Chapter 22

Cloud

It had taken him two weeks to be discharged from the hospital. Cloud felt a bit embarrassed when all his friends saw it necessary to come and send him back home. And when Cloud had expressed the uncertainty of his destination Squall had nearly blown up at him for being so stupid. He had said something like "You stupid git, you've basically moved in already so what the fuck are you whimpering about now!" So, Cloud was to be transported back to the apartment he had shared with Squall, Sora and Roxas for some time now. The only difference was that they would move all Clouds things there and his name would appear on the post box, officially.

Of course he was happy he could continue living with the guys, the problem didn't lie there. It was just too hard to understand he was wanted in people's lives. Cloud had the constant fear of him being a nuisance and always being in the way. But it seemed he should really start accepting he wasn't going to get rid of his little family game with Squall. Nor was he going to get rid of any of his friends. They had all had been at the hospital to wish him a speedy recovery. Tifa, Reno, Cid, the twins and… Now Clouds heart skipped a beat when he thought about the friend who had turned into something completely different. Squall.

Cloud and Squall had had time to talk about things when he had been tied to the hospital bed, unable to move much as the stitches were healing slowly. By things he meant all pretty much all the feelings they were feeling. It had been surprisingly easy to confess it all. Maybe the shock of almost dying had left a mark on them both that life was just too short to be wasted on petty things and foolish regrets.

One thing they had only touched in passing so far. Sex, and everything what being together meant physically. Of course it was denied and prohibited to do anything now that Cloud was still in the process of healing. But had he been up and healthy and in the same situation with Squall… Cloud didn't even dare to guess what else might've happen. Of course, he wasn't completely ignorant and knew something about what kind of things there were to do when you had a boyfriend… It brought a flush on his cheeks whenever he thought about things like touching Squall. Or about taking off Squalls shirt and kissing the bare skin.. Yep, he should most definitely get healthy. Soon.

But for now, Cloud let the thoughts fly off of his mind as he was being escorted back to their shared apartment. He could see the long stairs in the corridor leading to the level where the door waited him. Cloud sighed and leaned heavily to Reno who was supporting him on his better side. The other side of him was still patched up and hurt quite badly when touched. The stairs felt more like a mountain top than just those 15 steps it really was. Cloud knew Squall was inside the apartment, doing gods knew what, and not helping him at all. The bastard. Reno wasn't the optional choice for this sort task after all.

"How the heck am I supposed to live here if I have to keep limping up and down these stairs if I want to get out of the flat?" Cloud grumbled. He didn't have any other choice. Tifa had sold the bar and had moved out as soon as the papers had been signed. Cloud had moaned and bitched about the existence of these million times cursed steps, but his whining had echoed to empty ears it seemed. Squall should've built him an escalator or something, just out of love or something.

"I would drag you to my place but I don't think you'd appreciate much living on a bad couch and Axel running in and out of the door anytime he finds it fitting, eh." Reno snorted softly and tried to take a better hold of Clouds arm around his shoulders. "What the hell did they feed you at the hospital! Dude, I'm sure you've gained weight, not lost any like patients usually do!"

"Oh shut your mouth and help me up these friggin stairs so I can stop aching so fucking badly." Cloud gritted his teeth and was mentally preparing for the task ahead of him when the door they were meant to reach opened and Squall's head poked out. He spotted Cloud and Reno sweating on the lowest step and hurried out of the apartment.

"I'll take him from here, thank you." Squall removed Reno from Cloud and then, just like that, picked the blond man up to his arms, careful enough to avoid causing Cloud any additional pain.

"Oi, what the f-" Cloud managed to gasp and automatically took a hold of Squalls shoulders afraid he might fall down, every muscle and joint in his body protesting this sudden movement. "Idiot! Why didn't you warn me if you were going to play a stupid rescue the maiden in distress game!"

"Oh, come on Cloud. You enjoy it somewhere deep in your guts. Because you're such a spoilt little princess after all." Squall grinned while slowly walking up the stairs. Cloud clutched to the man for his dear life and tried not to think what would happen if Squalls hold should fail. Cloud ignored the taunts for the moment but was determined to let his opinion about Squall to be heard once he was set back on the floor, safe and sound.

It took only few minutes to climb up but it felt like an hour to Cloud who had a searing pain now at his side on the scars from the operation and his head was starting to spin slowly. Just when he thought he couldn't take the pain any longer he felt his feet touch the floor and opened his eyes to find himself in Squalls bedroom. Cloud blinked.

"Why are we here? I thought I'd be resting on the couch."

"Well, yeah. You can go there if you like but I thought you'd want to sleep for a while after this highly traumatic transfer from the hospital."

"Hmm." Cloud was pleased to be considered so much but he didn't want to rob Squalls own private space like this. He glanced at the bed. He blinked again and checked if his eye sight had been damaged as well. "Squall…" Cloud mumbled, a bit unsure what he was supposed to think. Squall was closing the curtains, dimming the room for Cloud to sleep without the sun pouring in.

"Hm?" Squall looked puzzled but when following Clouds gaze he eventually flushed slightly and cleared his throat. "Like it? I thought it was time for you to stop sleeping on the couch..."

"Well, yeah. Sure I like it but isn't it a bit big for you?"

