Author's Excuses:
Sorry for another longer then usual wait for this chapter. I had a little bit of a organization problem, just a few missing scenes. Which thanks to Shinigami's Forlorn Angel were found! My lovely beta, and rp-partner again fixed all mistakes! Make sure to thank her, because I'd be lost without her. Hope you enjoy chapter 17!
I'm No Angel
Chapter 17: In the Land of Twilight
Warnings: Swearing, Violence, and quite a few scene changes.
Seifer walked down yet another long hall. This house was like a maze, halls led to more halls some filled with doors, some only had one door. Sighing he took another left. That was his strategy, keep taking lefts, sooner or later he would have to find a front room...
Zeke chuckled quietly as he exited the conference room. Laguna's short temper, and lack of wit was an unending source of amusement for him. However, his meeting with the man was short lived and left him feeling bored, so he decided that he would go and torment his captive for a while.
Seifer heard the light chuckle and froze. "Shit." He whispered. Turning he saw Zeke walking around the corner.
Zeke immediately spotted Seifer, posing as the doctor, and went over to speak with him. It wouldn't hurt to toy with the boy's hope, would it? "Why, hello Dr. Kurtz. Finished with our guest already?" He asked, giving Seifer a friendly smile. Seifer narrowed his eyes at the longhaired teen.
"Yeah asshole." He said before pushing Zeke against the wall, placing a well-aimed punch on his jaw with much more force now that he felt no pain in his back, thanks to the numbing salve.
Zeke merely chuckled. "You'll have to do better than that." He warned as he kneed Seifer in the stomach, winding the blonde man. He then punched Seifer in the jaw, followed by a spin, which led into the longhaired teen hitting the older male in the side with his elbow.
Seifer stumbled back wishing he had his gunblade. Running forward the blonde kicked Zeke in the stomach spinning and kicking him on the side of the head with his other foot. Jumping back he dodged the teens blows. He jumped at the first opening and punched him in the face and kneed him in the stomach.
Zeke took a step back, from the last blows, before smirking. He then lunged at the taller man, launching a rapid succession of punches at the blonde's head that the older man had difficulty blocking. He then spun kicking Seifer in the stomach, sending him flying back to land on the floor with a thud.
"Little fucker..." Seifer mumbled, slowly standing. "You're not right..." He said, confused as to how this slim man could be so fucking strong.
"I'm not?" The brunette asked, chuckling as he stood before the taller blonde.
Seifer narrowed his eyes. "There is something wrong with you..." Seifer said, throwing a punch at the boy.
Zeke easily evaded the punch, taking a step back. "There is?" He asked again. He then ducked down, sweeping his leg out, tripping the green-eyed male. Then standing up, moved to tower over the blonde, looking down at him.
"You're too strong for your size... It's inhuman... What are you?" Seifer asked standing once again. He refused to give up. As soon as he stood he aimed another punch and swiped his leg out, trying to trip the teen.
The lithe boy jumped back, doing a flip in the air, kicking Seifer in the jaw and dodging the man's attacks at the same time, landing gracefully a few feet away. "I assure you, I'm human." He answered. "I've just got some powerful allies who never leave my side." He smiled.
Seifer fell against the wall, spitting blood on the floor. "Are you talking about GF's?" He asked.
"Precisely." The youth replied as he walked towards the injured man, still smiling.
"I thought only SeeD's were allowed GF's?" Seifer said. He knew this, as hehadonce wanted to become one himself.
"It's not hard to obtain one, if you know where to look." Zeke answered. "Are you done trying to fight me?" He asked, stopping to stand a foot away from the man.
"I wont give up." Seifer stated, once again standing on his feet. "Love kind of has that effect on you." He said before lunging at the teen tackling him to the ground.
"Love?" The teen questioned as he looked up at the man, who now held him pinned to the ground.
Seifer punched the teen. "Yes, is that not a word your able to comprehend?"
Zeke turned his head with the blow, lessening the force and damage that would be caused by it. He then looked up at Seifer again. "I told you. I've never known love. How could I comprehend what love is, if I've never experienced it?" He asked.
