A/N: Hi there, I've been on a Squall jag lately, so I was compelled to update. In the beginning I was planning on having one thing happen, but just like when ever I try to write about Tidus, Irvine has run away from me. Although this story is a little bit slow moving because of the structure of the narrative things will start to pick up (plot wise). comments are always appreciated.


Zell's POV

I thought that I would spend all day with Yaya, and then we would go to the SEED ball together, but I forgot to bring my uniform with me. I headed back to the dorms, dread in the pit of my stomach. Looking at Irvine was so hard lately, Squall too. All these weird feelings kept popping up and I just wanted things to go back to normal… I missed them.

When I opened the door I found Irvine sprawled out on the couch, a bottle in one hand and an empty glass in the other, he was dead drunk.

"Shit…"

"Happy to see you too, babe." He drawled looking back at me.

"You have to get dressed; the ball is in an hour…" I said putting my hands on my hips.

"Not going," he said trying to pour out another glass of whisky and spilling it all over himself and the couch.

"Whoa, I think you've had enough buddy." I said, bridging the distance between us for the first time in days, maybe a week. I pushed his legs off the end of the couch and sat by his side, taking the glass and the nearly empty bottle out of his hands. "Now what were you thinking? You know you have to go to events like this. Let's get you sobered up; I have the best hangover cure."

"No…" he moaned childishly. He pushed his hat further down on his head, covering his eyes. I snatched it off his head and tossed it into the other room. "Hey!"

"Come on…" he said looking up at me with glistening violet eyes. He had been crying. Christ, he was more of a mess than I had ever seen him.

"Hurts…" my breath caught in my chest as he licked his lips, I couldn't help but think that he was beautiful.

"What hurts?" I asked putting my hand on his shoulder gently.

"Everything. All this Rinoa crap everyone has been acting crazy… and Sephie… She doesn't love me…" he groaned trying to sniff back the tears welling in his eyes.

"Yes she does…" I said shaking my head.

"Not enough…"

"But you don't know that…"

"I would never put her in a position that would hurt so bad…" he mumbled. "She's brought Rinoa here almost every day so that I could make her feel better…"

"Seriously?" That was news to me.

"And where the hell have you been? I have no best friend and no girlfriend and I lost all my charm."

"Sorry, I've been preoccupied lately…" he looked me straight in the eye and I almost heard him whimper.

"Need you," he sniffled. "Can't do it alone."

"I know," I said with a little sigh. I shouldn't have abandoned him when I knew he was all torn up just because I felt…weird… "Irvy," I said catching his attention. "I'm here its okay."

"Not okay… I don't think I can do this… dressing up and dancing with Sephie, Dancing with Rinoa… being alone, none of it. Nobody loves me…" he let out a big sniffle and bit his lip. I couldn't help myself, I leaned in and kissed him gently, his lips were even softer than they looked. He tasted like whiskey, not surprising. When I leaned back he just stared at me, mouth gaping.

"You haven't lost all of your charm…" I said with a little smile. I hoped he was drunk enough that he wouldn't remember; I don't know why I did it.

"Zell…" he was on me before I even knew what was happening. His heavy body pressing me into the couch as his lips crushed against mine, his tongue pushing its way into my mouth. I tried to say stop but it just came out as a little moan against his lips. I could feel myself straining in my pants, his arms wrapped around me and our legs tangled together on the couch. I had expected to mind, being man handled by him always made me feel unsettled, but even with the taste of whiskey his kisses were so sweet and hot, I just melted into him. I felt strong hands slipping inside my shorts, struggling to get them loose.

"Hey…" I said pushing him off of me. I could feel my lips swollen from kissing him and I could hardly think of a reason to stop. "Hey…"

"Want you…" he said leaning in and crushing his lips against mine again urgently. I pushed him back again, pulling my legs out from under him before he could pin me.

"You're my best friend," I said gently.

"Yeah," he said, nodding his head as he put his hand square on my lap grabbing hold of my stiffness and stroking it through my shorts, making me shudder. "Mine too." I let out a little whimper and he smiled, hyne he was so hot.

"You're my best friend…" I repeated again, stopping his hand despite how much I wanted him to continue. "That's why we can't…"

"We can…" He said licking his lips. "I'll make you feel so good, you won't regret it." He drawled. I swallowed hard, he felt me twitch in his hand and gave me this long sexy smirk, but I had to shake my head.

"You're drunk… and we're best friends. I don't want to…" he squeezed me firmly in his hand. "Ah!"

"Beg to differ."

"Let's get you sober." I repeated. "We can't… so let's get you sober."

"But Zell…" he whimpered. It was one of the hottest things I've ever heard. I wondered how he could ever think he had lost his charm.

"I love being best friends with you…" I said brushing a long strand of honey brown hair out of his eyes. He released me but leaned into my hand, I was glad, but he left me aching for more.

"Yeah? Me too. I can always talk to you… always count on you."

"Yeah," I said leaning in and kissing him again.

"You're sending mixed signals," he whispered against my lips.

"Yeah…" I said kissing him ones more. "Last time…"

"Love me?" he asked between kisses.

"Like a brother…" I said pulling back. "But you know you're not going to be happy with this."

"I am…" I shook my head at him.

"Stop fooling around… find someone just for you. You'll like it better." He cupped my cheek and kissed me ever so sweetly.

"Zell… we could…" I shook my head again.

"Not me. I'm not gay."

"Liar," he tried to kiss me again but I leaned out of the way.

"I'm not…" he looked at me for a long moment. I felt so nervous and I can't really explain why. Then he nodded. "Besides you're drunk…"

"I like being best friends too," he nodded.

"Good," I said getting up. The urge to kiss him had mostly passed. I ran to my room and picked up my hangover cure. "Its detox and some ether," I said tossing it to him

"Tsk, wasting special supplies." He said shaking his head, but he drank it down. I could see the fog in his eyes clearing; he let out a heavy sigh.

"You back with us buddy?"

"Yeah," He said looking me over for a long moment. "Thanks. Sorry if I tried anything…" he said softly.

"We're cool, you better get dressed though, we'll be late."

"I don't want to go…"

"I know, but we have to."

"God Squall's going to be so pissed," he said putting his hand over his mouth shyly.

"Wait, what do you mean? Why I Squall going to be pissed?" He looked up at me with these dark guilty eyes and then went off to his room.

"I'll go get dressed," was the only answer I got.