Number 2 is finally here! My, oh my! 21 pages! The most I've ever done before this was 11! is chuffed Yeah, it's sorta slided into only me (Fruchi-Tazza) doing the story now, well it was in the 1st place, but Sekajiku is busy so, ya know.
Sorry, I have no beta readers, and I have checked this once, hopefully there are no mistakes that slipped past.
Want to thank Uzumaki-Sama for favouring my 1st Kingdom Hearts fanfic, 'Is honoured' And thanks for the guys who reviewed! Okay For the next instalment for Serendipity, please direct your eyes; Southwards! grin grin
Chapter 2 -In came a Storm.
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Rumble… rumble…Gruuumble
'Nnnggggh' I rolled over onto my noisy stomach in small attempt to make it quieten down. It had been rumbling for over 25 minutes, and my alarm clock would be going off in 5. I opened my eyes slowly and blinked sluggishly. I turned my head and continued to watch the minutes roll by until the time my alarm would rather pointlessly try to wake an already awoken person.
I don't know why I even bothered to buy the damned thing. I already had a perfect alarm clock built into me; my stomach.
At the mention of it, it pitifully gave another low-toned rumble. I rolled my eyes and ungracefully rolled out of my bed. I landed in the same spot as I always did. If I was to check, I would probably find myself staring at a butt-mould on the floor where mine repeatedly hit it every morning.
I reached over for my Khaki shorts and small red t-shirt. Much to my disgust, there was a sloppy stain on the t-shirt, just below the right nipple. I sniffed at it. It smelled faintly of baked beans. I scratched at the hardened stain and tried to pick of most of the remaining source. With only small traces of said stain, I shoved it over my mass of chocolate brown spikes and hopped into my khaki's.
I hopped to the bathroom while trying to pull on one of my blue socks and grabbed the toothbrush. Placing my thumb over the embarrassing Barbie design that I was stuck with, I brushed my teeth hurriedly. I remember the trip to the chemist, I had to buy a new toothbrush desperately, as my old one was old and the bristles stuck in my teeth. The only choices I had were Barbie or a baby's 1st tooth one. As much as I preferred the design on the Baby's one; happy little frogs, I couldn't use it, it was too small. Fucking chemist, why can't they supply normal people's toothbrushes!
Not improving my mood, I raked a comb through my spikes; I had to yank at least on three different occasions where the comb seemed to prefer to wedge itself in. I hated my hair; it stood wildly and defiantly, refusing to be flattened. Why won't it be fucking normal!
Staring at myself in the mirror I looked at my spikes ….jeez, I even looked like Cloud's brother.
Shoving on my shoes and grabbing my keys, I turned and stumbled over a pair of my boxer shorts, huffing and kicking them to the side, I tried to contain the paddy I had building up inside me. Last time I threw one of those I stomped my foot and threw my arms about screaming a lot, I also told Cid to shove it where the sun don't shine, it's surprising that I still work there actually.
I had been working there for 4 years and about 3 months now, I am without doubt Cid's longest and most trustworthy worker. He depends on me, I know that for sure. The bastard might think he doesn't need me, but he does really. He may tolerate me out of pity though. I don't give a shit. I don't need the pity, but I need the money, so I'll ignore the rest.
I shoved the keys in between my mouth as I grabbed for my small black jacket and grabbed the door handle. I absently mindedly glanced back to see if everything looked normal.
Messy, Check.
Scummy, Check.
Unbearable, Check!
Seeing every in order I turned the door handle, until I heard a rattling cough coming from beyond the door.
Uuuuuuugh. WAY to piss on my morning spirits. Seifer was lurking around, no doubt already smoked his usual 20 fags for breakfast. His annoying cough sounding like he was trying to cough up a lung still lingered for the next 5 minutes. I glanced down at my watch and saw I was going to be late if I didn't hurry up. I ran to my window and with a struggle managed to yank it up. Bits of old paint crumbled away and littered the ledge.
I blew it away and swung my leg around. Poking my head out of the window I looked down. Underneath was the back alley that circled half of the small apartments that I was living in. Directly below my window however was a man curled up in a sleeping bag, who seemed to be half cuddling his small dog. The dog's back leg twitched now and again as he snarled and bared his hackles in his sleep.
I gulped. Worse luck. What a fucking moron! Why out of ALL the choices of windows he could kip under, why, Oh WHY mine!
I took a deep breath in small attempt to calm my nerves. I was not a morning person. This was just ironic. I thrust my body back inside and frantically searched for anything I could lob at him. In any luck I would wake the bastard and make him move.
Finding an old milk carton which seemed to smell a bit, I quickly rushed back and with all my might, tried to aim it on the man's head.
Damn my shitty throws! Damn them to hell! The carton bopped the dog on the head, which immediately sprung to life and yapped for all of Traverse Town to hear….
….Accept for it's damned owner, who slept through the whole ordeal peacefully. The only sign that he was alive at all was his big toe twitching occasionally as the wind caught it sticking out of the sleeping bag.
