Once upon a time, there was a Godly valley with mountains that could touch the sky and trees that cast long shadows. The people who live in the small mountain town are hardworking and happy, so long as they never stray into the forest where the wolves lurk in the darkness. Adults brave the trees in groups to hunt the vicious pack as they have for decades, the conflict is deep with no sign of victory for either side. But wolves are not the only threat, nor the village's only secret - and the link connecting them is a simple cloak of Red ...

Every night, from the highest peak of the uninhabited mountains, a single Wolf howls to the good folk of the valley – as a warning, as a message, and as a reminder of what they did:
"Beware, beware, the Path where the Witch once stood. Beware, beware, of the Wolf in the Wood."

"Stay the night?"

Cloud tugged at Leon's cape, "I'm running away for one night, will you join me?"

Leon blinked a few times "Running away?" they put their catch down about an hour ago, having spent the rest of the day lazing about, Cloud sprawled over his body and Leon enjoying his warm weight and closeness that he had come to treasure. The pheasants they had caught still needed to be plucked and tended to, but both were unwilling to move until Leon sighed, signalling the start of intentions to leave.

Before the words could pass his lips, Cloud had objected with his proposition.

He grinned wolfishly with his white teeth, propping his head up with one hand "I made us a den just in case. I need time away from everyone and a bit more with you. Stay?" he insisted, the tips of his fingers pawing at the hood of the red cloak.

Leon hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head back far enough to clear his field of view of those irresistible blue eyes.

So Cloud had been getting down at home too. Life at the village had been a bit taxing lately; Quistis had accidently let slip to Selphie that he had a love interest and because it was Selphie she told (not anyone sensible like Irvine or Edea) the entire village knew about it before the hour.

It was the gossip of the month. He was being watched by so many people it was exhausting, and that was just the bystanders speculating and whispering. Every spare second she got, Selphie tried to pester another clue out of him (Not that he was ashamed of Cloud in any way, but he couldn't face the idea that he'd be rejected by the only family he ever knew should they find out he was also male. Cloud understood and didn't want Leon to rock the boat in his village).

But the three worst were Seifer, Genesis, and Rinoa.

The brothers generally caught up with each other at major festivals or when they happened to visit their siblings at similar times, but this gossip made Seifer feel threatened. He visited unexpectedly under the pretence of trading salt for leather. Seifer's questions were intense but over quickly. He left just half an hour later with a hint of disbelief when Leon swore it wasn't Rinoa he was courting. Seifer, jealous that she bestowed more attention on Leon than himself, he hadn't approached him since and seemed to have taken his word for it, to Leon's relief.

Genesis hadn't said a word, nor had he confronted him, but Leon felt himself being analysed for signs that his mystery lover was this girl, or that girl every time he was within a hundred feet of the village centre. No doubt he was intending to question that non-existent girl's sanity for dating the cursed man of the village, or perhaps he was just doing his job as village leader and keeping the peace. It was rare, but there were courting issues that threatened to divide the community so Genesis was, Leon hoped, just keeping an eye out for potential trouble and not poised to make his life harder than it already was.

Finally, and most aggravatingly, Rinoa's pursuits and demands for answers were the worst and made Leon cringe just remembering them. As someone who had grown accustomed to the idea that they would one day tie the knot, she was not taking the rumours that Leon had a secret lover in good grace. All the times Rinoa had insisted 'you're going to like me' hadn't paid off and she was in fits of jealous rage watching things not go her way. Once again, she couldn't understand or respect anyone else's choices or decisions but her own.

Her harassments, surprise visits, and snide comments had worn Leon down, prompting him to spend longer hours in the woods for peace, though, in the end, he couldn't win as more time in the woods labelled him cursed and less meant he was sneaking around with a mysterious sweetheart.

Cloud's suggestion was just what he wanted to hear; he already spent dawn until dusk in the trees to escape the attention, what was a few more hours?

Leon smiled slightly "Let's run away."

