I don't own ff8 and never will and shash I still reckon 8s better but yeah apart from that random note I don't own anything!
Except Zek, James, Hector, Tash and Julia so yeah I hate no claimers but I don't wish to be sued.
Chapter 22: Broken
Zek Loire woke the next morning at 6 am instead his of usual 8am, usually he would wake James or watch some TV ,but today was different he couldn't seem to get something out of his thoughts ,this was what had given him nightmares the night before and what awoke him at this hyne forsaken hour of the morning.
Zek instead lay on his bed admiring the newly aquaried griever necklace in fascination much like a small child with a new toy, he soon dragged himself up from the bed blankets to stand, it was freezing but he did not notice.
Afterwards Zek walked out of the room and peered into James dorm to his relief James was still fast asleep, Zek was in no mood to get into a conversation with anyone right now.
Zek soon went to the bathroom they shared and showered before getting changed into a pair of black and red track pants and a plain black muscle top while equipping a black belt with a scabbard around his waist, he wanted to blow off some steam in the training centre.
Before leaving he put the necklace Around his neck he would respect his Mother after what happened yesterday, as Zek walked towards the training centre he passed the Instructors who were the only ones crazy enough to be up at this hour.
"Good morning Zek" Instructor Blake greeted, Zek frowned then grunted "hi" in response the Instructor looked at him worried "Zek are you okay you seem different" Zek glared at him causing the Instructor to back away.
3 hours later
After defeating a few Grats, bite bugs and other various monsters Zek left the training centre still frustrated as to why he couldn't stop thinking about yesterday, was what his family thought so important.
After this he had gone to the Cafeteria to get some breakfast and was early for homeroom for once!
Zek didn't know how long he had waited for the others to turn up but cursed himself for forgetting his beloved laptop "what's up Zek" James blurted out seeing his friend ,Zek looked at him blankly "go away" Zek murmured shocking James quite a bit.
"Hey man what's going on why you acting so Squall like so sudden" James said questionably, Zek ignored James and soon Tash and Julia's pestering questions ,until finally an Instructor appeared in the room.
Much to their surprise it was Quistius "hello uh I suppose your wondering why I'm here instead of Instructor Aki well Instructor Aki has been moved to teaching an advanced Seed class and I've got my licence back so as of now I'm your Instructor "Quistius explained.
Zek frowned she was one of the only people to have actually figured out his secret, she had encountered him early on in the morning with it "yay we're actually be taught by the oh so great Instructor Trepe" trepie proclaimed receiving looks from everyone else.
Instructor Trepe frowned then reprimanded the trepie who accepted detention rather well "trepies are weird" Zek remarked getting nods from his friends who he was still ignoring.
"Okay class you have the field exam in 13 days now so I expect you all to study for it" Quistius lectured, everyone groaned except for the trepies and himself "when did you join her fan club" Julia remarked trying to get a response from Zek.
Soon homeroom was finished but everyone who had qualified for the actual practical exam had to stay behind for a two hour study hall this was how things were going to be ran until the exams with the exception of training sessions.
"Now I have written some of the examples of situations you may end up in remember Galibadia has yet to formally declare peace so be prepared for possible encounters with the Galibadian army again" Quistius explained.
Most people were now either really interested in what she had to say or just playing around on the network or message board "okay then heres an easy question name four different GFs used by seeds to fight?" Quistis asked the class.
Zek decide to pay attention for once ,after all It would distract him from the thoughts of who he was "Ifrit, Shiva, Diablo's and Doomtrain" he answered making the class go silent ,Zek was usually known for being one of the smartest students in garden but not for paying attention in class.
"Uh that's correct how about this one cadet Loire what is the strongest GF after Eden and Bahumet and something about it?"
Zek knew in an instant "Griever and he doesn't serve just anyone he also was what GF Ultimecia used" Zek answered for the sake of it "uh that's also correct are you feeling okay Zek" Quistius asked concerned.
Zek rolled his eyes "does it matter I got the answers correct" Zek remarked back sharply causing James and co to wince "okay Zeks definitely not okay" James said receiving a rare glance from Zek "he responds" Tash proclaimed in victory ,Zek did not reply and just continued answering the questions.
After class finished James walked up to him Tash closely behind "hey Zek you okay man you answered more questions then Julia" James asked, Zek walked off murmuring "just leave me alone".
Quistius however stopped Zek in his tracks "Zek I want to talk to you" she stated ignoring the ohs of other cadets who were leaving for break, Zek frowned but followed along anyway "can you hurry up I wanna be alone" he said bluntly.
"Zek I know your Squalls brother its obvious and why are we being all Squall like so suddenly ,what did they say to you yesterday and don't think I didn't notice the griever necklace around your neck" she pointed out.
