OMG! How long has it been since i posted?! I'M A HORRIBLE PERSON! I'M SO SORRY!!! shoots self .> ... Hope you like the chapter, it's long over due!
Enjoy...
I'm Safe Here In Your Arms.
Everent slowly came back to the land of the living, each little bit more he awoke, the more of his injuries he could feel. There was a sticky, bloody mess around him which soaked through his clothing and he was fairly sure wherever he was he'd been there a while. The floor beneath him wasn't so cold so he guessed he wasn't in the dungeon anymore, he was probably in his room. He wanted to get up, he needed to get up. He needed to dress his wounds, if he had any broken bones he couldn't allow them to set wrong.
The dark prince gasped in agony, his throat beyond screaming as that's what he'd done for hours already, leaving him with a throat that felt like it had been slit. Even thinking of moving made his body cry out in pain. He needed help. He was so badly injured he couldn't even move. This time it seemed Sephiroth wasn't going to help him, no healers and no servant. Just him. If this was still part of his lesson he wondered what he was supposed to be learning from it.
Why was he like this again? Oh yes… his wonderful night with the light prince meant counter balancing his joy with pain, of course. Everent turned from the thoughts of pain and feeling and let his mind wash over the thoughts of Soku, the small prince who was so beautiful and he felt so much for that he would gladly face a thousand more of those beatings just to see him. It was sappy and romantic but Everent didn't care, it was an effective description of how he felt. He dearly wanted to see Soku, but he couldn't move, even breathing hurt like hell which let him know he probably had more than one broken rib.
What if he got word to Soku? No… Soku would undoubtedly come running but Everent couldn't let him see him in this state. He hadn't even seen his reflection but he could guess how bad he looked just from what he could feel.
Who else was there to help him? There wasn't anyone… he was all alone in this world but for Soku. Soku was the only one who cared for him, cared enough to stay with him all night and kiss him so tenderly as if he were something precious. He dearly wanted for Soku to come, he knew the prince would help him and wouldn't be so superficial as to be disgusted by his bloodied appearance.
Where would they go? Soku wouldn't… he couldn't… there was no way. Even if Soku wanted to there was no way the rest of the light side would allow the light prince to save him. There was no way they'd let him sneak into enemy territory and save Everent. Everent realized Soku probably wouldn't survive it, even he was caught out sneaking home and he knew all the ways to go, Soku didn't. And Soku was light, he reeked of that purity innocents are unable not to draw from and Sephiroth would smell it a mile away.
He had promised to meet the prince again. Well he'd said 'see you later' which probably wasn't a promise to the little prince but was to him, at least it warranted him another meeting anyway. There was no way he'd be fit enough to see Soku in the next few days, he was a fast healer yes but not that quick. Especially if he didn't get his broken bones set now, he'd have to re-break them and set them again later which would mean more pain and more time away from Soku.
Everent just realized what his punishment was exactly; Sephiroth's plan was to keep the two princes apart. He didn't want them together so he was doing his damnedest to make sure Everent was incapable of seeing Soku.
Well, he'd just have to screw that one over.
Gently tapping into his dark powers he felt the familiar coldness over take him, the kind of cold that enforces the belief that dark creatures don't have hearts because truly dark beings feel the darkness all the time and eventually the turn as cold as the darkness but Everent had managed to keep it separate from himself. He didn't know quite how but he didn't care. Letting the darkness hold him he let his mind reach out and he felt for something in the emptiness. The darkness itself was like a separate layer of existence that lay over reality and inside it Everent could use it to do what he pleased. Reaching forth with his mind he traversed the space between the two encampments until he felt the light he knew was the good side of the war. It was like a beacon in the darkness and Everent had to wonder if all light people were this easy to spot or just these patriotic ones who had come to fight.
Slowing down he searched for the strongest one, he was fairly sure that it would be Soku. Narrowing in on it and letting the darkness guide him rather than do the work himself he found the scene behind his eyes quite appealing.
