Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Squaresoft nor the concept.
Authors Note: again I've made a huge break between the chapters and for that I apologize. I'll try not to slip this time and I like to thank ice dagger for giving me the spark to continue.
A red colour
Zell felt utterly sad, walking around in his dorm searching for clothes and other things that could be good to have on a tramping trip. He looked around and everywhere he turned he could se memories of Sophie what he had done with her. A pillow red to the colour was one of his fondest memories, she had given that pillow to him on his birthday when no one else had remembered his birthday. That day they had just been lying down on the pillow and talked for hours. That day was perfect that was the day when they had become a couple. Zell smiled sad smile, and stuffed the pillow in his backpack. The sofa in the corner had been their favourite spot to make out in. Zell could almost taste her lips just thinking of it. Soft and moist. Man I'm I a dork but he felt that was the right thing to do just to push her away, now he wasn't good to anyone. Today his hair was in a mess, not the ordinary spiky haircut he usually wore, nor did he have his baggy shorts on him. Instead he had a couple of worn out jeans and a white T-shirt. He looked like a bum, but actually he didn't care. He sighed and started pacing around again, looking over the dorm one last time before he left for the train station. He took a deep breath and said god bye to his home and departed. As he walked in the garden towards the exit he marvelled at his home looking at all the people he felt kind of sad leaving it all, but he knew that he couldn't go on like this, he had lost his discipline he needed to find out what ailed him. I need to find out what's missing me fast, so that I can return and set things right again As he walked down the corridor he bumped in to someone, he raised his head and his expression went from depressed to grave like depressed. Before him stood a little fragile creature 5'4 or so with brown hair in a pigtail with her fist balled up on her sides. "Zell Dincht you're not taking another step until you have told me what this is about" She had a dangerously low tone, and her eyebrows were lowered and her eyes were red of tears. "Sorry Sophie right now I can't deal with anyone, can't think straight" he shook his head and turned his head to the side so that she wouldn't see his eyes, they were full of tears. "But I'm truly sorry if I hurt you but I thought it was for the best" Two slender palms folded around his cheeks and to green eyes stared right into his. "You dummy you can't make me run from you, but if you really have to go then please come back" Her voice was soft and very sincere. Zell smiled he didn't feel so sad that he had felt jus moments ago he grabbed her wrists gently and set them down, then he gave her a kiss. For a few brief moments his inner turmoil subsided and he felt at ease. He could have stayed that way forever but Sophie withdrew and held his hand. In his palm he felt soft and smooth fabric, when he looked down he saw that she had given him a bandana, red to the colour. "My father used to wear this in the Galbadian war when Eshtar and Galbadia was at war, you know when Laguna was active in the war" She swallowed before she could continue "He too was an martial artist, and he would never leave home without it" Zell tried to speak "Soph" A little finger came up against his lips "Please Zell let me finish" So he kept his mouth shut and listened. "He never came back from the war." It was obvious to Zell that this was a very emotional thing to talk about. Sophie was near tears so he held her and finished her sentence "Hey I'll be proud to wear it and I'll never lose it, this way I'll always remember you and what I left behind. "Trust me I will return to you never doubt that" His love was sobbing she lifted her face to look at him "Please hurry back Zell, I don't want to lose you like my father" He smiled back at her and gave her a quick kiss "Don't worry I will be back, I haven't resigned from Garden I'm just taking my vacation" She smiled faintly and stepped away from him "Go now I don't want you o see my cry" Zell looked at his pigtailed library girl and tried to absorb as much as possible from the girl that stood in front of him. He absorbed the way she looked the way she was standing the way she moved, the way she would frown with her left eyebrow when she was upset, the way she smiled, the way she talked. Zell tried to absorb everything and put in a place in his mind that would never forget her. He caressed her cheek while he was passing her and started walking for the exit. He tried to smile at his memories of her and happy moments that they had spent together. Looking down on his feet and kept walking forward, he didn't look up once the memories were too painful and he cherished this place too much to look at it. He made his way to the train station and bought a ticket that would take him to Winhill. I don't know where to go but that place seems as good as any other While he stood there his train arrived a bit late but to him it didn't matter. I got a whole year a minute or two doesn't matter Zell could clearly hear the speakers announce that all the passengers that would get should please do so now and the passengers for Winhill and Timber should get on now. A short moment afterwards it became really crowded while people from the station was trying to get on and the people from the train tried to get off, to Zell it didn't matter he wasn't in a rush. So he waited for the crowd to disperse, he looked at the people that got on and of the train and wondered at the many different people that the world could offer. Suddenly he saw a very familiar grey coat and a woman with an eye patch that was dressed in blue and a pair of black pants. Whoa Seifer and Fujin, wonder what they're doing here Raijin can't be far away He shrugged on his shoulders and got on the train. They aren't my problem, let somebody else take care of it With that thought he got on the train and started looking for his compartment. As he searched through the train he got to a wagon that might hold his compartment he saw a brown muscular man in front of him. The other man scratched his head and looked like was in a dilemma. Zell sighed and decided that he better try to convince Raijin that he should talk to Seifer to nothing stupid He probably wont listen but anyway I've tried So he snuck up on Raijin and dragged him along the wagon.
