The Lights of Deling

by Tera

Rinoa has been kidnapped, Squall is a mess and an election in Deling could determine the fate of the wold.

2. Part Two

The Lights of Deling

Part Two- Rise of the Resistance

Seifer Almasy walked the streets of Deling. Feeling sullen and out of place desperate and alone. His signature trench coat swaying in the night's air and the confident smirk was wiped off his face. His gunblade dragged along the ground, but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything anymore. Slowly, too slowly things had slipped away disappearing, withering, blowing away whatever one might call it. One, he reminded himself was all that there was left of his posse. But, if anything could make this self-loathing feeling or hopelessness worst, it was thinking about the past. Like when he thought of Squall, or any of his former colleges, enemies what were they in fact? The lines that he had seen so clearly between right and wrong had become blurred for him. He couldn't see dreams, he couldn't see hope, and that scarred him. When he had fought against them that last time, when Fujin and Raijin had left him all alone he had known that wasn't him. Or when he had tried to junction Rinoa to Adel. It couldn't be him. Sure he had rejoined Fujin and Raijin, pretending once again that everything was fine, nothing had happened after all so how could there be a problem? But he knew what was best for them and he that would only bring them down. Possibly make their names as much as a joke as his own. He had traveled far away, stealing away from their happiness, their laughter. Far from the Garden that cursed him the rival that had everything and the women that was no longer his.

Deling was fine, he decided. It was dark, aged, mysterious, and poetic in a way, just like him he thought. The empty streets were his haven and he loved the way the lights grazed his features, coarsely exaggerating them making him seem like the ghost that he was. The ghost of his former self. He loved being hidden by the eye of passers by and how he blended into the gray. Who wouldn't love dropping out into oblivion where no one could find you, where no one could see who you were and no one could care? Sure life was sweet, sweeter than the fresh dew off the pavement or the exhaust from of a rundown car. But he had chosen this solitude, just like he had chosen to become Ultimecia's knight, and just like he had chosen to become an exile from Garden. He sighed as his belie began to ache, to crave food which at the site of it alone disgusted him. How it seemed both physically and mentally he was decaying away. He found himself coming upon the Galbadian Hotel and decided by fate to go in.

* * * *

The tottering lanterns on the arced sides only illuminated the stone passageway. They hung off, jumping out and getting in the way of Charm. The musty smell seemed to taint everything making it feel dirty, saturated with something unholy. The tunnels were a best-kept secret in Deling, a good way for bandits and outlaws to avoid the proper authorities. Heat made the almost cave like environment unbearable, as if it was to begin with, he thought. He lifted the sleeping girl's head up at the same time wiping the sweat from his forehead. He hated this, trudging through unmapped tunnels, following a girl he barely knew. He doubted her, he doubted Chase and more importantly he doubted himself. He looked down at the girl in his arms, her eyes shut so peacefully though she couldn't possibly be at rest if she knew what was happening. He tried better to bring up her head so it wouldn't fall back and be unsupported. But instead rest against his chest. He smiled at her innocence, or the innocence of her face, how young she looked. He wanted her to awaken, so he could gaze upon those soft eyes again. And slowly Charm began to forget about the dark halls, that smell, and the unknown. But instead he cradled the girl protectively.

Onna looked back at Charm. He carried the girl so easily, without a bit of struggle. He was so strong it seemed, so unlike her. But she tried not to think of the darkness, of Charm, or worry about Chase. But the confusion of the recently pasted event stayed on her mind, a plague; a kind of disease that refused to let her be. The empty cellar to which she wandered down was still new to her, so how could she possibly be expected to find the way? The halls were rumored to be littered with monsters that would pursue unsuspecting parties, keeping aback for most of the journey, but appearing for a few moments, playing tricks with one's mind. These monsters would slowly wear you down, maybe pick out one meaningless soldier and slowly toy in till the whole party seemed to have disappeared into the darkness. This crossed her mind as she heard a wicked cackling in the far off of the chambers. She shivered with fear. A natural reaction, but somehow felt inappropriate, better suited for a mere child not an experienced soldier. What would Chase think of her, cowering over unseen phantoms, she thought. She tried to recall a mental map to try and relocate their hidden refuge. She stumbled on the uneven pavement, but looked up and saw the ladder she had been desperately seeking. Charm caught up with her and she decided to start to climb up the rickety ladder.

