Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Birthday ❯ One-Shot

Wiggling out of his bed-sheet cocoon, Zell glanced at the clock on the shelf beside him.

He yawned and retched out, turning around to face him. 9:47 it blinked happily.

With a smile the blonde snuggled back down into the warmth of his bed.

What better way to celebrate a birthday then to sleep in, he thought fondly and closed his eyes.

But what about the hotdogs? A small voice inside of him questioned.

"What about the hotdogs? It's my birthday, The hotdogs can wait for a change." Zell murmured in an annoyed tone then glanced around to make sure his roommate hadn't been around to hear him.

Speaking of roommates, Where's yours? the voice whispered softly, sultry, in his ear, making the boy wriggle with embarrassment.

"I don't know" Zell replied, blushing and scratching his belly.

The boy waited for a second more for the voice to ask something else but it was silent. He sighed happily.

"Where is Seifer?" He mumbled lazily and rolled over, casting a long look over at Seifers' made bed. "Must've got up early" he decided and watched the shadows on the ceiling.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick. Zell frowned slightly and closed his eyes.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Tick.

Ti- The boy growled and rolled over again to glare at the clock.

9:51 the clock blinked at him, acting innocent.

With a sigh, Zell sat up. "I'm bored" he told the empty room.

He felt a little hollow, Let down even. He was 15 now, isn't something amazing meant to happen when you're fifteen?

He didn't feel any older. Or stronger. In fact, All he felt right now was sad, hungry and alone.

Why was Seifer up so early anyway? Zell thought irritably as he climbed off his bed and yawned loudly. Maybe he's gone off to get a present.... the voice inside him mocked gently.

"HA!" the blonde grunted and started stretching his calves and thighs, Self-consciencly aware of his too short boxers. Perhaps he's realised how he feels about you! the voice chirped happily.

Zell froze and a shiver climbed his spine then raced back down.

The voice chuckled, getting into the game now; Perhaps he's realised he's as much in love with you as you ar- "Shut up!" Zell yelled into the silence. "That's not even funny!" He winced as his voice broke with emotion and sat down on the bed, taking his head into his palms.

But what if...?! "What if nothing." The boy growled and bit his lip. Hard. He welcomed the sharp tang of coppery-blood on his tongue. You never know, He might feel the same the voice told him in a soft, apologetic tone.

"He wouldn't" Zell sighed heavily and felt his shoulders slump with defeat.

How would you know, You haven't asked him have you, Have you?! Yelled the voice.

Zell narrowed his eyes. "I didn't wake up this morning just so I can be badgered by you, You know." He said coldly. "Now, If you don't mind; It's my birthday weather anyone knows it or not." He waited for a reply and smiled when none came. "I have some eating to do."

Ohh Zeeeeeell!.... The voice whined as the boy retched for his shoe.

"Whaaaaaatt..." Zell mimicked and hunted around for his shorts.

Please.... Please promise me you at least talk to him about it!

Grabbing his shirt and kicking a few magazines out of the way, The boy grunted. "Any should I risk my neck doing anything stupid like that?"

Because you liiiiike him.... Because you loooov- "Alright!" Zell yelped, then sighed as he tied the lace of his shoe in a double knot. "I'll... Talk to him about it. I'm not saying I'll necessarily tell him how I feel, I'll just.... Talk." The voice cheered loudly in his mind, making the blonde wince. "But ONLY if you shut up about it and let me have a half decent birthday for once, Got it?!"

The voice agreed, Sounding just a tad guilty, then left leaving Zell blissful silence.

Zell smiled and grabbed a few things before looking around his side of the messy room and heading out.

* * *

He sighed; Almost no one had remembered his birthday.

He'd had to remind each and everyone of his friends. Not that there are many he thought to himself.

"Face it kid, No-one loves ya" He muttered in a bad accent as he threw pebbles over the rail.

"Even Alex forgot.... And he's meant to be my best friend!" Don't take it too hard Zell.... Alex has just been.... Busy lately. A small voice said softly inside him.

"Busy, Yeah. With his new girlfriend." He flicked another pebble, Watching it fall down into the outside ponds below with a tiny splash.

"I hate girls," He added angrily.

After a while he sighed and layed back against the railing, Eyes closed, Feeling the wind roll through he hair.

He didn't need friends. No one did. Squall didn't, He seemed fine. And Seifer.... Zell bit his lip.

Seifer does seem to be hanging around that Raijin allot lately. He tried to push the doubts out of his mind. And the crazy girl, Whats-her-name.

You don't think he's interested in.... Zell sighed. Dude, If you want to know... Just go ask him! The voice said simply.