***
"Dollet train station" At the speakers' voice Seifer rose from his couch in the small compartment in the train, as he rose his two friends rose. They had been quite for most of the trip pondering and just because there were nothing to say. Raijin scratched his head and slumped a bit he was starving he hadn't eaten since that last meal they had had in Balamb. Seifer started walking towards the exit and Fujin followed. Raijin stood there for a while and wondered if he shouldn't eat something. He got quite scared when a hard hand dragged him along the wagon, Raijin he turned around and was just about to complain about Fujins rudeness. Instead he choked on his words. Standing behind was a completely different Zell, Raijin could barley recognized him. Before him stood a blonde man with a tattoo on his face with long strands of hair cascading down his shoulders and bandana, red to the colour, held up the hair on his forehead. Instead of his usual outfit he whore a pair of jeans and a tight white T- shirt, Raijin could see that although he was muscular Zell could easily match his strength if not surpass it. Raijin could see sadness in the other mans eyes, and barley controlled anger. "Hi Zell nice to meet ya" at first the martial artist didn't respond then he sighed and looked at the taller man "Yeah nice to meet you to Raijin" then he got a stern look on his face "Don't cause any problems ok, it will only lead to more sorrow you know" The brown man put up his hands defensively "Hey ya know where only here to find Quistis then we're outta here ya know, we won't cause any problems" Zell tilted his head a bit and frowned very much like Squall. "And that isn't to cause problems?" Raijin slumped a bit, always they were misunderstood when one were trying to do good people seemed to think the worst. "Hey look Seifer knows she's in trouble ok? We're here to help here, save her from any dangers ya know?" The tall man got a pleading look on his face, like wanted to force the shorter man to understand. The facial expression of the shorter man changed "Well if you say so and you really seem to mean it, so I won't stop you I won't even report it" They were interrupted by a harsh voice "As if you could stop me chickenwuss" They turned around and saw Seifer standing before them flanked by a vicious Fujin. Zell could only shake his head "Yeah that's probably right Seifer" the usually cheerful martial artist slumped his head and started walking away from him. Seifer had not expected Zell to back down from the verbal challenge, and got a bit confused. "Hey Chickenwuss don't even want to know what I'm up to?" Zell turned around and looked a little bit annoyed "I really don't care Seifer as long as you leave me out of it ok?" Seifer frowned a bit this wasn't the Zell that he used to know, the Zell he used to know was cheerful and very considerate about his surroundings. And he was very nosy especially when Seifer was involved but now Zells eye was clouded and he seemed very sad and confused. Something was very wrong with him. "Since when did I get considerate?" He thought about and then pointed his attention towards Zell "Are you okay Zell? You don't seem to feel so good" In response he got a faint smile and the tattooed man verbalised his thoughts "Since when did you become considerate Seifer?" Seifer didn't know if it was for the better but he told the other man as it was how much he had changed. "I've changed Zell a whole lot, since the sorceress affair I've matured and changed in many ways" He got sad when he thought about Garden and how badly he wanted another chance. The martial artist crossed his arms and responded "We have all changed Seifer some for the better some for the worse." Take me for example, I've changed a whole lot Seifer I don't enjoy eating hotdogs as I used to and I've become broody, I can't even reminisce something of the old Zell I don't even know if Garden is the right place for me" Seifer nodded in acknowledgement . He understood what the other man was going through he had been there not knowing what do where he belong no goals. All I can do now is give him support he must find his own way like I did, like I'm doing Seifer smiled at the sad man and patted him on the shoulder "Hey let me know when you found what you're looking for and then maybe we can take up the old feud" with those words he held out his hand and smiled. At first Zell seemed at bit startled but then he grinned. He understood that Seifer knew the confusion he felt and that he had to come to terms with