Redheaded Stranger

Chapter 9
Apologies and Introductions


Irvine knocked on Selphie's door before he could change his mind. He had given her a little time to cool off and he was aware she had went out with Reno. Aware in fact, that he had kept her out of the Garden all that night. He didn't even have to guess what they had been doing. From Irvine's own experience, he knew Reno was a damn sex magnet.

"What do you want, Irvine?" she said, frowning slightly at the sight of him.

"I need to talk to you, Selphie.....Please," he begged.

"Alright, but if you start acting like a jerk, you're out." 'At least she's letting me in. That's more than I thought she would do.' He sat on the couch and patted the cushion, hoping she would take his invitation to sit with him. She thought for a moment, chewing her bottom lip in thought. In the end, she sat, making him feel even better about the situation.

"So, what do you want to say?"

"That I'm sorry....That I never meant to hurt you...Dammit, this is hard."

"How many times is this going to happen, Irvine? One minute you're telling me I'm the only one for you and the next I catch you flirting with another woman, or man for that matter!"

"I know....I...shit!" He got up from the couch and started to pace, cursing silently, raking his hands roughly through his hair in frustration. 'I'm probably going to lose her for good when I tell her, but I can't keep lying to her,' he thought, making himself stop his nervous pacing.

"Irvine, what's wrong?"

"Reno and I....we...had sex." He cringed, waiting for her onslaught of cursing and slapping that he was expecting after an admission such as this. She just stared at him, saying nothing in response. She didn't even seem shocked or surprised with his revelation. It started as a soft giggle, then to outright belly laughter. He watched her, mouth hanging open with unbelieving confusion.

"What's so damn funny?!" he asked, feeling just a little angry with her apparent amusement of the situation.

"He is very persuasive, isn't he?!" she said, managing to stop laughing long enough to speak.

"So, you did fuck him then?!" Irvine snapped and her laughter abruptly died, being replaced by the anger he had thought she would show before.

"Oh, it was alright for you to, but not me. Is that it?!"

"No, that's not it at all!"

"Well, you could have fooled me!" she stood and stormed out of the room. "Bastard!" He heard her shout and the bedroom door slam shut.

"Fuck!", he hissed, angry with himself for messing up again. He wasn't about to give up yet and went to see if he could persuade her to come out. "Selphie, come on, open up."

"No! Go away!"

"I'm not going anywhere until you come out and talk to me. I'm an asshole, okay? I know that, I just....I can't blame you for what you did, Selphie. I know I've hurt you." He put his forehead against the cold wood of the door, squeezing his eyes closed with the painful misery that twisted his heart. "Please, babe. Open the door." He heard the knob turn and moved back as she swung the door open. She stood there with her arms crossed, but she seemed more calm.

"Yes, you are an asshole."

"Come here." He put his arms out and she went to him, hugging him fiercely, burying her face in his chest. It felt good to be in his arms, she missed his touch. Reno had been incredible in bed, but it was different with Irvine, there was love in it when they were together.

"So, when did he seduce you?" she asked, looking up to see his face. He seemed embarrassed to answer, his lip twitching nervously.

"The day he came here."

"Hyne, the very first day. You're an easy lay." His face blushed, only to deepen when she snickered at him.

"Thanks a lot, Selphie," he sighed, but smiled at her jibe. He was just glad she wasn't cussing and yelling at him anymore. "You're right though, he is very persuasive."

"I guess I can forgive you then. Can you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive, I deserved it."

"That's true."

"Are we okay then?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, but if I catch you fooling around ever again,....prepare to be castrated."

"Ouch! Did ya have to go there?" She raised her eyebrows giving him her 'what do you think?' look. "Yeah, I guess you did..... You know, as crazy as this sounds, I think Reno helped us." She looked thoughtful for a moment before answering.

"In a weird way, that makes sense."

"Well, we can thank him later. Right now I want some alone time with my girl," he drawled, backing her into the bedroom. She giggled and jumped up into his arms wrapping her legs around him like a vise, eager to begin their make up session.

XXXXX

Zell walked through the Garden aimlessly and a little stiffly, as he was still sore from his workout with Reno yesterday. 'Workout, right, it was more like fuck session,' Zell thought, blushing at the memory, hoping no one would notice. He never thought he would be into another man, but Reno had changed his perspective on that very easily. He tried not to think about it anymore as he turned to head for the cafeteria, but the silky voice of the redhead stopped him in his tracks.

