Plot: There were side effects from the magic caused by the Time compression, and now that Seifer's back, things are getting even more troublesome.

Warnings: Yaoi (SeiferXZell)

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all it's characters are owned by Squaresoft or SquareEnix or whatever they want to call themselves. I'm making no money from this, but if you want to sue I've got a $20 bill and… (cleans out pocket) 16 cents.

Tainted – Part 3

The two walked into the currently empty dorm room, sparsely furnished. The kitchen/living area held a table with two chairs and a bit of counter space with only a sink and microwave. Each adjoining bedroom was garnished with a bed and desk, and the single bathroom consisted of a toilet, vanity sink and shower.

The typical cadet dorm room.

Quistis strolled in, dropping her stack of paperwork on the kitchen table as Seifer trailed in behind her. Sliding her thin framed glasses onto her nose, she took one of the seats at the table and began shifting through the large pile of contracts and forms.

"Take a seat, Mr. Almasy."

"Where'd Chicken wander off to?" He questioned, taking his seat opposite the shuffling instructor.

"Packing." Came her abrupt reply. A moment later, she pulled out a handful of documents and shoved them before the larger blond.

"The first 3 pages are the rooming contract. It should be familiar, but read it anyways and sign on the last page. The next two are your restrictions in Garden. Zell will know them too so there's no getting away with anything. Once you've read through those, sign on the last page. The last—"

"Whoa… what a minute." Seifer interrupted, pushing the paperwork away from him. "I'm not signing any of this! I don't want to be here in the first place!"

"If you don't want to sign and cooperate, you can go back down into the basement. It's your choice."

"Since when are Garden captives given a choice? Damn you guys are getting soft."

Quistis glared, pushing the contracts back in front of the blonde. "The last page is a release allowing us to remove your things from storage."

"Storage?"

The instructor nodded, "We still have all of your things from before you left. We moved it all to storage after the first few months you didn't return."

Seifer was silenced, this wasn't right. It's always been policy to either throw out or sell the things runaways left behind. Why, after two and a half years, would they still be keeping all of his things? Especially these guys. Out of everything he's done during the war, he's hurt these guys the most. The betrayed them, killed their loved ones, tortured them…

"We don't hate you Seifer."

Jerked from his thoughts, he stared at the other, who had let her professional visage drop and a gentle smile caress her face. Seifer cursed himself (thus causing a small falter in the instructor's smile, but she let the language pass) for forgetting the older blondes talents.

"We don't blame you for what has happened. We are not your enemies Seifer."

"Why the hell not!?" The ex-knight shouted, standing up roughly from his chair, knocking it backwards. "I commanded a war to start, I ordered hundreds to be killed, I told them to destroy Trabia! Any other country would have had me dead by now."

"Although it was you giving the order, it was Ultimicia commanding you to do so. She was the enemy, not you."

"I was her knight! I hold just as much responsibility as she does!"

"You were not her knight. You were her pawn."

Seifer silenced again, watching the women.

Quistis continued, "As much of her pawn as Edea or Rinoa was."

"I was not being controlled by her."

"Manipulation is just another form of control."

And for the third time, he was silenced, unable to think up a retort. Slowly sitting back down in his seat, he lowered his head, letting what he just heard sink in.

Quistis watched the large blond, thoughts of 'Manipulation… I was manipulated…' coming to her head with Seifer's voice attached to them. Straightening up, she pulled her instructor visage back on, pushing the paperwork back to the brooding blond.

"Dwell on it later. Right now, lets get you settled."

Seifer glanced at the instructor before picking up the paperwork and began reading.

A few minutes later, after reading through the boring rooming paperwork that he'd memorized years ago, (and he had to actually read it too, cause every time he'd try and skim or let his mind wander he'd get scolded at by the older blonde) he found himself scowling at his restrictions for Garden.

Almasy, Seifer, captive, is hereby condemned to remain on the ground of Balamb Garden with out exceptions. While on grounds, he must constantly be accompanied by Dincht, Zell, SeeD. Almasy is restricted without exceptions from entering the Basement, Parking Garage, Training Area—

"What!?" Seifer shrieked, I can't train!?

Quistis walked in from the bathroom, where she was currently doing her maintenance check. "We can not let you walk around Garden armed, or anywhere else were Cadets could be occupying, and with those cuffs on, even your magic is useless. Now finish reading."

Well shit!

"And watch your language!"

Growling under his breath, he went back to the paperwork at hand.

--Training area and Command Tower.

If any of these restrictions are violated, Almasy will be relocated to the Basement where he will be kept until Leonhart, Squall, Commander, or Kramer, Cid, Headmaster, deems otherwise.

This contract is subject to change and/or cancellation as deemed by Leonhart or Kramer.

...Well this sucks…Seifer mumbled, (ignoring the scold from the blonde in one of the bedrooms) as he grudgingly signed his name down at the bottom.

He was half way filling out the storage release form when there was a clumsy knock on the door. Quistis quickly walked over to open it, revealing Zell, hands full with a large duffle bag over one shoulder, sheets and pillows under one arm, and punching bag under the other.

"It's about time Chicken! And I thought it took Rinoa a long time to pack up for a sleep over." Seifer grinned, standing up. But he quickly found himself being shoved back into his chair and pen flying into his hand. An unquestionable commanding look directed at the large blond from the skinny instructor, "Finish."

Zell glared at the larger blond, a nearly invisible blush crossing his cheeks as he realized what Seifer meant by 'sleepover,' "This isn't a game, Almasy, this is work. I'm not here to have fun." He grumbled as he walked over to the left bedroom.

"No, but I'm sure I can make it fun."

"Almasy… Finish."

"I'm on it, Instructor. Just give me a minute."

"Now Seifer."

"Yes Mother."

Quistis frowned as he finished the release form, collecting it with the other documents that were now completed. "Someone should be by in an hour or so with your things. If you have any questions just talk to Zell or come find me." Walking to the door, she nodded lightly in goodbye before disappearing out the door and down the hall.

Seifer sighed, before grinning as he heard a thump and a zip from where the martial artist had just disappeared to.

"So, Chicken Wuss…" The gunblader smirked, leaning against the other's doorway. "I guess it's just you an me now."

TBC

Ok… R&R please!