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Leon should have known who was coming into his study by the dangerously stacked tower of books that preceded them.
“Merlin.” Leon said in greeting shoving the map that he had out in front him out of the way.
His ‘study’ was more of a repurposed old storage closet and as a result did not have the storage capacity a study needed. As such Merlin had to all but climb his way to Leon through piles and piles of books and maps. Leon was impressed he manged to not drop a single book as he did so.
“One of the brooms managed to knock one of my book piles over and brought to my attention some tomes that may serve your purpose more than mine.” Merlin explained, placing the pile on the floor.
Now that Leon was looking at it, he was amazed that the stack manged to fit through the door at all.
Must have been magic, Leon thought.
“Thanks.” Leon said, turning his head so it was easier to read the titles on the book’s spines.
“How to Curaga a Broken Heart. A History of Magical Architecture. 999 Useful Ways to Use Basic Spells.” Leon read aloud in a bored tone of voice before he spotted something that caught his eye.
“A Guide to Other Worlds: Advanced Edition. Can I see that one?”
Merlin lifted his hand and the pile of books split in two allowing Squall to grab the book he wanted from the middle.
“Well, some are more useful than others.” Merlin admitted as Squall started to leaf through the pages of the book. “Your boy came to me earlier and mentioned that he was still looking for one of those old Gummy blocks to unlock the navigation system on his ship. I didn’t know if that would help him.”
It took Leon a few moments to processes Merlin’s words. There was a pause before Leon’s face started to turn red and he snapped his head up to look at Merlin. “My what?”
Merlin looked confused and hesitated before replying. “Your boy?”
It took Leon a long, long moment before he understood what Merlin was trying to say. “Sora, you mean. Sora came and saw you earlier.”
“Is that not what I said?” Merlin said.
“No, you said –“ Leon paused mid-sentence, thinking carefully about what he was about to say.
“Sora is not my boy.” Leon emphasized. “It makes it sound like I am his dad or something.”
“Oh no that would certainly not be the case. You are no where near old enough to be that boy’s father.” Merlin agreed enthusiastically. “But you are the boy’s sole care giver aren’t you? Or the closet he has to one at this moment in time.”
Leon opened his mouth to argue back but found himself unable to do so.
Whilst it was true that Leon had taken the young Keyblade wielder under his wing a bit to say he was his ‘care giver’ was –
‘Hey Leon. You don’t know where I could get something to eat do you? I am starving!’
‘Oh hi Leon. I was trying to find Aerith, but I don’t know where she is. You wouldn’t be able to look at this cut I got from a fight? I tried a potion on it but it’s still not healing.’
‘You’re such a great help, Leon. I don’t know what I would do without you!’
‘It’s not like that.” Leon finally said after a few moments of silence.
Merlin didn’t say anything, he merely gave Leon a look which communicated all that he wanted to say.
“Well, whatever your relationship is to the young boy. Make sure you point him in the direction of this information.” And with Merlin climbed back over the obstacles on the floor and out of the study, shutting the door with a soft click.
Leon gazed down at the book in front of him without trying to read any of the text.
“My boy.” Leon said quietly, testing the words out on his tongue. They sounded clunky and awkward and he decided to never say them out loud ever again.
Leon did try to make his way through the book however after ten minutes and barley even a chapter completed Leon admitted defeat and pushed the book to the floor.
He stood up and picked up his Gunblade which had been leaning against the wall. Stumbling his way across the study he pushed the door open, determined to erase the prior conversation out of his brain by hitting something very, very hard.
“He’s getting good at it, ain’t he?”
Leon was proud at the fact he didn’t jump out of his skin as Cid suddenly appeared next to him. He hadn’t heard the other man come up the steps so he must have been doing something in the Bailey before coming this way.
Leon followed Cid’s gaze to where Sora and a few of the other Restoration Committee members were practising below them.
“He’s not bad.” Leon commented and Cid let out an amused huff.
“That’s high praise comin’ from you.” Cid remarked.
Below them there was a flash of red light followed by a loud whooping noise coming from Yuffie. Sora had been eager to show them his new ‘Drive Forms’ that he had received from the Fairies. Which would have been a sentence that didn’t seem possible before Leon’s world had fell but nowadays was an ordinary occurrence.
