Author's notes: I've gone aback through my chapters and tried to fix them up a bit. There's little difference but I think it flows better.
SQUALL'S POV
"I believe I have I solution to one of our major problems." Quistis announces smugly as she passes over a sheet of paper. I look at the document before me.
"Have you asked Seifer's opinion on this?" I believe he'd best be able to tell me beyond doubt if this is the corrected choice. Our main difficulty has been finding a person that is trustworthy plus willing to look after a lot of seed brats. I nod this could work if she's willing.
"I'll talk to Seifer before taking further action." I put the paper aside.
"You two have been hanging out a lot lately." She sidles closer looking at me coyly. "Anything going on there?" I roll my eyes at her not so subtle inquiry and push back my chair picking up Lionheart.
"I'll see you later."
I find Seifer teaching his class on the grass field in front of Balamb garden. Sitting a little away from the class and watch Seifer in action as having so far meet him usually when after work when comes to pick up Adrian.
One of the young cadets a small petite blonde obviously wanting to get his attention is flirts with him outrageously. Although I can't hear them from this distance I can guess what she's saying something along the lines of 'oh fuoey, I just can get the handle this can you show me how to properly handle this.' As she looks up at him sheepishly from under dark lashes rubbing her hands up and down the staff. Seifer smiles down at her takes her hands and positions on the staff correctly before turning to another student and encouraging him to try again. The small blonde giggles as Seifer walks away along with several of the girls beside her.
It's not long before one of the other cadets notice me then tapping on the shoulder of the cadet next pointing in my direction. Deciding now is a good time to make my presence know to Seifer as well. I get up and dust myself off picking up Lionheart and walk towards Seifer.
Seifer raises his eyebrow upon seeing me but grins broadly at seeing Lionheart at my side.
"Came to pick a fight, did you Leonhart?" He shouts to me then turns to address his students. "Now here's a fight worth seeing."
The cadets gather into a small group talking excitedly to each other.
"I was going to wait until their lunch brake." Seifer shrugs dismissing my concern that perhaps they should be learning instead of witnessing a fight between old rivals in the art of Gunblades.
"Why wait? This should be educational for them. Besides I've promised them a fight worth their time, you're not going to make a liar out of me." He raises Hyperion telling me I'm fighting now if I want to or not.
I raise Lionheart as well in acceptance and we start circling each other. Seifer manoeuvring me so that my back is facing the cadets then calls out to them.
"Getting a nice view ladies?"
"Yes sir!" One of the more bold cadets, probably the blonde, answers enthusiastically. I glare at Seifer to which he answers with a knowing smirk before leading the first attack. The blades clash both singing their individual tunes. Seifer pushes ahead driving me backwards until I see my opportunity dodging his attack taking a swing at him which would decapitate him if he were unable to duck but instead howls through the wind going past harmlessly.
He takes a step back. We're circling each other again.
"Boy they let you go to buggery while I was gone." Charging forward he lets the blades cross and smirks down at me. "In more ways than one."
I step up the tempo of the fight; it's faster like the angry beats of tribal battle songs, dodging and weaving contributing just as much as the clash of the blades. Seifer muscles tighten as he heaves Hyperion up to ward off one of my strikes.
"You know that stick up your ass must be restricting your movements." He has a gleam in his eye, which is frightening and exhilarating at the same time and I'm sure I'm the same.
He pushes hard strike after strike using his superior height and strength to his full advantage driving me backward to the uneven ground I know is behind me. I stumble falling to the ground with an oomph Seifer looms over me with a smirk simular to when he gave me my scar. He should know from that experience alone that anything he can do I can do better. He readies the blade for the final strike I kick out at both knee unbalancing him and quickly hook my feet behind feet and pulling hard. He hits with a harder oomph.
"Are you ready for the final hooray." We both roll to the side standing on our feet again. The clashes are faster the tempo reaching its climax. The silence is total. We each hold our gunblade at the others throat.
Seifer smirks and starts chuckling. "Thanks for the dance, princess." We drop our blades from their deadly positions.
"Whatever." Which is never heard over the deafening roar of the crowd.
"Holy shit." He exclaims in awe at the vast size of the crowd that would have to be half the garden Seifer grinning broadly he bows absorbing the praise of the crowd and I manage a wave.
SEIFER'S POV
The crowd is an endless sea of people an amazing sight. The lunch bell had gone sometime during our fight and the word must have spread quickly bring in quite the following. All talking among themselves some going as far as to recreate their favourite parts striking the air with invisible swords, like this is an event that when they're old and toothless is a shining moment that they say to their grandkids they were happy to see.
