Six Men and a Toddler
by NightsDawne


Chapter 2: Center of Attention

Seifer shook his head, trying not to laugh out loud at the scene in front of him. It had taken Veddy exactly fifteen minutes to get three men in their forties, one of them a president, down on the floor on their hands and knees, chasing the giggling and squealing toddler around the livingroom. "Babe! Come out here and see this!"

Irvine stuck his head out of the kitchen. "In a minute, gorgeous, I'm at a crucial point in bastin' these ribs."

Seifer snickered. "Well, where's the camcorder?"

"In my backpack." Irvine winked, vanishing back to his cooking. Seifer couldn't help but think of the first time Irvine had made ribs for them, wearing nothing but an apron that dared them to kiss the chef. The ribs were good, even if they were burned. Irvine had blamed them, saying they'd gone way beyond what his apron offered.

Seifer leaned over the side of the couch to dig through Irvine's backpack, knowing the camcorder would be stuffed at the bottom, lenscap off, battery probably switched on, buried under wrinkled clothes and ammunition boxes. He looked up at Squall, curled into a chair, watching the playtime going on in front of him with so many emotions fighting for his expression that it was set into a tense blank stare. "You okay, babe?"

Squall gave one of those tiny nods that Seifer was coming to interpret as 'Hell no, but I haven't figured that out myself yet.' Seifer sighed, pulling the camcorder out. He was pleasantly surprised to find that it still had battery life and tape, although the lens was dusty, smudged, and actually had auburn hair wound around it. He yanked out one of Irvine's boxers and started cleaning it, watching Squall. Squall glanced to him after a minute. "What?"

"You want to go bug Irvine in the kitchen?"

"...No."

"You want to stay here even though you look like you're trying to get your ass sucked into that chair?"

"I'm fine."

Seifer snorted, turning on the camera and recording Veddy and his new fans for Irvine's benefit. "Whatever." He heard Squall exhale slowly through his teeth. Nothing like turning the commander's pet phrase on him to set him even further into one of his moods, but maybe it would push him far enough to say what was on his mind. Prying information from Squall was like trying to get a rexaur to use a knife and fork, tedious and involving the risk of getting your head chewed off.

"Do you have to tape that?"

Seifer glanced to the side to find that Squall had moved into near fetal position, his shoulders hunched up and his arms wrapped around his stomach. "Why shouldn't I?"

"Great, a permanent record of him making an idiot of himself."

"Babe, he's got plenty of outtakes from his movie career to prove that already. Nobody's gonna see this but us, and Irvine will love it."

"Whatever."

"Had to beat me to it this time, huh?" Seifer winked, but Squall only drew his knees tighter to his chest.

Seifer turned back to the viewfinder. Veddy was cornered between Ward and Laguna and the coffee table, both men creeping up on him, the toddler's eyebrows about to join his hairline as he squealed himself breathless. Veddy spun to escape, tripping on his not fully graceful toes and falling forward, his forehead knocking into the coffee table with a crack. Veddy fell backwards on his bottom, mouth open wide as he inhaled deeply. Ward and Laguna both sat up in alarm, reaching for Veddy, but Squall dove between them and scooped him up, hugging him tightly as Veddy's face turned red and he let out an ear-piercing scream.

"Is he okay?" Laguna was first on his feet, the color draining from his face. He stepped forward to try to get a look but Squall turned away from him.

"I'll go get some ice and the first aid kit." Kiros's long legs carried him quickly to the kitchen. He had to push past Irvine, who was leaning out the door, looking worried.

"Leave him alone. I'll take care of him." Squall's tone was almost venomous. Laguna pulled back the hand that he was extending, swallowing. Squall sat down on the couch, rocking Veddy against his shoulder. "Shh.. It's okay, Veddy.."

Laguna looked apologetically to Seifer and Irvine. "I didn't mean to... We were just playing."

Seifer set the camcorder down. "No sweat, Laguna. He's a kid, it happens. He's screaming his lungs out, that's probably a good sign." Irvine flashed Laguna a quick smile as he walked over to sit down next to Squall, rubbing Veddy's back.

"Do you think so?" Laguna chewed on his lip anxiously but kept his distance from his son.

Kiros stepped out of the kitchen, setting the medical supplies on the coffee table. "Let me have a look, Squall. Not going to take him away from you or anything." Squall loosened his grip on Veddy a little so that Kiros could get a look at the damage. "Just a little bump. Didn't break the skin even. Probably just scared him." Kiros wrapped the ice-pack in a dishtowel and handed it to Squall. "Just hold that against it." Squall took it, his eyes narrowed on Laguna as if the accident had been an intentional act. Laguna dropped his eyes to the floor, sticking his hands in his pockets sheepishly even as Veddy started to calm down, comforted by all the attention he was receiving. The toddler leaned against Squall's chest, sucking his thumb and hiccuping as the icepack was held to his forehead. Seifer shook his head. He was going to have to have a little talk with Squall.

