Oh my goodness she updated? After like A YEAR! Yes, yes I did. R/r please. I don't own ffviii you know the proverbial drill

Chapter 3: Long Way Home

The droning engine throbs in time,

With your beating heart.

His lips pressed against hers harshly, like an animal finally breaking free of its bonds. This was wrong, it was bad, they couldn't be doing this! To hell with fact that suddenly the cold went away, or this odd fleeting feeling in her chest, this couldn't be happening…It could never work…And yet…She didn't stop him, she didn't push him away violently and give him the good slap he deserved. Maybe he was just getting her back for her actions early…Yeah that was it, this didn't mean anything…Did it?

It was like there was no control over the situation at all. One minute they had been sitting there, frozen soldiers, and the next Quistis was taking off what little shirt he had left while Seifer was on top of her. It's funny how emotion works like that, you bottle it up for so long that eventually it all comes out at once. That certainly seemed to be the situation here at least. Her hands roamed his naked back, leaving warm traces where her fingers had been. His mouth leaved hers and trailed down her neck.

"Seifer," she whispered, and he stopped. He lifted his head a little so he could look her in they eyes. He had the most serious look on his face she had ever seen from him. His green eyes had specks of gold in them…They looked like they were being illuminated by the sun they were so green. He just looked at her a long time, not thinking himself, but giving her time. This was it, this was Quistis's moment to take it back, to push him off and chalk it up to the passion of the moment. In his eyes she saw who he was, she what he was capable of, both good and bad. Quistis looked away. Seifer's eyes flickered for a moment as his jaw clenched.

"Don't worry about it," he started to sit up, his bravado kicking in, "I won't tell anyone, I wouldn't want to ruin your reputation Inst—"

"Oh shut up," she pulled him back down and started to kiss him again. He was definitely not expecting that one, but he was happy to oblige.

As if on cure, the over-com beeped twice.

"We'll be reachin' the vessel in approximately five minutes, so I suggest if there's anyone person or persons in a compromising position they should get their bearings," Jeff's voice made them stop in their tracks.

"We have time," Seifer said, kissing her neck again.

"Seifer!" she pushed him off of her playfully. He smiled, a real smile, not his smirk, although there was a tiny bit of self accomplishment in his expression. He leaned back in his seat proudly.

"So was it good for you too?" he chuckled as she hit him in the stomach and gave him an icy death glare.

Quistis began to smooth out her shirt and skirt which were both now unbearably wrinkled. She let her hair down and was trying to get it a little untangled before returning it to the clip. Nobody really got to see her hair down like that. It went down a little past her shoulders and had a bit of a wave to it because of the cold.

"I like your hair like that," he knew it sounded stupid, it was just something to break the awkward silence. That didn't stop it from being true though. Seifer was looking intently at a spot on the vehicle floor a foot in front of him.

"Are you blushing?" she asked with a humored tone.

"Fuck no, what the hell do you think I am?" he ran a nervous hand through his hair. Quistis just laughed at his defensiveness.

"Well thank you anyway," she put her hair back up in the clip, "But I like it better up."

"Whatever you say Instructor," oh great, they were back to that.

Thus started the uncomfortable silence. Luckily it was only a few minutes before the mini transport stopped and the back door opened, revealing an annoyed looking Jeff Davies.

"Out," he ordered, "I got to pack this baby up so you kids head in." The both carefully jumped out the back. Quistis tried to help Seifer down but he just shook her off, after all he was supposed to be the manly one here. Damn it was cold out there, he wished his coat wasn't completely soaked, it isn't like he brought an extra change of--

"Wait," Seifer said in realization, "what about the mission?"

"You called in help," he shrugged, "soldier down and the exam is over, got it?"

"Just like that!" Seifer was getting angry, he gripped his Hyperion like he was ready to chop off Jeff's head. "I'm FINE!"

"Kid…You ain't fine, you're practically blue," he looked him up and down, "You probably just don't realize it because of the adrenaline," he gave a look to Quistis who just averted her gaze downward.

"You little smart ass," he started to stride towards the older SeeD, intent to kill, maim, destroy but Quistis held him back.

"Seifer, let it go," she whispered calmly.

"You'd better listen to the Instructor, seems like she knows what she's talking about…At least from what I saw," he gave a smirk that would rival even Seifer's. When did Davies become such a complete asshole!

Quistis stood rigid upon hearing this, no longer holding Seifer back. He didn't move either, not because he didn't want to hurt this guy, but because of the look on her face.

She pulled out her Save the Queen god know why she brought her best weapon and in one fluid motion it was around Davies' neck pulled him so close to her that he could see his scared reflection in his eyes.

"Now you listen to me you little pissant, I don't know how you ever made SeeD, but as a senior ranking officer I can tell you there's a reason all you do is drive people around. If I had been your instructor you would have gone straight back to whatever hell you came from. What I do in my private life is my own business, and if you tell anyone what you saw today I'll throw you to a Malboro, and don't think I can't or wont because the weapon around your neck came from a few of them and last I checked it pissed them off. You got me!"

"Y…Yes," he managed to choke out. Quistis loosened her whip and Davies fell to the ground clutching his cut up neck.

"Now get us to Balamb!" she turned her back with a snap and head into the ship.

