Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII and all it's characters belong to
Squaresoft.
A/N: Even though we don't have too many reviews for this, we're still continuing it. It's just too much fun to write! But please, please, please review!! We'd really appreciate it and we'd love to know what other people think!!
Alexia and Seifer entered the quiet, darkened dorm room. Both of them were still laughing about something that had happened while they were out. Raijin had gone along as well. They'd run into him on their way out and asked him to come along. He'd accepted with a "'Course I wanna come. It sounds like a lot of fun, ya know?"
The smell of alcohol was on their breath. It wasn't rare that they would have a few drinks on their nights out, and tonight was no exception.
Alexia plopped onto the bed heavily, still laughing a little. "Well, that was fun."
Seifer took off his shoes and kicked them into the corner, nodding his agreement before sitting down beside her. "Then again, it always is."
Alexia giggled at Seifer's comment, and raised her face to the ceiling. "True. I can't believe Raijin went up there and sang, 'We Are Family.'"
Seifer laughed aloud in return. "Good old Raijin. Always up for a challenge. Now how 'bout we make one for ourselves?"
Alexia's clouded eyes brightened, and her thin eyebrows rose high. "Oh yeah? What kind of challenge?"
He smirked in his trademark way. Kissing her deeply, he wrapped his arms around her neck, and groaned.
She tittered again as his lips released, and half-closed her eyes. "C'mon Seifer, we're both wasted. Should we really be doin' this?"
He was taken aback slightly. "Why not? It's the most fun when we're bombed, isn't it?"
Again, both of them bursted into laughter. She pushed him up, and breathed out, spreading the smell of alcohol.
"Shall we?" she said dreamily, and fell back on the couch, passed out from the intoxication of the drinks they'd consumed.
Seifer stared at her, amused, but also disappointed. He was looking forward to time alone with Alexia, but he also knew being drunk as they were wouldn't mean much. He scooped her up into his arms, and carried her into the bedroom, where they would sleep off their simpering characteristics, and would wake up with a massive headache.
**********
The light filtered through the window and fell on both their faces. Seifer didn't seem to be fazed by it; he was sleeping too deeply, but Alexia sat straight up, letting out a shriek.
The sound caused Seifer to immediatly arise and he grasped Alexia's shoulder. "What's the matter?!" he asked, both groggily and frantically at the same time.
She gripped her skull and put her head on her drawn knees. "My head... It hurts so bad!" she exclaimed.
Seifer put a hand to the bridge of his nose, noticing a pang in his head as well. "That's what you get for downing at least half a dozen drinks in a few hour's time period," he told her as he laid back down.
She shot him a glare. "You don't understand. My hangovers are always hell..."
He looked over at her, sarcasm flickering in his emerald eyes. "Yeah, just like your period?"
She rolled her eyes and punched the matress out of frustration, immediatly gripping her head once again due to the pain that shot through it. "Now see what you did?" she seethed.
"Look, if you knew you got this bad, you really shouldn't have drank that much. It isn't my fault you have no self-control," Seifer said from under the blanket he had pulled over his face.
She shook her head and got out of the bed. "I need an aspirin... or ten."
Seifer chuckled slightly as he watched her leave the room, peeking his head out from under the covers, and rubbed his temples. He really did have the worst headaches after a night of drinking like they'd done, and the bright sunshine wasn't helping any.
Hopefully it would be gone by the time 11 or so came around, and he and Alexia could enjoy themselves.
He remembered bitterly the first time they'd gone out drinking with Fujin and Raijin. Last night they'd nominated Fujin as the Designated Driver, but that first night, they had stupidly forgotten to elect a person to be the DD. When all four were successfully smashed, Seifer got behind the wheel, far gone from logical reasoning.
Keys in his hand, he was behind the wheel and unable to make good decisions. Not far from the bar, while he was laughing and having a good time with the other three people in the car, he didn't see the same size car coming straight at them.
The car hit on Alexia's passenger side, smashing her legs in between the dashboard and the seat. Her seat didn't pin Fujin, who was in the backseat behind her, for the person in the vehicle hit the brakes fast enough that the collision wasn't as great as it could have been. Alexia was the only one harmed, adding tons of weight to Seifer's guilt when he was concious enough to feel it.
He recieved a few cuts from the glass, but nothing more than minor slices. He immediately got out of the car, ignoring the urge to puke, and dialed 911. To this day, he hadn't completely forgiven himself, although she'd told him it wasn't his fault, it was all of their own.
Feeling a little down at the flashback now, he tossed back the covers, attempting to fight off the pounding in his head, and followed Alexia into the kitchen.
She was standing next to the sink, cupboard door open and asprin being shaken out into her hand. He shook his head, and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face in her neck.
She laughed a little and began to put the lid back onto the bottle after retrieving the maximum amount she could take at one time. "What brought this on all of a sudden?"
He set his chin on her shoulder and watched as she took the four small pills rather quickly. "I don't know. Do I have to have a reason to be loving?"
She put the bottle back in the cupboard and turned in his arms, putting hers around his neck. "Just humor me."
He planted a kiss on her forehead and moved over to the refridgerator, taking out the carton of milk and getting a glass from the strainer beside the sink. Alexia went over and sat at the table, still holding her head and moaning every now and then in pain.
Seifer couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. He couldn't understand why, time after time, she would do this to herself. And everytime, it would be the same thing. You think eventually she'd learn...
"So tell me. Why the mood swing?" she asked, her head still in her hands.
"Would you believe me if I told you PMS?" he asked with a smile.
She looked over at him, a smirk on her face. "Not really."
He looked down at the glass in his hands. He couldn't tell her it was because he'd been thinking about the accident, and that he'd suddenly started feeling guilty about it again.
