Title: Counting Ants
Fandom: Final Fantasy 8
Paring: Squall/Zell
Rating: PG
Warning: Fluff at the start (they're kids)
Note: This is AU set before the game happened. Won't follow any time line. Squall isn't antisocial, because this is AU and nothing happened to make him that way. What did happen to him, he has just blocked away, he's just a normal kid.
Note 2: They're young, so some of their speech is spelled incorrectly on purpose, to show how they pronounce the words.

This is also a oneshot.

"One, two, three, four, five..."

"What are you doing?"

"Six, seven, eight..." The little blond Zell looked up and smiled, seeing someone who looked about a year or two older then he was. "I'm countin. Nine, ten, eleven..."

"What?"

The dark-haired toddler set down next to the blond, trying to figure out what was so interesting to Zell. His name was Squall; He was new to the orphanage, ripped out of his very home by some man he didn't even know. The child didn't know the whole story, and at the moment he was still blocking it from his head. That was why he didn't seem traumatized; he was pretending it hadn't happened.

"Twelve, thirteen. I'm countin them," Zell said, pointing with a chubby, little finger. "See?"

Squall peered closer to whatever he was pointing at, with a confused expression. It was a line of ants, crawling into their dirt mound home.

"Why ya countin them for?" Squall asked.

"Because, I'm trying to see how big their family is," The younger boy said, simply, continuing with his counting. He smiled, getting a far off look in his eyes. "I come out here every day to check on them. They are a family, did you know that? They live togever, work togever and play togever. I saw three playin pull-o-war one time with a leaf as big as a human hand. I wonder why we can't have families like that."

Squall wrinkled up his nose. "They're just ants," The child said.

The blond shook his head, "No, they're a family of ants. That's importan."

The dark-haired boy pursed his lips together, thinking. He guessed he understood a little. They weren't humans, but they had meaning. They were hardworking and hard playing. Actually they were pretty cool. Zell was on to something. Squall looked down at the ants and started to count with the blond, both boys giggling.

From around the corner, another child set, feeling grumpy for being left out. His name was Seifer and he was older then the other two boys. He was also a trouble maker, always picking fights with the younger blond. Deciding he had enough of being left out, Seifer jumped up and walked over to the two boys. He smirked, looking down at the two as they cheerfully, and idiotically, in his mind, counted ants going into their home.

Zell looked up, jumping up so fast, that he bumped into Squall's leg, making the older toddler fall over onto his back. Luckily away from the ants.

"Stop!" Zell yelled, seeing the mean intent in Seifer's eyes. Getting bullied was one thing, but allowing Seifer to harm his ants, there was no way he would let him do that! The five-year-old carefully stepped over the ants and shoved Seifer in the chest, making him get away. He was pretty strong for someone so young. He was going to grow up and be on the football team or something like that, if this was any hint of his future.

Squall was confused. The six-year-old had no idea what was going on. He didn't know Seifer like Zell knew him. In fact Zell was the first boy he'd even dared to walk up to and make conversation. Something about Zell had seemed nice and inviting. Everyone else just looked mean to Squall.

"Chicken-wuss," Seifer taunted, "What's the big idea?" He asked, playing dumb. On the inside he was laughing, loving how angry he could get the younger blond.

"You can't touch them!" Zell yelled, balling up his fists. "They are a family!" He felt angry tears in his eyes.

Seifer laughed meanly, pushing around Zell easily. He raised up his foot, intending on smashing the ants home.

"Noooooooooooo!" Zell cried, watching in shocked horror as Seifer's foot lowered quickly. In the blink of an eye, Squall was off of his back, charging at Seifer. He hit him in the chest with his head, making the older boy stumble back and fall on his butt.

Zell rushed to the ant mound, breathing a sigh of relief to see that their home was still safe.

Seifer may have been a nasty little kid, but he still was only a child. He started to sniff, crying because the new kid hurt him pretty badly.

Edna ran out of the little white house, her hair up in curlers. "What is all the ruckus?" She asked, looking back and forth between the children.

Zell pointed a chubby finger at Seifer. "He started it."

"It was just some stupid ants!" Seifer wailed. "You didn't have to push me down!" Seifer yelled at Squall.

"He tried to hurt their home!" Zell accused. "It's not just stupid ants! They are a family. You shouldn't take a home away from a family! Homes are importan!!" Zell's baby blue eyes wailed up in tears. "You didn't like it when the men came to take you from your home, did you, Seifer? I didn't like it when the men came and took me either!"

"How can you even remember?" Edna whispered. "You were nothing more then a child when that happened."

Zell shrugged, "I don't know. But I member." He looked over at Seifer. "Seifer, homes are very importan. It's not nice to take them away."

"I don't care!" Seifer cried, rubbing at his eyes. "It's not fair that little bitty ants can have a home and mine was taken away. It isn't fair."

Edna set down, pulling the three children into her arms. "This can be your home."

"But we might be taken away again by adopting peoples," Zell mumbled. He didn't want to be taken away again.

"Silly, didn't you know home is where your heart lies?" She pointed to their hearts one after another.

"What's that mean?" Zell asked.

"It means no matter where you go, your home follows. It might not feel like home at first, but you'll see. Home is where your heart lies."

"Right now your heart lies here, because this is where you're growing up, but soon you'll be adopted into families and you'll find that place feels like home before you know it. It takes time."

She looked over at Seifer, "Don't threaten to hurt Zell's ants again. Even though they may be small and it seems like they hardly matter, every living creature matters, whether it is a small little ant, or a big bear, or a somewhat tiny human boy," She teased Seifer, poking his nose.

The seven-year-old tried to keep himself from smiling, but he couldn't help it. "Fine, but I still think counting ants is silly."

