Author's Notes: Beats this chapter into submission I know I've only been gone for 10 or 12 days, but HOW did I write fifteen college ruled pages in that amount of time? I'll tell you how... SMUT! You may have noticed that the rating for the story has gone up to R... And it is for good reason. At the private insistence of some people I shall not name there are smutty parts... If you don't want to read them I have them marked so you can skip over the unimportant things. But if you don't read you might miss something that could be important. But you don't have to read... Right... Um... After this I'm taking a break from this story for a while and working on a new FF7 story with Rude and Reno, a new chapter for Dealing With It, the FF8 one that shall be my crowning glory, and finishing up the first chapter of Crysil Mercale's story. So go read someone else for a while or read through this again and notice new things. Honestly I have no real clue as to how I'm going to proceed with this, so I need some time to think.
Silver-nex: Ah, my dear... Just read.
Firefly-Dreams: That is okay, I can survive... I think I might be able to blackmail a friend of mine into doing it. No Reyn and Drew for a chapter, please survive without them... But we DO have double the Squall and double the Seifer! And Double smut. So Read and Review and that is all.
P.S. I REALLY need a beta if anyone would care to help with that...
Chapter 8: Everything Old Is New Again
Corin
"Wake up," a soft voice bids me, trying to coax my eyes open.
Even behind closed lids I can sense that it is evening, close to dawn. The air is filled with the scent of grass and a few blossoms, markedly summer blooms... But it was fall when we were at the fort. The dewdrops soaking into the back of my shirt indicate summer as well, and making the time about 4 am. Also in the air is the faintest trace of salt water. We can only be in one place then, near the town of Balamb...
"What the hell?" I shout, sitting up and opening my eyes... Oh... BAD idea.
"Dizzy?" a gruff voice laughs as I lay back down to ease the spinning.
"Suijin?" I question after a moment of dizzy thought. How could he be here? How could I be here? Just moments ago I'd lead the Esthar SeeDs in tearing down defenses and then into the fort. Suijin had been deep inside with the others, trying to sabotage the machine, right?
The strong, dark skinned teen smiled at me as I opened my eyes again. Above me there are stars, not the right ones for Esthar, but the ones of home. My eyes must have gone wide for he helped me to sit up and look around. Several feet away Rhiale was helping a dazed Fiera stand and Squall and Seifer were helping the Kinneas twins polish their guns and check if our weapons are fine.
"Where are we? What is going on?" Fiera voices the two questions foremost of my mind.
"When are we is the proper question Fiera," Squall said.
"Wha..." I started to question the elder two of our group.
"I'm guessing that this is the day of the SeeD exam. Right about now Seifer and I should be heading to fight. Hyne, what fools we were."
"Were?" Squall chuckled, "'Are' is a more honest term Seifer. At least for you!"
"I can't believe this. Are you trying to say we're in the past?" Fiera meekly asked.
Squall nodded and frowned, "We have to do something very few will remember... It is us who shape this world."
This brought silent pondering to all of us we strained to comprehend what Squall was saying. Yet as the sun rose our cares were gone, and we were making toward the mountain, and thus to Balamb Garden. How these people will react to Squall and Seifer? What would they say about our clothes and weapons? Hell, I'm still wearing my Esthar uniform!
As these thoughts faded, two odd creatures flew past me. These were not the normal monsters of the area, but Darus and Valen. Now I KNOW those two weren't from this time, but... Maybe they came through with us. Seems that from the looks of everything, Squall and Seifer weren't lying... I'm close to home but so far away.
Jason
"Well well, visitors? What can I do for ya?" the old man that stood at Garden's entrance asked as I moved to talk to him.
"We need to talk to Headmaster Cid," I said while Suijin and the others joked around. Hyne, why did Squall want me to do this? I'd much rather tease Ward for doing this than have jokes cracked on me.
"Sorry, he's preparing for the SeeD field exam and can't take visitors right now," the old man informed me.
