Authors Notes: Do you have any idea how hard it is to write BADLY?! Sheesh. I actually had to struggle today with trying to suck. I'm not sure it actually worked, who the hell knows. Eh I tried. Well, no, technically I DIDN'T try. Gah, its hot today. Computer is overheating and so is my intelligence.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Planet, the Other Planet, Sephiroth, Vincent, Reeve, Reno, Elena, Rude, Cid Highwind, Shera, Chaos, Seifer, Zell, Squall, Selphie, Irvine, Rinoa, Headmaster Cid, Quistis, Xu, Rajin, Fujin, Kawadoki (Probably spelled wrong several times), Balamb Garden, Spike, Jet, Swordfish, The claw thing Jet flies, or the Internet. I don't actually like Cloud, so he's being excluded from this fic.
Info and Cyber are borrowed characters and I have been given full permission to use them within this fiction. Dolphin of Yaoi, thank you. Katelynne, Zane, Droxis, Apothis, various short lived characters and anyone else you don't recognize are probably mine. 'Hyperstyle' is mine, and if you'd like to use it, feel free, just give me credit for it. Anything not mentioned here I've probably forgotten about.

Twisting Heads

World: Eight
Time: A few years after the Sorceress War.
Location: Balamb/Garden
Warning: This is not a Mary-Sue, but it still sucks like one.

Jarod was a frail boy, his former private school uniform hanging off his shoulders in limp folds despite being the smallest size the fitters had in their department. Almost holding the appearance of stick like thinness, causing one to wonder what was preventing him from keeling over and simply dying right there in the road. Rightfully, every step he took should've shattered his small feet, and the bundle of books he hauled along against his chest should've weighed more than him.
Alright, this was an exaggeration, but when you haven't had any food or water for two days of walking, the mind tends to begin to despair and start to destroy itself with misery. Jarod WAS stick-like, and his clothes did not fit, but he wasn't a week porcelain doll either. After the ride on the fisherman's boat, taking the last of his money to get there, he'd tried walking through the small fisherman's town to the Garden. His stamina, however, had finally run dry, and just outside the city limits, he had collapsed on the side of the road, his dazed eyes looking at the top of the Garden building peeking out from the treetops in the lands ahead.
Barely raising his head enough to slip his books under, he thought that maybe, just maybe if he could get some rest, he could go onwards again. That maybe the monsters wouldn't come this close to the city and he'd be safe. Completely unattentive of the soft footsteps on the road until the shadow fell over him, blocking out the fiery gaze of the sun on his travel worn body.
"What the hell?" The person over Jarod remarked quietly, looking down at him.
Looking up was some struggle, but Jarod managed. Meeting those sea green eyes with his own sharply emerald ones. His gaze swept over him fallingly, only making note of his large white-grey trenchcoat, closing his eyes again as the person didn't seem of any threat really. Not that he could do much even if he was. His lips parted and shallow breaths rasping harshly in his throat from dehydration. So tired, so very tired. Even getting poked at with the man's boot didn't really bother him.
Though having his head lifted a few moments later and a canteen of water pressed to his lips and tilted so he could drink was something of a surprise however. His breath shallow and his heart wasn't in much better condition, he took minuscule sips, one at a time, a soft gasp slipping free fro him after each, almost afraid it would be lifted away just to torment him if he took too much.

