Chapter 3: Frustration
Head Instructor Seifer Almasy Deling introduced himself to his new class of 30 Trabia Garden students.
Quistis watched his announcement, saw the look of absolute enthrallment on the face of the female students, and wondered if she'd made the right choice in letting him in her academy.
He was by far the most qualified person for the job. She knew that. Yes, she watched him carefully now, she'd made the best possible choice. And he'd bahave, just like he did at Balamb.
That was what worried her.
The idea of…Seifer Almasy Deling behaving like…that…on her campus made her stomach turn. But she'd been told by Headmaster Cid that while Seifer conducted himself more casually than most instructors, his results were purely of professional quality. And, she'd been also told, that while he flirted with many of the women, he never actually dated.
She never wondered why. Never.
As the class broke for lunch, the students obediently filed out of the classroom. Some of the braver students (female) wished him a good lunch, and told him that they hoped to see him at the cafeteria. He smiled lazily.
He then walked to the desk where Quistis sat now. She was staring into space deep in thought. "Are you trying to suck up to the teacher?" he teased.
She blinked, and focused her eyes on him.
"Class is dismissed. I'm guessing that if you're daydreaming I wasn't doing that good of a job."
"No, you were fine," she got up, taking out her digital planner. "I just had something on my mind."
"Did it involve me?" he asked with a teasing grin.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The words were out before she could think, and the smile was on her face before she knew it. They were sarcastic, but both recognized the pitiful teasing tone, a little awkwardly wielded from lack of use.
He smiled warmly. "Well what do you know?"
She changed the subject smoothly. "A 65% female gunblade class. Watch your behavior, Instructor. I don't take faculty dalliances."
"I only want to dally with one person," he replied, in a lower, more intimate tone.
"Save it."
"I do, for you."
She scowled, and left.
*-*-*-*
He'd asked to sit in on her lecture, politely. Though she knew she couldn't refuse without seeming rude, she tried. That's when he pulled rank: his visit was now an evaluation.
"Instructor evaluation my ass!" she muttered under her breath, buttoning up her uniform. Checking her reflection, she made sure that her hair was immaculately pulled back, and that her uniform was straight.
She walked into the cafeteria to catch a quick breakfast (and swear under her breath as she saw Him chatting with a group of two instructors, four students, and two SeeD, all female).
She went by her office to check her correspondence, to be angered that He'd sent an official reminder of his evaluation.
By 0900 she was angry and sputtering as she entered her classroom. It was unlike anything her students had ever seen. Headmaster Trepe was never mad.
She had to calm herself down! She sat down at her desk, closed her eyes, and told herself that she would be calm. When she opened them, she managed to quelch the scowl she felt when He entered the room.
He seated himself in back. The students were all whispering.
"Class, let us begin."
She'd made herself relaxed, and lost herself in the history of Shiva.
She was always impressive to watch, he mused. Cool, collected, and very confident. Yes, he would have loved to continue his lessons with her. He now considered the advantages of the SeeD uniform; it was tight. It hugged her curves of her upper body like second skin, caressed the flare of her hip so wonderfully.
He knew she liked pants more, and was putting a request to SeeD HQ to have the dress code changed…but until then, a Headmaster had duties, and upholding rules one of them. He liked this duty. It allowed him to enjoy the fact that the skirts stopped midthigh, and revealed those long, toned, beautiful legs of hers…accented by her high-heeled boots.
She felt his eyes tracing her skin. She did not allow for a break in her lesson, but did not look in his corner of the room for the rest of lesson. As she finished, she cleared her throat. "If that will be all, we can start on the examination on the history of Galbadia in five minutes. You may use this small break to chat amongst yourselves or ready yourself."
She sat down at her desk, finally appreciating the sanctuary of an obstruction of his view. She met his eyes now, sent him a cold glare, and prepared the questions for her oral examination.
She did not leave the desk until he left the classroom, with a smug "Good class, Instructor. But I think you stay behind the desk too much."
*-*-*-*
"Seifer Deling, on the president's recommendation, we have elected you Galbadian ambassador. Your task, if you choose to accept it, is to negotiate a peace treaty between our nation, and the nations of the world. There has been serious talk of meetings now for some time; we feel that Galbadia is finally in a situation in which it can maturely deal with the issues that our predecessors have left us."
