Thanks for the reviews, people! And sorry to everyone hoping on a smutty scene: not in this fic. (But I'm working on a story idea that might get a little more mature. Stay tuned, but don't hold your breath .)

As opposition grows, Squall's trying to keep the jammering at bay while keeping Seifer close. Question is: can he have both?

Chapter 3

"All I'm saying, Commander, is that you should set an example for all students. You shouldn't go training alone like that."

I grit my teeth to avoid saying something I'll probably regret.

"You point is taken, Xu. I will weigh my actions more carefully, but I assume that our cadets are screened on their ability to understand the principles of exceptions?"

Xu swallows. "Yes, sir," she says quietly, taking the point I made on her overstepping her book.

"Thank you. Dismissed."

In the corner of my eye I can see her leave my office. Dutiful to a fault, she is, and loyal to boot, but sometimes I swear she can't see straight for all the regulations she memorises. And she's a close friend of Quistis, which isn't very helpful either these days.

But I've become better at avoiding long discussions in the past few weeks. Say 'Yes, I heard you and I'll look into it', and whoever was complaining to you can't do anything but leave it at that. Very useful, the art of diplomacy is. I just wish I wouldn't have to admit to it.

After Xu has left, I wait another ten minutes before venturing out of my office. Anyone who wants to jump my back and berate me has to wait till tomorrow morning. Rinoa and Selphie have gone to a theatre show in town, Irvine and Zell are on a mission, and I've given Quistis so much work due for tomorrow that she won't have time to think of anything else but paperwork.

Feeling pretty satisfied, I make my way to my dorm. Tonight is all my own.

Or would be, if not for the fact that the door's unlocked and there is the faint glow of light coming from the living room.

I stop dead in my tracks. Did I forget anything? Birthday, anniversary of something or other? Rinoa's got this thing for surprising me with candlelight dinners and romantic nights, usually exactly when I'm not in the mood for either. Unable to think of any reason for celebration other than a quiet night, I step in and peek around the corner.

I'm greeted by rapidly changing images on the TV screen, digital music muffled by a head set and the soft clicking of keys of the game console. I now vaguely recall not turning off my computer game last night, and apparently Seifer shares my opinion of Morgenstern II being every bit as addictive as its predecessor.

For a few moments I just stand there, watching Seifer, who's so engrossed in the game he doesn't even realise someone's standing behind him. I like this about him: he's a trained soldier, but he knows exactly when he can let his guard down. And when he does, he is so different. A young boy, playing and teasing and so unlike the hardened Sorceress' Knight that everyone thinks he is. It makes him all the more human, perhaps even vulnerable.

Strange thing is that I seem to be the only one around whom he lets himself go like this. Perhaps that's why he always tried to pry a reaction out of me when we were both cadets, just to have someone to talk to. And I just shoved him further away...

He jabs a fist in the air in victory after winning a particularly difficult battle. And I, knowing I'm a bastard for doing this, slowly clap my hands in mock-sarcasm.

Seifer snaps around, but stops mid-motion when he sees me. I smile inwardly when his eyes betray his surprise at getting caught red-handed. But he recovers quickly, dramatising slacking motions as he sits down again.

"Ah, it's you."

"Yes, it's me," I repeat, deliberately adding a berating tone to my voice. "This happens to be my dorm. Who else were you expecting?"

He actually looks guilty now, turning his head away like that.

"I dunno. Rinoa or something." When I don't reply, he looks up at me again. "Well, it'd be only a logical assumption. She's all over you these days."

"She has always been all over me." I surprise myself with the irritation in my voice.

Seifer tilts his head, making me nervous.

"I mean, I love her," I explain hastily. "But she's… I don't know, she can be so oppressive in expressing herself. She seems to overact all the time, and it's damn annoying. And occasionally, very occasionally, it makes me wonder why I put up with her."

Serious green eyes stare at me, hints of emotions playing in his irises, just out of reach.

"Why do you?" he asks softly.

"Do what?"

"Put up with her if she's so annoying."

"…Dunno…" Well, there is an actual reason. I made a promise. "I promised to be her Knight."

Seifer nods, smiling faintly. "Yes, so you did. But being a Sorceress' Knight isn't an occupation. It's a calling. To serve her, and only her. And the Sorceress feels the same calling towards her Knight." He gives me a curious look. "You got that kind of relationship with her?"

I hate it when he traps me like this. "You seem to think I don't," I reply sarcastically.

But he only shrugs and raises his brows. "I'm asking you."

"You shouldn't be. I'm not good at this kind of emotional issues."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Would you die for her?"

"… I suppose so," I answer, too proud to be honest and too honest to lie straight out. Once there was a time when I didn't have to think about giving an affirmative answer to that question. I start to wonder why I hesitate now, but before I can, Seifer introduces a new line of thought.

"I see. But unlike what most people believe, laying down your life isn't the highest sacrifice. Another question then: Would you give her everything she asks you for."

I give him a smirk for that one. "That really depends on what it is she asks for. My love and devotion: sure. My credit card: no way in hell."

He chuckles. "Wise decision. So, would you give her my head?"

I freeze and let the casual sentence run by me again.

"W..what?"

"My head. On a platter. Would you give Rinoa that if she asked you for it?"

I'm much more imaginative than people tend to think, and I blink a few times to get rid of the images Seifer's question conjures up. The idea alone of killing Seifer to satisfy Rinoa's whim leaves my mouth dry and makes my lips pull up in a sneer.

"Hell no," I tell him quietly, but the simple words drenched in determination.

A calm smile spreads on his lips.

"Then there's your answer. Say, how does this thing fit back in the box?" That's Seifer for you. From gloomy questions to computer games in 2 seconds.

"I don't think I quite follow you, Seif." I say, picking up the game console he dropped when I came in. "You saved your game?"

He nods, and then stares intently at me.

"You're not her Knight, Squall. If you were, you wouldn't give a rat's ass about what she asked you for. A Knight literally goes to the moon and back for his Sorceress without a second thought."

"Been there, done that. And for her, too."

He stared blankly at me for a few seconds, but then nods in an 'ah, that's right' motion. "Okay, bad example, but you get my point."

I silently start to pack up the game computer. I don't like what Seifer's trying to tell me. It pulls the legs out of everything I thought was true. Rinoa was my Sorceress, and I was her Knight, and that was reason enough to stay together. It was back then and it still is.

Is it? Even if she… "D'you think she'll ask me for that?"

Seifer glances at me. "For what?"

"Your head on a platter."

"I wouldn't think it beyond her," he smirks deviously. "She doesn't like me. I fed her to Adel, and I interfere too much with you and your relationship. So why wouldn't she?"

I shrug, feeling more nervous than I'd like to admit.

"It's a bit rash, don't you think?"

"Possibly, but Sorceresses are rarely known for careful deliberation of their decisions."

"Matron does think before she acts."

"Exception to the rule," he shrugs.

"Convenient," I mutter in return while closing the computer's box and shoving it under the TV stand, where it belongs. Then I look up at him. "But why do you think Rinoa would ask me for your head?"

He folds his arms, looking away as if searching for the right words.

"It was just an… inspired example."

"Inspired example?" What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"Well…" He pauses, looking at me intently. "You see, Ultimecia asked me to give her yours."

That statement gets more of a reaction from me then it ought to, considering the witch's reputation.

I nod slowly, digesting this piece of information.

"She did, did she?" I bite my lip involuntarily. "And what did you tell her?"

"I told her 'Hell no'."

Is it just Squall's imagination, or is Seifer slowly becoming softer? Review and find out!