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 #11 - Gardenia
Status: part 2 and ongoing
Rating: PG
Warnings: shounen-ai, spoiler about Squall's past, kissing
Search keyword: ff8_where_i_belong
Notes: Was a one-shot, but decided to establish a story here. This here part 2! ^_^
Of all the stupid things he had ever said and done, Zell had to kiss his bestfriend and tell him "I love you" at the beginning of their vacation together. The blonde sighed heavily, leaning back on his arms tucked behind his head. It had been a few hours since they had arrived in Winhill, and they stayed on separate floors since their unexpected exchange. The sun was setting outside the windows he faced, giving the room a warm orange glow. The bed Zell lied on was cushiony soft and of a decent size, and so for a moment, he pondered, why don't they share the bed? He swatted the idea quickly as Squall seemed disoriented enough from his sudden confession. Then again, he himself was disoriented too. Only Hyne knows how long it's been since he started liking, no, loving Squall. However, through the days of the sorcereress and the past year since they defeated Ultimecia, Zell had concluded that nothing could ever develop between them besides friendship. Especially with Squall and Rinoa's relationship, Zell had pushed the thought of liking Squall to the furthest corner of his mind. Somehow though, on days like today, his suppressed emotions would surface unexpectedly. Why today? Why not the last day of their vacation? Zell threw a pillow at the closed window and muttered silent curses to himself.
A shadow passed over Zell's face, slightly startling the boy from his thoughts. Squall frowned down at his friend and spoke quietly. "I'm going to dinner at the pub next door, you coming?"
Jolted from his thoughts, Zell blinked rapidly and stammered, "Ye-eah sure." He watched as Squall turned promptly and headed back out the door without another word. No need to hesitate, he told himself, and the blonde hopped off the bed and trotted downstairs after his friend. Pretend nothing happened, that's it, nothing happened earlier.
Despite it being just sunset, the cool night air had settled on Winhill already. The town, like Laguna's room, was bathed in a warm, orange afterglow, a certain sign of peace in this little town. To Squall, it was calm and cozy. To Zell, it was quaint and suffocating. But yet, they both acted as if the opposite were true. The small stand opposite their building was in the process of being closed, and the owner paced quickly with two children at her feet, carrying flowers and pots after their mother. It wasn't like Zell to be distracted-- well it was-- but to be distracted by a flower stand wasn't a normal distraction for him. Squall didn't notice, as quickly as he should've, that Zell wasn't following him when he gestured to his missing friend for a table for two, much to the amusement of the pub owner. The brunette aplogized curtly then headed out the swinging doors to see where Zell had gone. His eyes scoured the town square and quickly caught sight of the hyper chocobo head directly across from where he stood. What was that guy up to now?
"Thanks," Zell piped as he paid for the gardenia and lily bouquet in his hand. The lady smiled back equally cheerfully, accepting the gil while her children departed from her side and followed Zell like goslings. "Yo Squall!" The blonde waved his empty hand and bounded across the square to his impatient-looking friend on the porch of the pub.
"Dinner, remember?" Sometimes Squall didn't know if he could count on Zell staying on task. This would be one of those times.
"Yeah I remember. I got these for you," he grinned mischieviously, that trademark grin he flashed at him the first time they met, and he thrust the bouquet of white flowers at his friend.
"......."
Zell rubbed the back of his head with his other hand. He hoped Squall would break the silence before he said something stupid. Again. The flowers meant nothing but good, friendship-based, intentions, he swore to himself. Then he waited, for Squall to push the flowers back at him. To his surprise, Squall took the flowers instead, his head slightly lowered with his bangs covering his eyes.
"How... how did you know..."
Booya! He made a right move for once, Zell had to give himself credit for that one. Snap back to the immediate situation Zell, he urged himself. "Well, this town's only brimming with them. Last time we came here we were running all over town looking for clues and we just kept running into these flowers." He shrugged, trying to catch Squall's eye, but his head was still down. "I figured, well first day here and all, you'd probably like something fresh in the house after the long drive today." Zell couldn't figure out why Squall wouldn't look at him... wait, was he blushing? Squall Leonhart, the emotional iceberg, blushing? Nah, he must be imagining things.
"Thank you, Zell," was the soft reply, and a soft brush of their lips. Then two giggles from behind Zell. The blonde totally didn't notice the children at his tail, and was now all too aware that they were in public.
"Children! Get back here and help me!" their mother called, and the kids dashed back to their posts as obedient little shophands.
He blinked. Squall was gone, along with the bouquet. Did he just imagine that encounter or did it really happen? If it did happen, was that.. a kiss? Feeling a bit light in the head from thinking, Zell snapped back to reality and pushed past the pub doors to join Squall for dinner.