DISCLAIMER:
Nope, Final Fantasy VIII is not mine. Neither are any of the characters I'm afraid. Oh, wait a minute, there is this one guy, but... Well, technically, I might have to pass ownership of him, due to his "occupation" and such. So I hereby disclaim ownership of all said properties.
Chapter IV
Squall tried desperately not to think too much on the way back. Of course, the constant bickering between Seifer and Zell wouldn't have allowed him enough silence to do so anyway. Poor Quistis, she looked as though she were on the verge of having a breakdown. The Trabian girl, Selphie, just found the whole thing amusing, though she would occasionally stick up for the emotionally unstable Zell. Although, in doing so, she too would fall victim to Seifer's ridicule.
It was getting late. They were ordered to withdraw at 1900 hours, local time, which was seven o'clock in Dollet. The ride back would take forty minutes, and Balamb was in a time-zone one hour ahead of Dollet. That meant it'd be close to nine o'clock in Balamb when they arrived. Would they be getting their exam results tonight then?
The fourth piece...
Starlight
Finally, their highspeed vessel docked at Balamb Harbor, not surprisingly last.Stepping outside into the cool night air seemed such a contrast to the humidity of Dollet. It was both refreshing and relieving to be back home. The salty sea air gently washed over the harbor from the open ocean reminding everyone how exhausted they all were.
Seifer was the first to exit the vessel, and he didn't wait around for the others. After him came Quistis who stood on the dock to make sure the others got out all right.
The lights of the harbor reflected in the water and the constant drone of the vessel's engine provided an almost hypnotic atmosphere. Rolling across the face of the full moon were dark clouds; a storm might be on its way very soon.
"Seifer?" A girl's voice called out. Standing at the front of the harbor were two figures, one big the other small. Raijin and Fujin.
The two ran up to their best friend, greeting him as he walked along the water's edge. "So..." Raijin began. Placing a hand on his hip, he tilted his head. "How'd it go?"
Seifer took his gaze off the water and reached over his shoulder to grab the handle of his gunblade. He didn't unsheathe it, just kept his hand gripping it. "Ah man, all they did was get in my way. As usual of course. I tell ya, being a leader aint easy."
Zell managed to hear his captain's remarks, and shouted out to him from the boarding platform. "Screw you!" Zell got worked up over everything.
"Safe?" Fujin asked.
Seifer didn't answer verbally, but began to pat himself down, revealing that he was uninjured and his clothing hadn't even been torn. He shrugged his shoulders with a grin, then joined his friends on a walk towards the parking lot.
The sound of footsteps caught Squall's attention as his instructor stepped beside him.
"And where does he think he's going?" she asked aloud, not expecting an answer.
Squall pointed to the APC they rode in on, as it seemed Seifer and his two buddies were heading straight for it.
"Well, good job everyone." Quistis told the small group. Though technically not in Squad B, Selphie was happy to receive praise from the instructor. "You're free for the next hour. Be sure to be back at Garden by ten o'clock. They'll be announcing the test results then. Afterwards, there will be a party for SeeD. So, till then, I suggest you don't exert yourselves." She smiled at the ever-serious looking Squall Leonhart. He was not paying any attention to her. "Ok, dismissed!"
Squall and the other two cadets started heading for the parked cars, when suddenly they noticed theirs was driving away, rather hastily at that. How did Seifer get a hold of the keys? Did he... hot-wire the damn thing?
"Dammit! Hey! Wait for us!" Zell ran after them for a second, but realized Seifer wasn't going to stop no matter how long he chased them. "Not again, man!" He put his hands on his hips and looked up to the star studded sky. "There goes Mr. Ego!"
"Don't worry," Quistis said as she approached from behind. "I'll give you three a lift, I have keys to all the vehicles."
"Thanks, Instructor." Zell scratched his head. "Hey, before we leave, do you think I could go say hi to Ma? My house is just down the street actually."
"Sure," his instructor said. "We'll meet you at the town entrance when you're finished. Don't take too long, all right?"
A train had just rolled into the station at nine o'clock. Its passengers quickly unloaded, most of them business men or SeeD's returning from their missions abroad. One person in particular seemed a bit out of place, with her cream-colored satin dress and matching high heels. She carried a small white purse under her right arm and wore a ring on a silver necklace. The air was chilly, and she was glad she had also decided to wear a sweater.
She stepped off the platform and made her way outside the station, immediately taking in the sea breeze. It sent a small chill throughout her body and she began to curse herself for not taking a jacket along with her. It seemed a lot cooler than she'd anticipated; this wasn't a climate she was used to at all.
"Let's see..." She opened up her purse and took out a piece of scrap paper with directions written on them. "Take Main Street to the town limits, then follow Euclid Road straight to Balamb Garden. Easy enough." She looked around the lot noticing first how empty it was. Despite only being nine in the evening, it looked like everyone in this town was already in bed or something, it was so quiet.
"I don't suppose I could hail a cab in a place like this..."
She stopped a passer by as she stepped onto the sidewalk. "Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me how far Balamb Garden is from here?"
The elderly man smiled politely and pointed down the street. "Well, you take this here road all the way to the edge of town, then keep heading northeast about forty miles."
"Forty miles! I can't walk that far!"
The old man started laughing. "Ha ha ha! My heavens, you're planning on walking to the Garden? Heh, if I were you, I'd think about renting a car. Not only is it faster, but it's safer too. Them plains just swarming with bite bugs this time a year." He chuckled a bit more, then continued on his way.
Rent a car? How much was that gonna cost her? It wasn't as if she had a ton of money. On top of that, she was only a teenager! She had no credit history! Now what was she supposed to do, bum a ride off someone?
Quistis dropped her passengers off at the main gate. "Everyone, assemble in the main lobby. I'll meet you there shortly." She put the truck into gear and continued into the garage.
Zell stretched his arms high above his head and let out a big yawn. "Huwaaaahhh! Finally made it back."
Selphie let out a petite yawn of her own. "Seriously." She also started to stretch. Both of them were physically exhausted, and it showed.
Squall didn't make any such movements, and he didn't yawn either. He was like a statue. In more ways than one...
"Well," Zell said. "I guess we just wait for the test results, like the instructor said." He yawned again, not quite as big this time. "Till then, see ya Squall!" He started to walk up the stairs toward the Garden entrance.
Selphie waved with a cute expression on her face. Something in her eyes made her look very adorable in that moment. Maybe it was the moon light bathing her soft pale skin. "See ya!" She caught up to Zell and tagged along beside him.
Squall thought for a moment. He noticed that Zell, his instructor Quistis, and even Selphie always smiled at him and were so friendly to him. They were so kind. Why? Sure, it felt good, but did he deserve it? He just wanted everyone to leave him alone. He wasn't worthy of friendship, and he didn't want any friends. That would just complicate his life, and he didn't need that. He felt a bit ill when he realized that he would have to forcefully push them all away. It made him sick for reasons he didn't understand. Maybe it was... the fact that he was willing to cause them the same pain which he feared to suffer himself. That made him selfish. Yes, he was a very selfish person it seemed. He didn't deserve to have people like him.
Yet... It was so much more than that.
He looked up to the stars; the sky was perfectly clear. He imagined himself floating into the blackness of space, on his way to visit other worlds and distant galaxies far, far away. No, Squall was not a dreamer in that way. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. Squall Leonhart was a realist. He could not just take off and leave his problems behind. He had to face all of them, eventually. Right now, his biggest problem was facing the results of the exam. A rather minor problem compared to the countless others that would surely face him in the coming days.
He took his time as he walked back to Garden. The cool night air calmed his nerves enough that he could muster a strained smile in the breeze. He just wanted to go to sleep; to enter that place he longed for so much. "Not going to happen."
