Recka Blaszak walks aimlessly around the hallways of SeeD academy in Balamb, cursing the annoying uniform that the girls had to wear. She had been given a map by Headmaster Cid and sent on her way. After a while she sits down on a bench in defeat, almost completely giving up. She stares at the map in a heated manner.

Squall is walking down the same hallway, a bit ahead of her, on his way to his classroom. He is dressed in a slightly modified version of the uniform, the only difference being a medal signifying his ranking, viewing it as more fitting to wear than his other apparel. She notices him and feels as if she should follow him to where it is she needs to be.

She keeps her distance and follows him, sighing in relief when she realizes that her intuition had been right. She somewhat shyly walks into the classroom and down the far corner aisle, stopping at a seat in the very back, by the large windows.

He slowly goes to the front desk waiting for her to take her seat. Upon waiting, he scans the class as well looking to see who is there and who is not. After doing so, he gets ready to teach the class.

She loses her breath when she gets a good look at her teacher's face, almost certain that her heart had skipped a beat as well. She does her best to pay attention to the lesson but can't help getting lost in this man's presence.

He notices that she is not paying attention and glares at her for a second and then goes back to teaching. He goes over the various kinds of blades, explaining the strength and weaknesses of each of them.

She had only given attention when she heard him mention the gunblade. The name intrigued her so she spent the duration of trying to keep her eyes off of him by drawing what she thought this curious blade looked like.

Once the lesson is over he sits at his desk leaning back looking at the ceiling, waiting for every last student to leave.

Recka stood outside of the room and immediately went to a bench across from his classroom, sitting down on it and mulling over the map again.

He walks up to her and clears his throat. "I noticed you were doing anything but paying attention." he looks rather annoyed and angry. "Is there any reason why I shouldn't have kicked you out of class for that?"

"Well I was paying attention when you were talking about the gunblade sir. But I already knew about the other things you were talking about." She looks up at him shyly and can't help the very light blush that coats her cheeks.

"Is that so? Well then if you want to know more about it you might as well go get one. I am a weapon specialist with the gunblade." he looks away and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'm already late. Don't follow me like a sad puppy like last time ok?" he starts to walk toward the training room.

She lets out a dreamy sigh and jumps a little when a brown haired girl in a yellow dress suddenly appears right in front of her. She puts her right hand on her own heart and catches her breath.

The girl grins and offers her hand politely, "Hiya'! I'm Selphie! You must be new."

Recka offers a small smile and nods as she watches Squall walk around the corner and out of view. Once out of sight she looks up at Selphie from her seat and takes her hand, I'm Recka."

Selphie giggles excitedly, "Hey, do you need a guide? I'll show you around to your classes!" She seizes up Recka's schedule and lets out a little excited squeal, "Let's go!"

A few hours pass by, the day soon turning into nighttime and Squall still has not left the training room, something that has often happened. However, this time he was not training.

Recka had become acquainted with Selphie throughout the day and after classes she decided she would try out the training room. She changed out of her uniform and put on a red utility belt with a few knives, grenades, and other items over tight, black leather shorts with a short, white vest over a shorter black sports-bra shaped top. She put on a knee-high pair of black combat boots and grabbed a simple double-edged sword.

As Recka walked, she was completely oblivious to what awaited her just around the corner. Squall was in the training room, sitting on one of the very few benches placed throughout the thick jungle, staring at the ground, in what seemed to be a trance. He didn't move an inch and it looked as if he wasn't breathing. He looked a bit troubled and although he was conscious, he seemed to be not completely there.

Recka had fought a few T-Rexaurs, going straight-forward in attempts of getting into the middle of the room, hoping something special would appear if she did. She frowned and cautiously waved a hand in front of his line of vision. She did her best to stay calm not only for him but for her on self as she felt the need to almost hyper-ventilate.

Squall broke out of his trance for a second and scowled at her. "What did I tell you? " he goes back to just staring now he has a pained look on his face. How could he be so careless? Not only was he mulling over his past way too much, but he had let a student catch him in this state. He had become weaker than he had ever fought to avoid becoming.

She places her hands on her hips and scowls, "I didn't follow you here. I came here to train. I just happened to see you looking really sad. I understand if you're sad but that's no way to act. Whatever happened in your past, I'm sure it was scarring or messed up but it's no use moping over it and messing up your future." She sighs. Here she was just trying to train and she just has to not only find a teacher, but the one she likes, and then snap at him!

He let out an audible sigh and pinches the bridge of his nose. He swallows the lump in his throat and finds his voice. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should try and get over this. Say did you want to see my weapon?" he starts to lighten up as he now faces her with the smallest semblance of a smile on his face.

