Phantom Dreams

Morning

Squall whined a little,a soft frown marring his features as he slept,tossing and turning in bed a little,a stray foot,and sometimes fist hitting seifer lightly on the side closest to him,so used to sleeping by himself,never thinking about what his body was doing while he was sleeping

Seifer grins watching him. the pulls hi against his chest spooning the smaller body. inhaling his scent closing his eyes. now the little bugger wouldn't,and couldn't kick him.

Squall whined a little thrashing harder for a few moments,but calmed when he realized he was pinned tightly,and whatever was holding him wouldn't let him go.Assuming somewhere between sleep and awake that he wassafe,since he wasn't getting harmed,before remembering who he was sharing a bed with."Sei?"he asked,only getting half his name out,sounding slightly drugged,mostly sleepy.

Seifer's hand squeezed his thigh gently. to tired to give a responce. the little bugrit had kept him awake half the night thrashing about.

"sorry.."squall muttered,eyes drifting shut again,wanting nothing more to go back to sleep,getting a feeling he'd kept the other man up,since he hadn't gotten a worded answer.

Seifer fell asleep soon after. Large warm hand still on Squall's thigh. the other around squall's middle and one of his legs between squall's two. He was very comfertable.

~meanwhile~

Zell looked up at his friends,namely selphie irvine and quistis, most morning the group of 5 sharing breakfast before heading off to their respectable jobs."Has anyone seen squall this morning?"

Quistis shrugged."Last I saw of him he was heading to get hyperion for seifer."

"Seifer?! Seifer's back!?" Irvine looks up shocked. His cowboy hat on the table. He was wearing a dark brown duster today. His hair was even longer then it used to be. and it curled more at the ends.

Selphie giggles. "Yeah he sure is! Oh but you guys aren't allowed to tlak to him. Or I'll beat you with my Nunchaku!" Selphie says determindly. Knowing how badly poor ickle Seif still looked and or felt.

Zell stared at her,slightly in shock,but more for not knowing what to say."...and you left squall alone with him?"He asked, the first words coming to mind.

Quistis shrugged."If anyone can handle being alone with him,its squall."She said,frowning a little,thinking about how bad the knight had looked.

"He was so shocked when he saw me... well I was shocked at him too. He's so thin now..." Selphie says her eyes softening. "Hey! Irvy let's take them breakfast huh? Please?" Selphie asks turning her big old soft eyes at him. with that cute little smile.

"Aww Selph. You're killing me put them away!" Irvine teases clutching his heart. "Yea I reckon it can't do no body no harm. But it's all going on Squall's bill ya hear?" He says narrowing his eyes at the suspicous doelike female.

Quistis laughed a little,sipping her coffee."Have you finally learned to resist her irvine?"She teased,looking between the two friends.

Zell grinned."Nah,he can't say no to a woman when she looks all cute and stuff."

"could either of you two have said no to her full force? I don't think so! Better to agree when she's still nice n happy." Irvine says getting up. Selphie already in line. "By the way Zell, nice class." Irvine laughs.

Zell rolled his eyes,getting up to."I think I'll come with you. might as well see what seifer's been up to."

Quistis smiled,standing up,finishing her coffee."I'll see you later.Paperwork to be done."she smiled,leaving.

"Good then our ball of bounless energy can lead the way while we big n' tough he men carry big heap food." Irvine grins making fun of the whole thing. That such a petite woman could make all type of big men do what she wanted.

Selphies smiles. "they said it'd all be ready in twenty minutes." she grins having ordered quit a bit.

"Ah here it is!" Selphie smiles happily once the food had arrived. "Come on boys let's go!" She chirps shooting a fist into the air and lifting one leg girlishly. Leading them out and up the stairs.

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Seifer groans getting up and relieving himself in the rest room. He then takes a shower. Getting out with a towel around his hips still wet. lookign around for a razer and shaving cream. "Damn Squall do you still not have to shave yet? Surely it's hit you by now." He mutters looking through drawrs and such.

"Bottom drawer,behind the proxide bottle."Squall said as he made his way past the door,pausing only long enough to figure out what he was looking for,leaning against the doorframe.

