Warnings: Slash and pancakes!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts... But I do own a pair of black converse!!

A/N: So... this is fast, I know, but I felt like updating nonetheless! Thank you all so much for wonderful reviews! Please don't stop!


Healing

Chapter Four

"Help"

-

Almost an entire week had passed by since Cloud's incident, and as the blond was healing, life in Merlin's household slowly, but surely went back to normal. Yuffie was no longer disturbingly quiet, Cid had regained some of his usual grouchiness and Tifa spent more time at the bar. Merlin was doing his wizardry again, and Aerith though even Leon was starting to act rather normal. As for the gunblader, he had been following Cloud's healing-period just as intently as he was following the restoration work and he was pleased to see that in both cases, progress was being made. Ever since the first time he had visited Cloud, the brunet had made it a habit, checking up on hi, every time he had a short break from his work, and even though none of them ever mentioned it, they both seemed to enjoy each other's company.

Leon was currently sitting in the chair beside the blond's bed, flipping his hair thoughtfully out of his eyes. They had been talking about Sora for some time now, and Leon found himself wondering where the Keybearer was and what he was doing. It had been a while now, and the dark haired swordsman had to admit that he missed the kid. Sora was always so cheerfull and apart from Yuffie, Leon had never met anyone as bubbly as him. He supposed he was lucky for knowing a person like Sora, and he knew that he brunet would always have a special place in his heart. After all, Sora had made room for Leon in his, and a rather big one as well. He chuckled slightly, as he remembered the teens huge, silly grin and the way he used to put his arms behind his head, but quickly regained seriousness when he realized that he was not alone. Glancing over at Cloud to check if he had noticed his laugh, he was relieved to find that the blond was seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

"Cloudster!" Came Yuffie's muffled voice through the door, and Cloud furrowed his brows faintly before the door creaked open and the petite ninja came bouncing in, carrying a rather large pile of pancakes on a plate. Cloud's eyes widened at the sight and without his permission, he felt his mouth watering. Pancakes were his absolute favorite food. He licked his lips and raised a hand to point at them.

"Are those for me?"

"Yeah," she gave a quick nod, her short black hair fluttering before her eyes. "Well," a sheepish grin developed in her face, "I kind of ate some..."

He managed to hold back the laugh. "Of course you did."

Cloud's stomach made a loud growl.

"Are you hungry?" Leon's voice dragged him back to the present.

Cloud shrugged. "I guess so. What time is it anyway?"

"Seven."

The blond swallowed and his eyes darted to the ceiling.

Leon eyed him warily and as he did so, he noticed how the bruises on his companion's body had begun to lose their vibrant, blue color. Some of them had even turned completely brown and the small scratches on his forehead were almost entirely healed. Aerith had done an amazing job, patching him back together. With a faint shudder, the lion remembered the condition Cloud had been in when he found him and biting his tongue, the brunet remembered that that was the first time he had really become aware of that Cloud had freckles. Now, as he regarded the warrior, he could not make them out, but he knew they were there, like one knows the stars are there even in broad daylight.

He almost smiled at his own thoughts. He was comparing Cloud's freckles to stars now?

Well, yeah. He was.

He recalled that it wasn't the first time he had done so either. The day he found the injured blond he had drawn the same line, shortly after he'd noticed the small spots on the blond's facial features.

It was weird really.

How you thought you knew a person rather well, until one day, you realize you haven't even seen that he's got freckles.

"Dinner should be ready then." Came Cloud's soft reply, his voice dragging Leon out of his musings.

"Yeah." He nodded and motioned towards the door. "You want me to fetch you some?"

Cloud met his eyes before slowly shaking his head, blond spikes mussed from the pillow. "No."

Leon frowned. "But you said you were hungry."

Cloud bit his lip and a small wrinkle appeared in his forehead. He seemed to be clenching his jaws tightly, and his hands fiddled with the bedsheets.

Blinking, Leon noticed that the blond looked somewhat bothered. He raised his brows and waited for some kind of explanation. After an awkward moment of silence, the blond hero finally released his breath and with that, the words he had been meaning to ask for some time now;

"I was hoping you could help me downstairs."

--

Fifteen minutes later, when Cloud entered the kitchen, half walking, half supported by Leon, tears formed in more than one set of eyes.

Aerith, who was the first to notice them, rushed to his side and helped Leon guide him to the table, crying softly all the while. Once the SOLDIER was safely seated, he threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek, her hand patting his hair lovingly.

"Hey you..." She whispered, voice cracking slightly.

Yuffie grinned madly and even Cid's face broke into a big, warm smile. Apparently, they were glad to see him and their cheerfulness did not pass the blond by.

Later, Cloud heard from Aerith, that they were both so happy to see the blond that neither of them made an attempt to argue the whole rest of the day.

"Nice to see ya Spike!"

"Yay! Cloudster! You're up!"

Cloud, currently panting rather heavily from the effort tried to smile back at them, somewhat moved by their beaming faces.

He regarded Leon from the corner of his eyes and the brunet caught his gaze and nodded, an almost invisible smirk ghosting his features.

The meal went by much slower than usual, and once it was over, Cloud needed to rest in his chair for a good half an hour before Leon could carry him back to bed.

Yet, a feeling of hope and new beginnings had entered the house and the ones living in it felt as if their hearts were being freed from some of their chains and filled with a long awaited light.

--

The days passed and they made it a routine for Leon to help Cloud downstairs for dinner.

