Introductions

Part One

"Sephiroth why?"

"Do you love me Cloud?"

"But-"

"Do you love me?"

"Yes of course more than anything."

"Then you have to prove that to me. Remember beautiful, you have to show me that you love me sometimes, otherwise how will I know? If you loved me Cloud, as much as I love you, you'd do this for me…"

With a sharp jolt Cloud found himself awake in a cold sweat, his eyes wide open yet vision heavily blurred as he tried to grasp what was happening. His body felt damp as his clothes clung to him like a second skin in a chilly humidity that confused the senses. He shivered uncontrollably in the early morning breeze, as it felt like even the most gentle of winds was brushing up against his bones. To his side Ventus and Roxas clung to each other, buried under his Jacket and his shirt. Finally the memories of the previous day began to return. He and his brothers had run away from home, but eventually their father found out. Luckily he had decided not to make a public display, but still had called in the help of local authorities plus his own man power. Late in the afternoon someone had seen them by the edge of a road. Things got a bit blurry from there, as Cloud acted upon instinct. Legs running, jumping over a fence into the nearby woodlands to get away from sight as quickly as possible. He remember grabbing the boys and throwing them along with himself under the thick of some bushes. Heart racing and blood pulsing as the footsteps got ever closer. His father's men were meters from them. It was then that one decided 'I really doubt there in here.' and 'It's private property anyway, I'm sure they'd get spotted quick enough.' With that they had left, only seconds away from capturing the boys.

They travelled wearily further and further into the woodland, as they tried to find a reasonable place to spend the night. They couldn't go home. Yet they had no-one else who wanted them and nowhere else to go. Anyone who saw them would just turn them into their father the second they recognised the siblings for who they were. All of Clouds previous strength had dissipated into fear and regret. Still he kept up a strong face, not allowing his brothers to know the severity of their situation. It was only by luck they found an alcove within some rocks, just up and out the way of the footpath. Squashing up near the back of it, the three brothers were out of traveller's line of sight, and could rest in some safety for the night. As the night chill swept in the twins had huddled under Cloud for heat, for once their short stature became a blessing as they could tuck in as Cloud swept his body around them in an attempt to keep them warm. During the middle of night though, as Cloud kept a restless yet tired eye over the sleeping pair, Cloud began to realise how low Roxas's body temperature had dropped. Roxas had always struggled to stay warm, and now Cloud found himself afraid a night out like this could kill Roxas or make him seriously ill. In an attempt to keep him warmer Cloud had removed his over coat and shirt, ripped apart from his father's beating and further ruined by the runaway attempt, but in good enough condition all the same. He placed it around Roxas, leaving Cloud in only a grey tank top. He wrapped his arm underneath the twins and placed them more securely above him, as best he could with his small frame, in the hopes to keep them off the chilly ground. That night he had been so exhausted, so shocked and so numb from the day's events that he had barley acknowledge his own growing chill. Now it was morning, hours had passed, and Cloud was exposed to the morning air. It felt as if his blood was freezing water and his bones were layered with ice.

Standing near the edge of the rock formation Cloud spotted a man stood only meters from him on the pathway. Ungracefully Cloud brought himself close to the ground; he began to seize up with the sudden movement as his whole body felt as if it was close to shutting down if he didn't regain some heat soon. There was a rustle and before Cloud could register it the strange brown haired man had turned to stare up at him. Wait no. Not at him. Finding the strength to look next to him he saw Roxas stood at his side, having not thought to hide from the others gaze. A murmuring behind him indicated Ventus's awakening. The man was silent for a moment, stood completely still, as if he feared they would fly off like rare birds if he moved. Cloud mirrored him and stared back, as Roxas followed his brother's example, though Cloud was too foggy, too tired and too cold to really know what to do in this situation.

After a moment the man finally called them.

"Are you okay?" His voice was deep and carried well with a certainty that in any other situation would have been reassuring.

"Who're you?" Roxas yelled before Cloud could work up the energy, snapping at the man and glaring like a wild animal defending his den. Cloud began scrambling up, before his brother could continue.

"Calm down kid, I'm not a threat. The name's Leon." Before Roxas could reply Cloud tapped him, flicking his eyes in a mute order to go help his brother get up. Clouds mind felt slow and heavy, as he breathed in a few deep breaths in the hopes to brush off some of faintness that was crawling up upon him.

"Well if you're not a threat." Cloud tried as tactfully as possible, "what are you doing here?" Cloud reasoned that it wasn't normal for a man to be wandering a forest just after daybreak. It took a few more moments for his brain to catch up as he then cringed at the hypocrisy of that statement.

"Collecting wood for the circus renting this land." Circus? Cloud had heard of a Circus once before. He had passed a post advertising one back when he was in school. It was full of bright colours and strange people dressed in exotic outfits who wore unnecessarily large amounts of makeup. This man looked nothing like them.