As he walked through the main lobby, two SeeD cadets stopped him for a moment. "Hey," one of them said. "Did you hear?"
Squall didn't care, but when he just stood there expressionless, the cadet took it upon himself to continue.
"It looks like Galbadia's real target was the communication tower."
Squall squinted. Yes, he knew this. He found that out first hand, before anyone else. He was there trying to stop them from bringing it back online. That was Seifer's orders...
The other, female cadet jumped in. "But radio waves are useless. Even if they do get the tower up and running, they won't be able to broadcast anything. It's a waste of time!"
"Why? Even with a tower as powerful as the one in Dollet?"
Squall wanted to sneak away, but he stood there, just slightly curious of the topic.
The young woman put her hands up. "Don't you pay attention in class? You know that no major form of communication using radio waves has been usable for the last seventeen years, right?" She looked over at the bored looking Squall. "You know what it's all about, don't you?"
He nodded. "The worldwide signal interference." Short, and exact.
"Yes!" The young woman jumped a few inches into the air. "That's right! It started without warning seventeen years ago, around the time of the end of the Second Sorceress War. That's why we only communicate online through high-definition cable."
The other cadet looked confused.
"No one knows what's actually causing it though."
"Oh." The young male cadet tried to absorb the info, and tried to think back to his lessons. "When did we learn this?"
The young woman sighed. "Oh, forget it."
Squall, having nothing to add and no interest to stay any longer, walked away and headed for the directory. He spotted Quistis already there talking with that SeeD member that was on their vessel to Dollet. Xu, wasn't it?
He stood next to his instructor.
"Mission complete!" Xu said with excitement. "I think we did a pretty good job." She looked around. "The candidates are all back safely, right? Although, we didn't realize Galbadia was after the abandoned communication tower..."
"We've just received word from the Parlaiment." It was the Headmaster's voice as he approached from the stairs. He walked over to the directory and stood with Squall and the two female SeeDs. "The Galbadian army has agreed to withdraw as long as the tower is repaired and the uplink remains operational."
"Well," Xu raised her hand and looked over at Quistis. "Galbadia is out of there at least. Though, we could've made more money had they stayed and caused more of a ruckus!" She looked at Squall, who was standing there with sheer boredom written across his face. "Hey, you did pretty well! Squall, right?"
"Of course!" Quistis quickly commented before Squall had a chance. Not that he'd actually reply if he did have a chance to. "He's my best student. He's not that much of a social butterfly though."
"I'm standing right next to you, Instructor. Don't talk about me like I'm not here." Squall hated that.
"Oh, hey. The results for the exam will be announced shortly. Just stick around here until they give further instructions," Quistis told him.
The Headmaster stepped closer to Squall and put his arm around him again. Squall hated that even more. "So how did it feel to be out there on the battlefield?"
Squall appreciated the significance of the question, but he just had to remove the Headmaster's arm. "To be out there, actually fighting..." He paused and looked at the floor for a second, then back into his eyes. "It was a good feeling."
"That's the spirit!" He slapped him on the back; Squall ground his teeth at that instant. "Just don't let it go to your head!"
"Yeah, like Seifer," he thought. Speaking of which, was he around?
He looked around the lobby but didn't see him among the other SeeD cadets standing about. He turned to look down the circular walkway a bit and caught sight of his white trench coat; he was leaning his back up against the railing. He was alone.
Squall nodded to the female SeeDs and to the Headmaster, then made his way over to Seifer, standing outside the library entrance.
Seifer heard him coming and looked up. He was mildly happy to see that it was Squall; better him than anyone else, at least. "D'you hear about the communication tower in Dollet? We would've been heroes if it weren't for that damn withdraw order." He snickered as Squall stood in front of him. "Heh. Imagine that." Even with his snickering and sarcasm, it was obvious that Seifer was down. His voice was much softer than normal, and his eyes were focused on the floor; a lot like how Squall always looked. What happened?
Quistis and Xu both came walking up, both of them uninvited. Quistis spoke as soon as Seifer's eyes met hers. She heard what he had said. "You were only looking for a fight. You had no intentions of doing what was right."
He pushed himself forward, no longer leaning on the railing. His usual demeanor returned, but Squall could see it was just a facade. He was suffering inside. Squall could see that well, for he, too, suffered a great deal within. Misery knows misery.
"My dear instructor," he said sardonically. "I'm hurt. Those are some rather cruel words for an aspiring student. Though, I suppose a mediocre instructor like you could never truly understand someone such as myself." He turned his back, where he normally would have stared her down. No, he truly was not quite himself this evening.
Quistis looked infuriated by his comments. She made both hands into fists and bit her lip so she wouldn't explode with nasty comments of her own.
Xu jumped in before Quistis might say something regrettable. She relaxed slightly when she heard Xu speak. "Seifer. Don't be so stuck on yourself. You alone will take all the responsibility for leaving your squad's designated area."
Seifer turned his head and spoke over his shoulder. "Isn't it the Captain's duty to pursue the best possible course of action? Why can't you people look beyond the politics of battle! It's different when you're out there, faced with dire circumstances! Orders change, as focus shifts! I don't regret the decisions I made! Hell, I should be praised for them!"
"Praised! You'll never be a SeeD! Seifer, calling yourself a captain is a joke!" That was harsh, but he had it coming.
Seifer lowered his head in humiliation and didn't say anything else. Squall almost felt sorry for him.
Xu turned around and waved as the Headmaster started making his way over. She walked back to the lobby and nodded to Cid as she passed.
"Seifer..." Quistis wasn't sure what she wanted to say. The Headmaster spoke to her in a whisper, something no one else could hear. She nodded afterwards and walked back to the lobby with Xu.
He took a deep breath. "Seifer. You will be disciplined for your irresponsible behavior out there today. And I'm not only referring to your exam."
Seifer turned around, a mix of anger and sadness in his eyes.
"You must follow orders exactly during combat. But... I'm not entirely without sympathy for you."
Seifer didn't react.
"I don't want you all to become machines and mindless robots. I want you all to be able to think and act for yourselves. As much as I want you all to become great soldiers, I don't want you losing your humanity. I am..." He paused.
One of the faculty members approached from the library entrance. "Headmaster Cid, you have some business in your office." His voice was the usual cold and stern voice all the faculty members had. It was like every Shumian was a clone of the other.
The Headmaster shook his head and looked down at the floor, breaking eye contact with Seifer. "There are so many issues at hand." He never finished what he wanted to say. With that, he turned and left.
The Shumian man gestured with his hand as though he were a judge sentencing a criminal. "SeeD shall not act beyond the exact wording of a contract. We are not a non-profit organization. This incident will be a hard learned lesson for the Dollet Dukedom. They'll now know to be more generous when hiring SeeD. For a higher price, we would have gladly covered the surrounding cliff-side and secured the communication tower."
Seifer made fists and clenched his teeth. He refrained from speaking though.
Squall didn't have anything he wanted to say. Seifer probably wouldn't want to hear it anyhow. They were very much alike in that department.
Rather than remain to hear Seifer being scolded, he headed back to the lobby. A voice soon spoke from the overhead intercom system. "All students who participated in the field exam, please report to the second floor lobby. I repeat..." It was the voice of one of those Shumian faculty guys, so damn stern.
Squall rode the elevator up to the second floor as instructed. Immediately after walking into the lobby, right where he bumped into Selphie this morning, he was stopped by Fujin. "Rage!" she exclaimed in an intimidating tone.
Raijin was right next to her. "Fujin was sayin' that if Seifer doesn't become a SeeD, then it's all your fault. She can be pretty scary ya know!" He spoke with a gruff voice, and on the brink of laughter, or so it sounded.
