Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue.
Yoru: Well, everyone seems rather curious about Isa, so I guess I'll shed some light on that subject.
Kuronue: Are you going to throw rape into this story?
Yoru: You know.
Kuronue: Right. Okay. This chapter contains mentions of abuse and rape.
Ienzo's lunch with Cloud was perfect. Cloud kissed him afterward before dropping him off at work again, where he wandered around in a daze. Aeleus noticed, of course, and pestered him until he shook him off at his office.
Ienzo leaned against the wall, sighing. He eyed the paperwork on his desk, frowning as he realized he had to finish it all before he could leave that day.
"I heard you had a lunch date," came a deep voice from the door. Ienzo froze, recognizing his boss' voice.
"Yes. With my boyfriend," he said quickly, hoping to dissuade Xenahort. The silver-haired man cocked his head innocently.
"I thought he was your cousin. It did appear to be him when he dropped you off," he said nonchalantly.
"I wasn't comfortable with referring to him as my boyfriend when you met him before. Now I do."
"I see." Xenahort moved closer to Ienzo, who unconsciously moved backward, "Well, I came to inform you that Isa returned to town today. I know your relationship ended badly, so I wanted to warn you."
Ienzo's eyes widened, and he grabbed the desk for support.
"Isa…?" he whispered. Xenahort nodded, approaching him and helping him into his chair.
"I'm afraid so. Ienzo, perhaps Aeleus should take you home. The paperwork can wait."
Ienzo's foggy brain barely registered Xenahort's uncharacteristic kindness. All he could think of was Isa, the pain he'd caused.
"I…I want to call Cloud," he stammered. Xenahort nodded and handed him the phone.
Cloud was in the middle of lifting some lumber for Leon when his phone rang. He put the wood down and picked up, seeing that it was Ienzo.
"Hey," he started, but was immediately interrupted.
"Cloud…come get me, please…"
The despair in Ienzo's voice had Cloud running for Fenrir.
"Ienzo, I'm coming, okay? I'm coming right now." He closed his phone and turned to Leon.
"I'm sorry. I have to go get…"
"It's all right, Cloud. Go," Leon said, waving him off. Cloud smiled and took off, heading for Xenahort's offices. Upon arrival, he left Fenrir running and ran inside. Aeleus met him there.
"Ienzo's in his office. He locked himself in."
Cloud hurried to Ienzo's office, sighing at the closed door. He knocked.
"Ienzo?" he called. The lock clicked, and Ienzo's red-rimmed eyes stared out at him.
"Cloud?" he whispered.
"Yeah, I'm here. Come on," Cloud said, taking Ienzo's hand and leading him out to Fenrir. He could see that Ienzo was very jumpy, so he gently lifted the younger man onto his bike.
"Your place?" he asked, climbing on in front of Ienzo. The blunette shook his head, wrapping his arms tightly around Cloud's waist.
"Mine, then," Cloud said, and at no response from Ienzo, he sped off toward his little apartment. It didn't take long for them to reach it, and Cloud ended up practically carrying Ienzo up the stairs. He wondered what could have happened to make his little boyfriend so frightened. He situated Ienzo on his couch, making some tea and pushing it into the scientist's hands.
"Now, please tell me what's wrong," he said. Ienzo looked at him, eyes a bit glazed over.
"Isa's back," he murmured. Cloud didn't have to ask to know that Isa was the reason Ienzo had avoided him for so long.
"Are you afraid he'll come back for you?" he asked. Ienzo nodded.
"He'll want his plaything back," he muttered bitterly. Cloud reached over to touch Ienzo's hand.
"I won't let him have you," he promised. Ienzo stared at him for a long moment.
"He beat me," he said quietly. Cloud frowned – so Isa was an abusive ex-boyfriend.
"He hurt me so badly…so many times. Like I didn't have feelings. Like I was a doll. He was so sweet at first, buying me things and taking me out. And then, when I moved in with him…he just started hitting me for the littlest things. I tried to leave him one night…and he…he…" Ienzo's voice trailed off, and he started to shake. Cloud moved to the couch, taking the tea out of Ienzo's hands and pulling him into an embrace.
"He didn't…" he whispered.
"R-raped me…" Ienzo started crying then, sobbing into Cloud's chest. Cloud didn't know what to do; anger threatened to eat him on the inside, even as his heart shattered with each sob.
"Oh, Ienzo…" he murmured, soothing the man with his voice. Ienzo only continued to cry, memories far too painful invading his mind. Cloud had never encountered a rape victim; he had no idea what to do except hold Ienzo and hope he calmed down.
"I'm not going to let him get you. I'm not. I'll protect you," he murmured, tightening his hold. Ienzo's sobs slowly subsided as Cloud's warm presence comforted him.
"…still scared," he whispered, clutching Cloud's shirt in his fist.
"I know. It's okay, it makes sense. Just try to remember that I have a very large sword and many friends with guns that I will happily make off with to use in killing this guy." Cloud was gratified to see a small smile flit across Ienzo's face at the comment.
"Thank you, Cloud. I don't know what I'd do without you," the blunette whispered, nuzzling Cloud's chest. Cloud smiled.
"I could come back with something really cocky, but instead I'll be sweet. You'll never have to be without me if you don't want to be."