Chapter II: Private Dancer

Seifer opened the door marked EMERGENCY EXIT, and stepped out into the back alley. Despite the darkness, he could make out the graffiti spray painted all over the plaster wall of the crack house that stood opposite of the tittie bar. The alley smelled strongly of booze and urine. Lying next to the door he had just come through was one of many contributors to the smell, a drunken fool who had come to the bar for both cheap thrills and cheap beer. Seifer sighed in disgust.

He couldn't believe that Raijin had talked him into coming to such a trashy place. He supposed that it was a good thing that Zell decided to attempt the lap dance while Raijin was indisposed in the presumably filthy bathroom after deciding that the bar's bean dip was worth trying. Seifer was pretty sure that the big lug's bawdy "Bwahahahaha" would have been reason enough to cause some serious injury.

He heard a noise coming from behind some trash cans overflowing with empty beer bottles and moldy bean dip. Trying to keep himself from gagging on the stench, he strolled over and peered behind the dented aluminum cans.

"Chicken-wuss?"

Zell was sitting on the cracked pavement, his legs pulled to his chest, his chin resting on his bruised knees. The blonde wig he had been wearing lay in a disheveled mess at his feet, blistered by tightly bound six inch red stiletto heels.

"Go away," Zell said, trying to hide his tears.

"Now, Chicken-wuss, is that any way to greet an old friend?" Seifer smirked.

"Friend?" Zell repeated acidly. "You've never been anything but a dick to me. Now leave me alone."

Seifer looked long and hard at the sniveling young man. What had happened to make his former classmate at Balamb Garden reduce himself to selling his body like meat in a butcher's window? Seifer dug into his pocket and pulled out some tissues. He then crouched down to Zell's level, and gently lifted the crying man's chin.

"Lift up your head," Seifer said compassionately. "Wash off your mascara. Here, take my Kleenex, wipe that lipstick away."

"Seifer?"

"Zell, this place isn't you," he said. "Why are you here?"

"...I needed money," Zell admitted, lowering his eyes to the pavement. "This was the only place that would hire me."

"What happened to your distinguished Garden career?"

"Squall and I were asked to leave when we took our relationship public," Zell replied quietly. "We didn't mind too much. Squall found work, and he supported me... But then ... he..." Zell burst into tears once more.

Seifer took pity upon the poor man, and immediately pulled him into an embrace. Zell welcomed this sympathy gratefully, and buried his face into the grey trenchcoat that Seifer wore, sobbing uncontrollably. Seifer couldn't help it, Zell's situation pulled at his heartstrings. It wasn't too long ago that he himself was stuck in a position where his only opportunities were found in the gutter. Gently, he caressed Zell's hair, mangled from being covered by his wig.

"Seifer," Zell said, "I'm all alone. Nobody cares about me anymore. I have no one to turn to."

"No, Zell." Seifer's eyes met Zell's. "You're not alone... I care."

Overcome with emotion, Zell leaned forward and pressed his lips against Seifer's. The taller man was at first startled, but in a moment's passing welcomed the kiss. Pleased by the return of affection, Zell wrapped his arms around Seifer's neck, and deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into Seifer's mouth. A soft moan escaped from Seifer's lips, and he swore that the temperature was beginning to rise. He began to carefully unclasp Zell's leather bustier...

"Yo, Seifer, where are ya!"

The sound of Raijin's voice caused the man in the grey trenchcoat to suddenly pull away. He stood up quickly and brushed himself off. He couldn't let Raijin see him making out with Zell. He wasn't sure Raijin would quite understand just what was going on.

"Seifer," Zell pleaded.

"Sorry, I have to go." Seifer turned to face him once more. "Zell, just remember, you shouldn't betray yourself for anyone."

"Seifer, where the hell are ya, ya know!"

Seifer ran out of the alley, leaving Zell to wonder as to what had just transpired between the two...