Jasmine here. I've determined that our chapter lengths can not in any way be labeled as 'stable' or 'regular' or 'reliable'. Some scenes run away from us - others miraculously behave. Sorry about that.
Special thanks to Alice (aliceupsidedown) and Eriyu (Eriyu) and Spoons (mumblybee) for your lovely comments and positive feedback and general support. (Thanks to everyone else reading, too. You should check these guys out.)
Cami and I sadly do not own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy.
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Larxene unlocked the apartment door, pushing it open with her hand as she balanced two pizza boxes in her other arm.
"AXEL! ZEXION! PIZZA!" She called out, tossing the boxes onto the counter and kicking the door shut behind her as she pulled off her shoes. She'd hitched a ride home with a coworker, managing to convince said coworker to make a detour to the closest pizza place 'cause she was craving it. Figuring Cloud wouldn't be home, she'd gone ahead and picked up food for her other two roommates as well.
Axel came out, raising an eyebrow, "You bought pizza?"
Larxene turned, "Yes? I'm not always a bitch, you know. I occasionally do nice things."
"Sorry, Cloud called and said you were probably going to be all bitchy. Also that he's not coming home. This brings up two rather important questions-one, why aren't you being all bitchy, and two, what the fuck did you do to Cloud?" Axel laughed.
Larxene opened the pizza box, "Eat and I will explain." She walked over to the wall that the TV was against, banging against it loudly, "ZEXION! GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE, I BOUGHT PIZZA."
"Good God, woman! I heard you the first time you screeched it! I'm at the best part, dammit! Give me a minute!" was the shouted response.
Larxene rolled her eyes, "Not my fault if your pizza's cold by the time you put your book down!" she called back, walking back into the kitchen and plopping into a chair.
"So, are you waiting until Zex gets here before explaining, or will you just tell me?" Axel asked her.
She shrugged, leaning back, "Unless Cloud called him, I don't think Zex knows what's going on."
Zexion huffed into the kitchen, scowling at his two roommates. He grabbed enough paper plates for them all and unceremoniously flung them at his roommates, taking a seat and grabbing a piece of pizza. Around the large bite he took, he managed to say, "Haven't eaten all day. Book's awesome. Thanks for the pizza. Where's Cloud?"
Larxene laughed, "I'd imagine he's somewhere in my boss's apartment right now." she said, and before Axel could interrupt her, she continued, "Which I am about to explain."
"Good." he mumbled, eating his pizza.
"So, did Cloud tell you about the bet that Leon's roommates have going on about when the two of them are going to hook up?" Larxene asked.
"He mentioned something about his coworker giving him chocolates or something." Axel shrugged.
Larxene chuckled and launched into an explanation of how she'd gotten in on the bet.
"And that's why he's mad at you?" Axel asked, "That hardly seems like Cloud."
"No, no." Larxene shook her head, "I bet they'd be together by Halloween, which is in like... two weeks. So, I knew I needed to speed up the getting-together process a bit."
"Oh no." Axel sighed.
"Oh yes." Larxene grinned, "So, I pulled in a favor with Zack, Cloud's old friend. Asked him to strip for the two of them in Leon's office, thus leading them on a wild goose chase to kill people that lead back to me. But I chose Zack and not, well, you," she gestured to Axel, "because I knew it would get Cloud beyond pissed and then he'd be forced to go stay at Leon's for the night, thus bringing them that much closer together. So, technically, I did it all for Cloud, even if there will be some monetary gain for me in the end."
"So you're okay with the fact that Cloud will mostly likely kill you before you can explain, and will definitely kill you after you explain?" Zexion asked, grabbing and practically inhaling another slice of pizza.
"Well, I'm taking as many precautions as possible to avoid that." Larxene said, "I'm planning on calling Zack and explaining everything I just told you guys, possibly adding an apology in there."
"You just want to make sure you live to collect the money from your boss's roommates." Axel rolled his eyes.
Larxene grinned, "Never denied that."
"Why would calling Zack really help you?" Zexion asked, confused. "I mean, I understand that you asked him to pull the prank instead of Axel because Axel is so scrawny and mouthy, but I thought Zack and Cloud were just old friends? There's nothing more there, is there?"
