After it ends, Peace reigns

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Pairings: (by order of appearance in this chapter) Leon/Cloud; Riku/Sora; Tifa/Aerith

Rating: Hmm, I'll keep it safe and give it an M for latter chapters.

Warning: Leon/Cloud naughty business and some curse words.

AN: This is the continuation of Cloud's flashback. Well, I wrote porn (-ish)... I know it's bad... I still have a ways to go...

Chapter Two: We do strange things

Both men descended the stairs and Leon showed Cloud the way to the kitchen. It had a nice kind of feeling to it. This room was not what you would expect from Leon. Everything from the cupboards to the chairs and the table was made from a very light wood. It made the room look brighter, happier even. Very unlike Leon.

While Leon headed to the fridge, the blond-haired man sat down at the table. There were only two chairs. That's strange. – Thought Cloud – Since Leon has such a lone wolf demeanor, you would think he'd only have a single item. Like only one pillow or chair. This can't be for decoration purposes. Maybe… - Realization stroke him. – Maybe it's because of me? – Without him noticing, a small smile made its way to his face. – That's slightly heartwarming. That he would make space in his home just for me.

-Cloud? Hey, Cloud! – Leon was standing right next to him, with a hand on his shoulder. – Are you ok? –When the other nodded in affirmation, looking a little surprised he continued. – You were spacing out…

The blond warrior really was surprised. Not only had he been distracted from his thoughts by the very cause of them, but he had also been granted the honor of seeing Leon's concern frown again. It was happening very often today.

-I'm sorry. – He managed to say. – It won't happen again. Were you saying something?

-Don't worry about it. You don't have to apologize. – He calmed down. Cloud was acting strange and he thought the other might have been sicker than he said. Maybe he had a fever or something. – I was asking if you wanted a slice of apple pie.

-Y-yeah, that would be nice. – Cloud had been distracted with Leon's scar again. He blamed it on the proximity. – Damn! If I keep getting all flustered because of the mark of a healed flesh wound he'll start thinking I have mental problems.

But when Leon didn't say anything about it, he relaxed. Maybe he hadn't noticed. It wasn't that noticeable to begin with, it was just a little stutter. Nobody notices those things - He thought. Softly, he heard Leon's voice directed at him. This time it was so relaxed, so calm and paused but sultry all the same. It made Cloud feel like he was melting. He was blushing slightly and he had to force himself to breath. The fact that Leon looked at him when he didn't answer right away didn't exactly help matters. Those eyes… oh my, those eyes. So innocent at that exact moment but he felt like they were looking right into him. And that cursed scar! Shiva, why are you doing this to me? – thought Cloud. He was all this worked up and all Leon had said was…

-Do you want milk?

The younger man decided he should keep his eyes on the tablecloth. The pretty, pretty tablecloth with the storm clouds that was long enough to hide his erection. So helpful and practical – contemplated Cloud. He could only let out, in this mess that Leon made him, one word.

-P-Please.

The brunet decided that the blond definitely had a fever. He took the pie with one hand and the milk carton with the other out of the fridge and closed the door with his foot. He set them on the table and went to fetch two plates and two cups. It was nice having someone over even if he wouldn't admit it. He liked this, having somebody with him to talk to and eat with. It was very… domestic. Even if he didn't talk much when he went to work or just went out – which wasn't very often – he always thought that having someone with him in his home would be a way to open himself up. That was why he didn't invite anybody there, he didn't know if he was prepared to show his true self to another person, but with forced events and all… He couldn't very well leave Cloud to die on his doorstep. He always had seen the man as interesting to say the least. Someone he could relate to and talk to – if he did talk. So it was only normal that he felt at ease with having to care for Cloud and sharing his house with him…right? He cut the pie with a knife he managed to keep settled in one of the cups as well as the forks – he had a habit of doing everything at once – and set the slices on the plates, then he poured the milk into the cups and handed Cloud his share. He sat down at the table in front of the blond. The table was made for four people so they weren't uncomfortable. He picked up the fork and started eating, noticing that the younger of the two had started doing the same. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he smile a little.

-This is really good! – said Cloud. This apple pie was possibly the best he had ever tasted. – Did Aerith bake this?

-Thank you. –Leon answered. He felt slightly offended with Cloud mentioning Aerith. When he pictured a meal with someone in his house he always thought the conversation they would have would be about themselves. – Actually, I baked it. I'm glad you like it.

