Stuck in Second Gear

Chapter 11

The One With a Party for a Chicken

Seifer totally wasn't pouting. It had been almost seven weeks and he hadn't seen nor heard anything from a certain blue mage. But, he wasn't pouting. Or sulking. Or moping. Or, Hyne forbid, brooding. Or any of those things Fujin and Raijin had dared accuse him of. He didn't fucking care.

Not one bit.

Seifer sighed, carding his hands through his hair. He still hadn't bothered cutting it and it was now flopping in his eyes. He'd let himself go in that department since the big "break." Physically, not at all; if anything, he spent even more time in the gym. It was the only thing that kept his mind off a certain blonde that would not be named. But his hair had become carelessly long and he had grown a lazy scruffy beard, adding to the whole brooding male mystique he was unwittingly cultivating around himself. Despite expressing zero interest whatsoever in anyone else, all he'd managed to do was attract more attention to himself.

The unavailable thing really did it for some chicks. Seifer had told himself that diving headfirst into a series of flings would be an easy way to cleanse himself of the memory of Quistis Trepe. A complete purge. It would be easy enough.

But when it came down to it, he couldn't go through with it. He had tried. Hyne, he had tried. But when the time came to actually do anything, he shut down. It wasn't worth it. It felt cheap and hollow.

As he predicted, Quistis had completely and utterly ruined him and hung him out to dry. The amount of ass he had turned down in the past weeks was unreal. He was a virile, handsome, amazing lover in his twenties. He shouldn't be drowning in agony in his drink when women were throwing themselves at him.

Damn Trepe. No one could do it for him anymore but her.

Hyne, he was freaking pathetic.

After all the times he'd told Zell that the best way to get over one girl was to get another one underneath you…during the hours and hours of Zell's bitching and moaning about the stupid library girl, and here Seifer couldn't practice his own advice.

Zell had managed to get another girl under him. The freaking most eligible bachelorette in Galbadia and Zell was absolutely clueless to the whale he had landed. She had put together a celebration for his sweeping success at the T-Board World Games, complete with a gift of a watch that had a six-year waiting list and cost what Commander, er, Captain Ass Eater probably made in a decade. Or more. Zell didn't have a freaking clue, he just thought it was, "a nice watch and sweet of Chantelle, right dude? She's always looking out for me."

Fucking Dincht. Of course, he would haplessly fall into some love affair with a gorgeous billionaire who worshiped the ground he walked on. And not even realize it. Seifer wasn't jealous or anything. Not of Chantelle, anyway. Of what the two of them had together…? Maybe.

Hyne, he really was the most pathetic creature on the planet. Being jealous of Chicken wuss? How low he had sunk. Truly a sad day.

He was also getting really fucking sick of the pitiful looks Chantelle kept casting his way. The only reason he came to this event was in the hope of seeing Quistis there. And maybe having her notice that he was totally fine. Totally and completely fine without her. More than fine.

He had two girls draped over him for a while, neither of whom he was remotely interested in. Two beautiful women, rich friends of Chantelle's, dressed to the nines and throwing themselves at him. Offers of complete debauchery were coming his way, of some fun with both of them, something that should have piqued his interest. Instead, it just made him even more depressed.

He didn't want anyone else. He just wanted Quistis. Just like he had feared, she had completely messed with his head and then left him alone to wallow in his own misery.

So, he got drunk. And Quistis never showed.

A pair of arms draped across his shoulders, settling around his neck, diamond and gold bracelets clinking against each other on the wrists, expensive perfume invading his senses.

Seifer slammed his glass on the bar more roughly than he intended. "How many different ways do I have to tell you that I'm not going to fuck you. Hyne."

The hands retreated and a fur stole was plopped onto the seat next to him, Chantelle slid in. "Well, I would hope not. That would be completely disgusting and my moomba would kill you."

She sighed, tugging her skirt down as she adjusted herself on the stool and swept her gaze across the bar. "Thank Hyne the press finally left, and we can actually enjoy this party. Where are the groupies that have been all over you all night?"

Zell had swept the T-Board games and deserved the party, as much as Seifer hated to admit it. Zell was now going to be a household name, and Chantelle thought the party should reflect that. Everyone who was anyone had been invited, including the press for the first part of the evening, until the private festivities could begin. Even Ma Dincht had come into town, Zell proudly introducing her to his towering exquisite lover now sitting next to Seifer. Ma was as taken with Chantelle as Zell was, which came as a surprise to everyone. Ma was as protective as Zell as a torama was of its cubs.

Ma, who had never left Balamb, came to support her son in all his success one continent over.

