*...* Squall's thoughts, '...' Zell's thoughts.
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Squall's hair was damp, auburn strands glistening with water droplets. A towel was draped loosely around his shoulders, so the water wouldn't fall onto the floor. Zell's gaze traveled downward, as he used the end of it to wipe off his collarbone. Squall wasn't sharply defined; his build was more lean then Zell's. His skin was a creamy color; the half-and-half Zell liked in his coffee. A light dusting of auburn was on the lower half of his abs; the borrowed pj bottoms covered the rest of his body. Zell never thought Squall would have looked good in blue and black plaid, he'd always seen Squall in leather and fur. He was envious of Rinoa at the moment, her having likely seen Squall in this and less many times.
He'd always known why several female cadets had been fighting over him since fifteen, knowing each of them would kill for this view. Except for those pajamas, Squall could have been of those alabaster angels, carved with love and longing by a human hand. Something that the man wished to be, wished to have, but forever out of reach.

Smoke hued eyes met his; one eyebrow lifting as a slight smiled teased the corners of his lips. "Like what you see?"
Zell nodded, lost in those eyes, not noting that Squall was slowly moving closer to the bed.
'I can't deny it any longer. It's not fair to me, it's not fair to him.'

He crept closer to the blonde, wondering why he thought Zell would suddenly squirm out of those covers and bolt. *Perhaps you're still thinking of the past, Leonhart. You know you like him, and you're pretty sure he likes you. *
The whole evening, he'd wanted to run his fingers through those burnished gold strands again. When Zell had made the remark about keeping him warm, he wished it been true, and not a joke. Perhaps it wasn't, perhaps Zell had honestly meant it. After all, he had blushed when Squall had teased him about the bed remark.

Those eyes were the color of mercury when Zell found them unnervely close to his own. "Squall..." He whispered, tongue flicking to wet suddenly dry lips. "I need to..." His eyes drifted down, the sky color becoming cloudy and darker. "I have to tell you something."
Squall's brows furrowed slightly, as he sat down next to Zell. "I'm listening..."
Zell looked away, knowing that if he allowed himself to get lost in Squall's eyes, he wind up throwing himself at the boy. Who, he was certain return his feelings, but he wasn't sure to what extent. He was also not certain if this was some sort of cosmic joke; maybe it was all a dream.
"Squall, I know we're friends. We've been best friends since the field exam, odd though that may be. I'm pretty sure you hated me the first time we met."

Squall winced for a moment, that statement was almost true. While he hadn't hated him, he didn't care for him as he did now. Zell had been an annoying brat then, loud and too quick to action. Seifer's personal pet peeve as well, Squall had heard about him enough during training sessions.
"But then, in the Prison... You saved me Squall." Softer. "...And that's when I fell for you."

He felt something brush his cheek, tracing down the curve of his face till fingers grasped his chin, forcing him to face Squall again. "Zell..."

Uncertainty flickered in those iridescent orbs. Zell studied his eyes, wondering what was ticking over in Squall's mind. What was he going to say to him?
'I care about you as a friend, Zell. I'm sorry if you took my joking as something deeper...' Hmmm. No. Squall wouldn't word it that way, but he was pretty sure that's what Squall would say. Or a variant of it - anyway.

"So, you've felt this way for a year?"
Zell nodded, studying Squall from beneath lowered lashes. "Rinoa sensed it..." He stiffened, at the mention of her name, and tried to pull himself from Squall's grasp. But Squall refused to release him.
He had closed his eyes at well, at the mention of her name. This made what Squall plan to do a tad easier and Squall smiled, lowering his face before whispering the next phrase.
"She also sensed this."

That's when something soft and warm brushed against his lips, feather light and unsure. Zell felt Squall's fingers once again dance over his skin, before pulling back.
He opened his eyes, wondering if his were as hazed as Squall's.
"You... You mean you've felt the same way...?"

