Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ In Time With You ❯ Like dominoes ( Chapter 7 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Do you think he's home?" He leaned towards the window at his right, then stepped over to it to peek through the window. "His bike is parked but, everywhere in town is walking distance so that's no use."

Squall was about to suggest they check the auto shop. Zell had decided his knock was too polite and chose to use his forearm to bang on the door.

"We should go." Squall turned to leave.

"Yeah. He's probably in a drowsy state from plea-..." His words choked to silence when the front door opened. "Hey, bub,"

"Uh-huh. I was in there doing what?" Seifer leaned down a bit to hear the rest of the shorter blond's assumption. "Speak up, I can't stoop that low to hear you." He laughed in a chuckle.

"Tee hee."

"And he does more impressions now. I thought you peaked at chicken impersonation."

Zell balled up his hands, flexing his fists tightly. His jaw was clenched just as firmly. "Hilarious. I actually came here to talk."

"Sorry. No pets in the building." Replied the ex-knight. He crossed his arms fully enjoying watching Zell Dincht turn a fiery shade of Red 40.

"Squall," Zell ground through his teeth. "Help me out here." But when he turned to check on his helper, his expression turned to annoyed disbelief seeing Squall slightly hunched over yet waving for him to go on.

Seifer grimaced. "Is he all right?"

"Uhhh, sssure." He turned his attention back to Seifer. "So, are you gonna come back to Garden or not?"

"Not." He closed the door.

"Tch. OK." He called through the door. "I guess I understand. I would have thought you were stronger than that, but there seems to be a new Chicken Wuss in town."

Zell was surprised he wasn't sucked into the apartment by the door creating a wind tunnel, it was yanked open so quickly.

"I must still have water in my ears from the shower," It is possible as that's what he had been doing six or so minutes before the assault upon his front door. "Who's the Chicken Wuss? Last time I checked I fear nothing."

"Right! "I fear nothing" except commitment, accountability, failure," the martial artist grunted when Seifer's fist landed against his mouth. He staggered backwards, but caught himself from falling over into Squall.

"That's bullshit, and you know it..." He punched his palm with his fist repeatedly. His hands were not quite satisfied at one attack.

"What I know and what I see are completely the same things." He grunted again as the ex-knight's bare foot landing him in the gut. He blocked the second kick by crossing his arms and shoving it downward.

The martial artist swung his foot out to kick Seifer against the back of his knees, drooping his height at the bend. Zell rolled his hips to switch legs, and he used the lowered height to aim a kick to the side of Seifer's neck.

His kick was blocked getting pushed away. Before he could recover he was grabbed by the waistband of his jeans and pulled into the small apartment. Seifer tossed Zell to the floor and climbed onto him.

"You want me to be accountable?" He snarled as he punched his opponent in the face. "You think I'm afraid of punishment? For what? Huh? What?!" He punched him harder each time, especially when he spotted the glow of a Cure spell tracing its way up Zell.

Zell drew his legs in and wrapped them around Seifer's torso, he clenched his knees and thighs. He didn't ease up until Seifer cried out from pain coursing through his ribs from being squeezed. His pummeling fists became a grip on a handful of Zell's tank-top; he rolled them over so he's on the bottom which crushed Zell's calves beneath their combined weight. When his constriction loosened, Seifer flipped his opponent over his head.

Squall listened to the ruckus. Something broke. He was barely out of the way when Zell came stumbling out the front entrance. When Seifer emerged the pair engaged in a fist fight.

'Idiots.' He swallowed over something obstructing, then tried again. "Listen.." Nope.

He bent over and vomited.

Seifer was hit one last time due to distraction. But, an agitated swipe accompanied by the look on his face, Zell knew the fight was over. More so when seeing a woman leading a cop over to them.

'Oops.' He grimaced. Trouble.

...

"They're mine." Cid Kramer said, once he entered the police station after being contacted by the B.P.D about a disturbance.

"Including Mr. Almasy?"

Cid nodded. "Including cadet Almasy... If he'll return to classes today?"

"A deserter?" Asked the officer, not missing that Headmaster Kramer's words held uncertainty.

"A lost soul. But never a deserter."

Seifer locked his good eye without the swell with his former Headmaster's earnest gaze. Was he truly asking for him to come back?

"What do you say, Seifer? Will you return to Balamb Garden?"

Seifer heaved a sigh. "Based on the lack of discipline your cadets have towards attacking civilians,"

"Civilian?!" Complained an equally battered Zell Dincht.