When he arrived after the long climb up the rusted ladder he gently put the girl down on the chair knowing she would awake in a moment. Onna had disappeared into the back without a word so he would be forced to look after this girl. Not that he minded he couldn't wait to see her wake. So he sat down in the corner of the small, decrepit room wiping a clean place on the soiled floor. Was it really his dream to be stuck in a place like this? But then he began to see the angel wake, struggling in the restraints and her head twisting right and left. He watched her in almost awe as her eyes flickered open and gazed in horror at their surroundings. His knees where up and his head leaned back against the stonewalls uncomfortably against the rough surface. Then the scarred eyes gazed upon him with fear. He rose to his feet feverishly contemplating what he could do, tempted to run away from the look on her face.

"Who are you?" Rinoa shouted. She gazed around the drab confinements and then back to her body that had been completely restrained with her arms tied around her back, legs buckled down and chained, she was surprised she could move her mouth. She saw a man in the corner with a look on his face that scarred her and the fact that he was coming closer didn't help much either. What was this about, she thought. One minute she had been waiting to see her troublesome father who had just so happened to be kidnapped and what now? Was she kidnapped? Where was Squall, or her friends or anybody? What could she do, how could she escape and how could she get help? The dark man stood above her with a snide look, almost of contempt. He seemed confident enough, but she was sure Squall would save her like he always did. Just like he had saved her from the being sacrificed for the Iguaions, or crumbling ledge of Garden, or drifting endlessly into space or the Sorceress Memorial. He had to save her.

"Me, I'm just the messenger. And you know what they say girlie, don't kill the messenger." He responded. He folded his arms and starred down at her mischievously.

"And what's that suppose to mean? I'll ask you again who are you and what am I doing here!" She felt stiff and uncomfortable and her arms and legs ached, maybe they were bruised along with her pounding head. Then again maybe this could be some kind of cruel joke, or a nightmare, or maybe if she was able to move her arm she could pinch her self and wake up.

"You're a rebel, in a resistance group, what do rebels do? Well in this case it was quite convenient to kidnap a very useful alley like a Sorceress," he stopped abruptly in front of her face and bent down looking her strait into the eyes.

"What?! This is because I'm a sorceress? You're gonna have to help me out with this one, but how the hell do you expect me to become an alley to you and whatever army?!" She tried to keep her composure and act as though she was a mighty sorceress' from one of those legends. But turned away from the stranger, refusing to look at him.

* * * *

Squall ran out from the safety of his friends after telling Zell and Irvine to turn back. The sky was dark, but the moon the stars and the streetlights showed the dark buildings and the allies. He had been trying so hard to run after what seemed now to be only a phantom and his legs felt like they were just about to give out. He felt his burning feet hit hard against the pavement and the way the shock traveled up his numbed legs. The figure disappeared behind the darkest corner as the chase continued. And it was obvious to both Squall and the stranger that the stranger knew the city better and would win, probably disappear into the same hole that he come from. But Squall knew he wouldn't give up because giving up would be betraying her and maybe mean ultimately loosing her. Which he couldn't do. He was out of breath, panting and chest heaving for air that wasn't there. His hair was entangled and flew wildly over his eyes and he could feel the way the cool sweat reacted to the night's air. His muscles were far too over worked to point where he stumbled over to the ground. He sat down on the frigid pavement laying his gunblade on the pavement watching as the figure disappeared and he knew the phantom was far-gone. And this was as far as he could go, he couldn't run after he couldn't keep up, he would have to stop and finally he wouldn't be able to save her. He could reach out with a gloved hand for something that wasn't there.

