Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy VIII. They belong to Square Enix and their respective creators. I just own my intensive fangirlness and this idea.

Notes: A random idea that's going to be difficult to execute, but dang it, I want a mind-blowing VII x VIII crossover! Essentially, the majority of VII's cast are in VIII's world. Hopefully I can make it make sense. Rating for current and future language, blood, gore, and whatever else I can fit in here.

Running Out of Time

Chapter 1

Close Call

Such is the tale that begins not with a whisper, and to assume it would belie the story. No, it begins with the raging screams of men battling to prove who is nonesuch. But, as it would happen, that would be another time.

"FUCK!" Seifer roars as a nervous medical cadet continues to cast Cure on the gunbladian's wounds who refused to lay still, and kept trying to sit up. Quistis smacks Seifer upside the head. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she forces him to lay back down unto the stretcher.

"Lay down Seifer or your wounds will tear even more," Quistis explains. Thanking Shiva as they broke into the center walkways, and passing students were already moving out of the way for the two stretchers. Course, they probably heard Seifer cursing, and decided to hide.

Blood follows in their wake. Seifer's lacerations weren't as critical as Squall's, but still in need of attention. There was a small albeit deep cut on his face, second degree burns on his hands from a backfired Firaga, and a rather ugly gash stretching across his stomach. Seifer's quickness was what saved his internal organs from being displayed, and he dying before his peers. Fujin and Raijin would never forgive Quistis if anything happened to Seifer.

Quistis made a note that all Support Team classes should be required to learn Cura before advancing. Glancing at the medical cadets, Quistis was extremely happy that they were nearby, but only two of them knew Cura, and both were on Squall.

Seifer leans up once more, concern glaring from his cyan eyes. Squall was on the stretcher ahead, and in far worse condition. If these wimpy medical people didn't hurry up, Squall was going to die before they even reached the Infirmary. Seifer would only admit it to three people, but Squall was the reason he was alive, and, because of that, the other cadet was in critical condition.

A T-Rexaur had stumbled upon Squall and Seifer's battle of dominance. Unfortunately, they were tired and nearly drained of spells, and the scent of fresh blood from the matching scars on their faces didn't aid the situation. Squall had pushed Seifer out of the way right as the creature decided who it was going to eat first. T-Rexaur took Squall into its mouth and crunched.

Seifer shakes his head.

"I swear to Ifrit if you die Squall I will burn your corpse!" Seifer shouts, slamming a fist on his blood-stained leg. "Ya hear me! Don't you fucking die!"

"Seifer Almasy! You lie back down now! Quistis will take care of you!" Dr. Kadowaki commands, returning her attention to Squall. Punctured lungs, abdomen and legs, lacerations, and third degree burns, and probably another list of problems. Her primary medical students had already set up the emergency room in the small Infirmary, and were now just waiting for their patient.

"She can barely handle her students let alone a bleeding one!" bellows Seifer.

"Shut up Seifer before I cast Silence on you!"

*-.*-.*-.*

Near the Infirmary doors, Raijin impatiently paces as Fujin leans against the left wall. With few (unwilling) exceptions, nobody was allowed in, and the Disciplinary Committee made sure and damn well that's how it was going to be. They knew Seifer would be alright; nobody would doubt that. It was Squall.

The corridors echo students' chatter, and would've provided lovely background noise if it wasn't for the topic. It didn't take long for news the spread throughout Balamb Garden, and there would be no hush to it for a while despite faculty persistence. Vulture gossipers already tried to fake sympathy, but Fujin would have none of that. Pinwheel nearly took two heads off. One of the students was bold enough to complain to a faculty member about the attack, and Fujin offered to show a demonstration. Raijin merely laughed.

The noon chimes rang beautifully in the air just as footsteps follow suit. A young man carefully carries two gunblades; the blades wrapped in anti-tear fabric. He was intimating looking, and not just because of the buster sword strapped to his back. This man was no cadet, and definitely no child pretending to wield a sword.

"HYPERION?" Fujin asks, her good eye staring at the weapons. Hyperion's blade was longer than Griever's. The man nods his head, and hands Hyperion to Fujin. Raijin stands next to his companion.

"Hey man, thanks for returnin' that. We appreciate it, ya know?" Raijin thanks. "Yo! You're Cloud, right? SeeD Rank 10, ya know?"

"That's me," Cloud speaks. "Would've gotten here sooner, but those faculty members with the yellow hats kept askin' me questions. I cleaned up the weapons for Squall and Seifer. Any updates?" The two Disciplinary Committee members look at each other and nod their heads.

"Nothin' yet, ya know? We're still waitin. Do ya know what happened?" Raijin leans forward, and tries to whisper, but his voice just comes out rougher.

"Sorry guys. I just got back from my mission when I heard. Figured I might as well take their weapons before a faculty member does. Mind if I wait with ya?"

"Are ya friends with Squall or somethin'?"

"If you guys are waitin' on Seifer then I'll wait for Squall. Nobody should wake up, and not have someone there for them, right?" Cloud cracks a small smile, and Raijin returns it twice fold as his face lights up.

"Be our guest, ya know." Fujin nods her head.

*-.*-.*-.*

What do you think? If you have any ideas on plot and pairings, I'm more than happy to hear what you guys would like!