An Unlikely Meeting- Part XIII
"What? Now they're making another stop near Winhill?," Zell said.
The whole gang was surrounding the computer. Irvine was sitting in the chair, and everyone was standing. His head rested in his hands.
"Well Irvine," said the Commander with both hands on the cowboy's shoulders, "you may resume your post."
"Sure th-, hey! Wait a minute! You guys!" He turned around just to see Selphie's yellow skirt disappear through the door, and her cheery, "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!"
Irvine groaned and dropped his head on the desk. "I can't believe this is happening to me..."
Seifer was at the reception desk at an inn in a small town called Blue Mountain. The weakened Quistis was in his arms.
"Uh, hi. My wife and I are on a honeymoon, and she got sick all of a sudden. Do you have a room available?"
"Oh, of course, sir," replied the pleasant looking woman behind the desk. "Do you want us to call a doctor for you?"
*No doctor! No doctor!*, Seifer's brain screamed, but he knew that if Quistis's condition did not improve, he would have to be forced to call one. "Um, maybe. I'll call if I do."
The room was quaint, as was the whole town. There was a very comfortable air about the place.
Seifer laid Quistis down on the soft bed and checked her pulse. Her breathing was feeble and her pulse erratic. Shit. He proceeded to strip her, her clothes all sodden with sweat. He put her in sitting position and took off her vest, gloves, boots, belt, and skirt. Her body was hot to the touch. Seifer wet a towel with cool water from the basin of water and gently bathed her from head to foot. He covered her with a blanket and sat at the bedside, listening to her uneven breathing. He sighed.
The reason why he hadn't called on a doctor was because he didn't trust them. He knew a lot of people who had gone through hell because of quacks posing as caring doctors. The only doctor he trusted was Dr. Kadowaki, and she wasn't here now to help Quistis.
*If she doesn't get any better by tomorrow,* Seifer decided, *I guess I'll have no choice but to call one up.*
The next morning, the bedclothes were soaked and Quistis was still unconcious, but it seemed her breathing was returning to normal. He asked the innkeeper for a change of linens, also with a thermometer, sponge, rubbing alcohol, and some aspirin and took them inside. He bathed Quistis once again and changed the sheets like the way nurses do in hospitals, without waking up the patient. He checked her temperature: 103 degrees. He bathed her with the alcohol this time, and her fever dropped. He mashed up two aspirins and poured the powder into ther mouth and spooned some water until she finally swallowed. Hopefully, the aspirin will keep the fever down. He pressed his ear to her chest. Was her breathing less congested? He hoped so. He studied Quistis's pale face. *She's so weak,* he thought. Brushing a strand of golden hair away from her face, he kissed her forehead. She was going to get better.
As he sat watching her sleep, he felt sleep coming over him as well. He hadn't slept at all the other night and was exhausted from the flight and from worry. *I'll sleep later,* he promised himself, *I'll just close my eyes just for a moment...* He fell asleep.
When Quistis opened her eyes and the ceiling came into focus, she had no idea where she was. She blinked a couple of times and tried to clear her head. As she studied her surroundings, her heart jumped when she saw Seifer slumped over a chair, his chin resting on his chest. *Where are we?* As she sat up, Seifer stirred from his sleep, and he raised his head. When he opened his eyes to see Quistis awake, a slow, happy grin lit his face.
"You're finally awake."
Quistis nodded. "What happened?"
"You got pretty sick during the flight. You looked like death warmed over, so I brought you here to fix you up."
Quistis rolled her eyes. "You could've just taken me to the hospital you know."
"Never trust doctors," he said simply, not bothering to go further into the subject. So he changed it. "Ya know," Seifer spoke, "I brought your stuff in with your clothes and all. I heard the people here are very liberal, but I think they might be kinda shocked if you walk around like that."
Quistis blushed slightly as she pulled the blankets closer around her, suddenly aware of her nakedness. She had a vague impression of gentle hands undressing her and bathing her.
