Trickle - 20 - Contagious

"I tried not to notice how his path of kisses, made my body so cold..."

.

I was able to walk through the masses of smiling couples. I could blend in well with the laughter. I didn't have to keep my eyes on the ground, because even if I tried, I'd end up viewing the world through a newborn's eyes.

I had no idea what pain felt like...it seems I have forgotten how to cry, and I was just learning an impressive trick, which was laughing, and I wanted to show it off.

We found the people I came with. They were all sitting down at a little cafe set up here. They were discussing a rather serious topic, I could tell by the looks on their faces. No emotion. Out of curiosity, we walked up to them, to find out what was going on.

.

"I can't believe they were released already...arrgh! That makes me so mad! They tried killing Seifer, and now they're walking freely again?"

Rinoa grabbed her cup of tea, and angrily took a drink out of it.

"I know! We have to get them back, and let them know they're not allowed to do things like this!"

Zell tightened his fists in madness and murmered something that wasn't so clear.

I looked down, then at Seifer.

On the loose? Again? Are they looking for Seifer?

"All I know is if they come back to me, I'll be ready for them." Seifer replied in a lone toned voice that almost made me afraid to stand near him.

Everyone at the table looked over at us, and let out nervous laughter.

"Heh heh, um...how much of that conversation did you hear you guys?"

Selphie had her hand behind her neck, scratching it nervously.

How could they be let free so easily?

"Enough to know that Seifer or I can be killed in any moment." I answered, without feeling.

Why the hell does my happiness keep coming down?

"What? What are you talking about Quistis?" Rinoa asked with a scared look.

"Hey, if I know Fujin and Raijin as well as I think I do, I'll bet they're afraid to set foot anywhere near Seifer now...you heard what the Sheriff said, they were drunk that night. Don't worry about it you guys...I don't think they're going to do anything." Irvine tried reassuring us that everything would be okay.

Squall just sat there, not saying anything.

"I'm tired...I'm going to get a room now."

I grabbed Seifer's hand, and led him to the brightly-lit hotel...I needed to stop thinking about this war that constantly haunted our minds.

.

Here I am, sitting on this pre-made hotel bed, while Seifer stood in the bathroom, un-wrapping his wound, just for the hell of it.

Why isn't he talking to me?

Standing behind the door, I quietly watched him. He uncovered his bronze stomach slowly, and underneath the soaked wrapping, I could see stitches. They were crossed up and down very sloppily, the results of a nurse who didn't have time to waste. The thread sewn into human flesh was too much to look at. The number of needle holes was endless.

I wanted to huddle up in the corner, and cry for seeing him fall apart right in front of me. How he looked right now, reminded me of my notebook at home. He held everything about me, and he was used. So used.

His breathing grew slower, as his stood in front of the mirror, and observed the many purplish red bruises on his chest. He was furious, it was clear to see. I remember when Seifer was left untouched, but it seems that ever since I came along, he became more susceptible to things happening around him.

I looked at my arms. Of course, I wasn't left untouched that night. I have proof that I was subjected to abuse, but I wasn't dehumanized. I wasn't stripped of everything...or was I?

Looking back at him, he was now looking at the gash on his arm. It seemed to be healing, but the bacteria still flowed on the inside.

Once and awhile, he let out a sigh, he was probably asking himself why he could see dried blood, and discolored marks, when he used to be so powerful. His hair wasn't slicked back anymore, the sun can't reflect off it now, because it didn't look blonde anymore. Dirt clung to each strand, wearing it down, and made it a dull light brown.

I want to lock us in this new room, and never leave again. I don't want to step outside of the door, but how could we live without ever seeing the stars again? How could we run free in a crowded room, instead of in the sunset?

Life is just a trap...there's nowhere to go...pain waits for us in every corner.

.

Walking to him, I gently placed my hand on his shoulder. He didn't turn and look at me, he just continued noticing his wounds.

How come he isn't touching me? Is he so bitter now, after being left alone for the longest night of his life that he forgot how to feel?

