The Couples Ball was amazing. Selfie'd really outdone herself this time. The decorations were metallic silver and red hearts that were placed everywhere from stickers on the floor to streamers on the ceiling. The food was excellent, and Squall was sure Cid was going to have a heart attack over the price. Food, after all, is not free and Selfie's choice of dishes ranged from fruits to spaghetti dinners and elegantly decorated cakes. None of that mattered to Squall though, for at that very moment he and Zell were slow dancing in the middle of the room. It seemed like everyone was watching them, whispering and pointing in shock. Squall and Zell didn't notice as they were too wrapped up in each other to think about anything else. Selfie, frowning that no one else was dancing because of the two, grabbed Irvine's hand and rushed out onto the dance floor. She purposely bumped her but into Zell's side, giggling as she and Irvine began dancing next to them. Zell smiled and swayed his body in time with the music, extremely surprised at how well Squall could dance. You wouldn't expect it from someone who had practically trampled Rinoa in this same spot less than two years earlier. The slow song winded down as the DJ Selfie had booked made a comment about picking up the pace. A rather popular new song began blasting throughout the hall, and almost the entire room shouted one approval or another as they all ran to the dance floor. The room was filled with bodies grinding, swaying, or bouncing in time with the music as the song's bass seemed to shake every table. Deciding to sit this one out, Squall and Zell made their way hand in hand to the table they shared with Selfie, Irvine, and Quistis. Quistis was the only one sitting down. "What's wrong, ya look like someone just ran over yer pet dog or somethin'." Squall rolled his eyes at Zell, but nodded all the same, wanting to know what was wrong.
"Seifer got suspended, so I had to come with some boy who's obsessed with me. I've been sending him for punch the entire night in hopes he'll find some other girl that wants to dance with him." She nodded down to the dozen plus cups sitting in front of her, "It hasn't been working." Zell tilted his head, "Hey, who'd Rinoa come with?" Quistis looked at the both of them, "None of you invited her?" Squall and Zell shook their head, "We'd signed up earlier to go together, I thought she'd come by herself if she couldn't find anyone." Quistis raised an eyebrow, "Guys, this is a couples dance. She couldn't go alone." Zell shrugged, "So she probably came with one of the people she works with." Quistis shook her head, "They're not students. She'd only be able to come if a student invited her." Squall and Zell looked at one another. Quistis raised a hand to her forehead, "You two really need to read more carefully, this stuff was posted on the flyer." Squall frowned, "But I talked to Rinoa about the dance. She asked if Zell and I were going and I told her yeah, that we'd signed up together the day Selfie brought us the flyers. She even told me she didn't know what she was going to wear." Quistis nodded, "Well there you go, you just said you'd told her you and Zell were going together. She must have known if one of you two didn't invite her she'd have no way of getting here. So she couldn't very well plan to wear anything to a function she wasn't attending." Zell pounded his fist on the table, "She shoulda said somethin'!" It was Quistis's turn to shrug, "Maybe she didn't want to ruin your plans."
Something had caught Squall's attention suddenly. The DJ was making an announcement and he'd distinctly heard his name being announced.
"This song goes out to SeeD operative Squall, from an anonymous request we got over the Com Panel."
The music was slow, and sad. Squall recognized this song, he'd liked it when he'd first heard it.
~I'm not a perfect person,
There's many things I wish I didn't do.
But I continue learning,
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know...~
Squall looked to Zell, both of them at a loss for words. They couldn't think of anyone that would dedicate that song to him. Quistis, recognizing the song and staring blankly, lowered her head and sighed.
~I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you...
I'm sorry that I hurt you,
it's something I must live with every day
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear...~
Zell noticed Quistis's mood change, "Hey, girl, ya okay?" Quistis looked up, but not at Zell, she looked at Squall. "He's been beating himself up since he hurt you, did you know that?" Squall looked confused, he didn't know who the hell she was talking about.
~I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you...~
Zell picked up on the hint though, and laughed out loud. "Seifer dedicated this song to him? I don't think so, Quis. Seifer killed him, remember? Squall was technically dead for like, fifteen minutes or somethin'. Seifer hates Squall's guts." Squall, however, wasn't so sure. He replayed the lyrics over in his mind. They did fit, that was if Seifer was trying to appologize of course. And after all, wouldn't Quistis know more about him? They were a couple, they had been for a while.
