Final Fantasy and its characters belong to Squeenix, pas moi
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Sepia Tone
Chapter Three - Kinneas the Caretaker
There was a nice, warm breeze as I sat under the stars in a beautiful, open field with Zell in my arms. All was quiet, except for, like, some chirpin' crickets. Zell turned to me, and we gazed into each others eyes briefly before he leaned in and softly kissed me. He went to pull away, but I wouldn't let 'im. I grabbed him and pulled him in for an even deeper kiss. Fallin' back into the grass, I pulled Zell on top of me. He left a trail of kisses as he made his way down my neck and onto my chest, unbuttoning my vest as he continued down.
Just as things were about to get fiery, the buzzing sound of cicadas started up. I tried to ignore it at first, but it just kept gettin' louder and louder. Even as Zell began to unbutton my jeans, I couldn't concentrate on anything but that damn buzzing! I sat up, covering my head, wishing it would just go the hell away! Zell apparantly couldn't hear anything. He looked up at me with a look that was a mix of confusion and eagerness.
When I just couldn't take it anymore, I realized that the buzzin' wasn't a bunch of cicadas, and I wasn't in a field with Zell. I groggily opened my eyelids and forced myself to raise my arm and slam it down on my alarm clock. It took a couple whackin's before I found the button that stopped that damn alarm. Dammit! Why do dreams always gotta end just when everything starts gettin' good? On top of everything, I had set my alarm to go off an hour earlier than usual just so I could stop by Zell's room before I went to my classes. The mere thought of gettin' up an hour earlier for a whole week was torture, but it was all worth it for Zell.
After a quick shower, I got all dressed and purty-lookin'. I looked at the little mini-fridge in the small kitchen of my dorm to see if there was anything quick I could eat for breakfast. I was about to cook some bacon when I suddenly got a great idea. Smilin' to myself, I grabbed the bacon and a pack of hot dogs before rushin' to Zell's room.
He gave me a spare card key to open the electronic lock, so it wasn't a problem tryin' to get in. Of course, Zell was still asleep. I put the food on the counter and then took off my jacket. Thinkin' of a way to wake Zell up, I paused for a moment and watched him sleep. Hyne, he was so adorable! I could have kissed him right there and then, but that wasn't such a good idea. Before I could convince myself otherwise, I walked up and gently shook him.
"Zell," I said softly. I got nothin'. I tried to be a bit more firm, and call him a bit louder, but that wasn't workin'. Finally, I just gave up and called out, "Rise and shine, sleepyhead!"
Yep, that jolted him awake. To make sure he didn't fall back asleep, I threw open his curtains to let in the sunlight.
"What the hell, Irvine?" he groaned. "It's 6:30 AM!"
I told him, "Yeah, I've got class startin' in a half hour. If you, like, need me to do anything, you best ask me now or else you'll be waitin' all day for my classes to end."
Zell shifted uncomfortably and huddled beneath his sheets. He was bein' unusually shy, and I was pretty sure I knew why. Since I'm so smooth an' all, I figured I'd drop a subtle hint at him. A very subtle hint.
"So, is there anything you'd like me to take care of?" I suggested with an innocent smile. Zell knew what I was suggesting. I could see the look on his face. He tried to hide it, but I could tell.
"Just start the shower for me," he quickly replied, trying to ignore the implication I made.
"No siree! What're you gonna do in there? Stand on one foot like a flamingo the whole time?" I joked. "No showers for you. I'll start fillin' the bath."
Before Zell could say another word, I left him to start fillin' his bathtub. The tub filled up pretty quickly, but I had enough time to organize some of the junk Zell had flung about his medicine cabinet and sink. Hyne, how did the guy find anything in here? When the bath was filled, I turned of the faucet and made a mental note to help him clean up his stuff sometime.
I left the bathroom to get Zell, and there he was, tryin' to get up all by himself! He wasn't supposed to walk on his bad ankle! What was he thinking?
"Hey, hey!" I called. "Keep your weight off that foot! Let me help you to the bath." It was more of a demand rather than a suggestion.
Giving him my arm for support, I helped him to the bathroom. Not that I didn't like the feel of his muscular body in my arms, but he took a real long time hobblin' to the tub. He could hardly walk with help, so where did he get the idea that he could walk by himself? Once in the bathroom, I released him so he could undress and get in the bath. Hyne, he had such a great body. I couldn't help but stare at him.
"Um, Irvine?" Zell interrupted my daydreaming. "I need to, uh..."
That's right! He was going to take a bath! "Oh, right, right," I fumbled. "Sorry 'bout that, yeah. I, um, I'll be right on the other side of the door if you'll be needin' anything."
Hyne Almighty, what the hell was I thinkin'?! I couldn't believe I just, like, spaced out like that! Shakin' my head at myself, I walked over to the little stove Zell had in his room and got all the food ready. I wrapped up a few hot dogs in bacon and fried 'em that way, while I cut up a few more hot dogs and fried them alongside some bacon bits. Boy, did that smell good! An image suddenly popped into my head of me cookin' for Zell wearin' nothin' but an apron, my cowboy hat, and a smile. I had to hurry and kill that fantasy, though, 'cause I didn't need no complications poppin' up right before I had to go to class. Or worse, in front of Zell.
