Loveless

Chapter 15

When Genesis woke up, he was momentarily disoriented by his surroundings. He sat up slowly, still groggy, stretching as a dull ache lingered in his back and a faint tingling clung to his face. He rubbed his chin, trying to wake his stiff muscles, and as he shifted under the blanket, his hand brushed against something solid.

Frowning, he lifted the fabric and found a familiar book resting neatly at his side. Several pages were marked, some passages lightly outlined. For a moment, he simply stared at it, surprised despite himself.

"So you found it, huh?"

Genesis didn't look up. He could feel her watching him, standing somewhere nearby, but he wasn't ready to meet her eyes yet. For the first time, the realization settled in that someone had taken the time to read his book properly, not out of curiosity or mockery, but genuine interest. It was a small thing, but it meant more than he expected.

"I was wondering where I left it..." he murmured.

Eloise let out a quiet sigh. Guilt pressed heavily on her chest. She was the reason he was here, injured and recovering. She had struck him too hard, lost control, and worse, she hadn't even been aware of it at the time. Pulling a chair closer, she sat in front of the bed and studied him. Strangely enough, without his usual sharp edge, he looked almost harmless.

"I'm sorry."

The words sounded unfamiliar coming from her, and the silence that followed made them heavier.

"I lost control for a moment, and you ended up unconscious," she added more quietly. "I'm really sorry."

Genesis raised an eyebrow and shifted closer to the edge of the bed so they were facing each other properly. One of them looked exhausted and thoughtful, the other tense with regret.

"You've been wanting to beat me up for a while now, haven't you?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

She bit the inside of her cheek and glanced away before answering.

"Maybe. But not like this."

He studied her for a moment longer, then stood and reached for his jacket. His rapier rested against the wall beside her sword. He paused briefly, his gaze lingering on her weapon. It resembled Sephiroth's in design — elegant, precise — and he knew it had been a gift from her mentor. Clearly, it meant more to her than a simple tool.

Eloise remained seated, watching him in silence. One moment he seemed quiet and almost gentle, the next irritable and restless, as if he didn't quite know what to do with himself.

Like a child pretending not to care and failing at it.

On the other hand, Genesis didn't return to his room or anywhere meant for rest. The image of Eloise at the moment she electrocuted him refused to leave his mind. He could still see her face clearly: her pupils had widened unnaturally, her eyes shifting in color, her expression empty and distant. She had gone pale, almost lifeless, and for two or three minutes she hadn't looked like herself at all.

Instead of resting, the SOLDIER made his way back to the simulation room and climbed up to the control level. He slowed when he realized he wasn't alone. Angeal and Sephiroth were already there, standing in front of the monitors, watching the recorded footage of his fight with Eloise. Angeal noticed him first.

"I thought you were supposed to be resting."

Genesis scoffed and brushed the comment aside. He was more than capable of deciding that for himself. Besides, there was no chance he could rest—not after what he had seen. As he stepped closer to the console, his gaze briefly lingered on Sephiroth. His eyes narrowed almost unconsciously. Sephiroth was never generous with his pupils; most of them didn't last long under his training. Yet with Eloise, something felt different. Genesis was certain Sephiroth had plans he wasn't sharing.