Quickly, he thought of something along the lines of why he'd been feeling guilty, but still close to the truth. "I-I've just been thinking about how much you really mean to me, Lex."
She tilted her head to the side a bit. Seifer could really be sweet to her in private. He wouldn't let it show to his friends or superiors, of course, but when they were by themselves, he was the Seifer she knew and truly loved. "You...you mean a lot to me too, Seifer. Everything."
He continued staring at the thick white liquid, and licked his lips. "If anything ever happened to you..."
Alexia frowned a little. She knew what he meant now. He didn't want to bring it up, but she knew he'd been thinking about the night of the accident. Slowly and quietly she stated without question, "You mean like the night of the accident."
He never met her gaze, but was glad she'd been the one to say it. He nodded, and said, "I didn't see it coming..."
Her eyes softened, and she headed over to where he was standing, moving his body to face her. She searched his eyes, and said firmly, "Listen, I'm not going anywhere. That night was a long time ago, and I'm here now. We learned our lesson, didn't we? Besides, you probably don't remember most of it." She said the last part with a quiet laugh, but he didn't show much of a smile.
"Well still. Knowing I was the one behind the wheel that night doesn't make it any better. You kept telling me that it wasn't my fault, that we all should have known better than to go drinking without having someone sober enough to drive, but..."
She put a finger to his lips to silence him. "No buts. It wasn't your fault, and that's the end of it. You know if anybody else were driving, the same thing could've happened. Remember when you asked Raijin to say the alphabet because you knew it would be hilarious? He threw numbers, and letters, and words in there that I've never even heard of. Do you know what would've happened if we let *him* drive?"
Seifer had to laugh at that, and he looked deep into her eyes. She was the only person who could make him laugh like that. Sure, some of the other people he knew, like Raijin for instance, could do certain things to make him crack up, but not even the craziest of his antics could compare with even the smallest chuckles that Alexia caused. They just meant a whole lot more.
"So is everything okay now?" she asked, bringing him out of his daze. "You feel better?" She smiled, causing him to do the same.
He nodded. "Yeah. Thank you."
Finishing the glass of milk, he set the glass down in the sink and returned to the bedroom, Alexia on his tail. She watched as he dressed for the day, and raised an eyebrow.
"You're not going to shower? Eww..."
Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "I don't have time, thanks to us sleeping in. Edea wants me in her chambers in fifteen minutes. What are you gonna do today?"
She stood in the doorway, watching him pull on his trenchcoat. "I don't know yet, classes aren't until 1 this afternoon. I suppose I'll go down and try to stimulate my stomach with some food. How long do you have to be with Edea?"
He seemed to think about that for a moment, and then shrugged. "I have no idea. Usually she takes around an hour to explain the day, and then I'm off to do all the things she needs me to."
Her gaze narrowed. "What 'things?'"
He smacked his forehead, and immediately regretted it as pain shot through it. "Ugh, we've been over this, Lex. I can't tell you, it's Sorceress business. Why can't we just let this go?"
Alexia couldn't understand why these days were so volatile. One minute he was the sweetest guy in the world, and the next he was slamming her with attitude.
She put her hands up in front of her in defense. "Fine Seifer, whatever you say. I don't want to get into this again. Let me know when you need me to be the Lapee."
Seifer's jaw dropped. "What do you mean 'Lapee'? Why would you even say a thing like that?"
She shrugged. "Well think about it Seifer. Doesn't it seem that way? Either that or you're just plain gone."
Seifer shook his head. "I don't have time for this."
"Yeah, I bet you don't."
Seifer's voice became softened again. "Lex I'm being serious. I really thought we had an understanding about all this. If Edea found out I said anything before she wanted anybody to know..."
"What then Seifer? What would happen?" She spoke as tears welled up in her eyes. Seifer had only seen her cry on very few ocassions, so this really ripped at his heart. "You'd lose your power? Is that why you're afraid to say anything?"
He didn't say anything and ran a hand through his hair as he sat down heavily.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her wiping her eyes and heard her sniffling. And even with all the guilt he was feeling, he still wanted to glance at the clock and make sure he wasn't late to meet with Edea.
She shook her head, her blonde hair shimmering in the light. "No, you know what, I'm tired of this." She pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt, avoiding all contact with Seifer. Sniffling, she finished before she went out the door and shutting it quietly, "Have fun with your Master."
Seifer grated his teeth together, looking over at the clock, now that he was safe. He raised himself from the bed, and in a fury of the rage he'd pent up dealing with Alexia's insecurity, punched a fist into the covers, reaching a spring and recoiling from it.
"Damn you Lexi!" he shouted to no one, cradling his aching fist. Snatching his gunblade from the corner, he slammed the door, and headed in the opposite direction of his fiance.
Seifer stomped down the hallway. He was the only person there at the time, which was slightly odd, so his footsteps echoed loudly. His mind was racing. His thoughts were skipping from Edea to all her plans and of course, to Alexia. He just hoped his inner problems weren't visible to other people. Especially the Sorceress.
He stopped in front of the large doors and stood outside them for a few moments. After taking a deep breath, he pushed them open and went inside.
Edea's chambers were dim, as usual, the only source of light being from the hundreds of candles lining the walls of the room. He looked to the center of the room, where she sat on a throne more fitting for a Queen rather than a Sorceress. Then again, Edea sure acted like she was a Queen...
"Ah, my Knight, right on time. But today, barely." Her voice was silky and flowed like music.
He cleared his throat, trying to think of an excuse, but he didn't need to. Edea had already started speaking again.
"No matter. You are here and that is what is important. The day of the assassination is drawing closer. She does know about it, does she not?"
Seifer knew the 'she' Edea was talking about without question. "Yes..."