And then he could go back to his friends, to Quistis expectations, to Selphie's childish dreams and so fourth. Stare then back into the eyes and see that way the way they sank down into their sockets. Then after these looks of fear, hopelessness, despair and finally the most horrid way you could ever feel they would gaze back at him. Analyze how he felt, study the look on his face, desperately searching for whatever they needed or expected. Then they would try and ask him how he felt and for once he thought he might actually tell them, but if they knew how he really felt than that would scare them even more. He dreaded that. But, maybe there was a way, a hope similar to a fairy tale where everyone could live so happily ever after. After all was he not the hero, that's what they had called him and yet look at what had happened to the hero. He felt the hole inside of him grow and the guilt as he sat down on the frigid curve, laying his gunblade to the side as he felt his gloved hand cover his forehead. The Hero, the Knight, the SeeD, the Lion, had all failed.

* * * *

Quistis turned around as she heard someone coming down the stairs and hoped for Squall, but was shocked at the very least when the familiar figure of Seifer was shown instead. Her first thought was what, but than why. How could he come back, how could he show his face ever again? And then she judged that maybe and quite strangely it could possibly be a chance encounter, by the look on his face. He had stopped, mid-pace, mid-step on the stairwell. His arms gripping the wooden banister on each side and his eyes squinted with disdain. She still saw again that familiar scar as his temples wrinkled. The black gunblade still to his side as his arm flew violently back.

"Great, doesn't this just make my day?" He spoke. He was sure he was giving off the same look of surprise as the ones that were on their faces. His eyes scanned the silent bar to see Quistis, Selphie, Zell, Irvine, but no Squall or Rinoa to his surprise. He had heard that General Caraway, her father had gone missing and suspected they might come back but had never dreamed he would've run into. He hated it. The very people he had been trying to avoid for so long, and for so long he hadn't seen Fujin and Raijin. He could almost laugh at the irony, but decided to try and stay as calm as possible. After all Squall wasn't there or his little whore.

"Seifer?" Quistis questioned. She noticed the slicked back blonde hair, the scar, the gunblade, the trench coat, but something didn't seem right. The Seifer she had known had this strange aura of supreme and unquestionable ego and demand. In a way he seemed to take over the room but this man, this man seemed empty and tired, weakened from within there was no color to his face. He looked desperate, eyes cast down and sagging with deep, dark circles on once brilliant eyes that sparkled on a summer's day with influence. He looked thin and unkempt like he had been slowly wasting away. She didn't like it she didn't like it at all. Seifer what happened to you?

"What are you looking at Instructor? Oh wait you're aren't one anymore." He continued to walk down the stairway and noticed how their eyes followed him. He didn't know what was the big deal; it's not like anything had changed. He looked the same, and was acting the same for them and yet he gazed back at them as they starred so querulously at him, like he was completely foreign and unknown.

"Man…" Was all that Zell could say. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Seifer, but he knew he hadn't appeared like this. Not all tired out and pathetic. Zell had been afraid of Seifer at one time, but never would've if he had looked like this.

"Ewww, you look icky." Selphie said with alarm.

Irvine smiled at her contently and in agreement, it was not like he was happy to look upon Seifer again. In his opinion he thought the guy was a bold asshole that had caused nothing but trouble and he was sure that if Squall were here he would've agree. Where was Squall? He had remembered the look that he had given him, the final look before he had turned his back for further pursuit. The way his eyes appeared so determined, starring down intensely and brow furrowed as his lips curved down. The stale, unemotional way that he looked, bottling everything inside and focusing all of his life into one action. Irvine knew at those times just how different he was from Squall. That scarred him, how Squall could act like that. It was a unique kind of power and if it ever fell into the wrong hands…

"Oh and what's that suppose to be, a rat on your face?" He said to Selphie. She clenched her fist in rage and squinted her eyes. Irvine wanted to do something, he wanted to hug her and tell her how cute she was and that Seifer was just being a jerk as usual. He hated how he had to live up to a reputation that he couldn't just express how he felt all because of other people. He knew how bad Selphie felt even if she knew it wasn't true.

"And who are you to pick on little girls?" Irvine questioned him. Selphie smiled hearing this, even though he had called her a little girl. Zell swatted at the air threateningly, his knee's bent to support the various jabs and punches. And Quistis folded her arms and starred back at him showing her disappointment.

