Chapter Text
Cid paced the living room of his erstwhile benefactor thinking hard on the offer he had received. “Let me get this straight: You want me to start a war with Esthar, against five of the people that destroyed the last threat to our lives, so that you can get President Laguna out of office? And just how do you suppose I do that? Wave a magic wand and make them all come down with the flu or something?”
Browning sat there and watched the man as he continued to pace, thinking that he was completely disposable when the time came. “Yes Kramer, that is exactly what I want you to do.” His tone was sarcastic, but Cid could tell he meant for him to perform a miracle. “You won’t have to put yourself on the front lines, just throw some of your more worthless underlings at them until the weapon is ready.”
“What weapon?” Cid stopped in his tracks and sat in the over stuffed arm chair he had vacated earlier. “Don’t tell me you have something squirreled away for a rainy day?”
“It’s something that Odine is developing for me. The little pansy assed sprite wants Loire out of office almost as bad as I do.” Browning had no intention of telling Cid what the weapon truly was, he didn’t want it traced back to him in any way. He just had to make sure that he and a few hand picked members of Parliament were out of the country when it went off.
“You’ll have to fill me in later. I have to get back to my Garden before the halls have been emptied, and before Loire comes through on his threat to have me clapped in irons.” Cid stood and made to go, stopping when Browning spoke again.
“I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. I have some ‘students’ all lined up for you. Call them ringers if you want.” The white haired man smiled at Cid. “They should be arriving by the droves in less than 24 hours.”
“Ringers?” Cid was at a loss, just what the hell was this peacock from Parliament talking about.
“I have contacts in Galbadia. They are sending you two squadrons of their best troops. They want a part of Esthar, always have.” Cid snorted but nodded his head in understanding. “About your other little worry–” Cid scoffed loudly at the thought that his freedom was ‘little’. “I can keep the proceedings mired down enough to give you the time you need.”
“As long as they know who’s in charge, I don’t care what you do or how you do it.” The generously proportioned man walked out of the door and looked around, searching for anyone that may want to stop him. He climbed onto the motorcycle Browning had so generously given him and sped off towards the train station. If he timed it right he could ride the tracks back to Fisherman’s Horizon and then take the train back to Balamb.
~o~O~§~O~o~
“Do you see what I see?” Selphie asked Quistis as they watched the view screen. Cid stepped out of the mansion and quickly climbed aboard a waiting cycle. Selphie turned to the satellite control officer. “Whose residence is that?”
“Browning’s.” The man said it in such a way that they all knew the man wasn’t worth much. “He’s a member of Parliament and only holds onto his position because of the dirt he has on the rest of them.” The man leaned over Quistis’ shoulder and typed in a few commands. “That’s him.” A picture appeared on a smaller monitor, both women recognizing the man who sat next to Cid at the celebration.
“I want a copy of this feed sent to Commander Leonhart and President Loire by 0800 hours.” She rose to go, pulling Selphie up with her. “We have to get ready for the student’s arrival. Something tells me we will be having quite a few field exams in the near future.”
~o~O~§~O~o~
The morning broke sunny and bright if not a bit on the chilly side. Seifer stood out on the balcony and sipped his third cup of coffee, waiting for at least 0600 to wake Squall. He felt the Commander needed some rest after last night, and he really didn’t trust himself not to take advantage of the sleeping brunette.
Seifer smiled as he remembered just how cute Squall had looked curled up on his side, a smile on his lips as he dreamed whatever it was he was dreaming. Seifer had a suspicion it had something to do with Cid and some kind of torture device.
He wished his own dreams had been as sweet. Ultimecia wasn’t as prevalent as before, but she still snuck into his mind while he slept, and no amount of yelling at her could get her to leave. Seifer was getting to the point that he thought a good long session with a Psychiatrist might be in order.
“Brooding is my pastime.” Squall said as he padded out onto the balcony to join Seifer, his feet bare and his hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee. “Care to share?” He came to rest next to Seifer, copying his stance as he leaned his forearms on the railing, their shoulders touching.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.” Seifer didn’t want to add more weight to Squall’s already over burdened shoulders if he could help it, and he already knew his lover worried about him more than he should.
“That’s not going to cut it, Almasy.” Squall turned and sat on one of the chairs. “I heard your nightmare last night – it was worse than the others, and you almost kicked me out of the bed onto the damn lion. I think it’s time you told me about them. I know you have them almost every night.”
Seifer knew that tone, and he knew he wasn’t going to get out of this one without an explanation or a gunblade in the gut. He sat in the chair next to Squall’s and watched the snowflakes fall for a moment, trying to come up with enough information to still the man’s concern without giving too much away.
“I want all of it, Seifer. There’s no hiding it from me and you know it.” Squall purposefully kept his hands to himself. He didn’t want this to turn into an early morning love session, he wanted answers. “Tell me, or I swear to Hyne I’ll call in Ellone to get to the bottom of this.”
“That’s dirty pool, Leonhart,” Seifer said as he scooted back on the chair and propped his sock-covered feet on the table to get them off of the cold floor.
