Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Protecting the Lion ❯ Watchful Eyes ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter Fourteen

Watchful Eyes

 

“Why didn't you just come here first?”

 

Squall regarded the ex-knight with a sidelong glance. “I doubt she would appreciate being cornered.”

 

Having walked the darkening streets, they arrived outside of a massive building that rose high and stood out with a certain polished gleam in comparison to all other building in sight.

 

Seifer was last to enter through the revolving door into the Onyx Hotel. White and gold seemed to be the themes of the décor, at least for the lobby. White marble beneath their feet reflected the high arc of a ceiling, making the entire lobby look twice as big.

 

Squall frowned with distaste. The marble ionic pillars that were trimmed with gold made the place look more like some ballroom than the lobby of a hotel. He disliked such extravagance. An awed whistle sounded from the tall blond beside him.

 

“I bet it doesn't have a training center,” Seifer commented, taking notice of Squall's displeasure. Fancy places weren't the little lion's style.

 

Smiling nervously, Lily commented, “There is a nice fitness center and the pools are nice. In the summer it's relaxing to use the one on the roof.”

 

“Uh-huh,” Seifer responded. As nice of a place as the Onyx Hotel was, it couldn't compare to Balamb Garden. While garden meals weren't delivered to lavish rooms, there was no place better for mercenaries.. Growing up on the shores of Centra there was nothing more soothing than the sound of the ocean, which made Balamb perfect

 

Seeing a lack of enthusiasm for the expensive hotel that had been her home for several years, Lily's smile faltered. Why were these people so different? Prior to her encounter with the SeeD members at her store, she'd never met one in person. It was unsettling how different they were from normal people. Perhaps the most disturbing feeling she had came each time she glanced at the commander. On TV, Squall Leonhart seemed distant and cold. Everyone called him an ice prince. She thought they were being unreasonable. After seeing those icy eyes up close, she reconsidered. The title was perfectly fitting.

 

In the elevator, Lily felt terribly uncomfortable. Leaning against the small rail, the shiny doors reflected the images of the two men nearby. Part of her wondered how Rinoa was able to date the commander. The raven-haired girl might have been pretty, but this aptly named ice prince, was the most beautiful person she'd ever seen. It was only by reminding herself that he was a man that she could know the fact. The tall man between them, who she still couldn't place, was intimidating to say the least. Intimidating not only for the broad structure and imposing posture, but because he was ridiculously attractive. They were not the type of people a woman like her met everyday.

 

While studying the blond's structured facial features as discretely as possible, Lily tried to recall who he was. It was impossible to misplace the man for anyone else. With what sense she managed to keep while in such close proximity of the other two, she knew that the commander was not likely to be walking around with some model. It also didn't seem likely that he'd be walking around with Ultimecia's knight by his side either. It was simply common sense that people didn't get along after trying to kill each other.

 

Seifer wanted to have a little fun and make the blushing store clerk squirm with embarrassment. He had a an array of comments he could use to give her a nosebleed. Smirking he settled on a comment involving her constant glances at Squall. “You know,” he began, but ended with an exclamation of pain. Rubbing his arm, he huffed in defeat. “Fine,” he muttered and leaned back against the bar. “Kill joy,” he grumbled.

 

Perplexed, Lily glanced from one man to the other. Thanks to the reflecting elevator doors, she had seen the commander swiftly reach a hand to the tall blond and pinch his forearm. With the layers of clothing the tall one wore, she knew it couldn't have hurt nearly as bad as he'd made a fuss over. At the blond's incoherent mumbling she was shocked to see a small, amused grin form on the lips of the ice prince. Such people were so confusing. She was grateful when the elevator finally gave a ding, sounding their arrival.

 

Fifty stories up, they had arrived at the top.

 

Stepping from the elevator, Seifer scanned the short hallway. There was only one room on the entire floor.

 

Tucking a stray curl behind her ear, Lily sauntered before her guests with a frown. The first time she had toured the hotel she had been able to stop staring at every little shiny detail. Interior design might be the most masculine interest, but there was simply no appreciation in the commander's expression. Reaching in her purse, she extracted a key card from a small wallet. Swiping the key in the lock, she punched in the security code before a small beep sounded and she could twist the handle.

