Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Defining Love ❯ Defining Love ( Chapter 37 )

Defining Love

Chapter Thirty-Seven

 

 

It was Friday night. Squall arrived on sight at Seifer's training center in a timely fashion. Men in tuxes and women in gowns swarmed near the entrance, each coupled off as they ambled inside.

 

Squall parked as far away from the entrance as possible. Photographers buzzed around the entrance, much to his dismay. The ostentatious ex-knight had turned a simple ribbon cutting ceremony into an elite Estharian event.

 

“Hyne, I didn't expect this,” Rinoa murmured.

 

Squall glanced over at the raven-haired sorceress. “Thank you for doing this.”

 

Rinoa reached out and grasped the former commander's hand. “I'm glad you asked. I love a fancy party. It gives me an excuse to dress up.”

 

Squall smiled softly. “I just want to get this over with.” He referred to the onslaught of flashing cameras they would soon face.

 

“This is no small favor,” Rinoa commented. Casting an uneasy glance outside her window, she gazed at the buzzing photographers and posing guests. She wondered what connections the ex-knight had with so many socialites.

 

“I'm in your debt,” Squall said.

 

“No, not me,” Rinoa refuted. Gazing at the attractive brunet, she corrected, “I meant this is a big favor you're doing for Seifer. I'm surprised he invited you, but I'm even more surprised that you said you would go.” Black ties and crowds usually drove the reclusive fighter away.

 

A solemn expression guarded Squall's feelings. He didn't know what to tell his former sorceress. After Seifer had clarified the particulars of their date, he had contacted Rinoa and enlisted her as an escort. The highly publicized event was strictly business. The private dinner that followed was the actual date.

 

“I guess I can understand his wanting you here,” Rinoa said. “This is like renewing the vigor of the fight, and you both share the same history as fighters.”

 

“I'm here as a friend,” Squall informed her. It was as close to the truth as he was willing to admit. Whatever relationship developed between him and the ex-knight, he wasn't going to flaunt it before it attained some solid definition. They hadn't even gone on a first date, which left them at a level closer to sex partners than lovers.

 

“When did that happen?” Rinoa questioned.

 

Squall gave an indifferent shrug. He couldn't exactly put a time stamp on any of the changes that had occurred.

 

Dark brown eyes studied the impassive expression formed by delicate features. The nature of Squall and Seifer's relationship had always been very distinct. The two gunbladists were infamous for their rivalry. Hearing the aloof brunet claim the antagonistic ex-knight as a friend was unexpected. “Are you that desperate for friends with Irvine gone?” she queried jokingly.

 

A quiet scoff sounded Squall's acknowledgement of the sad notion. He would never be desperate for friendship. He was the sort of person who could live his life without a single friend, but that didn't mean he didn't value his friends and family. He could never live without his son.

 

“Right,” Rinoa said with a smirk. “Never mind.” Despite any changes the former commander displayed, he was the same lone wolf at heart. She supposed that Lore was the only true necessity in his life.

 

Squall opened the driver's door. He was eager to rush past the photographers.

 

“Have I told you how handsome you look in that?” Rinoa called over. Her eyes gazed at his form, clad a stroller tuxedo with slate grey vest and necktie.

 

“Twice,” Squall responded with a smile. He had been to enough formal affairs to have a selection of suits and tuxes.

 

Squall moved around to the other side of the car. As his companion swung her legs over and prepared to stand, he offered a hand of assistance.

 

Rinoa slid her hand atop Squall's and stood up. While fanning out any wrinkles in her deep blue gown, she eyed the spiffy swordsman. “I wish you'd let me take a picture,” she complained, her lips pouting.

 

“There will be enough picture taking tonight,” Squall muttered. He offered his arm. As Rinoa sidled up against him, he leaned over and said, “You look beautiful.”

 

Rinoa laughed. “You're making me blush.” The shimmering material draped over her form, hugging her body where it mattered. She had her raven strands swept back into a simple folded twist.

 

Together they set off across the parking lot.

 

--

 

Inside the training center, two hundred guests mingled in the open arena. Beneath the retractable rooftop and atop the interchangeable floor, everyone stood in the middle of what would become a blood-spattered battlefield. It was the closest many of them had ever been to a fight.

 

Tables lined the wall that partitioned the field from the high rising seats. The bleachers were empty, and it appeared as though all the spectators had flooded onto the field. The evening was well underway. Seifer had already given his self-congratulating speech, and was working the crowd. Investors were quickly reminded why they had invested in the first place.

