(6)

Of Strings and Freedom

Squall smiled for the hundredth time that morning as Seifer lay on his bed in the club.

It was still quite early, but Squall was a morning person, preferring to get up with the sun even though he barely goes down with it.

His hair was damp from the shower he had just taken and he smelled like flowers and apples.

Seifer opened his eyes at the sound of the brunet sorting through his clothes, "My…how do you get up so early when you sleep so late."

Squall whirled around, the towel which had been clasped around his hip falling to the floor.

The blonde chuckled as Squall blushed furiously and bent to pick it up, "The birds wake me up."

Seifer stretched and looked around for a minute, the night before coming back to him.

He had to get Squall out of here….but how?

"Do you want to go out for breakfast…you can bring your retarded friend along."

Seifer got up and walked off to the bathroom, unashamed of his nudity.

Squall nodded eagerly as he pulled on a pair of achingly tight jeans that left little room for imagination as it clung snugly to his tight ass and a contrastingly large, sleeveless shirt that managed to slip on one shoulder, giving him an adorably appealing look.

Squall didn't bother brushing his hair as he rushed to Denzel's room, bothering to knock before he walked in, "Get up Denzel, Angel is taking us for breakfast."

"Go away, freak. Who the hell gets up this early anyway!" Denzel groaned, turning away from Squall in his groggy state.

"It's 9:30, you lazy ass...comon…please come."

"Go alone with him…like a date…and shut the door behind you." Denzel growled.

Squall frowned, "If you won't get up I swear I'll get a bucket of ice and spill them under your blanket."

Denzel growled and sputtered as he got up; sending death glares at the cheery brunet.

Squall chuckled and walked out, telling Denzel they would be down in ten minutes.

Walking back into his room, Squall stopped to marvel at the muscles in Seifer's arms and legs, his broad back and strong chest, bronze skin that glittered with the sun, jade eyes as deep as the sea, blonde hair that swayed gently with ever movement Seifer made…

"I'm asking you a question, kid." Seifer announced in exasperation.

Squall snapped out of his reverie, "Sorry…I wasn't paying attention."

Seifer rolled his eyes. He knew that. "I was asking what you might like for breakfast."

"Anything…it doesn't really matter."

"If that doesn't matter, then what does?"

"That I'm going to be eating it with you." Squall smiled.

Seifer looked taken aback for a second before he pulled Squall and kissed him senseless.

"What the hell happened to being downstairs before me, lovebirds?" Denzel drawled from the doorway he was leaning on.

Seifer ignored him and turned to pull on his shirt, which was wrinkled from its maltreatment the night before.

Denzel's grin grew broader at Squall's heated face and Seifer's annoyed one, "It's okay…I'll wait for you downstairs, just don't take your time smooching, I'm starving."

Squall frowned at Denzel's choice of words and Seifer gritted his teeth, "When aren't you starving."

Denzel's laughter followed him as he walked down the stairs.

Squall smiled shyly and waved, "I'll wait downstairs."

"Sure." Seifer replied gruffly. He turned to the mirror and a vague smile replaced his frown at the small red mark on his neck.

"So where are we going? Do they have pancakes? I like donuts! Maybe…ummm…"

Denzel grinned in the silence, "Hello…did you like swallow each other's tongues when you were kissing or something?"

"Denzel!" Squall frowned

. Denzel laughed, "WOW, he speaks!"

Seifer rolled his eyes, "Your brain is the size of a damned ant."

"You like ants?" Denzel asked in mock seriousness.

Squall groaned, "How about you think quietly…like have internal monologues for a change?"

Denzel laughed, "And risk becoming an introvert! Not a chance!"

Seifer sighed, but soon he was smiling helplessly at Denzel's childish behavior…

Seifer dropped them back at the club late that afternoon and Denzel waved, "Be sure to pass by sometime."

The blonde snorted.

Squall shrugged weakly, "See you around."

Seifer pulled Squall from his nape and pressed a light kiss to the brunet's lips, "I'll be back for you. Take care of yourself."

Squall nodded shakily and stepped back, bumping into Denzel, who winked at the blonde, "How about you leave your number…I'll call you if Misfortune decides to show herself."

Seifer chuckled and pulled out his card, "Here, that's my private phone number, call if there is anything then."

With a small wave, Seifer pulled out of the driveway and watched in the rearview mirror as Squall waved back.

Denzel frowned deeply as Caine walked in hours earlier than he usually did.

