Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ TKO- Total Knock Out ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

chapter 4

The next day Zell woke up late with a hangover. He groaned and turned over on his stomach. He opened his eyes slowly and looked around, remembering where he was his head lifted and he looked around for Squall. No one else was in the room, he looked towards the bathroom door but it was open with the lights off.

He lifted himself from the bed and sat up rubbing his eyes. "Great." He said looking at the clock. It was already ten o'clock and he should have been started packing, now he has a headache and Squall's nowhere in sight.

He got up from the bed and put his shirt and sneakers on then went to the door. As soon as he reached for the knob on the door it opened and Squall walked through backing Zell up. "Where the hell have you been?" Zell said watching him go to the bed. Squall lied down on his back and looked at Zell. "Packing, your mom said it was ok for you to stay in Deling with me, everything's ready and waiting outside." He looked up at the ceiling then closed his eyes.

Zell stood by the door dumbfounded then crossed his arms. "So what are you doing?" Without moving Squall answered. "Trying to get some sleep, your mom wants to see you before we go at twelve." "Oh," He stood there looking at the man on the bed and he wet his lips before speaking. "hey Squall... about last night-" Squall just waved his hand silencing him "Forget about it we know why it happened and won't again. Now go home." Zell nodded to himself turning to leave the room.

"One more thing." Squall tossed him a bottle of aspirin and Zell turned catching it easily. "For your head." He finished and Zell said his thanks and closed the door behind him.

* * *

Seifer looked at the apartment door as it opened. He was on the floor in nothing but a pair of pants doing sit ups. "Where the hell have you been?" He asked Irvine and went back to his work out. Irvine pulled his hat off and tossed it to the couch across the room. He sighed sliding his coat off and hung it up on the coat rack. "Out," He said stepping over him and sat on the couch and stretched.

"I had to see someone that's all." "One of your little fuck buddies I bet." Seifer said sitting up for the last time. "Don't get jealous gorgeous we'll find you a good man someday heh heh." Irvine said jokingly knowing Seifer wasn't really gay. "Whatever." he said standing and walked to the bar getting his bottle of water. He sat on one of the stools taking a drink. "I also found out that you've got some competition for world champion." "From who?" "I don't really know the guy, but I know he'll be here in Deling soon to train." Irvine grabbed the remote and started flicking through the channels. "Yeah well they'd better work pretty damn hard if they wanna beat me." He took another drink then capped the bottle and walked into his bedroom.

He pulled on a shirt and then his shoes and left the room. "Where are you goin'?" Irvine asked looking at the tall blonde from the side of his eye. "Just for a ride." He said "Yeah well make sure you're back before 3 we got that thing with the boxing league executives to square away you're competing this year." "Yeah yeah." Seifer said and left. Irvine shook his head and chucked lightly at the cartoon he was watching.

Seifer went down into the parking garage of the building, after looking around to make sure he was alone, he pulled the little packet of white powder out of his pant pocket. He opened it slightly and poured a little into his hand sniffing it up. He closed the pouch and put it back in his pocket. He sniffed again then smiled. "Ah." He walked over to his motorcycle and mounted it lifting himself up and slamming his foot down on the pedal. After it revved enough he sped off out of the garage.

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

After a 20 minute ride Seifer parked in front of the pool hall. He strode over to the bar and ordered a drink. "Hey look everybody its Seifer fucking Almasy." the bar tender said. The other men in the room looked up from their games or drinks and smiled. "Well what do ya know." a man said from his table and Seifer rolled his eyes turning back to get his drink.

"Haven't seen you around here in awhile champ where ya been." Laguna the bar tender asked leaning himself against the bar. "Matches, training you know." He said and took a sip of the beer. "Well we missed you." Laguna said and patted Seifer on the hand going back to work.

Seifer took a long drink then set the glass down signaling for a refill. "Hey Seifer come have a game with us." A man said from his pool table "That is if you can still play, I mean all that boxing might mess up your game." He laughed with a few of the others standing around the table.

Seifer took his newly filled drink and walked over to them. Standing right in the guys face being taller than the husky man he looked down with an evil smirk "I never lose any game." He said and set the glass down on a nearby table. "Rack 'em and when I win I'm taking all your money with me." He said grabbing a pool stick and twirling it in his hand watching the men stare jaws dropped.

From behind the bar Laguna shook his head "Always the bad ass." he sighed and the game began.

* * *

Back in Balamb Zell was standing at the train station with his Ma and a few others from the neighborhood.

"We'll miss seeing you around Zell." one of his moms friends said and put her hand on his cheek and he smiled politely at her. "I'll visit and hey maybe you'll see me on TV sometime." He said picking up his suitcase.

"You behave in that big city boy, don't disappoint us." A man said. "I won't sir I promise." The man nodded proudly. Everyone turned when they heard a car screech up to the curb. Squall got out pulling his little bit of luggage from the passenger seat and walked to the conductor giving him their tickets, then he stood by the train waiting.

"Well I guess this is it." Zell said "Oh you grew up so fast and now you're gonna be a world champion." Ma Dincht said pulling him into a hug. "I might not make it that far Ma." He said hugging her back. She pulled away and looked at him sternly. "No boy of mine is going to doubt himself alright. You're gonna go to Deling work your little heart out and be the best you can. You'll make it I know you will." She kissed his forehead.

"Now you be careful please and no more doubts okay for me." Zell nodded starting to feel a little sad and homesick already. He turned away waving at the people and got on the train. "You look after him Squall." Ma Dincht said and he saluted her getting on the train behind Zell. After they were situated and everyone else was on the train started moving. Zell yelled out the window "I'll call when I get there." He waved one last time and blew a kiss to his Ma.

The two of them found their seats and put up their luggage settling down beside each other. Zell sighed happily and stretched his arms. "This is so cool." He said "I'll finally be out on my own, away from all those old people treating me like Ma's perfect little angel." "Isn't that what you are?" Squall asked jokingly staring out the window.

"Ha ha, that's not all I'm about and they'll see that soon. I'm a lean mean punching machine baby." He put his right leg over his left knee resting his hands behind his head. Squall looked at him, Zell had his eyes closed, so he turned back to his window.

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

When they arrived in Timber, they rented a car and made their way to Deling. Squall was driving and Zell relaxed in the passenger seat.

"So what do we do once we get there?" He asked looking at Squall who was concentrated on the road, because there was a lot of traffic. "We have to register you for the champion league in an hour. We'll stop and get something to eat then go to the apartment complex."

"You think we'll make it in time?" Squall looked over at Zell. "Of course we will I'm driving, now stop worrying so much." Zell frowned and turned on the radio putting in a tape of Linkin Park.

"Man I'm hungry, how much longer before we get to Deling?" "Not much." Squall answered nonchalantly. "So are we both paying rent on this place? Cause I-" "Zell if you ask me one more thing in the next hour I'll throw you out this car." Squall said still calmly but with meaning in his words.

"Okay okay geez," He sat back in his seat hard. "Thank you." Squall said

"...... High voltage this is the unforgettable sound, taking you up and bringin you down," Zell sang with the song playing and Squall looked at him annoyed but smiling then went back to the road.