Cloud heard his front door nearly slammed opened followed by mixed shouts.
"Roxas?" he called but got no answer as silence followed, "Roxas!" the man walked into his family room to see Sora and Roxas sitting on the couch together and look up at him,
"So it was you two. What happened at the tryouts?"
"Well…" Roxas looked at Sora who held a straight face, "Sora did great but didn't make it…"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Sora. And Roxas…?" Cloud asked in concern before Roxas jumped up from his seat,
"But I did better! I made the team!"
"Oh my-Roxas! I'm so proud of you!"
Sora felt his heart melt when he saw Cloud's face light up and hug Roxas. He was completely in the mood that his body unconsciously got up and hugged his family as well,
"Me too! You were amazing!"
"Um Sora…please let go. That's super inappropriate…" Cloud stated in a warning voice before Sora's eyes widened, his mind remembered his current body and immediately released the two,
"S-Sorry…but Roxas! Did you see Riku's face?! Priceless!" Sora exclaimed, trying to change the subject.
"I know! It was like unplanned revenge! I never felt so good!"
"And I thought this day couldn't get any better," Cloud chuckled and gently pulled Roxas's arm, "Come on guys, I wanna show you the yard. I finished it!"
"No way!" Roxas exclaimed in excitement and he nearly ran to the backyard himself. Opening the door, the three stepped out into a luscious garden. Instead of trees that were barely taken cared of before, the place was filled with new trees organized against the fence and beautiful flowers ranging in different colors that it looked like a rainbow on land covered most of the yard. It was breathtaking and appealing to the eye but also very calming.
"Dad! This is awesome!" Roxas exclaimed and hugged the man again.
"Wow…" was the only word that left Sora's mouth. When people asked about his backyard, there was really nothing to say about it…until now. It was then that he started remembering some conversations he's had with Cloud…
"Can you fix the backyard?"
"Why don't you fix the backyard?!"
"Oh NOW you tell me to fix it! I've asked if I could use your tools to fix it but you never let me touch your stuff!"
"Why do you need my stuff to fix a stupid yard?"
"Fixing a yard of that mess can't be done with just hands! And it's NOT a stupid yard! It's OUR yard!"
"Whatever…do what you want…"
"Ugh! You're impossible!"
"Sora? Sora!" Roxas lightly pushed Sora's head to get his attention,
"Y-Yeah?"
"You zoned out on us. Don't tell me Vincent's yard is worse than ours originally was! You acted like you never saw a garden this amazing in your life!"
"Well…I kind of haven't I guess," Sora replied and continued staring at the yard.
"Oh it's not that great," Cloud stated and placed his hands on both boys' shoulders, "It's going to take some time and work to keep it pretty. Come on, I'll make a quick snack for you guys before I go out."
"Where are you going?" Sora couldn't help but ask as he was lead back into the house.
"Dad's going on a date that Auntie Yuffie set-up! That's why he's dressed nice today," Roxas laughed only to receive a light hit from Cloud after Roxas and Sora sat at the kitchen table. That's when Sora noticed that Cloud was wearing a nice black dress shirt and…are those HIS black leather pants?
"And it's a one-time thing! It's never going to happen again!" Cloud stated while looking in the cabinets.
"Does he always steal my clothes when he works or is doing something he doesn't want to do?" Sora thought as he watched Cloud walk around in his tight pants and the dress shirt that wasn't buttoned up all the way.
"But he does look nice in my clothes…"
It then he just remembered why Cloud was even dressed like this.
"Wait…a d-date?" Sora repeated and couldn't help but feel he was just violated in some way, "With who?"
"Oh another friend that my Dad used to-"
"He's NOT a friend! I just know him! So he's…an acquaintance!" Cloud cut in while taking something from the fridge and then putting it in the microwave.
"You don't sound too happy about this…" Sora said in concern and Cloud sighed.
"It's just…well I'm sure Roxas has told you I'm getting divorced and well…I have to move on in some way, shape, or form. Even if I won't like it right away, it's a start…but still, I admit I kind of wished Yuffie set me up with someone I'm actually compatible with…or can stand…"
"But still…"
"Oh don't worry about me, Sora. This is my problem and no one else's. And one night couldn't hurt. Even if he is kind of annoying…" Cloud reassured.
