by NightsDawne
[Oy, flu. Let me know if I wander completely off point.]
Chapter 6: Biscuits And Chili With A Little Wasabi
Seifer glanced back at the section of the tree he had just finished hanging glass balls on. "I already did that."
Squall frowned, moving another ball. "They're not even."
"Excuse the fuck out of me. Should I get a ruler?"
Squall looked up at him. "No. I'll fix it. Just keep going right ahead and lumping them all together."
"I don't know why I'm bothering. You had to fix the lights and the garland, too."
"You just tossed them on."
"They got on, didn't they?" Seifer glanced toward the kitchen.
"You're hypoglycemic again." Squall took the box of balls from Seifer. "You always turn into a total ass when you're hungry."
"Don't start with me, babe. Damn, cowboy, how much longer 'til dinner's ready?"
"'Bout half an hour, gorgeous!" Irvine walked out of the kitchen with a plate of cheese biscuits, offering it to Seifer. "This oughta help hold ya 'til the chili's finished."
Laguna and Kiros walked out to the livingroom, the president's tall assistant on his cell phone, still clearing up the last of the day's business. Laguna offered a smile. "Anyone want egg nog?"
"Spiked?" Seifer abandoned the decorations to wolf down a biscuit after giving Irvine a kiss of gratitude.
"Well, I suppose we could.." Laguna walked over to his bar and hunted through the bottles for some rum. "Are you going to want some, Squall?"
"Plain." Squall strained to reach the upper branches. Seifer rolled his eyes and took the ball, hanging it before going back to his biscuits.
"I'll go grab the nog." Irvine walked back into the kitchen.
Squall eyed the placement of the ball, then looked at Seifer, but held back his comment about it being on the wrong branch. "Are you going to eat all of those yourself?"
Seifer shrugged and took another bite, smirking as he chewed when Squall tossed his head in exhasperation and turned away. Seifer stepped around him and held a biscuit up. Squall reached for it, but Seifer shook his head, pulling it back as he swallowed. "Just open your mouth."
Squall sighed, but did so, letting Seifer feed him. Seifer's smirk faded into that rare smile of his that actually reached his eyes, softening his chiselled features. Squall couldn't help but smile back, his irritation with his boyfriend melting away. It was more intimate than sex, seeing Seifer when he'd let his guard down like that. Squall laid his hands on Seifer's hips lightly, nibbling the edge of the biscuit so he could kiss his fingers. The blond's lips parted slightly, his gaze on Squall entranced. Squall pushed aside Seifer's hand and the biscuit with his cheek, tilting his head up to taste those lips, unwilling to let this moment of vulnerability pass. He pulled back, hearing the cadet's breath catch in his throat from the kiss. "I love you, Seifer," he whispered.
Seifer wrapped his arms around Squall, still holding the plate in one hand and the biscuit in the other as he nuzzled the commander's hair. "I love you, too, Squall," he whispered in reply. "I think everyone's trying kind of hard not to notice we're kissing."
Squall blinked, turning his head to look to the side. Laguna and Kiros were entirely too busy stirring glasses of egg nog and Ward was furiously intent on helping Veddy stack rings on one of his toys. Only Irvine was looking at them, beaming. "That's what we forgot, mistletoe! Guess you two don't need it, though." Squall sighed, dropping his cheek against Seifer's shoulder.
Seifer kissed Squall's hair. "Guess your biscuits are better than mistletoe, cowboy."
Irvine laughed, walking over to put his arms around both of them. "If that's the case, just wait 'til ya have my chili. We'll have ta go ta bed early after that."
"You know, I think this egg nog is going to become egg whip if we stir anymore." Kiros winked to the trio as he carried a tray over. "The one with the mint sprig is virgin, Squall."
"Can't you just say 'plain'?" Squall eased away from his boyfriends to take his glass.
"No problem, plain then." Kiros grinned as Irvine and Seifer each got their glasses, Seifer putting the plate down on the table to do so. "Ward, it's awful quiet in here, don't you think?"
The big man nodded, getting to his feet to turn on the stereo, tuning in some carols. Laguna took a glass of egg nog over to Ward and gave Veddy a juice box, then stood, lifting his own glass. "Isn't this the part where we make a toast?"
"The floor's all yours, Laguna." Irvine leaned back against Seifer's chest, the blond putting an arm around his waist.
