A/N: So, less than 20 days since the last update. Not terrible, no? I hope not. I don't have much written for the next chapter and I hope I can pull that together before I make you guys wait a long time for an update. Here's to hoping.

This chapter was fun to write. I feel bad for saying 'fun', but I'm happy with the way it turned out. I hope you guys are too. Enjoy!

-o-o-o-

Cloud felt numb when he stepped into Zell and Leon's house later that evening. I'm home. he thought to himself. His attempt to feel better about the whole situation didn't work, though. He was having a hard time processing what was going on in his life and wished that he hadn't attended school for a few days to allow the bruise to heal. That, or he could have lied and said that it was a sports injury, something unverifiable and he was sure he could have gotten Brad, Brantley, and Xander to vouch for it. Thinking about that made his heart ache. Why couldn't he have come up with that excuse sooner? He was so stressed when he sat in the principal's office that his brain wasn't working properly and now, because of that, his life would change.

After a few moments of self-pity, Cloud noticed that Leon was standing by the door with him, watching his face carefully. Cloud looked down to the ground before carefully removing his boots. He stood back up and looked straight back at Leon, eyes betraying his inner turmoil.

"I know, Cloud…" Leon said lowly, causing tears to form behind the blond's eyes. "There's nothing I can say to you that will help right now, but you just have to believe me. Everything will work out in the end."

Cloud's lower lip trembled before he opened his mouth to say something but stopped when Zell walked back out into the entranceway.

"I'll make us some food. You must be starving."

Cloud's eyes glided over to the other blond. "I'm not really…"

Zell gave Cloud a sad grin before nodding. "You need to try and eat something, anyway. I don't think you're going to feel hungry for a while."

Cloud sighed and wrapped his arms around himself in attempts to fight off the trembling that was starting to become outwardly apparent.

"I think Zell's right." Leon said, stepping closer and taking Cloud's arm in his hand. He pulled him gently towards the living room and took a seat on the couch after the blond had sat down. "You need to keep your strength up." He leaned closer to Cloud and rested his forehead against the blond's. "You believe me, right?"

The blond's eyes slowly traveled up until he met with soft blue-gray. He was having a hard time focusing. "W-what?"

"You believe me when I say that everything will work out in the end?" the brunet explained, leaning back on the couch and bringing the blond down against his chest.

"How long do I have to wait until everything will be alright?" Cloud asked, instinctively huddling closer to Leon's body and absorbing as much body heat as he could.

Leon paused before releasing a deep breath. "I can't tell you how long-"

"I'm sure everything will be alright in a few years once I've adjusted." Cloud interrupted, all of a sudden feeling incredibly angry. Angry at what, he didn't know. "I just don't want to wait that long. I don't want to leave you."

Zell came out of the kitchen after putting a casserole he had prepared earlier that day in the oven and leaned against the wall a few feet behind the couple cuddled up on the couch. He crossed his arms over his chest as the anxiety in the room reached him as well. He frowned to himself as he listened to the softly spoken conversation.

"I know, babe. I know, and I don't want you to leave either, but we'll make the most of it." Leon buried his nose in silky, blond spikes and breathed in his scent. "At the very least we will see one another every weekend. At the very least."

Cloud sniffled and moved closer to Leon, if that was all possible, and squeezed his eyes shut. "I don't want to be that far away from you."

Leon swallowed hard and blinked rapidly, fighting off the strong emotions he was feeling right now. He lifted his hand and began stroking Cloud's head softly. He didn't want to say a word at that time, uncertain of the control he had over his emotions. They stayed that way for a long while before Cloud broke the silence, unaware of Zell's presence still in the room.

"I can move back here when I'm eighteen; find my own apartment and be close to you again. I just… I don't like thinking about waiting that long."

"Me neither…" Leon replied in a small voice. He tightened his hold on Cloud a little more and closed his eyes. "We'll think of something." He had nothing else to offer. The boys on the couch sat in silence for a long while.

Zell let out a silent sigh and rested his head against the wall. He let his arms drop to his side just as the buzzer on the stove sounded, announcing supper was ready. He moved to the kitchen and prepared three plates before bringing them back to the living room where Leon and Cloud were situated. They ate in silence, each caught up in their own thoughts. It wasn't until each had finished their plate, Cloud taking a lot longer than the other two, before Zell spoke up.

