Nida's Story
(Author's Note: Square owns 99.99999'% of this fic. There is probably going to be an original character somewhere along the line. Perhaps maybe... I'd like to say thank you to Square for giving me such a good character to work with. There's so much stuff you can do with a character who's already established but not quite there yet. Also I'd like to thank thin air, because when I stare at youI can be transported to places others can't. Thanks to god for giving me a brain and the internet. Thanks to reviewers *looks around but hears only crickets* ahem...)
Chapter Two: Passions
Nida sat on the library counter, absently rubbing the scar on his wrist. He'd got it years before during the Fire Cavern Exam. Ifrit had caught his arm whilest casting fire, it'd sliced straight through the wrist, leaving Nida with a stump. He'd had a month off Garden in a special clinic to have a robotic arm attached. It looked exactly like a normal hand, if it was slashed at then Nida felt it, though not too much pain. It reacted like a normal hand, but he couldn't feel anything when he used it. There was only a slight electronic buzz when he moved it.
"Ah! Just the man I was looking for!" Quistis voice cut through his thoughts. He slid off the counter, trying to stop his urge to run. Act cool and casual. Don't screw up!
"Here's your instructor licence. Of course there is a big contract that you have to sign but you can do that later. You receive the licence today, along with the responsibility." Quistis said at length. Nida found himself holding a plastic card with a passport photo of him on it. It also read "INSTRUCTOR NO. 16 GUNBLADE MASTER AND INSTRUCTOR OF HISTORY AND BATTLE THEORY. ID 357522" Nida felt a berserker's laugh rise in him.
"Thanks Quistis. Say, could I sign that contract now? Just wanna read what I'm actually signing up for before I start exercising power," Nida tried to stop himself from laughing hysterically. Quistis smiled sweetly, her rose lips in a perfect smile. A smile Nida hoped contained some affection towards him.
"I'm sure Xu will let you. Say, are you going to celebrate? It's just we're all going to Passions tonight, wanna come along?" She asked. Passions was a nightclub in Balamb, nothing big but you could still have a good time there. Nida blinked a few times. Then he remembered he'd promised Lucinda he'd help her study for her SeeD exam. If she didn't pass this time she'd be out.
"I'm helping someone study, sorry," He managed to say. You are turning down Quistis Trepe! You've wanted to go out with her for so long! DOLT DOLT DOLT!
"Oh... Well, perhaps some other time then?" Her smile disappeared. Nida felt awful. Then she sighed. "Maybe it's for the best anyway? I heard Seifer was invited," She didn't look as enthusiastic as she had done. Nida couldn't believe that he'd done that. He knew he had to leave otherwise he would take back everything he had just said and leave Lucinda in the dark.
"I'll go sign that contract... See ya around?" He walked passed. At the door he caught Lucinda.
"I'll be back soon. All ready for studying tonight?" He asked. She opened her mouth then saw Quistis. She turned back to Nida.
"Sorry, I can't do it Nida. I'm going with Zell and his friends to Passions. Maybe tomorrow night, huh?" She smiled. Nida sighed and nodded. Lucinda carried on to do her duties. He made his way quickly to the bridge.
"Ooh! Nida! Did Quistis talk to you?" Nida found himself face to face with the hyperactive, but extremely pretty, Rinoa Heartilly. Probably still ecstatic about the wedding. He felt his skin tingle and his insides burn, so much power in such a small frame!
"Yeah, but I told her the wrong answer. I am going... Is Squall around?" Nida asked. Rinoa frowned and turned to Xu.
"Is Squall in his office?" She asked. Nida didn't know how she could not know where her fiance was, when she was stood right outside his office. Rinoa must have caught his expression.
"It's a rule Squall and I have.I don't intrude on his work, he drops everything seven in the evening while nine in the morning. Of course Squall doesn't but he cuts back a lot," She shrugged. Nida watched as Xu phone Squall. She jumped and held the phone away from her. The sound of shouting came through the receiver, between two men it seemed.
"Nida's here to see you sir... Seifer?... I'll warn NIda sir." Xu patiently put the phone down. "Hide," She ordered. Rinoa pushed him into a broom cupboard before he had even comprehended the conversation.
Nida waited int here. The worst thing was that he was claustrophobic. He closed his eyes, aware he was sweating. A confrontation with Seifer was the least of his troubles. He had to get out. He pushed open the door and fell to the floor, tangled with mops and buckets, straight in front of a rather startled Garden Commander.
"S-Sir," Nida panted. He reminded himself to get some self-help books on claustrophobia. Knowing his luck he'd become agoraphobic then. Squall raised an eyebrow and folded his arms as Nida struggled to his feet, detangling himself.
"Yes?" He asked. Nida coughed, he was extremely nervous around Squall. He was such a powerful character. The kind of guy Quistis would go for.
"Contract, papers, signing, sir," Nida replied. Squall put his hand over his shoulder and Xu handed him a piece of paper. He pointed to a dotted line.
Nida read some of the small print. It was fair enough. It was basically the same as the SeeD contract. You signed up for two years, after that period you could quit or be sacked. You got a good pension and a good wage. Also there was the offer of early retirement, at the age of forty.
"Fair play," He said and signed it. Squall whipped the contract away and then handed Nida a huge book followed by some other scraps of paper.
"That is the Instructor's Handbook, everything you will ever need to know, and you'll only ever need to know about a hundredth of that book, is in it. Also you have a list of the classes you'll be teaching. Some of them are scheduled so Quistis will be helping you, others are schelduled so you're on your own. Any questions?" Squall asked, turning before Nida even had a chance to open his mouth. Squall walked into his office and slammed the door. Nida winced as a bit of plaster fell off the ceiling.
"Bad day?" Rinoa asked. Xu shrugged and went back to stapling a document. Nida hugged the book into him and turned to leave.
"Say, Nida! After you've had lunch, come and find me. I'll help you with some lesson plans. Quistis taught me everything I know, so basically I swallowed the textbook," Rinoa called after him. Nida turned as he pressed the button for the elevator.
"Yeah, sure. You don't mind Lucinda tagging along do you? The shy girl in the library, usually got her hair in pigtails?" Nida called back. Rinoa smiled and shook her head. Nida supposed that meant that Lucinda could come along, if not then she was anyway.
Nida walked through the corridor quickly. He didn't want to run into anyone, he wanted to read this. He decided to head to the library, that way he could see Lucinda and read his book in relative peace. He was almost there when he had another confrontation. He was having a bad week with these. He hated them but they seemed to be finding him. Instead of the blond bully it was the cowboy.
"Watch as the mouse scurries to it's nest," He taunted. Nida walked passed, not even bothering to look at Irvine. If Nida had looked he would have noticed the foot held out for him. He tripped over and the book hit the floor with a bang that echoed through the halls. The paper flew everywhere. Nida looked up angrily at Irvine.
"That was uncalled for," He snapped. He then picked up the book and started to gather the papers. When he stood up he saw Irvine looking at one of the pieces of paper. Nida saw it was the letter of confirmation that he was an intructor.
"Hand it over," Nida said patiently as possbile. Irvine had visibly paled. Nida waited as Irvine read the entire document then handed it to him.
"Sir," Irvine saluted. Nida then remembered that Irvine wasn't technically a SeeD but he had been accepted on the Sorceress War incident. Nida was his superior. Nida could issue him detention for a month. But Nida wasn't like that. He saluted back and then thought of a really evil thing to make Irvine do as punishment.
