~Admiration~

Everyone in Hollow Bastion admired Squall 'Leon' Leonhart, for his courage, strength, and peace of mind. Whenever Yuffie pulled a prank, Leon shook it off like it was nothing.
When Aerith was crying over her plants getting trampled by kids running around, Leon comforted her and told her that he will help her plant new ones. When Cid had computer troubles, Leon helped fix it. When Merlin failed a magic spell and messed up the house, Leon cleaned for Merlin, instead of letting the old man do it himself. Finally, Cloud. When Cloud was in a horrible mood, or wanted to let off steam, Leon would accept sparring matches, always making sure Cloud didn't get to injured to walk back home by himself.
Leon was the most admired, indeed. He also got more attention from the girls, (Being pretty handsome, plus, a single man.), He refused, though he did put it down politely.

Leon was working one day, patrolling the streets, and fighting heartless. He realized one thing, something he never knew. He did not like his life. Sure, he was sort of famous, plus a ladies man, and has a great job. He wanted to do something more...artistic now that Hollow Bastion was complete. The brunette shrugged it off. Everyone said they needed him, (All but the stoic, blond haired fighter, which some believed, in a rumor, that Leon was crushing on.), He couldn't back down at any time. Once he got back into the house, Yuffie tackled him at a flying rate of speed.

"SQUALLYYY!" Yuffie shrieked, and Leon fell back with a loud thump on the floor. His head connected to the ground, causing pain to course through his temples.

"Ow." The brunette groaned, Pain striking through his temples like a marching band. Leon blinked, and Yuffie was off of him, a black-leather gloved hand reached before him, offering help to stand.
"Thanks." Leon sighed, looking at Yuffie, who was pouting. Leon looked to see who his savior was. 'Oh no.'

Cloud Strife stood before the brunette, eyes locked on Leon's slight trembling form. A blond eyebrow raised slightly, and Leon took off towards his room. "Strange man, that Leonhart." Cloud mumbled, grabbing his sword and went off to enjoy the peace and quiet of the Baily. In Leon's room, the Lion-Hearted warrior was crying. He was afraid. Afraid of losing a good relationship with Cloud, afraid of making the blond so disgusted in him that he avoided him.

Afraid of rejection.

Leon couldn't hide anything anymore, with a quick note scrawled, and one last glance at the sketch of Cloud in his drawing book, he was off with his gunblade.

-5 years later-

Now, The blond stood in front of a tombstone, rain poured and soaked the blond locks, making them darker. Cloud closed his eyes and removed his glove, touching the cold stone. Cloud thought it was all his fault, he should have made Leon understand that he felt the same. Now it was too late. Placing a notebook in a cover and a dozen roses over the dirt where the brunette was buried, Cloud let tears slip onto the notebook's perfect, drawn cover. The blond stood, and got on his bike, sending one last glance at the tombstone.

'Squall Leon Leonhart, 1989 - 2010. A man of many words, a true, honest heart. RIP'

Below, a note stood neatly, with a neat scrawling.

'Squall, Im sorry.

I'll see you soon.

-Cloud'

Now, three months later, Aerith stared at the two tombstones of her best friends.

"You guys are together now...In a perfect place."

Zack's ghost flashed behind her, a sad look on his face.

The formation of the SOLDIER disappeared when Aerith stood.

Cloud and Leon were at peace together. Aerith saw a piece of paper fly by her, and she picked it up.

'A sketch of...Cloud?'