Fall From Innocence

Sora

It was yet another average day for Sora. The fourteen-year-old brunet glanced in the mirror real fast, smiling lightly at his reflection. He was currently dressed in a pair of black and red, mesh tripps that had the zip off legs to turn into shorts, an iron fist, grey and black stripe, v-neck t-shirt with a pair of plain black arm-warmers and a pair of black, steel-toed boots. Hanging off his shoulder was a black messenger bag with the Angry Beaver's on it, and above them were the words; That Was Nuts!

Through the top to the bottom of his left ear was a bar-bell with a black ball at the bottom, and on the top ball was a glow in the dark ball. In his right eye brow was a silver bar bell, spiked on both ends. There was a bracelet with five burnished gold chains in the center that linked to gun metal rings. Around his neck hung a silver crown necklace. On his right, middle finger was a gem accented, angel wing ring that crossed into a heart.

With a nod, the doe-eyed brunet turned and walked from the room, patting his messenger back to make sure his ice skates, and his first aid kit was still in there as he made his way down the stairs. "I'm heading out!" He called through the house, pulling the front door open, locking it behind him, just in case.

It was a thirty minute walk, but Sora turned it into a twenty minute run. Inside the building, he made his way to the front, smiling as he pulled his iPod from his pocket, putting the headphones on as he took a seat to switch from his boots to his skates before he was on the ice, the legs to his pants sitting with his bag so they wouldn't catch on the skates.

He was too lost in his own little world he didn't notice that there was someone sitting in the very back row, watching him from the shadows. Or the emerald-eyed, blond watching from the manager's office. With a smile, the blond got up from his seat, saving any files he had been going over for his father before he made his way down to the ice. Not even he was aware of the lingering man.

As Sora turned to start skating backwards, he stopped any and all movements, a smile gracing his features as he let himself slide along the ice as he pulled the headphones off. "Hey!" He called over, and Oz grinned.

"Yo! You're running a little late for a Saturday, aren't ya?" Oz asked as Sora made his way over to where he was, catching the wall with a sheepish smile.

"I was up a little late last night, and over slept. I was trying to get a school project out of the way so I have the entire weekend to work on my routine." Sora replied.

"You could've called, I would've came over to help." Oz offered, and Sora gave him another sheepish smile.

"Well..." the brunet started, and Oz tilted his head. "Riku was over last night. He was helping me a little, but you know I prefer to do my own work." he finished, making a face when Oz made a face at Riku's name.

"I see..." he murmured, looking away.

"Oz Bezarius." Sora warned.

"What! He use to be a drug addict. I'm worr..." Oz trailed as Sora lowered the arm-warmer on his right arm, showing the many scars, and some fresh, but old, cuts. "Sora..." Oz sighed, letting his eyes slide closed.

"I haven't been doing it much since Riku and I started hanging out. Give him the benefit of the doubt." he tried. He wanted his two best friends to at least get along. "But, on a lighter note!" Sora then tried, smiling a bit when he got Oz to perk up some. "You should throw on some skates and join me on the ice. It'll be fun, and it'll take our minds off of everything. Unless, you're intimidated by my awesome skating skills." He said the last part in a slightly cocky tone, causing Oz to raise a brow at him.

"You're kidding, right? I'll show you who's better at ice skating!" Oz took the bate. "Just as soon as I get my skates on." He added, turning to get his skates, which were conveniently placed near the rink.

It took about sixty seconds before Oz was on the ice with Sora, and the two of them were having a skating contest.

The two lost track of time, and before they knew it, it was getting late. The only indication to this was Sora's cell phone. Somehow, the boy had managed to find a way to make the ring too loud for a phone. 'Tetras' sounded throughout the rink, and Oz jumped, nearly falling over as it echoed. He would never be use to that. Sora squeaked and looked over, making a face as he started towards his bag, grabbing his phone from the seat and looking at the ID.

"Crap! It's Mom." He murmured, flipping it open and holding up his hand to Oz. "I'm sorry! I'm still at the rink. I'm here with...Huh? Yeah...Tacos? Kay, hold up!" Sora paused every so often, then looked up at Oz. "Tacos?" He asked, tilting his head.

"You bet!" Oz called back, hurrying over to the edge.

"Yep! Okay, love you Mom, be home in about thirty." Sora then said into the phone and hung up, before he started to switch back into his boots. As Oz finished tying his shoes, he looked up at Sora, who was re-zipping the legs to his pants.

"I have to go lock up the office real fast, and let the old man know where I'm headed. Be back in five." He said, getting up and running up the steps to the office. Sora nodded and watched him as he stood and readjusted his pant-legs, glancing around the rink a bit. He forgot how cold it got once you stopped skating. Sitting back down, he rearranged the stuff in his bag and looked up towards the office, frowning at the tinted windows.

