Title: Breathtaking Innocence
Author: Izzy-Lawliet (Rin)
Disclaimer: Let's go over this slowly so you can understand what I'm saying. I do not own this. If I did, do you seriously think that I would be typing a poorly written story like this?
Pairings: Zack/Cloud
Rating: M
Warnings: AU, Yaoi and whatever comes along with it.

Summary: My breath was taken from me as I saw him walk. His gaze was downward and he seemed as though he truly didn't belong to this world. I couldn't help but feel entranced by him. And each time we met, those eyes...then enchanting eyes...held me captive.

Author's Note: My muse, Saraphina, is slowly moving back home. she seemed to have missed me and is more than willing to come assist me and do what she loves to do. =D Which is give me amazing ideas that lead to who knows where!

There was something about that boy as he walked across the school yard; his arms wrapped around heavy books, a bag thrown over his shoulder, and his eyes focused on each step in front of him. I had stopped laughing with my friends and my eyes seemed to train in on him, wondering why I had never seen him before. I had only come to, when he weaved through the crowd to get to the train station and my friend had punched me in the arm.

"What's wrong with you?" My redheaded friend said, his fist still enclosed as he readied to hit me again.

Just as he was about to I tackled him, wrestling him to the floor in an automatic battle for dominance. He knew better than to hit me. I knew he did. And I had to make sure he wouldn't forget it.

Before we knew it, the P.E. teachers were pulling us apart only to let us go when they realized it was just Reno and I. We were on the wrestling team, so it was common to find us rolling on the floor, on the mat, or off of it.

"You two need to be careful," The teachers left just as quickly as they came and no one bothered to stay around after that. They all found it pointless to watch it when they could just go to the meets.

"So why'd you hit me in the first place?" I asked, brushing all the dirt off of me.

"Cause you weren't listening." Like that was an excuse to hit me.

"So?"

"So…I don't like to be ignored." I shook my head at him and dismissed him by walking away, heading home for the night.

When I got there, I heard the usual glass being broken and a scream. I rushed in and immediately saw my sister cowering in a corner. I picked her up and took her to the stairs. "Go, hide in my room. I'll come get you soon, kay?" My little sister ran up to my room and I didn't turn until I heard the door shut.

"Mom?" I walked into the kitchen and wasn't surprised to see her in my neighbor's arms, his hands on her wrists.

"Mr. Hewley, I'm sorry…" He shook his head and I went about cleaning up the broken glass. When I threw it in the trash I looked over at my drunken mother and saw her asleep on him. "I'll get her." I went to pick her up, only to be stopped by him.

"Nah, I got it. It's partially my fault she had a break down." Without having to ask, he continued. "I came over and was talking to Yuffie, but then she said something that your mother didn't like so then she got mad." He stood up with my mom in his arms and I stepped out of the way to let him go to the stairs. "By the way, where is your little sister?"

"Yuffie's up in my room. Thanks, Mr. Hewley." I followed him up the stairs and watched as he gently lay my mom on the bed.

He didn't say anything until he stepped out of the room, shutting the door gently so asnot to wake her. "What have I told you? Call me Angeal when we're not at school. I don't feel as old." He teased, elbowing me playfully.

I lead him to my room so we could check on my baby sister. "But you are old, Mr. Hewley. And calling you by your first name just seems to weird."

"We've been neighbors since you were six. Get used to it, buddy." I smiled at him and opened my bedroom door. Yuffie was under my blanket and huddled in the corner of my bed.

"Yuffie?" I said, knowing that it wouldn't take much to coax her out. She trusted me.

"Zacky!" I smiled as she jumped into my arms and I threw her into the air slightly before sitting her back on the bed.

I turned to see Mr. Hew – Angeal – shut my bedroom door and lean against it. I turned back to Yuffie and saw her looking down as though she was ashamed of what happened and blamed herself for it.

"It's not your fault, Yuffie." He said, his voice as calming as it was at school.

"But…Mr. Hewley…"

"No buts, young lady." I said, playfully scolding her and tickled her sides. "He says it's not your fault, so that means it's not your fault!"

She giggled and pushed my hands away, looking adorable as ever as she said, "Otay!"

"Now why don't you go to your room and play, I need to borrow your brother for a little while." I looked back questioningly at him. "Just for a few minutes."

Yuffie seemed to contemplate what he said and then nodded. "As long as your promise to return him." I laughed and kissed my sister on the nose. She giggled once more.

"I swear, ma'am!" Angeal saluted her and we both watched as she bounced out of here humming out of tune when he opened the door for her. He closed it again and then took a seat at my desk.

"Now what'd you need?" I said, taking a more comfortable position on my bed.

