Disclaimer: Don't own the boys. Own the gang, that's why it's nameless. I do this for feedback, not profit. There.

Warnings: …bleh. Nothing yet, lemme tell ya.

Warnings #2: if you're confused, I tried to sort it out a little more. But if you still don't get it, read the footnotes at the end.

A/N: I've added another two pages to this chapter. :P I'm so proud of myself. The queen of short chapters has kind of longish ones.

Oh, yes. There's yaoi. I love yaoi.


"Seifer…" Zell whispered, catching Seifer's face with his hands, laughing as they rolled down the hill. "Come on, Zell, I've been gone for a day. Can't it wait?" Seifer laughed as Zell planted kisses along his neck, waiting happily as Zell retreated and hugged Seifer tightly.

"I missed you, you asshole." Zell snuggled into the warmth of the taller blonde, sighing as Seifer's hands held his back.

"You too, chickenwuss."

Zell sat up in bed, panting. What kind of dream was that? He remembered it clearly. Oh, fuck; this entire situation was not going his way. First a failed mission for Squall and now a… favor, he guessed, to Seifer. Seifer had saved his life.

Zell ignored the chorus of why that sang out to him in every way.

He looked around the room. It was dark with no windows, a big bed, and a desk or nightstand. He looked at himself only to find himself in better shape, but in the same ruined clothes. Sighing, he sat back in the comfy bed, happy that Seifer hadn't been that much of an ass. In fact, the kiss was pretty decent.

Zell smacked himself in the head. No, he would not think about these things, especially now. For now, he needed to be calm, he needed to think about how to get out of this gang-controlled suburb, not about what Seifer looked like while kissing.

Zell traced his lips, still able to taste Seifer and he spat them out. He tried harder to not think about how good Seifer tasted or why Zell was all flustered now- hell, he'd always been flustered with that bastard. Yet he'd never noticed until last night about… Seifer things, he labeled them.

Stretching, he decided to get out of bed and opened the door. It must have been late in the afternoon, but Seifer was sleeping on the sofa. There was an "aww" moment and then a "bastard" moment and then a "I wonder what he tastes like" moment and then a "His fist tastes funny." Zell shook his head. Seifer didn't love him, Seifer made his life a living hell, the teasing, the punching, the way he could just act so cool even when Zell had him pinned up against the wall. It was hard that no matter how much effort he put into it, he could never really hurt the bully, Seifer was always the one in charge.

Zell wanted to hurt Seifer in this moment of revenge, to take part in everything Seifer had done to him and return it, but he knew Seifer had also just saved his life. He couldn't hurt anyone who'd risked their own life for that. Stupid guilt, Zell thought.

So Zell knelt beside him, watching as his own bully slept on peacefully. He'd have to thank Seifer and then leave quickly before he was found. Seifer mumbled something, and Zell blushed. Seifer wasn't too horrid in this state, and he wasn't too…

Zell shook his head rapidly. He was not attracted to men. Nope. Not at all. He wasn't attracted to Zone or Biggs or Irvine or Squall or…

Then why was his heart beating so fast? Why did he want those lips on his again? Why… Zell shut out his thoughts, and drew his head closer. His eyes slid half-shut as he realized with a sickening feeling exactly what he wanted to do.

Seifer's eyes opened. Zell sprung back, afraid. "Sorry," Zell stated, and Seifer blinked, completely out of it. Oh, he hoped to Hyne Seifer hadn't noticed how close they were. He hoped Seifer couldn't hear how hard his blood was rushing, would think he was red due to the setting sun.

"For what?" Seifer asked, and then as an afterthought added, "Dumbass?"

Zell glared but resolved not to loose his temper here and now. "For waking you up," he responded. "And thanks for rescuing me." He dusted his pants as Seifer sat up, stretching. Zell swallowed.

Seifer grinned evilly, managing to unnerve the smaller blonde. "How do you know I'm not the boss?"

Zell shrugged weakly and then spat, "Cause you were fightin' them an' all." Suddenly he clamped his hands over his mouth and looked down. He didn't want to tell Seifer what had happened, didn't want to tell Seifer he'd been awake. He could have mentioned he'd seen the boss. His mouth wasn't working at all today.

Seifer's eyes narrowed darkly and he took a few steps threateningly. "You were awake?"

"I was stopped," Zell argued back. Then he figured he could lie about the rest, and never speak of it again. "I passed out as I felt your hand on my neck." He placed his own hand on his neck as emphasis, and Seifer seemed to calm down quite a bit. Zell shuffled his feet until another thought occurred. "Can I call Squall or somethin'? Let him know the mission was a failure?" Seifer seemed much more… friendly now. It was creepy.

Seifer motioned for Zell to sit and Zell did while Seifer dug around in a fridge. "What exactly were you doing there? It's not a safe place for little chickens to be."

Zell glowered at the bully but answered his question anyway; Zell was never an expert at silence. "I was trackn' this boss. He's supposed to be baaaddd news." He stretched out his arms with "bad", noticing the way Seifer was watching him and tried not to blush as he wondered just what Seifer might be thinking. "So I managed to get in- but somebody gave me away. Then they all attacked me."

