Author's Notes: Sorry everyone for the long awaited update! I've been so busy trying to find another job, and midterms are coming up, so I've been a bit distracted. Also, not to mention my indecision on what to write next. Well, on with the story!
How You Remind Me
Chapter 4
Quistis spent most of her time daydreaming about the morning she had spent with Squall in the Secret Area. The way his usually cold eyes softened as he noticed she was getting cold, the gentleness of his hands as he slowly wrapped his blanket around her without a word. How his gaze seemed to linger on her face after she was bundled up. And the way they sat together in companionable silence watching the world light up with the sun's rays. Everything was perfect; everything felt so right. But the magic disappeared just as quickly as it came.
It had been a week since Quistis last spoken to Squall. In fact, it seemed to Quistis that he was avoiding her like the plague. Sure, the gang would meet up and eat together, but just as she would approach the table to join them, Squall would politely excuse himself, saying he had paperwork to do, and leave while ignoring the others protests that he should stay. Quistis assumed that Squall regretted the time they spent together, that their morning together was an accident, a mistake that Squall was trying to avoid making again.
Quistis walked briskly to the elevator, waving hello along the way. She glanced down at her watch, 'Hmm, better hurry up or I'm going to be late.' Turning quickly, she smacked hard into someone.
"Ahh...." the blonde eeped as she almost fell to the floor, but was saved as the someone caught her quickly from behind.
"Sorry...."she turned to face her rescuer, but then caught herself staring back into a pair of icy blue eyes. "Squall...."
The commander slowly released her as she regained her balance. He rubbed the back of his head slightly, and stared at the ground, "You okay?"
"Yea, I'm fine. Sorry about that," Quistis started to brush off some imaginary dirt on her skirt, trying to hide the blush that was slowly reddening her face. "Are you?"
"Whatever...." Squall shifted his stance a little, looking shyly back at her. The two stood there quietly for a bit, unsure of what to say.
"Well, I'll see you later than," Quistis and Squall both nodded to each other before both turned to push the elevator button. Quistis quickly drew her hand back, causing Squall to frown. "Oh! You're going to see Headmaster Cid too?" Quistis asked as she blushed even redder from the slight touch.
"Yea, he called me up to ask about a mission." Squall shrugged indifferently as the elevators chimed open, and the two entered.
"I haven't seen you around lately, how have you been?" Quistis asked as she pushed the third floor button, and leaned on the opposite side of the elevator from Squall.
"Busy with paperwork." "Busy with paperwork," both of them said in unison as Quistis giggled. Squall growled softly, and frowned.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," Quistis replied as she tried to control her laughter. "Um, so ," she cleared her throat softly, "are you still getting those dreams of your childhood?" Quistis looked up at Squall.
Squall appeared surprised at her question. Hesitantly, he opened his mouth to answer, when *Ding* the elevator doors opened. A look of relief crossed his face, as Squall gestured for Quistis to exit first, and followed after her.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Ah Squall! Quistis! Good to see you both!" Headmaster Cid greeted them cheerfully as they entered his office. Squall and Quistis saluted the Headmaster, then sat down in the soft leather chairs.
"I'm glad the two of you are here together. I need to speak to you both about the retrieval of Seifer Almasy." Squall stood up suddenly, in shock.
"You can't be serious sir. Seifer is a traitor. He tried to kill all of us, not to mention blow up the Garden!" Squall stopped as he heard the door creak open, and turned to see Edea enter.
"That's true Squall. Seifer did do all those things," Edea replied as she walked silently over to Cid. "But it wasn't really him, he was under mind control."
"But Matron, Seifer attacked all of us on numerous occasions. He was even willing to sacrifice Rinoa to Adel..."
"Yes my child, but mind control has the power to make someone do things against their own will. It makes the person into a puppet; the person is helplessly strung along, unable to control their actions. Seifer had no control of what he did. I know, because I've been through it myself." Cid wrapped a reassuring arm around Edea.
"So you want us to just forget all the wrongs he had committed?" the commander tightly clenched his fist to the side, while Quistis remained sitting, watching the situation soundlessly. It wasn't very often when Squall spoke so passionately about anything, or even spoke at all
"I've killed many people, Squall. Many, many innocent people. But you all have taken me back, and forgiven me. And that's all I'm asking for you to do; for everyone to do. Give Seifer a second chance. He is like my own son, like all of you that I've raised at the orphanage. I know that Seifer can be unkind, but I also know that Seifer would never do those cruel things."
"And that's why I've asked you to come here today, Quistis," the blonde met the Headmaster's gaze. "I'd like to send you to retrieve Seifer."
"By myself sir?" Quistis asked a little uneasily.
"If Quistis is going, I'd like to request that I accompany her, sir." There was no way he'd let Quistis go by herself to retrieve the lapdog.
"No Squall, Quistis will be fine. It appears that Seifer cared for her more than it seemed," Cid picked up a file, and started to flip through the pages.
"As part of the Disciplinary Committee, Seifer made sure that the students were following all regulations. It seems he also made sure that Quistis' 'Trepies' didn't harass her." Cid handed the packet to Quistis for her to look over.
