Trust My Heart
by: Cathy-chan
Chapter 6: Is It Love?
They felt the Garden's foundation shake after a loud noise and a minute's worth of rumbling. A flash of harsh light stronger than the first impact could be seen outside the room's damaged windows. The students and high-ranking SeeDs, the ones still able to stand, gathered around to watch. They all watched, puzzled why an explosive would go off in the air. Some whispered that an enemy attacked them and missed, while others suggested the possibility of a comrade that saved them from another catastrophe.
The one person that knew who rescued them fell into a state of shock and dread. Quistis dropped the first aid kit on her hands with a noisy clang. She had no idea how she knew, the feeling of her blood freezing, her body tensing, at hearing the eruption forced her to react. She had also realized why he sounded so desperate and so insistent on her staying in the infirmary. Instead of picking up what she dropped, she dashed for the gap through the broken door.
"Quistis!" Dr. Kadowaki called out. She turned to Squall, now awake and leaning on a wall with a cloth wrapped around his head. "Where's she going?"
He shrugged, muttering to himself, "That's what I'd like to know too."
~~~~~~
The shockwave of the blast had torn the headmaster's office. It became nothing more than a heap of rubble and dust. Quistis had to duck, push and cautiously feel her way through them to find what was left of the ceiling. Parts of the bridge still had a floor. Climbing a fallen metal beam, she found what appeared to be the prow of the ship's piloting area. The large steering wheel lay on the ground, cracked into three pieces. She scanned the bridge's frightful muddle while crying out his name. With apprehension, she envisioned Bradley out cold, buried in a tonne of metal, barely alive with no breathing space. She called out his name for the fourth time, louder than the last. In her side vision, she saw movement, someone stirring underneath layers of metal sheets. As she got nearer, she discerned a muffled sound coming from the activity.
"Hold on. I'll get these things off." Quistis used all of her arms and hands' strength to lift the huge, metal pieces off. After quite an effort and scuffed hands, she was able to take Bradley out from beneath the debris. His clothes were ripped everywhere, the colours lost in a coating of soot. Scratches and small bruises where scattered here and there on his body. She drew back when she saw the metallic shreds embedded on his thigh. Moreover, his left forearm was broken, she guessed by his flinch when she moved it. The Garden's infirmary had taught her how to look for signs of internal bleeding. She breathed a relief, there was none. Also it didn't seem his injuries overly hurt him, in fact he looked pleased to see her when he opened his eyes.
Quistis felt gladdened, a tightness in her heart suddenly easing off. But her mood didn't stop her from scowling slightly and asking, "I thought I told you to stay away from harm? You charged right into it!"
"So ye've told me to stay away," his voice sounded meek, but a smile was appearing on his lips as he said, "but what y'don't know is that I don't take orders from women." His small smile turned into a grin. "No matter how cute or bossy they are--Ow!" He groaned, fully realizing the magnitude of his leg's injury.
She reacted to his pains and supported him up to his feet by slinging his undamaged arm around her shoulder. Though utterly worried for his sake, she was both baffled and amused that he could still be humorous after a difficult experience. She answered his playful cheekiness by saying, "Well keep in mind, Bradley, you'd do well to listen to this 'cute, bossy' woman since she's your only hope to get to a doctor."
He laughed delicately; he grimaced when the tiny action reached the pain on his arm. "Indeed, yer my champion, milady."
Her expression became serious. She shook her head. "You're the hero. You've rescued this Garden from more suffering, and you did it knowing you could've been killed."
Beyond her eyesight, she didn't see the change in Bradley by looking at his eyes. Oh, how little she knew of him if she deemed him a hero, he thought bitterly. "Any of you SeeDs could have done that. I was merely doing what is expected." He was half-surprised and annoyed at hearing the venom and ice laced in his voice. But he wasn't being cold to her for praising him. No, the harshness was directed at himself.
He was waiting for her to react to the visible change in his mood, to pass judgment or question him. But instead she smiled kindly and said, "You underestimate yourself. Not anyone could've done what you did." She looked up to him quizzically. "How did you know about the bomb? No one thought there could be another one after the kind of damage the first one did."
Ah, he thought, the questions finally comes. He knew it was only a matter of time until someone distrusted him. He wasn't resentful about it, he had learned to face the consequences his past long ago. For now, he answered her question as best he could without revealing overly much. "I knew from something someone I once knew told me."
