Into Esthar

by Chemotaxis

Set two and a half years after the Second Sorceress War. Squall and Seifer have moved on with their lives, but a chance encounter in Esthar confronts them with their past. Yaoi. Seifer/Squall. Written by Wolkje & Chemotaxis. WIP.

43. Enmity Beneath

~ Chapter Forty-Three - Enmity Beneath ~

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[The Stowaway, Wendel Township, Friday, 31st of October, 8:12 am]

Swallowing a mouthful of scrambled eggs, Seifer smiled as he surreptitiously studied Squall pouring over his phone, the man ignoring the royal breakfast that had just been set out in front of him in favor of the intel Quistis had sent him. Only two other tables were occupied this early in the day, granting them the relative privacy of a table in the far corner, right beside the roaring hearth. He'd tried to distract Squall, attempting to lure him into some foot play beneath the table, to little effect. Not even his lewdest flirtation had elicited much response.

In the past he'd hated anything other than himself demanding Squall's complete focus like that. Of course back then he would never have admitted to that being the reason for his annoyance, but it was obvious now. And while he mourned the lost potential of an entire morning spent in bed with Squall, the quick romp they'd had not nearly enough to satisfy him, he was starting to get excited at the prospect of getting back out in the wild. It looked like Quistis had sent Squall a good deal of information too, hopefully with a proper lead.

"Anything promising in there?"

Glancing up from his screen briefly, Squall grabbed a piece of warm bread. "Mostly raw map updates. No missions."

"Really?" Seifer raised an eyebrow at the underwhelming news. "You should dig into this then. Properly. Gonna be a while before we'll be eating something this tasty again."

Scrolling down on his phone, Squall was slow to answer him. "There's one interesting lead farther out. I'll explain when Fujin and Raijin get here."

"Hn. Hope it's something good." When no answer followed, Seifer shook his head in amusement. Squall had always been all focus and drive when it came to stuff like this, even as a cadet. No doubt the man was treating this hunting trip with the same seriousness usually bestowed on high rank SeeD missions. There was no in between with Squall, no grey areas. Either the man showed utter disinterest or complete dedication.

Content to simply ogle Squall as they ate their breakfast in silence, Seifer got a few bites into his cinnamon toast when the sound of approaching footsteps drew his gaze away. He sent his friends a beaming smile, but Fujin only snorted in response. She looked worn out from what seemed to have been a wild night out. Even Raijin looked a bit tired as he trailed behind her.

"Fun night?" Seifer asked as the pair dropped their duffel bags and gear beside their table and moved to sit down. Next to him Squall looked up to regard the new arrivals as well.

The slightest of smiles curved the edge of Fujin's lips before the woman caught herself and suppressed the hell out of it. He knew exactly what that meant. He'd spent enough time in their company to know what they looked like after a night of heavy drinking and sex. No Esuna in the world could hide that haggard but satisfied look. He wished he could have joined them for the drinking part, but his night with Squall had brought its own kind of release. "Where did you go?"

"Everywhere, man," Raijin replied with a soft shake of his head.

Seifer chuckled, easily able to imagine the two staggering to their room in the early hours of the morning. "Did Rydia throw you out this time?"

"Nah, loads of free drinks, man. Everything on the house."

"Guess that's one upside to tying the knot," Seifer said with a grin, then acknowledged the waitress that was walking over to their table. "They'll have the same as us."

When the woman left, Seifer jostled Squall's arm. "Told them about the treaty last night and guess what, these two have been meaning to get married for ages. They just haven't because they've been living under the radar."

Raijin nodded. "Gonna register for Galbadian citizenship first thing when we get back home." After the war they'd hidden their true identities, not wanting Garden to catch scent of their trail. Without nationality, citizenship or any kind of legal status, things had been difficult and had cost them too many opportunities along the way. "Not sure how we'll work around us having used fake papers and IDs though. Gonna raise some difficult questions, ya know?"

"It will," Seifer agreed, taking a sip of his coffee. "Should have just been stupid like yours truly and registered with your real names right off the bat."

"TOO STUPID," Fujin accused, her gaze piercing right into Seifer.

"Shit, I know," Seifer said with a shrug. "But it worked out." Summoning a teasing smile, he added, "Besides, you guys are getting married. Compared to that, jumping through some bureaucratic hoops is the least of your problems."

"IDIOT," Fujin groused out with a roll of her eye, foregoing any further complaint when their waitress approached again with laden hands.

Watching as the waitress set out Fujin and Raijin's breakfast and coffees, Squall waited for her to walk out of earshot before speaking. "Technically you're still SeeDs," he said, drawing everyone's gaze. Even though he hadn't been able to help Seifer with this, he could still help the man's friends and the solution was simple enough. "Your defection was never fully processed. You passed the exams. Your files are all still there."

Fujin looked Squall over more closely. It sounded like there was an offer in there somewhere. "EXPLAIN."

"We can officially process your resignation, dating it to a few months from now. When Galbadia contacts us for verification, we can account for the three year gap and the fake names."

Raijin leaned in, his gaze fixed on Squall. "You mean forgery?"

Giving a shrug, Squall didn't care about breaking a few rules if it was to right a wrong. "Or you can reenlist."

The silence was palpable as they all stared at Squall. Seifer was the first to collect his wits as he realized just what the fuck Squall was saying. Excitement bubbled in his chest. "Think you're going to have to explain it a bit more to the slow folks over there. You're saying these two—" He pointed at Fujin first, then Raijin. "—would be welcome to join back up as SeeDs? No questions asked?"

"Quistis will agree," Squall replied evenly. "You know that."

"I do?" Seifer asked with a raised eyebrow.

Squall furrowed his brow at such willful denial. "She invited you back herself. I see no reason why she'd refuse them."

"MET QUISTIS. WHEN?" Fujin demanded, alarmed by this new detail. It meant Garden knew about Seifer, and now Raijin and her as well. Even if a treaty had been signed, the thought left her uneasy. There would still be SeeDs out there looking for revenge.

"She came over to grill us after Squall told her about me," Seifer said after a moment's pause. He and Quistis might have reconnected slightly, but the memory of that night still left a bitter taste. "He's right. She made the offer herself."

Fujin couldn't believe her ears. It seemed ridiculous that Quistis would offer Seifer the chance to return as a SeeD. And not only Seifer, but them as well. Renewed thoughts of a trap briefly flickered back to life, but Seifer seemed calm and unconcerned.

She looked at Seifer imploringly. "TRUST?"

"Yes. Both of them. It's for real, Fu."

If not a trap, Squall's offer was most likely a bribe, but the traitor had another thing coming if he thought her good regard could be bought. Fujin held her breath as she steadied her thoughts. Squall had let them down before, when they'd needed him most. How could she trust him now? With their lives?

"CONSIDER," she said warily, looking back over at Squall.

"Both offers stand," Squall replied, not challenging the suspicion in Fujin's reaction.

"Well one thing's for sure, you're taking him up on one of his offers. No way you're going to make life hard on yourselves because you're being principled fucks."

Raijin chuckled lowly. He had a feeling that under any other circumstances Fujin would've jumped at the chance to become a real mercenary again, but swallowing her pride and going back on all her ill words about Garden would be the feat of the century. Fu had never talked about it around Seifer, but whenever it had been just the two of them she'd been filled with burning rage whenever the topic had come up. He couldn't recall a single mention of Garden that hadn't immediately been followed up by a harsh 'TRAITORS'.

At the sound of his own growling stomach, he followed Fujin's example and dug into his already cooling breakfast. He had no idea how to feel about it all himself. He loved their place in Dollet and their slow and easy life. It'd be hard to give up and he'd never liked the strictness or sterility of Garden. Nor was it necessarily alluring to become a fulltime fighter again. He couldn't imagine Seifer taking the offer either. Not after the war, not with all the shit that had gone down and a SeeD without magic was completely unheard of. "Guess you already turned it down?"

Swallowing his mouthful of bread, Seifer washed it down with some coffee. "I did," he said plainly. "I enjoy what I do. I love harassing those little punks and love being harassed by Arc. It's a sweet deal."

Picking apart Seifer's expression, Fujin suppressed a frown. It didn't sound like Seifer had told Squall about his problems with magic, the idiot easily skirting the truth of why there was no way he could have accepted Quistis's offer. The two men might have sprung the term 'boyfriend' on Raijin and her, but if they weren't sharing even the most basic of information with each other, their relationship wouldn't last long. The thrill of Seifer landing his teenage crush was all this was. "WEAPONSMITH. BETTER MATCH," she agreed before biting off another large chunk of buttered bread.

"Yeah, those chakram you brought along sure are something, man. Fujin even strapped them to her belt to parade around town last night."

Shutting down the stupid smile on Raijin's lips with one fell glare, Fujin tapped her fingers against the table. She was getting impatient to set out. "INTEL?" she asked, cutting straight to the chase. Despite her best efforts, the local grapevine had been sorely lacking in rumors that amounted to anything substantial. And Raijin had failed utterly in helping, distracting her at every turn with shots, toasts and drunken clinginess.

"Squall might have something," Seifer said, looking over at the man.

Glad to get their day started, Squall took Seifer's cue. "Does anyone have a map of the area?"

Stopping mid-chew at the request, Fujin paused. She'd always been the one to carry the map, the one in charge of wayfinding. She didn't like the thought of anyone encroaching on that, especially Squall. Grudgingly bending down to ruffle through her bag, she retrieved the carefully folded map, then moved around some plates and mugs to clear some space and spread it out.

