So when you see ITALICS it means it's a "FLASHBACK
Not that I really needed to add that but I thought just in case. Better to over prepare than under.
SEIFER'S POV
I'm not gay.
I throw the clothes at him and he throws them back in my face.
"Change idiot." I chuckle. He tries to undo the dress but in his drunken his hands unable to do what is unfamiliar.
Fuck. Shit. Bloody Hyne I've ruined my friendship because I'm a horny drunk.
Dri will be home soon meaning I need to clean up in here before he asks some question I don't want to answer.
After tossing my empty bowl in the sink after breakie I hear the knock on the door signalling that Dri's home. Not waiting for me to answer the door Dri comes racing through the lounge room. He stops head swinging left to right in frantic search.
"Daddy?" I chuckle alerting him to my presents. He runs to me and hugs me tightly.
"Daddy, don't ever make me leave again. I didn't like it there." He begs me tears swarming in his eyes.
"But you've been to strange places before." Reasoning with a little one rarely works that's why parents usually resort to 'because I say so.'
"Only in the day time not at night. Never when I'm slweeping." He comes back with.
"What about Leonhart's?" I cringe at his name but it goes unnoticed by Dri and hopefully Celia who is looking at me strangely.
"That's different. He protects me and plays music. It's home number two." Right. There right there is why I'd never be able to just ignore.....
"We'll figure something out." I reassure him patting down his soft blonde hair.
"Hello, Seifer. How'd last night go?" She has that smile like she knows something.
"Oh I see. Didn't meet a special someone?" She walks towards me exaggerating every step.
"No." I growl. She raises her pristine eyebrow. "Dri, why don't you go watch T.V?" He looks between me and his mother and nods. I set him down and he runs off while we take a seat at the table.
"So what do you want?" She shrugs her shoulders.
"Then cut the crap." I rub my temples trying to easy my headache. We sit in silence for a good 10 minutes.
"Okay I must be off. Got a life of my own now." I roll my eyes. I grunt my farewell, like I care and let her go.
"Dri do you want breakfast?" He nods his head slightly eyes glued to the screen.
"SEIFER!" I smile at the yell through my door I know who that is. I open the door and Fuj and Raij are grinning widely arms straight at their sides, I chuckle.
"Are yas coming in?" Instead of an answer I'm the middle of a bone crushing group hug. "It good to be back." I smile vaguely at the comment remember I had that exact sediment when I set eyes on the garden again.
"So how'd yas go at the party?" Curious on how the other looked after them.
"Well, it was fun, you know. Wait don't you remember seeing us there?" I scratch my head and look down a tad sheepish earning a deep rumbling from Raijin and scolding look from Fujin.
"Can't say I blame ya, you know. You were fairly out of it only your Sultress could hold your focus for more than 5 secs, you know. So how'd that go, you know?" then gives a not so subtle wink which earns him a stamp on the foot. I gotta say I miss this.
"Sultress?"
"Hey, Seifer those your lady friend?" Asks John a disgusting bald man who is making no attempt to conceal his roaming eyes. I Look at Leonhart fortunately thinking clear enough to know that the ice prince, he he princess, would strangle me if I reveal his true identity. But tipsy enough to think that giving him a really stupid name is fucking funny and to give a stupid name that in my mind is the opposite of him. Hot (sultry) women (ess).
"John let me introduce you to Sultress." I consider it my duty to annoy Leonhart to no end and I do my duty extremely well.
"You and her were the talk of the party." Fujin informs me, curious I lean back in my chair and motion with my hand for her to continue.
"SULTRESS. INTERESTING. People couldn't keep their eyes off her and since you seemed her assigned protector for the evening and she left with you so it's assume that you two..... TOGETHER." Fujin reverting back to her old talk and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what was really assumed.
"So they wanna know what a girl like that's doing with the sorceress' knight." Fujin shakes her head minutely.
"Actually, they more polling whose better for you? HER or.." Stops and looks to Raijin for help.
"Commander Leonhart, you know." I almost fall out of my chair and I can't stop the insane laughter. Some choices.
"Come on Dri, move your butt." Sadly the party on the weekend does not mean that we have a childcare centre today so I'm stuck with the incompetent babysitter. Maybe I should ask Fujin if she'd mind starting early but I don't have time today, I'm late already. Grabbing Dri around the waist and the shoes that Dri is trying my patience with trying to tie them then I'm out the door.
I can't say that I'm happy to be at work and half an hour late.
"Have a late night, Sir?" Sarah asks boldly. I imagine her and Selphie would get along famously.
