Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Errore di Passione ❯ Errore Di Passione ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Don’t own the game characters yada yada just the story idea itself.

Errore di Passione

Era un errore che la mia mente era nebbioso

o non ha desiderato questo

lo perdona, io sono spiacente

The party was going on well into the evening, another castle suare going off without a hitch. The towns people of high and low society would be chatting about this event for days to come. Everyone appeared to be having a wonderful time... that is, with the exception of the host.

King Edgar Figaro mingled politely with the guest, conversating about this and that topic and kept a smile on his face. A false appearance though. One he's given many times before, simply due to stress or exhaustion. This time, however, he put on a happy facade for another reason. Loneliness, sadness, bitterness even. Perhaps the feeling of guilt and abandonment. Because not even two weeks ago something terrible had happened during and after a party similar to this one.

+Rewind+

"Uugh... oh god." Pain soared through Edgar's body as he tried to roll over on to his back. Eyes still tightly shut, held down by lingering sleep. He pushed off the soft but firm mattress and managed the painful task. Sighing with relief he opened his eyes blinking a few times to clear his blurred vision. 'Where am I?' He gazed around still through the unclear blur recognizing familiar objects that slowly came in to focus. 'My bedroom... what time is it?''

"Aah!" Trying to sit up he soon found it was a bad idea as his head throbbed immensely from the movement.

Lying back down against the large feather filled pillow he placed a hand to his head massaging it roughly trying to soothe out the pain. 'Why does my head hurt so much? And how the bloody hell did I get in my room? When did I get in my room?' He rephrased his question. He closed his eyes again, hand still resting on his forehead, as he tried to recall the events of the night before.

All he could remember was the party being held. The sounds of laughter and loud chit chat echoed through his mind. "Hmm." Sitting up slowly and more carefully this time he propped his back against the elaborately decorated head board of his bed and rubbed his fingers above his temples. "Something's not right. What happened last night that I can't remember a damned thing." Sitting still a moment the King gathered himself mentally before gradually edging his way off the bed. Once his feet hit the floor he stood straight and stretched his lengthy body from head to toe, pausing midway. “What's this...?" 'I’m still dressed from the night before.' He noticed and pulled at the expensive material of his navy blue suit jacket. The white cotton shirt beneath it had somehow been ripped clean of its top few buttons.

Annoyed concern showed on his fine features but not knowing what to make of his condition he decided to ignore it for the time being. Going over to the mini bar at the end of the bedroom he poured himself a glass of already opened wine. Watching the rich red liquid pour brought back a brief memory of the night before.

He saw a wine glass being refilled constantly through out the evening by a gloved hand, another image emerged of two people walking clumsily down an empty corridor towards a bedroom. The next thing he remembered was a bottle being placed down hard on the mini bar

'But who are these people?' All his mental flashes gave him were shots of feet.

Pondering this a moment he put the glass up to his lips, swirled the liquid inside a moment before sipping at it. His mouth already tasted of wine from the party the night before. The two different wine flavors blended together creating an unpleasant combination. "Ugh." His tongue hung out briefly rejecting the odd taste. Then he downed the rest of the liquid like a shot of unpleasant medicine and placed the glass on the counter top.

'Why would I have gotten drunk at the party?, Other than Locke not being there to get me through it. Something must have happened last night that I wanted to forget. Did I know those two?' Was I a witness to unacceptable actions?'

"Well whatever the reason, it worked you idiot. Can't remember a bloody thing." He scolded himself. Walking back over to the bed Edgar reached down to attempt making it up out of habit. Grabbing the blanket he froze as another memory came to him.

There was the removal of clothing, frantic kissing and-. Shaking off the disturbing image he sat back on the bed. "Could I hav- no... that's not me, I'd never." Sitting on the bed he placed his elbows on his thighs leaning forwards a moment. Sitting back up his hands pulled back lush golden bangs holding them up as he contemplated. Voices went through his mind angry ones that appeared to be arguing. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried his damndest to remember more. As the memory came to him a bit more clearly one of the voices he recognized as his own, the other Locke's and they were indeed arguing.

//"Locke wait." Edgar tried to stop his lover from leaving the bedroom.

