Chapter Two:
This chapter is dedicated to Hannah and Emma,the imfamous Lin-Lin and Ran-Ran twins!!!
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Zell shifted the brown paper bag overflowing with groceries under his arm and tried in vain to keep a grip on the umbrella in his other hand.The rain was getting worse,lashing down in angry sheets,he could feel the chilling water beginning to permeate his flimsy trainer soles.
(Typical,starts out nice and sunny,but nooooo it just has to go and rain on me.....stupid,bloody...)
He was still grumbling as he turned the corner,set upon by a fresh barrage of
precipitation.He shivered,wishing for the hundredth time that he'd worn a more substantial jacket.
Zell was so engrossed in complaining that he walked straight into a mound lying on the side of the road,falling forward in a tangle of limbs,the grocery bag and umbrella flying out of his wet hands.
(What the-??!!?)
He sat up,rubbing his grazed elbow,a long train of swear words escaping his lips.He squinted through the deluge,eyes slitted as he scanned the road for the obstacle that had caused his rather ungraceful tumble.
(Huh.......?)
The bridge of Zell's nose creased and he cautiously approached the dark heap,lying in the mud filled gutter.
(....A body?......)
He knelt down,a ripple of fearful recognition passing through his mind,he leant in closer;Honey blonde hair,streaked with dirt,pale skin mottled with blossoming bruises.
(SEIFER.......?)
Zell carefully placed his hand under the older man's shoulder,rolling him onto his back.
(...oh shit..........Who could do this to someone.....even Seifer doesn't-)
He grimaced.Seifer's eyes were squeezed tightly shut,feeble protection from the pain he must've felt,crimson rivulets ran like the fleeting rain down his
deathly face.Zell swallowed thickly and hoisted Seifer up on to his shoulder in one sure movement,abandoning his shopping he headed home....
(.....Seifer?.....)
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Zell laid Seifer's drenched body out onto his bed,supporting his battered head like a priceless sculpture.He tugged Seifer's black leather boots,throwing them against the side of his desk hurriedly.Seifer's clothes were dripping with blood,freezing,winter rain soaked through his flimsy outfit.
Zell ran into the bathroom,hastily gathering up a few hi-potions,a roll of tissue paper,a towel and one small vial of elixir.
He placed them in an unstable pile next to the bed and knelt down,his eyes searching Seifer's body for injuries.
He slowly pulled Seifer's t-shirt over his head,exposing the pale,muscular chest beneath,it was ruined with bruises,deep cuts trailing with blood.Zell,cast his inspection over Seifer's arms.
(WHAT.......???)
Seifer's forearm was criss-crossed with scars....some old,fading and thin,but others were a dark purple,gashes stretching from his thin wrist to his elbow.Zell choked,clamping a hand over his mouth.
(I'm gonna be sick.......Seifer....you couldn't....)
He closed his eyes,willing himself to concentrate on Seifer's wounds.
(When he wakes up,I can find out the truth......)
He pushed back the blonde bangs,slicked to Seifer's forehead and emptied the contents of a hi-potion bottle onto a piece of tissue.His hands shaking,breath burning his lungs with the effort to stay clam he gently wiped the blood and grime from Seifer's face,tending his injuries with the utmost care.
His eyes roamed,drinking in Seifer's strong,lean body,his sharp,unblemished profile,down.....down to his slender waist....and further.....
(Stop it....there are good times for everything....and now.....is not one of them)
Zell took a couple of steadying mouthfuls of air,forcing his mind to focus on the task at hand.
(There will be plenty of time for questions,for 'that'.....later on)
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A distorted blur........colours shifting,merging infront of his eyes.....and the light,it hurt like-.....like a punch in the face........sounds,a voice distant,but firm,calling something.........
"Seifer?"
"......."
"Seifer....wake up."
"......mmh?"
"It's okay now...."
Seifer's vision phased out of focus,finally returning with a wave of dizziness,he groaned softly,raising a hand to rub his aching forehead.He gazed around the room,it was small,decorated in an almost military palette of blues,but clothes were strewn over every surface,empty food wrappers discarded on a paper covered desk,a punchbag hung up on the far wall,it's rough leather surface scuffed out of existence.
His eyes settled on the blonde boy,sat next to the bed he was lying on,he smiled the irony of the situation apparent to them both.....
"Zell?"
The young blonde bit his lip, "I-....Seifer who did this?"
"Cade-" Seifer's answer caught in his throat,as he realised Zell wasn't talking about the beating,
He was pointing to Seifer's forearm,his summer blue eyes wide with apprehension.Seifer looked at the white slashes,pocking his tanned skin......
(......Why did you have to find me......couldn't have just left me to drown in the gutter........)
He swung his legs over the cot,finding his boots and scrabbling to lace them,before Zell could say anymore.
"Seifer....You have to tell me...did you?"
He stopped,glaring at the SeeD with dangerous eyes, "Just leave me alone....." He growled,turning to leave despite the ache tearing up his sides,the dull throb of a migraine still licking at his temples.
"But,Seifer?!?!" Zell's words were filled with fear....Seifer looked back,his gaze softening, "Look,Thankyou....if you hadn't come alone,well...." He trailed off,unable to articulate his gratitude.
Zell nodded,sitting silently as Seifer fled the room,the door slamming behind him,venturing out into the night.
(Seifer....you stupid bastard......you need help........)
