Happy Birthday to ME! Yay!

And you guys get an update!

Warnings:

-Violence and slight gore

-Bad words (well no one really cares about that I guess)

Hopefully nothing I write will bother anyone.

Roxas found it suspicious how there doesn't seem to be any people out. It wasn't that late at all! It barely counted as evening; and the temperature seems to have suddenly dropped. The boy almost felt scared as he continued walking down the empty streets…okay he did feel scared. Whenever he has to pass an alley, he runs. He felt almost stupid for being so paranoid but better safe than sorry!

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Cloud was getting tired, he thought he really was losing his voice as he continuously shouted for Leon. He didn't mean what he shouted at him, heck, he didn't mean to shout, it just came out from frustration!

"Leon…" Cloud panted as he shook his head in disappointment in himself. In a matter of seconds, Cloud snapped his head up. His old fighting senses suddenly started tingling making Cloud put his guard up as he looked around, hoping to spot something…anything!

"Cloud…don't you think you would've learned the first time you walked around without a weapon?"

Cloud's body completely froze over in shock and fear when he felt a shiver run down his body from that voice and the way his name was said. Forcing himself to move, he turned his body and jumped back as his arm reached behind him out of habit but there was nothing to grab. Fear struck Cloud even more when he landed and was staring at his one and only enemy.

"S…S-Sepher…" Cloud couldn't even finish the name, his body was shaking and it wouldn't move this time even though Cloud very much wanted to run.

Sephiroth stood before Cloud, the two staring at each other, eyes locked as if they were frozen in time and their hairs flowed from the light wind picking up.

Leon stopped in his tracks. It's not that he was close to Cloud regarding their distance but he could very well hear Cloud calling out his name. Even when Leon stopped by his apartment he could still hear his name being called. It echoed enough that Leon could barely hear it.

But for the past for moments…he didn't hear his name being called at all. Were they too far apart? Did Cloud finally give up?

He sighed, knowing he very much wanted Cloud to continue looking for him. Maybe he was being unfair. Sure when he was 17, he was arrogant as you can get and can't imagine being 15 and living like Sora and Roxas. He couldn't help but step in but didn't mean for the fight to get out of hand. And he technically had no right as Sora and Roxas weren't even his kids. Leon hated it but he knew this was partially his fault and Cloud shouldn't have to be out here in the cold looking for him just because the man is being stubborn about all of this. The elder brunette decided to go look for Cloud or at least make sure he got home safely.

But after Leon pivoted to turn back, he heard a bloodcurdling scream in the near distance.

Fear and pain was the message he heard in that horrifying scream…that belonged to Cloud.

"CLOUD!" Leon took off into a run; he ran past his apartment but quickly halted running back into his home to pick up his gunblade…

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Sephiroth reached and grabbed a handful of Cloud's hair and gripped tightly,

"You know, it was a lot more fun when you were actually a challenge, Cloud."

Cloud forced to keep his mouth closed as he tried to turn his head. His eyes were tightly shut, anything to avoid looking at those cold eyes.

"Ignoring me won't do you any good, Cloud…"

Sephiroth reached down to a blade stabbed through Cloud's body, just missing the vital organs, and through the brick wall behind him; he just barely twisted it for Cloud to start screaming in pain.

Cloud was trapped. He sat against a building with Sephiroth taking his time in this fun. His wrists were tied with his own belt and a smaller blade was stabbed through the belt and into the wall, securing the wrists in place. His leather outfit was slowly being ripped apart the more Sephiroth enjoyed the torture he's putting Cloud through.

Cloud's eyes started to get watery, one of his worst nightmare's happening right now; and when tears finally did fall down his face, Sephiroth was enjoying it even more.

"You know that the more you suffer the more I enjoy this, right?" Sephiroth bit down on Cloud's neck, causing another cry of pain from Cloud as the long-haired man touched Cloud's body and going lower and lower…

Cloud suddenly felt Sephiroth leave him completely.

"You little piece of shit!"

Cloud dared to take a peek at what's happening but his eyes completely widened in fear at the sight.

Roxas stood down the street with rocks in his hands and throwing them,

"Leave him alone!" he shouted, ready to throw another rock at Sephiroth who stood up and picked up his Masamune before taking steps towards Roxas.

"ROXAS! Roxas! RUN!" Cloud shouted with all his might and started to struggle, despite the pain. Sephiroth froze in his spot,

"…So you know this boy, Cloud?"

Cloud stopped and wasn't sure if he just saved Roxas or if Roxas will endure something worse.

"Don't touch him!" Cloud pulled harder on his wrist restraints but to no avail, "RUN Roxas! RUN!"

Sephiroth only smirked and in a blink of an eye, Roxas cried out in slight pain, he dropped the rocks and held his hand that suddenly got cut and bleeding. Roxas found himself in someone's shadow, his head slowly looking up to see Sephiroth in front of him in less than a second with eyes showing he's out for blood. Immediately, Roxas's body froze over. He forgot how to move as his eyes widened in a hypnotized state of fear.

