Riku stared at the ceiling. The white walls seemed empty somehow. Slowly, a tear fell down the boy's cheek.
"Mother, would you love me now?" He asked, staring at his rapidly spinning fan. The blades spun through the air over and over, cutting the air with pinpoint precision.
"Mother, would you love me if you could see how I've become? Would you stare at me with wide eyes and only fear for my safety? Would you have let him hurt you? Would you have run away and left me instead of staying there hoping to keep your baby safe?"
Riku's legs hung off the edge of the bed, resting motionless. His arms were spread eagle, and at the moment, all he wanted was his stuffed Mickey, but he'd left Mickey at Leon's house.
Riku shivered, but he made no move to turn off the fan or pull the covers around him. The covers were even more soaked than he was.
He had heard what Cid said. The older man pitied him. Riku scoffed. He didn't need pity. There was nothing about him to pity.
Mom's died all the time. He would have lost her anyways, just like he would one day loose his dad, and Sora, and Kairi, and Leon.
Wait, when had Leon become part of the equation?
"Why do I care about him? I'm not supposed to care about him. Why do I… Why do I want to get to know him?"
The idea seemed almost humorous. He could picture the scene in his head.
So, Leon, what's your favorite color?
…
What do you do in your free time?
…
What's your favorite type of music?
…
Chuckling to himself, a smile appeared on Riku's face, and he stood up, collecting his wet bed sheets and carrying them to the bathroom and his laundry hamper. Stripping, he turned on the shower and stepped in, shivering at the sudden, steaming heat.
It was only about three. He could still visit Sora at the hospital. He wanted to see if the goofball had managed to hurt himself even in the hospital. Then, maybe he could see Leon, and try to pry a smile from those cold features.
A warm feeling fell over Riku, and his smile broadened.
Halfway through his shower, Riku dropped his shampoo from shock.
Why was it that thinking of Leon had made him so unimaginably happy?
2222222222
Rinoa smiled at him, setting down her shopping bags.
"Do you really need more clothes Rinoa?" Squall asked, taking another sip of his water.
"These clothes are for you silly!"
Squall raised an eyebrow and set down his water, looking directly at her.
"You really have to expand your wardrobe!" She pouted, pulling out a shirt.
It was just a plain T-shirt, the kind you might ignore if it was set on a rack in front of you, and Leon had never worn it before. It was gray, and across it read the words, "Wouldn't it be horrible to reach the end of your life and find out you've never lived?"
Leon hated t-shirts like this, and Rinoa knew that he hated t-shirts like this, but she bought it anyways.
"Wouldn't be tragic though, to realize you've never lived your own life?"
"Hn. Whatever…"
"Whatever, whatever, it's always whatever with you. Live a little!" At this, she spun around, taking the t-shirt with her.
"I think it'd be terrible, if I had died without ever having the chance to love you."
"…"
"Squall, you're blushing, that's so cute!"
Wouldn't it be horrible to reach the end of your life and find out you've never lived?
"Life is full of regrets," Leon muttered, taking the shirt out of his moving box and tossing it into the trash can.
Standing up, Leon closed the empty moving box and slid it into his closet. It might be useful in the future.
Walking over to his bed, he came face to face with that stupid Mickey plush. It's glass bead eyes stared at him happily, and Leon glared at the stupid animal. Grabbing it by the arm, he slung it towards the trashcan, and it landed with a soft plop, right on top of Leon's old t-shirt.
Wouldn't it be horrible to reach the end of your life and find out you never lived?
That night, Leon fell asleep alone, his arm extended to wrap around someone who wasn't there.
And on the other side of the island, Riku realized that his Mickey was missing. He had left it at Leon's house.
3333333333
Kairi adjusted her hair for what felt like the forty millionth time that night. Sora was late! Kairi stomped her foot, a glare plastered on her face. They had agreed to meet here at eight to walk around the pier and look at all the shops. Kairi checked her watch. It was 8:30, where was he?
He wouldn't stand her up, would he? Not when he was the one who asked her out? Nonononononononononono. That would be horrible!
"Kairi!" A familiar voice shouted, and Kairi smiled as Sora rushed over to her, his shirt slightly wrinkled, his pants a little too baggy, and his hair a spiky array of gel and hair spray. Kairi would have him no other way.
