Quistis rested her head against the cement of the building roof she was leaning against, watching as Seifer, the squad leader, gave instructions to Joe and Paige. His tight black shirt clung to every muscle on his corded body, and he obviously didn't care that the leather pants showed off his backside quite nicely. Not that Quistis was thinking about that, of course. She sighed, letting her mind wander, the deep rich tone of Seifer's voice lulling her into her daydream.
     She did not know when Seifer had become so attractive to her. It wasn't the I-would-die-for-you type of love she held for Squall. Love Seifer?! Ridiculous! No, but Quistis couldn't deny the fact that he was attractive. Her chin dropped into her hand. He was the Sorceress' Knight, but hadn't she forgiven him? Everyone, or everyone at Garden, had, but there were times when his demeanor reminded her of the danger his proximity meant. And then there was the way he frustrated her, with his sarcastic remarks and that annoying smirk that got under her skin. She hated how he picked apart her every action and word and found what weakness was behind each. She hated how he knew from the beginning that she would never be a good leader. Hadn't he told her so when she'd first become an instructor?
     "You, an instructor?" Seifer sneered, his green eyes filled with malice, sixteen year old body leaning on the heavy Hyperion. The young studious Quistis nodded, blue eyes sparkling with pride. "You couldn't handle that job if someone spoon fed you a how-to-teach book!" The sparkle faded, and she turned and ran.
     Where had that come from? GFs picked the most interesting times to allow her to remember interactions with the people she couldn't remember from more than two months ago. Like talking to a younger Seifer.
     Seifer. His green eyes bored deep into her soul, into her heart, until she wasn't sure what it was she felt, what it was she believed. Rinoa said he could make you feel like you could take on the world. She was right. Although it wasn't until he made you confront your self, accept who you are, Quistis told herself, unconsciously tracing the Fire Cross on the wall behind her, with her finger. Is that why he makes you so nervous, Quistis? Because you know he sees what's in you, and you're afraid of what he might see? Fiercely, she shook her head. Don't be silly! You aren't hiding anything that should worry you, especially from Seifer.
     Liar.
     "Instructor!"
     Think of the devil. Quistis turned her head to regard the three "team members" who were staring at her.    She pushed herself off the wall, and strode over to them. "Details?"
     "If you'd been over here, I wouldn't have to repeat them, Instructor," Seifer smirked.
     "Yes, well, I wasn't," she bit out, and Seifer raised an eyebrow at her. "Talk."
     "I'll let Paige explain. We have work to do." Motioning for Joe to follow him, Seifer looked around and dashed down an alley. Quistis watched him go passively, before narrowing her blue eyes and kicking the cement wall. Angrily, she peered over the side of the hotel roof and watched as he ran furtively through the alleyways connecting the streets of Timber. Bastard.
     She turned to Paige, who watched her with undisguised amusement. Sighing, Quistis shook her head and shrugged. "Males."
     "I hear ya."
     "Care to explain the plan?"
     "No problem." Paige checked her watch. "I have ten minutes to do that, before it goes into action. Time enough?" Quistis straightened.
     "I'm a SeeD, Paige. Ten minutes is plenty."
     "Not when I'm trying to interpret male speak."
     Both women laughed.
                                *                              *                              *
     "Think they can handle it?" Joe asked, right on Seifer's heels as they headed for the entrance to Rueday's compound, the entrance near Timber Station that Seifer had been taken in. Seifer snorted, but his thoughts strayed to Quistis. She was one of the most self-sufficient women he knew, even before she'd become a SeeD.
     "Quistis! Do you need some help?" a dark-haired Trepie ran up beside the blonde bookworm who regarded him politely, but not warmly, over a stack of books newly borrowed from the library.
     "I'm fine, thanks." She smiled, nodded her head, and continued on her way to the junior dorms.
     "Come on, Quistis. Don't be so cold!" The Trepie gave her a winning smile and attempted to take the books from her. Quistis moved the books out of his reach.
     "I said I'm fine."
     The Trepie's dark eyes narrowed and he grabbed Quistis' wrist tightly, yanking her to him, the books spilling all over the hallway. "You may think that you're perfect, Quistis, but don't think that you can do whatever you want. One day you'll get what's coming to you!" He glared into her blue eyes, then jerked her closer to him, lips colliding with hers in a sloppy attempt at a kiss.
     The sound of a whip cracking filled the air and the boy was pulled back, his eyes bugging out of his head. With her free hand, Quistis tightened her pull on the whip around his neck. "I suggest you take your hand off of me." She pulled the whip tighter, until the boy complied. Once her hand was completely free, she loosened the whip from around his neck and reattached it to her hip. The Trepie-now ex-Trepie-ran in the opposite direction, lips nearly blue from lack of air. Quistis picked up her books and continued on her way, and Seifer watched from the shadows, grip on Hyperion relaxing. He didn't dare go after her, although the last thing he saw was a tear run down her cheek as she entered her bedroom.

     He hadn’t gone after her.
     "Yeah, she can handle it," Seifer said belatedly, unaware of Joe's amused grin. He ducked into another alley, and continued running. "What about Paige?"
     "Paige?" Joe's voice was surprised. "She can take care of herself." Unlike Rinoa, Seifer added silently. Is that why you don't love her? Because she doesn't need your protection?
     Throwing caution to the wind, Seifer voiced his first thought.
     "Rinoa needed a protector. She was…she was almost helpless," Joe answered, brows furrowing. "Even Paige had to help her out of a few scrapes, usually at some risk to herself."
     "You don't like strong women?" Seifer questioned, before wondering whether he was asking Joe or himself. After all, he'd fallen for Rinoa, too, and Quistis had never been on the best of terms with him.
     "Yes! I mean, I." Joe shook his head. "Rinoa doesn't need me anymore, does she?"
     Seifer glanced at the younger man, at the misery on his face, and smiled painfully. Misery. Yeah, he knew about that. He doubted Joe had ever felt it, felt real misery. "No, she doesn't." Joe nodded, eyes downcast. "It doesn't bother you as much as you thought it would, does it?" At that, Joe shook his head. "Rinoa's not worth it. She was attracted to anything on two legs with a penis. Personal experience."
     Joe laughed. "Yeah, she was. I guess this Squall is someone special though."
     Suddenly angry, Seifer turned around and slammed Joe against the wall. "Don't say that shit around me! Squall has everything and the fucking bastard doesn't even realize it! He isn't anything special, even if some people believe he is! He's just a guy who had more than the normal person put on his plate! And no one sees that! It pisses the shit outta me, so shut up!"
     Instead of fear, Joe glared back. "I didn't mean anything by it. I'm sorry if Quistis likes him, but that isn't my fault! Why don't you grow some balls and do-" He was stopped by a fist to the jaw, before Seifer turned around and continued walking, tension in every muscle of his body. Joe's green eyes narrowed and he leapt at Seifer, hands balled into fists.
     The two fell to the ground in a flurry of fists and feet.
                                *                              *                              *