Chapter 3
Kuja had developed a very bad fever, and the task of climbing had taken it’s tole on the silver-haired Genome. He gasped when his knees went out, making him painfully fall against Zidane.
“KUJA,” Zidane yelled, struggling with the mans weight. Kuja looked up at Zidane, his face bright red from the fever.
“I..I don’t feel so well,” he moaned, before passing out.
Zidane grunted, falling under the dead weight of Kuja. He was thankful that he was able to soften the fall for him. He leaned up and spooned the mage in his arms. “Don’t worry, Kuja.” He whispered.
Zidane took his small moogle flute out of his pocked and blew it loudly. In a second a moogle was by his side.
“Kupo,” the moogle smiled, his pompom waving in the wind, “how can I help you?”
“H...healing potions,” he stuttered, “do you have any?”
“Kupo,” the moogle took out a pouch and handed it to Zidane. “No charge, Kupo.”
Zidane blinked, “thank you.” The moogle nodded his head, his pompom coming close to hitting Zidane face, then he was gone in a blink of an eye.
Zidane sighed, looking at Kuja’s face, “let’s see what we have here.”
He opened the bag and smiled, relief flooding his whole body. There was a large amount of healing supplies. And also some useful status aliment magic, like sleep and confuse.
Zidane took a full heal from the bag and popped the lid off. He gently opened Kuja’s mouth and poured the yellowish liquid down his throat. Kuja grunted as the potion started to work, and his eyes fluttered open. Kuja blinked a few times, in surprise, Zidane’s nose was right next to his, his bright blue eyes wide in worry.
“A...are you okay,” Zidane whispered, his arms still tightly around Kuja’s waist?
Kuja just realized this and had to bite his tongue to keep himself from blushing, “I..I’m fine.”
Zidane smiled, dropping his head on Kuja’s chest, “good. You really scared me when you passed out.”
Kuja smiled and hesitantly put his arms around the young boy. Zidane raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything. He never thought Kuja to be the hugging type.
Zidane pulled away and stood up, helping Kuja to his feet. “Um, er,” Zidane blushed, “we have to get you new clothes.” Kuja paled when he looked down at himself. He was nearly naked, his long skirt thing was ripped and was only held around his waist by a thread or two. His shirt almost non existent, the sleeves completely gone. And when he moved, the rip in his man skirt showed his backside.
And he just happened to be wearing a thong.
Zidane nearly had a nose bleed, “you’re wearing a thong!” He shouted.
Kuja glared at Zidane, but it was short lived, because he was too busy trying to hold his man skirt down in the raging wind. “Yes,” he simply answered, his hair flaring around his head.
Zidane couldn’t help it and started to laugh. Kuja looked so comical. Kuja returned his glare, yelping when his skirt flared up hitting his face. Zidane blushed and looked away.
Kuja managed to get his skirt down and saw that Zidane had his back to him. “I’m covered,” he whispered.
“Oh...okay,” Zidane muttered, turning back to the older man. He blinked his eyes a few time, confused with the thoughts that were running through his head. Thoughts like, he looks hot with the sun glaring off his almost bare chest. Why would I think that? Did someone cast a confuse spell on me?
“Zidane, are you okay,” Zidane jumped.
“Y..yeah, sure.” Zidane blushed, removing his eyes from Kuja’s chest. “Um, we should really be heading for the closest town.” He looked away, “you really do need new clothes.”
Kuja blushed, “for once I agree, the closest place is Madain Sari, but they don’t have any clothing shops.”
Zidane bit his bottom lip thinking. Kuja thought this habit was very cute, and blushed. “Well, do you feel comfortable stopping there and getting something to eat. You must be famished.”
“Well the only people there are the moogles and they don’t care about humans or Genomes appearances. I guess I don’t care.” His stomach gurgled, “and I guess I am very hungry.”
Zidane laughed, “me too,” he grabbed Kuja’s hand, surprising the man, “well lets go.”
Usually Kuja balked when someone came in contact with his person, but for some reason he didn’t feel the same way with Zidane, so he let the boy drag him toward Madain Sari.
They made good time and stood before the entrance to the summoner village.
“Let’s go,” Zidane exclaimed, pulling Kuja forward.
When they entered they were almost at once surrounded by a dozen or so moogles. “Zidane,” most of them called! “Eiko,” others questioned.
