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Shiva paced. She didn't know what to do. Seifer and her Zell were getting closer, and she saw Zell becoming more and more attached to the older one each day, and she did not know if she could approve. So she paced, walking the mental expanses of Zell's unconscious mind. As she saw it, she had three options; Do nothing, and risk her Zell getting his heart broken. Confront Zell on the matter, and have a discussion with him. Or take it to the heart of the matter: Seifer.

The Ice Goddess strode through her domain, making her nightly rounds, pondering her dilemma. As she passed the mental spire where she bound the unused magic Zell had drawn, she thought of the first option. Zell and Seifer were mortal beings, and Zell loved him. She knew this, beyond a doubt, but could only wonder if it was truly being returned. Being mortal however, Shiva understood that if this brought Zell joy, could she truly do anything? If she did interfere, would she truly be doing the right thing?

Shiva walked on.

As she passed the domains of the various Guardian Forces that had, through necessity, been junctioned to Zell, and cleaned up the messes they had left, she began to think of the second option. If she confronted Zell with her concerns, would he listen? Or would he dismiss her as jealous? Was she jealous? That set Shiva aback, was she jealous of this man who had walked into her Zell's life and taken his love? It was ridiculous, she decided. She was his soul mate, they both knew that. Seifer merely was physical, as she was not.

Shiva walked on.

As she returned to her throne, where she could view her domain, Shiva pondered the third option. She could manifest herself physically for a time and talk with him again. But, he set her flawless crystalline teeth on edge, and knew cordial discussion between them would never work. He was a creature of fire, of hot rage and fiery passion, where she was cool and compassionate. She could carry through with her threat, and nobody would ever discover the truth, but that would break Zell's heart if Seifer vanished. Shiva growled. She would find out the truth of the matter, if Seifer did not love Zell, if Seifer was just using Zell, she would find out, and change his mind. Shiva straightened and a faint smirk crept across her features. Change his mind. Of course. That would have to be what she did

The Ice Goddess sat upon her throne and worked on her plans. It would take time, but she had no lack of confidence. She was after all supposed to guard Zell, else she would hardly be called a Guardian Force.

Seifer shivered and opened his eyes while pulling blankets tighter around himself and the smaller form cuddled with him. Turning his gaze around until he saw the source of the cold, an open window, Seifer tried to keep from waking Zell. Glancing at a clock, he could see it was still to early to call the time "morning", and let out a groan, of frustration and a bit of discomfort; his head was killing him, and now he had to get up, close the window, and get back to bed without Zell waking.

The first step was getting untangled from Zell. Slowly pulling his arm out from under him, Seifer pushed blankets up against Zell, and stood, the bed creaking loudly in the still night. Padding across the room, Seifer closed the window, and then went to rummage through the medicine cabinets for something to dull his headache.

That Afternoon

Seifer settled into his seat. The show was shaping up to be amusing, at the very least. Arranged before him, and the small crowd of other SeeD's with nothing to do, was a group of SeeD cadets from another Garden, come to get some lessons at Balamb Garden. Naturally, Zell had been chosen to give a crash course in melee basics, and his turn to give his lesson had just started.

Seifer couldn't suppress a smirk when lecture ended, and practical lessons began. One of the visiting cadets was a self-proclaimed expert at the quarterstaff, and as such had given Zell a challenge to a staff-match. Zell accepted, and the two were now circling each other, metal staves making slow twirls, building their momentum.

The challenger broke first, reversing and striking with the full length of his staff, obviously trying to take Zell off guard. It failed, and Zell responded by deflecting one staff with his own. Seifer knew Zell had studied at least the basics of weapon fighting, but still couldn't help the awe he felt when Zell launched into maneuver's nearly as complicated as his own gunblade routines. The staff twirled fast enough to be a blur, knocking against the defending cadet with a crack every few moments, until Zell finally broke through the defense, and brought the cadet to the floor with a hit behind his knee's. Seifer smirked broadly as Zell began to review the combat, and then gathered his things together and striding out, leaving Zell to his fun as he went to take care of his own plans. And make a stop at the infirmary to pick up more pills for the constant headache he was feeling all day.

That Evening

Zell had walked into the room, exhausted from sparring for hours with cadets, only to stop, floored by the scene in front of him.

A candlelit table, dinner for two set out, wineglasses full, and a small wrapped box next to one of the plates set the scene, but most important to Zell, was the formally dressed tall blonde, sitting in one of the chairs, a smirk plastered on his face, his eyes reflecting Zell and the candles. Speechless for a few moments, Zell finally spoke up, looking at the present, and asked "Why?"

"Do I need a reason?" Seifer was nearly purring, Zell could tell he was very pleased with himself. Zell was pleased with him too. Exhaustion forgotten, Zell nearly jumped into the seat, and enjoyed a romantic dinner with Seifer. Once it was done, and the candles blown out, he picked up the wrapped box, and looked at Seifer questioningly.

'It's a present, chicken-wuss." Oh yes, Seifer was very pleased with himself, Zell could tell. Setting the box down, Zell grabbed Seifer's arm, and hauled him off to the bed in the corner, the present already long since forgotten.

AN: Well. Here you are. More soon. Hopefully.