Soon enough, Zell emerged from the bathroom wearing his shorts and holding a towel. I tried my hardest to not, like, lose myself checkin' him out again.
"Mmm, smells like you're frying bacon," he noted casually. I guess he hadn't noticed the hot dogs yet, so I decided to point 'em out.
"Yep! I'm cooking them with--" I cut myself off as soon as I realized that Zell was doin' exactly what he shouldn't have been doin'. "Zell!" I exclaimed and hurried to give him support. "You're not supposed to walk on that foot!"
"I'm not a baby, I can handle myself!" he protested as I led him to his chair but soon forgot all about it when he saw what was cookin'. "Are those hot dogs you're frying with the bacon?!" he exclaimed.
"Yep! I know how you love hot dogs!" I replied with a smile. "Bet ya ain't never had 'em with bacon."
"Only once when my ma cooked it for me," Zell said. "The cafeteria never does anything fancy like that."
Was I hearin' him right? "Fancy"? I couldn't help but let out a little laugh. "Oh, this here ain't nothin' fancy," I chuckled as I put the food onto a plate. I turned to put the plate in front of Zell, but the entire table was covered with his damn fightin' magazines. Seriously, it looked like the magazines were the table. Okay, maybe I overexaggerated a bit, but it was still purty bad. I pushed some of the stuff aside so there would be room for the plate.
"So, what do ya think?" I asked as I put the food in front of Zell.
He instantly set to work on the plate. I was surprised with how much he was able to fit in his mouth at once without chokin'. That caused my mind to wander to a bad place, but I quickly got myself out of the gutter.
I took Zell's lack of response due to his mouth being constantly filled with food as a sign that it was, in fact, good. "I'm glad you like it," I said with a smile. "Don't, like, choke on it, alright?"
As much as I wanted to stay, it really was time for me to get goin'. "Well, I need to be gettin' to class now," I told Zell as I got up to leave. "I'll be 'round when it's over." Before I left his room, I saw him desperately tryin' to swallow the food to try and respond, but he settled with a friendly thumbs up.
I pulled my hat down over my face as I walked down the hall. Partially because it made me look cooler, mostly 'cause I didn't want anyone to see the big stupid grin I had on my face. Just as I was losin' myself in my daydream, I felt somethin' hit me really hard on the back. I stumbled forward and quickly turned around to see what the hell it was.
"What're you smiling at, cowboy?" Selphie cheerfuly piped.
"Nothin', Sefie," I replied, tryin' to keep a straight face.
"Come on, Irvy! You know you can't hide anything from me," she prodded and began followin' me to my class. When I still refused to answer, she kept on. "I saw you come out of Zell's room."
"Yeah, I was checkin' on his ankle. Ya know he sprained it yesterday." There was no need to be dishonest. Ain't nothin' fishy 'bout me checkin' up on a friend.
She got that suspicious look on her face, as if she weren't satisfied with my answers. Knowin' Sefie, she probably wasn't.
"You mean to tell me that you woke up earlier than you had to and walked to Zell's room?" she said in disbelief. "That's a bit more of an effort that you would usually make, Irvine. Unless you didn't wake up early. Maybe you just spent the night at Zell's."
"What?!" I blurted out. "Sefie, you are, like, out of your mind!"
"I don't think so, Irvy," she said seriously. "Putting together what I've just seen and the way you just took off the other day, I'd say you might have a little 'thing' for Zell!" Selphie giggled.
"Okay, Selph. I bet you'd enjoy that," I sighed.
Damn! Little Sefie was way more observant than I'd realized. I really had to be more careful, or she might go chatterin' away to all her friends, then I'd have rumors flyin' 'round all over Garden. I love Sefie as if she were my sister, but damn does that girl have a big mouth.
"I'm just playing with you, Irvine!" she smiled. I could tell, though, that she wasn't just playin', and she was only sayin' that. The way Sefie is, she'd probably go out of her way to be even more observant and not say anythin' 'til she was sure she'd be right.
Finally, I got to my class, and me an' Sefie had to part ways. Usually I love hangin' out with her, but I couldn't help but feel relieved when she left. Goin' to class wasn't too thrillin' neither, but anything was better than talkin' about havin' feelings for Zell.
Classes seemed to take extra long that day. I payed attention even less than I usually did. Not like I needed to pay attention. I helped defeat Ultimecia, for Hynesake! What the hell did I need to still take classes for? All I could think about was Zell. I know, it's cheesy, but it's true. Finally, my third class was over, and it was time for lunch.
There wasn't a whole lot of time, but I was gonna spend as much of my lunch break with Zell as I possibly could. I walked to the cafeteria as fast as I could without breaking into a run. The hot dogs sold out fast, and I didn't want to wait in no line only to find out they were gone. Thankfully, I beat most of the crowd and bought three hot dogs - one for me, two for Zell.
Just as I was on my way back to Zell's room, Selphie found me again.
"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" she whined. "You left your class so quickly that I missed you!"