"But what if he is? What if he isn't, How can I just walk up to him and say; 'Oh yeah, You going out with anyone right now Seif? No? Cool, Wanna go out with me sometime?'" Zell yelped, waving his arms franticly.

"He's going to think I'm nuts!"

"A guy... Interested in...." He trailed off and closed his eyes to fight back the tears. "...Interested in other guys." He spat the words out like they were a bad hotdog.

Hey now.... Don't be like that.... You don't know until you ask! The voice tried.

"You said that before." Zell mumbled darkly and hugged his legs to his chest.

"He's going to think I'm a freak. I KNOW it."

The voice in his mind sighed softly and tried to soothe the blonde, to no avail.

"Just leave me alone" Zell sobbed softly without tears.

Silence returned.

* * *

Its late Zell looked over his shoulder towards Balamb town where the sun was setting in the horizon. And it's getting dark...

The blonde slowly climbed to his feet, using the railing for support. His feet were numb and he hadn't realised the cold snap that had crept up on him.

He shivered and rubbed his bare calves, trying to push some life back into them.

After a bit of jumping around, It worked. He was warm again.

Time to go back to bed I guess He thought bitterly as he headed for the Quad's stairs. Some birthday this has been. He snorted and a cloud of white mist danced around his face, making him smile slightly.

Heading out into the main hallway, Zell was suprised to see the lack of people in the halls.

Must be later then I thought He frowned and started jogging towards the car park in order to retrieve his T-board from where he kept it.

"Might rain tonight" he panted and swerved between the parked cars. Or even snow? a familiar voice asked excitedly in his head.

"Don't be stupid, We're far too south for snow!" Zell grunted and dunked down beside the principle's car to nudge a tile out of the way.

With a quick push the tile slid away from the wall, revealing a small man-made hole.

Zell confidently shoved his hand into the hole and started to pull out a long red board. Did you hear that?! The voice yelped.

Zell swung around. He had heard it. The sound of voices talking softly. Who are they? the voice nudged. "I don't know!" The boy replied and duck lower until he was almost lying under Cid's car.

I better not get caught under here Zell worried and shuffled forward in order to catch a glimpse of who was talking.

His spine ran cold as he found himself starring at two pairs of feet.

It sounds like...!! Zell ignored the voice inside him. He has recognised one of the pairs of feet to be very familiar. Seifer! Both voices yelped in unison.

But.... Who is with him?! Zell continued to ignore the voice as he tried to digest what was going on.

Slowly his senses came back to him and he heard footsteps and giggling pass him. Seifer and.... A girl? He held his breath.

The two voices started talking again in low, soft tones. Tender tones. Zell felt his eyes water.

Dude, You gotta see- He lifted his head slowly and stared at the sense in front of him.

He didn't recognise the girl but he recognised Seifer. And what they were doing. The blonde slumped back down as the tears began to flow.

They were... Kissing. Seifer was kissing a girl! Zell felt like shit as he huddled there, Behind a car trying not to cry.

After what seemed to be an eternity footsteps began to fade away as the two parted and headed off in their separate ways.

Zell looked up and slowly climbed to his feet, His arms feeling like lead. He hugged himself tight and began walking towards the car-park exit.

Looking back towards where his board was hidden he noticed someone getting into a car.

He didn't mean to stare, He couldn't help it. She was beautiful. But why.... Why Seifer?! His mind raged as he narrowed his eyes at the car she was starting.

He stood, squeezing himself tight. Not breathing as he watched her re-arrange her white dress and dive off.

But not before she'd noticed and waved to him. He hated her even more for that. How....!

After standing in the rapidly cooling night air for a few minutes, Staring at the tail lights of the car as it headed back to Balamb, Zell decided he was ready to go back inside. To bed.

He didn't feel anything as he slumped back into his dorm and started pulling his clothes off in the dark.

He climbed into bed and lay there, staring at the ceiling for a few more numb seconds.

At first he thought it was himself talking. He thought he had finally become madder. But no, It was much worse.

"You shouldn't be spying on others Chicken-wuss" The voice called out again into the darkness.

"It's not nice." Zell held his breath and closed his eyes tightly to hold back the tears that threatened to overcome him again.

"It's not... Healthy. Then again, Neither is talking to yourself. Hmm?" Seifer said coldly as Zell shoved his fist into his mouth and bit down hard.

He could hear the boy coughing as blood ran down his throat and tears streamed out onto his cheeks and sniffed.

"Happy birthday Zell" He added, feeling slightly guilty as he rolled over to face his back to the child.

".... May you have many more" He mumbled earnestly as Zell huddled down in his bed-sheets and began to sob silently and hug himself to sleep.