"I suppose we can send for your things tomorrow." he said to the blond, voice seemingly light considering the circumstances. He knew Cloud was scared, upset, and probably depressed so he kept things light in hopes of easing something. Anything.

"How do we…" the blond began to question before his voice drifted off. He looked down at his hands which were unconsciously wringing the hem of his shirt.

"The agency people are probably already arranging it but I'll follow up with them tomorrow." Zell explained, eyes softening as he watched anxiety play across Cloud's delicate features. "Everything will be taken care of for you."

Cloud began biting on his lower lip, eyes still trained downwards on his hands. In any other situation his position would be the best thing to ever have happened to him. He was sitting with Zell and Leon, in their living room, as they discussed how to get Cloud moved in. His eyes darted up and took a quick sweep of the room before drifting slowly back down. He would otherwise hate the fact that he couldn't enjoy this but right now his mind was too preoccupied. How did his life become so fucked up?

Leon's eyes examined Cloud's face closely as the blond's expression shifted from sorrow to fear to anger and back to sorrow. He could sympathize; he could emphasize. He was no stranger to what Cloud was feeling. The only difference was that the brunet didn't leave anyone important behind. Cloud was, and Leon was going to have to share that loss. His heart ached in his chest and he felt the need to relax the blond. He'd been through enough today.

"Lets go talk in my room." Leon said to Cloud, eyes glancing to Zell, who nodded, before looking back at his boyfriend.

Cloud took a shaky breath in before his eyes dulled, all energy seeming to drain from his body. He sat perfectly still before his eyes drifted up slowly to meet with Zell's. "I'm so sorry… and thank you."

Zell's eyes narrowed and he began to ask the blond what he meant before shaking his head. "I can't even begin to tell you how unnecessary both of those statements are, Cloud." He leaned closer to the couple. "You have absolutely nothing to be sorry or thank me for. You're my friend who is also my friend's boyfriend. If it were up to me you would be staying here instead of leaving. I'm sorry for not offering when I found out what was happening to you."

"Don't make this your fault." Cloud said, his voice low and weak.

"It's nobody's fault." Leon interjected, taking Cloud's hand in his own. "It's nobody's fault but your mother's and unfortunately you're the one who has to go through this because of it." Cloud lifted his other hand and began rubbing at his face apprehensively before Leon took a hold of it. "Lets go talk, okay?" he asked softly as the blond sniffled.

Cloud nodded before looking over at Zell. "Unnecessary or not, I'm really grateful that you are okay with me staying here."

Zell knew there was no arguing with the blond right now. Cloud had no idea how welcome he was in their house and Zell was feeling more than guilty for not stepping in sooner. He knew what happened to Leon. He should have known that it would happen to Cloud as well. Zell frowned and nodded before offering the blond a small smile. "I've always wanted younger brothers to pick on."

Cloud would have smiled if he didn't feel so emotionally drained. Instead, he looked over at Leon, who was watching Zell with soft eyes, before the brunet looked back at the blond. He stood up and pulled the blond with him before leading him into his bedroom; their bedroom.

Leon closed the door quietly behind them as Cloud made his way to the bed, sitting down lightly and closing his eyes. He truly wanted to be happy right now, the idea of living with Leon was an enticing one, but he wasn't able to let himself enjoy it because of everything else that was going on. He felt the bed dip beside him as Leon took a seat and he was gently pulled into a warm, alluring embrace. He allowed his body to relax but once he was able to relax enough, his body tensed up again.

Leon placed a few light kisses against Cloud's temple before resting his head against the blond's. Cloud's eyes fluttered open and he was curious as to why Leon's touch wasn't making him feel any better. He listened to the brunet's soft breath and took a soft breath in of his own, letting it out in a less than smooth exhale. His back was beginning to ache from all the tension wracking his body.

"I think you should take the next day or two off from school." Leon said quietly, almost startling the blond with the smoothest, most velvet voice heard by mankind.

Cloud cleared his throat and sighed. In all honesty, he could probably use a day off; a day off from the yelling, abuse, and stresses from school. He could use it but he slowly shook his head. "I'd rather go to school; act like everything's normal."

