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Fever	By : RaceUlfson Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 753 -:- 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
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- 15
I (lucky person that I am) have borrowed characters from
Squaresoft (lucky people that they are) in order to entertain you (lucky folks
that you are). Isn�t that nice?

Herein we have plot, and no yaoi. I�m sorry, I guess we weren�t
all that lucky after all. Warning:
abrupt ending; I needed a stopping place before the next bit.

Fever: Chapter Eleven

She said, daddy oh don�t you dare
He gives me fever
(�Fever� by Peggy Lee)

Quistis clutched the back of the pilot�s chair and carefully
lowered herself into it, sitting sideways. She caught a glimpse of her filthy
face and matted hair reflected in the view screen and flinched away.

She tried to think of a worse day in her life, but no bitter
memory came to offer cold comfort.

Her clothes were stiff with Xu�s blood. Quistis had no
conscious memory of how she had gotten her fallen comrade beck to the relative
safety of the airship. Her mind skittered away from the horrible logistics
necessary to make sure all of Xu was still with them.

Just like an absentminded SeeD to go off and leave�

Quistis shook her head, denying the dark humor and its
safety mechanism.

I went off and left him.

She had sent out a Mayday and been intercepted by
disparaging Galbadian Regulars. Xu was removed to their military hospital,
under full life-support and contagion precautions. The doctors were amazed Xu
still lived. Quistis knew the reason why, that Zell had given his only Regen to
his teammate.

Zell, who didn�t even like Xu, although he tried to hide it,
had use his best healing spells on her. Zell, whom Xu did not like and she made
no effort to hide it, lured the monster away, sacrificing his life for Xu�s.

And hers.

And Xu had better NOT die after all Quistis had been through
today because she had some apologizing to do, starting with Zell, assuming he
was still alive and Quistis could find him.

A chance that was getting slimmer by the minute.

Quistis had wasted precious time arguing with the smug and
stubborn Galbadian Commander.

�Well, Little Lady, if he�s a SeeD he�ll be all right, won�t
he?�

Exasperated, Quistis snapped, �You�ve seen the kind of
damage that creature can inflict!�

The Commander pushed his hat back slightly and scratched the
white scalp line above his tan. �Let me put it another way. This invisible
thing has taken out 2, maybe three of the legendary SeeDs. What do you expect
my men to be able to do against it?�

�I expect,� Quistis said, trying not to throttle the
self-important fungar, �your assistance in locating Zell Dincht.�

He looked past her at the purpling desert sky. �Missy, we
don�t go out there at night for anybody.�

Quistis took a deep breath. �Then I�ll just have to do it by
myself.� She saluted snappily, turned on her heel, and stalked out.

Bravado only carried her so far, back to the Ragnarok and
still there was no answering hail from Zell.

Quistis had tracked the fading automatic mayday from
Squall�s communicator to the vicinity of Irvine�s cave but Zell was not there.
The winds that rose with the setting sun had obliterated all hope of her
trailing him. The desert night was filled with unknown monsters and she was
alone.

Zell is alone, too.

It wasn�t that she lacked the courage to go out and try. It
was years of training, of logic and military procedure and protocol that
stopped her. Quistis knew her searching would be futile and that if Zell had
any hope of rescue she had to get back up from a Garden.

She didn�t want to call Squall and tell him Xu was dying,
Zell was missing, the mission was a failure and she was perfectly all right but
definitely a dangerously poor leader.

Don�t let Zell die just because you�re afraid of what
Squall will say.

Quistis took a deep breath and reached for the
communications panel. She snatched her hand back as a toggle lit up, indicating
an incoming call on a scrambled line.

Sitting up straighter, Quistis opened the line.

�Hey, Puberty Boy, lose something�? I found a Chicken-wuss
wandering around loose.�

�S-seifer�?�

�The One and Only, Babe.�

�How� where� what?� Quistis could not hear herself think
over the pounding of her heart. I am happy because if Seifer has Zell then
Zell is still alive. And that�s all. Right?

