AN: So here's my first posted fic. There is some (-cough-a lot of-cough-) yaoi, so if you don't like male on male don't read it. The pairings… will be reviled later on. The first lemon isn't until chapter 2 anyway… Anyways, this doesn't happen anytime before, during or after the game. I created the setting and the plot. The only part I don't own are the characters, which of course, belong to Square… but I kinda wished I owned Cloud… that would be fun… I mean… heh, anyway, you have been warned and stuff so on with the story.
Curiosity
Cloud was just headed home from work; Cid had forced him to work late… again. He was only a block from his apartment when he heard something from an alley.
"You like that, don't you."
"St-stop!"
Letting curiosity get the better of him, Cloud turned down the alley. He saw a tall man with long white hair, pinning a teen, maybe 16 or 17, to a wall. Cloud rolled his eyes and said, "Teenagers now? Leave the kid alone, Ansem."
The white haired man turned and glared at Cloud. "Can't you see I'm a little busy, Strife."
When Ansem turned, Cloud got a better look at the kid. He has longish silver hair and sea-green eyes. Clouds eyes grew wide for a moment, then he shook his head and said, "You know, molesting Seph's son is not gonna get you that job."
Ansem immediately backed away from the boy. "S-Sephiroth has a son?"
"Oh please, you can't tell me you failed to notice the resemblance. Yeah, when Seph was 20-ish he knocked up some chick. Hadn't seen the kid since… 'til recently, anyway."
"Don't mention this to Sephiroth," Ansem replied.
"Or what?" Cloud challenged.
"Keep your mouth shut and you won't have to find out." With that, Ansem ran off.
"Prick," Cloud muttered. Then, remembering the boy, he said, "Uh, you okay?"
"Who the hell is Sephiroth and when did he become my father?"
"Oh, Ansem's trying to get Seph to hire him. I figured that would scare him off. He thinks me and Seph are… together, but we're just friends. By the way, I'm Cloud."
"Riku."
"Well, Riku, what the hell were you doing out here on your own? This city's not a safe place at night. Someone your age shouldn't be alone out here."
"I'm 17, just arrived, and was looking for a cheap hotel to spend the night."
"Oh… well, I'll be looking for a roommate soon, so if you want to stay with me… the rent's pretty cheap. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be able to afford it. I mean, you might have to sleep on the couch for a while, but I doubt it. Leon's almost always at his girlfriend's house… he'll move out soon."
Riku narrowed his eyes. "What's in this for you?"
"Don't be so suspicious! I just saved your ass from Ansem and offered you an apartment. Be grateful. I could find another roommate if I wanted to. I need one 'cause I can't afford to pay the rent on my own… only half."
"Fine," Riku said, still a little suspicious.
-------
"Well, this is it," Cloud said, after he and Riku stepped into the apartment.
"It's tiny… and very clean."
"Leon's a bit anal when it comes to cleaning. It's kinda funny. Last weekend, he spent the whole time at Aerith's. When he got back he totally freaked out 'cause I had made such a huge mess in less than 3 days."
"Is he here now?"
"Eh… dunno." Cloud walked over to Leon's bedroom door and knocked. "Le? You here?" he yelled through the door.
There was a loud groan, some shuffling around and then the door opened, revealing a very pissed off Leon.
"What the hell do you want? I was trying to sleep."
"Thought you should meet our new roommate."
"New roommate? Cloud, there's barely enough room for you and I to live here and now there's a third person?"
Cloud shrugged. "You've been spending more and more nights at Aerith's. I figured you'd be moving out soon, so I found myself another roommate. I figured he can sleep in your room when you're not here."
"What about when I am here?"
"Dunno, couch I guess. Anyway, this is Riku," Cloud said gesturing to Riku. "And Riku, this is Leon, my irritable and soon to be former roommate."
Riku smiled slightly and nodded. Leon just scowled and said, "I'm going back to bed."
"Heh, sorry, he's a little grouchy if you wake him up. He has to get up earlier than me. He works at some restaurant-y thingy. Works the early shifts."
"Oh…"
"Yeah, anyway, you okay on the couch, or do you want to take my bed?"
"I haven't slept on a real bed for a while…"
"Right in there," Cloud said, pointing to a door.
"Thanks," Riku said, and walked into the room.
"It might be a bit messy," Cloud called after him.
A bit? Riku thought. How does he live in this! Whatever, I'm tired and I finally get to sleep on an actually bed. Collapsing onto the bed, he fell asleep almost instantly.
-------
Riku woke up to the sound of someone searching for something in the mess that was Cloud's room. He sat up and saw Cloud, holding a towel around his waist, looking for clean clothes.
Hearing Riku sit up, Cloud looked up and said, "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you, but I can't really go to work in just a towel… Cid might get mad."
Flopping back onto the bed, Riku asked, "What time is it?"
"Uh… 11:30-ish?"
"I thought you said you had to work…"
"Yeah, I was supposed to be there half an hour ago… but Cid's used to me being late. Aha!" he exclaimed, holding up a pair of boxers. He slipped them on, dropped the towel and continued to search for his clothes. "Wait, you looking for work?"
Riku sat up again. "Yeah, unless you'll let me stay here rent-free," he said hopefully.
"Nope only family and lovers get to stay rent-free," the blond replied, pulling on a pair of jeans. "Anyway, unless you intend to get with me, you're outta luck. Cid's looking for a new employee anyway."
Hold on, did he just suggest..? Wait, he can't be gay! He doesn't look gay… or act gay… but he did say Ansem thought him and that other guy… Riku shook his head, clearing out the thoughts, then said, "Sure, just let me take a shower, and I'll come with you. When are you leaving?"
