For Alonia.



Chapter 6


"Water is my eye
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath
Teardrop on the fire of a confession
Fearless on my breath
Most faithful mirror
Fearless on my breath"

- Massive Attack, Teardrop


They sat together. She was curled lazily in his arms, his coat providing a comfortable blanket for them both as he stared out into the lake. She stirred a little and mumbled to herself in a hazy afternoon slumber. Looking down, he chuckled softly to himself. "Hey," he said, punctuating the word by shaking his leg a little. "You aren't nodding off on me are you?"

"Mmmm," she groaned, her eyes fluttering open and then narrowing in the bright sunlight. "At least I was... meanie."

"Why did you want to come here if all you're going to do is sleep?"

"Like I said, it's beautiful here. I just wanted to show you, that's all."

"We should probably head back," his voice switched to a more condescending tone. "If you're feeling all tired." He grinned at her as she rolled her eyes skyward.

Pouting fiercely, she wrinkled her nose. "Quiet you," she said, rolling off him and springing to her feet. "I just thought it would be nice to spend some time by the lake, you know... away from everyone else." She twisted her dark hair into a pony tail and then looked down at him. "I thought you'd like it here."

His eyes scanned the glistening blue once again. "Well, yeah, it's nice and all," he said gesturing towards it. "But it's just a... a place." He shrugged.

"I know that, but it's... it's part of my home, so I guess it's sort of important to me."

He remained silent.

"I know my father's in Deling and all that, but I've never felt at home there. Timber feels so much like home to me."

He looked suddenly deep in thought, his eyes locked on the lake but his mind's eye evidently elsewhere. "How do you tell something like that?" he asked eventually.

"I don't know really. The place just feels special, it feels kind of... right. I have a lot of friends here, and when I come back from visits to Deling, and they say 'Welcome home', I know they're right... I'm home."

He snorted. "I wouldn't know about that."

"What about the orphanage?"

He remained silent for a few moments. "Yeah, well," he said, his brow furrowing. "I didn't exactly get on well there."

"Yeah?" she said, her expression becoming playful once more. "I'll bet you were a right bully!" She stuck her tongue out at him as he turned to her.

A wry grin returned to his features. "You're damn right I was." He lunged for her, and she squealed as his arms encircled her waist, his fingers tickling across her ribs. She fell back, giggling, as he continued his onslaught, the two of them rolling around on the grass. She squirmed away, retreating to the bank of the lake as he strode after her. "Hey, hey," she laughed, holding her hands out to ward him off. "I have something else I wanted to tell you while we were here."

"And what is that?" he asked, flashing his eyes at her dangerously.

"I'm..." she looked embarrassed for a second and then nodded to herself. "I'm starting up a resistance group." She looked up at him to gauge his response.

He arched an eyebrow. "What sort of resistance group?"

"Well, you know I was saying how Timber is important to me?"

"I think I can vaguely remember something about that," he smirked.

"Yeah very funny. Well, anyway, I want to liberate Timber from Galbadia."

He looked at her for a moment. "You're serious about this aren't you?" he asked.

She pulled her hands behind her back and nodded.

"Think you can handle it?" he said, folding his arms.

"I have other people who are interested, and some equipment stowed away. We'll start small and work our way up. Besides, if I can handle you, I can handle anything, right?"

He threw his head back and laughed. "I guess so," he said, still chuckling to himself. "But," he whispered, narrowing his eyes. "I'm not sure you've got me quite under control yet."

She yelped as he leapt at her, his strong arms wrapping themselves around her waist as he span around and began to drag her backwards into the water. "You wouldn't dare!" she screeched.

He rolled his eyes. "Well, now that you've dared me..." He lifted her bodily from the water and turned, dunking her into the steadily deepening liquid.

She squealed again, thrashing her arms and legs and sending water flying in all directions.