 

Squall and Rinoa stood on the sidelines, away from the music and dancing.

 

Sipping on a glass of champagne, Rinoa worked on an angle to coerce Squall into dancing with her, though she held little hope of success. She stared at the profiled face of the former commander.

 

Squall's sharp eyes perceived his companion's restless aura. “I'm content to keep myself company. You don't have to stay here,” he murmured softly.

 

Rinoa cast the brunet a disparaging look. “You're the best company a girl could find here. If I left, you'd be eaten alive by every person in here, and then who would drive me home?”

 

A faint smile revealed Squall's good humor.

 

Sounding an indignant huff, Rinoa muttered, “Where is our host? He spent all of five minutes with us before disappearing.”

 

“This is work for him,” Squall commented. He understood that his date wouldn't begin until he and Seifer were alone at dinner. His presence at the training center's grand opening was as the ex-knight's rival. He was a fellow gunbladist showing his support. It was strictly platonic. He preferred it that way. He had enough reservations about dating Seifer without announcing it to the world.

 

“Are you alright?” Rinoa questioned gently.

 

“Why wouldn't I be?” Squall returned.

 

With a heavy sigh, Rinoa shook her head in dismissal. As she placed her champagne glass to her lips, she hesitated. Lowering the flute, she said, “You seem kind of sad.”

 

Evident surprise registered on Squall's face. “Sad?” he repeated.

 

“It might be indelicate to ask this, but where are you with Cale?”

 

Schooling his expression, Squall masked the pang of remorse that rang through him at the mention of the deceased professor. “I'm coping,” he replied cryptically.

 

Sensing that she had broached a subject closed to discussion, Rinoa coaxed, “I won't press anything. If you ever needed one, I'm a good listener.” She sipped her drink.

 

Squall didn't quite know what to say. Whatever Rinoa had detected in his expression hadn't been about Cale.

 

“Ah, I seem him!” Rinoa exclaimed. The matter of Cale was forgotten.

 

Following his companion's line of sight, Squall gazed out into the crowd. He caught sight of Seifer's golden blond hair and judged the man to be moving in their direction.

 

“It's about time,” Rinoa remarked. “I was beginning to think he'd forgotten about us.”

 

Seifer's form appeared within a small break in the crowd. He stood half a head taller than everyone nearby. Donning a traditional tux, he appeared strikingly refined. His devilishly handsome features distinguished him as the most attractive man on sight.

 

As Squall and Rinoa watched the ex-knight approach, they did not immediately perceive the man's long legged companion.

 

Stormy blue eyes widened at the unexpected sight. He stared at the fair-haired woman glued to his rival's side. Her draping red gown clung to her curvaceous form, dipping low at the collar to reveal an ample amount of her chest.

 

Rinoa shared in Squall's study. “I wondered whether he was dating anyone,” she whispered before the approaching couple drew within earshot.

 

Squall stiffened. A strange feeling of reproach formed inside him.

 

Flashing a charming smile, Seifer came to a halt before the dark haired pair. He stood an unnecessary distance from his rival, something only Leonhart seemed to pick up on. When he saw the question flash in stormy blue eyes, he longed to explain the necessity of staying out of arm's reach.

 

Seifer could not help but to let his eyes rove Leonhart's form. While Heartily presented a stunningly gorgeous picture, his interest rested entirely in the former commander. He had never felt more like a homosexual. He had a beautiful woman clinging to his side, and another beautiful woman a short distance away, yet his eyes could not leave his rival.

 

A strange sense of rejection welled up inside Squall. He felt mistreated, but couldn't understand where such feelings came from. He knew Seifer was in the middle of a business party, and couldn't waste time by favoring himself or Rinoa. He knew the woman clinging to the blond's arm wasn't the ex-knight's girlfriend. He even understood why Seifer kept such a distance from him. A throng of curious spectators who might misinterpret the most innocent of gestures surrounded them.

 

Hesitating, Seifer had to force his eyes from the brunet's face. “Alex, I want to introduce you to Rinoa Heartily and Squall Leonhart.” He gestured to both respectively. “This is Alex Bell,” he ended with a nod towards his blonde companion.

 

Rinoa gave a curt nod while offering her hand. “Hello.” The younger woman had a full round face and big doe eyes. She was very pretty.

