Untitled
Title: Untitled
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts (FFVIII cross-over)
Pairing: None
Rating: PG
Summary: A stranger welcomed into the Committee home leads to a surprise reunion.
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Cloud just looked at the brown-haired man sitting at the table across from him.
He looked like a chocobo herder.
The man had been brought into the Comittee's home by Aeirth.
Supposedly, he was a straggler, a person who hadn't yet found their way back to their world.
The man had taken off his hat and set it on the table. His violet eyes were on Aerith and Cloud thought that the man and his clothing looked like they'd both seen better days.
Stragglers had become less and less common as time wore since the worlds had been restored. But the ones who were still wandering and found their way to Radiant Garden were always welcomed by Aerith and (maybe somewhat unwillingly) by the rest of the Comittee to use the spare rooms the Comittee house had. Most stragglers didn't stay for more than a few days. They rested, maybe offered what skills and help they could as payment for staying, and then they went on their way.
Sometimes though, one would choose to stay in the city, tired from their journey or for whatever reason. They stayed with the comittee long enough to get on their feet and begin a life within the city.
It had been raining steadily all day long, sometimes slacking off to a drizzle and then resuming its torrential downpour not much later. Cloud had decided on taking refuge inside the house sometime around midday after becoming soaked and chilled. Not even the Heartless enjoyed the rain and their acitivites tended to slack down nearly to nothing during the rainstorms. Cloud had returned to the house, changed, and taken up a chair in the kitchen, alternating his time between reading Aerith's assortment of books stacked on a shelf in the kitchen and watching the rain fall outside the window over the sink.
Then Aerith had come in followed by the straggler. She'd begun to make a late lunch.
Cid had wandered in first and taken up a chair at the end of the table. The seven bedroom house had a relatively large kitchen that allowed for the table big enough to seat ten people (as they'd proven nearly every time Sora stopped by). The table normally only had six chairs around it. Cid sat with his back to Aerith and a chair between himself and the straggler. He looked at Cloud for a few seconds before looking at the straggler.
"You some kinda herder or somethin'?"
"Not really," the straggler's face broke out into a grin. The same one he'd kept throwing at Cloud that hadn't been returned. "Just a cowboy."
"You got a name?"
"Irvine Kinneas," the straggler held his hand out to Cid.
"Cid Highwind."
"'S a pleasure." Irvine's voice had a drawl to it that wasn't unlike the one Cid had.
"I'm guessin' you don't know the bonde right there," Cid said, tilting his head towards Cloud. Cloud frowned at him.
"We haven't been introduced yet."
"Oh," Aerith said, gaining their attention. She smiled apologetically at Irvine. "Sorry, I just...kind of forgot."
"That's all right, Darlin.'"
County folk. Cloud rolled his eyes.
"That one there's Cloud."
"Cloud?" Irvine echoed, his voice betraying his amusement. Cloud lifted one eyebrow.
"Hey!" They all looked up as the front door, just out of sight from anyone sitting at the table, crashed open and then slammed closed. "I'm home!"
"And that's Yuffie."
Irvine smiled at the frown on Cid's face.
"Girls gonna break the damn door one day."
Yuffie bounded into the room, sopping wet. "Hey Aerith, what's for lunch? Is it ham again? 'Cause we had ham yesterday an-who's the new guy?" She asked, looking at Irvine.
"Irvine Kinneas," Irvine answered, tipping an imaginary hat towards the girl.
Aerith turned around and placed a plate piled high with finger sandwiches on the table. "Yuffie, go get changed before you catch a cold."
"But-"
"There'll be sandwiches when you get back." Yuffie shot her a grin and left the kitchen. Cid began helping himself to the sandwiches, Irvine followed his lead and Cloud picked up one after him. Aerith sat down between Cid and Irvine and picked up a sandwich herself.
"Has anyone seen Leon today?" She asked.
"-was supposed to be doing something out in the Outer Gardens," Cid said between bites. "Don't see why he's worried about so far out when we ain't even got all the reactors runnin' yet," he grumbled.
"Hm..." Aeirth hummed.
Yuffie rejoined them and began eating. Lunch was silent for the most part until Yuffie began asking Irvine question. He told her about how he'd just woken up one day in a place he didn't know and he'd just started wandering. People had told him about the Heartless and that his world had been taken by them, He'd kept wandering, thinking that maybe since he was still alive, some of the others from his own world might be. He'd been wandering for two years now and hadn't found anything.
