Crumbling Walls

Leon tried to think of several excuses he could make that would grant him leave from the little girl who was dragging him down the street, though even he had to admit there wasn't one excuse he could make that would sound legit. He could say that he had to go 'home' and take care of unpacking his things. Though that wouldn't do, because then he would feel guilty and really have to go back to Laguna's house.

That was the last thing he wanted to do. Despite thirteen years going by his father was acting as if no time went by at all. It was like he wanted to be Leon's best friend or something.

Then there was his brother Riku.

Leon didn't quite mind the boy; he had no fault in the split up and it wasn't his fault his father kept him away for thirteen years, nor that his mother didn't visit in that time. It was weird having a younger brother though.

Ellone was used to the way Leon acted, even if she didn't like it. On the other hand, Riku was not. The silver-haired teenager tried many times to strike up conversations with Leon, getting short and 'sweet' words from his brother, if any. The fifteen-year-old soon learned that Leon didn't seem to like to say more then two words in a row. It was abnormal to say the least.

Never would he admit it out loud, not at present anyway, but Leon did like his younger brother and he felt bad for how he treated him, but Leon is Leon and he just needed his time to open up to people.

He never really opened up to his sister, Ellone or his mother. Deep down he blamed them for the split up. He didn't know why, but ever since he was five he felt like it was the girls' fault for taking him away. Of course Ellone was only twelve at the time, but try telling that to a five-year-old.

Leon kept telling himself he would try to open up with someone, but each time he tired, he'd get scared or they'd do something to betray his trust. It was hard to figure out who he could truly trust.

He looked at this girl Selphie. She was a kid; still had that wide-eyed innocent thing going on. She was loud and hyper, not to mention as strong as an ox; she was about to pull Leon's arm off. But Leon didn't totally mind her, which was strange and alien to him. He never opened up to girls, especially not children.

'Just because I don't mind her does not mean I am opening up to her,' Leon reasoned with himself.

"You're being really quiet... Oops, I mean..." Selphie stopped walking, looking up at Leon. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything, I meant..." She nibbled down on her lower lip. "I was watching you..."

'She was watching me?' Leon thought.

"... as we were walking and, I get the feeling something was on your mind..." Selphie smiled. "But you're not so big on talking, so you won't tell me, will you?"

Leon shook his head.

"Are you okay, though?"

The dark-haired teenager sighed. She sure did like to chatter.

"Yes..." He gave in, nodding his head. Of course he was fine. This was how it always was; he was used to it. So, yes, he was okay, is what he told himself. Honestly though, he was far from fine. It was like a battle going on in the inside. Open or not? Trust or not? Yes or no?

Selphie pursed her lips together. "Ah, I don't believe you somehow..."

'You don't even know me...'

Sighing when he didn't bother saying anything or showing sign that he had even heard her, Selphie dropped Leon's hand, pointing to the east. "See that blue little dot?"

Leon squinted, putting his hand over his eyes; the sun was blaring down brightly on the two teenagers. Blue dot? Ah yes, he saw what she was pointing out. He looked down at Selphie.

"Mm..."

"That is my house."

The stoic teenager groaned. That was a long walk. Sure he was pretty lean and fit, but that didn't mean he had it in him to walk however many yards that was. The house really did look like a blue dot from where they were standing.

Selphie laughed. "Leon, you should see your face. No, don't try to hide it!" Selphie giggled, clinging onto Leon's arm. "I saw what you were feeling..."

'Yeah right...?'

"Your face went all pale and your eyes got kind of big like you saw something really scary..."

That long of a walk was really scary.

"Don't worry," Selphie said. "I got it covered. This is the stop where we have to wait for my brother." She pointed up to a street sign that said "Fifteen Miles Per Hour" "Cloud told me to wait here and he'd pick me up at four..." She looked down at her watch. "We still have fifteen minutes..."

Cloud... Cloud...

Lean walked over to the street sign, sliding down to the ground, to rest his back against the post. Why did that name sound so... familiar? He wondered how old this Cloud was... Could they have known each other when he lived here?

