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Magic of Valentine	By : Zierra Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 664 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
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- 11
Still don't own anything Final Fantasy related. *sighs* Not even a action figure.

A brand new chapter, that�s been really long in the making. But I actually think I�ve finished this story. Do you have any idea what a relief that would be for me if that�s the case? If I am indeed done, there will be one more chapter after this, one that is actually already written and typed! GO ME! I didn�t finish before Halloween, but I finished for Halloween. Almost the same, right?

Well, enjoy, and beware of the angst�. ^_~

��
Zell woke with a startle, the last phases of his dream fading back into the depths of his mind. He could just barely remember it and shuddered at the thought of having green hair.

The odd bits and pieces of his dreams had him grinning at himself and snuggling back into the mattress, before realization hit him.

Should there be someone else in bed with him?

With a jolt, Zell sat up in bed his mind reeling. Everything that had happened the night before, and especially the events that led him into bed, came back full force and with each new memory another followed until Zell was watching an uncensored version of last night, complete with subtitles and running commentary.

�Shit.�

He�d learn long ago that there was no point in regretting something you�d done, because by then it was too late to undo it and since there was no statute of limitation on regret, what was the point? But having sex with Squall, under the conditions that they had, he probably wouldn�t have minded regretting that. It was just the kind of thing you didn�t do, and still have your morals intact.

But with awareness of his predicament came doubt, and not in a small dose. How had Squall perceived their nocturnal activities? The fact that he was no longer present in Zell�s bedroom should give him some indication, right? But then again, what Squall had told him last night during dinner said differently. Remembering that conversation, Zell mentally face palmed. Squall had asked him if he was ok with the fact that his commanding officer might be feeling a little bit more than just friendship, and Zell had said �yes�. A �yes� he was now rethinking the sincerity of.

�Shit!� he said again, hiding in his hands.

Waking up next to Squall may have made the decision-making easier, but right now he could think of anything worse than facing Squall.

At least until he�d had a decent workout.

The clock kindly informed him that it was barely 4.30 AM and that the training centre wasn�t opened. Not that that would stop him when he had an emergency such as this. Wasn�t that what the code was for anyway?

He dressed in a pair of old sweatpants and a used t-shirt he found on the floor. It wasn�t like anyone would be around to smell him anyway, and it took the urge to shower off another reason.

Checking his bathroom, and the couch on the way, just to make sure he didn�t have anyone sleeping over in the bathtub, Zell snuck out into the hallway, heading quickly towards the training centre. He didn�t bother trying to elude the security cameras since everything was recorded when no one was around to watch, but being stealthy meant not waking anyone up that could ask uncomfortable questions.

He successfully managed to avoid detection until he reached the large double doors of the training centre.

Seifer stood dusting spider web off his collar while cursing softly as Zell came to a confused halt in front of him.

�What the hell are you doing up so early?�

�It�s not early�, Seifer answered grumpily. �It�s late. I forgot to keep an eye on the clock and got locked in.�

Zell tried to force the smile away but found it impossible.

�You got locked in? For all this time?�

�Well, I didn�t notice that I got locked in until a few minutes ago. Guess I dozed off for a moment.�

Zell gawked.

�In the Training centre? Alone?� After reading Seifer glare correctly, Zell changed the subject. �How did you get out?�

�How are you planning on getting in?�

Zell planted his fist on his hips and adopted a self-important look. �By overriding the time lock with the emergency code. But you wouldn�t know anything about that.�

�Not unless someone told me.�

�Who�d tell you? As far as I know, I�m the only one who knows, except the guy that randomly changed it last week.�

Seifer sighed.

�Let�s not argue, alright? I�m too tired for that. I went through the ducts. I trust you�re not gonna tell anyone?�

�You gotta ask?�

�So, how you feeling?�

�Sore.�

They stared at each other for a second before Seifer started laughing. Zell rapidly turned a shade of maroon upon realizing that he�d let his mouth run on it�s own again.

�I meant tired, Seifer. I meant tired!�

�Sure you did.� Seifer tried to control his mirth, but found that his eyes were overflowing with amused tears. He took a few breaths too collect himself, lips still curled. �You�re cracking me up, Dincht. No wonder no one tells you any secrets, you can�t even keep your own.� He cracked his knuckles while giving Zell a complete once-over. �You look like hell�, he informed helpfully.

