Chapter 53: How Relationships Work

"He's still not opening the door," Selphie frowned as she sat down at the table. Most of us were sitting having dinner. Quistis, Vanadium and Squall had to work on the bridge and no one really asked why he had come back with a burst nose but we all suspected it was something to do with Dante.

"Fucking idiot's been acting strange," Zell grumbled. You are lucky Vanadium is helping the Commander at the moment I doubt he'd appreciate you calling Dante an idiot.

"His friends are all against him, wouldn't that hurt you?" Selphie defended. "Imagine having to fight all of us, wouldn't that upset you?"

"And he forced Fenrir from him," Lysander added in. "There's a strong possibility that it cause a certain amount of brain damage done to him."

"Still he's got no reason to be acting horribly to us," Rinoa's eyebrows were knitted together in anger. "He was so nice back at the party and now he's just a horrible meany."

"Missy watch what you're saying," Lysander warned. "You don't seem that hurt your boyfriend is on the enemy lines."

"He's not my boyfriend," She bit back.

"I understand how Dante feels though," I chipped in. "It's hard knowing you have to be on a side against your best friend. It happens and it hurts. Of course it happened to me through my own actions and it was more personal but I know how painful it is."

"How did you get through it?" Selphie asked. I flashed her a smile in response before giving her my answer.

"It's obviously different for everyone," I began. "I never regretted anything I did, not one thing. Everything happens for a reason so why regret it if it's significant?" I got through it my driving us both insane. The rape and murders and Fall From Grace drove me insane, the murder of his father drove Atrum Unus insane. I knew I was right. "I knew I was right. There is a certain amount of merit that goes with doing the right thing. Cheap and tacky to say, I know, but the cheap and tacky advice is sometimes the most helpful."

"Why don't you go and tell him that?" Maylin asked, having not spoken yet in the conversation. I looked over to see Lysander talking to Irvine, explaining what was really going on. How good it was to have a friend to confide in. Dante had lost that.

"He needs time alone," I answered. "I was in his place one. Solitude is sometimes the best thing one can have."

"Dante was the first person in the Garden to help me," Selphie spoke up. "He was really nice to me and gave me a tour of the Garden. He helped with the Garden Festival Committee as well. I know he didn't help with the concert but he did try to help."

"Then he did a one-eighty," Rinoa muttered.

"He's always been a dick to me because he was with Seifer," Zell stated. "He hates Squall as well, he's just always hated him. He got along with Quistis though."

"It seems his anger would often overpower his kindness," I sipped my tea after I had said that. "Has no one seen this pattern? The way he talks to Irvine, Lysander and myself is nothing but friendly. When it is Zell, Rinoa and Squall he tends to turn."

"Are you saying we're the problem?" Rinoa glared.

"Well there must be some underlying problems, obviously," I went on. "Now don't get me wrong, I am fond of each and every one of you lot, but for Dante that is different. I have seen the way he acts and often wonder why no one asks him what is wrong. I wonder if his friends even knew the problem?"

"What problem is it?" Maylin asked.

"Now that is where I stop and let you all reflect," I leant back in my chair, letting everyone stew. I took the chance to observe how they all thought, if they cared enough for the boy. It seemed as though we were just putting our differences aside and then things happened, Dante learned of his heritage and he's been going downhill ever since.

"This is stupid," Zell suddenly said. "Why can't we just ask him?"

"He's not going to pour out his feelings to us," Irvine stated. "We've tried it and he's not wanting to let anyone in. He seemed to be fine after Ly talked to him, like a high that he could relate to someone, now it's just plummeted."

"Then talk to him again," Maylin insisted to Lysander.

"I've said my bit," He answered. "Can't do anything else."

"I just don't get him at all," Rinoa said. "He's so temperamental and so defensive."

"Said pot to kettle," Lysander stated, making Rinoa glare at him.

"You're just as bad," She snapped.

"It's called puberty, maybe you should hit it sometime," He snapped back. It made Irvine shake his head and sigh.

"No matter what I do I still can't get him to talk to a lady politely," He said, making Lysander laugh.

"What can I say? I'm straight to the point," He replied. "Look how about we all just stop worrying for a little while? We won't get anywhere and Dante won't allow us to help him until he wants it, so maybe we should just focus on what to do next."

"Maybe Squall could take us to Trabia..." Selphie suggested quietly. "I mean, the Sorceress might not attack since it's in the mountains and all but... you know, it might be worth a look?"

"Well go ask Squall, I'm sure he will if our next move isn't decided," I smiled at her. There was a silence through us, as though nothing else had to be said. The dynamic in this team was so unstable yet it managed to work in an odd way.

Lysander and Irvine were a stable and supportive friendship while Vanadium, Quistis and Squall were a strong backbone people relied on. Selphie, Zell and Rinoa brought good support in and had a way of opening the more quiet ones up. Mayline, while she was new, managed to join that group. Then there's Dante. Now Lysander is the same as he riles people up something awful but Dante is a strong character but he is suppressed by other strong characters and is unable to shine through them as he is overlooked. I have never experienced that sort of inferiority but it is understandable that he feels suffocated here. Suffocated and alone. A shame as he has so much potential.

Me? I'm just the lucky bastard who's here to deliver unpleasant news and witty one-liners.