"If that's what you want, Cloud." Leon replied, placing another lingering kiss against the side of Cloud's head. His arms tightened around the blond and he pulled him slightly closer. "But it's okay if you need a day or two to unwind."

Cloud leaned into Leon's kiss and felt himself relax in the brunet's arms finally but it was short lived as the tension returned after the briefest relief. "I wouldn't be able to unwind if I stayed home from school. My mind wouldn't let me relax." The blond sighed once more, finding it difficult to rid of the feeling of not having enough oxygen. "I'd rather keep my mind off things."

Leon hummed in agreement and once again rested his head against the blond's. "Are you going to tell the guys tomorrow, then?"

Cloud processed the question in slow motion. He never thought that word might have already gotten around of what happened to him in the principal's office. They might already know that he had blacked out from a panic attack. They probably could also guess at the reason why. "I don't see why not." the blond answered quietly, eyes dropping to the floor. "Better now then tell them the day I leave."

Leon hummed again and lifted his hand to stroke the blond's bangs away from his eyes. He repeated the motion a few more times, running his hand through Cloud's bangs. "This whole day turned out to be a mess, but we can manage through it." the brunet said, seemingly out of nowhere, effectively confusing the blond.

"Manage through it?"

"We'll be okay." Leon reiterated, tilting his head to catch a glimpse at sad blue eyes.

"I-" the blond began before getting cut off by the brunet.

"We'll be okay, Cloud. We will come out of this okay." Leon tilted his head a little further and caught onto Cloud's eyes. Cloud turned his head slightly to get a better look at Leon, becoming drowned in blue-gray almost immediately. He felt tears forming behind his eyes again as he processed what Leon had said. Leon's eyes narrowed before softening. "We may not like the distance, but this isn't the end of us."

A tear managed to escape the corner of Cloud's eye and he looked down. It was becoming too painful to look at the brunet. Leon smoothed away Cloud's tear and sighed. "I know it probably doesn't help all that much, with everything that's happening, but I just wanted you to know that." Leon said, eyes watching his boyfriend suffer internally. "Just in case it helps a little."

Cloud swallowed hard and looked back up at Leon, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It helps, Leon." He leaned forward and rested up against the brunet's chest. He laid his head down on Leon's shoulder and wrapped his arms around him. "Losing you is the most painful part of this whole thing."

"You're not losing me." Leon said, wrapping his own arms around the blond and held him tightly. "We'll still see each other. We can still talk to one another. We can make it work until we are able to make our own decisions about where we want to be – together."

Cloud squeezed his eyes shut at the word together and a few tears spilled from his eyes. He tightened his hold on Leon as if he were about to be taken away this moment. His heart raced in his chest and he held his breath, trying not to release the sob that was choking him up. Leon seemed to sense the need for silence at the moment as he quietly stroked Cloud's back, burying his nose in the silky, blond spikes. Cloud slackened his grasp on Leon and hid his face in the crook of Leon's neck and melted into Leon's touch. This was what he was used to happening when Leon touched him. Leon relaxed him. Leon made it all better.

They stayed that way for a long while, Cloud calming in Leon's arms as the brunet stroked his back relieving the tension built up there from the strenuous day. Leon thought Cloud was beginning to fall asleep before he heard the blond let out a soft moan, shifting his body so he could rest his head on Leon's shoulder, large blue eyes lazily gazing up at him.

Cloud smiled softly, his eyes expressing the purest of love as they stared into Leon's. Neither said a word as they sat there, gazing at one another. Leon's heart skipped several beats and he briefly wondered why that was. As if Cloud heard his heart's stutter, the blond's smile widened ever so slightly. "S'nice…"

Leon watched Cloud's face but didn't find what he was looking for. "What's nice?"

"This," Cloud answered, arms moving to hold Leon more comfortably. "Just being with you."

Leon's eyes continued to watch Cloud's contented expression before he nodded. "Glad to be of service."

Cloud smirked before his features slackened. He melted further into Leon's embrace before arching his back.

"What is it?" Leon asked, hands readying to support the blond in whatever the blond might need.

Cloud let out a huff before shaking his head. "Back's sore."