Zell sneered. �What are you? The fashion police? It�s almost 5 AM in the goddamn morning, I don�t see you looking like a fucking princess either.�

�I couldn�t care less if you wore a damn tutu, that�s not what I meant. With the risk of sounding like a bad song lyric, there�s something in your eyes. Makes you look kinda� empty.�

Zell sighed. Apparently Seifer hadn�t been lying when he said he could read them better than they wanted.

�What it is, morning after angst?�

�You could say that.�

�Wait, hold up. I was just fishing for hints, not a confession.�

Zell shrugged. Why not tell Seifer the whole thing? He knew the situation, and he more importantly, he knew Squall. And it was painfully obvious that he needed to talk about it.

�You could call Selphie�, Seifer offered tentatively. �You made up right?�

�Yeah, but she�s got selective hearing. She�ll hear �me�, �Squall� and �sex�, then squeal and do her fan girl routine, but she won�t have listened to a word I�ve said.�

Seifer nodded in understanding. �What about Quistis?�

�She might have conspired to get Squall and I together, but she�s not the type who�d want details.�

�Irvine.�

�You would make that connection, wouldn�t you? But no. Besides, all his support aside, I think he�s slightly homophobic. He�s fine with me being gay as long as I don�t prance around in front of him, you know?�

Seifer stared at him seriously, face seemingly carved from rock.

�It�s too fucking early for this, and I�ve done enough meddling between you people in the past twenty-four hours to last me well into next year. The only person you should talk to about this is Squall.�

�I can�t--�

�--do that�, Seifer finished for him. �I know. Let�s go.�

�Where?� Zell asked cautiously, frowning.

�To the gym. You need to crack a few knuckles and pull a muscle or two, right? And while you talk your little heart out, I can catch a few Z�s on the bench press.�

��

Squall was staring blindly into the opposite wall as Quistis entered. She had tried to avoid him as much as possible all morning and it hadn�t proved too difficult, since Squall hadn�t moved from his office-chair once, but necessity had forced her too seek him out. If Quistis didn�t think that she knew him better, she would have thought he�d sat there all night. Even though he�d already been in his office when she arrived early that morning.

�I need you to sign this�, she said, trying to keep her voice level and neutral as she handed over Balamb Garden�s monthly budget report. �It�s rather urgent.�

Squall only gave her a blank look before grabbing a pen and scribbled his name on the dotted line, not even bothering with a read-through.

Before, Quistis would have insisted that he�d take a closer look, but you don�t chew your boss out on the right thing to do, when you obviously had no idea what that was.

�Thank you�, she said and hurried to the door.

�What would you do?�

Quistis froze just short of her escape, shoulders tense. She slowly turned back, watching closely as Squall sat fidgeting with his pen. When he didn�t automatically elaborate, Quistis prompted. There was no point beating around the bush, it was better to get the cards on the table and have it done with.

�About what?�

Squall raised his head a little but still avoided eye contact, for which Quistis was pleased. That way she could at least pretend she was ready for what would inevitably come.

�Say there�s someone�that you really like.� He spoke haltingly, and Quistis pricked up her ears. �For arguments sake�, he added and Quistis cursed the faint blush that heated her cheeks.

�Yes?�

�Say you go out, have fun and�.� The way Squall cocked his head and abashedly looked away told Quistis exactly what he meant. And she blushed even more.

�Yes?�

�And when� You know, the next morning�.you�re not sure.�

She stood dumbfounded in the middle of Squall�s office, trying to puzzle his fragmented sentences into something whole and understandable.

�Not sure about what?�

This time it was the ceiling that held Squall�s attention. �Him�and you. You know, together.�

Finally, the coin dropped. �Oh.�

Quistis fought between feeling guilty for Squall�s obviously emotional roller coaster and smug, for being right about the two. She managed a little sympathy too, because Squall had never been good with dealing with people, and it seemed more difficult for him the more important they were to him.

�Well?� He sounded so depressed that Quistis couldn�t help but feel sorry for him.

�I�d think about it. And when I thought I�d made up my mind, I�d think about it some more.�

�And then?�

So that�s what Squall had been doing all morning.

She mentally put herself in Squall�s shoes, trying to imagine all that he�d said. She blushed furiously at the suggested lovemaking but got past it with only a wildly beating heart.

�And?�

She looked up at him, startled. �Sorry, I was thinking.�

�It�s only a rhetorical question, not an invasion of Galbadia.�

She didn�t smile.

