Characters are copyrighted to Squaresoft.
"Seifer, calm down and stop moving, you're going to run into something."
There was a loud bang.
"Son of a bitch!"
"I told you."
"Then do tell me oh wise one," he queried in the calmest voice he could muster. "Pray tell…just what exactly in IFRIT'S HOT HELL DO YOU SUGGEST WE DO?!?!"
"Just relax, the backup generators should cut on soon, they should be enough to power the emergency lights."
"Fine, fine, you just keep talking, I'm going to find you, that way if something decides to attack us in here I can throw you in front of it."
"Your chivalry knows no bounds does it?"
"Is that you?"
"Yes, here, take my hand."
"Okay."
"…Seifer."
"Hmm?"
"That's NOT my hand."
"Ohh…sorry."
"Mmm hmm."
We stood there in the darkness for what seemed like hours, but it was more like ten minutes. He was holding on to my hand fiercely throughout the eternity of minutes. It was quite painful, and my fingers were growing numb. But, I remained quiet. I was till in shock that this strong fearless man, was for some reason, afraid. When the emergency lights did flicker on, he released my hand immediately and headed for the door.
"See? I told you, nothing to worry about."
"Right. Sure."
He proceeded to press the elevator button gently…then with a bit more force…and then he banged his fist against it repeatedly.
"Seifer, it won't open. The backup generators don't power the elevators."
"Well that's stupid isn't there an emergency stairwell or something leading out of this place?"
"There was a set of stairs at one time, but too many incidents of students falling down them resulted in their removal."
"Well, shit. So, I guess we're stuck here?"
"Yeah," I replied. "At least until the blackout is over."
Great," he sighed as he plopped unceremoniously in the corner of the room. Did I really bother him that much?
"Surely I'm not that bad," I said, making my inner thoughts verbal.
He looked up at me then. "No, no its not you, Quistis. I…I just don't like the feeling of being trapped with no way out. Know what I mean? Kind of claustrophobic."
"Well, no one enjoys being trapped," I replied as I sat down beside him. "But hey, at least we have someone to talk to…it could be worse."
"Oh yeah," he replied with a small smile. "I could be stuck down here with chicken wuss or puberty boy."
"That, would be a disaster," I chuckled, "Certainly wouldn't be a person unscathed out of that scenario."
"Nope, they'd be limping out of here."
"Oh please, so would you!"
"I doubt it."
And then came that unnerving period of uncomfortable silence. Uncomfortable because of the situation we were in. Uncomfortable because there was no immediate solution to it, no flip of a switch that would get us out of the room. It was uncomfortable because the temperature was beginning to rise as the air from the vents ceased to circulate. Uncomfortable, because of some strange feeling I had sitting next to him. And uncomfortable, because that man would not stop grinding his teeth.
"Seifer, please stop that."
"Sorry."
I mean it really never occurred to me before that I might actually hold feelings for this arrogant man, and yet when I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes I seen a scared little boy deep within his own eyes as he fidgeted with his hands nervously. I wanted to comfort that boy, and reach out to him. The same as I had wished for Squall once upon a time, because it was easier to see that he did need someone, unlike haughty Seifer who acted as if he had all he wanted, with never an inkling of doubt in his eyes. At least that's the way he was, before all that mess with Ultimecia. He had changed, though it was subtle. One had to know where to look. I discovered this, somewhat proud of myself for making this conclusion. And thinking perhaps there was hope for this misguided boy yet.
He looked at me then, his eyes full of something, and I thought for an instant he was going to say something insightful.
"Quistis?"
"Yes?"
"Will you stop clicking your fingernails? That's really annoying."
"Oh…sorry."
"Hey, what's that opening over there?" He said as he pointed in the far corner.
"That's the laundry chute."
He stood and walked over to it, bent down and looked inside.
"Seifer, neither one of us could fit in that thing, so don't even suggest it."
"No, captain obvious, I'm not stupid. But maybe we can call for help…someone will be bound to hear us."
"It's after curfew Seifer, I doubt anyone's awake."
"Well, I'd say there should be a few people out and about trying to fix the fuse box or something." He then proceeded to lie down on his back and crawl into the opening headfirst. Before I could protest, it was too late."
"Hey, can anyone hear me?" I heard him say as he yelled up the chute. "We could use some help down here!"
He yelled for a few minutes until realizing no one was there to answer, it was then that he tried to move out from the hole…and found that he could not.
Meanwhile I was doubled over laughing silently at the inevitable. Tears rolling down my face. It took him a few minutes before he had enough pride to say that he needed help.
"Umm…Quistis?"
"Yes?" I squeaked and let out a small hiccup.
"Wait…are you laughing at me?!?!"
"No." I said trying to sound serious, which resulted in my laughter exploding out loud.
"This isn't funny!" He yelled.
"I know it shouldn't be…" I wheezed. "But, I can't help it! This is priceless!"
"Oh harde har har," he spat. "Will you help me?"
"What do you say?"
"What?"
"What's the magic word?"
"The hell Quistis, I'm not a kid damn it!"
"Ah ah, I can only help those who are polite." Yes, can you tell? I was enjoying this.
"Fine. Will you 'please' help me?"
"There now, was that so hard?"
"Whatever."
"My, my, Squall has been rubbing off on you."
"Quistis…help…now!"
"Fine, I'm coming."
I proceeded to stand over him and try to fit my hands in to try and push him out by his shoulders. This would prove to be mistake number two…this time on my part.
"Quistis…what are you doing?"
"Helping you."
I reached pried through until I could grab hold of his shoulders. I started to push when I realized, my hands were going nowhere either. Dumb move Quistis, dumb, dumb, dumb.
I struggled more. They wouldn't budge. Okay, don't panic, just relax and they will pull right out. I took a deep breath, relaxed, and discovered…that didn't work either.
"Seifer…your not gonna believe this."
"Oh God, no."
I sighed heavily.
"Yeah, my hands are stuck."
