A Love on the Sidelines
By: 4quintessence
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Square Enix, the fanfiction to me.
Pairing: CliffxFayt
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After a slow relaxing morning, Fayt and Cliff meet up with the crew in Arias to talk with Clair. Something explosive happens after they arrive and Fayt has to cope with the consequences. In the end, he shows who is really in control of this relationship.
Shout Outs - Zel: you're awesome! thought i'd mention that :D ive never heard of Sukisho, but now i have all these things you've recommended that some day i'll probably get around to looking at. OMG! i finally got my fruits basket today! i was going into withdrawal from waiting so long. lol the electric shock part reminded me of when i used to have to fiddle with the water pump at our cottage to fix it and i ALWAYS got shocked!! such a weird feeling. dont miss that :p as you'll see, the lemon is coming next chapter, im delaying it so that when it does come it will be unbelieveable. as for Cliff's visions...haha the suspense. so ur going to Spain and France? Spectral: yay Spectral! ya Maria felt bad anyways but i guess Cliff's reaction was a wake up call to her :D you know what? i think im gonna incorporate the school uniform into the story in later chapters! its just too good not to. Thank you so much for continuing to review!
Chapter 11:
After a prolonged love-making session in which names were screamed, petals were strewn, and toys were used, Fayt and Cliff both settled into a deep dreamless sleep. The next morning they enjoyed a delectable breakfast in bed before eventually ending their cozy cuddling and leaving each other's embrace. Fayt headed to the bathroom to wash his face. As he was standing in front of the mirror rinsing out the washcloth, Cliff snuck up behind him and slid his arms down over the other's shoulders so he was hugging the bluenette's chest. The Klausian reached around to affectionately kiss up and down the side of Fayt's flushed face, as the latter closed his eyes.
"Now that's what I call a great breakfast," the blond declared, finishing his sweet kisses. "But of course you were by far the best part...Mr. Hottie."
"Why thank you Clifford," Fayt replied, smiling as he grabbed the older man's waist. "I'd have to say that the sausages were first-rate. Nothing like a good sausage for breakfast, wouldn't you say?"
"Ya got that right."
"Thanks for lending me one of yours, I was just so hungry and I couldn't resist another. It was so big too…" the bluenette said wryly.
Cliff held Fayt close, nuzzling his chin on the other's shoulder. "I know...so juicy and tasty. We should have sausages every morning."
"Now there's an idea. But I like the kind that explode when you eat them. If you know what I mean."
When Fayt winked, the blond pretended that he had no idea what the bluenette was referring to. Then the latter grabbed Cliff's crotch and they both burst out laughing.
"Heh...all ya have to do is pour some maple syrup on it and then you've got yer maple flavoured sausage right there all ready for ya."
"Well, actually I like to stick the whole thing in my mouth at once, forget about cutting it up first."
"Ohhh. That's a very good thing from my perspective," the Klausian said snickering. "Personally, I like to suck 'em dry to get all that goodness out of the inside..."
Fayt couldn't think of a reply. "Okay, I'm done now, that's all I've got. I don't think we can drag it out any longer, dirty old man."
"Awww, who ya calling dirty? OR OLD?? We just bathed yesterday night. Fine, enough of the chitchat. Let's get ready to go to Arias. Aren't you excited?"
"Completely," Fayt responded, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
-------------------------------------------
After some easy fighting on the way from Aquios, the duo burst through one of the entrances to Arias and Cliff strutted in ahead and shouted loudly: "WE'RE HERE!"
Silence. A dog nearby noticed him and came up to sniff his groin. Nobody walking around bothered to look and the guards at the gate made their displeasure known by grimacing at the happy-go-lucky Klausian.
"Sheesh…Hello to you too. What a lively place."
Fayt strolled up behind him and shoved him towards Clair's house.
"Okay, okay. I'm going."