"Whatever." Squall didn't waste his time talking to them and walked to the back where he leaned up against the wall with his arms folded. He noticed all the other cadets were there, two of them just came walking in. Zell was pacing back and forth, nervousness written all over him as usual. In the back stood Selphie, all smiles, as usual. Of the thirty cadets, how many of them passed, he wondered.
A garden faculty member stepped up from the walkway leading to the elevator. His bright white shirt and red overalls stood out against the beige colored walls. His bright yellow hat thing covered his entire face, just like all the others. "Settle down," he ordered. He held up a clipboard, undoubtedly containing a list of all the cadets. "I'll be announcing the names of the cadets that have passed today's exam. Only four of you have been selected."
Wow, just four out of thirty.
Zell looked to be the most anxious person in the crowd. His face was white and he looked like he was going to faint. Or maybe vomit. He just needed this to be over, whatever the outcome may have been.
"Mr. Tideski. Nida Tideski, please step forward."
The tall young cadet's face lit up. "Awesome!" he shouted.
"Mr. Zell Dincht. Step forward."
Zell almost exploded with the sudden relief of tension. "Oh, YEAH! SWEET! YESSSS!" He jumped into the air then strutted out onto the walkway. "Oh yeah baby, SeeD comin' through! Ha hah!"
Squall didn't move a muscle, except to breathe slightly deeper than normal. It took an eternity for the Shumian to call the next name.
"Ms. Tilmitt. Selphie Tilmitt, please step forward."
"Woo-hoo!" She whistled and sung a happy tune as she, too, began to strut her way to the elevator.
Squall took in one more breath and held it so as not to miss the next name that would be called. There was just one name left.
"And Mr. Leonhart. Squall. You're the last."
He exhaled loudly, but didn't show any expression of joy like the others had. He was thrilled, absolutely, but something told him he had to contain his happiness. As if he wasn't sure he deserved it. As if expressing it were a crime against his conscience.
The other cadets who didn't pass all hung their heads low and sighed. Some swore and grew very angry. Squall felt a small amount of animosity towards him and the other three. Of course, that was only natural.
The nameless Shumian faculty member led them to the third floor where the Headmaster's office was located. The office was huge; the ceiling had to be at least twenty feet from the floor, and the south wall was made entirely of glass. The view was absolutely breath taking. The office emitted a very cozy feeling with its mahogany wood finishes and maroon colored rugs. The Headmaster's desk was also a dark mahogany and made with the finest of craftsmanship.
The four graduates lined up in the front of the office while the Shumian made his way off to the side. "These are the four that passed today's exam."
The Headmaster rose to his feet and walked around to the front of his desk. "First of all, congratulations! However... From now on, as a member of SeeD, you will be dispatched all over the world, to distant continents and foreign countries. We are proud to be able to present SeeD, Balamb Garden's elite mercenary soldiers."
He walked over to the side of his desk and began pacing back and forth in front of them. "SeeD mercenaries are combat specialists. This much is obvious. But..." He stopped pacing and looked at the ceiling for a second. "That is only one aspect of SeeD. When the time comes..."
The rude Shumian interrupted him at what seemed like a crucial point in his speech. "Headmaster Cid. It's almost time for the convening. We must make this short."
The Headmaster sighed.
"SeeD is a valuable asset to Garden," the faculty member continued for him. "Its reputation is solely dependant on each and every one of its members, including you. Handle your missions with care and with the highest priority." He turned to Cid. "Is that what you wanted to say sir?" Cid just nodded to him. He turned back towards the four graduates. "Here is your SeeD rank report!"
The Headmaster grabbed a small stack of packets off his desk and walked up to the four new SeeD members. He started with Selphie at the end. He handed her a packet with her name on the cover sheet. "Your evaluation, Ms. Tilmitt," he said with a smile.
The cute girl took the packet and saluted the Headmaster. "Thank you sir!"
He leaned a little closer and spoke softly. "I'm really looking forward to the Garden Festival! I know that you're going to just fit right in here at Balamb." He nodded to her and then moved on to the next person in line.
"Mr. Tideski. Very well done."
"Thank you sir." He took his packet and saluted just as Selphie had done.
"Do your best, even if you don't stand out. You have great potential."
Nida smiled. "Thank you."
Next was Zell. He was shaking all over, not because he was nervous, but because he was itching with excitement. "And yours, Mr. Dincht."
"Thank you Headmaster!"
"Try to control you emotions a little. I know you are a very passionate young man. You will make a great addition to the force, I'm certain."
Squall was relaxed and waited patiently for his report to be handed to him. "And last, but certainly not least... Mr. Squall Leonhart. Finally, a gunblade specialist in SeeD. I know you will make me proud."
Squall took his report with a salute, and nothing to say in return.
The Headmaster walked back to the front of his desk and smiled at the four new SeeDs. "Congratulations again. I'm thrilled to have you four as full-fledged members of SeeD. I know that you will each contribute much and make us all very proud. This ends the SeeD inauguration. Dismissed!" He saluted them. They saluted him back.
They rode the elevator back down to the second floor and were surprised to see all the other cadets still standing in the hall outside the classrooms.
Selphie and Zell started strutting around, Selphie singing some happy tune that she just had to have made up. It sounded like a jingle improvised by a toddler.
Squall noticed there was a particular white trench coat in the crowd of cadets. He made his way to the group and wasn't surprised to see it was Seifer. He froze when Seifer made eye contact with him. Zell and Selphie came up behind, Zell almost frightened by the mere sight of him. Raijin, and especially Fujin, looked very pissed off. They each stood beside him as if they were his personal body guards.
Seifer smirked as the hall filled with utter silence. He slowly raised his hands, then started to clap. Raijin and Fujin followed suit and soon they were all applauding. Selphie took it at face value, as a gesture of praise. But both Zell and Squall knew it was a taunt. That animosity often masked itself in cruel ways.
Squall didn't have the stomach for such a display and immediately left.
It was almost eleven o'clock now. There was some kind of party that was supposed to be held at eleven. After grabbing something to drink at the café, he headed for his dorm. Curfew was in effect at this hour, and all non-SeeD personnel were restricted from wandering around the Garden. The halls were eerily quiet, even for Squall. His footsteps echoed endlessly in the wide open structure. It reminded him of the infirmary this morning, when he heard Quistis's steps approach the door. Then his thoughts quickly shifted to the woman that was in the hallway outside his room. Who was she? Was she even still here?
Before he knew it, he arrived at his door, the whole trip from the café to the dorm not registered in his memory. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a thin key card which he slid into a reader beside the door handle. The small LED switched from red to green with a beep and the door unlocked.
As he entered his room, he didn't bother to turn on the lights. He just wanted to crash into bed and sleep. He unstrapped his gunblade and carried it with him into his bedroom. He turned on the light and carefully placed Lionheart in its big black hard-case for protection. The harnesses had a designated hook on the wall beside it.
He rolled his head from shoulder to shoulder in order to crack his neck and then started to unbuckle his belt. Just as he began to pull his pants down, a loud knock came from the door. "Who the hell could that be? Get lost!"
The knocking persisted. "Squall! Heeey!" Oh great. It could only be one person. "It's Selphie! Are you in there?"
His first thought was to ignore her and go to sleep. But it quickly became apparent that sleep would be impossible if she kept knocking. He wouldn't be able to hear the crickets outside his window with all the racket she was making!
"I'm coming," he said as he pulled his pants back up. He turned the light on in the entrance hall and opened the door for her.
She invited herself in, carrying a heavy suitcase with her. "Hi Squall! So, what do you think?" She spun around in front of him for him to get a good look at the new, official SeeD uniform she was wearing. She started to pose, as if at a photo shoot, still lugging the big suitcase.
