Disclaimer: Nope, I still down own any of the following... Final Fantasy (only some of the games and my muses, who are happily rampaging in my mind... same as ever), Magic - The Gathering (only owing my ideas for creative application)
...It's time for the next chapter it seems. I decided to put online a chapter every month or every second month for now. Now.... what can I add before you start reading? A review would be nice *smiles* The traffic option of is all nice, but hearing what you think about this story so far ( yeah - I know, not much action and stuff...) would be even better! Alas - enjoy!
SeeDs, Guardians and... Love
The morning after…
Dreams, turning into nightmares – just like almost every other night. Not always nightmares, but I hardly ever had a decent night's sleep without dreams and slowly but surely that's starting to bother me… In this state I'm also not getting much sleep, but by now I'm relatively used to the lack of it.
The nightmares wake me up – if I'm lucky that is… otherwise I'm caught in the dreamscape with no way out. And after waking up I rarely can get back to sleep immediately and if it's already early in the morning I don't bother anymore, because it's easier to simply get up and try to forget. Sleep doesn't hold a promise of rest for me – it's a guarantee for nightmares and little rest. Sometimes… when it gets real bad I suffer from sleep deprivation.
It's just that I keep on getting weird and mostly incoherent dreams about all kinds of things and I'm incapable of doing something against them. And I did try. Though… I prefer these dreams to my hardcore-nightmares… Everything's better than them.
In Vinoria sunset is much later than in Balamb and therefore it was still relatively dark, with only the moon to give some light. I woke up early in the morning and looked around in the dark room somewhat confused. That's not my dorm room! Instincts kicked in and I quickly glanced around in the unfamiliar room and taking everything in, ready to attack everything moving, without even being fully awake.
Then, slowly, I remembered yesterday's events and my mind finally decided to get a move on and kick in. It's a wonder that I hadn't woken up Seifer with all the shifting I'd done during the night. Or had he and I just haven't realized it? While asleep, Seifer looked surprisingly calm and innocent and I wondered if he was dreaming.
The scar on his forehead was clearly visible in the glow I was unconsciously radiating. The Mako-glow – it was surrounding me completely like some really weird kind of halo – was lighting up the room additionally and so I could see. Sometimes, like now, I despised my heritage, because this glow could tell anyone possessing the necessary knowledge, exactly who – or what – I am. I could only hope that Seifer was not going to wake up now, or else I would have to do a lot of explaining and most likely get into quite some trouble.
Since I'd woken up at the same time as usual – when I'm not woken up by a nightmare – I was sure that Seifer would be waking up soon, too. There was no reason to stay in bed any longer and I wanted to stretch a bit, in order to wake up fully – which I did.
We had quite a few plans for today and I needed to choose the 'right' clothes – nothing too unusual, meaning nothing that would attract too much attention or give our secret away… Finally I decided to wear a combination I liked, found comfortable and that would keep me warm. At least in the beginning it had been my intention to wear something unobtrusive, but then I suddenly changed my mind. To hell with it! I don't feel like wearing something like that! More like something in black…
I was almost finished when Seifer woke up and started getting dressed too. Unlike me, he had chosen jeans and some T-shirts – a long-sleeved with a short-sleeved over it. I, on the other hand, was dressed in black leather pants, a light grey tank top with an inscription on the front, but I wasn't wearing my black coat – yet…
I rummaged again through my bag, till I had found the other item I'd been looking for, just when my partner came back from the bathroom and groaned unnerved.
"Don't tell me that you're going to put on make-up!"
A glare. Who do you think I am? Me… and make-up? I've got other problems… "I hadn't planned on it…" I turned around and lifted one eyebrow, "…But you need some too…", he looked shocked – probably because of my suggestion. Seifer embarrassed… I never knew that this was actually possible! Heh – that's kinda fun!
"…aaw, c'mon! I was just joking! No need to get a heart failure… But seriously: Your scar's a bit too eye-catching. Same goes for my tattoos, hence I'm going to cover them." I hadn't been able to restrain myself from teasing him a bit and today I was in a rather playful mood.
After having said my share of words, I walked over to the mirror and started covering the tattoo beside my right eye. It took quite some time before I couldn't make it out anymore and I could start covering the two on my upper arms when I noticed Seifer, who had finished quite some time ago, looking curiously at me. By now I had finally finished my task and turned around, hoping that this would help the make-up dry a bit faster so that I could finally put on my coat.
