A/N: Thanks to some lovely encouragement, Stalemate is no longer a one-shot! Here is chapter 2 of 3.


Four months. It had been four months since Cloud left. And Leon would be lying if he said he hadn't thought about the blond every day of those four months. The first week he spent wallowing in self-pity. Hoping that Cloud had heard his pathetic plea begging him to stay. The second week was spent fuming. If Cloud had returned Leon would have sooner punched him than listen to him. And after those first two weeks, Leon was still convinced Cloud would be back. All those other times he had taken off, Cloud was always back after no more than a couple of weeks. So each day following, Leon had spent expecting to see those bright, blue eyes and messy, blond spikes.

Leon let out a sigh. He had been staring at the ceiling in silence since his most recent bed-mate had fallen asleep about an hour ago. Cloud had been right. Leon was afraid of being alone and he hadn't taken very long before he searched for someone to keep his bed warm. Over the past three months, Leon had sought all manner of companion. Male or female. It hadn't mattered to the brunette. All that mattered was if they were willing. And for an attractive man such as Leon, there was no shortage of willing partners.

The brunette turned on to his side, his eyes tracing the light-brown hair splayed out over the spare pillow. Cloud had been right about Leon's secretary as well. The peach scented hair and gentle breathing belonged to her. While most of Leon's companions came from regular trips to the local bars, it hadn't taken long for him to let her seduce her way into his bed. She was nice enough, most of them had their qualities. But none of them were Cloud. It was in these moments, in the quiet of the night, Leon would realize just how much it hurt losing the blond.

No one could match Cloud. None of them tasted like Cloud. None of them sounded like Cloud. He missed tracing his fingers across light scars on otherwise smooth skin. He missed tangling his fingers in those soft, blond spikes. He missed breathing in Cloud's scent, a mix of vanilla and mint. He missed when Cloud came home smelling of stale beer or motor oil dependent on whether he had a shift at Tifa's bar or Cid's garage. He even missed the foul stench of cigarettes from the filthy habit Cloud had picked up working with Cid for too long. Leon missed the way their bodies fit perfectly together. How Cloud fit just right curled against his side, head tucked under Leon's chin. He even found himself missing being abruptly awakened by Cloud's recurring nightmares.

Quietly, Leon slid out of his bed and located an old pair of sweats. As he made his way out of his room and down the stairs, Leon thought back on the last time he had been woken by one of Cloud's nightmares. It had been about a week before he left. Cloud had stubbornly insisted upon sleeping on the sofa for several weeks by this point, refusing to let Leon so much as touch him. Leon couldn't even remember what that argument had been about.

That night Leon had woken to a pained scream coming from the living room downstairs. He pulled himself from the warmth of his bed and carefully descended the steps, following scared sobs and whimpers. Like many nights before, Leon carefully maneuvered the thrashing blond so he could sit on the couch with Cloud safely nestled in his lap. Once settled, he proceeded to trace soothing circles along Cloud's back and arms.

"Hush now Cloud. It's okay. You're going to be okay. I've got you." Leon continued to murmur soothing words while he rocked Cloud gently. Every night this happened Leon would soothe the blond until he drifted back into a restful sleep. But this time Cloud woke up.

"Lee?" Bright blue eyes looked up at Leon through heavy lids. His tear-stained face was painted with confusion, but started to relax as the scarred brunette came into focus.

Leon's heart fluttered at Cloud's affectionate nickname, lips curling up into a soft smile. How long had it been since he last heard that? "Yeah Cloud, it's me. You were having a nightmare. You're safe now. I promise. Go back to sleep." Leon whispered while gently brushing sweat covered bangs from the blond's face.

Cloud's eyes fluttered shut as he slowly nodded. Leon placed a chaste kiss to Cloud's forehead before pulling the blond close to his chest. As Leon continued his gentle murmurs, silent tears streamed from a pair of blue eyes, soaking into the white shirt Leon had worn to bed. Eventually, the blond fell back into what proved to be a dreamless sleep. Leon knew he should go back to bed, just like he knew he should have every previous night. But like those nights, he stayed on the couch, watching as Cloud slept.

Leon had stayed on the couch, Cloud in his arms, until the early morning sun appeared in the sky. Once again he gently shifted the blond, laying him back on the couch. With a last kiss to Cloud's cheek, Leon made his way back upstairs to shower and get ready for work.

