(Well, actually I do, but in a different sense.)
Chapter Two
Joyful Reunion
The afternoon sun would have cascaded through the windows of my classroom, if my classroom had any windows. Instead, the fluorescent lighting that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once lent the room an artificially cheery atmosphere. I sat at my desk, tapping the end of my red pen lightly against my lips as I tried to concentrate on the stack of papers I was supposed to be grading. To no avail; I just couldn't focus. With a sigh I set down my pen and stretched languorously before rising to turn off the lights, which were starting to hurt my brain. Falling back into my chair, I half-closed my eyes and just relaxed. This is nice.
I watched as the digital clock in the corner of my desk ticked away the seconds of my life, my thoughts slowed to a pleasantly torpid pace. One, two, three, four, five . . . voices in the hall -- they seem to be coming this way. I'm not expecting anybody . . . sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen . . . hmm. Those voices are familiar. What's that thumping sound? . . . thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two . . . someone doesn't sound too happy about something. Maybe I should go see what's going on? In a minute . . .
My mental debate was cut short a few moments later when someone knocked sharply against my classroom door.
"Go away," I mumbled under my breath. "Help class is over."
Instead the door opened a crack and the voices wafted in, clearer than before.
"No way. You've got to be kidding," spoke the owner of a rich baritone I knew from somewhere.
"Cid's decision," replied the second person. That terse voice, at least, I could place as Squall's. "Quit stalling."
"Stalling? I've always been light-years ahead of you, Puberty Boy. Or should that be Commander Puberty, now?"
Puberty Boy. . . .
"Seifer?" I called out, suddenly confused. It can't be.
The two chose that moment to step into my classroom, the first palming the light switch as he entered. I was caught off-guard, disoriented and blinking madly as my eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. When the dots finally began to recede, I found myself staring at two faces I'd not seen together in some time. The one nearest me was sporting a trademark smirk that I'd rather hoped never to see again.
"Miss me, Instructor?"
I very nearly froze up from surprise, but habit saved me. My acquaintance with Seifer had taught me that the best way to deal with his antics was to pay them no heed. I turned to face Squall, ignoring the arrogant blonde with my entire being.
"You have something to tell me?" I was mostly successful in keeping a normal, conversational tone of voice.
He gave the slightest of nods, his usual understated attitude not entirely hiding the wicked gleam in his eyes at my snubbing his former rival. "Cid has decided, at Matron's urging, to readmit Seifer to Garden. We're to accept him with open arms, as examples to the rest of the establishment." It was clear that Squall didn't like this idea. He still wasn't entirely comfortable with his position as a role model.
I took a moment to compose myself and think about what the commander had just told me.
"Well," I said slowly, "I refuse to be the one who gets to tell Zell."
Wonder of wonders, Squall almost smiled. Rinoa's worked a miracle with this boy.
"Is he still such a Chicken-Wuss?" Seifer interjected. Squall ignored him, responding instead to my comment.
"I say we let Selphie handle that job. We'll make sure that Kira's around."
I nodded at that. Zell's librarian girlfriend has a calming effect on the overly energetic martial-arts expert, and one that would be much appreciated, given the situation.
"Anyway, Cid wants you to be Almasy's Advanced Battle Theory instructor again."
My head snapped up to stare at Squall, who had just delivered the unwelcome words in a soft monotone. I don't know how, but he managed to keep his face inscrutably blank as I searched for a sign in his features that would tell me -- please! -- that this was all a cruel trick.
"You're serious, aren't you." Stupid comment; of course he was serious. He was Squall. The commander didn't joke about things like that.
"He said it's to settle people's fears. To show them that Almasy's being teamed up with an instructor who can handle him -- or put up with him." Squall shrugged. At least now he had the good grace to look a little uncomfortable with the situation.
I allowed myself to focus on Seifer, who turned out to be staring at me. I was fairly certain his dismayed look way mirrored on my face.
"So," I began as civilly as possible, "I take it this is news to you, too?"
Seifer nodded. "Commander Puberty here seems to have forgotten to tell me about this detail."
A thought struck me then. "When am I supposed to teach him? I don't have any ABT classes this time of year, and I'm already having trouble finding time to help everyone who needs it." How could the Headmaster think I'd be able to take on this extra duty with my current teaching schedule? I barely slept as it was.
"Xu's coming off active duty to take over your morning class. You'll be working with Almasy one-on-one during that time. Today, though, Cid wants you to assess the ex-lapdog's -- ah, 'technical knowledge,' he called it. See what he doesn't know," Squall explained. Then the lousy cop-out ducked out of my room without so much as a backwards glance.
I have never wanted to punch him more than I did at that moment. Instead, I turned back to Seifer, who'd begun rifling through the papers on my desk, seemingly unaffected by the commander's lapdog comment. He looked up and smirked at me before continuing his perusal of the papers I had to grade.
"Seifer, what are you doing?" I sighed. "Please leave those alone."
Of course he didn't; I doubt if he ever really listened to me in all the years I'd taught him. I'd usually not let it bother me, it was just Seifer's way of getting attention, but I simply refused to put up with his foolishness today. He'd descended like a dark cloud upon my rest, pretty much guaranteeing that I'd not have a good day until he finally passed his SeeD exam and left my class -- and my life -- forever.
"Seifer, leave my things alone," I snapped, grabbing the papers he held from his hands. "Go away. I need to talk to the Headmaster about this."
He raised a taunting eyebrow. "I don't think I want to. According to Squall, you're my instructor. Somehow I can't believe that Commander Puberty would lie about that. So here I am: I want to learn. Teach me, oh instructor dearest. . . That is, assuming you haven't lost your touch."
I just glared at him.
"What more could you possibly learn from a mediocre instructor like myself? You've taken this class five times already. While that certainly has to be a record for failure, I'm sure by now you could practically teach it yourself. Stay here, go to the training center, I don't care. I'm going to talk to the Headmaster."
I stalked out toward the elevator before Seifer had a chance to retort,
one hand unconsciously stroking my whip, leaving behind a silently fuming
ex-knight.
AN: After much tweaking, I'm still not entirely satisfied with this
chapter, but I decided I'd rather move things along than obsess over it.
Thanks to Azora for pointing a few things out. While the idea of Cid
as royalty is an interesting one, the "Sire" was a slipup. And I agree
with you about the Seifer thing. By that point it was late, I couldn't
think of anything better, and I didn't care. I think this is slightly more
fitting, if still not quite what I want. (10 points to you for motivating
me to improve ;o)
Finally, thanks to those of you who've reviewed. I respect you lot
as authors, it's very nice to have positive commentary from such talented
people.