"Yes which means no crap from anyone or your gonna get the shit beaten out of you." I haven't been sleeping well, too many incoherent thoughts buzzing around in my head. I lower myself slowly in the chair at the front of the class grabbing my class notes out of my briefcase. Finally looking out to my class who are gaping at me in stunned silence, Oh for hynes sake aren't these people going to be SEEDS.
"Open up your books to page 93 read and do the exercises." There's the ruffling of pages turning then silence. In my sleep deprived mood I've decided that history of weapons is a good idea but the silence doesn't last long as always it's soon followed by whispers to each other.
"I wonder if Sir Almasy and Commander Leonhart will be in history books?" Amy whispers to Sarah. Sarah rolls her eyes.
"Have you ever been in a library there's tonnes already." There are a lot already in general most don't think I'm a very good guy but the garden currently only stocks the ones that say I was brain washed even though most also say I'm an asshole. That's probably Leonhart's touch.
"I still can't get over that fight between them. I wonder if that's what Commander Leonhart looks like after sex." I almost burst out laughing.
He slips the clothes that I gave him earlier his movement jagged with anger but his breathing still heavy from the experience, hair musted up more than usual.
"Seifer." He tries again but like a coward, I turn even more so I can't even see him at the edge of my vision.
"Fine." Anger prominent in his voice but also deep pain underlying it.
"Sir Almasy?" I jerk my head up.
"Yes?" Sarah shakes her head.
"I said we're finished. What do you want to do now?" I sigh.
"Lets go outside and practise with your weapons." The class lets out a whoop.
SQUALL'S POVI'm stuck doing the final details to the childcare centre again. Final my ass that's what she said last time. I yawn and lean back almost toppling my chair over. I haven't been feeling really well and that lounge chair is looking exceedingly enticing. I drag my eyes away from the sight and focus on my work again because after this I have to go over the details for the SEEDS Award Ceremony. Oh joy.
"Squall!" The loud voice in my ear jerks me awake. I look at my fuzzy human shape alarm.
"You're lucky I don't react like your father." I mumble and yawn loudly but still unable to wake up and start to drift off again.
"Squall. Wake up you can't slweep there." He starts tugging on my shirt looking down at myself and feeling the groan in my muscles I know the 5-year-old has more sense than I do.
"Okay. I'll go slweep there." I point vaguely to what I hope is the couch and stumble my way there then lay down. I've never been this tired before. I feel I kiss on my forehead.
"Sweet dreams, Squall." He kisses my forehead again and I smile at the thought of a child putting me to sleep.
SEIFER'S POV
I told her to make sure that Dri didn't go anywhere and clearly pointed out that I didn't want him going to Leonhart's with some lame excuse that he had lots of work to do and didn't want to be disturbed. So with that being said I thought I'd find him with her today but no.
Now I have to get the courage to go to Leonhart's office to claim my son. Fuck this is awkward.
I stride right past Leonhart's secretary. I yank open the door ignoring whatever the secretary, Lisa, is trying to tell me. His office is in complete darkness the only light is the light seeping through the door I'm standing at. I search the room my search ending at the couch. Leonhart sleeping soundly, my son curl up with him. Dri's finger brought to his mouth telling me to be quiet.
"We're slweeping." Smiling broadly behind his finger. "It's peaceful no dreams. Did you come to join us?"
"A. No." I say quietly Leonhart's eyes flutter at my voice and he starts to wiggle around from his relaxed position. Dri gives me an accusing look followed by an angry pout and I'm sure if he'd been standing there would have been hands on his hip and stomp of his foot.
"Please Sir Almasy, can't you leave them alone for a while longer. I don't think Commander Leonhart been feeling well lately." I sigh at the plead coming from the secretary, I'm surrounded and out numbered by Leonhart fan squad.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!" Leonhart thrashing around screaming his pain at the top of his lung.
"Fuck, get Dr. Kadowaki NOW!" Before I can think I'm beside Leonhart yelling at the girl when she isn't move fast enough for me. I grab hold of his face stilling his movements.
"Come on, Leonhart, look at me." The horrible screaming stops replaced by heavy panting as he searches my face. My breath catches at the alien shining silver orbs.
"Seifer?" I nod his face relaxes a touch with recognition and his eyes close with pain as he reframes from vocalising the pain again.
"Hyne ... it ... hurts." I frown slightly at the comment as he gulps in large breaths crunching his face as he throws his he back. I've seen this guy with wounds that would have men squealing at the top of their lungs while the only sign of pain from him is a downward twitch of his mouth before returning to his stone face.
"Hey look at me." He focuses his disturbing silver eyes on me again and I find I almost want to look away.
"You... always ... want ... attention ... Almasy." I chuckle weakly at the joke, he's trying to comfort me?
