Special thanks to AozoraNejiSasUKE for the review to get me back onto this story. This chapter is for you. Enjoy! ^-^
Stay With Me
Chapter 7: All the Loose Ends
The brunet pulled Cloud out the door without a moments notice. The morning light temporarily blinded Cloud, until his eyes adjusted to the light and he could see the beautiful day laid out before him. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, it seemed like the raining days have finally passed. Though Cloud only had a moment to take in his surrounds for the brunet still had his hand and was still pulling him forward. Too fast for the blonde to take in the fact the other man was holding his hand…
"Whoa, whoa! Where are we going?" The blonde called after the brunet.
The pulling came to a halt and Cloud noticed Leon had brought them to his bike.
"To do your deliveries." The brunet answered easily.
"My wha-?" Before Cloud could finish, the brunet had presented him with what the blonde recognized as his own hand written list of deliveries he had scheduled for today.
"I saw it on the counter," the brunet started, "So I figured I should grab it. Then after we finish your work we can meet up with your friends."
Cloud was skimming over the list and the brunet moved to see the list for himself, glancing at it from over Cloud's shoulder.
"So since there weren't any packages that I could find in your apparent. I'm assuming from that and these arrows that you drew between address, that you pick up the item right before you deliver it."
Ignoring the fact that this meant the brunet had, once again, gone through all his personal belongings, without his consent, and of course not caring how it made the blonde's blood boil—
Cloud took in a breath to calm himself and responded to the brunet, "Yeah…basically."
The brunet huffed, "Seems like more work than its worth, if you ask me."
Cloud glared at the brunet, "Well, no one asked you. So can it." Half crumpling, half folding the list, Cloud slipped it into his back pocket and straddled the bike. "Hurry up and get on, before I leave you behind."
From the smug look on the blonde's face the brunet realized he must have, one again, pissed him off. With a sigh, the brunet took his seat behind the blonde, "Well, someone is certainly sensitive…"
An elbow came in contact with the brunet gut and succeeded in silencing him for the first few deliveries. Of course the brunet had recovered from the initial shock of the blow quickly enough, he seemed to be content with just watching the blonde do his deliveries and watch from his spot on or beside the bike. After about the third delivery was finished and Cloud made his way back over to the bike and the brunet, the brunet spoke for the first time since they left,
"You don't get paid much for this…do you?"
Cloud was searching through his list for the next delivery when the brunet had spoken. Taken aback from the brunet's voice, the blonde had to look to the brunet to make sure we wasn't hearing things and seeing those startling grey-blue eyes staring straight into his own, he quickly turned back to his list, getting more than just his confirmation. The intensity of the brunets eyes were too much for the blonde, the sensations it caused… it was almost foreign to him. He couldn't help but blush. Collecting himself and recalling the burnet's question, the blonde finally answered, "No…not particularly."
Then thinking over the brunet's question and the arbitrariness of it, he turned to look to the brunet, "Why do you ask?"
After staring off ahead for a moment, the brunet turned to him, "I was just wondering why you put so much effort into this when you could do something easier that pays better."
"Ah." Uninterested in continuing the current conversation, Cloud looked back to his list, feigning interest.
There was a pause, long enough for Cloud to assume he had dodged the question, only to realize with the sound of the others males voice asking Well? That he had been sadly wrong.
"Well what?" Cloud said with an annoyed sigh, hoping to give the hint he didn't want to talk about it.
"What do you do such a crappy low paying job?"
But, of course, why would this asshole care about delicacy? Cloud thought, annoyed. Then, turning to face the brunet, responded bluntly, "Because I choose it!"
Looking unimpressed, and rather unsatisfied, Leon pushed again for an answer, "Why?"
"Because-!" Cloud paused, catching himself, but sighed, not really seeing the point in avoiding the question since douche-bag-angel-guy didn't seem like he was going to let up anytime soon. Cloud looked to the brunet in the eyes, "I don't like people… I don't like talking to people, dealing with people, or in socializing with them. With this job, I answer a call, get a package, deliver to the address, and get paid. Very little communication involved."
"What's wrong with socializing with people?"