Quistis blinked and thought over his answer. He was being vague and evasive again. She had noticed his accent becomes distinct only when he was jesting or nervous. When serious, his intonation disappears completely. His tone was final, he didn't wish to discuss it further. For that reason, and in respect for him, she didn't probe for a clearer explanation. She purposefully pushed it behind her thoughts. She turned and faced him, her faces inches from his, and smiled, the gesture warming her pale, summer-ocean eyes. "Thank you. You've saved many people and Balamb Garden. We are grateful to you." She gave him a soft, tender kiss on the cheek.
Bradley felt her sincere gratitude deep inside. Her show of appreciation was well worth the scrapes and foolish heroics in his reckoning. He knew his bravery came from thinking about Quistis. The warmth of her kiss traveled along his face. He smiled, dumbfounded to find himself flushing. Blimey! he thought. I haven't blushed since I was a kid. Feeling abruptly like a bashful boy again, he muttered, "...Your welcome."
She giggled, hugging her arm closer around his waist.
~~~~~~
"Good gracious, boy! How could you treat your body like this?" Dr. Kadowaki scolded jokingly, distracting him from her tweaking the shards of metal out of his leg.
" 'Tis what I get fer gallantry, Doc--!" A sharp, angry sting came from a large piece. Much as her diversions were valued, Bradley still felt as if a Red Dragon was gnawing off his leg.
"You are lucky to be alive after such a feat. It's a marvel you didn't get blown to bits. Honestly, you remind me of the many, many eager and talented SeeDs that visit me daily because of their reckless heroism." The good-natured doctor took off the last sharp pieces, wrapped a bandage around the wounds and proclaimed, "There you go, all done! How does your leg feel?"
He bend his knees back and forth. "Much better." He gave her an imitated, soldier's salute. "You are a miracle worker, Dr. Kadowaki! Simply the best!"
"And I've never had such a spirited, strong patient!" she returned. She wagged a finger at him and placed a fist on her hips. "Now don't think your flattery's going to let you off about keeping that brace on your broken arm."
He grinned crookedly. He lifted the cast arm, a long fabric looped around, supported to his neck. "Aye, it'll stay there like ya said, Doctor."
"Now, I want you to go back home to Dollet and rest, Mr. Atkins. No shenanigans or work for six months." She was about to pivot in her heels when she thought to add, "And I'll make sure to send Quistis once a month to make sure you're following my prescriptions." With a nod and a smug look on her face, the doctor moved on to her other patients.
Quistis heard Dr. Kadowaki's words while she was mending a patient's arm, and halted for a minute. The doctor had never assigned a SeeD to check up on a civilian's condition. Yet Quistis knew her friend well enough to know her schemes. She smiled a bit. Apparently, Selphie was not the only one that encouraged her to indulge. After helping another wounded SeeD, she went to Bradley's side. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," he said, cheerfully. "Dr. Kadowaki fixed me up real good."
She was about to mention, just as merrily as him, that visiting him every month would be a nice break from her hectic schedule, when a junior student walked up to her and said, "Commander Leonhart asked me to tell all the primary SeeDs that he'd like to talk to them right away. He said it's important. He also said to meet up at the new meeting room."
She nodded. "I'll be there right away. Thank you."
The junior smiled and saluted formally before departing.
"I have to go," she told Bradley. She put his hand gently into hers. "Will you be all right?"
"Yeah. As long as I can find someone that's willing to drive me back to Dollet."
"Of course they'll be willing. Everyone knows what you did for them. I've been hearing from the patients that they think you're a hero."
"Thanks," he said, forcing a light-hearted tone. He had no idea where his next move came from. It was senseless impulse that had him taking her hand before she left and asking, "Do you want to meet again tomorrow at the place we went?"
"Sure," she answered effortlessly, though she looked stunned at him for asking.
He kept his hand on hers, and marveled that she could answer him without hesitation. He felt the desire to kiss her then and there at the pure sight of her unreserved smile. He kissed her hand, instead of her lips as he wanted, and bid her farewell.
After letting Quistis go back to her duties, he found the student that was eager to drive him to Dollet. Though the word 'eager' didn't quite fit the boy's description. He was extremely, wholly, lavishly overjoyed that he could assist "the one hero that saved our Garden from going into the junk heap." Bradley agreed with half of the green boy's comment. If the bomb on the bridge hadn't been deactivated, the entire ship would collapse entirely. More powerful than the first, it could have leveled all, leaving nothing but a huge crater. Even so, he was certain a man like him was unworthy of the word 'hero.' He simply acted on it because of his incorrigible intuition. It was never his intention to redeem himself, he thought only of the lives at stake.
