Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ TKO- Total Knock Out ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

chapter 5

When the two of them finally made it to Deling they drove into the city quietly, Zell was looking out the window at everything he saw taking in as much as he could. He smiled in amazement at how many people were around and all the tall buildings and lights that shown even during the daytime. The city seemed to be permanently in shadow.

Squall stopped the car in front of a nearby bar taking Zell's attention from the window. He looked over at the drivers seat and Squall was already getting out so he got out with him. He stretched and looked at the building they were in front of.

"A bar, why are we here? Don't they have restaurants?" Zell asked walking around the car to where Squall was. "Yeah but this is cheaper and all I could find at the moment." He said and they walked up to the building, hearing the noise inside of it, Zell got a little nervous. "Are you sure we should stop here?" He asked listening to the sound of something breaking from inside.

Inside the bar, the guy that had challenged Seifer to the game just landed on a table knocking it over as he slid to the ground. Seifer walked over to him and pulled the guy up by the collar of his shirt. "You asked me to play remember tubby? You don't give me my money now and I'll break your fucking neck." He growled in the mans face. A few of the watchers cheered him on to do it but Laguna came from behind the bar to stop the fight.

"Alright break it up," He tried pulling Seifer's grip from the man's shirt but had trouble loosening it. "Come on Seifer, cut it out! this isn't the place or time for that. Let him go." Seifer looked at Laguna not moving "I said let him go!" Laguna said again and after a moment more Seifer dropped the guy on the fallen table. "Gods what the hell is your problem? I told you about that before, no outrageous bets in here and no fighting. What the hells do you need money for anyway?" Laguna said walking back to the bar.

Seifer followed him. "You know damn well what I need it for, so let me take it and I'll go!" He yelled. "No you need to stop doing that shit anyway." He went back behind the bar and Seifer reached over it pulling him to his face. "Laguna don't make me hit you." He said lowly Laguna pulled away angrily and backed up.

"Threaten me again and you can kiss your free drinks goodbye, in fact don't even come back in here. Leave now or I'll call your coach or whoever and see that you don't have a chance to make it to the world champion games." Laguna hissed back at him looking him sternly in the eyes.

Seifer stared in shock- angry himself and after a minute turned to leave. Knocking over tables and chairs as he went. "You know one of these days you'll wake up and find your little bar burned to the ground." He said and pushed the door open almost bumping into Zell as he and Squall came in. Seifer looked down at him as he passed and Zell stared back up and followed him out the door with his gaze.

'That was, that was him.' He thought and followed Squall to the bar in a daze. They sat at the stools and Laguna apologized noticing Squall looking around the place. "Sorry about this, I usually keep things better around here. Its just this guy and-"

"Forget it," Squall said "Can we get some food here?" He asked and Laguna shook his head handing him the small menu.

They heard the sound of a motorcycle screeching off and Zell stared at the door until the sound faded and turned back towards the bar. "So you guys new around here?" Laguna asked Zell.

"Huh? oh yeah we just got in minutes ago from Balamb." He answered, Laguna was quiet for a minute thinking. "Yeah I've heard of Balamb never been though." "Yeah well its not much, just a quiet little town. I'm here for the world champion boxing games, I'm Zell- Zell Dincht." He said holding out his hand and Laguna shook it. "Laguna Loire resident bar tender. So you're a boxer, well watch out for that Seifer guy," he said pointing towards the door. "He's not one to go against unless your ready." "Yeah I bet, well this is Squall Leonhart my coach and best friend." Zell said patting Squall on the back and he looked over at him annoyed. Zell and Laguna laughed.

"Don't mind him he's always like that." Zell said "I see, so what'll it be?" He asked, Squall put the menu on the counter and ordered for both of them.

"So um this uh Seifer live around here?" Zell asked trying to be casual. "Oh yeah not too far from here. I guarantee you'll see him around, can't really miss him." Laguna answered placing their drinks in front of them. Squall looked up at the clock on the back wall.

"We have to hurry up its almost five and I don't want to get there late." He said to Zell who was already busy eating the food placed in front of them. "Mhm." He said through a full mouth and took a drink of his soda.

* * *

They'd made it to the registration office a few minutes before five and were sitting in the head of the league's office with a bunch of others. They sat in chairs against a wall waiting to be called in.

"Man this is boring," Zell said leaning forwards resting his arms on his knees. "We're gonna do somethin' later right? After all this work stuff is taken care of." He asked looking over at Squall who was sitting in the same position.

"Thought I'd get some sleep," He said and Zell immediately slumped more forwards and groaned. "You can go out if you want." Squall added and Zell slowly looked back up. "Alone! are you crazy, where would I go, what would I do? What if I get lost?" He said sitting up more still keeping his gaze on Squall.

"You ask a lot of questions you know that?" He said "Yeah and you hardly answer them, well?" Zell waited. "You'll be fine, you'll have the address if you get lost get a cab or take the bus." "Oh yeah that'll make me feel better being on some bus with a bunch of unfriendly locals or worse disgusting ones, or better a cab with a crazy driver and gods only know what could come out of that." Zell said throwing his hands up leaning back in his chair. Squall smiled slightly sitting up as well. "You're a boxer aren't you?" Zell turned his head slowly to look at him. "Very funny."

Before either of them could say more a woman opened a door and called their names. "Come on." Squall said getting up with Zell rising as well but before they got to the door Irvine and Seifer came rushing through the room.

"'Excuse me." Irvine said after bumping into Squall as he rushed inside Seifer following after almost knocking them both over from the rush.

