Shado: I guess you could say, I'm excited with this fic. I may regret it, but at the moment I have writer's block on my other fics. TT
Note: Roxas' P.O.V. will go on and off, it'll only be in his point of view if he's awake, just like this one. And thanks for all the reviews!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the power of writing. Deal with it.
Chapter 2 Lettuce Accident
"Roxas!" Aerith and Yuffie shouted in unision.
Cloud turned around just in time to catch the fainted teen before the smaller blond fell and injured his head. With one hand Cloud held the teen with ease and held his sword in the other as he stared wearily at the fleeing dark angel. When Sephiroth was finally out of his sight only then did the blond warrior calmed and set his sword to the ground next to him. Leon ran to his friend's side to inspect the teen's wounds.
"I think he'll need more than Aerith's help with these wounds, unless he's overly sensitive." the brunette stated, using Cura on some of the wounds.
"That may be just his stomach." Cloud added, noting the strained expression on the teen's face.
"Is he all right? He won't die won't he?" Yuffie shrieked at the males ears.
"Calm down Yuffie, he's still alive." Leon raised an eyebrow at the ninja before he stood up.
"Why are you so concerned for this boy anyway?"
"He came to our cafe at lunch! He's the boy we told you about! See look at him! He could pass as Cloud's little brother." Yuffie exclaimed and crossed her arm.
"Yuffie, calm down. You're going to wake him up." Aerith lightly smacked the ninja's shoulder before turning her full attention to Roxas.
Cloud and Leon stared at the teen for a long moment, taking in the similiar features of the boy. Now that they had a chance to look at him, he did look very similiar to Cloud. But the boy also had a few strange features somewhat familiar to another friend of theirs.
"Wouldn't you say he would also look like a certain boy with brown hair that's longer, tends to stick up everywhere and also wields the keyblade?" Leon questioned to his friends.
"Let's leave the questions when he wakes up. Cloud, do you think you can carry him to my house? It's nearest, and he needs immediate attention to that wound in his chest." Aerith hushed Yuffie's shoutings of agreement to Leon.
"Mm. I can carry him." the older blond nodded, taking careful hold of the teen and stood up.
Cloud noted that the teen fit perfectly in his arms, short and yet not too abnormally short. The warrior couldn't help but also notice the change of weight between from around this boy's stomach and his upper body. To Cloud, the boy seemed a little heavier on his lower half of his body, while his upper body was as light as a feather. Cloud's thoughts went back to the fight he witnessed with Sephiroth and Roxas, remembering the strange words Sephiroth had said.
"I see now. You were hiding that. Looks like I won't have to kill you after all, but I will eleminate that paresite."
What did Sephiroth mean? What parasite? Was it (whatever 'it' was) really making the smaller blond weaker than Sora? Cloud pondered until he realized he was standing next to Aerith's spare bed and he set the small keyblade master on top of it. Stepping back, Cloud tilted his head at the strained sleeping boy's face.
"You sure you'll be able to help him Aerith?"
"Yes, now shoo. All of you. Roxas needs immediate attention and I don't want him to fall into a coma. Shoo." Aerith waved her hands at the others in a hurry to get them out.
Leon raised his eyebrows but stepped out of the room and made his way to the kitchen to grab a snack. Yuffie huffed and pouted as she always did and skipped along with her brunette friend. The last to leave was Cloud, who hesitated at moment to watch Aerith starting her work.
"You sure you won't need help?" Cloud offered, still standing in the doorway.
"Nah, I'll be fine. You go on ahead with the others." Aerith said, never looking up.
Nodding to himself the blond warrior closed the door behind him.
--- A Few Hours Later ----
Aerith sighed when she finally finished bandaging and healing Roxas' wounds. He had many on his upper body, making it alot easier to bandage the wounds. Now that she was finished, she had to give an update to the others who were still waiting downstairs. But something told her to check Roxas again. There was something missing. Something she should have known by now.
"Hm...I guess it won't hurt to check him again. I'm sure there's a reason why I have this feeling." she told herself, returning to the side of the bed.
