Cloud's POV:
Squall looked happier than I'd seen him since we were both thirteen. He seemed to regain something he'd lost long ago, standing there in Garden with the four of us. It was obvious to me that he was still quite cautious and wary but he was opening up to Seifer and Quistis which was more than he'd done for anyone else. Before I realised, I found myself thinking of Squall's childhood.
He'd had a rough time that was for sure. I knew about Squall's inner demons and his past better than most. Part of the reason why he would never give most people a chance was because last time he'd done so, he was hurt. Aunt Raine had met a man named Alex when Squall and I were twelve. She started dating him and Squall was quite fond of him. Actually just about everyone in the family was.
Just after my thirteenth birthday, Aunt Raine was diagnosed with cancer and was hospitalised. Alex looked after Squall for that time. My mother and father took me to see Squall one day, they were intending on visiting the hospital so they left me to Alex's care.
I don't remember what happened too well after my mom and dad left though I could remember that Alex getting drunker and drunker, he got angry and eventually picked me up and threw me into a wall. I was knocked out. I heard later that he'd raped Squall after beating him and then commit suicide in the bathroom.
My parents were completely hysterical when they returned to collect me and found both Squall and I unconscious (Squall with obvious signs of being raped) and Alex's body slumped in a heap against the bathroom wall. That was a hard time for Squall and Aunt Raine. Squall lost a lot then…
He would only ever fully open up to Selphie and I after that. He still spoke to Lenne and Yuna but he would never give other people a chance, choosing instead to shut them out by erecting so many emotional barriers that they were uncountable. He lived with me for the remainder of Aunt Raine's stay at the hospital. She was eventually allowed to go home as she was in remission and Squall returned home.
Soon after, the new school year started and we entered eighth grade, we met Rinoa for the first time. She made that year a living nightmare for Squall whose main ambition now was to be invisible so that nobody could hurt and abuse him as Alex had. Rin however wouldn't have that. Our first day she was blatantly obvious with her flirting. A blind person would have been able to see how obvious she was then and when Squall did nothing but rebuke her attempts, she began to spread rumours that he was gay.
Petty I know but Rin was a lowlife bitch who had honestly thought "it was a laugh". Sure, another human's misery is a cause for amusement? Very well then, the second you're miserable, I'll make sure to laugh at you and see how amusing it is. What more could I say except she desperately needed a taste of her own medicine.
There were lots of other mitigating factors of course, but to have someone he thought cared for him hurt him so badly and then for someone he never knew to hurt him as well for no reason? I guess that would make anyone mistrusting of people he didn't know for a long time. To see him opening up to Seifer with seeming ease as he was, well I was most happy.
Squall, I thought to myself, I've only ever wished for your happiness and I am glad that you finally have someone who seems wiling to give it.
Squall's POV:
It was now three weeks into the school year. Seifer and Quistis had attached themselves to our group indefinitely. Not that I minded anymore and as for progress on mine and Seifer's relationship… well we knew we liked each other but I was hesitant to go any further than that. It had taken people years to earn my trust and I couldn't just give it to Seifer immediately no matter how much I liked him.
Still, he seemed content with that, not pushing me any farther than I could handle. He was almost exceedingly patient with me. Cloud kept smiling every time he saw the two of us together though he'd never explain why. I think I had a fair idea why… I assumed that I looked like some love sick puppy and Seifer I knew was not much better. This year had so far been ok. Nobody had done anything to me yet, though that didn't alleviate my fears.
Knowing Wakka or Kefka, they wouldn't just leave me alone now that I had a couple more friends. I knew I wasn't that fortunate. Last time I had P.E. I noticed Wakka abuse Seifer for "bullshitting Brudda" I smiled to myself remembering that Seifer had defended me a couple of times now in P.E. from Wakka's idiocy.
Today however, before class had started, I chose to hang back in the locker room for a while longer than necessary. I saw Seifer wait for me and when I was sure that we were the only ones left, I gestured for him to come over. "What's up?" he asked, sounding slightly concerned. I don't think anything would have prepared him for what I did next.
I smiled and (surprised by my own daring) hugged him and pressed a kiss lightly against his lips, the butterflies in my stomach were beginning to make me giddy so I broke away from him once more, whispered "Thanks for everything" and walked out, leaving Seifer standing there. I noticed that he had placed a hand gently on his lips as if checking that it had really happened.
When did I become so daring? Considering I'd wanted to do that to Cloud for 4 years and never done it. I'd wanted to do it to Seifer for a week and I had. I guess that it was because I was really in love this time.
