Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, its characters or storyline. This collection is mine, as are McCallister, Jake Alms, and Duke. Enjoy!

..:-X-:..

197 – Sleeping Dogs

For Eva Von Dee

It wasn't the loss of sensation in his legs, the pain in his side, or even the jagged shard of rock sticking out of his body that told Leon that he was in trouble. It wasn't the cold stone floor of the Underworld against his back or the horror on the faces of Cid's recruits as they swarmed in or even Hades' leering smile that told him he was about to die.

What made his insides—what was left of them—turn cold was the sight of the three creatures beside Hades. The three women who shared the Eye—Past, Present, and Future. The Fates. It wasn't quite the sight of them, it was the long string that they were pulling taut between them while the third lifted an ancient pair of scissors.

That's when he knew he was sunk.

"Ah, the cavalry's here." Hades remarked nonchalantly as Cid entered, his group of recruits momentarily paling at the sight of Leon bleeding all over the floor. "Too bad you're late."

"Shut your fuckin' mouth." Cid growled, sounding like an echo.

Then the man was beside Leon, on his knees, grabbing at his belt for a potion. He kept sliding in and out of focus.

"Testy, testy." Hades said smugly. "You should watch your blood pressure; wouldn't want to make this a two for one sale."

The Fates cackled and lifted the scissors. Leon found himself just watching them. He couldn't move, could barely think for the pain slamming across his body, and Cid was being—what was he doing?

"Cid—"

"Hold on, I'm putting pressure on it." He said, folding his palms over the worst of the bleeding…where the shard was sticking—

"Pull it out."

"You're delirious. You'll bleed out."

"Ah, c'mon." Hades sneered. "Give a dying man his last—"

The end of the sentence was cut off as something tackled one of the Fates holding Leon's life string. The other two sisters squawked in surprise as one of Cid's soldiers wrestled with the Fate. Hades snorted.

"And we've got buy one, get two free!" He stated, snapping his fingers.

Heartless began to materialize and the rest of Cid's squad engaged them. Leon felt rather detached from the situation, his only thought being that he wanted that shard of rock out of him…If he was going to die—

Cid pulled on the shard and a scream tore out of Leon's throat before he could stop it. If he wasn't dying before, he was now.

"Damn." Cid cursed, grabbing up a potion.

"Why did you—" Leon started.

"You said—"

"I've been impaled and you listen to me?" He wheezed.

"Need more healing items. Burned through all the ether just breaking into this place…Leon? Stay with me, man." Cid's words sounded far away.

His vision was tunneling and nausea was boiling through his chest. He had lost too much blood. He shouldn't even be alive, much less conscious and lucid—the string…the Fates.

The soldier fighting the Fates screamed as one of the creatures stabbed the scissors into the soldier's thigh. The pitch was a woman's voice, and familiar—

"McCallister, you can't kill the Fates!" Cid barked. "Get over here and help me stop this bleeding."

"I'm buying time for you to—" She was thrown sideways.

"Get over here, private!" Cid ordered.

McCallister rolled a bottle of elixir across the floor, wrenching the scissors from her thigh and snatching up Leon's gunblade, where it had landed.

"HEAL HIM!" She yelled back, jumping at the Fate with the string again.

Cid picked up the elixir, uncorked it, and dumped the contents across Leon's abdomen. It burned for a second and then a cool relief spread all across Leon's body. As his senses returned, he saw Cid shake his head.

"When we get out of this mess, that bitch is all yours."

..:-X-:..

198 – Romantic Stunt

For raiko. EXE

Leon was halfway through the T's in the alphabetized report listing when the door to the apartment opened and Tifa dragged herself in. From where he was working at the table, he could see the stress lines on her face.

She trudged in, across the living room, and leaned against the couch.

"Long day?" He prompted.

She hung her head. "Horrible day."

He closed the report. "What happened?"

"I don't even want to talk about it."

"Fair enough."

She rubbed her forehead and then straightened. "What's that smell?"

He glanced at the kitchen and back to her. "I overcooked some rice."

She blinked at him, paused, and then groaned. "I forgot."

He watched her crumble onto the couch like a wet paper bag. "You had a long day. It's not a big deal."

"But you cooked." She mumbled pathetically. "You told me you were going to cook for me tonight and I forgot."

"Tifa, it's not a big deal." He reiterated. "Things happen."

She looked like she might cry for a wild second, but then she swallowed and fiddled with her hair, the way she did when she was nervous. Leon studied her out of the corner of his eye. Something was on her mind.

"I was tired. All day I've been exhausted." She suddenly said, rubbing her forehead with her palm. "I wasn't alert."

He didn't say anything. She was going somewhere with this, and it must be a doozy if she was starting the divulgence like this, so he let her take her time to put her words together.

"I took my squad to Traverse Town. Was there all day. A world had been taken by the Heartless, so the districts were packed with refugees…I thought we could help sort through the chaos." Her eyes were glassy and focused on the wall.

