I apologize for the shorter-than usual-chapter (last chapter). Hopefully, I can make up for it in this one.
"I cannot, for the life of me, think of a good reason for taking off with Sephiroth without telling me…"
"I also can't, for the life of me, figure out why Sephiroth took off with Sora…and then went to Tidus's place…"
Sora only shrugged as Cloud shook his head at him. The two stood inside their home, right by the front door, after Tidus just dropped the boy off and Cloud finally shook Leon off when he slammed the door in his face.
"I'm sorry, Dad…"
Cloud looked at his son in surprise, his eyes almost widening because of it.
"I'll stop running off so much without letting you know where I'm going…I promise!"
After blinking a few times to make sure he's still awake and not dreaming, Cloud lets out a sigh.
"I'm sorry too…I should be giving you a little bit more freedom anyway."
Sora found himself smiling just a bit. Before Cloud let him go, Sora quickly gave Cloud a hug, that he didn't see coming, before retreating to his room.
Upon getting on the computer, Sora was greeted with a message from Leon. Leon briefly summarized what happened to him that day, including Cloud coming to his house. It also confirmed that Cloud really did punch Reno. Now Sora was confused to why Cloud didn't bring that up.
Sora was now tempted to ask Leon if it was true that he drank with Seifer at one point in his life and if it was true that he…Sora didn't even want to think about it…
The boy sighed and lowered his hands from the keyboard. For some reason he can't bring himself to ask Leon if he really did physically hurt his father in a relationship or just anything about the relationship. It was too personal and he frankly didn't really want to hear the truth from Leon if he did hurt Cloud in ANY way. It scared Sora to no end. Thinking to his, and Roxas's, crush on Axel…Sora can't imagine how he'd feel if Axel used physical violence.
"Broken…battered…crushed…hurt beyond what I can imagine…" Sora guessed and it was only then he realized how hurt it must've been for Cloud. Then he thought of what he'd do if Roxas was the one that suffered from abuse. Well for one, Sora would beat the crap out of whoever hurt his brother, even if it does turn out to be Axel. Yet…
"Why don't I feel that way for Leon?" Sora groaned in frustration, knowing no matter how he looked it: he couldn't be completely angry with Leon, "Is it because…we're officially blood-tied now? He's family…isn't he?"
Sora found himself staring at his e-mail, tempted to reply to Leon and ask him about his past. A part of him wanted to hear Leon's side of the story but he was afraid to bring up bad memories for the man. Yet Sora partially did believe that it would be the same story as what everyone else said…
With a sigh, Sora simply replied that he was fine since Leon also started questioning why he went out with Sephiroth.
The boy felt he'd be crushed and even feel hurt if everything he heard today came from Leon's mouth…so he simply just kept it to himself. Still Sora didn't feel he was done investigating.
"Roxy," Sora whispered and gently knocked on his brother's door.
"What?" Roxas replied when he opened it.
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah…and why are you whispering?"
"Oh just let me in!"
Upon stepping into his brother's room, Sora took luxury on the bed.
"Roxy, you've been swimming with Dad before right?"
"So have you," Roxas reminded as he went over to his desk with his computer.
"Yeah but you're more detail oriented than me…have you ever noticed anything on Dad's body that seems…off?"
Roxas gave his brother a strange look before shrugging.
"I don't know…he never actually swims with us. He sits on the side with a shirt on."
"Oh…right…" well now Sora knew why he couldn't remember…he never saw it! He was so sure that if he found that Cloud's body was bare of any old scars or bruises, then it pretty much confirms the violence in the relationship.
"Well have you ever seen anything that Dad owns that seem a bit off to you?"
"Well that giant sword hanging in his room is odd enough as it is," Roxas replied with a shrug.
"Besides that I mean! What about pictures? Or…I don't know! Anything but that!"
"I don't know, Sora…" Roxas lightly groaned and threw his head back to rest on the chair, "Dad really seems normal…well mostly. I've always thought he was depressed but he's pretty normal for a depressed person."
"Well, how do we fix it?"
"I don't know," Roxas shrugged, "I don't even know why Dad acts this way. We know nothing of his past. For all we know, we were probably both adopted!"
"I'm pretty sure we're blood-related, Roxas."
