Author's Notes:
Finally! My writer's block is officially over. I literally have written this chapter so many times I lost count. There are have been so many things going on in my life that have kept me from updating my stories (Engaged now, do the happy dance!) that I honestly didn't realize how long it's been until I looked at my last update date. Goodness.
You guys are very patient and there are no words to describe how much I appreciate it. I'm really sorry it took so long but hopefully, I'm back in the groove of things and have everything ironed out as it should be.
This chapter is a bit long so as usual, grab a snack and drink. XD
Again, I apologize so much for the long delay and I hope you enjoy the read!
When Distant Hearts Beat as One
Chapter Nine: And It Started as Such a Good Day with Hot Chocolate
He sat in the car as they drove in silence, staring almost absently out of the window at the scenery as it passed him by.
The conversation that the pair just had only moments before in the café` was weighing greatly on his mind and for good reason.
Zack had never shown up, sending a simple, flimsy and obvious excuse or another through a text message two hours after Sephiroth had shown up. They had begun with small talk--very little small talk. About their past, about Sephiroth's time away and his quick rise in rank. About Sora, Riku, and their baby. About where they thought the pair's relationship might be heading. Anything and everything except the obvious thing that needed to be addressed.
Sephiroth had been patient and Cloud felt like he'd been trying to wear his resistance down. Make him feel comfortable so that he would be ready to open up and talk about things. He was annoyed, though appreciative of the effort--apparently Sephiroth knew him well and utilized the knowledge.
Not remotely a surprise to blond and though a bit annoying, it proved to be refreshing.
It had been odd at first--talking to his ex about his current fiancé and their relationship problems. In the back of his mind, he knew this probably wasn't the wisest thing to do, given their history. But Sephiroth had always been the person he'd gone to talk to besides Zack or his father about matters that truly bothered him.
It was just easy and they understood him better than most. And this time was no different.
He'd opened up about everything: his fears, his suspicions, his wants and desires, how he felt about Leon in general and the entire situation. How he felt like he was doing something wrong--even though he'd been trying he thought, to fix things and make things better. How he honestly wanted things to work out because contrary to what Sephiroth wanted to believe, he did love Leon greatly.
The entire time, the platinum beauty simply sat there, watching Cloud with intent focus, studying him as he drank his ice water and listened.
Once he'd finished, Sephiroth finally offered his advice and insight and Cloud was not surprised with the out come.
"Foolishness," he'd said. "Utter foolishness, Cloud. If that is honestly the way you see things, then how can you honestly sit here and say that you are in love with him?"
He'd argued but Sephiroth insisted. "Being in love and loving a person are two different things Cloud. You love Leon, perhaps, for all that he's done for you while I was away and the comfort or ease he offered to you when you need it. But you are in no way in love with him. Your actions, your words, your every breath dictates otherwise. You know what you want--what you truly need yet you reframe out of guilt. He knows this as well as I do. But how long you can deny yourself is the true question that brings such interest. Though I'm patient for the answer. Sooner or later, you'll have to face everything you're tried so hard to ignore: your true feelings, your suspicions, your wants and desires…and when your ready, I will be there to aid you all the way. It's only a matter of time."
The pair ended up talking far into the evening, far past the time for Cloud to get home and finally, they departed, Sephiroth offering to drive him home instead of the blond driving in the brewing thunder storm on his motorcycle.
He'd agreed, though he didn't know why--he'd ridden home in storms before. Though in the back of his mind, he knew the answer: a reason, any reason to be close to him was a good one.
He didn't even blink when he heard the engine of the car die nor did he make a move to get out of the car now that it was parked in the driveway of his home. He looked over at the platinum blond that was watching him closely, noting that their faces had instantly gotten closer.
"I can't," he breathed gently, ignoring his own dying voice as his will urged him forward, his entire body relaxing and a soft sigh of content escaped him as his lips brushed against Sephiroth's, the latter finally adding more pressure and deepening the exchange. He didn't fight but instead, pushed back feverishly, hungry and desperate to taste, to feel the other man near him. Missing him. Wanting him.
The kiss finally broke too soon as far as Cloud was concerned but he wouldn't show it. He couldn't. This was all wrong. So wrong. And he couldn't give Sephiroth the satisfaction, whether the man already knew how he felt at the moment already or not.