He wasn't fond of not being able to see inside a room with windows. It just crept him out, and made him think he was being watched. Duh! Oz is in there. He's probably watching me right now. Sora thought and shook his head, standing and stretching. However, now he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Slowly turning in his seat, he made a face. "This place is frickin' creepy." He muttered, turning back around in his seat and relaxed while he waited, closing his eyes.

In the office, Oz just smiled as he watched Sora from his spot, after he shut down the computer, the phone to his ear. Sure enough, he got the answering machine. "Yo, old man! I'm having dinner at Sora's tonight. I'll letcha know if I wind up staying the night. Love ya, bye!" He chirped into the phone, hanging up before standing, a frown grazing his lips when he saw a door fall closed. Quickly, he started from the office, making his way towards the end of the row where Sora sat. "C'mon! I'm ready!" He called, snickering when Sora jumped and snapped around with a pout.

"Not cool, Ozwald." He murmured, getting up and slinging the bag over his shoulder before following after the blond.

Thirty minutes passed by and Sora pushed open the front door, only to be greeted by his older sister, Midna, who was coming down the steps. "Hey, welcome home, kiddo." She said with a small smile, flicking a wave to Oz as she started towards the kitchen, motioning for them to follow. Sora glanced at Oz with a smile and took hold of his wrist, following behind Midna, Oz following Sora willingly, not objecting to being pulled by the brunet. "Take it you were at the rink all day?" Midna asked as she looked over her shoulder at Sora, glancing back towards Oz with curious eyes. "You're taking care of my brother, yes?" She then asked the blond as Sora made a face.

"I don't need a babysitter, Middy!" he whined, puffing out his cheeks. "Do I, Oz?" He then asked, glancing to the blond. When the attention was on him, he smiled automatically.

"He doesn't need to be baby-sat. If you're as good as he is, anyone would be afraid to get attacked by a skat. It's a skater's best weapon, after all." He pointed out, making Sora blink, then smile and nod as he turned back to Midna, who laughed a little.

"Funny, but true." She said, pausing when she heard Roxas asking their mother something. "Hey! Not at the table. Sora has a hard time eating as it is." She scolding, leaving the two youngest boys to walk over and whack Roxas over the head.

"Ow! Hey! That was uncalled for!" Roxas growled, lifting his arm to smack her back.

"Roxas, don't do it." A woman's voice sounded, and both teens looked over to Danny, their mother. "Midna, behave yourself." She warned, turning her attention to Oz now, catching the amused look in the blond's emerald irises. He had been a friend of the family for years, so none of it made him feel awkward. "And welcome back, Oz. I hope everything's going good with your dad's business, yes?" She then asked, making light conversation. Oz was one of her favorite kids that any of her children hung out with. As far as she was concerned, he

was a well-behaved kid. "I hope everything's going well with your dad's business." She then offered, tilting her head.

"Oh... Ha. Yeah, everything's going great! We're going to host the state skating tournament!" He told Danny excitedly, before looking at Sora. "Better setp up your game. We're going against last year's winning team!" Hearing this, Sora's eyes got big, and he flailed. The information and the look on her youngest son's face caused amusement to cross her features.

"Now, Oz, don't tease or he'll work himself to death." She warned in a scolding, 'motherly' tone of voice before motioning to the stove and counter-top. "Dinner's done, but I have to run. Someone misplaced a file at the office, so I have to go and redo my report." She explained, walking towards the door, patting the boys on the head as she passed. Sora blinked and turned a bit with a frown.

"Mom, try not to be in the office too late tonight." He said with a mild look of worry. He always thought she worked too long into the night, and it made him nervous, but his brothers always told him he worried too much.

"Don't worry, now eat. Oz can stay if he wants." She then said, waving as she walked out the doors. Oz's smile widened at the permission to stay, and Sora glanced over just as Roxas turned his attention on the two of them.

"Seriously, when are you two gonna start dating?" He asked, getting up from his seat, causing Sora's face to go red.

"Let's eat in my room, Oz..." He murmured. Oz's smile disappeared at Roxas' comment then.

"Hey, Roxy. Instead of playing matchmaker for us, you should do it for yourself and... I don't know... Actually get a date?" He retorted as he picked up his plate as a way to tell Sora 'okay'.

Roxas choked on his soda, and Midna laughed at Oz's retaliation. "Ah, why couldn't you have been my triplet?" She asked in a slightly joking manner, causing Roxas to shoot her a glare.

"Get bent, Mid." Roxas glared, and the two began to bicker as Sora grabbed his own plate and began to lead Oz up to his room with a murr.

"Meh, can't spend one second out of my room without Roxas hounding me about dating." He muttered, pushing the door open for Oz, stepping aside to let him in first.

T.B.C.

~Panda~