-10-

Fools

Seifer walked into the brunet's room just as Squall got out of the shower, a towel fastened around his hips.

"You never knock, do you!" Squall glared at the blonde, trying his damnedest not to look at his full lips in the process.

Seifer smirked, "Just thought you would need some help with your wound. I'll bandage it again for you."

"There is no need. One day with that stupid thing was more than enough."

"No way. You need to take care of yourself…it could get infected, you know."

"Who cares?" Squall walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of snug leather pants and an oversized shirt that would cover the hickeys Seifer had given him that afternoon. 'Can't believe I almost let him take me then and there.'

"Let me see." Seifer bent by Squall's leg, lifting the ends of the towel slightly, but Squall swatted his hands away, "Hey, wait, dammit. I'll at least put on something."

"We're both men, Squall. Stop acting like you're any different."

Squall blushed and walked off to the bathroom, a pair of boxers in his hand.

"You look hot." Seifer grinned at the brunet.

"Yeah yeah…" Squall smoothed back his hair and walked past the blonde, "Are you coming or is it a must that your friends wait on you?"

Seifer laughed, "Now I'm worried they would stare at you and forget about me."

"Ha…and I almost believed you." Squall waited for the blonde by the door. He was smiling slightly, his head cocked to the side.

"What is with the three belts around your thigh? You're hurting yourself, you know." Seifer frowned.

Squall shrugged, looking at the three belts clasped tightly around his wound, "They would serve well if we need to run."

"And the gun...do you have to take it? And look so obvious about it too? Do you have a license?"

"Yes, yes and yes. Now that I've answered all your questions, let's go. We're already ten minutes late. Do you have to prove that you're irresponsible?"

"Just one last question. Why do you carry a gun around?"

"To keep people away."

"Does it always work?"

"If not, my glare does."

"So you've never had a girlfriend or a boyfriend, right?"

"No."

"Why?" Seifer persisted.

Squall shrugged and huffed in impatience, "They wouldn't want to be with me."

"Why?"

"Why what dammit!" Squall glared at the blonde.

"Why wouldn't they want to be with you?" Seifer asked undeterred by Squall's mood.

"I'm not exactly lover material."

"But you never"

"Seifer, can we go?"

"I would want to be with you." The blonde whispered against Squall's ear on his way out.

The brunet just stood there, Seifer walking to the car and opening his door for him, "Are you coming or what?"

"Well well, aren't you the dashing hero." Irvine laughed.

Seifer chuckled and sat by the brunet on their rounded table. Zell had muttered a short 'hi' before giving his full concentration to the hotdogs he was eating. Selphie noticed his disgusted expression, "Don't mind Zell, he is always busy eating that stuff. It's an obsession."

Squall shrugged and ignored the friends as they caught up on their latest happenings, Seifer patting his shoulder or smiling at him every once in a while.

They never danced. Squall because he never knew how and Seifer because he knew that he would be forcing the brunet against his will.

Seifer turned on the lights as they walked back into the apartment. Squall yawned and sat on a sofa. It was one in the morning but most of the city was awake and lively.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah." Squall snorted, "A time of my life."

Seifer sat beside him and Squall suddenly remembered their earlier love scene, shifting uncomfortably, "Maybe we should go to sleep."

"You're not such a bad person, you know."

Seifer smiled gently. Squall rolled his eyes, becoming agitated, "You don't even know me."

Seifer shrugged and smiled brightly.

"Why the hell do you smile like you're never hurt…like there's not a problem in the world?" Seifer grinned, "Life goes on. It never bothers to stop for you. You are the one punishing yourself for sins you didn't commit or ones that doesn't deserve that much pain and sorrow, honey."

"Don't flatter yourself into believing you know me. You know nothing of who I am or what I do for a living!"

Seifer started to say something but Squall cut him off, "I'm worse than criminals…just…Aaaaaaaahhh!"

Squall jumped up and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" The blonde stood up.

"No where." Squall stood by the door, his head beginning to pound.

"Why do you do that…when you have a place to stay right here." Seifer came up from behind him.

Squall turned and pressed his back to the door, "You're going to hate me."

Seifer shook his head and pressed a kiss to Squall's exposed jugular, which was beating frantically. Squall closed his eyes and rested his head back against the cold wood. Seifer's hands cupped his cheeks, "I don't understand you at all."

Squall opened his eyes and pulled away from the blonde, walking to his room.

"Squall…" was all Seifer could say.

The brunet hesitated for seconds before he walked into the room and softly shut the door behind him, sinking against it and letting the first tears he shed in years cascade down his cheeks, leaving Seifer to listen to him helplessly on the other side…