Work Text:
Leon was mature enough now to freely admit that he appreciated the friends he had made through out his life. They were there for him, his husband and his children. They were important people, and he was feeling more warmly towards them after the last few days than he might normally. They have all been irreplaceable since the accident. Taking care of him and his children and offering to do anything to assist them and Cloud. It floored him to think about how many of his childhood friends were even calling to check in on them.
With that thought in mind, if any of them showed up in the next week, he’d murder them. No parties, no showing up, no nothing that would prevent Cloud from resting and healing. There were already too many children in the house that would be overly excited.
“We’re home, Rain Cloud.” Leon said softly, looking in his rear view mirror as he pulled into the driveway. He’d put Cloud in the back, letting him lean against the door and stretch his leg out.
“Already?” Cloud muttered, groggy. He was still on fairly decent pain medications but Leon gave it a few days before Cloud threw them away and wanted to instead use will power through the remainder of his recovery.
“Yeah, babe.” Leon said. “I’ll be careful opening the door.”
“Yeah.” Cloud stifled a yawn. He’d been having a hard time keeping his eyes open but he was determined to get out of the hospital.
Leon got out and spied Denzel coming out the front door while all of his children had their faces pressed against various windows. They’d gotten to visit him in the hospital and see with their own eyes that he was okay but it was very different from him finally coming home.
“Hey Lee.” Denzel grinned. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s high as fuck.” Leon muttered.
Denzel just snorted, being right there to help Leon get Cloud out of the car.
“I can use the crutches.” Cloud muttered. He played a good game but they could hear the slightest slur to his words. Leon had nearly insisted since the car ride would be bumpy and jarring.
“I’m sure you can.” Denzel said. “You can lean on one of us too.”
“Crutches on the steps would be a pain.” Leon agreed.
“I can do it.” Cloud complained, but there was no heat in his voice. He was just whining and happy about it. He was thrilled to be out of the hospital.
Between the two of them, they got Cloud standing, Leon’s arm carefully around his waist since Cloud’s ribs were still healing. It was a problem, honestly. There were few safe spots they could just grab and hold but they made it work.
“Just dad and Marlene around?” Leon asked, a slight strain to his own voice after they’d finally gotten Cloud up the steps. Ellone had flown back home the previous day and Cid and Vincent had some kind of meeting to get too. They promised to be back later.
“Marlene went to pick up dinner. So just your dad and the kids.” Denzel said, carefully easing away from Cloud to get the door.
Leon had no doubt that his father had rounded all the kids up and was very clear about them not rushing to the door. He was also certain that his children would listen if their reaction to Vanitas coming home was any indication.
“Babe, we're home.” Leon repeated, finally stepping inside with Cloud.
“Yeah.” Cloud was exhausted from the movement, but there was a small smile on his face too.
It was slow, but they went to the living room first and Leon huffed out a smile at all seven of his children sitting on the floor with huge eyes. Shadow was even laying behind Rei and Xion with an expectant look. They’d cleared away the coffee table, the rug, and anything else that would have been an obstacle to get to the sofa.
“Welcome home, Cloud.” Laguna greeted with a grin.
“Heey.” Cloud smiled faintly, grunting when Leon and Denzel helped him sit. His leg was immediately propped up and pillows were shoved around him so he could recline. “What did you do to my children? They’re so quiet.”
“We’re not supposed to be loud cause it’ll make your head hurt.” Riku reported.
Cloud finally relaxed against the pillows. “Awe, cubs. Thank you. That’ll help me a lot but that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to talk.”
That was all the permission they needed. They asked about his injuries, about his cast, if they could color on it, what it was like in the hospital, if he got to stay home forever now…. Cloud answered every question and told them they could decorate his cast in another week. Explaining that he wanted it to be a little more healed first. Vanitas even held out his arm to show Cloud the pictures and stickers they’d put on his.
Reiku was the least afraid of Cloud’s injuries and would ask the questions the others wouldn’t, but most of the kids had scooted right up next to the sofa to talk to him.
