Before we begin...
Story type: Post Sorceress War, Turning Back Time
Genre: Angst/Romance/Drama
Pairings: Seifer x Quistis, Squall x Rinoa, Irvine x Selphie
Warnings: (twist of) major character death, blood, profanity
- About my stories:
Maybe it's best to say that I never create a perfect character. Everybody has flaws, and if a character has to suffer to make a believable flow, I am sure to make them suffer. Nobody escapes what needs to be done.
If you want a character that never suffers, perfect in attitude and appearance, never sweats, never have their clothes torn from fights or have his/her hair ruined or even a scrape after blowing up the world, my story isn't for you. To blow up a garbage bin, the characters in my story WILL suffer.
If there's any problem with wording and error in my old fics, please mention it, because I do revise everything every now and then. If some stories seem awkward on the first few chapters, please note the publish date, because it was most likely they were old. Later chapters of the same fics won't have this issue. Please tell me by PM or review, and I'll be sure to clean them up.
- Disclaimer and story explanation:
All characters and Final Fantasy Eight made for Play station One belong to their respective owner/designer/creator in their own company, which certainly doesn't belong to the author of this story. If you think this is winded, you should see my other disclaimer.
Here it is; my new story. I have the idea in my head for a while already, but I can't find the right time to write and publish it. As usual, constructive reviews are highly welcome, since I'm still learning. Actually, any comments are welcome, since I have no idea how this story will look for most Seiftis fans.
Chapter One beta-ed by Windinmysail, admin of TheTrepies (Deviantart Group) and LegacyofFFVIII(DeviantArt Group).
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Meanings
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"I know you love me."
She glanced up. "Care to say that again?"
The seventeen-year-old blond cadet exhaled, crossing his arms over his chest in the most contemptuous way he could muster.
It took all her reasonable wits not to smack him over the back of his head.
"There is no other reason why you're always giving me detention, Instructor," he said. "I've got detention every single time I walked out of your boring little class. If you don't want me to leave, all you have to do is ask."
"Really?" Quistis leaned her back against her chair. "You were skipping my class at least twice a week, and when you did come, you spent your precious time mocking Squall and throwing him anything you could get your hands on."
"Ah, so you saw it!" the Garden bully said. "I know you're watching me, Trepe. You should decrease that stalking actions for a bit. You might've made Leonhart jealous with all these amorous attentions you gave me."
She narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't dare to say anything else if I were you, Seifer Almasy."
He leaned back, grinning. "And why wouldn't I, Instructor?"
"Because," she said, standing up. "You've just added five hours to your detention." She collected her books. "Alone."
His smile faded. "You know," Seifer said, rising up. "Romantic relationship between instructor and students isn't exactly wrong, Instructor. Why don't you just admit that you have a feeling for me? Let us step out of this flirting-punishing game once and for all."
She stopped in front of the class door, staring at him. "People have said that someone has to convince themselves at least three times a day to believe their own lies. I guessed it wasn't the case for your delusional symptoms. I think you should see Dr. Kadowaki after this."
He arched his eyebrow. "Probably you're the one who should, Instructor." He drew something out of his coat, tossing it at her.
She caught it in the air, examining it. "A hair clip?"
"Your birthday gift, Instructor," the smug cadet said. "Since I'm broke, that's all I have to offer. Leonhart can give you a better present."
She studied his face. "You know today is my birthday."
"Everyone in this Garden knows about it, Instructor," he said. "Even if your Trepies didn't yell about it on the hall, I think everyone still knows from the huge poster they've stamped everywhere."
She gave him a hesitant smile, pocketing her present. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He shrugged. "Now, can I get out of this class?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, you're still on detention. Stay here until five." Ignoring his groan, she turned around and paced out.
"We have to invent new ways around our relationship, Trepe!" he shouted. "I won't be your student forever! When I pass my SeeD exam next month, you're going to beg in my feet, asking me out. And you know what? At that time, it's already too late!"
-x—
She opened her eyes, staring at her white ceiling dorm.
I'm dreaming about him… again?
Something might have roused her up. She reached to the side, turning the lamp above of the side desk on.
Nothing was changed. She lay on her bed, in her own dorm, with a green tank top and army pants as her sleepwear. Closing her eyes, she wondered why the dreams occurred more often now. She never saw him after the war. After their last meeting inside Lunatic Pandora, he disappeared. They had searched for him, but after six months, Squall called off the hunt.
"If Seifer Almasy and his posse do not wish to be found, we should respect them," he said.
Quistis lifted her hand, looking at her wristwatch.
"Six…" She groaned.
It was too early to wake up, yet too late to go back to sleep. She stretched and yawned, deciding for some exercise. It was too long since she had her field mission, and she was too busy teaching at day to do anything that resembled workout.
She drew out a pair of white sneaker from her closet. Running around the Garden was better in the morning. Nobody, even the usual jogging kids around the hall, was awake at this hour. After tying her shoes, she lumbered out of her room, locking the door in silence.
