DISCLAIMER - Squaresoft own Final Fantasy VIII. I've just borrowed them.
AUTHORS NOTE - I am so sorry for how long it has been since I updated last. Things just kinda got hectic and I forgot all about this. But thanks must go to SiriusMoonPuppy for reminding me that people do actually read what I write.
So this chapter is a bit longer than all the rest, which I guess makes it shorter than most but still its good for me. Also I think there might be some actual plot that isn't some awful cliche so thats good too.
Remember, reviews get quicker updates!
SpeedingTiegen
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Obviously blinded by his hair and the melting snow that was running down his face, Squall stumbled into the bar. The sharp blade of Lionheart dragged across the marked and scuffed hardwood floor, adding another scar to the multiple that marred its surface.
Seifer remained hidden in the shadows, held immobile by the apparition from his past , as Pops moved swiftly from behind the bar, his glasses forgotten, towards the figure whose energy seemed to be rapidly evaporating as every muscle tensed to keep him standing.
'Good Hyne man!' Pops cried as he helped Squall to a chair, 'What kind of fool are you to be out on a night like this? Have you no respect for your own life?'
As Pops turned from Squall towards where Seifer had been standing he began, 'Seifer get me a glass of...' He trailed off, the words dying in his mouth as the space he was looking towards was empty. Looking around to spot the blond, he simply saw the door that had been left standing open close, Seifer gone and only the old man and the half frozen figure before him remained.
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The storm hadn't lasted long, indeed when looking around the small village the next morning the only sign that there had been a storm was the banks and fields of dazzling snow that lay all around. The scene was quite pretty actually.
Inside a small cabin a frantic Seifer was stuffing his few possessions into a duffel bag. Thoughts of the man who had appeared the night before had kept sleep at bay and during the early hours of the morning he had decided that he had to leave. He was having a hard enough time living inside his own mind as it was without this unexpected guest appearance that was threatening to undo all the hard work he had done trying to forget him.
He was bored of this place now anyway. The lack of, well the lack of anything, around here had been good at first. It had allowed him to lose himself in physical matters and ignore what was in his head. As of late however this total absence of anything had, instead of providing an escape, merely made him turn further in on himself.
Yes Squall's untimely arrival had illustrated that it was time to move on. Maybe somewhere bigger this time. Somewhere he could really and truly lose himself amongst thronging crowds of people and dark back alleys and bars.
Just as Seifer was shrugging into his coat and about to throw the bag over his shoulder there was a knock at the door. With a sigh of frustration he put down his bag and opened the door to the weathered face of Pops.
'Well,' Pops began 'Where are you off to? You seem to be getting good at this disappearing act.'
'I'm leaving.' was Seifer's only reply.
'Well that much is obvious. Where are you running to this time?'
Stepping inside Seifer's small room and closing the door behind him, Pops waited for more from the silent blond. When it became obvious he wasn't going to get anymore he continued, 'That was a shitty thing you did last night, leaving me there with the popsicle of a man. Why did you run off like that?'
'He brought back bad memories is all.'
Picking up his bag again, Seifer rounded on the older man. 'Its been nice knowing you old man.' was all Seifer said before heading towards the door and disappearing swiftly from sight.
Pops was left alone in the now empty room. All that remained was a news paper, a couple of weeks old now, on the bed. On the front cover was a story about the death of a Deling City socialite come sorceress. In the picture of the leading story was a rather vivacious looking woman and a somewhat pissed off looking man.
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How long had he been out? He didn't remember getting here. Slowly looking around the warm homely room Squall took stock of his location.
It had been several days since his unannounced arrival in the sleepy little village. The cold had gotten to him, and whilst in no danger of dying he had been running a temperature and had generally been a bit lucid since his arrival. I mean lets face it, commander of seed and the hero who had stopped Ultimicia he he may be but he was only human.
A woman entered the room whilst Squall was still trying to figure out where he was.
'Well good morning. How are you feeling?' she enquired.
'Confused. Where am I?'
'Well you are in my guest room right now'. she said with a chuckle, 'Though it doesn't get used too often. This isn't the kind of place people visit on a regular basis. I have to say you did surprise us dropping in like that.'
She moved closer to the bed and put a hand to his forehead, 'Well your temperature seems to have come back to normal. By Hyne you almost gave poor Pops a heart attack bursting in the way you did.' Again she chuckled.
'Pops?'
'Pops runs the inn here. He was there all alone when you dropped in.' Turning away from the bed she started heading back towards the door, 'Well I say alone, that guy was there with him. Seifer or something his name was.'
She stopped to contemplate something, Squall totally forgotten as she spoke more to herself then to Squall, 'There was always something a bit wrong about that guy if you ask me. A bit too quiet you know what I mean?' Shaking her head she continued, 'Anyway he has gone now, not that it should interest you any.'
Smiling she asked, 'Do you fancy something to eat? I have some beautiful broth downstairs, even if I do say so myself.'
Without waiting for an answer she was gone, not that Squall noticed, as his mind was otherwise occupied. 'Seifer?'
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AUTHORS NOTE - Well was it worth the wait?