Seifer reclined easily against the wall, arms crossed. Quistis and Zell
were both standing faithfully at attention while Squall stalked fitfully
across the room. He stopped, lifted a finger and opened his mouth as if to
speak, only to close it and resume his pacing.
He was absolutely dying for a smoke. As he reached inside his trenchcoat, he noticed Quistis looking at him from the corner of her eye. She also had a disapproving frown on her lips. Making a face, Seifer obeyed her silent wish. He focused on what Squall was saying to keep his mind off cigarettes.
"--and completely unprofessional. The three of you are suspended from all SeeD duties for the next three weeks."
"What the hell for?!" Seifer demanded. Squall stepped in front of him, icily eyeing him up and down.
"Because you strayed from your original orders, which were to investigate and *remain* in Balamb. And for not paying attention to your commanding officer..." A cruel little smirk tugged at one end of Squall's mouth. "Make that a month."
Mouth open in wild rage and horror, Seifer had a cutting retort ready. Zell covered his ears and shut his eyes tightly, unwilling to see the blood that was begging to be shed. Quistis quickly elbowed Seifer in the ribs to shut him up, causing Squall to turn to her.
"Disorderly conduct. Make that..." Upon seeing the blonde's dejected face, Squall's eyes tinged with sadness and he rubbed his scar. "Never mind. You will return to your duties in one month. Dismissed..."
Zell shoved his hands into his back pockets and walked away, head down. It was quite similar to the way he walked when he discovers that the hot dogs are already sold out. Seifer places a hand in the small of Quistis' back and gives her a tiny shove to follow Zell. She looks at him questioningly for a moment, before giving a small smile of understanding. She closes the door behind her.
Squall raises an eyebrow and waits for him to speak.
"Now you can't punish them for my words and actions," Seifer announced with a shrug. "Look. You've known about us leaving Balamb since the beginning, and you couldn't have given less of a shit if you tried. So what's your problem? PMS? I can ask Quistis to get you some pills for that if you want, I'm sure she'd be glad to help you out," he suggested with a smirk.
"That's why you stayed here?" Squall asked, staring blankly. "To make immature sexuality jokes?"
"No, that's not why," Seifer said, suddenly all business. "I stayed because I want to know why we are being unfairly punished."
"You aren't being unfairly punished," Squall rolled his eyes, sitting on the edge of his desk and crossing his arms. "It's time you learned actions have consequences. Now get out before you screw yourself even more."
Seifer, however, showed no sign of backing down.
"Oh, I get it now. I should've figured it out before," he snorted. "You're pissed about Rinoa so you're taking it out on us."
Squall stiffened, and he stood up.
"Rinoa has nothing to do with this!!" he insisted with an angry hand gesture. "Now get out of my office before I suspend you indefinitely!!"
Seifer, now satisfied that he had struck a nerve and certain his accusation was correct, was willing to leave. Giving a mock salute, he turned on his heel and strutted out the doorway.
As soon as he reached the elevator, he removed the cigarettes from his coat with relief. He knew he was becoming addicted again, but just didn't have the strength to stop himself right now. He was also breaking a rule by smoking in the elevator, but he would rather face a detention than another reprimand from Quistis any day.
Seifer lucked out, as the doors opened with no one in sight. He carelessly tore his half smoked cigarette from his lips and tossed it into one of the Garden decorative fountains.
*~*~*
"I told you we were gonna get a suspension!" Zell yelled, giving his punching bag a punishing blow. "But nooooooooo, nobody listen to Zell! He's just a moron!" Zell gave a kick, sending his punching bag into wild spins. He breathing started to become ragged, and Quistis began to rub his shoulders soothingly.
And wouldn't you know it, Seifer chose just that moment to storm in.
"I swear, Rinoa has turned Puberty Boy into such a sissy...what are you doing?" His voice lowered dangerously, eyes darting back and forth between them.
"Oh Seifer you're so cute when you're jealous!" Zell squeaked in what he hoped was a feminine voice, shrugging Quistis' hands off his shoulders and slamming his fist once again into the punching bag.
"That thing's going to explode if you don't take it easy," Quistis observed with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah! I know! And I won't be able to be able to buy a new one because frickin' Squall suspended me!"
