Prompt: Assumptions

Given by Kryal

Setting: Radiant Garden, Post-KHII

Pairing: (possibly one-sided) Aerith/Leon; Tifa/Rude

Throughout everything that occurred once the Heartless arrived on their world, Aerith and Leon had been looked to as the unofficial leaders of their small band of survivors. Once they returned home, the pair was looked to help organise and bring everyone together to rebuild their world.

Both had a quiet strength about them, and each was known to remain calm under the gravest of circumstances. They were both incredibly patient as well. Aerith was known for her kindness and wisdom, while Leon was known for his will and dedication. Neither failed to meet the challenges or demands that the positions they had fell into offered them.

The two friends had known each other since their childhood, and had grown increasingly close as the previously mentioned events unfolded. Each spoke more openly to the other than they did most, and both showed their emotions more easily around the other.

Now that things had calmed notably, and they were needed less, as the Heartless decreased and the reconstruction continued Aerith found her well-known patience growing thin when it came to the scarred man.

It was not that she disliked him, on the contrary, she loved him…and that was the problem. For Leon never let his own feelings known in that regard.

Finally, she decided to find out if she stood a chance with the stoic man. Aerith, ever the diplomatic one, decided to gather some information before approaching Leon. If he were interested, someone was bound to have heard some indication of it, considering the way their group of friends tented to become involved in each other's business around here. Therefore, she decided to start with his best friend…once she found him.

"Hi, Aerith," greeted Yuffie cheerfully as said woman approached her in The Bailey.

"Hello Yuffie," greeted Aerith in return. "Have you seen Zell today?"

"No, he took off early this morning to help Leon with something," stated the hyperactive ninja. "Tifa said she saw them heading towards the Crystal Fissures. I hope Sephiroth isn't hanging out by the Dark Depths again…"

"If he was, it would be Cloud going out there," said Aerith.

"Good point," conceded the ninja. "What did you need him for anyway?

"I wanted to ask him something about Leon," replied Aerith.

"Maybe I can answer it," offered Yuffie with a smile.

"Well…has Leon ever mentioned me?" asked Aerith. At the younger woman's confused expression, she decided to elaborate. "Has he said anything that indicates whether he has feelings for me or not?"

"Has feelings for you?" repeated the perplexed looking ninja. "Isn't Leon gay?"

Both women stared at one another for a moment.

"Excuse me?" said Aerith, "What makes you think that?"

"I don't know," answered Yuffie, "That's just what everyone thinks."

"What do you mean 'everyone'?" questioned Aerith.

"I mean everyone, hold on…Tifa!" Yuffie turned and yelled the last word.

The called upon woman had been walking down the street, but turned and joined her friends after being shouted at; She sighed and placed her hands on her hips when after approaching them. "Yes, Yuffie...?"

"Is Leon gay?" asked the ninja.

Mahogany eyes blinked, "I think so, why?"

"Why do you think that?" asked Aerith.

"Well, when was the last time any of us saw him show interest in a woman?" Tifa asked in response.

All three women stood in silence for a moment as each pondered this.

"You know, I can't recall," said Aerith.

"I don't think I've ever seen him with a woman," replied Yuffie.

"Me either…and even Cloud has at least acknowledged when a woman was good looking," said Tifa. "Why are you asking anyway?"

"Aerith wanted to know if he likes her, and I thought he was gay, but I figured-"

Tifa interrupted the petite ninja's explanation as she turned to Aerith. "You wanted to know if Leon…Do you have feelings for him?"

Aerith nodded, "I wanted to see if he had said anything before I approached him."

"Good idea," Tifa said with a nod, "But why Yuffie?"

"Hey! I'm Leon's friend too," stated Yuffie.

"In know," said Tifa, raising a hand to settles the hyperactive woman. "It's just that I would have asked Zell or Cloud first. If anyone would know, it would be them."

"I came to Yuffie to see if she knew where Zell was," explained Aerith.

"But he's not here and she wanted to know why, got you," replied Tifa. "Cloud isn't around either…I think he's out by the waterways. You know who else might know… Reno; he's always on top of the latest gossip. Maybe he's heard something."

"That's a good idea," agreed Yuffie.

"It is," confirmed Aerith. "Do you know where he is then?"

"He and Rude are at the Moogle shop," answered Tifa.

"Thank you," said Aerith before turning in that direction.

"Good luck!" called Yuffie as Tifa waved.

