AN: Prompt number 34 - "do you really understand me?"
They spar because it's something that makes sense to them both. They've been warriors for years now, after all – it's all they know. The secret waterway beneath Merlin's house has been their training ground ever since Cloud first arrived. Not even Yuffie dared to disturb them there.
At the end of a particularly intense sparring session, neither of them could summon the energy to return to the house in which they lived, or even upstairs to Merlin's house.
"Why do we insist on doing this, Strife? What good does it do?"
Cloud shrugged. "Aerith says it's something to do with us understanding each other more than any of them do."
"Do you, Cloud? Do you really understand me?"
"I could ask you the same thing. I don't, honestly, know." Their eyes met, glittering dangerously. "But I know that you need me."
Weapons discarded, they reached for each other. Hands tangled in hair and pulled at clothes as their mouths met fiercely – this was as much a battle for dominance as their earlier fight had been.
On the raised part of the ground, out of the water, Leon pinned Cloud down, holding his arms above his head. "Keep them there."
"Leon…"
"I mean it." He punctuated the statement by pressing his hips firmly into Cloud's, who let out a groan.
Cloud closed his eyes, knowing that Leon was going to be a tease, and not touching him was going to be difficult. Watching the blond's expression, Leon smirked. Cloud had been right, when he said Leon needed him, but the reverse was just as true.
"Quit being a tease, Leon, and fucking fuck me already." Cloud had clearly reached the limit of his patience.
"Sure about that, Cloud?"
"Yes, damn it."
…………………
When they eventually made their way back to the house they were staying in (it wasn't home – it would never be home), Cloud was limping slightly and Leon looked incredibly pleased with himself.
"Leon! You're not supposed to hurt him so badly that he can't walk! We need him to help us fight the Heartless!" Aerith sounded indignant, and quickly cast Cure on Cloud. They knew she had the cause of his limp completely wrong, and neither of them was prepared to correct her.
"I don't understand you two, I really don't."
AN: A smug Leon, a satisfied Cloud, and a confused Aerith. What more could they ask for? (Reviews, of course, would be nice.)