As they approached their destination, they spotted Albel leaning against the wall beside the door, one leg crossed over the other. He was chewing a piece of wheat, which he took out of his mouth so he could welcome them.
"Hmph. Look who finally showed up. Hello scumbags, I hope your journey was pleasant."
"Why thank you 'Bel. We couldn't wait to see you again," the blond said, coughing in between sentences.
"How are things here Albel?" Fayt asked. "It looks like your cuts are all better."
Albel glared at the bluenette, but his eyes told that he wasn't angry, but rather glad that someone cared. "Well, we finished off that monster that was causing the ruckus quite easily, and without any help from the dumb blond. Everyone's waiting inside for you."
Cliff snorted like a pissed off horse and strode past the Elicoorian into the house.
"Can't you two try to get along, please?"
"Right. Like I'm the problem one," Albel countered. "Talk to your boyfriend about that one, Fayt. If you can get it into his thick head that fighting me in front of a crowd like that is not acceptable, I might reconsider."
"I'm sorry about that. I told him it was stupid. Then again what you did was pretty stupid too. But at least try to be more civil. You're a great help to our group and we all need to get along. They may not show it, but I know the others are glad you're coming with us."
"Bah…"
Fayt patted Albel on the shoulder and went inside. After meeting up with the rest of the party, they all went to discuss military business with Clair in the conference room. As they talked, Fayt's mind wandered. She seems different from last time we saw her. The tone of her voice, it sounds rather dull, like it has lost its energy and enthusiasm. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it...
It was getting late so the crew ate dinner and then headed to bed early. They had decided to stay the night and to figure out a plan of action tomorrow.
-------------------------------------------
Fayt rolled around in bed, unable to sleep. Cliff still hadn't come up yet. He had mentioned that Clair wanted to talk to him about something, so Fayt had just gone to bed since he was so exhausted. Is she depressed about something? Who knows. Considering it was now half an hour since he had lay down, he was starting to get worried.
Fayt decided to find out what was taking Cliff so long. He slipped out of bed and walked in his pajamas down the stairs to the lounge. As he neared the door, he could hear two faint voices so he stepped closer and slowly turned the handle. The talking stopped. Icy needles from the doorknob blasted like bullets up the bluenette's arm making his hairs stand on end. The door didn't make a sound as he swung it open and took in the sight in front of him.
Cliff and Clair were sitting on stools in front of the bar and at the very moment they came into Fayt's line of vision, Clair leaned in towards Cliff and kissed him on the lips.
The floor fell out from underneath Fayt. It felt as if his entire body was sinking down into the dark depths of oblivion. Sweat started oozing from his underarm pores and the regular rhythm of this heart ceased for about five seconds straight. He felt faint, lost, confused, like he was going to collapse from the dehydration of despair. The beats finally started up again — thu-thump, thu-thump — but his heart ached in his chest as he clutched it with one hand, a physical expression of what he was feeling emotionally. In his pain, he failed to notice that Cliff had pulled back as soon as Clair had touched his lips. The bluenette only saw the kiss and had finally managed to pull a hand up to cover his gaping mouth. And in his emerald eyes countless dreams were shattering like a windshield from an errant rock as the sadness within burst forth into a stream of tears that spilled down the sweep of his cheek. His world dizzy and blurred, Fayt inhaled very loudly, which caused Cliff and Clair to notice him slouching in the doorframe.
"No, NO! Fayt! It's not what it looks like...Clair's…"
Now the young man began to feel incredible anger welling up inside him as Cliff threw fuel on the fire by trying to say this wasn't what it seemed. It seemed pretty damn clear to Fayt.
"How could you!" he screamed, "So what? Was it all a lie? Your love for me...this whole time?"
"Of course not!" Cliff cried, visibly upset. "She just had…"
But before the blond could explain, Fayt had raced from the room and ran out of the house into the evening's eerie twilight.
I cannot leave here, I cannot stay,
Forever haunted, more than afraid.
