Part XV

"Ah, I have to tell you something."

"What?" I was concerned because he was so serious looking. He grimaced and bit into his fist and I knew I had to give him time to think of how he wanted to say what was on his chest. I knew him so well by now that every motion had a meaning.

"I'm gay." He just blurted the words out and I felt my heart leap for joy. I guess I must have looked surprised because he laughed and gently chucked me under the chin.

"Now I've shocked you, we should get some sleep, we have some work to do tomorrow."

"I'm grateful that you're doing this for me." I truly was, he was going to be my boyfriend, even if it was only a trick to fool Cid and show him that we're just the same as a 'normal' couple.

"It's nothing." He just smiled and I wonder that just maybe he might like me too. I crawled into bed and Oscar settled down beside me, a warm furry lump that purred. I settled a hand on his head and turned the lights off.

The next morning Seifer was up before me and I had to wait to get into the shower. When he stepped out I just rolled my eyes at him and pushed past him. I know he turned my alarm off on me.

"What?"

"I know you touched the alarm again."

"I didn't."

"Did too."

"Did not!" Seifer laughed as he spoke, admitting that he really did do it as I closed the door. Once inside I slumped against the door and sighed, hoping that by pretending to date him I could get him out of my system once and for all. My office was the first place to go and Oscar came with us, tucked inside my jacket because it was winter and it was fucking cold. Oscar on the other hand was warm and produced warmth, so he was a good addition to my clothing.

Once we were inside the office, I could turn the heating on and let Oscar roam around the room. We'd stopped using the potion on my ear because it seemed to be still working without the dosage, so we were taking a calculated risk. I was a bit iffy over it, but Seifer reassured me stating that if it started to go down hill, we had enough powder to start it over again. The morning went quickly, dealing with all the stupid memos. I swear that the people around here cannot do a single thing without triple checking it with me first.

"Time for lunch. I don't think we should take Oscar with us. The people might scare him." I spoke to Seifer. He was in the corner polishing my gunblade for me. He'd said he'd take it out and give it a work out this afternoon for me. I knew it should be used so that the gun part didn't seize up. I planned on going with him as magical support.

"What?"

"Time for lunch." Seifer nodded as he put the gunblade back in its case and stood. I scooped up Oscar and we headed to our dorm. Standing in the doorway was Rinoa. I hesitated and Seifer reached out to link hands with me as we advanced on her together. She stood gaping at us. Oscar scrambled to get down and I let him down to watch him arch his back and hiss at Rinoa until she fled. Seifer laughed as he picked up Oscar and let us into the dorm. We'd outfitted the room with a litter tray, water bowl and food bowl for Oscar, as he'd obviously chosen my bed for his bed. I hoped that Rinoa would tell people about us and I also wanted to be the person to tell people as well.

"Hey, I started a rumour with Selphie before. Told her you and I had been out on a couple of dates." I raised an eyebrow at him and watched, surprised as he started to blush under my gaze. I let him stew under my gaze for a while longer before I nodded to him as he set Oscar down on my bed.

"That was a good idea." I smiled as he relaxed before we headed to the cafeteria for lunch. I gripped his hand as we stepped into the cafeteria and it was as if everyone's eyes were on us. Which was what we wanted to begin with anyway.