“Hey, all’s fair in love and war right?” Squall took another sip, giving Seifer just a little more time. He knew he wouldn’t lie to him, that wasn’t the issue. The issue was the amount of information he was apt to receive.
Seifer settled on telling him all of it, if the man in his life wanted to be let into his own personal hell so be it. “Ultimecia’s just trying more of her tricks. Before you came along I was able to drown most of it out with booze, but now that I’m not drinking, it’s getting stronger.” Seifer swirled the contents of his cup, watching the cream mix more thoroughly with the black liquid. “She’s been telling me that you’re using me to get what you want, and that failing the exam was what I deserved. That it all just proved what she had always told me.”
“And do you believe her?” Squall asked, keeping his voice even and low even though his insides were currently residing in his feet.
“Not really. Parts of it make sense, but most of it just makes my skin crawl.” Seifer sounded lost, but he also sounded like he was trying to find his way back.
“What part makes sense?” Squall was in his counselor mode, asking questions but not giving any input until he had the whole story.
“The part about Cid. She keeps telling me that he’ll try and use me again, that I need to let her out so she can deal with it and we can be together again.” Seifer felt like hiding as he laid bare what little of his soul he had reclaimed. It was the thing he was most ashamed of, his past relationship with the Sorceress, how he had allowed her to claim his mind and body so easily. In truth it had taken quite a few magic fueled beatings before he had been weak enough for her to take control, but his shame didn’t allow him to remember that and he tended not to look at the scars to remember.
“Do you want to let her out?” Squall had unconsciously leaned forward, his eyes searching Seifer for any signs of a new possession and not finding any.
“Shit no! That bitch can rot in hell for all I care. I just want her ghost to leave me alone,” he sighed dejectedly. “What I really want is a good night’s sleep.”
“Then we’ll fight her together.” Squall rose and pushed Seifer’s feet to the floor so he could sit on his lap, placing his cup on the table and winding his arms around Seifer’s neck. “We’ll talk to Ellone about it, I think it will help.”
“I don’t want everyone to know about this Squall. They’re just beginning to trust me again.” Seifer pulled the smaller man to him and buried his head in his spicy scented hair, breathing deeply as he tried to clear his head.
“I wasn’t talking about everyone, Seifer, but I think we can trust Ellone to keep this under her hat. Our only other choice is Odine and I won’t let that bastard touch you.” Squall ran his hand up and down Seifer’s back in a calming way he knew usually helped when the blond was uptight.
“Hey! Are you guys decent?” Opal called from the living room, a muffled voice saying something behind her that sounded like Zell. “They won’t mind you chicken! Hey guys, you up?”
Seifer groaned as he held Squall tighter to him. “Just ignore them and maybe they will go away.”
“Not likely. You’re going to catch a cold if you stay out there. Body heat only helps so much, but I have to admit you make a really cute picture. Get in here.” Opal was standing at the door, smiling brightly at the picture she saw before her.
Squall sent her a cold look that made her laugh before turning around and retreating into the living room. “Zell stop hiding! They won’t skin you for being here.”
“That’s what you think! I know them better than you do. Do you have any idea what a gunblade can do to you? How in the hell did I let you talk me into this?” Zell called from somewhere in the apartment.
“I drug you out of bed and threatened to cut your hair, that‘s how I talked you into it, you big wuss!” Opal’s reply was just as loud as Zell’s and not for the first time Squall thanked Hyne that the walls were thick in the Presidential Palace.
Squall chuckled in Seifer’s arms. “Do you have Hyperion with you?” Seifer shook his head. “I don’t have Lionheart out here either, damn the luck.” He stood and looked down at Seifer with an evil grin. “Do you think we can bluff it, or should we go get them?”
“It might scare the shit out of Dincht but Opal will probably challenge you to a duel. Get used to it Squall, she’s here to stay.” Seifer chuckled a little as he stood and walked into the room behind Squall’s straight back. Opal was in for a little squallilization and he couldn’t wait.
“It’s about time you two, it’s freezing in here.” Opal had helped herself to a cup of coffee, and she was trying to get Zell out from the hall closet. “Come on Zell, get out here.” Opal reached in and grabbed Zell by the ever present crest on top of his head, pulling him out of the closet by his hair.
“Ow! Knock it off Opal!” Zell slapped her hand lightly, conscious of how much force he put behind the blow more in an effort to keep his hair attached to his head than not to hurt her.
“Then get your ass over here.” Opal let loose of his hair and flopped on the couch, looking expectantly at the other two men in the room. “So,” She propped her feet on the coffee table in a very Seifer like manner. “What are we up to today? By that question I mean, when are we going to the new Garden?”
Squall graced her with a glare that should have frozen her panties to her ass. “I think we need to talk about how you should address your Commanding officer. Hey guys just doesn’t do it.” He thought about adding young lady to the end of the comment but decided that was going a bit far.
“Oh come on! I’ll give you the respect you deserve when we’re around others. I figure I have a little license here, you are dating my big brother over there.” She winked up at him. “By the way, I thought you should know that I approve.”
“Oh you’re a peach,” Squall muttered as he stopped his hand before it got to his scar for a good rub. “Until you know how someone will take your Seifer like ways, you might want to act a bit more like a cadet and less like a spoiled brat.”