"Oh, so you must have been restored when Sora restored the worlds."
"Sora?" Irvine looked at Yuffie quizzically.
"He's the bearer of the Keyblade," Aerith supplied.
"...Keblade?" Ivine was lost.
Yuffie nodded, "Yup. Its the only thing that can really defeat the Heartless."
"My gun works pretty well."
"So do most weapons but they only send the Heartless back to the darkness they come from. The Keyblade destroys them entirely and sets the heart the Heartless was made from free."
"Oh," Irvine nodded, understanding dawning. "What do you mean by 'when he restored the worlds?'"
"Two years ago, Sora defeated a man named Ansem. He was controlling the Heartless and getting them to collect hearts from people," Aerith paused to make sure he was keeping up, "eventually, Heartless can take the very heart of a world, like what happened to your world and so many others. Ansem figured that if he collected enough hearts, he could find Kingdom Hearts, which he believed to hold infinite darkness and all the power he could want."
"Sound like a psycho," Irvine said. Yuffie nodded.
"Sora managed to defeat Ansem. And Ansem and the Heartless fell, the worlds and hearts taken by the Heartless were restored. For the most part."
"'For the most part?'
"Some worlds...might not have been restored."
"...oh." Irvine looked saddened.
"But since you were restored, there's a good chance your world was a well," Aerith smiled at him.
"I hope so."
Lunch continued on until everyone had their fill. Cid and Yuffie left and went back to their activities. Aerith made sure to send Yuffie off with an umbrella this time. She'd just sat back down when the front door opened again and the sound of heavy boots against the floorboards met their ears. Aerith gave Irvine another smile.
"That's Leon. If you want to help out with any of the stuff the comittee's doing, just ask him."
"The head honcho, huh?" Irvine grinned.
"He's our fearless leader," Aerith's smile widened and Cloud hid a smirk behind his cup. "Oh, by the way, feel free to pick either of the guest rooms. There's one on this floor and one upstairs.
"I sure do appreciate the help Aeirth. I don't really know what to do right now," Irvine said, looking across the table to where Aerith had taken a new seat beside Cloud.
"You're free to stay for as long as you like...but any help is appreciated."
"Anything."
The boots made a creaking path up the stairs.
"I think everyone forgot their umbrella today," Aerith mused.
They sat in silence for a few moments before Irvine asked where the bathroom was. He left the kitchen and Leon appeared silently in the doorway of the kitchen only a few moments later.
"I knew you'd like those jogging pants."
Leon gave her a prolonged and unamused look as he made his way into the kitchen. Aerith smiled at the loosefit, almost able to be considered fluffy, black jogging pants that were actually more like pyjamas. She'd given them to him some time ago and had seen him wearing them several times over the years. Though never outside the house. He moved to the counter and set a pot on coffee on.
"It's cold," He said simply.
Leon turned around and leaned back against the counter. Cloud noticed that Leon only wore socks on his feet. Leon ignored Cloud's stare and looked at Aerith.
"We have new guest?"
"Oh, yes. His name's-"
"Irvine." Leon stated.
"That's right," Aerith smiled. "How did you-" her smile fell as she saw the look of absolute shock on Leon's face. A tan blur cut across the kitchen.
"Squall!" Irvine cried, enveloping Leon in a hug. Leon's form almost disappeared behind Irvine's. "Squall, I can't believe...it is you, isn't it? I know it is! I'm so glad to see you!" Irvine rushed out.
"Ir-Irvine...I can't-"
"Oh, oh sorry," Irvine losened his hold but didn't let go. Leon's hand came up to rest on Irvine's arm. Irvine let out a small noise that didn't fit the character of a six foot two cowboy at all and was suddenly hugging Leon tight again. "Squall...I...I looked for so long. And I couln't find anybody. Nobody." And despite the few inches he had over Leon, Irvine was letting himself almost fall against the man. Cloud and Aerith only watched.
Leon's eyes fell closed. One arm came up higher to encircle Irvine's shoulder while his other remained pinned to his side by the man's hug. Irvine had his face pressed against Leon's neck.