First she checked over the keyblade master's head, making sure he didn't have any major head injuries other than a few cuts on his cheek. The only major wound on his upper body was the one close to his heart, but it surprised her that he didn't die from that wound. Aerith felt she should check his heart, and so she placed a hand over where his heart should be. She found no heartbeat.
Blinking in surprise, she watched the boy's chest rise and fall in a rythmic form of breathing. Quickly Aerith checked all of the boy's vital signs, all of them working like normal. All except his heart. Then her eyes widened. Roxas was a nobody! But he didn't seem to be like the others she heard of, like those in the organization. Earlier that day Roxas was sweet, and even though he seemed a bit off, she had a feeling he wasn't like the organization.
Soon after she got over her shock, Aerith felt she should check the boy's stomach area. Her hands moved lightly over the body beneath, always gentle and softly pushing as to not awaken Roxas. Then she found a lump. Tilting her head, she gently felt over it, recognizing the lump as something only woman go through. Roxas was pregnant!
Biting her lower lip, Aerith stepped back and stared at the still pained face. Now she understood why he was looking for a place to call home. He was unwanted in other worlds, most likely to be kicked out and forced into another world. He was trying to find a home for the unborn child, a safe home where it won't live a hard life of a nobody. Frowning, Aerith gently pushed the blond bangs to the side, almost in a motherly way.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I promise to help both of you." Aerith promised with a smile before she turned around and left.
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Leon was starting dinner with the help of Yuffie and Cloud. An unlikely group to actually get dinner done in Leon's point of view. For one, Cloud was off in his own mind, paying little attention to what he was doing as he chopped lettuce. As for Yuffie, well she was always hyper. Such activity would be good on getting dinner done fast, but she wouldn't stop going on and on about Roxas. It was if she was a possessed fangirl.
"He's just so adorable! He looks like Cloud when he was younger! But he may be just a tad bit shorter don't you think? Ne? Don't you think he looks shorter than Cloud at that age?" Yuffie babbled on.
"Yuffie-"
"And his adorable cheeks! Oohh! I just feel like I should pinch them! And his hair! Did you see the color of his hair? I know its blond, but I think its more of a strawberry blond than platinum blond like Cloud's. If it was longer and lighter in color, he would be Cloud's brother!"
"Yuffie-"
"That reminds me. When I asked him earlier today if he was somehow related to Cloud, he said he didn't have a brother of that name. Who do you think his brother would be?"
"Yuffie-"
"You know, I wonder if-"
"Yuffie! Could you just shut up for five minutes!?" Leon shouted, giving the ninja a warning glare before turning his attention back at the food in the stove.
The shout shocked Cloud out of his mind and he accidently sliced at his hand. Growling to himself, Cloud stopped chopping lettuce and headed to the bathroom to clean his now bleeding hand. Yuffie noticed the blood on the lettuce Cloud left and gasped.
"Oh Cloud! I'm so-"
"Not your fault." Cloud shook his head, disappearing out of view as he walked down the hallway.
"What happened?" Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Cloud cut his hand."
The brunette sighed. "He needs to get his mind out of the clouds and into his cooking abilities."
"He was probably thinking about Roxas." Yuffie grinned, leaning against the counter.
"Don't get any ideas. Cloud wouldn't go for anyone under twenty. That keyblade master looks the same age as Sora, so Cloud wouldn't be interested." Leon warned.
"So!? You could tell too!" the ninja crossed her arms.
"Yes but I know Cloud would refrain."
"Refrain from what?"
Yuffie blushed and suddenly found the floor very interesting as Leon cleared his throat.
"Nothing."
Cloud raised an eyebrow at them. "Oh really?"
"We were just talking about how you should pay more attention to cutting your lettuce." Yuffie smiled half heartedly.
"Mhmm. And what does this have to do refraining myself?" Cloud leaned against the fridge, giving his friends the 'look'.
"Um..." Yuffie glanced at the floor again.
"Refraining yourself from thinking too much." Leon added.
"Mhmm..." Cloud hummed, still doubtful but didn't ask anymore questions.
Everyone looked up when Aerith came into view.
"How is he?" Leon was the first to ask.
