The New Me

Chapter 4


“Wait till you see him!” Yuffie smiled, setting up her presents under a little plastic tree on a table. Leon blinked in confusion for a moment.

“Wait…see who?” He felt a little confused as to what was going on. Presents? A Tree? Why was it snowing! He had just got done looking out side before falling a sleep next to Sora.

“SEE SORA! DUH!” Yuffie rolled her eyes. “I saw the dress on display in the window of that corner store in First. But it was too expensive. So Aerith made one.”

“Another dress?” he heard Cloud mutter. Leon looked around before it dawned on him.

‘I’m a sleep…I see. This, this is that night.’

There came a knock at the door. Cloud rushed over to answer it, holding a plant in his hands. He threw open the door to reveal Aerith standing in the door way. She was wearing a pink dress, with long sleeves and a hooded coat. Just behind her was Sora in a long black coat. You could only see his head, his hair was neatly combed and held down under a red and green bow. The rest of his body was hidden under the coat.

Cloud beamed and held the little plant over his head, a piece of mistletoe. “It requires a kiss to enter the party.”

Aerith rolled her eyes and pushed past him. “I’m not that desperate and you’re not that drunk yet.” Once inside she took off her coat and Sora stepped in. “But if you need a kiss that bad, you can kiss Sora.” And then there was loud shattering sound.

It suddenly occurred to Leon he had been holding a gift. Everyone looked to his feet to see the silver package lying on the floor. What had been in it was broken and now leaking water all over the floor.

‘That’s right,’ he thought, ‘I got Aerith a snow globe.’

Yuffie laughed and make some joke about Leon being clumsy. Aerith shook her head and began speaking in a consoling voice once she saw it was her name on the package. But he didn’t pay them any mind. It was Cloud’s words that got through to him.

“Shut up!” He turned at Cloud now a little angry. “I don’t care who kiss. I don’t care who he kisses! It’s not like we’re anything other than friends!” Cloud frowned.

“It was a joke…I never really meant that you and Sora…Errr…” Cloud flipped his scarf over his mouth and walked away muttering about how jokes were always missed. But Leon ignored the others. He was sure the girl’s faces looked like something, but he stalked over to the couch.

‘Yea, Cloud. I miss your jokes, because they’re stupid.’ He looked over to see Sora, still in his coat looking over at him, but as soon as they met he turned away. ‘Oh, why did I react like that? I had only though I messed up once we were drunk, but I guess I fucked up the whole night right?”

Leon watched his memory play out from the couch, the same place where he watched the events when they first occurred. The gang pilled their gifts under the tree, Aerith suggest they open them at Midnight. Cid arrived around nine, with the bottles of eggnog Auron had sent him. He placed them on the table, but gave one to Leon.

“You look down in the dumps? What’s up?”

“Nothing…” He took the bottle.

“You sure?” Cid sat down, “Did you have a fight with the kid or something?” Leon opened the bottle and took a sip. He made the same bitter face he had when he drank it the first time.

“Why do you think that?” He took another sip this time he was ready for the awkward, but obvious taste of alcohol.

“Because he’s over there in the corner with that same look as you.” Leon looked over to Sora who was looking out the window. Even though he was watching the snow fall, you could still see the look on his face reflected in the window.

“He’s still wearing his coat…?” Leon looked back over to Cid.

“I asked him. He said he was cold.” Leon nodded and stood up. He walked over to Sora and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Do you want me to turn the heat up?”

“No.” Sora didn’t look at him.

“Well, do you want to play games with Yuffie, Cloud, and Aerith? They’re upstairs.”

“No.”

“Then what do you-”

“I’m going outside.” Sora stood up and walked out of Leon’s little flat. Leon shook his head.

‘Wow, I didn’t quite remember just how bad this night was for me.’

He followed Sora outside, and walked down into the little square. He found Sora sitting on the edge of a little fountain that came out of the wall. Up until now Leon had just accepted this as his mind remembering the worst, and possibly best night of his life. But it was an odd feeling, knowing that you’re dreaming. He thought right now, he could change it. Take Sora back inside, and the two of them hang out in there. It felt real. It felt like it was Christmas Eve. Maybe if he changed the course of his dream, he’d have changed things in the real world too?