But, Quistis, the proclaimed close friend of Zell, who lived in the same damn city, never showed. Seifer no longer even gave a shit that he was outing the fact that he was acquaintances with Zell. The only reason he was here was because he thought she would show up.

Letting out a grumble of random expletives, Seifer took another sip of his drink.

Chantelle sniffed the air dramatically. "You look like an unemployed alcoholic that weekends as a dead-beat dad. And you smell like one too."

"Yeah, well you look like a hooker," he countered.

Her dress was short and low-cut, sleeveless, exposing her generous enhanced bosom and emphasizing her extremely long legs. It was bedazzled from top to bottom with intricate crystal beading. Chantelle winked at his comment, not deterred in the least. She was used to the brand of assholerly that only Seifer could bestow.

"At least I look like an expensive one."

He actually cracked a smile at that one. The first in weeks. Chantelle was about the only female on the planet he could tolerate other than Fujin at this point, and occasionally Rinoa, if she wasn't being too bubbly. He motioned for the bartender to grab her a martini.

He was about to ask a question, when Zell appeared and snaked his arms around her midsection. "Trying to cheer up old sour-face over here, babe?"

Chantelle turned around in his arms and leaned up to press her lips to his. Since she was sitting, he was actually taller than her at this angle. "Not really. I think he likes his own mood too much."

"You're acting like Squall, dude." Zell didn't bother looking at Seifer, and instead kept kissing the woman in front of him.

Ouch. That was a low blow. Sighing, Seifer kept his eyes trained on his drink. "Speaking of…where are the rest of your loser friends, Chicken-wuss?"

Zell shrugged as his hands continued to roam across Chantelle to the point where he was blatantly groping her butt. They were the most handsy couple Seifer had ever met, and it was nauseating.

Then again, if Quistis was here, he would probably be doing the same thing.

Fucking Chicken-wuss just made his mood ten times worse. Seifer cleared his throat, cueing Zell to the fact that he was expecting an answer.

"Umm…well, Squall and Rinoa left early because Rin was a little under the weather. They left right before you got here. Selphie and Irvine are somewhere, they got in a fight because a reporter was hitting on—well that doesn't really matter. Fujin is there dancing with Xu. Did you know they were a thing?" Zell's words were interspersed with his lips locking with Chantelle's, or the bare skin of her neck, collarbone, shoulder, inside of her wrist. Hyne, the two of them needed to get a room.

Seifer shrugged and tried to make his voice sound as casual as possible. "What about…your other friends?"

"Other friends?" Zell was distracted, and rightfully so. Chantelle looked like she was about to climb on top of him and drag him to a dark corner and do absolutely mischievous things.

Seifer bit his lip, trying to not be irritated. He wanted to know where the hell Quistis was, but he sure as hell wasn't about to actually ask. It was annoying enough seeing Fu and Xu, or "Xujin" as Rai was calling them, and no one giving a shit that they were a couple. That should be Seifer and Quistis! Then again, Fu and Rai had never been persona non grata at Garden. They were welcomed back into the fold with open arms after abandoning Seifer towards the end of the war.

But now Quistis was no longer at Garden…and Seifer was friends with a number of her friends. This should be so damn simple, and Quistis had to go and fuck it all up! Seifer took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

Chantelle seemed to sense that Seifer's line of questioning was important, and stopped her oral assault on Zell enough to let him focus.

"Quistis said she couldn't make it because of work," he said. "Sucks. I haven't seen her much since she moved here."

Bullshit. She was avoiding Seifer.

"I'm gonna go dance," Chantelle announced, before looking down at Seifer. "You're an idiot, you know."

She was gone before he could respond. She was annoying like that. Actually, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Chantelle and Quistis were quite a bit alike. They both strived for an image of perfection to please everyone else. Chantelle did it with personal trainers, insane diets, and plastic surgery. Quistis did it with her successes at Garden, wanting to be everyone's savior. But in reality, they were both perfect little messes. When they finally shed the persona, they both became lovable flawed people. They became freaking human. The only time he saw Chantelle like that was with Zell. And he adored that part of her. Just like Seifer adored that part of Quistis. That part where she wore glasses and had messy hair in the morning. Or the way she somehow got toothpaste all over her face when she brushed her teeth, like she was a little kid. Or the way she snorted sometimes when she laughed really hard. Or the way she secretly chewed on the back of pens and pencils, and pretended it wasn't her. Or the way she would try not to tear up at really sappy movies. Or the way she lost her temper and went on glorious rants when no one else was around. Or how she danced when she finally let go. Or her gods-awful singing she did in the shower. Or the way she got so mad when he could solve a crossword faster than her, and she would scrunch her forehead and…

Hyne, he had to stop. It was beyond pathetic.

