Save Me

Save Me

 

"Squall?"

"Hn?" was the only acknowledgment that he had heard her.

"How is Seifer?" Quistis knew that Seifer had ended up in the infirmary and was worried about him, like the rest of the gang.

Well, it had been a week, so Seifer was doing good. Though, if he were honest with himself, he'd say something was going on with him that Seifer didn't want them knowing about. Squall, being as anti social as he was, was perceptive when it counted. And he could see Seifer was stressed out more often than not, lately. Squall was beginning to get more and more worried about him, and the lack of him hanging around them was not helping his assumptions, which were that it was Devon's doing. Now, he didn't really know what was going on, but he figured it was something.

It seemed Seifer was seeing them even less than usual, which worried him greatly. Not only that, but Seifer was not himself. At all. Seifer always used to be so confident, but since he got with that asshole, it seemed highly probable that it had something to do with Devon. He also noticed, even though he was sure Seifer tried to hide it, that he was always nervous around Devon. It wasn't normal for Seifer, not in the least.

"He's fine," Squall informed her. "Much better after what happened."

"Do you know exactly what happened?" she inquired, tilting her head the side curiously. No, no he did not know, and he had been trying to find out. Well, it seemed like more than some fall. Squall shook his head and sighed.

Seifer didn't tell them anything except for the fact that he fell, which was becoming more unbelievable than he first thought. Now, he wasn't sure, but it seemed likely that someone had caused it to happen. But, who? Actually, it had been on his mind since it happened a week ago, and he still had no answer for it, which was very frustrating for him.

"No. All he had said was that he fell," was what he said.

She nodded and sighed. "I don't know Squall. If you ask me, I think it's more than that." Oh, so he really wasn't the only was who had those suspicions?

"Yeah, that's what I thought. He won't say anything, though."

She seemed to ponder that before she spoke. When she did, her voice was quiet, but it was enough for him to hear her. "Maybe... he had a good reason for not say anything."

He gave her a look. What possible reason could Seifer have for just saying that he fell? And not telling him how it really happened? Seifer didn't have to lie to him, and he had never given him a reason to do so, or feel that way. Seifer was important, and he wanted to help it any way he could.

"You're really worried about him, aren't you, Squall?" It wasn't really a question, it was more like an observation. She was his closest friend; he didn't need to lie to her. Besides, it would do no good; Quistis had a way of reading him; it was frightening.

"Yes," he said. He knew why he was so worried too. He briefly wondered if any of his friends had picked up on it yet. "Why wouldn't I be? He is my friend."

"Squall, I know it's more than that." Shit, she really did see right through him! Was he that obvious? He didn't think he was. Then again, he didn't realize how much Seifer meant to him, until he started dating Devon. Okay, Squall had liked him before that; he was just too scared to say anything to the sexy blond.

To be completely honest; he had been feeling something more than friends about a month after his return to Garden. When he got back to Balamb, he and Seifer just started hanging out together; they hadn't realized how much time they spent together; they were just so wrapped up in each other's company. And, well, after that, he started feeling more for the tall blond. His friends also saw how close he had become to Seifer, but Quistis seemed to be the one to pick up on how he really felt for him. He did wonder how Seifer really felt about him.

He shook his head, cleaning out his thoughts.

"Squall?"

He was snapped back to her as she said he name. "Sorry. I was just thinking."

"You know, I know how you feel about Seifer—it's obvious, Squall," she gave him that all knowing smile of hers and he flushed a little, but gave her a glare.

"Quis, how did you know?"

"Know what?"

He sighed. "That I felt more for him?"

"As I said, it was obvious," she smiled again, a warm smile.

"Hn," was his grunt. Damn, he was fuckin' obvious. Well, it wasn't as if he cared who knew; he didn't. "Whatever."

She chuckled at his response. "You should talk to him Squall. I know you want to."

"How can I do that? That asshole's always around," Squall grumbled, suddenly feeling the need to bash his face in. Hell, he was not scared of him, not even a little. It was Seifer he was more concerned about, really. He could see the look Devon gets in his eyes when Seifer would so much as talk to him, and it was worse when he and Seifer were actually sitting together. It was a very unnerving look; it startled Squall how much hate and jealousy was so blatantly obvious in Devon's eyes.

Seifer pondered that for a moment. Did he take his anger out on Seifer? Why would he? Squall very much considered that—it would explain why Seifer didn't act like himself around the taller brunet. It was almost as if... Seifer was afraid of him. Squall was flabbergasted at the idea of Seifer being scared of anyone. Seifer was... well, Seifer; he wasn't scared easily. So, why would he be scared of Devon? Well, now that he actually thought about it, Seifer did seem to be cautious when he was around him. He scoffed. Seifer wasn't scared... right?

