Don't Hide From Me!

Don't Hide From Me
Chapter Two: Payback with a Twist

I was lounging on the couch watching 'Atlantica Idol' when guess who decided to strut in to the room in nothing more that a very VERY small blue towel? Yes, I guess he was trying to get back at me for that shower incident. We were in his house in Traverse Town. He decided that Hollow Bastion wasn't the best place for a couple, a couple who might be raising a family. A FAMILY?! I was so shocked I nearly spit out the Mountain Dew I was drinking. I mean, I have always wanted children, but LEON? He totally isn't the type to want to be a father. But, we talked about it, and we decided that in a year or so we are going to adopt one of the orphans from Destiny Islands. So many of the children there were orphaned after the first fight with Ansem and the heartless. Even more are parentless now.

So, anyways, back to the point at hand. The rather LARGE point, might I add. Leon is standing to the side of the couch, and I can't help but turn every few seconds to look at him instead of watching my show. "Leon...you're being a distraction. Can't you drip water in the other room?" I really didn't want him to go, but if he stayed...I would totally jump him right here in the living room. Wait...what is wrong with that?

Leon looks at me pointedly, "So, you want me to 'drip water' elsewhere? I see." He slowly turned around, making sure that the towel slid down his hips just a little bit more before he left. I started to get up to follow him, when someon knocked on the front door. GRRR! I was sooo close! Anyways, I went to the front door and flung it open in my anger. It was Axel, with a bottle of merlot and a bouquet of flowers.

"What the hell? Axel...who are those for?" I asked angrily.

He smiled prettily at me and handed me the merlot. "The wine is for you, and these lovely flowers are for your adorable boyfriend for letting me come over for dinner. You did know he invited me, right?"

I was sooo fuming. LEON!! How could he do this to me? I wanted to get boned sooo bad, buuuut nooooo! He had to invite my ex over for dinner. Dinner and a schmooze, I bet. I was pissed. Leon casually stepped out of the bedroom fully dressed. He had a smirk on his face. I could tell something was up.

"So, how are you Axel? It has been so long since we've seen each other. Two and a half years, right?" Leon extended his hand and shok Axel's. Axel had this "I-so-want-you" smile on his face, and much to my surprise, an actualy, bona fide growl came out of my mouth. Both Axel and Leon looked at me, and then Leon did something odd...: He laughed! I about pissed myself. I was scared and trying not to laugh at the same time.

"Well," Leon moved on, "shall we move into the living room for some drinks while dinner is cooking?"

Axel nodded towards my lover and we all moved into the living room. I sat down on the large, semi-circular couch, and Axel sat down on the overstuffed chair next to the fireplace. Leon sat next to me. I was eagerly looking at Axel, expecting him to start talking first, but instead it was silent for a few moments. We really didn't know how to entertain people, as out converstation skills attested to. Leon stepped up to the plate and uncorked the merlot. He was going to pour us all some, but then he realized he forgot the glasses.

I blushed a little, but then got up and offered to get the glasses myself. I could hear, after I left, them starting to converse freely. That gave me pause. So, I was the problem? I was stopping them from talking? I slumped to the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees. I couldn't believe it. I wondered if they would even come in here to check and see if I found the glasses okay.

Not three minutes after I left the living room, Leon came in looking for me. First, he looked over the bar, and didn't see me. "Riku...where are you love?" I didn't make a noise. I was feeling so low. So what, he came looking for me, but he'll leave again in a moment when he doesn't get a response. But I was wrong.

"RIKU! Where are you, you selfish prick?" He slowly walked around the bar island and into the actual kitchen. He looked down after scanning what he could see and noticed me on the ground. He got this panicked look in his eyes and rushed over to me. "Oh, Riku! Are you okay, love? Did you hurt yourself? Do you need a band-aid?"

I almost laughed at how comical he was being. "No, mother. I'm fine. I was just feeling bad, so I sat down."

"What's wrong, hun? Do you think it's the flu?" Leon looked genuinely worried, and it made me start to feel even worse.

"NO! I'm not sick, I just feel bad. Leave it alone!" I exploded at Leon. He looked sucker-punched. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I guess I did anyways.

