The sky over Timber was a brilliant blue as Quistis stepped off of the train platform from Balamb. The smell of the fuel-burning engines was abundant. All around her Timber was bustling with passengers, shoppers, residents, and travelers. Timber had definitely grown since the last time she saw it so many years ago.
Her white fall blouse fluttered in the air a bit as she walked down the steps to traverse the streets. While Timber was not her final destination, she had time to spare before her next travel. Besides, she had someone to meet. Carefully taking note of her surroundings, she found a bench in front of the Timber Maniacs building. Quistis had most definitely grown since she had last been with Squall and the gang. While she still was formidable and powerful in the world as a not only a Garden instructor but a fighter, she was stunningly beautiful as well. Her strawberry blonde hair captured the light in just the way that made men and women take a second look, even when she was innocently sitting on a park bench.
The sun in her eyes was blocked when a man approached her.
"Didn't think I'd actually see you," said the man.
Quistis half-pouted, half-smiled. "I may have my qualms about you, Seifer, but that doesn't make me go back on my word." Although Quistis wasn't a huge fan of Seifer, she had to admit that a lot had changed since they were seventeen. They grew up. After Rinoa's funeral, they all felt like they shared a deeper connection. Rinoa had left a greater imprint on all of them than they had realized.
Seifer came up close and gave Quistis a glance up and down, which made her scowl. "Do you have to look at me like that?"
Seifer laughed. "Well, do you have to dress like that?" She only looked even more angry, sharpening her gaze.
Quistis continued as if he hadn't said anything. "I'm wholly surprised they let you back into Garden. Galbadia, of all places! I'm even more surprised that you've had the patience to become an instructor." She paused. "I guess a lot has changed since..." She trailed off a bit, as neither of them really knew how to discuss Rinoa's death aloud.
Seifer was quick to change the topic. "What's the real reason you called me out here?"
Quistis sighed. "It's Squall," she said, which made Seifer roll his eyes. "No, I'm serious, Seifer!" Quistis continued. "He's threatened to give up his position as commander. He's all hurting. We need the old Squall back."
Seifer roared. "Who's we?! And what am I supposed to do?! Every time we meet, we fight, Quistis!"
Quistis did her best to remain calm, "'We' meaning all of us at Garden. Selphie and Irvine in Trabia. Even Zell, who we never see anymore. We all love him, Seifer. Maybe you do too."
Seifer scowled. He wondered why he didn't just leave her there on the spot, but after coming so many miles to get himself here, he realized there was no point in leaving.
Quistis continued, "Besides, Seifer, I've been planning this vacation for months. I'm going to visit my cousin Giorri in Dollet. Someone has to take my classes." She reached into her purse to pull out her second train ticket. "And if I don't hurry, I'm going to miss my train. Take care!" Quistis was gone before Seifer could reply.
He was out of options now; he had no choice. Not only was Quistis depending on him, but so was Xu. So were a bunch of prepubescent SeeD candidates. In a way, Rinoa was too. If it had been Rinoa asking this favor, would he have been so reluctant to do it?
He brushed the thought away from his mind; it was painful to even think about. Rinoa had loved Squall. He wasn't doing this for Squall; he was going to do it for her. Silently but with some determination, he walked back toward the platform that led him to Balamb.
----
Squall walked back to Balamb, alone. It was twilight and the air stung with quietness. The town was fairly quiet with the occasional car driving past and the nighttime romances happening in the gorgeous hotel.
Xu had sent him here to meet none other than Seifer. She sent him alone, Hyne knows why, to pick him up and escort him back to Garden. Despite the fact that Squall was the commander of Garden, Xu had a strange leadership power over Squall, something he couldn't shake off from his pre-SeeD years. He didn't even bother questioning why he needed to escort someone who had been to Balamb many, many times.
Squall approached Balamb Station Yard and waited near the tracks for the incoming sound of a train from the tunnel. A few minutes more. Squall thought hard about Quistis' choice in substitute. He knew her well enough to know she was up to something. He didn't really understand what it was, but with a little work, he decided that he wouldn't fall for it.
