-1Leon glared at the pig through slit gray eyes. He didn't care about a Disney Vacation or whatever other prizes there were to offer. He was just too prideful to admit defeat to an animal that ate slops and feces. You just don't cross some lines.
Mud covered his outfit, his white tennis shoes now a disgusting shade of brown. Rolling his shoulders, Leon lunged at the pig, hearing a now familiar snort before said pig leapt out of the way, large head bobbing.
He fell into another mud pit, vaguely wondering how an animal that heavy could be so fat.
Switching directions quickly, Leon tackled the pig, throwing all of his one hundred and whatever weight onto the pig's 500 pound body. The pig momentarily lost its balance, and Leon wrapped an arm around his neck, once again pushing his weight into the pig.
He would win this! He would not lose to an animal!
The pig started to run in huge, jarring circled, carrying Leon along with him. Leon clung to the pink beast's thick neck, pushing his heels into the mud. No stupid pig was going to defeat him. Mud splattered all over the place, hitting the fence, some of the viewers, Leon's already muddy hair…
God, Riku owed him for this.
Finally, heaving in exhaustion, the pig stopped, and Leon, taking advantage of the situation pushed as hard as he could. Finally, the pig landed on its side with a thump, Leon holding the tired animal down.
His head was pounding, his heart was racing, and he was panting, but a sadistic grin appeared on his face. Take that, bacon bits.
"Folks, I can't believe it, but we have a winner!"
The crowd roared, whistling, screaming, stomping, and clapping their hands raw. Getting to his feet, Leon walked over to the cowboy commenter, grabbing the large, brown envelope with a muddy hand.
"We're going to Disney World; we're going to Disney World!" Leon stumbled as a large silver blur attached itself to his chest, squeezing him tightly.
Leon rolled his eyes, attempting to pry Riku off him. "And who says I'm taking you with me anyway?"
Riku looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "If you don't, I'll trash your house," he challenged, standing on his tiptoes and pecking Leon on the lips.
Leon rolled his eyes once again, leading Riku and his new, giant stuffed Mickey back to the SUV Yuffie had loaned him. Leon smirked. After all the paint and mud stains, he was sure Yuffie was going to be very happy with him.
Wrapping an arm around Riku's shoulders, the two gazed at the stars, completely at peace.
…………………
"Kairi!" A voice called, echoing through the large house.
"Crap!" Kairi stumbled out of the cocoon of sheets she and Sora had created, shaking Sora awake.
"Wha…? Another round?" Kairi blushed, hearing her father's footsteps banging up the stairs.
Shoving Sora off the bed, she hurriedly squeezed him into her closet, tossing him his clothes.
"Hurry and get dressed!" She hissed, spraying the room with body mist and she pulled on her Minnie mouse pajamas. Yes, she was the picture of innocence.
"Kairi, who are you talking to?" Her father's voice sounded oddly suspicious.
"Myself daddy dearest!"
Kairi hurriedly laid back in bed, pulling the cover over herself to hide the messed up sheets. Jutting her lower lip out and widening her eyes, Kairi prepared for the inevitable.
"Kairi?" The door swung open and Kairi faked a yawn, stretching as if she had just woken up from a deep slumber.
"Daddy, it's so late! Can't you let me go back to sleep?" Insert puppy eyes here
Her father smiled at his sweet, innocent, pure little girl. "Of course honey."
The door swung shut just as Sora burst out of the closet, tugging on a giant yellow tennis shoe. (You know what they say about guys with big feet…)
"Oh and Kairi?"
Sora dropped to the floor, rolling under his girlfriend's bed. Ewww… That had to be a new type of mold.
"Just remember to call Sora's mother to tell her that Sora's spending the night."
Kairi blinked, and her father chuckled.
"I was a teenager once too," he told her. "Besides, his tennis shoe is sticking out from underneath the bed."
---------------------------------
"Ohh! Sephiroth!"
Aeris held the laundry in her arms, blushing. Okay, she knew that Cloud might be bisexual, but with Sephiroth?
"Nnnn… More please!"
Aeris blushed even more. However, following that blush was a concerned frown. Lately, she had a feeling that she and Cloud were off. The attraction had faded. Maybe it was because he found something in Sephiroth that he couldn't see in her?
