My first time, so be gentle. Or don't; I don't care. Hope it's funny and you enjoy. I may write a prequel that explains the events here, if any interest might come about. It would be much darker.
Cid was smiling in his office and it had been a while since he had been called to see him. Historically, these two things did not bode well for Seifer Almasy, but he strode to the chair in front of the headmaster's desk anyway with a wary and pensive countenance. Seifer felt that since his return to garden a few weeks prior things had settled down; hostility towards him was not quite so open and the threats lessened each week. Still, though he had done nothing at present to instigate the tensions just now leaving the institution besides his merely existing, he could not help but think that Cid may have finally concluded that he was more trouble than he was worth.
"Ahem…" the cough brought his eyes and mind back to the headmaster.
"Sir. Why did you wish to see me?"
"Several reasons mister Almasy, but I'll try to be succinct." Shit. This could take hours. He made a conscious effort not to be noticed by his superior while he glanced at his watch. "I'm serious. Now, first off we both know that will become a SeeD. The examination will be held in just over a month. I am aware that you do not require further training or schooling." He paused for a moment while Seifer listened intently.
"It is my opinion that you needn't even take the exam, but since giving you SeeD status would offend you I have arranged for you to take two classes and the exam." Seifer nodded. "The first class will be review in SeeD and world military protocol and the second will be an advanced intense training on world combat today. It will cover all aspects. Given how much nations, weapons, and monsters have changed in such a short time I am requiring this for all advanced SeeD."
"Sir, I am not yet a SeeD."
Cid smiled again when he said 'yet', glad that Seifer's once irrepressible confidence was back. "This I am aware of Mister Almasy, but you'll be needing the information as a head start for your new position." Seifer's eyebrow raised; this meeting was not at all what he had expected.
"You are heading security at Balamb Garden effective immediately. The position is much like your former Disciplinary Committee one, though you will need to be versed on external threats to Garden as well." He nods again.
Cid sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing his temples. "You see Seifer, not long after you left, Balamb fell into a state of near anarchy. I see you smirking but it is true. Order, discipline, inclination, punctuality, and other essential qualities to this body have plummeted. I need you to help reinstill respect and a healthy fear and there is perhaps no one in the world more feared and respected than yourself at present time. Raijin and Fujin are in your new office awaiting your direction, do you accept your position?"
"Yes sir." He smiled for the first time in a while. "Gladly."
"Excellent. I know I can count on you." Oh, really? That's a new one on me. Seifer was, needless to say, a bit surprised by the vote of confidence, but only his brow evidenced it. He started to stand, but Cid held up his hand and shook his head.
"You're not yet dismissed. As a duty of your new position you are given nearly the only authority to recommend or dismiss personnel in any area. You've always been an excellent judge of character and ability and I myself am unable to evaluate others because of my other duties. I do not trust any of my faculty nearly so much."
"I ask that at first you closely evaluate instructor No. 14, Quistis Trepe. Her classes have suffered extensively, in grades, and in regulation. It is to the point now where we only expect three of her twenty eligible students to even qualify for the SeeD exam. I made the decision to reinstate her license several months ago and I refuse to believe it was a poor one. She will be your instructor in both of your classes. I trust that you will keep her on her toes and not tell her of your mission unless you deem it necessary. Find out if she is yet again unfit for instructing, or if the problem is student related, fix it."
Seifer winced at the thought of causing Quistis to lose her license again, but Cid tried to placate his guilt: "Don't feel grief for this. Your recommendation last time was correct; she was unfit for her job at the time. Just please report back to tell me that such is not the case now." He pushed the intercom. "Xu, please show Mister Almasy to his new office. Dismissed." He nodded to Seifer who saluted and left.
Upon exiting the double doors of the headmaster's office Seifer was greeted by the austere face of Xu. With her small hands folded neatly in front of her, she met his slightly mocking salute with a cold and clipped tone. "Walk this way, Almasy." She sought the elevator.
Smirking, he retorted, "If I could walk that way…" but his sultry musing was cut short.
"Don't start with me Almasy." She pointed and glared at him even as an unwanted rosy tint overtook her ears and cheeks. The lift was heading to the second level.
As usual, such actions against him did little to stop him, and he smirked even wider.
"Oh, you know that I hate to see you so upset." He brought his mouth close to her ear, feeling especially playful after his promotion. "I'm sure I could alleviate these horrid days for you if you let me…" in a low whisper. The doors opened and he backed up to observe the confusion on her face as she looked up at the strange new Seifer. As he walked out he finished, looking pointedly at her, "…Well, for about nine months anyway."
He allowed himself a low laugh at her expense. She burned with anger at his implications and swiftly walked to his door, motioned to it with a sort wave, and stormed off. Chuckling further, he looked to his door, the entrance to his office. Someone was finishing the lettering for it.