Squall didn't answer with words. His stone cold glare said enough.
Although, the hyper teen was far above such subtleties. She smiled back, blissfully ignorant of the disturbance she was causing him. "Heeey, you're coming, aren't you?"
He wanted so badly to kick her out; literally, and kick her hard. Lucky for her however, his better judgement always won out. Plus, he'd never hit a woman. "Coming where?"
Her jaw dropped. "What do you mean, 'where?' To the inauguration party, silly! Come on, you have to go! Here, I brought you your official SeeD uniform!" She tossed the suitcase on the floor in front of him.
"What do you mean, I 'have' to go? Why? Because I'm a SeeD now? That doesn't change anything. Or is it because you want..."
His thoughts were interrupted. "Go get changed, you'll feel better once you put the uniform on, I promise." She smiled from ear to ear, something only very few people could do. "I know it made me feel better!"
Squall bent over and picked up the case. "Fine. Stay here."
"Well, duh. What do you think, I'm going to follow you into you bedroom while you change clothes? What kind of a girl do you think I am!" She was kidding, even Squall knew that, but it was the kind of easy humor he was not used to and it made him nervous. When Squall got nervous, he clammed up.
Not saying anything else, he went to his room and slammed the door.
As Selphie waited, she looked around for a place to sit. There were no chairs! She started examining everything. The emotionless dorm actually made her queasy. "Squall! Do you live here! This is sooo... Depressing!"
Moments later, he returned, the uniform proudly adorning his handsome masculine physique. Selphie thought he looked like a hunk, and wasn't afraid to admit it. "Woo-hoo, lookin' good there tiger!" Her attention turned from the gloomy room to the good looking man in uniform.
He didn't say anything and just stared back at her with those stone cold eyes.
"All right, let's hit that paah-tay!"
The young woman in the satin dress finally managed to find a way to Garden, after spending nearly an hour finding someone who was willing to drive her. She actually hitched a ride with a SeeD who'd been returning from a mission in Deling. He was very social and described his mission in more detail than she cared to hear, but rather than be rude to the person so generous as to provide a lift, she sat there with a bright smile and listened to him ramble on.
Albeit, her attention was not quite on him.
She had her sights fixed on the scenery, and all the bright stars in the sky. Dark clouds had begun to roll in over Balamb Harbor, but it seemed the further they drove from the shore, the clearer the sky became.
Nights like this reminded her of her childhood. The stars twinkling above seemed to connect her with the past, as the heavens were the only true constant she'd ever known. Over years long since passed, cities grew, people came and went, even the Earth itself changed in its various subtle ways, but the heavens... They always stayed exactly the same.
"Good," she quietly said to herself.
"What's that?" The driver turned his head at the sound of her voice, not sure if she just spoke or if he'd imagined it.
She smiled and closed her eyes. "I was only thinking."
"Oh yeah? About what?" He'd been recounting his events in Deling, but after realizing the beautiful girl in the passenger seat beside him was lost in space somewhere, he swallowed his pride and turned the conversation on her, attempting to get inside her head.
A place, she wasn't willing to go with him. "No, I'm sorry," she told him politely, avoiding eye contact. She lowered her head and raised a hand to cover her mouth as a monstrous smile almost threatened to release a bout of laughter. Not that there was anything particularly funny, it was just the moment and her current state of mind.
The driver made quick glances from the dark road to the on-the-brink-of-losing-it young woman next to him; his face showing in equal volumes how confused he was. "Ah... Are you all right? Did I miss something?"
She couldn't help but giggle, then quickly waved it off, staring back at him with a giant smile. Her actions sent mixed signals, as if she were flirting with the SeeD, and being aware of this only made her want to laugh more; for she truly had no interest. She couldn't explain the sudden stimulation of her funny bone, but chalked it up to over excitement and lack of sleep.
The SeeD grew a smile of his own, and started to laugh with her, though truth be told he had no idea what he was laughing about. Try as he might, the young woman wouldn't give him an answer, and eventually returned her focus to the stars. Then he noticed how truly stunning she looked in the dim starlight. He fought against an inner urge to reach over and touch her, even if just to move a few strands of her dark hair away from her distant eyes. He resisted however, and kept both hands on the steering wheel. Though the scent of her perfume was intoxicating and tempting.
Maybe... he could get her name. If he was really lucky, and played it smooth, he might even be able to get a phone number! "So, uh... I haven't actually introduced myself yet, have I?"
The young woman turned her head slightly, but her eyes remained fixed. Was he talking to her again?
He didn't let the lack of eye contact dis-sway him. "I'm Les," he spoke in a confident voice. He reached his right hand over the emergency brake between the seats in offering of a handshake to the girl next to him.
She finally broke her gaze and noticed the hand beside her. She smiled, and took it. "Jules," she said simply, then returned her focus to the stars.
Disappointed, but not quite deterred, Les tried a less humble approach. "Well, that's a beautiful name," he began, not receiving the full attention he wanted. Perhaps this next comment would lead him where he wanted to go. "You look like a princess under the moon light." Was that too much; out of context? Shit, could he start over?
The young woman, Jules, couldn't contain it any longer. A sudden snort escaped her as she tried to contain the laughter, but alas, it was an exercise in futility. So, she let it all out, bursting into laughter that threatened to split her in half.
The confident smile on the young man's face quickly retreated and shrunk to an expression of confusion once again. "Jules? What's so funny?" he asked in a more demanding tone than intended, probably his ego trying to defend itself.
Jules started to wave her hand again, and tried desperately to contain herself. Boy, this guy sure had the wrong idea. She only needed him for a ride, but perhaps it was too wishful of a thought to think that he'd remain silent about the attraction she knew he had from the start. It wasn't her intention to lead him on or anything, and she believed she'd been pretty good at keeping from sending any such signals, but then again... his was just the typical behavior of any man, really.
Finally forcing back the laughter, she apologized quickly. "No, I'm sorry! I've just had a very long day, I'm not really myself right now. Look..." she stopped herself after noticing something change in the SeeD's eyes. Her expression loosened somewhat and took a more sympathetic look for his disappointment. She felt bad for rejecting him right off, but truth was, she really wasn't interested in him, and was only there because she desperately needed a ride to Garden.
She continued where she left off. "Look, you seem like a wonderful guy and all, and I really, really appreciate you giving me lift, but..."
He already knew that line, it was the same line they all used.
He suddenly felt a need to defend himself, to get out of this with at least some amount of dignity and pride. "Huh? Oh, no, you've got the wrong idea!" He waved his own hand this time, his expression a bit over-exaggerated.
She got the wrong idea? Sure she did; is that why his statement fell so flat against his expression? She looked into his eyes and shook her head ever so slightly, her lower lip pushed up in a mock frown. She didn't need to say what he wouldn't admit, his ensuing silence and lack of follow up said it for them.
"Anyway, uh... We're almost there," he said, his attention now fully on the road ahead of them. "Any particular place you'd like me to drop you off?"
She smiled, and faced front. "I suppose the main entrance will do just fine." She tried to wipe that final smirk off her face.
By the time they arrived, it was already passed eleven. The young woman adamantly offered the older SeeD some fare for the trip, but after some repeating of the words "no, it's not necessary," she finally surrendered and kept her money.
She shut the car door and took a deep breath as he drove away with a short wave. The entrance to Balamb Garden was massive and quite an impressive sight. Again, a breeze swept passed her sending chills up her back. She'd come a long way, and she was finally there.
