And, whee, back to proper plot. Lisa has read this, so further edits are probably not going to happen.
I apologise if Quistis seems like she's going to come between Seifer and Squall - she bloody isn't. I assure you. :D
Oh. If you want a clue for some plot? It's all in one certain name. ;)
Squall POV
We aren't stupid enough to have Quistis – or anyone else - catch us doing anything together, but she still looks at us, knowing and, for some reason… she looks almost betrayed.
"I wanted to have a quiet word with you," she says quietly, looking at me and not at Seifer, her eyes almost consciously avoiding him.
"Alright, that's my cue to piss off," Seifer says with a roll of his eyes. He gives Quistis a worried look, but she doesn't look back at him. I didn't know they'd even really talked since he came back to Garden, but… maybe. Whatever, it's not really my business anyway.
He goes out, and Quistis turns to me, her eyes cool. It's her professional 'everything is under control' look that clearly says to me that everything isn't under control, but she doesn't want me to worry about it. I doubt she realises how easily I read people, but when someone is silent, they see more, and learn more about people. I wonder what's wrong. But it's not in my nature to just ask her like that; if something was wrong she would tell me.
"What did you want to ask?"
"Why did you let Medea come along?" She's holding herself stiffly. I wonder if that's what she actually intended to ask.
"She's a SeeD, and she offered, and I didn't see why not."
"I see. Not doing it to pay her back for the favour?"
"No. She does deserve some kind of reward, but I wouldn't want to give a SeeD a mission as a reward. What are you worried about?" I narrow my eyes slightly at her.
"Just that your plan has been compromised, that's all." She smiles faintly, a shadow of the smile I know she can smile but so rarely does. I'm not one to talk about smiling and not smiling, though, and I know it, so I won't say a word.
"Not really. I wish there was someone with more experience staying with them, but they fit into my plan perfectly."
"That's alright then," she nods.
Against my better judgement, I speak up, tired of the look in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Everyone is asking me that," she says softly, looking up, the bitterness in her eyes a surprise to me. "Nothing is wrong."
"If you're sure…"
She sighs, and then looks up, changing the subject abruptly. "You and Seifer are together, aren't you?"
I nod, and she lowers her eyes and her voice. "Good luck together, then."
"Thank you."
I haven't missed the reluctance of her luck wishing. Could she…? I hope not.
"Do you love him?" she asks, biting her lip, more curious than I'd expect of her. And, without knowing it, she's clinched it for me. She is in love with one or the other of us. Or thinks she is.
"I don't know."
She hesitates, obviously fighting the urge to say or do something, and then she looks up, smiling a more sincere smile. "I wish you luck in figuring that out, then."
She is right about the mission, though, and as she leaves, I wonder what I can do. The only person I can afford to lose from the well knit team is Seifer. Hopefully he'll take it with good grace…
Although, as I find when I return to the main room and speak to him, apparently he wants to fight at my side and doesn't at all like the idea of being left behind.
"I think it might be better if you stay with Medea's group."
He crosses his arms, staring at me, seeming hurt. "What, don't you trust me?"
"It's not that. You know I do." Has he forgotten that I actually trust him to touch me, despite all that has happened between us in the past?
"What is it then?"
"Can't you just take an order this once? I swear I have a reason."
"I'm coming along anyway, unless you can tell me your reason – a good reason – for me to stay with the children." Of course. He has to think of this as an insult to his pride.
"They are not children, far from it. But, fine," I can't help but snap a little, turning to put my back to him, holding in the sharp little shards of unjust anger, "You come with us."
I sense his movement as he nods. The good thing about him is that he will accept the blame when it truly is his. I used to admire him for that.
"I'm sorry, but I want to fight with you." Apologies have always come hard to him, and that one is no exception, muttered as softly as he can while still loud enough for me to hear. "And I thought you want me to redeem myself in people's eyes."
"That's true."
"Am I fucking up your plans?"
"No."
"Good," he breathes a soft sigh, stretching out. "Are we nearly there?"
"Go and ask Selphie."
"Fine. I'll do that." He shrugs, leaving.
Things aren't going to be easy between us. I wouldn't want it that way anyway. We're soldiers, trained to be killers, trained to appreciate a worthy opponent. I think we will always be opponents just as much as partners.
And I don't think I'd like it any other way.
Selphie POV
"Hey, pilot," Seifer pokes me in the back of the head. "How long left? I'm fucking bored."
I raise an eyebrow, not turning to look at him. They might think of me as a daring pilot, but irresponsible I'm not. "Dying to get your ass kicked so soon, Seifer?"
He snorts at the idea of me kicking his ass. "What are you going to? Set an army of munchkins on me?"
Irvine chuckles softly and I reach out to pull his ponytail, still not looking away from what I'm doing. "Shut up, both of you."
"Alright," Seifer says, surprisingly. "Squall sent me though. How much longer is this trip?"
"We're about to land."
"Oh."
"Oh, indeed." Irvine leans forward, looking out over my shoulder. "Lovely," he observes.
"Wonderful indeed," Seifer says, rolling his eyes. "You putting us down close to the entrance?"
"Yes, or we'd never fight through the monsters. Now shut up."
A few minutes of concentration later and I've landed the Ragnarok safely. The SeeD who is here to take care of the Ragnarok is briefed by Squall before he nods to me and we all head off.
We have to wait around as Squall briefs Medea and her group properly on the job we'll be doing. Quistis still looks about as cheerful as a kid whose birthday party has been cancelled. "What is wrong with you?" I ask her, slipping my arm through hers, trying to comfort her with closeness.
"Squall and Seifer are together. Did you know?" she asks, distractedly, trying to keep me off the subject of her depression, I suppose.
"No, I didn't. But you being upset doesn't have anything to do with them, does it?"
She just shrugs. "Just thought you'd want to know."
She's transparent. It takes a few seconds for it to click, and then I sigh and disentangle my arm from hers, finding her hand instead and squeezing it. "You're in love with Squall."
She looks at me, surprised. "How did you know?"
I snort. "Who has never thought they were in love with Squall?"
That brings a faint smile to her lips, and she looks about to defend the depth and truth of her feelings for our Commander, but then he calls for our attention and we move closer to him, switching into battle mode, the change almost a visible one, despite the fact that it's simply an attitude.
He doesn't even have to ask us to form into our groups, we're already there – out of habit more than anything else. I smile at Irvine and he drapes a lazy arm around my shoulders, a flirty smile playing across his face.
When does Irvine not flirt?
Quistis looks unhappy, standing beside Squall and Seifer, but she obviously resolves not to let feelings get in the way of her mission. Squall doesn't speak at all to Seifer as they follow me to the entrance. Medea has already opened it, and she salutes us as we stand beside it.
"I don't hear anyone around, sir," she says, standing up straight. So like Quistis; all perfect grades and perfect stance and good conduct.
"Thank you, Medea," he says with a nod. He turns to us again. "Seifer, Quistis and I will go in first. If we don't come back within ten minutes, it's okay for you to follow us. If you come to a place where the passages separate, which no doubt you will, take the right."
"Okay! Don't get lost!" I give them a cheeky smile. Squall just ignores it, Seifer rolls his eyes, and Quistis offers me the weakest attempt at a smile I've seen yet. "Smile, Quisty! It won't break your face!" I call after her.
Irvine just shakes his head, tipping his hat back a little. "I don't think you're helping, Sefie."
"I wish I could." I roll my eyes and settle back to wait for the time we're allowed to follow them.