Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Protecting the Lion ❯ Conquering Desires ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter Eleven

Conquering Desires

 

Squall stood calmly in the center of the room, waiting for Seifer to start yelling. The door slammed shut and a moment later the blond stood towering in front of him. Though he wasn't intimidated, he understood why Rui had shaken visibly in fear earlier.

 

“Are you seriously considering letting this kid stay anywhere other than a jail cell?” Seifer asked, doing his best to keep his voice level in check.

 

Regardless of height, Squall kept his head trained forward. Eyes gazing upward, he didn't reply.

 

“Okay,” Seifer said, getting the message. “Then please, explain to this to me,” he requested, fuming in his annoyance. Pacing away, he stalked back only to repeat the action once more as he struggled for the exact words to express his anger and dislike. “This kid is a thief whose name you recognized?” His voice was incredulous.

 

Holding a blank expression, Squall didn't react in the least. At times like these, the blond could pretty much carry on the entire argument alone. Not to mention, he usually refrained from answering obvious questions.

 

Seifer continued, “That means you, who don't even know your own secretary's name, which is Alice Mayer by the way, have read enough reports involving this little criminal to remember the name.”

 

Still silent, Squall just stared. Cut purses were one of Dollet's biggest issues. Rui's name had only been vaguely familiar, something he had caught scanning a list at one time or another. Mind wandering, he wondered if the blond were finished ranting.

 

“Reputation aside,” Seifer started to rant some more, “how about the fact that he snuck in here like a certain other someone? How about the fact that he's working for that very same someone?” he growled. Was he the only sane person present?

 

If Squall watched carefully, he could see the angled shadows from the blinds shifting while precious time passed. He could be in his office working or looking for Rinoa.

 

Not noticing the inattentive expression on the commander's face, Seifer carried on his one sided conversation. “You can't believe a single word that comes out of his mouth. For all we know, he was the person who broke in the night before last. How long do we really know he's been here? He might have already earned his twenty thousand gil.”

 

Seriously, Squall could have sworn that the sun had shifted enough to move the light a good millimeter across the floor.

 

“Squall?” Seifer bit out, catching on to the fact that he was being ignored.

 

“Hnn,” the brunet responded, trying to remember the degree per hour ratio that the sun traveled. If he could, then perhaps he'd know how much time had been wasted listening to the blond's rhetoric.

 

“Hey, pretty boy!” Seifer shouted, snapping his fingers in direct sight of the man's distant gaze.

 

Pushing the older boy's hand away from his face, Squall finally acknowledged the attention addict. “Seifer, just let it go,” he said dismissively.

 

Incredulously, the knight reiterated, “Let it go?”

 

Sighing, Squall realized that it was hopeless to try and appease his rival. “I know Rui isn't lying. I don't think I'm alone in being able to decipher between the truth and a well acted lie.”

 

Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Seifer stared down intensely. “I couldn't tell when he showed up and said he was a new recruit.”

 

“Oh?” Squall intoned, his knowing eyes searching the jade green ones. “You didn't sense anything? It seems to me that you haven't liked him from the start.” He waited a moment for the blond to think back. “What was your initial impression of him?”

 

Musing for a moment, Seifer thought back to his feelings about the boy when he had first watched him cross the training center and offer a hand. He hadn't liked the kid. Then again, he generally didn't like anybody, especially newbie idiots who didn't know their place. “I thought he was a little shit then too.”

 

Pinching the bridge of his nose and shifting his weight to one leg, Squall took a moment to contemplate. “Seifer, you're the one who brought him here,” he pointed out logically.

 

“Yeah, well he's harmless. I'd call him a chicken-wuss if I didn't think it was too offensive to Dincht, who may look like a chicken, but at least has some guts,” the blond muttered with a wave of his hand.

 

“Exactly.” Squall's agreement earned a surprised looked from the older boy. “He would be more of a threat if we let him leave. With him here willingly, he won't try to escape and we might have a chance at setting this Epson guy up.”

 

Pressing his lips tightly together, Seifer considered the commander's idea. It wasn't that he hadn't also thought of it, but that he had been slightly blinded by his dislike for the thief.

 

“Before you jump down my throat, perhaps you should think first,” Squall reprimanded. As it stood, he had been the one to wake up with a strange person in his private quarters. If anyone should be angry, it certainly wasn't Seifer.