He remained quiet, all too familiar with the panic rush of a world's collapse in Traverse Town. Waiting for her to continue in her own time, he stood and went into the kitchen. She probably hadn't eaten yet, had probably forgotten to, and what were microwaves for?

"They were a world of warriors, so the survivors were pretty battered and stubborn…" She went on. "The man who took control of the situation…I don't know if he was the leader, but the shoe fit. He worked with me all day…All day."

He quietly rummaged through the kitchen. The meal he'd cooked several hours earlier had gone bad—he'd spent too long playing the "maybe in five more minutes" game, so that wouldn't do. There were some leftovers in the fridge and a gallon of ice cream in the freezer, as well as a bottle of Jack in the cabinet. He frowned. Sloppy joes and macaroni leftovers…Not exactly the romantic dinner he'd been attempting.

"I've seen it before; I should have picked up on the signs." She continued. "But he seemed fine…all day…until he suddenly just collapsed…by then there was nothing to do about it."

While she got closer to what was bothering her, Leon heated up the leftovers, grabbed the whiskey, and went to sit next to her on the couch.

"He had been bleeding internally all day and I didn't notice." Her voice quivered. "He died because I didn't—"

"Don't do that." He interrupted gently. "It wasn't your fault."

"But—all day—"

"These things happen." He really needed to look into how to give words of comfort. "You should eat something…and have a strong drink." He offered.

She exhaled. "I'm sorry. I was so caught up, I forgot that you—"

"I can cook again tomorrow." He said. "You want the TV on to take your mind off things?"

"No, I just need some quiet." She said, slowly eating.

"I can do that." He sat back against the couch beside her.

And they just stayed like that for a while.

..:-X-:..

199 – Public Opinion

For raiko. EXE

"So are you two dating now or what?" Yuffie blurted, while the whole Restoration Committee was at Merlin's house that morning.

A beat passed as everyone looked around, confused.

"Who exactly are you asking?" Merlin asked, perplexed.

"Anybody!" Yuffie threw her hands up. "Aerith and Cloud are always together. Leon and Tifa just bought a house together. And Cid and that bartender lady are screwing around—"

"Hey!" Cid interjected. "I buy her dinner first."

Aerith and Tifa both looked at him with slightly disturbed expressions. Cid looked unashamed and leaned back, holding the flashlight for Leon, who was wedged between the wall and the back of the computer, tinkering with the cables and wires. Only his legs were visible from where Aerith and Tifa were on the couch. Yuffie shook her head and looked to Aerith.

"Does Cloud buy you dinner first?" She snickered.

"Yuffie!" Aerith scolded, face red.

"Okay, so you two are dating," Yuffie pointed to Aerith, "You two are screwing around," She pointed to Cid, who rolled his eyes. She looked to Tifa. "So what are you?"

Tifa looked at her flatly, and then noticed Aerith and Cid were looking at her for an answer. "Oh, come on." She tilted her head.

Leon's foot nudged Cid's leg. "Light."

Cid glanced behind the computer, adjusting the flash light. "Hey, you and Tifa: friends, lovers, or friends with benefits?"

Aerith and Yuffie's eyes shot to the computer, while Tifa's just rolled.

"Yes." Was Leon's response.

"That's not an answer!" Yuffie sounded indignant.

A knock on the door saved Leon from placating the girl, and it opened before Merlin could answer it. Jake Alms poked his head in.

"Hello, hello." He greeted smugly.

"We're not home." Tifa said blandly.

A dog barked on the other side of the door. Leon jerked and there was a thud and a curse.

"Cut the shit, Alms. What do you want?" Cid said.

"I come bearing gifts!" He answered in a singsong voice.

He opened the door more widely and Tifa blinked in surprise as Duke tore past Alms, bolting into the house like she owned the place. She ran a circle around Yuffie, jumped on the couch, licked Tifa's knee, and darted toward the computer, where Leon was just crawling out.

For a split second, Tifa saw the five year old escape from inside Leon, as he was tackled by the dog. Cid snorted and patted the retriever on the back before shimmying out of the way.

"How did you—" Tifa smiled, looking to Jake.

He looked smug. "Turns out her real owners couldn't handle her. She barked all hours of the night, chewed on everything, and basically gave them all Hell."

"So they just handed her over?" Tifa asked, watching Leon fighting Duke, who was determined to lick him silly…though he wasn't fighting too hard.

"Well, I had a quiet stray who looked like her, made a trade…They were glad to be rid of her." Jake shrugged.

"Thank you." Tifa said sincerely…because Leon probably wouldn't.

He smirked and shrugged, waving as he left.

Aerith stood by Tifa. "You guys should be nicer to him."

"Welcome home, mutt." Cid lit a cigarette as Duke, still on Leon's chest, barked and remained where she was as Leon ruffled her fur.

"Geez, Duke, at least buy him dinner first." Yuffie quipped.

..:-X-:..

A/N: Awkward chapter is awkward.

I don't know what happened with this one...Just...lost my mojo for a while there. Hopefully it'll find its way home for the next update. Thanks for reading anyway! XD