Zek rolled his eyes skyward "I'm fine so just leave me alone okay I don't care who my brother or stupid family is okay I don't need it" Zek retorted angrily trying to avoid showing emotion.
Quistius tried to stop him but Zek walked straight past her "please don't cut yourself off like Squall did Zek" Quistius said as he left, Zek glared at her "I'm not squall so get over it" Zek yelled back storming off out the door.
At break
Zek did not join James, Tash and co for lunch which caused a lot of discussion between the friends "so let me get this straight Zek is doing what!" Hector exclaimed shocked by what he had just heard.
"He's really distant and swearing more then usual It's like we don't exist or something It's so…"James stated not being able to finish the sentence as Julia cut in "Squall like".
Tash soon joined in "yeah very Squall like only he used 5 word not one" Tash added causing a bit of laughter .It didn't last long as Hector and the others soon went quiet once more "its not funny this is bad he's reacting worse then I thought I think we're gonna need help with this" Julia stated.
The others agreed "but who Zek won't even respond to Tash and we all know he likes her" Hector pointed out, they thought then Julia came up with a brilliant plan "wait I know what we need" she proclaimed.
James looked at her impatiently "who then genius" James said, Julia glared at him "someone who knows about squall or a certain orphanage gang" she said slyly.
So the group then approached the Orphanage gang looking at them innocently "this is about Zek isn't it" Quistius asked seeing the concern on their faces, they all nodded "we were wondering" Julia started but stopped.
Rinoa and Squall had arrived at the table and were looking at them strangely, Selphie looked away from Irvine in interest "what's going on" she asked ,Julia thought about informing her but if she did the garden might as well know and Zek wouldn't be thanking her.
Quistius continued for her "they want Squalls help to talk Zek out of acting stoic" Quistius explained, Squall looked up confused "why me" Rinoa looked at him "because he's your brother Squall and he thinks no one loves him anyone can tell from the griever necklace he's wearing" Rinoa stated matter of factly. Squall scoffed but was elbowed by Rinoa "Squall if you don't I'll tell Ellone or I'll take your gunblade away" Rinoa threatened.
Squall shook his head but was ambushed a wave of glares "fine I'll do it but why didn't sis know of him" Squall asked, Hector then told them "ouch that would hurt no wonder he's so distant he must be heartbroken" Rinoa said feeling compassion for Squalls supposedly dead twin brother.
"We are so going to help hey does that make him technically one of us after all he is Ellones little brother" Selphie said loudly receiving interested looks from those around the room ,Hector slapped himself "you don't have to tell the world".
At Zeks dorm
Zek sat in his Dorm staring at the wall of the room deep in thought ,he had tried to play the Sims or listen to music but nothing would distract him from these thoughts "ugh I hate this so much" Zek muttered .
However just as Zek had begun to relax again, Zek heard a few knocks on the door "go away I don't want visitors" Zek yelled out, but the knocking continued "I told you go away!" Zek yelled loudly at the person at the door.
Zek then opened it expecting Julia or James but never Squall Leonhart at his door, Zek soon recovered from the shock and narrowed his eyes at his brother "what the fuck do you want" Zek demanded.
Squall rolled his eyes then looked at Rinoa, Zek groaned "if you're here to play commiserater don't even bother because you and I both know you're only being forced to by the orphanage gang" Zek stated bluntly.
Squall smirked slightly "tell me about it ,can you let me in at least" Squall muttered ,Zek stared at his brother for a bit longer then let Squall in sighing and muttering something about meddling friends.
"Uhh…."Squall started ,Zek turned off the tv and looked at Squall he was starting to feel sorry for his brother as squall was never for conversation "um hi" Squall said blankly unsure of how to start a conversation.
Zek glared at Squall "oh man uh this is really difficult" Zek started to say even he hated too much of this kind of awkward silence.
This went on for a while much to everyone else who was ease dropping disappointment "man this so boring" Zell whined ,Rinoa sighed "wow they really are twins neither can hold a conversation with each other kinda cute though" Rinoa commented.
Quistis sighed as the bell rang for classes to start again "well the bells gone I have to teach my new class so tell me if we make any progress later" she said leaving, James stopped her "what about Zek he's supposed to be in class isn't he" Quistius smiled kindly "I'll cut Zek some slack and I'll explain his absence to cid later but as for you" she started.
James scowled "come on he's my best friend I can't leave him like this" Quistius looked at him, Tash and Julia sternly "Cadet Seagill you really aren't at all like your father are you" Quistius pointed out.
James turned white at the mention of his father "uh no and how the hell you know my Dad" James blurted out, Zell cut in this time "he's Laguna's friend and a presidential aide so how you end up here anyway" Zell asked.