Seifer landed another series of punches on the teen. "Sorry." He smirked. "Let's just say it's the most powerful thing in the world."
"Really now?" Zeke smirked as he looked up at the older man.
"Yes." Seifer hissed.
Zeke's right hand flew up to grab Seifer's throat, squeezing as the teen forced the man off of him. Slowly the longer haired brunette stood, forcing his opponent to do the same. "Would you care to prove it to me?" He asked before throwing Seifer into another wall.
Seifer gasped as his back hit the wall, jarring him. He slid to the floor. Slowly he stood up again. "Fucker." He said, punching Zeke in the stomach, and kneeing him in the face. "Can't you see? Anybody else that didn't have the same circumstances as I did would have given up a long time ago."
"Would Squall give up?" Zeke asked as he spun, kicking his leg in the air, catching the side of Seifer's face with his foot. He then punched Seifer in the stomach, which was followed by a kick to the same spot. The teen then jumped and kicked the man in the side of the head once more.
Seifer fell against the wall. "No." He said glaring at the teen. The blonde was panting, leaning against the wall, and he knew that he couldn't keep this up much longer. If only he had his gunblade...
"No. Of course not... In fact." The brunette smirked. "I bet he's planning a search and rescue mission as we speak." He chuckled, taking up a fighting stance, feeling slightly tired, as Seifer pushed away from the wall to advance towards the youth once more. Nobody had ever stood against him this long. It was amusing.
Seifer stopped his current approach. "What do you mean?"
Zeke laughed as he relaxed. "You're pitiful."
Kimi walked up beside Zeke. "We never had your little boy toy, Blondie." She smirked, folding her arms across her stomach.
Seifer was shocked... He had been tricked? "W-what? Damnit! You tricked me...fuckers," He mumbled, finally sliding to the floor exhausted.
Zeke chuckled as he walked up to the man. "Correct, Mr. Almasy... However I do not appreciate you using such language in my home..."
Seifer didn't say anything just sat there... He still needed to escape. Just because they didn't have Squall didn't mean they couldn't get him. Also he'd be crazy not to escape... He still needed to apologize to his lover, and he sure as hell wasn't going to be sold off like a slave. The blonde knew that he'd missed his chance this time though. He'd have to wait for another opportunity, hoping that another would arise soon.
Zeke leaned down, extending a hand to the fallen man, friendly smile in place once more.
Seifer ignored the hand and stood up using his knee for support. Glaring he walked around the teen only to be blocked by the girl.
"Just where are you going?" She asked. "I don't remember you being given permission to wander around freely..."
Seifer scowled. "As if you didn't expect me to try and escape."
Zeke turned and smiled. "Of course we did... We thought you'd put up more of a fight though. Oh well." He shrugged. " Come with me. I'll show you to a guest room if you like. Unless of course you want to go back to the holding room, where you left the good doctor?" He offered.
Seifer growled. "You thought I'd put up more of a fight? How so when you've got fucking GF's? You probably got 5 of them! Pffft...take me wherever the hell you want."
Zeke chuckled. "I thought you said love was the strongest force in the universe?" He motioned for Seifer to follow him as he began walking down the hallway. "If it truly was, you should have beaten me."
Seifer sighed. "You wouldn't know what I meant anyway." Seifer followed the teen, contemplating kicking thehim in the back of the head.
"Of course not.. Love is a meaningless emotion. I have no need for such feelings." Zeke replied, rounding a corner.
"Cuz you've never experienced it, right?" Seifer asked sarcastically.
"That's only the beginning.." The teen smirked. He stopped in front of a doorway. "Here we are.." He said as he opened the door to a spacious room with a dresser and bookshelf against one wall, a nightstand and four-post bed against another. The bookshelf was lined with books both old and new. A large black comforter with matching pillows covered the bed. The floor had dark blue carpets, and the walls were an off white and adorned with various pictures, which looked like each one cost a small fortune.