The blond got better every day, and even his left arm was beginning to feel somewhat useful. He was still awfully quiet about the whole incident and Aertih wasn't the only who suspected that he was hiding something. Tifa had tried talking to him about it, but he had been unusually reserved, even to her, and kept his memories a secret only Leon knew. The brunet on his side did not say anything to the other members of the Restoration Committee. He avoided the topic and refused to join the speculations. This was nothing new to his comrades, so no one thought of it as weird that Leon was keeping his thoughts to himself. He spent the days working hard with the restorations and only came in a few times during the day to eat and check upon Cloud. Despite his absence, he seemed to be in a good mood and he would even go grocery shopping for Aerith occasionally.

Cid and Yuffie had gone back to their normal bickering and their shouts and laughter could be heard all over the house. However, there were times where even they kept silent, mostly because Cloud was resting, which he did at least a couple of hours per day.

Merlin, after having Aerith confirming that Cloud would be all right, had left for his annual visit to Yen Sid and the household therefore seemed a bit empty. Before he left, he had, not so surprisingly, let Aerith in charge, and he'd promised to come back with some new, strengthening potions for Cloud.

During these weeks, Aerith Gainsborough found that she knew little about what she had earlier used to describe as men's-work. Once Merlin left, most of the magic left with him, and the chores suddenly became much harder than they had used to be. With both Leon and Cid busy and Cloud injured, it suddenly occurred to her that she had no one but Yuffie to help her with the house, which was not exactly ensuring.

In a remarkably short period of time, the Cetra learned how to repair broken chairs (Yuffie had an accident while eating breakfast – the girl really was a mess in the morning), force her aching muscles to carry -or rather drag- objects several times her weight, even fix the toilet. She could have sworn that her arms got bigger and Tifa had jokingly exclaimed that she looked somewhat more fit and masculine.

This, of course only had her giggling like a teenager and even Cid had to laugh at the comment. Leon had only shook his head and later assured her that she looked nothing of the sort and that Tifa was probably being delusional. Most likely from all the alcoholic drinks she served, and without doubt, also drank at the bar. This comment had nearly caused the flower girl to faint, seeing as it was not very often the ice prince of Radiant Garden attempted to make a joke.

About tree weeks after the accident. Cloud felt secure enough of his own condition to move outside. He'd called Leon early in the morning and asked the brunet, cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment, if he had the time to join him for a small walk, and thereby support him when he needed it. The gunblader had, a bit appalled, answered him yes, and without further conversation, helped him out of bed.

--

Aerith crossed her arms protectively over her chest as she watched the two of them through the somewhat mussed glass in Merlin's house, a thoughtful expression grazing her delicate features.

The wolf and the lion.

Both such powerful creatures, although very different when compared to one another.

One of them was tar more fierce, more passionate than the other, whom was cooler, shyer and more withdrawn.

They were animals that belonged with a herd, but only if the rivalry wasn't strong enough to force them off their throne. When faced with a rival, both the leader wolf and the lion in charge would show off their strength at first, trying to avoid a battle. Sometimes a show like that would be enough and the possible rival would flee and leave the herd be, but there were times when muscles and teeth needed to get involved.

The flower girl smiled softly to herself.

She hadn't failed to see the connection.

The wolf and the lion were both living under the same roof as her.

Leon and Cloud was not actually fighting, but they were both trying to make their statements towards each other, both constantly on alert, aware of every step taken by the other male. They weren't exactly rivals, but fought silently nonetheless and Aerith knew her boys. Ever since their first meeting, they'd harbored doubt about each other and although neither of them would ever admit it, it had taken quite the amount of time for both of them to get used to each other. Dominant male creatures often had that problem.

The braided woman chuckled slightly, but quickly regained her seriousness, her beautiful emerald eyes clouding with thoughts.

The wolf and the lion were natural leaders, but to fulfill that role, they both needed a flock. A flock that followed them no matter what, who obeyed their orders and loved them back the way they loved them. They would also need a home, a nest or lair where they would feel completely safe and at ease. They needed care as well, comfort provided to them from the remaining members of the flock. Only then, when harboring all this, they would feel content. Only then, they would be able to show their real selfs, and give up the icy facade they'd been hiding behind. Until that time came, when they found all this, both of them would be stray animals. Alone, wandering, always searching for happiness and light.

Leon, she told herself, had found that place somehow. Ever since he had lost his world to the darkness, and with it, everyone he cared about, he had been on a constant search for rest, somewhere he would be useful. He had needed work to dull the heavy sorrow that Aerith knew he had been carrying within him. He had needed chores, a task, anything to keep the darkness away.

He had found this in Hollow Bastion, earlier known as Radiant Garden and he had used all his powers to rise it again. Leon had done more than anyone for this place, and the Restoration Committee had found a strong and fair leader in him. The warrior had kept their hopes up, he had been a shoulder to cry on -she giggled a little; a silent one that was-, a person to ask when troubled, a calming voice, a friend.

For Aerith, he had been what Cloud used to be, before he was plagued by darkness and withdrew from everything he had once loved. She knew the rest of heir companions felt the same way too. When Cloud was no longer around to look after them anymore, or to keep them company, they had turned to Leon, and soon learned to care about the silent warrior.

Cid, who'd known the brunet far longer than the rest of them, had once let it slip that the man Leon was now could not even be compared to the one he'd left behind when his world fell, Squall Leonheart.

The pilot had told Aerith that this 'Leon' was far stronger, more mature than Squall had ever been.

And even though he was more embedded and silent than he had been back then, he had also grown kinder, more warm-hearted and despite his often cool appearance, he really cared about those around him.

Cid knew what he was talking about and Aerith did not doubt him with for a second.

Leon had become a pole in their existence, something they could not go on without and the flower girl considered him a great person whom she loved from the bottom of her heart.

Needless to say, Aerith Gainsborough had a spacious heart and those whom she welcomed in there, would always have a spot of their own.

TBC