"Well, what I want I usually get. So, what's with the attempted breaking of our ear drums?" For the life of me I can't figure out wrong besides the foreign silver eyes.
"An attempt ... at singing ... actually." I hear Dri giggle a little as smooths Leonhart's hair back. Leonhart turns his alien eyes to Dri and they smile at each other, well Dri smiles and Leonhart mouth twitches in what I'm sure he considers a smile.
"How do... I sound?" I make a face for Dri's benefit.
"Well, you can hold a note. "
"Squall you have soft hair." Innocents shining through as he runs his finger through Leonhart's hair.
"Do I?" Dri nods with enthusiasm and I find myself nodding absently. There's the twitch again indicating that he's finds this amusing. Frigin' Leonhart and his weird personality, rarely makes a joke in his life and now. I mentally shrug.
"The Dr Kadowaki will be here soon." Lisa standing at the door tells us quietly.
"Thank you... Lisa but I'll be fine." She bows to him than stands straight and tall. We grin when we hear hurried steps clambering down the hall.
"Here you go Leonhart drug are on their way." He rolls his eyes at me. The Doc stops at the door near Lisa and scans the room eyes falling on us at the couch.
"Oh dear hyne, Squall?" It didn't take her practise doctor eyes to see that Leonhart's in terrible pain. With sweat beading on his forehead and his mouth set in a grim line. Dri and me step back from Leonhart so that the doc can get through.
"Where is the pain?" Placing a hand on his forehead and looking curiously into his silver eyes.
"Everywhere." I don't think he's exaggerating either.
"What's the pain like?"
"Like I'm being stabbed with thousands of red hot needles but it'll pass." The doc frowns not like Leonhart's response one iota.
"Okay Squall I'm going to give you a sedative..." Leonhart moves abruptly. His movements quick and fluid, he moves out of our reach.
"I'm not going to the infirmary. I'm fine." The commanding voice of the commander is back only a slight sign of weakness coming when he stumbles.
"Don't be stupid Leonhart, you're in pain." His silver eyes are blazing now and totally focused on me.
"I'm not going, Seifer. You owe me this." I try to stare him down but in this fight Leonhart has always been the winner, freaky eyes or no freaky eyes.
"Alright back off. He's not going to go without hurting himself." He's breathing heavily but still standing.
"Squall you need to go to the infirmary to be checked out, to find the cause of this." Dr Kadowaki tries in a fight she doesn't know she's already lost.
"The pain is already diminishing. I'll take myself to test tomorrow." That's the deal and it's the best she's going to get. She nods her head taking him at face value but I can tell from the ever so slight twitch that gives him away. She's not going to see him tomorrow or probably any other day if he has say in it.
He staggers to the door taking it very slowly.
"Here Leonhart. Let me help you." I laying my hand on his waist but he recoils violently.
"Don't touch me." He hisses. Fuck, I was touching just a few minutes before didn't seem to mind then.
LAGUNA'S POV
The door rings and I jump to answer it. Maybe it's Squall with a surprise visit. As always, Kiros is first to the door peering through the peephole before opening it.
"Seifer." I'm surprised. "Oh and the little one, Adrian Almasy." Adrian hold back a little more reserved than when I met him with Squall. I smile warmly at them. Judging by interaction at the party I'll be seeing a lot more of them.
"So what do I owe this pleasure?" Seifer clears his throat motioning for me to sit down again. He sits down as well looks at me opens his mouth then shuts it and looks at his hands. He's really nervous.
"Well, you see..." He stops again. "Well, Leonhart he's..." I believe I know what he's getting at.
"Your boyfriend." Seifer looks gob-smacked then reels forward jumping out of the chair.
"Like Hell he is! He's hurt." I'm sure my heart's stopped. His face falls when he sees my reaction to his denial.
"Fuck, I'm sorry. But he'll be okay that I'm sure of Leonhart comes out of everything. He made it home fine enough." He mumbles the later part.
"Is he going to be okay? What's wrong with him? How'd it happen? Has he seen a doctor? I need to see him." I rush out the questions not really leaving him room to answer.
"Guna calm down and sit. Let him answer before you rush off." I look to my old friend and he gives an understanding nod he knows very well that is not what I want to do. Then I look to Seifer.
SEIFER'S POV
Leonhart has found himself a good father. He's bloody worried, scared and might try to strangle me if I sit here much longer trying to figure out what to say.
"Well, we don't know what's wrong or how it happened. He just woke up screaming in pain." I grimace probably not shouldn't have mention the screaming.