Cloud was caught by surprise again. Leon had baked this pie? It was simply amazing, the taste had been really brought out and this sweet goodness was getting him addicted. If Aerith had baked it, he wouldn't have given it much thought. They were childhood friends so he was used to her cooking. She didn't actually have anything she really liked doing when she was growing up except baking cakes, cookies, puddings and all the sweet treats you could imagine. Then she turned her attention to cooking things other than desserts. Everyone thought she would be a chef, but she opened the gift shop instead. Ah well, couldn't be helped. Now, Leon being an expert at making desserts? That was simply… he didn't even have a word for it. The brunet really was more than he let out. Could you be any more desirable? – Cloud thought.

-It really is good. – He said. Then he noticed Leon was looking down at his plate. He looked almost sad. Maybe it was because he had associated good cooking with Aerith. As if he had been saying that any other person other than her didn't know how to cook to save their lives. Everybody knew he couldn't. – I'm sorry I thought Aerith had made it. I didn't know you could cook so well, so I just associated it with somebody I knew cooks well. But, honestly? I bet she can't even compare to you when it come to baking apple pie. You're a really good cook, Leon.

Now it was Leon's turn to be surprised. From what he could gather by watching the blond, he didn't think he would be so considerate of others – of him. It wasn't about who was the better cook; that wasn't the problem. He knew she was better, but what he didn't like was Cloud talking about her during their time. This was supposed to be special. It was supposed to be about them. About him opening up to somebody, opening up to Cloud. What's done is done. – He thought. – We'll just talk about something else. Carry on. I mean, I can't get all worked up because of a damn name! We'll just keep talking.

-Don't try so hard. You didn't insult me. – Said Leon. He gave Cloud a small smile to show that he was forgiven. – I just don't like talking about somebody else when I have someone with me in my home. I always believed it should be just the two of us. Nobody else. Something intimate, you see? Let's talk about something else, ok?

Cloud completely lost it. That smile! Leon never smiled. And if he did, he never thought he would ever smile like that… so softly, so innocently. He was associating Leon with the word "innocent" and that was slightly strange, but he couldn't find the state of mind to care. The brunet had just said he wanted "something intimate". That he "believed it should be just the two of us". Cloud was truly lost. Leon was… he was… overwhelming. He just said… what he just said was… perfect. Cloud could feel his blush fighting back with enough force to knock back an elephant and he let it have his way. He had a dazed expression on his face and his lips were slightly parted, having difficulty breathing. Leon had just won over every part of him that still offered resistance.

Seeing Cloud, Leon instantly jumped of the chair and was quickly at his side. The blond looked really strange. He was worse than he thought! He must have a really serious fever. He couldn't believe this was happening. Why had he let Cloud get out of bed? Why was he so stupid to actually think that Cloud had completely recovered? Why couldn't he see that the younger one insisted on coming down to the kitchen just so he won't be too much of a burden? Why? Why was it that the person he was beginning to open up to had fallen ill? Why had it been Cloud to suffer the disease? Why couldn't it happen to somebody else?

He bent down and gently put his lips to Cloud's forehead, checking his temperature and petted his hair, trying not to startle the younger one. The blond was burning, and so, to try to ease his suffering, Leon kissed him on the cheekbones, slowly, taking his time with trying to calm Cloud down, kissing one and then doing the same to the other a couple of times. When he stopped and looked at Cloud he stopped breathing. The blond was so beautiful, so fair and lovely…so perfect. His eyes were half-lidded so that only a bit of their vibrant blue color was visible and his cheeks were flushed. His lips seemed inviting, but… wait! Cloud wasn't breathing! Leon started to panic. He couldn't, Cloud could not die!

He didn't know what to do, so he did what came to mind at the time. He kissed Cloud.

He crushed their lips together, holding the blonds face with his hands. The brunet bit Cloud's lower lip in order to take it out of the way. He forced his lips upon Cloud's own and panted into his mouth to give him air. Leon had to make Cloud breathe. Any way possibly. He didn't know when he'd done it, but he was currently straddling Cloud. He couldn't care at this point. Leon scooted towards the younger warrior in order to gain better access and found that he couldn't because he was being pressed by something hard. I have to make him breathe; if this thing doesn't budge I'll just rub against it. It'll move out of the way eventually. He put his arms around Cloud's neck, with one of them fisting his hair to keep him in place, in order to gain more leverage to rub against the thing and continued to kiss him. The older man forced his lips to Cloud's one more time and rubbed against the hard thing, panting and letting the air that was in his mouth pass to the younger one's. This was arousing him, but he couldn't do it. He had to make Cloud breathe. He bit the blonds lip hard and rubbed against the damn thing harder. He heard and felt the other man moan right in his face. So this is working… good. He moved his lips to the blond's again and this time he could feel Cloud moving them. The blond also moved his arms so he was holding onto Leon. The older warrior slowed down on rubbing against the thing and kissed Cloud deeper. He let his tongue explore the other's mouth and tasted the apple pie on him. He proceeded to pick up speed on rubbing against the unknown thing. Leon didn't know if it was still to get it out of the way or if it was for some other reason. He didn't care at this moment because he started to feel a warmth building up in his crotch and Cloud was starting to moan loudly. Due to this, he moved his mouth down to the other man's neck and kissed the soft skin. The thing started to rub against him, so he sped up and was now fervently and furiously creating more friction. The younger one's moans were, if anything, getting louder and he himself let out some of his own. He was really enjoying this. He pulled Cloud by his hair and started to lick his throat starting from the base of his neck and going upwards towards his chin. Oh Shiva… If I keep this up, I'll-I'll… But it was too late. Both men let out pleasurable yells as they reached climax, a hot wetness making its way inside their pants.