"Right." Laguna looked around the room with a grin. "Um.. " He scratched his hair. "Let's see..."
"Now we know where Squall got his problem on the PA." Seifer winked to the commander. Squall just rolled his eyes.
Laguna laughed nervously. "I'm usually better at this. Just more used to doing it in front of ambassadors and senators than people I really care about. I guess that's what makes this festival so special. It's the first time I've spent it with family in a long, long time. Well, other than Kiros and Ward, didn't mean to imply that you guys aren't family. Anyway, I hope this is only the first one." Laguna looked to Squall, his aqua eyes misting a bit. "To the best holiday I could hope for, well, except maybe it might be even better if Ellone was here, but this is.. well.. wonderful."
"Here here." Kiros raised his glass, taking a sip. Irvine clinked his glass to Seifer's, everyone joining in the cheer except Squall, who stared down at his glass, then walked over to curl up in a chair.
Irvine looked over to the brunette, then up at Seifer. "Veddy still has ta put the star on, gorgeous." Seifer took the hint with a nod, giving Irvine a little squeeze before walking over to get the toddler. Irvine crouched down by the chair, sliding his fingers over Squall's hand, his voice dropping to a soft whisper. "You okay, darlin'?"
Squall nodded silently, gripping his glass a bit tighter. Irvine gazed at his face, reading him intuitively, knowing how Squall felt even when his expression refused to betray emotion. He knew that it wasn't anger, or resentment like it had been since they got to Laguna's house. It wasn't quite a named emotion, a mixture of confusion and anxiety with a hint of guilt and fear. He also knew Squall would break down and cry if he made him talk about it right now, and crying in front of everyone would only make him retreat further into himself. "Veddy's gonna put the star on. You wanna turn on the lights?"
Squall relaxed, nodding gratefully at having a distraction for the moment, turning to put his arm around Irvine for a hug. Irvine embraced him tightly, then stood up, pulling him to his feet. Ward dimmed the rest of the lights in the livingroom.
Seifer lifted Veddy up to stand on his shoulders. "Okay, kiddo, go for it."
Veddy waved the star happily. "Seeeeeef!"
"Yeah, I'm Seif. Put the star on the tree, kiddo."
Irvine snickered as Veddy popped one shiny point into his mouth for a good chew. "I don't think he gets the idea." He went into the dining room and grabbed a chair, heading back out and putting it next to the tree, then stepping up on it. "Okay, lil bronco. Ya put it right there, got it?" Irvine wiggled the top of the tree to get Veddy's attention.
Veddy beamed happily and smacked Irvine with the slobbery star lightly. "Da-dee!"
"Just put the damn star on for him, cowboy." Seifer shifted. "His shoes are hard."
"Okay, okay, hold your chocobos, gorgeous." Irvine took Veddy's hand, helping him to get the star somewhere in the vicinity of the top branch, then took it and put it on, everyone clapping in spite of the imperfection of the ceremony. Veddy squealed happily at the praise sent in his direction, fortunately easily distracted from losing the shiny bauble. Seifer set him down on the ground, where Veddy broke into his miniature version of the cowboy boogie, hoping for another round of applause, dutifully offered up by Kiros, Ward, and Laguna.
"Ready?" Squall crouched down by the plug, pushing it into the socket when he got a nod from Seifer. All seven stood back and admired the tree, unable to help the magic of the holiday creeping into them.
Seifer put his arm around Squall. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Squall tilted his head. "The star's crooked."
"You can't go five minutes without bitching, can you."
"I'm not bitching. It's hanging off to the right at a thirty degree angle."
"So? It's still cool."
"If you like crooked stars."
Irvine groaned and grabbed them each by a hand. "That's it. Time for dinner. Swear ta Shiva, don't know why ya gotta squabble all the time."
Seifer grinned, letting Irvine drag him to the table. "Easy. We're in love."
Squall furrowed his eyebrows. "Don't feed him chili."
Seifer glanced over, giving Veddy another spoonful. "He likes it."
"You'll make him sick. He's not even two yet."
"And two is some magical age when you suddenly can eat anything?" Seifer loaded up his spoon as Veddy reached for his bowl.
"Like you really care. You're not the one who gets diaper duty." Squall nibbled on a biscuit.
"Hell, babe, I don't even plan on being in the same room with him when he starts digesting this."