"Hey!" Selphie objected.

"See I missed you all so, how we exchanged these delightful conversations and all. How could I live without being laughed at and cursed, threats. I think it's funny, I remember what she said, when Ultimecia said all that shit about leaving behind your childhood. Yeah, well I left it long ago, but you obviously haven't moved on." He said confidently. He stood at the end of the stairs unable to progress. He didn't think they would know how to react, maybe they could just leave him alone, let him go without any trouble. And the last thing he was in the mood for was to explain everything to his enemies or to be pitied. He didn't want to be around them; he had planned on never seeing them again and now this. What was this, a reunion, a nightmare? He just wanted to escape. He turned his back ready, but was disappointed that he wouldn't get a drink.

"And where do you think you're going?" Quistis demanded. He turned around frustrated. Why was he doing this, he asked himself. It wasn't like he owed them anything. "Please, Seifer." She tried. Selphie and Irvine and Zell starred at her questionably.

"What, are you going to miss me?" He asked her sarcastically.

"Rinoa was kidnapped." She said though didn't know why he would care.

He starred back at her with disbelief.

"And what am I suppose to do about it?" He asked her.

"That's why Squall isn't here he went to go after her with Irvine and Zell and hasn't returned yet," she continued.

"Who cares, oh my the little lovers are gone boo-hoo try someone who cares!" He yelled at her.

"You all hate me enough as it is and now that your beloved Commander is gone and his little bitch you come to me what the hell do you expect!" He explained.

"Fine Seifer, we just thought you might have seen them, maybe you don't care but a lot of other people do. I mean you your self said that you had grown up and were beyond all this childish world crisis stuff, I think I am to," Quistis said. She saw the looks of doubt, the way they probably thought that she was mad. Quistis, Garden's prime pupil, graduating at fifth-teen and getting her instructor license at seventeen, and now talking about her disgust with the world.

"Uh huh yes little ol' instructor is going to quit Garden, abandon her whole career and let down the world. I'll believe it when I see it," he knew she could never leave her precise Garden, at one time he had thought the same way. Garden had felt like his home and in a way it was. He had grown up there, ever since he was about five he had run down those halls chasing after Squall. He couldn't really remember much about his childhood and it seemed to him that it was better left alone. No, he looked on to the future where his dreams would be met, or at least he had used to. Childhood was over, garden was over and it seemed his life over. He asked himself that question often, what was he suppose to do now? How could he return and how could he live up to his dreams, how could anything be right?

"You're right you had a choice, but I, I could never leave…" Quistis frowned as she thought of this. Every time she thought of Garden she frowned and every time she thought of the future. It wasn't as if everything seemed unknown and unplanned. She knew where all of this was going and maybe it was too clear, and too terrible to admit. She saw this picture of herself and everyone. She saw Squall with his arm around Rinoa and her head nuzzled into his jacket. Her arms gently tugging on the cold leather and her face covered from everyone, but him. He then turned around starring out into forever and past her, Quistis. Irvine, face askew and gun over his shoulder. Selphie smiling and her hands clutched, up and seemed almost to be praying for something. Zell, batting the air like usual and bouncing with support form his legs. Theses were supposedly her friends and she knew over the years after mind numbing missions and all the beautiful, angelic boredom they might still be the same and that scared her. SeeD, which she had followed so blindly, never questioning. It wasn't so bad, she told herself. She had money, respect everything she wanted everything except him. Maybe that's what had kept her going, in till she could never look back.

"Sorry I won't be able to stick around to listen to what I know will be a oh-so sad story, but I don't care!" He walked back up the scarlet, curling stairs. He just wanted to escape, run away from their looks, run away… He didn't care, that's what he had said and he was just so much better than they were. He was the mighty, the brave, the gallant, the irresistible, the strong and the knight Seifer Almasy. He gripped the shiny, wooden banister and kept his head up, taking his time and it seemed now that no one cared to stop him. And the doorway was just a step away when he saw him.

