Chapter 9

Sora & Roxas

It had been almost three weeks since they had finally been able to get back to normal life after being tied to bed for a week or so because of the fever. And because certain people refused to let them get up. Also, it had taken three weeks for them to figure how to persuade Cloud to go along with them for some quality time. It was no easy task to convince the angry looking man when he had heard about where the twins wanted to go with him.

"But Cloud! You promised you would go with us." Sora had pouted, trying his best to look as cute and adorable as he could. Too bad Cloud had learned to see thru that puppy-eyes-face.

"I said I would drive you there. But I never said anything about submitting myself to such torture at any point." The tall blond had made a terribly angry face and had tried to stare Sora down viciously. But Sora had known better than to waver under the glaring. He would just have to resort to other means. Like blackmailing.

"You know…" He had leaned closer to Cloud, lowered his voice to a faked whisper, the kind that anyone could still hear and was obviously meant to make the other more than a little uncomfortable. "I could always tell Squall about the little picture you keep in your wallet..." The words had taken an instant effect and the man had turned bright red and had averted his eyes to the floor. "I thought you might feel like that. So, I take it that you'll come?" He had smiled ever so innocently, which had made Cloud grimace in pain.

"You are a cruel little piece of shit."

"I know. And I love it!" Sora snickered and Cloud had only groaned, defeated and had buried his pretty face behind his hands.

That little conversation had led them to this situation here, where he and Roxas had dragged the unwilling man with them to the huge shopping mall in the center of the town. Cloud was pissed off but said nothing and that just made the twins grin viciously. It had been hard, but they seriously had to get the man out of the flat since it had been a direct request from Squall's part.

The mall was already dressed in the Christmas mode, even though the actual season was still few weeks away. And quite honestly, it made Sora feel all giddy and exited. He loved the season more than anything and definitely adored having the opportunity to give some gifts, of course he enjoyed more receiving… to his friends and particularly to his twin.

Roxas was so easy to aggravate and being his twin, Sora knew all the right things to say and do to get the other to a verge of tears, which was rather hard since Rox was anything but the kind of a person ever to get teary. This of course made it all the more fun! Not that he really wanted to make his beloved twin to cry, it was mainly because he just.. You know, had to. That was ok and normal for siblings, right? Of course this was for their private time; he didn't want anyone else to know that he could make his brother actually cry.

Sora woke up from his wondering as someone brutally punched him in the back of his head. He found his twin looking at him eyebrows raised and eyes telling him that Roxas knew Sora was up to something and it would be bad to continue whatever he was thinking about. Sora flashed a wide grin and turned to find the brooding man they had forced with them. Though, he could not find the blond anywhere. It took a moment of searching to locate Cloud but in the end it was easy to spot that spiked head. Cloud was standing near one huge pillar that was built to start from the bottom level and went all the way up to the 8th floor of the mall. Sora giggled silently as he watched how unhappy the other was, standing there all alone.

It was amazing how someone could look at the same time like a lost child and a menacing, merciless criminal that would slice you in two seconds if you happened to say something wrong. Roxas took Soras hand and dragged him towards Cloud.

"Just to let you two know. I'm already ready to start a massacre and also, I do hope you realize it is vital for you to be rather quick with this shopping of yours, for the sake of your life spans." Cloud's voice was low, dripping venom and definitely tried to chill the twins to the bone. This just made the boys to even more grin widely. Of course they knew what pain it was to be here for someone like Cloud was. Seriously, they had gone thru the same kind of situations with Squall more than once. And here they were; still alive.

"Don't get too excited, we haven't yet even started!" Sora was nearly jumping up and down, completely ignoring the killer-mode Cloud was in. "And I would keep my mouth shut if I were you. Naughty kids don't get Christmas presents!" The fuming man glared down at Sora. "Oh, you better believe it. There is some quite interesting stuff coming up from certain someone. All because your ass is a pièce de resistancé!" Roxas slapped Sora at this point to the back of his head.

"Thank you, Mr. I-spoil-all-the-fun. That's enough already." Sora stuck his tongue out at Roxas. "We go for the clothes first." Roxas pulled his brother with him, Cloud following the twins, menacing, dark clouds hanging over his head, making the people that passed the man by to take few steps to their side, fearing to get a fist to their face or anything else violent.

Few hours later the steam really was coming out of Cloud's ears as he dragged himself after the twins, carrying most of their bags and parcels. Roxas had just made a rude comment about Cloud looking like a mix of the Big Bird of Sesame Street and a mule, which almost made the man throw the bags at the smaller blond and to strangle him. The only thing that was postponing Roxas' early death was a loudly whispered comment from a woman to her friend as they were passing the trio by.

