Respect Me Not
Warnings: There still are mistakes in grammar, I think. Also Shounen-ai, which means malexmale love. NOT FOR KAIRI FANS! (or Naminé) Also, there might be some drug using, self-destructive activities and maybe some character deaths… Crossovers from Final Fantasy VII and VIII…
Pairings: SoraxRiku, one-sided SoraxAxel and RikuxKairi, WakkaxTidus, CloudxLeon, AerithxCid and maybe some more…
Disclaimer:writes to the Santa Claus: "Dear Santa, I've been a really good girl. I wish nothing, but one thing: I want to own Kingdom Hearts, because, even after these really long years I still own nothing of it... Thank you."
Reviews:
:inhales a deep breath: THANK YOU!
Chapter 26, Millions Of Misfortunes
At the Christmas Eve, everyone sat quietly around the small table in Aerith's kitchen. Everyone knew that someone was still missing… everyone but Tidus, who just ate few gingerbread men, oblivious about the fact that every moment now, his father would step through the front door. He didn't even seem to notice the weird tension in the atmosphere.
Sora let out a loud sigh, while leaning his head on Riku's shoulder. The silver-haired man looked down and placed a quick kiss on his forehead.
Leon and Cloud exchanged few glares every now and then. They had made sure, that they would sit as far from each other as possible. No matter how hard Aerith had tried to make them sit near each other, they both were too stubborn to listen.
"C'mon… we don't mind if you two molest each other…" Aerith said to Leon and Cloud. The brunette hawked, and the other one just blushed.
"Mom! Shut up!"
Aerith giggled to the expressions on the men's faces. They were priceless.
"Mom, you're a pervert…" Sora said, while straightening his back, "You can't force Cloud and Leon sit next to each other if they don't want."
"Yeah, you heard him." Cloud chuckled and winked to his brother. Aerith just snorted, and was about to say something, but a hard knock on the front door made her close her mouth into a thin line.
"I'll get it." She said, and stood up. Tidus gave him an odd glance, since he still had no idea who was knocking on the door. Aerith smiled to him, and patted his head as she walked past him, "Don't worry about it Tidus."
She gulped, as she pulled the door open. She tried to smile as sweetly as she could, to the blonde man who was standing on the doorstep, "Hello Cid, welcome in!" she smiled and stepped away, so Cid could enter the house.
Tidus froze. He didn't know what to say or do. It had been two whole months since he last time saw his father… and he still wasn't sure if he was ready to face him.
Cid walked into the kitchen and glanced Leon and Riku, deep frown in his face, "Who are you?" he growled. It looked like he would have been drunk, from the way he talked and walked… Even the air around him smelled like alcohol.
"Oh, yes, this is Riku and Leon…" Aerith introduced the two men, before placing her hand on Cid's shoulder, "Oh dear, have you been drinking again? Didn't I ask you not to drink today… since it's Christmas and all…"
"Whatever." Cid mumbled and sat down next to Tidus, who started to panic. The older blonde male laughed, "Hello kiddo. Long time no see, eh?"
"Y-y-yeah…"
"I hope that livin' here with Aerith has helped you to overcome your… ermm… problem." Cid chuckled, as he started to load the food from the table to his plate. Tidus frowned and looked quizzically his father. Cid seemed to notice this and growled, "What I mean is, I hope yer not gay anymore."
"E-excuse me?" Tidus mumbled.
"Ya heard me."
The younger blonde man stood up, and slammed his fists on the table, "What the fuck do you think I am! I just happen to love other men, it doesn't mean that I'm sick or something! It's you who need to 'overcome your problem' here!"
Cid just laughed. His laughter grew harder and harder, and soon he started to bang his head on the table. But suddenly, he stopped all of his movements and looked up at his son, "Don't be foolish. You just don't know what you want. I bet that you wouldn't even dare to kiss Sora."
Sora's eyes widened, as he looked at Tidus, who balled his fists, and a mischievous grin grew to his lips, "Oh really… Wanna bet?"
And before Sora could do anything else, Tidus pulled him towards him and pressed his lips against his. The brunette blinked his eyes, but was too confused to even resist the kiss.
