Final Fantasy VIII
Whenever You Need Me
Genre: action/romance fiction
Coupling: Quistis Trepe/Seifer Almasy
I'll be with you forever
Whether in Friendship or in Love
I won't let you go never
I love you more then the skies above
My heart won't see you go
In our lives that are all a maze
There's just one thing for you to know
I'll be here for you always
You're the only angel I've ever known.
Whenever you need me, I'll carry you home
***Alonia Everclear***
Chapter 18: Scarlet Dreaming
Quistis was in a foul mood the very next day.
She wasn't angry about the fact that she was suspended from SeeD duties, or the fact that she wasn't allowed outside Balamb Garden. No, it was the unjust decision that Headmaster Cid had placed upon her former student.
And there was also the strange dream she'd had the night before.
Silently fuming, Quistis sank into the bench outside the library and sighed. It had been one of the strangest dreams she'd ever had in her lifetime, something about red flowers and flashing lights and her foster mother. And the word 'valley'. She couldn't make much sense of the dream, but she did remember the word 'valley'. She couldn't figure out what it meant.
And the red reminded her too much of blood. It was only a few days, barely a week, since she'd been shot. |This is not a good thing for my health,| she thought, slumping her shoulders. |Too much stress--|
"Quistis?" asked a low voice.
She jerked upright. Standing in front of her, carrying two Styrofoam cups of coffee, was Seifer.
"You okay?" he asked, frowning. "You look dead."
"Ugh, no, I'm fine…" Quistis sighed. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "Actually…no. It's been like hell. Just…too many things going on lately. And I'm still achy." She vaguely gestured towards her wounded shoulder.
Seifer nodded. |She looks like a zombie,| he thought worriedly. |Poor Quisty.| "Well, want some coffee?" he queried, holding out a cup.
Quistis gave him a tired, but grateful smile. "Sugar?" she asked softly.
"Lots. Almost unhealthy."
"Thank you, Seifer. You are my savior." Smiling more cheerfully this time, Quistis raised her cup of coffee in a small toast. "To caffeine and sugar," she stated. "May they always be a part of our weary lives."
"Thank Hyne for that." Seifer lightly touched his cup to hers and took a short swig. Quistis quickly emptied hers. "…Damn. You're really tired, aren't you, Trepe?"
Quistis nodded. "Yeah. But, I have tutoring duties." She quirked a small smile up at Seifer.
Seifer grinned. "Of course. And here I am, your wonderful, dutiful student. On time, too."
"It's a miracle, Almasy."
"Thanks, Trepe."
For a few moments, the two stared at each other, Seifer in fond recollection, Quistis in unknown attraction.
|Hyne, I think I just thought about Seifer's cheekbones…| Abruptly, Quistis stood up. "Finish your coffee," she ordered Seifer. "We're going to do some studying today, Almasy. Oh, correction, lots of studying."
On cue, Seifer groaned. Loudly. "Damn, this is what I get for being nice, huh?"
Quistis mock-pouted. "Hey! This is for your own good, you know. Besides, if you're a good kid, maybe I'll let you read those poetry books you love so much!"
"Hey, shut up and stop treating me like I'm a child!"
"Well, I can't help it if I'm 3 months and 9 days older than you!"
Seifer blinked, calculated the age difference between them, and swore. |Damned girl's right!|
"Ah! See, I'm right!" Quistis' voice brought him back to reality. "So I do get to boss you around." Grabbing his sleeve, she dragged him towards the library. "Come on, buster! You're gonna pass that written test if it kills me."
"Gaaah! Wait, Quis…! My coffee--!!!" Frantically, Seifer tried to gulp down the remaining liquid as he was pulled along. Most of it ended up on his shoes. "My boots! Quistis, you're paying for these boots!"
"You baby!"
"I like these boots!"
"They're your only boots!"
"That's why I like them!"
"Oh, for the love of Hyne--!" They continued arguing all the way into the library and abruptly stopped the moment they entered the area. People were staring at them as if they were mutants. Quickly, the two separated, Quistis looking down at the ground, Seifer glaring at every student, committee member, or SeeD that he caught staring. It didn't take long for everyone to be engrossed in a book. Seifer turned back to Quistis, only to be pulled again towards the back of the library.
