[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

//Star-Light: Chapter 17//

//By Julie
//rated NC-17 for explicit sexual scenes
//yaoi content. Male/male having sex, getting each other off
//Parings: Squall/Seifer then Squall/Zell

//Disclaimer: Don't own them. But I wish I did - as do most normal people. But ONE DAY! they will be mine. Oh yes, they WILL be mine!!!

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Esthar - Next Day:

Squall fumbled with the pen in his hand. The paper was blank, even though he was trying desperately to come up with something. Seifer was the one who wrote a lot of their music. Squall'd co-written some songs with Seifer, only writing Trust and Waiting by himself. Although he hadn't any idea where the lyrics and music came from. Perhaps a bored muse needing somewhere to focus their energy.

But sitting here, Squall knew what he wanted to write, except the lyrics weren't coming. And maybe part of the reason he couldn't write was because he was sitting in the middle of a model shoot. People running around, cameras flashing, the director yelling, loud noises of sets being put up then taken down.

Taking a deep breath, Squall looked up from the blank paper to the set.

Seifer was talking with Dami. Thoran and Hazen were snickering near the women changing rooms. No matter how old some men get, they're still boys.

Squall shook his head, turning to black and silvery-blue set. Where he was supposed to stand when they took his picture.

He looked down at himself. Black pants with blue-silver threads. A button-up black shirt with a blue-silver lion roaring, wrapped around. Silver-blue gloves. Black Doc Martin boots with blue-silver threads. And his hair was styled in a non-normal way. Lots of hair-spray, but it still fought against the style.

Squall was distracted by a stray strand that fell over his eyes. He blew up, it moving away.

"Hi!" a woman's bright voice said.

Squall turned his attention to a raven-haired woman. She was dressed fairly similar to his clothing, colors matching, lions and boots. Except her clothes were feminine, obviously. And her make-up was fairly dark with the blue-silver colors.

Squall just looked at her.

"I can't believe I get to do a shoot with Griever!" the woman continued. "I'm very excited!"

Squall shifted, looking back to his blank paper.

The woman walked closer, looking down to the paper. "Working? ... Looks like you're getting a lot done," she said humorously, a sweet smile on her face.

Squall breathed, waiting for whatever this woman came to say to say it already then leave.

"I'm Rinoa Heartilly, by the way," she said sweetly.

Squall continued to look at her, showing no emotions.

"...I'm a big model... you must have heard of me... I was on the cover of Spirits last week..." she blinked, hopeful of a response.

Nothing.

"I heard you were a little rough on the edges," Rinoa said, smiling as brightly as ever.

Still nothing.

"But I don't mind. We have a little while before the camera crew will be finished setting up. In the mean time, I'll sit and chit-chat with you," she persisted. Taking a chair next to Squall, she continued to smile.

Squall gave no response.

"Well, I guess I'll just take-hold of this conversation," Rinoa said brightly. "You know, you're one of the hottest guys I've ever meet."

Nothing, still.

"You aren't going to talk, are you?" Rinoa asked.

Squall looked down to his blank paper, trying to remember what he wanted to write.

"I don't give up easily," Rinoa said. "Come on, lets be friends. Open up a little. I know you'll like me!"

"Whatever..." Squall mumbled, still staring at his blank paper.

Rinoa frowned.

"Griever and Miss Heartilly!" a man's voice called. "Due up for the shoot! Get over here and in front of the camera!"

Squall stood up, tossing his papers into the chair as he walked to the camera.

~*~

Balamb, that same moment:

Selphie skipped downstairs, heading the living room to watch her favorite TV show: Within Fantasies.

Her trek was stopped by a knocking on the front door.

Sighing loudly, she walked to the door and opened it. Her mouth fell open and her eyes went wide when she saw who was standing there.

Irvine.

He flashed a sexy smile at her, knocking down his cowboy hat.

"Irvine!" Selphie said in a not-nice voice.

"Selphie, baby-doll," Irvine said.

Selphie stepped outside, closing the front door behind her. "What are you doing here?! You jerk?!"

Irvine stepped back, his hands open at his sides. "What?"

"What do you want?" Selphie asked quickly, frowning at him.

"Why are you mad?" Irvine asked.

"Why? WHY?!" Selphie snapped. "You asshole! You took my best friend to that-"

"Yeah... I'm sorry about that," Irvine said softly.

Selphie glared at him. "That isn't good enough! Get out of here, you loser!"

Irvine's mouth fell open. "Listen, baby-doll, I'm sorry. Really I am. Its actually why I'm here... To apologize. I didn't mean for that night to go that way."

"Oh really?! And what were your big plans, huh? Since you invited me to that place! What did you want, huh?"

