Once Upon a December

By: Aerys Krystie/Schwarz tot schwarz das Bloot.

Theme: AU.

Plot: It's December, and Leon only wants one thing for Christmas. The gorgeous blond he is sharing a bed with…

Warnings: Yaoi, sexual content, language, semi non-consensual sexual intercourse, OOC-ness.

Disclaimer: The characters of Kingdom Hearts do not belong to me.

The smell of pancakes was throughout the house. The scent of coffee joining it. They were usually what got people out of bed in the mornings, especially if they had a wild night before. As it had been for Cloud, much to everyone's shock.

Everyone thought that Cloud was a coldhearted bastard that only had sex with Sephiroth. They were half right. But from time to time, Cloud enjoyed getting completely drunk and screwing the first woman he set his eyes on. He usually regretted it in the morning. The women he brings home usually had scratchy voices, and did not go well with his hangover.

Except, last night, he did nothing like that. He had been out with Leon. Not generally a mistake, if he didn't remember what he did. Though, this time he did remember what he did. And waking up in Leon's arms didn't help much.

Though he would never admit that he enjoyed being wrapped up in those arms, Cloud liked to be the one who cuddled. It was some weird habit he had picked up from when Sephiroth had been human and allowed Cloud to take him. He had always wanted to cuddle the person from that night on.

Right now, he was staring a lightly tanned chest. Leon was groaning and pulling away, rolling to his back. For some reason, that was how Leon always woke up. Cloud knew this as he watched Leon on more than one occasion. It was fascinating, albeit a little disturbing, to Cloud anyway.

He actually wasn't sure why he was so intrigued with Leon and his habits. Or even how and when it happened. Not that it mattered. Everyone knew that Cloud was as straight as they came now. After the whole "Sephiroth trying to destroy the world" incident, Cloud refused to sleep with another man and converted back to the way he was before joining Soldier. Well, more like before trying to join Soldier.

'Why are you watching me? Are going to do a documentary or something?'

Cloud came out of his thoughts at the sound of Leon's voice. He gave a grunt and stood from the bed, stretching. He was sure someone was playing the bongo drums in there, and he was sure he was going to kill the beatnik that was doing it.

Leon snickered. 'Is something wrong, Cloud?'

Cloud shot Leon a glare over his shoulder before leaving the room. He went down the hall to the bathroom, knowing that there would be no-one in there. He could hear Aerith and Yuffie talking in the kitchen, and, well, he knew where Leon was.

He yawned as he entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He removed what clothing he was wearing, which was everything, aside from his shoes. He dumped his clothes into his basket and turned the water on in the shower. He closed his eyes as steam came up and brushed his face.

Knowing that Leon would be in shortly to brush and wash his face, Cloud stepped into the small cubicle and closed the door. He tilted his head towards the current, smiling softly. When the bathroom door opened, he watched Leon come in and go to the basin.

'You're doing it again, Cloud,' Leon called as he got his toothbrush.

Cloud frown, and started washing his hair. When he had the conditioner settling, he washed his body. By the time he rinsed the conditioner out, Leon had left, closing the bathroom door. Cloud turned the shower off, watching the water going down the drain. He sighed, shaking his head, riding his hair of the water, and then stepped out.

He dried his body, wrapped the towel around his waist and left the bathroom, going back to the bedroom. His headache had gone down a little, and was not surprised to see two aspirin and a glass of water on the bedside chest. He took the tablets and dressed in black jeans and a dark blue sweater then joined the others for breakfast.

He sat at the table, beside Aerith and across from Leon, who, as usual, paid minimal attention to him. True, when they first went out together, whatever happened that they might regret the morning after, they would blame on the alcohol. And that was what upset Cloud the most. The fact that Leon wouldn't say a thing to him.

Cloud ate his pancakes quietly. The aspirin had taken enough of an effect to allow him to think without causing too much pain. Why do I even care about this? When and why did I become this complicated? I don't even know what's going inside me anymore.

Cloud looked at the three pancakes still on his plate, before pushing them away. He drank his coffee in silence, staring at the top of Leon's hair. Did he always have that amount of lighter brown? God, why am I asking you? He finished his coffee, taking it to the sink.

It was customary that whoever cooked, the other two would do the dishes. It was always the same. The girls cooked, and the guys cleaned up. It was a good routine, although there was one time that Cloud wanted to cook and after that night, was banned from ever thinking of cooking again. That suited Cloud just fine. He didn't want food poisoning again, and knew the others didn't want it as well.

The girls took the dishes up to the sink and left the kitchen, discussing something to do with the little garden they had. Leon sat in his chair, lazily swirling the last of his coffee before drinking it and standing. He picked up the tea towel and waited for Cloud to begin the dishes.

Cloud collapsed onto the sofa, groaning. It had taken over two hours to get the dishes done. It wouldn't have taken that long with Leon had just kept quiet and done his job. The girls had come in to see what the commotion was, and had ordered them to clean the water off the counters, table, chairs, windows, fridge, walls, ceiling, floors…To clean all the water up and finish the dishes.

Leon was currently sitting on the arm of the sofa, resting against the back; head tilted back, eyes closed. Cloud couldn't help but study the brunette's portrait. He quickly looked away when Leon sighed, moving to stand.

'I'm going for a walk. I'll be back a little later.' Without waiting for a response, Leon grabbed his bolero and left the house without another word.

'You like him, don't you?'

'Holy shit!' Cloud jumped to his feet, staring at a grinning Aerith. 'What the hell are you trying to do? Give me an early death?'

Aerith giggled. 'Actually, I'm just trying to help you with your man problem.'

Cloud's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'I do not have a man problem, Aerith. If anything, it's just a man crush. Oh, god! That sounded worse.'

Aerith moved around the sofa to sit on it. 'So what's the problem?'

Cloud laughed harshly. 'There is no problem, Aer. There never has been, never will be.'

'Cloud, how many times have you been able to lie to me?' Aerith looked at the blond.

Cloud thought of all the times he tried to lie to her. '…Never.'

'Exactly. Now, sit down, don't complain, and just tell me what the problem is.' Aerith patted the place beside her, and waited for Cloud to do as he was told.

I know this one is taking a different turn to the original, but I actually am hoping it will turn out better. Please review! It would be much appreciated.

::.Beat of the rising sun, beat of the rising sun,

You gotta feel the dance, it's always in your heart.::

Peace

Auska.