Authoress' notes: Another chapter here and done. I guess I sort of left it at an annoying point so I'll make it up to you through this. I hope you enjoy this chapter and all reviews and storyline suggestions are appreciated.
Chapter 8
Irvine's POV
He's slept most of the night luckily. I watch him during the night and Quistis and Seifer take over for me during the day. The doctors said that because I got to him when I did he didn't suffer any serious damage. The only damage to him is his broken right arm, the three dislocated fingers on his right hand, some severe bruising to his back and a massive gash on his right thigh. Apart from that, he's okay. I just wish that I could do something about it. I can only heal open wounds and even then, I don't want to interfere with the human doctors.
He's woken up a few times shaking and I've cuddled him and soothed him back to sleep. Helping him to the bathroom wasn't too bad and I've enjoyed feeding him.
A sigh escapes his lips and I watch as his eyes slowly open and glance at me.
"You're here…" he sighs and I smile.
"Thirsty?" I offer and he nods. I help him to sit up and pour him a glass of water from the pitcher on the bedside and offer it to him. He takes it in his left hand and sips greedily from it before returning it to my hand. With his throat moistened, it doesn't hurt him to talk.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble," he says and I cuff him sharply on the ear and he whimpers. Giving me a hurt glance, I ignore it and glare at him.
"What in the name of Hyne gave you the idea that I didn't enjoy caring for you? Now you can't run away from me. Now we can have a conversation without being interrupted."
"Quistis says you haven't eaten for days. You do need to eat something you realize," he lectures and I smirk mirthfully at him.
"I have been eating, just not in the way you would expect."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"I won't tell you. How's the gash on you leg?" I ask averting the topic.
"Sore. It keeps reopening when I get up and I refuse to use a bedpan to relieve myself."
Can't blame him there. I want to help him my closing the wound for him but I want to make sure first that it won't affect anything the doctors do for him. The door opens and Squall's doctor comes in.
"Dr Kadowaki." I nod and she smiles.
"Back again Irvine? At this rate I'll have to put you under a restraining order!" she teases and I laugh.
"But what would the point of that be? Poor Squall would be all alone here surrounded by nurses with overly happy smiles and rectal thermometers. Someone has to help him keep his sanity after all!"
She laughs and shoos me out so she can check up on Squall. I listen in from outside the door to what she's saying.
"Squall, at this rate the wound on your leg may leave you with a limp unless it heals soon. The stitches aren't holding it together and I'm worried about residual tissue damage. I'll come back in the morning to check up on you and see how it's healing. See you in the morning!" she says and walks over to me. As she passes me, she whispers, "Give him some comfort. I can't get that wound to heal right so the chance he'll have a permanent limp ate 98. Do what you can to keep him calm," and she walks out, shutting the heavy door behind her.
I go over and sit down beside him.
"I heard what she said, so don't try to sweeten it up for me. I'm going to have a limp. The damn wound won't close right!" he cries and buries his head in my chest. I stroke his back and let him cry his tension away. He's been through a lot and he needs to get if off his chest. I don't want him though to end up with a limp. I could… I shouldn't…he'll know but… to hell with it!
"I can close that wound for you Squall. It may hurt a little but I can ensure that there is no limp. This though means you'll find out what I was keeping from you. Can I trust you?" I ask gently as I get him settled comfortably on the bed.
"Why do you look so afraid?" he asks and I try to smile but fail.
"I'm scared of you knowing. That's why. But I don't want you to have a limp. It's your call."
Leaning up to me, he whispers against my lips, "Heal me…" and I kiss him gently. Feeling him relax, I settle him back on the bed and I pull the thick curtain around his bed and pull the sheets down to expose his slender legs.
"Relax…" I purr and I pull up the thin gown to reveal the wound covered in gauze and stitches. With one fluid movement I rip off the gauze and extending my nails, I gently cut the stitches out.
"What in Hyne's name are you doing Irvine?" he asks weakly but I'm too far gone with the scent of his blood hanging in the air. He inhales sharply as I lap softly at the wound, preparing him gently for what is to come.
With long, smooth strokes of my tongue, I lavish the bleeding wound until the healing process in my saliva starts to work and the wound begins to slow in time with Squall's moans. As the final piece of skin joins itself together, I draw back and lick the tiny traces of blood from my lips.
"Delicious…" I purr and he stares at me in horror.
"Why would you do something like that?" he demands and I smile. Pinning him down on his shoulder with my arm, I lean close and whisper in his ear, "Because precious one, you intrigue me. And such sweet blood. You are truly beautiful…"
With wide eyes, he writhes underneath me.
"What are you?" he asks and I smile softly.
"Sleep easy Squall…" I whisper and he opens his mouth to demand an answer but the exhaustion of the day catches up and he falls asleep. I toss the stitches and the bloodied gauze into the bin and pick up my phone that I thought to bring this time. Dialing Laguna, he picks up on the second ring.
"Loire speaking."
"Laguna, it's Irvine. I'm coming back early so would you like to come and take over?"
"Why can't you stay?"
