Chapter Eleven:Doubtless
Squall popped the migraine pills into his mouth and took a gulp of coffee.
(Remind me never to go drinking with Zell again.....)
*Knock knock*
"Zelly!" Selphie skipped from one foot to another excitedly,the door opened,but it definitely wasn't who she'd expected leaning against the frame.
"I brought you some-oh!" She nearly dropped the platter of breakfast treats,balanced on her slender wrists.
(Squall????)
"Morning Selphie.Zell's still asleep." Squall mentally kicked himself as he saw Selphie's eyes widen to dinnerplate size.She smiled at him with badly concealed shock.".........."
" s'ok.Hiya Sefie." Zell rubbed his face groggily and physically dragged himself out of bed.He had grey smudges under his dulled sapphire eyes and his hair was dishevelled.
(Selphie's gonna think we slept together.)
Squall cursed silently and retreated to the breakfast nook to make some more coffee,heaven knows Zell looked like he needed a wake-up call.Selphie held out the platter,it was heaped with bagels and pieces of honey buttered toast. "Something ta cheer ya up!" She smiled at him expectantly.
(awh.......)
"I'm gonna-" Zell's face drained of colour,turning positively green and he clutched his stomach before stumbling off into the bathroom.Selphie lowered the plate a look of concern etched on her pretty face.Squall shrugged at her apologetically, "Hangover.I'm sorry." She shook her head in dismay, "I don't blame you,I heard Seifer's party was a wash-out." She set the plate down on Zell's coffee table.Squall leaned on the counter feeling suddenly drained, "Atleast everyone else had fun." Selphie bit her lip nervously, "I'll come back later okay?" Squall nodded and thanked her for the thoughtful gift.
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(Zell's room-Five minutes later.)
"You alright?" Squall listened in at the bathroom door.He heard the toilet flush and stepped back as Zell came out,wiping a hand over his mouth. "Fine,Selphie sure has good timing." He replied sarcastically.Squall laid a hand on his shoulder.
(Please don't flinch...........)
"She's only worried about you," He began slowly, "I'm sorry about last night..." Zell flicked his hand away aggressively.He looked at Squall with confused eyes, "That's the problem." He said cryptically and sprinted from the room,not even realising he was semi-naked.
(Last night...........I sorry......aren't I??)
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(Cid's Office-Midday)
"I have asked you all up here to discuss a matter of grave importance." Headmaster Cid paced past them in turn,his hands clasped in the small of his back and his expression deadly serious.Zell glanced down the line.......
Quistis stood to attention,totally focused on Cid's briefing.
Squall's arms were folded again and he glowered at the floor wordlessly.
Seifer shot him a sardonic smile,he mouthed, "Good party eh?" Zell's hand clenched into a fist and he almost lost it........
(How much do I wanna punch that look off his face......)
Cid repeated himself testily, "Zell? Zell are you listening?"
"Huh?," His reverie broken suddenly, "Sorry.You were saying Sir?" Cid sighed and continued pacing anxiously. "Garden is sending you,our best SeeD's,on a retrieval mission to Dollet.Vital tactical computer files were accidentally left behind after Galbadia invaded and it has only just come to our attention.Obviously,we wouldn't want these documents to fall into the wrong hands,so you will be shipped out to Dollet on Monday at 16:00 hours." Squall frowned, "Are we expecting any hostile company?" Quistis whispered in Zell's ear covertly, "Not if you don't count Seifer." Cid shook his head, "No,just a straight-forward job,you'll be briefed further on route." Zell stepped forward, "Who's in charge?" Cid indicated, "Commander Almasy will lead this mission." Seifer puffed out his chest proudly. "Dismissed." Cid said and ushered them outside.Seifer glanced back at them one last time and strutted off to the lift.
(A$$hole......One day I'll-)
"Well,this is going to be fun." Squall said indignantly.Quistis pivoted round to face them,a coy smile playing on her lips, "Oh I don't know....." Zell raised his eyebrow quizzically, "What's that mean?" Quistis winked, " I'll tell you later."
******************************************************************************
(Zell's room-6:00)
*knock knock*
(Aww........what is it now?)
Zell opened the door and was wholly unsuprised to see Squall,flanked by a very smug looking Quistis. "Is now a good time?" Squall asked noticing the slightly sour tint to Zell's eyes. "Yeah,come in." Quistis noted vaguely that Zell had been tidying,gone where the piles of clothes and food-wrappers......
(He's getting more like a certain person everyday.......)
