Zack headed straight over to Reno, tapping him on the shoulder and sliding in beside him at the bar. "We need to get Leon drunk," he said without preamble.
Reno blinked and looked at him warily. "Okay? I'm all for it, but why?"
"Because the guy needs to loosen up for a night, and Cloud's never seen him drunk."
Reno blinked. "Seriously? What are we waiting for then?"
Chapter 13 – I swear to drunk part 2
Zack grinned. "My thoughts exactly. But first, I need to go to the bathroom."
Reno snorted in amusement as Zack darted off towards the men's room.
"Don't start without me!" Zack yelled over his shoulder before disappearing into the toilet.
"Another bottle?" Madam Rosmerta asked as she walked over to him.
"Another two please," Reno corrected.
Rosmerta tsked as she fetched the requested bottles. "Don't you boys overdo it tonight. It never fails to surprise me how much you two can drink."
"Hey, we're not lightweights, and that bottle barely even scratched the surface," Reno replied with a laugh, taking the offered bottles of firewhisky. "Besides, it's not us you have to worry about."
She sent him a curious look before shaking her head. "Be off with you now. I can tell it's going to be a good night for me. It usually is when you two come in."
"Yes ma'am," Reno replied with a mock salute with a bottle and a grin before heading back to the table, where Leon was sitting down, a mug of butterbeer and a glass of water in front of him.
Hmmm…. This might be easier than we thought it was going to be, Reno thought as he sat down, taking in how tipsy the brunette was already. His cheeks were flushed pink, but he was still alert, just blinking a little more than normal. A good sign he was susceptible to spiking.
"You okay?" Reno asked Leon curiously, wondering what he'd say.
Leon nodded and downed some of his butterbeer.
"Okay, back," Zack announced as he slipped into the chair again. He swiped up a bottle. "Thanks Reno."
Nodding, Reno grinned and took another swig of his own bottle.
Cloud looked at Leon curiously and leaned over, placing his hand on his boyfriends, getting his attention immediately. "Are you alright? You're looking a bit flushed."
Leon nodded and looked directly at Cloud with a small smile. "The alcohol's just gone to my head. I'm alright."
Cloud nodded and backed up a bit.
"You know, I haven't seen you two kiss yet," Zack suddenly announced, looking contemplative as he waved his bottle around.
Cloud and Leon both blinked at him in surprise.
"I mean, you are together and all. I'm just saying, there's an open invitation there. We won't care whether you do or not."
Rolling his eyes, Cloud leaned in to kiss the brunette, closing his eyes as he ran his hand through Leon's hair, letting it rest against the nape of his neck, tilting his head and moving his lips against his lovers.
Leon, a little startled, closed his eyes and kissed back, his hand coming to rest on Cloud's shoulder.
When Cloud pulled away, face flushed and a little breathless, he stared at Zack and scowled. "Happy now?"
Zack smiled brightly and nodded. "Yup! That was pretty hot, so feel free to do that whenever I'm around." He winked, causing Cloud to roll his eyes.
"Idiot…."
Leon took a big mouthful of his butterbeer.
Reno winked at Zack, who grinned back.
"So, Cloud, how long are you in town?" Zack asked, suddenly starting up a conversation with the blond.
"Soo…" Reno began, scooting closer to Leon, who blinked at the red head. "How's Cloud in the sack? I've seen him in action a couple of times, heard he's an amazing lay and extremely responsive, but never had the privilege of hearing all the details." The smirk the red head was sporting was positively evil. "Prove my fantasies true?"
Leon blushed bright red and turned to drink his butterbeer, looking down at the table as he shifted uncomfortably and wrapped his free arm around himself. "There's nothing to say, really…"
"Oh, come on, that's just being stingy," Reno grumbled while moving closer, placing his hand on the seat next to where Leon's leg was.
Leon shifted away and tried not to let the redhead's closeness affect him. It was extremely uncomfortable being hit on by someone other than Cloud, even if it was unintentional.
