Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

Mind Games	By : danihouse Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 942 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any of the characters represented in the story, and I make no profit from it.

Chapter List
- 1-Mind Games
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 12-12
- 13-13
- 14-14
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19.1
- 20-19.2
- 21-20
- 22-21
- 23-22
- 18
- 19
- 20
Zell was beginning to worry that that scowl was going to become a permanent fixture on Seifer’s face. He’d been wearing it all afternoon, and hadn’t once shown the slightest leaning toward donning a more pleasant expression. Neither had he once spoken to Zell since that distasteful scene they’d had earlier - not that Zell was going to complain about that; it had actually been a nice surprise, because he’d expected the other man to be at him about any number of things, including but not limited to their encounter the night before, and their much more brief and disagreeable one after waking. But hell, if Seifer was going to refuse to speak to him, Zell would at least enjoy it for the reprieve it was. His main concern was that Dallia was going to have a fit if Seifer was going to act unsociable at her party.

But did it matter, really? This was their last night in Deling City, thank god, and Zell himself was almost at the point of not giving a shit what Dallia thought. She’d been toying with them this whole month, and what with one thing and another, he wasn’t feeling much in a mood to tolerate any more of it. Seifer, as well - he’d had quite enough of the both of them.

Well, that wasn’t exactly true. Zell was starting to think he’d never have enough of Seifer - not after last night. He could hardly think about it without starting to feel hot again. He immediately tried to stop, but that was as futile an endeavor as it had been the last forty times he’d attempted it. He couldn’t stop thinking about it - he’d gotten next to no sleep today because of thinking about it. Trying to wrap his brain around everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours - first Seifer’s confession, and then what followed (all five hours of it; no wonder he was still so damn tired) and then, this afternoon, that perfunctory and yet somehow extremely intense fight... Zell’s brain felt like a wrung-out sponge; no matter how much he rolled it over and over in his mind, he couldn’t make heads nor tails of Seifer’s behavior.

He started at the beginning. Seifer’s confession - well, even what should have been the simplest part of the whole equation mystified him. He had been fairly certain that Seifer was physically attracted to him; he had also been positive that Seifer would never admit to it except under pain of death. Zell assumed there was some other aspect he was missing. Otherwise, why would Seifer confess to wanting him? Unless all he honestly wanted was sex - but if so, then why all the ridiculous games?Because Seifer’s incapable of sincerely being straightforward; it’s in his nature to be guarded, Zell supplied himself with the answer, though it didn’t satisfy him.

The trouble was that, despite what Seifer had said that afternoon, Zell didn’t think that any of this was just about sex - not for either of them. He knew it wasn’t for him. He actually liked Seifer, despite the gunblader’s aggravating tendency to purposely be a dick. And although Seifer was clearly trying to look and sound cool, he’d obviously been angry with Zell - angry enough to break two dishes, which Zell found the evidence of when he emerged from the shower to a calm and composed but decidedly scowly Seifer. How the other man had the nerve to grossly insult Zell and then be angry with his response was beyond him.

If it came down to it, Zell had decided he wasn’t against continuing this... well, whatever this thing was that they had going on. He was pretty sure that Seifer felt the same way, but the other man clearly wasn’t going to be the first one to come out and say it. He probably considered his confession last night - and in point of fact, it had not been all that willingly given; Zell had had to bait him into it - as meeting Zell halfway. He obviously had no idea how real relationships worked - but then, how many relationships had he been in, anyhow? Zell had no idea. Besides Rinoa, he’d never known the other man to date, or really show interest of any type in anyone. And Zell had never heard any rumors about Seifer of the type that spread so easily through Garden any time anyone hooked up. Gossip spread through the place like a disease even at the best of times, which is why Zell took such pains to keep his private life just that: private. So in Seifer’s case, was it that there was nothing of interest for anyone to gossip about, or was he just good at keeping closed doors closed?

Whatever the case, it didn’t change Zell’s mind, nor the fact that Seifer was an idiot. Spending this month together, forced though it might have been, had allowed Zell to get a pretty good read on the ex-knight, whether or not the other man realized it. In fact, he was almost disappointingly typical, when you got down to it. His acting like a jerk was just a defense mechanism to keep people from getting near, and truthfully, if it weren’t for the fact that Zell didn’t have a choice, he would never have learned so much about Seifer as to actually make him tolerable. The Seifer that nobody else ever saw, the one beneath the snarky, derisive front he put on, was actually a pretty cool guy. He was charming, and funny, and smart... and deep. Maybe sad. Zell didn’t know for sure, but now that he’d had a sneak peek, he kind of wanted to. To get to the bottom of Seifer - how many times had Quistis, with all her good intentions, tried the same thing? What made him think that Seifer would be any more willing to let him in then he had anyone else?

