Revolver And Friend: Bittersweet Meeting
The very next morning, an apprehensive and morose gunblade wielder was awakened by a loud banging on his dorm room door. Realizing what his time was now- -that his punishment would be fully carried out today, he got out of bed, got his belongings and exited the room, walking right past the faculty member sent to retrieve him without saying a word. In the dorm halls, he received little attention from other students heading to morning classes. In his mind, it was preferable that he get this over with quickly and without drawing too much attention to himself. The people, the atmosphere...it would all be a fading memory starting today. Seifer Almasy's day of reckoning was at hand. He was about to be expelled. He felt like a death-row inmate making the final stroll to this grisly execution- -that's how sad he was at being forced to leave the only home he knew.
Walking through the Lobby, he spotted Squall Leonhart and Zell Dincht standing side by side, looking at the fish in the small fountain. They didn't see him, as they were talking very quietly so that no one else could hear them. But Seifer heard one sentence that struck a chord with him. Something that Squall didn't say low enough.
"You've got a special birthday present coming to you today," he said with a big grin on his face.
The man heading to his punishment stopped in his tracks and looked at him. Squall felt someone's presence and turned around, seeing his archenemy staring him right in the eye.
"What do you want," Squall snapped at him. "Don't you have better things to do?"
Zell turned around to see who he was talking to, seeing the man who viciously beat him to a pulp yesterday. His eyes instantly became filled with rage as he shook his fist at Seifer.
"You! What in the hell do you want?"
"..."
"Nothing to say," Zell commented. "Figures. You always were a coward when it came to facing up to your actions."
"Is Squall lying," Seifer asked the shorter fighter, with no indication of ill will in his voice.
"W-What?"
"About you. Is it your birthday?"
"Why in the hell would you care," he muttered back at him, thinking his enemy would say something snide and harsh if he responded to his inquiry.
"Is it or is it not you birthday?"
"...Yeah. What do you care? I'm turning 18 today."
Seifer just smiled at him. Walking up to Zell, he patted him on the shoulder lightly. "Happy birthday, man." Then he walked off, faculty member looming right behind him. Zell was shocked, along with Squall. Staring at him as he exited the lobby, they both stood there with mouths agape wondering why he was being so nice to them.
"Uh...Squall?"
"Yes?"
"What just happened here," the blonde martial artist questioned curiously.
"You got me," was his reply.
"Hmm," they both thought, looking at each other as they wondered why Seifer was acting so strangely today.
~~~~~~~~~~
The man in point was standing at the in/out gates, inhaling the crisp, refined air that Balamb Garden held. He sat down on the pavement against a nearby wall, to the surprise of the lone member of faculty accompanying him, and pondered his life and his time he spent in the training facility. Looking down at him, the faculty member admonished him about being late for his doe punishment.
"Student No. 1146, Seifer Almasy. You are to proceed to the main gates without delay," the man cloaked in brown garb said in an inhuman mechanical voice.
"Can you just let me rest," Seifer asked him humbly.
"That is not possible, rule-breaker," was the cold superior's response.
"Come on, you can't let me break rules just this once," he asked again.
"I am unable to do that. Please, proceed to the gates."
"Come on, for me. This is my last time here, you know."
"I am sorry, but I cannot~~"
"Listen," Seifer said to him, in an unusual and kind manner. "I just want to stay here a little longer. Don't worry- -I'm not planning on avoiding expulsion or anything. I just want to stay here for a few minutes."
"..."
"Come on, you can bend the rules. Just a little."
"...Very well," the man gave in. "But only for a few minutes. Then you will have to go."
"That's fine," Seifer accepted. He tore his gaze from his warden and stared into the open skies, feeling the light wind blow across his face.
"Damn, its so beautiful out here. You never know what you got 'till it's gone."
"..."
"The sky, the birds...it's all beautiful. Sort of like a natural beauty. You know, man?"
"..."
Seifer looked up at him. "You don't talk much, do you?"
"I do not have an opinion on such matters," he replied.
"You don't notice the beauty of nature?"
"I have never noticed anything like that."
"Oh, I understand."
Seifer sighed, rose to his feet and walked up to the old gatekeeper behind the booth. The man was reading an old issue of Timber Maniacs when he look up.