Seifer raised his eyebrows. He never heard of kidnappers letting their captives sleep in such fancy rooms. Walking in he turned to face Zeke and Kimi.
Zeke simply continued to smile. "There will be two guards outside this door at all times. If you need something let them know. If you do try to escape again I will be forced to put you back in the holding room with Hughes and Louis.." He warned, knowing full well the man would try to escape anyways. He was looking forward to it. "If you want to change clothes there are some clean ones in the dresser over there."
Seifer nodded waiting for them to leave.
Zeke and Kimi both turned and left, instructing a couple of men who had been walking down the hall to guard the door.
Seifer glared at the guards, and shut the door. "It's going to be harder to escape with those goons outside my door." he said to himself. Walking to the dresser he changed his clothes, not wanting to wear the doctor's uniform no longer. Now he wore a pair of black pants with a gray T-Shirt.
"So, Mr. Loire. When will I get my slave?" Chet asked, sitting in the chair across from Laguna.
"In two days," The man in question answered as he sipped a cup of tea. The teen holding the captive for him got on his nerves with little effort. He had only managed to relax moments before Chet had shown up at the door. "We will meet here and then I will take you to where he is being kept." He explained, while thinking, 'Give that longhaired brat someone else to annoy for once.'
"Great. I can't wait to get my hands on him." Chet said smirking.
"Of course not." The former soldier replied. "But that's enough talk about business... Tell me Mr. Vasquez. How are things with you lately?"
"In the shit hole...got busted." He mumbled.
"Ah... Well hopefully our little transaction will be the beginning of a turnaround of events for you." Laguna said as he offered Chet a friendly smile.
Chet smirked with an evil glint in his eye. "Yes, hopefully it will." He said crossing his legs.
Laguna simply chuckled before sipping his tea once more.
Selphie walked in followed by two now dressed boys. Duo pouting as he followed his brother.
Solo laughed at the expression on Duo's face, earning him a glare from the small boy.
Selphie smiled skipping into the room and set the bags on the couch. "Hello!" She said happily to the group of men on the couch.
"Hey.." Irvine greeted as he walked over to her, looking at the scowling youth. "What's with him?" He asked, while Kiros and Ward both watched the children have a silent argument, the older one laughing quietly while the younger continued to glare.
Selphie looked at the arguing boys and smiled widely. "Awww. The sales ladies though Duo was a girl. He's been pouting since, it's quite cute!" She replied.
The violet-eyed boy immediately turned his glare on Selphie, which only caused his brother to laugh more.
Sighing, Squall stood from where he was sitting on the couch. "We have more important things to worry about." He said.
Duo looked at the stormy eyed teen and quirked his head to the side, all anger about being mistaken for a girl forgotten as curiosity took over.
Kiros nodded. "Yes we still need to speak with the elder brother." The dark man said indicating Solo.
Both boys looked at Kiros then. Worry shone in Duo's violet eyes while Solo simply nodded once, his expression turning serious.
"I've already talked to you about the black market slave trade. We're planning on going there, just to look around, tonight. After a quick look we should be able to make a more detailed plan. We were worried as to whether you planned on taking Duo along also. Some of us think it a bad idea."
"No." The boy answered. "I wouldn't take Duo within 20 feet of there." He added, his voice taking on a cold edge.
Duo's attention snapped to his sibling. "But Solo.." He began, no longer paying attention to anyone else in the room. He had never been away from his brother for more than a couple minutes since 'that night'.
"It would be safer to stay with Selphie." Squall said, hoping to convince the boy, for he was anxious to go.
Duo ignored the teen, giving his brother an imploring look. Solo couldn't just abandon him here, right?
"Do you really want to go back to that place Duo?" Solo asked his brother. "I can't stay here and show them, but I don't want to take you back there."
"No..." He answered quietly, looking down. "But... Nii-san..." He tried again. Tears began to prick at the corners of his eyes.
Solo bit his lip he couldn't stand seeing his brother cry. "Please? Duo it'll be okay, I'll come back. Selphie will take care of you." He said pulling the small boy into a hug.
