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: Ah, the best time to write is when you're not in the mood to write, right?
Oh no, I should tell Squall, I really should..
The thought kept rushing through his head as he sifted through his closet for his best clothes. Finally finding his midnight black suit and a dark blue oxford to match, he laid them out on the bed then started pulling off his tank top. The sun seemed to have set rather early, and the blonde had drawn the blinds for privacy's sake.
If Seifer's plans work out the way he said, this could really upset Squall, I should at least tell him what Seifer's planning to do, even if I don't tell him Rinoa might be in on it, too... Ugh. I hope Rinoa's not that stupid.
Zell paced back and forth in his room, messing up his hair in the thought process. The clock was ticking, and soon Seifer was going to pick him up for the party. Now why was he so concerned about Squall again? He should be worried about himself.
*Knock. Knock*
"Shit! Uh, be right there.." Zell growled, he had spent too much time thinking and not enough time dressing, so he quickly buttoned up the oxford, pulled on the sleek black pants, and slipped on his boots before running to answer the door.
"Well well, I said I'd be here at six. Been too busy jacking off at the thought of having Squall to yourself tonight, are we?" The taller blonde was donned in a full white tuxedo, white shirt with ruffles included. It made him look bigger than he already was, looming over the boy with a sneer when Zell opened the door.
Zell gritted his teeth, angered but couldn't find a better way to tell Seifer to fuck off than to just ignore the remark for the time being. "Party doesn't actually start till 18:30 anyway. I'll be out in a few more minutes," he grumbled and shut the door.
"Not so fast," Seifer's hand caught the door before Zell could close it, and he pushed it open so he could step inside the threshold. "You look like you could need some help brushing up. From the looks of it you can't look dressed in only a few minutes."
He could only find himself cursing inwardly at letting himself get caught in such a situation, but Seifer wasn't making it any easier for him (as he always makes things more difficult). Zell muttered, "Fine, but don't touch anything," and stormed to the sink to fix his hair.
Oh but how could he resist - the taller boy slid behind him in front of the mirror and, as Zell reached for a bit of touch-up gel, Seifer took Zell's hand into his own and squeezed a larger dallop onto his palm. "Allow me," he said with his usual arrogant tone, and led Zell's hands up to his hair. Even though Zell resisted and snarled, Seifer's grip was too strong to get out of, especially in such a cramped space. With his rough style, he used Zell's hands to comb out the mess and smooth the chicobo spikes back into an almost Seifer-sleek look.
He seriously didn't like the guy, but the hair really did look good this way. And not to mention the feeling of having strong hands grip his own didn't feel half bad... wait a minute, what was he thinking? Seifer holding his hands? Gross! Sick!
Seifer chuckled, he could read the flush that came across Zell's disgruntled face reflected in the mirror. "Why, we could be a couple," he snided, causing Zell to thrash out of his grasp and out the bathroom door.
Maaaajorly disgusting! That Seifer had some nerve!! Zell grabbed his suit blazer from the bed and rushed to the door, holding it wide open while tapping his unlaced boot. "I'm ready, now get out of my room."
"Of course, chickenwuss," the blonde laughed and sauntered out of the room, just knowing that Zell was glaring into the back of his head as he followed suit after slamming the door loudly.
He knew it was a bad idea, but he went along with it anyway. Damnit Zell, why do you let Seifer gain the upper hand like this? This was going to turn into an awful evening, and Zell could feel it in his gut. He should have told Squall, but he couldn't say it, not throughout yesterday, and not throughout today's training. He had, essentially, chickened out. Seifer's annoying nickname for him really did hold some truth. Zell lamented the thought and pulled on his blazer, following Seifer through the last hallway towards the ballroom.
Not surprisingly, the only guards at the door were none other than Seifer's guarddogs, Fujin and Raijin themselves, who were dressed more like marching band soldiers than attendees at a party. A ballroom party. Damn this was not where Zell wanted to be. They don't serve hotdogs at these kind of events.