"Oh, that's the spot! Right there, harder! Oh god Seph, you're so good!"
Dropping the laundry, Aeris turned and ran down the hall, her eyes filled with tears. How could Cloud leave her for 6 feet of leather bound muscle?
…
Never mind.
"Cloud how could you?" Tossing Cloud's favorite vase at the door, she watched as it swung the old, thin door open. Cloud and Sephiroth were both staring at her with wide eyes, Cloud sitting on the ground by his bed, Sephiroth behind him, the older man's hands rubbing the blonde's shoulders.
…
…
A massage.
Oh! That made sense.
Aeris gulped. "Ummm… Never mind," she whispered, blushing. "Why don't you two go back to your massage?"
Cloud blinked.
"Aeris, what was that all about?"
Aeris blushed even redder, and Sephiroth smirked as he leaned over and whispered something in Cloud's ear. Evil sexy general…
"Oh. Wow. Yuck! Me, and him, and that! God Aeris!"
Aeris stomped her foot. "Well it's not that unbelievable!"
"Are you kidding me? Why would I want to do anything like that with him?" Cloud had a slight blush covering his high cheekbones. Oh god, he was blushing.
That meant that he had a crush on Sephiroth!
In tears, Aeris ran off, Cloud chasing after her. "Aeris wait!"
Sephiroth was left sitting on the couple's bed, running a hand through his long hair.
Sighing, the general stood regally. "I don't know whether to be offended or amused."
…………………………
Leon sighed as he towel dried his hair. The brown envelope was sitting on his sink, glaring at him. Today was Friday, and they didn't have class until Wednesday, so the trip could be good for relaxation purposes.
Ding-dong!
With a sigh, Leon walked out to the front door, swearing that if it were a girl scout selling cookies he'd kill her.
Stupid cookies.
Opening the door cautiously, Leon gazed out, right into heart achingly familiar brown eyes.
……………………
"I don't think this is going to work out," Rinoa's voice was soft as she stood be his door, her luggage at her feet.
Squall turned his head away. "Why?" He asked.
"It's just, I try to get close to you, and you're so cold, Leon. It's like living with ice! I've tried to open you up, I honestly have, but I just don't think… I don't think I can live this way."
Squall simply nodded. If she wanted to leave, that was her choice.
"Goodbye Squall," there were tears in her eyes. Squall's throat burned.
"Goodbye Rinoa." The door closed softly, and she was gone. Resting his arms on his knees, Squall sighed. Pictures of her surrounded him, suffocating him. He needed to leave this place, needed to leave her.
The next morning he got a job offering on a small island. He took it.
…………………………
"How'd you find me?" Leon didn't know why those were the first words out of his mouth, but they fit.
"Squall," her voice was soft, "ever since I left you, I haven't been able to forget you."
Leon opened the door wider, ushering her into his house. She dragged a case along with her, luggage. She was here to stay.
"Rinoa," Leon started.
"Squall," Rinoa interrupted, "I know I made a mistake, but I love you. Just, let me stay the night and we can see where it goes from there."
Leon paused. Why was he hesitating? He loved this woman.
"Leon?" Riku seemed pale, even more so than usual. He also looked young, so very young, and Leon gulped, feeling a familiar burning in his throat.
"Who's that?" Both Riku and Rinoa had spoken at the same time. Riku's eyes searched Leon's face, his knuckles white as his fingers clenched at his side.
"Riku, this is my…" Leon paused, turning away from the teenage boy. "My fiancé. Rinoa, this is my roommate."
There was a cold pause in the room, and Leon could feel Rinoa gripping his hand, and he could hear Riku shifting uneasily.
"It's nice to meet you, Rinoa," Riku's voice sounded very soft, not excited and confident.
"Nice to meet you too. It's good to know that someone's been taking care of my Squall." She laughed, and it sounded like pure, crystal bells.
"Yeah. He's helpless on his own, isn't he?" Riku's laugh sounded hallow, and it echoed even in the small room.
"I think I'm going to head to bed," Riku stated, and Leon could almost see those picture perfect green eyes staring at his cream carpet. "I'm not feeling too well."