"Errr." Larxene paused, glancing at Axel for help.
"She's just hoping to rally as many people to her side as possible." Axel said, "She's Larxene, the evil bitch queen, and I'm the only one who can say that."
Larxene smacked him.
Zexion's gaze narrowed. "What aren't you telling me?"
"What makes you think we're not telling you something?" Larxene asked.
"You, who revel in actually knowing something I don't, looked to the idiot over there for help answering my question. What are you two hiding?" Zexion demanded, dropping his half-eaten pizza and crossing his arms, glaring at his roommates. He may only be 18, but that didn't give them the right to treat him like a kid.
"It's not really our business to explain, Zex. It's something between Cloud and Zack." Axel said, "It happened while you were working on your master's, and Cloud didn't want to bother you."
"But isn't that what friends do?" Zexion frowned. "Turn to each other when something happens? This is why I don't understand people." Zexion threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "They don't follow a set of rules. Nothing's logical. They say one thing and do another!"
Axel shook his head, "Friends do turn to each other when something happens, Zex. But sometimes friends do really, really stupid things as well."
Larxene couldn't help but giggle at that.
"I was talking about you, bitchmuffin." Axel rolled his eyes.
"I know." Larxene grinned.
Axel turned back to Zexion, "Just ask him when he gets back to kill Larx."
Still frowning, Zexion nodded slowly. "That makes sense, especially since you're all idiots. It's just like Demyx earlier..." He muttered, mostly to himself.
Willing to use any opening to change the subject, Larxene spoke up in her teasing tone, "Ooooh? And who's Demyx, Zexy?"
"Oh no, don't you start with me. He's just a student of mine at the high school. Well, really I'm only a substitute teacher, so he's not technically my student, but you understand the point." Zexion explained.
"Aren't the students you're teaching like... your age?" Larxene asked, standing up and walking to the fridge, silently asking her friends if they wanted a drink.
"Yes, the children are technically my age. The same group that humiliated and ostracized me." Zexion snapped.
"Awww, Zexy." Larxene put her arms around him from behind, "Now all you have to do is channel that into your teaching and they'll all get what's coming to them."
"Larxene!" Axel said, surprised.
"What? Of everything I've done today, this surprises you?" she asked, not letting go of Zexion.
Zexion forced himself out of Larxene's grip. "I can't do that. It would be unprofessional. Besides, I suppose they aren't all bad..."
Larxene laughed, "So, since you two ignored the silent cues of me actually getting up and walking to the fridge, if you want a drink, speak now or throw your laziness out the window."
"Obviously since we didn't say anything when you so blatantly gestured at the refrigerator, we don't want anything to drink. Right, Axel?" was Zexion's snarky reply.
Axel just grinned as he continued to eat his pizza.
Larxene stuck her tongue out, "Less for my lazy ass to do, then." she said, grabbing a beer and plopping into her seat.
Zexion felt his phone go off in his pocket, and he hurriedly pulled it free, checking to see who it was. His face fell as he was disappointed to see it was just his service provider advertising a new feature that they were offering.
"You okay?" Larxene asked him.
Zexion made a noncommittal noise. "I was hoping it was someone else."
Larxene raised an eyebrow, urging him to go on.
Zexion pointedly looked across the table at Axel. "So, Axel. Aside from the phone call from Cloud, how as your day?"
"Pretty good." Axel said with a small smirk.
"I know that smirk." Larxene said, her eyes widening, "That's your, 'This day was fucking awesome' smirk. What happened?"
"I really have a boyfriend this time. Not just in my head." Axel said, grinning.
"Same guy?" Zexion asked curiously.
"Yep! Only this time, he's aware of it." Axel chuckled.
"When are you bringing him by?" Larxene asked, "I have to check to make sure he's worthy and all that."
Axel raised an eyebrow. "You aren't my parents, Larx."
"Yes, well, I'm the closest thing you have to an older sister-"
"You're younger than me."
"And I plan to fill that place to the best of my ability."
"I swear, Larx, if you call in a favor and have a stripper ambush us, I will kick you out."
Larxene stuck her tongue out, "No strippers."
