Timeframe: When Balamb Garden is movable and the group returns to Balamb. Specifically: Zell's house.

Zell grinned as he saw Irvine's jaw drop when the sniper saw the rifles on the other side of the room. "They were my Grandfather's!" He exclaimed proudly. He then noticed the Squall wasn't even paying attention. It saddened him to see that the person he considered his best friend didn't care about anything that concerned him.

Meanwhile, Irvine was plastered in front of the display case, examining the rifles like a hawk admires its prey. "Wow...this is classic stuff Zell..."

Walking up to him, Zell tried to forget about Squall's attitude. "Wanna see 'em close up?"

"Really?! You'd let me?!" Irvine's violet eyes sparkled.

Somehow, this cheered up Zell immensly. He grabbed a key on a necklace under his shirt and undid the lock that held the display case closed. "Just be careful, OK?"

He could've saved himself the trouble. Irvine didn't have the courage to even touch the smooth metal until after a few minutes. His delicate fingers stroked the smooth gun barel of the top rifle reverently. "Zell...can I take 'em out...?" His eyes pleaded with Zell, begging like a puppy for a tummy rub.

Zell shrugged, "Sure. But be really, REALLY careful..."

"Of course." Taking a deep breath Irvine gently pulled the middle rifle off its pegs. It was well balanced, and the sights were straight and sure. "This is a piece of art..." Irvine's voice was soft, yet sincere.

//At least he doesn't ignore me...// Zell's thoughts wandered. "Now what do we do?"

Squall looked back at him. "We should rest tonight. We're not very injured, but even a small wound can make the difference between victory and defeat."

//Is that all you think about Squall?// Zell sighed. "OK, OK. I have two sleeping bags in the closet, so we can stay in my room for the night."

Squall shook his head. "That is too dangerous. I will be downstairs, in case some soldiers enter." He walked to Zell's closet and pulled out a faded red sleeping bag, then dragged it downstairs without a word.

Zell watched him leave, feeling rejected. He pulled out the blue sleeping bag and placed it on the floor, near his bed. //Too bad Irvine isn't that cool of a guy....// He noticed how the sharpshooter had been admiring another rifle, then placed it back delicately, closing and locking the display case. //But I shouldn't judge him. I don't really know him, after all.//

Stepping back from the rifles, still amazed, Irvine noticed Zell taking off his shoes. "Lights out, huh?"

Zell nodded, then pulled off his shirt, tossing it into a nearby hamper. "Yeah. I have another shirt if you wanna change." He pointed to his small dresser. "The temperature REALLY drops at night, but I'm used to it."

Smiling his thanks, Irvine walked to the dresser and pulled out a baggy white shirt. He went back to his sleeping bag, then proceeded to remove his hat, hairband, shoes, trenchcoat, and belt. Turning away from Zell slightly, he removed his shirt, and quickly put on the one he had been lent.

//Geez...he's a lot thinner than I thought...// Zell tried not to stare at Irvine, who looked pitifully small in the shirt. //No wonder he never wants to spar with me.// "Hey Irvine." Zell tossed him a pillow. "G'night!"

"Good night Zell." Irvine crawled into the sleeping bag and closed his eyes once Zell clicked off the room's light. He was glad that he hadn't looked directly at the shirtless Zell, or else he'd be blushing madly. //I've never seen someone that toned in all my life...But he's such a nice guy...not like Tamir...// He hoped his dreams would have him using the great rifles Zell had. Dreaming of women never crosssed his mind.

***

Later that night, Zell woke shivering. //Damn, it's cold! Oh yeah...it must be those stupid soldiers. They're cut off the power to everyone, so now we don't even have a heater.// The strong moolight drifted through his windows. He looked across the room and saw Irvine shivering, yet still asleep, in the sleeping bag. //Poor guy...// "Hey, Irvine!" he whispered, glad that his companion awoke.

"I know what you mean by the temperature dropping now." Irvine commented as he sat up.

"It doesn't usually get THIS cold. Hey...um..." Zell blushed partially. "Do ya wanna...join me?" He moved to the wall side of the bed. "We can both fit."

Irvine was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Thanks Zell." He got up and tossed his sleeping bag on top of the blanket, then climbed in with Zell. //It is much warmer now...// He lay on his back, looking up at the ceiling.

Zell sighed wondering why Squall couldn't be the one sharing his bed. //I try to be nice...but he doesn't even care most of the time...What am I doing wrong?//

"Zell, what's the matter?" Irvine noticed the troubled expression on the blond's face.

