A Love on the Sidelines

By: 4quintessence

Editing Notes: Thanks to all my marvelous readers, as of June 2008 this story has reached a milestone 3000 hits!!
THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REWRITTEN AND EXPANDED! It wasn't up to snuff like my later ones. FYI, there is AlbelxFayt in Chapter 9, more Albel in Chapter 12 & 18, MariaxFayt in Chapter 8 & more Maria in 10, and CliffxAlbel in Chapter 15. The lemons are Chapters 4, 6, 12, and 16. Sophia and Nel star in 17, Mirage in 15; Adray, Peppita, Roger in 12. Special guest in 17. I'm proudest of 7 and 14. From 14 on it gets more serious in tone.

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Square Enix, the fanfiction to me.

Pairing: CliffxFayt (with a little AlbelxFayt)

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Hopefully the first of many, this chapter starts in Surferio with someone in Fayt's bed and moves on to the Mosel Dunes where the real, dirty fun begins (we all remember that area with the timer). I've tried to make it realistic enough that it could have been included in the game on the sidelines. More juicy sexual stuff, humour in later chapters. This is my first fanfiction ever.

Note: The others in the story don't yet know about Cliff and Fayt's relationship.

Chapter 1 (Jazzed Up Collector's Edition):

Looking through clouded eyes, Fayt found himself in some sort of dim laboratory, his father lying as still as a corpse on a cold metal table in front of him. Lights were flickering on the computer displays that covered the walls like a swarm of frenzied fireflies and only one lamp was on in the room, the one brightening the experimenting counter. Fayt involuntarily took a syringe from a desk beside him and gingerly inserted it into his dad's left forearm, emptying the contents into his bloodstream. Suddenly, as if through magic, Robert's hair started to shimmer like the surface of the ocean on a moonlit night. A brilliant blue began to spread across his hair, smothering and suffocating the natural brown until all was seditious sapphire.

The scene started to fade as a veil fell across his vision. Off in the distance he heard a high-pitched voice…"Whaaaat do we dooo noooow?" It was Farleen. The sound made him cringe and it felt as though his ears would bleed, but luckily the shriek gradually dissolved and he was left in a lush grassy field on a seemingly starry night. There was someone breathing warm and sensuous gusts onto the back of his neck. Strong arms fell over his shoulders as he was squeezed so close he could feel the other's heart pound into his back. Cliff? Fayt could tell by his touch. He turned his head slightly and saw wings of radiant white encircling him and leaving him feeling so protected, so safe. Since when does Cliff have wings? Well, I guess he is my guardian angel. Without warning he was once again jolted from the setting and he found himself gradually opening his eyes from this bizarre dream.

He was in the Lost City of Surferio lying comfortably in the 'inn'. It was more like one of the resident's houses. And boy did that man talk. Fayt remembered story after story the man had told long into the night — such gripping tales of gardening and gregarious guests. But their host wasn't the only thing keeping Fayt from getting a good night's sleep. The blue haired young man noticed that at some point in the night Cliff had left the bed beside him, opened the curtain between them, and climbed right into his own bed. Not that this was a problem.

Fayt could see his lover sleeping soundly, mouth partially open, and he quietly moved his head from his pillow and rested it on Cliff's toned chest. The blond's heavy breathing caused Fayt's head to gently bob up and down and Fayt imagined he was out in a boat in the ocean rolling over mellow waves under a midday sun. He drifted in and out of sleep for the rest of the short time before dawn.

--

Once the group had finished their morning hygiene routines (except for Albel, he liked to be dirty), they set out together for the Mosel Dunes. After Mirage had persuaded a man at the entranceway to sell them a map of the area — she's good at that sort of thing — they stepped out into the scorching sun.

"You'd better not collapse in this heat, worm," Albel hissed to Fayt through the rippling waves that surrounded them. In reality, he didn't really care, he just wanted to break the long silence that had taken hold. "I won't be carrying you across the desert."

"My Fayty will be just fine, won't you?" Sophia replied cheerfully, letting the words dance off her tongue. She gazed at her friend with a tilted smile and admiring eyes. The cerulean haired boy just nodded in response.

"Albel," Maria spoke with a sigh, "you do remember that Fayt was the one who dealt the finishing blow when they defeated you, right? He's a lot stronger than he appears, I thought you would have guessed that by now," she stated, faced him with her hands on her hips trying unsuccessfully to look serious.

"Quiet you blue haired grub!" he shot back menacingly, his temper easily flaring in the unbearable heat. Albel was used to his chilly hometown, not this sandy mess.

"It's a good thing we left Peppita and Roger behind," Nel whispered to Cliff and Mirage. "Otherwise we would have to deal with three difficult people."

"Good point," Cliff laughed while stretching with his hands behind his head.

Mirage glanced up from the map with a grin on her face. "Guys, aren't you going to let Fayt get a word in?"

