Author's Notes…

Special thanks to rabid behemoth for beta-ing for me!

Nobody Needs to Know

Chapter Four

Why?

When Sora walked into the tasteful little restaurant on the far side of town, Cloud's heart wanted to explode. For a moment, he worried he was having an actual heart attack. But then common sense kicked in, thank God.

His eyes tracked Sora, fully expecting him to veer off to a table somewhere. What were the odds that Sora would be here today? And was there a way that Cloud could possibly escape from his own party without Aerith taking his head off his shoulders?

He received an unpleasant surprise as Sora made a beeline directly for their table.

Cloud's gaze went to the woman he had just been thinking about. The woman responsible for this party—for the invite list. Aerith was purposefully ignoring him, getting to her feet and holding out a hand for a warm handshake. His brother's eyes darted nervously toward him, lingering only a second before they went back to the brunette before him.

Cloud was seething. He did his best to keep it inward. This was his birthday party. If he didn't at least pretend to enjoy himself, Aerith would kill him. Or take his dick as ransom, whichever made Cloud the most uncomfortable. She was very pretty, very sweet, but that woman had a vengeful streak the size of Radiant Gardens.

"Everyone, this is Sora, Cloud's brother!" she introduced cheerfully. Sora gave an awkward little wave as the rest of the table greeted him with just as much enthusiasm. Everyone except Cloud, who leaned back in his seat, an ankle over his knee, a fingertip circling the rim of his wineglass. It was a pity. With this bomb just dropped, Cloud was going to need more than wine to get through the night. Social functions already weren't his cup of tea.

7th Heaven was his friend Tifa's genius. The restaurant was sophisticated, candlelight fluttering at every table over white tablecloths. Music played low on the speakers, the usual Italian fanfare. But the bar was really the heart of the place, with the way the lights hung down, the racks of wine, and Tifa's able hand passing out glasses and bottles over a bar top with a mahogany finish.

She planned to head over as soon as she got a second, but Cloud wasn't worried. He wasn't a fan of birthdays, never made a big deal of his. Tonight was Aerith's baby.

Sora had gotten the memo for the semi-formal atmosphere. He lacked a tie but wore a very well-cut button-down tucked into khakis. He'd even slicked his spikes back into something respectable. Made Cloud wonder how much hair gel that had taken, and where Cloud could get any. His own spikes hounded him every time he looked in the mirror.

Keeping his arm over the back of his chair, Cloud lifted his wineglass and took a lot more than a sip.

"This is my other half, Zack," Aerith was saying. The black-haired man waved his hand at the wrist just once. "This is Squall, he's a friend of Cloud's from work."

"We've met," Sora said with a tight smile.

Squall gave no response.

Pretending Squall's rudeness hadn't just happened, Aerith ventured onward. "This is Reno—this is Rude. This is Barret. That's Cissnei. And I think that's it. Oh, and Tifa, she owns the place, she's over there at the bar." Aerith retook her seat, smiled as Zack kissed her cheek.

"Damn, Cloud, didn't know you had a brother." Barret had enough muscles to make anyone think twice about copping an attitude with him. "What's that about?"

Cloud half-smiled. Said nothing.

"You're just as bad as Squall," the big man laughed.

"You know this," Cloud returned.

He went for his glass of wine again and then paused.

The red-haired man known as Reno had his eyes on Sora in a rather hungry fashion.

A beast growled inside of Cloud, frightening in its intensity. Cloud didn't know why he was surprised someone would dare. They were both men, and Sora was clearly well above needing protection. Of course, someone else would see Sora and recognize his beauty. But damned if Cloud was going to let it happen right in front of him.

…Yet what could he do?

"We haven't ordered yet," Aerith was telling Sora at the other end of the table. "So don't worry about that."

"Thanks," Sora said. With a sincere smile, he opened the heavy menu and perused its contents.

"Sooo… Sora," Reno drawled. His lips pulled into a grin. "What do you do? We don't know anything about you."

"Oh, I'm in grad school for creative writing."

"Interesting, interesting… didn't have the same call as your brother?"

Sora laughed. The sound of it made Cloud's heart beat double time. "I couldn't keep someone alive if I tried. I barely know how to apply a band-aid! Cloud was always the one fixing my boo-boos." Sora's laugh had melted into a fond grin of nostalgia.

"That's so cute!" Aerith replied. "Awh, picturing Cloud as a big brother!"

"Hehe," Sora giggled.

"Cloud, why were you keeping Sora from us?" Aerith accused.

Cloud gave her innocent eyes, doing his part of the show. "More like from you."

"Heeey, what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I'll have to burn the family photo album so you can't get your hands on it."

