I would comment on everyone's reviews, but that would take forever, and I don't know how to reply to them (I'm new to I feel bad for not saying anything to anyone! (cries)
Anyway, on with the next chapter, which will be full of angsty SeeD-on-SeeD action! (shifty glances)
.oO(One Day Too Many)Oo.
Chapter 7: Dream
The trip to Balamb wasn't very exciting. The three SeeD members just walked and talked together. Zell was actually restrained around Squall now, with just an offhanded glance here and there. Squall was relieved to see that he had calmed down some.
When the group reached Balamb, Selphie turned to the others and said, "I'll be right back, I need to stock up on some things before we head out." She turned and ran off down the street in her yellow dress, her boots clicking loudly on the cobblestone road.
Zell sighed and started shadowboxing while he waited, his athletic sneakers squeaking on the stone ground. His gloved fists shot through the air at a speed almost uncatchable by the naked eye. His jacket flew out behind him with every duck and twist. Squall just watched, mildly amused that someone could entertain himself in such a way.
Squall was decked out in his leather jacket with the fur interior and his black jeans. He adjusted his two belts around his pelvic area before fiddling with his leather gloves. "Hurry, Selphie," he muttered to no one.
Selphie came running up with a large bag that was hardly filled at all. "Okay, let's get going!" she said with a smile on her face. She turned back down the road and started skipping along, ahead of the two boys.
The three of them made their way to Balamb train station, where Squall bought tickets for them. Handing each of them their ticket, Squall led the way onto the train, where he used his ticket to open the inner door. It closed behind him, and Zell and Selphie had to follow his lead by using their own tickets to get inside the train.
Selphie looked around the front cabin area and noticed a door leading into another car. She looked through the door's window and blinked in excitement. "Ooh," she murmured.
"So what do we do now?" Zell asked the squad leader.
Squall crossed his arms. "We wait for the train to leave the station and arrive in Timber."
Zell rolled his eyes. "That's not what I meant, but okay." He noticed Selphie jumping up and down at the door, muttering, "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!"
"You may want to use your ticket to open that door for her," Zell told Squall.
Squall walked over and used his ticket in the access slot. After a moment, the door slid open. With a big grin on her face, Selphie turned to Squall and cried out, "Thanks!" before shooting down the hall in the next car.
Zell followed Selphie through the door and noticed the plaque with the words "SeeD Authorization Required" outside a rather elegant-looking door. "This must be the SeeD cabin," he said. He used his ticket and his Garden ID in the required slots and the door slid open. Stepping inside, Zell cried out, "WOAH!" He rushed in and the door closed behind him.
Squall walked down the hall in the second car and notice Selphie staring intently out of the window, watching the station personnel going about their business. The train hadn't left yet.
Squall walked up to her and she gave him another large smile. "I love trains," she said. She turned to look out the window again and she began to rock her head back and forth as she sang a little diddy. "Trains, trains, I love trains," she sang. "Into the future we will go; where we'll stop, nobody knows…" She broke off and looked at Squall again. "Go ahead. I'll be right in."
Squall turned away from Selphie, who was already singing again, and used his ticket and Garden ID to get into the SeeD cabin. When the door slid open, Squall stepped through to discover one of the most luxurious-looking rooms he'd ever seen. Zell was bouncing on the humongous sofa on the far wall of the room. There were two queen-sized beds set up as bunkbeds on the right wall, and the sofa curved around to take up the opposite and left walls. There was a desk for writing on the last wall.
"Isn't this great?" Zell cried, laughing as he continued to bounce his rear on the sofa. Squall just shook his head as the door closed behind him.
The train gave a shudder and a lurch and vibrations could be felt through the flooring. "It looks like we're off," Squall said.
"Wanna know something about the train?" Zell asked.
Squall shrugged and sat down on the couch on the wall away from Zell.
"The train in Balamb only goes to Timber, but to get there, it uses the Timber Chunnel, a tunnel that runs underneath the ocean," Zell explained. "Timber's a big train city, with loading docks that'll take you just about anywhere on the continent, including an old, unused railroad that leads all the way to Esthar. Pretty cool, huh?"
Squall sighed. "Thank you, Mr. Know-It-All-Zell."
Just then, Selphie opened the door to the SeeD cabin, not looking very well.
"You okay?" Zell asked her.
Selphie nodded. "Yeah, I'm just kind of groggy. I must have watched the stuff outside go by too quickly."
Squall didn't say anything, but Zell stood up and backed away from the girl. "Well, don't go gettin' sick on me, got it?" he said nervously.
Squall noticed a slight ringing in his ears. It was probably from the change in atmospheric pressure as the train went under the ocean.