"Take this," Sephiroth stated soft, smooth tone, his voice sounding like silk against Cloud's skin. Cloud looked down to see him holding out his palm to him, a single silver key laying there on a thin, small silver ring.
Cloud stared at him with question and Sephiroth simply gave him a smile. A beautiful, genuine smile, empty of ridicule or malicious intent. A rare smile to behold that sent electric shivers throughout his being.
"This is the key to my home Cloud. It is as much your home as it is mine and it always will be, no matter what you want to believe or choose to do. When your ready to finally come home…use it. I'm looking forward to it."
"I…can't. Leon--" he tried, feeling his want and longing to reach for the key, knowing that Sephiroth truly held a place for him still in his heart. That everything he'd done up until that point wasn't some game to prove that he held Cloud on a string, dragging him along, waving the fact in Leon's face.
He really wanted him back. He wanted things to work out--to continue where things had left off. He wanted the very thing they shouldn't have--that they couldn't have.
That he so desperately didn't want to admit he wanted too.
"Take it," Sephiroth insisted, knowingly.
And no more words were spoken as he took the small key from the older man without another thought, refusing to look at him now that he was flustered, placing it in his pocket.
There wasn't another word spoken as he finally opened the car door and closing it gently, raced to his front door, using his new key by accident to try to open it. His mind was swimming now as he fumbling for the right key, finding it and finally opening the door and went inside as Sephiroth finally drove off.
"Cloud?" he heard a voice call from upstairs as he shut the door and he immediately felt the pangs of guilt as he followed the voice, his new key reminding him of its existence with every step he took.
"Yeah?" he called as he finally reached the top, seeing Leon standing in the doorway of their bedroom in nothing more than a towel as he dried his wet hair with another.
The brunette smiled. "I was getting worried. Where were you?"
"I was suppose to be hanging out with Zack but he never showed so I just hung out on my own," he lied. Well partially. A partial truth was better than a full lie, though his guilt wasn't fooled. "Where were you?"
"I really needed to take care of something…it was bother me for a while," Leon admitted and Cloud frowned a little curious. "Wanna tell me?"
"One day."
"Fair enough," Cloud sighed, his suspicions immediately flaring in his mind before he quelled then, giving a surprised sound when he found himself entrapped in a warm, tight embrace.
"Your thinking too much," Leon stated seriously and pulling him into their room and shutting the door, he pushed the blond on to their bed, making the Cloud relax with laughter, the latter trying to protest but instead, finding himself engulfed in an intoxicating kiss, refusing any resistance as he felt his clothing being removed and himself pinned down to the bed.
"God…Leon…" he moaned once their kiss finally ended, tangling his fingers in Leon's hair as the brunette attacked his neck with feather like kisses, sucking softly on his sensitive areas and biting him possessively but not hard enough to hurt.
"Hmm?" Leon asked teasingly, continuing his efforts, lifting Clouds legs to his sides, making the blond anxious and needy…
Cloud woke up with a start, remember vividly the activities of the night prior and the day before as he heard someone moving around his room. He rubbed the sleepy from his eyes, absently remembering that the key Sephiroth had given him was still in his pants pocket, which thankfully, where still on the floor and more importantly, hadn't come out while Leon took his clothing off to molest him.
That…and his butt was rather sore. It had been one hell of a night, to say the least and it had been hard to feel guilty about anything when Leon did that thing he does with his hips and tongue.
No. No time for guilt.
"Sorry," Leon called to him softly, coming out of their bathroom in boxers, smiling sleepily at him. "Had to go to the bathroom."
"Come back to bed," Cloud muttered, feeling the lose of his warmth making him irate.
"It's eight forty." Leon countered.
"So?"
"We're suppose to take Sora to the doctor at ten. We need time to get ready, eat, and get Sora awake," Leon stated, laughing a bit at the latter part of his statement.
Cloud muttered, not really sure what he'd said himself as he placed the pillow back over his head, determined to stay in his bed. Sitting on a hard wooden chair was not something he fancied this early in the morning at this point.
