Final Fantasy 8
Whenever You Need Me
Genre: action/adventure and romance
Couple(s): Seifer Almasy/Quistis Trepe
---ko says---
By the way, this here's a flashback chapter. Enjoy!
The night pales
The moon wanes
The stars shine
The trees sway
You are always smiling
Whatever the weather
Whatever the season
Whatever the occasion
Your smile lights up my life
Showering gold and pieces of silver
Upon my head
In the darkness and the gloom
You were always there for me
I love you dearly
Now and forever
Because
You're the only angel I've ever known
Whenever you need me, I'll carry you home
***Quis***
Chapter 19: Dorian
"You're gonna take the fucking field test already?! Hyne, Quis, you're only 15."
"Yeah, and imagine if I make it!" An ecstatic Quistis smiled excitedly at Seifer. "I've studied, I've trained, Hyne, I've sparred with you, and that has to count for a battle against a T-Rexaur or something. I'm ready for this test. I know it. I've already passed the Fire Cave exam, there's nothing else to do but take the plunge. And to think, we'll be able to have free reign over the Guardian Forces assigned to us! Seifer, why don't you take it, too? I bet you could pass."
"You talk too much, Quis. Besides, if the resident troublemaker passes the SeeD field test at the age of 15, imagine how bad the Garden would look. You really want that?"
"You've taught me not to give a damn, you know."
"Hmf." Seifer shrugged and leaned against the railing of the Secret Area, looking out into the night. "That's true." He smiled slightly, but the grin faded as quickly as it came. "If you…if you pass, will you do what you told you'd do?"
Quistis looked blank. "What…?"
Seifer shot her a sideways glance. "You know. Teach."
She blinked, her mouth forming an O. "Oh. That." She bit her lower lip and clasped her hands in front of her. "Maybe. I--I'm not really sure yet if that's what I really want to do…" she smiled shyly, "but I want to stay here. And being an instructor is the only way to do it. I mean…don't you want to stay here, too, Seifer?"
"No."
"H-huh…?" Quistis blinked at the quick response. "You don't."
"Nah." Seifer smirked at the stars. "I'm not going to stay in the same place as Puberty Boy any longer than I have to." A giggle from Quistis was his reward. "Besides, there's the entire world to explore. Don't you wanna travel, Quis? Get away from this place? Away from the drills and the fighting and…and the classes?"
"Would I," Quistis muttered, making Seifer laugh. "But…I love it here. It's home."
"Yeah…it's home. But everyone leaves home someday." Seifer straightened and turned to his friend. "Well, it's getting late. Shouldn't you be in bed by now, all rested and ready for more training tomorrow? Wouldn't want you to screw up your big chance."
Quistis sighed softly. "Yeah, well…hey. Promise me something."
"…Depends on what the promise is."
"If I make it as a SeeD, and if I get my instructor's license…you have to be in my class. I wanna see you become a SeeD."
"…You…wanna see me become a SeeD…" Seifer whispered.
"Yeah."
After a short, awkward silence Seifer's voice cut through the air. "Why not."
Quistis gasped and smiled. "Really?!"
Seifer frowned at her. "Didn't I say 'why not'?"
"Seifer, thanks!" There was a thump and an embarrassed Seifer shouting, "Hey, get off me!!"
|How can this happen?!| Quistis wailed in her head as she shoved the last bite of sandwich into her mouth and ran out of the cafeteria, a muffled whine erupting from deep within her throat as she dropped her books to the floor. |Nothing's going right today…!| She fought the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
It wasn't pretty. She had overslept, woken up five minutes before her first class, been late, forgotten about the history test, was quite sure she failed, gotten a late breakfast between her second and third classes, was late to lunch, when she suddenly realized that she had yet to return the books she had borrowed from the library.
She knelt there, near the entrance of the cafeteria, surrounded by books, and sniffled.
"Hey, there," spoke a quiet, unfamiliar voice. "You look like it's the end of the world."
Quistis took a deep, steadying breath and raised her eyes to the stranger. "I'm fine," she whispered.
The young man that smiled down at her was unlike no one she had ever seen before. His hair was a deep reddish-brown, with long, spiky bangs that fell over golden eyes, flecked with green. His ponytail hung over one shoulder as he bent down to smile at her. "You don't look fine," he answered. "Can I help you, miss?"
