I LONG overdue update, I do apologize. I blame having my laptop break a while ago too.
"I'm so excited!" Sora was practically bouncing as his family took their time walking up the front steps of Leon's old home.
"We know Sora…so please stop saying that every five minutes," Roxas asked, the irritableness clearly heard in his voice as he walked beside Cloud with his hands in his pockets.
"How could you not be excited, Roxy?"
"Meh…" the blonde merely shrugged as he stopped because Cloud did to ring the doorbell while Sora was almost running circles around them in excitement.
"Come on, Leon!" Sora waved to the older brunette who took his sweet time.
When the door swung open, Cloud let out another grunt when Laguna practically glomped him again with another death-hug.
"Oh Cloud! You came back! Raine cannot wait to see you!"
Roxas couldn't decide between kicking this man in the shin for touching his father or stand there in confusion because he awfully reminds him of someone…
"Oh Sweet Shiva!" Laguna quickly released Cloud to stare at the twins, though when he approached them, Roxas quickly backed away.
"Hi! I'm Sora!" the boy waved before he shook the man's hand but he was hugged the same way as Cloud a second later.
It took about 10 minutes for them all to actually go into the house but even then, Laguna was once again acting like an out of control yaoi fan girl that saw her favorite pairing kissing in public.
"Normally everything I say to you is with offense but for once: No offense, but your father is insane," Roxas stated bluntly as he stood by Leon, watching Laguna being a chatterbox with Sora in the living room and occasionally bring Cloud in.
"Yeah, I know, he's an idiot," Leon replied as he stared at the scene too.
Leon picked up gentle steps coming from the stairs and he looked up at it to see Raine in a nice yellow sweater and her long hair pulled back with a red bandana.
"Squall…" she whispered and offered a smile. Roxas looked up at the woman as well and then back at the scarred man. He saw Leon's face soften up which was surprising sight to Roxas.
"Mother…" Leon whispered back and lowered his head. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she approached her son and embraced him who hugged back.
"You should come visit more."
"I'm sorry…"
She gently patted his back and pulled away.
"Don't be sorry, silly."
"Hn…Are you alright though?"
"Hm? Oh, I am. Just a little ill but I have medicine to take," she replied and gently rubbed his arms in comfort. She looked over towards her husband, still completely excited as he was 10 minutes ago and there she spotted Cloud.
"Oh my…Cloud has not changed a bit. But he's so handsome and grown-up now," she placed a hand over her chest, feeling a flow of emotion run through her. Leon took her hand and led her over to Cloud. The two had a heartwarming reunion and an even better greeting when she met Sora as well as Roxas. Though Roxas was more willing to speak with Raine than he was with Laguna…only because of the way he saw Leon look at her. The blonde was quite curious to why Leon treated his parents differently.
Leon never spoke unless spoken to throughout the entire visit, with the exception of Raine. Even through dinner, then dessert, Leon was quiet. It bothered Roxas a bit to see someone appear so uncomfortable with his own family. Well it wasn't that Leon looked uncomfortable, but Raine and Cloud seemed to be the only two people he treated differently somehow from everyone else.
As everyone conversed with each other, besides Leon and Roxas since both of them are the quietest, Laguna suddenly stood up and asked to speak with Cloud privately. He asked with a cheerful and friendly smile, so who was Cloud to deny? And that left Raine and Sora talking. Roxas saw Leon shift uncomfortable in his chair when Laguna requested Cloud's presence…and he almost felt sorry for him.
When Laguna and Cloud were alone in the living room, Laguna kept glancing around to make sure they were alone.
"Something wrong, Laguna?" Cloud asked as he watched Laguna look paranoid.
"Yeah…alright, Cloud," he stood before the blonde and placed his shoulders on him firmly, "I want to let you know that you're family to me and Raine. Alright? And no matter what, we will always be there for you. So do not feel, even for a second, that if you don't love my son we will turn our backs on you. If you feel uncomfortable or bad with this idea, just don't do it, I beg of you!"
Cloud merely blinked, almost innocently as he stared.
"I know that…but I thank you for the reassurance, Laguna."
"Oh thank goodness!" he let out in relief, "Good…that's good!"
Cloud lightly chuckled, but he really did feel a whole wave of relief to be told that he has people looking after him.
"About Squall though…how's it going between you two?"
Cloud shrugged after a brief pause.
"I don't know…it feels…weird…"
"Yeah I can imagine," Laguna nodded while folding his arms.
"…Do you think Squall has changed?"
It was Laguna's turn to pause as he went into thought.
"I don't know to be honest…I haven't talked to him for years until recently. However, I honestly don't want to say if he's "changed" per say. I've always, always, believed he's a good boy…I know he is and I love him. But…he's always been strong and independent. Even if I offered him to stay here with us or offered him advice and comfort…he's too proud and stubborn to take it. I can't really tell you if he's "changed" but…I think you can rely on him if you need it," Laguna put a hand on Cloud's shoulder and offered a smile, "Squally will always be Squally to me. But ultimately, it'll be your decision based on how you feel about him. It's not going to be completely about Squall."
