Disclaimer: I do not own Squaresoft or Final Fantasy VIII. Just putting that out there.
AN: This was just a story I've had in my mind for a few years now. It's not your typical, "They fall in love and live happily ever after!" Or even a, "They fall in love and argue 'til the end of time!" No, this is not what you could even call a happy fan fiction.

I hope you enjoy my story, even if it is kind of gloomy.

The first thing that she noticed about the dimly lit room was the smell. It was harsh like bleach. The smell was almost overwhelming. Quistis lowered her head slightly, trying to her best to breathe through her mouth instead of her nose. She quietly made her way to her seat with the rest of her colleagues.

As the crowd began to trickle in, the smell became less sharp as it was diluted by the smells of perfume, cologne, and sweat. They were in the largest viewing room that the D district prison offered, and yet there weren't enough seats to go around. Many people lined up against the back wall, staring expectantly at the empty fish bowl like room that was separated from them by a thick sheet of glass. In the first row of seats, nearest to the glass encased room, sat the highest ranking members of Balamb Garden. They were more commonly referred to as the heroes of the Second Sorceress War. They were all expected to be here, to bear witness.

All but three of the young heroes wore professional, composed expressions. If you knew them personally, like she did, then you wouldn't be surprised. The dark haired commander, Squall, had no other expressions. She, the ex-instructor, was always serious when it came to official business. As for the man in the cowboy hat, he knew that this wasn't the time or place to be anything other than somber. As for the other three, it was their connection, or lack thereof in one case, to the man who had stepped into the glass room in front of them, that drove them to act the way they did. Selphie, the bouncy short haired brunette, was babbling endlessly about how the D district prison could use "a gal like [her] to liven the place up!" The blonde ex-instructor tried her best to tune out the loud girl. She couldn't, however, tune out the grinning blonde man that sat next to her. His facial tattoo was distorted by just how far his smile stretched. He kept cracking his joints and bouncing in his seat. She was sure she had caught him whispering words like, 'Justice,' and 'serves him right!'
Quistis was unable to grasp how the typically sweet, but overly hyper man could even begin to utter such words. No matter what anybody thought, this was not a proper form of justice.

Trying, nearly in vain, to push the matter from her mind, she looked to her left, setting her eyes on the ever fragile Rinoa, who happened to be Garden's new counselor. The petite brunette was perfectly suited for the position. It was probably the way that she could make you smile, even if you didn't feel it was even possible to do so. Quistis could see that Rinoa's expression was vastly different from the other two. In the other woman's large, brown eyes terror could easily be found. Quistis understood the emotion instantly, and echoed it internally.

That's right; Ice Queen Trepe could feel things like terror, hurt, and anxiety. She was just better at hiding it than some people. In fact, as she turned her sapphire gaze from the woman next to her, to the dark blonde man in the room before her, she began to feel something close to panic. There was very little she could do to quell the growing anxiety that had bloomed in her chest.

Emerald met sapphire for a brief moment before that ever wild gaze fell upon the others surrounding her. He wore a mask, same as she did. For all the viewers could tell, he was just passing them by on a street, not the least bit interested in what was going on around him.
Two guards stood at either side of him, their faces colored with contempt.

Only Seifer Almasy could stand in the midst of people that openly hated him and act so casual. It was probably because he was used to it. More than he had ever been used to being praised or loved.

He looked different, although he was the same. His hair was a little shaggier, his skin was darker, and his arms were coated in mostly healed scars, most of which seemed new. To Quistis, they did anyways. He had been in her class everyday for a year. He had even been in her face many times, and she couldn't remember the thick gashes along his arms. Those weren't the markings of one attempting to commit suicide. They were the marks of a man who had sustained abuse to protect his dark witch; his vicious sorceress. A month or so back, he had worn those wounds proudly. They were medals of honor and valor. Seifer Almasy had risked life and limb to keep her whole and safe.

Seeing the wounds, Quistis felt sick. This was all so fucked up. It was getting to the point where she felt like screaming. Seifer was far from perfect, but he wasn't evil. She knew he wasn't capable of the deeds that were committed through his body. Why couldn't anybody else see it?
She glanced back at Rinoa. Maybe others could see it, but were afraid to speak up for fear of hurting another. Her eyes fell accusingly upon Squall. Was there no end to his rivalry? Did he have to see Seifer put into a grave before he could stop?

Forcing her gaze back to the man in loose prison garb, she felt herself trembling as she recalled the trial.

Five weeks earlier.-

Calmly, Quistis sat in the witness' chair. She knew very well how much rested on her testimony and she planned to be honest and to make sure that she was immaculately neat in giving her brutal answers. There was no way she could force-feed this audience the horrors of war straight on. She had to find an eloquent way to word things.

