I do not own ff8 and never will all OCs are mine and mine only so don't sue me
Chapter 23
Return of a former role model
Zek and co were in Balamb to upgrade their weapons as their field exam was coming up, well partly cause of that it was also because word of Zeks origins had managed to reach everyone in Garden, and Zek was getting so annoyed with the constant questioning that Zek had almost gone berserk on a cadet hence they had gone there so he calm down.
Currently they were entering a small weapons store near Zells house "wow it sure is small in Deljing city their shops were huge" Tash commented, Hector laughed "Tash you and I are the only ones who have been to Deljing city" Hector remarked.
"I thought you lived in Winhill" Zek asked ,Hector sighed "where do you think I got my clothes from Zek and besides all supplies come from there" Hector pointed out further, Zek shrugged "whatever lets get this over with" Zek stated entering the small shop.
"Hello is anyone like here" Zek asked entering the small weapons shop ,he couldn't see anything apart from 3 huge boxes and a counter then he heard a man yell out in frustration as he was attempting to carry several heavy boxes at once "poor guy does'nt he know not to take so much at once" Hector commented.
Zek shrugged "guess not lets help him" Hector stared at Zek in awe "why he's just some random guy in Balamb" Hector protested, Zek stared at him "you mean your actually like those people in Winhill who don't like strangers" Zek slyly remarked knowing it would make Hector change his mind.
Zek and Co approached the struggling man "uh hey guys you need something cause all my weapon stuff is in these boxes" the man asked politely ,Zek looked at the boxes they sure looked heavy "are they heavy" James asked ,the man smiled slightly "yeah kinda".
James backed away "uh then no thanks we'll come back later" James said at the same time but was stopped by Tash "James…" Julia stated giving him a look that said do it.
"Okay we'll help stupid meddlers" James complained lifting one of the boxes which weighed a ton "what's in these things" Tash complained making Zek take the other side "parts for upgrading weapons" the man replied just as they finally reached the weapon shop.
Zek and Tash dropped it flat onto to the floor hitting Hectors foot by accident "hey watch where you're putting that my feet aren't bullet proof you know" Hector complained gripping his saw foot.
Tash and Zek laughed "that expression suits you" Zek remarked, Hector glared at them "shut up Loire" Zek poked his tongue out defiantly, Tash just laughed.
The man looked at them confused "Loire that name sounds familiar" Julia shrugged "they do" the man smiled at her before realising he had yet to introduce himself "thanks so much for the help guys" he said in thanks, James looked up and playfully saluted "yeah sure can we upgrade our weapons now and what's In those boxes" James asked.
The man laughed "weapon upgrades" Julia looked at James "didn't you just hear what he said and we're in a weapons store" she commented at his question, James frowned at her "I forgot and all I could see was the box" James retorted.
"Weakling" Julia teased "I'm no weakling" James whined, Tash and Zek looked away from their conversation to look at him "oh yes you are so is the mooba over there" Hector commented causing Zek to frown and Tash to join in.
"So is there anything I Can do to repay you kids" the man asked, Zek then responded "we're not kids" Hector scoffed causing Zek and James to look at him "no you two actually make it three are awkward teenagers" Julia remarked also pointing at Tash. Hector laughed "I'll agree with the awkward part Jules" Zek growled at him "see Moobas growl you growl" Hector pointed out "grow up" Tash yelled at them causing the three to shut up.
"Woah did Tash actually just yell at you guys" James said after seeing it,the man was laughing at the display of childish behaviour "well I suppose I should introduce myself my names Jason…Jason Smith" the man said causing a awkward silence between the friends.
"Uh... did you say your names Jason Smith" Zek asked hoping it was a slip of the tongue "no my names Jason Smith but you guys just call me Jason okay thats what they used to call me"the man told them a expression of sadness on his face.
Zek looked to where the man who claimed to be Jason was looking at ,what he saw made him cringe it was an old photo of a very familiar building with about twelve children standing outside it "oh crap hyne really hates me" Zek muttered ,Jason looked at Zek confused.
Hector and Julia looked at each other then realised what Zek meant by it "wow thats a bit of shock" Tash stated ,James looked at them confused "uh sir is that photo taken in Timber" Hector asked.
Jason nodded then explained where it was "so those kids would be about our age now" Julia said nervously, Jason nodded sadly "yeah they would be" Jason replied.
"Well then since no one else is going to say anything I'll do the introductions my names Hector this is Julia, Zek and believe it or not he's the smartest cadet in Garden, this is James ,oh and Zeks girlfriend Tasha" Hector explained pointing each of them.