Fujin and Raijin hooked arms, and led their way into the midst of the party. Seifer paused for Zell to catch up, and slid an arm into his, which made Zell shout in surprise. Luckily the ballroom's dance music was up for the jive and drowned out his cry.
"Don't dream, I won't hold onto you forever," Seifer guffawed at the struggling Zell even as they continued walking, "I've got my eyes set on better mates than you."
"You're not getting away with this," Zell spat, finally speaking his mind after holding in the whole night.
"Oh but I already have," he grinned strutted forward, dragging Zell along unwillingly towards the dining tables.
All the while, the famous couple swirled about on the dance floor to the lively music, performed by none other than Selphie and her band, with Irvine on the lead guitar, jamming away to impress his girl like no other. Squall danced amazingly well, executing his footwork as precisely as his hit accuracy with his gunblade, and Rinoa swept the dance floor like an elegant princess in an gold sequin gown. Their dance was so well combined that, when Zell glanced over, anybody would think those two were made for each other. And the thought hurt him when he remembered what Seifer was planning to do. However, he didn't know exactly when. He had to tell Squall before then, whenever that was.
Although the man in the white ensemble had walked off to chat with other guests, Raijin and Fujin sat down across from Zell at their table like two of Cerberus' heads, eyes never leaving him, scrutinizing every inch of his movements and diversions.
"Ahh Zell, just don't make it any harder than it has to be, all right? You know how Seifer is, and we'll help him in any way we can. We can't let you just jump out there and ruin his plans. So just sit tight and enjoy the party. Oh and tie your shoes." Raijin rambled on as usual, but he was trying to calm Zell, who was visually unsettled at this point. In her blue buttoned up dress suit, Fujin said to Zell, keeping a stern eye fixed on his head, "STAY."
He bent under the table to lace up his boots, and figured he if slipped out quickly enough, Fujin and Raijin wouldn't see him soon enough to catch him. Zell was always quick on his feet, even if he was wearing a suit. So without further ado, Zell stuffed his laces into the boot covers and somersaulted under the next few unoccupied tables and made a run for the dance floor. As expected, Raijin didn't notice at all although Fujin started to wonder why Zell was taking so long
The martial artist shimmied his way onto the dance floor, jamming a few of his own moves with a few shadow boxes in between, and found Squall, who was dressed in a gorgeous jet-black tuxedo and a matching bowtie. Did he just say gorgeous?
"Hey Squall!" Zell shouted and caught the brunette's attention, who he could've sworn just smiled at him.
"You're here Zell," was the quick response but Squall was swirled away by Rinoa.
"Hey Zell, how's it going? Oooh who's your date?" the cheerful girl asked, sounding not a bit breathless despite all the dancing she's been doing.
"Just fine, Rin, can I talk to Squall alone real quick?" He really hoped Rinoa wasn't in on Seifer's plan. He really hoped it was all just part of Seifer's nasty plan. Rinoa loves Squall, right? She won't dare hurt him.
"No way!" she laughed, "We're dancing!" Her deep nutmeg eyes danced happily without a single trace of any bad intentions.
"Well well well, look where my date wandered off to," the all too familiar gruff voice breathed on Zell's left ear from behind. "Dancing without me?"
Twitch. Zell forced half a smile and bit the inside of his cheek. Squall's eyes wandered over and Zell could feel them fixed onto them.
"Rin, come and sit with us for a while," Seifer said sweetly, giving Zell the major shivers as well as making Squall twitch. He also encircled his arms around the shorter blonde's waist, nudging him back towards the tables.
"Sure!" the girl piped happily, and of course, she had three guys to escort her, who wouldn't be happy? "Your hair looks really good tonight, Zell."
"Of course it does, I did it for him." Seifer grinned, leading the way to their table.
"Ooooh Zell! You never told me you liked to be man-handled!" she giggled. Behind her, unseen by the rest of them, Squall twitched. Twice.
Great. Just great.