Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue.

Yoru: I'm glad people like this story. It makes me happy to write it.

Kuronue: Isa and Ienzo's relationship will be explained a bit in this chapter, and more later, though Yoru's sure you've deduced what kind of relationship it was.

Yoru: Promise! Credit to xcupidxstuntx for the name of the restaurant. Thanks Emmy! Also, in their world, you don't have to be 21 to drink like you do here in the USA…because I said you don't.

Cloud walked into the laboratory, looking around until he saw a long, silvery-blue braid. He went up behind Ienzo and leaned close to his ear.

"Boo."

Ienzo jumped about a mile, and then wheeled around.

"Dammit, Cloud!" he hissed. Cloud smirked.

"Hey."

He'd been coming into the lab almost every day for about a month now. While he still hadn't gotten Ienzo to go out with him, he'd learned a lot about the other man. For example, Ienzo loved peanut-butter-and-chocolate cupcakes.

"I brought this for you. Tifa made them this morning." He set a cupcake on the desk in front of Ienzo, watching with pleasure as the scientist's eyes lit up.

"Thank you," Ienzo said, peeling a little of the wrapping down and taking a bite, "Tifa makes the best cupcakes."

Cloud chuckled, "Yes, she does. What are you up to today?"

"Xenahort thinks we've made a major breakthrough. He says that if I switch the cores of the anatomy around to here, we should be able to…" he continued, but Cloud didn't understand most of what he said. However, he did love the look of passion that came into Ienzo's already beautiful eyes when he talked about his work.

"Cloud?" Ienzo asked, suddenly sounding a bit sheepish. Cloud blinked.

"Yes?"

"I wonder…if perhaps today should be a celebration. I mean, for the breakthrough."

"Really now?" Cloud's heart started beating fast.

Ienzo scratched his chin, a gesture Cloud knew meant that he was nervous. However, he also knew that it was his cue to take the plunge.

"Well, maybe tonight you'd like to go out to dinner once you get off work," he said, trying to appear nonchalant. He smiled to himself as Ienzo blushed.

"I'd like that."

As Cloud left, Ienzo let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. He was finally allowing Cloud to take him out, and the thought made him strangely nostalgic.

"Good job, Ienzo," came a warm voice from beside his desk. He looked up into Aeleus' smiling eyes.

"Yes, well, I knew he wouldn't ask unless I gave him an opening," Ienzo replied.

"No, he wouldn't. What are you thinking about now? What you're going to wear?" Aeleus teased. Ienzo blushed deep scarlet.

"Silly idea!" he mumbled.

"Then what?" Aeleus sat across from him. Ienzo looked down.

"Isa," he muttered. Aeleus frowned.

"Ienzo…"

"I know I shouldn't, but it's so hard! It's only been a year since I left him. How do I really know that Cloud won't be the same? Isa was sweet at first too, and look how that turned out." Ienzo winced. Aeleus sighed, and then reached out and touched Ienzo's head.

"You really like Cloud, don't you?" he asked. Ienzo nodded.

"I always look for him now," he said quietly. Aeleus smiled.

"I can tell by the way you want him, specifically him, to turn out to be so sweet. Relax a little, Ienzo. Let him be sweet to you."

Ienzo was silent for a long moment.

"Aeleus."

"Yeah?"

"What should I wear?"

Cloud couldn't help it. He stared.

Ienzo had pulled the top and sides of his hair back, letting a few locks fall around his lovely face. He was wearing a dark blue silky shirt and black slacks, setting off his pale skin perfectly. His glasses were gone, leaving the clear silvery-blue of his eyes to shine out without interruption. Cloud swallowed dryly.

"You…um…you look fantastic," he said quietly. Ienzo blushed hotly.

"I'm glad you think so," he mumbled back, rubbing the back of his head. Cloud felt rather dowdy in his dark jeans and sleeveless blue shirt.

"Um, maybe we could stop by my house really quick and let me put on some slacks or something."

Ienzo laughed and put his arm through Cloud's.

