Notes - It's been months, I know. I don't know why it took me so long to write this, or why I decided out of the blue to continue it. I guess just the site of seeing it there, not updated, was depressing the hell out of me. I don't think that things should be left unfinished. Therefore, I *will* finish this, no matter how long it takes!
More notes - This chapter is completely awful and I am not happy with this it at all. I've been away from it for so long...so please put up with me once more
Zell was already waiting in the commander's office by the time Quistis and Seifer arrived. He wore an expression that was half intrigued, and half annoyed. Squall took up his usual position in front of them, back straight, face unreadable.
"First of all..." he began hesitantly. "I would like to apologize for my behavior before." Seifer snorted derisively and Squall glared at him.
"Under the circumstances, I was acting irrationally. Therefore I am deciding to return your full SeeD duties to you."
"Okay, get to the point Squall," Seifer rolled his eyes. "It's obvious that you need us for something important, and you're apologizing in order to get us to do it. So what is it?"
Quistis muffled a giggle. She had noticed the same thing, of course, but only Seifer would be bold enough to call him on it. Most people in their situation would be appreciative and stay quiet, but silence simply was not Seifer's style.
"Yes, what about that e-mail you were mentioning?"
Squall walked over to his laptop, motioning for the three to follow him, and brought up the e-mail. Quistis and Zell leaned each leaned over a shoulder, while Seifer towered behind.
To - commandingsquall@balambgarden.net
From - aidekiros@estharpalace.com
Squall,
Esthar has been receiving several terrorist threats, seemingly linked to Deling City. The president is becoming increasingly concerned, and desires the help of SeeD. You know that you're the only one he'd trust with this sort of thing. President Laguna requests a party of your best SeeDs to hunt down these terrorists and put a stop to them.
Money isn't an object.
--Kiros
"Terrorism?" Seifer barked unbelievingly. "We just get it all, don't we?"
"I think that this is linked to the mission you were on before," Squall ignored Seifer. "Therefore, I think you three are best fit for the job. Are you up for it?"
"Man, you know I'm always up for a mission," Zell grinned, pumping a fist into the air. "When do you want us to start?"
"You leave tomorrow morning. I'll set the Ragnorak on auto-pilot to the Airstation. I know you guys are probably exhausted, so you can get some sleep on the way there. It's a long ride. When you arrive, report immediately to the Presidential Palace. I'm sure Laguna will arrange a meeting right away."
***
There wasn't much to discuss after the meeting. The three blondes made their way silently to their respective dorm rooms, calling out a parting when they reached it. Zell seemed to be the only one to appear upbeat, but then again he considered it his personal duty to always remain cheerful and positive.
Quistis and Seifer were both lost in thought, remembering their previous...encounter in her dorm room. Neither one could come up with a rational explanation for their behavior. Deep down, Seifer had almost been hoping that their kiss on the train would be a one time thing. He had been hoping that it was a simple attraction, that he'd get over it quickly. But then they made out in her room, and he wasn't so sure of his feelings anymore.
It probably all boiled down to commitment. Most guys were afraid of it, but Seifer had his own special reasons for hating it. For one, he liked to consider himself a free spirit. For another, he didn't want to bring a woman into his problems. He had a less than impressive past that he didn't want to involve anyone else with.
Quistis herself was confused at her behavior. While Seifer pushed commitment away, it was all she really wanted. She'd never imagined herself doing what she did with Seifer unless the relationship was steady and in the open. Their relationship was neither.
Yet she found herself not really minding so much.
Coming to a stop in front of her room, Quistis glanced up at him for the first time. Like a gentleman, he had seen her to her door. Although, judging the look in his eyes, he hadn't even realized that he'd done it. He was staring intently at the door, like he was attempting to see right through it. His jaw was firmly set, a breeze in the hallway making a few strands of hair dance along his forehead.
Smiling, Quistis reached her hand up and snapped to get his attention. He came crashing back to the world with a start, and glared at her.
"My door is truly fascinating, isn't it?" she grinned. Seifer grunted an unintelligible reply.
"Want me to stop by tomorrow? We can walk to the Ragnorak together," Seifer cursed himself silently. He had not meant to offer that. Why was he turning mushy all of a sudden? But Quistis' eyes had already lit up, and he knew there was no taking it back now.
"I'd really like that," she said, eyes twinkling. Running her key card through the slot, the door slid open. "See you tomorrow."
She looked almost as though she wanted to give him a kiss goodnight, and Seifer leaned down to accept it. Blinking out of a trance, she gave him a small peck on the cheek and closed the door quickly. Leaning against it, she waited for her heartbeat to slow down and felt a flush creep up her neck.
Seifer shouldn't be affecting her this way.
Damn hormones.