Well, he did seem to have a thing for Zell - something more than purely physical attraction, that is. Zell almost grinned, but he stopped himself. He wouldn’t have even entertained the idea, so silly did it sound to him, but the more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He had made an effort last night, albeit a lousy one, but that had to count for something. He probably didn’t know how to be sincere. Maybe he’d always had people throwing themselves at him. His personality made this seem unlikely, but what did Zell really know about him anyway? It had only been a month.

Oh well. No matter how many times he ran his thoughts in circles, it didn’t change the decision he’d come to: he wanted to continue this thing with Seifer. Whatever the consequences might be - Seifer might have threatened it, but Zell didn’t believe he’d really out him just for spite. Engaging in a private relationship of any sort with the other man would be grounds for dismissal for the both of them if they were found out; not to mention Zell’s job was on the line. Honestly, he wasn’t all that concerned. They could keep it quiet easily enough - that was, if Seifer was willing, and Zell was very much of the opinion that he was. But whether or not he would admit that was another matter.

Zell was really hoping he would, just because it would make things so much easier. But again, when was Seifer ever one to take the easy route? The more likely scenario would play out with a few more weeks of unbearable tension before Seifer broke down and came crawling back to him with some really lame excuse - unless it was Zell himself who broke down, but he didn’t plan to. It wasn’t that he was trying to be stubborn; he just wanted Seifer to realize that he wasn’t going to be won over simply by one really unbelievably good night of sex. He wanted to be met halfway. The ball was now in Seifer’s court; it was up to him to decide if he wanted to do things the hard way or the easy way.

Zell sighed. Weeks more of the agony of celibacy did not appeal to him.

He sat a little forward in the squishy armchair, the unpleasant floral print of which matched with everything else in the Caraways’ sitting room, and watched Seifer for a minute. The other man pretended not to notice, staring with grouchy determination at some object to the left of Zell. His mood had turned so strangely - he’d been perfectly cheerful, and in fact, more amiable than Zell had ever known him, last night, but that could have been attributed to the fact that he was getting laid. He had slept the whole day, which Zell only knew because he himself didn’t. And then, upon waking, Zell had barely said two words to him before his disposition took a turn for the worse. It had to be something he’d done, but Zell was damned if he knew what. He didn’t like to play games; if Seifer wanted something more from him, it was up to him to say so.

Zell considered for a moment. Maybe it would just be better to ask Seifer and get things cleared up now, before the gunblader had a chance to work himself into a really foul mood over it. Granted, it wasn’t quite the time or place, sitting in the Caraways’ parlor and waiting for Dallia, who was already ten minutes past due, but the longer he put it off, the less likely Seifer would be willing to listen when he did get to it. Maybe tomorrow, then - they were to catch the first train out of Deling City in the morning, and it was a long trip, after all. A long trip in a private compartment. Zell didn’t stop the grin from creeping onto his face this time. He understood Seifer a little better now - there was undeniably something fun in plotting against the other man, particularly when he recalled the events of last night and looked forward to a reenactment.

Dallia chose that moment to make her appearance, gliding through the parlor door with a swish of chiffon and glitter. “Well, someone is in a very good mood!” she declared, her gown glimmering as she crossed the room and came to stand beside the couch. She looked from him to Seifer, and gave a half-frown. “And someone else is not,” she added, putting her hands on her hips. “Good heavens. Are the two of you ever on the same page?”

“I think you’ve just pretty well summed up our entire relationship,” Seifer replied, giving her a very cool look. She seemed puzzled by this, as was Zell, who thought he sensed some definite bitterness in Seifer’s tone. Is that what Seifer was so bent out of shape about? That Zell couldn’t read his mind? What an idiot, Zell thought, sighing again.

Dallia stared at him for a long moment, and then turned her gaze on Zell, with an expression that was beginning to make him distinctly uncomfortable. She was grinning, which was never a good sign - worse, she was grinning at him, not Seifer, which was unusual. The look on her face, in fact, was almost as if...

But there was no way she could tell that they had slept together just by looking at him. Sure, she was perceptive, but even she couldn’t know that sort of thing just by looking at someone. Then why did her expression look like she did know it? As if his own good mood, Seifer’s black one, and that comment of his just now were enough to tell her all she needed to know? Zell started to feel uneasy. That would imply that hers and Seifer’s relationship was of a much more intimate nature than even Zell had thought - intimate enough, at least, for Seifer to divulge to her what he was up to these few weeks past. It seemed unlikely that Seifer would reveal that sort of thing to anyone, and given his extreme dislike of Dallia Caraway... unless that was just a front. Who knew what those two were really up to?