Soku was in the shower. Everent let his shadow form slip to stand right behind Soku, barely touching the other. Everent couldn't see anything but a silvery light form to his shadow one and he briefly cursed whatever rule made it so you couldn't see details. He ran his fingers over Soku's arm and was delighted to find Soku stiffened at the unexpected touch. He was surprised first by the fact the Soku could even feel that, as a light being he shouldn't have been able to, however, when Soku's hand extended and the keyblade was summoned he had a feeling Soku was either expecting this or being touched in the shower was a common occurrence. That thought made Everent bristle in protective anger.
"Calm down, it's me."
As soon as Everent's voice sounded in Soku's head the keyblade fell from the prince's hand and clattered to the floor amongst the falling water before vanishing dejectedly.
"Everent?" Soku asked softly.
"Yeah, it's me. Think in your head your replies, I'm not really here." Soku nodded in compliance and Everent rewarded him with a finger trailing lazily down the exposed back that was all light to Everent but was skin on skin contact to Soku.
The little prince shuddered. "You're a pervert, sneaking into my shower like this. I thought you were…"
Everent's ears perked up, "…who?"
Soku shied away. "Just someone else."
Everent scowled. "What's wrong? Does getting jumped in the shower happen a lot?"
He had meant it as a joke and even though he couldn't see Soku's face he could feel the self-hatred and ice cold fear mixed with shame and terror that rolled off the prince in waves. Soku himself gave no reply but there wasn't any need for one, Everent knew what he needed to know now.
"What did you come here for?" Soku asked softly.
Shaken off track Everent spoke as softly as the prince as most of his mind whirred away on the new information, "I… I need to see you. I have a favor to ask."
"What kind of favor?"
The dark prince sighed heavily. "Let's just say… I can't move much." He heaved a breath. "I can't talk here, Sephiroth could hear me but if you go to where we've met all the times before, I can meet you."
Soku made no visible response to him but he felt the shock very subtly, he could see the expression in his mind's eye: wide eyes, open mouth and frozen action. "A-are you okay?!"
Ah, perfect. Everent mentally groaned which was an actual groan here that he just managed to suppress. He'd made the prince panic. "Soku, please don't be alarmed. I look worse than I am." He felt the shock and worry increase tenfold. "No Soku, I forbid you to panic like this."
"Right, and I take orders from you." Soku snorted. "I'll be there in five minutes."
"You can get there in five minutes?"
"I'll run." Soku suck his tongue out childishly but Everent couldn't see it. As an after thought Soku ducked his head shyly and asked, "C-can you… s-see me?"
Everent grinned. "Not as much as I'd like to…" He bent low and whispered in the little princes ear while running a hand down Soku's back again as another ran over his chest, ghosting over a nipple that was there but Everent couldn't see. Soku blushed furiously and was now safe in the knowledge Everent couldn't see it. "You're blushing, aren't you?"
Soku's mouth gaped in horror. "H-how d-did… but you…"
The dark prince laughed, "I know you too well." He pressed his lips against Soku's briefly and just as Soku opened his mouth he moved away.
Cloud's eyes fluttered as he slowly began to wake up. The first things he was aware of were he was still wearing the clothes he'd been wearing the night before bar the white doctors coat, he also felt his heart was like lead in his chest and finally that he was incredibly warm and being held be someone. He crossed his fingers and dearly hoped it was Vincent as the events of the previous night came flooding back.
"Are you awake?" The person asked and Cloud swore in his head. It wasn't Vincent. It was Leon.
Cloud couldn't speak, he didn't want to. He'd only hurt Leon and he probably wouldn't make any sense. Trying to free himself from the hold Leon had around him he froze when he heard the brunet growl and tighten his arms.
"I don't think so. You can tell me what's wrong or not, I don't mind and I'm not going to push you but either way you're staying here until I want to get up." Leon said huskily in Cloud's ear making the blond shiver and wriggle closer, although he'd deny that later. They lay in silence for a few moments before the younger felt Leon's fingers gently tracing an invisible pattern of his exposed skin which included his arms, his neck, the top of his chest, his lower legs and his midriff.