Leon shifted slightly before sitting the blond up from the cocoon he'd created in Leon's arms. "I can make that better. Lay on your stomach." he said, tilting his head towards the head of the bed.

Cloud looked over his shoulder at the brunet with an unspoken question in his eyes. He glanced at the head of the bed then back at Leon. "You want me to what now?"

Leon rolled his eyes and pursed his lips. "I want to rub your back for you." the brunet explained, a hint of playfulness in his tone. "Get comfortable."

Cloud's lips curved in a hesitant smile before he nodded his head. He turned around and crawled across the bed, arranging the pillows before laying himself down on his stomach. He watched as Leon stood up from the bed and made his way around, climbing back on and sitting next to the blond. Cloud found it difficult to look at his boyfriend and wasn't sure if it was due to some unexplained embarrassment or innocent excitement, so he focused on positioning the pillows so he had his head resting on one and clung to the other as though he were snuggling up to Leon.

"Without being too forward," Leon started, watching the blond focus of getting comfortable. "It would be easier for me if you took off your shirt."

Without looking back at Leon, Cloud lifted himself off of his stomach and sat on his feet. He reached down, trying not to look as hesitant as he felt, and grasped the hem of his shirt before lifting it up over his head. He tossed his shirt to the foot of the bed before resuming his position amongst the pillows.

"Where does it hurt?" Leon asked, his voice low and rich causing the blond to shiver slightly.

"All over," Cloud answered, his voice barely over a whisper.

"Just relax." Leon said next as he placed his hands against the blond's skin, starting off slow and watched Cloud's body stiffen. "This is supposed to help relax you, not make you tenser."

"Sorry…" the blond said, trying his best to just let go and enjoy.

Leon let out a short huff, shaking his head even though the blond couldn't see. "Does this make you nervous? We don't have to… if you don't want. I just wanted to help."

"No," the blond answered immediately, readjusting his body to lay more comfortably with the pillows. "I want this. I'm relaxed; go on."

Leon moved his hands across Cloud's back and watched goose bumps form over his baby-soft skin. He wasn't sure if that was caused by his nervousness or because without his shirt he was a little chilly. He watched as Cloud's muscles would almost visibly tighten under his hands before relenting and loosening almost immediately as his hands smoothed them out. He wondered to himself whether the blond ever received a massage before.

"That feels good." Cloud said lowly, his voice causing no doubt in Leon's mind that his words were the truth. Cloud sighed lazily and the brunet could hear an almost silent moan in the back of the blond's throat. He began to feel as though this wasn't such a good idea.

He ran his hands up Cloud's back and firmly over his shoulders. He watched in marvel as Cloud almost craned his neck to allow the brunet better access before the blond seemed to sink further into the pillows, another soft sigh on his lips.

Leon licked his own lips and tried to focus on what he was doing but the blond's soft noises were making it hard not to think of something else. He scolded himself at that thought. His mind couldn't pick a worse time to be thinking of those things.

He forcefully removed his eyes from the blond's lips and focused on his shoulders. Both were lifted slightly as Cloud's arms were supporting the pillow under his head. Leon's eyes ran down firm arms and trailed the curves of modestly building muscles, which although appeared relaxed, still showed that the blond held great strength. His eyes appreciated this sight and began to move down further to the blond's forearms until they disappeared underneath the pillow. Even his forearms hinted at his strength although disguised beneath soft, flawless skin. He pursed his lips as he thought about those very arms wrapped around him, almost desperately at times, and thought that although vulnerable at times, Cloud was a strong young man.

He continued to move his hands across Cloud's back, earning gentle noises, as his eyes traveled back up Cloud's arms to his shoulders. He studied Cloud's shoulder blades just as his hands ran down them and memorized how they protruded out when the blond's arms were positioned as they were. The tight skin covering them looked just as silky as they felt underneath his hands even though still faintly covered in goose bumps. Leon didn't think it felt cold in his room but his warm thoughts could be responsible for making him feel that way.

