Sudden Darkness

Title: Sudden darkness
Author: Yorda
Rating: NC-17
Diclaimer: Sadly none of the characters of FF8 are mine, but belong
to Squaresoft
Couples: Seifer/Squall/Seifer
Warnings: angst, lemon, mild language, mild violence, slight OOC, fluff


Sudden Darkness


Chapter 2:

Squall stood still and stared at the now empty hallway in disbelief. 'What was that all about?' Seeing Seifer act the way he just did, made Squall feel uneasy and helpless. And he didn't like it. He always had to be in control of things, and now, because of Seifer, weird feelings were messing with his head. 'Were there actually tears in his eyes?' Squall swallowed hard, a frown on his face. 'No! The Seifer I know wouldn't cry, ever!' He narrowed his eyes as he realised Seifer had once again managed to make him upset. 'Why do I even care...I can't actually feel sorry for him...He's nothing but my annoying ...friend?...No, we're not even friends!' Squall blew his messy hair from his face and started to pace around. 'Ah Leonhart, why are you even having this conversation with yourself!' he groaned and stroked his brown hair with his gloved hand. 'He's just a brash and arrogant, self-centred bully...Always insulting me and looking for a fight!' Squall's face started to redden and he was balling his fists so hard, it almost hurt. 'It's been like this as long as I can remember...Even when we were kids, he used to throw things at me and call me by names to get my attention. He could have just asked me to play with him, if he wanted my friendship. I would have given it to him...Wouldn't I?' Memories of their childhood filled his mind and suddenly his anger was gone. 'No, I wouldn't...After Sis left, I didn't even talk to the other kids. And in time, they didn't bother asking me to join their games anymore.' Squall lowered his gaze, feeling odd stinging in his eyes. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. 'I missed Sis so much. I was always sitting alone at the beach, hoping Sis would somehow return if I'd just wait long enough... And the only one who would still visit me was....was Seifer.'

~*~*~*~Flashback~*~*~*~

"Where's Squall? It's already past ten." Matron said, a worried look on her petite face. She walked to the window and watched the sun set. "And it's getting dark."

'"Dunno, haven't seen him all day." Selphie said and climbed into her bed. "Maybe he's hiding again."

"Yeah, I don't think he likes us anymore...He never wants to play with us or do anything fun." Zell added. Matron looked even more worried.

"I know where he is. I can go get him." Seifer jumped down from the bunk bed. Matron smiled at him and stroked the blonde's soft hair. The boy got dressed and ran out of the old stone house.

"Hurry back! I don't want you two out there when it's dark."

'I'm not a kid like the rest of them.' Seifer snorted. 'I'm already seven years old, I can take care of myself.' he ran down to the beach, and to the little rock he knew he'd find Squall sitting on. 'And I'll protect Squall too, 'cause that's what friends do.' he picked up a little stick from the ground. "Squall!" the little blonde boy shouted. The other boy, who was sitting on a rock, gazing at the sea, didn't turn around to look at him. Seifer climbed up on the rock and stood before Squall, slightly out of breath.

"Why are you still sitting here Squall? Matron's worried." He watched Squall with his green eyes and leaned forward. He couldn't understand why the boy was so quiet nowadays. He couldn't understand why he chose to sit on the damned rock, instead of playing with Seifer. "Hey, you hear me ok? We gotta go now Squall." There was no reaction. Squall sat still and kept looking at the calm ocean. "I know ya can hear me Squall, so get up." the blonde said and offered the younger boy his hand. Squall glared at Seifer, who was starting to get annoyed. He pulled his hand back and slashed the air with his stick. "Why are ya nowadays always ignoring me Squall!? I'm your friend, this isn't fair!" Seifer sat down on the rock. Squall immediately stood up.

"You're not my friend...I don't want you, I want Sis..." Squall whispered, his eyes as cold as the winter.

"Huh?" the blonde was confused. He blinked a few times and tried to understand why Squall would say such a thing. They were best friends.

