Bring us together

Leon x Aerith.

A/N: My first Kingdom Hearts fic. Please read and review. I want to know what you think. More chapters will be posted soon.

My muse randomly said 'let's write a Kingdom Hearts story. I have absolutely no ideas but heck, let's try it.' So I apologise if it doesn't make a lot of sense and seems confusing. .

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Heart or Final Fantasy VII or VIII. They belong to Square Enix. This is purely for fun.

Theme for this story: The Walk by Imogen Heap

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Aerith watched in agony as the insults were thrown through the air like a ball. For each offensive comment thrown out, there was a more hurtful and violent comeback thrown in return. She didn't even know what had started the argument. It's my fault, isn't it? It always is. She swallowed her tears and tried to control her breathing in hopes that they wouldn't notice how their words affected her.

'Selfish arrogant brat Leon snapped.

'Cold hearted, egotistical bastard.' Yuffie screamed in return.

'You're all just a bunch'a dim-witted kids. You wouldn't even be 'ere without me.' Cid yelled at the both of them, his cigarette long forgotten.

'How would you know old man?!' the ninja continued. 'You probably woulda died without me to look after ya!' she laughed coldly.

'You? You? You don't do anything except get in the way! You useless brat! You don't cook or clean or shop. You're hardly helpful- to any of us!' Leon's spontaneous reply ceased her laughter.

'Maybe not, but neither do you!' she turned on him, her hands on her hips. 'You just leave without a care in the world and go around chopping things up with your stupid gunblade thing!'

'At least I don't steal everything valuable in sight and try to convince everyone that it was someone else or sit in front of the computer, smoking and making a mess all day.' The fierce warrior rounded on Cid.

Aerith held herself, squatting helplessly in a corner. She felt to chilly breeze whisper past her, screaming its own anger at the loud voices that broke its calm course from the mountains. Why are they arguing? It all started out as such a lovely day. Everyone seemed so happy. She closed her eyes and covered her ears as though that could stop all the hurtful words that the breeze carried. She slowly began counting to ten. 1…2…3…4

'Not a single one o' ya does anything around the house.' Cid yelled, pulling out a new cigarette to help ease his mental strain.

Aerith squeezed her eyes shut tighter as her eyelashes grew heavy and wet. She pulled her knees in tighter and pressed harder on her ears. She let out a choking sob, unable to hold back the pain she felt. Their words were like blades. They dug deeper and deeper into her with each assault. 5…6...

'…except you.' a new voice whispered behind her. She felt a cold hand on her bare shoulder. She whirled around, finding nothing behind her other than the white washed wall. She felt like a bundle of nerves and was as taught as a bowstring.

'…you do so much for them…' the eerie voice continued. It sounded so familiar. '…so, so much. But they don't care. They don't even see your pain. They ignore your feelings, your hard work, you…'

Aeriths breath became shallow and irregular. 'N-no. They do…they do care.' She whispered in return. But now that her thoughts were out in the open she couldn't stop the coil of doubt that rose from deep inside her like a cobra snake, rearing it ugly head whenever she was most insecure. All the warmth she had felt before in the afternoon sun had suddenly disappeared and the temperature was dramatically dropping. But the three didn't notice. Their harsh words continued to fly back and forth between them.

'…but don't you see? They still haven't even realised that you're even here.' The cold whisper mocked her, acting like it cared. She shook her head, trying to clear the voice. …7…8…9…she attempted to continue her counting but found the voice was still there, the cold hand still on her shoulder, burning her delicate skin. 'You can't ignore me. No one can. Either make a stand now, make then see you or just die. Die right here. I'm sure the world could use a little more oxygen.' It told her maliciously.

'No.' she countered. 'No. Leave me alone.'

'Close your eyes little one. Just let sleep carry you away.' It sang to her, a lullaby that was respite from her pain. The different pitches in its voice and different tones gave the essence of an entire choir of angels singing to their child.

'..no…' she breathed, unable to fight it. She never made it to ten.

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Yuffie rubbed her arms against the chill of the air. The evening was setting quickly. She hadn't even realised it. She hoped Aerith would have something nice and warm cooking at home, ready for them the moment they stepped through the door like always. She gave a tiny smile that the other two wouldn't notice. Good ol' Aerith. Always there. Always kind. At least she'll still be there for me. Suddenly she remembered. Aerith had been with them when they started arguing. Her eyes widened. Cid stopped insulting her appearance and Leon forgot his insult about her fighting skills mid thought.

