The war started as an uprising in Deling City. After the Ultimecia incident, no one could be blamed for not trusting the authorities, but it only made things more difficult for Garden. It was like a world war. No one could agree anymore and as much as Squall tried to be diplomatic about everything, he was in over his head. Laguna helped where he could, but world situations were tense.
Seifer had spent the war as a teacher at Garden, watching as all the SeeDs went off to fight when it should have been him. When he should have been the first to go kick some rebel ass. But he hadn't been. Selphie, Quistis, and Irvine had gone. Squall had to stay, but it was obvious he wanted to go fight. Rinoa was happy he didn't.
And then there was Zell.
Zell had been part of Unit Seven. Well, not only part of it; he'd been the leader. And from what Seifer had heard, he'd made a great one. The smaller blond had been deployed for a year and Seifer was glad he was finally coming back. Selphie and them had been back for about three months, and everyone else was slowly returning.
It was finally Zell's turn.
Which meant Seifer had a chance to redeem himself and to hopefully rekindle the friendship he and Zell had once had as children. He cracked his fingers one by one as he waited in the parking lot. Any minute now Zell's car was going to pull up. He just had to wait. And he did. He waited and watched SeeD after SeeD, many of whom were beaten up, got out and ran to the safe haven behind him.
And then they stopped coming and Zell had yet to be seen. Seifer's stomach turned and, just to be sure, he waited a little longer. After all, maybe Zell had stopped by Balamb to see his ma. Maybe he should wait until tomorrow to bug the boy... Because, at the ripe age of 19, yes, Zell was a boy. Though, he'd be 20 soon, so perhaps it was wrong for Seifer to still think of him as one.
Hours passed and Seifer didn't know how late it had gotten until Nida came to wake him up and tell him he failed to show up to the class he was supposed to teach. Nida said he hadn't seen Zell. But he was supposed to be there. Seifer had heard the boy was receiving a commendation for dragging his squad out of a fire.
So where was he?
Heart beating noticeably faster, Seifer made his way up to the Headmaster's office to see Squall. He'd know what was going on. Except that he claimed to know nothing.
"Zell should have been in one of those cars, Seifer! I'm telling you the truth."
"Fuck you, Leonhart. He wasn't in one of those cars and you know damn well why." It was a good thing they'd had this conversation in person, because otherwise there would be a scene. Twenty-one was too old to be making a scene.
Squall hesitated, sighed, and took a seat behind his desk. "About a month ago, we received a message from Zell's second-in-command saying he was MIA. We assumed we'd find him in time to get him back; I guess he didn't show."
Seifer snarled. "You don't seem so concerned."
The tension levels in the room tripled. Was that concern? Leonhart was sweating; he could see it. Maybe that was worry. Maybe that was Squall trying to cope with losing his best friend. The blond's expression softened slightly, but it didn't help his anger die down.
"Seifer, don't do this." But it was no use. His mind was made up; both men knew that. Seifer was stubborn and did as he wanted, not as he was told. So he insisted, he had to go find Zell.
And he would. He would do anything. And maybe it didn't make sense, even to him. Maybe he wasn't sure how his opinion of the boy could have changed so drastically. But what he knew was that it had and Zell had risked his life for this war and it wasn't even his place. He had helped save the world once already. Seifer should have been the one to die trying to fix things. "Where was he last seen?"
The question seemed to take Squall by surprise, but he straightened up. "Cleaning up in Trabia. He'd been assigned to recon when the Trabia Division informed us they were shorthanded. His unit was sent to assist. Zell left Garden to find some soldiers who got lost in a blizzard, but he never came back."
"I'd like to take a leave." It was blunt, no two ways about it. And he knew he didn't need to elaborate; Squall would understand. Because if it were Rinoa, he'd do the same thing. Squall would relinquish all control to go find her.
Another sigh was met momentarily by silence. "You're not going over there. We're already planning a recovery mission," Squall assured, as if it was meant to keep Seifer there. Keep him from looking. Instead, he was fuming, hands balled into fists at his sides.
"Then let me lead, damn it!" Seifer was well aware it was a ridiculous request. He wasn't SeeD. He wasn't special, and definitely not a good leader. But he'd proven himself this last year. He'd been leading better, getting better at everything he could. It might not have been enough, but it was something.
More silence took over. Seifer fell back into a chair and slumped, fingernails releasing his palm. Squall's breathing was heavy, uncertain, but even. He was calm. "Why is this so important to you? I thought you hated each other."
The blond scoffed. At one point in time, that may have been true. But now? Squall didn't know what had been going on. Squall knew nothing. It had been a gradual change in Seifer that caused it, too. Something no one noticed. "That's not even close." And it wasn't. Not anymore. In fact, he was on the opposite end of the spectrum now.
Or, something of the like.
"You'll bring my men back safe?" Squall asked, though it shouldn't have been necessary. Enough lives had been lost at Seifer's hand; he'd bring them back. It should have been obvious.
"I'd go alone if you wanted."
"Say goodbye tonight. You ship out first thing tomorrow morning."
And he was okay with that.