Sighing, Reno sat back and drained the rest of his bottle, timing it perfectly for when Leon finished his butterbeer. "Hey, you want another one?"
Leon blinked and nodded, handing over the mug. "Thanks."
"Hey, you guys want anything?" Reno asked, leaning over Leon to tap the table between the two ex-SOLDIER's to get their attention.
"Nah, we're good," Zack replied with a grin as he waved his bottle.
Nodding, Reno headed to the bar and placed the bottle and mug on the bar. "Hey, Rosmerta," he began, getting her attention.
She smiled and shook her head. "Done already? Another bottle?"
"Yeah, and another butterbeer if that's okay? Can you please also make it two-thirds butterbeer and one-third cider? Whatever you've got that's strongest if that's okay? Stick a dash of vodka in it if you will as well please?"
"Sure," she replied with a smile. Turning to mix the requested drink, she waited for it to froth and fetched another bottle.
"Blimey, isn't that your second bottle or something?" the man beside him asked in surprise as the bottle was handed over.
"Third," Reno corrected with a grin, "and still going strong."
"And you can still stand upright?"
"Yup! I'm not a lightweight. I worked hard to get to this stage, and I refuse to back out of it now."
The man blinked in surprise before shaking his head and smiling.
"Here you go Reno," Rosmerta announced as she placed the requested drink on the bar in front of him. "Take it easy."
"Thanks Darlin'," Reno replied with a wink and walked back over to the table, placing it down in front of Leon and then sitting down beside him. "Here ya go."
Leon nodded his thanks and wrapped his hands around the warm drink. His head was still kind of fuzzy.
"So," Reno began slyly. "You going to tell me about those details?"
Leon twitched and looked directly at the redhead. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because they're personal."
"Fine," Reno grumbled as he cracked his bottle and downed a few mouthfuls. "Spoil all my fun."
Sighing, Leon took a sip of his butterbeer and blinked in surprise. "Hey, this tastes almost…. apple-ish."
"Really?" Reno asked, feigning surprise. "Hmm. I've had a pear one, a potato one, a peach one, an orange one, and a banana one, but never had an apple one. They sometimes change flavours depending on what packet it's mixed with. Rosmerta has a random bucket of flavours. That one must have fallen into the wrong bucket."
At Leon's uncertain look, Reno sighed.
"It tastes okay, yes?"
Leon nodded.
"Good. Then drink it. Don't worry, it's still non-alcoholic." Sort of...
Nodding, Leon drank it, licking his lips afterwards to try and clean the froth mustache up.
Cloud blinked and stared as he caught sight of Leon, the yellow froth covering his top lip in patches. "Leon… you missed a spot."
Leon blinked, looking at Cloud in confusion. "What do you mean? I cleaned up." He pouted a little and Cloud's lips twitched in a smile.
"Here, I'll help you." Leaning forward, Cloud captured Leon's lips with his, licking up the froth while at the same time devouring that cute little pout that had appeared on his lovers lips. Slipping his tongue into the brunette's mouth, he had to hold back a moan when Leon moaned into his mouth, his arms coming up to circle the blonde's neck and shoulders as he leant back a bit.
Cloud leant forward, wrapping one arm around Leon to keep him upright, the other planting itself on the far edge of Leon's chair to stop them from toppling over onto the floor, or Reno. His tongue twined around Leon's and the brunette moaned loudly as Cloud brushed over a sensitive spot in his mouth. His tongue exploded with the flavour of the butterbeer that Leon had just had and he sighed happily, pulling back slowly and making sure Leon could keep himself upright before sitting back in his own chair.
Clearing his throat, he blushed at Zack's leer. "Sorry. You were saying?"
Zack just snorted in laughter. "You two are so hot together."
Cloud just rolled his eyes before glancing at Leon again with a frown. He was downing the rest of his butterbeer, Reno laughing and pouring him another glass of firewhisky and shoving it into his hand.
