Chapter 2

He flew through the corridors like the wind, his trainers squeaking against the floor. Pushing past a small cadet and jumping over a random potted plant.

Must...get…there…

Skidding into the canteen, Zell jogged up to the counter.

"Doris?" inquired Zell breathlessly, a look of expectant hope on his face.

Doris smiled warmly "Ah Zell," she greeted politely.

Zell grinned, breathing more normally.

"So?"

Doris gave a cursory smile and wandered off to the back of the kitchen.

"Bertha? The hotdogs?"

Zell waited the few agonising seconds.

"No they fell off the truck this morning and were eaten by bite-bugs."

Doris waddled back "I'm sorry dear, we have Caeser salad though?"

Zell whimpered and nodded. Soon a plate of wilted lettuce was plonked in front of him.

He picked it up and dragged his feet over to a table. Sitting down, he held the plastic fork and skewered a piece of lettuce. It hung off the fork limply.

DING

"This is Squall, will Zell Dincht please report to the third floor. Repeat will Zell report to the THIRD floor."

DING

The intercom pinged off. With a sigh of resignation Zell stood up. His stomach grumbled, "Im sorry, old friend. Duty calls." It growled once more then fell silent.

Zell sighed feeling very put-upon.

DING

"Will Doris the lunch lady please report to the third floor with a pot of coffee. Repeat will Doris the lunch lady please report to the third floor with a pot of coffee. URGENT."

DING

Squall's voice blared out once more around garden. Zell looked up wearily; then was almost knocked over by Doris hurrying past with a coffee pot.

DING

"…..and a blueberry muffin…"

"Squall if you don't stop messing with the Intercom, I'll stick that muffin right up your…"

DING

The Intercom pinged off abruptly. Xu's voice had been faint but perfectly discernable.

Doris, looking pretty pissed off, stormed past Zell once more, presumably in search of the elusive blueberry muffin.

Zell shrugged and chuckled.

Shoving hands into his pockets, and whistling a tune, he made his way to the lift.

He walked in and was just about to press the button when Doris stomped in as well.

"Third floor." She snapped.

"Me too." Replied Zell morosely, thinking of hotdogs.

Most of the journey up was spent in silence.

Squall was standing by the elevator looking strained. It was open secret (meaning that everyone knew it but were too kind or too stupid to take advantage of it) that Squall had a coffee addiction.

Doris whirled in looking determined to give Squall a firm piece of her mind about ordering the cafeteria staff around. Cafeteria staff are people too although this new young generations seems to have NO respect for their elders….But after a dangerous look from Squall, some deep instinct left over from the roots of man warned her that maybe that wasn't such a good idea.

Zell had been standing outside the elevator watching events unfold with an innocent 'don't-hurt-me-I'm-just-a-bystander' expression on his face.

Squall, pouring out a large cup of coffee, turned to Zell with a sigh.

Zell held up his hand

"Yo, so…what's up?" he questioned.

Squall grunted and attacked the blueberry muffin.

Zell watched in a sort of horrified fascination. He'd had no idea eating could be frightening (of course, Zell had never had the felicity of seeing himself with hotdogs).

Squall closed his eyes and gave a happy sigh. He turned to Zell looking a bit more human.

"So, Zell." He began gravely.

Zell shook the vaguely scared look off his face. "Is this about the T-board incident? I swear, the granny ran in front of me-"

Squall shook his head and cut Zell off "No, it's a mission."

Zell brightened perceptibly "Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about! Is it Ruby Dragons? Marlboros??" Zell was grinning madly, finally a challenge!

Squall regarded him levelly for a moment, taking sips of coffee. "No."

Zell's smile faded somewhat.

The brunette sighed and picked up a manila folder.

He held it out to Zell "Geezard infestation in Winhill." He said flatly.

"….Oh…"

Zell had always prided himself on being able to take any news like a man. So it was probably better for his self-esteem that he didn't know his bottom lip was sticking out, reflected Squall, taking a deep drink of coffee.

"Ok." Said Zell tonelessly and opened the folder.

There was picture of a geezard and a picture of Winhill and a small scribbled note saying for Nida to come and meet Xu for a good time. Zell flushed and snapped the folder shut.

"Quistis and Seifer will be going with you. I wouldn't usually send you guys on a mission like this but all other SeeDs are busy at the moment" Squall remarked and stared at his coffee with something akin to wonder.