"Come on, come on, take more than that." Seifer spoke, pulling Jarod up from the road into a sitting position against his own crouched form. Keeping the canteen where the kid could drink from it, he dug around for a Potion within his pockets. Drawing it forth from his pockets and starting to remove the cap when around reached up and clutched at his coat.
"Hands off." He glared at Jarod, peeling the frail articulation of bone and flesh off his coat before pouring the potion into Jarod's mouth and forcing him to swallow. The resulting coughing and choking sounds sounded painful enough that even Seifer had to wince and wondered how someone this bad could get this far. He watched over him as minor wounds and bruises sealed up from the effects of the magically imbued liquids. Still it didn't seem Jarod would move too far under his own power.
"Odd." Seifer remarked, brows furrowing as Jarod's condition didn't improve otherwise. Pulling up the kid further, virtually holding the collapsing kid entirely. After a moment of trying to get him to stand, Seifer simply picked him up in his arms and stood. Arranging him a bit better, one arm curled under the kid and leaning him against his shoulder, Seifer continued holding the canteen for him to drink from. Eventually, the kid opened his eyes again and could hold the container himself, looking at Seifer thankfully every few sips.
"You're a mess." Frowning at the frail kid as he simply didn't seem to e talking. There was a moments consideration that maybe he didn't speak the language, but fro the uniform on his body, he must've known something of the standard language. Maybe it was a medical condition? Something to explore later maybe.
His statements were met with continued silence, just a little nod and a shining intelligence in those eyes. More reptilian than emerald really, now that a good look was to be had. Jarod looked moderately healthy and intelligent, just... Weak. Taking a moment to consider what he'd seen before the kid collapsed and all, he tilted his head and rose a brow at him.
"I suppose I should take you to the Garden then, Hm?"
The question brought a smile and a nod, along with the bonus movement of those thin fingered hands moving to his book bag and drawing forth a sheaf of papers, showing them to Seifer. Transfer papers, from a small line of very private schools, and abruptly directly to Balamb Garden despite being a bit old for recruitment.

"Hmm. Alright then." Seifer moved Jarod a bit more, amused the boy immediately adjusted himself to be carried far more easily, and began walking towards the garden, continuing to read the transfer papers as he went. Maybe they weren't meant for his eyes, but when the opportunity presented itself, damned if he was going to let it slip by.

Jarod had some oddities to him, the nurses of the schools and one specific doctor found no problems with his throat and voice box. He should've been laughing and singing along with the rest of the boys throughout the years, but never did. He was reclusive in his silence, sticking to the libraries and studying, avoiding most physical labor outside of hauling books and occasional swimming laps. Ofcourse, this was all plainly explained over he next sheet of paper. Jarod had tested as AIDS positive at a terribly young age. A few people proposed whatever had caused him to retract this condition had been bad enough to mentally turn him mute. Psychologists couldn't get to him despite it being clear he understood various languages and could write quite legibly in all of them.
His transfer papers traced his education, lines and lines of private schools, only one public school listed, before a forced request to transfer to the Garden. He'd been ahead in every grade intellectually and there was reason to believe the Garden might be the only educational challenge to his brain. Teachers and his principals had grudgingly agreed and now, here he was, in Seifer's arms, heading towards the school.
"Mute, huh? Trepe is going to love you, at least she wont have to tell you to shut up all the time." He started folding the papers, when something shot by him, cycling around him to face them off. A large blue Fly. Seifer frowned and was about to say something, but the kid was already slipping from his arms and standing behind him. "Hn. Smart kid."
Seifer drew his Gunblade and pulled into a stance, facing off with the critter who had so graciously waited long enough for them to position themselves and let Seifer whistle a few bars of battle music, jazzing himself up before the bug attacked him. So much for dramatics. A swing of his blade, slicing through the fragile head shelling and the rest of the carapace and exoskeleton. The two halves plopped to the ground in a bit of buggy goop, rather dead.

