"A man is not good or bad for one action" ~ Thomas Fuller.
Vox PopuliAin't no use in being faithful,
I see you look at the sky.
I know what's in it make you happy there,
But it only make you cry.
I think you got good intentions too,
They don't manage to show through.
Whatever you give to the world outside,
I wanna give it right back to you, yes I am!
(Janis Joplin)
"Quistis?" The young man who had called out to them blinked, and took a step back. "I didn't expect it to be you."
Quistis' hands stiffened on the handle of her weapon. "Didn't expect what to be…" Her voice trailed off as she took in his slim frame and slightly familiar hairstyle. There was something about his eyes that triggered her memory. Her eyes widened.
"Zone?"
"That'd be me." Looking somewhat nervous, he tucked his hands into the loose pockets of his denim shorts and rolled back on his heels. He glanced to the left before speaking again.
"The guys at the pub told me you all had been through. Well, people of your description, anyway." He amended hastily. "A blond man with an unusual scar and, ah, a female with, um…Anyway, I guess I figured about right."
"Guess you did," Seifer agreed easily, hiding a snicker at his handler's expense. He stepped forward to offer his hand. "How've you been, man? Watts still around?"
"Uh...yeah." Zone shot a glance toward Quistis before he shook the hand of his old buddy from pre-war days. "Yeah, he and I are still hangin'. Folded the Owls, though. Didn't see much point in continuing. Especially with you and Rinoa gone."
"Serious?" Raising his eyebrows, Seifer shook his head. For some reason the idea saddened him. "Never thought I'd see the day you gave up. Don't tell me you've gone legit."
Once more the other man looked at Quistis before he responded. He scratched his cheek and let out an uneasy chuckle. "Yeah, right." Another jittery laugh.
"No, actually. We've just managed to hook up with a bigger power. 'S why I was excited to hear you were in town. It'd be great to have you on board, if you're interested."
Quistis was not surprised to hear Zone and Watts had begun another independence group. She doubted there was a citizen in Timber who was not a card-carrying member of some form of anti-Galbadian faction. The numbers had tripled after the war.
But, she was intrigued by the apparent history between the two males. Judging by Seifer's relaxed tone and comfortable manner, they had been fairly close. She had not seen him act that way around anyone before, including his old Garden cronies.
She hopped off the step to stand next to Seifer. "How have the campaigns been going so far?" A cooling draught breezed past her bare legs and she crossed her arms to ward off the chill. "Have you been corresponding with Garden? I heard Squall was thinking about re-engaging the contract."
Zone's expression darkened at that. "No. We want nothing more to do with the establishment." His hands clenched at his sides.
"It's up to us, the people. Only Timberians can truly understand the cause. We're all prepared to fight, to the death if we have to."
Taken aback, Quistis took a quick look at Seifer, but he was too busy watching the other man with something akin to admiration. She rolled her eyes. How typical of a man. Pig-headed fools, the lot of them.
"So, anyway, Seifer." Zone turned back to his ally. His voice became more animated and lost the edge of resentment. "Now that you're released whaddya think about re-joining? It'd be great to have you on our side again, might give us some more leverage with the government hacks." He grinned, his dark brown eyes lighting up. "Besides, it's been a while since we fought together and the guys'd be thrilled."
"About that," Seifer adjusted his weight and rubbed a hand over his chin. "I'm not exactly free and clear, in case you couldn't tell." He motioned toward Quistis with an exaggerated roll of his eyes and slant of his head.
"No he's not. Unfortunately, I am required to return him to Garden." Straightening her shoulders to a more professional stance, she regarded Zone with a civil smile.
"Oh, I had no idea." He looked back and forth between them with a somewhat blown expression. The pieces suddenly fell together and his skin paled. "I guess that does change things. Too bad, though, man. Maybe when you're sprung, huh?"
"Yeah, maybe."
Though Seifer honestly doubted he would be "sprung" from the confines of the ol' B.G. any time in the foreseeable future. Not until his eightieth birthday at the very least. A glance at Quistis' tight features confirmed his estimation. If ever.
"Well, I'll tell everyone the, uh, situation then. It's been really good seeing you again." The pallor of Zone's complexion and hesitation of his comportment showed he'd been thinking along similar lines. Shifting on his feet he ran a hand through his short locks. His eyes were filled with pity. "Good luck."
A wince palpable on his face, Seifer echoed the sentiment. He would have slid his attention to Quistis had Zone not stopped short and slapped a hand to his forehead.
"Hey, where are you guys staying tonight?"