During the car ride to Dollet, he wondered if he knew the saboteurs that were involved in the attack. The placement of the bombs were exactly as one of them said three years ago: one at the back, one in the bridge. He had never, however, thought them capable of sinking so low. Disabling an armoured boat was a crime, but obliterating a Garden's population was something else altogether. It was genocide.
Later when the Balamb student dropped him off politely at Dollet's entrance, he weighed the idea of investigating the whereabouts of the three. But after some years and a bad reputation as criminals, he doubted they still lived close to or inside the city. Furthermore, it would be unwise to confront anyone. Even if it were only one man, Bradley would not survive or escape, in light of his body's condition.
Descending down the cobbled sidewalks of the city's local areas, he arrived at his tiny apartment above the auto shop. His bound leg felt ached after the short walk. While he relaxed his tired limb on the edge of a bed, he thought of Quistis again. He looked forward to seeing her again the next day. He snorted gruffly at himself, and thought: didn't he had the gall and audacity to date a SeeD? Even if he had nothing against them anymore, and was clear of any indictment, his rational side told him--warned him--to stay away. Besides, he thought glumly, once she really gets to know me and my past, I'm sure she'd stop liking me.
For the time being, he would enjoy any time he had with her. She was unlike any woman he had ever met. Kind, smart, forthright, bossy and enthrallingly beautiful, Quistis was the kind of woman a man would die or live for. He certainly almost died saving others for her sake. He wouldn't be surprised if he did something rash again just for her. He wondered: What did lure him to Quistis? Was it more than physical attraction. Was it love? He didn't have the answer...not yet.
Stretching his tall frame on the bed, he closed his eyes with the image of her smiling, soft face, and thought: I wonder if she feels the same..?
~~~~~~
'Do you want to meet again tomorrow at the place we went?' Thrice she had been asked and thrice she had accepted. She wanted to see him again, but she wasn't expecting to answer so quickly. No thinking it through--no irresolution... amazing. Her pledge to herself to be more spontaneous was working so well! Reacting on free whim made her head and whole spirit feel light. Even so, she felt a bit guilty and selfish for feeling pleased after what her friends went through. As a responsible and dedicated SeeD, her prime concern was justice and service to Balamb Garden. Circumstances didn't leave her a lot of time to think of anything else.
But for an ephemeral moment before entering the temporary meeting room, her fast walking slackened and she wondered: What did lure her to Bradley? Was it more than physical attraction. Was it love?
She was certain he liked her, but that was as far as her certainties went.
Taking her seat on the commander's right hand, she thought of the things she found appealing about him. His looks were striking enough, very different from the men she knew. Charming and hilarious when comical; astute and enigmatic when serious. He fascinated and affect her in many ways. Most surely other women had fallen for his charisma as well. It wasn't hard to imagine other females dazed at his virility and manner. The word 'chivalry' fit him well too. He was a gentleman to her, and he also saved stranger's lives without boasting about it. However, save his name, city and personality, she knew nothing else about him.
On her shoulder, she felt a tap. Selphie's smile beamed. "So how was your date with Brad? Was it fun and uh....good?"
"Oh." A blush and sly smile rose from her face at the other woman's implication. Close to a whisper, she answered, "It was fun."
She smiled back widely. The rest of Quistis' answer was on her smile. Selphie crouched, leaned her elbows on the table and, as silently as her excited voice could muster, sang, "Quisty has a sweeeetie!"
Quistis giggled nervously. "I-I'm not too sure about that....but I really do like him." Solemnly, she looked at Selphie. "Do you think I should see him again?"
"Sure! He's a great guy! I say go for it, gurl!!" she cheered loudly.
The other two in the room turned to look at them.
Irvine was the first to react. He grinned knowingly. "Yeah, go for him, Quistis."
Zell took a little longer to grasp it. "What? Go for wh--?" He changed from puzzled to amused. "Hehehe, yeah! S'bout time you get a guy."
"All of you know!?" Quistis gasped.
Irvine shrugged and chuckled. "What's so hard to guess? It's all there when you guys look at each other." He shifted in his laid-back posture, becoming impatient with their leader. "He's acting pretty strange lately, eh? He calls us out for a meetin', then he doesn't show up."
Quistis and Selphie looked up to the head of the table. Squall was not there.