-L-Leon… - Cloud couldn't believe this had happened. One moment there Leon was, sitting across from him, unreachable and composed and now… now, here he was, still sitting, but this time on top of him and looking flustered and dazed. To him, that was definitely an improvement. First, you say something like that… and then do something like this? Are you even aware of what you do to me?

Both men were completely red and breathing harshly. Both still holding onto each other like the world would end any second now. Maybe it will. I mean, I wish it did. How could I do that to Cloud? Am I going crazy? Maybe I caught his fever… that's it! I'm just sick! There's no other possible reason. None whatsoever. –thought Leon. Wanting to break the ice a little, he asked:

-A-are you ok?

-Yeah, I'm fine. – Answered Cloud. They had to talk this over. They simply could not overlook what they had just done. At least, Cloud couldn't. – Look, Leon… about this…

-Oh, right! – Said Leon, getting up and straightening his shirt. – Those were just the effects of our fevers. Yeah, that's right. – The brunet stated when he saw the younger man's confused face. – Didn't you notice? You must have caught one and then I caught it from you. We'll be fine in a couple of days.

-Leon? – The blond definitely didn't expect this. Denial? That wouldn't do. – You can't get a fever from wounds that have almost completely healed and you can't "catch" a fever since it's not contagious. Look… what we just did…

-Will be forgotten since it happened due to this strange fever. – The older man said, firmly and not leaving any room for objections. – It doesn't matter. It was just fever induced. And this conversation ends here.

Cloud was pissed. No, he was beyond pissed. He was furious, enraged almost going berserk. How could Leon say that? Wasn't he the one that had told him he wanted it to be "just the two of them"? "Something intimate"? And most importantly, wasn't he the one who had started all of this? Damn you Leon! Damn you and damn your stupid denial! He didn't want to show emotion. He had been hurt badly and he didn't want to give the other the satisfaction of seeing him suffering. So, he would be emotionless, just like he had been before he killed Sephiroth. If that was what it took, so be it. He was too proud to show him the effect he had on him. If Leon didn't notice, Cloud would certainly not be the one who would spell it out to him.

-Sure. – He said, his face a perfect mask, hiding everything away from the world. – I'll just leave then. I'll return the pajamas later, ok?

-Wait! – What do you think you're doing? You can't possibly go away in your state. - Leon thought. – That's childish of you. You're not even completely healed yet.

-Don't bother yourself with me. – Childish, me? So I'm the one being childish? Next you're going to say I'm the one in denial, no? – I'll figure everything out on my own.

-But… - Leon started to say, but Cloud cut him off.

-I'm leaving. – And like that, Cloud left the other man's house.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------End of flashback-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, I felt like shit at that time, but that's understandable, right? I mean, that hurt. But now I see thing differently. He's in denial. That doesn't mean he doesn't like me or that he doesn't have feelings for me. That just means he doesn't believe he likes me and has feelings for me. At least, that's what I like to think. "You have to think positive", isn't that what everybody says? – thought the blond man.

He would try to make Leon understand. He wouldn't explicitly tell him he felt something for him, but he would definitely show the brunet what it felt like to love and be loved. Maybe if he did that, Leon would see the reality of their situation?

It was a nice day. It wasn't as warm as it had been three days ago, but it still made you want to go outside to enjoy the day. Riku was currently heading to Aerith's gift shop. He had wanted to go there for some time to find something to entertain Sora, but he didn't have the time to do it since he had school during the weekdays. Today was a Saturday, so he could go where he wanted and didn't have to worry about the time for this or that. He had dedicated this day to Sora. That is to say, finding the perfect gift for the perfect person and then take that same person on a date. And afterwards... who knew?