Cloud found it impossible to fight the noises rising from his throat and the instance his lips were parted he began softly mewling his delight which only encouraged the older man. The fingers continued their little dances, slipping over the soft skin with unimaginable heat they left goose bumps in their wake and Cloud was on the edge of begging for more when Leon stopped, making him whine quietly. He looked up at Leon in a pleasure induced daze, his blue eyes finding Leon's and he pouted childishly.
"Now who's the child?" Leon grinned then tutted, "It was you, love, who said no sex."
Cloud folded his arms and the pout never left his face, "Yeah, I wanna be sure you meant what you said last…n-night…" Cloud froze, his gut freezing and the pleasure he'd felt at Leon touching him morphed into an ugly guilt that tainted the fresh memory and made Cloud sick with himself. "Oh G-God! N-no!" his hands went to his mouth, his fingers digging into his jaw painfully, angry marks appearing beneath his unforgiving grip.
"Cloud? What's wrong?" Leon tried to move the harsh hands but Cloud wouldn't let him, wouldn't even look at him anymore. Leon bit his lip, "Do you… do you regret what happened?" The blond nodded fervently and Leon backed away from him, not wanting to frighten the other man anymore. "I-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have-"
"No!" Cloud cried, tears pouring down his face. "I-It's not… not because of you… I… I didn't mean you… it's all my fault… all my fault… you're going to die because of me…" Cloud sat up and curled his knees inwards, shielding himself from the world as he muttered to himself but Leon heard every word. "He's got to know by now… he'll know… he'll come… and you'll die…" Cloud stared at Leon in apologetic fright. "I am so sorry!" He was crying so much he could barely get the words out. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" He was in hysterics but as soon as Leon went to reach him the little blond bolted from the tent, staggering out and running before Leon could say a word.
For a moment Leon sat there mulling over every fragmented word that had been uttered but he could make no sense of it. Other than Cloud he knew only one person who could fill in the blanks and he knew he'd need all the pieces of the puzzle before he went after Cloud again. Grabbing his shirt he pulled it over his head and having slept in his under armor leggings he was out of the tent and heading straight for another in a flash, one he knew held the key to the enigma that was Cloud.
"Vincent?! I'm sorry if you're asleep or busy or whatever but I have to talk to you!" Leon called, not wanting others to overhear him but at the same time trying to rouse the man if he was indeed asleep.
Leon stepped back as the tent flap opened and he was granted entrance. He sat down and saw Vincent sat against the far side of the tent, fully clothed in his armor with his weapons strapped on and everything. Leon glanced to the left of the tent and saw the bedroll exactly as they had received it and completely untouched.
"Do you sleep… at all?" Leon asked in surprise.
Vincent just looked at him with an unamused eye. "What do you want?"
Leon sobered up. "Cloud's just disappeared in tears." Vincent didn't reply or move but Leon saw his eyes widen in shock then narrow in anger, there was a way to read this man apparently. "I want to go after him but I need to know why he's so upset. He's too distraught to make much sense…"
"And you thought I'd know?" Vincent finished. Leon nodded. "And what makes you think it's my place to tell you? This is a dark part of Cloud's life and dictates how this man lives his life; do you really think I can just gossip about something so important to him?"
Leon thought hard about what Vincent had said. It had been more than he'd ever heard the man speak the entire time he'd known him so he guessed there was more to it than the face value of what he'd said. Carefully, Leon began to reply. "What if… if you tell me, I can go and get him and then that I know what's wrong I can fix it. I can protect him from whatever is so bad that he is caged as he is and give him freedom." Leon looked directly at the crimson eyes watching him intently. "What if I can save him?"
Vincent's eyes narrowed further. "'What… if'?"
The brunet grinned determinedly, "I can save him."
Vincent smiled softly. It was a small tug at the corners of his mouth but it was a smile nonetheless and caught Leon completely unawares. "Good answer."
Soku slipped past his parents and the soldiers, diving for the tree line and racing from there. He knew the way without even thinking, his feet working of their own accord and pounding through the underbrush, his arms deftly pushing away the branches he knew would obstruct his path before they even came into view.