Cloud narrowed his eyes, "Try asking yourself that question. I'm sure we have similar answers. No get on the bike and shut up, where almost done."
After a pause where it seemed the brunet was pondering Cloud's response, he looked to Cloud, "Why do you assume I don't like to socialize?"
Cloud had to chock back a laugh, "Well just taking into consideration how you got along with that limo driver –"
"That's…not entirely a fair…whatever, let go." The brunet turned away with a slight blush with the blonde couldn't help but smirk at.
"Fine with me." Cloud straddled the bike and the brunet followed suit behind him and they took off to the next round of deliveries
-oOo-
Two hours later they pulled up to the Seventh Heaven bar. Cloud kicked down his kickstand and they both got off of the bike.
Cloud sighed, "Do we really have to do this?"
"Yes." Placing a hand onto the blondes back and proceeding to push him through the doors of the bar.
"SURPRISE!"
There was confetti and little poppers going off in Cloud's face. He could only blink in response, as the fog left over from the confetti minefield began to dissipate. Then as his vision began to clear was when he noticed the small ninja charging his way, at full speed.
"Cloud!"
All the brunet saw was the wave of confetti and then cloud fly backwards to the ground with the small black hared girl on him. He blinked in confusion and before he knew it he broke into a small fit of laughter.
"Geez Yuffie why do you…" Cloud was caught off guard by a sound foreign to him and looked to see the brunet laughing. He could only blush at how cute the brunet was.
"Sorry Cloud I just –Hey! Stop ogling your boyfriend and pay attention to me!"
Both blushed from Yuffie's words.
"Okay good boy! Now everyone!" the petite girl announce, arms in the air, straddling the blonde.
"Happy Birthday Cloud!"
Cloud blinked in confusion then flushed with angry pushing Yuffie off him and climbing to his feet to grab the brunet by his shirt. "You knew this was going to happen! You set me up!"
The brunet looked just as confused as the blonde was a moment ago, "But she didn't…"
Baffled, Leon thought back to the conversation he had had with the woman on Cloud's cell phone early that morning…
"…Hello?" a soft feminine voice spoke over the line.
"Hello." Leon responded evenly.
"…Cloud?"
"No, Leon."
"…"
"Cloud's boyfriend."
"Oh!" Leon could hear the phone being muffled as the girl seemed to be yelling at someone about a Lenard or something… "Im sorry about that."
Leon shrugged then realized after a moment the woman couldn't possibly see him responded, "Its fine…"
The woman cleared her throat and seemed to try again, "Well, I was wondering if you had any special plans with Cloud today?"
"No, why?"
"You know what day it is don't you?"
"Yeah." Not really, but he knew he could simply check the phone later for the date. Why was she mocking him?
"…Well I was wondering if you two were free this afternoon for lunch. I got a little get together set up and have all his friend's here. It would be great if you could get him to come."
"Yeah sure. We'll be there. What time?"
"As soon as Cloud finishes his morning deliveries would be fine. We'll be at the Seventh Heaven. Just tell him that, he knows where it is."
"Okay."
"Oh, and could you make sure not to make a big deal about it? Tell him its JUST lunch, okay? He hates these sort of things."
"Yeahh…" Was this woman crazy?
Or maybe he was just dense he began to wonder as he came back to the present and looked Cloud in the eyes. "I guess I just misunderstood."
"Misunderstood? You moron…" Cloud only sighed and shook his head, "What part about 'surprise party' did you not get?"
"Well she didn't say anything about that. Just asked if I knew what day it was…"
"Pfft!" Cloud began to laugh out loud, "And you didn't find anything odd about that?"
"I…" Leon, without any real explanation, stopped there, not because of that, but because the blonde was buckling in laughter. There was no need for explanations; he could only smile as he watched the blonde seemingly happy, if only for a moment. He was truly beautiful; Leon couldn't help but admit to himself.
"You really are an idiot, you know that?" The blonde said as he calmed down and smiled at the brunet. Then noticing the brunet's smile couldn't help but blush in response.