Selphie laid on the bottom queen-sized bed. "It's okay, I just need a nap," she said, drifting off to sleep too quickly to be safe.
Zell yawned. "I think I could go for a nap, too," he gurgled. He practically fell over onto the couch, asleep before he hit the cushion.
Squall stood up and the ringing became alarmingly loud. He put a hand to his head, but the ringing continued. "What the hell?" he cried as he fell to his knee. He felt his consciousness slipping. The last thing he remembered was the train floor rushing up at him.
The forest was surprisingly hot and sticky. There was no lack of Funguars, either; they kept popping up out of nowhere, only to be struck down by Kiros' katal or Ward's harpoon.
The trio raced along, taking out Funguars like there was no tomorrow, and finally winding up at a small stream.
The leader of the outfit looked around and chuckled nervously.
Kiros, the dark-skinned, lithe one, shook his head. "Laguna, we're not lost again, are we?"
Laguna turned, his handsome face flashing a dazzling smile back at his dark-skinned friend. "Nah. I never get lost."
The rather large man in the back with the bandana on his head laughed. "That's what you said last time."
Kiros nodded. "Ward's right. You have a tendency to get us completely lost."
Laguna didn't say anything. Instead, he turned back to the front.
"Aren't we supposed to be fighting the all-mighty Timber army?" Ward asked.
"Yeah, uh, right after we, uh," Laguna stammered. He looked around desperately. "Head back to Deling for supplies!" Laguna darted off across the stream, followed by his friends.
The three of them came to a Galbadian military transport. "Here we go," Laguna said with a smile. "Pile on in!"
The three of them got into the transport. Kiros chuckled nervously. "Uh, Laguna, are you sure that you should drive this thing?"
"Aw, c'mon, Kiros, how hard could it be? Let's see here…" The vehicle veered forward and smashed into a tree. The three of them got out and just looked at the vehicle.
Laguna looked around. "Look!" he cried, pointing at a second transport vehicle. They piled into that one and Laguna was able to safely aim the thing out of the forest before smashing in the gas pedal.
Deling City was bustling, as usual, and the streets were ever so packed. Laguna threw the Galbadian transport towards the fountain in the square, stopping just short of its sparkling pool. He put the thing into park and started getting out.
"Hey, Laguna, are you sure it's okay to park here?" Kiros asked.
"No sweat!" Laguna said with a smile. "Do it all the time!"
The three soldiers vacated the transport and headed down the street, towards the inn. Screeching could be heard behind them as cars came to a screeching halt, not wanting to hit the armored military vehicle. Soon there was a line of traffic behind the vehicle over ten vehicles long. Kiros and Ward pretended that they didn't notice, and Laguna was innocently oblivious.
The three of them made their way to the inn's basement, the high to-do martini bar underneath the city street. The greeter met them at the bottom of the staircase as they entered the room.
"Ah, gentlemen," she said with a bow, "your usual table is ready." She motioned towards a corner table in front, and Laguna grinned at her, leading the way over.
The three men sat down and sighed, relieved to be able to relax after a day of senselessly following Laguna around, getting lost around every corner. The waitress walked up for orders, and Laguna led the way with, "The usual, please." Kiros and Ward followed suit, and soon the waitress had left them to themselves.
Laguna looked around nervously. Kiros noticed his slight shaking. "What's wrong, Laguna? Can't wait?" the dark-skinned man said with a chuckle.
Laguna shot Kiros a dirty look, but laughed. "You bet. I hope she's playing tonight."
"She always plays," Ward replied. "There she is now."
Laguna's head snapped around to see one of the most gorgeous women to ever grace the planet, walking down the staircase into the room. She wore a sexy red dress with thin shoulder straps and a ribbon that hemmed the dress's bust and fell away behind her to wave merrily in the slight breeze that she created when she walked. Her face was dazzling, as always, with her small, bright eyes and her perfect smile. Her short black hair was styled a little differently tonight, Laguna noticed, parted on the left and spiked towards the right, unlike her usual elegant drape behind her head. Laguna liked the new look.
"She is so beautiful," Laguna whispered.
"Will tonight be the night that you finally go over and talk to her?" Kiros asked his friend.
Laguna seemed unnerved. "I, uh, I…" he stammered.
Kiros rolled his eyes. "Get out there, you big baby." He gave Laguna a push and Laguna went sprawling out of the booth, onto the floor. Laguna got up with a start and slowly made his way over towards the pianist, who was warming up.
