Author's Note: Sorry if there are any grammar or spelling mistakes or if the story just plain sucks. I'm writing this at two in the morning and I'm trying not to fall asleep. Just to add some variety to my dull, sleepless night, I'm going to type this entire chapter while standing up and not looking at the screen. I'll proofread it later. Read on.
Disclaimer: See chapter 2 and whatnot.
Leon sat on the edge of a window looking over the rundown castle, brooding. Why was it that Zell always made him so angry? Sure, they had grown to be friends on their journey, even to the point where they felt a certain brotherhood, but there was always that one time when Zell had to be an ass. What right did he have to do that? None at all. It didn't make any sense.
Suddenly, Zell appeared from behind Leon and sat down next to him. "Hey," was all he said. When met with a stony silence from his friend, he continued.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I did. It was wrong and immature and I was way out of line.
"Some friend I am. First time I see you in years, and right off the bat, I piss you off. I'm such a jerk," he finished. After a few seconds of silence, Leon responded.
"I know what you're doing, and I appreciate it. I just…need to be alone for a while longer."
"Sure thing, Squall," Zell said, standing up to leave.
"And don't call me Squall."
"Why not? It's your name."
"No, my name is Leon now."
"Um, no, you're name is Squall, and if you don't cut it out with this Leon shit, I'm gonna kick you're ass."
"Squall is the name of a hero. I don't deserve it, and I won't until I atone for the sins of my past."
"The sins of your past? Isn't that a bit melodramatic, Squall? What you did wasn't that bad, and it had to be done."
"I left all of Garden to die while I went off on my own selfish quest!"
"In case you don't remember, I told you to go. All of us did. The Headmaster even threatened to dock your pay if you didn't. If you hadn't gone, you would never have forgiven yourself. Your quest wasn't selfish. Finding your father was important to you. It was important to all of us."
"Garden would still be standing if I hadn't left."
"We can rebuild Garden! We can rebuild our lives. We can't rebuild a family so easily. If you hadn't gone, we would have disowned you as a coward. Wanting your family isn't a sin. Abandoning them is."
"I abandoned you. I abandoned our home and our friends and everything we've ever known. Tell me that isn't a sin."
"We told you to go. A choice was offered, you made a decision. I think it was the right one. Squall, you followed your heart. That's the least sinful thing anyone can ever do."
"Quit calling me Squall!"
"You say you don't deserve that name. You say it only fits a hero. I say it fits no one else better.
"You say you are no hero. I say look at what you've done here. I saw the pictures from before, I've heard the stories. The people here look up to you, Squall, as they do back home.
"You say you are no hero. I say you could never pass up the chance to help someone in need. That's what you did back home. That's what you're doing here.
"You say you are no hero, but I say you've always been one to me." With that, Zell turned to go.
"Oh, one more thing," he said before leaving his friend to his thoughts. "Irvine says hi."
Author's End Notes: Sorry it's so short, people. But you must remember, it's three in the morning, I'm tired, I'm hungry, the screen is changing colors on me, and I have a major craving for a pillow and a blanket. So I'm going to tell you to never stay up all night, go get some sleep, and leave you to your reading. See you next update.