Title: 100 Steps To Somewhere
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Claim: Cloud/Riku
Theme: 064. Doors
Word Count: 6,378
Rating: M
Summary: Reno is a pain in the ass and Riku's got nothing to worry about.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Kingdom Hearts whatsoever other than I am a super obsessive fangirl. It all belongs to Disney and Square Enix. I've accepted this, and you should, too.
Author's Note: I accidentally typed Squall instead of Leon several times at the beginning of this story, only realized the slip up later, and giggled a little bit. This is not that interesting; it's just been that kind of a happy day.
Step Sixty-Four: Of Irritation and Gush
It was hours after Leon left. The dinner dishes were washed and put away. Denzel and Marlene were both in bed. There were a lot of distractions during the day between Tifa, the kids, and Vincent's demands that Cloud help out with the delivery service that he hardly had time to realize Leon was gone. With Leon gone, it was just him and Zack. Cloud didn't fully realize this until it was time to retire upstairs for the night.
"I'm gonna take a shower," said Zack. "Leave the window open for me, okay?"
Cloud looked around the bedroom and nodded. It felt so empty. He had always been so comfortable around Zack, but this . . . Cloud closed his eyes when Zack shut the door behind him and headed for the bathroom. He could do this. It didn't need to be this difficult. It was only now that he realized how valuable and relaxing Leon's presence had really been.
Dropping on the bed Cloud leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head, staring at the ceiling. Ordinarily he would entertain the idea of pretending to be asleep when Zack returned to avoid any tension. He might even call Leon and complain about how he had to come back, Sora be damned. Instead he leaned over the side and groped underneath the bed until his hand closed around his cell phone. Cloud glanced at the display and snickered.
He had forty-seven missed calls. All of them were from Reno.
"I really should call him back," Cloud murmured to himself.
He almost felt bad in a way. Reno didn't even know he'd taken the initiative to come to Gaea. It served him right, though. Reno was a pain in the ass. It was times like these that Cloud listened through all twenty-three messages that he wondered what had ever prompted him to sleep with Reno in the first place. No matter the circumstances saying that he had once had a relationship with Reno that was mostly rebound sex was embarrassing, especially if the person in question who knew this also happened to know Reno.
The messages kept cutting Reno off in the middle of sentences. The more Cloud deleted and the farther he got through them, the more Reno ended his sentences in 'yo.' He also sounded more desperate. Cloud chuckled as he deleted the last of them.
"Tomorrow, Reno. I'll call you tomorrow."
Cloud glanced toward the door and frowned. Zack always took forever in the bathroom (SOLDIER never really managed to break him of this, either); he should have time. Navigating through the menus he went into his contact list and found Riku's name. He knew he was resolved to have things calm down first, to talk to Reno and having something ready to tell, but there was a large void in his chest ever since the World that Never Was. He had to talk to Riku. It wasn't something like Cloud to readily admit, but he missed him so much that it hurt. It couldn't be ignored.
The phone rang seven times before Riku's voicemail picked up. Cloud frowned. It was pretty late. Riku shouldn't still be working on Roxas, or maybe he was. He flipped the phone shut and dialed again. The voicemail picked up for the second time. Cloud was starting to understand in a small way how Reno must feel.
"Hey, I just called, but you didn't answer, and then I called back so I guess you don't have your phone on you or something. I just wanted to check in." Cloud paused. This wasn't a conversation for voicemail. "Everyone's starting to remember Sora so I guess that means things are going well on your end. I . . . I also have to talk to you about something. It's kind of important. Don't worry or anything, it's not life-threatening, just give me a call when you get this message or when you get the time. I love you."
Cloud took a breath and closed his eyes tight. His heart pounded hard in his chest. Shiva, he missed him.
"I really do. I know I haven't been calling much, and things are messed up right now, but . . . I love you more than anything. I . . . Call me okay? I'll be waiting."
Cloud snapped the phone shut and stared at it for several seconds as if Riku were going to call him right back, but nothing happened. He dropped the phone over the side of the bed onto the floor and ran a shaky hand through his already disheveled blond hair. Call me back, he thought. Come on, Riku. I need you.
