(3)

Of Lies and Revelations

"My, you sure are an early bird." Mary smiled as Squall walked into the kitchen, slight pain etched on his face.

Upon seeing her he smiled and sat at the kitchen table, "Good morning. I'm Squall."

"I'm Marlene, Seifer's housekeeper and nanny since he was nothing but a babe."

Squall nodded curiously, 'so that's what his name is' "Oh…Really…so you're like his mother."

"Yes." Mary nodded and placed a bowl of porridge in front of him, "Here, eat up sweetie."

Squall chuckled at the nickname, "You are very kind."

Mary chuckled, "You are a mystery…for Seifer to pay attention to your needs and feelings…that makes you worthy of anyone's consideration."

"Nah…I'm not worthy of anything." Squall said sadly.

Mary handed him his medicines, "The doctor said you have to take one after every meal. You will be fine."

Squall nodded gratefully, "Will Seifer mind if I wear those…like take them?" he asked, talking about the shorts and shirt he was wearing.

Mary shook her head, "No, I'm sure he'd like you to have then. I've never seen Seifer so tender that he slept in the sofa for you. You must have really touched something deep within him."

Squall chuckled, "You must be exaggerating…I didn't know Seifer's name until this morning when you said it."

Mary laughed, "Yeah, well Seifer is one to make introductions."

Squall's sadness was all but forgotten as he listened to some of Seifer's childhood stories while he ate.

Mary sobered slightly, "Seifer sure has become jaded."

Squall regarded her with curiosity, "Well, life does funny things to people…he sure has saved me a couple of times though. Please thank him for me."

Mary frowned as Squall got up, "You can thank him yourself…where are you going?"

Squall turned back, giving Mary a sincere and bright smile, "They must be worried. I can never repay your hospitality…thank you so much for the breakfast and your time…it was great meeting you. See you."

Squall waved and walked out the back door, but something told Mary they would be meeting again real soon.

"Glad you decided to show up, Prince Charming." Denzel frowned at his friend.

Squall gave him and casual smile, "Heya buddy, who would have thought you would wait up for me."

Denzel's brown eyes flashed with annoyance and he pushed back strands of ark brown hair, "You look like shit…are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine…do I really look that bad?" Squall laughed on his way up the stairs to his room.

Denzel followed him in, "What in the world happened? Where the hell have you been?"

Squall shrugged, "It's nothing Dens…I'm just a little tired."

"You're visiting your mom today, right? You promised I can come with you this time."

Squall sat on the bed and stare out the window pensively, "Yeah…whatever."

Denzel lay down on the bed, his head resting on his friend's laps, "The manager asked about you…I'm still waiting to hear what happened."

Squall smiled again and looked down Denzel's face, "I got drugged, raped, thrown in an alleyway, rescued by an Angel, and then got to sleep in that angel's arms in a wonderful home full of wonderful people…all in a night's work."

Denzel gaped at Squall's account or what happened, "What the hell! Who the hell raped you? That bastard sure doesn't know who he's messing with!"

Denzel was now pacing and sputtering insults.

"Dens, it's okay…I don't care….basically I get raped every night…so this is really no different…at least I was asleep while he screwed me."

Denzel's eyes betrayed his sadness, "I"

"I'm going to my mum at 4…you better be ready or I will ditch you."

"You're one to talk!" Denzel laughed, returning to his former cocky self, "I'll meet you down then…just let me get bit of a nap…tche…next time you decide to stay out all night please bother to call."

Squall nodded and smiled at his friend, "I will."

The manager, Kei, made sure Squall's ears were deafened as he gave his list of complaints to a carefree brunet.

"Sorry Sir, it really won't happen again…I will be more careful next time."

Kei nodded and let Squall off the hook, allowing him and Denzel to go visit his mother.

"Relax." Denzel chuckled as he maneuvered his bike to the hospice Squall's mother was staying in.

Squall tried to calm his frayed nerves but with no avail…God only knew how his mother was going to react this time she saw him.

When they were outside her room, Squall stopped Denzel, "Please wait outside…please."

Denzel frowned but complied as Squall walked into the room and shut the door, bracing himself as a slap caught him across the face.

"Mary…Did you see the brunet boy that was"

"Squall? Oh such a marvelous young man. He really is a sincere spirit… and innocent as they come."

"Yeah, whatever, have you seen him?" Seifer asked irritably, still groggy from sleep.

"He left…oh but he told me to thank you so much…and he asked if you wouldn't

mind him taking the clothes on his back. I told him he can have them since I didn't think you would want him strutting around naked."

"Squall doesn't strut." Seifer grumbled, "Do you know where he lives?"

"Sorry Seifer. He left alone and I have no information on him whatsoever." Mary grinned at the way Seifer's mood darkened.

"Is something amusing?" Seifer growled.

"Nothing." Mary sang as she prepared breakfast for the angry lion.

Seifer's frown deepened and he turned to trudge up the stairs to his room, banging the door shut behind him.

"Mother, please stop. You're hurting me." Squall choked as Trish strangled him.

Her eyes were mad with fury as she banged him against the wall and turned her back on him, "How many times do I have to tell you to stop paying for my medications and leave me alone. Is it so hard for you to understand that I want to die! I hate you…you are a bastard who isn't worthy of anything but scorn and misery. Get the fuck out of my room."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, mother." Squall looked away.

"Heh, don't talk to me like I'm a fucking child you no good gigolo! And don't call me mother! Who would wanna be a mother of fucking trash like you anyway! You even look like the bastard who calls himself your father…but he left you too…on the streets…right? You don't believe me when I tell you you're trash, do you! Get the hell out of here! Go to hell…maybe you can get yourself into an accident and damage your brain…wouldn't that be funny…heh maybe I would be miraculously cured if that happens to you."

Trisha laughed at the hurt expression on her only son's face.

"What the fuck are you waiting for! Get the hell out!"

Squall nodded and turned to leave, "Bye mother."

"Go screw yourself you bastard, oh wait, actually you already get screwed every night anyhow." His mother's cruel laughter followed him out.

Denzel frowned but said nothing as Squall forced a smile onto his lips, "That didn't go so bad."

Denzel noticed the sheen of unshed tears in Squall's wondrous grey eyes and he too forced a smile, "Well…how about we go for some ice cream?"

Squall shook his head, "I want to be alone for a little while…you go ahead. I'll follow in a short while."

Denzel frowned, "Comon…it's really not that bad. Who cares what she thinks anyway?"

Squall smiled at the nurses and then walked out ahead of his friend.

"Squall…Comon…please..."

"Leave me alone…maybe it would be better if I just fade away…God how I want to disappear."

Denzel followed Squall to a large oak tree where the brunet stopped and started to climb its braches, "Squall, get the hell own! You could fall and die!"

"No one would miss me."

"I would dammit!" Denzel backed away slightly and stared out at the sky, "It might rain, you know…stop being silly and let's go chill."

"Go away Dens…I just feel like sitting up he for a while…maybe if I'm this high…maybe God would notice me."

Denzel shook his head but he stopped yelling and sat under the tree, waiting for Squall to come back to his senses.

Seifer took a long drag from his cigarette as his mother and a young woman sat in the living room, "So, Mom, you came here to give this lady a tour of a majestic house or teach me the meaning of mutual silence?"

Raine laughed haughtily, "Actually, I came to tell you something of utmost importance to you."

Seifer snorted as he blew out the smoke in the ladies' faces.

"This is Rinoa."

Seifer chuckled bitterly, "And that is important why?"

"She is you fiancée."