"Hey!" he yelped as Quistis shoved him roughly into a seat. "What is this, a study session or foreplay?"
Quistis sank down onto the seat facing him. "Foreplay," she said shortly, shutting Seifer up effectively. "After this, we'll have hot sex in my dorm. Now, do I have your attention, Seifer?" She raised an eyebrow at her student. "Hm?"
He nodded dumbly. Quistis smiled slightly, folded her arms onto the table between them, and softly began, "The SeeD written test is composed of four different topics." She counted off the subjects on her fingers. "The first subject is based on stats-magic Junctions. You've had plenty of practice with those, because of the SeeD field test a few days ago and intense training." Seifer smirked, and she rolled her eyes. "The second is Earth history. You've always had a knack for that, so we won't even get into it. The third tests your overall knowledge on SeeDs." Seifer grimaced, knowing the final subject. "And the fourth and final topic is based on Guardian Forces. Which, like everyone else, you need to read up on."
Seifer leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "What's there to know about Guardian Forces other than the fact that they're powerful and can be Junctioned?"
"The topic carries greater weight, especially because of recent discoveries," Quistis replied briskly.
"You mean the memory loss."
Quistis looked up at him. "The memory loss," she repeated softly, nodding. "We're not sure about a lot of things about it, but there's rumor of a cure--"
"You'll get them back."
Quistis stared at him, and Seifer shrugged. "Lay off of them long enough, and the memories will start coming back to you soon enough. That's what happened with me. Still happening." He smirked at Quistis' confused look. "What? Surprised?"
She blinked, shaking her head slightly. "Well…y-yes," she managed to stammer. "May I ask how…?"
"You don't need to ask me, you already know."
"What?"
Seifer's lips twitched in a small smile. "You've been laying off the Forces yourself. So tell me, Quis, had any weird dreams lately?"
Seifer enjoyed seeing the all-knowing child prodigy's jaw drop down and stay that way for an entire moment. "Quistis, close that mouth. You're drooling all over the carpet, and the flies might find a new home between your teeth." Silence, and Seifer leaned over, tapped her chin lightly. She obediently closed her mouth. Seifer grinned. "This is the part where you say 'Yes, Seifer, I just had a weird dream last night.'"
Quistis was silent. Finally, she managed, "A-a valley…of red flowers--"
"Red Valley?" interrupted Seifer in a low voice.
"…Yes." Quistis looked at him uncertainly. "Just like what you wrote on my clip," she whispered.
"What else did you remember?"
Quistis blinked at the hopeful tone in her former student's voice. "Not much," she admitted. "My mother. And someone else…I couldn't see their face."
Seifer nodded, wincing inwardly. |She still doesn't remember me…|
"Why?"
He shook his head, smirking again. "Nothing." Quistis stared at him suspiciously but then sighed.
"Alright, Seifer, if you're going to be a secretive ass, be a secretive ass." She shrugged. "Besides, we're here to study, not to find out the meaning of dreams." She slid a folded piece of paper towards him. "These are the book you need to read before I come back. And I want an essay, two pages minimum, four maximum, with a five-paragraph minimum. Before lunch. That gives you…three-and-a-half hours."
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Gee, what fun to be had. What's the topic?"
Quistis leaned over him. "Your social life. Of course the topic's information on Guardian Forces. Twit."
"Love you, too, Quistis."
"I know." With a smile and a wave, Quistis sauntered off, calling, "Have fun!"
Seifer set to work. "Love you, too, Quis…" he muttered, "ya bossy freak."
|You sweet, smart, beautiful bossy freak.|
"Hey, Quisty!"
Quistis glanced up from her mug of tea. "Oh, Rinoa, you're back."
Tossing her medium-length sable hair over her shoulder, Rinoa Heartilly settled down on the seat facing Quistis. "Why is it all the funky things happen while I'm gone?" she asked, doe-brown eyes wide. "I heard from Selphie that you were suspended the day after I left for Deling to see my dad. And that you were tutoring Seifer. Seifer Almasy, of all people. I mean, that's totally ridicul…" Rinoa stared at Quistis' face, "true?"
Quistis shrugged. "I don't see what's so ridiculous about my tutoring Seifer."