Seifer Deling stood in the middle of the elegantly furnished room. There were two sides of the room; 35 cherry wood desks on each side, all occupied by the House and Senate of Galbadia.
He bowed, surprised. When called to the Capitol offices today, he'd been told that his attendance was of utmost importance. He hadn't imagined that he'd be offered the responsibility of world peace.
He took in the news slowly, unbelievingly. Something deep within quivered. Would the world want the man who had almost destroyed the planet to attempt world peace?
He'd known that his hard work and dedication in the past few years had gained him much ground with the people of the world. But though the past was often put behind, there had to be some…memory. His concern showed in his expression.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Deling?" the vice president asked.
Seifer cleared his throat, and as smoothly as he could muster, he replied. "I just fear the credibility that Galbadia shall receive; its history with peace ambassadors appointments has not exactly been exemplary, and you've just appointed the man who almost destroyed the world four years ago."
The vice president considered Seifer. "Mr. Deling, your concern shows you are a good man. Galbadia itself has a long hard task in the negotiations for peace. The world has not forgotten you, or Galbadia, but both it and you have matured and changed. We feel that every one is ready, Mr. Deling. There isn't a better person for the job. We all agree."
Seifer swallowed. "I shall have to consult with the Headmaster about my duties at Trabia. I need time."
"The world's waiting, Mr. Deling. You can have until next week to decide."
Seifer bowed.
*-*-*-*
Seifer pulled the tie away from his neck, and wiped his brow.
"I knew it! I knew it!" a brunette in a soft blue suit ran into his arms. "Rinoa…"
The Senator for the Commonwealth of Balamb smiled back. "I knew you'd get the post, I knew it!"
Squall joined the two. "Congratulations, Seifer. You've got a long road ahead of you, but I'm sure you can do it."
"Woah, woah. I haven't even accepted yet."
"Mr. Deling?"
"Ms. President," Seifer bowed.
Gabriela de Witt smiled. De Witt was special; after winning the popular vote by 10%, she proceeded to surprise the nation by setting general assemblies with the two legislative branches every two weeks.
"I am elated that the Senate and House chose to approve of my nomination," she said, half to Rinoa.
"When given such a candidate, there were few objections."
Seifer rolled his eyes, and worriedly stood in silence, before asking, "Has the fact that I tried to kill people, even you," he said to Rinoa, "completely slipped your minds?" he asked.
"Don't question the gifts that Life brings. You were born for nobility. You always said you wanted to be a knight. Here's your chance!" Rinoa said, enthusiastically. "Seifer. We've all moved on. You've moved on too. You can show the world."
"If I have to hear any more words on seizing the day and the chance to change people's lives forever, I'm going to scream," Seifer rolled his eyes.
Gabriela laughed. "Seifer, I chose you because you're charming, determined, and a pain in the ass in negotiations. If there's anyone who can diligently make sure that everyone gets their just desserts, it's you."
The reasoning assured him a bit more. "You just want me there because you don't want the other nations to run us over in settlements," he smiled.
Gabriela smiled bitterly. "Well, Galbadia did commit a number of crimes in the past. There are some nations, which I'm sure you know about, which will be very difficult to negotiate with. One of the reasons why we held off negotiations was simply because we did not have the money to make reparations in the beginning…"
Seifer knew, of course. That's why he was elected Ambassador. "Dollet will be difficult. Perhaps I'll take the position just for the challenge."
"Seifer loves challenges," Rinoa said slyly.
Gabriela met eyes with her husband, who came walking to her now. "Zone, what took you so long? Tummy ache?"
"No, some guys were having some problems with code. Had to take care of it before calling it a day…"
Gabriela kissed her husband, and shrugged. "I'm off. Mr. De Witt and I have a dinner to attend," she smiled fondly.
"Squall and I have to get back to the Garden. Cid wanted to meet with us tonight about something," Rinoa said, and they walked off.
"SeeD exam tomorrow," Seifer said. "And a now 75% female class that misses me."
Gabriela laughed, and considered the handsome young man. "Seifer, I think it's time you got married."
Seifer shrugged, dismissing her remark with a smile. "Probably."
"I can suggest a few places to start…" she smiled, starting to consider the possibilities.
"Nah. I've got my bride in mind."
*-*-*-*
There was a group of ten girls that went jogging with him every morning. He didn't invite them; they just showed up and joined him. Just like they joined him for lunch in the cafeteria. Joined in him the weight room while he trained.
