Chapter Three: Healing Wounds
"Rinoa," Zell whispered. "What the hell is up with you? Why were you…acting so strange around me last night?"
Zell shook his head at his own thoughts.
"Of course you'd be acting strange because of Squall, but…You just…you just acted so strange last night. Like you were attracted to me or somethin'. And if that's the case, it's a really bad idea. Of course I could never tell you why, but…It'd just be a bad idea."
Looking at the thin tree, Zell forced a weak laugh.
He threw a powerful fist through the air, crushing into the mossy bark of a thin tree. The Training Center was unusually quiet that morning. Looking down with beautiful blue eyes, he rose his pale eyebrows in surprise at how damaged the tree was. Shattered like a broken mirror, long splinters stuck out like razor-sharp spikes around his hand. He had nearly broken it in half with a simple punch. Carefully removing his hand from the broken tree, Zell rubbed his fist gently, not wanting to make it any sorer than it already was.
"Aaah…" he gasped when he touched a particularly tender spot in his hand.
He unstrapped his right glove, and then slid it off with his left hand. Shoving it into a deep pocket, Zell took a good look at his hand.
A few red scratches lined his knuckles, while a large reddish-purple bruise began to swell right above his second knuckle, where he had placed most of his strength in the punch that wounded his hand.
"Shit…" Zell mumbled, unpleased at how he had hurt his hand even with gloves on. "I guess I'm stronger than I thought. Even good ol' Ehrgeiz can't protect my hands…"
Kneeling down, Zell kissed his wound, not wanting to run to Dr. Kadowaki like a junior student would.
"No need for a doctor," Zell assured himself, taken aback by how painful his seemingly minor injury really was.
Blue eyes bold and daring, Zell started intently at the base of the tree, a wave of anger coming over him. He knew how he wasn't supposed to get hurt. He knew that a mere scratch could turn into a critical injury.
"Damn you," Zell whispered, threads of rage interweaving through his curses.
Standing up from his crouching position, Zell glared at the tree once more. Placing all of his balance into his right foot, he swung his left leg out in one, graceful motion. His foot crashed through the tree trunk with the speed and power of a dragon, splitting the thin tree in half.
Looking down at what he did, Zell glanced at his foot, which was miraculously protected by his shoe.
"Thank Hyne," Zell whispered, forcing a sad smile.
Turning to leave, Zell grabbed his right glove from his pocket, and sheathed it gently over his right hand. Strapping the straps carefully, not wanting to hurt the injuries that decorated his hand like painful ornaments.
"Hey Zell," a familiar voice called out coyly from a thick group of trees and tropical plants near the gate to the Training Center.
Looking up from his hand, Zell's blue eyes started intently into the brush, desperately wanting to put a face to the voice that called his name.
"Yeah?" Zell called out, raising a pale eyebrow in confusion.
A figure came to the voice as the quiet leather-clad swordsman emerged from the brush. It was Squall.
"What's up?" Squall asked, his stormy eyes shining in the soft sunlight that gingerly touched his pale skin.
"Notta' damn thing," Zell replied, placing his hands in his pockets. He wanted to act casual around Squall, even though he knew about his homosexual relationship with Seifer. "How about you?"
Squall shook his head, smiling sadly. "Nothin' here," he said quietly.
Pacing himself, Squall made his way over to the tattooed blonde, his sad smile faltering a bit as he did.
Zell stiffened when Squall placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. He knew Squall was gay, and now he was touching his shoulder.
"Yeah…So what brings you to the Training Center?" Zell asked, desperate to break the uncomfortable silence that had settled ever since Squall had put his hand on Zell's strong shoulder.
"Actually, I was looking for you. I caught Rinoa out in the hall, and she told me she was looking for you. It seems that she really wants to talk to you, Zell…" Squall trailed off, smiling slightly as a blush came over Zell's cheeks. He removed his hand from Zell's shoulder, placing it on his hip instead.
"So…you figured I was in the Training Center, huh," Zell said softly, looking into the stormy eyes of his taciturn friend.
