DISCLAIMER - I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy Franchise, or any Disney references which may pop up in this story. - neither do I own Tetris, I am using the game style as a Metaphor!

This is long overdue, I apologise.

I've been working on another Strifehart fic with the help of the lovely Out-of-Character217! If all continues to go well then there might be another fic waiting for you all. See you in the review box, hopefully.

Chapter 10 Leon

"That's it? Damn." The frustrated sigh brushed across Leon's bruising cheek. He was too close, his breath stunk of cigarettes and greasy food batter. "I thought we'd have you this time," his eyes narrowed as he took his hands off the man.

Without restraints Leon turned and leaned his back against the wall with his arms crossed, waiting for them to leave because like hell was he going to pick up his toolbox and scattered parts with them here. They wouldn't see him lowering himself willingly.

The Knight on the left, his colleague who had asked all the questions, frowned too. They were clearly annoyed that Leon had once again proven totally innocent of any crime. "You can't keep lucky, Leonhart. We'll get you, I know you're deviating. Your bastard Father was a traitor, you're the same, I know it."

Leon straightened his clothing with a forced neutral expression. His side hurt. His stomach was sore, still felt slightly caved. His shoulder blade was throbbing uncomfortably as blood rushed to the surface to paint a stain just below the skin.

He said nothing as the Knights continued to discuss their suspicions. He just waited. He knew they were itching to arrest him. To find evidence, hearsay, rumours. Anything to warrant an arrest.

Unluckily for them, the same system that protected them from being prosecuted also protected civilians from arrest. Leon could not be arrested on probable cause, there had to be evidence. Sephiroth painted himself as a saving grace so he had to act like it. He had to act fair and put on a show of justice while he circled People of Interest and waited for the perfect excuse to bring them down. He was forced to put on a show as his Private Army and all his Knights weren't enough to force people to cooperate if they rose up again, the Rebellion had one positive attribute; Sephiroth had restrictions. Restrictions that let Leon walk free.

So long as he did not slip up.

Just as he had told Cloud – he was thorough, why do you think he was still alive?

All their unexpected raids on his house, all their bullying on the streets – searching him for weapons or secrets which weren't there to find – he had to put up with it. But more importantly he had to make sure there was nothing to find.

Not the kids.

Not a secret compartment.

Not even a tremble in his own voice as he answered their questions.

It was part of their job to search for deviants and traitors. Everyone got inspected, raided and searched. It was common place and widespread, like grass. But the Knights relished abusing their power over People of Interest, Leon in particular. He resisted a sigh as he recalled why …

The Rebellion day …

His loss of temper …

'OUR secret'.

"Fuck it, we've got better things to do. We're watching you!" the ringleader snapped, jabbing Leon just to the right of his heart. Leon barely reacted past breathing. Their frustrated huffs and curses were reward enough as they moved away to their van. Leon smirked slightly and rolled his shoulders as he left the wall.

After hiding a wince he crouched to stand his toolbox the right way up and examine the scene. There were scattered nails everywhere and a tool or two on the ground. He knelt to gather them, grateful that the passing people were staying out of his way to make his job easier.

The van door closed with a final slam. The Knights were gone with the growl of an engine.

Leon ignored it, there were nails on the ground. His toolbox had a crack and his clothes were slightly askew. The Knights were gone, but he felt that they wouldn't be gone until he had erased evidence of their presence. All those nails had to be gathered, the toolbox crack fixed, his clothes smoothed out and comfortable again. Then he could pretend it hadn't happened for the next two minutes.

Damn all the things he had to put up with and live through. Damn Laguna … Leon wondered if things would have been different if his Father hadn't been an utter moron and impulsively stepped into the state's line of fire. Leon sighed to himself, used to these thoughts running through his mind when times were hard, and hating that they were so cruel and emotional. Logic was better than emotions any day.

Those thoughts on his Father were a bit unfair… a lot unfair.

He was a good man, he may have been an idiot at the best of times, but he never ran from what was right. He never passed off responsibilities or duties. Leon had admired him deeply for that, he knew his Father would have never given him any grief if he could help it. This wasn't his Father's fault …

After the rebellion he had done what was right and had saved a lot of people – who were now ignorant of what he had done. If anything, that was the hardest thing to live with. Not the fact that his Father's rebellion failed, but the fact that he had blindly leapt forwards as their human shield and no one seemed to care.

It wasn't their fault by any stretch of the imagination, but they still didn't care.

Even though, through Laguna Leon was saddled with an unwanted scrutiny he didn't blame his Father for making that choice. He would have done the same, but his promise held him back.

…

Leon missed that moron.

…

He missed his home, and his family …

"Lion! Where are you Lion?"

Giggling rustled the bushes.