Sora had been swapping Drive Forms and seemingly outfits all morning and didn’t seem to be getting tired any time soon.
Squall watched as Sora jumped high into the air, easily jumping onto the roof of one of the buildings and then jumping back down again. Leon didn’t need to Sora’s face to know that he would be supporting an ear-to-ear grin.
‘Show off.’ Leon thought as he watched Sora jump up onto the roof another building and then onto the chimney of another and before Leon knew Sora had landed rather gracefully onto the wall he and Cid were currently lent against.
“Did you see me just then!” He said through gasping breaths.
Leon couldn’t help the smile that grew on his face. “I did. You’re doing well.”
If possible, Sora’s smile got even wider at Leon’s words. He scratched the back of his head, a sign that Leon knew very well. “Do you really think so?”
“The colours are a bit much in my opinion. But I guess that’s your choice.” Leon commented.
“Don’t listen to him.” Cid barked gripping Leon’s shoulder tightly. “He’s being grumpy again. If anything’ you should ask the Faries to make him some new clothes too.”
Sora giggled at Cid’s words. He peered over the edge of the wall and waved to the people down below. “Well, I better get back to it.” He said, giving Leon a small wave before jumping back down below.
Leon’s heart lurched a little and such a dangerous move before he saw Sora land safely below.
“Look at you.” Cid said, taking his hand off Leon’s shoulder. “You’re standing up here loud like a proud Daddy looking at his son.”
Leon made a choking sound at Cid’s world and whirled round to look at him. “Excuse me?”
Cid didn’t look impressed. “Don’t be giving me that look now. All I am saying is that you are looking at him like a farmer looks at his flock. It isn’t shameful thing to have a bit of pride in you.”
“But you didn’t say farmer you said-“ Leon couldn’t finish the sentence.
“No I didn’t. But that’s because you ain’t a farmer and that kid down there is certainly no sheep. Don’t be mad at me, be mad at the alliteration.”
“Do you mean the metaphor?” Leon pointed out.
“Don’t be putting fancy words into my mouth now I said what I said!” Cid barked loudly. A series of beeps seemed to come from Cid’s pocket and he pulled out a hand held device Leon knew had to do with the Garden’s security system.
“Damn. I gotta go sort this out before someone ends up breaking the system.” Cid didn’t even wave goodbye as he jogged down the steps back towards Merlin’s house, but Leon was too focused on the scene below him to notice.
Sora’s clothing has changed once again and he was sporting a dark blue set of clothes and was seemingly dashing circles around Yuffie and Donald.
Leon thought back to the Sora he had first faced off with when he first came to Traverse Town to the one in front of him now. He thought about how much had changed both physically and skill wise.
Cid’s words echoed in his mind.
‘Standing up here like a Proud Daddy’.
Although Cid’s words were crude and not something that Leon would ever say out loud, he did for this moment resonate slightly with the sentiment.
//
Leon wasn’t used to parties.
He put that down mainly to the fact they hadn’t been the time to have one in the past few years but when Sora had stumbled back to Hollow Bastion (back home, his brain supplied) with the news that his journey was done, Squall didn’t have the heart to deny Yuffie’s suggestion.
As far as parties went this one was particularly tame but that didn’t stop Leon from sneaking outside to have a break when Yuffie’s music started blaring out of the speakers.
It was cold outside Merlin’s house despite the heat of the afternoon and the change made goosebumps appear on Leon’s exposed skin. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, relishing in the peacefulness of the air and realising that now that Sora was back and the Organisation was defeated that every day could be as peaceful as it was right now.
From his right Leon was aware of the sound of footsteps getting louder as someone approached him but he didn’t open his eyes to look at who was coming.
There was only one person who was missing from their get together and despite what Tifa had said Leon knew he would make his way over at some point in the evening.
“Is it too much in there already?” Cloud asked, his tone slightly weary. Leon knew that the other man was going to turn up, what he was unsure about was how long he would last before trying to make his leave.
“Not really.” Leon said. “I’m just not used to being around so many people at one time.”
Cloud made a hmm sound which Leon assumed was in agreement and Leon finally turned to look at the other man. He raised his eyebrow at Cloud. “No sword?”
Cloud shifted slightly. “I didn’t think I would need it tonight.”
“Well, you know who to thank for that.” Leon commented.
Just then the door to Merlin’s house opened and Aerith all but fell outside on the cold flagstones.
