For Zell

[noblerworld]

It certainly hadn't been intentional that Seifer's hut was so close to Zell's, but that was the way of things and, today at least, it worked to his advantage. Seifer thought it was time he payed his neighbour a visit. Time to see just how strong the Chicken had got anyway.

So he stood outside Zell's hut, just after the break of dawn and started chucking pebbles at the door.

Comments

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer was doing his best to do what Zell had done to him, keep up the attack with enough force that just defending against it took up all their energy.

Only instead of using multiple attacks to keep his opponent guessing, he was using his full reach to completely restrict Zell's movement, his blade flicked out to meet a limb as soon as any of them moved, while his body was held back out of reach. If Zell gave up ground, he pursued but if Zell tried to counter, he would drop back and all the time he was moving from side to side, feet and hands working furiously as he tested Zell's guard from all angles.

In fact he was working so hard that Zell might have reasonably expected him to tire, if he could keep him at bay for long enough. Back at Garden, Seifer had always preferred quick victories after all. But, the truth was, his endurance was exactly what he had been working on the most since he'd arrived on this Island and been unable to use spells like haste. He spent two mornings a week being pushed to the limit by James Barnes and his cardiovascular conditioning and as much as he hadn't expected Zell to push him as hard as that, he was prepared for it.

He was too angry to notice it, but this was as good a workout, as good a test, as he'd had in a while.

[spirited-hero.livejournal.com]

A lot of opponents would have gotten tired out by now with all of the exertions Seifer was making, but he seemed to keep on going. Zell wasn't exactly resting, either. Seifer was forcing him to dodge and, on occasion, leap out of the way. And whenever Zell tried attacking, Seifer countered.

Zell decided to give Seifer a few strong attacks of his own. When he had the distance, Zell came flying towards Seifer with a jump-kick.

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer moved as fast as he could when he saw Zell jump, trying to side step the blow and then be on top of Zell when he landed.

[spirited-hero.livejournal.com]

Zell missed Seifer by a very small margin. Landing, he turned and saw Seifer coming at him. Zell feinted one way and saw Seifer's blade coming down to meet him. He switched directions, but there was only so fast he could go with his footing with landing, feinting, and shooting off another way.

Seifer was skilled enough to change the direction of his swing, and Zell felt the tap of Seifer's gunblade on his forearm. He stopped and turned towards him.

"Oh man, you got me. That was pretty good though..."

He hoped Seifer would at least be in a better mood since he had won another round.

[noblerworld.livejournal.com]

Seifer nodded as he sheathed his gun blade.

"2-1," he said smugly. "Good workout. Though next time, I won't go so easy on you."

And with that, he turned to walk away.

[spirited-hero.livejournal.com]

Zell called out as Seifer walked off.

"See ya, Seifer."

He scratched the back of his head. Had he just earned some respect? Zell kinda thought so. That'd be really cool. As much as Seifer was a big bully and jerk, Zell really desired Seifer's respect. How couldn't he? Seifer had teased him a lot, so if he stopped that and started training with him...

Total redemption! No more Chicken-Wuss.

If only it was possible to get the guy to not be so mean all the time...