Rinoa's POV
December Twenty-Second
"Selphie!" I shouted. I wondered where she could be. I was gonna ask if she wanted to go out and get some coffee or something. Maybe do a little Christmas shopping as well. Because of course I wait 'till the last minute before I shop at all. Then again I didn't exactly have time at all with everything that's been going on.
I peeked into the office and saw Quistis typing away like usual.
"Hey Quistis," I called sweetly from the door.
She spun around in her chair and pulled the pen out of her mouth that she was nibbling on. "Yes?"
"Do you know where Selphie is?" I asked.
She tapped her chin with the pen. "Try the bathroom I think she's fixing herself up."
"Thanks," I called already heading towards the bathroom near my room.
Selphie fixing herself up? That must mean she's going out. Damn if she's busy I don't know who else would go with me, I really don't wanna go by myself. I mean I could, but I've been finding myself not wanting to be alone so much anymore. I realized that since I've been here I'm rarely alone and I enjoy that deeply. If I ever needed to be alone I'd just go to my room since that seems to be an unspoken rule that if you don't wanna deal with people just shut yourself in your room. Then you're only bothered if it's necessary.
I saw the bathroom door opened cracked open so she must've just been fixing herself up a bit.
I pushed the door open, "Hey Sel-eifer!"
There sat Seifer on the toilet holding a newspaper. He lowered it nonchalantly and looked at me. He raised it back up with a snap.
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
I looked away at the wall, not that there was anything to see with the paper covering but it was just…weird.
"I'm sorry why wasn't it locked?" I accused.
"'Cause I didn't think someone would just walk in," He shot back.
"Fine whatever," I just wanted to get out of there, damn you Quistis, damn you to hell. I turned back to him. "Hey have you seen Selphie?"
"Selphie?" I heard the paper crinkle behind me. "Yeah she's in the shower."
My jaw dropped. I whipped back around and pointed my finger at the tub with the closed curtain. "That shower?" I listened and realized there was water pouring in it.
"Uh yeah," Seifer answered. He snapped the paper back up. "Hey Selphie!"
"Yeah?" I heard her petite voice answer from the other side of the curtain.
"Rinoa's asking for ya," He told her.
She poked her head out and looked at me. She whipped her hair out of her face and gave me a nice smile.
"Hey, what's up?"
I shook my head waved my arms. "No, this is definitely weird."
"What's weird?"
"You're taking a shower while he's taking a shit," I exclaimed.
Seifer peered over the paper and made eye contact with Selphie. He snapped the paper back up to cover his face while he spoke. "We aren't teenagers anymore…well you are."
I stomped my foot. "I'm nineteen, that's legal. You're only twenty."
"Twenty-one," He corrected. "That means I can buy alcohol which is proof of being an adult."
"Whatever!" I exclaimed, "That isn't the point. Seifer couldn't you have waited 'till she was done."
He chuckled, "Oh you think I was here second…wrong again."
My mouth dropped and I looked at the floor to see a pile of Selphie's dirty clothes. My head snapped towards her while she just giggled finding the whole situation hilarious.
"You just stripped right in front of him."
"Oh God," Seifer whined dropping the paper again. "It's nothing I haven't seen and I don't have anything she hasn't seen. We aren't hormonal so we don't have to jump each other automatically."
"I didn't mean that," I didn't mean to sound like a nun. "It's just…"
"Rinoa," Selphie smiled, "You have to understand our closeness between our family. There is no need to hide from each other, what's the point. Seifer's right, we don't automatically jump each other. I mean we don't walk around butt ass naked, but we don't freak out either."
Before I could respond I heard someone say 'excuse me' from behind me. They weren't that polite however since they just pushed me out of the way while they said it. They turned out to be Squall. I watched in awe as he walked over to the sink and opened the cabinet above it. He pulled out a razor and shaving cream. He began applying the cream to his face while reading one side of the paper Seifer had.
"Hear about that boy who got the heart?" Squall asked Seifer.
"Yeah, tear-jerking."
"Damn people still surprise me in this city." Squall commented.
"Well…" Seifer put the paper down. "It's not like the guy donated it to him. He got hit by a bus."