Cloud himself was zoning in and out but he still had a pleased smile on his face to have all the kids around him.
“Do you have to stay on the couch?” Xion asked.
“I’m gonna have trouble getting up on my own for a few days.” Cloud told her. “So for a little while i’ll be in bed or on the couch, yeah.”
“Days?” Leon frowned. “Do not even think about over doing it before you’re healed.”
“Yes, lion.” Cloud said, but every adult in the room knew he’d be trying to stand on his own by the next day.
“Don’t make me duct tape your knees together.” Denzel threatened. “Listen to Leon.”
“I married him, i’m obligated to listen to him.” Cloud smiled, getting a snort from Leon in response.
Laguna just chuckled. “What are the immediate plans?”
Leon took a moment to stretch and didn’t bother to sit down yet. There was so much coiled energy in him, just relieved to have Cloud home. “Just to get Cloud settled. We’ll have dinner later. When Marlene gets back i guess. Prompto’s coming over.”
“Ah.” Laguna smiled at that last part.
Yeah, Leon was a sucker, he knew that.
The kids were piling blankets and more pillows on Cloud and he looked like he was in absolute heaven. Not just being around the kids' antics but he was probably actually very comfortable.
“Papa, are you still gonna be able to fight?” Sora asked, nervously biting his lip. It was easy to imagine him being just as upset over that as Cloud.
“Yeah.” Cloud snickered. “I’ll heal, and then i’ll have to start over some of my training, only doing a little bit at a time. It’ll take a little time but i’ll get back to where i was.”
“Like Vanitas.” Ventus muttered, knowing first hand how put out Vanitas had been that his injury would set him back in his classes. Tifa had already promised to coach him on his kicks while his arm recovered.
“Yep.” Cloud agreed. “It’ll take a little time but we’ll get there.”
“Once you’re both healed enough to begin.” Leon said, giving Cloud a look. “I know your very medicated right now, Rain Cloud but don’t tempt me to take Denzel up on his offer to tape your knees together.”
“Injured and mistreated.” Cloud smiled, his eyes drifting shut.
“Let’s let your papa rest a little.” Laguna said, pitching his voice into a whisper and the kids immediately understood.
None of them got up or moved, but they did relax their questions for the time being.
“How long does healing take?” Roxas asked, looking up at Leon.
“A couple weeks.” Leon said. “But papa will be able to move in a couple days. He’ll have crutches and he’ll be able to start to slowly move around as long as he doesn’t put too much weight on his ankle.”
“I’ve seen crutches before.” Rei commented. “They help a lot.”
“We’ll be around to help Cloud too.” Denzel said. “And make sure he’s not doing anything he shouldn’t be.”
All of the kids hummed in agreement and Leon could practically see Cloud roll his eyes despite them being shut. Whether it had been Denzel’s intention or not, he was going to turn them into tattle tales.
With a small huff, Leon pulled out his phone, snapping a picture of Cloud covered in blankets, surrounded by children and half asleep on the sofa before texting it to the enormous group chat with the confirmation that Cloud was finally home. The response was immediate, but the one that stuck out to him was Prompto, saying he would be there any minute.
“Alright.” Leon sighed again. He glanced between Laguna and Denzel. “Can one of you keep an eye on him?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Cloud muttered, already tapping out.
Laguna chuckled. “I don’t mind. I can stay in here with him.
Leon nodded, and the kids seemed to take the hint that they should wander off and let Cloud sleep. Denzel easily gave many of them an excuse to do something else, letting them follow him around like ducklings. Only Riku stayed right there, his cheek resting against Cloud’s hips through several blankets.
“Vani.” Leon said, nodding his head towards the front door for Vanitas to follow him. Ventus wandered just behind, still glued to his brother's side. “How’s your arm today?”
“It’s okay.” Vanitas said. He was still keeping his arm in his sling to keep from jostling it too badly. “Gets achy but it’s okay. Do i have to go back to the doctor soon?”
Leon nodded. “Tuesday morning. We’ll see what we have to do from there, okay?”
“Yeah.” Vanitas muttered, glancing back into the living room at Cloud. It could have been worse.
