All That Matters 1/?
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts I and II are owned by Square Enix.
Author: __damarys
Genre: General/Drama/Angst/Romance
Rating: R
Pairings: Axel/Roxas, Hayner/Roxas, Riku/Sora, Leon/Cloud
Warning: Yaoi, language, angst.
Summary: Moving in with an older brother he didn’t know existed, wasn’t exactly Roxas’ idea of fun. Meeting new friends and falling in love, was a whole different matter altogether.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Note (PLEASE READ): Sorry I kinda abandoned my HP story. RL has been a bitch lately and I just finished KH2 April 1st. So I couldn’t help but want to write.
Axel/Roxas and Hayner/Roxas will be the main pairings in this story, with a side dish of Sora/Riku and Leon/Cloud. Expect lots of boy angst!
---
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
All In a Days Work
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
“You want me to WHAT?” Cloud cried, outraged, shaking his head and staring at the woman before him in disbelief. He ran his fingers through strands of blonde hair, making it more disheveled than usual.
“Mr. Strife, you must understand, these children have no where else to go and-” The woman started again, more slowly this time- like she was speaking to a toddler. A large yellow folder was seated comfortably on her crossed legs, hands folded neatly on top of it.
It was getting on Cloud’s nerves.
She was getting on his nerves.
“You‘re not understanding me, Ms. Gainsborough-”
“Call me Aerith, please.” She interrupted, smiling like they were the best of friends.
“Aerith..you need to understand that I don’t give a shit, nor do I have space or the money to take care of two teenage boys.
“If you didn’t notice,” He waved a hand around at his tiny apartment, “I barely have enough to take care of myself.”
Tiny it was. The kitchen, where they were currently located, was so little that Cloud had to lean back against the counter so he wasn’t right in Aerith’s face where she sat at the little blue round table crowded in the corner. The sad excuse for a living room was but a small step away from the kitchen, sporting a defeated looking television set and a small love seat.
Aerith nodded patiently, sweeping her long braided hair behind her shoulder, “Yes, but this is the only place the boys have to go.” She repeated before pausing for a second, studying Cloud. “They’re your little brothers, don’t you care what happens to them? If they don’t come here, it’s off to an orphanage.”
“Hey lady, I didn’t even know I had siblings until you came here! In fact, I was better off not knowing!” Cloud retorted, crossing his arms across his chest and glaring.
Hell, what is Leon gonna think?
I don’t need this.
Aerith sighed, and stood up. “Mr. Strife. This..” She handed him the folder she had been holding onto earlier. “..is all their files, where they’ve been living and such. Look over it when you get a chance. Please.”
Cloud took it hesitantly, scanning over the yellow front before looking back at Aerith.
She flashed him another bright smile before reaching in a pocket and getting out a small piece of paper, “My number’s on here, call me when you reach a decision.”
“Right..”
Like hell.
--
Leon arched an eyebrow and said flatly, “You’re serious.”
“YES, I’m serious!” Cloud hissed, causing several people from across the café to look in their direction. He handed his boyfriend the folder, more or less shoving it at him.
The brunet took it without a word, before looking down at it- pretty cursive writing was spread across the front.
Sora and Roxas Larkin
Caseworker: Aerith Gainsborough
“Why is their last name different?” He asked, frowning.
Cloud waved a hand, scowling. “My mom’s last name. Apparently, after she and dad divorced- she got knocked up a few times.”
“Hn.”
Opening it up, Leon read through the various pages on the brothers, making an occasional noise whenever he found something interesting.
“Soo, basically- the old bitch finally checked out, and I’m the only relative left. They apparently don’t know who the fathers are.” Cloud got a sour look on his face. “Big surprise. And now they‘re temporarily staying with some family friend.”
“Yeah, I read that.” Leon closed the folder, pushing it back over to Cloud before taking a sip of coffee.
“…” Cloud looked at him expectantly.
“…”
“What do you think?”
The brunet set his cup back down. “I don’t know.”
Cloud sighed loudly, before leaning back and crossing his arms. “Man, you’re so much help.”
There was thoughtful silence before Leon said, “It’s your choice. Can you really take care of two kids?” A small smirk graced his lips, “If they’re anything like you when you were younger, you’re in a fuck load of trouble.”