"Tell Doctor Kadowaki that I've sent you to help her for an hour. If I found out you haven't then there will be an official detention. Just go," Irvine slouched off. Nida felt sorry for Irvine, but it would teach him to be a bully. No doubt Nida would get it back three times worse tonight. Nida marched into the library and by lunch had memorised the textbook.
*
Quistis stared at herself in the mirror. What had Rinoa and Selphie done? They had blindfolded her and handed her the clothes. She now stared at them in disgust. The top was draped off her shoulders. The sleeves were long and flowing, pure white it made Quistis look like a fairy tale princess. The tight white skirt that they'd forced her into didn't look too bad. It was then that she saw the white boots that they were handing her. She sighed and pulled them on, they went up to her knees and made her at least five inches taller.
"There. Now what?" She asked impatiently. Rinoa and Selphie pulled her into the bathroom and sat her down on the toilet seat. They then applied make-up and Quistis only saw flashes of the colours they were putting on. When Quistis finally was released from their grasp she saw her face. They had used blue to bring out the colour of her eyes. The rest of her face was almost untouched. At least there was no heavy eyeliner or over blusher. She didn't look bad but she definitely felt... Prettier.
"Right now, if you'll stop staring at yourself, it's time for your hair Quistis," Rinoa said. Quistis shrugged and handed them the hairbrush. She heard some swearing then she saw Rinoa fiddling with something.
"What are they?" She asked. Rinoa held her hand out and showed her the little snowflakes in her hand. At least it was seasonal and fairly pretty. Quistis saw the problem before the others, how were they going to stay in her hair? Tied up like this it was her usual style, and there was no way the little snowflakes could stick in her hair.
"Selphie, get the glue will you?" Rinoa asked. Quistis took a step back, her hands going to her hair. Rinoa laughed.
"It washes out Quistis. You really haven't got a clue about this stuff have you?" Rinoa laughed. Quistis put her hands on her hips.
"If you haven't noticed Rinoa, this is a military establishment. I don't need to know about make-up. I don't even know what I was wearing on that Mabeline thing," She pointed out. Selphie returned giggling. She handed Rinoa the glue, pulling at the silver clasp in Quistis's hair. It fell down to the bottom of her shoulder blades. Quistis sighed and let Rinoa brush it through. She felt the tickling at her scalp as Rinoa fixed the snowflakes in her hair. Then she stepped around the front and peered at Quistis.
"That'll do. Meet us in an hour by the Directory. And don't crease that outfit!" Rinoa ordered. Quistis put her hands up surrendering. Then she thought about the hour she'd have to spend standing in her dormitory. She was about to say something to Rinoa, but Rinoa had already gone. Quistis bit back a hateful remark and stared at herself in the mirror.
"Well Quistis, perhaps it's about time you met a man," She said to herself. Unaware that someone was listening.
*
Seifer was furious. What was wrong with Trepe? Had she gone daft? Trepe had a man. Him. Or didn't she remember? The first night back when she'd kissed him? They'd made love and Seifer had found the woman of his dreams finally in his arms. Yet when he woke she had been gone and without even a note explaining anything. Then in the corridor she hadn't really even spoken to him. There had been no pleasant visits fro her either.
That ice bitch. Well, tonight she'll realise what she's missing.
Seifer cursed as he went into the cafeteria. There he saw Nida, the little mouse who was studiously looking over a piece of paper. He raised a pen and scribbled something out, replacing it with something else, which was scribbled out. Mouse put his face in his hands. The girl from the library came over with some coffee, she patted his arm then sat down, pulling the work away. She frowned and handed back. Seifer decided to chance it and talk to Nida.
"Mouse!" He called. Nida looked over his shoulder at Seifer, rolled his eyes and continued to do whatever he was doing. Only when Seifer was at his shoulder did he look up. Seifer saw it was a lesson plan. Why was mouse doing a lesson plan?
"I thought we should try and be civil to each other tonight. Quistis won't like it if we fight," Seifer said, sitting down opposite the female mouse. He could see that they were close but were they dating. He'd heard Zell was dating the girl.
"Yeah, ok. Say Seifer, what class are you in?" Nida asked. Seifer frowned. Nida looked genuinely interested. Seifer wondered if he was rubbing it in that he was a SeeD and didn't have to take classes any more. Then he remembered how Quistis scorned his bullying and held back his angry response.
"09, Instructor Jeng," He replied. Nida picked up another piece of paper and grinned, almost evilly.
"Oh, you're going to be civil to me for much longer than tonight. I take all your History and Battle Theory and your gunblade lessons. How long before you crack?" Nida asked, meaning it as a rhetorical question. Seifer hid his shock that Nida was an instructor and put on a smirk.
"I don't crack under pressure, sir," He added mockingly. Nida laughed and put the piece of paper down. He stretched and glanced at his watch. Seifer did the same, half an hour until he was meeting them all by the directory. He had better go and get ready.
"Well, I'm off. Gotta get ready, Luce, I thought you'd need longer to get ready that us," Nida said standing up. The mouse girl shrugged.
"I'm not going. I'm revising. Have fun!" She said. Nida blinked a few times then Seifer saw the telltale signs that Nida was extremely miffed. The slight pink tinge on the tips of his ears. Seifer wondered why the mouse was so miffed.
"Luce! If you're revising them I'm staying with you! If you don't pass this time then you're out. You're a civvy again! I'm not going to let you fail, for one, Zell would kill me," Nida snapped, sitting down again. Seifer stood up and folded his arms.
"I doubt you're studying without help. Xu or Jeng are helping you aren't they?" Seifer widened his eyes as a prompt. The mouse girl took the hint and answered quickly and completely naturally. If she did turn civilian she could make it big as an actress.
"Yeah, Jeng offered. Any way Nida, Quistis and Rinoa asked you to go! They want to celebrate as much as you do! With the wedding and your instructorship, you have every reason to be off celebrating. Have fun Nida, and remember to say sorry to Zell that I couldn't make it," She then stood up and walked over to the doors. Nida turned to Seifer.
"Do you understand women?" He asked. Seifer thought about Trepe and shook his head. The two left together, only guessing at each others thoughts.
*
Nida was amazed at Seifer's behaviour towards him. They were almost friendly with each other. Perhaps Seifer wasn't that bad? It wasn't until he saw Irvine that he realised that perhaps Seifer being here would add to problems. Nida sighed and prepared himself for a comment from Irvine.
"Instructor Mouse? What are you doing with your arch-enemy Cadet Lap Dog?" Irvine sneered. Nida stuck out his foot and Irvine tripped. Seifer whooped with laughter as Irvine clambered to his feet, face burning. Nida gave Irvine the finger and smirked himself.
"Even now aren't we? Have fun scrubbing bed pans with tooth brushes?" Nida asked. Irvine muttered something and turned around. Nida knew not to pursue it further, that would be heartless. He would never utterly embarrass someone when they weren't going to retaliate, otherwise he'd just be a bully.
"Irvine thinks he's a hot shot. Plays it cool. Don't both much about him, water off a duck's back," Seifer told Nida. Nida wished that he could be like Seifer, uncaring and arrogant. Nida wasn't Seifer though, and it did hurt when people picked on him. He was quiet and hated confrontation, so people took advantage of this in the worst possible way. Nida had given up on being accepted before he had passed his SeeD test.
"Nida?" Squall was next to him before Nida had even noticed his name had been called. Squall looked up at Seifer and raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.
"Sir?" Nida prompted. Squall bit his bottom lip.
