Maybe I should name these chapters, but I can't think of names. In fact, maybe this fic should be more Adel-Zell than Seifer-Zell. Oh, well.
Disclaimer: Don't own them and don't own them and don't own them.
Warnings: Shonnen-ai, because I love it. Angst, because I love it. Food, because I love that, too, and I love it when my – I mean, Square's characters wake up disoriented and completely confused, lost, and hopeless. I think that's a normal morning for Zell when Seifer's not in bed with him…
…
…
…
Chapter eight.
There was something cold on his forehead. Zell's eyes fluttered open as he heard a sharp intake of breath. A servant was above him, wiping down his head.
Zell felt horrible. His eyelids felt like they were on fire, his head ached only slightly more than the rest of his body, it hurt to breathe, and his hair was in his face. Zell didn't have the strength to blow it away or move his arms. In fact, sleep seemed good right now.
Adel had beaten him, he remembered, though it wasn't a very good beating. Adel managed to bleed more than he had, a no-no whenever beatings were taking place. Adel had then realized Zell wasn't fighting back and let Zell go; someone who was unwilling to learn a lesson was not going to learn it.
"Where am I?" Zell asked. He tried to summon up a cure, but his power simply sputtered like a frozen car. (1) As his eyes looked around, Zell realized he didn't even have bangles on.
"Your chambers, milady." The servant gave a boy and continued soaking Zell's face with the cloth. Zell looked up, trying to see a face but the hood covered it far too well. The servant kept talking so Zell wouldn't have to try to. "You've been ill for several days. Nine exactly."
Zell nodded weakly, taking in the information. "What's happened?" he asked, coughing. The servant instantly held him for support until he stopped.
"I arrived only five days ago, milady, and I have been instructed not to leave your chambers until you are well. SeeD has relentlessly been fighting until four days ago; many suspect they are switching the junior classmen with fully ranked SeeDs from all three Gardens." The servant dipped the cloth in water and placed it on Zell's neck this time. "Adel was weak and took three days to heal completely. He is impatient with both the new SeeD attack and your health."
Zell gave a sad smile. "Ah." He tried to sit up, but fell back down. He wasn't as fit as he thought.
"Stay still, milady. The fever hasn't left." The voice took a worried tone. "Adel will only see you when you are well." Zell nodded onto a pillow, sleep dancing around the edges of his mind.
"'m thirsty."
The servant chuckled and pressed a nearby glass of water against Zell's lips. "Drink." Zell sipped as much as he could, some water falling onto the pillow. It was cold and refreshing, just like the fact Zell wouldn't see Adel for a while.
"Thanks," Zell mumbled, eyes closing.
The servant nodded, stroking his tattoo in awe. "I am here to serve, milady."
Zell murmured a response. "'m not a lady."
There was more chuckling. "I know," the man stated softly. "Sleep now, milady, many are pleased you are well."
Seifer's not, Zell thought as tears carried him to sleep.
… / … / … /
… / … / … /
…
…
Zell awoke again, aware of being warm but not from fever. In fact, he was warm all over, as if he was…wet. "A bath?" Zell asked before his eyes opened. The same servant chuckled.
"Yes, milady. This is the first one you've been awake for." The servant then began washing Zell with a washcloth, not the perverted way Adel would wash, more like the way Seifer would wash him. Zell shook his head slightly. Seifer wasn't here, he told himself. He sighed softly and the servant commented. "Do you feel better?"
Zell smiled. "Who are you?" He asked, looking up.
"I'm your personal servant, milady. I will never leave your side." The words suddenly sparked emotions that were being held at bay. Tears flowed and the servant apologized several times, pulling a wet Zell into his cloak and shushing him like his Ma used to do.
Like Seifer did. Zell clung to the cloak for a bit before there was a knock on the door. The servant guided Zell away, getting up to answer it. Zell flicked water into his face; he didn't want Adel to see him crying.
"Yes?" the door creaked open. "He is awake, my sorceress, but very weak. He is in bath."