She watched him now from her window. He'd just returned from a day-long trip to Deling City, and was still in formal attire. She realized she'd never seen him in a business suit.
He looked handsome. Distinguished. It lacked the informality of his usual trenchcoat and black ensemble, and lacked the rigidity of the SeeD uniform.
He was born to wear a suit. He looked even more approachable, charming in his charcoal suit, the trenchcoat lazily hanging over his arm.
And the female student body knew.
He'd arrived with a bouquet of lavender roses. The girls were all cooing over them.
She knew for whom they were.
She never understood his strange devotion for her. She suspected he used her as a cover. She did not believe for one second that he'd ever truly felt any sort of attachment to her.
Seifer said something now that set them all laughing, and looked up to her window. She jumped back. He was too far to see inside, and the late afternoon sun's glare on the window protected her. She breathed in deeply, exhaled.
He left the students now, and walked towards the Garden's administration building.
She settled down at her desk to review her schedule. Early tomorrow morning, she'd go with Seifer and his students on their examination. Normally, the head instructor would accompany the students and their instructor for an unbiased evaluation, but such could not be the case. Quistis had considered asking another instructor when Seifer asked her himself if she'd evaluate. It was his first class of students, so she had to admit her curiosity as the headmaster.
Later that afternoon, he was to do his duty as head instructor, and evaluate her students.
A day with Seifer.
She scowled. How'd she let that happen?
"Be careful. If you keep on doing that, I might like it more than your smiles."
"Trite," she replied. "I thought I told Gretle I did not want to be disturbed."
"I'm hardly a disturbance," he tossed his trenchcoat over the chair in front of her desk.
Elegant. Diplomatic. Dangerously…sexy. She was not stupid; she knew he was very sexy. His hair was undoubtedly combed neatly before, but his drive in the hovercraft with the top down mussed it up, which made him more…noticeable than the average suit. His deep green eyes glimmered now as he offered her the roses. "Old lady attacked me in the street. Begged me to take these flowers. 'Give them to your lady'. Of course I said I couldn't take them. 'My lady doesn't like flowers' But she insisted…"
She knew it was a lie, but the thought that he might have gone out of his way to get her something was too disturbing to consider. She took the flowers awkwardly, making sure there were no accidental hand-touches. "…Thank you," she placed them down on her desk.
He settled down in his seat, and considered her.
She looked at him. "What?"
"You ever change out of that thing?"
"When I change into a cleaner one," she replied. "Why don't you just tell me what you want?"
He raised his brow.
"Besides that."
He smiled, amused. "I came to confirm the exam tomorrow, and I have a proposition."
"The examination is tomorrow. And the answer is no: always has been, always will be."
"Contrary to your suppositions, my proposal is different, though thank you for clearing that up. I was wondering if you'd like your students to concurrently be evaluated during my students' examination. A larger mission has just arisen."
Quistis considered. "That sounds fine, Instructor. Noted. I'll send out notices of the change to my students immediately."
"How many of your class is up for examination?"
"Five."
"I have five as well. I think that that should suit the mission Squall mentioned today. Esthar has requested SeeD assistance in recovering Lunatic Pandora from a bunch of renegade hijackers who'd taken the place by force 5 hours ago."
"Only 10 SeeD needed?"
"I got tentative collaboration from the other Gardens. They're each sending five for examination as well."
She nodded her head. "Done."
"Excellent. I'll inform Squall and Galbadia Garden. They should be sending them directly to Pandora."
"All right. When is rendezvous?"
"We meet at Pandora at 0600. We leave tomorrow at 0515."
"Sounds fine. Thank you, Instructor," she said dismissingly.
Seifer got up to leave. "Oh, and Quistis?"
She bristled at her name. Nobody here called her by her first name. "Yes?"
"The sun's glare only protects your surveillance in the morning," he winked. "I missed you too."
*-*-*-*
By 1400, the mission was complete and Quistis tiredly walked the halls of Trabia Garden towards her quarters.
Instead of living in the luxurious headmaster's suite, Quistis had opted for simplicity, and had taken modest accommodations in a student's dormitory single.
She had to commend him for his teaching. His students were everything she'd hoped them to be. They all passed, but that would be news for later. Those evaluations would come after a hot shower and a nap.