"Wh... What? No, oh sweet mercy.. Cloud! I bought the damn bed for both of us to sleep in! Didn't you just hear me say it was time for you to stop lurking in the dark corner of the living room!"

"Not to be rude or anything but aren't you being a bit presumptuous? And I like the dark corners, thank you very much." Cloud cocked one eyebrow and looked at Squall who took the hint and understood why the double bed was a bit suspicious.

"Cloud! Good grief, I didn't mean it like that. What kind of a pervert you think I am…" Squall turned his back to the blond and tossed a light blanket on the bed. "Just… Get in there you stupid emo brat and rest. Before I actually do take advantage of you and make you return to hospital." Squall growled.

"Fine. Then stop being a pain the ass and help me lay down." Cloud was amused and quite touched. He had thought the situation to be a bit sticky since they had had no conversations about the sleeping arrangements. This explained why… He took few limping steps and felt the world go black before his eyes. Before he fell though, a pair of arms took him in their embrace.

"Can't leave you for a second alone, now can I?" Squall murmured into Clouds ear softly and leaned down to help the blond to sit safely on the bed. Cloud remained quiet as Squall helped him to remove extra clothing and made sure he was resting safe and sound under the light blanket.

"Squall… Thanks. For being here." Cloud felt a rush of emotion running thru his body and it made his heart flutter like a scared little bird for a moment. Squall smiled slightly.

"You'd do the same for me." Squall reached his hand and brushed a wayward strand of blond hair out of Clouds face and leaned down. He leaned down and gazed straight into Clouds eyes from such a short distance Cloud could smell the shampoo Squall used. Clouds heart was hammering now so loud he was sure Squall could hear it. Cloud closed his eyes and took a deep breath and before he could breathe it out he felt Squalls lips pressing against his own ever so gently.

Cloud felt dizzy from the pain in his body and from the happiness the kiss brought to him. It was very tender and sweet. Something you wouldn't really expect from a person like Squall but Cloud had had the privilege of knowing how absolutely brilliant kisser Squall could be. But even this small gesture against his lips felt more intensive than the first they had shared such a long time ago. Just because now he knew the feelings he had were returned the same way.

Squall broke the touch sooner than Cloud would have wanted and he opened his eyes to see the man above him looking at with a serious expression on his face.

"Now you must rest. We will continue this only when you have healed completely. I promise you that." Squall said it with voice thick with want and he gave Cloud a look that made his veins go hot. "Sleep tight…" Squall grinned evilly and left the room. Cloud laid there his mind humming slightly. Yeah, he definitely should get better soon. It would get a lot more interesting in this house once all the bruises and cuts had healed.

Squall

It had taken a whole month for Cloud to recover enough for him to start his normal daily routines. Squall examined his boyfriend from the kitchen door where Cloud was sitting before the table quite comfortably reading the morning paper and drinking tea. It was still baffling for Squall to be able to call the blond his boyfriend. The whole concept was a bit funny and sounded like something teenagers could let out of their mouths.

Squall had some pressing matters to discuss with his handsome heartbreaker today but he took his time and let his eyes rest over the t-shirt clad torso and blond hair sticking out ever so ungracefully in every direction. Cloud had his face pressed down to read but Squall could make the line of his jaw and nose. He liked those features. And he liked them even more in this particular kitchen every morning. And he hoped these mornings would never end.

"Anything earth shattering happening?" Squall let his day dreams escape for the moment and walked into the room, heading towards the coffee maker.

"Nothing much. The advertisement for our delivery company is on today's paper though. Looks like shit but I didn't expect much more." Cloud sighed. "I wish I could just sell the whole shit off as soon as possible. I can't keep running it like this after Tifa leaves the town. Did you know she stayed behind just because she was waiting for me to recover?"

"I did." Squall sat opposite Cloud and examined the troubled face before him. "I've been meaning to talk to you about it anyway. What would you say if I bought the half Tifa left to you?" He was sure Cloud would reject this but he had given the idea serious thought over the past month and it wasn't very unappealing after all. He was good at running things both from office and in the field.

"Squall.. Don't say that. I don't want your pity offers." Cloud groaned and burrowed his brows in slight annoyance.

"I'm not saying it because I feel pity for your situation." Squall had been right. The blond was amazingly stubborn to accept any charity. "Take your head out of your ass and think for a moment. Who is the one to run all the paperwork at the moment? Me. Who fixes the computers when something happens? Me. Who deals with customers who are even bigger asses than you sometimes? ME. So why in the name of any deity I would offer you pity?" He scoffed and took a steadying breath. "I'm already practically your partner in that company so what could be more natural than making it official, hm?"

Cloud was staring at him now, head slightly tilted to the side, eyes narrowing a bit as the man considered the things Squall had presented just now.

"Well, when you put it like that…" Cloud grinned then suddenly. "Then I guess I have no other option than to say; Welcome aboard partner!" He offered his hand over the table. Squall laughed and took the hand. They shook hands but didn't let go and rested their arms on the table instead, now entwining their fingers together.

"I have another announcement to make." Squall mused while enjoying the feel of Clouds skin against his.

"Oh god.. Are you somehow pregnant?" Cloud groaned and faked a horrified face.

"Well, not exactly." Squall half smiled. "The twins are going to move out."

A/N

The next chapter will be just what it means when you label your scribbling M…. If you get what I mean. ;)