"Hey Squall, you got yourself a secret admirer!" Selfie bounded over and plopped on the open seat next to Squall, Irvine following behind her and sitting beside her. Zell leaned to look past Squall and laughed, "Yeah, Quis seems to think it's Seifer." Selfie thought about it for a while, then nodded, "That makes sense." Zell's jaw dropped, frowning, "How can ya say that? Seifer hates Squall! Did someone spike the punch or somethin'?!" Selfie threw a crumpled up napkin at Zell's head, pouting. "Well of course he's gonna be nasty to Squall all the time, he's jealous. Squall's better with a gunblade, Squall beat Ultimecia when Seifer was the one seduced into protecting her, Squall got Rinoa..." Selfie raised a finger with each reason, as if counting them out would prove her point further. Quistis added to the argument, "Seifer has a thing for Squall. It's why he treats Zell the way he does." The whole table stared at her. Quistis looked down at the table, "I didn't know until after you two fought last week. I walked in on him hurting himself, when I finally calmed him down he told me everything. It's how I know that Seifer's the one that dedicated that song. He plays it over and over in his room."
Everyone got quiet, when finally Zell decided it was time to change the subject because Squall was getting 'the look' which meant he was thinking too much. "Yo, Selfie. Did you see Rinoa today? Did she say anything to you about not coming?" Selfie nodded, "Yeah, she mentioned it. She said she didn't have a date. I offered to find someone for her, but she said she'd already made other plans. Something about going to a friend's later who wasn't going either, he'd gotten suspended." Squall's eyes widened, he got up from the table and ran full tilt towards the doors, knocking over a couple of people along the way. Selfie stared after him, "What'd I say?" Zell got up too, grabbing one of the glasses of punch and downing it in one gulp before replying. "Seifer, he's the only one suspended that she'd know. Great party, Selfie." Zell followed in Squall's steps, accidentally knocking over the same people Squall had as they struggled to get up.
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Their footsteps pounded through the hallways, making their way through the Dorms and skidding to a halt in front of Seifer's room. Squall panted to catch his breath, leaning his head against the door and listening for a moment. Zell came up behind him, his hands on his hips, wincing at the stitch in his side. He could hear her laughing, he had been right. He pounded on the door with his fists, not bothering with the chime. It was Seifer that answered, he was in pajama bottoms but wasn't wearing a shirt. His eyes met Squall's and he shivered slightly, at a loss for words. Squall said nothing, he simply pushed past Seifer and walked into the room, stopping when he saw Rinoa. She was sitting on the floor, her cheeks flushed, still giggling. "Hey Squall, how was the dance?" Zell walked around Squall, frowning and clenching his fists, noticing how she was dressed. Rinoa was wearing a pair of boxers and an overly big sweatshirt, both of which Zell knew weren't hers. Her medical uniform lay crumpled in a corner. "WHAT THE HELL DO YA THINK YER DOIN'???" Rinoa stood up, grabbing her glass and taking a sip. "I think that I'm having a pizza picnic with Seifer, what's the problem?" Squall folded his arms across his chest. "The problem is you're in Seifer's room, wearing his clothes, and you're drunk."
Rinoa blinked and frowned, "I'm not drunk, and my uniform was bugging me so Seifer let me change into these. I don't see why either of you care, shouldn't you be tearing up the dance floor?" She looked angrily at the both of them, stumbling a bit as she stormed past them and over to Seifer, who had backed himself into a corner and was shaking.
"YOU SHOULDA TOLD US YA NEEDED ONE OF US AS A DATE, DAMMIT!" Zell was furious. There they were, talking to her, and she was more interested in Seifer. Squall felt his stomach clench, he didn't know what to think. If Rinoa was telling the truth and nothing happened, they were yelling at her for simply finding something else to do when she couldn't go to the ball. If she had done something, she was lying. Rinoa was whispering something to Seifer, her hand rubbing his arm assuringly. Zell blew up at the sight, screaming that he couldn't believe she'd talk to Seifer after everything he'd done. Taking Squall's hand, Zell pulled him out of the room, yelling at Rinoa to stay the hell away from them from now on. Squall took one last look back into the room. Rinoa was holding her face in her hands, crying, Seifer had stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. That was all Squall could see as the sliding door to Seifer's room slowly shut.