It was a scary feeling to need someone so much. Cloud was still mentally willing (praying?) for his phone to ring—so different from a few days when he was willing the opposite—when Zack walked in dressed in only loose pajama pants and squeezing water out of his hair. Cloud smirked.
"You're supposed to do that in the bathroom. Now Tifa's going to complain about you dripping all over the place."
"Let her complain. It's too steamy in there. I was overheating."
"Shouldn't the Mako make you less sensitive to heat?"
"I don't know. Maybe they messed up with me."
"Maybe. So I was thinking of calling Reno tomorrow and heading out to meet him and Rufus Shinra in Healen. Probably Rude, too, since Reno doesn't go anywhere without his other half. Did you want to come along?"
Zack raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I go along?"
"I don't know. I just thought you might want to help out on this Sephiroth-Kadaj and his gang thing. They're harassing you, too, after all. Finish things off. You were there when it started."
"What? Like we could fight side by side again or something?"
"Yeah. Something like that."
Zack smiled.
"I'd like that."
Cloud tried to smile back. It felt so weak. Unfortunately, Zack noticed.
"If you don't want me to . . ." said Zack.
"No, I do. I'd like it, too. We can finish things together—the way it should have been. I just . . . I don't know. I don't feel I have a whole lot to smile about these days."
Zack frowned and sat on the end of his bed. He gently nudged one of Cloud's legs until Cloud just rolled his eyes, lifted his leg, and dropped one foot in Zack's lap. His fingers immediately fell to his heel and rubbed circles there with his thumb.
"Things'll work out for you, Spiky. You've been through too much for them not to."
"I know. I . . . I called him, but he's not answering. I'm afraid I'm going to lose him."
"Things are really that bad?"
"They aren't bad. He's . . . he's having a hard time, and I'm not much help, you know?" Cloud sighed and shook his head. "Maybe I'm overacting. He just means a lot to me."
"I can tell."
"I'm sorry about everything. This isn't fair to you, either."
Zack frowned.
"Stop apologizing. It's getting old. I know you're sorry. I'm sorry, too. It just happened. I told you to get on with your life if it did. No one is at fault here."
"I know. I just feel bad and I don't know what to do about it."
Zack's fingers moved into the arch of his foot.
"Knock it off and relax. It'll make things a thousand times easier on me."
"Just like that?"
Zack laughed.
"Yes. Just like that."
"I want you to know that feels really freaking good. No one does shit like this for me anymore."
"What? You're pretty little Sephiroth clone doesn't rub your feet for you?"
"No, but I don't really ask, either. He probably would if I did."
"At least you've got that."
Cloud snorted. Zack arched an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
"I was just thinking you could ask Tifa."
"Heh. I'll take my chances asking Sephiroth first. There's always Marlene. She loves me."
"Yeah. Hey, there's always Leon. He needs to get laid."
"I think if anyone was going to be rubbing anyone's feet in that relationship, I'd be doing it to him. Besides, what makes you think that would lead to sex?"
Cloud snorted and shrugged.
"Oh, I don't know, Zack. Because it always used to? This'll probably be the first time it doesn't end in sex."
Zack snorted and moved to Cloud's other foot.
"Touché. That was a very astute observation for you."
"Thanks."
"Do you really think Squally would let me fuck him?"
Cloud laughed.
"Not if you call him Squally."
"I don't know. I think at this point he's in no position to turn down sex from anyone."
"Except maybe Yuffie."
"I like Yuffie! What's will all the Yuffie bashing? She was my girl."
"Her and Aerith."
"Yeah, but Aerith is a ball-buster."
"And Yuffie's not?"
"Good point. So's Tifa. Where are all those girls that are supposed to be made of sugar and spice and everything nice?"
"I don't know. I think it's there, but you only get to see it after they bust your balls. Look at Tifa with Vincent."
"I know! Doesn't it make you want to projectile vomit?"
"A little, yeah."
"I don't know. I think everyone turns a little gushy when they're in love, though. I was pretty spun out on you. You're disgustingly sweet about your mini-Sephiroth."
"He's nothing like Sephiroth, Zack. I mean, yeah, they kind of resemble each other, but . . . He's just nothing like Sephiroth."
