… … …Ansem/Sephiroth, Axel/Zexion, and a hint of Sora/Riku. Sue me. On second thought, please don't. … … …
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Day One: When Ghosts Come A-Knockin'…Ansem sighed as he flipped through the channels, late one Sunday. He and Sephiroth were alone that day, everyone else out shopping.
Ansem and Sephiroth lived in a huge, rambling house with thirteen others. There were only five bedrooms, so he and Sephiroth slept in the attic. But things still got cramped occasionally, leading to chafed shoulders, chafed tempers, and bruised egos. Ansem and Sephiroth didn't mind the sleeping situation, however. The two were lovers anyway. The others were usually less than content, except Axel and Zexion somehow. Everyone had been certain they would complain loudly and frequently, but they never did.
That particular day, Kairi, Yuffie, and Aerith had all decided to get groceries. Instantly and predictably, Axel and Zexion had started whining.
"You guys always get that shitty health food stuff!" Axel complained.
"None of us have the iron stomachs for it! At least let me'n Axel come so you'll get some real food," Zexion insisted.
"No way in hell!" Marluxia said suddenly.
"If you guys are in charge of what they buy at the grocery store, they'll come back with either boxes and boxes of sugary cereal that'll take the roofs of our mouths or way-too-spicy foods from the Mexican grocer that none of us can eat," Vexen said.
"Not our fault you guys have tender mouths," Zexion said nastily.
"I happen to have a cat's tongue," Vexen pouted, nose in the air.
Leon, Sora and Riku started snickering. The others rounded on them.
"Since you three think it's so damn funny, you can come!" Yuffie said angrily. "Besides, we'll need Leon's car and he's the only one who can drive it."
"So why can't the you learn to drive stick?" Leon snapped.
"I'm left-handed," Yuffie said. (1)
"But why all three of us?" Sora cried.
"Are you making Larxene and Namine go?" Riku said.
Larxene shrugged. "We were gonna go anyway," she said. Ansem and Sephiroth looked at each other, and decided that it was better to stay quiet.
As the large group piled into Leon's microbus, Cloud came running after them and leapt in.
"Don't leave me with those crazies!" he said, squeezing in between Larxene and Axel.
So Ansem and Sephiroth, having kept their mouths shut, evaded the shopping expedition. Sephiroth was in the attic reading and listening to music. Strains of it drifted down to Ansem, sitting on the sofa.
"Multicolored microbus/ plowin' over rugged terrain…"Ansem snickered as he thought of Leon and the others crammed into a microbus. Then he sighed and turned off the TV. Never anything on TV on Sundays, just televangelists and infomercials. He chucked the remote to the side, and leaned his head against the back of the sofa.
The others still didn't know about him and Sephiroth. They had all lived in the same house for a couple of years now, but Ansem and Sephiroth had never said a word. Most likely a wise choice. Axel and Zexion would never give them a moment's peace, Cloud would stare shamelessly, the others would too… better to keep quiet about it. But still, the fifteen of them were housemates. They had a right to know, didn't they? A cry jerked him out of his thoughts.
He stood as Sephiroth came barreling down the stairs, nearly tripping on the last few. He smashed into Ansem and wrapped his arms around him tightly. He was shaking.
"Okay Seph, I know you love me and all, but don't you think you're being a little strange?" Ansem said as Sephiroth pressed closer to him.
"I s-saw something," Sephiroth stammered. "S-something weird."
"Everything's weird in this house," Ansem said as he tried to calm his agitated lover. "Consider who we live with." He stroked Sephiroth's hair, and Sephiroth slowly calmed. The two sat down on the sofa, though Sephiroth continued to cling to Ansem. "Tell me about it."
Sephiroth shook his head, and clung even tighter to Ansem. Ansem suppressed a sigh, and held Sephiroth. "Hey Ansem? Can we bunk in with Axel and Zexion tonight?" Sephiroth said in a small voice.
