Chapter Ten
Angry eyes roved over the girl—what was her name? Rikku. That's right. A pretty little blond with a tight ass in short shorts. She was blushing, giggling at him. Tidus curled a finger at her and she came over.
"Hi", she said.
He didn't smile back. This was a female, a girl, the softer sex. He tugged her down and crushed her into a smothering kiss, guided her to crouch between his parted legs. Her lips tasted sweet. She tensed for a moment then sighed, relaxing into his embrace and kissing back. She smelled good. Her hair was like spun gold as Tidus tangled it around his fingers.
Fuck it.
He wasn't going to get left behind again. Fuck Yuna. Fuck Leon. The teen growled against her lips, making little Rikku squeak.
Suddenly he shoved her away and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. A pained expression contorted her features as she whipped back to glare at him. "What the hell was that for?"
Tidus didn't answer. Instead, he brought the bottle to his lips and grimaced as he took a huge swallow. On the next gulp, he swished the burning liquid around a little then spat it into the fire.
"Ugh", Rikku growled. "Stupid prick." She got up and stalked away.
She was sweet. She was soft. She was a girl. Tidus took another swig and shuddered. It was amazing, how gross it seemed to him now. Nature had fashioned their sex to compliment one another, and yet he couldn't even stomach making out with a girl now.
Unbidden, Leon's face swam in the furious haze that numbed his mind, his lips.
Hayner stood a little ways away, looking just as ill. And why shouldn't he? His friend's bitter decline was his fault after all.
He hadn't meant it. He really hadn't.
People crowded around Leon when the older man first arrived, thinking he was cool and hot. It wasn't just girls but some guys. Leon remained aloof, his eyes only for Tidus, but still the teen had gotten a little jealous. That's when he'd gotten up, under the pretense of getting food, air.
But then Yuna had cornered him. Leon had seen the way he'd fumbled, mistaking that for lingering affection. Well, whatever. He'd hightailed it out of there in a hurry. And with who? With Cloud, of course.
Cloud.
He was just a stupid replacement for Cloud. Why would Leon be interested in him? He was a flailing brat, wet behind the ears.
"When I said you needed to calm down, I didn't mean it like this."
"Shut up." Tidus threw his head back and took another bitter draught from the bottle of Captain Morgan he'd found nestled by the food. Someone needed to be thanked or thrashed for smuggling it in. Right now, Tidus didn't care which.
Hayner reached for it but Tidus slapped his hand away. "Knock it off Hayner."
"What's gotten into you!?" Several people looked over at Hayner's explosion but he waved them away and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Okay…Yes, I did invite him. I'm sorry. I don't know what the hell I was thinking", he drawled.
Tidus snorted bitterly. "I guess you didn't, did you. You're—" He hiccupped, face squinching like he was struggling to remember what he was about to say. "You're jealous Hay. You're jealous that he's not…"
"Don't you dare."
"He's not Siefer."
Hayner grit his teeth. Despite the fact that it was the cutting truth, it sounded so much worse when spoken aloud. "Give me the bottle Tidus. Your mom's gonna be pissed."
"Ya know", the other blonde slurred, ignoring him. "They could almost be siblings." He made a lazy gesture in Yuna's direction, who was kicking back on Wakka's jacket while the copperhead nuzzled into her lap with a satisfied grin. "It's the hair", he spat. "That stupid wavy, brown…hair." He hiccupped again.
Hayner palmed his face. "Were you ever able to find Leon?"
Tidus barked out a harsh laugh. "Oh, I found him alright." Another hiccup. Tidus lifted the bottle again but his fingers spasmed and he dropped it in his lap. "Shit! These are my favorite trunks!" The bottle paid no mind as, with a few depressing glugs, it emptied its contents all over him. Tidus stared down at the blooming stain that was as stark as blood. "He was with Cloud", he murmured. "Leon was with Cloud."
Hayner paled.
The other blonde flailed a little then, dizzy from alcohol, flumped back into the cool sand. He groaned, "Hayner… I don't… feel good."
"How much did you have?" Hayner bent down and relieved him of the bottle.
"This much", Tidus's hands swayed as he marked the amount, a good quarter of the bottle.
Hayner snorted. "Guess you didn't have enough captain in you."
Tidus aimed for his head but his arm crashed uselessly to the sand again. He dug his fingers in and squeezed his eyes shut. "Hurts", he grit through his teeth.
"Just lay down for a bit. I'll go bring you a hotdog bun so you can get some of that shit outta your system."
"'m not hungry."
"You'll eat it anyways", Hayner snapped. He got up and dumped the empty bottle into the trashbag with a clink. Eyes narrowed, he scanned the crowd for Leon or Cloud but neither was in sight. He raked a hand through his hair. "Dammit", the blonde muttered.
_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_o_
"You made your choice."
"But apparently you haven't." Cloud rested against the wall, his arms crossed. "I know you Leon. You don't usually make a habit of hanging around brats in such an…innocent setting. Young and blonde. You haven't changed a bit." Cloud sized him up. "You came because you thought I'd show up, didn't you?"