"That's where you're always at," Squall replied with a weak laugh. "Either here or at the Cafeteria, standing in line for those hot dogs you love so much."
Zell flashed his canines at Squall. His blue eyes were shining like sapphires as the golden sunlight shined down on them gently from above.
Squall bowed his head, wondering what else to say. He was feeling a little attracted to Zell, even though he was truly in love with Seifer.
"You're cute, Zell," Squall said with a feeble smile. His eyes were warm when he said this, rather than cold. He looked into Zell's blue eyes, his smile still weak.
"Uh…thanks," Zell mumbled, his cheeks turning a violent shade of red.
Squall laughed at Zell's embarrassment, shaking his head in a desperate attempt to calm down his fit of laughter.
"You're just too cute," Squall replied as his smile widened.
"Squall…I know," Zell said quietly with a nod.
"You know what?" Squall asked stupidly, knowing exactly what his spiky-haired friend meant.
"I know that you're gay. And I know Seifer's gay, too. You love him, don't you?" Zell managed, surprised at how smooth the words had come out.
"…How did you find out?" Squall asked finally after a strange silence settled down upon the two friends.
"Rinoa," Zell said, offering a small smile. "She told me everything. She told me how she found Seifer in your closet…And how you and Seifer didn't want to hurt her."
"Are you…pissed at me?" Squall inquired, cocking his neck to the side.
"No," Zell replied shortly. "Just surprised. I had no idea you were gay."
"I guess that's a compliment," Squall said with a laugh.
Zell nodded, looking up at the beautiful cerulean sky with those gorgeous blue eyes of his.
"Your eyes are beautiful," Squall commented.
Zell looked at Squall, smiling. His blue eyes were truly beautiful. As deep and blue as the ocean.
"Are you trying to make a move on me?" he joked.
"Maybe," Squall joked back, laughing.
"But anyway, do you know where Rinoa's at now?" Zell asked, a sad smile crawling across his lips.
"She's probably at the Cafeteria, eating breakfast…" Squall trailed off, noticing Zell's sudden sadness. "You seem sad about something. Is something going on?"
"Nah," Zell lied, smiling at Squall. "I'm fine. Really."
"Okay…" Squall said with a nod.
"Come on, Squall," Zell replied with a grin. "I'm Zell! I can get through anything. Don't worry about me so much."
Squall nodded, forcing a smile. His stormy eyes looked into Zell's beautiful blue eyes with trust, yet also with care.
"I know," Squall murmured, wondering why Zell was sad. He could see the sadness in those gorgeous blue eyes. If only he could find out why.
"Yeah…" Zell trailed off, taking a step back. "Well, I guess I should go. Ah…I should go find Rinoa or…something…."
Squall watched as Zell prepared to leave the Training Center, his footsteps casual yet swift. Squall could tell that Zell was in a hurry.
"Zell!" Squall called out to him, taking a step forward, desperately wanting to find out what was going on in Zell's mind.
Zell turned, a strange sadness deep within his blue eyes.
"Yeah?" he mumbled, wanting to just run away from it all. He really didn't want anyone to find out about his…
Squall took a few footsteps closer to Zell, a look of care coming across his pale face. "What's going on?"
"Nothing…" Zell lied, biting down on his bottom lip.
"Damn it Zell, tell me! Tell me what's going on!" Squall cried, determined to get to the bottom of Zell's sadness.
"Squall…" Zell trailed off, letting out a sad sigh. "Squall, please don't make me tell you."
"Just me," Squall whispered. "You don't have to tell anyone else. Just…please, tell me…"
"…Just you?" Zell asked, his voice rich with hope.
"Of course," Squall soothed, forcing a smile.
"Only because…You're my best friend," Zell said with a small smile. "So you have a right to know."
"…What is it?" Squall inquired, taking another step closer to Zell, to where he was only a foot away from him.
"Dr. Kadowaki told me…" Zell trailed off, fighting the tears. His eyes moistened, and his lips quivered. Squall knew he wanted to cry.
"Dr. Kadowaki told you what?" Squall inquired, placing a hand gently on Zell's shoulder.