The train rolled in just as the city lights came on and the sun had finally set over the western shore. The few night stragglers wandered out into the city. One of the last passengers off was the man Squall sought. He seemed much darker to Squall than he did at Rinoa's funeral, despite the gloom of the event. Seifer's hair was combed neatly, his new clothes were so much different than the beige trench coat he so frequently wore in his previous days in Balamb. Maybe a lot has changed, Squall thought. Too much.
"Well, Squall, we meet again." He extended a hand toward Squall, more of a formality than a sign of friendship. Squall looked at the hand, then up at Seifer, and said nothing.
Seifer expected that. "I take it Xu sent you out here to get me?" Squall nodded and Seifer laughed. "Let's go then."
The walk out of town felt a lot different to Squall than the first walk did. With the sun down, everything seemed longer and farther away. He walked next to Seifer, silently, but stole a few glances at him now and then. Seifer had definitely changed. His face had sharpened into a more adult face. His jaw was a gentle curve that followed almost too perfectly near his cheekbones. And the scar running across his face shone out more than ever. Was this the same Seifer he had fought five years ago?
Xu greeted them in the main hall by the elevator.
"Welcome, Seifer!" cried Xu. She actually sounded kind of happy to see him. "Or am I to call you 'Instructor Almasy'?"
"You can call me whatever you like, Xu." said Seifer in his nonchalant way. Squall scowled. Yep, same Seifer.
Xu snapped out of her happiness, if any, right then. "Well, Squall, I've been discussing with Nida where Seifer will be staying during his time here. We seemed to think it'd be...inappropriate for an instructor to be staying in the student dorms. The hotel's all booked up for the summer and we couldn't possibly ask the Dincht's for Zell's 'sacred room'."
Squall was unimpressed. "Let me guess, you want me to share my quarters?"
Xu gave a hopeful smile. "If it wouldn't bother you too much..."
Squall was silent. Quistis was so going to get it for this.
Xu said, "Great, then it's settled. Seifer, have you eaten? No? Well, we're having a staff dinner upstairs, why don't you join us?"
----
Squall sat at the head of the table. The room was alive with the typical buzz of conversation; instructors talking about classes, faculty discussing lives and politics. It was a familiar setting but with a twist: Seifer was by his side. Seifer wasn't took keen on speaking with anyone else. It had been ages since he had ever even seen some of these people.
Squall actually decided to break the silence. "I don't know what Quistis and Xu are thinking but...I know you're not just here to teach classes."
Seifer swallowed a bit of food and then spoke, "I've spent the last three years proving to everyone I wasn't trying to sabotage everything. And I don't need it from you." He was cold.
Squall was shocked. Rinoa's death had affected everyone. He muttered a quick "Sorry." to Seifer and finished his meal in silence.
As the instructors all headed off to their own quarters, Squall and Seifer were left alone in the third floor halls. Squall led the way to the room at the end of the hall. It was no bigger than any of the other staff member's quarters, and Squall made sure of that. He wasn't better than anyone else just because his name had a 'Cmdr.' in front of it.
Seifer chuckled as he entered Squall's living space. Maybe Squall had shut down, but his taste in décor was a constant reminder of his black and white world. There were shelves of books off in a corner, a lone desk, a bed, and a single window. He watched Squall pull out a second mattress from the couch near the bookshelves. He suddenly felt this pang of pity for Squall. Squall lost the woman he loved. And somehow, in the mix of things, Squall got lost, or was consumed by the old Squall. It was so...sad...to Seifer, he just wanted to sob right there. He wanted everything to be right again. He wanted Rinoa, he wanted Squall. Just like Quistis said, he really did want Squall back. The world wasn't the same without him. No one was.
"Where are you, Squall?" cried Seifer.
"I'm right here," Squall said that with a tone of annoyance.
No, really, where are you, Squall? Seifer sighed and lay down on the pull-out bed. As Squall put out the lights, Seifer lost himself in a dreamworld, going back to the past where everything could be alright again.