Leon swallowed. "You're wrong." They were back at his place now. It didn't matter. Lies didn't matter. He'd gone for Tidus yes, but a part of him, a bigger part than he wanted to admit had come because…
"Far from it Squall", Cloud drawled. The brunette winced. "That's right. I know you. And I've heard all about your little tryst with Tidus. Hayner's my friend too, you see."
"Stop it." Leon hunched forward and braced his knuckles against his temples. "Stop it please."
"This whole thing reeks of rebound. Give it up now before anyone gets hurt."
"I…I don't want…" Leon choked as the blonde's eyes flashed in the darkness of Leon's living room.
"You don't want to be loved, you love to be wanted. Well, I've got news for you pal—life isn't some fairytale", he hissed as he pushed himself up from the wall. "We don't always get our happily ever afters. What you're doing is illegal Lee. It isn't harmless. Wake up."
"I know…I know", he groaned. "I didn't mean…"
"You never mean!" Cloud threw up his hands. "That's your problem! You're so fucking insecure that you string people along but don't let them in because you're too damn scared." He stalked around the side of the couch and crouched down so he could see Leon's face. His hand drifted out to pluck at one of Leon's gloves, even as the brunette shrank away. Tsking in frustration, he grabbed Leon's chin between his thumb and index finger and steered his face up. "Tidus isn't ready for you. I wasn't ready for you. You're too scared of this kind of thing. And someone will get hurt if you try to keep this bullshit up." His face softened. "You were never able to touch me and I hope to god you haven't done too much damage to Tidus yet. Let him go."
"I can't…" It was a low, desperate murmur. Leon's back rose and fell slowly as if each breath was costing great effort. "He loves me…"
"That's what you said about me. You've always been attracted to the young ones. The blonde ones. He's just another replacement for that stupid little dream of yours. You don't know what love is."
The leather gloves clung to his skin as he started to sweat in earnest. They were making his hands burn, he wanted to tear them off. But he couldn't. Even now he couldn't. "I've touched him."
For only a few moments, but he had. Tidus had felt his skin and hadn't cursed him for it. He was still…alive.
Cloud's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Leon's shoulders slumped but he met Cloud's gaze with his own. "Yeah."
The blonde rocked back on his haunches with a low whistle. He smiled at the light scar that slanted down Leon's forehead to his right tear duct. It was the first genuine smile in a long time. "That's…wow."
"Yeah."
The two men sat in silence, sharing between them the weighty implications of such a simple act.
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Hayner blew out a deep breathe when his eyes found a familiar coif that glistened in the dying firelight. "Thank God."
Leon glanced up at the growl.
"Where the hell'd you go?" Hayner poked him hard in the chest before pointing at his friend, a bundle curled up in the sand. Their spot was now pretty much empty, with Roxas, Axel, Selphie, Olette, and Pence hanging back to help clean up.
"I—"
Hayner waved a hand in his face. "Nevermind that. Take him", the blonde jabbed a finger at Tidus again, "And go home. I already told his mom he'd be spending the night with Pence and me at Pence's house."
Leon's face pinched into a scowl. "Why can't he just go home?"
"Because", it was Selphie's voice this time. And it sounded even more disturbing than Hayner's because of the cold edge that was completely foreign to her tone unless one of her friends was being threatened. "He's so wasted he can't even see straight."
As if to punctuate the point, Tidus moaned and coughed as he drew in a little sand. "Hayner", he croaked weakly, one hand groping for his friend.
Without being prompted Leon strode forward and crouched next to the blonde, taking his hand. "Tidus?"
The boy shrank away from him, his voice heavy with grief. "Not you. Not…you go away…go…" Tidus tried to squirm out of reach but Leon gathered the teen into his arms.
"Hey", he soothed. "Shh, it's okay." He started to rock a little when Tidus gave up the struggle and slumped against him.
"I don't know what happened but you need to make it right."
Leon glanced up to find most of Tidus's friends looming above him. He nodded and rose to his feet, grip tightening on the gangly body that found the strength to cling to him. "I will."
"You better", Axel snarled. "Or we'll hunt your ass down."
Roxas elbowed his boyfriend in the sternum as Leon glanced at Hayner. The other blonde smirked. "Axel's right. Tidus is a big boy and all but we're still his friends and it won't take much to get that fire started again."
The redhead tapped a spit against his palm and eyed Leon's crotch like a feral animal.
"Duly noted", the brunette grunted. He assisted Tidus to a stand, the teen mumbling a comfy string of jibberish in his ear as he found his feet. They took a few shuffling steps through the sand.
"I wanna go home", Tidus whispered brokenly.
"I'll walk you."
"Not… not my home." The blonde clung to his neck and Leon felt his chest clench when moisture dotted his skin. Tidus trembled with quiet, heaving sobs. "You're back. You're back…" The teen wilted, his legs giving out.
Without missing a beat, Leon hefted Tidus in his arms then turned to make his way back to his now empty apartment.
Hayner watched the duo go before he felt a soft hand claw into his elbow.
"Oh baby", Selphie sang. "You got some 'splainin to doooo."
