Disclaimer: I do not own Cloud, Leon, Sora, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, or the song The Saints Are Coming. I just write.
This chapter's a little lighter, but don't worry. It'll be back t emo level by the next chapter.
-------------------------------
Cloud opened the door and quickly flattened himself against it as Sora rushed past his feet. He had always been in a rush, no matter where he went and never lost his smile. That smile looked just like Leon's. He looked so much like Leon, except for his hair. That he had gotten from Cloud. His sunny disposition was a mystery though. It was a safe bet to say that Cloud and Leon were both pessimists to say the least, but their lives had shaped them to be that way. Leon had always said, "Hey, you know what they say. 'Misery loves company'." Who knew that misery was so narcissistic? But then Sora came into this world - a bright, sunny rainbow of joy - and his parents were baffled. Though his happiness had changed his parents. His smile was infectious and he could easily make Cloud and Leon see the brighter side.
Cloud smiled as Sora rushed to his room and came back with one of his dolls. "I'm gonna be jus' like daddy when I grow up!" It was and army doll and Sora held it up with pride. "I'm not gonna be afraid a' anything!" Cloud struggled to not cry, but was able to grin at the thought of his gentle son in battle. And his confidence was admirable. How could he be so sure of Leon when Cloud was so plagued with worry all the time?
Just then he heard it. The phone. Leon only got one phone call a month and it had been exactly 28 days since Cloud had gotten a call. Few other people called him around the end of the month because he would hang up on them in order to keep the line clear. He didn't want to miss his one chance to speak with Leon and wouldn't miss it now. But where was the phone? Cloud listened as the ringing reverberated through their small house. Where is it? Cloud thought to himself, dropping his groceries at the door and throwing pillows across the room. It wasn't in the couch. "Hello? Cloud? Are you there?" It was Leon's voice on the answering machine. No! Cloud screamed in his head as he felt his time slipping away.
"It's daddy! It's daddy!" Sora yelled, jumping up and down.
"Sora, be quiet!" Cloud said harchly. He hated speaking that way to Sora, but he needed to find the phone. He swung his head swiftly from left to right, searching desperately for the phone.
"I guess I missed you..." Leon's voice said. There! Cloud screamed in his head as he spotted the phone and dove for it.
"Leon!" he scream, seconds after pressing the talk button.
"Oh! Hi. I thought I'd missed you. Are you okay? Why'd you scream?" Leon asked, worried.
"Oh, it's nothing. I-I couldn't find the phone." Cloud covered, a little embarrassed. "And why do you always ask if I'm okay? You're the one that's..." Cloud trailed off. He had started out joking, but reality always brought him back.
"Don't get yourself all worked up. I'm fine," Leon reassured. "Right now we've got a bit of a break. There are no saints in our sector, so we're gonna be resting for the next few days. I figured I'd call you a little early." The smile was audible in Leon's voice and it relaxed Cloud the ay only Leon could.
"Well that's good," Cloud smiled. He felt something tugging at his leg and looked down to see his very anxious son.
"Can I talk to daddy this time?" Sora asked with his best puppy dog eyes.
"Let me ask daddy, okay?" Cloud said, trying to not get Sora's hopes up. Leon might be busy or have a limited time frame, but Sora hadn't been able to talk to him for the last three phone calls. "Are you busy? Sora really wants to say hi."
"I told you we've got some down time. Put him on," Leon answered happily. Cloud could tell that Leon was also anxious to talk to his son. Cloud hand ed the phone to Sora who grabbed it and quickly started talking about how he wanted to see his dad soon because he wanted to show him his new toys and play in the park and all those things little kids talk about. Cloud smirked and sat on the couch he had just ripped all the pillows off of. Oh yeah. Cloud thought. I should clean this up. Cloud got up from the bare couch and started replacing the cream cushions back on the couch.
Cloud collapsed back onto the now cushioned couch as Sora came running in. "Daddy said he wants to talk to you again," Sora said, trusting the phone into his father's face. Cloud grabbed the phone and sunk into the couch.
"Hello?" he said into the receiver.
"Hey Cloud. Just wanted to finish talking to you before I have to stop hogging the phone. How are you doing? Is money okay? You're not seeing anyone else, are you" Leon asked. Cloud could tell the last one was a joke.
"I told you to stop worrying. We're fine. And you're the only man for me, you know that," Cloud said into the phone.
"Can you blame me? I tell you to stop worrying about me, but that doesn't seem to stop you." Leon retorted. Cloud grumbled something incoherent causing Leon to chuckle. "Well, I should get off the line. I love talking to you, but I've got a hunch the other to guys glaring at me right now like talking to their loved ones too." Cloud laughed at that.
"Tell them to go screw themselves. This is our line!" Cloud joked.
"Okay, one second," Leon said. He wouldn't. Cloud thought to himself. Then he thought again. He would. Leon's voice could be heard through the phone talking to whoever was in the room with him. "My husband says that this is our line and that you should go screw yourselves. Okay. I'll let him know. They say that the phone is going to be shoved where the sun doesn't shine if I don't get off."
"Aww...fine. I guess I'll have to let you go," Cloud chuckled. "I love you."
"Love you too, darling," Leon said softly. "Hey, shut up!" Laughter could be heard from the other guys in the room as well as the kicks and punches that soon followed. "I'll talk to you later. I've got to...uhh...take care of some stuff."
"Okay babe. Have fun kicking their asses. Bye!" Cloud said into the receiver, then hung up the phone. He breathed out. Well at least he's okay...for now.