"Anyway," She began,sitting down next to Squall on the couch, "I have a piece of information,I need to share." Zell feigned shock, "Not gossip,surely??" He asked throwing his hands up dramatically.
(........That lightened the atmosphere.........)
Quistis laughed and carried on with her story, "Well,I found out the real reason COMMANDER Seifer got promoted."
(What..........real reason?)
Squall and Zell sat deathly quiet with burning curiosity.Quistis grinned trying to control her hilarity long enough to explain, "The mission was to extract a group of trapped scientists from an underground installation in Esthar.....a request from their government,after an accident or something,anyway,Seifer was sent in with Rajin and Fujin as backup......" She was overcome by giggles and Squall rolled his eyes frustratedly. "So,they.....found the scientists and were just leading them to the surface when they were attacked by a monster....huge,very bada$$ creature.It went after Fujin and Seifer cast cure on her,but she'd already cast reflect on herself......so....*hee hee* it bounced back on the beast......course Seifer decided that now was the time to make a run for it,save his own butt......however,the creature was undead,and his spell wiped it out!!" She collapsed in a fit of giggling.Zell's mouth hung open for a fair few seconds, "You mean our great leader Seifer just struck it lucky!!?!?" He asked with a smile.Quistis nodded, "PURE LUCK!" Squall looked at them,his eyes sparkling..........
"................"
(Is he okay.......?)
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Squall pounded the sofa arm with his fist and dissolved into uncontrollable mirth.It took atleast five minutes for them to stop,gasping for air and grinning like maniacs.Zell watched Squall for a second........
(He looks happier than I've ever seen him...........it feels.....)
Their eyes met and Zell looked away,colour rising to his cheeks.Squall stood abruptly, "Well,it's getting late.I'd better go." He practically ran from the room.Quistis got up to leave.
"I'm sorry........." Zell said softly.She turned to him,pasting a confused expression on her face, "Sorry? About what?" Zell grimaced,his eyes filling with tangled emotion,
(I know how much this hurts you,Squall and me.........I can't even decide how I feel and it must be so hard..........I really am sorry........)
"It's nothing......forget it." He averted his gaze the scarlet in his cheeks growing deeper.Quistis bit her lip, "Thanks." She replied understanding his sentiment and shut the door with a barely audible click.
(.............Squall......What am I gonna do?)
Squall popped the migraine pills into his mouth and took a gulp of coffee.
(Remind me never to go drinking with Zell again.....)
*Knock knock*
"Zelly!" Selphie skipped from one foot to another excitedly,the door opened,but it definitely wasn't who she'd expected leaning against the frame.
"I brought you some-oh!" She nearly dropped the platter of breakfast treats,balanced on her slender wrists.
(Squall????)
"Morning Selphie.Zell's still asleep." Squall mentally kicked himself as he saw Selphie's eyes widen to dinnerplate size.She smiled at him with badly concealed shock.".........."
" s'ok.Hiya Sefie." Zell rubbed his face groggily and physically dragged himself out of bed.He had grey smudges under his dulled sapphire eyes and his hair was dishevelled.
(Selphie's gonna think we slept together.)
Squall cursed silently and retreated to the breakfast nook to make some more coffee,heaven knows Zell looked like he needed a wake-up call.Selphie held out the platter,it was heaped with bagels and pieces of honey buttered toast. "Something ta cheer ya up!" She smiled at him expectantly.
(awh.......)
"I'm gonna-" Zell's face drained of colour,turning positively green and he clutched his stomach before stumbling off into the bathroom.Selphie lowered the plate a look of concern etched on her pretty face.Squall shrugged at her apologetically, "Hangover.I'm sorry." She shook her head in dismay, "I don't blame you,I heard Seifer's party was a wash-out." She set the plate down on Zell's coffee table.Squall leaned on the counter feeling suddenly drained, "Atleast everyone else had fun." Selphie bit her lip nervously, "I'll come back later okay?" Squall nodded and thanked her for the thoughtful gift.
******************************************************************************
(Zell's room-Five minutes later.)
"You alright?" Squall listened in at the bathroom door.He heard the toilet flush and stepped back as Zell came out,wiping a hand over his mouth. "Fine,Selphie sure has good timing." He replied sarcastically.Squall laid a hand on his shoulder.
(Please don't flinch...........)
"She's only worried about you," He began slowly, "I'm sorry about last night..." Zell flicked his hand away aggressively.He looked at Squall with confused eyes, "That's the problem." He said cryptically and sprinted from the room,not even realising he was semi-naked.
(Last night...........I sorry......aren't I??)
