"Hey Squall, where's cloud?" Aerith asked, holding Zack's hand as they made their way to Squall's living room.

Squall sighed heavily, "At his boyfriends house."

Now it was Zack's turn to sigh. "He's still with that asshole?"

Squall nodded, "Yeah, no matter how much shit Sephiroth puts him through, Cloud keeps going back."

All three frowned. They all knew how much Cloud claimed to need Sephiroth, but none of them could understand why. The couple fought like they were married and getting divorced, and it wasn't surprising when Cloud would return to Squall's house late at night with bruises, a black eye, or even a bloody nose. But the next day, he'd always find his way back to his abusive boyfriend.

Cloud may have been strong and tough, but Sephiroth was stronger and tougher, and his temper was much more fierce.

"I hate to say it, but maybe you should kick him out?" Aerith's sweet nature made it hard for her to speak up and her inner conflict read all too easily on her innocent face. Squall and Cloud lived as housemates, but Cloud came and went whenever he pleased.

"No, I could never do that." Squall hung his head low in shame.

"I think Aerith has a point, Squall. At times, it feels like Cloud's just using you." Zack remained hesitant but opinionated.

"I don't care!" Squall argued.

"But Squall," Aerith tried to reason.

"I love him!" Squall hid his face in his hands.

"We know and even though he doesn't know how much you do love him, he knows that you care. But for whatever reason, he's still with Sephiroth. And he needs to learn to sleep in the bed he made. Maybe if you kick him out, he'll realize just how much he needs you and he'll leave Sephiroth to come back?" Aerith politely suggested.

"I cant take that risk. What if I lose him forever? It hurts to see the one I love love someone else, but at least I can be here when he needs it."

"What he needs is to grow up! Aerith is right Squall, you can't let Cloud take advantage of you and if it came down to it, I'm sure he'd choose you." Zack stated.

"You think?" Squall perked his head up with a faint sign of hope.

"Well sure. You treat him with respect and kindness and Sephiroth clearly doesn't." Aerith added with a smile to encourage Squall.

"You're right. I deserve all of him, and if I can't get that, then we'll both have to face reality and move on."

At that instant they heard Cloud's keys open the front door and seconds later they heard it slam shut. With a backpack and duffle bag, Cloud walked past the hall by the living room.

"Oh hey." Cloud let his stuff fall to the floor.

"Cloud, I need to talk to you." Squall didn't even turn to look at his taken crush.

"Ok," Cloud was confused but was never really one to show emotions.

Aerith looked to her boyfriend, Zack, who also didn't expect Squall to take the advice this quickly.

"I…I think it's time you decided who you want to live with."

Clouds eyes widened. "What?"

"Instead of randomly going from here to Sephiroth's and back and forth, I think it'd be better if you chose one." Squall finally looked up to meet Cloud's bewildered eyes with his own stern pair.

"Oh. I like it here. Things with Sephiroth aren't always that comfortable."

"Know that if you stay here, you cant stay with Sephiroth."

Cloud blinked in nervousness and hesitation. "Are you telling me to move out or break up with my boyfriend?"

Calmly, Squall nodded. Aerith and Zack continued to watch in silence, both afraid of the intimidating men engaging in a dangerous conversation.

"Funny, I thought you cared." Cloud scoffed and began to leave when an angered Squall stood up and yelled after him.

"You have no idea how much I care! But I can't sit around and watch Sephiroth beat the shit out of you and force you to be fucked and then I come to rescue you and the next damn day you're back with that asshole!" Cloud froze at Squall's words. They struck a nerve deep inside him and made him want to cry, because he knew it was true.

"I'm sorry I'm such an inconvenience to you." Cloud apologized, his words empty. "I'll make sure not to bother you again." Cloud grabbed his backpack and ran out the door.

"Cloud, wait!" Squall shouted, now standing, his voice outmatched by the sound of Fenrir, Cloud's motorcycle that he treated more like his own blood. The trio in Squall's house could hear Fenrir peeling away from the curb before it sped off.

The twenty two year old brunette sat back down and pushed tears into his fists as he wouldn't allow himself to cry in front of others.

"Great, now he's gone forever!"

Aerith moved to comfort him. "You did the right thing. Don't worry, it won't be long till he realizes that he needs you."

Zack sighed the tension away. "Yeah, something tells me that he'll be back soon."

Author's Note: Just a random CloudXSquall i wrote a while ago. When i wrote it, i had the name Leon instead of Squall, so i apologize if i accidentally go back and forth between the two names. To be honest, i probably wont update as often as i'd like. Feeling super down and i suddenly just lost all inspiration and hope to continue. As of right now, all my writing has stopped. But i figured i should at least the first chapter. So i hope you continue to read this story as it continues, once i'm able to update. Thanks

Sarabellum