Here's the challenge, guys. Several have mentioned to me on various reviews the desire to see some Leon/Sora. Make me see it!!!!!! Cause that is one pairing I REALLY don't get. That and Leon/Yuffie but that I can at least wrap my head around. So if you want Leon/Sora, convince me. Unless I feel comfortable with it, I won't do it.

So let's hear it!!

Despite having been awake a majority of the night, Riku still managed to wake up before Sora. As usual, the smaller one had managed to completely entangle himself with sheets and Riku. Sora slept like a log trying to twist off a tree in a tornado. Thankfully, Riku had figured out early on, like before they were dating, how to remove himself from the mass.

He slipped free and padded out to the kitchen following the smell of fresh coffee. Leon was busy at work in the kitchen and Cloud was leaning on the outside of the breakfast bar. Leon nodded but Cloud barely managed a quick eye flick at him.

Riku sighed inwardly. Yeah, this wasn't going to work. He was going to have to figure this out fast for everyone's sake. "Morning."

"Should we expect to see Sora any time soon?" Leon asked, noting Cloud's tiny flinch.

"Huh?" Riku glanced away from the blonde. "Oh, I don't know. He had a nightmare last night and he's usually really groggy after those."

Leon nodded. "Nightmare might be a weak description. I remember a few of those. The only thing that calmed him was to hold him till he fell asleep again."

"He's been through a lot." Riku poured himself some coffee adding a generous amount of vanilla chai creamer. "I'm in complete awe that he's come through all this and he's still basically the same as he was before."

"He's a lucky kid." Cloud muttered.

Leon again found himself studying the older man. Cloud had said those exact words before about Sora, in nearly the same wistful tone. Something inside twisted.

"Yeah, he's just… amazing." Riku stirred his cup vigorously.

A moment passed, then Cloud pushed himself away from the counter. "I'm going to work."

As he walked out, Leon frowned at the back of his head. Cloud was willingly going to work? No complaints, no protests, no 'can't I do something else'? "He is really off today."

Riku turned to him sharply. "What do you mean?"

"Something happened yesterday."

Riku noticeably tensed.

In an uncharacteristic display of anger, Leon slammed a hand on the counter. "All right, Riku. What the hell is going on?"

Riku really wasn't ready to answer than. He should find an excuse to leave the house, stay somewhere else until Sora was ready to leave. There were hundreds of worlds out there and plenty of them would be suitable for them to live. It didn't have to be Radiant Garden. There were too many memories here any way.

He breathed a huge sigh of relief when Sora shuffled into the kitchen.

Unfortunately, Sora picked up right away on the tension. He grew deeply concerned and looked between the two. "What's wrong?"

"Ask your boyfriend." Leon nearly spat out as he stalked off. "I've got work to do."

"Riku?" He asked as the front door slammed.

Riku shook his head. "It's just an argument. I was being a jerk and managed somehow to get the normally stoic Leon mad at me. I'll take care of it so don't worry."

"You must have really out done yourself." Sora was still clearly upset. He really hated conflict.

"Yeah." Riku studied his mug. Anything to keep from looking at Sora's worried face.

"Is there food? I'm hungry." Sora grinned though it was still a little faded.

"What do you want?" Riku turned to the fridge, thankful for the distraction. "I'll make you anything you want."

"Pancakes?" Sora asked hopefully.

"Sure. I'll even give them ears."

"No, don't do that."

"But you loved those when we were little."

"Yeah, well that's before I knew the worlds where actually ruled by a mouse. Now it's like I'm eating King Mickey and that's just," He shuddered.

"Yeah, I hear ya." Riku went about gathering ingredients and making batter.

"Hey, Riku?" Sora's voice was hesitant.

"Yeah?"

"Look, if there's gonna be problems here, we don't have to stay. I know Kairi won't really mind either way. We could go to Twilight Town or something. I just want you to be happy."

Riku stopped and stared at him. Sora was giving him an even, steady gaze. He knew the brunette really wanted to stay here and he felt a wave of love wash through him at the willingness Sora displayed to do anything Riku wanted. "Sora, as long as you're with me, I'm happy anywhere."

Sora grinned and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. As soon as he turned away, however, it dropped. There was definitely something wrong and Riku was doing a lousy job hiding it. Giving how perfectly he normally covered up his troubles, Sora knew this was big.

He was just going to have to wait until Riku finally confessed and hope he could deal with whatever it was.