"…Quistis."
"Huh?"
"I--I'm Quistis. Quistis Trepe."
"Quistis…well, I'm Dorian Strategos. Need any help with those huge books of yours?"
"Oh…yeah, you don't mind?" Quistis asked softly.
"Of course not." Dorian held out a hand and, after a moment's hesitation, Quistis took it. With a grunt, Dorian pulled her to her feet, then began gathering books. "Lots of books on magic, you training to be a sorceress or something, Quistis?" he asked, smiling at her.
She flushed, then shook her head quickly. "N-no. I just find Guardian Forces and magic fascinating."
Dorian straightened up, the books in his arms. "Here, I'll take it," Quistis said, holding out her arms.
He grinned. "Nope, I'll carry 'em. Just tell me where to go."
Quistis stared at him. "You don't…have to…" she murmured.
"I'm alright. Really!" Dorian shook his head. "So, where are you and these books headed?"
"The…the library."
"Alright, then! Let's go!" Shifting the books, Dorian started off towards the direction of the library. Quistis looked after him for a few minutes, then ran after him.
|…Maybe…maybe this day won't be so bad…|
"So…this Doren dude, he's taking the field test, too?" Seifer asked. It was yet another late-night conversation at the Secret Area.
"His name's Dorian," Quistis corrected for the thousandth time.
"Whatever."
"Yeah. He said he wanted to be the youngest SeeD in Garden history."
"Hm. So I guess it's like a three-way contest for that title."
"Yeah…three-way?"
"You, me, him. We're the youngest ones taking the field test."
"W-w-wait. When did you decide to take the field test?" Quistis stared at Seifer incredulously.
"Since I wanted to." Seifer offered no other explanation. Quistis nodded mutely and perched carefully on the railing of the balcony. Seifer watched her out of the corner of his eye. "You know, you could fall off of that really easily."
"Hey, I know you're watching," was the reply.
Seifer nodded, folding his arms on the balcony and bowing his head. "Yeah, I'm gonna watch happily when you fall."
"Seif-er!" Quistis said, sharply grabbing the sleeve of his shirt.
"Shit, Quis! Don't grab me like that!"
"Alright, Almasy, you're in Squad B. Trepe, Strategos, Squad D for you two."
"Oh!" Quistis said, feeling both glad and disappointed. She looked at Seifer, who was wearing his usual smirk. When Seifer turned in her direction, the smirk vanished, replaced by a hard look. Quistis looked over her shoulder and saw Dorian return the cold stare from behind her. Quistis frowned as Seifer walked past for her, surprised when he pressed something into her left hand. "Good luck, Quis," came his quiet mutter as he stalked past Dorian.
Quistis glanced down at the vial he had given her.
The Phoenix Down glittered brightly.
Quistis stared in horror at the carnage around her. Timber was nothing more than a smoldering heap, the result of terrorists, and the assignment of the SeeD cadets to try and find survivors. SeeD was in another part of the town, handling the terrorists. Quistis felt a sharp tug on her arm and she snapped back to reality. Seifer was staring at her. "Be careful," he whispered hurriedly before he turned and followed the two other members of his squad.
"Quistis, you ready?" asked Dorian, his spear resting casually over his shoulder.
"Yeah." Quistis nodded, uncoiling her Chain Whip.
"Then let's go."
"Squad D, let's move out!" shouted their squad leader, a tall 17-year-old with brown hair and a really loud, bossy, annoying voice.
The squads ran off in different directions, headed straight into the heart of the town.
|This is it!| Quistis thought, smiling in excitement. |The real thing!|
"Ugh!" Quistis dropped to one knee as the little boy she was carrying over her shoulders in a fireman's carry kicked her hard in the ribs. "Calm down!" she said to the panicking little boy, but her efforts were in vain; the little boy simply screamed louder and kicked harder. Wincing at the pain in her side, Quistis stood up again and limped towards a crowd of SeeDs tending to the survivors of the fire. "H-here," she whispered, putting the child on the ground. "He seems to be okay."
"Thanks." The nearest SeeD smiled at her. "You sure you're okay, cadet?"
"I'm fine," Quistis replied, clutching her side and cringing. |That's gonna be a bad bruise.|
"You're one of those three child prodigies, aren't you?" asked the SeeD, casting a Cure on the child. "You guys are doing a great job. The other blond brought in a bunch of survivors. He looks like he went through hell and back."
