Chapter 26 Moving Out
A/N: Let me just say how happy I am that FF.N is finally back in working order. I hope it stays this way. ....................................
Squall stood there with his arms folded in front of him and looked at Seifer without blinking for a moment. He took in the smirk directed at him. "Very funny," he said then turned walked in the direction of the palace, shaking his head as he went.
Quistis looked at Selphie. Selphie looked back at Quistis, then the corner of her mouth quirked up on one side. At the same time the two girls slapped their hands over their mouths trying not to giggle. If Squall heard the laughter behind him, he didn't acknowledge it. Seifer turned to the girls and gave them a mock bow, which made them laugh harder.
Zell gave the three a scowl before running after Squall "Hey Squall, wait up," he shouted. Squall stopped but didn't turn. Catching up Zell snarled "Pathetic."
Squall shrugged, "Whatever," before moving on once more.
"Well ladies," Seifer said holding out his elbows for them to take, "shall we?"
"Sorry, this ones mine," Irvine said taking Selphie's hand and tucking it into his arm. Looking over at Seifer he asked, "Do you think it's smart to antagonize Squall right before we go out on this mission?"
Seifer shrugged then smiled "Squall's to uptight. He's just begging for it." With that he took Quistis hand and started for the building the others had disappeared into.
....................................
When they got to the conference room that had been used for their previous meeting Seifer gave Quistis's hand a squeeze and then released it. As Seifer stepped through the door he looked around. Squall sat at one side, a stony expression on his face. Next to him Zell sat glaring at Seifer.
Seifer took the chair directly across from them and proceeded to stare at Zell with a smirk. "Alright People, we have a lot to cover and not a lot of time to get it done," Ian said swiftly entering the room. "We will be leaving tonight."
'Finally' Seifer thought, seriousness taking the place of his earlier mocking façade.
Everyone in the room turned their attention to the man speaking. All animosity put aside for the moment. When it came down to it they were a team when on assignment.
"This is what took place on the side mission Seifer, Quistis and myself took." Ian briefed the rest of the team on the trip they had just completed. ".And now I will get down to the information our source gave me." Ian had everyone's attention when next he spoke, "As you already know Perry escaped into Galbadia. The Galbadian government has denied any involvement in this matter and claim that they don't know where Perry is currently at, but ." He paused as Ramiro Payton, the presidential aide, opened the door and came into the room carrying several maps.
"Excuse me, sir, I was told you would be needing these," Payton said gesturing to the maps.
"Yes, thank you Mr. Payton. You can just leave them here," Ian indicated a spot on the conference table.
After depositing them, Payton turned back to Ian, "Will there be anything else, Agent Anders?"
"Not at the moment, Thank you," Ian dismissed the other man then went over to the pile of maps and pulled out a large overview of Galbadia. Setting it out for everyone present to see he pointed to an area "Here is where he and his men are holed up. One, General Soto has a fortress on the northern edge of the forest in that sector." Ian sorted through the maps and pulled out a detailed one of the area. "As far as we have been able to discern, it is very well maintained but since he generally uses it as a residence there aren't many soldiers stationed there." The team assembled around the table studied the map as Ian pointed out important spots.
After several hours of hashing over different strategies the team was satisfied with the plan of attack they'd come up with. "Ok people you're free until 22 hundred hours. Get some rest. The next couple of days could get pretty intense," Ian said dismissing the others. He watched them as they filed out of the room. 'They're young but I couldn't ask for a better team,' he thought as he gathered up the maps spread out across the table.
....................................
Quistis lay with her cheek against Seifer's chest listening to his heartbeat, the cool fabric of his shirt caressing her skin. "Happy?" she asked softly.
"Hmm?" came the drowsy reply.
"Are you happy that it's almost over?" Quistis asked lifting her head and looking at Seifer's face. He laid there, eyes closed and relaxed. He looked content; she thought, a soft smile touching her lips. Not many people ever saw him this way.
"I'm not sure what it feels like to be happy.except.with you," he answered. Seifer opened his eyes and looked into hers "But I am anxious to get this finished. And I'm relieved that we can move so soon. It'll give Perry less time to carry out his plans or make new ones."