"This is my rock Seifer, leave." the brunette said with a weak voice. Seifer was suddenly angry. He got up to his feet and moved to block Squall's view to the ocean. "No!! I won't leave! I don't see your name written on the rock Squall. And what are you looking at anyway...There's nothing there...nothing at the ocean Squall, nothing!" Squall remained silent but Seifer noted the brunette was balling his small hands into fists. "Sis won't come back, even if you sit on this stupid rock for the rest of your life! Why can't you get it in your head! She went away and won't come back Squall!" the little blonde raged with a hoarse voice.

"You're wrong!" Squall suddenly yelled, and with all his force, pushed Seifer down from the rock. The blonde grabbed Squall by his shirt and they both flew down on the damp, cold sand. "What'd ya do that for?!" the seven-year-old screamed, his face flushed with anger. He stood up, his green eyes narrowed and burning with anger. Squall didn't even get the chance to look up, when Seifer jumped onto him and they both fell down. Seifer was hitting Squall with his stick, and when it broke, he grabbed Squall by his hair. The brunette blinked his eyes, surprised, and when the pain hit him, he screamed, tears falling from his blue eyes.

"I hate you Squall! Why don't you want me to be your friend anymore!" Tears of anger and frustration ran down the blonde's twisted face. "You told me I was your best friend! Squall you told me!" He let go of the boy's hair. "You're a liar Squall! That's what you are!" After a moment of sobbing, Seifer went silent and got up. Squall lay on the ground, shocked, and watched Seifer, who was staring at him, his face now empty of emotion. Squall rubbed his hurting head, but looked up when he heard Seifer move. There was an odd look in the blonde's teary eyes. "Fine...Squall...Let's have it your way then...If you won't be my friend, I'llmake you my enemy..."

~*~*~*~End of flashback~*~*~*~

Squall blinked his eyes when he felt a tear run down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away with his gloved hand. "No wonder he acts the way he does." Squall said out loud. His brows were drawn together. 'And it's all my fault...' He sat down on the near by bench. 'When Sis was suddenly gone, I felt so lost...but he was my best friend, I shouldn't have shut him out like I did..' Squall felt a wave of quilt flush through his body. 'And now that Raijin and Fu aren't here anymore, he must have no friends at all... And he probably thinks I hate him too...But...but I don't.' Squall stared at his boots for a while, then got up. Zell's earlier words came back to him. "Squall, Seifer's blind, he can't see you know."

"I think he really needs a friend now."

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Seifer quietly closed the door and sank down on the floor, finally letting the tears fall. 'Fuck! Why did I have to break before Squall...Squall of all people! I'm sure that now the whole Garden will know The Great Seifer Almasy is nothing but a weak piece of shit!' The blonde felt his face grow hot. "Well I don't want their pity...*His* pity. I don't want *anything* from him! I hate Squall Leonhart...I know I do!" he hissed and curled into a ball. Seifer's heart however, was against his mind. 'Oh who are you kidding Almasy...might as well admit it...you feel this thing called love for the guy...Always have...And it won't go away, no matter how hard you try. You can play the bad guy as long as you like, and make him hate you, but you'll still know deep inside, how you really feel about him.' Just the mere thought that he'd never be able to see Squall's face again, made Seifer shake violently. His green eyes were flooding with unshed tears, and his perfect brows were twisted, letting the agony show on his face. It felt like an invisible pair of hands was strangling his throat, making him gasp for air. 'Oh fuck! Pull yourself together Almasy! This isn't like you!' he grit his
teeth, feeling angry. He hated himself for sinking this low. The blonde got up and slowly made his way into the small bathroom. He washed his face with icy water and looked up. As he realised that his eyes were wide open, and that he was staring into the mirror, but all he saw was darkness, a wave of sadness and self-pity washed over him. The blonde's hands balled into fists and the sadness was quickly replaced by anger. With one brash movement he hit his fist into the mirror as hard as he could. The object shattered, and the pieces were scattered in the sink below. Seifer opened his palm and thrust it into the sink. His green eyes went wide when the pain hit him and he gasped for air. Quickly he pulled his shaking hand back and leaned against the wall to support his legs.

