Chapter 2: Stay

            It had been sixth months since Seifer had rescued me, six long months of silence. Speech wasn't something I was ready for and I found that even though I chose to live in denial, those events still haunted me. Dreading over such thoughts though didn't appeal to me. I could no longer hide in the corner of my mind because those horrors reached out to the farthest reaches of my conscious and even my dreams. All those times I would space out to just think and be alone in my head, I never thought much about what my reaction would be if I could no longer do that. Unfortunately, now, I couldn't. Every thought eventually led up to Rinoa or what her and her followers had done to me. Lionheart even made my stomach curl with fear at times. Just to see my blade glinting in magnificence made my mind drift off to the very same metal that had been driven through me just before Seifer came to my rescue.

With a tired sigh, the plug to the bathtub was pulled up and I climbed out from my two hour soak. To be clean again . . . it was so gratifying. I must have gone a few weeks without a wash when Rinoa brought me to the Centra Islands. That awful, dirty feeling still clung to me at times and I found it hard to even look at my own reflection as I stepped in front of the mirror. My eyes rose though and I wrinkled my nose at the image that greeted me. To be honest, I looked tired, despite the months of rest they'd confined me to. Shaggy brown bangs fell before my eyes, reminding me of a shield and I took back my thoughts of getting them trimmed. It gave me something to hide behind other than an indifferent mask, which I feared would not be used again. I certainly did not want to play "Squall the victim", though.

Exhaling exaggeratedly, a towel was wrapped around my waist and I headed out to get dressed.  I nearly yelped when I saw him sitting in the arm chair that he had occupied himself in for the past several weeks. Clutching my hand to my chest after gasping in shock, I shook my head and glared at him briefly. I would need to re-go training because I was still jumpy, though in my opinion I had every right to be. Pulling my bathrobe tighter around myself, I glanced away before padding to my bed and sitting in front of him. I was thankful for the waterproof bandaging along my wrists; I don't think I'm quite ready to see the scars yet.

                I just realized that for the first time in seven months, I was able to see my reflection in the mirror. Seifer had done a good job of taking care of me. I didn't even realize he'd kept me clean and shaven. I know he'd helped me bathe more than once or twice, but I guess he feared I'd be too unsteady with a razor to shave so he must have done it for me while I slept. He was smart to keep me away from sharp objects. . . I can barely look at my gunblade without cringing. I would thank him when I decided it was time to speak. For now, I tilted my head in curiosity as he just sat there staring at me.

"I'm glad to see you're finally up and about, Leonhart," he said evenly, reaching out to push my bangs from my face.

I flinched.

I hadn't meant to, but I did and he noticed this, pulling back immediately. Bowing my head in apology, he shrugged it off with that same old arrogant smile. It surprised me that he still put up with my silence even after my nightmares; he'd kept at my side throughout the whole half of the year. After about a month, he had had a couch installed in my dorm, claiming sleeping in a chair was damned uncomfortable. It got a small smile out of me and I think that pleased him more than anything else because his features softened before he pulled himself together.

Kadowaki had told me about his state when he brought me in. She had told me that he was a wreck, looked almost as bad as I did. Blood was all over him she said, saturated in his clothes and stained his flesh. I assume the trench coat had either been tossed out or was buried in the closet, never to be used again because I haven't seen him in it since the time he rescued me. He was either seen in Balamb or SeeD attire, or jeans and t-shirts. The missing trademark coat, though, made his new attire lose the "I'm above you" attitude I remember him having just before she'd taken me. Dr. Kadowaki said she liked him better without it, though. I think I just shrugged my shoulders at that.

When they had lost me those few times, Kadowaki said he died with me each time. When I finally awoke, I had found him in tears. Never before had I seen Seifer Almasy cry, even when the worst was upon him. He never said anything about that night . . . day, whenever it happened to be. I'm thankful for that much and more because he still stuck it out with me.

"So. . ." Seifer began, following my gaze to the window. It was sunny out. "Would you like to go out for a walk later on and then catch some lunch?"

That sounded nice and so I agreed. With his help, I dressed and combed my hair which, he had stated, had become too long. The afternoon was a nice one and I was greeted with many happy smiles from the students at Garden. Seifer had informed me that Zell and Selphie had been stationed in Trabia to help train the SeeD recruits. Quistis had visited me several times during my recovery, often reading from the Balamb Times or talking about current events which Seifer had failed to inform me on. Cid had passed away some three months ago . . . Seifer promised to take me to his gravesite next week. My dear Matron had it placed in the field of flowers that grew out behind the orphanage which had been transformed into a bed and breakfast. I will miss him. Cid was like a father to me.

Speaking of fathers, Laguna had sought out whoever was left of Rinoa's cult members and had them executed for torture, rape, attempted murder and kidnapping; all of which had been done to me, so in the end, justice was served. During these past sixth months, Laguna has made sure I had the best of care. I was in Kadowaki's hands, so, yeah, I did have the best quality service could buy. She took care of me free of charge, though. Seifer and I were some of her oldest and definitely most frequent patients. She was just like a Nanny to both him and me.

When we got back to my room, it was well after curfew. I had spent the day catching up with everyone. I had been informed by Quistis, who was now Headmaster since Cid's passing, that I would be exempt from all missions until she feels I'm stable enough to handle them. In other words, I still had to undergo training again because I had been stuck without any physical activity for so long. Seifer offered to be my partner, but Quistis objected saying that knowing the way we train, I would end up back in bed all over again.

Seifer helped me into my pajamas and tucked me into bed with a pat of my head and a whispered goodnight. As he headed for the door, though, I panicked. The sudden fear of being left alone pitted in my stomach and as the lights were flipped off and I was enclosed in darkness, fright over came me and I spoke.

"Please, don't go."

My words stopped him dead in his tracks and the lights were turned back on, his expression that of astonishment. Dread was clearly written across my own features and he hurriedly made his way back to me, settling down in that chair I had gotten so accustomed to seeing him in. I hated feeling so weak . . . so vulnerable. It wasn't a role I was used to being in nor was I ready to accept it. Perhaps Seifer realized this because he tentatively took my hand in his own and squeezed it reassuringly. His presence calmed the feelings that had stirred back into waking, allowing me to settle back down on my side so I could keep him in my sight. The jade eyes sparkled with understanding and I was able to fall asleep after a few minutes. When I awoke to the frequent terrors of my imagination, he was still there and I was able to overcome each nightmare because he was still with me. He had stayed.

A/N: Okies, second chapter finally up. ^^ *glares evilly at teachers* I haven't been able to write lately because of them. *hiss* Heathens. Anyhoo, Squall spoke!!! ^^ And it was Seifer induced! Well. . .sorta. Please review if you would like this to continue and if you have any ideas, feel free to suggest what should happen next. Hate to say it, but I'm sorta stuck. Welp, please review! Ciao!