Seifer finished chewing his sandwich before asking his question. "Hadn't you been junctioned?" Seifer asked, raising an eyebrow.

Zell shook his head. "Nobody there uses magic but the higher-ups, and they do all sorts of status checks on you to make sure you aren't, like draw or pain or stuff. If a GF's unjunctioned, you know, they can't take it from you, because it's like it's not really there." Zell swallowed. "They group that…you saved me from didn't let me know that they'd found me out until they'd used silence, so even if I did junction, it'd be pointless."

He took a breath, trying not to remember how the battle had gone. He had downed six guys, to his credit, before they higher-ups had come.

"And they were going to…" Zell fell quiet, suddenly pulling his knees to his chin and not looking out of the cave they created. He hadn't had time to think about what they would do. Hyne, that was one of the reasons he was trying to bring the boss down. The floor was kind of dirty, Zell thought as he fought hard not to picture himself in the situation that he had heard, he had seen. They would have given him to the boss, a pretty new plaything, and the boss would make sure he was punished.

Seifer was there in an instant, close but not touching, handing him a sandwich. "I know what they do, Zell. You don't have to say." His voice was quiet, comforting. He wasn't sure how to tell Zell that he knew how horrible that man was, not only taking prostitutes, but making men his personal sex slaves and basically raping them. He was glad SeeD was involved, but if Zell was their only mole they were going to have serious problems.

Zell sniffled and took the sandwich, trying not to cry but he could never seem to restrain his emotions from Seifer; at least that was the way it had gone. He was so lucky even someone was there to pull him out, luckier still that Seifer would even think of rescuing him.

Seifer sat and watched as Zell cried his eyes out; Zell was wanting someone to hold but knowing no one would come up. Maybe Seifer…Maybe he could…

"I'm sorry," Zell stated again, as Seifer had shifted suddenly. Anything Seifer was going to do fell to the wayside as Zell continued. "I didn't mean to kick you out of your bed, I'll get going." Zell stood, placing the uneaten sandwich down and Seifer stood as well, trying to stop him. He knew exactly what gang was, where they were, who was watching and best yet, how to get out. Zell had no idea he was in the heart of their territory and to go outside was like walking into a hungry lion's den. And besides, Zell may still need rest. The martial artist looked vulnerable, incapable, just like on that SeeD test day when he was trying to show he wasn't wounded, trying to show Seifer he could be somebody.

"Not yet," he stated, and suddenly looked away, unable to meet Zell's sad eyes. "I mean, the gang's still looking for you, you know. Call Squall and then board Garden as soon as possible, but…" He looked to see Zell's eyes drying. "You did your best, chicken. I…" Seifer couldn't speak. Zell's eyes were sucking that power out of him.

Zell watched his bully, hopeful and angry. No shit he'd done his best. He'd always done his best; this mission wasn't anything new. Those pull-ups, at the garage? That was a prime example. He'd wanted someone to notice.

Horror of the realization dawning, he looked into Seifer's eyes as he realized exactly who he'd wanted to notice, if nothing else for a little respect. And maybe a nice cup of-

He hit his head, which caused an odd look from Seifer. "I'm gonna use your phone," Zell explained softly. "And then I'll eat the sandwich, I'll eat the bread if nothing else. Thank you." His tone was quiet. There was no need to be angry now, not when Almasy had fuckin' saved him, not when he was starting to feel some… non-hatred back, not when he knew he could handle the gunblader in any way, not when he was in the gunblader's home.

Seifer nodded, watching as Zell moved to the hall and picked up the phone, listening as Zell explained, listening as Squall told him it would be several days, but good luck. Zell hung up the phone and looked back at him, defeat in those ever-sparkling eyes.

"I guess I'll hang out at the hotel," Zell muttered, walking down the hall.

No. The hotel meant away from him, and Seifer didn't want Zell to go just yet. He looked at Zell and found the words forming before he could think about them. "It's too dangerous, Zell. I don't wanna have to save your ass again."

Zell smiled and looked up, his depression so evident on his face even Seifer couldn't reach him. "You won't have to." Zell headed for the door.

Seifer then bolted after him, afraid of loosing this chance, afraid of loosing Zell. He slammed the door shut as Zell had it opened, pinning Zell effectively beneath it. Zell looked frightened at first, an edible emotion that Seifer had always loved to see.

"They have guys everywhere, Zell. They won't kill you. They'll wrap you up nice and present it to their boss." He watched as the tattooed blonde shivered for a moment before he nodded, taking his hand off the door handle and pointed to his head.

"I'm gonna junction now, Seifer. I'll deal." Zell responded, his heart pounding. Oh, fuck, why did Seifer have to get this close without being an ass? He could feel his face flush, a blush taking over.

"Zell…" Seifer almost whined, but he let up, shaking his head. "Whatever you think you can do, Chickenwuss. I won't save you next time." He turned away coldly, and Zell suddenly wondered if this was the old Seifer or last night's Seifer.

He opened the door before noting that Seifer was right. One of the guys last night was outside, asking an old man before him if he'd seen Zell. Zell shut the door silently and Seifer sighed.