Ansem almost refused, but the look on Sephiroth's face changed his mind. "Sure, if they'll let us," he said. "But you know, we haven't told them about… you know…"
"They won't mind. I think they're the same way," Sephiroth replied, snuggling up to Ansem. Ansem blinked, then thought about it. That would make sense, considering how they hadn't complained about the sleeping arrangements, though they complained about everything else. Ansem leaned his head on Sephiroth's, and stroked his hair with one hand. (2)
The others came home about two hours later, laden with bags. By that time, Ansem and Sephiroth had retreated to their room.
"I wish you'd tell me what you saw," Ansem said, his arms around Sephiroth. Sephiroth shook his head again. He rested his head against Ansem's bare shoulder.
"I can't," he whispered. "I just can't." Ansem didn't say anything, just held him tighter. His eyes widened as they lit on a misty white mass in the corner. But he didn't say a word, just closed his eyes and prayed for the thing to go away, muscles tensing. Sephiroth felt him tensing up. "What is it?"
Ansem opened one eye, and was relieved to see that the apparition had gone. He sighed, and kissed Sephiroth's forehead. "Nothing, love," he said. "Nothing at all." Sephiroth kissed him, and stroked his hair. Ansem leaned up against him, holding him lovingly. Sephiroth buried his face in the curve of Ansem's neck.
"I wish I could tell you what I saw," he whispered. "I hate keeping secrets from you, Ansem, I really do. But I… I…" He fell silent. He looked so utterly forlorn that Ansem felt immediately sorry for him. He hugged Sephiroth tightly.
"Then don't say anything," he murmured as he pulled the covers up over their naked forms.
Several hours later, after asking Axel if they could sleep in their room, Sephiroth and Ansem were sitting on the floor, waiting for Axel and Zexion to return from wherever they had gone. The troublesome two returned furtively, arms full of large bags of candy. Axel checked the hall, and shut the door hastily. He and Zexion hid the bags in the closet, behind a chest of drawers. Ansem and Sephiroth looked at each other and suppressed sniggers with difficulty.
"Right, now that that's done," Axel said, dusting off his hands. "It wasn't easy getting that stuff, you know. Gotta keep it hidden from Yuffie, otherwise she'll take it."
Zexion hopped onto the large bed and sat down. "Sorry you two get the floor," he said, rubbing the back of his head.
Ansem shrugged. "We don't care, honestly."
"Can we tell you guys something?" Sephiroth began tentatively. "You gotta swear not to tell anyone else, especially the girls, Larxene and Namine included."
Axel and Zexion exchanged looks.
"You two are… you know… aren't you?" Axel said, crossing his fingers. Ansem blinked.
"How did you…?"
"Cuz me'n Axel are the same," Zexion said promptly. "We were wondering when you two were gonna tell anyone. Not that we're particularly open about it ourselves."
Ansem and Sephiroth looked at each other. "Well, that makes thing simpler," Ansem said.
"Why did you two wanna sleep in here anyway?" Axel asked.
Ansem looked at Sephiroth, who squirmed uncomfortably. "Classified," he said. Axel shrugged, and turned out the light.
-
A few hours later, Ansem awoke to Sephiroth's face very close to his, looking pale and frightened in the dark room. 'It's back,' he mouthed, pointing to a corner. Ansem followed his gaze, and saw that the misty mass was back, though it now vaguely resembled a torso, with half an arm. Ansem fought the urge to cry out. His hand sought Sephiroth's, and he gripped it tightly. The torso moved closer, waving the half-arm. Ansem and Sephiroth were locked in place. The torso came within an inch of their faces, bent in the middle, and faded from view.
Ansem glanced at Axel and Zexion. They were asleep in each other's arms. They hadn't seemed to notice anything. Ansem and Sephiroth moved closer together, and hugged each other tightly. They fell asleep that way, still sitting up.
-
Yup, there you have it. I was reading a book by Hans Holzer when the muses came and attacked. They left my mind for dead and ran away, like they always do, the bastards… Especially that Andante. I'm watchin' you, mister! (Shakes fist at muse)
(1) Do microbuses have a stick shift? Oh well. And it kinda looked like Yuffie was left-handed in FF7. Either that or I'm seeing things.
(2) Don't they make the cutest picture, folks? Kawaii! XD