The boy simply shook his head as he returned the embrace. "No.." He whispered quietly as he buried his face in his brother's shirt.
"What do you want me to do Duo?" he asked gently. "I can't take you to that place..."
"Don't go..." Came the answer between muffled sobs.
Solo sighed. "I'm sorry...do you want to come with us?" He said relenting.
Duo nodded, tightening his hold on his brother.
"You're sure? You remember what happened last time. I don't want anything to happen to you." Solo asked, stroking his sibling's hair. Duo nodded again.
Solo sighed. "Okay, but you've got to stay close, and if one of the others tells you to hide or run, you have to listen to them." He said indicating the other four men.
"Okay." The younger boy whispered as he continued to hug his brother.
Squall sighed, he didn't like the idea of taking Solo, let alone Duo. "We better go soon."
Solo nodded his agreement, letting go of his brother.
"Okay." He said as he glanced down at his brother, taking the boy's hand.
"We'll take my car." Kiros said heading for the door. "We've got to be quick and subtle."
Solo nodded once more as he, Duo, Squall, Irvine, and Ward followed Kiros out the door.
Once they all got into the car Solo gave instructions to where one of the markets several buildings was. It took them about 20 minutes to arrive.
Once there, they all piled out of the vehicle and everyone, except Duo, looked up at the tall building. "We shouldn't travel in this big a group.." He whispered to Solo. "We'll look suspicious.."
Squall was surprised that thechild hadsaid that. "Yes he's right...We need to split up."
"Two groups of three, 2 adults 1 child each." Kiros stated.
Squall nodded. "Yeah that was what I was thinking." After thinking a bit he spoke up. "Kiros, me, and Duo will be one group. Ward, Irvine, and Solo will be the other. We can meet back here in 30-45min, make it a quick search."
Duo blinked as he looked up at the teen, not knowing why the tall brunette wanted him in his group.
Solo nodded. "Okay Duo?" Duo looked at his brother and nodded.
"Okay my group will take the left side, the other the right." Squall stated. "We'll split at the door."
The group nodded as they split off into their teams and headed towards the building.
Once inside Duo almost immediately took hold of Squall's hand, seeing as how his brother was with the other group, surprising the normally brooding teen.
Squall looked down when the small hand took his. Big blue eyes stared back at him, and Squall felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips as he squeezed the small hand, and continued mentally mapping out every corner of the area as they walked.
Seifer glared at the guards, and shut the door. "It's going to be harder to escape with those goons outside my door." He said to himself. Walking to the dresser he changed his clothes, not wanting to wear the doctor's uniform no longer. Now he wore a pair of black pants with a gray T-Shirt.
The blonde started searching the room looking for something that could help. There was a large window in the back of the room.
"Maybe I could escape through here?" He thought out loud as he began to examine the window. However, he soon discovered that the window was wired to a security system, and would set off an alarm if opened.
The blonde cursed and continued to search. Soon he came upon an old rocking chair. Picking it up he broke off the curved leg quite easily. Seifer put the potential weapon in his back pocket and examined the window once more. After a bit he grumbled and just lifted it up harshly causing a buzzer to go off. Running the blonde went to stand behind the door waiting for the guards to enter.
Mere seconds later the two guards burst into the room.
Smirking the blonde slipped out shutting the door and locking it behind him. The guards had fell right into his trap.
"What the--! " One of the guards shouted when the door was shut and locked. The two burly looking men began banging on the door, trying to break it down, as Seifer began to make his way down the hall, once more trying to locate an exit.
The blonde continued down the hall, setting a hurried pace. Smiling in triumph when he found what looked to be some kind of front room.
However his smile soon faded when he spotted Zeke standing in front of the door, smiling directly at him.
"Why, hello Mr. Almasy." The teen chuckled as Seifer began his approach. He was so close to escaping this time. He couldn't let this punk stop him.
Seifer growled and slowly walked up to him, reaching behind his back he pulled out the piece of wood, swinging it heavily at the somewhat surprised youth's head.