Not wanting to be lectured at by Cid, I thrust my leg out again, and then my other, I glanced down and ended up falling out the window. I half landed on the hobo and his dog, my leg swung over the guy's hip and my hand splattered on the dog's back. I quickly re-postured myself and brushed myself down.
…Amazing! The guy was still oblivious. No wonder why he's on the streets, it wouldn't be surprising if he had offered a burglar in for some Tea and Crumpets.
I started to make my way down the alley, happily thinking about escaping Seifer and his stupid rent fetish, when a low growl came from behind me.
Apparently the dog was PMSing over my little accident. Jeez… Can't I catch a break around here?
I looked back to see the little twerp scowling and trying to look bigger than it was, which was about a foot of the ground. I just wanted to kick the fucker into oblivion, but I regarded the fact that the flea bag may be the sleeping beauty's only friend.
As it came snapping at my ankles, I legged it down the alley, I ran down the stingy streets and about 3 blocks down I heard the pants of the….thing.
It was horrible, with small legs it must have gotten worn out as I could hear it trotting back, barking randomly at still objects.
It was….Deranged.
Catching my breath, I leaned against the wall. Darkness loomed in ever corner of Traverse Town Slums and it was unbearable at times. I looked down the roads and then dragged myself in the direction of work.
"Yeah, yeah….Sorry, sorry! So sue me Sora. If you haven't noticed, I run the goddamned store, and I can be late if I fucking want to!" Cid huffed as he dug in his pockets of his green cargos for the jumble of keys. His fag rolling to the other side of his mouth as he burrowed his eyebrows in concentration, he tried to hear which pocket they where. Soon discovering that he had shoved them into his bum pocket, he started unlocking the store.
I had always admired how Cid opened up the store; He was slow on finding his keys, but super fast on opening them many makeshift locks and fastenings. The keys moved through his hands like they were water. He was mumbling something about 4th bronze key whilst I was watching in admiration.
I was watching him look for the second little silver key, when I heard him mumble something aloud, He hadn't even looked up in acknowledgement; "Hey, I'm glad you could make it, nice and early. That's a good start, makes you more tolerable see? Unlike lazy ass Sora here, who is always late."
I blinked out of my dazed state and looked around Cid to see who the hell he was talking to. I heard someone clearing their throat behind me and I turned around.
My eyes widened as I saw who Cid was referring to. A man about early twenties was standing there with his arms crossed and leaning casually against the wall. He was clad in the most tightest black leather trousers I had ever seen, The tight white body shirt clung to him for dear life, The black shoes and black leather gloves made his outfit almost complete, if it wasn't for that jacket. The jacket stopping near his waist complimented his white shirt.
He casually opened his eyes and regarded me. His eyes were steel grey and showed seriousness with extreme measures. His brown shaggy hair fell into his eyes and flopped sexily around the back of his neck.
He cleared his throat once more and rolled his eyes. He unfolded his arms and made his way over to us. His belts clunked together in a rhythmic beat with each stride he took. His arms swayed by his sides brushing his hips with each swing.
Damn….If I wasn't gay before, I sure as hell was now.
This guy had to be the sexiest man I knew since Cloud. His dress sense was in close competition with Cloud too, something I thought wasn't possible.
I tried not to stare and turned my gaze to the ground. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks though, they were burning bright red, I remember this same reaction was very similar to the time Cid had introduced me to Cloud.
"…Yeah, well I had nothing better to do, I suppose." Brain overload, that voice! Is it physically possible to be this damned hot? Gods know.
Leon glanced at me again and I managed to smile weakly at him. Cid glanced at the both of us and grinned. "Oh yea Sora, I forgot to tell ya, I got a new one! Looking for a job, so I thought 'why the hell not?' and so, Sora meet Squall!"
Squall cleared his throat again "Leon, its Leon."
Cid gave Leon another look and shrugged "Whatever, anyway Squall, this is Sora, he's been working here longer than anyone, accept me of course, so I'll leave it to him to show you how things are run."
I smiled, finding my confidence again and held out my hand. "Hey Squ—er Leon. Nice to shag you"
Leon was half way in the middle of reaching for my hand when he recoiled and stared at me with those stoic grey eyes, they were studying me intensely now, as if searching me inside out, "What?"
My smile faltered as I realised what I had said "Oh fuck I mean jeeez, nice to meet you. MEET you."
….For Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck Sake! Why fucking me! Makeshift shovel please! Excuse me while I bury my head 3ft under the ground….
….Someone once told me I had a swearing problem; that I did too much of it.
My reply to them was to "Go fuck themselves"
He looked puzzled but took my hand and shook it briefly. The fine leather gloves met my white fingerless ones. I rubbed the back of my head and made my way inside. I let out a sigh as I stared at the ground.
The phone in Cid's office began to bring to life.
Cid disappeared into his 'cupboard' while whistling some tune and shut the door. I put my apron on and made my way to the tills, I sat down and briefly tidied my desk, and I disposed of yesterday's chocolate wrapper. If Cid caught on then I'd hate to think of the lecture he'd bring up this time.
