Disclaimer:........ Meh.. why bother.
Author's Note: Well, here's another chapter! Just want to thank you for your sweet and kind reviews!
Oh, and huggles to you too Jacks! ^_^
The Lonely One
(Chapter 10: Stand By Me)
Seifer walked down the lonely main corridor of Balamb Garden with an armful of lilies. He'd gotten them earlier that day knowing they were Quistis' favourite... and hoping that they might be able to cheer her up.
Looking around every now and then, he was relieved to find no one else out at this time of night making it that much easier for him to get to the infirmary without any kind of set-backs... but he had kept his disguise on just in case.
(.... It would be just my luck to have some nosy gaurd up in my face..)
He suddenly recalled how Quistis had told him about one such incident that occured when she was trying to meet him at the beach..
(... It seems like it was ages ago....)
Rounding a corner, he came to the metal doors that led to the infirmary's hall. Pushing passed them, he continued on until he reached the next set of doors. They slid open with ease, emitting a quiet swishing noise. The harsh light of the infrimary caused him cover his eyes momentarliy, giving himself some time to get used to it before he ventured into the room.
Blinking a few times, he walked down the small corridor of hospital rooms, each one empty and dark.
Only one seemed to be occupied....
Stopping, he stared at the closed door, a silent war waging in his mind about whether or not he should open it.....
Shaking his head, he clasped the silver handel and gently pushed until it opened lightly, giving him a chance to peer in before entering completly.
The small room was dim, save for a faded light set into a small desk lamp beside the bed. Seifer took a deep breath and opened the door all the way, the light from behind him causing his shadow to spread across the smooth, polished floor. Stepping in, he closed the door softly causing him to be shadowed by darkness. He turned back to the room, his eyes catching the sight of the figure on the hospital bed. Her strawberry blonde locks loose and falling over her shoudlers, nose buried in a magazine.
(... Quistis..)
".... Who's there?"
"..... It's me.. Seifer."
She looked up and took off her reading glasses, setting down the issue of Timber Maniacs she had been reading. After a few moments of her scrutinizing stare, she finally spoke again.
"... What are you doing here?"
Seifer scratched the back of his head slightly and walk to her bed-side, holding the flowers out to her. To his relief, a smile found its way to her pale face as she took the bouquet and gazed at it lovingly.
"... Lillies.. How did you know?"
"... Lucky guess.."
Chuckling slightly, she placed her gift on the small night stand. Motioning to a small stool propped up against the wall, she nodded.
".. Why don't you have a seat."
Seifer reached for it, but then pulled his hand back.
"Are you sure you want me to..?" he asked, not looking back to her.
"Of course... Why wouldn't I..?"
He grabbed the stool and sat down.
"... You seemed a little cold before you left.. so I just assumed..." he said drifting off toward the end, letting the implication of the sentence hang in the air.
There was a brief silence before she shook her head.
"... A little.. I must admit.... But can you blame me?"
Seifer shook his head and let his gaze slip to the floor.
".. No.. I guess not."
Silence....
"... So---" the young woman began, noticing the lull in conversation, "-- how are you doing?"
"..Alright. Haven't run into any trouble yet..."
"Yet?" her voice held a quizzacal tone.
He chuckled and crossed his arms, "..You know me. I either find it or it finds me."
Laughter filled the small dull room.
Quistis rubbed her eyes, chuckling still.
Seifer sat mesmerized by the sound of her laughter.. until he noticed her hand, and winced slightly.
Her arm was bandaged from elbow to knuckles, small traces of blood soaked through enough so they were visible. Curious, he eyed her a little more closely, looking for any other sign wounds. A few scratches on her face were all he could see in the dimness of the room.
Catching onto to what he was doing, Quistis looked herself over slightly and then back to Seifer.
"... I should be out in a few days.."
".... But aren't your wounds still fresh?"
She nodded and toyed with the frayed end of the bandage on her hand, ".. It does hurt still, but thanks to some cures I should be fine.. A couple scars though.---"
He sat there in silence as she continued.
"And I should be back on duty in about a week. Squall said I could take longer if I needed, but I don't think I will...."
"Eager to through your life away?" Seifer cut in bluntly, the comment startling the wounded girl.
"..What?"
He shook his head and took off his glasses, his finger running over the curve of the lenses.
"..... You should rest more. You don't have to try and be strong all the time. I mean for Hyne's sake Quistis! Your hotel got blown up, and all you're worried about is getting back to work!"
"So! What if I love my job!... Did that ever occur to you!" she countered.
".... I'm not stupid."
Her eyes widened in surprise, " I know your not---"
"That's not what I mean Quistis!"
The blonde woman looked down to her hands that were now clutching the white hospital sheet. Seifer suddenly felt remorseful for yelling, but he knew what had to be said...