"Go Ragnorak, we're flying, we're flying!" Selphie sang happily as she swerved the Ragnorak past a couple of geese (whose life-spans had probably been irrevocably shortened by the shock).

Seifer was in the corner, some might say trying to sleep, some might say he was scared shitless about Selphie's rather light attitude to flying. He was slouched over a few seats.

Irvine was standing behind petit girl, his hand resting lightly on the back of her seat.

Quistis was frowning and trying- but failing- to block out Selphie's song and read.

Zell was shadow boxing in the corner.

"Stop swatting flies, chicken wuss, its annoying." Seifer said wearily and dropped his head into his hands.

Zell stopped and looked outraged.

"Stop it Seifer, calm down Zell." Said Quistis automatically, not looking up from her book.

Seifer looked up "Stating simple truth, Instructor."

"I'm not an Instructor."

"Whatever."

He got simultaneous looks from all the people in the cabin.

Seifer looked around "It's just a godamn word." He snapped irritably and resolutely closed his eyes again.

Selphie shrugged and concentrated on the clouds once more.

Zell glared at the oblivious Seifer for a moment, then jogged over to Selphie and Irvine.

"So, Selphie…" he began casually.

"No." came the calm reply from the normally hyperactive girl.

Irvine smiled appreciatively and leant back to lean against a railing.

"Please…" pleaded Zell.

Selphie didn't take her eyes of off the sky.

"No." she repeated carefully.

"Can I drive just this once??" Zell cried, frustrated.

"No."

The rest of the people in the cabin settled down for what they knew was going to be a long drive.

It was a beautiful day in Winhill, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, the Geezards were frolicking and Zell was sulking.

Quistis got out her whip in a business-like fashion, Seifer looked on seeming quite intrigued.

"Zell," she sighed "Maybe, she'll let you drive on the way back."

Zell's expression (which looked grumpy), didn't change.

Quistis caught Seifer watching, she blushed "What??" she snapped.

He turned away, looking innocent. "Nothing."

"Anyway," Quistis began, with a glare at Seifer "We'd better start."

Zell was moodily scuffing the ground with his feet. "I wouldn't crash it." He murmured half to himself.

Seifer chuckled "You know why they confiscated your T-board? The number of casualties was reaching double figures."

"Ha ha." Said Zell sarcastically.

Seifer laughed and followed Quistis, who was stalking some unfortunate frolicking Geezards.

Zell sighed and his shoulders slumped. It was as if nobody trusted him to do anything. And it wasn't his fault those people were in the way of his T-board. Anyway they were only minor injuries.

He looked up and saw Seifer and Quistis dealing with the Geezards, who weren't really frolicking anymore. It was mass Geezardcide out there.

Zell shrugged, he might as well go on a small tour of Winhill.

He started out down the dry track road through the rustic style houses. An old woman was whistling and beating a carpet- rather viciously, it may be noted.

Zell moved carefully to the other side of the road and continued on as the houses faded and fields were the boundary.

A warm breeze floated past, bringing with it the scent of a summer day. Zell sighed again and vaulted over the small fence into the field.

He was walking through the long grass when he heard a sudden cracking noise. He paused, his soldier senses on alert.

Peep, craaaack.

He swung round, his fists up and ready. It didn't sound like a monster.

CRACK

There was a relieved sounding 'peep', then silence.

Zell relaxed slightly, and his fists were lowered from defensive posture.

"PEEP!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGGHHHHH!!"

Zell shouted and sprang back, looking around wildly for whatever had just landed –rather heavily- on his foot.

"Peep."

Slowly, his heart thudding, Zell looked down….

….To see a small fluffy bunch of yellow staring back at him through big blue eyes.

"Peep." It repeated insistently and shuffled over to him.

Zell, wide-eyed, stumbled back.

"Um, nice birdy." He spoke haltingly, with a weak smile.

Then he ran.

Quistis sighed and turned away from a dead Geezard, it hadn't been too hard work but there were so many. Apparently, the T-rexaurs weren't the only monsters that had been busy lately.

Seifer was few metres away, hacking away at stubborn Geezard.

Quistis swept a tired hand across her brow, and then her eyes narrowed in confusion as a figure hurtled towards them,

"Seifer!" she called and got into battle position. He ran up and squinted at the figure. "Is that…Chicken wuss?" he asked, puzzled.

Quistis slipped on her glasses and glanced up "Yes but…why is he running so fast?"