Oh, right. I had almost forgotten about that. Usually Selphie will meet up with me during my lunch break. I'd gotten so caught up thinkin' about havin' lunch with Zell, I totally forgot 'bout Sefie.
"Sorry, Sefie," I apologized. "I wanted to beat the crowd today."
No reply. She just eyed me suspiciously, staring at the bag of food I was carrying. I knew what she was thinkin'.
"I, uh... I'm bringin' someone lunch," I explained. "Couldn't make it to the cafeteria today. Figured I'd do 'im a favor."
"Oh, alright," she said with a grin. "See ya later, Irvine!"
That was all? Ya know, that was exactly one of those times where I wished I knew what went on in that little head o' hers.
"And say hi to Zell for me!" she added.
"Alright," I shrugged before continuing to Zell's dorm.
A sudden thought just hit me like an invisible wall, causin' me to freeze in my tracks. How did Selphie know I was going to see Zell?! And I just went along with it! Aw, Hyne, now she'd probably be thinkin' that there really were somethin' goin' on! Not that I didn't want somethin' to "go on," but that's beside the point.
Shakin' my head at myself, I finished walkin' to Zell's room and knocked on his door before invitin' myself in. Zell was lyin' on his bed, right where I left him. Looked like he was takin' a little nap. Before I could get lost in my thoughts 'bout how cute he must look while asleep, I figured I'd give him the food I'd brought.
"I, like, brought you some lunch. The cafeteria's specialty!" I presented the bag with food.
The instant Zell saw I'd brought hot dogs, he scrambled to his feet and struggled to the table before I could stop him.
"Zell! I told ya, you shouldn't, like, be walking on that foot!" I reprimanded. "I don't want ya hurtin' it any more than it already is."
"Oh, it's fine, grandma! I'm sure I can safely hobble five feet," he smirked. So he said, but I couldn't help but worry 'bout his well-being. "Seriously, though, thanks. I don't really know how else I could have gotten lunch. You really didn't have to get me three, though. Two hot dogs would be just fine."
I couldn't hide the smile that crept across my face. Zell was, like, too funny! "I did get ya two. The third one is mine," I explained.
Zell's reaction was a much unexpected one. "You mean you didn't have lunch yet?!" he exclaimed. "I thought you would have eaten in the cafeteria with Selphie or some other girls."
"I'm sure the absence of me won't, like, kill them," I said matter-of-factly. "Besides, I thought you might enjoy some company. I can leave if you want."
This time, his response was exactly as expected. "No!" he practically shouted. I couldn't help but grin, especially when a cute lil' blush spread 'cross his face. "I mean, no, I'm not trying to be rude or kick you out or anything. You can stay if you want. I don't care. I mean, I don't not care that you decided to give me company, I just mean... um... I mean, you know what I mean."
Hyne, he was just too cute!! "I know exactly what you mean," I replied. I did know what he meant. I could tell he had feelin's for me, and my tone of voice kinda, like, implied that, though I doubt Zell caught it.
Most of the lunch time, Zell was quiet and I did most of the talkin', though that's not too surprising, seein' that he had hot dog in his mouth the entire time. Honestly, I don't know how he, like, eats so fast.
"Geez, Irvine, need help eating?" Zell taunted.
"Hey, I ain't the one inhalin' my food like a vacuum cleaner," I retorted. "Did you, like, even enjoy it at all? I don't know how you could. You ate it so fast, I don't know how you could've even tasted it."
"Hey, it's a hot dog," he said. "I don't make love to it, I eat it." Man, did he leave himself wide open on that one! There were, like, ten different inappropriate comments I could'a made, but since Zell's face was already a bright red, I was afraid that making a comment might cause his blonde lil' head to pop.
I looked at the time. Unfortunately, it was time to go. "Yes, well, I need to start headin' back to my class," I announced. "Try not to walk on that foot too much, alright?"
"Okay, okay!" Zell replied impatiently.
"I'll stop by after class." I waved g'bye and started to head out the door, but Zell called out to me.
"Wait, Irvine," he hesitated a bit as he thought out what to say. "Thank you for spending your lunch with me. I know you probably would have rather been with your friends, and that was just really nice of you, and I just wanted to thank you," Zell sighed."
Rather be with someone else?! How could he think that? I wanted to tell him there's no one I'd rather be with, but I didn't wanna, like, scare him off or nothin'.
"Nah, it was nothin'! If it wasn't somethin' I wanted, then I wouldn't do it," I said with a smile and a wink. "Later!" I called as I left his room. I did mean him to read a bit into that last thing I said, but I didn't want him readin' into it while I was still in the room. I wanted to leave him thinkin' 'bout things. I'm gonna make it so Zell Dincht won't be able to think of nothin' but Irvine Kinneas.
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Holy christ on a cracker, and update!! And at 3:30 in the morning! Yes, folks, she's one of /those/ psychos. I don't know what I mean by "those" psychos, but I'm sure it has some significance. Anyhoo, much apoligies for being dead for so long XX I started too many art thingies at once and now I got nothin' done. Yeah. THANKS FOR READING 8D