Glancing back I saw that Leon was standing by the door, glancing around at the store as if marking its layout. He stuck out like a sore thumb. "Hey Leon, you can come in you know, unless your hoping to attract customers by glaring at them"
He looked at me and still didn't move. I got out from around my tills and bounced over to him. I was slightly in a better mood now, having someone new to show around and talk to didn't happen often, especially one that I could bare looking at, Staring at Phil for too long made your eyes go funny from the strain of looking down, And Cid's clothing was not a pretty sight, did the man ever hear of washing machines?
..It's not like the guy couldn't afford them, he made more money than me and I made sure my clothes were clean, well most of the time. I covered my stain really quickly. Leon looked at me strangely. It was only until I looked down was it that I saw the reason. It looked like I was touching myself up in the middle of the store, my hand grabbing at my chest and nipple in an attempt to cover the beans stain.
My face flushed so quick it was like someone turning on a light bulb. I quickly removed my hand from it and also my hand from Leon's arm, which I had placed when I bounced over. I grinned sheepishly up at him.
"Sorry I was – I just remembered that I had a stain on my top, I'm not a pervert. Ugh, and I don't touch myself in public—oh Jeeez"
"It's okay Sora, I noticed the stain ages ago, and no, as weird as you come across, I see you're not a pervert." Leon sighed and ran a gloved hand through his hair. He smirked and tried to look at least approachable.
"So Sora, give me the grand tour, and I hope I get one of those ….delightful aprons too." Leon didn't hide the light sarcasm in his voice as his gaze lingered over my faded green apron with a picture of a pack of eggs, fags and 3 birthday cards in a basket printed onto the front. I never understood the combination of the weird items that were in the basket. Every time I had asked Cid, the man would shrug and reply "I was pissed at the time."
I grinned at Leon "I'll see what I can do" I hummed. I pulled him over to the rack of staff aprons and found a variety of colours. "Hmm, Leon, what do you think is more you? ….The Pink? ..Or the bright yellow? Or there's the dark blue…" I listed them all, and smiled as I saw the disgusted look he gave them all. His eyes lingered over the rack and found a Maroon one; he picked it up and studied it.
"I say the maroon at least that goes with the black. I gulped and saw he had picked up Cloud's one. The only one Cloud ever wore was the maroon too; these two had a lot in common I gathered.
Leon saw my smile falter and refrained from putting it on. "What? Not my colour?" I shook my head quickly.
"No… It's not that, that's just Cloud's one, that's all." Leon looked at it again; he let his eyes roll back to me.
"Cloud? …Who's Cloud?" I had forgotten that he was new here, I laughed pitifully, before proceeding to explain. "Um, Cloud is the other guy who works here; he dresses a lot like you, you'll get along great. How old are you Leon?"
Leon considered answering at first. "21, just."
I smiled widely, Cloud has just landed a treat, I know he'll flip when he sees Leon. "Great, Cloud's 20, and in case you were wondering, which I know that you are" I smirked "Cloud will be in at 1.00"
Leon nodded silently.
"So, you know anything about tills?"
"Not really, No" I smiled politely, glad I knew something else that somebody else didn't.
"Ah, It's simple. Just press this green button to open the draw, and bash it on the right side 3 times if it gets stuck."
…Well, It wasn't something terrific, but it was something, Right?
Leon stared at me for a second before knotting his eyebrows. …What? Did I speak too fast? I was worried about Leon's education – the fact if he HAD one. The guy was just standing there, was I going to find drool dripping from his mouth any second?
He ran a gloved finger down the side of the till before it rested on the green button.
..That's it Leeeeon, just press it! It's Not. That. Hard.
I awaited with baited breath, I must have been, I was practically frozen still waiting to see if Leon was a dumbass.
…Which he was proving to be.
Instead of actually opening the drawer in which I was expecting, He went drifting towards the 3rd Aisle of the store, which I had already given him a tour of. He didn't come back.
Well, that just proves it; you can't be gorgeous and smart. It's a shame.
With a long sigh, I drifted slowly to where I last left Leon. I stopped and listened to where he was.
Damn Cid and his loud rumblings. His voice drifted over from his broom closet and I tried to block it out. If Leon was insane then I wanted my advantages.
Squinting, I crouched down and looked through the Aisle where the crumpets and loafs of bread were kept. I would have gotten a better view where the cereal boxes were kept, but Cloud's obsessive behaviour led his to leave no gaps in between at all.
I held my breath and peered through; I was half expecting to see Leon mumbling to himself in the corner, holding a pack of razor blades, but instead all I found was him crouching down in front of a row of hammers. He was checking the labels of the varieties we had. He was on the second shelf when it occurred to me…
..Why the fuck does Leon want a hammer?
Was he going to pummel my head to pieces with it?
My eyes widened and I quickly grabbed my hair. What the fuck was Cid thinking letting this mad man in the store? Did Leon lure Cid with his delicious ass? Or was it the hair?
Maybe those eyes…
As I went off into a little daydream, I forgot to realise that a possible mass murderer was in the store, I was still pondering over Leon's various features when I heard a couple of loud bangs.
I jumped about a foot in the air with an highly embarrassing squeak, looking around rapidly I saw that Leon had moved away from the hammers and was up the front of the store again.