"Reno, I think he's had enough," Cloud decided, frowning in worry, taking in the glassy grey eyes and flushed skin his partner had – not to mention he was starting to sway while sitting still.
"Pfft! He's only had half a glass," Reno claimed with a wave of his hand. "He needs to grow some balls and have some real alcohol."
Leon scowled and tossed the drink back, downing the entire glass before going into a coughing fit and dropping the tumbler back on the table as he clutched at the wood, eyes closed and watering while his throat burnt and his stomach heated almost uncomfortably. "Do so have balls," he grumbled at Reno when he could breathe and sit up normally again.
"Really? I'd love to see them," Reno said as he held another glass of firewhisky out for Leon.
Looking determined, Leon took the glass, his hand a bit shaky and the liquid sloshed onto his hand a little. "I drink this and I show you my balls?"
"Yes Leon," Reno replied in amusement. "If you drink that I'll believe you have balls and are a real man."
Nodding, Leon quickly downed the entire glass of firewhisky, going into another coughing fit afterwards.
Cloud reached over and rubbed his lovers back, looking concerned. "Reno, that's enough. He's had enough to drink tonight."
Reno held his hands up in defeat, a familiar smirk dancing across his lips.
Eyes narrowing, Cloud glanced at Zack, whose blue eyes were filled with mischief, and a spark that he knew was all too familiar. His eyes drifted to Leon's bottle of firewhisky and his heart sank. Just over half of the bottle was gone, and he was sure that Leon hadn't drunk that much on purpose. He glared at his two friends, scooting closer to Leon who was starting to get a bit floppy and doe-eyed, his arm slipping around the brunette's waist to support him and hold him up. "How dare you two," he hissed angrily.
"Hey, it's us. What were you expecting? Honestly?" Reno asked with a grin as he shrugged. "Although, I have to admit. He's doing pretty well so far. That stuffs potent even to the best drinker."
"And you made him drink half the bottle? You're both idiots! He's not infused like us! This stuff could seriously poison him!"
"Pfft, relax will you? It's fine on a one off," Zack said as he leant back and downed another mouthful from his own bottle.
"Nothing had better happen to him," Cloud grumbled as he kissed the side of Leon's head.
Leon mumbled something unintelligent as his head dropped on Cloud's shoulder, his body going slack and a soft snore left his mouth, the breath ghosting across the blonde's collarbone.
"Aside from the fact that he'll wake up with a raging hangover, he'll be fine," Reno replied with a smug smile. "This world has these things called hangover potions to deal with nuisances like that, so just ask Madam Pomphry for one tomorrow morning. I'm sure she'll be happy to give it to you."
Cloud sighed and ran his hand through Leon's hair, trying to shake his passed out lover awake. "I hate you both."
"You'll thank us," Zack replied with a knowing smirk. "Anyway, we'd better get you guys back to the castle. He looks ready for bed."
"And whose fault do you think that is?" Cloud grumbled as he rubbed Leon's arm. "Leon…Leon come on, wake up. We've got to get back to the castle."
"But I don' wanna ride the pony," Leon whined in his sleep as he frowned, his bottom lip forming into a pout again.
Cloud blinked a couple of times in surprise, looking at Zack. "I didn't know he talked in his sleep."
Zack was struggling not to laugh, while Reno was already almost falling off his chair he was laughing so hard. "Apparently he does while drunk. I'll go and ask Madam Rosmerta if you can use her floo network to get back to the castle."
"Uh… thanks," Cloud replied distractedly as he shook Leon again. "Leon, come on. Wake up."
Leon groaned and shifted slightly, sitting up slowly and groaned as he clutched at his head, swaying sideways. "Everything's moving," he slurred. "Cloud, make it shtop…"
Cloud sighed in relief. "I will, I promise, but we need to get you back to the castle first."