"You hungry?"
Quistis was suddenly aware of her growling stomach. "I'm famished."
"Good. I'll get you something to eat."
Seifer came back holding a tray with a bowl of warm chicken noodle soup. "Heya. The people down in the kitchen were nice enough to make this for ya. There's more where this came from."
He helped her sit up and began to feed her. Quistis had grown increasingly wary. For nearly a year that Seifer had been in Garden "protecting" Quistis, he had become a great friend. He had taken her to dinners, cheered her and encouraged her when she was down, and kept her company. She enjoyed his presence greatly, but now, she began to wonder why he had become such a nice person, especially towards her.
*Does he like me...?*
"Hey Quistis. What are you thinking?"
Quistis snapped out of her reverie to see Seifer looking at her quizzically. "You were just kinda staring off into space. Would the wise Quistis Trepe care to share her thoughts with a lowly inferior?" His eyes sparkled teasingly.
She gave him a small smile. "It's nothing." She finished her soup.
The following days were pure bliss for both Seifer and Quistis. As Quistis regained her health, they spent the days sightseeing and touring the area around of Blue Mountain. On their first day out together in the small town, the woman at the desk had stopped them on their way out.
"Oh! You're finally well! I'm so glad. You're so lucky to have such a caring husband. He took care of your health all by himself."
Quistis could have sworn that she saw Seifer blushing, if only slightly.
Quistis had always loved classical works of art, so Seifer took her to the nearby and famous city of Valencia where a sudden surge of artistic masterpieces started off a worldwide rebirth of art, music, science, and architecture.
Seifer was never one to truly appreciate art. He thought it was a bunch of "boring, weird, ancient pieces of crap." It was when Quistis showed him the different techniques in brush strokes, combinations of color, and significance that he began to reluctanly respect these "pieces of crap." He never knew she took such an avid interest in art and the classics. It was only later on that he learned she had an amazing knack for painting and drawing.
But of course Seifer wouldn't let Quistis take him to every single art museum and bore him to death. He took her out to wonderful restaurants where they reminisced mostly about their orphanage days.
*I wish this could last forever,* they both thought wistfully.
Then that night came. The night before their departure for Celeste. If Quistis hadn't been so sick, they might've faced her days ago. But perhaps this was meant to be...?
Quistis lay on her bed. She was facing where Seifer was laying on his side. Seifer opened his olive green eyes shot with sparkling rays of gold and peered at her through the dark inquisitively. "Quistis," he said quietly. "What are you thinking?"
Quistis smiled sadly. "About tomorrow."
Seifer sat up. "Worried?"
She nodded.
He raised himself up, and Quistis allowed him to hold her. "I have such a bad feeling..."
"No no. Shhh. Nothing's gonna happen, don't worry. After we kick Celeste's ass for messing with the world, we'll be back home, safe and sound. Don't worry." He began to gently rock her, back and forth. He kissed the crown of her head, the scent of roses permeating the air.
Quistis's eyelids drooped and her body seemed to get heavier. Seifer noticed her fatique and gently laid her down, along with himself. It was then that Quistis finally realized something. *He really likes me. Seifer likes me. But is it just infatuation, or is it love?* She wanted to know.
"Seifer..."
But he silenced her once again. "No, you need sleep. You're gonna need it little lady. I ain't getting off this bed until you're fast asleep." A smile pulled at his lips.
There was so many things she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him more about her, tell him her feelings, tell him about the strange dreams of the man and the woman dying..."
Seifer saw that she was finally asleep from the change in her breathing pattern. So peaceful she was. An ethereal angel.
He closed his eyes.
Celeste had sent Quistis those dreams of the dying man and woman. It was threat, and taunt saying that they were both going to die.
Celeste was sitting among a circle of glowing candles. A ritual of giving thanks to the gods. She turned, with a small smile, to Kiara.
"I can't wait, can you?"
