Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Love By Moonlight ❯ A Kiss is just a kiss ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter Nineteen.

The next day.

Zell had decided to stay home from school, even though, he had to fake sickness to do so. He said he'd eaten some bad fish last night and felt like he was going to throw up at any minute. Ma at first didn't wanna believe him, but he looked so tired all the time there was a good chance he was telling the truth.

"I want you to stay in bed today, alright?" Ma informed her son with a firm finger of insistence.

"Yes, Ma." Zell replied snuggling into his blanket.

"I'll bring you soup in an hour." She kissed her son on the forehead and walked out the door, closing it behind her.

"Now I just feel guilty. Irvine's gonna know I'm avoiding him and now I'm lying to Ma again, I'll be glad when this is all over with." He said out loud and turned on his side to gaze out the window. 'I wonder if he already left for school?' Zell popped his head up over the window sill and saw Irvine down on the streets.

It looked as though he were gonna turn his head and look up at Zell's window but luckily, the cowboy was distracted when the little brunette bounced up beside him already running her mouth a mile a minute about what Zell could only assume were details of their date last night. 'I hope he doesn't over emphasize it,' Thought Zell still looking after them. 'we didn't really do anything worth talking about.' Straining an ear to hear their voices, the little blonde pondered opening the window.

'Nah, Ma will hear it and wonder why I'd be opening the window letting in the draft.' He sighed in defeat but leaned up enough to press an ear to the glass. "That's so sweet!" Selphie's typical female squeal was heard even at the distance they were.

Zell groaned falling back onto his pillow. "Great, the whole school will know now. Uuuuagh." Picking up his pillow he pressed it down onto his face. 'I wonder if suffocation is considered a proper suicide to the ruining of your social life?'

Tossing the pillow aside he slipped out of bed and dropped his feet to the floor but yanked them quickly back under the blanket. "Shit it's cold for April." Looking around for his slippers he didn't see them, so he grabbed a pair of socks from the dresser beside his bed and slipped them on. "Even when they warm your feet they're still cold before you slip them on." He murmured to himself and walked out of his room.

He opened his mouth yawning and raised his arms over his head to stretch the sleep from his skin. "Geez, it feels like I slept on a brick wall." Rubbing the back of his neck he walked out of his room, going down the hall to the bathroom. Opening the mirror, he pulled out the Listerine, uncapped it and poured a little in his mouth to gargle. 'I wonder what Seifer was doing last night?' His mind brought up out of nowhere. 'Did he think of me, or wonder why I wasn't there last night?' Spitting into the sink, he turned on the water and slurped some into his mouth to rinse some of the mint out of it.

"To shower or not to shower...." Zell looked at the bath tub and turned his mouth up thinking about it. "Shower." The little blonde walked over to the tub and yanked the curtain over. He then turned on the water, leaving it in the hot direction. "Why freeze while I'm undressing." He remarked as he removed his night shirt and pants. "Don't have very long, if Ma's bringing me soup." He murmured to himself looking at the bathroom clock.

When he was stark naked he climbed into the shower and let the searing hot water run down his body, waking him up- in more ways than one.

While Zell's hands washed the water over his body, he couldn't help but notice his growing erection that was forming from the heat of the water. 'Not today, today I need to get clean and get out....besides I'm supposed to be sick with a stomach ache and sick people don't stand around in the shower most of the morning.' But he couldn't control where his hands washed and before he knew it, he had a firm hand on his cock and was giving it little squeezes.

'Just this once and then no more.' He informed himself. Raising the shower head up so that it pointed to the wall, Zell walked to the back of the tub and sat himself directly in the down pour of steamy water. It took him a minute to support his weight on the tiny back side corner of the tub, but he managed to do so and he gently pulled himself off. Closing his eyes he imagined Seifer's mouth going around the head of his penis. The feel of the fire in his moonlight lovers mouth. "Gods Seifer." He whispered.

Planting his feet firmly in place his hips began to rise and fall against the back of the porcelain tub. He bit his tongue to avoid moaning out loud but even that couldn't keep his voice as low as he wanted it to be.