"Blue Fly, not the smartest of creatures." He turned around as he wiped his blade on the grass, to find he kid scouting around, not fearfully, but apparently just making sure there wasn't any there monsters around, all spotter like. Seifer just shook his head and sheathed his blade again, scooping up the frail boy and continuing on to the garden, humming something that sounded some classical music. Dachaunn's 4th perhaps.
Jarod pulled himself up a little and put an arm around his shoulders, Steadying himself and allowing himself a better view of his surroundings, picking up on the tune and humming along softly. Nestled close and comfortable against his chance elected guardian. Pacing through the gates, the kid's smile just blossomed widely, looking at all the plants and the trees, the construction of the garden itself and ll the splays and seemingly pointless points of construction.
Seifer took Jarod up to the map of the garden up front as he passed through the garden and finally set him down, pointing out the various areas on the map discussing what they were for, then pointed out the elevator. "I'd take ya to see the headmaster myself, but," He smirks and rubs the back of his neck, a momentarily dark pattern moving across his eyes. "He hates my guts."
Jarod rose a brow at Seifer but as usual said nothing, walking towards the elevator with the tall student.
"Squall's a cold bastard, but he's pretty fair."
Jarod nodded solemnly, but paused before triggering the elevator. Seifer knew his name from the papers, but he didn't know his.
"Seifer. My name's Seifer." He gave the kid a little mock salute, then made his way off to other things.
As he strode off and the doors closed, his ears caught a series of intricate tapping. Was that Morse Code? Yes it was. And it was asking if he could decode it. Startled, he turned around to respond, just to see Jarod's knowing smile vanish behind the shutting of the elevators doors.
"Weird kid."

*_*_*_*

The registration process with Headmaster Squall was a bit of a long one considering Jarod couldn't verbally communicate or was willing to and unlike the eccentric Seifer, didn't appear to know Morse code, nor did Xu, his secretary. The papers were given and rather one sided conversation, introduction to the garden and so forth. Unfortunately for them, turning Jarod away wasn't precisely an option as it seemed not only did he have nowhere else to go, no one else would take him, judging him fast on his physical condition.
With mutters of getting the rejects of society as of late, the headmaster cycled his papers in with the rest, starting to thumb through the list of rooms to see what was available. Eventually, everything was settled, he was given someone to bunk with, and a uniform would be measured up for him in a day or two, and he was kicked out f the office by the harshly toned man.
Just stepping out of the office however, Jarod fainted from exhaustion, hunger, dehydration still raging, and triggered by the bliss of being accepted into one of the most reputable schools known in these parts. He was quickly peddled off to the Infirmary to be looked over and taken care of.
It was rumors of the sick kid being taken into the ranks that cycled throgh the students and the other SeeD that got Seifer's attention. Fairly obvious it was Jarod, he took his time drifting towards the infirmary as he went around his usual rounds of his former Disciplinary Committee actions. Eventually he slipped into the wing about two hours after the incident, making sure the doctor was off attending to someone hurt in the training grounds before checking up on the kid in his bed.
Seifer's face wrinkled in distaste slightly as he entered as the smell of disinfectant was almost overpowering. They didn't seem to know too much about the disease Jarod had and were working hard to keep it from spreading in any possible fashion. Nothing but a small drip IV inserted into Jarod's arm as they hadn't thought he could eat on his own.
Watching him a moment, Seifer realized Jarod was actually awake and merely taking the opportunity to rest before facing the rest of the students. The frail boy seemed to already know he'd be the topic of the school for a while and was bolstering himself here in this starched and cold unforgiving bed.
"Want that think out of your arm?" He murmured softly as he got closer. Seifer could push and damn jerk around that he wanted to, break arms, twist heads and cut people to ribbons if he wanted to, ad few people could stop him. But he wasn't a completely insensitive bastard as everyone was convinced. There were places he drew limits, and this guy would have to be one hell of a limit. Life had already beat him down hard and it was clear that his mere presence here was show of how damn stubborn he was to survive against all the odds. The nod from Jarod further confirmed his intuition.
He leaned over, pinching the line shut with one of the clips nearby and carefully removed the needle. A bit of gauze and tape from the table within the room and he was set. "People are undoubtedly stupid when the mothering instinct kicks in."
-So I've noticed. I've had to deal with it in just about every school since..- He tapped out in Morse code against the side of the bed with a heart monitor clipped to his finger against the metal of the bed. His sentence left unfinished, as it was pretty obvious what he was referring to. After all, not many people were in public with such a 'contamination'.

