In His Eyes- Part 3
By Matoko Shizaki
Disclaimer: FF8 © Square Soft. If I could own one of them though, it would be Zell. All the way! He's entertaining and cute! Not to mention hyper… What more could you want?
Notes: Sorry it's taken me so long to write! I know I've probably blabbed this all over the place but this August I'm going to an Otakon Anime Convention in Baltimore. All three days! I'll be cosplaying Irvine from FFVIII, Tasuki from Fushigi Yuugi, and Kai Shiden from Mobile Suit Gundam 0079. I would've been Seifer or Zell but I don't have the hair for it. Reddish, brownish, blondish hair doesn't give you much to work with. (And it makes me sound like a kitty cat! ^~_~^ ~~~~Meow!) So, that's why I'm Irvine. I talk too much don't I? Hey, if you're going to that anime convention, can you e-mail me? Maybe I'll see ya there!
Pairings: Quistis/Seifer, Rinoa/Squall, Selphie/Irvine.
By the way, anyone want to request a fic? These are my only guidelines:
Series:
Yu Yu Hakusho
Inu Yasha
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy X NEW!!!
Genres:
Action/Adventure
Comedy
Romance
Other:
I will do Yaoi if the coupling makes sense but I will not do Yuri. Sorry!
By the way, I have a new AIM account. It's Black Farfarello. Hope to hear from ya!
*The Point of No Return is my constant title for a night club. There's a place in Niagara Falls called the Point of No Return. Once you fall there, you won't and can't be saved. Hehe, could this falling be falling in love? ::innocent smile::
@~@~@~@~@
"Ugh… I shouldn't have had those shots…" Zell muttered, holding his hands in his head. Before him sat his lap top that was hooked up to the sound monitors and cameras in the next room. But he wasn't paying attention. Nothing interesting was happening…
"Maybe this'll help." A silver wrapped package was suddenly danged in front of him.
"Oh gods… is that what I think it is?" Zell asked, his mouth watering as Irvine dropped the package into his hand and sat on the desk.
"Yup. And warm too."
Zell tore through the package, throwing the shreds to the floor.
"Whoa, calm down there, pal." Irvine exclaimed, backing away from the hunger driven blond.
"Hot dog! Where have you been all my life?!" Zell cried, gazing starry eyed at the morsel. Of course, he wasn't waiting for a reply. Without a second thought, he rammed it into him mouth.
"Take it easy!" Irvine shouted, hopping off the desk. Then he caught sight of the computer screen. "Hey, anything interesting going on it Quistis' and Seifer's room?" he asked slyly.
Zell shook his head. "Nope," he muttered around a bite of hot dog. He paused, swallowed, and continued. "There are going to be a few reporters coming to interview 'Tiril Gambia'."
"Does the chief know about this?"
"Naw. Otherwise he'd have briefed Quistis." The blond chuckled and leaned on his elbow, just as the monitors detected the sound of a knock at the door. "This ought to be interesting…"
@~@~@~@~@
Quistis fixed her hair again, uncomfortable with the braid that Tiril Gambia was known to wear her hair in. Satisfied for the moment, she reached up to open the door but Seifer swatted her hand away.
"What was that for?" Quistis hissed in a whisper.
"I'm your 'body guard', remember?" Seifer whispered with a grin. (A/N: C'mon girls, who wouldn't want that hunk of a knight for a bodyguard? ~_^) With a twist of his wrist, the door snapped open revealing a news reporter and two camera men behind her.
"Hello, I'm Iris Kindle from Channel 7 news. I've come to interview Tiril Gambia." The report announced. She was decked out in a blue skirt suit, her black hair flowing to her waist.
"Then you've come to the right place." Seifer replied, opening the door wider.
"G-Good morning!" Quistis said from where she had seated herself on the bed. "I didn't expect interviews already!"
The reporter smiled in return. "I hope it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all!" Quistis… or should I say, Tiril, said. "Ask away." She stood up, Seifer standing at her side.
"Roll the cameras." Iris whispered to the men behind her. They did as they were told and the whir of cameras broke the silence.
"Now Miss Gambia, how are peace talks going?"
Quistis scrambled for an answer. She looked up at Seifer and he shrugged. "Well…" Quistis started. "Since I've been having security problems, I've been taking some time off. My assistants are working on the peace talks."
"When will you be returning to the peace talks?"
"As soon as my attackers are caught." Quistis replied.
@~@~@~@~@
"This is just too rich." Irvine laughed. "Quisty had NO idea what she's talking about."
"She's pretty good at bull shitting though." Zell observed.
"Now, Miss Gambia, it seems that you an your body guard are close. Are you a couple?"
Zell laughed, showing a gleaming row of teeth. "Oh my god!" Irvine was laughing too hard to comment.
@~@~@~@~@
"Um… well… you see…" Quistis stammered. Her face was turning hot, a sign that she was blushing. The impatient eyes of the reporter were making her nervous.
"Yes?" the report pressed.
Suddenly, Quistis felt a hand around her waist that pulled her closer to Seifer. "Of course! In fact, we're engaged!" Seifer smiled maliciously and looked down at Quistis. "Isn't that right, 'Tiril'?"
"Seifer!"
POW!!!!
@~@~@~@~@
Squall chewed anxiously on his toothpick as he sat on the end of the bed watching the six o'clock news. Rinoa sat behind him, waving an egg roll in front of his face. "C'mon Squall, don't you want to eat?" she asked.
"I'm not hungry." Squall replied, waving her off.
"Suit yourself!" Rinoa sighed.
"And today we got a live interview with Tiril Gambia." the newscaster on TV announced.
"Hey, turn this up!" Irvine urged.
"Why Irvy?" Selphie asked, leaning on the cowboy's shoulder.
"You'll see!" Zell laughed. Quistis grunted from where she sat at the desk. Squall seized the remote and clicked up the volume a few notches.
"…Now Miss Gambia, how are peace talks going?"
"Well… Since I've been having security problems, I've been taking some time off. My assistants are working on the peace talks."
"When will you be returning to the peace talks?"
"As soon as my attackers are caught."
"But…" the newscaster said with a chuckle. "Our next question brought up some controversy between Miss. Gambia and her bodyguard."
The cameras cut back to the interview.
"Now, Miss Gambia, it seems that you an your body guard are close. Are you a couple?"
