A/N: Now that all the character introductions and bios are done, the story really starts to kick in. I just had to build the whole thing up so you can see the tension and deepness of the love between Leon and Cloud, why it's so important to the both of them.

And hopefully, I managed to set up those teams that us fan girls like to have.

You know, a Team Leon and a Team Sephiroth.

But according to my alarming amount of PMs about this story, a lot of you want to chop off Sephiroth's dick. Which is not what I exactly intended for you guys to feel, but what the hell. You're entitled to your opinions, so continue with your nonsensical fuckery!

And thank you to all the reviews and PMs. I really do acknowledge them, and it makes me smile to see people desperate for me to update. It makes me feel wanted and that my stories are actually somewhat decent.

And also, I finally managed to call some computer guy to fix my Microsoft adapter thingie. You should no longer see update problems with two chapters being the same. If you do, call a sistah over. I'll beat that man's ass for making me pay $75 for this new hard drive thingie only for it to suck ass.

Shout out to my main, robotmonkey for being there all the way and using my rainbows and dick-flowers as a comfort tool! I love ya to death! And I also love all you for sticking with me this far! Many kisses and hugs. 3

Welp, I wish everyone that read this little note and didn't SCROLL OVER IT a dozen boxes of rainbows and dick-flowers. :3

Enjoy! :)

Cloud

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I groaned. Damn it! It's that moment when your alarm rings that makes you truly regret staying up until four in the morning. The thought made me smile. But it was worth it. I wonder if he understood what I meant about the condom. I wasn't trying to come off as slutty or anything. I just wanted to know that I was ready for whatever sexual challenge he threw at me in work. If he misinterpreted it in a different way, oh well. A condom is a condom. He'll still get the gist.

But, do we even need a condom if he get it like that? If he has an STD then of course, but... we're both guys so...

Hmm. Whatever.

I was ready a little early so I ended up watching TV while packing some lunch. I couldn't really afford to buy anything at the food court today, seeing as how I was saving up for a condo and had just spent the rest of my free money on my bills. I sighed. It's gonna be a while until I get to leave this shithole.

"Dominic... please don't leave me. I thought you loved me."

"I do, Christian. But that is why I must go."

"Why? I love you!"

"The town, the Christian town, they will not allow of this forbidden love. I do not want to get you killed, Christian."

"But Dominic-"

"Please. Don't follow me! I love you too much."

Dominic ran toward Christian and gave him a big wet and long one on the lips.

I huffed. "Fuck that!" I shouted to the TV. "It's your love, who fucking cares about society?"

My watch beeped. Aww. Time to go.

~~~~Cleon~~~~

I said my hellos to my best friend Aqua. She had asked me why I was so giddy. I asked her how was I so giddy. And she just said something about my presence. Hmm. I wonder what's making me so giddy too. I mean, I haven't cracked not one sarcastic comment to myself yet.

As I was walking to my office, a man suddenly pulled me into a dark hidden corner. When I noticed the red hair and green eyes, I knew who it was.

"Axel. Next time, just tap me on the shoulder or something, you know?"

He ignored my suggestion and continued. "Listen, mate, it's about Zack. Lately we've been acting really close, even flirting with each other and all that other schmuck . We even kissed a few times, regardless of the reasons. But... ah don't know how he really feels about me. And ah want to tell him how ah feel, but I'm scared of what he'll do or say once he knows. I'd rather have him as the way we are now than not have him at all, yea? What do ah do?"

I gulped. His situation sounded a lot like mine. What are we suppose to do?

I took a deep breath. "For now, play it safe. Continue on with what you're doing now. Then, when you feel like your relationship is at an all-time peak, tell him how you feel."

Axel nodded. "That sounds good, yea?"

I rolled my eyes and smiled. His little words start to get to go. Every time I talk to him, I always half expect to hear "mate" or "yea" in it. And I always do. It was cute though. I was starting to warm up to his dialect. And he was starting to feel more comfortable speaking it.

Axel sheepishly smiled. "Well I'll uhh... leave you to your work now."

I nodded and smile. "You do that."

And he stepped out of the corner and headed to his favorite room in the building: Leon's.

Speaking of Leon, our very first sexual orientation is today after lunch. I gulped. I was so scared. What if I don't do it right? What if I turn him off? What if I go to far? I can't screw this up. Plus, I need to find out how he truly feels about me. My feelings about him are immensely confusing. I'm not sure if I love him, but I definitely like him. Every time I hear his name or think of him or see him, my heart skips a few beats.

I bit my bottom lip. You'd think your hormones would calm down when you're whopping 27 years old.

