Chapter V: Male Bonding
"Rinoa's my fiancée..."
Zell went numb as Seifer uttered those damning words. So Seifer didn't have any interest in him at all. He was just trying to help a battered and bruised streetwalker, nothing more.
Disappointment and desperation flooded Zell, sending jolts of disappointment through his body. The pain went from his mind downwards, past his shirt, and into his groin, upon which he realized he was actually wearing Rinoa's lingerie. In the back of his mind, Zell thanked God that Rinoa saved him embarrassment by bursting through the door before he was able to tell Seifer what he was wearing.
Lost in himself, Zell finally came to, and responded to Seifer.
"Oh...that's wonderful. I'm so happy for you two." He choked out.
"Hey, it's okay...you don't have to lie." Seifer said dismissingly, looking away.
Zell's heart leapt into his throat. Did Seifer have a hunch that Zell was so attracted to him? The pangs of disappointment were replaced by a creeping nervousness.
"I mean, I know a lot of people don't like Rinoa. She's definitely a bit rash, but...well, she put out on our first date, you see. And she's game for stuff most women would puke simply at the thought of." Seifer said solemnly.
Zell felt bittersweet relief, but he said nothing. Instead he chose to stare ahead at the wall, doing everything in his power to resist tears of shame and desperation. Seifer had come into his life at this point as a beacon of light, one he wanted to grab onto and embrace and hold forever, but it was all a fluke.
Seifer was also silent, and before either of them could even attempt to make small talk, the bedroom door opened and out walked Rinoa. She didn't so much walk as she did float as if made from a pure cloud of bitchiness and evil. She went into the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and silently floated back to her room on her cloud of bitchiness and fury.
When she closed the door behind her, Zell let out a slight sigh of relief. They sat in silence again for a moment, until Seifer turned and faced Zell.
"Zell...tell me...how did you fall so low? You deserve better than this." He said sincerely.
Zell reluctantly looked into Seifer's piercing eyes and tried to find his voice.
"Well...it's really just a tale as old as time, a tune as old as song, you know? Boy meets boy. Boy falls in love with boy. Boy dies. Boy is left to fend for himself. Boy slips into prostitution and strip dancing. Boy...prays for death." Zell finished the last line near silently, looking down at his hands.
"Zell, please don't say that." Seifer said warmly, and reached over to take Zell's hand. "Just because things are rough, doesn't mean your life is over. Maybe I can help you get back on your feet."
Zell scoffed. "Well, you've seen what your future wife thinks of me..." He spat, his voice breaking.
Seifer paused a moment. Unsure of what to say, he reached for the first thought. "I never took you for a fag though." He said, and immediately wanted to beat himself with a baseball bat.
Zell looked at Seifer with tears in his eyes. "Gee, thanks so much," He said through tears. He stood up from the couch and started down the hall.
"I'll leave in the morning before you wake up. Remind Rinoa to wash the sheets though, I'm sure you wouldn't want that street smell to linger!" He called back, audibly sobbing.
Seifer moved to get off the couch and comfort and apologize to Zell, but something caught his eye.
"Hey Zell, what's that red thing sticking out from behind your pants?"