BlackIceNinja-

Zell eyed the man walking beside him warily. He had only had two prior interactions with the tall, intimidating, impossibly long silver haired man with the three wings prior to this. He was not sure why he had been asked specifically to help the man on whatever this mission they were now on was.

"So, uh, where are we going?" The blond asked casually, zipped up his coat further. It was a rather blustery day and snow occasionally blew across the roof tops, sprinkling the marketplace with shiny crystals.

Sephiroth seemed to be completely unaffected by the weather. "You will know when we arrive."

"Okay." Zell stuffed his hands into his pockets. He was really getting worried about this.

They crossed the marketplace, Sephiroth receiving several concerned looks and more than a few parents tugged their children closer. If this was the normal reaction he got, it was no wonder he avoided town. The winged man's eyes remained rigidly fixed before them but his shoulder wing twitched.

"I get you're kinda scary looking and all that but man you would think they'd be used to seeing you around by now." Zell commented.

"It doesn't matter what these people think." Sephiroth snapped out rather quickly. "I have been accepted by the only ones whose opinion counts."

"It's still gotta hurt to be looked at as some kind of freak."

Sephiroth was silent a moment. Very quietly, he conceded. "It does."

Zell lifted an eyebrow at the man's sudden candor. Of all the things that had run through his mind this morning as possible activities for the day, having a heart-to-heart with Sephiroth had not been one of them. This whole experience was strange.

They stopped before a leather clothing store. Zell scrunched up his face and looked up at the man beside him. "Why are we here?"

The corner of Sephiroth's mouth curled up. There was a rather nervous quality to it. "You are Leon's best friend, correct?"

"Well, yeah." Zell shrugged. "Why?"

"I intend to purchase him a new jacket."

The ex-SeeD stared at him. "Why?"

"He needs one and it's Christmas."

Zell continued to stare. "So the rumors about Squall and you are true?"

"I need your assistance to pick one out." Sephiroth continued, not answering the question. "You know him better than anyone else here."

Zell rubbed at the back of his head. "Well, I guess…"

A silver eyebrow lifted and a smirk lit Sephiroth's face. "Do you doubt your ability to choose an appropriate gift for your friend?"

"No, but obviously you can't pick out something for your boyfriend." Zell grumbled.

Sephiroth's grin was truly wicked. "Having sex repeatedly with someone does not make them your boyfriend."

Zell sputtered for nearly a full minute. He raised his hands and shook his head. "I did not need to know that. What the hell is Squall thinking…?"

"You will have to take that up with him." The former general's expression evened out and he motioned toward the door. "Now, let us find a jacket for my toy."