Junkie-love

Title: Junkie-love

Author: Yorda

Rating: NC-17

Diclaimer: Sadly none of the characters of FF8 are mine, but belong to Squaresoft

Couples: Seifer/Squall

Warnings: angst, lemon, language, mild violence, drug use, OOC

Summary: Seifer's on drugs and Squall's the only one willing to help.

Chapter 5:

The door opened with a 'beeb' and Squall stepped in. He was greeted by Seifer, who immediately bounced up from the bed when he saw Squall enter through the door. Squall noticed the blonde had showered and was fully dressed, wearing a clean shirt and jeans. He sill looked weary, but there had definitely been an improvement in the way Seifer looked like.

"Squall, take me out!" Seifer ordered, coming to stand before the younger boy. "I've been in this room for seven stinking days! I can't take it no more!" the blonde told Squall with a voice that was not to be argued with. Squall narrowed his storm-coloured eyes slightly, not sure Seifer was ready to go out there and meet other people just yet.

"Are you sure Seifer?" Squall asked, meeting Seifer's intense gaze.

"I am...Now, lets just go. If I remain in this damn room, I swear I'll go crazy." Seifer assured, and Squall stepped aside, letting Seifer lead them out of their dorm-room.

"So, where do you wanna go?" the brunette asked as they stood in the hallway.

There were students entering the dorm-rooms and coming out, walking in different directions along the hallways. Squall eyed Seifer and noticed the blonde was leaning against the wall, all tensed, his breathing getting rapid.

'I guess I should take him somewhere where there's no people around.' Squall reasoned and motioned for Seifer to follow him.

He lead them through the crowded hallways into the Quad. There were no students there, and it was quiet, only the sound of flowing water breaking the silence. The two of them found a nice deserted bench and sat down. Seifer leaned back and raised one leg on top of the other, closing his eyes. He inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air fill his lungs. Squall watched Seifer from the corner of his eye, noting the blonde was nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt, even if he otherwise looked calm and collected. There was a long silence between them before Seifer finally opened his emerald green eyes, leaning forward.

"Squall....I-I don't think I can stay clean...." the blonde informed, his voice sounding unsure. Squall's eyes widened at this and he turned to face Seifer.

"All I can still think about is getting a fucking dose..." the older boy continued, turning to meet Squall's eyes.

"Seifer...Of course you can stay clean! I won't let you start use again...I won't! Not after what you just went through!" The brunette told Seifer, sounding determined. However, desperation still lingered in Seifer's eyes.

"Squall...you can't watch me 24/7...even if you wanted to-and I know you don't...you have your own life, and you shouldn't neglect it because of me ...I'm not worth it." Seifer told Squall, lowering his face. The brunette snorted and let his eyes rest on a near by tree.

"My own life?...Yeah right...Now that Rinoa dumped me, I have all the time in the world and-"

"What? You're not with Heartilly no more? Squall why?? ...It's--it's not because of me, right?" Seifer asked, feeling guilty, the look on his face anxious. "I'm sorry Squall.. it's my fault she's left you, isn't it?...if I hadn't showed up here you'd still be together...You stayed with me the whole week, neglecting Rinoa and- "

"Seifer! Stop that! You couldn't be any morongrong!" Squall interrupted, surprised by the blonde's sudden babbling.

"I'm the guilty one here Seifer...And I deserved this. Also, breaking up was a mutual decision. Rinoa's with Zell now, and I---I'm happy for them." Squall continued, his eyes fixed on his boots. "It's been a long time since I--I had any romantic feelings for Rinoa. And I was such a prick towards her...I'm actually surprised this didn't happen months ago..."

Seifer was watching Squall and finally a smirk rose on his colourless lips. Hesitantly he brought his right hand on Squall's sder der and gave it a squeeze.

"Well, at least now I'm not the only hot bachelor in Garden!" Seifer laughed, causing Squall's eyes to widen. He had never seen Seifer laugh like that. The blonde looked genuinely happy, and it was a welcomed sight, especially after the hard week they'd been through. Squall felt his own lips turn up to a smile as he watched Seifer.

"So, Rinoa's with chicken-wuss you say? ...Hey Squall, remember that one time when we were kids, and I tricked the chicken to eat that dead cockroach and he was sick for a day after that!" Seifer snickered.

"Hey Seifer! That was *me* who ate the bug! ...Damn...I had already forgotten that. Maybe I should take my revenge on you now.." Squall smiled, poking Seifer in the chest. They both laughed, but stopped when Seifer suddenly held his head, moaning in agony.

"Seifer! What's wrong?" Squall exclaimed, grabbing Seifer by his shoulder. The blonde slowly raised his face, panting slightly.

"I--I'm ok. Just a headache." Seifer whispered, massaging his temples.

"Maybe we should go back already?" Squall said and stood up, ready to return to their dorm-room.

"No! I---let's stay, I don't wanna go just yet Squall." The blonde interrupted, looking up at Squall with pleading eyes. "If I go there...the desire to do drugs only gets worse."

Squall nodded and sat down on the bench again. "Are you sure it was just a headache Seifer?" the brunette asked, feeling a bit unsure and startled.

"Yes...Even if the worst is now over, there will still be some milder symptoms for some time." Seifer told him, crossing his arms over his chest. Squall nodded and leaned back. There was a silence between them. Squall was playing with a of of hair and Seifer just sat there, watching the surroundings.

"Squall...thank you." Seifer suddenly said, breaking the silence. Squall could hear from the tone of the older boy's voice that he truly meant it, even if he was reluctant to say it.

'The old Seifer would have never thanked me...' The brunette realised that Seifer had changed during the 6 months of absence.

'Maybe he's finally grown up...?'

Seifer turned to face Squall, the look on his face serious. "I truly mean it. If it wasn't for you...well.. I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't decided to help me. And I know it must have been hell....Squall, I'm sorry for all the things I said during the weaning. I didn't really mean any of those." Seifer spoke, an apologetic look on his face. "And now that we're on the subject, sorry for always being such a prick towards you. I had a bad attitude back then, before that whole Ultimecia thing...but that's not really what I'm like...I guess it was just an act."

The brunette gave Seifer a nod, accepting his apology.

"To tell you the truth Squall, werewere the last person I expected to help me..."

"Hey, don't mention it. Even if we haven't always been friends, I could have never left you alone in a situation like that. I've known you almost all my life...so of course I helped you Seifer." Squall told his former rival, slightly startled when the blonde suddenly gave Squall a tight hug.

"I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you enough! I owe you my life Squall...Maybe when I get better, I'll at least take you out to dinner to Balamb or something.." Seifer said, leaning back from their embrace. Squall gave the blonde a nod, accepting his offer.

"And you could also promise me you'll never make me eat a dead cockroach again Seifer!"

Seifer just smiled, not daring to laugh, fearing another headache. "Will do pal." The blonde promised, leaning back on the bench.

:::::::::::::::::::.To be continued::::::::::::::::

-Yorda