.:IX:.
The training center was a place of vast possibilities. Since this special part of Garden had real monsters, free to wander about, there was always the chance you could get killed, if you weren't careful.
However, to start Lucrea off, Seifer decided not to go all the way in, but just down the corridor into the space where the training center continued through two doors, both leading to the secret room, in a circle.
"Adjust your grip." He instructed, showing her his own gunblade. "If you don't have a good grip on it, chances are you'll lose it in battle."
"Squall has a gunblade too. Although, we don't really get along." She answered, matter-of-factly.
He chuckled. "He doesn't get along with anyone."
She raised a brow. "Well we're threatening each other, so I don't think this is just an 'anyone' response."
Seifer thought about that momentarily. That's not like Squall. I wonder what rubbed him the wrong way...He thought.
"...He told me I was just an amateur, and I would never make it in SeeD. At which I told him this; he could bloody well screw off, or I'll give him a new scar to match his old one. Then he'll have an 'X' on his forehead, and everyone will know who the target is." She finished.
He grinned. "I gave him the first one. We were battling here in the training center. I guess it was kind of cheap, taking him down with Fira first, but I did him a favor. In real battles, no one plays by the rules."
She approached him. "So I suppose he gave you that one on your face then?" She asked, quietly.
He blinked, and cleared his throat. "Yes."
She chuckled, slashing her gunblade through the air. "Well I must say, you wear a scar a lot better than he does. It gives you character."
Is she...flirting with me? Almasy, clearly you haven't lost it all yet...hehe. He thought, setting his gunblade down.
"Your posture is still wrong. Stand still." He instructed again, and moved his arm around to her gunblade arm.
He put his hand over hers, guiding her hand. "Like this. You need to keep a firm grip, and bring the blade down with force." He slashed the air with her arm, leaning forward over her shoulder, so he could see.
She kept her focus on the gunblade, though it was kind of hard. His chest was brushing her back, with his face inches away from her neck.
She pulled away, nodding. "Like...this then?" She made a good slash through the air.
He nodded. "You got it. Good. Tomorrow then, we'll start you into a test battle. Don't worry, I'll try not to scar your pretty face." He smirked. "Though it'll be hard. I don't go easy on anyone, so in no way will I be going easy...on you."
She shrugged. "Works for me."
He glanced around. "It's curfew now, so you have two choices: one, you can stay here, either training or in the secret room, or you can go back to your dorm."
She blinked. "Secret room?"
He stared at her momentarily, and then blinked. "Oh sorry, you're new. Guess you don't then. I'll show you."
He motioned for her to follow, and headed towards the right-hand door.
She kept a good grip on her gunblade, and followed him through, deeper into the training center.
Seifer glanced around, and led her up the catwalk, deeper into the center. He knew that a T-Rexaur was probably lurking around somewhere, but knowing she was inexperienced, hoped it wasn't looking for a snack.
He led her into the secret room, smiling. There wasn't anyone there, which was perfect, easier to talk freely then.
Lucrea looked around. "Wow...this is...quite a view." She walked up to the railing, setting her gunblade down in the ground, standing up.
Seifer did as well, with a little more difficulty. He rarely went around without his gunblade, and the feel of it in his hand had become comfortable.
"You can see all of Garden here." She remarked quietly.
He nodded. "Yeah. People come up here to talk, because it's technically a loophole in the rules. The only places you're allowed to be this late at night are either sleeping in the dorms, or training here. Since it's in the training center, and not actually in Garden, it's a way of staying up to talk."
"I've got so much on my mind lately...with the new Sorceress and all." She commented, tracing her fingers over the edge. Her gaze was at the ground now.
Seifer could see she was uncomfortable. "...I've never been good with sensitive stuff. But...I'll listen to whatever you have to say. It'll just be between us, okay? It'll never leave here."
She nodded. "We have a plan to take down the sorceress which largely involves me...because...well...I myself, am a sorceress."
"I know."
She looked up. "You...know?"
He nodded. "Your parents told me. Cid knew I'd find out anyways because...well, I've developed a kind of a grudge against sorceresses. My life went down the drain because of one."
"I don't think it went entirely down the drain." She said quietly. "But anyways...I have to confront the sorceress myself. She has a gift. She can force the magic out of someone, without defeating him or her, and add his or her power to her own. I'm...bait." She finished, somewhat lamely.
"Bait? How about the risk factor?" He prodded, his green eyes flashing with a bit of concern.
"I'm a human sacrifice. I don't expect to come out alive. It's a suicide mission." She replied softly.
He was shocked. I didn't even think she would agree to something like that...She couldn't do that. She's 17...with her whole life ahead of her and...I need to comfort her somehow. She's gonna cry...He thought, eying her expression.
She indeed did look like she was breaking down. Her shoulders were shaking and she was turned away.
"There must be some other way, Lucrea. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your life. You don't have to, because it's your decision." He placed his gloved hand on her shoulder.
It felt heavy to her. "But I do! Don't you see? If I don't, we'll all struggle under her rule...I never wanted to be a sorceress! I've hated every moment of it!"
He pulled her back, feeling rather awkward, and into an embrace. "I know it's not what the world wants. I was Ultimecia's knight. I sacrificed my friends, and my life for that ambition. To have power."
He moved his hands around so one supported her lower back, the other rubbing her upper back, to try and ease the emotional pain.
"We'll do all we can..." He felt awkward again. This whole sensitivity thing was really new to him. "And you won't have to die. I'll find a way...I promise."
"Lucrea...I care a lot about you. I've never found someone who had a level of respect like yours for me, ever since I was a knight." He said quietly.
He looked down at her. "I'll be your knight, if you let me. As a sorceress, you need someone to protect you, and champion your cause."
She looked up, tears still shining in her eyes, breathing rather deeply.
He reached up and wiped some tears away. "..."
She nodded, leaning against him. "Didn't know you were a hugging type of person."
Seifer blinked, thinking of an answer. "Neither did I."
Lucrea reached up, with one hand, touching the red scar that still crossed his face. It caused Seifer to close his eyes momentarily, mostly remembering.
"What burdens we have. Too bad this moment can't last forever." She mumbled.
"It can last as long as we want it to, the whole night even." He replied, opening his eyes. He moved her hand to rest on his chest instead, lifting his own to her face.
"Now, no more crying. It doesn't suit you at all." He cupped her chin with his free hand. "Promise?"
"Promise." She said quietly.
I feel something stirring inside of me. Is this what love feels like? I never knew before now I guess...She's special. She has some of my personality traits, which is probably why I came to like her.
He let go of her, leading her back to the dormitories, gunblade in each of their free hands. But after that, it seemed that Seifer could be a little softer at times, even though he never showed it publicly.