"Well…" Rinoa searched for words, "it's just kind of a déjà vu thing…" She bit her lip, worried she had done something to hurt Quistis' feelings or anger her. "Sorry. Shutting up now."
"For what?" Quistis smiled in her sisterly way. "It IS kinda strange, me teaching Seifer again…"
"So what do you have him doing?"
"An essay based on information found in books related to Guardian Forces and how they affect our stats, memories, and magic." Quistis grinned at Rinoa's shocked face. "It sounds really hard, but believe me, I've been having him write this since he was a student, and it takes him just about an hour."
"So why even bother?"
"Because I needed to think about something." Quistis raised her eyes to Rinoa. "Rinoa…as a sorceress, you must know all about magic and Guardian Forces, right?"
"Yeah, I know some things."
"So, uh, what happens when you stop using Guardian Forces? What happens to the memories you lost?"
"Well, they come back," Rinoa said carefully, looking thoughtful, "although I don't really know anyone who has undergone something like that, so I'm not sure how the memories are returned to the person…there are numerous possibilities."
|Like dreams.| Quistis nodded. "Thanks."
"No problem. Why do you ask?"
"Oh. No. Just curious." Quistis smiled gratefully at her friend. "Just thanks, Rinoa."
Rinoa beamed. "Sure!"
"All done, Instructo--Quis?"
"What do you remember?" Quistis asked softly, sitting opposite him.
"Wha--?"
"I want to know everything. I know you remember. And I want to know everything that happened."
Seifer stared at her serious face. "…I can't tell you that," he murmured.
She looked crestfallen. "But why?" she whispered.
"Because…you'll find out everything for yourself." Seifer's eyes met hers. "Soon."
"But…but what will I remember?" Quistis asked. "Who will I remember? I want to know, Seifer."
Seifer was silent.
|Hopefully me.|
---from kokuro---
This started out with the intention of introducing the antagonist of the story: Dorian. Yes, you should know his name. Unfortunately, the chapter was very wrong for Dorian's intro. And it ended up all mushy…but still, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Dorian will be coming up in the coming chapter! I promise! Hopefully, you'll all review this chapter. Constructive criticism is always very welcome!!!
Love from ko
Whenever You Need Me
Genre: action/romance fiction
Coupling: Quistis Trepe/Seifer Almasy
I'll be with you forever
Whether in Friendship or in Love
I won't let you go never
I love you more then the skies above
My heart won't see you go
In our lives that are all a maze
There's just one thing for you to know
I'll be here for you always
You're the only angel I've ever known.
Whenever you need me, I'll carry you home
***Alonia Everclear***
Chapter 18: Scarlet Dreaming
Quistis was in a foul mood the very next day.
She wasn't angry about the fact that she was suspended from SeeD duties, or the fact that she wasn't allowed outside Balamb Garden. No, it was the unjust decision that Headmaster Cid had placed upon her former student.
And there was also the strange dream she'd had the night before.
Silently fuming, Quistis sank into the bench outside the library and sighed. It had been one of the strangest dreams she'd ever had in her lifetime, something about red flowers and flashing lights and her foster mother. And the word 'valley'. She couldn't make much sense of the dream, but she did remember the word 'valley'. She couldn't figure out what it meant.
And the red reminded her too much of blood. It was only a few days, barely a week, since she'd been shot. |This is not a good thing for my health,| she thought, slumping her shoulders. |Too much stress--|
"Quistis?" asked a low voice.
She jerked upright. Standing in front of her, carrying two Styrofoam cups of coffee, was Seifer.
"You okay?" he asked, frowning. "You look dead."
"Ugh, no, I'm fine…" Quistis sighed. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "Actually…no. It's been like hell. Just…too many things going on lately. And I'm still achy." She vaguely gestured towards her wounded shoulder.
Seifer nodded. |She looks like a zombie,| he thought worriedly. |Poor Quisty.| "Well, want some coffee?" he queried, holding out a cup.
Quistis gave him a tired, but grateful smile. "Sugar?" she asked softly.
"Lots. Almost unhealthy."
"Thank you, Seifer. You are my savior." Smiling more cheerfully this time, Quistis raised her cup of coffee in a small toast. "To caffeine and sugar," she stated. "May they always be a part of our weary lives."
