A/N: I realize that I've made Leon a little femme woo-woo in this story. But you have to understand, I've saddled my poor Lion with Crazy! Cloud. The crazy is a full-time job in itself. Besides, someone has to be the Mom. I just see him looking wearily around the breakfast table, wearing a pink apron, and hitting everyone on the head with the dreaded wooden spoon. Tee hee. I love my Lion. Originally updated 12/3/08. Revised 2/19/09. 2nd Revision 7/22/09. Reno comes from Final Fantasy 7.

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Summary: Roxas never said he was innocent. Sora still is. Reno's still confused. The Lion gives advice.

Pairings: Sora in body(Roxas in mind)/Reno(Axel in mind), Cloud/Leon

Warnings: Shonen-Ai, OOC, Cursing, Reference to Character Death

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fan fiction. All characters in this story are eighteen and over.

Chapter 3 - A Lion's Advice

XXX

"Why are your eyes a different color?"

"Huh?"

"Your eyes. Axel's eyes were green. A glowing green. Your eyes are blue."

Reno leaned back on the bench to ponder the question.

Once again, after a huge breakfast, Reno and Sora sat in front of the Strifes' house.

Leon had agreed to allow Sora to sleep with Reno at night.

However, Sora had to report in every morning for breakfast.

Reno didn't mind, after he got used to the snuggle-bug.

Before the couple got to know each other better, Reno refused to have sex with Sora. He also got free food every morning. A win-win situation in the Turk's ocean-blue eyes.

"Mako injections. Like Strife, except each Turk was given a different mixture, enhancin' their particular specialties. My injections enhanced my speed and reflexes. Gave me good sniffin', too. Heal fast, not as fast as Strife. Hell, no one heals as fast as Strife. Gonna look like I do a lot longer than I should. Good thing too. I'm lookin' enough like an old man, next to you, as it is. Hated what it did to my eyes, though. Had my Ma's eyes. Only thing I had left to remember her by, yo." Glancing back over to Sora, Reno released a sigh.

While Reno reminisced, Sora had subtly given control over to Roxas.

After a month, Reno had slowly gotten used to the transformation, but still found it a little disturbing.

At first, Sora didn't like how Roxas had handled the situation with Reno. Since Reno had put controls over the progression, he now felt happy and safe inside.

Roxas continued to grumble about someone being a slow-poke. In the end, though, since he would be getting some semblance of his husband back, he was willing to bear the current situation of forced abstinence.

A beaming smile lit up Roxas's face. "It was the first thing I liked about Axel. His eyes. When we first met in Twilight Town, he just stared me down. Never blinking once. I thought right off the bat he was a dirty pervert."

With a snigger, Roxas recalled his deceased loved one. "Found out later I was right."

Reno ruffled Roxas's blond hair, with one long-fingered hand. Well, he considered himself a dirty, old man when he hit puberty. Time didn't change him at all.

Thank the Gods for Turk discipline. It gave Sora time to get used to Reno, and it kept Cloud from making Reno's skin into a throw rug. "Gonna tell ya somethin', Rox. Don't use it against me. 'Kay? Ya know ya already got this Turk dead-to-rights, yo."

Roxas rubbed his head into Reno's palm. "Yeah, Reno. I know. You're just getting us used to you. It's a nice change. I'm getting to like it."

Dropping his hand, Reno stared down towards the cobblestones at his feet. "When Axel died, the Street Rat part of me came back. Felt it right off the bat, like a bad, itchy rash. Remember some stuff too. 'Bout you. 'Bout us. How shitty he was to ya. Street rat felt really sorry 'bout how it went down, Rox. Would have treated ya aces when he got ya back. Well… best as my Street Rat part knew how. He's itchin' like crazy against the Turk part of me. Don't like bein' bossed 'round, yo."

Elated with the news, Roxas scootched up tight against Reno, laying his head against Reno's collarbone. "Axel hated being bossed around. He'd try to get away with stuff every chance he could get. You know? He wasn't supposed to marry me."

Reno began running his fingers in Roxas's hair again. "Hmm?"

Roxas kissed the side of Reno's neck. "Yeah. He was just supposed to secure me, as a go-between, and bring me back to the Organization. Xemnas, our leader, became furious when he discovered we got married in Twilight Town. In front of everybody, he sliced up Axel's back in the middle of the Organization's meeting room."

"Xemnas wouldn't allow Axel to heal himself with the Darkness. He still had to accomplish missions with his back ripped to pieces. He'd return with his robe soaking with blood. Every night I would put on a healing salve to help his back heal. He'd say it didn't hurt much. I knew he lied. He just wanted me to stop crying. He hated to see me cry. He said it hurt worse than his back ever could. That's when I knew he really loved me. I knew what we had was rare and precious. I would suffer anything to keep that love close."