"Get up before I make you," Leon threatened in a low, seductive manner and Cloud responded with pulling the covers over his body, completely shielding himself from the brunette, his mind racing as excitement filled him once he felt pressure on the bed.
He felt the covers gently being pulled back, before he was turned over on to his back, his naked form shivering lightly as he felt the cool air hit him and Leon's warm breath so very close to his sensitive area.
First there was just feather like kisses that trailed from his thigh to his hip, teasing him. They were placed slow and deliberate, making the wait and want more feverous. He was all but begging by the time he felt his hips pinned down to the bed as he squirmed in delight.
"Don't tease," he gave a muffled beg from under the pillow and Leon laughed.
"Will you get up?" Leon questioned and Cloud lifted the pillow enough to shake his head at him before the brunette clicked his tongue in a scolding manner, eyeing him intently.
"I guess you'll have to be punished," he stated softly, letting his breath caress Cloud's ever growing hard on, before finally, agonizingly slow, he took only the tip of his penis in his mouth…
"Oh…oh god," he screamed in pure ecstasy as he felt Riku hit that sensitive bundle of nerves for the first time. It was literally indescribable how incredible Riku felt inside him, forcing him to grip the sheets beneath him as tightly as he could as another powerful thrust made him see stars and moan loudly, purring in wanton.
He felt a slight pause in movement and he looked up at Riku in despair and anger, trying to move himself on the older boy but ceased when he felt his legs being pulled up over Riku's shoulder before the latter gripped Sora's hips , holding him firmly in place and without warning, continued his animalistic thrusting.
Sora began to babble incoherently, knowing what he meant to say and wanted to say but finding himself unable to as another powerful thrust sent him closer and closer over the edge.
"Riku…yes…please…Riku…" he cried breathlessly. "Please…"
"Leon, god, I'm going to come!"
Whoa…what?
Sora woke up abruptly out of his rather…intense dream, his cheeks completely flushed as he remembered the night he'd spent with the platinum haired teen months before.
He listened for a moment, hearing the panting and rather obvious…sucking like sounds from the not so far away room close to his own and rolling his eyes a little, spared a glance at his night stand and grumbled a little: it was nine and he'd have to be at his doctor's for another monthly check up at around ten.
That gave him enough time to take a bath, get dressed and grab some chocolate for breakfast--he always ate light now in the mornings and he had a very bad craving for chocolate suddenly--before he had to leave, if he was lucky. And to be quite frank, he wasn't looking forward to all the questions, probing, and jokes at his expense from said doctor's apprentices during his visit, though it would be bearable: his brother and Leon were coming, not to mention that Riku would be there as well to lend support.
Sora smiled automatically as soon as he thought of platinum blond teen for the second time that morning, ignoring the butterflies in his stomach as his envisions of pale skin and aquamarine eyes went instead to cherry lips slowly, lustful kissing his own, sucking just a little on his bottom lip, coxing, begging him to let him devour them in passion…
"I'll need to get a cigarette from Axel if I keep this up," Sora joked as he blushed, laughing sheepishly to himself as he left his room and made his way to the bathroom, choosing to ignore any and all need to fantasize about Riku and instead, think about a certain red haired girl who's calls he'd been ignoring all day yesterday.
He frowned as he made his bath water, taking off his clothing. After the birthing movie from hell and realizing it was storming, the group decided to simply sit around and talk about things, making each other laugh.
He'd been comfortable and stayed in Riku's arms the entire time, the latter never minding once and if Sora didn't know better, seeming to rather enjoy it. The other had finally left to go fetch pizza, leaving the pair alone. They'd simply sat in silence, listening to the rain and each other's breathing, simply relaxing.
The entire time, Kairi had been trying to call and many times after, though by the fourth time, Axel had turned his phone on vibrate, explaining that if it was really important, the person would call the house, knowing full well Kairi wouldn't have the number.
Sora had taken the quiet time to reflect on everything…his feelings and his relationships and exactly where everything was going in his life. He knew he wanted Riku in his future…but he wasn't sure exactly how to fit him in. He knew how he wanted to but he also knew that things with Kairi would make everything difficult.
And he certainly didn't want to hurt her. But things were just getting…so complicated. His feelings for Riku…soon he would have his child…the attraction he just couldn't ignore…the want and desire.
It was all too much to think about, even now.
