THE ZELL DINCHT COLLECTION

WARNINGS

1) I do not own Zell, Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, Seifer, Selphie, Irvine, Quistis, or any other character I may mention from the FF8 series. I may add some more characters, which are mine. If you steal them, I probably won't find out about it. I also do not own most of the towns, monsters, etc… used in this story.

2) This was written cause Zell is the coolest character ever to be created in the FF series. It's rated NC-17 for mostly sex, but it also contains some language and violence.

3) This is a yaoi story. If you are offended by yaoi, or don't know what it is, I suggest you leave. You have been warned.

Ok think I got everything. Just read it and leave me some feedback. If you flame me I'll find it funny, so do whatever the hell makes you feel good.

CHAPTER 5: The Search for Puma

"What the hell are you talking about?" Zell mumbled lying up. He ran his fingers through his hair, which was a wreck, and noticed he still had his SeeD uniform on. "Must've never changed."

"Today we gotta get ready for the Fall Festival," Selphie yelled through the door. "You volunteered remember? Get down to the Quad ASAP! We have to put this thing on tomorrow."

"Dammit." Zell would have liked nothing better then to ditch Selphie, and go hang around the Training Area all day, but he was a man of his word. Plus Puma volunteered too; he had to try to make peace with the kid. "I'm taking a shower then getting some breakfast," Zell yawned. "I'll be down after that."

"Kay! Thanks Zelly." The blonde heard the skipping footsteps move away from his door, and stop at the next one.

"Poor Squall," he muttered, with his head in his hands. "Better get in the shower, or I'll fall back asleep. That'll lead to another visit from Selphie." The blonde shivered at the thought. Throwing off his boots, he unbuttoned his shirt, and headed for the bathroom. Grabbing a towel out of the closet, he threw his shirt into his room, and opened the bathroom door. He looked in the mirror and scratched his stomach. There was a small bruise from last night, but otherwise he looked well. He undid his belt, and threw his pants and boxers out of the room. He made the shower icy to beat off his hangover. "Brrr…damn this sucks." He gabbed the bar of soap, and lathered up for the day ahead. Showers were always the best way for Zell to jog his memory.

"Whatever…" Squall muttered as he popped into Zell's head.

"Dip Me Zell! Dip Me," Selphie yelled. That sent a shudder down Zell's spine.

"Zell wants to see Puma spank his monkey," Zoe smiled. There was another shudder, but Zell remembered the kiss, and he got a little more excited. "She rubbed my chest yesterday," Zell stretched, feeling confident. He wished that he could just lay wrapped around her forever. "Shit…Zoe comes tomorrow. She'll have fun at the festival though," he thought. Then another face flashed into his head.

"What's this stand for?" Puma asked running his finger over Zell's cheek. Zell imagined what it would be like to kiss Puma; to lick his golden skin, and run his tongue over the boy's nipples. He considered it sad he was attracted to a guy he had two conversations with. Even sadder that it was a guy, but he was starting to lose the attraction battle. Shaking his head, Zell tried to counter this crush with Zoe. He wasn't gay because he had Zoe. At least there was something.

The blonde didn't want to like Puma, but still the attraction remained. He tried to forget about it. Quickly, he washed his hair, and then turned off the shower. After he dried himself off, he left the bathroom in search of something to wear. He threw on some chocobo boxers, some baggy khakis, and a plain black shirt. He gathered two socks, and put on his red and black sneakers. Finally, he grabbed his metal knuckles, (just in case). "Better head down to the Caf." Grabbing his ID, Zell headed out. A tired Squall emerged from his room as he passed by.

"Hey Squall, where you going?" Zell asked, snickering at the brunette's exhausted demeanor.

"Caf…Selphie drag you into this too?"

"Yeah…I don't think she missed anybody." So Zell and Squall went down to the Caf together. They didn't say too much, but were surprised to see the large line of students winding outside the cafeteria hallway into the outside circle. "The hell is this?"

"Don't know…SeeD privilege though," Squall nodded, cutting past the mass of people. Zell followed him, and flipped the bird to whoever gave them an awkward look. They reached the Caf doors to find whom else, but the Disciplinary Committee.