Squall pointed the razor at him as he spoke. "Hey but that man kept his heart safe from that bus by taking it in the head."
"I'm pretty sure the little fucker was trying anything but to get hit in the head."
Squall laughed, "You may be right."
"Well I think it's sad that one man has to die to for another to live," Selphie interjected her piece.
Squall began shaving, leaning closer to the mirror. "Yeah it's sad but a fifty-year-old died to give a fourteen-year-old kid life."
"Besides, the paper says the man wasn't too nice either. Had some problems." Seifer backed Squall.
"Okay not this one, but heart transplants in theory," Selphie explained.
"Yeah, yeah I'll agree with you there," Squall replied.
"Aye," Seifer mumbled.
"For fuck's sake." I grumbled covering my eyes with one hand while that same arm I used my elbow to lean against the wall.
"Something wrong?" Squall asked.
"No, no," I held up my free hand. "Just came to ask if Selphie wanted to go Christmas shopping."
"Oh sorry Rin, I'm going out with Irvine." She followed up her excuse with a sad smile.
"Figure you couldn't after all this," I replied.
"You don't have to go Christmas shopping," Squall told me. "We never do."
"Oh right," I replied sarcastically.
"We really don't," Seifer said turning the page of the newspaper. I swear is he even reading the fucking thing or is this just to look cool.
"Well I'm gonna," I said hotly, "…I just need someone to come with."
"Take Zell," Squall told me. "He's always fun to go shopping with."
I mulled the thought over in my head. "…alright fine. Where is he?"
"The roof," Squall told me finishing up.
"The roof?" I looked straight up like the idiot I was. I snapped it back down before anyone saw.
"Really, had to look up to see the roof huh heartily?"
God I hate you Seifer.
"There stairs are in Zell's room." Squall explained ignoring Seifer.
"Wait don't tell me you guys own the roof too." That would be quite shocking in a way but in another I can't even say I'm that surprised.
"Of course," Selphie giggled before tucking back behind the curtain.
"Whatever I've learned not to question things anymore," I turned and just headed for Zell's room.
I realized I'd never actually been in it. I opened the door and wasn't too surprised to see his room all messy. The walls were painted dark read and since his room was also a corner the windows mirrored mine. Some looked over the city right above his bed, while another one was at the left wall and it showed some suburbs in the distance. Eventually the coast would come into view, but that was really far down.
He had various martial arts posters on his wall. Usually black shadow men doing certain stances or positions. I noticed he had some pegs in the walls and had pretty cool looking weapons on them. One actually had num-chucks dangling from it…I really wondered if he knew how to use those. He had some ninja looking knives, what were they called again…shuriken or something. I didn't know he had all this cool ancient stuff.
Directly to my left were the stairs and they were classic spiral steps so they wouldn't take up so much room. I ascended them and reached the ceiling. I pushed the tile aside and climbed the last couple sets before stepping into the ceiling. I was now standing between the roof of the building and our apartments ceiling…pretty damn cool. I climbed a little foot ladder and pushed open a hatch. The cold air his me and I cursed myself for forgetting it was December.
I stepped onto the roof and shut the hatch behind me. I saw Zell right away even though it was hard to actually see him. He was performing many maneuvers that only he would be able to accomplish. I also was able to see a blue flash and figured it was some weapon but I couldn't exactly see what it was since it was moving so fast. I looked like some club it was so big but a blue club? The other thing I noticed was that he wasn't wearing a shirt. He had baggy blue pants that had read ties at his ankles so they wouldn't fall over his feet. Also a red slash tied around his waist to keep the pants up.
He did flip after flip, roll after roll, spins, kicks, punches, swings. It was remarkable, and I couldn't pull my eyes away from him. I watched as he froze once in a stance. It almost reminded me of that one stance in The Karate Kid where the boy froze lifting one leg in the air with his hands up. Though…this didn't look gay and it looked wicked cool.
The stance differed in a couple ways. His one leg was lifted and bent strongly at the knee but was aimed a little to the side. His arms were also not straight out, one was across his lower stomach in a fist while the other was arcing over his head. I let out a gasp when I finally saw what he was holding. It was a sword, but very thick, with a deep beautiful majestic blue tint. It looked like I was looking into some clear blue water. It had some design on the side that I couldn't read but I knew this sword held some high value and importance.
