A/N: So, I know it's the weekend and everything, but I decided that after working on both stories a little, I would publish this one, because the other isn't done yet. I'm starting to get writers block, so I don't want to push myself any further than I can go, for fear of not writing for months on end again. Thank you, to everyone who has written reviews! I really have taken all of them into consideration! As for Crimson Rivers, I still haven't quite decided who I want the mother to be yet, and that's why that story is on hold. The next chapter for this is going to be the party chapter!
So, enjoy!
"Ack!" Cloud cried as he was attacked by a small brunette boy.
"Hiya mister! You were sleeping in our backyard! Mommy and Daddy always tell Roxas and me that we can't sleep outside in the backyard. Is it fun? I wanna sleep outside too!" The boy bounced in Cloud's lap energetically. "Wanna play a game? Let's play Monopoly! Oh! Let's play Life! Or how about Scene it? No! Let's play tag! No! Hide and seek! No-"
"Sora. Stop. You're scaring him. He doesn't have time to play a game, he's going home soon." Leon chided. "Sorry Cloud. They are a bit of a handful sometimes. I'm just evil enough to unleash these terrors on you." Leon chuckled, and Cloud blushed. Twice now, he was saved by Leon. The first time in a literal sense, the second time, from his nightmares of younger brothers. It was then that Cloud noticed the blonde boy in the room, looking at him. He smiled and waved, but he hid behind Leon. "This," Leon pointed towards the blonde boy, "is Roxas. He's Sora's twin. He's the more cautious one. I have breakfast all made up, so while I start feeding them, you should call your friend. She seemed really concerned. C'mon So. Get off of Cloud." Leon pulled Sora off of Cloud's lap and dragged him into the kitchen to eat pancakes.
Cloud pulled out his phone and dialed Tifa's number, which he knew by heart.
"Cloud! Where are you? What's going on? What happened? I'll get Vaan in the car and I'll be over as soon as possible! Wait! I don't even know where you are! Cloud why aren't you answering me? Cloud?! Cloud this is you right? Right?"
"Tif, calm down. It's me. I'm at the Leonhart residence somewhere in Twilight Town. It's no big deal. I freaked out last night and ran, and passed out in their backyard."
"The Leonharts? As in THE LEONHARTS? Like the famous ones?"
"Actually, I didn't even think of that. But that's not the biggest deal. I have to sell my house. It was my mother's dying wish. I guess she wanted me to have the money because she knew she wasn't going to make it."
"Oh my god Cloud. What are you going to do? You know I'd let you stay here but-"
"It's fine Tifa. Leon offered to let me stay here after the house is sold. He's a really great guy, except his younger brother Sora is a bit crazy. Roxas is pretty wary of me though."
"Cloud, I feel for your position right now, but you realize that those are the names of Raine and Laguna Leonhart's children right? They were all over the news a few months ago, y'know how their son ran away and no one can find him."
"Tif, I've never heard that, but okay whatever. I'll ask Leon what the address is, and I'll text you it. You can come pick me up soon okay?"
"Fine Cloud, but you better text me as soon as you know!" Click. Cloud shoved his phone back into his pocket and sauntered into the kitchen where Leon was.
"Hey, Leon, what's the address here? Tifa is going to pick me up and bring me home." Cloud told Leon.
"Oh, here I'll write it down, along with my phone number, so you can call me after your house is sold and – stuff." Leon pulled out a piece of paper and scrawled down some information on it. "Oh, and if you want, you can come over later. I'm having a small party with my friends, and some of Sora and Roxas's friends will be there too. I'm just extending the invitation. Oh, and you can bring Tifa too." Leon invited Cloud. Cloud noticed the brief look of hope crossing Leon's face, and nodded quickly.
"Wow, uh thanks. You're just doing so much for me. I feel like I'm just mooching off of your generosity or something. I'm just some worthless punk you picked up out of nowhere; you really didn't have to do any of this for me." Cloud confessed to Leon.
"It's fine. I like helping people. Especially those with no home." Just like I hope someone did with Zack, Leon added silently.