*-*-*-*
At 2300 she woke up, and scowled at the clock. She put on her uniform, took the notebook heavy with her professional scrawl of notes and went to her office to type her evaluations. As she entered the administration department, however, she found that one of the doors was open, and the light was on. The Head Instructor's. She walked by, looking in.
She found the head instructor asleep at his computer, his arms folded below his head for pillow.
He'd not even changed out of uniform; she imagined he'd started working as soon as he'd gotten back, but eventually lost concentration and energy.
Seifer was a hard worker. She admitted that. His life as a Galbadian took up quite a bit of time, and she was not lax in her demands of his being head instructor. He hadn't ever complained. Just patiently handled the work she'd assign him.
In fact, she'd never seen him not at work. This moment, watching his figure slumped over his desk…she never felt guilt before, but...
She hadn't given him much credit, but deserved it. Seifer Almasy Deling was a damn fine instructor, a damn fine character.
She watched him for a moment, considering waking him up, or letting him sleep.
She cleared her throat. "Instructor?"
Silence.
She said it again louder, "Instructor?"
He was a sound sleeper. And probably extremely tired.
She hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder. "Instructor…"
He clasped her wrist harshly, readying himself for battle. When he saw her, his grip immediately loosened and he smiled lackadaisically. "Mmmmm…hello there." His voice was husky from sleep.
It made something in her quiver. She claimed it was guilt. Guilt was better than anything else she had in mind at that moment. She unsuccessfully attempted to pull her hand out of his grasp.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, his hand caressed hers.
His hands were surprisingly soft. "I would have done the same," she conceded stiffly. She hadn't intended it to be so rigid. It just came out that way.
Silence.
She continued. "You'd fallen asleep at your desk. You'll get neck pains that way."
"Thank you."
She went towards the exit now. "Go get some rest Instructor. Have those evaluations ready by 1000 tomorrow."
She quickly left the office.
He grinned.
*-*-*-*
Seifer considered the words as Quistis Trepe entered the ballroom, once more, in her SeeD uniform, exactly an hour after the festivities began.
With the Ambassadorship, he wouldn't have time for dating, and all the humbug that went with courtship.
Quistis had not been far off the mark in her estimation of his regard for her. He did use her as a shield. He did not have time for a relationship, not did he really have interest in one. It wasn't that he hated her…in fact, he liked her, in a sort of weird way. She was interesting, but the last person he'd consider worth the time it took for a "till death do us part" investment.
Married.
He considered. Despite all rational argument, the idea somehow appealed. He could not explain why, nor could he muster any semblance of logic in the path of his dangerous thoughts.
Seifer smiled, though, and pushed himself away from the wall. He wanted to dance.
*-*-*-*
Didn't his feet ever get tired?
She scowled from the dark perch on the balcony. She had wanted to leave for the past hour. But she couldn't until she congratulated him. It was only right with the hard time she had been giving him.
But right now, he was smiling, grinning like an idiot, like a fucking clown. What the hell was he doing?
He had flirted before, but he was always a hands off kind of guy.
And there he was, dancing every dance with instructors and students alike, sending them into laughing spills with deliriously disgusting looks of delight on their faces. And letting them touch him, with soft caresses, sultry little taps on the shoulder, whispers dangerously close to the ear…
He hadn't behaved this way before!
And if he wasn't going to date any of them, why was he even bantering with them?
"I won't stand for it…" she muttered under her breath, pacing. "SeeD instructors do not behave that way, not at my garden, not anywhere."
She turned back to the window to look for his figure again, and cursed as she realized he'd disappeared.
"Dammit!"
"Looking for someone?"
She started, turned around slowly to see him leaning in the doorway.
She glared at him. "Go away…" she grumbled.
"You were just looking for me…" he replied, coming out onto the balcony.
She closed her eyes, concentrated. "I wanted to congratulate you. You have lead your students well."
"Thank you. I could say the same for you."
She nodded, and turned to leave. Seifer felt relief in his system.
He'd never felt so…wound up around her in his life.
Then she turned on her heel, and before she could think, she blurted out, "I hope that tonight's behavior was just an aberration."
"Jealous?" he raised a brow.
"You were always on the border, but tonight you pushed it. An instructor shouldn't carry on as you do with the students," she began disapprovingly.
"An instructor doesn't usually care about his students. I do," he replied lazily.
"You are making a fool out of yourself, and making a circus of this Garden. You must stop your…flirtatious bachelor ways."