Sighing, he stopped his running water and got in, letting the warm water melt away his stress, absently rubbing his belly as he thought of a small life growing inside him. He wasn't really showing yet, though just knowing it was there, made him want to do it, almost as if acknowledging the baby and his love for her--yes her. He was certain.
He sat in the tub for as long as he thought he could before finally washing up and finally getting out, putting on fresh clothing and heading down stairs for that much craved chocolate. He didn't care what it was, as long as chocolate was somehow involved.
Upon entering the kitchen, he noticed his brother and Leon had in the mean time, cleaned up themselves after their 'actives' and found their own way into the kitchen, already sharing mugs of hot chocolate.
His eyes went wide with want, eyeing the mug with a hopeful look.
"Cloud…have I told you I love you lately and that you're my favorite brother?" he asked sweetly, making the blond rolled his eyes. "Want some hot chocolate?"
"And some chocolate ice cream if we have any," Sora beamed as he sat at the table.
Cloud snorted. "Kinda early in the morning for that much chocolate isn't it?"
"What the baby craves, I get to eat. And don't be stingy with the scoops either," Sora insisted. Snorting, Cloud began rummaging though the kitchen cabinets for a medium size bowl and another mug while Leon pulled out the ice cream and a spoon.
"Where were you yesterday?" Cloud asked and Sora shrugged a little. "With Riku."
"Figures," Leon smirked and Sora frowned a little. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"Where else would you hide from your girlfriend?" Cloud chimed in as he came back to the table with a bowl and a mug of hot chocolate, passing a small bowl of sugar towards Sora for his drink as Leon put four scoops of ice cream in the bowl.
"I wasn't hiding from Kairi, I was bonding with the baby's father. We need to bond if we're going to raise a baby," Sora stated matter of factly, ignoring his brother and Leon as they watched him pour in scoop after scoop of crystallized goodness into his drink before finally setting the small bowl of sugar down. He tasted his drink, making a face before adding two more spoonfuls and taking a another test sip.
Satisfied he smiled, and immediately began eating his cold treat, Cloud shaking his head in disapproval while Leon simply put the ice cream back in the freezer and took a seat with the blond at the table.
"You and Riku do an awful lot of bonding," Cloud teased and Sora shrugged. "Whatever is necessary for the baby to have great parents. We want a stable, happy home for her."
"Her?" Leon questioned, arching a brow and Sora beamed. "It's going to be a girl, I just know it. With Riku's eyes and my smile."
Cloud stifled laughter, taking a sip of his hot chocolate. "I didn't know you and Riku wanted to make a 'stable, happy home' together. What's Kairi going to say about that?"
"Why does she matter," Leon muttered and Cloud sent him a glare and the former shrugged. "It's obvious she's a bad choice for him, Cloud. Your just nice about. I choose not to be."
"We're not literally making a home for her and what do you mean Leon?" Sora questioned before eating another spoonful of his treat.
"You have an entirely different demeanor when your with her compared to Riku. You practically light up like a Christmas tree every time someone remotely mentions Riku where as you all but bang your head against the wall whenever Kairi calls. Or visits. Or is mentioned," Leon stated matter of factly and Cloud laughed at the latter of the statement.
"I'm not that bad," Sora insisted, blushing a little in guilt. "It's just that it's hard being around Kairi lately. All we do is argue about Riku and it just causes too much stress. When she's not getting upset about Riku, she's trying to find different ways or things for us to do so we can't hang out together."
"Perhaps you should rethink dating her then," Leon interjected, his stormy eyes watching Sora intently. The younger brunette shook his head.
"She's not really so bad, I'm just being a really bad boyfriend right now," Sora admitted with a guilty sigh and Cloud nodded. "I mean…I spend no time with her, I make excuses to get away from her when I do, I've been screening her calls…and we can't do half the things we used to because I'm pregnant and can't risk the baby--but she doesn't know that so she just probably thinks I'm changing because I'm hanging out with Riku."
Sora sighed a little, taking a slower bite of his ice cream as he thought over the words he just spoke. "She probably thinks Riku is just out to get her--trying to steal me away from her or something. And I'm not exactly helping, always talking about him and hanging around him."
