4.

Riku looked from Leon to Sora then back up to Leon to indicate that he was asleep. Leon concluded that he had just gotten the boy to rest and by the look on his face (minus the nervousness), Riku was just as exhausted.

This was downright awkward. For the both of them. Leon had unsettled feelings concerning the silveret. He and Sora had been close friends in ninth grade. But lately he'd never seen them in such close proximity before, however, given the circumstances; it might be as innocent as it looks.

'I'm a father. I'm allowed to be concerned.' Leon couldn't help but be especially concerned when he glanced at the open window of the second floor bedroom. 'Our neighbour had decided to climb a tree tonight.'

Riku looked at him anxiously. Was Leon going to scold him for 'breaking in'? Was he uncomfortable with him and Sora lying down, horizontally, together? Was he going to kick him out?

'I'll deal with them in the morning.' The taller man walked over to the window, pulling it shut. He walked towards the door while speaking in a hushed tone. "Close the window on cold nights." And he turned off the light and closed the door quietly.

All the way back to his room, he tried to ignore the mental pestering. 'There is a boy under your roof, sleeping with your son.'

'I'm a COOL father.'


Winter was over. However, spring was still clinging to the winter's chill during the early mornings and nights. The air was damp and foggy. Streetlights emitted a blurry incandescence to the roads below.

They lived in a cul de sac. Not an upper class establishment but not exactly 'the slums'. Poorly tended front yards and tattered looking driveways sat in a circle, mirroring the consensus of the neighbourhood. The house was walking distance to a few plazas and a mall, but far enough to be considered a quiet residential area.

Cloud watched the head lights of cars appear and disappear, from inside the open garage. He sat there leaning against the brick outer layer, cigarette balanced between his teeth. He lost count as to how many he'd consumed, although an empty pack save for two, gave him some indication.

Relaxation came with chain smoking. Or usually it did. The garage was his haven where he came to escape the rest of the world for a limited time only. It was where he imagined things differently and thought out ways to make things better in his life. He resealed the porch, fixed the garbage disposal and repainted the chipping front door after thinking in that garage.

But today, he felt no need. Why should he bust his ass trying to fix yet another problem? Roxas was smart enough, he was tough enough. Let him figure his own life out for a while. Roxas sure as hell didn't need Cloud.

The blond threw his cigarette butt into a nearby pop can and reached for another. Lighting it with his silver Zippo, he brought it to his lips and took that immaculate first drag. Ahhh. He rolled his neck to each side, hearing a few crackles coming along with it.

Roxas didn't need him anymore. He can live here for two years (until he's eighteen) and then he can go wherever the hell he wants to. Let's see how far that smart mouth of his will get him in life without his dad to look after him. From now on, basic minimum: Keep him alive. Provide him with food, give him clothes, maintain a roof over his thick head and that is IT.

Three weeks. This had gone on for three weeks, and Cloud was more than exhausted. Worrying about his son, trying to help only to fight with him afterwards? He never thought these teen angst years could come so quickly. The thought of just being the quiet, composed Cloud flew out the window when teenagers inhabited the house.

How he longed to be that man again. Cloud had changed over the years a great deal. He no longer ran from commitments he'd never made. But being his old passive/aggressive self did not mix with days of late. The fatherly instincts won't allow him to fully give up. He would never give up on his family.

He closed his eyes, craned his neck upwards towards the cloudy night sky and exhaled a lung full of smoke. A faint purr of an engine and the crushing of gravel were heard. A car door opened then closed. Cloud opened his eyes to the disturbance only to see his neighbour coming home from work.

Tall, muscular, broad chest. He hauled three grocery bags easily out of his car. Long strides matched long legs matched leather pants.

Cloud had only seen him in passing, and all times he had a cold, dull disposition. It was well in tune with his deep, yet smooth voice. Cloud watched as he made his way towards the walkway to the front door, the moon illuminating each strand of silver hair atop his head and pale porcelain accent of his skin. Sephiroth.

He must have felt the eyes on him, because as he unlocked the door, the silver-haired man turned his head directly to face Cloud. The smoker was surprised and blushed at the attention. Sephiroth held his gaze for longer than a simple glance.

A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips before he strode off into the darkness of his house. Even in his own territory, he displayed that of importance and authority. 'He must lead an organized and well-thought out life.' Cloud felt a twinge of jealousy. He was probably a strong enough father figure. Sephiroth had four kids. Word on the street was that he'd been widowed for the past thirteen or so years. Four sons and he's raised them all by himself?

Cloud contorted his face a fraction and finished the tobacco in his hand, yet instead of having the last in the pack, he decided, it might be time for bed. He disposed the butt and closed the garage door letting one more, cold breeze chill his face.

Entering the warmth of his house, he heard footsteps leading to Sora's room. He paid no mind to his husband for now and entered his own room. Cloud sat down on the edge of his bed and buried his face into his hands. They smelled of stale tobacco.

What was he going to do now? His life was spinning out of control. Family is supposed to be the most important thing in the world and his was falling apart at the seams. The blond's shoulders started to shake.

"Hey." A familiar voice pulled him from his self-wallow. Cloud looked at Leon but with no response and no life in his eyes. As if it was any other stranger who had walked through the door.

Leon looked at him with disappointment. The tobacco had infiltrated every fibre of Cloud's clothes, skin, hair, teeth, etc,. Of the twenty years that they had known each other and the nearly fifteen years they had been married, Leon had never had to tell Cloud to stop smoking. Cloud had always known that doing so with a house of kids was absolutely out of the question.

Now, however, his husband was 'preoccupied'. He had started again this week, but never had he reeked of cigarettes since before the twins were born. "You should take a shower." He said softly.

"What?" Cloud shot out in return.

"I don't want our kids to smell that." Again, calm, reserved, and letting Cloud know that he understood his irritation.

"'Our kids'?" He raised a blond eyebrow at the older man. "Since when is there an 'our kids'?" The shock in Leon's brown eyes could only be seen if you weren't Cloud at the moment. It was true, only Cloud was technically the twins' birth father, but Leon had been a father figure since they were one year olds. Leon was dad.

Leon didn't respond, but kept his disappointed look at Cloud. The blond muttered a 'whatever' on his way to the bathroom. Leon looked at his husband's retreating figure with astonishment. How dare he pull that on him? They were just as much his kids as they shared genetic material with Cloud.

Fingers ran through brown hair in attempts to calm his nerves. Leon decided it was best to ignore any kinds of remarks directed in such a manner, and focus on keep his lover docile.

He lay on his side of the bed facing the opposite of Cloud's. After a while, the blond emerged from the bath, extinguished the light and lay beside him, keeping himself with a respectable distance between their backs. Leon stayed still the entire night, unbeknownst to Cloud that he knew he wasn't asleep either.

Even after a shower and a pack of smokes, Cloud could not find the repose. He was undeniably exhausted, but he wasn't sleepy. He fidgeted around, trying to find a more comfortable position, but could not. At last, he capitulated and rose from the bed, marching down the stairs to get a drink.

Leon looked to the doorway where a crack was illuminated by the hall night light. He rolled onto his back and sighed deeply, wracking his brain for what to do about his spouse and the rest if his family.

End of Thursday