"How's the little chap to know
Just the proper roads to go
If you never travel with him
While he's little, hand in hand?
How's he ever going to learn
Just what corners not to turn
If you never try to tell him
So that he can understand?"
Fatherhood – Edgar Albert Guest.
Making Space
Cloud kicked off his shoes and hung his coat up. He could hear music coming from somewhere in the house and leaving his small holdall by the shoe rack, he went in search of the source; placing his keys on the kitchen counter as he passed, he noticed the sink splashed with paint, a tray and a rolling brush soaking in the water.
"Lee?" he called, poking his head into the dining room to find it empty "Lee, I'm home."
When his only response was more idle music floating through the quiet house he ventured upstairs taking the steps slowly. It had been a long trip this time and he was jetlagged to hell, and he wanted nothing more than to surprise Leon with his early return home.
The music grew louder as he reached the landing and Cloud followed the noise, coming to stand in the doorway of their spare bedroom. His features shifted from curious to surprised, and then to soft affection as his gaze fell on his lover stood precariously on a step ladder, just a little too close to overbalancing as he secured the light fitting to the ceiling.
Leon's paint splattered shirt had ridden up, revealing the waist band of his underwear and the soft muscle of his stomach as he struggled with the fittings; a screwdriver lodged in his mouth as he worked with furrowed brows. He'd not noticed Cloud's arrival and the blond took the opportunity to observe his partner's handiwork.
The room had obviously taken him the whole week to decorate. Cloud hardly recognised it from the blank spare room it had been before he'd left. The walls were now baby blue, small stencils of planets and spaceships dotted along the back above the small bed, and the carpet had been ripped up to reveal the boards beneath it; sanded and varnished with a large rug thrown down. Along the wall adjacent to the window and the blinds with small stars on them, were shelves stuffed with toys and cuddly animals and books.
Cloud smiled in wonder and looked back up at Leon as he finally managed to attach the last of the fittings.
"Hey, I'm home," Cloud repeated, folding his arms across his chest and lent against the doorframe.
Leon startled a little bit, almost dropping the screwdriver as he wobbled on the step ladder and gave a small yelp of surprise.
"Cloud, you weren't supposed to be back till tomorrow."
"I finished early. Besides, I missed you," Cloud replied stepping into the room as Leon climbed down. He let the older man put his tools down and then reached out to pull him into a strong embrace, inhaling deeply as he tucked his head into Leon's neck and placed his warm lips there.
Leon stepped back slightly and kissed him.
"I missed you too," he replied lowly as they parted.
Cloud reached up and stroked a thumb across the paint smudge that sat just under his lover's left eye and a crooked affectionate smile turned his mouth "So you finished it then," he said, looking over Leon's shoulder at the colourful stencils painted on the wall.
Leon released his hold on the shorter man and stepped back, admiring the wall alongside his lover and reached up to scratch nervously at the back of his head.
"You don't think it's too much do you?"
"For a three year old?" Cloud replied, one eyebrow raised "I think you could have gone a bit more overboard to be honest," he looked up and smiled as he watched the mobile Leon had just finished fitting slowly spin around the lightbulb, the tiny spaceships glowing and casting colourful shadows on the walls as they turned.
"D'you think he'll like it?" Leon asked, sounding almost nervous as he picked up a stuffed lion from the dresser beside the wardrobe and studied it intently.
The apprehension in his lover's voice pulled Cloud's rapt attention away from Leon's hard work and the blond man turned, eyeing his partner carefully. His heart softened as he watched Leon squeeze the toy, his large and calloused hands gently petting the fur and Cloud stepped closer, taking the animal from Leon's grip and placed it back on the dresser.
"He'll love it," he said softly, turning his lover into him and running his hand's up his arms "Just like he already loves you."
Leon let out a shaky sigh and curled his arms around Cloud's waist, resting his forehead against his shoulder as they stood in a loose embrace and shared each other's quiet company.
"I can't believe he'll be here in less than a month," Leon finally said, his voice low and rumbled against Cloud's neck.
Cloud smiled and ran his fingers through the brunet's hair; petting it gently the way Leon had done to the lion. It had been a long eighteen months but in a strange way it had felt like no time at all, and Cloud felt the same stirrings of anxiety when he thought of all the things they still had to get done.
"And I can't believe you wore my tee shirt to paint in. Look at this, it's ruined," he teased, pulling away to tug at the hem. Leon just smiled back crookedly from under tangled bangs.
"I missed you," he supplied with a simple shrug of his shoulders.
Cloud reached up and tugged lightly on Leon's hair, letting out a soft snort of amusement "Come on, I'm starving. Let's get something to eat and then hit the hay."
"It's two o'clock in the afternoon," Leon replied as he followed his lover, hand in hand and stopped outside their own bedroom. Cloud turned to consider him, one eyebrow raised in none too subtle suggestion.
"Then we'd better make the most of it before Sora gets here," he said, pulling Leon by the hand and into the bedroom, completely forgetting that they'd set off in search of the kitchen and food.