Mustering as grave a frown as I could I use the excuse Squall had thought up, "Tell him it's regarding his wife... He'll want to hear what we have to say."
While the old man relayed my message to Cid I watch the others speak quietly now. It has been a long time since any of us had to really TRY to get into a Garden, but now it is so damn crucial. Right now the others are trying to convince Coring that we aren't sleeping, and that Squall and Seifer are indeed GFs. Yet the teen isn't about to believe a word that the others say, even Fiera... What a shame...
"Uh... Well greetings... Which one of you has news of my wife?" a familiar voice comes through the gates.
I turn to look at Cid, nearly shocked into a yelp at his appearance. This man is not old and frail like the man I know, but strong. Others may not see it but I do, this old Headmaster could probably take on some of this better SeeDs. With this in mind I respond to him, "Sir, I have urgent new regarding Edea Kramer. And considering that you seem to be busy today it would be best that we talk now before we have no chance and it is too late..."
Carefully the Headmaster looked me and the others over before turning to the old gatekeeper, "Matthias give them passes and call a faculty member to escort them to my office. Be quick about it..."
"Thank you sir," I said stiffly in an attempt to hide my relief.
"But you have to leave your weapons here. I'm sure you wouldn't mind that, would you?"
With a smirk I turn and nod to the others who are listening in. They move over and place their weapons into a drawer that is then pulled into the gatehouse for safekeeping by the old man. I've got to admit that Cid isn't really a fool. If he can tell by just a glance that the small group of us could be a threat to Garden then I've underestimated him over the years.
Ward
The office of the Headmaster of Balamb Garden was far from what it would one day be. For one the seats for guests were far more comfortable... Then again, Quistus didn't like people getting too comfortable in her office. At this point I've been in this bland office for an hour, and both Jason and Corin are getting frustrated with Cid. To this point the plump man has refused to believe our story, and won't give up any help.
"I'm sorry, I cannot help you!" Cid repeated just as frustrated as everyone else.
"Listen..." Corin began as the phone rang.
Cid answered the line and listened with a deepening frown. After a few moments he hung up and cleared his throat, "I must call our meeting short; I have a matter of an injured student to attend to..."
"Hyne," I growled before standing, "We've been here this whole time and got nothing done! Listen Cid, we're gonna so this whether you like it or not! Already we've blown so much time that we're gonna miss Ellone! Not only that, but now we can't even bring in Darus and Valen to prove our point! They are gonna be watching over Squall and Seifer like hawks!"
"You know Squall and Seifer?" Cid asked.
"Know them?" a voice laughed in the doorway, "Know is an understatement Cid..."
At the door, ever the show off, Valen stood by Darus arms crossed. I can't figure out if it is worse for Cid to see the two GFs that won't exist for another twenty years or to accidentally see the two gunblade masters he hoped for as adults. Either way these two are our proof and our curse.
Jason sighed and looked towards the GFs for help. When Cid saw them his jaw dropped. Obviously the mixture of two GFs he'd never seen and GFs being present outside of battle was not good for him. Then something even weirder happened... Smirk still in place, Valen pushed off of the wall and stepped through the door to enter the office. Even to me this was odd, because as he stepped through the door Valen seemed to melt until Seifer stood behind my seat. Darus mimicked his husband's actions, but far slower and carefully. It seemed like there was something bothering him as he placed a leg covered in tattered black through the door and his smaller leather clad leg came through.
Once he was inside he spoke up to offer an explanation, "Ellone's power... We saw her while we were floating around the infirmary... Her mind still lingers on us, and when mixed with the power channeled through here she can force us to seem as ourselves. She doesn't know it though..."
"Squall? But..." Cid began.
"I am the one in the infirmary, but he is not me," Squall tried to explain.
"What is this?" Cid nearly yelled.
"The boys are telling the truth Cid..." Seifer said with a frown, "It's very dangerous now. They must stop the sorceress that is trying to destroy the future. And we need to rescue Drew and Reyn too.
"Reyn and Drew?" Cid asked in a dazed manner.
