Disclaimer: I do not own FF8 or its characters. They are the property of
Squaresoft. I do own characters and devices of my own design so no
plagarising them people!
Jealousy
He should be happy, he should be celebrating. Instead he sat here in a dark corner watching these happy, smiling faces, people laughing and dancing. He should be up there too, it was his party really, he was one of the three SeeDs that had graduated this field exam but no-one seemed to notice him or care. He could see Commander Leonhart dancing away with Rinoa Heartilly both of them smiling and gazing at each other.
Six months had passed since the fiasco with the Sorceress, just a period of six months had separated him from this and being one of the Great SeeDs, the heroes. No, Jayson Croft had to be the invisible one, just like Nida but worse, nobody ever looked twice at him, as if there was nothing exceptional about him.
He supposed it was because he didn't specialise in one type of combat like most cadets usually did. True he was skilled at using a gunblade but everyone was only interested in Squall's techniques. He was also well versed in martial arts and a few other weapons since he believed he should be able to adapt to any situation, but people just assumed he did so many things because he was no good at any particular one of them.
At a table in a well-lit part of the room Jayson could see Instructor Trepe enjoying a joke with one of the Librarians who was sat next to Zell Dinct. Zell was eating hotdogs like there was no tomorrow whilst a giggling Selphie Tilmitt sat on Irvine Kineas' lap playing with his cowboy hat.
It seemed like everyone had someone else except him, all he had was a drink and that was soon gone. Jayson decided to leave the party and headed for his dorm-room stripping off his stiff uniform and slipping into a pair of blue jeans and a black T-shirt over which he put on a black denim jacket.
He opened up a long black case and removed his gunblade Fixxer, his own customised blade with a slight hooked point at the end of the sword and a double-barrelled gunstock. It glistened in the light as he lay it out on his desk before he opened a drawer and selected a couple of daggers, sheathing them in his belt and then slipped on his gloves.
They were made of Blue dragon scales with pieces of Mesmerise horn at the knuckles, these he had also handmade from monsters he had slain in training.
Once satisfied he picked up Fixxer and made his way to the Training Centre. "Here we go again." A voice whispered in his head.
'What are you trying to say, Orion?' Jayson replied to the GF.
'Just that you always go to the Training Centre when you're feeling moody.' Orion replied.
'You just get annoyed because I don't summon you.' Jayson replied sarcastically.
"Whatever." Orion answered and disappeared.
Jayson checked his magic and junction before he entered the dense forest, creeping silently looking for anything to fight. He noticed a Grat eating the meat from a T-rexaur corpse and picked up some pebbles throwing them at the Grat making it turn.
He leapt out of the undergrowth at the Grat, spinning round, Fixxer fully extended, the barbed hooked end sinking into the woody flesh of the Grat making it shriek in pain.
Jayson easily pulled Fixxer out of the Grat and parried blows from the Grats tendril arms. Laughing, he flicked his wrists causing Fixxer's blade to turn and severed the tendrils. He then leapt up and brought Fixxer down slicing the Grat in half. He pulled Fixxer from the Grats corpse wiping its green blood from its blade with its leafy skin.
He was wondering what else there was when a T-rexaur lured by the smell of carrion, burst from the jungle. Jayson grinned and stuck Fixxer into the ground.
'I may as well let you play or you'll only moan at me right Orion?' he thought and summoned his GF.
Jayson vanished as Orion swept down from the sky, his pure white wings fully extended as he glided towards the T-rexaur. Orion was a Griffon, a lion's body with an eagle's wings, head and claws. He opened his beak, a burst of flame scorching the T-rexaur as Orion flipped round and turned to render the T-rexaur with his claws. Orion then vanished screeching gleefully and Jayson reappeared, rushing at the swaying monster, its scales blackened and long deep gouges in its sides.
He balled his fists and ducked under its legs, kicking off one of them to push him up to the T-rexaurs body allowing him to thrust his fist deep into one of the gouges. Red blood flowed down his arm as he forced his fist deeper, cutting through muscle and felt it connect with bone. He grabbed hold of the rib, pushing himself away from the T-rexaurs body so he hung beneath it, swinging, concentrating all his weight and strength on the rib until he heard it creak and finally break.
