Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Pairing: Leon/Cloud later on

Rating: For now, PG 13. Will rise up later

Summary: Everything has changed. Coping with reality was never easy for him, but Cloud is going to deal with all the changes the way he knows best – by running away. Tough for him, someone found a loophole.

Warning: Animals getting hurt. (Sorry!)

Letters of Safe Distance

Chapter Three: Cuckoo Brains

Chocobo and Moomba headed out towards Merlin's house, the precious messages they were ordered to deliver to and from the place Cloud was living safely tucked into their carrying tubes. The two owls flew distractedly, having already memorized the course, while they exchanged squawks and coos. They flew over the green luscious forest, over the tree tops and under the clouds, grateful that they could once again be helpful and free to fly, even if only on a set course. Both Chocobo and Moomba felt peaceful and relaxed. Until they were attacked, that is.

It came from below, without a single warning. Countless needles came towards them, much too quick to be avoided. The owls fell down to the ground, wounded. Moomba was okay, the needles had only scratched one of its legs and grazed one of its wings. It could still fly, though not as fast, but putting any pressure on said leg caused it pain. Chocobo on the other hand, was much worse – one of the needles had hit it in the chest, dangerously close to the heart. Its coos were weak and distressed. Moomba started to panic, trying to take the offending object out of its companion's chest, but that only made Chocobo's pain worsen. Squawking nervously, it briefly glanced towards the wounded owl and headed towards their previous destination, seeking help for Chocobo.

"Where are they?" – asked Yuffie, extremely peeved – "They should be here by now."

"How do you know that? Are you an owl expert or something?" – Tifa put her hands on her hips. Sometimes the little ninja had a way to make enervating situations even more so. Why do we put up with her?

"As a matter of fact, I am! It is part of my ninja training – I have to know all the characteristics of nearby animals. "– she stuck out her tongue, defiantly.

"I should have known. Yuffie, the Deranged Ninja Ranger." – Tifa rolled her eyes at her and sat in the couch next to Aerith who was quite nervous herself, judging by the way she gripped her dress. Not that you'd know what she was feeling otherwise – her face was as calm as always.

The three of them were in Merlin's living room, with Yuffie pacing the floor like a little kid, cheeks puffed in annoyance. The wizard himself was still locked inside a room, up to another one of his "preparations". For what, nobody knew. Cid had been called to fix a machine in the shopping area. Apparently, some kid had played a little too hard with an arcade machine and it broke. In half. Judging from the way the black-haired moron, as he'd dubbed her, ran past him and the remnants of a ninja star, Cid had a very clear idea of who did it. Plans for a bloody murder ensued. Leon, however, was nowhere near the town. He had gone for a walk to clear his head. This whole Cloud deal was making him realize some things. He didn't have a very good relationship with the other man. A question arose: Did he want to be close to Cloud? How would that benefit his life and that of those close to him?

In reality, he wouldn't gain anything extraordinary from being close to the blond swordsman. He doubted it was even possible to get close to him, anyway. He didn't know more about the other man than all the other people, and he didn't understand how a man who could run away at any time could be this loved by the people around him. Cloud was a sort of mystery, one who might not even have an answer or the possibility for understanding. Other than that, he was no different from all the other people around Leon. That was what the gunblader kept telling himself, but the truth was evident, and denying it served no purpose – Cloud was different. Maybe only because the man was the sole person to be able to make him worry, to be able to pierce his indifferent demeanour unconsciously. Why? He asked himself. Does it even really matter? I just need to get him to come back. For all our sakes.

A distressed squawk diverted his attention to the sky, a blur of red flying hastily towards Merlin's House making him run to said location.

"Okay, birdie, calm down a bit!" – Yuffie flapped her arms like they were wings, probably trying to empathize with the owl.

The ninja, Aerith, Tifa and Leon, who had just come through the door, were all in Merlin's living room, surrounding a troubled red bird, the latter two exchanging confused looks at the current predicament – Yuffie was trying to talk to Moomba.