"Mmmmaybe he's still trying to recover from that bump on his noggin," Zell said.
"Or maybe Rin's keeping him to herself," Selphie added with a snicker.
As if their mention of him caused his appearance, they heard their commander's voice in the hallway. It carried his normal, smooth tone, close to a whisper. Though underneath it was cold, threatening. The intimidation accentuated by the sound of his gunblade hitting the ground. "What're you doing here?"
Then came another's voice, one they hadn't heard during the final days of the war. It was as arrogant and loud as when it rang in Lunatic Pandora half a year ago. Even with a wall between, they could still feel his nefarious sneer. "What? Can't a former student visit his heh--apparently runned-down Garden?"
"...No way...!" Zell uttered raggedly.
All four people stood up. Warily, they opened the door. In the hallway, Squall stood, his stance ready to lunge his weapon forward. Behind his upraised arm he guarded Rinoa. Her face's pale skin looked nearly white; shock, yet anger also, were in her eyes. The object of their hatred stood a mere meter away. Nonplused by any of the now dozen eyes glaring at him. The grey trench-coat swayed slowly as he took one step forward. Just like the commander, he had a gunblade in one hand.
"What's the matter? Did I come at a bad time? Guess I did. Your security these days is badly lacking. I guess everyone's so hot on repairing the 'precious' Garden."
Squall's grip on his weapon tightened, the antagonism burning, lion-fierce, in his sapphire eyes. "You are not welcome here, Seifer. If you still have sanity or decency left in you, leave now."
"Tsk, tsk. That's no way to talk to an old friend." Seifer nonchalantly bounced Hyperion's handle on his shoulder. "It's actually a bit of the 'decency' you're talking about that led me here. And if you are sane enough, Squall, you'd better listen to what I have to say. Because if you don't, I'd say you're in for a lot deeper shit than what happened here."
The commander didn't answer or move. Still fully alert, he watched as Seifer's brash, grinning face turned to Quistis. "This deals with your new fling, Ex-instructor Trepe," he continued. "What's his name? Bradley Atkins, is it? Could've picked someone better than him to date, he has quite a history. I wouldn't be surprised if you dating him caused Balamb Garden's mess."
"Shut up, man! Don't talk to Quistis like that!" Zell snapped at him. "Why should we listen to a damn word you say, huh? You're jus' here for a fight! Well, if that's what you're askin' then we'll give you a hell of a freakin' fight!"
Seifer lifted an index finger, as if that alone would stop the other young man's rage. "Please, Chicken-Wuss, I didn't come here to listen to your babbles." His attention moved to Quistis again. "How did you think he knew where the bomb was? Why would a meager mechanic date a SeeD? Why was the Garden bombed just when he started showing up and introducing himself? All a coincidence? Hah! He planned it all, that's what. I've been keepin' an eye on him and his group. They're up to no good."
"And I suppose your good intentions brought you here to say that?" Squall asked coldly. "Do you have any evidence to back that up?"
Seifer snorted loudly. "C'mon, Squall! You're as much of a bastard as I am. You'd be suspicious of a guy like Atkins, right? I know you. I know distrust and doubt're swarming around your do-gooder head." From underneath his jacket, he fished out a brown, rectangular envelope and tossed it to Squall's feet. "Here's the evidence you want so badly. S'all there."
While keeping an eye on Seifer, he warily opened the package. Inside were the things he had validated his notions of Mr. Atkins earlier. A criminal record, another monochrome, profile mug and something else...
Quistis walked to Squall and asked softly, "What does it say?"
"It says he's a master of controlling Guardian Forces, specifically the more dangerous ones." She was about to relax in relief, when she saw Squall opening his mouth again. His eyes became visibly wider. He was vaguely aware Bradley's name rang a bell in his head. Now, the documents in his hand confirmed the worst. "It says his father is Joseph Atkins, the convict better known as the leader who caused the Grandon Massacre..."
To be continued...
Author's Note: Ah! Now finally comes Seifer. Now, I hope I don't hafta remind you that this fic isn't a Seiftis (or Quifer). Notice the little reference? The name "Grandon" is from Dave Duncan's novels, Guilded Chain, Sky of Swords, etc. Hehehe, just thought to use that name 'cause I love his storytellin' so much. Goodness! Have you noticed how long this fanfic has become? I didn't expect to be writing it this...er detailed! Anyway, I hope you like where it's going so far and give me some more feedback on the story. Thanks for reading it!
by: Cathy-chan
Chapter 6: Is It Love?