"What? You mean he's not a psychotic mass-murderer with mommy issues?" said Zack in mock amazement. He laughed. "I know, okay? I'm just coping. Leave me be."
"Okay . . ."
Cloud really did smile this time as Zack dropped his foot and leaned back. Then he started laughing, which prompted Zack into laughter as well.
"Why are we laughing?" said Zack.
"I'm just picturing Leon gushy."
Zack howled.
"Poor Squally. He leaves us to our own devices and all we do is harass him in his absence."
"He'd expect no less of us."
"You're right. Wouldn't want to disappoint him. Keep laughing and try to imagine him calling someone his snuggle bunny."
-----0-----
Cloud called Reno around ten in the morning the following day after checking his phone to find no return call from Riku. They arranged to meet in Healen after a long, melodramatic verbal bashing that subsided a little when Cloud told him he was already in Edge. It subsided further when Cloud relayed the Zack Dropped from the Lifestream Incident and promised to bring him along.
After lunch, Zack and Cloud said goodbye to Tifa, Vincent, Marlene, and Denzel. They walked out to the garage where the bikes were waiting.
"Let me fill you in thus far about Kadaj and his gang," said Zack. "They're trouble. Like I said, I think they have something to do with Jenova and Sephiroth. They keep calling me brother, which probably has to do with the Jenova cells . . ."
"Mother," said Cloud in his best interpretation of Sephiroth.
"That's not funny. It's Kadaj's favorite word. There are three of them. Loz is the big, masculine-looking one. He cries easy. Yazoo is the overtly effeminate-looking one. He always speaks as if he's stoned. Kadaj is the one who can't keep his mouth shut. He's the crazy-sounding one."
"Gotcha. They're fucking weird and a lot of trouble."
"That's basically the gist. Let's hope we don't run into them out there. You got First Tsurugi?"
"All seven pieces."
"All right, then. Let's rock this shit."
Cloud snorted and rolled his eyes as he strapped on his goggles and mounted Fenrir. They rode from Edge toward the large hill overlooking Midgar (where Zack had died) and the Wilds. Cloud and Zack sped along side by side. As they traveled by the hill, Zack brought his bike in closer.
"Cloud!" Zack screamed, and motioned his head toward the hill. Cloud looked up to see three silver-haired figures silhouetted against the blinding sunlight. Two of the figures ran off and got on bikes themselves, speeding down the hill. His eyes narrowed.
"Kadaj?!" Cloud yelled back over the sounds of the engines. Zack nodded.
"And here they come! It's Loz and Yazoo! Get ready for a fight!"
Cloud nodded. Zack pulled the Buster sword from where it was harnessed to his back. Cloud reached toward his own harness and pulled out what he assembled earlier that morning of First Tsurugi. The wind rushed past his face as they rode on in the direction Tifa pointed to as Healen. Loz and Yazoo, however, were fast and they caught up, pulling next to either side of Cloud and Zack.
"Where's Mother?" screamed the one closest to Cloud. He raised his weapon, and Cloud snuck a glance. Big, masculine-looking one. Must have been Loz.
Cloud didn't think the blow would come so fast. The attack hit him hard and he swerved, almost colliding into Zack, who swerved himself and almost took the girly one—Yazoo, he figured—out. Cloud frowned and looked to Zack. Where's Mother? He supposed he meant Jenova considering what Zack, Tifa, Reno, and even Rufus Shinra must be theorizing, but what was that supposed to mean? Jenova was supposed to be long gone, and if that thing wasn't, Cloud didn't know what made them think he or Zack would even know where to find it. It wasn't like they cared.
"We know you hid her, Brother," said Yazoo.
Zack slowed down and dropped back as Yazoo leaned in for an attack. Cloud followed suit, swerving away from Loz, dropping back, and staying just ahead of Zack. His heart was racing. The monsters that crawled around this area weren't helping, and as Loz leaned his bike in front of Cloud's, he had to swipe at and take one out. His goggles went flying.
