Disclaimer - The day I get ownership of Final Fantasy VIII will be the day
I'll throw a big celebration party for all of my loyal reviewers and then
we'll sit down and try to make a few fanfics into mini-movies.
Predicament
Lost in a dream of the past, he shivered despite the heat of the desert. He knew this dream. He'd had it many times. He sat numbly in the corner of his suspended cell and hugged his knees. He'd always considered himself a loner, but now that he had been confined in such a small, dim, space, for so long, he wasn't so sure that he liked that lifestyle. Loneliness was a sensation that was foreign to him, up until now. Being alone was something he'd never again pride himself in as long as he lived; assuming he would ever get out of this predicament. Being lonely however, was by far the least of his problems. His subconcious mind knew what would happen next. It had happened many times in his dreams. But sometimes it seemed so real, that he forgot it was a dream. It was only after he'd awoken that he realized what had happened. He was on the verge of dozing off, or zoning out into a distant part of his subconscious mind. Either way, it would be better than staying awake, staring at an unchanging wall and slowly going insane. His head nodded as he drifted off. Just as he was about to succumb to his fatigue, he felt the floor of his cell vibrate just the slightest. Wide-eyed, he knew what was happening. His cell was being positioned so that someone could enter it. That was never good. He hadn't a clue how long he'd been pinned up in his cell, but he had a rough idea judging by the number of meals he was given and the number of guard visits made.
He frowned at the thought, and for an unsettling moment could feel bile creeping its way up. This wasn't good. It hadn't been near long enough since the last meal so that meant it was one of the routine guard checks. His body involuntarily shuddered. Guard checks were but an excuse for the guards to torment their prisoners. He had fought them the first dozen times they'd visited him. It had proven downright agonizing. The guards, being well armed and in greater numbers, had easily forced him into submission by any means they felt proper. Each time they'd promised to return the next day. So far they'd visited seventy-three days, assuming he hadn't lost count. His eyes never left the door he knew would open in a matter of moments. He was ready for them although he would do nothing. His former self would fight them to the death. But he was no longer his former self. He hadn't a clue what he really was. Who he really was. The door fell open and he automatically tensed. Something wasn't right. There were no footsteps, no shouts and no clubs or guns.
"You don't understand our protocols ma'am. You shouldn't even be here," A husky voice bellowed. Inwardly he cringed. He knew to which guard that voice belonged.
"I know that your protocols are only applicable to those who are either locked in this prison or visiting one of its prisoners. This man is neither of those. This slip is my proof that he has been pardoned and freed as of twenty minutes ago," A clearly agitated female voice threatened. "Now move." After a few shuffling sounds and the sound of someone flipping frantically through paperwork, a thin petite shadow fell into the room. He still did not move. He'd fallen for too many lures to get up for this one. The last time he'd been beaten badly for attempting to escape. In reality he was trying to see who was lingering outside his opened cell.
He tentatively raised his head far enough so that he could see in front of him. The sight to greet his eyes was not that of a prison uniform, but of cleavage. Startled, he jumped back at the unexpected sight and bumped his head against the wall. What was going on?
"Are you okay?" She asked as she ran her hands along his arms. He stared back at her in a stunned silence. "What have they done to you?" He knew her. She was one of his assignments. To retrieve her he had...and now she was here. She reached out a gentle hand and brushed his greasy hair out of the way. "Oh, Seifer. What have they done." He knew what she was asking about. It was the reason he was unable to fully open his eye and why he felt the thickened clot of hair matted with what had to been blood.
"Ellone?" His voice came out softly as he still tried to absorb what was happening.
"I'm getting you out of here. Come on," She pulled at his arm to no avail. "We have to go. You can't stay here." He wanted to go. He wanted so desperately to be free of this hell hole. Hesitantly he pushed himself up off the floor and allowed her to lead him. There was a guard at the door causing him to instinctively step back. She noticed this and then released his hand and did the unthinkable. He watched in dismay as she pushed the guard back. "Stop taunting him and leave him alone! Come on Seifer you're free."
Those words had been liberating. She was liberating. He clung to her for she was his only salvation. The one sole in the entire world that appeared to remember his existence was quickly and confidently leading him to his freedom. He would follow her forever if she willed. Nothing could touch him when he was with her. He hadn't entirely understood it at the time; but she was his newfound security.
