Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Sudden Darkness ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

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

Title: Sudden darkness
Author: Yorda
Rating: NC-17
Diclaimer: Sadly none of the characters of FF8 are mine, but belong
to Squaresoft
Couples: Seifer/Squall/Seifer
Warnings: angst, lemon, mild language, mild violence

**AN: This is my first fanfic ever. I'm re-posting it after re-writing it and fixing all the spelling and
grammatical errors I could find**


Sudden Darkness


Chapter one:

Squall woke up in the Infarmiry. The bright lights hurt his eyes, so he closed them. 'What the hell am
I doing here?' he asked himself. His mind was hazy. Squall sat up on the bed and checked his body
for injuries. 'Weird, nothing seems to be broken or hurt, and still, I'm lying here...And why can't I
remember anything?' Squall threw the blanket aside and hopped down from the bed. The moment
his legs hit the ground, they gave in and he sank down on the floor. Squall's eyes went wide with
surprise.

"The hell?!" he exclaimed.

"Like the floor Leonhart?" Squall looked up and saw Seifer Almasy enter the small room. He groaned
and shot the tall blonde and annoyed glance. Seifer met his death-glare and gave the younger man
his trademark smirk. Squall opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly noticed he couldn't feel his
legs. Seifer seemed to enjoy the situation. A devilish grin spread onto his lips as he watched the
brunette man slowly start to panic.

"Seifer, what the hell is going on?! Why can't I feel my legs?" Squall asked, his voice a little shaky.

"Why indeed?" Seifer replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Did you do something to me?" Squall inquired and tried to move his numb legs, the efforts in vain.

"What did I do? You saying you can't remember me saving your sorry ass just a few hours ago
Leonhart?" the blonde asked and moved to stand in front of Squall. The look on the younger man's
face was a confused one. He had no idea what Seifer was talking about.

"I sure do like the view from up here. Little Squall-boy kneeling before me." The blonde said,
smirking again. Squall balled his fists. He was starting to feel angry and annoyed, but most of all,
confused. 'And to think that I actually used to miss that arrogant bastard after the Ultimecia incident.
When he was gone the whole year before returning to Garden, it had felt weird not have him around.
I wonder, do I actually in some sick way enjoy his insults and all those fights with him?...It surprised
everyone, especially Zell, that I had been the one who went to Quisty and asked her to take Seifer
back in.' Squall was lost in his thoughts. Seifer noticed this and frowned, his blonde brows drawn
together. It annoyed him that the brunette just seemed to forget he was even in the room.

"Hey puberty-boy, don't you just shut me out like that! Squall! What's going on in that little head of
yours? Starting to remember now?" Seifer shot Squall an annoyed glance. The brunette blinked his
greyish eyes and met Seifer's green ones.

"...I remember we were fighting near the Garden..." he said. "But then it's all hazy."

Seifer let out a frustrated sigh and leaned against the wall. "Man, I save your ass and you can't even
remember it." Seifer said, trying to sound hurt. Squall ignored the blonde and once again
concentrated on his numb legs.

"What is wrong with my legs Almasy?" the brunette repeated his question. Seifer hopped on the bed
and yawned.

"Hey did you hear me?!" Squall hissed, his brows drawn together. Seifer was avoiding the other's
angry gaze.

"You think I'm sitting on the floor because I enjoy it! You didn't happen to notice my legs are like
jelly?" Squall realised he was getting angry. Seifer always had that effect on him. The blonde looked
down and finally met Squall's questioning eyes.

"Oh you can be sure I noticed the numbness of your legs Leonhart! I'm the one who had to carry you
back to Garden, you know? And I also had to deal with that damn Moguro that attacked you in the
middle of our fight! Alone! You just had to go and get yourself poisoned and unconscious, didn't you
Squall-boy. Proofs what an unskilled opponent you are..." the blonde spoke with a mocking voice, his
green eyes narrowed. "...And just when I was gonna win...<b>Again</b>..." he added and glanced
down to see Squall's reaction. Seifer had known Squall long enough to know exactly which buttons to
push to get a reaction from the younger boy. The brunette however didn't seem to be annoyed by
Seifer's words, or at least was hiding it well enough to make Seifer frown.

