I twitched and looked to my right. The newest edition of Combat King now lay on my workstation. My focus lifted, and I blinked. "S-Sir?"
"Page three," Seifer said simply, coffee mug in hand.
I looked back to the magazine. Did someone leak some info I didn't catch? I swallowed hard as I reached out for it. Is there a new code being used for that faction in Deling City? I opened the magazine to page three-- I blinked and drew it closer.
"Good job."
I focused wide eyes up at Seifer. He smirked, as usual. "Th-thank you, sir."
He pointed at me. "I need that Deling City work-up before lunch."
I nodded. "Yes, sir."
Seifer turned and strode away, meeting Fujin half-way to his office. I looked back down to the article. Oh my gosh.
"Yo, Meg!"
I looked up again and brightly smiled. Zell jogged toward me waving the most recent Combat King. "Hi, sweetie."
Zell sent Seifer and Fujin a grin and wave, ignoring their dark glares. He stepped up to my workstation and leaned against it. "Featured submission, Sally," he exclaimed. "That rocks!"
I sent Seifer and Fujin a quick glance. Fujin headed away. Seifer glared at us. I met Zell's smiling eyes. "I can't talk long, Zell."
"I know. I just wanted to tell you as soon as I got it." Zell motioned to my copy. "How'd you get that? I've got your copy here." He pulled it from the back pocket of his dark blue jeans.
"Seifer gave it to me." I sent Seifer another quick look. He leaned over one of the other security stations with occasional glares our direction. I looked back to Zell.
"Seifer? He doesn't read C.K.." Zell shrugged and then tucked both copies in the back pocket of his jeans. He smiled down at me as he stood. "Congrats, Sally. We should majorly celebrate."
I nodded. "Okay."
"How about dinner in Balamb?"
I smiled. "Sounds great." I sent yet another quick look to Seifer. He straightened from overseeing a particular security issue and glared straight at me. I turned and met Zell's gaze. "Zell…"
"Yep. I know." He chucked me gently on the chin. "See ya later, kitten."
"Bye."
Zell moved toward the elevator, giving Seifer yet another grin and wave as he went. I smiled as I watched him go; then I turned back to my computer with a sigh. The previous weekend when Zell and I had gone to Combat King's main publishing house, I'd had no idea I would even get published. They'd lost my submission - never a good sign. Luckily, Zell had brought his copy of what we had sent in. He had then given it to the publishing editor at the end of our tour of the place, all the while impressing upon the man how important it would be for them not to lose the packet.
Featured submission? The thought gave me goosebumps. I hadn't ever hoped to be 'featured'. Zell got featured. Almost always. Well, I guess he did here too. Kind of. After all, I listed him as co-creator of Quick Silver. And I wouldn't have had it any other way. We were partners. I definitely didn't mind sharing the credit. I should get him something with the money.
My mind immediately balanced between gift possibilities and finishing up the Deling City work-up requested by Seifer. I hadn't ever planned something special or bought a gift for a guy. I guess I could talk to Rinoa… or Selphie? They know Zell.
I gave a nod and saved my progress, finishing the report a few minutes later to print it out and set it within a report cover. Then, still planning my 'something special' for Zell, I gathered up my couple other projects for Seifer and headed for his office. Does Zell wear chains or rings? I wrinkled my nose. I didn't remember seeing him wear jewelry of any kind. Ever. Maybe that could be the gift? A pair of rings? But that sounded almost too much like a wedding set… Except Squall and Rinoa have a pair of rings, don't they?
I gave a shake of my head and sighed just as I entered Seifer's office.
Seifer looked up from his desk. "Regal. Perfect." He produced his hand for the report.
I handed it to him. "As requested, sir." He started looking through it. "And here's the synopsis of security regarding Commander Squall's terminal." Seifer looked up. I continued. "And the requested activity reports for intra-Garden exchanged information." I opened the bottom report and turned to page five. "There's a lot of activity between Trabia and the new Garden outside Deling, but it doesn't look too suspicious."
Seifer raised an eyebrow as he slowly reached forward to accept the reports.
"I'm still checking all the IDs of the new grads and candidates for appropriate security access, sir. I should have it done before going home today."