They felt the Garden's foundation shake after a loud noise and a minute's worth of rumbling. A flash of harsh light stronger than the first impact could be seen outside the room's damaged windows. The students and high-ranking SeeDs, the ones still able to stand, gathered around to watch. They all watched, puzzled why an explosive would go off in the air. Some whispered that an enemy attacked them and missed, while others suggested the possibility of a comrade that saved them from another catastrophe.
The one person that knew who rescued them fell into a state of shock and dread. Quistis dropped the first aid kit on her hands with a noisy clang. She had no idea how she knew, the feeling of her blood freezing, her body tensing, at hearing the eruption forced her to react. She had also realized why he sounded so desperate and so insistent on her staying in the infirmary. Instead of picking up what she dropped, she dashed for the gap through the broken door.
"Quistis!" Dr. Kadowaki called out. She turned to Squall, now awake and leaning on a wall with a cloth wrapped around his head. "Where's she going?"
He shrugged, muttering to himself, "That's what I'd like to know too."
~~~~~~
The shockwave of the blast had torn the headmaster's office. It became nothing more than a heap of rubble and dust. Quistis had to duck, push and cautiously feel her way through them to find what was left of the ceiling. Parts of the bridge still had a floor. Climbing a fallen metal beam, she found what appeared to be the prow of the ship's piloting area. The large steering wheel lay on the ground, cracked into three pieces. She scanned the bridge's frightful muddle while crying out his name. With apprehension, she envisioned Bradley out cold, buried in a tonne of metal, barely alive with no breathing space. She called out his name for the fourth time, louder than the last. In her side vision, she saw movement, someone stirring underneath layers of metal sheets. As she got nearer, she discerned a muffled sound coming from the activity.
"Hold on. I'll get these things off." Quistis used all of her arms and hands' strength to lift the huge, metal pieces off. After quite an effort and scuffed hands, she was able to take Bradley out from beneath the debris. His clothes were ripped everywhere, the colours lost in a coating of soot. Scratches and small bruises where scattered here and there on his body. She drew back when she saw the metallic shreds embedded on his thigh. Moreover, his left forearm was broken, she guessed by his flinch when she moved it. The Garden's infirmary had taught her how to look for signs of internal bleeding. She breathed a relief, there was none. Also it didn't seem his injuries overly hurt him, in fact he looked pleased to see her when he opened his eyes.
Quistis felt gladdened, a tightness in her heart suddenly easing off. But her mood didn't stop her from scowling slightly and asking, "I thought I told you to stay away from harm? You charged right into it!"
"So ye've told me to stay away," his voice sounded meek, but a smile was appearing on his lips as he said, "but what y'don't know is that I don't take orders from women." His small smile turned into a grin. "No matter how cute or bossy they are--Ow!" He groaned, fully realizing the magnitude of his leg's injury.
She reacted to his pains and supported him up to his feet by slinging his undamaged arm around her shoulder. Though utterly worried for his sake, she was both baffled and amused that he could still be humorous after a difficult experience. She answered his playful cheekiness by saying, "Well keep in mind, Bradley, you'd do well to listen to this 'cute, bossy' woman since she's your only hope to get to a doctor."
He laughed delicately; he grimaced when the tiny action reached the pain on his arm. "Indeed, yer my champion, milady."
Her expression became serious. She shook her head. "You're the hero. You've rescued this Garden from more suffering, and you did it knowing you could've been killed."
Beyond her eyesight, she didn't see the change in Bradley by looking at his eyes. Oh, how little she knew of him if she deemed him a hero, he thought bitterly. "Any of you SeeDs could have done that. I was merely doing what is expected." He was half-surprised and annoyed at hearing the venom and ice laced in his voice. But he wasn't being cold to her for praising him. No, the harshness was directed at himself.
He was waiting for her to react to the visible change in his mood, to pass judgment or question him. But instead she smiled kindly and said, "You underestimate yourself. Not anyone could've done what you did." She looked up to him quizzically. "How did you know about the bomb? No one thought there could be another one after the kind of damage the first one did."
Ah, he thought, the questions finally comes. He knew it was only a matter of time until someone distrusted him. He wasn't resentful about it, he had learned to face the consequences his past long ago. For now, he answered her question as best he could without revealing overly much. "I knew from something someone I once knew told me."