Squall nodded. "I couldn't tell you how I felt, because I was certain you cared for me as a friend. Only as a friend, though Rinoa was sure otherwise. It's why anytime I wanted to do something with you, she was there."
Zell laughed slightly then reached out, a bit unsure. Squall waited, as Zell gently brushed the pads of his fingers against his cheek, tracing lines that the shadows created.
"This is real, isn't it? You're really here, with me."

Another shy smile, as Squall placed his hand over Zell's. He took his hand, placing it on his chest. "Do you feel that?"
Zell nodded, the fluttering beat of Squall's heart was matching the tempo of his own. "It's real. As am I."
Zell kept his hand there; Squall's skin reminded him of the leather inside his gloves. Smoothed after many months of wearing, warm and supple. There were a few scars marring his skin, barely noticeable, from old training sessions - likely caused by the deadly tip of another gunblade.

Both jumped at the sudden ring of bells. It wasn't the chime of a clock, instead it sounded rather like sleigh bells, or the kind that followed Tinkerbell while she'd been flying.
Zell blinked, looking at the clock over Squall's shoulder. "Midnight?"
Squall laughed. "Santa?" Zell's eyes moved back to him, smiling as he shook his head. "Perhaps. I'll have to leave that man some nice goodies next year."
"Oh, why is that?" Squall asked, letting Zell pull him into an embrace. "He brought me something I've been wanting..." A pause, as Zell's smile turned slightly wicked. "And it's Christmas morning, I get to unwrap my gift."
Squall smiled as Zell kissed him softly, pulling him down.


He awoke because of something soft tickling his nose. Sunlight filtered through the windows, half obscured by the clouds in the sky. He opened his eyes slightly, still half asleep. An arm was draped over his waist, causing him to be pressed against a warm, compact body. Tips of dark gold were slightly visible; the rest of Zell's head was tucked neatly under his chin. He could feel his breath tickling his collarbone now, and found that his arms were wrapped around the smaller boy.

He'd never slept so soundly, even when Rinoa had been sharing his bed. And he never awoke to found her snuggled next to him. Though he loved her still, Zell fit against him, as though he was the one meant to share Squall's life.
*Now what...? * He asked himself, heavily. *Christmas magic only lasts for so long... What if he wakes up and hates me for last night? What if ...*
As if sensing his thoughts, Zell stirred, skin sliding against skin as he stretched. He blinked his eyes once, twice, - Squall felt the flutter of his eyelashes. He pulled his head back, meeting squall's eyes evenly. They remained locked for a minute, before Zell pouted.
"I'm hungry."
Squall started laughing, and Zell placed his head against his chest once more, enjoying the low rumble of his laughter as they hugged each other.
'So this is what love is like...?'

"Merry Christmas, Squall."
"Merry Christmas, Zell..."

Selphie stumbled into the shared kitchen, rubbing at her eyes. She was dressed in a huge yellow robe, and had matching bunny slippers. Squall smiled slightly, refraining from any remarks as Zell flipped another pancake.
"You guys are up early...." She slid into a chair, studying Squall. He motioned to the pitcher next to him. "Juice?" She nodded. "Thanks. Uhm, Squall..."
"Yes?"
"I don't mean to pry... but you may wanna hide that before we get back."
"Hide... Hide what?"
"That bite mark." Zell dropped the pan, but Squall, unruffled as ever, managed not to spill any of the juice he was pouring.



Selphie and Squall were sitting up front, as Zell finished storing his stuff in the back of the plane. "Selphie... can I ask you something?"
Squall began, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sure! What is it?" Selphie smiled up at him, happy to be in her beloved plane.
"Did you.... Did you hear bells last night, around midnight?"
"No... Why?"
"...Well, Zell and I heard... Bells. Kinda like sleigh bells."

Selphie smile became somewhat thoughtful, before it brightened again. "Oh my gosh, Squall - You know what that was?! Your wish was granted! Yours and Zells! That's so great!"
"...." He hadn't really believed her about the wish, but when Zell strode back to join them, he thought that anything could be possible.
Even little women with gossamer wings.