Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Final Fantasy.
Hi everyone, this is my first attempt at a Final Fantasy fic, it was inspired by another high school fic while listening to One Winged Angel. It's also my first M rated work, so please be kind … I intend to write my first lemon in later chapters. For now though, enjoy.
Chapter 1 – New Beginnings
Two boys, one fifteen and one sixteen, looked at their new high school. The older of the two seemed relaxed, the younger was nervous.
The older one looked down to his younger brother "There's not much to worry about, I'm just as new here as you are" he told the blond haired boy.
"Yeah, easy for you to say Seph, by end bell you'll be the most popular guy in school, just like always" he turned his ocean blue eyes to the floor "And I'll just be the class nerd".
Sephiroth placed a hand on his brother's shoulder "Cloud, I promise, it'll be different here, think about it, nobody knows us here. We could even swap places here, you'll be popular and I'll be the nerd" Cloud raised an eyebrow at his older, silver-haired and three inches taller brother "Ok, maybe not that different, but it'll be different nonetheless" Cloud chuckled at that.
They walked in side by side, they looked like quite a contrast; Sephiroth was the taller of the two, but not by much, had silver hair and wore a black shirt and black jeans, with a pair of red and white trainers. His hair came to about his waist (at the back); the front was parted and framed his face.
Cloud however was blond haired, he was wearing a navy blue t-shirt with a pair of sky blue trousers, they were so long though, you couldn't tell that he was wearing shoes at all, but he liked it like that.
The only thing that they shared in common were their eyes, both had ocean blue eyes that seemed to shimmer, just like the ocean itself.
They came to a 'crossroads' Sephiroth looked left, right and straight ahead "Damned if I know where to go Cloud" he said Cloud just shook his head.
"Excuse me" he said to a girl who was wearing a pink skirt and blouse, she had brunette hair and was a little shorter than he was.
"Y-yes?" she answered; she had a kind, but nervous voice.
"M-my b-brother and I … we're new here … could you … um…" Cloud was nervous about talking to someone he didn't know, but Sephiroth got impatient.
"Could you show us where the Principle's office is?" he said.
"Yes, this way" she said, smiling kindly, Cloud let out a sigh of relief.
"Why were you taking so long" Sephiroth muttered in Cloud's ear.
"I-I-I don't know" he stammered.
Sephiroth looked at Cloud; then to the girl in pink, then back "You like her!"
"WHAT!" Cloud burst out, earning him a few strange looks "N-no I d-don't" Sephiroth wasn't convinced, but dropped the matter anyway, the girl stopped at a locker, got out some books and told the brothers that they needed to walk to the end of the hall they were on and that they needed to enter the reception, the Principle's office was through there, but they'd have to let the receptionist know why they were there.
They did as she said, and Sephiroth was annoyed to find that they walked past the damn thing while walking into the building.
Cloud shrugged, knocked and entered. A woman with black hair and green eyes, wearing a red sweatshirt and a plain black, floor-length skirt looked up from her computer.
She smiled at Cloud "Hi, what can I do for you" she asked, she sounded like she was at a celebration.
"Uh … my brother and I are new here, we were told to see the Principle before doing anything else" Cloud said, still sounding nervous, but not as much as earlier.
"Ok, well the old man's bound to say it more formally but, welcome to Besaid High I'm Elma the receptionist, and your names?" she said, still in that cheerful voice, Cloud could feel his nerves easing by the second.
"I'm Cloud" he said.
"Cloud, nice name, but I'll need you last name to get your timetable" she looked quizzically behind Cloud "You said you and your brother … where is he?" as she asked, Sephiroth walked in.
"Strife and this is Sephiroth, where've you been?" Cloud said.
"Sorry, there was a sudden flood of people barging in, I got swept away" Sephiroth answered.
There was the sound of a printer going off and Elma handed the brothers their timetables "There you go, now just go through that door, he's expecting you" she said pointing.
They went to the door, Cloud knocked out of courtesy, a voice grunted "come in" and they did so.
The Principle was standing at the window looking out; he stood at almost 6 foot, had iron grey hair and was wearing a dark red suit.
"I told you to come here before doing anything else" he said gruffly Cloud started to get nervous, seeing this Sephiroth decided to do the talking.
"We hadn't realised that we'd walked past the office … sir" he said, trying to sound humble, something he wasn't very good at.
"I see, you got lost, that is understandable, I've always said that we didn't put up enough signposts" he turned to face them he had a scar over his right eye which made it look as if that eye was useless, however his left eye was a bronze colour.
"Sir, forgive me for asking … but why have to asked to see us? In our previous schools we were simply given our timetables and sent to class by a rather rude receptionist" Sephiroth said the Principle chuckled.
"Yes, I understand your confusion, basically I disagree with the idea of practically ignoring a new student" he sat down and motioned Cloud and Sephiroth to do the same "My name is Auron, and I prefer to personally welcome each new student to Besaid High school, I've often been criticized for that, particularly when I force most of the students to be late on the first day of a new year and we have about a hundred and fifty students starting at once. This year I'm trying out the idea of assemblies, that way I can arrange to speak with them all without disrupting lessons" he explained.
"So … why are we d-different sir?" Cloud asked.
"Well this isn't your first year of high school …" he waited for a name.
"Cloud sir" he answered.
"Which must make you Sephiroth" Auron said, looking to the silver haired teen, who nodded.
"Well allow me to explain that I do not tolerate bullying of any kind, so if you're being troubled by anyone, please see one of your teachers, if that doesn't help, don't beat around the bush. Just come straight to me! I also have received reports Sephiroth, of you fighting in corridors. I would like to know why?" he said, Sephiroth scowled at the memory.
"Because sir Cloud was being bullied, teachers did nothing, the Principle did nothing, in fact the …" he stopped himself before he swore "'young lads' were even beating him up while others just laughed, I think that fifteen against one is pretty unfair, so I lent Cloud a hand. He could've taken them one on one, but they knew that, so I gave them a taste of their own medicine" he finished with an icy tone.
"I see, well I respect that you were defending your brother, but hopefully things won't come to that here" he replied calmly.
"Thank you sir" Cloud said, looking down, slightly ashamed.
"Well I'll not keep you any longer, I will tell you that you'll have some classes together" Cloud and Sephiroth looked at their timetables with confusion "You see when it comes to combat class, we have older students pair off with younger students, and I find it more effective that way. Oh and Cloud" he looked up "from what I hear you're quite the brainiac, if what I hear is proven true I have a policy of 'stepping' intelligent students up to the next year, presuming that they can pass an aptitude test in all of their subjects" Cloud brightened up at that "Now go on, get to class" the bell rang "before you're late" the brothers said hurried goodbyes and left, Auron chuckled to himself, true he was scary to look at, but overall he was soft-hearted.