"Well, thanks. Now I just have to text Tifa." Cloud pulled out his phone and quickly texted Tifa the address and the invitation. Tifa quickly responded back saying that she was already on her way, but that she couldn't go to the party because of Vaan, but that since Cloud would have his motorcycle back, he could take that. Cloud once again, thrust his poor phone into his pants pocket and sat down at the kitchen table.
Sora was stuffing his face with pancakes, successfully getting syrup all over his face, and his place at the table. Roxas was taking slow, careful bites, never glancing away from Cloud. He didn't trust Cloud, mostly because he was a stranger. He didn't understand why Leon trusted him so easily.
Cloud thanked Leon for the pancakes as he also sat down at the table. Cloud tasted the pancakes, and dropped his fork right after.
"Leon! These pancakes – they're amazing!" Cloud exclaimed. Leon could see the sincerity in his facial expressions and laughed.
"Well, I've never gotten that reaction before. Most people just tell me that they're good. But thanks, I guess." Leon replied. The way that boy reacted just attracted Leon even more to him. Leon chuckled a little, as did Cloud.
"Well, whoever said any less is lying." Cloud said. "Hey, I have a question if you don't mind?" Cloud asked the last question nervously.
"Sure, shoot. If we're going to be roommates, you might as well feel comfortable, huh?" Leon says.
"Yuppers! Yuppity yup!" Sora exclaims, pancakes flying out of his mouth, garbling his speech. Leon and Cloud exchange quick glances, laughter in their eyes.
"Why, exactly are you so willing to let me stay here? I don't even deserve it. You should have just left me out to die." Cloud admitted his thoughts. He had learned many years ago that the worst things in life are free. He knew the saying is usually that the best things in life are free, but he had to disagree. His parent's death? That was free, and it didn't exactly lead him to the best situation.
"Zack!" Sora cried out. Leon knew that Sora was entirely aware of the situation that had occurred only a year ago, yet he was less affected by it.
"Well, it's a long story, but you remind me of someone." Leon said. He didn't want to give anymore away. He figured he might as well be the 'good Samaritan' and take in the homeless kid.
"Okay." Cloud replied with a frown. So he was only a replacement, huh? Good enough. "Can I… go wash up… or something?" Cloud asked- his voice uncertain. A lot had happened to him, and it was only just beginning to sink in.
"Sure. Towels are in the closet in the bathroom. Bathroom is upstairs on the right." Leon said to Cloud. He figured that the poor guy had to go sort out his life, and he probably needed some alone time. Leon could grant that to him.
Cloud nodded, finished his pancakes, and placed his bowl into the sink. He went up the stairs and into the bathroom. He looked at his mud-caked face. How could anyone even be willing to take someone that looked like him into their house?
He looked like a monster. A very dirty monster at that. His hair was flattened with the weight of the mud, and his face had patches of dirt on them. He looked awful. His eyes had huge bags under them, and even though he had slept, he felt like he didn't. He sauntered over to the shower, and turned it on, as hot as it could get.
Cloud quickly stripped down, and noticed in the quickly fogging mirror that he had bruises. He had no idea how they got there. One bruise was on his arm, and it was just a circle as if he had been poked with a stick or something.
Cloud stepped into the shower and into the scalding water. He watched the rivulets of mud swirl down his body. He felt his skin burn, but the burn desensitized him from the pain in his heart that he felt. He wanted to cry. It had only begun to sink in that his mother and father were dead. Gone. Forever.
Cloud would never see them again. He'd never get to feel their comforting arms around him when he did well in school. He'd never see their kind smiles shine at him in pride as he undertakes some new task. Now, all there was were corpses. Empty, useless vessels that once held a life so bright that something had to squelch it.
Cloud felt his tears mix with the water from the shower. He felt as if his chest were being torn apart. He was in pain. His vision blurred as the tears increased. They were gone! He couldn't get them back. As hard as he tried, he couldn't get them back. They were gone forever.
Cloud realized that he could no longer feel anything and that he couldn't hear. He was consumed by his grief and longing for his parents. As soon as Cloud's vision went, he knew that something was wrong, and that it wasn't grief doing this to him. He figured that the hot water was too much, but it was too late now, as he had dropped to the floor of the shower, and he was out, once again.
Leon heard the doorbell ring, just after Cloud had gone up to the bathroom. Leon figured it was his friend, Tifa, at the door, so he hurried to answer it.
