Leonhart-less, Silver-Angel-Wings, Aindel S. Druida, Aeternus-Spes, Chibified Youkai 101 and Lundill: Thanks for the reviews guys, would write more but I'm really tired right now...and I have no coffee, sniffle.
Sorry for the slow update, I was down with severe writers block, you can probably tell by reading it where I floundered.
Chapter Six
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Blood dripped into his right eye; he closed it instinctively. Undeterred, the blood ran over his nose and left cheek and slid over white lips, tightly closed in an attempt not to scream. One tiny hand reached up to cover the long gash running diagonally across his face while he trained his open eye on the knife held loosely in Xehanort's hand, watching the thin line of blood slid down to gather at the tip of the blade and drip onto the floor in mesmerising silence.
"You can't run from me Squall; that mark will be with you always, reminding you of that."
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One second.
If she had even stumbled while hurrying after Yuffie, Leon…
He'd be gone.
Funny, how so little time could make so great a difference.
When she'd arrived at the small cottage where Leon had collapsed, she was greeted with a scene from one of her nightmares. Coils of darkness had been slowly ensnaring the terrifyingly still brunet, mostly around his limbs and throat. Cloud, despite his stoic façade, had been silently panicking when she arrived, she could see the fear as it ignited in his eyes and could taste the dread rolling off of him as he knelt beside the brunet, helpless hands cradling Leon as he steadily became paler.
Aerith shuddered at her thoughts, disliking the morbidity of it as she wrapped her robe around herself more tightly, feet shifting within the confines of her slippers. She looked down at Leon as he slept restlessly and sighed. She wasn't even sure what had happened; one moment he'd been so close to fading into darkness, and she was casting spell after spell with little effect, Yuffie and Cloud in the background looking on worriedly, then there was light and when it cleared, he was fine –unconscious but safe. She just hoped she could figure out what did it; Leon was more susceptible than ever to the darkness now.
Just like Xehanort had intended.
Funny, how so much time could do so much damage.
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Did the darkness take me? Have I faded away?...no, I can feel the others, right beside me. Am I asleep then?
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Peeking around the doorway Yuffie watched curiously as Aerith maintained a silent watch at Leon's bedside, the occasional movement of either Leon turning in his sleep or Aerith smoothing the sheets unnecessarily. Her eyes fell on the man, eyeing his pale face with a twinge of worry. The ninja just didn't understand it. He hadn't been himself for awhile now, actually letting her sneak up on him on more than one occasion and now collapsing in a basement with those tendrils of darkness all over him! What was wrong with Leon?
Yuffie didn't feel scared often, or at least she didn't show it. Nor did she often display a serious concern for those around her. Why should she? They were all strong; they were fighters. What was the point of worrying over people who could protect themselves?
But boy, oh boy, was she feeling it now.
And she didn't like it. It was a nasty feeling; it made her feel like she was going to be sick, her stomach churning as her throat and mouth went dry at the realisation of just how close Leon had been to saying 'Sayanora' and either dying or disappearing into darkness. It was scary to think that Leon –their Leon- wasn't as invincible as she'd childishly perceived him to be. Next to Sora and the Princesses of Heart, Yuffie had always believed that Leon would be the least likely to be affected by darkness. She'd believed Aerith more susceptible to darkness than him. Something about the man had always seemed…untouchable, like nothing could taint him.
A silly fancy. She felt her lips curl into a self-derisive sneer as she turned and slowly walked away. She felt so out of touch with what was going on. Like a child standing in the room while adults discussed a serious matter, something that went over her head. Everyone seemed to know something but her. Even Cloud and Tifa weren't so clueless as her. The woman had been walking around lately with a contemplative look and Cloud had been keeping a watch on Leon. And what had Yuffie done? Her usual thing: fooling around; oblivious to the occurrences around her. Maybe it was time she stopped being such a child. Well, at least until Leon was better.
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Do I really want to give into darkness?
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Lit only by a few well placed candelabras and moonlight streaming in from the windows, the library was empty save for one woman dressed in black clothing, patiently scanning the shelves, a finger trailing over the spines of books as she moved. She had a heavy tome in one hand as she walked over to the desk, letting book fall onto its surface with a loud thud before opening it.
Tifa was growing increasingly fretful. Everything was just a little too coincidental for her tastes. The Ansem report she and Yuffie had found; Cid's reaction to it and Leon's latest collapse.
Much too coincidental. In fact the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that Leon was the child the report mentioned. Lord knew it certainly fit, especially once Leon's guilt complex was taken into account. She really wished she could be wrong on this; though unfortunately a nagging voice in the back of her head told her that Leon, in all likelihood was that child.