Leon paced through the bailey like a caged, well, lion. He meant to go to work, started heading in that direction. Then turned around and now here he was, accomplishing nothing and worse of all brooding. He didn't brood.

He ran a hand through his layered hair and swung his Gunblade in frustration. What was fucking wrong with him? This was not him. He didn't get worked up over petty things like people's relationships, at least not if they didn't interfere with the restoration. Let them work those things out themselves.

So why was he getting so agitated over whatever it was between Cloud and Riku? It had nothing what so ever to do with him. Yeah, Cloud was moodier than usual but it hadn't stopped him from doing what he was supposed to be doing. And really didn't even know Riku.

"Hey, Leon!"

Great. "What, Yuffie?"

"Why aren't you at the castle? Cid's been lookin' everywhere for you."

"Why?"

"Dunno." She shrugged, skipping around him. "Whatcha doin'?"

He didn't bother answering her. It would only lead to more questions and he really didn't want to deal with the girl. He was already getting a migraine.

"Fine," She huffed. "Be you're usual grumpy self. Ya know, someday that emotionless attitude of yours is gonna turn on you."

She jumped off the stair rail and disappeared.

Leon kicked at a loose stone and cursed to himself. Better see what Cid wanted.

Cloud sat in Aerith's bedroom wondering just how he got there. One minute he was walking down the street toward the work site, next he was being hauled in for assistance. Aerith and Kairi were now clearly scrambling for a reason for that assistance.

"We were wondering if you could, uh…"

"Well… this dresser." Kairi suddenly pointed. "I don't like where it's at. Could you move it over there? It's too darn heavy for us."

"You dragged me in here to move a dresser?" Cloud raised an eye. "That's what couldn't wait?"

Kairi giggled nervously. "Well, you know how finicky us girls can be."

"Right." He gave Aerith a hard look. "Now, what's this really about? I don't have time for games."

The flower girl folded her arms. Fine, if Cloud wanted to be that way. "How do you know Riku?"

"What makes you think I know him?"

"Because you act like a jilted ex-lover whenever you're around him." Kairi explained bluntly.

"I don't-" He turned to leave but Aerith stepped over blocking the way.

"Answer the question, Cloud." She spoke sternly.

There was no way he could lie to her. She had the inhuman ability to always know if he did. Then she'd give him that disappointed look of hers and he'd feel guilty for the next week. "I met him a while back. We were both at some meeting Maleficent was having."

Hopefully, that was that. They'd figure that Riku was just a reminder of his time working for Hades, which everyone knew he still felt terrible about, and that was the reason he was uncomfortable around the teen. He forgot just who he was talking to.

"Did you date him?"

Cloud shifted.

"Oh, Cloud," Aerith sighed. She came over and hugged him. "Why haven't you said anything?"

He pulled away. "Because it doesn't matter anymore."

He turned and faced the window but kept his head down.

Kairi held her hand to her mouth. "You love him, don't you?"

He tried to glare at the girl, he really did. But one second looking at those concerned violet eyes and he found himself nodding. She was a Princess of Heart.

"Cloud-"

"I know, okay?" He was back to the window. "He's happy with Sora. I had my chance and let it go. I just have to accept that."

The females shared a quick look. Both knew Cloud wasn't getting over this any time soon. He held on to emotional things far too tightly, good and bad.

"Look, Cloud." Kairi began slowly. "I feel like I'm somehow betraying both my best friends by saying this but I think you need to tell Riku that you still love him."

"He knows."

Aerith dropped her arms. "Does Sora know anything about his?"

"I don't know." Cloud replied. "I'd rather he didn't."

Kairi stared at him incredulously. "But he has to know, if for no other reason than he's Riku's boyfriend now and your friend! Do have any idea how hurt he's gonna be that both of you have been keeping this secret from him?"

"I just…" He trailed off. "It's up to Riku to tell him whatever he wants Sora to know. I'm not getting involved and I'm asking you not to either. If their relationship is going to work, Riku has to choose to make it."

"You're waiting for him to come back to you, aren't you?" Aerith was clearly troubled. "You're just going to wait for their relationship to fall apart then offer yourself as Riku's support."

"No." Cloud bit out rather quickly. "Riku has loved Sora since before I met him. I always knew I was just a substitute."

He was done with this. He turned for the door and this time Aerith didn't stop him.