"Now how about you come down here to talk, before I call the police for trespassing." Leon threatened, and Clouds heart stopped for a moment, as the reality of it all came crashing down once again. They were literally one phone call away from going back home. Cloud begged this man was kind.

"No!" It was Roxas who had spoken up, he may be rash, but he knew all too well if the police were called they'd be carted off to their father faster than one could say 'You're screwed'. Since their father owned the Shinra Co-operation he had 'influence' over this world's politics and people. They could only run for so long. Even a single tip off could be enough information for his father to find them.

"Please don't do that. We'll come down." Cloud replied. He let in another deep breath, as what was only a small incline the day before now looked to him like a miles worth of mountain, his body protesting at the mere thought of going further outside, exposing himself even more to the morning wind.

Xxx

Leon had liked to think he was prepared for most things; however finding three blonde boys in a cave at eight in the morning was not something he had been ready for. He watched as the tallest figure, whose distinct features had been masked by the shadows of the alcove, made their way down to the path. It was only a small incline that separated their sleeping spot and the walkway, yet Leon found himself somewhat alarmed at how difficult the boy seemed to move. It was stiff, jolted and slow. Finally he got to the path and stood opposite Leon, keeping a distance between them as he watched with cautious eyes. Looking up he saw two other boys, absolutely identical in appearance stood at the edge of the alcove, watching with an equally hawkish stare.

Returning to the elder Leon found himself both captivated and disheartened. The boy was deathly white and trembled terribly. He assumed the boys were homeless and like many in their situation the elder appeared thin, weathered and carried quite a few marks on his skin. His clothes too appeared rather worn out and torn, though Leon couldn't help but note the how the material did not appear cheap or even mass manufactured. Despite it all though Leon was man enough to admit the person before him was beautiful, even now in a trembling and sorrowful state. His hair, though muddy, was a sun kissed blonde, with all the lightness of a summer's breeze. His lips were full and tinged with just a slight pink. His face and structure, despite it fragility, was soft with a hint of elegance hiding beneath the current ruins. The feature that had Leon most intrigued was the boys blue eyes that colours seemed to swirl and move like an ocean storm. On a face that seemed so difficult to read, the eyes seemed to be the only access to genuine emotion. Sure the boy looked cautious and wary, but Leon couldn't help but find it practised. It was as if the stranger had spent years sat in front of a mirror, practising every emotion and every facial expression until he had each one perfected like a marble statue. He held a control over his expressions like an artist controlled the expression of his works.

"Who are you?" Leon wasn't the best at sounded sympathetic, but he hoped at least his voice sounded gentle enough to convince the strangers that despite his threat he doesn't mean harm.

"My names Cloud and the two up there are my younger brothers, Roxas and Ventus." Cloud, it seemed fitting for such an unearthly person. He looked back at the twins who had decided to make their way down and join the brother. They looked slightly better than the elder. Their body held fewer marks and whilst still underweight they looked less fragile perhaps in part due to their smaller stature. Their clothes whilst dirty and worn looked nowhere near as ruined, and Leon could now not ignore that they were definitely clothes of a finer make, causing him to hold more caution against them as such clothes were unusual on normal homeless lads. They too had light skin and blonde hair like the elder, and though it was a deeper blonde, there was a clear family resemblance between them. Almost indistinguishable they were to each other. If a man was not as observant as Leon, they would not be able to tell the twins apart for it seemed the only real difference in them was a subtlety in the shape of their eyes and their expressions. One had slightly more angled and sharp eyes. He glared at Leon with a distinct sense of animosity and certainty. The others eyes were softer and rounder. His expression more nervous and unsure.

"So what leads you three to be huddling out in private property?" Leon asked, only gaining a tension within them as a response.

"Do you not have a home?" He tried again, this time a bit less abrasive in the hopes it would ease the anxiety of the three.

"No we don't. Not anymore." Cloud replied his voice neutral, and his answer suspiciously vague. Leon tried to ignore his cynical thoughts however, remembering that many in the circus where no less vague about their situation when they were first found. Either out of shame, anxiety or uncertainty within themselves.

Leon sighed to himself. Whilst Xemnas had always said the circus was formed to help the abandoned, hurt, forgotten and nobodies of the world, it didn't mean they picked up every stray they came across. Thought despite his better judgement Leon could not bring himself to see any true malice within the three, even with the distinctly sharp stare one of the twins was bearing upon him. Leon, whilst not heartless, was one of the last people to be expected to bring back new recruits and yet, he already knew he couldn't leave them here. Something about them reminded him of both himself and Sora, and yet also of Axel and Kairi. This resemblance compelled him to help them.

"Do you have anywhere to go? Are you heading somewhere?" He asked, hoping perhaps they were simply on their way to a safe place and in fact did not require his help.

"What's with all the questions?" The sharp eyes twin snapped, only to have the elder place a hand on his shoulder.