"I can't understand what you're saying, birdie! You need to calm down and speak clearly!" Yuffie stopped her flapping; she had somehow managed to calm the owl down, it now squawking a bit more slowly, less nervously.

"Yeah, yeah…" – the black-haired girl nodded, her serious stare contrasting with Aerith's fidgeting, Tifa's exasperated sigh and Leon's frowing face. – "That's strange! It isn't even Cactuar season… Hm-hm, yes, I know. Huh… Yeah, yeah, I know you're worried about him, but tell me where your buddy is! The clock is tickin'! Yeah… Yes! I know where that is! C'mon!"

Dashing out the door, Moomba right behind her, Yuffie only had time to tell the others to follow her. None asked why, none asked what for. The only one to find weird that Yuffie was, in fact,able to talk to animals was Tifa, but the woman quickly dispelled the thought, concentrating on more pressing, unknown issues.

Chocobo laid down on the ground, wounded with some severity, its vision blurry, its body sore from both the needle on its chest and the fall. The bushes around it started rustling, vivid green coming out from inside paler green, cactuars surrounding it. In a small corner of its mind, the owl knew this wasn't supposed to be happening, since Cactuar season was still a few months from now, the creatures passing through Radiant Garden towards warmer places. Now wasn't the time for this, they shouldn't be here.

Closing its eyes, Chocobo wished now was not its time to die – it still had letters to deliver, places to explore with Moomba, people to make happy. It let sleep come, there was no more energy left. Some of the cactuars were approaching it, their once fun way of moving, resembling a fast-paced dance, now much more unpleasant – threatening.

Several ninja stars hit the creatures in their middles, the surprise from the attack and the shock from the unexpected damage facilitating the swipe of a sword, cutting the ones closest to the wounded bird in half, also giving enough time for a maelstrom to form around the group furthest away, killing them instantly, all while the one who depended mainly on punches, clearly in a disadvantage against the needle-filled bodies of her opponents, managed to move around all of the creatures and all of the attacks to carefully but quickly pick up the fallen messenger.

Their mission accomplished, congratulations let out among pleas for Chocobo to be safe from their accompanying owl, Yuffie, Aerith, Tifa and Leon returned to Merlin's house, the former screaming for the old man to "quit with his crap and help a dying friend out". Hurriedly, panicking, the elderly wizard practically flew down the stairs to the living room, shooing everyone from the room except for Moomba, exclaiming he had work to do and that he needed space. He took the tube wrapped around the owl's leg and threw it to the side, Leon catching it without thinking, no one noticing in their haste. Doing as commanded, the group only saw Merlin pull up his sleeves before they closed the door, counting on the elder to cure the owl, thus fully maintaining the connection to their runaway friend.

The gunblader quickly slid the tube with the messages from Cloud into his back pocket, taking advantage of the fact that all three women were in front of him, their backs turned. They turned to him and the four looked at each other, wordlessly asking for advice on what to do. Walking away, heading towards a quieter place, Leon was the only one who knew instantly what he wanted to do. There was nothing they could really do to help, and standing around looking expectantly at a wooden door would serve no purpose other than test their patience or lack thereof. But yet, to Aerith, it felt like if she wasn't there, if she didn't wish for Merlin to be successful, something bad would happen. Being there made her feel like she had some control over the situation. Plus, she couldn't possibly leave – if the wizard needed some help, the one who would most likely be able to help him would be her. She made her decision known by sitting on a nearby bench, to the side of the house. For Tifa, that was all it took to stay. She didn't feel a thing towards the owl – it was only a means for an end. If they couldn't use the yellow bird to send letters to Cloud, what of it? After all, she was for dismissing this whole message deal from the start and storm into where Cloud was currently at. If that wasn't possible, there was still the red bird available. She stayed to keep Aerith company, sitting next to her.

"And what about you, bird girl?" – Tifa was looking at Yuffie, who seemed like she had just disassembled one of her toys and was thinking about how she could go about reconstructing it, in a better way, of course.

