Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Domestic ❯ Self-Defense ( Chapter 6 )

Domestic

WARNINGS:

1) I do not own FF8, Squaresoft, or get any profit out of this story

2) Rated PG-13 for violence, language, and sexual content

Chapter 6: Self-Defense

Things got better. Travis knocked Zell off his feet three times since they started a month ago. Two of them came today.

"Damn," Zell muttered, brushing the wet grass off the back of his shirt. "Much better."

Travis nodded and rubbed his sore right hand.

"You're gonna send me down to the Infirmary here soon," the blonde laughed.

Azerton only half smiled. He was too tired to think about anything else but sleep. It was now 700 hours. They were outside since 500. To Travis's utmost disappointment, Zell continuously moved the meetings earlier and earlier. He was getting better about waking up though. To Riene's utmost disappointment, Zell didn't have to throw anymore water.

Thor had helped immensely with kicks, and South and McNeese both volunteered to help out as well. Selphie was up early one morning, and also decided to tag along. She was more loud then helpful though. Progressively, Travis was becoming a decent glove fighter. He still only averaged four words a day, but Zell thought the kid at least respected him a little.

"That's good enough for today," Zell nodded, taking off his gloves. "We need to get that left hook up to par, and your mid-kicks are weak. But otherwise you pretty much have the basics down."

Azerton nodded and unfastened his metal knuckles. Sliding them into his coat pocket, he made his way back up to the Garden with Zell.

"You really should get another pair of gloves," Zell muttered as they walked back through the gates. "Those were my first pair. There's a lot of better stuff on the market. Just tell your parents the Garden changed your fighting style, and you can't use the quarterstaff anymore."

"How much?" the black haired boy asked, walking into the lobby.

"Depends. Mine were about 4000. If you keep this fighting style, you're going to want to want something solid, so I'd say anywhere between 2000 and 5000."

Travis just shook his head. "I have 1200, and that's gotta survive me for the year."

"Your parents wouldn't loan you…?"

"Wouldn't happen," Travis mumbled into the floor. "See ya." And with that, Zell watched Travis break off back towards his dorm. Shaking his head, Zell walked towards the cafeteria.

(*********)

"Good Morning," Riene beamed, as Travis walked into the room. Azerton just glared at her. She was sitting peacefully on the couch watching some cartoons. Travis looked down at his bruised left knuckle and his soaking wet shoes. Sighing, he made his way back to his room. Sitting on his bed, Travis took off his shoes and threw his coat onto the floor. He laid back on his covers and stared at the ceiling. It was always hard for him to fall back asleep once he was up. Even though it was 730 hours, he was wide awake. Yawning, Travis rolled onto his stomach and sank his head into his pillow. Zell worked him to death today. Every muscle in his body relaxed, and he felt like never getting up.

"I don't think he wants to see you," Travis heard Riene say.

"I want to see him though," muttered a deep voice. Travis's blood went cold. It was Wix.

"He's not here anyway," Riene smiled coolly. "I think he went down to the Cafeteria. I don't know, I just got up."

"Don't give us shit," said another voice Travis didn't recognize. "We saw him head up here two minutes ago."

"Well I don't know what to tell you. I haven't seen him all morning. Maybe he's still out training with…"

"Dincht is in the Cafeteria," Wix barked. "You know, I think we'll just have a look around your dorm for him if you don't mind."

"I do," Riene said, and tried to swing the door closed.

Wix easily overpowered her. "You are a very disrespectful girl. Do you know where disrespectful girls go?"

Riene just glared at the giant. Inside she was shaking, but she tried her best to appear tough.

"They usually find themselves in the Infirmary," Wix finished with a smile.

Hearing these words, Travis slid his gloves out of his coat and walked out of his room.

"There's the man of the hour!" Wix roared, smiling at Azerton. "Oh! And with gloves! I'm glad you came prepared!"

There were four of them. All were enormous. They all seemed unarmed however, except for Wix, who was toting a quiver of arrows. Travis slid his gloves onto his wrists and tried to keep his eye on everyone in the room.

"There's no need for that," Wix smiled casually. "We've just come to talk."

