Here is a different kind of ficlet. This is what I call 'chemistry tutor' fic, and there are only two of them. It is written during my chemistry tutor down the margin of my page in itsy-bitsy writing so the person sitting next to me can't read it. The resulting page looks... ridiculous. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to Kingdom Hearts.

Move Along

The Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee had a never ending list of tasks and jobs, from destroying heartless swarms to rebuilding the destroyed marketplace. Each was always divided evenly between the members, unless they pertained to a person's specialty. Cid was in charge of the Town Defense System, Leon was organized, Merlin dealt with anything abnormal, Aerith helped with the wounded, Yuffie was their energy source and gofer, and Tifa made sure that everyone got all of their work done.

Then there was Cloud; Cloud strife, the most isolated and quiet person of the team who barely spoke a word. He was the one who had spent years in the darkness, and now... now he had to eliminate his own darkness: a man by the name of Sephiroth. No one could, or would ever be permitted to help. No one was even allowed nearby when he trained, the only thing that occupied his spare time in between jobs.

Sephiroth was always the main occupant of Cloud's mind. His face remained expressionless, appearing to an outsider that he was incapable of feeling the emotions that should arise from his situation.

Squall Leonhart, however, was no outsider. He was the leader of the committee and his eyes were trained to pick up the minute details. But it wasn't Cloud's face that betrayed what was going on behind those bland features. It was his hands: Hands that shook when he lifted building material, when he swung his sword, when he held his mug of coffee in the morning. Hands that told Leon everything so clearly.

Cloud was afraid of facing his darkness.

For how well their friends claimed to know the blond, each seemed completely oblivious to Cloud's state of being.

But not Leon. He could see the shaking that Cloud tried so hard to suppress, resulting in shivers.

Finally he couldn't stand watching anymore. It was one of those rare evenings when the entire team was able to sit down and eat together. From his seat next to Cloud, Leon could easily see the knuckle-whitening grip Cloud had on his pant leg in an attempt to hide his trembling. Silently Leon reached out a hand out under the table and set it gently on the blond's.

Cloud's eyes widened momentarily as he glanced at the brunette, who didn't return the gaze but merely continued eating. After a minute though, he turned over his own hand and gripped Leon's back with all the strength he had.

And for a moment, Cloud's shaking ceased.

-o-

I have a deep love for the LeonxCloud pairing. I believe I have actually evolved into a Leon fangirl. Oh dear.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!