"I'm sorry Riku. I didn't mean to butt in where I didn't belong. I'll go and tell Axel to go home. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Leon looked like I just told him that I hated him or something, and now I felt like a slug. Or a heartless.

"Leon, don't. I'm the one that is sorry. I'm an ass. You know that. I don't deserve you, but I have you. Though, at the rate that I am going, I won't have you for long. Please don't make Axel go home. You go ahead and talk, and I'll bring out the wine glasses, okay?" He looked at me skeptically at first, but then nodded. Before he left, I got up and pulled him close to me.

"I love you, Squall 'Leon' Leonhart. I will always love you, and I hope you will always love me too. Okay, enough sappy goodness for one evening." I kissed him on the cheek, then patted his behind to get him moving, and to feel his nice, firm butt. He smiled at me and left the room. I heaved a melodramatic sigh and pulled down two wine glasses. I was in no mood to socialize now. Leon would understand...eventually.

As I walked out of the kitchen, I caught Leon's eye. He gave me another small smile and patted the spot on the couch next to him. I ignored the gesture and walked over to Axel instead. I could see, when I looked at Leon in the glass of the fireplace screen, that he was puzzled at my action. I handed Axel his wine glass, then walked over to Leon. I held out his, and that is when he noticed that I didn't have a glass for myself.

"No, Riku...that's okay. You take that one, and I'll go back and get myself one in the kitchen." Leon moved to get up, but a gently placed hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Hun, you know I am not feeling very well. I think I am going to just lie down and try to ride this out, okay?" Then I whispered in his ear as I pressed the glass in his hand, "Please don't make a big deal about this."

Leon nodded subtly to make sure that Axel didn't catch on, and said, "Sure thing, babe. I'll bring you a plate when dinner is ready. I know roast beef, new potatoes and baby carrots are your favorite." He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.

"Thanks, love. It was nice seeing you again, Axel. I hope everything is wonderful." Axel nodded once to me and gave me a friendly smile.

"I hope you feel better soon, Riku. Can't have you incapacitated for too long, can we?" I gave a jovial wave as I walked down the hallway to mine and Leon's room.

The bed was neatly made, but that made no difference to me. I flung myself on the bed on my stomach and lay there, not willing to roll over, even for air. I just wanted to sink into the bed and disappear for a little while. I knew that Leon would never understand. I knew that no one would ever understand how I was feeling right now. I lay there on the bed for about twenty minutes before my door opened. I thought it a bit odd, seeing as dinner wasn't going to be ready in another fifteen minutes, but I figured that it was probably Leon coming to check on me.

I was wrong. Axel quietly slipped into the room and walked over to the bed. I could just bet that he was stairing at my ass. After all, it was the side that was facing him as he walked in. Anyways, he sat on the edge of the bed and sighed.

Before I even got a word in edgewise, Axel started speaking, "I know you probably think that no one understand how you feel right now. I bet you even think that you are the only one in the world who feels so dark inside. Well, guess what sweetcakes. You're dead wrong. I know how you feel, and there are plenty of people scattered around these worlds that feel the same exact way you do. I was one of them, before Roxas so long ago. Roxas was one of them too, until me. And all of the other nobodies. We all felt that way, but for us that was everyday. No light. Ever. Until Roxas came along, the only thing I ever 'felt' was apathy and darkness. I could feel hate. I could feel rage. But never once could I feel the happiness you feel. Not until Roxas.

"And guess what, wiseguy. I am starting to feel that way again, now that Roxas is gone and your dick took a liking to Leonhart instead of me. Roxas was the one thing that kept me sane, kept me whole, kept me feeling. I bet your thinking now, 'what has this got to do with me', aren't you? Well, not much. Nothing more than proving that there are people who feel like you. And proving that you can get over it. If you want to, and you have someone to help you. I bet Leon would be more than happy to talk about it, but I can tell that you aren't telling him what is really bothering you. You're letting it fester inside you like a nasty wound. Then, when it gets real bad, you'll explode with pain, and Leon will leave...all because you didn't warn him how you were feeling.