At this point Jayson swings from it flipping his body backwards allowing his feet to connect with the broken rib and force it up into the lungs. He dropped to the floor crouching as the T-rexaur roared in agony, blood spraying from its mouth and it fell over to one side. Jayson stood up running a hand through his sweat-drenched short dark hair, breathing slowly as he watched the T-rexaur take its final breaths.
He was then aware of applause. He turned and saw a tall blonde man leaning against a tree, his long off-white trench-coat, tattered at the botton and red crosses on the arms.
'Well done' the man said slightly sarcastically.
'What do you want Seifer?' Jayson replied mildly.
'Me? Nothing. Can't I congratulate a new SeeD?' he replied grinning.
'Then congratulate yourself, you also passed today' Jayson told him walking over to Fixxer.
'Yeah well I don't need to do that when I got friends to do it for me. I just figured you'd need a friend to congratulate you.' Seifer answered.
Jayson clenched his fists in anger but managed to keep his voice level 'I don't need friends to congratulate me and follow me like sheep.'
'Tough words Jayson but you can't tell me you're enjoying the loner act? Even Squall gave that up!' Seifer retorted.
'Well Squall also gave up sparring with you when he realised you were too easy.' Jayson snapped.
'Nice. Insults now. I must have touched a nerve. So you want to try me?' Seifer replied grinning and setting himself in a stance, Hyperion at the ready.
'Why not, I need a little more exercise before I start on a few more T- rexaurs' Jayson replied gripping Fixxer and pulling it up.
'Silence!' Jayson quickly cried, smiling at Seifer's surprised expression.
'Just so you don't go using magic now. I don't think a scar would suit me.' Jayson told him and started his attack.
Seifer stepped back bringing Hyperion up to catch a blow from Fixxer. Still recoiling from the surprise of Jaysons silencing trick, Seifer had to weave to one side to dodge another strike as Jayson used the deflection off Hyperion to bring Fixxer past his face in an arc.
As Fixxers blade arced downwards Seifer used this to press his own attack swiping at Jayson's torso. Jayson reflexively brought his knee up to catch Hyperion's flat blade between his knee and elbow, snapping out a kick into Seifers shin. Seifer pulled Hyperion free grimacing slightly in pain. As Seifer stepped back Fixxers blade whirled passed him its hooked end tearing his coat. Enraged Seifer swung Hyperion diagonally up across Jayson's body but Jayson had Fixxer ready and tilted it as Hyperion moved upwards, the blades sliding along one another until Hyperion caught in Fixxers hook and the two were locked together, Seifer giving a quick tug to try and break free.
Jayson pushed down on Hyperion trying to force it down but Seifer was holding him up and started pushing back. He then snapped his elbow so that the motion of the pushing let it swing and connect with Seifer's jaw.
Seifer staggered back his grip loosening on Hyperion allowing Jayson to let go of Fixxer and hit Seifer with a backhand blow, the mesmerise horn slashing his cheek. Jayson then planted his foot behind Seifer's and swept him, another technique he'd learnt from Escrima.
Seifer fell onto his back breathing heavily, mouthing curses at Jayson, Hyperion lying beside him.
'Esuna!' Jayson said and was welcomed with a torrent of curse words.
'Had enough Seifer?' Jayson asked keeping his distance and keeping an eye on Seifer for any underhand tricks.
'Damn you!' Seifer yelled glaring at Jayson as he got up, blood trickling down his cheek.
'You ruined my coat!' Seifer yelled.
'I might have ruined your face if you don't get to the medical room soon enough.' Jayson told him.
Seifer growled. 'I can't believe you beat me!'
'Well there's no-one to know except us and I'm not really bothered do find out so this secret's safe with me.' Jayson replied smiling.
'Anyway wouldn't look good if it got out I beat up my Squad Captain would it?' Jayson said grinning.
'Fine I won't ask you to a rematch, you might do my other side for me.' Seifer said sarcastically.
'Enjoy your time alone Jayson.' Seifer told him as he stalked out of the Training Centre in his usual confident way.