Leon gently kneaded Cloud's shoulders while his eyes remained on the blond's shoulder blades, this time studying where they leveled just under his neck, seemingly meeting at the line that ran down the blond's back, hiding his spine. He ran a hand down the center of Cloud's back, trying to feel if he could determine where the blond's shoulder blades ended but the warmth from Cloud's skin distracted him just as Cloud moaned lowly. He was happy that he found the blond's sensitive area; down the line of his spine. He followed his spine with both his hands again, applying a gentle pressure and held his breath when the blond's previous low moan turned into a soft gasp, his body tensing before melting back into the mattress. Cloud sounded so good right now.

His hands continued to roam the blond's back as his eyes traveled a little further down where his back dipped towards the small of his back. He let his eyes linger and memorized the blond's skin texture and the way it felt when his fingers dragged across it. Cloud didn't tense as much now that he was relaxed enough to just enjoy the attention his back was receiving. His body felt heavy as his mind went blank, coming back every few moments as something Leon did felt particularly good.

Leon wished he knew what Cloud was thinking right now. The blond's goose bumps were gone by now and he listened to Cloud's soft breathing as he continued the massage. His eyes were still scrutinizing the blond's perfect skin at the small of his back before they traveled a little further, watching the blond's body rise slightly just as it disappeared underneath his pants. It was Leon's turn to get goose bumps.

He couldn't help but let his eyes linger on the blond's jeans, held up by a thick black belt with silver rings running the length. Cloud's slender hips were outlined by the denim fabric and Leon found himself licking his lips. Trying to distract himself from reacting to the blond's sounds was not working; Cloud's body was having the same, if not more, of an impact.

"Cloud?" Leon's voice was barely able to hide his thoughts.

"Mmm…?" the blond responded groggily.

"Does this feel good?" the brunet asked, closing his eyes tightly as such a simple question threw a tornado of less-than-innocent images across his mind. It was so completely unintentional.

"Mmm-hmm…" Cloud replied tiredly. "Don't stop…"

Please stop… the brunet begging himself in his own mind. He was trying to relax his boyfriend, not seduce him. It seemed as though he was seducing himself just by thinking about the blond; his soft noises; his skin. He needed to get this under control before he lost it and flipped Cloud over.

He brushed his hands over the blond's shoulder blades, causing said blond to moan lightly again. He took a deep breath and decided to make this whole experience a little less arousing.

"What are you going to say to the guys went we get to school?"

"Hmm… ?" Cloud asked, his brain seeming to slowly come out of its haze.

"Brad, Brantley, and Xander; what are you going to tell them?" It was an unnecessary question but he really needed to distract himself.

"I don't know." the blond answered, his voice suggesting that he didn't want to think about it too much. "The truth, I suppose. Not much else to tell."

Leon nodded as he watched Cloud's taut skin resist under his hands. "How do you think they'll react?"

Cloud opened one eye and stared at the wall ahead. "I'm not sure. I don't think they'll necessarily be happy to see me go, but I don't know how upset they'd be, either."

"You don't think they'd be upset?" Leon asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Maybe." the blond replied, closing his eye again and shifting slightly against the pillow. "It's only been lately, since you came, that we've been closer than usual. It hasn't been that long, though."

"They seem to care about you." Leon commented, eyes still trained on Cloud's warm skin. "It's just that sometimes it seemed like you're pushing them away."

"Pushing them away?" Cloud asked, opening both eyes and glancing back at the brunet. At first it was a question for clarification, but when Cloud saw the dazed expression Leon had as he looked at his body Cloud wondered if Leon was trying to keep talking for another reason.

"Yeah," Leon answered, eyes meeting baby blue and noticing the curiousity hidden behind them. "You don't tell them things and practically order them to back off when they want to help." Leon's eyes narrowed slightly as the blond's eyes dropped to the bed. Cloud propped himself up on his elbows before straightening his neck, looking down at the pillow.

"Why would I want them to get involved?" the blond asked lowly, laying his head back down on the pillow. "They can't really help and I don't…" he paused for a second. Leon's hands continued to stroke his back with warm pressure. "I just – I don't want them to…"

Leon let the blond struggle with his response. After a few seconds of silence Leon sighed. "You don't want them to… ?"

Cloud frowned and closed his eyes. "It's complicated."

"We have time and I'm a quick learner." Leon responded, voice light but his tone suggesting that he wasn't going to let it go.

