Pairings: Cloud x Zack, Cloud x RANDOM ( Haven't completely decided )

Hope you like it!

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The house is quiet, but Cloud liked it when it's quiet.

It's the noise that bothers me. The constant outbursts of my insane brother Kadaj are enough in themselves, but throw my mother's high pitched voice in the mix and it's enough to make my ears bleed.

Cloud lay spread out on his bed staring down the ceiling above him. It became ritual to come home after school and blast whatever CD was in stereo than stare at the ceiling as if he could burn a hole through it. He released deep sigh through his pouting lips. His bright blue eyes staring mercilessly at the white ceiling. A look around the boys room revealed and endless assortment of candles and knic-knacs, all placed neatly together. If he hadn't arranged them in the right way, it would have been nothing but clutter. But he managed to make a serene scene out of the objects scattered throughout the room. Most kids his age had games and TV's and other entertaining media littered in there room. But Cloud wasn't so much interested in a playground, he much more preferred an escape. Somewhere he could sink into comfortably and relax.

His blue eyes shut slowly ending the assault on the ceiling above. His right hand reached up to brush the blonde spikes of hair out of his face, falling with a soft thud next to his head after he pushed the unruly hair to the side. He tilted his head towards the glowing numbers pulsing from his alarm clock and frowned, "They'll be home any minute..." Cloud shoved both hands behind his head and continued his assault on the ceiling.

It wasn't like he didn't like his brother and mother, he just couldn't stand the constant bickering. But bickering between the two paled in comparison to the chores he would be faced with. He couldn't remember really when it had started. He was responsible for taking care of his younger sibling and soon his own mother. He cooked, cleaned, and watched over his mother.

Another deep sigh broke the silence in the empty house. " I suppose...it started than...."

Cloud rushed over to his mother who was kneeling in front of the toliet holding her hair back. He wasn't sure if it was just from a hangover from the night before or if she really was sick. She clutched her side painfully and continued to expel seemingly endless amounts of bile. Cloud's nose twitched and the smell all but burned his nostrils. She started rambling on and on about pain in her back. He wasn't sure what to do, but he was grateful at least that Kadaj was sleeping over a friends house. Kadaj was a very emotional boy, and even the slightest things effected a thousand times worse than they really should.

Her convulsing stomach, now empty, only allowing her to dry heave. There was nothing else she could puke out, Cloud sighed with the simple thought. "Lets get you to lay down, up you go..." Cloud's voice was soft as he gently hoisted his mother from the cold bathroom tiles. He brought he in the living room and sat her down on the couch. Her sobbing hadn't ceased, instead it had kept growing worse. The most horrific sounds of pain vibrated from her throat, and at this point Cloud didn't know more he could do. Like a mantra he kept repeating to her as he rubbed her back in small circles, "Ma, what can I do... Mom...."

She wailed in pain trying to speak holding her back as if someone had kicked in her spine. The pain twisting on her face was enough to make Cloud feel sick to his stomach. He wanted to help but there was little he could do. He offered medicine, but she refused. She wouldn't be able to keep the medicine down long enough for it to take effect. He tried getting her to drink something, to put a hot pack on her back, he rubbed Icy Hot on her back, he tried everything. And at this point, against his mothers wishes, he dialed 911. What else could he do. His mother was in so much pain and his eyes stung every time he looked at her painful expressions. And his gut wretched at the sound of the shrilling pain filled moans and sobs.

When they finally arrived the two men immediately rushed her into the ambulance, I had called my father to come pick me up. He and my mother had divorced when I was young... but thankfully he still lived close. I wanted to call Kadaj but I decided against it. I didn't want him to worry, and I knew he would over react to the news.

By the time she had gotten home I could tell something was off. Her eyes drifted open and shut and her words slurred. Her movements were slow and jerky, and her face seemed to droop. I thought maybe it was just the after effect of the pain medication she had with a combination of her being so tired. I wasn't really sure, but I knew whatever it was.. It made me even more upset. I had to carry her to the other room to lay down in bed, she mumbled a few incoherent words but I dismissed them. And as Cloud, at 13 looked down at his mother he hoped she would wake up to be herself again.

"I think...That... was the beginning....," Cloud spoke softly to himself the sound of his voice echoing into his ears.