A direct spray of water pummeled down onto the hole of his head and the feeling made him slam his back into the wall. "...Uuuuaaaa." His breath became ragged when his tugging had picked up. Unconsciously he grabbed the bottle of soap and slipped up his hands placing them back onto his dick and slid the shaft in and out of his hands.

The water made it all the better by bubbling up the liquid soap around his dick, giving him a clean ride up and down. "Zeelll," He heard Seifer's voice almost as though it were real. He could feel a burn hotter than the water creeping up his legs to his thighs, then a gentle pair of lips against his abdomen.

The burning tongue coursed up his chest and kissed him on the lips saying, "Gods I want you." Zell sighed heatedly in response feeling sweat pour down his face and body.

"I wanna ride you all night long." Seifer went on. Zell could feel the vampire's tongue searching the outline of his ear.

"Please," He said into the air. "I want you-.."

"To get out of that shower and come eat some soup." His mother said cutting through his fantasy. Zell nearly jumped out of his skin, in humiliation but realized that he was safe because the door was locked and she had no way of knowing what he was doing in there. "I-.." He swallowed the crack from his voice and tried again. "I'm almost done, Ma."

"Ookaay, just know that your soup is in your room and getting cold, so hurry up sweetie." He heard her leaving so he felt no need to answer. Grabbing the soap bottle, Zell squeezed some onto the wash rag and started cleaning himself up. "Great, now I'm gonna have blue balls." He could already feel the discomfort from not coming while he rinsed the soap from himself.

'I wonder if Seifer and me did have a fight the other night?' Zell wondered. 'I hope not, I really wanna see him tonight. If I can sneak out.' Turning off the water, he reached for his towel and wrapped it around his waist.

'But if he is mad, I hope he doesn't try to kill me again.....'

* * *

As the day ticked on, Zell found out the hard way that life at home was boring. "Nothin' to do." He sighed out, lazily tossing a rubber ball in the air with one hand and catching it with another. "So bored." He muttered.

Sitting quietly for a moment, he hears the television downstairs and couldn't make out what it was that was showing on it. "The View?" He wondered. "No, Ma doesn't watch that crap." Listening harder he rolled onto his side, supporting himself up on his elbow to hear.

"........Oohhhh," He said finally realizing what it is. "One Life To Live and thank Hyne, school's almost out." Getting off his bed, Zell walked downstairs and into the living room. "Hey Ma? Are you gonna be leaving tonight?" He asked his mother who was already preparing dinner, chopping broccoli heads off the stems.

"Nope, you're sick remember? I have to stay here and take care of you." She replied.

"But I...." He paused. 'I can't tell her that I feel fine now,' Thought Zell. 'She'll know I was faking it.'

"But what?" Ms. Dincht asked.

"But I....I thought you were going to the movies tonight with your friends." 'Good save!' He cheered himself.

"I'm sure they can get along fine without me for one night." She stated. "The person who needs me right now is you and as a mother I can't back down on that."

"Aha ha." Zell laughed lightly. 'Man, how'm I gonna get out of here now?' He wondered.

"I'm glad you're up though," She went on saying. "It means you must be feeling at least a little better. Go on and watch some t.v if you like."

A frown came across Zell's face. 'TV?' He thought. 'I don't wanna watch t.v what I want is to get out of the house and go do something....I guess I do have time to kill before tonight anyway, I can think of some way to get out of here in the mean time.'

The little blonde walked into the living room and plopped down on the couch changing the channel. Flicking around he stopped on lifetime. "Alright, The Nanny." Zell raised his feet to the coffee table but quickly lowered them, remembering the number one rule of the house. So instead he crossed his legs with his ankle to his knee and leaned forward on his elbows.

The phone rang in the kitchen and after about three rings, his Ma picked up the receiver. 'I wonder who that could be?' Zell looked into the kitchens direction, but turned back to the t.v when he heard his mother going on about how much house work she had left to do tomorrow.

"Honestly, I wish homes were self cleaning sometimes, like they show on all those house's of tomorrow type shows."

"What in the world do adults talk about sometimes?" Zell asked himself. He ended up watching an entire 'Nanny' marathon they were running, but managed to pull himself away from the show long enough to eat dinner. Afterwards he returned to the couch to see out the last two episodes.

