Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Insanity ❯ Denial ( Chapter 2 )

Title: Insanity Chapter 2 Denial

Author: Naniris

Rating: R description of violence

Disclaimer: No, not mine

Comments:

"…"talking

~…~thoughts

{…}memories

Italics Zell's self-preservation

Scene: Balamb Garden over the ocean.

Inside of a room there's a small group of people. The fluorescent lighting and plain white walls give a surreal atmosphere, while four of its six occupants sit uncomfortable waiting for the inquiry to end.

"I can't take this anymore. You've been questioning us for the past couple of hours, like we're some kind of criminals." Rinoa stood up next to Squall. Her eyes were puffy from constant crying and her normally cheery disposition seemed to have banished. "We've already told you what happened during time compression, okay and where we came back. There's nothing else you need to know."

"Calm down, Rinoa. This is for our historical records." Commander Xu politely demanded. "According to what we've compiled, after the Battle with Ultimecia you and your comrades where lost in time or some kind of dimension. Once you've managed to return to this reality, everyone was found in different parts of the world."

She took out a remote and pointed it at a screen. On it appeared a map of the world with several yellow dots on it.

"Xu, we know this already." Quistis sighed into her hand. Her hair was in a messy bun and she obviously hasn't slept for the past few days after their return. "We've explained the situation and filled out more reports than I care to count. What's the point of this debriefing?"

"The point of this debriefing is to see what happened to you all. Kinneas and Tilmitt arrived at Galbadia and Trabia Garden's respectfully without any problems. According to them and several eyewitnesses, they returned in a state of nostalgia "remembering the good ol' days before the world got fucked" She quoted from a report she was holding. "They were happy to return and don't have any psychological traumas at the moment."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Zell stood up knocking his chair away. His normally gravity-defying bangs were covering his forehead and the paleness of his skin contrasted with the black bags underneath his eyes. "We don't have any fucking traumas 'k. The only reason why they're so happy is because they're morons and don't have to think about anything."

"Calm down" Squall said ~ what's his problem? We've been through debriefings before and he usually just falls asleep or something. Maybe the stress is getting to him. Rinoa been crying all night and Quistis is working herself to death. Something's wrong with them. ~

"Don't you fucking tell me to calm down. I'm perfectly fine and I don't need to be here." Zell walked towards the door, but was stopped by Dr. Kadowaki.

"Mr. Dincht, please sit down. It will be over soon"

Zell looked at her and then at the rest of the group. "Fine, but I don't see the fucking point of this meeting. I got things to do, you know."

"Me, too. The celebratory ball for our victory is in two weeks and I have to buy a dress, shoes, a purse to match, a hairstylist and find a suit for Squall and…" Rinoa started to babble until Squall put his hand on her back. Knowing how badly he expressed himself she knew this was the equivalent to a strong hug and started to sob loudly. "I need…to call my father…and Zone…and Watts…and oh gods…please" She threw herself on top of the scarred brunette and embraced him tightly. "Please, don't leave me…He'll get me… he…*sobs*…he killed them…he…"

"All of you have suffered emotional and psychological changes since your return. Squall has become more open, which is a good thing, but the rest have negative behavioral patterns." The doctor stood pacing from one person to another. "Rinoa has been overly emotional and mentions someone killing her loved ones, yet when we question her on who it is she brushes it off and says it's just a bad dream."

"It is a bad dream, since I called them this morning and at lunch and they're all still alive" Rinoa said in an attempt to defend herself.

"You've called them a total of 36 times in the past three days, Ms. Heartilly. It's not just a bad dream" Kadowaki looked at her with a stern yet kind look.

"She's just being a whiny bitch like she always was. Leave her the fuck alone and let her cry all over Squall if she wants to." The tattooed boy replied with a sneer in his face.

"Watch your language, Zell. You were never this hostile before. If you want for this to end quickly stop interrupting and let them finish." Quistis said with a tired voice. "I need to write a report on the food consumption in the Garden and how our storage capacity will need to double in order to keep up with demand, so please be quiet so we can all leave soon."

"You don't need to write that report, Ms. Trepe. You've dealt with your stress with overworking and sleepless nights. You act like it's your job, but Headmaster Cid has assistants that do those types of reports. He has already requested several times for you to take some R & R, yet you need the work so you can focus on something other than what's bothering you. Am I correct?"

With a defeated look on her face, Quistis replied "You're correct. I am using work as an escape."

Kadowaki approached Quistis and squeezed her shoulder. "That's the first step. Accepting that you have a problem." She smiled softly at the blond and then turned her attention to Zell.

"Hell no, don't look at me and give your psycho-babble bullshit. There nothing wrong with me. I just helped save the fucking world and if I want to act like an asshole, I will. Got that?"

"Mr. Dincht, you're using anger and hostility as a cover to hide what you're really feeling." Dr. Kadowaki crossed her arms. "Unlike Ms. Trepe and Ms. Heartilly, you refuse to admit your problems or seek comfort. Now, what the three of you have in common is that you were carried out of battle and taken to somewhere else. None of you have given us any details of what happened after that and…"

"That's because nothing did happen, so leave us the fuck alone and go fuck yourself." Zell interrupted very rudely.

"Goddamn it, just shut the fuck up. You've been acting like a jerk and disrespecting anybody that comes in your way as if you were some big shot." Squall's outburst was unexpected and left everyone's mouth shut. "Hyne, you remind me of Seifer."

