I want to thank everyone for the reviews!!
I really do appreciate them so I wanted to at least say thanks!
I hope this chapter will be enjoyable!
"I didn't know you were Leonhart's spouse. No wonder his kids are both blondes," Sephiroth stated with a smirk while Cloud stared blankly at him.
"…Naminé."
"Y-Yeah, Dad?"
"Next time you date a boy, tell me his last name!"
"Yes…"
"Your daughter is the one that threw a chair at my son. He's not the only one at fault here in their relationship," said Sephiroth and Cloud's attention went back to Naminé,
"You threw a chair?! At a person no less?!"
"He was hurting Roxy!"
"Why were YOU fighting?!" Cloud's attention went to Roxas next to her.
"He threw a basketball at my head while I was eating! And he bullies me whenever he can anyway!"
"Oh I do not, liar!" Riku argued.
"You're the liar!" Sora shouted and Riku turned to punch Sora in the arm but Sephiroth caught the boy's wrist before he could.
"Okay, okay…" Cloud took in a breath and went over to sit next to Vincent, "How in the world…is Sora involved then? Oh my god! Sora! What happened to you?!" Cloud finally saw Sora's poor bleeding and bruised face.
"Riku beat up Sora again!" The twins immediately pointed at Riku,
"Valentine here started the fight!" Riku protested.
"You deserved to be kicked in the groin after what you said about my da-I mean Naminé!" Sora shouted at him.
"Well that explained why he was walking weird…" Roxas whispered to Naminé.
"Wait…what did he say about me?!" Naminé demanded.
"Nothing! Don't worry about it, I took care of it!" Sora answered, not wanting Naminé to hear what she undeservingly been called.
Finally, Xemnas, followed by Saix came into the room to settle some punishments. It was learned that Roxas and Naminé were there for the purpose of being witnesses.
But after learning of Naminé hitting Riku with school property, she wasn't getting away without punishment: A month's worth of detention. It would've been suspension but she was a near-perfect student that they figured it would be too harsh of a punishment.
Roxas went by without punishment due to other students' testimonies that he did not start the fight and was only a victim. Sora found himself suspended for starting the fight and they found it suspicious how he's only been in trouble when it involved Riku.
Riku on the other hand…Riku was finally expelled.
"Well I guess I due owe you an apology, Cloud," the silver-haired man stated when Cloud was stopped by Sephiroth as they walked out of the school.
"Y-You do?"
"Yeah…like father like son I suppose. It's no wonder my son was so attracted to your family. Although I have no idea how Vincent's nephew got involved with all this. Tell Leonhart I'm sorry for beating you and him up in school as well."
"Um…sure I guess…can I ask you something?"
"Hm? Yes."
"How come you never beat up Vincent back in school?" Cloud couldn't help but ask and the two looked over to Vincent who was ordering Sora to get in the car.
Sephiroth only let out a small chuckle.
"Sure I may be called a bully back then…but I wasn't stupid!" he replied before walking off and pulling Riku along by the ear, leaving Cloud in confusion.
"You are stupid!" Vincent commented as he drove Sora.
"I know…I seem to have forgotten all my fighting skills…" Sora murmured and slowly took the tissue away from his nose to see if the blood stopped. He put the tissue back when he felt more blood coming up.
"Not just that! Why did you START the fight?!"
"He called Naminé a slut and the b-word! I am not letting him get away with that! My daughter is above him on so many levels!" Sora yelled but then found himself smiling, "And she's totally my daughter after I saw her throw that chair at Riku. That was priceless! I will raise her allowance when I can!"
"Huh…violence always did make things better for you," Vincent shrugged.
"Oh shut up…"
"Hell no. You're suspended now which means I'm going to be stuck with you all day!"
"It's okay, I'll…entertain myself!"
"You better…"
As soon as they got home and Vincent had to dig up another Hi-Potion and bandage Sora at missed places, Sora took off.
With a knock, Cloud opened the front door only to find a bear nearly shoved to his face.
"Hey Clo-Mr. Strife! I'm sorry, can I sit down? My leg hurts!" Sora pleaded and Cloud ushered him in while taking the stuffed bear. Sora limped his way the couch and fell on it while feeling his leg.
"Riku the cause?" Cloud asked with concern and Sora shrugged,
"I don't know it started hurting while I was getting that," Sora pointed at the bear. Cloud only held it up to get a better look at it.
I'm bear-y sorry
Cloud raised a brow as he held in a giggle at the message on the heart that the bear held.
"You got this for me?"
"Yeah well…its from Leon. I had to get it from the, uh, committee office," Sora lied.
"Huh…that's cute. I'll get you some ice, Sora. Oh, um, Roxas took Naminé out for ice cream but you can stay until they get back," Cloud announced as he went to the kitchen.
"I'm alone in the house with Cloud?! Halleluiah!"
"Uh, sure! No problem! Thanks!"
While in the kitchen, Cloud looked at the bear again, trying to remember the last time Leon tried to be romantic. In a way, his poor attempts were kind of romantic…
He touched the heart the bear was holding only to notice that the message was attached to the heart. Pulling on it, he realized it was a note.
Quickly preparing the ice, he rushed back towards the living room to hand Sora the ice pack.
"Thank you."
"Yeah, no problem," Cloud replied as he stood and started reading the note. Sora carefully eyed Cloud who slowly sat on the couch as well.