"So it's the Moguro's poison that made my legs go numb." Squall said out loud, feeling relieved. He
realised he was still sitting on the floor and tried to think of a way to get back up on the bed. Seifer
was grinning like the Cheshire Cat, when Squall tried to pull himself up, but failed to do so.

"Ha! That garment you're wearing is just too hot! I do hope you have something under it...Did you
happen to notice the back of that shirt thing is open?...If I'd move just a little, I could see your little
ass Squally." Seifer sneered, watching Squall from the bed.

"Get the hell off my bed Almasy!" the brunette growled as Seifer finally managed to make him angry.
"What are you doing here anyway...?!...You can go now."

"No can do Squall-boy. Dr. Kadowaki asked me to keep an eye on you. She had to go make a phone
call in the other room." Seifer said, stretching his long body. He knew Squall couldn't get up by
himself, and also knew the boy was too proud to ask for help, especially from Seifer. Squall grit his
teeth and gripped the hemline of Seifer's long trench coat. He used his hands and tried to pull
himself up from the floor.

"Hey don't do that! You'll wrinkle it Squall!" Seifer exclaimed when he saw what the brunette was
doing and shoved Squall back.

"Seifer, I thought I told you to keep an eye on Squall, so that if he should wake up while I was gone,
you'd make sure he doesn't try to get off the bed." It was Dr. Kadowaki. She walked to Squall and
grabbed his arm.

"Must have slipped my mind." Seifer said, and grinned when he saw Squall narrow his eyes.

"Oh, you think I can lift him up by myself Seifer?" Kadowaki asked, a little angry and motioned the
blonde off from the bed to help her. Together they pulled Squall up from the floor. The brunette
blushed. He felt embarrassed and angry. If there was one thing Squall didn't like, it was being
helpless. 'Why did it have to be Seifer of all the people to see me like this. He'll remind me of this as
long as I live.' he cursed in his mind. Squall looked down in an effort to hide his flushed face. His hair
cast a shadow over his face, but Seifer still noticed the blush on the boy's cheek. He opened his
mouth to say something flippant, but closed it, when he saw the menacing look Kadowaki gave him.

"Now Squall, don't you worry. The numbness of your legs is caused by the poison of the Moguro that
attacked you." the doc explained.

"Good thing I was there to save his sorry ass." Seifer commented, smirking at the brunette.

"Seifer, you don't have to stay here anymore, you can go now, thank you." Kadowaki said, a little
annoyed. Seifer just shrugged and walked out from the room, into the waiting area.

"When will I be able to walk again doc?" Squall asked and touched his legs.

"Well, I'd say the poison will have left your body in a week." Kadowaki said casually.

"A week!!" the brunette exclaimed. "I can't wait that long. I'm leaving on a mission to Centra
tonight! A very important one!"

"Well I'm sorry Squall but you'll have to cancel. Your health is more important than some mission."
Kadowaki said, a little annoyed and left the room, seeing there were already other students waiting
for her in the waiting area. Squall lay down on the bed and sighed. He knew who would be the one to
replace him on the mission. The mission he had been waiting for a month. Squall was bored to
always top the little monsters of the Training Center. Nowadays there weren't many missions,
because there simply was peaceful everywhere. It had been over a year since Ultimecia was
defeated. All the monsters of Lunar Cry in Esthar area had been wiped out by SeeD long ago. Squall
had been offered the chance of becoming the new headmaster of Balamb Garden, after he and his
comrades had defeated Ultimecia. He had refused, thinking he'd enjoy being a SeeD more than doing
boring paperwork. Now he thought it wouldn't have mattered if he'd chosen to be a headmaster
instead. It was just as boring being a SeeD nowadays. When Quistis, the new headmaster of Garden,
had told him that there was a new species of monsters in Centra area, and that SeeD was needed to
wipe out a large group of them, attacking a small village, Squall had been waiting to get out of the
Garden ever since. And now he would lie in the Infarmiry for a week, instead of going on the mission.
He groaned, balling his fists, feeling anger and frustration boil inside him.