his inner demons before he could go on. But most importantly Seifer had offered him a truce and maybe friendship, that was something that he had least expected from him. So he took Seifers hand and shook it. "Yeah I'll let you know when I find what I'm looking for" Zell looked at the other man suspiciously "Hey Seifer what ARE you doing here anyway?" Seifer look darkened Zell couldn't tell if he got mad at him or something else "chill man, maybe I can help you?" Seifer looked at Zell and saw that he really meant it he was good at reading people. "Maybe you can Zell maybe you can" He took a deep breath before he continued and then he looked the other man deep in the eyes challenging him to insult him when he said "Do you know where Quistis is, I need to know where I can find her" The other man looked at him first dumbstruck then he grinned, Seifer could se mirth in his face. "I knew you had a soft spot for her all the teasing was just a wall not to let her know your inner feelings" Seifer jaw dropped. Obviously he wasn't the only one that was good at reading people. The usually spiky young was right he realized, he had always had some what of a crush on his instructor but he had said some very bad things about her just not to let her know. Under that period of time he couldn't admit that he was in love with his teacher. Seifer felt ashamed when he remember that time when they had gone to Dollet on their exam, he had said that she was fit to be an instructor that must have really hurt her. He slumped with his and shoulders and felt very small. Seifer cleared his throat and looked around and he saw Fujin and Raijin was looking at him with some pity some understanding but most of all love, love between friends. "Hey know it's not the reason why I'm seeking her, I need to know because she might be danger" Zell got a funny look on his face "So Seifer is going to be her knight in shining armour" Zell could not know how close he was to the truth. Seifer blushed a bit "Yeah something like that" He managed to respond "So?" Zell seemed a bit confused scratching his head "So.. what?" Seifer slapped his forehead with a open palm in disgust "So where is she do you know where she is?" The other man seemed a bit taken and suddenly the sorrow in his eyes were there again. "She isn't at Garden she has resigned from Seed I don't know where she went" Seifer face turned pale then red with anger, not directed towards Zelll but to himself "We should have been here earlier" then he went on with a lot of "should" "done" until he was ready to explode. Fujin and Raijin just looked at him at loss what to do, Zell looked at them and shook his head took two steps and slapped Seifer hard over the face, when Seifer turned his enraged look towards Zell he looked ready to kill him. Fujin and Raijin was ready to him down. Zell felt butterflies in his stomach when he met Seifer look but still something had to be done. "Hey hey hey listen to me!!" He screamed, Seifer stopped right in his tracks "It doesn't help to get hysterical" The words seemed to get to Seifers mind and blade wielder calmed down, a bit. "I have no clue to where she is now she could be around half the globe of what I know" Zell took a very familiar pose although it wasn't his it was Squalls broody antisocial pose. It almost made Seifer laugh it didn't suit Zell on bit. "What I know Quistis resigned yesterday so she couldn't have gotten far. And cheapest way of getting out of here is by train, so I would suggest that go the train station office and see if they have some information" Seifer just stared at the other man in disbelief. He couldn't believe that Zell just said, under that façade of innocence there was a tacticians wit and leader. He looked at his POSSE and they looked back informing that they were ready to go whenever he was ready to, and he was ready to go. Every minute was important they were behind so if they would have a chance of catching up they had to go now. Seifer really wanted to help Zell but there was no time all he could was say thanks and say some soothing words. He his whole composure said that he was thankful when he turned around to face Zell "Thanks Zell I really appreciate the information, and as much as I like to stay with you and help you find yourself I can't, but you'll manage believe me men like us always do" Seifer gave him his best smile and ran off the train as fast as he could with his friends right behind him. He left a smiling and much more eased Zell, in wagon with a compartment red to the colour.