Sora’s mom wouldn’t be angry. He wouldn’t have to move. And they could try to start a decent relationship. All right here in this dream. He could, if he just kept the bottle to himself.

Sora looked up and stared at Leon. His cheeks and nose were red from the cold, but his eyes were red from crying. Leon creased his brow, and swallowed hard. He felt his arm extended from his side and the words feel out, just as they had on Christmas Eve.

“Here. It will warm you up.” Sora took the bottle and drank. And not a little either, he paused periodically in between gulps to contemplate the taste, but continued until more than half the bottle was empty. Leon took it from him and finished the rest.

‘I should have been fine…’ he thought. ‘But then again, Auron’s crazy. That stuff was probably eighty percent alcohol and twenty percent eggnog.’

Sora leaned over and rest his head on Leon’s shoulder. “I’m kind of hot…”

“It’s just this stuff.” He lifted the bottle. “You’ll be fine in a moment.” But Sora shook his head; he stood up and removed the coat. The dress Aerith had made was cute, maybe a little stunning. It was made out of red velvet, and trimmed with a white fur, fake of course. It came with a green belt held up by a silver buckle, while it completely sheltered his neck and arms, the dress stopped half was down his thighs. But his legs were covered up to his knees by a pair of black boots, leather, and covered in silver buckles, they matched the gloves he wore with the dress.

Leon shook his head and muttered ‘Aerith should buy a fashion doll.’ But not hearing the mutter, just seeing the action Sora suddenly looked miserable again.

“What’s wrong?”

“You hate it? Right?” he held out his arms. “I told her it was stupid. I told her I just wanted to wear my normal stuff…but she wouldn’t let me! It’s not my fault I showed up like this!”

“Hey!” Leon reached out, grabbed Sora, and pulled him toward him. “I didn’t say that. I don’t think that. It’s cute. You look…good in it.” He nodded as if to reassure himself that was right. “Yea, you look, good.”

“Really?”

“Yea, as a matter of fact, you look so good it’s a shame everyone can’t see you.” He nodded again this time with a smile. Sora, milled over his words for a moment before agreeing.

“Then let’s go!” He cheered suddenly full of enthusiasm.

“Go…where?”

“To show of my dress!” Sora pushed back from Leon, he stumbled a bit and nearly fell over. Leon reached out to catch him.

“You ok?”

Sora went red in the face and nodded, before taking Leon’s hand and leading him out into the First District.

Sora skipped along merrily, ‘He’s a happy drunk…’ Leon thought as he watched Sora walk to a woman standing in front of a set of stairs.

“Hey!” he smiled. “Having a good Christmas?”

“Why, yes…I am.” She looked him over. “Are you a caroler?” she asked, not realizing Sora had just stopped to talk to her because he was overly giddy.

“Um, no. But I can be!” And with that, be began a very broken version of Silent Night, any time he forgot the words he threw in random ones. Leon stood back and laughed at the poor woman who looked most confused.

‘Sora did make and excellent drunk. I must admit…’ Suddenly he stopped.

“Leon! Sing with me!” and he ran over to grab Leon’s hand, but the woman turned and hastily walked away. “Aww…where’d she go?” Sora looked around confused.

“It’s ok.” Leon gave him a hug, “I liked your song.” Sora closed his eyes for a moment and leaned into Leon, but he quickly pulled back. A little worried, he spoke up. “Um…I’m, sorry, I didn’t mean…”

“I’m kind of hungry. There’s a restaurant here. Let’s go sing there!” and Sora took off, not at all paying attention to what Leon had been saying.

They walked up to the restaurant, there were people there gathered around a little street band. Leon smirked and took Sora’s hand. “Do you know Singing in the Rain?”

“Um, not really.”

“Well that’s fine, because we’re going to do Dancing in the Snow.” He pulled Sora up close and began spinning around with him. It only took the fifteen-year old a moment to catch up to the idea. There were plenty of on lookers giving the two inquisitive looks as they went by. But, neither seemed to care. Occasionally, Sora began to sing random songs while they danced and beckoned Leon to join in.

