Disclaimer: not owned by me :D

Pairing: Leon x Cloud

To Capture a Cloud

By: yukuro

They had been invited to Hades Cup that day. Yuffie immediately agreed with enthusiasm, exclaiming how she wanted to have a rematch with "that cute miniature Cloud, Sora." Leon and Cloud merely exchanged glances silently as if they were having a silent conversation. In the end, neither knew how, but they had decided to enter as a team.

No one questioned them or their reasons for the somewhat surprising decision. Of course, Yuffie and Aerith had their share of giggles over the matter, but neither one had said anything against the two. No one dared to say anything when they had decided to enter that way and no one dared to say anything when they began to train together everyday. Before anyone had realized, it was natural that Cloud and Leon were together throughout the day.

Leon did not like the way he had been feeling lately. He was worried about Cloud all the time in a way that reminded him of a mother hen. The slightest little cut on the other man during practice made Leon snap irritably about taking better care of himself. He really only snapped because he did not know any other way to express his concern. This was really beginning to bother him. He was beginning to feel awkward around Cloud, and he suddenly felt as if he was one hundred times more aware around the blonde.

In response to Leon's sharp words, Cloud would twist his lips into something that looked like a childish pout but never said anything in reply. He hardly even cared that he was continuously being treated as a child. He knew Leon was trying to look out for him, and actually, he kind of liked it as embarrassing as it was. Of course, he would never admit this to anyone. Especially not Leon.

"Look how you've gone and gotten yourself these wounds that really could have been avoided if you were more careful," Leon scolded with a grim scowl as he bandaged Cloud's hand for him one day. "You're old enough to know how to take care of yourself, you overgrown child."

"Mean," Cloud snuffed in reply, turning his head and gazing down at Leon with one glowing blue eye. The other man was always scowling or irritably scolding him for stupid things in a way that was almost amusing to Cloud. He had grown quite fond of Leon and that what was beginning to make him worry. Everyday Cloud dreaded the day he would have to leave Traverse Town, but he also worried that staying too long would make him forget his objective. That was, after all, the only reason he had joined with Hades in the first place and he was reminded of that reason more and more frequently.

Cloud usually slept dreamlessly most nights, whether cold or warm. Since they had been invited to the Hades Cup tournament, dark dreams of reminders nipped away at his consciousness. It was getting harder to sleep at night and just when he thought he was able to finally rest, his back where that crooked black wing would appear would burn as a reminder of the contract he had made with Hades. He had already broken many rules by escaping to Traverse Town, and Cloud knew he was not exactly going to have it easy again. The contract was already written, and he could not rewrite it again. Even if it was for Leon, he could never stop searching for that person.

"The nights have been getting steadily colder these days," Leon quietly commented as he rose to his feet, gazing at the wall. "Maybe I should find you something warmer to sleep on or a room or something. You're always shivering in your sleep."

Gazing down at his hand that had been clearly bandaged with great care, Cloud sat still in silence for a moment. He realized how difficult it must be for Leon to be saying such opening things. The quiet brunette undoubtedly had a hard time expressing himself, or really speaking often at all. For him to be showing such concern for Cloud, really made the blonde feel grateful.

"You don't have to do that for me," Cloud responded, closing his blue eyes. "I…really can't be staying here forever."

How he hated hearing that. Actually, Leon knew that better than anyone. He and Cloud both had sensed that problem a long time ago but neither one spoke of it in fear. But then, this way also caused them fear and trouble as well. Getting too attached by emotion was a problem and fear completely in itself.

"Even so," Leon replied gruffly, gaze never wavering from the wall, "you're here for now and it is getting colder. If you won't accept a room, at least share mine for a little while. You'll catch a cold out here."

Cloud's head snapped up in surprise and embarrassment. He had not expected that. He had not expected Leon to care so much. Most of all, he just…well, he really had not expected what he had just heard. "E…eh?"