�I�d talk to him.�

It seemed like such a cliché, and it was probably the most universal solution to any problem, but it was undoubtedly effective.

�Talk?� Squall sounded sceptical, and with all right. Talking wasn�t Squall�s strong suit. In fact, if he could, the Commander would probably only use sign language as means to communicate. But Zell was good at it, though.

�Yes. Let him know that I have second thoughts and��

Squall shook his head vigorously. �No, not second thoughts.�

Quistis raised an eyebrow. What do you know?

�Doubts?�

�Reservations.�

She tried hard not to smirk as she sat down in the same visitors chair she�d been in yesterday.

�About a relationship?�

He nodded meekly and Quistis successfully suppressed the urge to squeal.

�I�d tell him that too, if it meant he�d give me the time and space to figure it out.�

�And if he hates you?�

�Zell won�t hate you!�

She bit her lips when Squall�s razor sharp eyes cut into hers, dangerously narrowed. �I was just�I mean, unless there�s someone else��

She�d hoped to at least keep one foot out of her mouth.

When Squall didn�t respond, Quistis� heart sank. �There�s someone else?�

Squall met her gaze point blank, his face vacuous. �And if there is?�

She sighed disappointedly and felt like crap. She�d really thought they�d make such a good couple, but if she�d forced them together against their wills and there was a third party�

�I�d definitely talk to him about that. Keeping that from him would only postpone the inevitable and cause unnecessary misunderstandings.�

Squall turned to look at a not-too-recently-cleaned window, and kept his face away from her. After a long moment of silent she heard him sigh.

�There�s no one else.�

There was on odd tingle in her chest and she couldn�t keep from grinning. Luckily Squall was still facing away and she managed to compose herself before he looked back at her.

�Talk to him, Squall. Just get it done, like ripping off a band-aid.�

�Yeah.�

Feeling mighty pleased with herself, Quistis made herself ready to leave when Squall called her back.

�Quistis. I�d appreciate if you stay out of my personal business unless I specifically invite you.� He met her eyes again, deadpan. �To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.�

She paled and nodded. �Yes sir�, and hurried out the door.

��

�Hey! Are you even listening?�

Seifer stirred from his near slumber by Zell�s sudden outburst and yawned.

�That was never part of the deal. And you don�t have to yell.�

Seifer stretched, yawned again and sat up, narrowly avoiding hitting his head on the disc bar.

�What were you saying?�

�You really think I should talk to Squall?�

�Hell yeah, Chickie.� The tall blond stood and decided he was awake enough to try a menacing glare.

No, still too tired.

Zell shifted from one foot to the other, impatiently awaiting his reply.

�Obviously something clicked between the two of you last night, and I mean really clicked. You guys don�t strike me as the types to just jump into bed with any random person, so that must have meant something. And between that time and now, you guys made the mistake to start thinking and now you got cold feet. Am I right?�

Zell was pouting by the punching bag, lethal hands stroking the soft-beaten leather and Seifer had a pretty good idea what he was thinking about.

�Tell me something.� Like the little runt hadn�t been running his mouth non-stop for the past ten minutes. �What is it that you doubt? Squall�s feelings, or yours?�

Zell�s eyes darted away and Seifer found that he was moderately surprised. So Chickie was the one that couldn�t make up his mind?

�Why?�

�I don�t know!� Zell began pacing in front of Seifer, his voice dropping and falling in time with his confession.

�I thought for sure I liked Squall that way and that what happened was what I wanted. But stuff got ahead of us last night��

�I�d say.�

��And now I can�t help thinking that everything was a giant mistake. Squall wasn�t himself and I took full advantage of that.�

With a sigh Seifer sat back down. �You make it sound like you raped him.�

Suddenly Zell�s eyes widened and he stumbled over his own feet. �Hyne�, he whispered. �You�re right.�

�Woah, hold on! I was just joking!�

�But that would totally explain why he left without saying anything, and why he hasn�t tried to talk to me. My Gods, Seifer. What did I do?!�

�Ok, stop with the angst for a moment. If that were the case, you�d know about it. And for the record, you haven�t tried to talk to him either, so how do you know he�s not thinking the same thing about you?�

He eyed Seifer closely before shaking his head. �No, he�s got no reason to think that.�

He blamed it on the lack of proper sleep, because it took Seifer a long while to hear the undertone and put it in perspective of the topic.

�This will probably earn me a few months of nightmares, but I gotta ask, for clarity. He topped?�

Zell�s only response to his question was a nod.