 

Alex took great care in accepting Rinoa's hand. “Hyne, you're really her,” she exclaimed. Gazing reverently into the sorceress' dark eyes, she added, “I mean, you're really the Rinoa Heartily.” When her eyes fell on the president's son, her breath gave a small hitch, which sounded like an awed gasp.

 

The moment Squall offered his hand in greeting, it was snatched up and gripped firmly. He wondered what relationship the woman had to Seifer. Were they friends? Fearing that his curiosity might be read in his eyes, he avoided the blond's perceptive gaze.

 

Continuing to hold the striking brunet's hand, Alex studied the man's face greedily. Seeing Squall Leonhart in person presented a drastically different image than what history books and the media painted. “I'm completely star struck,” she admitted. “Meeting the president's son like this. Not just President Loire's son, but so much more.”

 

Squall gently tugged his hand back, growing rather self-conscious. The woman's honey brown eyes scanned him repeatedly.

 

“I hope you don't mind my saying, but you're awfully pretty considering what you do,” Alex said, her eyes glossing over.

 

A blush betrayed Squall's embarrassment.

 

“I don't mean that in a bad way,” Alex asserted hastily.

 

Rinoa bristled in place. Growing a bit defensive, she sidled closer to the former commander and linked an arm through his. “He's not so pretty when he's covered in blood,” she commented glibly. Even after the words left her mouth, she didn't quite realize how awkward the statement was. When Seifer's lady friend eyed her uncertainly, she realized how strange it must have sounded. Shooting a hand to her mouth, she smiled softly and chuckled. “I'm sorry. It's just, Squall isn't someone you can know on a first impression.”

 

“Hyne, of course,” Alex agreed. Taking the ex-knight's arm, she hugged it close and gazed up at the man's stern profile. “I'm usually not like this. You would think I'd learn after meeting Seifer and getting to know him.”

 

Squall caught the blonde woman's eye. “You didn't say anything wrong,” he assured. He offered the faintest of smiles.

 

Blindsided by the melodious voice that came from the strangely androgynous man, Alex felt a faint shiver course through her body. Her eyes stared at the brunet's lips, thinking she saw a smile. She concluded that the president's son wasn't just pretty; he was beautiful. He wasn't beautiful in a feminine sort of way, and was actually rather handsome if she considered it. As a measure of comparison, the ex-knight had the sort of virile good looks that made women swoon. Squall Leonhart had the sort of mysterious appeal that mesmerized the senses.

 

As her mind worked rapidly, Alex began to feel slightly faint. “I'm from a small town. The most excitement I'm used to is the fireworks at the end of the year festival.”

 

“Where are you from?” Rinoa asked.

 

“Winhill,” Alex answered with a whimsical smile. “I moved to FH about a year ago. I thought a change of pace would be adventurous, but FH was even less exciting than Winhill, until I met Seifer anyway.”

 

Squall remained thoughtfully unresponsive for a moment. Though his curiosity centered towards how Alex and Seifer had met, he refused to pry. Instead, he asked after the town he had spent the first years of his life in. “How is Winwill?”

 

Alex hesitated in replying. The sincerity in the hero's tone of voice compelled her to answer at great length. She knew immediately that the question had been asked with a deep fondness for her unheard of hometown. “Do you know the place?” she inquired.

 

A heavy silence fell over the small group. Seifer glanced at Rinoa. Squall's lips pressed tightly together. The three of them shared the same understanding that the past was precious, and not something easily disclosed to strangers.

 

Seifer decided to redirect the conversation, but Leonhart spoke up first.

 

Squall regarded the newcomer evenly. “I was born there,” he informed her, much to everyone's surprise.

 

Squaring his shoulders, Seifer narrowed his eyes suspiciously and studied his rival. He didn't like Leonhart's unusually open spirit.

 

Alex laughed. “What are the odds?” she commented. “I mean, what if we were like neighbors? I'd just die if you lived next door and I never knew all this time.”

 

Giving a small shake of his head, Squall explained, “I left well before you were born.”

 

A crease of confusion formed in Alex's youthful brow. As understanding dawned, two finely sculpted eyebrows shot up. “I was totally thinking that you were like the same age as me,” she admitted with a somewhat bashful grin.

 

“He's not that much older,” Seifer muttered. Physically, he was even older than Leonhart.

 

“Hyne, what a terrible topic to talk about,” Alex said in a self-deprecating tone. “I must seem like a blithering fool. I promise you this isn't how I usually am.”