* * * *

Landon Johnston was the people's hero, being the younger wittier, charismatic youth who would bring new blood into Galbadia. The hope, the blinding light that ultimately vanquished darkness, maybe slaying so unfortunate innocents on the way, but in the end all was right, true. And that's what Landon thought, and that's what his job was about was to convince the masses of the same. Maybe that wasn't the whole truth, but as long as they couldn't tell fact from fiction he would be fine Put on the right show, add the little kick in their days, he knew every trick from following a long line of politicians. Every trick to make them smile and cry. He liked the way it felt when a crowd cheered for him, when he took center stage and when they believed in him. And he knew if was fate, destiny for him to win everything was laid out in front of him, clear as a summers day. A summer's day, with a fair blue sky washing over the planet only so far overhead, not a cloud, nor a sign of darkness in the perfect sky. Perfect, with the sun high up the brilliant sphere of wild energy, the world's savior. He could taste the sweet berries and feel the heat beating down and then a cool breeze brushing past him towards the east. The grass swaying like the ocean waves rhythmic, capturing his attention. But like everything, summer never lasts forever, he thought. He knew what followed the summer and what followed after happiness, that everything was bound to fall apart eventually. He thought of this as he starred down at the young sleeping mistress, the piano girl who hoped to make it big. He smiled at her crumpled form on the rich and high up king sized hotel bed, the down comforter had been kicked off so she almost shivered on the cold room. He looked at her with contempt, as a dirty thing he was just using for a few kicks and almost felt dirty to know her. She was nothing, just a shy, hopeful girl who had dreams of making far above her and in a way he could sympathize, but why try?

He casually adorned the pinstriped suit standing up strait and tall, eager to face another day that separated him from Galbadian domination. He walked over to the blue bathroom and washed his face of the dirt, pressing hard and dragging his hands all the way down his rugged and unshaven face. Tempted to just stick his whole face under the faucet, but he didn't have time. His hair flew everywhere and he took the comb out combing the wild brown hair back so it tucked in under his ears. He needed to hurry because he had a meeting schedule, they were going to talk about how to get Artemis out the picture because so far he had consulted almost every leader into thinking Artemis was nothing but a tyrant warmonger and of course he was an astute peacemaker. He sighed trying to remember the name of the country, the one that was so advanced, wasn't it near FH? Oh well, he thought Mr. Laguna Loire will be for sure taken like all the rest of them and with the world on his side he could do anything.

* * * *

Same old Squall that had carelessly and accidentally ran into to him, hidden by the corner and slamming hard. He fell back surprised, caught off guard and instinctively putting his hands up. His eyes were wide open, but he wanted to pretend it had never happened so he would never have to speak to the younger and shorter boy again. But he would have to say something; he would have to use the same old tired lines, same lines of intolerance. Stand tall, showing everyone the same Seifer they had known and hated.

"Watch where you're goin,' Squall!" He shouted back at the boy. The boy attempted to clear his vision, rubbing his itchy eyes and starring at the body before him. The faceless, but familiar being who cursed at him once again. He forgot about what had happened for one moment, and starred transfixed at his old rival.

"What happened to you?" Squall asked glancing up.

"Nothin' that a good beer wouldn't fix, but of course you and your little friends had to be here, thanks again for putting me in such a wonderful mood, Squall. Tell me when I can repay the kindness just not right now!" Everything he said seemed to come out bitter, like his words and it was obvious to Squall that something more had happened, something more lied under his cool exterior. Since the day he last saw him, pushing Rinoa to Adel and screaming his undeniable loyalty to Ultimecia he had heard very little about the former Sorceress' knight. And he stood there just a few feet apart, blocking his exit.

"Whatever," Squall said and looked back at Seifer feeling almost sorry for him. But Squall himself felt cold and numb inside he didn't want to feel, there was just too much to feel. He had told himself to never get attached, to never feel that way because just like before he could lose everything. Be left with nothing and nobody. He glanced aside and down to his friends, seeing Zell wave up to him. Seifer pushed him out of the way, throwing the smaller boy to the side as he walked past.