"He kept the Trepies away from me?" Quistis turned the page, and Squall leaned over to read it.
"Apparently he watched over you Quistis. He made sure you were safe, and not being stalked by your fan club," Cid accepted the file back from Quistis and she nodded.
"Okay, I'll go." Quistis finally answered as she felt Squall's intense gaze on her.
"Good. We have received a report from two ex-Balamb students that have seen Seifer in Windhill. According to them, Seifer had recently showed up in the town, but has been peaceful with the people. As for the townspeople, they don't know who he is either. So I need you to go to Windhill, and retrieve Seifer," Cid took off his glasses and pulled out a handkerchief and began to clean them.
Quistis and Squall stood up and saluted, "Thank you both for understanding," Edea called out to them as they turned to leave the office.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I can't believe Seifer did all those things for me. I always thought he hated me; he always gave me such a hard time. He always called me a 'mediocre' instructor...," Quistis more like mumbled to her as they walked along towards the dorms. She just couldn't believe that Seifer Almasy had been looking out for her. All the antagonisms, the crude jokes were just teases? Impossible.
Squall had remained quiet since she had accepted the mission. It just wasn't the fact that Headmaster Cid wanted Seifer Almasy back that irritated him, it was also because Quistis didn't seem to mind his return. Squall snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the familiar beep and swoosh of the dorm room open.
"Thanks for walking me back to my dorm," Quistis entered her room and turned back to Squall. "I better get packing, but do you want come in? To talk a bit more? Maybe we can sort out what our dreams are about."
"No," Squall shook his head as he slouched against her doorframe. "We can discuss that later," Squall frowned again, and hesitated. "Just...take care of yourself," Squall softly said, and gazed at her with an unreadable expression. Girlish giggles were heard as a group of cadets passed by. Squall shot them a silencing glare, before he turned back to Quistis again.
She smiled, then gently replied , "I will. I promise."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night, Quistis left for Windhill. The blonde slept uncomfortably in the SeeD car, as it rattled along towards Timber. "Where are you?" Quistis softly murmured as she turned over in her sleep.
"...Promise" Rinoa's eyes snapped open. She rolled to the edge of the bed, and looked down at the floor where Squall still slept. She smiled a little, thinking he was dreaming of their promise together.
Rinoa brushed away a few silky strands of hair away from his face, and leaned down to kiss him.
"Quisty...." Squall moaned as he pulled the blanket up closer to his chin.
She stopped and glared at his sleeping form. She watched him for a few more minutes, making sure he was really asleep and just dreaming.
'Just dreaming,' Rinoa told herself as she laid back down on the bed. 'He's just dreaming....'
How You Remind Me
Chapter 4
Quistis spent most of her time daydreaming about the morning she had spent with Squall in the Secret Area. The way his usually cold eyes softened as he noticed she was getting cold, the gentleness of his hands as he slowly wrapped his blanket around her without a word. How his gaze seemed to linger on her face after she was bundled up. And the way they sat together in companionable silence watching the world light up with the sun's rays. Everything was perfect; everything felt so right. But the magic disappeared just as quickly as it came.
It had been a week since Quistis last spoken to Squall. In fact, it seemed to Quistis that he was avoiding her like the plague. Sure, the gang would meet up and eat together, but just as she would approach the table to join them, Squall would politely excuse himself, saying he had paperwork to do, and leave while ignoring the others protests that he should stay. Quistis assumed that Squall regretted the time they spent together, that their morning together was an accident, a mistake that Squall was trying to avoid making again.
Quistis walked briskly to the elevator, waving hello along the way. She glanced down at her watch, 'Hmm, better hurry up or I'm going to be late.' Turning quickly, she smacked hard into someone.
"Ahh...." the blonde eeped as she almost fell to the floor, but was saved as the someone caught her quickly from behind.
"Sorry...."she turned to face her rescuer, but then caught herself staring back into a pair of icy blue eyes. "Squall...."
The commander slowly released her as she regained her balance. He rubbed the back of his head slightly, and stared at the ground, "You okay?"
"Yea, I'm fine. Sorry about that," Quistis started to brush off some imaginary dirt on her skirt, trying to hide the blush that was slowly reddening her face. "Are you?"
"Whatever...." Squall shifted his stance a little, looking shyly back at her. The two stood there quietly for a bit, unsure of what to say.
"Well, I'll see you later than," Quistis and Squall both nodded to each other before both turned to push the elevator button. Quistis quickly drew her hand back, causing Squall to frown. "Oh! You're going to see Headmaster Cid too?" Quistis asked as she blushed even redder from the slight touch.
"Yea, he called me up to ask about a mission." Squall shrugged indifferently as the elevators chimed open, and the two entered.
"I haven't seen you around lately, how have you been?" Quistis asked as she pushed the third floor button, and leaned on the opposite side of the elevator from Squall.
"Busy with paperwork." "Busy with paperwork," both of them said in unison as Quistis giggled. Squall growled softly, and frowned.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," Quistis replied as she tried to control her laughter. "Um, so ," she cleared her throat softly, "are you still getting those dreams of your childhood?" Quistis looked up at Squall.