His heart was pounding in his chest as his eyes narrowed the scenery a blur as he passed. He'd make it there in five minutes, he had to. There was no alternative, Everent needed him and he wasn't going to let the dark prince down. He knew he was getting close because he could see the break in the trees, the light at the end of the dark tunnel that was the forest. Leaping through the trees to land in the clearing he realized that Everent could have been leading him into a trap, he didn't know the prince that well to say Everent truly loved him and yet he had just known Everent had been speaking the truth and he wasn't going to put Soku in danger.
He saw Everent as soon as he looked round, slumped against the tree they had slept under the night before he was breathing shallowly, his chest heaving and falling slowly but erratically as though every way he breathed caused him pain. His usually immaculate ebony hair was a mess of bloodied tangles and fell unrestrained over his face without the usual gel holding it back and the teal eyes were hidden behind half-closed lids as he tried to breathe. His legs were straight out in front of him and there was blood along one thigh and one ankle looked to be broken, his arms were no better lying awkwardly over his legs and three of the fingers on his right hand were pointing the wrong way. There was a black eye and a myriad of bruises across the exposed skin, dried blood from his mouth and nose splattered over the top of his shirt and his face. To say the least he was a mess.
Soku gasped and covered his mouth in horror. Everent tried to turn his head at the noise but ended up cringing in pain which made more pain. He coughed pathetically letting Soku know that his ribs were probably broken. "Soku… y-you're early…" Everent tried to smile but it was as broken as the rest of him. "You s-said… f-five minutes… not t-three…"
The silveret couldn't say anything as he fell to his knees and crawled over to Everent. "What did he do to you?" He whispered hoarsely, tears springing to his eyes.
Everent gave another dead smile. "Oh p-please… it looks w-worse… than it is…"
"It looks pretty bad." Soku pointed out, kneeling by Everent's side. "This is all because of me…" Soku heaved a heavy sigh, "I am so sorry… I shouldn't have let you do what you did, even then I should have brought you back with me… not let you go back to that monster! You even told me he hurt you and probably would for kissing me." He ground his teeth angrily, "I am so stupid!"
"N-no… S-Soku… its n-not your f-fault…" Everent said firmly. "I would h-have… done it anyway…" His smile widened and Soku almost believed it. "It was worth it…" Reaching for Soku's hair the hand that was still useable he fingered a few strands before gently leading Soku forwards by his jaw line, his bloodied and split lips meeting Soku's in a kiss he needed but regretted later when he realized Soku was forced to taste his blood.
Soku, however, didn't mind. It was something he needed too. It let him know Everent truly didn't blame him and he really did mean their time together was worth the pain he was suffering. He pressed forwards softly, wary of split in the others lip as the blood slowly became apparent in their kiss, seeping into his mouth and leaving him tasting a coppery tang as Everent's tongue played with his until Soku felt the dark prince go slack.
Kneeling back he saw Everent was unconscious. Soku guessed from the pain but supposed it was for the best as he would need to move him and would feel bad enough as it was without actually hearing Everent's pain. He just hoped Everent slept the entire journey which was going to be longer now he had to carry someone and was unable to run.
Gingerly lifting Everent up by his least injured arm he supported as much of the taller teen's weight as he could and began to make his way back to the camp. As he went he let his mind drift back to almost a week ago when they had landed and Soku had thought he'd slay a thousand dark creatures, fell the evil oppressor and return home a hero. A foolish dream that was so childish in hindsight and it had only been a few days! He'd wanted glory and he'd gotten a lover, he'd wanted experience and he got his first kiss. He'd even wanted the full war experience that had seemed much more fulfilling and right in the books… well; he'd gotten a full war experience. He'd killed and maimed and he'd been attacked with the intent to kill, he'd had his fill already and he wanted to go home more than anything… but now he had Everent. He wouldn't leave him behind, he wanted to go home but now he saw himself safe on the beach by his house with Everent by his side.