"Could you show an interest in Quistis tonight? Rinoa and Selphie say that she's given up completely on men, and that could be disasterous. Just a bit of dancing and things, we're not asking you to get off with her. Just treat her real nice, you know?" Squall asked. Nida blushed to the roots of his hair. A whole night of paying attention to Quistis? Who wouldn't want that? Then again he thought about the fact that he really did have the biggest crush in the world on her and it would be apparent from the first dance. He thought of a way to turn this down.
"I don't think so..." Nida started. One part of his was screaming "why not?" the other was screaming "you'll regret it!"
"Why?" Squall asked. Nida felt eyes burning into his neck. He knew that Seifer was death staring him, it made his skin crawl. Seifer wanted this mission and Quistis would rather have Seifer than him any way.
"I'm not really... Outgoing enough for Quistis. I can't-I can't do that. I'd just wake up regretting it all in the morning," Nida lied. Squall sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Seifer stopped death staring Nida and turned to Squall, hope was obvious. Squall didn't even look at Seifer.
"Well we'll have to hope that someone in the club decides to treat her then... Hell, we've only got half an hour to get ready! Catch you later!" Squall rushed off. Nida looked up to Seifer questionably. Seifer didn't meet his eyes but something had changed. The old hostility was there again. Nida decided to speed up, a jealous Seifer wasn't someone he wanted to meet.
Half an hour later Nida was waiting at the Directory. Rinoa and Squall were already there. Rinoa was dressed in a golden mini-dress, and Squall in trousers and a black shirt. They looked so sweet together, as Selphie would say. Nida knew that they loved each other very much, it was apparent by the way they smiled at each other and talked. Nida was wearing something similar to Squall, black trousers and a black shirt. Unlike Squall he had undone his top buttons. Nida had fretted about the top of the tattoo that would show but then had decided that he looked better as he did.
Selphie and Irvine were next. Irvine wasn't dressed all that differently. He had got rid of the cowboy hat and the coat, but apart from that Nida could tell no difference. Selphie was wearing a red mini dress, with red ankle boots. She looked as pretty as Rinoa did, she'd put her hair in ringlets as well. Selphie still carried the child-like innocence but with an air of elegance. Nida agreed that he would have fallen in love with them if Quistis didn't exist.
Then she came over. She was dressed all in white, like a snow queen. Her hair was sprinkled with little snowflakes. Nida found himself just staring. She looked so beautiful. Nida knew that Quistis was aware of herself, the faint tinge of pink in her cheeks told him that much. Seifer was behind her, standing too close. Nida bit into his lip, could he really let Seifer have her without a fight? Would Quistis ever be happy with a mouse?
"One word Quisty, WOW!" Zell said, as he jogged up. He wasn't wearing anything fancy. Nida raised his eyebrows.
"Oh yeah, Nida. Luce said don't worry, I'm gonna help her study," Zell informed him. Nida snorted causing everyone to look at him.
"Yes, I'm sure studying is the only thing on your mind," He laughed. Zell grinned and gave him the thumbs up.
"Catch you later then," He said, walking away. Nida's reply was off the tip of his tongue before he realised that he'd engaged his brain at all.
"Remember Zell, she tells me every digusting detail. The mental images are disturbing my sleep!" Zell gave him the finger. Nida laughed and turned to the rest of them. Some of them were trying to banish mental images also. Nida grinned despite himself, they'd be trying to get rid of those images all night.
"Let's get going then," Selphie said happily, seemingly undisturbed by the fact that Zell intended to "study". Nida followed her and found himself walking along side Quistis and Seifer. He distanced himself from her and made sure that Seifer wasn't going to say anything, it was only when Quistis began to speak to him that he allowed himself to even look at her.
"So, what exactly did Rinoa tell you about lesson plans?" She asked. Nida found it easy enough to talk about work.
"As much as she could. Enough for me to plan my first week of lessons anyway. And with a bit of help from Lucinda about your lessons, I think I've cracked it. You could go over them later," He suggested. Quistis smiled, and tilted her hair.
"Yeah I will thanks Nida. We have our first day of lessons together anyway. I can fill in facts about History and Battle Theory but I can't help much with gunblade lessons. I'm sure you know enough about your weapon anyway," The snowflakes in her hair twinkled. Nida swallowed, hoping that Seifer did flirt outrageously with her. He hoped that Seifer took her out of his sight from the moment they entered the club, otherwise Nida would do something he regretted and he knew it.
"Yeah. Um, so... What're you doing over christmas?" He asked. Seifer grunted.
"Edea asked me to spend it with her, so I'll be down there. Did she ask the entire gang?" Seifer asked Quistis. Quistis frowned.
"No, she didn't ask me. I'm spending it here, the christmas eve ball should be interesting enough. What are you doing?" She turned to Nida. Nida found himself captured by her eyes, unable to look away until she released him, which she didn't.
"Going to see my mom in Winhill. She'll love me and my sister going back. We've never had a family gathering since my dad died," Nida explained. Quistis blinked and Nida looked away. Quistis patted his arm gently, obviously mistakening his reaction. He had come to terms with the death of his father. It had been two years ago and Nida knew that no matter how long he grieved, it wouldn't bring him back.
"S'ok. He wasn't the best father in the world anyhow," Nida found the tension unbearable. He decided to change the subject onto something else. Something a little less... Painless.
"Have you thought of something for the Garden festival? I've heard that they are getting us lot to perform this year. Squall's cut back the committee money, or something like that," Nida said. Quistis laughed, like the tinkle of bells. He forced himself to look in front of him. It was unfortunate that straight in front of him was Rinoa. He realised it looked like he was staring at her butt and turned.
"Oh no, I can't sing. I sound like a deaf cat. Why are you doing anything?" Quistis asked. Nida found his tongue tied. He tried to get the words out but he couldn't breathe. That gaze was so accepting. Nida almost physically slapped himself. He forced himself to remember that Seifer was there. He coughed.
"Uh... I think I'll just stick to watching. I just thought you'd play the piano or something..." Nida suggested lamely. He had assumed that Quistis could sing, he could see her singing with a low, husky voice. He wondered if she was lying to him. No, Quistis Trepe did not lie.
"No, not anymore. I used to play, but I found it boring when I started proper military training. I gave it up for my SeeDship. Shame how you have to give up everything to be a SeeD," She mused. Seifer snorted.
"Shame how when you're a SeeD you begin to look down your nose at others," He retorted. Quistis turned to him, hurt apparent on her face. She suddenly sped up and walked with Rinoa and Squall. Nida looked to Seifer.
"Whatever has gone on between you, don't hurt her," Nida managed to say. Seifer glared at him, Seifer was very good at glaring. But he was surprised to see Nida not looking at him at all, but up at the stars.
*
Squall had been surprised by Seifer's reaction. He'd known for a while that Seifer had feelings for Quistis, but he hadn't expected this. No one had expected Seifer to get jealous. Quistis least of all. She had chosen their car to go in and had spent the whole time ranting about how Seifer had such an attitude problem. Rinoa had tried to calm her down but Quistis replied in increasingly annoyed terms.
"Do you know what? He's jealous of Nida now! Hell, why does he think that every man I talk to I love? He's like a human tracking device. As soon as I begin to talk to a man he appears and glares at them until they run a mile. Aah!" She stopped, panting slightly. There was a momentary pause.
"Feel better?" Squall asked. Quistis nodded. Squall decided it was ok for him to speak now.
"Quisty, Seifer's an ass. I know something has happened, that much is obvious. I don't care what, to be honest I'd rather not think about it. If you like or love someone else, who isn't Seifer, then you have to push Seifer out of the way. I'm sure Seifer will get over it," Squall advised. Quistis nodded and began looking to the stars.