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Two weeks had gone by, and during that time, Squall and Zell had avoided the medical wing like the plauge. They didn't answer the door to either of their rooms when it chimed and they weren't expecting anyone. Squall had spent most of his time thinking about everything that happened. He had wanted to talk to Rinoa more, but Zell had made up his mind. He didn't want her around to hurt either of them anymore. It wasn't until one night, as they were laying in bed talking about how their days had gone, that the door to their room beeped and swung open. In stormed Quistis, looking as though she was ready to give them both Hell. And Hell she gave them, as she had barely taken two steps before yelling at the top of her lungs at how immature and idiotic they were being. Squall and Zell lay frozen in place, too afraid of invoking her wrath any further as they listened to her tirade.
"DO EITHER OF YOU REALIZE JUST HOW RIDICULOUS THIS ENTIRE THING HAS BECOME?! I CAN'T GET SEIFER TO EAT BECAUSE OF YOU TWO, SO HE'S LANDED HIMSELF IN THE MEDICAL WING FOR MALNUTRITION!" Zell suddenly piped up, his courage returning, "Yeah good, he'll be closer to -HER- now, won't he?" Squall's heart wrenched at the thought of Rinoa tending to Seifer the way she'd done to him a month before. Quistis held her head in her hands, shaking it and groaning. "If you two had pulled your heads out of your asses, you'd have known that Rinoa quit her internship and she's been missing for about three days now. We searched all of Garden, but we think she left and is roaming somewhere in town. Squall sat upright, notably surprised. Quistis sighed, sitting on the bed next to the two boys. "Listen, nothing happened the night you two walked in on them. Seifer told me everything. They spent the night watching funny movies, drinking and talking about Squall." Zell rolled his eyes, sitting up and crossing his legs indian style, "Oh yeah cuz he'd be real eager to tell you he screwed another girl behind your back. He's your boyfriend-" Quistis interrupted him, "Yes, he's my boyfriend, and he knows I wouldn't have had a problem with it if anything -had- happened. We have a very open relationship." Zell looked highly affronted, "So what you don't care that he'd be banging someone else???" Quistis stared hard at him, "You let Squall bang her, the three of you were together. Or are you the only one that's allowed to have a relationship like that..." Zell quieted down, she had a very good point.
After a few moments silence, Squall stood up. "I'm going to look for her." Zell grabbed his arm, stopping him. "No, I'll go. I know the town, and I know the best places to hide. You should go talk to Cid and see if you can get Rinoa reinstated as an intern, or else, even if we do find her, she won't be allowed back in Garden." Squall nodded, he knew Cid would agree. After all, Squall had assisted in the defeat of Ultimecia and ultimately saved Cid's wife. Hours later, Zell was trotting through his hometown, calling out Rinoa's name. He'd already stopped in to see his mom, letting her know what was going on and asking her to keep an eye out for a brunette in blue and black.
Darting in an out of various shops and houses, asking everyone he met if they'd seen her, Zell was starting to get discouraged as he'd searched most of the town by now. He began to worry that she might have left on the train. The last place he had to search was the harbor. Coming up to an old man sitting on the edge of the dock, he asked if he'd seen a girl anytime in the past three days. The old man smiled a toothless grin, nodding and pointing down to the end of the dock. There, hidden from view by a crate, was Rinoa. She was staring at the water lapping gently against the bulkhead. She looked like she hadn't eaten since she left Garden, and she was in desperate need of a long, hot bath. Suddenly Zell realized he had no idea what to say to her. What should he start with? Should he appologize? Would she even talk to him? He slowly sat down beside her, waiting for her to respond to his presence. Her eyes traveled up to his face slowly, shivering slightly when she realized who it was. Zell had opened his mouth to say something, anything, but his voice wouldn't work. Instead, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She was terrified and shaking, but she managed to bury her head into his shoulder and cling to his shirt. After a few moments of Rinoa silently sobbing in his arms, he pulled back and stood, lifting her with him. Without a word, he lead her to his house, intent on getting her cleaned up before going back to the Garden. His mother fussed over Rinoa, taking her and leading her to the bathroom where she drew a hot bath and took her dirty clothes to have them washed. Zell stood anxiously at the door, waiting for his mother to come out. She'd never seen her son so worked up before, and she smiled as she closed the door behind her. "She'll be allright, I'm just gonna go wash these and maybe stop by the cafe' to play the other girls at cards. Just give her some of your old clothes to hold her over." Ma Dincht knew that her son wanted to be alone with the girl, and she was gonna give him ample time to do so. Beaming proudly at her son finally having an interest other than fighting, she hummed to herself as she walked the path to the public wash-bins.