"Please Roxas." He said hushed and gentle. "No we don't." Cloud once again kept his answers brief and his voice steady. Leon made up his mind.

"Look, I'm not going to keep pressing you. I know what it's like to be out on the streets and afraid." Leon paused for a second, rethinking what he was going to say before finally deciding 'fuck it', tact was never his strong suit.

"I belong to a travelling circus. Cirque Du Keyblade. It's made up people who were in a similar situation to you. All with their own history. The homeless. The orphans. The forgotten. Basically people who are the nobodies of the world. I was about to be made homeless myself when the Circus took on me and my brother many years ago. Now you guys need cleaning up that much is for sure, and whilst I can't promise anything, our boss has been looking to get a few more people to help out around the Circus. So if you guys have no real attachment to this place, and nowhere else to go, I can take you back with me and you could possibly get the chance to travel, work and live with us. I can at least get you a good meal and a shower if nothing else, and some warmer clothes." Leon watched as Cloud silently processed what was being said, the only clue that he might be conflicted was the slight shift in his eyes.

"What's a circus? Are you a cult? Cloud are we joining a cult?" Roxas spoke up again, and Leon would have laughed at the ridiculousness of the question if he wasn't struggling to believe the teen didn't know what a circus was.

"You know, erm, a big tented place with acrobats, magicians, animals and performers. Lots of colour!" Leon attempted to describe a circus on the spot, but seemed to only be drawing a blank. Leon was shocked, he had heard circuses were really popular with the local families around here. Indeed many in Midgar, especially the poorer who could not afford other entertainment, would come to see them perform.

"Have you truly never heard of a circus?" He asked.

"No they wouldn't have." Cloud spoke up, "to be very honest with you I've only really heard little things here and there about a circus. I'm not too familiar myself, but I know enough to understand what you're saying and what you're offering. I have to ask though, why are you trying to help us?" Leon had to smile at this, he asked the exact same thing when Riku, just a young child then, had appeared with Xemnas who offered them the exact same help.

"Because" he began quoting what Xemnas had said to him, "people here, including myself, know what it's like to be afraid and lost. In particular I know what's like when you're struggling to survive on the streets, whilst keeping as much as you can from younger siblings. I have a little brother too, and I would go to the ends of the world to keep him safe. I look at yours, and I think of him, and I can't bear the idea of them being left to the fates we so narrowly avoided ourselves. In the end the choice is yours, but what I'm offering is a chance to work, have money, have shelter and be around people who would care about you and protect you. What that empty cave offers is cold winds, starvation, poverty and a lot of danger from unsavoury people." Leon was pretty sure he had almost quoted Xemnas word for word, save a few minor details; still he couldn't help but feel it sounded far blunter and less enticing on his tongue. Few carried the charm that Xemnas seemed to possess.

Xxx

Cloud truly wanted to believe the brown haired man. He felt nervous around him, as he came off slightly abrasive, but Cloud just didn't think him murderous, vicious or manipulative. Was he being naive? Hopeful? What if this circus was full of freaks who would want to hurt him or his brothers? On the other hand the woods were hardly a safe place either. They couldn't stay here forever, they would eventually be caught, or they'd have to hide out in extreme levels of poverty and under his father's radar for years. This was a travelling circus. Hopefully one that went from world to world. That could mean escape from his father forever! How would the circus react though? He certainly wouldn't be able to tell them his parentage, after all, no one in their right mind would try to go against Shinra. Would the circus even accept them, they were from wealth after all, their greatest issue being they weren't 'nobodies' like Leon has said. Could they lie for the rest of their lives and hope the circus never found out? And how would the twins cope anyway? Ventus literally didn't speak to anyone but Roxas and Cloud; he was nervous and scared of practically everyone. As for Roxas, he had an extremely short fuse; he was constantly getting into trouble. Would the circus realise their damage and leave them? Would that only further hurt his brothers?

So many questions whirled through Cloud's head it was almost overwhelming. But Cloud knew in the end the questions were pointless. It was a leap of faith but what choice did they have? It was this or return to their father and the life they had. It was this, or guarantee his brothers a life of submission and abuse like the one he had known for too many years. In the end it wasn't a choice. Despite every ache in his body, every chill in his nerves and every doubt in his mind, Cloud presented himself with certainty and calm.

"Thank you for the offer. If you would not mind then, we would like to go with you."

Hello again.

So here's the next chapter.

I remembered now to give a quick shout out to Whispers Of The Wind- A Fanfiction I read many years ago that became the inspiration behind this one in the way I characterised a lot of the characters.

I swear whenever I write this I end up getting "Masquerade" from Phantom Of The Opera stuck in my head.

Also thank you Nimbus for their comment! I don't really expect any with my first few chapters, as you don't tend too get any for them.

Until The Next Chapter, Stay Freaky!

~Aiko