Realizing what he had just said, Leon stiffly walked over to the other side of the room to hide his growing embarrassment. "It's not like I'm seducing you or anything," he scowled with faintly reddening cheeks. "We're both guys. It's not such a big deal."

Staring at Leon's stiff back, Cloud felt his lips twitch into a half-grin. While it was quite nice seeing Leon show some compassion, Cloud had to keep in mind his recent sleeping problems. The last thing he wanted was for Leon to know that he had been contracted by the lord of hell to kill a demigod.

"Thanks for your concern," Cloud began quietly but sincerely, "but I don't know if that's a good idea. If you knew the reason, I would probably have to leave this world. But I'm very glad that you would show concern for me although we still don't know each other too well. Thank you."

Leon stood in silence. Cloud was still mysterious to him, and there was so much he did not know about the other man. He always wanted to know more, but he had been doing his best to restrain himself from getting too attached. Closing his eyes, Leon did not bother to argue back. It was his nature to be silent. Stepping towards his bedroom to retire for the night, he muttered, "Just take better care of yourself."

The image of Cloud sitting quietly on the couch slipped away as Leon shut the door softly behind him. He leaned against the closed door silently for a moment before shuffling towards his bed mindlessly. His mind could barely process any thoughts properly, and as he threw himself on his bed, he felt as if some unknown force was snickering at him from the dark. Something was laughing at him for his previous act of pure stupidity. Brows furrowing, Leon jerked his eyes shut and rolled over, annoyed and cursing himself.

He laid on his bed, staring at the wall with flattened eyes in annoyance for hours. It was not the first time insomnia plagued him, but it was the first time he felt particularly irritated about it. Unable to bear it any longer, Leon sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bed. A glass of water should help clear his mind, even though simply walking through the room Cloud was sleeping in would probably fog up his mind worse.

It took much of Leon's concentration to not glance at Cloud on his way through the room, but he could not help but notice that the usually still sleeper was suddenly twitching and making other uncomfortable movements. Leon paused in his steps to silently watch the blond wither for a moment before concern forced him to stride quickly across the room to the other man.

Forehead glossed with sweat and brows furrowed in invisible pain, Cloud fought against whatever was in his dream. Leon did not dare reach out to touch him, risking the chance of making the situation worse. All Leon was able to do was sit aside and watch in frustration.

"Burning," Cloud muttered in his sleep, twisting on his side. Leon's eyes grew slightly wider as he noticed a single black, twisted wing poke out of the other man's back. The wing twitched once and stretched itself a bit, blood soaking the tips of its roots. Leon could only stare in horror. In the next moment he blinked, the wing had disappeared again.

The pained expression on Cloud's face eased and his teeth released his bleeding lower lip unconsciously. His expression was still somewhat distraught, however and it looked as if a fever still plagued him. At least now he was sleeping peacefully again.

As Leon sat still next to the still-sleeping Cloud, he wondered if that wing he had seen was simply an illusion. Rising to his feet, he gazed down at the blond. There was still far more things than he realized that he did not know about Cloud. One starting with, Leon thought bitterly as he marched towards his front door, what the hell was Cloud Strife anyway?

Leon had barely taken three angry steps out of his house before a familiar voice interrupted his angry thoughts, "You're up pretty late, Squall. What's the occasion? Up to something?"

"I could ask the same of you," he stated stonily as Yuffie stepped out from the shadows, grinning at his side. Leon continued to walking, ignoring the girl's presence even as she began to follow him.

"Aren't you going to answer my question?" Yuffie asked cheerfully as she strolled along beside the man. She examined his expression quietly before stating, "Anyone else would say you're downright angry, but it looks like to me you're more concerned than angry."

It was annoying the way Yuffie was right sometimes, Leon thought glumly to himself. As much as it annoyed him, he hardly cared about what he had seen, or thought he had seen, anymore. The reason he was angry now was because despite his warnings, Cloud, that stubborn idiot, had ended up sick again. Somehow that had absorbed his anger and any other reason had been tossed out the window. Leon could find no explanation for why.