"Flirtatious bachelor ways? How adorably antiquated. What are you going to do? You know I don't follow through," he grinned. "I'm waiting for you."
"So now it's my fault, because I won't date you?" she asked, taking his words seriously.
The flash in her eyes was dangerous but he couldn't ever say no to a challenge, or danger. "If the shoe fits. I've asked you to marry me from the beginning. If you had married me, maybe none of this would have happened. But until you strut your pretty little ass down the aisle for me, well…a man likes attention."
She growled. "FINE!"
"Fine what?" he asked, his heart pounding. The events had taken a horrific turn.
The took his hand, yanked the ring he'd worn since eleven (which she'd given him before she left him for Garden…but neither of them remembered that) and put it on her left hand, waved it in his face, turned and exited.
He looked after her as she left the ballroom a few second after some meaningless conversation to an insignificant person. Either she'd just had a bout of Fujinism, or…he was engaged.
He was engaged. Shit, what hade he gotten himself into now?
*-*-*-*
What the hell was she on?
When she woke up the next morning, she recalled with perfect clarity the moment she pulled his ring onto her finger. She checked her finger to see if it had just been a nightmare.
When she found the ring winking at her from her left hand, she cursed.
She wasn't going to go back on her word, though. She'd been the one to get herself into this one.
She hated it. She hated him, and she hated the situation, but she wasn't going to admit she was wrong, or stupid.
It wasn't even as if she'd been drunk. Maybe if she were drunk she would have had an excuse.
But she'd been perfectly sober!
"Fuck." He'd goaded her into it, she knew it.
And now she was trapped.
*-*-*-*
The wedding was a small affair that took place in Deling City in the living room of Deling Manor, where Seifer occasionally stayed when he had to stay in the city overnight. Seifer got one of his lawyer friends to prepare the papers. Rinoa and Selfie had demanded a ceremony, so Seifer got the Magistrate of Domestic Affairs to perform a Civil Ceremony.
For all of Rinoa and Selfie's whining, however, Quistis remained unmoved in her refusal to wear a wedding gown. In fact, when she showed up fifteen minutes late (a sign of her reluctance, to be sure, Seifer sarcastically noted) she was in her SeeD uniform, which disappointed the ladies, surprised the gentlemen, but amused Seifer.
They exchanged looks, and Seifer knew she was quickly losing her patience. "Why don't you seat yourselves?"
They'd only invited the gang from Balamb, Cid and Edea, and of course Gabriela and her husband. Quistis didn't want to have anyone present, but Seifer knew that Rinoa and Selphie would kill him if they were excluded.
The guests sat at Seifer's request, and Seifer took his bride's arm and lead her to the Magistrate.
"Dearly beloved. We are-"
"Can we cut to the chase?" Quistis said impatiently. "We've got better things to do."
The magistrate looked at Seifer, who shrugged with a suggestive grin.
She rolled her eyes.
"Do you, Quistis Lauryn Trabia, take this man as your husband?"
The name got on her nerves. The answer was uttered determinedly in clipped words. "I do."
"Do you, Seifer Almasy Deling, take this woman to be your wife?"
"I do." His expression was inscrutable to the crowd.
"Do you have the rings?"
Seifer reached into his pocket, and took out two platinum wedding bands.
She took the ring he gave her.
"Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." she said quickly, sliding the band on his finger.
"Look at me," he said softly, but commandingly. She looked up now, the first time since she'd gotten to the wedding, and met his eyes. They were filled with hate, disgust, confusion, hurt? "With this ring, I thee wed," he said, looking at her eyes now, letting nothing go past his eyes.
"Would you like to share vows?" The Magistrate was asking.
She broke eye contact eagerly and quipped, "No."
He looked at Seifer. Seifer smiled apologetically. "I think that will be all."
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
He heard it muttered softly, threateningly. "May does not mean will." He sighed, and took her hand and kissed it softly for appearance's sake.
*-*-*-*
"The romance of that ceremony had me moved to tears," Zell said, sarcastically.
"Why did they even get married in the first place?" Selphie said exasperatedly.
Squall considered the couple now. Quistis was looking for an escape. Seifer watched her, let her hand go, and turned to thank the magistrate his friend for performing the ceremony.
Squall saw how they couldn't care less if they were next to each other, or ten billion miles away from each other.
But he saw their feet were just slightly oriented towards each other.
To be Continued