"Yes…I know." He was still smiling at the blonde with that breathtaking smile. Cloud felt as though he couldn't breathe. Then Tifa ended the moment when her hand came into contact with Cloud's shoulder. Leon looked to her as did Cloud.
"Happy Birthday Cloud." She said with a sweet smile.
"Heh…thanks Tif."
Tifa looked to Leon and smiled, "Hi, it's good to meet you. I'm Tifa Lockhart. We spoke earlier today on the phone." She reached he hand out to Leon who took it in response.
"Ah I see…Nice to meet you too. I'm Leon."
"Leon…?"
"Um…" Oh great a last name but I…Leon…hart… He felt almost dizzy from the thought. It was like…he remembered something. But he pushed the thoughts aside. "Leon Hart"
She smiled, "Sorry about the confusion earlier. Someone misinformed me of your name."
From the eye daggers she was pointing at Yuffie, Leon assumed her to be the culprit.
Standing in a defensive manner, the petite girl responded, "Welll sor-RY! Its not my fault you didn't get his name when I met him!"
"…Yuffie that doesn't even make sense." Tifa said, touching her head in annoyance.
"Does so!" the girl retaliated, stopping her feet.
"Oh enough, just properly introduce yourself." Tifa responded, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.
"Fine!" Yuffie charged up to Leon and pointed to herself, "I'm Yuffie Kisaragi, the ninja princess. So you better watch yourself."
"Very nice." Tifa commented pushing the girl aside and pulling Leon forward to the rest of the gang. "This is Barret Wallace."
"Hey good ta meet you!"
Leon only nodded slightly, taken aback from the size of the man.
"This is Cid Highwind."
"Nice to meet ya, kid."
As the introductions went on Yuffie stood next to Cloud. Clasping her hands behind her and swaying side-to-side she spoke, "Soo, how's the love birds been doin~?"
Annoyed Cloud didn't answer her question but instead asked one of his own, "So what did you tell Tifa his name was."
She pouted and crossed her arms, "I thought it was Lenard."
Cloud blinked and started to laugh again, "Like I would date or even pretend to date a Lenard."
"Cloud! What do you mean by pretend!" Yuffie cried out.
"Opps…I mean…uh."
"Oh I get it… You're still in denial of your love aren't you! Poor Leon!" In an instant she went from Cloud's side to behind Leon and attached herself around his waist, "You poor man!"
The brunet fell onto Vincent, whom he was just about to shake hands with, from the impact. Cloud flinched as he watched all three fall to the floor in a heap.
"Yuffie!" Tifa called out.
"What you doin, girl?" Barret asked, as he tried to pulled her from the top of the pile.
"No! I'm not gunna let go! Leon needs some appreciation!" Yuffie cried out as she clung tighter onto Leon.
"Look here, this aint no time for no hog pile. Get!" Cid scolded Yuffie as he kicked her to get off.
"Owwiieee!"
"Get. Get. C'mon now get." Cid continued to kick at Yuffie for every command he made.
"You know she's not a dog right?" Cloud commented, finally making it over to the group, "She listens as well as a rock…Cid it's not working. Why are you still kicking her?"
"Makes me feel good. Ta heck if she don't wanna listen." Cid commented, stopped for the moment to smirk at Cloud.
Cloud only sighed. Then a quiet voice spoke up sounding very strained, "Yuffie…Im sorry but…Could you please Get Off? I am…under everyone…Being crushed."
Yuffie blinked, "Vinny? What are you doing down there?"
"I wonder…" Cloud responded sarcastically as he leaned forward and began to tickle Yuffie's sides.
"Ah! Ha ha hehe—S-stop it Cloud!" laughing uncontrollably Yuffie rolled off of Leon and Vincent.
Leon got off of Vincent swiftly and extended him a hand to him again, this time to help him to his feet. Getting his breath back, Vincent looked to Leon, shaking his head at all of what had just happened, before smiling a grabbing his hand. Getting to his feet he spoke in his quiet deep voice, "Thanks."
"Yeah." Leon responded, then turned to look to Cloud, who still seemed to be preoccupied with Yuffie.
