AN: I got bored and beat KH 2 again... Man, now I wish I hadn't beat it so fast. I have nothing to do.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the Final Fantasy games. Ho-hum.
Sora: You're writing. That's something to do.
FDOS: (sigh) Yeah, I guess you're right... Anyway, I'm in the mood for a Leon chapter! As you can tell, I'm going back and forth between the two (although I may do one of them twice, depending on what's happening in the story). From now on Riku and Sora won't have much screen time unless it's in relation to Leon and Cloud. But fear not, RS fans! I will (eventually) have side stories! Oh, and it's Saturday... Just so you won't wonder why they're not in school.
Chapter 3: Because Lions Are Kings
Leon, despite not being able to move without cringing, went about his normal business the next day. First, he had to check on the market place to make sure everyone was stationed where they were supposed to be. Then it was on to the gates for reports on who had come and gone during the night (Leon snorted when the guard told him about Riku). And finally, the one item on his list he absolutely despised, was training. Whoever the hell thought Leon could handle a bunch of insubordinate rookies without trying to slit their throats open was an idiot. Oh, yeah, that was Seifer.
"Zell..." Leon scolded for the fifth time that session, the tip of his Gunblade hovering just above the blond boy's neck. "How many times do I have to say it? Focus when you're fighting!"
Another boy that had been watching them fight stepped forward, putting a hand on his hip.
"Go easy on him, Squall. He's had a rough day."
Leon sent a glare at the boy that could have made a mountain get up and run off.
"Shut up, Irvine. This isn't your fight," he snapped, turning back to Zell with a sneer. "Besides, his day couldn't be any worse than mine."
Leon slung the Gunblade over his shoulder, kicking the wheezing blond that was sprawled across the floor.
"Get up. We'll continue tomorrow."
Zell gave him a fearful look before scrambling to his feet and running out of the room.
"What's got you so bothered there, huh?" Irvine asked, taking off his hat as he moved into a fighting stance.
A growl started to rumble in the back of Leon's throat and he pounced, knocking Irvine against the wall with one sweep of his blade.
"I'm not bothered by anything," he answered crossly, pressing the flat part of the Gunblade against Irvine's chest. "Just leave me the hell alone."
"Geez, lightn' up…" Irvine mumbled uncomfortably, trying to shift away from him. "You don't have to act like you got a stick up your ass…"
And from then on during Irvine's training session, he realized that making that comment was like signing his own death certificate. Leon nearly decapitated him three times and by the end of the fight his legs were ready to give out. The brunet generally went easy on the trainees, but today he had shown Irvine what he was really like when he fought.
"The session's over," Leon said smugly, smirking down at him.
And Irvine felt lucky that he had come out alive.
As far as Leon remember, which wasn't much, he had always lived in the Third District. But there were times when someone from Jenova would give him this look. It was a sad look, like they had lost something. Most of the time, it was Cloud. And not knowing anything about his younger years made him wonder… What would it have been like if he hadn't lost his memory?
Would he have different friends? Would he be here, in Graver? Every night he tossed and turned, endless questions running through his mind. His parents weren't any help… They refused to tell him anything about his childhood, except that his name was Squall and that they were his mom and dad. But there was someone in the back of his mind, someone very important that he was still trying to remember. And Cloud giving him those looks made him believe that it was him and there was nothing better that Leon wanted to do than ask the blond. Unfortunately though, that would never happen. Not until the war was over, at least.
The accident, Leon recalled, was a hit and run. This was all he could manage to drag out of the neighbors when he asked them. But for some reason, that didn't seem right… He may have amnesia, but he could still remember a car door opening and someone checking his pulse. There was also a faint screaming, a young boy's voice in the backround…
"What did you do to Squall!"
The thing that frightened Leon however, was how upset he had felt when he heard the boy's cries and the fact that there was nothing he could do to comfort him. He wanted to stop the tears that had fallen on his face after the boy grabbed his hand. He wanted to make him laugh… Because whenever he caught a glimpse of the boy in his subconscious, he was almost always laughing. It was a beautiful sound, light and heart-warming, and Leon would die happy if he could hear it again. Just one time…
"Why are you always so grumpy, Squall?"
"Shut up!"
"Hee! You sound like a mean old lion!"
But for now, Leon would settle for his dreams.
"I do not sound like a lion!" seven-year-old Squall huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Take it back!"
The blond boy sitting beside him stuck out his tongue, grinning at the growl he received in response.
"See? Grumpy! Old! Lion!" he giggled, pointing a finger at Squall.
"I'm a kid, not a lion. Lion live in zoos."
The boy mirrored Squall's position as he turned to pout at him.
"Not all lions live in zoos… There are wild ones! And I was just comparing you to a lion! Can't you take a joke, Squall?"
Squall frowned and reached over to pull at the boy's hair, who let out a pained squeak.
"Hey! Stop it!" he shouted, trying to pry Squall's hand away. "I'm sorry!"
Squall tugged it again, this time pulling him forward to look him in the eye.
"Don't call me a lion," he said quietly, letting go and gently smoothing out the strands. "You stupid wolf."
The boy smiled as Squall continued to pat the top of his head, but then he realized…
"No fair! Why do you get to call me that, when I can't call you lion?"
Squall buried his face in the boy's shoulder, a smirk creeping onto his lips.
"Because lions are kings, that's why. But you can be my pet wolf."
Leon had been so different back then. But if that boy really was Cloud, he had changed too. Although, he didn't really care if they weren't the same anymore… He just wanted his wolf back.
AN: Man, that was… Mediocre. Sloppy. Not my best work. And unbelievably short, as usual. But oh, well. It'll have to do… Reviews will be greatly appreciated!
