Avalon

by Mondkindes

Yaoi/AU ZellXSquall: Squall Leonhart is a player of the illegal virtual reality war game Avalon. He is alone, living for nothing but the game until a young Avalon player named Zell Dincht comes into his life and changes it completely. (Chapters Edited)

4. Chapter II

Chapter II Squall took a drag on his cigarette, pulling his Data-ID Card from a pocket in his shoulder bag and setting it down on the counter which ran from one wall of the lobby to another. The girl behind the counter tapped at the keys of one of several computers before taking the card and inserting it into a slot on the side of the computer tower. The stats of his game printed out across the monitor, she smiled brightly. "Good game Squall." After converting his points into cash she unlocked a drawer under the counter, retrieving a handful of bills, counting the amount in his hand. The corners of his mouth turned up in a grim imitation of a smile. "Thanks Xu." ---------- Zell shifted anxiously from one foot to the other. Entertaining as it was, watching The Squall's game, Zell had been waiting in the terminal's lobby for over an hour and he was itching to play. He pulled his Data-ID Card from his pocket, pushing through the crowd of people toward the counter. The players of the previous game were starting to let out, there would be plenty of suites open. He stopped as he neared the counter, staring wide eyed at the figure standing there. The Squall. He looked considerably less glamorous than his player model, opting for a beat up pair of jeans that were gone in the knees and an overly large sweater rather than the leather pants and jacket he wore in game. Nonetheless he was an amazing site. Identical to his player model in every way. Moving with the same fluid motion, grey eyes boasting the same storm of emotion, his skin flawless except for the scar between his eyebrows. Zell could hardly believe his eyes. Although the player models in Avalon were always based after their gamers, people would often change certain aspects to make the model more attractive, adding height, or subtracting weight, things like that. It amazed Zell that a player model as beautiful as The Squall's could be so identical to its gamer. The Squall said something quietly to the pretty young girl at the counter, she laughed a little, and slapped him gently on the shoulder. He shoved a handful of cash into his shoulder bag, waved unenthusiastically, and turned to leave. As he did so Zell caught site of the one difference between The Squall and his player model he hadn't the lock of grey hair which had become a trademark of his player model. Often players would add a streak of grey to their player models, claiming it endowed them with 'The luck of The Squall' but The Squall's hair out of game was only a dull brown. Zell started at a sudden deep voice from behind him, "It was a joke." He wheeled around, his mouth falling open in awe at the man who had spoken. He was tall, about six feet, with short blonde hair, and a scar between his eyes that mirrored The Squall's. Hyperion. Another famous player of Avalon, he and The Squall had played together in the the player party SeeD before its disbansion. "Huh?" "The grey streak. You seemed surprised when you saw he didn't have it." "..a joke?" "Yeah..shortly after we first started SeeD, Sundance, our Sniper, hacked into the mainframe of our home terminal and changed The Squall's player model to an old man." Hyperion knodded to The Squall who had been surrounded by a group of giggling young girls. "He hacked in himself and changed it back before the match, but kept a streak of grey as an inside joke. I'm surprised he still has it." Zell stared at the taller blonde man, dumbfounded. First The Squall, and now Hyperion, two of the most famous Avalon players in the same room at once, and Hyperion was actually talking to him! He went to say something, but Hyperion had pushed through the crowd, and was heading toward The Squall. "Yo, Leonhart!" The Squall turned, relief washing over his face for a brief moment before it returned to its previous blank expression. He pushed through the crowd of girls, embracing Hyperion somewhat awkwardly before leaving the terminal with the man. Zell could only stand there, gaping.