FOREWORD: This is an ongoing fanfic. To start reading from the beginning, click here.
Series: Final Fantasy VIII (8)
Pairing: Zell Dincht & Squall Leonhart
Theme: 30 Kisses #27 - Overflow
Status: part 1 and ongoing
Rating: PG
Warnings: shounen-ai, spoiler about Squall's past, kissing
Search keyword: ff8_where_i_belong
Notes: I decided to make this longer than a one-shot. Incoherent plotline developing.. I don't know, read and R&R please!
One look at this town, and Zell could almost fall asleep. Almost. It was one of the few opportunities ever to spend time alone with Squall, he didn't have time to be sleeping, even if it was so quiet and boring. Everybody had somewhere they wanted to go, like Irvine and Selphie wanted to go to Galbadia, Quistis wanted to go to Fisherman's Harbor, Rinoa wanted to go to Timber, and Squall wanted to go to Winhill, but Zell wanted to go somewhere different for a change. Ma loved it when her son could afford time to come home, but she also encouraged him to go out and enjoy himself too. He figured, if Squall didn't refuse, he'd go along with him. So here he was. In this boring town where even monsters were infrequent.
Just one step outside the car, and Squall found himself feeling queasy already. He was oddly fond of this town, even when the only times he ever stepped in it were when Ellone sent them on a mind trip back to Laguna's time in Winhill and when they stopped in to help the mansion owner find pieces to a broken vase. Although he couldn't remember the past and despite his low opinion of Laguna, Squall felt a strange connection to this town. Swallowing hard, he took in the view of the charming, small buildings and the few inhabitants walking about. It was a quiet little town, as always, and there weren't many changes since the last time they were there, only that time Irvine was with them too. Squall looked over to his companion and blinked. Zell didn't like this place last time, why was he here now? The town was too quiet and slow for him, who had enough enthusiasm to suffice for the both of them, and yet he decided to accompany him here? Squall shook his head in thought, but there was no doubt that no matter what Zell's reason was, he was glad he came along.
"So baby, where are we staying?"
Squall flinched. After all the time he had spent with Zell, he still wasn't quite familiar with being called baby. Whatever, he thought to himself, and pulled out his suitcase from the backseat before shutting the car door behind him. The weather was just right, the sun shining pleasantly, the sky was clear and sparse with clouds, and a soft breeze blew through his short brown hair. There was even a light fragrance of gardenia in the air. Squall shut his eyes for a few seconds as he walked down the path between the two buildings towards Winhill's main square, with Zell following close behind, carrying his own luggage. The two boys were dressed in casual clothes for their vacation, which was a nice change from their usual outfits. Zell was wearing baggy khaki-green cargoes topped with a black muscle tanktop, showing off his well-toned arms. Instead of his normal red sneakers, he wore a pair of black running shoes, which was the only other pair of shoes he owned. Squall, on the other hand, was wearing a light, white t-shirt and black leather jeans with his regular boots. Okay, so maybe the only thing different about his outfit was the missing bomberjacket, which happened to be in his suitcase.
Running a free hand through his hair as he stepped into the light of the main square, Squall could feel a nostalgic rush throughout his body. Despite Zell's constant talking behind him, the brunette ignored the chatty blonde and made his way across to Raine and Laguna's old house.
"Whoa, we're staying here? This is awesome, do we have the whole place to ourselves? Man, this place reminds me of home," Zell's mouth ran off even as they got upstairs to check out the rooms. Or rather, the one room and a bathroom across the hall. "Huh, there's only one room, how are we going to do this?"
Okay so he didn't mind his friend's company so much, but this was definitely one of those times Squall just wanted Zell to shut up. "You can have the room. I'll sleep downstairs," Squall said curtly before picking up his suitcase again to head down the stairs.
Quickly, Zell reached out and grabbed Squall by the shoulder. "Hey wait, no I think you should have the room. It is your--er Laguna's house afterall, and I bet he's the one who let you stay here, so I'll take the couch in the living room. It's only fair, right?"
He really didn't want to be reminded that, of all times, that joker might be his father. Really, he didn't want to think about it. He knew Raine was his mother, and he yearned to find more about the woman who gave him life, but as for the father, well he was irrelevant. What kind of father would leave his own son in an orphanage? Sure Laguna had a reason, he had to save Esthar from oppression, something like that, but he already lost his wife, so how could he bear to ditch his remaining son?
D'oh, he really needed to think before he spoke, as Zell instantly knew his blunder from the way Squall's face was reacting to this words. He had to distract Squall from his thoughts, and he needed to act fast. Luckily for his martial artist reflexes, Zell's instincts took over and he leaned forward and brushed his lips against Squall's. As if his mouth had a mind of its own, three words escaped in the silence that passed between them. "I love you." Squall dropped his suitcase.
Or maybe he did it again. Oops.
Squall's mind shut down for a full minute. His thoughts had been overloaded by mixed emotions about his past and his family, then suddenly Zell kissed him. Zell kissed him? The second his brain restarted, Squall processed the latter. What did he just say?
Zell clenched his jaw inside and waited for a reaction. Too late to take back his words, he supposed, so he just stood still and watched Squall as he slowly opened his mouth.
"You.. you take the room." Squall picked up his suitcase again and left the room, leaving Zell dumbfounded.