Authors Note: again I've made a huge break between the chapters and for that I apologize. I'll try not to slip this time and I like to thank ice dagger for giving me the spark to continue.
A red colour
Zell felt utterly sad, walking around in his dorm searching for clothes and other things that could be good to have on a tramping trip. He looked around and everywhere he turned he could se memories of Sophie what he had done with her. A pillow red to the colour was one of his fondest memories, she had given that pillow to him on his birthday when no one else had remembered his birthday. That day they had just been lying down on the pillow and talked for hours. That day was perfect that was the day when they had become a couple. Zell smiled sad smile, and stuffed the pillow in his backpack. The sofa in the corner had been their favourite spot to make out in. Zell could almost taste her lips just thinking of it. Soft and moist. Man I'm I a dork but he felt that was the right thing to do just to push her away, now he wasn't good to anyone. Today his hair was in a mess, not the ordinary spiky haircut he usually wore, nor did he have his baggy shorts on him. Instead he had a couple of worn out jeans and a white T-shirt. He looked like a bum, but actually he didn't care. He sighed and started pacing around again, looking over the dorm one last time before he left for the train station. He took a deep breath and said god bye to his home and departed. As he walked in the garden towards the exit he marvelled at his home looking at all the people he felt kind of sad leaving it all, but he knew that he couldn't go on like this, he had lost his discipline he needed to find out what ailed him. I need to find out what's missing me fast, so that I can return and set things right again As he walked down the corridor he bumped in to someone, he raised his head and his expression went from depressed to grave like depressed. Before him stood a little fragile creature 5'4 or so with brown hair in a pigtail with her fist balled up on her sides. "Zell Dincht you're not taking another step until you have told me what this is about" She had a dangerously low tone, and her eyebrows were lowered and her eyes were red of tears. "Sorry Sophie right now I can't deal with anyone, can't think straight" he shook his head and turned his head to the side so that she wouldn't see his eyes, they were full of tears. "But I'm truly sorry if I hurt you but I thought it was for the best" Two slender palms folded around his cheeks and to green eyes stared right into his. "You dummy you can't make me run from you, but if you really have to go then please come back" Her voice was soft and very sincere. Zell smiled he didn't feel so sad that he had felt jus moments ago he grabbed her wrists gently and set them down, then he gave her a kiss. For a few brief moments his inner turmoil subsided and he felt at ease. He could have stayed that way forever but Sophie withdrew and held his hand. In his palm he felt soft and smooth fabric, when he looked down he saw that she had given him a bandana, red to the colour. "My father used to wear this in the Galbadian war when Eshtar and Galbadia was at war, you know when Laguna was active in the war" She swallowed before she could continue "He too was an martial artist, and he would never leave home without it" Zell tried to speak "Soph" A little finger came up against his lips "Please Zell let me finish" So he kept his mouth shut and listened. "He never came back from the war." It was obvious to Zell that this was a very emotional thing to talk about. Sophie was near tears so he held her and finished her sentence "Hey I'll be proud to wear it and I'll never lose it, this way I'll always remember you and what I left behind. "Trust me I will return to you never doubt that" His love was sobbing she lifted her face to look at him "Please hurry back Zell, I don't want to lose you like my father" He smiled back at her and gave her a quick kiss "Don't worry I will be back, I haven't resigned from Garden I'm just taking my vacation" She smiled faintly and stepped away from him "Go now I don't want you o see my cry" Zell looked at his pigtailed library girl and tried to absorb as much as possible from the girl that stood in front of him. He absorbed the way she looked the way she was standing the way she moved, the way she would frown with her left eyebrow when she was upset, the way she smiled, the way she talked. Zell tried to absorb everything and put in a place in his mind that would never forget her. He caressed her cheek while he was passing her and started walking for the exit. He tried to smile at his memories of her and happy moments that they had spent together. Looking down on his feet and kept walking forward, he didn't look up once the memories were too painful and he cherished this place too much to look at it. He made his way to the train station and bought a ticket that would take him to Winhill. I don't know where to go but that place seems as good as any other While he stood there his train arrived a bit late but to him it didn't matter. I got a whole year a minute or two doesn't matter Zell could clearly hear the speakers announce that all the passengers that would get should please do so now and the passengers for Winhill and Timber should get on now. A short moment afterwards it became really crowded while people from the station was trying to get on and the people from the train tried to get off, to Zell it didn't matter he wasn't in a rush. So he waited for the crowd to disperse, he looked at the people that got on and of the train and wondered at the many different people that the world could offer. Suddenly he saw a very familiar grey coat and a woman with an eye patch that was dressed in blue and a pair of black pants. Whoa Seifer and Fujin, wonder what they're doing here Raijin can't be far away He shrugged on his shoulders and got on the train. They aren't my problem, let somebody else take care of it With that thought he got on the train and started looking for his compartment. As he searched through the train he got to a wagon that might hold his compartment he saw a brown muscular man in front of him. The other man scratched his head and looked like was in a dilemma. Zell sighed and decided that he better try to convince Raijin that he should talk to Seifer to nothing stupid He probably wont listen but anyway I've tried So he snuck up on Raijin and dragged him along the wagon.