"I think I'm gonna stay too." – The ninja winked and put her fists on her hips. – "I'm not cold-hearted like Mister Silence. And I'm worried about Chocobo, too! After all, he's a really nice owl! And he might have Cloud's replies! I can't wait to read them!"

Now in the woods close to Radiant Garden, sat against a tree in a sunny clearing, Chocobo's carrying tube in front of him, Leon questioned his own actions. Why did he hide the tube? Why didn't he want the others to read their letters right now? Why didn't he want the others to be there when he read the letter, if there was any? Exactly, he thought, if there is a letter to begin with. Cloud might not have answered, and in the chance that he did, it might not be here. There were two tubes; his reply to me might not even be inside. Shaking his head, reprimanding himself on his behaviour, he decided that it was only so that it was fair for everybody. When the other owl gave them the remaining letters, all of them would read said letters, at the same time. In his case, privately. The letter was addressed to him, not anybody else, so he would be the sole reader.

Yet, he was curious about whose letters were inside the tube. Taking a peak would not influence a single thing. His mind set, he snapped the lid of the tube open and poured its contents on his lap. Thankfully, both letters had the addressee's name in the beginning of the text, so he had no trouble knowing who they were. He saw Tifa's name and his own. To be honest, he was surprised – he never truly expected Cloud to answer him. There wasn't much to answer to, to be fair. He was careful not to pry into private business, so he did not read Cloud's letter to Tifa, but he couldn't help but notice the difference in sizes. His was much bigger. Thinking about that, he thought it was only natural for him to read the man's reply now. What was stopping him, really? The contents of the letter were most likely some variation of Cloud telling him to mind his business and not relevant at all. Plus, that would certify that no one other than himself would read it. And, after all, I am the one who cares the least, so why not?

Even so, he couldn't help being a bit nervous as he read it to himself. At first, the letter irked him – Cloud was definitely trying to trade proverbial sword slashes. Old habits die hard. But, putting aside the consistent tone of defiance, this really seemed like the man's way of reaching out and starting a discussion. Cloud seemed to be trying to challenge him to continue trading messages. Leon wondered if he did the same with the others.

Deciding that the sooner he wrote a reply the better, the gunblader took out a notebook and a pen, which he always carried, in case he had to take notes about the citizens' needs - it was not that he was forgetful, he was just being cautious – and did such immediately.

To Cloud,

I ask that you do not take my current name as a sign of being fragile.

It is a symbol and an eternal remembrance of what I have overcome, and of what I accept as being my past. Yes, I am fragile, much like you are as well, and like all human beings are. We are both strong and weak. It is in the balance that we find happiness. I hope that you find it. It is not an easy task – I believe that I have achieved such a state, and it was not easy in the slightest.

I agree with you Cloud, our weaknesses are to be accepted. Will you accept yours?

I am glad that you find that I have not overstepped any boundaries. I also hope that we can be sincere to each other, at least while we communicate through letters.

Yes, I do understand you. As I just wrote, I will be sincere to you – I often wish I could do as you do and just walk away from it all. But knowing that I have a great number of people counting on me to keep Radiant Garden going, I cannot do it. Still, I wish it. You both intrigue and cause me jealousy. In some ways, I want to be like you. In most, I do not. To put it simply, I understand your actions, because I've desired to act similarly. I just did not act on such desires.

Two things are certain. The first is that I do not care about this entire situation. It is your own personal trial. The second is that you make your own peace. If I make you feel at ease, then carry on. You say I don't understand you, I say I do, somewhat. You might be closer to being "peaceful" than you thought, then.

I assure you that I am, indeed, capable of anger. That I do not express it outwardly does not mean that it isn't so. I fully intend to express myself freely from now on, in this way. I have to admit that this I do not understand: my letter was the most entertaining you received? How so? I didn't mean for it to be like that, to be honest.

Yours sincerely,

Leon

Peace is in hiatus for an undetermined period of time. The next fic to be updated is this one.