This is a request from Namelesshobo on DeviantArt for a LeonCloud using the prompt Secret. This will be three parts and DONE by the end of the month. I'm slowly catching up on this stuff.

Things Unspoken

"I'm glad this place came back," Sora stated loudly, hopping down the steps of Second District. "I about flipped out when we saw it was gone."

"It wasn't gone, Sora," Riku followed his boyfriend with much less enthusiasm. "It just wasn't accessible at that time."

Cloud only partially paid attention to the teenaged couple's conversation. His mind was otherwise occupied wondering where his own lover had yet again wandered off to. This was the third time that Leon had mysteriously disappeared.

The four had arrived in Traverse Town two days prior. Sora had been noticeably excited about it and after some prodding, had gotten Leon to admit that he was curious to see what the world he had called home for a little over a year was now like. Riku had been rather quiet about everything and Cloud really did not care either way.

After meeting with Reeve and Vincent, Sora had insisted on Leon and him giving Riku and Cloud a tour of the three main districts. Later on, Vincent would show them around the Fourth and recently opened Fifth. Before setting off, however, Leon had somehow managed to excuse himself from the sightseeing and disappeared for nearly two hours.

When he had returned to the hotel, his hair was slightly disheveled and he appeared oddly relaxed. Cloud had not asked where he had gone when they headed out for dinner, though he was a bit put off at being left behind. Upon returning to the room that night, Leon had rather vigorously pinned him to the bed and any thought of the event quickly left the blond.

Yesterday, there had been more meetings and Cloud had somehow gotten roped into helping Sora show Vincent how to work some of the odd mechanics and hidden secrets of Third District. Thankfully, Riku had also been dragged along and while Sora was running around Cloud and Riku were able to keep each other amused. Since meeting one another a few months ago, Cloud and the silvered teen had gotten along extremely well.

They had shared a few laughed at Sora's expense, earning several pouts from the younger teen. It was not until Sora threatened Riku with no sex for the rest of the trip that they stopped. Riku had left Cloud's side to wrap his arms around the smaller boy's waist and plead forgiveness and after a second of watching the two, Cloud wandered off.

The spiky-haired man walked around Third District alone for about an hour before Leon found him. The scarred man lifted an eyebrow at him before falling into place beside him. Cloud wanted to ask where Leon had gone but again did not. It simply was not the kind of relationship they had.

Then today at breakfast when Sora had announced that he thought they should all go shopping in Second District, Leon had once again slipped away. Now Cloud traipsed around with the two teenagers, brooding. He was beginning to feel like Leon was hiding something from him.

"Cloud."

The blond glanced up to find both Riku and Sora frowning at him. "What?"

Riku smirked as Sora folded his arms. "Leon didn't tell you where he was going again, did he?"

"He never does," muttered Cloud.

Sora frowned and tilted his head. "You don't know where Leon's been disappearing to, either?"

Cloud shrugged. "He doesn't have to tell me anything."

"Uh, well he should," Sora gestured widely with one arm. "You're his boyfriend. I mean, you don't need to know every little detail but he should at least be telling you where he's going! Does he even tell you when he leaves?"

The older man did not bother to answer.

Riku glanced at Cloud before placing a hand on Sora's shoulder. "Cloud and Leon are really different from us, Sor."

"Well, I know that, Riku." The younger half of the couple rolled his eyes. "The point is that now that they're together, they need to talk to each other, even if it's only the really basic stuff. I don't expect them to totally change who they are but it they're going to date each other, they need to start acting like it!"

"Who said we were dating?" Cloud softly interjected.

Both of the others looked at him. Riku narrowed his eyes slightly and Sora appeared stunned. "Uh, well… everyone knows you're…"

"That doesn't mean we're dating," Cloud stated rather tersely. He turned away from the couple and decided he was done out here. He still did not know why he had agreed to come with in the first place.

As he headed back up the steps, Leon suddenly walked through the District doors. He paused when he saw Cloud approaching him and frowned when the blond brushed wordlessly past him. Cloud did not bother to stop as he exited.

He simply continued walking, suddenly feeling extremely annoyed and more than a little frustrated. It should not be bothering him as much as it did that Leon was randomly disappearing and that was actually bothering him more. He respected the other man's privacy just as much as he knew Leon did his.

They were not dating. Cloud would not even call what they had a relationship per say. He and Leon had always been companionable and looking back, there had been an underlying attraction almost from the start. While it had been quite sudden when they began having sex with one another, neither had been terribly shocked about it.

There was never talk of love or emotions, if anything they were friends with benefits. Both were perfectly content with that arrangement and even though Yuffie and sometimes Aerith liked to tease them, no one questioned it. Everyone could believe whatever it was they wanted about them.

"Cloud," Riku's voice came softly from behind him.

Had it been anyone else, Cloud would have kept walking. He came to a stop and waited for the silvered teen to come up beside him. Riku did not look at him, keeping his face down and his hands in his pockets. The pair fell into step with one another as they began walking.

After a few minutes of silence, Riku spoke again, "Leon's worried about you, not that he actually said anything."

Cloud did not say anything.

Riku sighed. "You know, the two of you really are made for each other. It's a shame that neither of you can see it."

The older man glanced over, still not speaking.

"If you really want to know where Leon's going," they approached the hotel. "Just ask him."

Riku moved ahead, going inside while Cloud hesitated. Riku made it sound simple when it was not. Things were just… complicated, relationships were complicated. That was the last thing Cloud needed, another worry in his life.

He felt someone looking at him and found Leon leaning in the doorway, watching him. Despite all the irritation he was feeling, particularly toward the sable-haired man, he got a faint, warm feeling in his chest upon seeing him. He forced it away and took the last few steps to the hotel's back entrance.

Before he could pass, Leon reached out and took his arm. When Cloud looked at him, the younger man gave him an unreadable look. They gazed at each other for a breath of time, neither one moving.

Then Leon released Cloud's arm and the two headed in for dinner.

--0—0—