bakerstreet | TRICK OR TREAT, SMELL MY FEET

[ It wasn't everyday that Nemuri found herself swept up into someone's arms. She was a Pro Hero, and that meant that she usually wasn't the one in need of rescuing or protecting. It was, in fact, the opposite.

However, being carried so effortlessly did feel good after all, and Nemuri's arms went around Seifer's neck easily. ]

I could get addicted to this, you naughty boy.

[ Nemuri let out a laugh and a nod, her smile softening as she relaxed in his arms. ]

Yes, please. I'd say we've exhausted the "tricks" part of the evening, so I'd like to get to the "treats".

[ Ah, it's been a while since he had a hug like this. Last time he did, he walked out of the Balamb Infirmary and his two best friends were happy to see him alive. So, this felt very nice, sharing his warmth with her and getting to lift her up--which he somehow adores ]

Shit, I hope you do, I think I already might be addicted as well.

[ He wasn't joking, but he gently let her back down on the floor, pulling away ever so slowly, as if reluctantly. He opened the door wide for her and moved to the side to let her enter his neat and orderly abode. ]

Please do, you deserve a treat after that. Watch your wings, don't want an injured angel after all of that. [ Just then he noticed the people oogling and gossiping from afar. He... was surprised rather. ] And you have a following, apparently?

And to think you've only had a sip.

[ Nemuri gave him a sly wink, cupping his face affectionately before she walked inside his home. ]

Oh?

[ She turned around to see what the commotion was about. Ah.

She waved to the crowd, laughing as everyone started gossiping more furiously amongst themselves. ]

Come on back in, dearest, and don't mind them.

[ And to reiterate, she grasped his hand and tugged him inside, closing the door behind him. ]

The best sip I've ever had!

[ He cheekily comments. Beaming at the way she cups his face in that moment. Now, he looked back at the commotion and he swears he saw someone from Balamb with their phone out, taking a picture. With the gossiping, he couldn't help but to laugh along with her.

Was it strange that he felt a flush of pride? Maybe so but he didn't care. He liked it. ]

I just hope they don't try to watch through the windows. I don't mind an audience but not when I'm not prepared.

[ He smirked, locking the door. Finally, he motioned to his living room with a wave of his clad hand. It was absolutely neat and orderly, the kitchen counter right there on sight was sparkling clean and squeaky almost. He did not like to have his house as a mess. Perhaps that's one of his many soldier-like traits. ]

Welcome to my home, a very nice space for one young man and his companion. Now, do have a seat if you wish. Want me to get you anything?

[ It was only natural that he would feel proud to be seen in her company. After all, Nemuri in herself was a catch - that wasn't even taking into consideration her fame as a Pro Hero. If people knew that the Pro Hero Midnight was paying Seifer a visit, their faces would be all over the internet faster than you can say "cougar".

But more than her reputation, who wouldn't be proud to spend time with a very doting Mistress?

His remark made her raise her brow at him. ]

I didn't know that you were such an exhibitionist! Mistress will keep that in mind.

[ She laughed, taking a seat at the sofa and draping her wings delicately behind her. ]

Anything you feel like serving would be fine, my dear.

[ Nemuri looked around his living room appreciatively. ]

It looks like you run a tight ship.

I've got a good body and a gift, I kind of like showing it off. Hope that's not too weird.

[ If there were to be any doubts on Nemuri's mind about his innocence or virginity, that should definitely answer it. To an extent at least.

He thought about it for a moment and walked over to his kitchen, speaking loud so she could hear, but the kitchen was right there so it wasn't needed really. He spoke while serving them both a nice tall glass of iced tea. ]

Why, thank you! I hated sharing rooms back at the Garden. I would always have sloppy roommates with no sense of decoration or order.

[ He visibly shuddered as he walked back with both glasses in hand, he carefully handed her one of them, placed his on the coffee table next to his copy of The Sorceress Knight ~~(Oh, Seifer)~~ and grabbed a chocolate bar from the bowl next to the door, handing it over as well with a charming smile. ]

Here, since I scared the life out of you, but you stayed anyways.