Pleased, Cloud nipped at his chin with his sharp teeth, something Leon quickly understood was an affectionate gesture, before pulling them up with a relieved smile, "Good, Zack's getting on my nerves anyway, and Tifa is getting tired shadowing me."

Leon glanced over his shoulder, certain that one of the mentioned people was there – he was getting better at sensing them, a few days ago he had impressed Cloud with his accuracy, a fact he had yet to stop preening about.

"So your solution is to run off?" he let Cloud take his free hand, the other holding their catch, and lead him through the trees, he questioned Cloud despite the hypocrisy.

"They can't stop me," Cloud smirked, looking triumphant.

"You're disobeying your Alpha again, aren't you?"

Cloud leaned into him gently "And everyone else in the pack." Leon felt warm inside for both that answer, and the strength Cloud had in him to disobey someone he admired, though he admitted that there was slight guilt mixed in for making his wolf betray his family. He never mentioned it, though.

Cloud tried to explain to him, once, exactly how it felt to disobey the Alpha as he did.

"It's like … you don't want to do it, because the Alpha's voice of reason is to protect you, and that just makes it more thrilling to do the opposite. It feels dangerous despite the lack of risk, and my heart beats loudly whenever I rise above it, and I disobey every time because I want to listen to your voice more than his." Cloud smiled when Leon pressed his lips to his temple. "As long as you want me to be with you, they can't hold me back."

"Then never leave."

Cloud promised through a kiss.

"Can I meet them? Whoever's shadowing us?" Leon asked when he tensed for the millionth time, the eyes on his back were making him nervous, and it wasn't as easy as he thought to shake off the wariness for wolves he had been taught all his life. Cloud was unique, his wolf no longer frightened him, he had spent time with his wolf form and couldn't bring himself to fear those blue eyes. This stranger, though … he hoped that meeting another would quell his guard, he hated that he was subconsciously still tracking and hunting Cloud's fellow wolves, and feared that if Cloud knew he'd hate him too.

The blond looked behind them, surprised, and glanced at Leon "You're getting sharper. I didn't hear her there until you mentioned her."

Leon shifted uncomfortably, "Sorry. I feel like I'm being … hunted, I can feel where her eyes are."

Cloud glared behind them. "Oh really … come on out if you've got something to say!" he snapped.

Eyes widening, Leon watched the undergrowth move until the shadow of a wolf stood just out of sight.

He glanced at Cloud before clearing his throat "Should I say something?" when his fingers were squeezed he turned back to the cautious new presence "I … I hope you're not nervous because of me. I'm Leon."

The wolf snorted, and Cloud turned his head into Leon's shoulder, grinning and blushing, "She knows … she says that I only talk about you. Oh, and she's not scared- then get over here!" he challenged.

The wolf hesitated, head lowering for several long seconds before she prowled into plain sight. Even from meters away, it was clear that she was an animal in her prime, glossy pelt in a dark grey and black, alert ears, pearly teeth and large paws with accompanying claws. Her fur had bigger and darker black spots than Cloud's did, and her shape was slightly different too, her tail was longer, and her paws were larger, but her body was leaner – she looked built for speed while Cloud reflected strength and endurance.

She sniffed at the air several times, Leon had noticed it was a common thing with wolves to taste the air to understand reactions. He gripped Cloud's hand to try and suppress the slight anxiety he felt facing something he's been raised to fear and bowed his head in greeting "Thank you for your trust."

Cloud whispered into his ear "It's alright … She's pleased to meet you too, and she apologises for making your uncomfortable; she's just following orders." There was a slight possessive growl in his voice as he muttered, "She sees why I chased you for ten years … and she thinks you're good for me."

High praise indeed.

Leon smiled widely "Thank you, Tifa." The wolf's head raised at her name and tilted with fascination, he didn't need Cloud to translate for him, her curious whine was enough. "I've heard Cloud speak about you many times, he's often said that you support him when the rest of your pack disagrees about me. I'm glad he's not alone."

