Now, let us take a step away from the ordinary, and visit the inter workings of Esthar society. Otherwise known as: The Flower Faeries.
Disclaimer: Square owns all. Watch them petition for the copyright to 'whatever'.
Rating: R for uh…I have no clue.
Pairing: KxL (main in this piece anyway)
Notes: Set before Zell gets his powers. This is a little insight piece to what's been happening in Esthar. I don't like how this came out, but oh well.
"Do you really enjoy humiliating me like this?" The tall black man asked, carrying a small basket only half-filled with flowers. His hair, down from its usual triple braids, was falling about his shoulders.
"Where's your sense of fun Kiros? This is great!" The other man said, happily traversing through the field of flowers the pair was in.
"Just smell the air! It's a beautiful morning! The flowers are in bloom, the air is clean and fresh, and I'm alone with my 'boyfriend'." He said the last word in an almost whisper, looking mischievously at the taller man, who blushed.
"Laguna…" A gentle reprimand.
"Oh, please, Kiros! No one's going to hear, we're in the middle of a field!" And at that he let himself fall backwards into the flowers, spread eagled.
He turned his head and smiled at the other man, "gonna join me?"
A little smile played across Kiros's lips, "are you sure you didn't have ulterior motives for this morning's escapade?"
The raven haired man laughed, "you know me too well!" Smiling, he turned onto his side and propped his head up on his wrist, looking to his lover, long ponytail swaying slightly.
"Actually, I did have some things to discuss with you. And where is anywhere more private than out in the open?" He smiled at his own little saying, "but seriously, I want to know how our plans are going?"
"You mean plan T.S.P?"
"Oh, You're no fun! Shortening it up like that," he pouted. "Its plan 'Get rid of bossy Sorceress bee-yatch,'" said with an overdramatic flourish and hand gesture.
The taller man rolled his eyes and sighed at Laguna's antics. "You know we cannot go around saying that."
"Phhht. Says you."
"You still act like a teenager; you know that, don't you. And you're how old?"
A pink tongue was stuck out in retort. "I can be serious when I want. At least I don't act like an angsty old geezer like some people half my age."
"And I assume by 'some people' you mean your son?"
"Yeah – he's so serious! But hopefully this plan will help change all that. He really should learn to lighten up. And Rinoa hasn't really helped all that much. Well, at all."
"Well, we won't have to worry about her repercussions after all this. He'll be free to do what he wants."
Laguna laughed, "He should be much happier after all this! With no more 'incessant nagging' as he so eloquently put it. She won't be able to 'accidentally' do any harm either. Selphie's still a bit traumatized after her little encounter."
Kiros raised an eyebrow, "you talk to her?"
"Oh yeah! She calls me every week with the 'Garden Update'! Even though she still calls me Sir Laguna which I think is a bit weird but hey, at least I'm kept up-to-date. Because, you know, Squall calls me like, never. And he's always so busy, or at least says he is. I think he's trying to ignore people when he does that. Don't know why he'd want to ignore his own father though. Uh. Oh well."
The dark skinned man was smiling to himself, amused by his lovers little rant.
"What does TSP stand for anyway?" The dark ponytail swished as he tilted his head quizzically.
"Transfer of Sorceress Powers." Kiros responded in his normal authoritative tone of voice.
The raven haired man scoffed, "mine's more fun."
"Anyway," the word was annunciated, "Odine's pretty sure the spell will work, with Edea's help of course. She should be arriving this afternoon to help with the final touches, by the way."
"Excellent! This is all working out so well. Hopefully the Sorceress opposition groups will calm down when they know the sorceress…oops…er," he giggled quietly, "is on Esthar soil."
"Yes, they have been becoming quite vocal recently. Which doesn't bode well for us at all." Kiros said a bit worriedly.
Laguna sighed, "I know. I don't know why they're doing this! Edea is very peaceful, she wouldn't hurt a fly! For goodness sakes, she runs an orphanage. But Rinoa…eh, I don't know about her enough. Squall says she's manipulative. And bossy. Jealous too." He shrugged.
"Hopefully we won't have any problems with the new one. From what I've seen and heard he has a bit of a temper, and acts instinctly on emotions."
"Yeah, he does. But he has a good heart and follows orders. And Squall trusts him. Which is about all the assurance I need. Plus I like the whole passionate thing! At least you know what's going on in his head. I think." He reached over to his basket and took out a few flowers, twisting them together into a long rope while he talked.
"You would."
"Hopefully Fujin and Raijin are right about Seifer. And Zell doesn't kill him before they can both get here. I don't know how much they like each other. According to Fujin and Raijin Seifer's been in love with Zell for years, but he's too insecure to try anything." The raven haired man was smiling softly to himself.
Kiros had a thoughtful expression on his face, "I worry about the citizens though. Since the trial they seem to have lost their malice, but many still blame him for lives lost. Especially the opposition groups – which we have to address sooner or later."
Laguna looked at him sadly, "I'm sure he blames himself enough, and hides it like Squall does. He just chooses anger instead of ice. I've thought about it too…but it would be safest here. We can protect him. And I'm sure he'll protect the sorcerer. Once I figure out how to get them together…" He laughed suddenly, "maybe I can get one of the mechanics to make the elevator 'malfunction' and get them stuck together. Ugh, but then the elevator would smell and I'd have to get it cleaned…or they'd end up ripping some vital body part off…"
"You'll think of something. It's true though, he would be better off here. Garden is not the best place for him at the moment. He gets treated pretty badly; Fujin says he seems lonely when she's talked to him. And knowing how stubborn he is he won't do anything about it except bitch more."
"Kiros!" He let out a small laugh, then stopped, looking to the sky sadly. "He's an outcast, like Squall used to be," Laguna paused. "But he won't have to be like that with us…he'll have his friends, and hopefully a boyfriend. Plus he can fight all the monsters he wants, go to clubs and be happy…hopefully." He smiled and put a long flower chain around the dark skinned man's neck.
Kiros fingered the flowers and smiled at him, "thank you." Laguna beamed like child getting praised for a drawing. "What about Squall? How's it coming with the 'meeting'?"
"Oh, fantastic! It should be all set by Monday. We just have to be sure it's him and not one of the others. I'll get Squall to keep the others occupied…somehow." Laguna let out a wistful sigh and lay back into the flowers. "Isn't this all just so romantic Kiros?"
The tall man reached out and gingerly touched his lover's elbow, which was folded, cradling his head. He smiled, "You enjoy playing matchmaker, don't you?"
"How'd you guess?"
"You hooked up Ward, didn't you? And your secretary with one of the guards. I could go on you know."
"Everyone deserves to be happy! Some just need a little…push. And in Seifer's case, a big kick in the rear." Kiros laughed, the flower lei moving as his hand came up to cover his mouth.
"I'll agree with you on that one."
Gege-kat – Why thank you! I've always thought Zell would be the type to do that.
Lonewolfsblossom – Thanks!
Aloria-Catalonia – well, here's another chapter, sorry there no SxZ action yet.
Dark Angel – Your wish is my command. Actually you picked one of three forks in the road this story could have taken, and the one I most likely would have chosen.
Ravekizu – sorry I'm sooo late. –gets pelted by mangos-
Nathan – Thank You!
Silje – Yes, SeiferxZell kicks SeiferxSquall out of the stratosphere. Actually I only read SxZ because I'm demented and believe that fictional characters should have magnanimous relationships.
The next chapter will be longer. Praise will get you everywhere, and faster. Heck, even flames will.