"Thank Hyne for that." Seifer lightly touched his cup to hers and took a short swig. Quistis quickly emptied hers. "…Damn. You're really tired, aren't you, Trepe?"
Quistis nodded. "Yeah. But, I have tutoring duties." She quirked a small smile up at Seifer.
Seifer grinned. "Of course. And here I am, your wonderful, dutiful student. On time, too."
"It's a miracle, Almasy."
"Thanks, Trepe."
For a few moments, the two stared at each other, Seifer in fond recollection, Quistis in unknown attraction.
|Hyne, I think I just thought about Seifer's cheekbones…| Abruptly, Quistis stood up. "Finish your coffee," she ordered Seifer. "We're going to do some studying today, Almasy. Oh, correction, lots of studying."
On cue, Seifer groaned. Loudly. "Damn, this is what I get for being nice, huh?"
Quistis mock-pouted. "Hey! This is for your own good, you know. Besides, if you're a good kid, maybe I'll let you read those poetry books you love so much!"
"Hey, shut up and stop treating me like I'm a child!"
"Well, I can't help it if I'm 3 months and 9 days older than you!"
Seifer blinked, calculated the age difference between them, and swore. |Damned girl's right!|
"Ah! See, I'm right!" Quistis' voice brought him back to reality. "So I do get to boss you around." Grabbing his sleeve, she dragged him towards the library. "Come on, buster! You're gonna pass that written test if it kills me."
"Gaaah! Wait, Quis…! My coffee--!!!" Frantically, Seifer tried to gulp down the remaining liquid as he was pulled along. Most of it ended up on his shoes. "My boots! Quistis, you're paying for these boots!"
"You baby!"
"I like these boots!"
"They're your only boots!"
"That's why I like them!"
"Oh, for the love of Hyne--!" They continued arguing all the way into the library and abruptly stopped the moment they entered the area. People were staring at them as if they were mutants. Quickly, the two separated, Quistis looking down at the ground, Seifer glaring at every student, committee member, or SeeD that he caught staring. It didn't take long for everyone to be engrossed in a book. Seifer turned back to Quistis, only to be pulled again towards the back of the library.
"Hey!" he yelped as Quistis shoved him roughly into a seat. "What is this, a study session or foreplay?"
Quistis sank down onto the seat facing him. "Foreplay," she said shortly, shutting Seifer up effectively. "After this, we'll have hot sex in my dorm. Now, do I have your attention, Seifer?" She raised an eyebrow at her student. "Hm?"
He nodded dumbly. Quistis smiled slightly, folded her arms onto the table between them, and softly began, "The SeeD written test is composed of four different topics." She counted off the subjects on her fingers. "The first subject is based on stats-magic Junctions. You've had plenty of practice with those, because of the SeeD field test a few days ago and intense training." Seifer smirked, and she rolled her eyes. "The second is Earth history. You've always had a knack for that, so we won't even get into it. The third tests your overall knowledge on SeeDs." Seifer grimaced, knowing the final subject. "And the fourth and final topic is based on Guardian Forces. Which, like everyone else, you need to read up on."
Seifer leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "What's there to know about Guardian Forces other than the fact that they're powerful and can be Junctioned?"
"The topic carries greater weight, especially because of recent discoveries," Quistis replied briskly.
"You mean the memory loss."
Quistis looked up at him. "The memory loss," she repeated softly, nodding. "We're not sure about a lot of things about it, but there's rumor of a cure--"
"You'll get them back."
Quistis stared at him, and Seifer shrugged. "Lay off of them long enough, and the memories will start coming back to you soon enough. That's what happened with me. Still happening." He smirked at Quistis' confused look. "What? Surprised?"
She blinked, shaking her head slightly. "Well…y-yes," she managed to stammer. "May I ask how…?"
"You don't need to ask me, you already know."
"What?"
Seifer's lips twitched in a small smile. "You've been laying off the Forces yourself. So tell me, Quis, had any weird dreams lately?"
Seifer enjoyed seeing the all-knowing child prodigy's jaw drop down and stay that way for an entire moment. "Quistis, close that mouth. You're drooling all over the carpet, and the flies might find a new home between your teeth." Silence, and Seifer leaned over, tapped her chin lightly. She obediently closed her mouth. Seifer grinned. "This is the part where you say 'Yes, Seifer, I just had a weird dream last night.'"