"He's got a fever," he mumbled, not bothering to even glance at Yuffie. "Strife is so careless."

Yuffie took a few moments to blink rapidly before promptly beginning to giggle. She giggled, "That's cute, Squall."

"Leon."

The girl continued to smile as he turned towards the pharmacy. "You always make yourself out to be antisocial and all," Yuffie began as she watched Leon browse through various medicine and potions, "and so it's hard to tell, but you actually really like Cloud, don't you? You're just afraid to admit so."

Leon stiffened significantly before sniffing and abruptly turning away to examine something on the other side. He replied coldly, "Ridiculous nonsense like that is both pointless and none of your business."

This comment only made Yuffie's smile wider. She tiptoed around him to grin up at him teasingly. "That response only makes it more obvious you know. It's perfectly fine to make new friends. Cloud's always been weird about people too, you know? He was such an aloof loner when I first met him, but I think he's doing better now. Maybe it's because of your help, I don't know. Whatever it is, I'm just glad to see him like this, the way he is now. He's growing."

Pausing, Leon finally let his eyes shift down to the girl's face. Yuffie was smiling sincerely, almost in the same way Aerith was when they had spoke. Both had similar views of Cloud. It was hard to imagine both of them being wrong. Leon remained silent as he paid for the medicine and stepped back outside again with Yuffie at his heels.

Breaking the silence, Yuffie spoke up cheerfully, "You know, I was actually out trying to sneak a snack in. A long day's worth of fighting gets a girl hungry, you know? I should probably get back home now. Take care of Cloud for me!"

"Yuffie," Leon called quietly just as the girl turned, getting ready to jog back to her house. He turned to glance at her and very seriously, he stated, "If you eat too much before you go to sleep, you'll get fat."

"That is so mean," Yuffie retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. She grinned and winked before dashing off with a wave, "Nice to see you feeling better, Squall!"

"It's Leon now!"

It would take time, but it seemed likely that Leon would gradually come to understand Cloud. However much time was needed though, still remained a question.

xxxx

Coliseum was the same way they had remembered. Not much had changed since last time. Only the rapid bustling of Phil as he made last minute preparations for Hades Cup throughout the building was heard when they first arrived. It seemed like a long wait but in a minimum amount of time, but they would soon find themselves standing in the ring facing more than one kind of battle.

Yuffie had complained rather loudly about being 45th seed, but otherwise there was little activity in the waiting room the three shared. Leon and Cloud sat quietly next to each other, staring directly at the wall or ground and away from each other. It seemed as if they had not been speaking lately, but it was mostly because they had little to say.

Leon felt a disturbance. Something did not feel quite right and when he glanced over at Cloud, it became obvious. Cloud stared hard at the ground in a concentrated manner that seemed strange for his usual indifferent expression. The strangest of all, however, was that his hands, so neatly folded in his lap, were shaking. Sweat formed lightly on forehead and Leon was reminded of that night he imagined he had seen a wing on the other man's back.

"Did you hear about the Platinum Match?" a stranger commented to his companion. His words made Cloud stiffen. "There's this really unbeatable guy there. I swear, he's strong as the devil himself."

Eyes narrowing as he watched Cloud harden, Leon felt a frown tug at his lips. There was obviously something he was missing here. Yuffie had just been called into the stadium, so Leon was on his own with Cloud. While it was somewhat bothering him to try and find out, he sat rigidly as Cloud tightened his shaking fists. There was nothing to say.

"Well, well," a nasty sounding voice sounded as a shadow loomed over them. Leon looked up to see Hades, blue and flaming as usual but with a smirk spreading across his face. Leon continued to sit silently for the blue god had his gaze fixed directly on Cloud. "Long time no see, eh? How've you been, Cloudy-boy? Break any contracts lately? Oh that's right, you did. Luckily, you can't forget about that though, eh?"