"Sora, you idiot, you're late!" Kairi pouted, folding her arms across her chest. Sora smiled sheepishly, rubbing the side of his head.
"Sorry Kairi, it took a little longer than I expected to get all the band-aids off…" Sora blushed slightly, as cute and innocent as Kairi knew he would be.
"Sora, you're so cute!" Kairi screamed, lunging at him and temporarily forgetting that they were standing at the edge of the pier, overlooking the ocean.
SPLASH!
"Gees, thanks for tackling me off the edge of the pier Kairi! I'm so glad that I can get wet at 8:30 at night," Sora intoned sarcastically.
"It would've been eight if you had been here on time!" Kairi giggled, sloshing Sora with water.
"Kairi!" Sora protested, splashing her back. Kairi glared at him, now dripping wet.
"Sora, you're not supposed to splash a lady," she whined. Sora started to swim towards the beach, laughing.
"It's a good thing you're not a lady then!" He called back, once he was a safe distance away!
"SORA! I'm going to kill you!"
4444444444
Riku shivered as he wrung Leon's doorbell. He couldn't believe he forgot Mickey! He never forgot Mickey, period.
Riku rubbed his arms, ringing the doorbell again, pressing the little button harder in an attempt to make it louder. "Answer Leon, answer. I'm freezing my ass off out here!"
Finally, with a sigh, Riku realized that Leon wasn't going to answer the door. Sneaking around to the side of Leon's house, he lifted one of the windows, or at least tried to. It was locked. Riku reflexively reached for his pockets only to realize that once again he was wearing his King Mickey pajamas, which had no pockets.
"Urghhh… What kind of person keeps their door locked anyways?" Riku muttered angrily, picking his way through wet sand to get to Leon's back yard. Riku cringed at the sloshing noises. He had almost forgotten that it had rained that morning.
Pulling on the back door, Riku found that it to was locked. Riku frowned, racing around the house to Leon's bedroom window.
Knock
Knock
Bang!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Riku's pounded on the window viciously. It was cold outside, he was freezing his ass off, and he wanted his Mickey back. If Leon did not open his window soon, Riku swore to god he would…
There was a slapping noise as a strong hand closed around Riku's fist, stopping him from banging on the window. Riku followed the path of the arm up to a broad shoulder, and then Leon's angry, glaring eyes. Leon's hair was tussled from sleep, and Riku grinned, snatching his arm back.
"For once, why couldn't you just pick the lock?" Leon asked with a sigh. Riku smirked.
"But as much as I enjoyed you pinning me to the floor, it hurt, so I thought I'd give you fair warning this time." Riku braced himself on the window, using his arms to pull himself into Leon's room. The older man moved aside accordingly, but sighed as Riku sat on his window sill, taking off his muddy shoes and sitting them a set of dressers.
"Did I say you could come in?" Leon asked as he headed back towards his bed. Riku smiled innocently at him, closing and locking the window. He didn't want any psychopathic stalkers (besides him) getting in now, did he?
"Did you say I couldn't?" Riku shot back gleefully. Oh how he loved these arguments.
"Would you have listened to me if I did?" Leon asked, holding the covers out for Riku. That was a good point. Riku thought on it for a second.
"No," he answered truthfully, climbing under the covers. He snuggled up to Leon's naked chest, tucking his head beneath Leon's chin as Leon's had stroked his back underneath his shirt, causing Riku to shiver. Mickey Mouse was all but forgotten.
"You better not get used to this," Leon told him, planting a kiss on his forehead.
"You can't lock me out," Riku answered, sighing. He loved moments like these.
"Tomorrow I'm getting a new alarm system," Leon joked, and Riku pouted.
"Now Leon, one would think that you didn't want me here," Riku smiled, sighing as Leon continued his ministrations.
"That's because I don't," Leon replied, his arms tightening slightly around the younger teen.
"Nah, you know you want me," Riku replied, turning in Leon's hold so that his back was to Leon's chest. Leon stiffened for a second before he adjusted his hold on Riku, wrapping one arm around Riku's middle.
"Hn, whatever," Leon replied, burying his head in Riku's hair. Riku smirked. That hn was a 'yes' hn. This reminded Riku of something.
"By the way, Leon, what's your favorite color?"
