~Squall~
Waiting in the conference room, I watch as everyone eventually filters in, taking their seats in an order I hadn't expected. Zell and Irvine crossed the room towards Quistis and me, asking what happened near the entrance. After we said we'd cover everything once everyone was present, Seifer came in with the girls, gently helping Ellone into the nearest seat before scoping the room for Zell. The two eye each other for a moment before Seifer takes a seat, insisting on staying near Ellone. When did they grow so close? Placing a hand on my hip, I try to remember ever seeing Seifer and Ellone speak at length, or Zell and Seifer managing to be in the same room together without fighting, let alone seated beside one another. Although, Seifer did mention telling Zell how he felt. Well, showing him his feelings actually. What is happening? I shake the thoughts out of my head, reminding myself I have much more important issues to deal with besides who is friends with whom these days. Quistis hangs up her cell phone and nods at me, telling me she concluded the call to Xu I asked her to make.
"Alright everyone," I say a bit loudly to gain the room's attention. They eventually take their seats and hush their individual conversations, all eyes falling on me. How I hate making speeches, I groan internally, but at least it is to people I am close with and not a room full of strangers. "We are in need of a meeting to catch up on everything that is going on. Not only what has happened with Ellone," I gesture towards Sis who shrinks down into her chair at the sudden attention on her, "but also the growing panic here in Esthar, and probably other places as well." I pause for a moment, realization of how much we need to discuss weighing down on me.
"Quistis," I tilt my head towards her, "just got off the phone with Xu, informing her of the situation with the groups as well as informing them of our time here being extended." I see a few nods from the people in front of me before I look at Quistis. "Any issues back in Balamb?" Quistis shakes her head briefly, setting her phone down on the conference table and crossing her hands in her lap.
"Nothing to report. They understand the situation and assure me they will keep a lookout for any concern among the students and report back." I nod once, turning back to everyone else.
"The crowd we encountered outside of the palace was a group of people that do not believe the sorceresses were destroyed, since we didn't offer any proof. They claim to be preparing themselves for Adel's return." I glance over at Laguna, who takes the lead.
"The group started out small a few months ago, only a few people here and there talking about it but it seems to have grown almost overnight. I've discussed with Kiros the possibility of recruiting SeeD to help us maintain the panic, since a lot of my own military are a part of the group now as well." Laguna stares at me, waiting for an answer but I look away.
"The main reason we came here, which some of you don't know," I point out, nodding my head at a few, "was and is finding out what is happening between me and Ellone. It initially seemed to be another trip into 'dream world' but I noticed early on some vast differences. Ellone, what do you know?" I ask her flat out. I hope she has some more insight than I do, because at this point all I know is an intriguing hot blonde is hanging out with three handsome brunettes in a place and time I am very unfamiliar with. Internally scolding myself for the line of thought, I shake my head slightly before locking my eyes back on Sis. Ellone scans the room before looking back at me, her face almost seems fearful.
"I'm not sure yet Squall, I was just as lost as you were in the beginning, but while I was asleep in the lab, I was visited by someone." Ellone drops her eyes into her lap, telling us all the details of the whispers and the visions. Seifer is squeezing one of her hands by the time she finishes, smiling to ease her nerves.
"Squall," Laguna leans forward in his seat, "what did you see when you were there?" I sigh, looking back to Ellone before I tell the room what I saw and heard, leaving the personal details of Prompto out. Ellone chimed in a few times, pointing out details I failed to mention but thankfully leaving my commentary I'm sure she heard out of it as well. I offer her my own smile in thanks for keeping my secrets.
"That doesn't make any sense," Quistis mumbles, looking up at me. "Four guys living somewhere neither of you have ever seen? Ellone, I thought you were only able to visit points in the past if you knew the person?"
"Not necessarily, she was able to show me to Squall in the present after only seeing me when I was asleep in space, remember?" Rinoa points out while Ellone and I nod, recalling the time spent at the space station before Rinoa was awoken and possessed, used to release Adel from the seal.
"But how do you explain not knowing the place that they are in? The couple times you've gone there and neither of you recognize the surroundings? Seems odd considering how much of the world we've seen." Irvine mentions, glancing between the two of us.
