A/N: Well, new story here. Not sure how long this is going to be, but I've had fun so far writing it. Took me way too long to write a mere one chapter though. Try, hmm... two and a half months? O_o
Chapter I
The sun was shining on Destiny Islands, as usual. It was a warm 80 degrees. The ocean was churning away, girls were tanning in the sand, and in a little house right off the coast, two boys were in their air conditioned sanctuary.
"...I dunno, it just doesn't appeal to me." Sora spun in his chair, drinking a glass of cold water.
Riku lie on his bed, tossing a foam football. "Why not?"
Sora shrugged. His cinnamon spikes bounced lightly. Inside Riku's room, everything was... very teenager. Various rock posters hung on the walls, a miniature basketball hoop hung off the door, clothes lay askew everywhere. His walls were painted silver and green, in a pattern that was not symmetrical. The green swirled around the silver in a seemingly random pattern. Despite how neat Riku seemed, his room definitely did not show it. "I don't want to pair up with someone. It seems...wrong, somehow. I want to love the person, not just...procreate with them."
Riku smirked and continued tossing the piece of foam. "It's free sex, Sora. Unprotected. With a girl. Are you sure you're a teenage boy?"
Sora pouted. Riku could be so crude sometimes. "Sorry for having morals," he remarked.
Riku shrugged. "Plenty of people our age are already paired up."
Sora frowned. It was true. His brother Vanitas already had a pregnant girlfriend, as did Tidus and Irvine. Xion and Roxas had already paired up by their parent's volition, but they hadn't quite taken it that far yet. Sora's parents weren't concerned by his lack of interest in being paired with someone. They thought it was sweet, in fact. That didn't stop them from constantly talking about it, though.
"Oh, Sora, I met the sweetest girl today at the market! She's single, too!"
"Son, have you met Namine? She's here on vacation, and she's looking to be paired with somebody!"
"Son, condoms are overrated!"
"Maybe after Aqua has had Vanitas' son, she'll consider pairing with you!"
"Has that Selphie girl had her kid yet? She's a sweet girl."
His response was always the same; not interested. Sora just...didn't like girls all that much. He wasn't as into them as other boys his age were. Unfortunately, that meant he was in every girl's friend zone, simply because of the fact that he didn't want to bone their brains out. Sometimes it was nice, having girls as friends. They gave him weird tips that he would never even think of, like brushing his hair at night as well as in the morning, or using lotion every day. Just little things that helped his ego; really nice hair and baby soft skin. Sometimes it was horrible, because they all came to him with his problems. Which usually involved their boyfriends. Which he did not give two shits about.
"Sora, Irvine hasn't texted me back all day!"
"Your brother is such a jerk sometimes."
"Roxas still hasn't kissed me yet."
"Why are all boys so dumb?"
He would always scoff and say "boys aren't all dumb..." But the truth is, they are. At least, in Sora's eyes. Then again, maybe he'd been spending too much time with girls. Hence hanging out with Riku. The older boy might as well be a girl, though. With his constant whining of the heat recently, and "ugh, how annoying my hair is" when it's sweaty, Sora looks down at his friend in shame. Well, he actually looks up, because of how stupidly tall the silverette was.
Riku paused. "So, um...I've kinda been paired with somebody."
The brunette boy blinked. "What?"
The silverette stopped tossing the ball. "Yeah. I don't know what I'm gonna say yet."
"Who is it?" the boy pestered.
"...Kairi."
The younger boy jumped out of his chair. "K-Kairi? Are you serious?"
Riku turned to face the brunette. "Mmhm."
"She...she asked you to pair up with her?"
Sora was shocked. Kairi seemed like such an innocent girl. He never pegged her as the type to get pregnant. Seeing how she reacts around Selphie and Yuna when they talk about their pregnancies, it seemed like getting pregnant was the last thing she wanted. Maybe Sora had been observing her incorrectly, though.
"Her parents did, actually."
Sora paused. "But...why you?"
The silver haired teen smirked. "Why, Sora? Jealous?"
The brunette's cheeks burned. "No. But...why not, I dunno, Tidus or Wakka or something?"
"They're both paired up," he pointed out. "I'm not. I dunno, I've got good genes or something."
Sora felt his heart rate pick up. When he got nervous, it usually ended in a panic attack. And he did not want to have one in front of his best friend.
His breathing got quicker and he felt his vision blur. Why, why must he get panic attacks?
Stupid brain.
"I-I, uh, I gotta go Riku. I'll see you." He stood up from his chair a little too quickly, swaying slightly.
"Sora...?" The older boy stood up from his bed, tossing the football down. "What's wrong?"
The brunette shook his head and rushed to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
The door slammed shut behind him.
The brunette sighed as he safely made it around the corner, far away from Riku's potential line of vision.
That was way too close.
Sora wasn't really ashamed of his panic attacks, but he didn't want to worry his friends. That was the closest he'd ever been to having one in front of Riku.
But...why was I so nervous? Am I jealous?