".... You're allowed to show some pain you know.. To show a little weakness.." he continued, his voice a little softer.
Silence.
"..Look," she finally said, her eyes still on the sheet, "if you came here to try and---"
"Quit trying to ignore it!" he spat getting up fast enough to send his stool into the wall, "I've heard about what you've been doing these past years! How you rarely smiled or laughed! How you buried yourself in your work all the time! Hid yourself away from the world!"
She placed a hand to her forehead as if she had a headache, "... Please.. I.. I don't want to talk about it now..."
"NO!" Seifer cried slamming his fists into the desk side table, startling Quistis enough to make her jump a little, "You're not putting this off any longer! We're going to get this straight right now dammit!!!!"
Seifer leaned against the wall, his gaze never leaving the woman on the bed.
"..It's all because of me isn't it!? I'm the one that caused you all that pain! Isn't it!?!"
She didn't answer, just stared at him in silence.
"Remember what I asked you to do on the train when you were taking me to the Desert Prison? Remember how I asked you to find some happiness with someone?"
She nodded weakly.
"Why didn't you?"
"... You didn't end up going to prison..."
"But I was still gone!" he started pacing the length of the room his voice becoming more forceful, "You should of fulfilled my request in these past years! I know there's a million guys out there who would cross the ocean for you.. Climb mountains for you! Why didn't you settle down?"
Silence.
He stopped, his back to her, "Why Quistis?! Answer me!" he cried, his fist hitting the cream coloured wall.
"Because none of them were you!!!!!" she cried.
Seifer spun around, stunned. Her shoulders quivered as fresh droplets rolled down the outline of her face.
"No matter how much I wanted them to... they just couldn't take your place... I didn't want them to..."
His features softened as he listened to her heartfelt words.
"... They were nice.. kind. But everytime I saw them.... I wish I saw.... you." her eyes dropped to her trembling hands clasped on her lap.
"Quistis...." Seifer made his way back to her bedside, waiting a moment before kneeling down so he could see her down turned face.
She truly looked like I broken woman....
... and it was all his fault.
"..... You thought I moved on didn't you?" she asked, her voice small and timid.
"..... I was hoping you would..." he sighed.
"..Why?"
He took a long pause, trying to think of how to explain, "..Because.. well... you have your whole life ahead of you... Me? Mine ended two years ago when I got on that train andstopped being called Seifer Almasy, and started being John Langhoff....."
Both sat in silence, each pondering what was just said.
"... What--" he continued, his voice holding a tone of questioning, "-- what do you see in some fraud like me..?"
A few moments passed, Quistis circling her thumbs around one another. An obvious nervous habit.
"...... I don't know... I just love you...."
Silence.
She turned her gaze to him, her azure eyes staring into his green eyes.. His real eyes...
"I love you Seifer Almasy..... Isn't that enough?"
To his own surprise, he chuckled, earning an odd look from Quistis. A trademark smirk he hadn't worn in years found its way to his visage as he stood up and rubbed his forehead, the scar from a long ago battle reappearing down his forehead.
Quistis watched him as he removed the wig, and contacts, placing them on the desk....
Seifer Almasy.. ex-knight.. stood before her once more...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quistis felt her heart leap at the sight of him.... No longer shamefully hidden behind another face. He was just as handsome as she remembered, only difference being that his hair had grown to about below his ears, and his eyes a little more solemn than the mischievous ones she had gazed into years passed...
"Well Instructor....." he scratched the back of his neck, "I'm not going to lie to ya.....--"
He took up her bandaged hand, holding it gingerly as to not inflict any pain.
"... I don't have much to offer you.... but if even after all this time you're still willing....." he kissed the pale fingers softly, "... I'm willing to try and make this work... That is if you don't mind being with this tired broken man...."
She smiled, her eyes glittering with dewy droplets. Without warning, she pulled him close and pressed her lips to his, kissing him softly.
He pulled away abruptly and raised an eyebrow..
".. So.. that's a yes right..?"
She laughed.
"..... Yes!"
Smiling, he placed his hands on her shoulders.
".. I'm sorry.." his voice took on a serious tone, "--that I wasn't there for you.."
Quistis shook her head and grinned as she pulled him close and buried her face into his chest, holding him as tightly as she could without hurting him..
".. I'm just glad you're here now....."
(.. To stand by me..)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The figure stood unnoticed in the now open doorway, their hand still on the polished silver handel, the other holding a single white lilly.
..And they watched the two embrace.....
... In silent shock and horror...
..The flower fell from their grasp...
....and hit the tiles of the cold hard floor.....
To be continued....
Author's Note:.. Ummm what do ya think? I know there may be some OOCness in this chapter, and for that I apologize. This whole chapter just seemed to pour out as I was writing it, so what's an author to do?
I hope you liked it anyway, and I just want to thank you all again for your your nice reviews. Really makes me feel happy to see you guys enjoying this!