Zell heard me gasp and turned his head towards me. He smiled and dropped his stance. "S'up?"
I clapped smiling. "That was really, really impressive."
He waved it off, "Just a little form of meditation."
"It was beautiful." I commented.
He stretched his head embarrassed. "Well thanks."
"That swords so pretty," closer I could truly take its full beauty in.
"You make it sound so gay," He grumbled.
I shook my head, "I don't mean it like that, just it's the best looking weapon I've ever seen. It's got such a pretty color."
He laughed and held it out to me. "You wanna hold it?"
"Can I?" I looked up at him eagerly.
"Yeah, sure," He handed it to me and I took it firmly in my grasp.
"It's not as heavy as I thought it would be," I commented.
"Yeah it's made from a certain metal." He explained.
"Where'd ya get it?" I asked as I dared to take one simple swing with it.
"I won it," and from the sound of his voice I could tell he was really proud.
I handed it back to him and smiled. "Well I can tell you really wanna tell the story now."
He shook his head, "Oh no, not at all."
I quirked and eyebrow.
He started bobbing up and down slowly. "…okay yes I do."
I laughed, "Well start."
"One sec," He walked over to his jacket that he must've discarded. I'm not surprised, standing shirtless when there was snow on the ground is insane. We're just lucky it hasn't snowed recently so the roof top is fairly dry.
"Here," he held the jacket out for me.
"Zell…" This completely caught me off guard. "You're shirtless."
"I can deal, I like to feel the cold against my skin while I train. It helps me think for some reason."
I took it unsure but his reassuring smile made me wrap it around my shoulders. I was definitely happy to have it especially since I was just wearing a cami and jeans. He took a stance and I backed up a little bit. He started slowly moving back into stances. He resembled a wave with how smoothly he flowed.
"There is a tournament that all the greatest mixed martial arts fighters take part in." He explained as he continued his training.
"So it's really big?" I found myself captivated by his movements.
"Huge," He nodded. "To make it even bigger it only happens every twenty-five years."
My eyes lit up in realization. "That makes it so much bigger than an annual thing."
"Yup and this sword is the reward for the winner." He swung it fast and it made a loud swoosh sound. "It was started to determine the strength of the greatest fighter in the world. I think it started in 1806."
"That means there's only been seven total, right?"
"Yup, and you know what the best thing is," Zell turned his head to me and smile. "My grandfather won it twice in a row."
"How old was he?" I asked.
"He won it in 1956," Zell answered. "He was twenty years old…the youngest to ever win. Then he shocked the world again by taking the second tournament in 1981 when he was forty-five. It was amazing and incredible."
"Sure sounds it," I agreed loving the story and the show I was getting. Then I realized something. "Then you won it in 2006?"
He smirked and nodded.
"You were eigthteen…you beat your grandfather's record for youngest winner!" I shouted.
He laughed, "After I won he told me jokingly he wanted me to lose so he could keep the record."
"He sounds like a great person," I told Zell not sure if it was a good thing to say or not.
"He was…he really was," Zell dropped his stance. He looked deeply at the sword. "There are only seven of these swords in the entire world. Three of them belong to Dintch's and I will win the tournament one more time so half of the swords in creation belong to one family…one dynasty. That is how I'll honor my grandfather."
"Well if you already one once, doesn't that mean you're gonna easily win again," I tried to rise his spirits back up.
He laughed, "Maybe…who knows. It was so amazing that I won it the first time."
"I bet," I was being completely serious too. "I couldn't imagine going against people who were like masters twice your age."
Zell jerked a thumb at his chest proudly. "My grandfather was my teacher and he was the best this world has ever known. I only wish to be as good as him."
"Zell I didn't know your grandfather but winning a worldwide tournament at age eighteen has to say something," I argued.
He chucked, "My grandfather could still kick my ass even when he was seventy. He probably could've won the tournament for a third time but he said, I want the next generation to experience the gifts of our world…and I already have two swords, if I had a third hand I may want one more, but sadly I don't."