“Cloud!” She exclaimed loudly almost tripping over yet again in her haste to reach the man. “I was hoping you would come! Leon was adamant that you would turn up at some point but the others weren’t so sure.”
Cloud looked to Leon, his gaze held something that Leon could not quite name. “Adamant.” He said simply before turning back to Aerith. “Well, I wanted to see the Hero of all Worlds after all. Is he inside?”
“Yep, although I wouldn’t go interrupting just yet. Him and Yuffie are currently having an arm-wrestling competition that Cid is the judge of.”
“Don’t be so sure Aerith, I bet Cloud would love to get involved.” Leon said, glancing at the other man.
“Oh, don’t be like that Leon. Besides if Cloud hurt your baby in any way, you would be on him in seconds.”
“Your baby?” Cloud asked in confusion and Leon couldn’t stop the way his face heated up at her comment.
“Aerith! I told you to stop saying that!”
Aerith didn’t look a single bit chastised at his words. “But it’s true. Ever since Sora has got back you have barely let him out of your sight. I’m surprised you are still stood out here when he could be getting into all kinds of trouble in there.”
Almost as she had invoked it, a loud scream came from inside Merlin’s house which was quickly swallowed by the sound of raucous laughter. At the sound of the scream Leon’s body moved to respond however at the sound of laughing all the sudden tensions melted from his body.
Leon pointedly the look both Cloud and Aerith were giving him.
The trio eventually made their way back into Merlin’s House and Leon was only just able to be avoid being knocked out by the wave of people that surged towards Cloud as soon as he stepped through the door.
The rest of the night passed without any more teasing from anyone and the as the clock hands reached midnight people began to make their leave.
Sora did not seem to be tired at any point of the night until he all put passed out in one of the chairs at the back of the room just before the clock struck midnight.
Leon couldn’t help the way his heart warmed at the sight of the serene look on Sora’s face and the awkward position he had somehow manged to fall asleep in.
“Are you going to wake him up?” Cloud asked coming up behind him.
“No it’s fine, I’ll just take him up.” Leon said as if he was talking about a baby and not a lanky teenager. Leon slipped one hand under the bend of Sora’s knees and the other behind his back and lifted him up with practiced ease.
Cloud had a bemused expression on his face when he said, “You are a pro at this.”
Leon unfortunately was. He had been called upon many times in Traverse Town to collect an over exhausted Sora from Merlin’s story or the Gizmo Shop.
“I’m going to struggle if he gets any bigger.” Leon said. He nodded towards the tucked away doorway that led to the upstairs of Merlin’s house. “Would you be able to get the doors? I seem to have my hands full.”
Cloud followed the request without complaint. Leon took his time, careful not to bang Sora’s head on the stone wall of the staircase as they climbed towards the upper floor. Leon gestured towards a door at the end of the hallway and Cloud opened it, allowing Leon to squeeze past and deposit Sora softly on top of the bed covers.
Sora as per usual was out cold and seemed to snore even louder now he was on top of the mattress.
Leon lingered for a few moments, assuring himself than he was fine before exiting the bedroom.
He could feel Cloud’s warm gaze on him as he shut the door with a soft click.
“I can see what Aerith meant earlier.” Cloud remarked, his tone tinted with a rare playfulness.
“Whatever.” Leon mumbled under his breath, intending to go back downstairs but Cloud’s body blocked his path.
“It doesn’t surprise me really. I remember when I met him for the first time in the Collosum, he spoke about you as if you hung the stars in the sky.”
Leon’s cheeks burned with such ferocity he was sure that Cloud would be able to see them glowing in the low light of the hallway.
From behind the door came a muffled snore, loud enough to cut through the quiet hallway, and Leon found himself glancing back despite himself.
Darkness had been chased from all worlds. Their world was still standing and ready to be rebuilt to its former glory. And most importantly: Sora was back safe and sound.
Cloud’s smiled softly and Leon could feel his heartbeat in his ears. “You know,” he said, “it’s not the worst thing, being someone’s home.” Leon opened his mouth to argue back but was irrupted once again by a muffled snore from behind Sora’s bedroom door.
Instead, he smiled and leant against the wall of the hallway. “Yeah,” he said at last, so quietly it almost disappeared into the dark. “I guess you are right.”