"I know what you mean, When smoothing happens, people treat you different." Seifer sighed a bit, his own life hadn't been all that easy. Most of the worst was still recent and burning brightly in his mind despite being years past. He still hadn't made SeeD, and if he passed the next test, he'd be kicked out of the school, considered past his prime. He shook his he'd slightly to keep in the present and looked Jarod over.
-Yes. But I prefer not to let it get to me. I may be different, but I can still function, think and do things for myself. I intend to live life the same way as if I had never contracted it.- Jarod, compared to another boy of his average age, seventeen or eighteen, would seem seriously underweight and pale beyond comparison. But to Jarod, he was at peak health right now, in the best shape he could be at the time, all things considered. His eyes now open and unclouded were sharp as a T-rexuar's teeth with intelligence and a hunger for knowledge. Despite his condition, he had a flamingly strong, stubborn spirit.
"Good to hear. You wont get babied much around here If you've got potential, they'll find it. If you don't have potential. Well. Nothing can be done for you." He smirked and reached out to puck him up. "Now come on, lets get you out of bed before they try spoon feeding you."
-You're contradicting your own statements.- He laughed, a huffing quick airy sound no tone added to it at all. He'd silenced his laughter as well as his voice it seemed. He waved off the hands a bit and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, pausing a moment to rub his temple as he had a moment of dizziness. He still needed some food in that hungry little belly of his.
Seifer smirked, pulling out a half sandwich and a small carton of milk swiped from the cafeteria, presenting them to Jarod. "Figured you'd need these."
-Thank you, very much.- His expression warming and eyes lighting up a bit with the sight of food. Taking them from Seifer's hands, Jarod moved into eating and drinking quickly. Not fast enough to choke, but fast enough for Seifer to realize Jarod really didn't like being in the infirmary. Seifer smirked a bit, crossing his arms as he leaned against a nearby wall, one eye closed the other barely open as he watched Jarod and put his muscled body on display. Yeah, he knew he was a sexy bastard.

Jarod looked over the display with a casual movement. Clearly checking Seifer out, but made absolutely no motion of interest beyond it. The disease had turned him off almost all physical contact, not to mention thoughts of courtship and bed play. His gender preference may have leaned towards males from the appreciative looks he was giving Seifer, but it really didn't mean much. His life had changed ad he accepted there were some things he could never have. He merely finished his food, tossing the trash into a bin near the end of the bed, and moved to leave.
Seifer grinned slightly from the attention. Looks like that weren't given to him every day, at least not so forward and casual. It almost brought a blush to his cheeks, but not quite. "You'll have to forgive me, I'm a bit of a showoff."
-Forgiven, I'd probably do the same thing in your position.- Still a bit dizzy as the food hadn't yet started to be digested, he put out a hand to steady himself, trying to convince himself the floor wasn't trying to heave and sin and get him off. He stumbled over his own feet and nearly fell all the same.
"Whoa there, you look drunk like that." Seifer pushed off the wall, catching him and picking him up in his arms. He could swear Jarod seemed to only weigh ninety pounds, maybe less. He was rather amused Jarod still managed to find some way to be alive. He grinned a bit as Jarod stroked his cheek after being lifted, so he could continue the Morse communication as Seifer started to try and sneak the both of them out.
-Perhaps, but I try to stay away from alcohol. It makes me terribly sick rather than drunk.- Not that he minded, alcoholism didn't seem that attractive anyway. The two looked quite a sight as the escaped the horribly clean tangy smell of the infirmary. The new kid curled up weakly in Seifer's arms, one hand on his face, and Seifer looking dark and protective. Jarod closed his eyes, letting the sway and rock that seemed natural to Seifer's steps comfort his body and mind as he tried to figure out how to find his room. All he'd been given was a last name, Almsay. But how would he find a student if he wouldn't, couldn't speak?