I burst up laughing. "That's hilarious."
Zell laughed along. "He was funny, that was the best part."
There was silence for a moment and I wasn't sure what to say to break it. I didn't know if I should've kept him talking about his grandfather or if that was making him to depressed. I wasn't sure if I should change the subject or if that seemed too random and insincere.
"So why are you up here?" He suddenly asked.
"Oh…wanna go shopping?" I titled my head cutely and smiled.
"Why?"
"Christmas is in three days!" I exclaimed. "How come no one cares?"
Zell laughed, "We don't usually get each other gifts."
"That's what people keep saying, why? That's the funnest part of Christmas."
"Oh yeah, you have the Christmas spirit alright."
"Shut up," I giggled. "But how come you guys don't get each other gifts."
Zell shrugged, "Well we only had one whole Christmas together and we decided not to get each other gifts."
"Why not," I whined.
"'Cause we finally understood the meaning to just be alive and enjoy each other company. It was the first enjoyable Christmas that any of us had in a while. Besides we didn't have that much money last year to waste it on gifts."
"But you have money this year," I argued. "And how can you say usually when it was simply last year you didn't get gifts."
"Well we just have a pretty fun party…with lots of alcohol."
My eyes lit up, "That sounds better."
He chuckled, "Really we don't need gifts 'cause we have so much money we can just get stuff whenever."
I frowned, "That isn't fun or the point. We could get meaningful gifts that each person could have and always think about it."
"You'll get use to it," He told me.
"I don't wanna get use to it," I grabbed his hand, "Come on we're going shopping."
"Fine, fine," He laughed along. "Just let me shower first."
"Hey you can help me pick stuff out too 'cause I really don't know what to get for people…especially Squall."
Zell stopped walking suddenly and it jerked me to a stop. It reminded me of how much stronger Zell is than me.
I tilted my head, "Something wrong?"
"I gotta talk to you about Squall," Zell said solemnly. He walked over to the edge of the building and sat down. He rested the sword across his knees and looked up at me. I would've sat next to him because it seemed like the moment to do so, but honestly I was scared to death of that ledge. I was scared for Zell to be sitting there.
"It's not that anything's wrong," He started, "You just need to know about him."
"I don't understand."
"Agh I'm no good at these things," Zell scratched the back of his head. "I'm making it seem like something's wrong. Noithing's wrong, just you need to know how important he is."
"Yeah…he's your leader, I get that." I said.
Zell chuckled, "You said your. It's our now, you're a part of this family now."
I smiled meekly, "I still feel like the new kid."
"You are but there's no shame in that. You'll feel a part of the group before you know it."
"Sounds good to me," There was a pause and I felt I needed to readdress the current issue. "Anyways…"
"Oh right," Zell knocked his head with his fist. "Well you know how important Squall is right? You've seen firsthand what he can do."
"Yeah…it was amazing."
Zell nodded, "We all have our specialties and trust me we're the best at what he do. But Squall is just above us all. He's on another whole level."
"Well to me you guys all seem on another level," I added.
"You'll see as time goes on. You'll catch up with all of us…except Squall. Rinoa I can't be more serious saying this…without Squall there is no us."
I frowned, "What are you getting at."
"He put this whole thing together. He makes the plans, he saves us when we get in trouble, he is the only reason this is working. There have been groups in the past that have tried to do what we've done. They weren't as successful because they didn't have someone like Squall."
"Okay slow down," I pumped my hands down, "I know Squall is amazing but you're making him like a god or something."
"He's like an angel. When I think of someone sent by God I think of Squall." Zell placed the sword against the ledge and stood up. He took a couple steps grabbing his head with his hands. "You don't know how much I admire him. I know we're best friends but he's just…just…"
"Hard to explain?"
"So hard," He chuckled.
"I think you're blowing this out of proportion." I offered. "We were just talking about how you won this world wide tournament twice."
He scratched his head again. "Alright I'm not doing well with this…Okay let's try this angle. If I died, the team would go on. If Quistis died, the team would go on. If Squall died…the team would end."
"Why?" I didn't get it.
"It's a little early for you to comprehend it so just trust me."