'Even Seifer's changed.' Jayson thought to himself.
'Before he would've got up and tried to fight me again or at least try and get me when I wasn't ready.'
Jayson turned from the path which Seifer went and walked slowly away waiting for Seifer to leap out on him, but after ten minutes he was disappointed that he didn't. Jayson found himself wandering into the 'Not- so-secret' place and was surprised to find it empty. He felt a hand on his shoulder and spun round his fists clenched at the ready.
'Whoa!' the figure grinned.
'Damn it Orion! I could've taken your head off!' Jayson told him.
Orion shrugged. 'You forget we're pretty invulnerable' he replied grinning.
In human form Orion was the same height as Jayson with a slightly muscular build. His eyes were an orange-yellow with blank pin-point pupils, he had long feathery white hair and wore a short sleeved golden jacket with white baggy pants. His skin was a golden tan and he walked barefoot. He looked like Aladdin with a much better tailor.
His wings ruffled behind him. 'You know that stunt with Seifer wasn't worth it.' Orion told him.
'Maybe. I guess I shouldn't have showed off huh?' Jayson replied.
'No it's not that. You've just probably made Seifer your number one friend now.' Orion told him grinning, his white serrated teeth glowing in the soft light.
'Oh shut up! Anyway don't you have a date with Siren tonight?' Jayson replied sarcastically and grinning as Orion blushed.
'Hey! You said you wouldn't bring that up!' Orion whined, a millennia old being reduced to a teenager.
'Well you stop winding me up and I'll stop mentioning your obsession with a certain blonde.' Jayson told him grinning.
'Fine.' Orion replied and faded away.
Jayson was left to gaze out across the ocean to the lights of Fisherman's Horizon in the distance. Jayson sighed and headed back to his room, dismayed he wasn't attacked in the process.
He took off his jacket and dropped it into a laundry basket before slipping his gloves off and dropping them into a basin of warm water to soak. He then washed the T-rexaur blood from his arm, kicking off his shoes as he made his way to his bed, sitting down and polishing Fixxer. After that he switched off the light and lay on his bed listening to the distant sounds of celebration.
Jealousy
He should be happy, he should be celebrating. Instead he sat here in a dark corner watching these happy, smiling faces, people laughing and dancing. He should be up there too, it was his party really, he was one of the three SeeDs that had graduated this field exam but no-one seemed to notice him or care. He could see Commander Leonhart dancing away with Rinoa Heartilly both of them smiling and gazing at each other.
Six months had passed since the fiasco with the Sorceress, just a period of six months had separated him from this and being one of the Great SeeDs, the heroes. No, Jayson Croft had to be the invisible one, just like Nida but worse, nobody ever looked twice at him, as if there was nothing exceptional about him.
He supposed it was because he didn't specialise in one type of combat like most cadets usually did. True he was skilled at using a gunblade but everyone was only interested in Squall's techniques. He was also well versed in martial arts and a few other weapons since he believed he should be able to adapt to any situation, but people just assumed he did so many things because he was no good at any particular one of them.
At a table in a well-lit part of the room Jayson could see Instructor Trepe enjoying a joke with one of the Librarians who was sat next to Zell Dinct. Zell was eating hotdogs like there was no tomorrow whilst a giggling Selphie Tilmitt sat on Irvine Kineas' lap playing with his cowboy hat.
It seemed like everyone had someone else except him, all he had was a drink and that was soon gone. Jayson decided to leave the party and headed for his dorm-room stripping off his stiff uniform and slipping into a pair of blue jeans and a black T-shirt over which he put on a black denim jacket.
He opened up a long black case and removed his gunblade Fixxer, his own customised blade with a slight hooked point at the end of the sword and a double-barrelled gunstock. It glistened in the light as he lay it out on his desk before he opened a drawer and selected a couple of daggers, sheathing them in his belt and then slipped on his gloves.
They were made of Blue dragon scales with pieces of Mesmerise horn at the knuckles, these he had also handmade from monsters he had slain in training.
Once satisfied he picked up Fixxer and made his way to the Training Centre. "Here we go again." A voice whispered in his head.
