Day's Watch
Today was a new day for Arthur. He was only a boy of 12, the pupil of the world's most powerful wizard, his future was to be a king and now he was an official Radian Garden Restoration Committee Member.
Since he was living with the Committee and had gotten to know it's members so well it was only a limited time until this happened.
"MORNING!" Yuffie yelled in Arthur's face as the boy was preoccupied with eating his breakfast. She was kneeling on the table before him and her yelling caused him to topple over in his chair and onto the floor." Oops." She frowned.
Tifa walked over and helped Arthur to his feet.
"What happened?" He groaned. Tifa dusted off his head.
"We've got a surprise for you Arthur." Said Tifa.
"Welcome to the Committee Wart!" Yuffie exclaimed as she forced the card at him. Arthur took it an observed the card." Now you have free access to all our Organization's resources. Not only that but it gets you out of any trouble."
"Enough!" commanded a voice that caused them all to shutter. Leon stepped out and walked over to them, standing in front of Arthur." This is no toy." He told." It signifies the trust we have in you. Do not betray our trust! Now Merlin and I have agreed on you receiving this position. He believes it'll be a good lesson in responsibility for you, but we have also agreed that it will not conflict with your studies, understand?!"
"Y-Yes, sir." Leon glanced to Tifa and Yuffie with sternness before walking away. After he left Yuffie puffed out her chest and shoulders.
"Don't betray my trust." She grumbled in a rough voice getting a laugh from Tifa.
"He's very serious about this job." Arthur said still a bit shaken." I hope I don't let him… any of you down."
"Don't let him get to you." Tifa said." He takes everything too seriously." She sat down at the table." It's a fault really."
"Wart!" Leon commanded as he turned back to him.
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Come along. I'm taking you out on your first patrol."
"Yes, sir. Will I need anything?" Said Arthur as he walked up and stood before Leon.
"You can stop calling me 'sir' for one." He commanded. Then he swung the door open and led the way out with Arthur right on his heels.
"Have fun!" called Tifa." Be safe!"
Leon led Arthur into town and that's where their patrol began.
"Our basic duty is this." Leon told his newest member."We stand watch over the town night and day. Right now is your day watch but later tonight you'll have to go on the night's watch, understand." Arthur nodded and Leon continued." We help all those who life here in any way we can. Protection, Repairs, maintenance, anything that comes to mind. You understand that?"
"Yes, sir- um Leon."
"I always like to start off with Mr. McDuck." Leon pointed out the Scottish Duck whom Arthur had met the day prior." He complains if I don't come see him first." So Leon led the way and they approached the most wealthiest duck alive." Mr. McDuck."
Scrooge turned around and faced the duo." Ah Mr. Leon." He said upon seeing him." I was wondering when you were going to show up. I have some compliant."
"Name them." Said Leon. It was now that Scrooge had noticed Arthur for the first time.
"Well hello there lad." He greeted." Good to see you again."
"Good to see you again to, sir." Arthur replied.
"Mr. McDuck" Leon said getting his attention." Your complaint?"
"Right, right. Some of my machines have not been working to their full potential. I need Cid to be down here as soon as possible, you understand?!"
"Yes, I-"
"AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!" he reaffirmed.
"I understand." Leon replied in a calm tone of voice." I will let him know." Leon turned and walked away, prepared to continue the rest of the patrol.
"Goodbye Mr. McDuck." Arthur said before he left.
"You take care of this boy now." Called Scrooge to Leon pointing to Arthur." He's a good lad." Leon just nodded over his shoulder as he and Arthur continued to their next stop, Tony's. Leon led the way into the establishment and a bell rung over the door as they walked in.
Arthur looked straight ahead at the counter and watched as a chubby Italian man turned and looked at them.
"Oh Hello Leo." He said with his arms in the air. He walked around the counter and came out to greet them." How is-a you doing." He greeted Leon with a handshake and a slap on the back." I hava no seen you since-a last Tuesday."