Ignoring the rigid set to Fujin's shoulders, Squall leaned in to get a better look of the worn map and the many markings already made on its creased surface. Remnants of previous hunts and outings, all in relatively close vicinity of Obel Lake. Retrieving his phone, he opened the digital map Quistis had sent him and cross referenced it to the paper one on the table.

"We have several options," he began, tapping out locations on the map with his finger as he spoke. "There are three confirmed D and C level monster infestations in these areas north and east of the lake." He moved his finger to the south of the lake. "Four more C and B threat level sightings in this area; one confirmed, three unconfirmed. Low risk, low yield, no SeeD commissions." He raised his gaze to look around the table again. "There have been no casualties at any of these locations, only two reports of mild injury. The four of us would be overkill."

Seifer sighed, pushing back in his chair. "In other words, boring as fuck."

"There's another option," Squall said, having expected the response. "Threat level unconfirmed, no commission." He moved his finger all the way to the far west of the lake, up the mountains and into the far reaches of the deepest woodlands. "There have been an unusual amount of forest fires in this area. Thirteen in just a few months time, of varying sizes and severity. Satellite images place them in a concentrated area, starting from this valley." He tracked his finger across the map, charting out a large triangular shape. "There are no roads or trails past the Bikanel mountain range. Attempts were made to fly over and douse the fires, but to little effect. Obel Lake's fire department had no choice but to let the wildfires rage out. So far there's been no official investigation on the ground."

Swiping the map on his screen, he looked between his phone and Fujin's map. "There have been changes in monster and animal migration paths in adjacent areas, reported by woodsmen and rangers. Here, here and here. There's one report from a woodsman who ventured into the zone to investigate. He turned around after an hour, stating there was something wrong with the area. No animals, birds or even monsters sighted anywhere."

Seifer nodded, contemplating all the information before looking at his friends. "What did you guys find out?"

Scratching his neck, Raijin finished his mouthful of cinnamon toast and glanced at Fujin nervously. "Yeah… pretty much the same, ya know?" he replied, knowing the woman wouldn't appreciate him admitting they had precious little to add to Squall's information dump. "Several rumors about something out west. Word's out not to travel beyond the Mideel river. That there's a bad vibe out there. Like Squall said."

Raising an eyebrow, Seifer couldn't help but smirk. "That's some meager fucking intel, guys. Too busy celebrating?"

Fujin sent him a nasty glare. "OWN FOOTWORK," she said derisively, coffee spilling out of her mug and nearly splashing onto the map as she smacked it down on the table. "NO SUBORDINATES."

"Well, I think it's pretty fucking handy. Nothing wrong with being well connected."

Squall tapped the map with his finger. "These phenomena could be ecological. Or it could be a Fire-elemental monster. Rumors indicate the latter, but there's no way to be sure. It would be a gamble."

Fujin shook her head. "TOO FAR," she said, not wanting to point out the real matter at hand. They'd never traveled out that far before. They were bound to run into monsters that used high-level magic at some point.

Looking the map over more carefully, Seifer studied the different trails and mountain passes. "If we make good time with the chocobos, we should be able to reach the area in four to five days tops." He leaned back into his seat. "And it's the only thing out there that's even remotely interesting."

Catching the meaning of Fujin's stare, Raijin shrugged. "The B level stuff to the south could work, if the intel holds up. Only a day from here."

"Way too fucking easy. Come on guys, where did you leave your sense of adventure?"

A grim feeling of deja vu flooded Fujin. She couldn't count the number of times in the past Seifer had gotten reckless out of the sheer stupidity that came with wanting to either surpass or impress Squall. Seifer definitely hadn't told Squall about his fucked up magic then. How the two could be an item with such a big secret between them was unfathomable. One thing was for sure. There was no way they were continuing without all cards on the table.

"SEIFER. LOST MAGIC," she said harshly, looking directly at Squall, holding the man personally accountable.

"He knows," Seifer said, finally understanding why Fujin had looked more and more like she was about to pop a fuse. "His magic was affected just like mine after breaking his bond with Rinoa. He used to be her knight."

At the sight of two very flabbergasted friends, Seifer almost couldn't suppress his amusement, but Squall's frown however told him he better make his point and soon. "Squall took me to see Dr. Odine and we both got meds. Helps control the symptoms and we're almost back to normal." When Fujin just looked at him like he'd lost his mind, he junctioned Bahamut and held her gaze. "I can cast again, Sweet Cheeks."

Unable to fully process the amber glow to Seifer's eyes along with his beaming expression, Fujin felt as if she'd just received a massive blow to her midriff, all air leaving her lungs. Her eye started to sting, but she furiously blinked back the moisture that threatened to gather there. She surged to her feet, plates and mugs clinking together as she jostled the table while rounding it. The idiot blond mirrored her moves, letting her yank him close for a hug the moment he stood before her. The relief that coursed through her was unlike anything she'd felt before. When they'd survived the war, her thoughts had been too clouded with worry and anger to take much comfort from the simple fact that they were alive. This, knowing Seifer was getting better and was no longer punished so cripplingly for something she believed deep in her heart had never been his fault… It was enough to release the dam of emotions she'd kept walled up for years.

Watching the two friends as they hugged each other fiercely, Squall felt like an intruder. The relief and tearful joy on Fujin and Raijn's faces was plain, revealing just how deep a wound the loss of Seifer's magic had truly been, to all three of them. Seifer had been blasé about it at best, but now the man was holding Fujin in a bear grip, resting his chin on the smaller woman's head with a beaming smile that brought an ache to Squall's heart. These were the people that had seen Seifer at his worst and had helped him through it. They were the ones who deserved to stand by the man's side and share in his triumphs.

As Fujin pulled back, Seifer basked in the way her one red eye regarded him with true happiness. "FINALLY," she said to him softly, then moved to break away, but he stopped her and placed a light kiss on the top of her head. His way of saying thanks.

"Amazing news, man," Raijin said when the two sat back down at the table, reaching over to firmly clasp Seifer's hand. Seifer answered with a grin and a flash of amber eyes just before unjunctioning and leaning back. It was unreal to see it again after all this time. Seifer's addled magic had held them back before and he'd never quite known when it was okay to talk about or use magic. Fu had always been on his case whenever he'd made the wrong call.

"It would never have happened if it wasn't for Princess here," Seifer said, grinning at Squall. "So let's go on a real adventure this time."

"ADVENTURE. AGREED," Fujin said, even more eager to get out on the trail than before. She looked over at Squall, confounded as to how the hell all of this had played out between the two men. She'd try to get some more intel from Seifer later today; steer him away from the herd. He always let his guard down more easily when it was just the two of them. But for now, they needed a game plan.

"RIVER, ONE DAY," she said, trailing her finger across the first day's trek. "MOUNTAINS, TWO DAYS."

"All passes on the west face of Mount Roshfall are impassable. Rockslides three weeks ago. We'll have to take a southwestern approach."

Unable to fault Squall for the actually helpful comment, Fujin searched Squall's expression for any underlying challenge aimed at their lacking intel gathering, but she was only met with the usual bland expression. Battling a frown, she pinned her finger on the southwest face of the mountain and moved it towards their eventual goal. "FOREST FIRES, ANOTHER DAY." She looked up and met Seifer and Raijin's gazes. "TOTAL. FOUR DAYS TOPS. TRAVEL FAST. AGREED?"

"Agreed," Seifer said while Raijin sent her a nod and an indulgent smile. Of course Squall managed to ruin the moment, cutting in.

"Do you have a pen?"

Narrowing her eyes, Fujin pinned Squall with a glare. "WHY?" she asked outright. It was one thing to let him look at her map. It was another thing entirely to let him soil it with his scribbling.

"My phone battery will be dead in two days. I need to mark the information down."

Stalling, Fujin looked over at Raijin for support but the man just sent her an imploring look back, his mouth stuffed with bread. And Seifer just grinned like an idiot, apparently having a field trip with her predicament. Both of them waiting for her to lose her temper. Well, she wasn't going to give any of them the satisfaction of saying she'd been the uncivil one. Reaching into a side pocket of her travel pack, she pulled out a pen and set it down on the map with perhaps more force than was necessary.

No thanks followed as Squall immediately uncapped it and began to defile her most treasured travel memento with tight, quick strokes of the pen. Hyne help her, even his handwriting was uptight. "MEANING?" she demanded, peering at the small letters that were marked down one after the other, along the areas they would traverse.

"W for water sources. D for draw points."

"And those small crosses?" Raijin decided to pipe up beside her, sorely tempting her to deliver a sideways kick.

"Non-essential points of interest. Waterfalls. Caves."

The besotted smile that grew on Seifer's face almost made Fujin gag. She'd never seen him look at anyone like that before. "MESS," she said, waving her hand at Squall's annotation, but Seifer didn't bite, the idiot too busy devouring every single part of Squall with his eyes.

"Huh," Raijin said dumbly, looking on as Squall kept adding more marks to the map, even more innocent crosses added along the way. "Squall's a romantic."

Unsure what had prompted such a ridiculous assumption, Squall briefly glanced up from the map and gave Raijin an even look. "They're just landmarks."

"Yeah man, romantic landmarks."

Seifer's smile widened when Squall shut Raijin down with an unimpressed stare before resuming his work. He was so fucking head over heels for the man who'd actually said yes to being his. He loved this down-to-business commander side to Squall; the no-nonsense focus on the mission ahead. But he loved how underneath that stern surface a softer nature lay in wait even more; the side to Squall that wanted to watch waterfalls and to be held close. A side he knew he could draw out with a single kiss or intimate touch. One that was his alone.

