Title: Hindsight
Part: 2/?
Author: Oriana
Rating: PG-13 for now, maybe R later
Disclaimer: Characters and settings and pieces of plot belong to Squaresoft. Everything beyond this point, especially creative ideas, belongs to me. I don't like plagiarism. So don't.
Notes: Woooot. Written at 3 a.m. because I have fucking insomnia these days. *rubs bleary eyes *
I think this is going to be a fairly long fic, so please bear with me and hang in. I promise that it will get more interesting as it goes on. More S x S action as well.
P.S. – I SOLD MY ART AT OTAKON! THERE IS A GOD! Or goddess. Or whatever.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"Congealed is the new look for food, or so I've been told." Seifer dropped onto the couch, tugging absentmindedly on the belt loops of his worn jeans.
"Mm." Squall threw his ruined breakfast into the trashcan with a disgusted sigh, waving the smoke out a nearby window.
"You're still not wearing pants, by the way." Seifer kicked his legs up on the crates that were masquerading as a temporary coffee table, eyes roaming over Squall's body. The brunette sighed and sank down on the opposite side of the couch.
"I'm fully aware of that. Do you honestly think I'm going to leave you unattended in here?"
"Hyne, -Commander- Leonhart, you make me sound like a fucking untrained puppy." The blonde affected a wounded look, pressing a hand over his 'aching' heart.
"Look, Almasy, you said you had a message – spit it out." Squall leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest. He raised an eyebrow as Seifer fidgeted uncomfortably.
"Uh, it's not exactly from President Loire…"
Squall massaged his temples. "Define 'not exactly'."
"It's uh, well, mostly from me." Seifer held up a hand, continuing quickly. "But don't kick me out yet – please – I think you need to hear this…or at the very least you might want to…" He looked over at Squall, eyes pleading silently for an audience. "Just listen. That's all I'm asking you for."
The smaller man nodded his reluctant acquiescence. "You have five minutes."
"Then I leave?"
"No, then I ignore you and attempt to cook something edible."
"I'll make you a deal. You let me talk until I'm done, and I'll cook." He offered his hand, ignoring the jolt that went up his arm when Squall took it firmly into his own slightly calloused palm.
If Squall had felt the same thing, he didn't show any sign. Seifer took this as a good sign in this case, and spoke, the words finally tumbling out of his mouth. "I know about the Adel thing. It wasn't what it seemed like. She wasn't under her control; it was the opposite. Rinoa was controlling Adel, I mean."
Squall nodded; he'd deduced as much himself – although he couldn't help but wonder how the other man had come across that information.
"Anyways. She's changed, Squall. She's different. Dangerous, even. Have you looked at her eyes lately? There's just something not right there. I saw her in Balamb a few weeks ago," He added hastily, "I left before she could see me."
The brunette stared at him, a troubled yet relieved look on his face. He hadn't exactly been on 'eye-gazing' terms with Rinoa lately, but… "So, I'm not the only one who's noticed. I tried bringing it up with Zell before I left, but he gets so defensive about her."
Seifer stood, heading over to rifle through Squall's food stash. "So," he proposed, half kidding, "Do we kill the bitch or what?" He waited for the expected sarcastic reply, or even a classic 'whatever', and was answered by the sickening sound of flesh against stone. He turned, his heart sinking, to see the brunette crumpled on the floor, his head clutched tightly between his hands. "Aw, shit, Squall – was it something I said?!"
~-~-~-~-~-~-~
It was hot.
That was the first thin he registered as he took in his new surroundings.
He looked down, wrinkling his nose at an unknown smell, and saw the charred corpse resting in agony at his feet. He backed away, the burning town becoming visible over the horizon. By squinting, Squall could make out the skyline. The buildings were familiar enough that he trotted forwards to investigate.
Welcome to Balamb.
The sign dangled sadly by a single chain, swaying in an invisible breeze. Squall touched the chain, and then quickly removed his hand – it was nearly melting from the heat.
The buildings beyond the lone sign and him were in flames, and he could hear the cries of those trapped inside. He started to move towards them, then the air in front of him shimmered and he heard a familiar voice as a woman's body slowly came into view.
"Oh, Squally." Her tone was mocking, and Squall flinched at the use of the pet name. "Always so compassionate. You hide it very well, going about messing with people's lives like this."
"I don't know what you're talking about." He took a step backwards, reaching for his gunblade only to find it missing.
A pair of coal black eyes appeared, narrowed and hard. "Oh, you know –exactly- what I'm talking about, Squally. And you are going to PAY for what you've done to me!" The woman raised her hands in the air, a cruel smile playing across his face as she became fully visible.
"Ri-Rinoa?!"
Her hands tightened into fists as she cast her spell. "PAIN!"
~-~-~-~-~-~-~
"Shiiit shit shit shit. He's gonna KILL me if he ever finds out I used his shirt for this." Seifer gingerly mopped at the blood on the side of the other man's head. "God, Squall, how the fuck do you manage to knock yourself out from such a short fall?"
"Rinoa…" Squall turned his face towards Seifer, who quickly flung the brunette's Grateful Dead shirt into a corner as his eyes cracked open.
"Ah, sorry to disappoint you, but this is Seifer. Hi."
Squall winced. "Not disappointed. Pain…"
"Well, yeah, you just conked your head on a stone floor, genius. Instructor Trepe would be very proud of you."
"No, she cast pain on me, asshole…" Squall shuddered as the aftershocks of the spell began to make their way through his body. "C-can't even see… where are you?"
"Oh!" Seifer rummaged through his pockets, catching on. "Here. Remedy. Drink up." He popped the top of the bottle off with his teeth, and pressing the contents to Squall's lips.
The brunette swallowed gratefully, raising himself to his elbows. He reached out a hand and grasped Seifer's wrist, gripping it tightly as a look of –concern? fear?- flashed across his face. "You okay? Did she get at you?"
The blonde frowned, confused but enjoying the touch of Squall's skin against his. "Squall, what the fuck are you talking about?"
"Rinoa…"
"Hey, it's okay. She's not here." He put a hand to the other's forehead. "You feeling all right? You just hit your head, is all."
"No, she – I don't know how, but she was here. Balamb – she had destroyed it. And she was here. Or I was there." He let go of Seifer, hugging his arms about himself.
"Hey, whoa, Squall, slow down. You're shaking like a leaf." The blonde slid between the other man and the arm of the couch. "Whatever happened, it's okay now, right?"
"No."
"Huh?" Seifer pulled away, perplexed.
"No, it's not okay." Squall staggered to his feet, intent on heading for the Ragnarok. "I have to get back to Garden."
Hands held him firmly back, returning him to the couch. "Fuck, Squall, you're still bleeding for Hyne's sake."
Grey eyes burned into green, and expression of pure frustration lacing his features. "You don't understand." What he wouldn't give for a sleep spell at the moment. "I have to – "
"Reality check. If it's that urgent, call. It's faster."
"Seifer, she's going. To. Destroy. Balamb!" Squall's voice rose with each word, shocking the other man with the rare display of temper.
"Ah…" Seifer cleared his throat, waving his hand congenially in the direction of the Ragnarok. "Shall we, then?"
~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Rinoa sat in her room in Deling city, perusing the old photographs of herself and Squall. The few that she hadn't yet thrown into the fire had been defiled – the heads of everyone save her and Squall had been carefully removed and were currently collecting dust in a corner. Her eyes eventually landed on the picture Zell had snapped after they had defeated Ultimecia. She picked it up, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Yes, she would keep this one.
She set the photograph on her dresser, admiring the view of Balamb harbor in the background.
Yes…
Such memories.
--TBC--