Casting an acerbic glance behind her, Quistis cleared her throat. Her expression held dismay. "Obviously not at the hotel. Looks like they're doing some kind of construction."
"You didn't hear?" Eyes wide Zone began to relay the events of the day. "There was some kind of explosion, killed a couple Galbadian and Balamb reps that were here for the congress. No one is allowed in or out of the city until the investigation is finished. 'Course, the hotel is shut down as well."
Seifer arched a brow as he digested the information. So that's why Garden hightailed it, he realized. His head shook in derision. What a bunch of cowards.
But then, this really came as little surprise. Garden had a reputation of stirring things up then leaving right after, bedlam in its wake. It had no consideration for any institution other than itself. One of the reasons he knew that he was not meant to be a SeeD.
"So the train station…" Utter disbelief coloured the tone of Quistis' voice.
"Yep. Closed. Kinda sucks doesn't it?"
"Sucks isn't the word for it." Muttering violent oaths, she lifted both hands to rub at her pounding temples. The migraine was increasing by the second. She could match each hammer of her skull to the rhythm of her pulse. When the throbbing of her swollen feet joined in to create a lovely trio of pain, she drove her hands through her hair and cursed the gods. It was clear every force on the planet was against her. Including her own body.
"That's why I asked. Thought you might wanna stay with me and Watts. We have a place just down the street."
""What happened to the train?" Seifer asked, though he didn't really care about the answer. Even though Timber winters were fairly mild, the night wind could be a bitch. He could already feel it creeping up his neck and was anxious to get inside.
"Aw, that was destroyed by soldiers ages back. When we left the White SeeDs last fall, we found all our old hideouts in ruins. So we took up with Ma until we joined the Wolves." Sensitive to the growing chill himself, Zone directed them down the street. "C'mon, I'll fill you in when we get inside. It's in the basement of the old pet shop."
Immediately Seifer began to follow but was stopped short by a hand snagging a crease in his sleeve. "What?"
"I don't think this is a good idea," Quistis hissed in his ear, features severe. "As a SeeD I must stick to the rules. Taking up with resistance members is not one of them." Her voice remained low, but firm, taking on a familiar didactic quality. The one that had rankled his nerves as a student and made him grit his teeth. Now he just found it mildly amusing.
"Furthermore, I don't know him well enough to trust him."
"Oh, get off your high horse, Trepe." Speaking loud enough for the entire block to hear, Seifer rolled his shoulders and smirked. "This isn't exactly your routine mission. I doubt Cid's going to bust your ass for not wanting to sleep in the street. Do you always have to be such a prude?"
He folded his arms and sneered down at her. Her pedantic tendencies never ceased to annoy him. Inwardly he scorned her, talk about a wet blanket. For the first time in five months he couldn't wait to get back to Garden. Now that it meant getting away from the stick-up-her-ass Trepe.
Blue irises ruptured into flames. Colour flowed high across pale cheeks as her jaw dropped. At her sides her hands fisted, nails biting into bare palms. She emitted a sound that came out as a mix between a high-pitched gasp and a resonating growl. Not wanting to get involved, Zone took a few surreptitious paces to the right.
"Listen, Almasy, I am in charge, not you." Despite her careening fury, her words were enunciated with crisp and clear articulation. "You are not a SeeD, you are a charged criminal under my supervision. Got it?"
Lips twitching, he inclined his head.
"Brilliant. From now on you will not speak unless I give you permission and you will do exactly as I say. Think you can handle that?"
When he merely lifted both brows, she let out a breath and relaxed her hands. She wanted to collapse to the ground and weep. But, if nothing else, she would remain in control of her emotions. It seemed to be all she had left.
Ordering her rage down to a manageable simmer, she looked to Zone who was staring at her with a combination of bewilderment and alarm. "I apologize," she spoke now with a more refined lilt.
"That was rude of me. Thank you very much for your offer. And if you're sure it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'd be grateful to stay at your place for the evening. As you can see, I don't have many other options."
Her tactful manner served to calm the smaller man a little. Though his eyes still shone with fever, he nodded enthusiastically. "It's not a problem at all. Really. In Timber, we like to be hospitable." He continued to babble reassurances as he led them away from the hotel and closer to the centre of town.
Quistis and Seifer followed wordlessly. She was still nursing the pride that his lack of respect had brutally nicked and he was still irritated by the way she had addressed him. As though he were a misbehaving six-year-old.