Quistis smiled to herself. |That's Seifer.|
The SeeD's eyes suddenly widened as he looked over Quistis' shoulder. "Holy shit!"
Quistis whirled around. A nearby house was covered in dancing flames. |That house…it's familiar…| She gasped.
|That's the house that Dorian ran into!!|
"Dorian!" she called, sprinting towards the house. She ignored the shouts of the SeeDs as they ran after and rushed into the blaze. "Dorian!" she shouted, surrounded by blazing heat. "Dorian, are you in here?! Dorian!"
"Help me!" came the frightened squeal of a little girl. "Help!"
"Quistis!" yelled another voice.
"Dorian? Dorian, where are you?!" Quistis called.
"Keep shouting!" Dorian answered loudly. "I've got her…I just need to find my way to the front door!"
"I'm here!" Quistis kept repeating. "Right here, Dorian!"
She saw him then, carrying the girl in his arms, his spear nowhere to be found. He was coming out from a door on her right, looking immensely relieved to see her. He began to jog towards her, and Quistis held out her hands for the child.
Neither failed to notice the burning beam about to fall…until it fell.
Quistis heard the child shriek as Dorian dropped her. He was trapped beneath the wood, trying desperately to pull himself out. He clawed at the floor. "Quistis!" he shouted, coughing as he inhaled smoke. "The little girl!"
"Okay!" Quistis held out her arms and the child ran to her, crying and coughing. She looked at Dorian. "I'll come back for you," she whispered.
"Promise?"
"Promise." Quistis left the house and ran into a crowd of SeeDs.
"Trepe, you okay--?!"
"--the girl--"
"--cadet's still in there--!!"
"Dorian!" Quistis shouted through the panicked voices. "I have to get back!" She tried to get through the SeeDs but they formed a wall around her. "NO!" she screamed. "Let me through!" Her foot swung out and connected with something solid. "Let me…through!"
Seifer appeared and grabbed her arm. "Quis, what the hell?!" he shouted in her face.
Quistis grabbed his sleeves, burying her face in his uniform, her scream muffled.
"DORIAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!"
Whenever You Need Me
Genre: action/adventure and romance
Couple(s): Seifer Almasy/Quistis Trepe
---ko says---
By the way, this here's a flashback chapter. Enjoy!
The night pales
The moon wanes
The stars shine
The trees sway
You are always smiling
Whatever the weather
Whatever the season
Whatever the occasion
Your smile lights up my life
Showering gold and pieces of silver
Upon my head
In the darkness and the gloom
You were always there for me
I love you dearly
Now and forever
Because
You're the only angel I've ever known
Whenever you need me, I'll carry you home
***Quis***
Chapter 19: Dorian
"You're gonna take the fucking field test already?! Hyne, Quis, you're only 15."
"Yeah, and imagine if I make it!" An ecstatic Quistis smiled excitedly at Seifer. "I've studied, I've trained, Hyne, I've sparred with you, and that has to count for a battle against a T-Rexaur or something. I'm ready for this test. I know it. I've already passed the Fire Cave exam, there's nothing else to do but take the plunge. And to think, we'll be able to have free reign over the Guardian Forces assigned to us! Seifer, why don't you take it, too? I bet you could pass."
"You talk too much, Quis. Besides, if the resident troublemaker passes the SeeD field test at the age of 15, imagine how bad the Garden would look. You really want that?"
"You've taught me not to give a damn, you know."
"Hmf." Seifer shrugged and leaned against the railing of the Secret Area, looking out into the night. "That's true." He smiled slightly, but the grin faded as quickly as it came. "If you…if you pass, will you do what you told you'd do?"
Quistis looked blank. "What…?"
Seifer shot her a sideways glance. "You know. Teach."
She blinked, her mouth forming an O. "Oh. That." She bit her lower lip and clasped her hands in front of her. "Maybe. I--I'm not really sure yet if that's what I really want to do…" she smiled shyly, "but I want to stay here. And being an instructor is the only way to do it. I mean…don't you want to stay here, too, Seifer?"
"No."
"H-huh…?" Quistis blinked at the quick response. "You don't."