Quistis fidgeted nervously on screen as her cheeks turned bright red. "Um… well… you see…" With a grin, her bodyguard seized her by the waist, dragging her closer.
"Of course! In fact, we're engaged!" he announce with a big smile. "Isn't that right… Tiril?"
Quistis broke away from him, her face red with anger.
"SEIFER!"
The voice on TV rang through the room since the volume was so loud. On screen 'Tiril' reach up and punched her bodyguard in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"And now…" the newscaster said between laughs. "In other news…"
Squall shut off the TV and laughter erupted through out the room.
"That was a nice shot Quistis!" Rinoa laughed. "That must've really hurt!"
"Isn't that right, Seifer?" Zell asked, turning to the knight that was sitting on the edge of the bed holding an icepack to his sore cheek. All he did was growl, a noise that the laughter drowned out. Even Squall cracked a small smile.
@~@~@~@~@
"So…" Cigarette smoke seethed through the cracks in the man's teeth. "She got a new body guard."
"He looks like a complete idiot to me." the woman to his left said, tossing her long brown hair.
"That means we must've wasted her last one!" A man said from across the room where he was polishing an assault rifle.
"I guess so." the woman chuckled. "So boss," She leaned closer to the man seated next to her that had first spoken. "When do we make our move?"
"Soon…" the man replied with a smirk. "Soon…"
@~@~@~@~@
A sigh escaped Rinoa's mouth as she leaned against the counter in the police station, waiting for the files on Tiril's attacks to be brought out. She checked her watch again. It was three o'clock, two hours after she had left. 'Squall must be wondering where I am.' she thought idly. 'Oh well, some worry will do him some good.'
"Here you are Miss. The files on the Tiril attacks." A female police officer returned from the file room and threw the folders down on the counter.
"Thank you." Rinoa said with a nod of her head. She scooped up the files and hurried out as fast as she could. This police station was starting to get on her nerves.
Light flooded her eyes as she stepped out onto the sidewalk. Castor was a fairly normal city. The skyline was filled with huge buildings that glistened in the sun as if they were made from diamond. Cars whizzed by on the streets and people flooded the sidewalks, their heads bent and their minds set on where they were headed. Rinoa sighed. 'Wish we didn't have work to do…' she thought. Her mind lingered on that thought for a little until a sickening wave of pain shot through her body, destroying her train of thought.
She crumpled to the ground, nursing her sore cheek. That's when she realized she had let go of the files. They had skidded down the sidewalk some yards away and her attacker, mounted on a motorcycle, wasted no time in grabbing it and driving off.
"Come back with that!" Rinoa cried, scrambling to her feet. She ran a little ways down the sidewalk, trying to keep up with the bike. But the driver was already out of range, the files tucked under their arm. Rinoa's first instinct was her weapon that was still strapped to her arm. But she hesitated. 'I'd stir up too much trouble. Dammit!' Remembering the pain in her banged up cheek, she slumped to the sidewalk.
"I… I failed…"
@~@~@~@~@
Rinoa winced at Squall dabbed at her cheek with a cotton ball doused in disinfectant. "That hurts…" she muttered.
The SeeD leader studied over the large gash that ran from Rinoa's ear almost to her nose and sighed. He fished the gauze and medical tape out from his bag and bandaged her cheek. "You need to be more careful." Squall said.
"I'm sorry, Squall." Rinoa said looking down at her hands folded in her lap. "I messed up the mission."
"No you didn't." Squall put away the first aid kit and then looked back up into Rinoa's big, brown eyes. "Whoever attacked you is working for the rebels. Apparently they don't want us to have any clues…" He frowned. "So be it."
"So what? It's my fault!" Rinoa cried, leaning forward.
"I'm not too worried about the police files." Squall said. "I'm just glad you weren't hurt any worse."
"Oh Squall…" Rinoa whispered. She slid her arms around his neck and settled her head on his shoulder. Squall looped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
"I'll always protect you, Rinoa." Squall told her, stroking the back of her head. Rinoa looked up at him and smiled before locking her lips with his.
Seifer watched from where he stood in the doorway. But this time he couldn't think of any way to insult his rival. Maybe he even felt a little jealousy. Putting the thought in the back of his mind, he retreated to his room.
@~@~@~@~@
As another card flew across the room and landed perfectly in the trash can, Quistis was beginning to get annoying with Seifer's game. The blond knight was sitting on the coffee table idly flicking the cards into a bin all the way across the room. "Don't you have anything better to do?" said Quistis after a while.
"No, not really…" Seifer replied, a hint of agitation in his voice since his 'concentration' had been broken.
"Then let's do something." Quistis exclaimed, standing up.
"Like what?" the knight asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
Quistis hesitated for a moment. "I don't know…"
"Hn. Great plan." Seifer thought a moment and then looked back up at the SeeD. "How about we go out on the town?"
"What do you mean? Squall would kill us!"
It was too late though. Seifer had already made up his mind (finding it equally satisfying to aggravate Squall) and had already gone for his coat. "So what if it pisses off your darling little commander?! Haven't you ever broken the rules before?" Seifer tossed Quistis her coat and turned to the door.
"No… but what if someone realizes I'm 'Tiril Gambia'? Shouldn't I be in disguise?"
"Re do your hair and get dressed the way you normally do. It's that easy." Seifer explained with an air of matter-of-factness.
"Well… who said I wanted to go?" Quistis blurted, crossing her arms.
"Look at it this way…" Seifer said over his shoulder. "Do you have anything better to do?"
@~@~@~@~@
For a weekday, it was fairly busy at on of the night clubs in Castor titled, "The Point of No Return"*. People had flooded the dance floor leaving the bar practically empty. That's where Quistis sat in silence as she watched Seifer flirt with some of the other women. She rolled her eyes and turned back to her drink. But she couldn't ignore the small feeling of jealous deep within her soul. 'Seifer's the one who brought me here. He shouldn't be off talking with other ladies…' Quistis gave herself a mental slap as soon as she realized what she had been thinking. That's when the chair next to her at the bar slid out and a smiling Seifer sat down.
"What? Didn't have enough money for a hooker?" Quistis replied sourly and very out of character like. Was she… jealous?
Seifer glared at her and then turned away. "No, I figured you'd want some company. That's all." He signaled the bar tender for a drink and then turned back to Quistis.