He had to get help; he wouldn't let Everent go now that he had him, not ever.
Vincent shifted round so he and Leon were facing each other across the tent, both cross legged and matching the others gaze easily. "What do you know about Cloud?"
Leon sighed heavily. "He doesn't talk about his past. He's mentioned a few names aside from yours but nothing else. I guess… not much. He's mentioned… Tifa? And… Cid and Barret? I think he spoke about Yuffie once or twice and he said Aerith once, but then he became very sad."
"Yes. That was us, before things went bad. Tifa and Cloud were orphans together; they grew up as brother and sister. Things went bad on our world though. It's… painful to talk about so I'll just say what you need to hear. There was this man, the man we're facing now actually. Sephiroth, Cloud and I have faced him before. The others Cloud has talked about, they were there too. Cid and Barret were friends of ours and we all fought together to defeat Sephiroth. Aerith… well, we were never quite certain what Aerith was to Cloud but underneath everything we guessed they were lovers." Vincent watched Leon's reaction but he gave none, sensing there was more. "Anyway, after… various things Sephiroth ended up killing Aerith. Cloud only ever blamed himself for her death and he never forgave himself, no matter what we said."
Leon sighed softly, "I can see him being the one to take all the blame for something like that…"
"Yeah. Anyway, there was this huge battle, one that held the planet's life in the balance and Cloud lost. We all did but Cloud was the only one who stood a chance against Sephiroth anyway. It still wasn't enough though and while we all thought that our world was done for… Sephiroth gave Cloud an offer he couldn't refuse although any offer Sephiroth could have made couldn't have been refused and I can see why Cloud accepted. Sephiroth said the Cloud would have to give himself to him, wholly, and in return Sephiroth would spare the planet. Cloud thought nothing of it, it wasn't really something he had to think about but I wish he had. While Cloud had thought that only meant Sephiroth wanted his body, Sephiroth wanted all of him and that was something Cloud couldn't give even though he'd already agreed to it. After the planet was spared Cloud gave Sephiroth his body but when Sephiroth realized Cloud wasn't his mind body and soul he decided to fix that in the only way he could. Systematically Sephiroth's been taking all of Cloud by severing his ties to anyone else and taking what he can from Cloud. He's raped and beaten, cared for and wooed Cloud in every way imaginable. He's done everything to Cloud but the only way to break Cloud is to break those he cares about. Do you understand?"
"So… Cloud thinks that because he let me kiss him I'm going to die?" Leon said slowly.
"Cloud also has feelings for you, never doubt that. In the end, that is why Sephiroth will kill you and it is also why Cloud will try as valiantly as he can to stop himself from loving you. He thinks it'll save you but the damage has been done and it'll hurt Cloud indefinitely if you die. He hasn't had a lover since Aerith, only acquaintances. Cloud learnt a long time ago that he could stop the pain if there was nothing to hurt."
"What about you? Hasn't he tried to get rid of you? Does Sephiroth not see you as a threat too?"
Vincent blinked then gave a shrug. "I'm here because I promised I'd never leave, Cloud's always been someone I've protected and while I stand no chance against Sephiroth I am also probably the only one capable of staying with Cloud and staying alive, you're right, I'm not someone Sephiroth sees as a threat to Cloud's affections, so I stay with him. That and the fact my wife said she'd kill me if I didn't take care of him during this war. She wasn't allowed to come along because she's pregnant."
Leon thought hard, trying to remember any female soldiers who'd gone on maternity leave but couldn't. Female soldiers were few and far between but Leon never really noticed them, they were just more soldiers to him so he didn't know many. "And she is…?"
"Shelke." Leon saw Vincent smile again, this time barely hiding it beneath the large collar of the red cloak he wore over everything. Leon realized that the reason Sephiroth saw Vincent as no threat was probably because he was married and had a child on the way.
"Congratulations Mr.Valentine!" Leon praised suddenly making the man jump and stare at him blankly to which Leon replied, "You're going to be a father!" Vincent visibly paled which was no mean feat seeing as he was ash-white to start with, obviously he hadn't been thought of the pregnancy in the light of him becoming a father. Leon patted him on the back and practically ran from the tent leaving a stunned Vincent in his wake which he was very proud of, it was always difficult to surprise Vincent.