After brushing out any wrinkles and imperfections in her dress, she took out a small pocket mirror from her purse to check her make-up and hair. Her loss of composure couldn't have been good for her complexion. Completely unsatisfied with her appearance, she frowned at the reflection in front of her. To anyone else, she might have looked just fine, exquisite even, but she saw every flaw as if they were waving bright red flags. There was nothing she could do now, however, so she took a deep breath and sucked it up. She had to go, she had to do this. For herself, for her friends, for all the people she cared about and loved.
The main lobby was so vast and cavernous, she was immediately lost before she even took a full three steps inside. It was vacant too, and she wondered how in the world she was going to find that party. Shouldn't the Headmaster here have sent someone to meet her? Would they really let just anybody waltz in without an escort?
Quistis was standing by the directory waiting for the young woman's arrival. Cid reminded her, which was a good thing because she would have forgotten.
She noticed the girl in the satin dress standing near the entrance seemingly lost in the awe of such a wide open structure. That had to be her.
"Excuse me," the young woman asked as a blonde woman in uniform approached her. "Headmaster Cid Kramer should be expecting me."
Quistis smiled. "Then you must be Jules." Damn, she was expecting someone older, maybe not too old, but certainly not a teenager. This woman was probably younger than she was!
Jules returned the friendly smile and nodded. "Yes, that's me."
"I've been given instructions to escort you to the party. Headmaster Cid will be there shortly, he is indeed expecting you."
The ballroom was huge; probably the largest room in Garden save for the first floor lobby and walkways. The floor was made of a highly polished marble that reflected a golden hue from the many lights that hung from the ceiling. Classical music played in the background, a live band performing a waltz he never heard before. Not that he'd been to many formal parties like this one. Actually, Squall had never been to a real party in his entire life.
Caterers were walking around handing out glasses of champagne and finger sandwiches. The dance floor was moderately filled with couples dancing. Everyone here was either a SeeD member or on the Garden's main staff, or a special guest of either of the former. There were a lot of faces Squall had never seen before.
Why the hell did he agree to come here?
He grabbed a glass of champagne and leaned up against a pillar next to the windows. He just wanted to be left alone, that was all he asked for.
"Yo, Squall!"
It was Zell. He ran up to the antisocial SeeD, acting a little tipsy, despite there was no alcohol in his soft drink. It was all a state of mind for him.
"Sup, man! Heh heh. I guess we're both SeeDs now, huh?" He switched the glass of the alcohol free beverage into his left hand and rubbed his right hand against his leg. "Put it there man!" He wanted to shake his hand, that ever-enthusiastic Zell.
Squall took a sip of his drink and didn't even look at him.
"Hah, even as a SeeD you're still the same. Well, that's typical of you." The slight disdain in his voice was not something Squall took lightly. "See ya!" He ran off; good thing. Staying any longer might have been hazardous to his health, in a purely physical way.
Quistis led the young woman into the ballroom, the sight of which caused the girl to gasp in awe. "Wow, look at this place..."
"The Headmaster should be attending soon. Why don't you wait nearby, I'll go see if I can find him. Here, let me take your things for you."
The young woman nodded and handed over her purse and sweater, but she was too busy focusing on her surroundings to actually respond. She'd never seen a ballroom like this one before, not just in terms of size, but in decor. It was all very unique, yet still extremely formal.
Looking out onto the floor there were many couples dancing, some of them better than others. She couldn't help but search for a particular person in the crowd, but neither was he on the dance floor nor at the bar. This saddened her, but just barely. She wasn't here for him anyway, there were much important things to focus on.
"Oh... Hey Zell." Squall could hear another voice stop him from getting too far. That high pitched tone... It was Selphie. "Wanna join the Garden Festival Committee and..."
Zell was wise to cut her off. "Oh, sorry, uh... I just remembered something I gotta... do. Gotta go, see ya!"
Damn. Squall knew she'd be making her way over to him next.
"Hmm..." Yup, here she came. "Squall! Hi!" She started out innocently enough, but they both knew why she was standing in front of him. "Wanna join the Garden Festival Committee? You can help out whenever you have time. There's no pressure or anything, we just need some help getting it organized. Please?" She looked up at him with pleading puppy dog eyes.
He wasn't going to fall into this trap. Right now, he really wished he could have brought his gunblade with him. He took a big sip of his champagne, ignoring Selphie completely. He wanted her to leave. Every single time she came up to him, he just wanted her to go away. He looked into her eyes and glared an expression of hatred. The hint for her to go was not subtle.
She took it, and ran for her life without saying anything else to him. "Hey you! 'Scuse me, you right there!" Squall watched her try to snag someone else.
A few minutes passed as she stood and waited. No sign of that blonde woman or the Headmaster anywhere. How could they just leave her waiting like this? They were worse than her father was. Damn, if only she had a date. She felt so out of place, all dressed up and alone beside the dance floor. Where was...?
"Excuse me, miss?" Selphie approached the young woman with wide eyes. "Are you a student here at Garden?"
The young woman put her hand over her chest. "Me?" She almost sounded insulted. "No, no, I'm here... on business." Yes, business, that's all.
"Booyaka! Everybody has an excuse!" She stormed off in a cute display of anger.
"Oh. Sorry." The young woman watched the petite female SeeD storm off to bother a small crowd. How odd.
Now, where was she? Right, feeling so damn out of place.
She walked out onto the dance floor and looked around at the other couples. Now she was beginning to feel lonely. Directly ahead of her was a balcony, and for a moment, she thought of waiting outside, but the Headmaster might not find her out there. What was taking them so long, anyway?
Squall kept his distance from the others both physically and mentally. He was thinking about how great it would be to climb into bed right now. As he looked up through the massive skylights, he again envisioned himself taking off to explore the stars. It was such a beautiful night, even he had to admit it. The music bored him; the chatter annoyed him; the whole happy atmosphere got on his every nerve. Why the hell did he come here? What purpose could his presence possibly serve at an event like this? Damn that Selphie Tilmitt! Damn him for going against his better judgement.
She looked up and saw the stars through the skylights above her. So many of them, each one alone, yet among countless others. She couldn't help but parallel their existence to her own at that moment, and wondered what it was she was doing there. This place, SeeD, they were governed by completely different moral standards than her own. Although despite that, she had to remind herself, she needed their help. As painful as it was to admit, she needed them.
Then, something magical happened. A star fell from the heavens, leaving a long bright tail in its wake. Shooting stars were a rare sight, and the significance of witnessing one was something he could only speculate on. As he followed with his eyes the path it took, he noticed something else he rarely beared witness to; a beautiful girl standing all alone in the middle of a crowd.
She didn't know what event such a sign may have foretold, but in that moment she couldn't help but grow a small smile on her face. Suddenly, the sight of that shooting star filled her with a magical feeling. Truly, it was something significant, the fact that she happened to look up at just the right moment to see a star fall from the sky. What celestial force wanted her to see it, and for what purpose, she wondered.
Then, as if her question had somehow been answered, she noticed a particular soul not too far away, his eyes firmly placed upon her. How long had he been staring at her? How long had he been standing there, by himself?
He'd never seen someone so beautiful in his entire life. Squall never paid much attention though, always so focused on his training. But right now, he couldn't stop focusing on her.
Her hair was straight and black, and cut just below her upper back, streaks of blonde died at either side of her head. She hadn't done anything extravagant with it for the celebration, but Squall could certainly see the beauty in simplicity and elegance. Under the yellow lights, her dress appeared almost buttermilk, the skirt ending mid thigh. There was a single strap that looped around her neck, and hanging visibly over her chest was a silver ring on a necklace.
Once their eyes met, he felt something surge throughout his body, sending waves of fire through his nerves. He suddenly felt weak, and he knew it had nothing to do with the champagne. He didn't realize it immediately, but he was holding his breath as he stared at her.
