(¯`'·.¸(¯`'·. Chapter Three .·'´¯)¸.·'´¯)
(¯`'·. Discovery and Confrontation .·'´¯)
It was the phone that woke him up, unlike any other day where he slept as late as possible. The sun was streaming in the windows of his small room, as he stumbled across it clad only in his boxers. He was getting ready to tear the head off who ever had dared to wake him.
"Hello" Seifer growled into the phone, his voice still groggy with sleep. The person on the other end paused for a moment.
"H-Hello?" came a female voice through the receiver. He recognized it immediately after listening to it drone on class after class. It had been a week since their fateful meeting.
"Quistis?" He asked all anger melting away. He was beginning to think she would never call.
"Hello Seifer" she responded.
"How have you been?" he asked pausing not sure what to say.
"I've been all right. I was wondering if you wanted to go out to lunch. My treat of course" she said. He smirked.
"Of course, I'll meet you wherever you want" he said into the phone. She told him where to go, quickly before they said their good-byes. Seifer was elated, she had finally called him. He walked into the living room, finding his usual cup of coffee left in the coffeepot. As well as the newspaper waiting on the kitchen table for him. Fuijin and Raijuin were always up and at work before he was. He was so lucky to have them. They were a posse, they had carried him ever since he had been rejected from SeeD. He stared at the newspaper for a few moments, the columns of black words staring back at him. He smirked heading into the bathroom to get ready.
The restaurant she had chosen was a ritzy one. A place galled The Golden Heron. It was located right in the middle of rich town, not far from General Caraway's house. Whenever Seifer walked along that street he was reminded of his summer with Rinoa. Rinoa was nothing but a painful memory now. He hadn't even seen her when he tried to return to the Garden. Standing out side the restaurant he leaned against the red brick wall, propping one foot up and crossing his arms. Every single person that passed glanced twice, recognizing the blazing red crosses on his arms. People had always been afraid of him. But not as much as they were after the war.
Her black limo pulled up, sleek and smooth. The chauffeur opened the door as she stepped out. Her long leg came first leading up to the short red skirt she was wearing. Over that was a long red suit jacket, over a cleavage revealing black shirt. Her long blond hair tumbled around her shoulders, her eyes covered by dark sunglasses. She smiled when she saw him, walking towards him. The clicking of her high heels echoed across the cobblestone.
"Hello Seifer" She said taking her sunglasses off, shaking her hair out a bit.
"Hello" he said finding his voice suddenly. She looked so sexy, but still the sadness deep with in her sapphire eyes.
"Shall we go in?" he asked holding his arm out like he saw all the rich men doing for their ladies. She laughed a little tossing her blond hair.
"Of course" she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, fine manicured red nails matching the Hyperion crosses. The waiter looked Seifer over, taking in everything from his beat up boots, to his spiky golden hair. His gaze shifted to Quistis and his face lifted into a bright smile.
"Mrs. Billings, right this way" the waiter said grabbing two menus from the little slot on the podium. He led them through the elegant restaurant to a corner booth in the back corner under a large hanging plant. Quistis slid into the booth first, Seifer sliding in on the other side looking across at her.
"So, tell me about you husband" Seifer asked after they had ordered. She smiled at him.
"He was a friend of Selphie's friend from Trabia. We all went on a double date one night. It kind of tumbled on from there" She said taking a sip off the water glass in front of her.
"I never figured you the type to leave the garden to get married" Seifer said.
"After your trial" she cleared her throat uncomfortably, "SeeD became all about the money. I didn't like selling myself, so when Castle proposed I couldn't resist"
"Are you happy?" he asked suddenly the sadness in her eyes overwhelming. She gave him another one of her plastic smiles.
"Of course" she replied.
"You were always good at hiding you emotion, Instructor, but I could always see right threw you" he growled leaning back against the both his arms folded.
"Seifer, don't be angry" she said softly tears swimming in her eyes. He leaned across the table taking on of her delicate hands in both of his.
"Hey, I just don't want you to lie to me. I'm still your friend right?" he asked.
"I hope I can still call you that," she said as a single transparent tear rolled down her cheek. Almost with out thinking Seifer reached up with his thumb and brushed it away. As he run his thumb along her cheek something strange happened. Her make-up smeared away to reveal a deep blue-purple bruise under her eyes. He sat back astounded seeing the large bruise sounding her eye now. She had done a good job hiding it with make-up. But once you knew it was there it was impossible not to see.
"How did that happen?" Seifer asked his voice tight.
"Oh that" she said nonchalantly her hand fluttering up to her eye, "I fell down and banged it on the coffee table"
"Lies, that is from a hand. I know it" He said scowling. He had beaten up enough people in his life to know what a bruise from a punch looked like. Her eyes widened suddenly as he felt himself being pulled up by the lapel of his jacket. A huge man stood in front of him. Towering over Seifer, his dark eyes fiery.
"I thought I told you not too not to see this punk again, dear" the huge man said his breath hot in Seifer's face. It dawned on Seifer then, this was her husband.
"Castle, We were just talking!" Quistis exclaimed standing up. Seifer decided to take hold of the situation, swiftly bringing his steal-toed boot up to greet Castle's knee. Castle grunted letting go of his grip on Seifer's lapel. He turned to Quistis grabbing her by the arm dragging her toward the door.
"Let's go, wife dear" Castle growled at her. Seifer went after them, watching Quistis scutter meekly beside him. The light him them full on when they stepped out of the restaurant. The limo was there waiting, the chauffeur diligently holding the door open. Castle shoved Quistis into the car and turned too look at Seifer. Seifer didn't stop getting right up into castle face, the metal of the limo door the only thing between them.
"If you ever lay a hand on her like that again, I'll snap your neck" Seifer said his voice quiet, deadly. Castle laughed, tossing his head back.
"She is mine, Almasy. Go back to playing with your toy gun" Castle said stepping into the limo. Seifer's hand curled around the hilt of his Hyperion.
"Oh we will meet again, Castle Billings" Seifer said making the promise out loud, watching as the limousine sped off.
A/N: Whow pretty action packed eh? You guys like this so far? I do! Anyways, thanks to all who had reviewd. Expesially Jacks, who rawks."If love is a red dress, then I can see why women love shopping so much" and Azora "If love was a red dress, could Seifer be my black scarf?" And thanks as well to Dalpal, Grrl_Gamer, Akira Aarons, NaTaku, Jello Ink, Tiy and Ifalna.
Seiftis fans unite!!! :)