On his right, Zack slashed at the monsters while leaning around Yazoo and Loz. Cloud raised First Tsurugi to block an attack coming from Loz slightly ahead and to the left, and as they weapons collided a horrible pain seared, burning up through his left arm as if in his bones. Cloud hissed, wincing, and then all of a sudden Loz and Yazoo dropped back and withdrew. Yazoo signaled to the monsters to back off. Zack pointed to the hill where the only one who remained—Kadaj—was signaling Loz and Yazoo back to him. He stared at Cloud. Cloud stared back.
-----0-----
Cloud agreed to meet with Reno at Rufus Shinra's lodge in Healen. It was located in a thick wood of trees past a signpost reading "Healen Lodge/Geostigma Sanatorium/In love of silence." Zack and Cloud passed to the one lodge with its door wide open (the way he would know it was Rufus Shinra's lodge). Cloud killed the engine and Zack removed his goggles, climbing off his bike.
"What the hell was that back there?" said Cloud. "That was Kadaj and his crew?"
"Yeah. They've got those monsters out there under their control."
"What did he mean 'Where's Mother?' and they know we 'hid her'?"
"How am I supposed to know? I've been dead."
Cloud sighed. He moved to dismount and winced, gripping his left arm in pain. Zack frowned.
"What is it?"
"I think it's that bruise from the kids the other day. It burns like hell."
Cloud removed his hand from where he gripped his arm to look at the spot. It was larger than before, darker—almost black now instead of the blackish-purple it had been. Zack frowned.
"You said it burns?"
"Yeah, why?"
"That's . . . If I didn't know better . . ."
"What?"
"Geostigma. It's supposed to burn. I don't know how you'd get it so fast, though, or why. Tifa thinks I don't have it because of being in the Lifestream, but you . . . You helped the planet, didn't you?"
Cloud frowned and looked down at the bruised spot on his arm. Sephiroth was still alive, and Cloud had depended on it. The planet took care of the Heartless. The planet stopped Meteor. Maybe Zack had a loose definition of the word, but Cloud wouldn't exactly say he helped the planet at all.
"I don't know. Let's just go see what the hell Reno's been so adamant calling about."
Zack shrugged and nodded. They walked up the stairs to the lodge and entered. Cloud saw Reno right away, instantaneously recognizable by his wild, red hair. Zack stepped to the side, and Reno swiftly turned as they entered, striking out. First Tsurugi met the blow before Reno ever seemed to notice what had happened. Cloud stepped back, taking the defense. Zack sniggered as Reno grinned, pulled back, and plunged forward. Cloud took a casual step out of the way, and the inertia from the blow sent Reno straight outside. Zack's laughter increased when Cloud shut the door and leaned back against it. A knock sounded.
"Okay, so you're good," said Reno.
Cloud locked the door.
"That's a pleasant greeting," said Zack.
"What can I say?" said Cloud. "They love me here."
The door leading into the next room opened and Rude stepped through. He readied his weapon as well.
"Yeah, Rude, lookin' sharp!" cried Reno from outside the window.
"You're an idiot," said Zack.
Rude's gaze passed from Cloud to Zack to Reno's head peeking in through the window. His body relaxed.
"Good," said a voice from the next room. "You fight like the SOLDIER you once were."
Rude looked toward the door and raised his hands, yielding. A man clad from head to foot in cloth emerged from the room in an electric wheelchair. Only his right hand was exposed, covered in Geostigma welts.
"Rufus Shinra," said Zack.
"Do I feel sorry for you," said Cloud, directing his attention to Rude.
Rude looked away. Rufus nodded toward Zack.
"Fair."
"What do you want?" said Zack. "I'm under the impression Reno could be arrested for harassment with the way he's been calling Cloud."
Rufus cleared his throat.
"The day of the explosion, I—"
"What do you want from us?" said Cloud. Zack's eyes briefly flitted to him but his expression remained stoic and unmoved.
"I managed to get out of the building—"
"What's the deal with Kadaj and his gang?"
"—before it colla—"
"I'm leaving."
Cloud turned to the door. Zack took a step after him. Rufus sighed.
"We need your assistance, Cloud. You, too, if you're willing to offer it, Fair."
Cloud sighed. He met Zack's eye for a second and nodded. Cloud turned back toward Rufus Shinra in his pathetic, sorry state and leaned against the door again.
"What if I'm not interested?"