"I think crybaby Zell needs some time out..." Seifer laughed. "You better sit him in the corner, Instructor."
Rolling her eyes, Quistis attempted to comfort Zell.
"You're not the only one, Zell. Besides, Squall is just upset about Rinoa and decided to be a bastard about it. He'll cool down and bring us back pretty soon. Until then, we'll just take a much needed break." Zell still didn't look convinced, and another idea popped into Quistis' mind. "Hey, you'll be able to see your girlfriend a lot more, right? Cheer up," she said with a grin.
This time Quistis hit on the right subject, and an appreciative flush crept up Zell's neck.
"Thanks, Quis. You're right, I think I'll call her right now..."
"That's our cue to leave," she smiled at Seifer, wanting to speak to him alone, anyway. "Come on Seifer, let's go to my room," she said, not even realizing the implications of her suggestion. A wicked grin spread across his face, earning him a puzzled glance from Quistis before she figured it out.
"Oh...oh! No! Not for that...just to talk..." she managed to say, only halfway looking like a tomato. Seifer looked disappointed.
"Fine..." he mumbled.
But Zell gave him a knowing wink as he left the room.
*~*~*
"What were you talking to Squall about?" she asked, skin having returned to it's normal pallor. "I hope you cross the line, as you so often do. With the mood he is in, Squall might have banished you to live the rest of your life in Shumi Village if he felt like it..."
"Your concern means so much to me, Quistis," Seifer rolled his eyes and clutched his heart mockingly. "Have I ever told you that your radiating beauty just lights up my life?"
"You crossed the line, didn't you?" she sighed.
"Well...yes. But dammit, he deserved it!"
"Seifer..." Quistis began to admonish, but was distracted when Seifer brought his lips down to meets hers. Completely forgetting what she was just about to say, she surrendered to his kiss. He privately congratulated himself in the back of his mind before lowering her to her bed and positioning himself carefully on top of her. Even if Quistis had wanted to, it would be impossible to resist as Seifer's kisses became more fiery and demanding.
Leaning back on his haunches, Seifer quickly removed his trenchcoat, which was getting in the way. With this opportunity, Quistis tugged off her long leather gloves and threw them, not really caring where they landed. Seifer rewarded her with a feral smile, running his hand across her arm, which was well toned from years of training with the whip.
'You just wanted to talk with him, remember?' a voice chuckled in the back of her head. 'Guess he's getting what he wanted after all.'
At this thought, Quistis suddenly realized what was happening, and what *else* would happen if she didn't stop it right now. The fog that formed around her brain during Seifer's kisses suddenly cleared completely, and she forced herself to sit up.
It finally dawned upon Seifer what was happening, too. Quistis could have sworn she saw him blushing as he rolled off the bed, picked up his coat, and shoved his arms through the sleeves. He turned his head toward her as he was adjusting the collar.
"Uh...sorry about that..." he mumbled, avoiding eye contact. He picked up one of her gloves from the floor and hesitantly handed it to her. She took it silently, a confused look in her eyes.
"I..." he began. Shaking his head, he apparently decided against whatever he was going to say, and pulled open her door. It revealed Squall, fist up and positioned to knock.
"Did I interrupt something?" he asked with an amused glint in his eyes, spotting Quistis pulling on her gloves and smoothing out her skirt over Seifer's shoulder. She glanced up, remorse etched across her features.
"What is it Squall? Would you like to cut our pay also?" she asked coldly. Squall blushed and bashfully (well, as bashful as Squall can be) motioned for the two to follow him.
Quistis brushed past Seifer, causing a shock of electricity to run up and down both of their spines. Embarrassed, she tried not to look at him.
"I've just received a mysterious e-mail from Esthar..." Squall began to explain, already far ahead of them. Quistis jogged to catch up.
"Hyne do I need a smoke..." Seifer grumbled as he shut the door to Quistis' dorm.
A/N: Well, there you have it! Sorry for another extreme delay. Well, who could that e-mail possibly be from? Will Seifer and Quistis move beyond their humiliation and figure out that they are destined to be together? Stay tuned for chapter 16! ::cheesy grin:: Hopefully that chapter won't take quite so long... ::groan:: but I am completely determined to finish this story! Thanks to everyone for your support and patience!