________________________________________________________________________
"Stop!" She squealed. "You're going to make me fall down!"
'What?' Seifer thought as he willed himself to leave his dream.
"Ahh!" She cried out. "I mean it! Seifer!"
"Just a bit ticklish aren't we," His voice carried a hint of mischief in it. Seifer finally realized what was going on and watched the home video that he'd left playing.
"Seifer please. You know how I get," Her voice dropped a bit lower as she backed away from him. A mischievous smile, parallel to the one he wore on the television's screen crossed his lips. It wasn't too late. Maybe he would call her. On the screen before him, she fell to the ground and pulled him down as well. That day had been beautiful. Aside from the nice weather, he'd had her there with him. Or was it she'd had him. Either way, it was definitely another turning point in his life. Although the Seifer recorded on the tape playing hadn't a clue, the Seifer watching knew of the importance of what she was about to say.
He watched as he kissed at her jaw-line and tried to nip a bit at her neck. She shrugged back.
"This is important," She smiled as she tried to get his undivided attention.
"Can't be that hard to say," He said as he reluctantly stopped what he was doing and studied her face.
She smiled softly and ran her fingers through his still shaggy hair. He closed his eyes at the contact and shivered when she ran her finger along his newly acquired scar near his left temple. "You're the one." He raised an eyebrow.
"Uh...okay," He laughed lightly.
She smiled again in response. "No Seifer. I mean you're the only one." He once again looked at her in an amused confusion. "You'll never again be an outsider." Seifer rose to a sitting position and eyed her suspiciously. "No its not like in the past. I'll always be here. I'll always be here for you," She rose as well and scooted closer to him.
"Don't make a promise you can't keep," He stated. She fell silent but joined him in looking over the rolling hills near her hometown.
"Its more than a promise," She finally spoke. "So much more. Its my vow to you. You should know by now my feelings."
"Play with fire and get burned," He mumbled as he stared off.
"Now that's some big bad talk," She teased. "Too bad it has no effect on me." Seifer watched the television as his recorded self narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't look at me like that," She said as she shot the look back at him and slowly climbed up into his lap. "Enough with the wall." He watched entranced as she brushed his hair out of his eyes and ran her fingers under his chin. "I know who you are so don't try and hide."
"If you knew me you'd run," He looked to the ground.
"No."
"What?" He looked back at her face.
"You're not what you see yourself as," She draped her arms around his neck. "You are so much more," Her face flushed a light crimson as she looked away. "So much more to me."
"How much more?" Seifer decided to milk the situation for all it was worth.
"So much more," She whispered. He narrowed his eyes as she tried to pull away.
"You were going to say something else....." He insisted.
She was turning a bright shade of red now. He pulled her back into his lap and held her there. "Yeah well," She paused. At his insistence she tried to turn away.
"Come on."
"Its just a silly romantic dream."
"It can't be that silly. I'm obviously in it," He turned her face back to his.
"You know I love you," She smiled.
He smiled in response. "Yeah. I know."
Behind him on the table his cell phone began to ring. He quickly picked it up and flipped it open. It was her.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Something was wrong and she was panicking. "Slow down. Wait. Where are you? Stay right there." He flipped the phone shut, grabbed Hyperion and his keys and rushed from the Deling City hotel room.
************************************************************************
Barrett Machain - Glad you liked the beginning so much. *grins* I had a lot of fun with the scene between the two presidents. And yes that chapter definitely hinted to Darkened Ice's chapter 17. Here's how Seifer at least fits into this. Ellone's in there a bit.
ameli stoncius - Of course I do the evil side better than you do.......
Blakened - You have an attempted assassination plot for Laguna too? Poor guy can't win for loosing....
Lovely Princess Peach - I can't say I recognize that name. Did you go and change it on me? Your review was quite .....interesting. I enjoyed reading it. But do I have to kill off both president's to make this story as good as my first?
aratcoien - The last thoughts that Laguna had were the hardest part to write. I think it came out okay though. Yeah, this romance definitely started off with a conflict....
element6 - That first chapter had to be in there. Just trust me...part of this story is planned out. Can I assume you're a Laguna fan?
***********************************************************************
Here you go. After I get up the last chapter of Leather-bound Secrets I'm going to pick up one of these stories and finish them. I only have to add a second chapter to Unveiled Consternation and then you guys will have all you need to pick the story you want to see next.
