2.

Even downstairs, the older blond could hear his son's tantrum. He strolled into the living room, massaging his temples, vehemently. The cherry hardwood floors did excellently to promote the shouting from the second floor to anywhere else in the house.

No lights were on except for the living room lamp that was constantly alit to ward off any burglary opportunities. The hall way was just as dark as the evening sky would allow. It was nearly ten o'clock on a Thursday night. Something should have happened by now…

Looking up, Cloud was half surprised to see the two other members of the house, sitting on the couch. One was holding onto the other, the former looking scared and seeming to almost be in tears, while the latter looking gravely concerned. "Sora," The older brunet softly tapped his son's shoulder. "Go to your room now." He obeyed him in silence and passed his other father with a glance. That's right. His husband picked up Sora from co-op and returned home around this time.

Once he heard the footsteps disappear behind the closing of a door, Cloud spoke up. "So, how much did you hear?"

"Bits and pieces." He tried to keep his voice as casual as possible. "Here and there."

"Basically, everything?

"Basically, yes."

He sighed deeply and scratched his head with irritation. "Well Leon, your son and I have quite a pair of pipes." Cloud crossed his muscular arms tightly and threatened the floor with fire. Leon leaned forward toward his elbow and pulled him closer to sit.

"You took him back to Urgent Care today, didn't you?" He rested his forehead in the crook of his husband's neck and embraced his waist.

"When I came home, I heard something upstairs. I found him in his room, kneeling down beside his bed and holding his stomach for dear life. His face was so pale and he was crying… so much." Cloud voice became softer as he trailed off. "He looked like he was in so much pain. I didn't know what else to do, Leon. Those damn doctors aren't any help." Leon stroked his arms from behind, at a loss of things to stay. Before he knew it, Cloud's shoulders began to tense even more and start to shake.

"Hey, Cloud… What-"

"He's right," He nodded in defeat. "I suck as a dad."

"You do NOT suck as a dad."

"Yes I do." He shook his head, disappointedly. "I'm his father." He dropped that last word with as much venom as Roxas had when relaying the fact. "I'm supposed to know what's wrong with my son."

"What, with the medical degree that you acquired a few weeks ago?"

"I should know how to make him feel better. I should know how to deal with this. I should not be failing as a parental figure!" Fat, juicy tears were leaking from his blue eyes. Leon kissed his forehead and wrapped his arms more tightly around the blond.

Cloud was not one to fall apart hopelessly. When Cloud was in pain, it was quiet; meaning utterly vicious inside. He wasn't crying out in despair; but his sanity was just as thin as when another person would. "Cloud," Leon lowered his voice to a more compassionate as well as serious tone. "Babe, listen to me." His head turned a fraction to look into the soothing, brown eyes. "You are nowhere near being a failed parental figure. Roxas would have to be escorted to jail for drug dealing, murder, terrorism, and in a plethora of other trouble. But even then, you would not have failed until he's in a body bag."

The blond laughed at the joking tone through his tearful presentation. "Also, you are handling this better than anyone I'd ever know. We didn't plan to have a child living in pain. Most parents would have already carted their children off to some pediatric institute. But not you;" He continued to rub the strong arms up and down, comfortingly. "You're keeping him here under your watchful eye. You're keeping him safe."

"Safe?" Cloud furrowed his brow. "We don't even know what wrong with him. What good is he under 'my watchful eye' if I can't do anything to stop it?" The man rose up sharply from his seat on the couch and marched towards the staircase, a protesting Leon at his heels. "For all we know, Roxas could be dying from the inside out!" He spat out turning his head, yet without making eye contact.

Upon arrival at the foot of the steps, the couple looked up to find their sons sitting with each other near the top. Leon was the first to speak. "Sora... Roxas..." The older of the twins had tears in his eyes as he looked down on his parents. He got up swiftly, the hurt on his visage ever more frenzied, and returned to his room. Beside Leon, Cloud had turned away from the rest of his family and retreated to the garage.

Roxas barely even looked at his other father, continuing to scowl at Cloud's retreating figure. He did this all the while returning to his own respective quarters. Leon was left in the foyer between the garage door and staircase. He rubbed his forehead in exasperation and paced around a while in a weary huff.

'Our family is not falling apart.'


The house was quiet. Roxas has desisted to demolish everything in sight and Cloud had been outside smoking for the past forty minutes. Sora was in his room, thinking just as much as Leon, who was now pacing up and down the kitchen, stiff drink at hand.

The only question to Leon was, 'which one first?' On the one hand, he could talk to Cloud and continue to consult what to do next about their children. But on the other hand, at the moment, Cloud had a lighter in his hands.

Leon could talk to Roxas. But he was much like his father. Ergo, tomorrow might be the better option, after he calmed down.

That meant one more person to converse with. The tall brunet climbed the stairs to his sweet little sunshine's room. The poor boy had received quite the shock tonight. A little father-son talk should do the trick.

Leon walked down the corridor to the second door off the stairs. He knocked softly, "Sora?" and entered the room. Inside were two people. One boy lying awake on the bed, and the other lying down beside him, head buried in his chest.


xDelfin