Seifer set down the reports and regarded me with a smirk. "Good job, Regal."
I flushed - you're a brown-noser, Regal - and saluted. "Anything else, sir?"
"No, you're working too fast."
My eyes widened. "Sir?"
Seifer picked up the reports. "As you were, Regal. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir."
I about-faced and exited Seifer's office. A ring. I should definitely get us a ring. I stepped toward my desk. There's got to be a place in Balamb that has things like that. Maybe I could ask his mother? I sat at my desk and absently continued my duty of checking the student IDs. She'd know where to go and what he'd like. I smiled. Maybe she and I could plan a secret trip to Deling City tomorrow? I giggled, my attention still carefully balanced between my plan and my duty. Maybe I should do something like a dinner to give him the ring? Or a picnic on our beach? I wrinkled my nose. No. It should be something more--
"Regal."
I twitched and looked to my left and up. "Yes, sir?"
"Office. Now."
I paled and stood. "Yes, sir." He looks mad… I think.
I preceded Seifer to his office, cringing when he closed the door behind him. Did I miss something in my reports? I cited all my sources, didn't I? I bit my lower lip. Seifer sat in his chair and retrieved two familiar reports from the left side of his desk. He slid them across the desk toward me. One was the work-up of Deling City. The other was the report about the intra-Garden requests.
I looked up to meet Seifer's hard gaze. "Sir?"
"Give more detail on those requests mentioned between Deling and Trabia."
I took up the reports. "Yes, sir." I saluted and turned.
"Tonight."
I halted. Tonight… Tonight! I faced him. He didn't look up from his desk and the reports there. I sighed. "Yes, sir."
I exited the office with a feeling of dread. There was no way I could complete the project before needing to leave at five. I would need to stay until at least seven or eight. I continued to stare down at the reports and sighed again. Then I made my way to my desk and slowly sat. Nuts.
I added another paragraph to the narrative synopsis of my research and blinked back a tear. Sally, stop being a baby! I sniffed and focused my attention on the reports to flip pages, reread information, and then search for more within the Network.
Footsteps approached, and I looked up.
Seifer motioned to the monitor and the papers strewn across my desk. "Progress?"
"Steady." I moved my focus back to the papers. Everyone else in my shift had left over an hour before.
"Good." Silence. "Dincht's bringing dinner."
I blinked and looked over at Seifer with wide eyes. Seifer had already turned to move away. I smiled. "Thank you, sir."
Seifer didn't respond.
Warm fuzzies attacked and my expression glowed as I returned to my duty with new energy and focus. It was amazing how such a simple statement made me able to see things clearly. I had to rewrite entire paragraphs of my narrative synopsis because I saw new information.
Recognizable footsteps approached. I smiled and looked up and to my left. "Hi, sweetie."
Zell grinned. "Hey, kitten." He kissed my cheek. "Long day, huh?"
I nodded, still smiling, and then pointed to the basket he carried. "What's for dinner?"
Zell looked down at it. "Nothing fancy. Finger food, mostly. You know? Make your own cracker sandwich or whatever. Thought it would be kinda fun." He smiled at me. "Figures today would be the day you'd be an overachiever."
My eyes crinkled at the corners. You have no idea. "Tell me about it."
He chucked my chin. "But don't sweat it. We can go out this weekend." Zell sat tailor-style on the floor and opened up the basket. "You get to work, and I'll stack your plate."
"Okay." My expression softened. "Thanks for coming, Zell."
He popped a grape into his mouth and sent me a wink. "No prob, Sally."
Zell dived back into his search and rescue of the food within the basket. I watched him. The weirdness factor and dreamlike state had worn down… no. No, it had evolved into a feeling that I couldn't classify. I didn't mean that I just loved him. It was more than that. I couldn't imagine Garden life without him. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I reached out and caressed his tattoo with the back of my hand.
Zell looked up and smiled, taking my hand in his and giving it a squeeze. "Not while the boss is watching, kitten," he said in a low voice. He kissed the inside of my wrist. "You better at least look like you're working."
I smiled and nodded, feeling the blush and not minding in the least. "Yeah. I better."