"I really do need to talk to you. We should go somewhere more private." Leonhart's slightly flushed and panting just as heavy as me. I take some more time to enjoy the crowd before answering Leonhart.
"Good idea I need to sit down for a while any way, I'll get Sam to take over my afternoon class." Lunch will be over in about ten minute and I know I won't have recovered by then. Leonhart leads the way to his place being the closest. I smirk I haven't had that much fun in ages.
"This is almost better than sex." Leonhart looks at me and I see the corner of his mouth twitch.
"You need to get yourself a better partner." I feel a twinge of guilt at the comment reminding me that I have yet to tell Leonhart about the end of my marriage. It's been almost a month. I told Dri as soon as we got home that day figured he might wonder where his mother was.
Dri's reaction wasn't what I expected in the least "It's alright Daddy. I've never felt like her son either." Was all he said then unworriedly and sat in front of the Tele.
Leonhart enters the code placing his hand on the pad.
"Before you start I've got to tell you something." Leonhart nod telling me to go ahead while he heads to the kitchen to get coffee. It's hard to admit this failure.
"Celia left me on that first night that I asked you to look after Dri." I look at Leonhart expectantly but he just nods. He places the coffee in front on me on the coffee table and takes his own seat.
"Hmm, Adrian told me a while ago." Dri found his way to Leonhart's office a bit ago and occasionally paid him a visit. I should be angry that Leonhart has know for a while and hasn't told me but.
"Has he talked about it?" I ask concerned since Dri's initial comment there's been zip.
"Not much. I believe he's fine with it. He's more worried about you." Seeing my disbelief he sighs and continues. It's going to be one of those rare moments when Leonhart is going to explain himself. "I get the sense that he's been waiting for this for a long time to his understanding this is what all of you need."
"Yes maybe, but I wanted him to have the family we never had growing up." Leonhart looks at me like I was missing something that should be very obvious. Alright, genius you tell me.
"He has that family in you. Absolute acceptance for who he is and he knows he has it. He's very smart for a 5 year old." Grinning I find great pride in his words. "Besides I think he's building his own family."
"So what did ya need?"
"I'm wondering if you think Fujin is a good candidate for manager of the Child-care centre?" Seeing the confused look on my face he continues on.
"Is she trustworthy?" I nod.
"Can she still fight?" I nod remember the hard kick to the shin the last time I visited her.
"Would she be able to handle the children?" I nod, She can scare kids shitless when needed but knows that the brats also need fun as well as discipline this is where Raijin come into the picture the kids love the strange duo. A large manly man in pain what's not funny about that?
"If you want Fujin, you gotta know Raijin comes wit' her." Leonhart nods his elbows on his knees he clasps his hands together bring them to his lips in thought.
"In that case would you be able to convince she wants this position?" I'm sure he's not aware of this but he looks like a kid pleading for candy. His pupils widen looking up at me through thick lashes. I unable to say 'no', it apparent that this is one look I'm not immune to. Let's hope he never finds this out.
"I'll try."
SELPHIE'S POV
I bounce into Squall's office his pen stopping in its progress across the page he looks at me with tired eyes with none of their usual twinkle.
"Selphie, what are you doing here?" He yawns tiredly, goody tired Squall is almost as good as drunk Squall. This way I usually get more answers before I get thrown out the door.
"Hear you got someone for the position. So who is it?" I put on my bestest pleading voice.
"You could have asked Quistis you know?" I know this but Quistis likes too much having the power of keeping valuable gossip from me. So I shrug.
"Well I'm here now you might as well tell me." Appealing to Squall logical side, which is usually a fairly good course of action but plan B is just as successful though it has the side effect of really pisses him off.
"Fujin." He states and returns to his work. Fujin I wonder why he chose her. Sure I believe her to be trustworthy, brave and capable of looking after children but I think there's more to it.
"Nice choice. So are you in love with Seifer?" Squall death glares at me yip not as tired as I thought.
"Selphie leave." Well it wasn't a no so I'm taking that to mean yes. Evil plan one is a go.
SQUALL'S POV
My room's ransacked, every piece of material has been stolen even the bed sheets.
"Traitor." Seeker cowers under my bare bed. So much for my valiant protector probably thinks this is funny. I walk closer to my bed picking up the fold note that simply says Squall.
Dear Squall,
We didn't think your costume was up to scratch so we've taken the liberty of giving you a better one, with everything you need.
Oh, if you are thinking of not showing up this is just a friendly reminder that we hold your belongings hostage.
Love Selphie and her devil minions.
P.S. Swing your hips it makes it easier to walk in heels. Have fun and See ya at the party.