The wolf wagged her tail, and she came several steps closer to nudge at Leon's knuckles, the hand twisted around Cloud's, her eyes sparkled as Cloud whispered what she said to him. "She likes you! She says, thanks for making me happy." She gave Cloud a stern look, her posture tense and fixed with an intense look of disapproval until he cleared his throat and muttered: "I do not mope."

Leon chuckled and cautiously put his catch down and, while kneeling, reached out to touch the she-wolf, "I hope to see you again." With a wag of her tail, she leaned into the companionable pat and gave Cloud a soft bark.

Cloud snorted "He wouldn't do that, just say you were bribed," he picked up the pheasants "We can just catch more tomorrow." She took the offered treats with a huffy sigh, before she walked past them and into the undergrowth again, almost silent. She gave them, Cloud, a look over her shoulder and left with a strange wolf-laugh and a flick of her long tail.

Waiting for a translation, Leon looked at Cloud, who was flaming red and looking shocked. "What?" he asked, getting off his knees.

The blond rubbed a hand over his face "She said don't do anything I wouldn't do …"

"Meaning?"

He got a short look of disbelief before Cloud silently realised something, he glanced over Leon's face and, chuckling, tugged on his hand in the opposite direction "Oh, nothing."

Cloud's den hadn't been very far. It was a tent propped up against three poles and draping from a fallen tree and barely an arm's length off the ground. The location of the den was barricaded with many brambles and thickets, they both had to shield their arms to get through unscratched, and judging by the small piles of furs Cloud hadn't simply built this on a whim.

The blond pulled Leon down to see his work "It's going to be a warm night, but that's no reason to be uncomfortable."

It was dim under the trees already, but dusk was settling in fast thanks to the mountains though it would not be completely dark for at least another hour. Out of the corner of his eye, Leon saw Cloud turn to light a lantern, a wick and beeswax candle inside twisted wooden twigs to shield the flame. Inside the tent there was very little room, the pair of them would almost have to lay on top of each other to lay comfortably – Leon blushed a little at the thought, he'd never let someone that close to him before.

Also, it was a very narrow space, and Leon had learnt a long time ago that himself and enclosed spaces were not good combinations.

"Is something wrong?" a gentle hand rested on his back, rubbing slightly to sooth his nerves, "I know it's not what you're used to … is there anything I can get for next time? Maybe we could build a small house out here if you'd prefer that-"

Leon shut him up with a hand over his mouth "I like it, but there's not a lot of room …" he bit his lip as he embarrassingly admitted "I … I don't do well in small spaces."

Despite his wishes he saw himself back to the church's stone room with narrow windows and people pressed in on him on all sides, even his own home could feel too small when he occasionally got snowed in during winters. All he could think was: I need to get out!

"I don't understand."

Leon was brought out of his musings and met Cloud's confused face. Lucky, Leon thought as he realised that Cloud was completely at home both in the open and in small hideaways, Cloud had probably never felt the overwhelming, suffocating fear that he had.

He breathed deeply "Small spaces, spaces that restrict me, make me feel trapped, even if there's a clear way out." Trying not to shake or blush with shame he said: "I feel like I can't breathe, my heart beats fast, and my minds goes blank, I just have to leave, or it'll just get worse."

"Really?" Cloud's eyes were sympathetic and amazed. "What caused that?"

Leon shrugged. As far as that fear went he was in the dark over what had caused it, he couldn't remember being trapped or stuck, but then again most of his memories were still lost anyway.

Cloud looked at the bedding space he'd made and saw the problem, he rubbed his thumb over his chin as he asked: "How big do you need it to be?"

"It might be fine … I've only really … panicked when I was crushed between people in the church in the village, and … when I got snowed in once." He didn't mention the couple dozen other times he'd had to hold his breath and dig his fingernails into his palms to appear normal when he felt pressed in from all sides. He tried not to let the memories affect him and forced a reassuring smile, "It's fine, really. It's just smaller than I expected."