"I acknowledge that Shinra owes the planet a lot. It goes without saying that my company and I are the ones who put the world in the sorry state it's in. Therefore, it's our responsibility to set things right."
Reno rapped on the window.
"I'm still out here . . .?"
"As a first step, we have commenced an investigation in Sephiroth's wake," said Rufus, ignoring Reno's plea. Zack looked toward the window and rapped back on it.
"Yup, at the Northern Cave!" said Reno.
"What do you think we found?" said Rufus. "Nothing. Nothing at all. You can relax."
Zack sniggered.
"It probably helps that Sephiroth isn't dead, or didn't you get that memo?"
Cloud shifted his footing. He saw Rufus's fingers clench.
"Sephiroth has been defeated."
"Not for good. Cloud will tell you that."
"What happened at the cave?" said Cloud.
Rufus paused.
"Not all went as planned. We were interrupted . . . by the same three who attacked you two. Kadaj and his gang. It seems he doesn't want us finishing what we started."
"What does that have to do with us?" said Zack.
"You're our buddies, aren't ya?" called Reno.
Cloud kicked the door with his heel.
"Kadaj's group is young and violent," said Rufus. "As dangerous as they come. That's why we decided it might be in our best interest to hire a little muscle."
"And you think it has something to do with Sephiroth," said Zack. "Isn't that right?"
"There are . . . resemblances."
"Not interested," said Cloud. "I can take care of Sephiroth on my own. I don't need any meddling from Shinra. Kadaj and his gang are all yours."
"You're all we have. You're ex-SOLDIERs, aren't you?"
"Not of my own accord," said Cloud. "I'm not working with darkness anymore."
"SOLDIERs killed me," said Zack.
They turned to leave, but then Cloud turned back.
"What's this stuff about Mother?"
"Why, did Kadaj say something to you?" said Rufus. "No surprise. There are plenty of kids who miss their mothers."
"Bullshit," said Zack.
"True, it is one of the resemblances, but it's the world we live in. I hear there are orphans living with your friends, aren't there? Think about it ... Don't you want to put smiles back on their faces? All we want in the end ... is to rebuild our world."
Zack frowned. Cloud met his eyes.
"C'mon, Cloud," said Reno. "Think about it. Together we can rebuild Shinra!"
Any remorseful feelings Cloud might have had disappeared. Zack walked right for the door and waited as Cloud unlocked it.
"Not interested," said Cloud.
"Yeah," said Zack. "What he said."
Cloud strode out of the house and Zack followed, passing Reno on the way to their bikes.
-----0-----
"Can you believe the nerve of that guy?" said Cloud.
"I know!" said Zack. "He calls you there to rebuild Shinra? And he doesn't even have the decency to tell us what he really thinks about Kadaj. He completely shot down the obvious Mother problem. There's something going on. They must have found something at the Northern Cave."
"You think?"
"Reno was spilling all the wrong beans. Has to be."
"I didn't even want to help Rufus Shinra. I only came because of Sephiroth and Reno said more than he should have. I thought he'd be more of a help."
"Well, you did lock him outside. Couldn't help much from there."
"Sure he could have. He just wasn't inventive enough."
"You have issues with Reno."
"We dated for a brief time after you died. He was my heavy rebound. I begrudge him for every irritating second."
"I know. Tifa told me it was the highest form of self-abuse you've ever taken."
Cloud snickered.
"She would say something like that, but the funny thing is she dated him, too."
"Well I am not working for Rufus Shinra but I'll work with Rude and Reno. I have no problem there as long as they're honest. Shinra is out."
"I agree."
"Did you see Rufus Shinra's hand?"
Cloud sniggered.
"Oh, yeah. Man, the planet is really pissed off at him."
"I know, and that was just his hand. Can you imagine what's under all that cloth? This opens a lot of doors, though. I wonder what they found at the Northern Cave."
"Don't know."
As they sat there pondering in the bedroom, Cloud cell phone went off. He grumbled.
"If it's Reno I'm going to rip his head off and shit down his neck," said Cloud.
Zack sniggered.
"If it's Reno, tell him I'm available for my rebound fuck now. He can have us both."
"Come now. I had him. You think I'd let him fuck me?"
"You were the seme? But you're such the uke!"
