A/N: Ah ha! Here's the next chapter, ready for viewing pleasure! I can't always promise such quick updates since (one) I have school coming up and (two) I never know how long I'll decide to make a chapter until I actually write it, but I hope you enjoy this one.

Once again, please let me know of any improvements that can be made, especially with the characterization. It's humor so I know I can stretch it, but if you see something horribly wrong (like OMG WHY ARE YOU SHOVING THIS IN OUR EYES YOU HORRIBLE MONSTER?! Wrong), let me know. I don't mind a little criticism, ya know?

Disclaimer: Don't own the Final Fantasy series, don't own "The (Shipped) Gold Standard" from chapter one, nor do I own "Candle (Sick and Tired)" from Chapter Two. Both of those songs belong to their respective artists. There. Now leave me alone so I can grieve at my poor-ness in peace k?


"I took a ride on a February morning;

Just getting over it

And dealing with the mourning.

I started thinking out loud…

I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired.

My baby's flying off the edge of the road-

She's saying "I'm so sorry about that note!"

They left me all alone;

But I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired."

-"Candle (Sick and Tired)" by The White Tie Affair


Title: When You Walk Away

Chapter Two: Candle (Sick and Tired)


Cloud shyly smiled his thanks as he placed his plate into the sink and waved at his older sister and friend, not even meeting Sephiroth's intense stare as he backed out of the kitchen.

"Cloud, why don't you stay downstairs a bit longer?" Aerith gently called out, roughly kicking Sephiroth in the leg underneath the wooden table. "Father isn't home yet and it isn't that late…"

"I'm a bit tired, actually-" The blond flinched as three sets of glares (all varying in rancor) hit him all at once. "But I would be delighted to meet you guys in the living room!"

"Splendid!" Aerith hid her deviousness beautifully behind her now-gentle smile, grabbing Cloud's arm before he could exit the room and dragging him back into the living room as he gave the staircase a look of longing. "We do have guests we have to entertain, after all…"

"But Zack and Sephiroth are always hanging around here." The rigid blond muttered underneath his breath. "They might as well live here with all the time they spend at our house…"

"Oh, hush Cloud!" Practically dropping Cloud onto the couch (and almost landing on Sephiroth, who had already claimed a spot on the piece of furniture), the boy scrambled against the farthest corner away from the gorgeous college-student. "They can't help it if they get mobbed every where they go!"

"Actually, that's just Sephiroth!" Zack helpfully added in, snuggling up next to Aerith within the loveseat they occupied. "I think his fan-club can sniff him out from a mile away!"

"Very funny, Zackary." Throwing his long silver hair over his shoulder, luminous jade-green eyes slowly met azure blue, leaving Cloud to take on Sephiroth's intense stare all by his lonesome. "I would rather not speak of such unimportant issues anyway. I have to ask, does our presence here bother you, Cloud?"

"Seph!"

"It's ok." Cloud placated the raven-haired man before he could throw something at his friend's head, not really taking offense to the older man's attitude. "I don't mind it when you guys come over… I just don't see the point of thinking of the both of you as guests when you guys seem to be practically considered family to Aerith and Professor Gast."

"You mean 'dad', don't you Cloud?" Aerith gently added in, trying not to appear too pushy in her insistence. "You know that he would love it if you would consider him as much, Cloud. After all, if Sephiroth and Zack would be considered family… you actually are."

Trying to hold back the smile ready to bloom over his lips, Cloud nodded, eyes glistening as he leaned back against the cushions of the comfortable couch. Without realizing it, his body began to unconsciously inch its way closer to Sephiroth's relaxed form as he did so.

"Thank you, Aerith. That really does mean a lot to me." Brushing back his short blond locks from his eyes, the 16-year-old boy missed the way the man next to him seemed to follow his movements with narrowed eyes. "I honestly can't thank you and your father enough for picking me up when you did."

"You're so silly, Cloud!" Aerith laughed off the comment, knowing that the boy's admiration for her and her father stretched far more than any words he could say. Her 'younger brother' wasn't excellent with speech, by when he did speak, it always came from the heart. "You don't have to thank us for anything! Now, why don't we all play a game while we wait for father to come home!"