Ma Dincht smiled down at the little boy. Ever since her husband died, she had been really lonely. She contacted the orphanage in the interest of adopting a boy. Here she was having her first look at the little blond Zell. He was perfect. Just what she'd always wanted in a son if she could have had any of her own. The woman decided then and there on the spot that this was the child she wanted.

"Zell, I'm going to adopt you," She told the eight-year-old.

The blond's eyes went wide. He backed away from the lady, shaking his head. "No, please."

Startled, Ma put a hand on Zell's shoulder, "Honey, why don't you want me to adopt you?"

Looking down at the floor, Zell shrugged. He didn't know why. All the kids dreamed about being adopted and getting to have a family of their own, but Zell felt like he already had a family. Squall, Selphie, Quitstis, Irvine, and even Seifer felt like his family.

Selphie was hyper and a goofball. Zell loved her like a sister.

Quitstis was smart and understanding. Zell looked up to her in admiration.

Irvine was a joker, who loved to pull pranks. Zell thought he was cool.

Seifer was mean sometimes, but he had his moments. Zell learned how to put up with him.

Then there was Squall. The dark-haired boy was quiet and he hardly ever showed what he was feeling, but Zell didn't feel whole unless he was around.

They were where his heart laid. They were his home, they were his family.

In the end, Zell had no choice in the matter. He sadly left with Ma Dincht, but not before he gave out a round of hugs, even hugging a surprised Seifer, who deep inside was a little sad too. Seifer even hugged back. When the eight-year-old came to Squall he smiled.

"I'll miss you the most. Shh, don't tell them that," He said, giving his best friend a hug. Squall fought back tears and the aching feeling in his heart, as he returned the hug. He'd miss Zell a lot too.

"This isn't the end ya'll!" Zell yelled, faking cheerfulness. "You'll all see me again, just you wait. I promise."

After all, they were his home, they were his heart.

"Garden!" Zell yelled up the stairs at his mom. "Are you serious? Why are they calling me?" The sixteen-year-old asked.

"They heard about your winning streak at the wrestling club," Ma yelled back down at Zell. "They want you to enroll in their school and be trained for SeeD."

"Whooooa, seriously man?"

Ma laughed, "yeah."

"But wrestling club is just a little harmless after school activity. I don't know the first thing about saving the world or fighting for real!"

Ma frowned. This pained her, but if they took in Zell, then their family wouldn't be in danger of starving this year. Money was becoming harder and harder to come by, and she was getting too old to work.

"Baby might as well check it out, right? It could be an opportunity."

"Hell yeah!" Zell yelled. "This is great!" Zell exclaimed. "And I won't even be far from home. How cool is that? Balamb Garden is just a short drive away."

"I know, I know. You better go meet with the headmaster."

"Ciiiiiid!" Zell yelled. "Oh my God!" Zell slammed his hands on the desk, making the headmaster jump. "You're Cid!"

"Excuse me?" Cid said, rubbing the back of his head. "Yes and you're Zell Dincht, the one we've been noticing in the papers for winning all those wrestling matches..."

Zell's face fell. "You don't remember me?" He asked quietly. "Little kid, hyper, blond hair. I was adopted eight years ago. You used to help run the orphanage I stayed at."

Cid looked at Zell a little harder, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "Good gracious."

The blond laughed, "Small world. So am I in?"

"Room 222..." Zell looked down at the paper in his hand. "222... come on, where are you?" The blond stopped walking, blowing a puff of air out of his lips.

Finally he spotted the room across the hallway, pumping a fist in the air in celebration. "Score!" The blond ran over to his dorm, fumbling around in his pocket for the card key. He pulled it out and swiped it through the lock. Inside the room, he smiled, dropping all of his things.

It looked like he had a roommate. The room was pretty lived in.

A dark-haired teenager walked into the living room, wearing only a pair of boxers.

"Holy cow," Zell whispered.

The half dressed man looked up, eyes locking with Zell's. They both stared, not daring to move.

"You grew up," the other said.

"I could say the same thing about you," Zell whispered.

"Zell..."

"Squall..."

"Welcome home."

Zell blushed, "what are you talking about?"

Squall shrugged. "Nowhere felt like home anymore with you gone."

"We were just kids," Zell whispered, watching as Squall approached him.

"Doesn't matter..."

"Because we didn't understand it when we were so little...?" Zell ventured.

"Yeah."

"We're older now..."

"Yeah."

"But it's been so long..."

"Whatever."

Squall smirked, pulling Zell to him for a hug. "You kept your promise."

"Of course I did!" Zell exclaimed. "I don't break promises!" The blond laughed. "We're crazy. It's been eight years. We're acting like not a day has gone by."

"I know."

"Home is where your heart lies," Zell whispered. "Remember Edna said that when we were little?"

"Yeah."

"My heart always laid with you ever since we first met, even though we were so young and it didn't mean anything more then innocent friendship back then... you know what I mean?"

"Yes, I'm home as long as I'm with you."

Zell blushed, "sounds like you just confessed."

"What if I did?"

"Uh..."

Squall smirked, "just wait until I tell the others."

"The others are here! Don't tell them!" Zell blushed.

"I'm going to..."

"Don't."

"I'm serious."

"You turned mean."

"Life man."

"Jerk."

"Cutie."

"Hey stop that!"

Zell suddenly smiled. It didn't feel like any time had gone by. They were still best friends, maybe something more now. Life was good.

"I'll tell them instead," Zell said, heading out of the room.

"I was joking."

"Too bad."

"Jerk."

"Sexy."

"That's playing dirty."

Zell put his hands on his hips. "Deal with it." He stuck his tongue out at Squall.

"I can manage that for a price."

"What?" Zell asked.

"You have to kiss me."

"Jerrrrrk!"

The End

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