Not taking any chances I ran to the back of the store and tried to cover myself with a bread crate. My feet were sticking out of the bottom and my hair was poking out through the holes. I tried to calm my breath, but ended up cursing a colourful stream of words instead.
I only stopped when I saw the shadow of two shoes produce on the floor. I held my breath but when the box was pulled off my head and put to the side, I gasped loudly.
Leon was crouched in front of me with a half bemused half puzzled look on his face. He looked in my eyes and was truly confused as to why they held half a ton of fear in them.
…Well, Leon…if you weren't planning on gutting me to death, then I may have been a 'little' calmer!
He let out a sigh, a small smirk placed on his lips. "Fixed."
I closed my eyes tightly at his voice, but then suddenly realised that the word didn't really relate to any death.
"What?"
"It's fixed. The till, Listen Sora, if I'm going to be working here, I'm not going to be banging on the side of the till all day, I'd end up throwing it out of the window."
"…Oh."
"Why are you down here anyway? I came back and you had vanished." I realised all too soon that I may have slightly exaggerated the whole situation. I grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of my head guiltily.
The supposed killer offered his hand and helped me up, I stumbled to my feet and Leon stood there awaiting my answer.
What should I tell him?
..That I was back here because I thought that he was going to pummel a hammer into my head?
…Or the fact that he was going to gut me and watch me bleed, while laughing manically?
…What should I tell him?
"Hide and seek"
…
Hide and SEEK? Oh well Sora, aren't you a fucking convincing little bastard. Hide and seek, Jee, I'll never hear the end of that one.
"Aren't you a little old to be playing that Sora?"
"Yeah, …well, fuck it…lets go see that till."
"Ooooh, we forgot seaweed green"
"Nah, said that one already"
"What about this one... it's kinda…pale puke"
"Which one is that..."
"The little green one there! …Next to the £ sign!"
"The little…green…one…Sora! They're ALL green…"
"Oh yeah…"
Leon and I have been playing this goddamned colour game for ages. We were studying all the shades of green on the till buttons… So far, we had named 4, yeah we sucked at it, but time was passing by and 1 O'clock was coming closer. I glanced at the time and it was 11:45.
Leon had been snooping around Cloud's till desk a while back. It wasn't until he had found a picture of the famous half naked model of Irvine in Cloud's draw until conversation about Cloud struck up.
Leon looked at the picture and raised an eyebrow "I thought you said Cloud was a guy"
"He is…"
"Then why has he got a picture of a guy in his draw for?"
I smirked, I couldn't help it, and I could see that Leon knew what this suggested.
….Was Leon afraid to say it? Hehehe.
"Well…. Why not?" I asked innocently. I smiled when I saw Leon frown. "Why do you want to know anyway Leon?" He raised his eyebrows again ad ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair.
"…No reason."
I giggled as the broom closet door opened and out rushed Cid, He still had the office phone in his hand and it was noticeable that he was still on the line to someone as his eyebrows knotted and he mumbled and listened repeatedly. His eyes flew everywhere and his rusted blue eyes landed on me. He scratched the top of his pale yellow hair.
"Yeah yeah, I'll be right there. Hold your horses, Damnit" He looked around for the phone base until he realised that he wasn't in his 'office' anymore.
"Shit, Sora look after the damned store for a bit will ya? I need to go out for a bit" He said whilst shouting from his cupboard.
I nodded and asked why he had to go; he shrugged and put on his jacket.
"Phil's only gone and done his bloody back in five blocks down from 'ere. Says he can't be fucked to move. So I have to go get the lazy Bastard, don't I?" Cid growled
I glanced at Leon and he glanced back. I could see an amused smirk that pulled at his lips; it was contagious as I soon found myself grinning back.
"Okay, anything else?" I asked out of habit, got to keep in Cid's good books somehow.
"Yeah, when you see the 'lazy bastard spike head No.2' tell him to stop fucking packing the cereal boxes so damned tight! I nearly got beaten up by an old lady and 'er umbrella earlier for that" Cid huffed and lazily strolled over to the door.
He licked his thumb and wiped a dirty mark that had appeared on doorframe. "And Sora…Stop fucking eating the store's stock, I'm fed up with it, damnit." He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and swiftly left. I could faintly hear his boots trailing down the street.
I let the words sink in and bowed my head guiltily. I could tell the gaze of Leon was upon me. I fidgeted uncomfortably. I didn't want Leon to know I was a thief in my own shop, and that I could hardly afford to buy anything.
I heard him get up and he walked around and stretched. I didn't dare look up.
What would he think of me?
I know it's cheap…
…I know its low…
…But I have to live…
Leon had made his way out from behind his till desk. "So… what's good to eat around here?" My gaze lifted to see Leon smiling while plucking a bag of potato chips from the shelf. His eyes held an air of understanding in them. I appreciated it. My self-pity vanished immediately as I flashed him my white teeth and jumped around to join him, almost shyly.
