Disclaimer: They're still not mine! I promise. SquareSoft can't do crap! :P
.Engagement.
Quiet laughter twinkled around the large ballroom as the party's guests chattered about different things. Many couples danced to the beautiful songs being played by the orchestra while others floated from table to table.
Zell sighed boredly at his table and looked around at the groups of people. His love was missing, and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out where he could've run off to. Surely he wouldn't just leave him there to suffer alone…
"Hey, Babe," came the smooth voice of the missing love.
Zell turned a hurt expression to Seifer. "Where'd you go?"
"I'm here now, and that's all that matters." Seifer kissed Zell's nose and sat in the chair beside him. "What are you doing just sitting here? Shouldn't you be out dancing or something?"
The martial artist glared. "I would be dancing if my dance partner would have gotten here earlier. But now, I'm afraid he doesn't want to dance with me."
"Aww." Seifer stuck out his bottom lip. "Can Zelly-Welly pwease forgive me?"
Zelly-Welly tried to resist a smile, but seeing Seifer try to be cute and innocent was something even Squall would laugh at. "I was worried about ya."
"I'm sorry." He lightly kissed Zell's lips before looking around the ballroom. "Ya wanna get out of here?" he whispered, just in case Selphie had set up tape recorders at the tables. Knowing Selphie, he wouldn't be surprised.
Zell's azure eyes brightened with the question. "Can we?"
Seifer nodded. "Uh-huh. Ya wanna?"
The shorter of the two nodded enthusiastically. "I wanna!"
His love laughed. "Let's go then."
"We'll look suspicious, won't we?" Zell asked, standing.
Seifer waved his hand dismissively, as if it didn't matter. "Selphie will understand."
And so, the lovebirds quietly left the ballroom, getting a knowing glance from Quistis and a smirk from Irvine.
"You want to go down to the beach?" Seifer asked, wrapping a loving arm around Zell's waist.
Zell snuggled against Seifer, reveling in the warmth the larger blonde offered. "Sure."
They left the bright lights of Balamb Garden behind and leisurely walked down to the shore.
A full moon and millions of silver specks shone faithfully in the velvet sky. Seifer breathed in the sweet aroma of the fresh air. He was going to ask Zell. As soon as the moment was right…
"Hey, Seif, it's kinda chilly, ain't it?" Zell said, his pearly white teeth chattering in the stillness of the night. He rubbed his arms, trying to warm himself.
Seifer hugged Zell closer. "Just a little. We won't stay out here too long, okay?"
Zell simply nodded and gazed out towards the ocean. The tide was coming in, and he jumped back just before a glistening ripple could reach his sneakers.
"Hey, Baby?" Seifer held his confident tone, yet he knew he would be crying any minute now.
"Hmmm?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
Zell looked up. "O' course ya can."
This was it. Come on, Almasy, no backing out now. Seifer was ready. All he had to do was take a deep breath. He reached down into the right pocket of his trench coat.
He froze when his fingers brushed nothing but the smooth lining.
Fuck, Seifer, did you forget the ring?!
He casually reached into his other pocket and sighed with relief.
Thank you, Hyne.
"Are ya gonna ask that question now?" Zell asked, grinning his toothy grin.
Yup, the tears were starting to come right now. Why the fuck am I crying? Seifer wondered to himself. He looked at Zell, holding a steady gaze. Looking into those eyes, Seifer suddenly knew. Zell was his everything. Nothing more, nothing less. He was always…always there. He listened. He talked. He was Zell.
"Any minute now, Sweet," Zell joked, standing on tip toe to kiss Seifer's cheek.
A soft smile crossed Seifer's stern features. "I, uh, want to ask you something."
"Uh-huh. We've already figured that out." Zell peered at Seifer closely. "Are you all right, Seif?"
Seifer nodded. Here goes nothing…
He got down on bended knee, in the sand, and took Zell's hand, which was bare on the account of Quistis ever so discretely asking that he remove them just for tonight.
Zell's eyes widened as he looked down at Seifer.
"I can never thank you enough for all the things you've done for me, all the joy you've brought to my life, and all the love you've given me. I thank Hyne each and every day for you, Zell. You mean everything to me. I would lay my life on the line for you. And I want you to know how much I love you." Seifer took a deep breath and retrieved the ring from his pocket. "I also want the whole world to know. So, will you do me the great honor and say you'll marry me?" He looked up at Zell hopefully, emerald eyes sparkling faintly under the bright light.
Zell sniffed. Hyne, now he was crying, too! Not being able to form any words, Zell could only nod.
A broad smile claimed Seifer's lips, and he slipped the ring onto Zell's ring finger. He kissed Zell's knuckle before standing to give the same gift to Zell's mouth.