"Shit, man, you've gotta stop looking at him like that or Fu's gonna lose her shit."

Tired of all the unhelpful commentary while he made his notes, Squall let out a sigh and looked up, only to be met with an impassioned gaze he'd come to learn very well. Heat crept up his neck and flushed him with reflexive anticipation. Usually when Seifer looked at him like that, touch immediately followed. Ducking his eyes back down to the map, he quickly copied across the last few marks.

Fujin stifled a groan and set down her toast with distaste, praying she'd imagined the guilty interest that had briefly flashed in Squall's eyes. This couldn't be happening. Squall was supposed to be dismissive, always stern. Not whatever it was she'd just witnessed. But no warnings had followed in response to Seifer's inappropriate gaze. No dissuasion whatsoever. She'd bet her two new chakram they would've been all over each other within seconds if they'd been alone.

"That's everything," the commander deadpanned, setting aside the pen and keeping his gaze carefully away from Seifer's. Dear Hyne. Not imagined after all. All of a sudden, Fuijn couldn't help but remember everything the idiot blond had said the night before. How the two had even had sex in a public place. Hyne help her, if this thing between them was actually mutual, the coming days were going to be a downright nightmare.

"Those draw points are gonna go a long way in fattening up our spell stores, ya know?" Raijin commented in between bites, hoping to distract from Fujin's wide-eyed stare. She definitely didn't share his amusement at Seifer and Squall of all people making puppy eyes at each other. "Will come in handy."

Fujin let out a loud snort as she surveyed the damage Squall had done. "TOURIST MAP." When no-one seemed to agree with her comment, she doubled down. "SURPRISES. RUINED."

"All the more time for some real fun," Seifer retorted with a shit-eating grin, not bothering to keep the innuendo out of his voice as he looked Squall's way. "With you in the know about all the special spots, where do you think we should aim to make camp tonight? Gonna need enough space for a good spar."

"Depends on our pace," Squall said evenly, drawing on his every bit of willpower not to betray his excitement. He hadn't forgotten their bet, nor the prize he'd decided on. Seifer was very good with his mouth. "Feel free to choose yourself. If you need the advantage."

"You know I don't, baby."

"EARS. HURT," Fujin interrupted, having had enough of their poorly hidden flirtation. Even when Squall glared a hole into the idiot's forehead, Seifer only seemed to grow fonder. "ENOUGH TALK. MOVE."

Watching Fujin pack away the map, Seifer emptied the last dregs of his coffee. "Alright, Sweet Cheeks. Let's get this show on the road."

Picking up her duffel bag and hoisting it over her shoulder, Fujin followed the others out of the inn. She purposefully lingered in the back with Raijin and let Seifer lead the way towards the stables. Squall easily fell into step with Seifer, the two men walking close together. They were flirting again, eyeing each other up, once again debating their upcoming spar. Either they got seriously hot from just sparring with each other or they'd agreed on it as their new code word for sex. It certainly seemed like the latter.

"Good weather for riding on chocobo back, ya know?"

Dismissing Raijin's attempt at distracting her with an absentminded nod, Fujin struggled to make sense of the anomaly that was unfolding before her as they walked through the increasingly busy streets. Seifer was happy. Happier than she'd seen him in ages. The last couple of times they'd been on a trip like this he'd been able to shake the dark shadow that had clung to him just after the war. He'd been better, but the spark she could see in his eyes now and the relaxed way he carried himself had been completely absent. She had trouble believing—didn't actually want to believe—that Squall Leonhart of all people might have had a hand in the change.

He might have had something to do with Seifer quitting alcohol and regaining his magic, and he might cause Seifer to look ridiculously lovestruck, but the past loomed large over anything that might possibly redeem him. This was the man who had inflicted deadly wounds on his now supposed boyfriend. If Raijin and her hadn't been there to help Seifer, Seifer would have died for sure. Reminded of that fact, she couldn't let go of the bitterness that filled her, but she could no longer truly wish that Squall hadn't reentered Seifer's life either. Seifer regaining his magic… That was invaluable. She tried to suppress the scowl that was growing on her brow. She didn't want to ruin their morning of setting out. She'd looked forward to this, and knew both Raijin and Seifer had too.

When they finally reached and entered the stables, she continued to observe the two men as Raijin went to deal with the stable owner. Seifer was insultingly preoccupied with his new chain and ball, happily regaling Squall with a story of one of their former outings in Galbadia, but at least Squall had the sense to look ill at ease. She hadn't missed the occasional glances sent her way. He was wary of her, kept a lookout for her reactions. Just as she was picking him apart and every little thing he did.

"Demon and the new chocobo are over there," Raijin interrupted, walking up to them as he pointed to the box stalls over to the far left. Tank and Bird are over to the right. At the far end too."

"Alright, Princess," Seifer said with a wide grin. "Let's see how you fare."

Eager to escape Fujin's piercing gaze for a few minutes, Squall started towards the stalls Raijin had indicated. The stable smelled of healthy chocobos and clean hay, both good indications. The nickname 'Demon' was less encouraging, but he'd faced trickier challenges than a recalcitrant bird. Seifer was quick to follow after him, the man no doubt intent on witnessing his difficulties.

"Squall, meet Demon. Demon, meet Squall," the bastard said gleefully, indicating an unassuming stall.

He walked closer and looked inside. A large but not particularly mean looking chocobo stared back at him warily, not yet certain of his intentions. The moment he set down his things and stepped closer however, the bird had had enough, immediately pecking at the gloved hand he set down on the latch of the wooden stall door. Ignoring the negligible pain just as he ignored Seifer's chuckle, he pushed open the stall door and quickly stepped around the unsettled chocobo to grab its reins. The bird only grew more cranky when Raijin joined Seifer outside the stall to watch his efforts.

"You're looking far too pleased with yourself there, man."

"Come on, you gotta admit this is great," Seifer said, his smirk growing wider. He loved every single bit of what was transpiring right in front of them. The chocobo was flapping its wings, bucking back and forth, definitely not bending to Squall's will. Just like every single time he'd had to ride the beast. It was fucking priceless when the bird pecked at Squall's hair, the brunet totally and utterly ignoring the bird's attempts at scaring him off. At the lack of reaction from its new rider, the chocobo stilled, watching Squall with a razor-sharp gaze. Squall rolled the reins around his left wrist once, pulling the chocobo closer. It earned Squall another peck to his head, but Squall didn't even flinch. The big bird dug its claws in, tried to yank back, but Squall's arm remained firmly in place.

Another roll of Squall's wrist and the bird was drawn closer still. It reacted less strongly this time, but regarded Squall with unwavering fortitude. Seifer raised an eyebrow, waiting for the bird to get physical again, but instead of bristling it seemed to calm at the way Squall stared right back at it.

"What the—" Seifer started, frowning as Squall managed to pull the chocobo right up next to him and placed a hand on its feathery neck.

"The guy knows his stuff," Raijin commented with a low whistle.

Seifer hummed in agreement. "And here I thought you and Demon would be all the entertainment we'd need for the trip."

Letting out a soft huff, Squall didn't yet dare to break eye contact with Demon as he replied evenly, "I'll leave that up to you."

Raijin barked out a laugh, quickly curtailing it at the look he received from Fujin from the other side of the stable. "You might be right there," he said all the same, amused at Seifer's disappointment. "Last time he had to ride Demon, he complained for the entire trip, ya know? Kept getting new bruises from all the pecking."

Not about to deny the truth when that bird had been the bane of his fucking existence for the last couple of trips, Seifer just grinned. "Guess the stupid bird and I have something in common after all. A weakness for brunets."

Fujin came up behind them, her chocobo already prepped and in tow. "WEAKNESS. AGREED," she said sharply, then jostled both Seifer and Raijin roughly. "MOVE."

Chuckling at the order, Seifer strode over to the new chocobo in the box stall next to Demon's and eyed it up. Smaller than the other chocobos and currently distracted by haphazardly picking at the hay on the floor. It didn't even seem to notice him as he approached, nor was it bothered in the slightest by the movement of the saddle as he attached his duffel bag and tent to it.

"Nice chicken," he said, patting the bird's soft feathers.

So far, so good. If things were going to stay as easy with this chocobo as they were starting out, he could forgive Squall for upstaging him. Grabbing the reins, he led the stupid bird out of the box stall and over to where Fujin and Squall had already walked their mounts to the stable's exit.

"My new best friend," Seifer said with a sideways nod of his head at the chocobo that looked just as dimwitted as it was docile. "Meet Chicken."

Squall raised an eyebrow at the familiar nickname. "Does that mean you have a new name for Zell?"

Seifer grinned madly. "Why would I? The resemblance is striking. Maybe I should give it a tattoo or something." He pulled at the reins to lead the chicken outside. "Come on, Short Stuff, time to shine."

"Man, that takes me back," Raijin said as he joined the others outside the stables.

Fujin let out a snort at the memory of Seifer, Zell and Garden, something she hadn't let herself dwell on for years, then hoisted herself up into her saddle. She hadn't ever imagined Seifer to be able to refer to those times again without a grim shadow lurking at the edge of his gaze, but he'd joked freely and with a carefree attitude that brought a twinge of remembrance to her chest.

Shaking her thoughts of the past, she adjusted her seat in the saddle. Squall had definitely changed. She had never seen him join in on or encourage any of Seifer's banter and now it seemed as if the two had been exchanging friendly jabs for years. She brought the reins up a bit and kicked the side of her chocobo just hard enough for it to start into a slow trot.

Seifer shook his head as he watched Fujin rush off ahead, the woman not even bothering to wait for the rest of them. "Guess we better catch up."