******************************************************************************
(Cid's Office-Midday)
"I have asked you all up here to discuss a matter of grave importance." Headmaster Cid paced past them in turn,his hands clasped in the small of his back and his expression deadly serious.Zell glanced down the line.......
Quistis stood to attention,totally focused on Cid's briefing.
Squall's arms were folded again and he glowered at the floor wordlessly.
Seifer shot him a sardonic smile,he mouthed, "Good party eh?" Zell's hand clenched into a fist and he almost lost it........
(How much do I wanna punch that look off his face......)
Cid repeated himself testily, "Zell? Zell are you listening?"
"Huh?," His reverie broken suddenly, "Sorry.You were saying Sir?" Cid sighed and continued pacing anxiously. "Garden is sending you,our best SeeD's,on a retrieval mission to Dollet.Vital tactical computer files were accidentally left behind after Galbadia invaded and it has only just come to our attention.Obviously,we wouldn't want these documents to fall into the wrong hands,so you will be shipped out to Dollet on Monday at 16:00 hours." Squall frowned, "Are we expecting any hostile company?" Quistis whispered in Zell's ear covertly, "Not if you don't count Seifer." Cid shook his head, "No,just a straight-forward job,you'll be briefed further on route." Zell stepped forward, "Who's in charge?" Cid indicated, "Commander Almasy will lead this mission." Seifer puffed out his chest proudly. "Dismissed." Cid said and ushered them outside.Seifer glanced back at them one last time and strutted off to the lift.
(A$$hole......One day I'll-)
"Well,this is going to be fun." Squall said indignantly.Quistis pivoted round to face them,a coy smile playing on her lips, "Oh I don't know....." Zell raised his eyebrow quizzically, "What's that mean?" Quistis winked, " I'll tell you later."
******************************************************************************
(Zell's room-6:00)
*knock knock*
(Aww........what is it now?)
Zell opened the door and was wholly unsuprised to see Squall,flanked by a very smug looking Quistis. "Is now a good time?" Squall asked noticing the slightly sour tint to Zell's eyes. "Yeah,come in." Quistis noted vaguely that Zell had been tidying,gone where the piles of clothes and food-wrappers......
(He's getting more like a certain person everyday.......)
"Anyway," She began,sitting down next to Squall on the couch, "I have a piece of information,I need to share." Zell feigned shock, "Not gossip,surely??" He asked throwing his hands up dramatically.
(........That lightened the atmosphere.........)
Quistis laughed and carried on with her story, "Well,I found out the real reason COMMANDER Seifer got promoted."
(What..........real reason?)
Squall and Zell sat deathly quiet with burning curiosity.Quistis grinned trying to control her hilarity long enough to explain, "The mission was to extract a group of trapped scientists from an underground installation in Esthar.....a request from their government,after an accident or something,anyway,Seifer was sent in with Rajin and Fujin as backup......" She was overcome by giggles and Squall rolled his eyes frustratedly. "So,they.....found the scientists and were just leading them to the surface when they were attacked by a monster....huge,very bada$$ creature.It went after Fujin and Seifer cast cure on her,but she'd already cast reflect on herself......so....*hee hee* it bounced back on the beast......course Seifer decided that now was the time to make a run for it,save his own butt......however,the creature was undead,and his spell wiped it out!!" She collapsed in a fit of giggling.Zell's mouth hung open for a fair few seconds, "You mean our great leader Seifer just struck it lucky!!?!?" He asked with a smile.Quistis nodded, "PURE LUCK!" Squall looked at them,his eyes sparkling..........
"................"
(Is he okay.......?)
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Squall pounded the sofa arm with his fist and dissolved into uncontrollable mirth.It took atleast five minutes for them to stop,gasping for air and grinning like maniacs.Zell watched Squall for a second........
(He looks happier than I've ever seen him...........it feels.....)
Their eyes met and Zell looked away,colour rising to his cheeks.Squall stood abruptly, "Well,it's getting late.I'd better go." He practically ran from the room.Quistis got up to leave.
"I'm sorry........." Zell said softly.She turned to him,pasting a confused expression on her face, "Sorry? About what?" Zell grimaced,his eyes filling with tangled emotion,
(I know how much this hurts you,Squall and me.........I can't even decide how I feel and it must be so hard..........I really am sorry........)
"It's nothing......forget it." He averted his gaze the scarlet in his cheeks growing deeper.Quistis bit her lip, "Thanks." She replied understanding his sentiment and shut the door with a barely audible click.
(.............Squall......What am I gonna do?)