"Nope. That was just you, dear."
Cloud grabbed his phone from the floor and glanced at the display. His stomach tied in knots as his smile fell.
"It's Riku."
Zack stopped sniggering. That sad, distant look crept back into his eyes.
"Go ahead. Answer it. I'll go downstairs."
Cloud bit his lip and nodded. He flipped the phone open as Zack stood before it went to voicemail.
"Hey," said Cloud.
"Hey," said Riku. "I got your message. I'm calling. You said it was important . . .?"
"Let me know when you're done, okay?" said Zack. "I'm going for a drink."
Cloud nodded.
"Okay."
"Okay?" said Riku. "Who was that? I heard a voice."
"That's kind of what I need to talk to you about."
Cloud got off the bed and walked to the door Zack just vacated, shutting it and turning the lock.
"Was it Vincent?"
"No . . . What's the last thing I told you?"
Riku was silent for a few seconds.
"That much has happened, huh?"
"You have no idea."
Riku sighed.
"You called Leon."
"But why did I tell you I called Leon?"
There was another long pause.
"Why?"
"Because I didn't tell you everything. I . . . Don't be upset, okay? I just wasn't ready to tell you, and now . . ."
"I thought you said I wasn't supposed to worry."
"I did. You shouldn't. It's just . . ." Cloud sighed. "It's important. Or not really . . . it's big."
"How big?"
"Big enough that you're going to freak out."
"You said I didn't have to worry! This sounds like I should!"
"Calm down, Ri. I said you're going to freak out. It doesn't mean you should."
Riku sighed.
"What's going on?"
"That was Zack."
"Zack . . .?"
"Zack. Zack Fair. My formerly dead ex-boyfriend, Zack."
Riku said nothing. Cloud sighed.
"He was here at Tifa's when I got here," said Cloud. "As Tifa and Zack tell it, after the Lifestream took out all the Heartless it started chucking out dead people and Zack was one of them. I didn't tell you before because I was kind of in shock, and I knew there was no way I was going to be able to assure you that it wouldn't affect us in the state I was in."
"So what you're telling me is your boyfriend . . ."
"Ex-boyfriend."
"He was only your ex-boyfriend because he died."
"And now he's my ex-boyfriend because I'm over him. Listen, Ri, just . . . hear me out."
". . . Okay. Go on."
There a terse tone to his voice that made the muscles in Cloud shoulders, back, and neck pull taut.
"Zack was here when I got here, and I lost it. I was in shock. To make matters worse, Zack doesn't remember being dead, so it's an abrupt end for him, and Tifa's determined to see us back together. I called Leon because I was worried about how you were going to take it and I felt bad just flat out telling Zack that I still care about him, but I'm not in love with him anymore. Leon was here for a few days to help me get my head together, but he headed back to Hollow Bastion when we started remembering Sora."
"You're not convincing me, Cloud."
"I'm not in love with him anymore." Cloud said these words slowly and controlled. "It's true that he wants us to get back together, and Tifa wants to see us together, but I want to be with you. I'm in love with you. Now that he's back I'm more assured than ever that you mean so much more to me than he ever did. I want you. I love you. I miss you so much it hurts."
There was a soft sound on the other end. Cloud frowned.
"Ri . . . Are you crying?"
"No."
"Riku . . .?"
"This is just perfect, isn't it? I'm not exactly in a position for a relationship right now looking the way I do, and then the love of your life who's supposed to be dead just comes walking back in. It's like fate."
"It's not fate, Riku. It's Shinra pissing off the planet. It's unusual, and I'm happy he's back. I care about him, but he's my friend. I don't want to be with him."
"You say that now, but what about later when I still look like this. I mean . . . I love you, too, but . . . I'm not me anymore. I'm not . . ."
Cloud frowned. He dropped to the bed.
"What's been going on over there, Ri? This doesn't sound like you."
"Of course it doesn't. I'm fucking Ansem."
"What . . .?"
"DiZ. He wanted to know my true name. I told him it was Ansem. I . . . Naminé . . . Roxas . . . Sora's almost completely restored, but . . . it's a disaster here, Cloud. I want to go home, and I don't even mean Destiny Islands. I want to go there, too, but . . . I miss you so much."