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This chapter is dedicated to Hannah and Emma,the imfamous Lin-Lin and Ran-Ran twins!!!
******************************************************************************
Zell shifted the brown paper bag overflowing with groceries under his arm and tried in vain to keep a grip on the umbrella in his other hand.The rain was getting worse,lashing down in angry sheets,he could feel the chilling water beginning to permeate his flimsy trainer soles.
(Typical,starts out nice and sunny,but nooooo it just has to go and rain on me.....stupid,bloody...)
He was still grumbling as he turned the corner,set upon by a fresh barrage of
precipitation.He shivered,wishing for the hundredth time that he'd worn a more substantial jacket.
Zell was so engrossed in complaining that he walked straight into a mound lying on the side of the road,falling forward in a tangle of limbs,the grocery bag and umbrella flying out of his wet hands.
(What the-??!!?)
He sat up,rubbing his grazed elbow,a long train of swear words escaping his lips.He squinted through the deluge,eyes slitted as he scanned the road for the obstacle that had caused his rather ungraceful tumble.
(Huh.......?)
The bridge of Zell's nose creased and he cautiously approached the dark heap,lying in the mud filled gutter.
(....A body?......)
He knelt down,a ripple of fearful recognition passing through his mind,he leant in closer;Honey blonde hair,streaked with dirt,pale skin mottled with blossoming bruises.
(SEIFER.......?)
Zell carefully placed his hand under the older man's shoulder,rolling him onto his back.
(...oh shit..........Who could do this to someone.....even Seifer doesn't-)
He grimaced.Seifer's eyes were squeezed tightly shut,feeble protection from the pain he must've felt,crimson rivulets ran like the fleeting rain down his
deathly face.Zell swallowed thickly and hoisted Seifer up on to his shoulder in one sure movement,abandoning his shopping he headed home....
(.....Seifer?.....)
******************************************************************************
Zell laid Seifer's drenched body out onto his bed,supporting his battered head like a priceless sculpture.He tugged Seifer's black leather boots,throwing them against the side of his desk hurriedly.Seifer's clothes were dripping with blood,freezing,winter rain soaked through his flimsy outfit.
Zell ran into the bathroom,hastily gathering up a few hi-potions,a roll of tissue paper,a towel and one small vial of elixir.
He placed them in an unstable pile next to the bed and knelt down,his eyes searching Seifer's body for injuries.
He slowly pulled Seifer's t-shirt over his head,exposing the pale,muscular chest beneath,it was ruined with bruises,deep cuts trailing with blood.Zell,cast his inspection over Seifer's arms.
(WHAT.......???)
Seifer's forearm was criss-crossed with scars....some old,fading and thin,but others were a dark purple,gashes stretching from his thin wrist to his elbow.Zell choked,clamping a hand over his mouth.
(I'm gonna be sick.......Seifer....you couldn't....)
He closed his eyes,willing himself to concentrate on Seifer's wounds.
(When he wakes up,I can find out the truth......)
He pushed back the blonde bangs,slicked to Seifer's forehead and emptied the contents of a hi-potion bottle onto a piece of tissue.His hands shaking,breath burning his lungs with the effort to stay clam he gently wiped the blood and grime from Seifer's face,tending his injuries with the utmost care.
His eyes roamed,drinking in Seifer's strong,lean body,his sharp,unblemished profile,down.....down to his slender waist....and further.....
(Stop it....there are good times for everything....and now.....is not one of them)
Zell took a couple of steadying mouthfuls of air,forcing his mind to focus on the task at hand.
(There will be plenty of time for questions,for 'that'.....later on)
******************************************************************************
A distorted blur........colours shifting,merging infront of his eyes.....and the light,it hurt like-.....like a punch in the face........sounds,a voice distant,but firm,calling something.........
"Seifer?"
"......."
"Seifer....wake up."
"......mmh?"
"It's okay now...."
Seifer's vision phased out of focus,finally returning with a wave of dizziness,he groaned softly,raising a hand to rub his aching forehead.He gazed around the room,it was small,decorated in an almost military palette of blues,but clothes were strewn over every surface,empty food wrappers discarded on a paper covered desk,a punchbag hung up on the far wall,it's rough leather surface scuffed out of existence.
His eyes settled on the blonde boy,sat next to the bed he was lying on,he smiled the irony of the situation apparent to them both.....
"Zell?"
The young blonde bit his lip, "I-....Seifer who did this?"
"Cade-" Seifer's answer caught in his throat,as he realised Zell wasn't talking about the beating,
He was pointing to Seifer's forearm,his summer blue eyes wide with apprehension.Seifer looked at the white slashes,pocking his tanned skin......
(......Why did you have to find me......couldn't have just left me to drown in the gutter........)
He swung his legs over the cot,finding his boots and scrabbling to lace them,before Zell could say anymore.
"Seifer....You have to tell me...did you?"
He stopped,glaring at the SeeD with dangerous eyes, "Just leave me alone....." He growled,turning to leave despite the ache tearing up his sides,the dull throb of a migraine still licking at his temples.
"But,Seifer?!?!" Zell's words were filled with fear....Seifer looked back,his gaze softening, "Look,Thankyou....if you hadn't come alone,well...." He trailed off,unable to articulate his gratitude.
Zell nodded,sitting silently as Seifer fled the room,the door slamming behind him,venturing out into the night.
(Seifer....you stupid bastard......you need help........)
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