Asphyxiate on words I would say,
I'm drawn to a blackened sky as I turn blue.
There are no flowers, no not this time, (the bouquet Cliff gave him in ch. 3)
There'll be no angels gracing the lines, (his dream of Cliff as an angel, ch. 1)
Just these stark words, I find. (Cliff's promise to protect & love him)
I'd show a smile, but I'm too weak,
I'd share with you could I only speak,
Just how much this, hurts me
Just how much you...
- AFI 'This Time Imperfect'
It was just before 10 pm since everyone had decided to head to bed so early. There was still enough light to see and the sky wasn't completely darkened yet. Giant billowing masses of clouds were creeping across it though — there were two separate fluffy masses, one in front and one behind, and each was dyed a distinctive shade of grey. They marched through the sky like an invading army as sections of cloud pushed ahead of the rest, reaching out towards the trail of the absent sun.
Fayt darted right out of town, not knowing where he was going, and not caring. He entered an evergreen forest outside of Arias and ran between the towering firs, occasionally tripping over protruding roots. The trees here rose up just like Japanese pagodas as each layer of branches curved out and upwards as if they were reaching in exaltation to the heavens. The top half of the trees were shrouded in a mysterious white mist that heightened and blurred the senses, matching the internal chaos clouding Fayt's mind.
He finally shot out of the woods and onto the edge of a high rocky cliff. Far below the steep precipice lay endless forest that stretched out as far as the eye could see to the mountains on the horizon. Elicoor I was visible just above the skyline with its burgundy tones and grand rings that circled the planet vertically. Here, at the end of the world, he collapsed near the edge and lay deep in thought.
He didn't cry, he just felt numb. The psychological dam he had painfully spent so long to build up in his mind was cracking and the pool of his aching memories was slipping through and overwhelming his senses. The death of Ameena and Dion, being separated from his parents and not knowing whether they were alright, the trauma of the Vendeeni attack on Hyda IV and all the people who had died, the knowledge that he had been experimented on and that everyone was out to get him, that it was all his fault — it was all breaking through since Cliff had been the one holding it all back and allowing him to go on without falling into the hands of hopelessness.
He moved closer to the edge of the cliff and dangled one leg off the side, feeling the rising air brushing up past him. I can't deal with all this. I need someone to help me through. I hope I'm just overreacting...Cliff couldn't be pretending to love me out of pity...hiding his straightness this whole time. I know how he looks at me, how he kisses me, you can't fake something like that. Or can you…The jealously he felt over Albel, the tears we have shared together, the laughter...
As he stared mindlessly into the forest, Fayt thought he heard a soothing voice calling out to him — a ghostly whisper in his ear...'Destiny awaits, my child' — but it turned out to be just the wind. Or was it...Suddenly a dark figure materialized in the mists with brilliant wings that stretched up in an arc behind it. Fayt rubbed his eyes and looked back again. The wings were gone but someone tall was definitely walking towards him and within seconds Cliff emerged from the fog and ran towards Fayt with an anxious but relieved look on his face. He was carrying beautiful flowers in one hand.
The Klausian knelt down beside the bluenette and began to speak: "I'm so sorry, so sorry Fayt. I know I've hurt you but let me explain what happened."
Seeing the tears in Cliff's eyes, Fayt simply nodded.
"Clair's been depressed lately, for a variety of reasons, and she wanted to talk to someone about it so I offered an ear. She had a few drinks while we were chattin' — I refused to drink because of what happened yesterday — and we were just finishin' our talk when out of nowhere she leaned in and kissed me. Believe me I was as shocked as you were. I pulled away immediately and my heart just broke when I found out you had seen it. She's had a rough time and she didn't know what she was doing. It meant absolutely nothing...I promise you."
Fayt sighed heavily and felt all those worries being pushed into the back of his mind again making the air around him feel lighter and relieving his soul beyond comprehension.
