Title: Priceless
Summary: Leon is a freshman in college with dyslexia, and his new Victorian Literature professor, Dr. Sephiroth, doesn't make things any easier for him. Desperate to help, Cloud considers Sephiroth's offer to pass Leon, but not without a price from Cloud. LC, RS, SephyCloud
A/N: Merry early Christmas, guys! I made it a bit longer as a treat to all the readers who enjoy this fic! Thanks for your support!
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"…And THEN, I scored the winning goal! It was pretty sweet. Now even the captain acknowledges me!"
Cloud groaned. "Sora…not now. I have such a headache."
"Hey, let the kid gloat. He deserves it." Riku came up from behind Sora and nipped at his ear.
"Not in front of my brother, Riku!" Sora pulled away, annoyed. "I have to find Selphie and tell her anyway." He left the room, leaving Riku to stare at a depressed Cloud.
"So…how's life?" The silver-haired boy ventured.
"Wonderful." The blonde replied dully.
"Oh yea? Sure looks to be that way." Riku opened the case he had in hand and pulled out his prized trumpet. A jazzy blues tune began flowing lazily down the dorm halls.
"Are you begging for money or what? I said I had a headache. My head is throbbing." Cloud sat up and crossed the room, clutching onto the sides of his head.
"Alright, alright. Geez, if you can't appreciate some background music." Riku put his trumpet away.
Reaching into the refrigerator, Cloud pulled out a carton, plopping down on his bed and curling up against the wall.
"What are you doing?" Riku asked idly.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Who eats ice-cream in the winter?"
Cloud shoved a spoonful of the cold treat into his mouth. "It makes me feel good." He muttered.
Riku raised an eyebrow. "Sex feels good. Does that mean you should go around screwing any who's willing?" Riku pointed out.
The blonde threw a venomous glare at the silver-haired boy. "Shut the hell up."
"Getting a bit touchy there aren't you?" Riku teased. "Is there something that I should know about?"
Cloud stood up.
"Hmm, perhaps you're screwing around with someone on the side?" Riku speculated. "Is Leon not doing his part? He ought to know better, huh? It's alright Cloud. I'll have a nice long chat with—!"
Blood trickled freely from his nose, as Riku clung to his right eye, which was smarting sharply with pain.
"Cloud? Riku?" Leon had just returned to the room, glancing at a seething Cloud and an equally irate Riku.
"Shit, Cloud. What the fuck was that for? Can't you take a goddamn JOKE?" Riku retorted, standing up abruptly while messily wiping the blood from his nose.
"Well then let me do you a favor and tell you that you're not funny."
"Fuck yo—."
"Riku…" Leon's voice interrupted firmly. "Don't provoke him. You know he's not feeling well."
Riku stormed out of the room, still clutching to his nose, with a nasal, "Hmph."
Cloud slumped back down on the bed, ignoring the melting carton of ice cream which he had set aside on the edge of his desk. Leon sat down next to him and awkwardly reached up to brush a strand of hair that had strayed out of position.
"What did Riku say to you?" Leon asked softly. Cloud only looked away with downcast eyes. "Well, doesn't matter. Let's just forget about it, alright?"
Warm lips found themselves tracing the surface of Cloud's features. His breathing hastened.
"Don't…" The blonde sniffed. "You'll get sick too."
Leon smirked as he traveled down the vulnerable skin of the neck, stopping at the collar bone. "I would suffer a worse predicament if you asked me to stop now." Cloud breathed in sharply as Leon briefly sucked on the tender skin before kissing him on the corner of his mouth and drawing back. "But you need to rest."
Cloud slowly smiled. "You're so cute when you want to be." He remarked slyly. Leon tossed the comforter at the blonde's head. Cloud made himself comfortable and shifted onto his side, facing the wall.
Moments later, tranquil, heavy breaths set the rhythm of the room. It was only then that Leon noticed the puddle that had formed beneath the carton of vanilla ice cream.
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A few weeks later…
"So basically, the protagonists always win out in the end." Zidane was sitting against the oak tree with a notebook resting on his lap. The air was a bit chilly, and it had him breathing into a scarf.
Leon nodded. "They tended to be rather picturesque. Hard work and perseverance is all you needed, apparently." He was wearing his normal clothes and didn't seem cold at all, except for the pair of leather gloves he sported on each hand.