"I say charades!"

"Oh dear God no…"

"Seph, you're just jealous that I own you in that game!"

"Zack, do you remember what happened the LAST time we played charades?!"

"Uh…


"I said I was sorry!"

"SORRY WON'T MAKE UP FOR THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES YOU NEANDERTHAL! Now all my experiments are ruined; RUINED, I SAY! YOU. MUST. PERISH!"

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! SEPHIROTH, SAVE MEEEEEEEEEE!"

Sephiroth said nothing as he watched his guardian chase a teenage Zack Fair along their ruined yard, both singed and darkened with soot and other various particles as his fan-girls screeched behind him, all inquiring if he were alright and whether or not his face was damaged in the fire.

Sometimes, he wondered what he did in a past life to deserve all this.


"Huh." Zack ignored the wide-eyed stares sent his way, Aerith and Cloud seeming to be stunned into silence as Sephiroth's eye twitched at the memory. "It's not as if I burned down everything in his lab…"

"There is a reason Zack is not allowed in my home," Sephiroth informed the two younger students now staring at him in shock. "Now you all know why."

"Agh, Hojo hates just about everybody! All I did was give him incentive to actually dislike me!" Zack pulled at his girlfriend's ponytail as he hid behind her shoulder, Sephiroth's glare-of-death hitting him at full blast. "Besides, I didn't do it on purpose! I was trying to strike a chicken pose and I fell back by accident-STOP JUDGING ME, DAMN IT!"

"Why were you guys playing charades in his laboratory anyway?" Cloud shyly questioned, blinking as two pairs of dumb-ified stares met his inquiring gaze. "… … … Never-mind."

"You… two…" Aerith burst out laughing as Zack grinned wildly and gave the girl a thumbs-up while Sephiroth stewed quietly within his seat, planning Zack's imminent demise. Cloud gently placed a hand over his forearm, which was still planted across his chest, and smiled in apology.

Well, Sephiroth thought to himself before nodding over at his young charge and smiling in response, there was always a silver lining.

Even if Zack's stupidity was the cloud hanging over his head.


"I believe it is time for us to be on our way, Zackary."

The younger dark-haired student pouted for a moment before nodding, grabbing his girlfriend of a year and pulling her into a rather messy kiss, making both Cloud and Sephiroth both gag at the gesture.

Yes…

Zack was indeed an idiot.

Grabbing his friend by the collar of his shirt, Sephiroth nodded over at the properly-ravished Aerith and still-grossed-out Cloud and marched out the door, throwing Zack on the ground in a display of platonic love.

It was a fact of life after all; Zack would always be the lover, and Sephiroth would always be the one to beat him senseless after said loving was commenced.

"Hey, uh… Sephiroth?"

The silver-haired friend-beater stumbled in his trek out the door t to find Cloud right behind him, Aerith now no here to be seen.

"It was…" Sephiroth almost gaped as Cloud's usually timid voice caught him off-guard. "It was nice to see you today. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow?"

Nodding at the boy as he disappeared behind the now-closed doorway, Sephiroth ignored his best friend's grin as he spaced out for a moment and did an internal victory dance.

"… You've got it so bad, Seph." Being pulled out of his thoughts, the much taller male gave his friend a questioning look; Zack simply shook his head in amusement as he brushed off the dirt now clinging to his jeans. "Don't worry, you'll figure it out sooner or later. But while you're figuring it out… could you stop staring at the kid like he's a piece of meat you're about to devour in one taste?! You kept creeping me out in there, Sephie-dear!"

Sephiroth frowned as he fixed his leather jacket, letting go of his zipper in a nervous gesture that almost no one but Zack would be able to identify.

"I have to say, you're lucky that Cloud is as oblivious as he is! Had he been anybody else, they would have either jumped you right there or called the cops and set up a restraining order on the spot!" Flailing wildly, Zack laughed at the confused look on Sephiroth's face, finally realizing what other's could not. "Oh my God, you didn't even realize you were staring at him like that, did you?!"

