Chapter Nine---Complicated

Leon awoke with an armful of Riku. It was strange...but nice. He slipped out of the boys grasp and got ready for work. He wondered about the night before. Had he gone to far? Too fast? The boy on the bed slept peacfully, putting Leon at ease for the moment.

Leon left on a note on the counter, put on his coat and left quietly. As soon as the door shut, Zexion shot up and bolted into Leon's room. Riku lay sprawled out on the bed, shirtless. That didn't bother him. Riku never slept with a shirt on. It didn't appear as anything had happened.

Zexion had seen the way Leon looked at his brother. It bothered him. Not because he distrusted Leon (well, not completely) but because Riku was vunerable, however much he denied it.

After getting his clothes out of the dryer, Zexion helped himself to som cereal. Leon said he could. He also said not be late for school OR work and he'd be a bit late to night so if they could make dinner, that would be great. There was money on the table for lunch if they needed it. Zexion smiled ever so slightly and woke his brother.

"Come on, we need to go to school. Leon said." Riku muttered something rather nasty under his breath but woke up anyways.

"Riku!!!!! Zexion!!!" Sora bounded over to them, a huge smile on his face. Riku smiled back. Axel wandered over slowly, only half as curious as his little brother.

"Where have you been, I've been calling and calling and then your mom started screaming at me. You she's not very nice to people on the phone, I only wanted to know if you were home." Dread coiled in Riku stomach.

"We stayed at Leon's last night. It's a long story. Look, if she calls you, you haven't seen us or heard from us, ok?" Sora frowned, tilting his head sideways.

"But--" Zexion cut him off.

"You haven't heard from us Sora." Sora smiled at the taller boy and nodded. Axel looked at Riku long and hard. Something wasn't right with this. Not right at all. But the more he looked at Riku, the more he saw someone else.

Someone named Prelude.

"Open the door!!!!" Trista yanked open the door and glared at the man before her. It was that Loire fool. Why the fuck was he--

"I want Riku and Zexion's things." Trista stared at him. He had to be kidding. Like hell she was going to just give them up.

"No. Bring them home. Where are they?" Leon scowled at her.

"Pack their things Trista. Or I'll do it for you." She dug around in the closet and threw two duffles bags at him. This was not going the way she planned.

"Tell me where they are Loire." Leon turned, cast one last icy glare at her and left.

Dammit! Stupid brats...where the hell could they be?! Adora said she didn't know anything about it but she'd ask Sora or Axel...Maybe Seifer knows...

"Seifer? It's Trista..." Trista sniffled pitifully into the phone, appearing distraught and helpless.

"Riku and Zexion ran away. I can't find them. Have they talked to you?"

"Oh...I see, if you hear from him, please call me. Thank you Seifer." Trista smiled, proud of herself. That idiot Seifer would tell her, if only because he truly believed Riku to be in danger.

Pathetic.

Leon couldn't focus.After he got his little encounter with Trista over with, his mind kept drifitng to a certain silverhaired somebody with full lips and a lithe body. He was never that bold. Ever. It just wasn't him.

But the way Riku looked so alone and helpless...Leon couldn't help but want to make the fear in his eyes go away. And he couldn't help but think that Riku was going to be freaked out. So it'd be best if he let Riku make the next move.

Right?

A.n: Woot! Review!!!!

Jaques-lefrou: I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far!!!

Nicolo: The good stuff continues to roll. Don't worry, some humor will be in the next chapter. Hopefully this chappie and 8 met expectations!

Kiba: The update!!!! So now you know Seifer didn't do it for money, but; Le Gasp! What's going on?! What will happen to our boys next?! I don't even know.

Finem: Thanks for catching that mix up in the last chapter!!! You're a life saver. Enjoi chappie nine!

Fullmetal: Chapter nine, just like I promised. Hope you like!