They were resting against each other, warm and tangled in the covers, the dark of the night a pleasant background to slowing breaths and cooling bodies. Seifer was half asleep, so the question caught him off guard. "Huh?"
"Loving me."
Seifer raised himself on one elbow, giving Squall a long look, sleep falling away from him. He narrowed his eyes at the body beside him. "What are you asking me?"
"You love me, don't you? So, is it easy?" He moved closer, his voice perfectly steady, apparently not caring about the question, simply curious. Seifer wrapped his arms around the slender body of his lover and held him close as he tried to think of an answer.
"I do love you, and..." He brushed his fingers along Squall's jaw, a sharp bittersweet ache in his chest. "It was easy to fall in love with you... and I guess I've never really fallen out of love with you... and I have no trouble staying in love with you but... I don't think love is like that."
"I'm sorry I don't love you." Squall moved closer, turning to spoon his body against Seifer's, and Seifer held him tighter.
"It's okay. I'm happy to wait around in case one day, you do. It's more than I deserve anyway." The bittersweet feeling expanded, making tears prickle in Seifer's eyes, but he meant it. Just being allowed to be close to Squall, to soothe his frustrations and be a part of his life - that was all he felt he deserved. Squall loving him would be wonderful, but it wasn't necessary to life. Just being like this, it would be enough.
"I care about you," He said awkwardly. "I know it's not what you want..." His eyes were wide against the night, unseeing, and Seifer could sense that he was trying to bring comfort to the coldness settling inside him. He never had been able to get that cold bastard to fall in love with him. But this was enough. It had to be.
He nodded to the comfort, swallowing the lump in his throat and feeling it add to that bittersweet place in his chest. "I know. It's enough. Go to sleep."
