8

Squall shivered as a blizzard raged outside their tent. They've been traveling for three days and Squall's mood was dampening by the minute.

Seifer sat beside him looking out the tent, "Man, it's cold."

Squall glared at him, "I hate snow."

Seifer raised his arms in a mock pretense of innocence, "I didn't do it, I swear." The brunet's scowl was ferocious and the blonde laughed at his idiocy.

"You know, there is a hot water spring a couple of days ride from here. We could stop there if you want."

"Whatever." Squall muttered. Something about all the snow was putting him on edge, so was Seifer's warmth.

"So, why don't we sleep since we can't possibly travel in this weather?" Seifer suggested.

Squall gritted his teeth, "Why don't you just freeze to death and do me a favour?"

The blonde rolled his eyes, "I don't know why you hate me so much…and I was your first lover too…to think he would remember the way he moaned in my arms."

"Hey…that wasn't even…" 'Me.' He finished in his mind.

"What? Counted?" Seifer pressed closer, "What?"

Squall stood up and left the tent, Dran running behind him.

"Hey!" Seifer ran behind him when an arrow whizzed past his head, "What the hell…"

Squall pushed him to the ground, "Stay down."

It was snowing real hard and Squall could barely see, but his senses were screaming danger, and if that didn't warn him, Dran's growls sure did.

The blonde looked at Squall who was over him, "What the hell!" the brunet sat up and pulled out small knives that he had in a pouch slung over his shoulder. A man jumped down form a tree, roaring as he threw himself on the brunet.

"Hey!" Seifer cried, but he was rooted to the spot when Squall easily dodged and he embedded the knife into the man's nape, killing him quickly and efficiently.

Dran growled and pounced on another that decided to show himself. Four other men jumped from their hiding place and attacked Squall at once.

The brunet grinned, "Boy, I sure do miss this routine. Too bad you guys aren't sent by nii-san or I would have let you live."

Seifer gasped as Squall fought, his heart racing with the boy's agile movements. Squall was actually smiling, fighting alongside Dran. There was no need for the blonde to help at all…no…Squall was the master of the game…in full control. Bodies littered the ground and Squall rubbed his bloodied knuckles. Dran sat beside him, "Good boy." Squall cooed as he patted his wolf's fur, forgetting the blonde's presence.

"You…fight pretty well."

Squall grinned, "Yeah? I thought so. Back in my village people would always clap and cheer, but I never killed my attackers because they were always sent by my nii-san."

Squall's smile turned sad, "I would always come home late though, and he would tease me or yell at me, depending on his mood, although it would all be his fault."

Seifer smiled, "Your brother is funny."

"Yeah, and he's strong too…if they didn't get my mom…" Squall trailed off, his face losing its former glow.

"Hey, lighten up…tell me…what happened with your mother?"

"Nani mo nai." Squall shrugged and walked into the tent, leaving the blonde to stare at his retreating form. But Seifer was not going to let up this time, "Hey, tell me something. You were laughing and grinning like a damn fool when you were kicking those guy's asses…you always smile when you are around Dran…what about me, dammit! Where the hell did I go wrong, anyway?"

Squall ignored him and shakily went under the covers to feign sleep.

"No way…Comon, you have been ignoring me and snapping at me throughout the past four days like I was some enemy of yours. If you hate me then why do you travel with me?" the blonde frowned as it seemed Squall was never going to answer, but the brunet's voice was a soft whisper, "I don't hate you."

"Yeah, sure you don't hate me…you just can't stand my presence."

Squall sat up and glared at Seifer, "Look…you…it's not…I…" Grey eyes were clouded with unshed tears as Squall tried to put his feelings into words. 'What can I say? That I'm here to betray you? To pretend to be your friend only to find your weakness? What the hell do you want me to say!'

Seifer looked contrite as the first tear slipped from the brunet's eyes, "Don't cry…I'm sorry…it's just that…I like you, and I want you to like me. If it's because I slept with you…I really am sorry, I let passion take over my thinking."

Squall smiled at the blonde, "You're good. It's not you…it's me, but I am sorry…I wasn't fair…"

Seifer's eyes widened in surprise, "Huh?"

Squall crawled over to where Seifer was sitting and wound his arms around the blonde's neck, "You said I was moaning in your arms…"

The brunet didn't need to say another word…or rather couldn't… Seifer had taken his breath away…

A little help I suppose? Nii-san is older bro. Nani mo nai is nothing and Gomen is sorry..okay?