"She told me that…that I'm sick," Zell managed, losing his battle against his tears. They came down his face like rivers. His beautiful blue oceans were letting rivers trail down that gorgeous face of his.
"What…what kind of sickness do you have?" Squall asked, not bothering to hide the sadness and fear in his voice.
"I have…I have it, Squall," Zell said, letting the tears come down his face. He didn't bother wiping at them. He didn't care who saw him crying.
"What do you have?" Squall asked, wiping at the tears that were swelling up in his eyes.
"…Hemophilia…" Zell whispered, an eerie silence falling over the two friends.
"…Is it fatal?" Squall asked dumbly, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer or not.
"A…a little scratch can kill me," Zell murmured, his beautiful blue eyes pink with tears. He looked at Squall, a look of desperation on his tear-stained face.
"Are you hurt?" Squall asked, noticing how Zell winced when he brought his right hand out of his pocket.
"…Yes," Zell admitted, bringing his left hand out of his pocket without any trouble.
"Then let me heal you," Squall said, moving his hand from Zell's shoulder to his right hand. "I'll heal you, okay?"
"It won't do any good," Zell replied, shaking his head.
"You never know until you try," Squall declared, forcing a smile.
"…Thank you," Zell whispered, watching intently as Squall wrapped both of his hands around Zell's large and powerful right hand.
"I have a couple Cura spells," Squall revealed. "Do you think Cura would handle it?"
"Take a look for yourself," Zell said, eyeing his right hand.
Squall nodded, and then took off the powerful glove that had sheathed Zell's right hand.
Squall looked at the bright red scratches and dried blood decorating Zell's wounded hand. He rose his eyebrows at the large reddish bruise that swelled like an angry eye on his knuckles.
"Damn…" Squall whispered.
"Can Cura handle it?" Zell asked desperately.
"Of course it can," Squall said in reply, shocked at how badly wounded Zell's hand was even with his Ehrgeiz on.
"Heal it," Zell murmured.
Nodding, Squall gently held Zell's right hand, and whispered a few chants. He closed his eyes in concentration, wanting oh so badly to heal the wound that had frightened Zell so badly.
"You'll live, Zell…" Squall soothed.
A light blue aura radiated from Zell's hand as the Cura spell took it's toll, sending waves of warmth up Zell's arm.
Both blue and stormy eyes looked at the wounded hand in hope as the aura faded. When the aura had gone completely, and the Cura spell was over, they saw that the hand had healed. It was a miracle.
"…Thank you," Zell whispered, grinning in rapture. "Thank you so much, Squall!"
Zell flung his arms around Squall's neck, placing his cheek on Squall's chest. They embraced. Squall knew that there wasn't anything romantic about the hug. It was a friendly hug. One of friendship and relief. Zell was just thanking Squall for healing him.
"You're gonna' be okay," Squall whispered, hugging Zell back. "It's gonna' be all right."
A few moments later, Zell took a step back, grinning at Squall. Flashing those adorable canines, Zell tilted his head up at the brunette swordsman, placing his right hand back in its powerful glove.
"I'll be more careful from now on," Zell revealed, his grin faltering into a joyous smile. "Thanks again."
"It was no big deal, really. I'm just glad you're okay," Squall said.
Zell just smiled, nodding. "Well, I guess I'm gonna' go…You said Rinoa was looking for me, so I don't wanna' get her all worked up or anything."
"Yeah…And it's about time I go lookin' for Seifer. I don't want him to get in trouble or anything," Squall said, wondering where his boyfriend could be.
"Good look on finding Seifer," Zell replied, his blue eyes filled with happiness again. "And thanks again!"
Squall nodded politely as he watched Zell leave the Training Center in his customary run, with the speed and endurance of a cheetah.
Zell ran down the halls of Garden with the happiness of a schoolboy. He didn't care if he looked childish or not. Squall had healed him, and he couldn't be happier.
"Now I just hafta' find Rinoa…" Zell said to himself. "And ask her why she was actin' so strange around me last night…"
TO BE CONTINUED/PLZ R&R
"Rinoa," Zell whispered. "What the hell is up with you? Why were you…acting so strange around me last night?"