 

Raising her glass of champagne, Rinoa took a small sip. “Squall has never looked his age,” she said warmly. “During the war, he looked so much older. Ever since, he's looked younger.”

 

Alex appeared grateful for the vote of confidence. “To answer your question, Winhill is doing great. Some expansions have been made and there's a train station about a quarter mile out of town, so it's not so disconnected from the rest of the world.”

 

Seifer stared intently at his rival, searching for some indication of what the brunet was thinking. “Do you remember it?” he asked solemnly. He had never considered how much Leonhart might remember from before the orphanage. The laconic man had spared enough words to indicate a serious interest in Winhill, and he was fascinated to know more about the place.

 

Meeting jade green eyes, Squall stared in silence for many moments. “No,” he said at length. His reply carried a nearly undetectable undertone of regret.

 

Aptly detecting the faint emotion ingrained in Leonhart's response, Seifer saw the mixture of emotion swimming in stormy blue eyes. He needed to know more. “Nothing?” he pressed.

 

Squall frowned. Dropping his gaze, he seemed on the verge of expanding his answer. The weight of the moment increased, and the others felt affected by the somber atmosphere that surrounded the possible memories stored in the former commander's head.

 

“Where are Raijin and Fujin?” Squall inquired evasively.

 

Swallowing thickly, Seifer fought the urge to press Leonhart further. “They haven't arrived yet,” he answered briskly.

 

Unable to resist the temptation of a good love story, Rinoa gave in to her nagging curiosity. “So, how are you two acquainted?” she asked with speculative stars in her eyes. She didn't believe Alex was the type of woman Seifer would take an interest in. Someone a bit more mature seemed to suit the blond, but first impressions were never accurate.

 

“We met while I was in Fisherman's Horizon,” Seifer offered in a platonic tone.

 

Rinoa was unsatisfied. “Did you meet her when she first moved there?” she followed up.

 

“Just about,” Seifer answered tersely. He didn't like where Rinoa was heading.

 

Eyeing the ex-knight keenly, Rinoa asked, “How long have you two been dating?”

 

Tensing visibly, Squall was taken by surprise when a pang of unease resonated inside his chest. He didn't understand the strange reaction. He forced himself to meet the ex-knight's eyes. A lurking fear urged him to lower his gaze before he found something he didn't want to see, but he continued to stare.

 

Seifer mentally cursed Rinoa for her question. He stared earnestly into stormy blue eyes and tried to convey a silent message. He felt the encroaching ruin of the tentative relationship he had managed to form with his rival. Everything he had worked for would be dashed to pieces because of a single question. He should have known better than to invite an ex-girlfriend. Alex was a particularly lovely young woman, and flaunting her before Leonhart's eyes had seemed amusing enough in his head.

 

Alex ventured to answer the sorceress' question. “Almost eleven months.” Nudging the ex-knight's arm, she added, “He was out at sea so often that our time together was really more like five months.”

 

“And you're together now?” Rinoa asked.

 

Alex gave a small shrug. “For as long as I'm in Esthar I suppose. To be perfectly honest, we were never very serious.”

 

“We broke up before I moved here,” Seifer stated firmly. Addressing Leonhart, his masked composure slipped as he pleaded his case. “We hadn't even been in contact until a couple days ago.”

 

Alex laughed good-naturedly, uncertain how to take the ex-knight's declaration.

 

With a frown, Rinoa chastised the ex-knight. “You'd be so lucky to date someone so beautiful.”

 

“You're sweet,” Alex said to Rinoa, smiling thankfully for the support.

 

The atmosphere only grew more awkward. Every subject felt taboo.

 

When no one else seemed inclined to breaking the silence, Alex said, “So, this is my first time in Esthar.”

 

“Doesn't this city make you dizzy?” Rinoa responded.

 

Neither Squall nor Seifer feigned interest in having a conversation. Squall refused to look at the ex-knight, and kept his eyes trained on the raven-haired sorceress. Seifer stared intently at his rival, willing the man to spare him a single glance.

 

“Yo, Seifer,” a baritone voice called out.

 

Raijin's towering form strode towards the group. The crowded had parted for his birth. Fujin followed directly behind her husband, her progress slower as she took care not to waddle.

 

Seifer met his friends with flourishing acceptance. He clapped a hand to the burly man's back and cast an arm around the future mother's shoulders.

 

“Hey man, this place is great,” Raijin congratulated. “We only took a quick look around, but it's awesome, ya know?”

