His face is bleak. He's heart-torn. He doesn't want it to happen, doesn't want to watch, but can't look away from that one last mocking smile, the smile that the ex-sorceress's knight will smile in death and the smile that he will carry with him until his own death.

He fought against this with everything he had. Both during the war, and now, against the cold bitter justice that ruled. He fought with the red-hot fire in him, needing to stop the abomination and rescue the man he, however unwittingly, loved.

Squall Leonhart was like that. A hero. But not heroic enough.

He'd fought to save Seifer, to pull him away from the sorceress and back to the right side. It hadn't worked, of course, it had only condemned Seifer more. And then, when it was over, he'd thought Seifer would be safe. He hadn't gone to him, and he hadn't offered him a place in Garden. Foolish. Too many people hated Seifer. There were fights, demonstrations... despite the tentative pardon, Seifer's case was once again discussed.

And this time Squall fought it with an anger that came from within his hard, cold heart. Only to fail, once again.

He watched, as Seifer was executed. It wasn't right. Seifer should have died in battle, not to this...

Squall's eyes met Seifer's. That mocking smile didn't fade.

And then it couldn't, frozen forever in death.