Cloud peered inside "Really? This is the biggest I've ever made a den."

"Are you dens small in your village," Leon asked, pulling off his shoes and admiring Cloud's sharp chin and smooth cheeks in the candlelight to chase away the thoughts of closed spaces and entrapment.

The blond got more comfortable too as he described his home "Some of them are – we live in caves, shallow indents in the mountainside, low and quite narrow but lined with fur and soft fleeces. Mates share a den together, and theirs are usually a little bigger, but there's a tent a bit like this one," he tapped the leather that arched over the furs "that adds living space to just the sleeping area. That can change to be bigger or smaller, or removed entirely in the hot seasons, to suit the home. In deep winter snows, the tent openings hardly move to keep in the warm." He shivered with a hint of delight "I remember my Mother's den, it was always warm, and cosy." He leaned into Leon "And she was never far away, always in reach … I've always wondered what sharing a den with a mate would be like," he added with a degree of shyness.

Leon glanced away with hesitations of his own "Your homes sound nice, ideal compared to mine." No doors to get trapped in by, anyway …

"What's yours like?" Cloud asked.

"Hollow, mostly. It's all made of wood, and it's just one room for everything, a bit like your cave-dens, with a fire pit and a place to sleep and the rest of the space is for storing the items I need to live." He frowned to himself "Though I helped build it it's not a cosy place. There's no one to come back to, and though it's bigger than your dens it's a lot of empty space when you lay down. It can get frigid."

Cloud nuzzled into his shoulder "Our dens can get cold too, they're stone after all."

"But no one lives alone, right?"

"Almost. Friends and peers share quite often, but they have a little personal space between them, separate bedding area mostly. For a few of us loners, we have single dens, but we can't stick to them in the winter – we'd freeze." He smiled at Leon "I live alone, I have close neighbours, Tifa's lived next to me all my life. But, recently no one can stand me to share a space with me."

Leon turned his head to touch those smooth lips with his own, a gentle touch that was more impulsive than anyone else, those last words struck home.

Cloud kissed back and automatically moved closer to him at the contact which made Leon sigh and relax against the fallen tree. Cloud's slender hands pushed the cloak from his shoulders and pulled it over the both of them to keep them warm together.

"Is there no one missing you?" Cloud asked curiously, a hint of sadness in his voice.

His question surprised Leon, he never thought his village or society would be a topic on Cloud's mind. He squashed the reflex to answer negatively and tried to bring some comforting news to his blond lover, no matter how small or half-true. "Matron probably will be." Leon thought of his Mother figure, how she'd just assume he'd skipped her house and quietly went home. "My sisters and brothers might, I've been on their minds a lot lately."

"Why?"

Leon pulled Cloud closer "Quistis told our youngest sister that I …" he blushed and looked away. "That I have you, now," Cloud hummed happily against his shoulder as he kept talking; "And Selphie isn't the kind of girl who can keep a secret for very long, she gets too excited. Now everyone knows I have a lover, and everyone is guessing and questioning. I've not said anything, about your wolf or your family, I didn't tell them any of your secrets."

"I know you didn't." Cloud smiled suddenly "Tell me about them, your family."

Smiling, Leon began. "Edea is our Matron, she's the woman who raised us as a family when no one else could or would take in the village's orphans. She's a hard worker, and, for as long as I can remember she's been selfless and patient with us."

He spoke of his siblings, of Seifer, who was robust and determined to the point of bullheadedness and prideful stubbornness, but capable of almost anything he put his mind to, a self-made man who was worth respecting and admiring in many ways. Selphie, the youngest, who was still just a child with big dreams and a bigger personality, she didn't know a stranger and was liked by everyone who knew her. Leon admitted that he was the youngest of the siblings, Selphie the only exception.

Cloud expressed a little surprise at the news but didn't interrupt with words of his own.