Zell released my hand and went back to his inner basket search. "Man. I can't believe I said that."
I giggled as I turned back to my computer. "Me neither."
"You realize I'll have to make up for that later, right?"
I sent Zell a sidelong glance. "Yep."
"I'll try and give you some warning before I do."
"That's alright." I sent him another glance, which he caught. I smiled. "You don't have to."
"Cool!" Zell motioned to the picnic basket. "You want the works? Or do you only have the nibbles?"
"Just the nibbles."
"Okey dokey. Nibble plate comin' right up."
As Zell gathered the 'nibbles', I set to work with comparisons and searches and the like. Paragraph after paragraph was organized and conceptualized, ready for the trip to computer keyboard. Zell set a plate to my left, careful not to mess any of my reports and papers. I absently munched on grapes, cheese slices, rolled up pieces of meat, and quarter slices of pickles - my favorite - while I typed my report and listened to Zell tell me about his newest group of candidates or the newest combo-attack he worked on.
I listened with a smile, hearing and understanding only a fraction of it. Zell didn't care, and I enjoyed the sound of his voice and what it did to the stress that had started collecting at the base of my spine. It always did, and Zell seemed the quickest way to get rid of it.
"Hey, Seif," Zell greeted suddenly. "Wanna grape? Pickle?"
I swallowed and self-consciously straightened the papers on my desk before looking over my left shoulder. "Coming right along, sir." Please don't make Zell go away. "Should be done within the hour."
Zell munched on a piece of cheese. "Need me to vanish?"
Seifer ignored him. Instead, he leaned in to read a portion of the report over my shoulder. I grimaced, all the while wishing I could sink into the floor.
"Looks good. Keep at it." Seifer glared at Zell. "Dincht, keep talking and you're gone."
Zell popped the rest of the cheese into his mouth and sent Seifer his infamous thumb salute. "No prob."
Seifer turned and moved away.
I released a deep breath and slumped back into my seat. "Whew. I thought he would make you leave."
Zell grinned. "Me? I've got a right to be down here." He quickly covered his mouth as he looked around for Seifer.
"That's right. You better not talk."
Zell wordlessly nodded.
I smiled and handed him the copy of Combat King Seifer had given me earlier. "Here. Why don't you munch and read this. I'll finish up this report, and then we can go."
Zell accepted the magazine and gave the side of my leg a smack with it, smiling. Then he leaned back against my desk, his legs stretching out from him as he opened the magazine. He rested his left arm/elbow on my leg without comment or glance. I smiled and refocused my attention on my monitor.
knock-knock-knock
The door opened to reveal Ma Dincht's smiling face. "Hello, Ma," I greeted brightly. I nearly hopped three feet off the ground as I accepted her hug.
"Hello, dear." Ma Dincht pulled back, chuckling. "You should see the expression on your face. You're positively beside yourself with excitement."
I giggled. "I know," I admitted as I followed her into the house. "This is the first time I've ever done something like this. I can hardly wait to see his face."
Ma Dincht slipped into a light green jacket and then grabbed her purse and keys. "And you say you're getting him a ring?"
I followed her out of the house. "Uh-huh." I looked over at her. "Does Zell like rings? I've never seen him wear anything, so I wasn't sure."
Ma Dincht sent me a reassuring smile. "If you get it for him, dear…"
I flushed and giggled. "I hope so."
She laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Don't need to hope. He'll love it, or else I don't know my Zell."
I sheepishly smiled. "I know he'll like it, because he likes everything. I just want to make sure he likes it because he likes it."
Ma Dincht shook her head. "Dear, I haven't ever met someone who put as much thought and feeling into living and loving as you do."
I flushed molten.
"Don't you worry about my Zell loving the ring." She touched me on the chin, her eyes twinkling and her smiling face soothing away my worry in a purely 'mother' way. "He loves you as surely as I'm standing here. Anything you give him… well, you just wait and see."
I looked over at her as we made our way down the main street of Balamb to the car garage. "Ma, has Zell always been…"
Ma Dincht watched my expression. "Been what, dear?"
"Has he always been so accepting? So ready and willing to be friends with everyone?"
