Stealth
Chapter xliii
By YuriNigasa
*standard I don't own FFVIII, Squaresoft, characters, etc. applies from now until whenever I decide I'm done*
<see a/n for pov clarification>
Stealth
Chapter xliii
By YuriNigasa
Pain.
It's dark, like an inkwell or the sky of a new moon. Stench of death emanating from everywhere. A hand reaches out to probe an open wound. Standing but how? The dead do not stand. Shadows crawl around, thick like bonfire smoke tinged with brimstone. Torches throw lecherous forms against a rough- hewn wall. A path runs to an altar and at the head sits a figure, drawing nourishment from the darkness.
...Gasp...
'Come.'
Approaching, the power of such a creature radiates from the body, a twisted source of magic unlike any known. Hideous monsters that stand as high as a man, with warped features and unintelligent eyes, flank the being. No hands, only claws, razor tipped and designed for maiming. Their flesh is pale gray, taut against thin, knotted muscle, rangy arms and legs that bent at off angles. Faces seem like melted wax echoing a twisted human expression.
I know these beings. From Catania.
'Where am I?' From Catania? What the hell is a Catania?
Not what the hell, where the hell...
'I am called Immamiel; I have found you, and have use for you. It is I who brought you here, in spirit.'
The figure lifts a hand and warmth spreads through the air, invisible threads of magic beginning to weave together the destroyed body.
A sharp gasp as the muscles, flesh, and bone reform from nothing more than harnessed energy.
'I have for you a proposition, an exchange, nothing more.'
Fuck you.
Fuck you is obviously not an option. Don't think he'd take it well. Seems reasonable minded. I don't know. Hand unwillingly raised to probe the wound that no longer exists.
'I take your silence as willingness to listen. Very well. I can offer you safety, security for his life, and your own. The being you trifle with, this sorceress, is no match for me. I will aid you in exchange for your help at a later time. I do not think this is unreasonable. As we speak he is distraught with grief over your death.'
Bastard. Shove your slimy agreement up your...
A sick ache spreads up from the stomach. Twinges in the back of the mind screaming not to agree to anything.
'No.'
'I don't believe you quite understand your predicament. Let me clarify.'
A hand lifts and the wound begins to open, flesh tearing, muscle decaying. Stone floor hard on the knees as the body falls, unable to support itself against the sheer pain of being ripped open from the inside out.
Fuck you.
Fuck you.
'Fuck you.'
At least we agree on something.
We? Oh no, no we, just one, I. Me.
'Heed me. Heed my words. The time draweth nigh. The weak shall fall; the strong prevail. I am Strong. I shall prevail. Aid me, and you shall live. Deny me, and he will die.'
Blood everywhere. My blood? It must be. Seifer, I'm sorry. I can't let you die for me. Not now, not ever.
'Your answer, Catalyst.'
I'm not a Catalyst. I'm SeeD. I may not know much, but I know that.
'Answer.'
No, dammit Squall, NO!
The past cannot be changed...
'Whatever.'
'Then we are agreed.'
Flesh re-knits... blood ceases running out onto the ground. A feeling of being ripped backwards...
- flash -
Squall? I'm breaking contact. I can't hold it any longer.
* * * * *
Disorientation. I blink several times, trying to shake the feeling of being inside Squall's head. All these years I've wanted it, and now that I had it, I discovered I really didn't care for the experience. I look to the side, concerned. I meet Squall's gaze, his eyes burning into mine. Elle sits behind him, slumped back in the chair. She looks drained, her pale features lighter than I thought possible. She needs to rest.
"Elle," I say softly as I sit up. "Come lay down."
She doesn't argue with me, not that I really expected her to. I'm just used to dealing with Squall's ways, I suppose. She lays down beside Squall, who looks over at her and gives her one of his half-smiles, and squeezes her hand reassuringly. Slowly, he sits up and looks back down at her.
"Thank you," he whispers.
"Squall, what's going on?" Elle asks.