Nodding, Leon allowed himself to be pulled upright and groaned as he raised a hand to clutch at his head. "Why am I dating a moogle?"
Blinking rapidly at the odd question, Cloud looked down at his boyfriend in alarm, while Reno just about crapped himself laughing. "Why are you what?"
"I dunno," Leon grumbled as he tried walking, almost falling and landing on the table as he walked straight into it.
"Okay," Cloud sighed as he adjusted his grip on his lover. "You are most definitely wasted."
"Mn not wasted," Leon denied as he looked up at Cloud with wide eyes and a big smile. "I'm in the prime of ma youth."
"Yes, you are," Cloud agreed with a sigh as he rolled his eyes.
"Hey, he's awake. Good news, Madam Rosmerta agreed that you can use her floo," Zack announced with a grin when he saw Leon and Reno laughing loudly. "What did he say this time?"
Cloud blinked a couple of times, ignoring Leon's random giggling. "He wanted to know why he's dating a moogle, and what's a floo?"
"I'm datin' a moodle?" Leon slurred curiously. "But I thought I was datin' you."
"You are," Cloud replied patiently. "You're not dating a moogle."
"But you just said I was!"
"Shh, don't yell," Cloud hushed before focusing on a snickering Zack. "Alright, what's a flu?"
"It's a nasty, nasty thing that makes you feel all sorts of badness," Leon explained as he stood a little straighter and nodded decisively.
"Aside from that," Cloud replied with a roll of his eyes.
Zack just snorted in amusement. "Come on, I'll show you." Slipping Leon's other arm around his own shoulders, Zack helped Cloud get Leon over to the fireplace. "Okay, take a handful of that powder there," Zack instructed, pointing to the pot of green powder that was sitting beside the fireplace, "throw it in the fireplace, and say where you want to go, so Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and then when the flames turn green step into them quickly and you'll end up where you want to go."
"That's it?" Cloud asked suspiciously. "That seems a bit…. Dangerous, and too simple."
"It's perfectly safe," Zack replied with a bright smile. "Trust me."
"Trust you…" Cloud muttered with a cringe. "That is a very dangerous sentence coming from you, but trust you just this once I will." Taking a deep breath, Cloud shifted Leon, who was suspiciously quiet for the time being, and grabbed a handful of the green powder. Throwing it into the fire, he stated "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," and when the flames flared up and turned green, Cloud threw caution to the wind and stepped into the flames, gasping as he felt himself and Leon being dragged up and away into the swirling heat of the flames.
LINEBREAK! :D
In the Gryffindor Common Room, the occupants all jumped as the fire flared up suddenly, the flames licking the top of the fireplace.
"AXEL!" Sora, Riku, Demyx, Zexion and Yuffie all yelled in alarm.
Said redhead just threw his hands back in the universal 'don't shoot' gesture. "Hey, it wasn't me!"
"Nope, that was the floo," James announced, just a second before two bodies came flying out of the fireplace, tumbling and landing on the ground with a thump.
Sora blinked rapidly at James. "Fire's can get the flu?" He asked, looking at Axel.
Riku blinked and looked down at the two familiar men lying on the floor. "You guys okay?"
Cloud groaned and rubbed his head, hissing as he shifted Leon a bit to sit up. "I'm going to kill Zack."
"I'll take that as a yes," Riku decided, wincing as Leon face planted into the ground.
"What's wrong with Leon? Is he hurt?" Sora asked anxiously when the brunette didn't move.
"He's just pissed off his face," Cloud grumbled and rolled Leon onto his back.
Yuffie blinked a couple of times in surprise. "Leon's drunk? How did that happen?"
"Blame Reno and Zack," Cloud replied again with a sigh.
Yuffie blinked again. "Reno and Zack got Leon drunk? How did they manage that?"
"With great skill," the blond replied in frustration as he knelt down beside the brunette and hauled him upright.