"Oh...it's that troublemaker," was all the man said, acknowledging Seifer.
"Not anymore," he said back to him. "In a few minutes, I'm gone. Expelled, actually."
"Expelled, huh," the old man wheezed. "Ha, after everything that you've done- -wrecking the gates and harassing me every other morning with you cohorts, I'm not sad to see you go!"
"I'm sorry about everything. Will you forgive me?"
"...! W-W-What?! You, saying you're sorry? Is the world coming to an end or something? Damn, must be the Apocalypse! Ha!"
"I really am," the now sullen man reiterated sincerely, staring into his eyes. "Yeah, the world is coming to an end. For me, anyway."
"Wha? What in tarnation do you mean, boy," the gatekeeper asked curiously. Seifer told him, staring down at the ground while he did.
"I'm dying, sir," he said with respect, something that shocked both the faculty member behind him and the old man behind the counter. "I have HIV. I'm dying."
"Wha...Y-You mean..."
"Yes," Seifer said again, still staring at the ground. "It's over for me." After that, he walked off with his warden, leaving the old man dumbfounded. Something inside of him was changing immediately- -was he actually feeling sorry for the stricken young man?
"Poor kid," the gatekeeper said, watching him walk off to the front entrance. "That...that poor young kid."
~~~~~~~~~~
At the front entrance, Cid Kramer, along with Xu and a few members of faculty, awaited the arrival of Seifer Almasy in the early morning sun so that his punishment could be handed down to him. The guards were in place just in case the rule-breaker would try anything suspicious or violent. The punishment handed down would be an dishonorable dismissal, combined with a verbal admonishment upon leave. Seifer would be forever barred from returning to the only place he ever called home...the only place that he ever knew as 'home'. As he walked up to Cid, he looked coldly into the insensitive man's eyes- -as they were the only two who knew the real reason why Seifer was being removed from Balamb. Not because of the assault on Zell Dincht, but because of his illness...it made his blood boil to even look at the man.
"Mr. Almasy, Cid said sharply, pacing back and forth. "Today is your judgment day! Today is the day when you set foot out in the real world and learn what living is all about!"
"..." The tall, gloomy blonde could only stare darkly at him as he walked back and forth, his eyes never wandering anywhere else. Cid stopped directly in front of him, looking him in his forest green eyes.
"You of all people must understand! I cannot allow you to stay here anymore!"
"..."
"Of course I would very much like you to remain, but you understand. It's common procedure."
"Bullshit," Seifer said in his mind.
"Hmm? Care to say a few words before punishment is handed down, Mr. Almasy?"
"...Not really," he said without emotion. But he knew, though. He knew why he was being expelled. Cid had something against him. The disease was just a cover for his ploy. And he was told to his face that it wasn't what he did to Zell. What could it have been...?
"Anyway," the man in the maroon sweater continued. "It is time. Xu, go ahead and give him his admonishment."
The woman in the short navy blue skirt walked up, holding a sheet of paper. Her short brown locks hanging in front of her face, she could only look at Seifer as she prepared his final act of disgrace to be handed down. Reading aloud from the paper, Xu began.
"Student No. 1146, Seifer Almasy. For the punishment of deviant activity unbecoming a SeeD trainee, and for the brutal attack on a fellow SeeD trainee, you are to be dishonorably dismissed from the care and sole guardianship that is Balamb Garden. Is this acceptable?"
"Yeah, right," he said in his mind. "I'm being expelled because I'm a 'contamination', not because I beat up Zell."
"Is this acceptable," the female lieutenant asked again."
"No."
"What," Cid interjected. "What do you mean 'no'?"
"Like I said...it's not acceptable. Not to me, anyway."
"How dare you," one of the faculty under Cid's command said. "Obey Garden protocol and follow rules!"
"I won't," Seifer said firmly, not taking his eyes off of Cid. "I can't obey the rules of a corrupt institution like this."
Cid and Xu were aghast at his response. "Who in the hell do you think you are," Cid snapped. "I am the Headmaster here! And I determine who stays and who goes!"
"Yeah, so what," Seifer plainly commented. "I don't care if you're the President of Esthar. This is unacceptable, hands down. And you and I know the real reason I'm bein' kicked out of here."
"Yes, you are being removed for violating protocol of Balamb Garden."
