Chapter Three: Invisible Scars
"The west side is becoming over crowded. They request that rocks from the mine be used to build more houses," Fujin read off a pamphlet. She twirled an inked peacock feather between her slender fingers. Red eyes glanced to the blonde lounging in a large cushioned chair.
"Their request is declined. Tell them to spread out to the east side. Also, run the idea by my father that we should allow families only to have one child. They are breeding and spreading as rapidly as gnats.," Seifer replied while grabbing a small pillow to toss into the air. He caught the pillow with a side-glance to his assistant. "Next?"
Fujin wrote carefully on the canvas before continuing, "Nothing more, except that your father wants you and Miss Rinoa to be present tonight at dinner."
Grimacing, Seifer tossed the pillow towards the other side of his large room. It slid across the floor until bumping into the wall. His father never made time to spend with both him and Rinoa. Whatever the reason, Seifer assumed it not to be good. Even if it was a harmless meeting, it could only last so long. Both he and his father were strong headed, sharp tongued and just plain stubborn. They'd end up arguing about something as silly as wearing the wrong clothes for certain occasions—which Seifer did often. Today he was wearing something similar to servant's tunic and shorts. The only differences were that Seifer's was slightly v-cut at the neck, pointed at the shoulders and lined with silver.
He crossed his arms with a childish pout, "Is there a reason why?"
"He didn't say why, but I assume one of his servants has informed him about yours and Miss Rinoa's frequent disagreements," Fujin replied while rolling up the parchment. She arched an eyebrow at Seifer's antics, "I suggest you be on your best behavior. Your father has been rather moody this week."
Seifer grunted. Fujin turned and began for the door. Seifer twisted on the chair to look over the back and speak to his retreating assistant. "Have you seen a new servant around the palace as of late?"
Fujin paused at the door, which was nothing more than layers of dark colored silk draped over the entrance. "Yes. What would you like to know about him?"
Seifer smiled. He always knew Fujin had a sharp eye. "Tell me anything you know about him"
Fujin looked off to the side in thought, " His name is Squall Leonhart. He use to work in the rock quarry but Rinoa ordered that he be moved to the palace as one of her personal servants. She fancies his looks and body, of that I am sure---"
At this point Seifer snorted. Fujin smiled then continued, "Not that he can compare with you, My Prince. He is stubborn, silent and cold—like Shiva herself had touched him."
"Can he speak?" Seifer questioned while trying to appear less than interested.
"I do not know. However, I would not say he is a mute. The look in his eyes shows understanding. I think he simply refuses to talk," Fujin answered offhandedly.
"Thank you, that will be all for now," Seifer said while sinking back into the chair. Fujin pushed through the layers of silk and was gone.
Seifer wasn't really interested in learning about Squall. He only asked so he could figure out a way to get under the brunet's skin—that way he could also get under Rinoa's skin as well. In the past days, he had made a habit out of attempting to trip the brunet whenever they passed in the halls, or taunting him when he was working with the other servants. It was little things, but it was so much fun to torment both Squall and Rinoa at the same time.
Speaking of Rinoa, Seifer thought as he glanced at the far side of his room where a gape in the wall served as a window. Judging by the amount of light creeping in through the see-through curtains (meant to keep the bugs out), Seifer could assume that it was late in the afternoon. He might as well go and personally break the bad news to Rinoa.
Hopping out of the chair, Seifer slinked through his doorway and down the halls. Just a few twists and turns later and he was outside Rinoa's room. Just as he was about to enter uninvited, the curtains parted as a servant stepped out. Instead of going around, this servant stopped in front of Seifer and gazed up at the blonde as if expecting the Prince to move aside.
"Ah, Squall. Not the person I am looking for, but someone I could always make time for," Seifer grinned as he looked down up on the glaring brunet. Such an interesting servant; was he challenging his power?
"Where is Rinoa?" Seifer questioned with a slight narrow of his eyes. Squall didn't respond or move. Seifer sneered and stepped closer so he had to tilt his chin down in order to keep direct eye contact. "Answer me."
