Chapter Forty-Nine:
A/N: Ah, the escape from Garden. But you're probably more concerned with what happens to Squall, aren't you my lovelies? Will he be executed ala Zell, killed like Rinoa was, or will his fate be left unanswered like Xu's? I guess you'll have to read to find out.
In response to Chap. 46, it looked fine when I clicked on it...
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"Strip him of his weapons and GFs," Irvine ordered the remaining students. The Card Queen stood off to the side, staring at the two bands of silver on her left hand. One her own, the other Adette's. Tessa, whom had been resting after her fight with Squall, glared at the woman.
She's not that bad, you know.
Shiva, for the final time, I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH ADETTE!
No need to yell. besides, I didn't even mention Adette. You know, jealously is kind of cute on you...
How are you, Antessence? Hunter asked as he sat beside Tessa and watched the other's swarm over Squall's unconscious form. The medic was too tired to try to chase him off. Sighing, she looked at him.
What do you want, and why are we speaking in Junonian? We are both fluent in Galbadian, after all. Might save some time with the translating and whatnot, Tessa said.
Precisely, we need privacy, Hunter said with a wink. Tessa formed a fist but didn't strike him. Were you really so injured as to use your limit break?
I had a fucking gunblade in my shoulder, you asshole. Does the shredded fabric and blood not tell you that? I'm surprised I didn't pass out like that stupid man in the office, Tessa complained. We are seriously fucked. I have no idea how we're getting out of here.
"So, you did what I never could," Seifer said soberly as he walked to the teenagers speaking in their native tongues. "You beat Squall, even after escaping those things outside and having someone die on top of you."
"Gee, it's nice to know that you're mourning your friends."
"Raijin is dead, yes, and that does hurt. As for Selphie, not so much. She was incredibly annoying. Her personality changed after the war ended. Became almost obsessed with Irvine, the poor guy," Seifer said with a grin. "Still, that doesn't change the fact that you're one tough broad. I'd like to take you on sometime."
"That would not be a desirable result for you," Hunter said. Tessa wasn't sure if it was a compliment or not, but she resisted the urge to smack him.
"What do you want, Mr. I-led-Galbadia-until-I-got-my-ass-kicked-by-Squall-and-his-happy-cohorts?" Tessa asked. Seifer actually flinched, and it made the redhead smile.
Would you lay off of him? You don't need to be upsetting more people.
"Ouch, so you know about that," Seifer said, looking around. Selphie and Raijin's bodies had been drug to the door leading outside, as though they were trash waiting to be taken out. "Did I hear you right, before the whole Squall thing? Adette Berna is still alive?"
"Yes," Tessa confirmed with a glance at the Card Queen. She had a sudden desire to drive Squall's gunblade through the older woman's chest. "Why?"
"After the war ended, Squall brought Raijin, Fujin, and I back to Garden. Not many people were willing to give us a second chance."
"Gee, that's a surprise," Tessa snorted. Liana's words were still ringing in her head. "Why were you let back in Garden, anyway?"
Seifer, who was holding Squall's gunblade, looked over at the two bodies by the door. "I think he was doing one of those 'keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer' deals. I had lost all of my power in Galbadia, and he probably wanted to keep an eye on me. As for Raijin and Fujin, they always have my back."
Tessa shook her head, her bangs falling into her eyes. It wasn't a very flattering look, she knew. "What does this have to do with Adette?" Again, a look of death went to the completely oblivious Card Queen.
"Who is Adette?" Hunter asked.
"She's my g..." Tessa began to say, but she stopped herself. Seifer's eyes darted from Tessa to the Card Queen in understanding. "She was on my exam. She's the only other person who survived."
"Ah," Hunter said, losing interest. The tanned young man stood up and went to a Brunette in a ponytail.
"So, you've got thing for Adette?" Seifer said with a grin. "Can't say as to I blame you. She's a great girl."
"I do not have a thing for Adette," Tessa said angrily.
Yes you do.
"How do you know her anyway?" Tessa asked. Seifer sat down beside Tessa where Hunter had been. He balanced Squall's gunblade on his left knee and laughed.
"Adette was one of the few people to give me a second chance. The first, actually. She has a lot of faith in people; really kind, too."
That doesn't sound like the Adette I know.
It sounds like the one I know.
"She didn't have many friends," Seifer continued. "I think it had to do with her being a lesbian. Garden doesn't allow them to become SeeDs, you know. Gays and lesbians. I don't know about bisexuals."
"Yes, I knew that," Tessa said. It was one of the many problems Tessa had with Gardens in general. "It's one of the first thing written in the rules."