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"Huh?" sounded like breaking glass. Did it come from Seifer's room?" Squall hurried to Seifer's door and knocked. Inside the room, Seifer moaned in pain, the sound of Squall's knocking didn't even reach his mind.

"Seifer, it's Squall. Open the door, please! Seifer!" The brunette's voice however brought Seifer back from the land of pain.

"Huh? Squall?" Another knock on the door. 'No, not now!' the blonde frowned.

"I saw you go in there Seifer, so open the door." Seifer cleared his throat and hoped his voice wouldn't fail him. "The fuck you want Leonhart?" he growled.

"I-I wanna talk to you...open the door Seifer." On the other side of the door, Seifer was feeling confused. 'Talk? Squall wants to *talk* to *me*?...Usually he won't say a word unless I somehow force it out of him..' Slowly the door opened. Squall lift his face and saw the tall blonde's green eyes. They however didn't meet his gaze, and it looked as Seifer was staring at Squall's messy hair. The smaller boy immediately noticed Seifer's eyes were burning red. 'He's been crying?' The blonde stepped back from the door and Squall came inside. Seifer hid his bleeding hand behind his back and listened to the other boy move around the room. The pain in his hand made his face twist and he bit his lower lip, suppressing a pained moan. Squall was unaware of the pain Seifer was in, and just sat down on his bed. He fiddled with the collar of his black shirt, feeling slightly nervous. This was actually the first time he was in the blonde's room.

"S-so...you...you wanted to t-talk?" Seifer finally said with a pained voice. This immediately caught Squall's attention and he looked at Seifer, frowning in confusion. "Seifer? You feeling ok?" he stood up and walked over to the blonde. Seifer remained silent and kept staring at his shoes. Squall could tell Seifer's breathing was heavy and uneven, and his whole body was tensed. His forehead was glistening with sweat. Squall noted the blonde's brows started to twitch, like he just couldn't hold something in anymore. "Seifer, you're in pain!" Squall exclaimed with a worried look on his face. He noticed Seifer was keeping his other hand behind his back and grabbed it. "Aaa-aahhh!!" Seifer screamed in pain, tears fell from his eyes, and he pulled his hand back. Squall's eyes went wide when he saw Seifer's shaking hand. It was covered in blood and had many sharp pieces of glass pointing from it in different directions. "Seifer what the hell did you do to your hand!? Let me see it!"

"No! Get outta here now Leonhart..." Seifer said and started to back of, until he hit the wall of his small room.

"Seifer you need help!"

"Fuck you! I don't need help! Especially from you!" Seifer yelled, though in wrong direction. Squall had moved and was standing beside him. He remained silent and watched Seifer, who looked confused. His green eyes searched the room but saw only blackness. Squall felt a lump form in his throat. Seeing Seifer so helpless filled his eyes with tears, but he wouldn't let them fall. "S-Squall? Where the hell did you disappear!" Seifer asked, his voice a little shaky. Squall moved his hand hesitantly towards the taller boy's shoulder and touched it. Seifer flinched and let out a surprised gasp.

"Seifer.." Squall whispered. He moved his hand towards the bleeding palm. "I made a mistake, I know. I didn't let you help me and be my friend, when Sis left. Instead, I ruined our friendship...And I now realise how much I regret it." Squall sighed lowering his eyes. "But will you let me help you now, when it's my turn? Please." Seifer looked confused. Squall could tell the blonde was surprised to hear Squall remembered they had once been best friends. Seifer remained silent, but allowed Squall to take his hurting hand.

~*~*~*~*~

**AN: reviews are always welcomed ^_^**

-Yorda