"Squall doesn't belong to anyone but himself, but if he could love, I would be the one he loved." Seifer said, evenly, straightening his shoulders. He hated it when people questioned him. It made him doubt, but he knew that Squall needed him, even if he couldn't love him, he needed him. "He needs me, so I'll be there for him."
"How can that be enough?" She narrowed her eyes, trying to stare into his soul, almost finding that bitter place in him before he withdrew, turning away.
"I love him. It's enough."
"Someday, we'll find your dead body and we'll all know that it's his coldness that killed you, you know."
"No, you won't." Seifer turned to face her again, stronger than ever. "I love Squall, I won't desert him."
Ellone spoke softly, making Quistis and Seifer both jump. She'd been so quiet, thinking over what she'd seen of Squall that day, thinking it all over. "I think he does love you, Seifer. As much as he can. He cares for you deeply, and your death would destroy him. You're his rock, his pillar of strength."
"It's not the same, though," Quistis protested.
"It's enough," Seifer said, firming his jaw, and Quistis didn't say another word.
Ellone looked up at Seifer and smiled a little. Just a little. She didn't try to lessen the pain in Seifer that radiated from his eyes, but she did soothe softly, trying to encourage. "Please don't leave him. I'm his 'sis' and you're his 'lover', and he'll never love us like he should, but we have to stick together and between us, it'll be enough."
He nodded, his eyes darting past her to the door where Squall stood, eyebrow raised. Daringly, he spoke to Ellone, but still held Squall's gaze. "It's enough for now, I'm holding out in hope that one day that ice cold bastard will fall in love with me."
