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"Nii-Chaaaaan…"
"What?" Leon lightly groaned while doing homework at his desk when Sora popped into his room one afternoon. Sora let out a light sigh but couldn't help but giggle afterwards…and Leon didn't like the sound of that. He turned around in his seat to see Sora getting comfortable on Leon's bed with a stupid grin on his face.
"Okay, Sora, what's going on?" he asked sternly.
"Nothing…" he giggled some more and Leon's brow only twitched, "I saw a hot guy in person yesterday…he's so mind-blowing!"
That was it. Leon knew Sora had to bad if he's acting like an idiot…well an adorable idiot.
"Is he over 18?"
"Well Roxas said he graduated so-"
"Stay away from him, Sora," Leon immediately cut in with a serious tone.
"But Nii-Chaaaaaan! What if he visits Roxas and Ventus again?" Sora whined and pouted.
"…Who is this guy again?" Leon asked with a raised brow and Sora had that daydreaming-grin back,
"Roxas and Ventus's older brother…he's so hot…"
"How come you never mentioned Ventus and Roxas's older brother?" Leon asked later that day and Cloud started choking on the water he was just drinking now that they took a break. He KNEW meeting Sora was a bad idea! He knew it! Roxas is SO gonna die if the secret gets out!
"Erm…d-didn't I?" Cloud responded after he stopped coughing. Leon only gave him(well, 'her') a look. The two sat beside each other against a tree and Leon will admit that this person(as he STILL didn't get a name) has gotten into his personal space faster than most people…but even Leon is getting a tad suspicious at this point considering he knows almost, well, nothing about this person.
"No…you didn't, I'm positive you didn't," said Leon, almost bluntly as he gave him/her a long stare.
"Wow…he must've slipped my mind," Cloud lied, "Probably because he's the most mature and doesn't irritate me or anything."
"Ah…I see…what's he like?"
Cloud mentally cursed.
"No offense but…I heard you're gay…is that the only reason why you're asking about him?" Cloud somehow got out in a calm and orderly fashion.
"No, of course not. I'm just making sure he's not some pedo since Sora's got a stupid crush on him," Leon replied and he picked up a pebble to skip, reaching 4 skips.
Cloud had to bite himself to keep him from growling in frustration.
"Er…trust me, he's not," Cloud shook his head as he picked up his own stone and skipped with it to reach 6.
"Damn, do you have to surpass me in everything?" Squall asked, a bit irritated by it. He picked up another one and stood up. With a new position, he skipped his rock again.
"I'm sure there are things you're better at than me," said Cloud and did the same thing as he stood up. Cloud beat him by one skip this time. But Leon only sighed at Cloud's answer and the blond looked at the scarred man who put hands in his pockets.
"There's not really anything else I'm good at. My weapon, my sword, is the only thing I got," Leon whispered and kicked a bit of the dirt and stones into the water, "I thought I was the best, with the exception of fighting Seifer but…you came along. You…you have a passion for this, just like I do…just who are you? You never even gave me your name yet."
Cloud looked away, but silence only followed for a moment. He realized he's either got to make up a new name or not say anything at all considering Sora opened his big mouth. Even if Sora doesn't know his name now, surely he will ask Roxas for it. And anyone with brains will realize Cloud and Cloudia are the same person or at the very least, twins, but that's just pushing luck.
"…I'm no one really," he responded with a light smile when he looked back to Squall, "Honestly, the only reason why I'm even good at all…is because of someone I used to really, well, really like. As much as I love it…it's not really as joyful for me now. I feel like…there's no real reason for me to keep using a sword. Well…until I ran into you. You're a good challenge and you improve fast!"
When Leon heard a sense of sadness in that voice…he couldn't help but believe the blonde.
"…So you only picked up sword-fighting…to be with the one you had feelings for?" the brunette questioned and started skipping rocks again, in hopes it'll help ease the blonde's mind by doing something instead of nothing.