Riku, however, wasn't too happy. He stood up and shoved the blonde man away, and sending him few dagger-like glares, before sitting down again and folding his arms, "Don't involve Sora into your mess, Tidus."
Aerith, Cloud and Leon couldn't do anything but watch the scene in front of their eyes. It seemed to get really… interesting.
"You… disgust me, Tidus. I'm very disappointed in you." Cid said, as he stood up and walked towards Tidus, who backed away. But soon a wall behind his back prevented his fleeing, and he couldn't do anything but watch as the blonde man walked closer to him, "I don't understand what I ever did wrong to deserve a son like that."
"Cid, stop it!" Aerith screamed, but Cid didn't listen.
He balled his fist and slammed it to the wall next to Tidus' head. His eyes held so much anger and despite that it made his son tremble slightly. Cid smirked to the fear in Tidus' gestures, "Are you afraid?"
But before Tidus could say anything, Cid removed his fist from the wall and hit hard across the other one's face. Tidus fell on the floor, groaning in pain, as he held his nose. Blood started to drip down from between his fingers.
"Cid!" The brunette woman screamed again and stood up, "Stop it right now! I can't allow any forms of violence in this house!"
But Cid still decided to ignore Aerith, as he pulled Tidus up from the floor and prepared to give him yet another smack.
Riku, Cloud and Leon jumped up from their seats and ran to Cid, and grabbed his arms before his fist landed on Tidus' face again. They pulled the lunatic blonde man away from his son, while Aerith and Sora made their way to Tidus, who was lying on the floor, still holding his nose.
"Lemme go!" Cid yelled, but the men had no intention to letting him hurt Tidus again.
"Tidus, are you okay?" Aerith asked, as she kneeled down next to the blonde man and stroked his head, "It's okay… We won't let him hurt you again… c'mon stand up, let's clean up this mess…"
Aerith started to drag Tidus towards the bathroom, while the other ones stayed in the kitchen. Everyone glared Cid angrily, but not saying a word. They all despised his point of view about gays. It's not like it would be some kind of illness that could be cured. They just happened to love the same gender as they were.
"Whatcha starin' at?" Cid mumbled. He had eventually given up the fighting, and now was standing still. Yet, the men around him didn't let go off of him.
"Do you think we should kick him out?" Riku asked from Cloud, who nodded his head.
In mere seconds Cid found himself standing in the middle of snowfall, as the door was slammed close right in front of his face. And somehow he knew that he wouldn't be seeing anytime soon any of the people who lived in this house.
Axel sat quietly on a comfortable sofa, watching television. There was nothing interesting on air, but he didn't care. This Christmas was no different than the other ones. Ever since Roxas' death, his life had become boring and empty. There was no escape from the loneliness and misery.
He had never had anyone who he could turn to when he needed help or a shoulder to cry on. Not anyone, but Roxas… But now that he was gone, there was nothing left.
Axel sighed and pulled the blanked tighter around him. It was so cold. He frowned, as he felt the sadness grasp his heart painfully, bringing the tears to his eyes. Sora and Roxas… How could they look so much like each other? Axel groaned and tilted his head backwards and looked up at the ceiling.
The days seemed to pass so slowly. Yet, when they had passed, it felt like they have gone too fast. Time is such a cruel thing. There's too much of it when you don't need it, yet when it's most needed, it is always taken away from you.
The red headed man rubbed his temples. He was thinking too much once again. It would be so much easier if he just… could focus on something, without his thoughts drifting away back to Roxas, or the memories which he once treasured the most.
…This was going to be the loneliest Christmas ever.
Riku dressed up in Sora's room, while Sora sat on his bed and 'pretended' not to look at the silver-haired man's bare chest. A faint blush grew to the brunette's cheeks. At first, Riku didn't seem to notice the weird atmosphere, but when he looked over his shoulder, a smirk grew to his lips.
"Aww, I can see naughty thoughts running through lil' Sora's mind…" Riku said teasingly, before pulling his shirt on.
"R-Riku!" Sora gasped, as he grabbed one of his pillows and threw it towards Riku, who dodged it easily and jumped on top of Sora, pinning him down on the bed. The brunette let out a muffled cry, as pair of lips covered his.
