I actually wrote this story by hand a few weeks ago. Now it's finally typed^^

This is the only story where I changed the title completely before uploading it. The original title was not nearly as fitting as the new one xD

Warnings: Yaoi, Fluff. OOCness (it's romance/humor so it's only natural... I guess xD)

Disclaimer: As always, I don't own... it's so depressing...

Stumbling toward Happiness

Zexion stood in the locker room. Gym class had ended and he had already missed ten minutes of the next lesson so what was he still doing there? Well, he was waiting for him.

He smiled subconsciously as the brunette stepped through the door. The muscular male looked confused when he saw the slate haired teen standing there, waiting… but for what?

"Zexion? What are you still doing here?"

"Waiting for you, obviously"

"For me? Why?"

Zexion shrugged. "That's what I always do, Lexaeus"

"And I always wondered, why"

"Why do you always help to clean up the gym?" Zexion countered.

The brunette was confused. "Because I want to…?"

"It's the same reason. I'm waiting because I want to"

"But the next class already started"

"Hm… I guess a genius is allowed to miss a few minutes"

Lexaeus chuckled. "But why would a genius even want to wait for an idiot like me?"

"You're not an idiot!" Zexion said convincedly. "You're a calm and gentle person. You're always giving your best"

"But the best is sometimes not good enough"

The slate haired male pouted. "Stop discussing! Get dressed or we're going to miss the rest of the lesson as well"

Lexaeus just smirked.

X X X

Zexion couldn't help but blush at the sight of Lexaeus' bare chest, well-defined and flawless. He had a crush on the brunette since he could remember but he wouldn't dare to confess to him. Confess your love… to your best friend? No thanks. He preferred to not screw up this friendship. It was far too important for that.

Zexion was relieved but also disappointed when the fabric of a simple cotton shirt covered those perfect abs. He would've started drooling if he continued staring but he didn't care. There was nothing he would love more than to nuzzle against Lexaeus' chest in this very moment… No! He had kept these feelings secret for years; he wouldn't give in now. If just…

"Earth to Zexion! We should get going"

"Huh?" Zexion was irritated. Like always he forgot everything when he lost himself in thoughts. "Oh, right…"

Zexion followed Lexaeus to their next class that would be over in less than twenty minutes but he didn't care.

X X X

Zexion didn't mind punishment at all if it only meant to go the school library and get some books for Spanish class. He also didn't mind missing lunch break because of it but he was glad that Lexaeus wouldn't have to bother about it. Lexaeus had a reason for coming to late, unlike Zexion.

Still, he couldn't help sighing when he saw the stack of books he was supposed to bring to the Spanish classroom. He would really miss the lunch break if he could accomplish the task at all, in such a short time. He lifted as many books as he could and turned. Zexion absolutely didn't know how but he stumbled before he even left the library. He would've hit the ground if there hadn't been two strong arms gripping his shoulders at the right moment. The slate haired male looked up at the taller male that was there suddenly, steadying him.

"Lexaeus? What are you doing here?"

"Saving you, obviously" The brunette replied grinning.

Zexion blushed. "Honestly, what are you doing?"

"What do you expect? I came here to help you"

"But you don't need to help me!" Zexion protested.

"You got punished because you waited for me; of course I'm going to help you"

"It was my own decision to wait for you!"

"And if I wouldn't be your friend you wouldn't have to wait for me"

Zexion was taken aback; he didn't know how to respond to that. "You can't blame yourself for being my friend"

"Then just let me help you" And with that he had won.

Zexion watched silently as Lexaeus took at least twice as many books as himself and he couldn't help but curse at his own weakness. It was embarrassing how weak he was compared to the brunette.

X X X

They walked silently through the corridors. The Spanish classroom was practically on the other side of the school building.

Why would Lexaeus give up his lunch break to help him? Zexion didn't understand. He would've needed some time but it's not like he couldn't have done it alone.

"Don't look at me like I'm some monster because I'm helping you"

"I just don't get it" Zexion said. "The break is almost over and-"

"It's the same you did" Lexaeus interrupted him.

"No, it's not!" The smaller teen protested. "Everyone would like to skip a lesson but they wouldn't want to miss their break"

"Break's boring anyway"

"But don't you want to eat?" Zexion asked.