�So why are you freaking out? If he�s top�� Seifer shuddered at the highly disturbing explicative image. �How can you possibly believe that he thinks you raped him? I mean, I�m no expert on martial arts, but when you bottom, you�re kinda�.bottom. Maybe you�re just that good�, Seifer snorted to get his sarcasm across, �but isn�t it hard to hold someone down if you�re� you know, under them?�

Zell suddenly looked uncharacteristically serious.

�It�s not about positions, Seifer. It�s the state of mind.�

�Squall�s the Commander of Balamb Garden and the next in rank to become Headmaster. He didn�t get there because he�s got a pretty smile. He�s smart as fuck and I seriously doubt you could force him into having sex with you. It�s not like him, and more importantly, it�s not like you.�

�I�d been drinking.�

�Drinking doesn�t make you a bad person, Zell. Come on, just drop it.�

The shorter blond dropped unceremoniously to the floor like he�d taken Seifer�s suggestion as an order, his face sullen and sad. Seifer got a flashback from his childhood of Zell bawling after he�d taken that stupid blue beach ball and punctured it.

�Guess it doesn�t matter anyway. We fucked up.�

�And quite literally too.� Seifer chuckled, but it quickly faded when Zell�s shattered blue eyes looked up at him.

�Come on, look on the bright side. At least this way you won�t have to tell him his feelings are unrequited.�

With a frown, Zell leant forward on his hands. �What you do mean, �unrequited�?�

�Well, you said you didn�t feel that way about him.�

�I never said that!�

�Yes you did, and I quote �I thought for sure I liked Squall that way�. In my ears that mean you don�t think so anymore. With the whole past tense thing and all.�

�Well, then there�s something wrong with your ears, because that�s not what I meant. Come on, this�thing I feel for Squall didn�t just happen over night. I�d be completely brain-dead not to think about Squall that way.�

Seifer kindly refrained from making a comment, at least one that Zell could hear.

�But seriously, Seifer? Can you really see me and Squall as a couple?�

�I�ve visualized you two humping like rabbits, and that was bad enough. But no, I guess not. Although, Selphie did a good job convincing me of the opposite, but I blame temporary insanity.�

Zell crawl over on his knees to Seifer, his eyes desperately wide.

�So you see. We�re like polar opposites! I can�t think of a single thing he and I can do together.�

Seifer only dignified that with a pointed look, but Zell caught on. �Asshole, that�s all you gonna see?

�Ok, you wanna hear my opinion?�

�Not really.�

�Are you sure you�re just not making excuses for yourself? Blaming it on the too many differences? All right, listen up, I�m gonna be completely honest. And you better listen carefully because I�ll barely say this once. I think you and Squall complement each other well. You force a reaction out of him, he mellows you down. Apparently, attraction is not a problem for you, because if it were, I wouldn�t be sitting here in the wee hours of the morning talking about this with you. And I agree, things went too fast, but done is done and you can�t take it back.� Seifer made a pause to make sure Zell took it all in. �What if I told you that you have to make a choice; be with Squall tonight, or never see him again?�

Zell sneered. �Now you�re being a drama queen.�

�Come on, what would you chose? I�m serious.�

The fighter sighed and bowed his head. �Squall.�

�Right, problem solved. Now onto the next. The issue of waking up in separate beds and not making an attempt to talk to each other.� He tilted Zell�s head up with his index finger and did his best authoritative stare.

�No matter what, you gotta talk to him. No excuses.�

Seifer struggled to his feet and straightened his black sweater.

�But what do I tell him?�

Zell, still kneeling on the floor, looked at him with pleading doe-eyes and Seifer averted his eyes quickly. Damn brat.

�A shorter and more articulate version of what you told me. And be honest, not blunt. Though I doubt Leonhart knows there�s a difference.�

He quickly exited the gym, before he turned sappy and stayed with Zell for a moment longer, albeit he did throw a �Good luck� over his shoulder before the door closed.

Now he needed sleep.

��

Every time Squall stood to find Zell and discuss their situation, he ended up circling his desk only to sit down again and begin the thinking process anew.

He knew they had to talk; it made all the sense in the world. It was just that talking was probably the one thing where he couldn�t perform one hundred percent. He could just barely lecture a student for disciplinary reasons. Having a heart-to-heart with someone he had a crush on, had slept with and wanted to continue to be friends with was in the same league as a root canal without anaesthetic.