"Bullshit," the swordsman countered. "You want me to tell everyone the real reason why I'm bein' kicked out?"
Cid was shocked, but commanded Xu to continue. Being directly under his command, she obliged him. The Headmaster stared at Seifer as she continued her address, ignoring the man who was directly in front of her.
"The person in point has declared it to be acceptable the reasons of his punishment," she said.
"Like hell I have," Seifer yelled. The faculty behind him now held his hands in check, restraining his movement.
"Ignore him! Continue! Continue," Cid commanded.
"By the power invested in me, and by the authority of the Headmaster," Xu said. "I hereby declare No. 1146, Seifer Almasy to be~~"
"No," the blonde yelled. "No! Don't you dare say it, Xu!"
"Ignore him," Cid yelled, trying to drown him out. "Xu, finish!"
"Noooo," Seifer yelled, trying to escape his restraint. He slowly made his way over near Cid, who backed off a little in response.
"Restrain him, now," he barked to the other faculty, who obeyed his every command. With all three practically holding him back, Cid commanded a surprised Xu to continue.
"By the power invested in me, and by the authority of the Headmaster, I hereby declare No. 1146, Seifer Almasy to be permanently expelled from the facility known as Balamb Garden."
"Noooooo," Seifer moaned, as his judgement had been officially served. With a large amount of strength, he began to push his way over to Cid. The Headmaster commanded his loyal guards to take action now. One of the guards clutched a nightstick and swung it, striking Seifer in the head. Another hit him in the stomach, and yet another struck him in the back. Seifer slumped to the ground, unable to take this brutal beating at the Headmaster's command. Xu, who had been watching completely horrified at this scene, begged Cid to stop it.
"I cannot do that," was all he said.
"Headmaster, sir," she said with worry in her voice. "This is not the correct way to deal with~~"
"Silence, woman," he snapped, interrupting her. "I am in charge, and I say this is the correct way to do things here!"
"..." Xu looked down, not able to watch the horrible abuse of power going on in front of her eyes. Suddenly, someone shouted out from the distance, forcing the faculty to stop the beating and look for the person.
"Who is it," Cid yelled, looking around. "Show yourselves this instant!"
"..." Xu looked at Cid, her eyes welling up with tears at the man she thought she knew as a kind, considerate commander. In the distance, two figures came walking towards the group of administrators. Upon closer inspection, they all discovered that it was Zell Dincht and Squall Leonhart, the two who were involved in the fight with Seifer. Both young men came walking up, absorbing the entire scene. Both of them looking down to the ground, they saw a beaten and hurt Seifer Almasy laying before them, curled up and holding his stomach in pain. Stunned, Zell asked them what was going on here.
"This is none of your concern," one of the members of faculty said mechanically, holding a nightstick with a smidgen of blood on the tip. "Go back to your studies."
"No," Zell decided, not taking his eyes off of the beaten Seifer. "Now that I'm here, it's my business."
Cid decided to butt in, telling both students to leave the scene. "Leave this instant," he commanded. "Or face possible consequences for disorderly conduct."
Squall, who was beside Zell, willingly obliged and asked Zell to do the same. "Come on Zell, it's none of our business."
"It is now," was his reply, still staring at Seifer.
"Zell....come on. We need to get to class soon anyway."
"Well, you can go then. I'd like to know what's going on here."
"Geez," he gave in quickly, placing a hand on his hip. "Fine, have it your way."
Ignoring the commands of the Headmaster and his subordinates, Zell walked over to the injured man and helped him to his feet. Draping one of his Seifer's arms over his shoulders, the combatant helped him to remain on his feet. Squall, Cid and the others looked on in silence as the two seemingly bitter enemies put aside their differences and concentrated on the injuries at hand.
"C'mon," Zell said in whisper to him. "I'll help you to Dr. Kadowaki's."
"T...Thanks...Zell," was all Seifer could offer.
Both young men cautiously made their way to leave the front entrance of the Garden. Heading back to the interior of the facility, Zell was determined to get his enemy some much-needed medical attention from the injuries he received at the hands of the faculty. Passing a wide-eyed and astonished Squall Leonhart, and moving away from a silent group of administrators, the two would make their way to the Infirmary to see the doctor. Squall turned around after a brief pause to look at the group of people, shrugged, and left to follow his partner Zell.