Zell waited to hear his mother leaving the house before he rushed into the bathroom. Rinoa was sitting in the middle of the bubble-filled tub, staring at the water once again. Kneeling beside the tub, Zell reached out a hand and grabbed a nearby washcloth, wetting it and slowly rubbing it across Rinoa's back. At first she didn't respond, but after a few minutes of this she shivered and sighed, whispering hoarsely, "I thought you didn't want me near you anymore..." Zell winced, remembering his last words to her. Now was the time to appologize, but he couldn't. He didn't know why it was so hard to say he was wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to say he was sorry. Instead, he decided to explain why he came to find her. "Quistis reamed us big time, and told us you were gone. Squall's talking to Cid right now to get your internship reinstated." At the mention of Squall's name, Rinoa's shoulders began to shake. Afraid she'd start crying, Zell grabbed her shoulders gently, looking into her eyes. "Listen, I didn't mean ta blow up at you so bad. I was mad cuz ya didn't tell us that ya weren't going to the dance, and ya didn't tell us you were goin' to Seifer's, and I hate Seifer's guts. I over-reacted. I'm sorry, okay?" Rinoa shook her head, closing her eyes tightly. "We didn't do anything, I swear. We were both depressed and we weren't drinking to get smashed, we just decided to unwind and watch some funny movies. I didn't even plan on spending the night with him until Squall told me you and him were going to the dance together. Seifer messaged me and asked if I was going to the Ball, because I'm not a student and he got suspended, he just didn't want to be alone. I was having a really good time, we ate a whole pizza ourselves, and we talked about you and Squall the entire time!" She seemed so desperate to tell Zell what happened, she wanted him to believe her more than anything. He could tell she wasn't lying, her eyes were pleading for him to understand.
"Okay, I believe ya. But ya really shouldn't have been near him, he's dangerous. I thought you'da figured that out after he put Squall in the infirmary." Rinoa nodded, she hadn't told anyone about her going to Seifer's room before. She took a deep breath and explained the story to Zell, watching his face twist in a thousand different expressions from rage to confusion. When she was finished, Zell didn't know what to say. He didn't want to believe that Seifer actually cared about Squall. He didn't want to think it was possible Seifer could cry. But he let his mind slip back to the encounter in Seifer's room when he'd blown up at Rinoa. ~Seifer was in the corner....he was clutching his sides. He did look terrified. I was so pissed I didn't notice.~ Rinoa took the washcloth from Zell and began scrubbing herself rigorously, needing to do something with her hands to keep herself from crying. Zell watched her idly, his mind racing with thoughts. He felt even worse now about blowing up at Rinoa. He wanted to hold her, he wished he knew the words to make her feel better. It took him a few moments to realize that his eyes had settled on her breasts, and he was staring at them. Snapping to reality, he bit his lower lip and shifted slightly, feeling even more guilty of looking at her after the way he'd treated her. After a few more minutes of watching her take on the task of washing her hair, Zell's brain was overridden by a more primative instinct. He stood up and walked to the other side of the bathroom. He kicked off his shoes and stripped, turning back to the tub and waiting for Rinoa to come back up from under the water. She had her back to him as she slid to the surface and sat upright. Her hair flowed down her back and clung to her skin as she wiped the water from her eyes. She hadn't realized that Zell had left her side until she felt the water rise around her and felt someone slide into the tub behind her.
