Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue.

Yoru: Hello!

Kuronue: You don't have anything to say, do you?

Yoru: Nope!

Ienzo fished around in his mailbox in the break room.

Report, report, assignment, report… he thought as he pulled papers out. Suddenly his hand alighted on an envelope. He pulled it out, staring at it. The handwriting was unfamiliar. Shrugging, he opened it and read the note inside.

Dear Ienzo,

I'm sorry I scared you. I didn't realize that I was coming on too strong. All I could think about while we were talking was that I want to get to know you better. I wish I'd gone about it a different way, because now you don't even want to get coffee in the lobby with me. However, I still want to come visit you at work sometimes, where there are people around and you can bolt if you want to. If that's okay with you, you can tell Aeleus and he'll tell me. He was very helpful in discovering why you were afraid, and I'm grateful to him for it. Don't worry – he didn't give me any details. Please accept my sincerest apologies for my conduct.

Sincerely,

Cloud

Ienzo considered the note dubiously. Cloud sounded sincere, but it was a note, so Ienzo couldn't really tell. Should he allow the almost-stranger to get close?

"Ienzo, you've been standing there for a good ten minutes," Aeleus' deep voice said from behind him. Ienzo turned and glared at him.

"You talked to Cloud?"

"He was really hurt, Ienzo. You shot him down pretty hard."

"Well, he's not exactly tactful," Ienzo grumbled, sliding the note back into the envelope. Aeleus frowned.

"He's much more tactful than Xenahort."

Ienzo stiffened, "You know nothing about that."

"I know that he touches you inappropriately, Ienzo. Cloud kept him from doing so earlier. If he's part of the reason you're afraid to get close to people…"

"He has nothing to do with it. Mr. Xenahort's…advances are a fairly recent development."

"Kind of like the light bulb," Aeleus snapped sarcastically as Ienzo growled at him, "Ienzo, just let the guy try."

"I don't want a relationship."

"You have to get over Isa, Ienzo. He isn't worth it." Aeleus hesitated, and then put a hand on Ienzo's shoulder.

"I've just barely gotten to the point where I don't flinch when someone touches me, Aeleus. I'm not ready yet."

"Cloud will be patient. He is very interested in getting to know you better. He won't push for a relationship until he's sure you're both ready."

"How can you be sure?"

Aeleus smiled, "I just am. I want you to be happy, Ienzo. Even if it's not with me."

He pulled the smaller man into his arms and hugged him, feeling him tense up. Slowly, Ienzo relaxed into the gentle embrace.

"Thank you, Aeleus."

"No problem."

Cloud waited outside for a long time before Aeleus' familiar bulk approached him.

"Well? What did he say?"

Aeleus handed him a piece of paper. Swallowing, Cloud opened it and read the single word in the middle.

Okay.