How the hell did she do this while I was in the shower? Now the only scrapes of material I have to my name is a tiny towel and a pretty blue dress. I gingerly pick up the some of the things Selphie left.
"Oh sweet hyne how can woman put themselves through this." I'm going to go to the party and kill her.
SEIFER'S POV
I put the finishing touches to my costume and smirk at my reflection. An angel I think Leonhart will appreciate just how ironic this is. The soft padding of feet alerts me to my intruder.
"Daddy, do I have to go tonight?" I look at Dri and sigh we've had this conversation more times than I care to count.
"Yes, Dri it's only tonight besides don't you want to see your mother?"
"Yes." He mumbles but I get the feeling he's saying it because he feels it's the right thing to say rather than that he actually wants to.
"Good, how does Daddy look?" He looks me up and down with a critical eye.
"Pretty. I like the sparkle dust." He rubs his fingers lightly across my cheek and tilts his head to the side. "But what are you suppose to be?" Here I thought the wings would give it away.
"An angel." I get up from my kneeling position and walk to the full-length mirror. Examine myself. I'm wearing tight white pants and a sleeveless white top with a bold black cross printed across it. Sparkle crap dust on my arms and across my cheeks and little fairy wings on my back. Oh I'm a fine male specimen.
"Mirror, Mirror on the wall who is the fairest of us all?" I chuckle.
"You're so weird Daddy." Dri gives me a look like no matter how he tries he'll never understand me. I'm about to grab him and ruffle up his hair but the door being knocked on.
"Are you ready?" He looks at me and squares his shoulders nodding his head once. I answer the door Celica, of course, on the other side.
"Has the world run out of hair gel?" She asks with false innocents.
"No, I just thought that this would suit the costume better." I frown.
ZELL'S POV
"So how long do you think your wife has to live." Irvine turns to his wife and grins. All of us are close to the entrance to get a look at Squall when he arrives.
"I don't know but she should be able to out run him if he's in the heels the girls want him to wear." Selphie look muffed that he isn't a little more worried about the threat to her life but hey she brought it on herself. She has the idea in her head that it'll make Seifer see Squall in a different light. The rest of us thought it would the funniest thing alive.
"Holy fuck!" Quistis exclaims spitting out the drink she'd been in the middle of drinking. I start to laugh at the wholly unlike Quistis statement but following her gaze I stop dead. Meeting the deadly glaze of blood red and silver and a face framed with short black curls streaked with silver. The change is ultimate the shimmering blue sleeveless turtle neck dress and heel with ribbons attached crawling up very shapely pale legs with silver runes printed on them.
Selphie jumps up and down enthusiastically clapping her hands together. "Squall's stunning." She chirps.
"I'd screw her." Irvine gives his opinion thinking with something other than his head.
Quisty rolls her eyes "You'd screw a lot of things." She pauses in her thinking following Squall's movement who has moved on from glaring at us to walking with a soft sexy sway to the hips over to the slightly dazed waiter grabbing a two drinks from his tray. I believe he would have taken more if he had more hands.
"What's everyone looking at?" Seifer makes his entrance draping an arm around my shoulder but can tell right away what's caught everybody's attention and chuckles heartedly. "Women keep your husbands on a short leash and boys keep your weaners in check because that one knows how to deal with unwanted attention." I huff out a laugh and turn to Seifer.
"Dude Seifer is that you? Did the world run out of hair gel?" He raps me over the back of the head.
"Ouch!" I step back and give Seifer a show of what I'm prepared to do to him.
"Spatting flies, chicken?" He smirks the others have ignored our interaction still staring at Squall. "Nice legs, nice ass, nice package, she has to be a bitch. So who is she?"
"Why don't you go over there and find out?" I ask coyly believing Squall will knock him stupid. The others turn their attention toward Seifer wanting to see his reaction.
"Seifer, you don't have vast quantities of hair gel in your hair. Are you okay?" Selphie asks with exaggerated concern.
"Ha ha very funny. It's for the effect." Running his fingers through free flowing hair giving a dashing smirk.
"So Seifer, the heavenly one, 50 gils says that you don't stand a chance." Seifer looks at Squall again now hypnotised like the others in fact a lot of others. I laugh at the young man who is now attempting to pick our lovely lady.
"You're on. I think she needs a guardian angel." He smirks strolling away.
"That's the boy." Selphie punches the air high kicking her leg back putting shame to her Gothic punk girl outfit.
"Don't you think that was slightly cruel?" My love asks and for tonight also my ginger kitten. We all shrug our shoulders.
"Too late now."