***
"Dollet train station" At the speakers' voice Seifer rose from his couch in the small compartment in the train, as he rose his two friends rose. They had been quite for most of the trip pondering and just because there were nothing to say. Raijin scratched his head and slumped a bit he was starving he hadn't eaten since that last meal they had had in Balamb. Seifer started walking towards the exit and Fujin followed. Raijin stood there for a while and wondered if he shouldn't eat something. He got quite scared when a hard hand dragged him along the wagon, Raijin he turned around and was just about to complain about Fujins rudeness. Instead he choked on his words. Standing behind was a completely different Zell, Raijin could barley recognized him. Before him stood a blonde man with a tattoo on his face with long strands of hair cascading down his shoulders and bandana, red to the colour, held up the hair on his forehead. Instead of his usual outfit he whore a pair of jeans and a tight white T- shirt, Raijin could see that although he was muscular Zell could easily match his strength if not surpass it. Raijin could see sadness in the other mans eyes, and barley controlled anger. "Hi Zell nice to meet ya" at first the martial artist didn't respond then he sighed and looked at the taller man "Yeah nice to meet you to Raijin" then he got a stern look on his face "Don't cause any problems ok, it will only lead to more sorrow you know" The brown man put up his hands defensively "Hey ya know where only here to find Quistis then we're outta here ya know, we won't cause any problems" Zell tilted his head a bit and frowned very much like Squall. "And that isn't to cause problems?" Raijin slumped a bit, always they were misunderstood when one were trying to do good people seemed to think the worst. "Hey look Seifer knows she's in trouble ok? We're here to help here, save her from any dangers ya know?" The tall man got a pleading look on his face, like wanted to force the shorter man to understand. The facial expression of the shorter man changed "Well if you say so and you really seem to mean it, so I won't stop you I won't even report it" They were interrupted by a harsh voice "As if you could stop me chickenwuss" They turned around and saw Seifer standing before them flanked by a vicious Fujin. Zell could only shake his head "Yeah that's probably right Seifer" the usually cheerful martial artist slumped his head and started walking away from him. Seifer had not expected Zell to back down from the verbal challenge, and got a bit confused. "Hey Chickenwuss don't even want to know what I'm up to?" Zell turned around and looked a little bit annoyed "I really don't care Seifer as long as you leave me out of it ok?" Seifer frowned a bit this wasn't the Zell that he used to know, the Zell he used to know was cheerful and very considerate about his surroundings. And he was very nosy especially when Seifer was involved but now Zells eye was clouded and he seemed very sad and confused. Something was very wrong with him. "Since when did I get considerate?" He thought about and then pointed his attention towards Zell "Are you okay Zell? You don't seem to feel so good" In response he got a faint smile and the tattooed man verbalised his thoughts "Since when did you become considerate Seifer?" Seifer didn't know if it was for the better but he told the other man as it was how much he had changed. "I've changed Zell a whole lot, since the sorceress affair I've matured and changed in many ways" He got sad when he thought about Garden and how badly he wanted another chance. The martial artist crossed his arms and responded "We have all changed Seifer some for the better some for the worse." Take me for example, I've changed a whole lot Seifer I don't enjoy eating hotdogs as I used to and I've become broody, I can't even reminisce something of the old Zell I don't even know if Garden is the right place for me" Seifer nodded in acknowledgement . He understood what the other man was going through he had been there not knowing what do where he belong no goals. All I can do now is give him support he must find his own way like I did, like I'm doing Seifer smiled at the sad man and patted him on the shoulder "Hey let me know when you found what you're looking for and then maybe we can take up the old feud" with those words he held out his hand and smiled. At first Zell seemed at bit startled but then he grinned. He understood that Seifer knew the confusion he felt and that he had to come to terms with