Much like Aerith had been a sister figure to Leon all his life, Tifa had been the same for Cloud and like Aerith, she'd become very adept at reading her best friend. Cloud, whether he knew or not, was most definitely attracted to Leon and definitely falling for him –if he hadn't already done so. The arguments with Aerith over Leon she'd overheard had confirmed her suspicions in that direction. The sister in her felt torn at the development; Cloud deserved to be happy. But his past with the darkness and Leon's current problem with it meant one of them would probably get hurt. After everything Sephiroth had put him through, Cloud didn't handle darkness so well, not when it was close to him. He needed light, needed someone with light. Leon needed the same thing; he needed light and closure and freedom. Things Cloud could only partially offer.
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And if I don't: do I have the strength to fight anymore? I feel so tired…
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Someone once told him you can't change the past. God, did Cid wish he'd taken a bazooka to that fucker.
Truth was a vicious bitch.
He sighed and looked down at the report in his hands, the plain brown folder deceptively innocent looking, hiding the maliciously inked words within.
Correction: Cid wished he'd taken a bazooka to Xehanort.
The image that thought concocted brought a satisfied smile to his face for a fleeting moment, briefly lighting his expression before his eyes fell back on the folder and darkened again. As soon as Leon was conscious they were going to have to talk about it. Provided he could get to that little shit before he took off again.
In so many ways Xehanort had lied; lies which were both, ironically, relieving and painful. Xehanort had been one hell of a confident bastard; so sure that he and his experiments would've still been around today, able to do what he told Leon he had intended to do.
Fuck, he was getting too old for this.
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I just want the pain to stop. Is that so bad?
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Laundry duty was such a pain, especially when getting the washing in with a guy. Yuffie pulled a face at Cloud as he stubbornly refused to go near a particular line of laundry, preferring to take the towels down from the line. Muttering loudly about feminine superiority she took the assorted underwear down from the line, pausing to show Cloud his own boxers lecherously, dropping it casually into the laundry basket with a snooty look. She felt a little miffed when he merely regarded her silently, folding the towels and placing them in the basket.
"Ahem." She sighed when he ignored her and reached for another towel. Tapping a foot impatiently she loudly cleared her throat again.
Cloud sighed tiredly as he turned back to look, raising an eyebrow at her
"Oh don't give me that look." She waggled her finger at him. "I just wanted to ask you some things."
"No."
"You didn't even hear the questions! And it was totally not something you could answer with a yes or no!"
Cloud sighed as he folded another towel, eyeing her with a dry look. She smiled at him, apparently taking his silence as consent.
"One: Do you know what's going on with Leon? Two: You and Leon; what's going on there eh?"
Cloud stared at her.
Yuffie sighed, her little well of patience abruptly dried up. Why, why couldn't Radiant Garden host talkative, open men like Sora? Didn't anyone know how seriously maddening it was trying to pry an answer out of these broody asses? Sighing again she decided to employ an old tactic that had never failed yet: Whining.
"Cloooouuuddd! Answer the queessttiiiiooon!"
His eye twitched. Upon seeing the small reaction, Yuffie bit back a triumphant cackle. The Whining tactic never failed.
"I don't know what's wrong with Leon, Yuffie. Aerith mentioned that it had something to do with his past." He shot her a look. "You'd know better than I."
"Huh." She raised her eyes to stare at the sky as her mind drifted back to her first meeting with Leon. She'd only been about four so she barely remembered the details. But she remembered being intimidated by the silent brunet yet at the same time, wanting to hug away the sadness in his eyes. He'd still been Squall back then…
"Oh." She whispered, her thoughts slamming to a close. "It's something to do with Squall."
"Hn." Cloud's grunt pulled her back from her thoughts.
She turned to him with a sad smile. "I don't really know either, Leon's always been so…sad." She deflated visibly, looking over the lawn to where a small forest framed the edge of the garden. Abruptly she turned back around with a glower. "Hey! What about my second question?"
Cloud's face blanked. Honestly, he'd never understand the ninja; serious and thoughtful one second and then you blink and wham! She's back to her usual persona. Goddamn…what was the second question again? His confusion must've shown because the girl repeated the question with an impatient air.
"…nothing."
That finger was now waggling in his face, mischievous eyes glaring playfully at him. "Don't you give me that, Cloud. I, the great ninja Yuffie, can spot a liiiieeee!" she jumped away from him, planting her hands on her hips as she stared at him. "And you, Cloudy-boy, are lying. Spill! What's going on?"