"Why are you asking these things anyway?" Roxas asked and lifted his head.
"Huh? Uh…no reason…"
"Sora," Roxas said the name sternly, "Really, what's going on and why are you suddenly trying to research Dad?"
"Nothing! I'm just curious!"
"Right…and what sparked your curiosity?"
"Well…I guess when Dad met Leon! Normally I'm the one that sparks emotion like that!" It wasn't a total lie, right?
"Hmm…that's true…maybe Dad just hates brunettes."
"Gee thanks, Roxas!"
"But really Sora, you've been acting really strange lately. I'm a little worried. So is Axel when I told him about it."
"Axel was worried about me?" Sora asked with sparkles in his eyes, a.k.a. hope.
"Er…yeah," Roxas nodded, not believing he said that, "But really, Sora: what's going on? For crying out loud you took off with Riku's dad today! What the heck was that all about?"
"Um…nothing! We just…I just…needed to ask him something! Something that…only he would know?"
"What? How he got his hair to be that color?"
"…Yeah!"
"You're such a liar!" Roxas reached over to his stress back to throw at Sora who tried to block it but it got his head anyway, "Why can't you tell me the truth, Sora?!"
"It's complicated, Roxy! Don't get mad!" Sora pleaded, going on his knees while still on the bed.
"You don't tell me ANYTHING anymore!"
"Well this has a good reason!"
"So you admit you're hiding something!"
Sora mentally slapped himself for letting that slip.
"Again, Roxy, it's for good reason! Trust me just this once? Please?"
"…" Roxas only stared Sora down with a firm look on his face.
"Roxy? I'll let you have Axel!"
Confusion was spelled out on Roxas's face from that comment.
"I can't tell if you were serious or joking…"
"I'm serious! Just trust me, Roxas! I promise I'll tell you when, um, we're all ready to hear it. It's complicated!"
"Well…alright I guess," Roxas sighed and spun his chair back around to his computer, "But I rather keep our pact...unless you stopped liking him of course."
"W-Well I…" Sora went into quick thought. If what happened to Cloud happened in high school…then perhaps Roxas and himself should be careful with dating at this age, "Yeah…I won't lie that I do still like him. I just wanted you to trust me."
"Alright then," Roxas nodded and Sora could see Roxas browsing the internet, "I trust you Sora…just please tell me soon."
"Okay, thank you, Roxas!"
Sora will officially never doubt Roxas or take him for granted again! He's the best brother ever!
Of course…after that warm moment blew over Sora realized he's still back to square one…
"Hey Roxas um…you're smart…"
"I know I am…"
"What's mako?" Sora only had a vague idea of what it was…but he more or less knew what it CAN do but not what it is. Though if anyone can explain it to him, it's Roxas.
Roxas spun around again and gave Sora a strange stare.
"Why do you ask? We went over this in History…which you slept through…" Roxas frowned upon answering himself, "Well mako is something used for energy; like for weapons. But it was also used on soldiers. However, due to it being extremely dangerous and many people suffering from mako poisoning and even dying from exposure to mako, it's been banned. The only place you can even find anything like mako is materia, the solid form of it, on the black market."
Sora slowly nodded without a work.
"…You didn't get half of that did you?"
"No…" Sora shook his head and the twins sighed in unison.
"Look at it this way: It's like radioactive material that affects people and their genetic make-up."
"Ooh, okay!" Sora nodded in more understanding but he went back to being serious, "But is it possible for normal people to get exposed to mako?"
"Hmm…" Roxas placed a hand on his chin and spun himself back and forth in his spot, "I think it CAN be possible. I believe the mako came from a river so I guess if people fell in it or something then yeah."
"Okay that makes sense…" Sora stared hard at Roxas until Roxas raised a brow at him, "Can mako…be passed on? Like someone with mako got married and they had kids, then would the kids have it?"
"I don't know, Sora. I think it's possible if mako has that strong of a reaction to someone's genetic make-up but…I don't know. That's never been brought up."
"I see…"
"Why, you think mako can give you superpowers or something?" Roxas asked with a chuckle.
"Er…yeah!" Sora agreed for the sake of not needing to tell Roxas anything. Though…Roxas's eyes are just as blue as yesterday and years before that. It was only when they were little that he remembered when it…glowed. Glowed just like Cloud's.