"It's just…" the blond sighed and hugged the pillow a little tighter. "They won't be able to help. I don't want them to try and fail, maybe even getting hurt in the process. I don't think…" Another pause. "I don't think I'd be able to look at them again without feeling guilty."

Leon's hands paused in their motion before he resumed. "Guilty?" He furrowed his eyebrows even though the blond couldn't see him.

"Like I said; it's complicated." the blond replied, seeming to want to drop the subject. Leon wasn't going to let it go.

"Why would you feel guilty?" Leon asked, not missing the blond's creased brow.

"Because they got hurt trying to help me." Cloud responded as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Leon could tell the blond was beginning to get flustered. He also knew that that was usually a sign that there was something bigger the blond was trying to hide.

"I get that, Cloud. What's the complicated part?" Cloud buried his face in the pillow and took a couple of deep breaths. Little did that do to hide this reaction as Leon felt it under his palms on the blond's back. "Why are you getting upset? What's going on that you're not telling me?"

"Nothing," came Cloud's muffled response from within the pillows. His body began tensing up again.

"No, not nothing." Leon said, stilling his hands on the blond's back. "Look, I'm sorry for prying, Cloud, but you're my boyfriend and it really worries me when you hide from me like this."

"I'm not hiding anything." Cloud responded, his voice implying that he was starting to stress over this conversation; another sign that there was, indeed, something that he was hiding.

Leon sat still for a moment, watching his boyfriend play ostridge in the pillow. He pulled his hands away from the blond's back and dropped them to his side. "You're hiding your face, you liar." he said in attempts to lighten the mood. Cloud didn't react. He stayed perfectly still. Leon sighed deeply before reaching over and turning Cloud onto his back, Cloud playing dead to make it that much more difficult for the brunet to accomplish his task. The blond kept his eyes closed and his lips formed a perfect, distressed frown. "Cloud?" There was something very off with the way Cloud had just closed down. Leon began to wonder if the blond had blacked out again before Cloud let out an almost silent sigh. "What's going on?" Still no response.

Leon's eyes kept steady on the blond's face as he lowered himself and placed a few kisses against the blond's collar bone. "Tell me why everything is so complicated." He placed a couple more kisses against Cloud's neck and settled in beside the blond, resting his chin on the blond's chest.

Cloud's eyes opened and Leon was worried about the lifeless aura they gave off. Bright baby blue were dulled and looked more like the blue reflected off of a body of water; blue yet dreary. Those eyes stared back at Leon with a defeated stare and the brunet wondered what can of worms he had just opened.

"They're going to get hurt." was all the blond said in a tone that could rival Leon's jaded one. "I'm just trying to protect them."

"Protect them from Tony?" Leon asked, relieved that his boyfriend was now talking yet concerned with where this was all headed.

"Not just that…" Cloud said, looking to his right, away from Leon, to nothing in particular on the wall. "Something always happens to me." Another short pause. Leon was about to say something before the blond continued. "I never wanted to get close to anyone. Why bother? I make some friends - I leave those friends. They want to protect me from Tony - they get the shit kicked out of them, or worse, from Tony. It's not fair to them."

"I don't think that they think of it like that, Cloud." Leon tried to reason before getting cut off.

"I shouldn't be forming close relationships with everyone. My life is far too fucked up." the blond continued, his face still turned away from the brunet.

"Cloud, don't say that." Leon replied firmly, forcing Cloud's face back towards him with one hand.

"I could never have a proper relationship with anyone. Not me." Cloud said, his eyes icing over. It seemed as though he didn't even see Leon at the moment. "Relatonships, be it friendships or a lover, they don't work out for me. It's my fault."

"Cloud-" Leon cut in before being cut off himself.

"What is it about me?" the blond asked no on in particular. "Why is it so damn impossible for anyone to love me?"

"Cloud," Leon attempted again before the blond's voice turned almost frantic.

"That's all I've ever asked for in life; for someone to fucking love me and my own fucking mother can't even do that."

"Cloud, please!" Leon said, his voice both firm and unsure.

"And you," Cloud's eyes refocused on Leon's stormy blue-grays. "You don't believe in love." There was a short pause before the blond's eyes deadened. "Leave it to me to stupidly fall in love with someone who is utterly incapable to loving me back. Story of my God damned fucking life." Tears began to trickle down the blond's soft cheeks.

