Chapter 9 – Hopping the fence

AN: This is one of my favorite chapters. It was actually one of the first scenes I wrote. I hope you enjoy it. In regards to the request for more Seifer and Squall, all I can say is that he's not gone from the story. He'll be making a return in later chapters. Once again thanks to reviewers! huggles Okay, now on to the fic.

When Squall and Zell arrived on Centra, they quickly checked out the outside of the base. It was actually an abandoned fall out shelter. As kids they were told exactly where it was incase another Sorceress attacked. Biggs and Wedge brought them to the back entrance and then high tailed it out of there. Squall and Zell became Shane and Derek once more and knocked on the door.

A burly man stepped outside and eyed them up and down before speaking. "What da ya want kid?"

"Tomato juice and blueberry juice left it to the apple and orange." Zell answered.

"All right come in." He ushered the two inside quickly. "I'm taking you to the captain, he'll decide if you'll be all right for this outfit. He lead them down a long narrow hallway that looked to be the sleeping quarters, then they turned down another hallway and they entered the first door on the left. They were both glad that SeeD training taught them to make a mental map of their surrounding, the place seemed like a maze. The guard opened the door and pushed the two inside. "Hiya Captain, I gots two new recruits for ya." With that said he abruptly left.

Squall and Zell stood at attention and saluted the Captain.

"At ease boys, I'm Captain Flint. You two got names or am I'm going to have to call you A and B?"

Squall and Zell relaxed their stances. Squall was first to speak, "Shane Larsen Sir."

"Derek Kellogg."

Captain flint walked up to the two and looked them in the eyes. "Well Shane and Derek do I have your word that you'll not leak any secrets of this base?"

"Sir, yes Sir!"

"Well, you're in. I looked over the information provided by Biggs and Wedge. You seem all right and I'm willing to give you two ex-soldiers a break, since you lost your family in the last Sorceress war."

"Thank you Sir."

"Call me Cap'n Flint or just Cap'n"

"Yes Captain"

"Good, now follow me to the sleeping quarters. You'll find your uniform as well as a map and schedule on your bed. For now you're simply on guard duty. Eventually you may be promoted to lab duty. That's our highest position as well as the easiest. There's a lot of competition so be prepared."

When they arrived at their quarter they quickly looked around for any spying devices and found non. The quarters were about the size of a dorm room and there were two standard issue army beds with a trunk in the room. There was a bathroom to the left that had another door that lead to the adjuring room. It was like living in a college suite style dorm. The quickly unpacked their things and looked at their new uniform. It was nothing but a blue vest with a white star on the back. They were also given a machine gun and a walky talkie. Squall and Zell felt that these men weren't very professional and wondered if maybe they didn't need the disguises at all.

Two hours later, Squall and Zell went to the mess hall to eat. They expected some old army rations but they were pleasantly surprised to find that the served hot dogs and Dollet fired Chocobo. Zell calmly walked in and got two hot dogs and a side of fries and a drink and sat down at a corner table. Squall got the Chocobo wings and fries with a drink and joined him.

The other men came in and sat at the other tables mingling with one another. They didn't really seem concerned about Squall and Zell, except for one guy who sat down right in front of them. He was fairly tall. He had looked to be roughly the same size as Squall. His eyes were purple and his hair was jet black, it was pulled back in a ponytail. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt with the now familiar blue vest over it. "Hello gents, I'm Remy and what might your names be?"

Zell offered up his name with a wave of his hand. "Derek." Squall stuck his hand out to shake, which Remy took. "I'm Shane." "Well fellas I'm the unofficial welcoming committee here. I'll tell you what you need to know. First and foremost, these guys are your new friends and you don't want to step on any toes. Secondly you move higher up in the ranks by doing more work. So, if you want to do lab duty with whatever they got up there then you'll start working over time. Thirdly don't feel threatened if you're known to hop the fence. We're all pretty comfortable about that stuff, we pride ourselves on being more tolerant than the army."

Squall's eyes widened at the last piece of advice. He knew what Remy was implying but he wasn't so sure if Zell knew.

"So, guys do either of you hop the fence?"

Zell looked at Remy before putting on a confident smirk that would rival's Seifer and answered as if he was asked did he love hotdogs. "Hop the fence? Of course, we hopped the fence. Shane and I have been hopping fences since we were teenagers."

Squall tried to keep his face neutral; it was too late to take back what Zell said so he simply nodded when Remy glanced his way.

"Well I'll be. I think the pull of eligibles just increased, well if you two split, let me know all right Shane?"

Squall felt a light blush spread on his cheeks and nodded once more, not trusting his voice.

Remy stood up and looked at the two one last time before walking away.

Squall turned to Zell and tired to remain calm instead of slightly angry and embarrassed, "Do you have any idea what you just said?"

"Of course, we started hopping fences when we were young…"

"That's not what it means. It's a metaphor." Squall looked to see if the Zell was catching on but he still looked confused. He sighed briefly and lowered his voice, "It means that we're gay or bisexual."

"Huh?"

"Think of sexuality being separated by a fence. Straight on one side and gay on the other. If you hop the fence then you're..." Finally the light bulb above Zell's head lit up. Then he turned to Squall and started laughing.

Squall was surprised to say the least; it took all his will power to stay in character instead of walking away from the table right now. So he laughed with him, as if Zell had told a joke. "What's so funny?"

"Shane, it's funny that Remy tried to pick you up."

"Yeah, well you and I are an 'item' so now we'll have to play along or it'll look suspicious if we don't."

"Dude no offense, I ain't kissing, hugging, sleeping or anything with you. You got Riona back home and I got the my lil' library girl."

"I broke up with her." Squall put his hand to wave off Zell's inquiry, "Anyway, I don't mean that, we just can't deny it now. The way you said it left no room for it to be taken as a joke. Besides, I really don't want to stuck alone with Remy if he thinks we're no longer together."

"Well, I'm sorry, but maybe this will work out to our advantage later on."

"Whatever."

"Shane! That's not something you're supposed to say."

"S'kay"