Leon described Zell as similar to Selphie; his personality bled into everyone's life. He was a hard worker because he couldn't keep still and was restless when he was nothing was occupying him and was endlessly active and energetic. Irvine, their eldest brother, slightly calmer in his later years but still fond of drink, flirting and festivals, Leon described him as fun-loving and work hating, but he never ran from responsibilities.

Cloud returned the stories with ones of his own, speaking of Zack and Yuffie and Tifa and their days as wolves running through the mountains unchecked and detached from their humanity until or unless they found a trigger to hold them in balance with their former selves.

By the time they had finished the sky was dim and under the leaves of the canopy it was almost pitch black save for Cloud's dwindling candle, and Leon found himself yawning more frequently through Cloud's stories.

As his eyelids began to droop, Cloud placed a hand against his cheek and Leon blinked himself back into awareness. "Huh? Oh, sorry," he mumbled, rubbing at his eyes.

Cloud smiled "Tired?" Leon just yawned. Chuckling, Cloud pulled him upright "Come here."

Leon's cloak was folded into a pillow, and they both pulled off shoes, socks and Cloud reached for his shirt before asking Leon if it was alright. Leon nodded sleepily, pulling his own off and crawling into the small sleeping space, not noticing Cloud's wide-eyed stare over his chest and back.

Leon sighed deeply as he let his heavy body rest in the small space, it was comfortable and though it was a closed area that would have generally made him anxious, the entire den smelt of Cloud and the open forest so he wasn't afraid – his two sources of comfort were all around him. He looked upwards and saw the branches and trees from under the covering, the soft sounds of the night-time creatures whispered at safe distances, and he relaxed even more when he felt Cloud's warmth ghost over his bare skin without a single brush of contact.

Cloud tapped his back "Move over," he whispered.

Leon turned, and Cloud settled beside him with a cautious crawl and a few wiggles, face to face and toe to toe. An arm rested against Leon's waist, there wasn't enough room for them to lay side by side without overlapping. Cloud moved closer. "Is this okay?"

Leon wriggled his own arm out for Cloud to rest his head on, his free hand returning the gesture on Cloud's warm ribs "'S fine," he sighed, feeling peace like he'd never experienced follow him to the lull before sleep.

"Good. Goodnight," Cloud kissed him under his jaw and shifted closer until there wasn't an inch of space between them, Leon felt safe and warm and was asleep before he realised his eyes were closed.

He woke only an hour later when he had gained enough rest for his senses to pick up on the restless soul in his arms. His eyes opened in slits, and he saw Cloud breathing unevenly and tense. Disapproving, he grumbled slightly and flexed his slightly numb arm from under Cloud's neck, the blond looked up and whispered thickly "Sorry, did I wake you?"

Leon didn't answer, he leaned forwards to press his forehead to Cloud's and grunted a negative.

"Go back to sleep," Cloud encouraged.

"Why' you awake?" Leon asked.

Cloud shivered, gooseflesh ticking Leon's palm as it rested on Cloud's side. While slow with wakeful thoughts Leon found the change in the flesh fascinating. He sleepily watched the reaction chase up Cloud's arm and even across his quick raising chest, absently his palm slid over the path of his shivers and stopped over blond's heart. His eyes widened at how fast it was beating. He looked up just as Cloud licked his lips and felt his own heart jump, thoughts, and ideas of desire playing across his mind and flesh and heating his blood.

Cloud let out the breath he was holding and moved his fingers to brush a stray lock of hair from Leon's eyes. He nervously chuckled, "You have no idea what you do to me," he glanced away "I didn't want to wake you, I'm sure my problem will go away soon."

Leon tilted his head, he realised Cloud's condition a few seconds ago, "What's different? Earlier you didn't react to me …"

Cloud rolled his eyes "That's what you think," he muttered. "You're … you're just so close, and this space ... you were right, it is small, there's nothing but you all around me. Seeing you, touching you," Leon tilted his head accommodatingly as Cloud inhaled deeply at his throat "Your scent … ugh …" he shivered again, his muscles restlessly rippling under his skin and a bolt of desire ran down Leon's spine at the strangled moan Cloud cut off at the end of an abandoned explanation.