Slow, deliberate footsteps paced around the garden bush, a voice humming loudly. "Where, oh where, could my little Lion cub be?" the feet stopped at mouth of the leafy cave "Its way past his bedtime …"

The Lion cub covered his mouth and giggled again. Waiting.

He shuffled back a little and bunched one hand in the fabric of his orange shirt. The soft tap of introductory raindrops pattered on the deep green leaves.

The adult's feet shifted as a hand pulled back the green branches, slowly.

"Ah … ha!"

The cub squealed and was caught by strong but gentle hands "Got you!"

Squall smiled as he was lifted and held in those comforting arms, the night garden full of green and dark, but not anymore. "Aww, you found my secret den!"

A smile matched his playful pout "Did I, now?" the adult's knees bent to examine the entrance "I see, then it'll just have to be OUR secret now, right Squall?"

"Right!"

"Fall back! We've lost the fourth District! Fall back!" the messenger's shout was the worst news. They had run out of strongholds.

"Citizens! Surrender!" Boomed the Sephiroth's voice over the fleeing SeeDs. "Those who surrender will be-"

He never finished his terms.

Light appeared overhead.

A summon.

All eyes watched the being form.

Then they heard a Lion roar.

It rumbled in the earth, the air, their bones, their very souls.

Then, as a second light blighted the city and stripped it bare by blinding eyes, a second roar echoed.

"What did you do! Oh gods …"

"Squall …"

"Don't say anything, just-"

"Listen son, we don't have much longer."

"No! Don't say that. You'll be fine. Please, you have to be alright. They'll be here soon, they can help you."

"No one's coming, Squall."

"What? The people-"

"They can't help me. You can only help them … only you …"

"What?"

"No! Don't go!"

"They'll be … safe. Please … promise me … you'll keep them safe."

"I …"

"Promise me, son."

"…"

"You mustn't tell anyone … you must keep them safe. Keep it a secret, OUR secret, promise me you will."

"…"

"Promise me, Lion!"

"… I promise …"

Leon shook his head as nostalgic memories came back to him, both good and bad. He didn't have the time for this, there were things to do.

That Mako solider needed to be hidden away. He needed to organise a pathway for Cloud's escape should he need it. Aerith would be worried for him, he'd have to calm her down again. He'd have to dash Belle's hopes and lie through his teeth to Arthur when he finally spoke with them. He needed to go talk to another Garden once the manhunt was over, perhaps the exception to the rule … that was always a good place to begin integration.

He frowned at his toolbox as he lifted the clasp – the lid was broken. Stupid Knight, this was a new one too. He put away the last of the nails and tucked it under his arm. Maybe Merlin could fix it.

The people around him were filtering slowly back into the space they had previously avoided. They were already turning a blind eye to what had happened, pretending it wasn't anything special … it wasn't really.

Leon was silently thankful for the complete disregard the people had. He would have hated their pitiful stares, their help might have even stung. Distance was what he was used to, and what he had always preferred.

He stood up and glanced about.

Good, Cloud and Aerith weren't in sight.

The blond solider must have caught on and taken Aerith away. She got upset easily when a friend was in trouble. She was really empathetic … maybe too much for her own good – she always hurt along with them. Leon didn't like causing her pain or putting her in danger, or letting her see just how bad his life was because of his promise.

That secret.

Leon merged with the flow of people at his own pace, moving towards the Crooked Tower with slight apprehension … no doubt Aerith was going to raise a fuss. No doubt Merlin, Belle and Mrs Pots would ask him what happened that day. No doubt they'd have to lie to Arthur. No doubt the solider, Cloud, was going to have questions.

That soldier … he was a curious individual, sharp as a blade. Even if they said nothing he would discover something. That told Leon that Cloud had been a solider for a very long time, maybe even an Agent.

Cloud had to have guessed by now that Leon's position in the eyes of the Knights was not the same as the others. He must have realised Leon was a Person of Interest. How would he explain that? Leon turned over possible answers in his mind, both outright lies and half-truths. His Father's actions would have to be the scapegoat reason, as unfair as it was to use his selfless act as an excuse he couldn't part with that secret.

Somethings were better off forgotten.

A drop of moisture hit his cheek.

Leon looked up in surprise. The sky was grey as normal, ever since the oncoming darkness there was never any sun through the layers of clouds, but there was the hint of rain in the air. More drops hit the ground at his feet as he moved to the door, slowly to savour the sounds and the smell of the change in weather.

He wasn't superstitious, or religious, but an unexpected rain shower? It almost seemed like the one who gave him his secret task was checking up on him, after noticing his train of thought. He absently tilted his head back to let the cool water splash over him. He breathed deep and let himself believe that silly, childish thought for a moment longer as he whispered:

"Looks like Rain."

Meh, sorry it's so short. But I didn't want to reveal too much too soon, please tell me your theories though because I love looking at them and discussing them with people. More soon!

Also shout it out - who's voicing the next chapter?