“So what’s your costume supposed to be?” Zell asked, if only to distract her from whatever she was thinking as she was smirking at him, because it was perfectly obvious what she was supposed to be - every inch of her was painted in blue and silver, her skin and her floaty white gown crusted with glitter and bedazzled with countless tiny crystals, the same which adorned her tiara. A trail of glitter had followed her into the room, and Zell watched it come off her in clouds as she did a little turn to show them her costume. He was going to be covered in that shit by the end of the night.

“Doesn’t suit you,” Seifer said before Dallia had a chance to answer. She turned toward him, giving him a chilling stare worthy of her elaborate costume.

“I don’t recall asking your opinion, Mr. Almasy, thank you,” she said shortly, in response to which Seifer only shrugged. “And can you try and appear a little more pleasant? We are going to a party, you know.”

“Never mind him. He’s been in a wretched mood all day,” Zell said, standing from the chair and pointedly ignoring Seifer, whose stare he could feel. “I think you look great. So if you’re Shiva, what’s the General dressed as?”

“That’s a secret,” she replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Zell didn’t want to laugh, but whatever Dallia had done to her husband, it must have been good. “You’ll find out when we get there. Fury will meet us up later. He’s picking up Rinoa and her friends from the train station.”

This was a pleasant surprise for Zell, who couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Rinoa, except in passing. Well, besides that party of hers that he’d gone to last month - but they hadn’t really gotten to hang out, and as far as he could recall, he’d kind of been acting like a dick that night anyway. That, of course, had been Seifer’s fault - had it really only been five weeks since then? It seemed like so much had happened between the two of them since.

“We had better get going,” Dallia announced, sweeping out her long, gauzy skirts, which vomited glitter all over the carpet. “I shouldn’t want to be late for my own party. Mr. Dincht?” she said, holding up a shimmery arm. Zell offered her his own, and together they walked out to the front of the house, with Seifer trailing unenthusiastically, but thankfully silent, behind them.

Despite what Dallia said, the party was well under way when they arrived, and she jumped right into the fray with girly excitement. “Oh. Umm, let me think. Okay, you come with me,” she said, pointing at Seifer. Then she directed her finger at Zell, and added, “you can go and... I don’t know, mingle or something. I don’t need you both.”

“Oh... okay,” Zell said, feeling kind of useless as he watched Dallia drag his partner off into the crowd. Seifer was glaring at him as though it was his fault, but he ignored it. Maybe if he was lucky, Dallia would bully Seifer into a better mood before the night was over.

He wandered around for a while, but didn’t see anyone he knew - or at least anyone he recognized; most of the party guests were dressed to the nines in a colorful variety of costumes, some of which made even Dallia’s bejeweled creation seem modest in comparison. He and Seifer stood out against the crowd, even in SeeD uniform. The party seemed to be mostly comprised of the Caraways’ personal friends - socialites, both Estharian and Galbadian - so considering recent events, he wasn’t all that surprised that he did get recognized a good deal; that probably would have been the case with or without the uniform. But he didn’t have to like it. The only consolation was that he was pretty sure Seifer was suffering a lot more than he was at the moment.

Dallia seemed to be going to a lot of effort to keep Seifer at her side this last week. Promoting the story that Seifer was her co-conspirator in this whole ridiculous Estharian Garden idea? Or were they in on something together? It was hard to believe. Seifer really didn’t like her, and he claimed to have no idea why she had taken such a particular liking to him. But she continued to single the gunblader out - clearly he had some part in whatever scheme she was running, even if he didn’t know what it was himself. Or maybe Dallia just enjoyed jerking him around because she knew it irritated him. Probably a little of both, Zell reckoned. They were more alike than Seifer would ever admit, and that’s probably why he disliked her so.

What was a mystery to Zell - more than everything else, at least - was why Seifer tried so hard to be a bastard. He wasn’t one, not really, and if he did have a tendency toward meanness, it was because he’d trained himself to be that way. Zell recalled that he used to have friends, before the war - besides Raijin and Fuujin, that is. Despite a reputation for being kind of arrogant, Seifer had been pretty well-liked... well, by most; he and Zell had never quite got on. So really, it was kind of ironic that Zell was the one getting close to the other man now, when he pushed everyone else away. Ironic... and sad, Zell thought.

It was easy enough to pinpoint when the change had occurred - he hadn’t been the same person when he returned to Garden as when he had left it. But why he felt the need to act like an asshole baffled Zell. He played the victim, acting like the whole world was against him, but Zell personally thought there would be any number of people willing to tolerate, or even forgive him if he would just meet them halfway. It wasn’t what he’d done during the war that people seemed to have an issue with; it was the fact that he still acted so superior despite it. He was a stubborn idiot, that was the long and short of it, and Zell didn’t understand it at all.