"what do you cut your face then take the hair off?" Seifer asks pulling them out from behind the peroxide. he wasn't aware how much like his old self that had sounded. He quickly spread the white lather over his face and began to shave. soon enough his face was shaven perfectly smooth. The angles of his cheekbones were almost agressive even with the softness of his face. But he was thin. He was very thin. there was soft muscle. but not much more it seemed. Seifer also brushed his hair drawing it back into a little pony tail.

Squall relaxed a little,having not realized how tense the new seifer had made him,relaxed as he recognized the hint of the older one."On occasion."Squall smiled."I get cut more then I have to shave."He said,walking out,heading to the kitchen, wondering if he remembered to get breakfast foods.

Seifer sighs. And just stands ther in his towel. He didn't have clothes. He didn't have anything. but he was not putting those things back on his body. not even the boxers. Seifer's body looked abused. and it was raw in some area's. Seifer groans and goes into the living room area sitting down.

"Knock Knock! Squall!!!! Open the door I brought you breeeaaakkfffaaasssttt!" Selpie says outside the door. "I thought Seifer mught be hungry. And you're always forgetting to buy foods for yourself." She says hitting the mark.

"Hurry up Selphie these do weigh something ya hear ya little Chobo." Irvine says grumbling. she really hadn't needed to buy two of everything on the entire breakfast list.

Squall jumped,hitting his head on the fridge top,having been bending inside to see if there was anything.Grumbling he stepped back,rubbing his head,pausing to look at seifer,swallowing hard at the abuse,before opening the door, blocking it so selphie couldn't see or come in right away."Thanks...."He said,before his eyes widened."How much did you buy?"

Zell grunt a little,shifting."Enough to feed both of you for a week."

Seifer stands up. Running his hand over his hair.

Irvine gasps eyes going wide. "Holy Hyne." He says softly seeing all the damagde done to Seifers body recent and old. He was almost a head tallre then Squall. He didn't loosen his grip on the food however.

Selphie smiles brightly. "I thought he might be really hungry. and you won't have to go get breakfast now. you can eat then hide in your office all day!!" Selphie grins knowingly.

Squall sighed a little,stepping back."I do not hide in my office."he said,taking one of the food trays from irvine,moving towards the kitchen.

"Do to."Zell said,before his eyes went wide at seeing seifer, his grip on the food loosening a little,but not enough to drop it."Hyne.."

Seifer's face goes blank. He fists his hands, before turning walking back into the bedroom closign the door softly. Before slamming his fist into the wall. then going to root through Squall's clothes surely the man had something loose and not leather he could wear. A large shirt at least.

Irvine swallows folling Squall without another word. "Is that why you took him in?" He asks softly though, once they were in the kitchen area.

"C'mon Zell. Let's take the food to the kitchen." Selphie says softly taking a tray from Zell and carrying it towards the kitchen. she felt so bad for the poor Gunblader.

"No.I didn't know until he took a shower."Squall shrugged a little,his reasons for letting seifer stay with him were his own,and despite opening up in the last year,he still was a very private person.

Zell followed,putting the tray on the table,before looking at squall."then why?"

Squall shrugged,not wanting to answer,before going about getting plates and things for the food.

the last drawer in squall's dresser had his sweatpants and t-shirts, most of them a few sizes to large for the brunette.

"He... Well We'll just have to whip him back into shape. We don't like flabby men here! See look! No flab cowboy." Selphie says lifting irvines shirt.

"Selphie!!" Irvine says softly strangled voice in shock. He did have a nicely toned body though.

Selphie giggles. "and over here no flab fighter." she says lifing Zell's shirt.

Seifer quickly pulls them on. the shirts were slightly loose on him but the pants pretty much fit. His legs were almos the same as they were before. Bu it was his chest and back and the scars he had. Many magic induced. that he didn't want anyone to see. He walks out and raising his eyebrow at thew scene on the little brunette pulling up all the men's shirts.

"Selphie!"Zell said,looking shocked,trying to pull his shirt down.

Squall raised a eyebrow at his clothes,before looking at the scene around him."You even think about coming near me, I'll make sure you dont go on a mission in the next year."He said, looking at selphie.