The very next morning, an apprehensive and morose gunblade wielder was awakened by a loud banging on his dorm room door. Realizing what his time was now- -that his punishment would be fully carried out today, he got out of bed, got his belongings and exited the room, walking right past the faculty member sent to retrieve him without saying a word. In the dorm halls, he received little attention from other students heading to morning classes. In his mind, it was preferable that he get this over with quickly and without drawing too much attention to himself. The people, the atmosphere...it would all be a fading memory starting today. Seifer Almasy's day of reckoning was at hand. He was about to be expelled. He felt like a death-row inmate making the final stroll to this grisly execution- -that's how sad he was at being forced to leave the only home he knew.
Walking through the Lobby, he spotted Squall Leonhart and Zell Dincht standing side by side, looking at the fish in the small fountain. They didn't see him, as they were talking very quietly so that no one else could hear them. But Seifer heard one sentence that struck a chord with him. Something that Squall didn't say low enough.
"You've got a special birthday present coming to you today," he said with a big grin on his face.
The man heading to his punishment stopped in his tracks and looked at him. Squall felt someone's presence and turned around, seeing his archenemy staring him right in the eye.
"What do you want," Squall snapped at him. "Don't you have better things to do?"
Zell turned around to see who he was talking to, seeing the man who viciously beat him to a pulp yesterday. His eyes instantly became filled with rage as he shook his fist at Seifer.
"You! What in the hell do you want?"
"..."
"Nothing to say," Zell commented. "Figures. You always were a coward when it came to facing up to your actions."
"Is Squall lying," Seifer asked the shorter fighter, with no indication of ill will in his voice.
"W-What?"
"About you. Is it your birthday?"
"Why in the hell would you care," he muttered back at him, thinking his enemy would say something snide and harsh if he responded to his inquiry.
"Is it or is it not you birthday?"
"...Yeah. What do you care? I'm turning 18 today."
Seifer just smiled at him. Walking up to Zell, he patted him on the shoulder lightly. "Happy birthday, man." Then he walked off, faculty member looming right behind him. Zell was shocked, along with Squall. Staring at him as he exited the lobby, they both stood there with mouths agape wondering why he was being so nice to them.
"Uh...Squall?"
"Yes?"
"What just happened here," the blonde martial artist questioned curiously.
"You got me," was his reply.
"Hmm," they both thought, looking at each other as they wondered why Seifer was acting so strangely today.
~~~~~~~~~~
The man in point was standing at the in/out gates, inhaling the crisp, refined air that Balamb Garden held. He sat down on the pavement against a nearby wall, to the surprise of the lone member of faculty accompanying him, and pondered his life and his time he spent in the training facility. Looking down at him, the faculty member admonished him about being late for his doe punishment.
"Student No. 1146, Seifer Almasy. You are to proceed to the main gates without delay," the man cloaked in brown garb said in an inhuman mechanical voice.
"Can you just let me rest," Seifer asked him humbly.
"That is not possible, rule-breaker," was the cold superior's response.
"Come on, you can't let me break rules just this once," he asked again.
"I am unable to do that. Please, proceed to the gates."
"Come on, for me. This is my last time here, you know."
"I am sorry, but I cannot~~"
"Listen," Seifer said to him, in an unusual and kind manner. "I just want to stay here a little longer. Don't worry- -I'm not planning on avoiding expulsion or anything. I just want to stay here for a few minutes."
"..."
"Come on, you can bend the rules. Just a little."
"...Very well," the man gave in. "But only for a few minutes. Then you will have to go."
"That's fine," Seifer accepted. He tore his gaze from his warden and stared into the open skies, feeling the light wind blow across his face.
"Damn, its so beautiful out here. You never know what you got 'till it's gone."
"..."
"The sky, the birds...it's all beautiful. Sort of like a natural beauty. You know, man?"
"..."
Seifer looked up at him. "You don't talk much, do you?"
"I do not have an opinion on such matters," he replied.
"You don't notice the beauty of nature?"
"I have never noticed anything like that."
"Oh, I understand."
Seifer sighed, rose to his feet and walked up to the old gatekeeper behind the booth. The man was reading an old issue of Timber Maniacs when he look up.
"Oh...it's that troublemaker," was all the man said, acknowledging Seifer.