And here he was actually trying to get into a relationship with the guy. That was probably the biggest puzzle of all - why was he even bothering? Trying to get into Seifer’s head would probably only cause him endless frustration. I never should have gone and started liking him, Zell thought to himself. Granted, if he’d had a choice in the matter, he would never have given Seifer a second thought - if they hadn’t been forced into each other’s company like this, he’d probably still be happily hating the other man. He didn’t know if he wanted to thank Quistis for her meddling or rip her a new one. He wouldn’t be in this mess if she hadn’t suggested to Squall that he partner Zell and Seifer up - and he knew it was her, too; who else would it be? Although her meddling had been a result of Seifer feeding her ridiculous stories, so he was still mostly at fault here.

Zell stood in a quiet corner, holding a glass of champagne but not drinking it, and watched the crowd as he mulled all this over. The worst part was that, despite the long and continually growing list of reasons not to, he really did like Seifer. Despite his predilection toward dickishness, despite all the scheming and plotting, despite the countless offenses he’d committed since they were kids, and despite the fact that he was inherently incapable of being honest with anyone, including himself. Zell liked him. Liked his smile and his eyes. Liked his sense of humor. Liked how he got goofy when he started drinking, but would never admit it when he sobered up. And how he grumbled about doing Zell favors when he was really just being nice, because he never kept count. And how sometimes he got really quiet and pensive, and Zell knew he was thinking about choices. He liked knowing that he was seeing parts of Seifer that no one else had in a long time. He liked having the power to make Seifer scowl in irritation one moment and then laugh, sheerly out of surprise, the next. And besides all that, he really, really liked the sex. But that was almost an afterthought.

No, that was a lie. The sex had been very much in the forefront of his thoughts for most of the day. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced before - and not just because Seifer was a man (although that had been an interesting learning curve.) It was true that he hadn’t had the pleasure of someone’s company in his bed in quite a while, but even that, he suspected, had little to do with it. The entire experience was rough, wild, fun - and, yes, violent, but mostly by accident - and wholly passionate. Hell, what right did Seifer have to be so good at sex? It almost made Zell angry. That first blowjob had undone him in a matter of minutes - and he was pretty sure that was Seifer’s first time with another guy, too. Of course, Zell had gotten his revenge, a little later in the night...

There it was - that was the idea he’d been trying to pinpoint. Sex with Seifer had been more like a competition than anything else, and it was that as much as any particular sexual act that Zell found he liked. Seifer couldn’t stand to be one-upped, and there was a thrill in knowing that anything Zell did to him would be reciprocated, and then some... that no matter how far he went, Seifer would always take it further. It was less like fighting a losing battle than like... like playing a game where even losing was still kind of winning. Zell wasn’t sure that was a healthy basis for a relationship - but then, no relationship involving Seifer could be normal, so that was to be expected.

He watched the gunblader from across the room, pacing a little and trying not to look completely aimless. Seifer was still at Dallia’s side, but at least he had put on a neutral face. Standing on her other side was someone in a bright red and orange costume that Zell didn’t immediately recognize, until he realized it was General Caraway and he almost choked on his drink. What the hell had Dallia dressed him up as? It came to Zell a moment later; if she was supposed to be Shiva, his costume must be Ifrit. It made sense, but man did the General look ridiculous - although he didn’t seem to mind, and was even smiling, looking fairly cheerful. Would wonders never cease.

Not far away, someone was waving to Zell, and he cracked a smile, recognizing Rinoa even with the half-mask she was wearing. She beckoned him over and he went to join her and the small group of people she was standing with. None of them were dressed particularly inventively; she was only wearing a black-and-white cat mask with her party dress, and the guy next to her - it was one of the Forest Owls, the one who was always sick, but Zell could never get his name down - was just wearing a suit and tie. The redheaded girl on Rinoa’s other side, however, was painted all in blue and wearing a seashell-encrusted gown that was clearly supposed to be evocative of a mermaid, out of the top of which her cleavage spilled. Zell tried not to stare, but found that, in fact, he wasn’t all that interested.

“This is so great! I didn’t know you’d be here,” Rinoa declared, pulling him into a tight hug and planting a kiss on his cheek as he approached. She pushed her mask up to the top of her head, and gave Zell the most friendly and welcoming look he’d seen since arriving in Deling City. “I was so surprised to see Seifer when I got here! And then I remembered about... well,” she hesitated, clearing her throat. “You guys are all over telly right now. But I guess it didn’t occur to me that you’d be here!”

“It’s good to see you, too,” Zell replied, only being a little bit sarcastic. Rinoa didn’t catch it, and went on very cheerfully as if he hadn’t spoken.