"Nothing...just thinking 'bout stuff." Zell forced himself to smile. His gaze traveled to his shirt on the other's chest. It was so baggy it gave a decent view of Irvine's smei-tanned chest. "Hey Irvine, where'd you get that scar?" He asked as he noticed the white scar over Irvine's collar bone.

Irvine turned away slightly. "Uh...it's just a scar..." He trembled, but tried to control himself. //Don't let him see how weak you are...You gotta be strong!//

But Zell felt the thinner youth tremble. "Irvine, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry." He placed his hand on a thin shoulder, "Don't be mad..."

Slightly tensing at the touch, Irvine closed his eyes. "I'm not mad. That scar just brings up some bad memories."

"Do you...wanna talk about it?" Zell had never seen Irvine so unsure of himself, and it worried him.

The thin youth was silent, trying to decide what to do. //I can't tell anyone...But, he's shown me so much kindness, the least I can do is to be honest...// "Zell...you gotta promise to keep this to yourself."

"Sure, sure."

"NO ONE can ever know. Promise me."

"I promise Irvine."

Irvine took a deep breath, then opened his violet eyes. He turned onto his other side, now facing Zell. "A year ago, I was...in a relationship with one of my schoolmates from Galbadia. His name was Tamir."

"His? I thought..."

"Yes, I'm gay Zell. I only pretend to like girls because less people hate me then..." He looked down between them, sure that Zell would be disgusted with him.

"Oh." Just because he was blond didn't mean he was an idiot. Zell sensed Irvine's hurt. "Hey, don't worry about it." He offered a grin once Irvine looked up. "You're still my friend, that stuff doesn't matter to me." //It actually makes me feel better about myself...//

"Thanks Zell...Tamir was a tough guy. He...liked forcing me to do stuff...but he made sure I'd like it, so I would stay with him." Irvine shuddered again, feeling the chill in his heart, rather than his body. "One night...he wanted to share me with some of his friends. I said no...but he didn't care..." Irvine swallowed hard, forcing his tears back. "I refused, and I even told him it would be over between us if he tried anything like that. He decided to...'show me my place'...with his dagger..."

Zell saw how Irvine's strength was about to collapse. "Come here." He slowly wrapped his arms around the shooter, holding him tightly enough to show he was protecting him, but loose enough so as to not scare him. "Just let it out...I'm not judging you..."

Irvine sobbed hard, his tears falling onto Zell's chest. The blond only held him, occasionally stroking his hair. "Zell...." His voice shook, unsure of everything. He had never told anyone about Tamir; in fact, he had told the doctor at the clinic that he had gotten the wound from the training grounds. //He's not turning me away...he actually likes me...//

Keeping him warm in his arms, Zell wondered at himself. //Squall may be lonely, but he can handle it. Irvine needs someone. I may not be the guy for it...but I want to help him...I really do...// He let his body act without too much thinking, based on what his heart felt. His lips gently brushed against Irvine's forehead, kissing the soft skin gently.

Looking up, Irvine was startled. He had never been kissed with such a gentle and unforceful way. His eyes looked into Zell's, asking for understanding.

Zell's blue eyes stared back, reassuring. His mind mentioned that Irvine's eyes had blue specks in them, but Zell didn't really care about that at the moment. "Irvine...are you afraid of me?" He asked. Most people were; though he was short in stature, his personality and sheer brute strength could easily dominate most people. He didn't want to do the same to Irvine, he wanted the youth to choose for himself.

"No Zell...I trust you...I really do." Irvine nudged himself closer to the warm chest, his tears drying. "I'm sorry I couldn't control myself..."

"It's all right." Zell's hand gently rubbed Irvine's back. "Everyone needs to let go like that. Do you feel better now?"

"Yeah..."

Zell smiled. "Good. Hey Irvine, ya want me to go get you some hot chocolate or something?"

Irvine smiled back, enjoying Zell's playfulness. "No thank you. I just want to sleep now...I'm tired..."

//You probably are...but I know it's not THAT kind of tired.// "OK. Go ahead, I won't try anything." Still, Zell kept his muscled arms around Irvine.

"...Thank you Zell..." Irvine closed his eyes, comforted beyond words. //But will he treat me like this in the morning?// He sighed mentally. //Of course he will...he's not at all like Tamir...//

//Sweet dreams Irvine...// Zell drifted off to sleep as well, not even remotely worried about what the motning might bring. He trusted that as long as he had Irvine with him, he could handle anything.