"Honestly?" he asked watching her wearily.
"Well the truth is much better than a lie; lies aren't good, ya know." She grinned at him as she dropped to the ground, crossing her ankles and grasping them as she tipped her head back to look up at him. "Well? Tell Yuffie the goss!"
"There is no 'goss'." He muttered running a hand through his hair. "I don't know what's going on lately."
"Ooooh!" Yuffie indulged herself in a small squeal as she jumped back up to her feet before nodding sagely at him, patting his arm in a sisterly fashion. "Don't worry Cloud, I, the great yaoi lover Yuffie, can see exactly what's happening."
When she smiled sweetly at him, Cloud started to sweat bullets as his eyes darted to the door, wondering why no one had come to help yet. She giggled softly as her expression turned from a dangerous saccharine to fondness.
"You really can't see it can you?"
Dubiously he shook his head, wondering if maybe he should employ an old tactic and run like hell. A little cowardly but live to fight another day was a damn good motto…
"Cloudy, Cloudy." She shook her head despairingly and resumed patting his arm. "Just think a little about what you want and you'll know what I mean." She fell silent for a long moment. Cloud had started to relax a little when she spoke up again, turning back to the clothesline. "Okay, our emotional moment is over! Let's get the stupid laundry in so I can steal that report back from Cid."
Cloud's eyes narrowed, Yuffie never stole anything less than valuable and the word report threw his mind back to the last batch of reports he'd seen: Ansem's; he grabbed her shoulder, fingers digging in just enough to boarder on painful as the ninja halted. "What report?"
Yuffie took one look at his dark expression and gulped.
"Oh shit."
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Why can't the pain just stop?
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To say that Cloud was not very happy as he stormed through the castle towards Aerith's room would be like saying Sephiroth was only a little dark; semi-dark; the diet-cola ofdark if you please.
Cloud, for lack of a stronger word, was furious.
Yuffie didn't have much to say about the report; it was one of the old Ansem reports written by the impostor and it involved rather big words detailing a complicated but cruel psychological experiment involving a child, the heart, light and darkness, and long term effects.
No, no, Cloud wasn't very happy. Even less so with the conclusions he was drawing.
Leon.
Cloud halted halfway up the staircase, one foot hovering in the air above a step for a long moment before slowly thumping down onto the carpeted stone as a hand came up to grip the banister. His thoughts jumped from his infuriated need for answers to the broken brunet and the advice Yuffie offered.
Think a little about what you want
He sighed as he continued his journey up to the bedrooms, nodding to Aerith as he passed the thoughtful woman. As he neared the door to Leon's room, his footsteps grew unconsciously slower, eyes persistently straying to the half open door as he slowly drew to a stop in front of it; turning his body to fully face the doorway as he caught sight of Leon's profile as he slept, breath hitching.
Oh…
You'll know what I mean
Cloud closed his eyes, exhaling deeply before quietly slipping into the room.
Clarity.
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I don't' want to be Leon anymore, I don't want…to be what I've become…
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"It's not mine to tell Cloud, I've told you that." Aerith sighed tiredly, rubbing her eyes before staring at the adamant blond in front of her.
"…I'm going to keep asking."
"Cloud please…"
"He needs help, Aerith." Cloud ran a hand through his hair as he fixed a steely look on the distraught healer. "No one should have to go through this. I'll ask again: What happened?"
Aerith bit back frustrated tears as she stood up with her fists clenched at her sides. "And I'll tell you again: it's not mine to tell Cloud, if Leon wants you to know, he'll tell you."
Cloud stared at her silently for a moment before speaking. "Do you really think he would? This is Leon we're discussing."
"Squall would-"
"Leon, Aerith, not Squall."
"Leon is Squall! The only difference is the darkness surfacing in him now." She snapped, finally feeling her patience shatter. "For god's sake Cloud, what Squall went through was more than malicious cruelty on every level."
"Which is why he needs help." Cloud replied calmly. "What happened?"
Cloud was forced to duck out of range when Aerith gave a scream and threw a vase at his head before fleeing the room. Absently he wondered if maybe he could've handled that better.
As the door slammed behind Aerith, he realised that she'd told him something; whatever happened had put darkness in Leon.
A second later he slapped his forehead. Like he didn't already know that…
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I want to be Squall…
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TBC
Yaaaaaay! I feel like dancing! The agony is over…for this chapter at least. Please R&R.
I'm going to make a chocolate cake to binge on I'm so happy, Ja!