"He's coming today you know"

"I know mom"

"You'll help him fit in won't you?"

"Of course why wouldn't I help out someone apart of the family"

"When I asked you about helping anyone else you'd always shrug it off, I just wanted to be sure your attitude wouldn't affect someone who looks up to you and holds you in such a high regard

"It's been ten years since he's been here I think he's grown up a bit by now"

"Cloud how've you been!" it was Karen his mother

"Fine" I spoke simply not too much, not too little

"You've sure gown a lot what are you about 5'7 5'8 now?" It was his father Mark, I honestly never liked the guy and I'm glad that he only got his looks and not his personality or I would've already knocked him on his butt multiple times

"5'8 sir"

"Ha-ha I bet next time you'll probably be over six feet tall" What a tool

Soon after they walked in he followed suit he was about 5'5 now if not a little less his blue eyes still shown with admiration even if he didn't show it verbally like he used to but he was none the less still the same kid he used to be in the eyes anyway, going on his 16th birthday he'd be staying here over the course of the rest of his high school year because someone decided to get a high paying job that could only accommodate the lives of two not two plus a child seeing as they literally had no schools where they were going, I honestly didn't mind the kid was fine he didn't annoy or attempt to annoy and from what I could tell he'd prefer it here than where ever his father was speaking of which his father wasn't someone I could stand easily …

"Mom, I'm going to introduce Sora to everyone else, if you're all fine with that, that is" Cloud said stoically

He didn't want to stay, he didn't want to talk to people he never had any connections with the only one he cared about out of their branch of the family was his cousin none of the others.

"Well I don't see why not the boy needs some friends, I honestly haven't seen him really attempt to make friends much" annnd there it was the exact reason why I hated the guy he exposed too much of his son and embarrassed him causing his self esteem to plummet faster than Yuffie's grades in math.

We walked out of the house quickly already visibly seeing an improvement in Sora's would be tense movements now relaxing quickly, walking down the street to the only real location of hanging out spots the only one his group of friends bothered to go to was the sea salt shack not because the food was good it was just because it felt like home even when it wasn't since it was exactly Sunday and next Monday school would start they agreed meet up there today to decide what to do, what better way to end it with a new member not to mention it'd be a confidence booster for him, if Yuffie and Rikku had anything to do with it.

When we made it to the hang out spot trouble was starting up…again Seifer was there trying to coax Squall to fighting him he was close that much was obvious but everyone else was trying to convince him otherwise we walked up and Seifer again took the reigns of antagonism

"Oh, I see you need blondie here to back you up again huh?"

"I didn't come here to start something with you today or any day really you come here thinking it's cool to try and pick fights" Cloud stated in a matter-a-fact tone

Seifer shoved Cloud back Cloud being passive for only two reasons, A) his cousin was a liability that and he could get injured B) the jerk would use anything against them. Cloud didn't advance on his taunts the only time he really decided to do anything was when he opted to throw a punch, he thought he was bluffing, and since Cloud didn't see Sora in the immediate area he assumed it'd be fine to doge it of course he soon realized only seconds after the fact that he was behind him the whole time and Seifer's fist wasn't one to pardon someone if he was too close to the action or oblivious to the fight at hand.

"Dammit!" Cloud hissed as Seifer hit the brunette he landed on the ground below it wasn't enough to knock him out but for the amount of shock he had he could tell it hurt.

"Whoops guess I hit this kid ah well…you look enough like Cloud I guess it'll suffice" Seifer said sarcastically

That's when everyone else came outside the only other people out there were Tidus and Reno trying to stop him Leon from fighting the guy Tifa, Yuffie, Yuna, Rikku and Rinoa rushed out to coax them to stop before it got out of hand

"How could you hit a kid, you heartless jerk!" Tifa shouted

"What's it matter some kid happened to get in the way not like any of you know him" Seifer spoke angrily

Cloud was hunched over the other teen checking the wound he received it was still tender but he wasn't bleeding so he'd be fine luckily no black eye ether he'd be ok now all he had to do was take care of the man who caused the problem.

"You won't get away with that."

Cloud stood up in an uncharacteristically dark manner walking ever so slowly then slowly gained speed faster and faster angrier and angrier he grew as he got within distance of the man he threw a solid punch to his temple knocking him out right there on the pavement the ones who noticed his movement and rising anger seemed disoriented and rather shocked that he'd go from calm to bat piss angry in a matter of seconds Tifa walked to the blonde and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back, waiting until he calmed himself the others as in Yuna and Yuffie went to check on the Brunette who was still in his sitting position hoping he'd be disregarded while everyone else went to check on Cloud hoping his anger issue had passed.

"Are you ok, you took quite a-"Yuna stopped mid sentence

"Yuffie…does this kid remind you of someone?" She asked

"He…looks kind of like cloud" She said almost sapped of her natural hyper aura

Sora kept his head down not only was he being inspected by people he didn't know they happened to be girls and his dad never really gave him advice on girls and he never really talked to girls outside of his mother.