She smiled at him, the absolute most beautiful gesture he'd ever received from another human being, and she squinted her eyes refusing to break the connection. He, too, felt compelled to return the stare. Her deep brown eyes were like windows into her soul, all he could see was something truly divine staring back at him. He hardly felt worthy to behold such perfection. No, he knew with certainty, he was not worthy at all.
Whoever he was, he was quite handsome. Judging by the fact that those capturing azure eyes of his were unwavering in their attention upon her, she had the feeling that he was just as interested. Unlike Les however, the SeeD in the car, this man had something in the air around him, some kind of invisible force she could only sense within herself. Of all the people here, he seemed to stand out above the rest. Why was he standing alone over there? Surely, he couldn't be here by himself, could he? The prospect that he might be and that she could get him to keep her company was one she could not ignore.
Raising her hand, she gestured with her index finger for him not to go anywhere. Knowing he wouldn't be able to hear her, she clearly mouthed the words, "Wait right there."
Oh Hyne, she was walking towards him.
He was frozen, and couldn't move if he wanted to. This wasn't good, a professionally trained mercenary subdued by a single look from a beautiful woman. What would others say? He had to think of some way out, fast. But, she was already there, standing directly in front of him. Dammit, he didn't even have time to comprehend her closing the gap!
She started to examine him in a playful manner, starting with the obvious scar between his eyes. She squinted and covered her mouth at the sight of the stitches as she could only guess what had happened. Bending and shifting her weight, she looked him over head to toe, then stood straight and placed a finger on her chin. "You know, you're the best looking guy here." She meant it, as was clear in her steady, sincere eyes.
Her voice was like that of an angel's. Very unique, but so full of confidence and life. Instantly, with that single sentence, she'd captured him.
He tried to act cool. He couldn't explain it, normally, he'd ask what the hell she was doing. Or he'd tell her to get lost or risk grievous bodily harm. Was it because he found her so attractive? It was something in her eyes, and the way she smiled at him. Was she interested in him? She had no idea who he was. Why was she over here? Anxiety filled his nerves and made his stomach knot. The pleasure of her company was quickly turning into revulsion. Funny how something good turns into something bad when you start fearing it. Were his fears rational right now? No, he had no idea what the hell was wrong with him.
A moment passed, and he realized he hadn't replied to her comment. Still trying to act cool and indifferent, he took a sip of his champagne. In doing so, he couldn't help but feel vulnerable in the act, his heart quickening its pace.
The young woman placed her hands on her hips and continued to smile, staring him straight in the eyes. "So. Dance with me?"
He almost choked. He had to do something. His body was beginning to betray him. He found himself on the verge of smiling, but this was not allowed. He quickly raised his glass for another sip as he turned away, just as he had done with Zell and Selphie, but... Something was wrong. He didn't actually want her to leave. He was curious of her. She intrigued him, even though they'd just become aware each other's existence thirty seconds ago! He secretly hoped she would stay in spite of his behavior telling her he was disinterested. He quickly decided to return her gaze, relieved somehow that she was still smiling at him. Hyne, was she gorgeous. What on earth possessed her to stay?
"Let me guess," she said with a grin. "You're the type who will only dance with someone you like, right?"
He still did not answer for fear that if he tried, he'd be speaking in an entirely new language. Words were as elusive at the moment as the wind was. Still, his heart beat faster and harder the longer he stared at her.
The enrapturing young woman leaned forward slightly, her eyes widened. "All right then." Raising her right hand, she waved her slender fingers in front of his face in a sort of dance that was supposed to hypnotize him. "Look directly into my eyes... You're going to like me, you're going to like me!"
Squall froze even more solid than before.
She tilted her head with an expression of eagerness. "Did it work?" she asked with a playful giggle.
For the first time in his life, he felt like he could actually smile and do so genuinely. He turned his head embarrassed of his own emotions, and let out a faint laugh. He shook his head a few times, then looked back into those beautiful deep brown eyes he knew would haunt him if they ever left. "I can't dance," he confessed softly.
Normally, when a person tells another that they can't dance, it means they can't dance. But the young woman's face lit with excitement as if the comment opened up some opportunity for her to teach him.
She grabbed his wrist, forcing him to place his empty glass down on the nearest table while pulling him out onto the dance floor. "Oh, you'll be fine!" she told him. "Don't worry about it, it's easier than it looks, trust me." She looked back and winked at him. "Besides, I'm meeting someone here, and I don't want to be on the dance floor alone."
Squall had more than enough strength over this woman to resist her, and though he was being "dragged" out onto the dance floor, a part of him admitted it was something he wanted. Yes, this girl was just so beautiful and enchanting, how could he have resisted the offer?
Unfortunately for him, he really couldn't dance; well. She stopped rather abruptly and he slammed into her, definitely sensing toes under his shoes.
She winced at him and bit her lip, but her eyes told him she'd already forgiven him. They hadn't even started yet, and he was already messing up.
The band finished the piece they were just performing and prepared for another, giving the crowd a moment to stop and applaud.
"Ok, it's simple," the young woman explained. She pulled him closer to her and placed his left hand at her waist, while interlocking her fingers with those of his right. "It's a waltz, meaning there are steps of three. It's performed in triple time."
The words went in one ear and out the other, and before he knew it, the music started playing again. He felt a hand placed on his left shoulder, then the ever so slight tug as she took the lead in the dance.
"You see? Follow the rhythm. Around, quick, quick, slow... Just like that, you got it!"
He could only stare at his feet, missing every step as he forced his body to follow hers. He wasn't dancing at all, he was tripping in style. Well, not much style at that.
Then the inevitable happened once again, he felt that crunch beneath his foot.
"Ow!" She stopped for a moment to adjust her posture and rub her toes. "That's not part of the dance mister!"
He felt his face growing redder, and redder. The whole room seemed to be shrinking at an alarming rate. What in the hell was he doing!
They went for another go, and he tried to concentrate harder. He took deep breaths and told himself over and over to just relax, that it was so simple. Hell, if he could outrun a massive mechanical spider in the unstable beach sand and remain on his feet, a stupid dance should be nothing, right?
Wrong.
He felt his partner break away for a twirl, holding tightly onto his left hand. The recoil pulled him in too fast though, and he collided with her almost sending her straight to the floor. Sensing her frustration, and the pain he caused after kicking her shins, he put his hands up and turned away. No, he couldn't do this, he was making a fool of them both.
"Oh no, you're not getting away!" She ran after him, once again grabbing his wrist. She tentatively pulled him back this time however, not sure exactly how he was feeling. If he really wanted to leave, she wouldn't stop him. To her greatest relief, he opted to try it again.
More missed steps, more fumbling and collisions with his partner, but he was determined to get it right. She wanted him to dance with her; it was the least he could do for someone so engaging. He didn't realize it, but this girl had already stolen his heart. He would not realize it for some time, not until he first realized that he actually had a heart that could be stolen.
They seemed to be doing better, but then just had to cross paths with another couple. Knocking the four of them out of step, the other guy gave Squall a hostile look. He was too stunned to defend himself, and to his surprise, his partner took his hand then stuck her tongue out at the other couple.
"Watch it!" she told them in Squall's defense.
He stared her in the eyes for a moment as she smiled back at him. Why did she do that? There was some unspoken words in her eyes, and for the life of him, he could not fully read her expression. Was it to protect him from embarrassment? Or did she genuinely believe the other couple was at fault? Just what in the world was this girl thinking? What was she feeling?
The song finally ended, but another one with a more upbeat tempo immediately followed. Squall found himself stuck having to suffer another dance, but he didn't protest. A part of him was happy at the moment. Once he finally relaxed and realized that this girl wasn't here to torture him, he found himself slipping more into the mood. His body seemed to naturally carry the rhythm, and the faster tempo was somehow easier for him to move to, as if there wasn't enough time for him to think, and instincts took over.
