Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters.
Warnings: Talk of violence (Finally, a warning!)
Author's Note: This is written for Holy Wolf's request, which was: "Denzel gets in a fist fight and Cloud helps clean up the mess afterward (possibly featuring an irate school official) or helps Denzel learn to deal with bullies." Hope you enjoy, Holy Wolf! One last thing: Requests welcomed, feel free to request more than one thing if you wish.

Idolized: Fighting

He didn't know just what exactly he had done until it was already in the past. His fists still trembled in intense anger, eyes narrowed into a glare that seemed to be the omen of death. He ignored the throbbing pain of his right eye, ignored the shame and fear. What he was afraid of, he didn't have a clue. He felt the long fingers of his teacher tap his shoulder, signaling for him to leave the bruised bully alone and to follow her righteous path instead.

"Denzel," Mrs. Williams said sternly, in a manner all-too-similar to his idol's, "Stay here."

Denzel watched through ashamed eyes as Mrs. Williams wandered to another playground monitor, both talking so quietly he couldn't make out what they said. He looked to the ground when he noticed Mrs. Williams approaching him again, raging emotions slowly calming. That was when she said, "I'm taking you home."

"What?" Denzel stuttered, his voice shaking.

"We need to talk to...Tifa," she said carefully, knowing how he hated his non-official adopted parents being referred to as "guardians." She continued, "Perhaps Cloud, if he's there."

The name made Denzel shutter. Would his hero be disappointed, just as ashamed as he? Depressing thoughts raced through his mind as he began the agonizing slow walk to the new 7th Heaven. His gaze was still focused on the ground when Mrs. Williams knocked on the back door of the two-story building. Ever so slowly, it creaked open, loudly and obnoxiously. He didn't need sight to know Tifa was surprised. "Hello, Mrs. Williams," she greeted politely, somewhat confused. "How are you doing today?"

"Fine, thank you," Mrs. Williams smiled. "Is Cloud home?"

"No, he isn't. Feel free to come in," Tifa said, moving out of the doorway. "Denzel! What happened? Why are you home so early?"

"...I..." Denzel started but soon stopped, unable to speak another word. Tifa, aware that the child must have done something terribly wrong, asked Denzel to lead Mrs. Williams to his bedroom. Upon hearing this, Denzel knew he was in for a rough ride. His punishments were almost always discussed there.

Come to think of it, the room wasn't really his. He had always shared it with his friend, Marlene. Luckily for his ego, the said girl was still at school, hopefully learning and not getting into trouble like a certain friend of hers.

Denzel sat on the bed, never once looking up, as the two women sat in wooden chairs. They sat relatively close to each other, so that they would have to talk a bit quieter and save Denzel from embarrassment should another family member arrive unexpectedly. There was a few moments of silence, until Tifa chose to break the ice. She cleared her throat before speaking. "Mrs. Williams, what did Denzel do?"

"I didn't do anything," protested Denzel, although it was half-hearted. That was two mistakes in a row: speaking out of turn, and looking into Tifa's chocolate eyes.

"Your eye..." Tifa gasped. "He wasn't..."

Mrs. Williams looked regretful as she confirmed the other woman's fears. "Yes. I'm afraid that he was."

"But why? Denzel has always been so well-behaved," Tifa said quietly, disbelieving.

"But, he insulted you and Cloud!" Denzel hissed, adrenaline weakening, leaving him feel unconfident and unsure of himself.

"So you got into a fistfight?" Tifa asked, arms folded over her chest. "Denzel..."

"The other boy will be receiving harsher punishments than Denzel. Damien is always a trouble-maker," Mrs. Williams offered, hoping to reassure the woman. "I'm not sure how your family," she chose the word carefully, as to not offend them, "deals with misbehavior. His home punishment, should there be one, is for you and Cloud to decide."

"As for school...?"

"One week of no recess," Mrs. Williams said curtly. She could tell by the look in Denzel's eyes that he didn't like or hate the punishment. It wasn't like he had many friends to play with, anyway. But rules are rules, and there was no other choice.

"Thank you for walking Denzel home, Mrs. Williams," said Tifa, "He and I have a little talking to do."

"I understand," Mrs. Williams replied with a small smile.

Denzel could only watch as Tifa and his teacher went downstairs, and he distantly heard the shutting of the back door. He heard Tifa's footsteps, much heavier than normal, coming closer and closer and closer; when he looked up, there she was.

"Tifa..." Denzel searched for words to explain his folly. "I..."

"Denzel, I'm so disappointed in you," she looked at him with sad brown eyes. "Cloud..."

Denzel winced when he heard the name.

"...will decide your punishment."

After shaking her head, sending her black tresses every which way, she once more descended those awful steps. Denzel, once more left all alone, did nothing but lay down and stare out the window. Once more, that horrible door opened, recognizable footsteps entering the home. He could only hear bits and pieces of the conversation between the all-too-familiar voice and Tifa's.

Denzel, fistfight, black eye.

Punishment.

Disappointment, anger.

Sadness.

The sky's colors slowly, almost imperceptibly, began to change. Dark blue faded lighter and lighter, so pale it was almost white, then was slowly replaced by a hue of pink. Yellow and orange splotches were painted on carelessly, with the setting sun in the middle of the chaos. The first star appeared, followed by another, and another. That was how the sunset was: started and ended all too quickly.

Cloud had no need to open the door, as Tifa had left it in that condition in her frustration. "Denzel!"

He saw the boy's muscles, however small they were, tense. He took a seat on the bed next to the angst-ridden boy. The pair sat in silence for minutes upon minutes, before Cloud spoke the first sentence. "A few years ago, you couldn't see the stars. You couldn't even see the sky."

"I guess you're disappointed in me, too," Denzel said solemnly, two pairs of blue eyes finally meeting.

"...Fighting...isn't always the answer. There's other ways to settle your disputes."

"But what about Shinra?" Denzel asked with a bitter voice. True, his father had worked for the company, but it was the same company that killed his father: that much Cloud had told him. It was Shinra who decided to drop the plate and crush the Sector 7 slums, and his parents couldn't go to another plate in time.

"Shinra was different. It was a last resort."

"...Aren't you mad at me?"

"Why should I be?" Cloud asked seriously. "I'm proud. You stood up for what you thought was right."

"Just...don't get into anymore fights," Cloud warned.

Denzel thought for a moment or two before promising, "I won't."

The young boy, now quite energetic, gave Cloud a bigger bear-hug than Barret ever could. Cloud, an indescribable emotion in his eyes, ruffled Denzel's hair, smile on his lips.

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Author's Note: For some odd reason, my thumb started to hurt after I started to type the part where Cloud is sent to deal with Denzel. Feel free to review or request!