 

Green eyes widened at the younger man's words. Blanching, Seifer turned his face away while cursing inwardly. His mind still dwelled on the vivid dream he'd had. Distant images came forward as he misconstrued Leonhart's words in the most lewd of ways. Looking anywhere but at his rival, he found himself gazing at an unmade bed, the setting for his dream. Trying to banish his wildly inappropriate thoughts, he bit out, “You might know when he is telling the truth, but that's only about what he does admit. For all we know he took those pictures before. He hasn't denied it.”

 

“That's because he doesn't know about them,” Squall countered, ignoring the slight blush that had come to the knight's tanned cheeks.

 

“How do you know? Have you asked him?”

 

Soundly reasoning, Squall responded, “What's the use in giving him more information than he already has?”

 

“You don't know what he might be keeping from us. He can't lie if he doesn't speak.” Though Seifer didn't technically believe his own logic, it was fitting for the matter at hand.

 

“Look,” Squall began impatiently, “Shiva would have let me know if the kid was a threat. She also would have told me if it was the same person from the other night.”

 

Seifer's lips pressed tightly together as he lost any valid reasons for kicking the brat out. He couldn't explain that most of his baleful feelings were born of jealousy, since he refused to admit that he was jealous of the way the commander treated the boy with such uncharacteristic kindness.

 

Seeing defeat in those dancing green eyes, Squall changed the topic. “Did I pass out right after our fight?”

 

Looking sullen, hating to admit defeat for the second time in one day, Seifer answered, “Yeah.” When the pale man just raised finely sculpted eyebrows and waited for him to continue, he explained further, “You were out cold and I was gonna take you back here. With our blades I would've had to make two trips or wait around for you to wake up. You seemed pretty out of it. Then the brat showed up and offered a hand.” Glaring at the floor, he spat, “I'm lucky Hyperion was in one piece.”

 

“And when do we get to the part where I wake up on the couch and with Rui sitting on the coffee table? When did you first know he wasn't a student?” Bright eyes stared off distantly as if Squall was reliving each event in his mind. He seemed to be searching to put it all together so that it fit perfectly. Missing pieces of time were bothersome.

 

Following the brunet's lead, Seifer replayed it all quickly through his mind. When he recalled a curious Rui groping the effeminate man's chest, he faltered. He had a sinking feeling that the ice prince wouldn't like that part. “Well,” he began hesitantly, “he was so damn eager to be here, which was a bit odd. I might have scared him a little when I got suspicious, and then he cracked and essentially begged for mercy. I told him he had some questions to answer, and that's when you woke up.”

 

Though Seifer's explanation was vague, Squall couldn't deny that the kid had been terrified that the ex-knight might kill him. Smirking, he wondered if this was how the blond was with all kids.

 

“What're you smiling about?” Seifer asked, seeing a gleam in those bright eyes that almost seemed to be laughing at him.

 

Shaking his head, Squall kept his thoughts to himself. “How long was I out?”

 

Eyeing the commander's pale face keenly, Seifer wondered what was going on in that head. “Not long. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes.”

 

Nodding slightly, Squall turned to leave the room.

 

“Wait!” Seifer blurted out before thinking twice.

 

Squall stilled, glancing back and regarding the blond with concern. There had been something a bit off in Seifer's behavior since that morning and he wasn't sure what it was or if he was just being overly sensitive.

Moving back towards the tall knight, he studied jade green eyes for some indication of why the man was acting oddly. “What is it?” he asked. It was probably nothing at all, but he suspected something was bothering the knight. He thought about Rui, knowing Seifer usually wasn't so overtly adverse to anyone.

 

Seifer winced at his own stupidity as the brunet walked closer. For a moment he was lost while looking into those mixed blue-grey eyes. Somehow he felt as though his dream were reoccurring all over again. It didn't matter that they weren't lying beside each in bed or that the room wasn't covered in shadows with pouring rain sounding in the background. There was still Squall looking at him with vibrant eyes and speaking to him with soft lips. He could almost feel how warm the brunet had felt against him.

 

Fighting the urge to grab the shorter man and press their lips together, Seifer stood frozen. He didn't understand the extent of his attraction. He refused to acknowledge his urges as anything other than a repressed libido. He almost groaned when fine brows creased with concern. Leonhart was apparently worried, and it was somehow endearing.