“I can’t believe how well Seifer and my dad are getting on,” she said, her hands fluttering for dramatic emphasis. “I mean... I dunno, it seems weird. But, well, they’d have to get on, wouldn’t they?”

“Would they?” Zell said.

“They wouldn’t?” Rinoa replied, looking confused. “I don’t know. Seifer’s going to be working together with Dallia, right?”

“I don’t know much about it. You’d have to ask him,” Zell said in response. Rinoa made a face.

“I don’t fancy it. I’d rather just suffer curiosity,” she said, grimacing. Zell would hazard a guess that Seifer’s sentiments were much the same. He and Rinoa tended to stay well out of each other’s way, which seemed to be the best way for them to retain a civil relationship. At least, Seifer never went overly out of his way to be antagonistic toward her, which was more than could be said for a lot of other people around Garden.

“So you’re just in town for the party? You’ve missed a few good ones already,” Zell remarked.

“I know. There’s been quite some excitement around here, I gather,” Rinoa said - a more cryptic remark than was usual from her, which prompted Zell to wonder just how much she really knew about what was going on. Anybody with more than half a brain could guess that he and Seifer were in town for something more than just Garden research, so it was unfair to assume she was completely ignorant. But she had to know he couldn’t talk about it in any case, and her remark didn’t seem designed to pry. She continued on, “I’ve actually been really busy with the Owls. We’re cutting new deals with the Galbadian government. We’re in town for business, but it’s kind of a holiday, too.”

“Sounds very... efficient,” Zell said, lacking both interest and a decent response. Rinoa, as per usual, missed the sardonic hint to his tone. He sometimes thought she did that deliberately.

“I’m sorry,” she said suddenly, waving her glass of champagne, which was luckily not all that full. “I’m being so rude! You know Zone, of course,” she added, gesturing to the guy at her left. Zone, that was his name - Zell determined to commit it to memory this time. He knew from experience that this would be futile; the guy was so nondescript that even Zell, who was good with people, couldn’t get his name straight. Poor guy, Zell thought, shaking his hand.

“How’s it going?” Zone asked. Zell gave him a half-nod in response. The guy looked really uncomfortable in that suit - what was his costume supposed to be, anyway?

“And this is Nelly,” Rinoa went on, pulling the other girl into the conversation. “She just joined up with the Owls over the summer. Oh, um...” she frowned, as though she’d just had a thought. “Never mind... you guys have met, haven’t you?”

“Indeed we have,” Nelthilta said rather coolly, and she shook his hand as well, though with great reluctance. Zell tried not to look too sheepish as she gave him a very unfriendly look.

“Nice to see you again.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she said, pursing her lips tightly. “Rin, I’m going to get a drink. You can join me,” she said next; this was clearly not optional, as she grabbed Rinoa by the elbow and strongarmed her toward the bar in the corner. Rinoa shot him a desperate look over her shoulder, to which he responded with a shrug. He could hear the other girl giving her an earful as they went away - a more familiar sight, Zell thought, watching her stomp across the room with her pigtails bouncing. Well, it could have been worse - at least she didn’t throw her drink at him, but that may only have been because her glass was already empty.

“What, you and Nel?” Zone said after a moment, and he gave Zell a look of awe that he didn’t like. “Wow, I’m impressed. Isn’t she a little young though?”

“We didn’t hook up,” Zell said flatly. “We just met at a party a few weeks ago. She was so drunk I’m surprised she even remembered.”

“Yeah, sounds like her,” Zone replied, although he didn’t sound like he entirely believed Zell’s claim of innocence. Zell didn’t bother to be annoyed; it would just be a waste of energy.

“So, uh... how’s Watts?” he asked after a minute, when it became clear that standing there in awkward silence with the other man was simply not going to be bearable. He had been more or less ordered to stand around and mingle, but that didn’t mean it had to be pleasant.

“He’s good. Pretty good.” Zone paused, thoughtful. “He was supposed to come here with us but he missed the train.”

“No shit?”

“No shit.”

Five years, and some things really didn’t change. Zell couldn’t help but laugh. Between the two of them and Rinoa, it was a wonder anyone took the Owls seriously at all.

“How’s... er... Quistis?” Zone asked, making a very pained effort to participate in the conversation. Zell only shrugged again.

“She’s good. Keeps busy... you know,” he said vaguely. Zone nodded as if he did, in fact, know, and Zell stifled a sigh. He wished Rinoa would return, but he didn’t dare seek her out if she was still accompanied by her friend. Wasn’t there anyone else here he knew? If he had to stand around with Zone all night pretending to be interested in his polite inquiries into the wellbeing of every mutual acquaintance of theirs, it was going to be a long night. As if this party wasn’t bad enough already - he could almost wish he was in Seifer’s place. He downed the rest of his champagne.

