Thoughts are "quoted italics"

GF speech is "bold quoted italics"

Everything else is what it is.

I own the story, but not the characters.

Distressed Damsel

It was after curfew – all three of them knew this as they sat just outside the Garden entrance splitting the bottle of whiskey that Seifer had bought on his way back from Timber. He was talking about some girl he had met there. And the more he talked, the more Fujin found herself withdrawing from the conversation. Until she heard Raijin ask the question she didn't want the answer to. "So, Seifer, the way your talking, did you guys … um … you know?"

She counted five heartbeats before she realized the blonde was chuckling. From the tone, she decided it was safe to breathe again. The answer wouldn't be the one she dreaded hearing. "No, Rai. It's not like that. You don't fuck the 'damsel in distress'. That's just not how it works." He grinned and leaned back on the grass. "That's later – much later."

"Okay, why do I even care if he does?" Fujin berated herself. "He's practically my brother – it's not like I'm gonna fuck him!"

"Well," Raijin said, clearing his throat in embarrassment, "hadda ask, ya know?" He leaned back, trying to be casual. "I mean, sounds like she's hot and everything …"

"Oh, she is that," Seifer confirmed. "But first, she has a revolution to win. After that, well …"

"Does he even notice I'm still here? Guys don't talk like this in front of girls, right? …Oh, dammit! That means I'm one of the guys now! Damn!" With a heavy sigh, Fujin took a drink and passed the bottle.

"What's up, Fuj?" Raijin asked her. "You alright? You've been awful quiet, even for you, you know?"

She shook her head, not wanting to explain. "FINE" she told him. "TIRED"

"So, you two think I should help her with this? I already told her I could get Cid to help." Seifer leaned up on his elbow and looked at his friends. "Wouldn't that be a great mission? Helping win a country back?"

"TEST FIRST" Fujin snorted. Not that she doubted he would pass. "Third time's the charm. Besides, isn't helping 'fair maidens' one step closer to being a knight?"

"Yeah, I know." Seifer laid back down, and the three of them sat in silence for a while, passing the bottle around several more times. Suddenly, Seifer jumped up. "I gotta find something to do. This is too quiet. You guys game?"

Raijin stood slowly and stretched. "Seifer, I got tactics class in the morning, another test. Think I'm gonna head to bed, ya know?"

Rolling his eyes, the blonde turned to Fujin. "How 'bout you? Or are you up past your bedtime too?"

Fujin tried to stand up, then tried again. But the ground kept tilting. "Shit! Oh, shit!" Looking over at him, she started to shake her head, but stopped when that also unbalanced her. "NO" she told him slowly, "DIZZY"

Laughing, Seifer helped her up. "No, Fuj, just drunk. Let's get you to bed. I'll go find trouble on my own tonight."

The two young men helped Fujin to her room, trying to be as quiet as possible. They left her at her door and wandered away. She bit back curses as she bounced off an end table while stumbling to her bed. Flopping down on the bed, she then had to struggle to sit back up. "Oh, bad idea! Spinning room, laying down – I swear I'll never do this again if I don't puke!" Her roommate was still asleep, leaving Fujin alone with her thoughts. But she didn't want to be alone.

"Pandora?"

"Yes, child? What's wrong?" The GF's voice was a cleansing wind, blowing away some of the alcohol-created fog.

"Why are boys so stupid? And so hung up on sex?"

The silence went on for a long time. "I don't know," was the response. "I've worked with men before, but never really bonded with them. And I've never really talked to one. They treat me more like a tool, unlike most of the women I've worked with who treat me more like a companion."

"Oh. Well, that's kind of rude."

The GF chuckled. "People are the way they are, no more, no less. I accept that."

"Okay, if you say so." As long as Pandora wasn't bothered, Fujin wasn't either. "Hey, Pandora?"

"Yes?"

"I think I'm gonna pass out now. G'night." She yawned and scooted into the corner, thankful that her bed wasn't in the middle of the room.

"Good night, child," the GF told her as she arranged her body and pillows so she could sleep without laying back down.

The alarm went off too early. Fujin was positive she'd only been asleep for a few minutes, just long enough for the room to stop spinning and her head to start pounding. "Ooh, bad drums. Noisy alarm. Bad!" She fell out of bed and swore loudly, trying to kill her alarm clock without opening her eyes. Her roommate, apparently hearing the noise, popped her head in.

"Fujin, you're gonna miss breakfast. Wake up, sleepy!"

"Too fucking cheerful!" Fujin found her clock and blindly threw it in the direction she guessed was the door. "Okay … guess you don't want breakfast." Her roommate closed the door carefully.

"Breakfast? Ylech! I just want someone to shoot me!" Fujin struggled to her feet and looked down at herself, still in yesterday's clothes. "Shower, clothes, class … which class? … Doesn't matter, it's gonna suck no matter what!" She gathered her clothes and headed for the bathroom to clean up.

Raijin was finishing a huge breakfast, the smell of which made Fujin's stomach lurch. She sat down on the opposite side of the table, trying to ignore the food, and drank her water slowly, rubbing her temple with her other hand. "You want some of this?" He offered his plate with a pancake and some sausage on it.

Fujin shook her head quickly and swallowed hard. "How can he eat that?" "NOT HUNGRY" She watched, feeling slightly ill as Raijin proceeded to clean his plate. "I suppose I should be glad he's not sick, too. I couldn't deal with him whining this morning."

"Good morning, guys," Seifer's voice was cheery – he clearly wasn't sick either. He set down his coffee and plate, and then sat. Fujin stared at him in shock. "What? Are those stitches?" "FACE?" she asked, unable to voice anything else.

Raijin looked up from the last of his breakfast. "Seifer! What the hell happened? You okay?"

The blonde flashed his wolfish grin, the slash across his face turning it fairly sinister. "Had a small difference of opinion with Leonhart last night. Got a little outta hand, that's all. Relax, Rai," he told the other young man, who was rising from their table with his fists clenched. "He's still in the Infirmary. I handled it."

"If you say so, Seifer," Raijin slowly sat back down, his stormy expression giving way to confusion then resignation. "So, what did you argue over? I mean, this is serious, ya know?"

"Rules and beliefs," Seifer sighed, digging in to his food. "I was drunk, he started in with his 'good little mercenary' spiel, and then we were both bleeding. Don't remember the details." He waved his free hand dismissively. "It's cool. I'm fine, and he will be."

Fujin wasn't sure she could blow it off that easily. "If he started this to get Seifer expelled, there will be hell to pay, so help me! Pandora was right, he's trouble. Next time, I'll stop him!"