"What a beautiful family! Just look at them, those young boys will definitely grow up to look like their father!"

Cloud had frozen hands half-lifted in attempt of throwing stuff at Roxas, who also had frozen and stared after the two ladies with a blank expression over his cute face. Sora nearly bent in half for laughing so hard at their faces. It was kind of true though. Roxas' blond hair was most likely the reason for people mistaking Cloud being at least Roxas' father. It wasn't the first comment like that during the few hours they had been roaming the mall from shop to shop, but seemed to be the first that had reached Cloud's ears.

"There there, dad." Sora snickered and earned a furious glare from the older man. "Don't take it so seriously. It just means me and Roxie look a whole lot younger and you.. well, older?" And then he had to flee from the two blonds to a nearby shop since Roxas hated most to be said to look much younger than he really was, and was with Cloud now trying to get hands around Sora's neck in order to squeeze the living shit out of the boy.

Sora giggled by himself behind the shelves made of glass, watching the two on the other side of the display window. The expression over Cloud's face suddenly changed and Roxas was looking at the older man next to him, curiosity creeping upon his face. That made Sora to finally take in his surroundings as he had not paid no attention to whence he had fled.

The shop wasn't big at all, it had five or six brightly lit shelves that were closed with locks, a counter on the other end and there was a stand where magazines were neatly placed in their rightful spots. Sora gazed into the shelf next to him to see what it contained and raised his eyebrows. No wonder Cloud was looking much less agitated so suddenly. The store was full of weaponry and everything linked with that. Sora started to feel a little out of place where he was standing, since he knew absolutely nothing about weapons or where it was ok to use them. Shit, he didn't even know how to cut vegetables properly.

Cloud finally entered the store, Roxas closely tailing him, looking like he was pondering over something. Sora clued himself instantly next to his twin taking a hold of the others hand and feeling immediately more confident with Roxas being so near. Cloud had gone straight to the desk and was talking with the man behind it.

"First time I've seen him actually interested in anything today." Sora yawned and rubbed his nose. Roxas remained quiet, observing Cloud intensively.

"I think he finally found something he didn't know he was looking for." Roxas muttered, causing Sora to look at him with one eyebrow high. "Well, look at him. There might be some surprises ahead if I'm guessing things right. You know he loves nothing better than making our grumpy loser of a foster father happy." Roxas said with a small crooked grin on his lips and Sora grinned widely.

"Oh yeah, I know all about that. Have you seen the picture he keeps, well, kept, in his wallet? I soft of blackmailed him to take us here because of it." Sora laughed. Roxas nodded, there was very little, if nothing, he didn't know when it came to know stuff that happened inside the flat they lived in. "I kinda had to say AWW out loud when I found it for the first time." He continued and snickered.

"Mm. All you need here is one more hour of torture and then we could perhaps grant him some good stuff?" Roxas' face formed an affectionate expression for a split of a second before turning back to blank.

"I should go aww at you sometimes." Sora nudged his twins' side with his elbow and caused the blond to shoot an annoyed glare back at the other. "You're one big softie. But I love you anyway." Sora sent an air kiss to Roxas who simply ignored the gesture. "But is it already that late? I thought the time wasn't much yet."

"About hour or so and we are free to go. I still want to check the music store." Sora was nodding, them both now staring at Cloud at the desk who looked like he was about to explode for some unknown reason and was waving his hands frustrated in the air. The man Cloud was talking with was looking a little amused and said something which made the blond man to stop his silly looking waving. The twins weren't able to see what happened next since Cloud had turned his face away. After a moment Cloud was walking towards the boys, a small smile placed on his lips.

"No. I won't tell you a thing. Don't even think about asking." Cloud spat out when Sora was about to open his mouth. "So, you are going to torture me some more, aren't you? Let's get on with it then." With that said, he had walked out of the store, bags and packages in his hands, with a determined look over his pretty face.

"Uuu.. Maybe we should take a little longer way before letting him rest." The twins grinned in unison, following the older man.

2 hours later…

After dragging Cloud around the huge shopping center and packing the car with their purchases the boys insisted on that they should still visit one specific place a bit further, which made Cloud to frown and look even more furious and was about to open to car door.

