Author's Notes: I figured I needed to contribute to the LeonRiku fandom, so… yeah. I'm so sorry. I can't help that Leon is emotionally constipated.
A oneshot drabble… thing. Aha. It's strange. And not happy. Don't hurt me, please.
"To the Start"
A sad story, told backwards. ('Cause you don't know what ya got till it's gone.)
by: Rosalyn Angel
-
He looks at things differently now.The bed is bigger. He can roll over and meet nothing there. He can stretch out and not be bothered. He can hog the blankets and there'd be no one to tug them back.
But the coffee takes too long to boil. He has to stand at the counter and glare at it. It does nothing but bubble. Before, a cup would've already been on the table, waiting for him.
The couch is longer. He can lie down full-length, prop up his feet, settle in, and take a nap. There'd be no one to wake him up to get in bed.
But the television is too loud. It's all he hears. There's no voice talking over it. Instead of turning it up, he has to turn it down.
There's no one else here.
"Do you love me, Squall?"
"Mister Leonhart?"
He's sitting in an uncomfortable chair, fingers interlocked and forehead resting on his hands. The tiled floor is boring. He keeps looking at it.
"Mister Leonhart."
There's a woman dressed in a white coat, calmly clutching a clipboard. She looks down at him with practiced sadness.
It's hot in the white room. His hands feel clammy. Maybe he should sit back.
"Sir, we need you to fill out some forms." She pauses, waiting for his reaction. He doesn't move. "Please, they're important."
Hospitals are depressing.
"They're for your friend's death certificate."
He looks up slowly, and takes the form into his hands.
His name was Riku.
He can't do anything but stare through the window. He's not allowed inside the room. He doesn't really think about anything in particular. Just puts a hand on the window and watches numbly.
The people inside have a lot of blood on their coats.
They order each other around. There are a lot of beeping machines and bodies scrambling.
He can't see Riku's face between them.
"Squall, tell me you love me."
It's late when he receives the call. He ignores the phone for a while, but it rings incessantly.
Sighing, he answers it with a murmured hello.
"Squall? Oh, thank God. You need to come to the hospital right away. You have to hurry."
He frowns, staring at the coiled phone cord, and asks what for.
"It's Riku. Riku got into an accident."
"I'll be back later, Squall. Love you."
His fingers are running down Riku's side. They lie together in bed, blankets tangled at their legs. Their breaths are smooth and even, Riku held back against his chest. The room is still and peaceful.
Riku's head tilts slightly. "Are you awake?"
He mutters something into Riku's silver hair.
Riku's voice is quiet.
"Do you love me, Squall?"
Riku is smiling.
He never said it.
-fin