The wonderfully heated daze that was settling over Leon's mind was rudely disrupted when Cloud pulled away, making every sign that he intended to leave and cool off.

Determinedly, and slightly childishly, Leon growled and stopped him, he wasn't about to let Cloud leave to relieve himself after getting him all heated too!

"Le-" Cloud's vocalisation was cut off as Leon's lips sealed over his, moving with far too much urgency for a kiss goodnight. He pushed Leon away slightly, and his breath caught as he stared at Leon's dilated pupils and dark grey iris's, heat radiating from his hands as he was pulled back into another kiss that he swiftly matched move for move.

Leon leaned his torso over Cloud, their legs suddenly tangled and leaving them awkwardly half parallel and half intertwined. He pulled away when Cloud nipped at his upper lip, the blond's lips curving into to an interested smile "Not tired anymore?"

"Shut up," Leon requested as he lay beside him and drew himself as close to Cloud as possible and into a new kiss, hands pulling at his blond hair, his back, his arms, and always tugging him closer. Every shift of movement from either of them made the skin of their bare chests brush together, the smooth slide of flesh on flesh was new for them both, and they liked it.

Cloud's hands wandered too, clutching at his shoulders, clawing without malice at his back, even groping at his thighs and ass to pull their tangled legs closer. Leon exclaimed, startled at the blond's bold hands, and his gasp let Cloud's tongue inside his lips to tangle and explore. Despite his surprise, Cloud continued to grope and feel.

Quickly realising that he liked the wandering touches lower down his body, Leon responded in kind. His hands, hesitantly at first, inched lower on Cloud's sides – feeling and learning Cloud's body and how he moved, the firm muscles and flawless skin. When Cloud glanced down at his hands, those hands encroaching on new territory, Leon pulled away thinking he had done something wrong "Sorry!"

Blue eyes gentled at his panic, Cloud murmuring that nothing was wrong, petting at his chest as he waited for Leon's uncertainty to ease. Leon sighed, realising he'd overreacted again, cursing his painful inexperience he muttered, "I'm sorry …"

Cloud's fingers looped through his own "I liked it. Here, it's okay to touch," Cloud whispered, guiding his hand and Leon's palm back down its original path. His husky voice deepened to suggest ideas into Leon's head, lips brushing against his ear as Leon's fingers squeezed the backs of his thighs, and Leon silently shivered as he bit back his groans.

Like the rest of him, Cloud's legs and ass were toned and firm under smooth skin. Even his ass is hard, Leon thought absently and immediately had to stifle a bout of laughter at the thought, he'd never imagined he'd think such things! A few stray chuckles escaped, drawing Cloud's attention.

"What?"

Leon shook his head, kissing and nipping at Cloud's lips.

Cloud laid his hand over Leon's, urging it to move, stay, grip and release wherever felt good to him, and Leon drank the knowledge in eagerly. Whenever he achieved those moves on his own Cloud would moan louder, his breath would hitch in surprise followed by a fast exhale that carried just the hint of vocalisation and Leon was amazed how hot it was making him.

That guiding hand moved him over a narrow hip, protruding hipbone and down his bare, toned stomach to rest between Cloud's legs. Leon felt the hard, warm bulge under his hand and would have pulled away, having been taught that indecent touching was offensive and bad, but Cloud's quiet cry of pleasure derailed that train of thought off of its ugly track.

"Ah …"

Leon paused a moment, caught off guard by the seductive sound, long enough for Cloud to open his eyes. "Don't stop."

Leon swallowed and complied. Lips touched again, mouths opening and moving slow and yet heatedly as Leon obeyed Cloud's wishes and touched him through his breeches, Cloud moaned more and Leon felt the throbbing of his own erection at each little noise.

Cloud's hand had ceased guiding him, it clung to his wrist as Leon rubbed and slowly squeezed, his breathing turning to panting. He tilted his head back when Leon gently tugged at his hair and Leon felt his moan as he kissed and bit his pale throat.