His brown eyebrows furrowed together as he sat down to catch his breath. A light breeze wafted over him, and he felt the sweat on his forehead cool. A seagull sat down and joined him on the sidewalk. No, there was no way he was jealous of Riku. Kairi was his best friend, and he did not find her attractive. She was cute, but girls were not his top priority. He much preferred to hang out with Riku.
His heartbeat sped up again and he felt his face flush. "Crap," he mumbled. He closed his eyes and practiced his breathing exercises. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, slowly breathe out. He never did like when his pulse got too high; he didn't want to risk it.
He definitely wasn't jealous of Riku, but he knew he was jealous. He'd felt that pang before. Was he jealous of...Kairi?
The gull beside him squawked. Sora turned to him.
"Do I like Riku, Mr. Seagull?"
The gray and white bird squawked again.
The boy 'hmph'ed. "Not very helpful."
It flapped its wings and took off towards the beach in search of scraps, leaving Sora by himself.
Sora kicked a stray rock and shoved his sweaty hands in his pockets.
When in doubt, find Cloud.
Sora knocked on the door to an old victorian house. The paint was fading, the wood looked as if it'd collapse any minute, but Sora still loved it. He practically grew up in this house, playing with Cloud and Squall and Riku. When Sora was younger, he didn't understand, nor question, the two men who lived together's relationship. He just knew they were close and that was that. When he did finally question it, the reaction from his parents was interesting, as usual.
"Son, they're gay."
"Gay?"
"Yeah, what'd you think, they were just really close friends?"
Young Sora blushed. "I dunno. Does that mean you and mommy are gay?"
Zack ruffled his small spikes. "Yeah, me and your mom are very gay for eachother."
He never judged Cloud or Squall for their lifestyle. In fact, he preferred having two men around. Less drama in the Strife-Leonhart household than in the Fair household, that was for sure.
Besides, having two older friends who were gay came in handy. Like right now.
Squall opened the door, a beer in one hand, the ajar door in the other. His grey slacks hung low on his hips, his leather jacket abandoned on the back of the couch. He blew his shaggy brown hair out of his face and raised an eyebrow in a silent question.
Sora was used to being treated like this. He knew Squall cared for him, and his family, very much. He just didn't know how to express his feelings very well. The young boy grinned up at him. "Afternoon, Squall."
"Hmph."
Blonde spikes came into Sora's line of vision. "Be nice Squall," Cloud threatened. "Don't want to upset the poor boy."
Sora accepted Cloud's hair ruffle and took the water he offered. "Thanks."
They all walked inside the cool, air-conditioned house. Sora's sweaty thighs stuck to the contrasting leather couch as he made himself comfortable. He chewed on his bottom lip, thinking of how phrase the question he wanted to ask. The two men on the couch across from him crossed their arms in unison.
Sora learned one thing from the start of his friendship with the two men; they were intimidating, and you should never, ever, piss one of them off. Or do anything to hurt one of them, because they were both scary possessive of the other.
Cloud cleared his throat. "So what seems to be the problem, Sora? It's not often you're this quiet."
Sora wiped the sweat from his brow. It truly was miserable in Destiny Islands. As soon as May swung around, everyone stuck indoors and cranked the AC. "Um, it's... about Riku."
Squall took a swig of his beer. Cloud idly rubbed the brunette's arm. "What about him?" Cloud asked, his voice raising. "What'd he do? Do I need to hurt him?"
Sora winced. Squall put his hand around Cloud's shoulders. "Relax, Cloud," he purred. "Now you're upsetting the boy."
Cloud pouted. "Fine, jeez. Continue, Sora?"
The young teen gulped. "W-Well, it's..."
The three sat in a silence while Sora collected himself. It was so hot, Sora swore he could feel his brain melting.
He blushed and coughed. "I...think I like Riku," he rushed.
Cloud frowned and looked concerned. Squall looked as nonchalant as ever.
"You...like him, like him?" the blonde asked.
He gulped. "Yeah."
"How long have you liked him?"
The young boy sighed. "I dunno, twenty minutes, ten years. I really can't say." His heart clenched. "All I know is that I'm really confused and...and you're the only people I trust to go to."
Squall finished another gulp and chuckled a little. "Oh, woe is me, teenage angst, blah blah blah."
Cloud elbowed him hard in the gut. Squall doubled over slightly. "Shut up, ice princess. You remember our teenage years? I can't even remember how many times I had to comfort you in the middle of the night because of how much teenage angst you had. Cut the poor boy some slack."
The older brunette scowled. He didn't like to appear weak to others, and Cloud was the only one who could cut through his facade and reveal the real him. "Damn you, blondie."
Cloud leaned over and kissed him on the scar across the bridge of his nose, something Squall had acquired from a childhood bully after he'd been caught kissing the blonde. He shivered at the memory of Seifer's blade coming closer to his face. His blonde boyfriend frowned. "I didn't mean to upset you," he murmured.
Squall smiled, a rare occurrence. "I'm not upset," he promised. "I'm glad I at least had you there."
Sora smiled from his place on the couch. His smile soon faded and his eyes filled with tears as he thought of Riku. Why couldn't he have something like they did?