"I didn't know that you had that many tattoos… What's it with you and crazy stuff like tattoos or that belt and leather fascination of yours? You're as bad as Squall – the only difference is that he hasn't got any tattoos…" Seifer curiously noted.
"And what's it with you and 'blades? Besides – I like 'em and I don't see a problem with that…"
"Hyne on a pyre! Ya running a fever? The Ice Queen is actually talking! And even in long sentences! I gotta have to mark this day red in my calendar!"
"Ah… Shut up! If I remember correctly, it was you who said yesterday that we had better get along… So I might as well start now…" I said.
"Still… I mean, it's not like I'm complaining, but… I think I could get used to it."
"Better not."
"You're no fun!" he complained and added, "You're way too serious. There's a good reason why you got the title of the Ice Queen and not someone else… And you know that."
I merely raised an eyebrow – something I seemed to do very often in the last 24 hours… "The title 'Ice Queen' actually belongs to Shiva, remember?"
"Yeah, but you…"
I interrupted his protests, since I didn't want to discuss that topic right now, but I wanted to know something.
"Other question: Ever since we arrived, you called Ice Queen more often than usual. Why?"
He shrugged. "Seemed somehow fitting… You're an enigma – you know that, don't'cha?"
Uh…Whatever…
Our bantering continued for a while, since I knew from experience that there was no use in telling Seifer to shut up or to get lost. He's too stubborn for his own good… Since it was useless I didn't bother to waste any time and words on it. Besides it was something I occasionally enjoyed, but it was a side of me that I'd never really shown to anyone in Garden.
One thing that he'd said during our exchange of words was true… By now I'd talked more to him in one day than to others in a week. But… I'd always responded to him – like Squall…
He mostly makes me furious or tries to drive me mad with all his teasing, but he always reaches his goal: He gets me to talk…
Yet… I remember a few times when he was really kind and caring and even more important: More serious than on most occasions. These were the times when we'd talked. Really talked – about all kinds of stuff and not just bantering or throwing insults at each other.
I really wonder why he's such a bastard sometimes… Okay… I'm better off not saying too much. That would probably make me a hypocrite… I ain't got no wish to get teased by him forever… but then again: Who knows what time's involving? Seifer knows that I talk to him – occasionally… But it seems that he's forgotten that? Or is he just hiding it? Why…?
"You're definitely thinking too much, kiddo."
I know that myself… No need to tell me… "Ready to go?"
"You two really could be twins…"
Huh? That came surprising… And… What the hell's he talking 'bout?
Seifer's special talent came in handy again, when he answered without me having to say anything.
"Squall and you. There are so many similarities… Are you sure that you're not related?"
Not that I know of… we aren't twins! I told him that much already – Has he forgotten everything? No – can't be… Many things, but not everything… But, now that he's said that again… Squall reminds me of someone…
"C'mon – don't stop talking now! You were doing so well!"
Err… yes… As soon as I know what you're talking about…
"You know what? Ya should move here!"
You crazy? Why should I? It's way too cold here!
"Because ever since we arrived here, you've been changing – for the better. Now do me a favour and don't cancel all of your progress…"
Whatever…
I took my coat, put it on and opened the door, "You coming?"
In the elevator he started another conversation… With a surprising topic and also suprising consideration… "D'ya mind if I ask what the symbols on that shirt of yours mean?"
I had forgotten that the inscription was written in the Tolarian language and in Tolarian symbols. Of course Seifer couldn't read them! To him they were probably just some symbols… I had gotten this shirt as a birthday present from my older brother…
"It pretty much translates into: 'Per definition madness ends either in clarity… or in death.'"
"Nice quote… Where's it from?"
I shrugged. Of course I knew, but I couldn't possibly tell him that…
Liked it? Hated it? Found mistakes, strangeness or other stuff that's not making sense that I haven't found (or that makes perfectly sense to me)? Let me know what you thought of it ^^
*points at the shiny green review button* Come on - you know you just want to press it! *grins*
Authors notes: Again a lot of talking happened here... Seifer is difficult for me to write (mind you - my muses seem to be somewhat OOC, but seeing as this is AU *grins and looks innocently* creative liberty!) as all I had for writing were other fics (the game I played was the german version... I need to start playing the english one now that I finally got a hold on one*huggles it* Writing him speaking... was... rather interesting) And now the first larger bits and pieces of Magic - The Gathering appeared. Could you tell which ones? *snickers* Not that I wasn't obvious *gets clobbered by muses*