"You're obviously not listening, so we'll shut up," Rinoa said giving Squall a 'leave it, she didn't need to know that' look. Squall held his hands up and kissed his fiancee on the forehead. He couldn't wait until their wedding day, although he was scared of admitting to the whole world he loved her so much. It was his only weakness.
"I never really thought about anyone but myself. I've only just realised..." Quistis whispered. Squall jerked forward as though the car had crashed. "I was always hoping you'd do well, so that I could get the praise. I hoped the same for Seifer once. I slept with Seifer because he was the only one who was there for me. Everything is going wrong because I was so self-centered. I only ever cared about me. Talking to the walls... Hell, that's all I've ever done. The walls I've trapped myself in," She didn't once look at them. Squall found himself speechless. Then Rinoa chipped in, with her thoughtful comments.
"You didn't just think of yourself Quisty. When you took that blow for me while fighting Ultimercia, the one that sent you into her slave dimension, you weren't thinking of yourself then. Or when we argued in my dad's house, you were thinking about my safety and Squall's. Quistis, you hardly ever think about yourself. We all make mistakes," Rinoa assured her. Quistis turned and Squall knew it was time for another Quistis rant.
"Not like me! Hell Rinoa! I let myself-I let him... Ugh! Can you believe I did that? That was more than a mistake! Now I'm-" They were saved by the car stopping and the driver opening the door. Quistis promptly went back to her cheery mask and took the offered hand out of the car. Squall sighed and followed, offering his hand out to Rinoa to help her out. She took it.
"Don't worry about Quistis, lion," She said softly. "Everything will turn out alright. You'll see." Squall smiled and kissed her cheek.
*
Nida entered the club. His eyes began to sting from the smoke and he coughed a few times. Nida had never smoked, it was unhealthy and there was no good being unfit as a SeeD. He considered why people liked lining their lungs with tar then decided to leave it.
He followed the gang onto the balcony, where there were some sofas. Nida sat down as soon as he could, trying to sit as far away from Seifer as possible. Rinoa was on one side and on the other was... Quistis. He couldn't believe she had come and sat next to him. Seifer was practically giving him death stares. Nida gnawed at his lip.
"Me and Squall are gonna go dance!" Rinoa called over the beats. Nida nodded and smiled at her. She beamed back at him, taking Squall by the hand. He looked back longingly at the sofa and then let himself be dragged along.
"They met like that. Rinoa dragged him onto the dancefloor. He dances well though," Quistis told him. Nida smiled, yes, Squall would dance well. Squall Leonhart, perfect in every respect. Now his anti-social behaviour had been sorted out he was the most sought after male. Not for much longer.
"Yo Seifer? Wanna dance?" Selphie asked. Irvine opened his mouth to protest but Selphie had already moved over and was forcibly pulling Seifer off the couch and onto the dancefloor. Irvine looked to Quistis who looked away.
"Find someone else lover boy," She said flatly. He nodded and walked away. Nida was very aware that he was left alone with Quistis. Extremely aware. He looked at his hand.
He moved it and heard the faint whirring and a click. He smiled it was ironic really, this hand was so much stronger than his right one. He probably could crush Seifer with it if he wanted to. But the confrontation... Nida couldn't cope with the arguements. No matter what. He fought to defend himself and his friends, that was all.
"I want to dance," Quistis announced. Nida sat back trying to think of an excuse he couldn't.
"Plenty of men in here," He suggested. Quistis smiled and grabbed his hand.
"Oh no, you're coming with me. I said I wanted to dance. I want to dance with you! C'mon!" She wouldn't give in. Nida sighed and stood up. He tried to find where Seifer was but he couldn't see him. Nida hoped that Selphie hadn't made such a big mistake.
They began dancing. Quistis moved like she didn't have a bone in her body. It was all Nida could do to keep up. She laughed as he put his arm around her waist.
"You really are a great dancer Nida. Is there nothing you can't do?" She asked. Nida knew exactly what he couldn't do. He couldn't stop thinking about her. He couldn't let someone take her away from him. He'd never had her, but he'd always wanted her. Now he was so close...
She span around taking him by surprise. Their lips touched. Nida tried to pull away but he couldn't, she was trying to push the kiss deeper. He let her, gently pushing his tongue into her mouth. She allowed him to, it was so perfect. Nida felt so dizzy, he couldn't think straight. All he could think was wow!
He suddenly felt someone grab his shoulder pulling him away. He looked into those jade eyes and knew he should defend himself.
*
Seifer saw Nida kissing his girl. Who did Nida think he was? Seifer wasn't going to let him get away with it. He drew his gunblade, he took it everywhere with him. Mainly out of habit. He pulled Nida away. Nida started into his eyes for a moment then took a few steps backwards.
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to..." He looked so afraid. Seifer felt powerful. He brought the gunblade around. Nida moved out of the way. In the background he heard a few people's screams then Quistis's voice cutting through in a commanding tone.
"Clear the dancefloor. This man has a gunblade," Then she toned down a bit. "Seifer they'll through you out if you attack him again." Seifer snorted and attacked again. Nida dodged again. By this time the dancefloor was almost deserted. Quistis was trying to get between Nida and Seifer. But everytime she got anywhere near Seifer would strike again.
He'd never meant to actually hit Nida. He'd meant to scare him off a little. But when he felt the jarring on his gunblade he realised what had happened. Arms seized him as Nida staggered, kneeling down clutching his stump arm. He suddenlt heard a high pitched somewhat hysterical laugh. Nida was holding his arm up, wires and cables were hanging out of it. Robotics. The laugh was Quistis's.
She moved forward but was held back by Rinoa, who pulled her into a hug.
"Sleep," Someone cast. Seifer hit the ground.
*
Quistis couldn't think straight. That kiss... Why had Seifer had to spoil it? Quistis knew that there was something in that kiss. A deeper caring for her than she had ever felt. She'd never felt that happy in her life. Nida wanted her. She wanted Nida. She realised that now.
For all their glory and extra titles, tough guys were over rated. She thought about all the wonderful qualities, and all the faults, that Nida possessed. She found herself feeling dizzy. With a contented sigh she snuggled into her covers.
*
Nida flexed the ugly metal hand. It was the bare metal frame and, for a week at least, he'd have to use it. Doctor Kadowaki had rigged it up as best she could, but it was still a little faulty. The little finger tended to twitch. Nida fiddled with it until Squall and Selphie left. Squall knew exactly what had happened, but had come to ask a few questions anyway. He hadn't asked what had caused the fight, for which Nida was relieved.
"Nida, you didn't forget did you? Two months time, February fourteenth, you have to go to Odine for you annual check-up," Doctor Kadowaki reminded him.
"Yeah, I remembered. Has he found out anything new?" He asked hopefully. Doctor Kadowaki ran her fingers through her greying hair.
"Nothing major, or that either of us will understand. A lot about MP44765 and things," She said. Nida nodded, although he didn't have a clue what MP44765 was. He would ask Odine in two months time. Meanwhile it was Christmas in two weeks, he'd better buy some presents.
But first to bed, to bed, to rest my head. Nida sang in his head. He smiled, thanked Doctor Kadowaki and ran to his dormitory, falling asleep as soon as he got into bed.
(Author's Afterthought: Sorry it's taken me so long to write the next chapter. I've been busy. I have exams this week so I won't be writing much. Over the next two years I hope to finish all my fanfiction. I get bored and flit from one to the other you see. In two years I leave school and move on to "sixth form". Hope I still have time to write. Anyhow, if you liked please review. If you didn't then what can I improve? Please tell me! And this isn't going to be all mushy from the beginning.)
