Disclaimer: Still don't own.

"What makes you think that you are invincible?

I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure.

Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable

Impossible."

Secondhand Serenade, Vulnerable.

It was a peaceful day for once.

The heartless were gone (at least for now) courtesy of Sora who had unexpectedly dropped by (as always) and saved the day. And all Leon wanted to do, on this peaceful day, was to get back to work on restoration plans. But life had other plans.

And by life he meant Yuffie.

He looked up, glancing at the small, dark haired girl with the same mask of indifference that he always wore, though a smidge of annoyance was visible in his eyes. She sat down next to him and placed a hand on his upper arm.

"Squall..."

He glared.

"Leon," she said, "you should go speak to him."

"He wants to be left alone." Leon answered, simply, and went back to drawing up restoration plans.

To him this meant that the conversation was over, but Yuffie was persistent.

"He's always alone, Leon, he doesn't know how to ask for help."

Leon sighed, running a hand through his shoulder length, brown hair as he looked at Yuffie.

"What do you want me to say to him?"

"I don't know, idiot. Something to make him realise that he's not alone and that we care about him. Flirt with him a little like you always do , and then give him this."

Leon accepted the blue, cloth covered package that Yuffie thrust into his hands with a look of surprise crossing his features briefly.

"I-I don't... flirt with Cloud."

Yuffie rolled her eyes as she stood up, her short hair swaying about her face as she pointed a finger at Leon accusingly.

"The amount of denial in that sentence is astounding, Squall."

And then she left, leaving Leon with Cloud's lunch in his hands, and his own confused thoughts in his mind.

XxXx

"Thought that I might find you here."

Leon found Cloud at the Postern; the blonde was seated on the low wall that surrounded the area, looking off into the distance broodingly.

"Go away."

"No thanks, I'm fine."

Cloud sighed but reached over to move his Buster sword, which was resting on the wall next to him, so that Leon could sit.

A silence followed.

"Yuffie said that I should come speak to you." Leon said, talking to Cloud but keeping his gaze glued onto anything but the blonde male.

"When did you become Yuffie's messenger?"

"Since she began making sense." Leon paused, trying to find the best way to voice what he was thinking, "you don't always have to face things alone, Cloud. You have people who care about you and want to help you."

Cloud's normally emotionally void voice took on an icy tone.

"It's my darkness, my misery, that I have to face alone. I'm not dragging the people that I love down with me."

Leon turned his face to glare at the blonde angrily.

"And who said that you have a choice? You're one of us, Cloud, and we look out for each other. Whether you like it or not."

And, at that moment, though Leon couldn't be sure, he swears that he saw Cloud's lips lift up slightly into something that could have resembled a smile.

There was another silence as Leon tried to process the sight of a smiling Cloud, and Cloud basked in the warm feeling of knowing that people cared for you.

"What's that?" He said, indicating to the package that Leon had placed on the ground between them when he had first arrived.

Leon looked at it, his eyes widening a little when he realised that he had completely forgotten about the food that Yuffie had asked him to give to Cloud.

He stood up, picking up the package with one hand and offering the other to Cloud.

"Yuffie made you lunch." He finally said when they were both standing, holding out the package so that Cloud could take it.

"Oh, "Cloud said, reaching out to take the package, "thanks."

But Leon didn't let go.

"Uh... Leon?"

Cloud tugged on the package again, and his eyes widened in shock when each tug that he administered brought Leon closer. Until Leon was standing close enough for Cloud to make out every detail in the scar that ran between his eyes.

"Leon?" Cloud breathed out, his hands still grabbing at the package that was now the only thing separating them.

And then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, Squall Leonheart leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

"You'll never be alone, Cloud."

:3