Fayt wasn't even listening. His mind was buzzing as usual, presently pondering how best to conquer the unforgiving desert ahead to get to the Ancient Ruins. He nonchalantly started off on his own, Sophia tagging along close behind. The rest of the group followed, Maria and Albel still squabbling with each other.

Fayt had his mind set on getting to a treasure chest he saw in the distance. As the sweat starting pouring from all his pores and his throat became dry and coarse, he finally approached the box and found some blueberries inside. Wonderful, he thought. That was totally worth it.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew was discussing something rather curious to get their minds off the harsh conditions they found themselves in.

"That's right, ya heard me. Where's the craziest place you've ever done 'it' with a past boyfriend or girlfriend?" Cliff asked with a ridiculous smile plastered across his face. The others just frowned at him thinking he was delirious from the sun. "No, I'm serious. This is a bonding experience. We need to learn more about each other...and that includes the intimate stuff! Don't be shy! Speak up!" He pointed to the girl closest to him, widened his eyes and shook his head, and then continued on to the next one. "Okay we'll skip you Sophia...how about you Maria?"

"What do you mean by 'it'?" Sophia mumbled innocently, tightening her grip on her staff. The following words barely squeaked out: "Holding hands?"

No one heard her so Maria spoke up. "God Cliff, your idea of bonding is exceedingly peculiar and rather gross. Nonetheless, I'd have to say...in a battle simulator."

Fayt was leading the way a few metres ahead of the group — just enough not to be picked out by Cliff but close enough to hear the conversation. A woman after my heart, he mused, chuckling to himself.

"Hmmm, that's...exotic," Mirage responded, the rest of them unsure whether she was being sarcastic or not. "Yes, but what about you Cliff?"

"Well, actually the wackiest place I've ever done it is...in my parent's bed."

"EWWW!!" everyone else cried instantaneously. Sophia still wasn't following.

"I think my opinion of you just fell through the floor," Nel quipped.

"W-h-a-t? Mine was too small!" he asserted rather unsuccessfully. Cliff was having a lot of fun anyhow and he gestured to Mirage next.

"Let's see now," she said, mindlessly tapping a finger on her neck as she walked. "There was this time when we did it behind some bushes in a park on Klaus. And there was a basketball game going on in the court on the other side…"

There were loud exhales all round and impressed expressions radiating from Cliff, Maria, and Nel.

"Now that's brave, eh! Classic Mirage. Can ya beat that, Nel?" Cliff asked as he turned in her direction.

"You aren't getting anything out of me, Cliff. At least not on this subject. Although I do enjoy hearing other people's stories…"

He wasn't going to press her so he turned to hesitantly point to Albel who had been mostly quiet for the whole conversation. Albel peeled his glare from Fayt, who was walking much farther ahead now so he couldn't hear anymore. Mr. Nox flexed his artificial arm upwards and stared at it as he spoke calmly: "Hmph, this is a game I can play. Yes, the craziest place...it would have to be that time we fucked in a dragon's den and then I fed them to the dragon after we were done."

Absolute silence. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. The crew gaped at Albel in astonishment and disgust as he stood with a blank expression, like he had said nothing out of the ordinary. Something in Sophia's mind clicked and she turned as white as snow before fluttering off towards Fayt while mentally assuring herself that she was scarred for life.

Albel started walking again and as he passed by the rest of them he shook his head and uttered: "Gullible fools. It was what you would call a joke...well at least the feeding the dragon part."

Maria brought the hand down from her mouth as Cliff spoke with a tone of regret: "Poor Sophia, now we've gone and corrupted her."

Up ahead Fayt noticed a sand creature slithering towards them out of the corner of his eye.

"It's about time! Leave him to me!" Cliff yelled as he lumbered towards the monster after hearing the bluenette's shout.

The big blond crushed the creature with his Aerial Assault move, but it was still alive, and in critical condition. Nel ignored Cliff's command and took a swipe at it with her daggers while Fayt decided to use an ice symbology. Clenching his hand somewhat the ice started to form. He was actually a little bored at the moment so he decided that instead of just throwing it right away he would shape it into a lethal spike. The ice started elongating to a razor sharp point and Fayt finally tossed it at the monster and it readily pierced right through its outer frame, freezing half the animal, and slaughtering it upon impact.

"Nice one, kid" Cliff offered, gazing a little longer than the others at Fayt's sexy green eyes.

Fayt simply nodded, feeling a little light-headed from the sun.

"You know, we should probably forget the treasure boxes for now Fayt and get them on the way back," Maria stated authoritatively while slipping her unused gun back into its case. "Otherwise we are gonna get roasted alive out here."

"I think we're okay," Fayt responded. "Let's head towards that oasis over there and get the treasure on the way."

"Wimp," Albel snapped at Maria as he passed her.

Maria's face turned an even redder shade than what the heat had already given her. She stomped off ahead in the direction of the oasis, cursing under her breath.

