Chapter Ten-- Rise
Leon awoke gasping for air and a scream tearing at his throat as he tried to still his frantic heart, realizing he was at home, safe in his room. He hadn't had that awful nightmare in months. He'd done so well in pushing that accident from his mind. And the guilt.
Quietly walking to the kitchen, Leon was not at all surprised to find Axel and Zack curled up on the couch with Sora and Kadaj, the TV on. Getting a glass of water, Leon tried to push the image of Yuffie's terrified face from his mind and instead focused on her brilliant smile. It was three years ago that accident happened but he still blamed himself.
"Leon? Why are you awake?" Sora asked sleepily, untangling himself from Axel's mass of red hair. Leon smiled slightly and shook his head.
"Couldn't sleep is all. Go back to sleep." Sora must have bought it because he closed his eyes again. Leon went back to his bedroom and sat down before a soft knock sounded at his door. He opened the door, fully prepared to give whoever it was hell, but stopped short, seeing who it was.
" Cloud?" Leon whispered, surprised beyond all reason to see the blonde art teacher at his door. Cloud looked surprised to because he fumbled for an explanation.
"I..um, my brothers…why are you here?"
"I live here. They're sleeping…." Leon trailed off but the agonized look in Cloud's sapphire orbs was too much to take tonight so he invited him in.
" You want something to drink?" Leon asked softly but Cloud shook his head. The two sat in awkward silence for a long while before Leon finally asked,
"Why are they here?"
"Because they hate me."
"So make them not hate you." Leon shrugged and Cloud looked at him like he was either crazy or God.
"It's not that easy."
"I know, you're a dick."
"Gee, thanks for the tip."
"Anytime."
"Cloud?" Leon and Cloud both turned to the speaker, Zack's grey blue eyes tired and hair mussed as he stood and walked to Cloud, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Why're you here?"
"I'm…worried about you." Zack scoffed at the statement and Leon decided it was time for him to go to bed.
" Zack…I'm sorry. Just…I can't even sleep with you and Axel gone. I'm a dick…I know…" Cloud trailed off miserably and Zack pursed his lips and sighed, leaning forward to hug his brother.
"It's ok, we forgive you….but you really are a dick."
a.n sorry, sorry, short filler chapter, don't have much time to write more than this atm , or the inspiration once again, sorry, I love you all, thanks so much for the adds and review!
Ulti