Zell stepped outside, zipping up his jacket as he did so. The last time he'd seen snow was when they had gone to Trabia. And that had been the first time he'd seen it since....
He couldn't quite remember. He was sure it had never snowed in Balamb.
However, he was back at Trabia, Selphie had asked him to come along while she checked on the progress of the rebuilding. They'd be reopening the school next month, if all went as planned. The whole time they'd been up here, he'd been *freezing*.
The sky overhead was almost silver in color, thanks to the low clouds. Zell smiled slightly, the hue was almost the same of Squall's eyes. However, as soon as that thought entered his mind, he stomped it down. Squall had a girlfriend. *Girl* friend, and he'd never acted towards Zell as anything more then a friend, even though he had saved his life back in the Prison. Zell snickered slightly to himself as he remembered the look on Squall's face when he latched onto his leg. It was at that moment, even though he was trying to pry him off that he'd fallen in love with the sullen teen. But he'd never told him, and now...

"And now, it's Christmas, and I get to buy a couple present."
After all, wherever Squall went, Rinoa was sure to follow. Not that Zell disliked Rinoa per se; it was more an envy type of feeling. Rinoa had something that Zell wanted.
"Zell?"
He blinked, glancing over to his left. Selphie stood there, not in her yellow jumper for once. She was dressed in black warm-ups, paired with a blue tee and a windbreaker over it. She was used to the cold weather still, even after spending a year in Balamb. Zell, on the other hand, had to be wearing about fifty layers of clothing. She giggled at the picture he made mentally, running a hand through her hair as he turned to face her. "If you're gonna go for a walk, make sure to take someone with you."

"I have Ifrit and Quez. I'll be alright, Sefie." He smiled using Irvine's pet name for her. She shook her head. "You don't want Diablos? This way, you can walk without being disturbed."
"I don't plan on going far. And besides, with these two, I'll be to take down anything pretty quickly."
"Mmm." She studied him thoughtfully. "Oh, and Zell. Don't forget."
"Forget what?"
"First snowflake you see, make a wish. The fairies only grant one, so make it count, okay?"
"....." She started laughing. "That's the same thing Squall said."
He blinked. "When did you tell Squall about making a wish?"
"This morning. He's out walking too, and Rinoa isn't with him. So, good luck and make sure to make that wish."

Zell's jaw almost dropped, as red seeped into his cheeks. "What?" He squeaked, causing her to laugh again. "It was obvious Zell. Well, to some of us anyway. Squall's a little dense, you know?" She glanced around, as if afraid he'd suddenly pop out because of that remark. "Well, in certain matters, anyway. So, I'll see you later!" She waved, walking off. Zell watched her go, shaking his head. 'Hyne... if she knows, then who else knows?'

Sighing, he walked down the path, then out the replaced gate. No more hopping over a fence, which was a plus. It'd be kinda hard to climb in this jacket, anyway.
He got about fifty feet from the Garden, before he felt the urge to make a snow angel pull at him. While he usually would ignore the feeling, he was alone. He remembered Selphie just plopping into the snow after one fight, and making a snow angel. He and Squall had just looked at her, both a bit in disbelief. But, that was Selphie for you. If she wanted to do something, she did it. Zell admired her for that. He took a glance around, then tried to remember what she did.
*Ffft. If you were going to play in the snow, you should have taken Shiva.* Ifrit grumbled, causing Zell to laugh.
'Sorry. Just this once. Alright?'

First, he sat down in the snow, trying to remember what exactly she did. Oh yea, she had lay on her back, then waved her arms and legs back and forth. He did so, feeling a bit foolish as first, after all what if someone saw him? But playing in the snow had tapped into Zell's inner child, and after finishing the first one, he did about two more.

When Squall came upon him, Zell was lying down in the snow, eyes closed and smiling. He chuckled softly, studying his friend. Zell was dressed in a pair of snow cammy's, most likely over another pair of pants. A black jacket covered his upper body, zipped all the way up to his chin. His nose and ears were red, and his hair held tiny flakes of white powder. He looked cute.