“So, um...” he began again, “what exactly is your costume supposed to be?”

Zone opened his mouth to reply - and then hesitated, and didn’t say anything. The reason for this was because someone had just appeared at Zell’s shoulder, and he turned to find Seifer there, giving him a very flat look. “We have a problem. Come with me,” he said quietly, and then walked away toward the back of the ballroom. Zell didn’t even waste the time it would take to bid Zone good-bye before following, feeling suddenly apprehensive - and even so, a little relieved; Seifer sure had good timing. But he should have known they would never get through this last night in Deling City without something going wrong. And if Dallia was involved, it was sure to be going wrong in a very big way.

Seifer led him to the very back of the room, where they stepped behind a decorative pillar for a moment, Seifer peering out around it into the room. “What’s wrong?” Zell asked, once he was sure there was no one else nearby. “Where’s Dallia?”

“She’s just over there with Caraway,” Seifer replied, nodding his head; Zell followed his line of vision to the couple, who were chatting intimately with each other not far away. “There’s no emergency. I just thought you looked like you needed an escape route.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Zell said with a sigh - he was half-irritated, but the other half of him couldn’t deny how perfectly-timed Seifer’s intervention had been. And hadn’t he just been wishing for such an easy escape only moments before? Maybe someone was looking after him after all. “How is that any of your business? Maybe I was actually enjoying Zone’s company.”

“You looked like you wanted to gouge your eyes out with your champagne flute,” Seifer said matter-of-factly.

Zell couldn’t deny this, so he said nothing. Of course, Seifer took that as confirmation of the truth, and grinned, still scouting the room out from behind the column. It was the first smile Zell had seen him crack all day, which was at least worth something, he supposed. “I guess you’re finally over your foul mood,” he said casually, looking across the room in the other direction.

Seifer huffed. “Yeah, and whose fault was it in the first place?” he asked, his tone still edged with bitterness. Zell resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Enough was enough already.

“Like I’m supposed to know?” he retorted coolly. “If it was mine, just say so. I’m not a bloody mind reader.”

There was another huff, and Zell turned to look back at the other man. He was still smiling, but it was tight and forced, and he didn’t say anything for a few moments. “You’re unbelievable,” he finally muttered, turning as well to face Zell.

“Why? Because I’m not psychic?” Zell said in response. He looked back over his shoulder at the other man, whose expression was incredulous. “Look, I told you last night. If you want something from me, you gotta just tell me. I don’t get stuff like you do. I’d prefer to just be straightforward.”

Seifer took in this short speech with a fairly unperturbed look on his face, although something about the set of his mouth made Zell think he was trying not to laugh. First he was sulky for hours because Zell didn’t understand him; now he was trying to clear up this miscommunication, and Seifer acted like it was a joke. The little part of Zell’s brain that sounded kind of like Miri knew that Seifer was probably acting this way because he was actually feeling vulnerable, and was clearly incapable of expressing it and, consequently, making any viable progress in their relationship. It was still infuriating. Why couldn’t he just be a normal person?

"What's so funny?" Zell said.

Seifer was grinning now for real; what was the cause of this sudden reversal of mood, Zell couldn't say. "I can't win against you," he said, chuckling quietly as he looked out over the room.

"It's not a competition."

"Every relationship is something," Seifer replied. He turned to face Zell, a muted expression on his face. Zell wasn't fazed; he put on his straightest face and turned around as well, looking Seifer clear in the eye.

"Then what's ours?" he asked coolly.

For a long moment, Seifer merely stared at him, his expression placid in a foil to Zell's own. He hadn't intended to put the matter as plainly as that, but in retrospect Zell was kind of glad he had; it was worth it to actually see Seifer thinking in earnest about his reply. Maybe he was actually learning. A few seconds passed, and his eye line shifted to something past Zell, just beyond his shoulder. “Excuse me,” he said brusquely, his words not directed at Zell, but now at someone else. “Something we can help you with?”

Zell turned to see, just behind him, a very thin woman in a bejeweled mask backing rather cautiously away from them. Even with the mask, the bright red hue of her cheeks was evident. “Um, er, no. I, um...” she stammered, giving somewhat of a nervous smile as she continued to retreat. Seifer was staring daggers at her, and Zell couldn’t entirely blame him - he was a little peeved himself; he was pretty sure he had been just about to get something actually worthwhile out of the other man, if they hadn’t been interrupted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just...” the woman trailed off vaguely.

“Well, if that’s all, then why don’t you piss off?” Seifer said coolly. Wisely, she chose to heed this advice without another word. Zell watched her turn and scamper away, her hands clasped tensely in front of her, and he frowned. Something about those red-flushed ears nagged familiarly at him.