"It's hard to trust you when you say things like this," I told him honestly.
"Alright, I can understand that," he walked over to me and placed both hands on my shoulder. "Then just put everything I just said for now in the back of your mind. But keep it there 'cause it will come back up, believe me."
"Okay…" This was a little weird.
"One last thing," He gave me a squeeze on my shoulders to make sure I know it was important. "Everyone has agreed on one last resort plan and when I say everyone, I mean everyone except Squall."
"What are you getting at?"
"The plan is called Plan Omega. It is the last resort, only to be put into action if everything is going wrong."
"What is Plan Omega?" By his tone and demeanor as well as this entire conversation I knew this was one of the most important things I would have to know being on this team.
"The plan is only about one task…keep Squall alive."
I eye widened, "What?" I stepped back. "The hell are you saying?"
"Everyone has agreed that if the situation is too bleak for all of us to survive, we simple do everything to let Squall survive. If that means we all sacrifice ourselves to make that happen, then that's what we do."
I walked around staring at the ground, "You're telling me Seifer, Quistis, Irvine, and even Selphie have all agreed to this." My head snapped up to see his answer.
"Yes." Zell walked towards me. "It is the most important order we have. It is not to be disobeyed. If anyone calls it, follow it. No matter what Squall says."
"And Squall doesn't know about it."
"Are you kidding, do you know what he'd do to us if he ever heard we had such a plan."
"This is crazy." I said to myself.
Was Squall that important? That they were all willing to die for him. Am I willing to die for him? Is his life worth the death of six others?
"Rinoa I had to tell you this but that doesn't mean you need to worry about it." Zell must've realized I was indeed worrying about it and was trying to comfort me now. "This is a last resort plan, if everyone does their jobs right it should never be put into action. So don't go thinking that every task we do might have the call. Squall isn't suicidal, we don't have to pull him out of every dangerous situation. It simply is there in case something beyond what we can control happens."
I let out a deep breath. "What a gloomy thought."
"It goes with being here, sorry," Zell shrugged.
"It's alright, I know that this isn't all for fun. I know what we do is beyond dangerous, just the thought that all of you are willing to die for Squall in an instant…well it's something to take in alright."
Zell laughed, "I'm sure it is. But don't worry it should never happen."
"What won't ever happen?"
We both whipped our heads towards Squall who just magically appeared on the roof.
"Rinoa actually having sex with a hit she's supposed to take out," Zell snapped out before I even could begin to think of something. I know people consider Zell not that bright because he acts on his emotions more than anything, but he's a lot smarter than he leads to believe.
"You still worried about that?" He looked at me.
"Little bit?" I played along. Well it wasn't exactly playing along since I was worried about it. "I know it probably won't happen but I can't help worry about it."
"Don't worry we'll make sure you're ready, we won't put you in a situation you can't handle."
"You're being nice…"
Zell laughed, "He's nice, just gives off a bad first impression."
"Whatever." Squall said crossing his arms.
"Oh his safety word, that's my cue to leave." He walked past Squall picking up his sword leaning against the ledge. He gave a single wave over his shoulder before disappearing down below.
"So what are you doing up here?" I asked Squall.
He whipped out his pack of smoke, "Taking a breath."
"A breath of smoke?" I retorted.
He shrugged, "What can I say, air gets boring after a while."
I watched as he stuck one in his mouth and pulled a silver light from his pocket. He flipped the top up and ignited the flame, setting his cigarette on fire. He snapped the lighter closed and put it back in his pocket.
"Those things will kill ya."
"I'm sure something else will get me before these things," He smirked.
"You say you're smart, and yet you smoke knowing all its hazards effects." I frowned.
He looked at me curiously. "Oh so you've never smoked."
I turned away, "Well who hasn't, but it's when I'm drunk. Not just on my own when I feel like it."
"Well good you shouldn't," Squall turned to me looking smug. "They could kill you.
I huffed. "You're not funny."
"Oh pretty damn funny," He took a long drag before blowing the smoke high into the air.
There was a pause and I figured I could get some more information about him. That and at least talk with him a little more. I wasn't sure but I felt we were slowly becoming better friends. Maybe the whole almost dying thing kinda brings people together.