"Then we can put this behind us," Quistis said running a hand soothingly up one of Seifer's arms.
"Yeah," he agreed out loud but his thoughts were much darker. He was worried about what was waiting for them.
....................................
The team assembled by the waiting Ragnorak as their bags were being loaded. President Loire and his aide, Mr. Payton had come to see the team off and were waiting along side the others.
Seifer stood off to one side, observing them. He saw Quistis and Selphie standing together absorbed in conversation. Irvine stood beside them looking distinctly bored as he looked off into the distance.
'Mostly Selphie doing the talking,' he thought, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. Quistis looked up at that moment and their eyes met briefly before her attention was pulled back by something Selphie said.
Squall and Zell walked over and were giving their goodbyes to the president. 'Isn't that touching,' he thought sarcastically.
Seifer glance sideways as he felt someone stop beside him. "Well, this is it," Ian remarked, watching the others as well.
"Yeah," Seifer replied, "But I can't help wondering what we're going into."
"I know what you mean. It's hard going in blind, but we've prepared the best we can under the circumstances.and this is the best team I could ask for," Ian said.
Seifer watched Zell laugh at something President Loire said before replying, "You're right. They are the best."
Ian looked at Seifer's profile a moment before he answered, "Not just them, Seifer. You're part of this team as well." He saw Seifer shake his head slightly, "if you weren't as good as them, you wouldn't be here." Ian turned to go, "Remember that," he added as he walked away.
"Ok people, Let's rock and roll," Seifer heard him say as he followed Ian over to the group.
....................................
Quistis looked out the window, watching the land below grow smaller. 'Finally, we can move forward,' she thought glancing at the man sitting across from her. Seifer, deep in conversation with Irvine didn't notice his lover's gaze.
'Then we can plan a future together.' She smiled as the idea crossed her mind. Leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes, Quistis considered this thought.
....................................
A/N: You know the drill. Please read and review. Thanks. =0.0=
....................................
A/N: Let me just say how happy I am that FF.N is finally back in working order. I hope it stays this way. ....................................
Squall stood there with his arms folded in front of him and looked at Seifer without blinking for a moment. He took in the smirk directed at him. "Very funny," he said then turned walked in the direction of the palace, shaking his head as he went.
Quistis looked at Selphie. Selphie looked back at Quistis, then the corner of her mouth quirked up on one side. At the same time the two girls slapped their hands over their mouths trying not to giggle. If Squall heard the laughter behind him, he didn't acknowledge it. Seifer turned to the girls and gave them a mock bow, which made them laugh harder.
Zell gave the three a scowl before running after Squall "Hey Squall, wait up," he shouted. Squall stopped but didn't turn. Catching up Zell snarled "Pathetic."
Squall shrugged, "Whatever," before moving on once more.
"Well ladies," Seifer said holding out his elbows for them to take, "shall we?"
"Sorry, this ones mine," Irvine said taking Selphie's hand and tucking it into his arm. Looking over at Seifer he asked, "Do you think it's smart to antagonize Squall right before we go out on this mission?"
Seifer shrugged then smiled "Squall's to uptight. He's just begging for it." With that he took Quistis hand and started for the building the others had disappeared into.
....................................
When they got to the conference room that had been used for their previous meeting Seifer gave Quistis's hand a squeeze and then released it. As Seifer stepped through the door he looked around. Squall sat at one side, a stony expression on his face. Next to him Zell sat glaring at Seifer.
Seifer took the chair directly across from them and proceeded to stare at Zell with a smirk. "Alright People, we have a lot to cover and not a lot of time to get it done," Ian said swiftly entering the room. "We will be leaving tonight."
'Finally' Seifer thought, seriousness taking the place of his earlier mocking façade.
Everyone in the room turned their attention to the man speaking. All animosity put aside for the moment. When it came down to it they were a team when on assignment.