"No no, we can leave the car here and walk." Roxas smiled innocently to what Cloud only snorted at and eyed the boys suspiciously. They walked thru the crowded streets few blocks before reaching their destination. Roxas couldn't help but to notice the looks they got from the people who passed them by. Mostly women were glaring first at Cloud and then the twins. He was pretty sure he heard more than once a longing sigh. It was weird for anyone to be sighing over something like the three of them were, it just wasn't logical. There were many people who were as attractive as any of them was. Cloud's face was getting more and more angry the further they moved.

"This is exactly why I don't like walking outside when there's other people around." Cloud growled, stubbornly staring at the snow covered pavement instead of shooting death-looks at people. "And with the two of you with me makes it three times worse." Roxas only nodded. He had started to understand why Cloud resented so badly being dragged around when he had witnessed more than one woman, and men, approaching Cloud in hopes of... gods only know what. All of them were not-so-politely rejected, of course. And more than once had some older person appeared out of nowhere to tell them what a beautiful family they made. Though Roxas had to admit it was a bit confusing him and Cloud having rather similar hair and somewhat similar facial features. Not to mention all of them were blue eyed and slim figured.

Sora jumped ahead of the two and was now playing gentleman opening the door to the store they were to enter and mockingly bowing his head as they stepped in. The smell of coffee and freshly baked sweet things filled their noses immediately. Roxas kept his eyes on Cloud who looked a little confused but soon melt into a soft smile as the blue eyes found the man behind the counter at the right side of the coffee shop they now were in.

It was amusing to see how the annoyance disappeared so swiftly when there was one certain brunet in sight. Cloud was basically eating the slim figure of Squall's with his eyes, a hint of pink rising to the pale cheeks. Roxas could not understand how Cloud was unable to admit himself he was very obviously having warm feelings towards Squall.

"He knows what we want. We'll find a table in the meantime." Roxas pushed Cloud in the back, urging him to move forward to counter where Squall was. He had not yet noticed the three of them to enter. Cloud mumbled something incoherent in response and went ahead.

"They're so cute it makes me vomit soon." Sora whispered to Roxas' ear as they watched the scene before them. Squall had finally noticed Cloud and had gone from strict work-face to much more warmer and relaxed expression and was obviously welcoming Cloud with a wide smile, to which Cloud was answering with a smile as wide. "I don't get it. Are they honestly so blind they can't figure how much they want to be together?" Sora was half talking to himself, half to his brother when they were settling down to a table near the window. There was perfect view to the counter so they were able to observe their friends flirting unconsciously to each other.

"Stupid gits, that's what they are." Roxas took off his coat and sighed. "I don't think they are blind for real. Maybe it's just a matter of acknowledging the possibility their object of affection might be feeling the same." Sora let out an audible noise of frustration while Roxas sat down. He looked around him and noticed the table next to theirs. There were two girls sitting there, both having their eyes glued to the direction of the counter. Roxas tilted his head towards the girls' direction, asking Sora to pay attention to that way for a moment.

"Oh my.. Now there're two hot guys there!" The girl with light brown hair sighed, her friend nodding. "You know I come here mostly because that man is just too gorgeous to look at. Today we certainly get a double treat!"

"I so know what you're talking about. Just imagine how cool it would be to out with guys like that."

"But you know. I think I've never seen that man to smile like that before. He must know that other well."

"Really?" The blond haired girl puckered her lips and batted her eyelashes, obviously extensions, no one had that long lashes in reality, leaning to her palm. "It would be awesome to have someone like either of them to smile at me like that..." She sighed deeply. Roxas stifled an evil snicker. Like either Squall or Cloud actually would be able to smile at anyone else so warmly, except to each other.

"Tell me about it…" The brown haired girl sighed too, biting her lower lip. "But you know what that really looks like? Like they were.. you know, having something going on there."

"Oh.. You know, I think you're right! Aw maaann~ Why is it that all the gorgeous ones are either taken or gay!" In front of Roxas, Sora was hiding his face to his hands, shoulders trembling from silenced laughter. The blond twin had to stare the table surface very intensively to prevent himself from bursting into loud laughter too. It amused him to the end that even complete strangers were able to see there was more than just little sparks flying in the air between Squall and Cloud and yet, the two idiots refused to recognize those signs themselves. Well, they were fun to watch, if nothing. And even more fun to tease. Roxas just wished the truth would reveal itself one day to them both.

The girls kept chatting about gays being too gorgeous and how super awesome it would be to go out for a shopping spree with one. To that Roxas silently argued of how wrong the girls were; it was much closer at being in kindergarten than fun and happy. The girls went silent only after Cloud was approaching their table. And of course the man chose to sit next to Roxas. Obviously, since you could see Squall from there.