He glanced over at Squall as the man got onto Demon, waiting in vain for the beast to try and buck off its rider like all the times it had before, but the chocobo simply threw its head back in a huffy but empty show of defiance. A firm tug at the reins and squeeze of Squall's legs put a quick stop to the bird's tantrum. Letting out a huff at the disappointing display, he pulled himself up into his own saddle as well.

At least Raijin presented a more amusing scene, the bulky man's chocobo sagging for a moment under the sudden weight before rallying and setting off at a faster pace to join Fujin. Chicken quickly got the hint and started into a jaunty jog after them, Squall following right beside him. He grinned at Squall as they caught up and took the rear. "Fuck, I forgot the joy that comes with riding these beasts. Good thing you healed up this morning, or you really would've been feeling it."

Fujin tightened her hold on the reins and scowled. Holy fucking Hyne, the gods were testing her today. They hadn't even cleared Wendel yet and already she'd had to overhear a crude reference to those two going at it; something she didn't want to be imagining in the slightest. She didn't need to look behind her either to be able to imagine Squall's ice cold glare. Or the sickening googly eyes Seifer would be sending the traitor. The thought alone was enough to make her gag.

Digging her heels into the side of her chocobo once again, she hoped against hope that a brisk pace would be enough to shut the blond up and get him to focus on the damned road. Or at least distract him enough to stop him from making any more disgusting jokes or lewd comments. Or Hyne forbid, any more poorly veiled flirting.

Everyone would just have to keep up and keep in line while she took point and led the way. She needed to think. There was so much for her to contemplate, so many new things that kept cropping up around every turn, challenging her understanding of the kind of man she knew Squall to be. But no matter what, she wasn'tgoing to be fooled into making the grim mistake of trusting Squall a second time. However much Squall had seemingly changed, she knew the heartless drive and mercilessness that hid beneath his impassive exterior.

She would take the coming days to study him and assess his intentions. The moment she got even a whiff of any bullshit, she'd take it up with Squall himself and show him the fucking door. Until then, she'd tolerate him for Seifer's sake. That was the only concession she was willing to make.

~ o ~

---

[Roshfall Forest, Greater Obel Lake Area, Friday, 31st of October, 4:43 pm]

Looking up at the mottled play of light that struggled to shine past the high treetops, Seifer tried to gauge how much more daylight they had left before the forest would grow dark. He straightened from the automatic slouch he'd assumed after hours of riding, his back and ass sore from the unusual position. Not that he disliked riding the dim-witted creatures. Apart from his numb buttcheecks, he quite liked the slow up and down cadence as the chocobo strode on. It was a pleasant way to take in the world. The woods were beautiful, their surroundings alive with sounds; the rush of the leaves in the wind, the loud ruckus of birds up in the treetops, the rustling of critters beneath the brush.

Unfortunately the woods were also dull as hell. Any fauna around was only worth hunting for food, none of them aggressive or posing any real danger and with his regained ability to use magic, he couldn't wait for something more. To be alert and watch out for what was coming.

The only upside to such boring beauty were the well-traveled paths that allowed them to ride side by side. It had meant lots of time spent riding next to Squall and enjoying the eye candy. He smirked. He was damned impressed by the commander too. Without any warning or hesitation Squall had come to a stop in an open meadow, only to soundlessly unhook his rifle from his saddle, take aim and shoot down a large Galbadian whitespeckle grouse from its perch on a low-hanging branch. Its companion had immediately taken flight, but had only managed a few beats of its wings before Squall had downed that one too in a single shot. Dinner sorted in the most no-nonsense of ways.

Feeling his stomach rumble at the sight of the two plucked birds dangling from Squall's saddle, Seifer scanned their surroundings but still didn't spot the river that was supposed to be coming up.

"How much further?" he called out to Fujin who was riding ahead of them. Not long ago they'd found a spot on the map along Mideel River that looked like a promising place to set up camp, but the forest still looked dense as hell for as far as he could see.

"SOON!" Fujin bellowed in reply without looking back, as if dealing with an impatient child.

"Not long now," Seifer said with a grin.

Squall gave a small nod as he met Seifer's gaze. The man had been in a great mood all day, chatting with his friends and laughing more than he'd heard the man laugh in all the time they'd spent together. And when Seifer hadn't been catching up with Fujin or Raijin, the man had been taking any and all opportunities to flirt with him, regardless of their disapproving company. It was just as well that for most of the day they'd been on chocobo back, the idiot unable to get too handsy as a result.

Still, Squall felt his lips curl up at the corners to answer Seifer's wide smirk. Seifer's happiness was infectious and a very welcome change after the difficulty of the past few days. "Good," he replied dryly, his lips tugging further upward. "I'm hungry."

"Yeah?" Seifer arched a playful eyebrow. Squall had been quick to pick him as their chef for the night and he hadn't been the least bit surprised. "Guess you'll be setting up our tent while I get dinner going."

Squall snorted as Seifer's words evoked an entire host of memories of being ditched by the older cadet whenever it was time to set up camp during training excursions. Somehow they'd always ended up stuck together, their classmates rushing to pair up in order to avoid partnering with either of them. And so he'd always been the one to take on all camp tasks assigned to their two-man team. He doubted Seifer had dug out a single latrine in his entire life. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Unrepentant, Seifer gave a shrug. "Just be happy you have a tasty meal to look forward to."

Rolling his eyes, Squall wasn't about to admit he'd kept an eye out for prey the moment they'd set out in order to avoid cooking duty. He was hungry and greatly preferred something edible for dinner.

Ahead of them, the path slowly widened and the trees thinned out. They could hear the loud clattering of water long before they spotted the forest river, the wild currents having coughed up all manner of rocks and pebbles, washing away debris and flattening out the river banks into a wide clearing suitable for camping. Clearly they hadn't been the first to think so, remnants of a well-used fire site sitting nearby.

"MAKE CAMP," Fujin announced loudly as she steered her chocobo over towards the campsite. Dismounting, she started to loosen her gear from the saddle when a loud curse drew her gaze to Seifer. He was rubbing the back of his arm while sending Demon a fell glare, himself and Squall already having dismounted as well. Squall had an undeniable curl to the corner of his lips as he led Demon a small distance away, apparently taking pity on the blond.

A frown crept onto her brow. It wasn't the first time she'd spotted mild hints of amusement or contentment on Squall's features that day, unlike anything she'd seen from the withdrawn boy back at Garden, and she didn't like it one bit. It only made it even more real that something was going on between the two.

Undoing the girth billets of her saddle, she lifted it off her chocobo and leaned it against a tree. All the while, she couldn't tear her gaze away as the two men unsaddled their mounts as well and set the birds free to roam the wider camping area. Still chatting. Still smiling. Still acting like fucking friends even though she knew they weren't. Slow to pick up the gear she'd put down, Raijin beat her to it.

"I'll set up the tent," he said as he lifted her things from the ground. "I'm sure Seifer could use a hand, ya know," he said with a nod at the old camp fire.

Nodding, Fujin clapped a firm hand to her chocobo's flank. It trotted off to the river, joining the other three birds that were already gulping down large beaks of water. Reaching over to her saddle, she detached a small hand axe from one of the leather straps. Losing herself in some hard labor was the only chance she stood at distracting herself. At least the two turtle doves had separated to start on camp chores as well.

Seifer shook his head when Fujin stalked past him with an axe in hand, barking out a gruff "FIREWOOD" before disappearing into the trees. She had been testy all day, refusing to warm up to Squall's presence in the slightest, never speaking directly to the man unless absolutely necessary. He could see it take its toll on Squall, some of the tension returning to the man's shoulders after Fu stalked past him. Her glare packed a nasty punch.

Releasing a sigh, he sat down on one of the large logs arranged around the fire pit by previous campers. A delicious meal would be his best shot at mellowing out the mood for now. Fujin was definitely the sort to get hangry. Setting out the edible plants and herbs he'd foraged and the grouse Squall had taken down, he began the satisfying task of prepping dinner for his friends and setting up the tripod and roasting stick over the fire pit. Looking up from his work every now and then, he couldn't help but smile at everyone's quiet focus as they worked together as a well-oiled machine, despite any lingering tensions.

Raijin and Squall were making good headway with setting up their tents for the night. Thankfully the two had thought to keep a bit of distance between them. Fujin's opinions be damned, he had big plans for sharing a tent with Squall. Glancing over to where the woman had reappeared with a large load of thick branches, he chuckled as she started to go at them with her axe a bit too eagerly and violently. Better the wood than him.

Finishing his prep work by spearing the grouse on the roasting stick he'd fashioned, he stood up and went down to the river to wash his hands and fill up their kettle. Fujin was almost done with stacking the wood onto the fire pit, only missing the kindling when he returned. Watching Squall enter their tent out of the corner of his eyes, he placed the full kettle next to the fire pit. It would be a while before he could even start cooking. Definitely the perfect opportunity to steal a kiss.

Glancing over his shoulder at the rustling of the tent flap, Squall suppressed a sigh when Seifer didn't bother taking off his boots and trailed in dirt when he crouched into their tent. Another thing that hadn't changed. The look of lewd interest on the man's face was a whole new addition to the camping experience however. Letting go of the sleeping bag he'd been unrolling, he raised a wary eyebrow when Seifer zipped the tent flap closed behind him.