"Hey, you know how to dance?"
Quistis flushed a little. "Not really. All I ever learned was the dance to 'Waltz of the Moon' back at the Garden."
"Well, when you get thrown into a sink or swim situation, you have no choice but to swim." He stood up, leaving his untouched drink at the bar.
"What? Where are we going?" Quistis stammered as Seifer grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out onto the dance floor.
"You act too mature, 'teacher'. You need to lighten up!" Seifer shouted over the pulsating music the DJ was spinning.
"I'm not a teacher anymore!"
"Then stop acting like one!"
@~@~@~@~@
Seifer mind was buzzing with thoughts as he watched Quistis lose her usual business like appearance and begin to give into the music. Was it just him, or was everything about her perfect?
Shining blond hair swishes around her face, the tiny curls framing it perfectly. Gorgeous blue eyes took in the dark world around her. A smile creased her face when she noticed Seifer looking at her. Suddenly, his eyes traveled down her body. Two flawless mounds contorted her shirt, tugging at it and creasing the material. Perfect curves led down to a smooth, flat stomach and curved hips. And those beautiful, long, silky, smooth legs…
"Seifer?"
Seifer's attention snapped back up to Quistis' face. She stared at his curiously as the music died. "What is it?" she asked.
"N-Nothing." Seifer lied. "Hey, you want to go for a walk? It's… it's kind of stuffy in here, you know."
"Sure…" Quistis said slowly. She was still staring at Seifer suspiciously. With a sigh, she turned and headed for the door, Seifer following close behind, his eyes set on her… but not in the best of places…
@~@~@~@~@
A few drinks later, the two sat on a bench on a bridge overlooking one of the main streets in the city. The city was lit up that night but the stars still out shone the gallant metropolis of Castor.
"That was wonderful!" Quistis laughed.
"Yeah. Heh, I didn't know some guys could drink that much!"
Quistis laid back, her tilted to gaze up at the stars. After a small silence, her head jerked back to eye level and she smiled. "Hey, there's a photo booth back there. Wanna get our picture taken?"
"Why the hell not." Seifer laughed.
@~@~@~@~@
"Another boring afternoon…" Zell muttered, leaning back in his chair. There was no point in monitoring the next room since Quistis had gone to another interview meant for Tiril Gambia and Seifer had accompanied her. Irvine was fast asleep on the bed, Selphie was down in the lobby getting snacks, and Squall and Rinoa had followed 'Tiril' and her 'body guard' to make sure nothing happened. So… he was alone. Then an idea struck him.
'Hey, Seifer and Quistis aren't here right? Maybe a little snooping around might be entertaining.' He laughed out loud to think of what kind of embarrassing things he might be able to dig up on Seifer. First, he checked to make sure Irvine was still sleeping and then slipped out into the hallway.
Next door was the room Quistis and Seifer shared. Zell pulled the extra key card (the one Squall had for safe keeping) and ran it through. With a snap, the lock undid and the door opened.
@~@~@~@~@
The smell of cleaning supplies was heavy in the room, so heavy that for a moment Zell covered his nose with his hand. The cleaning people must've been in there… which was the least Zell could say from his room and the girls' room. They hadn't let anyone in there at all, to clean or otherwise. Stepping over the empty duffel bags, the blond martial artist approached the dresser.
Top drawer… It was full of Quistis' things. Neatly folded shirts, skirts, blouses… Zell blushed. And lingerie… He quickly shut the drawer and went on to the next one.
Seifer's clothes. They were stuffed in there, barely fitting. Huge masses of wrinkled shirts, pants, socks, and boxers were practically hanging out of the drawer. Zell sifted through the boxers and frowned. "Aw, what Seifer? No tighty whities?" Disappointed, the blond slammed the drawer shut. He sighed and leaned against the desk.
"There's got to be some good black mail somewhere…" Zell muttered, crossing his arms in frustration. When he put his right hand back on the desk, it shifted a few papers. Curiously, he turned around and looked down.
A copy of the mission briefing. Receipts. Notes on Tiril Gambia and the peace talks. And… "What's this?"
Zell held up a slip of paper, trying to get a good look at it in the dim light. It was a strip of photos from a photo booth. Zell bit his lip in growling anticipation as his eyes scanned the photos. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.
@~@~@~@~@
A groan rose from under the cowboy hat Irvine had placed on his face to block out the light. He removed it and sat up. "What the hell was all that noise?" he wondered aloud. His head turned slightly upon hearing the sound of the door unlocking. Selphie came in, her arms full of snacks.
"I didn't know what you and Zell wanted, Irvy. I got a lot though!" she giggled and dropped the pile of junk food onto the bed.
"Hey, Selph." Irvine tipped her hat to her. "Did you hear that noise just a second ago?"
Selphie shook her head, bouncing her curls back and forth. "No, why?"
The cowboy held up a hand for silence. "There it is again." he whispered.
"It's coming from next door!" the brunette gasped.
@~@~@~@~@
With his shotgun tucked under his arm, Irvine slowly swiped and extra key card and entered. Selphie followed directly behind him holding fistfuls of his coat for comfort. The cowboy sighed and lowered his gun noticing that it was only Zell rolling around on the carpet and laughing. The blond clutched his rib and was gasping for air.
"Zell, you scared the shit out of me!" Irvine complained. Selphie looked out from behind her human shield.
"What is it?"
Finally Zell regained his footing and, sobering, handed a strip of photos to Irvine. The cowboy looked at Zell and then down at the photos.
The top one showed Seifer and Quistis sitting in the photo booth, their faces red from drinking. In the next photo, Quistis had her arm around Seifer's shoulders and Seifer was flashing the camera a peace sigh and a big, fanged grin. But the last photo broke him down into laughing hysterics. He joined Zell in laughing while leaning on the wall for support.
"What are you two laughing at!?" Selphie asked, hands on her hips. She reached out and took the photos Irvine was offering her.
"T-The… hahaha… last one… haha!" Irvine managed to gasp out.
Reluctantly, Selphie glanced down at the last picture. In it, Quistis had her arms around Seifer's neck. In turn, Seifer's arms were clasped around her waist as they shared a passionate… yet alcohol induced… kiss.