'What are you trying to say, Orion?' Jayson replied to the GF.
'Just that you always go to the Training Centre when you're feeling moody.' Orion replied.
'You just get annoyed because I don't summon you.' Jayson replied sarcastically.
"Whatever." Orion answered and disappeared.
Jayson checked his magic and junction before he entered the dense forest, creeping silently looking for anything to fight. He noticed a Grat eating the meat from a T-rexaur corpse and picked up some pebbles throwing them at the Grat making it turn.
He leapt out of the undergrowth at the Grat, spinning round, Fixxer fully extended, the barbed hooked end sinking into the woody flesh of the Grat making it shriek in pain.
Jayson easily pulled Fixxer out of the Grat and parried blows from the Grats tendril arms. Laughing, he flicked his wrists causing Fixxer's blade to turn and severed the tendrils. He then leapt up and brought Fixxer down slicing the Grat in half. He pulled Fixxer from the Grats corpse wiping its green blood from its blade with its leafy skin.
He was wondering what else there was when a T-rexaur lured by the smell of carrion, burst from the jungle. Jayson grinned and stuck Fixxer into the ground.
'I may as well let you play or you'll only moan at me right Orion?' he thought and summoned his GF.
Jayson vanished as Orion swept down from the sky, his pure white wings fully extended as he glided towards the T-rexaur. Orion was a Griffon, a lion's body with an eagle's wings, head and claws. He opened his beak, a burst of flame scorching the T-rexaur as Orion flipped round and turned to render the T-rexaur with his claws. Orion then vanished screeching gleefully and Jayson reappeared, rushing at the swaying monster, its scales blackened and long deep gouges in its sides.
He balled his fists and ducked under its legs, kicking off one of them to push him up to the T-rexaurs body allowing him to thrust his fist deep into one of the gouges. Red blood flowed down his arm as he forced his fist deeper, cutting through muscle and felt it connect with bone. He grabbed hold of the rib, pushing himself away from the T-rexaurs body so he hung beneath it, swinging, concentrating all his weight and strength on the rib until he heard it creak and finally break.
At this point Jayson swings from it flipping his body backwards allowing his feet to connect with the broken rib and force it up into the lungs. He dropped to the floor crouching as the T-rexaur roared in agony, blood spraying from its mouth and it fell over to one side. Jayson stood up running a hand through his sweat-drenched short dark hair, breathing slowly as he watched the T-rexaur take its final breaths.
He was then aware of applause. He turned and saw a tall blonde man leaning against a tree, his long off-white trench-coat, tattered at the botton and red crosses on the arms.
'Well done' the man said slightly sarcastically.
'What do you want Seifer?' Jayson replied mildly.
'Me? Nothing. Can't I congratulate a new SeeD?' he replied grinning.
'Then congratulate yourself, you also passed today' Jayson told him walking over to Fixxer.
'Yeah well I don't need to do that when I got friends to do it for me. I just figured you'd need a friend to congratulate you.' Seifer answered.
Jayson clenched his fists in anger but managed to keep his voice level 'I don't need friends to congratulate me and follow me like sheep.'
'Tough words Jayson but you can't tell me you're enjoying the loner act? Even Squall gave that up!' Seifer retorted.
'Well Squall also gave up sparring with you when he realised you were too easy.' Jayson snapped.
'Nice. Insults now. I must have touched a nerve. So you want to try me?' Seifer replied grinning and setting himself in a stance, Hyperion at the ready.
'Why not, I need a little more exercise before I start on a few more T- rexaurs' Jayson replied gripping Fixxer and pulling it up.
'Silence!' Jayson quickly cried, smiling at Seifer's surprised expression.
'Just so you don't go using magic now. I don't think a scar would suit me.' Jayson told him and started his attack.
Seifer stepped back bringing Hyperion up to catch a blow from Fixxer. Still recoiling from the surprise of Jaysons silencing trick, Seifer had to weave to one side to dodge another strike as Jayson used the deflection off Hyperion to bring Fixxer past his face in an arc.