"…You're right," Cloud nodded and relaxed a bit about the whole thing, "I guess I'll try not to look at things too hard."
"You do that," the man patted the blonde on the back and ruffled his hair, "Come on, the others are probably wondering what the heck we're even talking about all this time!"
With a light chuckle, Cloud let Laguna guide him back to their dinner to join the rest as they ate.
"Hey, Leon…" Cloud whispered and Leon only looked surprised that he was being called at all by Cloud.
"Y-Yes?"
"That tree…do you want to go see on that branch again sometime? I want to see the sunset from there again," Cloud asked and it took a moment for that to even be registered into Leon's brain.
"Yes!" he replied almost too loudly, "Yes…I would love that."
Roxas stabbed his meatloaf as if he was trying to kill it when he overheard that little conversation. Not that it went unnoticed by Sora who only looked at Roxas with worry.
"I hate him…"
"I know you do, you've told me that like a million times already," said Riku as he browsed the net with the phone on speaker so he can speak to Roxas.
"I just…I don't know what to do!" the poor blonde paced in his room when he hid himself in it after they left the Leonhart family's home.
"Why do anything? I mean, what if Leon does make your dad happy?"
"But why risk it? Ugh!"
"Roxas, breathe, come on now."
"I just hate him! What if Dad does eventually like him back? Where does that leave me?"
"Well if worse comes to worse, you can always stay at my place or something if you need to," Riku offered and Roxas stopped pacing
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean we've always joked about that before and let's face it: you practically live here anyway. You're always over, especially when Sora doesn't join."
"Hey, thanks man," Roxas found himself smile as he felt a sense of reassurance, "And before I forget: I have your jacket still, the one you lent me because I was freezing to death in that club, you want it back anytime soon?"
"Nah, keep it for as long as you need it. Especially since I wanna convince you to come back to that club with me."
"I thought you didn't like it."
"I don't, but I think it's a good excuse to pass the time because I know you enjoy it and we can get those milkshakes afterwards."
"Oh yeah, those are good," Roxas nodded and only at this moment he realize how off-topic they went. Well that's what happens to lot of conversations anyway so the boy fell on his bed and continued chatting with Riku.
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Sora couldn't believe it…Roxas was talking to Riku! Not his supposed-best friend Axel, no, it was Riku! The brunette banged his head against the wall a few times every time he heard Roxas laugh from his room. Sora only knew Roxas was speaking to Riku was because Sora was trying to be a good brother and talk about what he saw at dinner. But instead, he heard Roxas already speaking to Riku right before the brunette's hand reached the wooden door. It's not that Sora's against this at all, but it's just…weird. Well more weird due to his talk with Axel. It's not just that…
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"If Riku started dating?"
"Yeah…" Sora nodded and waited for Kairi's response.
"Well I don't think anything would really change. Then again, it depends on who it is," said Kairi and Sora sighed before switching the phone to his other ear.
"But Kairi! You're the one that says that if someone starts dating, they usually end up spending less time with their friends!"
"Well that's true to some extent. I mean, come on, if you ever started dating Axel, wouldn't you want to spend as much time with Axel as possible?" Kairi pointed out and Sora slowly shrugged.
"I guess so…"
"Why? Does Riku show interest in someone?" Kairi asked, her own interest in this clearly heard in her voice.
"Um…I don't know…" Sora shrugged again, even if Kairi can't see it, "I mean…he's my best friend. It's going to be weird if he doesn't hang out with me as much anymore. Okay, I'm grounded still but…ugh! I just don't know!"
"Oh Sora, you're worrying too much! If you're best friends, you'll always be best friends! Riku will have to learn how to balance spending time with you and whoever he may date, but hey, he's not going to just leave you behind!"
"I hope so!"
"You're worrying too much, Sora!"
"Yeah…maybe I am…"
It's not really just that though…
"What if…Roxas becomes his new best friend?"
"Dad, can I head out with Riku?" Roxas asked that morning and Sora started choking on his orange juice. Cloud immediately started patting the boy's back before looking at Roxas,
"Sure, you know when to be back by."
"Alright, thanks!" Roxas picked up a piece of toast and ran out of the kitchen faster than when he came in. The only brunette in the house could hear his brother's run above him and then back down to hear the front door open and close. Just like that, Roxas was out. So Sora sighed and went back to eating his breakfast with a pouty and grumpy expression on. That expression can't fly by under Cloud's watchful eye so he gently nudged the boy for his attention.
"What's wrong? Roxas not being grounded and you're jealous?"
"Kinda…?" Sora shrugged as he poked his bacon.