Quistis was silent. Finally, she managed, "A-a valley…of red flowers--"
"Red Valley?" interrupted Seifer in a low voice.
"…Yes." Quistis looked at him uncertainly. "Just like what you wrote on my clip," she whispered.
"What else did you remember?"
Quistis blinked at the hopeful tone in her former student's voice. "Not much," she admitted. "My mother. And someone else…I couldn't see their face."
Seifer nodded, wincing inwardly. |She still doesn't remember me…|
"Why?"
He shook his head, smirking again. "Nothing." Quistis stared at him suspiciously but then sighed.
"Alright, Seifer, if you're going to be a secretive ass, be a secretive ass." She shrugged. "Besides, we're here to study, not to find out the meaning of dreams." She slid a folded piece of paper towards him. "These are the book you need to read before I come back. And I want an essay, two pages minimum, four maximum, with a five-paragraph minimum. Before lunch. That gives you…three-and-a-half hours."
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Gee, what fun to be had. What's the topic?"
Quistis leaned over him. "Your social life. Of course the topic's information on Guardian Forces. Twit."
"Love you, too, Quistis."
"I know." With a smile and a wave, Quistis sauntered off, calling, "Have fun!"
Seifer set to work. "Love you, too, Quis…" he muttered, "ya bossy freak."
|You sweet, smart, beautiful bossy freak.|
"Hey, Quisty!"
Quistis glanced up from her mug of tea. "Oh, Rinoa, you're back."
Tossing her medium-length sable hair over her shoulder, Rinoa Heartilly settled down on the seat facing Quistis. "Why is it all the funky things happen while I'm gone?" she asked, doe-brown eyes wide. "I heard from Selphie that you were suspended the day after I left for Deling to see my dad. And that you were tutoring Seifer. Seifer Almasy, of all people. I mean, that's totally ridicul…" Rinoa stared at Quistis' face, "true?"
Quistis shrugged. "I don't see what's so ridiculous about my tutoring Seifer."
"Well…" Rinoa searched for words, "it's just kind of a déjà vu thing…" She bit her lip, worried she had done something to hurt Quistis' feelings or anger her. "Sorry. Shutting up now."
"For what?" Quistis smiled in her sisterly way. "It IS kinda strange, me teaching Seifer again…"
"So what do you have him doing?"
"An essay based on information found in books related to Guardian Forces and how they affect our stats, memories, and magic." Quistis grinned at Rinoa's shocked face. "It sounds really hard, but believe me, I've been having him write this since he was a student, and it takes him just about an hour."
"So why even bother?"
"Because I needed to think about something." Quistis raised her eyes to Rinoa. "Rinoa…as a sorceress, you must know all about magic and Guardian Forces, right?"
"Yeah, I know some things."
"So, uh, what happens when you stop using Guardian Forces? What happens to the memories you lost?"
"Well, they come back," Rinoa said carefully, looking thoughtful, "although I don't really know anyone who has undergone something like that, so I'm not sure how the memories are returned to the person…there are numerous possibilities."
|Like dreams.| Quistis nodded. "Thanks."
"No problem. Why do you ask?"
"Oh. No. Just curious." Quistis smiled gratefully at her friend. "Just thanks, Rinoa."
Rinoa beamed. "Sure!"
"All done, Instructo--Quis?"
"What do you remember?" Quistis asked softly, sitting opposite him.
"Wha--?"
"I want to know everything. I know you remember. And I want to know everything that happened."
Seifer stared at her serious face. "…I can't tell you that," he murmured.
She looked crestfallen. "But why?" she whispered.
"Because…you'll find out everything for yourself." Seifer's eyes met hers. "Soon."
"But…but what will I remember?" Quistis asked. "Who will I remember? I want to know, Seifer."
Seifer was silent.
|Hopefully me.|
---from kokuro---
This started out with the intention of introducing the antagonist of the story: Dorian. Yes, you should know his name. Unfortunately, the chapter was very wrong for Dorian's intro. And it ended up all mushy…but still, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Dorian will be coming up in the coming chapter! I promise! Hopefully, you'll all review this chapter. Constructive criticism is always very welcome!!!
Love from ko