Leon picked up his phone the moment it started to ring. A part of him hoped it was Sora and a part of him was afraid it was Cloud.
Sora
Thank the lord.
"Sora?"
"Leon!" Sora sounded breathless so Leon was worried the boy ran away again and he has to go pick him up…
"Leon! Dad he…Dad was never, you know, in the army right?"
"…Do I want to know why you're asking this?"
"Well…Dad was exposed to mako right? But he was in school with you so I just wanted to know how he got exposed to it."
"I don't know."
"You don't know?!"
"No…when he told me he's been exposed to mako, it made no difference to me."
"Oh…well that's nice of you…" Sora lightly whispered, glad Leon saw past that at least, "Leon…I feel really bad."
"For what?" Leon asked in concern and he can hear Sora sigh loudly,
"For hiding this from Roxas!"
"Really?" Leon was half amused and half proud, "That's really interesting Sora considering when we first agreed to hide this you didn't seem to mind hiding it."
"Oh…yeah I guess so…but I don't know how much longer I can hide this from Roxas."
"Sora…just tell him when you're ready and when you believe he is ready. You know him well now, don't you?"
"Yeah…" Sora slowly nodded as he lied in bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Sora! Roxas! Don't leave the house! I'll be right back!" Cloud shouted and Sora jumped out of bed, opening the door in time to hear Roxas give a reply.
"Where are you going?" Sora called out when Cloud's hand reached the front door. Sora could see Cloud in his leather get-up, which he assumes was a substitute for a jacket since Cloud claims that leather is warm though Sora saw no logic to that.
"Just placing an order."
"Oh…okay then."
"Be good, Sora," Cloud warned with a stern voice and finger pointing at him.
"Okay…bye Dad."
Cloud nodded and quickly left. Sora quickly glanced at the nearest clock to see it's already 9.
"Leon…do you still want to talk to Dad?"
"Why was that him?" Leon asked, only catching parts of the conversation.
"Yeah…he said he's going out and will be right back. Saying he's going to place an order so I think he's visiting our town's Moogle."
"…Thank you, Sora," Leon whispered and Sora can hear the man moving.
"I just thought…if you do love him you can make him happy again…"
"That's what I hope for too, Sora…"
He loved living here mainly because the town is pretty active at night too. All the stores were lit and open until 10 and the streets lights were bright enough for anyone to see. Yet unlike the daytime when it's crowded, there's far less people at night but just enough so that Cloud doesn't feel like he's the only one walking around. Reaching a small open window between two stores, Cloud knocked on the wood until a Moogle popped up. Cloud silently handed a bag of materials to the creature before requesting a ribbon and a strength ring.
"What are they for, Kupo?" the little creature asked as is swirled its spoon around in the pot.
"A gift to my friend's daughter. Her birthday is coming up. And while I was at it I thought I might as well my friend something too since I haven't seen or talked to them in so long," Cloud replied as the ribbon was being made.
"How nice, Kupo!"
Cloud waited until both items were quickly made. Paying the Moogle and quickly adding a letter to the packaged items, Cloud requested his gifts to be sent to Cid and use his name so it's cheaper to deliver them up to Twilight Town to Barret and Marlene.
"Thank you for your business, kupo! You should head home; it's going to rain soon, Kupo!"
"Yes, thank you for the reminder. Goodnight," Cloud lightly waved before heading home. He glanced at the dark sky filled with dark clouds…sometimes he hated his name…
"Cloud!"
Especially if his name as was said with THAT voice!
Looking back to the street in front of him was Leon, panting and catching his breath.
"Oh hell no…" Cloud wanted to curse whatever sort of god or goddess is up there if there is one. Though Cloud didn't stop walking, he just walked around Leon and kept going, "I'm not dealing with you!"
"Cloud!" Leon shouted and followed, "Cloud wait, please. We have to have a talk sooner or later! You can't keep avoiding me!"
"Yes I can!"
"Cloud! You can't expect me to completely ignore this after finding you again and discovering I have two children!"
"Why not? You were pretty good at ignoring me before," Cloud threw the comment over his shoulder before he walked a bit faster though Leon only kept up.