However, being faster than Seifer was, the adolescent jumped back and did a flip in the air, landing gracefully a few feet away. "Dear me.. You seem upset... Was the room I gave you not to your liking?" He asked.
Seifer didn't' hesitate and ran after him swinging the heavy wooden leg at the teen.
Zeke continued to dodge one attack after another.
Seifer smiled triumphantly when the teen did exactly as he wanted to now that Zeke was away from the door it was clear for him to escape. The blonde quickly turned and boltedto the door.
Zeke smiled and stood watching as Seifer reached the door only to discover it was locked.
Seifer paid no mind and used the wooden leg to break the glass out of one of the surrounding long windows.
Zeke chuckled amusedly as he walked up behind Seifer.
"Never turn your back on an enemy if he isn't down." Was all he said as he karate chopped the back of the blonde's neck, knocking him unconscious.
When Seifer awoke he was in a large empty room and standing just a few feet away was Zeke, still wearing that infuriating smile of his.
Groaning the blonde sat up as he was lying on the floor. "What the fuck?"
"You let your guard down..." Zeke said as he looked over at Seifer.
Seifer stood up. "Where the hell am I?"
"My training room." The teen answered.
"Training room?" The blonde questioned suspiciously.
"Yes, my training room. I come here often to practice different fighting skills.." Zeke explained. "This is perhaps my favorite room on the estate..
Seifer looked around there wasn't much equipment in the room. "And why did you bring me here?"He askedslowly.
"To make a deal with you. Defeat me in a fight and I will let you leave." The teen said with a slight chuckle.
"You chicken-shit." Seifer growled. "You set this little duel up yet you have 5 fucking GF's while I don't even have a weapon."
Zeke chuckled once more and pointed over to a cabinet in the corner. " You may use whatever you like from there." He offered. "And you only assume I've got 5 GF's."
"Well then, how many do you have?" The blonde asked opening the cabinet.
"Why would I tell you?" The teen asked. "We're enemies at the moment.. And rule number one is never share such information with your enemies.." The cabinet was lined with every kind of weapon Seifer could imagine. From swords to staffs, shuriken and Kunai to whips and nun-chuks.
"Awww, and I thought you said we were friends." Seifer said sarcastically, smirking when he saw the gunblade hanging in the back of the large cabinet.
"You said we weren't.." Zeke chuckled.
"And I'm right." Seifer replied pulling out the gunblade swinging it in a large arc before setting it on his shoulder.
"Have you made your choice?" The teen asked.
Seifer grinned. "Looks like it, doesn't it?" He asked swinging the blade once more.
"Then let's begin." Zeke smiled as he took up a fighting stance.
Seifer smirked and raised the blade pointing at the teen. "Lets."
The teen ran at the taller blonde, raising his fist as if intending to punch the man.
Seifer stepped to the side and slashed the blade at Zeke skimming the boy's shoulder.
The teen spun as he passed Seifer, turning and kicking the man in the back. He then jumped and twisted in midair kicking the blonde in the side of the head, dropping into a crouch the moment he landed and swung his leg out tripping the man before jumping back, holding his lightly bleeding shoulder.
The blonde quickly stood back up running up to the teen swinging the blade to strike the teen in the chest.
Zeke however, jumped back as Seifer swung the large blade nearly avoiding being hit by the weapon before he ducked and dashed toward the man, raising his fist once more and punching him in the stomach, winding him. Zeke then dropped into a crouch and spun, tripping the man once more.
Seifer growled, standing once more he crouched low, striking the teen in the thigh while kicking out, tripping the teen also.'
Seifer frowned, something wasn't right here...this was too easy. Zeke stood and smiled at his opponent. Seifer growled.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Zeke asked.
"Oh don't act innocent." Seifer replied. Zeke simply continued smiling.. "You're letting me win aren't you?"
"Would you like me to stop?" The youth asked, like it was the most absurd idea he had ever heard.
Seifer scowled and rushed forward slashing the blade. "Whatever."