"Hn…what an idiot…"
"What?" Sora's face showed panic.
"Oh, nothing," Cloud lightly laughed, "Leon's…always sucked at being romantic."
"…Really?" Sora raised a brow.
"You lied to me after all these years?!"
"Yeah because I can never tell whether he's trying to sound romantic, be funny, or trying to apologize. I think this is all the above…"
Sora mentally slapped himself, hating how he didn't spend more time working on that note.
"But…I do appreciate the attempt I guess…"
"Oh that's good!" Sora immediately jumped in for a conversation, "So you might not divorce after all?"
"Well…I don't know," Cloud replied and stood up to tuck the note into his jeans before offering Sora something to drink but he declined so Cloud sat back down and picked up the book on the side table. Sora was too busy worrying about what Cloud just said.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"Well…Sora you gotta understand that there are times you just have to say no."
"…Why?"
"Well…" Cloud looked up, in thought, "Let's say I take him back and the divorce is off. How do I know it just won't go back to the way it was before? What's stopping him from doing that? I confess that…it's nice what he's doing but…I may have to tell him that I don't want to give myself back to him like that. Especially since he's not even here to do it face to face."
"…I'm sure if he could…he would be here," Sora stated and Cloud smiled, reaching a hand over and patted Sora's head then playing with his hair.
"If only people could be more like you, Sora. You're so nice to everyone and you really brightened up my life, as well as my children's, since you came."
"Oh…yeah, thanks…"
"You're a good kid. Oh right, here. Give this to Leon would you?" Slipping a letter out of the book, he handed it to Sora who hesitantly accepted it.
"No problem…" he whispered back and sighed.
"You alright?" Cloud asked, noticing Sora's less-than-enthusiastic answer.
"I…I think I want to go home, I'm not feeling too well…"
"Oh…well come on! I'll take you back to Vincent," Cloud offered and helped Sora with his hurting leg and getting him home…not knowing Sora wanted to be with his family in his real home more than anything.
"What's wrong with him?" Vincent asked when he opened his door to find Cloud and Sora.
"He says he's not feeling well."
"Oh…"
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to help him?"
"Oh…right," Vincent reached out and pulled Sora inside, "Go to your room."
And Sora obeyed.
"…That's it?"
"If he sick, he'll just rest," Vincent shrugged.
"…Well now I know why Sora is always over," Cloud commented with his arms folded, "By the way, remind Leon about our court meeting."
"Oh…yeah, sure."
"Please at least try and take care of Sora. Give him medicine if he really is sick. And his leg hurts so take him to the doctor."
"…I rather pay you to do it!" Vincent exclaimed. He's said it once, he'll saying it again: He didn't want kids for a reason.
"Vincent!" Cloud placed his hands on his hips in partial anger and surprise, "I…I don't even know what to say to you!"
"Good. Don't worry, the kid is strong, he'll be fine! If it comes down to it, I will take him the doctor's I guess."
"I hope Sora comes to my place tomorrow. If he isn't, I'll be coming over here!" Cloud threatened.
"Oh trust me, he'll be there."
Sora lied on his bed, thoughts running through his head. He should be a bit happy right? His family likes him. Well…they like Sora. What about Leon? Why does that one difference hurt him so much? They're technically the same person right?
"Hey," Vincent opened the door and Sora groaned in acknowledgement, "If you have a fever, the medicine's in the cupboard. Oh Cloud wants me to remind me about that court meeting."
At that reminder, Sora cried out, almost scaring Vincent.
"I can't take it anymore!" he screamed, sitting up and throwing his pillow at a random direction before crying into his hands, "I can't…I can't take it anymore…"
"……" Vincent slowly approached Sora and cautiously sat by the brunette. After hearing Sora choke and sob for a few more moments, Vincent slowly reached an arm out and rubbed the boy's back in an unusual pattern. Sora sniffed and lifted his head from his hands, turning to look at Vincent,
"Are you…trying to comfort me?"
"…You scared me so it's my turn," Vincent muttered. After all, what's scarier? Leon crying or Vincent comforting? Vincent's not even sure.
"…Thanks…" Sora sniffed again and wiped his face.
"Yeah…" Vincent murmured.
Remembering something important, Sora took a chance and took out the letter from his pocket to read.
Leon,
You always knew that I loved you, even now.
But you're not even here to tell me what you're writing to me. I want you here, if you're not, then it won't mean as much as we both want it to be. How can I believe you? How will I know it just won't go back to the way things were?
Until you come down here to talk to me. My position still stands.
You're a good man, Leon. Just know that I will always think that.
-Cloud
Sora's arms fell and just realized the tears streaming down his face. No "love" or "yours forever" from Cloud like it used to be.
"I'm losing my family…or did I…already lose them?"
"…That's up to you," Vincent answered and Sora looked at him, just remembering that he was still here.
"Vincent…can you drive me to court?"
"…You're going? Like that?" Vincent pointed at the boy's body.
"I have to…" Sora wiped his face again, "I have to at least…convince Cloud to reschedule another day…I can't let him go without a fight…"
"But…you're 'Sora' right now."
"I know…" he nodded, "I need more time…even if it means Cloud will hate 'Sora' too…"
Please read and review!!
I honestly didn't think this was going to be a long-ish story so I'm surprised! I am writing ahead so I know where I'm going with it and I like where it's going!