"Your gunblade? Sure." She smiles, "What's its name?" She lowers her hands from her hips, no longer feeling upset with her new teacher. She very slowly began to feel that overwhelming feeling of enjoyment in this man's presence. She felt her heartbeat speed up a little and suddenly that almost completely stoic expression was making her cheeks feel warm.

He takes out the weapon and holds it in front of him for her to see it in all its glory. It seems completely void of all damage and very shiny. She starts to see her own reflection in the blade as Squall speaks with a swell of pride in his chest and his voice."Its name is Lionheart."

Her eyes sparkle as she marvels over the blade, taking in all of the perfect curves, the design, and the lion pattern that just screams that it's the best, the strongest. She finds her breath and stares at her reflection next, "It's gorgeous."

"Thank you. Would you like to hold it?" he seems to be completely at peace now seemingly care free like nothing is troubling him anymore. If he was in his panicked state he would be questioning why his mood was trying to change, and why he was being so kind to this woman, let alone a student. Keeping up the tiny smile he nods, motioning it's alright to take it from his hands. "Just be careful, it's heavier than most weapons."

A shy blush appears on her face as she listens to this offer, staring at the gorgeous blade in this man's hands, "I probably shouldn't. I wouldn't want to accidentally drop it or anything." She waves her hands slightly in front of her a little bit before lowering them to her side and looking to the side a little shyly.

"Well you're right to turn it down. But this is a once in a life time chance that I'd let ever someone touch mine." he holds it away and thinks for a second. "I could teach you to use one if you want?" he seems at ease as he says this and looks over at her.

Her entire world seemed to stop at just that one simple question, "You would be willing to teach me?" She looked at him in slight disbelief, having believed just a few minutes ago that her new teacher and crush had somehow found a reason to dislike her.

"Well I don't mind at all. If you're willing to learn is all i need to know" he looks at her with a serious expression etched onto his glorious face. He does not look like he holds a single ounce of playfulness when he says this. She thought to herself that he would not have a reason to dislike her either seeing as it's her first day. For some odd reason unbeknownst to her, she felt comfortable with this serious look.

She takes in his expression, feeling a knot in her stomach as she mulls it over. He seems like he would be a great teacher and she wants to wield a gunblade as well, and this would certainly be a chance for them to grow closer together, hopefully. She nods slowly and looks straight into his piercing eyes that scream nothing but Alpha, "I am."

"Then take it. You will need to get a feel for its weight." He hands her the blade once more, watching her reaction carefully. He inspects her to see if she would be able to lift it at all, let alone grip it properly.

She grips it tightly and almost drops it but uses all the strength she can muster to keep it up, her breath becoming labored. Somewhat surprisingly to him, she had miraculously held it in the proper manner, both hands on the handle with one's fingers firmly embedded in the handle's ridges.

He helps her lift the blade, standing behind her. "A weapon like this is modified for each user. Be sure to remember that." he gently helps her swing it to get a feel for it. "The heavier it is the more reckless it is. So you should have one easier to swing and hold if you intend to wield one."

She nods and tries to control the red blush that's ever so threateningly attempting to spread, "Yes sir." after a small moment he takes back the weapon and sheathes it.

"That's enough for right now. We will get you one sometime later. Got it?" he then starts to walk to his room quietly. "I will see you in class tomorrow Recka." He lazily waves and walks through the thick jungle, out of sight and into the school building.

She blinks and slides down to her knees, the blush she had been trying to hide now coating her cheeks in an ensemble of pinks and reds, "Yeah. Tomorrow." A T-Rexaur appears and she casts sleep, having been in too much of a love-sick state to bother with the ferocious dinosaur. She walks back to her room, miraculously not getting lost and changes into a t-shirt, falling onto her bed.

The next day Recka walked into his class with a slight spring in her step. She wore a black headband with cherries on it and a barely noticeable warm smile. She was anxious to see her new teacher again not only to learn to use a gunblade, but because she had acquired a feeling that she had never felt so intensely. Was it alright to even think about feeling this way about a teacher?

As Squall teaches his lesson he stays at ease making sure not to ramble and keeps the lesson short. Once he finishes speaking he waits for everyone to leave, sitting at his desk with his eyes closed making sure to wait for every last person to leave before he pinches the bridge of his nose, his classroom light now shut off.

Recka walks out of the room and feels panic take over her as she realizes she had forgotten her way. She presses up against a wall and waits for the halls to clear so she can hopefully think straighter. Her thoughts begin to swim at the now blur of people. Where was Selphie?

Squall starts to walk out of the room and notices her, "Is something the matter Recka?" he says this with a slightly, almost unnoticeable concerned look. Why does she look so distressed? Did something happen during his class? 'No.' He thought. He closely pays attention to everyone during class.