"Yeah Mr. No-feeling I don't expect you to know how it feels to have nothing and everybody hate you, look at chicken-wuss I bet he's just itching to kill me or something. You don't know me, you never knew me because you would know that I would want nothing, do YOU hear me Mr. Lion heart, nothing to do with fucking friends or Garden and especially you!" He spun around pointing his gunblade directly at Squall so it was within inches of grazing his chin. He saw General Caraway get up from the table he was resting on despite Quistis and Selphie's objections and stood up.

"I don't know Seifer, Rinoa is gone and I know I couldn't save her, that feels like nothing," he responded. Yes, Rinoa was gone for now he reminded himself. He tried not to except the fact so soon, just wait in till he rescued her like he always did. He was her knight after all.

"Oh well I guess you won't get some tonight, eh? Though I do envy you, Rinoa has quite an ass." He laughed bitterly and lowered the gunblade. No matter how many times he looked at Squall a part of him just couldn't help but laugh at the 5'8" boy who stood there unaffected by any of his big talk.

"Help us Seifer, help us find her," he offered.

"Yeah right, I'd rather get wasted like a normal person." Seifer sighed no matter what they wouldn't let him go.

"You coward," General Caraway spoke, striating up his trench coat. He knew this boy, or more so Rinoa had and had brought him home to scare him. It didn't matter he knew the type, the brazen, but ultimately insecure boy.

"Huh, don't even get me started on you old man." He tried to ignore him.

"He's offering you exactly what you want, to be a hero and you snub it, you coward," General Caraway explained.

"Yeah, I wanted that there's a difference, I wanted a lot of things." He defended.

"But you still do, go with them Seifer, become a hero. Do the right thing like the hero you want to be," he coaxed.

"If I help you, if it's not for free I want something," Seifer demanded.

"If we want your help," Quistis added. To her it was an important detail and she wouldn't let Seifer so easily walk in, he had if anybody noticed severely betrayed them and who knows what he was tied up in now.

"So whom are we dealing with?" Seifer asked.

"Chase O'Neil, I recognize that scum from anywhere, and Charm his associate I've heard is a

SeeD." General Caraway spoke. Too many times could he recall when pathetic, lowly sorts of class would stumble into his midst hoping and begging for his help.

"Garden's in on this!?" Zell shouted out in disbelief.

"Calm down Zell, we don't know anything for sure," Quistis said.

"Did you say Charm, I know him." Seifer said.

"Sure, just like you were loyal to garden," Irvine said under his breath.

"What was that cowboy!" Seifer shouted.

"Oh nothing at all…" Irvine said casually.

"Stop it Irvine. Yes Seifer what do you know?" Quistis wondered about all the kidnappers, she wondered about how cleverly this all had been orchestrated. How had they known Rinoa would fall so easily, after the entire city knew how broken Rinoa's relationship was with her father yet she had come? Had they been naive the whole time, not even guessing about the situation and just hoping for everything would fall into place. What organization would think to kidnap this girl, this Sorceress and she knew it must have had something to do with her powers there was nothing else Rinoa seemed to offer. And then her thoughts drifted back to Squall and she worried for him, how he would take it all and how he could continue to function with this daunting him. Or would he worse off keep everything inside and slowly, but for sure brake down. How would she reach him them, but really she had never reached him that's why Rinoa…

"Well he's a SeeD for sure, a very good SeeD…"

* * * *

Rinoa knew it must have been more than a day since she had been in this "prison". She was afraid of the darkness and that's all she could see was the darkness that the blindfold gave her. Her limbs were bound uncomfortably and the material dug into her skin, cutting off the circulation to parts of her body. She felt the bottomless pit of her stomach rumbled; craving food and making her body feel heavy, fatigued. She rolled her head back in exhaustion and clenched her fists. She was past thinking this was a joke or a dream, she just wished it to be over and to never hear his voice again. Charm, she knew the name was familiar, but couldn't even begin to place it. He was her capture and she felt weak like prey, only she couldn't run for her life she could just sit there weakly with an Odine's bangle around her arm. She was supposed to be sleeping, in the darkness in the nothing that she couldn't understand and her eyes remained open through the material. She listened for any sound and wouldn't let him get to her. Why, she questioned knowing the answer. But she couldn't help it; she couldn't help it when she felt tears gently trickle down her cheeks. She hated how it felt to sit here and wait for something to happen and the anxiety making her stomach feel worse and it felt like she could pass out. She wished so badly to see him, suddenly, at random she would notice that he wasn't near and that felt worse of all. Her eyes widened through the cloth as she heard footsteps and her heart quickened with fear of the unknown. The voice started out loud and suddenly grew soft as it ended and sounded confident, overpowering. She hated that voice.

