This is a pre-slash story, with the probable eventual pairing of Seph/Tseng/Cloud. It is set in an AU - the specifics of that I'm still unsure of, so just smile and nod and it's all good~

~*&*~

Cloud Strife was confused.

Well, he was more than confused. He was confounded, excited, scared, nervous... He... he was just really really...

He sighed.

It was one thing, having a few lecherous friends who made passes at you - a prime example in Zack - and then more who just sat there laughing at your misery - Aerith and Reno...

But now.... Now they had a perfect reason to mock his so-called misery.

Tseng and Sephiroth had invited him - well, invited isn't really the right word. Offered, propositioned? Anyway, they wanted to have a threesome with him.

Just the mere thought of it had him flushing brilliantly. Two of the most stunning people he has ever met wanted to ... with him.

Little Cloud Strife, no one special from the middle of nowhere Nibelheim, managed to "captivate" these two people.

He just couldn't understand it.

What was it about him that 'captivated' others?

Sure, objectively he was a nice person. Quirky, he listened well, and he couldn't stand people judging others, and he wasn't ugly...

'Well that sounds all well and good.... But are they being serious?'

He snorted. 'They don't lie.'

'So why don't you believe them, and go for it?'

'.... It's too good to be true.'

~*&*~

Cloud had met Tseng quite coincidentally, bumping into the man in a nondescript hallway in the ShinRa campus. They gathered their belonging, murmured polite nothings, and went on their way.

Cloud didn't think much of it, other than briefly noting how stunning the man was, and how he was distantly polite - and then rushed off so as not to be late for his next class.

Tseng, on the other hand, was intrigued - who was this blond teen, with his shy demeanor? But it was a mild curiosity, if that, and he too went on with his life.

~*&*~

The second time they met, was in the local library - both looking at the newest book by a particular author. It soon appeared that their reading tastes were very similar, and it was a mildly interesting point of connection. When they went their separate ways yet again, both did so with a small smile, a tiny spark of contentment in their eyes.

They met again in the library, and the topic moved from books, to writing, to music... The conversation flowed, small jokes shared, sarcastic anecdotes given, random stories ...

Before they realised it, they were meeting regularly, and Cloud certainly felt drawn to the dark, intense man. They just... clicked. There was something about the other that put him at ease... It should have alarmed him, but he didn't give it more than a passing thought: there were far more important things to worry about.

~*&*~

One day Tseng didn't make it to one of their unofficial meetings. Cloud pushed his worries aside - it was only one day, Tseng was probably busy with an assignment, or he lost track of time... But then Tseng didn't show up the next time either.

Feeling pretty foolish, but determined all the same, he went up to the librarians and asked them to give Tseng a not the next time he came in. It simply said:

'Tseng?
Whats happening? If you want to talk, I'll listen.
Cloud'

He didn't know when it was that Tseng got his note, but next week when he went in, Tseng was there, slumped over as much as his perfect posture would allow. Cloud bit his lip, uncertain of what to do? Move forward, or back away? He... he couldn't just leave, though. With that he stepped forward and dropped his bag on the floor by his usual chair. Seeing that Tseng didn't react at all, it became apparent that Tseng had known who it was already.

Gathering his courage, Cloud whispered, "Tseng?"

Tseng opened one eye, still seeming to ooze a mix of sleeplessness and stress, and stared into his own blue eyes.

He frowned in concern, and Tseng sighed seeing it. His voice was low and smooth, soothing as always. "I am sorry, Cloud. Life and family matters have reared their head and I have barely found enough time to sleep..."

"That, I can tell."

That comment brought a wry smile to those lips, and Cloud may have been imagining it, but some of the tension seemed to dissipate from those lovely shoulders.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not particularly."

Smiling, he set off about distracting his quiet friend, with small inconsequential happenings, saying anything that sprung to mind. Bit by bit, Tseng's tension eased, and was soon talking about a short story he had to write for one of his papers, getting Cloud's opinion on what to have happen in it.

Smiling - and so very relieved - Cloud too relaxed.

Things were ok - Tseng was ok.

And he could never ask for more.

~*&*~

AN

Disclaimer: Yes. I own it. Its all mine. All of it. Buahahahahaha! ... One small problem. ... I'm writing as a fan-fiction author. Denial then reality sucks. -.-

This is just a very basic beginning - of what I'm not too sure. Something amazing? Something cliche? Something that wont go well? I will say this, it'll progress very very slowly. I might be able to do another chapter filling in the blanks between their growing friendship, and when/why/how Tseng and Seph gave Cloud the offer. But as for wehter or not Cloud will accept... We just have to wait and see :D

A few people will probably be able to guess whats going on here, but shush, let everyone else wonder :P

If anyone is actually following what I write and when... I got lazy and busy and then when I tried to write I just managed to distract my self and then suddenly I needed sleep [seeing double is such fun]... But I should still be writing, but the story a day thing is probably over...

Thanks for reading all :3