"Geppetto, please."
Leon shifted his weight on his feet, one hand rubbing the top of his head as he stared down at the cardboard box being thrust in his direction.
"I appreciate it, I really do. But you don't need to keep giving me gifts."
He didn't need to open the box to know what was inside. He knew.
"Mr. Leonhart, please, I insist!" The elderly man piped up, jostling the box slightly. "You have done so much for me and my boy!"
Geppetto had his back to the door now and was effectively blocking it, seemingly not wanting to let Leon leave until he had accepted his gift - and this wasn't the first time he'd done this. The man was persistent. Leon mentally vowed to never step foot in this house again.
He sighed under his breath, the cluttered ticking sounds from the multiple clocks Geppetto had on the wall beginning to irritate him.
"Thanks."
He gave in, taking the box out of the older man's worn and crinkled hands. No point arguing with this guy.
Geppetto looked positively thrilled, his palms clapping together excitedly.
"Oh Mr. Leonhart, you won't be disappointed!" He beamed, bowing to open the door for him to leave. "Now, you run along and enjoy!"
The door slammed shut, its sound echoing in the street.
He blinked, looking at the box. Nope, still didn't need to open it. He could hear the ticking noise coming muffled from within. Another damn clock.
Later that evening, he had soon forgotten all about Geppetto and his strange gift giving ways.
His head was shoved deep in a book, eyes darting back and forth as he absorbed the information. Secrets of the Wutai War. An interesting read, something he already had a bit of base knowledge of but had always been keen to-
Thud.
The pages crashed into his face and creased against his nose as he dropped the book.
Mischievous brown eyes twinkled at him from across the room, laughter filling the air.
"Cut that shit out." Leon grunted, swinging his legs off the living room couch and onto the ground where he noticed the ball of rolled up socks Yuffie had used to throw at him.
Why had he said yes to hanging out with her in the first place?
"Are you actually reading that book I lent you?" He asked, nodding to her position on the floor and to the pile of trashy looking gossip magazines spread out before her. "Or that garbage?"
She scoffed, folding her arms. "I'll have you know this magazine is very informative!"
She then rolled quickly onto her back, grabbing the copy she was reading and holding it open high above her face.
"How else am I supposed to find out who the princesses are dating next?"
He huffed at her as she stuck her tongue out, wiggling her outstretched body side to side gently.
"Anyway, what have you got Aerith for her birthday?" She asked, eyes not leaving the article about the Agrabah Romance Scandal.
Aerith? Birthday?
Then he remembered. Shit!
What kind of friend forgets a birthday?
Time had just been creeping up as of late, he didn't realise it was February already.
Yuffie put down her magazine, eyes boring holes into him.
"..You didn't forget it, did you?"
Leon shook his head.
"Of course not." He lied, picking up his book.
"Well, what did you get her? I went to the lingerie store and got-" Yuffie began, sitting up as if to fetch the items in question.
"I don't need to know that." He coughed, cutting her off. "a clock."
The younger girl blinked.
"..did you just say a clock?"
"Yes. A clock."
Yuffie directed her attention back to the magazine as she laid down again, knees knocking together.
"Ooooo-kay.. and since when did Aerith like clocks?"
Since never. Well, she probably didn't mind them, like anyone. But she wasn't into them.. who was into clocks? Other than Traverse Town's resident eccentric carpenter.
He shrugged her off, standing to make his way up to his room.
"Probably since forever. Goodnight, Yuffie."
The unopened box lay on top of the dresser in his room, the hallway light ominously lighting it up as it ticked away to itself in the silence. He sighed.
Taking it off and placing it on his bed, he lifted up the lid to reveal its contents.
Leon just about stumbled backwards.
Yes, it was another cuckoo clock.. but it wasn't like the classic pretty, flowery ones Geppetto usually knocked out, no. Evidently this time he had decided to experiment.
Next to the clock face stood a badly sculpted wooden woman, fully naked and complete with crude hand painting and all. Geppetto.. what the fuck? He stared at the tiny pink wooden nipples, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. He'd obviously gotten bored of whittling little squirrels and pansies all day.
Why the fuck did he give me this?..
He couldn't give that to Aerith. No way.
It was a stupid idea anyway, re-gifting a random clock.
He stuffed the lid back onto the box, moving it to the floor by the doorway. He'd donate it somewhere in the morning.. or just put it in storage. Anywhere but on display.
