~*~ When Did This Happen? ~*~

:: Seiftis. Squffie hints. (Quistis x Seifer, Squall x Selphie) ::

Chapter Eighteen:  No Wallflower for You

~Silverium~

Disclaimer: Squaresoft. Not Silver.

Note: The PG 13 rating is for language…and those romantic moments of course.

 "Don't call me that." Seifer snapped when Selphie knocked on his door, her shrill voice coming through muffled but decipherable.

            "Come out." Squall ordered, bored with the pointless exchange,

            Seifer's door swung open, "Listen Squall, you may be the—"

            "Got ya!" Selphie's arms entangled around Seifer's and she tugged him out of his dorm.

            "Selphie get the f—"

            "We're going to see Quistis, shut up before you wake up the entire Garden." Squall snapped, "Let's go."

            Appeased by the point of getting him up Seifer calmed and detached Selphie from his arm. They ran down to the Quads were Squall leapt into a four-seat car and revved it up. Selphie shot Seifer a fiery glare as she shot-gunned the front seat. Seifer growled but climbed in the back, wondering how someone so short could manage to be so menacing.

            They drove to where the hospital was located, none of them speaking on the way, even Selphie was lost in a determined silence, her eyes staring out into the darkness. It was 3am and they passed no other cars along the way.

            "How are we going to get in?" Seifer asked,

            "The hospital is always open,"

            "No, how do we get in to Trepe?"

            "We'll figure something out," Squall replied quietly, steering into the parking lot and then jumping out.

            They went in through Emergency and babbled something about their hurt friend being inside, they had just found out, Selphie did a wonderful job of bursting into tears and throwing a temper tantrum until they let them in out of sheer annoyance. Selphie dashed down the hallway, looking for the name Trepe on the doors. When she found Quistis' she knocked thrice and then burst in.

            The room was black but the silhouette of Quistis could be seen against the window. She turned towards them and when Selphie turned on the lights ("Geeze Selphie! Give us a warning!" "Quiet Seifer.")  her face showed no change. Quistis wore a bandage over her eyes, the rest of her face was pale and her hands were lightly folded in her lap. Xu had given her pajamas, a light blue and white set that Quistis had dressed in that night. Her brow furrowed,

            "Seifer?" She asked quietly,

            "Yo Trepe," Seifer said breathlessly, pushing past Squall and taking one of Quistis' hands, "How're you doing under there?"

            "I don't know," Quistis looked down, "They won't tell me anything,"

            Squall sat down in the chair next to her and Selphie perched on the top of Quistis' bed. She reached forward and brushed her friend's hair back.

            "Don't worry Quisty, you'll be fine," She assured determinedly, "I'm going to braid your hair,"

            "Okay." A little smile crossed the blonde's face, "I'm glad you guys came,"

            "We were losing sleep over you Trepe, everyone's worried. They don't give us much info on you," Seifer said, still holding her hand and studying the smooth skin,

            "I'm coming back tomorrow afternoon," Quistis ventured, "Whether this place likes it or not. I called Cid and demanded him to let me go. I need to write the report for our mission,"

            "Aw Trepe, please, I made Irvine do that," Seifer replied, "If you make a report Cowboy will never let the whining end,"

            Quistis managed a giggle and Seifer knew that had the bandages been off her eyes would be sparkling. Selphie quietly plaited her hair in a French braid, content to simply be with her friend. Squall was watching the floor, letting Seifer enjoy the moment.

            "I made you a card," Selphie whispered, "It's back at Garden, I was going to mail it tomorrow but I'll leave it in your dorm,"

            "Thank you Selphie," Quistis replied just as quietly.

            The blonde was trying to be strong. She felt strained, dead, she couldn't see, and if she couldn't see…would she lose her job? It was true; all the SeeDs on the Ultimecia mission were now richer than beyond belief, she'd be fine financially. But who cared about money when all you lived for was taken away? Quistis felt the warmth of Seifer's hands on her own and she drew on a shaky breath. Selphie's hands paused for a fraction of a second, alerting the ex-instructor that she had been caught. From under her bandage a damp spot appeared, and then a tear leaked out.

            "Quisty!" Selphie gasped, horrified, "Oh Quisty, please don't!"

            "Let's go Selphie." Squall stood up and offered his hand to her while Quistis sat frozen.

            Selphie gave Quistis a tentative hug and then followed Squall out, her face turned over her shoulder as she stared at her fallen friend. The broken soldiers on the battlefield. When her and Squall left the room she chanced a last look back in time to see Seifer lean forward and collect the crying woman into his arms. Seifer and Quistis, the late, sarcastic, fiery man and the punctual, dry, ice queen. Who would have thought? Selphie looked up at Squall, they paralleled each other much the same way. Selphie was sunlight, and Squall was the shadows. Maybe that meant they couldn't exist without each other. Selphie smiled, liking this thought. Sunshine was sparkly yellow!

            Squall noticed the sudden grin and raised his eyebrows but said nothing. They aimlessly walked around the hospital, and gently Squall loosened up.

            "Can you believe it?! Hospital-food vending machines! Ew! Nasty! Sickening!" Selphie exclaimed,

            "Ssh," Squall soothed, "It's 4:30am, people are asleep,"

            "But it's GROSS!" Selphie squirmed in place and then stuck out her tongue at the machine, "I bet they don't get much service from these."

            Squall managed a smile and they kept on going. At the end of the hallway was a staircase, shrouded in complete darkness. Selphie slowed down and looked at Squall uncertainly but he kept walking. Pausing when he realized she was lagging he reached back, taking her hand,

            "Darkness can't hurt you Selphie," He reminded evenly, pulling her forward,

            "It's creepy."

            "Like spiders?" He asked, a wry smile on his face,

            "Like spiders," She nodded seriously, but a grin quirked on her lips.

            They ascended the staircase with Selphie clinging to Squall's arm. At the third landing they reached Squall paused again, making Selphie smack into him. He turned and looked at her, as much as he could see.

            "This isn't that bad, right?"

            "It's…scary." Selphie whispered in her 'stealth voice'.

            "Sit."

            When she hesitated, Squall sat down on the stairs and tugged her down as well. She sat stiff beside him, her hand gripping Squall's, "What if something's here though?"

            "Like what?"

            "Anything! You don't know what's here, it's too dark to see!"

            "Things can hide in the light." Squall supplied,

            "No, things aren't like you Squall, they can't hide in the light like you can, you can always see them. They cast shadows." Selphie argued defiantly,

            "I can't hide in the light." Squall whispered, "I can only fade out,"

            "Not with me you can't," Selphie leaned against him, "I'm not going to let you anymore, it's part of our deal."

            "No more wallflower for Squall?" He asked, a tiny smile hovering,

            "No wallflower for you." Selphie agreed, then she giggled.

            "And no more fear of the dark for you," Squall replied, "You've relaxed, you realize."

            There was silence, and then Selphie tackled Squall into a hug, "You're right! You took my mind off the blackness! You know what this means though, right?"

            Puzzled Squall shook his head, and Selphie, hearing nothing but silence, assumed he didn't, "This means you have to go shopping with me."

            Nearly stricken, Squall stared in the girl's general direction, "Why?"

            "Because nothing will cure you better than being in a building crowded with people, noise, and colour."

            "And if I refuse?" Squall breached warily,

            "I'll go Super-Selphie Dominatrix on you."

            "Guess I'll have to go then." Squall sighed and hung his head, but inside he was anticipating this trip because it gave him more time with the spunky brunette.