"He's fine. Roxas just needs some rest." Aerith answered with a smile.
Cloud opened his mouth to speak, but realized she gave him a silent plea not to ask. So instead Cloud went back to cutting his lettuce, this time keeping his mind on what he was doing.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I promise to help both of you."
Those words echoed within my mind as I fluttered my eyes open. That voice...was it Aerith? Her voice was soft and gentle, almost angelic. I remembered opening my eyes when she said it, only for a few seconds. I saw her face, but not her eyes but I saw her sweet angelic smile. Now I understand how Sora feels so close to her. She may be an Ancient, but she's an angelic Ancient.
I tried to sit up, but the pain in my wounds and my stomach stopped me. Gasping in pain, I lay myself back down and held a hand over my stomach. I sighed in releif when I felt the small lump, still there and alive. I was worried it would have surely be gone, after Sephiroth's attack with the hilt of his sword. But I guess the child was just as stubborn as me and Axel put together. But I guess that's a good thing, meaning it wants to live.
Deciding to take it easy for now, I stared up at the ceiling and hummed to the child. As I was humming, I wondered what it would look like. Personally I wanted it to look more like Axel, but not as perverted. If this child had the same taste as Axel along with his perverted mind, then I'll find myself trying to resist my own child if it turned out to be a boy. If a girl, I can deal with girls and their flirty-ness.
My thoughts wandered through the day's events. First I arrived at Hollow Bastion, then I nearly got a heart attack from Yuffie, then I nearly got myself killed by Sephiroth. What an enormous first day at Hollow Bastion. And I have a hunch Aerith knew about the child, and she may know that I have no heart. Well at least she can be trusted.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.
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The next time I woke up I was being poked by someone. I groaned and turned away from the prodding, wanting more sleep. But the poking and prodding continued, and I felt more hands poking my back. I could distinctly hear two voices calling to me.
"Hellooo. Helloooooo. Wakey wakey sleepyhead. C'mon, I know you're half awake. Helloooo."
"Roxas, wake up."
Groaning I sat up, rubbing my eyes and yawned. Then I stretched my arms to release the tension off my shoulders and blinked. I look over to my left and see Aerith smiling down at me, Cloud next to her with a grateful expression.
"Ah! Good, you're awake!" the flower girl giggled, still smiling sweetly.
"How long was I out?" I asked, feeling like I had the best sleep I ever had.
"Two days straight. You had us worried that you would be in a coma." Cloud answered and I tilted my head.
"No wonder I feel so refreshed." I stated, glancing down and noticed my jacket was off. So were my shoes, and my pants.
Thank god I still had my shirt and my boxers. Quickly I searched the room with my eyes and found the missing clothing on a chair to my right. The jacket no longer had the stains of my blood from Sephiroth's attacks, and the holes had been sewned up. I glanced at the flower girl.
"Did you fix my jacket?"
"Mhmm. I knew you would be attatched to it, so I decided to clean it and sew it up as best I could." Aerith nodded.
"Thanks." I smiled at her.
"Well, I'll go make breakfast. You need some food in your system." Aerith said and she made her way to the kitchen.
I blinked when she left, and now I turned to Cloud.
"I guess Yuffie was right, I do look like you in a way." I said.
"Hm. Only that I'm a wielder of the Buster Sword, and you're a keyblade master. Are you perhaps related to Sora? Yuffie said something about you not having a brother of my name."
I cringed slightly, I didn't expect the ninja to catch that part.
"Um...you could say I am related to Sora. Same mom, different fathers." I explained what came first into my head.
"You look the same age." Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"I'm older."
"Oh really?"
"Yes really."
"Mhmm."
By now I was getting annoyed a little. I usually don't get annoyed easily, maybe this was the mood swings.
"All right, to tell you the truth, I am related to Sora, but I won't tell you how." I glared at him.
This time Cloud raised both eyebrows in confusion. I could tell he was surprised by my reaction.
"Twins perhaps?"
"That's about as close as you could get." I warned him, giving him the 'I-don't-want-you-to-know' look.
Now he seemed really confused.