"Not anymore," he said back to him. "In a few minutes, I'm gone. Expelled, actually."
"Expelled, huh," the old man wheezed. "Ha, after everything that you've done- -wrecking the gates and harassing me every other morning with you cohorts, I'm not sad to see you go!"
"I'm sorry about everything. Will you forgive me?"
"...! W-W-What?! You, saying you're sorry? Is the world coming to an end or something? Damn, must be the Apocalypse! Ha!"
"I really am," the now sullen man reiterated sincerely, staring into his eyes. "Yeah, the world is coming to an end. For me, anyway."
"Wha? What in tarnation do you mean, boy," the gatekeeper asked curiously. Seifer told him, staring down at the ground while he did.
"I'm dying, sir," he said with respect, something that shocked both the faculty member behind him and the old man behind the counter. "I have HIV. I'm dying."
"Wha...Y-You mean..."
"Yes," Seifer said again, still staring at the ground. "It's over for me." After that, he walked off with his warden, leaving the old man dumbfounded. Something inside of him was changing immediately- -was he actually feeling sorry for the stricken young man?
"Poor kid," the gatekeeper said, watching him walk off to the front entrance. "That...that poor young kid."
~~~~~~~~~~
At the front entrance, Cid Kramer, along with Xu and a few members of faculty, awaited the arrival of Seifer Almasy in the early morning sun so that his punishment could be handed down to him. The guards were in place just in case the rule-breaker would try anything suspicious or violent. The punishment handed down would be an dishonorable dismissal, combined with a verbal admonishment upon leave. Seifer would be forever barred from returning to the only place he ever called home...the only place that he ever knew as 'home'. As he walked up to Cid, he looked coldly into the insensitive man's eyes- -as they were the only two who knew the real reason why Seifer was being removed from Balamb. Not because of the assault on Zell Dincht, but because of his illness...it made his blood boil to even look at the man.
"Mr. Almasy, Cid said sharply, pacing back and forth. "Today is your judgment day! Today is the day when you set foot out in the real world and learn what living is all about!"
"..." The tall, gloomy blonde could only stare darkly at him as he walked back and forth, his eyes never wandering anywhere else. Cid stopped directly in front of him, looking him in his forest green eyes.
"You of all people must understand! I cannot allow you to stay here anymore!"
"..."
"Of course I would very much like you to remain, but you understand. It's common procedure."
"Bullshit," Seifer said in his mind.
"Hmm? Care to say a few words before punishment is handed down, Mr. Almasy?"
"...Not really," he said without emotion. But he knew, though. He knew why he was being expelled. Cid had something against him. The disease was just a cover for his ploy. And he was told to his face that it wasn't what he did to Zell. What could it have been...?
"Anyway," the man in the maroon sweater continued. "It is time. Xu, go ahead and give him his admonishment."
The woman in the short navy blue skirt walked up, holding a sheet of paper. Her short brown locks hanging in front of her face, she could only look at Seifer as she prepared his final act of disgrace to be handed down. Reading aloud from the paper, Xu began.
"Student No. 1146, Seifer Almasy. For the punishment of deviant activity unbecoming a SeeD trainee, and for the brutal attack on a fellow SeeD trainee, you are to be dishonorably dismissed from the care and sole guardianship that is Balamb Garden. Is this acceptable?"
"Yeah, right," he said in his mind. "I'm being expelled because I'm a 'contamination', not because I beat up Zell."
"Is this acceptable," the female lieutenant asked again."
"No."
"What," Cid interjected. "What do you mean 'no'?"
"Like I said...it's not acceptable. Not to me, anyway."
"How dare you," one of the faculty under Cid's command said. "Obey Garden protocol and follow rules!"
"I won't," Seifer said firmly, not taking his eyes off of Cid. "I can't obey the rules of a corrupt institution like this."
Cid and Xu were aghast at his response. "Who in the hell do you think you are," Cid snapped. "I am the Headmaster here! And I determine who stays and who goes!"
"Yeah, so what," Seifer plainly commented. "I don't care if you're the President of Esthar. This is unacceptable, hands down. And you and I know the real reason I'm bein' kicked out of here."
"Yes, you are being removed for violating protocol of Balamb Garden."