Cliff handed Fayt his communicator and Clair began apologizing profusely through it, backing up what the blond had said. After she was done, Cliff handed Fayt the cluster of lilac forget-me-nots in his grasp.
"Here kid, I picked these when we were in our meadow near Aquios and I want ya to have 'em. I love ya more than anything and you're the only one I love. I would never EVER give up what we have together. Come what may, I will love ya...'til my dying days. ...Oh man, wow did that ever sound corny..."
"No, it's sweet Cliff. You had me so worried there. I completely blew it out of proportion. I've just been so sensitive lately, with all that's been happening. I know you love me and...I don't know why I would ever question that. Thank you."
With that he jumped up and gave Cliff a huge bear hug, pressing his face into the warm, welcoming groove of the blond's neck. He didn't let go for at least a minute. There was one little thing that was still bothering him, but he didn't want to bring it up right now.
"Okay, let's go home…"
They walked hand in hand together back into the murky shadows of the forest.
-------------------------------------------
Back in their room at Clair's mansion, Fayt was sitting on the bed while Cliff brushed his teeth in the bathroom.
"Cliff, I gotta ask you something. You said you pulled away from Clair as soon as she kissed you but why didn't you lean away or push her away when you first noticed her moving closer to you?"
Cliff took a moment to respond and when he did it was partially garbled from the toothpaste. "C'mon man, it happened so quickly I didn't even think about it."
Fayt wasn't fully convinced. "Uh huh. Well are you gonna say you're sorry then for allowing her to kiss you in the first place?"
"WHAT? NO!" the Klausian responded, spitting foam into the sink. "I didn't do anything wrong! I was just sitting there and she practically attacked me with her mouth. Gimme a break."
A wry smile crawled across Fayt's face. "Fine then...I guess you won't be getting any for a while…"
The blond jerked his head to glance at his boyfriend to see if he was serious or not. Fayt stared back with a stern look.
"You heard me," the bluenette said, waving a finger. "No sex until you apologize for that."
"Pffff, whatever. That won't be lasting long. Soon enough you'll be at your knees BEGGING for me to whip it out for ya."
"HA! We'll see about that you sex fiend."
Cliff felt a slight tinge of worry. "FAYT! C'mon! I already said sorry for the whole situation! I'm not apologizing for that picky little thing though...it wasn't my fault. It happened so fast."
Fayt shook his head and crossed his arms. "Cliff, Clair was drunk, you were not. I was smashed when that incident happened with Albel, I had no idea what was happening and I still apologized to you later. You don't have alcohol as an excuse."
"Whatever…" The blond reassured himself that this sex holiday wouldn't be lasting long as he washed his face. He can't resist me…
They finally went to bed, happy that they were still together, but angry at the same time at their stubbornness. Just before falling asleep, Cliff had another 'vision' where he saw the dark-haired version of himself again. He was standing in some sort of transporter and there were guards all around aiming guns at him. He was clutching a diary to his chest and there was a terrified look on his face. Thinking he had already fallen asleep and that it was a dream, Cliff tried to forget about it, even though he wondered what hell all these images were about…
Early next morning Nel burst into their room with a frantic look on her face.
"Fayt! Cliff! Get up! I was outside with Sophia to look around the marketplace for breakfast ideas and this flyer from Greeton swooped out of nowhere and snatched her up in broad daylight! It flew back in the direction of their continent."
"Flyer?" Fayt asked, puzzled.
"Yes, I might not have mentioned this before but some of the Greeton people have wings."
"WHAT."
"Sophia...first I lost her after Hyda and now this...crap! Okay we have to go after her, screw everything else!"
Cliff snickered. "Aww do we have to? It would probably be so much nicer…"
Fayt flared his nostrils and glared at Cliff with eyes that filled with flames of death.
"I'm JOKING. Though ya know I'm not entirely wrong…"
DUN DUN DUN! TO BE CONTINUED!