Zeke jumped into the air, easily avoiding the blade and landed behind Seifer, kicking him in the head, then spinning and kicking him in the side with such an immense amount of force Seifer was sure that the teen had broken something..
Seifer winced, but the rage he felt fueled him to stand running forward he kicked out his leg tripping the teen before putting his foot down on Zeke's neck holding him down. Zeke frowned as he looked up at the blonde man. Seifer smirked, and brought the blade down pressing it against the teen's cheek."You give?"
The brunette only smirked in response. "Would Squall give up?" He asked. Seifer growled and put more weight on the teen's neck. "Shut the fuck up before I strangle you." Zeke chuckled quietly.
"Definitely like that old man.." Seifer pressed the blade into the teen's cheek making a thin line of crimson seep out from under it. "What are you talking about?"
"My client... The one who hired us.. You're just as easy to annoy as he is... It's a wonder why you two don't get along..." The teen laughed. "You both want the Angel... and you both are easily annoyed..."
Seifer growled lifting his foot he kicked the teen in the mouth hard before replacing his foot with the blade and leaning down so he could put his face close to the teen's own. "And who would your client be?"
Zeke smirked up at Seifer. " I'll give you three guesses..." He offered.
Seifer pressed the blade to the teen's neck. "I don't think you're in the position to make me guess..."
The longhaired youth smirked once more. " Why.. Mr. Loire of course... And Mr. Vasquez will be here soon looking for you..."
Seifer narrowed his eyes. "Laguna! Squall's dad! That fucking bastard." The blonde yelled lifting the blade he prepared to stab the teen in the heart.
Zeke rolled as soon as the blade was moved and stopped in a crouched position a few steps away as the weapon was brought down.
"Such temper..." The teen smirked as he stood.
"I won asshole now let me go." Seifer growled pointing the gunblade at the teen's forehead.
"Don't you want to stay and face Mr. Loire and Mr. Vasquez yourself?" The youth asked coolly, not in the least bit frightened.
Seifer narrowed his eyes and he had to admit that he very much wanted to slash the two assholes...no three assholes, but it would be stupid to stay here any longer. "I'll fucking do that after I'm out of here." He replied. Zeke laughed.
"I can assure you, Mr. Almasy.. You won't get this chance again." He smirked as he motioned to the door as it opened.
As if on cue Laguna and Chet both strolled in as did Dr. Kurtz. The doctor immediately went to the teen's side and began examining his injuries. Seifer growled glaring at the other men in the room. All of which he wished to kill.
Zeke watched as Seifer looked ready to kill the two men before him. "Here he is, as promised." The teen said, motioning for the doctor to wait as he approached Laguna, "... Old man."
Laguna's eyes moved to the teen. "Yes?" He asked deciding to ignore the insult.
"I believe you owe me for my services. After all it was Kimi and I who kidnapped and held him for you." The youth said simply as he ignored his doctors protests that he needed to be treated for his injuries.
"You said you had no need for my money." Laguna stated. "Have you changed your mind?"
"No. But I do believe I told you you'd end up paying me, whether you realized it or not..." The teen smirked.
Laguna remembered his eyes narrowing..."What are you talking about?"
"All in due time. At the moment however, it would seem Mr. Almasy would like to have a few words with you and Mr. Vasquez. So I shall leave you three alone to talk." And with that he left the room, motioning for the doctor to follow him.
Watching the two Kiros felt a smile tugging at his own mouth. Leaning over he whispered to the teen "I guess he's taken a liking to you, Squall..."
Squall glanced at the taller man and nodded, honestly he felt touched by it. "We better hurry." Squall stated.
"Yeah." The darker man agreed, giving Squall a nod of his own. "Who knows what kind of people lurk around here..." He commented.
Squall nodded, and scanned the room. It was large and there were a few men and women walking about, or as Kiros said lurking. Most wore expensive clothing and were talking quietly with others, which he assumed to be other sellers or even buyers. As of yet they hadn't really attracted much attention, but soon they would. Squall moved in front of the small child holding his hand in an unconsciously protective gesture.