Almost…
Leon was so mysterious. At one point he seems to want to tear you're head off and break your bones into fine dust, then other times he seems to want to laugh, to have good conversation. This guy was a mind tease, and there were only one other who could make my brain hurt; and that was Cloud.
2 empty packs of prawn cocktail, 1 eaten bag of ready salted and a Twix wrapper lay on the floor around us as we both sat crossed legged or sprawled over the shop's ground.
Leon and I had been in light conversation as I scoffed my way through the crisps and Twix, and Leon had one of the packs of Prawn cocktail.
"Cid would have a hissy fit if he saw this" I smiled as I grabbed a can of soda from the 'reduced items' basket.
"Now that would be a sight to see" Leon said, his eyes lingering out the window, the never ending rain was lightly drizzling from the sky, giving the air a sheet of wet mist to float down to Traverse Town Slums.
I gazed at Leon; he was leaning against the till desk side, his legs out stretched in front of him, his leg crossing the right. Every time he moved slightly; the sound of leather dull fully squeaking was heard. I mused over this several times. What bought Leon to wear so much leather?
"Doesn't the squeaking annoy you?"
Leon glanced at me and quirked a fine shaped eyebrow "Hm?"
"The leather, doesn't all the noise get on your nerves?" I nodded my head in the direction of all the leather he was clad in.
"Never really thought about it before, guess I grew accustom to it." Leon replied placing his hands in his lap.
"Oh,…err, Leon?" I couldn't help it, every question I asked, he had answered, some of them maybe not in as much detail as others, but I couldn't help but push it a little bit further.
Every answer he had given seemed to make a new one pop up into my head. I didn't mean to pry, but I couldn't help myself either.
"What is it, Sora?" Leon cleared his throat. If it was a sign for me to stop or for him to re-gather his thoughts, I really don't know.
"Ah, never mind…" I turned my head to look down one of the aisles. I spotted various things like kitchen towels and cherry bakewells.
Leon glanced at me in a quizzical gesture returned to gazing out the window.
"Have you always lived in Traverse Town Slums? …I mean, you don't look like the sort to live around here" I mumbled out. I tried not to make myself sound too curious, but the question had been nagging in my mind for the last couple of hours. I mean, Leon didn't look like the sort to be housing around this shitty area. He looked like he had just walked out of the modelling agency, after doing a 3 hour photo shoot for all the girl magazines they buy. He definitely didn't seem to know this place well after, if he was looking for a job, then he could have easily gotten one slightly more fitting for him.
I frowned; it was that easy for someone like Leon to get a job that he wanted…
…Not so easy for someone like me.
"No, I originally lived in a place called Hollow Bastion."
I was waiting for more of an explanation; but one never came.
I glanced at Leon who refused to look anywhere but the window. I frowned and averted my gaze to the floor, I chewed on my bottom lip uneasily. He had told me a tiny bit of himself; but suddenly seemed very unwilling to continue. I found my insides nagging me to ask more; but I found myself looking at him slightly concerned. It wasn't right to dig into his private life, especially as we still hardly knew each other.
But conversation was flowing easily. If he didn't want to answer, then he didn't need to right?
I opened my mouth to ask why exactly he moved to this dump; when the flash of pale yellow hair caught my sight at the door. Calculating that it was Cid returning, I quickly did the only thing that I could think of…
I threw myself flat face over all our rubbish.
Leon was startled at the sudden reaction and was about to ask me what the hell I was doing when he heard the door bell jingle and Cid striding in.
Cid gave one look at us and stopped in his tracks. I wanted to bang my head of the floor repeatedly until I could feel my senses slip away from me.
In all my years of working for the Bastard, not once was I caught in this kind of situation…
…well, not this bad anyway.
I groaned with my eyes closed on the floor. I hummed in the back of my throat and was quite aware of the audience I had gathered.
"Hey Cid, how was Phil? Did you rescue the princess?" I tried to lift the odd atmosphere with light chat. I could feel the scrunched up cola can digging painfully into my side, I tried my best to ignore it and gave them a big smile.
"Who the fuck you calling princess?" My eyes widened as I Cid gave a devilish grin and turned around on the spot.
Strapped to his back was Phil, his stout legs dangling just above Cid's waist line. He looked absolutely knackered. His usual attire had dirty marks gleaming of their surface and he looked like he would bite any man's head off if they dared to mock him.
I nearly cried out in despair as I realised that I had been caught red handed in the act for a second time…
…Third time lucky?
Hmmm, maybe I should take up smoking, the thought of puffing all my troubles away sounds very appealing… yeah, maybe I'll do that.
"Sora, may I ask, what exactly are you doing sprawled across my store's floor? If you're tired then fucking sleep in your own time, not mine"
Over powered by all these accusations, I tried to say something intelligent "Uuugh, I –erm, I- Leon… He. I- Leon pushed me over!" I blurted out.
Stupid, stupid Sora.
Cid and Phil looked over at Leon. Cid ended up smirking when he saw Leon's baffled face. Apparently I had caught him off guard and he was looking from me to Cid with puzzlement filling his usual cool features.
He stopped abruptly and then raised a gloved finger to point at me. He was looking at Cid as if to say that I had done it. Ah Fuck! Leon is turning against me!