The man representing the Galbadian Garden looked at her, a deceptively friendly smile on his face. He was a portly man whose dark hair had begun receding long ago, by the looks of things. In a different setting, Quistis could imagine him being a grandfather.

"Now, ma'am, can you tell the jury what kind of student Mr. Almasy was?" his voice was deep, and his words steady. She clenched her teeth as she tried her best to remain calm.

"Seifer was like most teenage boys. He picked on other students. He rebelled against authority. The only difference between him and the other students is that they got over their rebellion and settled into the military lifestyle. I don't believe that Almasy was suited for a life in any form of military."

The Galbadian lawyer nodded, as though he was actually listening to her. He was already calculating his next smear tactic.

"But isn't it true that he often would taunt other students mercilessly?"

"Mercilessly?" she almost laughed. "He didn't taunt everybody. And it wasn't 'mercilessly.' I wouldn't call it that anyways. He only taunted the people he thought could take it. He took it pretty far, but so did they. He only went head to head with students that were as resilient as he." Her tone came out bored.

The man sighed, shaking his head.

"I don't recall asking who he taunted, Miss."

"No, you didn't. In order to give you a complete, unbiased answer, I had to give that information. Had he been picking on those who were weaker, then I think that would reflect badly on him. That wasn't the case." Her sharp eyes narrowed as the man continued to stare at her. If he expected her to buckle, he was way off.

"Well, since I didn't ask for that information, I would like to ask the judge to strike it from the records." He retorted evenly.

The judge seemed to be mulling over the pros and cons to doing what the man had asked. He glanced over to Quistis and sighed.

"Mr. Lanor, I think the context does warrant her response. I'll allow it. State your next question for the witness."

Mr. Lanor, as she now knew him to be, seemed less than pleased with this outcome.

"Isn't it true that Seifer Almasy escaped from detention to board a train heading towards Timber, which led to him being united with his dark mistress?" The lawyer defending Seifer stood immediately and voiced his objection. The judge gave Lanor a stern look.

"We haven't convicted him yet. It's undeniable that he was by her side, but we're trying to find out if it was willingly. So please word your questions accordingly."

Lanor gave the jury an apologetic smile and Quistis felt herself dislike the man further. He was playing to their favor.

"Of course, my mistake. My question still stands, Ms. Trepe, minus the allegation." Quistis' lip turned upward in disgust.

"He did leave detention before he was given permission to board a train to Timber. I accompanied him to ensure that no harm would befall him."

"Accompanied him? That makes it sound as though you went willingly." His tone was gentle, as though he really wanted her to correct herself. Quistis was no fool. He just wanted to discredit her in front of the jury.

"I chased after him. I'm afraid to say that I was unable to catch up to him before he had boarded the train. I couldn't very well snatch him up and dive from a moving train with him in hand." Quickly, she was becoming agitated.

"Yes, yes I see." He paced in front of his desk. "Moving on then. When you both arrived in Timber, you made straight for the communication tower. Once there... well, I believe you recall what happened. You were there, after all." He gave a smile that absolutely dripped mockery. "What I want to know is why he did it. I'm assuming it was a direct order issued by, at the time, Sorceress Edea."

Quistis sighed again.

"No. What drove him there was his desire for glory and to protect an old lover. It was a bad choice, but not one that warrants what you people are calling for." Crossing her arms over her chest, she leveled an icy stare upon Lanor.

"What about the choices he made to stand against yourself and your companions? That was not driven by an old flame, was it? Considering he tried to sacrifice said flame to a sorceress." Quistis wanted to pull her hair and scream at the prying man.

"You found Edea guiltless of the things she did while under the Sorceress Ultimecia's persuasion. I believe him to be just as guiltless. He was just easily preyed upon due to his dreams of grandeur and his desire to be a knight."

"Well, I'm afraid that I can't believe that. Mrs. Edea Kramer was a completely different person under the Sorceress' spell. Mr. Almasy, on the other hand, exhibited the same exact demeanor we've come to expect from him." Quistis found herself at a loss.

"Yes, but—"she began but was cut off by Lanor.

"But what, miss?" he paused for half a second, but began quickly as it became obvious that she was going to give an answer. "He acted the same, did he not?"

"He did." Quistis seethed. "But how do you know that isn't what she wante-"again, she was cut short.

"No further questions, your honor." He quickly muttered, sounding pleased. The jury cast weary eyes upon the former instructor, seeming to already have formed their decision. Not even Edea's testimony could save Seifer from the words that still rang in her ears.

Current Time-

'Guilty.' It was as though the words were being said again.

AN: This is basically a multiple chapter one shot. I probably only have one or two more chapters to go.

Review if you want. =) I always appreciate kind comments and constructive critism.