 

“I would have given you the grand tour if I'd known you were here,” Seifer said.

 

Fujin rubbed her rotund belly and cast an uneasy eye around the large arena.

 

Scratching the back of his head, Raijin informed, “Fujin's not feeling so hot today. We came early, but we're not gonna stay too long.”

 

With his arm still in place, Seifer gently squeezed Fujin's shoulder. Glancing at her stomach, he questioned, “Is everything okay?”

 

“Fine,” Fujin replied tersely.

 

Rinoa released Squall's arm and stepped closer to the silver haired mother-to-be. “How far along are you?”

 

“Seventeen weeks,” Raijin supplied proudly.

 

A radiant smile lit Rinoa's face up. “Do you know the sex?” she inquired.

 

“It's a girl,” Raijin answered enthusiastically. He grinned in a sort of goofy manner of unbound happiness. In twenty-five more weeks, he would have a baby girl. When his eyes fell on Leonhart, he gave a start of remembrance. “I almost forgot. Thanks for those brownies and stuff, ya know?”

 

Fujin nudged her husband.

 

Scratching the back of his head, Raijin cast a sheepish gaze at the ground. After a few moments, he continued, “They really hit the spot for Fu, and that's almost like impossible with the crazy stuff this baby has her craving. I'd owe you big time if you could give me the recipe.”

 

Fujin gave her husband a disparaging look.

 

After clearing his throat, Raijin added, “Maybe, you could like show me how to make `em, or something.”

 

Seifer laughed richly, his voice rising above the din of chatter. He imagined his best friend standing in a kitchen wearing a frilly pink apron while black smoke billowed out of the oven.

 

Rinoa held back her amusement. Fearing the burly man might take her cracking smile the wrong way, she commented, “That's so sweet.”

 

“Ya think?” Raijin asked. A smile tugged at his lips. “I can't really cook or nothin', but I figure I'll have to learn before the baby's born.”

 

“I can show you,” Squall consented evenly. His own amusement was deeply buried.

 

The opportunist inside Seifer jumped at the presented opening. “You can come to my place and show him,” he offered generously. “So you don't dirty your own kitchen.”

 

Squall scowled at the ex-knight.

 

Raijin gazed pleadingly at the former commander. “We leave on Sunday. It'd be great if you wouldn't mind teaching me tomorrow. I mean, if you're not busy, ya know?”

 

“I can't remember the last time I saw you two,” Rinoa admitted. “Would it make any sense if I said I've missed you?”

 

A deep blush heated Raijin's face. “It's like good to see you too,” he returned bashfully.

 

Fujin gave a firm nod of agreement. It had been many years since they had met anyone from Balamb Garden other than Seifer. Their lives before the war bared little relation to the lives they currently lived.

 

Rinoa's brows drew together in an expression of sad regret. “Ellone is really the only person I'm in contact with. We live in Centra together.”

 

“It's been a long time, ya know?” Raijin commented.

 

“I know,” Rinoa agreed.

 

As Raijin scanned each face in the group, his dark brown eyes settled on Alex with confusion. He realized something wasn't right with the pairings. Though he certainly hadn't been looking forward to seeing his best friend's arm around Leonhart, he had been prepared for the worst.

 

Fujin bristled in the ex-knight's hold. “Alex,” she said, her single red eye trained on the young blonde woman.

 

“Hi,” Alex greeted. “I wasn't sure if you would remember me. It's only been a few months though, and I've seen you around town since Seifer left.”

 

Fujin gave a short nod. She remembered Seifer's ex-girlfriend.

 

Confusion expressed itself on Raijin's face. He caught Seifer's attention and gave the man a perplexed look.

 

“Alex is here as a friend,” Seifer explained, as though it weren't already obvious.

 

“I'm not the only one,” Alex added with an indignant undertone.

 

Seifer tensed at Alex's words. Trepidation filled him, causing his heart to race. He would have interjected to keep the young woman from speaking too liberally, but the urge to see Leonhart's reaction was overpowering. He longed to see pretty grey-blue eyes stare at him with coveting thoughts. He wanted his rival's plush lips to pout in petulant annoyance, and for envy to grow into uncontrollable possessiveness.

 

Alex continued in an innocent manner. “I practically had to draw straws with those other girls. They all wanted to come over here and have Seifer introduce them.”