I wrapped my arms around him, and just stood there.

"Remember the place I told you about? I had a vision of us there. Running freely, happily...it's a place where people live and die gently...smoothly...without pain...in peace."

He didn't say anything.

"There was a lake there, and we swam in it. We just jumped in, not worrying about the water being too cold, because it always turned out how we wanted it. We didn't have to worry about drowning, because we could breathe underwater. If you get hurt...the only thing that flowed from our veins was a blue mist, that made the cuts heal nicely, and made us 100 X's stronger."

He looked down. He knew such a place didn't exist; of course...it has to be out there...it's just waiting for people like us to stumble upon it.

"Do you ever wish that you can't feel anymore?"

His voice was silent.

I looked up; it seemed like I haven't heard him speak in a long time. Maybe it's because he sounded so different.

"I wish that everyday of my life...but I've come this far, why would I give up now?"

"I want to stop feeling everything but you. I don't know why it's taken me this long to finally notice you. I don't know why I couldn't lose myself in you, the first night, when you fell on top of me. I don't know how I've been able to dodge beauty for so long...I never thought it'd corner me, and force me to feel. How was I able to get out unharmed, after the world crashed onto me so many times? Why can't I get out without a scratch now? Look at me."

I didn't look. I didn't want to look. I know what he means. I need to stop feeling. The only thing I need right now, is to swim in a canyon of his tears, because they're filled with trust, but how is that possible without him losing his mind for my pleasure? I want to kiss him, hard, and passionately, but I don't want his lips to leave misery's after taste in my mouth.

"I want to make love to you once more Quistis, but how do I run from the world when it gets back at me? I don't deserve that kind of pleasure, so I'd have to pay everybody back, for stealing it from you...but I need it...I need it."

He turned, and kissed me. I didn't want to do this. He was right, everything would come down. Not on him...but on me...I'd want it...I'd crave it forever. When it's over, I'd miss it so much, that it'd begin to hurt on the outside, as well as the inside.

Don't think Quistis.

His hands wandered over my body, and removed my clothes. He peeled everything I ever knew away, with his fingertips. Those fingertips, which were always subjected to suffering, in a strange way left a trail of silver dust on my body, and made me, feel beautiful.

He lifted me, and sat me on the sink counter. Such an uncomfortable position seemed perfect at the time.

I set my fingers in his hair, and slowly ran my tongue down his shoulders. The salt of his skin could've let me die happily, what a delightful taste.

My quick breathing made his kisses more intense, and I could feel him moving in closer and closer to me.

In my mind, were images of the days how I always wanted him. Seeing him walk so confidently, and using cocky comebacks, to hide who he really was. That made me crazy, it made me want him more and more. Oh how lucky I was, to be brought to paradise, twice by this marvelous life.

I tried not to notice how his path of kisses, made my body so cold when the air touched it, but I just figured...it was angels contacting me, congratulating me, for being under the skin of one of God's finest creations.

Closing my eyes, I let out a joyful cry, when I felt him enter me. It was getting hard to breathe. I could feel sweatdrops on his back, and could smell it, when he came close to me. He was so contagious. I need him near me every second that I'm alive. I can't get enough of him.

Looking out the bathroom window, I could see a bluish mist, seeping slowly in, from Deling City's popular fog machines...our bruises were slowly healing...we were overcoming the pain...we're 100 X's stronger.

I've finally found what I've been looking for. Holding my head back, I pulled him close to me, and held him tightly.

When I opened my eyes though, the fog was gone...the only thing seen was his heaving chest, as the bruises moved in and out, in front of me.

.

"I don't believe reality could be the way it should. But I believe in fantasy, if you just understood." -Franka Potenta

Notes: Hi! I was so pleased to come home, and find more reviews! Thanks a bunch! I'm so happy right now, I barely notice the light twitching happening on my lower leg

I know later on, it's going to drive me mad, while I'm writing chapter 21...oh well, I'll just hope that I get more reviews, which will make me 100 X's stronger! Later Tators! ^_^