Disclaimer: ..... Meh.. you know I don't own them..... (*shakes fist*) but someday....
Author's Notes: Umm.... well, there's just one thing I might have to clear up for this chapter: Whenever I call Seifer, 'John', it means he's in his disguise personality.. but when I call Seifer, Seifer, it means he's his good ol' sexy self.. regardless of whether or not he's wearing that disguise! Just thought I'd make a note of that, because personally, I even got a bit confused while I was reading through this chapter! And I'm the one who wrote it!
The Lonely One
(Chapter 8: The Meeting)
(....Might as well get ready.....)
Allowing his barefeet to touch the cold tiled floor, he stood up and headed into the modest bathroom, a small leather sachet in hand. He flicked on the light and allowed it to flicker to life, basking the room in its harsh glow. Catching his reflection in the mirror, he stood there for a moment, just staring at the tired and dishevelled man looking back at him.
(...Hyne, I look like shit...)
Fumbling with the tie on the bag, he turned it upside down and dumped its contents onto the marble-like counter top. Picking up one of the items, he gave his reflection a disapproving stare.
(.... After all this time.. I still have hide like some criminal..)
"You are a criminal..."he muttered to his duplicate as he set the brunette wig on his head, covering his shining golden locks. Making a face at himself, he set to work....
~*~*~
The sound of someone knocking reverberated throughout the SeeD dorm. With an agitated sigh he checked his reflection one more time, making sure everything was perfect and in place, then headed towards the source of the noise. Unlocking the door, he opened it a crack and peered outside. An impatient Irvine was standing there, waiting, his brow wrinkled.
"I've been knocking for ten minutes!"
"..Sorry.... Still a bit tired I guess...."
"Geez John! We're gonna be late for the meeting! Are you at least almost ready to go?" Irvine asked, eyeing the sleepy looking brunette.
John opened the door completely to reveal himself dressed in his black suit, and a manilla envelope tucked under one arm. Not a hair out of place.
The SeeD scratched his head as he watched his friend step out, shut the door and lock it behind him.
"Did you manage to get any sleep...?"
John shook his head and pocketed the silver key, "..Not really..."
Irvine nodded as they turned and began walking down the hall.
"How about you?" the older man asked, adjusting his glasses.
The former cowboy shrugged, "I just kept staring at the ceiling of my dorm until some of my friends stopped by to say hello.... I ended up talking to them until I left to come and get you."
They rounded a corner, now walking down the main circular hall of Balamb Garden.
"I take it they really missed you huh?"
The sharpshooter laughed slightly, "...I guess they did.."
"..Especially that girl that was hanging off you... that was Selphie wasn't it?"
Irvine nodded, the both of them now nearing the elevator.
"...Yeah...."
John raised an eyebrow as he watched his friend press the button for the elevator. A chime sounded as the metallic doors slid opened revealing the empty lift. He allowed Irvine to step in first, following suit shortly after.
Unable to keep quiet, the man crossed his arms smirked.
"....Does she love you or something..?"
The SeeDs eyes widened slightly, his face turning a shade of crimson.
"..N-No... No, of course not!" he stuttered, "P-Probably just caught up in the moment!" Looking away, he crossed his arms.
Amused by the reaction, John chuckled.
"... You were so awful at hiding it... I know you like her 'that way', you dumbass."
".. Was it really that obvious..?" Irvine asked, obviously embarassed at his friends bluntness.
"Of course it was! Ever since the day I met you, you talked about the 'bubbly green-eyed girl' who 'always wore a smile'. You might as well have written 'I love Selphie' across your forehead...."
Irvine turned towards John and leaned against the wall, his face suddenly troubled.
"Don't say anything to anyone.... I would rather be the one to tell her.."
"So you admit it!"
That comment earned a dirty look from the former cowboy.
Sighing, John waved his arms, "..I won't.. I won't.."
A few moments of silence passed before the cowboy looked up form the floor and spoke.
"... Have you ever loved anyone..?"
