Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Strings Attached ❯ The Proposition ( Chapter 29 )

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Proposition

 

It was daytime, so far as Seifer could tell anyway. Eyes closed, he opted to lay in just a little longer. As he shifted, the firm weight of Squall against his chest, he tightened his arms around the warm body beside him.

 

Last night was still unbelievable to him. He had a feeling that he'd have to consent to the costumes destruction. It would need to be dry cleaned after the run they'd put it through, and if another marathon ensued, he'd quite possibly die. He didn't think it was possible to come so many times in a week, let alone a single night.

 

It would be a rough run for him to pick up a couple potions, which he'd have to do before Squall woke up. If the tenderness of his groin was any indication, he'd say Squally-boy's tight little ass would be inoperable for even sitting. The sore aftermath and the remnants of the costume he spotted nearby on the floor were the only indications that he hadn't simply dreamt it all up.

 

Slowly, Seifer detached himself from the nude body beside him. The fact that his actions went undetected was testament to just how worn out Squall was.

 

Sitting up, sheet falling to his waist, Seifer arched his back and felt his muscles wake. His eyes roved the lithe form of his sleeping beauty, hungrily drinking in the sight of countless kiss marks. Curious in his study, he peeked beneath the sheet. He wasn't sure if he should have felt guilty about the slight bruising around slim hips, since Squall had constantly encouraged him to go harder.

 

Dropping the sheet, he forced his eyes away. The last thing he needed was another erection. His dick was sore, having plundered that sweet ass more times than he was able to keep track of.

 

With care not to wake Squall, he clambered out of bed and stumbled towards the shower. Despite his common sense, his mind knowing that he shouldn't let his thoughts drift until after he had a potion, images of the previous night wouldn't stop flashing every time he closed his eyes.

 

Before he had the water running, he was half hard again thinking about Squall's compliant masturbation. He'd watched in elation as the brunet had once again handled the wriggling vibrator. Naturally, the act was never completed since any sane man would be unable to not roughly chuck the device and replace the false penis with the real thing.

 

Last he recalled, Squall had ridden him to both their sating ends and collapsed against him. He couldn't exactly say that the brunet had fallen asleep first, since he'd woken up some time later after slipping under himself. After undressing the Commander, he'd grappled for the sheet and went to bed, unable to find the strength to wake Squall up and continue.

 

With tentative strokes, Seifer jerked himself off in the shower. It wasn't exactly satisfying, not when he wasn't shooting his release into the wet cavern of Squall's mouth or into the gripping heat of the boy's tight ass. It was more a functional action, too aroused from simply thinking of last night not to get an erection and too sore to just let it go until he obtained a couple of potions.

 

The blond had assumed they'd had a sufficient store of the healing liquid, but apparently they'd been more active than he thought.

 

With a few more memories of the dark laced princess spreading for him, he came with a stifled groan. After washing up, he quietly returned to his room, silently reprimanding himself each time he stared at the brunet's sleeping form.

 

As he left the apartment, he considered where he might be able to obtain what he needed quickest. It was eleven and Squall never slept past noon, though given the circumstances this day might prove an exception.

 

There weren't any shops closer than the town of Balamb. He'd have to track Raijin and Fujin down, and snag a couple from their stores.

 

Whistling as he strut through the corridors he felt a certain light hearted sense of happiness that could only have come from the events of last night. He'd hit the jackpot with Squall. His confident stride was more than just arrogance that morning. The spring in his step was unabashed love that would have made him giddy if he would ever allow himself to feel such a way.

 

In a very indirect sense, he owed Epson for the psychotic obsession with the Commander. If Epson hadn't been after Squall, then he'd never have been asked to return. And since he'd never intended to return on his own, it was his greatest stroke of luck. Maybe he should consider sending flowers to the bastard's grave or something.

 

Shaking his head, Seifer decided that his expression of gratitude had been to not draw the fucker's torturous death out for days.

 

Realizing that the easiest way to locate his posse was to call, he dug his phone out of his pants pocket. As he dialed Raijin's number, he made a mental note to nag Squall about keeping a cell phone near at all times, and to make sure the phone was actually turned on.

 

“It's me,” the blond spoke as the other end picked up.

 

There was a brief pause before the burly fighter on the other end responded. “Seifer, long time no see ya know?”

 

“Yeah, I've been busy,” Seifer returned. “Where are you right now?”

 

“I was just heading to town, I'm at the parking garage. You called just in time ya know? Wanna head out with me?”

 

“Got any potions on you?”

 

“Always.”

