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Public Opinion
No one in Radiant Garden could remember when it was that Cloud and Leon had become a couple. Most residents there believed they'd been attached to the hip since early childhood. You just didn't see one without the other. Well, except for that whole Sephiroth incident, but Heartless and Darkness related matters did not qualify in such cases if you asked them. It wasn't like the pair were public with their relationship. PDA's were something the townspeople couldn't see either man indulging in (Actually, the more dramatic believed such a sighting was sure to be a sign of the Apocalypse…). In fact if it wasn't for a very loud, very fangirlish ninja who happened to live with the two men, it was believed that no one would've ever known the two were together. They were quiet; they kept to themselves for the most part and both were very uncomfortable with public gatherings.
Irregardless, everyone in town knew when the pair was fighting. Cloud would stalk the market place or the bailey, the tightness to his jaw and the hard light in his eyes convincing onlookers that offering a sympathetic ear was likely to get one or both ears ripped off. Leon just wouldn't be seen when he was upset or mad at Cloud. The brunet would hide away in Ansem's study or disappear down to the newly opened Dalmatian Plantation where hundreds of spotted puppies begging for attention took his mind off of Cloud. When he was seen, there would be an odd expression on his face; one that made a person want to hug him yet at the same time run screaming for protection. "The Homicidal Kicked Puppy" as Yuffie had labelled the look, cheerfully ignoring it and jumping on the male brunet every time and refusing to budge as she chattered a steady stream of nonsense into one irritated ear. At least until he ripped her off and threw her into the nearest fountain, however far that may be (Yuffie happily insisted that Leon had once thrown her over two blocks of houses).
Unfortunately, at least according to Yuffie, no one ever knew when they had make up sex (or any sex to her unending dismay). The town would just wake up one day to find the two men walking together in their usual amicable silence.
Aerith smiled knowingly every time Cloud and Leon made the excuse of needing to 'patrol'. She may not have received any military training but even she knew their definition of 'patrolling' had nothing to do with securing the town and everything to do with securing each other, deep in the basements of the castle. Not that she'd tell Yuffie. Tifa, perhaps. The martial artist needed a little more blackmail on Cloud since the blonde had recovered from his last bout with the One Winged Angel (whose latest wardrobe change had plunged still Yuffie into gales of laughter and everyone else tried valiantly not to join her as they remembered Sephiroth's new belt, bracelet and shoulder pads).
Cid merely grunted at Yuffie's plight. Personally, he was still trying to wash his brain free of the gasps and moans and the quiet squeaking of bed springs that he'd heard the other night.
END