Darling, a law was written because I showed off too much. So no, I don't think that's weird at all.

[ And yes, she meant that literally. She figured that it was about time that Seifer knew of her job, because he'd find out anyway, and it wasn't really a secret. It was just that she was apparently unrecognizable when she wasn't in her costume.

She accepted the glass of iced tea and the chocolate graciously, flashing him a grateful smile. ]

Thank you. [ Her smile grew gentle. ] Of course I'd stay. What kind of Mistress would I be if I didn't appreciate your sense of humor, naughty as it may be?

Hmm... You lived in a place called "the Garden"?

Shit, that's great then. I love breakin' the law sometimes.

[ That sly smirk of his made its appearance again. However, he was quite curious of how that came to be and only suppositions and guessing could be made up in his mind. Whatever it was, it must've been awfully big. He was about to ask when she mentioned the Garden, making a mental note to ask later. He couldn't help but smile fondly and sit down next to her, the memories of his childhood home flooding back in. ]

Balamb Garden, to be precise. [ He grabbed his glass and and took a generous sip. All that roaring to scare the kids had him real thirsty. Sighing in delight, he speaks again. ] It's, more or less, like a military academy for orphans. I was there since I was very young, training to be what they call a SeeD--basically a soldier, mercernary, you name it. I never made it SeeD, of course.

[ It certainly was, for a law to be made specifically because of what she'd done. It also catapulted her into household name status, and while it wasn't her greatest accomplishment to date, it was an interesting story of how she got started.

She listened thoughtfully as he told her of his childhood, giving his hand a momentary squeeze when he mentioned in passing that he was an orphan. ]

I'm sorry. It sounds like a tough childhood.

Rather than tough, it was a lot more complicated than anything. You know, life is at full course and I barely was growing any kind of hair anywhere by that time. Truthfully, I probably made it a lot harder for other orphans, too.

So, I lived in that academy. It was a huge structure that served as a ship, too. I traveled a lot of places, trained hard, worked hard, all of that.

[ He chuckled a little bit, lifting her hand to his lips and giving it a soft smooch to her knuckles before gently pulling back and facing her way as he sat further away, soon patting his lap. ]

Put your feet here real quick.

I could only imagine what you were like as a child.

[ Nemuri couldn't help but grin. He was certainly a handful even to this day, and she could only imagine what he was like as a young boy. He probably got right up people's faces and riled them up in all sorts of ways.

However, the hard work that he put in all those years could be seen now in how he carried himself, and she gave him a gentle smile as she stroked his hair. ]

You must've been very driven and competitive. You still are, as a matter of fact. I think it's worked for you, though.

[ Nemuri looked at him in surprise as he scooted back, and she obliged his request, slipping out of her heels to put her feet in his lap. ]

[ He hummed at the stroke. If he were to be a cat, or even a tiger, he would purr so loudly at it. It really got him going. ]

Shit, you know it. I was very competitive, I always had to be the best. I actually was going to graduate as a SeeD very early, at the age of like... possibly sixteen or so? But I was so stubborn to follow orders that I never really made it SeeD.

[ He laughed a bit. With her feet on his lap, he took off his gloves and got to work right. He started to gently massage her feet to the best of his ability. It's been so long since he last did this to anyone, so it was all slowly coming back to him. ]

You know, I got this scar during trainin' against a comrade as well. Well, truthfully, I cut his face up first and he rightfully retaliated. I can't say I don't like the look of it, makes me look hella tough, doesn't it?

[ Nemuri let out a sigh. It was a pity. Seifer would have made a better Pro Hero than a good soldier. ]

Following orders is well and good as a soldier, but I don't think that's for you, my dearest. Of course, to be a good leader, we have to learn how to be a good follower... But ultimately, I don't think you'd submit to orders that make no sense to you, and in a military setting, you don't get to ask questions.

