Devil's Cub

Chapter 1

There was only one occupant in the back of the car; a young man lounged on the seat with his long legs stretched out in the car. He had one hand in the deep pockets of his grey trench coat and the other rested on the seat next to him. The moonlight cast silver shadows inside the car but his face remained in shadow. The road was rough and the car bumped along but the young man did not make any movement. Red crosses stood out from the shoulders of the coat and his blonde hair glinted silver in the moonlight.

The car was travelling fast, too fast for safety. The man sitting next to the stoic driver shifted uncomfortably. He looked at the driver and presently gasped "We're going too fast! We'll crash!" The only answer he received was a shrug and a harsh laugh then the car sped up. As it traversed a rough piece of ground the car creaked and bounced up. The restive man grasped the car door handle shouted angrily "You're mad! Why are we going so fast? Doesn't he care! Or is he drunk?" he jerked his head to indicate the man in the back. The driver smiled grimly "When you've been in his service for a week you won't call this fast. When Almasy travels, he travels fast." The driver's friend shook his head incredulously " He's asleep! And drunk to boot!" The driver chuckled humourlessly "Not him."

But the man inside the coach could have been for all the movement he made. His tall body swayed with the jolting of the car and not even the worst bumps made him make a grab for the car door handle. Apparently he was awake for when a shot rang out and the car swerved to a stop he raised his head and yawned slightly. The young man rolled his shoulders and turned his head slightly towards the window.

There was a large commotion outside, rough voices raised in disagreement. There was a firing of a shotgun and the sound of cursing as the drivers' friend tried to reload. The window was smashed but the young man didn't flinch but his hand moved. The nose of a pistol was shoved in "Hand over yer valuables." The young man didn't speak but a gunblade fired, it was a flash in the darkness. The gun disappeared from the window and there was the sound of shouting, running feet and the screech of a car setting off quickly. The face of the driver appeared at the window holding a torch.

"Sir?" he said timidly. The young man sat forward and his face came into the light. He was very handsome, with arrogant green eyes and an air of restless boredom. "Well?" the man inquired coldly. "Robbers, sir. The man being unused to these, happenings, he set off the shotgun too early. There were three of the them, two of them made off." The man sighed and asked once again "Well?" The driver gulped, "You, er, killed the other one sir…"

"Certainly, I presume you haven't come to tell me that?" the man replied airily, examining the gunblade. "Well, sir…He's lying on the road, er, dead so shouldn't we…I do….something about it?"

" Are you saying I should take a corpse to Lady Kinneas's party?"

"No, sir…I….I'll just drive on then shall I?"

"Of course!" the man said, looking fairly surprised.

"Yes sir…" the driver left the window and got back in the front again, which was separated from the back by a black partition. He was still for a moment while his friend looked at him curiously "What are we to do?" he asked unable to contain his curiousity. "Drive on!" the driver said faintly. "Aren't we going to do something?" the other man asked once more. The driver recovered and growled "He's dead and there ain't nothing we can do about it." He started the car and it drove on. "But, he's dead! Doesn't he know?" The driver shot him a warning look "Of course he knows! He don't make mistakes with a gunblade. Not him." They subsided into silence but the driver's friend, thinking of the dead man shuddered and spoke "How old is he?" motioning towards the back. The driver glanced at him "Eighteen."

The driver's friend gazed at him in shock "Eighteen?! And he can shoot a man as cool as you please?!"

"I hear he trained at Balamb Garden. He's an expert fighter."

The driver's friend shook his head in shock "Oh my god…" They remained in silence until they reached their destination. And he was so deep in contemplation the driver had to nudge him so he hastily jumped out and opened the door for the man. He tried to search for any vestige of agitation but found none as the tall man stepped languidly out. The man sauntered past him into hall.

The driver got out and stood by his friend who was gaping, "My god." He whispered. The driver inclined his head "No, Devil's Cub."

~*~

Inside the house two servants hovered to take the man's coat. There was another gentleman in the hall, he stood just on some stairs, ready to go up. He turned and surveyed the newcomer. He was handsome with a roving eye for the ladies. The man in question wore a long coat and trousers in a tasteful tan colour. His long chestnut locks were tied fashionably back in a ponytail. He wore a curved hat and complained good-naturedly to the other man. "Damn it, and I thought I was the last. Hello Seifer."

Seifer grinned a cat-like smile "Greetings Irvine." Irvine sniffed, "What's with Hyperion?" he nodded at the wickedly sharp gun-blade resting innocently in the tall man's hand. "Have you been killing someone Seifer?" he asked suspiciously. Seifer walked over to the bottom of the stairs waving away the servant's who hung around nervously, waiting to take his coat. "Just a robber." He replied nonchalantly.

Irvine smiled "What did you do with the corpse?" Seifer looked up "I couldn't bring it here, don't think your mother would like it."

"You left it there! Hum, people might see it on their way back to Deling City, ladies won't like it."

Seifer yawned elegantly "Very well, you." He said motioned towards a waiting servant. "There is a corpse on the road here, take care of it." The servant nodded, too amazed to protest but Irvine cut in "What is he to do with it?!" Seifer frowned "Take it to the police station with compliments of Mr. Kinneas."