Leon groaned and staggered, his knees giving out beneath him, and Cloud had to quickly wrap an arm around his torso to stop him from hitting the floor. "Let me go…"
"Leon, come on, let's get you off the floor and into bed, okay?" Cloud murmured.
Nodding, Leon managed to clumsily get his feet beneath him and pushed upright, with Cloud's help. Once he was upright though, he immediately groaned and sagged forward, making Cloud spread his legs further to stop them from both falling forwards. "The room's spinning. Cloud, make it stop," Leon breathed, his face going pale.
Blinking, Cloud dragged Leon over to the couch, Sora, Scorpius, Lily and Albus moving so Leon could be laid down.
Groaning again, Leon threw an arm over his eyes and didn't bother helping as Cloud moved his legs up onto the couch. Cloud breathed a soft sigh as he smoothed the brunette locks away from his lovers face.
"He doesn't look so good," Demyx commented as he peered down at Leon over Cloud's shoulder.
"Way to state the obvious Dem," Axel replied with a chuckle.
Sora sat down on the arm of Riku's chair, Lily stealing the seat Demyx had just vacated.
Cloud stood, intending to head up to the hospital wing and see if Madam Pomphry had anything to help, when his wrist was caught. Turning, he looked down at Leon, who was staring up at him with big eyes, which looked more than a little tired.
"Stay? Please?" Leon murmured, keeping his gaze locked with Cloud's.
Cloud hesitated briefly, but felt himself give in the longer he looked at Leon's big, pale blue eyes.
Seeing Cloud nod once, Leon smiled and closed his eyes, his hand dropping from the blonde's wrist.
Axel snorted in amusement and his shoulders shook as he fought to keep himself from laughing out loud. Riku had an amused smirk on his face as well.
"What?" Cloud asked, focusing on the two younger men as he sat down under Leon's head, having moved the brunette so Leon's head lay on his lap.
"Nothing," Riku replied in amusement, at the same time that Axel coughed out "whipped."
Cloud's eyes narrowed on them dangerously before lowering to Leon as he shifted, rolling slightly and half wrapping an arm around the blonde's hips, lips parted and eyes only slightly open as they stared sightlessly towards him.
Looking back up at the others, he began absently running his fingers through Leon's hair and removing tangles gently. The younger man let out a small moan of pleasure at the sensation and relaxed further, breathing evening out. "So what are you all doing up here?"
"Just catching up," Sora replied with a smile, "and introducing Yuffie to everyone."
"How long until it's curfew?"
"Another twenty minutes," Scorpius replied as he checked the clock on the old grandfather clock in the corner.
"I see…."
"So how are Zack and Reno?" Yuffie asked with a grin.
"Drunkards like normal," Cloud replied with a shrug. "Reno hasn't eased up, and he and Zack are now Auror's and are partners and the wizarding worlds worst drunks. Or best, depending on how you look at it."
"Oh…. Awesome. That's a first – Reno willingly working with a SOLDIER."
"Ex-SOLDIER, but yes, I agree, considering how much he seemed to dislike working with us in the old days."
Yuffie snorted in laughter. "That's putting it simply."
Cloud couldn't help it when his lips twitched in amusement, his hand still running through Leon's hair absently.
"I think Leon's crashed," Sora decided suddenly as he tilted his head to the side, watching the older brunette in amusement.
"I think you're right," Riku replied with a small laugh.
"Do you want a hand getting him to bed?" Yuffie asked with a small smirk.
Cloud looked down at his lover contemplatively, lips pursing in thought. "Mmm…. No, I think we'll be alright. Thanks anyway Yuffie."
Tbc~
I have no excuses, i'm sorry. Life just got busy. I know I promised i'd get this up WEEKS ago, but it just didn't happen. *sighs*
I haven't got the next chapter finished yet either, so once I do I will put it up, and I will work very hard on it when I can. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's a bit rushed, but... *shrugs*
Again, i'm sorry! Let me know what you think. :)