"…"
At Leon's predictable answer, Riku burst out laughing, curling up against Leon's hold.
"What are you laughing about, brat?" Leon asked. Riku's waited until his laughing stopped before leaning back against Leon and answering.
"Nothing Leon, just you being you."
"Whatever," Leon responded, going silent. Riku sighed, ready to drift off to sleep. He really shouldn't make a habit of this, but it was so much better than sleeping alone.
"Red," Leon suddenly said, startling Riku out of his near sleep.
"What?" Riku asked, startled.
"My favorite color is red," Leon responded.
"Oh," Riku replied. A smile spread across his face as he fell asleep, and he noted mentally that he should wear red tomorrow.
5555555555
Ring! Ring!
Leon moaned, rolling over. He didn't want to get up. He was so warm and comfortable.
Ring! Ring!
Who the hell was calling at, Leon checked the clock, 4 am in the morning?
Ring! Ring!
Leon yawned, pushing Riku off of him and grabbing the phone.
"H'lo?" He asked, muffling a yawn.
"Leon! Oh my god! This is horrible news. I need to talk to Riku!"
"Wha?" Leon asked intelligently.
"Leon, this is Kairi! I need to speak to Riku!"
Leon set the phone down on the table, looking at Riku. "Riku, wake up," he called. The boy didn't stir.
Leon shook him.
Riku kept on sleeping.
Leon shook him again, harder.
Riku kept on sleeping.
Leon grabbed him by the shoulders and jerked him back and forth as hard as he could.
Riku let out a snort, but kept sleeping.
Leon grabbed the phone. "Kairi, he won't wake up," Leon told her truthfully.
"That's because Riku only wakes up for two things, food and the secret, wake up Riku technique," Kairi replied.
Leon sighed.
"What's the secret wake up Riku technique?" He asked, holding a hand to his forehead. He sensed a headache in his very near future.
"All you have to do is whisper 'Mr. Snufflefluffykins' in his ear and back away quickly." Kairi advised him.
"Mr. Snufflefluffykins?" Leon asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Kairi responded, "and hurry, I really need to talk to him."
Not knowing why exactly he wasn't just hanging up, Leon decided to ask one last question.
"How did you get this number?" Leon asked. The last thing he needed was two stalkers.
"My father's the mayor. I just had to ask," Kairi answered with a giggle. Leon rolled his eyes. That was abuse of power.
Leaning over, he sighed. This was so stupid. "Mr. Snufflefluffykins," Leon whispered, backing away.
"What? Where?" Riku yelped, hopping up and clinging to Leon.
"Phone," Leon told him, handing the startled teenager the phone.
"Hello," Riku asked, through Leon saw him glancing around the room, searching for something, most likely Mr. Snufflefluffykins.
"What?"
"You're serious."
"Thanks for telling me Kairi, you and Sora are the best."
"See you later."
Riku dropped the phone back into it's holder, smiling at Leon. The older man gulped.
"What do you want?" He asked, glaring at the teen.
"Do you mind if I stay here for awhile?" Riku asked, scooting up to Leon and kissing the juncture of his neck and collarbone.
"For how long?" Leon asked, wondering why he was even considering this.
"Um, until I can afford room and board at the dorms," Riku answered.
Leon sighed. "So you're telling me you were trying to buy my car, but you don't have enough money for a dorm room?"
Riku bit his lip. "Well, that money was kind of my father's money, and so I can't really use it anymore."
Leon sighed. There was something Riku wasn't telling him, but…
"Fine, but if you touch, break, eat, or drink anything, you pay for it, and you're paying rent." He smirked as Riku's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
"But I don't have a job!" Riku exclaimed, glaring at Leon.
"Then you'll just have to get one, now won't you," Leon replied, smirking at the younger boy.
Riku groaned, then seemed to think of something.
"Hey Leon, have you seen my Mickey Mouse plush?" He asked the older man. Leon nodded, pointing at the trashcan. Riku's eyes widened.
"Don't worry Mickey, I'll save you!"
Fifteen minutes later, Riku stepped out of Leon's room, freshly showered and wearing Leon's clothes. His t-shirt was the one Leon had thrown away the day before (how can you throw away such a nice t-shirt? I'm taking it.), and a pair of Leon's oldest pants. The baggy denim hung off Riku's hips and constantly threatened to slip off.