SEIFER'S POV
There's no doubt that this woman is absolutely stunning but I can't help thinking that there is something familiar about her. Standing with a glass of champagne in each hand and a young man leaning casually on the wall ignoring the glare that clearly said leave me alone and proceeded with his pick up line.
"Come with me baby and we'll spend an eternity in bliss." Oh please did he actually think that would work.
"Move on fang boy or I'll stake you through the heart." If I thought the glare she was giving the vampireling was bad it's nothing compared to the one she's sending me now. There's only one person... Holy shit.
"Squall?"
"Seifer." He answers without looking at me. I know this is my commander, my rival, my friend all these people are male but my hormones are reacting to what they see and 'she's' beautiful.
"Give me one of those." I motion at his drinks. He looks at me the one he had already started on.
"Asshole." I mumble and finish it off. "Maybe we should make our way to the bar." He nods to my suggestion.
"Just keep the others off me." I smirk at him seeing the opportunity play with him a bit.
"But who is going to protect you from me?"
"Seifer I'm not drunk enough for that." He runs a finger down my nose and turns flipping 'her' hair steps towards the bar leaving me behind. Not that drunk but unquestionably on his way. I'm not gay but any straight man would have to admit this is enticing image in fact many of them are watching said image. He pauses in his grand mission and turns to me lifting an eyebrow.
"No hair gel?" I growl under my breath but follow.
LAGUNA'S POV
I have yet to see Squall but I know he's here his friends did mention they'd seen him around with the general consensus of that I should ask Seifer and his lovely lady companion. Pity that she's to young for me but then again Seifer does seem very protective of her.
"Be careful Mr President that's your son ass that your goggling." Seifer smirks and burst out in drunken laughter at my expression of distress. Lucky for me Squall is currently in a heated argument with the bartender. I look to Kiros and see the shock written on his face as well.
"Hey, sexy legs." Seifer taps Squall on the shoulder who turns to him with an angry glare but it leaves quickly as he points towards me his expression changes. I believe, no I know this is the first time Squall has greeted me with a happy expression and it's a stunning smile exactly like his mother's.
"Kiros what has he done to you? You're so hairy." He whispers the last part like you would tell someone they have their fly undone.
"Isn't it great! He's a Werewolf and I'm the great Donovan the hero." Squall looks confused for awhile.
"Are yoo really?" I blink unsure how to answer that apparently he's still taking things too seriously even when drunk but with a lot more innocents.
"Costume party remember." He taps Squall over the back of the head. My son seems to consider this with the purity like that of a child.
"Fumin!" He clears his throat. "Fujin, I need to speak, con-grat-ul-ate or sumthing." Stumbling over his words.
"Oh no you don't." Seifer is showing more sense than Squall.
"Why can't I?" His hand on hip with authority then stumbles to the left a little.
"I don't rightly know but if I was sober and thinking I'd give a long explanation on why it's bad."
"Baaad." And Squall and Seifer bust out in a fit of drunken laughter.
"Yoo... Can't... Stand... Up...Stoopid!" Squall's input into the situation. I have to admit it's quite funny to see Squall drunk and not in control.
"Neither... Can ...yoo .." Both leaning heavily on the other believing this is the funniest thing in the world.
"Maybe you should go home." I suggest, both of them as bad as the other.
"You can get out of those clothes." Trying to appeal to just one of them now.
"I don't have clothes at home." Oh so that's how they got Squall to dress up as a woman
"Seifer can lend you some of his. Now leave." Both give very wonky salutes and stumble away leaning on each and laughing to the exit.
SQUALL'S POV
A night of alcohol has never been a good idea for me. I always tell too much truth, give secrets away or do stupid things.
Soft lips on my neck sucking, fingers roaming my body as mine do the same to his.
"We shouldn't do this." We both seemed to agree with this but our hands still roamed the others body and suddenly it's turned into a brilliant idea.
His expression should be one of bliss instead distorted in disgust like I'm the shit on his boots.
I close my eyes and bang my head back on the heavy door of my apartment. Tears I'm unable to stop escape my eyes and I wipe them away hastily.
"Fuck!" I how could I be so stupid bang my head against the wall to feel a more bearable sort of pain. I finally admit the reason why this hurts so much. Something I've been able to ignore to now. I'm in love with him. I'm in love with him and he doesn't love me back.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: next Seifer pov on the situation Also Fujin and Raijin will be in it Sorry I couldn't fit them in but the thing I tried didn't work out. Please, Please review. A special thanks to Mistal: The Poisoned One. Squall in drag Oh he makes such a pretty lady.
Revised September 3rd 2005