"Roxas used to do that to me. S'ow I know how you are feeling. I learned my lesson. Now you learned yours. I tought you what you need to know. Now, go and tell loverboy how you feel." But, as I rolled over to actually reply to Axel, I saw Leon standing in the doorway. I had no idea how long he had been standing there, but I know he was there long enough to know that something was wrong with me, and Axel knew what it was.

"Riku...what haven't you been telling me?" Leon looked a little hurt.

"Hey, that's my cue. I'll go check on that dinner of yours." Axel quietly bowed out of the room, leaving Leon and me alone to talk.

"Riku...tell me."

I sighed and fully sat up, looking my lover in the eyes. "Leon, I have some problems. And I...I didn't know how to tell you about them, si I held it in."

Leon looked really worried now, and moved next to me on the bed and held one of my hands. "Is it serious, Riku?"

I looked at him, then having had too much eye contact, lowered my head. "Yeah...it kinda is. I really should have told you sooner, but I was afraid to. You don't know what the darkness is like, Leon. I HATE it. I feel trapped, like I did when Ansem was in control of me. I don't want to go back to that place, but I already have. When I was in the kitchen, and I heard you and Axel talking so freely afte I left...it hurt. I felt so bad." I took a deep breath and continued. "I felt like you both didn't need me. I felt like I was useless. That I should just fade away. I don't want to fade away, Leon."

He leaned over and wrapped his arms around me. Him holding me was the thing that finally did it. I started crying, not able to contain it anymore. Leon slowly rocked me with him, and I started to feel a little better. "Riku, hun, I don't want you to fade away either. I don't want to be without you ever again. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

I looked at my boyfriend, pulling myself away from him a bit, and spoke solemnly, "I really don't think there is a lot you can do for me. Keep holding me when I'm sad. Make sure to ask how I am if I'm not smiling, moaning, whathaveyou. If something looks off, investigate. But don't assume that I am having a psychotic break or something. Just, make sure that I am okay. And if I say I am, I'm probably not, but don't push unless I run away...like I did tonight. But, most importantly, right now you can take me by the hand and lead me into the dining room so that I can get some of your good cooking into my stomach. I am sooo hungry right now."

Leon laughed at me, but moved away all the same. He extended his hand out to me, and pulled me up when I placed my hand in his. We casually walked out of the room together, me leaning into him, and him holding me up like the pillar he was. Axel looked over at us as we walked into the dining room. The food was already on the table, the table set, and three dark red glasses of wine sat in front of each place setting. I smiled at Axel, and he smiled back at the both of us.

Axel walked over to us and pulled Leon away from me. He escorted him to the chair at the head of the table, then pulled out the chair for him. Leon looked at Axel in bewilderment, but sat down all the same. Axel then moved over to me and repeated the process, sitting me down to the right of Leon. He then took his place to the left of him. Leon relaxed a bit as we were all settled in to our places. He leant over his place and pulled the roast closer to him so that he could carve it.

"Would you like a large portion, or a small portion?" He casually asked Axel. Axel seemed to ponder this for a moment before letting loose a wide smile.

"I think I would like a large piece, please. Thanks for asking." Axel leaned in a bit as he spoke, gently but harmlessly flirting.

Leon then turned his beautiful, stormy eyes to me. I almost melted under that gaze. "So, Riku...how much do you want?"

I couldn't help but sit there and stare at him, utterly speechless. After a few moments I regained some of my mind, and aswered him. "Ummm...I'll t-take anything."

Both Leon and Axel were staring at me as if I had two heads or something. I didn't know what to say or do to get there attention off of me, but luckily for me, I didn't have to worry. The oven chose that moment to chime, and Leon got a startled look on his face, before he jumped up and ran into the kitchen. I shared a puzzled look with Axel before I looked down at my plate. That is when I noticed it was still empty. Well, I couldn't start eating then, could I?

Leon came back in to the room after a few moments. When Axel gave him a quizzical look, he explained, "The pie," and sat back down in his spot. He looked lost for a moment. Then he looked around the table, to orient himself, I'm sure, and noticed that I still didn't have any meat on my plate. He picked up a medium sized slab of meat and gently placed it on my plate. After that, the three of us scooped up some potatoes and carrots and started eating. That continued on for a few moments before I stopped eating.