"Rest now, I'll tell you later," he says reassuringly. Huh, didn't know he could sincerely pull that one off. He's been taking lessons. He motions me outside and the door closes quietly behind us.
I pull him into my arms, afraid of letting him go. His arms wrap around my neck and he indulges me in this moment of intimacy. All too soon, the moment is gone and he's pulling back, all business again.
"Will she be alright?" I ask. I walk over to the couch and sit, stretching my legs out. Squall follows and takes a seat on the chair, propping his feet up on the coffee table.
"She'll be fine. It just makes her tired. I don't know how I'm going to explain this to her. I don't want to, but," he sighed, "I feel I owe her an explanation now."
"You're not the one who called her here, Squall. I'll deal with it, okay?" I didn't want him feeling pressured over this.
He shot me a look, challenging my ability to handle the situation. I watched as he argued with himself before his expression lightened and he acquiesced. "Alright. But I want to know just exactly what you're going to tell her."
I waved a hand dismissively. "As soon as I figure it out, you'll be second to know." Squall's face virtually screamed his lack of amusement. "Would you stop it? I'll tell you before I tell her."
He exhaled audibly and started staring at his boots. "I fucked up," he said quietly. Huh, I guess he's decided it's time to talk about the experience.
"No, you didn't. You didn't know." Time to play diffuse the situation. I'm getting good at this, for all the wrong reasons.
"Doesn't change the outcome, Seifer. How could I forget something like that? I bound myself to that thing..." his voice trailed off.
"Over me," I said. "If not for me, you wouldn't have done it."
"I just..." He looked up at me, pain lining his features, drawing them tight.
"I won't leave you. We'll do this, together," I gave my voice more authority in the matter than I felt. I wanted to take off, run away, and take him with me. Screw the sorceresses and freaky guys and the end of the world. I just wanted him with me safe and sound.
"What would I do without you?" he asked quietly. "I don't deserve this," he said.
"And I do? I happen to believe we both deserve a little happiness, Squall. If it happens that we get that from each other, then to me that's all the better. I don't love you for what you are to everyone else. Don't love you for being some great Commander, or everyone's hero, or a fearless fighter. I love you for what you are to me." I curse inwardly, knowing that professions of love probably aren't what he wants to hear right now. He's so damned practical he's probably thinking that I'm just restating the obvious.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and look up. When did Squall stand up, much less walk over to me? He sits down in my lap and rests his head against my chest. I put my arms around him and try to mask the surprise that I'm quite sure shows in my expression. It's a surprising action from him, playing into that vulnerability he tries so hard to hide. I kiss his silky hair, breathing in the scent of his shampoo.
Soon, I feel sleep tugging at my eyes and I notice that Squall's breathing has already slowed to the regular pace that signals he's already asleep. Content with his arms around me and weight on my chest, I settle down on the couch and surrender to unconsciousness.
* * *
Okay, since it seems I've managed to confuse people, somewhat intentionally, but eh... *waves a hand* This will help clarify POV. I tried to capture the 'snooping' feel of the flashback sequences, combining the fact that obviously, Elle's power does, to some extent, make the person being watched aware, at least peripherally, of the intrusion. Hence the reference to Laguna and the faeries in the previous chapter. So, Squall is aware, somewhat, of the presence of his future self and Seifer, although not aware of who exactly they are. This is where it gets fun: you can tell who's speaking by the alignment of the text and the text type. Seifer is in bold italic right alignment. Squall is bold center alignment. Elle was italic right alignment for the the initial 'sending' sequence, last chapter, and the last portion after the Immy flashback. After that, italic right alignment is reserved for setting the scene and Past Squall's internal thoughts. Past Squall's dialogue is normal right alignment and Immamiel is bold italic right alignment. That should clear things up, if you can decipher it.
For those of you who can't remember what happened immediately following the Immamiel thing, check out Chapter 21 for Seifer's POV on his agreement with Hyne, and follow up with Chapter 23 for Squall's POV. Just think, twenty chapters later I'm finally getting around to tying things together. I love it!!