"Seifer—" he began, but was immediately cut off by eager lips seeking out his own. And just like that, in the space of a second, he was lost. All the little things he'd tried so hard to ignore throughout the day now overwhelmed him all at once. The musky scent that clung to Seifer's skin after a day of riding and exertion. The way Seifer's lips curled into a smile that made him want to kiss the man and never stop. The outline of Seifer's broad shoulders as the man leaned in over him.

When Seifer tried to lay him down, it took all of his willpower to raise a staying hand against the man's chest. An unfortunately well-toned, warm chest. Focusing on the sounds of Fujin and Raijin moving about camp just outside their tent, he pulled back from Seifer's seeking mouth and firmed the push of his hand.

"The fire isn't going to be ready for a while," Seifer said coaxingly, in that low rumble of a voice that made Squall want to submit to anything. Even if what the bastard was saying was idiocy. Warm lips traveled along his jawline, before settling on the rim of his ear, teasing it with nips just this side of painful. "Enough time for me to suck you dry."

Drawing in a sharp breath at the alarming prospect, Squall ignored the heat that spread throughout his groin and put enough strength into his push to move from underneath Seifer's lowering bulk. "Not here," he whispered heatedly when Seifer tried to pull him back. Not trusting himself to linger, he zipped open the tent flap and fled outside.

Swearing softly under his breath, Seifer regarded the exit. He probably should have expected Squall's reaction. Personally he couldn't give a fuck if Fu or Rai overheard. In fact he would've tried to wring as many moans out of Squall as possible by subjecting the man to the most mind blowing pleasure he could deliver.

Fuck. Yup. Definitely a hard-on. And not one he was willing to sport in front of Rai and Fu.

Toying with the idea of taking a picture of his hard dick and sending it to Squall to get back at the man for his ruthless departure, he grumbled inwardly at the fact that they were definitely out of range of any phone signals by now. Unfortunately that particular pleasure would have to wait until another time.

Trying to calm himself down, he began to unroll the sleeping bag Squall had left unpacked, but he couldn't stop his thoughts from returning to just what he was going to do to Squall if he won their spar. Grinning wickedly, he grabbed the smaller pack of lube he'd brought along and stuffed it into a pocket, before unzipping their sleeping bags and spreading them out on top of each other. There was no way he'd let Squall retreat into a zipped up sleeping bag when they could get up and close all night instead. The man might've slipped past him for now, but the wait would only make his reward all the sweeter.

Checking himself over to make sure he was decent, he tempered his grin and pushed open the tent flap to step outside. Squall was sitting by the newly kindled campfire on one of the logs while staring at the growing flames, his posture tense. Same as Fujin, who was sat on one of the other logs, coaxing the fire along. By the looks of it he very much doubted they'd exchanged even a single word. Some of his good spirits waned, but he was determined to ignore it and stay upbeat. They'd learn to get along. They had to.

Walking over to join them by the growing fire, he swung his leg over the log Squall was sitting on and sat down next to him. "Fire's looking good," he commented lightly, drawing both their gazes. Predictably, neither of them added anything. "You're in for a treat," he plowed on regardless, looking at Squall. "I cook a mean grouse. Better than the locals."

Fu rolled her eye. "EGO."

"Hey, we both know I've earned my bragging rights the hard way," Seifer said with a grin, before leaning in to Squall conspiratorially. "When you're Fu's guest, you better learn to cook quickly."

A long stick thwacked sharply against his shin, followed with a firm "ASS". Answering Fu's violence with a wink, he looked back at Squall. "You ever tried grouse?"

Squall eyed Seifer carefully, unable to understand how the man could shift gears so quickly. If the bastard had had any trouble at all cooling off, he didn't show it. "No," he replied at length, deciding that feigning normality was the best course of action for now.

"With some herbs rubbed in, it's real damned good. We definitely got lucky today. You got one hell of an aim, Princess."

Fujin stifled a snort at the praise. If Seifer accosting Squall in their tent or sucking up to the man was going to become the norm for this holiday, it wouldn't be long before she'd take her chocobo and head straight back to Wendel.

Behind her, the sound of footsteps was followed by the slight lift of her end of the log as Raijin plopped down to sit beside her. Any relief she felt about the arrival of reinforcements was quickly dispelled by the big smirk plastered on Raijin's face.

"You sure spent a long time in that tent all by yourself, ya know?" Raijin said impishly, holding his hands out to the beginning fire.

"Is that right?" Seifer said with a curl to his lips, unable to help himself from taking the bait despite Squall tensing up beside him.

Raijin rubbed his hands together before leaning back with answering amusement. Hyne knew it was about time to get back at Seifer, and Squall's quick departure from that tent had been beyond suspicious. "Had to take matters into your own hands?"

Seifer smirked wickedly. He'd take Raijin's challenge and blow him out of the fucking ballpark. "Why waste good jizz on my hand when there are much better places for it?"

His beginning laughter at the looks of pure horror on Rai and Fu's faces was cut short by a fist twisting into his jacket and a lurch of movement as he was pushed down harshly against the ground. He blinked, looking up at the sky with his legs draped inelegantly over the log. Fuck. Squall had actually shoved him to the ground. He could hear Raijin chuckle. Squall looked decidedly less amused.

"Shit, Squall, you know getting rough with me only gets me hot," he teased, only to let out a gasp as a knife from Squall's belt was driven into the log right between his thighs. Far too close to his favorite bits for comfort. He held up his hands in surrender. "...Fair point."

Squall narrowed his eyes at the unconvincing surrender and let his knife linger for a few more heartbeats as he glared at the smirking bastard, before pulling it out and sheathing it in one smooth move. He couldn't believe Seifer had uttered such vulgarity, the bastard actually equating him to a receptacle for his ejaculate. So much for hoping Seifer's attempt at seducing him in the tent had gone unnoticed by the man's friends. Directing his glare to the campfire, he suppressed the urge to resort to more drastic measures when Seifer moved to sit back onto the log beside him with a groan and a chuckle.

Snorting at the display, Fujin looked back at the fire. "HORNDOG."

"Yup, I'm incorrigible. Can't deny it." Seifer shrugged. "And with a boyfriend like Squall, who can blame me?"

Eyeing the twitch to Squall's brow, Fujin couldn't believe she was actually feeling sorry for Squall for having to put up with this idiot. She would have thrown Seifer's ass off that log too if it'd been her. Part of her couldn't help but take great delight in Squall's discomfort though. "SQUALL IRRELEVANT. ALWAYS HORNDOG."

"Nice try, Fu. He knows I've slept around. Not gonna happen again though. Believe it or not, I'm a changed man." Seifer's grin was soft as he looked over at Squall. "Well, mostly," he added with a wink.

Looking away from the bastard's sly attempt at charming him, Squall let out a snort and fixed his gaze on the campfire. It was a meager consolation that he was now the only recipient of Seifer's crude games. He really shouldn't be feeling even a scrap of satisfaction over the fact that an idiot like Seifer was his.

Not liking the way Squall's expression softened ever so slightly, Fujin looked over at Seifer and jutted out her chin. "DOUBTFUL. KNOW YOU, BEST." Ever since Seifer had come out to them, not a single one of their hunting trips had gone by without the man picking up a one-night stand as part of his celebrations. Nor without the idiot bragging about it afterwards. Monogamy definitely wasn't Seifer's go-to style.

Seifer raised an eyebrow at the pettiest statement Fujin had stooped to yet. "I wouldn't actually be so sure of that, Fu," he stated calmly. "Turns out Squall here probably knows me better than the three of us combined."

Raijin's brow scrunched up. "What do you mean, man?"

"Turns out he's been stuck with me since I was a little brat," Seifer said with pride even though he barely remembered a thing. "We grew up in the same orphanage."

Tensing when Fujin and Raijin immediately looked his way for confirmation, Squall wondered if all interactions with Seifer's friends were doomed to follow this pattern; disbelief followed by rejection. "We arrived at the orphanage within the same week," he replied, confirming what Seifer had chosen to share. "I was a few months old. Seifer just under a year. We lived there until we got drafted into Garden."

Seifer turned his head to study Squall. "Seriously? That long?"

At Squall's nod, Seifer shook his head in amazement. It was beyond weird to know that they'd been around each other since they were mere infants.

"PROOF?"

"Photos," Seifer offered, ignoring the predictable suspicion in Fujin's demand. "I've seen one already, but apparently there are more."

Fujin frowned, hating how it wasn't even that unlikely a story for her to protest or draw into question. Back then most cadets had been orphans or abandoned misfits, Raijin and her included.

"We even shared a room, just the two of us." It still sounded so weird to Seifer's own ears and rekindled his wish to remember all over again. "Definitely explains a thing or two about why I was so obsessed with him back at Garden." He smirked. "I mean, apart from his damned fine—" The renewed glare Squall pinned him with stopped him just in time.

Fujin snorted and pointed out the complete obvious. "STILL OBSESSED."

"One-hundred percent, Baby," Seifer admitted, fully enjoying Raijin's groan and Fujin's eye-roll.

"MEMORIES?"

At the woman's deepening frown, Seifer knew she deserved a proper explanation. "I only remember a little and only because I've started to work on it. Until a week ago I didn't have any memories from before Garden at all. Well, one of a crying toddler, but I had no clue that it was Squall. Turns out it's the price we pay for letting GFs dig into our brains. Apparently Squall remembers a lot more." He looked over at the brunet next to him. "You can regain most of your memories if you try, right?"

"It differs from person to person, but it's possible."

"HOW?"

"Triggers help if they're available. Photographs. Places. People. For Quistis it was a song that triggered memories of her biological mother." Looking into the growing flames, Squall gave a shrug. "Other than that, chase the smallest memories even if they seem insignificant. Dreams can sometimes be old memories… It takes effort and time." The main reason he remembered as much as he did was because he'd had oceans of time and nothing else to distract his mind, but he could hardly recommend Time Compression as a treatment option.

