Chapter 7
"Did you see that awesome save, Zack?! I'm getting better, right?" Sora asked excitedly, tugging at the older boy's jacket.
Zack laughed and ruffled his hair. "You and Roxas are the best on your team, Sora. Is Leon good at sports?"
Roxas frowned and crossed his arms. "Hmm... Sometimes Dad hints that Leon knows basically all sports, but he never plays. Sora and I try to convince him to play a little soccer with us-- maybe even just kick around the ball-- but he's either working on his homework or too tired from working at the Book Bin."
Zack tilted his head, smile beginning to fade. "...Things have changed since we moved, haven't they?"
Yuffie sighed and patted his shoulder. "Yeah. Things have really changed. All Leon does is work and go to school."
Zack scowled and crossed his arms. "I take my eyes off that shrimp for one minute--"
"You know he's almost as tall as you now," Sora stated, frowning.
He gasped softly. "The shrimp?! Almost as tall as me!? God, you guys need to stop growin' on me!" As the younger three laughed, Zack frowned in concern, brows furrowing together. "Think he'll be happy to see me?"
"Of course he'll be happy to see you! He'll probably make a big dinner for us!" Sora answered cheerfully.
"Yeah!" Roxas agreed, grinning. "How long are you staying with us, anyway?"
Zack raised an eyebrow. "With you? Yuffie told me I was staying in a hotel."
Sora scowled and smacked him in the arm. "Leon will never stand for that! He'll probably pull out the hide abed and share it with you. Come on! He said he was making cake!"
"Cake!"
-x-x-x-
Riku frowned and hung up his phone, crossing his arms, then turned. "Axel?"
The red-head looked up from his homework and tilted his head. "Hmm?"
He paused, as if not sure what to say, then stated, "Zack wants me to help him get Cloud and Leon together."
Axel raised an eyebrow, pretending not to be amused. "Oh? And how does he want you to do that? By making Leon sexier than you already have?"
Riku sighed and shrugged. "Well, he pointed out that I'm not afraid of Sephiroth--"
"Obviously," Axel interjected. "You're his brother; you can't afford to be afraid of him."
"That's what I said!" Riku nodded. "But then he went on to continue that I'm Cloud's friend, so I'm not afraid of making him angry, either. ...He wants me to date Leon."
Axel snorted and went back to his homework. "Even after you went through your whole 'I'm Not Gay' speech?"
"I've got a date with him tomorrow, because they've still got that third day for their psychology assignment. ...I'm taking him downtown to Pietro's, and then I'm taking him to Walden's." Riku sighed. "I don't know if he'll enjoy it, but it's a start."
"What, you're actually faking a relationship?" Axel frowned. "I thought you were against that."
Riku groaned and fell onto his bed, trying to smother himself with a pillow. "Zack's convincing! And he said this could get Leon with Cloud and I want them to be together..."
"...Wait, so let me get this straight," Axel ordered, repositioning himself to face the distressed teen. "Zack picked you to go out with Leon why?!"
"I'm not afraid of Sephiroth."
"Because he's been chasing after Leon for the last year, so that makes sense."
"I'm not afraid of making Cloud mad."
"Okay, that's what I don't get. What does that have to do with anything?"
Riku lifted the pillow away from his face, sighing. "Well, if you think about it, Cloud's now determined more than ever to get Leon, but he's not going to do anything to actually get him. But if has some real competition..."
"He's gonna be on you two like white on rice! That's brilliant!" Axel exclaimed, punching the air above him triumphantly. "And you'll have Leon to bake for you! Man, lucky!"
Riku grinned. "I never thought of that! I love Leon's food!"
Axel laughed and fell onto his back. "Oh, man! Riku, you better be the best boyfriend you can! Sora and Roxas won't forgive you if you hurt their brother!"
"Only down side, but I'll deal with it," Riku answered, grin still in place.
-x-x-x-
"I have a date?" Leon asked, frowning, as he placed a large bowl of spaghetti down on the table. "If they haven't told you, Zack, I've sworn off dating. Period."
Zack smiled at him. "Leon, you've already lost this argument and it hasn't even begun yet. You are going on a date tomorrow. I mean, unless you want to spend the whole day over at Cloudy's house."