He was absolutely dying for a smoke. As he reached inside his trenchcoat, he noticed Quistis looking at him from the corner of her eye. She also had a disapproving frown on her lips. Making a face, Seifer obeyed her silent wish. He focused on what Squall was saying to keep his mind off cigarettes.
"--and completely unprofessional. The three of you are suspended from all SeeD duties for the next three weeks."
"What the hell for?!" Seifer demanded. Squall stepped in front of him, icily eyeing him up and down.
"Because you strayed from your original orders, which were to investigate and *remain* in Balamb. And for not paying attention to your commanding officer..." A cruel little smirk tugged at one end of Squall's mouth. "Make that a month."
Mouth open in wild rage and horror, Seifer had a cutting retort ready. Zell covered his ears and shut his eyes tightly, unwilling to see the blood that was begging to be shed. Quistis quickly elbowed Seifer in the ribs to shut him up, causing Squall to turn to her.
"Disorderly conduct. Make that..." Upon seeing the blonde's dejected face, Squall's eyes tinged with sadness and he rubbed his scar. "Never mind. You will return to your duties in one month. Dismissed..."
Zell shoved his hands into his back pockets and walked away, head down. It was quite similar to the way he walked when he discovers that the hot dogs are already sold out. Seifer places a hand in the small of Quistis' back and gives her a tiny shove to follow Zell. She looks at him questioningly for a moment, before giving a small smile of understanding. She closes the door behind her.
Squall raises an eyebrow and waits for him to speak.
"Now you can't punish them for my words and actions," Seifer announced with a shrug. "Look. You've known about us leaving Balamb since the beginning, and you couldn't have given less of a shit if you tried. So what's your problem? PMS? I can ask Quistis to get you some pills for that if you want, I'm sure she'd be glad to help you out," he suggested with a smirk.
"That's why you stayed here?" Squall asked, staring blankly. "To make immature sexuality jokes?"
"No, that's not why," Seifer said, suddenly all business. "I stayed because I want to know why we are being unfairly punished."
"You aren't being unfairly punished," Squall rolled his eyes, sitting on the edge of his desk and crossing his arms. "It's time you learned actions have consequences. Now get out before you screw yourself even more."
Seifer, however, showed no sign of backing down.
"Oh, I get it now. I should've figured it out before," he snorted. "You're pissed about Rinoa so you're taking it out on us."
Squall stiffened, and he stood up.
"Rinoa has nothing to do with this!!" he insisted with an angry hand gesture. "Now get out of my office before I suspend you indefinitely!!"
Seifer, now satisfied that he had struck a nerve and certain his accusation was correct, was willing to leave. Giving a mock salute, he turned on his heel and strutted out the doorway.
As soon as he reached the elevator, he removed the cigarettes from his coat with relief. He knew he was becoming addicted again, but just didn't have the strength to stop himself right now. He was also breaking a rule by smoking in the elevator, but he would rather face a detention than another reprimand from Quistis any day.
Seifer lucked out, as the doors opened with no one in sight. He carelessly tore his half smoked cigarette from his lips and tossed it into one of the Garden decorative fountains.
*~*~*
"I told you we were gonna get a suspension!" Zell yelled, giving his punching bag a punishing blow. "But nooooooooo, nobody listen to Zell! He's just a moron!" Zell gave a kick, sending his punching bag into wild spins. He breathing started to become ragged, and Quistis began to rub his shoulders soothingly.
And wouldn't you know it, Seifer chose just that moment to storm in.
"I swear, Rinoa has turned Puberty Boy into such a sissy...what are you doing?" His voice lowered dangerously, eyes darting back and forth between them.
"Oh Seifer you're so cute when you're jealous!" Zell squeaked in what he hoped was a feminine voice, shrugging Quistis' hands off his shoulders and slamming his fist once again into the punching bag.
"That thing's going to explode if you don't take it easy," Quistis observed with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah! I know! And I won't be able to be able to buy a new one because frickin' Squall suspended me!"
"I think crybaby Zell needs some time out..." Seifer laughed. "You better sit him in the corner, Instructor."