Before he could start thinking about what exactly it was that he would do with Sora after their date, he found himself in front of Aerith's shop. There they were - the flowers everyone liked and admired. Personally, he didn't like flowers all that much, but he could still say they were pretty. I know someone prettier. He smirked. That boy, Sora, had certainly got him wrapped around his little finger. He had wormed his way into his heart before Riku noticed. When was it that he fell for the boy's charms? Maybe the first time I saw him.

He entered the store and headed towards the counter where Aerith was, calm and looking at him as she smiled.

-Hello, Riku.

-Hi. – The teen said. This woman was like a mother to all of them – him, Sora, Kairi and Yuffie. She was the epitome of serenity and a very nice person to boot. She and Tifa were perfect together and when one of them was feeling down or needing some kind of support, the other would be there in a moment. He wanted to be like that with Sora. Shiva knew he loved the brunet. – How's business?

-Oh, it's fine. – She said, still smiling. One would think she was born smiling. The woman was always smiling, almost like she was happy all the time. Maybe because she was alive? – How are you and Sora?

-Still happy and lovey-dovey together. – He laughed. They were certainly happy together. – As a matter-of-fact, that's what brings me here. I want something to cheer Sora up. He has been a little bored because he doesn't have to fight the Heartless anymore and I wanted to change that. I want to make his life more... interesting.

-I see. – She seemed to ponder on what she should do next. A thought came to her. – I know just the thing. Come with me to the other room.

Although the main room of her shop was packed with all sorts of wonderful items and they were all eligible for the "prettiest thing on the shop" title, she kept some... more special ones in a room to the right. This objects being either magical or a bit strange, she believed they would be safer if kept away from prying eyes.

They went into the room and Aerith turned the lights on. It had shelves up to the ceiling and they were all filled with an array of the most dazzling or simply plain weird items.

-Come, this way. – The owner of the shop said. They walked for a moment and ended up in front of a wooden box. She opened it and said: - Ah! Here it is. Just the perfect thing for Sora. But, mind you, this isn't the perfect thing for him. I won't give you that yet. Just something perfect for him at this moment.

Inside the box was a silver necklace. It's chain was made in a simple format even if a little thin. Nested in the middle, that was supposed to hang from the necklace, was a interesting silver design. It was constituted by two wings pointing upwards looking as if they protected the jewel between them. This jewel was of a transparent color, but something seemed to flow within.

-That's... That's it. – Riku was smiling like a mad man. – That's just what I want to give Sora. Does it do something special? How much is it?

-Calm down, calm down. – Aerith laughed. Love did turn you crazy. – What it does is for Sora to find out and the cost... let's see... – She took her finger to her lips and seemed to be in deep thought even if looking amused. – I think that smile will be enough.

-Thank you! You're awesome Aerith! – Riku hugged her. She really was great. Just like a mom.

He thanked her again and stormed out of the shop. He still had to prepare for his date. By his watch, he still had three hours. That'll have to do.

Sora was lying on his bed, looking at the ceiling. He had a date with Riku in a couple of hours, but he was still thinking. Riku hasn't said anything... – he blushed. – Naughty in a while. It's not like I need it, but... I mean, I like it. Maybe I need to hear him say what he would do to me. I mean... I don't even understand myself! This is frustrating! Sora was blushing a bit and he decided to let the matter rest. Let things take their course, I guess...- he contemplated. He headed to his closet and chose the clothes he would wear to the date. Then, he picked up some boxers from his drawer and some socks and went to the bathroom to take a shower. Better make that a cold shower.

That day, Tifa closed up the dojo earlier and headed to her lover's gift shop. I like this. Coming back from work to go see Aerith feels comfortable. She crossed the street and climbed the stone stairs to get to where the store was. She passed by Merlin's café and entered the shop.

-Hi honey, your hot lover is here! – She proclaimed, knowing that that would get her a laugh from Aerith and one of her smiles. One of the big ones she reserved for Tifa. Aerith didn't disappoint her.

-Hello Tifa. How was your day? – The shop owner asked.

-It was fine. – She pouted a little. – I was a little lonely. Since Leon didn't go to work today, I spent all day thinking about you. I couldn't work like that so I left earlier. You know I love you right?

Aerith laughed. Tifa sure was adorable. From overprotective badass to cute little love struck schoolgirl, she sure did change quite a bit. She was glad she showed everything about her only to her. It was almost a possessive feeling. Almost. She kissed Tifa.

-Of course I love you. – She said. – You're my only one, darling.

Tifa scrunched up her nose at the pet name. She looked so adorable to Aerith that she cooed. Love really drives us to do strange things.

AN2: Well, this chapter wasn't supposed to exist. -.-' What I had planned for chapter two will now be chapter three. Eheh (Leon and Cloud decided to do whatever they wanted with no regards to my instructions... *cough*whores*cough* XD)