"ROXAS!" Cloud shouted and continued to try and get out of his predicament but the only thing he ended up doing was slowly losing his own blood.

Roxas felt his legs go numb but when he was about to fall to his knees, Sephiroth reached out and grabbed Roxas by his coat's collar and held him there. With his other hand that was holding the sword, he reached out and touched Roxas's hair and slowly it went down to his face.

"…He's related to you, isn't he, Cloud?" Sephiroth asked, his smirk widening even more, "Same blonde hair, same blue eyes, same smooth skin…"

"STOP IT! Stop it, Sephiroth!" Cloud couldn't see what was happening to Roxas as Sephiroth's body completely blocked Cloud's view of his son.

"One look at this boy and you started speaking. Maybe I should keep him along. Maybe he'll like to see you when-"

"You bastard! Keep him out of this! Release him! I'll do anything! I beg of you!" Cloud pleaded with all his might. First he was about to live through one nightmare, now he was about to live through two…

Roxas swallowed, his mind gone blank, and his body shaking. And for the first time in his life…he wanted to run and cry into Sora's arms. He wanted Sora to come and save him, protect him, and make him feel safe.

Sephiroth released Roxas and the blonde fell to his knees. The elder placed his sword next to Roxas and the boy tensed up,

"That's a hard bargain, Cloud. You'll do anything so long as I don't touch this boy?" The steel slowly reached Roxas's face and Roxas could feel the cold from the blade.

"Yes!" Cloud answered, "Don't hurt him!"

The sword left Roxas's skin and Roxas lets out a breath and started panting.

"Very well, Cloud. But I should make sure he doesn't escape…" Sephiroth reached for a knife and raised it.

"ROXAS!" Cloud shrieked as Roxas stared at a piece of steel coming down at him.

BANG!

The knife went flying and landed next to Roxas who kept his eyes on it the whole time but in a less than a second, he felt his body being moved.

"Ungh…you little…" Sephiroth shook the pain off his hand and quickly struck the figure in front of him…or at least who was supposed to be in front of him. His sword struck the remains of Roxas's raincoat but the boy was gone from his place, "Hn…you little bitch..." Sephiroth only looked up at the building across from Cloud to see Vincent aiming a gun at him and holding Roxas against him with the free arm.

"Vincent Valentine…you followed me all the way here. I should feel flattered."

"Don't," the raven-haired man replied, his eyes narrowing and ready to fire again.

"Do you really intend to fight me? Can you really do that while protecting that boy…and Cloud?" Sephiroth stretched his arm out, sword pointing at Cloud.

"…"

"You can't, don't deny it."

"Vincent! Take Roxas and go! Don't worry about me! Protect Roxas!" Cloud shouted and Vincent felt himself having a battle within himself. He had a shivering boy in his arms but he's got a friend stabbed to a wall below him and a madman that can kill off either one of the blondes he can't protect…

"Go Vincent! Just go!" Cloud pleaded but Sephiroth got tired of Cloud's constant shouting and he swiftly appeared next to him, stomping down on the already-battered body making Cloud scream again.

Vincent knew he can't fight Sephiroth with one arm so he can't protect both. Once he fires, he'll either have to drop Roxas and rush to Cloud's side or run away with Roxas. If he stays and fight, both Roxas and Cloud might die along with himself if he wasn't careful enough.

Vincent slowly blinked before he slowly started to lower his gun…

"Good boy, Vincent…" Sephiroth kept eying Vincent while he stood next to Cloud, "Why don't you come down here with that child?"

Vincent gripped Roxas tighter and pressed the boy closer to him. He licked his lips before slowly loosening up on Roxas but in response, Roxas gripped Vincent's clothing even more and hid his face against his chest.

"Roxas…I want you to run. Run as fast as you can when I release you," Vincent whispered but Roxas shook his head repeatedly.

"Roxas…I promise you I'll hold him off and I will protect your father. But I can't do that if you're not running away from here…"

"I can't…" Roxas felt himself about to sob and Vincent began to grow impatient. He knew there was a reason why he never got kids…

"Roxas…" the man growled, "If you ever want to see your father alive and your brother again: run!"

Roxas didn't reply or move…but Vincent's little 'threat' was almost scarier than Sephiroth that his fear toned down a bit at that moment. Vincent held onto Roxas and jumped, gracefully landing on the ground.

"…I see a hint of worry in your eyes, Vincent Valentine. You chased me all the way here and you're not even ready to face me?" Sephiroth taunted as Vincent glared harder at him. Without even giving Roxas a warning, he released the boy and shoved him,

"Run," he ordered before rushing forward and firing. Roxas lost his footing and fell but instead of scrambling to get up like he should, he covered his head upon hearing the bullets as if they were aimed at him.