Seifer snickered slightly, shoving his fist in his mouth to stop the laughter when Squall sent him an icy glance. “I see no reason why Zell can’t accompany you to the Garden as soon as you’re packed. The sooner the better.”
“Awe, I was hoping I could ride out there with you. Laguna invited me to come along in the Presidential Buggy, and I’ve been wanting to ride that thing. Have you seen it? It looks like it could run over anything.” Her hands were resting behind her head and she was lounging in a very familiar way. Squall had the suspicion that if he turned around Seifer might be in the same position.
“That’s President Loire to you.” Squall stalked into the kitchen trying hard to control his reaction to the girl. She was affecting him like Seifer used to, and it annoyed the hell out of him. He thought he should be used to it by now, people getting under his skin was nothing new, and he had thought he was able to keep it from bothering him. Now he knew better, he had just gotten so used to it from the others it was business as usual.
“I’m sorry if I upset you, Commander Leonhart.” Opal came up behind him and stood at the counter, one slim hip resting against it. “You’re right; I should have let you get used to me before I turned on the charm. I guess this means I can’t pull any pranks on you.”
“Not if you want to live,” Squall said his back still turned to her. He took a couple of deep breaths before turning to her; he had to fight a smile as he took in her stance. “You two really are two peas in a pod, you know that?”
“So they keep telling me.” She extended a hand to him. “Truce?”
Squall took the hand hesitantly. “For now. Go get packed and leave Zell alone. One Almasy hounding his steps is enough; he doesn’t need you teasing him too.”
“You know he enjoys it right? I left him alone for a whole day and he came to find me, asking me if he had done something that made me mad. He can handle it, and if you don’t believe me, ask him.” She gave him another wink and went back into the living room. “Come on Zell, let’s go find Selphie and see what kind of trouble we can get into.”
“Cool, maybe we can get some breakfast too.” Zell placed his arm around Opal’s shoulder and they walked out of the apartment completely happy in their friendship, twisted as it was.
Squall watched them go and turned a disbelieving gaze to Seifer. “Can you believe those two?” He gestured at the closed door. “It’s like they’re feeding off of each other. I don’t understand.”
Seifer finally let the laughter out he had been holding in since Squall had tried to turn him into an ice statue. “It should look familiar to you. Remember when we were younger? That’s how we used to act. We’d be at each other’s throats one minute and then playing in the sand the next.” Seifer’s laughter stilled. “If I didn’t know he was completely tied to Selphie I’d probably rip his balls off and feed them to him deep fried.”
“Why?” Squall was busy placing all of the various things that were his in a pile on the couch so he could pack them.
“Look at how we ended up. Can you imagine little chickies running around with his looks and her mouth? The world would never be the same. I’m just glad we can’t have any little Squall/Seifer mixes… No one would be safe.” Squall stilled in his task, confusion marking his features as he turned.
“That’s not going to happen is it? I mean, you don’t honestly think those two would hook up do you?” Squall was being a bit protective in spite of himself. He didn’t know Opal all that well, but in his mind he was already counting her with the others as part of his family. Besides, Seifer was already acting like an over protective brother, what’s one more to make her life miserable? He had smile at the thought; this might be fun after all. He had never had someone he could stop from having the time of their lives just because he wanted too.
“They had better not.” Seifer looked at the door like he was about to go make damn sure it wouldn’t happen. Sometimes when he was joking it put little ideas in his head that festered until they burst forth, usually with extremely dangerous results.
“Forget about it,” Squall said as he went back to going through the desk. “Selphie would probably kill anyone who tried to take Zell away from her. Speaking of couples, did you get a load of Irvine and Raijin?”
“What?!” Seifer threw the pair of combat boots he was about to put on into the chair. “Irvine and Raijin? You’ve got to be kidding me!” The thought of Raijin being gay never crossed his mind, but it did explain a lot. He always wondered why Fujin and the overly golden man never got together for more than sparing.
“Nope, Fujin pointed it out to Quistis, and I have to agree with her. I’m just wondering how long it will take before they come out with it.” Squall glared at the pile on the couch. “Why is it every time I come to this place I end up with more junk to haul around?”
“Your Father tends to sneak things in. I caught him at it yesterday. Those new leathers in your closet are from him. I can’t believe you didn’t notice them, they’re bright purple.” Seifer laughed at the face Squall pulled as he walked into the bedroom.
“Good Hyne! He doesn’t really expect me to wear these does he?” Squall came back in with the pants held over his front and an expression of pure revulsion on his face. “They’re hideous, and they would make me stand out like a sore thumb.”
“Oh I don’t know, at least I would be able to find you in a crowd.” The pants hit Seifer in the face, Squall going back into the bedroom before they fell to the ground.
“If you like them so much you wear them. They’re your size anyway.” Seifer looked at the tag and groaned. Squall was right, they were his size. So this was why the man had asked him what his favorite color was.
“Let’s just leave them under the kitchen sink and finish getting packed.” Seifer placed them under the sink and returned to pack everything he had left out. Hopefully they wouldn’t be found until several people had stayed in the room, and Laguna had forgotten he was the one who had bought the eye sore.