(Author's Note: Square owns 99.99999'% of this fic. There is probably going to be an original character somewhere along the line. Perhaps maybe... I'd like to say thank you to Square for giving me such a good character to work with. There's so much stuff you can do with a character who's already established but not quite there yet. Also I'd like to thank thin air, because when I stare at youI can be transported to places others can't. Thanks to god for giving me a brain and the internet. Thanks to reviewers *looks around but hears only crickets* ahem...)
Nida sat on the library counter, absently rubbing the scar on his wrist. He'd got it years before during the Fire Cavern Exam. Ifrit had caught his arm whilest casting fire, it'd sliced straight through the wrist, leaving Nida with a stump. He'd had a month off Garden in a special clinic to have a robotic arm attached. It looked exactly like a normal hand, if it was slashed at then Nida felt it, though not too much pain. It reacted like a normal hand, but he couldn't feel anything when he used it. There was only a slight electronic buzz when he moved it.
"Ah! Just the man I was looking for!" Quistis voice cut through his thoughts. He slid off the counter, trying to stop his urge to run. Act cool and casual. Don't screw up!
"Here's your instructor licence. Of course there is a big contract that you have to sign but you can do that later. You receive the licence today, along with the responsibility." Quistis said at length. Nida found himself holding a plastic card with a passport photo of him on it. It also read "INSTRUCTOR NO. 16 GUNBLADE MASTER AND INSTRUCTOR OF HISTORY AND BATTLE THEORY. ID 357522" Nida felt a berserker's laugh rise in him.
"Thanks Quistis. Say, could I sign that contract now? Just wanna read what I'm actually signing up for before I start exercising power," Nida tried to stop himself from laughing hysterically. Quistis smiled sweetly, her rose lips in a perfect smile. A smile Nida hoped contained some affection towards him.
"I'm sure Xu will let you. Say, are you going to celebrate? It's just we're all going to Passions tonight, wanna come along?" She asked. Passions was a nightclub in Balamb, nothing big but you could still have a good time there. Nida blinked a few times. Then he remembered he'd promised Lucinda he'd help her study for her SeeD exam. If she didn't pass this time she'd be out.
"I'm helping someone study, sorry," He managed to say. You are turning down Quistis Trepe! You've wanted to go out with her for so long! DOLT DOLT DOLT!
"Oh... Well, perhaps some other time then?" Her smile disappeared. Nida felt awful. Then she sighed. "Maybe it's for the best anyway? I heard Seifer was invited," She didn't look as enthusiastic as she had done. Nida couldn't believe that he'd done that. He knew he had to leave otherwise he would take back everything he had just said and leave Lucinda in the dark.
"I'll go sign that contract... See ya around?" He walked passed. At the door he caught Lucinda.
"I'll be back soon. All ready for studying tonight?" He asked. She opened her mouth then saw Quistis. She turned back to Nida.
"Sorry, I can't do it Nida. I'm going with Zell and his friends to Passions. Maybe tomorrow night, huh?" She smiled. Nida sighed and nodded. Lucinda carried on to do her duties. He made his way quickly to the bridge.
"Ooh! Nida! Did Quistis talk to you?" Nida found himself face to face with the hyperactive, but extremely pretty, Rinoa Heartilly. Probably still ecstatic about the wedding. He felt his skin tingle and his insides burn, so much power in such a small frame!
"Yeah, but I told her the wrong answer. I am going... Is Squall around?" Nida asked. Rinoa frowned and turned to Xu.
"Is Squall in his office?" She asked. Nida didn't know how she could not know where her fiance was, when she was stood right outside his office. Rinoa must have caught his expression.
"It's a rule Squall and I have.I don't intrude on his work, he drops everything seven in the evening while nine in the morning. Of course Squall doesn't but he cuts back a lot," She shrugged. Nida watched as Xu phone Squall. She jumped and held the phone away from her. The sound of shouting came through the receiver, between two men it seemed.
"Nida's here to see you sir... Seifer?... I'll warn NIda sir." Xu patiently put the phone down. "Hide," She ordered. Rinoa pushed him into a broom cupboard before he had even comprehended the conversation.
Nida waited int here. The worst thing was that he was claustrophobic. He closed his eyes, aware he was sweating. A confrontation with Seifer was the least of his troubles. He had to get out. He pushed open the door and fell to the floor, tangled with mops and buckets, straight in front of a rather startled Garden Commander.
"S-Sir," Nida panted. He reminded himself to get some self-help books on claustrophobia. Knowing his luck he'd become agoraphobic then. Squall raised an eyebrow and folded his arms as Nida struggled to his feet, detangling himself.
"Yes?" He asked. Nida coughed, he was extremely nervous around Squall. He was such a powerful character. The kind of guy Quistis would go for.
"Contract, papers, signing, sir," Nida replied. Squall put his hand over his shoulder and Xu handed him a piece of paper. He pointed to a dotted line.
Nida read some of the small print. It was fair enough. It was basically the same as the SeeD contract. You signed up for two years, after that period you could quit or be sacked. You got a good pension and a good wage. Also there was the offer of early retirement, at the age of forty.
"Fair play," He said and signed it. Squall whipped the contract away and then handed Nida a huge book followed by some other scraps of paper.
"That is the Instructor's Handbook, everything you will ever need to know, and you'll only ever need to know about a hundredth of that book, is in it. Also you have a list of the classes you'll be teaching. Some of them are scheduled so Quistis will be helping you, others are schelduled so you're on your own. Any questions?" Squall asked, turning before Nida even had a chance to open his mouth. Squall walked into his office and slammed the door. Nida winced as a bit of plaster fell off the ceiling.
"Bad day?" Rinoa asked. Xu shrugged and went back to stapling a document. Nida hugged the book into him and turned to leave.
"Say, Nida! After you've had lunch, come and find me. I'll help you with some lesson plans. Quistis taught me everything I know, so basically I swallowed the textbook," Rinoa called after him. Nida turned as he pressed the button for the elevator.
"Yeah, sure. You don't mind Lucinda tagging along do you? The shy girl in the library, usually got her hair in pigtails?" Nida called back. Rinoa smiled and shook her head. Nida supposed that meant that Lucinda could come along, if not then she was anyway.
Nida walked through the corridor quickly. He didn't want to run into anyone, he wanted to read this. He decided to head to the library, that way he could see Lucinda and read his book in relative peace. He was almost there when he had another confrontation. He was having a bad week with these. He hated them but they seemed to be finding him. Instead of the blond bully it was the cowboy.
"Watch as the mouse scurries to it's nest," He taunted. Nida walked passed, not even bothering to look at Irvine. If Nida had looked he would have noticed the foot held out for him. He tripped over and the book hit the floor with a bang that echoed through the halls. The paper flew everywhere. Nida looked up angrily at Irvine.
"That was uncalled for," He snapped. He then picked up the book and started to gather the papers. When he stood up he saw Irvine looking at one of the pieces of paper. Nida saw it was the letter of confirmation that he was an intructor.
"Hand it over," Nida said patiently as possbile. Irvine had visibly paled. Nida waited as Irvine read the entire document then handed it to him.
"Sir," Irvine saluted. Nida then remembered that Irvine wasn't technically a SeeD but he had been accepted on the Sorceress War incident. Nida was his superior. Nida could issue him detention for a month. But Nida wasn't like that. He saluted back and then thought of a really evil thing to make Irvine do as punishment.