He ran his fingers through his hair and tossed her a grim smile. She returned it though it was forced, and sharp, and acted as the knife it was meant to be.
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"I guess that's all that needs to be said." Cloud rose soundlessly to his feet with a lighter grin. His entire body seemed relaxed with that single omission. "This one might be different after all."
Leon stayed sitting but jerked his head in a nod. "Everything…feels like it is with him. I don't want to hurt him…"
"Just be careful."
Twin chocolate shut as the sound of a slamming door crowded the empty space. He shook his head and opened his eyes again. Everything was bathed in a grey but he was hypersensitive right now, his chest still constricting with residual panic.
In the dark, Leon could see forever.
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Tidus burped then groaned. Bleary eyes cracked open then widened. That wasn't his ceiling. The teen sat up then bit back another watery burp as his axis tilted. Bile boiled in the pit of his gut.
"Awake?"
He jumped at the sudden noise that scraped at his ears. Tidus blinked hard then squinted at the shadowy figure hunkering on the edge of the bed. "L…Leon?" His chest tightened with pain. "No", he bellowed. "Where's Hayner!? Hayner!" Tidus stamped his nausea down as he bolted from the bed. "Hayner", he yelped, voice cracking.
Quicker than a blink, Leon was across the bed and snatched his wrist, tugging him back against the mattress. The brunette hovered over him, a gloved hand molded over his mouth. "Shut up for a sec, will you?"
Tidus continued to struggle, his face contorted with teary anger. "Mmphmgm!" he screamed.
"If I remove my hand will you be quiet?"
Tidus stilled, after a moment he nodded.
Leon pulled back and scooted a short distance away. The teen scrambled off the bed and rubbed his mouth, swallowing in a mad attempt to keep the contents of his stomach stationary. He braced his rigid body against the wall, panting "Just say it", he snarled. "Get it over with…" Tidus's chest shuddered as he cupped his elbow.
Leon shot him a look, genuinely confused. "…sorry? Say what?"
"Stop playing with me", Tidus shrieked. "Please, stop. I saw you…I saw you with Cloud. I saw you and I heard him and I—" Voice cracking again, the teen swallowed the hysteric sob clogging his throat. His entire body was trembling, cold sweat dotting in all the wrong places. "Just break up with me and get it over with…"
Leon stood up carefully and held his palms up. "Tidus, let me explain…"
The blonde slid along the wall, backing away from the older man as he tried to come closer. "Just say it", his voice was calmer, resigned. "Stop dragging me along. I get it already. Please…" his face twisted.
"Tidus, hold on."
He flinched when Leon finally cornered him and placed both his hands on the bony, quivering shoulders, kneading gently. Despite himself, Tidus relaxed into the touch. He titled his head and stared into Leon's eyes.
"I'm not going to break up with you", Leon murmured. His brows pinched together as a finger came up to trace the curve of Tidus's cheek.
The teen turned his face to the side, expression crinkling with pain. "Let's…stop this."
Cold gripped Leon's heart as he tried to catch Tidus's eye again. "Hey", he said, hooking his thumb under the boy's jaw, tilting it up. "Hey, look at me."
Tidus blinked fast, like staring at Leon was as hard as staring at the midday sun.
"I'm sorry."
Before Tidus could answer, he found himself enfolded in a tight hug. Leon buried his nose in the crook of Tidus's neck and breathed deep as his arms clenched. "I'm sorry for making you cry. For hurting you. I'm so, so sorry."
Before he could think better of it, Tidus's arms looped around Leon's shoulders and pressed a kiss to his ear. "It's okay…"
And, surprisingly it was. There was just one thing…
"Did you…did you and Cloud…?"
"No", Leon growled against his skin. "I wouldn't cheat like that."
"So if we weren't…"
"Still no."
"Are you sure you don't still like him?"
Leon snorted. "Cloud's…Cloud. Our chapter is over."
Tidus rubbed Leon's back and burped again, quieter this time but his face screwed itself up in disgust. "Yuck."
The brunette shifted then nudged him back to sit on the bed before handing him a glass of water. "Drink. It'll help you feel better."
Tidus smiled as he took the glass and emptied it's contents in two gulps. He exhaled and set the glass down. He did feel better. A lot better.
It was scary how easily he could forgive. But then, Yuna had taught him well. The adrenaline drained from his body, leaving the teen's eyelids feeling heavy. The room began to spin in a pleasant way as Leon guided him to lay on the pillow and pulled a blanket over him.
"Rest", he heard the single gruff command as if he were underwater. His last conscious thought was wanting to ask Leon to stay, but he couldn't move. A moment later he felt the bed dip and with the last of his conscious strength, Tidus sighed happily.
Duuuuuude I'm totally running on empty here! Will correct typos later. Don't I always say that though? Heh, I'm being haunted by dreams of A Pondering of Peripherals so…by the general feel of it I think an update in either that or LM next…no promises though e-e
Many thanks go out to my continued support; my readers, my awesome, awesome reviewers-guests and otherwise!
It really does mean a lot to me. This pairing is just...ugh! It makes me squeakish. And ooooh~ I've got some serious drams in the works for this one :3 Stick around and find out~!