"Oh, how rude!"

And on and on the evening went. Reno wouldn't stop gobbling Sora down with his gaze, and Sora continued to regale Aerith with anecdotes of their childhood. There was a big cake, chocolate with chocolate frosting. Sora took a huge piece and dug into it with gusto. He'd always lived and breathed chocolate.

But he'd had one too many glasses of wine.

When his brother's giggles refused to dissolve, Cloud stood up and went around the table. The party was winding down, so he didn't feel bad telling Aerith and everyone that he would see them later. He picked Sora up, the other man barely weighing anything.

"Hey, Cloud, put me down!" The words were a slight slur. "Seriously, I'm a grown man."

Cloud grunted and carried his brother out of the restaurant and into his car. This took a moment of struggling on Sora's behalf. He bitched as Cloud fastened his seatbelt, insisting he wasn't a child, this was embarrassing, blah blah blah. Whatever. There was no way Cloud was letting Sora drive like this.

"Where do you live?" he asked when he got into the driver's seat.

Sora unfastened his seatbelt and opened the passenger door. At least, he tried to. He shook it several times before accepting it wasn't budging.

"You put on the child lock!" Sora fumed. "I am not a little kid anymore, Cloud!"

"Then stop acting like one and tell me where you live," Cloud bit out. He was on edge. Half of his mind was still thinking about going back in there and punching Reno in the face. He reminded himself of all the reasons why Reno was his friend. He couldn't recall that many.

Bastard.

Sora huffed and folded his arms. "I can't leave my car here!"

"I already talked to Tifa. It's fine. You can come pick it up tomorrow."

"Clooooud!" Sora whined.

"Soooraaaa," Cloud mocked. He turned on the ignition. "Just… calm down. Okay?"

"You calm down!" Sora sulked, staring out his window.

Flashbacks of how annoying Sora could be in their childhood niggled at the back of Cloud's mind. He knew he'd made the right decision in determining Sora's inebriated state.

Sora refused to give him his address, as if he thought that would make Cloud let him go back to his own vehicle. It didn't. The man continued to bitch on the way to Cloud's apartment, though he shut up when Cloud carried him to his apartment. He was strangely quiet, resting his temple against Cloud's shoulder.

Cloud tried not to read too much into it. He was mostly successful. He'd had a lifetime of practice.

He set his brother up on the couch. Blanket, pillow, glass of water. That finished, he straightened, stretching, and went to go take a shower.

Sora's hand curling into the bottom of his shirt stopped him.

Cloud's heart panged at him. He swallowed and tried to ignore it. He kept his expression straight ahead until he knew it was under control, and then he turned back to his brother. Sora looked up at him through his lashes, his cheeks rosy from the wine. For a long moment, neither of them said anything.

"Cloud…" Sora whispered. "I need you. I always need you. Stop running away from me."

Cloud knelt beside his brother. He lifted his hand to curve it over Sora's cheek, his fingers extending past his ear. Sora was so delicate. Strong, yes, and stubborn, but petite. He'd never had that last growth spurt he'd wanted. It was half of what made him so damned endearing.

Sora closed his eyes and turned his head into Cloud's touch. It made Cloud's heart break just a little. The moment was rife with possibilities, of what it could be like if they were together, together the way Cloud wanted. Sora was trying to find his way around what Cloud had told him, was trying to work his way back into Cloud's heart. He didn't realize he'd never left it.

You make me such a sap, he thought.

Damn.

And those kissable lips were so close…

Restraining himself to just a peck, Cloud brushed his mouth to Sora's. He rose to his feet, and that was going to be the end of it. But then Sora grabbed Cloud's hand and placed it over his dick. Cloud could feel Sora straining through his trousers. Apparently, he hadn't had enough wine for his body to be completely useless.

Pull away. Pull away now! he told himself.

Cloud dragged his thumb over that outline. Sora's breath hissed in as Cloud caressed him. He could make out the size of Sora, bigger than he'd thought, much bigger. His own cock gave a throb at that, thinking of the taste of Sora in his mouth.

Fuck!

He yanked his hand away.

"Cloud," Sora whined.

"Go to sleep, Sora," Cloud murmured.

"But—I want—"

"If you can honestly tell me in the morning that you still want me to touch you like this…" Cloud looked over his shoulder at the smaller man. "Then we'll talk. Until then, I'm not taking advantage of you while you're drunk."

"I'm not that drunk!" Sora protested. He was already rising into a sitting position.

Cloud put his hand on Sora's chest and eased him onto his back. "Please," he whispered. "For my own peace of mind…"

"Fine," Sora muttered.