"Aaawww! But Squall, how am I supposed to convince you three if your the only one with tno proof of no flub? Gasp! does that mean your flubby?!" Selphies exclaims shocked. Lettting Zell pull the shirt down.

Irvine fixes his shirt and vest blushing. looking over at Seifer then letting his eyes slide away.

Seifer sighs and walks around them looking at what they had brought. He stands there just breathing in the smell of food. there was a lot. So it was probably Selphie's doings. He was grateful. But he wanted to eat so he starts openign door's until he found a plate and then looks in drawers until he find the sivlerware. then he piles things on his plat and moves to go to the bedroom.

Squall rolled his eyes,making a plate for himself"I.am.not. flubby."Squall said,spacing out each word as he sat down at the table,"was there nothing else you needed?"

"Flub!"Zell grinned,poking squall's arm,it was so hard to intimate your friends-they never believed you'd do serious harm to them,but the glare he was getting from squall was very convincing.

Squall counted to ten,then looked at the three around him,before reaching behind him,tugging his shirt up over his head."See?no flab.Now leave me in peace."

Click. Flash. "Ahahahahha Now I can go show everyone!!" Selphie giggles "Let's book it!" She says laughing and leaving as fast as she could.

Irvine was completely shocked. first of all. Squall completely took of his shirt. Second. Selphie actually took a picture. "Oh hyne." he says softly waiting for Squall to explode.

"I see things have changed." Seifer says softly.

Squall sat there for a moment,staring after the girl,not quite beliving she had just taken a picture.

Zell shifted,looking at squall."one...two...three..."She muttered,waiting for him to lose what control he looked like he was holding onto,yelping a little as he stood, without a word walking to his bedroom.His eyes going even wider when the man returned,dressed-with lionheart in hand as he headed for the door.

Seifer stands in the doorway. "What's one picture going to do?" he asks softly. Ready to try and fight Squall if need be.

Irvine stood on the side worrying his hat in his hands around and around.

Squall stared at him,"would you move?I'm gonna destroy that camera."He growled,more angry that his friend had been tricked into pulling off his shirt then that she'd actually taken a picture."Then I'm gonna send her on a mission to the middle of nowhere."

"Your not some dorky little shy kid anymore. Do you ever look in the mirror?" Seifer scowls softly. folding his arms over his chest. "Do you?"

Irvine was wondering when he and zell should as selphie said 'book it.'

Zell swallowed hard watching the two,really wishing they weren't standing between them and the door.

Squall sighed a little,putting lionheart in its holster,before crossing his arms on his chest."What's your point seifer?"

"this is my point." Seifer says pulling off the t-shirt he had been wearing. compared to Squall. He looked like a eighteen year old with his baby fat. Except for the multitude of scars. "Everyone looks away from my body. Now." he says bitterly. "But they always want to see whats under your clothes. Everyone does. Hell you only have a few scars on your entire body." Seifer says standing there shirtless.

Squall frowned a little,studying the man's chest,with a almost clinical look on his face as he tried to figure out which scars he caused.

Zell leaned closer to irvine,hoping not to draw the man's attention."there another way out of here?"

Seifer sighs. pulling the shirt back on and walking back over to his food. "why not be proud of what you've got." He says before starting to eat again.

"Nope." Irvien says softly back.

Squall sighed a little,watching him go,before heading back to his room,putting lionheart away before coming back out and eating again.Not having a agruement that would have allowed him to go after selphie to get that film back.

"come on."Zell swallowed,slowly moving towards the door."bye squall."He said,pulling the door open.

"We'll like, be seeing you two around then!" Irvine calls rushing out behind Zell.

Seifer finishes silently and washes his dishes.

Squall watched the blond absently,finishing his own food,sliding the dishes into the sink."you didn't have to do them."

Seifer just grunts softly and washes his as well. Putting them in the other side to dry. he then dries his hands and looks around. a little lost as to what he should do now.

Squall sighed,watching him look around leaning back against teh counter, "Unless you want me to go shopping with you for some clothes."He eyed his clothes on seifer"I'll see about getting you a room and you're class schedule"he said,the only hint of his nervousness was how his eyes shifted away, now that they were alone not sure what needed or should be said, so went with things that needed to be done,rather then prod at things better left unsaid.