After a moment's hesitation Seifer answered with a frown, "Our sons..."
Fiera
"If you ask me," Corin said as he triumphantly held up the final hotdog to taunt the blonde teen at the counter on the other side of the cafeteria, "It's not to bad to be here, once you accept that we've technically done this before."
"And it took you hours to get that," I chuckled playfully at him, "Even Cid got it before you..."
"Hell!" Suijin cut in, "I got it before Corin did."
"But there is a place to draw the line," Rhiale added, "We can't flat out tell anyone other than Cid. And even then we have to keep things quiet! If someone finds out we could ruin the future and destroy ourselves."
All of us suddenly grew silent as the object of our surveillance entered... He was right on time and how could we doubt that? Squall, though quiet, was a creature of habit, even to this day. Since about an hour ago we've been watching the key players in this odd drama, and making sure that the forces of the sorceress didn't pick them off. After the mission today Ward would be sent to watch over Irvine, and Jason would keep an on that bitch Rinoa. The rest of us would be assigned to other key people. Corin was to become a Trepe and watch his mother, Rhiale was to be the hyper shadow and friend of Zell (The pigtail girl), and Suijin would keep an eye Selphie. My job was to take care of Ellone, and I alone would be close to my subject of study. The rest of the people- Seifer, Nida, Fujin, Raijin, Nida and others- wandering GFs would watch over at the request of Darus and Valen. Those two would watch who they desired while guiding Cid in the upcoming war.
After a moment Squall turned around and began to walk off, head down like normal. Quickly I grabbed Rhiale and pulled her to her feet, "Let's go. We should over him. Later guys!"
Rhiale
"Holy spirits, give us power, AURA!"
Corin and Suijin shivered as the cool breeze of the spell washed over them and gave their skin a pink tint. Once bathed in the power of the spell the two turned backed to the Galbidian machine before us. Lower down on the tower Seifer, Squall, Selphie and Zell were dealing with the odd creature that had nested further up in the old dishes. Our job now was deal with that Wedge and Biggs would send after them soon. Normally the thing would have attacked the group as son as they came to the tower, but we were already distracting it then.
Below there was the faint squeak of Selphie's voice and an elevator heading down. Before we could break off the fight though, the machine hit us with a laser blast and knocked us from our perch. So... This will be our untimely end, falling to our deaths. Then shade passes over my face and someone catches me. Though I can sense we were still falling, my closed eyes can not prove it. When I open them I look up into the gentle eyes and upon the golden feathered wings of Siren. Before now I hadn't expected that those wings sprouting from her head could actually support flight.
"Do not fear my dear," Siren sang to me, "I am here. Darus asked me to come and save you. And do not worry about your friends, like you they've not met untimely ends. Now close your eyes while I take you down, and remember dear smiled and do not frown."
The sweet voice of the musical GF gently sang me to sleep. When I finally awoke it was in Suijin's arms close to the ship Cid has arranged for us. Corin was limping on his own, grumbling about Valen handling him non to gently during the flight. On the ship Ward would be waiting to take us to Balamb before heading to Galbidia. This was the last time other than the dance that all of us would be together for a while...
Corin
Another year, another dance, except this one wasn't mine to control, not Reyn's. So not I silently watch Squall and Seifer (at the moment going by the names Inspector Gast and Mrs. Serah Gast respectively) dance close to Squall and Rinoa. Nearby my mother is actually flirting with a Trepie, my father Stel. Near Cid, Jason and Fiera are hovering as a guard. Out on the dance floor Rhiale and Suijin are enjoying every moment of their disguised dance (her a lovely lady and him a lightly tanned thin young man due to Ellone's magic as well as the GFs) until Squall and Rinoa Bump into them. Rinoa chuckles at Squall's apology as the 'Gasts' dance past him. Amazingly Seifer made a great blonde woman with that red and black dress, nice enough to put Quistus to shame... The music picks up and Squall finally gets the dance steps right, making the movements out on the floor rather pointless for me to watch...
