~Zell~
Panic overtook the entirety of the room, everyone standing from their seats and whisking to Squall or Ellone's side, myself included. For a split second, I thought the man had finally buckled under the weight of the world on his shoulders. It's as if the knowledge of Rinoa and Seifers' whereabouts being in the city his father ran is the final piece of information that completely shatters his consciousness and shuts him down. While I drop to my knees, I roll the brunette onto his back and place my hand on his cheek, noticing three things in this particular moment.
First, I am familiar with this facial expression, seeing it quite a few times back when we were still tangled up in the sorceress war. I can recall a time or two where Squall, Selphie and I were sent into dream world with Ell, and I woke up before the others. I saw this same expression on his face back then as I do now. When Squall sleeps, his face twitches as expression finally is allowed to shine through since he is unconscious and cannot hide it. But when he is in dream world, his face is as still as stone with an overall aura of peace surrounding him.
To confirm my suspicions, I glance over to Selphie, which is when I notice the second and third points. Selphie stood behind a stooping Rinoa, who now has taken over checking on Squall by gripping his arms and shaking him a bit harshly. Selphie's eyes are staring into mine, her expression absent while her eyes seem to be struggling to focus. I believe the two of us are realizing the same thing at the same time, confirming it for each other: dream world is back.
But my eyes phase the brunette out as they suddenly focus on the towering blonde figure behind her. Seifer's face holds a melting pot of emotions, his eyes snapping back and forth between Ellone and Squall until they narrow. I stare at his face, watching his expression shift from concern to anger in an instant, his eyes now boring into my own. Is that jealousy, I wonder as I follow the trail his gaze has just taken, finding the only thing that he may have seen that would upset him is my hand on Squall's cheek.
My hand quickly falls away from the brunette's face as I glance back up towards Seifer. Were the rumors true? Did something happen between Squall and Seifer, and now he's jealous of me touching him? The blonde shifts, now bending down with an arm on Laguna's shoulders to try and calm him down.
"Guys, it's fine!" Selphie yells. Laguna asks Kiros to retrieve Dr. Odine, but Seifer holds his hand up to stop him. The blonde glances at me, but once we see each other he drops his stare to the ground and swallows. He mumbles something about going himself to get Odine, leaving the room before anyone can utter a word. Did he leave because of me?
"We've done this before," Selphie starts to explain the situation to everyone, but I keep staring at the doorway. Seifer won't know what's happening, he won't know that this isn't serious. I quickly stand from Squall's side, nodding at Selphie to continue before jogging out the door to follow him. He couldn't have gotten very far. Rushing down the hallway, I spot the blonde as he impatiently waits for people to get off the lift.
"Yo, Seifer!" I yell out, gaining his attention. The blonde turns at my voice, his face instantly creasing with the same jealous glow from before. He refrains from looking directly at me, opting to stare down at his arms, now crossed over his chest. When I finally make it to him I stop at his side, feeling every inch of height difference between us. Why am I suddenly so nervous? This is Seifer, damn it!
"It's fine man, we've been through this before. It's dream world again," I explain, but slowly drift off when I fail to see the concern leaving his face. He still refuses to look at me, but I stare at the left side of his face since he is turned away from me and continues to stare down at his arms. Each word leaving my lips only narrow the blonde's eyes further, souring his expression with every syllable. Did we ever tell him about this before? I rub the back of my head, now staring down at the floor myself as I try to remember.
"Uh, did we tell you about dream world man?" Seifer's shoulders tense as he glances towards the lift again. I follow, seeing a couple of people seated and the platform descending. Shit, we missed it. Peering back at the blonde, I watch the tension build and release as he clenches his jaw before turning towards the doorway to the emergency stairs.
"Hey," I call out, chasing after him as the door starts to shut between us. Shoving against the cold metal, I watch him shrink with each step of his descent.