Umm, I guess I'll see ya later..
And thank you so much for reading!
Author's Note: Well, here's another chapter! Just want to thank you for your sweet and kind reviews!
Oh, and huggles to you too Jacks! ^_^
(Chapter 10: Stand By Me)
Looking around every now and then, he was relieved to find no one else out at this time of night making it that much easier for him to get to the infirmary without any kind of set-backs... but he had kept his disguise on just in case.
(.... It would be just my luck to have some nosy gaurd up in my face..)
He suddenly recalled how Quistis had told him about one such incident that occured when she was trying to meet him at the beach..
(... It seems like it was ages ago....)
Rounding a corner, he came to the metal doors that led to the infirmary's hall. Pushing passed them, he continued on until he reached the next set of doors. They slid open with ease, emitting a quiet swishing noise. The harsh light of the infrimary caused him cover his eyes momentarliy, giving himself some time to get used to it before he ventured into the room.
Blinking a few times, he walked down the small corridor of hospital rooms, each one empty and dark.
Only one seemed to be occupied....
Stopping, he stared at the closed door, a silent war waging in his mind about whether or not he should open it.....
Shaking his head, he clasped the silver handel and gently pushed until it opened lightly, giving him a chance to peer in before entering completly.
The small room was dim, save for a faded light set into a small desk lamp beside the bed. Seifer took a deep breath and opened the door all the way, the light from behind him causing his shadow to spread across the smooth, polished floor. Stepping in, he closed the door softly causing him to be shadowed by darkness. He turned back to the room, his eyes catching the sight of the figure on the hospital bed. Her strawberry blonde locks loose and falling over her shoudlers, nose buried in a magazine.
(... Quistis..)
".... Who's there?"
"..... It's me.. Seifer."
She looked up and took off her reading glasses, setting down the issue of Timber Maniacs she had been reading. After a few moments of her scrutinizing stare, she finally spoke again.
"... What are you doing here?"
Seifer scratched the back of his head slightly and walk to her bed-side, holding the flowers out to her. To his relief, a smile found its way to her pale face as she took the bouquet and gazed at it lovingly.
"... Lillies.. How did you know?"
"... Lucky guess.."
Chuckling slightly, she placed her gift on the small night stand. Motioning to a small stool propped up against the wall, she nodded.
".. Why don't you have a seat."
Seifer reached for it, but then pulled his hand back.
"Are you sure you want me to..?" he asked, not looking back to her.
"Of course... Why wouldn't I..?"
He grabbed the stool and sat down.
"... You seemed a little cold before you left.. so I just assumed..." he said drifting off toward the end, letting the implication of the sentence hang in the air.
There was a brief silence before she shook her head.
"... A little.. I must admit.... But can you blame me?"
Seifer shook his head and let his gaze slip to the floor.
".. No.. I guess not."
Silence....
"... So---" the young woman began, noticing the lull in conversation, "-- how are you doing?"
"..Alright. Haven't run into any trouble yet..."
"Yet?" her voice held a quizzacal tone.
He chuckled and crossed his arms, "..You know me. I either find it or it finds me."
Laughter filled the small dull room.
Quistis rubbed her eyes, chuckling still.
Seifer sat mesmerized by the sound of her laughter.. until he noticed her hand, and winced slightly.
Her arm was bandaged from elbow to knuckles, small traces of blood soaked through enough so they were visible. Curious, he eyed her a little more closely, looking for any other sign wounds. A few scratches on her face were all he could see in the dimness of the room.
Catching onto to what he was doing, Quistis looked herself over slightly and then back to Seifer.
"... I should be out in a few days.."
".... But aren't your wounds still fresh?"
She nodded and toyed with the frayed end of the bandage on her hand, ".. It does hurt still, but thanks to some cures I should be fine.. A couple scars though.---"
He sat there in silence as she continued.
"And I should be back on duty in about a week. Squall said I could take longer if I needed, but I don't think I will...."
"Eager to through your life away?" Seifer cut in bluntly, the comment startling the wounded girl.
"..What?"
He shook his head and took off his glasses, his finger running over the curve of the lenses.
"..... You should rest more. You don't have to try and be strong all the time. I mean for Hyne's sake Quistis! Your hotel got blown up, and all you're worried about is getting back to work!"
"So! What if I love my job!... Did that ever occur to you!" she countered.
".... I'm not stupid."
Her eyes widened in surprise, " I know your not---"
"That's not what I mean Quistis!"
The blonde woman looked down to her hands that were now clutching the white hospital sheet. Seifer suddenly felt remorseful for yelling, but he knew what had to be said...
".... You're allowed to show some pain you know.. To show a little weakness.." he continued, his voice a little softer.
Silence.