Jason looked at them intrigued "really so you guys are Garden students" Zek recovered from the shock ,it was too late to lie so he decided to be himself "uh you had a wife didn't you" Zek asked regretting the last bit now he had given it away, Jason knew that was coming he had realised who these kids were.
"Yes I did once but she died in the fire but tell me something Zek" Jason asked causing Zek to wince he had hoped Jason wouldn't realise who he truly was "yeah what".
"Did you ever find your family" Jason asked Zek sighed then responded "um well…how do I say this" Zek stated unsure of how to reply, Julia answered for him "he's the president of Esthars son and you're heard of Commander Leonhart right" Julia said waiting for a response.
"Yeah I've heard of Commander Leonhart he's one of the people who saved the world right" Jason replied curious, James nodded "well he's the Commanders twin kinda funny really ain't it Zek" Julia said knowing she'd get a response "no it ain't it means people are going to expect things" Zek retorted angrily.
Jason smiled kindly at Zek "well you certainly gained a voice didn't you and Julia your quieter then Zek and Tash and I recall you being louder then them combined and Tash…"
Tash looked at him waiting for what he was going to say "your changed I remember you were always fighting with Julia over Zek or Andue" Jason said causing Hector and James to look in intrigued .
"Really Zek a wimp I can't imagine it" Hector blurted out, Jason chuckled to himself "yeah and Zek I always knew you were smart I remember seeing you tie your own shoes and reading at four when they were still learning their ABC's" Jason commented making Zek smirk proudly.
Hector was shocked "your got to be kidding he could do what at four" Hector blurted out, Zek looked at Hector grinning sheepishly "yeah thats true" Zek told him ,James just shrugged and looked at them "uh guys aren't we supposed to be upgrading our weapons" James asked.
"Oh yeah we were" Julia replied ,James responded "So lets upgrade them already you guys can talk about stuff while we do it" Zek looked away from the conversation with Tash and Jason.
Jason looked up away from Tash "oh yeah so what weapons do you guys have" Jason asked going back behind the counter ,Julia took out her pistols, Jason looked at them interested "wow I remember you being afraid of guns after your parents" Jason said before stopping.
Julia smiled understanding what he meant "I believe that was Tash but she uses pistols herself" Julia pointed out causing Tash to scowl.
Jason smiled and put them aside "I'll take sometime so I'll do everyone's at once okay just go relax on the harbour or something" Jason explained ,Zek James and co all did as they were told and left the shop to relax.
At the harbour
Zek and Tash sat on the side of the pier at the harbour talking about things while James was arguing with Hector about how his opinion of card games being stupid ,Julia just rolled her eyes skyward "sometimes Hector you can be as bad as Zek" Julia muttered.
Tash looked at Hector who was frowning at Julia's comment "nice one Jules" she complimented, Hector groaned "why does everyone always gang up on me" Zek sniggered while the others just scoffed.
Hector got up and stretched then an idea hit him "hey Zek can you swim" Hector asked, Zek looked at him confused "uh yeah we're supposed to know that" Zek replied sceptically Hector grinned and took Julia aside.
They soon returned but both quickly pushed Zek in the water "hey what was that for!" Zek yelled out ignoring the laughter from his other friends, Tash tried to hide her laughter but failed and Zek pulled her in as well, she glared at Zek the smirked "Zek that was a bad move".
Zek poked his tongue at her, she didn't change her expression the started splashing him constantly "hey Tash that's unfair your …not even. Giving me a chance to defend…myself" he blurted between splashes aimed at him.
Tash soon stopped and was giggling Zek was now completely soaked, Zek dived under causing Tash and everyone to try and find him, he soon swam back up behind Tash she looked around to see him ready to aim water at her.
Hector stared at them in dismay "I don't know them" he muttered ,Julia heard him and pushed him in too "hey Julia what was that for" Hector blurted out before fleeing from Tash and Zek who had made a truce with each other and were instead ganging up on Hector who was now more soaked then Zek was.
"Hah shame Hector" James remarked then turned slightly white when he saw three men and a girl walking towards them "shit my dads coming hide me" he blurted out jumping into the cold water, Zek and co were laughing.
Zek soon saw who was coming and winced "shit this is going to be embarrassing oh well" Zek said seeing Ellone looking at him sceptically Laguna and co.
He waved innocently and then smirked at James laughing "shut up seagill at least I don't jump into water when I see my Dad" Zek commented turning the attention from him to James who turned red.
Zek sniggered but was pushed under by Tash "gotcha" she blurted out, Zek got up again "hey Tash wanna go somewhere" he whispered, Tash smirked slyly and they swam off further away from the group.