I raised a finger slowly walking around him. "You know I've been told numerous times that you are the leader. Does that mean I have to follow every order you say?"
He crossed his arms and chuckled with the cigarette still burning between his fingers, "Where's this coming from?"
"I wanna know what comes with being on this team," I pushed him in the shoulder. "Now answer the question."
"Wait, are you interrogating me?" He half laughed.
"God knows you've torn my life apart bit by bit to examine it." I wasn't saying it in a mean way. Simply giving my reasons to my actions.
"Okay, I'll bite," He kept turning his head following me taking some drags as he did. When I walked behind him his head would jerk to the other side waiting for me to appear again. "As a leader you have to do everything I say, yet questions everything as well."
I put my hands behind my back and did an exaggerated walk. Where I stuck each foot out far in front of me before placing it on the ground. "That makes no sense." I didn't care too much though because I was amazed he was playing along. Apparently I really did get the wrong opinion about him. Maybe since I proved myself – in his eyes since I still don't think I did – in Capella's mansion he has more respect.
"Let me put it this way. If I tell you to jump off a bridge you better damn jump head first."
"Um I think that expression is used for the opposite case." I argued.
He smirked, "But if tell you to shot a seven-year-old child holding a knife, you better turn that gun on me."
I stopped walking around him and faced the brunette. "That makes even less sense."
"Not very good at interrogation are you?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'll pinch you."
Surprisingly I heard an up-roaring laugh erupt from him. He threw the bud on the ground and smooshed it out.
I placed my hands on my hips. "It wasn't that funny."
"I suppose it wasn't," He calmed down slowly. "Just caught me off guard I guess."
"Well whatever, just explain."
"No thanks," He turned and head back to the little trap door thingy.
"What?" I exclaimed, "You can't do that."
"Watch me," He opened up the hatch and dropped down.
I chased after him quickly. He must've sped his pace up because I didn't reach him until he was in the main living room. I was surprised to see everyone else there as well. Seifer and Quistis on the couch with Irvine and Selphie in the kitchen. Still virtually the same room.
I was about to complain about Squall when I heard Quistis let out a loud groan.
"You aren't even listening."
Seifer shrugged, "Sure I'm listening…just not to you."
"God men suck." Quistis huffed.
"True dat," Selphie cheered from the kitchen.
"Oh guys suck huh?" Seifer turned towards his girlfriend.
"Yes they do," She met his gaze. "I don't understand how such simple creatures can cause so many problems."
"Such simple creatures," Irvine gasped dramatically.
"You guys are simple," Selphie argued.
Squall turned to me and smirked, "This is gonna be good." He walked over to his chair on the left side of the couch and set down. I took the one on the right and found the overall argument very amusing and true.
Selphie stood up and walked in front of the coffee table to face Seifer. "You guys act like there are layers to you but there's not."
Seifer leaned forward on his knees. "Oh then enlighten me. What do guys want?"
"Food, beer, and sex," Selphie counted on three fingers.
"Oh honey, you're mistaken," Irvine joined the group surrounding the coffee table. "Beer is food."
"Agh God," Selphie let out a loud groan.
Quistis took up Selphie's defense. "If you have food to eat, beer to drink, and a girl to sleep with then you're happy. That's rather simple no other way about it."
Seifer straightened himself up on the couch faking shock. "Why Quistis, how dare you."
"You can't even have an argument seriously." Quistis complained.
"Alright fine," Seifer's tone became serious. "You say guys are simple in essence implying girls are complicated."
"We are," Selphie interjected.
"But you aren't, because every guy knows what a girl wants," Seifer tapped his nose. "You want one thing and one thing only, to be loved. It's as simple as that."
"Love isn't simple," Selphie leaned closer to Seifer getting really into the argument. "It takes work, devotion, care, it takes so much stuff that it is definitely complicated therefore making girls complicated. Guys can't begin to understand."
Seifer smirked, "Of course we do, we want love too, we just don't crave it. I'll admit that guys love beer, sex, and food. Nothing wrong about it, three great things. But you are putting us in a category that, that is all we want. Now if I did that with women I could say that a girl just wants a guy to make them feel important. They wanna feel they are the most important thing in a guy's life. Which isn't hard to do."
