Chapter 2: Smile Like You Mean It

"Morning."

Leon grunted from his coffee, newspaper in hand. He was not crabby per say, but last night had been a bit rough. Thankfully, Sora had woken up early and coffee had been waiting for him. That was about the only thing Sora was really good at, making coffee.

The sound of the refrigerator opening and some things being taken out broke the quiet. "I hope it wasn't too bad last night. We really tried to keep it down."

That had been keeping it down? Leon made a non-committal noise.

Riku bit his lip, "Sorry."

"Whatever."

"Well, it's not like you weren't warned." He sat across from him with a muffin and his own mug of coffee.

"……….."

"Hey, Riku." Sora bounded through the front door.

"Hey, Sora." He picked off a chunk of muffin. "Where were you?"

"I went to see Huey, Dewy, and Louie." Sora went to the kitchen, grabbed himself a muffin and sat at the table. "They want us to go skateboarding with them later. You've never skateboarded before, have you?"

"I tried once," Riku shrugged. "Ansem's body wasn't really cut out for it."

Sora frowned for a minute before he got it and laughed. "Oh, man! I can totally see that!"

"I never really did get used to that body," Riku muttered.

"Neither did I." Cloud emerged from the hall. He looked exhausted, shuffling into the kitchen and getting a cup of coffee. He filled the mug literally to the brim and then downed it in a long gulp. He refilled the mug and joined the group at the table, rubbing at Riku's neck as he passed.

Riku smiled at bit at him before turning to Leon. "So, what would you like me to do?"

Leon quirked an eye at the question.

"I want to help out around here," Riku explained. "I know Cloud isn't of much use, so one of us has to pick up the slack."

"How are you with a hammer?"

"Better than Cloud."

"A three year old is better than Cloud."

"Funny how a guy so damn good with a sword bigger than his leg can be so uncoordinated, isn't it?"

"I think something takes over his brain when he touches a blade."

"Only swords, he cuts himself on kitchen knives," Riku corrected.

Leon smirked, "Very true."

"You know, Cloud's still here." An irritated voice broke the banter. Cloud brooded beside his boyfriend, clearly upset by the conversation.

"Oh, you know I love you." Riku tugged on one of the longer, lower spikes of blonde hair and attempted to kiss him. When Cloud turned his head, Riku pouted at him, "Now don't be like that."

"No, just carry on with Leon as if I'm not here." There was humor in the blonde's voice despite the sour look.

"Fine." Riku shrugged, ignored Cloud's indignant look and Sora's laughing and returned his attention to the faintly grinning man across from him. "So I ask again, what would you like me to do?"

"You any good with technical stuff?"

"Best in class." Sora piped. "I use to cheat off of him."

"That explains the MCP incident," Leon muttered.

"Let me guess: he started smashing keys when he couldn't find what he wanted in the computer?"

"Got himself arrested for it."

"That wasn't me!" Sora shouted in protest. "That was Donald!"

Leon continued with Riku. "Cid's been trying remove several programs from the city's central computer, but some of them are so intertwined with each other, making it a near impossible task. He's the only one here with any real understanding of all that. I know just enough to get what he's ranting about."

Riku nodded, "Well, I'll give it a shot."

"Thank you."

The silver-haired teen turned back to his boyfriend. "Now, what are you going to do today?"

Cloud looked very put out. It was rather obvious all he wanted to do was lounge around in bed with a certain young man but that wasn't happening. "Guess I'm at the library."

"You want me to come with?" Sora volunteered.

Cloud shrugged.

Leon stood, ridding himself of his mug. He caught Sora's eye and motioned him toward the door. "Both of you meet up with us at Ansem's study in two hours."

Cloud managed a grateful look to his best friend before Riku latched on to his ear and he immediately forgot the others were still there.

To Leon's mild surprise, the couple arrived on time to the study. Cid had outright snorted in disbelief, and then cursed that he owed Sora ten munny. Said teen merely shrugged and stated that he knew his best friend.

After a quick introduction, Leon shoved Cloud and Sora out. He followed for a few blocks before turning off in a different direction. The rest of the afternoon was spent working, each in their own location.

Leon was getting ready to wrap up for the day when a rapidly becoming familiar voice called out. "That is the most fucked up system I have ever seen."

Leon didn't bother to look over as he replied, "Make any headway?"

"Isolated and removed two unnecessary programs. Only like fifty more to go." Riku chuckled, "Can I submit my resignation yet?"

"Cloud asks that same question nearly every day and he gets the same answer." Leon shot a quick glance over at the smirking teenager. "You volunteered. He didn't."

"So no way in hell, huh?"

"Uh, no."

"Gotcha." Riku stepped up beside him. "Anything I can do here?"

"We're just finishing up."

Riku nodded. He seemed a bit uncomfortable. "Okay, well I guess I'll head for home then. I don't want to distract Cloud."

It was obvious that Riku was trying his hardest to not irritate Leon. While he appreciated the effort it was going to get old fast. "You don't have to try to hard, Riku."

Riku understood what he meant. "I just don't want to be in the way."