Cloud broke away from his staring contest with his boyfriend. "Sora? What's wrong?"
The boy sniffled and wiped away his tears. "You two are just so corny, it's making me sentimental."
The two older men chuckled. Cloud sat up and walked over to Sora, patting him on the shoulder. "We're here for you, pal. Try talking to Riku about it."
Sora smiled and wiped away the last of his tears. "Okay. Thanks, you guys."
As soon as the brunette stepped foot into his house, he sighed in relief. The cool AC soothed his skin, washing away his troubles. His mother peeked around the corner from the kitchen, smiling and covered in flour. "Hey, bud. Have fun at Riku's?"
The boy winced internally. "Y-Yeah, lots of fun. Got too hot at his house though. His AC is finicky."
Aerith walked out of the kitchen and walked to her son, smoothing his cheek. "That's too bad. Want to invite him over to dinner?"
"N-No!" Sora shouted. "I mean, I, um, I already asked. He said no thanks."
Aerith brushed away a piece of brown hair sticking to her cheek. "That's too bad. Maybe next time."
Sora desperately fought the blush rising to his cheeks. "Yeah, next time," he mumbled.
His mother grinned and patted his butt, pushing him up the stairs. "Go shower, you smell like a dirty laundry basket and cheap cologne."
The brunette smirked as he sprinted up the stairs two at a time. "Hey, you married Zack, I think you'd be used to that by now."
Sora stepped out of the shower, feeling immediately cooler and more relaxed. The boy dried himself off, the white fluffy towel wiping away the droplets of water clinging to his skin. He wrapped a towel around his waist and checked himself out in the mirror. His chest was lightly toned, his nipples a salmon pink. His skin a warm wheat color all over. His chestnut brown hair was slightly flattened from the water, but still as gravity-defying as ever. His arms were laid with light muscles, his eyes a nice azure. His nose like a cute button, his lips full and tan, his teeth white and straight. He thought he was pretty attractive. He certainly didn't think he was ugly.
He smiled and winked at himself in the mirror. People said that was his best physical feature: his smile. The fact that he was charismatic and loved to smile all the time was icing on the cake. After throwing his sweaty clothing in the laundry basket, he opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. His father greeted him with a hair ruffle and a slap to his back.
"Daaaaad," Sora complained. "I just got clean. Do you have to slap me with your grease-stained hands?"
Zack grinned, his equally gravity-defying hair not moving an inch. "Yup. What's the point of having kids if you don't bug them and make 'em do stuff for you?"
Sora rolled his eyes and smiled. "I dunno, unconditional love, the joys of parenting, someone to continue the family tree?"
"Pshaw. Who needs all that sentimental crap?"
The brunette strolled past the raven-haired man, headed towards his room. "Don't be such a dork, Dad."
"It's my job!" Zack yelled back, grinning at his son.
Sora casually scratched his head and flipped him the bird. "Please let me get dressed before you continue to harass me."
The brunette slipped into his room and closed the door before his father could retort. He made his way over to his dresser, slipping into a new pair of shorts. He decided to forgo wearing a shirt. It was too hot, and he'd sweat through it anyway.
He crawled onto his bed, the sheets cool and crisp against his skin. On his dresser, his phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw a text from Riku.
Hey, where'd you go? You all right?
He gulped and took a deep breath. He hit reply.
Yeah, I'm fine. Just remembered I was late for dinner.
Riku replied less than a minute later.
You sure you're not upset about me possibly being paired up with Kairi?
The brunette sighed and frowned. He hated lying to people.
I'm totally fine. It doesn't upset me.
He and Riku continued to talk mindlessly while Sora surfed the Internet. He stopped when Riku sent him a winky face. He knew Riku was just being playful, but Sora couldn't stop his heart from pounding. The brunette pondered. Was he gay? He opened google and typed in the words, "How to know if you're gay."
He blushed as a myriad of websites popped up. Gay tests, videos, blogs. He clicked on the top site. He skimmed through the article.
"Determining your sexual orientation can be a confusing experience, but only you can truly determine it, on your own terms."
"Fantasizing mostly about members of the same sex is a pretty strong indication that you lean primarily in that direction."
Sora gnawed on his lip and thought. He didn't really fantasize about anyone. He continued reading.
"If you only fantasize about members of your own sex, and rarely or never fantasize about members of the opposite sex, consider finding a way to experiment with and explore your feelings."
Sora blushed. What was this article trying to say? That he should go out and "explore" with strange men? He shook his head mentally and tried to think of ways to explore without doing that.
His neck and face flushed as that one thought popped through his mind; masturbation. Specifically, to gay porn.
Sora banged his head on the table. Would he even dare try such a thing?
The blood rushing between his legs told him yes.
As Sora pulled up a favorite website of his and chose to sort by "gay," he seriously pondered his sanity.
A/N: Reviews would be much appreciated. Maybe if I'm inspired it won't take me as long to post the next chapter. Which will have some lemon content in it. Poor Sora, so confused by his sexuality.