As Fixxers blade arced downwards Seifer used this to press his own attack swiping at Jayson's torso. Jayson reflexively brought his knee up to catch Hyperion's flat blade between his knee and elbow, snapping out a kick into Seifers shin. Seifer pulled Hyperion free grimacing slightly in pain. As Seifer stepped back Fixxers blade whirled passed him its hooked end tearing his coat. Enraged Seifer swung Hyperion diagonally up across Jayson's body but Jayson had Fixxer ready and tilted it as Hyperion moved upwards, the blades sliding along one another until Hyperion caught in Fixxers hook and the two were locked together, Seifer giving a quick tug to try and break free.
Jayson pushed down on Hyperion trying to force it down but Seifer was holding him up and started pushing back. He then snapped his elbow so that the motion of the pushing let it swing and connect with Seifer's jaw.
Seifer staggered back his grip loosening on Hyperion allowing Jayson to let go of Fixxer and hit Seifer with a backhand blow, the mesmerise horn slashing his cheek. Jayson then planted his foot behind Seifer's and swept him, another technique he'd learnt from Escrima.
Seifer fell onto his back breathing heavily, mouthing curses at Jayson, Hyperion lying beside him.
'Esuna!' Jayson said and was welcomed with a torrent of curse words.
'Had enough Seifer?' Jayson asked keeping his distance and keeping an eye on Seifer for any underhand tricks.
'Damn you!' Seifer yelled glaring at Jayson as he got up, blood trickling down his cheek.
'You ruined my coat!' Seifer yelled.
'I might have ruined your face if you don't get to the medical room soon enough.' Jayson told him.
Seifer growled. 'I can't believe you beat me!'
'Well there's no-one to know except us and I'm not really bothered do find out so this secret's safe with me.' Jayson replied smiling.
'Anyway wouldn't look good if it got out I beat up my Squad Captain would it?' Jayson said grinning.
'Fine I won't ask you to a rematch, you might do my other side for me.' Seifer said sarcastically.
'Enjoy your time alone Jayson.' Seifer told him as he stalked out of the Training Centre in his usual confident way.
'Even Seifer's changed.' Jayson thought to himself.
'Before he would've got up and tried to fight me again or at least try and get me when I wasn't ready.'
Jayson turned from the path which Seifer went and walked slowly away waiting for Seifer to leap out on him, but after ten minutes he was disappointed that he didn't. Jayson found himself wandering into the 'Not- so-secret' place and was surprised to find it empty. He felt a hand on his shoulder and spun round his fists clenched at the ready.
'Whoa!' the figure grinned.
'Damn it Orion! I could've taken your head off!' Jayson told him.
Orion shrugged. 'You forget we're pretty invulnerable' he replied grinning.
In human form Orion was the same height as Jayson with a slightly muscular build. His eyes were an orange-yellow with blank pin-point pupils, he had long feathery white hair and wore a short sleeved golden jacket with white baggy pants. His skin was a golden tan and he walked barefoot. He looked like Aladdin with a much better tailor.
His wings ruffled behind him. 'You know that stunt with Seifer wasn't worth it.' Orion told him.
'Maybe. I guess I shouldn't have showed off huh?' Jayson replied.
'No it's not that. You've just probably made Seifer your number one friend now.' Orion told him grinning, his white serrated teeth glowing in the soft light.
'Oh shut up! Anyway don't you have a date with Siren tonight?' Jayson replied sarcastically and grinning as Orion blushed.
'Hey! You said you wouldn't bring that up!' Orion whined, a millennia old being reduced to a teenager.
'Well you stop winding me up and I'll stop mentioning your obsession with a certain blonde.' Jayson told him grinning.
'Fine.' Orion replied and faded away.
Jayson was left to gaze out across the ocean to the lights of Fisherman's Horizon in the distance. Jayson sighed and headed back to his room, dismayed he wasn't attacked in the process.
He took off his jacket and dropped it into a laundry basket before slipping his gloves off and dropping them into a basin of warm water to soak. He then washed the T-rexaur blood from his arm, kicking off his shoes as he made his way to his bed, sitting down and polishing Fixxer. After that he switched off the light and lay on his bed listening to the distant sounds of celebration.