Please read and review. It really makes me happy, and although there's no scientific proof, I think it boosts my creativity and update time.
Predicament
Lost in a dream of the past, he shivered despite the heat of the desert. He knew this dream. He'd had it many times. He sat numbly in the corner of his suspended cell and hugged his knees. He'd always considered himself a loner, but now that he had been confined in such a small, dim, space, for so long, he wasn't so sure that he liked that lifestyle. Loneliness was a sensation that was foreign to him, up until now. Being alone was something he'd never again pride himself in as long as he lived; assuming he would ever get out of this predicament. Being lonely however, was by far the least of his problems. His subconcious mind knew what would happen next. It had happened many times in his dreams. But sometimes it seemed so real, that he forgot it was a dream. It was only after he'd awoken that he realized what had happened. He was on the verge of dozing off, or zoning out into a distant part of his subconscious mind. Either way, it would be better than staying awake, staring at an unchanging wall and slowly going insane. His head nodded as he drifted off. Just as he was about to succumb to his fatigue, he felt the floor of his cell vibrate just the slightest. Wide-eyed, he knew what was happening. His cell was being positioned so that someone could enter it. That was never good. He hadn't a clue how long he'd been pinned up in his cell, but he had a rough idea judging by the number of meals he was given and the number of guard visits made.
He frowned at the thought, and for an unsettling moment could feel bile creeping its way up. This wasn't good. It hadn't been near long enough since the last meal so that meant it was one of the routine guard checks. His body involuntarily shuddered. Guard checks were but an excuse for the guards to torment their prisoners. He had fought them the first dozen times they'd visited him. It had proven downright agonizing. The guards, being well armed and in greater numbers, had easily forced him into submission by any means they felt proper. Each time they'd promised to return the next day. So far they'd visited seventy-three days, assuming he hadn't lost count. His eyes never left the door he knew would open in a matter of moments. He was ready for them although he would do nothing. His former self would fight them to the death. But he was no longer his former self. He hadn't a clue what he really was. Who he really was. The door fell open and he automatically tensed. Something wasn't right. There were no footsteps, no shouts and no clubs or guns.
"You don't understand our protocols ma'am. You shouldn't even be here," A husky voice bellowed. Inwardly he cringed. He knew to which guard that voice belonged.
"I know that your protocols are only applicable to those who are either locked in this prison or visiting one of its prisoners. This man is neither of those. This slip is my proof that he has been pardoned and freed as of twenty minutes ago," A clearly agitated female voice threatened. "Now move." After a few shuffling sounds and the sound of someone flipping frantically through paperwork, a thin petite shadow fell into the room. He still did not move. He'd fallen for too many lures to get up for this one. The last time he'd been beaten badly for attempting to escape. In reality he was trying to see who was lingering outside his opened cell.
He tentatively raised his head far enough so that he could see in front of him. The sight to greet his eyes was not that of a prison uniform, but of cleavage. Startled, he jumped back at the unexpected sight and bumped his head against the wall. What was going on?
"Are you okay?" She asked as she ran her hands along his arms. He stared back at her in a stunned silence. "What have they done to you?" He knew her. She was one of his assignments. To retrieve her he had...and now she was here. She reached out a gentle hand and brushed his greasy hair out of the way. "Oh, Seifer. What have they done." He knew what she was asking about. It was the reason he was unable to fully open his eye and why he felt the thickened clot of hair matted with what had to been blood.
"Ellone?" His voice came out softly as he still tried to absorb what was happening.
"I'm getting you out of here. Come on," She pulled at his arm to no avail. "We have to go. You can't stay here." He wanted to go. He wanted so desperately to be free of this hell hole. Hesitantly he pushed himself up off the floor and allowed her to lead him. There was a guard at the door causing him to instinctively step back. She noticed this and then released his hand and did the unthinkable. He watched in dismay as she pushed the guard back. "Stop taunting him and leave him alone! Come on Seifer you're free."
Those words had been liberating. She was liberating. He clung to her for she was his only salvation. The one sole in the entire world that appeared to remember his existence was quickly and confidently leading him to his freedom. He would follow her forever if she willed. Nothing could touch him when he was with her. He hadn't entirely understood it at the time; but she was his newfound security.
________________________________________________________________________
"Stop!" She squealed. "You're going to make me fall down!"
'What?' Seifer thought as he willed himself to leave his dream.