"Zell?" Softly. Zell didn't stir. Eyebrows furrowed slightly, Squall leaned over to tap his shoulder. Zell felt the tap, and not knowing what it was, reacted out of instinct. He curled slightly, hands closing around Squall's wrist, his foot planted in the middle of his stomach as he tossed him.
Squall only landed about a foot, maybe two feet away. Zell hopped up, blinking as he saw whom he threw. 'Oh, hell...'
"Squall? You alright?"
Sky blue met storm gray. Eeep. Squall was not *amused*.
"I'm sorry... I just felt something touch me, you know? And I don't have Diablos so I thought you were a Gayla, or something. Let me help you up."
He was babbling, he knew it. But he couldn't help it - after all, he'd just tossed the Commander of Garden (and his crush!) into the snow, and thought he was a monster to boot.
'Something kill me now....'
Squall accepted his hand, then with the faintest of smiles, Zell wasn't sure - it all happened quickly. Squall pulled him down while he started to sit up, scooting out of the way as he did so. Zell landed face first in the snow. As he came back up, sputtering, he heard Squall laughing.

While usually that wouldn't have worked ... Zell was not only strong, Ifrit also boosted his strength stat, Squall had the element of surprise on his side. Zell's eyes had widened slightly, as though he was afraid he'd drop him, then when he had landed in the snow....
Squall couldn't help but laugh. He was still shaking with mirth, when felt something cold hit him in the face.

Zell smiled, whistling innocently. Squall scowled slightly, continuing to wipe snow off his face.
"And what would one call that?"
"..." Zell didn't know if he was joking or if he was serious. Squall knelt down, as though he had to tie his show. But Squall wore boots, wait a minute....
The return fire caught Zell in the chest, causing the powder to fly all over him. Zell smirked, "You know, this means war."


Zell never thought that Squall had an inner child within him. He always kept himself locked away, distant from even those who considered him a close friend. But they played out in the snow for nearly an hour.
He was actually the one to call it quits, and plopped down in the snow for a much needed break. He closed his eyes, then heard Squall sit down next to him. "Squall?"
"Hmm?"
Zell turned his face slightly, opening his eyes. "What made you come to Trabia?"

"I'm here on pick-up duty. Quistis wants you and Selphie to return to Balmab. She wants to have the family together for Christmas..."
"Oh." He looked away. "I guess this means...."
"Seifer will be there? Yes, I suppose so." Squall sounded thrilled. Heh. Zell chuckled slightly, prompting Squall to ask him what was so funny.
"I dunno... Just all of us, together again, and not at each other's throats... I hope. Should be different. How does..." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "How does Rinoa feel about Seifer's return?"
"I don't know." A bland reply. Zell cracked open an eye. "What?"
Squall shrugged, looking away. "Rinoa and I.... Let's not get into that, shall we?"

Zell sighed, nodding as he sat up. "I guess we should head back then, huh?" Squall nodded in reply, rising as well. As they walked back, Zell mentally kicked himself for mentioning Rinoa.
'Just when...'
Just when what? Nothing had been about to happen, he was trying to tell himself that maybe they were about to bond. Heh, fat chance of that, Dincht.

As they neared the gates, it started to snow. Zell smiled sadly, recalling what Selphie had told him earlier. He searched for a single snowflake, wishing on it as she had told him to.

Besides him, Squall's eyes on the same, watching as it danced gracefully, seemed to partner with another snowflake, before joining the rest of her family around them. He too, had wished on that snowflake.

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A/N - A little Christmas romance. ^_~ Sorry if starts out slow, the next chapter will reveal what happened between the beloved commander and girlfriend, and a possible snow-in?
Let me know if you'd like for me to continue, or if yu think I should toss it out the window. (flames will be used for Zell's hotdog's. ^_~)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. ;_; Though I'm gettin' a Zell for Christmas! ^^V