Standing back, he watched laughing as she struggled to get her footing. His laugh quickly turned to a shout of surprise, however, as he found his legs swept from under him by a leg she had thrust out. The two of them struggled to their feet, soaking wet, and laughed at each other. He took her in his arms, slowly wiping away the water that trickled down her beaming face. "So what are you going to call this resistance group then?" he asked.

"The Forest Owls," she said triumphantly.

"That's a stupid name, you know that?"

She stopped his mischievous grin with a kiss.


Later, once the sun had dried their clothes, they lay together and watched it set, casting swirling hues of colour over the surface of the lake and the horizon into which it was descending. She glowed beside him, more radiant then a morning sun and he turned to her, placing his lips on hers.

She kissed him, and then stroked a hand over his cheek. "Welcome home, Seifer," she whispered.

* * * *

Welcome Home.

The words appealed, a forlorn voice from his dreams, and fell suddenly, silently into his heart. His eyes snapped open and he knew that sleep would not come to him again for some time. The bunk that he had been provided with in the brig was not overtly uncomfortable, but neither was it the lap of luxury. He had slept lightly, troubled by flashes of the events preceding his arrest and by the usual tirade of nightmares that still plagued him one year on. He hadn't wanted to sleep, but when it became apparent that nobody was coming to see him any time soon, the fact that he'd had no sleep for over 24 hours began to ware on him.

Now he sat, wondering what was in store for him, whether SeeD had captured his counterpart, and what had become of Squall and the others. He watched, vaguely amused, as the SeeD assigned to guard his cell eyed him warily from time to time, his twitching fingers never far from the sword he wore at his belt. Seifer swung his legs off the bunk and stood up, once again taking inventory of his possessions. They had of course taken his gun, and the jacket containing his ammo. He was left wearing a pair of steel-toed boots, some black trousers, and a tight white t-shirt. They had even insisted on removing his belt, much to Seifer's chagrin. All in all, he wasn't in any position to escape. The reinforced and electrified bars that lined one wall of the cell saw to that.

Just as he was about to slump back down on the bunk in frustration, he heard the door to the brig slide open. A quiet voice dismissed the guard, and Seifer watched as the space before the bars was filled with a familiar figure. "Squall," he said, his tone flat, unquestioning. This was the first time they had been face to face in over a year. "So," said Seifer, sitting down and leaning back on his bunk. "You're looking well for a hero. What can I do you for, Mr. Leader?"

"Long time no see, Seifer."

"Wow. You even do small talk these days? What happened to the 'lets get down to it' Squall I knew and loved?"

"I'm surprised you haven't tried to escape yet."

"I'm surprised you're lowering yourself to speak to a humble civvy like me, but hey, I'll contain my shock if you will."

Squall sighed and shook his head. "If I let you out of that cell, will you co-operate with us?" he asked.

"Guess that's it for the small talk. Still you're improving."

"I don't have time for this."

"That's a real shame Squall," Seifer said, leaning forward and locking eyes with his old rival. "You know, you wouldn't have all this bother if that Headmaster of yours hadn't had me locked away for no reason."

"Quistis told us what happened in the reactor room. I wanted to hear the story from you as well."

Seifer frowned and then his lips twisted up into an amused smirk. "Well, well," he said. "The instructor bailed me out, huh? That's a first." He paused and appeared to consider this for a moment then raised his eyebrows. "Well, technically, what with all that went on in there, it's a second."

"Wow," said Squall dryly. "You're even grateful these days." He reached over and clicked the control for the cell bars.

With a slightly surprised look on his face, Seifer was led out into the hallway. The Brig was situated in the upper corridor of the Garden, and Seifer was able to look down over the railings as Squall led him towards the newly installed briefing room. Below him he could see dozens of SeeDs and SeeD candidates milling about on the lower level. Evidently the explosion had caused the large fountains and pools that dominated the central section to crack, flooding the area. The place was soaked in water, with many people wading around up to their waists in it. "That's a hell of a mess," observed Seifer.

