"Okay, everyone, we're here!!"
Tala chuckled as Selphie let everyone know they had arived. She loved to visit
Esthar, and could spend hours with just Laguna alone. Irivine often teased her
about her small crush on Squall's dad. She still mantained her "Sir
Laguna" page, and updated it monthly. Of course, if Laguna knew it about,
she had confided once; she'd be mega embarresed.
Laguna did know about it, in fact he had visited it several times. Then posed
as Kiros, and sent her several unpublished goodies to add to it. So, Selphie's
biggest secret was known, but everyone had agreed not to tell her.
"Whoa, Selphie... easy on the landing! Know you're excited 'bout..."
Irivine's words were aburtly cut off, and everyone laughed. Ian and Quistis
began to pick up each others cards, while Zell woke Rinoa with a soft kiss.
Tala glanced over at Squall. He was watching her, eyes shadowed with thoughts.
She smiled, squeezing his hand gently. He returned the smile, but it didn't
quite reach his eyes. She said nothing, as they prepared to exit the plane.
Laguna was waiting for them, but he wasn't alone. A young man stood next to
him, hands shoved into his pockets. Selphie was the first to spot him.
"Seifer?!"
Emerald met turquiose, as he nodded. She squealed, running past Laguna to throw
herself at Seifer. He caught her, nearly falling over in the process as she
hugged him. "I can't believe it! We thought you'd never come back!"
Irivine shook his head, then laughed. The look on Seifer's face when she ran at
him was priceless. Rinoa and Zell exited, and when Rinoa saw Seifer, her eyes
grew wide. Zell *looked* at her.
"What? I haven't seen him in about two years... since...."
He rolled his eyes, and shook his head. "Go on, I know you want to."
She kissed him, before joining Selphie in the "let's hug Seifer to
death" contest. Quistis and Ian came out after that, but Quistis just
shook her head at the other two's actions. Both Irvine and Zell arched an
eyebrow.
"I'm not going to make a fool of myself in public... in front of my boyfriend."
Ian laughed, draping an arm around her shoulders. "You'd much rather do
that private, love?" Quistis turned a light shade of pink, and punched him
softly in the arm. "Actually, I don't think I'd have room in there."
Squall and Tala were the last to exit, and when she saw Seifer, her grip
tightened on Squall's hand. He glanced at her, curious.. but didn't say
anything. They went over to Laguna, while Seifer detangled himself from Rinoa
and Selphie.
Laguna smiled, placing one hand on Squall's shoulder. Then he glanced at Tala.
"I've always thought of you as a daughter, now you truly will be."
She returned the smile, trying not to cry. She felt like such a fraud all of a
sudden. Even though Squall had asked her to make him forget. Seifer walked up next
to Laguna, and looked at the two of them.
"Tala..." He smiled. Ferally. If looks could kill, she'd be dead. But
she wasn't afraid of him, she was only afraid of Squall omitting her from his
life after he learned the truth. Seifer she could handle.
"Seifer."
She gave him a sugary sweet smile, then returned her attention to Laguna.
Seifer was now looking at Squall.
"Squall....?"
He said softly, making his name almost come out like a question. The younger
man looked up, wondering was hidden in the depths of his name being said like
that. Obviously.. the blonde knew him, but he couldn't place the name nor the
face.
Seifer was crushed at the blankness in those moonlit pools. Squall didn't have
a clue as to who he was, or what they had been. He expected something, some
sort of reaction. But *she* had made him forget. With a sigh, he looked away.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
Squall frowned, then shook his head. "No... Should I?"
Those emerald eyes were on his again, glittering with emotion. "Yes."
Everyone seemed to be watching them now, a drama unfolding before their very
eyes. Of course, everyone else remembered what they had been, Tala had only
made Squall forget. That's why it had taken them so long to accept her - they
figured she something to do with Seifer's leaving. And now he was back, and
Squall didn't have a clue as to who he was.
"Well, if you don't remember me, perhaps you'll remember something
else."
Before Squall could ask him anything, Seifer had hauled him close enough that
their bodies were pressed together. Squall could feel the fluttering heartbeat
of the blonde, and he managed to get out, "What...." before Seifer
kissed him.
It was unlike the kisses he shared with Tala. This one held anger and
passion... heartbreak and longing. He felt as if he should be backing away in
disgust, yet another part of him felt as though he had come home. However, he
was in front of his father and his love, allowing a man to kiss him. He brought
up both hands, and pushed Seifer away from him. Glaring at the taller man, he
wiped his mouth off with the back of one gloved hand.
"You should be glad I'm unarmed, or I'd kill you."
"Oh yea?" Seifer smirked. "You were kissing back there for a
moment."
Squall growled, turned on his heel, and stalked off. The others started to
follow, but Seifer spoke Tala's name. She paused, turning to face him.
"I need to speak to you."
"Right now?"
"Yes, Right Now."
------
No emotional ties, You don't remember my name
I lay down and die, I'm only to blame
Oh love of my heart, It's up to you now
You tore me apart, I hurt inside-out
Oh l'amour, Broke my heart, Now I'm aching for you
Mon amour, What's a boy in love, Supposed to do
L'Amour - Erasure
-------
A/N- Disclaimer: Square owns em (cept Tala an' Ian) Lyrics are Erasure's
"L'Amour". So, what do you think? Continue, stop? Next chapter will
have a little "talk" and some memories return to Squall....