Seifer snorted "Probably a vicious caterpillar looked at him." He turned away and shot an approaching Geezard.

Zell, panting reached them and hid behind Quistis. "It's coming!"

Quistis turned around to look at him "What?" she asked, alarmed.

She switched her attention to empty plain in front of them; she looked closely and saw a small bundle running towards them.

"What is it?"

It finally reached them and peeped dolefully.

Quistis looked at it "But it's so cute!" she exclaimed. She knelt down in front of it, inadvertently showing Zell.

The little Chicobo's eyes lit up and it waddled round to the martial artist and peeped lovingly.

Quistis giggled, lifting a hand to her mouth. She stood up.

Seifer laughed "So that was the terrible threat you were running from."

"It won't stop following me." Said Zell plaintively, looking at the Chicobo, defeated.

Quistis was looking reflective "It seems to be relatively young, I'd say only a few hours. We seem to be done here." She looked at Seifer, who nodded, seeming highly amused by all this. "Let's get back to the Ragnorak."

"Peep."

The Chicobo cheeped inquisitively as it sat looking up at the group of faces engaged in looking at it. They were in the cockpit of Ragnorak, with the chicobo on a table. Zell and Seifer were sat down near the table, while the rest of the group stood around it.

"Aw it's so cute!" Selphie clasped her hands and looked in delight "And yellow!"

Irvine chuckled and put an arm around her, she blushed. "I think the little guy belongs to Zell, Sephy." He drawled.

Quistis pushed up her glasses "I think," she began musingly "I heard somewhere that little birds, when they are hatched, they think the first thing they see is their mother and they'll follow their mother wherever."

Zell raised his head from his hands "Is there any way I can get rid of it??" he was seated near them, as the chicobo would just follow him if he walked away.

Quistis sighed "I think it's an orphan." She said quietly. "Chocobos are very devoted mothers and never usually stray far from their unborn chicks unless it is to protect them."

Seifer stood up from where he had been sitting and reached into his coat, he took out a curling yellow feather and tossed it down on the table by the chicobo. "It may have been the Geezards." He said carelessly.

There was a minute of silence.

Selphie shook her head then shrugged off Irvine's arm with a quick apologetic smile and bounced over to Quistis. "So that means that the chicobo must think that…"

"…Zell is its mother." Finished Quistis with a sigh.

"Maybe it's the hair." Whispered Selphie quietly to Quistis. Both the women's eyes were irresistibly drawn to the spiky blond.

Zell stood up swiftly "I can't be a mother to it!!" he shouted angrily. The chicobo stood up too and peeped mournfully.

Selphie went over to him, her eyes bright, she grabbed his arm and guided him over to small bird. "You look into its eyes and tell me that!" she said furiously.

Blue eyes met blue eyes.

The pair of hard blue eyes melted as the pair of large incredibly cute eyes watched them unwaveringly.

Zell sighed and stood back, he held a hand over his eyes. "Ok, I'm a single mother." He stated simply.

Selphie laughed and clapped with delight.

Seifer groaned and got out Hyperion then started wiping it.

"Right, so Zell has accepted his responsibilities, what now?" asked Irvine reasonably, sitting down.

Quistis looked thoughtfully at Zell prodding the small mass of feathers.

"How about a name? You can't just continue called the damn thing 'it'." Spoke up Seifer unexpectedly.

For the second time that day, he got looks.

"What?" he growled, and returned to the masculine task of cleaning Hyperion, rather than looking at a cute fluffy bird.

"What, um, what…" began Selphie haltingly.

"You mean what gender is it?" interrupted Irvine smoothly. Selphie gave him a grateful smile and it was returned tenderly.

Quistis examined it "I think it- she- is a girl." She clarified.

Zell started as the chicobo leapt into his lap and snuggled in, cheeping affectionately.

"What about Hotdog?" asked Zell hopefully, patting the chicobo's head absently. She peeped in an irritated fashion and shuffled away from his hand.

Quistis gave him a level stare. He flushed "Ok, maybe not that."

Selphie bounced up "Fluffy!" she squealed.

Irvine shook his head and chuckled "I don't think she'd appreciate that, Seph."

Selphie sighed but perked up "Choco?"

So…that was the chapter. Hope it was okay, please tell me what you think and review! And maybe suggest a name for chicobo? I don't know what to call her! 'Til next time…

Next Chapter: Zell settles into maternal duties.