Part Three

Zell's face fell at these words. He didn't know what he'd wanted Seifer to say, but this wasn't it. Zell supposed that it was just Seifer messing around, he'd thought that perhaps he'd been flirting with him, but no. Seifer always threw sexual innuendoes around like that anyway. Zell guessed he should have known better. He climbed back up the ladder, his shoes making squishing noises with every step.

For the next few days, Seifer and Zell returned to something more closely resembling their relationship at Garden. They spoke civilly to each other most of the time, but occasionally sustained injured silences when one or the other was reminded of the argument they'd had. There were differences, however. Seifer didn't insult Zell nearly so much as he used to and they both tried to treat each other
with more consideration, carefully, as if traversing a minefield. No more mention was made especially of the little bargain they'd struck on Seifer's porch that first day. Zell had decided to sleep on the floor, not wanting to allow himself the pleasure of sleeping against Seifer's warm body if he couldn't have the beautiful blonde-haired man. Seifer rather missed having the wiry athletic body pressed
against him, even after only one taste of the sweet pleasure of waking up in someone's arms, but he refused to say anything, afraid that his request would be cruelly rejected.

Still, they talked a great deal together about the past and the present, sharing their desires and dreams while carefully skirting the issue of their desires for each other. Zell was actually enjoying himself most of the time, but the unsaid things continued to be a heavy barrier between them and it was often the cause of occasional bouts of sharp temper in Seifer. Every time Zell had to restrain himself from any playfulness with Seifer that could be misconstrued as flirting he grew angry. It ached not to be able to treat the blonde man as anything more than a rather distant friend. On the few occasions that Zell had punched Seifer lightly in the arm, or engaged in any other light touches, Seifer had looked as though Zell's touch scalded his flesh and he'd gone and called him Chicken wuss or something equally insulting.

Zell's frustration was building to uncontrollable proportions as they finished repairing the roof and started working on applying new mortar to the walls. That morning Zell had wiped some jam from Seifer's face and his green eyes had grown the size of dinner plates and he'd looked as though he'd been slapped. The heat didn't help Seifer's temper either, especially since he had vowed to appear unmoved by it.

Zell missed the air conditioning in the Garden as sweat dripped down his face and the sun licked at his flesh like flames. As the sun climbed higher in the sky Zell wiped his forehead wearily and looked over at Seifer where he was working stoically, showing no signs that they were being baked alive.

"Seifer?" Zell ventured meekly, squeezing his strong tanned shoulder, before he caught himself. A pair of dazzling green eyes regarded him grimly, the thin lips drawn into a pained grimace. "I'm going to go make us something to eat okay? You should probably come take a break with me. It isn't good to work in this heat for too long."

The touch of Zell's hand coupled with the concern in his voice, that Seifer thought must surely be feigned, triggered his temper again. "Getting soft, Chicken wuss? Is the heat too much for you? I'd almost think you cared, the way you're carrying on." Zell shot Seifer an angry look from the edge of the house as he started inside. His cool blue eyes radiated an glare that made Seifer shiver even in the sun, although he continued to feign indifference.

"I do care. That's why I'm here." Zell stormed furiously into the orphanage and surveyed the contents of Seifer's fridge. Taking his anger at Seifer's sheer arrogance out on a head of lettuce, Zell made a rather shredded salad. Chopping tomatoes was also incredibly satisfying. Thwack! It was hard to believe that even after Seifer had been defeated and humiliated he was still as rude and annoying as
ever. Thwack! Where did he get off flirting with Zell anyway and making him want something that he hadn't worried about since his short-lived relationship with that girl from the library. Thwack! Then again, Zell lowered the knife and paused. It wasn't as though he wanted Seifer to be ruined and defeated. It was good to see him doing so well and it wasn't Seifer's fault that Zell had taken the teasing to be more than just teasing, but still. Thwack! Zell was mad and wasn't going to let his emotions allow him to forgive that obnoxious, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, lean, muscular . . . Thwack! A piece of tomato flew across the kitchen and landed at a startled Seifer's feet. He'd come indoors meaning to apologize for his snappish
comments outside, but the flying vegetables distracted him from his intentions.