Irvine looked at Selphie with a half-sorry half-sad expression. "Nothing. Honestly, baby-doll. I had a bad morning that day. So when I took that blonde-boy to the party, I sorta just left him to his own... I know I should have watched him more-"

"Damn right you bastard! He was almost raped! You stupid-"

"-I fucked up!" Irvine said quickly. "Okay! I know I did, sweetie. Big time. And I'm sorry. I had a bad morning and when I got to the party, I took a few drugs and got a little more drunk then I intended to. ... It was a mistake. I meant to watch the blonde-boy, but I got distracted... I was drugged out... I fucked up. And I'm sorry. It was a mistake."

Selphie just glared at him.

"Not a good excuse, I know, but its the only one I have," Irvine said. "I was watching the blonde for a while, but then I heard he was off-limits. That no one was going to touch him. I was a little too wasted to really give that much thought, but... I sorta just forgot to check on him after that... "

Selphie tapped her foot impatiently, her arms crossed tightly together over her chest.

"Baby-doll," Irvine tried. "I am so sorry. It was a bad moment for me... and I came here just to give you something as an apology."

Selphie looked unconvinced.

Irvine reached into his jacket pocket, putting out a small envelope. He handed it to Selphie.

Selphie snatched it out of his hand, glaring at him a moment longer before opening the envelop. Her eyes went wide as she removed the tickets. Concert tickets. 8 of them. To an Esthar Drained Tour show.

She looked back up to Irvine, who was giving her a meek smile.

"What makes you think I could go to this concert?" Selphie asked, not quiet as angry as before.

Irvine's shoulders dropped. "I figured... as much of a Blood Kiss freak as you are... that it was the best gift."

"I've already seen the show..." Selphie said.

Irvine half smiled. "Balamb show. In that mini-stage... Esthar concerts consist of 4 thousand fans. The show will be much different."

Selphie frowned.

Irvine's smile faded. "Listen, the concert is next Thursday. Keep the tickets. They're yours. If you can go, go. If you can't, give me a ring and I'll try to get something else for you."

Selphie looked down at the tickets. She'd seen the show once already, but that didn't mean she didn't want to go again. It was Blood Kiss. And she'd get to see Flare again.

"Where'd you get these?" Selphie asked, noting the tickets were Floor Seats, labeled as 800 Gil tickets. She looked up at Irvine.

Irvine sighed. "Listen... My cousin is... lead guitarist of Tonberries."

Selphie's eyes went wide.

"That's how I got into that party couple weeks back," Irvine explained. "And why I thought it'd be okay to bring you there... or your friend there. Didn't think those freaks would actually mess with the blonde. They leave me alone. And he did go with me. ... But whatever. Just take the tickets, huh?"

Selphie breathed slowly. She reached in and removed 5 of the tickets handing the envelope back to Irvine. "Thank you. Hopefully I can go. ... I'm still sorta pissed at you! ... But... thank you."

Irvine smiled, taking the extra tickets back. "Thanks, baby-doll. I'm still very sorry. And I'll try to make it up to you."

"To Zell!" Selphie said quickly.

Irvine nodded. "Tell him I said I was sorry, will you?"

Selphie nodded slowly.

Irvine stepped away from the house. "Later, sweetie." He flashed another sexy smile before turning to walk down the sidewalk towards his waiting mustang. (As in a car, not a horse)

Selphie watched him for a moment before turning and running into the house.

She did have concert tickets to another Blood Kiss show. And, parents-be-damned, she had to go to this show!

"Mom! Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom!" Selphie said, running into the family room where her mother and father sat.

"Selphie?" her mother replied.

Selphie put her hands in back of her, standing tall, smiling the sweetest-cutest smile she could. "Mommy..."

Her mother frowned, suspecting.

~*~

Balamb, Zell's house:

Zell flopped back on the couch, TV on MTV, watching the music videos, volume up as loud as possible.

He yawned, stretching, enjoying his new-found freedom of having the house to himself. His mother wouldn't get home until tomorrow.

A loud banging against the front door startled Zell's moment of peace. He looked to the door, hearing Selphie's very loud voice saying his name over and over.

Zell frowned, picking up the remote and pressing the [mute] button. He walked to the door, opening it, Selphie nearly falling forward onto him.

Selphie put her hands to Zell's chest, pushing him into the house, not letting him close the door.

"Guess what, guess what, guess what, guess what, guess what, guess what-"

"What?!" Zell said, his eyes wide at her excitement.

Selphie smiled brightly. "Guess!"

Zell frowned, crossing his arms.

"Okay, two hints," Selphie said, still smiling. "Blood Kiss and Esthar."

Zell's arms fell to his sides as his eyes went wide. "You got tickets to a Drained Tour concert in Esthar?!"

Selphie smile widened. "Yes!"

