Part XIV

I watched Squall after that brush and the way he looked at me was as if he could read my mind. I turned my head away and coughed, trying to dispel the feeling inside me that made me want to ram him against the wall and kiss him until he cried out for mercy. I couldn't do that though. He would hit me and then spurn me and I'd lose my closest friend and, dare I say it, the one I love. Having him as a friend I could deal with, having him hate me because I had feelings for him, I could not. The way he fled with his tail between his legs made me think that I needed to do something to cheer him up. I ducked into the main room and found him curled up on his bed.

"I'm heading out. I realised I forgot something. You be right alone?"

"Can't I come?"

"Not this time, its a surprise."

"Ok, remember curfew at ten."

"I'll be back before then." I gave him a little wave before escaping. I practically ran to the pound. They have the cutest puppies, but I knew Squall would be more of a cat kind of person. I finally found the perfect cat. It was big, black, slightly fluffy and was a little antisocial, just like Squall (his hair is the slightly fluffy part) so I got it for him. I put him inside my jacket to carry him home. When we got to my dorm and I pushed the door open, I found Rinoa trying to kiss Squall and Squall trying to push her out the door.

"There you are Rinoa, the headmaster was looking for you just now. He's very worried." I grimaced as I spoke, hoping Cid was far, far away as she fled the room. I closed the door and looked at Squall.

"Why do you have a tail hanging from your jacket?"

"I have a present for you. Close your eyes." I waited until he did as I asked and then I sat the cat down beside him. It instantly crawled into his lap and curled up.

"Open." I whispered the word in his ear and his eyes opened and locked with mine before he looked down and smiled.

"You got me a cat?"

"I know you like them more than dogs." I spoke softly as I watched the awe in his face as he ran his fingers through it's fur.

"He's beautiful."

"And he was homeless, so you're helping him out too." I knew Squall was a soft heart for animals (except Angelo, but I think that was because he was so like Rinoa) and he didn't like to see them abused or homeless.

"Awe, thanks Seifer."

"Its nothin."

"Seifer, you know that I'm gay right?"

"Well I was there when you came out ..."

"There is a point to this. Anyway, would you help me out? I need to convince Cid that gay couples are ok, that there's nothing wrong about them. Seeing as we're best friends I was kinda hoping that you wouldn't mind pretending that we're something more." I gaped at him, he was serious? The chance to treat him as if he was really mine! I wouldn't give that up for the world.

"When do we start this?"

"I think you already did." I dropped my gaze to the cat and smiled as I ran a finger under his chin.

"You have to name him."

"Hyperion."

"I have a feeling he doesn't like it." I grinned at him. It was sweet of him to offer to call the cat after my gunblade, but we both knew the cat would not respond to that kind of name.

"Oscar." The cat looked up at that and I smiled.

"Looks like we've found it. Tomorrow we'll hold hands in the cafeteria, that'll get it started quick enough and it'll seem almost natural."

"Thanks for doing this."

"Ah, I have to tell you something."