"But isn't that what she pretty much did to Riku?" Cloud questioned softly and Sora looked up at him confused. "How?"
"Well…I mean back when you guys were younger and before you started dating Kairi, you and Riku were inseparable. Then once you started dating, you all but abandoned him for her. In an odd way, she took you from him," Cloud stated.
"It's not like she tried to," Sora insisted. "I chose to stop hanging out with Riku because I thought it would be easier on her. They had a really bad argument and well…some bad things happened between them before we started dating. She really didn't like Riku and I didn't want to put a strain on our relationship before we started dating good. I was just trying to be supportive to her."
"True, but even if she didn't like Riku, she could have tried to be more understanding that the two of you were friends. Best friends, long before the two of you were friends or started dating," Leon pointed out. "Even if she couldn't do it right then, she has no excuse now. She's being a little selfish about the entire ordeal. Certainly, she may not like him but she could at least respect the fact that you want to be friends. You shouldn't have had to sneak behind her back to do it."
Sora looked down at his hot chocolate, troubled, but in heavy thought. "Maybe…"
"No one is saying Kairi's a horrible girl Sora, but it's obvious Riku makes you a lot happier," Cloud sighed, almost sympathetically. "I understand that you don't want to hurt her feelings, but you really need to put your own future and feelings into consideration too. If you really want to stay with Kairi, because you truly love her, then you should. But staying in a relationship out of guilt or because you feel like you owe it to her somehow isn't fair to you or her.
"You'll be with her, wanting to be with Riku. Things could--"
"Could?" Leon questioned, eyeing Sora's stomach and Cloud rolled his eyes. "Fine. Things have already happened and things probably won't get much better from here, Sora. This wasn't a one night stand: you're going to have a baby and Riku wants to be in the baby's life and apparently, yours as well. Unless you can honestly say that you have no romantic feelings for him, then you shouldn't have any problems other than rather Kairi will want to put up with the entire situation."
Cloud gave him a serious, pointed look. "Can you honestly say you don't have any feelings for him, Sora?"
Sora looked guilty immediately, refusing to meet his brother's eye contact. "I mean…we're having a baby together--"
"Stop using the baby as an excuse," Leon demanded softly, watching Sora intently as well. "Even if you weren't having the baby, could you see yourself happy, in a relationship with Riku?"
Sora paused for a moment, truly thinking of the question, immediately thinking of his small house with a white picket fence and small dog running wildly in a yard. Then he could picture a small, happy little girl chasing after it as he and Riku sat nearby on the porch, watching her with loving eyes, holding each other and sipping iced tea.
A warm smiled came over his features and Cloud smirked, nodding a little. "Thought so."
Sora blinked. "I never said--"
"You didn't have to," Leon and Cloud replied in unison, both taking a sip of their hot chocolate at the same time, making Sora stare at the pair for a moment.
The doorbell rang and the trio looked up, Leon quietly getting to his feet to answer the door, leaving the two siblings to drink the beverage before shortly, he returned, in a far darker mood than he'd left in.
Once Sora looked up, he immediately saw why and briefly wondered how Sephiroth was able to get in the door without Leon trying to strangle him.
It was no big secret that the pair had a deep disdain for one another and Sephiroth did nothing but fuel Leon's hatred by pulling antics involving Cloud just to get under his skin.
Such as walking over to the blond as he sat and drank his hot chocolate, tilting his face up to meet his and slowly, seeming to savor the moment, taking his lips passionately with his own. Like he was now.
Sora's lips parted slightly in silent surprised 'O' as Cloud's eyes went wide with shock, darting around the room as a pink tint quickly touched his cheeks--though he made no move to actually get his mouth away from Sephiroth's. Rather, he parted them slightly when the more aggressive of the pair beckoned entrance into his mouth with his tongue---his Mako green eyes all the while staring intently at Leon--challenging him.
Sora slowly took an uncomfortable sip of his beverage, adverting his eyes to the beautiful pattern of black and white checkered marveled floor that their kitchen had, hoping that should Leon attempt to attack Sephiroth, he would at least be mindful of him, his stomach, and the table possibly colliding with it should it be shoved back or go flying.