Rolling her eyes, Quistis attempted to comfort Zell.
"You're not the only one, Zell. Besides, Squall is just upset about Rinoa and decided to be a bastard about it. He'll cool down and bring us back pretty soon. Until then, we'll just take a much needed break." Zell still didn't look convinced, and another idea popped into Quistis' mind. "Hey, you'll be able to see your girlfriend a lot more, right? Cheer up," she said with a grin.
This time Quistis hit on the right subject, and an appreciative flush crept up Zell's neck.
"Thanks, Quis. You're right, I think I'll call her right now..."
"That's our cue to leave," she smiled at Seifer, wanting to speak to him alone, anyway. "Come on Seifer, let's go to my room," she said, not even realizing the implications of her suggestion. A wicked grin spread across his face, earning him a puzzled glance from Quistis before she figured it out.
"Oh...oh! No! Not for that...just to talk..." she managed to say, only halfway looking like a tomato. Seifer looked disappointed.
"Fine..." he mumbled.
But Zell gave him a knowing wink as he left the room.
*~*~*
"What were you talking to Squall about?" she asked, skin having returned to it's normal pallor. "I hope you cross the line, as you so often do. With the mood he is in, Squall might have banished you to live the rest of your life in Shumi Village if he felt like it..."
"Your concern means so much to me, Quistis," Seifer rolled his eyes and clutched his heart mockingly. "Have I ever told you that your radiating beauty just lights up my life?"
"You crossed the line, didn't you?" she sighed.
"Well...yes. But dammit, he deserved it!"
"Seifer..." Quistis began to admonish, but was distracted when Seifer brought his lips down to meets hers. Completely forgetting what she was just about to say, she surrendered to his kiss. He privately congratulated himself in the back of his mind before lowering her to her bed and positioning himself carefully on top of her. Even if Quistis had wanted to, it would be impossible to resist as Seifer's kisses became more fiery and demanding.
Leaning back on his haunches, Seifer quickly removed his trenchcoat, which was getting in the way. With this opportunity, Quistis tugged off her long leather gloves and threw them, not really caring where they landed. Seifer rewarded her with a feral smile, running his hand across her arm, which was well toned from years of training with the whip.
'You just wanted to talk with him, remember?' a voice chuckled in the back of her head. 'Guess he's getting what he wanted after all.'
At this thought, Quistis suddenly realized what was happening, and what *else* would happen if she didn't stop it right now. The fog that formed around her brain during Seifer's kisses suddenly cleared completely, and she forced herself to sit up.
It finally dawned upon Seifer what was happening, too. Quistis could have sworn she saw him blushing as he rolled off the bed, picked up his coat, and shoved his arms through the sleeves. He turned his head toward her as he was adjusting the collar.
"Uh...sorry about that..." he mumbled, avoiding eye contact. He picked up one of her gloves from the floor and hesitantly handed it to her. She took it silently, a confused look in her eyes.
"I..." he began. Shaking his head, he apparently decided against whatever he was going to say, and pulled open her door. It revealed Squall, fist up and positioned to knock.
"Did I interrupt something?" he asked with an amused glint in his eyes, spotting Quistis pulling on her gloves and smoothing out her skirt over Seifer's shoulder. She glanced up, remorse etched across her features.
"What is it Squall? Would you like to cut our pay also?" she asked coldly. Squall blushed and bashfully (well, as bashful as Squall can be) motioned for the two to follow him.
Quistis brushed past Seifer, causing a shock of electricity to run up and down both of their spines. Embarrassed, she tried not to look at him.
"I've just received a mysterious e-mail from Esthar..." Squall began to explain, already far ahead of them. Quistis jogged to catch up.
"Hyne do I need a smoke..." Seifer grumbled as he shut the door to Quistis' dorm.
A/N: Well, there you have it! Sorry for another extreme delay. Well, who could that e-mail possibly be from? Will Seifer and Quistis move beyond their humiliation and figure out that they are destined to be together? Stay tuned for chapter 16! ::cheesy grin:: Hopefully that chapter won't take quite so long... ::groan:: but I am completely determined to finish this story! Thanks to everyone for your support and patience!