The "S" Word Is Not Allowed Part 2
Disclaimer Here: I do not own nor have the rights to Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy characters.
Next Friday
Cloud was pacing back and forth in the living room and it was driving Leon nuts. He had been doing it for the past five minutes, mumbling to himself. All three of them were in the living room, a rerun of Good Times was on. Leon had been working on new designs for a PC, and Sora had fallen asleep on the couch. Leon noticed that he seemed less incline to have a nightmare when he wasn't sleeping in his bed, and that scared Leon quite a bit. But Cloud's pacing was annoying him more than his fear of Sora's bed habits.
"Cloud, will you please sit down, you're driving me nuts," Leon confessed, putting his pencil down.
"Maybe I should text them to come next friday," Cloud offered.
"No. Besides, you already know Axel is going to come regardless even if you say that," Leon said.
"I know I said they could come today but what if Sora's not ready?" Cloud asked.
"He's already seen them once before," Leon said.
"Yes but do you honestly believe he remembers them?" Cloud countered back.
"Well, they're going to see him eventually. He's gotten used to us...for the most part. Maybe he needs to be around people his own age to relax," Leon shrugged his shoulders.
"Isn't that the reason why I invited them over in the first place? I just don't want him to...freak out," Cloud said.
"Why would he do that? Didn't you tell him they were coming?" Leon asked. Cloud looked at him, confused.
"I thought you told him," Cloud said. It was quiet for a moment before Cloud cursed.
"Damnit Leon," Cloud laughed. He walked over to the couch where Sora was currently sleeping and shook him lightly to wake him up. Since he was on the couch, he didn't jump. Sora sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Did I fall asleep again?" Sora asked.
"Yes, but it's fine" Cloud said, "I woke you up because we have to tell you something."
Upon the look of horror on Sora's face, Cloud quickly fixed his sentence.
"It's good news, I promise!" Cloud said, "Um, do you remember the three boys that were here when you first got here?"
Sora looked away for a moment, trying to remember what Cloud was talking about. A moment or two later, he cocked his head from side to side.
"I only kind of remember. Was one of them blonde?" Sora asked.
"Two were blonde. But that doesn't matter. Um, we were supposed to mention it to you earlier, but, those three gentlemen are coming over today. They've been worried about you since they dropped you off here and just want to see how you're doing. Is that okay with you?" Cloud asked.
"I-I don't really have a choice, do I? It's your house, I can't really-"
"It's our house but they're coming over for you. If you don't want them to, I'll tell not to come. It's your decision. You think you'll be okay?" Cloud asked. Sora thought on it for a moment, and then nodded slowly.
"I think I'll be fine...but could one of you stay in the room while they're here?" Sora asked. Cloud nodded. That was fair enough. Sora might trust him and Leon just barely but the three boys were a different story.
"Alright. I'm going to go on my way, I told them I'd pick them up. I'll be back in ten minutes," Leon said, getting up and putting his designs in the folder.
"Aren't you going to finish that?" Cloud asked as he grabbed Leon's keys off the key rack for him.
"Finish it tomorrow" Leon commented as he went and kissed Cloud on the cheek. Then he whispered, "I have a feeling we're both going to be needed today."
"Don't jinx it," Cloud smiled as Leon walked out the door. He turned to Sora, "Sora, do you want something to drink?"
"No, that's okay," Sora said. Cloud hesitated a moment. He didn't like the way Sora had responded. He was clearly thinking about three new people coming into this house and it was making him uncomfortable. Cloud sighed, maybe he should've just told the boys another month or a year. He walked back over to where Sora was on the couch and sat down.
"You okay?" Cloud asked.
"I'm fine...," Sora said, not looking at him, staring at the TV instead.
"You don't sound fine. You sure you're okay?" Cloud asked again. Sora chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before responding.
"This is going to sound incredibly stupid, but... I feel embarrassed," Sora said, still refusing to face Cloud.
"Embarrassed? Why would you feel embarrassed?" Cloud asked, confused.
"Because...because of what I-I looked like when they saw me, when you and Leon saw me" Sora added, "I...didn't say anything because you two have been...I've been treated better than I have in a long time. But I know I looked like a walking corpse, I was practically dying. I guess embarrassed isn't really the word. Ashamed is more like it. And it only added to the reality of my situation, which was already frightening enough in my eyes. But...to see someone else staring at me with such a...pitied expression, it hurt...a lot."
"You think they're going to judge you from that?" Cloud asked. Sora nodded.
"It's a good thing you're meeting them today then. Sora, I promise you that's not what's going to happen. If anything, they're going to be happy to see that your health has improved. They've been texting Leon and I nonstop since they brought you here because they were extremely concerned about your well-being." Cloud explained. Sora turned to him at last.
"Really?" Sora asked, shocked.
"Yes. It drove me mad. But I also want you to know that Leon and I didn't judge you either. While we haven't quite...discussed your time before being here, we have decided that it wasn't your fault. We can't judge for things that are out of our control. And your situation was very clearly out of your control. Axel, Roxas and Demyx understand that too. Trust me, they'll be happy to see you." Cloud said, placing a hand on Sora's shoulder reassuringly. Sora smiled at him, and it was one of those few times when his smile reached his eyes and he gave Cloud a brief hug.
In Leon's Car
"Leon, you do realize we could've drove over there ourselves, right? Axel and I both own a car," Demyx said.
"Yes but if I left you to your own devices, you won't leave," Leon said. During the time when Leon and Cloud were a part of the foundation, the three amigos, with the inclusion of Vanitas and Ventus occasionally, would stay at their house until the Lord knows when. While the married couple didn't mind, they weren't sure if them spending the night so early was good for Sora.
"Besides, I have some things to talk to you guys about," Leon said.
"As in?" Axel asked.
"We've established a few new rules to the house," Leon said.
"Rules? What the hell, you're watching a teenager, not a toddler," Axel said.
"Shut up, Axel. In regards to our new situation, we made a few new rules. First one and probably the most important one, the word "slut" is not allowed to be said in our house or on our property."
"Aww, but that's my favorite nickname for Roxy," Axel laughed, earning him a pop to the head from said blonde in from the backseat.
"Two" Leon said, ignoring, "If you're going to yell, please at least give some type of warning. Do not just shout at the top of your lungs for no reason. He startles very easily. Three, don't grab him or touch him without warning either. He barely remembers who you guys even are and he took quite a long time to even let Cloud and I help him with his injuries. Which leads me to rule number four, don't stare at his wounds. There's a few on his legs that are being extremely stubborn to subside. They're not huge but you can still kind of see it. As you can probably guess, he's self-conscious about his body for reasons we both know and don't know. Last rule, do not, and I repeat do not, ask him about anything regarding anything you saw in that house you found him in. Don't ask him about his past at all. Cloud and I only asked one time and it turned into an episode. He's still not ready to talk about it."
"How's he doing physically then? If his legs are still bad?" Roxas asked.
"They're not as bad as I'm making them out to be. But overall, he looks healthier," Leon replied.
"Good for Nathaniel," Demyx said.
"Oh! That reminds me! His name isn't Nathaniel anymore. About three weeks ago, thanks to my coworker's question, he actually remembered his name. His name is Sora," Leon samiled.
"Well that suits him better than Nathaniel," Demyx laughed. Roxas and Axel joined him, and Leon pulled into his garage slowly. He only prayed that he and Cloud wouldn't end up regretting their decision to do this.
I apologize if this chapter is a little slow or boring, but I had to make room because the next few chapters coming are going to be a little much. Do you guy think it's going to be a good or bad interaction between Sora and the three amigos? And don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Ventus and Vanitas. You know the drill, R and R. Poof!