Leon sighed, then sat the pot of sauce down loudly, slumping into his seat as Zack and his brothers dug into their meal. "Why? You've never pushed me to do something I haven't really wanted to, so why now?"
"Because, Leon, I want to see you happy. And you've been in love with Cloud for like... ever," Zack answered, waving his fork around slightly as he spoke around his food.
"No! Cloud didn't even notice me until I changed clothes! I don't want to be with Cloud anymore!" Leon snapped, crossing his arms stubbornly.
Roxas tilted his head, looking nearly too innocent. "Even if you got to make him suffer a little first?"
Leon stared at his empty plate for a few minutes, frowning, before slowly looking up. "...Make him suffer? How?"
"Seeing you with someone else will make him extremely jealous," Zack explained, eyes shining with mischief. "Besides, the guy's life is so easy. You deserve someone to pamper you, even if it's just going to be for one or two dates. Besides, you can just see yourself as friends unless Cloud or his friends are there. After all... Riku's not gay."
Leon blinked at Zack silently for a few minutes before bursting out into hysterical laughter. "Riku! Riku! I'd love to fake-date Riku! I can get Cloud and Sephiroth!"
"As they always say," Sora stated, rolling his eyes. "Vengeance is sweet."
"Actually, I think it tastes more like Leon's spaghetti," Zack answered, staring at his food contemplatively.
"...So Leon is the smart one in your friendship, huh?" Roxas asked, looking up at Leon.
Leon smiled at him. "Zack is smart. He just likes to think about abstract things."
"Wow, Leon! You must really like Zack! You're sticking up for him!" Sora exclaimed, surprised.
Zack elbowed Leon in the side, grinning. "Well he's gotta stick up for me, guys. That's what friends are for, right? Especially since I'm the one that told him the feelings he had for Cloud were love feelings. Eh, eh? Did I tell you or what?"
"You told me, alright," Leon muttered. "And look where it got me."
"In sexy leather pants, that's where it got you!" he exclaimed, looking very much like the cat who caught the canary. "You gotta admit, you're a walking sex god!"
Leon blinked at him, frowning, then sighed and stabbed a meatball out of the pot of sauce. "No."
-x-x-x-
Leon glanced around the Book Bin nervously, then looked up at Zack. "Did I really have to meet him here? I mean... Cloud's been staring at me the whole time... And..."
"Relax, relax," Zack ordered, waving it away. "Here, let me explain this to you one more time. Riku's gonna get here and you two have to act like you've been dating for a few weeks-- you know, kiss on the cheek greeting, holding hands, the works-- and Cloud will see it and start to angst, and you get to spend a wonderful day with your wonderful boyfriend!" Zack clasped his hands together and fluttered his lashes sarcastically. "Like, swoon! Oh my God, how delicious will that be?!"
"...And you tell me you're not even bisexual," Leon muttered, scowling.
Kairi, having overheard, leaned over the counter, smiling. "Oh, Axel told me about that! I'm totally for it!" she stated, grinning.
"Oh! Then you can help in the torture of Cloud!" Zack answered, grinning. "You know, after Leon and Riku have left, just casually mention how cozy they look together, something like that?"
She frowned, as if insulted. "Um, excuse me? You're talking to a girl. This is what I do for a living." She sighed softly. "Boys are so stupid."
"Hey!" Leon exclaimed, frowning at her. "I thought you liked me!"
"Okay, fine," she answered. "Let me rephrase that: straight boys are so stupid."
"Yes, that's the perfect answer," Zack muttered sarcastically.
Just then, the bell on the door jingled, signifying that someone had just arrived or departed. Turning toward the door, Leon flushed and began fiddling with Griever nervously. Cloud had been watching him since he'd arrived; how would he feel about him leaving with someone else?
Riku smiled at him sweetly, then walked over to him and reached up, gently playing with his chocolate locks. "Ready to go?"
Leon blushed a little more and nodded slightly, for some reason at a loss for words. "Uh huh."
"Great! Let's go!" Riku answered cheerfully, grabbing his hand and leading him toward the door. He looked back at Zack quickly, as if just remembering something. "I'll have him back by ten, okay?"
"Alright, but no making out in bathroom stalls!" Zack answered, making both boys freeze in their steps and just stare at him.
"...In... bathroom stalls?" Leon asked softly, frowning.
Riku blushed, then yanked Leon out the door. "Come on, Leon, he's just stupid."