"I can miss lunch for once" Lexaeus replied. "But you should watch out that you don't become skinnier"

"I'm not skinny!" Zexion countered, not watching where he was going and stumbled… again.

Lexaeus only noticed the flying books and dropped his own to catch his friend.

X X X

Zexion was utterly confused. There were two strong arms holding him, a mess of Spanish books on the ground and… "Zexion?!" the worried voice of his brother who just witnessed the whole stumbling thing.

"Nothing happened" Lexaeus said.

The silver haired male looked unconvinced, noticing the mess in the corridor.

"I didn't know you're that clumsy, brother" Riku said, chuckling slightly.

"I'm not clumsy!" Zexion replied unnerved.

The silver haired male shook his head and wanted to pick up the books, which were spread everywhere, but Lexaeus stopped him.

"Don't bother about it. It's our fault so we'll handle it"

"If you say so… But the next class starts in five minutes"

Lexaeus shrugged. "Then we'll have to come too late. There's nothing we can change about that now"

Zexion didn't see a way to get out of this either. Hopefully the teacher would understand this if not the next punishment would be waiting… this time for the both of them. And it was Zexion's fault… his fault from the very beginning.

X X X

Riku had explained the whole situation to the teacher and so the rest of the day went rather smoothly. Music class had just ended and that meant school was over but…

"Lexy, Zexy! Could you come here for a sec?" Demyx asked.

Zexion immediately remembered why he had always asked himself how this guy had become a teacher. Beside music there wasn't much he knew about and then these stupid nicknames…

"Come on, I don't bite"

Zexion sighed annoyed and looked at Lexaeus.

What could Demyx want?

X X X

"I know you're working together at the music project. I just wondered what you're going to present since both of you are rather… quiet so I don't expect you're going to sing?"

"Of course I won't sing!" Zexion replied.

"And I can't even sing" Lexaeus added.

"Oh…" Demyx muttered disappointed. "I'm sure Zexy has a sexy voice"

Sexy? Zexion decided to just ignore the comment.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"We started collecting information about the different music genres regarding the typical instruments used for them, right Lexaeus?"

"Right, but we're still not sure how we're going to present our results" The brunette replied.

"But why are you so formal, Zexy? You can call him Lexy, I don't mind" Demyx suddenly said.

"I never call him that!" Zexion replied blushing.

"I wouldn't mind though" Lexaeus added and Zexion looked at him disbelieving.

He just got the feeling that this project would become difficult… for various reasons.

X X X

"Zexion what are you doing, lying in bed like that?" Riku asked, slightly worried.

"What's wrong about it? It's weekend"

"But shouldn't you at least be reading a book like you always do?"

Zexion sighed. "I'm not in the mood"

Riku was shocked. "If you're not in the mood to read a book then I'm a fangirl!"

"What fangirl?"

"Haven't thought about it yet…" Riku replied. "Honestly what's wrong?"

"Who says that something's wrong?"

The silver haired male looked at his brother, thinking. But however he thought about it Zexion's behavior was just not normal.

"Come on, I know my brother. You're just not the type to do nothing, so what's on your mind?"

"None of your business" Zexion replied grumpy.

"I'm living here, you know and it's hard to ignore something that's just doesn't seem to be right"

"And what would you do if I just said I wanted to be lazy for once?"

"Then I would let you be, of course"

"So why are you still annoying me??" Zexion asked, really turning to his brother for the first time this day.

At least he looks normal, Riku thought. He had expected… well to see a totally depressed or even tearstained teen. It would fit his behavior after all, but Zexion did look like always, perhaps a bit sleepy but that was all about it.

"'Cause I'm worried about you and I know something is wrong, so tell me"

"You won't leave me alone 'til I do, right?"

"Totally right" Riku answered, nodding.

Zexion sighed. "It's… Lexaeus…"

"What? That brainless giant of yours?" Riku asked jokingly.

"Don't talk about him like that!" Zexion replied agitated. "He's… a great person"

Riku was confused ."That was just a joke you know, nothing to get angry about"

Zexion didn't respond. The silver haired male feared he could just have screwed up his chance to bring his brother to talk to him.

"So… what's with Lexaeus?"