 

Reaching a hand out, Seifer cupped Squall's cheek. It was so soft, and so warm he suspected the commander was a bit feverish. He watched as stubborn impassiveness shatter into frozen shards, bright eyes widened. Smoothing his actions over, he said softly, “I thought you had a fever before. You still feel a bit warm.” The tone of his voice was laden with unexpressed emotion, but he hoped it just sounded like concern.

 

Flustered, Squall could feel the warmth Seifer was referring to. The trouble was, he didn't know who it was coming from or why. Had Seifer always acted like this? He didn't remember ever being quite so intimate or concerned before, but then again playing nurse was probably somewhere in the contract Quistis had drawn up. He was embarrassed to admit that his mind had first perceived the blond's actions in a romantic sense, quickly dismissing such a ludicrous notion and rationalizing the situation. Still, he felt uneasy.

 

With mixed emotions, Squall reacted as he would to most anything else. Cold and aloof, he replied, “I feel fine. I just got out of the shower, that's all.” He wondered why Seifer's hand was still in place. Even more questionable was why he didn't smack it away.

 

While the impassive nature his rival carried was hardly unusual, it was unsatisfactory. Seifer didn't know what he had expected, but he had figured the brunet's composure would be shaken for more than a few seconds. Without any sign that his proximity was inappropriate, his mind began to fill with ideas. Feeling encouraged by the lack of hostility, Seifer let his hand linger against the other's warm cheek. Then, in a move that left his heart beating rapidly, he gently stroked his thumb across the soft porcelain like skin.

 

Seifer's heart stopped when he saw the dark fringe of long lashes flutter down briefly. That was most definitely a reaction. Encouraged even further, he kept his thumb moving gently. Regardless of the accepted action, he felt compelled to disguise the obvious and play it off as nothing more than a simple gesture. “You always say you're fine.” His words were barely above a whisper. Unknowingly, his feet took a step forward, closing the short distance between them.

 

Squall felt the heat grow, and he was rather sure it was coming from them both. He felt flushed, acutely aware of the rough feel of the ex-knight's thumb ghosting along his cheek. Such a simple touch felt nice, but he had to wonder what it meant exactly. Such displays of concern seemed over the top and out of place. This wasn't how normal people, friends, expressed their worry. At least, Quistis had never done this. Nor had any of the others. Was he missing something? Would Rinoa have acted like this?

 

Something clicked when Squall thought of Seifer's actions as something more than just a gesture between friends and old rivals. Yet, that couldn't possibly be right. When the blond stepped closer, his breath hitched. This couldn't be what he thought it might be. Uncertain and looking for the reassurance that the older boy was joking, he gazed into ardent green eyes. Surely he was mistaken. Was it lust he saw in Seifer's eyes? It simply wasn't possible. Unable to think properly, he was frozen in place as his unusually quiet rival moved too close for comfort.

 

Seifer watched the uncertainty swirl in endless blue-grey depths. He couldn't help but predict the regret he would have over his actions, but he felt as though he was in a trance. From the moment he'd called out for the brunet to stop, he could have predicted he'd be doing something like this. There was an expression akin to anguish on the commander's face, pleading for him to somehow prove that his actions were completely innocent and not the least bit sensual. He knew his rival's mind was trying to understand what he was up to, but he wouldn't wait long enough for it to register. Lush lips were calling to him and his dream was begging to be made a reality.

 

With agonizing slowness, Seifer leaned down to lay claim on Squall's lips. Certainly there was plenty of time for refusal, some instinctive notion that would take over even though the pretty boy was obviously too shocked to realize what was going on.

 

When Seifer was mere inches from his desire, the door clicked open. Something broke. Actually, it rather seemed to shatter. The mood of surreal intimacy came to a screeching halt as Rui rushed in.

 

“Commander! Oh, I'm sorry!” Rui exclaimed in shock. He hadn't thought the two of men would actually be doing anything when he was in the next room.

 

Snapping to attention, Squall jerked away from Seifer's hand. If the blushing boy's reaction to what was happening just now were any indication then he would say it had been a rather different type of intimacy than he had initially thought. Forcing himself not to make excuses, he muttered, “What is it?”

 

Standing in the doorway, Rui was obviously intent on backing out. “I didn't mean to interrupt,” he began abashedly, venturing forth with an apologetic gaze to the commander. “I was going to tell you that I've met the girl in this picture. I just thought it was a funny coincidence is all….” he trailed off as he held a photo out. .

 

Eyes widening, Squall reached a hand out for the wallet-sized photo. He didn't need to look at it to know what it showed. “You've met her?” he asked, his words sounding rather forced.