 

“Hey Rin!” Lily called out upon opening the door. Before a reply was giving she turned her head swiftly, long brown curls bouncing with the movement. Looking behind she gave a questioning look to the commander who followed closer.

 

“Is she here?” Squall asked. As if in response to his question, a distant voice greeted from within.

 

“What're you doing? I thought you were taking inventory,” the familiar voice spoke more discernable this time.

 

Lily seemed unable to handle the suddenly tense situation and stood frozen in place. Taking charge, Squall stepped past her and walked inside the pent house. The first image Squall had of Rinoa was of the sorceress walking across the room with a small plastic bottle of juice held to her mouth. Apparently she'd taken a sip already since the moment her eyes fell to Squall the liquid sprayed out in front of her. Lucky for Squall he was still a good distance away.

 

For a moment Squall just stared. He had last seen his sorceress a month ago, but it felt much longer. She was still the same young woman as before. Different clothes and no weapon, but the same as ever. Dark brown eyes held a mixture of nervous fear and displeasure. All of it was for him, which hurt.

 

Frowning, Squall wondered why Rinoa didn't speak. Was it so shocking that he had shown up? “You left without a word,” he finally stated, choosing to break the ice.

 

“Why is Seifer here?” Rinoa asked, unable to address the obvious issue at hand.

 

Squall wouldn't have given a second thought to the fact that Seifer was standing close behind himself if Rinoa hadn't mentioned it.

 

Lily moved to stand near Rinoa, all the while casting unsure glances at the tall blond. It would seem her unlikely suspicion was confirmed. “I'm sorry Rin, but they came in again and I let it slip.”

 

“No, Lily, it's fine. I shouldn't have asked you to lie.” Dark brown eyes looked at Lily apologetically. “Can you give us some time?” she asked, shifting her eyes in gesture to Squall.

 

“I should be at the store anyway. Will you be okay?” She cast another unsure glance in the direction of the two men standing by each other.

 

“I'll be fine.” Rinoa placed an assuring squeeze to the manager's arm.

 

Swiftly, Lily made her exit. She had no place in that room, at least not at the moment. Perhaps in a slightly too hasty exit, the door shut rather loudly behind her.

 

Seifer grinned at the echoing shut of the door. It was always amusing to watch how flustered some people could became around him or Squall. When the shorter swordsman standing right in front of him turned back and gave him a look of expectancy, he shook his head. “I'm not going anywhere. Lover's quarrel or no, I stay.” His affirmation left no room for argument. His words were hissed out too low for the raven-haired princess to hear.

 

Hands on her hips, Rinoa continued to ignore more pertinent issues. “Did you really have to corner Lily like that? She's stressed out enough as it is with inventory week and all.”

 

Rolling his green eyes, Seifer scoffed.

 

“I thought you would have liked to have her with you when I came,” Squall explained. He wasn't sure why, but having a friend nearby seemed to calm other people down and make them feel more at ease.

 

“Why are you here?” Rinoa finally managed to confront the topic, but with all the grace of a drunken child having just consumed alcohol for the first time. She was untactful in her haste to get it over with.

 

“I was worried.” Furrowing his eyebrows, Squall reexamined the past month to make sure he hadn't missed something. Why wouldn't he have come?

 

“You were worried? Squall, I can take care of myself. I don't need to be babysat.” Stating the obvious was just her way of expressing simmering anger.

 

Now Squall really felt like he was missing something. In slight desperation, never confident in matters of relationships, he glanced up at Seifer. He had never had girl troubles before. His relationship with Rinoa hadn't hit rocky grounds prior to her sudden disappearance, so he was confused.

 

Seifer shrugged. “I don't have a damn clue where she's coming from.”

 

Dark eyes narrowed in insult. “What is Seifer doing here?” Rinoa asked demandingly.

 

Squall was still unsatisfied with Rinoa's previous comments, so he chose to ignore her questions about Seifer. “Rinoa,” he started, rather sure that his reasoning behind it all was correct since everyone else had seemed to agree with his feelings of concern, “you disappeared almost a month ago with no notice or word of your whereabouts. I'm not in the business of babysitting, and haven't ever tried to do so.”

