Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. I barely own the laptop used to type this.

Cool, grey eyes followed the blue-eyed blond as he moved around the room. The blond swordsman's movements were deceptively graceful, his toned muscles attributing to his fluidity. Leon always found himself captivated by the blond. By something ordinary like the way his chest rose and fell with each breath, or the way his hips swayed unintentionally when he walked. He was always mesmerized by the way the sunlight reflected in those flaxen spikes, and how it revealed the freckles that littered his porcelain face. He would find himself lost in the deep pools of his eyes, especially in the way they twinkled when he smiled. And he could listen to his laugh until his dying day. But none of that mattered now. Not to Cloud.

Leon was sat on the foot of the bed watching as Cloud gathered what little belongings he called his own. The silence had grown antiquated and uncomfortable. Nothing like the shared silences they both used to take comfort in not too long ago. Each step Cloud took, each item he tossed in his bag, sent a shooting pain through Leon's chest. But he couldn't let the blond know. His pride refused to show such vulnerability.

When Leon had arrived home after a Committee meeting that ran late, he found Cloud waiting for him. The blond was seated on their couch, back rigid and hands clasped. He had looked up at the sound of the front door closing and met Leon's cold glare with one of his own.

"I've finished fixing up Sora's old Gummy ship."

Leon had grunted in response. He knew where this was going and didn't like it. But he was too hard-headed to stop the blond.

That seemed to be all Cloud needed before he was in the bedroom packing his things. Leon could do nothing but follow. Finding himself sitting on the foot of the bed watching Cloud erase himself from the brunette's life.

As Cloud tossed an old pair of leather gloves into the bag he had sitting on a desk he glanced at Leon. The same stony expression he'd been on the receiving end the past several weeks was plastered on the brunette's scarred face. Cloud let out an exasperated sigh as he plopped down on the simple wooden chair that matched the desk.

"Whatever this is, it's not working." If Cloud hadn't been staring at the wall, hard enough to drill holes through it, he would have seen the pain flash across Leon's face.

"Whatever this is?" Leon scoffed. "This was a relationship until you stopped trying."

"So it's all my fault? Fuck you." Cloud bit back. He could feel his anger boiling, ready to erupt. This could have turned into yet another of their fights but instead, body deflating, he let out a sigh, "Actually Leon, let's not start this again." Cloud was exhausted. Emotionally and physically exhausted. These arguments that took up any time they spent together left the blond drained.

Their relationship had started by accident, had taken the two men completely by surprise. They had fallen into each other almost by default. They were both strong, silent warriors. Socially inept, broken men who found refuge in each other's company, then in each other's beds. The girls, Aerith especially, had forced the two into an uneasy friendship. Gods knew they needed it. The push and the companionship. The two men found their shared silences comforting and familiar. Neither of them pushing for more than what the other could offer. That uneasy friendship soon grew and flourished. That was until the heartless were destroyed and the war ended.

They were both fighters, soldiers, and they both needed an enemy. They found that enemy in each other. The day-to-day domestics of a peaceful life were foreign, and in the end unwelcome. It had started off okay. Both found regular jobs that fit their skills, and they still sparred together when they found time. These matches helped defuse some of the growing tension and restlessness. But they were still growing apart, growing distant.

They had become virtual strangers, and when physical battles where no longer enough the arguments started. They argued over everything. Small things, like whose turn it was to take out the trash or what kinds of cereal they should buy, to larger things, like Cloud's constant trips or Leon's new secretary, all turned into arguments. Over time, their arguments grew to be better defined as screaming matches.

"You're a coward Cloud. Always have been. Running away as soon as things get tough, as usual." Leon knew his words would sting the blond. It's what he wanted.

"Me? The coward?" Cloud let out a hollow laugh. "Says the man who's so afraid of being alone. Don't worry about it Leonhart, I'm sure you'll find some new body to warm your bed" Cloud spat. The words tasting vile in his mouth.

He hated arguing with Leon. The brunette knew Cloud intimately. Knew all of his exposed nerves and just what words would hurt them the most. He knew which buttons to push to get the reaction he desired. And these days, he used that knowledge repeatedly. The only defense Cloud knew was returning the favour, striking Leon in all his weak spots.

The truth was, Cloud really was scared. He was scared of the new feelings he wasn't equipped to handle. He was scared of the way every argument felt like a shard of glass digging further into his heart. He was scared of how vulnerable he felt around Leon. How just being in the same room as the scarred brunette left him feeling open and exposed to the whole world. Like a book anyone could pick up and read. His deepest, darkest secrets written out all over his skin. Leon was right, he was a coward and he was running. He couldn't stay leaving himself open to this new, emotional pain that left him feeling raw.

With a sigh, Cloud stood up and securely fastened his bag. Leon remained on the bed, eyes never leaving the blond as his nimble fingers secured the buckles and clasps. This was it. Their last chance. Cloud made his way to the door before stopping. He turned enough to look Leon in the eye for the first time since he started packing. He searched Leon's grey eyes, hoping to see anything he could take as a reason to stay. All he found was Leon's famous slow-burning anger.

"Get out." Leon hissed through clenched teeth. His resolve was fading fast. If Cloud didn't leave now, Leon would be on his knees begging him to stay.

With no further hesitation, Cloud turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

The slamming of the front door cut through Leon's barriers and he let out an anguished cry before breaking down into uncontrollable, gut-wrenching sobs.

"Please don't go."