Still no response. Squall made a move to step around, but Seifer seized a handful of his tunic before the first step was even taken. The blonde smiled with a malicious glint in his emerald eyes. Squall tried to pull back, but Seifer only obliged by stepping forward to push Squall through the curtains and into Rinoa's empty room.
A heavy perfume of burning candles flooded Seifer's sense. He sneezed, earning an 'ugh' from Squall. Smirking, Seifer leaned forward and quickly wiped his face on the brunet's shoulder. Squall responded by shoving him away with a sneer of disgust.
"Just who do you think you are?" Seifer question was rhetorical. He was clearly amused with Squall's reaction. Sooner or later the brunet had to say something in retaliation. "You act like you are some son of a Pharaoh."
Seifer began to advance on Squall. For every step forward, Squall took a retreating step backwards. "I think the perfume of this room has gone to your head. It seems you are forgetting you place, slave."
Squall stumbled, nearly tripping backwards over a short chair. Seifer pursued, shoving the chair out of his way to send it clattering across the marble floor. "You are nothing Squall. You don't deserve a name. You are a slave, no better than a rag to wipe away my sweat and snot. You belong under my feet, so you need to stop acting otherwise."
Squall was inches from bumping his back into the wall. Seifer stopped upon seeing his prey was trapped for the time being. " But here you stand, pretending to be someone important when you're not. You are a slave and you must have the scars to prove it!"
Seifer lunged and Squall ducked under the blonde's arms and made a dash for the door. Seifer twirled and grabbed the back of Squall's tunic before the servant could get too far. He then jerked Squall to the ground, hearing a satisfying rip of cloth in the process. Seifer quickly pinned the brunet belly down on the hard floor, and the moved to straddle the other's hips to keep him in place. Squall was trying to push himself up with his arms, but soon the side of his face was being pressed into the marble by Seifer's strong hand on the back of his head. Squall still managed to struggle, trying to roll in order to throw the blonde off.
"You have to have the scars. You can't have worked in the quarry without receiving a whip or two. If not there, then from somewhere else," Seifer hissed down at the brunet that growled angrily back up to him. Without warning, Seifer snatched the back collar of Squall's tunic and viciously jerked backwards. The ring of fabric choked Squall before the threads eventually ripped apart. Squall reached for his throat as his back shuddered in a fit of coughs.
Seifer ignored the brunet under him and proceeded to rip away the gray tunic to expose Squall's back. He was desperate to find some imperfection. That way he could use it against Rinoa. He could throw it in her face how she is flawed herself, and how low on the scale of power she truly was.
After pulling away the fabric, Seifer let go of Squall's head and used both of his hands to examine the other's back. It was flawless. Seifer ran his fingers over the smooth skin, searching for a scar. The only thing he found was a small mole on Squall's left shoulder blade.
Seifer didn't notice that Squall had gone still beneath his touch. He merely continued to run his hands over Squall's well muscled shoulders, down the easy palpable spine, curving at the slim waist and then running his fingers feather-light up the side of Squall's ribs—making the brunet shiver against the floor. Seifer repeated this pattern several times. He was so obsessed with trying to find some trace of a scar, that he didn't notice the whisper-like rustle of silk.
"What are you doing!?"
Seifer's head snapped up to see Rinoa looking appalled at the scene before her. One of her female servants was shying behind a layer of silk. Seifer's eyes switched to Squall. He could see the brunet appearing to be struggling in order to breathe. He had rapid, shallow breaths; warm breaths that fogged against the marble floor.
"I—" Seifer cut himself off and began to rise. Squall immediately rolled, throwing Seifer to the side. The blonde bared his teeth in a snarl. He then kicked his foot out, catching Squall's hip and succeeding in pushing the brunet's body away. Squall kept his silence and glared for all he was worth.
"Stop it!" Rinoa shrieked and stepped between the two men.