"Its obvious I'm not wanted here anymore so why not leave?"

"We can work this out...," With an attempt to move forward Edgar stumbled and stopped to support himself on a nearby armchair. "Just talk to me please." He pleaded.

"There's nothing to talk about. We both know what happened and you're too hammered to take anything in right now anyway." Locke's voice sounded sad for some reason even though it was obvious the two of them were angry.

"Stubborn prick." A wobbly Edgar grabbed for Locke's arm but barely got hold of it, the thief pulled away easily with an annoyed expression..//

Edgar was shaking his head trying to get rid of the images of the two unknown people, he assumed, going in to a room to have sex and the images of he and Locke fighting. Because thinking about it now things were starting to come together. 'He couldn't have... he wouldn't...' The confused and now hurt king stood shakily, supporting himself on one of the bedpost. He grabbed the bottle of wine again taking another drink. This time not bothering to pour it in a glass or caring that it didn't taste right. He stood against the wall beside the old fashioned mini bar and slid down to a seated position on the floor, still grasping the bottle.

"Locke..." The name that was once said with so much love and admiration came out of his mouth sounding bitter, raw and sad. "How did this happen?" Suddenly a noise sounded from the adjoining room, he turned his head to it. Seconds later the very man of his thoughts appeared in the entry way. A lump formed in the young kings dry throat, despite how much he'd just drank, and he swallowed it hard.

The other apparently hadn't seen him down there on the floor behind the piece of furniture. Locke walked heavily and slowly as if weighed down himself. Getting closer to the bed, with a sack full of clothes and a few material things, Edgar could see him better but kept himself concealed. From first glance Edgar could see Locke's sleepless face that held a depressed expression. The look reminded him of the fight they'd had the night before. This confirmed it all too clearly for the blond now. 'So its true then? Locke was with someone else.' His expression contorted into an angry grimace at the revelation.

His spite-filled eyes followed the young thief as he moved around the room. The look on Locke's face showed he wasn't surprised that Edgar had gotten out of bed by now and left. The hidden man was thankful that he hadn't noticed him still in the room. He didn't feel like talking to his former lover right now. So when Locke disappeared across the room into the closet the former prince pushed himself off the floor and went to grab his boots that had been carelessly left on the floor by the door. He rushed them on before Locke could come back out and discover him. As quietly as he could he pushed through the large double doors and closed them just as quietly.

Once in the safety of the corridor he made a run for any exit he could find. He stopped suddenly at the end of the hall realizing he couldn't just walk out of his own castle in the middle of the day unseen, especially with the condition he was in. Someone would surely notice and be concerned. The last thing he wanted was to be followed.

Making a quick decision he walked casually to his office trying to appear better than he looked physically. Nodding politely to any guards or hired help that greeted him as he passed. Once in his office, which was thankfully empty, he went behind one of the large velvet red curtains that hung pointlessly on the wall decorating the sides of a large bookshelf. He moved the curtain aside and pushed hard on the wall. It moved with a low rumble creating a small opening just enough for his slim frame to slide into sideways. Within seconds he disappeared behind the wall and it closed back looking completely untouched. One of the greater discoveries he'd made during his childhood was finding the many secret passages in the castle. Discoveries that helped him out of many bad situations personal or otherwise.

Pausing to relax himself and breathe evenly, now that he was safe, Edgar wondered who Locke would so unabashedly sleep with under his own roof, during his own party! He willed his brain to see the images again, there was something so familiar about the footwear of the other man... and suddenly it hit him. 'No wonder I tried to get myself drunk!'

"Rrr!" He pulled at his hair in frustration having no clue what the answers were. Not sure if he even wanted to know them. 'This is ridiculous.' He pushed off the wall feeling with his hand the one opposite it for a small latch that hid a pack of matches. Taking it out he struck one and knelt down picking up a broken shard of wood lighting it to guide his way down the narrow passage.

On the trip he used his free hand to attempt fixing himself up by straightening out the remaining buttons of his shirt. Not knowing what to do about the missing few at the top he left it alone and hoped no one would notice. Although if they did who would dare speak of it, he was the king after all. Next he attempted to sort out the mess of massive gold hair that had been pulled free from the half ponytail he'd wore the night before. Sleep had also taken a toll on the blond mop by ruffling strands to different odds and ends atop his head.