Reno nuzzled Roxas's hairline. "Yeah, but ya left the Street Rat anyway, yo."

Roxas shrugged. "It was never supposed to be permanent. Axel always got me before I strayed too far."

Reno drew Roxas away from him, so he could look into his Nobody's mate's serene blue eyes."Let me get this straight. Ya ran from the Organization, just so the Street Rat would tag ya? The Street Rat was a sicko. Ain't never gonna say he wasn't. I ain't all aces in the morality department either. I'm hoping Sora can work past that, seein' he's the forgivin' type. But you, Roxas. You ain't on the up-and-up either, yo."

With a wicked smile, Roxas giggled. "I never proclaimed to be, Husband. Sora's the goody-goody, but you knew that already."

With a groan of exasperation, Reno ran his hands up-and-down Roxas's arms. "Roxas, ya gotta understand. Sure, the Street Rat's back inside the Turk, but it's the Turk who's runnin' the show for good. I worked too hard, for too long, to go back to what I was. I'm gonna do right by you and Sora, if it kills me, yo."

Roxas embraced Reno tight. "Yeah, I know. I see the difference. The Turks made you focused. They made you patient and soft."

"The fuck? Hold up now, yo!"

Roxas refused to release a wiggling, protesting Reno. "No. Wait a minute. You're misunderstanding. Soft means nice. You're nicer. It's taking me a little getting used to, but it's what Sora needs. You know, as well as I do, if Axel had survived, he would have done the same thing to Sora. Same spouse, different body, so to speak. The difference, being, Sora would have been broken in a week. Sora doesn't have the fierceness I have to survive. He needs the soft. You have that in spades. It's a good thing, Husband. Thanks."

Once again, embracing Roxas, Reno rocked him back and forth like a baby. He spied Roxas's hair color change back to Sora's in the corner of his eye.

Shyer with his affection, a blushing Sora rubbed his cheek against Reno's chest. "Roxas is right, Reno. Axel loved us, but he was mean and hurtful. He hated to see us cry, but he made us cry anyway. He would get so angry, because he never understood why we cried. I'm glad you're the way you are now. You can take care of us, like Leon takes care of Cloud. We'll be great together. You'll see."

Reno glanced to the Strifes's open doorway.

Speaking of Leon, Reno needed to speak to the Lion as soon as possible.

Reno knew he was getting in way over his head. He needed good advice. It was the only kind Leon knew how to give. "Puttin' a lot of faith in this Turk, Sora. Hope I'm up to it, yo."

"You are Reno. I just know it."

XXX

With a kiss and hug goodbye, Sora left for his day-shift at the Seventh Heaven.

Leaning into Leon and Cloud's house, Reno rapped at the open door.

Looking up from sharpening Lionheart, Leon smiled.

Reno stared. Yeah, Strife was one lucky son-of-a-buck.

Reno thought about going for it once or twice, but he always pulled back, remembering Cloud was a psycho.

"I wondered when you'd knock on my door, Reno. Still confused on what to do about Sora?"

Appreciating Leon's intuitiveness, Reno returned the smile. "Yeah, Mrs. Strife. Kid got this Turk spinnin', yo."

"Reno. It's Leon. Just give me a minute to put Lionheart away. I'll meet you outside."

With a nod, Reno moved to sit back on the bench.

Cloud had this little list of rules Leon followed to the letter.

Leon followed the rules, not out of subservience, but from of the knowledge it kept Cloud's crazy at bay.

Leon had to meet any single men, except for Sora, outside the house.

If Cloud entered the house, and his enhanced senses picked up a foreign man's scent, he would, more often than not, go on a small killing spree.

Leon liked his life to be simple, and murder-free, as possible.

Striding out of the house, Leon gracefully took his seat next to a pensive looking Reno. "I'm all ears, Reno. How can I help you?"

Leaning forearms against bony knees, Reno gesticulated wildly. "It's about the mini-Cloud. Sora's sweet as pie. He'll forgive this Turk anythin'. And I've done some crazy shit to survive. On the other hand, I got Roxas. Roxas lived with the worst part of me for over a year. The very worst. It was the part that helped me drop the Plate on Sector 7, killin' women and kids. It's the part that liked killin' and maimin' Shinra enemies. It's the lyin' sleazy bullshitter. Roxas adores him. Sora needs me the way I am now. Roxas wants the rabid dog I was way back when I was runnin' the streets as a teenager. Don't know if I'm goin' up or down with the kid. Need help, Mrs. Strife. Need it real bad, yo."

Leaning one elbow against the back of the bench, with one heel resting on his knee, Leon smiled serenely at Reno's exasperation. "Well, first things first. Why do you keep calling me Mrs. Strife?"