[ Her eyes fluttered closed as he started to knead her feet. Considering that she spent all her time in heels, this was heavenly. ]

Ah, that feels nice... ♥

[ Nemuri let out a laugh as he praised his own scar. ]

Yes, it does. You're such a handsome young man, and it gives you an exciting, roguish air. ♥

[ He smiled proudly at her admiting she liked both the massage and his scar. He also smiled at how she understood his type, his psyche, better than 90% of the people back at Balamb. He was, like they said, a loose canon in a military setting. It was perhaps not the best idea, but guess who wasn't going to stop.

Seifer. ]

Ain't that the truth. When Squall, the dude I gave the scar to, graduated SeeD, his first mission was to attempt murder on a President. He only had two people with him and was not allowed more. Just TWO. I was locked into the disciplinary room at that time but when I heard I busted out of there and get to where they were. They would've the entire armed forces of that city against them, it was insane. But orders were orders. I understood very late that wasn't for me, yeah.

[ He shook his head with a soft laugh, starting to go deeper into her tissue as well as slower, studying her reaction to see if he was doing well. If he'd known she was walking with heels around all the time, he would've certainly done this a lot sooner. He wore heels once... that was a pain in the ass. ]

[ Nemuri frowned at the thought of that. ]

For a fresh graduate to be given such a delicate mission... I find that reprehensible. Assassinations are very traumatizing to begin with!

[ And that was the difference. Pro Heroes never aimed to kill, only to incapacitate and to capture. They could exercise their judgement, and ultimately, use the humanity within them to make decisions. What was the point of fighting for the right thing if a person's soul died with it? ]

That sounded like a suicide mission, or one that was meant to fail and to cause a war.

[ However, for all Nemuri's indignation, she found herself melting into the couch because he was doing such a good job. She inadvertently let out a low moan, wiggling her toes. ]

I'm trying to be empathetic, my dear, but you're sidetracking me so deliciously!

I partially feel inclined to believe that somethin' more was in play. Not just the Headmaster becoming senile. I think he knew something we didn't. But I wasn't going to just sit idly by then and there. And they are, but I guess... we're trained to handle support, battles and all the dangerous things. We were ready for it. Well, not me, of course.

[ Looking back, the Garden really wasn't his thing. He does work well as a bodyguard... And yet, he loved the conflict he got himself into back at Garden. It was real danger, real survival, a fight with more at stake than winning. He was doing it for himself, his own adrenaline, but at the same time there was a sense of urgency even he ignores, a sense of defending people, doing things right. It was all... complicated, at best.

His train of thought is disturbed by the soft moan and the wiggling of his mistress' toes. He can't help but to laugh a little. He stops and lets her feet rest easy for a while. ]

Ah, here I thought that I had lost my touch. Can't be blamed for trying to be a good boy, no?

[ Nemuri's nodded to show that she was listening to his story. ]

I see.

So what happened?

[ She leaned back into the couch - momentarily hampered by her wings. Letting out a huff, she slipped out of them, laying them beside her instead so that she could recline without problems. ]

You're not just good at this point. You're the best. And you know it.

[ He couldn't help but to smile proudly at the compliment, unconsciously caressing her calf and trying to find a proper way to summorize everything. Truth be told, he was a little nervous of telling her, but what good would lying do? ]

Well, I held the president hostage but a Sorceress intervenes and well... She more or less manipulates me into becoming her knight and I follow along, not aware that I'm being used for wrong. [ There's a tone of shame in his voice. ] I was just obsessed with this dream of mine, I guess. She used that against me and I mindlessly followed her. I was supposed to be executed as well for the attempt. Funny, that never was the case. Instead I fought along the sorceress and even fought against Squall and his group. I made a mess of things, really, helped an evil Sorceress almost compress time and space to become a living god. That's the short version of it, more or less.

Technically speaking, I was very much the bad guy, mistress.

[ His story made her frown - not because she disapproved of him, but because she felt sorry for what had happened to him. He'd grown up an orphan and lived through a rigorous military upbringing, reaching for a goal that wasn't right for him at all and therefore practically unattainable. And then, as if that wasn't enough, he was found by a Sorceress when he was vulnerable, and manipulated into doing her bidding.