�Pick a question and go with it, Sticky. Better yet, put His
Nibs on, I don�t have all night.�

The hated nickname brought back a rush of memories, of the
summer when they�d been 10, 11 years old and Quistis had hit a growth spurt.
For a lovely time she had been both older and bigger than Seifer and she�d
enjoyed rubbing it in. Until he retaliated by pointing out she was as skinny as
a stick figure drawing.

The anger helped. In a clipped tone, Quistis said, �Don�t
play games with me, Seifer. Where is Zell?�

�Right here, humping my leg.�

Something in Seifer�s tone reminded her suddenly that this
was not her childhood buddy she used to fight and play with, but a dangerous
young man Quistis really didn�t know at all.

�Is he hurt?�

�He�ll live.�

�I want to talk to Zell.�

�I want to talk to Squall,� Seifer said.

�Squall�s not available right now.�

Quistis could almost hear the shrug. �Tell him to contact me
when he gets off Rinoa, then.�

�Seifer! Wait!�

Expectant silence.

�Squall�s not here,� Quistis admitted. �I�m in command, I�ll
negotiate for Zell.�

�We�re not negotiating, Quis. You want him, come and get
him.�

�How do I know he�s still alive?� She wanted to hear Zell�s
voice, damn it. She wanted some reassurance this was not exactly what it looked
like, a trap.

There was a pause. Then, softly, Seifer said, �You never had
any fucking faith in me at all, did you?�

Apologetic without knowing why, Quistis fumbled for
something to say, but Seifer did not give her the time. �� Straight north from
the Prison, at the edge of the desert is a rock formation that looks like a
Chocobo�s head.�

She nodded although he couldn�t see it. �I�ll find it.�

�Come alone, Sticky, or you won�t even see us.� He cut the
connection.

Sticky!

Half the Hyne cursed junior classmen spent their days trying
to peer down her cleavage and Seifer still called her Sticky!

And it still pissed her off!

Quistis stomped around the Ragnarok doing the preflight
check without really registering it.

How dare he turn up out of nowhere and call her names and
made demands? Who did he think he was?

He was Seifer Almasy, arrogant prick extraordinaire, and
he had Zell and he could make just about any demand he wanted and he knew it,
the bastard.

Quistis engaged Lift and set a course for north of the
D-district Prison, trying to stay angry so the fear would not creep back.

Seifer sprawled in the command chair and ran his hand
through his hair. The air scrubbers were on high but still he had to retreat to
the Charger�s tiny bridge to keep his hands off Zell.

Not that Zell seemed to have any complaints about Seifer�s
hands, or any other part of him. Quite the opposite, the martial artist was
snuggly and clinging and demanding.

Seifer�s fingers found the goose egg at the back of his head
and he winced, focusing on the pain as he gingerly explored there.

That�s right about when I totally lost control of this
situation.

Nothing was going as expected. Seifer had really wanted to talk
to Squall, to warn him about the Theocracy, which had targeted Esthar. Seifer
knew the so-called Ambassadors from the Theocracy would take one look at Laguna
Loire and Esthar was as good as invaded.

Instead he�d gotten Quistis, who was always willing to
believe the worst about him and was treating this meeting like a hostage
exchange.

Just like back at the frigging garden. The instructors lined
up against him and never gave him a chance. They didn�t listen and didn�t want
to be distracted by the facts.

He stared out at the cold desert night, trying to think and
trying not to think too much about certain things. Typically, the only result
was a thumping headache. Seifer sighed and rubbed his neck.

Your blood sugar is low.

�Get off me.�

You have not eaten in 17.66 hours, Seifer, Host
reminded.

�Don�t patronize me! I�m not pregnant anymore!� Seifer
jumped to his feet, feeling his temper rise.

Amused and unoffended, Host said, We shall still have our
golden kittens.

Seifer swept everything off his desk, snatching up the heavy
clay cup before it hit the ground. That item he threw at the closest of the
catlike creatures. Seifer missed by a wide margin but the visible crew took no
chances and disappeared down their various access holes.

We�re not cleaning that up.

