Disclaimer. Sephiroth "Nikki says they aren't hers and she isn't making any money out of this. She's also not feeling too good, so review please?"
A/n Couldn't remember if the trains were steam, but I think this is a little more romantic.
Every Rose Has It's Thorn.
Chapter 3.
One emerald eye opened and stared across at her at the window. It was beginning to rain harder now the drumming growing louder with each passing second, probably the remnant of a storm out over the ocean being thrown towards the little harbour village. Soon, it would pass and the sleepy little town would be quiet again.
"Come back to bed." Seifer moaned softly.
"In a little while."
"Please?" He reached out one arm to her, a mock pout on his lips.
"In a little while." She repeated a little more sternly and he buried his head in the pillow.
The hand that still leant against the glass of the windowpane extended one slender index finger, and traced the hurried path of a raindrop.
It had been raining on the day they met again too.
******** A longer encounter. ********
Quistis tapped her foot impatiently, drumming her fingers against the book in her left hand. The train was late.
She didn't need this to happen. She had a lot of tests to grade but had promised Selphie that she'd meet her at the station after her day in Galbadia. And Quistis was not one to break her promises.
As the fingers of her right hand absently reached up and traced the collar of her light denim jacket, she thought back to Seifer Almasy, nearly a month before. How much of a…. gentleman he'd been. Almost like her own knight in shining armour. If it hadn't have been for him, what could have happened to her? After all, even SeeD had to sleep sometime.
She'd left him a note of thanks, before she'd slipped out of the apartment, making her way through the silent bar and out into the streets of Deling city.
There had to be a way to find him and pay him back for his kindness.
As the whistle of the steam train sounded, and the massive machine pulled into the station, the whirring of her phone in her pocket bought her back to her senses. She answered the mobile with a "hello?"
"Quisty! Hi! It's me Selphie!"
"Where are you?"
"Deling."
"WHAT?"
"I missed the train. Sorry sweetie, you go back to garden and I'll catch the next one in an hour. I'll catch you at dinner tonight?"
"Say hello to Irvine for me Selph."
"How did you know he was here?"
"There's only one thing you love more than trains."
Selphie's light laughter trickled from the phone. "You know me too well. Bye-bye!"
"See you."
She ended the call swiftly and forced the phone back into her pocket.
The people were trailing out of the carriages, the air still thick with the wet heat from the steam of the train filling the station.
With a heavy sigh, Quistis looked up and caught a flash of golden blonde hair and a flash of a scarred face moving through the crowd. Her breath caught in her throat.
This was her chance to say thank you properly.
She pushed her way through the crowd and caught up with him before he reached the door.
"Student, where do you think you're going?" She asked in the same tone she had used on him when he had still been under her care.
He spun on his heels at the sound of her voice. "Quistis?"
"Yes?"
"What are you doing here? How did you know I was coming back?" His face was set in an emotionless mask, no feelings except the faintest touch of fear showed in his eyes. He was on the defensive.
"I was waiting for Selphie, but she missed the train." Seifer's face lightened a little, just enough to show the smallest of smiles.
"She always was a scatter-brain."
Quistis blinked; surprised that he would remember that part of their childhood. "Seifer, I wanted to thank you for that night properly. Let me buy you dinner? Please?" He started to shake his head but then stopped.
"Well…. I don't know."
"Please?"
"One condition. You let me in on the Garden gossip."
She laughed softly. "Sure."
"Okay then. Meet me at the "coat of arms", tonight." He adjusted the position of the bag on his shoulder
"Seven?"
"Fine." She nodded and passed him with a wave goodbye moving out into the faint summer rain of the afternoon. There was a definite spring in her step although she barely realised it herself. Seifer sighed as she looked back one last time. The navy blue denim of her jeans taught on her thighs, following the curve of muscle upwards to ride low on her hips. Her black blouse was buttoned tightly but the last two buttons were left free. At her neck shone a tiny golden cross on the slenderest of chains, almost melding with the white gold of her own skin.
Her hair tumbled down over her slender shoulders, caramel and honey tones of blonde, framing her delicate features. She hadn't worn her glasses and her cerulean eyes shimmered with happiness. She was beautiful.
So full of life and innocence…
He lifted a hand to wave goodbye and realised he was already falling for her.
********
That Evening.
********
It was suffice to say Selphie had been disappointed to discover that she was being 'ditched' so Quistis could go to a pub with a guy.
She was shocked when she found out it was Seifer.
Rubbing the back of her head from where it had struck the counter of Quistis' breakfast bar when she had fallen from the stool, she stood. "But why?"
"As a thank you…" The blonde rolled her eyes. 'And because I like him… He looks more handsome than ever, hold on, did I just think that?'
Selphie was waving a hand in front of Quistis' face. "Hello……… Are you in there? Don't you get pulling a Squall on me girl."
The blonde smiled as she straightened the skirt she had chosen, catching sight of herself in the mirror. The outfit was a far cry from the one she had formerly been so fond of, the one that was now in a museum somewhere in Esthar. The royal purples and jet backs flattered her complexion rather than washing it out, as she would have first thought
"If I didn't know better Quisty, I'd say you were going out on the pull." Selphie admonished.
"So I can't look good to go out?"
"Not with Seifer…."
"Selphie." She responded with a warning tone.
"Quistis." She mocked.
"I don't need this, not tonight. We're just a couple of friends going out for a meal. That's all."
Selphie nodded as Quistis shouldered a bag and headed towards the door. "Just be careful, okay?"
"I will."
A/n
More will be posted when I arrive back from my "Team building exercises" in Penrith. Don't blame me, aim all abuse at my boss. I am…… *mumbles about him stealing her away from her bishies.*
I get back on Friday so I will have to type up more work then. Please forgive me for the shortness of this and the lack of updates, but my life is rather hectic these days. I promise to try and get more done, especially in the next month or so before my big assignments for college.
I shall try my best my dears please forgive me.
Nikki