"…Yeah," Cloud whispered and hesitatingly played the skipping game with Leon.
"What happened to the person?"
"He found someone he loved, who happens to be one of my girlfriends."
"Ouch…"
"Nah…it's alright," Cloud shrugged, "They're both happy, so I'm happy. Although Roxas and Rikku constantly bug me that I'm still holding onto him…" Cloud's brow lightly twitched at the thought.
"Why do they think so?"
"Because I haven't found an interest in anyone else since. It's been years…"
"I see…"
"And you?" Cloud asked, causing Leon to stiffen up again.
"…I dated a friend for a while. But we had a bad break up. Not just because I apparently wasn't as straight as I thought I was."
"…Sorry about that then," Cloud whispered but Leon only shrugged.
"Nothing to be sorry about."
But as natural as that sounded, Cloud didn't think it sounded like the other really meant it.
It was lunch the next day, and Roxas was NOT enjoying his sitting with Sora at their circular lunch table mainly because Riku's on the other side of Sora. Even after a few days of school here, he's STILL not used to it and he'll NEVER be okay with it. Although the blonde's surprised that Sora even let them so close to each other since the time they had the food fight. But ever since that food fight, the two rivals in love rarely contributed to the conversation at the table since they both knew they'd snap some kind of insult at each other and then ruin Sora's mood which would be a disadvantage to both of them. But when Roxas saw Axel coming at them, he rolled his eyes and got ready with a comeback comment for when Axel decides to hit on him again…except he never got it.
"Hi Axel!" Sora waved and Axel raised a hand as well.
"What's up, Sor?" the two slapped hands as he passed by and he even lightly flicked Riku in the head as he did, "Hiya pretty-boy."
"Shut up…" the silverette muttered as he went back to his book while eating.
"And hey Roxy!" was the only thing he got from Axel…Roxas looked behind him and his eyes widened when he saw the red-head plant himself before Ventus, who was sitting alone and reading in the corner most table.
Roxas's mouth dropped in surprise, not sure what to take of this. Well he knew he didn't like it…not one bit and it was getting worse with every passing second! Whoa! Why is he touching him? Why is trying to 'casually' sit closer to him? And why the hell is Ventus buying this CRAP?
Roxas looked to Sora and the barely-visible-Riku from Roxas's point of view, and then back at Ventus and Axel. Now his mind did battle on what to do…
"It's so scary," said Ventus but took a quick sigh, "But it was so addicting!" the blonde admitted before putting the manga away.
"I know! Isn't it? Glad ya gave it a try," Axel ruffled the boy's hair a bit, "So it looks like you're done eating…you want dessert?"
Ventus only smiled but decline,
"It's okay, I try not to spend my money on more than what I need."
"Hey I never said you were paying for it. I was offering!"
"Well…you don't need to-"
"Don't think about it too much," Axel cut in and was about to continue his sentence as he reached for Ventus's hand but didn't get the chance to when he felt something splatter on his head followed by a hit. It took a pause for him to notice something pink dripping from his hair and realized it's one of the cakes they sell in the cafeteria. Both Axel and Ven's eyes went to one direction and Roxas was furiously glaring down at the sitting red-head and half the cafeteria's eyes were already on them.
"You want dessert, don't forget the drink," Roxas nearly growled and nearly slammed the open carton of milk on the man's head, "Stay! Away! From my brother!" he shouted for all to hear before going to Ventus and pulling him out of the seat, "Let's go!"
"W-Wait! Roxas! I-" Ventus was trying to pick up his bag as he was getting dragged but he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence when Roxas cut him off.
"I said let's go!" he pulled harder until they were out of the cafeteria and into the closest bathroom. Ventus only got a quick 'sorry' in before he was actually pulled out of Axel's sight.
"Roxas! Why did you just do THAT?" Ventus exclaimed in surprise and confusion when Roxas finally released him. But Roxas only put his hands in his pockets and looked away,
"Just stay away from him…"
"But WHY? You gotta at least give me a reason! And even if it's a good reason, you can't go around throwing food on people! Have you not learned from when you and Riku got into that fight I heard about?"
