Cloud shuffled around the kitchen, cleaning dishes, humming off tune in the now empty apartment. He shook his head as he picked up Reno's plate from that morning, covered in half eaten, burnt looking pancakes. Just as he moved to put the plate in the sink, a flash of black leather caught Cloud's eye. It was Reno's black, leather bound journal.

Now, knowing Reno, it was odd for him to own something so sleek and refined looking—but it most definitely belonged to him. He never let the thing out of his sight, and was often seen writing in it at odd times, especially when he was supposed to be doing paperwork. Cloud attempted to raise an eyebrow, face ending up looking smooshed and confused. He sat down at the table, fingers ghosting over the smooth black leather, toying with the idea of reading the contents. 'I mean, it's just a journal. Nothing out of the ordinary, right?'

He opened the first page, reading over the scrawly handwriting carefully.

Musings of a Redhead

Cloud again made another feeble attempt at an eyebrow arch. 'Musings of a Redhead?' Cloud snorted at the title, smirking. 'Nice one, Reno.' Cloud flipped through a few more pages of drabble, mostly about work, bitching about Tseng and Rufus moaning loudly in the office, mundane little things like that—until he saw his name, written on a single line of a page: a one lined entry….

I think I'm in love with Cloud.

Cloud's eyes widened slightly, flipping over more pages, wondering what else the redhead had written in this thing. Cloud's eyebrows furrowed, seeing Reno struggle with his feelings, write about Cloud finding him in that bathroom, about Rufus teasing him, about him working through trying to figure out what was really going on in Cloud's head.

Cloud sighed, feeling a bit guilty for putting Reno through all of these steps. He knew he was complicated, and sometimes a flat out mess, but he valued every minute that Reno spent chipping away at his emotional walls. For the first time in a long time, he was really happy, right where he was. He felt loved again.

Cloud flipped to the more recent pages, gawking at Reno's occasional explicit descriptions of their sex life, getting a little bit flustered. He flipped further on, eyes widening, mouth growing into a smirk, finding the last entry. It was a letter, written to him, from Reno.

Cloud,

I know I'm never going to send this, because…well, honestly because I'm scared shitless what you'd think of me. Have I gone all soft and cuddly? What the fuck happened to the Reno Sinclair we used to love to hate? You killed him.

The minute I really took a good look at you, I wanted you. I'd never really lusted after something like I did after you. Only problem was, you were near unattainable. I tried my hardest to get on your good side, while still being the ever obnoxious, intruding redhead that I am.

The first time I kissed you, I think my brain shut off. Now, given that I kinda sorta forced myself on you, I probably wasn't thinking in the first place—but it was so good. It felt perfect. Weirdest thing was, you were kissing me back. You wanted me, too. Fate was finally on my side, right?

Our first time was unplanned…most definitely. I had no idea why I showed up at your place, other than I couldn't stay away. All I wanted was to make you mine and mine alone. It was dirty, and messy and sweaty—and it was perfect.

Falling in love with you…that wasn't part of the plan either. I mean, me falling for the Cloud Strife? What kind of bullshit is that? That's what I kept telling myself, when I first realized it. How would this ever work out?

Somehow, I think we've got luck and fate on our side. Well, besides the whole near death experiences and things like that. Pretty much, Cloud, I love you more than anything in the world, and all I ever want is to wake up next to you every morning. I hope, maybe, one day, I can have the nerve to give this to you, and really let you know that's how I feel. Until then, I'm content to just whisper it into your ear when you're asleep, like I usually do: I love you, Cloud. You are my world.

Love,

Reno.

Cloud's heart beat quickly in his chest, re-reading the note, eyes wide. 'This…Reno wrote this? He really loves me that much?' Cloud's eyebrows arched high, a soft smile on his lips as he read over the last few sentences repeatedly, soaking in the words, memorizing them. Suddenly, a soft gasp sounded in front of him, followed by a growl.

"Cloud, you better not be doing what I think you're doing." Reno's voice rang out sharply into the silence of the kitchen. Cloud's head snapped up, looking into green-blue eyes. He immediately, without thinking, kissed the redhead in front of him, trying to show all of his love and passion through his lips. Tongues caressed and explored, hands stroked and massaged, voices joined in low moans. Pulling back slowly, Cloud leaned his forehead against Reno's.

"Reno…" He said softly, mulling over the right words. Reno merely opened his eyes, watching him carefully at their close range. Cloud smiled, knowing that the perfect words were ones he had just recently memorized; only needing to be whispered softly, lovingly.

"I love you, Reno. You are my world."

A/n: Creeeedit for le inspiration goes to our lovely Toons. See, I've always thought of this as a kind of journal-esque thing as well, one that either contains things that Reno's written about, or stories that he will enter into his journal. Cloud finally gets a look into Reno's head, and it ended up hella hella fluffy. But hey, who doesn't like fluff every once and a while, ne? Next chapter...mmm...Next chapter may well be lemony...to the tune of Reno and Cloud's first time together:claps hands: Yes, yes, I know I haven't done it yet, and there hasn't been a citrusy chapter in a while. So look out for it, my lovelies!

Much love,
Bo