The Distance Between You and I

AN: Man, I am so sorry for not updating frequently like I was before. Does the excuse my dog ate my computer still work? Hmmm, didn’t think so. Anyway thanks for the review guys! More the merrier!

Chapter Warning: none. Sorry…..


The Distance Between You and I

Chapter 5


9:15pm.

His watch read. Leonhart was 15 minutes late.

Seifer Almasy was by no means an impatient man. After all he was rather tardy himself. But when you’re waiting for a date with an unwilling participant, 15 minutes seemed like a lifetime. He wanted to berate himself for not taking the chance when he had it. Squall was inches from him, he should have just pinned him against the wall and nipped his growing obsession at the butt. But hell no, Seifer had to play the gentleman. Honestly though, he wasn’t feeling as sober as he’d liked to be at the time. And truth be told, not even Seifer Almasy, the blonde arrow could satisfy a partner when more than a little drunk. He had to pat himself on the back just for being able-minded enough to set a date!

Garden was packed out as usual. Especially on a weekend night. And there Seifer was, standing on the corner like a street whore, watching every passing face with a slender build and dark hair. He was starting to feel as conspicuous as he looked. Then out of nowhere, a presence emerged beside him. The brunette looking tired and small, dressed in loose dark jeans, a black tee and an old leather jacket with white fur trimming huddled tightly around his torso. His hair was as wild as the first time Seifer ever laid eyes on him and stormy eye just as cold; looking aimlessly through the crowds.

“Let’s go. I parked around the corner.”

Squall didn’t bother replying, knowing quite well the brute wasn’t planning on letting him regret his decision. He followed after the man silently, mentally preparing himself for the dreaded night ahead. The car was expensive, small and probably had the engine capacity of a tank. Somehow he knew the blonde preferred living his life in the fast lane, and that seemed to be also true for his driving. They zoomed through traffic, gunning at what seemed like a hundred miles per hour. With the various landscapes merging into a blur, Squall turned his attention to his companion for the night.

He had to concede that the blonde was handsome. Short blonde hair slicked back loosely with gel, bright mischievous green eyes. There was strength and arrogance in every feature of the face, from the firm straight bridge of the nose to the distinctive jaw line. He didn’t look like a big man, but the broadness of his shoulders and chest easily outdid Squall’s own. Tonight, the blonde seemed more casual than the last two times they’ve met. Dressed in charcoal chinos, black dress shirt and a grey overcoat. Squall looked down at his own faded jeans and thought they must look ridiculous together. Still, it wasn’t as though the clothes would be left on for any length of time.

When they came to a stop, Squall looked out the window. They had stopped in front of a brightly lit building, the valet directing them through the gate before opening the car doors. This, was by no means an apartment building or hotel. It was a restaurant. When they’ve both stepped onto the grass lawn, Squall turned to face the blonde, who looked as though nothing was wrong.

“What are we doing here?”

“I’m hungry, and I don’t like eating alone.” The blonde grinned and Squall gritted his teeth. This was suppose to be a one night stand so the blonde could leave him alone, but why throw dinner into it?

“I’m not a woman that needs to be wined and dined.” He retorted, hoping he’s clear about wanting to get through the night as quick as possible.

“Too bad Leonhart. I get antsy if I don’t eat.”

The blonde led the way, up the wide curving staircase towards the entrance. Squall was half tempted to walk home, but that was almost impossible since he had no idea which direction home actually was. Thinking maybe with his mouth stuffed with food, the blonde might actually stay quiet, Squall trailed behind him again.

Seated in the corner furthest from the main dining room, Seifer watched the brunette across the table. Squall seemed uncomfortable but was obviously trying not to show it, the constant gnarling of his bottom lip was enough of an indication. The waiter enquired for a drink order, Seifer nodded for his usual while Squall asked for orange juice without even bothering to look over the extensive selection of alcoholic goodness.

“Can’t hold you drink, Squally-boy?” The blonde taunted when the waiter was out of earshot. Squall looked up, stilling the chewing on his lip.

“I’m underage.” He replied flatly. The surprised look on the brute was genuine and unmasked. Brows drawn together into a frown, he leaned over closer.

“How old are you?”

“17.”

“Fuck, you’re jailbait!” Seifer ran a hand through his hair, the guy was even younger than Zell. “When were you planning on telling me that, huh? When the cops come knocking on my fucking door?” He had really gotten himself into shit now. The kid was barely out of puberty. Squall didn’t flinch at the sudden raise of the blonde’s voice, just chewed his lip some more.