Just as he completed his task of getting decent and after a few short turns the narrow passage came to an end. He reached the door leading to the back of the castle and outside. Searching with his eyes he noted that no guards were patrolling this particular spot, at the moment anyway. So breathing deeply, taking in the fresh air and letting out as much of the frustration and anxiety that he held in, he headed off with heavy down footsteps towards the nearest town.

Edgar didn't waste anytime getting to Kohlingen, which was the closest town, since the castle had taken residence on the land nearby for purposes of the party. It was ironic really because this was the very town Locke lived for a good period of time in his life. The very person he wanted to get away from and forget about was all around him.

Getting inside the bar he received shocked and confused glances from a few of its occupants. The rest were too enthralled in their drinks and own problems to spare a glance, let alone any attention, to the man. For that time of day the place wasn't really packed but had more than a handful of sullen companions scattered about.

Taking a seat at the bar stool not wanting a table, Edgar ordered his drink and received it just as quickly. "Thank you." He emotionlessly responded to the bartender. Being a man brought up as he was, the king knew drinking this much this early without food was a bad idea but nothing was the way it should be at the moment, so it didn't matter.

He swirled the small shot glass in his right hand staring at the hypnotic brown liquid inside. His other hand was busy holding up his head as he slumped down on the bar counter top. 'Why did this have to happen? Why did it have to be with him?' As if the answer was right there in that glass he downed its contents quickly; unaware that someone had come into the place and taken residence on the stool beside him.

A gentle clearing of the throat and his company made his self known. Edgar didn't bother to comply, knowing full well who this person was and what this person had done was why he chose to ignore him. "Bar tender, another, the same." The king demanded, the older man working the place did as he was told.

"Edgar, we need to talk." Came the gentle low voice of Setzer, former friend to the king. Instead of responding, the king just sipped at his newly refreshed drink. "I know why you're upset and it's not your fault."

"You're damn right it's not." Edgar finally spoke, eyes bitterly staring at the empty shot glass. "Another please." His voice continued to come out dark and demanding.

"You shouldn't be drinking like this it-"

"I don't need you telling me what's right and wrong, haven't you done enough damage?" Edgar snapped finally turning his attention to the airship pilot.

Taken aback the gray haired man replied just as bitterly but his tone remained quiet and controlled. "I wasn't the only one involved in this. You did your fair amount of damage or don't you remember?"

Either the alcohol was already working its magic in his system or the words he'd just heard devastated the sense out of him or he was just that damned angry at the moment. Because with one swift movement the king raised and slammed his small glass to the counter top shattering it into multiple pieces.

"Hey!" The bartender jumped back avoiding any flying shards.

Before anything else could happen Edgar stood and stormed out of the now awake little bar leaving the insiders to react however they chose. He didn't care. His steps were clumsy and crooked as he walked in a fast pace to wherever.

"How dare he try to put blame on me for..." His words trailed off from his own uncertainty of what he was being blamed for. His foot steps slowed as a dull pain crept into the back of his head. "This is crazy." He found himself at the waters edge and decided it was a good place to rest. Sitting on the warm sand he pulled his knees up resting elbows on them to support his head with his hands. A deep groan of a sigh escaped his mouth and he closed his eyes.

Something strange happened then, the flashes went as quickly as they came but for some reason his mind was as clear as the afternoon sky. He saw them- the two people frantically touching, kissing, roaming the halls finding their way towards a room. Clothes dropping once inside. The hand that continually poured wine in his goblet, his self drinking down every offered pour. The two standing distant from the festivities going on in that large castle ballroom. Talking, joking, consoling one another. The two that had ruined his life as he knew it. He saw himself and Setzer.

When the flashes had ended his eyes shot open and his body froze. "Oh bloody hell." His form fell backwards onto the waiting sand. He groaned again this time it wasn't from any pain but knowing why he and Locke were fighting. Edgar was more depressed about being at the party alone than he'd thought to get himself drunk with Setzer and apparently Locke had shown up but too late. The distressed man saw the shadow of his follower before leather boots stood inches away from his head. "It was me." Edgar whispered. "I did this to Locke."