"WAAHAA!" The woman at the door screamed and jumped into the house, as Leon opened the door. "I'll rescue you Cloud!" She cried, and charged around the house, looking for Cloud. "Cloud! Cloud! Let me save you!" She screamed. There was no doubt in Leon's mind that this was Tifa. As she approached the stairs, a small blonde haired boy wandered into the front door.
"Tifa?" He called into the house, spotting her at the stairs.
"Vaan!" Tifa cried "I told you to stay in the car! This is a rescue mission!" Tifa yelled. The boy pouted.
"Hey, Tifa, was it? You might want to sit down. He's taking a shower." Leon explained to Tifa.
"Well, it's good that we got here when we did! Now you can't creep on him in the shower, pedo!" Tifa exclaimed. "Vaan, get your butt in here. Cloud takes long showers. We could be here for a while." Tifa explained to the young boy named Vaan. Tifa took the young boy's hand, and invited herself into Leon's living room. Leon followed soon after closing the door, and sat down on a chair.
"So, tell me about Cloud. What's he like?" Leon asked, curious.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you what you are like?" Tifa countered.
"Wow. You are like an obsessive older sister." Leon mumbled under his breath.
"Hey! Watch your mouth! Now start explaining before I beat your face in!" Tifa yelled. Vaan curled into Tifa, mildly fearful.
"Fine. My parents are Laguna and Raine Leonhart. I am seventeen years old, and therefore, not a pedophile. I found Cloud in my backyard so I took him in to take care of him so that he wouldn't die of hypothermia. I have thr- two younger brothers eating breakfast in the kitchen. What else do you want to know?"
"You don't plan on like – Vaan cover your ears- raping Cloud or anything as soon as you're alone, right? Cause if you are, I'll cut your dick off." Tifa uncovered Vaan's ears, and they chatted aimlessly after Tifa could safely say that no, Leon was neither a pedophile nor a rapist.
Leon heard a loud crash, only minutes later, coming from the bathroom. Leon knew it was Cloud. He told Tifa to stay where she was. If he were naked when that happened, he didn't want Tifa to see him.
Leon rushed up to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
"Cloud? Cloud! You okay in there?" Leon asked, growing more and more anxious by the minute. After several knocks, Leon burst into the bathroom, glad that Cloud had not locked it. He looked at the glass, to see a slumped form of Cloud laying there. The room was fogged up. Leon ran to the door of the shower, pulled it open, and grabbed Cloud out. The water was scalding, and Cloud's skin was red. He had the water temperature turned way too high, probably leading him to overheat and pass out. Leon quickly put a robe on Cloud, and lugged him to one of the many guest rooms. He lay him down on top of the covers, and quickly closed the door, rushing back downstairs.
"What happened?" Tifa asked, concerned.
"He had the temperature turned up too high and he overheated." Leon explained calmly, except on the inside, he was bursting with concern. "Hey, I don't think he should go home, but would you mind getting his stuff and packing it up and bringing it here? You wouldn't need to pack much because I'll take him back in a week to get the rest of his stuff."
"Yeah sure! I'll ride his motorcycle over if you can give me a ride back, or at least if someone can give me a ride back." Tifa bargained.
"I can give you a ride back. I'll watch Vaan too, if you want. It's unfair for him to be dragged around all day, no? Sora and Roxas would be thrilled to have a friend." Leon explained to Tifa.
"Uh, hmm." Tifa thought about it. This way, Vaan wouldn't be mega exhausted, but did she really trust this 'Leon' guy? What if his name wasn't even Leon? But on the other side, Cloud would wake up soon, and she trusted Cloud with her life. She loved Cloud. Like she really loved him. She wanted to be with him for the longest time, but he just wouldn't pick up the signals. "Sure." Tifa answered. "But you touch him in any way, you die. Got it?" Tifa threatened.
"Sure. I mean, he'd be with the two boys. I would only be watching over them and making sure no one gets hurt over a cookie or something."
"Fine, fine. I get it. I'll head out now. Vaan, be good. I'll be back in an hour or so. Bye!" And just like that, Tifa had left the house, and was in the car.