"And at the end of the day, the bad guys are punished, the good guys end up with their true love, and all is gay and well." Cloud yawned, trying to snuggle his way into Leon's neck.
"Well, that's how it mostly was up to the point that Dickens died." Leon pointed out, while pushing the blonde away.
Zidane frowned, deciding to ignore the two. "And somehow, this was supposed to help you become a good Victorian."
"Sure. It encourages morals and work ethic, I guess." Discouraged by Leon's actions, Cloud scribbled some notes down as he shrugged.
"Well screw that. I don't think any of us are that naïve." The agile, dirty-blonde haired boy jumped up and stretched. "Time for our favorite class."
As Sephiroth walked around the room, lecturing to the class, Cloud did his best to avoid eye contact with the professor. Even as he felt the ominous presence halt next to him and continue to lecture, he stared down intently at his notes.
"Sex scandal is a Victorian phenomenon, but anyone within range of the mass media today needs hardly be told that it is not only Victorian." His voice echoed through the silent lecture hall.
A hand casually rested on the edge of Cloud's desk. Mindlessly, blue eyes wandered to glance at the clean and neatly trimmed nails.
"For example, what if I were to tell you that Mr. Strife and I were in an affair?" Sephiroth reached to cup Cloud's chin suggestively before letting go. Several students sniggered. "Even if, as we often imagine, we have become inured to hearing news about sex, we are still shocked—or, at least, we are told that others are shocked—by sexual disclosures. Media reports insist that the public is outraged by the revelation of sexual secrets not necessarily because…"
Cloud remained stunned for the remainder of the class, dumbfounded towards Sephiroth's shamelessness. Once or twice, he met eyes with Leon for a fleeting moment before looking away. He could tell that Leon was irritated—not with him, but with Sephiroth.
As the class concluded, Sephiroth began handing back papers. Nervously, Cloud peered over at Leon as he received his assignment.
"A-." Leon mouthed to himself, a bit surprised.
Relief whelmed up inside of Cloud. He could tell that the brunette was pleased with himself.
Cloud found a paper placed on his desk and his spirits were dampened. The grade was not important. What was written under it was.
I wish to discuss something with you after class. Please see me.
"Let's go." He looked up to find Leon waiting next to him. Instantly, he felt his insides begin to wither.
"Sephiroth wants to see me about something." He said, giving Leon a helpless look. Hostility flamed up behind those grey, turbulent eyes. "It probably won't be for long. We can still eat lunch together. I'll meet you back in our room, okay?"
Hesitantly, Leon agreed and began to leave. Cloud watched as the brunette's slender form, clad in black leather, stepped out of the room. Sighing to himself, he stood up and headed for Sephiroth's office down the hall.
Turning the knob, he opened the door and stepped in, finding himself slammed against the door in no time, shutting it in the process. Sephiroth slowly closed in Cloud's lips, his hands inching up the sides of Cloud's hips, and his eyes filled with greedy lust. Their lips briefly and lightly touched before Sephiroth backed away.
"Just kidding." He said with a chuckle. Cloud remained glued to the door as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. "Did I scare you too much, perhaps? You're as a pale as a ghost."
"What do you want, Sephiroth?"
Half an hour later, Cloud found himself staring at Sephiroth's house once again. Only this time, there were little Christmas lights strung around the rooftop and bushes. Some candy canes lined the sidewalk.
"Zack put those up." Sephiroth noted. "I would never waste my time on such nonsense."
The two entered the house, and instinctively, Cloud headed for the living room. During the past few weeks, he had been here numerous times, and Sephiroth had not once made any sexual advances since the first. Usually, they would enjoy a meal or two, talk, or watch something on television. Whatever they did, Cloud found it odd and slightly unnerving that he was holding such normal activities with Sephiroth.
But then again, he's only human and humans need to eat. Cloud thought, as a spoonful of soup entered his mouth.
And…humans need to piss, too. Cloud contemplated, as he witnessed Sephiroth entering the bathroom.
"What do you think?" Sephiroth asked, as he sat down across from Cloud.
"Hm?" Sephiroth motioned towards the small plates of food sitting before them. "Oh, it's good, as usual." Cloud said truthfully.
"You know," Sephiroth sighed exasperatedly. "As a scholar of English, I wish you'd eradicate such words from your vocabulary."
"Oh come on, Sephiroth! Who the hell uses 'eradicate' in daily speech." Cloud rolled his eyes. "It's just how we talk nowadays. Speech is different from writing."