Although, he had to admit, the way she had gone from snot-nosed instructor, to impassioned feline, then back to the reserved diplomat had been entertaining to watch. And damn the woman if she didn't look hot with the fire in her cheeks and fervour in her eyes. Such thoughts were disquieting and he did his best to push them to the back of his mind. He preferred her the way she was now, back stiff and eyes looking down her nose like a forty-year-old schoolmarm. It was a lot easier on his system.
When they arrived at the facade of the shop, Zone led them around the back. By the looks of things, the store had closed up several months ago, possibly more. Probably after the soldiers trashed the city looking for rebels, Quistis figured. The building did not appear in any shape to attract future buyers, in any case.
Bending down, he unhooked a rusted latch and hefted open a slab of wood that must have been one half of the cellar's door. The hinges screamed in protest but he managed uncover the wide entrance without great difficulty. Being old, the pine doors were flimsy and she doubted they did much to keep out the cold, or any possible night visitors. Still, it was better than the bitter wind.
Zone moved aside to allow her alight the stairs first. They did not appear to be made of much better wood than the doors so she descended with hesitation. Keeping her mouth shut as her shoulder brushed by a mass of cobwebs, she ducked her head to avoid what looked like a giant spider and continued down the well. The stairs let out a groan of pure agony when Seifer perched on the top step behind her and she did her best not to reply with a moan of her own. As a SeeD, she was accustomed to various environments and prided herself on being able to adjust quickly. But the stairs alone reminded her of an old horror movie. She was all too thankful to reach the bottom alive.
Later, she would swear her nose wrinkled entirely of its own accord when she had her first glimpse of the room in which she would be spending the next eight or so hours. For a moment she was tempted to dart back up the stairway for safety.
They live here, was her first thought. With how many rats, was her second. And Zell put up a fuss about the motel at FH. If only he could see her now.
The heavy clop of Seifer's feet resounded as he lowered from the flight of stairs behind her, with Zone's lighter steps not far in arrears. He stood beside her, complexion cool as he surveyed the room. Quistis arched a brow and scrutinized his face, satisfied when she saw the tiniest indication of repugnance in the lines around his mouth and over his forehead. At least she was not alone.
He rotated his head to catch her measuring gaze and curled his lips in a smirk. Clearly mocking her, his eyes drilled into hers, daring her to comment. They twinkled with delight when she elevated her chin and met his challenge with one of her own.
Snob, he ridiculed.
Hypocrite, she thrust back. His eyes narrowed and he turned away. Quistis gloried in the victory.
Wiping a free hand under his nose, Zone landed next to Seifer, oblivious to the war occurring in his living room. "Sorry about the mess," he expressed with an embarrassed grimace. "We don't get much company often and, uh, this isn't exactly the most spacious area." Chuckling nervously, he gestured an arm over the small living space that was currently covered in clothing and food wrappers, among other less appetizing items.
"We haven't done much for re-decorating either. It's just kind of a place to crash, you know." As he said this he chewed on his bottom lip and glanced at Quistis with apprehension.
"It's fine," Quistis informed him, mentally patting herself on the back for her cordiality. For the performance she was about to give, she deserved an award.
"Please, don't apologize. After all, I'm the one intruding. This place is more than suitable, really. It has definite…character." She could see it now, Quistis Trepe, the Queen of Tact. "Thank you again for letting me stay."
While he did not speak, she thought she heard Seifer snort something under his breath. Suspicion was enough evidence to convict, so she jammed her elbow in the open spot beneath his ribs. He received points for not shouting out.
"You're welcome." Unsure as to how to proceed, Zone scratched at the back of his head. "Would you like to sit down?"
Where, Seifer wondered, tongue in cheek. He was not about to voice his opinion, however, not with the Trepe's elbow in such close range. It took all he had not to massage the area she had assailed. The woman had joints of steel.
As much as he appreciated Zone's camaraderie , the place was a sty. He was not exactly a neat-freak himself but every now and then he understood the value of a good air-freshener. Or a can of kerosene. The air was musty at best and a putrid odour rose out from the direction of the ratty, violent orange sofa. At least, he thought it was a sofa. If he owned the place, it would have been torched long ago.
Zone moved forward, kicking aside boxes and bundles as he went, kindly clearing them a path. He reached what looked like a giant crate. They must have used it as a table as he tipped the edge to remove the piles of paper cups, plates, and take-out cartons. When all the items had cascaded to the cement floor, he replaced the table and turned to the fabric folding chairs to give them a similar treatment. Quistis and Seifer watched in silence.
When he was done with that task, he signalled for them to take the chairs with what he hoped was a courteous presentation. "Why don't you guys relax and I'll go find us something to eat. Wake up Watts. He'll want to talk to you as well."