 

Grinning at his good timing, he said, “I'll pass on the trip to town, but let me borrow a couple potions.”

 

“Sure thing, but hurry. Fu's waiting at the harbor for me, and it's freezing ya know? She'll throw me in the water if I'm late.”

 

“I'll be there in a couple minutes,” the blond stated before flipping his phone shut and pocketing it.

 

**

 

Squall remained under the hot shower spray longer than necessary as he let the water wash over his lower back. He'd already hit his head against the wall upon realizing he had nothing on hand that would allow him to walk without wincing or stand straight.

 

The distant sound of his phone ringing brought him back to reality and forced him to hurry to answer it. He'd found it while searching for a potion. With the looming meeting with Xu hanging over his head, he turned it on in case she received his message or someone contacted him to say she'd arrived.

 

Barely managing to wrap a towel around his waist, he bit his lip in a grimace as he stumbled toward for the phone on the sink counter. Last night had been enjoyable at every most moment, but his inability to walk properly without shooting pain was more than a little troublesome.

 

“Leonhart,” he answered a bit tersely, hunching over and leaning against the counter for support, not unlike the night before if the pain were replaced with pleasure.

 

“Squall, it's Quistis.”

 

“Has Xu arrived?” he questioned.

 

“An hour ago, but I couldn't reach you and Selphie wouldn't let me come to your apartment. Is everything alright?” the new Headmistress asked with concern.

 

“Everything's fine. I'll be there shortly,” the Commander replied.

 

“Okay,” Quistis agreed uncertainly.

 

Ending the call, Squall didn't bother closing the phone before dropping it right into the sink. Gritting his teeth, he considered taking another shower, but opted that his slow progression of getting dressed needed to be started as soon as possible.

 

After managing to slip into a pair of boot cut jeans, grateful for the loose fit, he decided it might be a smart idea to call Seifer. While he sorely regretted the day he called the blond knight to come to his aid, he was less adamant in his steely resolve of self-reliance when his ass felt raw and his lower back radiated pain with each tentative step. It actually wasn't until he considered popping some migraine medicine that he realized he'd sunk low enough to call on Seifer for help.

 

Slipping into a navy blue t-shirt and managing to slip into a pair of socks and his boots, he almost considered lying back down to wait. However, that notion was fleeting when he reminded himself he needed to meet Xu.

 

Coming out of his room with a bundle of sheets, intending to use the shoot in the bathroom while he grabbed his cell phone to call Seifer, he spotted the blond knight just as the older man came in.

 

“Your pretty little ass should be in bed,” Seifer reprimanded sternly.

 

“I've got a meeting,” Squall stated impassively, suddenly far more resolute in walking properly and not showing his pain from it.

 

“Yeah, and I've got a sore dick, which means you're probably two steps from falling down. Unless you've got a secret stash of potions I don't know about.” Waving the slim vials of light blue liquid as if they were a tantalizing treat, his perceptive eyes didn't miss the subtle relief that softened the Commander's delicate features.

 

Stubbornly, Squall nodded, but proceeded past Seifer's room and toward the bathroom.

 

Grumbling, Seifer stalked forward to thwart Squall's efforts, knowing that the brunet wasn't enough of a neat freak to have to take care of the bedding right then. “Just drop it,” he bit out.

 

Stopping, Squall regarded the knight with a sharp gaze that seemed to ask why he should drop anything.

 

Rolling his eyes, Seifer took the bundle from Squall and quickly stalked away to stuff it in the shoot. If only they had a delivery service for their laundry instead of stopping off every time they needed to.

 

In a sulking manner, Seifer returned to stand in front of the Commander. “I'd hoped to make it back before you woke up.”

 

Casting his gaze to the floor, Squall chose not to explain how such a task would always remain unaccomplished. He found it was almost impossible to sleep without Seifer. Unless he was exhausted, he'd wake up in the time it took the blond to return from taking a leak in the middle of the night. However, he still defiantly insisted that he was merely a light sleeper.

 

“I couldn't sleep all day,” Squall mumbled in excuse, as if he needed to defend the fact that he woke up.

 

Seifer frowned in disapproval. “I'll leave a note next time,” the blond assured, realizing that the brunet hadn't had any way of knowing he'd return soon with relief. Sidling closer, he wrapped his arms around the smaller man and admitted, “I'd hoped we could have a little fun taking the potions.”

 

“Xu's been waiting an hour already,” Squall said, his voice muffled by the ex-knight's crisply pressed dress shirt. Even as a cadet, Seifer tended to dress to impress, or rather to draw more attention.