"It is unusual, but so is everything else about this. When I sent you before, there never was a voice that came to me and told me to look for a sign or that things will make sense later. I was always alone in it, aside from you guys." Ellone looks around the table, gripping Seifer's hand tighter. "I think something else is going on, something we aren't yet aware of. And these people Squall and I see have something to do with it. What it is, I'm not sure yet, but hopefully I will know soon," she states with a shaky but firm nod.
"Given we came here for answers we can't get immediately, we will remain in Esthar until our answers are received. Until then, Mr. President, we'd like to help you with the panicked group where we can. No need for contracting SeeD, we'll do it just out of friendship between our two countries, if you agree?"
"Yeah! No charge Laguna! You don't charge family, silly!" Selphie giggles, sticking her tongue out at the president.
"Squall?" Rinoa says, quickly checking with Seifer before turning back to me, "if it's alright with you, Seifer and I would like to help you guys as well, to figure out what is going on and with the panicked group." Seifer nods his head in agreement, the two of them waiting for my answer.
"Yeah! The more the merrier! You don't tell family no!" Selphie bellows before breaking out into a fit of laughs. Irvine pokes her side and shushes her, mumbling something about letting the adults talk which earns him a swift kick to his shin. I pinch the bridge of my nose, knowing I should have seen that coming. Everyone breaks off into their own conversations once again, trying to come up with solutions to problems we still don't know the depth of. I take this opportunity to talk to Seifer a bit more, to see where his head space is at before I give Rinoa my answer.
"Seifer, a word," I tilt my head towards the door, hoping he knows I mean I wish to speak alone. Without fail, the blonde catches my meaning, smiling to Ellone as he stands from his seat and releases her hand. With a quick smirk to Rinoa for reassurance, we leave the conference room to find somewhere to talk.
~Seifer~
I enter the key code into the panel beside the door to my room and stand aside for Squall to enter, watching him subtly checking out the quality of it when I close the door. Asking him to sit is pointless, since he's about to get serious with me, so I ignore the formalities and flop down on the couch. Resting my head against the arm of it, I realize how exhausted I am. I'm out of shape when it comes to SeeD missions and their ability to constantly be on the go. Kicking my feet up on the opposite arm, I tilt my head sideways to watch the brunette. A silent countdown in my mind times him perfectly, picking up on when he would start pacing just as he does. Ha, knew it.
"Seif, I agree with Ellone, there's more at play here than we're seeing," he starts off, scrunching his face up further as he thinks harder. His eyes are glued to the ground, probably watching his feet as he paces back and forth in front of me.
"I know," I mumble, knowing he isn't listening to me but still mentioning it in case he is. He stops pacing, turning to face out the window and stare outside. Something about the city of Esthar just calms your thoughts. I can vouch for that, given the numerous times I've stared out that very window, thinking of all my past sins.
"I'm not sure where this is going to go, or what this is going to involve," the brunette continues, taking in a few deep breaths. Esthar was working its magic, I notice as the tension in Squall's shoulders begins to melt away.
"I know," I reply, waiting for him to finish what I know he's going to say. Something along the lines of this may involve sorcery again or it may involve the sorceresses again, can you handle it? Despite knowing what he's going to say, I still wait for him to get it out on his own, remembering how little experience he has with these types of talks.
"I need to know you are prepared for anything that may come," he finally spits out when he faces me again, frustration at having this little chat dripping all over every word. I put on my typical smirk and throw a thumbs-up. His lips start to mimic my own smirk before he stops himself, eyeing me dangerously. I sit up and swing my legs off of the couch.
"I know, really I do. And I am." Squall stares at me for a moment, then nods, flopping down on the couch beside me. Just like that, our serious talk is over.
"So what's going on with you and Zell?" he asks, leaning his head back and placing his arm over his eyes. I quirk an eyebrow at him, not that he can see it.
"What's going on with you and Prompto?" I see him tense, his arm dropping from his now very wide eyes, confusion all over his face.
"Oh, I see," I reply sarcastically, teasing him further. It doesn't matter how much space there is between us or time that drifts away from us, I still know how to read the silent Squall. His face blanks and he stares forward.
"Damn it Sis," he mumbles, and I begin to laugh.