Disclaimer: We own nothing. The song is from Disturbed and called "This moment".
Beta: Azrax (Thank you, once again.)
A/N (Anae): Okay, first of all, WE'RE SORRY. REALLY SORRY. Real life has kept us busy, at the moment I'm literally countries away from QttQ. But better late than never, right? We have some chapters written already, and now we're kicking ourselves back to writing this again. We've come this far, we ain't giving up now! Dear reader, I hope you didn't give up on us and our story despite the long silence. Hope you enjoy, we promise to publish next chapter soon!
A/N (QttQ): It's been a while! Okay, who am I kidding, it's nearly been a year! I'm so sorry, I can't believe time went by this fast. ;A; A word of consolation, however - we haven't abandoned the story! We do, in fact, have some chapters written and ready to be shared with you, and we're currently working our way back into the storyline and producing even more chapters that will (probably) lead to an ending of some sort.
Anyway, this chapter is short and sweet, so it's very unlike us in all ways! I have no idea which one of us wrote it, because it's approximately one year old, but that doesn't matter! Enjoy it anyway!

Chapter XVII: Savor this moment

I hope you savor this moment
as you're still on your feet
So keep it quiet now,
I think you're gonna like it

The weapon was deceivingly light in his hands. One swing, one perfect aim, one pull of the trigger, and he could do great damage to whoever he wanted. Many men had fallen prey to the dangerous fascination such a lethal object carried. To watch someone die, to see the light fade in their eyes before it disappeared fully, to witness their last breath while knowing it was you who had taken it away - it could become an obsession.

But this battle wasn't for killing and these moves weren't meant to destroy life. No, this wasn't a game of survival, not when both participants knew where to draw the line of humanity. The men who circled each other on the sandy ground, eyes locked in gazes of determination, were fully aware of the power they wielded and the time to use it. Now wasn't the time. They weren't battling, they were playing.

For Leon and Cloud, their daily moments of sparring were just a big game. For these men, it was fun.

Cloud rushed towards him with great speed, swinging his sword in a low arch. It was one of his standard moves and something Leon had expected, but that didn't mean the move was easy to dodge. The Buster Sword had a huge range when compared to Leon's gunblade, which also meant Leon had to do most of the moving. Fighting with Cloud was a whole lot like dancing; dancing with a very powerful, dangerous metal partner.

With a quick leap back and a block that made his shoulders complain, Leon managed to counter the blonde's strike. The sound of two blades meeting in mid-air was their music, the quiet sound of their well-planned steps their rhythm. One-two-three-slash, one-two-three-dodge, one-two-three-slide. They'd both danced enough to know that this was a familiar jive, not a new beat.

Maybe that's why they turned careless. They were both taking it too easy, letting their minds rest while their bodies did the work. When you trust yourself too much and act without thinking, you tend to forget some important details. And that is when accidents happen.

It was an accident - it had to be - when Cloud miscalculated his steps and lost his balance. The Buster Sword was a difficult weapon to master because of its weight. One step taken wrong, one move that put you out of sync and the blade could drag you down. That was exactly what happened.

Leon had just managed to put Cloud on the defensive, having gotten far too close to him to allow any room for the Buster Sword to move. The gunblader was offering quick, threatening slashes that made Cloud take one step back at a time, unable to block and having no other choice but to evade. When he suddenly stepped a tad too far and - with the help of the Buster Sword's heavy shaft - fell backwards roughly, Leon had no time to react. In the blink of an eye, he was upon Cloud and in the next, he'd tripped over the fallen soldier and was going down, blade and all.

The first thing Leon registered was his gunblade, several inches deep in the ground, only a breath away from Cloud's head. A few golden strands of hair had been cut off by the incredibly sharp edge, but that was the only damage that had been done, apart from scratched knees and two bruised egos.

The second thing Leon realised was the position the were in; the very same situation he'd found himself in only a few days ago.

And like just like those days ago, his body sang, betraying him.

Inside his mind, Leon cursed. The things between them - their relationship, whatever it was - were still unsettled. Neither man was into deep conversations, they preferred no words at all - everyone knew that.

Yet, every now and then, Leon longed for personality that was able to talk it all through. He didn't have it, Cloud didn't have it, the end of the story.

So, just like last time, Leon pushed himself up, determined to leave, maybe once and for all this time.

Since he couldn't keep himself in check, it seemed.

His plans, however, were ruined as a strong hand pulled him back by arm. A truly surprised look was to be read in usually so stoic face as soft lips touched his, pleading for entrance.

Really, who was Leon to disagree? Without thinking, he opened his mouth, kissing back slowly, memorizing how it felt again.

When their lips parted, Leon found himself staring at two blue orbs. He could read emotions from them - wonder, curiosity, passion bubbling somewhere beneath, but there was no hesitance.

None at all.

And he noticed how those lips curved upwards just a bit before he was pulled into another kiss.

Sometimes Leon wondered how and when had he had let the control slip to Cloud - not that Cloud hadn't always had part of it, even if he was the physical bottom - but in which point the man beneath him had come to hold all the keys?

But that, Leon decided as his hand came to reset on top of that strong heart, was okay.

Yes, it was very much alright.