 

“I suppose there's nothing wrong with taking it the old fashioned way,” the blond said with a sigh. He'd forgone taking his own potion when the idea of combining the external use of it with a blowjob popped in his head.

 

Relief came quickly for the Commander. He felt as though he should feel a bit upset about his lack of professional conflict at taking a potion for such a personal reason. He had prescription headache medicine because he was too stubborn to misuse potions and elixirs. Yet, here he was downing the tasteless liquid because he'd partaken in sex one too many times the previous day. Seifer had definitely influenced him.

 

As Squall handed his empty vile off to the blond's expectant hand, he had to remind himself that he should be hurrying. His fingertips tingled at the brief touch between them, and all he wanted to strip and pick up where they'd been too tired to continue last night.

 

Shrugging into his jacket, the Commander debated whether or not he should inform Seifer before he met with Xu. Having already made up his mind, his whole basis for not telling the blond was non-existent. However, there was always the chance that Xu would refuse the position, in which case he felt there was no one else suitable to take his place and would not resign.

 

Seifer slipped behind the brunet unnoticed. Grabbing him by the hips, which were no longer bruised, he pulled the lithe body back against his own. With one hand against a firmly toned stomach, he used his other hand to display the heels he'd found in the garbage.

 

Dangling them by the ankle straps so the tall heels clacked together, he asked, “When were you planning on wearing these?”

 

Squall simply stared at the shoes, which shouldn't have been in the category of footwear in the first place. High heels were not actual shoes, they were more like death traps. While he could proudly admit to not knowing what they felt like to wear, he could only imagine the impediment they created for balance and mobility.

 

Glaring at the shoes, Squall replied icily, “Never.”

 

“Do you know what heels do to the legs?” the blond asked as he envisioned what his kitten would have looked like.

 

“No, and I don't care to,” the brunet remarked. Making to pull away, he was kept in place by the knight's tightened grip. It stood as proof that if the blond so chose, a single arm was strong enough to keep him rooted. “They didn't come with it,” Squall stated.

 

“Since when do you make excuses?” the blond questioned with a smirk. Truthfully, he was a tad upset about it. It wasn't so much that Squall hadn't worn them as it was that the brunet had lied to him again, however small the lie might have been. When he'd asked if there was more to be put on, Squall had said there were a few items in the bedroom.

 

“Since I don't want to be pushed into doing something I don't want to do,” Squall bit out.

 

Seifer held back his remark. The younger man's words held sense. If he'd known about the shoes, he'd probably have badgered the man into wearing them, and that would have been crossing a line where Squall wouldn't have been having fun.

 

“Forget about it,” the blond dismissed. He released his hold before he wound up with a broken arm or black eye.

 

“I'm meeting with Xu alone,” Squall stated as he stepped away, not glancing back. “I don't know how long I'll be.”

 

“I'll come with you. I can wait outside the office,” Seifer suggested, not giving argument about waiting out of view since it sounded like Squall was refusing his presence nearby completely.

 

“Fine,” the Commander conceded.

 

**

 

Arriving at the office, Squall was momentarily surprised to see Quistis sitting behind the desk. It was another week before break was over, but knowing the hardworking young woman, she'd taken up as much work as possible since the day he'd offered her the position. With his declining presence in the office, yet another influence of the blond knight, she'd no doubt taken up residence much like he used to.

 

With a knowing smile, Quistis stood from her place, effectively ending her conversation with Xu.

 

Xu Yashime, who had been the former Head Instructor at Balamb, was currently stationed in Trabia as an overseer of the reconstruction. Her background qualified her for many fields, whether in battle or something less physical.

 

Squall gave Xu a once over, noting that the only change in her appearance was her hair. Once with long raven strands that were always spun together in a tight bun, the older woman had a bobbed hair cut that framed her slightly rounded face.

 

“Commander Leonhart,” Xu greeted with a salute. While she fully acknowledged Squall's rank and authority, she was not entirely forgetful of their past together. Falling out of stance she gave Quistis a smile and nod as her close friend past by to leave.

 

“Xu,” Squall greeted in his own manner that never sounded warm but still managed to express a certain level of welcome.

 

Eyes focusing beyond the Commander, she stared for a moment. “Seifer Almasy, it has been a while,” the raven-haired woman said with a curt nod.

 

“That's cold instructor Yashime. Where's my hug and kiss?” the blond lilted with an arrogant smirk as he stepped in along side Squall.

 

Gesturing in a manner that said she gave up, Xu sighed in exasperation. “You're still the same as ever I see.”