Squall, who had been coughing harshly looked up as Caine's soft voice called out to him, "I see you are not doing very well. Did you catch a cold?"

Squall tensed, "Caine, you're early…heh…"

Caine's ebony-colored eyes sharpened with displeasure, "How about we talk upstairs in your room, where we would be less…revealed to the public."

Denzel wanted to say something, he knew what was coming and it wasn't good, but he knew anything he would say would be against Squall's best interest, knowing that too from experience.

The brunet just daintily nodded and without a backward glance stood to lead the way to his room, his stomach clenched in knots and his legs barely supporting him as he walked into the room and shut the door behind Caine.

"I heard you and that bastard friend of yours went out to breakfast with that blonde who fucked you last night."

"He didn't fuck me…" Squall whispered.

Caine ignored him, "I think Kei gives you a lot of liberties; you need to be taught a lesson, and so does that bastard friend of yours who has the nerve to glare at me whenever he sees me."

"He's not a bastard." Squall whispered loud enough to be heard.

A painful blow to the face caught him off guard and sent him toppling back unto the table, where Caine held him captive.

"Answer Angel, comon…please." Denzel held the phone in his hand, pressed against his ear as he paced in front of Squall's door, hearing his friend gasp and cry out.

"Yes?"

"Angel!"

"Denzel? What do you want? I'm in a very important meeting, stop playing games." Seifer frowned.

"Misfortune is coming in the shape of Caine. Seifer, please…"

The phone went dead in his hands.

Seifer sped down the roadway, glancing at the electronic clock in his car, 'five minutes, just five more minutes, hang on, Squall. I'll be there.'

Squall moaned in both pain and pleasure as Caine's fingers spread the lubricator around Squall's entrance.

He was sprawled facedown over the table, his shirt still on, his pants somewhere on the floor.

"Oh, do enjoy it while it lasts. I'm going to make sure you can't stand for a month." Squall's head throbbed, so did his cheek from the first blow. Holding the edge of the table his heart raced, "Please, no, please…"

"Oh, you can't be sorry yet, not yet."

Squall clenched his teeth and closed his eyes but nothing could brace him against the tearing pain as Caine ruthlessly plunged into him.

Denzel looked up as Seifer ran past him and threw open the door.

Squall's pain faded, along with all the noise of the outside world as he surrendered to darkness.

Caine gasped as Seifer stood in the doorway looking like a Lion who just spotted its prey.

Pulling out of the brunet and adjusting his clothing, he stood to face the blonde, "You must be"

"The man who's gonna tear you alive you fucking bastard!" Seifer roared as he lunged at Caine, his eyes shining will bloodlust.

Denzel ran to his friend who had blacked out moments before.

"Stop…Help…Get off me." Caine cried as Seifer choked him, his nails digging into the tender flesh of the man's neck.

Denzel turned to the fighting couple after tucking Squall in bed, "Seifer, stop…you're going to kill him." However, Seifer never heard Denzel ad he rammed his fist again and again into Caine's jaw.

"Stop, he's already out! Stop, dammit!"

A shiver ran down Denzel's spine as Seifer turned to him, his eyes gleaming with hate and fury, "Where is the manager?"

Denzel nodded outside, "He's downstairs…a blonde with long hair in a ponytail."

Seifer stood up; wiping his bloodied hands on the shiny leather pants he wore. Denzel ran after him, "What are you going to do. Angel, get a hold of yourself."

Seifer's jade eyes narrowed as he spotted Kei, "Hey you, bastard."

Kei turned and frowned at Seifer, "What happened?"

"Squall is mine, I'm buying his freedom."

Denzel's eyes widened in surprise and Kei gasped, "The brunet isn't for sale, though you could consider…renting…his body."

"I'm not asking you, Manager, I'm telling you."

"And I'm telling you he isn't for sale. He's an eye catcher and he's staying here."

Seifer clenched his fists, "I don't think I introduced myself, my, I am rude."

Seifer said with mock civility, "I'm Seifer Almasy…I'm sure you heard my name here or there."

Kei gasped, "Mr. Almasy…what can I do for you?"

Denzel frowned but there was no explanation as Seifer drew out his credit card and threw it in Kei's face, "I'm sure you would find this satisfactory, $500000 exists in that account. You can use it as you please. I'm taking Squall now."

Seifer turned and trudged up the stairs, disappearing in Squall's room, emerging a few minutes later, the brunet cradled gently in his arms.