"Good. Make sure she prepares. There is no margin for error. If she fails, she will have to face the consequences."
Seifer's placid stare turned to one of confusion. "Consequences? What consequences?" he said, watching Edea float up from her velvet covered chair.
She glided toward him, making him feel a little light-headed and dizzy. Gazing intently at him, she replied, "Yes, my Knight, the consequences. Alexia must know that if she fails to do as I ask, and as you ask, she will be put to death."
Seifer's jaw couldn't help dropping. Despite the fact that he was under Edea's spell, his heart wouldn't let his mind be completely controlled. He breathed hard, and kept his eyes locked with the Sorceress's.
"Edea, I don't think..."
"Silence!" she cut him off ubruptly and viciously, throwing her hands to the side. "I will have none of your protests. You are my Knight, dear Seifer, and you will do as I say."
He bowed his head, unable to meet her violet orbs any longer. You're her Knight Seifer, she's right, he scolded himself. Don't let Alexia get in the way of Edea's success.
Placing a slender hand on the top of Seifer's blonde head, Edea watched as his right knee hit the floor. She had him, alright. It was only a matter of time before she had his little wife-to-be in her clutches as well. Both of them would do her bidding, whether they liked it or not.
"Go now, my lovely, and gather our forces. Tonight, we give our special parade."
Seifer didn't look back at Edea even once as he turned and left the dark, almost eerie room. Before, being in that room made him feel special, powerful. Now, he couldn't help but feel awkward, afraid even. He couldn't figure it out, but he didn't like it.
He stood outside the door with his back against it, not wanting to go anywhere else for fear he might run into Alexia. And the only reason wasn't because she was upset with him anymore.
He sighed and rounded the corner. She said she was going to the cafeteria, so as long as he steered clear of that area, there wouldn't be much of a problem.
He decided to go to the Library for a while. It was quiet all hours of the day. Of course it is Seifer, it's a Library for Hyne's sake, he told himself. He needed some time to think. His headache wasn't completely gone either. He wanted it to wear off as quickly as possible.
He went inside, to find it absolutely silent, as expected. He walked to the back of the room, past about two dozen bookcases and found an empty table where he sat himself at.
Placing his head in his hands, he blew out a long sigh. He rubbed along the lines of his cheek and temples, trying to rub away the new ache he felt that wasn't in his head, but his soul. Something inside him was sounding the alarm for him to escape Edea's control, but he wouldn't allow it to go free. How could he do this to himself? Not only to himself, but the only woman he loved more than the most important person in the world...himself.
As if on cue, a bright blue color flashed in front of his eyes. It stopped suddenly, and moved backward to face him. Hip hugging jeans and a baby blue tank top covered Alexia's body, but her face was covered in a contemptful glare.
Swallowing heavily, he raised his head. She stood still, and after a few moments of silence, said, "What are you doing here, Seifer? Weren't you supposed to be with Edea?" Her voice dripped with condecension, and it made his stomach churn.
He sighed, and rubbed his left eye out of boredom. "Our meeting was over a few minutes ago. I came in here for some quiet to make this goddamned headache go away. What are you doing here?"
Her eyes turned down to the books in her hand, all fiction, and then back to his, as if he was supposed to understand the motion. He waited for an answer, and said finally, "Well?"
She rolled her eyes, and picked up one of the books. "Hello? It's called reading, Seifer, you should try it sometime."
He closed his eyes, and fought away the urge to tell Alexia the real reason why he'd come in here. He couldn't let her know what Edea had said...not now, not this early. If he told her now, her state would only worsen, and she might not even be able to go through with the assassination. No, it was better not to tell her now.
She tilted her head to the side. Something was definitely wrong. He never acted this way, especially after meeting with the Sorceress. Normally, he would be acting all high and mighty, almost as if he was too good for everyone else. But never did he act like this.
She glanced around the room and took a chair from a nearby table, bringing it over and sitting down in it. "Hey... what's the matter?" she asked quietly.
Seifer didn't reply right away. It was amazing how one minute, she totally hated him, and the next, she was asking him what was wrong. That only made him feel worse though. "It's nothing," he said despondantly.
She shook her head, reaching over and taking her hand in his. "You can tell me, Seifer. You can tell me anything."
He stared down at their interlocked fingers, a strange tearing feeling in his chest. He looked up at her face and forced a smile. "It's nothing, really. You don't have to worry about it."
She looked in his eyes for quite a while. She knew he was lying. There was no way he wasn't. But it looked as if she wasn't going to get any more out of him than she already did, so she just let it go. "Whatever you say Seifer."
She pulled her fingers away from his, and picked up her books. Without a backward glance, she left the library, saying, "I'll be in my room when you're ready to tell me the truth."
**********
He was tired. Tired and hungry. Since the encounter with Alexia in the library that morning, he hadn't been back to their dorm, and he hadn't seen her the rest of the day. He was to plan Edea's parade, and nothing could go wrong. He couldn't let the void he was feeling get in the way of the plans he and the Sorceress had made for months now.
"Traver, is the float completed?"
Traver looked toward his Captain, noting the weary look in his stature. Today wasn't a good day to screw up, he could tell already. "Yes sir, the throne for Sorceress Edea is ready for tonight. When is the parade to start, Sir?"
Seifer racked his brains for the time of the parade. He knew it five minutes ago... "...17:30. I expect all of you," he said as he turned to address the entire room. "To be in your positions no later than 17:15. If you aren't, there will be punishment given."
They all nodded at his words. "You're free until the parade. And don't screw up. This is very important. It could make or break all of us, this Garden, and even worse... Edea. So everything has to be perfect." Once again, everyone nodded in sync. They stood and exited the room, going in various directions.