Seifer, with an extremely offended look, stalked away from her room. He offered to escort her, and all he gets is a lousy peck on the cheek?! It was an outrage!
...Why did he care...?
More notes - This chapter is completely awful and I am not happy with this it at all. I've been away from it for so long...so please put up with me once more
Zell was already waiting in the commander's office by the time Quistis and Seifer arrived. He wore an expression that was half intrigued, and half annoyed. Squall took up his usual position in front of them, back straight, face unreadable.
"First of all..." he began hesitantly. "I would like to apologize for my behavior before." Seifer snorted derisively and Squall glared at him.
"Under the circumstances, I was acting irrationally. Therefore I am deciding to return your full SeeD duties to you."
"Okay, get to the point Squall," Seifer rolled his eyes. "It's obvious that you need us for something important, and you're apologizing in order to get us to do it. So what is it?"
Quistis muffled a giggle. She had noticed the same thing, of course, but only Seifer would be bold enough to call him on it. Most people in their situation would be appreciative and stay quiet, but silence simply was not Seifer's style.
"Yes, what about that e-mail you were mentioning?"
Squall walked over to his laptop, motioning for the three to follow him, and brought up the e-mail. Quistis and Zell leaned each leaned over a shoulder, while Seifer towered behind.
To - commandingsquall@balambgarden.net
From - aidekiros@estharpalace.com
Squall,
Esthar has been receiving several terrorist threats, seemingly linked to Deling City. The president is becoming increasingly concerned, and desires the help of SeeD. You know that you're the only one he'd trust with this sort of thing. President Laguna requests a party of your best SeeDs to hunt down these terrorists and put a stop to them.
Money isn't an object.
--Kiros
"Terrorism?" Seifer barked unbelievingly. "We just get it all, don't we?"
"I think that this is linked to the mission you were on before," Squall ignored Seifer. "Therefore, I think you three are best fit for the job. Are you up for it?"
"Man, you know I'm always up for a mission," Zell grinned, pumping a fist into the air. "When do you want us to start?"
"You leave tomorrow morning. I'll set the Ragnorak on auto-pilot to the Airstation. I know you guys are probably exhausted, so you can get some sleep on the way there. It's a long ride. When you arrive, report immediately to the Presidential Palace. I'm sure Laguna will arrange a meeting right away."
***
There wasn't much to discuss after the meeting. The three blondes made their way silently to their respective dorm rooms, calling out a parting when they reached it. Zell seemed to be the only one to appear upbeat, but then again he considered it his personal duty to always remain cheerful and positive.
Quistis and Seifer were both lost in thought, remembering their previous...encounter in her dorm room. Neither one could come up with a rational explanation for their behavior. Deep down, Seifer had almost been hoping that their kiss on the train would be a one time thing. He had been hoping that it was a simple attraction, that he'd get over it quickly. But then they made out in her room, and he wasn't so sure of his feelings anymore.
It probably all boiled down to commitment. Most guys were afraid of it, but Seifer had his own special reasons for hating it. For one, he liked to consider himself a free spirit. For another, he didn't want to bring a woman into his problems. He had a less than impressive past that he didn't want to involve anyone else with.
Quistis herself was confused at her behavior. While Seifer pushed commitment away, it was all she really wanted. She'd never imagined herself doing what she did with Seifer unless the relationship was steady and in the open. Their relationship was neither.
Yet she found herself not really minding so much.
Coming to a stop in front of her room, Quistis glanced up at him for the first time. Like a gentleman, he had seen her to her door. Although, judging the look in his eyes, he hadn't even realized that he'd done it. He was staring intently at the door, like he was attempting to see right through it. His jaw was firmly set, a breeze in the hallway making a few strands of hair dance along his forehead.
Smiling, Quistis reached her hand up and snapped to get his attention. He came crashing back to the world with a start, and glared at her.
"My door is truly fascinating, isn't it?" she grinned. Seifer grunted an unintelligible reply.
"Want me to stop by tomorrow? We can walk to the Ragnorak together," Seifer cursed himself silently. He had not meant to offer that. Why was he turning mushy all of a sudden? But Quistis' eyes had already lit up, and he knew there was no taking it back now.
"I'd really like that," she said, eyes twinkling. Running her key card through the slot, the door slid open. "See you tomorrow."
She looked almost as though she wanted to give him a kiss goodnight, and Seifer leaned down to accept it. Blinking out of a trance, she gave him a small peck on the cheek and closed the door quickly. Leaning against it, she waited for her heartbeat to slow down and felt a flush creep up her neck.
Seifer shouldn't be affecting her this way.
Damn hormones.
Seifer, with an extremely offended look, stalked away from her room. He offered to escort her, and all he gets is a lousy peck on the cheek?! It was an outrage!
...Why did he care...?