Ventus smiled a little. “Maybe they’ll tell you when it comes off.”
“Maybe.” Vanitas said.
“Well,” Leon looked out the side window and opened the door as he saw Prompto pulled into the driveway. “Why don’t you two come outside with me for a minute.”
“Okay?” Vanitas blinked.
“Oh, Una Prompto is here.” Ventus smiled a little, following his twin out.
“Yep.” Leon said, waving as Prompto cut the engine and climbed out. “Hey.”
“Hey! Hey, Van, Ven.” Prompto smiled. “Are you excited?”
“Excited?”
Leon chuckled. “I haven’t told them yet.”
“Ooh.” Prompto snickered, noting the confused glances the twins were shooting Leon.
“Tell us what?”
Leon shook his head, his smile smaller than Prompto’s who was going around the car to the back seat. He was shifting around slowly, half crawling into the back seat.
“Vani, Ven, why don’t you go see what Uncle Prompto has?” Leon offered.
The twins looked confused but they wandered closer, slipping around the car to wait for Prompto to straighten again. When he did, Vanitas gasped so loud that Leon would have been alert had he not known what was going on.
In Prompto’s arms was a black bunny, with white back feet and a spot of white on one of their ears.
“To keep!?” Vanitas demanded, looking at Leon with glassy, wet eyes.
“To keep.” Leon nodded, watching the way the twins lit up.
“Here, Vani, you want to hold him first?” Prompto asked, leaning down. "Can you bend your good arm? Then he can lean against your chest- just like that, yeah.” Prompto placed the bunny in his arm and Vanitas was sniffing back tears as he looked at the fuzzy animal. Vanitas didn’t beg like the other children but he made it very clear that he loved rabbits.
“Is it a boy or a girl?” Ventus asked, hovering by his twin to pet the bunny since Vanitas couldn’t with his good arm occupied.
“He’s a boy.” Prompto said, glancing at Leon. “I’m told boy bunny’s can be easier to take care of. This one in particular is very chill. Loves to hang out and be held.”
Vanitas was cradling the small animal, trying to get his breathing under wraps and keep from a full on breakdown. “Can we name him?”
“He’s yours.” Leon shrugged. “But be nice and let your siblings pet and play with them too. Also, i dunno how Shadow will react to him so don’t leave him loose without someone around.”
“Okay.” Ventus mused, laughing when the bunny bounced in Vanitas’s arms.
“Thank you, dad…” Vanitas mumbled, absolutely in love with the small creature.
“You’re welcome, baby.” Leon said, knowing this was worth it from his expression alone but damn he hadn’t wanted more animals. At least this would help distract the others kids too and let Cloud sleep.
“I have all the supplies too.” Prompto smiled. “I have a cage that can go in your room but you have to promise to clean it and feed your bunny every day.”
“We promise,” both boys said immediately.
“I also have a hutch in my trunk. We can put it on the back porch so your bunny can get some fresh air and stuff too. I have a couple bags, so why don’t we grab your siblings and you can all help set everything up before we start playing with the bunny.” Prompto mused, and Leon was fairly impressed.
“Vani can hold the bunny since he’s not supposed to lift anything heavy yet.” Ventus said.
“Sounds good.” Leon said, giving Ventus a soft look. They both knew there was a zero percent chance that Vanitas would be setting his new pet down any time soon but maybe he’d be more inclined to share after everything was set up. “Let’s go.”
He gestured for them to go back into the house and paused when Marlene pulled into the driveway with dinner.
“Stay for dinner, Prompto?” Leon asked, turning to help Marlene with the bags. “Cloud’s high as a kite but he’d like to see you."
“I’d like that.” Prompto smiled, a touch bashful still. It was only a second later that they heard Xion nearly screech in the doorway.
“A BUNNY!?”
Yeah… they were going to have to remind the kids about their indoor voice. Fortunately, Cloud was still medicated and there would be no waking him up easily.
“Anyway…” Leon sighed.
He’d caved… but after Vanitas’ week, getting the boy a bunny was nothing.