~*~ When Did This Happen? ~*~
:: Seiftis. Squffie hints. (Quistis x Seifer, Squall x Selphie) ::
Chapter Fifteen: There's More Than One Way to Thaw the Ice
~Silverium~
Disclaimer: Squaresoft. Not Silver.
Note: PG-13 for language. I should have mentioned that earlier. Sorry!
"He's dead you idiot." Seifer hissed
Irvine's arm was stretched out between Quistis and Seifer, the end smoking slightly. He was frozen in place, violet eyes wide and lips parted. Seifer's lip had curled in disgust, turning his face from the sight. He then saw that Quistis had fallen to the ground clawing at her eyes and screaming in pain. Cursing Seifer dropped down and tilted her face up to his,
"Quistis, shit, what's wrong?" He asked, eyes wide.
Quistis' hands dropped away and a clear fluid ran down her face. She took her sleeve and dabbed at it, muttering in a broken voice laced with pain.
"Poison-type liquid, it's burning my eyes." She sucked in a sharp breath and tried to stop her shaking.
"Who the fuck does that to someone!?" Irvine cried, falling down to his knees behind Quistis and running a hand through his hair, knocking off his hat.
"Someone who was upset, c'mon, we found the guy let's get out of here, the city officials can deal with this, we need to get Trepe out." Seifer snarled, picking up Trepe hurriedly
The face of the missing council member was twisted in pain. The door they had opened led to what would eventually be the opening to the lab but currently was less than a foot deep. Spikes had been drilled through the man's body and dried blood pooled down at his feet. He had been alive when it was done. Hanging from the door was a trigger to a spray that contained some vile fluid. It had been this that showered Quistis with a deadly brew.
Irvine kicked the door shut and ran after Seifer, his trench coat flaring behind him. Seifer grabbed the pole with one hand and swung himself up, cuddling Quistis close to him while she cried helplessly. It was slow, but Seifer managed to pull himself up with one arm and his legs, curling both of them over the ledge and then picking her up again.
Quistis had subsided, her face tucked in close to his chest, small spasms rippled through her but she didn't make a sound. Seifer could tell by her jaw that her teeth were clenched and her eyes were shut tightly, shiny from the fluid on them. Trying to ignore the searing pain Quistis concentrated on taking deep breaths. Pressed against the warmth of Seifer she inhaled his scent, marveling that it had been him in the shower before him, he was wearing the same cologne. She liked it.
The three edged quickly through the passages, running through the attic and outside where Seifer flagged down a shuttle and jumped inside, shouting orders. Quistis was taken to a hospital, and then Seifer and Irvine, after talking to the officials and Cid back at Balamb were given permission to return home. Their ride was silent, with Seifer glaring out at the grass and Irvine gnawing at his lower lip. Neither had seen Quistis hurt to the point where she was screaming. There had been vicious points to the defeat of Ultimecia, but the blonde woman had been tall and frozen, a cry out, a shed tear, but never a raw scream. The silence rang hollow in their ears and when they entered Garden Xu flew upon them like a hawk out for prey.
"Where's Trepe?"
"Hospital."
"Why?" The asking shriek,
"We don't know! She was hit by some poison thing, hell, she didn't know, just back off ya friggen harpy!" Seifer shouted, temper boiling over,
"Almasy!" Xu's dark eyes burned,
"Xu, Quistis will be okay, we've had a long rough day, please," Irvine pleaded, his soft eyes shimmering, "We don't know what's wrong with Trepe, she was in a lot of pain, we got out there as fast as we could just…we need a break, where are the others?"
Xu cooled, slightly, "Not back yet. Dismissed. I want a report."
"Aw hell…Quisty's the one who likes doing those." Irvine grumbled, "First the laundry now the report…"
"Suck it up, Cowboy." Seifer chuckled, but inside he was growing cold.
In his dorm Seifer slammed his fists into a punching bag. He was angry with himself for letting Quistis open the door, he had should have, he should have been there first. Quistis was the brains and the glue that held everyone together; with her gone everything would fall apart. He would fall apart.
Impressing her kept him in line. Trying to figure her out kept him busy. Her presence in garden kept him there. He needed Quistis Trepe, which for Seifer came as an amazing revelation, he needed someone. He couldn't do it alone.