Stepping into the crisp air outside the tent he began his search for the blond beginning in the one place he suspected Cloud hid in most times to escape the world: the infirmary. He barged through people foolish enough to get in his way, pushing them aside with ease as he narrowed in on only one thing: Cloud. Almost ripping down the front tent flap of the large and imposing medical tent, Leon stormed past a spluttering and objecting Merlin and the various other staff who'd been tending to the wounded as he headed straight for the crudely made offices at the back of the tent. Spying the one marked 'Doctor Strife' he entered without alerting the occupant to his entrance. He realized later that his dramatic scene would have been rather ridiculous if Cloud hadn't been in the office but thankfully he was.
Slumped over the desk in his sleep rumpled clothes, arms folded over scattered paperwork he'd attempted to do before crying Cloud's tear-streaked face snapped up when Leon entered.
"You didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily?" Leon asked huskily, his voice low and gravely as he prowled towards the desk behind which sat a very startled Cloud who went from wide-eyed shock to desperate anger in a heartbeat.
"What are you doing?" His voice was choked with sobs as he tried to get rid of Leon. "I thought I left you! Quickie! That's what you were! A nothing to fuck away my cares! Leave me alone!"
Leon went behind the desk and spun the chair slightly and lifted Cloud by his wrist from the chair to place the struggling form on the desk, ignoring the cries and protests. "A quickie huh? Well, unless I seriously wasn't paying attention I think we're not through then because we, little angel, didn't have sex. So you still owe me. And unless you seriously weren't paying attention, I thought I made it quite clear you're now stuck with me."
Cloud's eyes widened as Leon stood between his legs as he sat on the desk, roughly gripping the back of his head and pulling him forward into a bruising kiss that left him panting for air and flushed when Leon finally released him. "L-Leon…"
"Am I still just a quick fuck to you? Even though we haven't gotten that far yet." Leon held Cloud's gaze unfalteringly and made the blond squirm beneath it.
"Leon…" Cloud murmured, he felt the strong tan arms wind around him, tracing patterns as he was now used to Leon doing but he knew he couldn't let the brunet do this. "Leon… you c-can't!" Cloud struggled fruitlessly within Leon's hold as the older man's lips and teeth made their way to his neck which made him arch into the feeling, revealing more creamy skin to ravage.
Drawing back Leon licked the shell of Cloud's ear making the smaller man shudder. "Why? Will big bad Sephiroth come for me?"
Cloud gasped in horror. "How d-did you…?!"
"I needed to know things seeing as I'm going to be forever your protector as of now. So Vincent let me know everything… with a few gaps but i get the idea. Either way, I'm not going to let some guy who's become an evil stalker because he can't take rejection keep me from you. I'm your biggest problem now, not him." Leon kissed him again and Cloud responded instantly before drawing away and closing his eyes as he cried again.
"Y-you're a f-fool… he's g-going to k-kill you!" Cloud sobbed, clinging to Leon and breathing in the older man's scent from the tan throat he pressed his mouth against. "You're a child and a fool…"
Leon snorted. "But I'm yours…"
Cloud nodded at first then moved so he was glaring straight into Leon's eyes. "If you think that's going to stop me from trying to save you, you're mistaken. I won't willingly let you do this."
Running a hand in a caress of Cloud's cheek and smiling as the named lent into the touch Leon smirked. "At lest enjoy the ride before it's taken away then." He stuck his tongue out impishly at the intended innuendo.
Cloud rolled his eyes and sucked on the tongue before kissing Leon's nose softly. "Such a child…"
Without replying Leon pressed Cloud back, freeing himself from the hold the blond had on him as he sank to his knees and looked up at the blond watching him owlishly on the desk. Meeting the gaze with a devilish smirk he reached for the cotton three-quarter lengths and teasingly drew them and Cloud's boxers down over smooth hips as Cloud eased upwards and let him, letting the material collect at Cloud's bent knees as he kissed his way up the inside of the soft flesh, starting at the knee and working up Cloud's thigh until the blond was practically crying out in frustration.