Zell slid his arms around her waist, reaching and taking the washcloth from her. He whispered in her ear, "Let me do that, I think ya missed a spot." Zell slowly dragged the washcloth across her chest, listening with a deep satisfaction at the heavy breathing it earned him from the shivering girl in his arms. He ran the washcloth over her stomach, her sides, her back, everywhere his hands could reach. Finally he abandoned the washcloth and replaced it with his hands. They roamed eagerly over her body as he gently kissed her neck and shoulders. One of his hands slid down her stomach, grazing her thigh as it slid between her legs and covered her heated center. He rocked his hand back and forth, gently brushing her clit with his palm as he teased her opening with one finger. When her body began rocking with his hand, he slid a finger in painfully slow. He flexed his finger rapidly, loving the sudden whimper that escaped from Rinoa's soft, seductive lips. Her head lolled back against his shoulder, her hands grabbing onto his arm and digging her nails into his skin. She pleaded for more, her hips grinding against his hand so fast that the water began sloshing out of the tub and all over the floor. He couldn't take it any longer, her moans were sending him into a frenzy, her voice was so frantic and high it was a wonder she hadn't already cum. Zell sat them both up and pushed her forward, bending her over the side of the tub. Rinoa gripped the edges for support as Zell growled at her and slapped her on the ass, hard. He leaned over her, sliding between her legs and rubbing his hand over her clit again and again, fast enough to drive her crazy. "Tell me you want it, you little bitch, beg me." The vulgar language which would normally disgust Rinoa drove her wild as she bucked her hips in the water. She begged, pleaded for him to make her cum. She felt like she was on fire where Zell touched her. When Zell was satisfied with her pleas, he arched his back slightly and rammed into her. He pounded in again and again, groaning and hissing in Rinoa's ear, "Tell me you like it, tell me what feels so good." His breathing was ragged and shakey. Rinoa's eyes squeezed shut as she whispered in response, "The way...you're..touching me. Ahh.." Her muscles had begun trembling around Zell's arousal as it thrust into her. He grinned sadistically and increased the speed of his hand brushing against her. "You mean this? You like that?" Rinoa gripped the edge of the tub tighter and slammed back into Zell, pounding against him to match the rhythm of his hand brushing across her clit. She let out a cry, that Zell was sure the neighbors would be complaining about to his mother later, as she climaxed around him, her walls squeezing Zell tighter than he'd ever imagined. He couldn't hold it anymore, with one final thrust he came deep inside her, gripping her waist hard enough to bruise.
After a few moments of intense silence, Zell relaxed, sitting back in the now mostly empty tub and shaking. Rinoa turned around and sat before him, her legs having turned to jello some time ago. Her face was completely flushed, her chest heaving from a lack of oxygen. Stepping out of the tub carefully, Zell ran to his room and grabbed clothes enough for the both of them. It was too late now to try to get into Garden, he'd have to send Squall a message over the net to let him know he'd found Rinoa. ~Yeah and while I'm at it I'll tell him I fucked her stupid. That'll be amusin'.~
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Back at Garden, Squall had already smoothed things over with Cid. He was more than happy to accept Rinoa back, and agreed that it would be best to pretend that Rinoa had never left, for her resume's sake. Wondering if Zell had gotten back yet, Squall headed for his room. Standing outside his door was Seifer, looking worse than ever. "Aren't you supposed to be in the Medical Wing?" Squall said, frowning. Seifer nodded, "I broke out. I hate being in there..." He couldn't look Squall in the eyes. He was sure Squall knew by now how he felt about him. It wasn't something he wanted to acknowledge, because that meant he'd have to face the idea of Squall openly rejecting him. Squall walked up and hit the access code to his room, pausing at the door. "What did you come here for?" Seifer shivered at the coldness with which Squall spoke to him. "I was wondering if you'd found Rinoa yet." Squall walked into his room, checking his Com Panel. A message was flashing, it was from Zell at his mother's house.