"No, no Seifer! With the compliments of Mr. Almasy."

Seifer mounted the stairs and walked up to Irvine "New gloves?" he nodded towards the gloves Irvine was holding. "Yes. Made by Mr. Winman himself, costly but worth it." Irvine said casually. They walked up and into the meeting room.

The two servants at the foot of the stairs stared up, gobsmacked. "Corpses one minute, gloves the next. That's the Quality for you." One remarked. The other nodded devoutly and walked away.

Meanwhile Irvine and Seifer had seen acquaintances and moved to greet them. Irvine had found the story entertaining and told a few people. Soon it reached the ears of a certain Lady Caraway.

The esteemed lady had lost her husband many years ago and the polite world had ceased to predict another marriage for her. She had been deeply devoted to him and had been devastated by his demise. She was handsome with brown hair only slightly threatened by a few streaks of grey and hazel eyes. A man stood next to her and swilled his glass.

She sighed heavily "Hugo," she said "Have you heard about Seifer's latest exploit?" Hugo Davenport took a sip of his wine "Hum, good year…Oh yes Julia. You care about the robber?" he asked in surprise. "Of course not but, he left the corpse! I swear he is worse than his father!" Hugo frowned pensively, "Maybe." He said shortly. Julia Caraway carried on "You know what they call him? Devil's Cub!" she said triumphantly. "Oh yes." He mumbled. Indeed the doings of Seifer Almasy had been of much interest, he was a skilled gunblade specialist, a gambler and irresistible to the ladies. "He's so, controversial!" she spoke in a hushed tone watching the tall man walked across the room and greet an attractive young woman. Lady Caraway watched with a strange expression. Hugo followed her gaze "Ah, he's talking to Rinoa." She continued watching her daughter and the arrogant man conversing. "Seifer has great fondness for Rinoa, you know." She commented casually. Far too casually.

Hugo turned to her and said frankly "My dear, they will not marry. You know that." She looked at him indignantly. Lady Caraway did fondly believed her wishes for a union between her daughter and the nefarious Seifer Almasy to be a secret. For even though he had a shocking reputation he was quite a catch on the marriage market. He was young, handsome and rich.

"I do not think anything of the sort! They are simply second cousins!" the woman retorted.

"Whatever you say my dear." Replied her companion breezily once again sampling the fine wine.

At the other end of the room Seifer had seen Rinoa. He walked over to her "Good god, I've come to a family gathering!" She greeted him with a dazzling smile. "Seifer!" she said dramatically "I have a secret to tell you!"

He raised an eyebrow in faint hauteur "Oh really?" She slapped his shoulder half-heartedly "Seifer! Be serious!" He shrugged and leant against the wall with a sigh. "What is it?" he said in a bored voice. Rinoa frowned "Meanie, at least try to sound interested! Or I'll….i'll…MARRY YOU!!" she giggled. The blonde man replied "I think not Rin, anyway I'd be a terrible husband." A smile curved her lips and she moved closer to him. "Are you sure?" she asked in a low, seductive voice. Seifer raised his eyebrow "Get off Rin." She punched him lightly "As if I would! I'm offended. Anyway," she moved backwards and cast a few glances around the room to see if anyone was watched. Apparently not, as she was soon satisfied and turned back to her yawning relation. "Promise you will keep this secret?" she eyed him suspiciously. Seifer turned to her and waved his hand "Of course," he remarked lazily. "Now what is it?"

She squinted around once more "I am to marry against my family's will!" she said in a dramatic whisper. Seifer merely looked down at her, unimpressed. "Oh." He said. Rinoa narrowed her eyes "This is serious!" He smiled slightly "Okay who's the nobody?"

She frowned at him, and caught the eye of a serious young man across the room. This was obviously a signal as he disengaged himself from the party he was in and walked over to them. He gave a stiff bow to them. "You wanted me Rinoa?" she smiled charmingly at him. She then turned to Seifer, "Seifer this is Squall Leonhart and this," she paused and looked at Squall "is my wicked relation, Seifer Almasy." Squall gave another stiff bow and Seifer nodded, still leaning against the wall. Rinoa smiled "This is the man I will marry!" she proclaimed to Seifer. Squall looked a little embarrassed. Seifer blinked "You know they will never allow it, you are the daughter of Galbadian general, he is the son of a nobody." He said. Rinoa was sheepish, "I was, er, hoping that…er…..maybe….you…would…support it?" Seifer grinned "Who? Me? You said yourself I was the wicked relation!" he turned his attention to Squall "Elope, its your best chance." He remarked airily. Squall merely looked impassive "I do not wish for a clandestine match." Rinoa, who had perked up at the suggestion, looked considerably downcast at the comment.

"Oh well, good luck. You'll need it." Said Seifer with a quick bow and took off. Rinoa smiled tentatively at Squall and took his hand shyly. A shocked expression came over his face but she stroked his hand reassuringly, a small smile graced his lips. She gazed up at him earnestly, "One day." And walked over to her mother.

~*~

Well, review please.