"Oh you think it's easy?" Quistis inquired crossing her arms.
"Irvine can vouch for me on this. We always know what to say to a girl, it isn't hard. When a girl asks if they should stay in or go out, you say out because if they wanted to stay in they wouldn't have asked. If a girls down, you cheer them up by giving them attention and talking about things they love."
"It's not that simple," Selphie growled.
"Oh it is," Irvine backed Seifer. "We just don't always choose right on purpose 'cause then it would have you guys get your way all the time. Like right now I know the correct thing to do in this situation is agree with you completely. But I'm not, even though I'll get hell for it later."
"Damn right you are," Selphie fumed.
"To continue," Seifer started again. "We know everything to say at every moment, but we just don't feel like it all the time. I know if you ever came crying to me all I have to say is, whose ass am I kicking and you'll laugh and then tell me what's wrong. If I listen everything would work out."
Qusitis opened her mouth to argue when she suddenly shut it. She glanced at Seifer and then down at the ground. "God damn it…you've used that on me."
Seifer leaned back crossing his hands behind his head. "We know everything you want. You want us to wake up and make you breakfast. You want us to spend time talking about things that don't mean shit to us. You know what we want, and we know what you want. So this whole, guys don't know what girls want…its bullshit. We do, we just don't show it."
"Okay then, enlighten me this time. Why don't guys always make a girl happy?"
"Takes too much damn work," Seifer snorted. "You guys are never happy. If I had to talk about cyberspace anymore I'd end up asking Zell to hangout."
This is when Selphie turned to Irvine. "Okay, if you say you know what I want. Then what do I want to do right now?"
"You want me to be dramatically sorry in front of everyone so you can say no and walk away."
Selphie's mouth dropped. "God dammit!" She shouted.
Irvine and Seifer shared a victorious glance.
I was trying hard not to laugh through the entire conversation. I held it in because I knew that although it was funny it was also pretty serious. But now was the time to help my fellow girls in trouble.
"Okay then," I leaned forward drawing everyone's attention. "If you know what a girl wants so bad. Then what if I told you I didn't want to go to a business party and begged you to come up with an excuse for me not to go because I hate to dress up that much since there are female coworkers I hate that would judge me since they're prettier than me and I would rather stay home."
Seifer smirked, "Well then I would say-"
"Trick question," Squall caught his friend off. "You do want to go because staying home you would just think about not going. In fact you would want the guy to say you are the prettiest and buy you a new dress with jewelry to wear. Girls don't dress up for guys; they dress up for other girls to prove they are better looking. Then you would want the guy to offer to go with you and you would want the guy to make sure you have the best time of your life. And I may be pushing it, but you would even want the guy to somehow insult or embarrass the coworkers you hate."
I sent the biggest glare I could muster at Squall. His little fucking smirk appeared like always.
"Am I wrong?"
Irvine made a long whistle sound that slowly got lower and lower. He moved his hands downwards and then pulled them apart. "Boom!"
"Crash and burn girls," Seifer taunted, "Crash and burn."
Zell walked in and saw the boys laughing. "Hey what's so funny."
"Nothing," I huffed walking towards the door. "Come on Zell we're leaving."
I walked over to the 'torture room' which really was just a large closet. They kept a coat rack in their so they didn't have to go to their rooms every time they need a heavy coat. I grabbed my pea coat and threw it around my shoulders vigorously.
"We're ya goin'," Irvine asked.
"Christmas shopping," I smirked, "Guess who aren't getting presents."
Seifer's and Irvine's faces dropped.
"Wait I still am right?" Zell asked worriedly.
"Do you know what girl's want Zell?" I directed at him.
"Hell no, they are way too complicated," He shook his head and waved his arms.
"And that is why Zell will get a new car," I spat at everyone else.
"Yay Rinny!" Selphie cheered.
"Aww damn it Squall," Seifer accused the brunette.
"My fault," Squall pointed at his own chest. "Why didn't you just listen to Quistis in the first place?"
