A/N: More feels for you. Enjoy. Xx
Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Square Enix and/or Disney. No infringement intended, no profit made.
Hero
"What was he like?" the question is asked softly and carefully because Cloud knows that this is a delicate subject and he must tread lightly, if he wants to know.
Leon's chest clenches and he swallows twice to give himself time to answer. He shouldn't be so unprepared for this. He knew he would have to talk about it sooner or later; talk about him.
He shifts on his back slightly, as if to get comfortable and he raises his arm above his head, raking his fingers through his dark sable bangs. He furrows his brows under the weight of Cloud's gentle stare and he tries to think back. He's gotten so good at blocking everything out that he has to take a few seconds to recall his past and all its details, most of which are lost in the fog of time and Guardian Forces anyway.
"He was tall." It's the first thing that Leon can remember and he doesn't know why but that fact makes him chuckle. For a man who was so important to him, the first thing that should stick in his mind was that he was tall is such an inconsequential detail. "And confident. Almost to a point of arrogance. But I liked that. He… he was never afraid… of anything." Leon felt the old stirrings of longing and admiration; their presence like a physical weight in his chest. "I wish I could have been like that. He… he didn't care what anyone thought of him." And Leon knew; he had cared too much.
"He could just about beat me at anything. He was a challenge. He made me better, I…" and here Leon had to stop, because he was no longer Leon, he was Squall again; young and confused, insecure and self-hating - unable to do anything right. Impotent to save everything he had ever cared about. When he spoke again, his voice was thick and shaking with emotion, though determined. "He never let me down. Not once. Not even when everyone else thought he had betrayed us." And for a man who knew what it was to be a failure – to let people down, it was the most important thing Seifer had ever done. Leon could only wish he were that selfless.
Leon's pain was shot through with soothing emotion as Cloud curled himself tighter around him. Thinking of his past was always painful for him, but Cloud… well; he could always, always make him feel better.
"Sounds like someone I know." The younger replied, placing a small, soft kiss to the brunet's temple, his quiet, rumbling voice resonating through his chest.
Leon scoffed but was cut off from saying anything else by a knowing hand against his cheek, turning his face gently towards the blond swordsman, whose eyes seemed to shine with patience and love.
"You've never let me down." Cloud told him simply, meaning every single word. "From the moment you got here you've never let a single person down."
And although he tried, although he wanted to, Leon couldn't argue. Because he had tried his best and he had fought every day with everything he had to never let it all happen again. He only hoped he was winning this time. He didn't know what he'd do if he failed again. If he… lost Cloud.
Leon turned them both over, pinning Cloud to the sheets beneath them and devoured him with his mouth, kissing every inch of pale skin, making new memories to replace old.
All his life, in this world and his last, all Leon had ever wanted was to be strong enough. To bear the weight of responsibility, to be a good enough partner, friend, lover. And although it had cost him dearly he knew that this time, that this chance would be the one he would get right.
Or he would die trying.