"I take it you're feeling better?" Ma noted, walking into the living room after washing the dishes.

"A little...." Answered Zell, trying to lower his voice to convince her.

His mother gave him a quaint smile, "Dessert is on the table if you can stomach it." She headed for the stairs until she heard the door bell.

"Hey stomach," Zell was saying. "Can you handle some apple pie?" He made a fake grumbling sound.

"I wonder who that could be?" Ms. Dincht turned her path to the door and pulled it opened. "Irvine, what a pleasant surprise." The cowboy grinned and tipped his head to her.

"Howdy Ms. Dincht, I brought Zell's homework for him." He said looking in the little blondes direction as he walked into the kitchen but he paused cocking an eye brow to what Irvine had just said.

"You're a God send, come on in." She said stepping back, but Irvine declined the invite.

"I gotta get back home sorry, I just came to drop off the work." Ms. Dincht was about to take the papers when Irvine made a face to his friend who finally got the hint and reached for the papers himself.

"Thanks," Grabbing his jacket, he walked half way out the door but Ma stopped him by grabbing his collar. "Where do you think you're going?" She asked.

"Is it alright if I talk to Irvine for a minute? I'll cover up and everything." Zell asked with puppy eyes on her.

At first it didn't seem as though she would give in, but seeing her son's innocent face she let her morals drop and waved a hand. "Go on, but make sure you zip your jacket, it's cold outside." Ma informed.

"Okay." Zell replied, pulling the little piece of metal up it's trail to zip it. "I'll be in, in a minute." He waved on his way out and closed the door behind him.

"Sick?" Irvine asked leaning downwards to whisper, suggesting Zell do the same incase Ma was at the door listening.

"Well I had to say something to get her to let me stay at home." Without even realizing it, the two of them started walking away from the house.

"And what about the homework thing, you aren't in any of my classes." Zell remarked.

Irvine glanced away uncomfortably. "I just wanted to see you." He then added. "Why would you wanna do a thing like pretend your sick?"

".......Well." Zell didn't really wanna say it, but there was no real answer but the truth. "...I was, I don't know..."

"Trying to avoid me?" Irvine finished.

"Sort of." Zell's shoulders sank taking his head with them and they remained quiet as they walked to where ever it was they were heading.

"So, I take it the date did go bad?" Irvine asked suddenly.

"No, not at all...I think I'd actually like to do it again but, the discomfort the next day after-..." Started the blonde but Irvine put his hands up to silence him.

"Say no more, I understand." A slight silence then Irvine added. "So does that mean the date wasn't bad?"

Zell shrugged, reaching out for the pole of a street light and pulled himself up to stand on the base of it. "Nah, I wish it wasn't a school night though, then maybe we could have done more than just have dinner." He said casually.

"Heh, we could have done more if I didn't come to your house so dang late." The cow boy paused in front of him looking up at him locking their eyes in a gaze.

"That's new," Said Zell blinking away from the stare to hop off to the cement base of the light.

"What is?" Asked Irvine following him with his eyes a moment, before walking along side of him.

"Some one taking the blame over school, it's spooky." Explained Zell.

"Heh heh."

Looking up at him Zell twisted his mouth up before asking. "You know, I've never heard you laugh, I mean an honest out loud long laugh."

"What?" Irvine paused placing his hands on his hips.

"It's true! What, cowboys don't laugh unless it's a loud southern joke being told?" Zell asked, placing his hands on Irvine's to push them away from his sides then he took the one at his walking side and held on.

"Shit if I know, but you ain't missin' out on much either way." The cowboy replied. It was quiet again. as if they felt uncomfortable all of a sudden.

'I hope I didn't offend him.' Noticing that he had been holding Irvine's hand he shook his free.

"Sorry about that." The little blonde said, placing an awkward hand behind his head.

"It's alright," More silence.

'Geez, I did offend him, better say I'm sorry.' Thought Zell, but just as he went to open his mouth another thought occurred to him. "Did Selphie ask about our date last night?" Irvine nodded and walked on until they reached the gazebo at the park. The two of them walked up the two little stairs and sat down on a bench underneath.

"Well, what did you say?" Zell continued to grill him for the answers and Irvine shrugged.