"Albel be nice. What did she ever do to you?" Fayt asked rhetorically, raising an eyebrow.

The former brigade captain momentarily thought of replying: Well there was that one time in the battle simulator…

They all started off again, Fayt trailing along behind this time. The desert ahead starting getting blurry similar to static on a TV screen and his head began to spin like he was caught in a lettuce dryer. It was all too much. Lack of sleep probably factored into it. Nevertheless he collapsed hard onto the sand by a jagged rock, the desert grains mixing in with his clumpy hair.

--

He slowly came to a minute later, carefully opening one eye and then the other, noticing someone standing over him. As the blur came into focus he made out that it was Cliff looking down at him. Fayt couldn't help but notice the man's long, attractive legs from his viewpoint.

"Fayt ya took a hard fall there," the blond said, stating the obvious. He knelt down to feel the younger man's forehead.

"I'm carryin' ya to the oasis up ahead so you can cool down and get a good drink, no arguing 'kay?"

Fayt was too tired to protest anyway. Cliff scooped up his lover, holding him like a bride who had drunk one too many, and set off towards the water hole. He plopped the young man into the shallows at the oasis's edge under the shade of a small palm tree. Fayt felt the tender touch of the cool, refreshing water on his legs and immediately splashed some of it onto his face. Cliff sat down beside him, one leg bent and the other stretched out, and shoved his water bottle into Fayt's right hand.

"Drink up, kid. Ya won't want 'Bel to see me carryin' ya the rest of the way," Cliff snickered in his classic deep tone.

"Why, would he be jealous?"

"You bet! I've seen him eyeing ya a lot lately. He's probably still wonderin' how someone so young could be leading him, Mr. Captain of the Brigade, into battle," Cliff joked.

Smiling weakly, Fayt took a swig from the water bottle. The water poured around his parched mouth and down his throat, giving them life once again and helping him feel a little less dazed. The others had gone on ahead at Cliff's bidding and were relaxing at the next oasis, just specks in the distance. Nel and Albel were heading out towards another treasure box.

Funny. I thought that Albel might be asexual. He really doesn't seem interested in anyone, apart from pissing them off in any way he can, of course. No, that's probably wrong. Everyone has sexual attractions, its only natural. Fayt tended to disbelieve that anyone could be asexual. He had recently learned what the word meant back on Earth and had pondered it along with his many other thoughts on this journey. Seeing his eyes glazed over, Cliff wondered what was bothering him.

"Fayt, tell me what's on yer mind. You're worryin' me."

Fayt knew Cliff got worried easily, he was so protective of him. He wouldn't let him go anywhere alone, ever since Cliff had saved him (my saviour) — but really kidnapped him — from the dungeons of Vanguard III.

Since sharing his current thought about Albel might sound just a little weird, young Leingod came up with a good comeback and ran with it.

"I'm just thinking about when we first fell in love," the young man said dreamily as he hoisted himself out of the water and sat beside Cliff, his legs comfortably stretched out over the blond's own. He slowly outstretched a hand and caressed a finger along, what he thought was, the intriguing birthmark on the other's neck.

"Right now? When you're almost passin' out from the heat? Huh. That must have been why I fell for ya...so unpredictable." Cliff ruffled up the blue hair sending little droplets of sweat in all directions.

Fayt felt the blond's warm body urging him forwards so he shifted himself to sit right in Cliff's lap, one ear against his beating chest, moist pants dripping down over his man. Being embraced by those muscular arms was a wonderful feeling: It was like lying on a fluffy cloud on a lazy day and being wrapped up in its pillowy softness. And once you got in, it was very difficult to get out. Not that he wanted to at that moment.

Fayt just wanted to enjoy the present, to stop thinking all the time. It just caused him to overanalyze and get worried when he shouldn't. Just as he was thinking about thinking, Cliff raised one arm and gently turned the blue guy's head upwards towards his lips. Fayt snapped out of it and immediately closed his eyes as his heart raced like always. The feeling of Cliff's supple lips over his own took him away from the surrounding heat as they kissed passionately, noses rubbing against one another. After what seemed like an eternity Fayt pulled away a bit, savouring the moment, but Cliff came right back and starting nibbling playfully on his bottom lip. He bit my lip and drank my war, from years before… (Song by AFI, Love Like Winter).

They finally parted and set out to meet the others, both feeling quite rejuvenated.

As they walked side by side, Fayt glanced up at Cliff with playful eyes and cheeks raised from smiling. "Ummm, Cliff? When we visit your home on Klaus, let's not sleep in your parent's bed."

The blond laughed heartily as he scratched the back of his head. "Ya heard that? Ahh, you don't need to worry about that…"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, its about my parents. I'll tell ya about it sometime."

Oh ya, I lost my train of thought. What it was like when we first fell in love...

TO BE CONTINUED!

(A/N: So what do you think of the rewrite? I added that whole scene with the, ahem, crazy places. This story is finally complete. 4quintessence out!)