Inside the Book Bin, a cookie sheet clattered to the floor.
-x-x-x-
Cloud stared at the door in shock, the fact that the cookie sheet he'd been holding was no longer in his hands barely registering.
Leon. Leon had left with Riku. Leon had left with Riku. Leon had left with Riku. Hand in hand. Blushing. Back by ten. Date?
Riku was taking Leon on a date? Insert dying brain cells here.
"How long have they been dating, anyway?" Kairi asked, frowning and leaning on the counter to speak with Zack.
Cloud knelt down to pick up the fallen cookie sheet, all ears for the answer. 'Yeah, Zack. How long have they been dating?'
Zack rested his chin on his palm and smiled. "Well, a few weeks. Isn't it cute the way Riku makes Leon blush, even though he's the younger in the relationship?"
Kairi smiled and nodded. "It is. Will they be going out often?"
"They will if I have anything to do with it." Zack scowled. "Just because they almost don't make enough money to pay the rent doesn't mean that Leon gets to skip out on a social life!"
"But they need the money-!" Kairi gasped.
Zack waved it away. "Come on, gorgeous. I've got a trust fund from my grandparents; I'm staying with them, so I can contribute." His carefree grin returned. "Besides, I--"
"Zack Fair!"
Cloud jerked his head toward the door quickly as it slammed open. 'Huh? Oh, right, he likes Leon too...'
Sephiroth stormed over to the grinning black-haired man and growled. "Why is my little brother holding hands with Leon?!"
Zack smiled innocently. "Why, obviously, he was taking Leon on another date!"
"Another date?" Sephiroth asked angrily.
"Yeah! Been dating a few weeks! You want me to buy you a muffin? Apparently, Cloudy's gotten better at baking."
"In case you didn't notice, I'm the one who's been chasing after him for a whole year!"
Zack smiled even wider and clapped his hands together. "Well then, all the more reason for me to set them up! After all, I'm the one you've been dating for the past year!" Zack's expression fell to a menacing glare. "Didn't think of that before you stormed in asking questions, did you?"
Sephiroth paled slightly, realizing his grave mistake. "I..."
"Oh, I've known, Sephy," Zack stated icily. "Because the Leonharts are dear friends of the Kisaragis and Yuffie is my cousin, and she, Sora, and Roxas have been complaining about how you keep chasing after Leon and how much Leon doesn't like it. Well, they won't have to complain anymore, because Riku's got Leon now. And you know what you've got? The bachelor life again. We're over."
"But--" Sephiroth exclaimed, but the shorter man cut him off.
"You cheated on me, Sephiroth." Zack immediately brightened up, holding up the tip jar. "On the other hand, if you'd like a latté, Kairi will make you one if you give her a decent tip!"
Sephiroth sighed sadly and tilted his head a little. "But Zack..."
"I'll tell you what," Zack stated, sighing. "If you prove that you really care about me, I'll think about taking you back."
"How do I do that?" Sephiroth whined, slumping onto the counter.
Kairi brightened up. "Chocolate, flowers, and a very romantic date!"
"Oh, and no telling the Leonharts about this," Zack added, frowning. "I have led them to believe that I am straight, and I shall be very, very sad if my charade must end. It's fun. So far I've led them on five years, six months, two weeks, three days and--" He checked his watch. "...One and a half hours."
"...Sometimes your sense of humor alarms me," Sephiroth stated, frowning, before sighing and grabbing Zack's arm. "Come along, Zackary."
"Hey! I wasn't finished talking to Kairi--" Zack exclaimed, looking much like a child being dragged out of a candy store as he was led outside.
Cloud looked down at the cookie sheet in his hands. 'The Leonharts can barely pay rent each month? ...And I've been complaining about how much Leon works...' Placing the cookie sheet back on the counter, he glanced at Kairi. "...Kairi?"
The red-head turned toward him and tilted her head. "Huh?"
"...Where are their parents? I mean, I stayed at the Leonharts' for two nights, and I didn't see them."
Kairi frowned and crossed her arms, chewing on the nail of her index finger nervously. "Well... There mother is dead. She died giving birth to Roxas and Sora. Their dad does research for a traveling agency. He calls every Sunday and Wednesday to see how they're doing, and comes to stay with them for a week right after New Year. He works the rest of the time to make sure they have rent. Leon works for groceries."