Tifa was back in exactly an hour. Cloud had woken from his slumber only a few minutes prior, and Leon explained what had happened to him briefly. Cloud thanked him and slunk back to the living room, where he just sat on the couch and stared at his hands.
Tifa burst back into the house, without even knocking, and she threw Cloud's stuff at him. Then she announced how she had brought his motorcycle for him, so he wouldn't have to bum a ride off of anyone anymore.
"Hey, Cloud, I promised Tifa a ride back too, if you wouldn't mind watching Sora and Roxas later?" Leon asked, politely. It would be a forty-minute drive, so it wouldn't be too long. After all, if they were to be roommates or whatever, they'd have to trust one another, right?
"Yeah, sure. Whatever." Cloud went back to staring at his hands, a crease in his forehead forming. Leon resisted the urge to go over and smooth out that crease with a kiss, but he didn't even know this man's sexual orientation, and he didn't want Tifa to beat him up. Tifa sat down next to Cloud, and rubbed his back soothingly. Leon called the boys to the room, and Vaan ran over to Tifa telling her how much fun he had, and how Sora showed him how to play a game called 'tennis.' He then explained the rules of how you slap one another's hands until the other gives up. Tifa frowned and glared at Leon, but she picked Vaan up and walked towards the door.
"Leon, are you coming? Unless you want me to drive your car, of course." Tifa taunted. Leon's face blanched and he scrambled towards the door, slamming it, and getting into the car.
Cloud was now left alone with two eight-year-olds, and had no idea what to do with them.
"So, uh, want to watch a movie?" Cloud asked them, hoping they'd say yes, so he could sort through his thoughts.
"Sure." Roxas replies, nonchalant.
"Yes! Yes! YES!" Sora screamed. "I'll get the popcorn!" Sora called as he ran towards the kitchen and pulled out a bag of popcorn, shoving it into the microwave.
Cloud picked out a random Disney movie and put it on. He skipped through all the previews, and Sora brought the popcorn in. Roxas curled up right next to Cloud on the couch. Cloud took the popcorn and put it on his lap, so there wouldn't be any fighting. He started the movie and sat back and relaxed.
Cloud began to think, as he watched the opening song start. His parents were gone, and now he was all alone. They were aware that he was gay, and they still loved him and supported him, and that only made Cloud love them more in return. Cloud was devastated that his parents were gone. After all, when they're gone, they're gone. He couldn't get them back. He couldn't hit 'restart' and start from the beginning when everything was good. He thought about all of the good times he had with his parents. He remembered baking with his mom for his class; he remembered playing football with his dad. Those memories were the ones that hurt him the most. Those memories that he couldn't ever get back were the ones that he couldn't replay. Most of his memories were just vestigial feelings that would always remain.
Cloud lost himself in his memories, and when Leon got back, and the boys got up to greet Leon, Cloud remained sitting, staring blankly.
"Hey, Cloud, you alright?" Leon asked.
"Hm? Yeah. Fine." Cloud replied curtly.
"You know the party starts in an hour, right?" Leon asked. "Roxas and Sora's friends Riku, Axel, and Kairi will be here earlier. A few of my friends will be here as well, along with my friend's sister. There will be a total of like, fifteen people here, including us. You won't have a panic attack or anything, right?" Leon asked, assuming the worst.
"Nah. Never have, and I doubt I ever will. Thanks for the warning though. So who are some of these friends? Would I know any?"
"Well, I don't know if you'd know them, but Vanille, Yuna, Serah, her sister Lightning, Hope, Serah's fiancé Snow, Noel, and my cousin Tidus. They all have some pretty, hmm… how should I put it, unique personalities."
"Wait, Noel who?" Cloud asked hopefully.
"Noel Kreiss. Why, you know him?" Leon asked.
"Yeah. He was my mother's best friend's son. He and I used to be around one another pretty often when we were younger."
"That's pretty cool." Leon replied.
"Yeah, hm. Small world, huh? I bet he already heard the news." Cloud replied, that same crease forming in his forehead again. Leon wanted to smooth that crease on his forehead so badly, that he almost did. Instead, and the last moment, he patted Cloud's head.
"Hey, if you feel dizzy at all or anything later, let someone know, okay? I don't want you getting hurt." Leon says, and the doorbell rings, signaling the arrival of the first guest.