Ma Dincht nodded her head. "Yes, dear. Yes, he has. That's one of the reasons Pa and me adopted him. The little tike had been through such a rough time… but he always kept his chin up. Smiling. Laughing. Doing his best to act all grown up. To keep everyone laughing." Ma Dincht's smile became a little wistful. "My little hero." She looked back over at me. "Even when Pa died he did his best to look after me; keep me laughing. He's been a blessing."
I wiped the mist from my eyes as I smiled at her. "I didn't think I could love him any more." I moved my gaze to the paved road at my feet. "Wrong again."
Ma Dincht chuckled. "Exactly how long have you been 'in love' with my Zell, Sally?"
"I've had a crush since forever." I sent her a sidelong glance. "At least, it seems like forever. It's only been about three years, though."
"And what was it about the boy that first caught your eye?"
I smiled, my eyes twinkling with the memory. "His face." I met her gaze. "It's so expressive. I love watching it, and I can usually always tell what he's thinking because it's right there. I'd never met someone so open with what they felt before."
"He doesn't hold back, does he?"
I shook my head, eyes wide. "And that's what I love. He teaches me so much about feeling and talking and living life. He doesn't let fear keep him from doing things. He's teaching me the same thing."
Ma Dincht nodded as she guided me to the passenger side of the light yellow station wagon. "Yes, that's my Zell. Live life to the full. Don't waste a moment. Do your best and you'll never regret an instant." She unlocked the door and opened it for me, smiling down at me once I'd climbed in. "You're the first who really appreciated that in him, Sally dear." She leaned against the door and pinched my chin between her fingers. "And that is what first grabbed his attention."
I blinked. Then I smiled. "Really?"
Ma Dincht nodded, but she didn't say anything more until she had buckled in and started the car. Then, once we'd headed out of Balamb toward Timber, she spoke. "He was eager enough to be your friend, told me so himself that first time I met you. 'But there's something different about her, ma,' he told me. 'She gets me. Isn't that the damndest thing you heard?'"
Ma Dincht laughed as I stared at her in wide-eyed wonder. "He said that?"
"Sure did." She looked over at me, eyes twinkling. "Then the dear looked at me with eyes as big as saucers and asked what he was supposed to do with a girl that didn't give him dirty looks." She shook her head and chuckled. "I told him to take it as it went. To follow his heart. Then, if he thought he needed to know something more than that, he should talk to you about it. He nodded, matter of fact like a little soldier, and hurried off after you." Ma Dincht reached over and patted my knee. "Little did I know you'd beat the dear to it and ask him out. Good for you."
My smile widened. "You should have seen how shocked he looked. Like he didn't understand how a girl could like him."
Ma Dincht nodded. "My little hero hasn't had much success with things like that. I'm not saying there hasn't been a girl or two that didn't like him over the years. I've met a couple or three, in fact. But my Zell didn't see anything but friendship when he looked at them. So, the relationship would peter out and die. They wanted more. Zell didn't. They didn't ask him out. Neither did he." She sent me her infamous smile and wink that reminded me so much of Zell. "I would have given Zell another 48 hours before he would have asked you out."
I giggled. "I wish I could have taken that 48 hours. I majorly stressed over how to tell him I liked him."
She touched me under the chin. "I can see that, dear, and that's why I say 'Good for you'."
I smiled. "Thanks, Ma."
Ma Dincht smiled wider, and then she focused on the road ahead. "He'll be harder to shake than a flea on a Wendigo, Sally." She sent me a sidelong glance. "But you know what, I don't think he has to worry about feelings petering out, does he?"
I shook my head, smiling a silly smile that felt like it went clear to my hairline.
"Hence the ring?"
I nodded.
So did she. "Good for you."
knock-knock-knock
I stood on tip-toes, slightly bouncing with excitement.
"Yeah. Hold on," came a muffled voice.
My eyes crinkled at the corners as I restrained a giggle. The door opened to reveal Zell rubbing the back of his neck, blonde hair messed and spiked all over, cheeks marked with pillow creases, and shirtless - dressed only in dark blue boxers. He blinked and sleepily smiled. "Hey, Meg. Whatcha doin' here at three in the morning?"