"Hey, blondie. How's that ass?" he said, none too quietly.

"Shhhhh, Reno," Zell hissed, looking around to make sure no one had heard. Reno chuckled, stepping over to him in his smooth stride, seeming relaxed, yet ready for anything that might happen suddenly.

"Don't worry, hot stuff. I said I wouldn't tell anyone," Reno said, winking at the fidgety fighter.

"Just....keep it down, alright?"

"Sure thing. Where you headed?"

"Cafeteria."

"I'll come with you, unless you don't want me to."

"No, it's fine. I don't min.."

"Hey, chicken wuss!" Seifer's favorite taunt rang across the Garden, making the blonde fighter clench his fists and curse inwardly. The last thing he needed was Seifer giving him a hard time right now. The name was more of a playful jab nowadays, but it still got on his nerves.

Reno watched the approaching blonde with interest. 'This must be the famous Seifer.' He had a cocky swagger to him that Reno could admire and relate to. Two people that could only be Raijin and Fujin followed behind him, like shadows guarding his back. Reno took in the scar as he stepped over to them, remembering what Squall had told him.

"Who're you?" Seifer asked, completely ignoring Zell when he noticed the redhead staring at him.

"Name's Reno. Nice to meet you, Seifer."

"They've been telling you about me, huh?" Seifer said with a smirk.

"Seifer, could you knock off the chicken wuss shit?" Zell interrupted, giving him a dirty glare.

"What crawled up your ass, chickie," Seifer teased, grabbing Zell's head, giving him a rough yet friendly noogie. Zell cursed, pushing the bigger man away. "So, you a new SeeD?" Seifer asked, putting his attention back on Reno.

"Afraid not."

"Reno isn't from our world," Zell said, trying to fix his hair after Seifer's attack.

"What?!" Seifer said, looking at Zell as if he were crazy.

"It's true. Go ask Squall if you think I'm joking." Seifer looked back at Reno, then shrugged his shoulder. Reno glanced at Raijin and Fujin who had remained quiet throughout the conversation, both taking an interest in looking him over.

"You must be Raijin and Fujin," he said.

"AFFIRMATIVE," Fujin answered as Raijin gave a short nod.

"Heh, what are you all excited about, babe?" Reno asked, looking at the woman strangely.

"Don't mind her, she always talks like that," Zell said.

"Really?...You need to learn how to relax," Reno said, giving her one of his flirting smiles. She tilted her head slightly, looking back at him with new found interest. Reno put his attention back on Seifer, his smile unchanging.

"What are you smiling at?" Seifer asked, sneering slightly.

"Nothing, just admiring that scar you have. Squall gave you that to match his, didn't he?"

"Squall must like you if he talked to you about that," Seifer said, losing his sneer. Well, he can tell me all about you when I go to see him."

"I'm sure he'll give you an earful."

"Yeah.....Later, chicken wuss," Seifer said, looking Reno up and down one last time before moving on. Raijin and Fujin followed, both glancing back at him as they walked away. Reno was quick to note that Fujin kept her eye on him much longer before turning forward.

"Why does she wear that eye patch?" Reno asked as they started for the cafeteria.

"Honestly, I don't know. I've always assumed she's missing an eye." Reno thought he just might have to see for himself. He definitely wanted to get to know Seifer better, that was for damn sure.

XXXXX

"Odine did that? Are you fucking serious?" Seifer said, looking at Squall as he sat behind his desk.

"He did."

"I never liked that guy. Guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"My father never quite trusted him either. I guess all our suspicions were warranted," Squall said, signing his name on Seifer's mission report that he had read through while telling Reno's story. He conveniently left out Reno's flirtatious ways, deciding Seifer could find that out for himself.

"So, have they found anything in the Fire Cavern?"

"Not yet, but they have reported spikes of energy from the wall Reno woke up by. Rinoa said she had sensed a magic source there as well."

"Hmph, strange to know there are other worlds out there."

"I suppose," Squall answered, sounding bored.

"What wrong with you?"

"Nothing, just tired of being cooped up in this damn office."

"Then get off your ass, Leonhart. Come to the Training Centre with me." Squall smirked, grabbing up Lion Heart and headed for the door with swift determination.

"Try to keep up, Almasy," Squall said over his shoulder and Seifer followed with a smirk of his own.