The Distance Between You and I

Disclaimer: All characters of FFVIII belongs to the talented people of Square-Enix.

AN: I’ve finally broken my habit of nail-biting. It’s been refreshing to actually have visible nails. However, I have found a very annoying thing about having nails; and that is typing is very very hard. They slip on the keys! How irritating is that? Especially when a half baked plot is floating around your head and you’re trying to get it down in writing as quickly as possible before it disappears! Oh, I hear people say ENOUGH of your whining! I shall take my bow, thank everyone for their support with this story and continue on with the chapter.

Chapter warning: Yes, there is something that’s rather unpleasant here. It’s brief but unpleasant nonetheless. The ol’ bf felt a little disturbed after reading it so be aware.

The Distance Between You and I

Chapter 8


“I thought you said it was a funeral.”

“It is, or will be. Just wait and see.”

“Whatever…”

After spending half the day convincing and corning the brunette into coming with him, Seifer now stood amidst an army of buzzing catering staff. A large pavilion had been set up within the vast expanse of grassland within the Kinneas estate, ready to accommodate the masses for an interesting night to come. Seifer led the unwilling brunette up the winding stairs to the main house where there was a similar state of organised chaos. After their coats, Seifer’s actually since Squall refused to relinquished his jacket, were taken away by a butler and their arrival announced. The couple found the cowboy alone in the library, pacing the length of the room.

Having been disturbed from his restless walking, Irvine looked up and winked through violet eyes. “About time, blondie.”

“Blame it on Squall.”

Irvine quirked an eyebrow and noticed the teenager half hidden behind the blonde. Seifer stepped aside and Squall reluctantly stepped through the doorway. “So you’re the one our resident playboy has been falling head over heels for.” The brunette chewed his lips and looked out the window. “Not much of a talker, is he?”

“You know what they say about the quiet ones.” Seifer smirked and strolled to the leather seats. After looking around and not seeing the human equivalent of a long-life battery, Seifer gave Irvine a questioning look. “Where’s chicken-boy?”

“His family insists he came with them.” Irvine sighed softly and sat down across from the blonde. “Don’t call him that, you know he hates the nickname.”

“Can’t help it. It’s almost like second nature now.” He gestured to Squall, who was still hovering near the entryway, and the brunette walked in hesitantly, seating himself as far from either men as possible.

“Squall Leonhart, meet Irvine Kinneas. The biggest sleaze-ball this side of the continent.”

Irvine tipped an invisible hat. “I’ve a one-man guy for a long time. Blondie here is just jealous of me finding true love.”

Just as Seifer was about to retort something insulting, the butler knocked on the open door and informed the trio that the Dincht family had arrived. Irvine turned an unhealthy shade of green and looked at the blonde. He stood without a word in silent understanding and left the seat.

“I’ll leave Squall in your capable hands. But you owe me cowboy.” Without waiting for the reply that wasn’t coming anyway, Seifer left, giving Squall a light squeeze on the shoulder as he passed.

The moment Seifer left, a thick blanket of uncomfortable silence descended upon the two remaining occupants. Irvine cleared his throat and made his way to a table of assorted toxicants. Squall shook his head when offered and resumed staring out the wide French-windows. There was a soft puff of air as the cowboy sat down next to him, holding a large glass of deep amber liquid.

“I can see why Almasy is behaving like a love-sick teenager.” Irvine commented as he took a drink from his glass. “Good thing you’re not just a pretty face.”

The brunette next to him seemed to pay no attention. “You’re misunderstanding.” He replied curtly, clear he didn’t want to continue the conversation.

Irvine chuckled, his violet eyes glittering with amusement. “I think you’re the one misunderstanding, pretty-boy. Almasy is more serious than you given him credit for.”

“To him, I’m the new flavour of the month. I won’t be the first and I won’t be the last. It’s a fact that I’m well aware of.” Squall’s eyes took a distant look, feeling more empty as the words left his mouth.

“You’re wrong, Squall. Don’t break his heart, or I’ll come after you.”