“You never asked.” Seifer flopped back into his chair, checking around to make sure no one heard anything. It’s true he didn’t ask and Squall did look young, but never did he think the kid might literally be a kid. In that moment, he decided this whole thing was a crazy idea. Standing up from the chair, just as he was about to inform the brunette the date was over, a shrill cry sounded close-by.

“Squally?” There was a blur and swish of full skirt before he noticed a young girl hanging onto Squall’s neck. What’s really surprising was the fact that Squall had his arms wrapped about the slender waist. Another figure strolled into view following the girl. Seifer studied the familiar face, before recognising the man to be Mayor Dallas of Dollet City. He wondered about the connection between the trio. There was something odd about the way Dallas watched the interaction between Squall and the girl. A glint akin to cruelty that disappeared quickly into the depth of dark eyes. The Mayor turned his head when he saw Seifer standing in the corner.

“Seifer Almasy. I see you’re well as ever.” Seifer took the outstretched hand with ease.

“Your Honour.” He greeted with a small bow of his head. Seifer had always felt a weariness around the politician, but that feeling was amplified in this current setting. It made him want to wash his hand with a good dollop of soap or at least wipe it on the tablecloths.

“How is your grandfather? Last I heard he was fairly ill, if rumours are anything to go by.” Dallas wasn’t young, but the strength in his handshake indicated the man to be very fit and strong. He was the same height as Seifer, with gelled back black hair, trimmed moustache and cunning eyes, the man was as intimidating as they came. Seifer paid only half his attention to the question, choosing to wave off the enquiry as pure gossip. Few more exchanges of small talk later, Dallas approached the muttering couple and wrapped an arm around the girl’s waist, who had since untangled herself from Squall.

“We must be going, dear.” He said kindly, though he was half-dragging the girl towards the exit. “Do come by the house once in a while, Squall. We all miss you terribly.”

Seifer studied the brunette who was watching the retreating figures and suddenly looking pale and ill. He moved as close as possible to the shorter boy without touching and asked with genuine concern. “Are you alright?” Squall didn’t reply. His hand snapping to his mouth, looking around frantically for something. Being a quick study, Seifer immediately directed the boy towards the bathrooms. Once inside the empty facility and herding the brunette into an empty stall, Squall lurched and emptied his stomach content into the porcelain bowl.

He dropped to his knees and traced comforting circles on the small of the boy’s back. Trying his best to ease the heaving process until the brunette’s breathing calmed once more. He helped Squall get back to his feet, half carrying the light body to the sink. After rinsing his mouth out and wiping off the water, Squall stood up shakily.

“Was that your ex or something?” Seifer asked, immediately kicking himself after the words left his tongue. He was half expecting the brunette to either tell him to mind his own business or punch him in the face, but Squall only gave a tired shake of his head.

“She’s my sister, Ellone.”

“Your sister is the Mayor’s mistress? Hyne! How old is she?” Squall shot the blonde his most frightening death glare.

“No, that’s her father.”

“Oh. Wait, that would mean you’re Dallas’ son?” It seemed highly unlikely that Squall was the son of the Mayor. After all, why would he work as busboy in some seedy nightclub when his sister pranced around like a princess?

“Dallas isn’t our real father. He adopted us when Ellone was eleven and I was fourteen.” There was the distinct hint of hatred at the name ‘Dallas’, Squall had spat out the name just as a shiver wrecked through his thin frame. Deciding there were more important matters at hand, Seifer made a mental note to probe for more later.

“Can you walk?” Squall nodded his head. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“No!”

“Come on, don’t be a brat. My cousin’s a great doctor at Balamb Central.” He made a move to grasp Squall’s shoulder when the boy jerked back sharply.

“No.” The brunette began coughing. Painful dry rasps that must have been ripping at his raw throat. Seifer made another grab for the kid, catching his wrist just as he doubled over at a particularly rough cough. “Just fuck me so we can finish this.” Seifer narrowed his eyes, amused by the brunette’s sense of honour in keeping agreements, yet appalled that Squall thought he was the type to take advantage of any situation.

“Don’t be a dumbass, Leonhart. If you think I’m going to fuck you when you can barely stand on your own, then you’ve really got no judgement for character.”

Before Squall could tell the blonde to either leave him alone or to proceed with the original plan for the night, sun spots began dancing through his vision. Everything was looking as though he’d been staring into a bright light for too long. His hearing faded in and out and his head began feeling light and dizzy. As soon as it began, the floor dropped out under his feet. He braced himself as well as he could for the impending impact when strong arms caught him in mid-fall.

“Why are you doing this?” He managed weakly.