Having a partner of the same sex, Leon thought absently, was convenient. He knew what would feel good to Cloud because his body worked the same way; almost without realising, he had begun to mimic the motions he'd performed on himself while indulging in pleasure, his fingers curled to grip, and he stroked firmly and slowly.

"Red …" Cloud breathed, his rapid breathing making the nickname a sinful husk of an endearment. Leon smirked, feeling oddly powerful as Cloud arched and curled under his hands. Cloud pulled Leon's head up to meet his eyes "Can I touch you too?"

Adam apple bobbing as Leon swallowed, he imagined Cloud's hands touching him in the same way, his trousers felt unbelievably tight, and licked his lips "Yes."

Looking delighted, Cloud wasted no time running the back of his hand down Leon's chest and flat stomach to cup his heated flesh through his clothes. Leon breathed out unsteadily, a weak moan stuck in his throat and his skin flushing and crawling in strange and pleasurable ways as Cloud moved his hand and nipped at his neck. Leon understood Cloud's demands to not stop, it felt intimate and hot and very, very good.

He tried to focus enough to return the favour, his head often swimming in delight and selfishly relishing in it, but by the moans and heated kisses Cloud instigated he appeared pleased enough and happily returned Leon's actions in a never ending cycle. Shuddering as Cloud's nifty fingers managed to squeeze him from base to clothed tip, Leon silently marvelled at how he had believed that intimacy was a horrible, bad thing, that lust was evil.

Cloud nosed at his throat, and Leon tilted his head back, letting Cloud have full access, knowing that this symbolised trust and partnership to his lover. Cloud let out a small sound of pure happiness and gently settled both lips and teeth over his jugular, experimenting how hard to bite, how sensitive Leon's skin was, how much he could take into his jaws while Leon's eyes fluttered closed.

Leon shivered at every graze of Cloud's teeth, his heart jumped and beat in anticipation as trust, intimacy and adrenaline flushed his senses. Cloud's lips and teeth briefly roamed to learn the sensitive parts of his skin, but he was irresistibly drawn back to the jugular, those sharp teeth poised to bite and end him should he only wish it and Leon lay still and let the vulnerability sink in. He could never trust anyone else this way, no one else could have made his heart pound or his breathing hitch in anticipation rather than dread.

Leon briefly understood why this was a gesture so intimate for a wolf, as scary as it was, it was liberating, it was a way to exchange trust, loyalty, and another a way to give themselves to their partner.

Cloud licked to the side of his neck and shallowly bit to leave another mark, pulling away to give Leon a beautiful smile before he urged Leon to do the same for him, tilting his head back in a gesture so confident and vulnerable it didn't suit him, and yet it was a secret expression known only to Leon, and it made him bold.

His lips kissed from under his chin to the base of his throat, letting his full vulnerability skin into Cloud's skin just as it had with him, hoping that he would shiver in pleasure as Leon had. He bit across his jugular with the slightest of pressures, letting Cloud know in return that his life was in his hands. Cloud trembled. Leon didn't pull away for another minute, taking his time to place bites and reminders on Cloud's neck and occasionally holding his teeth poised as Cloud had to express his trust in return – he'd never hurt him.

When he pulled away, at last, Cloud's face was dazed and flushed, and his eyes were dark and wide.

He grinned "Sunk your teeth in a bit, Red, I never knew you were so keen to mark your territory," he touched one of the bruising bites and Leon tried and failed to keep the smug smirk off of his face.

"Same to you," the under-the-skin throbbing all over his neck revealed just how possessive Cloud was turning out to be.

Cloud chuckled and nuzzled against his nose "Want to keep going?"

"I … yeah."

"We're just finding release, you know, I won't make you do anything you're not ready for," he assured quickly, holding Leon's shoulder in a small squeeze that made Leon feel cared for.