Leon let out a breath he'd been holding as Riku's soft, padded footsteps echoed down the hall, and a door closed quietly.
What had he been expecting? Was Riku supposed to fight for him? It was preposterous. They'd only known each other a few days. He and Rinoa had known each other for years.
"Let's head to bed, Squall. I'm tired." And she leaned up and pecked him on the cheek, and Leon wrapped an arm around her slim waist, leading her back into his room.
He couldn't help but look over his shoulder, trying to see if Riku was still there.
………………….
Ring, Ring
Ring, Ring
Ring, Ring
Kairi rolled over and picked up her cell phone, glaring at it. Who was calling her at midnight, anyway?
Lifting the phone to her ear, she yawned. "Hello, this is Kairi--"
Her eyes widened. "Riku, what's wrong?"
A pause. Kairi's eyes widened.
"Seriously. Don't worry, I'll kick his ass."
"Oh, shut up Riku. Yeah, yeah, whatever. Bye."
Clicking the phone shut, Kairi shoved Sora.
"Umm… Kairi?" He rubbed his eyes, looking so adorable that Kairi wanted to squeeze the life out of him. She still couldn't believe that they had done… Kairi blushed. It was a good thing her mother had given her those condoms.
"We have a problem with Operation: Make sure Riku finds the perfect man to make him perfectly happy."
Sora was up in an instant. "What can we do?" He asked.
"Well…" And Kairi whispered her plan into Sora's ear.
……………………
Yuffie bashed her head against the top of the car as the phone rang.
"Urghhh…. Stupid piece of shit!"
Ring, Ring
"This better be good," Yuffie hissed into the phone as she jerked it from its receiver.
A smirk.
"Don't worry, I know some people too. We'll be right over."
"Oh, don't worry about it. A yaoi fan girl's work is never done."
…………………
"Aeris, please!" Cloud shouted, chasing her around the kitchen as Sephiroth watched from the stairway.
"Please what, Cloud?" Aeris asked. "If you want more pancakes, you're going to have to make them yourself!"
Ring, Ring
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow and stared at the phone.
Ring, Ring
"Aeris, I'd do anything for you. I'm even taking that stupid art class for you!"
It didn't seem either one of them was going to answer.
Ring, Ring
"Stupid! Art isn't stupid! Art is beautiful!"
Sephiroth picked up the phone. "Hello, Strife residence."
"This is Sephiroth speaking. I'm a friend of the… Happy couple."
"Really. That's rather interesting. Don't worry, we'll be there" Sephiroth paused at another crashing sound, "as soon as possible."
……………………………
"Nnnn… Paine!" Rikku moaned as Paine's skilled tongue traced patterns over her skin. Oh, she loved it when her girlfriend got into moods like this.
Ring, Ring
"Ignore it," Paine hissed, nipping Rikku's collarbone. Rikku bit her lip, tilting her head to the side to give Paine better access.
Ring, Ring
"But Paine, it could be Yunie."
Paine glared at the phone. Rikku kissed her girlfriend quickly before she grabbed it.
"Hello!"
A shocked pause.
"Really Yuffie. I didn't know he was bi."
Indignation. A cute pout.
"Yes, this needs some major rectification! Paine and I will be right over!"
…………………………
Riku stared at his Mickey plushie's butt.
"He was dating me when he had a fiancé!" Riku exclaimed, his anger overflowing. The giant Mickey that Leon had won for him was sticking out of his waste basket, butt exposed to the world.
"Okay, so I know I didn't really give him a chance to say no, but he could have told me. I wasn't that suffocating, was I?"
The Mickey plushie's butt stared at him. Its tail drooped.
"Don't give me that look. This is his fault. This is all his fault. I didn't know he was involved. I would have never--" Riku paused, cursing his voice for cracking.
"I wouldn't have--" he paused again, stifling a sob.
Falling forward, he landed on the plump bed that smelled slightly of Leon, like everything in the room did.
"I want to hate him," Riku admitted, his eyes staring past Mickey, bright green and watery.
"I want to hate him so much, but I can't." Riku hated how his voice cracked and a hot, watery tear spilled over his face. His fingers traced the pale, almost non existent scar on his stomach. A year had done wonders for his body, taming the grotesque mark until it was nearly invisible.
