It started, as was so often the case, with a question. Not an innocent question, because it - hopefully - would lead to decidedly non-innocent acts, but a one asked with sincerity and good intentions.

"So, how do you want to do this?"

"What kind of question is that?"

Leon shrugged; apparently it was the kind of question that garnered a response like Cloud's current incredulous look.

"I just thought we should, I don't know, define our roles or something."

"Define our roles? What's to be defined? I'm older."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"It means," Cloud said slowly. "That I get to top. Privilege of age or something. Fairest way, really."

"What's fair about that? That means you'll always top! What about me?"

"I don't make the rules, Leon. Besides," Cloud reached across and ruffled his companion's hair. "Your hair is longer."

Recoiling from the touch, regardless of how pleasant it felt, Leon shot Cloud a glare.

"So I'm not just the bottom but I'm the woman? Is that what you're saying?"

"If that's how you choose to interpret it. Now, lie down."

"No."

"Aw come on, sweetheart-"

"Don't you dare start calling me sweetheart."

Scrambling out from under the covers, Leon grabbed his trousers and started pulling them on.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"To my own room. If you're going to patronise me, as well as cast me as the woman in this relationship, I'm not so sure I want to be in a relationship."

"When you put it like that," Cloud sighed, running his hands over the blanket covering his lap and slyly grinning. "It makes you sound like even more of a woman."

"Fuck you!"

"No, already told you; it's the other way around. Oh don't go-"

It was too late. Leon slammed the bedroom door behind him and made his way to the kitchen, grumbling all the while.

"Prick," he muttered whilst grabbing a glass and filling it from the tap. "'I'm older so that means I get to top.' Yeah, sound reasoning there, Cloud."

"If you want to say something to me, you should just say it."

There, standing in the kitchen doorway was Cloud. He hadn't bothered to dress before following Leon and so all he wore at that moment was a wry smirk.

"I just don't agree with your reasoning, that's all. It doesn't seem fair."

"Alright then, we'll settle it the usual way."

Leon considered Cloud's proposal for as long as it took to drink his water. He set the glass down in the sink then shook his head.

"Not in the mood for sparring. Besides," he indicated to the window behind him. "It's dark."

"The other usual way, Leon."

Leon groaned.

"We're not discussing whose turn it is to wash up!"

"You said you wanted it to be fair."

Cloud chose to ignore Leon's protests, sat down at the dining table and let out a short hiss of discomfort.

"We really should get cushions for these chairs."

"Yeah, especially since one of us is going to have a sore ass in the morning." Leon pointed out.

"True, but I actually meant because the seat is cold. I'm naked, remember?"

As if Leon could forget. He was almost willing to concede, Cloud's nudity was that enticing, but it had become a matter of principle. He couldn't just back down. If Cloud wanted to make a game of it, so be it. There had to be a better way of deciding, though.

"Get them out, then."

"Whatever."

Doing as instructed, Leon fetched the playing cards from the living room and passed the deck to Cloud.

"Since this was your idea, you go first."

"Okay. Highest card wins."

"Fine."

While Cloud expertly shuffled the cards, Leon sat down opposite and watched. Cloud had nice hands, he found himself thinking. They were rough but could be gentle. And he gave awesome hand jobs. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he lost. He was certain Cloud would make the experience good whatever the outcome. Still, it'd be even more satisfying to be the one to throw Cloud down and wipe that smug look off his face as he-

"Oi! Stop dreaming and cut. Unless you were dreaming of being screwed senseless by me, in which case we can forget the cards and just get down to it."

"You wish."

Without even a glance at Cloud's card, Leon cut the deck and looked at his own.

"Five."

"Ouch. That's a low one," Cloud sniggered, drawing his card to his chest and hiding the face. "Look, I'm nothing if not generous, so how about I let you blow me and we can save penetration for another time. Like your Birthday. Or Christmas."

"What was your card, Cloud?"

"It doesn't matter. You can't get much lower than a five, so obviously you lost."

"What was it?"

"Or maybe I could blow you! Hey, yeah and I'll even do that thing with the ice cubes that you like. What do you say?"

"Cloud..."

Pushing his chair back, Cloud stood, still clutching his card.

"Show me your card."

"No."

Before Leon could say anything more, Cloud ran. Leon, of course, immediately gave chase and managed to catch Cloud in an awkward tackle just outside his bedroom.

"Give me the card!"

"No!"

"Give it!"

The two of them rolled and grappled and Cloud struggled to keep his card from Leon. So Leon fought dirty; he pinned Cloud down and his hand clasped Cloud's balls in a firm, but not yet painful, manner. Cloud froze.