Quistis blinked and thought over his answer. He was being vague and evasive again. She had noticed his accent becomes distinct only when he was jesting or nervous. When serious, his intonation disappears completely. His tone was final, he didn't wish to discuss it further. For that reason, and in respect for him, she didn't probe for a clearer explanation. She purposefully pushed it behind her thoughts. She turned and faced him, her faces inches from his, and smiled, the gesture warming her pale, summer-ocean eyes. "Thank you. You've saved many people and Balamb Garden. We are grateful to you." She gave him a soft, tender kiss on the cheek.
Bradley felt her sincere gratitude deep inside. Her show of appreciation was well worth the scrapes and foolish heroics in his reckoning. He knew his bravery came from thinking about Quistis. The warmth of her kiss traveled along his face. He smiled, dumbfounded to find himself flushing. Blimey! he thought. I haven't blushed since I was a kid. Feeling abruptly like a bashful boy again, he muttered, "...Your welcome."
She giggled, hugging her arm closer around his waist.
~~~~~~
"Good gracious, boy! How could you treat your body like this?" Dr. Kadowaki scolded jokingly, distracting him from her tweaking the shards of metal out of his leg.
" 'Tis what I get fer gallantry, Doc--!" A sharp, angry sting came from a large piece. Much as her diversions were valued, Bradley still felt as if a Red Dragon was gnawing off his leg.
"You are lucky to be alive after such a feat. It's a marvel you didn't get blown to bits. Honestly, you remind me of the many, many eager and talented SeeDs that visit me daily because of their reckless heroism." The good-natured doctor took off the last sharp pieces, wrapped a bandage around the wounds and proclaimed, "There you go, all done! How does your leg feel?"
He bend his knees back and forth. "Much better." He gave her an imitated, soldier's salute. "You are a miracle worker, Dr. Kadowaki! Simply the best!"
"And I've never had such a spirited, strong patient!" she returned. She wagged a finger at him and placed a fist on her hips. "Now don't think your flattery's going to let you off about keeping that brace on your broken arm."
He grinned crookedly. He lifted the cast arm, a long fabric looped around, supported to his neck. "Aye, it'll stay there like ya said, Doctor."
"Now, I want you to go back home to Dollet and rest, Mr. Atkins. No shenanigans or work for six months." She was about to pivot in her heels when she thought to add, "And I'll make sure to send Quistis once a month to make sure you're following my prescriptions." With a nod and a smug look on her face, the doctor moved on to her other patients.
Quistis heard Dr. Kadowaki's words while she was mending a patient's arm, and halted for a minute. The doctor had never assigned a SeeD to check up on a civilian's condition. Yet Quistis knew her friend well enough to know her schemes. She smiled a bit. Apparently, Selphie was not the only one that encouraged her to indulge. After helping another wounded SeeD, she went to Bradley's side. "How are you doing?"
"Fine," he said, cheerfully. "Dr. Kadowaki fixed me up real good."
She was about to mention, just as merrily as him, that visiting him every month would be a nice break from her hectic schedule, when a junior student walked up to her and said, "Commander Leonhart asked me to tell all the primary SeeDs that he'd like to talk to them right away. He said it's important. He also said to meet up at the new meeting room."
She nodded. "I'll be there right away. Thank you."
The junior smiled and saluted formally before departing.
"I have to go," she told Bradley. She put his hand gently into hers. "Will you be all right?"
"Yeah. As long as I can find someone that's willing to drive me back to Dollet."
"Of course they'll be willing. Everyone knows what you did for them. I've been hearing from the patients that they think you're a hero."
"Thanks," he said, forcing a light-hearted tone. He had no idea where his next move came from. It was senseless impulse that had him taking her hand before she left and asking, "Do you want to meet again tomorrow at the place we went?"
"Sure," she answered effortlessly, though she looked stunned at him for asking.
He kept his hand on hers, and marveled that she could answer him without hesitation. He felt the desire to kiss her then and there at the pure sight of her unreserved smile. He kissed her hand, instead of her lips as he wanted, and bid her farewell.
After letting Quistis go back to her duties, he found the student that was eager to drive him to Dollet. Though the word 'eager' didn't quite fit the boy's description. He was extremely, wholly, lavishly overjoyed that he could assist "the one hero that saved our Garden from going into the junk heap." Bradley agreed with half of the green boy's comment. If the bomb on the bridge hadn't been deactivated, the entire ship would collapse entirely. More powerful than the first, it could have leveled all, leaving nothing but a huge crater. Even so, he was certain a man like him was unworthy of the word 'hero.' He simply acted on it because of his incorrigible intuition. It was never his intention to redeem himself, he thought only of the lives at stake.