It's nearly an hour later when the party fizzles out. Quistus and Squall have yet slip off to talk, so I'm alone until then. With little important to do until morning and no desire to rest I walk through the halls and towards my. Right about now I need my gun in hand and something to shoot at. Yet I can't take too long because Fiera and me (now with brunette hair due to GF magic) have to go to pick up Ellone from Squall and Quistus later. In preparation for this I rush to my room and pull on my 'new' White SeeD uniform and take out my gun. Tonight was going to be fun for a while...
Squall
Having met with Quistus I return to my single room, tired as hell. Half of that is because of these thoughts running through my head and the other half is from that strenuous battle in the training center. Why the hell was there something like that attacking that girl when she obviously had guardians? And who was the girl in the cream dress? Hyne, she was so beautiful and elegant, bewitching even. That alone was odd since women haven't interested me before. Hell, I'd rather check out that guy in white that came for the girl Quistus and I rescued than check out a female... But... Whatever... Stripping this damn uniform off will be pleasant, but right now, it just doesn't feel right...
Getting this privacy of a single room to myself is great, but my roommate had always been a real nice guy. Other than Seifer, Nida was the only guy that could get past these damn defenses I put up... Hyne, I already miss Nida and I saw him no more than two hours ago! Carefully I peel this overly decorated dress-coat off and look around my new, dark room. Until now I hadn't taken a look at the room. The bedroom I was in now was rather simple, and a lot like my old one. A bookshelf in the wall, a bed in the corner, a small table with a lamp and alarm clock, and my gunblade case were all of the furniture that decorated the large area. Tossing the coat in my arms onto the bed, I quietly agree to leave the room bland as always.
As I enter the living quarters (decorated with couch, TV, radio, table, minifridge, and microwave) a chime goes off, announcing the arrival of a guest. Cursing my luck I stride back into my room and tug on the dress coat again as the chime repeats. When the chime sounds for the third time I am buttoning up the coat, desiring to be modest. Before I make it to the door I hear someone shout my name followed by 'Where the hell are you at this hour?' and then footsteps away from my door.
Finally I open the door and look out into the hallway. Though there is no figure darkening my new doorstep, there is a SeeD at his own door, trying to clumsily to put his code into the security pad. To gain the teen's attention I clear my throat. Nida turns toward me and stares a moment before grinning.
"Hey Squall... So you were in there?" the quiet teen asked.
"Yes."
"Mind it I come in and check out your room? He asked, still smiling.
"Whatever," I replied and moved into my room, knowing he'd follow me once he'd grabbed a few things.
"Squall," Nida said after closing and locking my door, "You should see how the other two did their rooms. Selphie has wall to wall stuffed animals and trains. Zell's mom sent him a punching bag, some furniture and lost of cool stuff. My own foster parents sent my stuff and it's pretty nice in there. What you going to do in here?"
"Nothing," I mumble.
"Squall, you're just a little lame," Nida sighed.
"I know why you're here."
"And I can't chat a bit?"
"No..." I growled as he sat beside me.
"Who was that girl you were dancing with?"
"You jealous?" I chuckled as I pulled him closer.
"Just as jealous as you are of those random people Seifer fucks or I am of your love of him," Nida responded before kissing me.
The next few moments are a blur as we try to get to the bedroom while our hands and lips explore. Normally we could both hold back, but the mixture of wine, excitement, and the know ledge that I could be gone for a while on this damn mission has made us lose all desire to start slow. The next thing that really registered was laying on the new bed, the shy teen's fingers tracing down my chest. How many times had Nida done this for me, no, with me, before he first admitted his love? When did I begin to believe him? And when did I push that love aside for Seifer?
My thoughts are quickly wiped clean as Nida's hands tugged my pants down, "Nida! Damnit, you're more of a tease every year!"
"I've had years to practice on you love," Nida chuckled, his voice husky with lust.
"Do we need to talk?" I asked as I started to unbutton his dress coat.