"No, no I have not!" Roxas responded sarcastically, "And trust me on this, Ventus, the LAST kinds of people you wanna trust is a senior bad boy! I MET him in detention!"
"But I don't label, Roxas," said Ventus and Roxas just shook his head.
"That's not the point, Ven. Just stay away from him!"
"But…" Ventus lowered his head and looked to the side with a sad enough expression that it bugged even Roxas.
"…But what?" he asked softly.
"…He talks to me…and he sat by me today…" Ventus whispered without looking up, "I don't feel so lonely…"
"…" Roxas opened his mouth to say something, but closed it when he couldn't figure out what to say.
"And it's not like he hasn't visited me to talk other times like in my room just yesterday so I-"
"He's been in your ROOM?" Roxas nearly bellowed and Ventus lightly flinched, "No! NO! Ventus NO! I don't even know where to start with THAT!"
"But we only played a card game and other stuff…we just got to know each other," Ventus tried to explain but Roxas only threw his arms up and let out a groan of frustration, "Roxy…he didn't hurt me or anything. Really…"
"Don't call me that," Roxas immediately stated, "And it's not whether or not he hurt you…it's whether or not he is going to hurt you and hurt you a lot. So I'm not letting you take that chance…"
"You never let me take any chances…" Ventus murmured before looking up with a hint of anger in his eyes, "Everything is dangerous to you but you're always out there! Doing everything you never want me even near!"
"…It's a little different, Ventus," Roxas replied in a low voice, "It's some of those things…that I want you to just trust me on. Like how we'd both take Nii-San's word for almost anything."
Ventus took a couple steps back when he noticed Roxas getting closer within his proximity.
"…But you're not Nii-Chan," said Ventus while slowly shaking his head, "You're not him…"
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm your twin! There shouldn't even be much of a different between him and myself!"
"…It's a little different, Roxas," Ventus responded with the same line Roxas used on him. That left a small moment of shock to Roxas and as luck would have it, they were discovered by the staff and Roxas was immediately informed of his newest detention.
That little mishap at lunch spread quickly and it didn't take long for Leon to hear about it, which he brought up that late afternoon when he met up with Cloud and after their immediate spar match.
"Roxas did WHAT?"
"Well I only heard it. I haven't seen Sora all day so I can't really tell you the accuracy of what I heard," said Leon as the two started putting the weapons away.
"I'm gonna have a talk with that boy…" Cloud murmured to himself as he handed Leon back the weapon he used.
"Well at least it shows: he does care for Ventus at least a little," Leon pointed out and Cloud just nodded.
"Even so…I keep thinking Roxas is just caging Ventus more and more as time goes on…"
"…Well eventually, Ventus is going break free. No one likes to be trapped and eventually, the caged-one WILL fight back for its freedom," said Leon and Cloud looked at him in the eye with a sad but also a bit fearful expression.
"That's what I'm afraid of. I don't want them…to be more distant than they already are…"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"I'm so sorry, Axel," Ventus apologized for the umpteenth time as he sat before Axel in the Nurse's office.
"Its fine, Ven, it's not like you're the one that did this to me," said Axel as he combed the missed frostings out.
"I'm still sorry for my brother…"
"Well, he's got guts, I'll tell ya that much…looks like he's quite protective of you though. Is he the older one?"
Ventus only looked down and stared at the floor from that.
"No…I am."
"Whoa, REALLY?"
"Yeah but…that's not important right now. Come on, I'll help get the mess out of your hair," Ventus offered as he stood up.
"Sure thing…I'll owe ya then, Kid."
The next day, the whole event in the cafeteria didn't completely blow over yet. Rumors were already starting about it. And despite what has happened to the people involved, Riku couldn't help himself being slightly affected by what happened. So during his free period, he tracked down Ventus, which took longer than he thought, but thank goodness its free period. The blonde was in his math class and when he got out, he found Riku waiting for him.