Zell shook his head at his own thoughts.
"Of course you'd be acting strange because of Squall, but…You just…you just acted so strange last night. Like you were attracted to me or somethin'. And if that's the case, it's a really bad idea. Of course I could never tell you why, but…It'd just be a bad idea."
Looking at the thin tree, Zell forced a weak laugh.
He threw a powerful fist through the air, crushing into the mossy bark of a thin tree. The Training Center was unusually quiet that morning. Looking down with beautiful blue eyes, he rose his pale eyebrows in surprise at how damaged the tree was. Shattered like a broken mirror, long splinters stuck out like razor-sharp spikes around his hand. He had nearly broken it in half with a simple punch. Carefully removing his hand from the broken tree, Zell rubbed his fist gently, not wanting to make it any sorer than it already was.
"Aaah…" he gasped when he touched a particularly tender spot in his hand.
He unstrapped his right glove, and then slid it off with his left hand. Shoving it into a deep pocket, Zell took a good look at his hand.
A few red scratches lined his knuckles, while a large reddish-purple bruise began to swell right above his second knuckle, where he had placed most of his strength in the punch that wounded his hand.
"Shit…" Zell mumbled, unpleased at how he had hurt his hand even with gloves on. "I guess I'm stronger than I thought. Even good ol' Ehrgeiz can't protect my hands…"
Kneeling down, Zell kissed his wound, not wanting to run to Dr. Kadowaki like a junior student would.
"No need for a doctor," Zell assured himself, taken aback by how painful his seemingly minor injury really was.
Blue eyes bold and daring, Zell started intently at the base of the tree, a wave of anger coming over him. He knew how he wasn't supposed to get hurt. He knew that a mere scratch could turn into a critical injury.
"Damn you," Zell whispered, threads of rage interweaving through his curses.
Standing up from his crouching position, Zell glared at the tree once more. Placing all of his balance into his right foot, he swung his left leg out in one, graceful motion. His foot crashed through the tree trunk with the speed and power of a dragon, splitting the thin tree in half.
Looking down at what he did, Zell glanced at his foot, which was miraculously protected by his shoe.
"Thank Hyne," Zell whispered, forcing a sad smile.
Turning to leave, Zell grabbed his right glove from his pocket, and sheathed it gently over his right hand. Strapping the straps carefully, not wanting to hurt the injuries that decorated his hand like painful ornaments.
"Hey Zell," a familiar voice called out coyly from a thick group of trees and tropical plants near the gate to the Training Center.
Looking up from his hand, Zell's blue eyes started intently into the brush, desperately wanting to put a face to the voice that called his name.
"Yeah?" Zell called out, raising a pale eyebrow in confusion.
A figure came to the voice as the quiet leather-clad swordsman emerged from the brush. It was Squall.
"What's up?" Squall asked, his stormy eyes shining in the soft sunlight that gingerly touched his pale skin.
"Notta' damn thing," Zell replied, placing his hands in his pockets. He wanted to act casual around Squall, even though he knew about his homosexual relationship with Seifer. "How about you?"
Squall shook his head, smiling sadly. "Nothin' here," he said quietly.
Pacing himself, Squall made his way over to the tattooed blonde, his sad smile faltering a bit as he did.
Zell stiffened when Squall placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. He knew Squall was gay, and now he was touching his shoulder.
"Yeah…So what brings you to the Training Center?" Zell asked, desperate to break the uncomfortable silence that had settled ever since Squall had put his hand on Zell's strong shoulder.
"Actually, I was looking for you. I caught Rinoa out in the hall, and she told me she was looking for you. It seems that she really wants to talk to you, Zell…" Squall trailed off, smiling slightly as a blush came over Zell's cheeks. He removed his hand from Zell's shoulder, placing it on his hip instead.
"So…you figured I was in the Training Center, huh," Zell said softly, looking into the stormy eyes of his taciturn friend.
