Geh, this story is finally updated. I need to hold off on the lemon for a little bit so that this isn't entirely plot less, but none the less there
will still be citrus, just a little toned down. I need to get some more
plot going. Anyways. I hope you still decide to read it. Enjoy.

So it's Come to This

Part XVI

Fear and reconciliation

Leon awoke to the sensations of soft touches on his arms. Bleary- eyed, he tried to focus on the figures caressing him in such a manner. His mind pounded him to wake up. Slowly as he absorbed the surroundings of the kitchen, he realized that Sora and Riku were on either side of him softly skimming his bare arms. Leon yawned and stretched and then sighed as his neck gave a satisfying pop. Both of them were a welcome sight in the morning, especially after what had happened the previous night. Leon sighed. He thought that maybe after Seifer and Zell's death's he could get away from these types of relationships. Then came Sora, but try as he might those hidden feelings got in the way. He knew though that he was just comforting Sora, just as Zell had done for him. Then came Cloud. This man had some inner turmoil, but he composed himself much like Seifer did. Leon had thought that possibly he was going to find some one for himself. He narrowed his eyes.

"Rise and shine Leon!" Sora seemed in an especially chipper mood. "Why were you sleeping at the table? That has to be uncomfortable." Sora gave a mock pout to the Gunblade warrior.

Riku took notice of the bottle of whiskey sitting on the table and then another on the floor. "Bad night?"

"Frustrating." The word shot from Leon's mouth like a bite from a snake. "I really don't feel like dwelling on it either." He rose stiffly from the table already in a foul mood despite his warm awakening.

Sora pouted as he walked away. He wondered why Leon was in such a sour disposition. He cast his lover a concerned look. Riku shrugged not quite sure what was up either. The two stared after Leon as he walked into his bedchamber and slammed the door. Sora's happy demeanor dampened a little at the slamming door. Riku sighed and walked to his lover and wrapped him in a warm embrace.

"He doesn't want us prying in his problems, so let's go find something to occupy our time with." His small smirk persuaded his chipper lover.

After arranging themselves properly the two decided to peruse the districts. Sora had decided that they needed to drop in and visit Aeris, especially since he hadn't seen her in a while. Inside the Seventh Heaven instead of finding a bustling racket of customers and merry making, the duo found Aeris crouched behind Yuffie at the end of Sephiroth's sword. Sora's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the silver-haired warrior. Instantly he shrank back and clutched Riku's arm. Riku looked down at his sable- haired partner and suddenly realized what had sparked Sora's question the previous night. A frown set on his features. Riku approached the warrior that could easily have been mistaken for Riku's brother or an older version of Riku himself.

"That's a nasty thing you did."he hissed vehemently. "Sora didn't need anymore problems."

"I'm not interested in your little fuck, though he does scream quite nicely, I only want one person. I want my little puppet back." Sephiroth retracted his sword and turned to face Riku. "I want to hear my little blonde scream in submission like he used to before this girl came into his life." He hissed the last part of the sentence while shooting a glare at Aeris.

"He deserved his own free will! You can't take that from him." She was almost in tears. "Don't you dare try to take him now!" Aeris could not stop the tears from flowing. She knew that Cloud did not love her in that manner, but she knew that she cared for him and that she would not allow him to be controlled again.

"What's going on here!?" Leon roared with the ferocity of the lions his name stood for. The Gunblade master walked through the doors to the lounge and narrowed his eyes at the fallen angel. He stalked toward Sephiroth fearlessly. "You always manage to screw things up. Just like in the battle arena." His eyes were icy as he spoke.

"You're a pretty piece of ass. I can see why my little bitch lusted after you." Sephiroth filled the room with raucous evil laughter. "How about I give you marks on your cheeks to match the one on your forehead in exchange for the puppet?"

Sora jumped back when he heard Lionheart click. His eyes widened as he saw the tall man on the other end of the blade. Sephiroth's demented laughter silenced and he glared coolly at the lion.

"What do you plan to do with that contraption? I'm quicker than a bullet flash." Before Leon could make a move he was on his back on the floor with the masamune at his throat.

The blade swiftly cut a thin line in his shoulder so he could see a thin trail of crimson crawl down the former commander's arm. He laughed as he cut long shallow wounds into the warrior. Leon would not give him the satisfaction of voicing his discomfort. He kept his mouth in a firm line and continued to glare up at Sephiroth. Riku started at them, but was restrained by Yuffie and Sora. Leon would not submit to him. He would not allow himself to be dominated by Sephiroth.

"You fool." Sephiroth hissed as he picked the lion up by the neck and forced him up against the wall. "Did you think that he would want you for anything more than a good fuck? You're pathetic."

Cloud's sword was swift and was placed against the fallen angel's neck. His face was contorted into a somber expression and rage burned within his tourmaline depths. Sephiroth frowned slightly as he felt the cold metal against his neck. His grip on Leon lessened and then he burst into a fit of odd laughter.

"You threatening me for him. It's too funny. You're just a toy. I can still control you just as I did before." Sephiroth's eyes narrowed and suddenly cloud was on his knees clutching his head and screaming out in pain. "I can get inside that pretty little head of yours and make you do things, my little toy." Sephiroth smirked as he cast a sidewise glance at the spectators and then at Leon.

Cloud's eyes cleared and he stood sword in hand. Each footstep thundered loudly on the wooden floors as he stalked toward the Gunblade master. Leon's icy eyes held a look of sheer defeat before he closed them. The sword was placed at his heart patiently awaiting its target. All fell silent fixated on the scene unfolding before them. Sora's eyes shut tightly as he turned to hide his face in Riku.

"Cloud don't! You're better than that!"Aeris' voice echoed through the tavern.

He flinched visibly, but the sword remained in its position. "What are you waiting for? Go ahead and do it."

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews you guys. I'm really happy you appreciate my fiction. If anybody likes Chrono cross I wrote a Chrono Cross fic, so go support me there. Um. yeah thanks for all the reviews and thanks for reading. Yay this epic adventure is almost done. Just a few more chapters to go. Thanks for sticking with me this whole time. Love you guys.