Back downstairs and ready for work, Leon was greeted by the pleasant aroma of bacon, eggs and freshly brewed coffee. Cloud had made him a quick breakfast before heading out for his early shift at Cid's. A full smile spread its way across Leon's face. He thought things with Cloud would only get better. He couldn't have been more wrong.

Stopping at the hall closet, Leon pulled out the blanket and pillow Cloud had used all those months ago when he slept on the couch. He hadn't spent a full night in his bed since Cloud left. It felt too cold and empty, whether he had company for the night or not. Instead he had taken to sleeping on the sofa, curled up in blankets that still contained traces of Cloud's scent. He knew he was pathetic for it. Grasping at memories so hard it caused a constant ache in his chest, but being too stubborn to do anything about it. He could call Cloud. The girls did. But what would he even say?

He fucked up. Leon had thought that after the heartless everything would work out how he wanted. He would expand the Restoration Committee to an inter-world development company, help to restore other worlds destroyed by the heartless. He had mistakenly figured Cloud would follow like the good little soldier he was. Leon had not counted on Cloud deciding he was done with following other people's wishes, done dealing with responsibilities. The blond had not wanted to be tied down by anyone or anything. He chose to take part-time positions working for Cid and Tifa, using bar tips to fund his various trips.

Turning over on the couch, Leon clutched his blanket closer thinking about the longest trip Cloud had taken since the heartless. He had come home from work to find Cloud waiting with a packed bag and large grin. He announced he'd be back in a couple of days before hitching a ride off world with Sora. Three weeks later, and Leon had received no word from Cloud.

He had been walking home from the office when he spotted a head of familiar blond spikes making its way through the marketplace. Cloud was walking alongside Sora, both wearing matching grins as they shared tales of their latest adventures.

If it was at all possible, Cloud's face brightened when his eyes landed on Leon from across the market. He quickened his pace, making his way towards the scarred brunette. Completely ignorant of the scowl marring Leon's face. "Hey Lee! You'll never guess what I was doing" Cloud greeted him cheerfully.

Leon's scowl deepened. Cloud's carefree attitude grating on his already frayed nerves. "A couple of days?" Leon asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"What? Oh right, when I left… But forget that" Cloud waved his hand, dismissing Leon's words. "I entered this cross-world race and—"

"A couple of days Cloud. You said you'd be back in a couple of days. Three weeks ago!" Leon had tried to stay calm, speaking through clenched teeth. But his frustration had reached boiling point forcing him to lash out at the blond.

"Leon. I can take care of myself." Cloud gritted out, his own frustration seeping into his voice.

"That's not the point. You can't just take off for three weeks without telling me. Did you even once think about me? About how worried I would be?"

"I didn't think—"

"No Cloud, you didn't think. You never think! Gods you are such a selfish idiot." Leon seethed.

As soon as the words left his lips Leon knew he should regret them, but he didn't. He watched as they hit Cloud like a ton of bricks with sick satisfaction. Cloud's entire being deflated as his self-worth flooded out making room for the all too familiar feeling of self-loathing. Cloud's face burned with shame. He hung his head and his shoulders slumped as he curled in on himself. He mumbled an apology before swiftly exiting the marketplace, heading off down the nearest street.

They all knew about Cloud's fragile self-esteem. Leon more so than most. They had worked hard at letting the blond know he was important and cared for, pulling him back from the brink of darkness multiple times. Leon had spent so long showing Cloud he needed him as more than some fuck-buddy. The first night Leon had convinced Cloud to stay until morning had been the best night of his life. But his anger had blinded him to all this. Right now he had just wanted the blond to hurt like he did. To feel unimportant to the most important person in his life.

Leon watched after Cloud's retreating back. His anger slowly dwindling with each step Cloud took in his retreat leaving the brunette feeling hollow. These days that had become a common feeling after dealing with Cloud. Leon knew he loved Cloud. He had loved him so fiercely it hurt. But he just couldn't deal with Cloud's childish antics. Letting out a sigh, Leon turned around only to come face-to-face with Sora. The normally bubbly teen was wearing a scowl to rival even Leon's. And that was when the brunette knew he had fucked up yet again.

It was beginning to look like another long night in a string of many. Leon sat up enough to give his pillow a few good punches in an effort to fluff it up. Childish or not, Leon needed Cloud by his side. The blond was his rock, his other half, and he wasn't going to just give him up. Leon resolved as soon as he could he was going to contact Cloud and he was going to fight for his blond. Leon only prayed he wasn't four months too late.