Reno quirked an eyebrow. "Well, y'are ain't ya?"

Leon laughed. "Well, yes, but I wish you would call me Leon. Everyone else does."

Reno vehemently shook his head. Hands making a no-go gesture."Nuh uh! This is survival. See? I call you Mrs. Strife. It reminds this Turk ya married to the psycho. Uh… Sorry. Meant to say Cloud, yo."

Leon laughed even harder. He found Reno so amusing!

Leon loved when Reno came for morning breakfast with Sora.

Reno just woke everyone's brains right up.

Even though he would never admit it, Cloud enjoyed having Reno around too.

The pair would stay up, sometimes all night long, talking about old times with the Turks, SOLDIER, and a mutual best beloved buddy named Zack Fair.

"You don't have to worry, Reno. Cloud trusts you not to try anything with me. He said you, more than anybody, knew what he was capable of when pushed."

Relieved, Reno nodded."'Kay. Gonna still call ya Mrs. Strife, though. Fits ya somehow. You takin' care of all us nuts, yo."

Leon grinned."Okay, Reno. If it will make you feel any better, you can call me Mrs. Strife. Cloud thinks I deserve it too."

"Yeah. That's good. Umm. Back to the the mini-Nut?"

Frowning in thought, Leon crossed his arms across his chest."Ah yes. You're correct about Sora. He's a truly forgiving soul. You're blessed to have him in your life. I noticed you realize that. Roxas…. Well…. He's only been alive for a short time. You say he loved the very worst part of you, which is good, in a way. He knows what he's taking on. He just has to get used to the way you are now. I think he is. He's gotten so much more polite since you came into our lives."

Reno smirked, remembering what Cloud almost did to Roxas, when he had mouthed off to Leon."Yeah. I heard Strife was gonna skin him alive for smart-mouthin' ya."

Leon waved one gloved hand in dismissal. "Oh, Cloud always takes offense at any perceived slight against me. I hoped he had gotten better. He promised me he would be more patient with Roxas, since he suffered from multiple personalities himself. I think you've been helping Cloud too. Thanks."

With a shrug and rare blush, Reno looked down at his shoes."Fuck. No prob, Mrs. Strife. This Turk likes talkin' about the old days. Even reminded me of some stuff with my partner, Rude, I'd forgotten. Priceless, man, just priceless."

Leon clapped Reno on the shoulder with a firm grip. He waited, until Reno looked towards his assuring gaze. "From what Cloud's told me, you've always lived purely by your instincts. Since you're still here, I believe they have steered you in the right direction. Keep listening to them. Sora will continue to be patient and understanding. He will always be there for you. Roxas is where you will have to rely on your instincts the most. I'm also afraid you'll actually have to talk to the 'Street Rat' you've been trying to bury alive inside you."

Reno hung his head. He knew he couldn't keep on ignoring Axel inside. The Street Rat wouldn't let him. The fucker would poison him from the inside out, laughing all the while.

Reno owed it to Roxas, and especially Sora, to make himself right. "I get where ya comin' from, Mrs. Strife. He's just such an asshole. Never believed how the rest of the Turks put up with me for so long. I'll pull myself together. I gotta. Spouse's countin' on me."

Leon arched an eyebrow. "Spouse?"

Lowering his gaze away from Leon's, Reno shook his head in shame."Yeah, sick fucker actually married Roxas, before taking him back to the Organization. Not only was my Nobody a perverted asshole, he was a pedophile. Ain't enough dirt in all the Worlds to bury this Street Rat."

Leon would have to tell Cloud as soon as he came home.

Roxas's fierce determination to tie Reno down permanently made a lot more sense now. The spouse wanted his hubby back home, where he felt he belonged.

Tightening his grip on Reno's shoulder, Leon shook his body a little. "Reno, you say you hate the Street Rat part of you, and want him dead. However, he will always be an integral part of you. From what I've heard from Cloud, you never would have survived the slums without him."

"Nah. Would've died in the gutter with the rest of the scum. Maybe I should've. Would've saved Roxas a lot of grief, yo."

Leon shook his head. "You really don't believe that, anymore than Cloud wishes the Lone Wolf inside of him was dead."

"Yeah, but the Lone Wolf helped make Cloud our Planet's hero, my Lone Wolf liked to torture fat guys in suits."

Releasing Reno's shoulder, Leon leaned both elbows against the back of the bench. "Trust me. Once you've come to terms with the Street Rat part of you, everything else will fall into place. Sora and Roxas will both be patiently waiting for you at the end of the tunnel."

With a snigger, Reno glanced toward Mrs. Strife. "Just like you, for Cloud?"

Leon grinned back. "Yes, exactly."