"Seriously man, it's no big deal, we just gotta wait it out. He'll wake up eventually." My words get caught in my throat when Seifer's body turns, oozing with a growing hostility. His piercing stare still avoids me, staring at the steps he just went down with a frown across his brow that causes me to frown as well. "We really never told you about-"
Seifer snaps, slamming his fist in the metal railing that ran the length of the stairs against the wall. His eyes finally look up into mine, raging with irritability that bites at my very breath. "No Zell, I apparently didn't get the stupid memo you send out to your weekly chess club or book club bitches about the damn dream world." He sarcastically holds his index finger to his chin, dramatizing the situation. "Hmm, maybe because I'm not a part of the Reading for Rejects club, or the Chess Club Chicken-wusses!" I scowl at the provoking nickname as he drops his finger and balls his fists up at his sides, glaring at me as he slowly walks back up the stairs towards me.
"Or maybe it's because I'm still considered a high risk hostile that has orders out against his head, orders that say K-O-S or 'kill on sight?" The blonde throws air quotes around the definition of the abbreviation before lowering his fists to his sides once more. As he now stands in front of me, I bite my tongue, keeping my own anger in check. The last thing we need is to brawl in a stairway, injuring ourselves and causing further concern for the group. He is right, albeit infuriatingly so, but I take in a deep breath to calm myself.
"Fine, would you like me to explain it to you now then?" I question through gritted teeth. His sapphire eyes narrow, wondering where my anger is since he used my typical triggering word. He takes a step back from me, giving me some room away from the door I hadn't realized I am now pressed against. How the hell did that happen? "The short version," I begin as I side step passed him and start walking down the stairs, leaving him behind. After a few steps I hear the stomping of his steel toes on the metal stairs behind me. "Ellone was trying to change things in the past, specifically change Laguna not being present when her mother passed away. She used her abilities to do so, but couldn't do it alone. She used Squall, Selphie and myself most of the time, tapping into our minds and sending any of the group's subconscious back in time to her father's past in hopes of us being able to change events, but we couldn't because you can't change events in time." I turn on the last landing, glancing up at Seifer before taking the last flight of stairs to the main level. He is frowning as he listens to my explanation, but doesn't interrupt.
"When she would send us, she did it unwillingly at first when she slept. This in turn would send us at any time, meaning," I point my finger up to the floors we just came from, "we would pass out or fall asleep at any point until Ell woke up, releasing us. Any questions?" I sarcastically ask as my foot drops from the final step. Seifer jumps down the last steps, gripping my bicep and jerking me to face him. He grabs my other bicep and slams my back against the wall beside the door, bringing his nose within an inch of mine. My eyes almost pop out of my skull at the sudden attack, unaware of anything happening until my back hit concrete. I brace myself for the impact of his fists or forehead, unsure if his anger from earlier was triggered by my sarcasm. We stare into each other's eyes for a few moments, feeling his breath wisp over my lips and down my neck.
"How long?" he mutters, his eyes bouncing from left to right as he studies my own. I frown at him, wondering what he was referring to. Does he mean how long was it happening for? Or how long were we out? This was a bit too much even for him, to pin me against a wall just to be asking about the dream world. His leather gloves begin to make cracking sounds from strain as his grip on my arms tightens. Angered by my lack of answers, he pressed me further against the wall. "You and him," his eyes flash upwards then return to mine again. "Squall," he clarifies with a bit of a bite in his tone. "How long?"
I stare with wide eyes into his narrow slits, shocked that he is even asking. So something was going on between them back in the day, I note, remembering the numerous times I would run into them training together. Back before everything happened, Squall and Seifer would only train with each other, excluding themselves away from everybody else. At first, it was assumed they did it because they were the only two that used gunblades so, of course you would want to train with someone else trying to specialize in similar weaponry as you. As time went on, their constant bickering and feuding morphed into some sort of weird understanding between the two of them. Their training sessions increased, secluding them away from everyone else. Once or twice a week obligations given to them by instructors quickly turned into once or twice a day by choice on top of the required hours just before the war began. That must have been when the two of them were closer than sparring partners, I decide.
My memories must be taking too long, since Seifer's watchful eye now falters. His grip on my arms loosens and his gaze falls away from mine as he stands up straight once more. Just as his fingers slide down my forearms releasing me and he shifts sideways to open the door, my own jealousy flares. Balling my fists catches the blonde's attention, snapping his eyes back up to mine.