Thankfully, the kiss ended and no such thing happened, as Sephiroth took a seat at the table and Leon, eyeing him in a threatening manner, simply sat down as well, moving Cloud's chair over to him while the blond simply stared at the table breathless and at a loss for words. All the while, Sephiroth only smirked at Leon, continuing to stare at the man in pure malice and challenge.
Sora cleared his throat, hoping to break the ice. "Good morning Seph, erm, what brings you by?"
The elder man simply stared at Sora with cold indifference, not missing the young man's tactic but choosing not to say anything about it none the less. "I am simply here to inform you that do to last minute grievances, my brother will be unable to make your doctor's appointment."
"You could have called with that information," Leon snapped venomously and Sephiroth simply smirked at him. "True, but why miss the chance to see my dearest Cloud and great him with such vigor?"
"He doesn't need you to do any such thing," Leon snapped.
"But you and I both know he wants me to," Sephiroth stated in a rather nasty tone, narrowing his eyes slightly and Cloud stood up with a start, glaring at Sephiroth in disapproval. "No, I don't, Sephiroth. Stop trying to incite Leon's anger so early in the morning. Your message is delivered, now get out."
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Sephiroth stated in a calm, smooth drawl. "He wants to ensure that in his absence, Sora is well taken care of so naturally, he asked me to attend. To keep him completely abreast of everything that goes on."
"Then we can call him," Cloud stated firmly and Sephiroth only stared at him. "Oh Cloud, you know me too well by now. If he asks me to do such a thing, I won't simply back out just because your so-called boyfriend--"
"Fiancé," Leon corrected him firmly, looking mildly satisfied when he saw the disdain flash in Sephiroth's eyes.
"--temporary replacement," Sephiroth emphasized, 'correcting' himself. "is uncomfortable with my being there. This is my brother's child and if he wants me there, I shall attend in his absence."
"Whatever, drive your own car," Cloud muttered getting up and starting for the living room. "Sora, grab a jacket, we're leaving."
"Yeah, okay," Sora muttered softly, nodding a little and getting up as well, quickly making his exit, not hiding his disappointment at Riku being unable to attend very well.
'Maybe I should call and make sure everything is okay,' Sora thought briefly as he went up the stairs. 'It'd be nice to hear his voice…I'm sure the baby would love to hear his voice this morning and I'm sure he'd love to hear from me. And I do want to know what he's doing. But then he could think I'm clingy. I'm not a clingy, just concerned. There's nothing wrong with being concerned so there shouldn't be a problem calling him. But he did send Sephiroth over here to go instead so maybe he was hoping I wouldn't worry or question him. But he should know that I would question him because he knows me like that…'
"I'm calling him," Sora finally decided, picking up his cell phone pressing the speed button to dial his number--set to Riku's favorite number--before listening to the rings for a moment.
"Pick up," Sora muttered softly to himself, ignoring his brother's call for him to hurry up as he sat on his bed, bouncing a little while his free hand rubbed his belly absently.
"Sora, get off the phone and come on," Cloud scolded, standing in his doorway. "Or bring it with you. You can tell Riku how much you love and miss him on the way, we're going to be late!"
"I am not telling Riku how much I'm in love with him!" Sora stated flabbergast, not realizing that someone had already picked up on the other end.
"Are you sure you don't want to admit it, cause it could really make his day!" a voice joked on the other end, laughing.
"…Axel?" Sora questioned, immediately feeling embarrassed and disappointed all at once. "The one and only! He don't sound so down. You should feel honored to hear such a sexy voice so early in the morning. I'm normally asleep."
"Where's Riku?" Sora asked impatiently.
"Out."
"Out doing what? And why are you answering his cell phone?"
"Retract the claws kitten, no need to get jealous," Axel teased. "He just forgot it cause he left in a rush. And I can't tell you what he's doing, not allowed. Though I'll be more than happy to deliver your message to him."
"Sora, I will take the phone out of your hands if you don't come on," Cloud warned, testy.
"Don't tell him what I said earlier, I was talking to Cloud! And stop smoking so early in the morning, that's horrible for your health and the baby's!" Sora scolded as he got up and began to put on his jacket, ignoring Cloud's impatient glares.
"Your not even here, I can smoke when I want, where I want!" Axel snorted. "And how'd you know I was smoking anyway? You spying on me now or what?"