"Good." Axel laughed.
"Technically it's not your house, so you can't really kick her out." Zexion mused. "But on that note, I shall let you two bicker the night away while I go finish that book. Make sure I do eventually get to meet this boyfriend of yours Axel." Zexion stood up, throwing out his garbage as he spoke and getting ready to retreat back into his room.
"You never told us who you were hoping would call you." Larxene reminded him.
"Imagine that." Zexion said, leaving the kitchen and making his way quickly through the living room, intent on getting into his room and locking the room behind him.
"I think you scared him with your story of Cloud and Leon." Axel shook his head.
"I'll get it out of him eventually." Larxene smiled. "Seriously. Make plans to bring your boyfriend over here pronto."
"Alright, alright." Axel laughed.
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Cloud pulled his bike alongside Leon's car in the parking garage and cut the engine, standing and removing his helmet while also tucking his keys into his pocket. He tried rolling his shoulders to get the tension out of them, but his anger was not ready to completely dissipate, leaving him still irritated. After setting his helmet on his bike, he looked to Leon to lead him, as when they had stopped by here before, they hadn't actually entered the brunette's apartment.
Leon frowned at the tension still on Cloud's face, silently leading him to his apartment and motioning him inside, locking the door behind them.
Cloud looked around, surprised at how neat everything was. He kicked off his shoes and stepped into the living room, noticing a small hallway leading back to what he assumed were the bedrooms and a doorway on the left leading to the kitchen. Suddenly unsure what to do with himself, he stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. He knew he couldn't go home right now, but maybe coming here had been a mistake... After all, he barely knew Leon!
"You don't need to stand there awkwardly, you know." Leon said, glancing back at him, "Nothing's going to bite you, and Xigbar and Seifer aren't here. You want a drink?"
Cloud scowled. "I know they aren't here. If they were, do you seriously think I would be at this point?" He cleared his throat. "Sorry. Guess I'm still a little worked up. You have any beer?"
"Yep. Take a seat. I'll be right back." Leon walked through the doorway into the kitchen.
Cloud took a deep breath and sat on the couch, shifting to try to get comfortable but giving up after a moment. He tried his best not to think about anything, because if he started thinking about Larxene or Zack or the pranks, he'd wind himself back up again. Glancing around for a distraction, noticing an abstract painting hanging on the wall. No way...
Leon walked back in holding two beers, and noticed where Cloud's gaze was. Handing him one of the cans, he sat down in a chair. "You alright?"
"That painting... is it by an artist named Axel, by any chance?" Cloud asked, taking his beer and popping it open, taking a generous sip.
Leon studied the painting for a moment, "Uhh... it might be. When we moved in here we had absolutely nothing to put on the walls. Seifer dug that out of a box and hung it up and we pretty much forgot about it after that."
Cloud shook his head. "I'm pretty sure it's one of Axel's. He's one of my roommates, so our house is covered with similar stuff. Wonder how Seifer got it?"
"Huh." Leon said, "No idea. When I'm feeling less like throwing him out the window I'll ask."
Cloud smirked. "Can I watch?"
Leon chuckled, "Of course."
The blonde's smirk grew for a moment, before slowly fading into a scowl as darker thoughts took over. He involuntarily tightened his grip on his beer can, the metal wincing in protest.
"Do you want to put on a movie, or something?" Leon asked, sensing Cloud's anger, "Get your mind off of things?"
Cloud forced himself to release his tight grip on the can, setting it onto the nearby endtable. "Sure. But you don't have to go out of your way for me - I'm only crashing here tonight. I'll be gone in the morning. Just do what you usually do. I'll be fine."
"A movie, then?" Leon chuckled, "What do you feel like watching?"
"Whatever. I don't care." Cloud answered, shaking his head at the brunette.
Leon stood up, walking over to the TV and picking up the two DVDs he saw first, "Uhhh, Terminator or the Fast and the Furious?"
"Fast and the Furious. Thanks, Leon." Cloud answered, scooting over to make room for him on the couch as it was the only piece of furniture actually facing the television.
Leon popped the movie in and sat down.
About halfway through the movie, Cloud stifled a yawn. The stress of the day had finally caught up with him and he was exhausted. "Leon, I take it this couch is my bed for the night?"
