Warnings: This story involves homosexual themes, as well as mild-language and violence use in future chapters. If you are disturbed in any way by any of these contents, you might as well click on the "back" button of your browser. Now.

Disclaimer: Figures that someone would realize there's no real need for this anymore. If, by chance, you still have a doubt, none of these characters belong to me. Until further notice, that is…

Note: Chapter edited as of Wednesday, 14 of March. Corrected spelling mistakes, deleted dashes and wiped a few stains here and there.

Also, before you start the read, I'd like to ask of you: Please do read until the very end. Read the next chapter even. I'm new, but I try hard to make this right. If you've already stopped by to start reading, why not continue and let me know that my time was truly worth it? As selfish as it might sound, I value every read, every fave and mostly every review I get for my effort. I value it endlessly and it certainly helps me improve. So please, do try to bear with me for a while - I promise to do my best to make it worth your attention.

MISCONCEPTIONS

Chapter One: Stupid days.

It was one of those stupid days.

The sort of day you wake up expecting to fall in the first ditch you find, or get washed up by a car speeding down a soaked lane. Or trip and spill the contents of a full coffee mug over your boss.

One of those stupid days when you find yourself whipping the floor clean, tile by tile, with a few squares of toilet paper, while the rest of the business crew snickers behind your propped up rear.

A day in which stupidity does nothing but ensue, when you feel someone clutch your butt with a steel-strong grip; then you hear a choral of giggles stream from a group of pretend-grown up girls, who surely think that smearing make-up all over their faces must somehow make them look older, whereas more attractive.

And, in the very core of hilarity, you simply can't keep yourself from thinking that things won't go any worse, fully aware that someway, somewhere, sometime… they certainly will.

Riku chose that moment to rise from the ground, just in time to catch one of the girls reaching down to pinch his ass for a second time. Aquamarine eyes stared unbelieving as the girl promptly retreated back into her seat, squeaking nervously while addressing Riku with a not-so-modest eyelash battering.

Indeed, it was one of those stupid days.

"Is there something these lovely ladies might need?" More hysterical giggles and suddenly, Riku felt the impending urge to throw up.

"Yes, well, you see, my shoes got sprinkled with the coffee you dropped Mister…" who seemed to be the leader of the troupe leaned towards Riku's chest, where a nametag flashed brightly.

"Riku, Mr Riku!" More eyelash battering. Urge to puke increasing. "I was wondering if you would be so kind as to clean them for me…"

Riku blinked.

"I could give you a sweet tip for your services later…"

Riku blinked twice.

Her breathy remark had left him speechless, blank, void of any creative ideas. As the girl shoved her foot into Riku's lap, all he did was absently stare at it, watching it wriggle hurriedly while wondering if he was seriously expected to do something.

"Mr. Riku, could it be, like, today?"

Figures - he was supposed to wipe a snooty girl's shoe clean, polish and make it shinny in all its thousand dollar glory.

Riku's eye twitched as the details of the plan sank in. His possibilities were strictly reduced: He could either be submissive and carefully treat the ugly foot that bobbed nervously in his lap, or he could take another course of action, one that would surely beat the record for the fastest way to lose a job.

Option one, option two, option one…

Riku flashed his best smile.

"Excuse me my lady, I beg your forgiveness for my despicable mistake upon dirtying your marvellous feet," straight away he realized that this person had never heard of the concept of sarcasm. Her eyes widened to the size of a CD as she flippantly beamed to the man before her. Riku resumed, "However, due to the lack of proper show polish, how would you like me to clean them up with my tongue? I hear it works wonders on suede."

Her smile didn't falter, but the look in her eyes gave away her doubts on the boy's offer.

"At least we're making some progress; if she can manage to reboot her brain…" However, Riku's ironic mood flattened as soon as the girl opened her mouth to reply.

"If you wish, Mr. Riku!" A toothy grin followed and Riku realized that he had killed every chance of making a quick retreat back into the kitchen.

He could still turn back and decide to play the honourable position of those who ignore the unceasing flow of stupidity; but his pride had been dented, and that was far worse than his sense of dignified rationality. Which could only mean trouble.

Riku just loved trouble.

"Look miss…" Clearly mocking the girl's previous intention of learning his name, Riku leaned over her chest, eyeing the imaginary tag that hung there, "Miss I-think-I'm-cool-but-I'm-not" – She gasped. One point for Riku.

"It's not my problem that you probably dropped out of school on your second year of kindergarden or that you probably find ignorance so blissful that you're surely feeling orgasmic." Breath hitching, facial color draining. Two points for Riku. Oh, glee.

