I disclaim!

Warning- strange chapter

CYCLONES IN THE DUST

Best Rivals Friends Could Be

Squall couldn't believe this. 'Seifer' had ended dup in the 'infirmary', and 'Zell' was confined to his 'room', it sounded so backward. Selphie had witnessed the whole thing. She'd seen Zell explode all over Seifer, straddling him to the floor and hitting him over and over again, until droplets of blood ran crimson rivers from his un-gloved knuckles onto Seifer's unconscious face. It wasn't that Zell and Seifer hadn't ever fought seriously before, it was that Zell had kept on hitting Seifer even after the tall blond had lost consciousness, Irvine had blasted him from the unconscious Seifer using blizzard. That wasn't like Zell, not like Zell at all.

Squall knew Seifer may have provoked the attack, but it still didn't justify Zell's violence. Squall would have let it slide if he'd stopped after Seifer lost consciousness, but Seifer's bloodied face and broken jaw later. Squall was more worried for Zell than ever, Seifer could handle the injuries, but evidently Zell couldn't handle the emotions tearing him up inside. .

Squall didn't want to put Zell in the holding cells, or punish him. He honest to Hyne didn't. He hated seeing Zell this way, he'd never say it out loud, but he did really miss the old Zell. If Seifer demanded punishment for Zell, Squall as Headmaster would have to instigate it. Sometimes, he really hated being in charge.

Squall found his way to Seifer's room and knocked, impatient for the tall blonde to answer. When he did, Squall was surprised at the amazing job Dr Kadowaski had done on him, aside from minor inflammation on the left side of Seifer's jaw he looked fine. He blinked at Squall, and folded his arms over his naked chest and lent on his door frame smirking. Evidently he'd just come out of the shower, his torso was bear and his hair was damp and spiky.

"What?" he asked bluntly, an eyebrow arching over one of his green eyes. Squall sneered in response.

"I'm hear to speak about what happened with Zell… are you applying for a disciplinary to be enforced?" Squall asked coldly. Seifer blinked smirk falling.

"Nah, Chicky was just letting of some steam, if I hadn't knocked myself out by hitting my head on a table I'd have handled it" Seifer grinned. Arrogance burning in his viridian green eyes, just daring Squall to argue, but Squall wasn't about to if he could get away with not having to punish Zell. Squall turned taking a few steps down the corridor.

"Actually… could I pick the punishment?" Seifer sounded reluctant. Squall frowned, now curious, he returned to Seifer's door.

"I'd have to agree to it" he said bluntly. Seifer winced, then sighed, and cleared his throat glancing around making sure no one else was near.

"You better come inside," he said before promptly grabbing Squall's arm and pulling him in so roughly the brunette nearly fell head over heels onto the carpet. He turned to glare at Seifer, and was surprised to meet, a tall, muscular blond with bright, worried, viridian eyes. 'Seifer was worried?'

"Right… Squall… erm…." Seifer ran his hand through his wet blond hair. He was wearing loose, black, cotton trousers, and nothing much else, and amazingly he looked lost and slightly confused and very… nervous. Squall folded his arms and waited, keeping his expression impassive although, had he been anyone else he would've been gaping.

"Okay… If I tell you something, you swear on your gunblade to never repeat it?" Seifer was deadly serious, all mocking and amusement gone. Squall was slightly alarmed, he'd only seen Seifer look like this while they'd fought him while he was under the sorceress' control.

"…alright Seifer…" he nodded. Seifer took a breath his chest visibly expanding slightly.

"I'm gay" he said quickly and he exhaled, and winced. Squall just looked at him.

"… and you like Zell… yes, I noticed" said Squall amused. Seifer blinked, lost for words. Squall was enjoying himself but showed no outward sign of it.

"Selphie knows as well, and I think Irvine does… and I'd already told Rinoa before I swore to you… the only people of our group who don't are probably Quistis and Zell" Squall quirked an eyebrow at Seifer's discomfiture. Then he was unsettled at the smirk that slowly spread across his face.

"Well… if everyone knows except Zell and Quistis… there's no point me hiding it anymore" he said brashly moving toward the door.

"Wait!" said Squall now panicked. "You might… scare him or something" he said. Seifer stopped and half turned to the brunette.

"…Or something? Yeah, I wanna get him" Seifer grinned half, eyes glittering wildly, Squall could guess what 'get him' meant.

"Seifer… you can't just…" Squall took a moment to formulate his thoughts. "Zell's been through a lot lately, I don't think he could handle you coming on to him at the moment".

"Wow, Squall Leonheart expressing actual concern for the Chicken Wuss? I've seen everything" Seifer folded his arms, frowning slightly at Squall.

"I'm serious Seifer" warned Squall. Seifer sighed. There was silence for a few minuets. Squall could sense Seifer had something else he wanted to say.

"Do you know where Zell was?...," he asked Squall, who blinked in response. "He was in Balamb sorting out his house and his Ma's things… that's what he told me. I said something about you because it's your stupid-ass fault he had to do that alone, and I freaked thinking he'd come find you and find out about me harassing you about where he was ,and that he'd put two and two together …" Seifer winced, 'here it comes' thought Squall.

"…And then I made a dismissive comment about Ma Dincht to him to evade explaining," Seifer glanced away from Squall and running his hand through his hair and glaring without focus. Squall stared at him.

"So?" responded the brunette after a silent pause spent considering Seifer.

"So?" said Seifer blankly… then after a few moments he let out a bark of laughter and smirked. "Should have seen that one coming, shouldn't I? It's rare I ever talk to anyone about my problems, but it's even rarer for you to speak your mind". Squall rolled his eyes folding his arms and glancing to the side in irritation.

"You want to know what I think?" he asked.

"Now there's a scary thought, do you actually have an opinion behind that glacial exterior?" Seifer said sarcastically. Squall knew he was uncomfortable, and making fun of people made him feel more secure, so he excused it.

"I think Seifer, maybe you should leave Zell alone for a while, give him time to recover, I don't think he'll be able to if you keep pushing him into fits of rage" said Squall flatly.

"And you reckon he'll get pissed if I come out to him on top of that?" Seifer asked seriously. Squall looked at the blonde lowering his arms from where they'd been folded.

"I think most things will make him angry at the moment Seifer, you know as well as I do that Zell is ruled by his emotions". Squall watched as Seifer gazed at the floor thoughtfully, and felt relieved when the taller blonde gave a short, sharp nod and looked up.

"…You may be right, but I'll never admit that where anyone else can hear it, and Leonheart…" Seifer turned facing the door as he moved to open it for Squall. "…thanks" he said quietly under his breath.

Squall didn't acknowledge the 'thanks' as he walked past the blonde and through the door, knowing that would make Seifer angry.

Squall was aware their friendship functioned under the guise of rivalry , and anything serious than encroached on it was likely to disrupt it, and neither Seifer or Squall knew what would happen should that occur.

Squall continued down the corridor toward the stairway to the elevator, Seifer had not mentioned the disciplinary, and Squall was quite certain the older blonde had no real intention of instigating it, but had used it as an excuse to talk to Squall about his problems. Once in the elevator and alone Squall smiled, amused at the ridicules relationship between him and the other gunblader, they'd been terrible as enemies, but they were the best rivals friends could be.