Salvaging an Angel

By Shade

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews I've received thus far. In response to...Person's...review Squall didn't exactly 'let' himself be beaten up. He doesn't exactly wield a gunblade or have military training in this alternate universe so taking on about five guys single-handedly is next to impossible. Some OOC'ness is inevitable though. I haven't read any AU fic that kept characters identical to their counterparts. Given the circumstances of an entirely different plot it's hard not to change them just a bit to fit into what the author has in mind.

Besides, I can see Squall fighting back but I'm not sure he would go out looking for revenge. Maybe I'm wrong but I think he's fairly level headed but also a bit proud. He wouldn't "tell" on someone even if that might be the wise decision. It seems to me he has a great deal more pride than that. If someone disagrees tell me. I'm not trashing your review Person I appreciate criticism, without it improvement is difficult.

Before I begin I would like to mention (as I have in all my other fanfictions) that I am looking for a new beta reader. Even if you're only willing to beta for one fic I would greatly appreciate it. If you're interested please get in contact with me somehow. The surest way to contact me would be by private messaging me at If this is a hassle you can always e-mail me at though I can't promise I will get the message. I also have the temporary e-mail address of If you are reading this within two months of this update please try e-mailing me there.

Squall had just entered his second period classroom when the intercom sounded. He had barely been able to so much as glance in his attacker's direction when he was asked to come to the senior counselor's office. It was just as well. The guys in the back of the classroom were talking amongst themselves. At the mention of Squall's names there wasn't a very noticeable reaction. They merely paused for a moment, looking towards the front of the classroom as they continued their conversation. Squall noted how disappointed they seemed to find him back at school. It was only Seifer who didn't bother to acknowledge his existence.

Squall watched in disgust as Seifer laughed at a joke, propping his head up on his good arm...He had propped his head up on the arm nearest Squall...He was purposely trying not to look at him. Squall couldn't help but hope that it was guilt keeping Seifer on edge, forcing him to avoid the person he had hurt. Somehow Squall doubted that. He was probably only worried...worried that Squall would tell everyone what he had done...I should. Squall found himself lost in thought and it was only when the teacher shook him by the shoulder that he took a hall pass and left the room.

"Squall Leonhart?"

Squall looked up. He had been seated in the hallway of the attendance office, patiently waiting for the counselor to finish with her current business...Of course that was if you could call dozing off patiently waiting...Now he stirred from his sleep and looked to the clock. Lunch time already? Squall sighed, feeling his stomach groan in protest. He had been too nervous this morning to eat breakfast, which was a decision he was beginning to regret. Now he was going to miss lunch as well. It would be at least another four hours, if not more, until he finally got something to eat. Squall sighed and maneuvered the wheel chair into the counselor's room as a troubled looking female passed him on her way out the door.

"Hello Squall, how are you feeling?"

Like someone beat me up and shoved me off an incredibly steep hill and you? Squall's present mood was understandable. A relatively cheerful looking woman with blonde hair and bright pink clothing did nothing to help improve things "Fine," He closed the door behind him with a bit of difficulty then rolled his wheelchair to a stop a few feet in front of the counselor's desk. He had never been in here before. He had never needed to be here and he was wondering why he had to start. They knew he had been in the hospital. What more was there to discuss?

"I don't think you've ever been here before Squall," She adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses as she pulled out a manilla folder off of a stack on her desk.

"...Ms. Trepe..." Squall began once silence set in. He would prefer to have time to make it to lunch.

"Call me Quistis," A hand was extending in greeting and Squall reluctantly shook it "I'm sure you've been waiting for a while now so I'll just cut to the chase. You've missed a lot of school Squall."

Squall leaned back a bit. So this this was about schoolwork "I plan on trying my hardest to catch up," He assured the counselor half-heartedly. He wouldn't hear of having any of his classes cut. Another year in this place would surely kill him.

"Of course you are," Quistis offered quickly, assuming she had wounded his pride "It's just that there's a lot of material you weren't here for. You're lucky you have such good friends."

Squall looked up "What do you mean?" Surely Zell or Selphie would have told him already. It would have been unnecessary to come here or he would have at least been given a heads up. Maybe then he could have gotten something to eat before school.

"Here," Quistis pulled out another manilla folder, this one much thicker than the first "They're notes for your academic classes. I'm not sure if everything's there. I suppose you would know better than I would."

Squall took the folder with some surprise. Neither Zell nor Selphie had any of his classes. He opened the folder but failed to recognize the handwriting, a bit sloppy but legible. It looked like a male's writing but he hadn't a clue of who would go to the trouble to copy all these notes just for him "Who gave this to you?"

Quistis shrugged her slender shoulders, clasping two pale hands together upon the surface of her desk "It was in the box outside my door. That's where things are generally left for me. I checked the box when I got back from running a few errands," She said the last part to herself, as if trying to recall something "That was a few minutes after first period ended...You don't recognize the handwriting...?"

Squall shook his head, flipping through the pages. There were quite a few of them and he wasn't sure what he was looking for. A name perhaps? Squall closed the folder resolutely and place it in his lap "Is that all?"

"...Actually..."