Before Quistis could decline his considerate offer of sustenance he went darting behind a curtain and into the other room. She sighed and looked back at Seifer, who was currently perusing the area with an innocent expression, whistling silently between his teeth.
Fed up with him for the day, she jerked away and trudged toward the makeshift table. Not once looking back to see if he followed. At the moment, she would not lift a finger if he decided to make a run for it. In all reality, she just did not care anymore.
Seating herself on one of the fabric chairs, the kind one would normally take with them on a camping trip, she rested an elbow on the crate and dropped her head in her open hand. For just one minute she would revel in the action of resting her weary feet. She would have toed off her broken shoes but she couldn't be sure what creatures roamed liberally across the unfinished flooring. Closing her eyes, she drank in the feeling of resting her body. It had been one of the most trying days of her life.
"God," she murmured to no one in particular. "I'd give my next two years salary for a bottle of aspirin."
Seifer observed her from across the room, took in her shattered form, hunched posture, and creased forehead. Once, he would have taken pleasure in seeing the mighty Quistis Trepe fall victim to such human experiences. Some small part of him still did. All was not forgotten on either of their parts. But now, with the chaos of the room surrounding them and the brutality of the day in their wake, he just felt sympathy. Dangerous, he knew. Sympathy led to kindness, which led to caring. A fatal emotion indeed.
The return of Zone and arrival of Watts saved him from these ideas and he found himself smiling by way of greeting.
Watts' youthful face lit into a joyful grin when his eyes fell on the man at the front of the room. His freckled cheeks burst into colour and his blue eyes shone.
"It's really you! I'm so happy to see you, sir." Within minutes he was across the room, shaking his hand. "When I heard you were released this morning I was hoping you would come back. It'll be just like old times again, sir."
"You idiot!" Zone slapped his palm to his brow. "What did I just tell you? Seifer is in custody of Balamb. He can't join the Wolves. Geez." Ridden with disdain for his partner, he shook his head.
Something niggled at the back of Quistis' mind and she raised her head to consider her host. "What exactly is 'the Wolves'? Another independence group?"
From where he stood by Seifer Watts darted a look to his buddy. The child-like grin drifted off his face to be replaced by one of trepidation as he and Zone exchanged glances.
Quistis lifted a brow when the room began to crackle with tension. This, of course, caused the mild curiosity to well in the pit of her stomach to something more akin to deep interest. The look on Watts' visage was quite interesting to be sure. Worthy of some serious probing. The SeeD in her rose to the fore, drowning out some of her exhaustion.
"Yeah, that's basically it." Zone replied, but it was evident he was hedging his answer. However, he was not daft. He recognized the inquisitive glint in Quistis' eyes and was bright enough to know she would not accept such a lukewarm response. "Here, let's all sit and I'll tell you what I can."
Since there were only three chairs, Watts opted to roost on the back of the sofa. He did not seem to mind the fact that underneath his butt lay several magazines and stained pair of boxers.
"The faction is officially called 'The Wolves of Renaissance'." Zone explained, gesturing with his hands as he talked. The crate rose to about his mid-chest so his arms frequently brushed the surface. "The main goal is to kick off Timber's rebirth, you know, as an independent state, free from dictatorship."
"How many members are there?" With a persuasive smile, Quistis did her best to encourage his infamous loose tongue along. If the right pressure was applied, she knew she would get what she wanted.
"Hundreds," he said, proudly, with a glance at Watts for affirmation. "Maybe more.
"After the war, there were so many split up, scattered all around the region. We had no hope of achieving anything that way. But when Athair came, he kind of managed to bring us all together, combine our dreams into one. This way we have a chance. Galbadia can't take us all on at once. And when the day comes, we're all going to send them running." He took a risk and turned to Seifer. "Hopefully by that time, you'll be there to celebrate with us. It's gonna be one hell of a rockin' party."
On the other side of the table, Seifer stretched and folded his arms behind his head. He grinned to show his appreciation. "Wouldn't miss it."
Quistis ignored him. "Who is Athair?" She honestly had never heard of the guy before.
"Oh, we don't know his real name. That's just what we call him. He's the leader of the Wolves. I've never met him in person but I hear he's quite influential. Alls I know is," he added, the Timber slur more prominent in his voice due to his rising excitement. "He's gonna put us back on the map. 'S just what we've been looking for."
"I see."
Because her temples had resumed their cake-walk over her brain, she decided to call it a night. Since it did not appear as if they would be going anywhere anytime soon, she had plenty of time to interrogate her hosts further the next day. But right now, all she wanted to do was sleep.