@~@~@~@~@
It had been two, no, three weeks since that night but Quistis still couldn't get it off her mind. She had kissed him. She had kissed Seifer. The man she was assigned with to make sure didn't take his own life and in turn, the man that was there to protect her for the mission. The man that became a knight and nearly destroyed the whole world. The man… the man she was falling in love with…
High heels clapped against the sidewalk as Quistis walked back to the hotel silently. Every now and then Seifer would begin talking but due to her introspective mood, Quistis said nothing and the conversation would die.
"God dammit, what's with you today?" Seifer finally asked crossing his arms across his muscular chest.
"N-Nothing…" Quistis muttered, eyes on the sidewalk. She was blushing too hard to face him now.
"It can't just be nothing. Then you wouldn't look so upset." Seifer retorted.
"It is though!"
"Liar."
"I'm not lying!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
@~@~@~@~@
"Are too!"
"Are not!" Quistis pushed past Seifer and walked into the room.
"Are too." Seifer muttered under his breath. Quistis smiled a little. He reminded her of a stubborn child trying to win a game.
"Maybe I am…" she said pulling off her heels and massaging her sore feet.
"I knew it." Seifer exclaimed with a proud 'I told you so' smile. "So," he climbed onto the second bed across from hers. "What is it?"
"Why should it concern you?" Quistis asked coolly as she walked over to the desk and signed on her internet hook up. Zell's bright face on the monitor welcomed her.
"Hey Quistis! Any 'fun' yet?" he snickered.
"Zell…"
"Alright, alright. So, you done with meetings for today?"
Quistis nodded. "Yeah. I just finished."
"Get the hell off that monitor chicken wuss! I'm trying to get something out of Quistis!"
Seeing as how there was a whole wall to separate him from the deranged knight, Zell smiled exposing two fanged canines and a row of shining teeth. "Really now? What is it Quistis? Don't want this bozo kissing you again?"
"Zell!" Quistis shouted, her glasses almost falling off the bridge of her nose. "How did you find out about that?!"
The blond, still grinning, held up a strip of photos. "Everyone knows now!" he laughed. Before Zell could start up with his questions again, Quistis shut off the computer and collapsed back onto the bed with a sigh.
"That little jack ass… When I get to him…" Seifer threatened. Then he turned to the camera. "You hear that chicken wuss?!" With a grunt, he turned away again and sat down on the bed.
A few moments passed in silence before Seifer spoke up again. "Now what's bugging you? The suspense is killin' me!!" His eyes lit up, a boyish glint illuminating the ice blue orbs.
Still, Quistis was hesitant. 'Is this really the time for girlish fantasies, Quistis? You're on a mission…' She turned from him to face the window open to the warm afternoon air. "I- I can't…" she muttered.
Suddenly, a powerful hand jerked her around by her shoulder to face Seifer. "Tell me." he ordered.
"You really want to know?" Quistis asked staring him straight in the eyes.
"Yes. Isn't that what I've been saying for the past ten minutes?!"
A blush spread over Quistis' face. She was so close to him that she could feel his hot breath on her reddened cheeks. Every detail of his face was apparent to her. Every scar, every wrinkle, every tinge of the sun reflecting off his face. But standing out most of all were those blue eyes… the ones that had made Quistis sympathize for him in the first place.
"Well…?" Seifer pressed looking down at her.
'It's now or never, Quistis…' But she hesitated. Bit her lip. Stalled for time. If she wanted to do this so bad, why was she hesitant?
"Quistis, tell--"
Seifer choked on his words as Quistis' mouth closed over his and her arms slid around his neck. In shock, he didn't move for a moment.
'C-Can this really be happening? I mean this is… Quistis!'
After a mental slap, the former knight came to grips with the fact that this was real. As real as he had wanted it to be. His arms automatically slid around her waist, putting her closer. She stopped and gasp in surprise as she was snuggled against the man's broad chest, giving him a chance to deepen the kiss.
'Wait! What am doing?!' Quistis' mind screamed for her to push away, to wish this had never happened… but she didn't want to let go. Finally, going against her sensual wishes, she pushed away leaving Seifer standing there, his arms still outstretched like he was still holding her.
"Quistis…"
"I'm sorry… I just… can't… The mission… It's not appropriate… Why did I do that?!" Her eyes remained focused on the floor.
"Quistis." Seifer turned her around to face him. "Screw the mission." This time it was his turn to steal a passionate kiss.
@~@~@~@~@
It had been a very long morning. The night before, Zell had picked up some tips. That meant that it was just him and Quistis at the hotel… alone. He smiled a little at the thought, paid for the coffee he bought at the café, and started back to the hotel that was only a few blocks away.
With everything happening, there had been very little time for Seifer to just think… not about the mission and how much he despised his commander but about… other things. Above all, her. Now was certainly that time though. Her safety was on the line. Every time he left, he regretted it from the worries that maybe the rebels would choose that time to strike. The worrying was probably making his hair turn gray!
He pushed through the revolving doors and into the hotel lobby with a sigh. Everything was normal. Not a chair out of place. 'Looks like I was worried for nothing…' he thought in relief. He instantly lived to regret the comment.
As he hurried up the grand staircase to the hotel room he was greeted by bursts from a machine and the chorus of screams that responded. Suddenly the panic was back. Without a second thought, Seifer bolted up the stairs, his heart racing.
What he saw sent shivers up his spine. All the people in the halls had been mercilessly slaughtered, things written on the walls with their blood. Machine gun bullets dented the walls, splintered the doors, and had shattered the window panes.
"Quistis!" Seifer hurried over the bodies of the dead towards the room him and Quistis had shared for almost two months now. The door knob had been completely ripped out, leaving only a hole in the door. Without hesitation, Seifer pushed opened the door and then stopped. Every muscle tensed and his heart stopped.
From the bathroom there was a small trail of blood droplets, probably from a minor flesh wound. The bottom drawer of the dresser had been ripped open revealing the safe where Seifer had locked up their weapons.
'She… she tried to get them out… damn it… I'm the only one who knew the combination!'
The window was all the way open, allowing the bloodied curtains to flap freely in the breeze. Seifer hurried over and stuck his head out. There was no sign of Quistis.
"Dammit…" Seifer's shoulders shook and his eyes burned with tears of anger. Leaning on the window still for support, he looked out once more.
"QUISTIS!!!!"