This whole dinner seemed odd. No one was talking, and the only sound to be heard was the clinking of silverware and the occassional click as a glass was set back down on the table. I couldn't take it anymore. "Why is everything so quiet?"

Axel and Leon looked at each other, and then me. Axel responded first, "Well, I don't know. Leon and I were talking fine earlier."

Leon winced as Axel said that. "Umm, Axel..." With a slight shake of his head, Leon was signalling to Axel to not bring that up. Axel really didn't get the picture.

He spoke again, "What? We were talking about all sorts of things when Riku went to get the glasses."

I looked down at my half-empty plate to avoid the conversation. Leon placed one of his pale, cool hands against mine and gave it a slight squeeze. I felt a little better; at least I knew now that Leon didn't want me to go away so that he could talk to Axel without me. Axle was still talking, but I was ignoring him. I knew that Leon didn't want me to go, but I was feeling uncomfortable, so I got up swiftly and made my way back to the bedroom.

Axel paused his rambling for a moment when I got up. After I left the room, Leon followed me. He caught up to me in the hallway, right outside our bedroom door. "What's wrong, Riku?"

I turned to look at my lover of three months. "Leon, I know we haven't been together long, but I really love you."

"Riku, what does that have to do with anything?" Leon was looking really puzzled.

"Leon," I started slowly, unsure of how to say what I knew I must say. "I don't think....that I can do this anymore."

"Do what, Riku? What's wrong? Can't we work through whatever it is?" Leon really wanted to fix this. I thought that perhaps he was getting scared of what I was saying to him.

I moved closer to Leon and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I love you, I do, but when I am with you...I dunno. I guess it isn't when I am with you alone, but when we are with other people. I feel...I feel like I don't belong there. Like I don't belong with you. I can't stand to feel that way anymore."

Leon's eyes reflected the hurt and bewilderment that I was sure he felt at my confession. "Riku...what are you trying to say?"

I released him and turned around so that I was facing the door. "Leon...I think I need to go away for awhile. To try and figure out what I want and who I am. If I can't be comfortable with you around other people, then I have a problem. I need to go fix it."

Leon turned me around, and when I looked into his stormy eyes, I saw rage. "Riku, how dare you try to do this to me. The SAME damn thing that I pulled on you, you are doing to me. You don't need to go anywhere to fix whatever you think is wrong. All you need is me. Maybe we should go away, on an extended vacation, and spend that time getting to know each other. Maybe if you were more secure in our relationship, you wouldn't feel so bad."

Exasperatedly I cried, "Leon, you just don't get it! I am broken, and I need to be alone to fix myself!"

Before Leon could yell back at me, Axel came into the hall. "Guys, come into the living room so that you can work this out comfortably. I think that if the two of you were to sit down and calmly discuss this, you would come to an agreement." The three of us walked slowly into the living room. This time, Axel and Leon sat on the couch, and I sat in the overstuffed chair next to the fireplace.

"Axel," I began in earnest, "What do you think I should do? You've been through this. You said so earlier."

Axel looked at me, then looked away. "Roxas and I never had these sorts of problems. We couldn't really run away from things, being in Organization XII. We worked everything out as we came to it. Of course, Roxas and I were best friends before we got into the relationship as well. I don't know how to really help you. The only thing I can say is that what Leon is suggesting makes the most sense to me. If the two of you work on your relationship without anyone else inturrupting or interfering, then it seems that you would be able to fix things faster."

I was angry. Of course Axel would take Leon's side. Why would anyone agree with me? I got up and went back to the bedroom. No one followed me, but I could hear hushed voices in the other room.

"Leon, just let him go for now. If you pursue him now, then he will just explode at you."

"But Axel, he told me to go after him when he runs away. I can't just sit here and let the man I love leave me."

"I understand that, but he is really angry right now. Do you want him to take it out on you, then have him feel guilty about it later? Don't you think he feels bad enough?"

