The Glass Rose

By: Forsaken Shadow

Prelude

I wanted to be like you

You were the only person who ever came close to beating me, I admired that... a lot. You were always so strong, powerful, everything that I wanted to be, everything I needed to be.

I wanted everything

But there was one thing I could never have...

So I tried to be like you

And I got swept away

I tried to be strong for you, but there was always something in the way, something tearing us apart.

I didn't know that it was so cold

And you needed someone to show you the way

I tried to help you overcome the difficult hurdles you had to face head on. But there were so many, and I was so weak to help you, I couldn't guide you... to help you through it.

So I took your hand and we figured out

That when the tide comes, I'd take you away

I waited, but you never came, I wanted to help you... but that wasn't your fault.

If you want to I can save you

I can take you away from here

I can still help you now. I can save you from yourself, and the others.

So lonely inside, so busy out there

And all you wanted was somebody who cares

I believe in you, and what you can do. "They" don't care, but I do. I know the real you behind that faceless facade of emotionless tears, the real you deep inside.

I'm sinking slowly, so hurry hold me

Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on

I need you too, if you go I have nothing. Together we can make it, we can be strong.

Please can you tell me

So I can finally see

We can overcome everything, if we are together. Just tell me.

Where you go

When you're gone

I can still feel you when you are gone. I want you to come back... I need you to come back.

All you wanted was somebody who cares

If you need me, you know I'll be there

I will be there for you, forever. Waiting... you never left me; you are in my heart, and in my soul. You will never leave me.

If you want to, I can save you

I can take you away from here

I want to save you, by saving you, I'm saving myself. I need you, we can help each other, and escape from here...

So lonely inside, so busy out there

And all you wanted was somebody who cares

You don't have to be lonely anymore, I will always be here and I will always care. "They" took your life, your family, to leave you as an orphan, like myself. But "they" won't take me, "they" won't take us...

Please can you tell me, so I can finally see

Where you go, when you're gone

Now you're gone... I don't know where, but I know you will be back. And I will be there for you, Squall... Like I was before, I am now, and forever shall be...

***

The morning's twilight glimmered through the large bay windows of every room about the place. A muffled groan, and a stir of sheets and blankets brought the young man to a startled wake. A yawn escaped those soft lips of his, weary lids slipped up over those hues of an alabaster emerald. Everything that he saw was blurred, silhouettes of objects in the room dancing against the white wash walls. Sluggishly, the young man rose to his feet, walking to the bathroom, a plaid blanket wrapped around his leg, trailing behind him. Gaze shot down to the floor as he removed the blanket from hindering his way any longer and tossed it on the bed. Arms lifted over his head, stretching. His bare chest revealed those rippling pectoral muscles and he pushed the bathroom door shut. Slender digits wrapped around the nozzle of the shower, turning on the water to trickle down the shower wall. Hands worked to remove what little cloth that rested around his waist. When the water was at the appropriate temperature, he slipped his sultry frame into the water. Little droplets formed beads upon the sun-kissed skin of his naked body. He then took the soap in hand, massaging it gently into his skin. Lather- Rinse- Repeat. Soon his sleek body was covered with soap. The insisting water began to rinse the soap away. Fingers ran through dirty blonde locks as a sigh parted from his lips. He was so used to sharing his shower time with someone. While all this was occurring, the form of a young woman slipped into the shower behind the man. Her arms coiled around his torso, soft lips pressing against the nape of his neck, a soft suckle. He felt the swell of her breasts upon his back, shoulders tensing.

"What do you want... woman."

She purred, pivoting so that she was now in front of him. Sapphire hues gazed up at his face, a slight snicker. "My my, looks like you still have that matching scar for Squall's eh?" She ran her hand down his moist chest. "Come on... let's go cool down. You could show me a thing or two..."

Seifer groaned, rolling his eyes. He turned off the water so that it stopped pelting his back. Climbing out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist. "I'm not interested in your sexual foreplay Quistis. Actually... I'm not interested in you at all and you know it."

He opened the door, looking over his shoulder. "Stop trying to take advantage of me since he's gone just to satisfy your sexual desires." With that, he slammed the bathroom door shut behind him.

Quistis stood there, reaching for a towel to cover herself. She wrapped it around her body, opened the door and exited the bathroom. Her haughty gaze shot to Seifer lying on his bed, staring out the window. Approaching him, she seated herself on the end of the bed.

"What's with you Seifer? You always liked doing this before, the foreplay I mean. But ever since you got yourself addicted to Squall, you want nothing to do with me. Has my little Seifer decided he wants nothing- meaning sex, from a female?"

Seifer's gaze turned to stare at Quistis for a split second, then back out the bay windows. He said nothing in response to what she said.

"Well, fine then. I take that as a yes Seifer... I don't know what you see-"

"Just stop talking! I'm still borderline between men and women, I just want to stay dedicated to my current relationship even if he is gone. He'll be back, I know it. So... if you don't mind, leave me alone."

Quistis scowled as she rose off her seat on the bed. "I really didn't know you and the Lone Wolf would hook up. I thought he was content with Rinoa, even though she's a spoiled little brat. A real-"

"Daddy's girl. I know Quisty. I don't know how Squall and I hooked up. It just happened. We don't even admit to each other that we like what we do, and we let others think we hate each other when we're out in public. The only people who think any differently are you, Zell, and Selphie." He sighed, turning on his side.

"Rinoa's too dense to know that Squall's just like you. Both of you are way too cute to be straight." Quistis giggled before reaching his dorm door. "I'll leave you be now, Seifer. If you believe your lover will come back, then I'm sure he will. But maybe you should consider moving on with your life. I mean, it's been a year and how many months since he disappeared? I'm just looking out for you; a fellow student, a friend." She opened the door and left. "Later, you." The door shut behind her.

Seifer stared at the shut door. The nerve of her to say that he should move on with his life! She didn't know how he felt about all of this, how torn up he was about Squall's disappearance. But he wouldn't let that faze him any longer than it already had. Pulling himself to sit up on the bed, he grabbed a pair of black pants from the floor, a white wife beater, and that gray trench coat. He slipped the clothes on, then pulled on those black boots. He carried the trench coat in hand, not wanting to put it on at the moment. Those emerald eyes stared out the window one last time, they looked hurt, and about to be tear-ridden. It was a sad sad sight, to see one of the Garden's strongest feeling weak, and vulnerable. Turning heel, Seifer dragged himself to the door of his dorm, exiting the room silently. Before closing the door behind him, his hand felt for the hilt of his precious, his Hyperion. Taking that with him, he closed the door. What was running through his mind? And what was he planning on doing? Well, his mind was wandering back to the day when he met Squall, and what happened between the two, to secure what they had now in the present.

[ A/N: Hm... I don't know if anyone will like this... but it's fun to write this kinda thing. The next part will be up soon, since I actually like this story line better than my other ones.. but I didn't say that! =3 ]

** Reposted and edited, thanks to a heads up on some minor errors on my part. Thank you for telling me or... I wouldn't have noticed. -.-**