"You need the Disciplinary Committee reinstated."

Zell gaped. Seifer could not be serious.

"I'll think about it."

"And I'm staying in my apartment." Seifer was sure to make that clear.

"If that's what you'd like to do. Let's move it along, boys." He looked to the officer. "Thank you for contacting me, and not charging them for disturbance."

"Well, Zell Dincht has done a lot for this town."

Seifer rolled his one good eye.

"The third young man is at the walk-in up the street." Informed the officer.

Zell stood from his seat, shrugging off Seifer who latched onto his shoulder which shoved him askewwed to nearly seated again so that he could stand. Zell couldn't believe it. Seifer's not reinstated for 30 seconds and he's already working his last nerve.

"Third?"

"Squall was with us, sir. He kinda heaved his breakfast and probably some dinner." From what he saw on the ground, Squall let out a lot! "It was disgusting."

Seifer snickered. It definitely wasn't Leonhart's finest moment. "And did you hear him? "Listen"," he then imitated Squall's retching sound.

"No," Zell laughed at the demonstration.

Balamb Garden. Later that day.

"Sorry I got you sick," Irvine shrugged out his hand.

Squall squinted at him for a second, but then his expression softened. "It wasn't you. I mean, it obviously was, but I'm the one who chose to be around you even though I knew you weren't well."

"Wish Sephy had that logic. I went by her room, she told me when she gets better she's gonna come looking for me." He chuckled. "A pretty gal finally seeks me out, and it's to kick my ass. I love it."

"She's addicted to Trabian bread pudding. Just buy her a box of that."

"Noted." He wondered if Squall had used that tactic to get back in the feisty young lady's good-graces.

As if reading Irvine's mind, Squall extended. "We had a mission over there, and when it was over we went into town. She saw the bakery window and said she'd forgive a missing limb for it."

"Really? You ever had any?"

"Yeah. It's forgiveness good."

Irvine smiled. Squall has a cute way of speaking sometimes. "Seifer really came back?"

"Yeah." He took a drink of water. "He had demands, but I think fighting with Zell clenched it."

"His antagonizing worked?"

"No. He lost his temper and attacked him rather than simply taunt him." He shrugged his shoulder. "Headmaster Cid showing that he cared probably helped, too."

Squall let out an annoyed sigh when feeling his stomach knot. Irvine grabbed the bucket Dr. Kadowaki gave him. He nodded a thanks before he spewed into it.

'Glad mine is just nose and throat.' He cleared his throat. "You need anything?"

"Soup. I'm starving." He added. "And another water. Thanks."

Irvine gave him a thumbs up before exiting to retrieve the food.

"Irvine! Irvine!"

The sniper put up his hands in self defense. "Can't I get a head start?"

"Huh?" She waved away his words. "Guess who's back? I saw him get on the elevator!"

"Ummm.." He played dumb.

"Seifer!" She smiled ear-to-ear seeing the elated disbelief Irvine expressed with his face. Nodding, she said. "Yup." Her gaze shifted towards the aforementioned elevator. "I wonder what they're talking about?" Selphie clapped her hands. "I'm gonna give him the group chat info."

"What?" He asked seeing the sudden drop in mood.

"I just realized. The group chat is on the school's message board."

"So?"

"So, you're going back to Galbadia tomorrow."

"Oh, Sephy, don't cry." He readily accepted the hug, glad to avoid seeing the glassy look as tears covered her green irises.

"How will we talk?"

"On the phone."

"But it's not as discrete!" She wept.

"My access won't change. I'll do it on my phone."

"You will?" She sniffed.

"Sure."

Her smile returned. "Good! These changes are working out." She giggled.

"Yeah." He patted the top of her head. "I gotta go pick up something for Squall."

"Ok. See you around."

"Hey, how are you?"

"Better! I had it rough for a minute, but a spoonful of meds, and a stern self talking to and I'm doing fine."

"Maybe I should try that." He thought out loud. He continued on to the cafeteria.

Zell, all healed of any bump or bruise thanks to Cura, waited for Seifer to exit the headmaster's office. "So? When do you start?" He asked following his departing rival.

"Tomorrow. I'm enlisting in Galbadia."

Zell froze. Blinking, he asked. "Say what?"

X x X

Commentary: Sorry for the late update, but I didn't realize how obnoxious it is to type for extended periods of time until after I gave up my laptop and had to use my tablet. I'll replace it, hopefully soon and without send back issues. Thanks for reading.