"You okay, Leon?" Selphie asked, plopping down next to him.

"Yes."

"You look like you saw a ghost..."

'Or remembered something from the past...' Leon thought, shrugging in response to Selphie's statement. He really was being more responsive around the girl, even if all he was doing was saying a word here and there and answering by body language. It was odd...

Could there be a connection between them since he saved her life? Was that why he was putting forth more of an effort?

"Excuse me for saying this, but you are weird," Selphie said, quirking a small smile. "It is a good thing I like weird things, huh?"

'I guess so...' Leon was very, very slightly amused. Just almost...

"Are you smiling?" Selphie teased, leaning toward Leon, putting her face right next to his.

'I'm not smiling!' Leon shook his head, leaning his head back. The child was getting too close for comfort.

"Yes, I can tell you are. Your eyes were all sparkly!" Selphie exclaimed. "I saw a sparkle!"

'Good God, she's nuts...' A sparkle? Leon did not smile, specially not with his eyes. He didn't... sparkle... That was ridiculous. Besides even if he was the type to smile, laugh and carry on, he would never sparkle. Guys just don't do that. It was almost like saying he was glowing.

The last he checked only pregnant woman glowed, not that he'd ever really seen a pregnant woman... Okay, so he had no idea about it.

"Don't look like you're in a panic," Selphie said, pulling back from the older teenager. "I won't give you cooties, Leon..."

'Somehow I doubt that...' Leon closed his eyes. So Leon was a little immature; it wasn't like he had much human interaction. This was the first time he had ever been around a hyped female child. It was rather scary.

"You're funny, Leon..."

'How am I funny? I'm not even doing anything...' Leon inwardly moaned, peeking open one eye when he heard the girl let out a small hiss of pain.

'Huh...?' Leon set up straighter, looking down at the girl, who was suddenly focused on something other then the poor stoic teenager. She was holding her arm against her chest, a surprised and painful look in her eyes. He wondered if the fall had jarred her shoulder or something and why she hadn't noticed the pain earlier.

"What's wrong?" Leon asked, looking off to the side, refusing to look Selphie in the eyes. He was slightly shaking, inwardly freaking to himself for caring and SHOWING it to the girl. Honestly though, he couldn't be heartless. She was only a child and she was hurt.

Selphie looked at Leon, startled. He just asked her a question!

"When we fell, I think it did something to my arm. I didn't notice or feel anything until I was leaning toward you, putting weight on my shoulder..." Selphie explained, wincing in pain.

"Ow, it hurts really bad..."

"L-let me look..." Leon wasn't stuttering because he was shy or nervous; it was for a whole other reason; he was actually talking to the girl! Truly, it wasn't like he could ignore this.

"Are you mad!?" Selphie yelled, blushing. "I'm not taking my shirt off."

'You don't even have boobs for goodness sakes...' Leon rolled his eyes, standing up. He bent over and gently helped the girl up. "Then y-your brother can look..." Leon nodded to the beat up car that had just parked near them.

"That is even worse!" Selphie dug her face against Leon's chest, crying. Cloud was her brother! He couldn't see her with out her shirt.

Leon wondered if all girls went through this stage when they got older... He didn't see what there was to be so embarrassed about. She'd look pretty much like a boy, until... well, that much was obvious.

A handsome, tall and fit blond climbed out of the car, giving Leon and Selphie a look that could only be translated to "What the hell?"

This probably didn't look as innocent as it was from where the blond was standing. Leon didn't even have his arms around the girl. In fact, he looked like Selphie had turned into a snake.

'So this is Cloud?' Leon thought, trying to wiggle free from Selphie's embrace. This would not look good at all! Selphie was even crying.

"Get off," Leon said, his voice sounding colder then it was. He sighed. "Brother is going to kill me..." He breathed hard, like the words took the wind out of him.

Selphie pulled away. "Oh..." She giggled. "Sorry..." She wiped at her eyes. "I'll smooth things over..."

'Oh wonderful... I'm sure this is going to go well...'

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