He waited for him outside of Veddy's room, leaning against the wall and listening to Squall's quiet rendition of Hush Little Baby, followed by the soft sucking sounds of Veddy going to town on his pacifier and Squall tiptoeing from the room. Squall looked up as he closed the door softly behind him, his brow furrowing at seeing Seifer there. He held his finger to his lips, nodding his head back towards the room. Seifer nodded, holding his hand out to Squall. Squall hesitated a moment before taking it, letting Seifer lead him down the hall to their room.

Seifer closed the door behind them, letting go of Squall's hand and walking over to sit on the edge of the elegant desk that probably cost more than all of their furniture put together. "What the hell is your problem?"

Squall narrowed his eyes, his body stiffening in defensive tension. "What do you mean?"

"I mean it's one thing to hate your father. It's another to treat him the way you do. You were never even this bitchy to me."

Squall turned away. "He should have been more careful. Veddy could have been really hurt."

Seifer sighed, walking over to Squall and putting his hands on his shoulders, massaging them. "That's not all there is to it and you know it. It was an accident, it could have happened with anyone."

Squall pulled away from him. "I'm not in the mood for sex, Seifer."

"Fucking A, Squall, I was just rubbing your shoulders. Every time I touch you it's not some kind of demand that you put out." He reached for Squall again, kneading his hands over his tense muscles. "You're so tight you'd probably break your neck anyway." Squall exhaled slowly, tilting his head to rub his cheek against Seifer's fingers. Seifer kissed the back of his head. "Talk to me. What's wrong?" Squall gave no reply. "... Okay, twenty questions again. Is it about your father?" Squall nodded after a moment. "Is it about Veddy?" Another nod, more hesitant. Seifer slid his thumbs up to circle them along the back of Squall's neck, knowing he was getting closer. "You're worried that Veddy's gonna like your dad more than you?" Squall's head dropped forward a bit before he shook it. Seifer took a moment to think, pressing his lips to Squall's hair. "Watching him play with Veddy reminds you that he wasn't there to play with you?" He felt Squall's shoulders shake under his hands. Squall put his hand up to his cover his eyes, his head dropped so low that his hair hid his face. Bingo.

Seifer turned Squall around, pulling him into a hug, feeling his shudders as he tried to keep from crying in front of the cadet. "Hey, it's okay, Squall.. babe. It's not doing you any good to hold it all in. I put up with your moodiness, a little crying isn't going to make me walk out." Squall sagged weakly against him, bringing his hands up to cling to his strong lover as tears fell down his cheeks. Seifer held him protectively, stroking his hair. "It wouldn't do any good to tell you all the reasons that justify why your dad wasn't there, would it. You already know them. It doesn't change it."

"I don't need him," whispered Squall.

"Then why are you crying, babe?" Seifer tilted Squall's face up to his when he got no response. "It's okay to admit you need people."

Squall bit his lip. "You don't."

Seifer shrugged a bit, reaching to get a kleenex to wipe Squall's cheeks with. "Yeah, well, I'm an ass, remember?"

Squall took the kleenex, his chest heaving in a deep sigh as he stepped back. "You just act like one most of the time."

Seifer ran his finger along Squall's jaw softly. "I need Irvine. And I need you."

Squall looked up at him. "You mean you want us."

"No. I mean I need you. You remember that night we first got together? All three of us?" Squall nodded, blowing his nose quietly. "Don't tell Irvine this, okay?"

Squall looked at him questioningly. "Tell him what?"

"What I'm gonna tell you, dumbass." He brushed his fingers against Squall's cheek, saying it so softly it was more a term of endearment than an insult. "Can I trust you?"

Squall swallowed. "Of course, Seifer."

Seifer took a deep breath, breaking into a wry grin. "He walked in when I was writing my suicide note."

"What?" Squall's jaw dropped a bit.

Seifer looked down. "I thought I'd lost him to you. And lost you to him. As much as I hated you I think it was more that I didn't want to admit that.."

Squall stepped closer. "That what, Seifer?"

"I loved you as much as I hated you. Our relationship was just so fucked up already I knew there was no way I'd ever be with you. And I loved Irvine the moment I saw him. I knew I had a chance with him at least. Until I saw you together at the reception, saw him holding you the way he did." He laughed softly. "Both of you, gone. What was I supposed to do, hang out and fuck Zell the consolation prize?"

"So you were going to kill yourself?"

Seifer nodded. "Figured I could use an ultima stone. Go out with a big badda boom."

"You would have blown up your room."

"Babe, I wasn't exactly worried about Garden property at the time, okay? Give me a break."

"So that's what you meant when you said you couldn't live without Irvine."

Seifer nodded, looking up. "Just wasn't ready to say the same thing to you."

Squall put his hand to Seifer's cheek. "Don't ever think of doing something like that again, Seifer."

"Why? Is that an order, commander?"

"Yes, it is." Squall frowned. "What would we do without you? I wouldn't have anyone to bitch at."

"You'd save a lot on speeding tickets."

"Stop talking that way. We need you, Seifer. I need you."

Seifer smiled a bit, tilting his head to the side and brushing Squall's hair out of his eyes. "You just want me."

"Stop being so stuck on yourself." Squall kissed Seifer's jaw. "I think I love you."

Seifer brushed his lips against Squall's. "Okay then. I can live with that."