"I've been busy, Tony." Leon replied calmly." Just come to check and see if you need anything here."
"We's-a doing alright, alright." Said Tony as he wiped his fingers on his apron." Business is-a good." He looked past Leon now and noticed Arthur standing there." Hello-a boy, whatsa you doin there?"
"This is Arthur." Leon introduced as he stepped aside." He arrived here about a week ago and this is his first day on the committee."
"Pleased to meet you, sir." Arthur said to him.
"Tony, Tony, everybody acalls me Tony." He smiled."Hey-a Leonardo." Said Tony turning back to Leon." How-is-a the lady? She a-make outta alright? I hava no seen her in a long, time."
"What does he mean, Leon?" asked Arthur.
"Wart." Said Leon." Go wait outside." So without much thought on the matter Arthur did as he was told and went to wait outside. He exited the restaurant and walked around the corner, to wait in the alley.
Arthur turned around the corner but when he did he bumped into something and fell flat onto his back. Looking up he saw a big man in mostly black cloths with spikey blonde hair. The man looked him over with a cold sternness as he said nothing.
"Oh I-I'm sorry." Said Arthur as he slowly got to his feet." I-I-I didn't look where I was going and-"
"Wart!" called Leon." Where are you?!" Right at that moment Leon came around the corner and spotted Arthur with the stranger. His eyes were at first drawn to Arthur but then to the man he was with.
The two made eye contact and it seemed to Arthur as if the air suddenly got thicker as Leon marched up and stood before the stranger.
"Cloud." Said Leon as if saying it had scratched his throat.
"Leon." He replied.
"What are you doing here?" He asked as he stepped forward, pushing Arthur a step back away from Cloud.
"I was in the neighborhood. Just got back recently." Arthur darted his head back and forth between whomever was talking. And as he listened he could only hope things didn't escalate to a negative outcome.
"And what are you doing to this boy?" Leon nodded his head to Arthur but the two never broke eye contact." Given him a hard time?"
"He wasn't watching where he was going." Cloud responded." It's a good idea to keep your eyes open."
"You don't always have to look over your shoulder when you're surrounded by those you trust." Leon said." You should remember that."
"But sometimes we're all alone." Said Cloud. The two were silent now for the first time and Arthur saw this as good a time as any to but in.
"Hey Leon." He said." We've got to get back to patrol."
"Your right, Wart. Your right." Nodded Leon although he didn't look at Arthur when he said it." You run along and I'll catch up in a minute." So Arthur did as he was told and walked off, looking over his shoulder as the two eyed each other down still.
Arthur walked around the corner but curious as to what might happen he stayed close by and listened.
"So what has it been like here?" asked Cloud." Not too boring I hope. We" he said stressing the word." never really did have a lot of quiet back then but it was never boring."
"We get along just fine." Replied Leon." With or without you."
"Something had to be done, one way or another." Said Cloud.
"Is that what you think?" remarked Leon." You think it's all about you? You left to purge yourself of darkness. I stay to help save others from it."
"Tell me if I stayed to pick up the pieces would you admire me more?" The two fell silent once again and began looking each other but still seemed as if they were speaking to each other in the silence.
"Don't come by the house later." Then Leon turned and walked away, getting back to his initial mission of patrolling with Arthur. "Let's go!" Leon snapped his fingers at Arthur as he walked by him. Arthur quickly turned and ran to try and keep up with Leon, looking over his shoulder at Cloud.
"Who was that?" asked Arthur as soon as he was out of sight.
"His name is Cloud." Leon told." He used to be a former Committee member her."
"Was he? Why did he leave? What happened to him?"
"He has his own reasons that I won't discuss. But his reasoning means little to me."
