Part 7.

IIII

"You're going on another mission? "Selphie asked Quistis. "So soon after we lost so many people?"

The girls were standing in Squall's office arguing about the new mission. It was just a little thing. A few Seeds needed to act as security from some clients that's all.

"It's good money, what was I supposed to say to the people that asked for our help?" She said. "That's what we do here remember? Squall would get back on with it."

"But you're taking Irvine? After what happened to Sq-"

The door to the office opened causing both girls to jump, their eyes darting to the door. Irvine burst in.

"Have you seen Squall?" He looked about the office as if Squall was hiding in there or something.

They girls shared a confused look. "What? No of course not he was with you right? In your dorm I mean."

He shook his head. "Well not anymore." He threw his arms up. "Our commander's wandered off."

"What?!" Selphie said.

Quistis rolled her eyes. "Typical Squall, he never sits still, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did."

"Where would he go? He's always in his office or the training centre or his dorm, have you checked his dorm?"

Irvine nodded. "First place I went to."

"Well he can't or wouldn't go into the training centre, he's not that healthy yet." Quistis reasoned.

"I don't know." Selphie said. "It is Squall, you know what he's like. He probably doesn't think of himself as sick."

They all traded worried looks before turning and running out of the office. "Me and Irvine will check the training centre, Selphie you go look in the library, quad and anywhere else you think he'd go." Qusitis said.

"Right." The brunette agreed, getting into the lift with them.

They all poured out of the lift, running off in different directions. Quistis recruited Xu on the way and the running boy. Selphie grabbed a couple of friends turning their search into a man hunt.

Irvine spotted Zell and Seifer. He stopped long enough to enlist Zell, Seifer just laughed at their problem and wandered off on his own.

Seifer watched Zell run off with the cowboy adding to the madness. Squall was not a child and even a wounded or sick Squall was more than able to look after himself. He stood there for a moment or two more to look at all the cadets and Seeds running around franticly before pushing off the wall and heading into the training centre. As expected about four or five idiots were searching in there, looking in trees and under bushes as if Squall would be hiding in a bush somewhere. Seifer walked through to the secret area, the right door was open slightly enough for him to slide side ways through. A cadet was standing in there looking over the balcony calling for Squall. Not like the brunette could answer back or anything.

The blonde moved to the left and around a slight corner there to the hidden broken ladder that only reached half way up. He went up the steps, standing on the last step and pulled himself up the rest of the way. His secret place that only he and somehow Squall knew about. He didn't know how the brunette got up there as Seifer was only just tall enough to reach the top, so for Squall, being several inches shorter it must be a challenge. Though Squall was never one to back down from a challenge.

Seifer heaved himself up and over the top, ending up on the roof above the doorway to the secret area. None of the search party were up here, they didn't know this place existed. He got to his feet and walked along the edge stepping down into a dip and grinned smugly to himself when he spotted the missing brunette sitting on the floor, leaning back when the floor curved upward so he was staring at the sky.

When they were younger about fifteen or so Seifer had discovered this place first and would sunbath up there sometimes naked. Then Squall started going there too. Seifer didn't bother to put any clothes back on, he always said that if Squall didn't like it he could leave. Then when he didn't the blonde would accuse him of liking what he saw too much.

"You know the whole garden's looking for you."

Squall jumped, eyes shooting open and he sat up straight.

Seifer smirked at him.

Squall rolled his eyes, digging in his pocket for his pad of note size paper and his pen. "I know I saw them. Didn't think you'd join in though."

"Oh I didn't. I don't care what you do."

"Why are you here then?"

He shrugged. "I wanted to prove that as usual I know you better than they do, even your boyfriend."

Squall sighed. "He's not my boyfriend and you only know about this place."

"Not yet, you mean." He smirked at Squall, moving to stand opposite him. "I've seen the moon eyes he makes at you, it's disgusting really."

"He does not make eyes at me, he's just being friendly because of the accident." He wrote, though that wasn't entirely true. He and Irvine were close before the accident and he knew the cowboy had feelings for him.

"Yeah, yeah whatever you say." He opened his coat and removed a pack of cigarettes.

Squall raised an eyebrow. "I thought you quit."

"I lied." He shrugged, lighting his cigarette before offering the pack to Squall who refused. "Don't tell anyone." He added with a smirk, knowing that Squall couldn't anyway.

Squall watched Seifer smoke in silence for a while, savouring the quiet while he could. "Aren't you going back down?"

Squall shrugged. He'd have to at some point. "Maybe when they give up the search."

Seifer scoffed. "I didn't think they will, give it an hour and they'll probably start searching Balamb or something."

"I only wanted a walk." He said.

Seifer laughed. "Good luck, I'm surprised nurse Irvine didn't lock the door or strap you down I always thought the cowboy would be into the kinky stuff."

Squall scowled at him. Though thinking about it Seifer was probably right. He was just thinking that maybe he wouldn't mind the cowboy tying him up when he looked up to see Seifer grinning at him.

"Pink suits you." He said, knowingly.

The brunette glared at him.

"I could go and get your boyfriend if you like?"

"He's not my…" He started to write, Seifer watched, knowing what he going to say.

"Right, not your boyfriend, okay then I'll go and get your 'would be boyfriend who makes moon eyes at you' should I?"

Squall gave him a look then sighed. "No I'll go down."

"You will? You're not just saying that to get rid of me?"

"I want to get back to Irvine's dorm without being caught though, I'm tried of people treating me like a baby."

Seifer put a hand to his chest. "And you want my help? I'm touched."

Squall folded his arms giving Seifer a withering look. "Would you?"

The blonde smirked. "Of course, I have an idea already."

Squall raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"Stay here I'll be right back." Seifer turned and left the brunette for a few minutes.

IIII

"Seifer you should be helping to look for Squall." Quistis criticized, spotting the blonde marching through the training centre heading for the entrance.

"I'm sure he'll turn up eventually, probably be back in the dorms." He said, turning to leave.

"Wait a minute."

"Yes?" He stopped.

"Where are you going with all that? What's in there anyway?"

"This?" He gestured to the large sack he had thrown over one shoulder. He had a hand holding it against his shoulder. "This is nothing."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Just some supplies the cafeteria wanted me to pick up."

"You? Being helpful?" She questioned.

"Stranger things have happened." He said with a smirk.

"Hmm." She said doubtfully, watching him walk out.

The blonde grinned to himself walking to the dorms and punching in Irvine's number that Squall had given him. He dumped his cargo on the bed. The sack instantly started to move.

"Easy, hold your horses, I'll cut you loose." He undid the string ties and pulled the sack from Squall who lay sprawled on the bed glaring at him.

"You're welcome." Seifer laughed.

"You could have found a better way than that!"

"It worked didn't it? What are you complaining about?"

You should leave now."

"I'm going, I'm going."

There was a sound behind him of the front door moving, they had left it open. Irvine rushed in.

"What are you doing in my room?" He asked the blonde, then his gaze past Seifer to the bed.

"Squall! Where have you been?" He glared back at Seifer. "Have you been with him?"

"I found him." Seifer said. "Don't rush to thank me will you?" He picked up the sack that he had found in the training centre to deliver Squall.

"It's been fun princess." He waved to Squall who glared at him, ignoring Irvine's confused looks he walked out.

III