"Chickie…"

"They're lookin' for me, Seifer," Zell whispered. "Right outside." Seifer turned with an expression on his face that Zell couldn't read and held Zell tightly, a calm comforting that Zell needed right at that moment. Seifer smells good, his mind informed him, and he's really close. Can't you feel his warmth? Zell blushed.

Seifer thought a bit before responding. "Under my bed, chicken. There's a small compartment that you can shut, makes it look like nobody's under there." He showed Zell the latch in the air and Zell nodded, letting go much to both Seifer and Zell's disappointment.

Zell ran to the bedroom, looked under the bed and sure enough, there was the compartment. He squeezed through and then shut the door. He couldn't see, and hopefully, no one could see him.

The knock came and Zell held his breath. "Hey, Seif," came the voice, and Zell's heart plunked. Seifer was one of them.

"Hey, Earl. What's up?" Seifer remained calm, or at least his voice did. Zell cursed at himself for being this stupid. Seifer was probably signaling some sign right now. Footsteps into the living room. Zell started trying not to hyperventilate.

"We lost somebody," Earl stated. "Real dangerous kid. We were wondering if you knew where he was. Blonde, with a tattoo. Goes by the name of Biker." Earl's voice grew dark, and Zell swallowed. That was him all right, that was his code name. Zell gave a slight whimper. He was dead. Seifer had only prolonged his problems.

"What a crappy name," Seifer mused. "Sorry, Earl. Haven't seen anybody like that around, but I did get the pie your girlfriend sent."

Pie. Pie was a codeword, Zell told himself. Shit, Shit Shit… he tried to get out, but the compartment couldn't be opened from the inside. He was trapped.

The door shut as Earl said his goodbyes and Zell was shutting his eyes, hoping, praying this was all a misunderstanding. Seifer walked into the room, and Zell knew it was Seifer because those were the same footsteps he'd had since Zell remembered.

"Biker, huh?" The compartment door opened but Zell didn't come out. Instead he curled into a little ball, trying to ignore the man pleading with him to come out. Zell was going to die. Zell wasn't safe. Seifer had lied to him. Seifer sighed and left, trying not to listen to Zell's reasonings.

Zell finally needed to stretch and crawled out, comforted to see Seifer had left the room. He sat on the bed, shivering when Seifer sprang up and held him tightly. Zell struggled, yelling, but Seifer covered his mouth, too, and kicked him hard where it counted and Zell fell down, wanting to hit something.

"Let me explain, before you jump to conclusions like you're fond of doing," Seifer hissed. "They own this place. They are this place. I please them, and I'm not attacked. Understand?" He held up Zell by the back of his hair, hard enough to hurt. Zell already did.

Zell nodded weakly, and Seifer continued. "I have not told them about you, because that's my life that's over if I tell them I'm hiding a hostage. Don't fucking spoil this, Chickie. I'm doing you a favor and I expect to get something out of this- like out of this city."

Zell glared up at the angry green eyes, hoping he looked scary. But Seifer was unamused and kicked Zell again, and left the room. He cradled himself, wishing he could be a woman for a second. They hardly ever had to deal with getting kicked in the balls. Twice. Quickly, Zell cast a curaga (no sense in going light in treating this injury), and sighed as the pain vanished.

Zell coughed a little before he stood up, angry. He stomped his way over to where Seifer was. Seifer backed away a bit, curious as to what Zell would do.

"What the fuck?" Zell demanded, brain not working and he suddenly hoped it would. "You're nice, then mean? You kick me, but before you-" He clamped his mouth shut as Seifer froze, turning angrily at him. He thanked Quez for clamping his mouth down before he said anything to make this worse. Zell took a stance, knowing Seifer couldn't get to him in this pose at this closeness, but he continued. "You rescue me?" he continued, trying his hardest to forget the kiss. It seemed so… unbelievable, especially now.

Seifer's shoulders eased and he offered his explanation. "You're too stupid to realize anything unless it's threatened to you." Zell's stance dropped and he walked over to Seifer, trying to be intimidating and knowing he wasn't at all. Seifer shifted a bit, and Zell tried hard to look into those eyes, to read them, but Seifer turned away suddenly.

"Just… I'm sorry, Seifer," Zell stated, and Seifer looked back to him, their noses almost touching. Zell could feel Seifer's breath and he wanted to take it so badly, and he didn't know why. Seifer kept looking at his lips and Zell kept looking at Seifer's eyes and then suddenly, Seifer leaned down and-

Seifer hit him, across the face, casting a cura afterwards. "Don't touch me," he hissed, and sulked away, leaving a confused and hurt Zell on the floor.


A/N: Still confused? Read this.

Zell was on a mission to stop the boss and gang because the boss and hardcore followers are…evil, basically. Someone ratted Zell out and then members of the gang found him and started to beat him up, and that's where Seifer comes in. Zell was unjunctioned at the time, so that's the status magic that comes to make him stopped. Seifer, thinking Zell was asleep, gets enough courage to tell Zell how he feels.

There's the synapsis for last chapter.