"Tell Doctor Kadowaki that I've sent you to help her for an hour. If I found out you haven't then there will be an official detention. Just go," Irvine slouched off. Nida felt sorry for Irvine, but it would teach him to be a bully. No doubt Nida would get it back three times worse tonight. Nida marched into the library and by lunch had memorised the textbook.
Quistis stared at herself in the mirror. What had Rinoa and Selphie done? They had blindfolded her and handed her the clothes. She now stared at them in disgust. The top was draped off her shoulders. The sleeves were long and flowing, pure white it made Quistis look like a fairy tale princess. The tight white skirt that they'd forced her into didn't look too bad. It was then that she saw the white boots that they were handing her. She sighed and pulled them on, they went up to her knees and made her at least five inches taller.
"There. Now what?" She asked impatiently. Rinoa and Selphie pulled her into the bathroom and sat her down on the toilet seat. They then applied make-up and Quistis only saw flashes of the colours they were putting on. When Quistis finally was released from their grasp she saw her face. They had used blue to bring out the colour of her eyes. The rest of her face was almost untouched. At least there was no heavy eyeliner or over blusher. She didn't look bad but she definitely felt... Prettier.
"Right now, if you'll stop staring at yourself, it's time for your hair Quistis," Rinoa said. Quistis shrugged and handed them the hairbrush. She heard some swearing then she saw Rinoa fiddling with something.
"What are they?" She asked. Rinoa held her hand out and showed her the little snowflakes in her hand. At least it was seasonal and fairly pretty. Quistis saw the problem before the others, how were they going to stay in her hair? Tied up like this it was her usual style, and there was no way the little snowflakes could stick in her hair.
"Selphie, get the glue will you?" Rinoa asked. Quistis took a step back, her hands going to her hair. Rinoa laughed.
"It washes out Quistis. You really haven't got a clue about this stuff have you?" Rinoa laughed. Quistis put her hands on her hips.
"If you haven't noticed Rinoa, this is a military establishment. I don't need to know about make-up. I don't even know what I was wearing on that Mabeline thing," She pointed out. Selphie returned giggling. She handed Rinoa the glue, pulling at the silver clasp in Quistis's hair. It fell down to the bottom of her shoulder blades. Quistis sighed and let Rinoa brush it through. She felt the tickling at her scalp as Rinoa fixed the snowflakes in her hair. Then she stepped around the front and peered at Quistis.
"That'll do. Meet us in an hour by the Directory. And don't crease that outfit!" Rinoa ordered. Quistis put her hands up surrendering. Then she thought about the hour she'd have to spend standing in her dormitory. She was about to say something to Rinoa, but Rinoa had already gone. Quistis bit back a hateful remark and stared at herself in the mirror.
"Well Quistis, perhaps it's about time you met a man," She said to herself. Unaware that someone was listening.
Seifer was furious. What was wrong with Trepe? Had she gone daft? Trepe had a man. Him. Or didn't she remember? The first night back when she'd kissed him? They'd made love and Seifer had found the woman of his dreams finally in his arms. Yet when he woke she had been gone and without even a note explaining anything. Then in the corridor she hadn't really even spoken to him. There had been no pleasant visits fro her either.
That ice bitch. Well, tonight she'll realise what she's missing.
Seifer cursed as he went into the cafeteria. There he saw Nida, the little mouse who was studiously looking over a piece of paper. He raised a pen and scribbled something out, replacing it with something else, which was scribbled out. Mouse put his face in his hands. The girl from the library came over with some coffee, she patted his arm then sat down, pulling the work away. She frowned and handed back. Seifer decided to chance it and talk to Nida.
"Mouse!" He called. Nida looked over his shoulder at Seifer, rolled his eyes and continued to do whatever he was doing. Only when Seifer was at his shoulder did he look up. Seifer saw it was a lesson plan. Why was mouse doing a lesson plan?
"I thought we should try and be civil to each other tonight. Quistis won't like it if we fight," Seifer said, sitting down opposite the female mouse. He could see that they were close but were they dating. He'd heard Zell was dating the girl.
"Yeah, ok. Say Seifer, what class are you in?" Nida asked. Seifer frowned. Nida looked genuinely interested. Seifer wondered if he was rubbing it in that he was a SeeD and didn't have to take classes any more. Then he remembered how Quistis scorned his bullying and held back his angry response.
"09, Instructor Jeng," He replied. Nida picked up another piece of paper and grinned, almost evilly.
"Oh, you're going to be civil to me for much longer than tonight. I take all your History and Battle Theory and your gunblade lessons. How long before you crack?" Nida asked, meaning it as a rhetorical question. Seifer hid his shock that Nida was an instructor and put on a smirk.
"I don't crack under pressure, sir," He added mockingly. Nida laughed and put the piece of paper down. He stretched and glanced at his watch. Seifer did the same, half an hour until he was meeting them all by the directory. He had better go and get ready.
"Well, I'm off. Gotta get ready, Luce, I thought you'd need longer to get ready that us," Nida said standing up. The mouse girl shrugged.
"I'm not going. I'm revising. Have fun!" She said. Nida blinked a few times then Seifer saw the telltale signs that Nida was extremely miffed. The slight pink tinge on the tips of his ears. Seifer wondered why the mouse was so miffed.
"Luce! If you're revising them I'm staying with you! If you don't pass this time then you're out. You're a civvy again! I'm not going to let you fail, for one, Zell would kill me," Nida snapped, sitting down again. Seifer stood up and folded his arms.
"I doubt you're studying without help. Xu or Jeng are helping you aren't they?" Seifer widened his eyes as a prompt. The mouse girl took the hint and answered quickly and completely naturally. If she did turn civilian she could make it big as an actress.
"Yeah, Jeng offered. Any way Nida, Quistis and Rinoa asked you to go! They want to celebrate as much as you do! With the wedding and your instructorship, you have every reason to be off celebrating. Have fun Nida, and remember to say sorry to Zell that I couldn't make it," She then stood up and walked over to the doors. Nida turned to Seifer.
"Do you understand women?" He asked. Seifer thought about Trepe and shook his head. The two left together, only guessing at each others thoughts.
Nida was amazed at Seifer's behaviour towards him. They were almost friendly with each other. Perhaps Seifer wasn't that bad? It wasn't until he saw Irvine that he realised that perhaps Seifer being here would add to problems. Nida sighed and prepared himself for a comment from Irvine.
"Instructor Mouse? What are you doing with your arch-enemy Cadet Lap Dog?" Irvine sneered. Nida stuck out his foot and Irvine tripped. Seifer whooped with laughter as Irvine clambered to his feet, face burning. Nida gave Irvine the finger and smirked himself.
"Even now aren't we? Have fun scrubbing bed pans with tooth brushes?" Nida asked. Irvine muttered something and turned around. Nida knew not to pursue it further, that would be heartless. He would never utterly embarrass someone when they weren't going to retaliate, otherwise he'd just be a bully.
"Irvine thinks he's a hot shot. Plays it cool. Don't both much about him, water off a duck's back," Seifer told Nida. Nida wished that he could be like Seifer, uncaring and arrogant. Nida wasn't Seifer though, and it did hurt when people picked on him. He was quiet and hated confrontation, so people took advantage of this in the worst possible way. Nida had given up on being accepted before he had passed his SeeD test.
"Nida?" Squall was next to him before Nida had even noticed his name had been called. Squall looked up at Seifer and raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.
"Sir?" Nida prompted. Squall bit his bottom lip.
