Quistis moved the last stack of books into her duffle bag and zipped it shut. She stood for a second, glancing around her office to make sure she hadn't missed anything vital. She nodded to herself, patting the keys in her pocket once for good measure.
The door to the office slid open and Squall stood on the other side.
"I came to see you off," he explained.
She smiled a little and nodded her assent, "A welcome surprise."
He stepped through the door and bent a little, reaching for her luggage. "I'll get these."
She moved to stop him a trifle too late. He stood back up, armed with her possessions and moved back into the hall. She followed him and they set off to the elevator.
"Your limp is better," she observed. "Won't be long now and you'll be back in the field."
"I should be healed by now," he said, scowling, as the arrived at the elevator.
Quistis smiled, batting her eyes at him as she pushed the call button for the elevator. "I seem to remember Doctor Kadowaki telling you to take it easy and get plenty of bed rest."
Squall snorted his disapproval. "I have..."
"More important things to do, I know," she finished, stepping on board the elevator. "I'm sure she was well aware of the futility of that particular prescription."
They road for a moment in silence, before Squall spoke again.
"Before you go, I wanted to ask you something. "
"Hm?" she raised an eyebrow at him.
"How many... organizations are capable of spaceflight?"
Quistis shrugged. "Well, the government of Esthar, obviously. Us. Mallis did, but he's dead."
"Apocalypse was missing from the hanger, though."
"Right," she nodded, exiting the elevator and making her way to the parking garage. "So, whoever stole it."
"And?"
Quistis thought for another second, rummaging around her memory. "Right, the field exam. Those pirates with the orbital cannon, so they..." Her voice trailed off and she stopped dead in her tracks. "Shit. Shit, shit, shit!"
"I had the same thought," he said. They resumed walking.
"Mallis wanted it enough to come out of hiding the same day he started work at this Garden. I find myself curious as to the precise nature of that 'dangerous technology' you recovered."
"I asked Laguna."
"And?"
"He said he couldn't tell me."
"He's the President. Couldn't or wouldn't?"
"He needed to check with a few people first."
"Your father wouldn't have hired us for that mission without knowing what we were recovering. For all the work he puts into seeming ignorant, he's very well-informed. Hold on a second," Quistis said, reaching into her pocket for her keys, "I want to put the top down. Lovely day, shame to waste it."
"Selphie's been making inquiries," he continued, setting down the bags while she worked with the convertible's roof.
"Did you mention that her hero might be holding out on her?" Quistis asked. "That'd get her motivated."
Squall set the first of Quistis's bags in the back seat of the car. She flipped through her selection of music, deciding what to listen to during the drive to Balamb. Squall reached inside his jacket and took out a Garden Network Connecter.
"I had her throw together some of the early info, and I thought you might take a look at it."
Quistis whirled on him. "Oh, no, Squall Leonhart. No way in hell. Not a chance."
"Xu is still busy trying to sort things out with Esthar Garden, and you two are the best analysts we have."
Quistis climbed into the driver's seat of her car. "Then I suggest you call in your second-best analysts, because this? Not my problem. Not today. Should've asked me earlier." She slammed the door behind her, the gesture not one of anger but of finality.
"I missed my chance," he scowled.
She paused for a second then flashed him a smile at once sad and coy. "More than you'll ever know."
"Is there anything I can do to convince you to stay?" he asked.
"Nope," she replied, glancing out at him. "I have other matters that demand my attention. And I seem to be missing something." She pointed to the duffle bag at his feet. He picked it up and put it in the car. He walked around to the driver's side and stood facing her. She reached out and patted his hand, warmth in her smile.
"Don't worry," she said. "You'll survive without me."
He pursed his lips and for a moment, she could almost hear Squall arguing with himself. After a moment, he relented and smiled back.
"I know," he answered. "I had a good teacher."
At that, she melted a little.
"Take care, Squall."
"You too, Quisty."
With that, she started her car and drove off, leaving Balamb Garden behind her. The trip to Balamb – a brief journey on the worst of days – flew by, and before she knew it, she'd arrived at the town's docks. She parked her car and exited, bringing her bags with her.
She found Seifer seated on a bench overlooking the water. She followed his gaze over to one of the piers where Raijin and Fujin argued over a fish that, somehow, they'd both managed to hook. Quistis sidled up to her friend and sat next to him.
"Hey, blondie," he said, the grin evident in his voice.
"I should've known I'd find you surrounded by seamen. Where's your other half?"
He pointed down to the beach where a group of children had buried Zell up to his neck in sand. They ran around him in circles as he shouted threats at them. With a roar, he leapt to his feet, sand and children flying everywhere as he started to chase them. He grabbed the nearest two, one in each hand, and started running for the water, promising to throw them in the surf.
