Chapter IV: Revelatory

"Zell!" Seifer cradled the battered man's head in his arms. "Don't worry, they won't hurt you anymore..."

"You ... you came back..."

"Of course I came back," Seifer said, "I couldn't ... Well, I wondered if you had a place to sleep for the night."

"Yeah, sorta." Zell told him, sitting up. "Although I'm not so sure it's safe to go there now. Irvine's gang might be waiting for me."

"I never would have imagined that Irvine would become so heartless." Seifer shook his head.

"I think his heart went along with Selphie when she chose to live with Shumi rather than marry him. He was devastated."

Seifer stood, pulling Zell up with him. "Anyway, how about you come and spend the night at my place? There's an extra bedroom, and a shower you can use."

"Really?" Zell smiled halfheartedly. "Thanks, I really appreciate it."

"Anything for a friend." Seifer grinned back at him. "Now come on, let's get out of this place."

Zell stepped out of the shower, feeling cleaner than he had in weeks. In the tub, all the residue of make up and filth flowed down the drain, taking the misery that had poisoned him for so long with it. He wiped the mirror clean, and with surprise, found himself staring at the man he used to be, before he sold his soul. No make up, no cheap wigs, no embarrassing corsets... Just Zell.

The young man ventured out into the adjacent bedroom and found the dresser. Seifer had said that Zell was allowed to borrow some of his clothing for the evening. Seifer was providing him with everything; food, clothing, a place to sleep... The only thing that displeased Zell about that situation was that he kind of wished Seifer would share the bed.

Zell blushed at the thought, then opened the top drawer, and his jaw dropped.

It seemed that Seifer had a liking for women's underwear. There was a considerably sized assortment of styles and colors, everything from red lace thongs to purple polka-dotted bikini cuts. Zell slammed the drawer shut, and looked up to make sure that Seifer hadn't seen Zell's discovery. He drew in a sigh of relief, and was about to move on to a hopefully safer drawer, but suddenly had an idea.

He opened the top drawer once more and looked at its contents. Perhaps Seifer would enjoy a naughty surprise. The kiss exchanged between them earlier was fairly intense, and it left Zell wanting more. Seifer had to have felt the same way ... right?

After careful consideration, Zell selected the red thong and, giggling like a school girl, slipped it on. He adjusted himself so that the thong would not give him any discomfort, and then went through the rest of the drawers, eventually picking out a white wife-beater and grey sweatpants to wear. Once fully dressed, he casually walked out into the den, where Seifer was watching television in a bored trance, swirling a glass of vodka in his left hand. He strode over to the seated man, who had taken off the trenchcoat and revealed his rippling biceps with a black sleeveless V-neck shirt, and plopped next to him on the powder blue couch.

"Hey there," Zell greeted, trying to keep his giggles under control.

"Hi." Seifer's trance was broken and he looked over at the shorter man to his right. "What's so funny?"

Zell flashed a huge smile. "Guess what I'm—"

The sound of the door opening interrupted him. Seifer jumped up and bounded to the door, helping the person entering the apartment. Zell's jaw dropped at the sight of the pretty raven-haired woman dropping her keys and purse onto the counter and handing her coat over to Seifer.

"Hi, Rinoa." Seifer kissed her. Zell just gaped in confusion.

"Hi, sweetie." The woman smiled. "How was your—What the hell is he doing here?"

Rinoa had just caught sight of Zell seated on the couch. Zell froze with panic. Rinoa had hated Zell with a passion ever since Squall walked out on her to be with the little blond man, and seeing her reaction, she was none too pleased to see him sitting in Seifer's living room... Why was she in Seifer's living room anyway?

"Relax, Rinny," Seifer tried to calm her. "Zell's having ... some ... habitational problems at the moment, and he needed a place to stay for the night, so ... I offered him our extra bedroom."

'Our extra bedroom?' Zell repeated to himself.

Rinoa paused, rubbing her temples. Seifer went to put his arm around her, but she pulled away.

"Couldn't he stay in a hotel?" she asked, the pressure of trying not to yell evident in her voice.

"He can't afford it."

"Am I supposed to care?"

"Rinoa—"

"Seifer!" Rinoa's voice raised sharply. "I don't want that ... that fag in our home!"

Zell looked away, hurt by the comment.

"But Rin, he has nowhere to go!" Seifer cried.

Rinoa glared at Seifer for a moment, her nostrils flaring at she heavily breathed in and out. Seifer stepped back, ready to put up arms if she decided to kill him on the spot.

"You know what?" Rinoa spoke through clenched teeth. "Fine, Seifer. He can stay. But if he's still here in the morning, I'm gone. Got it?"

Seifer nodded, his eyes wide, not wanting to dare piss her off even further.

"Good." She walked past him to the bedroom door. "I'm going to bed."

She slammed the door shut with a loud bang. Two seconds later, the door reopened, and she dropped a pillow on the floor.

"You're sleeping on the couch tonight," she said to Seifer abruptly.

"But—"

"Don't speak," she ordered. "I know just what you're saying, so please stop explaining. I'm very angry with you right now, and I don't want to hear anymore of it." She slammed the door closed once more.

Without saying anything, Seifer walked over and picked up the pillow. He returned to the couch and sat down. He held the pillow tightly against his chest, and stared blankly at the television screen in front of him. Zell suddenly felt terrible.

"So, um," Zell tried to break the silence. "What's with you and Rinoa?"

Seifer turned to look at the shorter man, sadness in his eyes.

"Rinoa's my fiancée..."