"So it came back to you." Setzer spoke not moving. "In the bar I was trying to apologize for-"

Edgar raised a hand to stop the man.

"No don't." He sat himself up, face still set on shock and realization. "Like you said it was my fault as well. I didn't turn you away that night, I-" He stopped himself for the second time that day not sure what he was trying to say.

"Have you seen Locke yet? He needs an explanation."

"This morning, I avoided him, he was... leaving. Oh god!" With sudden new energy Edgar sprang to his feet almost falling over onto the white haired man. "I need to find- I have to stop him." Not waiting to see if the other man had anything more to say he ran off towards the castle hoping it wasn't too late.....

By the time he'd made it home the sun was high in the sky beaming down on his exhausted body. No matter how fast his mind wanted him to get there, all that alcohol had slowed down his running pace. The guards outside the large protective doors greeted him, as they usually did, opening the doors at the same time. Not caring to reply, as he usually did, Edgar headed in past them but halted as an idea struck him. With intense worry on his face and in his voice he asked them, "Have either of you seen Locke Cole?"

Both men exchanged glances and shook their heads in sync. "We only just started at this post sir, it's mid-day." One of them replied. Seeing the look of disappointment crossing their kings features, the other young man tried to help the problem.

"The last two that were here might have seen him, they headed inside to-"

"That doesn't matter now, thank you." He went back inside giving no further explanation. 'Even if they had seen him Locke's probably long gone by now. Damnit!' Still keeping a small hope alive he went back to their privately shared room to find the place just as he'd left it, with the exception of a few missing items that had belonged to the departed thief. Sitting heavily on the bed, the king let his posture slip in a way that gave no signs to his royal upbringing.

"What have I done?" Dropping his head into his hands was his way of telling himself he'd given up for the day. He was just too exhausted, too lightheaded and too much in disbelief to go on. 'Tomorrow, I'll find Locke tomorrow and sort this out.' He assured himself of that before alerting one of his men that he was not to be disturbed the rest of the day and passed out, like the night before, in his bed.

+Fast forward+

The evenings party continued to rage on despite the depression shrouding the king, as he sat alone away from the crowd of dancers and guests mingling. He never did get a hold of the young treasure hunter after that miserable day. No matter how many soldiers or friends he'd sent out to find him, the man was crafty at disappearing, and was impossible to find. It was one of the many reasons Edgar had fallen for him in the first place.

Seeing someone approaching from the side of his eye he quickly straightened up and reclaimed that false expression of joy. This person was no one too special to him, one of the higher ups of society. Tall but a few inches from the kings own height, brown hair cut short at his shoulders.

"Care for a drink your highness, you look like you could use one." The man held up one of South Figaro's finest and most "affective" wines.

"No thank you, I think I'm done with wine."

"Oh, and may I ask why's that your highness?"

"Drinking is an error of passion my good man, a filthy habit.” Edgar pushed his body off the wall it had been resting against. “It does nothing but cause problems and shroud the truth." Placing a firm hand on the mans shoulder he spoke his final words, “Be careful with it.” and walked away........

Far from the festivities, locked away in his bedroom, Edgar sat at his old Oakwood desk, quill pen in hand, writing out the final part of his letter to his missing lover.

It was an error

that my mind was foggy

I had not wished this

I beg your pardons

I am sorry

He folded it up placing it in an envelope, closing it with the Figaro seal. Not sure when or where to mail it but hoping that eventually it’d reach its addressee. Setting the letter down on the desk top, Edgar walked over to the mini bar pulling out a bottle of wine. He walked over to the open terrace and held the bottle over the balcony by the neck. “Never again.” Were his final words before letting the dark colored glass slip from his fingers to plummet to the rocks below.

________________________

A/N: I know it wasn’t much but the idea came from a song that I love, Benedetta Passione, performed by the best Italian singer ever, Laura Pausini. Every time I’d hear the song these images would come to mind so I turned it into a quick one shot. The translation might not be perfect with the Italian/English so no offense to anyone who knows better. No lyrics from the song were used these are my own words. I hope enjoyed it.

-Linkin