"Hey…can I sit with you at lunch?" the silverette asked and Ventus only blinked in surprise,
"Well…if you want to. It's your choice."
"Well alright then…I'll see you then," Riku lightly waved so he can head off to his next class.
"Erm…okay!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Of course, when lunchtime rolled around, Roxas wasn't sure if Riku was trying to piss him off on purpose or something else…
"Sora has a crush on Nii-Chan?" Ventus asked in slightly surprised.
"And he won't shut up about it!" Riku exclaimed in frustration,
"Well if someone likes someone like that, normally it's all they think about," said Ventus with a shrug as he replied between fries.
"That's not it, Ventus…" Riku sighed as he stared at his tray with food he didn't touch yet, "See…I really like Sora…" he confessed, which came out easier than he thought it would.
"Well aren't you two best friends?"
Riku mentally face-palmed.
"No Ventus, I really like-like Sora," he said and it took a moment for that to sink in for Ventus.
"Oooooh! Okay! I get it now! Oh…so you're jealous of Nii-Chan…"
"Yeah…never met him, but I'm honestly feeling quite guilty for not liking him."
"Aw, Riku, Nii-Chan's nice! He's a bit of a kill-joy sometimes but he's a great guy!"
"But when did this happen? How and why? I REALLY want answers and Sora doesn't even shut his flap for even a second if the topic is on that man! So I can't get ANYTHING out of him!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Oh my gosh! Riku! I can't stop thinking about it!"
"Ugh…Sora, that grip actually hurts…" the silverette lightly hissed until Sora released his arm,
"Sorry! I just…it's really hard to keep calm about this! I mean…I actually saw him shirtless!"
Riku wanted to burry himself, as in, RIP on his stone and all. Here he was, in his dorm, trying to study, and Sora barges in because Roxas isn't around to keep him company during this one period.
"What's this guy's name exactly?" Riku had to ask and Sora paused.
"…I never asked."
Riku's hand slowly met his face at that.
"And…he's Roxas and Ven's older brother?" Riku asked, trying to make sure he's got the information correct so far.
"Yup! Oh my gosh! Also! He-"
"Wait, and how old is he-"
"I think he's blonde but I couldn't see it so-"
"Sora, I'm asking you-"
"He looked so hot in black! Black LEATHER too of all things!"
"Sora…"
"Have you ever seen a man that's naturally good looking AND pull off leather pants?"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"I'm not saying Sora's a chatterbox but his emotions really, and I mean really, control his actions," Riku shook his head at the memory. Ventus slightly giggled at the story before offering Riku a smile.
"Don't worry about it too much!"
Riku raised a brow, not sure why Ventus seems to take amusement to this…he hoped the boy wasn't laughing at him…
"I think…there are different kinds of love and admiration," Ventus tried to explain when he saw the weird look Riku gave him, "By the way you say it, Sora seems to have an attraction, yes…but I think it sounds like the kind of crush you'd have on a celebrity!"
Riku did nod his head at that, it did make sense.
"And like most people with celebrity-crushes, it shouldn't stand in the way of real feelings that people around you have. If you really like Sora that way, don't let his little moment make you think you don't stand a chance," Ventus advised as he smiled for him.
"…Alright," Riku nodded and offered a very small smile of his own, "Thank you, Ventus."
"Of course! Good luck with Sora!"
Riku lightly paused in his mind and body. He shook it off as he stood up and thanked Ventus again. As he walked back to rejoin Sora and his other friends(and Rival-Roxas), he felt guilty when he saw a bit of Sora in Ventus at that moment.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Everything after lunch was supposed to go smoother for Riku, but didn't when he was pulled out of the hallway and his back met the wall in one of the lounge rooms. He was greeted with a tight grip on his collar and an angry glare for furious blonde.
"Stay away from Ventus…" he nearly growled like a dog.