"We will speak," Adel's voice stated with no room for argument. "Wait here." Zell closed his eyes as he listened to Adel's footsteps. Delicate shoes clicked on the tiled floor. "You feel weak, yes?" Adel asked, not showing much concern. He didn't have to."
Zell nodded, trying to ignore the fear he felt. Adel continued speaking. "You will be accompanied by your servant at all times. Your servant will provide you with training and study."
Zell's eyes opened, sadness radiating from them. Adel paused before speaking, a slight confusion drifting over his words. "You stopped fighting." Zell offered no explanation and Adel knew it. "Your knight is dead, Zell. Move on. I did."
"There's a difference between murder and suicide," Zell hissed, and Adel swept down to his level, an amused glint in his eye. His beautiful wasn't completely dead emotionally.
Swallowing, Zell watched as Adel's hand caressed his face gently. "You're still sick." Adel kissed him gently. "We've had to entrap your power, but I've let it go for this. No sorceress has ever gotten this weak before. I can only pray that your power returns to make you better."
Zell said nothing. He couldn't. Adel sighed. "I must be gone for several days. Your servant shall be your only company. You will continue your studies." Adel forced Zell to meet his eyes. "I have a link with you, boy. I know if you've been talking to other sorceresses."
"I don't feel up to it," Zell stated dimly. "But if I did, I'd rather work out instead."
"It shall be provided," Adel told him, kissing him quickly with a smile. Zell shut his eyes until he heard the door open and close.
Adel looked up at the ceiling. His boy was so weak, and so emotionally dead. Adel growled. Just like his knight had been, just like his weakling knight had been. But for the boy, it hurt to watch as Zell's face was empty, looking more like the commander of SeeD than his self. Adel's fist clenched. He would bring back that emotionally ruled Zell, after he crushed SeeD.
The servant bowed, keeping his hood on and went back inside.
Zell relaxed in the water, afraid to open his eyes. Stay calm, Zell, the water told him. Everything is all right. Zell smiled softly and sighed peacefully, unaware of jade eyes watching him.
So beautiful, milady, the servant thought, daring not to touch. Adel would have his head and he was lucky enough to be here, with his lady. With a face as ugly as his…
Strong arms lifted a whining Zell out of the water and picked him up. Zell made a small noise and opened his eyes.
"Come now, milady. You must be hungry." Zell nodded as the servant placed him down and into a simple bathrobe- no need to get a dress dirty when Zell was sick- and Zell allowed himself to be carried to a chair.
The servant let go of the blonde and Zell caught a flash of green eyes. He gasped, staring, frozen as he willed down his hope. Seifer's heart was crushed. Crushed heart-goo doesn't come back to life. "Who are you?" Zell asked, and the servant looked away. Zell looked at him, trying to see the man's face.
"Milady…" The servant turned back. "I have no memory of anything other than serving you."
Zell slouched back down. Seifer was dead, he repeated. "Sorry," he stated.
"I…" the servant trailed off. "Don't be, milady, I…" he shook his head, taking an apple and slicing it, cutting almost into his hand.
"You what?" Zell asked, interested. "Please, I want to know."
The servant shook his head. "Eat a slice, milady, and then go to sleep; it can only do you good." He offered Zell a piece, and Zell took it tentatively. It was ripe, he realized, and he wanted another.
Nine days of food tended to do that to a person. The servant smiled an unseen smile as Zell practically begged with his eyes for another slice.
"Milady, I found something here, something before Adel ransacked your quarters." Zell looked up as the servant handed him a slice. The cloaked man placed the apple down, pulling out a silver choker.
Seifer's choker. Zell felt tears well up as he took it. "Please…" Zell asked, his words broken and almost inaudible. "Please place it on my neck." The servant asked no questions and did so, hands brushing his neck the way Zell had always wanted Seifer to do.
Tears streamed down Zell's face, as he turned to the servant, seeking a comfort only another person could provide. Zell cried for his knight and he cried for himself, and he cried for everything that should have been, everything that had been, and everything that wouldn't be.
Strong arms wrapped themselves around him as Zell cried as hard as he possibly could, saying, "I loved him," between the sobs. The servant simply held Zell, though they both wanted him to do more.