"If you don't mind. We don't have a guest room and I don't know if you want to take Xigbar or Seifer's room." Leon said.
Cloud raised a hand to wave off the offer, but ended up using it to block another yawn. "This'll be fine. I was kind of expecting the floor, anyway, so this is an improvement."
Leon shut the movie off, "Alright. I'll grab you a pillow and a blanket." he stood up and disappeared down the hall for a minute.
Cloud stretched out on the couch, his exhaustion blocking out how uncomfortable the small thing was to lay on, and closed his eyes, telling himself he would sit up the second Leon came back into the room.
When Leon came back in, Cloud was fast asleep. Rolling his eyes, he tossed the blanket over the blonde, nudging the pillow under his head, and shut the light as he left the room.
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Cloud rolled over, promptly falling onto the floor. Frowning in his sleep, he groped around for his pillow, smushing it once more under his head and kicking his feet to get more comfortable, hopelessly tangling himself in the blanket. His face smoothed as his body stilled and he reentered a deeper sleep.
Leon was startled awake by a loud thumping noise. He sat up, raising an eyebrow, and decided that if he didn't get up and figure out what it was, it would drive him crazy. He stood up, grumbling about it being two in the morning, and left his room, walking towards the living room.
It took him a second to realize what was wrong. "Cloud, wake up." he called, groaning, "You're on the floor."
Cloud twitched at the sound of his name, but otherwise remained motionless on the floor.
Leon groaned, considering just leaving him there, but decided he'd feel bad in the morning if he did that. Walking over, he shook the unconscious blonde, "Cloud. Wake up."
"Axel." The blonde muttered, eyes closed. "Go away."
Leon sighed, "It's Leon, Cloud. Wake up or I'm leaving you on the floor."
"Leon..." Cloud groaned. "Leon?" He said, brow furrowing. Opening his eyes, he peered into Leon's face. "Leon? Why are you in my bedroom?"
"You're in my living room. Now get back onto the couch." he rolled his eyes.
Cloud forced himself to sit up, wincing as his muscles protested loudly, cramped from laying on the floor. "Your living room? What happened to my bed? Why am I here again?"
"You're staying here tonight." Leon rolled his eyes again, "You'll remember in the morning. Just go back to sleep."
Cloud frowned and looked around slowly, becoming more awake as the seconds passed. He groaned, leaning back against the couch and dropping his head into his hands, resting his arms on his bent knees. "Shit." He muttered quietly.
"You alright?" Leon asked.
Cloud ran a hand through his messy blonde spikes. "It's what?" He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Two in the morning? I'm fine, Leon. Go back to sleep. Sorry I woke you up."
Leon shook his head, "If you want to talk, just talk. Two in the morning or not."
Cloud sighed. "Please. Go back to sleep. I already feel horrible for being the cause of you running around on your lunch break on a wild goose chase, causing you to take a day off from work, and for practically inviting myself over to crash on your couch. Please don't add 'made Leon stay up all night because I was a pansy who made him listen to me whine' to the list."
"You're hardly making me listen to you whine." Leon rolled his eyes, sitting down on the floor, "Talk."
Cloud pressed the heels of his hands into his eyeballs. "Why are you doing this? Is it just because of the pranks? Sure, we have mutual friends who happen to be assholes at times. But I don't get why you care so much. You barely know me. I could be a crazy mass murderer."
"Somehow I doubt you're a crazy mass murderer." Leon shrugged, "And I don't know why. But the longer you stall, the longer we both have to stay up, so you may as well get on with it."
"I don't know what to do." Cloud whispered, hugging his knees and refusing to look at Leon. "My life before meeting you was pretty simple. I worked and loved every minute of it, occasionally hung out with my roommates, worked on my bike. That was it. I was happy like that. Even when Xigbar and Seifer made their bet and started pranking, it was annoying sure but kind of funny. I didn't mind it all that much. But involving Zack... You don't know him. He's so happy, so eager to please anyone. When we were kids, he used to get picked on all the time. Those who weren't making fun of him were abusing him kindness. 'Zack, can I borrow this? Give me that!' And he always said yes. He doesn't know how to say no.