By Matoko Shizaki
Disclaimer: FF8 © Square Soft. If I could own one of them though, it would be Zell. All the way! He's entertaining and cute! Not to mention hyper… What more could you want?
Notes: Sorry it's taken me so long to write! I know I've probably blabbed this all over the place but this August I'm going to an Otakon Anime Convention in Baltimore. All three days! I'll be cosplaying Irvine from FFVIII, Tasuki from Fushigi Yuugi, and Kai Shiden from Mobile Suit Gundam 0079. I would've been Seifer or Zell but I don't have the hair for it. Reddish, brownish, blondish hair doesn't give you much to work with. (And it makes me sound like a kitty cat! ^~_~^ ~~~~Meow!) So, that's why I'm Irvine. I talk too much don't I? Hey, if you're going to that anime convention, can you e-mail me? Maybe I'll see ya there!
Pairings: Quistis/Seifer, Rinoa/Squall, Selphie/Irvine.
By the way, anyone want to request a fic? These are my only guidelines:
Series:
Yu Yu Hakusho
Inu Yasha
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy X NEW!!!
Genres:
Action/Adventure
Comedy
Romance
Other:
I will do Yaoi if the coupling makes sense but I will not do Yuri. Sorry!
By the way, I have a new AIM account. It's Black Farfarello. Hope to hear from ya!
*The Point of No Return is my constant title for a night club. There's a place in Niagara Falls called the Point of No Return. Once you fall there, you won't and can't be saved. Hehe, could this falling be falling in love? ::innocent smile::
@~@~@~@~@
"Ugh… I shouldn't have had those shots…" Zell muttered, holding his hands in his head. Before him sat his lap top that was hooked up to the sound monitors and cameras in the next room. But he wasn't paying attention. Nothing interesting was happening…
"Maybe this'll help." A silver wrapped package was suddenly danged in front of him.
"Oh gods… is that what I think it is?" Zell asked, his mouth watering as Irvine dropped the package into his hand and sat on the desk.
"Yup. And warm too."
Zell tore through the package, throwing the shreds to the floor.
"Whoa, calm down there, pal." Irvine exclaimed, backing away from the hunger driven blond.
"Hot dog! Where have you been all my life?!" Zell cried, gazing starry eyed at the morsel. Of course, he wasn't waiting for a reply. Without a second thought, he rammed it into him mouth.
"Take it easy!" Irvine shouted, hopping off the desk. Then he caught sight of the computer screen. "Hey, anything interesting going on it Quistis' and Seifer's room?" he asked slyly.
Zell shook his head. "Nope," he muttered around a bite of hot dog. He paused, swallowed, and continued. "There are going to be a few reporters coming to interview 'Tiril Gambia'."
"Does the chief know about this?"
"Naw. Otherwise he'd have briefed Quistis." The blond chuckled and leaned on his elbow, just as the monitors detected the sound of a knock at the door. "This ought to be interesting…"
@~@~@~@~@
Quistis fixed her hair again, uncomfortable with the braid that Tiril Gambia was known to wear her hair in. Satisfied for the moment, she reached up to open the door but Seifer swatted her hand away.
"What was that for?" Quistis hissed in a whisper.
"I'm your 'body guard', remember?" Seifer whispered with a grin. (A/N: C'mon girls, who wouldn't want that hunk of a knight for a bodyguard? ~_^) With a twist of his wrist, the door snapped open revealing a news reporter and two camera men behind her.
"Hello, I'm Iris Kindle from Channel 7 news. I've come to interview Tiril Gambia." The report announced. She was decked out in a blue skirt suit, her black hair flowing to her waist.
"Then you've come to the right place." Seifer replied, opening the door wider.
"G-Good morning!" Quistis said from where she had seated herself on the bed. "I didn't expect interviews already!"
The reporter smiled in return. "I hope it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all!" Quistis… or should I say, Tiril, said. "Ask away." She stood up, Seifer standing at her side.
"Roll the cameras." Iris whispered to the men behind her. They did as they were told and the whir of cameras broke the silence.
"Now Miss Gambia, how are peace talks going?"
Quistis scrambled for an answer. She looked up at Seifer and he shrugged. "Well…" Quistis started. "Since I've been having security problems, I've been taking some time off. My assistants are working on the peace talks."
"When will you be returning to the peace talks?"
"As soon as my attackers are caught." Quistis replied.
@~@~@~@~@
"This is just too rich." Irvine laughed. "Quisty had NO idea what she's talking about."
"She's pretty good at bull shitting though." Zell observed.
"Now, Miss Gambia, it seems that you an your body guard are close. Are you a couple?"
Zell laughed, showing a gleaming row of teeth. "Oh my god!" Irvine was laughing too hard to comment.
@~@~@~@~@
"Um… well… you see…" Quistis stammered. Her face was turning hot, a sign that she was blushing. The impatient eyes of the reporter were making her nervous.
"Yes?" the report pressed.
Suddenly, Quistis felt a hand around her waist that pulled her closer to Seifer. "Of course! In fact, we're engaged!" Seifer smiled maliciously and looked down at Quistis. "Isn't that right, 'Tiril'?"
"Seifer!"
POW!!!!
@~@~@~@~@
Squall chewed anxiously on his toothpick as he sat on the end of the bed watching the six o'clock news. Rinoa sat behind him, waving an egg roll in front of his face. "C'mon Squall, don't you want to eat?" she asked.
"I'm not hungry." Squall replied, waving her off.
"Suit yourself!" Rinoa sighed.
"And today we got a live interview with Tiril Gambia." the newscaster on TV announced.
"Hey, turn this up!" Irvine urged.
"Why Irvy?" Selphie asked, leaning on the cowboy's shoulder.
"You'll see!" Zell laughed. Quistis grunted from where she sat at the desk. Squall seized the remote and clicked up the volume a few notches.
"…Now Miss Gambia, how are peace talks going?"
"Well… Since I've been having security problems, I've been taking some time off. My assistants are working on the peace talks."
"When will you be returning to the peace talks?"
"As soon as my attackers are caught."
"But…" the newscaster said with a chuckle. "Our next question brought up some controversy between Miss. Gambia and her bodyguard."
The cameras cut back to the interview.
"Now, Miss Gambia, it seems that you an your body guard are close. Are you a couple?"