"Cloud, can't we sit down and talk about this in a calm matter? Because I honestly can't think straight while trying to (make sure you don't run away) keep up with you," Leon said the middle part in his head but Cloud made no comment anyway, "Cloud, please…"
"Go away, Squall! Before I file a restraining order!" Cloud threatened without looking over his shoulder.
"Cloud…" Leon whispered as he continued to tail Cloud, "Please, just hear me out…"
Cloud immediately halted and turned around to send Leon an angry glare.
"Here you out?" Cloud asked, and shook his head in disbelief, "Last time I did that, I ended up crying myself to sleep on my birthday! You passed out in the middle of your explanation from staying up until 2 a.m. with Seifer drinking! Then I got yelled at the following morning for not moving you! Obviously you forgot I don't have the strength to budge you and you didn't realize I at least gave you blanket!"
"……Um…S-Sorry…I'm sorry," Leon felt stupid but also a chunk of guilt stabbed through his heart. The man couldn't think of anything else to say besides an apology.
"You're sorry! That's all you ever say now!"
"Well what do you want me to say?"
"Nothing! Squall, I don't care how many times you apologize to me because it won't make a difference!" Cloud shouted, "I'm never going to look at you the same way ever again! You scarred me for life! Both mentally and physically!" Cloud pulled down the zipper of his top enough for him to yank it as far as he can pull to show small scars along his shoulder to the upper part of his chest.
"And you probably don't even remember how this happened!"
Leon lowered his head and lightly shook it indicating a no.
"My point exactly," Cloud fixed his outfit before pivoting to continue on his way.
"Cloud…" and still Leon followed, "Cloud I know I'm the worst lover in the world and never deserved you but…I love you."
Though as soon as that sentenced finished, Leon was met in a slap.
"Don't give me that crap! And note the real reason why I never punched you is just because it's you: I will not lower myself to your level!"
"Cloud…"
"And just stop it! Stop saying my name before or after a sentence! Just leave me alone! I've been doing just fine until you showed up in my life again!"
"Um…not to sound like a know-it-all but…I think me showing up was a good thing on Sora's part…" The earned Leon another smack.
"I was informed that Rude was trailing behind Reno and he's always with him anyway! Sora would've been saved even without you!"
"Ah…good point…But Cloud…even though I couldn't really express how I felt do the shock of seeing you again and realizing I have two sons, but…you have no idea how happy and relieved I was to see you again. While the full impact of that realization didn't hit me right away…that's how I felt."
"I don't want to hear it, Leonhart…" Cloud folded his arms and looked away, "Like I said, it won't matter. Just save yourself the trouble."
"Cloud! You're worth all the trouble in the world! You know I would do anything for you and I would do anything just to be with you again!" Leon reached out and simply touched Cloud's shoulder but the Cloud immediately flinched and knocked away his hand before backing away, "Cloud…I'm sorry…" Leon's hand fell back to his side upon realizing what he just did.
Cloud's hand placed itself on the spot Leon just touched though his whole body started to lightly shake while his eyes showed fear.
"Heh…old reflexes never die…" Cloud whispered as he calmed himself down, "Oh Shinra…please just go away…I spent all these years pushing you to the back of my memories only to have you come back and bring everything back again!"
"I'm sorry…I was 17-"
"Don't give me that being a teenager equals stupidity crap! It was 3 to 4 years of dating with one and a half F-in years of those I had to deal with you being a jackass! Yes, we were young adults but you knew better! At least you should've! You and I both know that you should've known better! Yet somehow in this twisted world, you ended up becoming best friends with your most hated rival! Then suddenly, I became your worst enemy!"
"……Sorry."
Cloud hands went to his hair and he took in a breath to calm himself down,
"I'm done, Squall…I'm done. I'm done with you…please just go away…"
"How can I, Cloud? Knowing that I have a family now? Knowing that you aren't happy? Or that Sora is going through his life as a mirror of myself? I don't want to just go away…I'll remain loyal to you forever."
"My Shinra you're insane…"
"You don't even want to know what's going through my head right now…" Cloud stated as he shook his head.
"Cloud, I'm sorry I keep pushing it but I don't want to lose you again! Please! There's got to be something I can do! Or even something you can do to me to make it all even!"