"If your highness is so dense as to not understand the fact that I'm not going to lick those million penny slippers clean, no matter how tragic it is that they got dotted with coffee…" He pressed his palms against the table, narrowing his eyes to a pair of slits, "It points out that you have a serious problem. A mental problem. Get it checked."

He exhaled the breath he'd been holding during his long outburst and proceeded to back away from the foot that was still pressed against his legs. It had stilled, stopped in its wriggling and writhing and now remained suspended in mid air like a bird's perch.

Trailing up the stiff limb, Riku ventured into looking up at the owner's face and, for a split second, he wondered if he should actually be scared instead of amused.

"How dare you…?"

"Is that one of those questions I'm not supposed to answer?" Riku observed how the face in front of him contorted into a mask of utmost disgust.

"What gives you the right to treat me like this?!" She yelled. She was quivering like a feather, hands fisted over the table. Much to Riku's appreciation, her friends had cut with the annoying cackling and were now ogling at the show in play.

"What makes you think you have the right to ram your foot into my crotch?!" His satiric mood had all but faded, giving place to a much more serious turn of events.

"I'm your customer!"

"I don't recall you paying me for intimate services!"

"Who cares? You must follow the rules!"

"And since when do my rules include being a whore to the circus crew?!"

The argument had raised its tone to the point that everyone was still and quiet, expecting the outcome of the ongoing battle of sexes; a dozen pair of eyes were focused on the scene where a panting Riku and four incredulous face glared silently at each other, awaiting like animals for the first one to pounce.

"Did you call us… clowns?" A meek voice chimed in, not challenging, but rather dubious about Riku's last statement. The boy tilted his head and arched an eyebrow.

"Do you see anyone else sporting a smudged gay flag over her face?

The girl retracted and lowered her head timidly. The rest didn't move as much as a nail.

Riku heaved a long sigh and allowed himself to relax before giving an end to the argument.

"Now, if you'll excuse me…" He spun on his heels to leave.

"I want to fill a complaint."

The boy stopped dead on his tracks, unsure of his hearing. Turning his head around, he addressed the person he'd been fighting with for the past minutes.

"You what?"

"You heard me. I want to fill in a complaint. Bring me your manager."

"What…?"

"NOW! Are you deaf?" Bring him now!" She was hysterical, crazed, lost on loony lane.

Riku was ready to snap back at her when he felt a hand tug at his shoulder. Brusquely turning his head around, he was surprised to find his red headed companion there.

"Riku, don't. It's no use." The voice of wisdom spoke, aiming for whatever little sense of logic the boy had in him. He simply stared at her, divided between the need to repair the damage inflicted to his pride and the cherish he might have had for his employment.

Kairi shook her head eagerly. Riku sighed in defeat.

"Fine, I'll bring the Big Man here." He looked over at the vicious looking set of harlequins who seemed overly anxious to meet someone who had the power to rip Riku to shreds.

As he left off for the serving room, Kairi proceeded to clean off the table where the girls schemed on what to say to the manager. Taking a quick glimpse of their faces, she understood where her friend's remarks came from: they certainly did look like a kid's first doodle on a canvas. They weren't pretty, they weren't nice and Kairi couldn't find a single reason as of why she shouldn't hate them.

Frantically rubbing the cloth over the table, she "accidentally" toppled over a glass, from where the contents dripped onto the leader's lap.

"Oh, excuse me! I'm so sorry! I'll clean it up for you."

"You… you stupid… you…!!!"

"Don't worry!" Kairi leaned over and proceeded to wipe the girl's skirt with the rag "You can complain about this to the manager too." She increased the pace of the wiping almost aggressively, noticing the other girl flinch and shift nervously.

Kairi lowered her voice to a mutter, "I bet he won't mind having a harlot grope his ass to make a better hearing of the events…"

The leader gasped and opened her mouth to retaliate, but the redhead was all too busy sprinting towards the service rooms to pay attention.

Meanwhile, Riku had made his way to the manager's office, dragging his feet painfully slow in hopes that the delay would somehow persuade the bunch of fools to leave. He spun around several times only to find his hopes smashed by the ominous presence of his bane still sitting there.

Somewhere along the way, he felt someone pull on his arm and ask for the bill. The voice was soft and low, like a soothing balm after the harpy's belching. Riku found himself being comforted by that smooth voice before he pulled himself together and simply nodded to the request without looking down. Afterwards, he sluggishly resumed with his slouched march.

Two tables ahead the high pitched voices of the angry gang filled the air like the discordant notes of a broken piano. They were still plotting revenge when a tall figure stood up to their vision line.

Instantly, they all drew their heads upwards, like chickens who've been distracted from picking on soil worms.

Gapping, they all gasped at once as they regarded the person staring at them.