"I think I was starting to fall in love with him."
The Mickey butt just sat there in the trashcan.
………………
Leon couldn't sleep.
He didn't know why he couldn't sleep, as it was never something that had bothered him before, but for some reason, his mind just wouldn't shut down.
In his arms, Rinoa turned, attempting to get comfortable. Her brows were creased in a worried frown.
"Hey," the voice sounded softer than Leon remembered it, and he looked up to see his 'roommate' staring at him.
"What do you want?" Leon's voice sounded harsher than he intended, but Riku didn't so much as flinch.
"I just wanted to apologize, for, well, you know," Riku seemed oddly timid, turning his head to the side so that his long bangs covered his face.
"He wasn't always like this, ya know?" She motioned to the boy lying in Leon's arms.
"He didn't always throw himself at innocent bystanders. He used to be kind of shy, actually. He drove everyone but Sora and I off with a glare and didn't let anybody come too close. It's almost hard to believe he's the same person."
She removed her hand from Riku's hair, staring at Leon with amazing blue violet eyes.
"So?" Leon asked, wondering why she was telling him this.
"He's had a hard life, and it's taken a lot to get him to open up. If you do anything to make him turn back into that glaring little boy…"
"Forget it," Leon told him, calmly, a sense of finality to his voice. This thing, whatever it was, between himself and Riku, had to be squashed before it progressed any further.
"Yeah," the shutting of the door cemented the deal, the fact that nothing would ever happen again. It should've made Leon relieved, but even with Rinoa's curled against him, the sweet angel that she was, Leon couldn't sleep.
He didn't notice the wide brown eyes that had stayed open through the conversation, or the gleam of worry and uncertainty in them.
………………
The next morning, as Riku saw Leon and Rinoa off to the airport, promising to look after the car, a plot was unveiling itself in Leon's house.
Sora, Kairi, Cloud, Aeris, Sephiroth, Yuffie, Rikku, and Paine had spent all night scheming. Scheming what, you may ask.
You see, Kairi and Sora were very determined friends. Riku had introduced the two of them, so they believed that it was destiny for them to make sure he was happy.
Similarly, Yuffie had taken a fast liking to Riku, and after spying on him, she had been introduced to Kairi. The two of them had become instantaneous friends, so naturally, when Kairi called about Riku, Yuffie had agreed and given Kairi Aeris's (a good friend) number, while she called Rikku, another good friend.
So here they were, deciding how to get Leon and Riku back together.
"OK everyone, pancakes are ready!" Aeris smiled, setting the plates before everybody except Cloud. While the angry cook wasn't looking, a certain silver haired general who was feeling oddly sympathetic slid him a pancake.
Everyone else was silent. Aeris could be scary when she was mad.
"So, does everybody know their part of the plan?" Kairi, (aka the mastermind) asked.
"I can't believe we're doing this!" Rikku giggled, wiggling around in her spot on Paine's lap.
"I have a question," Cloud raised his hand. "Why am I the one paying for everything?"
Dead silence swept through the kitchen.
"Anyways," Kairi spoke loudly, desperate to change the topic, "he should be coming back any second now. Rikku, is everything packed?"
The blonde nodded.
"Paine, did you get the information on hotels, parks and such?"
The leather clad woman smirked.
"Cloud, do you have the appropriate tickets?"
The spiky haired college student set the tickets down on the table.
"Yuffie, did you manage to secure the spy equipment?"
Yuffie grinned, rubbing her palms together eagerly.
"Aeris, did you pack healthy snacks?"
The brunette chef nodded happily, collecting the plates and rinsing them.
"OK, Sephiroth, did you do… Umm… Did you do whatever it is you do?"
The general looked up from his damaged cuticles to nod. He found this all relatively amusing.
"And Sora, good job with moral support!"
Sora nodded happily, a smile on his face.
Suddenly, they heard the door open.
"OK everyone, this is it! Remember, we can't let him escape," Kairi hissed.
The silver haired boy walked into the kitchen. "Um… Hello, what are you doing here?"
"Surprise!" Rikku wailed.
Riku took one look at the group, turned, and ran.
………………
"Squall I can't believe we're going to Disney World!" Rinoa was bouncing around in her seat, staring out the plane window.