"Well Leonhart, I probably ought to go pack my stuff now that you won't be going on the mission.
Better luck next time." Seifer had returned and was standing before the bed.

"Good thing I finally decided to become a SeeD, don't you think?" Squall suddenly sat up and tried to
grab the blonde by his shirt.

"Whoa! Easy Squally, or you might fall of the bed again." the blonde laughed and jumped back, so
that Squall couldn't reach him.

"Get the fuck outta here Almasy!" Squall hissed through clenched teeth. Seifer prepared to leave to
room but turned around and ruffled the brunette's silky hair.

"Have a nice week Leonhart." he said with a smirk on his lips, and left before Squall could grab the
older boy's wrist.

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During the week, Squall's legs had recovered slowly. He was now able to walk and could leave the
Infarmiry. "I swear I never wanna see that damned bed or this room again." He changed into his
own clothes and started to limp out of the Infarmiry.

"You be careful now Squall. Your legs still need rest, so don't you even think about getting your
Gunblade and rushing into the Training Center." Kadowaki called after him. Squall was glad to be out
and inhaled the fresh air. 'No smell of medicine anymore, thank god.' He was on a pretty good mood
and was pleased he was getting back to his own room again, and would get some privacy. During his
stay in the Infarmiry, he was constantly visited by Rinoa, who was bored, for Selphie and Zell were
both sent on the mission. Squall did enjoy her company now that they were only friends, but ten
visits a day from the girl was too much.

"Oh man! Not now!" Squall sighed, when he saw Seifer walk towards him. Xu was with him. They
were both heading for the Infarmiry. 'I really don't wanna hear about that damned mission and how
many monsters he killed back there.' The brunette just continued walking but noted something was
wrong, when Seifer and Xu passed him. 'He didn't say anything, didn't even look at me.' Squall was a
little confused but glad that Seifer hadn't made any stupid comments. He glanced behind his back
and noticed Xu was holding Seifer by his hand.

"Yoo-hoo! Hey Squall!" He turned to see Zell and Selphie. The petite girl waved her hand and
motioned for Squall to join them.

"I see you can walk again. Wonderful!" Selphie said with a smile on her lips. They were still wearing
their uniforms, meaning they had just arrived.

"Wanna join us? We're heading to our rooms." Zell asked. "Can't wait to get outta these cursed
pants!...And the boots are killing me! Slowly but surely." the blonde added. Squall just gave a nod
and walked beside them.

"So Squall, did you miss us?" Selphie asked the limping boy beside her as they headed towards the
dorms.

"I did tell Rinoa to take *extra* good care of you while we were gone." she said and giggled. Squall
shot her an evil glance.

"Ok, that must mean Rinoa * has* been taking extra good care of you." Selphie laughed. They
walked in silence the rest of the way and parted when Selphie went to different direction. Zell tapped
the code to open his dorm room, and dashed onto the bed the moment the door was opened.

"Man, I feel like I could sleep for a decade." Zell said, lying on his bed and nuzzling his pillow. "Mmm,
comfy." Squall just rolled his eyes and sat on Zell's small sofa. They were silent for some time. Zell
removed his uniform and lay back down on the bed.

"...So, how was the mission?" Squall finally asked. Zell's eyes suddenly flew open.

"Oh yeah, you don't know yet, do you?"

"Know what?" Squall asked and met the blonde's eyes.

"Seifer can't see anymore." Zell said and sat up.

"W-what?" the other boy stuttered, slightly confused.

"Squall, Seifer's blind. He can't see. He had an accident on the mission." Zell explained. Squall
blinked his grey eyes in disbelieve and leaned forward on the sofa.

"Well, he was being his own arrogant, reckless self and went after four monsters by himself. What a
stupid thing to do, if you ask me! Well...he actually was beating the shit outta them all, but then a
fifth one appeared out of nowhere. Man she was a big one! Seifer got thrown back against a rock wall
and that was it." Zell said, sounding casual. He got up and went to his closet. "Now he can't see. He
must have hit his head really bad, 'cause that's definitely what caused the blindness." Squall frowned
and felt confused. He couldn't quite understand what his friend was saying. It all sounded so unreal.