Seifer sighed. That's all he seemed to be doing anymore. That, and fighting with Alexia of course. He decided it was time to go talk to her, and at least try to make things right again. Besides, he needed to tell her something very important anyway.
Inside the dorm, Alexia was looking over the costume she was to be wearing in the parade. It consisted of a dark purple halter top, and an extremely short black skirt. Not something she'd feel exactly comfortable wearing in public, but that wasn't one of her priorities. She glanced over at Seifer, who just stood leaning up against the closed door in silence.
"Hardly saw you all day," she said quietly. "What a shocker."
"Lex, um... I have something to tell you."
"What?" She still couldn't look him in the face.
"You're not..." He cleared his throat. "Edea doesn't want you in the parade."
Her brow furrowed and her eyes finally met his. "Why not? You're going to be there aren't you?"
"She says it's too risky to be showing you off like that. You're Galbadia Garden's sniper. If people saw that you were siding with the Sorceress freely, after the assasinations, they'd know it was you without a doubt."
She forced a chuckle. "So that's it? That's how she's gonna get you? By not letting me in the parade?"
"Lex... please. I don't know what you have against Edea, but..."
She cut him off. "Seifer... she's... she's stealing you from me! Can't you see that?!" She quickly placed a hand over her mouth. Even though that's exactly how she felt, she hadn't wanted to blurt it out like that.
Pure shock enveloped Seifer's tired face. Alexia had never once voiced something so...blunt. He hadn't a clue that was the way she felt, he knew she was angry because he hadn't spent as much time with her lately, but he didn't think Edea was *stealing* him from Alexia.
"...W-what?"
The hand remained closed over her mouth, and she shook her head back and forth in disbelief. The urge to say what she'd just said had been boiling since day one of this whole Sorceress crap, but she never meant for it to spill over. Closing her eyes, she attempted to regain her dignity...at least what was left of it.
"Seifer...I...I didn't mean that..."
Seifer waved off her stammering words. "No, you did mean that, Alexia. I can hear it in the sound of your voice. You lie like a rug, you know that?"
Her face hardened slightly, and her heart burned a little at his tone. It seemed that was all she felt lately. He hurt her more than enough times in the past week. "No, you're right Seifer, I did mean that. This whole Sorceress Parade shit has been getting on my nerves since we got engaged, and I started living with you. Edea's been taking you away from me, you know that, but you don't want to admit it. I'm sick of fighting with you, and it's the last time I'm going to do it. I'm attending that parade whether you and your little Master like it or not, and there's no way you can stop me."
She slammed the door to their room, threw on the outfit and messed with her hair a little bit, and while Seifer struggled to come up with a comeback to her speech, and as she left the dorm, he clasped his pounding head. Tonight was going to be a *long* night...
Alexia had gotten about halfway to the front gate when she suddenly stopped short and hit her forehead, letting out a groan. She'd forgotten something very important back at their dorm: her sniper rifle. If she was going to be assassinating President Deling, her gun would come in handy, no doubt.
She hated the thought of going back to the dorm where Seifer still was. She didn't want to talk to him, look at him, or even be in the same room as he was at that time. Things were just going to horribly anymore... She was even starting to have second thoughts on marrying him...
She stood outside the door for a few moments, contemplating on whether or not to even enter, but she knew she had to or else everything would *really* get screwed up.
She opened the door slowly, poking her head in first. Sure enough, Seifer was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, his face buried in his hands. Her heart sunk at the sight, but she didn't say anything to him as she went inside and opened the closet door, taking out her weapon from the very back, which had been beside Seifer's Hyperion.
Seifer glanced up and watched as she made her way back to the door. Just as she was about to turn the knob and leave without saying a word to him, she took her hand from it and sighed. She just couldn't leave him that way; it broke her heart.
"Seifer, look... I know the parade isn't far from now, but... do you think maybe we could work this out beforehand?" she asked hopefully.
Suddenly gladdened by the change of heart Alexia had, Seifer jumped up off the bed. Folding his hands together, he stopped short in front of her, his eyes toward the floor.
"I'd really love that. I've wanted to have a talk with you for a while now, but things have been so hectic...and we've been fighting so much..."
She agreed heartily with that one. She didn't reach out to touch him, but the level of comfort in the room increased with his soft tone.
"I just feel...a little taken over by her. You must feel about ten times that. And with all this assassination stuff, I've really needed you here. And you're always with her. I guess it's just my green side showing through."
Seifer couldn't decide what to say to make things better. It was almost like he had a split-personality when it came to Edea and Alexia. He loved one, and he was certain who that one was, but what he felt for Edea was different. It wasn't passion or wonder, more like the need to feel secure by more than one person. Like a childish need for both parent's attention. He kept a neutral stance, hoping she'd keep her cool.
"I...I don't blame you a bit for feeling that way, Lex. It's really confusing...how I've been working for Edea, but still trying to spend time with you. And I promise, from now on, I'll make time for you. No matter what she needs, I'm going to keep my nights and whatever other time of the day I can open. Just for you and me, okay?"
She felt tears fill her eyes at his fair words. How long it would last, she couldn't be sure. Nodding absently, she let the wetness cascade down her cheek. Gripping her gun, she kissed him, and turned the knob.
"I'd really like that. Thank you, Seifer. Now let's go! We have a parade to get to!"
Before she headed out the door, however, he grabbed her wrist gently. "Actually, there's something else I need to tell you, Lex. It's...about tonight."
She turned back to him, puzzlement in her eyes. "What is it, Seif?"
He darted his eyes to the side, and fought silently with himself to tell her the truth or not. He seemed to be having a hard time with that these days. "I just wanted to tell you, when you go through with that assassination..."
He hesitated, and she rose her eyebrows, waiting for an answer. "Yes?"
At the last minute, he decided against it. "Just...be careful."