"Perhaps so, but it may also indicate your education. They say that the youth are degenerating." Sephiroth as he brought a fish ball to his mouth.
"Yea? And who's they?" The blonde munched on some broccoli. Sephiroth shrugged. "So you are full of bs."
"Once in awhile, when it's unavoidable." Sephiroth replied in good humor.
A ring tone interrupted their lunch, causing Sephiroth to reach into his pocket and pick up the call.
"Hello?" Came his smooth voice. He stood up and paced around for a few minutes, as Cloud glanced up at him between every few bites. He watched as those fine silver eyebrows wrinkled in displeasure and intense emerald eyes grew hard and cold. The delicate lips were cruel and slightly pink against his pale skin. Flipping the phone shut, Sephiroth turned to Cloud. "It's unfortunate, but I'll have to run out for awhile."
"Should I leave too?" Cloud asked, standing up.
"No. I'll be back soon enough." The blonde sat back down as he watched Sephiroth prepare to leave. "Oh, one more thing." Sephiroth came towards Cloud and captured his chin in one hand, bending down to press his lips to Cloud's. He could feel a tongue intrude, exploring the crevices of his mouth. Cloud submitted without a struggle, and if there was anything that Sephiroth could do, he could force a response out of the spiky-haired young man. Cloud had only begun to move his lips against Sephiroth's when the tall man pulled back and smiled thinly. "There was broccoli between your teeth." He pointed out, and left.
Slightly embarrassed, Cloud quickly finished up and brought his dishes and silverware to the sink, running them under water. He stepped into the bathroom to check his teeth to make sure there was nothing there. After having thoroughly examined his teeth, he wondered about what he was to do before Sephiroth returned.
He caught sight of the stairs and he stood at the bottom, staring up into the abyss of the unknown. Why not explore a bit?
Cloud made his way up the stairs, enjoying the feel of the thick carpet under his toes. There were three closed doors in the small hallway upstairs. He decided to open the first door on the right.
"Hm…a guest room?" Cloud guessed, as he looked about the barren room with nothing but a bed and a dresser. He closed the door and checked the next room. It appeared to be a study that had not been in use for awhile. There were piles of books and papers on the desks that overflowed onto the floors. Closing the door once again, Cloud frowned as he walked towards the remaining room. I thought Zack was living with him.
He entered the last room to find that it was more spacious than the previous two. There was a king-size bed on one side of the room and on the opposite side, it was lined with mirrors the spanned the entire width and length of the wall. There were two walk-in closets, both filled with clothes and there was also a decent-sized bathroom with two sinks, a Jacuzzi and a shower stall.
He blushed as he came to the conclusion that Sephiroth and Zack must have been sleeping in the same room. The size of the bedroom and the bed itself was enough evidence. Does this mean they're lovers? Cloud frowned, as he looked about in drawers. Sephiroth and Zack didn't seem to like keeping any pictures around.
He sat down on the bed, and eventually laid down on it, feeling the surface of the black, cool comforter against his face. It was soft, and it smelled clean. Cloud wondered about the sort of activities that went on in this particular bed. He could hear the clock mounted on the wall, steadily announcing the seconds as they ticked by. Lost in comfort, a wave of lethargy overtook his senses, and he decided to lie on his back for a few more minutes.
Just a few more minutes…
When Cloud awoke, he propped himself up on his elbows, confused over where he was. It was Sephiroth that jolted him out of a sleepy daze, as Cloud felt himself being pushed back down onto the comforter.
"Really, Mr. Strife. The positions you put yourself in…" Sephiroth murmured as he kissed the side of Cloud's neck.
Damn. He was right. The bed was possibly the worst and most suggestive place that Cloud could have been. He turned his head away and caught the sight of his reflection in the mirror—a reflection of Sephiroth hovering over his body like a predator and relishing in his catch.
Cloud closed his eyes. He didn't want it again. He didn't want Sephiroth's hands wandering past the waistline of his pants. Lightly, he pushed the man's hands away and tried to sit up.
"It's…kind of late." Cloud said. And this was true, as it was already dark outside. Sephiroth's eyes remained on him like vigilant cat.
"So it is." He did not budge.