Zell's eyes dimmed and he froze where he was sitting. ~ Seifer… I'm acting like Seifer…but he ra… no, no, no…that didn't happen…there's no proof…it was all a bad dream…yeah, a hallucination…never happened…nev~

"Dincht, hey Dincht, snap out of it." Xu began to shake him until Zell started to respond. "Where did you go? You're amongst friends; you can tell us what's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong, Xu. I'm just tired that's all. I'm sorry everyone it's just that I'm tired." Zell smiled weakly and was a shadow of his former self, but his anger seems to have gone. "Sorry for being so disrespectful, Dr. Kadowaki."

"That's okay; look we've been here long enough for today and I think we're all tired. How about we meet tomorrow at 1:00 pm after lunch? We made progress, but the solution is still a long way ahead of us. So I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Bye, Dr. Kadowaki." Rinoa was practically clinging to her boyfriend and wouldn't look up.

"Tomorrow at one." Squall said in his monotone voice.

"I'll see you later, Kadowaki. Trepe, Dincht, hope you solve this as quickly as possible." The Asian woman walked out and headed for the elevator.

"Bye, Doc and sorry for the outbursts." Zell had his head down and was staring at his sneakers. He turned and looked at the Doctor and gave one of his trademark grins. "I feel better already, so don't worry too much about me, 'k." He turned around and ran like the old Zell used to, but Kadowaki wasn't convinced.

"Ms. Trepe, can you give me a minute of your time?"

"Of course, Dr. Kadowaki. How may I help you?" Quistis look at her questioningly

"I'm very worried about your friend, Mr. Dincht. He's in denial about what happened to him and whatever it was hurt him deeply. Rinoa has Mr. Leonheart to confide in, yet Zell has no one and I know this may be too hard for you at a time like this, but can you spend time with him, gain his trust and help him sort everything out?"

"I'll do my best, but I wonder, why did you choose me?"

"You're strong Ms. Trepe and you see things for what they really are. Unlike the other two, you accepted it and will soon recover from your depression. I just want you to help Zell recover along with you."

"Very well. I'll see you tomorrow then. Have a nice evening." Quistis left the room in search of her new charge. ~ I hope I'm not over my head. ~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the Balamb harbor three friends are out fishing. The day's sunny and the atmosphere seems jovial as they joke around and enjoy the sea.

"Great day, ya know?" A hulking tanned man said in a loud voice. "Perfect for fishing, hanging around and just enjoying life, ya know?"

"AFFIRMATIVE." A petite woman responded, her short silver hair and crimson red eye made her stand out amongst a crowd. "NICE."

"Stop talking like that, there aren't any punks around to scare off, ya know?"

"Of course I do, you idiot." She kicked him in the shins. "If I want to talk like that I will, ya know?...Gods now I'm talking like you."

A low laugh was heard in the pier. There sat a tall man with aristocratic features. His hair was shining in the midday sun and his green eyes were brimming with tears as he watched his posse. It was obvious he was trying not to laugh, but was incapable of it.

"Just like the old days right; Raijin, Fujin and me. The old posse and the rest of that sentimental crap." He said with a slight smile, but it couldn't hide the melancholy in his voice.

A shadow began to form above the harbor. It was huge and imposing. Seifer smiled in nostalgia upon seeing his only home pass above him towards its traditional landing spot

~ Just like the old days, my ass. The Garden didn't fly before and I was part of the Disciplinary committee chasing after smalltime delinquents and being the biggest jerk that school will ever see. I remember that Chicken wuss would call me...~

But then memories returned to him. His heart rate quickened and he could feel a cold sweat forming a layer on his skin.

{Rinoa was hiding in a corner. She was pleading and screaming for him to leave. Caraway, her father, he's standing in front of her, holding a gun in one hand and his innards with the other. "No Seifer, don't kill him. Please DON'T."

He shoved his Hyperion through the General while hearing Rinoa scream "Squall help me, please help me…I need you"………………}

His vision narrowed into a tunnel and he felt his knees start to shake.

{"You're not making any sense, Almasy. I'll never be like you" Quistis stood in front of him unconvinced and as in control as she has ever been.

"Being a sadistic bastard and killer is not in my character and it's not in yours either. Don't let that witch control you, fight back."………………}

He couldn't think, he couldn't breath. Everything hurt. His face contorted into a mass of grief and self-hatred.

{"Why am I… still alive? I should…have…bled to death."

"Because death would be a gift compared to what's about to happen to you." He was holding Zell in his arms and couldn't stop himself, he couldn't stop. "no…no…no…" ~ I don't want to, please Hyne, anyone stop me. I can't do this. ~"That tattoo of yours is such a turn-on" ~ Gods, no…stop me…~}

"No, stop this, anyone stop me, please…stop it" Seifer broke down to the ground and started to beg unsuccessfully for a past memory to change. He held his head trying to block out images and pleas from the people he cared about most and of how he hurt them.

{"You shouldn't be so defiant, my kursed Knight. I'll find a way to punish you, that will make the lashings and beatings seem like karesses from your beloved Ze..."

"Don't you dare say his name."

"Very well. Kontinue to fight against me, my sweet warrior, I look forward to the day where you'll face my true wrath"}

He started to mumble asking for forgiveness or death or both, until he felt strong arms embrace him and pull him up while a soothing voice tried to calm him.

"It's okay, Seifer. No one can force you to do anything anymore. We're here, Raijin and I are here and we won't let anyone take our friend away." Fujin stroked his face with a delicacy unexpected from such a harsh personality. "Let's take him to our place so he can rest."

"Good idea, all these nosy bastards are getting on my nerves, ya know?" Raijin glared at a small crowd that formed to see the fallen Knight.

"FUCK OFF" A loud and commanding voice came from Fujin that scared the bystanders away for the moment.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…forgive me, please…"Seifer droned on unaware of his surroundings lost in his thoughts and of memories past.

TBC