And Love Said No

Notes at the end.

Chapter 1: My Best Friend's Guy

"So this is the infamous Riku," Leon stated neutrally, arms folded before him. His steel eyes flicked over the sixteen year old. He was not a bad looking guy, definitely more mature in appearance than Sora. Silver hair fell just past his shoulders and hung long over his aquamarine eyes.

"Yep," Sora nodded happily. "We didn't tell Cloud he was coming with. He's gonna be so surprised!"

"I think Sora's more excited than you are," commented Leon.

Riku simply shrugged, a small smile creeping on his face. "I'm not easily riled."

"Yeah, well, wait till Cloud gets here. Then we'll see how cool and collected you are." Sora stuck out his tongue.

"Put that away," Riku shoved him. "No one wants your tongue."

Sora pouted, "Thanks for reminding me."

"Oh you know I didn't mean it like that."

"Whatever," Sora waved the not quite apology off. He clearly was still upset.

There was an awkward silence. Riku studied his feet for a moment before glancing at Leon beneath a veil of bangs. "So, how are things going with the restoration?"

"Slow."

"I'm sure Cloud's of no help."

"Oh he helps." Leon shrugged, "He gives me a living target when I want to blow this place sky high."

Riku smirked, "For a quiet guy, he sure knows how to complain."

"Complain isn't the word. He's a little bitch most of the time."

The teen laughed, "So I'm not the only one who hates their best friend."

"Hey!" shouted Sora. "You don't really hate me."

"Of course not."

"If he didn't have you, who would he pick on?" muttered Leon.

"Exactly! See? I need you." Riku tugged on a brown spike.

Sora tried pouting but it was more of a smile. He shoved at Riku's shoulder, which the taller one barely seemed to notice.

Leon kept a detached eye on Riku, though somehow he knew the teen was aware that he was doing so. With how much both Cloud and Sora had talked about him, he felt like he knew the guy and, so far, he'd done nothing to change his initial impressions.

The way Riku carried himself was contradictory. He stood straight, head held high, hinting at the arrogance of his youth that Sora had described. Yet he slumped his shoulders forward, bangs kept long to hide his eyes, and his body was slightly tense, suggesting the insecurity that caused Cloud to worry.

"Leon! Why the hell did you-" Cloud froze and stared at the little group.

Riku chuckled, tilting his head. "You gonna finish that thought?"

"What-? How…?"

Sora was outright laughing. "I knew he'd be floored! This is awesome! Look at his face!"

Leon had to admit, it was amusing to watch Cloud gaping like a fish out of water. The quiet man was still sputtering. He tried to gather himself but it clearly wasn't working.

Riku approached him casually, almost swaggering. "I'm sorry; did I break your concentration?"

Something switched back on in Cloud's brain because suddenly he could speak again. He gave a small smile, "Don't get cocky."

"Well, if that's what you really want…" Riku shrugged, an evil grin spreading across his face. He raised an eyebrow suggestively, "But I thought you like when I get… cocky."

Leon snorted. That had to be the worse line he had ever heard, and he'd heard a lot of bad one's from Irvine.

"Oh, gods, Riku!" Sora groaned, blushing furiously.

Cloud simply hit his arm before Riku wrapped them around the blonde's narrow waist. He engaged Cloud in a decidedly graphic kiss, Cloud pulling him closer. This went on for nearly a full minute before they broke for air.

Sora rolled his eyes, ending it by looking at Leon. "I'm staying with Aerith."

"So am I," Leon replied in a deadpan.

"Oh, don't be like that," Riku turned within Cloud's arms. The blonde's head rested on his shoulder. "We'll behave."

"Sure you will," The sable haired man smirked at Cloud. "You might… but your boyfriend there never could."

"What?" Cloud was indignant.

"Aerith warned me about you and your need for loud sex."

Riku narrowed his eyes curiously, glancing at Cloud. "How would she know that?"

Cloud pursed his lips, muttering, "I can't believe Zack told her about that."

Riku returned his look to Leon. "I promise to keep it quiet, even if I have to gag him."

"He'd like that."

Riku's face twisted in amusement. "Yeah, you're right. Then again, so would I. Damn, that won't help."

"Kinky."

"Absolutely."

Sora was looking between the two, a slightly disturbed look on his face. Those two were getting along way too well. "Okay, enough with the sexual innuendoes."

"Those were more than innuendoes, Sora." Riku pulled away from Cloud and walked toward Leon. "How about no sex outside the bedroom, limited to night time, and when you're not home?"

"Fair enough, if you can keep to that."

"Well you could always come make some noise with us," Riku laughed.

"If I swung that way."

"Trust me, Leon." Cloud called over, "If anyone can convert you, it would be Riku."

"I don't doubt it," Leon met Riku's gaze. "Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Cloud."

Riku's blue-green eyes sparkled, "Good. Wouldn't want a fight to break out."

"We gotta get our stuff." Sora said loudly, probably trying to remind everyone he was still there.

"Yeah," Riku turned away to face Sora. "We weren't entirely sure where we were going to end up, so we left everything at the garage."

"You're both staying at the house," Leon clarified. "There are three bedrooms, so Sora can have the spare."

Sora and Riku nodded together, then they left, and Cloud immediately came over to Leon's side. "So what do you think of him?"

"Well, Sora's always been a handful, but he's still better than Yuffie."

Cloud shot him a dirty look.

Leon smirked. He looked back toward the door, through which the two teenagers had so recently left. Riku was just what he expected and, somehow, so much more. He could see how much he and Cloud loved each other. Cloud was so much more relaxed now that he knew Riku was here.

In addition, the teen was fun to talk with. It was rare that Leon felt that comfortable with someone he just met. They seemed to share the same kind of humor and had an unspoken understanding of each other. Cloud and Sora must have spoken as much about him to Riku, as they did to him about the teen.

He shrugged, "So far, so good."

"I had a feeling you'd like him. He's a lot like you." Cloud looked pleased, "I'm glad."

"He's your boyfriend, Cloud. It doesn't really matter if I like him or not."

"It matters, Leon," Cloud turned on him. "You're my best friend and about the only family I've got. I want you to like my boyfriend. It's really important that you get along."

Leon nodded.

"So you like him, right?"

"Yeah, I like him."

So here I go again. I don't promise fast updates on this one, guys. I'm trying a whole new thing for this story.

I was given this idea by Page of Cups and hopefully I can a) do it justice and b) make it work properly. Definitely keep the feedback going on this one, guys. I'm gonna need the support.