His dancing suddenly improved, more so than the young woman had expected. They both began taking more risks and moved much more fluidly as the music reached a climax. After successfully completing a set of twirls around each other, they locked hands and pulled each other close. The sudden proximity had them both paralyzed.
At that instant, the lights dimmed and fireworks began to ignite the night sky above them. Squall broke eye contact to stare out the skylights at the enchanting display. He never felt the way he did right then; there was something so indescribable in the moment, with her so close. So surreal... foreign... He felt... comfort. So rare was the feeling, that he had let his guard down and forgot where he was. All his training, had gone out the window.
The young woman found something even more enchanting than the display outside; his eyes, they were so deep. She relaxed in his arms and ignored the music for a moment; she could feel his heart pounding, and that made hers pick up the pace as well. As the other couples continued to dance around them, she only stared into his eyes, guessing at the depths of his soul.
He was shy and quiet, as such profound men often were, but he possessed great strength as she could also sense in his touch. As strong as he was, he was so gentle the way he held her; he was a man who was in control, even if only over his own delusions.
That idea intrigued her. He didn't dance with her because she forced him to, he danced with her because a larger part of him wanted to. The feeling that gave her, that she could cause such a disruption to a man such as him, it was like nothing she'd felt before.
And she wanted more.
Unfortunately, other issues had once again presented themselves, and she remembered what she'd come here for. "I'm sorry, I have to go." She gently pushed him away, a little too forcefully by mistake, then hastily made her way off the dance floor. She almost looked back, but the thought of missing the opportunity of what she'd come here for was at the forefront in her mind. She was in too much of a rush, and that gave all the wrong impressions.
Just like that, she was gone. And there he was, alone.
Squall stood in the middle of the dance floor truly heartbroken. Why did he feel so sad all of a sudden? He looked around and took a painful note of all the happy couples. He was not one of them. Again, he begged the question; why was he here? This is what happened when you followed your emotions, he knew that. He should have told her to get lost just like Zell and Selphie. He should never have even come to this party.
He just wanted to go. He needed some air.
Squall ventured to the outside balcony, finding it to be surprisingly small. He leaned over the edge and stared into the dark horizon. Balamb Harbor could be seen in distance, its blue and white lights reflecting in the ocean. There was a gentle and cool breeze coming from the northeast. It carried a freshness with it that was almost intoxicating, in the sense that it swept away his depression. But the light of the moon and stars sent waves of sadness through his soul. It was such a beautiful night. He was so... Alone. Heh. Squall, the loner, was feeling alone. Well, it was that he felt left alone; rejected. Perhaps there was a difference, perhaps not. It made his head hurt trying to think about it.
Footsteps approached him from behind. A few possible candidates raced through his mind of who they could belong to. Out of all of them however, he did not expect them to belong to his instructor. He would have been less surprised to see the girl in the cream-colored satin dress walking up to him.
"You really are an excellent student." She spoke softly and stood beside him with her arms folded. She looked cold. "Even that dance was perfect."
Squall only slightly glanced at her, then returned his gaze to the open plains. Reminiscing in the moments he spent with that woman in the satin dress, he allowed himself a slip in his normal behavior. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Quistis did not respond, she simply wanted to spend a moment with him.
The silence annoyed Squall though, and broke his concentration. He sighed in annoyance and pushed himself off the railing, but still did not look at his instructor. "Yes?"
"So you'll dance with someone you don't even know, but you can't stand being around me?" She stepped a little closer. "Why is that?" There was a hint of jealously in her tone. Squall picked it up right away.
He sighed again. "Whatever." He finally faced her and looked her in the eyes. "You're an instructor and I'm your student. It's a little awkward when you don't say anything."
Quistis broke a smile and started to chuckle. "Yes, that's true. I was like that myself, at first." She relaxed her arms and leaned on the railing, her eyes focused on the same horizon that had Sqaull's attention seconds ago. "Oh, I almost forgot. I wonder what's to become of me?"
What did she mean?
"Squall, I came here to give you an order. You and I are to go to the 'secret area.' It's where students go to secretly meet up and talk after curfew. Well, talk, amongst other things. It's inside the training center."
"So what do you want to do there? Are we going just to tell everyone that they're violating curfew?" He turned his head. "If that's the case, then forget it. Leave that for the Disciplinary Committee."
She snarled. "Just go get changed. Meet me in front of the training center entrance. This will be my last order Squall Leonhart." She turned and headed back inside.
"'Last order?' What does she mean by that? What is this all about?" He watched her go and tried to shift his thoughts to anything other than the party. It was hard getting the image of that girl out of his head, but if Squall Leonhart was good at anything, he was good at focusing on a mission. His instructor had just given him an order, and he was going to obey it. Even if he was doing it blindly.
He was thrilled to finally be able to remove that wretched uniform. It may have been a SeeD uniform, but he hated it now because of the first memories that were attached to it. The attire was tainted and he would probably never even look at it again unless absolutely forced to. He felt better changing back into his casual clothes and the leather jacket with the fur-line collar.
He removed Lionheart from its case but didn't bother to take the harness and sheath from the hook. He would just carry it. They were heading into the training center, there was a high probability that they'd run into a monster while they were there. Squall hated being caught unprepared.
His thoughts suddenly shifted to the shooting star and those deep brown eyes it connected him to. "No. Forget it." That's what happens.
It was very late now. Everyone was asleep except for those at the party, and the few students who made a habit of breaking curfew. Now that he was a SeeD, the curfew no longer applied to Squall. Most areas of the Garden were closed though, so there was no point in trying to go anywhere. The only section that remained open twenty-four hours was the training center. It was divided into various levels, the lower one only using holograms for monsters. However, the deeper you went, the more challenging it became, until finally, you reached an area that had live monsters roaming loose. This was where all the SeeD cadets came to train and hone their skills. This morning though, he and Seifer decided to train outdoors, in the mountain trails to the north. He wondered, how would his day have been different if he just stayed at Garden?
Probably not much at all actually.
His instructor was waiting for him inside the entrance hallway. She had changed into the same outfit she wore to the Fire Caverns, minus the nylons on her arms and the orange dress. She also had her chain whip with her.
He walked up behind her and didn't have to let her know that he had arrived. She heard him and turned around.
"Thanks for coming," she said softly.
"I came because it was an order. Why are we here?"
She hesitated before answering him. "Yes, I ordered you to come. Somehow, I knew that had I simply asked, you would have never agreed. Though, I wonder... Was that the best thing for me to do?"
He frowned. What the hell was she talking about?
"Come on. Let's go."
Squall was tired. He didn't care what she was planning, he just wanted to get it over with. He'd follow her inside, tell all the students in the "secret area" that they were violating curfew, then leave. It would only take a few minutes. Still, he'd rather be plucking loose fibers out of his bedroom carpet.
He followed her inside trailing a few feet behind; he thought he heard someone behind them, and when he turned around, he saw a glimpse of someone running passed the entrance. "Who was that?"
He turned back to Quistis as they entered the training center. He was vigilant with Lionheart ready. The training center was like a jungle. There were trees and thick brush everywhere, and a dirt floor with boulders and rocks scattered about. The path led in a circle around a central grove of trees that was sealed off by a barbed wire fence. It was impossible to see what was all the way in the center.
They slowly trekked deeper into the jungle trying not to make too much noise. The last thing either of them wanted to be doing right now was fighting some monster. They came upon a small artificial stream with a metallic grated bridge that crossed over it. The stream fed into a tiny little pond that contained several types of fish. Catching them was not allowed.