Seifer kicked a notebook, which exploded in a satisfying
flurry of papers. He kicked those all around the bridge before he collapsed
back into the command chair.

You�re so peckish when you�re hungry.

�Leave me the fuck alone, Host.� Seifer slumped there for
sometime and focused on ignoring the collection of catlike creatures, called
ges, that made up the intelligence that was Host. That didn�t alleviate the
headache, either. Using both hands, Seifer rubbed his neck and temples, trying
to ease the tightness.

One of the kits approached carefully and offered a
tangerine.

�Peace offering?� Seifer wearily took the fruit, peeled it
quickly, and popped a juicy sweet section in his mouth. The ges kit rubbed its face
on the discarded peels before gathering them up and carrying them away.

The voice com chirped and Seifer opened it with a sigh.
�Status?�

�Pretty good,� Rajin said. �Fuu and Throng took over the
Pirate mob, no trouble, y�know?�

�How�s the craft?�

�Looks good, maybe a little tune up, those Pirates aren�t so
good at maintenance, y�know? We�re goin� in now, Fuu says Throng counts 4 human
types, all down in the hold. Slaves, most like.�

�This group had plenty of Wedding Supplies and they were free
and easy about using it. This wasn�t the cheap stuff, either.�

�Well, y�know�� Rajin said, �The Churchies were howling
about a raid on some of their holy places. Maybe the Pirates hit one of the
Fuck god temples.�

�That would be justice in a weird way. Be careful, a cleric
of Gvalt would be fairly immune to the drugs and might be a caster.�

Rajin laughed. �I usually let �em wear themselves out with
each other before I try in get in the middle, y�know.�

Seifer snorted. �That�s your secret?�

Rajin had the highest rehabilitation ratio of any of the
King�s operatives. His natural friendliness, amazing stamina, and empathic
abilities made him the most requested and highest paid of the Handlers.

Seifer thought briefly about asking for Rajin�s help with
Zell, but found himself strangely irritated with his large friend at just the
idea. He cut communications abruptly, knowing Rajin would assume it was for
security reasons.

Part of your problem is you can still smell him.

Seifer closed his eyes. �No, part of the problem is I don�t
have time for this.� He sat up. �Actually, that�s a lot of the problem. And
where in Hyne�s Great Mercy is Quistis?�

The airship has landed. We guide her here. She, too,
is Lanian. We are too late to contain the Green Fever.

�She�s alone, then? We can still try to limit the
contagion.� Seifer finished off the tangerine. �Make sure Zell is still asleep.
And, uh, see if there�s anything in the galley I can serve company.�

Quistis was prepared to do whatever was necessary to get
Zell back alive. Just because a stupid little thing like hearing Seifer�s voice
again set her heart racing did not mean she couldn�t kill him if she had to.
She was SeeD.

When the Ragnarok touched down, Quistis was already geared
up. She had Save the Queen, she was fully junctioned, and was near her limit
break.

Quistis was unprepared to see Seifer again.

He stood near a rock formation, gunblade in hand, looking
like a pirate from some romance novel. Moonlight glinted off his highly
polished boots, his burnished gold hair, and his silver choker. Seifer seemed
to be listening to something. He sheathed Hyperion and turned to face her.

Seifer had never looked more; well, beautiful to Quistis in
that moment before his face contorted with shock.

�Hyne�s Hips, Quis, you look like shit. What happened?�

It was with great self-control that Quistis was able to
resist either crying or killing Seifer were he stood. Instead, she allowed
Seifer to usher her into the small sleek craft that had been invisible a moment
ago.

�Zell,� she demanded in her best instructor tone.

�I�ll let you see him, but for the love of Hyne don�t wake him
up. I just got him to sleep.� Seifer sounded like a harried babysitter.

A smile twitched around Quistis�s lips at that image and she
pressed them together firmly, holding onto her frown. She gestured to Seifer
that he should precede her, as she didn�t want to be locked in the cell with
Zell.

Only it wasn�t a cell, it was a ridiculously opulent
bedroom. And in the center of the enormous bed was Zell, partially wadded up
the velvety covers, one leg exposed to the chill air.