That most certainly hadn't been all. Squall had gone through an alternating cycle of going through his accumulated 'make up' work with Ms. Trepe and waiting while she saw to other business with students and teachers. He was still hopelessly sifting through work when the bell rang. Quistis looked to the clock with some surprise then looked back to Squall with a reassuring smile "Go ahead and take that home with you. You can come back here if you have any questions." Squall shuffled the papers together and put everything atop the manilla folder in his lap. He began to the door without so much as a goodbye but Quistis stopped him. "If you'd like you can go out the door in the back. It should be easier than trying to get through the hallways at this time of the day."

Squall nodded and left the room. It probably would be easier than getting through the hallways on his own. He could go inside later and get what he needed from his locker. Somewhat realieved Squall opened the door that opened to the back of the school. The door was at a bit of a rise. Squall disliked handicap ramps and consequently went around the corner of the school a bit faster than he would have liked. Once he managed to stop he realized that he was not alone. The voices and laughter from nearby soon died down and Squall found himself looking up to find the group of boys part of him had wished to forget.

Steven, Irvine, John, Ian, the boy he didn't know...Seifer...they were all there. It wasn't the same quick glance as it had been in second period. Their full attention was upon him now. "You feeling better fag?" The boy he didn't recognize was the first to speak. It seemed they were off on an excellent note. Squall tried to ignore them and simply go on but Ian stepped in front of him.

"Don't run off so soon," Squall couldn't help but feel a bit afraid. He was next to helpless in his current state. He hadn't been able to defend himself before. If they chose to pick up where they had left off he wouldn't have a chance "We wanna have a word with you."

"Whatever," Squall muttered, looking back. The boys had crowded around him. Only Seifer stood apart, hanging away from the group. Squall studied him for a moment. Now he had the upper hand. Why was he still acting so nervous?

"Hey look at me when I'm talking to you!" Ian jerked Squall's shoulder and Squall immediately faced forward though he was unable to say anything before John picked up where the other had left off.

"You haven't told anyone about what happened have you?" He sounded genuinely worried. At least Squall had some leverage here. When he shrugged someone offered to jog his memory with a sharp hit to the head.

"Ah," Squall winced, leaning forward slightly. Anger was building up inside him now but he knew better than to lash out at a time like this "No, I haven't told anyone yet...but someone's bound to put two and two together when they see you ganging up on someone in a wheel chair..." He spoke calmly and heard one of the boys grumble angrily...but to his surprise they seemed to agree with him...

"He's right ya'll, come on," Irvine looked around then made his way towards the parking lot behind the school. John, Ian, and Steven reluctantly followed but the stranger stayed behind.

"Don't think this gives you the upper hand kid," He hissed, leaning close to Squall from where he stood at his side "Keep your fucking mouth shut," Hands settled upon his back, shoved him onto the asphalt. Squall winced as he landed, his chin hitting the ground hard "We'll talk later," The stranger was gone before he had time to say a word. He heard cars pulling out and squeezed his eyes shut tight.

"Damnit!" Squall had never felt so helpless. He struggled to get up but the bone and muscle of his injured wrist seemed to scream in protest. The palm of his other hand stung from slapping against the ground. It slid against the concrete and he collapsed back to the ground with a muffled, angry, scream.

"Shh."

Squall felt an arm move around his midsection, lifting him up and into a sitting position. Had someone come back to silence him for good. Squall took in a quick, nervous, breath but then his eyes settled upon Seifer. That was right...he hadn't seen Seifer leave...

"Put your arm around my neck," As he leaned down again Squall grabbed the other's broken arm, jerking it forward and forcing Seifer to his knees. To his surprise the other merely bowed his head, almost cowering before he looked up with a furious expression upon his face.

"I'm trying to help you, you ungrateful little bastard!" Seifer seemed to regret shouting and looked around quickly to make sure he hadn't attracted any unwanted attention.

"Why do you always try to 'help' me after you've 'hurt' me. I should hardly be thankful for that. It's more of a moral obligation than a favor," Squall tried to get up himself but as was to be expected his legs failed and he dropped back down to a sitting position.

"I didn't hurt you this time," Seifer defended quietly. His eyes were upon Squall's mouth. He seemed to have bitten his lip and skinned his chin. Blood was running down his neck in thin, red, rivulets. It was all too obvious he had been pushed down.

Squall glared at Seifer before looking back to his chair, contemplating how to go about getting back into it "You might as well have. I didn't see you trying to stop them."

Squall had expected Seifer to defend himself once more but instead he merely stood "Come on," He ordered, leaning over albeit cautiously this time. Reluctantly Squall swung an arm around his neck and felt a strong arm fasten around his waist. As he was lifted from the ground and placed back into the wheel chair Squall found himself disappointed to see Seifer pull away.

"So what are you gonna do about that?" Seifer motioned to Squall's chin as he straightened. Squall's fingers found there and he quickly drew them back as they touched against the torn skin there.

This would be a problem "The truth. Zell's driving me home. If I tell him I fell he'll know I'm lying," Squall wasn't a 'klutz' by any means. Saying he accidentally fell while sitting down was out of the question. Seifer groaned and before he could react Squall was rolling forward "What are you doing!" Squall demanded, looking back to find Seifer pushing him forward.

"I'm taking you home," Seifer said calmly and Squall could do nothing but sit back and comply.