"I think he's funny," Roxas stated only to have Cloud roll his eyes.
"Well I know where this date is going considering I don't think he's funny at all…he's an idiot…" Cloud opened the microwave and placed the eggrolls on two plates and giving them to Sora and Roxas.
"Thanks Dad. I'll be right back, going to the bathroom," with that, Roxas left briefly after putting an eggroll in his mouth.
"…I don't want to sound nosy but…do you think there's a chance you and your lover will stay together?" Sora asked as he poked his eggrolls.
"Wow Sora, you sound more upset about my divorce than my own kids! But…I don't know, probably not," Cloud shrugged and pulled up a chair to sit himself at the table in front of Sora.
"But why not? Can't you two find a way to fix things? I'm sure he'll try hard too if you let him know how much you want to stay with him!" Sora nearly pleaded.
"I've already tried. I just got tired of trying I guess," Cloud replied sadly.
"Well…have you tried telling him…in a letter?"
"A letter?" Cloud repeated with a raised brow.
"Yeah! I heard that you can express how you truly feel in writing!"
"Yeah I've heard that too but…"
"Come on! You're not divorced YET! There's still a chance right? Oh! And I can even send it for you! He's been staying with Uncle Vincent until he had to go on a sudden business trip and left Uncle Vincent the address!"
"…I might," Cloud nodded and Sora started cheering in his mind, "I won't expect anything but…I'll consider it, Sora, thanks. To be honest, if my date goes worse than I imagine in my head, I'll definitely consider writing to Leon!"
Sora smiled brightly for him as he started to eat, happy he might get a chance to get Cloud back. And that's when he realized: he wanted Cloud back.
"So um…if I may ask, and you don't have to tell me, but what exactly was wrong with the relationship?"
"Hmm, well, hard to say I guess. We just started fighting more than usual and…I didn't exactly appreciate him blaming me because his life sucks. It's like he's always in a sour mood and I think he takes me for granted. He doesn't do anything to help around the house and I mean he doesn't do ANYTHING at all! He works, then comes home and complains. I know life isn't all rainbows and happiness but he doesn't have to be so negative about things. I learned how to be a bit more positive and I had things worse than he did!"
"Wow…he does sound kind of annoying," Sora stated; he was about to argue in his mind but realized he didn't really have anything to argue about…
"Heh, yeah, he can be...what I'm really upset about though is that…he doesn't talk to me anymore. I would get a greeting or goodbye if I'm lucky. But I never hear him tell me 'thanks' or 'I love you' anymore. I haven't gotten a hug from him in the longest time ever…Eventually it got to the point when I stopped telling him that and just stopped being affectionate back…that's when I decided I wanted us to separate. I just don't want to live like that…"
"Oh…I'm so sorry…That's really sad to hear."
"Don't be sorry, silly," Cloud stood up and played with Sora's hair when he walked by, "There's nothing to be sorry about. And don't be sad for me like that, I'm fine."
"You have no idea…" Sora suddenly got up when he noticed Cloud left the kitchen. He turned the corner to see Roxas opening the front door and Cloud taking his time approaching it.
"Did I go deaf and not hear the doorbell or knocking?"
When the door opened all the way and he saw who was standing there, Sora's eyes briefly widened before narrowing into a furious frown.
"Hell. No."
"Hell no what?" Roxas asked and Sora nearly jumped out of his skin, not noticing Roxas walk up next to him.
"Um…uh…nothing…"
"Who is your friend, yo?"
Sora's brow slightly twitched, his memories of this certain red-haired bundle of annoyance that 'talks funny' starting to surface. One look at him and his stomach tightened even if he didn't fully remember who it was.
"This is Sora, Sora Valentine. Apparently Uncle Vincent has a nephew. Sora, this is Reno. An old, uh, acquaintance of Dad's group of friends and the guy Auntie Yuffie decided to set Dad on a date with..." Roxas chuckled as he tried to hold on his laugh at the thought as it will never get old to him.
"What's up, yo?"
"Er…not much?" Sora replied as he tried to resist glaring daggers at the man.
"Who the hell wears goggles on a date?"