Travis remained stoic. He knew he couldn't fight them all. He'd have a rough time fighting Wix alone. Glancing quickly at the arrows, Travis looked down at his gloves. "Riene leave," he muttered.

"Close the door," Wix ordered back. Before Riene could move, one of Wix's cronies slammed the dorm door shut.

"Go to your room," Azerton commanded, nodding towards the back of the condo.

"I think she's fine where she is." Wix smirked. "The more the merrier."

"What do you want?" Travis said defensively.

"You, actually. How's class going?"

Azerton just glared at him.

"Fine, be that way. I know you don't like me Travis. I apologize for being friendly." Some of the cronies chuckled. Travis kept his eyes on Wix. "It's ok though, because I don't like you either. Would you like to know why?"

"Enlighten me," Azerton mumbled sarcastically. The group was forming a semi-circle around him. He knew this was not going to end well.

"I don't like you because you're a pity whore," Wix smirked. He was slowly walking up to Travis, backing him against the wall. "That's how you win the stupid tournament. That's how you get all the SeeDs to show interest in you. That's how you get private lessons with Dincht. But most people see through that. That's why you still sit alone at lunch."

Travis's back hit the wall. The giant Wix was inches from his face. Azerton felt his hot breath on his face.

"But you haven't had a tragic downfall recently. I mean, who's going to pity the whore if there isn't a downfall? So I got some friends together and we decided to help you out in that department," Wix concluded, poking him in the forehead.

Then a blur streaked across the room. Travis wasn't exactly sure what happened at first, but the door swung open.

"Help!" Riene yelled "HELP! GET OFF!"

One of Wix's cronies grabbed her before she got out of the room. He slammed the door back shut and muffled her screams with his hand. Then he screamed in pain. She bit him. Blood began to drip on the carpet, and Reine tried to get back to her room in all the confusion. She didn't make it. The circle of cronies dispersed, and one grabbed her. A loud smack resonated off the walls and she fell to the floor.

Travis didn't think twice. He swung. He swung as hard as he could. He felt Wix's chin bone shatter as he made contact. The giant fell in slow motion. The quiver on his back shattered beneath his weight and arrows slid all over the floor. It was madness from there. Travis kicked the boy closest to him in the stomach, and followed it up with a right hook to the temple. That child quickly crumbled to the floor.

Then someone grabbed him from behind and threw him five feet across the dorm. He crashed into the wall bordering the kitchen. A sharp pain ran through his right arm, and his left leg landed awkwardly. There were still three people on their feet. Bracing himself, Azerton felt a kick to his side. Another two kicks came. He curled up into a ball. There was nothing left for him to do. Then the worst pain he ever experienced occurred. It felt like his left arm was being amputated. He opened his eyes to see a crazed giant pulling an arrow out of his shoulder. Closing his eyes again, he thought of the possibility of death. He felt like he lost his arm and at least four ribs. Then a gun cocked. He knew it was the end.

"I won't hesitate to shoot," said an unfamiliar voice.

Travis opened his eyes long enough to see a man with a shotgun. He was toting a cowboy hat.

(**********)

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?!?!" Zell roared.

Squall sat peacefully in his chair. He knew this argument would come. Actually he was planning for it. "It's all hearsay. You know if we took this to court…"

"Bullshit! If this was anyone else you would have expelled them all." The blonde was on a rampage. His anger level was close to a nine.

"It's their word against his word. And he's not saying much," Squall replied looking back down at his paperwork.

"You got Kinneas's report. Are stabbings legal now in this Garden?!?"

"Wix didn't stab him. We expelled the kid who did. Happy?"

"No. You know damn well what happened! You have to act on this!"

"I'll keep an eye on things."

"They hit a girl Leonhart. A fucking sixteen year old girl."

"I said I'd keep an eye on it," Squall growled.

"No you won't keep an eye on it. You'll sit here in your office and pretend it never happened! That's what you'll do!"

Squall looked up from his paper work and shot Zell a piercing stare.

Zell glared back. "I'm just happy to know that safety is of key importance to you. Word of this is going to get out, and people aren't going to feel safe in their dorms anymore. You talk about losing money from Cid, but what's going to happen when someone dies?"

"Whatever…" Squall mumbled. "You're excused Dincht."

"But…"

"You're excused Dincht."

(**********)