By NightsDawne
Chapter 18: Rivals
Irvine's freshly healed leg was aching, causing him to limp badly by the time he and Seifer had fought their way to the elevator. Together the Black and White SeeDs were managing to hold their own against the Red SeeDs, leaving the two cadets to turn the tide in battles as they came across them. Seifer reached over, wrapping a strong arm around Irvine to help him the last twenty feet to their objective. Quistis and Selphie were there, the instructor yanking a Red SeeD off his feet with her whip, the perky SeeD bouncing over to finish him off with a blow from her nunchukas. Seifer leaned Irvine against the wall next to the elevator and hit the call button. "Let's go, Instructor!"
Quistis looked over, recoiling her whip as she headed for him, Selphie on her heels, waving her nunchukas to help her balance as she skipped over fallen bodies. "Seifer! Irvy! Irvy, are you hurt?"
Irvine flashed a tight grin, reloading his rifle. "Yeah, had a little fun with Big Al, but Seifer took care of it."
"You guys need showers," quipped Selphie, pursing her lips.
"Later, Selphie, later." Seifer pushed the elevator doors open as they started to slide apart, Quistis and Selphie ducking in first, followed by Irvine, his face set in a grimace of pain, and finally Seifer. The doors slid shut as Quistis pushed the button for the second floor, all four preparing their weapons and getting in a ready stance. The doors slid open and they saw two figures in front of them, both female, dark haired, hands stretched out in front of them, spells ready on their lips, charred bodies littering the floor in front of them.
"Matron! Rinoa!" Quistis's yell stopped the two sorceresses from attacking.
"Quistis!" Rinoa ran forward, her eyes filled with fear. "We thought all of you might not have made it. We've been able to keep anyone from getting off on this floor, but there's nothing stopping them from getting up to the command level."
"The students are holed up in the classrooms," explained Edea. "We can take care of them for now. Get to the command level and help Squall out."
"What about Cid?" Irvine asked, surprised that the question would even come to him. Bitterness and concern fought for his emotions.
"He's safe." Edea looked at Irvine, her eyes seeming to see right through his. "He left for the White SeeD ship well before the attack."
"He's not safe." Seifer avoided Edea's eyes as he reached for the third floor button. "Only half the Red SeeD force is here. The other half is going after the ship."
Irvine saw a look of horror fall on Edea's face as the doors slid shut.
"Why'd you tell her that?!" Quistis glared hotly at Seifer.
Seifer shrugged. "She has a right to know."
"Now? Your timing is perfect, Seifer." Quistis turned to face the doors, her hand clenching the butt of her whip in anger. Seifer glanced at her, then readied his gunblade, his expression unreadable.
Irvine raised his rifle, aiming between Selphie and Seifer as he braced himself against the back of the car. The doors slid open and he quickly took bead on a red uniform, firing and dropping the woman from behind. The other three dove out, falling into battle with the six Red SeeDs who turned to face the new threat. Irvine limped forward out of the car, keeping behind Selphie and taking another shot. An arrow, infused with fire magic, flew from the doorway across from them, cutting down another of the enemy, now penned into the tight foyer between the two entrances. Irvine heard the muted retort of a second gunblade firing between his and Seifer's blasts. Squall. He was alive and still fighting, and had the Garden's pilot Nida with him as well, using his skill at archery to defend the command office, and Zell, judging by the shouts of 'BOOYA' off to the left. Irvine kept firing, sleep taking two more Red SeeDs to the floor where they were quickly finished off by his companions. Seifer, Quistis, and Selphie ran forward to their commander, down on one knee in the doorway, blood dripping down the side of his head. Seifer spun to face off against another Red SeeD, lightning flashing from his fingers as he cast a Thundaga spell. Irvine took a step after them and felt something strike his leg, knocking his feet out from under him. His chin slammed the floor hard and he looked sideways, rolling quickly as a spear punctured the floor next to him. He grabbed for his rifle, knocked from his hand during his fall.
Something red and blue flashed over him. "OH YEAH!" Irvine heard the unmistakeable sound of a red size 9 basketball shoe slamming into a chest, followed by a groan and the Red SeeD who had just tried to impale him falling to the floor. Zell dropped back down and slammed his steel-knuckled glove into the man's throat, then turned to grin down at Irvine. "Who's the chicken, taking off after I just give him a little chin-music?"
