Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever, owned Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Cloud, Leon/Squall, Sora, or the song The Saints Are Coming. If I did, I probably wouldn't be writing fanfics. I'd be bathing in money & Cloud and Leon would make out at least once in every game.

Hi, so I finally got around to posting a story that's been rcking my brain for a while. (My cosplaying has been giving me no time to write) Anyway, this one was inspired by the song The Saints are Coming by U2 & Green Day. Not based off of it, just inspired. Hope you like it. ^_^ It's very sad and won't get much happier...or will it? o.O

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"Baby?"

"Hi."

"Hi. So how are you holding up? Everything okay?"

"I'm okay. It's a little hard without you, but I think we'll manage."

"That's good. I love you, but I've got to go. I don't have a lot of time. The other guys want to call home too. Say hi to Sora for me. okay?"

"Okay."

"And send him my love."

"I will. Leon...I love you."

"I love you too, Cloud."

Cloud hung up the phone and wiped away the tear that managed to escape him eye. Leon had been shipped off to war because of a draft that required one adult male from each household to go into service. Leon had insisted on going because he wanted Cloud to stay home with Sora. Everyday since Leon was shipped off, Cloud watched the news and nothing else. A radical religious group had attacked Traverse Town and were going to overtake Hallow Bastion if they went unchecked. They claimed to have been sent by God to "purify this world of the plague that has swept through humanity" and thus went by the name of "the Saints" while killing all those they deemed as impure. Any member of the military was put into this category and was ruthlessly eliminated. That name disgusted Cloud to no end. The very idea of those murderers thinking of themselves as holy men plagued Cloud's mind and might have even brought him to disbelieving laughter under different circumstances. Cloud shook his head and rubbed his temples while walking to the front of his and Leon's house and sat on the porch. He remembered the day that Leon had left. The day his love left his arms and took up arms of another kind to protect his family.

6 months earlier.

"Why do you have to be the one to go?" Cloud said with a raised voice and increasing desperation. Leon said nothing, but slowly placed another shirt in his blue duffel bag. "Why do you have to be so goddamn quiet? Talk to me! Say...say something!" Cloud grew more enraged with each word Leon didn't say. He couldn't think. All he could do was yell because he knew that if he couldn't be angry, he'd have to be sad. Leon turned slowly to face Cloud and raised his head to let the light shine down on the red scar that marred his face. A slice right between his eyes. Cloud's eyes gazed upon the scar that crossed Leon's otherwise angelic face and tried not to cringe. Cloud had never had a problem with Leon's scar - he knew that it was a part of his husband's past and could never see him as anything less than beautiful - but now he realized that this time he may not walk out of battle with just a scar. Cloud struggle to find words. "What if..." She began. "What if you aren't so...so lucky this time? I don't want them to have to bring you back." Leon let his eyes shut and tentatively touched the scar on his face, then placed his hand on Cloud's.

"I don't want this to happen to you too." Leon sighed heavily and locked eyes with the blonde. "Now please, don't fight me on this. I don't want to leave angry. The saints are coming and I won't let them take you or our son from me." Leon's hand fell from Cloud's face and he reached for his gunblade and turned to walk out of their room.

"But you'd let them take you from us?" Cloud whispered, embracing Leon from behind.

"Trust me," Leon said, turning to face Cloud and wrapping his own arms around Cloud's waist. "It's better this way." Leon kissed Cloud and Cloud clung to Leon's jacket. Leon ended the kiss and smirked. "You're really making it hard for me to leave but I have to go. I'll come back for you both. I promise."

It was a sunny day when Leon left and there hadn't been another since.