"Nah." Seifer smirked at the stars. "I'm not going to stay in the same place as Puberty Boy any longer than I have to." A giggle from Quistis was his reward. "Besides, there's the entire world to explore. Don't you wanna travel, Quis? Get away from this place? Away from the drills and the fighting and…and the classes?"
"Would I," Quistis muttered, making Seifer laugh. "But…I love it here. It's home."
"Yeah…it's home. But everyone leaves home someday." Seifer straightened and turned to his friend. "Well, it's getting late. Shouldn't you be in bed by now, all rested and ready for more training tomorrow? Wouldn't want you to screw up your big chance."
Quistis sighed softly. "Yeah, well…hey. Promise me something."
"…Depends on what the promise is."
"If I make it as a SeeD, and if I get my instructor's license…you have to be in my class. I wanna see you become a SeeD."
"…You…wanna see me become a SeeD…" Seifer whispered.
"Yeah."
After a short, awkward silence Seifer's voice cut through the air. "Why not."
Quistis gasped and smiled. "Really?!"
Seifer frowned at her. "Didn't I say 'why not'?"
"Seifer, thanks!" There was a thump and an embarrassed Seifer shouting, "Hey, get off me!!"
|How can this happen?!| Quistis wailed in her head as she shoved the last bite of sandwich into her mouth and ran out of the cafeteria, a muffled whine erupting from deep within her throat as she dropped her books to the floor. |Nothing's going right today…!| She fought the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
It wasn't pretty. She had overslept, woken up five minutes before her first class, been late, forgotten about the history test, was quite sure she failed, gotten a late breakfast between her second and third classes, was late to lunch, when she suddenly realized that she had yet to return the books she had borrowed from the library.
She knelt there, near the entrance of the cafeteria, surrounded by books, and sniffled.
"Hey, there," spoke a quiet, unfamiliar voice. "You look like it's the end of the world."
Quistis took a deep, steadying breath and raised her eyes to the stranger. "I'm fine," she whispered.
The young man that smiled down at her was unlike no one she had ever seen before. His hair was a deep reddish-brown, with long, spiky bangs that fell over golden eyes, flecked with green. His ponytail hung over one shoulder as he bent down to smile at her. "You don't look fine," he answered. "Can I help you, miss?"
"…Quistis."
"Huh?"
"I--I'm Quistis. Quistis Trepe."
"Quistis…well, I'm Dorian Strategos. Need any help with those huge books of yours?"
"Oh…yeah, you don't mind?" Quistis asked softly.
"Of course not." Dorian held out a hand and, after a moment's hesitation, Quistis took it. With a grunt, Dorian pulled her to her feet, then began gathering books. "Lots of books on magic, you training to be a sorceress or something, Quistis?" he asked, smiling at her.
She flushed, then shook her head quickly. "N-no. I just find Guardian Forces and magic fascinating."
Dorian straightened up, the books in his arms. "Here, I'll take it," Quistis said, holding out her arms.
He grinned. "Nope, I'll carry 'em. Just tell me where to go."
Quistis stared at him. "You don't…have to…" she murmured.
"I'm alright. Really!" Dorian shook his head. "So, where are you and these books headed?"
"The…the library."
"Alright, then! Let's go!" Shifting the books, Dorian started off towards the direction of the library. Quistis looked after him for a few minutes, then ran after him.
|…Maybe…maybe this day won't be so bad…|
"So…this Doren dude, he's taking the field test, too?" Seifer asked. It was yet another late-night conversation at the Secret Area.
"His name's Dorian," Quistis corrected for the thousandth time.
"Whatever."
"Yeah. He said he wanted to be the youngest SeeD in Garden history."
"Hm. So I guess it's like a three-way contest for that title."
"Yeah…three-way?"
"You, me, him. We're the youngest ones taking the field test."
"W-w-wait. When did you decide to take the field test?" Quistis stared at Seifer incredulously.
"Since I wanted to." Seifer offered no other explanation. Quistis nodded mutely and perched carefully on the railing of the balcony. Seifer watched her out of the corner of his eye. "You know, you could fall off of that really easily."
"Hey, I know you're watching," was the reply.
Seifer nodded, folding his arms on the balcony and bowing his head. "Yeah, I'm gonna watch happily when you fall."
"Seif-er!" Quistis said, sharply grabbing the sleeve of his shirt.
"Shit, Quis! Don't grab me like that!"
