Quistis and Zell

The sounds of the night didn't bother Zell. It was just his paranoia with all the things that had happened that were causing him to jump at every little sound....right.

He sat at the main camp's fire, throwing some more logs on it to keep it going. Gotta stay busy.

Quistis was still trying to get over the shock at getting married so quickly. She eyed the ring that encircled her finger and shook her head with a faint laugh. It gave her something to smile about, that was rare these days so she was going to enjoy it and never regret it. She now found her way to where she knew Zell would be. They hadn't had a chance to talk and she wanted to remedy that. She found him sat by a fire and sat down beside him," Hey." She said with a small smile.

OMGWTH ahh! Zell jumped. Then he realized it was Quistis...whew.

"Eh heh, Hyia Quisty. Sup?" He said, patting a spot on the blanket he'd laid out for her to sit down.

Quistis shifted from her spot and settled on the blanket," Thanks." She said softly as she looked across at Zell." It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Zell nodded. "It has...and things keep shaking us up so it's hard to make time." he replied.

He then looked over and noticed the ring. "Nice ring." He commented. If she wanted to talk about it she would...he wouldn't press her.

She flexed her hand and ran a thumb over the band of silver," Thank you." For both noticing it and not saying anything about it. She curled her legs up towards her chest and slid her arms around her knees," You okay?"

Zell snorted. "Define okay."

Quistis smirked," Let me ask another question, how are you?"

Zell sighed. "Surviving. I'm just glad the city was left untouched"

A nod was given in agreement," You and me both." She hated to think what would have happened to all the civilians. At least the people in the Garden knew of this world, they were SeeD and they understood on some level. But it didn't make the loss any easier to deal with.

"If anything had happened to Ma..." he said, shuddering at the thought. He shoved the thought from his mind.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

Quistis' eyes slid to Zell and she lifted a hand to smooth across his back as she saw his body shaking." Nothing will and nothing will ever happen." She promised with a fierce tone to her voice. She then shrugged her shoulders." I'm surviving and doing what I can to keep plodding along." Her eyes fell to the ring, Seifer helped - he helped a lot.

"You seen Squall or Irvine around? I need to talk to one of them." he said, poking the fire with a stick

" Irvine's..." Quistis trailed off here, swallowing back a sudden lump in the back of her throat." He's no longer here, Zell." She shook her head." Hyne took him."

Zell's shock couldn't have been any more obvious as he nearly fell into the campfire. "The hell?!?!"

Quistis jerked forward to grab Zell's shoulders so she could pull him back and away from the fire." It happened whilst he and Squall were out on patrol, she came for him and she took him." She shook her head.

Zell flopped back down on the ground and punched the dirt angrily. "What the hell did we all do to deserve this shit?" He asked angrily, his shoulders shaking.

" Nothing that I know of," Quistis muttered, moving closer to slide her arms around Zell - giving him what comfort she could." But whatever happens, we'll make them pay." She nodded her head and drew back, her blue eyes cold and void of anything except determination.

Zell nodded, unable to speak for a moment. "I've been saying that since Selphie lost her hand." he said quietly. "And so far I've done nothing....I've never been there for when you guys have needed help..."

Quistis shook her head," Who has been keeping these kids together?" She arched an eyebrow and took this moment to prod Zell's chest," You have." She looked Zell in the eye," You've been here when we've needed you, you came when you heard we were in trouble and you haven't left since this mess started. Don't think any less of yourself."

"I should have been here when it happened..." He said, turning away from her for a second. He knew he was gonna get in trouble for saying that.

She released a breath at this point," Zell, we can't always be in the right place at the right time." She leaned over, caught his chin and turned his head so she could look him in the eye." There isn't any room for buts or what ifs, this isn't the time for guilt. If anything, this is the time for determination and revenge."

She nodded her head and gave Zell a very small smile," You're here now, that's what counts and call me selfish but I'm glad that you weren't here when the shit went down because we could have lost you and we've already lost too much." Quistis Trepe wasn't as cold as people liked to think, not when it came to the people she cared about.

Zell looked into her eyes and then nodded. "You're right Quisty...I guess I just feel like I could have done more....I hate losing so much....But those bitches are gonna pay...so much." He said, clenching his fist.

" Much better," Quistis nodded her head. Anger was stronger than despair and lord knows it was driving her and it was one of the things keeping her going from day to day.

Zell, well Zell wasn't sure what he'd been operating on. Mostly he'd felt numb and thought only of protecting the kids that remained....that's what kept him alive. But now, it was different. Time to deal with reality Zell DIncht. Time to get revenge. He stirred the fire again. "So what's the plan?"

Quistis returned her attention to the fire," The plan is being worked on. Squall won't stop until he has everything in place." She was worried for him, he wasn't sleeping and she had to wonder if he was even eating." But whatever we're doing, we're doing it soon." That much she knew for certain.

Zell nodded. "I've got to talk to him. I'm not getting left behind this time. There's plenty of junior SeeDs here than can do what I do."

She gave a nod of her head," Might be an idea. I'm sure he'd like to talk with you anyways."

Zell gave her a thumbs up. "I'll track him down in the morning then. You should probably get some sleep. Wouldn't want Seifer to see you a wreck." he teased. Yes, Zell often knew more than he let on.

" He's not around to see it," Quistis remarked with a smirk. Seifer had left to do something or other and all she just hoped he stayed safe." Sleep isn't currently in my vocabulary but maybe one day."

Zell chuckled. "Don't make me use magic on you missy." He threatened.

She laughed at that," I'm junctioned, I'll have you know." A wink was given before a hand lifted to push her blonde hair behind her ear.

Zell shook his head. "Well then, I'll just have to knock ya out." He said jokingly, shadowboxing and pretending to be so tough. Ha. Zell was as tough to his friends as a pillow :P

" I'd like to see you try." Quistis retorted with a faint gleam in her eyes. She wrapped her hand around her whip and pulled it away from her belt to give it a wiggle. She soon settled the whip back against her belt and gave Zell a smile.

Zell laughed and gave the camp a quick glance over. Everything was the same as it had been a while ago. "Such a sassy gal." He commented, shaking his head. "Seriously though, get some rest...just lay down or something, even if you don't sleep."

To ease his obviously troubled mind, Quistis laid back on the blanket and turned on her side so she could face Zell." Happy?" She asked quietly, a smirk playing across her lips.

He nodded. "Yes, I'll make sure things are safe." he said, getting up and walking around a little, but not straying far from the fire.

Quistis watched him for a few moments before her eyes shut and she felt some of her tension draining from her. But she still couldn't find rest, thoughts plagued her and she couldn't stop for long enough to simply rest. Tired blue eyes opened and returned to the fire. A sigh escaped her.

Zell returned and sat down next to her Indian style. Fatigue pulling at him, but he refused to give into it. He sighed as well, starting at the fire.