Disclaimer: I do not own Squall or Seifer.

Chapter 8

Despite what he had told Squall, Seifer did not head to where the others were waiting. Instead, he walked straight past the door, slipping away to the training centre. Resting against the railing in the secret area, Seifer gazed upon Balamb Plains as he ran a hand through his hair.

'Why the hell did I just kiss Squall for?' He smiled at the memory of Squall's soft but firm lips pressed gently against his. Spinning around, Seifer lent his back against the railing, arms crossed in front of him as he stared at the ground, a small frown upon his lips. It was in this position that Squall found Seifer in, causing his breath to hitch as he stared at the blonde from the shadows of the door way. Taking a deep breath, Squall stepped forward.

'Why did he just kiss me? Was it like he said, or just because he could?'

Squall frowned as he stalked his way through the training centre, knowing exactly where he would find the blonde man. Quietly opening the door to the secret area Squall was greeted to the sight of a brooding Seifer, arms folded across his broad chest and a small frown ghosting across his lips. Squall smiled slightly at the sight.

'I wonder if he knows how cute he looks… um, er…'

Squall shock his head slightly as he steped forward.

"Seifer."

Seifer raised his head to see Squall standing just a few steps away from him. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at young man who had managed to turn his emotions upside down.

"Squall."

Squall walked other and stood next to Seifer, leaning out to face the open plains of Balamb.. The two stood in silence as the both tried to gather their thoughts.

"How are you feeling Seifer?"

Seifer glared at the ground..

"Confused and disorientated," he finally admitted, still staring down at the ground. "It feels strange to be back in my own body again after spending the last 6 months as your cat."

Squall smiled faintly at Seifer choice of words.

'Seifer… mine… why does that thought please me so much?'

"Was it strange, being a cat?" Squall blurted out, not liking where his thoughts were taking him. Seifer snorted and finally looked up at Squall, smiling slightly.

"Of course it was, but it did have a few advantages." Seifer smirked as Squall's hand reached unconsciously up to where Seifer had clawed him, back in Balamb Forest. Squall sighed.

"Its not going to be easy for you. Ultimecia probably did you a favour turning you into a cat – if you had walked out of Time Compression as a person you would of probably ended up in prison, or worse. It seems to of calmed down now, but your reappearance will stir thing up a bit. It shouldn't be too bad since Balamb Garden will be backing you, but I wouldn't expect a warm welcome, even here."

Seifer sighed.

"I realised that."

"So why are you out here and not catching up with the rest of the gang?"

Seifer shrugged.

"I guess I'm… afraid. I did terrible things during the war, things I had no control over. It wasn't as though they liked me before either. Would I really be welcomed back?"

Squall sighed and turned around to face the training centre.

"I can't speck for any of the others but I know that … that I'm glad you're back," Squall finished softly; eyes downcast as a soft blush crept across his face. Seifer smiled at the sight, pushing down the temptation to brush back the soft brown hair that fell around Squalls face and kiss that blush away.

"Thank you Squall."

Squall gave Seifer one of his rare smiles. Straightening up, Squall dusted his jacket down as he composed himself.

"Come. You have to stay at my place until I get a room sorted for you. The others can wait till tomorrow to meet up with you."

Seifer smiled inwardly as Squall replaced his mask of cold indifference and beckoned for the blonde to follow him.

'I'm not too sure where these feelings will take us, but at least I know that I will have a friend in you.'

"So he's back. Great." Zell kicked the grey couch one last time, flopping down across it. Irvine glanced across from his seat in the armchair across from Zell.

"You done kicking my furniture?"

Zell smirked as he began tapping the arm of the couch with his right foot, earning an exasperated sigh from the aurban haired man.

"That's the last time I invite you around."

"Who's back? You mean Seifer?" Selphie bounced into the room, a large bag of potato chips in one hand and a can of coke in the other. Knocking Zell's feet off the couch, she curled up and placed to open bag on the table in front of her.

"Squall certainly seems happy to have him back,"

Zell snorted as he turned to face the perky brunette.

"Hyne knows why. It wasn't as though they were friends. Seifer was a complete arsehole to us all back in Garden, and then he joined up with the sorceress and tried to kill us all on numerous occasions. Great reasons to welcome him back I'm sure."

"I don't think he was that bad Zell. He seemed friendly enough with Squall. I would of called them more training buddies than rivals, or, at least that what it seemed to me," Selphie interjected.

"Huh. Goes to show how well you know him. Seifer has no loyalties expect to himself. The moment it looks like we're going to lose, he'll be back grovelling to the witch, and then we'll see how happy Squall is with him then."

"I don't know Zell," Irvine drawled as he grabbed a handful of chips. "I certainly don't trust him, nor do I think that I'll like him judging from the stories I've heard, but he doesn't seem interested in joining back up with Ultimecia. I mean, he's been tripping her up every time she's moved. And he did save you from those cookies she gave you. Who knows what she might of done to them."

Zell scowled at the grinning cowboy.

"One good deed doesn't erase all the bad ones."

"In any case, Squall seems to think that he's ok and he's a pretty good judge of character so I'm not going to make any waves as long as Seifer leaves me alone."

"Huh. Its not like we get any choice in the matter," Zell spat out distastefully.

"Oh really you boys. You haven't spoken to him and you're already judging him. Just because he wasn't the nicest person around before doesn't mean he'd be like that now. War changes people, no matter what side they're on, and I doubt that it would have been a pleasant experience for him to work under her. We don't even know if he went willing or if he was controlled like Edea and Rinoa. You don't have to be his best friends, just give him a chance at least," Selphie retorted, glaring at the two men until they nodded mutely. Satisfied with their answer, Selphie smiled and continued to much away on her chips.

"Good then. Anyone heard from Rinoa?"

"Yeah, she's staying at Balamb Hotel at the moment. Was it just me, or was Squall a little harsh on her?" Zell asked, grabbing a random magazine from the coffee table and skimming through the pages.

"I guess he was a bit. Sure, she did sound bit selfish back there, but I can see her point of view though. None of us had been controlled by Ultimecia and we don't know what it would have been like, so we can't go judging her I guess," Selphie replied.

"It seemed to me as though it was just an excuse to get rid of her," Irvine said thoughtfully.

"Really? Why would he want to do that? She's hot, young and all over him. He's the luckiest guy in Garden," Zell replied, grabbing a chip from Selphie's hand and smiled innocently at the pouting brunette.

"Squall doesn't seem like that type of guy who'd go for someone based on the merits of their looks. He'd want someone who'd match him on the intellectual level, and Rinoa's too much of an airhead. Squall probably got bored with her. Poor Squall, all alone again."

Irvine grinned at the moping girl.

"Wow Selphie, you're certainly being deep today. Who would of thought that such a ray of sunshine could see into the very heart of our dear ice prince," he mocked, earning himself a glare and a cushion in his face.

"Don't worry about Squall. He has us remember, and him and Quisty have seemed very close lately," Zell said knowingly.

"Ahhh." All three nodded in unison.Selphie smirked over her can.

"I guess you know what that mean boys."

Both men sighed as they accepted their fate.

AN/ An update! Sorry it took so long. What with exams and broken computers that just didn't like to stay fix (and the time it took just to get fixed was unbelievable) it took me a while to finally sit down and type it all out. I'ld like to say that i'll be updating every week to make up for it, but the motherboard's playing up again so i'm going to have to send it back down to get it repaired (again), but i'll have to wait of few weeks until the semester finishes so i'll have a couple more chapters up by then. Sorry for the long wait and the shortness of the chapter. It just didn't seem to want to work for me. Also, if anyone would like to be a beta reader, it would be a great help. Read and review!