The street band stopped at ten, and so did their dancing. Leon was beginning to feel himself drag now, and Sora was worse.

‘I’m getting to the end…’ he thought as he took the other boy by the hands.

Sora walked slowly now, getting tired, and feeling the cold set in on his legs, “I wish I hadn’t left my coat…I hope no one stole it.”

“Its fine I’m sure.” He led Sora past the Mog shop where a lone moogle stood shoveling out snow.

“Watch your step, kupo!” he called to them. Leon kept walking but Sora stopped and seemed amazed. “Sorry, we’re closed.” Sora smiled.

“I like your head.” Leon looked down at him a little surprised, but the moogle seemed angry. “Its got that funny ball on a wire coming out of it.” The moogle took a deep breath, the little mane around his neck seemed to bristle, but he ignored Sora and went back to shoveling.

But Sora, not taking the hint, used his free hand to reach out and grab onto the little ball. At once the moogle began to scream, not anything understandable, just ‘Kupo’ over and over. He swung his little shovel at Sora, but Leon reached out and grabbed it.

“Hey! Don’t you think you’re over reacting! He just touched you is all!” Leon reached out and batted the ball himself. The moogle flapped his wings and screamed again. Sora reached out for one more attempt, when another moogle came out of the store.

“Leave him alone, kupo! Or I’ll call the cops. Lousy teenagers, kupo, we’re not toys!” He started throwing snowballs. They didn’t hurt, and really, the cops didn’t seem like too big a threat, but none the less, Leon scooped up Sora and ran towards the doors of the second district.

‘That was smart…I really messed this up.’ He set Sora down once they reached the steps. “You ok?” Sora nodded. “Good. Crazy mogs…”

Sora shook his head and muttered a ‘Thank you’ before sitting down on the stairs. Leon sat next to him and pulled Sora up onto his lap so his legs wouldn’t sink in the snow. He squirmed a bit before relaxing onto his lap. There was a bit of silence before he spoke up.

“Why did you come with me?” Leon looked blankly at him for a moment. “I thought, you weren’t happy with me…”

“What? Why would you think that?” Leon unconsciously began stroking Sora’s hair.

“Because, you were yelling before, and, you didn’t seem happy when Cloud said…”

“Cloud’s a prick sometimes. He needs to be yelled at.” He ran his fingers through his own hair, “but that has nothing to do with you.” Sora sat silently, but gave a little nod. “Are you ok, knowing that?”

Sora shook his head, “No. I’m not…”

“Why?”

“Because, I want to know. Are you ok in knowing that, I’m not, really, ok with being your friend…” the end of Sora’s sentence died out, and they both sat there.

‘I guess that’s the question. Am I ok?’ He thought to himself. ‘I said I was here…but, ’he watched the rest of his dream play out. Now he wasn’t even in his body. He was just watching himself and Sora, like a movie. He watched himself answer the question and lightly kiss Sora’s forehead, his cheeks his lips.

‘I think I told you to leave, right?’ He watch Sora childishly give him a peck on the lips, and slowly begin to gain a little confidence. ‘But you’re leaving so soon…Did you even kiss anyone before this night?’ Soon enough one of Sora’s hands was on his chin, leading him into a deeper kiss. ‘Are you going kiss any one after tonight?’ Sora pulled back and looked a little embarrassed. But they started again after Sora rearranged himself so he was startling Leon’s lap.

‘What a terrible first kiss. We both tasted like spiked eggnog…I wonder what you really taste like?’ he mentally sighed as he watched his left hand makes its fateful journey up Sora’s right leg.

‘I guess I’ll miss you when you’re gone…’ He watched himself shoot up at the sound of his voice being called. Sora fell, butt first on the stairs. He looked over the see blazing green eyes, brown hair, and the most pissed expression in the world.

‘I’m sorry we didn’t get to do it right.’

The woman walked over and took Sora by the arm. She yelled something at Leon before dragging the boy off.

‘I fucked up.’