… / … / … /
… / … / … /
…
…
Adel had not lied when he said Zell could work out. There were punching bags and boxing rings and weights and bouncy balls for lazy people in the palaces gym. (2) Zell was currently punching the bag like he did at home, though here it took a lot less to make him exhausted. He punched and kicked and Booyah-ed and Heel Drop-ed that bag like it was Ultimacia herself, and the power that had been hers resented the fact and sometimes nipped at him.
The servant watched, transfixed by the fighter. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew that strangely he could feel alive whenever he was near the blonde. He felt pain when his sorceress cried, watched with awe as his sorceress slept and awoke, and he felt very, very possessive around Zell.
He didn't know where this feeling had sprung from. He remembered only waking up six days ago, to stare at a completely afraid Odine, and then a furious Adel. After the older sorceress realized the servant had amnesia, he'd handed the servant his cloak.
"You're ugly," Adel had told him. "Your face must be kept hidden unless you want to scare him." Then Adel assigned him to Zell, and it was as if his world had color. He wasn't sure why, but Adel mentioned the fact that he would be "extra-protective" and "very obedient."
He knew the feeling; he was in love, but he couldn't let Zell know, not when his sorceress's knight had just died and Adel was trying to bed Zell as often as he could.
He was also afraid Zell would be terrified at his face. Zell might die from fear or something, or maybe demand a new servant. The silent, green-eyed man's stomach quivered. He didn't even have a name to give Zell.
The servant looked up out of his thoughts in time to see Zell get clobbered with the punching bag. He chuckled as he walked over, extending his hand. Zell took it, smiling as he stood.
"Just like at Ma's. Thanks," Zell said, and the servant nodded dumbstruck. A gleam caught his eye.
"Milady?" he managed to ask, spotting the collar around Zell's neck. He pulled back and Zell blanched, realizing that the choker was showing. The servant had told him to leave it in his room or someone would mention it.
Zell closed his eyes, waiting for it to be taken away, but the servant traced it before snapping back, clutching his arm. Zell was there instantly, trying to call a cure that would not come. "Are you okay? What happened?"
The servant didn't move, breathing heavily. "Hey?" Zell asked, steeping closer. The man flinched when Zell reached out to him, placing his hand on the wounded shoulder. "What-"
"I remembered a little," the servant stated, "Though it hurt, thank you, milady."
"But I-" Zell fell silent as the servant stood.
"It is time for lunch, Milady," the servant smiled to himself, glad that he had loved Zell for years, even if he couldn't remember the situations or anything else. The two went back to the spacious room and Zell sat in a chair as the servant set up the lunch on the desk. The servant was humming, Zell realized.
"Um…did I hurt you?" Zell asked, and the servant shook his head, offering Zell a piece of bread.
Zell nibbled on it before remembering there might be a potion, and he set it down. "I'm not hungry," Zell mumbled, and the servant blinked.
"Milady…"
Zell shook his head. "Call me Zell." He looked at the servant, whose face was still covered in cloak. "I'm just not hungry, you can have it."
The servant took a small piece and ate it, proving to Zell it wasn't poison. Zell felt stupid, but at least he was safe, right? "Eat a piece, mil- Zell." The servant fumbled over the two names, remembering that Zell wished to be called by his name. Zell smiled and sat back in his chair, pouting.
"Only if you tell me your name."
The servant chuckled at Zell's cuteness. "I told you, I have no name." Zell reached for his hood and the servant stepped back, eyes shut. "Please, don't milady. My face is scarred and ugly. You couldn't stand the strain, Adel himself almost fainted, and Odine did."
"Oh." Zell suddenly felt badly for the man. Maybe he was one of Odine's projects. Zell could feel a slight similarity between them. "Sorry." He stretched his arm instead.
The servant was watching now, just watching, not doing anything else. Green eyes drank him in hungrily. Zell blushed, eating the bread now. This guy didn't really matter, he reminded himself. But he could feel the familiar heart beating rapidly, Hyne, why now?