With arms crossed over a broad chest, a man, a very attractive man, was nonchalantly shifting his weight from a leg to the other, while displaying a lopsided smirk and a casual air of confidence. His long hair was tied in a lose pony tail that hung neatly over his shoulder, where a wide collared, sleeveless turtleneck, was zipped open to reveal a slender neck and a pronounced collarbone. And a great deal of skin – mildly tanned, silky, perfect skin.

He shifted his weight again, and his low-hung jeans dipped even lower, exposing more skin over a shapely hipbone. One of the girls held her breath, while another choked on a barely concealed squeal. Another blushed while the leader of the lot suppressed a giggle before facing the newcomer with a beam plastered on her face. However, the grin slid to a twisted excuse of a smile upon noticing the long scar that crossed the handsome man's features.

"I understand you wanted to talk to me?" The low-pitched voice of the man broke the group from its reverie. Such a sexy voice too! If it wasn't for that scar…

"You… you are the manager?" She was surprised, surely having been expecting some older man with a beer-tank stomach and togged up in an apron saying "Kiss the cook".

"That I am. Leonhart, to please you." He nodded. The band seemed delighted with his presence.

"Amela, Amela Tresten!" She answered, offering her hand for a handshake that never came. Slowly, she pulled the clawed limb back over her lap.

"You see, Mr. Leonhart, one of your employees…" She pretended to recall the name, "Riku." as in queue, each one of them grimaced. – "He was rude to me. Awfully rude!"

"And what was the cause of such rudeness?"

The question had caught them off guard, having not expected to be asked for causes but consequences. Amela looked into the eyes of her subordinates before heaving an exasperated sigh.

"Mister Leonhart, his attitude was simply intolerable!" Drama was in the air, starting to be tangible. "I kindly asked of him to repair the damage inflicted by his ineptitude and he nastily refused to! He ruined my shoes, my expensive, pretty shoes!"

A foot shot up from under the table and Leonhart had to recoil before he got punted in the groin.

He frowned; the shoe could very well be expensive and of the latest trend, but it most certainly was an eyesore. A pricey atrocity of a foot wear, to which the coffee stains did nothing but improve its sorrowful appearance.

"Do you see, Mister Leonhart? And now I'm afraid that I might have to sue this little grocery…"

"Cafe." he pointed out.

"Yes, café, store, whatever." She dismissed the correction, unaware as Leonhart rolled his eyes, "The matter is, I must ask you to expel that insubordinate, Riku, from your little ghetto or I will see myself forced to take this through legal measures!"

Silence followed as the debaters held each other's gaze. Amela was already secure in her victory, as she impatiently tapped her foot against the tiles. In the meantime, Leonhart's face was a mask of nothing – of pure blankness and impossible indifference. Swapping his weight again with his other leg, he took a quick glance towards the offices before resuming his "exchange of opinions" with the Scooby gang.

"You see… Almond, right?" Her eye twitched, "I'm afraid I find myself unable to do that. Riku is one of my best workers, probably the most efficient employee I've had so far."

"The fact that he accidentally tripped and fell, dirtying those "shoes" in the process…" he air quoted the word, receiving no reaction or understanding looks whatsoever from the girls. He sighed. "Is certainly not an issue to take to court."

"But…"

"And, overall, refusing to clean them, after being groped and molested by a cluster of spoiled horrors, is perfectly acceptable. Likewise, legal."

"Nonetheless, if by any means you still have something to complain about, please do so!" He smirked coldly to no one in particular.

"Though, you can be sure that I'll take it upon my lawyers to plant a lawsuit over your air knitted heads before you can even get out of this place. I heard sexual harassment and labour abuse makes good money nowadays."

Leonhart's cool smirk dropped as fast as it had appeared, exposing his true irritation through a stony face and steel-hard, unforgiving eyes. The girls didn't move, didn't talk – didn't do as much as gawk and shudder in their seats.

"I… you… why… this…" Amela was the first to open her mouth, if only to babble a chain of disjointed nothings.

"The door is right over there." The stoic man pointed a finger towards the exit. "Might as well think of it as a favour."

At once, the four of them rose from the booth, gathered their belongings and sped off towards the coffee shop's exit like rockets on ignition.

Amela's knuckles paled under the sheer pressure of her grasp on the door that she held ajar, while she furiously spun around and addressed Leonhart with a dead cold glare.

"You'll hear from me again, I swear!"

"Heaven forbid I do." He waved a hand dismissively as her high heels clicked angrily out the door "You'd think they don't breed single-cell organisms anymore…"

He was speaking to himself as he took a seat on the now abandoned booth. Crossing his legs under the table, he turned around just in time to see the sullen looking boy come out of an office, followed by a man two times wider than himself, with a shinning lack of hair and a very disgruntled expression.