“Not that I’m trying to cop out or anything, but I’m thinking that now isn’t the time or place for this conversation,” Seifer remarked, with something still like amusement about his expression. Having scared the living daylights out of some poor innocent had contributed to his good mood, evidently. Zell refused to humor him. He had just realized what he had recognized about that slight northern accent.

“Was that Seera?” he said, feeling puzzled.

“I don’t know why you’re surprised,” Seifer replied. “Every time I see her, she’s eavesdropping.”

“That’s not it,” Zell said, giving the other man a significant look. “What’s she doing in a place like this?”

Seifer returned his stare for a moment as he caught up with Zell’s train of thought. “Come to think of it,” he said, “there are a lot of Trabians here tonight...”

Zell stifled a groan. This might turn into a real mission yet. Even given the alternative, he wasn’t sure the idea appealed to him. “Where’s Dallia?”

Seifer peeked around the column, but it didn’t take him long to answer. “Still with Caraway and Rinoa,” he said, nodding in their direction.

“Keep an eye on her,” Zell said, giving a sigh. “I’m gonna follow Seera. I’ll meet you back here in five minutes.”

Seifer nodded in agreement of his plan, and without another word, Zell slipped away into the crowd, trying to pick the direction Seera had taken. Maybe he was being a little paranoid, but hey, that was pretty much what he was sent here to do; besides, it made no sense for Seera to be here tonight. He somehow didn’t think that a receptionist at a rent-by-the-week motel merited an invitation to the most exclusive party Deling City had seen in months. And Seifer wasn’t wrong about the Trabians, either. There was enough going on to warrant a reasonable amount of caution.

He was moving in the direction of the bar - the opposite side of the room where he could still see the General and his wife in intimate conversation with a few friends - but he had lost sight of Seera, and was trying to catch a glimpse of her long plait of dark hair or her black and green bedazzled mask through the crowd, when very suddenly he ran straight into her from behind. Her expression as he caught her by the arm was, for a brief moment, laced with panic; then, a second later, she settled on surprised and confused as she pulled the mask off to reveal her face.

“Zell,” she said, feigning utter bemusement - it would have been very good, too, if he hadn’t just a minute ago seen a real, honest look of shock on her face when Seifer called her out for eavesdropping. “What are you doing?”

“I thought that was you,” he said. “I’m glad I caught you. I didn’t want you to think...”

He trailed off, and he saw some of the defensiveness in her expression soften at his earnest, almost pleading tone. She had clearly believed from the first that he and Seifer were involved; if there was ever a time where something like that could be used to his advantage, it was now. “It’s... none of my business, really,” Seera said after a moment.

“How much did you hear?” he asked.

“Only a... well... most of it,” she admitted, looking bashful. It seemed almost genuine, in fact; until Zell stepped closer, as if for privacy, and caught her glancing back over her shoulder, exchanging a very quick look with a man who was standing off to the side of the bar, not twenty feet from them. Zell pretended not to notice, and when she smiled up at him a second later, it was with an expression solely of pity and comfort.

“It’s not what you think,” he went on, which was almost true. She gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him, and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Zell. I won’t say anything. I can keep a secret,” she said.

I’ll just bet you can, he thought. He gave a weak smile, and relaxed his stance, as though in relief, and Seera gave him an encouraging pat on the arm. Whether she was genuinely buying it or just playing along, he couldn’t tell. He had come to really like Seera these past four weeks, although she did have a tendency to let her imagination run off with her regarding certain aspects of his private life. He had never bothered to set her straight because it was nice to have someone on his side for a change, and she was always good for lending an ear when he wanted to gripe about Seifer - now he had to wonder if she had been working her way into his confidence for some purpose. He wanted to think not, but it was too weird a coincidence to find her here tonight.

“So,” he said, abruptly changing the subject, “what are you doing here? I was surprised to see you.”

“Oh, yes,” she replied, looking confused, but only for a second. She looked again back over her shoulder, and gave a vague wave in the direction of the bar. “My boyfriend is with the press, and I’m his plus one. Actually, he’s waiting for me, so I should be going. Sorry.”

“No, of course,” Zell said, with absolutely no desire to stop her. The sooner she left him, the sooner he could get to following her. Her story sounded plausible enough, but he wanted to be certain about it, and her behavior wasn’t reassuring him any. She smiled up at him, and gave him another little pat on the arm.

“Besides, you ought to get back to Seifer, anyway. He’s probably ready to apologize by now for whatever he’s done,” she said teasingly. Zell forced a grin onto his face. So much for not saying anything. But her very obvious eagerness to get rid of him was just another mark against her.

“That’s probably true. Maybe I’ll see you later,” he said in response, at which she only laughed. She waved at him as she turned toward the bar, and Zell smiled and waved back until she melted into the crowd. He gave her a good five seconds then before slipping into the throng and circling around for the other side of the bar.