"He'll bring the stuff here in a while." Cloud managed to mumble, his eyes still locked towards the man working. The green and white striped apron Squall was wearing probably didn't help at all. It was no wonder people kept drooling after him; Squall did look rather alluring in that cute apron and yet managing that coolness, like he had born to wear anything on him and never lose his style. Talk about being a born sex object. Roxas grinned.

Cloud looked like he was lost in his thoughts and kept silent. Sora made weird faces before Roxas and the said twin tried to ignore all his brother was doing. Sometimes he wished Sora would just grow up, but in the end all he could do was to love his idiotic other half, no matter what the twit did. Cloud twitched suddenly and blinked waking up from his reverie.

"I need to get a second job." Cloud stated seriously staring into the distance. The twins both had moved their eyes to Cloud because of the sudden movement, but the words clearly confused them even more.

"Wh..where did that come from?" Roxas stammered, being baffled by the sudden seriousness of Cloud.

"I just need it. Or one for weekends. I don't care really, I just really need it."

"Well, I think they are recruiting new staff at Salvation since one of the bartenders quit last week. Riku was cursing about the amount of work he had to do alone because of that." Sora raised one eyebrow at Cloud curiously. "You have experience in that kind of work, don't you? Since I can like call to the owner right now and tell him that you'd be willing to try it."

"Of course I have experience. Who do you think has covered Tifa up at 7th Heaven when she was sick?" Cloud glared at Sora. "Make that call." Clouds words sounded more like threat than a request and he was silent for a moment before adding the magic word. "Please." Sora merely shrugged and dug up his phone and stood up to be able to talk in peace. Roxas eyed the man next to him, trying to get thru his thoughts just to know why the sudden urge to make more money. Maybe… A thought had born in his head but Roxas wasn't sure just yet.

Squall decided that precise moment to appear with a tray in his hands and three cups placed upon it. He slumped on the chair where Sora had been sitting and raised one eyebrow at the two blonds. The table next to theirs had gone completely silent.

"Where did Sora go? And why you both look so weird?" Squall eyed the both of them but Cloud remained quiet and stared the table this time, trying not to ogle at Squall. Before Roxas could answer Sora returned and sat next to Squall.

"You can get there tonight for an interview." Sora reached towards the tray where the cups stood untouched and took the biggest one with a huge pile of whipped cream on top. "Mmm... cocoa." Next to the smiling boy, Squall was trying to reach Cloud's eyes.

"Interview? What did I miss, seriously?" Squall asked still trying to catch Cloud's eyes. Cloud's cheeks were gathering red over them and the man absolutely refused to look up.

"He's gonna get to Salvation tonight for a job interview. Actually, you're working tonight too, aren't you?" Sora smiled widely, wiping cream from the corner of his mouth. "You know, take Cloud there to meet the Big Man."

"You're serious? Cloud… Why the hell do you need another job? You've got your hands full already with your own business!" Squall sounded almost angry, which was something new. Usually Squall never expressed his emotions this openly in public.

"So what if I take another job? It's not like you're any better." Cloud had finally managed to lift his eyes to meet the angry blue ones and glared at Squall stubbornly. "You work in two places at the same time too, why shouldn't I. And since you're not my partner, nor my mother, I see no reason for you to get upset." Cloud scoffed and folded his arms to his chest looking grumpy. Oops, that was almost mean! Roxas thought to himself, hiding behind his teacup. Squall took a deep breath, closing his eyes, probably counting from one to ten thousand.

"Fine." Squall spat and an uncomfortable silence fell upon the table and the twins looked at each other, thinking the same; Cloud was hiding something and it killed Squall badly. Interesting! This was the first time they actually witnessed the two to argue for real about something. "I'll take you there."

"I know where the place is and am fully capable of getting myself there on my own, thank you very much."

"Whoa, guys. Calm down!" Sora cut the conversation before it got too ugly. The men were already glaring at each other with rather cold eyes. This certainly was unexpected thing to happen. "You two sound like you'd been married for ages." This comment made Cloud and Squall to avert their eyes away from each and to stare the table silently.

"That, or simply a lover's quarrel." Roxas couldn't help but to add. But it was true. The other two remained silent but a hint of red having made its way to both of their cheeks.