Cloud glared but didn’t deny. “I was so hell bent on not taking them before, but now that I’ve read the file…I’m not so sure anymore. I mean, I’d have to take another job to support three people.” He scratched his cheek. “I’d be working so much, I wouldn’t be home, and who knows if I can trust them on their own.”
“Hn.” The brunet muttered, taking another drink.
“If I don’t take them…they’ll be shipped off to god-knows-where and then I’d probably feel guilty..” Cloud kept blabbering, mostly to himself, staring off in space.
Leon’s eyebrow twitched, “Cloud.”
“…They have no place to go…and even though she was a slutty bitch, their mom just died. Too damn bad for her, but they don’t have anyone, you know? I-”
“Cloud.” Leon interrupted Cloud’s ranting, his gray eyes piercing Cloud’s blue ones.
“What?” The blonde replied, not noticing Leon’s annoyance, and opened his mouth to carry on.
Leon cut him off, “If you’re so worried about it, just take them in and get it over with.”
“I am not.”
An eyebrow arched skeptically, “Didn’t sound like it to me.” He finished off his coffee, before standing up. “Just call her and say yes, if it was meant to be- everything will work out.”
“But-” Cloud started to protest.
“Trust me.”
His mouth closed in a thin line but gave a small nod.
--
“I can’t believe this! A brother we didn’t know about!” Fifteen year old Sora was smiling happily as he packed clothes in a small red luggage case.
Their caseworker, Aerith, had called a few moments before. Newly found brother, Cloud, had agreed to take them a few days ago and she was coming to pick them up.
His older brother, Roxas, was seated on the floor, propped up against the wall. He didn’t have the same overjoyed reaction to the news that Sora did.
“Why do you think mom never mentioned him?” Was all Roxas said, looking down at the floor and picking at the tan carpet.
Sora stopped folding a shirt, and frowned- looking back at Roxas. “I never thought about that.” He went back to work, quickly packing the shirt. “I wouldn’t worry on it too much, Aerith said he’s from mom’s last marriage. Cloud went to live with his dad after the divorce.”
“Still weird he didn‘t come around.” He was quiet for a bit, content with watching the carpet pull up. “Aerith knew for awhile we had a brother too, but never said anything. And now she says we’re moving in with him today?”
“She was just trying to protect us. What if we had gotten our hopes up and he said he didn‘t want us?” Sora zipped up his luggage and sat it on the ground before turning around to Roxas with a grin on his face- determined to lighten the mood. “C’mon, look at it this way- we won’t have to eat anymore of Mrs. Newberry’s awful cooking.”
Roxas snorted, a small smile gracing his face. “Got that right.”
“Yep!” Sora laughed, before sitting on the bed they had shared the last few weeks. “Shouldn’t you be packing your things? She’ll be here soon.”
The elder sighed, but complied- standing up and strolling over to the small dresser without a word. He grabbed his clothes and stuffed them into the black case Sora handed him, without bothering to fold.
Sora watched silently for awhile, before whispering quietly, “I miss her.”
Roxas looked at him with a sad smile. “Yeah, me too.”
--
“What the hell are you doing?” Leon asked, following Cloud around the supermarket where they were getting things to prepare for the kids arrival.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Cloud rolled his eyes, grabbing another coloring book from the shelf. Dora the Explorer was on the cover.
“They’re not two. Do you honestly think fifteen and seventeen year old boys color?” He eyed the cover wearily.
“Well, they do now.” Was Cloud’s reply as he reached for a final coloring book with kittens on it. Seeming to be satisfied with that matter, he grabbed a few boxes of crayons and markers.
“…” Leon’s hand went up to his forehead where a headache was starting to form. Hell, he loved Cloud but sometimes he could be so stupid.
Cloud saw this, and turned around challengingly, “What, does Leon want a coloring book too?” He grinned at Leon’s glare. “I think he does!”
“Whatever.” He muttered, putting a hand on his hip. “We done here?”
Cloud looked up thoughtfully, rubbing at his blonde hair. “Aerith said they had plenty of clothes…”
“Hn, and now they get to color. How lucky.” He smirked.
The younger man rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go, they’re gonna be here in an hour.”
The two men walked off, still bickering back and forth playfully, to meet the two new family members.
