Series: Final Fantasy VIII (8)
Pairing: Zell Dincht & Squall Leonhart
Theme: 30 Kisses #7 - Superstar
Status: one-shot, finished
Rating: mild
Warnings: shounen-ai, kissing
Notes: Drabble takes place in time compression (after you beat the final battle) during a portion of the ending FMV.
The day Ultimecia was no longer a threat, everybody rejoiced. Even Seifer. The SeeDs have succeeded, and the sorceress was no more. The world would be fine. Everything would go back to the way it was. Except for one thing...
They were heroes of the world, and Squall was their commander, their leader, and that would make him the ultimate hero. How would they take to their new roles? And Squall, how was he going to take it. That something he would like to know himself.
Cid and their beloved Matron welcomed them back with welcome arms, and somewhere far away, Laguna rejoiced in silent contemplation by Raine's grave, proud as any father could be, even if he could never tell Squall.
But there was something not everybody knew about Squall. Everybody made it back through time compression easily, speaking relatively, but Squall could not make it on his own. Drowned in confusion and torn about where his heart lie, the ultimate hero fell in the end. Lost in time compression, the sullen teenage boy collapsed and, initially, did not seek help. He was too proud, and he didn't want to hold his friends back from returning home safely either. Especially Zell. Sure everybody looked up to Squall, but nobody could replace Zell. He, if not everyone else, had to make it back safely, and not be held back because he, Squall, was weak.
Enveloped in the total darkness and desolation of time compression, Squall imagined he heard Rinoa's voice, and so he called out to her with what strength he had left. There was no way he could reach her though, as her mind was in a completely different wavelength, and hence her presence. Surely enough though, somebody was there with him, it had to be Rinoa! Around and around he raced, calling her name, to what seemed like hours, but to no avail. This time, when he fell, he fell hard. The cold emptiness he crashed into felt like no other ground he's ever been thrown against, it was more painful and harsh than he could've ever imagined. But he welcomed it, and the draining of all his senses that followed. If it was going to be his end, then so be it.
Like a distant memory in the corner of his mind, there was a light. It was dim at first, but it grew brighter into a vibrant, shining blue. Such a lively colour, and Squall wondered what last vision he was going to see before he would finally black out. Then a dull noise approached, first a soft murmur which soon became a loud, familiar voice. Hot, salty liquid splattered on his face and trickled into his mouth. And as if his senses were never clearer before than now, he gradually composed the first and last thing on his mind. Zell. Squall blinked his eyes wearily, as if they were open for the first time in his life, and saw his friend cradling him and shouting frantically. No, not shouting, but sobbing loudly.
"Oh Hyne, Squall, wake up, wake up! Squall don't die on me! Squall, c'mon man, tell me you're still in there, tell me to shut up. Anything! Squall!"
Despite his body feeling numb, but Squall managed to lift his gloved hand to Zell's face, to reassure that bewildered chocobo mentality of his. Upon contact, feeling reentered his fingers, and he wrapped them against Zell's cheek. He managed to part his dry, cracked lips and breathe out a single word. "Hey."
The blue floodgates of Zell's eyes shut and opened again within a split second, and suddenly Squall felt his lungs depleted of air as Zell lunged forward and covered his mouth with his own, the salt of Zell's tears mingled fiercely with the sweetness of their kiss. It was nothing like he ever imagined, the heat and life he received from Zell was absolutely divine. When the blonde finally broke away, his voice rang loudly in his ears, a mixture of happiness and dissolved fear that could arouse angels.
"Squall! We did it! We did it! We can go home now! Don't you dare make me go back myself, keep your eyes open! Squall!"
He managed a small smile for Zell, like the time Zell healed him after fleeing from the spidery hunk of machinery back on the beach of Dollet. Only at that time, he pretended it never happened. This time, he wasn't going to hide from it anymore. He promised to himself that from now on, he would acknowledge their exchange. "I'm here, Zell." His gloved fingers gently wiped the tears from Zell's face. "Let's go home."
Zell beamed, his toothy grin returning even if his face was still wet from tears. The two of them shared a prolonged smile in silence, until..
"Squall, where are you? Squall!"
Squall glanced away and stared off into the darkness. They were still in time compression, and...
"Uh, Rinoa's looking for you.." Zell's grin faded momentarily, and he bit the inside of his cheek to force himself to smile again.
"I.. yeah Rinoa." Squall saw Zell's downcasted look, no matter how brief it was, and fought the urge to touch his face again. "Rinoa, she..."
"She loves you," Zell finished off his sentence and smiled until his eyes curved into two lines.
"Yeah, I know." The brunette knew it, and he couldn't deny that he felt something for the gentle angel named Rinoa as well. But Zell.. well, he didn't know what was going on anymore.
"I suppose I should go on ahead, go find Rinoa, okay? And don't be so closed in either." Zell reluctantly untangled his hold on Squall and helped him to his feet before letting go. "I'll see you back in Balamb, all right?"
Squall felt helpless as he watched Zell back away slowly, as if hoping for a chance to stay, but all he could say was, "All right, bye." He pretended not to see the hurt in Zell's eyes as the blonde ran off and disappeared into the darkness again. He stared at his back until he was out of sight.
Did he really have to be so harsh? Ever since he could remember, Zell has been watching out for him, caring for him, loving him, and all he could do was hurt him in return. Squall collapsed to his knees and buried his face into his gloves, hot tears streaming from his closed eyes. But there was Rinoa too, and as if he was obligated, he felt that he loved Rinoa and no other. Yet why was he crying? Rinoa's voice seemed to fade away again, and Squall wished he had not let go of Zell. He was all alone. Alone.
Squall collapsed again. Trying not to think of what was already done, his mind reached out to Rinoa. Because she's his angel, right? Then he faded from consciousness.
Yet through all that, they all made it back home. And Squall was the superstar of it all, the strong Leonhart who bore it all and succeeded in leading his team to the end to victory. Arm in arm, a cheerful Rinoa clung to Squall's black formal uniform as they strode through the crowds of the party, nodding to and acknowleding everyone who cheered them on.
Then there they were, all six of them, facing each other and living in the aftermath of what could've been the end of the world, but because they triumphed, they were together again. Amongst their jovial chatter, Zell approached Squall and Rinoa with his traditional grin and clapped them both firmly on the shoulder before walking off to the refreshment stand. But neither Squall nor Zell exchanged a word, nor did Squall look after Zell. Instead, he allowed Rinoa to guide him outside and away from the party. Away from Zell.
So much for being the hero and even getting the leading lady when the aftertaste of victory is sour from a broken vow. Even if everybody else thought of Squall as the hero, he was the only one who knew otherwise.