"Zell, are you okay?" he asked, looking suspiciously at the mutilated vegetables on the counter.

"Just fine," Zell said, baring his teeth and putting the murdered salad into two bowls. "What kind of salad dressing you want?" he asked sharply.

"Ahh whatever you're having is good. Thanks for making lunch, by the way."

Zell sighed, pouring Italian salad dressing into his bowl. It was hard to stay angry at someone who was being so polite. He darted a glance across the counter at Seifer, who had hopped up onto it and was eating salad using his lap as a table, his forehead still beaded with sweat, skin looking golden in the light from the window behind him. He almost looked angelic with sunshine slanting in onto his face, although the scar rather ruined the overall effect. It took a moment for Zell to realize that Seifer was looking back at him peculiarly again, his emerald eyes confused.

"So, how much more work would you say we have ahead of us?" Zell asked, feeling his face turn hot. Seifer had to have noticed the blush because he was still gazing at Zell intently, looking for something, but he made no comment on the redness of Zell's face. He shrugged his tanned shoulders absently, finally glancing away at the floor.

"I dunno. Probably a week at the most. I guess you'll be leaving after that." Zell ate a piece of lettuce and imagined for a little while that he could stay. He and Seifer, living together in this pretty little house by the ocean. Of course, they'd have to get into another line of work besides attacking travellers, but . . . Zell
sighed as he let the fantasy dissipate.

"Yeah I guess I will," he answered, "that is, if you feel our contract has been satisfied," he added trying a smile.

Seifer dropped his fork and slid off of the counter in a sinuous and disturbing manner, coming quickly to stand beside Zell. The tension between them was finally too much for seifer to bear. He decided that he had to do something about it, even if it meant humbling himself to the man he was quickly growing more attracted to with every moment and only ever being Zell's friend.

"Listen, I didn't mean to scare you with that weird little game. You're probably disgusted with me. Who would have guessed that the almighty Seifer Almasy was gay, right? I just . . . don't want that to be the thing that makes you leave. I don't have too many friends now and I don't want . . ." Seifer choked off the rest of his
sentence and turned away, a hand pressed to his forehead. Zell put down his bowl and placed a careful hand on Seifer's shoulder.

"I wasn't scared that you were serious. I was worried that it was all another joke to you." Seifer faced him, his brow furrowed with doubt.

"You wanted me to be coming on to you for real?" he said, grabbing Zell's shoulder's as if to steady himself.

"Hell, yeah," Zell said trying not to get too excited at the prospect of those strong hands on his arms.

"If that's the case, then why did you run away the first morning?" Seifer asked, punctuating the question with a slight tightening of his grip. Zell flushed immediately.

"Ummm, it's a little embarrassing. Are you sure you want to know?" Seifer raised a dark eyebrow and Zell sighed and muttered something unintelligible.

"What?"

"I had a hard on!" he yelled, then put a hand over his mouth and turned even redder. Seifer let go of his arms and turned away, making suspicious noises.

"Hey! Are you laughing at me?" Zell asked, angrily, his hands on his hips.

"Mpphh! No, no. I'm not laughing at you. It's just, you should have seen the look on your face." Zell couldn't help but smile at the beauty of Seifer's toothy grin. It was so different from the lopsided smirk which was the closest to a smile Seifer usually displayed.

"So, basically, what you're saying is, you're laughing at me," Zell said and advanced on Seifer menacingly. The tall blonde was still incapacitated with giggles.

"Hey, hey Chicken wuss? What do you think you're going to . . . Argh!" Seifer Almasy fell down on the ground laughing hysterically and trying to squirm away from Zell's bent fingers. If you had asked him yesterday, Zell could never have guessed that Seifer would be so ticklish.