Cid glared at her. 'What the hell? What now, brat?' he growled.

Yuffie raised her hands to cover her mouth. 'Aerith.' Was all she said. Shame flared through her. They had all forgotten about the young woman who had been walking with them. She swivelled around, scanning the area while the other two did they same. Similar thoughts and feeling had been going through their minds after she had brought up the name.

The young ninja left the spot she had been standing in for the last hour and rounded the bend. She found a small figure curled into a ball, cradling herself from some unseen enemy.

'Yo! Leon, Cid!' She cried out. The moment they heard her anxious cry everything that had been said in the past hour was forgotten. The can running to her, to Aerith. No matter what, she still manages to bring us together. Yuffie slipped an arm around Aeriths sagging shoulders.

'…no…' Aerith breathed. Yuffie looked down at her, just as Leon and Cid rounded the corner.

'What happened?' Leon asked tenderly as he bent down in front of the pink clad young woman. He gently wiped away the tears that had darkened her eyelashes and struck his very heart.

'I dunno!' Yuffie cried defensively, throwing her hands up. She realised that Leon had only honest and pure intentions in his question and lowered her hands. '…sorry.' She muttered.

Aerith collapsed against Leon and shivered. Yuffie rubbed Aeriths cold, bare arm while Leon slipped his own around the woman slim waist, pulling her limp body closer. Cid gruffly pointed to her right shoulder. 'Whas that?' he asked, indicating a dark red burn contrasting brilliantly with her pale skin. 'It looks like a burn…' he murmured, squatting with the other two.

Yuffie hissed. 'hhhhssss! It looks painful.' The men nodded in agreement, for the first time that day. Leon brushed long strands of chestnut hair out of her weary face. As though he had only just realised that Cid and Yuffie were there, he looked up at them.

'We'd better get her home.' He said, his mind completely on the mission of getting their Aerith home safely. To him it was the most important mission he could have, if not the hardest. Again they nodded in agreement. When Leon got like this, he was their leader, no matter the consequences. They knew he would fight for them at the risk of losing his own life. He scooped Aerith up into his arms and passed her onto Cid. Not a single word was muttered. They both knew that if they got into a fight with heartless, Leon couldn't be tied up carrying the girl. Cid however would be able to stand back and let the warrior and ninja fix the problem.

They got lucky this time. Nothing lurked or leaped at them. The breeze that had been so calm to them, yet so angry to the only one who would listen, reflected its pessimistic thoughts from earlier. It now howled in their ears and tore at their hair and clothes, raging around them, scattering the fallen leaves.

It refused to let Leon open the door. He threw his weight at the door while Cid struggled not to get Aeriths long, thick hair in his mouth. The moment they entered the house Yuffie and Leon began the struggle of shutting the door. The white lace curtains that Aerith had placed over the windows blew wildly as the lock clicked. Cid carefully placed the woman on her freshly made bed. Leon and Yuffie walked in after him after they had checked the other windows and doors around the house.

'I thought people looked peaceful in their sleep.' Yuffie said quietly, her tone sombre. 'What does Aerith look like when she sleeps anyway?' She looked up a Leon whose face was tinged with a faint pink, much to his dismay.

'How would I know?' She gave him a sly look when he answered. His voice was just a tad too high and a smidgen to quick. You may not know, but I bet you want to. She thought evilly. A sadistic smile crossed her lips. Leon looked at her with annoyance. 'What's with that face?'

'Oh, nothing.' She chirruped.

'Yuffie! Why are you smiling? Are you scheming' Cid chuckled at the anxiousness in Leon's voice.

'Remember what we said about you not scheming Yuffie?' he asked. 'It only leads to someone in tears, eh.' The teenager nodded solemnly but in her mind the gears were turning, her latest plan forming.

'Yes. I remember. It usually ends with Leon in tears.' She gave the warrior a cheesy grin. He glared at her and stormed out of the room.

'Ya see what I mean.' Cid said despairingly, shaking his head. 'Get Aerith into her PJ's OK.' He told her sternly before leaving, closing the door behind him.

'Okie Dokie.' Yuffie said, then turned and pulled Aerith's night gown out of the chest of drawers. She ran to the bathroom and wet s towel to clean her burn. She didn't know anything about healing but she'd had Aerith clean enough of her own burns she was sure she had the just of it. She changed the Aerith into her nightgown and wrapped the damp towel around her shoulder. She pulled the blankets up to just below her shoulder and left the room in search of food.