"Enough!" Leon practically hissed, effectively silencing the now trembling blond. "Cloud," Leon attempted again with a far more calm voice. "What's really going on here? Why are you bringing this thing up now after telling me that you're alright with my… that you… you said that you're happy with me even though I don't believe in love."

"I'm such a fuck up…" Cloud said, squeezing his eyes shut before they were hidden behind his hands, rubbing frantically at his closed lids.

Leon propped himself up on his elbows and pulled Cloud's hands away from his eyes. "Look at me, Cloud."

Cloud relaxed his eye lids but still kept his eyes closed. "I'm sorry, Leon." he murmured quietly. His eyes opened to look up at his boyfriend's expressionless features. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't mean what I said."

Leon shushed the still trembling blond as his eyes softened. The way Cloud looked right now caused his heart to thud painfully against his chest. He took a deep breath to ease the tension before brushing his fingers gently across the blond's tear-streaked cheeks. "It's okay, babe. You're under a lot of pressure. Please don't apologize for that."

"I shouldn't have said those things-" Cloud's voice came out in a weary tone full of dread.

"And I said its okay." Leon reaffirmed. He brushed away another tear before pulling his body up against Cloud's. He wrapped his one arm around the boy's still trembling form and the other continued to stroke his soft skin. "You're going through so much right now and it's okay to just spill it out every once and awhile. I won't hold it against you. I will even go as far as encourage it if it makes you feel any better."

Cloud's sad eyes turned and looked into blue-gray. "It makes me feel horrible to say these things about you. I'm really okay with you not believing in love. You believe me, right?"

Leon's eyes narrowed in understanding and he nodded softly to reaffirm it. "I'll believe anything you tell me, Cloud. I trust you."

Cloud's eyes lingered on Leon's for a moment longer before they slowly fluttered shut. "'M so tired…"

"Then sleep, babe. Go to sleep." Leon said softly, his heart pounding in his chest all of a sudden. "We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

Cloud sighed and snuggled closer to Leon. "Can you… can you…" The blond furrowed his eyebrows and let his request remain unfinished.

After a moment of complete silence, Leon figured Cloud had struggled enough. "Can I what, babe? What do you want me to do?"

Cloud shifted a little before turning his head so his face was inches from Leon's. His eyes remained shut. "It feels so good… relaxes me when you touch me." The blond's voice was so low Leon barely heard it. "Can you keep… doing it?"

Leon's eyes searched Cloud's strained features. The blond made no attempts to turn over onto his stomach again and goose bumps were already forming over the smooth skin of his stomach. "Of course…" the brunet said quietly, laying his hand gently over the blond's flat, firm stomach. "Whatever you want."

Cloud let out a soft moan when Leon's hand made its first stroke over his stomach. He knew all too well that his body was covered in goose bumps and he felt his nipples harden immediately from that first touch. He wasn't embarrassed, though. He didn't try to hide the fact that he really enjoyed it when Leon touched him and he even found himself not feeling bad that Leon was willing to serve his every whim. He just felt his body sink deeper into the mattress, the warmth of Leon's palm over his skin creating a hazy atmosphere Cloud was all too willing to submerge himself in to forget about everything that was going on.

Leon watched Cloud's features slacken as the blond hummed quietly. He ran his hand over Cloud's chest and rubbed his shoulders firmly before letting his hand wander aimless across the boy's soft skin. He found that he, as well, was becoming relaxed from the stimulation Cloud was receiving an he laid his head down next to Cloud's, their noses barely touching one another's. He watched as Cloud's eyes fluttered behind their lids and allowed himself a small smile. This is what he wanted. As long as Cloud was contented for the moment, he would allow himself to stop worrying and just enjoy the blond's company.

He wasn't sure if Cloud had dozed off at that point but that didn't matter. He was sure Cloud wouldn't open his eyes any time soon and so his smile remained; happy, contented, relaxed, and so full of this feeling he could not describe.

-o-o-o-

*happy sigh* Apparently I was in a fluffy mood when I wrote the ending to this chapter. Please review? I would love to hear what you thought! XD

XoXo