"...And I've been complaining about how much he works..." Cloud looked down at his feet and sighed dejectedly. "...I'm such a moron..."
"For what it's worth, even if he was offered help, he won't accept it," Kairi answered, sighing as well. "The Leonharts are too proud. Come to think of it, our family is too. But we make it."
"...Where did Leon get that scar from?"
She frowned at him in indignantly. "Like I'm going to tell you that! Cloud, if you really want to know, ask Leon yourself. He'll tell you when he's ready."
-x-x-x-
"Wow, Riku! I don't know how to thank you!" Leon exclaimed, hugging the thick book to his chest.
Riku smiled and scratched his cheek absentmindedly. "Well, I've got to be a good fake boyfriend, Leon. Your brothers are really protective of you. Besides, when I saw your eyes light up when you saw the book and then see your disappointment when you looked at the price, I had to buy it for you."
Leon turned and nuzzled his shoulder playfully. "You know, if you were really gay, I'd totally date you."
Riku laughed and wrapped his arm around the brunet's shoulders. "Right back at you, Leon. It's fun to spoil you Leonharts. You appreciate everything that's given to you. ...Especially a book containing the entire Chronicles of Narnia series."
"Don't tease me! When the power goes out I read to Sora and Roxas to keep them calm and I thought they'd like these!" Leon exclaimed defensively, blushing.
The silver-haired boy laughed and gave him a small squeeze, then stopped, smile fading, as he saw Cloud sitting on Leon's doorstep. "Uh... I think... I better go," he murmured, frowning, before slowly taking his arm from around Leon and walking back the way they'd come.
Leon frowned and watched him leave, then turned to Cloud, confused. "What are you doing here? You can go home now. The day's over; you can go start making your speech for class."
Cloud looked up at him slowly, eyes shadowed by his hair. "Why didn't you tell me you barely make rent every month?"
"Who told you that?!" Leon asked defensively, ready to slaughter whoever it was that spilled.
Cloud stood up and glared at him, ignoring the question completely. "You work so hard to make a good living for your family and you let everyone at school call you weird! Why don't you stand up for yourself? You should be proud of making it this far!"
Leon growled softly, furious that Cloud would yell at him for not sticking up for himself. "Oh yeah?!"
Sora and Roxas, who'd just walked up with Zack in tow, were about to state that that had been the lamest comeback Leon could have said, but he continued before they could open their mouths.
"You think I enjoy working everyday while everyone else is going to the mall or hanging out and having fun?! You think I enjoy having Yuffie and Zack as my only friends aside from Rikku, Paine, Yuna, Riku, and the Pyrokis, whom I don't even get to see because they're working hard to pay their bills too?! You think I enjoy having to work late instead of going to see my brothers' games?! You think I enjoy the fact that I have to change to get you to notice me?! That I have to get Riku to buy me new clothes just so you'll look at me and acknowledge I exist?!
"Well for your information, I don't enjoy it! I'm working my ass off to keep my family together instead of having to go to foster homes because my dad's always gone for work! I've never had help before so why should anyone help now?! I don't need help! I don't want help! Especially not from someone who didn't even acknowledge me until he was paired up with me on a stupid assignment!"
With that, Leon stormed inside and slammed the door shut. The four boys stayed outside silently, trying to grasp what had just happened, when the sound of the oldest Leonhart bursting into tears reached their ears through the door. Yuffie, who had walked up just in time to hear the last few seconds of screaming, walked past the boys and into the house as if she owned the place.
As the door clicked shut, all four rushed to put their ears to the door.
"Leon?"
"...Go away..."
"Oh, Leon... Come here..."
A pause in the talking as Leon complied and let her hug him comfortingly.
"...It's not fair!"
"I know it's not, sweetie. Just cry it out. Come on; just cry it all out."
"I'm just doing what I have to-"
"Shhh... I know, Leon. I know."
"I don't want to do this anymore...!"
"I know."
"Cloud didn't even acknowledge me, and now he's acting like he knows what I'm going through--"
"He's just confused. Come on, Leon. Calm down."
Cloud frowned, then pulled away from the door. "...I'm sorry I bothered you," he stated softly, though whether he was speaking to Sora, Roxas and Zack or Leon wasn't clear.