Watching Squall carefully as he offered the information freely, Fujin had trouble reconciling this man with the boy she'd known at Garden. She'd rarely heard him speak in full sentences in the past, but here he was, almost chatty.

"How about you guys, do you remember anything from before Garden?" Seifer asked, never having thought to ask.

Trying her best to place any memories before that time, Fujin shook her head. She'd never cared about that particular lack of information. Not then, not now.

"Nah, man," Raijin added with a shrug.

"Apart from a few snippets, it's the same for me. Even my first years at Garden are kind of vague." Seifer turned to look at Squall. "The last few years there are a different ballgame though," he added with a wink. Their spars, the time spent riling up Squall or getting him into trouble were some of his best memories.

"Hard to forget the amount of detention you got us into," Squall said dryly, meeting Seifer's gaze.

Raijin smiled at the carefree laugh that escaped Seifer. "I thought Seifer really had it in for you, ya know? Never figured him for the type to bully someone he's got the hots for." He shook his head. "Shit man, next thing you'll be telling me you've been fantasizing about Zell all these years."

"Don't even go there. Ever," Seifer said, feeling an actual shiver run down his spine. "The thought alone makes my dick shrivel, which is a fucking tragedy. Squall's ass would die of loneliness."

"GROSS," Fujin cut in just as Squall hissed out a low "Seifer".

Raijin eyed Squall's ominous expression and marveled at the miraculous lack of injury that had followed Seifer's comment. "I don't know, man. Right now he looks like he wants to castrate you."

"He likes to play hard to get," Seifer replied smoothly with a shit-eating grin. "But we both know better."

Fujin intervened with another firm smack of her branch against Seifer's shins. "SHUT UP," she ordered, pointing at the grouse. "TURN STICK."

"Yes ma'am."

Raijin chuckled when Seifer put on a feigned show of obedience and turned the roasting stick. If Seifer wasn't careful, Fu was gonna resort to something much more painful than a thin branch the next time he ran his mouth. Strangely though it felt more like old times than any of their previous trips, despite Squall's presence. Probably because of Squall's presence. Seifer was more himself than he'd been in a long time.

Getting up from his log, he moved to hang the kettle full of river water from the large tripod Seifer had assembled over the fire and sat back down with a glance at the two men. It was strange to imagine either of them as kids, sharing a room. Garden had forced all of them to grow up quick.

"It's kinda weird to know you can forget someone you've spent your entire life around," he said thoughtfully, privately wondering who or what he might've forgotten himself after years of GF usage.

"SOMETIMES BETTER. FORGET," Fu said with a shrug, not interested in remembering how she'd lost her left eye. It had happened long before her arrival at Garden and all Dr. Kadowaki had been able to tell her was that she'd lost it to injury as an infant.

"Maybe," Raijin replied, rifling through a saddle bag to retrieve a loaf of bread he'd bought back in Wendel. "Never really gave it much thought, ya know?"

Seifer watched as Raijin set the loaf by the fire to warm. "I used to feel the same way as Fu," he said, more than able to understand her reluctance. "But I want to remember now," he admitted, glancing over at the brunet next to him.

"BAD MEMORIES TOO?"

"I know some of it will suck," Seifer replied soberly, turning the roasting stick again. In fact, Fujin didn't even know half of it. "But if we hadn't forgotten in the first place, things might have turned out differently." He looked up to meet Fujin's stare. "Memories matter."

Fujin fought back the downward curl to her lips. Seifer was in deep to be spouting stuff like this. Their motto in life had always been to look ahead, to the future, and forge their own path. Without family, without a past, they'd only had each other. "MEMORIES. HURT," she corrected before poking at the fire with sharp jabs that sent embers flying.

Sighing, Seifer decided to take another tack with the stubborn woman. "I don't want to forget you or Raijin either," he pointed out. "Now that I can junction again, I'll do anything to fight for my memories. Old and new."

"HOW?" Fujin shot back, her tone laced with her misgivings.

Seifer shrugged. "Squall and his friends keep a collection of photographs to help them remember. Some of them keep a journal. Should work for us too."

Unable to help a smile despite the serious conversation, Raijin shook his head. "You're telling me Squall keeps a diary?"

Seifer laughed heartily. "That'd be the day," he said, sending Squall a teasing smile. "Would love to read it though. Especially all the sordid details." At Squall's unimpressed snort, he had trouble reigning himself back in. "We're sticking to photos instead." He waggled his eyebrows, holding Raijin and Fujin's gazes. "Already made a great start."

Raijin grimaced. "Woah, guys, way too much information, ya know," he said with a groan, not wanting to imagine any pictures of the kind Seifer was implying.

"What can I say? Gonna need something to tide me over when he's away on missions."

Starting to develop the beginnings of a headache, Squall fought to maintain a proper level of anger at yet another crude remark, but he was starting to grow numb to the incessant barrage. Shooting Seifer a narrowed eyed look, he nodded at the fire. "Shut up and turn your stick." It didn't help that Seifer only seemed to feed off it all, the man meeting his annoyance with a beaming smile and a chipper "Yessir".

Fujin fought hard not to frown. She'd watched in silence as the repartees and teasing replies kept flying around the campfire. Raijin was only adding fuel to the fire, acting as if all of this was normal. They'd simply forgotten about her, abandoning any talk of the past and painful memories in favor of lewd hypotheticals. She couldn't ignore her feelings about the past so easily. Seifer had said he didn't want to forget, but to her his actions were starting to look more and more like denial. She didn't need diaries or pictures to remember what mattered. Some memories were engraved in her mind's eye, there to stay forever whether she wanted them to or not. This whole merry circle around the campfire was a farce.

"GROUSE. CHARRING," she pointed out when no one else seemed to notice the birds starting to blacken at the legs.

"Shit," Seifer cursed, looking down at the birds. Turning them, he was relieved to find most of the skin still a beautiful golden brown. The rich scent was making him salivate, so he quickly took the roasting stick off the fire and began to divide the grouse into four small mess tins. "Just wait until you get a taste of this," he bragged, adding a large chunk of the warmed bread to each tin he handed out. He watched eagerly as Squall took his first bite. "So, what's the verdict?"

Squall glanced at Seifer and raised an eyebrow at the man fishing for compliments. He swallowed down the flavorful meat, smokey and rich, before commenting, "Better than the snacks you used to smuggle along."

Grinning at the snark, Seifer replied after his own first bite. "Hey, I might've shared if you'd asked nicely."

Squall let out a snort. "Unlikely."

"More unlikely than the two of you shacking up?" Raijin pointed out with a laugh. "I can't believe you're actually together. Like for real, ya know?"

Seifer quirked an eyebrow. "You're only catching on now? And here I thought I was laying it on thick."

"You are, man. But Squall's kinda obvious too, ya know? In his own way."

Nearly choking on his mouthful of food, Squall quickly swallowed it down before frowning at Raijin. Hyne help him, the very fact he wasn't sure whether or not he'd been flaunting his attraction was all too damning.

"And what way would that be?" Seifer asked gleefully.

"Well, your balls are still attached, for one," Raijin replied easily. "That knife trick was all show. Back at Garden you would've lost them for real, ya know?"

Squall scowled at the implication that he was growing soft-hearted, a fear he'd secretly been harboring himself. "The night's not over yet," he said darkly.

"See?" Raijin said sagely. "Practically sweet talk compared to all those whatevers."

"You should see him behind closed doors," Seifer piled on, more than pleased with Raijin's observations. "Can't keep his hands off me. He—"

"STOP!" Fujin intervened with a twitch to her eye, cutting off whatever infuriating thing Seifer had been about to say next. "RUINING APPETITE."

Meeting Fujin's angry gaze, Seifer slowly realized the woman had been lingering at the periphery of their conversation, no longer joining in. The indulgent quality to her voice had disappeared, her eye sharp. He'd pushed too far, too fast. Squall wasn't looking too happy either. Exchanging a careful look with Raijin, he straightened on his perch and shifted gears.

"Impossible," he replied with an easy smile, glancing at the nearly empty mess tin in Fu's hands. She'd practically devoured her portion of the meat and clearly the woman realized as well, her gaze following his. "Admit it. I knocked it out of the park with the grouse."

Fujin stared at the three men around the fire, the air suddenly heavier. There was a strain to Seifer's smile as he awaited her response, the sight of it filling her with instant regret. During past trips and meetings she'd hated those artificial smiles, designed to hide Seifer's true feelings.

"FOOD. GOOD," she replied, softening her gaze as best she could.

"Damn straight it is."

Releasing the breath he'd been holding, Raijin quickly spoke up to fill the silence that fell. "We'll have to step up our hunting game, ya know? Show the commander we haven't lost our touch."

"Like hell we have," Seifer replied proudly. "Just got a bit too comfortable, is all. If we're gonna do this for real, I'm game. Better prepare yourselves."

Squall rose an eyebrow at the cocky talk. "Then let's up the ante," he said evenly. "No birds tomorrow. Nothing smaller than the grouse we're eating now."

Grinning at the challenge, Seifer leaned in. "I like your thinking, Princess." He looked at his friends. "You guys in?"

"Yeah, man," Raijin said easily.

"…FINE," Fujin agreed when Seifer patiently waited for her reply. She wasn't interested in any of Squall's challenges, but she wasn't going to let the mood deteriorate even further. That, and she'd kick all of their asses. Easily.

