Chapter 17--- The Massacre and the Masochist

Axel sat inside the studio, staring outside at the ran. Cloud was in the other room, developing the prints from the previous shoot. Another large sigh was heard as Axel moved away from the window, lonely and bored. Cloud finally came out of the darkroom, surprised to see Axel there...when he didn't have to be. And alone no less.

"Axel...what are you doing here? Where's Sora?" Axel scowled half-heartedly. Cloud leaned against the wall next to the red head with compassion in azure eyes.

"He's out with 'Zexy'. And Riku and Leon are screwing each other senseless and my parents are out of town. Seifer said you were here so I came by. I don't like the rain." Cloud nodded empathically. He didn't like the rain either.

"I know I should be happy for Sora...he's got his real brother and a new boyfriend..." Axel spat out 'real brother' with contempt but Cloud could tell he was just jealous.

"...I could say I know what you're going through but that would be a lie. I love Seifer, but we were never as close as you and Sora are. But Sora loves you and he'd never just leave you." Axel nodded piftifully, turning his head to look at Cloud. Cloud was facing the window now and Axel wondered how he'd never noticed how handsome the man actually was.

Maybe it was the cold, collect, callousness of the man...or the contant 'all work and no play' demeanor he wore. Although here and now, Cloud was soft and...lonely. His eyes held a sadness Axel had never known to be in the blonde man and his entire stance was utterly...dejected.

"Cloud..."Cloud looked at Axel quizzically, wondering about the red-head before him. The one who loved to play, prank and pilfer his left tire on the rare occasions. (Who was he kidding, Axel did that at least twice a month). The one who seemed so out of sorts and sad now.

"Aren't you ever lonely?" It seemed to Cloud that this conversation had far too personal an aura to it for two people who only just worked together. Though, truthfully, was that all they really were? Work mates? Cloud vaguely recalled taking the red-head to lunch one day when his ex dumped him. For a girl no less. And making sure the boy was out of bed and in school when his parents were out of town...

"...No, Axel. I'm not lonely." Lies. Blatant lies falling from the mouth of the very man who hated it when people lied. Everyone lied though, right? So wasn't he excused just this once?

"You shouldn't lie Cloud. But it's ok, I forgive you." Cloud muttered under his breath.

"What would make you ask that?" Axel shrugged, turning away from that piercing sapphire gaze.

"Everyone gets lonely sometimes, but I never see you with anyone. Even Yuffie comes over occasionally to piss off Leon...No one comes to see you, or take you places or dump pudding on your head." Cloud raised a brow. He hated pudding...

"Don't ask."

"Axel I--" Axel's phone rang and Axel frowned, Sora was calling him. He was on a date---

"Sora?" Cloud could hear the paniced tone of Sora's voice and even his heart began to pound.

"Sora! Slow down! What about Zexion?...What?! Were are you? I'll be right there.." Cloud's cerulean eyes were dark and concerned as Axel tried to clear his head.

" Betwix Hospital...Zexion...he's not doing to good." The two climbed into Cloud's car, Riku's number already being dialed.

The car was deadly silent. Riku laughter had long since been silenced by the news that his brother was in the O.R after being hit by a car. The drive to the hospital seemed endless and cold.

Riku couldn't get warm no matter how high he turned the heat on. The shaking that had ceased him since Axel had called wouldn't let go. Leon's had rested atop his, calm and reassuring; everything Riku wasn't.

Chills rolled down Leon's spine as they entered the hospital. Axel sat beside Cloud, head in his hand as Sora sat on the couch opposite them, sobbing into his knees. Sephiroth had been telephone but had yet to arrive.

To Riku, the air was stagnant and bitter. Like something had died in the ventilation. Bile rose in his throat as the hours passed and a single brunette nurse with vaguely familiar cinnamon eyes and a plastic smile.

Good news had yet to come in the eight hours the group had been waiting and Riku knew.

It wasn't ok

A.n: Ahahahaa, so I've included Cloud more, thanks to some helpful suggestions. and Zexy...well zexy alive so far so be happy!

iUlti!