"Yeah." He replied eyeing a few people who were looking at them discretely.
Duos shivered as he felt the eyes of several of the adults in the room look him over. Subconsciously he drew closer to Squall as the teen moved in front of him protectively.
"Come on." Squall said starting off through the room keeping close to the wall, and trying not to look suspicious. "I don't like this place lets just get this over with."
Kiros nodded his agreement as he moved to walk behind the child and teen, so as to keep them guarded from behind, his eyes flashing back and forth, meeting and challenging the stares of several of the room's occupants.
Squall made mental notes of everything he saw planning on drawing a map, and write down a few things to keep in mind. He really didn't expect a place like this. It was dark and gothic, but also lavish with large furniture and light fixtures mixed with the tasteful art and bar. It seemed they were in some sort of sitting, or party, room. Just as they were about to escape through the end hallway aman stepped in front of the brunette, blocking his way.
The man had long greasy black hair that was tied back in a ponytail and small, beady black eyes that held a cold and malicious look to them. He wore a simple white tank top and tight fitting black pants which showed off his almost too thin frame. He smirked as he watched violet eyes grow wide with recognition and fear as Duo moved to cower away from him, behind the short haired teen.
"Well..." He drawled," Who do we have here? Why! It seems to be Jasmine..." He chuckled as he saw the child cringe at the name, a whimper escaping the boy's throat. "And with the Angel no less.." He added looking Squall up and down.
Squall's eyes narrowed at the slimy man. He would have ignored him, but there were a few problems. One, he was blocking their way. Two, Duo was freaking out and he wanted to know why. "So? We have no business with you so why don't you leave us."
"You both have quite the reputations here... Especially Jasmine there.." He kneeled down to be more level with the boy. "Isn't that right?" He gave the longhaired youth a feral smile. "You remember, don't you?" He asked, laughing as the adolescent curled away.
Squall felt a growl escape his throat, surprising him, just as it did the black haired man in front of them. The brunette wasted no time stepping totally in front of the boy, blocking him from view. "Leave us." Squall repeated feeling the boy trembling behind him.
The man stood and met Squall's glare with a self-satisfied smirk. "And if I don't?" He asked.
"I'll move you out of the way myself." Squall replied, his glare never wavering in intensity.
"And draw more attention to yourself?" The greasy haired man asked, his smirk growing.
Squall didn't think of that. It would not be a good idea to draw more attention than they needed. He was begging to think this was a bad idea. "Are you planning to stop me?" He replied coldly.
"Maybe... or maybe I just wanted to re-acquaint myself with my former pet..." He grinned, hearing another whimper come from the child hiding behind Squall.
Squall covered his surprise with a well-placed sneer. He had no idea that the Orphans past with the trade was like this. Squall rubbed his hand up and down the small arm behind him trying to give comfort, but he was never good at that sort of thing. "We have important business, and need to hurry. It would serve you well to leave us to it."
Kiros moved to stand beside Squall, motioning for the teen to let him handle the situation. " You know.." He said, sizing up the thin man in front of them. "My friend is right... It would serve you well to leave us alone."
"How so?" The slim man asked as he raked his own eyes over the dark-skinned man.
"Because, you wouldn't want to cause a commotion either.I'm sure the other sellers will be extremely upset if you were to cause their customers to leave, without buying, by starting a fight. Plus it's me and Squall against you, and I know that Duo.." He emphasized the child's name, "Has a nice solid kick from experience." Kiros replied coolly.
"Alright." The greasy man relented as he shrugged, smirk still in place. "But next time you won't get so far... " He warned as he walked away chuckling.
Squall glared, not too worried by the man's comment, and turned to Kiros. "Thanks."
"Of course." The older man replied as he glanced down at Duo worriedly.
Squall followed Kiros' glance turning to the boy.
The small brunette just stood there, trembling as tears slid from eyes that were clenched shut to trail down pale cheeks. He had his hands over his ears, as if trying to drown out some overwhelming noise, and the occasional whimper slipped past his lips.