Seifer stayed near the door. Quistis moved to check on Zell,
trying to keep one eye on him. She disobeyed Seifer and gently shook Zell
awake.

Seifer groaned and bumped his head against the door.

�Zell? Are you hurt?�

With great effort, Zell creaked open one eye. �Quissy? �m �kay,
Seif saved me. You?� he blinked a few times and got both eyes to focus. He
yawned, showing his sharp teeth. �Xu make it?�

�Yes, she�s at the hospital. We need to rendezvous with
Squall.�

��kay,� Zell said, and went back to sleep.

Quistis stared at the unusually static martial artist and
slowly turned to Seifer. �We need to talk.�

�It�s never a good thing when a woman tells you that.�
Seifer gestured her out.

Quistis ran her hand absently over the table top, noting the
rich magenta grain of the wood. She accepted the cup Seifer offered, noting his
was poured from the same pot. �Zell said you saved him.�

�Yeah, so?�

�Don�t get all defensive� I need to know what�s going on.�

Seifer shook his head. �I don�t know about that. How did you
get the Green Fever?�

�Irvine had it. What did you save Zell from?�

�Pirates. Who else had the Fever?�

Quistis smiled. �Zell and I. What pirates?�

��Zell and I� is no answer.� Seifer made a buzzer noise.
�Sorry, game over.�

�Oh, like �pirates� told me a heckova lot!�

Seifer ran his hands through his hair. �Quis, you want to
play games, we�ll play games. You want to talk, talk. I�m just trying to be a
good host, here.�

�Seifer, this is confi�� Quistis let her voice trail off. It
wasn�t confidential information. They had no client involved other than
themselves. Seifer wasn�t going to tell her anything unless she shared, she
knew that. �Okay,� she said softly. �No more games.�

�Much better.�

�But you go first. What happened to Zell?�

Seifer shrugged. �Not much to tell. Pirates found him, dosed
him up with Wedding Wine and a near lethal amount of Gvalt�s Passion.� At
Quistis� blank look, he explained. �They have a topical aphrodisiac. It�s used
to prevent stage fright at wedding ceremonies. Most of the marriages arranged,
so I guess it helps. The pirates got some quality stuff and they used it on
Zell.� Seifer�s jaw clenched and he looked away. �They were going to rape him
to death. They gave him so much of that shit�� His claws flexed. �With his
dying breath Zell would have been begging them to fuck him.�

Quistis took her hands away from her mouth and put them back
in her lap. �But you rescued him.�

�My crew and I killed four of them. Zell took out the leader.
I brought him back here and started the detox.� Seifer turned sea storm eyes on
her. �Your turn.�

Quistis told him about losing Irvine and finding him again,
and the fever. Seifer sat up when she got to the fight in the Infirmary.

�The Theocracy has already contacted you?�

�Theocracy?�

�The guys in the green robes, they were priests of Dama,
their healing god.�

�They tried to kidnap Irvine!�

Seifer chuckled. �They were, like, the health inspectors.
They were probably trying to stop the epidemic. That fever is way contagious,
and you�re still catchy even 6 months later.�

�You work for those people?�

�Fuck, no. We�re at war with them. But the Priests of Dama
are okay, they have a healing oath so you can trust them� to a point.�

�War? Seifer, what have you gotten into?�

�What? You think I took up dentistry? I�m a soldier. I may
not be a SeeD, but I�m no slouch.�

�I never said you were� but you were very picky about which
orders you chose to obey.� Quistis fiddled with her cup.

One of the slinky cats jumped up on the table and offered
Quistis a tangerine.

�Ah� thank you.�

�They like the peels, it makes �em hot or something.� Seifer
reached over and rubbed the ges� ears.

It leaned into his hand and then pulled away abruptly, whiskers
quivering. Seifer tipped his head, listening to something like he was when
Quistis first saw him.

�I�m sorry, I have to take this call. You want more tea or something?�

Quistis sighed. �I�d really like a bath.�
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