Zexion didn't answer.

"Come on, didn't we just discuss this not-telling thing?" Riku asked annoyed.

"It's not that easy, you idiot!"

Wow, a cursing Zexion is rare… Riku thought surprised.

"What is it, Zexion? Please, I'm your brother don't you trust me?"

Zexion just sighed again. "I… I just don't know what to do… I… I think I… well…" he stuttered. "Ah, I love him!" Zexion blurted and Riku was baffled.

"...I never expected him to be your type"

"I can't change it, okay??"

"Calm down, that wasn't an insult or anything"

Zexion pressed his head into his pillow. "Sorry" He muttered. "Now there's that stupid project and I just don't know… if I can stand it any longer…"

Riku sat down at the edge of the bed so he could better talk to his brother. "But you're always hanging around with him, aren't you?"

"Yes, but-"

"Why this sudden hesitation? Has anything changed?"

"No… at least I don't think so. I have always been in love with him" The slate haired teen replied hesitantly.

"Do you want to end the friendship?"

Zexion sat up swiftly. "Of course not!" He said quickly.

"So… does he even know?"

"It wouldn't be that much of a problem if he already did!"

"Then he has to know" Riku stated.

"But that's exactly what I want to avoid!" Zexion complained but Riku just grinned.

"Then we'll just have to make sure you're in luck"

Zexion shivered. Something told him that a plotting Riku meant nothing good…

X X X

"Say, is it just me or is your brother acting strange?"

"Huh? Why?" Zexion asked, pretending that he didn't have a clue what the brunette was talking about.

"I don't know. I feel like he's stalking me"

The slate haired teen sighed. "He's not stalking you, he's stalking us"

Lexaeus looked at him questioningly.

"Don't worry about it. He's just being an idiot"

"Hey, I can hear you!"

Zexion just sighed again and Lexaeus looked even more confused.

"Alright. Whatever it is, I guess the two of you should talk about it. I'm going to… get my things meanwhile" And with that Lexaeus disappeared before Zexion could respond.

"See what happened? What are you doing?" Zexion hissed at his brother.

"What are you doing? When are you planning to use our plan?"

"Not yet!"

"Come on, Zexy. You're always clumsy; he won't even realize you're just acting" Riku argued impatiently.

"I'm not clumsy!"

"Oh no… you're just the master of stumbling in a corridor, an empty corridor without anything you could actually stumble over!"

Zexion murmured angrily but Riku simply ignored him.

"It's not like I'm expecting you to kiss him or anything. Now go and do as I told you!"

The slate haired teen was still murmuring when his brother gave him an unexpected push and he nearly stumbled again.

X X X

Why had he even told his brother? He really didn't know but it had been the worst idea he ever had.

Zexion found the brunette standing in an empty corridor. Why did this have to remind him of what Riku had just said?

In fact, he would just have to do what he, accidentally, did yesterday. But what was the point in resting against his chest if Lexaeus thought it was just another accident anyway? Riku's matchmaker plans sucked but the silver haired teen just wouldn't give up… And there Zexion had been thinking that his brother was a calm and intelligent person.

"Ah, Zexion. And did you… solve your problem?"

"Huh? Oh, yes. He just… wanted to remind me of something"

Lexaeus' shimmering blue eyes were stunning and his broad shoulders were just to inviting. All Zexion had to do was to stumble and he really had a talent for that… But he was not clumsy!

Taking the next step just a little too fast he lost his balance, exactly how he had planned. What he hadn't planned though was Lexaeus taking a step forward to catch him, resulting in a very surprising kiss for both teens.

Zexion blushed deeply and Lexaeus pulled back far to fast for his liking. Perhaps the brunette was straight after all…

"Sorry" Zexion murmured. "Me and my clumsiness…"

"Wouldn't you normally deny that?" Lexaeus asked grinning.

Looked like it hadn't meant anything to him…

X X X

"And? How did it go?" Riku asked excited.

"Riku..." Zexion said, voice threatening. "Remind me that I have to kill you"

"Why? What happened?" The silver haired male asked worried.

"I stumbled and kissed him; that happened!"

"But that's great!"

"No, it's not! I wasn't prepared and he didn't even comment on it!" Zexion replied devastated. "He isn't interested in me after all…"

"Nonsense" Riku said convincedly.