She could've sworn she saw Kiara smile too.
"What? Now they're making another stop near Winhill?," Zell said.
The whole gang was surrounding the computer. Irvine was sitting in the chair, and everyone was standing. His head rested in his hands.
"Well Irvine," said the Commander with both hands on the cowboy's shoulders, "you may resume your post."
"Sure th-, hey! Wait a minute! You guys!" He turned around just to see Selphie's yellow skirt disappear through the door, and her cheery, "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!"
Irvine groaned and dropped his head on the desk. "I can't believe this is happening to me..."
Seifer was at the reception desk at an inn in a small town called Blue Mountain. The weakened Quistis was in his arms.
"Uh, hi. My wife and I are on a honeymoon, and she got sick all of a sudden. Do you have a room available?"
"Oh, of course, sir," replied the pleasant looking woman behind the desk. "Do you want us to call a doctor for you?"
*No doctor! No doctor!*, Seifer's brain screamed, but he knew that if Quistis's condition did not improve, he would have to be forced to call one. "Um, maybe. I'll call if I do."
The room was quaint, as was the whole town. There was a very comfortable air about the place.
Seifer laid Quistis down on the soft bed and checked her pulse. Her breathing was feeble and her pulse erratic. Shit. He proceeded to strip her, her clothes all sodden with sweat. He put her in sitting position and took off her vest, gloves, boots, belt, and skirt. Her body was hot to the touch. Seifer wet a towel with cool water from the basin of water and gently bathed her from head to foot. He covered her with a blanket and sat at the bedside, listening to her uneven breathing. He sighed.
The reason why he hadn't called on a doctor was because he didn't trust them. He knew a lot of people who had gone through hell because of quacks posing as caring doctors. The only doctor he trusted was Dr. Kadowaki, and she wasn't here now to help Quistis.
*If she doesn't get any better by tomorrow,* Seifer decided, *I guess I'll have no choice but to call one up.*
The next morning, the bedclothes were soaked and Quistis was still unconcious, but it seemed her breathing was returning to normal. He asked the innkeeper for a change of linens, also with a thermometer, sponge, rubbing alcohol, and some aspirin and took them inside. He bathed Quistis once again and changed the sheets like the way nurses do in hospitals, without waking up the patient. He checked her temperature: 103 degrees. He bathed her with the alcohol this time, and her fever dropped. He mashed up two aspirins and poured the powder into ther mouth and spooned some water until she finally swallowed. Hopefully, the aspirin will keep the fever down. He pressed his ear to her chest. Was her breathing less congested? He hoped so. He studied Quistis's pale face. *She's so weak,* he thought. Brushing a strand of golden hair away from her face, he kissed her forehead. She was going to get better.
As he sat watching her sleep, he felt sleep coming over him as well. He hadn't slept at all the other night and was exhausted from the flight and from worry. *I'll sleep later,* he promised himself, *I'll just close my eyes just for a moment...* He fell asleep.
When Quistis opened her eyes and the ceiling came into focus, she had no idea where she was. She blinked a couple of times and tried to clear her head. As she studied her surroundings, her heart jumped when she saw Seifer slumped over a chair, his chin resting on his chest. *Where are we?* As she sat up, Seifer stirred from his sleep, and he raised his head. When he opened his eyes to see Quistis awake, a slow, happy grin lit his face.
"You're finally awake."
Quistis nodded. "What happened?"
"You got pretty sick during the flight. You looked like death warmed over, so I brought you here to fix you up."
Quistis rolled her eyes. "You could've just taken me to the hospital you know."
"Never trust doctors," he said simply, not bothering to go further into the subject. So he changed it. "Ya know," Seifer spoke, "I brought your stuff in with your clothes and all. I heard the people here are very liberal, but I think they might be kinda shocked if you walk around like that."
Quistis blushed slightly as she pulled the blankets closer around her, suddenly aware of her nakedness. She had a vague impression of gentle hands undressing her and bathing her.