~~~~Cleon~~~~

It was 1:00. I took a deep breath and turned the doorknob, opening Leon's door. He was sitting there, doing paperwork, while Axel was playing on a PSP, his face telling you that he's way dispersed into it and left reality a while ago.

Leon looked up at me and smiled. "Cloud. Nice to see you."

"Same here. Your arm doing okay?"

He smiled. "It's fine, thank you. Limited movement like you said. So I'm forced to do only paperwork." He sighed.

I bit my bottom lip. "I hope that limited movement doesn't slow you down today."

"Oh I-" He looked up at my face and realized I wasn't talking in the context of work. His ears tinged a light pink and he turned to Axel. "Uhh, Axel. Here. Take this paperwork and go make 150 copies of each sheet. Then distribute them all to each and every member of the Network and Banking sector, okay?"

Axel paused his game and looked at Leon like he grew devil horns. "You're funny, yea?"

"Axel..." Leon groaned.

Axel sighed and rolled his eyes. "Alroight, alroight, I will. You can drop the pitchfork now." He winked at me and left the room, gently shutting the door behind him. I smiled. That Axel.

Leon sighed. "Sorry for him. He can be-"

"Oh he's cool."

Leon raised his eyebrows. "You two are friends now?"

I nodded. "He's really funny, and he can be nice when he wants to. He just like to bring it out a lot. At least, not in public."

Leon slowly nodded, running a hand through his roughly rustled hair. His tie was put on incorrectly, a couple buttons weren't buttoned on his shirt, his suit was off, and his hair was all wrangled like someone played with it. I bit my bottom lip in arousal. Seeing him like this was actually hot. It gave a reminder that he was human.

"So what got you so rallied up this morning?" I asked him, looking him over.

He smiled. "Funny. Rough night and all, couldn't catch that much sleep, thinking about things." He looked up at me, his smile widening. "You want to tell me what that condom was about?"

I blinked, not knowing what he was talking about for a second. I was too busy staring at his sexy state at the current moment. I should keep him up in the morning more often so he can look like this. Something about seeing him relaxed and carefree-like turned me on.

Then I widened my eyes. Oh! That condom!

I gulped. "It was... a sign."

"A sign of what?"

I titled my head to the side and coyly smiled. "That I'm ready for anything you throw at me."

I grinned. "Oh really?"

I nodded.

He licked his lips, looking so irresistible when he did that. "So if I tell you to fuck me over, you would do it in a heartbeat?" he asked, his voice getting incredibly husky and sexy. He eyed me down, lingering at my lower part and smirking. I've never seen this side of him before, but I can safely tell you that I absolutely love it.

I closed my eyes, keeping my flirty smile. "Well not in a heartbeat, exactly. You'd have to work for it a little."

He leaned back in his chair, his legs wide open and his eyes gazing directly at me. "Like how?"

I got up. "Allow me to demonstrate."

I walked over to the back of him and put my hands of his two wonderfully built pecks. "You'd have to... break me down a little. Like a massage or something." I slowly ran my hands down his chest to his pelvis, feeling all the abs underneath. He raised an eyebrow, still smirking.

"Then you'd have to tease a little, get me turned on."

I dived into his pants, feeling around real quick and then coming back out. My fingers tiptoed over to the lump in his pants, and went to his inner thighs instead. I could hear Leon's heartbeat get quicker and his breathing heavier. I was doing a good job.

"And then you jump at the most vulnerable point."