"What she said!" Seifer kicked some snow on the guy before following the Instructor. He jogged a little bit to catch up with her. "Quistis that was amazing! It pains me to say it, but I'm impressed!"

"Well, he deserved it," she hissed, still angry. "Wait…Did you just call me Quistis?"

"…It may have slipped," he put his hands into his freezing wet pockets.

"It just bugs me that a guy like that made it to SeeD, I would have never pegged him to be such an…such an…"

"Asshole?" he finished for her as they entered the main room that had seats and whatnot.

"Yeah," she sat down and crossed him, "who's he to judge me?"

"Well, you know he was probably just jealous," he sat across from her, propping his feet up on the table and throwing his coat on the next seat.

"Jealous? What could he possibly be jealous of?" he gave her a look that explained it all. "Oh…You don't think that he…You know?"

"Wanted your body?" he smirked. "Of course he did Q, I mean come on."

"I'll take that as a compliment," that seemed to calm her down, "and don't call me Q."

"Q-girl?"

"No."

"Quis?"

"No."

"Quisty?"

"N…" something about that struck a chord with her.

"What?"

"De ja vu…" her brow furrowed, trying to remember..."Seifer, are you feeling okay? You're shivering."

"Yeah I'm fine."

The vessel started moving, with no announcement from Jeff; his vocal chords were probably crushed by the whip, but oh well that's one voice they could do without hearing for a while. Seifer leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes.

"I didn't pass did I?" he asked unexpectedly. She didn't know how to respond…His eyes opened. "Its okay, I mean I didn't kill the monster, we had to call for back up...I get it."

"There's still a chance...You didn't kill that thing, but you did get it to flee the Shumi area...He's hurt and he knows he can't stay there...Chances are he'll die trying to find a shelter far away..." it seemed like a stretch, but it was possible.

"Thanks for the effort there, but we both know its bullshit," he was trying to cover for his disappointment but she saw through it. He wasn't disappointed that he didn't make SeeD really, he was disappointed in himself above all else.

"Seifer, I promise I'll do whatever I can to get them to pass you," she didn't know why she was making a promise like that...It was SEIFER after all, class bad ass, but somehow she knew she meant what she said.

"You don't have to bribe me Instructor," he put his hands behind his head.

"What?"

"You don't have to bribe me," he said again, "I mean, I know you want my body bad, but bribery is so low."

"Oh shut up," she laughed and threw one of the magazines on the table at him.

"Throwing things? Miss Mature is throwing things? Hm who would have thought it possible?" they both started to laugh…But eventually the laughter turned into another uncomfortable silence, there seemed to be a lot of those today.

"So what happens now?" she asked quietly. "With…Us?" there was an us now? Had the whole world gone crazy?

"I was hoping you would know," Seifer looked at her critically.

"I guess we just see what happens?" she took off her glasses and rubbed her temple tiredly.

"Yeah…I guess."

"But we can't tell anyone about what happened today, no matter what," she snapped.

"Why? Are you ashamed of me?" god what a girly thing to say.

"No," she sighed, "but I'm still and Instructor and you're still a student."

"You're only what two months older than me!"

"Seifer, I could get my license revoked," she would be crushed if that ever happened.

"...Understood." he leaned his head back again and closed his eyes. Seifer's mind was racing uncomfortably with thoughts of that happening...Thoughts of THEM happening...Too many thoughts, too loud. It had been a great day and a horrible day...And now the back of his upper arm was itching...Great.

They stayed quiet for the rest of the trip, which wasn't that long. Both of them had a feeling that Jeff Davies had put the ship on its fastest speed possible to get back and away from them quicker. The vessel stopped and they made their way out into the sunlight. It was late afternoon now, the sun would start setting in an hour or so.

"Ahh," Seifer stretched out his arms and received the blessed sunlight. Whatever cold was left in him was being washed away by the golden rays hitting his bare chest.

He really was good looking...Especially now with the light hitting him that certain way. His hair was illuminated and the smile he gave was genuine. Seifer exuded this strength about him...Even after such a trying day this little thing made him satisfied...It was odd, especially because he was so temperamental. He made her feel a little brace...So...She reached up and gave a him a little kiss, just a little one.

"What was that for?" he questioned almost suspiciously.

"I don't know, I guess you're too hot to resist," she started to walk away as she said this, blushing furiously. Even though she said it in a joking matter, hell, it was true.

"Hey! Wait up!" he walked a little quicker to match her pace.

Their walk back was surprisingly pleasant, oh sure they fought but it was...Happy fighting...It was nice...Except for that damn itching. When they got back to the Garden they stopped for a moment, both realizing that things were going to be much different…But then the moment was gone, replaced by the fear of judgment by the SeeD board.

Something was wrong. Seifer could feel it, something was very very wrong…Wrong with him. He stopped suddenly, thus strange feeling of lifelessness washing over him…Except of course for the itching…What the hell was that anyway? He absentmindedly looked at its source and there was a tiny little cut.

"Shit," he started to lose his balance a little bit.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Remember how you warned me about that monsters poison talons? Well...I guess I wasn't careful enough," and with that everything went black.

Big update wasn't it? R/r if you want more babes and babettes.