The silver-haired man pulled away and started to plant kisses on Sora's neck. The other one giggled, as Riku trailed downer and downer, until he reached his skinny stomach. Sora looked down at the other male who grinned widely, while placing one last kiss on the younger one's stomach before straightening his back.
"Okay, I gotta go now… We're going out to celebrate, because our first CD was released today…" Riku explained, while running his hand through his silvery hair and glancing at Sora, who was still lying on his bed, "And… I think that I'll go home after that, so if ya miss me, you can always come to my place, and we can have some fun."
Sora laughed and sat up. The 'fun' part sounded so perverted when Riku said it like that, "Haha, you pervert."
"I know you love it." Riku winked and was ready to open Sora's room door, "…Gah… I have to go get Cloud and Leon from Cloud's room… No wonder what those guys are doing when they're in the same room, alone."
Sora continued to laugh, while standing up and walking to Riku, "Yeah… You could just leave without them…" the brunette said, while tying his arms around the taller one's neck, "I love you."
"I love you too…" Riku smiled and leaned down to place a kiss on Sora's lips, "Are you sure you don't wanna come too? It'd be so much fun… And I would like it if you came. Then we could go to my place and have fun, like I said earlier…"
"Nah… I gotta go to Namine's place and give her and Kairi their presents, then I have to visit Axel too…" Sora said, while letting go of the other one. Riku frowned slightly, when he heard Axel's name, and the brunette snorted, "Oh please…"
"Hey, I can't help but feel suspicious after everything that has happened… and earlier today, that liplock with Tidus didn't help my paranoia at all."
Sora looked down at the floor and mumbled, "It's not like I wanted to kiss him…"
"I know, I know." Riku patted Sora's head, as he opened the door and stepped out of Sora's room, "I just love you so much…"
Sora smiled and blushed a little, while he watched as Riku walked to Cloud's door and kicked it, "C'mon stop hopping on each other, or we're gonna be late." He yelled, while he was already dashing down the stairs.
Very angry looking Cloud opened the door. His face was all red, and his hair was in a mess, as he walked to downstairs, Leon following right after him. Riku couldn't help the laugh, when he saw the rather satisfied expression on Leon's face, while the blonde was blushing madly. It was… pretty obvious what these two had been doing just a while ago.
Sora chuckled, while closing his room's door. He could hear an angry conversation from the downstairs, but ignored it, while he walked to his bed and pulled out a bag of presents. He opened it and frowned, "Riku forgot his pressie… well… I guess I gotta go to his place later…" he mumbled, while shutting the bag.
He stood up and started to walk towards his door once again. But when he was about to open it, it slammed open right in his face. He fell on the floor, and for a while, he could swear that he saw few stars floating above his head…
"Ah, sorry Sora!" Tidus yelped and helped Sora up from the floor, "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah…" The brunette replied, while rubbing his nose. He looked at the other one, who had piece of paper shoved into one of his nostrils, to prevent the blood flowing down from it. The blonde sighed loudly, snapping Sora out of his thoughts, "Something wrong?"
Tidus nodded lamely, before closing the door behind his back. He looked at his friend and frowned, "Look, Sora… I'm sorry about that kiss. I just… wanted to show my father how wrong he can be… so I guess I little overdid it…" the blonde boy said humbly, as he bowed his head down.
"It's okay. Just don't do it again…" Sora laughed and patted Tidus' shoulder. The blonde snapped his head up and grinned.
"I won't… and somehow, I don't even miss him anymore, like I used to. He's just pissing me off… So, thank you, I guess." Tidus laughed and looked over Sora's shoulder and saw the bag Sora was carrying. A suspicious look came to his features. He grinned and pointed the bag with his finger, "What's in there?"
Sora smiled and opened it, and pulled out a small package, which was wrapped into sky blue paper. Not too neatly, but… Sora had never been good at these kinds of things… "Merry Christmas, Tidus."
A faint blush came to Tidus' cheeks, as he took the small package from Sora, "Wow… T-thanks…" he looked scratched back of his head, "B-but I don't have any presents for you… B-because… Well…"
"It's okay! I like giving presents and I don't need anything in return!" Sora chirped and walked past Tidus, and opened the door, "I gotta go to Naminé's and Axel's place… You wanna come with me?"