"AH HA HA! STOP!" Yuffie squealed as Cloud continued to tickle her sides. The rest of the group just laughed as they watched rather amused.
"Are you going to behave now?" Cloud asked, unrelenting in his attack.
"YES! Hahahaha!" Yuffie squealed, rolling from side to side.
"Are you going to calm down?"
"Yes! Yes! Please Cloud! Hahahahahahahahaha!"
"Fine." Cloud dropped his hands from her side and stood straight, adjusting his coat and looked to Leon whom was giving him a strange look, "What?
Leon could only blink, "I…have never seen you like that."
Cloud flushed lightly, "You're point?"
He only smiled at Cloud, "It was cute."
Cloud flushed fully and stormed off mumbling to himself.
Smiling as she watched them, Tifa cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, "Alright! Now that introductions are over a Yuffie seems to be crashing from her sugar high."
"Heh sugar…" mumble Yuffie from the floor as she was still catching her breath.
"I think we should go ahead with lunch!"
Cid and Barret cheered, seemingly very hungry and anticipating this moment.
As Tifa, Vincent, and Yuffie set the table, Barret and Cid reminisced and laughed over old stories and some new. While Leon took Cloud by the hand and lead him back to the table. Though he only made it a step before Cloud pulled his hand back, "Stop making fun of me. This isn't a joke."
"I know. I'm not, I was being honest before. I did think you were cute, the way you two interacted. I'm sorry if it was the wrong choice in words, it was the first one I could remember to describe it."
Cloud just looked at him mystified, "You are very strange. You know that?"
"Yes Cloud I know. Now…Forgive me?" the brunet asked, offering Cloud his hand.
Cloud looked at the hand cynically, "Do we have to hold hands?"
"Yes. I'm your boyfriend and we love each other very much. Let's show your friends our adoration for one another."
"…You're creeping me out."
Leon sighed, "I mean…Lets play the part. Don't you want your friends to think you have found someone that makes you happy?"
"I don't care…" Cloud looked away blushing but frustrated by the strange feelings the brunet was making him feel from both by his words and by his touch…
The brunet took his hand again and Cloud turn to him quickly, about to snap at him again but stopped as the brunet's free hand came to rest on his cheek, "Please, just relax. I wasn't teasing you."
Cloud could feel the warmth growing in his cheeks and his heart begin to race as the brunet spoke again, "I truly just want you to be happy. Look at them, your friends. The decorated and cooked all this food and got out of their own schedules to be with you, for your birthday. They love you Cloud, they care about you. They want to be here for you. Cant you feel it? See it in their smiles? Hear it in their laughter?"
Cloud looked past Leon to his friend's as they happily chatted and readied the table with so much food. Cloud noticed some of his favorites even, though he had never been one to voice such things. His eyes began to water at Leon's words.
"You may have lost people who are impossible for you to replace or forget…but Cloud you're forgetting something…something important."
Cloud looked back to Leon as tears began to run trails down his cheeks. Leon eyes…they held so much emotion for that moment, Cloud was in shock by it at first. Leon was so stoical to everything everything and now…he looked like he held more pain in those eyes than Cloud could imagine—no. Leon looked like he felt just how Cloud had felt when he had first lost Zack…and then Aerith…
"There are still people here with you, living." Where there tears forming in Leon's own eyes? Cloud wasn't sure but those eyes were swirling in color, in pain, as he continued to speak, "And they have lost those people too. Their pain may not match yours entirely but it doesn't mean theirs isn't just as real. They have been hurting for just as long as you have but they are trying to live with that pain…and they want you to live with them. They don't want to lose you too…it would…kill them…" Leon fell to his knees, releasing Cloud.
"Leon!" Cloud bent down and touched the brunet's shoulder's, "Hey…are you ok?"
"Heh…yeah, just…got a little dizzy there." He looked to Cloud with a small smile, "Help me up ok? Let have lunch with them. Let's celebrate your day, birthday boy."
As Cloud's initial panic eased, his angry rose, so he hit the brunet on the shoulder.
"Ow…What was that for?" He asked through one closed eyes.