"So…I should really be getting back." Cloud ran a hand through his blonde hair, attempting to tidy up. Finally, Sephiroth climbed off of him and Cloud swung his legs over the edge of the bed, standing up. "Do you uhm…do you and Zack sleep in the same room?"
The silver-haired man merely looked at Cloud. "Yes, we do. Does it disturb you?"
"No, not particularly…I guess. It would just be weird if we…you know…on this bed."
Smirking knowingly, Sephiroth dismissed the subject. As Cloud left the house, he saw that the Christmas lights were now lit up, illuminating the house in the dimness of the night.
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Leon turned as he heard the doorknob turn. Cloud walked in, dumping his schoolbag on the ground. He looked up to see Leon glancing blankly at him.
"Oh…ohhh." Cloud groaned. "Shit. I'm so sorry, Leon."
"What happened, Cloud? Don't tell me Sephiroth kept you for this long."
"No, he didn't." Cloud said quickly. "It was just that…I had something to do."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Way to keep secrets. It's not the first time you've blown me off, you know? Why do you disappear for hours at a time like this?"
"Look, I'm sorry, babe." Cloud crossed the room and cupped Leon's face in his hands, kissing him on the forehead.
Leon sighed. "That doesn't make up for anything. What kind of a conclusion am I supposed to draw from all this, other than the obvious?"
Blue eyes widened. "I'm not cheating, Leon." The blonde said seriously.
"Then I don't understand why it still seems like you're trying to hide something. What am I to think?" The brunette took Cloud's hand.
"I promise, it's nothing." Cloud insisted softly.
Leon was at conflict with himself. Knowing the blonde's character, he knew that Cloud was not one to lie or be unfaithful, yet his behavior was suspicious. The problem was that if he was doing neither of those things, what was he doing then?
"I don't know, Cloud." Leon said thoughtfully. "For one thing, when did you start wearing cologne?" Cloud was startled. Apparently there were traces of Sephiroth's scent on his clothes and his skin. Leon frowned when Cloud was slow to answer. "I think…that I need some time alone. Either that, or you come clean." He released Cloud's hand and turned to stare at his laptop.
Backing away, Cloud knew that he couldn't reveal anything to Leon, but he also had no other explanation to present. His hesitation had already planted serious doubt in Leon and he knew that it gnawed away at the brunette.
"Leon…you know that I…that I really like you, right? I'd never hurt you on purpose."
"I know, Cloud." Leon replied quietly.
Before he knew it, Cloud had left the room. Leon was left to ponder over Cloud's words.
Unsure of where to turn, Cloud was drawn to the sound of classical guitar tunes that drifted from down the dim hall. He walked towards it and found Demyx sitting out in the hallway and strumming on his prized guitar.
"Hey Cloud." The blonde-haired youth greeted casually. Cloud slid down against the wall to sit down across from Demyx.
"Hi." He said glumly.
"You okay?" Demyx asked, as he continued to play.
"No, not really." Cloud admitted.
"Well uh…maybe some music will do you good." Demyx suggested.
"Demyx!" Cloud said all of a sudden, half-scaring the musician. "I'm trying to do something to help someone I really like…but I can't tell them what I'm doing, or else it'll really upset them. But if I stop doing it, that person might suffer. I feel like what I'm doing is really wrong, though."
"Huh? Wuh? Wait, say that again?" Demyx was thoroughly perplexed.
"I don't know what to do, Demyx. It's really driving me insane! You always see these kinds of situations on soap operas or dramas…and you always think to yourself, 'Damn! That girl or guy is such an idiot! Why can't they just confess? It's not that hard!' You never actually think it'd happen to you in real life though. It's definitely harder to be in the situation than to be on the outside observing it." Cloud leaned his head against the wall.
"Hmm, well. That sounds like a real tough one. Sorry, man. I don't watch soap operas, so I don't think I can help you there." Demyx said regretfully. "If it helps, I've seen lots of rock band interviews. They always talk about how nervous they are before their first show but when once they get out there, they just rock it all out!"
"Uh…it didn't really have anything to do with what I was talking about, but thanks, Demyx." Cloud said. He stood up and pointed at Demyx's room. "Do you mind if I sleep over in your room tonight?"
"Hm…well, sure why not? Axel and Roxas are in there studying right now though, so just be quiet."
Cloud opened the door to find Axel diligently studying the anatomy of Roxas, kissing each body part as he passed by it. The pair looked up.