"L-Leon!! Cloud gasped, his hand clenching on the older man's shoulder as the other threaded in the dark locks at his crotch level.
Just as Leon was about to take the aching flesh into his mouth and silence Cloud's please with screams the tent flap burst open and Soku ran in, his face a picture of fear and worry until he saw Leon and Cloud and it dropped in shock then he screamed as he giggled loudly. Cloud blushed deeply and dove to cover himself as Leon gaped and then scowled at his grandson. "At the best part, Soku?" He snapped petulantly.
Soku blushed embarrassedly as Cloud died while hiding behind Leon in his shocked state, his clothes haphazardly replaced and his face the color of strawberries. "Please kill me, God…"
Leon chuckled. "Don't worry, Soku won't tell anyone, will you?"
"Not a word." Soku promised and then remembered why he had walked in on them. "Cloud! Please, you've got to help him!" He grabbed Cloud's hand irrespective of the man wanting the ground to swallow him whole and pulled him into the main area of the tent where a large number of soldiers were gathered around a bed, swords out and calls for the occupant of the bed to be killed as Sora snapped back at them to, as he put, 'back the fuck off or lose their balls'. "Please Cloud! He's going to die if you don't help him!" Soku was in hysterics as they forcibly pushed their way through the crowd and Cloud got to see who was on the bed.
He raised an eyebrow; even he could smell the darkness on the teen sprawled on the bed. It reeked but what surprised him the most was the fact that when Soku released his hand the small silveret was at the dark boy's side, clutching his hand desperately and begging for the horribly injured boy to wake up. Cloud looked at Sora in surprise but Sora merely whispered softly, "We can't help who we love." Then Sora smiled as he shrugged and went to comfort his distraught son.
Soku looked up at Cloud desperately, "Cloud, c-can you fix him? Can you h-heal him? P-please!"
Cloud put a reassuring hand on Soku's and squeezed it softly, "I'll do what I can." He turned to the dark haired teen on the bed and frowned as he sorted out what he'd need to do in his mind when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Leon smiling down at him.
"Just tell us what you need, we can help." Leon said firmly.
As Cloud nodded the collected soldiers became enraged. "How can you help that dark scum, Leon?!
"Yeah, he's dark!"
"And Riku's husband's helping too! Aren't you supposed to be light?!"
"I say we kill him!"
"Yeah!"
"One less bastard to worry about!"
"And I say you all back off." Riku murmured in a low growl as he entered the tent, his presence instantly eliciting silence. "This is no decision of yours, any of you. Do you not have things you need to be doing? If not, I'm sure King Mickey can find something for you." The soldiers stared at him in brief indecision. Riku was the King of Light now and he had power but he used to be a soldier like them, did they have to obey him? "Well? Get moving!" Riku roared. That made up their minds for them; they sprang into action and hastily left the tent.
Riku nodded in approval before moving over to Sora and putting an arm around the little brunet, "So, why was I getting rid of them?"
"Aw, Riku! I do love you, but you're so impulsive…" Sora sighed.
"You're proof enough of that." The silveret snorted.
"Shut up! Anyway, look what Soku brought home with him?" Sora indicated the bed.
"He left the camp?! I thought I said…" Riku spied the boy lying on the bed and his jaw dropped, realizing he had bigger problems than Soku sneaking away against his orders. "… what the fuck?! Soku!"
Soku rounded on his father, "I don't care what you say or do but don't you dare hurt him! If you have a problem kindly tell me but leave him alone!" His balled fists shook at his sides and he glared up at his father in clear determination. "Otherwise, back off!" Sora had to fight from not grinning at the reiteration of what Riku had said before.
Riku growled in restrained fury, "Soku! What do you not get about him being dark?! He doesn't love you! He can't love you!"