During the car ride to Dollet, he wondered if he knew the saboteurs that were involved in the attack. The placement of the bombs were exactly as one of them said three years ago: one at the back, one in the bridge. He had never, however, thought them capable of sinking so low. Disabling an armoured boat was a crime, but obliterating a Garden's population was something else altogether. It was genocide.
Later when the Balamb student dropped him off politely at Dollet's entrance, he weighed the idea of investigating the whereabouts of the three. But after some years and a bad reputation as criminals, he doubted they still lived close to or inside the city. Furthermore, it would be unwise to confront anyone. Even if it were only one man, Bradley would not survive or escape, in light of his body's condition.
Descending down the cobbled sidewalks of the city's local areas, he arrived at his tiny apartment above the auto shop. His bound leg felt ached after the short walk. While he relaxed his tired limb on the edge of a bed, he thought of Quistis again. He looked forward to seeing her again the next day. He snorted gruffly at himself, and thought: didn't he had the gall and audacity to date a SeeD? Even if he had nothing against them anymore, and was clear of any indictment, his rational side told him--warned him--to stay away. Besides, he thought glumly, once she really gets to know me and my past, I'm sure she'd stop liking me.
For the time being, he would enjoy any time he had with her. She was unlike any woman he had ever met. Kind, smart, forthright, bossy and enthrallingly beautiful, Quistis was the kind of woman a man would die or live for. He certainly almost died saving others for her sake. He wouldn't be surprised if he did something rash again just for her. He wondered: What did lure him to Quistis? Was it more than physical attraction. Was it love? He didn't have the answer...not yet.
Stretching his tall frame on the bed, he closed his eyes with the image of her smiling, soft face, and thought: I wonder if she feels the same..?
~~~~~~
'Do you want to meet again tomorrow at the place we went?' Thrice she had been asked and thrice she had accepted. She wanted to see him again, but she wasn't expecting to answer so quickly. No thinking it through--no irresolution... amazing. Her pledge to herself to be more spontaneous was working so well! Reacting on free whim made her head and whole spirit feel light. Even so, she felt a bit guilty and selfish for feeling pleased after what her friends went through. As a responsible and dedicated SeeD, her prime concern was justice and service to Balamb Garden. Circumstances didn't leave her a lot of time to think of anything else.
But for an ephemeral moment before entering the temporary meeting room, her fast walking slackened and she wondered: What did lure her to Bradley? Was it more than physical attraction. Was it love?
She was certain he liked her, but that was as far as her certainties went.
Taking her seat on the commander's right hand, she thought of the things she found appealing about him. His looks were striking enough, very different from the men she knew. Charming and hilarious when comical; astute and enigmatic when serious. He fascinated and affect her in many ways. Most surely other women had fallen for his charisma as well. It wasn't hard to imagine other females dazed at his virility and manner. The word 'chivalry' fit him well too. He was a gentleman to her, and he also saved stranger's lives without boasting about it. However, save his name, city and personality, she knew nothing else about him.
On her shoulder, she felt a tap. Selphie's smile beamed. "So how was your date with Brad? Was it fun and uh....good?"
"Oh." A blush and sly smile rose from her face at the other woman's implication. Close to a whisper, she answered, "It was fun."
She smiled back widely. The rest of Quistis' answer was on her smile. Selphie crouched, leaned her elbows on the table and, as silently as her excited voice could muster, sang, "Quisty has a sweeeetie!"
Quistis giggled nervously. "I-I'm not too sure about that....but I really do like him." Solemnly, she looked at Selphie. "Do you think I should see him again?"
"Sure! He's a great guy! I say go for it, gurl!!" she cheered loudly.
The other two in the room turned to look at them.
Irvine was the first to react. He grinned knowingly. "Yeah, go for him, Quistis."
Zell took a little longer to grasp it. "What? Go for wh--?" He changed from puzzled to amused. "Hehehe, yeah! S'bout time you get a guy."
"All of you know!?" Quistis gasped.
Irvine shrugged and chuckled. "What's so hard to guess? It's all there when you guys look at each other." He shifted in his laid-back posture, becoming impatient with their leader. "He's acting pretty strange lately, eh? He calls us out for a meetin', then he doesn't show up."
Quistis and Selphie looked up to the head of the table. Squall was not there.