Taking the kid into the Quad, which was blissfully empty this tie of day, Seifer set Jarod down on a bench so he could enjoy the inner splendor of one of the best parts of the Garden, sitting down beside him. Jarods hand immediately moved to something he could tap his hard nails against and be heard by the other young man.
-If all the students here are as nice as you are, I'm sure I'll get along fine here.- From his expression however, He didn't really expect to be treated like a prince, or even noticed at all past the entering rumors. And didn't seem the least bit bothered by this prospect.
"I'm not nice, hun. I'm wicked. The nice students are the ones that will be coming along and cooing over you with the typical, 'aww, you POOR dear!' comments." He said, laughing.
-I avoid the type. Anyone who thinks I need to be taken care of will be sorely mistaken.- He smirked and leaned back against the bench, looking up and around at the Quad. -Give me two weeks, I'll probably be two grades ahead of my age level.- He tapped, thinking about his previous schools, and being so far ahead the teachers had trouble fathoming what the hell to teach him next and still be able to teach those far behind him. Though he came here for the academic challenge, he had secretly been thinking about fighting. His other schools hadn't taught anything about it really, and as weak as he was, he had no idea if he was capable of anything at all due to this. He HAD been babied by the other schools. His brows furrowed just lightly, a touch angered by these thoughts, but ti passed.
"Maybe, but I doubt it. Balamb has some pretty tough levels." Seifer had settled to a light chuckle, unaware of what his companion was thinking and dreaming of.
-Good. If it didn't, my transferal would've been a complete waste.- Hr miles brightly, looking back at Seifer, then paused. Woops, did he leave his book bag in the infirmary?
"They probably sent it to your room." He said, relaxed on the bench, apparently guessing off his expression.
-Wonderful. I don't even know where my room is, all they gave me was a last name.-
"Eh? Which name? I've been here so long I know practically every name in the whole damn building."
-Almsay. I've never see a stranger expression on a Headmaster's face though.- Jarod shook his head, a little befuddled. -I think his secretary was trying to talk him out of placing me with this person and put me somewhere else. Really makes me wonder what kind of person I've been bunked with.-

Seifer struggled rather valiantly to keep a straight solemn face, but after Jarod had finished, he couldn't help it and burst out into deep and throaty laughter, slapping his leg and looking like he was going to bust his spleen from almost frightening guffaws of mirth.
Jarod sat there, brows raising then lowering into a look of utter and complete befuddlement. Was this a joke? What was so funny about this last name and reaction? Jarod had been left in the dark and apparently had been living under a rock for some time. -Erm... What?-
Seifer calms down, wiping a bit of wetness from his eyes and grinning wide a him almost feral. "Hi, I'm Seifer Almsay. I'll be your roommate for the semester."
Jarod quickly flashed a grin and offered a hand in shake, all caught up and laughing silently himself. - Jarod Wraith, pleased to make your acquaintance.-
"You might hear some nasty rumors about me," Seifer said, smirking as he shook his hand. "Of course, most are true..."
-That may be, but having just come here, I know none of them. One cannot make a fair judgment off other peoples words in the first place anyway. Perhaps you should fill me in first hand before anyone else tries to dilute my precious mind with disinformation.-
"Ehh.. Maybe later. I'll leave you innocent and un-frightened right now." He said with a sigh and a humorless smirk.
-Not all that easy to frighten, actually.- He closed his eyes, thinking about his lack of parents and the day he'd made his vow of silence. There were some many reasons he was here today instead of merely staying at home to sped the rest of his life spoon-fed in bed.
Seifer closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly in respect, each having a moment of relative silence to turn their thoughts over in their minds, considering and pondering. Only broken by a soft, tapping inquiry.
-Can you show me where our room is? I'd like to unpack.-

Seifer nodded, getting up, and moving out of the quad, lightening and slowing his pace so Jarod could keep up. The kid walking behind him slightly through the halls of the unfamiliar campus. The two simply ignored the murmurs of students in the halls, about the sick kid and the killer moving in close concentric circles. It was only a matter of time before word spread they were bunking together.

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Next Chapter!
Oh.. Hell.. I dont know.. Um. Either gratouitus loving from Cid and Zane, or some more info from FF8. There IS plot here, I swear. Im just not telling you where it starts.