"Not really, but it's fun to see you whimper in anticipation," he hissed.
"What have I created?" I shot back as I pushed the coat off his shoulders, grabbed the material and threw it aside.
Warning: If you desire to not read the smut, skip to the next italic lines. That will skip this.
A matter of moments later Nida was kneeling between my legs, looking down at my body. Once I had asked him why he did this every time we were together, and he'd said that this was the point where he realized he was lucky to have me and that he wouldn't have me forever. This had a sobering affect on my body until Nida moved again, leaning down to kiss me. His lips traveled further south, pausing to nibble at my navel. While enjoying the attention I ran my fingers up the arms on either side of my body and my hands pause at his neck, wanting to feel the tattoo on his neck. It was the symbol meteorologists used for a squall, representing his love for me and his fear of the storms that shared my name.
As his lips pressed against my inner thigh I gasp in pleasure. Soon following the scent of vanilla assaults my nose, promising pleasure soon to come. First Nida rubbed the oil onto my stomach and arms. When he was done with that he slowly massaged the cool substance onto my hardened length. Carefully he lowered himself onto me, a soft smile on his face. Quickly we lose control again, and all sense of time. All there is, is us, right here and right now. Most of the time my hands are on his hips, helping him to do what we both wanted, but right now they are on his length, helping him to wrap up. As of yet no words or moans have come from us, both content with the silence. Finally Nida nearly lifted himself clear of me then rammed his body back down, eyes clouded over by his pleasured release. That look in his eyes, his head tilted back, his short bangs stuck to his sweaty forehead fulfills me enough to moan his name as I find my own blinding pleasure.
You Can Begin to Read again
With a sorrowful moan I lift Nida from me and carefully set him on the bed next to me. My body mourns the lost warmth as I rise from the bed and stretch.
"Where you goin'?" Nida questions in the darkness.
"Shower," I mumble before walking off.
Padding into the bathroom, I yawn. When Nida switches on the lights I turn to look at him in shock. For a moment he seems torn between silence and his normal question of how I can stand in a cold bathroom like this. Opting for the former, Nida crosses to the shower and turns it on, adjusting the water to his liking. I know what is on his mind so I don't say anything either. When the shower is ready Nida climbs in quickly to clean his hair and body. Contrary to our normal routine I wait for him to finish before taking my own shower. Once I finish I grab a towel and dry off my hair and skin.
Nida waits for me in bed, warm beneath the thick blanket he always brings with him. I sit on the edge of the bed, reaching out in the dark for his hand. A shiver runs through him as my presumably cold hand touched a warm, wet cheek. Though I know what has caused this emotion in him I can't speak.
"It's okay Squall, I understand," he said, keeping his voice low, "I know you were never mine, I don't' really care. I just can't help but think that if only I'd have done something different..."
"Nothing would chance this Nida," I console him as a patch of moonlight shines upon his face, "I love him..."
"But I love you," he cut me off.
"And my life has been better for it. I'm sorry Nida."
"I'll wait for you..." he promised, his rarely used voice straining against his pain.
"Don't... I've heard Xu has her eyes on you..." and normally I would have ignored such gossip, but when Nida's, MY Nida's, name was mentioned...
"She's my instructor," Nida protested.
"Nida, promise me you'll find someone."
"... I promise Squall..."
With this painful promise I joined him in bed, intending to give him a night to remember...
Corin
"Shit!"
I made my way quietly through the trees of the training room toward the familiar voice. In my ear Valen warned against it, but I was never one to do the sensible thing when I held my machine gun. When I stumbled into a clearing I was met with a familiar sight, Seifer Almasy facing off with a large, red T-Rexsaur. Of course this was a younger Seifer, incapable of taking on the beast alone, as much as he'd deny it. Aiming carefully I spray a few shots into the tail of the dinosaur. Instantly it turns to attack me, roaring in anger. To draw its attention Seifer summoned Ifrit, roaring the summon words. While the blasts of fire drew the beast I ran to Seifer's side. The teen was bleeding, the front of his Garden Uniform ripped.