 

Eying the commander uncertainly, Rui replied with only half as much vigor as he'd had when first intending to mention it, “Yeah, small world huh? Is she your girlfriend?”

 

Coming to his senses, Squall asked the important question, “When did you meet her?”

 

From over the brunet's shoulder, Seifer glanced down to a picture of Rinoa smiling happily as she sat in Leonhart's lap and draped her arms around his neck. Though the commander in the picture wasn't grinning from ear to ear like the dark haired woman, there was still a pleasant smile on those pretty lips. Warily, Seifer turned his gaze from the picture held loosely in Squall's grip to the thief who had picked a shitty ass time to barge in.

 

“About a week ago, I think,” Rui answered, looking upwards and scratching his chin in thought. “Yeah, last Monday. I was, uh, borrowing some clothes from this one store. Real nice place, all ritzy like, but they gotta be dreamin' if they think any kid's gonna pay their prices. I mean-”

 

“Rui, the girl,” Squall interjected.

 

“Right, well, apparently the clerk people have some policy saying that you can't borrow their clothes-”

 

“You mean steal,” Seifer cut in, glaring at the brat. He was a sore loser. He had been less than an inch from Squally-boy's enticing lips. Now he had nothing to show for his actions except the consequences of having to awkwardly explain why he had tried to kiss the brunet in the first place.

 

Glaring in return, Rui continued unabated, “Well, me `n these clerks got in a small argument. Then outta nowhere, she shows up.” He pointed at the picture. “Looking all pretty like in the picture, she steps in and defends me.” He gestured to himself in emphasis. “Anyway, she said I was her little brother and got them to back off. And then, she actually bought the clothes for me. I tell you, I thought I fell in love.” As if realizing the implications of his last comment, he quickly added, “So to speak.”

 

Staring at the picture, Squall felt his mind scrambling to absorb it all. His brain had not yet finished processing one confusing event when he was given another to work on. Tightening his grip on the picture, he asked while staring beyond Rui and through the door, “In Dollet right? Was the shop called `Trends'?” It was the name of Rinoa's favorite, among many, stores to shop at.

 

“Yeah,” Rui answered in a small voice. Seeing that far off look to the commander's eye made him think he had done something to hurt the guy really bad. He hadn't meant any harm. He had just been killing the time and checking out the commander's room when he'd found the picture in the top drawer of his dresser beneath a rather sharp looking dagger. He had recognized the pretty man immediately, but hadn't realized who the lady was until thinking about for a bit. His previous excitement was gone. He wished he hadn't said anything.

 

“Thanks Rui, I'll have Selphie come and get you,” Squall mumbled before walking out of the room.

 

Seifer didn't dare stop the brunet. He knew where he could find the confused pretty boy, so he hung back and watched him leave.

 

Rui was slightly fearful of being left alone with the sorceress' knight. When he turned his eyes on the knight, he very nearly jumped back with a yelp. There was a murderous glare directed at him. Not knowing what else to do, Rui apologized, “Sorry.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Seifer walked past Rui to the door. In a fit of uncontrolled anger, he swiftly raised a fist and slammed it harshly into the reinforced wood of the doorframe. The entire room seemed to shake, though no indent was made. The thief yelped in surprise behind him, but he ignored the kid.

 

It would have been so easy to blame Rui right then, but Seifer knew that wasn't right. He had been so close to kissing Squall. Even now as his mind told him it was for the best and that having done so would have ruined everything between them, he felt a terrible longing. He'd wanted to kiss those lips so badly, and he'd gotten so near to claiming them. Now his chest ached with unknown feelings. Seeing that expression on Squall's face after hearing about Rinoa had felt like a punch to the gut.

 

Needing to get of there, needing to rid himself of unwanted feelings, Seifer stalked from the room. Following the brunet's actions, he walked past the open living area and towards the main doorway. Squall would be in the headmaster's office, but he had another destination in mind. Hardly thinking, he called out to the thief before leaving, “Stay put, and don't touch a damn thing. Watch TV or something, and Tilmitt will be here to get you soon.”

 

The door slid shut with an empty echo. Rui was left in the wake of some disaster he had accidentally caused. Shoulders slumping, he wondered if everyone around garden was so temperamental. As he sat on the couch, too afraid to not comply with the blond's orders, he wondered how he was supposed to know who this Selphie or Tilmitt person was.

 

TBC…