"Anyways the point is and why I'm here is. He's not going to see the doctor about it. I'm thinking maybe if you had a talk to him, you could make him feel guilty enough to see her." I lay it out straight. Don't know why I'm here. Why would I go behind Leonhart's back to try to get him see reason? Why do care?
"What kind of pain?" I breathe in deeply and return the eye contact.
"He described it as being stabbed with thousands of red hot needles before he figured out he'd be going to the infirmary." Leonhart's Dad closes his eyes.
"They don't know the cause?" I shake my head slowly. I notice Dri edging closer to Laguna and I give him an encouraging nod.
"Don't worry Grandpop." Laguna looks ecstatic and hugs Dri close. My child is adopting family members left, right and centre. Who's next?
SQUALL'S POV
The majority of the pain is gone now just a few aches and shooting pains occasionally. The knock that woke me from my rest is most definitely Laguna. I groan and get up from the bed placing my feet firmly on the ground testing them before standing. Finding I'm steady on my feet I reach the pad and let my father in.
"Squall are you feeling okay?" My father blasts through the door grabbing me by the shoulders.
I nod my head carefully removing his hands. "I'm fine." He looks at me suspiciously.
"Still I think you should go see the doctor later today." I frown and hum in something that sounds like I'm agreeing.
"You're not going to go are you." I shake my head slightly surprised.
"Just like Seifer said." Mumbles under his breath but my ear pick it up anyway. How the fuck does Seifer know.
"What would Seifer know." I growl angrily. Laguna's eyes widen he opens his mouth to say something but I get in first.
"I'm not going because there's nothing she can do." He look concerned that I could say anything like that but it's truth. I can feel it and this isn't the first time it's happened the pain come and goes as it pleases.
"But how do you know if you don't give her the chance. Can't you just go for me." I smirk, he's trying to guilt trip me.
"It's just stress, a nightmare and old injuries coming back to haunt me." He looks me in the eye studying my face looking for more. But this is the best I can give him the truth will just scare him, hell it scares me.
"You're not going to go no matter what are you?" I stare at him blankly which is an answer in it's self.
"I can't believe the guilt trip didn't even work, that usually works. Alright let talk about more sunny things. Adrian adopted me. I'm now a Grandpop." He puffs out his chest looking very proud of himself.
SEIFER'S POV
Maybe I should try to get Dri to try the guilt trip on Leonhart, as Loire obviously can't hack it. Fuck I have to get over this. He's just being pigheaded about it.
"Sarah you have to pick up your right arm just a little." I tell her. She looks at me blankly and raises her left arm. She's trying the same flirting trick unfortunately it's a good one. I walk closer placing my hand on her elbows moving her arms into the right position.
"There now try again." She nods her head in salute before trying the manoeuvre.
"Sir Almasy?" A man about my age asks who looks somewhat familiar. I nod.
"These are your photos from ball, Sir." He pushes an A4 size folder into my hands and grins at me. Photos? I flip open the folder and I believe my jaw drops.
"Take a looksee. We should take a photo to remember this momentous occasion." Grinning down at Leonhart. He gives me the evil eye before returning to his drink.
"You know I might be a lit' drunker than I thinks." The subtle technic taking a while longer to process before gives me the another glare.
"It'll just be blackmail material later." In other words might as well get it over with now. I smirk.
"More like wanking material." His eyes widen adorably before bursting out laughing. The laugher or giggles settle before he brings his finger to his lush full lips in thought. Geezes it's easy to forget that she's actually a he.
"Only if I get a dance, Sir Almasy." I grin and it hits me if he seriously tried to seduce me I'd be a gonna. Fortunately thoughts like these are gone when waking up after a big piss night or be put down to drunk out of my mind thoughts.
"Wow you two look really good together." Sarah's voice floats across to be as she peers around my shoulder. I'm smiling widely, my index finger is below Leonhart's jaw tilting his face towards mine and a small smile is playing on his lips. My other hand is on his waist quite obviously telling people what's not their's while his hands lay flat against my chest. Might I say we both take a damn good photo?
"Do you mind this is private." She shakes her head and leans in further.
"Is this the girl they're talking about. The mystery women, Sultress? No wonder you've been moping around. So what did you do to lose her?"
"Moping? I do not mope personally I like to call it brooding more manly that way and it's none of your business." I snap the folder shut. The photographer looks at me shyly.
"So she's not your women any more." I glare at him, she isn't a women in the first place. "Well, do you think I have a chance?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Don't know if this is where I should end this chapter here but this is going to be it. Sorry it took so long but again got stuck halfway through wrote something anyway but didn't turn out right and had to write something else, I think I'm closer now to what I wanted. Thanks for the reviews and keep them coming.