"It's just up ahead," Quistis said quietly. "Still with me?" They continued walking, their guards still up.
They reached an area filled with giant stone slabs and boulders that formed a maze-like path. Off to the side, near the wall was a metal walkway leading outside. There was a chain blocking the path with a sign that said, "OFF LIMITS!"
"This is it." Quistis led Squall down the narrow hall.
At the end was an open-aired platform with a railing that went all the way around it. Passed the railing, the ground dropped a good ten or fifteen feet, and there was nothing but thick vegetation growing. There were two students, a boy and a girl, sitting on the floor off to the side, holding each other close and sharing kisses every so often. There was another couple on the other side, leaning on the railing and talking quietly.
Squall did not want to be here. It made him uncomfortable.
Quistis breathed in the cool night air, exhaling it slowly. It smelled like a forest in there. "Hmm. I haven't been here in a while," she said. She walked up to the barrier and placed her arms on top of it.
Squall followed her over and stared out at the view of the Garden, carefully leaning Lionheart up against the railing. The blue, yellow and white lights shone brightly. The golden rings that were suspended over the entire Garden were glowing and pulsing with energy. He tried not to think about anything. His thoughts would wander into areas he didn't want them returning to.
A long period of silence ensued between the two as they both were deep in their thoughts. Finally, Quistis began to move. She tucked some hair behind her ear and sighed. "What time is it?" she asked, very softly.
Squall hesitated to answer. The sound of her voice pulled him out of his own thoughts, but when the question registered, he realized he didn't have a watch. "It's after midnight," he said. It was his best estimate.
She sighed again. "Oh well."
Another period of silence. Squall's thoughts were running in circles again, he couldn't make sense of his own feelings. It was clear that his instructor was struggling with something. It was starting to become obvious why he was here. She had a problem, and she wanted someone to talk to. Why did it have to be him?
She suddenly pushed herself away from the railing and folded her arms. "I, Quistis Trepe," she began, "am no longer an instructor as of now!" She spoke with clear conviction. "I'm just a normal member of SeeD now, like you. Who knows? Maybe we'll even end up working together." She looked over at Squall to see his reaction.
Waiting forever to respond, he turned around and leaned his back against the railing, his elbows up. "Oh. Really?" He honestly didn't care.
"Is that all you're going to say? 'Oh, really?'" She seemed very disappointed in him. She was hurt by his lack of compassion, but... Maybe he just didn't understand what she was telling him. Yes, there were deeper implications, perhaps too subtle.
"If that's how it was decided, then there's nothing you can do. You have to abide by it." He didn't look at her as he spoke.
Quistis sighed, much heavier this time. She went back to the railing and stared at the stars. "Figures..." she told herself. "They told me... that I failed as an instructor. Basically, they said that I lacked leadership qualities."
An eternity of silence. Only the crickets were communicating.
Finally, she continued. "I was a SeeD by the age of fifteen. I got my instructor license at seventeen." She closed her eyes. "Wow. It's only been a year since I got it."
Squall turned his back on her. He was getting very uncomfortable. What the hell was she telling him this for? What was he supposed to do about it? He didn't care!
"I wonder where I went wrong," she continued, with her eyes still closed. "I did my best... That's all anyone can do, right?" She opened her eyes and turned towards Squall, seeing only the back of his head. "Are you listening!"
Squall sighed and turned back around. "Aren't you done yet?" What an awful thing to say. He knew it, but it was how he honestly felt. Burdened. "I don't want to talk about this. What am I supposed to say about other people's problems? What the hell do you want me to do about this, it has nothing to do with me."
"I'm not asking you to say anything. I don't want you to do anything." She raised her hand to her now fast beating heart. "I just want you to... listen."
Squall pushed himself forward and snapped, grabbing Lionheart at his side. "Then go talk to a wall." It sounded worse than he intended.
Quistis could feel tears forming in the corners of her eyes, the unmistakable sting that warned of the impending overflow. "Aren't there times when you want to share your feelings with someone! Squall, how can you be so cold?" She had to turn away from him, before he saw her tears. "It may not mean much to you, but this means so much to me."
"Everyone has to take care of themselves." He took a few steps forward, ready to leave. "I don't want to carry anyone's burden." No, his own burden was big enough, right? He walked away without looking back.
Quistis watched him leave, then stared back up at the stars. She placed a hand at the back of her neck to soothe the aching tension, but it did little to nothing about the tension in her heart. "No leadership qualities... Failed instructor... Maybe they were right." She punished herself. She blamed herself for Squall's behavior. She knew better than that, but something prevented her from getting angry at him. She now had to question herself. Was it love? "So... this is what happens when you follow your heart. Figures."
She didn't bother to try and catch up with him. She just let him go. She figured it was best to stay away from him, he only seemed to bring her more pain.
Why did he have to be like that?
As she came out of the hall from the secret area, she suddenly heard a loud scream. It was the voice of a woman, and by the sound of things, she was terrified by something.
She ran through the jungle-like room and noticed Squall was rushing through thick brush towards the center of the room. "Squall!" she shouted. She hurried, as fast as she could.
When she arrived, she saw a huge flying monster that looked like a scorpion with wings. It was attacking a young defenseless woman who was crouched on the ground with her hands over her head as the monster flew around her.
Squall got to her first, and shouted to her. "Stay down! Keep your eyes closed!" He called upon the powers of the GF and retrieved a magic spell from his memory, casting fire on the flying insect. Its wings singed and burnt right off, causing it to fall to the ground, squirming in agony. It reared up and charged at him, its scorpion-like tail raised and ready to strike with deadly accuracy.
He raised Lionheart and quickly spun around, avoiding the strike, but making one of his own at the same time. The blade cut right through the tail. Quistis cracked her whip and dug the sickle deep into its back. The creature rolled over, but didn't quit. Quistis swung her whip again, this time tangling it around its wiry legs, and then dragged it through the dirt. Squall raised his gunblade and swiftly severed the creature's head.
The monster's body slowly became transparent, then vanished completely. Squall looked over at Quistis, but didn't say anything. She didn't say anything to him either.
Suddenly, two men dressed in white suits came rushing out of the brush, one of them immediately tending to the frightened woman on the ground. He tugged at her arm, letting her know it was safe to get up.
She looked around for a second, then stared Squall square in the eyes, the look of horror evident in hers. At that moment, he felt a sudden recognition. She was the woman who stopped outside his room in the infirmary that morning. What the hell was she doing here? Who was she?
Quistis wasn't certain, but she thought this young woman just said her name. No, not her full name, but a nickname... one she hadn't heard in a long, long time.
Who were these people? Squall had never noticed anyone with those uniforms in Garden before, and this woman seemed to be stalking him. What was going on?
"Are you all right?" the guy holding the woman's arm asked. He seemed to receive a small nod in reply. "You've been stung... We need to get you to the infirmary." He wrapped his arm around her back and slowly walked her towards the entrance.
But not before she gave one last stare into his eyes. Into Squall's eyes.
Quistis walked up to his side. "Who was that?" she asked.
Squall shook his head and walked in the same direction, soon returning to the cool air-conditioned environment of the Garden halls.
Before he could get too far, Quistis stopped him by grabbing his arm. "You know Squall. It isn't like everybody can get by on their own." She pushed him to the wall and made him look at her. In her comment, she wasn't just referring to the woman they just saved. "Some of us need the support of others." With that, she walked away, not looking back.
Squall stood there in the hall for a moment. Many thoughts were running through his mind, but he could only pin down one thing. He thought about what she just said to him. "It's not like everybody can get by on their own. Some of us need the support of others." He scoffed at her words. "Says who?" he asked out loud.