his inner demons before he could go on. But most importantly Seifer had offered him a truce and maybe friendship, that was something that he had least expected from him. So he took Seifers hand and shook it. "Yeah I'll let you know when I find what I'm looking for" Zell looked at the other man suspiciously "Hey Seifer what ARE you doing here anyway?" Seifer look darkened Zell couldn't tell if he got mad at him or something else "chill man, maybe I can help you?" Seifer looked at Zell and saw that he really meant it he was good at reading people. "Maybe you can Zell maybe you can" He took a deep breath before he continued and then he looked the other man deep in the eyes challenging him to insult him when he said "Do you know where Quistis is, I need to know where I can find her" The other man looked at him first dumbstruck then he grinned, Seifer could se mirth in his face. "I knew you had a soft spot for her all the teasing was just a wall not to let her know your inner feelings" Seifer jaw dropped. Obviously he wasn't the only one that was good at reading people. The usually spiky young was right he realized, he had always had some what of a crush on his instructor but he had said some very bad things about her just not to let her know. Under that period of time he couldn't admit that he was in love with his teacher. Seifer felt ashamed when he remember that time when they had gone to Dollet on their exam, he had said that she was fit to be an instructor that must have really hurt her. He slumped with his and shoulders and felt very small. Seifer cleared his throat and looked around and he saw Fujin and Raijin was looking at him with some pity some understanding but most of all love, love between friends. "Hey know it's not the reason why I'm seeking her, I need to know because she might be danger" Zell got a funny look on his face "So Seifer is going to be her knight in shining armour" Zell could not know how close he was to the truth. Seifer blushed a bit "Yeah something like that" He managed to respond "So?" Zell seemed a bit confused scratching his head "So.. what?" Seifer slapped his forehead with a open palm in disgust "So where is she do you know where she is?" The other man seemed a bit taken and suddenly the sorrow in his eyes were there again. "She isn't at Garden she has resigned from Seed I don't know where she went" Seifer face turned pale then red with anger, not directed towards Zelll but to himself "We should have been here earlier" then he went on with a lot of "should" "done" until he was ready to explode. Fujin and Raijin just looked at him at loss what to do, Zell looked at them and shook his head took two steps and slapped Seifer hard over the face, when Seifer turned his enraged look towards Zell he looked ready to kill him. Fujin and Raijin was ready to him down. Zell felt butterflies in his stomach when he met Seifer look but still something had to be done. "Hey hey hey listen to me!!" He screamed, Seifer stopped right in his tracks "It doesn't help to get hysterical" The words seemed to get to Seifers mind and blade wielder calmed down, a bit. "I have no clue to where she is now she could be around half the globe of what I know" Zell took a very familiar pose although it wasn't his it was Squalls broody antisocial pose. It almost made Seifer laugh it didn't suit Zell on bit. "What I know Quistis resigned yesterday so she couldn't have gotten far. And cheapest way of getting out of here is by train, so I would suggest that go the train station office and see if they have some information" Seifer just stared at the other man in disbelief. He couldn't believe that Zell just said, under that façade of innocence there was a tacticians wit and leader. He looked at his POSSE and they looked back informing that they were ready to go whenever he was ready to, and he was ready to go. Every minute was important they were behind so if they would have a chance of catching up they had to go now. Seifer really wanted to help Zell but there was no time all he could was say thanks and say some soothing words. He his whole composure said that he was thankful when he turned around to face Zell "Thanks Zell I really appreciate the information, and as much as I like to stay with you and help you find yourself I can't, but you'll manage believe me men like us always do" Seifer gave him his best smile and ran off the train as fast as he could with his friends right behind him. He left a smiling and much more eased Zell, in wagon with a compartment red to the colour.