Leon stared. He couldn't help it. Seeing Riku in his too large clothes, glaring at Leon while he towel dried his hair was priceless.
"Come on," Leon told him, walking out the door. They had to pick up all of Riku's things from Kairi's house, (why they were there Leon didn't know and didn't want to know) and then try and find the kid a job.
The car trip was unusually silent as Riku highlighted jobs in the newspaper. Leon tapped the steering wheel quickly, annoyed. Riku and silent just didn't go together (unless Riku was sleeping.) Leon reached for the radio, then stopped.
He was not going to give Riku the pleasure of knowing that the silence was annoying.
Finally, they pulled up to Kairi's driveway, and Riku hopped out of the car. Leon pulled the keys out of the ignition, following the boy up the driveway.
"Why hello Riku!" A chirpy woman with graying blonde hair and deep brown hair greeted, enveloping the boy in a hug.
"Hi Mrs. Ichigo," Riku greeted, leaning over to return the hug. The woman in front of him was extremely short.
"Leon, this is Mrs. Ichigo, Kairi's mom," Riku smiled. "Mrs. Ichigo, this is Leon."
"OOH! Is this your boyfriend?" Mrs. Ichigo squealed, running up to the surprised leather clad man and hugging him as tightly as she had Riku.
"Oh, he's so handsome, and that ass!" Mrs. Ichigo enunciated her point by grabbing Leon's ass and Leon pulled away instantly, deciding that maybe this wasn't the safest place to be.
"MOM!" A girlish voice yelled. "Stop embarrassing me!" Kairi ran up, brushing Leon off and pulling her mother away.
"Oh, but Kairi, I don't understand how Riku's father could kick him out for something as stupid as being gay, especially when his boyfriend is so hot! If only I was twenty years younger!" The woman squealed.
Kairi shook her head, an embarrassed blush crossing her face. "It's times like this that remind me that I'm adopted," she muttered.
Leon ignored the comment, still focused on Mrs. Ichigo's earlier one.
"Your father kicked you out for being gay?" He asked Riku. The silver haired boy nodded and Leon felt a tiny bit of guilt bubble up from the fact that he was making Riku pay to stay with him. Just a little guilt though, when he remember just how much the boy could eat.
"Meaning that he didn't know you were gay before?" Leon asked, raising an eyebrow. Someone would have to be blind, deaf and stupid to not know the boy was gay.
"Ohhh! Enough of this dreadful conversation! Riku, Sora's hauling your things into the car as we speak, so why don't we go inside and discuss this relationship of yours?"
Behind the blond woman, Kairi desperately shook here head, continually slashing a finger across her neck, as if someone were killing her. The message was so obvious that even Riku got it.
"Um, why don't Leon and I help Sora with my stuff?" Riku pleaded, grabbing Leon by the arm. Mrs. Ichigo grabbed both of them, an evil glint in her eyes as she pulled them inside.
"Oh no, you're not getting out of the talk that easily!" She giggled maniacally. Leon gulped and Riku bit his lip. 'The talk' didn't sound very fun.
Leon and Riku were dragged into the living room, where Leon was dropped into an armchair. He had a second to regain his balance before Riku was dropped into his lap with a sudden 'hey!' and a plop. Leon wrapped his right arm around the boy to steady him and keep them both from falling out of the chair, and Mrs. Ichigo giggled.
"The two of you look so cute together! I'm surprised you aren't at home fucking like rabbits!" Riku blushed beet red and Leon's eye developed a familiar twitch.
He had to constantly remind himself that killing the mayor's wife was probably a very bad thing.
"Oh, but that's what I'm here to lecture you about!" She giggled once again.
"See, I gave Kairi books, but after finding them in the trashcan, I realized that the only way to make sure you practiced safe sex was to teach it to you myself!" She clapped her hands, reaching into a bag besides her chair and pulling out various sexual toys. Leon shuddered.
"Okay, first thing first. This is a condom, and Riku, you should make sure Leon's wearing one every time you have sex, or else you might get an STD or get pregnant!" Leon sympathized with Riku as the poor, traumatized boy turned around and buried his face in Leon's neck, trying to escape the crazy woman.
"Mom! Riku's a guy, he can't get pregnant!" A blushing Kairi told her mom.