"..Look," she finally said, her eyes still on the sheet, "if you came here to try and---"
"Quit trying to ignore it!" he spat getting up fast enough to send his stool into the wall, "I've heard about what you've been doing these past years! How you rarely smiled or laughed! How you buried yourself in your work all the time! Hid yourself away from the world!"
She placed a hand to her forehead as if she had a headache, "... Please.. I.. I don't want to talk about it now..."
"NO!" Seifer cried slamming his fists into the desk side table, startling Quistis enough to make her jump a little, "You're not putting this off any longer! We're going to get this straight right now dammit!!!!"
Seifer leaned against the wall, his gaze never leaving the woman on the bed.
"..It's all because of me isn't it!? I'm the one that caused you all that pain! Isn't it!?!"
She didn't answer, just stared at him in silence.
"Remember what I asked you to do on the train when you were taking me to the Desert Prison? Remember how I asked you to find some happiness with someone?"
She nodded weakly.
"Why didn't you?"
"... You didn't end up going to prison..."
"But I was still gone!" he started pacing the length of the room his voice becoming more forceful, "You should of fulfilled my request in these past years! I know there's a million guys out there who would cross the ocean for you.. Climb mountains for you! Why didn't you settle down?"
Silence.
He stopped, his back to her, "Why Quistis?! Answer me!" he cried, his fist hitting the cream coloured wall.
"Because none of them were you!!!!!" she cried.
Seifer spun around, stunned. Her shoulders quivered as fresh droplets rolled down the outline of her face.
"No matter how much I wanted them to... they just couldn't take your place... I didn't want them to..."
His features softened as he listened to her heartfelt words.
"... They were nice.. kind. But everytime I saw them.... I wish I saw.... you." her eyes dropped to her trembling hands clasped on her lap.
"Quistis...." Seifer made his way back to her bedside, waiting a moment before kneeling down so he could see her down turned face.
She truly looked like I broken woman....
... and it was all his fault.
"..... You thought I moved on didn't you?" she asked, her voice small and timid.
"..... I was hoping you would..." he sighed.
"..Why?"
He took a long pause, trying to think of how to explain, "..Because.. well... you have your whole life ahead of you... Me? Mine ended two years ago when I got on that train andstopped being called Seifer Almasy, and started being John Langhoff....."
Both sat in silence, each pondering what was just said.
"... What--" he continued, his voice holding a tone of questioning, "-- what do you see in some fraud like me..?"
A few moments passed, Quistis circling her thumbs around one another. An obvious nervous habit.
"...... I don't know... I just love you...."
Silence.
She turned her gaze to him, her azure eyes staring into his green eyes.. His real eyes...
"I love you Seifer Almasy..... Isn't that enough?"
To his own surprise, he chuckled, earning an odd look from Quistis. A trademark smirk he hadn't worn in years found its way to his visage as he stood up and rubbed his forehead, the scar from a long ago battle reappearing down his forehead.
Quistis watched him as he removed the wig, and contacts, placing them on the desk....
Seifer Almasy.. ex-knight.. stood before her once more...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Quistis felt her heart leap at the sight of him.... No longer shamefully hidden behind another face. He was just as handsome as she remembered, only difference being that his hair had grown to about below his ears, and his eyes a little more solemn than the mischievous ones she had gazed into years passed...
"Well Instructor....." he scratched the back of his neck, "I'm not going to lie to ya.....--"
He took up her bandaged hand, holding it gingerly as to not inflict any pain.
"... I don't have much to offer you.... but if even after all this time you're still willing....." he kissed the pale fingers softly, "... I'm willing to try and make this work... That is if you don't mind being with this tired broken man...."
She smiled, her eyes glittering with dewy droplets. Without warning, she pulled him close and pressed her lips to his, kissing him softly.
He pulled away abruptly and raised an eyebrow..
".. So.. that's a yes right..?"
She laughed.
"..... Yes!"
Smiling, he placed his hands on her shoulders.
".. I'm sorry.." his voice took on a serious tone, "--that I wasn't there for you.."
Quistis shook her head and grinned as she pulled him close and buried her face into his chest, holding him as tightly as she could without hurting him..
".. I'm just glad you're here now....."
(.. To stand by me..)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The figure stood unnoticed in the now open doorway, their hand still on the polished silver handel, the other holding a single white lilly.
..And they watched the two embrace.....
... In silent shock and horror...
..The flower fell from their grasp...
....and hit the tiles of the cold hard floor.....
To be continued....
Author's Note:.. Ummm what do ya think? I know there may be some OOCness in this chapter, and for that I apologize. This whole chapter just seemed to pour out as I was writing it, so what's an author to do?
I hope you liked it anyway, and I just want to thank you all again for your your nice reviews. Really makes me feel happy to see you guys enjoying this!
Umm, I guess I'll see ya later..
And thank you so much for reading!