 

Seifer swallowed thickly. His attention remained fixed on Leonhart's face. The brunet seemed intent on avoiding eye contact.

 

“I can't blame them really,” Alex admitted. Smiling up at the ex-knight, she said to him, “A girl would be lucky to get her hands on you. If I had any sense three months ago, I would have moved out here with you when you asked me to.” A flush of embarrassment heated her cheeks, but the stars in her eyes betrayed her hopeful sincerity.

 

As Seifer witnessed Leonhart's reaction, a twinge of pain cut through his chest. The former commander's eyes finally met his. Wide stormy blue orbs held bewildered accusation. Dark brows were drawn in open hurt. The swordsman's expression injured him. He was affected as acutely by the man's emotions as if they were his own. “Leonhart,” he began.

 

A mask of cold indifference fell into place over Squall's face. No one seemed to have noticed his momentary lapse. A steely glint shrouded all emotion in his eyes. He betrayed no sign of the constrictive vice crushing his lungs.

 

Squall had never felt like such a fool. Against all reason, he had agreed to go on a date with Seifer. Irvine and Lore had strongly advised against his decision, yet he had followed his own feelings. Whatever sensibility he had kept in harboring low expectations, he only now realized how high his hopes had risen.

 

He recognized what he had felt upon seeing Alex. He had been jealous.

 

Shame washed over him. He couldn't stay there any longer. Seifer brought out the absolute worst in his character. He imagined himself being one step away from drawing straws with those other women, vying for the insufferable man's affections.

 

Seifer addressed Leonhart, “Come with me for a minute. I need a private word.” He spoke in a stern voice. Extracting his arm from Alex's hold, he stepped towards his rival. He reached for the man's elbow, hoping a firm hand would secure some level of cooperation.

 

Squall took an involuntary step back. Disengaging from Rinoa in the process, his evasion was instinctive.

 

Everyone took notice of Squall's alarmist reaction. Seifer's extended hand hung in the air after missing its target.

 

“I should go,” Squall declared. A hasty flight felt cowardly. He knew he should speak with Seifer and break their engagement directly, but he couldn't stand to be a fool.

 

“Don't,” Seifer objected in earnest.

 

“Hey man,” Raijin spoke up. “Not here, ya know?” He cast a surveying glance around the area. Heads were already turning with interest.

 

“Squall, what's wrong?” Rinoa asked in confused alarm.

 

“Nothing,” Squall said. His eyes scanned the area. Spotting the nearest exit, he muttered, “Excuse me.” He hurried off, his strides bordering on a slow jog.

 

“Shit,” Seifer cursed under his breath. Breaking away from the group, he called over his shoulder, “I'll be back in a little while.”

 

“Seifer what's going on?” Alex called after the ex-knight.

 

“Nothing,” Seifer returned. He hastened to catch up to Leonhart, leaving everyone else in a state of uneasy confusion.

 

Raijin and Fujin were aware of the circumstances and couldn't exactly blame Leonhart for bailing out.

 

Squall rushed through the one of the arena's exit. Beyond the exit, a corridor ran along the circumference of the training center. The various facilities were offshoots, everything stationed around the arena's battlefield. He hoped to find a back exit that would take him outside. He couldn't leave without Rinoa, but he could use the fresh air.

 

Seifer wasn't far behind. “Leonhart!” he called after the brunet.

 

Squall didn't slow down. He moved along the curving corridor. Near the back of the large building, it was dark and vacant. The only light came from the open archways, like the one he had come through, spaced along as entrances to the field.

 

“Stop!” Seifer ordered. “Hold on for two seconds.” Running, he managed to catch up. He reached out and grabbed his rival's arm.

 

Though Squall tore away, the ex-knight's fingers clutched his upper arm in a vice-like grip. “Let go,” he hissed.

 

“Not until you talk to me,” Seifer returned. Before the agitated swordsman could throw a punch, he took further measures to prevent an escape. Forcing the man against the nearby wall, he captured the other arm.

 

“Seifer,” Squall bit out angrily. “Let go.”

 

Tightening his grip, Seifer squeezed Leonhart's arms. He refused to let go without a fight. When stormy blue eyes finally looked at him, he requested, “Let me explain.”

 

Squall glared. It occurred to him that he had been set up. The ex-knight had always enjoyed putting on a good show. He recalled the man's words from their last meeting. Seifer wanted to see him jealous, for him to experience the same absurd emotions that Irvine's presence incited in the man. “Explain what?” he questioned sullenly.