"Squall Leonhart and Zell Dincht. Don't we look cheery this morning," Seifer snickered, shooting glances at the two.

"Don't fuck with me Seifer!" Zell glared.

"You'd probably enjoy that wouldn't you chicken wuss,"

"SHUT UP DUMBASS!"

"GO SUCK A DICK WHORE!"

The blonde was mad and had to try hard not to punch Seifer in the head.

"Zell, don't let him get to you," Squall muttered, putting his hand over his face. "Seifer what's going on?"

"Apparently Selphie got the Cool Coeurl band to play at her festival thing. Security is up all over the school."

"COOL COEURL!" Zell exclaimed, "That's so cool! Why'd the school be worried though? The band's staying in Balamb right?"

"That's why you're stupid Chicken Wuss," Seifer laughed. "Supposedly Selphie built them a little room in the Quad. You think getting in here's tough, try getting into the Quad."

"Thanks for the warning Seifer," Squall nodded and walked into the Caf. Zell tried to follow, but was pushed back.

"Zell, I don't like those metal knuckles," Seifer smiled. "I'm going to have to ask you to return them to your dorm.

"Tch…but Thimp's got some, and you just let him in," Zell whined, pointing to a student who just walked by.

"Yes, but I like Thimp," Seifer laughed. He pushed Zell back, forcing him to leave.

"Fuck you Seifer," Zell cried leaving "I'm not hungry, anyway." Instead of going back to his dorm, Zell turned the other way, and headed for the Quad. "Selphie might actually be useful today." The blonde had high hopes to see the band, and a bunch of crazy Cool Coeurl fans weren't going to stop him. The blonde pushed his way through the large mob of people who were trying to get a glance at the band. He made it to the front, only to be faced by a long line of Garden Faculty. "Hey um…I'm supposed to help out Selphie with the Festival."

"You and a million other kids," one of the faculty members glared. "Selphie doesn't need your help."

"Maybe you didn't understand me. Selphie asked me personally to help out today. She'll be very upset if I don't show up."

"Get out of here little boy, and quit pestering me." Zell was infuriated. They weren't even listening to him. "Knew I brought the gloves for a reason."

"Hey………Don't get me angry! Listen to what I'm saying! Selphie'll be pissed if you turn me away!"

"Was that a threat?"

"ZELL!" Selphie interrupted. "You're early!" Zell heaved a sigh of relief.

"Selphie, they won't let me in," Zell yelled over the noise of the mob. "Tell them to let me through."

"Did you show them your pass?"

"What pass?"

"Ugh………Zell I slid it under your door.

"Uh………no I must have missed it," the blonde mumbled, blushing a bit.

"Zell you klutz," Selphie smiled shaking her head. "Let him through, she motioned to one of the faculty members."

"That's what I thought," Zell nodded, with a boosted ego. He took a step on one of the guards, who quickly flinched back. The blonde just smiled and laughed.

"Zell, quick scaring the guards," Selphie glared and led him down the corridor.

"Um………Can I meet Cool Coeurl?" Zell tried, smiling. "Let me remind you we danced last night."

"No, I can't let anyone in," Selphie smiled. "But if you run some errands for me, I guarantee you will meet them personally tomorrow.

"All right deal."

"Squall come with you?"

"Nah, he's eating breakfast."

"Ok, what I need you to do is, find Puma, go to Balamb with him, and pick up the things I listed," Selphie said handing Zell a list. "You two seem to get along well, so I thought you might be able to find him. He said he'd help, but I haven't been able to find him. It's unlike him, you have any ideas?"

"Nah, but I'll look around for him," Zell nodded.

"Kay, thanks Zell. Make sure you go back to your dorm, and get that ID card, so when you come back you won't have to cause another scene. Hurry, it's almost 11:00. Try to be back by 3:00; I have other jobs for you. Zell nodded and waved goodbye. He fought his way back through the crowd, and back north towards his dorm. When he arrived, he found the card on the floor. "Smooth Zelly, Smooth," He also grabbed his T-board for the long trip. Heading out, he asked around to find Puma's dorm. "Maybe he's still sleeping," Finally locating it, Zell knocked and a strange boy answered it.

"Yeah?" Zell was surprised, but then he remembered that regular students had to share dorms.