Shearing off another piece of bread, she listened as the three men picked up the conversation again. They carefully steered clear from anything that might trigger her temper once more, which somehow exasperated her even more than the unfiltered, crude conversation from before. She hated being coddled and handled, as if she was the one being strange. She knew she only had herself to blame for losing her temper, but at this point it would take GFs eating away her memories for her to even attempt forgiving Squall and everyone else at Garden for what they'd done.

Frowning as Seifer started to lick his fingers clean, the man's gaze turning to Squall, Fujin knew what was coming next. Both of the men's mess tins were empty now, an air of impatience about them. Nothing more to keep the two by the fire other than her and Raijin's company, but that hadn't exactly been a priority for the two so far.

"Alright, time to get a sweat on, Princess," Seifer announced, getting up from the log and looking over at Squall expectantly. "Ready?"

Spotting that tell-tale glint of seduction in Seifer's gaze, Squall steeled himself as he got up as well. As much as he wanted to fall headlong into the spar they'd both been looking forward to, he knew they couldn't neglect their magic training any longer. It had been too long since their last session.

"Magic first," he countered firmly. If they started off with the spar, there was no way they'd settle for the comparatively dull grind of magic training afterwards. And part of him wanted to test his own willpower.

"Seriously? Now?" Seifer frowned.

"We can't afford to get complacent," Squall said firmly, fighting the answering rush of impatience that filled him at Seifer's reply. But that dangerous impulse was precisely why he was determined to be stronger than his baser desires. "We need to be prepared. Always."

Not liking Squall being right, especially not when they were just about to get to the best part of the day, Seifer sighed. "Shit. Okay," he agreed grudgingly.

"You guys not joining us for some Triple Triad first?" Raijin asked. For Fujin their evenings around the campfire were the highlight of any trip, but her pride would never let her ask the question herself.

"Nah, man, not tonight. Got a date with Princess," Seifer replied with a smooth smile. "I'll be happy to beat you at cards tomorrow though. I even managed to get in some practice. Believe me, I'm unstoppable now." His smile turned into at shit-eating grin. "Just ask Squall," he said, winking at the brunet.

Squall kept his face impassive when Fujin and Raijin returned their scrutiny to him, privately vowing revenge for yet another lewd reference. Thank Hyne this particular one was obscure enough to go over their heads. "You got lucky," he said evenly. "You won't next time."

"Yeah?" Seifer baited back, always more than ready to take it one step further. "Want to bet on that?"

"One bet at a time," Squall fired back, his temper rising in equal measure with his excitement. "You'll need the focus."

"Mhm," Seifer said, pulling Bahamut into a junction and taking one step closer to Squall. "'Cause I'm going to win, Baby." Twisting a fist in Squall's jacket, he pulled the man close, but before he could even try to claim soft lips in a dominant display, something sharp pricked against his throat. Squall's knife.

"Magic first," Squall hissed.

Staring straight into defiant eyes, the man's irises turning silver, Seifer grinned. Best fucking foreplay ever, to get Squall this riled up and looking so Hyne-damned gorgeous. That said, he was done with wasting any more time. If they were going to practice their magic first, then he'd be damned if he'd drag things out any longer. "Alright. Showtime."

Watching the two men forget all about present company during their little stand-off, Fujin couldn't quite believe it when they turned towards the river as one without another word, let alone an apology. Just like that Raijin and her had been dumped in favor of alleviating a disgustingly bad case of sexual tension. Glaring at their retreating backs as they headed towards the river, Fujin yelled out angrily, "CHORES!" She couldn't believe Seifer was shirking any and all camp duties on top of ditching them. The idiot was starting to remind her way too much of his infantile self back at Garden.

"I'm sure you're both more than capable," Seifer shot back over his shoulder, not even turning around.

She picked up a pebble and sent it flying Seifer's way. "LAZY!" she called out when it grazed his arm.

"Deal with it!"

When Fujin looked over at Raijin, the buffoon just met her gaze with an indulgent smile.

"EXASPERATION," she groused, feeling cheated.

Raijin just hummed contentedly as he got up to collect the dirty mess tins, taking Fujin's foul mood in stride. Tossing the leftover bones in the fire, he stacked the tins to the side for now. He was far more interested in watching Seifer's magic than doing any tidying. "It's been ages, ya know? Will be awesome to see Seif' cast again."

Fujin nodded absentmindedly, some of her temper fizzling out at the reality of just what was about to transpire. Anxiously awaiting the first spell, she found herself staring at Seifer as the man chatted with Squall and gestured out over the river. He seemed relaxed and sure of himself. Nothing like those first weeks when he'd stubbornly refused to accept the loss of his magic. After the first few failures to cast, Seifer had quickly taken his attempts somewhere else, away from their scrutiny and supposed pity. After a few months, he'd stopped trying altogether. She still remembered the dry heaving, the cold sweats, the pain.

The loud crackling of a Thunder spell gave her a start, pulling her mind back into the present, to the look of pure joy plastered all over Seifer's face. Their chocobos squawked in alarm and startled into a quick flight towards the nearby trees, all but Demon abandoning their spot overlooking the river. Realizing she'd been holding her breath, she let it rush from her lungs and swallowed down the tightness in her throat. Seifer and Squall were aiming their spells to clash together, a Water spell hissing into an angry cloud of steam the moment it collided with Seifer's third Thunder spell.

The whole thing was awfully playful for a training session. Spell after exuberant spell, the two set the forest alive and alight with loud bangs and explosions, rudely disturbing the forest's peace, but she couldn't help a small smile at the display. Seifer was completely in his element, casting spell after spell. The man set off into a sprint, casting a line of Firas over the river.

"Good stuff, ya know," Raijin commented beside her, also watching the two men.

Fujin nodded. It was good to see Seifer cast again. A heavy weight lifted from her heart as she watched the man effortlessly swapping between different spells. He looked so happy. Fujin wasn't even sure she'd ever seen him so at ease in his own skin. Back at Garden he'd always put on an air of arrogance and dissatisfied ennui. But now not even the defensive spells that used to bore Seifer to tears seemed to put a damper on his mood. He cast them deftly, alternating between landing them on both Squall and himself.

Where had Seifer gotten all the spells? She clearly remembered him mentioning how he'd gained a fair bit of Gil from selling off his last reserves. He'd said it in his usual way of dealing with his loss of magic, in a way that made it sound as if he hadn't really ever liked magic to begin with, so good riddance and at least there'd been a bit of cash in it for him. She'd known it had been a front and had allowed him to hide behind it, but to see him like this made relief blossom in her chest.

"Man, it's gonna be good to team up with our magic again," Raijin commented. He was getting damned eager to fight some magical monsters and to draw as many spells as they could on this trip of theirs. With the info Squall had provided, they'd already managed to stock up on Aero, Double and Blizzara just on their first day. Clearly Seifer had managed to pilfer a lot of spells from somewhere else. "Think that's Garden property Seif' is burning through?"

Fujin snorted. "SQUALL'S."

Humming in agreement with Fujin's assessment, Raijin was wondering just when would be the right time to ask Seifer to share a bit of his spell inventory.

"LIKE GLUE."

Not surprised in the least that the constant proximity between the two men had been bugging Fu to hell and back, Raijin huffed softly and smiled. He knew Fujin had been looking for a chance to speak to Seifer all day, but Seifer had been riding next to Squall for most of it, rarely leaving the man's sight. "You can chat later, maybe once they've cooled down after their spar."

"SPAR?" Fujin snorted again. "SEX."

Raijin chuckled and shook his head. "You really think Squall is going to give it up right there—" he pointed at the two men's tent for good measure, "—with us so close by?"

"SEIFER," Fujin pointed out. Whatever Seifer set his mind to, he always got.

"Gotta say, it would be impressive if Seif' pulls something like that off," Raijin mused out loud, half expecting to have one of the burning logs from the fire hurled his way.

"DISGUSTING."

"But hilarious, right? So unreal that it's actually funny." He wasn't beyond teasing Fu. He really didn't have it in him to resent either man for having some fun. Not with how completely smitten they both were. "Gotta cut Seif' some slack, ya know."

Watching Fujin's eye narrow in response as she kept following Seifer and Squall with her gaze, some of Raijin's good humor deflated. He didn't want Fujin to end up pushing Seifer away, but so far that was exactly where things seemed to be heading. She simply refused to move on.

It was different for himself. He knew Squall and the others hadn't had a choice. Not truly. Seifer had been amped up on Ultimecia's power during those battles, ready and more than able to kill them all. To get past Seifer they'd had to break him. Ultimecia's hold on him had been too strong for anything less. If Fujin and himself had gotten in the way at the wrong time, they simply would have gotten caught in the crossfire as well. So they'd bided their time, walking a dangerous line between following questionable orders and keeping close to Seifer without drawing Ultimecia's attention and ire. It had proved to be the right gamble. In the end they were all still here. Alive. The world was still in one piece. Ultimecia had been defeated and the two of them had managed to save Seifer. Squall might have left Seifer behind, but the man had pressed onward to save the world from a mad Sorceress bent on world domination. Tough choices were par for the course in a trade like theirs and definitely in a fucked up war like the one they'd lived through.

Fujin had to learn how to let go. It was clear both Seifer and Squall had.

"Won't hurt to have a contact inside Garden again," he tried, pointing out the very big pro that came with this.

Fujin raised an eyebrow as she looked Raijin's way, not having expected that he might want to go back or take advantage of Garden's influence. She wasn't quite as eager to sell out their independence or integrity like that.