Quistis fidgeted nervously on screen as her cheeks turned bright red. "Um… well… you see…" With a grin, her bodyguard seized her by the waist, dragging her closer.
"Of course! In fact, we're engaged!" he announce with a big smile. "Isn't that right… Tiril?"
Quistis broke away from him, her face red with anger.
"SEIFER!"
The voice on TV rang through the room since the volume was so loud. On screen 'Tiril' reach up and punched her bodyguard in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"And now…" the newscaster said between laughs. "In other news…"
Squall shut off the TV and laughter erupted through out the room.
"That was a nice shot Quistis!" Rinoa laughed. "That must've really hurt!"
"Isn't that right, Seifer?" Zell asked, turning to the knight that was sitting on the edge of the bed holding an icepack to his sore cheek. All he did was growl, a noise that the laughter drowned out. Even Squall cracked a small smile.
@~@~@~@~@
"So…" Cigarette smoke seethed through the cracks in the man's teeth. "She got a new body guard."
"He looks like a complete idiot to me." the woman to his left said, tossing her long brown hair.
"That means we must've wasted her last one!" A man said from across the room where he was polishing an assault rifle.
"I guess so." the woman chuckled. "So boss," She leaned closer to the man seated next to her that had first spoken. "When do we make our move?"
"Soon…" the man replied with a smirk. "Soon…"
@~@~@~@~@
A sigh escaped Rinoa's mouth as she leaned against the counter in the police station, waiting for the files on Tiril's attacks to be brought out. She checked her watch again. It was three o'clock, two hours after she had left. 'Squall must be wondering where I am.' she thought idly. 'Oh well, some worry will do him some good.'
"Here you are Miss. The files on the Tiril attacks." A female police officer returned from the file room and threw the folders down on the counter.
"Thank you." Rinoa said with a nod of her head. She scooped up the files and hurried out as fast as she could. This police station was starting to get on her nerves.
Light flooded her eyes as she stepped out onto the sidewalk. Castor was a fairly normal city. The skyline was filled with huge buildings that glistened in the sun as if they were made from diamond. Cars whizzed by on the streets and people flooded the sidewalks, their heads bent and their minds set on where they were headed. Rinoa sighed. 'Wish we didn't have work to do…' she thought. Her mind lingered on that thought for a little until a sickening wave of pain shot through her body, destroying her train of thought.
She crumpled to the ground, nursing her sore cheek. That's when she realized she had let go of the files. They had skidded down the sidewalk some yards away and her attacker, mounted on a motorcycle, wasted no time in grabbing it and driving off.
"Come back with that!" Rinoa cried, scrambling to her feet. She ran a little ways down the sidewalk, trying to keep up with the bike. But the driver was already out of range, the files tucked under their arm. Rinoa's first instinct was her weapon that was still strapped to her arm. But she hesitated. 'I'd stir up too much trouble. Dammit!' Remembering the pain in her banged up cheek, she slumped to the sidewalk.
"I… I failed…"
@~@~@~@~@
Rinoa winced at Squall dabbed at her cheek with a cotton ball doused in disinfectant. "That hurts…" she muttered.
The SeeD leader studied over the large gash that ran from Rinoa's ear almost to her nose and sighed. He fished the gauze and medical tape out from his bag and bandaged her cheek. "You need to be more careful." Squall said.
"I'm sorry, Squall." Rinoa said looking down at her hands folded in her lap. "I messed up the mission."
"No you didn't." Squall put away the first aid kit and then looked back up into Rinoa's big, brown eyes. "Whoever attacked you is working for the rebels. Apparently they don't want us to have any clues…" He frowned. "So be it."
"So what? It's my fault!" Rinoa cried, leaning forward.
"I'm not too worried about the police files." Squall said. "I'm just glad you weren't hurt any worse."
"Oh Squall…" Rinoa whispered. She slid her arms around his neck and settled her head on his shoulder. Squall looped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
"I'll always protect you, Rinoa." Squall told her, stroking the back of her head. Rinoa looked up at him and smiled before locking her lips with his.
Seifer watched from where he stood in the doorway. But this time he couldn't think of any way to insult his rival. Maybe he even felt a little jealousy. Putting the thought in the back of his mind, he retreated to his room.
@~@~@~@~@
As another card flew across the room and landed perfectly in the trash can, Quistis was beginning to get annoying with Seifer's game. The blond knight was sitting on the coffee table idly flicking the cards into a bin all the way across the room. "Don't you have anything better to do?" said Quistis after a while.
"No, not really…" Seifer replied, a hint of agitation in his voice since his 'concentration' had been broken.
"Then let's do something." Quistis exclaimed, standing up.
"Like what?" the knight asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
Quistis hesitated for a moment. "I don't know…"
"Hn. Great plan." Seifer thought a moment and then looked back up at the SeeD. "How about we go out on the town?"
"What do you mean? Squall would kill us!"
It was too late though. Seifer had already made up his mind (finding it equally satisfying to aggravate Squall) and had already gone for his coat. "So what if it pisses off your darling little commander?! Haven't you ever broken the rules before?" Seifer tossed Quistis her coat and turned to the door.
"No… but what if someone realizes I'm 'Tiril Gambia'? Shouldn't I be in disguise?"
"Re do your hair and get dressed the way you normally do. It's that easy." Seifer explained with an air of matter-of-factness.
"Well… who said I wanted to go?" Quistis blurted, crossing her arms.
"Look at it this way…" Seifer said over his shoulder. "Do you have anything better to do?"
@~@~@~@~@
For a weekday, it was fairly busy at on of the night clubs in Castor titled, "The Point of No Return"*. People had flooded the dance floor leaving the bar practically empty. That's where Quistis sat in silence as she watched Seifer flirt with some of the other women. She rolled her eyes and turned back to her drink. But she couldn't ignore the small feeling of jealous deep within her soul. 'Seifer's the one who brought me here. He shouldn't be off talking with other ladies…' Quistis gave herself a mental slap as soon as she realized what she had been thinking. That's when the chair next to her at the bar slid out and a smiling Seifer sat down.
"What? Didn't have enough money for a hooker?" Quistis replied sourly and very out of character like. Was she… jealous?
Seifer glared at her and then turned away. "No, I figured you'd want some company. That's all." He signaled the bar tender for a drink and then turned back to Quistis.