My hands ran all the way back to his chin and turned it to my face. He stared at my lips, still smirking. My flirty smile turned into a seductive one, and I leaned in toward his lips. Naturally, he started leaning in to. But instead, I turned away, grinning. Leon just grabbed my waits and pulled me toward him, kissing my neck instead. I lightly giggled. "Stop it."

"I can't. You caught me at my vulnerable point." He winked and looked at me, smiling and grazing his lips over mine.

"There's something about you that gets me every time." I grinned and rested my forehead on his. "I can't put my finger on it. But whatever it is, I don't want it to stop."

His smile died and he looked into my eyes. "Cloud, there's something I have to tell you."

My smile died as well. "Is it bad?"

"No, it's... well, it might be surprising. But I just feel like you should know."

I nodded, my arms still around his neck while I was sitting in his lap. "Anything."

He took a deep breath. "Cloud... you should know... that I'm in lo-"

The door slammed open. Instantly I was dropped to the floor carelessly. I moaned in pain, rolling over onto my back. Leon suddenly put his foot on my stomach and help me there. I widened my eyes and furrowed my eyebrows, appalled at how he was treating me suddenly. What am I, a foot stool? That's not what you were saying when you trying to get in my pants two minutes ago, asshole.

"Yes?" Leon asked, his voice back to normal, his grammar back to its proper format.

Larxene walked forward. "The papers have been received. The department thanks you for getting it to them on time."

"Anytime. Now is that all?" Leon asked. I started to try to squirm out of his foothold, but he simply pushed harder. I wanted to groan, but I decided not to.

"Well, actually..." she sat herself down on the chair. My chair. The chair that Leon and I have done everything on. This was going to be a while.

"My doctor said my hormones are going to be acting crazy for a while, and I sense a break-out coming along. My ankles have been really swollen lately as well and I don't think I can wear these heels for a while. I was wondering if you can cut me some slack for-"

"Listen, Larxene. If I cut you some slack, everyone will want some slack as well. Are you getting the picture right now?"

Larxene sighed and looked at her swollen belly. "Yes, sir."

Leon peeked down at me, his face unreadable. I pursed my lips, doing my utmost to make sure he sees that I'm pissed. Leon looked back at Larxene. Then he opened a drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper, writing something on it. When he finished, he handed it to Larxene.

Larxene took it and read it. "What is it?"

"It's a lease. I'm giving you six paid months off. Take it easy, okay? And congrats on your baby."

Larxene grinned in sheer joy. "Boss! I... I don't know what to say. I-"

"Then don't say anything." Leon gave a fake let's-finish-this-as-soon-as-possible smile.

Larxene rapidly nodded, still grinning from ear to ear. She stood up quickly. "Thank you so much, boss. I'll be sure to work even harder when I get back. I promise!" I smiled to myself. That was really sweet, what Leon did. Who knew he had a soft heart?

Larxene waddled to the door. She stopped and turned around. "And I don't mean to be prudent in your life but... there's this rumor that you and Mr. Strife have become awfully close to each other."

My heart sank in fear.

Leon kept his cool. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that people are saying that you two are hooking up. Speaking of, Mr. Strife's whereabouts are currently unknown."

Leon flashed a fake smile. "My love life and who I decide to share it with is nobody's business. The next time you hear that being spread around be sure to nip it in the bud. It's not true, and that will never change."

That will never change. My heart sank even deeper. But not in fear this time. But in mortification. I suddenly felt stupid and gullible, the same way I felt when Sephiroth dumped me.

Larxene nodded once, and left the room.

Leon quickly looked down at me, taking his foot off right away. "I am deeply sorry for that inconvenience, Cloud! I could only imagine what it feels like to have a foot slammed down on your chest." He helped me up.

I clutched my back, stretching it out. "Oh no, it's fine. I've faced worse." I'm just fucking with you. No I haven't.

"Now I got your shirt dirty." He pointed to the brown footprint on my white shirt. I groaned. All my other shirts were dirty too. But of course, he didn't need to know that. That'll just tell him that I'm lazy and don't wash my clothes very often.