"Because it's a disgusting habit you have and I can smell it from here," Sora teased.
"Oh, so being pregnant gives you super smell now?"
"No, but I do know that when you smoke, it smells awful and when I come over later, the smell will still be in the house and I don't need or want to smell that. That makes Riku's baby angry and you don't want an angry Riku baby. So cut it out," Sora scolded.
"And when you pay bills over here, you can dictate where I smoke," Axel retorted.
"You don't pay bills there either."
"Not the point," Axel stated matter of factly.
"Fine, I'll just tell Riku and he can make you stop smoking," Sora stated triumphantly, knowing full well that Riku had already told the red head more than once to stop smoking in the house for Sora's benefit.
"Always have to go crying to your little silver haired night in shining ar--"
"Axel?" Sora heard Demyx call from somewhere in the background. "What?"
"Stop smoking and air this house out now, before I tell Riku on you."
Sora couldn't help but laugh as he heard Axel grumble and tell him goodbye before the latter hung up the phone.
"Move it," Cloud demanded as he walked over and gently as possibly, picked up his younger brother and carrying him, started for the hallway, making Sora laugh.
"I'm off the phone! I can walk!"
"Yeah, well apparently not," Cloud retorted. "Come on, I left Sephiroth and Leon down stairs glaring hatred at each other, the living room could be a disaster area by now."
"That wasn't very smart of you," Sora reasoned as Cloud gently put him down at the start of the stairs, not wanting to bump him as he carried him down. "Yes, well, neither are most of the decisions you've made lately, first pregnant male I've met in my life. I mean really, only you could manage that."
"That's right, because I'm special," Sora teased, sticking his tongue out at him. "That's what dad always says," Cloud joked back, smiling down at him before the pair made their way down the stairs together.
They could see Leon and Sephiroth waiting at the bottom, both simply glaring at each other in a dark, hateful silence, neither noticing the pair coming toward them.
"Nice to see you getting along," Cloud joked as he got closer to them, finally making the pair look up just as a loud bang sounded as the front door came swinging opening, making Sora jump as he reached the bottom of the staircase.
They all looked up to see a very disheveled Rikku standing there in the doorway, a wild, triumphant look on her features as she waltzed into the room, dragging along a young man Sora had never seen before.
Leon however, stared at him with shock and confusion, staring from him, to Sora's sister, suspiciously before staring intently at the young man again. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, ho ho," Rikku practically sang as Reno brought up the rear along with Yuffie, Reno looking a lot better for wear while Yuffie looked just as pleased and disheveled, crossing her arms over her chest and giving Leon a look that practically oozed "Gotcha."
"Cloudy, cloudy, Cloud, I would like to introduce you to a friend--a very good friend--of Leon's," his sister announced, pushing the young man forward, who glared at Leon for a moment, almost as if he was contemplating something before not seeming to give it a second thought, turned to Cloud, looking simply delighted.
"I'm Seifer," he began politely. "I happen to be Leon's current lover and ex--or should I say current boyfriend given everything we've done together lately. And you must be Cloud--my how I've heard so much about you! I just happened upon a chance meeting with your sister who seemed more than delighted to bring me here so here we are. Though enough about me. How are you doing today?"
Then to Sora's pure amazement, he stuck out his hand for Cloud to shake.
Sora blinked his now round, huge eyes at him, looking immediately at his brother, who
simply glared at Seifer, pausing briefly to glare at the offending hand, then at Leon and finally back to Seifer with an alarmingly calm but unreadable expression on his face.
The entire room remained somewhat silent save soft whispering and Sephiroth's rather cruel, low chuckle. Leon glared daggers of pure hate at Rikku while the latter seemed as though she was ready to do the happy dance as she quietly whispered to her companions that 'she knew it'.
Sora took a good look around the room once more before with a few slow nods he turned around and started back for the stairs, calling back "Well this seems awkward. I'm going to reschedule my appointment and go back to my room now."
Author's Notes:
No hints on the next chapter except that what happened with Rikku will be explained in full. I omitted it from this chapter because goodness, it was long enough. XD
Anywho, more to come soon. Hope you enjoyed and as always, Happy Reading!
~Kamirine