"Oh pooey! I forgot. Well, anyways, Riku, pay attention! This is how you apply a condom!" The woman then pulled out a banana and slipped the condom over the banana as if it were a…well, you know. She dropped the banans onto the floor carelessly, pulling out her next item.
"OK, next we have lube. Now, Leon, I'm trusting that you thoroughly prepare Riku before you actually penetrate him, right?" Leon wished he could just fade into his seat and escape.
"MOM!" Kairi screamed, her hands covering her face as she bashed the top of her head against the counter. Against him, Riku was shaking with suppressed laughter. Leon pinched the boy, earning a yelp from him. He didn't see anything funny in this situation.
"Okay, next we move onto handcuffs." Riku's laughter suddenly stopped, and he moaned, trying to sink into Leon and disappear. Leon managed to tune Kairi's mother out, focusing on his plans for next class and deciding how he should grade the student's first projects.
"Always remember, the key to having truly pleasurable gay sex is bondage!" Kairi's mother finished, tossing Leon a bag containing cherry flavored lube, condoms, handcuffs, a whip, various chains and harnesses, and a maid's outfit.
Riku pulled away from Leon, his face as red as Kairi's hair. "I'm so sorry," he murmured, tightening his grip on the older man.
"Ooh! I can't wait for your marriage! Riku, I already have your wedding dress all picked out!"
"But, I wouldn't wear a wedding dress, it's an insult to my masculinity," Riku murmured, not meeting Mrs. Ichigo's eyes. Leon snorted.
"What masculinity?" He asked, already expecting the hard punch Riku delivered to his upper arm.
"Ohh Leon, that's not nice! You shouldn't insult your lover's masculinity, even if he is the woman in the relationship!"
Leon considered telling the older woman that he and Riku weren't involved, but considering what her reaction might be, Leon decided against it. Suddenly, Sora arrived in the room, sweaty and panting like he'd just run a marathon.
"I finished packing Riku's stuff," he said, before he fell backwards, passing out on the carpet. Riku cringed in sympathy as Kairi gasped, running up to her friend.
"Sora, wake up! You have to live until our second date!" She cried. Riku turned in his arms, resting his head against Leon's shoulder.
"So, the spiky haired wonder finally asked you out?" Riku smirked, not unkindly, at the couple.
"I wonder how long it will take for him to pop the question?" Riku asked. Suddenly, Kairi had joined Sora, passed out on the carpet.
"Nice one Riku!" Kairi's mother asked, apparently unconcerned that her daughter had just lost consciousness. "I should let you two lovebirds leave now! The sun is just starting to rise!"
Leon swore that he and Riku had to have broken some type of speed record, racing out of that house so fast. Leon didn't even notice that the bag filled with sex toys had magically appeared in his truck.
6666666666
Before the sun had fully risen, Riku had folded or hung all his clothes in the guestroom, and hung his various posters and art all over the room. He had even made his bed in Mickey Mouse bed sheets.
Leon blinked in amazement as Riku rushed past him with a vacuum. Okay, so apparently, the kid was a neat freak. After Riku had vacuumed, he washed the windows, scrubbed the toilets and shower, Windexed the mirrors, dusted, and spritzed the room with Oust.
Leon stared. He wasn't messy, by any means, but as he watched Riku pounce on a stray fleck of dust, he decided that this obsessive behavior was just a little scary. When Riku was done, he collapsed on top of his bed, staring at the ceiling. His baggy blue jeans had slipped down over the course of his cleaning, and Leon gulped as he viewed Riku's pronounced hip bone and toned stomach.
"So, you going to give me the grand tour?" Riku asked, standing and stretching. Leon's eyes glued themselves to the arch of Riku's back, remembering how Riku had arched against him.
"Nnnn…" Riku moaned as he worked the uncomfortable kinks out of his back. Leon's eyes roved over Riku's figure, straying to his round, perfectly shaped ass.
Yes, Leon would give him a tour, a complete tour, or the male body…
"Ahh!" Riku yelped as he was tackled onto his freshly made bed. Leon's lips pressed urgently against his, a skilled tongue slipping into his mouth. Leon's knee pressed against his groin, and Riku moaned into Leon's mouth as he felt himself becoming hard under Leon's touch.