As far as Nemuri was concerned, yes, it was true that Seifer could have exercised his better judgement. But considering that he had no role models to look up to, and no one in authority who understood his nature, who would've been there to encourage him to think twice? ]

Yes, I'm certain your actions had real repercussions. I can see that you understand that. However, you were just as much a victim, Seifer.

[ Nemuri got up to sit beside him once again, her arms going around him so that she could pull him close in a tight embrace. ]

What happened to that Sorceress?

[ Her embrace made him feel... relaxed. Finally, after a long time. He was ready to spring all the time, to fight, to defend himself or others, but rarely he could feel his body unwind and visibly slump over comfortably like it was right now.

At the end, Ultimecia was maybe right about one or two things. He was a poor, lost boy in a big scary world. At least, he was such. ]

Everyone was a victim to that Sorceress: I realized I was doing wrong eventually, but I was so scared of her I did what I was told. I was told Squall and his group defeated her. By that time I was in the infirmary after my last fight with Squall. My best friends found me unconscious and I was taken to the infirmary. Due to the fact that I was manipulated by the Sorceress, me and the Garden Headmaster's wife, we were pardoned and no action was going to be taken against us.

After that, I realized maybe SeeD wasn't for me, and I don't think they'd take me back. And I'm happy I made it out alive, you know. Though, I still have to fight the impression that made on people.

[ Nemuri nodded, relieved as well to find that he had a full pardon, and that things had worked out for him and for everyone he knew. ]

I'm glad you're free of her clutches.

[ She gave him a squeeze, letting him know without words that things would be alright, and that she was there for him. ]

It would be easy if people only knew you as well as I did.

[ Nemuri pulled back to give him a soft smile, stroking his hair. ]

You'll never please everybody, but you'll make a difference to the people who do matter.

[ She leaned in to press a gentle kiss to his temple, her arms once again going about in him another hug. ]

[ Ah, what a lovely kiss, plus the hair stroke. It gave him peace, as well as the fact that she did not take to his past in the wrong way. She truly was a kind and understanding mistress--and about time he found one, too. This boy needed a break as well as a good guide. ]

Oh man, if people knew me the way you do it would change the whole game.

[ He laughed softly, wrapping his arms around her tightly and giving her a nice squeeze. If they weren't sitting, he'd lift her up again. His hugs were always bear hugs, unconsciously at that. ]

Thank you, mistress...

No need to say thank you for that, my dear. Understanding is something that you ought to be given freely.

[ She enjoyed the strength of his embrace, melting against him happily.

And, because he deserved even more comfort after reliving such a traumatic story -

Nemuri pressed up against him so that she could give him a proper kiss. She kissed him softly, gently, drawing it out into slow warmth and sweetness. ]

[ He had been waiting to feel her lips, to savor them, to cherish them and now the moment was here. He was almost immobile at first, surprised, but soon his eyes closed and his lips returned the gesture ever so eagerly, full of youthful energy and undying fire within him. She would taste a faint hint of creamy chocolate and he internally thanked Hyne that he hadn't had any garlic or onion before this moment.

His grip tightened on her for a few moments before he realized he'd most likely crush her if he kept clutching tighter; he also avoided having his hands travel across her body, at least until she gave him permissions.

He couldn't help it, he didn't want her to go away anywhere.

[ She wasn't surprised by the intensity with which Seifer returned her affections or by how tightly he held her. He hadn't been clandestine in telling her that he'd wanted her, after all.

Well, she wasn't going to be overtaken by his youthful vim and vigor. Nemuri was an equally passionate woman, and she kissed him back with the same scorching heat, sucking at his lower lip, inviting him to taste her.

Smiling against him, Nemuri took his hands and pressed them to her waist, giving him wordless permission to touch her. She chose quite a time, considering that all she wore was white lingerie that she wouldn't have gotten away with wearing if it hadn't been Halloween. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject