The sound of heels clicking on the tile
floor of
Quistis Trepe halted in her tracks and turned to face the man.
"Seifer...I'm not an instructor anymore. I would
appreciate it if you wouldn't call me that. Besides, you're no longer a
student." Why, oh why, did he have to pick NOW to torment her? There were
other things, more important things, to think about. The
nightmares, for example. The very thought of them made her want to gag,
then run and hide for eternity.
"A fact that is thanks in part to you," Seifer
Almasy replied, laying on the charm. "Without
you, I would have passed the test sooner." Quistis
drew back at the well-aimed barb, her dismay spreading across her face, before
she quickly hid it.
"As you say, Seifer," she responded, quietly, and took off at a run
toward the dorms. Seifer watched her until she'd
disappeared from sight. He proceeded to inwardly beat himself up. He really
hadn't meant to be that mean. And normally, she would have thrown something
right back in his face. There must be something wrong...A discreet cough drew
his attention, and he turned to see a familiar calm face.
"Squall."
"Seifer." Squall studied his long time rival. It
didn't take a genius to figure out that Seifer was
ashamed. Squall allowed a smile to cross his handsome face. "Did you tell Quistis that you greatly admire her?" Cause that’s the
only thing I can think of that would send her running, he thought.
"What are you talking
about?!" Seifer sputtered. "Admire
that-that...HER?! You must be crazy! Been around Rinoa
too long?"
Squall merely inclined his head at
the mention of his girlfriend. "So, what did you say to her?"
"Why do you want to know,
Squall? You don't care what happens to others," Seifer
pointed out.
"Rinoa's
influence, I guess." Squall smiled again, then
his expression turned serious. "I'm here to tell you to see Headmaster Cid
as soon as possible."
"Headmaster
Cid?" Seifer's brows furrowed. He tried
to think. He hadn't done anything wrong lately...well, except that one thing,
but no one could prove it was him...and there was that other...Seifer grimaced. "What about?"
"I have no idea," Squall
shrugged one arm, a gesture Seifer had seen since
they'd first entered Garden. "Anyway,
those were my orders. I'll see you around." He clicked his heels, saluted,
and turned.
"Squall?"
The addressed turned back.
"Do you know what was wrong
with Quistis?" Seifer
asked, uncomfortably. Squall looked more closely at his friend. Did he...? Hm, now that was something to think about. In answer,
Squall shrugged, then walked away. He turned his head
to see Seifer dash off toward the dorms. Squall
smiled. Yes, he'd ask Rinoa what she thought, and
then...well, then, he might act.
* * *
Impatiently, Seifer
tugged at his SeeD uniform. He REALLY wanted to wear
his normal clothes, but only those teamed with Squall could see Headmaster Cid
in normal clothes without reprimand. And he was nowhere close to being teamed
with Squall. Sometimes being a rebel had its setbacks. Squall was an incredible
SeeD, and no one was going to put an almost failure
and known troublemaker on his team.
Seifer
surveyed himself in his mirror and grimaced, pulling on the waistband of his
uniform. He straightened his shoulders, and took up his Hyperion. Sighing, he
put it back in its case. That unbridled weapon didn't go well with the order of
the SeeD uniform. Squall's Lionheart
went with Squall, no matter how Squall dressed. Shaking his head, Seifer pulled his thoughts together again, and away from
comparison to his friend and rival.
He made his way toward Headmaster Cid's office, and upon arriving, was told he had to wait. Seifer bit back a scowl. He hadn't had his first mission
yet, and he wanted it very much. And if waiting a few extra minutes was going
to get him it, then he would damn well wait complacently. He took a seat in the
lone chair, and stretched his legs out in front of him. Studying the ceiling,
his thoughts wandered where he didn't want them to go most.
Quistis Trepe. She was an odd woman. They were of the same age, but
she'd become a SeeD at the age of fifteen. Now, both
of them were twenty. He'd known her all his life, and she constantly surprised
him with her tactics and almost paradox of a personality. Sometimes, he
appreciated her straightforwardness. Other times, he resented it. Her
stubbornness got under his skin, but it earned his respect, too. She seemed to
be able to handle all sorts of pressure and still keep cool, but on the inside,
she could be frustrated and depressed. She had taken the losing of her teaching
license quite well on the outside. But he knew who she'd confided in...Squall.
Always Squall.
What was it about Squall Leonhart that made him so popular with the ladies? Maybe it
wasn't so anymore, since Rinoa was around to keep him
down-to-earth with her smile and ability to talk for long periods of time. But
he'd been the object of most girls' affection, despite
the fact the he was cold. Quistis had been no
exception, though she'd tried to hide it, as it was not fitting for an
instructor to have romantic notions towards a student. She had stepped aside
for Rinoa, but it was Seifer's
belief that she still loved Squall. Why couldn't she see that-
The sound of the elevator arriving
at the floor popped his blue-green eyes open. He got
to his feet, adjusting his uniform as he waited. His eyes widened as the doors
opened, and he met another pair of blue eyes. He hoped his surprise didn't
show, and he slapped his usual smirk on, saluting her. "Quistis."
The wariness in her deep blue eyes
made him frown. Maybe once he could afford to be chivalrous. "Have a seat." He gestured to the
chair.
Quistis
quickly gathered her wits, and offered a small smile to Seifer.
"Thank you, Seifer." She held up a hand
when he started to move. "But I'm here to see Headmaster Cid." The
fact that she was glad that she didn't have to accept his offer was not lost on
Seifer.
"Really?
What a coincidence. I am too." Seifer sat down
in the chair, and smirked at her.
"What have you done now?"
she asked, with some of her usual bite. "Could this be about the hot dog
incident?"
"Hey!" Seifer
sat up. "No one can prove I did it!"
"But you did," Quistis' blue eyes sparkled, even as she sighed.
"Don't worry, Seifer. My mouth will stay
shut."
"I knew I was always your
favorite student," Seifer smirked again. For
some reason unbeknownst to him, that statement never got an appropriate reply.
Quistis
was saved from finding a suitable comeback, by the doors to Headmaster Cid's office swinging open. Both SeeD
members straightened to attention, and saluted the short man.
Cid Kramer surveyed both SeeDs and smiled inwardly. Yes, they would do nicely.
"Please, step into my office, Quistis, Seifer." He nodded at both of them and disappeared
back into his office. They started forward, and stopped when they met in the
middle.
Seifer
bowed. "Ladies first."
Quistis
looked at his bent form. "Then perhaps, you should go first, Seifer." His back went up, ramrod straight, and his
turquoise eyes narrowed.
"Watch yourself,
Instructor," he ground out, before turning on his heel and entering Cid's office. Quistis bit her
lower lip. That had really been uncalled for, but she had such trouble maintaining
a polite front around Seifer. She straightened her
shoulders and walked into the office, doors swinging shut behind her.
* * *
Quistis'
mouth dropped open, but she quickly recovered herself. "Excuse me,
sir?"
"Didn't you hear, Quistis?" Seifer's expression
was close to cruel. "You get to do a mission with me. And I'm squad
leader."
She turned to Headmaster Cid,"
Just us two, sir? Shouldn't we have one other person? Zell or Selphie,
maybe?" She was grasping for straws, she knew, but there was
nothing else to do, as accepting was not high on her list.
"Zell
Dincht, Selphie Tilmitt, and Irvine Kinneas are
away on leave," Cid tried not to smile.
"Um-well,
what about Squall? I know he only goes on the most important missions,
but this is Seifer's first mission, and well, don't
you want someone experienced to help?" Quistis
pleaded.
"And what
about you, Quistis? Are you not more
experienced than Squall? You have been a SeeD two
years longer."
Her shoulders drooped. She was
defeated. Oh God. Alone on a mission with Seifer.
She raised her eyes toward the sky, and thanked it bitterly for such an honor.
"Yes, sir," she whispered and saluted weakly.
Cid turned to Seifer, who seemed the more excited of
the two, though that wasn't necessarily saying much. Seifer saluted," Yes,
sir!"
"Wonderful." Cid
nodded at them. "You will leave tomorrow morning. A car will be waiting to
take you to the harbor. You will spend two days on the boat, until it arrives
in Timber. I want you to find out all you can on a man called Martin Rueday. Report back immediately. I want to see you in two
weeks at max." Seifer
opened his mouth, but Cid cut him off," Two weeks!"
Recognizing a dismissal when they
heard it, Seifer and Quistis
saluted and left the room. Seifer hit the button,
calling for the elevator with enough force to break it.
"Break it, and its replacement
comes out of your salary," Quistis told him
absently. Seifer shot a sideways glance at her,
before stepping into the elevator. Quistis followed,
and leaned against the side.
"Stop looking like a beat
dog," Seifer shot at her. Quistis'
head jerked up with a force that would have given anyone else whiplash.
"Well, that's all that I am,
isn't it?! Forced to run around, coddling a bunch of new SeeD
members on their first missions, with no thought as to what I would like to do,
or what I'm capable of! Now I have to deal with you ALONE for two weeks! Maybe
it's all the same to you! After all, you finally got your first mission! I'm
just here to follow you around, and make sure you don't get into any trouble!
It's ridiculous!" Quistis' chest was heaving,
her eyes lit with blue fire as she continued her tirade. "Why
do I have to act as chaperone?! Cid pointed out I have more experience
than Squall as a SeeD, so why does he get the
important missions? And Rinoa! She isn't a trained SeeD, and she goes on the missions, only because she's
Squall's girlfriend. Why do I...get...stuck..."
She burst into tears.
Seifer
stared at her. Had his one comment really triggered all this? Quistis cried?! "Haven't you mentioned your
unhappiness to Cid?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Squall
saved the world. Cid worships the ground he walks on." She slid to the
floor, burying her face against her knees.
"So do you," Seifer murmured, leaning against the opposite wall, eyes
cold. He waited for her denial, but it never came. "So, it's true."
He pushed himself off the wall, and pulled Quistis to
her feet, holding her against him with his strong arms. "Look, Quistis, Squall loves Rinoa. He's
loved her since they first danced when he became a SeeD.
Everyone knows it, and accepts it. Why can't you?"
She didn't look up from his jacket
front. "You loved Rinoa."
Seifer
sucked in his breath, and looked at the ceiling. "Yes, yes, I did. But I
don't now, and that's it. She loves Squall. What can you do?"
"You're right." She pushed
away from him, and he let her go. "I hate to say it, but you're
right." She laughed. "Maybe you should be a SeeD
counselor."
"Don't be ridiculous," he
mimicked her perfectly. "Who wants to take the advice of a rebel?"
His eyes grew distant. The elevator doors opened on the first floor.
"You know, Seifer,
you're the only one who doesn't see yourself as having won back your honor
yet." Quistis gave him a small smile and walked
out, leaving Seifer in the middle of the elevator.
"You know, Quistis,
you were a great instructor," he murmured at her retreating back.
* * *
Squall looked at his girlfriend as Rinoa rewound and watched the tape again. There was black,
then a blurry image of Quistis and Seifer in the elevator. It picked up in the middle of a
conversation.
"-loved Rinoa."
"Yes, yes, I did. But I don't
now and that's it..."
"How many times are you going
to watch this, Rinoa?" Squall leaned forward.
The brunette shot him a grin.
"But it's so sweet,
Squall!" She hugged her knees. "Especially the end.
'You know, Quistis, you were a great
instructor'!" Rinoa squealed as Squall grabbed
her and pulled her to him.
"So you think so too?"
"Oh yes!" She nodded
emphatically. "Too bad the tape didn't pick up until the middle. It must
have been rewinding."
"It doesn't matter. We saw what
we needed to see."
"Squall, are you turning into a
matchmaker?" Rinoa teased, resting her head
against his chest.
"Never!
That's Selphie's job," Squall smiled, then his
expression turned serious. "Seifer's my friend.
I don't want him to be alone anymore."