"Ahh!" She cried out. "I mean it! Seifer!"
"Just a bit ticklish aren't we," His voice carried a hint of mischief in it. Seifer finally realized what was going on and watched the home video that he'd left playing.
"Seifer please. You know how I get," Her voice dropped a bit lower as she backed away from him. A mischievous smile, parallel to the one he wore on the television's screen crossed his lips. It wasn't too late. Maybe he would call her. On the screen before him, she fell to the ground and pulled him down as well. That day had been beautiful. Aside from the nice weather, he'd had her there with him. Or was it she'd had him. Either way, it was definitely another turning point in his life. Although the Seifer recorded on the tape playing hadn't a clue, the Seifer watching knew of the importance of what she was about to say.
He watched as he kissed at her jaw-line and tried to nip a bit at her neck. She shrugged back.
"This is important," She smiled as she tried to get his undivided attention.
"Can't be that hard to say," He said as he reluctantly stopped what he was doing and studied her face.
She smiled softly and ran her fingers through his still shaggy hair. He closed his eyes at the contact and shivered when she ran her finger along his newly acquired scar near his left temple. "You're the one." He raised an eyebrow.
"Uh...okay," He laughed lightly.
She smiled again in response. "No Seifer. I mean you're the only one." He once again looked at her in an amused confusion. "You'll never again be an outsider." Seifer rose to a sitting position and eyed her suspiciously. "No its not like in the past. I'll always be here. I'll always be here for you," She rose as well and scooted closer to him.
"Don't make a promise you can't keep," He stated. She fell silent but joined him in looking over the rolling hills near her hometown.
"Its more than a promise," She finally spoke. "So much more. Its my vow to you. You should know by now my feelings."
"Play with fire and get burned," He mumbled as he stared off.
"Now that's some big bad talk," She teased. "Too bad it has no effect on me." Seifer watched the television as his recorded self narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't look at me like that," She said as she shot the look back at him and slowly climbed up into his lap. "Enough with the wall." He watched entranced as she brushed his hair out of his eyes and ran her fingers under his chin. "I know who you are so don't try and hide."
"If you knew me you'd run," He looked to the ground.
"No."
"What?" He looked back at her face.
"You're not what you see yourself as," She draped her arms around his neck. "You are so much more," Her face flushed a light crimson as she looked away. "So much more to me."
"How much more?" Seifer decided to milk the situation for all it was worth.
"So much more," She whispered. He narrowed his eyes as she tried to pull away.
"You were going to say something else....." He insisted.
She was turning a bright shade of red now. He pulled her back into his lap and held her there. "Yeah well," She paused. At his insistence she tried to turn away.
"Come on."
"Its just a silly romantic dream."
"It can't be that silly. I'm obviously in it," He turned her face back to his.
"You know I love you," She smiled.
He smiled in response. "Yeah. I know."
Behind him on the table his cell phone began to ring. He quickly picked it up and flipped it open. It was her.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Something was wrong and she was panicking. "Slow down. Wait. Where are you? Stay right there." He flipped the phone shut, grabbed Hyperion and his keys and rushed from the Deling City hotel room.
************************************************************************
Barrett Machain - Glad you liked the beginning so much. *grins* I had a lot of fun with the scene between the two presidents. And yes that chapter definitely hinted to Darkened Ice's chapter 17. Here's how Seifer at least fits into this. Ellone's in there a bit.
ameli stoncius - Of course I do the evil side better than you do.......
Blakened - You have an attempted assassination plot for Laguna too? Poor guy can't win for loosing....
Lovely Princess Peach - I can't say I recognize that name. Did you go and change it on me? Your review was quite .....interesting. I enjoyed reading it. But do I have to kill off both president's to make this story as good as my first?
aratcoien - The last thoughts that Laguna had were the hardest part to write. I think it came out okay though. Yeah, this romance definitely started off with a conflict....
element6 - That first chapter had to be in there. Just trust me...part of this story is planned out. Can I assume you're a Laguna fan?
***********************************************************************
Here you go. After I get up the last chapter of Leather-bound Secrets I'm going to pick up one of these stories and finish them. I only have to add a second chapter to Unveiled Consternation and then you guys will have all you need to pick the story you want to see next.
Please read and review. It really makes me happy, and although there's no scientific proof, I think it boosts my creativity and update time.