"He does love me! He wouldn't have done this for me if he didn't! Sephiroth did this to him because he was with me the night before!" Riku's eyes widened in surprise, they'd tried to talk about what had happened but nothing would make Soku tell anyone what had happened, Sora was listening avidly now, son or not he was curious to hear what had happened. "He spent the entire night with me and not once did he do anything untoward! If he's so dark then why didn't he just rape me!"
"He's fooling you, why can't you see that?! Why do you trust everyone so blindly?!"
"I don't! I'm the best person for being cynical about someone's intentions, you should know that!" Soku spat, "The amount of times I've been attacked just because of how I look… I don't think anyone can be a better judge of someone than me!"
Cloud was visibly shaking at the raised voices, Leon was having a hard to calming him down as the blonds' experienced fingers became clumsy as he applied ointment to the bruises on the boys skin. They'd effectively gotten the teen undressed and while the blanket covered his decency Leon couldn't help but be a little bit grateful Soku was distracted, he held no doubt the little prince would try and jump the unconscious teen. Rubbing soothing circles on Cloud's back and handing him bandages when asked Leon did his best to assist the doctor as the blond seemed to be having a bad reaction to the shouting, Leon guessed it had something to do with Sephiroth.
The shouting had paused a moment as the two silveret's throats burned with the effort and they'd run out of reasons for their cause and then Sora softly spoke up, his eyes on the floor as he addressed Riku. "I was dark, Ri. I still am. I'm the darkness to your light and even Sephiroth pointed that out when he showed you how much I am under the control of darkness still."
Riku's eyes softened. "That's different, Sky."
Sora's intense blue eyes snapped up. "How is it?" He wouldn't look away and kept Riku staring at him, forcing an answer from him.
"You weren't born from darkness for starters."
"Everent is Sephiroth's actual son. He wasn't born from darkness, he was born into it. There is a difference. For all we know, the darkness could be under his control." Sora pointed out. "When I got out from Xemnas' control, I could feel the darkness inside me and I could feel it desperately trying to own me but after a while… I got control of it. What if he has too? Does it still make him something to be abhorred?"
"I don't want to risk hurting Soku." Riku said softly, as if Soku wasn't stood before him though his eyes were still on Sora.
"I know, but he's a big boy now. We can't control him all the time and I think it's pretty obvious we can't bubble wrap him and protect him from everything. I believe Soku has good judgment and I've spoken with Everent before, he seemed… gentle, if a bit cold at first." Sora gave Soku a soft smile and Soku's face split into an awed grin mixed with undying gratitude.
Riku shifted and huffed as he considered it. He looked at his son who was gazing at Everent in boundless adoration and hope as he watched the object of his affection on the bed in pain. "Okay I'll give him one chance. If he screws up he can go back to Sephiroth, I won't kill him but he won't be allowed to stay if he pisses me off. As for now… I hope he survives, for you anyway." He dropped a kiss on Soku's head and smiled fondly as Soku hugged him delightedly and then leapt on Sora in a bone-crushing squeeze before turning to see the bare prince with only a sheet covering his lower half.
Leon caught the look on Soku's face and grinned. "If you can't control yourself, you're going to have to leave." The older man warned.
Soku blushed and nodded, Sora chuckling behind him as Riku shook his head and fought from thinking about his son and 'those things'. Cloud had calmed down since they weren't yelling and blushed lightly as he giggled and continued attending to the teen before them, dead to them but still alive, unresponsive but at peace because the prince knew for once in his life he was safe.
I'm not dead, it would be rather irresponsible of me to let that happen and not show you how it ends! XD Don't worry, Tragedy and I should be back on track real soon, she's been on holiday and ill and she's been buried beneath homework and such but I unearthed her, plus I've written up to chapter nine! All she ahs to do is fix them so they're perfect and you'll get them!
Oh yeah, if there are any mistakes in this one, its cos Tragedy said just to post it as is cos she thinks its gd and we thought u lot deserved it anyway seeing as we've not posted in a while and I've only had a few death threats, you've been very kind!
Akaiba and TragedyInTheMaking xxxxx