A/N: Even though we don't have too many reviews for this, we're still continuing it. It's just too much fun to write! But please, please, please review!! We'd really appreciate it and we'd love to know what other people think!!
Alexia and Seifer entered the quiet, darkened dorm room. Both of them were still laughing about something that had happened while they were out. Raijin had gone along as well. They'd run into him on their way out and asked him to come along. He'd accepted with a "'Course I wanna come. It sounds like a lot of fun, ya know?"
The smell of alcohol was on their breath. It wasn't rare that they would have a few drinks on their nights out, and tonight was no exception.
Alexia plopped onto the bed heavily, still laughing a little. "Well, that was fun."
Seifer took off his shoes and kicked them into the corner, nodding his agreement before sitting down beside her. "Then again, it always is."
Alexia giggled at Seifer's comment, and raised her face to the ceiling. "True. I can't believe Raijin went up there and sang, 'We Are Family.'"
Seifer laughed aloud in return. "Good old Raijin. Always up for a challenge. Now how 'bout we make one for ourselves?"
Alexia's clouded eyes brightened, and her thin eyebrows rose high. "Oh yeah? What kind of challenge?"
He smirked in his trademark way. Kissing her deeply, he wrapped his arms around her neck, and groaned.
She tittered again as his lips released, and half-closed her eyes. "C'mon Seifer, we're both wasted. Should we really be doin' this?"
He was taken aback slightly. "Why not? It's the most fun when we're bombed, isn't it?"
Again, both of them bursted into laughter. She pushed him up, and breathed out, spreading the smell of alcohol.
"Shall we?" she said dreamily, and fell back on the couch, passed out from the intoxication of the drinks they'd consumed.
Seifer stared at her, amused, but also disappointed. He was looking forward to time alone with Alexia, but he also knew being drunk as they were wouldn't mean much. He scooped her up into his arms, and carried her into the bedroom, where they would sleep off their simpering characteristics, and would wake up with a massive headache.
**********
The light filtered through the window and fell on both their faces. Seifer didn't seem to be fazed by it; he was sleeping too deeply, but Alexia sat straight up, letting out a shriek.
The sound caused Seifer to immediatly arise and he grasped Alexia's shoulder. "What's the matter?!" he asked, both groggily and frantically at the same time.
She gripped her skull and put her head on her drawn knees. "My head... It hurts so bad!" she exclaimed.
Seifer put a hand to the bridge of his nose, noticing a pang in his head as well. "That's what you get for downing at least half a dozen drinks in a few hour's time period," he told her as he laid back down.
She shot him a glare. "You don't understand. My hangovers are always hell..."
He looked over at her, sarcasm flickering in his emerald eyes. "Yeah, just like your period?"
She rolled her eyes and punched the matress out of frustration, immediatly gripping her head once again due to the pain that shot through it. "Now see what you did?" she seethed.
"Look, if you knew you got this bad, you really shouldn't have drank that much. It isn't my fault you have no self-control," Seifer said from under the blanket he had pulled over his face.
She shook her head and got out of the bed. "I need an aspirin... or ten."
Seifer chuckled slightly as he watched her leave the room, peeking his head out from under the covers, and rubbed his temples. He really did have the worst headaches after a night of drinking like they'd done, and the bright sunshine wasn't helping any.
Hopefully it would be gone by the time 11 or so came around, and he and Alexia could enjoy themselves.
He remembered bitterly the first time they'd gone out drinking with Fujin and Raijin. Last night they'd nominated Fujin as the Designated Driver, but that first night, they had stupidly forgotten to elect a person to be the DD. When all four were successfully smashed, Seifer got behind the wheel, far gone from logical reasoning.
Keys in his hand, he was behind the wheel and unable to make good decisions. Not far from the bar, while he was laughing and having a good time with the other three people in the car, he didn't see the same size car coming straight at them.
The car hit on Alexia's passenger side, smashing her legs in between the dashboard and the seat. Her seat didn't pin Fujin, who was in the backseat behind her, for the person in the vehicle hit the brakes fast enough that the collision wasn't as great as it could have been. Alexia was the only one harmed, adding tons of weight to Seifer's guilt when he was concious enough to feel it.
He recieved a few cuts from the glass, but nothing more than minor slices. He immediately got out of the car, ignoring the urge to puke, and dialed 911. To this day, he hadn't completely forgiven himself, although she'd told him it wasn't his fault, it was all of their own.
Feeling a little down at the flashback now, he tossed back the covers, attempting to fight off the pounding in his head, and followed Alexia into the kitchen.
She was standing next to the sink, cupboard door open and asprin being shaken out into her hand. He shook his head, and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face in her neck.
She laughed a little and began to put the lid back onto the bottle after retrieving the maximum amount she could take at one time. "What brought this on all of a sudden?"
He set his chin on her shoulder and watched as she took the four small pills rather quickly. "I don't know. Do I have to have a reason to be loving?"
She put the bottle back in the cupboard and turned in his arms, putting hers around his neck. "Just humor me."
He planted a kiss on her forehead and moved over to the refridgerator, taking out the carton of milk and getting a glass from the strainer beside the sink. Alexia went over and sat at the table, still holding her head and moaning every now and then in pain.
Seifer couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. He couldn't understand why, time after time, she would do this to herself. And everytime, it would be the same thing. You think eventually she'd learn...
"So tell me. Why the mood swing?" she asked, her head still in her hands.
"Would you believe me if I told you PMS?" he asked with a smile.
She looked over at him, a smirk on her face. "Not really."
He looked down at the glass in his hands. He couldn't tell her it was because he'd been thinking about the accident, and that he'd suddenly started feeling guilty about it again.
Quickly, he thought of something along the lines of why he'd been feeling guilty, but still close to the truth. "I-I've just been thinking about how much you really mean to me, Lex."
She tilted her head to the side a bit. Seifer could really be sweet to her in private. He wouldn't let it show to his friends or superiors, of course, but when they were by themselves, he was the Seifer she knew and truly loved. "You...you mean a lot to me too, Seifer. Everything."
He continued staring at the thick white liquid, and licked his lips. "If anything ever happened to you..."
Alexia frowned a little. She knew what he meant now. He didn't want to bring it up, but she knew he'd been thinking about the night of the accident. Slowly and quietly she stated without question, "You mean like the night of the accident."
He never met her gaze, but was glad she'd been the one to say it. He nodded, and said, "I didn't see it coming..."
Her eyes softened, and she headed over to where he was standing, moving his body to face her. She searched his eyes, and said firmly, "Listen, I'm not going anywhere. That night was a long time ago, and I'm here now. We learned our lesson, didn't we? Besides, you probably don't remember most of it." She said the last part with a quiet laugh, but he didn't show much of a smile.
"Well still. Knowing I was the one behind the wheel that night doesn't make it any better. You kept telling me that it wasn't my fault, that we all should have known better than to go drinking without having someone sober enough to drive, but..."
She put a finger to his lips to silence him. "No buts. It wasn't your fault, and that's the end of it. You know if anybody else were driving, the same thing could've happened. Remember when you asked Raijin to say the alphabet because you knew it would be hilarious? He threw numbers, and letters, and words in there that I've never even heard of. Do you know what would've happened if we let *him* drive?"
Seifer had to laugh at that, and he looked deep into her eyes. She was the only person who could make him laugh like that. Sure, some of the other people he knew, like Raijin for instance, could do certain things to make him crack up, but not even the craziest of his antics could compare with even the smallest chuckles that Alexia caused. They just meant a whole lot more.
"So is everything okay now?" she asked, bringing him out of his daze. "You feel better?" She smiled, causing him to do the same.
He nodded. "Yeah. Thank you."
Finishing the glass of milk, he set the glass down in the sink and returned to the bedroom, Alexia on his tail. She watched as he dressed for the day, and raised an eyebrow.
"You're not going to shower? Eww..."
Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "I don't have time, thanks to us sleeping in. Edea wants me in her chambers in fifteen minutes. What are you gonna do today?"
She stood in the doorway, watching him pull on his trenchcoat. "I don't know yet, classes aren't until 1 this afternoon. I suppose I'll go down and try to stimulate my stomach with some food. How long do you have to be with Edea?"
He seemed to think about that for a moment, and then shrugged. "I have no idea. Usually she takes around an hour to explain the day, and then I'm off to do all the things she needs me to."
Her gaze narrowed. "What 'things?'"
He smacked his forehead, and immediately regretted it as pain shot through it. "Ugh, we've been over this, Lex. I can't tell you, it's Sorceress business. Why can't we just let this go?"
Alexia couldn't understand why these days were so volatile. One minute he was the sweetest guy in the world, and the next he was slamming her with attitude.
She put her hands up in front of her in defense. "Fine Seifer, whatever you say. I don't want to get into this again. Let me know when you need me to be the Lapee."
Seifer's jaw dropped. "What do you mean 'Lapee'? Why would you even say a thing like that?"
She shrugged. "Well think about it Seifer. Doesn't it seem that way? Either that or you're just plain gone."
Seifer shook his head. "I don't have time for this."
"Yeah, I bet you don't."
Seifer's voice became softened again. "Lex I'm being serious. I really thought we had an understanding about all this. If Edea found out I said anything before she wanted anybody to know..."
"What then Seifer? What would happen?" She spoke as tears welled up in her eyes. Seifer had only seen her cry on very few ocassions, so this really ripped at his heart. "You'd lose your power? Is that why you're afraid to say anything?"
He didn't say anything and ran a hand through his hair as he sat down heavily.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her wiping her eyes and heard her sniffling. And even with all the guilt he was feeling, he still wanted to glance at the clock and make sure he wasn't late to meet with Edea.
She shook her head, her blonde hair shimmering in the light. "No, you know what, I'm tired of this." She pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt, avoiding all contact with Seifer. Sniffling, she finished before she went out the door and shutting it quietly, "Have fun with your Master."
Seifer grated his teeth together, looking over at the clock, now that he was safe. He raised himself from the bed, and in a fury of the rage he'd pent up dealing with Alexia's insecurity, punched a fist into the covers, reaching a spring and recoiling from it.
"Damn you Lexi!" he shouted to no one, cradling his aching fist. Snatching his gunblade from the corner, he slammed the door, and headed in the opposite direction of his fiance.
Seifer stomped down the hallway. He was the only person there at the time, which was slightly odd, so his footsteps echoed loudly. His mind was racing. His thoughts were skipping from Edea to all her plans and of course, to Alexia. He just hoped his inner problems weren't visible to other people. Especially the Sorceress.
He stopped in front of the large doors and stood outside them for a few moments. After taking a deep breath, he pushed them open and went inside.
Edea's chambers were dim, as usual, the only source of light being from the hundreds of candles lining the walls of the room. He looked to the center of the room, where she sat on a throne more fitting for a Queen rather than a Sorceress. Then again, Edea sure acted like she was a Queen...
"Ah, my Knight, right on time. But today, barely." Her voice was silky and flowed like music.
He cleared his throat, trying to think of an excuse, but he didn't need to. Edea had already started speaking again.
"No matter. You are here and that is what is important. The day of the assassination is drawing closer. She does know about it, does she not?"
Seifer knew the 'she' Edea was talking about without question. "Yes..."
"Good. Make sure she prepares. There is no margin for error. If she fails, she will have to face the consequences."