She looks over at him and tries to put a calm expression on her face, slowly beginning to regain her breath as the blurs focus into becoming people once more, "I'm just lost is all. I'll be fine." How long was she standing there? Let alone, how long was Commander Leonhart standing there? This is so embarrassing!

"Where are you trying to go?" The commander is standing up straight, looking proper and pristine in all of his glory. He looks down at her only with his eyes, not bothering to lower his chin at all, waiting for an answer... Whatever.

"I'm attempting to head to my next class, actually." She stared out at the crowd in utter defeat, sitting down on the bench as her face pales the slightest bit.

He pinches the bridge of his nose in what she thinks in frustration then lowers his hand, opening his eyes, "What class? I'll have to help you."

She thinks for a moment and draws a blank. What was that woman's name again? She reaches into her bag and takes her schedule out, finding the class name quickly due to the hearts next to commander Leonhart's name that vividly stands out next to the black text. She then puts it back in her bag and looks up at the tall man, "I have Ms. Trepe's class next."

"I see. Her. Just follow me." he starts to walk to her classroom with a little bit of a reluctant face. He seems annoyed to hear her name, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. He couldn't give into looking weak, especially in front of a student. He wasn't commander for nothing so he would just have to put up with that woman.

She silently follows him for a moment before seeing the look on his face and going into an internal panic, "I-it's okay you know. I think I'll eventually find it." She waves her right hand dismissively, as if shooing away the problem of being lost. She hopes he would buy it so he wouldn't be more upset than he already looked.

"I don't mind showing you to her room once." He almost huffed out a rather long breath of air in annoyance. She had tried such a basic attempt of escape that he could only feel a tick of annoyance, "Just once."

"What does she teach, anyways?" She spares a quick glance to look up at the tall man. He has his gaze focused almost mechanically to straight ahead, much to her relief as she takes in his looks. She feels her cheeks flush as she looks from his strong jaw to his slightly pursed lips, to the end of his scar.

"She usually just teaches how to use your Guardian force. I didn't pay much attention." He answers truthfully. He begins to feel someone's gaze burning into the side of his face so he turns his head to look down at the girl next to him, catching her in the act of hurriedly putting her gaze in front of her.

"Well I already know all that so it's alright if I miss it." She goes into coaxing mode. She can only hope that she can find some kind of opening to convince this man not to face whatever is upsetting him. Who needs to sit something that they already know, anyways?

"That is, if you want to get a bad report. If you want to risk it I won't stop you." He mocks what he says, having skipped her class many times as well.

She smirks and crosses her arms under her chest, "It's practically the easiest class there is."

"It truly is." he stops and lets out the smallest of chuckles. "I think you get the idea so ill leave that to you. Do you really want to go or do you just want to skip it? After all it's just as boring as ever."

"I honestly just want to skip it. A girl named Selphie helped me to her class yesterday and I almost fell asleep five minutes in." She resists the urge to laugh at the memory of Selphie poking at her arm and cheek in attempts to keep her awake.

"Then do as you please. I had nothing to do with you skipping. Got it?" He then starts to walk off back to his class, raising his right hand lazily in the air as a goodbye.

She nods and smiles, "I got it teach." She winks at him and finds her way to her dorm, punching in the code and closing the door behind her. She strips off her clothes as the walks to her bathroom, turning on the shower water and getting a fresh towel out. She then steps in the water and sighs in relief as the hot water rolls over her skin. She slips into a world of daydreaming.

As Squall walks to his office he thinks to himself. Could she really be the one to save him from his torment? "Che, no." he says as he contradicts his own thoughts. He sits down in the black leather chair at his desk and looks at the papers on it, his eyes stopping on a letter from his father.

He didn't know why the man bothered when it was so obvious that Squall wanted nothing to do with him. Nonetheless he picked the letter up and opened it, reading it thoroughly.

Squall,
I haven't heard from you lately and I've been wondering how you've been doing. How's work? Did you meet anyone new? I really wish you would come up to visit sometime. I know you probably don't care if I want you to but I want you to know that Ellone wants to see you as well. Work's been a little slow and I've had a lot of free time. I would really like to see you again son.
Love, Laguna

He scoffs and tosses the letter back onto the desk. "Tsk, whatever." he gets up and to walks to the window, thinking to himself about the contents of the letter. Why did his father try so much? Why didn't he just stop?

He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse he hears his annoying 'father's' voice in his head, "But Squall I-"

"Stop with that!" he shouts to himself, starting to get mad. He then storms off to the training room. If anything can get his delusions to stop, it would be by fighting.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are always much appreciated! There are going to be sex scenes between the two so I need you guys to tell me if you think I should post them separately or keep them with this story but with a warning before them