Yet again thanks for the reviews, everybody! I'd comment on them if I wasn't so afraid I'd give the ending away. For now all I'm going to say is that yes, we finally get so see some fluff!

Chapter 5

It's past ten in the evening, and I'm lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. Thinking, as usual.

'I love him.'

That line of thought has lasted a long time. From the moment it first came up until now, three days later. And I'm still trying to figure it all out.

I love Rinoa, right? She's my girlfriend, and she loves me. And I love her. Simple as that.

But I don't trust her anymore, and lovers should be able to trust each other no matter what.

I know I trust Seifer. He defied his Sorceress' wish to see me dead rather than giving her what she wanted. And he warned me about being loyal to Rinoa when I'm not truly her Knight.

So I ask myself: aren't I?

According to Seifer's specifications, no, I'm not her Knight. And even if I love her, I still don't trust her to be at my side anymore. Not when I need her most…

I snap out of my thoughts when someone knocks at my door. Slowly I hoist myself into a sitting position and swing my legs onto the ground. There's another riff of knocks.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" No need to be so impatient! If it was an emergency, they'd be shouting at me through the damn door anyway. So who wants to make a social call at this time of night? I thought Rinoa said she'd go into town 'with the girls'?

I open the door, still wondering who I might find. I'm greeted by knitted blond eyebrows above a half-hearted smirk. My previous line of thought starts running in the back of my mind again, and makes me blush slightly.

"Seifer? What's up?" He's not carrying Hyperion, soit can't be an invitation for a spar.

"The word's out that you wanted to see me. Something to do with my classes?"

Ah. Yes. That.

I gesture him to come in. "Who told you?" I ask as I make a general 'sit down' invitation.

He plops on his favourite spot on the sofa, one arm leaning on the back. He shrugs in reply. "Suffice to say that I overheard some people talking. I was wondering why you didn't ask me in person."

I snort. "Because I wasn't intending to take this up with you at all. I told Quistis I would, but as life has proven many times over, what you promise and what you do are two entirely different things."

"I see. So what was it you didn't want to discus with me?" He's got a tentative look on his face that makes him seem…fragile. As if he's afraid of what I'm going to say.

"Quistis pointed out to me that you haven't attended a single class since you came back to Garden," I say, choosing my words with care. "And I told her you'd probably have a very valid reason for that."

He smiles briefly. "How true."

"I can image a few reasons, but it's none of my business. It's not like you don't already know all the material."

"I did a fair few exams in my time, yes," he says casually.

I chew my lip while I observe him for a moment. He's acting casual, but being very careful at the same time. Not saying much where usually he'd be shouting all over the place, or simply breaking something.

"Who are you and what have you done to Seifer Almasy?"

It's out before I know it. He gives me an awkward look.

"What the hell?"

I shake my head. 'Nothing. Nothing. It's just that you're… you seemed to have changed lately."

"For the worst?"

I shake again, letting myself fall on the sofa, beside him.

"No, not for the worst," I assure him. "Just… you're less loud. Making less hurtful comments. Less sarcasm and more…I don't know, what I'd like to think of as the genuine you."

He raises his brows, unfortunately in a very sarcastic way. "Am I?"

"At least around me you are," I shrug.

He nods and purses his lips while he looks away, staring at the wall opposite the sofa. For a while, neither of us speaks nor moves.

Then, after what may have been as much as half an hour, he turns back to me.

"Y'know, may you're right," he says, still not making eye contact. "Maybe I have changed. I used to act an arrogant bastard partially because that's what I was, and still am, and partially because that way no one could hurt me. But now, everything's different..."

Now he does look up and into my eyes. And I look back.

"These days, everyone's out to hurt me," he continues quietly. "Everyone but you."

Nervously, I look away. Am I blushing? Yes, I am. He'll probably laugh at me for that in a moment. But he always did, so why do I care about that now? Why does he care about what I do or do not think about his conduct? Why does he care? Why do I? Why…

That train of thought is abruptly silenced by strong fingers touching my cheek, nudging me gently to turn my head. When I do, all I can see is a glimpse of bright green eyes before warm lips close lightly over mine. And surprisingly, it's not at all unpleasant. Like a torch in the darkness, Seifer's brief, simple kiss shows me all the things I always wanted but never got. A place to feel warm, comforted, needed, complete. A place where I can genuinely be myself. A place where I am loved.

And here, in the embrace of the one I least expected it from, I find just that.

He releases me, but I lean into him, burying my face in his shoulder and wishing we could just sit here forever. Wishing I woulnd't have to be afraid of losing him, too, like I've lost so much before.

"Please don't go…" I mummer into the lining of his coat.

His chest resonates as he chuckles softly and his embrace tightens. "I'll always be there when you need me. Even when you think you can't find me."

I look up at him. "Promise?"

He smiles. "I promise."

They're so sweet together... Too bad nothing lasts forever.

Next chap will be the final one unless you guys tell me to write an epilogue. R&R please!