By Trista-Selphie
Chappy 3: Brothers never part...
Seifer and Quistis left their dorm for the dance. All around them were students of Garden gazing at the couple in awe. Quistis gently smiled and waved to the familiar faces that would pass by. Seifer kept quiet.
"You're so happy aren't you?" Seifer asked Quistis. She turned to him and stared into his eyes. She stood on her tiptoe to wrap her arms around Seifer's neck. He gripped Quistis' hips and held her until she let go, letting a warm breath on Seifer's neck.
"Oh and by the way, congratulations you two. I hope its a girl!" Selphie grabbed Quistis hands and locked her fingers around Quistis' before giving her a big hug. The emerald eyes of Seifer's rolled sarcastically at Selphie. Irvine came to rescue Seifer, but instead brought a joke.
"So I guess you really are tied down now, huh?" Irvine teased Seifer. He let out a small smile in reply.
"C'mon Irvy, let's leave the kiddies alone to play, okay?" Selphie let go of Quistis and twisted her thin arms around Irvine's muscular right arm. Irvine left with a polite backhand wave as a goodbye and the duo left to sit at a dining table together.
Before Quistis and Seifer could sit down at a dinner table, the lights dimmed and the spotlight shined on a man standing on a platform. Headmaster Cid smiled and waved to the crowd. He rubbed his arm across his forehead to wipe away the sweat from stage-fright and opened his mouth to talk.
"Welcome everyone. As you know, I am Headmaster Cid, and that this dance is dedicated to the new SeeD cadets and the special promotions to be made. I'd like to congratulate all of you tonight and would like to begin to name the new cadets who have joined the SeeD family." Headmaster Cid reached into his coat pocket to reveal a slip of paper with names scribbled across it.
"Devon Patterson." Headmaster Cid read. The spotlight shone on a boy who waved wildly to everyone. One of his elbows hit his date sitting down next to him and he was rewarded with a glass of water thrown onto his lap. The light immediately moved away from the Devon and back to Headmaster Cid.
"Ahem, sorry folks. Just a little bit of err, trouble. Next is Kammy Moore." Seifer leaned in towards Quistis.
"If I ever act like that guy did, please whip me as hard as you can." Seifer said. Quistis burst out in small laughs. Before Quistis stopped laughing, the spotlight shown over Seifer and Quistis' table. Seifer looked up like a deer caught in headlights, gained his senses and finally waved slightly to everyone. Headmaster Cid continued to announce new cadets, but behind Quistis she heard a rustling noise. Behind a potted palm tree, Rinoa and Squall appeared, both in white uniforms. They invited themselves to the table and relaxed after taking a sip of champgne.
"Sorry, we kind of overslept. Good thing we didn't miss the promotions. " Rinoa unfolded the cloth napkin and laid it upon her lap. Headmaster Cid's voice slowed and a SeeD dressed in green handed him a piece of paper. Seifer played with his straw and drink turning it around and around in his glass. Squall spat out his straw at Seifer landing it square on Seifer's forehead and bouncing into his untouched salad.
"You should eat your salad Seifer. You'll be healthier if you do." Rinoa said in a sweet voice. Seifer and Squall rolled their eyes.
"I like to save room for the meat thank you very much." Seifer said. He focused on Headmaster Cid who began to speak.
"Now I'd like to announce the new promotions. First, Cadet William Anders will be the new instructor for the training center. Second, Cadet Rinoa Leonhart will become an instuctor for the SeeD entrance exams." Rinoa's mouth widened and threw her arms around Squall who smiled brightly for his wife. Quistis gave Rinoa a hug and Seifer lifted his glass as a sign of congrats. Headmaster Cid fell silent. He took a deep breath before making his next announcement.
"As some of you know, this is my last ceremony of new cadets and my last year as Headmaster. I plan on returning to my wife Edea to help with her orphanage (The audience says "aww..."). And I have decided on a successor." Xu stood beside him holding the keys to the Headmaster's Office and to various locks that only Headmaster has access to. She jingled the keys to the rythmn of a drumbeat to gain anticipation among the SeeDs.
"I appoint Squall Leonhat as my successor. He has fought Ultimecia with leadership and bravery that I know he can put forth into his work as Headmaster. He is faithful to Balamb Garden and always has been. Those were a few small statements as to why I chose Squall as my successor. Squall Leonhart, do you accept the promotion to the position of Headmaster of Balamb Garden?" The light turned directly towards Squall. He stood and decided right then and there if he would accept.
"I accept, but only because of the kindness you and your wife showed to me at the orphanage when I lived there under your care." Squall walked up to the platform, beckoned to keep coming by Headmaster Cid to accept the keys. On the stage, Squall gave Cid a hug and nodded his head to the crowd accepting his new title. Headmaster Cid's eyes teared, but managed to stutter out congratulations and to wish the dance attenders a good time.
"Wow Squall, that's amazing!" Rinoa clapped her hands and planted a kiss on Squall's lips. Seifer tried to keep his head down and not look into Squall's eyes or at his cheering. A combination of anger and jealousy brimmed inside him.
'Damnit! Damnit!' Seifer thought to himself. He pushed back his chair and left for the balcony. Squall left the admiration from his friends to follow Seifer. Seifer pounded his fist down on the stone railing, gritting his teeth and trying to hold back the tears of envy. Squall walked behind him and put a hand on Seifer's shoulder. Seifer angrily pushed it aside.
"I'm sick of bieng one step behind you. I'm sick and tired of being less than you, not comparing to you and not bing as great as you. I hate how I'm known as the loser while you're the hero. Above all, I am sick of being the bad guy and you the hero! I hate it Squall!" Seifer blurted out. Squall leaned on the balcony railing to see Seifer's puffy red eyes. Squall patted Seifer's shoulders while Seifer's legs were shaking, ready to give in and pull his body down to his knees.