Sure enough, Aerith found the two Turks at the Moogle shop. Rude was waiting quietly beside his partner, who was arguing over price with the Moogle.

"Hi Rude," said Aerith as she moved beside him to wait for the redhead.

The bald man nodded in greeting, but said nothing.

"Tifa told me I'd find you two here," continued Aerith, knowing that the mention of his girlfriend's name tended to get the man to string together a few syllables. "I just need to ask Reno something."

"He's almost done," replied Rude. He merely turned his head towards her, but thanks to the time they had spent together due to Tifa, Aerith understood that he was offering to interrupt if it was important.

"Thanks, but I'll wait here if it's alright," Aerith said with a smile.

Once again, the man only nodded in response.

Reno joined them a moment later. "I should just wait for those Keyblade wielding kids to come back before the next order; see if they'll ask for me. At least the Moogles actually like them."

"Who doesn't?" Aerith responded.

"Yeah, I guess that's a perk of saving the worlds," replied the redhead. "Did I hear you say you needed to ask me something?"

"Yes," Aerith began hesitantly, "Have you heard…Do you know if Leon is gay?"

"That seems to be the general assumption, yeah," answered Reno.

"Why? Is there anything to support the idea?" asked Aerith.

"Have you seen Leon?" questioned Reno. "No straight men I know jut their hip out that often, or lean against a wall the way he does. Plus, when have you seen in him in anything other than leather pants or a midriff jacket with a furry collar…and what is the point in all of the belts? Not to mention that a guy that decent ought to have had a girl on his arm at some point, but no, he hasn't…And he was way to alright with spending the weekend stuck in Ansem's computer room with that silver-haired pretty boy."

Aerith could only stare as she processed this. She could not deny anything the man had stated. In fact, when Cloud had asked her and Leon about Riku's appearance resembling Sephiroth's, Leon had joked that Cloud just wanted a reason not to acknowledge that the boy was better looking than he was.

"Thank you," Aerith said weakly before turning and running away.

She ran all the way to the community gardens she had been restoring with several of the towns people. She always felt at peace in the gardens, and was thankful that they were empty today.

Now, she fell to knees and then sat on her heels with her face in her hands as she silently cried.

A few minutes passed. Aerith had calmed and was considering working on the garden for a while when she heard footsteps approaching. She did not have to turn to know who had approached her. She was quite familiar with his presence.

Leon kneeled down beside her and gently placed an arm around her shoulders. "Aerith, What is it?"

"I had had a bit of a shock," she answered with a reserved smile. "I'll be fine."

"Is there anything I can do?" asked the grey-eyed man, as he looked at her in concern.

She could not help but laugh at the irony of that question. "No…I don't think so. I think I just need time. Maybe I'll work on the garden to take my mind off it…"

"Well, if it's a distraction you want, can I make a suggestion?" question Leon with an odd uncertainty that she had never before heard in his voice.

Aerith looked at him fully now, and he inclined his head in the direction he had come from. She turned her gaze in that direction and saw a picnic basket, which looked as though someone had dropped it quickly, although managed to remain upright. A light blanket was lying haphazardly beside it, as though it too had been dropped abruptly.

"What…?" she turned back to the scarred man.

"I made sure everyone stayed out of the garden today so I could ask you to come here with me," explained Leon. "This isn't exactly how I planned to do this, but, would you care to join me?"

Aerith was shocked speechless for a moment, so she simply nodded, wondering if he meant it as it appeared and doubting that he did, after all she heard that afternoon.

The scarred quietly stood, retrieved the previously disregarded items and return to Aerith's side.

"I also have something for you," Leon stated with a hint of that same unusual tone, as he pulled something wrapped in a bandana out of his pocket and handed it to her.

She unwrapped the small item to find a piece of crystal about the size of her little finger, clearly from the fissure he and Zell had gone to that morning, with a fine piece of leather cord tied around it, making a simple but beautiful necklace.

Aerith looked up from the gift to Leon, "Why…?"

"I thought it was time I let you know that I care," responded the scarred man.

"You…" Aerith blinked, "You're not gay?"

Grey eyes blinked in the same confusion that she just had. "No…I'm not gay. I wouldn't be trying to ask you out now if I was."

Aerith smiled, "Good."

Leon, although still looking slightly confused, wore a light smile as well, "Good."

Aerith eyes flicked to the dishevelled blanket and basket, "Shall we check the damage?"

The confusion left Leon's eyes as he reached for the basket.