Kiros chuckled. "You know, I have to side with Squall on this one, Seifer. I don't think toddlers were meant to deal with Irvine's four alarm chili."
"I'm not even sure I'm dealing with it." Laguna chugged down the rest of his glass of milk. "Not that it's not good. I can't stop eating it."
Irvine grinned. "Heartburn's part of the experience." He watched Ward fill up his fifth bowl. "See? Ward's inta it." Ward gave the cowboy a thumbs up of gourmet approval before digging in.
Laguna fanned his face with one hand. "Barbeque ribs, good hot chili. Feels like back home. Could you pass the milk, Kiros?"
Kiros slid the pitcher over. "And you're still a heat wimp, just like always."
"I like it." Laguna pouted, refilling his glass. "I just need milk to try to save my tastebuds. It's like eating a Firaga spell."
"Um, Goonie..." Seifer motioned to his upper lip. "You got a mustache thing going there."
Squall sighed, gazing down at his chili to hide his embarrassment as Laguna laughed and wiped it off to a chorus of chuckles and snickers around the table. Laguna was never embarrassed about looking like an idiot, he just took it in good-natured humor. Squall wondered how he'd become the family's designated bearer of shame. He could barely handle the thought of ever looking stupid himself, now that he had a father he had to constantly worry about what others would think when Laguna screwed up. A soft rustle from the livingroom dragged him out of his thoughts and he looked over his shoulder to the door just in time to hear something fall to the floor with a light shattering sound. "What was that?"
Kiros, Laguna, and Ward all looked to the door, then each other. Laguna clapped a hand to his forehead. "Wasabi. Tree."
"What?" Seifer swiped his napkin over Veddy's face.
"Wasabi. Laguna's cat," explained Kiros. "He's been in hiding since you arrived. He's a little shy. Guess the tree was too much to resist, though."
"We just got it decorated!" Squall abandoned his chili, heading out to the livingroom, Irvine on his heels.
Irvine cracked up as a charcoal tail twitched from about halfway up the tree and another ball crashed to the floor, deftly flicked off by a grey paw. "Now that's a decoration we didn't think of."
A charcoal masked face of a half-grown siamese cat poked out of the branches and stared with unblinking blue eyes at the pair. Wasabi withdrew into the middle of the tree again, the entire assembly shaking as he climbed up the trunk.
"Great, he's going to knock it over." Squall frowned, putting his hand on his hip.
"Relax." Seifer stepped past Squall and Irvine, setting his nearly empty bowl on the carpet. "Here, kitty kitty. Come on, have some chili." Seifer crouched down and tapped the side of the bowl with his spoon.
"I don't think cats eat chili." Squall raised a brow as the shaking stopped and Wasabi dropped down onto the tree skirt, then trotted straight over to Seifer's bowl, dropping his head in to eat.
Irvine draped his arm around Squall. "Darlin', ain't nothin' alive can resist my chili."
Squall rolled his eyes. "At least I don't have to clean the litter box."
"Huh, look at that, Kiros." Laguna leaned around Squall with a grin.
"I see it. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't." Kiros shook his head as Seifer stroked Wasabi's back, then picked him up, the siamese breaking into a rattling purr as the blond rubbed his chin. "That cat hates everyone."
"Probably senses a kindred spirit or something." Squall crossed his arms, leaning against Irvine.
"It's the chili," insisted Irvine.
"It's neither." Seifer let Wasabi climb up to his shoulder, the cat walking around his neck to his other shoulder, eyes half closed in contentment. "Animals like me." He shrugged carefully to avoid knocking Wasabi off balance. "At least cats are cooler than dogs."
"Do you have a cat?" Laguna tipped his head to the side as Seifer indicated a negative. "Well, I like Wasabi, but.. it seems he likes someone else. If you'd like him.."
Seifer smiled a bit. "You're serious?"
"Sure." Laguna reached up to pet the saimese, getting a hiss for his effort. "Well, I'll miss you, too, Wasabi."
Seifer looked at Squall. "That okay with you?"
"... Whatever. Just so long as he doesn't shred my furniture." Squall walked back into the dining room. "Well, he's your cat. You clean up the broken balls."
Seifer snickered, walking over to start cleaning up, Wasabi jumping down to the floor to wind around his feet, still purring like a bad motor. "I think you're gonna come up with a hundred ways a day to piss him off, Sabs. Good kitty."