Zell gave Seifer a hesitant pat on the back, sucking in a breath to say something—but thought better of it. Instead, he jerked his thumb towards the dance floor. "I'm gonna—"

"Yeah, yeah, go fuck your girl, Dincht."

"Dude." Zell chastised, throwing his hands up in a 'what-gives' motion.

Downing the rest of his drink in one gulp, Seifer shrugged dismissively. "Tell her thanks for the invite. Was a nice party, but I'm out of here."

With that he stumbled his way to the exit, looking forward to passing out in a drunken stupor and dreaming of Quistis.

A week later, his hangover had subsided, and his ego felt slightly less bruised. Thankfully, his favorite couch wasn't taken at the coffee shop. Slouching down into the yellow sofa, he waited for his guest. Ursula was working as barista for the day, so Seifer knew a black coffee was on its way to him in his favorite mug.

A tell-tale clink of a plate and a coffee was set on the table in front of him. Ursula's hair had been dyed from pink to blue and to Seifer's surprise, she slid into the seat next to him and offered him a second plate with a small pastry on it.

"I think you should have this too. It's one of the new treats we only get on weekends." She offered him a small coy smile.

"Uh…thanks?" He took the offered plate and began to set it down on the table.

Instead of leaving, Ursula looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to take a bite. Sighing, he reached forward and did.

He wished he hadn't. One bite and he knew exactly who had baked it. The glare he shot Ursula and her fake-innocent look to the side was confirmation enough.

Fuck, it was delicious too.

Ursula realized the pastry did not have the desired effect and stood quickly, clutching her tray to her chest. "We only get them on Sundays…Saturday if we are lucky. Her stuff sells out so fast, I saved you one. I figured you would want…"

He waved a dismissive hand, plastering a fake smile on his face. "Thanks. It's great. I'm glad. Seriously." Grabbing the pastry again, he finished nearly all of it in one bite to prove his point.

Well, he knew Quistis had started some sort of work here, based on the ridiculous hints Fu and Rai had dropped, but now, apparently, she had established a partnership with his favorite coffee shop to sell pastries on the weekend.

Good for her.

Of course, it meant he could never come here again.

Eating something she had baked was like taking a Triface attack to the gut. Memories surfaced of her experimenting in the kitchen, with him trying whatever amazing thing she came up with. And the fact that that was no longer a possibility.

Thankfully, his companion sinking down onto the couch next to him distracted him from his racing thoughts.

"You're late," he grumbled.

"Sorry?" Rinoa flashed him a dazzling apologetic smile and batted her eyelashes, and was easily forgiven. She was infuriating like that.

Seifer griped something unintelligible and motioned to catch Ursula's attention before actually looking at Rinoa.

She looked…different. Not in a bad way. Her skin had a healthy pleasant glow, and she practically oozed happiness in a nearly obnoxious way. There was something else he couldn't put his finger on.

"What's with you?"

"Huh?" She cocked her head to the side inquisitively.

"What's with the look? I mean, don't get me wrong, you look…good."

Rinoa shrugged mysteriously.

Ursula appeared, placing some sort of tea in front of Rinoa. "Chai, right?"

"Thank you!" Rinoa nodded happily, grabbing the cup and taking a sip.

Gingerly placing the cup down, she turned towards Seifer. "So. Rumor has it you're being a complete dick."

Great, guess she was getting straight to the point. "I'm always a dick."

"Okay. Even more of a dick. The exact quote was 'he is sulking and going on a rampage, ya know. Haven't seen him like that, ya know.' The other quote was 'ASSHOLE'. So…you want to tell me what's up?"

Seifer suddenly found the tilework on the table extremely interesting. "Don't you already know?"

"A ha!" Rinoa pointed a finger in victory in his direction. "I knew it. It's Quistis, isn't it? I knew you knew that I knew."

Seifer rolled his eyes and pushed Rinoa's hand to the side. "Get your damn finger out of my face. Of course its her."

"I thought you'd be thrilled! She moved here."

"Yeah, not before dumping me."

Rinoa's eyebrows shot up, making it clear Quistis had been keeping quiet about the whole thing. "Why? She seemed really happy about you guys. I haven't seen her like that, well…ever. Squall and I were so glad when she quit Garden, I thought she was finally going to come out with the whole thing…"

Seifer sighed, realizing there was no point in hiding anything anymore.

And so he told Rinoa the whole story.

To her credit, Rinoa kept her mouth shut the entire time, alternating between covering her face, chewing on her lip, and eliciting a bunch of gasps.

After he finished, he found her staring at him, clearly trying not to laugh, a bemused expression on her face.