"Sora," Cloud said more sternly and Sora let out a tired sigh as he slouched forward.
"What if Riku likes Roxas more than me? And Roxas will be Riku's new best friend? What if they start dating? I'm going to be left behind whatever the case may be!"
"I see…" Cloud poked at his food a few times before turning his body to the side to face Sora, "Listen to me: if that does happen, don't fret over it. At least…not for too long. You'll find someone better."
"How can you be so sure?" innocent eyes asked.
"Because you gain something out of loss. That something will make you stronger and wiser and that will lead you to something and someone better."
"…Wow, really?" Sora never thought of it that way, but appreciated for learning that now…
"Of course, it's always easier said than done. There's also a difference between understanding and realizing. So if you have any problems at all, don't hesitate to let me know," Cloud added as he planted a hand on his son's shoulder and giving a light grip for reassurance. In return he got a grin from the boy.
"Okay! Thanks, Dad!"
When Sora was once again dropped off to Zack and Aerith, Cloud and Leon took a trip back to that tree. For once, Leon was more nervous and uncomfortable than Cloud. For one, Cloud started climbing the moment they got there while Leon remained hesitant. The blonde sat himself on that strong branch and even bounced a little bit to see if it'll hold but it was as sturdy as it'll ever be. So he started scooting over and away from the trunk to make room for Leon.
"Are you coming up here?" he questioned and Leon let out a sigh before he started climbing as well. He carefully planted himself beside the other and slowly taking in the beautiful sight before him.
Silence took over as they watched nature at its work. Leon did his best to not think about the bad things that run through his head almost every second. But as he took a deep breath and slowly gripped the branch and pulled himself up. He carefully sat himself beside the blonde, careful not to touch him.
"…"
"…"
In the past, its not that they always talked; sometimes they enjoy the silence. Although this time, Leon found it frustratingly awkward when he couldn't think of anything to say.
"The sun is just as pretty."
He looked over to see Cloud practically absorbed by the sight. Then again…it is a sunset. The wonderful blend of orange, yellow and red almost nostalgic for Leon and Cloud…
"It is. I honestly haven't really looked at the sun setting for as long as I can remember."
"…Yeah. Same…" Cloud responded with a mix tone of sadness but also happiness, "What…have you been doing all this time?"
Leon was almost taken back by the question.
"Well…not much. Just working really. Don't have a lot of friends to really spent time with aside from occasional drinks I guess. So…yeah. Not much. Don't really have a story or have anything worth telling. I'd ask about you but I know you've got Roxas and Sora to take care of."
"Yeah…they're a handful. Sometimes I forget that that I have a life, if I do anymore, because I always have to take care of their problems."
"You know…if you and I…you know…you think it might be easier for you?"
"…"
"Shit I pushed it didn't I?"
"It may…"
Leon let out a sigh of relief, just a slight one.
"Roxas doesn't like me right?"
"From what I can tell, no."
"…If he doesn't grow on me then…"
"…We'll see."
"Okay, okay, next time, I'm picking the movie," Roxas announced as he and Riku walked out of the movie theatre room.
"What's wrong with this choice?" the silverette questioned.
"Nothing, nothing at all…I just think it's my turn to show off my good-movie-picking expertise," Roxas remarked with a hint of teasing in his voice which Riku responded with a shake of his head, using his hair to hide a grin. Roxas carried their shared popcorn and he went ahead without word to get to the concession stand for a free refill. Riku stood nearby, taking glances at the crowd of people entering a room.
"My choice is that!" Roxas pointed when he popped up beside the older boy and started to walk towards the crowd to get a look at the movie poster and thus, forced Riku to follow.
"Wow…great choice," Riku replied sarcastically, "Pick the movie everyone else is seeing."
Roxas responded with a light hit,
"Shut up."
Riku let out a small chuckle as Roxas looked at the big advertisement for it.
"Aw man, we should watch the 3D," Roxas commented and he turned his body to head to the exit with Riku right no his tail.
"Whatever you like," Riku commented and Roxas give him a look,
"You always say that. You have an opinion too you know."
"I know, and I really don't mind," the other replied and he paced faster to open the door for Roxas who gracefully walked out with a murmur of thanks while he chewed his popcorn.
"Man what do I do with you?" Roxas asked with a sigh but his eyes almost popped out upon seeing the ice cream truck in a distance, "Let's get sea salt!" he exclaimed, almost forgetting what they were talking about.
"Sure," Riku responded with a chuckle, "Come on, before all the kids come running."
The silverette reached out and took the blonde's free hand to gently pull him along. It was that moment, that Roxas felt his heart take a skip, his spine shutter, and his mind going blank.
"Have he…ever held my hand before…?"
And please read and review! I really need to try and finish it…I just don't want to force it out as that usually doesn't turn out so well.