"I've always defended him. Because he's my best friend and I can't stand seeing him hurt. I told you I was in jail for five days right? Those were the worst nights of my life, because I was so worried something more would happen to him when I couldn't be there. Then he met Reno and his sister Aerith, and it was instant love with them. You could practically feel it. So I know he's happy and safe now with his new family. But Larxene just had to pull him from that comfort... He had a really shitty homelife as a kid, and he deserves to be happy, truly happy. In the store, earlier today... If you hadn't been in the aisle with us..." Cloud started shaking, his hands clenching into fists. He looked up at Leon, anger and sadness and pain and most of all, fear swimming in his eyes. "Leon, I'm scared to go home."
Leon hesitated, not really sure what to say, "I don't know Larxene very well, Cloud, but I don't think she did it to hurt Zack at all. Maybe you should call and talk to her on the phone before you go home. Maybe work it out with her when there's no chance of anything happening." he put his hand on Cloud's shoulder, "And until you're ready, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need to."
"Yeah. That's a good idea. I'll figure it out. Thanks for the offer, but there's no way I'd impose like that. I'll be gone tomorrow morning, well, today. When the sun's up. Promise." Cloud said, resting his chin on his arms.
"At least stay until I leave for work." Leon said, "I don't need you getting into a crash or something 'cause you're too tired. Larxene's scheduled to work at 11 tomorrow, so she won't be in your apartment unless she skips. And if she skips, she's getting fired, so either way, you should leave after 11. Now get back to sleep."
Cloud stubbornly shook his head. "No. I don't want to mess with your morning routine. And honestly, I doubt I'll be getting any more sleep. I should actually just leave now, so you can go back to sleep."
"You honestly want to go back to your apartment right now?" Leon asked, "You just told me you didn't. Damn it, Cloud, don't make me stay up to make sure you don't leave."
"I'll sneak in, lock my bedroom door. It'll be fine. And it's your choice if you stay up all night, but it won't be because of me. I'm leaving." Cloud stood, disentangling himself from the blanket and placing both it and the pillow on the couch, stretching a little and wincing at the pain in his back.
"Well, good luck with that." Leon said, standing up as well, "You can't really leave without your bike's keys, and I took those when you passed out 'cause I knew you'd try to leave. Now go back to sleep. They'll be on the counter in the morning."
Cloud's gaze narrowed as he stuck his hands into his pockets, realizing his keys were missing. "Fuck, Leon!" He swore. "Give me the keys. I need to leave. This is already bordering on a favor instead of a common sense move. Give me my keys, Leon."
"No. Go to sleep." He walked back towards his room.
Taking large strides, Cloud easily reached out and grabbed the brunette's arm, preventing him from retreating into his bedroom. "Don't do this Leon. If I stay, I'll owe you something. I know better than anyone that nothing's free. Don't do this to me. Just give me the keys and let me leave."
"You're not going to owe me anything. If anything, you're doing ME a favor by staying here because now I won't have to worry about you getting into a crash because you're exhausted." Leon said, "Now go back to sleep."
"Why would you worry about me?" Cloud scoffed. "And don't feed me bullshit, either. It's a 'favor' if I stay?" Cloud crossed him arms. "What do you want? Free parts from the shop? Money for letting me stay the night? I don't have much on me at the moment. I'm not willing to give you anything else."
Leon cursed under his breath, pulling Cloud closer and kissing him for a moment. Pulling back a second later, he spoke, "There. You paid me back. Now go to sleep." he shut his bedroom door, locking it behind him so that Cloud couldn't sneak in and steal his keys.
Cloud stood frozen in place, staring at Leon's closed door. Slowly, his fingers reached up and touched his lips, still feeling Leon's mouth pressed tightly against his. "Dammit, Leon. I said I wasn't willing to give anything else." The blonde whispered. He sank to the ground, leaning against Leon's door, anger in his mind and confusion in his heart.
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...I just realized that this chapter is kinda depressing... Sorry! Things get better! Wait, actually... things get worse. :D But then they get better, promise!
I hope you liked it! Please review and let us know your comments/thoughts! Thank you!