Seifer's POV:
Oh gods. That was quite a shock but gods damned was it good! His hair smelt like spring blossoms and his lips against mine… all I can say is WOW! I found myself touching my lips but the feeling was no where near as stimulating as his lips. "Are you coming or not?" he called out from the door. "Uh… Yeah" I replied, noticing that for the first time in my life, I was speechless after someone had kissed me.
I followed him out the door, not noticing that I had just walked straight past the teacher. "Ahem… Mr Almasy, class is over here" I heard Mr Loire say, his annoyance was quite obvious. "Sorry – Guess I spaced out" great. Wakka and his friends were laughing and whispering to each other and Rinoa and her friends were giggling derisively.
Laugh it up you bitch I thought to myself. Don't forget, it's been three weeks and you're still trying to get me to notice you since you're still acting like a damned whore. I laughed aloud then and shot her a rather venomous look. She walked over to Wakka and hugged him, planting small kisses along his jaw and cheek.
Trying to make me jealous won't work honey, least of all for you. I've had better than you and what I want now is better than you'll ever be so you may as well give it up I thought and I guess she got the picture since she stopped kissing Wakka and stormed off, moving as far away from me as possible.
Selphie giggled "what's up with Rin? She looks like someone's just slapped her" "Who cares?" came Squall's reply. "She looked like she was flirting with me so I ignored her" I said, Selphie giggling harder than ever. "That'll explain it. She hates it when she doesn't get what she wants – besides, I heard her talking in the locker this morning, she was going to try and 'work her magic' on you. I laughed so hard when I heard that"
Gotta give it to Selphie, she was cute and had a lot of guts to laugh at Rinoa. "Don't worry. I wouldn't touch that if you paid me" it was true. I turned to Squall and whispered "Hey, about before… I guess I wanted to say that… that was amazing and that I love you" he smiled at that and Selphie punched the air triumphantly.
Man I seemed to have made good friends here. I guess I really am changing.
Cloud's POV:
The day had flown past. I was walking home with Squall today since he was going to stay at my house the night. "And then I kissed him" he trailed off shyly. I smiled when he told me, of course, Selphie had already told me but I had to get the word from the horse's mouth so they say.
"He actually told me he liked it" he continued, he was almost glowing with pride and I was also beaming. Everything was good and we were just outside my house when Wakka drove past. "'Sup Fag! You better watch your back ya!" he called to Squall. Alright, so I was annoyed and I thought that I was actually picking a fight when I called out "Don't you wish he were a fag Wakka then you'd possibly stand a chance."
The tyres of Wakka's car screeched as he reversed back. "What'd you say brudda?" he asked. I smiled and repeated what I'd said laughing at the scowl on his face. "You itchin' for a fight Cloud?" he asked me. "Nah, I don't like fighting people weaker than me. Come back when you've got four of your mates like you usually do and we'll talk about it then" I smiled inwardly.
Sure, picking a fight with Wakka wasn't exactly the cleverest idea I ever had and I was certain that it was bound to make him retaliate against Squall rather than myself but considering that Squall had both me and Seifer watching his back at any given time at school as well as the baseball team and the Turks watching out for us all from afar, I'd say it was unlikely that Wakka would be able to do anything anytime soon.
He looked like he was about to say something but I turned my back on him and Squall and I walked up the path to my house. Wakka was stupid and a coward. He wouldn't do anything until he was with his mates. Let them try I thought then. The school has been looking for an excuse to expel him anyway.
That evening was good. Squall had actually asked if the others would be coming over. I offered to give them a call to see if they were interested. I called all of them in turn, Selphie was busy; Lenne and Yuna had a music recital for their grandparents, which only left Seifer and Quistis. They said they'd love to come around and that they'd be here within half an hour.
Squall's face lit up. I really was happy that someone could make him smile like that. I seriously doubted whether Seifer really would be half an hour and sure enough, within fifteen minutes, the doorbell rang. Squall did his best to repress the look of happiness on his face and I laughed at the effort he seemed to be making.
I went to answer the door and was not surprised to see the two blondes. Seifer smiled as I moved to let him in and Quistis gave me a brief hug before following the (now familiar) way to my lounge room. I closed the door behind them and followed after.
When I saw Squall, he had been successful in putting on his best poker face and one would be hard pressed to find any signs of his and Seifer's relationship. I was glad that if it came to it, he'd be able to hide it from others who would not be as understanding. I regaled our earlier encounter with Wakka to Quissy and Seifer.
As expected, Seifer scowled as I finished. "I got his back, you know that!" he announced and Squall's poker face dissolved immediately. Seifer walked over to him and placed his hands on Squall's shoulders bracingly. "I know you do. I got it as well" I smiled. I trusted Seifer Almasy; that much was certain.