"Seifer, you idiot!"

His eyes narrowed. "Really? That's where you went with your reaction? After everything I just told you?"

Rinoa shook her head. "Seifer, she wants to be with you. She told you that. She admitted she loved you! It took Squall nearly two years to ever tell me he loved me."

"That's because Squall is a loser."

"Seifer…"

Seifer groaned, sinking his head back into the couch and closing his eyes. "I told her I loved her. It didn't matter to her. I do, you know. Love her. A lot. Fuck, I hate this."

"A ha! I knew it! If you love her, then why aren't you reaching out? I know she wants to be with you."

Seifer once again pushed Rinoa's hand away from his face. "I said get your damn finger out of my face. She made it perfectly clear she doesn't want to be with me."

"Yeah. Right now. Look, Q wants to have her ducks in a row so she isn't depending on you. She doesn't want to feel like you had to save her. It's an awful feeling to be reliant on someone. But, from what I can tell, she's getting things pretty settled here. And, I would put money on the fact that she misses you terribly."

He shrugged. "She sure as hell has a strange way of showing it then."

"Has it ever occurred to you that your last words were kicking her out? Maybe you need to make the first move?"

"Fuck that. She was the one who ended it, if she wants me, she's gonna have to reach out."

"Hyne, you're so freaking stubborn. You're worse than Squall." Rinoa poked a finger to his chest. "Isn't it worth your pride to get back your girl? What's more important? Quistis? Or your precious ego?"

He opened his mouth and shut it quickly. Repeating that motion a few times, Seifer was sure he looked like a fish gasping for air. He was about to respond when—

"Daddy!" Rinoa jumped up from the couch, with none other than Fury Caraway himself standing in front of them.

"Angel!" He wrapped an arm around Rinoa as Seifer scurried hurriedly to his feet.

"I trust Leonhart is treating you well. I don't have to call on the special forces to take care of him, do I?"

Rinoa rolled her eyes. "Squall is treating me great, Daddy. Honestly, stop teasing."

Fury Caraway wasn't teasing.

Caraway turned to Seifer, the happy expression reserved for his daughter turning to one of indifference, but not hostility. "Mr. Almasy." He reached a hand out, which Seifer shook. "I trust your studies are going well?"

Seifer nodded, a beam of pride coming through. "Yes sir. I take my bar exam in a few weeks. And I have a job lined up where I intern."

"Good. I'm glad to hear that." Caraway sounded sincere. He turned again to Rinoa.

"Angel, where is Leonhart? You shouldn't be out alone in your condition! You need protection."

"I'm here with Seifer. And I can take care of myself." Rinoa bumped shoulders with Seifer playfully.

"I suppose…" Caraway didn't look convinced. His phone beeped and he glanced at his watch. "Excuse me. Duty calls…"

He grabbed a to go cup from the counter before stopping by them again to offer his goodbyes. "By the way, Rinny. Your friend Quistis is incredible. Her work is unparalleled. I must admit, I wasn't totally sure at first, but working with her has been a dream come true. I thought you would want to know. Cid Kramer is a moron for letting her go. Then again, that man was always a spineless idiot."

Rinoa nodded happily and leaned up to kiss Caraway on the cheek. "I'll see you at dinner, okay?"

Caraway nodded, set his face to his normal stoniness and gave a curt motion to Seifer before leaving.

Seifer and Rinoa sank back into their seats, the air around them suddenly feeling a lot less intimidating now that Caraway was gone.

"Quistis and your dad? You want to tell me what the hell that's all about?" Seifer's mind raced with any possibility of what was going on, even to the insane idea that Quistis had started dating Caraway, which in turn made him want to both die in a heap on the spot, vomit, and kill lots of things at the same time.

Rinoa held up her hands defensively. "Okay, okay…I wasn't sure if I should tell you. Quistis got a job with my dad. She's acting as sort of a consultant for him. Helps him deal with the Gardens, you know? The military and Gardens don't totally see eye-to-eye all the time… Anyway, Quisty has been a real asset. I mean, her whole life has been para-military work, so going as a consultant for the actual military made the most sense, except now she is independent and can choose to take on assignments or not. Squall was actually the one who suggested it. And, well, you know her side hustle, I'm guessing…" Rinoa nodded towards the small bite of pastry left on the plate on the table.

Seifer crossed his arms and frowned. "Well, sounds like she has all her life squared away, doesn't it—"

Then why hadn't she reached out?

Because he hurt her. And he knew it. He just had to swallow his vanity…

And show her she meant more than even his pride. She was worth it.

Something else Caraway said had triggered something though, and pieces were beginning to fall into place.