--
Up next: The meeting, school, and new friends.
Author: __damarys
Genre: General/Drama/Angst/Romance
Rating: R
Pairings: Axel/Roxas, Hayner/Roxas, Riku/Sora, Leon/Cloud
Warning: Yaoi, language, angst.
Summary: Moving in with an older brother he didn’t know existed, wasn’t exactly Roxas’ idea of fun. Meeting new friends and falling in love, was a whole different matter altogether.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Note (PLEASE READ): Sorry I kinda abandoned my HP story. RL has been a bitch lately and I just finished KH2 April 1st. So I couldn’t help but want to write.
Axel/Roxas and Hayner/Roxas will be the main pairings in this story, with a side dish of Sora/Riku and Leon/Cloud. Expect lots of boy angst!
---
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
All In a Days Work
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
“You want me to WHAT?” Cloud cried, outraged, shaking his head and staring at the woman before him in disbelief. He ran his fingers through strands of blonde hair, making it more disheveled than usual.
“Mr. Strife, you must understand, these children have no where else to go and-” The woman started again, more slowly this time- like she was speaking to a toddler. A large yellow folder was seated comfortably on her crossed legs, hands folded neatly on top of it.
It was getting on Cloud’s nerves.
She was getting on his nerves.
“You‘re not understanding me, Ms. Gainsborough-”
“Call me Aerith, please.” She interrupted, smiling like they were the best of friends.
“Aerith..you need to understand that I don’t give a shit, nor do I have space or the money to take care of two teenage boys.
“If you didn’t notice,” He waved a hand around at his tiny apartment, “I barely have enough to take care of myself.”
Tiny it was. The kitchen, where they were currently located, was so little that Cloud had to lean back against the counter so he wasn’t right in Aerith’s face where she sat at the little blue round table crowded in the corner. The sad excuse for a living room was but a small step away from the kitchen, sporting a defeated looking television set and a small love seat.
Aerith nodded patiently, sweeping her long braided hair behind her shoulder, “Yes, but this is the only place the boys have to go.” She repeated before pausing for a second, studying Cloud. “They’re your little brothers, don’t you care what happens to them? If they don’t come here, it’s off to an orphanage.”
“Hey lady, I didn’t even know I had siblings until you came here! In fact, I was better off not knowing!” Cloud retorted, crossing his arms across his chest and glaring.
Hell, what is Leon gonna think?
I don’t need this.
Aerith sighed, and stood up. “Mr. Strife. This..” She handed him the folder she had been holding onto earlier. “..is all their files, where they’ve been living and such. Look over it when you get a chance. Please.”
Cloud took it hesitantly, scanning over the yellow front before looking back at Aerith.
She flashed him another bright smile before reaching in a pocket and getting out a small piece of paper, “My number’s on here, call me when you reach a decision.”
“Right..”
Like hell.
--
Leon arched an eyebrow and said flatly, “You’re serious.”
“YES, I’m serious!” Cloud hissed, causing several people from across the café to look in their direction. He handed his boyfriend the folder, more or less shoving it at him.
The brunet took it without a word, before looking down at it- pretty cursive writing was spread across the front.
Sora and Roxas Larkin
Caseworker: Aerith Gainsborough
“Why is their last name different?” He asked, frowning.
Cloud waved a hand, scowling. “My mom’s last name. Apparently, after she and dad divorced- she got knocked up a few times.”
“Hn.”
Opening it up, Leon read through the various pages on the brothers, making an occasional noise whenever he found something interesting.
“Soo, basically- the old bitch finally checked out, and I’m the only relative left. They apparently don’t know who the fathers are.” Cloud got a sour look on his face. “Big surprise. And now they‘re temporarily staying with some family friend.”
“Yeah, I read that.” Leon closed the folder, pushing it back over to Cloud before taking a sip of coffee.
“…” Cloud looked at him expectantly.
“…”
“What do you think?”
The brunet set his cup back down. “I don’t know.”
Cloud sighed loudly, before leaning back and crossing his arms. “Man, you’re so much help.”
There was thoughtful silence before Leon said, “It’s your choice. Can you really take care of two kids?” A small smirk graced his lips, “If they’re anything like you when you were younger, you’re in a fuck load of trouble.”