"You don't get it, Squall. If I mistreated you the same way you did to me…then I'm no better than you. And like I said: Nothing's going to change. Okay, fine, I'm not really happy with my life I admit…but adding you in is not going to make it better!"
"If you just give me the chance…and no matter how you treat me or hate me…I will never…I will never go away. I will never stop loving you."
Cloud was getting tired…Leon could see it. The blonde said nothing as he lowered his head and stared at the ground. Neither of them noticed it until now that it was drizzling. As the silence continued on between them, the drizzling became rain. How Leon was tempted to walk over and drape his jacket over Cloud's head…but he was so afraid of Cloud freaking or just plain rejecting him. Whatever Cloud's reaction would've been, Leon knew it would probably end the same way: Cloud running away. Leon wouldn't know how he can handle it if Cloud did just that and slipping right through his fingers again after all these years. That would hurt him most of all.
They were both getting drenched and even then Cloud's hair doesn't completely fall. How the gunblader wished he could just go over there and tease him about it. Looking up, the man just realized how ironic this was. Here he was, in Cloud's life again, or at least trying to get back into it…and rolling in now is a storm.
Squall…Storm. How the man hated his real name.
"Stop loving me, Squall…" Cloud finally spoke as he lifted his head and sighed, staring at anything but Leon.
Leon felt that sting from Cloud saying his name. Though the sting turned into a jab upon realizing what he just said.
"Like hell that's going to happen…not after searching for you after all these years."
"I was loyal and devoted like you too…" Cloud said just barely audible, "Everyone knew how much I loved you. So people can only imagine how painful it was for me when I put up with all the hurt, both inside and out, when I was with you. It took all that and all that time…to break my loyalty to you. I'm serious, Squall…don't make me break your loyalty by force. Just go away and forget about me…"
"……Have you ever heard of the story of a dog named Hachiko?" Leon asked and Cloud simply blinked, showing his confusion, "That's the difference between you and me, Cloud. I'm the Hachiko to you…my loyalty to you is as strong as Hachiko's loyalty to his master…" Leon could feel himself about to cry as he felt the lump in his throat. Everything hurt…it hurt not knowing he's the one that hurt Cloud. It hurt knowing he's probably doing that right now. It hurt even more knowing he can't go over and hold Cloud in his arms to comfort him. Just seeing Cloud like this hurt…Yet even know all of that Leon still wanted to say those words that were poison to Cloud.
"I love y-"
"Dammit Squall!" Cloud suddenly burst as he started to back away again though Leon would only take a few steps close, "Stop it! Shut up! Just go away! Leave me alone! I hate you! I HATE YOU!"
Leon started to hate himself as just much when he saw Cloud finally broke out into tears.
"I hate you…I hate you…you ruined my life!" Cloud's body shook and he lost feelings in his legs as he slid to the ground to his knees, holding himself as tears fell from his face, "How I wished I never met you…never fell in love…I just wished I never knew you!" Cloud sobbed into one of his hands as Leon cautiously approached him and knelt down in front of him.
"I hate you, Squall…I hate you so much!"
A gentle hand reached out, carefully brushing a part of Cloud's hair from his eyes without touching him. Cloud lightly gasped and then flinched upon feeling something on him. Looking up he saw Leon's hands on his jacket, holding it up for Cloud.
"……I know," Leon whispered as he lowered the jacket and placed it gently over Cloud's head. When Cloud didn't reject the offer of the small shelter from the rain, Leon scooted himself closer to Cloud; and as slowly and as gently as he could so he could so Cloud can have plenty of time to stop him, Leon embraced Cloud. The thought would've put Leon's mind in heaven knowing that he had Cloud in his arms for the first in a very long time…
"I'm sorry…I love you, Cloud…" Leon whispered as he placed his chin on Cloud's head with tears streaming down his face as well.
Still Cloud did not shift as he silently sobbed against Leon who held him closer and tighter.
"I hate you…I hate you…"
"I know…I know…"
Notes:
-Originally, this was supposed to be completely AU but…I think it's partially? Or not at all? I gotta thank my friend though who gave me the idea of the Moogle. I feel bad for forgetting those cute creatures.
-For those that don't know: Squall pretty much means storm.
Please read and review!