"Just think," the tattooed man mused aloud. "All this time the Head of the Disciplinary committee and all around tough man at the Garden could have been defeated with just a little tickling." While Zell was busy amusing himself with these thoughts Seifer, tears streaming relentlessly from his glistening green eyes managed to grab both of Zell's wrists. "I'm going to get you for this Zell. Now that I know that you want me and you know that I want you . . ." Seifer trailed off with a predatory smile. Seifer pulled the shorter man down into his lap and swiftly separated the wrists and held them behind Zell's back. "There is still a little matter of our initial arrangement," he said.

"Hmmm? What arrangement?" Zell asked suspiciously, distracted by Seifer's declaration of desire and his grip on his wrists. Seifer noted that his captive wasn't struggling much and reached behind him into a drawer. He grinned when he came up with just what he'd been looking for. There was a distinctive click and Zell felt cold metal around one of his wrists. Seifer picked him up quickly before he'd had much of chance to react, deposited him neatly on the bed, and extending Zell's arms over his head fastened the other cuff around Zell's wrist, securing him firmly to the headboard. Belatedly, Zell thrashed about, discovering that he was indeed well fastened to the bed.

"Just what the fuck do you think you're doing? And where in Shiva's name did you get handcuffs from?"

Seifer climbed on the bed astride Zell's tense form and leaned over to breathe in the spikey-haired man's ear, "I think I'm finally going to claim my ownership of your body, under our deal, the way I've been wanting to since you first got here." Seifer gently ground his erection into Zell's thigh for emphasis on that point, his whole body undulating against his captive's as he continued speaking breathily
in Zell's ear. "The handcuffs were a gag gift for the Head of the Disciplinary committee. Apparently someone thought it would be funny to suggest that I was on the Disciplinary Committee because of my sexual depravity, at least that was the gist of the note that came with the cuffs." Zell groaned suddenly and jerked his wrist forward as though he'd like to hit himself. "You wouldn't know anything about
that little gift now would you Zell, luv?" Seifer asked, his eyes sparkling like the sea in the sunlight. "I thought the handwriting looked a bit like yours coincidentally."

"I'd forgotten about that," Zell said licking his lips nervously. "Ummm Seifer, let me go? I'll be good. I promise."

"If you can look me straight in the eyes and tell me that you want no part of this, then I'll take off your cuffs and let you go, no questions asked." Seifer said and traced a finger down Zell's tanned chest. Sliding his hand into Zell's loose jean cut-offs, Seifer rubbed his palm against Zell's not inconsiderable erection and said, wickedly, "if, on the other hand, you're actually enjoying yourself, and only protesting over the little matter of a bit of bondage, then the answer is, no I will not let you go because you owe me one sweetie." Seifer continued to palm Zell's erection inciting gasps from the smaller blonde man. Zell's eyes were shut and his head thrown back from the force of the pleasure that was singing through his body, mixed with a little bit of apprehension. It was a heady mixture of fear and lust and he found himself enjoying it more than he'd care to admit. So, when Seifer removed his hand abruptly and tilted Zell's chin up, the tattooed martial artist strained uselessly against his bonds and whimpered at the loss.

"Well, come on Zell, speak up." Seifer said, smiling into hazy blue eyes. "Speak now or forever hold your peace," he added.

"D-don't stop, please," Zell gasped out.

"What? Maybe it isn't me, who's sexually depraved after all. Are you saying you want me to pleasure you, dominate you and fuck you through the wall?"

"God," Zell said, his eyes widening. He had enough give on his wrists to lean forward and capture Seifer's lips in a torrid kiss. Seifer pushed Zell up against the headboard as he returned the kiss feverishly, his tongue darting between Zell's lips as though he meant to devour the lithe blonde.

"I take that as assent," Seifer managed to gasp once he'd pulled back for a moment. Seifer removed his captive's shorts and boxers and stroked Zell's hard length, reducing him to a quivering, pleading mess. "More, more, please, don't stop." Zell chanted, prompting Seifer to cease his stroking and suck his prisoner's errant tongue into his hot mouth.

"I didn't give you leave to speak, slave," Seifer said an unholy light in his bright, green eyes.