Shortly after, both men were standing besides the table they had been summoned to. Riku's eyes tripled their size as the change of scenario suddenly hit him: where the group of shrieking monstrosities had been the previous minutes, now sat a strikingly good looking man. A man who showed no sign of surprise or wonder as two individuals scrutinized him quietly.

Riku frowned and opened his mouth to speak when the stranger raised his hand to meet with the bald man's.

"You must be the manager of this place." He shook his hand in a short motion before pulling it back. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mister…"

"Malore." The bald man nodded, "So, what is it?"

"So much for common courtesy" Leonhart mentally rolled his eyes.

"I just wanted to compliment this establishment of yours on its wonderful service. Not only the coffee is exceptional, but the workers are…" He glanced over at Riku who in time stared at him in disbelief. "Outstanding."

"Yes, well…"

"See, Riku not only served me almost instantly after my request, but he also dispatched every single customer's orders with amazing swiftness." By the confused look on the man's beady eyes, Leonhart took for granted that he was barely processing his words.

"Honestly, I'd consider giving him a raise for such an efficient effort." Leonhart watched amused as Riku ogled at him wordlessly, his face a puzzle of emotions. Almost comedic, he thought.

The manager swung his gaze between the two men, lacking of words to add in such an unexpected situation. He finally settled on Leonhart, whose deep blue eyes pierced like a piece of paper. The manager felt a jolt run up his back.

"I might just consider your suggestion for… someday. In the meantime, er… thank you for your valuable input on my shop and I expect to see more of you in the future." It sounded as if he had ripped his gratitude off the "How to deal with flattering customers" manual. Looking aside, the large manager curtly nudged Riku on the side.

"Thank you for your kind words sir, and I hope we can do so much more to improve for your satisfaction." Riku's voice was flat, like an answering machine recording.

Without a word, the manager strolled back to the safety of his office, leaving an abashed Riku with his saviour.

"You're welcome." Leonhart looked down at his hands over his lap to prevent himself from chuckling at the younger boy's stupefied look.

"I… you… where did they…?"

"I guess they had better things to do. I just let the door open for the dogs to leave the pound." Was his informal reply to Riku's unfinished question. He looked up to meet turquoise eyes scanning him for ulterior motives for his actions.

"I suppose I should thank you then…" Riku sighed and the older man was surprised to find no real feeling of relief in his words.

"Don't bother. You didn't deserve what you were getting." Leonhart shrugged.

"It happens all the time. One gets used to it." The boy ran a hand through long tresses, tugging at the band that held them together and setting the rest of his mane free. The action itself was casual and meaningless, but the brunet felt a strange knot tie itself somewhere deep into the pit of his stomach.

Such perfect hair, perfect eyes, perfect lips, perfect everything…

Blinking, he washed the absent look off his eyes before Riku could notice.

"Is there anything I could get you, sir?"

He looked down at his watch, "Squall, not sir."

Riku nodded slowly, "Squall. Is there something you'd want?"

Squall raised his head and drew a mischievous smile on his lips.

Riku arched an eyebrow. Squall shook his head.

"I'm on a hurry. Now, why don't you bring me that bill I asked for like ten minutes ago?"

Author's Note: To begin with, I'd like to thank you if you've made it this far. I really appreciate you took your time to read my first attempt at anything serious regarding fanfiction!

You can see that this is another AU, Kingdom Hearts based fic, dealing with shonen-ai/yaoi couples in a not-so-ordinary background. Probably you'll notice right away that the characters I'll be using seem a bit OOC. It's intended; don't pull your hair out yet. It's all part of the plan!

As it is my first story, I doubt it'll have a large extension. Probably nothing bigger than 10 chapters. (And that's already saying a lot)

The pairings decided so far are: Leon-Riku, Cloud-Sephiroth. I'd say I know what the others, if any, are going to be but… I honestly don't know. Hard to decide whether I should insert a shoujo-ai couple or simply a hetero. one. Or more shonen-ai.

In any case, I'd like to ask for some input on this; do you like the story so far? Do you think I should continue? Anything you'd change or improve? Pairings you'd like to see? Want a cookie? Whatever you have to say is truly welcome – except flames. I eat flames and spit them back as bullets. You've been warned.

Also, English isn't my first language so you'll have to excuse any flaws you find. You can also point them out for me to correct. Or you can also be my beta if you've got nothing better to do and have high grammar standards. (Gotta love the hinthints)

In any case, I hope you've enjoyed so far and decided to stick with me for a bit longer. I'll do my best to make it worth the wait!