Irvine took the hand Zell offered a bit uncertainly, letting the martial arts expert pull him up to his feet. "You think that's why I left?"
"I don't blame you." Zell grabbed Irvine in a bear-hug, squeezing the breath out of the startled gunslinger. "Good to have you back!"
"Zell. Can't.. breathe." Zell laughed and let Irvine go. Irvine gasped for air and put it down to Zell's usual hyperactivity after battle. "Squall?" He turned to see his friend being helped into a sitting position by Quistis, Selphie casting a Curaga on the dazed commander.
"Ah, he's fine. Hey, Seifer!"
Seifer backed away from Zell, who bounded for him with outstretched arms. "Back off, chickenwuss. You hug me and I'll rip your throat out."
Zell settled for punching Seifer on the arm instead, forgetting he still had his gloves on. Seifer staggered back, grabbing his arm. Zell looked around for a new victim for his affection. "Selphie!"
Irvine limped over to Seifer. "You okay?"
Seifer rubbed his arm, frowning. "How the hell did that jackass graduate when I didn't?"
Irvine watched Zell and Selphie bounce around, hugging each other and both babbling at once, catching each other up on the events that had happened since their seperation. "Maybe there's extra points given for bein' on a continual sugar high."
"Irvine?" Squall pushed Quistis away and got to his feet, walking towards the pair and shaking his loose hair out of his grey-blue eyes, his solemn expression not revealing if he was happy or not to see the prodigal gunslinger. Seifer lowered his head slightly, reminding Irvine of a bull about to charge, but held his position and his tongue.
"Heya Squall. Things got kinda busy, huh?" Squall stopped in front of Irvine, silent. Irvine could read all of Squall's silences. Nobody could pull more varied meaning from a blank stare than the SeeD commander. This silence read relief and not being able to say how much he'd missed his best friend being by his side. Irvine relaxed, smiling softly. "Yeah, I missed you, too," he said quietly. Squall's uncertain and unpracticed smile crossed his face and he clapped his hand to Irvine's shoulder.
"What's the situation downstairs?" Irvine nodded to Quistis even though the question had been addressed to him. Squall looked over his shoulder expectantly.
Quistis brushed hair away from her face. "There's still a few enemy to be mopped up, but we've all but secured the Garden, Commander."
"That takes care of the Garden," broke in Seifer impatiently, "but what about the White SeeD ship?"
"What about it?" Squall tensed slightly, acknowledging his old rival's presence for the first time.
"The other half of the Red SeeD forces are on their way to it," explained Quistis.
"WHAT?!" Zell's yell boomed around the small area. "CID'S ON THAT SHIP!"
"Fucking A, chickenwuss, we're only ten feet from you." Seifer ignored Zell's glare as he looked to Squall. "So, what do we do, Commander?"
Squall turned away, inhaling deeply as he sorted out the situation. The others waited patiently, knowing that Squall would give his orders when he was ready, except for Seifer, who drummed his fingers on the wall, chewing the inside of his cheek. "The only way to get to the ship is with the Garden," said Squall at last. "How bad is the damage, Nida?"
"I can still fly her, Commander." The tall, quiet pilot tapped his bow against his leg. "I can't promise I can set her down too gracefully."
"Get to it, then. That ship is practically undefended, most of the White SeeD are here on the Garden." Squall turned to head to his office.
"Squall, aren't you going to tell everyone what's going on?" Selphie turned on her heels, raising a brow at having to remind Squall of his duties again.
Squall looked at her with a silence that Irvine could tell right off was a protest against the agony of having to use the PA and turned for the mic, picking it up and pressing the button. Irvine waved his hand encouragingly as Squall stood there in broadcast mode thinking of something to say. "Um... This is Squall. Good work, everyone. Medical teams report to Dr. Kawalski." He glanced at Quistis, who mouthed a reminder to him. Squall nodded. "Um, security teams gather the prisoners in the Quad. We've got another battle coming up, so everyone rest and heal up. Unit commanders send your casualty reports to my desk. Guess that's it." He hung the mic back on its hook, looking drained from the effort of a public speech, and headed into his office.
"I can't believe he's the Goddamned commander," commented Seifer under his breath, shaking his head. Irvine sighed, starting to think that trying to keep the peace between Quistis and Seifer was only a preview of the way things would be with his childhood friend back on board.