"Your mom…" I sighed. Not this conversation again. I've had it with just about every family member known "I know, you've told me. You won't go live with any of your family members. You don't want to change Yuffie's environment."

"It was hard enough for me making friends having to move almost every year when I was her age." I snapped, feeling anger at the many foster homes I was put in.

He held his hands up in defense. "I know. You're preaching to the choir." I shut my mouth and let him continue. "But…you're seventeen…and you have a job…plus you're still receiving money from your father's inheritance. And once you hit eighteen, you know you'll have full access to all that money."

I wasn't quite understanding what he was trying to say, but I got the jist of it. "Are you saying that I get my own place and leave Yuffie here with my mother?"

"No, no, no! Not at all, Zack. You misunderstood what I was trying to get at." I raised an eyebrow and let him continue. "Your mother isn't the most stable person at the moment." I snorted at that. She hadn't been the most stable person the last three years since my father died. "So…if you want…you could get emancipated and take guardianship to care for your sister…"

I thought that over in my mind. It wasn't the first time I had thought about that. "True, but proving to the courts would be difficult, especially if I want to also take Yuffie with me. Not having my parent's approval will be simple once I explain my mom's condition. But I wouldn't be able to take care of her, go to school, and work all at the same time.

Angeal thought over what I said and seemed to agree with my logic. There wasn't any other option we had…I just had to hope that at eighteen, my mother didn't kick me out and forbid me to see Yuffie.

"Well…" I looked up to him, seeing a puzzling expression on his face. "Y'know…I used to be a foster parent…" I hadn't known that about him, I voiced this out loud. "Yeah, but the kids I watched grew up, and moved out…so I'm still technically a foster father…"

I thought it over for a moment… "Are you saying…that'd you'd take Yuffie?" He nodded. But there was a problem in his whole plan. "For that to happen, the police would have to be called to examine our living situation and then claim that my mom is not in a position to have a child."

"Right…"

"And that means there'd have to be proof…on Yuffie." My thoughts slowed to a stop before I almost jumped and punched my neighbor for even implying such things.

"No! It could be either one of you…"

"But…that could be hard…it'd all have to be planned out to look like it wasn't planned…" I didn't see how any of that could work without looking too suspicious.

"I have a plan…"

xxx

The next day at school I was fidgeting nonstop. Reno had given up trying to figure out why I was acting the way I was. No one bothered me. I guess I had that aura of someone who shouldn't be bothered. Or it might have been because someone had ran into me earlier and made me drop my water on all the work I was holding and I about snapped their head off.

But either way, I was given peace for the day.

When I walked into my Humanities class, Angeal gave me a small knowing smile and made my insides all the more unbearable. Not ten minutes into class I excused myself to the bathroom.

I splashed water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror. Giving myself a peptalk similar to the one I gave myself before each wrestling match. I hadn't realized there was anyone else in the bathroom with me until I saw him reflected in the mirror.

It was that guy I saw walking from school yesterday. Now since his head wasn't pointed downwards, I was able to see his bright blue eyes that sparkled from the light and looked into my reflected ones. His eyes were open widely, as though he had just been caught for doing something.

I took a second to scan along his body and saw a rubber band around his waist. My eyes flicked up to his face and saw the slight tear marks on his face.

I twisted around as fast as I could and snatched the rubber band off his wrist. There was a wince on his face as it slightly tore at his skin, and he seemed shocked that I had taken it and stepped back slightly. I had heard of people snapping the rubber band along their skin in place of cutting. Looking at his pale skin, and soft feminine features, I could see the hint of fear and pain in his eyes that almost looked as blank as he must have felt.

"Don't." I said. I don't know what compelled me to say anything at all. I felt as though I was no longer in control as the words just flew from mouth like vomit. "Don't hurt yourself."

His blond spikes shook as he went to walk around me. I placed my hand on the stall and blocked his path. Something about knowing that he was willingly hurting himself made something snap inside of me.

"There has to be someone for you to talk to instead of resorting to this." He shook his head and went to walk the other direction and was once again blocked by my arm.

When he realized he wasn't going anywhere, he looked into my eyes and I saw that they were now just blank. No fear or hurt in them. I felt like I was looking into my corpse…like my dad's…

The image that appeared in my head startled me and made me step back in shock. I had forgotten about the blond that I meant to hold hostage. I faintly heard the bathroom door swish close.

It took me a bit, but I came back to the world of the living. When I did, I saw I was now alone in the bathroom. I shook myself and decided it was time to get back to class. I could worry about that blond later. I had my own problems at the moment.

"Glad to have you join us, Zack." Angeal said. He smiled worriedly at me while I took my seat, ignoring everyone who tried to ask me a question. I wasn't in the mood earlier and I definitely wasn't in the mood now.