"Mmmmaybe he's still trying to recover from that bump on his noggin," Zell said.
"Or maybe Rin's keeping him to herself," Selphie added with a snicker.
As if their mention of him caused his appearance, they heard their commander's voice in the hallway. It carried his normal, smooth tone, close to a whisper. Though underneath it was cold, threatening. The intimidation accentuated by the sound of his gunblade hitting the ground. "What're you doing here?"
Then came another's voice, one they hadn't heard during the final days of the war. It was as arrogant and loud as when it rang in Lunatic Pandora half a year ago. Even with a wall between, they could still feel his nefarious sneer. "What? Can't a former student visit his heh--apparently runned-down Garden?"
"...No way...!" Zell uttered raggedly.
All four people stood up. Warily, they opened the door. In the hallway, Squall stood, his stance ready to lunge his weapon forward. Behind his upraised arm he guarded Rinoa. Her face's pale skin looked nearly white; shock, yet anger also, were in her eyes. The object of their hatred stood a mere meter away. Nonplused by any of the now dozen eyes glaring at him. The grey trench-coat swayed slowly as he took one step forward. Just like the commander, he had a gunblade in one hand.
"What's the matter? Did I come at a bad time? Guess I did. Your security these days is badly lacking. I guess everyone's so hot on repairing the 'precious' Garden."
Squall's grip on his weapon tightened, the antagonism burning, lion-fierce, in his sapphire eyes. "You are not welcome here, Seifer. If you still have sanity or decency left in you, leave now."
"Tsk, tsk. That's no way to talk to an old friend." Seifer nonchalantly bounced Hyperion's handle on his shoulder. "It's actually a bit of the 'decency' you're talking about that led me here. And if you are sane enough, Squall, you'd better listen to what I have to say. Because if you don't, I'd say you're in for a lot deeper shit than what happened here."
The commander didn't answer or move. Still fully alert, he watched as Seifer's brash, grinning face turned to Quistis. "This deals with your new fling, Ex-instructor Trepe," he continued. "What's his name? Bradley Atkins, is it? Could've picked someone better than him to date, he has quite a history. I wouldn't be surprised if you dating him caused Balamb Garden's mess."
"Shut up, man! Don't talk to Quistis like that!" Zell snapped at him. "Why should we listen to a damn word you say, huh? You're jus' here for a fight! Well, if that's what you're askin' then we'll give you a hell of a freakin' fight!"
Seifer lifted an index finger, as if that alone would stop the other young man's rage. "Please, Chicken-Wuss, I didn't come here to listen to your babbles." His attention moved to Quistis again. "How did you think he knew where the bomb was? Why would a meager mechanic date a SeeD? Why was the Garden bombed just when he started showing up and introducing himself? All a coincidence? Hah! He planned it all, that's what. I've been keepin' an eye on him and his group. They're up to no good."
"And I suppose your good intentions brought you here to say that?" Squall asked coldly. "Do you have any evidence to back that up?"
Seifer snorted loudly. "C'mon, Squall! You're as much of a bastard as I am. You'd be suspicious of a guy like Atkins, right? I know you. I know distrust and doubt're swarming around your do-gooder head." From underneath his jacket, he fished out a brown, rectangular envelope and tossed it to Squall's feet. "Here's the evidence you want so badly. S'all there."
While keeping an eye on Seifer, he warily opened the package. Inside were the things he had validated his notions of Mr. Atkins earlier. A criminal record, another monochrome, profile mug and something else...
Quistis walked to Squall and asked softly, "What does it say?"
"It says he's a master of controlling Guardian Forces, specifically the more dangerous ones." She was about to relax in relief, when she saw Squall opening his mouth again. His eyes became visibly wider. He was vaguely aware Bradley's name rang a bell in his head. Now, the documents in his hand confirmed the worst. "It says his father is Joseph Atkins, the convict better known as the leader who caused the Grandon Massacre..."
To be continued...
Author's Note: Ah! Now finally comes Seifer. Now, I hope I don't hafta remind you that this fic isn't a Seiftis (or Quifer). Notice the little reference? The name "Grandon" is from Dave Duncan's novels, Guilded Chain, Sky of Swords, etc. Hehehe, just thought to use that name 'cause I love his storytellin' so much. Goodness! Have you noticed how long this fanfic has become? I didn't expect to be writing it this...er detailed! Anyway, I hope you like where it's going so far and give me some more feedback on the story. Thanks for reading it!