"This is what took place on the side mission Seifer, Quistis and myself took." Ian briefed the rest of the team on the trip they had just completed. ".And now I will get down to the information our source gave me." Ian had everyone's attention when next he spoke, "As you already know Perry escaped into Galbadia. The Galbadian government has denied any involvement in this matter and claim that they don't know where Perry is currently at, but ." He paused as Ramiro Payton, the presidential aide, opened the door and came into the room carrying several maps.
"Excuse me, sir, I was told you would be needing these," Payton said gesturing to the maps.
"Yes, thank you Mr. Payton. You can just leave them here," Ian indicated a spot on the conference table.
After depositing them, Payton turned back to Ian, "Will there be anything else, Agent Anders?"
"Not at the moment, Thank you," Ian dismissed the other man then went over to the pile of maps and pulled out a large overview of Galbadia. Setting it out for everyone present to see he pointed to an area "Here is where he and his men are holed up. One, General Soto has a fortress on the northern edge of the forest in that sector." Ian sorted through the maps and pulled out a detailed one of the area. "As far as we have been able to discern, it is very well maintained but since he generally uses it as a residence there aren't many soldiers stationed there." The team assembled around the table studied the map as Ian pointed out important spots.
After several hours of hashing over different strategies the team was satisfied with the plan of attack they'd come up with. "Ok people you're free until 22 hundred hours. Get some rest. The next couple of days could get pretty intense," Ian said dismissing the others. He watched them as they filed out of the room. 'They're young but I couldn't ask for a better team,' he thought as he gathered up the maps spread out across the table.
....................................
Quistis lay with her cheek against Seifer's chest listening to his heartbeat, the cool fabric of his shirt caressing her skin. "Happy?" she asked softly.
"Hmm?" came the drowsy reply.
"Are you happy that it's almost over?" Quistis asked lifting her head and looking at Seifer's face. He laid there, eyes closed and relaxed. He looked content; she thought, a soft smile touching her lips. Not many people ever saw him this way.
"I'm not sure what it feels like to be happy.except.with you," he answered. Seifer opened his eyes and looked into hers "But I am anxious to get this finished. And I'm relieved that we can move so soon. It'll give Perry less time to carry out his plans or make new ones."
"Then we can put this behind us," Quistis said running a hand soothingly up one of Seifer's arms.
"Yeah," he agreed out loud but his thoughts were much darker. He was worried about what was waiting for them.
....................................
The team assembled by the waiting Ragnorak as their bags were being loaded. President Loire and his aide, Mr. Payton had come to see the team off and were waiting along side the others.
Seifer stood off to one side, observing them. He saw Quistis and Selphie standing together absorbed in conversation. Irvine stood beside them looking distinctly bored as he looked off into the distance.
'Mostly Selphie doing the talking,' he thought, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. Quistis looked up at that moment and their eyes met briefly before her attention was pulled back by something Selphie said.
Squall and Zell walked over and were giving their goodbyes to the president. 'Isn't that touching,' he thought sarcastically.
Seifer glance sideways as he felt someone stop beside him. "Well, this is it," Ian remarked, watching the others as well.
"Yeah," Seifer replied, "But I can't help wondering what we're going into."
"I know what you mean. It's hard going in blind, but we've prepared the best we can under the circumstances.and this is the best team I could ask for," Ian said.
Seifer watched Zell laugh at something President Loire said before replying, "You're right. They are the best."
Ian looked at Seifer's profile a moment before he answered, "Not just them, Seifer. You're part of this team as well." He saw Seifer shake his head slightly, "if you weren't as good as them, you wouldn't be here." Ian turned to go, "Remember that," he added as he walked away.
"Ok people, Let's rock and roll," Seifer heard him say as he followed Ian over to the group.
....................................
Quistis looked out the window, watching the land below grow smaller. 'Finally, we can move forward,' she thought glancing at the man sitting across from her. Seifer, deep in conversation with Irvine didn't notice his lover's gaze.
'Then we can plan a future together.' She smiled as the idea crossed her mind. Leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes, Quistis considered this thought.
....................................
A/N: You know the drill. Please read and review. Thanks. =0.0=
....................................