I was leaning against the wall and listening to the convesation. Leon was really upset about this, and he actually listened to me when I told him that I wanted him to follow me. I almost went back in to the living room and gave him a hug, but instead I continued to listen.

"Leon...please don't break down. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Ax...it is just that...that...I want to make him so happy...but no matter...no matter what I do...I fail. This really is all my fault. I mean, if I would just stop inviting people over, then he wouldn't have to feel uncomfortable."

"Leon, you can't pin this all on yourself. Riku is right to some extent. He does have a problem. It isn't normal to feel such anxiety around some people, but not others. I really think that you should take Riku somewhere where you won't be disturbed and try to work out your differences."

"What differences? It isn't like we are fighting. He's just feeling uncomfortable. Like I am now. I don't want to talk about this with you anymore, Axel."

"Leon, don't be like that."

"Don't tell me what to do, AXEL. Just, take what is left of your wine and leave. I need to talk to Riku before he leaves me."

I was leaning there, speechless. Leon was actually kicking Axel out. And he was worried about me leaving. I heard him getting up, so I swiftly ran into the bedroom and acted like I was packing up my suitcase. When he entered the room, my back was to him and I was leaning over my suitcase with clothes in my hands. I wasn't going to leave, but I was going to act like I was. Maybe Leon would try to keep me here, and then I could "suddenly" change my mind and we would be happy.

Leon walked over to me and wrapped his strong arms around my waist. "Don't leave me, Riku. I made that mistake once, and it kept us away from each other for two years. I love you too much to let you go."

I smiled to myself. I knew that Leon could't see it, but I was really happy. I had gotten what I had wanted. No, I hadn't orchestrated the whole thing. Before, I had really wanted to leave. But, after hearing the things that Leon was saying about me, I couldn't possibly leave now. I needed him, and it was clear that he needed me too. So I turned around in his embrace.

"Leon...I'm not going anuwhere. I just realized, a few minutes ago, that I need you. And that you need me too."

Leon looked at me with puzzled eyes. "If that is true, Riku, why are you still packing?"

I hadn't thought about that. I couldn't tell him the truth, that I was only doing it to make him think that I was still leaving so that he would stop me and I would agree and we would live happily ever after. That would make it sound as if I was never going to leave in the first place, which isn't true. So, I thought quickly, and decided to do something that would make Leon happy and save my ass.

"Hun, I think that we should go away someplace. Someplace where we can be alone and 'work' on our relationship."

Leon looked at me as if I were crazy for a moment, then his eyes softened. "I would love that, Riku. We haven't had much alone time since we moved in here. I think that our relationship would benefit from some more."

Bringing my legs up to Leon's waist, I made sure that he was holding me before I kissed him silly. Our mouthes melded together in a sensual kiss and his hands were wondering my body: my hair, my back, my ass. Mine weren't so innnocent either. They started out tangled in his hair, then slowly made their way down his body, not stopping until they had come between us and I was cupping his penis. Leon let out a husky moan and I reveled in it. We fell over on the bed, disregarding my half-full suitcase and the small pile of clothes there as well. We made out passionately, until that gave way to passionate love making. It was a blissful night, all other thigns forgotten, including the wonderful dinner and dessert that Leon had made earlier. We weren't really hungry for that anyways. Suffice it to say that I was getting satisfied.

Fin!

A/N: Sooo...this was actually an unplanned chapter. I got a review asking me to add more to this story, so...here is the second chapter. If people like this one, then I might keep on adding chapters, one at a time. They can almost stand on their own, but there will be small things that link them together. If you can find the one major thing that links this chapter to the last chapter, I will let the one who finds it first request a certain story of ther choosing. The person who finds the right link will be able to suggest a story of the fandom of their choosing and I will try to write it, providing I know the fandom that they ask for. I will write this story for them, and they will be mentioned. And, if they want, I will even add them into the story. So, everyone hunt for the link, then send in your answer via review, and while you are at it, leave a comment about what you think of this chapter. And if you haven't reviewed the last chapter, review that one too, please. Thanks to all my readers.

Yuki of the Kamikaze