Maybe cleaning turned Leon on… Interesting. If that was the case, Riku would really have to use that maid's outfit (he had hidden the bag under his bed for future use.)
Leon's hand slipped under Riku's shirt, long, strong fingers teasing his stomach as they moved further up, brushing a taut nipple.
Riku gasped for breath as Leon pulled away, a thin strand of saliva connecting them for a few seconds before Leon roughly grabbed the hem of Riku's shirt, pulling it over Riku's head and throwing it on Riku's meticulously clean floor.
Riku moaned as Leon's mouth attacked his nipple, sucking and nipping, and he didn't notice as Leon reached under the bed.
CLICK!
Riku gasped as he felt cold metal encircle his wrists, and he instantly struggled. This wasn't fair! He wanted to touch Leon. He wanted to make the man shiver and moan his name.
Instead, he was forced to watch as Leon pulled his pants and boxers off, gasping as the cool air brushed his heated arousal.
Riku closed his eyes, arching into Leon's hard, muscular body, only to meet a barrier of clothing. Riku moaned. Why was he naked when the older man had on all his clothes?
"Leon!" He gasped, spreading his legs invitingly.
FLASH!
Leon and Riku turned, as one, towards the window, only to see Yuffie grinning as she raced away from the window.
"Yuffie!" Leon yelled, racing up to the window.
"Wait, Leon! Don't leave me here like this!" Riku yelled, but Leon had already run out of the room. It swung on its hinges, the annoying sound grating on Riku's nerves.
Riku shivered as some of the cold air hit his naked body. He hated Leon, and Yuffie, and Air Conditioning. This was so not kosher.
Suddenly, the door swung open and slammed closed, and Riku stared in pure mortification as Yuffie approached him, camera in hand.
"Yuffie! You wouldn't! I thought we were friends!" He pleaded, tugging on his handcuffs in desperation. Yuffie smirked at him.
"Friendship goes this deep," she held her finer about and inch apart to demonstrate.
"Free porn goes this deep!" She spread her arms as far as they would go, emphasizing the difference.
"Now, for your picture partner!" Yuffie snapped, and Aeris and Selphie entered, carrying a tied and gagged Cloud Strife. Selphie locked the door behind her, giggling.
"NO!" Riku screamed, jerking his arms back and forth as he desperately tried to free himself.
"LEON! HELP! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
Riku jerked awaked at the sound of the door being thrown open as Leon raced in, armed with a steak knife.
"Riku?" He asked, looking at the boy who had fallen asleep after he finished cleaning. The poor boy looked so exhausted that Leon had decided to let him sleep while he cooked breakfast. Half an hour later he was awoken by said boy screaming rape.
"Leon," Riku replied. "I had the worst nightmare ever. Well, actually, it started out as a good dream, a really good dream, but then it turned bad, very, very bad."
"So there's no one here?" Leon asked, lowering the knife.
Riku nodded, and Leon rolled his eyes.
"Whatever," he said, leaving the room. Riku sniffed the air, catching the scent of home baked muffins. His stomach growled, and he followed the smell into the kitchen, sitting down at the table as if under hypnosis.
Leon pulled the muffins out of the oven, setting one on a plate and sitting down.
"Aren't you going to give me one?" Riku asked, his stomach growling as he stared at the blueberry muffin dreamily.
"Do you have 2.50 for the muffin?" Leon asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
"No," Riku sighed, staring at the muffin.
"Then you don't get a muffin," Leon stated cruelly, taking a sip of his coffee.
"I'll give you something else," Riku told him. "I'll dress up in that maid's outfit for a day!"
Leon coughed, choking on his coffee. "No way in hell," he answered.
"Just give me a god damned muffin, Leon. I'm starving over here," Riku moaned.
"Is that a whine I detect?" Leon asked, swallowing a bite of muffin and neatly wiping the crumbs away.
"I'll do anything for a muffin," Riku conceded, the rumbling in his stomach getting almost too painful for Riku to handle.
"Anything?" Leon asked, setting his muffin down.
"Anything," Riku repeated, staring at the muffin. He almost missed the gleam in Leon's eyes as he said that, almost. Riku gulped as the muffin was handed to him on a flower patterned plate.
Somehow, he didn't feel very hungry anymore.