"Why is Caraway acting even more weird and protective of you than normal? What did he mean about a condition?"

Rinoa leaned up and whispered something in his ear that caused his eyes to widen.

"But, I thought that wasn't possible?"

A pretty blush sprinkled her cheeks, and Rinoa pointed to the Odine bangles on her wrist. "Apparently it is."

Seifer couldn't help an honest grin forming and he leaned down to crush the young Sorceress in his arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'm happy for you." He whispered in her ear. And he meant it.

Rinoa sensed the irritation in her husband before he even opened his mouth. She could tell by the way he opened the door, the way he tossed his boots in the mud-room, and the way he stomped into the kitchen.

"Squall?" She raised an eyebrow in his direction, assuming the frustration was coming from a long day at work at the Garden.

He said nothing, simply throwing a magazine in front of her and crossing her arms on his chest. "Anything you want to tell me?"

Though she couldn't be sure, it almost seemed like he was trying not to laugh. She looked down at the familiar magazine. A new issue she hadn't seen yet. "Squall, you tell me not to look at these things, and now you are?"

He shrugged and opened the fridge to fish out a beer. "Laguna called me today. Practically in tears…"

"Oh no…"

"Asked me if it was true. Wanted to see how I was taking it…" Squall continued, opening the bottle and flicking the top into the recycling bin.

"Oh no…"

"I suggest you turn to page twenty-one." Squall took a casual sip of the beer.

Rinoa flipped through the pages until she found the aforementioned and gasped.

"Yeah, I wasn't thrilled ei—"

"Chantelle looks beautiful! Oh, she's wearing grandmother Caraway's ruby necklace. Wow, and Zell in a tux. This must be from the benefit they went to last week. He cleans up nice. The press is completely obsessed with them. But, why would Laguna be upset about—"

Squall pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not that picture. The one in the corner."

"Oh. Right." Rinoa blushed, quickly scanning the rest of the page. "Oh no…"

"Oh no, oh no…" She buried her face in her hands.

"Were you going to tell me you were having Seifer's baby?" Squall placed the beer down on the table and tried his hardest to give Rinoa a death-stare, but she could tell he was trying desperately not to laugh.

There was a picture taken through the window of the Deling City Perk, of a bearded Seifer giving Rinoa a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Rinoa Leonhart in clandestine meeting with unknown lover. Rumor has it, this is the real father of her baby!

She couldn't help it and burst into laughter. "Oh, Seifer is going to be pissed. He hates stuff like this, despite being the biggest attention whore I've ever met. You're not mad, are you?"

Squall cast her the smile he reserved for her and her alone. "Of course not. You are going to have to call Laguna and explain yourself though. He's convinced this garbage is real. I was stuck on the phone with him for almost an hour, Rinoa…"

She stood up, wrapping her arms around Squall's neck and giving him a soft kiss. "My poor baby…a whole hour? Let me make it up to you."

Squall wrapped his arms around her in return, nuzzling her neck affectionately. "I hate these magazines."

"Me too…guess it's time we make an official announcement, hm? But first, let me make you feel better." She cast him a playful wink, before grabbing his hand and dragging him to the stairs to the bedroom.

Seifer had written and deleted the text twenty-seven times now. It's not like he was counting, or anything.

This was now the twenty-eighth time. Tapping his foot in an irritated manner on the floor of the number 08 bus, he chewed the inside of his cheek. "Xujin" and Raijin had dragged him to some stupid movie about some person that flew and had some super powers or something that saved the world.

"SEND." Fujin glared at him from across the bus, giving him a knowing look with her one eye. Her arm was slung across Xu, who remained impassive.

There was no way Xu didn't know what Seifer was thinking of. Or what had happened. He doubted Fujin had remained mum on the subject, and it was possible Quistis herself had told Xu of what happened. Xu spent just about every weekend in Deling now.

"I'm sure she wants to hear from you, ya know?" Rai supplied, in his ever-cheerful manner.

Seifer sighed, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the headrest of the bus seat, deleting the message once again.

"Do it."

Seifer wasn't sure he heard that right. It wasn't Fujin or Raijin who said it. Snapping his eyes open, he whirled his head towards where Xu and Fujin were sitting.

Xu met his gaze, the hint of a twinkle in her eye, but her face remained unreadable. She nodded ever so slightly at him. "Do it."

He turned his gaze to the window, watching the lights of Deling City's downtown buzz past him as the bus sped down the street to the neighborhood where they lived.

It wasn't until he was in the safety of his apartment, sitting on his lonely bed, that he typed the message once again.

This time he hit send.

Thank you to my beta, colobonema.