"Tash" he said nervously once they were out of both earshot and sight, Tash looked at him intrigued "yeah Zek" he replied, he gulped "uh do you like me" he blurted out.
She laughed at how red he had gone "Zek you're a hopeless romantic seriously we're in the damm ocean and your asking me out" Zek frowned causing her to laugh "your silly of course I do you stupid Mooba you haven't you noticed all the sign seriously you take a while to catch on genius" she remarked aiming a splash of water at him.
He shrugged "so you do like me" he relied she rolled her eyes and nodded grabbing him and kissing him ,he gritted his teeth "don't tell you Zek Loire have never been kissed in your whole life" Ellone stated causing him to turn and face his older sister shocked.
Zek looked at her with puppy dog eyes "well uh…to be honest no" Zek replied, Tash was surprised "you mean no ones ever kissed you before or told you they loved you even your parents" Tash blurted out regretting the last bit.
Ellone realised that Tash hadn't meant the bit to come out, Zek frowned "not that I know I never meet my Mother I saw her ghost but no I was always by myself into I was about 8 or 9 when me and Julia became friends" Zek replied.
Ellone smiled sympathetically she felt sorry for Zek, she'd been there for squall when he was little until she had to leave but never for Zek, Tash hugged him and blew a kiss "well I love you" she said jumping on him again, Zek winced "your heavy Tash" he blurted out, Ellone laughed "aww that's so cute you two are so cute together".
"Ellie what's going on" Laguna said coming up to them, she ignored Laguna for the moment more amused by Tashs attempts to prod Zek up onto the harbour again "hey I'm not a Mooba you know" Zek pointed out, she looked at him winking.
"Whatever you say and plus Moobas are cool" she remarked, Zek frowned, Laguna looked at them 'I taught a Mooba to say m name once" Tash grinned "then its final you're my Mooba" she told Zek while continuing to prod Zek across the Harbours pier.
It seemed that Julia and Hector were informing Kiros and ward about James, James didn't look to happy about it though "I am never going to be able face my Dad square in the eye again" James mumbled still soaked.
Tash and Zek laughed "it ain't funny its plain embarrassing" James blurted out, Laguna let out a laugh at the boys complaints "my haven't you changed what happened to that quiet little demon of Kiros" Laguna commented.
James smirked evilly "I grew up and I met your son" James told him.
Kiros stared at zek "uh I got taught by Julia so it's her fault" Zek defended.
Julia glared daggers at Zek "just throw the blame on me don't you" she retorted angrily ,Zek looked at her innocently "well yeah I can remember you being worse than me at one point" Julia looked to Hector for support "I don't any of you know any of you and Zeks right Julia" Hector stated bluntly.
Zek hadn't heard a response from either of the men or Ellone and realised they were laughing "woah you guys have obviously known each other for a while" Kiros stated, Zek smirked "that's true well Julia and me have been around each other since I can remember".
Ward changed expression, Kiros looked at him then translated "Ward says we must be going and James try not to catch hypothermia" Kiros said pushing Laguna along with them.
Once they were gone James sighed in relief "thank hyne that's over" Zek remarked also happy for them to disappear, Tash hugged him "come on we need to go get our weapons back" she told him and the others.
Zek smiled "yeah lets go" he said forgetting they were all soaked except for Julia "like this we'll be a laughing stock" Hector complained much like a small child, Zek looked at him "so your scared then wimpy" Zek teased causing Hector to shut up.
At the shop
"Ah just in time I finished upgrading all your weapons but uh why are you all soaking" Jason asked sceptically, Zek shrugged but Julia spoke "no reason just that Zek and Tash got pushed into the harbour and Hector well he fell in also and James he dived in voluntarily I however wished to stay dry" she explained receiving looks from everyone else.
Jason laughed loudly "oh man some things never change" he commented receiving interested looks from Hector and James, Zek gave Jason a look that said not to say anything.
Jason understood and went quiet "well here they are and have a nice day" he said seeing customers enter the shop ,Zek and co took their weapons and paid Jason before heading back to Garden.
"Sweet" Zek blurted out admiring his Sabre sword in glee it no longer looked plain but the blade had turned to a crimson red and the handle had a flame pattern along it ,he read the name of the new model "Crimson Sabre" Zek read a loud.
Julia laughed ,Hector rolled his eyes he had upgraded his weapons long ago and was used to it being a Seed ,Tash shoot one of her new pistols at a random bite bug killing it instantly "either that's an extremely weak bite bug or these are just awesome" she said admiring her blue and silver pistols.
Julia had a similar model but they were purple instead of blue.
And with that I end chapter 23 which is long and please review I really do not bite