"Uh-huh," agreed Squall, ignoring the gasps and murmurs of surprise coming from passing students. The two remained silent for the remainder of the short journey, and Squall stopped outside of a door that used to lead to the disciplinary room.

"Hey," said Seifer, frowning. "What have they done to my favourite room?"

"It's moved," murmured Squall, seeming distracted. He punched a few numbers into a keypad and the door slid open. "Come inside," he said.

Seifer whistled as he stepped into the room. The old disciplinary room had been stripped away and replaced by a lushly appointed chamber dominated by a long table constructed from fine wood and glass. The table was lined with almost two dozen comfortable looking leather chairs. The far wall was covered by a large computer screen that was currently displaying the damage that had occurred to various sections around the Garden. At the table, look slightly dwarfed by the large room sat Headmaster Cid, a SeeD Seifer recognised as Nida and Quistis Trepe. All three looked up as he and Squall entered the room.

Cid cleared his throat and indicated a chair across the table from the three of them. "Please take a seat Seifer."

"Forget it," said Seifer, folding his arms. "I'm not going to be sat down and grilled by some holier-then-thou SeeDs. You don't have any jurisdiction over me," he glared at the Headmaster. "And I have nothing to say to you."

Squall walked over to the group and pulled out a chair, sliding into it and sighing. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a few moments and then looked up at Seifer. "All right then," he said shrugging his shoulders. "We're sending a vessel out to Balamb to pick up some supplies. You can go back with them." He nodded. "Good to see you again, Seifer." With that, he pivoted away on his chair, and began talking to Quistis in a hushed voice.

Genuinely shocked, Seifer stood for a few seconds wondering if Squall actually meant what he had said, or whether he was just playing on Seifer's pride. Ah forget it, he thought. If they're going to play with me like this they can screw it. I can solve this mess with or without Garden. Just as he turned to leave the door made a bleeping noise. "Come in," called the Headmaster without looking up. Seifer stood back as two SeeDs struggled in. They carried between them a large clear plastic evidence bag. Inside the bag was a piece of equipment that Seifer instantly recognised. The SeeDs shuffled past him and placed the fairly heavy machinery on the table.

"This is all we found, Sir," said one of the SeeDs, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

"Oh no," said Quistis, shaking her head.

"What is that?" asked Cid, a quizzical expression on his face.

"This is what we found when we went after Seifer's..." he sneaked a quick glance over his shoulder at the Seifer standing behind him. "I mean the er... 'Past-Seifer's' stolen sea vessel. We found it floating in the water a few miles south-west of the Garden."

"It's the assembly that contains the vessels tracking device," explained Squall.

Cid sighed. "Thank you," he said, addressing the two SeeDs. "There's nothing you could have done. Help as much as you can with the cleanup and then get some rest. Dismissed." He watched the SeeDs as they saluted and made their way out, and then his gaze fell upon Seifer, who hadn't moved. Cid raised his eyebrows. "Still here?" he asked.

"I know what you're trying to do," replied Seifer. "I'm not about to walk out of here if I you can help me stop this double of mine. I think I've already proved my intentions as far as that's concerned."

"You have indeed," replied Cid. "And though I may have been a little harsh on you earlier, your intentions still resulted in my my wife being in the infirmary."

Seifer's features noticeably softened. "How is she?" he asked quietly.

Cid cleared his throat. "The Doctor says she's stable, but very weak," he replied gravely.

Seifer shook his head and then slammed his fist on to the table in clear frustration. "Alright," he said, looking up sharply. "We have to catch this guy. Now. I don't like the idea of working with SeeD any more then you like the idea of working with me, but I want him stopped, and you need my help to do that." He scanned the faces in the room, hardly believing his own words. What am I doing? he thought. I'm playing right into their hands aren't I? He watched as Headmaster Cid nodded slowly. Squall looked impassive and seemed to be waiting for the headmaster to speak. He was surprised to find the ghost of a relieved smile playing on Quistis' lips. Nida, however, was unreadable.