"I assure you, you'll know if you are." Leon signed off his checklist. He gave a soft groan, rolling his neck and shoulders. "Now to go home and figure out dinner."

"You cook?" Riku walked beside him, leaving the worksite together.

"Every night. You think Cloud can?"

"He'd burn down the house."

"Twice over."

Riku snickered. "Gods, I love that guy but he just makes it too damn easy."

"Definitely."

They fell into silence, one that wasn't at all uneasy. They both felt surprisingly comfortable with each other. It was rather nice and a bit discerning.

"I can cook." Riku announced suddenly.

"You volunteering again?"

"Not all the time but a couple nights a week." Riku shrugged. "I'll cook tonight if you like."

"Sure, if you can make anything out of what's at the house."

"So we stop at the store on the way. What type of food do you like?"

This time Leon shrugged. "Cloud's the picky one. I'm okay with just about anything."

Riku laughed. "It's kinda scary how much the two of you are like me and Sora. Sora will eat anything but I'm rather choosy. Not nearly as bad as Cloud, but I have my definite dislikes."

"There isn't too much I really can't stand." Leon guided them down a side street toward the market. "I despise anything with beans."

"Me, too. They're totally disgusting."

They wandered through the marketplace, casually picking out food and idly chatting about things. They really did have a lot in common. Carrying two bags each, they returned to the house.

Riku kept an eye on Leon as he put things away, learning the locations of everything. Once that was done, he got a quick tour of where all the cookware was. Then Leon leaned against the wall near the open doorway and Riku set to work.

He watched him quietly for a bit, answering any questions Riku had. The teenager worked very methodically, the model of efficiency. Leon rather admired that.

He was so different than Cloud.

"What smells so good?" Sora's voice called out from the front room.

Cloud's head poked around the doorframe a moment after. "Why's Riku cooking?"

"He wanted to."

Cloud came into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Riku's waist from behind. "Well, aren't you the domestic."

"I don't clean, only cook." Riku turned within his arms, placing his own arms around the blonde's neck. He pulled him into a deep kiss.

Sora appeared and rolled his eyes. He went to the stove and lightly shoved the pair over, who managed to not break contact. He then took over finishing dinner. "I swear, Riku. Why do I always have to finish everything for you? And they say I get distracted easily."

Leon lingered for another minute before retrieving dishes and setting out the table. Sora brought dinner out, followed closely by Riku and Cloud. The couple was apparently temporarily joined at the waist.

"Riku's not sitting in your lap." Leon said dryly as he took a seat across the table, Sora already sitting beside him and loading his plate.

Cloud gave a mock pout and Riku snapped his fingers as they separated.

Sora maintained a running commentary over dinner to which Riku often interrupted with some sarcastic statement. Cloud smiled more than Leon had ever seen. The blonde would keep glancing at the young man beside him and his eyes simply shined.

Leon found himself watching the silvered teen also. While still much more reserved than his best friend, Riku radiated life. Leon knew all about Riku's past having been the one to pull Cloud out of his fits of depression and anxiety about it and the darkness still clung to the guy much as it did Cloud. But beneath that a vitality shone that rivaled Sora's.

It was no wonder Cloud had fallen so completely for him.

Once dinner finished and the table cleared, Leon insisted on cleaning up and from the kitchen he could hear Sora pleading with Riku to go out. After a few minutes, Cloud appeared in the kitchen and leaned against the wall. He sighed a bit, looking rather downcast.

"Sora won out, huh?"

"Yeah. I knew he would."

"You'll get Riku to yourself all night." Leon scrubbed at a plate. "And remind me to see about sound proofing your room."

"We weren't that loud." Cloud frowned.

The scarred man snorted.

"Oh, whatever."

"Hey, I'm not forbidding you from sex in the house."

"Because you know I won't listen."

"Just try to keep it within reason."

Cloud nodded, folding his arms. He studied the floor for a moment. "You think Riku's going to fit in here?"

"You mean here, here or Radiant Garden in general?"

"Both."

Leon turned to face him. "I don't know what you're so worried about, Cloud. Riku seems to be a great guy and he's already made himself home here. Hell, he wants to cook for us. That right there made him more than welcome in this house."

Cloud's mouth twisted in amusement. "So as long as he's useful, he's okay?"

Leon tossed the wet rag at the blonde who caught it easily. "I'm tempted to keep him and toss out you. Now stop brooding and come help me."

Cloud stepped over, handing back the rag but taking up the drying towel. He took a plate and got to work. "So, you like him that much, huh?"

Leon handed him the next plate. "He can stay as long as he wants, Cloud."

"Good." Cloud smiled. "I don't ever want to be separated from him again."

"I don't want you to be either. My nerves can't handle it again."

Cloud made a quiet noise. "Thanks, Leon. I know I never would have made it through that if it hadn't been for you."

"Whatever."

They worked side by side silently. It wasn't until Leon started the pots that he glanced at Cloud. The man was diligently drying, a faint smile on his face.

Yeah, Riku was definitely good for him.