 

“Not quite, but then again only my one true love could possibly understand just how much I've changed,” he said in a half mocking tone. Slinging an arm around the Commander's shoulders, he pointedly showed whom he referred to by his love.

 

“Yes,” Xu said, her dark brown eyes training on the Commander. “I had heard a little something about you two. I can't say I wasn't shocked, but it certainly explains a lot.”

 

Frowning, Squall nearly asked what she meant, but decided he didn't need to hear anyone's opinion about him from years ago.

 

“Nothing to worry about Commander, just the psychiatrist in me seeing a few connections between you two.” Offering a small smile, more from amusement as she watched the Commander's lips form a deeper frown, she waved a hand in dismissal. “Shall we get to it then?”

 

With a curt nod, Squall agreed. Pulling away from the blond's arm, he moved to take a seat across from the one person he considered a worthy candidate for taking his office.

 

Seifer glared at the retreating lion's back. Something was up. He knew he should have asked why Xu was there, but given that Squall seemed particularly touchy about it, he'd backed off. As he shut the doors behind himself, he couldn't help but sulk over the fact that he hadn't received his morning kiss.

 

“How are you?” Xu questioned in a relaxed tone. “I can't imagine how you're holding up so well after everything that's been going on.”

 

Gray-blue eyes shot the sharp-featured woman a slight glare. “I don't need a psychiatrist,” he assured as he sat down.

 

“Then how about some friendly chat and a psychiatrist's opinion?” the older woman offered. She'd been itching to analyze Squall Leonhart since the boy first came to Garden. She'd still been completing her courses, but even as a student it was obvious that Squall was a therapist's dream challenge.

 

“How about I ask if you'd like to become Commander of Balamb Garden?” the brunet replied bluntly. Each moment he hid this from Seifer the worse he felt. He couldn't stand to look the man in the eyes, and it was really starting to eat at him all at once.

 

Mouth open for a paused moment, Xu's quip fell dead. That's what she deserved for assuming the Commander's words were going to be an evasive remark or refusal for analysis. “I'm sorry, but you may have to say that once more for me,” she managed to state.

 

Bristling under the sudden weight of their conversation, the short haired woman stood straight and seemed to conduct herself less openly. Her general manner of speaking with friends and acquaintances, regardless of subject matter or rank, was to take a few minutes to set the mood with light chitchat. It was an instinct ingrained in her since her courses in psychology. She'd learned to set her patients at ease before moving into the real focus of conversation. The strategy ultimately manifested itself with everyone she spoke with, but Squall wasn't going for it, and now she was at a loss in her shock.

 

Squall edged forward, suddenly realizing this was a pivotal moment in his life. The gravity of Xu's answer pressed down on him now that the moment was upon him. If she refused him, then he'd ask for her silence on the matter and forget that he'd ever considered resigning.

 

Taking a moment to gather the right words, Squall explained, “Trabia is rebuilt. Your services there are no longer needed there.”

 

“Yes,” Xu said in agreement, trying to take the young man's points in parts for the sake of not becoming confused. “I assumed you wanted me transferred there.”

 

“No. I'm offering a transfer to Selphie and Irvine. I want you back here, and if you'll accept, I'd like you to take my place.”

 

Laughing and scoffing at the same time, Xu expressed her disbelief. A nervous smile tugged her lips, an automatic reaction to her subdued intimidation. Given the enormity of what Squall was offering, she couldn't help but feel like the boy was putting her on. She'd given up hopes of that rank when Cid passed her over for a newbie cadet. She hadn't felt spiteful or bitter about it, but it was like a slap in the face given her lifetime of achievements and public aspirations to one day become Commander.

 

Squall seemed to read her eyes. “This isn't a joke. I've been considering resigning for some time now. I don't think there is anyone other than yourself that qualifies to fill the position.”

 

Brows drawing together, Xu raised a hand to her mouth and stared in deep thought at the dark glossy wood of the desk.

 

“Please, consider it. Take however long you need to,” the brunet added, hoping he didn't sound desperate.

 

Swallowing dryly, Xu raised her gaze and dropped her hand. Searching Squall's guarded eyes, she thought about what he was asking and what it meant to her. It was a forgotten dream that she'd contently tucked away to the back of her mind.

 

“Xu,” Squall said in question, wondering if she'd be all right. She seemed suddenly pale and her eyes seemed to gloss over in deep thought.

 

“I'd love to,” Xu murmured at length, barely registering that the world's savior had called her name.

 

“…” Squall didn't respond, not sure what to say.

 

Folding her hands in her lap and sitting perfectly straight, she stared resolutely at the younger man. “I accept your offer.”

 

TBC…