"Right. Anyway, Adette approached Fujin one day and asked her for a date. I don't know why, but everyone thinks Fujin is a lesbian. Still, rather than turn her in, Fujin brought Adette into our group as a friend. The girl's like a little sister to me. I wanted to thank you for taking care of her for me."
Tessa scoffed. Adette, her Adette, was actually friends with this loser?
What do you mean by your Adette? Are you admitting your feelings for her?
"Shut up," Tessa said aloud. Seifer thought that it was meant to him, and she could tell he didn't understand why. "It's Shiva."
"Ah, Shiva," Seifer said, his face lighting up. "She was a birthday gift to Adette from the three of us." At that, he gestured to himself, pointed at Raijin's body, and then at Fujin who was also giving the Card Queen a dirty look.
"What is up with her?" Tessa asked as she glared at the Card Queen. Seifer followed her gaze and chuckled. "Why would Adette choose someone so..."
"Irritating?" Seifer finished. Tessa nodded and Seifer laughed again. "Don't worry, neither Fujin or myself can stand her. As for Raijin, he can't..." a pained looked crossed Seifer's face as he corrected himself, "couldn't see anything wrong with the Queen. Never was the most intelligent person around, let me tell you."
A small snarl crossed Tessa's face as she continued to stare at the Card Queen. "That doesn't explain why Adette is with her. And what's the freak's name anyway?"
"Don't know her name, never asked," Seifer said with a shrug. "All I know is that Adette didn't have many options. Hell, I think the dumb bitch over there is only in it for the money."
"Money?" Tessa asked. Last she knew, students at Garden didn't get paid.
"Adette helps with security sometimes, and we pay her for it. Associating with us didn't make her very popular, though. Sometimes I think she would've been better off without us," Seifer put his hands behind his head and leaned against the wall. "Are you sure you're not into her?"
"I'm not into Adette. I'm not a lesbian," Tessa said through gritted teeth.
Liar. You know you love her.
"Whatever," Seifer said.
A few minutes of silence passed. It was broken when Quistis and Irvine walked over to talk to Tessa and Seifer. Quistis still had her whip at her side, and Irvine had his shotgun with him. Other than that, there weren't many weapons. Most of the people hadn't had time to retrieve them from their dorms when the siege began.
"We have a plan to escape, but we need your help," Quistis said. Irvine was silent but nodded. "Some of us are going to go into Garden and get some vehicle's from the garage, then pick the others up and drive to the docks. Well escape on your vessel, Antessence. Since you know how to drive, we want you to go, Seifer."
"And me?" Tessa asked. She knew that they were going to ask her to do something.
Quistis sighed and looked as though she regretted what she was about to say. "Well, since you do have more experience than anyone else..."
"You want me to go, too."
"Yeah. A couple of others, a SeeD named Suris and a student named Tyran. Suris can drive and is a Sabre. He's not familiar with it, but we gave him your gunblade," Quistis told Seifer. The Blonde man looked at Squall's gunblade on his knee and shrugged nonchalantly. He didn't care. "Tyran is Majoring in Magic and should be an invaluable resource. You will be going on foot, but Irvine will cover you from the roof of the building."
"And how will he do that?" Tessa asked. "He will he stand out there and watch as we run for our lives?"
"No," Irvine said shakily, speaking for the first time. "When this place was rebuilt, the Administration building had a hatch installed that led to the roof. I'll be sniping from up there as best I can."
Then Irvine trading a look with Quistis, and he mouth something. Quistis shook her head no.
"I can't do this anymore, not after..." Quistis looked at Selphie's corpse waiting by the door.
"Well I can't lie anymore. We always said we'd tell her someday, but now we can't," Irvine shot at Quistis, who looked as though she were about to cry. Tessa had no clue what was going on. "The least we can do in her memory is be honest."
"Is this what I think it is?" Seifer whispered to Tessa with a morbid grin.
"What is it?" Tessa whispered back. Seifer didn't need to answer, because her question was answered without any words at all. Irvine kissed Quistis much in the same way Adette had her, but Quistis didn't react the same way Tessa had. While Tessa had been filled with confusion, disgust, and self-loathing, Quistis responded by kissing Irvine back.
Seifer leaned back over to Tessa and said loudly, "Bet you didn't see that one coming."
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A/N: All right, I'm done with the left field plot twists, for now. Heh heh heh... So, the Squall question wasn't answered, but at least there's a plan to get to the docks. (Spoiler Alert! Adette doesn't die while Tessa's at Garden. Just didn't want anyone to wonder about that.)