"S-sure…" Tidus mumbled, and blinked few times, "Can I open this now?"
"Nooooooo! Not yet! Let's wait that Cloud get backs and let's open our presents then. Like a real family!" Sora smiled and bounced up and down. He started to walk towards his mother's room, leaving Tidus standing in his room.
Real family? Tidus chuckled. He had to admit that the time he had spent here made him feel like he indeed had a family. Unlike when he was living at Cid's place… When Tidus had been younger, he remembered how he had been scared, when Cid had been drunk and started to yell and rage around.
Sora opened quietly Aerith's room's door. He saw his mother lying on her bed, facing her back to the door. Her chest rose and descended peacefully, and Sora figured out that she was fast asleep. With quiet steps he entered the room and took Aerith's present from the bag and placed it on her bedside table.
The brown-haired man tiptoed out of the room and closed the door again.
"You think she's okay?" Tidus asked. He leaned his back on the wall nearby Aerith's room's door.
"I don't know…" Sora sighed and shook his head weakly, "It must be hard though… They were together for like two years… And they were supposed to get married next spring…"
The blonde gritted his teeth, and took few steps towards Sora. He reached out his hand and placed his hand on the other one's shoulder. He squeezed it slightly and looked down, "This' all because of me… I should've been more careful with… Wakka."
Sora shook his head, "Don't blame yourself." He said and smiled to his friend, "Maybe these kinds of incidents aren't always bad. We learn from the misfortunes. Though, there has been millions of misfortunes..."
"Heh, you're right."
"Tifa you honestly need to get a driving licence…" Cloud mumbled, while holding his head, "Your driving is getting worse and worse… we're lucky that no polices has caught us yet…"
Tifa snorted, and ignored the blonde who was groaning next to her. Riku patted Cloud's shoulder from the backseat and laughed, "Oh c'mon Cloud! Tifa is driving pretty well! And you should be lucky that you got the place next to the driver, since here's pretty narrow in here…"
"Hell yeah, ya wanna come sit here Cloudie?" Irvine groaned, as he was pushed against the car's wall rather painfully, when Tifa turned left maybe a little bit too fast.
"Owwie, Wakka your elbow is hurting my neeeeeeck!" Yuffie cried, before bursting into heavy laughs.
Wakka tried to move his arms, but couldn't, because of Riku who was sitting on his lap, "Argh, Riku move yer ass."
"We need bigger car next time…" Tifa sighed as she glanced over her shoulder. There were six persons sitting in the backseat, which was meant for three passengers. Irvine, Leon, Wakka and Yuffie were sitting (or more like flattening each other) on the seats, while Riku was lying on top of them.
Cloud shrugged, "They are doing fine."
"Shut it, you bimbo blonde!" Yuffie mumbled, while taking off her shoe and throwing it at Cloud's head.
"Ouch!" Cloud yelped and grabbed the black-haired woman's shoe, "Why did you do that for!"
"Okay, cut it out both of you!" Tifa snatched Yuffie's shoe from Cloud and handed it back to her sister, "Honestly Riku, say something to them…"
Riku blinked his sea-green eyes and laughed, "Okay kiddos, stop fighting or I let Leon bite your heads off. Well, I dunno if he wants to bite Yuffie's head, but I think he'd willingly bite Cl-…"
But before Riku could finish his sentence, Cloud slapped his hand in front of his mouth and Leon gave him few really angry glares. Everyone else laughed, and Tifa, nearly crashed on a nearby streetlamp.
"Are we there soon?" Cloud mumbled, as he removed his hand from Riku's mouth and sit down on his seat again.
"Yeah, it's right behind those houses." She replied, as she drove to a parking place and turned of the engines. She looked at the people on the backseat and chuckled, "Okay everyone get out. We're here."
"FINALLY!" Irvine cried and opened the door, which nearly caused Riku to fall down to the asphalt. The man with the cowboy hat kneeled on the ground, and bowed his head down, "Thank you lord, we're saved… I thought I was gonna die…"
"Oh c'mon!" Cloud laughed, as he kicked his manager's butt, which was sticking in the air, "You are ruining Melancholic Requiem's fame!"