Cloud never brought his gaze up to meet that of his mocker. He simply sat there, uncharacteristically awkward anger boiling up silently. Still, Leon could not find any words to say. Cloud, however, finally muttered, "He's here…isn't he?"

"Him?" Hades asked with an amused smirk. Jerking a pointed finger at Leon, he continued mockingly, "Oh, you mean your little boyfriend you were looking for before you dumped him for this guy here? Maybe he is here. You know what bothers me though?" The blue god's eyes darkened and grew fiery as he leaned closer towards Cloud. "The fact that while I kept my end of our deal, you didn't. You'll have to pay for that, you know."

Just as Cloud looked up, a raised blade separated Hades' dark glare from his own shining blue one. Glowing eyes shifted to the side, Cloud felt his brows furrow slightly at Leon's cold expression. "Leon?"

"I don't care what you two are talking about," Leon began icily as he lowered his weapon, "but if you're going to make a scene, at least get out of my sight first."

"Tsk. Not exactly Mr. Sunshine here, are we?" Hades snuffed, standing up straight. As he headed out, he commented, "By the way, Cloudy-boy, that Sephiroth guy is a serious pain in the ass to deal with. Looks like this guy here is not much different."

Leon unconsciously felt his gaze travel towards Cloud's face. Cloud's usually quiet and indifferent eyes were set ablaze in blue fury, looking as if they glowed even brighter than usual. He was angry, but it did not seem like an anger that was capable of killing someone. It was a desperate anger; almost painfully stinging soul and letting his heart hammer faster.

"Sephiroth…" Cloud breathed lightly in echo. He drew his hands tighter into a fist until they almost drew blood. Then without a word, he rose stiffly to his feet and strode towards the door of the waiting room.

For anyone else, Leon would have simply sat and remained where he was. It was none of his business to follow anyone. Cloud, however, was a different story. Something in his mind was bothering him like hell and unless he got up to go after Cloud, he would never be at peace. Grudgingly, Leon rose sharply and took off after Cloud just as Yuffie re-entered the room.

"Cloud! I just… Squall? Hey, where are you guys going?"

Yuffie promptly ignored, Leon marched after Cloud as the blond swiftly made his way up to Phil. By the time Leon came within earshot, the blond had already uncharacteristically exploded.

"Sign me up for the Platinum Match, Phil," Cloud demanded.

"Are you kidding?" the short goat-man scoffed in disbelief as he folded his arms. "That's suicide, kid. Besides, isn't your turn to fight in the Hades Cup coming up pretty soon?"

"Sign me up now!" Cloud restated firmly, his blue eyes glowing brighter than ever. "I have to see Sephiroth."

"Look, you're already in one tournament, I can't put you into another match that easily," Phil explained, hoping he would not further anger the enraged blond. He had the feeling that if he fought any harder, the situation could become dangerous.

"I have to see Sephiroth!"

Leon's eyes narrowed as Cloud's usually calm demeanor suddenly became borderline hysterical. Reaching out, he firmly pulled the blond back by the shoulder. In a scolding manner, he stated smoothly, "Calm down. Making a ruckus isn't going to solve anything. What's so important that you can't wait until after our match to take care of?"

At that moment, Cloud's tense body relaxed. When he turned to face Leon, his eyes were glowing a bright icy blue. His gaze was so cold, Leon could feel the atmosphere take a dramatic plunge. Their friendly relationship was suddenly not very friendly anymore. Cloud's eyes narrowed darkly before he turned to walk past Leon.

"Nothing you would understand."

Tsuzuku.

xxx xxx xxx

A/N: Ouch. Somewhat of a cliffhanger, I guess. x.o; It's a big change from the way I ended the last chapter. Ah, these two have such dramatic mood swings all the time. Must be tough being indifferent all the time. :D I suppose all people break sometime.

Thanks for reading this chapter! Please look forward to the next. :D