FOREWORD: This is an ongoing fanfic. To start reading from the beginning, click here.
Series: Final Fantasy VIII (8)
Pairing: Zell Dincht & Squall Leonhart
Status: ongoing
Rating: PG
Warnings: shounen-ai, light Rinoa bashing
Search keyword: ff8_floating
Notes: Seifer is evil.. :P It's just my opinion, so read on.
Zell shuffled uncomfortably. Sure he had sat next to Squall before, but their new partnership seemed to make Squall unusually stiff, and he already needed that stick removed from his ass. Ms. Glynn's new training program for the graduated SeeDs was a bit unusual.
*Pfft*
Huh.. Zell looked down and found a neatly folded scrap in his lap. Who.. Zell glanced over at Squall, who seemed rather attentive to the lecture on Guardian Forces, but he knew Squall could care less because he knew all the material already. Did he throw this?
Without a sound, Zell tucked his hands under the desk top to unfold the paper, and in scribbly handwriting, it read:
There's a ball tomorrow night.
Rinoa is making me go.
Get a date.
- S. L.
Squall...? Zell thought to himself. He glanced over again but noticed no change in Squall's posture and attention, so Zell quietly slipped his pen to his lap and printed in return.
I don't have a date. Should have told me earlier.
While writing that, Zell kept his eyes fixed on the instructor to pretend he was paying attention besides his constant fidgetting. After signing Z. D., the blond refolded the note and flicked it over to Squall, who caught it in midair with two fingers and left the note alone on his lap for a few minutes.
Read it damnit.. Zell cursed under his breath, stealing sideway glances every so often, but Squall didn't even bother to read the note.
***
Class ended with a loud ring and Headmaster Cid's voice ringing overhead afterwards, something about reporting to his office if you did something or something. Whatever it was it didn't concern him. And Squall still hadn't read the note.
"Hey Squall-!"
But the icy brunette walked out of the room swiftly, pocketing the note instead of reading it or responding.
"Damn.." Zell muttered and socked his desk. Damn him, he could have at least read the damn thing. Walking out the door, the martial artist unhappily shadowboxed his way through the hall.
"Ugh, how am I gonna find a date," he thought aloud to himself. Bah, every girl he could think of already had a date or couldn't go. Damn, Squall had him in a tight spot and it wasn't the thrilling one.
"Hey chickenwuss," the ugly gruff voice purred at Zell's left ear. "Need a date?"
"Argh, none of your business," Zell recoiled into a crouching stance with fists up.
"Chill chickenwuss," Seifer chuckled as he smoothed a single stray strand of gold away from his scar. "I need a date, no girls left either."
Still growling, Zell straightened and turned away. "Well you can take your mother."
"Or I can take you. Consider it an act of pity."
"Fuck you."
"You're not strong enough," Seifer smirked.
And Zell whipped a quick right undercut directly into the taller man's abdomen. "Fuck you."
Seifer spasmed in pain and collapsed to his knees. "You chickenwuss, just walk away from an opportunity for swapping dates."
Zell froze in his tracks and whirled around, glaring at the crouched Seifer. "Swap dates? What are you talking about."
"Don't think I didn't see you at the window that day, you saw what happened.. and I bet you haven't told puberty boy yet."
"What the hell? I saw nothing."
"Really," Seifer managed to get back up and pat his clothes free from wrinkles. "Squall's your friend. I will get Rinoa back no matter what, I only offer you a chance to help your friend. Take it or leave it."
Muttering to himself, Zell realized Seifer just revealed his plan. Was he telling the truth or lying? It was too ugly to be a lie. Accept or not? Would Seifer take advantage of him? Gross. But Squall. Hell.
"Fine."
"Good," Seifer brushed his arms and crossed them. "Dress well chickenwuss, I'll be at your door at six," and the white trenchcoat swept back into the classroom.
"Shit, what did I get myself into?" But it was worth it if what Seifer said was true. He didn't want to see Squall hurt, but if he was going to be, he wanted to be there for him at all costs. He was going back to his room now. Tomorrow night was something that needed to be thought through. At least classes were done for the day.