"You see what I put up with?" Seifer asked.
"He's good with kids," Quistis nodded. "They look up to him."
"Until they hit a growth spurt, at least."
One of Quistis's eyebrows darted up. "Was that a height joke, Seifer? Because I'm feeling a little short-tempered."
"Sorry," he conceded. "First day of your vacation. I hope my puns don't dwarf the enormity of that fact."
She groaned.
"It just doesn't stop with you, does it?"
He grinned. "You wouldn't have me any other way."
Quistis looked at him over the tops of her glasses. "I wouldn't have you at all," she smiled.
Seifer clasped at his heart in mock agony. "You wound me! Good thing you're leaving – I think we need some time apart."
"I need time apart," she said. "Alone. Away from Garden and SeeD and Mallis and the whole thing."
They sat in silence for a minute, each contemplating the unspoken meaning behind her phrase "the whole thing."
"You're sure—" Quistis asked.
"You were the only person in the room," he replied. "Living or dead, conscious or un-."
She frowned. "Her corpse'll turn up. I'm sure of it."
Seifer shrugged. "Fair enough." Then, changing tracks, "So, how long is this mystery vacation?"
"A long time," Quistis answered, smiling in pride. "I haven't taken a full leave since I became a SeeD, and under the terms of my contract, my vacation days add up."
Seifer whistled. "Not bad. And where—"
"Don't even think of it," she shot back. "That's the whole point of the mystery vacation. No one knows how to get in touch with me."
Seifer spread his hands. "Hey, it's me! You think I'd rat you out?"
She shook her head. "No. But everyone else is going to assume I told you, and, when something pops up, they'll start hounding you. This way, you don't have to lie to them."
He snorted. "So considerate. Not like it will matter anyhow – you'll get bored and be back here before you know it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she exclaimed. "You don't think I'll last out the vacation? Maybe I'm going away to contemplate retirement!"
Seifer tilted his head back and laughed. "And what will you find to occupy you in your golden years?"
"I've always wanted to own an antiquarian bookstore," she huffed.
"Without casting aspersions on your considerable business acumen," he said, "you'd be the worst bookseller in the history of the universe."
Quistis opened her mouth to reply, but her indignation only manifested as a high-pitched squeak.
"Oh, come on, Quisty. You know what happens when you sell a book, right? The book goes away. It no longer belongs to you."
Her mouth clamped shut audibly. "You have a point," she pouted. "I guess I'm stuck committing acts of war to earn my keep."
Seifer reached out and mussed her hair. "You love it and you know it," he said. "Maybe not the war part, but the action and the challenge and the excitement."
She grinned a little, a hint of embarrassment crossing her features. "The company's not so bad either."
He spread his hands. "We do have our moments."
She glanced out to sea, to the ship she'd rented. "That we do." After a moment, she rose. "Well, I'd best be off. Tides and all."
Seifer stood with her, grabbing her luggage. "Sure, tides. I'll bet it has nothing to do with second thoughts about leaving."
"Hush, you," she scowled. "This is why I'm going away. I need to regain my air of mystery."
"Well, let's get you on your way, then," he nodded, heading for the yacht. "You sure you're going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine. I do know how to sail."
"I know, I know," he replied. "Just expressing appropriate concern." As she boarded, he stopped at the end of the gangplank. She turned to him. "Permission to come aboard?" he asked.
She rolled her eyes in mock irritation. "Granted, jackass."
"Hey! You outrank me. And I am nothing if not mindful of rank."
Quistis laughed once, putting her hands on her hips. "Tell me another one, funny boy."
He boarded the ship and set down her bags. "Why did the chocobo get kicked out of the bar?"
Quistis whimpered in anticipation of the inevitable, hanging her head in a gesture of submission.
"The bartender was worried about the size of his bill!"
"That's it," she said. "I'm leaving. Off my boat."
He nodded curtly and returned to the pier. "And before you ask, I swept it for bugs, and it's clean. No one will know where you're headed."
"Thanks, Seifer," she replied. She tossed her car keys to him. They flew through the air, describing a glittering silver arc. He snatched the keys and deposited in the pocket of his coat.
"Any other requests before you head out?" he asked.
She smiled to him as she prepared to cast off. "Tend the Garden."
He saluted in reply as her ship moved away. From the beach, Zell waved to her, both arms gesturing broadly.
"Goodbye, Quistis," she heard him shout. As one, the nearby children took up his cry, "Goodbye Quistis!" they mimicked.
She saw Zell whirl on them. High-pitched screams ensued.
Quistis turned her back on Balamb and steered her ship for the horizon.