Thank You

Leon found it hard to believe that Cloud would let anything like that happen. That Cloud could let something so… so… so personal, so violent happen to him. Cloud was strong. But then Leon berated himself. He mustn't think like that. It wasn't Cloud's fault.

"H…he…he did what?" Leon asked. Not sure that he had heard correctly.

Every nerve, every muscle in Cloud's body was tense and tightly wound. Even his breathing had stopped for a moment or two as he finally managed to push the words out.

"He…h…he made…" He couldn't do it. He couldn't say it a second time.

Leon seemed to understand. Upon seeing Cloud turn his pale ashamed face away knowing that there would be moisture pricking the corners of his eyes, Leon took a step forward but hesitated to touch him. He wasn't sure whether the gesture would be welcome, considering…

After a few moments of awkward silence Cloud spoke. "Doesn't matter any way." His voice low, just the hint of a quiver in it. "He's gone now."

When Cloud turned back to face Leon his expression was calm and his mask back in place. But Leon was not fooled. He had known this man too long. Had been intimate with him. How could he not know him inside out?

Those eyes. They told him all he needed to know.

Closing the remaining distance between them Leon reached up and placed his hand firmly on Cloud's cheek. God he had been away from this man for too long.

"When you went away…" Leon began, but he didn't know what to say. Didn't know how to say. "But…now your back…" He was no good at this, he knew.

Cloud turned his face away again his eyes averted to the ground where they belonged.

"Look at me." Leon demanded with an air of authority he didn't feel. Cloud did but Leon could tell his tentative gaze was wavering. "…'t's okay." He tried to reassure. He tried desperately for Cloud to just know. Everything was going to be okay.

Pulling Cloud into a hug he placed a kiss to his temple. He heard Cloud heave a heavy sigh his hands reaching up to claw at Leon's back, clinging for the first time in… How long had it been?

"When it was happening…" Cloud chocked out. When had he started crying? He took in a few much needed gulps of air, trying to push out his words. They stuck in his throat he was so god dammed ashamed. "I thought of you." He whispered, as if he spoke them any louder the words would have broken into a thousand pieces and become untrue.

"You…" he tried again holding even tighter to Leon. "You helped me… You don't even know…" he trailed again. His face buried in Leon's neck.

Tears pricked at Leon's eyes. "Shhh." He tried to sooth, all the while knowing it would never be enough.

When Cloud pulled away, the tears had stopped but his face was still damp with them. He was just inches away from Leon's face. He could feel the older man's breath ghosting his cheek, the moisture accentuating the sensation.

"Thank you." He said simply. Leon didn't know what he was saying thank you for, but he suspected it was for all of it.

A/N Review's are like Crack to me!!