The question seemed to catch John of guard, raising the blue-eyed man's curiosity. A few moments of silence passed before the elevator stopped.. the two men still standing there, even as the doors opened.
John just walked out without even uttering one word....
Leaving Irvine to stare after him in confusion.
(..What's his problem..?)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Quistis tugged on the hem of her SeeD skirt nervously, her eyes fixated on her lap.
(They should be here any minute now...)
Her gaze surveyed the room until it fell onto Squall, who was sitting quietly at his desk, his eyes intently staring at a picture frame that was propped up in the top left hand corner of the mahogony table top. Quistis figured it was the picture of Rinoa and their new baby, Isaac. The whole reason Squall called this meeting late tonight rather than tomorrow was because he had to take the train to Winhill to join his wife and child for vacation. The blonde woman smiled at the thought of her formerly introverted student being a family man.... She remembered getting the call from him a few months ago, asking her to get the others and to come to Deling hospital to witness the birth of his and Rinoa's child. Sadly though, Irvine hadn't been able to make it, for obvious reasons.
A small buzzing noise aroused her from her musings, a slightly high-pitch voice following shortly after.
"....Mr. Kinneas and Mr. Langhoff are here to see you."
Squall leaned over and pushed a button on the intercom.
"..Send them in.."
The two of them looked towards the door in time to watch it swing open revealing Irvine and John.....
The blonde woman took note of the surprised look on John's face when he saw Squall sitting in the former headmaster's desk.
(... Didn't expect Squall to be running the whole Garden someday did you....?)
Shaking his head slightly, allowing his longish bangs to swirl about his face, he stepped up to the desk and placed a large envelope on it before taking a seat..... right beside her.. Irvine sitting in the one beside him.
She shifted uncomfortably for a moment before allowing her eyes to drift sideways to John. He sat there with an air of dignity and pride about him, making him seem more professional. Clasping her hands on her lap, she sat back a little and looked at Squall, who was now opening the envelope.
"..What's this..?" he asked, glancing up from it to dark eyed young man.
"..My resume.."
Squall's stormy eyes looked at him for a moment before pulling out the crisp white papers and scanning them over. A few tense minutes passed before anyone in the room spoke.
".. Now why would you give me your resume..?"
".... To apply for a job of course." John answered with a hint of smugness, "..... Irvine said that someone of my expertise and training might be of some use in Balamb Garden."
Squall looked over to the blue eyed man, who at this point was sitting there sheepishly.
"........ Irvine, you know in order for someone to work here.. they need years of training and---"
"Oh come off it Squall!" he cut in startling the maple-haired boy, "..Just look at that resume! John here's got letters of recommendations from all his bosses..... glowing comments about his skills, and even a letter from your dad---- I mean President Loire... and----"
Sighing, the young commander sat back a little and looked intently at his friend, ".... That may be the case but---" he looked at John, " I'm sorry... I can't hire you under these kind of conditions.... Even if you are qualified. I have to look out for the safety of this facility and the people staying here first and foremost.."
John shook his head and looked at Irvine. Turning his gaze to the Commander, he leaned forward in his seat and took off his glasses, looking them over slightly.
".......Look... I'm gonna get right to the point here..." he placed his glasses back on, ".... I admire Irvine's resolve in this matter.. but I know this is a decision you have to make.. But with all do respect Mr. Leonhart, I didn't leave my high paying government job and travel halfway across the globe just to get rejected...."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in.
".. Can't you just take a chance on me?" he sat back, ".... I would rather that all this had not been a waste of time.."
Quistis, who for most of this time had been listening to this exchange, looked at Squall. She noticed the tenseness in his eyes and how he was stroking the scar that ran across the bridge of his nose.... which was usually a sign that he was either thinking deeply.. or was really getting impatient...
She figured it was a bit of both.
The young Commander took up the papers another time and read them over.
".. You were a law inforcement officer before joining the government..?"
The brown eyed man nodded, "...I was in training for around seven months before I was actually admitted into the force... I think that it was a good experience in preparing me for the work and position I received from Esthar goverment.."
Squall rubbed his forehead for a moment, seemingly going over this information in his head.