Cid eventually spoke. "I understand your reluctance to work with us Seifer, and I am prepared to give you the leeway that I believe you need to function, but it has to be give and take."

Seifer sighed but found himself nodding slowly. "Alright," he agreed. "Just remember that I'm not a SeeD, or a candidate." He stared momentarily at his old mentor, his eyes intense. "I'm not going to be pushed around."

Cid simply nodded. "Are we all in agreement then?" he asked the occupants of the table. "Seifer Almasy is to work with Garden until this situation with his double from the past is resolved."

"I don't see a problem with that," nodded Squall. Seifer knew that there were other thoughts racing through the dark-haired man's mind as he spoke, but he seemed to be earnest enough.

"I have no objections," said Quistis, folding her hands in her lap and shooting Seifer a quick, unreadable glance.

Nida simply nodded.

"We can't move anywhere until Galbadia Garden gets here," said Squall, noticing Seifer's tensed frame. "So you might as well sit down."

"Oh come on. There must be something else we can do!" said an exasperated Seifer.

"Right now, what we need is information," said Cid levelly. "So what I'd like you to do is it down and tell us what happened in that engine room."

Reluctantly, Seifer slid into a chair at the opposite end of the table.

* * * *

He chased the darkness, his ship evading the piercing rays of the sun as it rose in Balamb. Inside, the control console was attempting to inform him that the ship was no longer emitting a tracking signal, and that he should report to the nearest garden for repairs. His mind, however, was no longer in the cockpit. His thoughts had run on empty ever since his escape from B-Garden. The finding and removal of the tracking equipment had been done almost without thinking. But then, he was used to that. Sometimes he could accomplish things with very little effort of will, almost as if he was a spectator to the horror that was unfolding around him. Or was it horror? He wasn't sure any more. Things seemed to occur without falling into categories of good or bad, right or wrong. All he could feel was the raw passion tearing at him, gnawing constantly even when he tried to rest, impelling him on and on.

Yet something was missing, he could feel that more strongly then any other sensation. His mistress was not here. She would no longer send him the dreams, she would no longer taunt him, touch him, make him love, make him hate. For some reason, she was gone. His memory cast about mistrustfully in the events of the past 12 hours. He knew exactly what he had been told, and how he felt, but could he believe it? Why was he here then? Why didn't the madness go away...? He felt it there still, something coiled insidiously in his mind, something that endured even though his mistress had fallen.

Maybe... he thought. Maybe with her gone I can stop...? He clutched his head and tried, for what seemed like the hundredth time, to clear it. Why won't you ever leave me be? he raged inside his mind. Why can't I come back to myself? The pain worsened. His heart raced as his mind clouded and his thoughts were smothered with a terrible, seeping red. No, he resolved. I can never stop. It never ends. I have failed, fallen. I will teach the world my pain...

Abruptly, he lurched from the seat before the control console and made for the ladder in the next compartment that led to the gun turret. Climbing it, he undid the hatch and the cabin was filled with the sound of roaring air and with the rain that still poured from the skies. Ignoring the wind that buffeted him as the vessel sped along, he climbed out and stood on the turret.

He was a rock in the howling gale, the remains of his trench coat billowing out like the wings of an angel. The rain soaked him to the core, and flew, borne from him, by the winds. Surveying the bleakness of the dark, open sea, he found his heart inflamed and yet almost un-beating. Raising his arms to the heavens he screamed his challenge, his promise. "I will show the world my pain!"

The craft carried him, then. Technology speeding an unnatural, unwanted presence to its fate. A dark and unforgiving void waited for him.

Welcome Home.





A/N:Just in case you haven't been checking my profile, I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone who has shown interest in this fic. I'm very glad to know that my work is entertaining people. Thank you to everyone for your support.