Squall grumbled to himself "Fucking pricks." He said and Zell stared at the door as it closed getting one quick glimpse of Seifer's back. The woman just shrugged and went back inside herself.

"What'd I tell ya. Crazy unfriendly locals." Zell said turning to Squall seeing his angered expression he smiled at his joke and patted Squall hard on the back. "Whatever." Squall said and they went to take their seats again.

Inside the room Seifer and Irvine were sitting in chairs in front of a large table with three other people across from them. They were both trying to catch their breath from the running to and into the building.

"Well well Mr. Kinneas, Almasy you're late." The head of the league said looking from one to the other. "You know how this works but you messed up anyway and cutting in isn't especially appreciated." He said. Seifer looked annoyed at Irvine remembering the conversation they'd had before.

(Seifer had just got back to their apartment and as soon as he came through the door Irvine was standing in a corner, arms crossed looking really ticked off. He glanced up at the clock then back to Seifer. "Do you know what time it is?" He asked in a low tone. Seifer sighed not in the mood for a lecture or arguing. He already had enough at the bar and felt half alive from the drinking and previous hit of cocaine earlier.

"No I don't, why don't you tell me." He said walking to the couch to lie down. Irvine pulled him back before he could get close. "Its time you got your fucking act together Almasy, its past five and you knew damn well we had to be at that registration on time. Where the hells were you?" Irvine said pulling Seifer closer to his face.

"Who cares," He pulled Irvine's arm from his shirt. "I'm here now lets just go and get it the hell over with." He groggily headed for the door holding his head. "You'd better hope for your sake they even let us in the way you're acting right now. We'll have to cut through and go ahead of someone." Irvine said following him out the door.

"Why, we'll just wait till everyone else is gone and explain what happened." "Hells no I ain't waitin' that long, I had to wait for your sorry ass long enough. Now speed it up." Irvine said pushing past Seifer to get to the elevator.)

"Well uh," Irvine said scratching his head. "Won't happen again." Seifer said tiredly not really caring leaning in his chair. Irvine glared over at him then smiled at the group in front of them.

"Look can we just do this anyway and get it over with?" He said

The group exchanged glances at each other and finally the head of them answered, "Very well, but it won't happen again," He said warningly and continued. "Listen I'm gonna let you two off easy because its obvious from your record, Seifer you're the best we have and for Deling City to remain second on the map we need you in these games and we need you to win." The head exec said leaning forwards as the others nodded.

"So we'll let you compete, just don't mess up and don't miss any of your matches or it'll be hard to pick the final two if you don't win every match before then. Got it?"

Seifer nodded and stared down at the floor. 'Just what I need more pressure.'

"Yes sir I got it." He said looking back up. He and Irvine stood, "Thank you sir thank you very much. He won't disappoint you I'll make sure of it I promise." Irvine said shaking the mans hand. "Good to hear that, you may go now." Irvine grabbed Seifer's arm jerking him towards the door not wanting to stay any longer.

When they left the room Squall looked up and got up walking over to them. "What the hells is wrong with you?" He asked Irvine then stopped before going on recognizing the tall man. Irvine turned around.

"Well I'll be damned, Squall Leonhart," Irvine said smiling down at him almost in a lustrous way. "I see you haven't changed much." He said. "Neither have you, what the hells is your problem we were going in first." Squall said crossing his arms. "You never did get it did you Leonhart? You see Squall in this game its about speed and power. Which I have, that's all, no offense or anything." Squall continued to glare at him angrily.

Zell sat back in his chair listening but keeping his gaze on Seifer who stood beside Irvine looking completely out of it staring at Squall's hair.

'Gods he looks hot. I should go over there and I could be closer to him, he might even look at me or better say something to me. So why am I still sitting here? Stupid legs move.' Zell thought still staring at Seifer his eyes trailed from his face down his body.

'Everything about him is just perfect' Zell was practically drooling and began imagining Seifer lifting him up on his shoulder after winning the world champion match. Zell held up his trophy and Seifer took it from him sliding Zell carefully from his shoulder and kissed his mouth.

Zell was so lost in thought he didn't even notice Seifer had moved to the exit door. "Leonhart and Dincht you can come in now." The same woman from before said standing at the door. "See you still get to go in." Irvine said gesturing towards the door. Squall growled lowly and called for Zell to follow him.

"I'll see ya around eh darlin." Irvine said to Squall "Whatever." Was his response and Irvine laughed a little.

"Lets go Kinneas." Seifer called from the exit and the sound of his low powerful voice made Zell shudder with delight as he followed Squall.

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

"We'll be glad to have you aboard Mr. Dincht." The head of the league said. "Thanks." Zell said smiling brightly, they stood and shook hands, then he shook Squall's hand.

"We'll have the matches and dates ready for you by Monday. Try not to miss a game alright, maybe you could make a name for yourself here huh?"

"I'd like to." Zell said and everyone laughed a little. "Well then we'll see you two again soon mh, and if there's any problems you just call us alright."

"Thank you sir." Squall said getting up and Zell followed.

"That was great, I think they really like me, I could make a name for myself." Zell said bouncing around with his fist up.

"I think you could have done without the demonstration though." Squall said tiredly. "Oh, heh heh, well I thought they should see my skills that's all. I didn't mean to hit that guy." Zell said slightly grinning with a hand behind his head.

"Well at least he wasn't an important one, come on lets go see this apartment." They walked out the building and Zell put his arm around Squall's shoulders. "Yup we're on our way to the big time now." He said smiling out the door.