"Wha-how-you-I mean-where-Can you-we?" Zell couldn't speak. Damn his tongue.

Selphie bounced in place. "Mommy said I can only go if you, Matt, Kyle, and Xen could go. Matt's parents don't care, you know how they are. Kyle's dad is cool with it as long as he has the number to a hotel we'll stay at. Xen's mother totally blew my mind though. She actually suggested that we spend a couple days in Esthar... couldn't believe it. Xen said he was almost grounded this morning. But his mother was totally cool with us heading to Esthar... as long as we all went and everything. ... So... your mom?"

Selphie blinked, her eyes hopefully.

Zell frowned. "Ma ain't home..."

Selphie's shoulders slouched. "Where... Oh! She went to Deling City, huh?"

Zell nodded. "I can call her... though I'm not sure how happy she'll be at the idea... I was nearly grounded for runnin' off wit Squall that night. ... Actually I'm not sure why I ain't grounded..." Zell eyed Selphie.

"Man!" Selphie whined. "You've gotta go! If you don't go, I can't! Besides! You've gotta see Squall again!"

Zell looked to the ground, a sad-sneer on his face.

"Call her!" Selphie said.

"Eh? Zell?" Matt said, walking into the house followed by Kyle and Xen.

Zell looked up as Kyle shut the open front door.

"Selph, wish you didn't run off like that!" Matt said, frowning at her.

Selphie shook her head at him. "It was only a couple of blocks..."

"Eight," Kyle muttered.

Xen laughed quietly.

Selphie frowned, turning back to Zell. "Come on! Call her!"

Zell looked at the boys then back to Selphie. "Alright... " he walked to the phone, picking it up, glaring at Selphie. "But if I get in trouble..."

Selphie flashed Zell a sweet smile.

Zell sighed, dialing the number.

"Who's he calling?" Matt asked.

"His mother," Kyle said.

Matt frowned at him.

"She's in Deling City until tomorrow," Kyle explained.

"Oh!" Matt said, looking around the house. "I forgot about that..."

"Hi Aunt Jesperice," Zell said into the phone.

His friends went quiet.

"Yeah... She there? ... Okay, thanks." Zell sighed, chewing absently on his lower lip.

Selphie took Matt's arms, squeezing it. Matt frowned at her, but she was looking at Zell.

"Ma? Yeah, hi. ... NO! Everything's fine. ... No, I'm-" Zell turned so his back was to his friends "-not scared. ... 'Course. ... Everything's fine. ... That's not why I'm calling... ... If you-... No! Don't come home early... ... Ma! ... I'm trying to tell you why... ... You see, Selphie got ... Ma.... ... ... Yes. ... No! You know I'm not having a party... ... ... Hyne! Ma! ... Selphie's got concert tickets... "

Zell's shoulders slouched, his head looking to the carpeted floor.

"... But... ... Esthar... .... " Zell breathed a depressed sigh. "... Please. ... Everyone else can go. Except Selph - she can only go if I can. ... No, I didn't just say that to make you feel bad. ... ... Um, let me ask-" Zell turned and looked at Selphie. "When's the concert?"

"This Saturday!" Selphie answered brightly.

Zell nodded. "Saturday," he said into the phone, turning around again so his back was facing the others. "... They wanna spend a couple days down there, too. ... I donno, four? ... ... Well, no. 'Course not just to see the concert, Ma. ... Yes. ... I'm not going to lie. ... ... ... I like - ... Yes! ... I don't care if it is. ... I'm 15. I've got plenty o' years to mess up with. ... ... I don't think it is. ... I am careful. ... 'Kay, maybe I don't wanna be careful. Maybe its something I just want to do. Maybe its something I've gotta do. ... ... ... ... -Really? ... Really?! ... ... Yeah, he does. ... Eh? Let me ask..."

Zell put his hand on the phone, turning to smile at them. "I can go!" he whispered loudly.

"Ah!" Selphie giggled, bouncing in place.

"But when are we leaving?" Zell asked.

Selphie looked at the others.

"The concert is in 6 days," Matt said.

"As soon as possible?" Kyle said.

Zell frowned.

"Tomorrow?!" Selphie joined.

"Eh, can't tomorrow, gotta help my dad finish up with the ol' corvette," Xen said.

"Then the next day?" Selphie tried again.

"That's good," Xen said.

Kyle nodded. "Yeah."

Matt shrugged. "Whatever."

Selphie beamed at Zell. "Wednesday!"

Zell turned back to the phone conversation. "They wanna leave Wednesday. ... Okay... Yeah... " Zell turned away from his friends again. "Love you to, Ma. 'Kay. Bye. ... Love you, bye." He hung the phone up, turning back to the others.

Selphie smiled brightly.