"Like… what?"

"Like he was a nice juicy steak and you hadn't had a bite to eat in a good long while!" Still laughing his behind off, Zack didn't even notice as Sephiroth halted in his walking and blinked, eyebrows furrowed whilst he crossed his arms against his chest. "I thought I was going to have to send him to his room for his own protection at first! Jeez, Seph, when you're interested in somebody you sure do get awful scary!"

"I did not mean to come off as such." The older silver-haired man quietly admitted, glancing off to the side as cars ran past them in a fit to get to their destinations. "I will have to be careful then, in the future."

Zack gave his friend a strange look before narrowing his gaze, suspicion clouding his stare.

"Future…?"

Not wanting to have to divulge this piece of information (but knowing that unless he did, Zack would only whine and bug him until he did), Sephiroth reluctantly nodded his consent. "I have a plan, Zackary; one that will surely win me Cloud's trust and-"

"Annnndddddd?"

Not liking the sudden gleam lingering in Zack's violet-colored eyes, Sephiroth quietly backed up a bit and continued walking towards his home.

"And nothing else you need to know about."

"I KNEW IT!" Zack suddenly exploded, causing many other bystanders to spin around and stare at the hometown 'hero' and his (for lack of better term) lackey. "SEPHIROTH'S TRYING TO GET INTO CLOUD'S PAN-"

BITCH-SLAP!

Sephiroth sighed happily as the twitching body next to him lay prone on the street, the smirk on his face both sexy and scary.

It was the little things that made life worth living, really.

Zack always proved this in some form-

"GOD DAMN IT SEPH THAT HURT LIKE A BITCH!"

Especially when it included physical punishment of any kind.

Tomorrow…

Cloud wouldn't know what hit him.


Next Day…


Cloud sighed as he stared out his classroom window, situated right at the back of class as per usual.

His sister often commented that he didn't have much friends and that she hope once school got underway, he would be able to make more.

Unfortunately for her, Cloud wasn't really the 'friend' type.

"HIIIIIIIII CLOUDY!"

Nearly jumping out of his seat, Cloud turned to his left and glared at the short-haired girl waving at him, the jittery hand-motions alluding to a different type of hyperactivity than Cloud was used to.

He was pretty sure that not even Zack could compare to Yuffie on a good day.

Or a bad day.

To those two, it was the same difference.

"Hello." The quiet high school student barely gave the schoolgirl a second glance as he turned back to the open window, their history teacher bumbling within the classroom at the last second… as always.

"Cloud, Cloud, Cloud, Cloud-"

Cloud winced as the whispered chant slinked into his ear, fidgeting in his chair as their teacher began slamming down their supplies on top of their desk, his glare stringent and full of threats.

"Cloud, Cloud, Cloud, Clou-"

"What, Yuffie?!"

"Did you hear about my party?!" Grinning over at the moody boy over her text-book, Yuffie practically bounced in her seat with excitement. "I'm holding it next Friday… and you're TOTALLY invited!"

"… … … Why?!"

"What was that, Mr. Strife?!"

Random students began to giggle as Cloud's face turned an unorthodox color red, leaning his head down as their teacher glared hatefully at him.

"Nothing, Mr. Heidegger. Sorry for disturbing the class." Even if you haven't began conducting it and it's been a good half-an-hour already, Cloud finished internally, knowing he wouldn't escape the school with the amount of detention that one comment would earn him if he spoke it out loud.

"Damn straight you are…" Slamming down a particular large book onto his desk, Heidegger stroked his beard before walking around his desk and glaring at the class as a whole. "Now… about last night's assignment."

The collective set of students internally groaned as their teacher bellowed with laughter, making them cringe outwardly in disgust.

Cloud let his head fall on his desk as Yuffie gave him a large smile and wave, her meaningful enthusiasm only making the blond feel all the miserable.

'Isn't being a misanthrope supposed to drive people away?!'

Wondering if the Gods liked torturing him in particular, Cloud took out his notebook and stared at his homework, once again sighing in self-pity.

It certainly was hard being Cloud Strife.