"I know, Irvine." Leon's mouth was hidden from view by Irvine's shoulder but Aerith could see his brows knitting together in a way that made her eyes mist.
"I know."
When Aerith accidentally let out a little sniff, Leon's eyes opened. He averted his eyes from both Cloud and Aerith but he didn't let go of Irvine.
After a few minutes, Irvine lifted his head and wiped at his eyes.
"Sorry," he said to Leon, then looked over his shoulder at Cloud and Aerith, offering them a helpless grin and another apology. He stepped back from Leon and wiped his eyes again.
"I just-I can't believe it," Irvine laughed, "its really you, Squall!"
"...I go by Leon now."
"Leon?" Irivine blinked. "Why?" Leon looked into violet eyes for a moment before looking away.
"Because Squall couldn't save anyone."
"What...? Squall...you-its not your fault. I mean, the Heartless, only the Keyblade thing can stop them, right?" Irvine had both hands on Leon's shoulder. "How can you blame yourself for that?"
"..." Leon was silent. Irvine kept looking at him for several moments before his frown broke and he smiled, shaking his head.
"Only you, Squall. Only you."
Leon huffed and frowned.
"But I like the hair," Irvine lifted one lock that hung just above Leon's shoulder, "how'd you get it to grow so long it two years?"
"...12."
"What?"
"Its been 12 years since our world was destroyed."
Irvine's hands fell. "What?" He asked, giving Leon a wry smile. He looked at Aerith's sad face and then to Cloud's blank one, his smile slowly falling. Then back at Leon again, who was pointedly avoiding eye contact by looking off to the side.
"...you're not joking," Irvine said flatly. "But...our world was restored two years ago, right? How-?"
Leon finally looked at him, "we don't know if our world was restored or not. I don't know. I haven't looked."
Leon turned around to the coffee pot that had beeped. "Our world was destroyed 12 years ago. You were restored two years ago. I've...been here all along."He finished quietly.
Irvine let out a breath and looked behind him, pulling his chair out and falling into it. He let out a breath put his forehead in his hand.
"12 years," he said again, trying to wrap his mind around it. "Sweet Hyne...how'd you do it, Squall? Its only been two years and I was ready to give up."
Leon didn't turn around. "...who says I didn't?" His voice remained low.
"Squall-" Irvine's mouth fell open.
"Leon, Irvine, maybe that's enough for today. It's a lot to deal with all at once," Aerith said softly. She stood and made her way around the table, placing her hand on Irvine's shoulder. "Come with me Irvine, we'll get you settled into one of the rooms." Irvine gave Leon's back one last look before picking up his hat off the table and following Aerith out of the kitchen.
Cloud watched as Leon's shoulders slowly slumped.
"Its not you fault, you know."
"That's easy for him to say," Leon looked over his shoulder at Cloud. After a moment, Leon spoke again, "'Squall' lost two worlds. I haven't lost any," he turned around and took the seat next to the one Irvine had vacated. He began stirring cream into his coffee.
"Losing a world doesn't make it your fault."
"..." Leon just stared down at his coffee.
Cloud wanted to say more. To tell Leon that he couldn't blame himself for everything bad that happened.
Cloud had learned that lesson the long hard way himself. And he was still trying to accept it.
But he didn't say anything because Leon was as stubborn as anyone Cloud had ever met and Cloud knew the wall the went up when you felt something was entirely your fault. Cloud knew the feeling all too well. He had blamed himself for a number of peoples' deaths and just as many people had tried to show him they weren't his fault. To feel completely to blame. To feel helpless to do anything.
But Leon...Leon blamed himself for the deaths of two worlds.
A few words couldn't erase that guilt.
Cloud watched the slow movement of Leon's hand stirring his coffee.
Leon was off somewhere that was nowhere near here, this kitchen or Radiant Garden. He knew that.
Cloud pushed the still rather full plate of sandwiches closer to Leon and just sat in the silence.
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Just a drabble.
I've always rather liked the idea of someone from Leon's world finding him.
For anyone getting ready to grill me for the "country folk" comment, I know very well that Cloud is from Nibelhiem. I also know that there is a vast difference in the way mountain-town people and country people act. Its not a bad difference just a sort of, well something along the lines of how people are regarded. /shrug/ Meh, what is just is.