James never got the chance to reply as Julia and Quistius dragged him with them, Tash just followed she was intent on avoiding the same embarrassment.
Just as they left a girl with short brown hair and blue top and a green shawl entered "is Squall in here I got told he was in here but I can't think why" she stated looking confused at the group of seeds all grouped up near the door.
Rinoa looked at her and signalled for her to be quiet "shush we're watching them" she said confusing Ellone even more, Rinoa sighed then brought Ellone closer to the door now they could so she could see them though the small door hole.
Meanwhile
"Look you think you've had it hard have you ever found out that everyone thinks your fuckin dead and no knows you exist" Zek yelled at Squall who had been explaining to him how Ellone had left him.
"No but…" squall replied unsure of a retort ,from what he had just heard Zeks childhood really did suck "you know something Squall unlike you who cut himself off from others at least I got over it and that's really hard you know" Zek said again angrily.
Squall sighed "whatever Look Zek if I'm right Ellone and the rest of them will all be outside listening to us" Squall stated, Zek could swear he had never heard so much from Squall ever I "uh I see what you mean let me show you something" Zek said turning on his laptop to show a screen of a camera to show the others outside his dorm.
"Wait did you just calm down slightly" Squall asked shocked by the sudden change in Zeks attitude ,Zek looked at Squall shrugging "well I kinda am still angry but I guess I just needed to get that off my chest and it only took someone irritating enough to make do so" Zek said not meaning the last bit.
Squall frowned but then realised Zek was only joking and had been playing around with the ease droppers "should we interrupt them dear brother" Zek whispered quietly enough for them not to hear.
Squall nodded at him still kinda confused but soon a ghost of a smile crept onto his face "I believe your smiling dear brother" Zek remarked slyly ignoring the glare from Squall and heading to the doorway.
Zek soon opened the door harshly causing everyone to fall over each other as they had all been leaning on it "ease droppers!" Zek yelled out, everyone looked to see Zek and squall glaring at them.
"Uh hi guy's nice day eh we're just uh going" Zell said stepping away slowly, no one else tried to explain themselves as they knew they were pretty much were busted.
"Ellone" Squall said seeing Ellone among them, Zek looked at squall confused "that's Ellone" Rinoa explained to Zek, "uh okay then what are you doing here" Zek asked.
Rinoa sighed and nudged them back into the room, Ellone followed behind mildly amused by their faces as they were being threatened by her poking "hey this is my Dorm not squalls you know" Zek complained.
Rinoa glared at him which shut Zek up fast "of course I know that I just wanted to know if its any better then Squalls Dorm" Rinoa remarked looking the room over ,Ellone did the same and spied some photos on a wall near the bed area.
"Aww your so cute as a little kid shame Squall didn't smile though you know you look a lot like Laguna you know" Ellone said causing Rinoa to turn her attention from a stuffed toy Panda with a red headband on Zeks bed.
"Wow Ellone your so right Zek is cute in that top" Rinoa said cooing over a very embarrassing class photo of Zek at in year 2 in a bright red fuzzy monster truck t-shirt "aww man I had no idea that was there" Zek said cringing at the very amused look on Squalls face.
"I didn't know there was such thing as a fuzzy monster truck" Hector commented, Zek glared at him evilly "I was seven you moron" Zek retorted at Hectors comment.
"Shut up Leonhart at least I say more then two word sentences" Zek retorted ,Ellone sighed and walked up to Zek and Squall smiling evilly "so how would either of you like to eat some late lunch cause its like 2pm and Uncle Laguna's meeting me for later" Ellone stated.
Zek and Squall looked at each other mortified by the idea "wait did you say Dad was here" Zek blurted out, Ellone nodded "yeah how else would I be here we're staying for a while since Cid kinda invited him and Ward and Kiros are here as there's some negotiations happening in a week" Ellone explained.
Zek felt like shrinking by tomorrow everyone in garden would know and with Laguna around it meant absolute disaster for Zek, he would be permanently labelled as the Commander's brother and poor James would have his Dad around too, so he and James would have to be careful.
Zek soon realised the two girls were once more looking at photos of his friends on the wall this time one of him at Zells Ma's house in a batman suit "hey don't look at those they're private" Zek yelled getting their attention at once. Zek patience had run thin "get out!" Zek yelled kicking his older sister, Rinoa and Squall out the door, Hector had left a while ago knowing this would happen.
Zek slumped to the floor "this sucks I'll never be able to show my face again" Zek muttered to himself before going over to get rid of some anger on his playstation 2.
And with that I end this chapter and please somebody review other then thee I know your out there I have this thing called stats and anonymous reviews I really don't bite people!
And that was hard to write so I hope it wasn't to cliché or anything