The familiar hum of his mothers car caught his ears as he heard it pull into the driveway. Seconds later to be followed by some very familiar yelling, Kadaj, followed by stomping foot steps up the stairs and ending with a dramatic slam of a door.

Cloud winced and made a face, "And..."

As if on cue he heard his mother's voice scream, " Why are you slamming MY doors!!"

The heavy foot steps of his mother followed along with a creak from the door she yanked open before slipping into the room all the while never ending her assault of high pitched screaming.

Cloud rolled his eyes and sat up in the bed covering his face and rubbing it hard in his palms, "One day I swear..." He stood up and walked to the door ignoring the blaring of the voices in the room next to his he walked downstairs and let himself out of the house. He wanted to get away, and thankfully his good friend vincent was only a couple minutes walk up the road. He knew it didn't matter if he left a note or not, his mother would predictably throw her arms in the air and retreat down stairs shouting a few obscenities. Than she would climb over to that very 'comforting' medicine cabinet and pick out the lastest issued narcotic for the day.

Cloud kicked at the loose gravel scattered on the side of the road and turned his head to look over the side of the rail to the creek. He began to lose himself in thought.

It had been 3 years since it 'started' as he determined eariler. Soon his mother would go back to the doctor and complain about her back or something that bothered her and the doctor would throw signed prescribtions at her. Loratab, Oxycotton, Hydrocodone, Anti-Depressants, the works. They didn't care as long as they got their money and sent you on your merry way. She was an addict and she loved to party. Most of the time Cloud and Kadaj would be left at home with some questionable babysitter who would than bring over friends and such. Sometimes they were lucky enough to get a relative and other times... they were surprised the shady teens hadn't killed them in their sleep. He scoffed and a slight flush passed his cheeks in embarrassment.

He was only 10 at the time, Kadaj had only been 8. The new babysitter had invited a number of boys and a couple girls over to the apartment for beers and laughs. They all gathered on the enclosed front porch and Cloud and Kadaj, being curious, couldn't help but step out into the open to see what was going on. After a while Cloud noticed the kids being more and more pushy. The boys shoved eachother and the girls giggled egging them on. Cloud had decided that him and Kadaj had spent enough time on the porch and that he should get his younger brother to bed. Standing up Cloud grabbed his younger brother's hand leading him to the apartment. But before he could walk even a few steps one of the rowdy teens pushed another boy sending him sprawling backwards knocking himself right into Cloud. Cloud flew backwards knocking into his brother falling with a loud thud to the floor. The next thing to process through Cloud's mind was the warm wet feeling surrounding his jeans. As his ears registered laughing he looked down his face beating bright red.

"Yo! That kid just pissed his pants!" The boys laughed uncontrollably.

I choked back my tears and grabbed my brother up off the floor and ran inside locking them all out. I slid to the floor against the door as the babysitter beat on the door yelling to let her in. I wouldn't, instead I sat in front of the door crying. Kadaj, standing above me started to cry. I don't think he was upset, I think he just saw me crying and it was just his natural impulse to cry as well.

Cloud gritted his teeth and kicked a large rock sending it down the hill off the side of the road and into the creek. He than continued to walk to Vincent's. Finally getting close to the house his eyes glow with frustration, " He's not home..."

Cloud looks back down the road he came from and sighed, " I really don't want to go back..."

He grunted in defeat and made his way back home. Once he opened the door to his home he quirked an eyebrow at his mother. She was sitting only inches from the TV, with a cigerette in one hand and a cup of Iced Tea in the other. Her mouth hung open and her eyes half-lidded and glazed over staring dully at the visions before her dancing acorss the television screen. Cloud sighed and nearly whispered, " You shouldn't sit that close ma.."

She barely moved, more or less it was a twitch, as her head hung over to look over to Cloud, "Hmm..?"

Her attempt at being alert made Cloud's face twist in disguist, " Forget it.." Without much of a protest from his mother he climbed the stairs to his room. He wasn't very tired, but sleep would have to do.

Dragging himself in his room he shut the door behind him and plopped down on the bed. Pulling the covers close he shoved his head into the pillow and curled up on his side. As he began to drift to sleep he prayed that he would be granted the mercy of not waking back up.

---------------------End Chapter ONE