Zidane smiled, “Eiko is safe. Everything is fine now.”
The moogles started to rejoice, when one noticed the man Zidane was holding on to.
The moogle gasped, causing the rest to look at him.
“KUJA,” the moogle hissed.
Kuja flinched at the hate and fear in the small creatures voice.
“KUJA,” the rest hissed. “YOU HURT EIKO,” they yelled.
Kuja started to shake, the memory of what he had did to everyone coming back to him.
Zidane stepped in front of Kuja when one moogle started to fly at him. “Stop,” he shouted.
The moogles stared at Zidane, confusion on their faces, “why do you protect him?” One demanded to know.
“I...I, he’s not the same,” he looked at Kuja who had a shocked, painful look on his face, “he’s changed. Look into his eyes. He was being controlled before.”
Kuja silently gasped, how did he know that? It’s true, but I didn’t think anyone realized it.
The head moogle looked at Kuja, flying close to his face. He peered closely into his eyes and saw many things. Fear, regret, sadness, pain, and something the moogle didn’t understand, but he didn’t see any hate or malice.
The moogle decided Zidane was telling the truth and backed away. “Sorry,” it whispered.
“Wha,” Kuja said finally finding his voice?
“He means, sorry for the way we reacted. We’re very protective of Eiko.” Another moogle explained.
“O...oh, I understand.” Kuja smiled, shocking the moogles. It was a true smile that reached his eyes. The man truly had changed.
“Um, we came here, hoping to get something to eat,” Zidane grinned sheepishly.
“Of course,” the moogles shouted, scurrying around to make the Genomes a good meal.
Zidane leaned back, rubbing his full belly, “man moogles sure can cook.”
Kuja nodded, his mouth full.
“Thank you,” a moogle gushed, “miss Eiko taught us everything about cooking.”
Kuja and Zidane raised their eyebrows, “a six year old girl taught you how to cook?”
“Of course Master Zidane. She had to fend for herself at an early age, and us moogles were her only family.”
Zidane smiled, “and now she has Garnet. Not really family but close enough.”
“Right another summoner.”
Zidane stood up and pushed his chair in, “thank you so much for the food. We have some errands to attend to.” Zidane glanced at Kuja, his face flushing, manly we need to go shopping.
The moogle nodded, “you’re welcome.”
Kuja held his skirt around his waist as he and Zidane traveled to the next town. The wind was being very fearsome today, and the few threads holding his skirt together had finally snapped. So all that was keeping it on was Kuja’s hand.
It had been very embarrassing when it had happened. Kuja and Zidane had just exited Madain Sari, when a very strong wind, washed over them. The next thing both boys knew, Kuja was standing next to Zidane in only half a shirt and a thong.
Kuja had shrieked and went chasing after the fabric, not taking in account that when he did so Zidane got an eyeful. Zidane flushed, and was assaulted by a round of confusing thoughts.
Now the two boys were walking in silence, both in their own little worlds. Each thinking of the other, still not understanding what was happening to them. These things I’m thinking are not normal. I can’t be thinking stuff like this. Sure he’s pretty, but he’s a GUY! I think that was proven when we were trapped under the Iifa Tree. And when I saw him in that thong. And his chest is flat, the way the sun hits it is so ho...Oh Hyne! I’m thinking of his body again. What is wrong with me? He’s a guy. A GUY. Not a GIRL. And I like Garnet right? Zidane blinked his eyes, glancing over at Kuja. I thought I did. But when I think of her, I don’t feel a spark. I don’t blush when she touches me. Oh Hyne, I don’t have feelings for her! But that still doesn’t mean I have feelings for a GUY! Zidane groaned, who was he kidding. There was defiantly a spark whenever he was near Kuja, and he defiantly blushed a lot when around the former mage. And he kept looking at Kuja’s body. Okay, so maybe I have a crush. It’s harmless right? Nothing can come of it. Kuja would never feel the same way. For some reason Zidane felt sad when he thought of this.
“Hey,” Kuja looked at Zidane, worry on his face, “are you okay?” He reached with his free hand and touched Zidane’s shoulder. Both boys blushed bright red.
“Fine,” Zidane muttered. “Tired, I guess.”
Kuja smiled, “don’t worry, when we get to Conde Petie, we can get a room.” He looked down at his tattered rap, “after I buy some new clothes.”
“Okay,” Zidane said, actually starting to feel tired for real.