"…No," Riku replied bluntly and shoved Roxas off him and the only thing that kept Roxas from lashing out physically was the fact he can't exactly risk getting a suspension this soon in the school year. But even Riku can see Roxas holding in all that emotions that he wants to let out.
"Unlike, well, everything about you…I like Ventus. So unless you give me a good reason to stay away, I'm not going to," Riku stated firmly,
"If you don't want your sorry ass in the Nurse's office, I suggest you do!"
"…Not good enough," Riku shook his head and he started to leave to get to his class. All hell broke loose about 5 minutes after Riku took his leave.
"Roxas…" Ventus shook his head at him, obviously in a disappointed-like manner, "Why do you always pick fights? You're going to have a criminal record by 17 if you keep this up!"
Roxas shook his head as he sat at the bench outside the principal's office, waiting for the arrival of his parents.
"Stop exaggerating…" Roxas muttered; he wasn't exactly happy when Ventus heard about Riku's little trip down the stairs after he followed him. And of course, as luck would have it, Ventus WOULD be passing by the principal's office after hearing about it. And thus, the twins are here, side by side…
"Really Roxas! I'm seriously concerned about you!"
"…There's nothing to be concerned about okay?"
Ventus let out a frustrated sigh and leaned back. Silence followed soon but Ventus stayed beside Roxas. The latter wanted so many times to say 'You don't have to stay you know?' but he didn't want to break the silence first…
When their parents arrived and Roxas was ushered inside, he met eyes with Ventus for a moment only.
"Ventus…I mean it when I say there's nothing to be concerned about, alright? There's nothing you need to be worried about…ever."
When Ventus stood up, he only got out Roxas's name before the door shut on him.
"Ventus!" the boy responded to the one calling his name…Cloud was practically ripping the red-knee-length dress off his waist as he tried to rush down the hallway. The poor blonde tripped and fell when he was a body length from Ventus.
"Nii-Chan!" Ventus helped pulled the dress off and saw it was attached together with Velcro. Cloud sat up and patted the black pants he had today and started to quickly discard the wig and accessories he had and dumping them all in the bag be brought this time.
"Ventus, what happened?" he asked as he pulled out a white jacket out of the bag. He quickly started stripping of his red jacket, magenta shirt, and fake breasts as quickly as he could. Ventus was only glad that most classes are taking place right now and those that aren't, like himself, won't be passing by this way.
"Roxas sent someone to the Nurse's office today…I think he tripped him on the stairs. It was either that, or Roxas shoved him. I don't know, Roxas wouldn't tell me!"
After dumping the rest of the disguise into the bag, Cloud quickly threw on the white jacket and zipped it up to cover his bare chest.
"That may be the most dangerous thing I've heard Roxas do," said Cloud as he finally stood up while closing the bag, "Do you know the victim?"
"Y-Yeah…in fact, I think I should go see him!"
"Is Mom and Dad here?" Cloud asked while wiping his face as best he could to rid of some of the make-up. Ventus only nodded and pointed at the office,
"They're already here."
"Great…I just hope they don't find out about how their daughter isn't here since she isn't back yet," Cloud muttered, "And I don't think I can think of a story to explain why I'm here…well I'll have a word with him later. Come on, Ven, we'll see that friend of yours."
"Okay…wow, I just noticed his name and Sis's name is pronounced the same way!"
"…This dude has a girly name?" Cloud raised a brow and Ventus shrugged,
"Maybe Sis just has a boyish name?"
"Eh…whatever…" Cloud shrugged as he followed Ventus to wherever the Nurse's office is.
"…ello…Squall…" Upon hearing that name among the small chatter in the hallway, Cloud's natural reaction was hit the wall and scan for a place to hide.
"Nii-Chan?"
"Shush!" Cloud hushed and listened for signs of where Squall might be. Though it wasn't hard to narrow down so Cloud deducted the next hallway they're gonna turn into. So instead of going that way, Cloud looked for another hiding place.
Oh gosh, chapters just keep getting longer and longer on my word doc!
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