"Hey, you know how to dance?"
Quistis flushed a little. "Not really. All I ever learned was the dance to 'Waltz of the Moon' back at the Garden."
"Well, when you get thrown into a sink or swim situation, you have no choice but to swim." He stood up, leaving his untouched drink at the bar.
"What? Where are we going?" Quistis stammered as Seifer grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out onto the dance floor.
"You act too mature, 'teacher'. You need to lighten up!" Seifer shouted over the pulsating music the DJ was spinning.
"I'm not a teacher anymore!"
"Then stop acting like one!"
@~@~@~@~@
Seifer mind was buzzing with thoughts as he watched Quistis lose her usual business like appearance and begin to give into the music. Was it just him, or was everything about her perfect?
Shining blond hair swishes around her face, the tiny curls framing it perfectly. Gorgeous blue eyes took in the dark world around her. A smile creased her face when she noticed Seifer looking at her. Suddenly, his eyes traveled down her body. Two flawless mounds contorted her shirt, tugging at it and creasing the material. Perfect curves led down to a smooth, flat stomach and curved hips. And those beautiful, long, silky, smooth legs…
"Seifer?"
Seifer's attention snapped back up to Quistis' face. She stared at his curiously as the music died. "What is it?" she asked.
"N-Nothing." Seifer lied. "Hey, you want to go for a walk? It's… it's kind of stuffy in here, you know."
"Sure…" Quistis said slowly. She was still staring at Seifer suspiciously. With a sigh, she turned and headed for the door, Seifer following close behind, his eyes set on her… but not in the best of places…
@~@~@~@~@
A few drinks later, the two sat on a bench on a bridge overlooking one of the main streets in the city. The city was lit up that night but the stars still out shone the gallant metropolis of Castor.
"That was wonderful!" Quistis laughed.
"Yeah. Heh, I didn't know some guys could drink that much!"
Quistis laid back, her tilted to gaze up at the stars. After a small silence, her head jerked back to eye level and she smiled. "Hey, there's a photo booth back there. Wanna get our picture taken?"
"Why the hell not." Seifer laughed.
@~@~@~@~@
"Another boring afternoon…" Zell muttered, leaning back in his chair. There was no point in monitoring the next room since Quistis had gone to another interview meant for Tiril Gambia and Seifer had accompanied her. Irvine was fast asleep on the bed, Selphie was down in the lobby getting snacks, and Squall and Rinoa had followed 'Tiril' and her 'body guard' to make sure nothing happened. So… he was alone. Then an idea struck him.
'Hey, Seifer and Quistis aren't here right? Maybe a little snooping around might be entertaining.' He laughed out loud to think of what kind of embarrassing things he might be able to dig up on Seifer. First, he checked to make sure Irvine was still sleeping and then slipped out into the hallway.
Next door was the room Quistis and Seifer shared. Zell pulled the extra key card (the one Squall had for safe keeping) and ran it through. With a snap, the lock undid and the door opened.
@~@~@~@~@
The smell of cleaning supplies was heavy in the room, so heavy that for a moment Zell covered his nose with his hand. The cleaning people must've been in there… which was the least Zell could say from his room and the girls' room. They hadn't let anyone in there at all, to clean or otherwise. Stepping over the empty duffel bags, the blond martial artist approached the dresser.
Top drawer… It was full of Quistis' things. Neatly folded shirts, skirts, blouses… Zell blushed. And lingerie… He quickly shut the drawer and went on to the next one.
Seifer's clothes. They were stuffed in there, barely fitting. Huge masses of wrinkled shirts, pants, socks, and boxers were practically hanging out of the drawer. Zell sifted through the boxers and frowned. "Aw, what Seifer? No tighty whities?" Disappointed, the blond slammed the drawer shut. He sighed and leaned against the desk.
"There's got to be some good black mail somewhere…" Zell muttered, crossing his arms in frustration. When he put his right hand back on the desk, it shifted a few papers. Curiously, he turned around and looked down.
A copy of the mission briefing. Receipts. Notes on Tiril Gambia and the peace talks. And… "What's this?"
Zell held up a slip of paper, trying to get a good look at it in the dim light. It was a strip of photos from a photo booth. Zell bit his lip in growling anticipation as his eyes scanned the photos. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.
@~@~@~@~@
A groan rose from under the cowboy hat Irvine had placed on his face to block out the light. He removed it and sat up. "What the hell was all that noise?" he wondered aloud. His head turned slightly upon hearing the sound of the door unlocking. Selphie came in, her arms full of snacks.
"I didn't know what you and Zell wanted, Irvy. I got a lot though!" she giggled and dropped the pile of junk food onto the bed.
"Hey, Selph." Irvine tipped her hat to her. "Did you hear that noise just a second ago?"
Selphie shook her head, bouncing her curls back and forth. "No, why?"
The cowboy held up a hand for silence. "There it is again." he whispered.
"It's coming from next door!" the brunette gasped.
@~@~@~@~@
With his shotgun tucked under his arm, Irvine slowly swiped and extra key card and entered. Selphie followed directly behind him holding fistfuls of his coat for comfort. The cowboy sighed and lowered his gun noticing that it was only Zell rolling around on the carpet and laughing. The blond clutched his rib and was gasping for air.
"Zell, you scared the shit out of me!" Irvine complained. Selphie looked out from behind her human shield.
"What is it?"
Finally Zell regained his footing and, sobering, handed a strip of photos to Irvine. The cowboy looked at Zell and then down at the photos.
The top one showed Seifer and Quistis sitting in the photo booth, their faces red from drinking. In the next photo, Quistis had her arm around Seifer's shoulders and Seifer was flashing the camera a peace sigh and a big, fanged grin. But the last photo broke him down into laughing hysterics. He joined Zell in laughing while leaning on the wall for support.
"What are you two laughing at!?" Selphie asked, hands on her hips. She reached out and took the photos Irvine was offering her.
"T-The… hahaha… last one… haha!" Irvine managed to gasp out.
Reluctantly, Selphie glanced down at the last picture. In it, Quistis had her arms around Seifer's neck. In turn, Seifer's arms were clasped around her waist as they shared a passionate… yet alcohol induced… kiss.