Seifer stood and began to dust himself off. As an after thought he wiped the palms of his hands over the front of his tunic. Seifer had just touched a slave—not just touched as in grabbed an arm. What he had done to the other bordered on the line of caressing. Squall was not just a slave either; he was another male. Seifer's action had been wrong on so many different levels.
"Nothing. I wasn't doing anything to him," Seifer responded as calmly as he could manage. He had turned his back to Squall, refusing to look at what he might have done to the brunet.
"Don't pretend that nothing happened. His shirt! What were you doing to him!?" Rinoa pressed while kneeling next to Squall. She touched his bare shoulder and watched him pull away to sit up. Rinoa face looked concerned as she eyed Squall, "What did he do to you?"
"Yes, ask the mute," Seifer muttered while glancing over his shoulder. Squall was still glaring at him, but it looked so pathetic. The front of his shirt was sagging down, exposing a good portion of his chest. His right cheek was bright red from being pressed into the floor. Seifer looked away.
Rinoa wrinkled her nose at Seifer with a light shake of her head, sending thin strands of black falling off her shoulders. She then turned back to Squall and tilted her head to the side with a disarming smile, "Tell me what he did to you."
"He did nothing," an unfamiliar voice mumbled.
Seifer whirled to look at the female servant, but the voice didn't come from her. He turned his eyes to the only other person in the room. Squall. The man Seifer had just assaulted was saying nothing had happened. It was a surprise to hear the servant speak. Seifer had just won in three different ways with those simple words. First, he had gotten Squall to speak. Second, he had obviously obtained some dominance over the brunet in order to have him lying. Third, one point for Seifer, Zero for Rinoa. It felt good to be winning.
"What.. you can't honestly tell me that he did nothing to you. I saw him sitting on top of you! Your shirt is ripped!" Rinoa argued growing angry. Squall didn't respond, having said his words for the day. He turned his face away and looked at the floor letting brown locks of hair hide his eyes.
Seifer weakly smiled, "You heard him. Nothing happened."
"You made him lie," Rinoa stood and turned on the tall blonde with an accusing glare.
"Oh?" Seifer mocked, regaining his arrogant smirk, "And how did I do that?"
"Like you always do it. You threatened him," Rinoa spoke lowly. The room temperature dropped sending an unpleasant chill up Seifer's spine.
"I haven't threatened him," Seifer paused for effect. The back of his mind was telling him to get out of that room. "At least not yet."
Seifer moved before Rinoa could freeze him to the spot. He walked over to Squall and doubled while seizing the brunet's chin in one hand. He tilted Squall's face up to his own and smiled at the glare he met. The next moment was taken to admire the raging ocean that was beginning to form. Metallic blue waves rising and breaking while mixing with the swirling gray clouds that threatened to spark lightning. The energy in those eyes was remarkable.
"Seifer, what are you doing?" Rinoa's growl cut off his daze.
The blonde's smile broadened. That's right, he was working on threatening Squall. "I may have not found a scar on you, but I can change that."
Squall knocked Seifer's hand away, stood and walked towards the other end of the room. Seifer smirked and took a few steps towards the door. Jade eyes adverted to the ruffled sorceress. "I'll see you at dinner, my father requests that both of us be present."
"Get out already," Rinoa shot at him.
Seifer ducked through the curtains and retreated down the hall. He knew he had royally pissed off Rinoa. She had been on the verge of using a God's power against him. It had been worth the trouble though. Who knew that a slave could be a source of weakness?
Laughing to himself, Seifer began to job down the hall to use up the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He felt excited. Seifer had found the perfect way to torment Rinoa. It would be his revenge for all the times she had under minded him. It would be fun as well—Squall wouldn't just give in, he was.. stubborn.
No!
Seifer came to an abrupt halt. It was wrong. Seifer should not have enjoyed what he did to Squall. He should not still feel the warm sensation of Squall's skin under his fingertips. It was disturbing to say the least. Seifer wiped his hands over his shirt for a second time. He walked the rest of the way to his room to regain his composure before heading out for dinner.