A/N: Hi everyone! short little update here, sorry. I hope you guys are liking it so far. I might not be updating for a bit again because I'm going on vacation to Disneyland this week. ^^ Sorry. Please tell me how you guys are liking the story so far, it'd mean a lot. ^^

P.S. This story doesn't have slash and I'm not sure if it'll have any pairings at all. But if you guys wanna see it as preslash or soft slash, I'm cool with that. It's really up to you guys. This is just a heads up to tell you that I write REALLY close friendships.

Chapter 3

Morning started to come around as the sun rose above Radiant Garden. No one in Merlin's house had slept well at all and the adults felt exhausted as they awoke to take care of the two minors asleep on the couch. Cloud groggily dragged himself out of bed and headed for his door, he felt terrible and could only wish that the day before was just a bad dream. Though the lack of Yuffie screaming and Leon yelling at her told him it wasn't a dream.

Sighing, he yanked the door open, his forgotten enhanced strength nearly pulling the wood from its hinges. Cloud slumped as he slinked out the door, and headed down stairs, bumping into a stretching Tifa at the bottom.

"Oof!" The young woman moaned as she hit the floor and smiled to see an apologetic Cloud offering her a hand.

"Sorry, Tifa…"

"It's ok…." She grabbed his hand and jumped to her feet, giving him a tired smile.

"Morning you two, breakfast is ready…" Aerith told them in a whisper as she handed them each a cup of coffee.

"Are Yuffie and Leon still asleep?" The other woman asked as she took the coffee and drank a sip. Aerith sighed but nodded.

"Yes, but I'm worried about Leon… His fever isn't getting better; I don't think his body took the damage well…" She rubbed her arm, "That's the problem with fighting the heartless for so long, the wounds they inflict affects us differently than when other normal creatures attack…."Tifa and cloud could only nod.

"I'll be back soon with the kids, we should move Leon so he can rest during the party…" Tifa held the coffee close.

"You're right. I'll get Yuffie up so she can eat." Aerith said, trying desperately to cheer herself up but it wasn't really working.

"I'll put Leon to bed; you girls get something to eat." The girls nodded and headed for the kitchen as he went over to the couch. He looked down to see Yuffie curled up as best she could with Leon's head still on her lap.

Sighing, Cloud kneeled down on one knee and gently slipped one arm under Leon's shoulders and the other under his legs. He lifted him up, taking the blanket with him. The brunette shivered and tried to shift away slightly in sleep. Cloud held him firmly as he walked him to the stairs, the teenager's tired body finally just submitted and lay still. Cloud headed to the large room at the end of hall on the second floor. Nudging the door open and stepping inside. He walked to the large king bed in the back of the room, gently holding Leon with one arm as he pulled back the covers on the bed with the other hand. Cloud then stooped down and laid him down gently.

"There, that should do." Cloud straightened his back before moving to pull the covers of the brunette, too preoccupied to see cloudy blue eyes open.

~KH~

Leon shifted uncomfortably; feeling oddly unnerved by Cloud's presence even though he knew the blond was someone safe.

"What're you doing….?" Cloud's eyes glowed brightly in the dark room as the blond shifted to look at his wounded friend.

"Tucking you in… Aerith says you have to stay warm in order to break your fever…." Cloud stood and lowered his arms to his sides when Leon didn't respond.

"You don't have to, I'm fine." Leon mumbled and looked away, pulling the comforter closer to his semi-bare body, actually feeling better now that he had been tucked in.

"….You're not fine….. You're severely hurt, so lie still…" Cloud's voice was rather flat sounding but still forceful.

"…Whatever…" Leon turned his face to the side so Cloud couldn't see him as he tried to raise the mask he used to hide his feelings from others. Something was wrong, the mask wouldn't rise. Had he turned to look at Cloud, the blond would have seen all the emotions that had creeped onto Leon's face as the memories of the day before rushed back to him; panic, fear, anxiety, pain, violation. All was plain to see as the emotion was too strong to hide beneath the mask. He heard Cloud sigh, the clinking of his belts and buckles signaling that he was turning to leave.

"One of the girls'll be in later to check on you, they're very worried about you…." The blond's eyes glowed softly to emphasis his words, "…So you best be nice to them…" He walked to the door and was closing it behind him when he barely heard Leon's submissive sounding words.

"…Yes, Cloud…." It made Cloud sick to his stomach to hear his friend give in so easily.

Once Leon heard the click of the door close and the only light came from the lowest setting on a lamp that was barely brighter than a candle, he let out a soft whimper. He didn't want to admit it but he just couldn't deny that he felt scared and hurt and he didn't know how to stop it. It was too new, he had never felt so vulnerable before and he wasn't sure he could handle it if he couldn't get his mask up again.

Shifting slightly, biting back the yelp of pain as he leaned on his bad shoulder slightly in order to reach under the pillow next to his head. He gently pulled a piece of material from the spot; it was a soft long, sleeveless blue sweater that buttoned in the front. He lay back again, bringing it with him and holding it to his face. Breathing in the familiar comforting scent of the one that used to wear the sweater, he a silent tear slipped from his eye.

"….How do I stop this….?"