He resolutely stood up from his chair, walked to the door and opened it.

Well, this was good progress.

He closed the door behind him to stop himself from going back inside. He could do this.

He took a deep breath and looked to his right, down the corridor that would take him to the cafeteria where he knew Zell to be right now. The security cameras had proved it. It was neutral ground and the presence of other people might keep the yelling and the cussing to a minimum. Squall hated scenes.

But he needed to talk to Zell. Right now. Waiting would only make it worse, and possible unsalvageable. He really didn�t want that.

Squall sighed dejectedly and turned left.

I�m such a pussy.

��

There was a quiet knock on Selphie�s door and 3.30 PM and she was slightly hesitant to answer it. It had only been an hour since Irvine had left and she really didn�t want to talk to anyone else at the moment. Last night had really left her drained.

In spite of herself, she hobbled over to the door anyway and smiled faintly when she opened it and saw Quistis.

�You look about as cheery as I feel�, Quistis said, looking tired and worn. �Can I come in?�

Selphie nodded and backed away, letting Quistis in. She was a little surprised to see the blond instructor come by her room, even though they undoubtedly had many things to talk about.

�We screwed up royally last night, didn�t we?� Selphie snorted her agreement. �And by the looks of it today, things hasn�t turned out the way we thought they would.�

�We should never have gotten involved, Quisty. We go lucky that everything turned out alright in the end.�

Quistis nodded slowly, leaning back against Selphie�s bright yellow armchair.

�But we did get involved. Have you talked to Zell today?�

Selphie shook her head �no� and watched Quistis warily. Whenever the other woman was acting like an instructor with her friends was when she wanted to make a point across.

�Then you haven�t heard about his suspension from the training centre?�

�Irvine mentioned something about it being off limits to restore the species. He didn�t say why.�

�Apparently there�s only one injured T-rexuar left in there. The rest was annihilated. It seems Zell has some �issues� to deal with.�

Selphie frowned. �What�s your point?�

Instead of answer, Quistis kept talking. �And when I visited Squall this morning he asked me strange questions, like what I would do if I�d slept with someone I really liked and woke up the next day wondering what I�d gotten myself into.�

Quistis certainly didn�t look like she was joking and Selphie�s jaw dropped.

�You mean that they��

�As sure as I can be without having been there to see it.�

Selphie almost felt groggy.

�Hyne, that was fast.�

�Yes�, Quistis agreed, wearing her favorite stern expression. �And I think that�s the problem.�

�You couldn�t be more right there, Quistis.�

Both girls jumped at the sudden voice and turned towards the still opened door. Selphie, in her surprise, had forgotten to close it. It wasn�t like she knew what Quistis was gonna talk about.

�You�re lucky it was me walking by�, Seifer said as he sauntered in, fresh from the shower. He let the door slide shut behind him and managed to glare at them both simultaneously before he started talking.

�That�s not everyone�s business to hear. But you have a point and we need to do something about it.�

Selphie took it upon herself to be the reasonable one for once. �Seifer, we promised. All of us.�

�Yeah, but they made us think that everything was alright. Besides, all we have to do is get them in the same room and make sure they stay there until they�ve talked about it. That�s it.�

�It�s not as easy as it sounds.�

�Well, if we don�t do anything, anything they could have together is history.�

Selphie and Quistis exchanged glances. They had both promised but all they really wanted was to see their friends happy. And if Zell and Squall�s stubbornness held them apart, well, it was their duty as friends to make sure that they were brought together.

�That�s what we did last time�, Selphie tried, one last desperate attempt to rationalize it away, although they all knew she was doing it anyway.

�This is different.�

�How?�

�Because this time they want to talk. Zell spilled the beans without thinking about whom he was talking to and Squall obviously did the same. They just don�t know how and they�re scared and they�re stalling. We got to do something before they walk away from it and then all that drama last night was all for nothing.�

�Alright�, Quistis said and Selphie felt how she was pulled along, weather she wanted to or not. �What�s your plan?�

�Simple. One get Squall to go to the Quad, the other get Zell. Tell them whatever necessary, to get them to come, lie if you have to. I don�t care if you tie them up and drag them there. Thirty minutes from now, ok?�

�And you?�

�I�m gonna go set some things up to make it a little easier.�

They all agreed to the plan and stepped out into the hallway, only to run into the last person they ever expected to see.

�Ellone?�
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Magic of Valentine