"I'm fine…" Sora said softly

"I'm surprised you took a hit like that without even noticing what was going on" Yuna said calmly

"I think he just happened to be around at the time why else would he not know what was going on?" Yuffie stated

"Maybe, do you know Cloud?" Yuna asked

"No, no no, no, no, a better question, are you Clouds biological child!" Yuffie spouted out which earned a few face palms and a few 'clueless' remarks

"I think…he's a little too old to be Clouds child, Yuffie" Selphie said softly (she had been inside the whole time just now coming out to see the mess)

"Actually…" Sora started

"Were related" Cloud finished

"Wait you two…are related?" Tifa asked caught off guard

Cloud nodded softly and slowly walked up to the brunette and held out his hand, Sora slowly took it standing up, back still hunched ever so slightly but it was noticeable if you looked hard enough, Cloud was the complete opposite he had pride and enough self esteem to spare he held his head held high even when explaining that he was related to a spineless, useless person at least Sora thought he was.

"Yes, he's my little cousin he hasn't been here in awhile but he'll be staying here to finish out high school here."

"I see the resemblance in the eyes!" Yuffie boasted staring into the eyes of the brunette causing his eyes to advert to the ground almost instantly with a light blush which adorned his cheeks

"Yuffie…I don't think it's a good idea to get so close to him…you'll scare him" Reno said casually

Cloud came forth with everyone taking baby steps getting slowly closer to the boy in question Cloud came up behind him putting a gentle and reassuring hand on the brunettes shoulder he looked up to the blonde seeing in his eyes they could be trusted he turned to the group and smiled softly.

He didn't have to wait long for a response to the welcome as hyper as Rikku and Yuffie were they both pounced on the brunette with squeals and compliments

"Easy you two, you'll probably cause his face to melt off from the extensive hugging you're giving him" Squall joked...Squall never joked

The two girls looked at him for a second…a very long second before Yuffie responded to his comment.

"Your just jealous cus' Sora's cute and you're a door mat!" Yuffie berated much to Squall's annoyance Rikku agreed

The brunette in question sank when he saw that car He quickly tensed up and tugged on clouds shirt slightly

The car stopped in one of the vacant parking spots and Sora's hopes on it not being his parents completely died when he saw his father step out of the car.

"D-Dad" Sora said softly

Normally under normal circumstances Sora would've just ran away from the immediate area…and suffer a hit to the face, yes his father was violent he never was until Sora got older, old enough to completely ignore all the gestures his father made in his life like….well pretty much anything his father wanted him to do or something related to being active his father had a plan and because his son wasn't following this he grew frustrated and thought to reprimand this through violence which made his reaction to whatever his father had asked that much worse his mother really couldn't do anything about it she wanted to but at the cost of losing her son she suffered through it, but never as bad as he did.

"This is where you've been trying to make friends I see, the best few words of advice is to not be yourself" Sora's dad said in a nonchalant manner

His dad tried acting like a normal father but failed simply because whenever words left his mouth that referred to his son was never a positive I think from time to time he would rather have a girl than Sora which would've been even worse.

"Mister Tenshi, aren't you saying too much?" Cloud said his nerves getting the better of him

"I just don't want my son to keep isolating himself and reading and staying indoors I don't want my son being considered a freak" Mark said the last few words under his breath

"Hey, Sora isn't a freak he's just fine!" Yuffie defended the brunette using her perfect hearing, which only came in the form of hearing things she shouldn't and because of her hyper nature says them…aloud and of course…it was a bad move

"You have nothing to do with this and how I talk to my son isn't any of your concern, how do you think someone would react if someone herd your parents call you a whore for lingering around my son!" Sora's father responded, half if not everyone there was already willing and waiting to hit the older man for what he said but it was Sora who took the initiative in a different approach.

"She…She isn't a whore dad she's…she's my-!" Sora yelled he never yelled especially at his father but was cut off drastically before he could even finish

The next known thing came unexpectedly and completely uncalled for in almost all cases Sora ended up on the ground holding his cheek his father assaulted him Sora looked up in complete bewilderment his dad had grim eyes showing He'd been hit before yes, but never that hard, honestly he wouldn't mind…if they weren't watching the outcome.

"What the hell do you think your doing!" Cloud charged towards the middle aged man intent on finally beating him for all he's worth, he raised his fist intent on hitting him full force but he wasn't full aware that Sora's father had taken this into account and sent him off his feet and then returned to his son.

"You raise your voice at me; you'll have to suffer the consequences" Mark stalked out

Sora looked to his mother with pleading eyes but the look she gave him was of one he hoped he wouldn't see. You know not to back talk your father

The fist came in slow motion Cloud wasn't going to let him get hurt after failing before. If they won't be parents and protect him…then I will

Cloud quickly intercepted only to be hit by the other balled fist, Squall came running to their aid lasting a bit longer than Cloud only because Tidus and Waka stepped in but the effort was fruitless Sora was again faced with his fathers hate…for something he had no control over.

"Isn't it a bit rude to beat up children…mister" A voice came out from the distance

Before the man in question could turn around he was on the ground looking up at a man in a soldier's uniform.

"Having trouble, Cloud?"

Cloud knew the voice the way it had a hint of playfulness even when in the midst of a fight he knew all to well.

"Zack?"

A smirk "Bingo!"