"Ri, it's okay. Tell me what's going on."
"And you're going to run off with Zack because you were in love with him and I'm a mess . . ."
"I'm not going to run off with Zack. I don't care if you look like Ansem for the rest of your life; I'm going to be with you."
"I care! I don't want to be like this for the rest of my life! I don't want you to be with me like this. You should just . . . It's just too perfect. You should be with Zack."
"It would only be perfect if I wanted Zack, which I don't. You won't be like this the rest of your life; I'm just saying that if you were, I'd be with you anyway. I'm not giving you up so don't try to push me away. We promised, remember?"
There was another soft, stifled sound. Cloud's frown deepened.
"Yeah. I remember, but . . ."
"No 'buts'. I'm not giving you up. Got it?"
". . . Got it."
"Tell me what's going on."
There was a long pause.
"It's horrible. I haven't even had time to think about how I'm going to make things up to Leon because I'm too busy running after Roxas for DiZ. DiZ wants me to 'dispose' of Naminé, and she's all okay with this because she's just a Nobody and if she disappears, she'll be whole again, but I don't want her to disappear. She's my friend. Roxas is no happier about going back to Sora than he was in the World that Never Was, though at least he's less violent about it. He's not supposed to know anything, but Naminé was determined that he had to hear it, and now that he has he's really upset. Organization XIII found their way into the system so I've been chasing around Nobodies. I finally found out DiZ's real goal is revenge, I didn't get to go to the beach, I'm trapped inside this body that isn't mine, Leon hates me, and now your dead ex-boyfriend isn't dead anymore."
Cloud's eyes widened as his eyebrows rose. He blinked.
"Okay. Leon doesn't hate you. Zack is no threat to you, and one day I plan on introducing you to further prove it. I can't comment on anything else except it will get better. Keep your head up."
"I miss you," said Riku. His voice sounded almost desperate. "I want to be with you. I want you to hug me. I want a hug."
"Riku, remember when all the bad stuff was going on with Maleficent?"
"Is this a trick question?"
"No."
". . . Yeah. Why?"
"Remember how you just kept going because you saw the end goal?"
"I messed that up."
"You couldn't know what Maleficent was really up to. Whatever DiZ's motive is, it isn't against Sora. If anything, it sounds like he wants revenge against Organization XIII. You can't help with revenge. That's his issue, but it doesn't get in the way of your goal so it doesn't matter. As far as Naminé, if she's happy about getting to be whole again, then you need to let her go. If you need a friend, I'm always here for you. Forever. And Leon doesn't hate you, so you have him, too. Roxas is needed to be part of Sora, and it's only natural if you feel bad about taking away his life since Sora was your best friend, but he'll be whole, too, just like Naminé says."
Riku sighed.
"I know. And I won't look like this forever, right?"
Cloud smiled.
"I know it's hard. It's hard for me, too, right now, but we'll pull through this together, and I promise that the next time I see you—Ansem-looking or not—I will give you the biggest hug you've ever gotten."
Riku laughed a little.
"Okay. You won't let me go until I'm ready?"
"I'm never letting you go, but literally speaking, no. I'll hold you until you're ready to let go."
". . . Okay."
"I miss you, too."
"I'm still not happy about your dead ex-boyfriend being undead."
"You have nothing to worry about. We're sharing a room, but there are two beds, and I've been very firm about letting him know that we are not getting back together. I've told him a bit about you. Oh . . . heh . . . I kind of told Leon about the Ansem-looking thing."
". . . What?"
"Yeah. Well, he wanted to know about your voice, and I know you were going to tell him anyway, so I thought it was better if he had time to process it before he heard it from you. I also thought it might take a little strain off of you—no pressure to tell him, and no extreme initial reaction."
Riku sighed.
"I guess you're right. I wasn't looking forward to that conversation."
"So no pressure. Leon knows, and he doesn't look at you differently except perhaps think that you're far stronger than he ever thought. I also want to let you know that I've let go the last of my jealousy about your friendship with Leon."
"Really?"
There was a hint of amusement in his tone. It made Cloud smile.
