Disclaimer: Not mine, nuff said. (Translation: I'm too tired to type up a decent disclaimer =P)
Warnings: mostly language in this chapter (Seifer has such a foul mouth =P)
Dark Evrae Altana: thanks for reviewing so far, glad you like it. Maybe he will come back ^^ I spose you'll have to read the whole thing to find out!
FF9 Zidane: Purple wings? Maybe I can give you an angel with those. The wings mean something, but you will have to read it all to find out what huh? Thanks for following it all so far.
Be warned, this will be a shorter chapter. I blame Sukunami and Redrum (just messing, you know I love you)
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[Seifer]
The branch comes from out of nowhere, slapping me across the face and most likely leaving a red line across my cheek. I glare at the dark haired man in front of me while holding a hand to my face. I manage to grit out, "You did that on purpose," without killing him.
He grins at me. "I have no idea what you're talking about. You know how easy it is for the branches to slip out of your hands." He turns away and begins walking again briskly. I shake my head at him and withhold several comments that would never be acknowledged. Words cannot describe how much this man has annoyed me since we left Hyne barely hours ago. I have to admit I'm slightly surprised he answered me; those were his first words since we left.
I jog to catch up with him, hoping I can get some answers. He turns his head to me and continues walking. I grind my teeth and smile at him, trying to suppress my feelings of dislike. "So, Lokana…"
Lokana stops and turns to me, an exaggerated grimace on his face. "Please never, ever call me that. My name is Loki." I raise an eyebrow at him, and he raises his hands in defeat. "Fine, I guess we can take a break. I'll tell you anything if you just don't call me by that idiotic name."
"You honestly give in that easy?" I sit as far away from him as possible on the dead log.
He shrugs. "I hate the name, I want a break, and you want information."
Well, he's not as stupid as I gave him credit for. I figure I might as well get information while he's in a talking mood, but strangely I pull up a blank. "So, uh, why are we taking the forest route?" It's true. After we left Hyne we ended up in this seemingly endless gathering of trees.
He shrugs at me. "Do you suggest another way?"
I look at the sky for inspiration. "Those large annoying things sticking out of my shoulder blades are wings right?"
I can see the exact moment my comment dawns on him. "Oh yeah.." He says rather brilliantly. "Wish you had reminded me earlier, we're almost there now. I would have thought to fly earlier but you know, when you're up there with Hyne flying isn't really required and I guess I just got used got the wings weight."
Damn. He has a point. I don't bother asking our destination. I'm just assuming Balamb Garden, where else would Squall be? Hyne, why Hyne have to choose him? Oh fuck, that makes no sense. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and frown at Loki, who is smiling into space and bobbing his head to an invisible beat. I snap my fingers in front of his face and he turns his head to me, still bopping. "Would you stop that!?" He stops and smirks at me again in that familiar smirk…. wait a minute! I look closer. I know where I've seen that smirk… "Hey."
He snorts. "Hey is for horses."
Fuck, how can he be so childish? Never mind. "Why exactly did Hyne send you with me?"
Loki purses his lips and shrugs. "Because I've always been with you."
Mhm, I thought as much. "You were my angel then?" He nods, and I frown. "I never saw you."
Loki begins picking bark off the log and shrugs again. "You weren't supposed to. The whole point is the angel is just there, it's frowned upon for the angel and the protected to become close." He closes his eyes, and then sighs. "We should walk again. We only have another mile or so to go."
He stands, wipes his butt off, checks his wings, and leaves me sitting there. I jump up to chase him, muttering more loud curses as my wings get stuck on branches and twigs. The stupid things are so sensitive to everything. I finally catch up to him, a scowl on my face, and he smirks. I narrow my eyes at him. "Why did you have to go and steal my damned smirk?"
Loki shrugs. "I liked it."
He liked it? Whatever. "I want it back."
Loki flashes me an amused grin. "And how do you propose I 'give it back'?"
I run a hand through my hair. "I dunno, but just stop using it!" Oh, that was intelligent.
The black winged man shakes his head at me with a half smile. "I guess I can try to hold it back. Oh, hold on, we're here."
Oh fucking joy. I glare out through the thinning trees out the expected Garden. Loki grabs my shoulders and makes me face him, our wings forming a protective shell around us. "I need to explain my role in all this."
I roll my eyes. "Dazzle me."
The angel shrugs. "Okay, I will." I feel the need to slap my forehead, and he draws in a deep breath and lowers his voice as if telling me a secret. "My basic role in your whole deal is the mediator. I watch you, determine how you're doing with this…Squall fellow, and report you back to Hyne. If the reports are good, you get a second chance at life."
I wait a minute, and then prompt him. "And if I'm bad…?"
He nods. "And if you're bad you get sent back to the Overworld, where you remain as Hyne's angel until the second coming."
I out my hand on my hip. "That's it?" I guess I was expecting an eternity full of fire or brimstone. I briefly consider going back to Hyne now rather than save Squall's butt.
Loki tilts his head. "Yeah, pretty much." He releases my shoulder from his grip and pats it. "Have fun, now go." He stands back and crosses his arms over his chest. I get the feeling I'm going to be seeing that stance a lot. With a sigh I turn towards the Garden. I square my shoulders and begin the last stretch of the walk towards my destiny. I, Seifer Almasy, have never backed out of anything, and I'm not going to let Squall stand in the way of that.