"Let's go then." Seifr says grabbing the worn and torn coat and slipping on his boots. He didn't like wearing other peoples clothes.

Squall smiled a little,slipping out his boots,grabbing the keys to his car,before walking out,not waiting to see if the knight was following him,knowing he would,heading for the garage.

Seifer follows hunching his shoulders a bit. His walk had lost it's predator stalk and the confidence it had always had.

Squall swallowed hard,missing the over confidence as he slid behind the wheel of his car,starting it up as the blond got in.

Seifer says nothing. He just gets in and closes the door. Looking out the window.

Squall tapped his fingers against the wheel as he pulled out,and despite spending most of his youth in silence, this was starting to annoy him,he'd gotten used to everyone talking to him-and talking to them-in the last year."Seifer...where'd you end up staying for the last year?"he asked softly,curious why the man hadn't come backc sooner.

"Mostly... outside." Seifer says evasively. He says nothing else looking out the window once more.

Squall sighed a little,pulling into the dock's parking lot,getting out."clothes.gunblade oil..."He frowned, thinking outloud,muttering,trying to think if there was anything else he needed while he was in town.Walking around the car,he waited for seifer,before heading up into town.

Seifer follows. Much the same way he had from Squall's room to the car. Shoulders a little hunched. And the confident swagger gone.

Squall sighed a little,heading into the store,before looking at seifer."pick out anything you want."He said,nodding towards the clothes racks.

Seifer goes through and picks out a new pair of jeans then two pair's of black slacks like he used to wear. Plain shirts and two vests. As well as some socks. He put them on the counter thn Waited for Squall to come pay for it.

Squall looked at his stuff,setting down the two bottles of gunblade oil,before paying,smiling a little at the cashier."thanks."

The man nodded,putting the stuff in the bag."very welcome commander."

Seifer clenches his jaw and picks up the bags walking out.

Squall followed him out,lengthening his stride to catch up with the taller man,before falling into step with him, taking two steps for almost every one of his."Do you need anything else?"

"No. This is it for now."Seifer says stiffly. His knuckles white from holding the bag's so hard.

Squall swallowed hard,letting it lapse into silence, understanding the need for it,and unsure where he stood with the blond.Sliding behind the wheel,he turned the car on, pulling out slowly after the blond had got in.

Seifer once more looks out the window silently. "Perhaps this wasn't a good idea." He says softly afte a long time.

Squall glanced at him,before looking back at the road, "Seifer,you've barely been her 24 hours.give it a chance"he said,sighing a little.

"Yeah... I guess." Seifer says leaning back into the seat. Crossing his arms over his chest.

Squall looked at him."do you want me to take you back to the train station?"He asked,slowing down a little,about halfway between town and the garden.

"No I want to give it a try... I... Just... you wouldn't understand just drive the damn car." Seifer scowls angrily.

"Fine."Squall rolled his eyes,cheered a little-however perversely-that the blond was getting angry,seemed more his old self.He gave up,willing to listen,but pushing seifer's buttons was more then he was willing to do at the moment,not sure how the blond would react.

Seifer continues to scowl. a lot of his old self, or how he looked, coming back. Making his cheeks flush slightly. His eyes burn with anger. He looked... like shit but spruced up shit.

Squall smiled a little,pulling into the garage,turning off the car."Now there's the seifer we all know and love."He teased,getting out,not able to resist probing at him,it was as if the less seifer was like himself,the more squall picked up the boy's attitude.

"Like hell." Seifer snarls grabbing the bags and tromping off.

Squall sighed a little,watching him go,before following him out,heading off after him."Seifer.wait up.you need a room."he said,as he caught up,figuring the blond would want his own room.

Seifer ignores the small brunette at his side ad walks to his room putting in the code he saw him use earlier and puts the bag's on his bed.

Squall sighed,eye twitching ever so slightly,so.The blond still had the ability to annoy him."fine.Enjoy yourself.I have things to do."He said,turning to go,trusting seifer not to totally screw up his things while he was away,before heading off to find selphie.