".. I'd imagine a government agent job is more comfortable than working here at Garden...."
John shrugged, ".. I'm always up for a new challenge..."
The gray eyed boy looked to Quistis, getting up and handing the papers to her. With a quizzical glance, she took them and scanned over the fine print, her brain taking in as much information as it could.
(....... Hand-to-hand combat..... Weapons training..... Espionage.... Undercover work.....)
She looked at John, who gave her an odd stare.
(... You've been quite busy these past few years haven't you...?)
Taking a deep sigh, she stood up and dropped the resume onto the desk.
"... Well...?" Squall asked, leaning against it with his arms crossed.
Quistis brushed a hand through one of her long golden bangs and put the other on her hip.
"... I think we should hire him."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
John smiled.
His heart pounded slightly as the young woman turned her gaze to meet with his, their eyes locking.
"..... He seems he could be an asset..." she said.
Squall raised an eyebrow.
"..As what...?"
"An instructor.."
(... Instructor?!?!?)
".... I think Quisty's right! He'd be great at teaching the cadets some new techniques!" Irvine cut in.
Squall looked at him, then at Quistis, studying their faces. After a moment, he looked to John.
"..... What do you think Mr. Langhoff...?"
"... It... would be an honor..... sir.."
(.... Damn that was hard to get out...)
".... Alright then..." the gray-eyed commander looked to the young woman and nodded, "...If you don't mind Quistis.. Why don't you show him around the Garden tomorrow.....? Get him used to the surroundings."
She nodded, ".. Yessir..."
"..Well.... If that's all... You can all go back to your dorms and get some rest. I know it's been a long day."
Irvine and John rose from their seats and glanced at one-another. Shaking the new recruit's hand, the former cowboy turned to Squall and began to speak about handing in his reports. Not really interested, John turned to look at Quistis, only to catch her retreating form in the now- closing doorway. Excusing himself, he quickly made his way out of the room and to the elevator.
Seeing that the doors had not yet closed, he jogged up and stuck his hand in their path causing them to open completely revealing a startled Quistis. With a smirk, he stepped in and leaned against the glass wall. Not speaking a word, the azure eyed woman reached across and pushed the button, the elevator creaking to life almost instantly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
".....Thanks for what you did up there." Seifer smirked, his eyes resting on the space ahead of him. Quistis just glanced at him before crossing her arms and gazing out the glass to the level beneath them. The disguised man gave her a side long glance due to her silence, then with a deep breath, looked up to the ceiling.
".. Not in the mood to talk....?"
No reply.
".... I'll take that as a yes."
The elevator stopped with a slight shake, the doors sliding open with a smooth swishing noise. The blonde woman stepped out first and began to walk away, not even giving her companion a second glance. Slightly offended, he picked up his pace in an effort to catch up with her.
"..Quistis...?" he called.
She just kept on walking.
"...Quistis?!"
The sound of her boots slicking against the waxed floor stopped suddenly.
"...What is it now....?"
She sounded slightly annoyed.
"... I want you to stop walking away and talk to me for a sec." Seifer yelled causing her to turn to face him.
".. There's nothing to talk about right now."
"..Like hell there isn't! We haven't seen eachother in two years!"
"I know that!" she snapped, stamping her foot. Looking at her watch she sighed.
".. It's late..."
Seifer shook his head.
".. I thought you'd at least have something to say me....." he sighed crossing his arms. Quistis stared at him a moment before shaking her head.
".. We'll talk... tomorrow....After the tour.."
Turning away, she sprinted off into the darkness of the halls.
Seifer just stood there and watched her go, knowing that nothing more would be said for tonight.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To be Continued......
Author's Note: ..... I know nothing really exciting happened in this chapter.. Sorry 'bout that, but this is kinda leading up to the next chapter.. *wink wink*
Well, um.. I hope you enjoyed, and sorry about the late update. I'm gonna try and get the next installment up sooner than I had gotten this one up.
So thank you for your really nice reviews! All you guys are so sweet! *big hug!*
Thank you for reading!
See ya!