"You hungry?"
Quistis was suddenly aware of her growling stomach. "I'm famished."
"Good. I'll get you something to eat."
Seifer came back holding a tray with a bowl of warm chicken noodle soup. "Heya. The people down in the kitchen were nice enough to make this for ya. There's more where this came from."
He helped her sit up and began to feed her. Quistis had grown increasingly wary. For nearly a year that Seifer had been in Garden "protecting" Quistis, he had become a great friend. He had taken her to dinners, cheered her and encouraged her when she was down, and kept her company. She enjoyed his presence greatly, but now, she began to wonder why he had become such a nice person, especially towards her.
*Does he like me...?*
"Hey Quistis. What are you thinking?"
Quistis snapped out of her reverie to see Seifer looking at her quizzically. "You were just kinda staring off into space. Would the wise Quistis Trepe care to share her thoughts with a lowly inferior?" His eyes sparkled teasingly.
She gave him a small smile. "It's nothing." She finished her soup.
The following days were pure bliss for both Seifer and Quistis. As Quistis regained her health, they spent the days sightseeing and touring the area around of Blue Mountain. On their first day out together in the small town, the woman at the desk had stopped them on their way out.
"Oh! You're finally well! I'm so glad. You're so lucky to have such a caring husband. He took care of your health all by himself."
Quistis could have sworn that she saw Seifer blushing, if only slightly.
Quistis had always loved classical works of art, so Seifer took her to the nearby and famous city of Valencia where a sudden surge of artistic masterpieces started off a worldwide rebirth of art, music, science, and architecture.
Seifer was never one to truly appreciate art. He thought it was a bunch of "boring, weird, ancient pieces of crap." It was when Quistis showed him the different techniques in brush strokes, combinations of color, and significance that he began to reluctanly respect these "pieces of crap." He never knew she took such an avid interest in art and the classics. It was only later on that he learned she had an amazing knack for painting and drawing.
But of course Seifer wouldn't let Quistis take him to every single art museum and bore him to death. He took her out to wonderful restaurants where they reminisced mostly about their orphanage days.
*I wish this could last forever,* they both thought wistfully.
Then that night came. The night before their departure for Celeste. If Quistis hadn't been so sick, they might've faced her days ago. But perhaps this was meant to be...?
Quistis lay on her bed. She was facing where Seifer was laying on his side. Seifer opened his olive green eyes shot with sparkling rays of gold and peered at her through the dark inquisitively. "Quistis," he said quietly. "What are you thinking?"
Quistis smiled sadly. "About tomorrow."
Seifer sat up. "Worried?"
She nodded.
He raised himself up, and Quistis allowed him to hold her. "I have such a bad feeling..."
"No no. Shhh. Nothing's gonna happen, don't worry. After we kick Celeste's ass for messing with the world, we'll be back home, safe and sound. Don't worry." He began to gently rock her, back and forth. He kissed the crown of her head, the scent of roses permeating the air.
Quistis's eyelids drooped and her body seemed to get heavier. Seifer noticed her fatique and gently laid her down, along with himself. It was then that Quistis finally realized something. *He really likes me. Seifer likes me. But is it just infatuation, or is it love?* She wanted to know.
"Seifer..."
But he silenced her once again. "No, you need sleep. You're gonna need it little lady. I ain't getting off this bed until you're fast asleep." A smile pulled at his lips.
There was so many things she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him more about her, tell him her feelings, tell him about the strange dreams of the man and the woman dying..."
Seifer saw that she was finally asleep from the change in her breathing pattern. So peaceful she was. An ethereal angel.
He closed his eyes.
Celeste had sent Quistis those dreams of the dying man and woman. It was threat, and taunt saying that they were both going to die.
Celeste was sitting among a circle of glowing candles. A ritual of giving thanks to the gods. She turned, with a small smile, to Kiara.
"I can't wait, can you?"
She could've sworn she saw Kiara smile too.