"Uh…sorry?" Axel offered, as Demyx was horrified to discover that the two were on his bed.
Leaving the three to argue, Cloud made himself comfortable on the ground, preferring to steal Demyx's spare pillow and blankets over Axel's. He fell asleep to the sound of indistinct voices that swirled around and over his head.
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The next morning, Cloud had just taken a shower and returned to his room. After all, he still needed his own clothes and all. He briefly met eyes with Leon when he came into the room before looking away. Leon's gaze lingered, however, as Cloud had nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
Cloud stood innocently before the mirror, tending to his hair.
I know he's not trying to tempt me…He's too naïve to think of that. Leon tried to look away.
Minutes later, Cloud found a pair of hands wrapped around his waist. He looked at Leon in the mirror, who was leaning over his shoulder.
"Does this mean you're not upset, anymore?" Cloud questioned.
"I thought about it for a bit. And you're right. I know you'd never try to hurt me. You don't have it in you to hurt anyone." He paused. "Except for Riku, maybe, but that's understandable." He joked, nuzzling Cloud in the neck. "I won't ask anymore questions for now, but I hope you know what you're doing."
Cloud turned his head to meet with Leon's lips. He would never have Leon find out about Sephiroth, he resolved. The semester would conclude soon. Leon would receive a decent grade. And that would be the end of it.
Leon pulled Cloud backwards, leading the blonde towards his bed. Cloud found himself on his back, only this time, it was truly Leon who was kissing him. There was no need to pretend.
Cloud took one of Leon's gloved hands and pulled the leather glove off, kissing Leon's bare fingers, and then placed two fingers in his mouth, sucking at them gently. Highly aroused, Leon was driven by his hormones to pull at the towel wrapped around Cloud's hips.
"Ah…wait!" Cloud protested. Leon stopped.
"If you're not ready…" Cloud blushed hotly, and the brunette kissed him with assurance.
"Sort of…but also…it's just…I don't want to be the only one with nothing on…"
Leon slipped out of his black shirt and removed his belt. The leather pants took awhile to pull off, but it was soon accomplished, leaving Cloud to stare obscenely, as it was the first time that he hadn't seen Leon without anything on. It was always very clear as to how well-endowed Leon was, however, with or without the tight leather pants.
"You don't wear anything under those pants." Cloud remarked.
"Is that so wrong?" Leon smirked as he dove to access what was beneath Cloud's towel.
Although it had only been one experience with Sephiroth, Cloud was able to compare the two. Leon enjoyed taking his time, and with each touch, kiss or lick, it would leave his skin in flames. His slowness showed sensitivity, passion that was held back for Cloud's sake, but barely—it was almost artful.
Cloud's fingers clawed into the muscles in Leon's back, which rippled as Leon moved his head back and forth, causing Cloud to arc his back sharply with every movement. He pulled him closer—Cloud, desperate with need, and Leon, desperate to fulfill it.
The game quickly ended, leaving Leon to lick his fingers. Cloud made a face.
"You're quite a pervert. I can't believe you'd actually swallow that stuff."
Leon rolled his eyes. "I'm just trying to keep my sheets clean. Besides, you don't even know what it tastes like."
"And I'd rather not." Cloud replied, as he rested his hands on the part of Leon that was throbbing with want. He pressed his lips against it and opened his mouth to engulf it, only to fail.
"My mouth is too small." Cloud complained.
"No, I'm just too much of a man for you to handle." The brunette was amused.
Meanwhile, a certain silver-haired man was on his way to interrupt the sexual antics of the pair.
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Chapter 5 finished! I would REALLY love some feedback and know what you guys are thinking. Did you enjoy it? Is there something that you don't like or wish for me to improve? Reviews are also very motivating, as you writers must know, so it would be awesome if you would do just that.
Just to make one thing clear, Cloud is still a virgin. Perhaps I was a bit subtle about it, but if you go back and read the SephyxCloud scene, Sephy is basically giving Cloud a blowjob. xD More to be explained in the next chapter!
I would also just like to cite part of Sephiroth's lecture about scandals. It's from: wwwvictorianweborg/genre/literaryovhtml
Lastly, I have a newly released KH fic out called Melodrama Queen. So if you any of you like AxelxRoxas, please do check it out.
- EDIT: Demyx's hair color corrected. Thanks to kamakazi-watermelons--nice catch! I must've been thinking about his blue guitar. : )
Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!