Squall appeared surprised at her question. Hesitantly, he opened his mouth to answer, when *Ding* the elevator doors opened. A look of relief crossed his face, as Squall gestured for Quistis to exit first, and followed after her.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Ah Squall! Quistis! Good to see you both!" Headmaster Cid greeted them cheerfully as they entered his office. Squall and Quistis saluted the Headmaster, then sat down in the soft leather chairs.
"I'm glad the two of you are here together. I need to speak to you both about the retrieval of Seifer Almasy." Squall stood up suddenly, in shock.
"You can't be serious sir. Seifer is a traitor. He tried to kill all of us, not to mention blow up the Garden!" Squall stopped as he heard the door creak open, and turned to see Edea enter.
"That's true Squall. Seifer did do all those things," Edea replied as she walked silently over to Cid. "But it wasn't really him, he was under mind control."
"But Matron, Seifer attacked all of us on numerous occasions. He was even willing to sacrifice Rinoa to Adel..."
"Yes my child, but mind control has the power to make someone do things against their own will. It makes the person into a puppet; the person is helplessly strung along, unable to control their actions. Seifer had no control of what he did. I know, because I've been through it myself." Cid wrapped a reassuring arm around Edea.
"So you want us to just forget all the wrongs he had committed?" the commander tightly clenched his fist to the side, while Quistis remained sitting, watching the situation soundlessly. It wasn't very often when Squall spoke so passionately about anything, or even spoke at all
"I've killed many people, Squall. Many, many innocent people. But you all have taken me back, and forgiven me. And that's all I'm asking for you to do; for everyone to do. Give Seifer a second chance. He is like my own son, like all of you that I've raised at the orphanage. I know that Seifer can be unkind, but I also know that Seifer would never do those cruel things."
"And that's why I've asked you to come here today, Quistis," the blonde met the Headmaster's gaze. "I'd like to send you to retrieve Seifer."
"By myself sir?" Quistis asked a little uneasily.
"If Quistis is going, I'd like to request that I accompany her, sir." There was no way he'd let Quistis go by herself to retrieve the lapdog.
"No Squall, Quistis will be fine. It appears that Seifer cared for her more than it seemed," Cid picked up a file, and started to flip through the pages.
"As part of the Disciplinary Committee, Seifer made sure that the students were following all regulations. It seems he also made sure that Quistis' 'Trepies' didn't harass her." Cid handed the packet to Quistis for her to look over.
"He kept the Trepies away from me?" Quistis turned the page, and Squall leaned over to read it.
"Apparently he watched over you Quistis. He made sure you were safe, and not being stalked by your fan club," Cid accepted the file back from Quistis and she nodded.
"Okay, I'll go." Quistis finally answered as she felt Squall's intense gaze on her.
"Good. We have received a report from two ex-Balamb students that have seen Seifer in Windhill. According to them, Seifer had recently showed up in the town, but has been peaceful with the people. As for the townspeople, they don't know who he is either. So I need you to go to Windhill, and retrieve Seifer," Cid took off his glasses and pulled out a handkerchief and began to clean them.
Quistis and Squall stood up and saluted, "Thank you both for understanding," Edea called out to them as they turned to leave the office.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I can't believe Seifer did all those things for me. I always thought he hated me; he always gave me such a hard time. He always called me a 'mediocre' instructor...," Quistis more like mumbled to her as they walked along towards the dorms. She just couldn't believe that Seifer Almasy had been looking out for her. All the antagonisms, the crude jokes were just teases? Impossible.
Squall had remained quiet since she had accepted the mission. It just wasn't the fact that Headmaster Cid wanted Seifer Almasy back that irritated him, it was also because Quistis didn't seem to mind his return. Squall snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the familiar beep and swoosh of the dorm room open.
"Thanks for walking me back to my dorm," Quistis entered her room and turned back to Squall. "I better get packing, but do you want come in? To talk a bit more? Maybe we can sort out what our dreams are about."
"No," Squall shook his head as he slouched against her doorframe. "We can discuss that later," Squall frowned again, and hesitated. "Just...take care of yourself," Squall softly said, and gazed at her with an unreadable expression. Girlish giggles were heard as a group of cadets passed by. Squall shot them a silencing glare, before he turned back to Quistis again.
She smiled, then gently replied , "I will. I promise."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night, Quistis left for Windhill. The blonde slept uncomfortably in the SeeD car, as it rattled along towards Timber. "Where are you?" Quistis softly murmured as she turned over in her sleep.
"...Promise" Rinoa's eyes snapped open. She rolled to the edge of the bed, and looked down at the floor where Squall still slept. She smiled a little, thinking he was dreaming of their promise together.
Rinoa brushed away a few silky strands of hair away from his face, and leaned down to kiss him.
"Quisty...." Squall moaned as he pulled the blanket up closer to his chin.
She stopped and glared at his sleeping form. She watched him for a few more minutes, making sure he was really asleep and just dreaming.
'Just dreaming,' Rinoa told herself as she laid back down on the bed. 'He's just dreaming....'