He spotted her and the other man standing by themselves just apart from the crowd at the end of the counter, and he paused to think of how to approach. As he watched them, another woman joined the group, and the three of them stood very close in conversation. He probably couldn’t get near enough through the crowd to hear them, and his uniform would be a beacon to Seera, in any case. Instead, he slipped behind the bar, moving at a crouch behind the counter and silencing the protests that the bartender was clearly about to make with a throat-cutting gesture. The man just shrugged, and went back to stacking glasses. At least there was something to be said for SeeD authority.

Peering around the end of the counter, he could see the three of them, but there was too much noise to hear any part of their conversation. He slid out from behind the counter and instead took a spot behind a massive potted plant a few feet away. He was practically on top of them now, which was dangerous; but Seera was facing the other direction, and at least he was within hearing. The other woman in the group was speaking.

“...not sure this is going to work,” she said, her tone very low. She wasn’t wearing a mask and looked to be middle-aged, with a face that suggested that most of her expressions involved frowning. “Either Caraway or one of those SeeDs is always beside her. I thought they’d be gone by now.”

“Don’t worry about them. They should be distracted at least for a while,” Seera said, looking over the crowd in the other direction, and Zell knew she was probably thinking that he and Seifer were off in a corner somewhere making out.

“That still leaves Caraway.”

Zell followed Seera’s gaze across the room, but it only took him a moment to spot Dallia and her husband in their ridiculous costumes. They were standing with Rinoa, who to her credit only looked a little uncomfortable as Dallia threw a friendly arm around her shoulders. In fact, all three of them looked remarkably cheerful and at ease, which made kind of a strange family picture.

“Maybe we should give this up for now,” the man offered, and the woman whacked him in the chest with the back of her hand.

“Not likely. I’ve waited a long time for a chance at the little princess,” she snarled. “She’s only in town for tonight. This is our last chance.”

“But think how much already has gone wrong,” the man began, but Seera cut him off with a raised hand.

“Look, I know things didn’t go like we planned,” she said. “I have an idea. It’s not a great one, but...”

“Tell us,” the other woman growled. They all three leaned close together, and Zell had to strain to hear Seera’s words.

“As soon as she walks away from Caraway, I’ll intercept her. I’ll spill my drink on her dress. She’ll head for the ladies’ to clean up, and you two and Carla catch her there,” She explained in short, terse whispers. Then she paused, and waited for the others’ reactions. They seemed to be waiting for more, and when it was clear that that was the extent of her plan, their bafflement matched Zell’s own. That was it? That was almost the worst kidnapping plan he had ever heard.

“That actually might work,” the woman said after thinking about it for a moment. “She might be that stupid.”

“I’m counting on it,” Seera replied.

“Alright, then. We haven’t got much to lose, I guess. Here’s what we’ll do,” the older woman said. “I’ll go down to the lower level and wait there. You, go find Carla and you two meet me downstairs as soon as you can,” she went on, this directed at the man, who nodded, looking nervous. “Seera... you just be sure and pick your moment well. Those SeeDs keep popping up where we don’t want them.”

“I know what to do,” Seera assured her, looking much more composed than her two companions. Zell was officially pissed off now, not so much at the fact that she had clearly been playing him for weeks, but more at the implications she was making about him and Seifer. “You’ll have your sorceress by the end of the night, Morgan,” Seera added in a cool voice. “I promised you that and I’ll make it happen.”

Zell frowned, unsure if he had heard that correctly. A sorceress? Surely they weren’t talking about Dallia? The three of them were silent now, watching across the room; Zell followed the direction of their gaze to a point on the far side of the room, where the General and Dallia were chatting happily with... with Rinoa. As he watched, she gave her father a small, slightly awkward hug, and then shook Dallia’s hand amiably before bidding them goodbye, walking away by herself. Caraway and his wife strolled off in the other direction, arms linked.

“She’s on the move,” the man murmured, looking round at the other two. Then all three nodded to each other.

“Let’s go,” the older woman - Morgan - replied. She peeled off from the group, slipping easily into the crowd, which left Seera and the other man standing alone. He gave her an uneasy smile.

“Sorceress hunting,” she said in a low voice, grinning. Then they split, the man disappearing into the throng, and Seera moving toward the north end of the room. Zell, still behind his plant, floundered for a moment, unsure of who to follow. It took his mind a moment to catch up to the conversation he’d just overheard, and when it sunk in, he knew exactly what he had to do - first, find Seifer; he was going to need another pair of eyes searching for Rinoa in this overdressed crowd. After all, it wasn’t Dallia they were after - it was her step-daughter.
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Mind Games