"Hey..." Seifer grumbled as he lunged forward to slash at the beast.
"You're pretty stupid to take this on alone," I chuckled.
"And you're dumber to come help me," he said as I emptied my clip into the eyes of the beast.
"What you tryin'? You wanna die?"
Seifer didn't respond to my question. Knowing I'd get nothing more from the blonde I decide to end the battle. A short string of words escape my lips and the majestic Darus appears. Quicker than my own eyes can follow the GF chops up the creature and then hovers before me. Squall/Darus probably does the next thing to impress Seifer; he lets his body blow away like sand upon the beach.
"What the fuck was that?" Seifer asked eyes wide.
"GF I found in this giant Bite Bug when I was a kid," I lied casually. It was sort of true, for Reyn had found the GF inside a giant Malboro, except when he drew it the two had appeared and saved him
"Damn powerful thing, what do you call it?"
"I don't give it a name, it chooses to be called Odin at times," I said, uncaring that he questioned me.
"Damn powerful," he repeated before slinking off towards what I hoped would be the showers.
Now tired with my long fights this night, I follow Seifer, seeing as things like the training room showers had been moved before I was born. Seifer must have known I was tailing him because it took longer than needed to get there.
"Why you following me?" he asked once we stopped in the locker room outside of the showers.
Honestly, it was a fair question. There was a shower in the room I shared with Ward, but I didn't want to go back there. I want to be near Seifer... The blonde is so much like his son, but more charismatic... Wanting these thoughts out of my head I walk to a lockless row of lockers, select one, strip off my clothes and then place them in the locker. Seifer came up behind me and placed an ungloved hand on my shoulder.
"I have a boyfriend," I blurted out, as if that lie would protect me.
"That only confirms my beliefs doesn't it? You want me," Seifer grinned.
"I can't stand you."
"You don't know me," he replied, pulling my naked body against him.
"I know your reputation."
"Is that why you're so excited? Oh, don't get that look on your face, I can see it and feel it. It won't hurt..."
"I know..." I said weakly before letting him kiss me.
"It's only a little bit of fun; he doesn't have to know about it..."
And Again, Skip if you don't want to read this R stuff. You could probably just consider the chapter done right now.
I wanted to point out that Valen was going to freak when he realized what was going on, but I knew he wouldn't understand. Hyne, why shouldn't I enjoy this anyway? Seifer had a reputation of taking only the best looking 'into his bed', and that made me feel better. Allowing the blonde to pull me towards the showers I watched as he stripped off his clothes. Maybe later it wasn't his looks Squall was after, but now, damn... A few moments passed as Seifer struggled with the boxers he wore. Before I knew it I was pressed against a wall, the hot water quickly soaking my body and the one pressed up against me. Our lips fought as we kissed and our hands searched each other with a furious need. When the larger teen pulled away I groaned in protest, brining a smile to his face. While he fumbled around for something that would serve as a lube I carefully massage the muscles of his back. Once Seifer rubbed some shampoo on my length and his own, the blonde instructed me to turn around and lean against the shower wall.
The whole action, from beginning to end was gentle, fast and perfect. By the time it was over I sat on the shower floor in Seifer's arms, delighting in forgetting about everything. Unlike anyone else I'd been with there was no promises, no empty emotions, just honest lust. Once again I focused on the feel of the water, and the rise and fall of Seifer's chest. From the stories my parents and 'relatives' I knew that Squall and Rinoa were the only ones he ever kept near him right after sex. Now I was part of that group... Oh Shit...
"Where you goin'?" Seifer questioned as I tried to free myself from his grip.
"Need more shampoo," I growled out lustfully.
"Hell you've got a lot of stamina."
"That and a need to forget my pain. Please Seifer; I need to be in you."
"I don't even know your name."
"Does that matter?" I asked before kissing him.
"I have nothing to call you."
"I'll go with what you've been calling me... 'Hyne Yes!'..."