"Aw, c'mon, Cloudy! WAIT FOR MEEEEEEE!"

Cloud attempted to ignore the short maelstrom of energy that was Yuffie as he basically ran down the hallway, backpack swinging behind him in a faux-cape motion. So into running from the frightfulness that was Yuffie on a mission, Cloud did not pay heed to the path in front of him as he turned a sharp corner-

"OOMPH!"

"GYAH!"

And collided into an innocent bystander, ramming his body at full force at the object/person in his way.

"Watch where you're going, yo!"

Brushing out blazing red hair from his eyes, the thinner boy trapped underneath Cloud's already-emaciated form glared at the apologizing student basically settled on his lap, recognizing his burden almost immediately. "What the hell, Strife?!"

"Sorry, Reno, Yuffie chasing me-GOTTAGOBYE!"

"CLOOOOOUUUUDDD!"

Reno stared as Cloud quickly scurried off of his person and ran down the rest of the hallway, Yuffie chasing after his heels as he stood up and brushed himself off.

"There're some weird kids in this damn school, yo…"

Shaking his head in exasperation, Reno decided he was better off acting as if he hadn't saw a thing and continued on his way, his backside still aching after the impact.

Strife was on his own.


Cloud gasped as he rounded another corner, barely missing a teacher carrying a series of books as he ran down another hallway, wanting to get home as soon as possible.

"CLOUD, WAAAAIIIITTT!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE, YUFFIE!"

"NOT UNTIL YOU TELL ME YOU'RE GOING TO MY PARTY!"

"I'M NOT EVEN PARTY-MATERIAL! I'D JUST BE STANDING IN A CORNER STARING AT EVERYBODY THE WHOLE TIME!"

"I DON'T CAAAAAAAARE!"

Finally skidding to a halt, Cloud spun around and huffed out a series of breaths as he stared at Yuffie, who actually looked no worse for wear.

"If I say yes, will you stop chasing me?!"

"Possibly…" Not liking the way she leered at him as she said this, Cloud simply hung his head and sighed.

"Fine, I'll come to your stupid party…"

"YAY! CLOUDY'S COMING TO MY PARTY!" Yuffie did a tiny victory dance before spinning around and venturing back to, Cloud presumed, her locker. "Party starts at 9; I'll be having it at my house, since my parents are out of town-"

"As is the beginning of any good clichéd hormonal teenager movie," Cloud interrupted, cranky from both running and not being allowed to go home after said running.

"And I expect you to be there, Cloud. No skimping out on me like you did last time, or the punishment will be three times the amount of bat-shit crazy than the last was." Gulping at the thought, Cloud felt his masculinity shrivel up a little at the thought of a psychotic Yuffie (instead of the normally cheerful one who could be classified as only a little psychotic) chasing after him with a meat cleaver in her hands. "I'm so happy I'll be seeing you there, Cloud!"

"I'm sure…" The now-exhausted blond scratched his head as he fixed his backpack straps now hanging off of his shoulders and made it out to the courtyard, blue eyes drooping with exhaustion. "What did I ever do to deserve thi-"

"Oh my God, it's SEPHIROTH!"

'Annnnnnnd that's my sanity being flushed down the toilet, thanks. Glad my lack of luck seems to amuse the Gods so much… really.' Cloud sadly thought to himself as he sighed forlornly to himself.

The high-school student nearly hit himself over the head as he stared at the massive form situated in front of him, silver hair flowing in the wind as the gargantuan man lazily leaned against the school's gate, gaze set directly on Cloud.

Ignoring the excited murmurs rumbling around him, Cloud made his way towards the man now smirking at his enclosing figure, feeling as if he were somehow marching towards his inevitable doom.

"Hello, Cloud." Sephiroth slyly placed a hand at the small of the boy's back, ignoring the many angered (and jealous) glares sent in their direction as he steered the tiny teenager through the school's gates. "I've been waiting for you."

Sweat-dropping at the inherently suggestive tones slithering within the man's voice, Cloud gulped in self-righteous terror.

He knew being nice would have its share of consequences.

'Damn it.'