"If you were so damned concerned about him and what or who he was doing, you should have let him know you were alive." After a moment Seifer's brow twitches, his eyes widening with each passing second. Black leather gently slides along my cheeks as he holds my face in both of his hands. Warm lips press against mine and time freezes. The taller man exhales his held breath from his nose and I instinctively inhale, but air can't fill my lungs fast enough. I switch from breathing through my nose to my mouth, which Seifer interprets as an invitation, sliding his tongue against mine and causing my eyes to close. Before I could reciprocate as realization caught up with me on what was happening, the man was gone, the door slowly closing beside me as I forget how to breathe.
~Squall~
"I'm afraid I must insist Mr. President, it's the only way I can optimally understand what is happening," a uniquely familiar accent breaks through my subconscious, causing me to stir. Noting the soreness I feel in both of my knees when I stretch my legs out, I quickly recall what I had just witnessed, or should I say whom. The people were as unfamiliar as their surroundings, which is unusual since I have traveled all over the world as SeeD. Before I became headmaster, I note with a hint of harshness since I miss what I used to do. The four of them seem to have some sort of training background, each specializing in various weapons, and various levels of attractiveness. My face twitches at the unintended turn in my thoughts, but there is nothing to stop them now as images flood my mind of the four of them. Out of them all though, the blonde is particularly...
"Squall?" Irvine's familiar voice creeps into my ears, ceasing all of the images bouncing around in my brain. My eyes slowly crack open, narrowing at the unnecessary brightness of Selphie's attire. The tiny girl squeals, standing from my bedside and jumping up and down a few times. Quistis stands beside her, pushing her glasses back up to her eyes and signing her relief.
"He's awake! He's awake!" The bouncing brunette announces to the rest of the people strewn about in the room. Room? Where am I, I wonder as I glance around at the decor. Laguna steps away from a mumbling Dr. Odine towards me, smiling at my recovery of consciousness. This must be his quarters? Or mine?
"How you feeling?" Seifer asks, standing near my feet at the end of the couch beside Rinoa. His face is a mess of emotions, most of which I am unfamiliar with aside from concern and relief. Rinoa rests her hand on my ankle.
"Zell? He's awake now," Selphie announces across the room to a stiff blonde leaning against a door frame. His thumbnail sits between his teeth, aimlessly nibbling at it before he finally snaps into focus. He smirks at me and throws the thumb he was chewing on up before uncrossing his feet and walking over to us all. I press the heel of my hand into my eye as I slowly sit up and swing my legs off the side of the couch I am laying on.
"Sis?" I mumble, nursing my throbbing skull between both of my hands as I lean against my elbows that now rest on my knees. Laguna frowns as Odine shuffles back to his ear and begins mumbling again.
"Fine, fine, do it, but I'm warning you," the president threatens as his arms flex from his solid grip on them crossed over his chest.
"I'll aid you, doctor," Quistis pipes up, running her hand along the side of Laguna's arm as she whispers something in his other ear.
"That is unnecessary," Odine begins to argue but the brunette holds his hand up and eyes him dangerously.
"Actually, it's very necessary. Thank you Quistis," Laguna smiles and squeezes her hand in gratitude. Zell hops over to the bed in the room, where a still unconscious Ellone lies.
"I'll carry her down," he offers, sliding his hands beneath her knees and shoulders and scooping her up from the covers. Laguna thanks the blonde as he quickly leaves the room, followed by Quistis and the doctor. The President rubs his hands against his face a few times, wiping the fatigue of the situation away before looking back at me.
"Odine is going to keep Ellone in his lab. He wants to run a few tests since she keeps having episodes lately, which is wearing her down more than usual. Since you're awake Squall, would you mind if I stayed with Ell until she wakes up?" Before the man can finish his question I am already nodding and shooing him out the door. He smiles at me, promising we'll go over what happened after she returns to us before he leaves to follow the others.
"You need anything?" Selphie asks, Irvine sliding up behind the girl and stretching his hand out towards me. I open my palm underneath his fist and he drops a few pills and hands me a bottle of water. Tilting my head back, I pop the pills in my mouth and chug a few gulps of the water to wash them down before shaking my head at them both and thanking them.
