Narrative basically focuses (or tries to) on the two blondes of the story. No, Quistis is not one. This is why some things shall be left up to your imagination, such as who summoned SeeD and the coolness of Raijin…
Silly peoples.
Disclaimer: Don't own FF8!
Warnings: One chapter away from yaoi. Yay! Evil men and gropes and a bit of bondage in this chappie. I seem to always put in bondage.
XD
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8.
Zell swallowed, trying to ignore the cuffs that bit into his skin. His feet were allowed to touch the floor as he stood upright, while still chained to the ceiling. He tried to ignore the way the boss pressed against him, trying to seduce Zell. Zell had started to cry as J-ran told him of Seifer's betrayal, but then J-ran had licked away his tears. Now he just stood, listening to empty, meaningless words as his mind scrambled for answers.
Seifer used him. The idea itself stung his soul. Seifer never loved him. Seifer used him.
A sharp slap brought him back into reality. "You are like a doll," J-ran mused. "Beautiful, but with glazed eyes." Zell glared at him, saying nothing.
J-ran chuckled and shook his head. "Well, then, SeeD, I think we should get this party started." He moved to a large desk topped with glasses and brandies and whiskies and other hard liquors that Zell couldn't name. Pouring a drink, he continued. "Tell me about what you know, pretty. I'm interested in what your spying could dig up."
Zell kept his mouth shut. J-ran laughed. "Oh, please. SeeD isn't coming to rescue you- and if they should, they'll find it very hard to attack." J-ran offered a drink, and Zell shook his head. J-ran smiled again and set the glass down, pouring one for himself. "We have her protection."
"Ultimacia is dead," Zell stated quickly. J-ran smiled, almost as if expecting that and took a drink.
"Not quite." He chuckled to himself. "Oh, you were close, little SeeD. Very close to the truth in your mission." He set down the drink and then drug Zell to him. "Almost like now, nothing but a thin layer of protection keeping you away."
If that statement was meant to excite Zell, it backfired. Almost at once he thought of Seifer, and almost at once he felt like crying. J-ran rolled his eyes and walked away. "You are hopeless," he stated.
Zell shrugged, a saddened smile on his face. J-ran took another drink, deciding his course of action. Continue trying to get some fun out of Zell? Try to find out what limited information Zell knew?
There was a knock on the door, and Zell's heart sunk. "Boss, Seifer wants a word with you."
J-ran chuckled, taking the third shot of drink. "Ah, he'll bargain for your freedom, I'll bet. I've never seen such a love-sick puppy in all my years." The boss exited the room and Zell stood, frozen as his ears picked up words his mind wouldn't comprehend. He…He loves me?
The thought rolled itself around in his head, to the point Zell didn't hear the door open. A loud snap brought his eyes to face Seifer's. Zell hung his head, not wanting to look at the taller blonde. Seifer was limping on the foot Fujin hadn't kicked. Blood dripped on the floor, and Zell looked up.
Seifer's face was a complete mess. His eyes were puffed out and starting to turn black, his mouth seemed to have been hit repeatedly, and his chest seemed worse off. Zell couldn't help but feel completely worried about the man before him.
Seifer had him in a hug. It seemed Seifer felt the same way about him, but Zell hadn't been beaten at all. "You're safe," Seifer whispered gratefully, tremors going through him. Zell realized his coat was gone, and nudged Seifer's neck with his head, the only real free part of his body. "Zell… I've made a deal."
Another deal, Zell thought sadly. His heart fell.
Seifer seemed to sense it at once and shook his head. "No, no, no. This one will keep you safe. And I need you to agree." Seifer met Zell's eyes and the cold glittering blue was not helping his hopes.
Zell shook his head. "I've had enough of your deals, Seifer," Zell stated quietly. His heart ached at the sight of Seifer's face. It looked completely shattered, apart from the obvious cuts and bruises. Seifer's eyes were desperate.
"It…It would keep you safe, Zell." Seifer whimpered. "The ritual….you'd be my lovely…" Tears formed, and Seifer tried not to spill them. "No one could touch you after that," he stated, shaking away his tears.
"Seifer…" Zell stated weakly.
Seifer gave a smile. "They won't kill you, Zell. They'll keep you alive for as long as they can." He touched the tattoo gently. "You're so beautiful, Zell."
Zell blushed and tried to ignore the touch. "Why won't they kill me?" he asked.
Seifer smirked, moving his head down. The answer clicked into place right before Seifer kissed him.
Who better to serve Ultimacia in the New Age than her knight? And what would insure his loyalty?
Who he loved hanging over his head.
Their lips parted and Seifer saw that Zell knew. Zell's doubt had suddenly been removed, though his logical side told him not to believe just yet. J-ran entered, not wanting this to be too long. "Well, Seifer, has Zell given his answer?"
Seifer shook his head. "I haven't formally asked."
J-ran grinned. "Well, then, I'll explain to our little friend." He moved Zell so Zell was sitting on the bed, and arms down though still bound. Zell glared at J-ran and J-ran pinched his cheek. "Adorable. Well, little SeeD, it's like marriage. You can never fuck anyone else afterward."
Zell looked up at Seifer. Seifer had his eyes closed. It's true, Zell thought. J-ran continued. "You'll have to be in chains. You'll have to be in pain. If it doesn't work, you'll never look at Seifer the same way again." J-ran watched for a statement. Zell's mouth opened, but J-ran jumped it. "And you'd be the fucked, pretty."