"Bullshit," the swordsman countered. "You want me to tell everyone the real reason why I'm bein' kicked out?"
Cid was shocked, but commanded Xu to continue. Being directly under his command, she obliged him. The Headmaster stared at Seifer as she continued her address, ignoring the man who was directly in front of her.
"The person in point has declared it to be acceptable the reasons of his punishment," she said.
"Like hell I have," Seifer yelled. The faculty behind him now held his hands in check, restraining his movement.
"Ignore him! Continue! Continue," Cid commanded.
"By the power invested in me, and by the authority of the Headmaster," Xu said. "I hereby declare No. 1146, Seifer Almasy to be~~"
"No," the blonde yelled. "No! Don't you dare say it, Xu!"
"Ignore him," Cid yelled, trying to drown him out. "Xu, finish!"
"Noooo," Seifer yelled, trying to escape his restraint. He slowly made his way over near Cid, who backed off a little in response.
"Restrain him, now," he barked to the other faculty, who obeyed his every command. With all three practically holding him back, Cid commanded a surprised Xu to continue.
"By the power invested in me, and by the authority of the Headmaster, I hereby declare No. 1146, Seifer Almasy to be permanently expelled from the facility known as Balamb Garden."
"Noooooo," Seifer moaned, as his judgement had been officially served. With a large amount of strength, he began to push his way over to Cid. The Headmaster commanded his loyal guards to take action now. One of the guards clutched a nightstick and swung it, striking Seifer in the head. Another hit him in the stomach, and yet another struck him in the back. Seifer slumped to the ground, unable to take this brutal beating at the Headmaster's command. Xu, who had been watching completely horrified at this scene, begged Cid to stop it.
"I cannot do that," was all he said.
"Headmaster, sir," she said with worry in her voice. "This is not the correct way to deal with~~"
"Silence, woman," he snapped, interrupting her. "I am in charge, and I say this is the correct way to do things here!"
"..." Xu looked down, not able to watch the horrible abuse of power going on in front of her eyes. Suddenly, someone shouted out from the distance, forcing the faculty to stop the beating and look for the person.
"Who is it," Cid yelled, looking around. "Show yourselves this instant!"
"..." Xu looked at Cid, her eyes welling up with tears at the man she thought she knew as a kind, considerate commander. In the distance, two figures came walking towards the group of administrators. Upon closer inspection, they all discovered that it was Zell Dincht and Squall Leonhart, the two who were involved in the fight with Seifer. Both young men came walking up, absorbing the entire scene. Both of them looking down to the ground, they saw a beaten and hurt Seifer Almasy laying before them, curled up and holding his stomach in pain. Stunned, Zell asked them what was going on here.
"This is none of your concern," one of the members of faculty said mechanically, holding a nightstick with a smidgen of blood on the tip. "Go back to your studies."
"No," Zell decided, not taking his eyes off of the beaten Seifer. "Now that I'm here, it's my business."
Cid decided to butt in, telling both students to leave the scene. "Leave this instant," he commanded. "Or face possible consequences for disorderly conduct."
Squall, who was beside Zell, willingly obliged and asked Zell to do the same. "Come on Zell, it's none of our business."
"It is now," was his reply, still staring at Seifer.
"Zell....come on. We need to get to class soon anyway."
"Well, you can go then. I'd like to know what's going on here."
"Geez," he gave in quickly, placing a hand on his hip. "Fine, have it your way."
Ignoring the commands of the Headmaster and his subordinates, Zell walked over to the injured man and helped him to his feet. Draping one of his Seifer's arms over his shoulders, the combatant helped him to remain on his feet. Squall, Cid and the others looked on in silence as the two seemingly bitter enemies put aside their differences and concentrated on the injuries at hand.
"C'mon," Zell said in whisper to him. "I'll help you to Dr. Kadowaki's."
"T...Thanks...Zell," was all Seifer could offer.
Both young men cautiously made their way to leave the front entrance of the Garden. Heading back to the interior of the facility, Zell was determined to get his enemy some much-needed medical attention from the injuries he received at the hands of the faculty. Passing a wide-eyed and astonished Squall Leonhart, and moving away from a silent group of administrators, the two would make their way to the Infirmary to see the doctor. Squall turned around after a brief pause to look at the group of people, shrugged, and left to follow his partner Zell.