“Just know that I am.”

Then he closed his eyes and knew no more.

---

“It’s me……need a favour……my place okay?……thanks.”

The call was brief, a few minutes to plead for assistance, give place and receive a time of arrival. It sounded like some seedy backroom deal straight out of a chemist fiction, but the truth was much more innocent. He called Selphie at the hospital, the cheery girl agreeing to come after her shift. That left a few more hours before he could be convinced that nothing was overly wrong with Squall apart from being too skinny and probably over worked.

Squall was lying on his bed, fully clothed and under the covers. He would’ve thought it’d be more comfortable to have changed into loose pyjamas pants but didn’t want to be involved in backyard wrestling after the boy woke up half naked in a strange bed. Seifer wiped at the sweat building up on the pale forehead, the brunette must be dreaming. Occasionally frowning or whimpering a little before relaxing his tensed body again. From the side table, he grabbed a discarded pack of cigarettes, not taking a breath until the first drag of blue smoke.

The creak of leather directed his attention back to the boy who had turned and curled on his side. Seifer got up and began to gently pull the jacket off. When he finally managed to ease both arms out their respective sleeves and began the painstaking task of sliding it from under the body, he noticed the angry red colour of a healing cut. It was thin, about two inches in length, but who in their right mind would have accidentally cut themselves in the neck narrowly missing their own jugular? Upon closer inspection, the blonde noticed feint bruising that looked suspiciously like a hand print wrapped around the filigree neck. There was no doubt in his mind that the two injuries were related, chances of self-infliction were long out the window.

He took another long drag in contemplation. Blowing out a thin stream of smoke through between his teeth, the rest tumbling out of his nose. He wasn’t a smoker in the stricter sense, just one here and there, but he did appreciate the placebo of relaxation. There was something wrong with the brunette, something fragile and cracked, hanging by a thread from being shattered completely. It instilled an sense of protection in him, but he truly doubted Squall would want to be protected by anyone, especially Seifer himself. He flicked a few stray bangs from the closed eyes, unconsciously running his hand over the skin of a cheek, appreciating its smooth texture and softness. It’s all going to be okay, he told himself. Squall would disappear from his life after tonight, he’ll shake this strange feeling in a few days, and then, they’ll both live happily ever after. For now, he’ll wait for his cousin and refrain from touching the brunette further.

---

Selphie came bounding through as soon as the door opened. She was amazingly energetic, even after a 12 hour shift as a first year resident. After a quick look over and determining the brunette was just exhausted and slightly malnourished, they left Squall to rest.

“Who is the cutie pie, Seify?” She asked nonchalantly, trying to contain her excitement. Seifer had never called for help, especially not over a lover.

“Some kid that passed out on me.”

“Liar.”

“Am not.”

“Are to.”

“Am NO--how old are you?”

“Twenty-four when I last checked. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re lying.” Selphie winked at him, shaking a raised finger. “The corner of your mouth twitches a little when you’re lying.” She added, there were more than one tell-tale sign but she’d amuse herself for the moment watching the blonde trying to correct his mistake.

“I’m not sleeping with him if that’s what you wanted to know. He’s seventeen.” He poured half a tumbler of whiskey which Selphie wrinkled her nose at. “And no, I’m not going to sleep with him.”

“Well I’m glad then. For a moment, I thought you’re the one who left those marks on his neck.” Pulling her legs back as she made room for the larger blonde to sit next to her.

“You saw them too, huh?” Seifer took drink from his glass and lit another cigarette. They fell into an easy silence, both thinking about the sleeping brunette in the other room. Selphie finding herself curious about the pretty boy while Seifer couldn’t stop thinking about the man or woman who attacked him. In a flash, Selphie was on her feet, stretching out like a cat. “Well, I’m on call all day tomorrow. So I’ll leave you two love birds to yourselves. Make sure he eats something after he wakes up.” She planted a quick kiss on Seifer’s cheek before grabbing her coat and left, giving him barely enough time to react or say goodbye.

When morning came, the blonde found himself stiff and sore on the couch. The apartment was silent and felt empty. On his chest, he found a note with two words scribbled hastily. In quick anger, he scrunched up the paper and threw it in the nearest trashcan but found himself smoothing it out a moment later. Squall was now out of his life, they’d probably never see one another again. Soon the memory would fade, leaving the crumpled paper as the sole evidence of their meetings. It was what he wanted, Seifer told himself. But the tugging in his gut told a different story. With a growl, he laid back down on the couch and held the paper to his chest. It doesn’t matter anyway, because they’re too far apart to ever be together.


TBC…..