"…Whatever," Was his ever so elegant reply.
Rinoa stiffened for a second, before she went back to bouncy around excitedly. "Look at all the clouds," she whispered, her face pressed against the window.
An image superimposed itself over hers. Broader shoulders, a narrow waist, and layered silver hair replaced the feminine figure of his fiancé. Leon blinked away the sensation, trying to forget the thought that had gone along with it.
I wonder what Riku would be like, sitting here next to me?
……………………
Riku struggled fruitlessly against his bonds. Duct tape was strong!
"Good job, Sephiroth," Kairi congratulated the older man. "I never thought we would catch him."
And indeed, the silver haired man had moved so quickly that Riku had barely made it to the door before he was swept off his feet and tossed over a broad shoulder. In revenge, Riku had yanked at a piece of hair. Sephiroth had spared no mercy in dropping the boy a good six feet to the ground.
"Now Riku," Yuffie began, her hands behind her back, pacing excitedly. "You're going to do as we say, do you understand?"
Riku sputtered past his gag, shaking his head violently. The wood of his chair groaned as he rocked it back and forth.
"Hmm… He doesn't seem to be in agreement," Yuffie smirked. "Rikku?"
The blonde girl wickedly held out his small stuffed Mickey, worn from age, a dagger pressed into its neck. Riku's eyes widened.
"So, do you understand Riku?" Riku nodded complacently, his hair swishing back and forth.
"Good boy," Yuffie told him, stepping back into the shadows of the darkened kitchen. Around him, Riku could hear voices and see vague forms, but he couldn't really see anyone besides Rikku.
"Now, remember Riku, as your friends, we want to help you," Kairi looked almost sinister in the candle light. Riku growled at her. She had planned this, he knew it. Sora wasn't bright enough, and the rest of them didn't really know him. When he got loose, he was going to strangle her.
"Therefore," Riku suddenly felt very scared. Kairi never said therefore unless something evil was about to happen.
"We're sending you to Disney land to get your man back."
If Riku could have, he would have groaned. Leon was not his man! He and Rinoa were the perfect couple, and Riku didn't want to stand in there way… OK, he did! But it wasn't like he stood a chance!
"However, for this mission, you will need some special equipment. Luckily, Dr.P and her assistant Rikku are here to explain those to you."
Out of the shadows stepped a tall, menacing woman, accompanied by his female namesake.
"Exhibit 1," Rikku pulled out a picture.
"As you can see, we have the classic pair of handcuffs."
Riku struggled against his bonds.
"Exhibit 2," Rikku flipped the picture.
"The purple maid's dress, as given to you by a certain mother."
"And finally, exhibits 3 and 4," Rikku smirked as she held out the last picture. Riku's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Necessary for sexual excursions, we present the latex condom and lube. As a demonstration, I will show you how to apply a condom."
Riku gagged as Paine pulled out a banana.
"And remember Riku," Rikku piped out, "the only way to avoid STDs and pregnancy," Riku glared at her, "is to practice abstinence. So always remember words of wisdom from my mother."
She cleared her throat, puffing out her chest. "You can't spell dick, without ick."
Riku swore he was going to die from mortification.
……………………
And that was how Riku found himself sitting in an airplane flying to Florida (the limp penis, as Rikku had so kindly reminded him.)
And so, when Riku opened the 'healthy snack pack' Aeris had given him and found dried, chopped up banana pieces, you can understand why he gagged and decided not to eat anything.
Riku also discovered another thing about airlines. The guy sitting next to you will always be annoying.
"Really, Riku," Riku didn't know how the guy had guessed his name, "allow yourself to be one with the darkness. Allow it to seduce you, engulf you, hypnotize you."
Riku scooted away as a large hand squeezed his upper thigh.
"Hello," the man on his other side stared at him with golden eyes.
"Hi…" Riku asked wearily. The man smiled.
"Don't worry so much," he ran a hand through Riku's hair. "This is all nothing. Everything is nothingness. Nothingness is eternal."
"Uh huh," Riku backed away, accidentally falling into the darkness freak's arms.
"So you have decided to allow the darkness into your heart?" The arms reached around to stroke his chest, working their way down his stomach.
