As Sephiroth’s gaze turned clouded and distant - so did Zechs’, as the other man explained. He would’ve wished there weren’t such similarities, that war hadn’t ruined so many lives. Certainly, if madness took him, he didn’t believe Sephiroth deserved the fate he had apparently gotten. But if men received what they deserved due to their actions, Zechs would not be here.

… yes, he already heard Lorenz reprimanding him in the back of his mind for that one. But habits were difficult to break. Either way, he sympathized.

Now didn’t seem the time to get into that darkness, however, especially given the tension already broken today. By the time he’s remarking on how similar their lovers were, Zechs had already adjusted his expression to something softer.

In fact, he even smiled, very slightly. “You’ve taken Lorenz’s measure astonishingly quickly, in that case. He also is passionate about his believes and stands by his principles, having grown and learned through many hardships to achieve a just and noble perspective. Lorenz is a good man to know, no matter what other factors are presented.”

So Sephiroth should feel so lucky if they became friends, in other words.