When the man noticed the occupant of the office was behind him, he turned around and backed away in ill-concealed apprehension. Seifer merely nodded to him and allowed himself inside. He was not displeased with the surroundings. A large oak desk with his title and workstation stood in the center with two branching rooms off to either side. One held archives and smaller stations for his companions and a slew of other research equipment. The other was a communications and briefing room equipped with a large videoconference set, surveillance posts, and what appeared to be an advanced tactical simulator in its own secluded space.
Fujin and Raijin, who had already perused the facility, stood in the main office.
"Hey boss. Did ya see that…"
Seifer cut him off cordially with a wave of his gloved hand. "We'll have a thorough briefing regarding the use of the facility and the abilities of it tonight when some techs can show us the ropes. I want you two to study the technological abilities of this Garden as compared to the rest of the world during your free time. I expect you both are taking the advanced world training class that I am?"
"Yeah, ya know."
"AFFIRMATIVE."
"Good. That should help us. We'll reconvene here at 2100." He sat at his desk and opened the file on Quistis that sat on it. While he started to go through her service record, he noticed that his posse was still standing by his desk.
"Well? What are you still doing here?" He asked with faux exasperation.
"Boss?"
"Get the hell out of here and go on your rounds! Bitch-slap some respect and honor out of the snot-nosed punks that seem to have taken over this place since our departure. Punish each and every break of any policy, you are familiar with the revised edition?"
It was a statement more than a question, but they nodded anyway. "I'll be out there shortly. Patrol by floors. Fujin, basement. Raijin, first floor. I'll take second."
"Yes boss! Just like old times, ya know?"
"GLADLY."
"Since Garden has expanded so much let me know if you find any worthy additions to our cause." With that he waved them away. He smiled. Life was looking up. Sure, he had just shouldered an enormous responsibility, but it was one that he graciously accepted. He would be able to make a real and evident difference in something and he would thoroughly enjoy the process. Oh yes, these foolish cadets had no idea of the fate that was about to befall them.
Closing the Trepe case file he stood and walked to the glass door exit. The lettering was finished he noticed when he turned to close the door. Turning back around and past a corner to begin his rounds a blinding yellow flash of energy ran into his chest and fell backward onto the floor.
He noticed the impossibly emerald eyes widen in surprise from their vantage on the tiles. Miss Selphie Tilmitt. Balamb's little ray of sunshine. The bane of moody and solitary people everywhere. The one who, during recent consecutive seasons of inclement weather, put forth investments that single-handedly saved the coffee bean and sugar cane industries. The one who at this very moment sat absolutely still and silent?
"S-sorry Seifer. I just came because I heard that a new branch of security offices was installed here. I wanted to see who came to head it up." She smiled sweetly and with a bit of nervousness.
He stood still regarding the unusual display of apprehension with a blank stare. Then he quickly thrust his hand out which caused her to flinch and shut her eyes. A corner of his mouth upturned and his head shook when she slowly opened up one eye to see his arm still outstretched waiting for her to accept help to her feet. She smiled genuinely when she took it. The final classes of the day were just dismissing and he pulled her bodily off the ground, dangling her in front of his face with one hand tightly gripping her wrist. Some students stopped to see why the infamous lap dog was confronting one of the world's saviors.
Clearly her smile had disappeared after it became apparent that he would not be setting her down soon. She looked very uncomfortable as she stared at his smirking façade.
"So, you wanted to see the newly instated head of security?" His breath brushed her cheek.
She just bit her lip and nodded quickly.
"Well, you've found him..." Her eyes widened again and he dropped her, reaching for his notebook and a pen. Selphie stumbled into him again and backed away in haste. "…and he's citing you for violation of Garden rule thirteen, paragraph three, subsection R: 'reckless endangerment of persons and/or equipment', in conjunction with rule eight: 'no running', and rule thirty-four, paragraph seventeen, subsection C, article VI, subparagraph Mu: 'blocking an emergency exit'." She looked at the fire door that seconds ago she was sitting in front of and winced.
After he finished writing he looked back to her. "This disregard for Garden policy certainly does not reflect well on the 'saviors of the world.' I sure as hell better not see it again. Now get on with your business."
The recently dismissed students stared in awe as Selphie left hurriedly.
"What the fuck are you all looking at? Get the hell on with it!" They did. Like a herd of geezards in an Ultima.
"And no running!"
Whistling Tiptoe Through the Tulips he silently mused: life certainly is looking up.
Oh, and the nine months line was inspired from another writer who I cannot remember; don't give me any credit. I just couldn't resist putting it in. Sorry to whoever thought of it.
That one was my first and it feels a bit hollow. Feedback is appreciated.