Squall stood by the window in Seifer's apartment overlooking the city. It had stopped down pouring a short while ago and it was now replaced by a slight trickle of rain outside. He wasn't quite sure why he agreed to his rival's invitation. He attributed his lack of better judgement to his current mood and problems. The owner was currently rummaging around somewhere. Glancing briefly at his watch, he noted that it was 4 am. Before Squall could really register the time Seifer returned with a pillow and blankets in his arms and something else.
"Think fast puberty boy!" Seifer then threw the bundle at Squall. He caught it without at second's thought. "You can have the couch, I'm going to bed and you better not disturb me, or you'll find out that I'm still on top of my game." Seifer's words were followed by the sound of his bedroom door being shut.
Squall stared for a moment at the retreating blond and began the process of building his makeshift bed. Noticing there was a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt, he quickly slipped out of his wet clothes and put on the borrowed ones. Once that was finished, sleep came easily since he was emotionally and physically exhausted.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Irvine and Zell trudged around the damp streets of Esthar looking for the missing commander. It was getting late. It was almost 6 o'clock and they were beginning to get tried. Zell was happy the rain had let up significantly. His blue eyes scanned the people in the crowd looking for the now familiar punk like dressed young man. Several times he found someone with the hairstyle, but they definitely weren't Squall.
Irvine looked at his ever-growing frustrated friend and quickly came to a decision. "Zell?" Zell looked up at Irvine faint hope flashed through his eyes. "If there's one thing I know about our commander is this, if he wanted to be found we would've found him. Time to head back and get some rest. We can continue searching later on today." Irvine then turned on his heel and began walking back to the palace.
Zell was about ready to explode. "Don't you care that Squall is out there. He's only wearing a hoodie and a pair of shorts for Hyne's sake. He could be freezing to death for all we know."
Not turning around, Irvine called back over his shoulder to Zell. "Listen partner, don't go start sounding like a mother hen. He's too resourceful for that. Just come on back. We're too tired to be of any real use to anybody right now."
Grudgingly, Zell caught up with Irvine and they both returned to the palace for a few precious hours of rest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~It was later on in the day when Squall was awakened by the smell of breakfast cooking. Is that bacon and pancakes? Wait, what, where? Suddenly everything that happened earlier flooded back into his memories. "Shit… How could I compromise the mission like that? I guess my disguise wasn't all that unique, just another notch to add to my list of failures…"
Before he could dwell any further into the past, Seifer called from the kitchen announcing breakfast was ready. Squall got up and walked into the small kitchenette area and took at seat at the table. Seifer sat on the other side tearing into his food. Squall briefly played with the thought that things were too weird but gave in when his stomach growled.
After eating, Seifer was the first to break the somewhat uncomfortable silence. "So Leonheart what are you running away from?"
The question totally knocked Squall off guard and he was unable to stop the flash of confusion that flittered briefly across his face.
Seifer grinned cockily at him. Score Almsay 1, Leonheart 0. "Come on it's not too easy to figure. You're not really the club goer type. Just to humor you I know that you wouldn't normally wear those chickenwuss type clothes and try to alter your appearance just to go clubbing."
"Oh and I suppose it's common for you to frequent the Tonberry Den? Are you that hit up for some loving that you're reduced to clubbing and trying to find some drunk whore to sleep with you?"
Seifer's grin never wavered; however his eyes flashed in anger in response to his rival's retort. Score Almsay 1, Leonheart 1. I'm prepared to win this battle today, I won't settle for a tie this time. Time to go in for the kill. Seifer's grin seemed to get larger as Squall watched him wearily from his seat.
"It's funny how they call you a lion. They have the right species but wrong animal. You're more of a pussy than a lion or should I just call you Ice Prince. You're obviously running from something." His voice began to take on a bitter edge. "Esthar is the city to get lost in. One doesn't come here to be found. Is that what you want Leonheart." He said sneering Squall's last name.
The reaction was instantaneous; Squall stood up abruptly slamming his hands down on the table, causing everything to quake beneath his fists. His eyes held the familiar glimmer of anger that they often beheld when they dueled. His nostrils flared as he shook with rage. Seifer simply stared at him eyes taunting him. Double points awarded for hitting a nerve. Almsay 3, Squall 1.
"You're wrong. You don't know what you're talking about Sorceress Lapdog!"
"Come on puberty boy you'll have to do better than that. Why don't you tell me, if I'm so wrong. I bet it's some dumb reason that you're agonizing over. You wouldn't know true pain if Griever came and bit you on the butt!"
In a fit of rage Squall slipped up and mentioned he found his father and that's he's on a mission, mixed in with some choice expletives. Realizing his mistake, Squall slid back down to his and set his face once again to the impassive, Mr. Silent Angst mode. Under his breath Squall berated himself for breaching and endangering the mission as well as being a loser.
Seifer absorbed the information and planned what he had to say carefully; a screw up at this moment would cost him the match and whatever else was at stake that he chose not to dwell on. I must be getting soft, why I'm going through all the trouble to help my rival, ex-rival or perhaps friend…Dream on Almsay you just don't want your rival to be weak when you challenge him again. Yeah that's it. Besides I have a match to win. Almsay 5, Leonheart 1.
"Listen Squall from what I've heard you need to re-evaluate some things. Are you so scared as to cast aside every orphan's dream of finding his or her parent? I know the GFs haven't screwed up your soup for brains so far as to forget that basic dream."
Seifer saw Squall twitch somewhat and chose that as a sign meaning to continue.
"Besides, if you're that worried about the mission, I didn't really know it was you until you put me in the chokehold and hissed at me. I remember that move from our many sparring lessons. I figured you were some punk kid on the streets looking for a place to crash, I'm not beyond charity you know. I know what it's like to live on the streets and being in need of a warm place."
Replacing his ever-cocky grin on his face Seifer decided for one last-ditch effort.
"I don't know if I can call you my rival with you in this pathetic state. I'd say you need some sort of mission to reclaim that coveted title and your honor in general."
Squall snorted and asked darkly, with thinly veiled sarcasm. "What would be worthy to reclaim that prestigious position as well as my honor since I'm but a broken man before your greatness."
"I'm glad you acknowledge my power. To redeem your honor I challenge you to confront your father as a real Lion would and continue this mission, casting aside your petty qualms."
Squall sat back and thought over Seifer's challenge. When am I ever one to turn down a challenge? Well let's see if he can handle one of mine.
"I accept your challenge on the basis that you accept my challenge."
Seifer was intrigued, he'd thought he have to berate Squall some more before the young man finally rationalized things out. "What you're challenge?" Almsay 5, Leonheart 3.
Squall looked Seifer in his eyes and gave his version of the cocky grin. "I challenge you to stop being lost and return to garden where you…
Seifer became enraged and stood up quickly yelling at Squall.
"Wait just a minute Leonheart, I'm not going on trial for any of that Sorceress War crap! My name was all ready cleared by Edea and Odine stating that I was possessed at the time…"
Squall simply ignored his outburst.
"Where you will become a SeeD and continue to be my rival."
Seifer sat back down.
"Challenge accepted."
"Then we have a deal?"
Seifer was shocked but didn't let it show. He reached his hand across the table and the two shook hands.
"Deal."
Seifer looked at Squall. This is quite interesting, final score Almsay 5, Leonheart 5. Looks like we end in a tie again. I should've known that the match would end where it started, at Balamb Garden.