"If you're not twins...but you're the same age, height, the only difference is the attitudes, you control two keyblades, and your hair." Cloud stated, crossing his arms and leaned against the wall.
"Are you saying I have an attitude?"
"Right now you are."
Now I was more than annoyed, I was mad. Without thinking I got out of bed and stood up, but quickly hunched over from the pain in my stomach. I had to use the bed for support to keep me up while Cloud tried to help me.
"No! I'm fine, I don't need you to babysit me." I turned away from him, trying to hide the lump of my stomach.
"But you're still healing. That, and what is it that you're hiding? Sephiroth said you were hiding something, and he wanted to get rid of it. I'd like to know what it is so I have a better chance of protecting you from him." Cloud explained clamly, unfazed by my orders.
"I can fight!" I retorted.
"But you're weakening."
Then for some reason, I felt tears running down my cheeks. I don't know why I started crying, but it was definately the mood swings. I lowered myself to the floor and sat against the bed, hands over my stomach as I cried.
"It's my fault I'm weakening...if only I left more silently then...then this wouldn't have happened..." I mumbled to myself.
"Left where? Here?" Cloud asked, kneeling beside me.
I shook my head. "I can't tell you. I don't know if I can trust you to help me."
"Aerith is doing what she can to help you, that's enough for me to help too. Now what is it that you can't tell me?"
"I can't tell you!" I shook my head.
No! I can't tell him, he doesn't like nobodies. Nobodies to Cloud was his second hateful beings, the first was Sephiroth.
"Roxas..."
"You'll hate me!" I accused, scooting away from his outstretched arms.
"Why would I hate you?" Cloud frowned.
"Because I'm the second being you hate most!" I screamed without thinking of the words. Once I realized what I had said, I put a hand over my mouth and turned away, scooting closer between the bed and the bedside table where I easily squeezed into. For someone like Cloud, it'll be more than just a squeeze to get into.
"...Roxas...you're a nobody?" Cloud asked, his eyes wide with shock.
"Sora...Sora's nobody..." I sobbed as I held both hands protecively over my stomach and curled up in the little space I was given.
A few minutes passed, and I lay there curled up with tears rivering my cheeks like there was no tomorrow. I knew Cloud would be shocked, and I expected him to get up and retrieve his sword. But what surprised me was that he stayed there, staring at me. After he got over his shock, and what I guess processing this information through his head, he crawled over and held me. I struggled, trying to get out but I was between a bed, a bedside table, a wall, and Cloud. Once I realized I could go nowhere, I stopped struggling and tensed as he gently wiped away my tears.
"Roxas...if you're Sora's nobody, then I'm still going to help you."
"But you hate nobodies!" I sobbed.
"I still do. But...you're a keyblade master, that tells me you are Sora's nobody. Anyone with a connection to Sora I will help no questions asked." Cloud said, staring at my hands still protecting my stomach. I knew then that he was also curious about my stomach.
"If you wish to know...promise me you won't attack someone from the organization...he's tall, he has red hair, and his weapons are chakrams." I sniffed, curling up more to hide Cloud's view of my hands and stomach.
"What does he have to do with your-"
"Just promise me, or I won't say anything. And I doubt Aerith will tell you so don't start thinking you can ask her." I glared at him.
Cloud stared at me for a few moments. Then he nodded.
"All right. I promise."
"I'll hold you to that promise." I warned him before uncurling myself and removed my hands.
Nervously, I took one of Cloud's hands and gently pressed it against my stomach. I stared up at him, seeing his expressions change from confusion to shock.
"You're...but how...?"
I just shrugged. "I was surprised myself. I didn't want to tell you this soon..."
"Then that redhead you told me about..." Cloud blinked.
"Is the father." I smiled weakly, my thoughts once again returning to the one I loved.
Shado: woohooo! I didn't expect to get reviews quickly for this story, but I'm not complaining! I'm glad this story has been catching some attention, and I like it myself for thinking up the plot n all.
Note: Hm...well I solely named this chap "Lettuce Accident" cuz its gonna be a part that would really take into effect in later chaps. And no, it won't interfere with the akurokuness you guys are wanting to see. Plus, I had no other name for this chap.
Review plz!