"That's where you're always at," Squall replied with a weak laugh. "Either here or at the Cafeteria, standing in line for those hot dogs you love so much."
Zell flashed his canines at Squall. His blue eyes were shining like sapphires as the golden sunlight shined down on them gently from above.
Squall bowed his head, wondering what else to say. He was feeling a little attracted to Zell, even though he was truly in love with Seifer.
"You're cute, Zell," Squall said with a feeble smile. His eyes were warm when he said this, rather than cold. He looked into Zell's blue eyes, his smile still weak.
"Uh…thanks," Zell mumbled, his cheeks turning a violent shade of red.
Squall laughed at Zell's embarrassment, shaking his head in a desperate attempt to calm down his fit of laughter.
"You're just too cute," Squall replied as his smile widened.
"Squall…I know," Zell said quietly with a nod.
"You know what?" Squall asked stupidly, knowing exactly what his spiky-haired friend meant.
"I know that you're gay. And I know Seifer's gay, too. You love him, don't you?" Zell managed, surprised at how smooth the words had come out.
"…How did you find out?" Squall asked finally after a strange silence settled down upon the two friends.
"Rinoa," Zell said, offering a small smile. "She told me everything. She told me how she found Seifer in your closet…And how you and Seifer didn't want to hurt her."
"Are you…pissed at me?" Squall inquired, cocking his neck to the side.
"No," Zell replied shortly. "Just surprised. I had no idea you were gay."
"I guess that's a compliment," Squall said with a laugh.
Zell nodded, looking up at the beautiful cerulean sky with those gorgeous blue eyes of his.
"Your eyes are beautiful," Squall commented.
Zell looked at Squall, smiling. His blue eyes were truly beautiful. As deep and blue as the ocean.
"Are you trying to make a move on me?" he joked.
"Maybe," Squall joked back, laughing.
"But anyway, do you know where Rinoa's at now?" Zell asked, a sad smile crawling across his lips.
"She's probably at the Cafeteria, eating breakfast…" Squall trailed off, noticing Zell's sudden sadness. "You seem sad about something. Is something going on?"
"Nah," Zell lied, smiling at Squall. "I'm fine. Really."
"Okay…" Squall said with a nod.
"Come on, Squall," Zell replied with a grin. "I'm Zell! I can get through anything. Don't worry about me so much."
Squall nodded, forcing a smile. His stormy eyes looked into Zell's beautiful blue eyes with trust, yet also with care.
"I know," Squall murmured, wondering why Zell was sad. He could see the sadness in those gorgeous blue eyes. If only he could find out why.
"Yeah…" Zell trailed off, taking a step back. "Well, I guess I should go. Ah…I should go find Rinoa or…something…."
Squall watched as Zell prepared to leave the Training Center, his footsteps casual yet swift. Squall could tell that Zell was in a hurry.
"Zell!" Squall called out to him, taking a step forward, desperately wanting to find out what was going on in Zell's mind.
Zell turned, a strange sadness deep within his blue eyes.
"Yeah?" he mumbled, wanting to just run away from it all. He really didn't want anyone to find out about his…
Squall took a few footsteps closer to Zell, a look of care coming across his pale face. "What's going on?"
"Nothing…" Zell lied, biting down on his bottom lip.
"Damn it Zell, tell me! Tell me what's going on!" Squall cried, determined to get to the bottom of Zell's sadness.
"Squall…" Zell trailed off, letting out a sad sigh. "Squall, please don't make me tell you."
"Just me," Squall whispered. "You don't have to tell anyone else. Just…please, tell me…"
"…Just you?" Zell asked, his voice rich with hope.
"Of course," Squall soothed, forcing a smile.
"Only because…You're my best friend," Zell said with a small smile. "So you have a right to know."
"…What is it?" Squall inquired, taking another step closer to Zell, to where he was only a foot away from him.
"Dr. Kadowaki told me…" Zell trailed off, fighting the tears. His eyes moistened, and his lips quivered. Squall knew he wanted to cry.
"Dr. Kadowaki told you what?" Squall inquired, placing a hand gently on Zell's shoulder.