Curiously, he asked "What else is there? I mean, how do we …"

When he failed to end that sentence, Cloud answered "I actually have no idea myself how two men are supposed to have sex," the wolf-guardian admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with an embarrassed laugh. "I know some of my pack members have had relationships with other men, but I never thought to find out about that stuff … but there is one thing I need to tell you." Cloud went uncharacteristically serious, Leon waited with baited breath, watching Cloud's solemn expression.

"I'm a wolf, you already know," the blond began, rubbing a thumb back and forth over Leon's hipbone "Wolves mate for life. I'm not sure if this will be enough to seal us together, or if we need something more, not even the elders know what exactly seals a mating bond because our existence as guardian wolves is so new, there's a lot we don't know … But if we do this, and it is enough, then … then I'll never let you go. I can't."

Leon tried to speak, to say it was fine - more than fine! It was like an impossible dream to have Cloud with him forever – but Cloud silenced him with a hand over his mouth. Eyes sad, he softly said "Please, don't say anything now. In the future you might move on, I won't be able to, I'll still need you. I know it's a lot to ask-"

Leon pulled the silencing hand away and pressed a bruising kiss against Cloud's mouth "Stupid! I wouldn't want it any other way."

Breathlessly, Cloud sighed in relief against his mouth, and while they caught their breaths he twisted a finger through Leon's hair, his other hand smoothly pushed his breeches lower on his hips "I have an idea if you're okay with this."

Leon had agreed before Cloud had finished speaking.

Before Leon knew it, their clothes had been shifted just enough to free their erections and Cloud had wrapped his hand around them both, encouraging Leon to do the same. Leon refused to admit that he was nervous, though his shaking fingers said as much despite his silent denials, so much so that Cloud's hand had to cover his to keep him gripping and holding still.

"You're doing great," Cloud murmured.

Leon looked away, "Shouldn't I be better at this?"

"If you had jerked off another man I'd be insanely jealous," Cloud teased, a small growl in his voice breaking the tension and making Leon laugh. "Move now, you've been great so far," Cloud whispered.

Grasping a little firmer with his hand, Leon stroked their pulsing members long and slow, Cloud's hand following and playing havoc with his senses. The friction made tickles of lightning dance up their spines, and it made them both hot and stiff. At first, Cloud and he would murmur little words of encouragement or pleasure, but soon their words gave way to voiceless panting, and their bodies began to arch and grind against each other without thought.

Kisses were heated and short, the pace of their hands picked up over time and Leon felt his stomach tighten as release teased his lower body. His hand faltered for a moment as the heady, intense sensation of near release washed over him, Cloud groaned as Leon's hand squeezed them both unintentionally.

"Squall!"

Eyes wide, Leon cried out himself as they climaxed under their working hands. Their palms were slick with their release as they wrung the last shudders of pleasure out of their partner and the whiteness faded from behind their eyes.

Hot and tired, they caught their breaths in a comfortable afterglow. Sweat made their skin shine like it had been polished, and their hair was limp against their foreheads, but the feel of Cloud right next to him made Leon relax even more as he went lax with relief as he hummed his contentment.

Cloud sighed and curled closer to him, how he was able to move so soon after a climax so intimate and intense Leon wasn't sure. The blond sleepily murmured, "That was good."

Leon hummed in agreement, curling one hand around Cloud's arm to keep him near "Can you sleep now?"

The wolf-man snorted and pecked on Leon's collarbone "I think so. Thanks, Leon."

Hesitating briefly, Leon murmured "Don't call me that."

"What?"

Blushing, glad Cloud's head was tucked against his chest, he elaborated "You called me Squall before …"

The blond tensed "Sorry."

"No, I liked it," Leon smiled, throughout his life he'd been trying to change himself because no one wanted Squall, to hear his old name being said so positively had given him more peace than the physical release. He squeezed Cloud around his shoulders "I haven't been called that in a long time."

Cloud's lips pressed against his neck "You always were Squall to me, Red."

Story is also available on Ao3 for those who prefer it there.