Okay…slowly this is coming and I'm trying hard to keep everything updated at a decent pace. I thank those who understand.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or settings.
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Lone Racer
Chapter 4: Discovered
With his hands shoved deep into his pockets, Leon strides wearily up to the huge door of a dark looming mansion of pure black and silver trim.
Taking a deep breath, he knocks on the door and is automatically greeted by a girl. At the age of 19 she has long black and brown streaked hair while grey eyes gaze at him.
She smiles brightly, "Oh Leon, I'm so glad that you came back and that you're okay!"
She latches onto Leon, giving him a bone crushing hug. Although, the minute Leon winces, she pulls away. Leon tries to smile back, "No need to worry Rinoa, I'm just a little banged up."
Rinoa sighs and pulls him into the house, "Are you bleeding?" Shutting the door she gives Leon her full attention.
"The Vipers jumped me again. Almost killed me but his nice man…Cloud Strife, saved my life." he gives in saying it with hurt eyes.
"Leon come here immediately!" orders the strong voice.
Rinoa only smiles and mouths the word 'sorry' before going back to dusting the shelves of the adjacent room. Leon leaves Rinoa to her maid duties and walks into the room marked as the living room to see him.
A 30 year old man stands in the middle of the room. His long silver hair drapes over his deep black attire, while his teal colored, piercing eyes seem to bore into Leon.
Walking closer Leon notices Seifer in a chair. The blonde holds his face in his palm while a bandage covers his forehead.
Noticing Leon's gaze, Sephiroth smiles cruelly. "He came back and I found out what happened. So I delivered him a similar scar. But now look what you've done, Leon? You've endangered another young man. You were lucky I can put up with Zell."
Leon lowers his gaze to the floor.
Sephiroth continues, "I hope you didn't say anything about me."
No response slips out of the brunet's lips.
The silvered haired man only sighs, "Looks like we need to question him."
Leon's head snaps up and moves closer to Sephiroth as he glares deep hatred at his foster father. "Leave Cloud alone!:
A scowl twists onto Sephiroth's face as he back hands Leon across the face. Just from the shock and force Leon stumbles back and kneels to the ground.
Sephiroth turns to Seifer, "Leave…and send in Rufus, I know he's been waiting."
The blonde hurries out, hoping not to anger the man any more.
-______-
A man with slicked back short blonde hair wearing a white suit walks in, clearly known as Rufus Shinra. He's flanked by three men in black suits.
The tallest of the trio has short black hair and soft crimson eyes. The middle has green eyes and a man of long scarlet hair that is pulled back into a ponytail, though it still travels down to the middle of his back. Lastly is chestnut eyed man with shoulder length black hair that is also grabbed up into a short ponytail.
Leon sighs, 'I can't believe he brought these three. Vincent Valentine is too skilled and tall for me to trick. The mangy red headed Reno is my friend. Then I would have to get around Tseng, and he'll calculate my every move. What am I going to do?'
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After Leon had left, Cloud had sat down on the bed and put his head in his hands.
'What is going on?' thought Cloud, 'Yeah I like the boy but when he said Sephiroth's name…my idol…for some odd reason it sent chills up my spine.'
Unsuspected tears trail down the young racer's face. He takes no heed to the heavy footsteps striding up the stairs and to stand in front of him.
Cloud looks up to meet Zack's enraged eyes. 'He always knows when to come. Normally I would joke that it's scary. But…he might rip my head off my body.'
The older racer growls low, 'What did he do to you, Cloud? Tell me!"
Inhaling a deep cleansing breath, Cloud pulls himself together. "He…he made his choice. Leon said he didn't want me…in danger."
Zack turns away. "I'll be back here later tonight. You better be at the race. So get some sleep."
Cloud nods with honest radiating off of his countenance, "I promise, I'll be there."
With that Zack hurries off while Cloud moves to his room to get a few hours of sleep.
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Groaning, Cloud glances at the clock, its neon red numbers glare at him over the pillow reading 11:11 A.M. With a new mind set, he gets ready for the day and heads to get his motorcycle.
Riding these streets often it was fairly easy for Cloud to back track to where he originally found Leon. Cloud slams on breaks and swerves to the right, barely missing a blonde boy who had run out in front of his path.
The boy runs up to Cloud's bike and in turn receives a heavy glare. "Who are you and what do you want?"
He pants heavily, apparently from running. "My name…is Zell. Have you…seen a boy…with brown hair…about my age?"
Cloud raises an eyebrow, 'Who are you looking for exactly?"
Zell walks around to the other side of the bike so he doesn't stand in the road. "His name is Squall Leonhart. Why have you seen him? Pleas tell me where?"
"Yeah…I found him the other night on…the verge of death. Took him home and got him bandaged up. But he left, saying something about Sephiroth." his features soften as he recalls.
Zell groans, "You're clueless ya know that?"
Cloud's glare instantly returns, "Then make it where I have a clue."
Zell shakes his head, "Don't think you want to know…um…by the way, who are you anyway?
"Cloud Strife…now tell me all you know, and I mean all of it," the older blonde demands.
Zell sighs, "Leon's mom died in a freak car accident when he was 13. His dad mysteriously disappeared and hasn't been seen since she died. Leon's relatives sent him to an orphanage where a man, a great racer, adopted him…Sephiroth."
He smiles slightly. "Sephiroth was still racing till a year ago. Leon was always alone in that house. So he always hung out on the streets. That's how he saved me from some thugs and we've been friends since. But now Sephiroth runs the Viper gang. But they've been going against his orders and trying to recruit more members. If they don't accept…they are killed."
Zell takes a deep breath, "But anyways that's really all there is to tell, 'cause I don't know no more."
Standing on the sidewalk, Zell waves at Cloud as he drives off. As fast as he can, Cloud hurries to the Meeting Ground as it's been called.
Swerving around the corner the man pulls the trigger to the fake gun, making a popping sound. Cloud revs the engine, instantly pulling up beside the other racers.
The race comes to an end when Cloud rides across the finish line. He stops by the man in charge and yells over the roar of the monsters behind him.
"Keep it."
Cloud drives off, headed home so his search can begin. The only reason he went to the race was because of the promise. Now he was free to do what was needed.
As he pulls into his driveway Cloud notices one thing and one thing only; the kitchen light is on.
Sneaking in as quiet as a mouse, Cloud enters the kitchen. On the counter sits a man in a black suit.
The man smiles making his tattoos rise with his cheek bones. Turning from his seat on the counter his red hair sways as he turns to the lone racer.
"Hey spiky, you know the kid, Squall, right?" the red head asks.
At the mention of him, Cloud's eyes instantly narrow. "Who are you?"
"Then you must be Cloud…and I take it that you don't like me that much." the man laughs, sounding slightly hurt.
Another man enters behind Cloud, "Reno would you just finish the job."
Reno yells at the man as he turns to walk away. "Shut up and do your job Tseng!"
Sliding off the counter, Reno approaches Cloud.
