Cloud absolutely expects the insufferable, flashy First to egg him on- but he doesn't expect it to go like this. He may as well be wearing his embarrassed arousal on his sleeve, and that just makes the irritation and confusion around it all rise like heat from an open flame. The merc is most certainly not ready for what Genesis has planned. Or for what he will retaliate with in a few short moments.

His breath and his retort are caught in his throat as Genesis sweeps close in a fluid motion to hold his face up. To force him to look at those gleaming, admittedly beautiful eyes that seem to focus on Cloud with keen interest and something else he cannot entirely place. Whatever it is, it renders Genesis hypnotic. The blond stays put, stunned silent for a few beats, thoughts racing so damn fast he hasn't a prayer of keeping up.

Anger. Confusion. Lust. Loneliness. All of this and more swirl together in Cloud's mind, whipping him into a confused fury. His body moves before any of what happens registers, clearly working off of the emotions and not any kind of logic. He curls his lip, closes the gap between their faces, and kisses Genesis on the mouth with an intensity that sees him startling himself.

Oh, shit.