"Roxas!" he could hear both Vincent and Cloud shouting for him, knowing he's supposed to be running for his life right now, but his body wouldn't move. Fear never overcame his body like this and he didn't know what to do! He could hear constant shots from Vincent's gun and slashes from Sephiroth's sword. Roxas slowly lifted his head from the ground and took his hands off his head; slowly he started to crawl away from the fight in hopes Sephiroth doesn't notice if he takes it slow for now. Still Roxas's body shook and his mind was in a constant state of fear.

"Roxas!" Roxas instinctively pulled his arms over his head again and curled his body up despite he knows it's a hopeless defense plan. Hearing long fabric fly through the air and towards him in less than a second, he couldn't help but feel it's all over for him.

But the pain never came. He didn't die, unless he did and landed in heaven.

He heard a clash between metals but that was it, everything went silent except the small grunts and sliding between two metals.

"And who the hell are you?"

"You touch Roxas over my. Dead. Body."

Roxas scrambled on his back to see Leon and Sephiroth nearly face to face, talking through their swords; everything happened so fast. Vincent rushed to Cloud's side and Sephiroth shoved Leon back who tripped over Roxas and in a flash, Sephiroth and Vincent met in battle once more.

"Roxas, run, now!" Leon got up and pulled Roxas to his feet, giving the boy a push, "NOW!" Without checking to see if Roxas actually ran, Leon rushed to Cloud despite knowing he's literally running into gunfire as Sephiroth dodged or threw off the course of the bullets that Vincent shot at him.

"Cloud!" Leon knelt down next to Cloud and almost didn't know what to do, the sight of Cloud just fully registering into his head.

"Leon what are you doing here?" Cloud breathed out,

"I-you-of course I'm here!" despite the lack of an actual answer, Leon stood up and reached for the blade stuck into the wall through the belt and pulled as hard as he can until it came out. Cloud's arms dropped and he sighed a sigh of slight relief.

"Leon, it's too dangerous, you shouldn't be here," Cloud warned as Leon worked on undoing the belt binding those wrists,

"Don't give me that crap, I'm not leaving without you," he said firmly, "And nothing you say will get me to leave! Even if you threaten to break up with me, I'm not leaving."

"…You're so stubborn…" Cloud whispered and almost wanted to laugh if the situation didn't call for the seriousness. Leon got the belt off and was now looking at the blade stuck through Cloud and was trying to figure out how in the world he's supposed to do this.

"Dammit Cloud…you're supposed to say it was the most romantic thing I ever said and then forgive me about the stupid fight we had!"

"…That was supposed to be romantic? I mean, um…I do forgive you…" Cloud corrected, a little late but Leon at the moment does not blame him. He'd probably be a bit careless with his words too if he was in Cloud's situation. Leon glanced back to see Vincent just barely keeping Sephiroth busy.

"Okay Cloud, this might hurt a bit…" Leon reached for the sword and Cloud hits his hand away,

"Don't!"

"Cloud it's okay, I won't pull it out of you," Leon tried to reassure, the last thing he wants is Cloud dying from loss of blood. Although the words weren't working as Cloud only shook his head. Leon kept looking over his shoulder to make sure he doesn't get his head cut off when he's off guard.

"How that guy fights with a gun against a 10 foot sword, I'll never know…" Leon puts a hand on the wall and the other on the handle.

"Leon…" Cloud gripped onto Leon's arm, still rather have the building blow up behind him than have Leon try and pull the sword out of the building without pulling it out of Cloud.

"Okay, don't worry…I'm gonna have to ask you to push yourself closer to the-"

"Hell no!" Cloud exclaimed but his face quickly changed to fear, "Leon!"

Leon immediately grabbed his gunblade and spun himself around and into a stand just in time to block an attack.

"Who are you? What's your relationship with Cloud?" Sephiroth asked again,

"Vincent!" Cloud cried, seeing Vincent struggling to a stand and holding his waist. Leon growled after he took a quick glance at Vincent,

"I don't have to answer you!" Leon fought back until he saw an opening; he raised his sword and slammed it down, a bullet being heard in the process. The lion man took a few steps back to keep Cloud within his range so he can protect him in a split second. There were a few moments of silence but just as Leon thought he got Sephiroth, a sudden wind came and he found himself blinded by black feathers. He immediately turned but black feathers swarming around him prevented him from seeing Cloud. The man lost his footing and fell as he cried out Cloud's name.

In the next few seconds, bullet shots were heard, most likely from Vincent; Cloud cried out, mixed voices were shouting out that Leon couldn't tell what was said or who said it; a grunt was heard from Sephiroth after what sounds like something broke into the brick wall followed by a clang on the ground.

Leon could finally see again and looked up and around, not believing what just happened.

Notes:

-I honestly do not know or have an opinion on whether Leon's gunblade can actually fire. I mentioned the bullet b/c I know that's the sound heard when Squall gives a critical. I did it for those that believe it can fire and was just waiting for me to do something with that but if you don't believe it can fire you can just think of it as a critical hit so everybody wins!

Please R and R!