"He was unconscious for a day, and when he woke up he couldn't see, at least that's what everyone
says." Zell said and rummaged through his wardrobe. "If you ask me, I think he was just bluffing, so
he could enjoy the soft bed and the company of that hot nurse, while we others were sleeping in cold
tents." Zell's words were suddenly making Squall angry. He and Seifer were no best friends, but the
way Zell spoke of the blonde made him narrow his eyes.

"He hasn't really said anything after it happened, which makes me one happy little boy. You know, I
didn't have to hear any of his annoying comments on our way back home." Squall remembered he
had ran into Seifer and Xu at the Infarmiry. 'Could it be true, is Seifer really blind? And what if he
is...well...should I even care? I mean, I don't really even like the guy, do I?'

"Hey Squall, you're even more quiet than you usually are." Zell's voice brought the brunette back
from his thoughts.

"Dude, you can't actually feel sorry for him?? You're always fighting with him! You two like hate each
other, or am I wrong? He's an arrogant bastard, and if you ask my opinion, I think he deserves what
happened to him." Zell was going through his closet, looking for a pair of clean socks. "Man, why
can't I find a single matching pair?" he whined. "There must be an elf living under my bed, and when
the night falls, it comes out to steal one sock from each pair...That little bastard." Zell muttered and
shook his fist at the imaginary sock-thief. Squall narrowed his eyes and bounced up from the sofa.

"Zell, I know you don't like the guy, but don't you think that's a bit cruel what you just said?!" Squall
gave Zell no chance to reply and left the room.

"What, you mean the elf under my bed?---Oh!" Zell frowned when he realised who Squall was talking
about. "The hell? I thought you hated the guy even more than I do...Ha! A matching pair!"

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Squall was slowly walking towards his room, lost in his thoughts.

"Hey what the fuck! Are you blind or something Almasy!" Squall lift his gaze from the floor and saw
Seifer with an angry looking student. The guy was huge, even taller than Seifer.

"You bump straight into me and aren't even gonna say you're sorry!" the giant snarled and poked
Seifer on the chest. He obviously wanted to let some steam out. The look on Seifer's face was a
confused one. "Sorry..." he mumbled.

"Hey what the fuck are you doing? I'm over here Almasy, that's a wall you're talking to." the student
said, annoyed. Squall narrowed his eyes as he neared them. "Leave him alone Jonathan, now." he
said through clenched teeth, glaring at the boy. Seifer lowered his face when he heard Squall's
voice. Jonathan looked in Squall's direction and glared back. He opened his mouth to say something
back at Squall, but closed it, when he remembered Squall was not only a Gunblade specialist but also
a very good friend of the headmaster. "I'll get you for this Leonhart." He hissed and narrowed his
eyes, then left. Squall walked to Seifer who was just standing there, looking rather dumbfounded.
The brunette stood before him and waved a hand in front of the blonde's eyes. They didn't move,
just kept staring in the same direction. Squall felt an odd feeling start to bubble inside him. He didn't
know what it was, but he didn't like it, and somehow managed to swallow it away.

"So, it's true, you really are blind Seifer." The blonde's brows drew together and he lowered his face
so that it looked like he was staring at his shoes. Squall felt uneasy. He didn't really know what to
say. His rival was suddenly blind, which meant among other things that they would never have
another duel. 'I guess Hyperion will go on an early retirement then.' Squall thought, a slight feeling
of sadness clouding his heart. Seifer stood still and both of them were quiet. Squall decided to broke
the silence and finally managed to mumble he was sorry for Seifer. He didn't really know what else to
say. Squall saw Seifer stiffen. His face took an angry look and slowly the blonde raised his head.
Squall was startled when he saw tears form in the older boy's eyes. "I don't need pity Leonhart,
especially from you. Just leave me alone." he said, still not looking at Squall's direction, and walked
away from the brunette. Squall was bewildered as he watched Seifer disappear into his room.

~*~*~*~*~

**AN: I'd love it if you reviewed the first chapter. I know this sucks, but it's the first fanfic ever
written by me, and it was last fall if I remember correctly, so it's been a while ^_^**