"Alright, Almasy, you're in Squad B. Trepe, Strategos, Squad D for you two."
"Oh!" Quistis said, feeling both glad and disappointed. She looked at Seifer, who was wearing his usual smirk. When Seifer turned in her direction, the smirk vanished, replaced by a hard look. Quistis looked over her shoulder and saw Dorian return the cold stare from behind her. Quistis frowned as Seifer walked past for her, surprised when he pressed something into her left hand. "Good luck, Quis," came his quiet mutter as he stalked past Dorian.
Quistis glanced down at the vial he had given her.
The Phoenix Down glittered brightly.
Quistis stared in horror at the carnage around her. Timber was nothing more than a smoldering heap, the result of terrorists, and the assignment of the SeeD cadets to try and find survivors. SeeD was in another part of the town, handling the terrorists. Quistis felt a sharp tug on her arm and she snapped back to reality. Seifer was staring at her. "Be careful," he whispered hurriedly before he turned and followed the two other members of his squad.
"Quistis, you ready?" asked Dorian, his spear resting casually over his shoulder.
"Yeah." Quistis nodded, uncoiling her Chain Whip.
"Then let's go."
"Squad D, let's move out!" shouted their squad leader, a tall 17-year-old with brown hair and a really loud, bossy, annoying voice.
The squads ran off in different directions, headed straight into the heart of the town.
|This is it!| Quistis thought, smiling in excitement. |The real thing!|
"Ugh!" Quistis dropped to one knee as the little boy she was carrying over her shoulders in a fireman's carry kicked her hard in the ribs. "Calm down!" she said to the panicking little boy, but her efforts were in vain; the little boy simply screamed louder and kicked harder. Wincing at the pain in her side, Quistis stood up again and limped towards a crowd of SeeDs tending to the survivors of the fire. "H-here," she whispered, putting the child on the ground. "He seems to be okay."
"Thanks." The nearest SeeD smiled at her. "You sure you're okay, cadet?"
"I'm fine," Quistis replied, clutching her side and cringing. |That's gonna be a bad bruise.|
"You're one of those three child prodigies, aren't you?" asked the SeeD, casting a Cure on the child. "You guys are doing a great job. The other blond brought in a bunch of survivors. He looks like he went through hell and back."
Quistis smiled to herself. |That's Seifer.|
The SeeD's eyes suddenly widened as he looked over Quistis' shoulder. "Holy shit!"
Quistis whirled around. A nearby house was covered in dancing flames. |That house…it's familiar…| She gasped.
|That's the house that Dorian ran into!!|
"Dorian!" she called, sprinting towards the house. She ignored the shouts of the SeeDs as they ran after and rushed into the blaze. "Dorian!" she shouted, surrounded by blazing heat. "Dorian, are you in here?! Dorian!"
"Help me!" came the frightened squeal of a little girl. "Help!"
"Quistis!" yelled another voice.
"Dorian? Dorian, where are you?!" Quistis called.
"Keep shouting!" Dorian answered loudly. "I've got her…I just need to find my way to the front door!"
"I'm here!" Quistis kept repeating. "Right here, Dorian!"
She saw him then, carrying the girl in his arms, his spear nowhere to be found. He was coming out from a door on her right, looking immensely relieved to see her. He began to jog towards her, and Quistis held out her hands for the child.
Neither failed to notice the burning beam about to fall…until it fell.
Quistis heard the child shriek as Dorian dropped her. He was trapped beneath the wood, trying desperately to pull himself out. He clawed at the floor. "Quistis!" he shouted, coughing as he inhaled smoke. "The little girl!"
"Okay!" Quistis held out her arms and the child ran to her, crying and coughing. She looked at Dorian. "I'll come back for you," she whispered.
"Promise?"
"Promise." Quistis left the house and ran into a crowd of SeeDs.
"Trepe, you okay--?!"
"--the girl--"
"--cadet's still in there--!!"
"Dorian!" Quistis shouted through the panicked voices. "I have to get back!" She tried to get through the SeeDs but they formed a wall around her. "NO!" she screamed. "Let me through!" Her foot swung out and connected with something solid. "Let me…through!"
Seifer appeared and grabbed her arm. "Quis, what the hell?!" he shouted in her face.
Quistis grabbed his sleeves, burying her face in his uniform, her scream muffled.
"DORIAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!"