"Seifer, I'm sorry you're not the greatest, I'm not either, no matter what you think. No matter what, I am your friend. We grew up together you know? We called the same woman our mother and loved her. Seifer, we're like brothers. We're not enemies, just brothers." Squall smiled. Seifer looked up at Squall in shock. He never thought about that, that Squall was like his little brother.
"You really think of me as your big brother?" A tear slowly streamed down Seifer's rough jaw. Squall's white gloved fingers ran down Seifer's scar and then took Seifer's to run down his own scar.
"Only my big brother and I share the same scar." Squall said. Seifer's index finger brushed away the loose bangs that covered the scar on Squall's forehead. Squall pulled Seifer down to his level and close to him, to be forehead to forehead.
"Brothers." Seifer said. He turned his head and rested it upon Squall's shoulder, allowing Squall's arms to on his back.
"Aww, this is so cute." Quistis walked towards Seifer, placing a reassuring hand on his hsoulder. The one who spoke leapt behind Squall and hugged him from behind.
"Rinoa, Quistis, you better not have heard anything." Squall teased the pair. Seifer nodded, trying to hide his face that was completely red from crying. Quistis pulled Rinoa away, tugging on her arm while Rinoa tightened her grip around her hubby.
"Rinoa, let's leave them alone, besides you can help me pick out some cute baby names." Quistis put on her best smile and then Rinoa let go. Both rushed inside to join the hyper Selphie who waved to them for some "gal-pal" time.
"Our wives are so childish sometimes. Kind of odd they married men like us huh?" Seifer joked. Squall let out a small laugh and the two let go from their brotherly hug. Squall looked into the ballroom to see the guests dancing to a cheerful beat. Seifer rubbed his eyes with his hand and tried to make the rosyness from his cheeks tone down.
"Seifer, we may have had a moment, but I guarentee you that I will kick your ass on Saturday." Squall said. He pushed Seifer's shoulder and pretended to hop like Zell did when he fought.
"Well, well, well, chicken-wuss has returned yet again." Seifer threw his fists in a fighting postision and purposely missed Squall. Squall turned to make a punch but Seifer swung his arm around Squall's neck and planted a fist on Squall's head. He shook his hand to tossel Squall's hair. Squall slammed his foot down on Seifer's toes.
"C'mon Squall, stop playing like a sissy-girl and fight me damnit!" Seifer joked. Squall fell back to lean on the balcony railing, his fingers thumbling though his brown hair. Seifer cracked his knuckles as Squall did a touch-up on his hair.
"Thanks Squall, I owe you one." Seifer said. Squall turned his head to face his brother.
"Well, you got it out of your system before you would attack me in my sleep with your gunblade. Not to mention you avoided getting into a shitload of trouble." Squall laughed. He walked towards the ballroom, spotting Selphie, Rinoa, and Quistis joking and laughing together as Selphie motioned the parts to the song "Itsy Bitsy Spider". Irvine sat staring blankly into space hoping for a miracle.
"Your wife is already torturing a male and is slowly brainwashing my wife into wanting a kid." Squall sia. Seifer laughed, hard. His head back and shoulder's moving up and down from the laughter.
"Oh man, that was a good one Squall. But seriously, your wife is definitely going to ask you tonight, "Squally-wally, can we have a baby? It would be so cute if Quistis' baby and ours could play together.' Gushy-gushy goo-goo." Seifer said. He flailed his arms in the air, imitating a girl.
"It scares me how well you did that, maybe you're my sister?" Squall teased. Seifer lunged for Squall, but Squall was evasive enough to dodge Seifer's attack. Squall rushed over to the table where Rinoa and the others sat. Seifer followed hastily behind him. He came to an abrupt stop when he realized he was in the ballroom.
"C'mon Squall, let's dance." Rinoa jumped from her seat and grabbed Squall. He was pulled to the dance for reluctantly to slow dance with his wife.
"Irvy, hehe, stop it. We're in public sweetie." Selphie giggled. Irvine had her on his lap andhis hand firm around her waist, tempted to move up to caress her breasts.
"I know babe. Just the way I like it." Irvine playfully kissed Selphie. Seifer leaned close to Quistis who sipped some champgne from her glass. Seifer pulled the glass away from her. She looked up at Seifer, his eyebrows arched in an angry pose.
"Quistis, you pregnant." Seifer said while Quistis stared at him. Guilt consumed her entire body and mind. A deep sinking feeling that jerked her to tears from indulging in something that could harm her baby.
"I'm sorry Seifer. I completely forgot. That was my first sip and I haven't drank anything but water so far this night." Quists gazed at Seifer. His face remained stern. He gripped her hand and pulle dher up from her seat. She was confused, perplexed by his behavior.
"We'll see you guys later okay?" Quistis managed to say before leaving the dance with Seifer. Neither Selphie nor Irvine paid any attention. Seifer hastily dragged Quistis from the dance with rage.
"Quisits you have to start think about th baby and not yourself!" Seifer said. Quistis' eyes brimmed with tears. She stopped walking and cried. She put her arm over her eyes to cover them. Her other arm was still held inside Seifer's hand.
"Seifer, I'm sorry, I am really sorry." Quistis cried out. Seifer reached over to Quistis arm and pulled it down, revealing a woman's face covered in salty drops. He leaned in close to her and kissed her forehead. His large arms gently wrapped around it's owner's fragile flower. Quistis' fingers tugged on Seifer's unifrom as she continued to cry.
"Quistis, I'm just a little mad, I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I'm sorry, you shouldn't be sorry." Seifer looked down at Quistis and their lips touched briefly. Quistis and Seifer smiled, their smiles breaking through the tears and sending them back to where they came from.
"Seifer, only you can care so much for all the little things."