 

Rinoa's hands remained on her hips while she stared indignantly.

 

Squall's own agitation flared. “I have, however, had eight separate squadrons deployed in search for you since you first left.” He waited for some sign of understanding. “You do know that you didn't tell anybody you were leaving, right?”

 

“Yes,” Rinoa said incredulously with the same insulted tone. “I'm allowed to leave when I want.”

 

“I know that. I've never kept you there.” In fact, Rinoa had spent most her time away from Balamb Garden. Squall had made many trips to visit her elsewhere. “Rinoa, what exactly is going on?” Running steady hand through his dark brown hair, he stepped towards her. Her guard seemed to fall, her entire demeanor changing. The anger fled from her eyes and was replaced with watery tears. “Rinoa?” he asked with concern.

 

“Please, leave!” Rinoa cried harshly.

 

“Rinoa?” Squall persisted, stopping in his progress towards her.

 

“I love you so much, but I can't be with you anymore. I'm sorry about just leaving like that, but I couldn't stand it any longer.” A few tears escaped and ran down her cheeks.

 

Blue-grey eyes searched the young woman's for a moment. There was nothing but truth in those brown eyes. Unable to refuse her request, Squall turned and walked away. He had been right. Rinoa had left him for the sake of breaking up. Though he didn't understand where she was coming from, it didn't matter. It was over even if he didn't have a clue why.

 

Seifer remained even after Squall walked passed him. The pretty boy could handle himself while he had a few words with the little miss dramatics. “What the fuck was that?” he bit out harshly, surprising the girl.

 

“Seifer, you need to leave too,” Rinoa said, wiping her cheeks roughly.

 

Narrowing his green eyes, Seifer glared at the crying princess. “Like hell I gotta do a damn thing you tell me to.” Thinking on her words, he tried to reason her meaning behind it all. “Why couldn't you be with him any longer?” he asked.

 

Sniffing, she indulged the stubborn knight, knowing she'd never get rid of him. “Because he is a goddamn ice prince!” she yelled.

 

Clenching his jaw, Seifer refrained from acting rashly. “So you couldn't handle it,” he spat in mock sympathy.

 

“I'm the same as the rest of them. He never treated me any differently.” Rinoa searched Seifer's eyes for some flicker understanding. Seeing none, she felt more hot tears prick her eyes, “I'm not his damn orphan buddy! I was his girlfriend!”

 

Seifer remained impassive and uncaring. His lips pressed to a thin line.

 

“I tried, I really did. I still love him, but it's been killing me. He never touched me, not once.”

 

This made Seifer raise his eyebrows. He wondered how much time he had before Squall stormed back in and retrieved him. “Oh?” he remarked disbelievingly.

 

“I mean,” she faltered, not having expected to find herself pouring her heart out to Seifer of all people. “We never made love. I don't think he could. I thought it would be different. He seemed to open up to me when it all ended… but I slowly realized that he had nothing to offer.” A sob wracked her small frame.

 

With distain, Seifer looked down on her. “You're the same sixteen year old brat I met before.” Sneering, he decided that she deserved a little enlightenment. “Squall is perhaps the most emotional person I've ever known, and that includes you and the messenger girl. You have no idea how much he cares for you. You have no idea how worried he's been. He hasn't slept or eaten properly up until a couple days ago.” Seeing the disbelieving look on her face he pressed on, “Eight fucking search parties out looking for you, and you say he doesn't care. Not only was he worried, but everyone else was too. You can go wherever you want, but be an adult about it. This isn't your daddy you're dealing with. If you pull this kind of shit, don't expect a warm welcome afterwards. I personally would love an excuse to knock you on your ass.” He let his eyes pierce the abashed girl who was too shocked for words. Generally he didn't like to hit a woman, but she was a sorceress who had just pissed him off, so if provoked, he'd be hard pressed to find any restraint.

 

Before he stalked out, Seifer felt inclined to say more. It was his habit to say all his peace before leaving. “If you come back around, you'd better be prepared to apologize to every damn SeeD who was out there looking for your sorry ass. And, Squall is off limits. Remember you just dumped him, now he's mine.” He generally knew when he was done by the way someone's jaw would drop. Watching Rinoa's mouth gape open in struggling shock was his cue.