"Because I was looking for something on TV," He explained.
"Oh wrong answer," Quistis announced.
"Yeah Seifer you just dug yourself a hole," Irvine laughed.
"Wait sshh!" He urged leaning forward and turning up the TV.
Everyone gathered around wondering what he was looking for. It seemed to be a special news cast. There was the usual perfect business looking reporter and a motherly looking woman. There was also some elder Centrian grandma looking person playing with two smaller children.
The reporter was looking at the camera as she spoke. "We do not know if it is an annual thing but we do know that last Christmas there were many prayers answered. Prayers that have been in waiting for years and were finally answered. Whose to be thanked…the Saints of course."
The reporter turned to the motherly looking women. "The Mura family was one of the lucky ones whose prayers were answered. Can you tell us what happened last Christmas."
She nodded eagerly. "I lost my job and my house and was left on the street, all right before Christmas." There was a small accent but it wasn't anything too noticeable. "I was so worried that we would have to spend Christmas in an alleyway. It would be no way for my kids to spend a holiday."
"And what happened," the reporter pressed.
"An angel," The elder women exclaimed, her accent was very thick. She was obviously born in Centra.
"An Angel?" the reporter repeated.
The elder women nodded eagerly. "Grande luce."
"She's saying there was a great light about him," the mother translated.
"Do you agree?" The reporter asked the mother.
The mother nodded. "I don't know if he was angel or not but I do know he was an amazing person."
"What did he do?"
"He left us five thousand gil so we could stay in a hotel for Christmas and get our lives back on track." The mother started tearing up a little. "I owe him my life, he saved me and my family."
"And you believe he was one of the Saints?" the reporter inquired.
"Saint Michael!" the elder women shouted. "Saint Michael."
"Saint Michael?"
The mother smiled, "Saint Michael the Arc Angel. My mother believes he is the leader of the Saints. I do know if it is him exactly, but I do believe the leader of the Saint's is strongly guided by him."
The reporter turned back to the camera. "A touching story of how one man, labeled a killer by the city gives money to those in need. This only can add to the confusion and the conundrum of who the Saints really are. It sounds too good to be true and also very farfetched but it must be asked. Are they doing God's work and are they lead by Saint Michael?"
Seifer turned the TV off and looked at Squall. "Well Michael are you gonna make another run this Christmas?"
"Of Course," He replied seriously. "Christmas is one of the only times this city actually stops all its dirty deeds. The one time it stops being the corrupt pile of shit that it is. The one time that everyone can rest in their homes and be happy but for those that are on the street. Well I try my best to give them at least a little time to have no worries. It's the least I can do."
"Aww Squall." Selphie dove on her leader giving him a deep embrace.
"God damn it," He cursed. "Irvine!"
"You're lucky I'm not the jealous type, Squall," Irvine laughed.
"You are the jealous type," Seifer accused.
Irvine shrugged, "I can get over it this time."
Everyone laughed and I found myself smiling. Squall might've been a hard ass at times, but he was such a good person on the inside. I knew that everyone in this room was. Even though they kill people, even though they commit sins, they are probably the only people in this city with true good intentions. I couldn't help but feel proud to be in such a group.
"Alright, well me and Zell are still leaving," I announced.
"Alright have fun," Quistis answered since everyone else seemed to preoccupied.
"I'll reconsider if Seifer and Irvine are getting gifts, but I think Squall officially proved himself even if a complete smartass know-it-all."
"Whatever." Squall commented finally prying Selphie off.
I head towards the door with Zell on my heels. Irvine and Seifer shouted at me trying to convince me they were good people too. I laughed to myself enjoying the power I had currently. Of course I was going to get everyone a gift, it was just fun to mess with them.
"Maybe next year," Zell joked at Irvine and Seifer.
"Don't betray us and follow her man," Irvine called.
Zell leaned closer to me. "Do I still get something?"
"Yup."
"Then I am yours," Zell locked arms with me.
I laughed and walked out the door enjoying every bit of my new life.
Took me a while to get this one out and nothing really important is going now. You know the usual character development and stuff i try and throw in. Just a little break between all the excitement and next chapter will be their Christmas party so fun stuff.