Seifer's eyes opened. J-ran must think Zell would say yes if he was interrupting, but Zell's face was unreadable. Zell didn't know anything about this. He didn't even think he would deserve such a gift from Zell, but it would keep Zell safe.
And once Seifer died, Zell would be free- the Code demanded it. He looked at his beautiful, thinking quietly, knowing there was much more than what facts he had. Zell looked at Seifer, who met his eyes. Please believe me, he tried to show. Please be safe.
Zell gave a small smile. "So it's like a sexual fantasy, then?"
J-ran was fuming, and Seifer gave a grin. "It's a marriage, Zell! You'd never, ever have anyone else!"
Zell's eyes darkened. "I accept his offer, J-ran."
Seifer's heart lifted considerably. After Zell accepted, he would be treated as if the ritual had worked. J-ran couldn't touch him. At least for one night, Zell was safe- and would be moved to Seifer's cell- er, room, he remembered. He had a room now. J-ran glared at him. J-ran angrily called for his underlings, and they escorted Zell away.
"Know this," J-ran fumed. "If it doesn't work, I will be fucking him every night, whether he wants it or not."
Seifer gave a smug grin. "With you? He'd probably be top." He limped out, and J-ran fell back into his chair, sighing. Once again, Her Knight had made the smartest tactical maneuver available. Laughing to himself, he sat up and got another drink. Griever would bless them himself. And once Griever appeared, they could find her.
"The Knight has chosen,"he sang to himself.
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Zell was thrown into the empty room, angrily getting up as the door shut. He wondered where he was, and in SeeD fashioned, looked around and explored as much as he could. In Zell fashion, he tried to clean as much as he could. There were three small rooms, in a room about the size of his SeeD dorm. The main hall had a tiny kitchenette (filled with nothing, Zell noted. No pots or pans or food.) and the kitchenette held a sink, a stove, and an oven. A tiny fridge was on the countertop. The water did work, and Zell used his sock as a rag to dust off the counter.
Then there was a small sofa, and an old TV that resembled Seifer's. Zell quietly touched the surface before bouncing to the next room. The bathroom wasn't that nice, either. There was a cute for laundry and a cute for trash, next to a mirror and a sink. The paint was peeling off in corners and the tiny window (the only one Zell had seen so far) showed that they were in an apartment complex. He'd seen that. This worried him, if the group could control so much they pretty much rivaled SeeD, didn't they? Isn't that why Squall wanted them gone?
There was a shower-and-tub-in-one, and Zell opened a tiny linen closet filled with mothball-smelling towels. There were feminine hygiene products as well, so Zell decided he was either with a woman in the room or this was a simple basic room setup.
Sighing, Zell took his sock and cleaned out the dust of the bathtub. He threw his sock down the laundry cute and took off his other one to continue the cleaning. He finished, and moved to the next room, tripping over his shoes he'd forgotten in the middle of the floor.
The last room had a big, double-bed and a painting of Ultimacia over it. Zell got shivers as he stood in front of it, staring at it. She looked…sad, like she always had. Her eyes shown a radiating weariness and Zell moved to study it further. He expertly tripped over a chair.
"Damnit," he stated, trying to pick it back up. He placed the trench coat over it, growling. Then the red cross decided to meet his eye and he held the coat.
He was with Seifer again. He rocked back and forth happily until the feminine products raced in his mind.
Why the hell would Seifer want those? He thought. They weren't exactly useful, unless Seifer had a cut on his…
Ahem. Zell shook his head, trying not to turn red-faced.
The door opened a little later on, and Zell bounced out of the room to see two minions throwing Seifer into the room. "It's tomorrow," One black-eyed once hissed. Zell was reminded of Fujin and winced in sympathy.
"Don't go wanderin' around," the other stated. "We got orders ta keep ya here."
Seifer chuckled weakly, too wounded to make an effort for a flip off. One casted a curaga and the door slammed shut. Seifer stood, wounds healed. Zell emerged with his coat. "Seifer?" he asked, confused.
"I'm all right, Zell," Seifer stated, moving next to him. "Just tired." He took his coat and moved to the bed, flopping down on it in a way that made Zell chuckle. "Did he hurt you, Zell?" he asked.
"No," Zell stated, watching as Seifer flung the coat over the table. "He tried, but you interrupted."
"Ah, at least that's one good thing, eh?" Seifer looked at Zell. "I'm sorry," he stated, and Zell said nothing, straightening the coat on the chair. Seifer sat up. "I'm sorry for everything, Zell."
Zell nodded, trying to fight the tears. Seifer sighed and held him, pulling him onto the bed. Zell cried freely, never feeling so used and pathetic in his life. "They took Quez," Zell cried. "They took her and she wasn't mine, she was Selphie's, and he tried to touch me and I was afraid…I was afraid…"
"Afraid of what, Zell?" Seifer asked, and Zell turned to him, smiling at his own stupidity.
"Afraid you didn't love me," Zell stated, crying again. This time Seifer had to lay down to fit the blond on his body.
"Oh, Zell," Seifer told him, wrapping his arms around him. "I don't think I'll ever stop."
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(1)I'm trying to actually make space between author's notes and the story. Does anyone else find this new glitch annoying? Now we have to place lines or something when we need a single blank space to continue the story. I think it breaks up the flow.
Anyway….