 

To Seifer's surprise, Squall had waited for him. Casually leaning against the wall beside the elevator with his arms crossed at his chest.

 

“Squall,” the blond began, but stopped when the rejected lion shook his head in a defeated manner. Choosing not to finish his sentence, he walked forward and pressed the down button. As they waited for the elevator's arrival, he ruffled silky brown hair.

 

It had been oddly comforting to wait in silence for Seifer to come out of the hotel room. Though Squall didn't want to know what the blond had said, he was certain it was everything he had been thinking. Not wanting to speak about it, he had shaken his head at his rival's attempt to vocalize any part of it. Instead, the insistent knight settled for messing his hair up again. This too was oddly comforting.

 

Seifer was able to give Squall tacitly requested silence for about five minutes, but he was too impatient to wait any longer. “Did you love her?” he blurted out as they exited the hotel.

 

Stopping his tracks, Squall looked at the blond incredulously, as though the answer were obvious. After a moment, his eyes dimmed and seemed to lose their focus as a silent conversation was held in his head.

 

“Of all my amazing abilities, mind reading isn't one of them,” Seifer chastised.

 

“I don't know,” Squall muttered, looking away.

 

In a very unusual act, Seifer let the matter drop. If he took Squall's meaning, then he really shouldn't be pestering the confused brunet. The little lion would have to sort through jumbled thoughts and mixed feelings first.

 

The pair walked through the busy streets much like before with the crowd seeming to grow around them.

 

“Where are we heading?” Seifer asked, noticing that Squall seemed to be heading back to the shoreline.

 

“Back to the ship,” Squall answered distantly.

 

“Oh no we're not,” Seifer opposed, slowing down and placing a hand on the brunet's upper arm. “You gave those two the night off. You can't just call them back like that. Besides, when was the last time you went out and enjoyed yourself?” he asked with a wolfish grin.

 

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Squall sighed. “If you're turning this into a night of partying then you-”

 

“Naw, you aren't the party boy type, sweet cheeks,” Seifer cut him off.

 

Glaring at the arbitrary nickname that the knight called him by, Squall recalled that this wasn't the first time he'd been referred to as such.

 

“Let's get some dinner,” Seifer suggested, though his tone didn't imply the matter as optional.

 

Squall looked at the blond hesitantly. There was no good reason to refuse the suggestion.

 

Seeing the obvious lack of excuses, Seifer grabbed the opportunity. “Come on, I know a nice, quiet place.”

 

At the mentioning of a quiet place to go to, Squall caved a little. The next thing he knew, the blond was directing him across the street with a firm hand at his back. Before he could protest the hand's presence, it was dropped. Stepping up from the road and back onto the sidewalk, Squall followed Seifer. The older boy seemed to know where he was heading.

 

A flickering street light caught Squall's attention as they walked down a slightly less populated street. The air felt far colder now that night had settled in completely. A chill danced along his spine in an unpleasant manner. Stopping, he looked to the tall buildings around them. It was mostly apartment buildings. Many of the widows were brightly lit and some held shadows of the occupants moving within. He had no idea what he was looking for.

 

“Squall?” Seifer called back, watching the brunet look around the street as if searching for something.

 

Not replying, Squall shook his head and closed the short distance that had formed between the two of them. It might have just been the cold weather, but he doubted that. A couple more blocks, and his hands and nose were feeling frozen. Though he wanted to ask how much further they had to go, he wouldn't voice complaint.

 

“We're almost there,” Seifer stated.

 

Again, Squall felt the same chill run up his backside while the hairs on his neck stood. This being the second time, he couldn't brush it off as nothing. His instincts were telling him something. Stopping again, he looked about, not caring whether it was an obvious give away that he knew someone was watching.

 

A rather loud car engine sounded as it sped by. The noise broke Squall's concentration and brought him back to find Seifer staring at him intently. At the blond's raised eyebrows, he said, “It feels like someone's watching.”

 

A stern look came over Seifer's features as he stepped towards the brunet and again ushered the smaller man to move. With his right hand near Hyperion's hilt, he settled his other arm around slim shoulders. When Squall looked ready to protest, he gave the small shoulders a firm squeeze and kept walking.

 

 

TBC…