"Our rooms are right down the hall if you need us, ok?" Selphie coos as Irvine gently pushes her towards the doorway. I nod my understanding and thanks while the two exit the room, leaving me with Seifer and Rinoa. Seifer rests his hands on his hips, now showing only relief at my recovery while Rinoa crosses her arms and bends down beside me. Her dark chocolate gaze finds mine when I look between the two, finally showing a sincere smile at them both.
"I'm glad you two are alright," I mention, failing to do so earlier before I went into dream world. Rinoa flashes a small smile, glancing back towards Seifer. Noticing the look in his eye, she looks back at me and sighs. Standing up, she slides her hand down my cheek before turning to Seifer. Gripping the sleeve of his coat she squeezes, then stalks out the doorway, pressing the button to close it behind her.
"What happened?" Seifer asks me once the door is closed, concern starting to show on his face. I eye him for a moment before I quirk my brow with a smirk.
"I could ask you the same," I reply. Seifer drops his hands from his hips and slouches, taking a few steps towards me and turning to settle onto the couch beside me.
"Oh, the usual," he breathes out with a large exhale. Raising his arm above his head, he rests it on the back of the couch behind me and places his ankle on his knee, crossing his legs.
"I screwed up," he answers with a traditional Almasy smirk plastered on his face. I continue to stare, awaiting the deeper reveal. Eventually, the smirk falls away and the man drops his leg and leans on his knees, gripping his head in his hands. "I'm such a fucking idiot," he mumbles out between his fingers and I sigh, staring forward as I smack him on his shoulder blade.
"So, you finally told Zell then?" I fill in the blanks myself, watching out of the corner of my eye as his head twists to face me, a scowl freshly in place.
"How long have you two been a thing?" he questions me sternly, anger beginning to bubble to the surface. I shake my head at his words.
"Nothing is going on, aside from some harmless flirting from time to time. Did you actually tell him?" I recall what seems like a lifetime ago when Seifer and I would train together. It took months for him to finally admit his endless teasing of the blonde was his only method of flirting, given he had no real practice, especially with another man. Seifer exhales loudly, releasing his face from his fingers and sitting back against the couch in a slouch.
"Didn't tell so much as showed." I snort before I can stop myself, glancing beside me to Seifer and wincing a silent apology.
"I couldn't help it. He was all over you after you went down and I just got pissed at the two of you. I tried to hold back and leave but he followed me to explain the whole dream world thing. I couldn't keep my temper in check and snapped at him like an asshole, but he threw it right back at me thinking I was jealous over you being with him, not the other way around. I just-" he throws his hands up and shrugs, staring at the floor "I just reacted. I couldn't have him thinking I was upset for the wrong reasons, you know?" The blonde sighs, gripping his face between his hands once more and groaning. "What was I thinking Squall. I get mad at him, I walk away from him, I blow up at him and then I make out with him?"
"Then what did you do?" I ask, staring at the back of his head as his gloved fingers run through the short blonde hairs. His hands stop and he sighs again.
"I left him again. Holy Hyne what is wrong with me," he trails off with another groan, probably from squeezing his skull too tightly.
"So, how was it?" I finally ask with a smirk. Seifer turns his head in his hands to face me, his signature smirk firmly in place.
"So fucking good," he moans, causing us both to laugh. I pat his shoulder a few times and hold his gaze.
"If it was good, then he responded to it, right?" I ask, the blonde frowning at me for a second.
"Of course he did, I don't like my partners to just sit still man," he watches me as I tilt my head slightly at him.
"So if he responded and it was great, do you think he enjoyed it?" His face smooths as the pieces start to fall into place. He stares at me, then glances towards the door as his mind triple checks every detail of what happened between the two of them. I use the hand on his shoulder to shove him off the couch towards the door.
"So why the hell are you still sitting here with me?" The blonde stands up before I can shove him onto the floor, flashing a grin over his shoulder as he trots toward the door. Once he reaches it with his hand out towards the button, he pauses and turns to look at me.
"Seriously, you good?" he questions me with all the concern he could muster through his excitement. Lying back on the couch, I place my arm across my eyes to shut out the light and wave him off with my hand. A breath later, the door swoosh sounds twice when he takes his leave.