Blond Silence 7

By Nix Winter

"There have been three murders," Cid said.

Seifer had refused to be left behind and now stood with Squall, Selphie, Quistis, Irvine, Rinoa, and Zell in Headmaster Cid's office.

"I would not have interrupted the ball, except that two of the dead are seeDs. The other victim is the Duke of Hollivon's daughter. He is blaming his neighbor to the north, Ricart and if the murders are not solved immediately there will be war. Will you take this mission?"

They all nodded. What was to be said to that?

"Seifer, I want you to take over Instructor Tilmitt's classes until her return."

"I am going with Squall," Seifer signed.

"We had this same conversation the last time I sent Leonhart on a mission. You will instruct poetry and literature 1b, but you will not go on field missions."

"I am going with Squall."

"Seifer," Selphie started, "Please take my class."

He rounded on her, words slashing through the air as if his fingers had become swords. "You think because I can't speak, I can't take care of myself, or I can't defend myself. Solving murders is not all about swords and gf's. Sometimes it's about thinking and I can help with that."

"What's he saying," Cid asked.

"He says that he's coming and I'm not going without him," Squall said, arms across his chest.

"Is that what he says? I'll see him in the brig again. He's not going to get special treatment…"

"No," Squall said, "He's coming with us. I said I wouldn't go without him."

"Me neither," Irvine said.

"I will take Selphie's class," Rinoa said. "I can certainly teach poetry. You left lesson plans, Sel?"

Selphie nodded.

Quistis had also avoided Seifer since his return, for reasons she kept close. "Be reasonable. Seifer is not fit for field duty."

"I will stay out of your way," he signed. "Instructor."

"You don't even have a gf," she protested.

"I will give him Ifrit," Squall offered. The darkness that had been so deep in Squall until he'd gotten off the elevator and run into Seifer threatened and it seemed all the more dark now for the light that he'd found. He couldn't really believe that he'd cried, or danced, or kissed, in public. Very soon that was going to catch up with him, in a yawning chasm of death kind of way, and he didn't think he'd slip through the darkness without Seifer there to prove the ball hadn't been a delusion. "He can have any of my gfs. He can have Lionheart."

"No," Seifer signed. Looking very oddly at Squall. He didn't know what a 'lionhart' was, and he wasn't sure he wanted one. Suddenly the word… Hyperion sprang into his mind. Hyperion. "I don't want a gf. I want Hyperion."

"Then I'll find you Hyperion," Squall said, hiding the precious flame of his soul against the cold of guilt and abandonment. Seifer wouldn't leave him. 'Seifer loves me', he told himself.

Their eyes locked, green and gray and something deeply personal connected between them, something so old it reached back to before garden, but echoing through channels carved by the magic they'd both used. Seifer turned back to the headmaster, signed with as much respect as he could, "Please sir, allow me to go with them. I will obey and I will be helpful. I wouldn't cause any trouble."

"It's not just what you might do, Mr. Almasy," Cid said, lips drawing into a line, "It's that there are people who don't like you very much. I have known you since you were a child and I spoke for your innocence and I believe in it, but some people are monsters themselves. I'm trying to protect you as well as my team."

Squall paled. Cid was right. People hated still. It wasn't Seifer they should hate. And the house of cards came sliding down. Squall's façade had no more glue. And then Seifer's hand closed around his arm. Green eyes drew him out of the darkness and he followed them like a beckon.

The interaction was lost on no one.

"If I had any other way, I should find it. You are all SeeD and you have been since you were children. Lives depend on you and Mr. Leonhart is the only one the Duke said he would trust, the only one his neighbor the Count Richart trusts."

"I will not fail you," Seifer signed with one hand, still holding onto Squall.

"Remember being SeeD is not about the power one has with a blade. It is the lives we make better with our skills," Cid said leaning back in his chair. "Very well, consider this to be your SeeD exam, Mr. Almasy. Should the mission result in peace, you will be a SeeD, if not, you will be an instructor of literature and art. Is that clear?"

Seifer nodded, not caring if he became a SeeD or not, as long as Squall were there with him. "I understand," he signed.

"And while I do not have Hyperion to give back to you, I do a sword. It's name is Hespastion."

"Thank you," Seifer signed. "Thank you very much."

Darkness and light balanced. Selphie and Irvine went to their room. Rinoa coaxed Zell to hers. And Seifer walked Squall to his.

Silence can say a great deal in just hands held tight. At the door itself, Squall turned, leaned against the door, tugged Seifer close. Heat vibrated between them, the heat of Squall's soul and Seifer's innocence. With nervous fingers, Squall touched Seifer's lips, tracing them, then asked, "Have you ever thought about being my lover?"

There wasn't enough room to sign his reply, so he kissed him instead. Marriage forgotten, Seifer would be happy just to be Squall's lover.