"Allow me to posses you. When I am inside of you I can give you strength."
As his hand stroked a nipple, Riku decided he definitely did not like where this was going. He lifted a leg to move, only for it to be pinned to a seat by the other man.
"You are truly a wonderful creation born from nothingness." Golden eyes examined him.
"Remember how powerful nothingness is. Like your beauty, it will last for an eternity."
A hand stroked his inner thigh, getting dangerously close to touching his--
"banana!" Riku shouted suddenly, pushing both men off of him. "If you don't mind, I would like to eat my banana."
Grabbing his snacks, he huddled in on himself, popping pieces of dried banana into his mouth.
Suddenly, the darkness guy leaned forward, his hot breath stinging Riku's ear. "If you want, you can also eat my banana."
Riku jerked away, sinking into his seat. Why him? Why god? Why?
…………………
People stared at Leon as he and Rinoa checked into their hotel. After all, it's not everyday that you see a man in Orlando, Florida garbed fully in leather, or at least, not a sane man.
Perhaps this is why they were backing away. Though, it could also be the glare Leon was sending at everyone.
The attendant at the desk looked extremely bored. He was a thin, gangly teenager with acne problems and bright green hair. "Hello, how may I help you?"
Leon turned away as Rinoa happily handled things. Yes, this social stuff was best left to her. A scared woman with two small children passed him wearily. Leon glared, and the little girl clung to her mother's arm.
Yes, this stuff was best left to Rinoa.
…………………
Riku was on a mission.
A very important mission, he convinced himself as he spied on the happy couple from behind a trashcan.
He had to give Rinoa credit. Her outfit was acceptable. A short white summer dress with spaghetti straps clung to her slim frame, serving the dual purpose of being fashionable yet comfortably cool.
Riku sighed. He didn't even know what he was doing here? What was he supposed to do, jump out at Leon and proclaim his undying love?
As Riku stood to move, his foot kicked a pop can, which spun across the ground, hitting one Leon's leather boots.
"Crap!" Riku whispered. As if in slow motion, Leon started to turn his head. Like a trapped animal, Riku stared at his surroundings, trying desperately to find an escape. He could not allow Leon to realize that he'd been desperate enough to follow him!
Desperatly, he yanked someone's arm, pulling the unsuspecting person into a kiss.
"What is it Squall?" Rinoa asked as Riku wrapped his arms around the strangers neck, tilting his head to deepen the kiss and hide his characteristic hair. Arms grabbed him around the waist, pulling him closer.
O… K…
"Nothing… I just thought I saw… Never mind…"
Gasping for breath, Riku pulled away, staring into lustful golden eyes.
There was no way in Hell…
"I see you have embraced the darkness," the voice said, and Riku attempted to jerk from his grip, unsuccessfully. "Let us continue this elsewhere," he whispered in Riku's ear.
"Someone HELP! Rape!"
…………………
Leon's heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice.
"Hey, isn't that-" Before Rinoa could even finish her sentence, Leon was gone.
Rinoa smiled softly, following behind her fiancé at a slower pace. She didn't want to let him go, but at the same time she wanted for him to feel happy.
A frown tugged at the corner of her lips.
…………………
Leon was going to kill that brat. Leon was going to save him from whatever trouble he had managed to get himself into, and then he was going to grab the kid by the neck and slowly squeeze.
Pulling the large man off his roommate, Leon glared at him. "Get out of here," he commanded tonelessly. The man smirked at him before leaving.
"Riku!" There was a rush of brown hair, and Rinoa had pulled Riku into a giant bear hug.
"Are you okay? That man didn't do anything did he? If he did, I have some maze in my purse. I'll go after him!"
Leon just stared at the two as Riku smiled at Rinoa's antics, reassuring her that he was fine while he swept a strand of hair behind his ear.
Riku…
Riku… Was…
Riku… Was… Here…
Slowly Leon put two and two together, and then he walked up to Riku, grabbing the boy by the shoulders.
"What are you doing here?"
Riku sighed irritably. "It's not like I wanted to come. I mean, who in their right mind would want to spend time with you?"
The two roommates glared at each other, full of anger.
Yes, it was the beginning of a wonderful vacation…