"Leon..."

"Give me the card, Cloud."

"Leon, if you don't let go of me, I'll..."

"You'll what? I think I have the upper hand here, don't you? Now, are you going to give me the card?"

With just a small flex of his fingers, Leon reminded Cloud of their position.

"Ah-ah! Stop! You were right; it was a stupid way to decide things. We should talk it over like the calm, civilised men that we are. Weigh up the pros and cons."

"It's too late for that now, Cloud," Leon shifted to straddle Cloud's legs, mindful of the delicate goods in his hand. "You wanted to play games and now look at the mess you're in."

Both men panted, short of breath after their tussle, but there was something else to it for Leon. He found himself enjoying having Cloud pinned beneath him, entirely at his mercy. It was something of a turn-on and judging by the flush on Cloud's face, neck and chest, Leon wasn't the only one who found it arousing.

"Leon?"

There was something about the way Cloud spoke his name, not quite a whimper but not entirely certain either, that sent Leon's blood rushing to his groin. Without thinking about it, he dropped his head and bit Cloud's bottom lip then kissed him, hungrily. The hand on Cloud's testicles started to massage rather than just hold and Leon felt Cloud's cock hardening against his wrist. Pulling back from their kiss, Leon looked down at the man pinned beneath him.

"I'll give you a choice."

Cloud nodded but didn't speak.

"You can either show me your card and that'll settle the argument, or," Leon dipped his head again and nibbled his way along Cloud's jaw line to his ear. "I'll make my own assumptions and take you right here."

Silence reigned for a few moments until Cloud sighed and muttered.

"Fine."

Expecting Cloud to hand over the card, Leon couldn't hide his astonishment when, instead, Cloud crammed it into his mouth and started to chew it.

"That's...that's disgusting!"

Grinning through a mouthful of masticated playing card, Cloud grinned up at Leon.

"Now you'll never know."

"Ugh, say it, don't spray it."

Thoroughly disgusted, Leon let go of Cloud's balls and pushed himself away, then stood up. His revulsion was furthered when Cloud spat the pulp into his hand and held it up for Leon to see. With a snort and a sneer, Leon turned on his heel and stomped off, back to the kitchen.

"Where are you going? Don't you want the card?"

"Fuck off."

The sound of Cloud's laughter ringing in his ears, Leon sat down at the dining table. The trouble with Cloud, Leon mused, was that the man was too damned stubborn and of course, it didn't help that he was equally as stubborn. Still, one of them would come out on top, as it were, and Leon was determined it would be him. And so he got to work.

Five-or-so minutes later, when Cloud reappeared, wearing shorts and having cleaned his teeth brushed of playing card pulp, Leon sat, glaring at four neat piles in front of him. Three piles held thirteen playing cards. The fourth numbered only twelve.

"You counted them?"

At Cloud's bark of laughter, Leon lifted his head and looked at the other man and sniffed.

"Whatever."

"Heh, good answer. So, since you know now, shall we?"

With a shrug, Leon stood and followed Cloud into the bedroom. They both stripped off their remaining clothes and crawled under the covers, pressing close to each other. It wasn't the most romantic situation, but then neither was deciding sexual position on the turn of a card, so Leon supposed it was okay. There was one small thing bothering him, though. Something he had to get off his chest before they proceeded.

"Cloud?"

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you just show me your card? Why didn't you just show me if you knew this was how we were going to end up anyway?"

Under his ear, Leon felt the rise and fall of Cloud's shoulders as the man shrugged.

"Seemed like fun idea to tease you for a while. Thought it might get you in the mood or something. And here we are, so it must have worked."

"You think so?"

"I seem to remember you getting a little flustered, there."

"You were naked. I can't help it if my body responds to your nudity."

"Of course you can't, so why don't we find out if I can get it to respond to other things. Come on, on your knees."

There was a time and a place for stubbornness, Leon thought to himself as he turned over onto his hands and knees and stuck his ass in the air. This was neither. Next time, however, next time, Leon would find a way to shift the odds in his favour and then he'd show Cloud. He'd show Cloud that he was more than capable of taking - and keeping - control. Oh yes, Cloud would find out just what Leon could do.

"Ready?"

When Cloud's fingers pressed into him, Leon forgot about revenge. When it came time for Cloud's cock to slide into him, Leon wondered why he'd been so resistant to the idea in the first place.

And when they lay together, sweaty and satisfied, Leon decided that as long as Cloud continued to make him feel that good, it didn't matter whether he was on the top or the bottom. Just as long as he was getting some.

The end