"Excuse me.." Squall suddenly stood up and disappeared from the table, leaving the twins baffled and Cloud, well… Quiet and embarrassed. The twins looked at him for a moment and blinked when he also stood up and excused himself, fleeing after Squall quickly. Sora gaped after the duo for a moment before he burst into laughter.

"Yeah, definitely nothing to worry about! They're probably apologizing at this very moment somewhere there. Idiots.. Why the fuck did Squall have to get pissed off? Because Cloud wants to work more? I don't get it." Sora shook his head, lifting the cup to his lips.

"He's worried." Roxas wrinkled his nose, stirring the tea with the spoon. "He hasn't said anything but I'm willing to bet my money on that he's worried of Cloud's well-being." Sora stared at his brother curiously. "You've noticed it too. That there is something off, with Cloud sometimes." The brunet twin nodded, after a while.

"Yeah. But I suppose they can deal with it together. You know, they kinda work so well it's not necessary for either of us to stick our noses into their things. If Squall wants to do something then he will, doesn't matter if Cloud likes it or not." Grinning, Sora wiped the melted cream to his finger and stuck the finger into his mouth. Roxas stared at him.

"You sure are deceivingly stupid sometimes, but end up being more observant than you let anyone know. I seriously love you for that." Sora smiled lightly, trailing the wet fingertip over his lips and then dipping it into the whipped cream in his cup. Sora cocked one eyebrow at Roxas and leaned over the table and offered the finger to him smiling widely.

"Yeah, I know you do." Sora laughed and winked at his brother who had taken the bait and had sucked the cream off of Soras finger.

Squall

After he had gotten off from work, which had been torture since he kept thinking about Cloud all the time, he had just walked home as fast as he could, only to find the twins gone and Cloud not being there either. Squall sighed, tossing his jacket to the chair in kitchen and ran his fingers thru his hair, not sure what to do with himself right now.

When Sora had announced that Cloud was getting into an interview at the club something just snapped in Squall's head. It wasn't like he had really wanted to get so angry, but there was something more important at stake at that moment than just his appearance in public. The most important thing being Cloud's well being of course. Ever since that talk he had had with Tifa, Squall had been trying to observe Clouds moods and had come to a conclusion that the man was bordering his limits.

And now he wants to work more? Sheesh.. what an idiot! It wouldn't make the situation any better at all. Well, that was Squall's fear, anyway. It was different with him, since he really had no other choice but to work his ass off. The bills didn't pay themselves, the rent either. And he was so used to this overloading of himself that it didn't drain him as much as might have done to someone else.

Cloud had left the laptop he now used at their place as it was easier to keep it there permanently as Cloud rarely went home. Squall had tried to reprogram the old PC but it was beyond repair and had simply replaced it with a new laptop and brand new operating systems. It was more fluent to work with now but Cloud still sat in their living room late in the night doing the paperwork anf other mandatory shit included. Tifa had finally given up her part in the business to Cloud. It made no sense to Squall, really. There had to be some secret reason Cloud was forcing himself to do more, to push him slowly and surely over the edge of sanity.

But Squall knew better than to go and try to stop Cloud if he had already gone and set his mind on something. Stubborn prick.. A sheepish smile reached Squall's lips. It was the same with him too. He was never willing to admit he was on his limits and should back down a bit. All he really could do was to be there if Cloud would need him, would he ask it or not, he would be there. At the moment he was just worried and felt helpless. The anger had faded away as soon as Cloud had ran after him at the cafe and apologized. It had been almost cute. The mere memory made him smile gently.

"Squall, wait! I.. I'm.. I didn't mean to say that. Of course you're my partner.. No! I mean, not like THAT, but.. my.. YOU KNOW! You just shouldn't get so worked up because of me.. Argh, I don't know what I'm saying! Just that.. I'm sorry. It was totally unnecessary from me. Please forgive me."

Though… It really should have been him, who apologized to Cloud, which he had done of course, after he had gathered himself mentally back together. But he should have done it first. It was after all him who had started the pointless argue.

Squall was wandering around the quiet flat, still unable to concentrate on anything. He wasn't even sure would Cloud come with him to the club in the evening or would they go their separate ways. Shit.. The thoughts inside his head were killing him slowly but surely. Something he hated most was to have your head too full of shit and then his usually good concentration level dropped below zero. Maybe he should go to work out some. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Yeah, he still had enough time.

Without really thinking he found himself typing a message and after he had sent it on its way he realized he had just asked Cloud to come to the gym they used in wintertime. Now what exactly was the clever part in that, really? He would be forced to see Cloud working out and usually that made his stomach flip around couple of times. Fuck.