"She told me that…that I'm sick," Zell managed, losing his battle against his tears. They came down his face like rivers. His beautiful blue oceans were letting rivers trail down that gorgeous face of his.
"What…what kind of sickness do you have?" Squall asked, not bothering to hide the sadness and fear in his voice.
"I have…I have it, Squall," Zell said, letting the tears come down his face. He didn't bother wiping at them. He didn't care who saw him crying.
"What do you have?" Squall asked, wiping at the tears that were swelling up in his eyes.
"…Hemophilia…" Zell whispered, an eerie silence falling over the two friends.
"…Is it fatal?" Squall asked dumbly, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer or not.
"A…a little scratch can kill me," Zell murmured, his beautiful blue eyes pink with tears. He looked at Squall, a look of desperation on his tear-stained face.
"Are you hurt?" Squall asked, noticing how Zell winced when he brought his right hand out of his pocket.
"…Yes," Zell admitted, bringing his left hand out of his pocket without any trouble.
"Then let me heal you," Squall said, moving his hand from Zell's shoulder to his right hand. "I'll heal you, okay?"
"It won't do any good," Zell replied, shaking his head.
"You never know until you try," Squall declared, forcing a smile.
"…Thank you," Zell whispered, watching intently as Squall wrapped both of his hands around Zell's large and powerful right hand.
"I have a couple Cura spells," Squall revealed. "Do you think Cura would handle it?"
"Take a look for yourself," Zell said, eyeing his right hand.
Squall nodded, and then took off the powerful glove that had sheathed Zell's right hand.
Squall looked at the bright red scratches and dried blood decorating Zell's wounded hand. He rose his eyebrows at the large reddish bruise that swelled like an angry eye on his knuckles.
"Damn…" Squall whispered.
"Can Cura handle it?" Zell asked desperately.
"Of course it can," Squall said in reply, shocked at how badly wounded Zell's hand was even with his Ehrgeiz on.
"Heal it," Zell murmured.
Nodding, Squall gently held Zell's right hand, and whispered a few chants. He closed his eyes in concentration, wanting oh so badly to heal the wound that had frightened Zell so badly.
"You'll live, Zell…" Squall soothed.
A light blue aura radiated from Zell's hand as the Cura spell took it's toll, sending waves of warmth up Zell's arm.
Both blue and stormy eyes looked at the wounded hand in hope as the aura faded. When the aura had gone completely, and the Cura spell was over, they saw that the hand had healed. It was a miracle.
"…Thank you," Zell whispered, grinning in rapture. "Thank you so much, Squall!"
Zell flung his arms around Squall's neck, placing his cheek on Squall's chest. They embraced. Squall knew that there wasn't anything romantic about the hug. It was a friendly hug. One of friendship and relief. Zell was just thanking Squall for healing him.
"You're gonna' be okay," Squall whispered, hugging Zell back. "It's gonna' be all right."
A few moments later, Zell took a step back, grinning at Squall. Flashing those adorable canines, Zell tilted his head up at the brunette swordsman, placing his right hand back in its powerful glove.
"I'll be more careful from now on," Zell revealed, his grin faltering into a joyous smile. "Thanks again."
"It was no big deal, really. I'm just glad you're okay," Squall said.
Zell just smiled, nodding. "Well, I guess I'm gonna' go…You said Rinoa was looking for me, so I don't wanna' get her all worked up or anything."
"Yeah…And it's about time I go lookin' for Seifer. I don't want him to get in trouble or anything," Squall said, wondering where his boyfriend could be.
"Good look on finding Seifer," Zell replied, his blue eyes filled with happiness again. "And thanks again!"
Squall nodded politely as he watched Zell leave the Training Center in his customary run, with the speed and endurance of a cheetah.
Zell ran down the halls of Garden with the happiness of a schoolboy. He didn't care if he looked childish or not. Squall had healed him, and he couldn't be happier.
"Now I just hafta' find Rinoa…" Zell said to himself. "And ask her why she was actin' so strange around me last night…"
TO BE CONTINUED/PLZ R&R