"Why?" asked Arthur looking up at him as he did he thought over what they he heard them talk about. Leon just tense up his shoulders and looked away from Arthur." You know Merlin's always telling him about how honesty is important and-"
"I already told you I shouldn't discuss it!" Leon snapped frightening Wart enough to jump up in his place. They continued on in silence for several moments." But I will say this, his leaving hurt a lot of people. You just stay away from him Arthur, he's bad news. And if you see him or he comes hear you, you come get me and I'll handle him. He and I have unfinished business."
"Business?" questioned Arthur. Leon gave him a sideways glance."Okay. "Arthur nodded, dismissing any thoughts from his head.
"And Arthur." The boy turned his head and looked up at Leon."Keep this between us" Leon motioned to the two of them." nobody has to know." Arthur listened to the sternness in his voice and nodded his reply.
The rest of the day Arthur made no mention of Cloud because he didn't want to stir Leon up anymore. Even long after their confrontation as Arthur and Leon worked on other jobs the air was still thicker and angered.
But they completed out the day the day's work and were now on their way back home, just as the sun was going down. Arthur reached forward and grabbed the doorknob and was ready to pull it open.
"Arthur." Aid Leon getting his attention." Remember this was our secret." Then he moved passed Arthur, opened the door himself and went inside.
The two walked into the house where they saw Cid, Tifa, and Yuffie spaced out across the Living room watching the tv.
"Welcome back." Greeted Cid." Pull up a chair, a classic is on." He turned back to the tv. Leon and Arthur did not disagree and began walking over to the others. Leon sat down next to Tifa and kicked his legs up. Arthur watched as Tifa cuddled up against him and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Arthur!" cried Yuffie getting his attention." Could you make some popcorn?"
"Oh Okay." Replied Arthur and he walked back into the kitchen. He put the popcorn in the microwave and began to make it. It was a slow process seeing as how he wasn't used to technology, but it was as he was making it that he noticed something outside.
Arthur peered out through the window and saw someone walking towards the house. As he got closer and more into the light Arthur recognized it as Cloud.
And Arthur had the feeling that this was going to be bad and that he'd have to alert someone.
"Uh Leon." Arthur called.
"What?" Leon responded without looking at Arthur.
"I um.. I need some help with this."
"You know how to work the microwave."
"But I-I need help." Leon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he quickly jumped to his feet ,but Tifa was unprepared for his sudden movement and when Leon jumped up her head fell down and slammed on the couch.
"Ow." She groaned picking her head up and watching him go." If you're getting up could you get me a drink?"
"Yes." Leon sighed as he walked up to Arthur. Leon reached for the microwave but was stopped by Arthur who then pointed to the window. Leon followed his finger and looked to see Cloud outside.
Without another word Leon went to the door and walked outside. Arthur knew he'd have to continue on like all was normal, just hopefully nobody would notice Leon's absence. But when Arthur turned around he saw Cid looking at him.
"Say where did-" he began.
"Has anyone seen Merlin?" Arthur asked." I haven't seen him all day. And I would like to see him before I have to go on my night watch."
"The Old Loon isn't here." Told Cid." He stepped out about a half hour ago, some important wizard stuff to do I don't know." Arthur nodded his head.
It was now that Leon walked back into the house slightly out of breath, his hair ruffled up. Arthur glanced outside the window to see nobody else out there, then he turned back to Leon.
"Good job Arthur." Panted Leon as he patted him on the back." This is our little secret remember" Arthur nodded. Now where is-" He began looking around but then Arthur then held up the popcorn in one hand and a soda in the other. Leon nodded his head and took both objects and together the two walked back to join the others.
Arthur was going to sit down next to Cid but was pulled in by Yuffie to sit next to her. He was placed next to her and she immediately began eating the popcorn.
Leon went to his original spot, kicking up his legs and handing the soda off to Tifa.
"Here." He said emotionlessly without looking at her and leaving it at that. Tifa took the beverage and began examining the can.
"Diet." She said aloud and then slowly turned to Leon." Are you trying to tell me something?" Leon slowly turned his face to her confused.
"This should be good." Snickered Yuffie to Arthur. Cid just sat back in his place and chuckled.