Cloud left him to sulk and let the blissful darkness of his bedroom envelop him. He prepared a steaming shower, letting the water pour over him as he propped himself up on the wall. His hand wrapped around the erection that refused to die down and gave it a few good strokes. He imagined Sora on his knees… his spikes slicked down with the water… his pink tongue darting out to taste the tip of Cloud's cock… those blue eyes, burning straight into him…

He bit his lip against a shout. Seed clung to his fingers. He sagged, panting for breath, slipping down the wall a little.

God damn it.

March 1, 2017

The smell of pancakes, eggs, and bacon woke Sora. His eyes snapped open in time to find a delicious plate of food being waved in front of his face. He gave Aerith a grateful grin, took the plate, and inhaled everything on it.

And he was still hungry.

Halfway through, he'd remembered Cloud's promise to him. In the cold light of day, Sora's cheeks flushed, though he worked to make it go away. He didn't need to be blushing while he asked Aerith of his brother's whereabouts.

"Hey, where's, uh, where's Cloud?" Sora asked. "Is he up yet?"

"Oh, he had a call I guess around five this morning," Aerith mused. "He's always like that, rushing in and out. He lives at that hospital."

"Uh huh…" Sora replied, barely paying attention.

Cloud was gone.

Sora knew it was completely fair—Cloud had to work.

But disappointment had never tasted so bitter.

March 15, 2017

Two weeks later, Sora stood before his brother's door, two coffees in hand and a bag of muffins. He was beyond nervous, eaten up by anxiety. Cloud had been "busy" since his birthday, barely replied to texts, and when he did, they were vague. Sora didn't know what this was about, but it was time to put a stop to it.

Cloud had promised they could talk!

How could Sora prove that he didn't regret what he'd done while drunk if Cloud wasn't around to let him?

Aerith answered the door, a little breathless, her hair damp. She must have just gotten out of the shower. "Oh, hey, Sora! Cloud's right in there. You caught him just in time. He's about to head out."

Sora thanked her and crossed the apartment. His heart was beating double time. This was so stupid. Cloud was probably just afraid that Sora would take back everything, so he was avoiding getting hurt. It made sense, but that didn't mean Sora had to like it.

"Cloud!" he called, forcing his voice to be merry. He was almost to his brother's bedroom door. "I brought coffee!"

He turned the corner and dropped everything he was holding. Coffee spilled over the hardwood. Sora took a step back, unable to breathe.

It was that Squall guy. He'd been in the act of kissing Cloud while buttoning up his jeans.

Cloud looked around at the noise. Sora's mouth opened and closed wordlessly. "S-Sorry!" he blurted out. He rushed to the door and into the hallway, and by then, big, fat tears were rolling down his cheeks.

What the hell?

What the hell?

Why?

Footsteps shuffled nearby. Sora lifted his head and found himself on the other end of a very long, impassive stare. He wiped at his eyes in embarrassment and sniffled, ducking his head back down. Squall went on like nothing had happened.

Cloud appeared next. Sora stood and raised a hand. He didn't want to hear it. It didn't matter. Sora didn't have any right to be upset. He didn't. They weren't together. Cloud didn't owe him a single thing. He'd made it clear that he didn't want Sora around. Maybe it was time Sora finally listened.

"Sora, that wasn't—"

"What it looked like?" Sora stepped away from his brother. He made sure to keep his voice low. "You know, Cloud, I keep trying and trying. And you won't let me. So you win."

"This isn't a contest," Cloud sighed.

"Sure it is." Sora pasted on one of his bright, mega-watt smiles. "I get it, Cloud. I've taken the hint. I guess I'll see you at whatever family holiday is next. Maybe. You know. If you're not still avoiding me."

Sora took to the stairs. What hurt the most was that Cloud didn't follow him, didn't even call after him. And when he was at the foot of the stairs and looked up toward Cloud's floor, the blond was gone from sight.

Sora's face crumpled. He had a test in an hour. He should be focusing on that instead. It was half his final grade. If Sora kept allowing himself to be distracted by Cloud, he was going to flunk his classes this semester.

His phone buzzed in his back pocket. He pulled it out and thumbed open his screen. He had a text from Cloud.

Squall is just a friend.

Yeah, Sora thought. Right.

He crossed the sidewalk to his car. If he weren't so upset, he would have known it had probably taken a lot out of Cloud to send that. Cloud was extremely private, and felt he never owed anyone an explanation. Sora was just hurt enough that he didn't care.

Just a friend, it didn't matter. How could it have mattered? Cloud had avoided him for a solid two weeks. Again. He didn't want Sora around.

So Sora wouldn't be around.