Chapter Five---Everything About You

Cloud was in a very bad mood when he arrived home that afternoon. That new student, Leon, was more of a pain in the neck than he'd imagined. The brunet, for his full-view sketch, had decided to draw Cloud. And he'd done a marvelous job, better than Cloud cared to admit. However, it seemed that Leon was also a sucker for details because in the Cloud-sketches hand he was a holding a sign. A sign that read;

Help! I need to get laid!

Cloud was not happy about that. Unfortunately before he could really get angry about it, the bell rang and the brunet sauntered, sauntered, out of the classroom in those tight, leather—Cloud shook his head. He had not noticed the man's odd taste in pants, no siree.

"What the hell's eating at you?" Axel had entered the room so quietly Cloud hadn't noticed he had been there.

"New student. Where's Nami?" Axel shrugged. The frown that began to pull at the blonde's lips signaled trouble and Axel knew had had scarce minutes before the blonde blew up.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Axel turned from him, gripping the edge of the sink tightly. Did Zack feel this angry when Cloud started nagging him? Did he feel this bad?

"Answer me!" Axel whirled to face his brother, jade eyes bright with anger.

"I'm not her babysitter!"

"You're her brother!"

"So are you!"

"I work to keep this family off the streets. All I ask for is some help around here!" Axel scoffed, laughing derisively.

"You work to keep away from us." Cloud scowled at him.

"That's not true, you have no right to insinuate-"

"Cut the shit! All you do is yell and fight and nag when you are home. You hate being here and make everyone just as miserable as you are!" Cloud crossed the room so fast, Axel didn't have time to run before his back connected with the wall, Cloud's fists gripping his hoodie tightly.

"You don't know anything, you selfish little brat! I've been taking care of this family for five years and never once has any of you said thank you."

" You haven't been around to hear it." The voice didn't belong to Axel but Zack, who stood in the doorway with an expressionless face as Cloud released the redhead.

"Oh look, the lush has graced us with his presence." Zack continued to look at them blankly. Axel began to laugh again.

"God, you are a drunken loser. Is that why you let him walk all over you? You're too drunk to stand up for yourself?" Zack snarled at his younger sibling before moving forward slowly.

"I've been thinking, Cloud."

"Oh, really? How's that working for you?" Zack laughed dryly at his brother's insult.

"Great, actually. I've decided. This is over." Cloud never got to respond because Zack's fist was slamming into his face over and over again. Axel stared at the brunet for a minute, astonished that he'd actually taken a swing at the blonde before he jumped in and shoved Zack backwards.

"You used to be my best friend, Cloud." Tears stung Zack's eyes and his knuckles ached, even as he drug them through his raven locks with a haggard sigh.

"What's your point?" Cloud snapped, spitting out the blood that had gathered in his mouth. Zack looked at him sadly before turning to head out the door once again.

"I hate you."

Scenary passed Kadaj by as he took his daily run through the city, taking in the new sights, music blaring in his ears. The pavement made a soft thudding sound every time his sneakers hit as he ran, creating a cadence of sorts. The warm air burned his lungs as he slowed to a stop, sweat coating his body. Walking along, he came upon a sunlit playground and made his way to the swings, the hot seat burning his tush.

"Damn Cloud….Axel…God, make it stop…" The muffled mutter caught Kadaj's attention and he turned for the source of the voice who happened to be a distraught looking brunet, stumbling here and there.

"Hey, you ok?" The man ignored him, muttering to himself as he collapsed to his knees on the grass.

"Hey, are you alright? You don't look so good-" Vomit pooled around Kadaj's feet and the rancid smell of alcohol met his nose. Lifting the man by the arm, he shouldered the inebriated brunet and began the long walk back home, sincerely hoping Leon wouldn't mind a dinner guest.

-

"Who's this?" Demyx asked when Kadaj arrived, helping them to the bathroom just in time to have the pale man puke into the toilet.

"Yuck. I don't know. He looked like he needed help, though." Demyx nodded and got a dampened wash cloth, holding it to the stranger's forehead.

"Sephiroth?" Kadaj frowned at the name and shook his head,

"No, I'm Kadaj. Who are you?"

"Zack…I…" Zack didn't finish. Instead he retched again and Kadaj grimaced, flushing the toilet.

"Come on, into the shower with you."

"But mom, I don't want a chocobo…"

Sora hummed happily to himself on the way home as he three new friends made loud conversation with Demyx and Zexion who were in the front. Riku was squished against Sora's side but the sapphire eyed boy didn't mind, he loved making friends but had a hard time opening up sometimes.

"Are you sure your brother won't mind?" Yazoo asked softly. Sora smiled brightly at the boy shaking his head.

"No worries. Leon's great, you just have to get used to him; he's a bit rough around the edges." Zexion and Demyx muttered in agreement as the small car pulled into the driveway.

"WE'RE HOOOOME!!!!" Sora yelled into the too quiet house, looking for his family. He found Kadaj in the bathroom, helping some strange man dry himself off and get dressed.

"New boyfriend?" Kadaj scowled and cursed at Sora, attempting to keep his ward standing.

"No. He needed help. What's all that noise in the living room?" Sora smiled sheepishly.

"Well, I made some new friends. Think Leon will mind?" Kadaj shrugged, leading Zack out to the living room, ignoring the other guests' presence.

"No but it's not like he really has a choice. Let's just hope he's in a good mood."

"Hey, you really do look like us." Kadaj looked up into the aquamarine eyes of a boy a few years his junior, snorting contemptuously.

"Actually, I'm older than you, that means you look like me. Lucky bastard." The boy began to laugh and Kadaj let a smirk take over his features as he sat Zack down on the couch. The group jumped as the front door slammed closed and a deep voice resonated throughout the room.

"What the hell is going on in here?"

A.n: weeeee enjoi, of to update something else :D

Ulti!