"I'd love to know more, but I'm feeling pretty zonked. I hope you'll excuse my poor manners but do you think you could, er, find a spot for us to crash? It's been a day." Hopelessly, she looked toward the sofa. Oh, God.
"Of course! Yeah, sorry!" Zone bolted up out of his chair, waving his arms in front of his face. "I should've realized." Inwardly, he let out a massive sigh of relief to be out from under her direct gaze. "Um, why don't you take the bedroom? Watts and I can sleep out here."
"That sounds lovely." For the first time since departing Garden, her radiant smile was genuine. Please let it be better than this.
It wasn't. What he called a bedroom was merely an extension of the living room, covered in the same nasty flooring and framed with the same infested walls. It was cleaner, she'd give it that. But instead of actual furniture, there were two sleeping bags stretched out on the floor. Protected only from the concrete by a single woollen rug of the most hideous brown she had ever seen.
She told herself she could be sleeping on a bench in the cold and commanded a smile to her lips. Try as she might, she couldn't quite get this one to reach her eyes.
"Well, thanks again!" Her bright tone contrasted starkly with the feeling of dread climbing up her neck.
"Yeah, don't sweat it. If you need anything, we'll be out there." After exchanging several more pleasantries, Zone left the room, closing the curtain at his back.
The smile vanished from her face immediately. Her knees buckled beneath her and she collapsed onto the nearest sleeping bag, not caring who was there to see her at a weak moment. All she wanted to do now was to slip seamlessly into sleep.
"Pretty nice digs, huh?" Seifer grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her, enjoying her discomfort.
But she was hardly paying attention. With a groan of half pain, half ecstasy, she removed both of her shoes, placing them neatly on the floor next to her bag. She indulged in giving each one a full rub before stretching out her limbs and lying back on the nylon material. She reckoned it was better to err on the side of caution and avoid actually crawling inside. The air was tepid enough so she was not in any danger of freezing.
"And to think," Seifer continued, kicking off his own shoes and laying on his side across his own sleeping bag. He wanted to be able to see her reaction. "If you had only carried through with the bouncer, we could have been sleeping in an actual apartment."
Letting out another groan, she rolled onto her belly and buried her face in her arms. "For the last time, Seifer. Shut up. You're the most incorrigible human being I've ever met."
"Why, thank you, duchess. I'm honoured."
Too weak to respond, she gave in and let her heavy lids drift closed. The precious world of sleep was finally within her fingertips. God bless this sleeping bag. But before she lost her grasp on consciousness completely, she titled her head to address her charge.
"You'd better be here when I wake up, or so help me, you're going to wish you were never born."
She promptly fell asleep to the tune of his laughter.
In what seemed like five minutes later she awakened. Heavy with sleep her lids opened slowly, then squeezed shut again almost right away. Sunlight bored directly into her eyes from where she lay. Flipping over onto her back, she lifted an arm across her brow and tried again. This time her gaze landed on the ceiling. Or, rather, the plaster wallpapered in ugly stains and cobwebs.
"What the—." Abruptly she sat up, startled to find herself in an unfamiliar room. Especially of such low calibre. Then it all came back to her.
On a muffled oath, she fell back down. Her head made a hollow sound as it hit the hard floor and she swore again, reaching up to soothe gentle fingers over the injured spot. What a brilliant start to her day. She wished it was already over.
With a wince, she rose again, fingers still working at the back of her cranium. She would now willingly run naked through the streets of Timber for an aspirin.
Blinking in the streaming light coming from a tiny window up above, she wondered what time it was. A glance at her watch was fruitless as she recalled it had been damaged during her swim in the loch the previous day. Had it only been a day?
Quistis dropped her hands and surveyed the room, somewhat bemusedly. What the heck was she supposed to do now? She should probably put in another call to Garden. This time she would demand to speak to Squall. And boy was he going to get an earful. Then she would talk to Xu. A feral smile traced her exhausted face. She wondered if it was possible to send out a ray-bomb over the phone lines.
As she scanned the room she picked up on things she had been to tired to notice the night before. There was a small table in the corner with a telephone, and next to that sat an impressive-looking personal computer, of a model she knew had just come out recently.
A line formed between her brows. Who lived in a place like this but owned a PC like that? The answer was obvious.
Something else was bothering her about the room. If only she could switch her brain on to full power. Shaking her head, she took another examination of the contents. It was then she clued in.
Snapping her head to the right she stared at the spot where Seifer Almasy was supposed to be sleeping in mutual discomfort.
"Fuck!"