@~@~@~@~@
It had been two, no, three weeks since that night but Quistis still couldn't get it off her mind. She had kissed him. She had kissed Seifer. The man she was assigned with to make sure didn't take his own life and in turn, the man that was there to protect her for the mission. The man that became a knight and nearly destroyed the whole world. The man… the man she was falling in love with…
High heels clapped against the sidewalk as Quistis walked back to the hotel silently. Every now and then Seifer would begin talking but due to her introspective mood, Quistis said nothing and the conversation would die.
"God dammit, what's with you today?" Seifer finally asked crossing his arms across his muscular chest.
"N-Nothing…" Quistis muttered, eyes on the sidewalk. She was blushing too hard to face him now.
"It can't just be nothing. Then you wouldn't look so upset." Seifer retorted.
"It is though!"
"Liar."
"I'm not lying!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
@~@~@~@~@
"Are too!"
"Are not!" Quistis pushed past Seifer and walked into the room.
"Are too." Seifer muttered under his breath. Quistis smiled a little. He reminded her of a stubborn child trying to win a game.
"Maybe I am…" she said pulling off her heels and massaging her sore feet.
"I knew it." Seifer exclaimed with a proud 'I told you so' smile. "So," he climbed onto the second bed across from hers. "What is it?"
"Why should it concern you?" Quistis asked coolly as she walked over to the desk and signed on her internet hook up. Zell's bright face on the monitor welcomed her.
"Hey Quistis! Any 'fun' yet?" he snickered.
"Zell…"
"Alright, alright. So, you done with meetings for today?"
Quistis nodded. "Yeah. I just finished."
"Get the hell off that monitor chicken wuss! I'm trying to get something out of Quistis!"
Seeing as how there was a whole wall to separate him from the deranged knight, Zell smiled exposing two fanged canines and a row of shining teeth. "Really now? What is it Quistis? Don't want this bozo kissing you again?"
"Zell!" Quistis shouted, her glasses almost falling off the bridge of her nose. "How did you find out about that?!"
The blond, still grinning, held up a strip of photos. "Everyone knows now!" he laughed. Before Zell could start up with his questions again, Quistis shut off the computer and collapsed back onto the bed with a sigh.
"That little jack ass… When I get to him…" Seifer threatened. Then he turned to the camera. "You hear that chicken wuss?!" With a grunt, he turned away again and sat down on the bed.
A few moments passed in silence before Seifer spoke up again. "Now what's bugging you? The suspense is killin' me!!" His eyes lit up, a boyish glint illuminating the ice blue orbs.
Still, Quistis was hesitant. 'Is this really the time for girlish fantasies, Quistis? You're on a mission…' She turned from him to face the window open to the warm afternoon air. "I- I can't…" she muttered.
Suddenly, a powerful hand jerked her around by her shoulder to face Seifer. "Tell me." he ordered.
"You really want to know?" Quistis asked staring him straight in the eyes.
"Yes. Isn't that what I've been saying for the past ten minutes?!"
A blush spread over Quistis' face. She was so close to him that she could feel his hot breath on her reddened cheeks. Every detail of his face was apparent to her. Every scar, every wrinkle, every tinge of the sun reflecting off his face. But standing out most of all were those blue eyes… the ones that had made Quistis sympathize for him in the first place.
"Well…?" Seifer pressed looking down at her.
'It's now or never, Quistis…' But she hesitated. Bit her lip. Stalled for time. If she wanted to do this so bad, why was she hesitant?
"Quistis, tell--"
Seifer choked on his words as Quistis' mouth closed over his and her arms slid around his neck. In shock, he didn't move for a moment.
'C-Can this really be happening? I mean this is… Quistis!'
After a mental slap, the former knight came to grips with the fact that this was real. As real as he had wanted it to be. His arms automatically slid around her waist, putting her closer. She stopped and gasp in surprise as she was snuggled against the man's broad chest, giving him a chance to deepen the kiss.
'Wait! What am doing?!' Quistis' mind screamed for her to push away, to wish this had never happened… but she didn't want to let go. Finally, going against her sensual wishes, she pushed away leaving Seifer standing there, his arms still outstretched like he was still holding her.
"Quistis…"
"I'm sorry… I just… can't… The mission… It's not appropriate… Why did I do that?!" Her eyes remained focused on the floor.
"Quistis." Seifer turned her around to face him. "Screw the mission." This time it was his turn to steal a passionate kiss.
@~@~@~@~@
It had been a very long morning. The night before, Zell had picked up some tips. That meant that it was just him and Quistis at the hotel… alone. He smiled a little at the thought, paid for the coffee he bought at the café, and started back to the hotel that was only a few blocks away.
With everything happening, there had been very little time for Seifer to just think… not about the mission and how much he despised his commander but about… other things. Above all, her. Now was certainly that time though. Her safety was on the line. Every time he left, he regretted it from the worries that maybe the rebels would choose that time to strike. The worrying was probably making his hair turn gray!
He pushed through the revolving doors and into the hotel lobby with a sigh. Everything was normal. Not a chair out of place. 'Looks like I was worried for nothing…' he thought in relief. He instantly lived to regret the comment.
As he hurried up the grand staircase to the hotel room he was greeted by bursts from a machine and the chorus of screams that responded. Suddenly the panic was back. Without a second thought, Seifer bolted up the stairs, his heart racing.
What he saw sent shivers up his spine. All the people in the halls had been mercilessly slaughtered, things written on the walls with their blood. Machine gun bullets dented the walls, splintered the doors, and had shattered the window panes.
"Quistis!" Seifer hurried over the bodies of the dead towards the room him and Quistis had shared for almost two months now. The door knob had been completely ripped out, leaving only a hole in the door. Without hesitation, Seifer pushed opened the door and then stopped. Every muscle tensed and his heart stopped.
From the bathroom there was a small trail of blood droplets, probably from a minor flesh wound. The bottom drawer of the dresser had been ripped open revealing the safe where Seifer had locked up their weapons.
'She… she tried to get them out… damn it… I'm the only one who knew the combination!'
The window was all the way open, allowing the bloodied curtains to flap freely in the breeze. Seifer hurried over and stuck his head out. There was no sign of Quistis.
"Dammit…" Seifer's shoulders shook and his eyes burned with tears of anger. Leaning on the window still for support, he looked out once more.
"QUISTIS!!!!"