"For scaring me you prick!" Cloud grabbed Leon by the arms and forcefully helped him to his feet then roughly took his hand and drag him to the table.
"Um Cloud?" Tifa asked as Cloud vigorously sat Leon in a chair and took a seat himself.
"Yes Tifa?"
"Is everything…alright?"
"Dandy."
"Pffft Cloud said 'dandy'! Did you hear him Vinny!" Yuffie commenting, laughing as she hit the table.
"…Why am I sitting next to you…and what did you eat?" Vincent asked, feeling rather discomforted in his current seat.
"The WHOLE platter of cookies!" Yuffie exclaimed Doing a flip out of her chair then sat back down quietly after Cloud gave her a look. "I'll be good." She promised, pouting.
"Okayy" Tifa said a little awkwardly, as everyone had finally taken their seat "Lets eat!"
-oOo-
The group had laid out quite the meal. There were salads, sandwiches, chips, dips, platters, it seemed endless to Leon, whom had to quite early for he was unused to eating at all, let alone in such large portions.
Of course he got teased by Cid and Barret but it didn't bother him for it was in good spirit and yet he felt the main reason he was enjoying himself was because of Cloud. The blonde was smiling and seemed to let himself go, finally.
The cake was served and of course they all sang to Cloud causing him to flush in embarrassment, not that Leon could blame him, it was all childish but it was also sweet.
He was 24 it seemed…Leon felt everyday he was with the blonde he was learning more and more about him…and it seemed the loose ties of his own memories seem to awaken to the boy. The brunet wasn't sure what to think of what the blonde did to him. So instead he wonder how old he had been when he had died…and who was he? Had he been a good person? Or perhaps scum of which the world would have been relieved to be rid of?
Though none of it really mattered, all that matter right now, at this moment, was the blonde and his happiness. Saving his life was what Leon was here for. Not to recollect on his lost life…
They had stayed longer than planned, if any of that was planned. Long after the candles where blown out, after the cake and ice cream had been severed and consumed, long after the sun had set and the street lights began to light the abandoned streets. That was how long they had stayed. They had laughed and bonded, Leon began to feel as though Cloud may have come miles today…in living. He wondered how long the blonde would need him. A part of him hope for a little time as possible for he was growing closer to there people…and most of all to the clumsy blonde—which wasn't good. He couldn't become too attached to this place or he wouldn't be able to leave it. So he had to keep himself focused and on his mission objective and that alone.
Though he was glad he was here, right now, at the blonde's side because…well just because really. He didn't understand his own feelings…perhaps that was best. Happiness was ok for him to feel as long as that was all there was to it.
Yes…it was ok to be happy, wasn't it?
-oOo-
"Good night! Happy birthday Cloud!"
"See ya Spikey!"
Cloud turned back into the bar from the open door he and Leon where standing, ready to leave. "Good night guys…Thanks."
They smiled at him and he in turn smiled. Leon felt himself let on the ghost of one as he exited the building first. Then something caught his attention…a voice…a voice he knew…he knew very well. The brunet looked down the street and found a tall skinny man, with long auburn hair that was pulled back into a pony, his bangs dangled in the front of his face which was slightly flushed from the chill in the air. The man was smiling to someone at his side though Leon could not take his eyes off the man to even notice the other person with him. The man passed by, Leon's heart fell, and his entire body was rocked with dark painful feelings; sorrow, irreversible pain, and so much guilt.
The auburn haired man passed Leon, without even noticing his presence and continued down until he got further and further into the distance.
"It's snowing." The blonde commented, taking his place and the brunet's side. Then with the brunet made no response Cloud looked to him, "Hey Leon are you—hey!"
The blonde made to catch the brunet as he faltered but the man weight more as dead weight than Cloud has expected, causing him to lose his grip and the brunet landed to the hard ground.
"Leon!"
"It's okay. You know? We're all here for you."
"It wasn't your fault…you did everything you could…"
"Please, Squall…stop blaming yourself. You're getting sick thinking like this!"
"It's not your fault."
"You loved her…We loved her…but we also love you Squall"
"Please, Squall…"
"Please…"
"Please –Wake up!"