"Could you show an interest in Quistis tonight? Rinoa and Selphie say that she's given up completely on men, and that could be disasterous. Just a bit of dancing and things, we're not asking you to get off with her. Just treat her real nice, you know?" Squall asked. Nida blushed to the roots of his hair. A whole night of paying attention to Quistis? Who wouldn't want that? Then again he thought about the fact that he really did have the biggest crush in the world on her and it would be apparent from the first dance. He thought of a way to turn this down.
"I don't think so..." Nida started. One part of his was screaming "why not?" the other was screaming "you'll regret it!"
"Why?" Squall asked. Nida felt eyes burning into his neck. He knew that Seifer was death staring him, it made his skin crawl. Seifer wanted this mission and Quistis would rather have Seifer than him any way.
"I'm not really... Outgoing enough for Quistis. I can't-I can't do that. I'd just wake up regretting it all in the morning," Nida lied. Squall sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Seifer stopped death staring Nida and turned to Squall, hope was obvious. Squall didn't even look at Seifer.
"Well we'll have to hope that someone in the club decides to treat her then... Hell, we've only got half an hour to get ready! Catch you later!" Squall rushed off. Nida looked up to Seifer questionably. Seifer didn't meet his eyes but something had changed. The old hostility was there again. Nida decided to speed up, a jealous Seifer wasn't someone he wanted to meet.
Half an hour later Nida was waiting at the Directory. Rinoa and Squall were already there. Rinoa was dressed in a golden mini-dress, and Squall in trousers and a black shirt. They looked so sweet together, as Selphie would say. Nida knew that they loved each other very much, it was apparent by the way they smiled at each other and talked. Nida was wearing something similar to Squall, black trousers and a black shirt. Unlike Squall he had undone his top buttons. Nida had fretted about the top of the tattoo that would show but then had decided that he looked better as he did.
Selphie and Irvine were next. Irvine wasn't dressed all that differently. He had got rid of the cowboy hat and the coat, but apart from that Nida could tell no difference. Selphie was wearing a red mini dress, with red ankle boots. She looked as pretty as Rinoa did, she'd put her hair in ringlets as well. Selphie still carried the child-like innocence but with an air of elegance. Nida agreed that he would have fallen in love with them if Quistis didn't exist.
Then she came over. She was dressed all in white, like a snow queen. Her hair was sprinkled with little snowflakes. Nida found himself just staring. She looked so beautiful. Nida knew that Quistis was aware of herself, the faint tinge of pink in her cheeks told him that much. Seifer was behind her, standing too close. Nida bit into his lip, could he really let Seifer have her without a fight? Would Quistis ever be happy with a mouse?
"One word Quisty, WOW!" Zell said, as he jogged up. He wasn't wearing anything fancy. Nida raised his eyebrows.
"Oh yeah, Nida. Luce said don't worry, I'm gonna help her study," Zell informed him. Nida snorted causing everyone to look at him.
"Yes, I'm sure studying is the only thing on your mind," He laughed. Zell grinned and gave him the thumbs up.
"Catch you later then," He said, walking away. Nida's reply was off the tip of his tongue before he realised that he'd engaged his brain at all.
"Remember Zell, she tells me every digusting detail. The mental images are disturbing my sleep!" Zell gave him the finger. Nida laughed and turned to the rest of them. Some of them were trying to banish mental images also. Nida grinned despite himself, they'd be trying to get rid of those images all night.
"Let's get going then," Selphie said happily, seemingly undisturbed by the fact that Zell intended to "study". Nida followed her and found himself walking along side Quistis and Seifer. He distanced himself from her and made sure that Seifer wasn't going to say anything, it was only when Quistis began to speak to him that he allowed himself to even look at her.
"So, what exactly did Rinoa tell you about lesson plans?" She asked. Nida found it easy enough to talk about work.
"As much as she could. Enough for me to plan my first week of lessons anyway. And with a bit of help from Lucinda about your lessons, I think I've cracked it. You could go over them later," He suggested. Quistis smiled, and tilted her hair.
"Yeah I will thanks Nida. We have our first day of lessons together anyway. I can fill in facts about History and Battle Theory but I can't help much with gunblade lessons. I'm sure you know enough about your weapon anyway," The snowflakes in her hair twinkled. Nida swallowed, hoping that Seifer did flirt outrageously with her. He hoped that Seifer took her out of his sight from the moment they entered the club, otherwise Nida would do something he regretted and he knew it.
"Yeah. Um, so... What're you doing over christmas?" He asked. Seifer grunted.
"Edea asked me to spend it with her, so I'll be down there. Did she ask the entire gang?" Seifer asked Quistis. Quistis frowned.
"No, she didn't ask me. I'm spending it here, the christmas eve ball should be interesting enough. What are you doing?" She turned to Nida. Nida found himself captured by her eyes, unable to look away until she released him, which she didn't.
"Going to see my mom in Winhill. She'll love me and my sister going back. We've never had a family gathering since my dad died," Nida explained. Quistis blinked and Nida looked away. Quistis patted his arm gently, obviously mistakening his reaction. He had come to terms with the death of his father. It had been two years ago and Nida knew that no matter how long he grieved, it wouldn't bring him back.
"S'ok. He wasn't the best father in the world anyhow," Nida found the tension unbearable. He decided to change the subject onto something else. Something a little less... Painless.
"Have you thought of something for the Garden festival? I've heard that they are getting us lot to perform this year. Squall's cut back the committee money, or something like that," Nida said. Quistis laughed, like the tinkle of bells. He forced himself to look in front of him. It was unfortunate that straight in front of him was Rinoa. He realised it looked like he was staring at her butt and turned.
"Oh no, I can't sing. I sound like a deaf cat. Why are you doing anything?" Quistis asked. Nida found his tongue tied. He tried to get the words out but he couldn't breathe. That gaze was so accepting. Nida almost physically slapped himself. He forced himself to remember that Seifer was there. He coughed.
"Uh... I think I'll just stick to watching. I just thought you'd play the piano or something..." Nida suggested lamely. He had assumed that Quistis could sing, he could see her singing with a low, husky voice. He wondered if she was lying to him. No, Quistis Trepe did not lie.
"No, not anymore. I used to play, but I found it boring when I started proper military training. I gave it up for my SeeDship. Shame how you have to give up everything to be a SeeD," She mused. Seifer snorted.
"Shame how when you're a SeeD you begin to look down your nose at others," He retorted. Quistis turned to him, hurt apparent on her face. She suddenly sped up and walked with Rinoa and Squall. Nida looked to Seifer.
"Whatever has gone on between you, don't hurt her," Nida managed to say. Seifer glared at him, Seifer was very good at glaring. But he was surprised to see Nida not looking at him at all, but up at the stars.
Squall had been surprised by Seifer's reaction. He'd known for a while that Seifer had feelings for Quistis, but he hadn't expected this. No one had expected Seifer to get jealous. Quistis least of all. She had chosen their car to go in and had spent the whole time ranting about how Seifer had such an attitude problem. Rinoa had tried to calm her down but Quistis replied in increasingly annoyed terms.
"Do you know what? He's jealous of Nida now! Hell, why does he think that every man I talk to I love? He's like a human tracking device. As soon as I begin to talk to a man he appears and glares at them until they run a mile. Aah!" She stopped, panting slightly. There was a momentary pause.
"Feel better?" Squall asked. Quistis nodded. Squall decided it was ok for him to speak now.
"Quisty, Seifer's an ass. I know something has happened, that much is obvious. I don't care what, to be honest I'd rather not think about it. If you like or love someone else, who isn't Seifer, then you have to push Seifer out of the way. I'm sure Seifer will get over it," Squall advised. Quistis nodded and began looking to the stars.