What a day. Leon yawned, peeling off his clothes and settling into bed as he stretched out. It would be alright, he'd go out first thing and find Aerith a gift, throw in one of those strawberry cakes she loved so much from the little bakery in the 1st district for extra points. Easy. He didn't even know why he considered the damn clock in the first place. He chuckled to himself before switching off the bedside lamp, his eyes eventually fluttering shut. Tomorrows problem.
It was only 9.30 AM, and already last minute birthday shopping had been a success. After raiding Traverse Town's sparse selection of shops, he'd returned with a pretty gold bracelet and a larger version of the strawberry cake that just so happened to be on display that morning, freshly made. He knew she'd love it, and he could finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing his reputation as a good friend was safe.
He snuck in the back door of the small home they all inhabited, placing his keys and jacket down on the kitchen table. The lady at the accessory shop had been kind enough to gift wrap the bracelet, so at least he didn't need to worry about that, and the cake was already beautifully presented in a box. Hard work done.
He could hear the others already up and awake next door in the living room. Aerith was knelt on the floor, busy un-peeling tape off the side of a gift bag as Yuffie practically bounced up and down with excitement beside her.
"Go on! open it already!" The younger girl whined, rocking back and forth. Aerith picked away at the strips of tape securing the bag together some more.
"I'm trying! Where did you get this tape from? It's like super glue."
"I dunno, I found it in the alley." Yuffie responded nonchalantly.
"Morning." Leon said as he stepped foot into the room. "You're all up early."
Suddenly the industrial strength tape finally gave way, the bag busting open in Aerith's lap and making her jump.
"They're like little kids, aren't they?" Cid grunted from behind his newspaper. "Woke me up to open gifts."
Aerith reached into the bag, pulling out something pink and lacy before immediately stuffing it back in quicker than she took it out, her face just about turning the same shade.
"What? You don't like it?" Yuffie frowned.
Aerith smirked at her. "I do, but I don't think Leon wants to see pink underwear right now."
Leon coughed.
"No. I don't." He said, his face heating up a little bit.
"Anyway. Happy birthday Aerith."
He gave her one of his rare warm smiles as he handed her the bag he was holding, watching her face light up as he did so. Aerith loved gifts.
"That's so sweet! Thank you!" She beamed, peeking inside.
Her eyes glittered when she unwrapped the bracelet, immediately putting it on to admire, her expression much the same upon discovery of the strawberry cake too.
"I love them!" She grinned, standing up quickly to thank him with an embrace. "Thank you!."
"You've still got one more!" Yuffie's voice came from behind them as she shook a large box on the floor wrapped in pink gift wrap.
Aerith looked down at the box, noticing the same ridiculously tough tape from earlier pasted randomly all over.
"Is this from you?" She said, looking across at Yuffie as she ripped through the paper and proceeded to open the lid.
"Nah, this ones from Leon." Yuffie said proudly. "Lazy bones forgot to wrap it though, so I finished the job."
Leon's ears twitched. Wait - I didn't..
Aerith's face shot up to look at him, her expression a mix of confusion and bemusement.
"..What the hell is this?" She burst out laughing, lifting up the box for him to see.
Of course it's the fucking clock.
Yuffie must of found it in his room.
"I didn't-"
"Man, I thought it was weird enough already when you said you got her a clock." Yuffie cackled. "But I had no idea you'd gone and picked out a pornographic one."
Aerith picked up the object in question out of the box, laughing the whole time.
"..Thank.. you?" She giggled, turning it round in her hands to inspect the dodgy wooden handiwork. The naked woman stood proudly next to her clock face, her dodgy red painted lips smiling creepily up at her.
"I didn't!" Leon groaned, hand dragging down the side of his face. He made a mental note to install a lock on his bedroom door to stop Yuffie snooping ever again.
"This your way of flirting?" Cid smirked as he folded his paper, prompting heavy eye rolling from Leon.
"It's from Geppetto." He sighed, ignoring the older man. "You know what he's like."
"Weird and.. horny?" Yuffie snickered, causing Aerith to snort as she put the clock back down into the box carefully.
"What a beautiful piece of expressive art." She giggled, looking up at the brunette man.
"Thanks Leon." She said.
"But I didn't.."
Aerith grinned. "I love it."