-Spending the night at Ma's. I got Rinoa with me. Hey babe, I thought you said she wasn't a screamer? ::winks:: Love, Zell.-
Squall chuckled to himself, returning to the door. "Yes, she's with Zell at his mother's, they'll be spending the night there." Seifer nodded, his eyes still focused on the floor. After a moment of silence, Squall spoke. "If that's all, I'm going to going to bed." His hand was over the button, waiting for Seifer's reply. Seifer spoke up quickly, "Did you hear my dedication at the Couples Ball?" Squall frowned, so the song was from him. "Yes" he answered coldly. Seifer's head rose, his eyes finally meeting with Squall's for the first time since he had hit him. He'd lost his voice, his nerve failed him. Noticing Seifer's loss for words, Squall softened his expression a bit. ~This must be Hell for him, having to face me like this.~ Deciding to cut Seifer a break, Squall stepped to the side, "Did you want to come in?"
Seifer could hardly believe he was being invited into Squall's room. He stepped forward cautiously, his hands buried deep within his pockets to hide their trembling. He surveyed the room with mild interest. It was messy, definately not like he had pictures. He always imagined Squall being a neat freak, but this was a disaster area. Squall, noting Seifer's eyes lingering on the mess, shook his head. "Zell. He couldn't keep a room clean if his life depended on it." Out of habit, Squall began bending down and cleaning up after his boyfriend. Once he'd gotten most of the laundry off the floor and into the hamper where it belonged, he pointed to his bed. "I don't have a couch or anything, so if you want to sit it'll have to be on the bed." Seifer's head swam, this was like Christmas come early. Walking across the room and sitting carefully on the bed, he idly noted how soft it was. He imagined what Squall looked like, sleeping peacefully on this very bed. Then Zell's sleeping form popped into the picture, sharing the bed with Squall. Seifer frowned and tried to push the image out of his head, feeling his temper rise.
Noticing Seifer had tensed up, Squall stopped folding the clean clothes for a moment, "What's the problem?" Seifer stood up quickly, his fists clenched. "WHAT'S HE GOT THAT I DON'T? WHAT MADE HIM SO DAMN SPECIAL ALL THESE YEARS? HE'S A SISSY, HE COULDN'T PROTECT YOU FROM A T-REXAUR IF HE SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE TRAINING FOR IT!!!" His face was red, his eyes stinging. Squall straightened and spoke calmly, "He also couldn't hit me, no matter how angry he got." Seifer shuddered, nightmares of the incident flashing before his eyes. He tried to cover up his shame, "You hit me first."
"You were hurting Zell. You'd purposely waited outside the Training Area to harrass him." Seifer's knees shook and he sat back down on the bed, his head resting in his hands. "I wasn't there waiting for him, I was there waiting for -you-." Squall idly recalled Seifer's hair being different the day they fought. "Why were you waiting for me?" Seifer took a deep breath and wondered where to start. "Well, the night before Quistis and I had been talking. I'd had too much to drink and I admitted how I felt about you. She told me that you were dating Zell and Rinoa at the same time. She mentioned not having a problem with that sort of relationship being applied to us. Basically, she told me to go for it." Squall frowned, "Go for what?" Seifer looked up, his eyes locking with the brunette's. "Asking you out." Silence filled the room for an eternity in itself. "I didn't mean to hurt Zell's hand, I just saw him coming to see you and I snapped. I felt like no matter what I did, I'd never be as good as him. Plus you were going to be busy with him so I wouldn't be able to ask you while he was around. I lost control." Squall, knowing what it felt like to cover your feelings and put up a facade, nodded slowly. Seifer rose and headed towards the door. "I should go. Quistis will be worried by now that I broke out of the Medical Wing." He pressed the panel to open the door and paused. Striding back across the room, he grabbed the back of Squall's neck and pulled him forward, pressing his lips against the shocked brunette's. Thrusting his tongue forward, Seifer moaned softly into Squall's mouth, marveling over how delicious he tasted. Still in shock, Squall stared wide eyed and took a long time to respond. Finally giving in, he closed his eyes and massaged his own tongue against Seifer's. Breaking the kiss slowly, Seifer ran his hand down Squall's cheek and whispered, "Goodnight...." And with that, he left one very confused Squall standing in the middle of his bedroom, a hand raised and gently touching his lips that Seifer had abandoned. Realizing he'd returned the kiss, he shivered and thought to himself, ~What have I done?~