"I know you're tempted by the work, Fu. Deep down. Would be good money and you were good at it." She'd been an exceptional operative. Throughout the day he'd slowly come to terms with the idea of her signing on with Galbadia Garden on a freelance basis, occasionally doing missions for them as a SeeD. It wasn't that far from Dollet and he wanted to see her thrive instead of the idle frustration that plagued most of her days as a civilian.

"BETRAYAL."

"No one else sees it that way. Garden—" he started, holding Fujin's one-eyed gaze, "—and Squall. They did what they had to. Ultimecia forced their hands."

Not replying, Fujin looked back to the two men. She wasn't ready to forgive. For years she'd directed her anger and hatred in one direction only.

"Focus on what's important, ya know? Seifer's doing well. He's happy. That's what matters."

Leaving Fujin to ponder his words, Raijin got up to look through the herbs Seifer had foraged and dropped some in the kettle of water for a herbal tea. Hanging the kettle above the fire, he sat back down and watched with a smile as Seifer slowly drew nearer to Squall, all the while pretending at utter focus on his spells. Deciding to aid his friend in his ploy, he brought up his fingers to whistle loudly.

"Go for it!" he yelled, drawing Squall's gaze. Seifer grinned and immediately took advantage of Squall's distraction to ambush him into an embrace from behind.

"DON'T ENCOURAGE," Fujin chided, not liking the smile that played on Raijin's lips. How could he be okay with any of this, let alone enable it? Seifer was smiling as well as he kept Squall locked in a tight hold, even managing to place a kiss at the corner of Squall's lips when suddenly a soft blue glow and white frost crept up Seifer's arms. Seifer abruptly let go of his stiff board of a boyfriend, shaking his arms emphatically with a pained grimace. Squall started walking towards them without as much of a glance at Seifer.

Fujin returned her attention to the fire but was spared the effort of ignoring Squall when the man walked right past them and towards the tent he shared with Seifer. Seifer rushed over to hover beside her, stretching his hands out to the fire, desperately trying to warm them up.

"That was heartless, Princess," the idiot called out, wriggling his numb fingers to coax more heat into them. "All I wanted was a bit of loving."

Chuckling, Raijin offered Seifer a hot cup of tea, which was immediately taken from his grasp and downed in a few gulps. "Was good to see you firing off spells like that, man. You still got it."

"Expected anything less?" Seifer shot back with a grin, but the man's gaze was immediately pulled away when Squall returned, two gunblades in hand. When Squall tossed him the one Raijin recognized as Seifer's latest work, his friend deftly caught it by the handle and swung it up onto his shoulder with casual skill. "No more stalling, Princess. You ready?"

"Always."

Fujin watched the two men stride back over to the rocky riverside where the wide clearing stretched all along the flowing water. She raised an eyebrow when they didn't start into the spar straightaway. After exchanging a few words they began gathering firewood and placed it in several heaps along the riverside. Slowly but surely they were lighting small fires all around their chosen sparring arena, which could mean only one thing. They were planning to spar until well after complete darkness had descended. She sighed. They definitely wouldn't be spending any more time with Seifer that evening.

"Triple Triad after this?" Raijin asked.

Fujin nodded absentmindedly, her eyes still on Seifer. He looked about to burst with eagerness, a wide smile plastered on his face. The two men got into their starting positions, their gunblades held at the ready. Seifer used the pose he'd always used. She'd watched this game unfold countless times, yet she felt none of the excitement she used to feel when watching those two fight back at Garden.

She narrowed her eyes as Squall charged. The sharp sound of metal impacting against metal rang out into the night, sending a jolt of adrenaline surging through her. She hadn't heard that sound since the worst day of her life.

Her mind was flung straight back into that final battle, back inside the Lunatic Pandora. She no longer saw the eager focus and excitement on Seifer and Squall's faces as they danced around each other, colliding and sidestepping and dodging in a blur of motion. All she could remember was the look of emotionless determination on the Commander's features as he'd raised his blade against Seifer.

Her mouth grew dry, her pulse leaping with panicky spikes, as she watched the lightning fast movement of the Commander's blue blade, the sparks that flew of metal, the ringing clash of blades. She hadn't ever wanted to see this again.

"Let's play," Raijin said, catching her eye momentarily as she managed to pry her gaze away from the spar. He looked concerned, as if he knew every last thought that passed through her mind.

She shook her head and looked back to where Seifer and Squall were fighting. Seifer cursed as a cut made it past his defenses. Squall had drawn blood. Her fingers clenched. Beside her, Raijin didn't say a word as he placed a large hand on top of hers and watched as well. She swallowed thickly, bitter memories almost tempting her to shake free of his touch.

Back then Raijin hadn't said a single thing either when taking her punches and kicks, her screams and tears, his constricting hold around her midriff refusing to yield as he'd stopped her from running out to fight alongside their best friend. His strong arms had been locked so tightly around her. Tight enough to bruise her as she'd tried to wrest herself free again and again. Squall had been hounding Seifer blow after blow, just like he was now, while Squall's cohorts had barraged Seifer with one overpowered spell after the other. And Seifer had returned in kind. Squall's gaze might have been void of emotion, but Seifer had looked beyond crazed, nothing left of the friend she knew and loved. Only a Sorceress's demented executioner had been left in his wake, yet it hadn't stopped her from wanting to do everything in her power to help him.

She knew that Raijin and her would've been dead if they'd joined Seifer's side. If not by Garden's hands then by Seifer's. It was the argument Raijin had used again and again to try and explain his actions, but his words had fallen on deaf ears. She hadn't talked to him at all for those first days after they'd managed to make it out of Esthar alive and had reached a hideout in Timber. She hadn't been able to forgive her own betrayal either, not when faced with the evidence of her failure every single day she'd nursed Seifer back to health.

Seifer's survival had been such a close thing.

Seeing him now, healthy and thriving, grinning wickedly as he engaged Squall blow for blow… It was as if their harrowing flight from the Lunatic Pandora had never happened. Seifer mercifully didn't remember a thing, unconscious throughout the entire ordeal. She'd never burdened him with the details either.

She'd never forget the look of confusion in Seifer's eyes as Squall and the others had left him for dead, in pursuit of Adel, never looking back. He'd staggered away from Adel's Cradle, looking down at Hyperion in his hand and dropping it as if burnt. For a few short heartbeats, she'd seen her true friend return to those green eyes before Seifer had collapsed onto the floor, his wounds bleeding profusely.

In that moment Raijin had finally released her and they'd both rushed to Seifer's side. They'd cast spell after spell only to realize that none of them were working. As if a Reflect had been cast, only different. Only later on they'd realized the healing magic was being siphoned away elsewhere. To Ultimecia.

Pure desperation had fueled their every move from then onwards. Raijin had carried Seifer's limp body as she'd navigated their escape through endless corridors and junctions. And just when they'd gotten close to the exit, close to safety, Seifer's body had started convulsing violently in Raijin's hold, forcing them to a stop. They'd laid him down in the middle of a hallway, unable to do anything as they'd watched him die. Not a single spell had taken hold. She'd cradled him, hushing him, whispering to him, until Seifer's body had jackknifed one final time before going completely still. And she'd gone utterly still with him, unable to think or move.

Ultimecia had died, and had taken her knight with her.

It was Raijin who'd started to cast Full-Life after Full-Life. She'd watched without being able to feel anything, but then Seifer's chest had risen with a single, stunted breath. Heart leaping with reckless hope, she'd joined Raijin, both of them casting unholy amounts of restorative magic and pumping it into Seifer' body until his wounds reluctantly closed and her fingers found a steady pulse at his wrist.

He should've woken then. Despite the blood loss, he should've responded to them, but no amount of jostling, slaps to the cheek or calls of his name had roused him. When they'd tried to pry his eyes open, they'd been empty. No recognition. They'd carried him out of the Lunatic Pandora like that, and had fled the country in a stolen Estarian transport.

It had taken months for her to forgive Raijin.

His betrayal had caused a deep rift between them and it was only after Seifer had returned to them mentally that she'd actually listened to Raijin's words and had managed to look past his actions. He hadn't been able to face losing them both. By prioritizing their own survival, they'd at least stood a chance of saving Seifer. And they had.

It still didn't change the fact that she would rather have died than dishonour her friend like that. And Seifer might have survived the battle, but his mind had been trapped. He'd cried out from nightmares, had looked haunted, his eyes empty and unseeing. During those long nights and days of watching over him, her mind had reached into its darkest depths.

She might have been able to forgive Raijin, but there was no way she could ever forgive Squall.

Raijin had saved them, all three of them, but Squall had done nothing but fight them every step of the way. They'd tried to reason with him, had told him Seifer was losing it, was just eating out of someone else's hand. But Squall had fought on until the bitter end.

She couldn't stomach the sight before her any longer. Her fingers itched for her weapons, to break up the wild and joyful spar that was unfolding right before her eyes, mocking her past struggles and pain. Any more of watching Squall attack Seifer and she feared she'd drive Seifer away forever.

Wiping the tears from her face, she cleared her nose and got to her feet. Raijin followed her wordlessly and waited outside their tent as she ducked inside to grab her new chakram. She needed to get far away from the clashing of metal and focus on practising with her chakram. That usually worked to empty her mind and she needed calmness and distance more than anything right now. If she hadn't cooled her blood by the next time she saw Squall's face, her actions would only end up hurting Seifer.

She simply had to bide her time and wait until Seifer saw the truth. Whatever happiness he thought he felt now was a lie, doomed to fail. Sooner or later Squall would show his true colors.

~ o ~

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A/N: Hope you're all doing well ::heart::