The Heart Which
Betrays
Screams...
A brilliant flash of
purple...then nothing...nothing at all...
Zazu shot up out of bed, breathing
heavily while the sweat ran in cold streams down his neck. Another night,
another nightmarish flashback to the death of one of his best friends. He
sighed, wondering how long he would have to live with these illusions...
With a heavy heart, he slid out of
bed in hopes of drowning his nightmares in a midnight drink. On his journey to
the homebound NSX's kitchen, he noticed a light under the door to the control
room. There was only one person who would be awake at such an ungodly hour...
"Geo...?" Zazu slid open the door
and tiptoed onto the deck. Geo was slumped
into
a chair, broad shoulders hunched thoughtfully over the main control panel,
giving the impression that he was much smaller than his muscular frame
suggested. "I hope...I hope I'm not interrupting anything...I can just leave
if..." he whispered, making a move towards the door.
"Nah...I'm not doing anything. Of
importance, anyways," came the reply just as softly. Geo spun his chair around
to face his young companion, removing the half-eaten sucker from his mouth. His
eyes were puffy from lack of sleep, and he was certainly in need of a good
shave. "So what's on your mind? Nightmares again?" Zazu looked at the floor and
muttered in the affirmative. Geo sighed. "Welcome to the club...Heh...I haven't
had a decent night's sleep since...well...since...you know..."
"I know it's much harder for you
though...seeing as you've known him since you were...wow...a kid," Zazu blinked
back the hot, saline sting of tears. "But you don't understand how...much it
hurts me too..."
Silence hung in the air for a
moment. Geo leaned forward and rested his powerful arms on his knees. "Yeah I
do. I'm sorry I haven't been the friend I should be, Zazu...I'm just really
distraught...but I know I don't have to tell you this..." He sighed and leaned
back in his swivel chair, struggling to feel comfortable. "I just can't help
but think....how much of this is my fault? How I could have prevented it..."
"But Geo...! You didn't do
anything!" Zazu tightened his hands into sturdy fists. The tears began to
stream down his face. "When you blame yourself...it hurts almost as much as
seeing you suffer like this. Ever since...Eagle...died....you've changed...I
mean, you haven't smiled since I don't know when..." His voice rose a few
decibels. "You have no reason to blame yourself, Geo! I don't know what led you
to believe that, but I wish you'd just snap out of it! No one else is accusing
you but yourself!"
Geo placed his hand on Zazu's
shoulder. "Don't waste your time worrying about me, kid. worry more about what
the general is going to have to say about our failure." Slowly, he ran his
fingers thorough his disheveled jet black hair. "I get the feeling he won't be
welcoming us back with open arms."