Seifer's placid stare turned to one of confusion. "Consequences? What consequences?" he said, watching Edea float up from her velvet covered chair.
She glided toward him, making him feel a little light-headed and dizzy. Gazing intently at him, she replied, "Yes, my Knight, the consequences. Alexia must know that if she fails to do as I ask, and as you ask, she will be put to death."
Seifer's jaw couldn't help dropping. Despite the fact that he was under Edea's spell, his heart wouldn't let his mind be completely controlled. He breathed hard, and kept his eyes locked with the Sorceress's.
"Edea, I don't think..."
"Silence!" she cut him off ubruptly and viciously, throwing her hands to the side. "I will have none of your protests. You are my Knight, dear Seifer, and you will do as I say."
He bowed his head, unable to meet her violet orbs any longer. You're her Knight Seifer, she's right, he scolded himself. Don't let Alexia get in the way of Edea's success.
Placing a slender hand on the top of Seifer's blonde head, Edea watched as his right knee hit the floor. She had him, alright. It was only a matter of time before she had his little wife-to-be in her clutches as well. Both of them would do her bidding, whether they liked it or not.
"Go now, my lovely, and gather our forces. Tonight, we give our special parade."
Seifer didn't look back at Edea even once as he turned and left the dark, almost eerie room. Before, being in that room made him feel special, powerful. Now, he couldn't help but feel awkward, afraid even. He couldn't figure it out, but he didn't like it.
He stood outside the door with his back against it, not wanting to go anywhere else for fear he might run into Alexia. And the only reason wasn't because she was upset with him anymore.
He sighed and rounded the corner. She said she was going to the cafeteria, so as long as he steered clear of that area, there wouldn't be much of a problem.
He decided to go to the Library for a while. It was quiet all hours of the day. Of course it is Seifer, it's a Library for Hyne's sake, he told himself. He needed some time to think. His headache wasn't completely gone either. He wanted it to wear off as quickly as possible.
He went inside, to find it absolutely silent, as expected. He walked to the back of the room, past about two dozen bookcases and found an empty table where he sat himself at.
Placing his head in his hands, he blew out a long sigh. He rubbed along the lines of his cheek and temples, trying to rub away the new ache he felt that wasn't in his head, but his soul. Something inside him was sounding the alarm for him to escape Edea's control, but he wouldn't allow it to go free. How could he do this to himself? Not only to himself, but the only woman he loved more than the most important person in the world...himself.
As if on cue, a bright blue color flashed in front of his eyes. It stopped suddenly, and moved backward to face him. Hip hugging jeans and a baby blue tank top covered Alexia's body, but her face was covered in a contemptful glare.
Swallowing heavily, he raised his head. She stood still, and after a few moments of silence, said, "What are you doing here, Seifer? Weren't you supposed to be with Edea?" Her voice dripped with condecension, and it made his stomach churn.
He sighed, and rubbed his left eye out of boredom. "Our meeting was over a few minutes ago. I came in here for some quiet to make this goddamned headache go away. What are you doing here?"
Her eyes turned down to the books in her hand, all fiction, and then back to his, as if he was supposed to understand the motion. He waited for an answer, and said finally, "Well?"
She rolled her eyes, and picked up one of the books. "Hello? It's called reading, Seifer, you should try it sometime."
He closed his eyes, and fought away the urge to tell Alexia the real reason why he'd come in here. He couldn't let her know what Edea had said...not now, not this early. If he told her now, her state would only worsen, and she might not even be able to go through with the assassination. No, it was better not to tell her now.
She tilted her head to the side. Something was definitely wrong. He never acted this way, especially after meeting with the Sorceress. Normally, he would be acting all high and mighty, almost as if he was too good for everyone else. But never did he act like this.
She glanced around the room and took a chair from a nearby table, bringing it over and sitting down in it. "Hey... what's the matter?" she asked quietly.
Seifer didn't reply right away. It was amazing how one minute, she totally hated him, and the next, she was asking him what was wrong. That only made him feel worse though. "It's nothing," he said despondantly.
She shook her head, reaching over and taking her hand in his. "You can tell me, Seifer. You can tell me anything."
He stared down at their interlocked fingers, a strange tearing feeling in his chest. He looked up at her face and forced a smile. "It's nothing, really. You don't have to worry about it."
She looked in his eyes for quite a while. She knew he was lying. There was no way he wasn't. But it looked as if she wasn't going to get any more out of him than she already did, so she just let it go. "Whatever you say Seifer."
She pulled her fingers away from his, and picked up her books. Without a backward glance, she left the library, saying, "I'll be in my room when you're ready to tell me the truth."
**********
He was tired. Tired and hungry. Since the encounter with Alexia in the library that morning, he hadn't been back to their dorm, and he hadn't seen her the rest of the day. He was to plan Edea's parade, and nothing could go wrong. He couldn't let the void he was feeling get in the way of the plans he and the Sorceress had made for months now.
"Traver, is the float completed?"
Traver looked toward his Captain, noting the weary look in his stature. Today wasn't a good day to screw up, he could tell already. "Yes sir, the throne for Sorceress Edea is ready for tonight. When is the parade to start, Sir?"
Seifer racked his brains for the time of the parade. He knew it five minutes ago... "...17:30. I expect all of you," he said as he turned to address the entire room. "To be in your positions no later than 17:15. If you aren't, there will be punishment given."
They all nodded at his words. "You're free until the parade. And don't screw up. This is very important. It could make or break all of us, this Garden, and even worse... Edea. So everything has to be perfect." Once again, everyone nodded in sync. They stood and exited the room, going in various directions.
Seifer sighed. That's all he seemed to be doing anymore. That, and fighting with Alexia of course. He decided it was time to go talk to her, and at least try to make things right again. Besides, he needed to tell her something very important anyway.