Quistis Trepe used to be proud of herself, of the achievements she had in her young age. After fighting in the Second Sorceress War, Quistis came back to the Garden, only to find herself as one from many instructors. She might have been the 'mother' of the group who saved the world, but that was in the war.
Nobody in the group was as famous as Squall. He was well known, despite the fact that he hated it. When she was bored, Quistis studied Squall's frown lines, comparing it to the time when he was a new SeeD whose job was only to take care of Timber mission.
Emerging from the SeeD dorm, Quistis spotted four young SeeDs. They tumbled into the elevator shaft from the Garden entrance, each holding the edge of a massive wooden box. The package was big, seemingly heavy. The men huffed when they loaded the box into the shaft.
Quistis frowned, watching. One of the men jammed the button with his elbow, closing the door.
Probably it's something Squall ordered… she mused, crossing her arms. Whatever it was, if four SeeDs were the ones doing the heavy lifting, Squall might've already known what was inside.
Starting her warm-ups, she overlooked the matter. If she was tired enough during the day, at night his image would disappear. Perhaps she could erase him from her mind… The sparkle on his green eyes, the shine on his hair, the way his lips curled when he was joyful and the never-ending remorse that she felt when she was unable to rescue him.
-x—
The Commander entered her class when her student was doing their exam. It was ten in the morning, and Quistis had a lot to do. He approached her desk, eyes staring at her.
"Can I talk to you on the bridge?" he asked.
She stopped signing the paper, looking up. "Is this about the box you've got this morning?"
An inexplicable look flashed in his eyes. "You saw it?"
"I was around. It was kind of hard not to notice," she said. "I guess… Whatever inside that box has something to do with me?"
He didn't reply. Instead, the commander turned around and marched out, waiting for her to follow. Squall bothered himself to walk inside a class during an exam. Which meant the box should contain something important. Maybe it was hazardous.
A bomb? Quistis thought, shaking her head. If the wooden box contained bomb, Squall would alert Zell, Selphie or Nida. Quistis was there for support, concerning missions or classes.
Probably a new GF? She frowned. If there was a GF inside that box, Rinoa could handle it better than her.
You always think too much, Quistis.
"Rinoa was the first one to open it," Squall said. They entered the elevator. "I should be the one who did it, but she decided to open that thing before I arrived. Now…" he faltered.
"What is inside that box, Squall?"
"You can see it yourself," he said, walking out when the door opened for them.
As soon as Quistis arrived at the bridge, she saw the wooden box, placed in the centre of the room. The top lid was slightly ajar, but she could not see what was inside. Ambling to the side of the box, she tilted her head a bit to read a small note of paper on the lid.
"To Quistis Trepe, one of the six heroes…" she said. "This is for me?" Quistis shifted her stare to Squall who stood beside Rinoa. The sorceress was standing in the corner, looking upset.
"Wait, is this my birthday present?" Quistis perked up, yet the look on Rinoa's eyes made her smile falter. She turned back to read the rest of the anonymous letter, "Happy birthday, wish you well… this is my birthday present…"
"It's impossible," said Rinoa wavering. "Nobody should have received this kind of present."
Squall circled his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder, saying nothing. Quistis frowned, now wondering why…
"Squall, why were you the one accepting this instead of me?" she asked. "I should be the one who got my own birthday present."
The commander said nothing, piercing his glare at the package. Quistis was familiar with this particular gaze, although she was confused why he reacted against her giant birthday gift.
"It was too heavy to be a simple birthday present," Squall said. "Since we'll celebrate your birthday this afternoon, I ordered some men to save this in the storage room."
Looking at the wooden box's size, Quistis beamed.
"Someone must be very rich, or they probably just sent their fridge for me," she joked, but none of her two companions laughed. "Well, I guess I should open it at my party this afternoon, not now. Right?"
"No," Rinoa said. "Just… open it, now."
"But you guys are saving this for my party—"
"Quistis," Squall whispered, his voice barely registered to her ears. "Please. It's not a present. It's a sick joke."
Hearing his words, Quistis turned to the box. She wondered what caused such reactions from her friends. She gripped the lid, pushing it aside.
It can't be that bad. I mean, who wants to give anything bad for my birthday—
The first thing she saw was a familiar golden hair. Then, a pale face that she would recognize anywhere, the face she dreamt at night. This time, the emerald eyes that haunted her dreams was not visible, covered by his eyelids and protected by long blond lashes. The pale lips below his nose, often used for endless mockery and sarcasms, now closed and parched. The grey coat wrapped his body in the way she memorized, along with the silver necklace he always sported in his neck. The only difference from the man she once knew was a bouquet of lily in his joined hands. He would never be seen handling gentle things such as flowers.
Crouching down next to him, she drew her wavering hand to the bouquet and touched it. It was cold and dying. She trailed the flowers down, stroking the tip of her shaken fingers against his skin. It was callous, as rough as she remembered. It was not supposed to be this cold.
He should be awake by now, sitting up and yelling his disdain to Squall, to her and to the rest of the world. He should never lay in there, lifeless.
She placed her temple against his cold forehead, closing her eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to fall out.
-x-
To be continued