Plot: There were side effects from the magic caused by the Time compression, and now that Seifer's back, things are getting even more troublesome.

Warnings: Yaoi (SeiferXZell)

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all its characters are owned by Squaresoft or SquareEnix or whatever they want to call themselves. I'm making no money from this, but if you want to sue I've got a $20 bill and… (cleans out pocket) 16 cents.

Tainted – Part 4

"So, Chicken Wuss…" The gunblader smirked, leaning against the other's doorway. "I guess it's just you an me now."

Shoving a handful of shirts into his desk, due to the fact that the cadet dorms didn't have draws, Zell turned to the larger man blocking his door way.

"Lets get this straight Almasy; I am in charge. If I were you, I wouldn't forget that, cause if you take one step out of line, I can get your sorry ass kicked right back in that tiny cell you've been locked in for the past week. Got it?"

"Ok, ok Chicken. I heard you. Don't get your feathers in a ruff."

"That includes calling me Chicken, Chicken Wuss, Chickie, or any other poultry reference."

"But where's the fun in that?"

"We're not here to have fun, Seifer."

Seifer was still grinning, his arms dropping to his side as he walked into the tiny, one man bedroom. "No, but might as well as make some fun while we're at it."

Zell stiffened as he saw the gunblader approach, just one step into the room and he already found himself cornered. "We have two very different ideas of fun."

"And how do you know that, Chickie? You never asked." He took another step forward.

Zell practically growled in warning as he felt his escape halted as his back hit a wall. "No, but I can make a pretty good guess."

"Oh?" Taking a final step forward, Seifer blocked the smaller boy in completely, a single hand rising to rest on the wall beside Zell's left ear.

"Yeah." Zell's eyes stayed trained on his assailant's, but remained very, very aware of the location of Seifer's right hand and the close proximity of his body. "As long as someone else is in pain, you're happy."

Seifer's face snapped, a look of… something coming over it. But before Zell had time to decipher it, the larger man turned and fled, the whipping of his jacket sounding as he turned to his own room, disappearing behind it's door.

Zell watched amazed where the larger man stood. The normal egotistical, arrogant brute had just had his shields torn down, by Zell nonetheless. And in that spit second of weakness, Zell saw emotion's drowning in those green eyes that he believed the other man was able to feel.

4 4 4 4

Seifer huffed onto his bed, something he would only do behind the privacy of a locked door. Even then, Seifer wasn't one to 'huff,' but Chicken had driven him to do it.

God damned Chicken-Wuss… opening your big fuckin beak when you don't know shit.

But then again… this wasn't the first time he'd heard it. A sorceress's knight isn't looked very highly upon in this day and age, especially one that very nearly had the world completely destroyed.

When the wonder heroes had returned from the future, announcing they had vanquished the sorceress, the knight was forced to seclusion. Hiding behind his two, less recognizable captains, he first started to figure out his new talents. Needless to say, it scared the shit out of everyone at first; Seifer appearing out of nowhere, moving at half or twice the speed as normal people, in fact the first time Seifer discovered he could float Fujin's jaw almost dropped… almost.

But it didn't last long, a few months after settling down in Dollet they were soon visited by a few Galbadian soldier's, holding a warrant for Fujin and Raijin's arrest. Rumor had it that the two where at the desert prison, but he never heard anything that would prove or rebuff it.

For almost a year after that, he just wandered the country of Galbadia, hunting for food, stealing for supplies, and refining his skills with this time magic. Eventually, disguising himself as different ages, he moved into towns. First it was Dollet again as a street urchin, but he found that life harder than living outside the cities. Then it was Windhill as an 80 year old, and it worked out well for nearly a year, but it was then he spotted none other than the Messenger girl and Instructor, and quickly decided to leave, because word of a scarred blond man travels quickly through a small town. It was his last job that he was finally caught, after only about 4 months at Deling, his old ghosts finally caught up to him again.

A buzzing at the front door pulled his thoughts out of the past, and Zell's muffled voice sounded before there was a gentle knock on his bedroom door.

"Seifer. You're stuff's here."

The gunblader brushed past the younger man as opened the door and left, walking to the front door where a nervous looking young man stood holding a few stacked boxes. Relieving him of the burden, he took signed the clipboard before handing it back, the boy quickly leaving, not even a trial of dust behind him.

TBC

Gah… these chapters keep getting shorter and shorter!

Ok… R&R please!

Review of… Reviews…

Cheri: Thanks! I hope you enjoy all to come!

ibanquet: I hope the wait isn't too long, I'm trying to update like 2-3 times a week, but I have no idea how long I'll be able to keep this up. But your patience is appreciated!

Chrissy Almasy: I hope you're not still confused! And I thought I was being a big… unoriginal with Squall… but hey! If someone finds it entertaining then it's worth it!

Miyo Yukimora: XD! Isn't it! I'm glad you like, I hope to keep the enjoyment comin!

Zodiac Eclipse: Yeah… he's in a rather large pile o' shite. Poor Zell… I torture my baby. Hehe…

DeadnightWarrior: Why thank you! I'm glade you like it! Hope that doesn't change!