"New kid you got Cid?" Phil asked looking at Leon with mild interest.
Oh, I knew what was running through his mind!
…I best show Leon the hiding space, but god forbid if he takes it when I need it!
"Yeah, Squall needed a job so out of kindness I gave him one" Cid smirked when he saw Leon's face.
"Leon, it's Leon"
I tried to get the conversation to swap around so that the reason I was hogging the floor space, seemed to disappear from thought. "So Phil, what happened to ya? It sounded like you were in serious trouble. Cid dashed out of the store"
"Not really, I just did my back in trying to carry a box of Nescafe to Bobby's five blocks down. Bobby wasn't there, So I had to phone Cid to come get me" Cid grabbed the ropes that were once securing the box of Nescafe together from around his shoulders and waist and helped Phil get down. "—He-hey! Gently now!" Phil grunted, his feet kicking like mad.
Leon got up in one swift movement and grabbed him by the shirt to help him down; Phil sat on the floor looking ruffled. Cid squatted next to him, still laughing. "Heh, you shoulda seen 'im! He was mumbling curses and everything when I found him! The assistant helper of the shop looked like he was gonna shit a brick!" Phil grunted in response as Cid patted him on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I think he looked pretty relieved when Cid took me away."
There was a comfortable silence for a while until Phil smacked his lips together a few times. "Speaking of bloody Nescafe, any chance of a cuppa Cid?" He looked up at Cid and pleaded. The owner just looked down at him and smirked. "I wouldn't think of anything better than a cuppa Cha right now."
He got up and picked Phil up in one arm, he hoisted him over his shoulder and made for the closet. I watched the retreating back of Cid while I listened to Phil mumbling about "I can bloody walk you know, just not very fast…"
I sighed in relief; I thought they'd never go!
And anymore of that bloody painful coke can digging into my ribcage and I would have picked it up and lobbed it.
I sat onto my knees and grabbed all the rubbish, I ran to the bin, glancing back at Cid's door to make sure it was closed. Shoving all the rubbish in the bin I let out the breath I was holding.
Too close!
Leon had composed himself back to sitting at Cloud's till. He was staring at the clock; I glanced at it too and saw it was 5 to 1. I couldn't help but grin, Leon was obviously waiting to meet this Cloud he has heard so much of. Did it ever cross his mind that he may hate him?
They may be at each other's throat in a matter of seconds, wanting to rip each others heads off and burn each other's bloody corpses.
…But then again, maybe not.
They had odd personalities. From what I knew of Leon, he had the same sort of style as Cloud, although he drifted off into the leather section a bit more than Cloud. It wasn't unheard of to see Cloud walk in here clad in some Denim or just cotton shirts.
He still managed to look attractive though. Cloud had an aura of innocence around him; he was laid back at times, although he could give anyone mouth if they ask for it. Although Leon seemed more patient than Cloud when it came to situations, I had never seen him in action.
Although I bet he was scary.
…Unbelievably so.
I gulped and suddenly felt a little intimidated.
Who knows what he was capable of? Only knowing Leon for about 8 hours didn't really sum it up as knowing him. Fuck! The stream of images about Leon wanting to detach my head from my body swam around in my thoughts again.
I stopped dead in my tracks and just stared blatantly obvious at Leon.
Feeling the presence of eyes on him, he looked down from watching the clock to look at me. I guess that my face gave it away that I was suddenly terrified of him as I saw his brow furrow and the tilt of his head to look at me properly.
"What's wrong Sora? You look like you've just see—."
"I swallowed quickly and gasped. "Leon, have you ever murdered anyone before?" I realised I was shaking but I needed to know! My life was in jeopardy here!
He looked at me like I was an escapee from a mental home. His eyebrows shot up beyond the sight behind his fringe.
"Excuse me?" Was all he said. Simple.
"Have you ever tried to smash some ones head in? Slaughtered anyone? Jeez, Leon, …you're not going to kill me are you?" I couldn't help the words spilling out of my mouth now, I was trembling and I don't even really know why!
If I wasn't on the verge of a nervous breakdown then I may have found the look on Leon's face highly amusing. He looked like he had just been slapped on the face numerous times.
He looked like he was about to fall off his chair.
"What brought that up?"
…I …
…Really didn't know myself.
Leon just seemed to be able to put the thought into my head that he was just waiting for the opportune moment to slice at me. I was being an inconsiderate bastard, but I didn't care.
"Have. You?" I said, a little bit more confidently than I liked to the man who was supposedly my killer.
Leon only seemed to regain his composture and smirked a little. "Why Sora?... Do I make you nervous?"
He was mocking me in my time of despair!
I felt gobsmacked, was Leon low enough to laugh at me when I was questioning him for my own safety? I couldn't stop looking at the amused smirk planted on his face as he watched me glare at him. "No Sora, I haven't killed anyone, nor do I plan to. If I ever decide to go crazy and run around on a killing spree, then I'll be sure to look you up… okay?" I could hear the amusement dripping from his voice!