Squall stood up abruptly, but not because of the empty threat. “Thankyou for the warning. Tell Seifer not to look for me again.” And left the room with his shoes clicking loudly on the wooden floor. As he watched the retreating figure, Irvine ran a hand through his long auburn locks. Squall’s last words were spoken with so much iciness that even the cowboy felt the drop in temperature. Sighing, Irvine downed the last of his glass, he wondered if Seifer might have been right when the blonde said today would be his funeral. If not by the hands of Ma and Pa Dincht then surely by blondie himself.

O---O

Having left all his belonging at Seifer’s apartment, Squall walked dazedly along the highway hoping it was leading him roughly in the right direction. He knew the cowboy had meant no harm, but the idea of being mistaken as Seifer’s lover made him want to laugh hysterically. In actual fact, the idea of him as anyone’s lover was enough to send him rolling around on the floor. But that wasn’t why he ran out so quickly, needing to be away. As Irvine hinted at Seifer’s seriousness towards their non-existent relationship, Squall was shocked to find himself happy at the thought. The same sort of glee that quickened his heartbeat and made butterflies in his stomach. An infectious excitement he felt the first time they were adopted with the hope of a real family burning in his mind.

Squall shook his head, not wanting to remember how that turned out. Besides, Seifer shouldn’t be related to something so wrong. It was a side of the heart the blonde will never know. He pulled the jacket closer around his thin body, it was getting dark but the slums were still nowhere in sight. He half considered hitch-hiking when a black car pulled up and blocked his way. Squall squinted his eyes in the dimness and bolted the opposite direction. It was Dallas’s car. He heard the scrambling of heavy footfalls behind him, but he ran with everything he had. Soon his lungs were burning and his limbs aching but the chase wouldn’t end. With a muffled thump, a heavy body landed on top of him, crushing the air out of his lungs and knocking his head against the tarmac.

“The Mayor wishes your presence, Master Leonhart. Please don’t struggle, we have orders to bring you in unharmed.” A thick wad of sickly smelling cloth was pressed over his mouth and nose, unable to stop his breathing, Squall inhaled the chloroform and struggled futilely as the lights dimmed around him.

O---O

“Awake?”

Squall shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs from his mind, tensing suddenly when he recalled how he got here. He lifted his head weakly and opened his eyes. Dallas sat with one leg over the other and his hands linked together. He could see the outline of several faceless shadows next to the seat. Kneeling with his hands held behind his back by two guards, Squall suppressed a cough ripping at his dry throat. The air smelt damp and stale, there was the feint echo of water dripping into a steel basin, a single dim light globe illuminating the room.

Dallas sneered and smiled condescendingly at him, tapping a foot on the floor. “You shouldn’t disappear like that, pet. I was about to relieve some boredom with Ellone when they found you walking along the highway.” The cruel man strolled over to his kneeling position and grasped his chin. “I guess you didn’t care about Ellone as much as I thought.”

“Don’t bring her into this.” Hissed Squall, jerking his head out of the hold. Dallas laughed, amused and mocking.

“I try not to, boy. It’s you who’s got his priorities mixed up.” Black eyes glinted with evil light as Dallas continued. “I hear you’re whoring yourself out to that Almasy kid. Does he pay you by the hour or by the trick?” Dallas tapped a finger on his chin as though he was thinking, “Does he fuck you as hard as I do?”

Squall jerked forward abruptly attempting to break free but the act only succeeded in almost dislocating his shoulders. Dallas chuckled again.

“Now now, pet. Don’t get so excited. I have a lot planned for you tonight.” Squall cringed inwardly at his prospect. “Strip him.” Came a sharp command.

His clothes were ripped off and thrown to the side, leaving him vulnerable and exposed. Black eyes roamed over him, appreciating every curve and line of the abused body. Dallas knelt down beside him and ran a finger along his cheek. “Sorry, pet, I can’t play with you today. But these gentlemen will treat you very well. Be a good boy and don’t bite anything. Ellone is depending on you.” Dallas waved a mock goodbye, disappearing into the shadows.