"Don't worry about it. I just went on Aeleus' recommendation."

Cloud made a mental note to thank Aeleus.

"It was an awesome one," he commented, relishing the feeling of Ienzo touching him. Ienzo smiled brightly.

"I'm really glad you like it so much. It's not something I'm used to, but I knew there was something back there in my closet somewhere." Ienzo chuckled, "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere special. You want to celebrate, right?" Cloud asked with a smile.

"You better not be spoiling me too badly," Ienzo scolded. Cloud laughed.

"Only a little, I promise," he replied. Sliding his arm down until he was holding Ienzo's hand, he led him into a small, dimly lit restaurant. Ienzo blushed softly at the skin-on-skin contact, but enjoyed the feeling of Cloud's rough palm against his soft one.

"Right here. Your server will be right with you!" chirped the hostess. Cloud chuckled.

"Thanks." He turned back to Ienzo, who was looking at the décor of the beautiful restaurant. It was made of stone, draped with red velvet curtains and chandeliers. The tables were wrought iron, but covered in red tablecloths and with roses as floral arrangements. Cloud could see that Ienzo had never seen anything like it.

"You like it?"

"It's beautiful," Ienzo marveled.

"I've only been here once, but I remember it being fantastic." Cloud looked up as the waiter approached.

"Hello and welcome to the Crimson Glade. May I take your drink orders?"

Cloud smiled, "Do you drink, Ienzo?"

"Sometimes."

"A bottle of your house…" Cloud hesitated, "Red, I think."

The waiter bowed and walked away. Cloud looked at Ienzo, scratching his head.

"Was I right?"

"Actually, yes," Ienzo laughed, "I do prefer red."

Cloud breathed a sigh of relief, "I figured you'd correct me if I was wrong."

Ienzo blushed slightly, "I probably would."

"So, how old are you?" Cloud leaned his chin on his hand and gazed at Ienzo, who laughed.

"What is this, Twenty Questions?" Ienzo asked teasingly.

"I want to know," Cloud replied sullenly.

"It's fine. I'm 20, 21 in two months. How about you?" Ienzo smiled.

"23." Cloud smiled back as the wine arrived. The waiter poured two glasses, and left the bottle in a bucket of ice. Ienzo swirled the wine around in the glass before taking a sip.

"Very good," he complimented. Cloud chuckled a bit.

"I'm glad. I would have been embarrassed if you didn't like it."

"Are you ready to order, sirs?" the waiter asked. Cloud blinked.

"Oh, we haven't even opened the menus yet. Sorry." He pushed Ienzo's menu across to him and opened his own. He saw Ienzo's eyes widen.

"Cloud, I told you not to spoil…"

"I know. I just don't care. Come on, Ienzo, get whatever you want."

"But…"

"Do it or I'll force feed you," Cloud snapped playfully. He laughed as Ienzo threw a napkin at him.

"Fine." Ienzo perused the menu. Cloud smiled secretly; he loved just watching the other man. After a moment, Ienzo put the menu down. The waiter came back, pad in hand.

"Are you ready?" he asked politely. They ordered, and the waiter left just as quickly as he had come. Cloud sipped his wine as silence fell over the table. Ienzo was looking around again, occasionally sipping his wine as well.

"Are you really mad at me?" Cloud asked, smiling slightly. Ienzo sighed.

"Not really. This is a gorgeous place."

"You fit right in," Cloud said, almost without thinking. Ienzo blushed softly.

"Thank you."

They sat in silence again for a long time, until Cloud could no longer control himself.

"Really, Ienzo, you're beautiful. Even when you took that book, I thought so. But it's not only that; you're sweet and super-intelligent, too. I'm really happy that I met you." He reached across and put his hand over Ienzo's. The scientist was staring at him, emotions roiling behind his eyes.

"I'm happy I met you too," he said finally, smiling. Cloud felt like a weight was lifted off of his shoulders at that smile.

"Then we'll be fine, won't we?" he said, twining his fingers with Ienzo. The scientist nodded, squeezing Cloud's hand.