"You look so beautiful, don't cry. Here, let me get that for you," he offered. He lifted the cloth from around her face and wiped the tears from her face. "See, that's better."

"Get away from me!" She demanded.

"You make me laugh, I have complete power over you and yet you speak like you could rise from that chair and cut my throat. Poor thing, you've been through, too, too much, I know. But all you have to do is say yes… " He explained. He looked down at her sadly, starring at how weak she looked; she couldn't do anything. But everything would be fine just as soon as she faced her destiny, as soon as she would join them.

"Just let me go, let me go now!" She yelled.

"But you don't see the big picture. You can be great things, a Sorceress that can control the world in her hand, rule have everything. Don't you want that?" He asked her. It was his job to coax her, his job to recruit her and make her one of them.

"No, all I want is to be with Squall!" She wouldn't give up on Squall and she knew she hoped that it was only a matter of time in till he saved her and they could put all this past them like it was a bad dream.

"But he's nothing and you, you are so much more than he could ever be. And do you really think he feels the same? He's a guy right? He's probably just going to use you and discard you when he's gotten what he wants. He's worthless." His hand moved to her face and gently cradled her jaw in its grip and he lovingly stroked her cheek. She pulled back in disgust.

"Squall loves me, I know even if he doesn't say it," she responded.

"Poor, poor thing. You deserve better than that, if I had a girl I would tell her how much she meant to me every second I was with her. This guy sounds like a real jerk who doesn't know what he has I wish I could kill him for playing with you like this." He watched her eyes, studying her reactions carefully. He could feel the draft in the room and he noticed how she shivered, but she wouldn't tell him that she was cold or hungry; did she really believe that the boy would come for her?

"You don't know him, he's just…has a hard time showing me how he feels. But underneath it all he does, he'd do anything for me, he's my knight."

"There, there don't get so defensive. I'm sure what's his name has his own motives, every man does. But more importantly you're cold." He turned his back towards her and disappeared from her vision into a room. She knew Squall loved her, that he wasn't just any boy and he would do anything for her and he didn't have to say it in words. Who needs words anyway, they can mean nothing. And some people just told you exactly what you wanted to hear, but Squall, everything he did was supported by his actions, integrity they called it. She knew that he loved her because of his actions, he had saved her, risked his life for her. That had to have meant something? He had kissed her, embraced her, cared for her so deeply, who needed those three words? Charm came in with the blanket draping it over her and tucking her in like a child.

"…Thanks."

"Your welcome." He whispered leaning over to her ear and then exited the room again. He returned to Chase and Onna, Chase just reappearing hours ago and supposedly hadn't been followed. He believed him, but he didn't care to leave the girl so soon, he had barely begun with her. Barely toyed with her mind and make her hopeless. He opened the wooden door, twisting the golden knob and having to push it harder than usual. Onna sat on the stool in the corner and Chase on the low bed. The room was small like the rest of their hideaway and a single light bulb swung back and forth negligently.

"And how is it going?" Chase questioned while Charm continued to stand in the doorway.

"Oh her, close it's just a matter of time the idea is already there, it'll just take some work. By the way what does Leonhart have to do with all of this?"

"You don't know about them? And I thought everyone knew about the great SeeD Squall Leonhart…and his girlfriend the Sorceress Rinoa?"

"Duh, I know who Leonhart is I just didn't know that she was her, that's all." Chase stared at him suspiciously, but let it go.

"Just please, get this done, we need her," Chase added.

"Yeah, whatever. So do you have the plan yet?" Charm asked changing the subject.