"Do you know where Puma its"

"Nah………I didn't see him come back last night. I'm assuming he went to help Selphie."

"Why wouldn't he come back to his own dorm?" Zell thought. "You have no clue?"

"Sorry, he's around though. They cancelled classes for security shit."

"Kay thanks," Zell muttered and walked away. "Ok second guess. Maybe he went to the Caf, and is eating; like Squall." Reluctantly, Zell turned around and prepared to face Seifer again.

"What do you want now Chicken Wuss," Seifer smirked. "I still can't let you in. I told you about those knuckles, and now you bring a T-board?!?"

"Shut up. Did you see Puma come in here?"

"No. What's wrong Zell? Did you lose your fuck-friend?" The people around them laughed, and Zell blushed and turned around. He couldn't take any more abuse.

"Kay, think Zell. He's not in his dorm or the Caf, he can't be in the Quad, or Selphie would have already found him, and he wouldn't be in the parking lot, unless he was mad. That leaves the Library, Training Area, and Infirmary. INFIRMARY?!? Zell moved with sudden quickness, and made his way to Dr. Kadowaki.

"No, I haven't see your friend," the physician said. "Try the Quad, everyone seems to be crowding over there."

"Nah, all ready checked," Zell muttered, disappointed. "That leaves the Library or Training Area," he mumbled, turning towards the door.

"Actually the Library is closed," Dr. Kadowaki nodded. "Selphie's using it to store decorations and such."

"Really? Thanks," Zell smiled. He headed straight to the Training Zone. "The hell's the kid doing in here? He doesn't have the experience to fight a bite bug, more or less a T-Rexaur. Fighting his way through every room, Zell couldn't find him anywhere. "Where the hell is he?" Then he noticed the secret area. Inside, he found a sad looking Puma, with his head in his hands. There was also a tray with a hotdog on it. "That thing smells," Zell laughed, walking slowly into the room.

Puma lifted his head with a sad look on his face. He looked close to tears, but tried his best to hold himself together. "Don't talk to me."

Zell knew he was walking into a very delicate conversation. This kid was really hurt. Obviously, he hadn't got any sleep last night. Hell, he hadn't even left the Training Zone. Zell decided the best approach was to avoid the issue at hand, and try to cheer him up.

"Selphie's looking for you," the blonde tried. "Did'ya hear she got Cool Coeurl to perform at the festival? You know how many people are down at the Quad right now trying to get on her good side?"

"I don't care," Puma responded, looking at the floor. In his mind, he didn't deserve to talk to Zell. The blonde was his hero, and then he had to pull something stupid like hitting on him, and scare him off. Puma was surprised that Zell was even talking to him.

Back in FH, he taped the news reports of the Galbadien invasion of Dollet's communication tower. It was the biggest battle that ever happened in his lifetime, so it had a lot of media coverage. He watched the tape over and over, and slowly became fascinated with a man that they interviewed, Zell Dincht. He was outspoken, wild, funny, and never seemed to be bored. Zell was everything that Puma wanted to be. So Puma modeled the last year of his life after the man. Then he turned 16, and half of the reason he joined the garden was to meet this Zell Dincht person. By pure luck, the blonde came up and started a conversation with him. It was the best moment of his life. Then, in that same day, he blew it. His idol hated him, and this destroyed him.

"They cancelled your classes for the day, so you got the whole day off," Zell continued. Puma just nodded. "You planning on helping Selphie?"

"No…she's doesn't need me."

"True…but she wants you. You're one of the few who volunteered before she got the band. She'll be disappointed if you blow her off." Puma just shook his head. "She wants me to take you to Balamb and run some errands for her."

"And you're willing?" Puma looked up surprised.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Zell asked, putting his hand on Puma's shoulder. Puma sighed and looked at the ground.

"Listen Zell, I'm really sorry," he muttered, tears starting to form in his eyes again.

"Don't worry about it," Zell chuckled pulling him closer, and kissing the top of his red head. He then pulled it into a headlock/nuggie. Puma smiled and looked up at him. "Now come on, Selphie will be pissed if we let her down," Zell nodded pulling Puma to his feet, and out of the Training Area.