Squall bent and, surprising himself yet again, picked the boy up, holding him. Glancing around the room once more, to see just how much attention they had attracted, the brunette left the room, andwentinto the hallway holding the longhaired child close.
After making sure that nobody was following them Kiros entered the hallway and approached the two boys. "Is he okay?" He asked, looking down at the shaking youth.
Squall had stopped in the hallway, and just looked at the young boy. He didn't know what to do. He'd never really had to comfort someone besides Ellone, but she never really cried that much. "I don't know." Squall said a little hopelessly.
"Duo?" Squall asked the whimpering boy. "He's gone it's just me you and Kiros."
The adolescent just shook his head as he curled in on himself as much as possible, while being held in the teen's arms.
Squall jostled the boy to sit more comfortably on his hip and pulled the younger brunette's face to his neck. It was something Matron always did when he was upset. 'I knew this wasn't a good idea.' He thought rubbing circles on the small back. 'And we need to get out of here.'
After a couple of minutes the child began to cry, moving his arms to encircle Squall's neck in a desperate embrace.
Squall stiffened slightly, but relaxed, and continued to hold Duo. He didn't want to do the other thing Matron always did to calm him...he really, really didn't want to, but he couldn't stand to see or hear the child in his arms crying, so quietly he started to hum a song that he knew no name or lyrics for, but he knew the tune by heart.
Slowly the violet-eyed child's sobs ebbed, and were replaced by sniffles, as the youth began to relax.
Kiros started down the hall, looking for a way out of the place without going through the same room. Squall finished humming when he realized the younger boy was relaxed in his arms. Relieved the brunette glanced at Kiros a little embarrassed. "See a way out?"
"No..." The man frowned. The truth was he didn't want a repeat of that encounter either. Yet he couldn't see any way of avoiding it.
"I guess we'll have to back track. I don't want to go through that room again, but I really don't want to get lost." Squall replied turning back to look down the hall they were walking down.
Kiros nodded as he looked at the child in Squall's arms. The child's large violet eyes were empty and haunted as the youth snuggled closer to the warm body holding him. Suddenly, he could see why Solo was so protective of him all the time.
Squall sighed and looked down at Duo. "Were going to leave, but we've got to pass throughthat room again. I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" He said softly to the young boy in his arms.
The child nodded weakly, a shiver coursing its way down his spine, as he suddenly felt cold. He then buried his face in Squalls shirt hoping to block out the room they were about to pass through.
Squall walked as quickly as he could without looking to suspicious passing the room hurriedly. He spotted Kimbley, who was staring at them sneering, but he leftthem alone thankfully. Soon they were outside the cold breeze pushing the brunettes hair gently from his face. Sighing in relief, the small group headed for Kiros' car.
A short while later Irvine, Solo, and Ward joined them. The sharpshooter reported that they had found very little information regarding their missing friend and his captors.
"We didn't find out much about Seifer either." Squall said disappointed. He had hoped the others had some luck.
Irvine frowned as Solo spoke up, watching his little brother. " I heard some people talking about a private transaction that's supposed to take place today at some guy named Zeke's place..." He offered. "What happened?" He asked, motioning to his sibling, a dark expression clouding his features.
Squall glanced at the Orphan, before setting his gaze on the now half-asleep Duo in his arms. "We had an...encounter, but everything is alright no one was hurt." The brunette replied.
"You're sure he's okay?" The green-eyed boy asked, watching as his younger sibling snuggled closer to the teen.
"Umm, yeah he was a little upset, but I think he'll be okay." Squall replied he would have given Solo his brother, but he didn't want to move the boy too much, and Solo was too small himself to comfortably hold the orphan.
"Alright.." The youth replied warily as he slowly climbed into the backseat of Kiros' car..
Everyone else had already climbed into the car as they talked, and Squall followed Solo unsure of what to do with the younger boy he was holding.
AN: Okay were getting closer and closer to the end! Read and Review please! -loves-