 

“You know what,” Seifer replied. He didn't detect anger in Leonhart's voice, just resignation. “Alex is a friend. You came here with Rinoa for the same reason I came here with her.”

 

“I don't have a problem with Alex,” Squall lied. “I don't care if she's your girlfriend.” He would have pinched the bridge of his nose if could move his arms. It was far too late to feign indifference. He should have figured the blond's game out earlier. He was more than a fool. He was a dimwitted fool.

 

“You don't?” Seifer returned in an accusing tone. He would be more than a little disappointed if Leonhart were unconcerned with whom he dated. He was tired of experiencing unrequited feelings. Leonhart had shown an annoying level of indifference concerning his relations with others.

 

Anger returning to his voice, Squall snapped, “No. You're free to date whoever the hell you want.” The level of emotion in his words betrayed each one as a lie. It was obvious that he cared and that he was absurdly jealous.

 

Seifer's eyes narrowed. Leonhart didn't get it at all. “I don't want to date Alex. I want to date you,” he stated.

 

Eyes widening, Squall stared with uncertainty written all over his face. He didn't know what to say.

 

“I had her come to get a rise out of you,” Seifer admitted.

 

Squall dropped his eyes. “I know,” he murmured.

 

“You know?” Seifer intoned incredulously. He hadn't thought that his ploy was so obvious. Then again, he had also thought it was a good idea, which it apparently wasn't.

 

Squall nodded. Despite his understanding, he was still jealous. “I'm still jealous,” he mumbled.

 

A thrill ran through Seifer. “Come again?”

 

“Asshole,” Squall muttered with a rueful glare. Admitting his jealousy was not easy. In light of his hasty departure, there was no denying the effect Seifer's childish scheme had had.

 

Leonhart's icy-hot expression shot to Seifer's groin. He leered at his rival. “I want to fuck you so bad right now.” There was no distance between them. His blood ran hot, yearning for sex.

 

Scowling, Squall quipped, “You always want what you can't have.” Though he was angry with the ex-knight, he was angrier with himself. He wanted to sort through his thoughts and settle his jealousy before returning to Rinoa's side.

 

“You're making me hard,” Seifer informed. The agitated furrow to Leonhart's brow was terribly sexy to him.

 

With a scoff, Squall returned, “You're making yourself hard.”

 

Unable to resist any longer, Seifer captured pout lips. Releasing his grip on the brunet's arms, he reached down and set his hold on slim hips. Drawing the man's hips away from the wall, he pressed against them to prove the truth behind his words. Everything about Leonhart turned him on. The sight, sound, touch, and taste of his rival was arousing.

 

A sigh of forgiveness escaped Squall. Before he could completely lose himself to the kiss, he reined in his desires and turned away from the blond's devilish lips. He admonished, “Not here.”

 

Persistent in tasting his rival, Seifer nudged a delicate chin and turned the brunet's head straight. Kissing Leonhart again, harder this time, he cast caution to the wind. If it would satisfy his craving, he would make passionate love to his rival before all his guests.

 

Squall became lost as he battled the ex-knight's tongue. The press of the man's bulging erection urged him to succumb to his desires. Before he completely melted within the blond's arms, he whispered, “Someone will see.”

 

“I'm sure they'd understand,” Seifer soothed. His tongue slid inside Leonhart's mouth, attempting to prevent further discussion.

 

Squall turned his head away. “I don't even understand,” he pointed out. No one else could possibly understand if he didn't even have the first clue.

 

“Good point,” Seifer said. Breaking away, he stepped back. Pulling Leonhart along, he urged, “Come with me.” There were plenty of rooms that only he had access to.

 

 

TBC…

 

 

Author's note: If you couldn't tell, this chapter was meant to continue on. It has been far too long since my last update, so I couldn't hold off any longer. This semester has been beyond hectic for me. The sad truth is that my Spring break, which began this past Friday, was the first time I was able to write for myself. I'm sorry the chapter took so darn long, but I simply didn't have the time to write it. I'm hoping to crank out another chapter before next Monday, when my hectic schedule resumes, but I can't make any promises.

 

I know this isn't any masterpiece chapter, which makes the long wait even worse. I will say this once again, that I have not given up on this story. I am still dedicated to finishing it. Even if it's another two or three months without an update (I hope not), I will update eventually.

 

Okay, enough from me. I love to hear from everyone else. I can't tell you how important reviews are to me.