"You're obviously not listening, so we'll shut up," Rinoa said giving Squall a 'leave it, she didn't need to know that' look. Squall held his hands up and kissed his fiancee on the forehead. He couldn't wait until their wedding day, although he was scared of admitting to the whole world he loved her so much. It was his only weakness.
"I never really thought about anyone but myself. I've only just realised..." Quistis whispered. Squall jerked forward as though the car had crashed. "I was always hoping you'd do well, so that I could get the praise. I hoped the same for Seifer once. I slept with Seifer because he was the only one who was there for me. Everything is going wrong because I was so self-centered. I only ever cared about me. Talking to the walls... Hell, that's all I've ever done. The walls I've trapped myself in," She didn't once look at them. Squall found himself speechless. Then Rinoa chipped in, with her thoughtful comments.
"You didn't just think of yourself Quisty. When you took that blow for me while fighting Ultimercia, the one that sent you into her slave dimension, you weren't thinking of yourself then. Or when we argued in my dad's house, you were thinking about my safety and Squall's. Quistis, you hardly ever think about yourself. We all make mistakes," Rinoa assured her. Quistis turned and Squall knew it was time for another Quistis rant.
"Not like me! Hell Rinoa! I let myself-I let him... Ugh! Can you believe I did that? That was more than a mistake! Now I'm-" They were saved by the car stopping and the driver opening the door. Quistis promptly went back to her cheery mask and took the offered hand out of the car. Squall sighed and followed, offering his hand out to Rinoa to help her out. She took it.
"Don't worry about Quistis, lion," She said softly. "Everything will turn out alright. You'll see." Squall smiled and kissed her cheek.
Nida entered the club. His eyes began to sting from the smoke and he coughed a few times. Nida had never smoked, it was unhealthy and there was no good being unfit as a SeeD. He considered why people liked lining their lungs with tar then decided to leave it.
He followed the gang onto the balcony, where there were some sofas. Nida sat down as soon as he could, trying to sit as far away from Seifer as possible. Rinoa was on one side and on the other was... Quistis. He couldn't believe she had come and sat next to him. Seifer was practically giving him death stares. Nida gnawed at his lip.
"Me and Squall are gonna go dance!" Rinoa called over the beats. Nida nodded and smiled at her. She beamed back at him, taking Squall by the hand. He looked back longingly at the sofa and then let himself be dragged along.
"They met like that. Rinoa dragged him onto the dancefloor. He dances well though," Quistis told him. Nida smiled, yes, Squall would dance well. Squall Leonhart, perfect in every respect. Now his anti-social behaviour had been sorted out he was the most sought after male. Not for much longer.
"Yo Seifer? Wanna dance?" Selphie asked. Irvine opened his mouth to protest but Selphie had already moved over and was forcibly pulling Seifer off the couch and onto the dancefloor. Irvine looked to Quistis who looked away.
"Find someone else lover boy," She said flatly. He nodded and walked away. Nida was very aware that he was left alone with Quistis. Extremely aware. He looked at his hand.
He moved it and heard the faint whirring and a click. He smiled it was ironic really, this hand was so much stronger than his right one. He probably could crush Seifer with it if he wanted to. But the confrontation... Nida couldn't cope with the arguements. No matter what. He fought to defend himself and his friends, that was all.
"I want to dance," Quistis announced. Nida sat back trying to think of an excuse he couldn't.
"Plenty of men in here," He suggested. Quistis smiled and grabbed his hand.
"Oh no, you're coming with me. I said I wanted to dance. I want to dance with you! C'mon!" She wouldn't give in. Nida sighed and stood up. He tried to find where Seifer was but he couldn't see him. Nida hoped that Selphie hadn't made such a big mistake.
They began dancing. Quistis moved like she didn't have a bone in her body. It was all Nida could do to keep up. She laughed as he put his arm around her waist.
"You really are a great dancer Nida. Is there nothing you can't do?" She asked. Nida knew exactly what he couldn't do. He couldn't stop thinking about her. He couldn't let someone take her away from him. He'd never had her, but he'd always wanted her. Now he was so close...
She span around taking him by surprise. Their lips touched. Nida tried to pull away but he couldn't, she was trying to push the kiss deeper. He let her, gently pushing his tongue into her mouth. She allowed him to, it was so perfect. Nida felt so dizzy, he couldn't think straight. All he could think was wow!
He suddenly felt someone grab his shoulder pulling him away. He looked into those jade eyes and knew he should defend himself.
Seifer saw Nida kissing his girl. Who did Nida think he was? Seifer wasn't going to let him get away with it. He drew his gunblade, he took it everywhere with him. Mainly out of habit. He pulled Nida away. Nida started into his eyes for a moment then took a few steps backwards.
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to..." He looked so afraid. Seifer felt powerful. He brought the gunblade around. Nida moved out of the way. In the background he heard a few people's screams then Quistis's voice cutting through in a commanding tone.
"Clear the dancefloor. This man has a gunblade," Then she toned down a bit. "Seifer they'll through you out if you attack him again." Seifer snorted and attacked again. Nida dodged again. By this time the dancefloor was almost deserted. Quistis was trying to get between Nida and Seifer. But everytime she got anywhere near Seifer would strike again.
He'd never meant to actually hit Nida. He'd meant to scare him off a little. But when he felt the jarring on his gunblade he realised what had happened. Arms seized him as Nida staggered, kneeling down clutching his stump arm. He suddenlt heard a high pitched somewhat hysterical laugh. Nida was holding his arm up, wires and cables were hanging out of it. Robotics. The laugh was Quistis's.
She moved forward but was held back by Rinoa, who pulled her into a hug.
"Sleep," Someone cast. Seifer hit the ground.
Quistis couldn't think straight. That kiss... Why had Seifer had to spoil it? Quistis knew that there was something in that kiss. A deeper caring for her than she had ever felt. She'd never felt that happy in her life. Nida wanted her. She wanted Nida. She realised that now.
For all their glory and extra titles, tough guys were over rated. She thought about all the wonderful qualities, and all the faults, that Nida possessed. She found herself feeling dizzy. With a contented sigh she snuggled into her covers.
Nida flexed the ugly metal hand. It was the bare metal frame and, for a week at least, he'd have to use it. Doctor Kadowaki had rigged it up as best she could, but it was still a little faulty. The little finger tended to twitch. Nida fiddled with it until Squall and Selphie left. Squall knew exactly what had happened, but had come to ask a few questions anyway. He hadn't asked what had caused the fight, for which Nida was relieved.
"Nida, you didn't forget did you? Two months time, February fourteenth, you have to go to Odine for you annual check-up," Doctor Kadowaki reminded him.
"Yeah, I remembered. Has he found out anything new?" He asked hopefully. Doctor Kadowaki ran her fingers through her greying hair.
"Nothing major, or that either of us will understand. A lot about MP44765 and things," She said. Nida nodded, although he didn't have a clue what MP44765 was. He would ask Odine in two months time. Meanwhile it was Christmas in two weeks, he'd better buy some presents.
But first to bed, to bed, to rest my head. Nida sang in his head. He smiled, thanked Doctor Kadowaki and ran to his dormitory, falling asleep as soon as he got into bed.
(Author's Afterthought: Sorry it's taken me so long to write the next chapter. I've been busy. I have exams this week so I won't be writing much. Over the next two years I hope to finish all my fanfiction. I get bored and flit from one to the other you see. In two years I leave school and move on to "sixth form". Hope I still have time to write. Anyhow, if you liked please review. If you didn't then what can I improve? Please tell me! And this isn't going to be all mushy from the beginning.)