"You sure? ... Not even once?" I narrowed my eyes at him, trying my best to scare it out of him. It didn't cross my mind that if Leon were in fact a murderer, then he really wouldn't be scared of my glare in the slightest.
Leon sighed and rubbed his temples. He seemed to be trying to keep himself from shouting horrible abuse at me, telling me to stop being ridiculous. "I'm sure, Sora. Do you accuse everyone who talks to you of trying to murderer you for no particular reason? Or maybe there is a reason, and you're worried of someone finding out and getting revenge by making you disappear?"
I stood there, mouth agape. He looked at me, waiting for my answer. I blinked a few times before shaking my head vigorously, my mouth opening and closing in a weak effort to tell him otherwise. "N-No! Of course not! I haven't done anything wrong, what makes you say that, Leon?"
"What makes you say that I am a murderer?"
I cannot believe he had turned the tables on me like that. I had no valid answer; I just stood there watching his amused smirk return once again. He knew what he'd done; he probably knew how to make me see that I was being a stupid dickhead right after I had accused him.
"….Sorry, Leon." I said sheepishly looking at my worn shoes. How could I have been that stupid?
I felt awful…
"He's late."
My head snapped up to look at Leon looking at the clock again. Immediately knowing who Leon was on about, I glanced at the clock. It was 1:15 and still no Cloud. I just sniffed in response. Cloud was always late, it would actually be a weird site to see Cloud on time, he was always doing other things like hitting the earlier morning clubs, or just sleeping. Occasionally Cloud would come in with a shoulder bag slung over his arm; in it would lay his hair gels. Once I was aloud to look through them all, he had loads! Each one used 'apparently' for a different reason. His hair without gel looked fluffier than it was, and the spikes were less defined. Basically making him look like he had just rolled out of bed.
I told him that it was a good look on him; he laughed and replied "It would be a lot easier to keep it that way huh?"
I smirked when I remembered that time. Cloud had to use Cid's cupboard mirror when Cid wasn't there to fix his hair. He was lucky that Cid was bargaining with an old shopkeeper for the old car engine, which kept him there a while, as Cloud took ages making his hair look exactly like he wanted.
…It really didn't look that different from what he had started with.
I smiled beside myself though. "Yeah, He may not even come in at all" I teased.
Leon didn't respond. He was busy with adjusting his jacket. He looked up at me after a while and frowned. Whether or not it was out of the fact that I had said he may not be meeting Cloud today, or the fact that he was struggling to untwist his jacket's arm, I didn't know.
"Why's that then? Lazy show-off that thinks he's too good for work?" Leon didn't look too impressed; I tried to cover up the urge to laugh in his face when I saw it. He had the blankest expression on his face that it was impossible to tell whether he had ever changed facial expression once in his whole life time.
I smiled again; I'd been doing that a lot today I noticed. Usually people would have to really fucking impress me just to crack a grin on my childish face, but today, I was feeling generous and graced people with my smile.
It felt odd, actually….
…to smile, that is…
Pushing the thoughts to the back of my mind, I pretended to be thinking of a witty comeback to defend Cloud from Leon's half hearted comment. I was a bit rusty, to be honest, I hadn't spoken this much to someone since Cloud and I tried to recite the whole lyrics to The Lion King, it was a tragic attempt. He and I fought for at least 45 minutes on who was to play Simba. Comments flew everywhere and I found it hard to rattle my brain for some good insults, obviously no match to the man who spends most mornings in the clubs.
"…Ugh, no, he works hard! .... When he gets here, that is." Lame… Sora, real lame.
"Any proof of that statement?" Oh ho hooooo, I could hear the enjoyment on the edge of his voice. Staring at me waiting for my answer, he just sat there, from behind Cloud's till, obviously very interested in what I had to say next.
Bastard….
…..Utter, complete… bastard.
He was starting to grate my nerves. He was getting under my skin with all his damned sarcastic comments… another one of Cloud's personal favourite traits. Unfortunately, not one of mine.
I glared at him, looking at him with distaste, it wasn't the fact of protecting Cloud anymore, frankly, I couldn't give a toss if people knew he was a lazy bastard, Cid never fired him anyway. It was truly a fight to win…. Well…
…Whatever the hell we were trying to win.
"Why. Don't. You. Check. Out the. Cereal section. Then." I pressed through gritted teeth. Leon folded his arms across his chest and cleared his throat.
"What? You mean the one that was pack—."
Jingle …. Jingle….
Both mine and Leon's heads snapped up towards the door.
I grinned immediately.
Leon had yet to react…
"Hey….. Clouuuud." I emphasised, making sure to smirk at Leon.
Black shoes took a step into the store and stopped just inside. The bottom of Cloud's leather trousers flared just slightly to rest casually over his shoes, never coming out of place. Suited around Cloud's waist were two slender black belts, and one red flat one, a tight fitting red t-shirt clung to him with today's lettering as: "So I'm shaggable, who gives a fuck?" In black bold writing. Shrugging off his long black coat, and hanging it on the hook behind the till area's bare arms were clad in numerous black leather straps and two black sweatbands.