"I'll just, uhh... wash it."

Leon gave me a strange look, his blue eyes piercing through mine. It made me look down nervously. This was awkward.

"You okay? Once again, I'm really sorry-"

"It's fine." I started to walk towards the door, but he called my name once my hand was on the doorknob. I didn't turn around. "Yes?"

"I know I ruined it. Our moment. I just... I'm scared of the reaction of the public once they know-"

"What?" I asked, turning around. "Are you embarrassed of me? Is it humiliating to like someone a much lower class than you? Or maybe it's because I'm not like Rufus. I'm not rich. I'm not famous. I'm not insanely intelligent. I'm not incredibly handsome and charming. I'm just a short blondie who's trying to save up to move out of a crappy complex and actually make a living. But I guess those standards are too low for you." I know it was mean of me to snap at him like this, but it kind of annoyed me.

"Cloud, it's not like that. It's just that... love in the workplace is usually looked down upon."

"But Rufus is the exception, right?"

Leon put his hand on his forehead. "What does Rufus have to do with all of this? Why do you keep bringing him up?"

"Because it doesn't make sense!"

Leon gave me a confused look. "I'm just trying to protect your reputation-"

"You think I care about what people think of me? You think I wasn't picked on at school for being that gay guy that caused his parents to separate? That awkward, overly-sarcastic, short boy who just wanted to feel wanted? And for once, I actually did feel wanted. Until you start hiding me under your desk with a shoe on my chest!"

"Cloud, I-"

"You're embarrassed, Leon. I get it. The thought of you and me being a couple... it seems like a downgrade to society after your last relationship was with someone so much better than me."

"He isn't better than you."

"It's okay, Leon! You don't have to-"

"I love you."

"...what?" I asked, utterly confused. Did he... did he just blatantly use three heavy words that shouldn't just be thrown around for the hell of it? Did he just claim that he loves me?! The thought of him lying just to keep me on his dick made me angry. He was playing with my heart. Too many times have I been played with and hurt as a result. And I won't take that anymore.

He walked closer to me, taking my hands. "Cloud, what I was trying to say earlier is that I love you. A lot. At first I thought it was just lust, but then, when I started to talk to you, to get to know you, to see the real side of you... I knew it was much more than that."

I narrowed my eyes. "How could you?"

He widened his eyes. "What?"

"How could you say something so deep on someone you only look at as a sex toy? You want me that badly that you're going to lie to me about something so serious, huh? What's wrong with you?! Don't you realize that some people take those words to heart?! Some people... like me..."

Leon shook his head. "I would never lie to you about that. Everything I said is true. I really do-"

"Let go of me!" I yanked my hands away from him, disgusted at his presence. To think I actually started to like this man, this... thing. I looked down, rapidly trying to blink back tears. I refuse to look like the weak one here. "Thank you for saving my life. I deeply appreciate that." I looked up at him, my eyes watery. "But I think our relationship should stay as worker and boss. It's best that way. Everyone's reputation is safe."

He looked down. "You remember the deal, right? If you don't do my every command, I'll have to fire you."

I pursed my lips. "Well then I guess I'm jobless again."

He shook his head, reaching for me. I flinched away from him and barged through the door, not bothering to close it. I stormed down the hallway, ignoring his calls for me. How could I let him get to me? Let him use me? I don't know what I saw in him. He was a monster. He was the beast, but there was no beauty.

I slammed on the down sign next to the elevator over and over. I noticed Axel staring at me from the end of the hallway with eyes full of pity. I decided I wasn't in the talking mood right now and just crossed my arms, ignoring him.

Hold your tears, Cloud, I told myself. As soon as you're in the car, pour your feelings out. Until then, be strong.

I sniffled and entered the elevator, pushing the 1 button.

Lounge Floor added to destination points, the elevator said, and it started to descend. I raced through the lounge, slamming my ID card on the front desk, ignoring people's stares, and barged through the entrance doors. Blindly, I searched for the keys in my bag. Once I fished it out, I opened the car and stepped inside, bawling heavily as soon as the door shut.