"Aaaw, it's dumb, you don't wanna hear about it."

"Yeah I do," The blonde said with grit in his voice before grabbing the cowboys shirt. "Now tell me." He insisted, and after letting out a sigh Irvine mumbled.

"I told her, I think I'm falling in love with you."

That came as a shock to Zell, and he let his friends shirt go, shrinking himself back to a sitting position. "You...you love me?" Zell asked to make sure he'd heard right.

"Well, I ain't entirely sure yet, seein' as how I've had a crush on you dang near since the third grade." Zell couldn't believe his ears. All those years of being friends Irvine never showed any real interest in anyone, or being anything to Zell but friends.

"Don't worry though," Irvine said, cutting through Zell's inner thoughts. "You ain't gotta say nothin' in return. I don't expect you too, I just thought it was about time someone knew how I felt even if you couldn't be the first."

Zell was still so shocked. 'He loves me?' He repeated in his head. 'Irvine, loves me...?' Looking away from him, he felt a sudden punch in his shoulder and turned seeing Irvine wave at him.

"You in there?" His friend asked.

"Uh..." Was all he could get out.

"Like I told you, don't feel like you gotta say somethin' in return. I mean, I was just grateful I got at least one date with you." Said Irvine. "Cause I know you're with someone else."

'He must mean Seifer,' Zell thought. 'but come on, who ever said we were together? He never really seems to care about me anyway and then there's the fact that I still lo-...well...this is just complicated.' Irvine blinked in wonder as he watched Zell have a mental struggle with himself in silence.

"Heh heh, don't fry your brain hombre, forget I said anything." The cowboy offered.

But Zell remained in a train of thought. 'On one hand, I could have a normal relationship with a normal person like everyone else,' He went on thinking. 'and on the other hand I could be a night owl with Seifer...and spend the rest of my life miserable wondering what he really thinks of me.'

Rubbing Zell's back a second Irvine finally gets his attention and says. "If we're done, I gotta get home."

"What, now? We barely got to say anything." Zell stated standing up when Irvine did.

"There's nothin' to say though." Replied Irvine.

"Wait." Zell got up on the bench and wrapped his arms around his friends neck, slamming his mouth to his. Thinking it was going to be nothing more than a short peck, Irvine pulled slightly away being yanked back into it with a mouth wide open from the little blonde.

'Now look at this.' A familiar face hiding in a tree thought. 'Looks like Seifer's little blonde lover, isn't as white as snow. And look what he brought me, my favorite cowboy... maybe I should pay him a little visit of my own later.' Laguna flew down shortly from the tree landing on the grass, then he changed back into his human form then into a crow. 'No reason I can't get a closer look.'

Flying to the stairs of the gazebo, he walked under it to the other side and watched the two of them continue their kiss. It was innocent at first, but the cowboy's tongue came out to explore it's neighbors home. Zell made a little moan into Irvine's mouth, and the cowboy smiled pressing closer into the kiss.

Laguna walked sideways with an unseen birds smile. Zell took the chance to return the favor when Irvine's tongue returned to his mouth, moaning again, until he heard the loud squawk of a black bird. The two of them jumped from the startle and pulled away laughing. "I'll bet your noisy in bed." Irvine commented.

"Irvine." Grumbled Zell, not appreciating the comment.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll see ya tomorrow," He walked away from him but turned around. "Unless of course your still sick." Winking at him he walked away.

Zell watched him walk away with a faint smile on his lips. "Yeah, tomorrow." Sighing he thought about walking around until he realized that he told Ma he wasn't going any further than the house. "Shit, she's gonna kill me." The blonde took off for his house.

Laguna watched him go, then turned his attention back to Irvine and using his animalistic night vision he saw through the darkness and flew off in his direction.

........................

"Ma listen," Zell was saying when he opened the front door. "I'm sorry I-...." His words were choked off, like a master pulling the tight leash around a dogs neck.

"Look, your friend from school is here." His Ma said. Blinking in wide eyed horror, he saw Seifer sitting on the couch across from his mother, who was in another seat, and with a sinister grin on his face the vampire looked at him saying.

"Hello Zell....."