"Talk to him. Maybe you can get some answers out of him," she told him.

"Right." And that left it at that.

---

Seifer was eating when he saw Squall come over. "Hey."

"Hi," Squall looked around. "Where's he at?" Squall refused to say his name. It felt as if it actually burned his throat to utter that name.

Seifer smiled. "He went somewhere. He didn't say where," he shrugged, as if not really caring.

"Seifer, can we... talk?"

Seifer gave him an amused look. "Well, we are talking."

Squall sent a mock glare his way, but was glad to see Seifer act like himself. "You know what I meant."

Seifer chuckled. "Sure. What do you wanna talk about?"

"Why haven't you hung around us much?" Squall asked bluntly.

"Um, I've been busy," Seifer answered, even though he was stunned how blunt Squall was being. Then again, he hadn't been around them much lately; he figured it would arouse suspicion in them. It wasn't that he didn't want to; it was Devon; he didn't want to let Seifer out of his sight.

"With?" Squall pressed.

"I don't know... stuff."

Why are you lying?"

"I'm not."

"You are," Squall sent him a look. He knew very well Seifer was lying; he could see it.

"Look, if this is about what happened, I'm fine. It was an accident," Seifer assured him, but he could see Squall didn't believe him.

"Seifer, why are you lying?"

"Look," Seifer was getting annoyed with all the questions. "I'm fine!" He saw a brief hurt in Squall's eyes, and his softened his. He didn't want to be upset with Squall. He gave him a smile, a smile that melted Squall. "I'm sorry. Really, there's no reason to worry about me."

Squall sighed. "Seif." The way Squall said it was soft. "You know you can talk to me. You don't need to lie," Squall paused for a moment. "There's nothing wrong is there? I mean, it's not Devon is it?"

Something unreadable flashed through Seifer's light green eyes. "No." That answer came too quickly in Squall's opinion. "Why would you ask that?"

Squall eyes him with a look that Seifer couldn't quite interpret. "I don't know Seifer. Could it be because you don't act like yourself? Or could it be because you seem nervous around him?"

"You don't know anything, Squally-boy," Seifer said in defiance.

"Oh?" Squall quirked a brow. "You're not yourself, everyone can see it. Seifer, you aren't even around us anymore."

"I said I've been busy-"

"Yes, you said that, but I know that's not completely true now, is it?" Seifer lower his head. "Also, what really happened to your shoulder, Seifer?"

"I fell," came his immediate response. "That's all, Squall."

Squall narrowed his eyes. Why was Seifer continually lying to him? Didn't he trust Squall? It seemed Seifer was adamantly lying to him.

"Hey, Seifer," said a voice he hoped he wouldn't until he was back in his room? It always seemed like Devon was around when he was near Squall; it was eery.

Squall gave him the most hateful glare he could muster, but the asshole just ignored him. Why couldn't he ever talk to Sefier without this fuckin' jackass around?

"Come on, Seifer. I want you to come to my room." His voice, Seifer suddenly noted, was too kind for Devon to be using, especially since he was around Squall, the one person he really never wanted Seifer to be around.

"We were talking," growled Squall, not taking his eyes off of Devon.

"And now you're done," he said like it was obvious as soon as he showed up that Seifer would go with him—it greatly pissed Squall the Fuck off.

Squall stood up. "I don't think that's for you to decide." He was sick and tired of Devon ordering him around like he did. He really didn't know why Seifer put up with it. He should just knock the asshole flat, but that wouldn't help anyone. It would make him feel better, though. Just to get that smug look off of his face.

"This isn't your concern, boy," Devon hissed out through clenched teeth. "Stay out of it."

Squall balled his fists and turned to Seifer, ignoring the other man's presence. "Sorry, Squall, I better go. I'll see you later."

"Seifer, you don't have to go."

"You heard him. He said he's going with me," Devon smirked. He pulled Seifer out of his chair.

Squall watched for a moment how Seifer tensed. "What is your problem?" Squall couldn't contain himself.

"My problem? My problem is you. You need to my your fucking business."

"You need to quit being as ass."

Devon growled.

Squall started to walk forward.

"Squall, really. It's fine," Seifer stepped in.

"Seifer can do what he wants. He don't need your damn approval."

"Shut up," Devon spat and drug Seifer away with him. Seifer looked back at Squall, and Squall caught something in the blond's eyes, but wasn't quite sure what it was. He wished Seifer would just say something to him. He doesn't, though, and that's what Squall was wondering about. Seifer would never let someone order him around. Ever.

Squall watched their retreating backs before finally deciding to leave himself.

---

A/N: Well, here it is! I finally posted the next chapter. Anyway, I hope you all like it. Let me know what you think. :)