Laguna reached the steps that lead up to the stage where the grand piano sat, when his calf suddenly lurched into a seizure. He grabbed his leg with both hands, grimacing in pain, and turned to make his way back down the steps, when he tripped and fell face first onto the floor.
The piano stopped being played as the pianist, Kiros, and Ward appeared by Laguna's side.
Laguna opened his eyes to the pianist's face staring down at him with a worried expression. He sat up a little fast, smacking her head with his. She flew back and he fell back to the bed. He got up quickly again and looked around for the woman.
Helping her to her feet, he apologized repeatedly, but the woman simple laughed.
"I'm fine," she said, giving Laguna a warm smile. "Are you all right?" she asked the soldier.
Laguna realized she was referring to his leg, which wasn't cramped anymore. "Yeah," he said with wide eyes, bouncing on his leg. "No cramp. That's odd. That only happens when I get really, really nervous."
"What's to be nervous about?" the woman asked him. "You're only in the hotel room of the woman that you've been lusting after for a while," she added with a wink.
Laguna jumped in surprise. "Eh? Oh, yeah, uh, you knew?" He gave a nervous chuckle. "I'm sorry, Miss Julia, but I'm not lusting, I want to get to know you."
Julia raised an eyebrow and gave him a playful smile. "I'm sure you do," she breathed, coming closely to Laguna.
Laguna blinked a couple of times and began to become very uncomfortable. He backed away from Julia and fell onto her bed. She giggled.
"You're cute," she remarked, sitting on the end of the bed. "What's your name?"
"Laguna Loire," Laguna replied nervously. His leg was beginning to think about seizing again.
"Well, Laguna, you've been watching me for some time now," Julia said. "I see you in the bar every night."
"You mean you saw me?" Laguna's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
Julia laughed softly and nodded. "You were always looking at me with a smile on your face as I played. I'll never forget the pure enjoyment you gave me when I saw how happy my playing makes other people."
Laguna blushed. "Really?"
Julia nodded with a smile and stood up. "So, what about you?"
Laguna was babbling on about something or other when he realized that he'd been talking for quite some time. Julia had just sat down and listened with a smile on her face the entire time.
"I'm sorry, I'm talking too much again," Laguna said, giving Julia an embarrassed smile.
"Don't worry," she said. "You're helping me out."
Laguna gave her a confused look and she continued. "I love playing the piano, but I want to sing, too." She stood up and looked out her window. "To verbalize the feelings that I feel when I play, that is my dream. I think you've helped me write my first song, Laguna. Thank you," she added with a smile back at him.
"That's great!" Laguna said triumphantly. He'd loosened up quite a bit. "I'd love to hear it sometime!"
"I saw you smiling at me," Julia sang, "was it real or just my fantasy? You'd always be there, in the corner of this tiny little bar…"
Laguna blushed as Julia slowly walked up to him, her eyes on his the entire time.
"I kind of liked it your way, how you shyly placed your eyes on me," Julia continued, "but did you ever know that I had mine on you?" She placed her arms around Laguna's neck and reached up with her face, bringing his down towards her.
The two shared a passionate kiss, embracing each other. They knew that they wouldn't be together, but it felt good to finally let out the feelings that they've felt for each other for quite some time. Their kiss was long, and they both became completely enraptured by each other. Time flew by, and they didn't know it.
How they wished that moment would never end…
Squall opened his eyes just as the train intercom went off. "Timber Station to arrive in five minutes."
The SeeD got to his hands and knees, then to his feet. Zell and Selphie were stirring as well. The three of them looked around at each other, a little disoriented.
"Timber," Squall said.
Zell stood up and nodded. "Time to do it," he said, punching one fist into the other.
Selphie yawned. "I had such a nice dream," she said with a happy smile.
I dreamt I was a bumbling idiot, Squall thought.
"Sir Laguna is so cool!" Selphie laughed.
Silence.
Zell was staring at Selphie. "There was a Laguna in my dream, too. And two more guys."
"Kiros and Ward," Squall concluded.
Selphie shivered. "Weird." Silence lapsed into the cabin again until the girl spoke. "Well, we'd better not try to worry about this too hard right now. We need to concentrate on our mission."
Squall and Zell nodded. The train came to a lurch, stopping at Timber Station, and the three of them exited their cabin.
Writing for Laguna's dream sequences is going to kill my update time. (shivers) For some reason, I had a real problem doing this chapter, but now that we're back to the main group, things'll pick up again, I bet. Yes, I know I changed Laguna's encounter with Julia, and I did it for a reason, it wasn't just something I thought I'd change (which I do frequently in this rewrite). R & R or I'll deprive myself of my new addiction, Raspberry Crystal Light, and go feral on your butt. (fake growl)