"Whenever." Cloud shrugged. "There are towels in the closet in the bathroom. If you need clothes… just look around here. Although, they're probably all too big for you. Guess we'll have to go out and buy you some on the weekend…" Cloud continued to babble on about shopping and how he hated it, and Riku totally zoned out. He looks like he's in good shape Riku thought, staring at the blonde's chest. He's good looking too, wonder why he's single… oh right, he might be gay! Being with him wouldn't be so bad. I'd get to live here rent free, and he'd probably buy my clothes and food and stuff. Gah! Dammit, I'm straight! What the hell is wrong with me? Riku mentally slapped himself for even considering Cloud's earlier 'offer.' He was probably joking, anyway. No way he's gay, gay guys are uber neat and girly looking. Cloud's neither of those! Well, maybe a little girly looking…neh, he was just joking.
"Uh, Riku?"
Riku blinked, the sound of his name snapping him out of his daze. "Eh?"
"I asked you if you wanted a cup of coffee."
"Oh, sorry… sure."
"'Kay, it'll be ready when you get out of the shower."
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"You work here?" Riku said as they entered the garage.
"Yeah… Cid? I'm here?" Cloud called out.
"About fucking time! Yur late again!" Cid yelled, walking out of his office.
"Neh, forget that, I brought you a new employee."
Cid looked over at Riku. "He looks younger and scrawnier than you, Cloud. Wait, you are a guy, right?"
Riku nodded.
Cid laughed, "Girlier lookin' than you too."
Riku glared at his soon to be boss.
"Whatever, what do you want me to work on?" Cloud said, ignoring the insults being sent his way.
"Seph dropped off his car this morning. Said he wanted you to work on it." Cid pointed to an expensive looking car. "Needs a tune-up and make sure you change the oil."
"Alright," Cloud said with a nod. "I'll get to work on it." With that, he headed over to the car, leaving Riku alone with Cid.
"How much do ya know about cars?"
"Um… nothing."
"What! How old are you anyway?"
"17."
"You drive then?"
"No."
"Shit. S'pose I'll have to teach ya then. If you know how to drive, you can do the deliveries for me. An' what did you say your name was?"
"Riku."
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"I can't believe you're letting Cid teach you to drive!" Cloud said with a laugh as he and Riku headed back to their apartment. "He's a great mechanic, but I wouldn't get in a car with him if you paid me too! Well… actually I would… could use the money…"
Riku glared at the older man. "Well it's not like you can teach me."
"Hey! I drive better than Cid… that guy's a maniac!"
"But you don't have a car."
"That's 'cause I don't have any money! If Leon hadn't moved in right after Zack left, I'd be homeless. I can barely afford half the rent and money for food."
"Who's Zack?"
"Zack… uh… he…"
"His ex-boyfriend," a man walking towards them said.
Cloud looked up and smiled. "Hey Seph, this is Riku, my new roommate."
Sephiroth looked at Riku. "What happened to Leon?"
"Oh, he's still there… for now… he'll be moving in with Aerith soon," Cloud replied.
Cloud and Sephiroth continued to chat while thoughts flew through Riku's mind.
Ex-boyfriend! So he is gay? Ohmygod! What if he tries to… NO! Baka, Riku! Riku looked over at the other two men. What…? Is he… flirting with that guy? What the hell, he must be at least 10 years older than Cloud!
"Well, I really should get going. I need to pick up my car before Cid closes up," Sephiroth said.
"Alright. Check the glove compartment, I left you a little something," Cloud said with a wink. "Later Seph."
"Goodbye, Cloud," he said, "And nice meeting you," he added to Riku.
Riku blinked, clearing his head and said, "Uh yeah… same to you."
Riku and Cloud continued home in silence. When they got home, there was a note by the phone from Leon.
I probably won't be back all weekend. Tell the kid not to make a mess of my room. And keep the apartment clean this time!
Leon
"Cool, guess we have the place to ourselves this weekend," Cloud said after reading the note.
"Can I ask you something?" Riku said quietly.
"Sure."
"Are you gay?" Riku asked, not meeting Cloud's eyes.
Cloud was a little surprised by the question. "No, why?"
Riku looked up in shock. "What! But that Sephiroth guy said you had an ex-boyfriend and you were flirting with him!"
Cloud laughed. "Well, I'm not straight either. I mean, girls, guys, they all have qualities I find attractive."
"Oh… so you and Seph…?"
"Nah. After Zack left, he asked me out. At the time I wasn't really ready, but I dunno now. The note I left him just said 'call me' with my number under it." – the phone rang, interrupting Cloud – "That's probably him now." Cloud picked up the phone. "Hello?… Hey, guess you got the note. … Sure! I really didn't have anything planned tonight. What time? … Okay, 7:30 … 'kay, later." He hung up the phone then asked, "I'm going out tonight, you okay on your own?"
Riku nodded. "You know, it's quarter to 7 now…"
"Shit! That only gives me 45 minutes! Gah, I gotta get ready!"
Woot! Review please… I know it's not great… so tell me how to make it better, 'kay? By the way, I'll tell you how old everyone is.
Riku: 17 (d'oi)
Cloud: 25
Ansem: 35
Sephiroth: 37
Cid: 36
Zack(would be if he had a bigger part in the fic): 28
Leon: 25
Aerith (even though she's only talked about…): 26
Um, if there's anyone else I forgot to mention, (that appears in this chapter), let me know, 'kay? Awesome.