"I'm sorry," Zell breathed cautiously, his heated brain supplying him with a way to get his tormentor to touch him more. "You own me Seifer, I'm your slave, I'm your whore. I'll do whatever you say and you can use my body any way you want."

Seifer groaned at the words and swiftly removed his own jeans and briefs. "You said the magic words," he told Zell who was wriggling desperately beneath him, trying to achieve some kind of friction against his heated hardness. "Relax, Sweetheart. I'm not a tease. I always deliver." Seifer grasped both of their erections in his hand,
Zell moved desperately against him and they took their pleasure together for awhile, thrusting as one in the circle of Seifer's hands. "Mmmm that's too much," he said and got up off of the bed, leaving Zell bereft and unable to do anything for himself.

"S-Seifer?" he moaned watching his sleekly muscled captor search through another drawer in his dresser.

"Here it is," Seifer said, coming back to the bed while hastily opening a container of massage oil. Kneeling between Zell's legs, Seifer smoothed some oil onto his fingers before gently easing them into Zell. The spikey-haired blonde arched his back at the unusual sensation, gasping a little with the pain. Seifer slid up to rest on Zell's chest and hungrily kissed his gasps away.

"Oh God, just please, fuck me Seifer! Do it!" Zell said hoarsely .

"With pleasure," Seifer withdrew his fingers and spread oil along his throbbing cock. He ran his hands along Zell's legs and looked down at his slave's beautiful body. From the delicate black tattoo that sprawled across his cheek, to his slim, muscular calves, Zell was a feast for the eyes. Seifer shuddered, fully realizing the gift that he had been given when Zell appeared right on his doorstep. Lifting Zell's legs over his shoulders Seifer slowly eased himself into the blue-eyed beauty's body. The symphony that their bodies played together in Seifer's bed was full of gasps and sighs. Zell's bound wrists rang against the headboard, which he gripped with all his might. Seifer leaned in to lick at the little blonde's lips and reached down to squeeze Zell's erection. It wasn't long before the tattooed man came, nearly weeping with pleasure. Seifer joined him in release, leaning against his spent, sweaty body and kissing him again, drinking deeply of Zell's lips as though they contained some draught that would prolong his life. Seifer then slowly and reluctantly pulled away from his lover, which caused Zell to make little distressed noises, like a lost kitten.

"I'm not leaving you silly," Seifer said softly, ruffling Zell's damp hair. "I'm just getting something." He soon found what he was looking for and sat back on the side of the bed, while Zell tried to grope for him, but could only manage to press his cheek against Seifer's thigh. The taller man unlocked the handcuffs and gently rubbed at Zell's slightly bruised wrists. "I'm afraid I might have put you out of commission for awhile in the fighting department," he said ruefully. Zell smiled and pressed wet, sucking kisses along Seifer's neck. "Want to try me again later and see?" he asked.

"Ooo is that a threat?" Seifer said smiling and laying down beside his willing captive, he enveloped Zell in arms, looking for a bit of reassurance. They lay there for a few moments, half-drifting into sleep. "Zell," Seifer whispered softly.

"Hmmm," Zell turned his bright blue eyes towards his lover in question.

Seifer's expression was blank. It was the face that he had worn for most of his life, but now Zell could see that it was worn expressly to hide a particularly deep emotion. "What's wrong?" Zell asked taking one of Seifer's hands and cradling it close.

"Zell, will you . . . Can you please stay? Or I'll go live with you. I don't care." Seifer said in an unprecedented rush for the generally calm and collected mercenary.

"But Seifer, I couldn't ask you to come with me, you've put a lot of work into this place."

"It means nothing." Seifer sat up, his eyes full of a heat Zell had never seen in them before. "All of this is worthless to me, it was just a place to stay, alone. None of it is any good without you." Zell buried his face in Seifer's neck and sucked in a breath, trying to hide the tears that were gathering in his eyes making them glisten.

"I'll stay here with you Seifer," he said, looking up and letting Seifer see the tears at last. "I'll stay here as long as you want me to." And that was a very long time indeed.

End

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