Without warning, a hand on his neck pushed him into the ground and a cock was driven into him. Squall gritted his teeth to stop the cry. The hand holding him down moved and gripped his hair pulling him back up as another hand pried his jaw open. He couldn’t resist the temptation to bite down as another thick length was pushed between his lips. Its unfortunate owner yelped and punched him in the head. Stars bloomed into his vision and the bloody length slipped out of his mouth.

“Wrong move, boy. Now we’re really gonna fuck you up.” Hot breathed spat into his ear.

The intrusion behind him was removed. He was lifted up with arms still behind his back and impaled on a man lying below him. The last thing Squall could recall with clarity was the feeling of second repulsive organ being pushed into his tight passage. He heard himself scream, smelt and felt the blood dripping from between his legs. And then everything became a blur, leaving pain and hard thrusts as the only constants in his memory. Waves of vile heat washed over and into him before his mind finally shut down and gave him into blissful darkness.

O---O

Seifer opened his door with an annoyed sneer and slammed it shut behind him. After a good yell at the cowboy for being an insensitive ass, Seifer had spent the rest of the night keeping Irvine and Zell alive while the entire Dincht family, with the surprising exception of Quistis, screamed for blood. He had another yell at the cowboy for being the definition of idiot, especially for making things worse by playing tonsil hockey with the smaller blonde in the face of the angry mob.

As the commotion died down and awkward peace once restored, Seifer had found Quistis alone on a bench. She looked at him with a hurt and accusing look that clearly questioned why he never thought to mention it to her beforehand. To sum it up, it’s been a bad day. Squall was lost to him again, instead of looking for the brunette, he had to play negotiator and there was the possibility that Quistis might start lacing his coffee with either laxative or cyanide. He wasn’t too sure which was worse.

Throwing his coat on the couch, Seifer checked his messages hoping for a call from Squall. But frowned when he remembered Squall didn’t have his number. Had Seifer knew Squall’s usual haunts he would have driven out to look for him, but with the clock saying it was past midnight and his body telling him it was tired, Seifer decided to retire for the night. As it was, fate was against him in sleeping so early. He grumbled as the cell began vibrating against his leg.

“Selphie, it’s late, I’m tired, can’t this--”

-Are you sitting down?- The girl sounded odd, like she was excited but not in a good way.

“No, but I’ll be lying down very soon, in fact, right after I hang up on you!”

-Cut the crap, Seifer and listen carefully. Everything is fine, we were in time so don’t do anything rash.”

Seifer narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“Squall..”

The phone was flicked shut and Seifer was bolting out the door, stopping only to grab his car keys. He was more angry at Squall than worried about him. If only the stubborn idiot hadn’t disappeared on him then he wouldn’t be lying in a hospital right now and Seifer himself wouldn’t be speeding through backstreets at breakneck speed. Skidding to a stop at the entrance, the blonde jumped out of the small car and sprinted for the doors, leaving his engine running and keys still in the ignition.

A quick enquiry sent him to intensive care where Selphie met him at the elevator. The girl looked grim with her mouth turned slightly downwards. Without a word, she led him into a small office and sat him down.

“He’s asleep right now. We’re keeping him sedated until he stabilises.”

“What happened?” He asked as calmly as he could.

“A few people found him dumped outside and brought him in. As far as we could tell, he was raped, probably by more than one person considering the severity of the tearing; and then beaten within an inch of his life.”

Seifer felt his restraint breaking. Murderous thoughts brewing in his head, each more torturous than the last. The rage boiled in his veins, congesting rational thoughts of crime and prosecution with images of Dallas bathing and drowning in his own blood. A hand on his bare arm snapped him out of his daydream. Selphie looked at him with worried eyes.

“You can sit with him, if you like.” And he was led into the adjoining room where Squall lay unmoving on the sterile bed, attached to various machines, their beeping being the only proof of life. For the first time in his life, Seifer found himself murmuring words into a deaf ear with tears stinging his eyes. Never before had he felt so helpless, unable to do anything but hold the pale limp hand in his own. Squeezing as though to jolt some spark back into the equally limp body.

After what seemed like hours, Seifer finally pulled out his cell and dialled an unfamiliar number. He left a brief message on the voicemail and returned to his original position next to the bed. He’ll wait. He told himself, there was nothing more important than being here.

TBC……