"So, you're still hanging around?" was all Zell could think of to say. It'd been a year since Ultimecia and just about as long since Seifer and him had last spoken. Balamb was a small town, but Zell wasn't there very often. He had grown up alot, but still hadn't grown out of his annoyance at Seifer's once constant harrassment
Who could expect Zell to know that in less than thirteen hours he'd be holding the man with the same arms he once sought to hurt him with. If someone had been able to predict the future they wouldn't have believed it either. So much time to cool and still so much apathy in his voice that he could barely conceal. But Zell had to admit he was a bit curious, and worried. It wasn't like Seifer to stay so low key for so long
"Whaddya know? It's been a long time, Chicken." Seifer answered cooly, turning from his fishing rod to gaze at the oncoming blonde figure. Despite his obvious new maturity, there was still that old bounce in his step.
"Don't call me that Seifer, I may be tempted to give teh fish a chance at putting you on a hook." Zell replied flippantly, holding up a finger in triumph. Having been put repeatedly in more leader-focused positions had taught zell patience, and a little with how to deal with stubborn students.
He had expected an immediate rebuttal, but Seifer much to his surprise, chuckled lightly, turning to his fishing rod again. "You've changed, Zell." Seifer said nonchalantly, enjoying the predicted shocked stance of his long term...acquaintance? enemy?
"Well, so've you!" Zell countered, unsure now whether he was winning this imagined battle of wits. Seifer may have been cold, but he knew how to read people and Zell was about as secret as a teen goth's poetry book
"Maybe I have. I've been doing a lot of fishing. A lot of thinking, too, but mostly fishing." Probably the longest monologue Zell had ever heard Seifer give without some form of inflamatory punchline. Seifer wasn't much for speeches, just usually witty (read: scathing) one or two liners. He talked the most when he was working someone into a frenzy. Well, at least a year ago that had been true.
Zell usually just said whatever was on his mind, but for once held back. Could he just blurt out that Seifer seemed more calm? He was friendlier, more passive, and obviously happier than he had been? How did he feel when he found out that most people didn't hate him for his association with the sorceresses? They were dangerous questions and he'd rather not see the old Seifer make a reapparance. Some awkward moments later, he piped up slowly "Sooooo....how've you been?"
"Well, it's a relief to still be alive. You know, people not trying to burn me with overly large torches. I get to fish, I have a decent job, I have a couple of good friends. Life is peaceful." He said, nodding his head satisfactorily like he was an older person. "It's a lot quieter without you constantly screaming around here, Chicken." He finished, letting his smirk grow.
"HYNE SHUT UP!! You're such a bastard, Seifer! I try to be nice to you and you end up being an asshole!" He looked away furiously, his eyes tracing a cloud in the sky. "SHIT!" Zell swore at the innocent cloud, even more furious that Seifer was laughing at him. While more maturity hadn't brought Seifer a less sarcastic edge, it had brought him the foresight to preventing that coming between him and other people the way it had in the past.
Seifer smiled good naturedly at the enraged man, hiking up his fishing pole. "You're gonna stroke if you keep yourself wound so tight, chicken wuss." Seifer said, giving a final smirk as he put his fishing pole under his arm and set off towards the city.
Zell glared daggers at his retreating back. "I'll see you around!" Seifer called, offering a token wave over his shoulder.
"Bastard" Zell muttered.
Who could expect Zell to know that in less than thirteen hours he'd be holding the man with the same arms he once sought to hurt him with. If someone had been able to predict the future they wouldn't have believed it either. So much time to cool and still so much apathy in his voice that he could barely conceal. But Zell had to admit he was a bit curious, and worried. It wasn't like Seifer to stay so low key for so long
"Whaddya know? It's been a long time, Chicken." Seifer answered cooly, turning from his fishing rod to gaze at the oncoming blonde figure. Despite his obvious new maturity, there was still that old bounce in his step.
"Don't call me that Seifer, I may be tempted to give teh fish a chance at putting you on a hook." Zell replied flippantly, holding up a finger in triumph. Having been put repeatedly in more leader-focused positions had taught zell patience, and a little with how to deal with stubborn students.
He had expected an immediate rebuttal, but Seifer much to his surprise, chuckled lightly, turning to his fishing rod again. "You've changed, Zell." Seifer said nonchalantly, enjoying the predicted shocked stance of his long term...acquaintance? enemy?
"Well, so've you!" Zell countered, unsure now whether he was winning this imagined battle of wits. Seifer may have been cold, but he knew how to read people and Zell was about as secret as a teen goth's poetry book
"Maybe I have. I've been doing a lot of fishing. A lot of thinking, too, but mostly fishing." Probably the longest monologue Zell had ever heard Seifer give without some form of inflamatory punchline. Seifer wasn't much for speeches, just usually witty (read: scathing) one or two liners. He talked the most when he was working someone into a frenzy. Well, at least a year ago that had been true.
Zell usually just said whatever was on his mind, but for once held back. Could he just blurt out that Seifer seemed more calm? He was friendlier, more passive, and obviously happier than he had been? How did he feel when he found out that most people didn't hate him for his association with the sorceresses? They were dangerous questions and he'd rather not see the old Seifer make a reapparance. Some awkward moments later, he piped up slowly "Sooooo....how've you been?"
"Well, it's a relief to still be alive. You know, people not trying to burn me with overly large torches. I get to fish, I have a decent job, I have a couple of good friends. Life is peaceful." He said, nodding his head satisfactorily like he was an older person. "It's a lot quieter without you constantly screaming around here, Chicken." He finished, letting his smirk grow.
"HYNE SHUT UP!! You're such a bastard, Seifer! I try to be nice to you and you end up being an asshole!" He looked away furiously, his eyes tracing a cloud in the sky. "SHIT!" Zell swore at the innocent cloud, even more furious that Seifer was laughing at him. While more maturity hadn't brought Seifer a less sarcastic edge, it had brought him the foresight to preventing that coming between him and other people the way it had in the past.
Seifer smiled good naturedly at the enraged man, hiking up his fishing pole. "You're gonna stroke if you keep yourself wound so tight, chicken wuss." Seifer said, giving a final smirk as he put his fishing pole under his arm and set off towards the city.
Zell glared daggers at his retreating back. "I'll see you around!" Seifer called, offering a token wave over his shoulder.
"Bastard" Zell muttered.