Cloud glared but didn’t deny. “I was so hell bent on not taking them before, but now that I’ve read the file…I’m not so sure anymore. I mean, I’d have to take another job to support three people.” He scratched his cheek. “I’d be working so much, I wouldn’t be home, and who knows if I can trust them on their own.”
“Hn.” The brunet muttered, taking another drink.
“If I don’t take them…they’ll be shipped off to god-knows-where and then I’d probably feel guilty..” Cloud kept blabbering, mostly to himself, staring off in space.
Leon’s eyebrow twitched, “Cloud.”
“…They have no place to go…and even though she was a slutty bitch, their mom just died. Too damn bad for her, but they don’t have anyone, you know? I-”
“Cloud.” Leon interrupted Cloud’s ranting, his gray eyes piercing Cloud’s blue ones.
“What?” The blonde replied, not noticing Leon’s annoyance, and opened his mouth to carry on.
Leon cut him off, “If you’re so worried about it, just take them in and get it over with.”
“I am not.”
An eyebrow arched skeptically, “Didn’t sound like it to me.” He finished off his coffee, before standing up. “Just call her and say yes, if it was meant to be- everything will work out.”
“But-” Cloud started to protest.
“Trust me.”
His mouth closed in a thin line but gave a small nod.
--
“I can’t believe this! A brother we didn’t know about!” Fifteen year old Sora was smiling happily as he packed clothes in a small red luggage case.
Their caseworker, Aerith, had called a few moments before. Newly found brother, Cloud, had agreed to take them a few days ago and she was coming to pick them up.
His older brother, Roxas, was seated on the floor, propped up against the wall. He didn’t have the same overjoyed reaction to the news that Sora did.
“Why do you think mom never mentioned him?” Was all Roxas said, looking down at the floor and picking at the tan carpet.
Sora stopped folding a shirt, and frowned- looking back at Roxas. “I never thought about that.” He went back to work, quickly packing the shirt. “I wouldn’t worry on it too much, Aerith said he’s from mom’s last marriage. Cloud went to live with his dad after the divorce.”
“Still weird he didn‘t come around.” He was quiet for a bit, content with watching the carpet pull up. “Aerith knew for awhile we had a brother too, but never said anything. And now she says we’re moving in with him today?”
“She was just trying to protect us. What if we had gotten our hopes up and he said he didn‘t want us?” Sora zipped up his luggage and sat it on the ground before turning around to Roxas with a grin on his face- determined to lighten the mood. “C’mon, look at it this way- we won’t have to eat anymore of Mrs. Newberry’s awful cooking.”
Roxas snorted, a small smile gracing his face. “Got that right.”
“Yep!” Sora laughed, before sitting on the bed they had shared the last few weeks. “Shouldn’t you be packing your things? She’ll be here soon.”
The elder sighed, but complied- standing up and strolling over to the small dresser without a word. He grabbed his clothes and stuffed them into the black case Sora handed him, without bothering to fold.
Sora watched silently for awhile, before whispering quietly, “I miss her.”
Roxas looked at him with a sad smile. “Yeah, me too.”
--
“What the hell are you doing?” Leon asked, following Cloud around the supermarket where they were getting things to prepare for the kids arrival.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Cloud rolled his eyes, grabbing another coloring book from the shelf. Dora the Explorer was on the cover.
“They’re not two. Do you honestly think fifteen and seventeen year old boys color?” He eyed the cover wearily.
“Well, they do now.” Was Cloud’s reply as he reached for a final coloring book with kittens on it. Seeming to be satisfied with that matter, he grabbed a few boxes of crayons and markers.
“…” Leon’s hand went up to his forehead where a headache was starting to form. Hell, he loved Cloud but sometimes he could be so stupid.
Cloud saw this, and turned around challengingly, “What, does Leon want a coloring book too?” He grinned at Leon’s glare. “I think he does!”
“Whatever.” He muttered, putting a hand on his hip. “We done here?”
Cloud looked up thoughtfully, rubbing at his blonde hair. “Aerith said they had plenty of clothes…”
“Hn, and now they get to color. How lucky.” He smirked.
The younger man rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go, they’re gonna be here in an hour.”
The two men walked off, still bickering back and forth playfully, to meet the two new family members.
--
Up next: The meeting, school, and new friends.