lunch. Breakfast was a long time ago."

He chuckled at the look she gave him but gestured to the kitchen. "Why don't we see what I have to cook, and we can talk over lunch?"

She tried to let go of her growing unease as she followed him into the kitchen, and they found something quick to make. It wasn't until their meal was half-finished that Genesis finally turned to her again with a smirk. "Alex, I know this may seem sudden, but I want you to stay here with me."

She froze with a bite halfway to her mouth. She slowly put her fork down as she looked at him with furrowed brows and tried to clarify. "Are you asking me to live with you?"

When he only nodded, she sat back and looked confused. "Why?"

Genesis stood to move to her side. He then knelt and took her hand as he smirked. "It is not such a strange request, is it? There are many reasons it makes sense. You are almost done with your thesis and will be looking for an apartment of your own soon anyway, correct? Plus, we see so little of each other that I felt this would allow us to make the most of our time. Your schedule will become better, but mine will be unpredictable for years to come."

Alex put a hand on her forehead. Her thoughts were once again a jumbled mess. Did she want to say yes? Absolutely. Was it the wisest choice? She wasn't really sure. She still didn't know how severe the repercussions of their history could be for any lasting relationship and had been too much of a coward to look into it yet. Plus, she still had not had gotten the final sample, so she had not started her research into the Jenova project. She knew that was partially an excuse, but she was just overwhelmed. How do you stop loving someone because it might be wrong in someone else's eyes?

She was pulled out of her tormented thoughts when Genesis gently tugged her hand down. His eyes held only concern as he said, "You do not have to answer today. All I ask is that you keep it in mind before you decide to find a place of your own, please."

Alex took a deep breath before she nodded. When he leaned in and kissed her again, she realized she may well be lost anyway. The thought was frightening, but not as much as she expected it to be. When he pulled back, she smiled as she said, "I can't say how things will work for sure, but I don't see why I can't at least stay here occasionally." Her answer caused him to smirk as he pulled her to her feet and into the other room with the rest of their meal forgotten on the table.

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It was Thursday of the following week, and Alex had just gotten out of the shower. She was wearing one of Genesis's shirts, as that had become her favorite thing to sleep in. Unfortunately, he was not there to see her in it. Although it had been Friday when he got back from his last mission, he was almost immediately sent back out. Thankfully, he was supposed to be back soon.