"Yeah. I finally realized that Leon was just profoundly lonely and I've decided I need to get him laid. I've recruited Zack in this mission, and you can feel free to join. By the way, Zack calls Leon 'Squally,' so if you ever hear anything about a Squally . . ."
"You're trying to get Leon laid now?"
". . . Zack's been a bad influence."
"You're having a really good time, aren't you?"
Cloud snorted.
"Absolutely not. I've been having a terrible time. We just use humor to keep from going insane. Zack's especially good at it because he's got an astoundingly good memory for someone who can't remember being dead. You know how back in Hollow Bastion Yuffie is our easy target?"
"Yeah."
"Leon is Zack's easy target."
"You saying that makes me want to like him, and I don't want to like him, Cloud. I want to be threatened, and hate him, and not ever have good feelings about him."
"You have nothing to worry about. One day you're going to meet him, and I get the bad feeling that after the initial hostility you'll become the best of friends, get Sora in on it, and the three of you will rip Leon and me to shreds."
"What's going on with Sephiroth?"
"Don't know. I got attacked by Kadaj's gang today, though. Me and Zack went to meet up with Reno, and we got attacked, and then Rufus Shinra wanted us to be the muscle behind rebuilding Shinra. He also lied out his ass about not thinking Kadaj and Sephiroth were connected. It's a bunch of bull."
"Sounds it."
"I don't know. I'm thinking about meeting with Reno and Rude privately."
"Rude is Reno's partner, right?"
"Yep. You're starting to get it."
"Starting to. Well . . . I really should get to bed. Sora's almost at one-hundred percent, and I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I'll call you when it's all over, though, and let you know. I just wanted to hear your voice and find out what was so important."
"Don't stress about it. I'm going to ask you to marry me when you finish school. Zack is not part of our plan except maybe be the first asshole to makes jokes about our age difference at the wedding."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is. That's what we promised."
"No, it's not. Homosexuals can't get married. You're asking me for a commitment ceremony."
"Maybe they can't get married on Destiny Islands, but it's perfectly legal in Hollow Bastion."
". . . Are you serious?"
"No, of course not. There are just gay couples running rampant, no one thinks it's weird, and gays and straights can coexist at the same club without any problems. Homosexuality is totally an issue on Hollow Bastion."
"That was sarcasm."
"Yes, it was."
"So . . . you mean . . .?"
"If you wanted to move to Hollow Bastion after you finish school . . . yeah. We could if you wanted me to ask you for that instead."
"Is that what you want?"
"I just practically told you it is."
". . . Okay. Then . . . yeah. I want you to ask me that."
"Okay. Good. Then you have nothing to worry about with Zack, and I will call you more often to check in just so you can know how much I miss you, how much I love you, and how gushy I've become over you."
"Okay. I'd like that."
Cloud could hear the smile in his voice. He grinned.
"Me too. Now get to bed. Who knows what tragedy awaits tomorrow? You'll want to be well-rested."
"Okay. I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Goodnight."
Cloud smiled.
"Night. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
". . . I'm holding you to that."
"I figured you would."
"Until tomorrow, then. Night."
Cloud couldn't help the grin even if it felt like it was breaking his face.
"Night."
The line disconnected and Cloud snapped his phone shut, staring at it for several seconds before he headed for the door to retrieve a possibly drunk Zack. He tried to unscrew the smile, but it refused to move.
So, aptly, this chapter got gushy, but I think it really needed to before Cloud and Riku beat themselves into oblivion.
I included almost the entire scene from Advent Children with Reno, Rude, and Rufus Shinra for several reasons. 1. I think it's the funniest effing scene ever, and 2. The prompt was doors, and I love Reno getting shut out like that. Adding Zack to the mix just made it funnier. Don't expect everything in the Gaea/Midgar area to be this in-line with canon.
I don't know where the marriage thing came from at all. I was just thinking about all the sexy boys in Hollow Bastion and reading about gay marriage laws, so yeah . . . they're different worlds, right, and even our world has managed to legalize it in places like Canada and some countries in Europe. I'm all about it. So, yes.
Besides, I think commitment ceremonies are degrading. I have strong, unyielding views on sodomy and gay marriage laws.
Thanks to everyone who reads/reviews/favorites or whatever. All my love.
-D