My smile widened, and this time the giggle broke free. "It's a surprise, sweetie. Hurry and get dressed. Please?"
Zell yawned and nodded, giving the back of his neck and his scalp a rub. "Sure." He stepped back and motioned for me to come in. "Give me a sec."
"I'll wait out here." I bounced several little hops, never really leaving the ground, and snuggled my hands into the pockets of my jacket. "Hurry."
Zell chuckled. "Okay, okay. Hold on." He closed the door.
Ruffling, drawers opening and closing, rustling… Zell opened the door not very many minutes later dressed in a dark blue t-shirt and black sweats. He looked the best in dark colors.
I hopped some more as he stepped forward, and I grabbed hold of his hand almost before he had a chance to lock the door of his room. "Come on."
"Say, what's the rush?" he chuckled.
"It's a surprise," I told him in a hushed voice. I hadn't ever had to do something like this. I hadn't even dreamed.
"Dude. This rocks. I've never had a surprise before. Well, except for when you told me you liked me." Pause. "And then when you told me you loved me."
My eyes twinkled as my hand slightly tightened on his. I turned into the hallway leading to the Training Center.
"Cool. Maybe you're going to ask me to do the 'Booya' on ya?"
I giggled and passed through the main lobby of the Training Center to the circular area where the couples always went on party nights to be alone. Some even went on non-party nights. The view of Garden was awesome, especially at night with all the lights glowing and the stars twinkling… it was one of the most romantic spots ever.
I led him to the far wall of the place and guided him to lean up against it. I could have sworn that my face had completely frozen in a smile.
Zell grinned down at me. "What?"
I snuggled my hands into the pockets of my jacket again. "This is the first place I saw you. Right here. This early in the morning."
Zell's smile vanished, and he blinked. "What? Really?"
I nodded. "Five years ago. You were staring at Garden. Really hard. Like you tried to find out what you were supposed to do. I think you'd flunked your first field exam or something. I didn't ask. I was still new here and too shy to talk to anyone, me being only barely fifteen. I had come here to be by myself but…" I swallowed the tears as I continued to smile at him. "You were here for a long time. You didn't talk to yourself or anything, but everything you were thinking kind of… I don't know. It was like I could see it in your face."
"You… You were here the whole time?"
I nodded again. "I couldn't leave. I didn't want you to be by yourself. I didn't know why. I still don't. I mean, you didn't know I was there, so what good did I do? But I just couldn't go." I cleared my throat and finally pulled my hands out of my pockets. I opened my palm and guided the ring to my fingertips. "I couldn't stop watching your face, and your tattoo, and how you rubbed it at just the times you looked really troubled…" I looked up, his expression seemed a little surprised, and presented the ring of silver. "I had this made for you… well, actually I had it made for us."
Zell looked down at the ring and blinked. "It looks like…"
"Uh-huh. Your tattoo," I said softly. "And look." I pulled the ring apart. "See. This one's for me."
Zell slowly reached out and took the larger ring. He silently stared down at it.
"Now, when you're worried about something or think you're by yourself, you can rub this and know I've got the other part." I looked up at him. "I'll always be around."
Zell held the ring between his fingers, lightly rubbing it as he continued to stare. Finally, he released a deep breath and said, "Sally, this is… this is…." He looked up and pulled me close. "Damn, girl. It's awesome."
I sighed.
Then Zell pulled back and slipped the ring onto his finger. He stared down at it a long moment before reaching out and taking my ring to slip it onto my finger. He caressed the skin around it. "How come?" he asked softly.
I watched his expression and then reached up to lightly stroke his tattoo with the fingers of my free hand, drawing his attention. I could feel tears glimmering, and I knew my throat wouldn't let my voice out normally, but I didn't care. "Because we're friends and more. Because you understand me. Because..." but my tears pinched off my voice. I smiled a weepy/sappy smile at him as I tried to speak past it. "Because I've never been in love with someone as much as I've been in love with you these three years, Zell. I wanted you to know it."
Zell touched my lips with his several times before drawing me close. "I love you, too, shy girl."
I closed my eyes with a sighed "Booya..." as I snuggled against him.