"But why should he be interested in a nerd like me anyway…?" Zexion asked absently, sinking deeper into depression.

"He's your friend, stupid. That means he already knows what he likes about his nerd"

Zexion sighed, something that happened rather often lately.

"If you don't believe me, there's only one chance left"

"What?" Zexion asked, just lightly interested.

"Confess to him" Riku answered simply.

His brother's eyes widened. "I can't do that!"

"Why? You didn't give a damn if he had the same feelings for you or not until a few days ago. So what's the matter with asking him now??

"That's…! That's…" The slate haired male couldn't respond to that; Riku was right after all.

If he didn't know what Lexaeus felt for him, it wouldn't matter if he really didn't feel the same for him, 'cause if he didn't know at all he would also never know if Lexaeus had the same feelings! (A/N: Yeah, a very confusing sentence! xD)

Zexion sighed. This could proof to be difficult.

X X X

Several days passed and Riku started to complain about his brother's cowardice and he was somewhat right: Zexion was afraid. Lexaeus wouldn't quit the friendship with Zexion just because his friend was gay… at least that was what Riku had said but wouldn't it be strange if your friend loved you?

Right now Zexion was sitting next to Lexaeus in an empty classroom, working on their project… at least he tried to.

"What's wrong, Zexion?" The brunette asked after watching his friend staring at an empty piece of paper for more than an hour.

"I just can't concentrate!" Zexion grumbled.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Ah… it's nothing…"

He stood up and walked over to the window, silently looking at the sky.

"Doesn't look like nothing" Lexaeus commented.

"It's… it's just difficult"

"What is?" The brunette asked, walking over to his friend.

Zexion turned and looked into his eyes. "You" He said.

"Me? What about me?"

"Everything"

Lexaeus looked confused.

"Lexaeus… I… I love you" Zexion stuttered, blushing.

"You do?"

"I wouldn't say it as a joke!" He hissed, turning to the window again.

He couldn't face it, neither Lexaeus nor the truth that his feelings were one-sided after all. No, even worse… Lexaeus made fun of him.

It was difficult to breath without sobbing, too difficult to stop the tears from running down his cheeks. He gasped when two strong arms wrapped around his waist.

"I know you wouldn't" Lexaeus said. "But why so suddenly?"

Zexion tilted his head to look at the brunette that was suddenly so close to him.

"After all these years of just being friends I gave up hoping for more"

"But that would mean-"

"Yes, Zexion. I feel the same, did you ever doubt that?"

Actually... yes, very much so. But Zexion wouldn't say it.

"N-no… I was just… afraid" The latter was even true.

"Why?" Lexaeus asked softly.

"I… I mean the kiss… you pulled back so suddenly-"

"You planned that?" The brunette asked surprised.

"No! Ah… well, not exactly…"

Lexaeus chuckled, pulling him closer to rest his head on Zexion's shoulder. "It was quite difficult for me to maintain control over my feelings back then. We were just friends and it would've been strange if I just deepened an accidental kiss like that"

"But I wouldn't have complained" Zexion replied lowly.

"And I wouldn't have expected you to confess love to me a few days later"

"It didn't expect that myself" Zexion replied, blushing deeper.

"So it was Riku after all"

"What… do you mean?"

"I knew he was acting strange that day" Lexaeus replied thoughtful. "But I didn't expect this"

"But in the end I should thank him, I guess" Zexion murmured.

"Or you could tell him that it ended in a total disaster"

The slate haired male was confused. "Why should I do this?"

"To shock him, obviously" The brunette answered, chuckling.

Well, Riku was a horrible matchmaker but the simplest plan worked in the end.

These strong arms around his waist and the feeling of Lexaeus' breath on his skin… he couldn't ask for more. Just knowing these feelings weren't one-sided made him unbearably happy.

That's the longest chapter/one-shot I've ever written xD I just love my stuttering-sighing-and-clumsy-but-of-course-denying-it Zexion^^

Oh, and I'm aware there's more dialogue than actual plot in this story xD

I'm actually thinking about writing a second chapter, a lemony chapter to be exactly but I'm not sure if I'll do it...

Please review and tell me your opinion ^_^