Inside the dorm, Alexia was looking over the costume she was to be wearing in the parade. It consisted of a dark purple halter top, and an extremely short black skirt. Not something she'd feel exactly comfortable wearing in public, but that wasn't one of her priorities. She glanced over at Seifer, who just stood leaning up against the closed door in silence.
"Hardly saw you all day," she said quietly. "What a shocker."
"Lex, um... I have something to tell you."
"What?" She still couldn't look him in the face.
"You're not..." He cleared his throat. "Edea doesn't want you in the parade."
Her brow furrowed and her eyes finally met his. "Why not? You're going to be there aren't you?"
"She says it's too risky to be showing you off like that. You're Galbadia Garden's sniper. If people saw that you were siding with the Sorceress freely, after the assasinations, they'd know it was you without a doubt."
She forced a chuckle. "So that's it? That's how she's gonna get you? By not letting me in the parade?"
"Lex... please. I don't know what you have against Edea, but..."
She cut him off. "Seifer... she's... she's stealing you from me! Can't you see that?!" She quickly placed a hand over her mouth. Even though that's exactly how she felt, she hadn't wanted to blurt it out like that.
Pure shock enveloped Seifer's tired face. Alexia had never once voiced something so...blunt. He hadn't a clue that was the way she felt, he knew she was angry because he hadn't spent as much time with her lately, but he didn't think Edea was *stealing* him from Alexia.
"...W-what?"
The hand remained closed over her mouth, and she shook her head back and forth in disbelief. The urge to say what she'd just said had been boiling since day one of this whole Sorceress crap, but she never meant for it to spill over. Closing her eyes, she attempted to regain her dignity...at least what was left of it.
"Seifer...I...I didn't mean that..."
Seifer waved off her stammering words. "No, you did mean that, Alexia. I can hear it in the sound of your voice. You lie like a rug, you know that?"
Her face hardened slightly, and her heart burned a little at his tone. It seemed that was all she felt lately. He hurt her more than enough times in the past week. "No, you're right Seifer, I did mean that. This whole Sorceress Parade shit has been getting on my nerves since we got engaged, and I started living with you. Edea's been taking you away from me, you know that, but you don't want to admit it. I'm sick of fighting with you, and it's the last time I'm going to do it. I'm attending that parade whether you and your little Master like it or not, and there's no way you can stop me."
She slammed the door to their room, threw on the outfit and messed with her hair a little bit, and while Seifer struggled to come up with a comeback to her speech, and as she left the dorm, he clasped his pounding head. Tonight was going to be a *long* night...
Alexia had gotten about halfway to the front gate when she suddenly stopped short and hit her forehead, letting out a groan. She'd forgotten something very important back at their dorm: her sniper rifle. If she was going to be assassinating President Deling, her gun would come in handy, no doubt.
She hated the thought of going back to the dorm where Seifer still was. She didn't want to talk to him, look at him, or even be in the same room as he was at that time. Things were just going to horribly anymore... She was even starting to have second thoughts on marrying him...
She stood outside the door for a few moments, contemplating on whether or not to even enter, but she knew she had to or else everything would *really* get screwed up.
She opened the door slowly, poking her head in first. Sure enough, Seifer was there, sitting on the edge of the bed, his face buried in his hands. Her heart sunk at the sight, but she didn't say anything to him as she went inside and opened the closet door, taking out her weapon from the very back, which had been beside Seifer's Hyperion.
Seifer glanced up and watched as she made her way back to the door. Just as she was about to turn the knob and leave without saying a word to him, she took her hand from it and sighed. She just couldn't leave him that way; it broke her heart.
"Seifer, look... I know the parade isn't far from now, but... do you think maybe we could work this out beforehand?" she asked hopefully.
Suddenly gladdened by the change of heart Alexia had, Seifer jumped up off the bed. Folding his hands together, he stopped short in front of her, his eyes toward the floor.
"I'd really love that. I've wanted to have a talk with you for a while now, but things have been so hectic...and we've been fighting so much..."
She agreed heartily with that one. She didn't reach out to touch him, but the level of comfort in the room increased with his soft tone.
"I just feel...a little taken over by her. You must feel about ten times that. And with all this assassination stuff, I've really needed you here. And you're always with her. I guess it's just my green side showing through."
Seifer couldn't decide what to say to make things better. It was almost like he had a split-personality when it came to Edea and Alexia. He loved one, and he was certain who that one was, but what he felt for Edea was different. It wasn't passion or wonder, more like the need to feel secure by more than one person. Like a childish need for both parent's attention. He kept a neutral stance, hoping she'd keep her cool.
"I...I don't blame you a bit for feeling that way, Lex. It's really confusing...how I've been working for Edea, but still trying to spend time with you. And I promise, from now on, I'll make time for you. No matter what she needs, I'm going to keep my nights and whatever other time of the day I can open. Just for you and me, okay?"
She felt tears fill her eyes at his fair words. How long it would last, she couldn't be sure. Nodding absently, she let the wetness cascade down her cheek. Gripping her gun, she kissed him, and turned the knob.
"I'd really like that. Thank you, Seifer. Now let's go! We have a parade to get to!"
Before she headed out the door, however, he grabbed her wrist gently. "Actually, there's something else I need to tell you, Lex. It's...about tonight."
She turned back to him, puzzlement in her eyes. "What is it, Seif?"
He darted his eyes to the side, and fought silently with himself to tell her the truth or not. He seemed to be having a hard time with that these days. "I just wanted to tell you, when you go through with that assassination..."
He hesitated, and she rose her eyebrows, waiting for an answer. "Yes?"
At the last minute, he decided against it. "Just...be careful."