Series: Final Fantasy VIII
Author: ConfessYourSins
Rating: R
Main Characters: Seifer, Tamiel, Squall
Other Characters: Quistis, Zell, Selphie, Irvine, Rinoa
Warnings: Angst, yaoi, original character
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or any of its characters. They are property of Squaresoft and other parties. I do own Tamiel, however. Please don't sue me, etc, etc, etc.
...leave it up to you...
Prologue : First appearances
It had been three years since Seifer Almasy had escaped from Ultimecia's Castle. However, in those three years, his mentality and sanity had been virtually shattered. He was not Seifer Almasy - he was known only as the 'Sorceress' Knight'.
Time and time again he had tried to face his past - the terrible things he did, half consciously and half not - but he just could not. He had gotten so close so many times, but he would always fall short and try to hide himself once again from everything - everyone - that he knew.
Not that the people he knew cared. Zell, Selphie, Irvine, Matron, Cid, Raijin, Fujin, Quistis, Rinoa, and Squall... well, he had not contacted them. For all they knew, he could really be dead. But they had heard of the 'Sorceress' Knight' sightings. Every once in a while he would pop up in Timber, Esthar, Winhill, and the such; his stay was always short-lived, though.
When he showed up in Deling City, incognito, he was shocked at the woman that looked more like a teenage girl who came up to him and asked if he was Seifer Almasy. Not the 'Sorceress' Knight' - she wanted Seifer.
Her hair was straight, spiked, shoulder-length, and cherry wood brown. Fitting well with it were here blazing coal eyes - swirling murky waters of green and black. She had a simple build: not so short, but not tall either; fairly defined muscles and femininely lanky. It was obvious she was not the type to run around with a gunblade in hand, to say the least.
"... Well?" she prodded, a hand on her hip. Her entire body was clad in leather, from the zip-up catsuit to the knee-high boots. "Oh c'mon!" she begged childishly, "I just need an answer."
Seifer thought for a moment, then shook his head. His eyes were bloodshot, his face was weathered, his hair was streaked with dirt - being very unkempt - and he was on the verge of passing out.
"Listen, I don't know who you are or what you want, but you'd best stay away from people like me," he grumbled, brushing past her towards the hotel. The girl, however, followed and kept a smile on her frosted pink lips.
After ten minutes, Seifer began to get uneasy. There was not anything particularly special about her - not her looks, apparent strength, or personality - just something...
"Innocent?" he wondered aloud, stopping and glancing back at the girl behind him. She nodded curtly and put her hands behind her back as though she were waiting for him to give her orders.
"Who... are you..." he trailed off, not quite sure what to make of the strange girl.
"I was wondering when you'd ask!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up. "Name's Tamiel. And of course you're Seifer Almasy. Dare I say... the 'Sorceress' Knight'?"
At that title Seifer flinched ever so slightly. He remembered back to when he had hurt everyone so much: the SeeDs, the students, and most importantly, his friends. At the least, they were acquaintances; that was as close to friends as Seifer got.
Sighing, he shook his head. "Maybe three years ago. Not anymore. Just plain ol' Seifer Almasy. And you should keep your mouth shut about things like that, too."
"Hmm. I suppose. So, why are you in Deling?"
"Just traveling. Why are you so interested?"
Tamiel cocked her head to the side, then smiled even more as though she knew something that Seifer did not. It unnerved him, at the least, and he shifted from one foot to the other. "I'm not, really. I guess... I guess I'm just surprised that you're not back there, with them."
"With who?" Seifer inquired, giving Tamiel a strange look.
Blinking, her face dropped and she looked up at Seifer. "Your... friends... and family." When she got no response from him, she finished, "I'm talking about everyone back in Balamb who cares about you."