"Onna…"

"Well…um we want to destroy the election, right? So to do this it's easy to, kill the candidates off. Pick them out when they least expect it, like in public when there giving a speech so if we were to make a plan which is what we're doing well because you need a plan to go in there it's not like you can just show up without a plan-"

"Yes, yes I understand just get to the plan!" Charm argued. He sighed having to sit through her boring speech, she was boring and he felt bored.

"Err...sorry. Anyway the plan is at the next speech, which is like, two days already is it? Well two days from now we will assassinate one of the delegates. And don't worry we're gonna get rid of the other one only not now because it's too dangerous. So don't worry, k." She explained. She was so nervous and hated talking to in front of people she didn't know well, it made her concentrate to make things sound perfect, but did the opposite because of how stressed she allowed herself to become. She was sweating and her heart had pounded, she hadn't wanted to foul up in front of Charm, but now he probably thought of her as an incompetent moron who would get them all killed. She wanted to cry for letting him down, but instead sat there patiently as him and Chase discussed the plan more thoroughly.

"If we attack during the speech it will cause complete chaos, so maybe in this chaos we can escape." Charm suggested.

"True, but which candidate, SeeD?" Chase slurred. She was surprised at this it was almost as if he didn't trust Charm, who knew?

"I don't know I'm only working for you, leader you're just suppose to tell me what to do and I do it." Charm responded.

"Onna, which one is easier to get to?" Chase asked.

"Me, sir? Artemis, I think…"

"You think!? What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Charm yelled.

"Well, I could be wrong since we have nothing confirmed yet, security wise, but in my opinion, Artemus." Onna stuttered. She felt almost guilty, as they would base taking a man's life on her decision, bad men, but still men. She wondered if they had families and if they would miss them.

"What kind of place are you running here, Chase?" Charm demanded. He wanted to know every factor, every variable if he was going to put his life in danger. This girl seemed useless and he wondered why Chase kept her around at all, she was probably a security risk.

"Calm down Charm, we still have two days in till the main debate. In till then would you quickly return to Garden and consult Master NORG?" Chase suggested.

"Fine, whatever the hell you want me to do. But what about the girl?" Charm questioned.

"What about her? Don't worry we can handle it. But it's late leave tomorrow." Chase ordered.

Charm sighed and walked out of the room closing the door behind and relieved to get out of there. He was annoyed at them; he hated it when other's ordered him around, when they had so much control over him like that. He was his own man, but with them ordering him around it didn't feel that way. He walked back to the chair, to the girl in the chair that continued to weep. And he wanted to cry for her, he wanted to let her out of those restraints and hold her in till she stopped crying. For a Sorceress she seemed so weak, fragile and he was afraid to break her; he didn't want to break her. All she had to do is say yes and she would join them, be safe and fight with them. He sat down in the corner leaning his head back on the hard wall and spreading his legs out. All that power in one girl. He remembered in school when they had talked about Sorceresses, reading the list thorough the generations starting with the very first and creator of the world, Hyne. He remembered many and that it seemed they all had been evil, causing their own lists of destruction. But this girl, Rinoa remained pure even as a Sorceress and was involved with the Commander of SeeD. She didn't want the world, in fact it seemed like she only wanted one man, one man that might in the end be the very one to kill her. It just didn't make sense to him, why not the world? If he had so much power and he didn't have to take orders…

"Why not the world?" He finally asked her.

"What?" She asked still crying.

"Why not take over the world? You could do it you have the powers." She gazed back at him in the corner, tears and all questioning his words.

"I didn't want this…power. It wasn't my choice. It wasn't my choice to be kidnapped. I don't know what I want, but I don't want to be here. I want to see his face again, his eyes, and I want him to kiss me and hold me again, but that's not my choice now either, is it?" She stared at him, searching for something, pity, sympathy or hope and the tears continued to stream down her reddened face. He got up slowly, taking his time and his hand reached back to support his body as he stood up. He walked carefully, his arms back behind his back, slightly slouching over in till he stopped right in front of her. Then he leaned in closer in till he could feel her breath on him.

"You'll forget him soon enough, I promise." He whispered and grinned lips curling up.