Cloud's head was stuck into his weekly Ps2 magazine. I have always admired Cloud for his trick; he had managed to map out the store's layout, so he could walk around all day in here without bumping into anything. I had secretly tried it once.
The fucking pickles got in the way…
…Fuckers.
Cloud had now hung his coat up and was now doing the traditional 'standing there for at least 2 minutes while he warms up near the radiator' His head was still buried into his magazine.
I glanced over at Leon; he was looking at Cloud with a look of mild interest on his face. I followed his line of site and saw he was studying the black choker around Cloud's neck. I had always liked that choker, and had asked Cloud where he had got it; he said 'not for the kiddies, Sora' while smiling at me and ruffling my hair.
..I swear it escapes everyone's notice that I'm living an adult's life right now; something that I wasn't planning to do for a long time, but I am.
" 'lo Sora. How's my favourite little dude today?" He said, not once glancing up. Leon sat there waiting quietly.
Cloud could be so oblivious to his surroundings sometimes it was funny. Cid and Phil could be going at it like dogs on the floor and Cloud would just swerve around them and carry on reading.
"I'm okay, suppose, Cid said he's gonna grill your ass for being late… but that's about it." I saw Cloud nod as his eyes dated across the page.
"Ahhh, nothing new then…" He smirked to himself and started walking towards the tills.
"You could say that…" Leon was just watching Cloud walk towards us. He kept trying to keep himself looking un-amused, but the glint in his eye gave it away.
Cloud, due to his personal items, jingled over to his usual till. He stood in front of it, and read the last sentence, he flipped the book over and carried on reading, He opened up the hatch, by which now Leon was looking alarmed.
"Where is the bastard anyway? If he's in that broom closet again then I'm starting to get a little worr--."
My mouth dropped open…
Cloud had perched himself right on Leon's lap! He stopped mid sentence and looked up blinking rapidly. His mouth was slightly parted as he cocked his head to the side and looked down at Leon, he was still clutching the magazine in his hands tightly.
A furious blush spread across his face. Leon was looking at him as if he was a dangerous psycho and he tried his best to keep his 'I have no emotions to share' look.
I couldn't help it, I keeled over laughing. It was the squeaking that did it, when Cloud had sat down, the leather had squeaked together.
Cloud, which was still on his lap quickly turned his head back to look for me, his eyes rested on my frame and he blinked again.
"…Sora?"
"Yes Cloud?" I asked innocently, I tried to stop my laughing, as both men were looking very eager to pulverise me to a pulp.
"Could I have a word with you please? ....Alone" I nodded and he looked back at Leon once more. He got up as Leon's gaze never left Cloud's retrieving back.
He came over and yanked me by my arm, I started to struggle, he had a strong grip around my arm. He continued to yank me until we were opposite the frozen foods section half way down the store. His hold was tightening. I pulled a disgusted face at him as he wouldn't let go.
"Who the fuck is that?" Cloud said, he was half angry, half pouting. He looked down the Aisle, but Leon was out of view.
Hold…. Tightening. Fuck, it hurt!
"Cloud, get the fuck off me and then I'll explain, wanker." He let go and his face softened a bit.
"Sorry Sora, I just made a prat out of myself though." He said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
Ignoring him, I explained quickly "Cid found him here, apparently he was looking for a job, and Cid dished out. His name is Leon, he is 21 year old, only just though. He likes leather, can be a shit head when it comes to sarcastic comments, sounds a lot like you really.." I hissed. I rubbed my arm gingerly as I pouted at Cloud.
It wasn't my fault he just looked like a retard in front of Leon!
It appeared that Cloud had missed the bitter comment at the end as he was glancing down the Aisle, a smile tugging at his lips. I looked up at him to see him brush a soft blonde lock out of his eyes. "This should be fun, aye Sora?" He patted my shoulder and gave me one of his brotherly smiles, just as he turned I saw his eyes sparkle of something.
He turned and started walking down the Aisle, he had suddenly gained a sexy sway to his hips, and he was back to his flirtatious self.
…And that's when I felt it…
…That pang of jealousy.
It bubbled up inside me as I realised that Cloud and Leon wouldn't last a week until they would be slung over each other.
…And leaving me to be alone…
…Again.
…alone… My eyes stung with that unfamiliar pain of tears. That over whelming feeling of being drowned in emotions and problems that I just couldn't handle.
'…You're a smart boy, Sora, You'll be okay…'
I hurriedly grabbed my sleeve and slouched to the floor. Ashamed, I gritted my teeth together and tried to force the tears back.
I promised myself I wouldn't cry.
I wouldn't…
'…But you've still got a lot to learn…'
….I won't cry. Not now…
'…A Lot to learn…'
Not ever.
-TBC-
Okay guys I'll leave it there. Poor Sora! What ever should he doooo? Maybe if he makes it out of bed tomorrow, he could meet a new….hmm…silver haired friend? Hehe
Yes Folks, I have definitely decided that Riku will appear next chapter! So hold you're horse's hehe!
Reviews appreciated! Thanks to those who have already reviewed, I love to know what you think of the story.
Remember… Reviews make the Sun shine, the Earth spin, and me very happy!