Irvine groaned as he fell on the ground. Quickly he stood up and straightened his coat. Riku chuckled and started to walk towards the restaurant in front of them. Sephiroth was already standing in front of it, glancing at his watch. Zexion was standing next to him, folding his arms above his chest and gazing up at the starry sky.
"Heeya, Sephy and Zexy!" Riku waved his hand to the two men, who both winced visibly. The silver-haired man laughed, as the rest of his band followed after him.
"…It's Zexion, Riku…" Zexion growled, "Z-E-X-I-O-N! How many times I have to tell you…"
Riku laughed, as he stopped right in front of the two men, "Yeah I know Zexy, ah I mean Zexion." He laughed, as the people behind him couldn't help but chuckle too.
"Kudos for the new CD." Sephiroth intruded this little verbal dispute, "I have this little party zone right above this restaurant, on the rooftops. I hired some people to make food and drinks, and there will be some special quests coming too. So please… try to act like normal people, please?"
Riku snorted, and patted Sephiroth's shoulder, "Define word 'normal' and we shall try our best."
"With normal I mean, don't break anything or such." Sephiroth mumbled, as he turned around and started to walk towards the restaurant's doors. Zexion rolled his eyes, before walking after the SA record's boss, accompanied by the Melancholic Requiem.
"Sora!" Kairi smiled, as she opened Naminé's apartment's door. She looked at the brown-haired man, before glancing at Tidus, "And Tidus! What brings you two here? Naminé's taking shower at the moment, but come in!"
"Uhh, we just brought your presents." Sora said, as Kairi pulled him and Tidus into the house, before slamming the door close behind their backs. She clapped her hands and smiled widely.
"Ohh, presents? I have something for you two too, but I left them at my house… and I forgot my keys and my parents left somewhere." Kairi chuckled awkwardly, and shoved few red locks of her hair, behind his ear.
Tidus shrugged and crossed his hands behind the back of his head, "Yeah right, you really didn't even buy anything…"
Kairi snorted, "Of course I did!" she protested and turned around, "But if you're not in a hurry, you could stay for a while?"
"Well, in fact… We were planning on visiting Axel's place." Sora said, as he opened his back and gave two packages to Kairi, "The smaller one is for Naminé… It was hard to decide what to buy you guys… so I hope you like them."
Kairi smiled, and took the presents from Sora, and placed them on the small coffee table. Then she turned back to the brunette man and hugged him warmly. Then she went to Tidus and hugged him too, "Aww, you guys are so sweet. When I get children, I'm gonna name them Sora and Tidus."
Tidus laughed, "I didn't buy anything for you."
Kairi eyed the blonde man, and folded her arms, "Then I'll get only one child and name it Sora." She said, before snickering, "Just kiddin', you're still sweet Tiddy."
Sora looked at a clock, which was hanging on the ceiling. He closed his bag and turned to look at Tidus, "I think we should get going." He said to his friend, as he started to approach the door, "I don't think it's too good idea to leave my mom alone for too long…"
Kairi looked at Sora, concern in her lilac-colored eyes, "Something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing." The brunette replied a little bit too quickly. He gave the young woman a smile, before opening the door and exiting the apartment.
Tidus looked at Kairi and shrugged, before following Sora.
"Leon…" Cloud mumbled, as they reached the rooftop. There were already few people dancing on the stage and barkeeps pouring wine on the wineglasses of the men who were sitting by the counter. Loud music was playing, and even though the whole place was outdoors, it wasn't cold at all.
"What is it Cloud?" Leon asked with his usual 'I couldn't care less'-voice.
"I…" Cloud said, "I… Feel dizzy…"
Leon frowned, and looked around. Everyone else was already gone somewhere. The brunette frown grew even deeper, and he grabbed Cloud's hand and guided him towards few empty seats.
"Thanks, Leon…" The blonde man said, as few tears rolled down his cheek. Leon kneeled in front of him and looked deep into those sky blue eyes.
"Cloud? Are you okay?"
Cloud looked at the scar-faced man in front of him and grabbed his hand. The blonde's face was pale, and his whole body was trembling, "Leon, I'm scared."
CC: Ehehahahehe…. So yeah, yay, new chapter…
Riku: …
CC: …
Sora: …
CC: Oookay, so… thanks for everyone who reviewed, and review again? 8D