"I've got a promise to keep with him. He wants me to eat. And Quistis did say she'd leave something out on the table for me. I'm also tired so if you could be so kind…"
"On my way," he finishes and the line goes dead. Putting it into my jacket pocket, I sit and watch him sleep. I'm sorry Squall. I should never have interfered in your life. I wait for half an hour until Laguna arrives and we switch Squall watching shifts. Free from my duty, I head back on foot to the house with only a small stop to feed from three fat rabbits. Quistis hugs me when I come in and thrusts the dinner under my nose.
"Eat!" she commands and with no obvious escape route, I agree and sit down. I have no need for human food but eating doesn't do any harm either. So with some hesitancy, I resign myself to the task and eat what Quistis has made for me. Not bad for a meal. But blood is what keeps me alive. This kind of food won't help me. Once I'm finished, she whisks off with my dishes and puts them in the kitchen. Returning, she sits down and stares at me like she's trying to form some kind of analysis of me by squinting.
"How is Squall?" she finally asks.
"He's good. Sleeping now. I traded places with Laguna. But Squall may know something about me that I don't want him to know about. I can't tell you what. So
Quistis, I'm going to leave tonight and never look back. I think that I've done enough damage to him for now. Tell him… tell him that if he ever wants to find me, my phone will always be on. I promise to pick up. I don't ask that you understand. I just ask that you respect my wishes. I'm sorry…" I close and I get up from her and head to our room. Packing my stuff, I pick up my bags and after leaving a note with Quistis to give to Squall, I give her a hug goodbye and I walk out of the door. I'll go to the station and get the first train to the Galbadian countryside and find myself a nice rock to crawl under. Actually, I think I'll go to Dollet. The sea will be a welcome change from everything and besides which, he won't think to look for me there.
I walk the whole distance to the train station and manage to get the first train off to Dollet. Looking out the window, I think of Squall and sigh. Squall… a tear rolls down my cheek. I'm so sorry to do this to you… I'm sorry…
I jump when there's a knock on my compartment door and a head pops in. "Mind if we join you?" she asks and I nod.
"Sure."
She comes in and I nearly scream when I notice who walks behind the long brown haired girl. The demon of all evil and all that is evil!
"SELPHIE!" I yell and she tackles me.
"Good ta see ya Irvy!" she chirps happily. Help! The brown haired woman drags her off me and plumps her on the seat nearest to the window.
"I'm Rinoa" she greets and I shake her hand.
"Irvine" I reply and she screws up her nose in thought.
"Oh!" she exclaims. "I remember Squall talking about you. But why aren't you with him?"
"I did something that revealed a part of me that I didn't want him to know about. So I'm leaving before he gets hurt."
"Hmmm, sounds like you're running away."
"I guess I sort of am…"
Selphie thinks for a second before squealing, "You're a hermaphrodite aren't ya?"
Rinoa whacks her on the head and I growl. "I. Am. Not. A. Hermaphrodite!"
She apologizes quickly and the topic turned to other matters. I saw them off the train at the second stop from Balamb and then I waited aboard the train until it pulled into Dollet. Getting out with my luggage, I headed into the town and over to the inn and got a room for the night. Once I was comfortable in my suitcase, I zipped it shut and waited for morning to disappear so I could awaken at dusk and hunt.
Squall's POV
My body hurts. What hurts worst is my heart. Why did he just leave like that? And what is he? The memory of him sealing up my wound with his tongue flashes through my mind and I groan. Maybe he has some kind of genetic dysfunction that means he can do that. Or maybe it's a spell of some sort. I don't know. I just want him back…
The note that Quistis brought me that he left with her for me…did he run away to protect me? Or to save himself from his own feelings? I pick it up again and reread the lines painted onto the paper delicately in black ink.
Dear Squall,
My heart feels heavy with something Not grief, no Maybe sorrow Or even regret
To let it go, to keep going A wish But you can't hear me I'm not here I'm going away to protect you I've hurt you enough already
It's cold And I miss your smile I don't even have the desire to move And I'll probably just sleep the time away Praying that you are happy
I want to see you again Squall
Want you to tell me 'whatever'
While you entwine your gentle fingers in my hair
And whisper your love in my ear
I want to feel your pride and joy Your sadness, your grief I want to embrace all of you And be near you
So all I can do is stand here and fall away
Leaving you behind. Running away.
Tearing hope to shattered memories
Taking the train away from here.
To shadows with arms waiting
We may never see each other again.
Take care of yourself and everyone.
I'm sorry I'm gone.
How I wish to see you now…
Console me with sweet words and kisses
I can't come back now
I won't hurt you…
All that's left is the memories
Of your whispers and your smiles
As you whispered that you loved me when
You were brought back from the surgery
I won't be coming home. I can't have one without you.
I'm sorry…
Ever yours,
Irvine
Oh Irvine… I crush the paper against my chest and cry. I want you back. I want to hear you voice… Don't leave me like everyone does in the end…
I swear that I'll get out of here and come for you…
Authoress' notes: I was crying when I wrote that last bit. The poem is a modification of one I wrote originally. I'm thinking that Squall should go after him once he's out of hospital but I'm still working on what I want to happen with this. I'll try to get the next chapter up tomorrow or tonight if I can. But once this Saturday hits, I'm off for two weeks for my holidays and etiquette lessons. I'll try to write and when I can I'll put stuff up but my updates may be far apart in the next two weeks. Sorry!