After hearing a few more 'yo's from Reno, Sora finally remembered where he's seen the man: His and Cloud's wedding. He was the idiot that got mistaken for a party crasher and caused some problems with the security and then he ruined the rest of their cake.
……
CLOUD IS GOING ON A DATE WITH THIS MAN?!
Taking things into his own hands, Sora took steps forward and 'tripped' in front of them but quickly stood up and looked between Cloud and Reno.
"So…you're the guy taking Clo-Mr. Leonhart on a date?" Sora started while trying not to sound like he wants to murder him.
"Unfortunately…" Cloud muttered before he felt Reno throw his arm around him,
"That's right, yo! We'll be leaving as soon as Yuffie gets here to babysit ya'll!"
"You didn't tell us Auntie Yuffie was coming!" Roxas exclaimed excitedly.
"Oh joy…" Sora muttered to himself.
"Well I had to have someone watch over you guys while I'm gone," Cloud stated and as if on cue, they heard tire screeching and a cat cry out, "That was probably her…"
It was Yuffie indeed as she ran up to the front door and jumped on Cloud and Reno,
"Hey guys!!!"
"Hey..." Cloud greeted,
"Hey yourself, yo!" the two high-fived before Yuffie jumped into the house from their backs and whipped out a camera,
"Say cheese!"
"Yuffie! No!" Cloud put a hand out but the shot was taken anyway, "Ugh…alright I'll make this brief just so I can leave already: Make sure Sora goes home before curfew and make sure my kids are in bed by 10 if we are not back already."
"No problem!" Yuffie gave a thumbs up before telling the two to get going already but Reno fell on his face after two steps and they saw his shoes somehow became untied.
Sora was the only one that took amusement to the man falling on the hard path on his way out.
Then came the introductions…oh joy…
And of course, the face playing…
"Whoa!!! You look a lot like Leon when he was in high school! At least from what I remember from this one picture I saw! I mean, I wasn't in school with him, I'm too young! Haha!"
"So I've heard…"
"That's really weird though!!! I have to call Vince now! Why didn't he tell me he had a nephew like you that's as cute as a button!?!?" with that, she released Sora's face and dashed to the phone to call up Vincent.
"Ow…" If Sora kept having his face being touched by every person that sees this connection, he better stop seeing people he knew…
----------------
When Sora got home that night, he was extremely surprised to find Vincent on the couch STILL talking on the phone with Yuffie. How the man has patience with Yuffie is beyond him. Sora sat on the floor before Vincent, waiting for him to finish up. Eventually, Vincent just got tired of being stared at so he ended his conversation with her.
"What do you want?"
"…I realized I don't want to go through with this divorce!" Sora announced only to receive a blank stare.
"So?"
"So?! You gotta help me get Cloud back!"
"…Squall, have you realized that this may be your teenage hormones speaking?"
"Arg! No! I'm sure it isn't! Okay it might be but that's how my love for him sparked anyway! I can't let this divorce go through! I have to show him that I still care about him!"
"That might be a little hard considering you're not exactly Squall Leonhart right now…"
"I know! That's why I need your help! Okay, I told Cloud that I went on a sudden business trip! And I was super lucky today that Cloud didn't seem to ask Yuffie about where I went or the whole thing would be ruined! You seem to be on good terms with Yuffie, PLEASE ask her to help us out on the story if Cloud ever asks about my whereabouts."
"…You want me to tell Yuffie that you're turned into a 15-"
"NO!" Sora immediately waved his hands and put them into an X, "Don't tell her THAT! Just get her to help without telling the secret! I beg of you, Vincent!"
"…What do I get out of this?"
"Um…a happy Cloud once I turn back and into a good lover?"
"…Fine."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Yeah whatever…"
Notes:
-So when I went through possible people for Cloud to go on a date with, I just started laughing when Reno popped into my head. I know some people like that pairing (heck, like Sora, Cloud is paired with everyone!), but I find that pairing kind of funny. I can imagine it now: Cloud comes from the date and just slams the door in Reno's face. So yeah, I chose Reno just to annoy Cloud and poor Sora can only 'fall' to untie the man's shoes but not much more! He can't punch the guy out in this body!
Please Read and Review!!!