I'm a teeeensy bit late on this one. Sorry, everyone.
Happy (belated) Valentine's Day!!!
Allergy Warnings: A dead person communicating across the veil. Angsty Leon. Angst that will hopefully make you at least tear up.
Leon reluctantly dragged himself out of bed. He went through the motions without feeling anything; he got up, showered, dressed, made coffee, and began reading the newspaper. The brunette didn't have the need to rush, considering his boss had allowed him the day off. Once bored with catching up on what was going on in the world outside of his personal shell, he realized what day it was: the one-year anniversary of his lover's death; it was also Valentine's Day.
"Cloud…" he whispered. "I don't know if you hear me. I… I don't know where you are, if you even exist anymore… but…" He smiled wistfully. "Valentine's Day was always your favorite holiday. Every year, all you wanted was a single rose. I never understood that, by the way." He laughed humorlessly. "I'm no good at this. I… I guess… Happy Valentine's Day, love."
With tears in his eyes, Leon finished his coffee.
Two hours later found him with a scrapbook of them and their friends. Page after page was filled with smiling faces, all unknowing of the tragedy that would take their beloved friend. Leon finally came to the last page. It was blank, save for the last picture ever taken of Cloud. Leon and Cloud were standing in front of Tifa's bar, where they held the blonde's twenty-fifth birthday party.
He was only a week older than twenty-five…
"Damn it! He… Cloud never did anything… He'd barely begun his life, and… he gets taken away from me…" Leon was sobbing into his arms. "If… If this is some 'master plan,' I refuse to be a part of it!"
He missed Cloud so much. He missed being held at times like these, he missed the other's laughter, he missed his beautiful blue-green eyes, he missed soft touches urging him to sleep at night, he missed waking up with his arms around that slender waist, he missed gentle kisses and not-so-innocent touches when no one was looking… Fuck, he would give anything to have Cloud back.
Now angry at the unfairness of Fate, he shut the scrapbook and all but threw it onto the chair across from him: Cloud's chair. He could almost hear the blonde playfully scolding him for throwing things in the house.
Deciding a nap would be a good idea, Leon made his way up to the bedroom. He stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Cloud's side of the bed. Laying there was a single red rose, along with what the brunette assumed was a letter. Afraid of tainting either, he carefully picked up the letter.
Leon,
I miss you. It hurts, watching over you without being able to make the pain stop. You know I would give anything to be there for you, but my turn's over. Find someone else, make him happy! It's what I want. Maybe then, I won't have to watch you hurt so much.
I love it when you talk to me. Yes, I do hear you, and I obviously still exist. I swore that I'd always protect you, didn't I? I don't make idle promises; you should know that.
Happy Valentine's Day, Leon. I love you, always and forever.
--Cloud
Leon couldn't help the tears falling. "I love you, too, Cloud," he managed to choke out. He could swear he felt a warmth encircling him and a soft kiss on the forehead before he was cold and alone again.
Reviews would be much appreciated. Now I'll go back to thinking up ideas for Soleil, because I'm stuck.