"So you do want to eat," the servant stated, chuckling and picked up a dress to sew on. Zell offered the servant some more food, but the man politely declined. After all, Zell was the one who needed it.
Why had the choker reacted? Zell wondered. Was it like Seifer was protecting him? Was his magic the ability to give back memories? Too many thoughts and a tired body were enough to send him to sleep, so he got up, apologizing and fell onto the bed, the servant there to tuck him in gently.
… / … / … /
… / … / …
…
…
Zell awoke the next morning, still sleepy. Looking around, he realized his servant wasn't anywhere in sight. Sighing, Zell sat up, noting the shower running. He supposed it was fair his servant was showering, Zell enjoyed them, too. Yawning, a burst of curiosity flipped through his head.
Getting out of bed, Zell noted a trickle of power as he walked to the bathroom door, turning the handle.
Locked. The water shut off and there was a slight laugh. "Very eager, milady." Zell blushed, walking back to the bed, waiting. He'd only wanted to see his servant's face!
The servant returned, still wrapped in a cloak. Zell waved to him, wondering if the servant had changed cloaks, too. Zell watched as the servant opened the door and took the tray that lay on the floor, and set it on the desk.
Zell pounced on him, but the servant was too quick, dodging with a sidestep. He turned the dodge into a placing of the blonde into the chair. Zell managed to laugh a bit before the servant served him his food.
"You should laugh more often," the servant told him gently.
Hyne, the tears were starting again. "Why?" Zell asked, and the servant leaned forward and kissed him softly on the forehead, a kiss that reminded Zell of Seifer.
"You're beautiful when you smile," the servant whispered, holding the centerpiece flower to the sorceress. "Milady."
The flower bloomed several times before there was a knock on the door. The servant got up and Zell quickly replaced the flower into the vase, getting up. "No, my sorceress," came the statement, and Zell quickly took off the choker, placing it in a desk drawer. The servant came to him. "My sorceress wishes to see you."
"He's back?" Zell asked, and Adel entered.
"I am," Adel told him, watching the blonde with cautious eyes. When Zell's head dropped in a submissive stance, Adel chuckled and held Zell's chin. "Your servant informs me you've been quite well-behaved."
Zell said nothing. I deserve this, he thought, though he could hear Adel's knight in the back of his head telling him otherwise.
Adel grinned at Zell's meekness. He was growing more and more tame, and he was tame at the moment. "He says you are recovering quickly," Adel stated, wondering how quickly he could have those pajamas off.
/ Adel, don't, I don't want this- / The words fluttered through Zell's mind as he looked up at Adel, knowing Adel would soon use the power inside him. With shock Zell realized Adel's sorceress gift. Adel manipulated emotions by placing some of his power inside another person. Zell swallowed- he couldn't try that with his own power being so weak. "Where have you been?" he asked.
Adel smiled, arms curling around Zell in a sensual manner. "They will continue to oppose, and I must control them. But even as I was out there, I kept thinking of you."
Zell could feel a sickening feeling as Adel's power tried to coax him to lust. Zell was too weak to hold it off, but he tried to hide it. "Who? Esthar?" At this point, he realized, he was shaking, and Adel leaned down and kissed him. Adel's power flicked at the servant who left, shutting the door.
"Will you fight me, boy?" Adel was attacking his neck now, holding Zell up.
Zell attempted to shake his head. "Not today, Adel. I'm too weak," Zell admitted, and Adel took off the night shirt, hands running down his chest. Then Adel was playing with his pants, and Zell gasped. "A-Adel!"
"Don't make me wait, boy," Adel said heatedly. On the other side of the door the servant growled possessively.
…
…
…
Perhaps those closer to the equator do not know how hard it is to start a frozen car. It's a bitch, let me tell you. Actually, it's a lot like gambling- several short bursts and you're always hoping for the big one. Sometimes, my car starts and I get going and it stops on me again, so I have to get out and kick it for it to start up completely.
I like the balls at the gym. They're fun to bounce on as I eat my snickers in front of the runners, who run more desperately.
Next chapter- Servant unmasked! For those who couldn't guess!