The Mountains Win Again

A/N: Well, I'm back, recovered from the throat surgery, and feeling better than ever! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, because things are about to get a little more serious between our two main characters.

Chapter five

Seifer stomped off into the next section of the training center, leaving a fuming mad Rinoa in his wake. Convinced there was nothing more she could do for the moment, she reluctantly left the training center.

Meanwhile, back at Quistis' dorm, she too was in a heated discussion, only this time with Zell.

"But Quis… He could still be dangerous!" Zell raised his voice slightly.

"It's been seven years Zell, and we've already had this conversation."

"Yeah, but it's different now, I didn't think you were gonna be livin' with the guy!" Zell just wouldn't give up.

"Just leave it alone Zell, there's nothing you can do." Quistis demanded. "It's my business, and I would appreciate it if you, and whoever the hell else has any objections, to shove off!" Quistis firmly shoved Zell out of her dorm, slamming the door in his face.

Zell let out a heavy sigh, hanging his head and starting to walk back toward his own dorm, Just as Seifer came walking past him. In an instant, Zell forgot everything telling him just to let it go. In a fit of rage, he turned around quickly, grabbing Seifer by the collar of his trench coat and pulling him to the floor. Seifer was left on his back, not aware of what was going on. Zell cocked back with his right fist, delivering a powerful blow to the taller man's face.

Seifer lost his temper, and managed to bring his knees between himself, and Zell. With all the power he could muster, he kicked Zell in the torso, sending him a few meters across the hall.

Seifer pulled stood up quickly, preparing to defend himself, just as Zell jumped back up, barely fazed by the kick. The martial artist ran towards the taller blonde, pulling back his left fist, and landing a hit in Seifer's stomach. Then, using his right fist, Zell landed another hard blow in his combatants face. Seifer stumbled backwards a few feet, but recovered quick enough to do a sidestep dodge, avoiding Zell's third blow. Due to the force with which Zell was moving forward, he tripped when his blow did not land, and hit the ground face first.

It was at this point that Quistis opened her door, coming to see what the commotion was about. The flaxen haired beauty observed the situation, realizing Zell had attacked Seifer on his way back to the dorm.

"Stop it, both of you!" Quistis yelled, as she jumped between the two males. Several garden faculty members came running up, pushing Quistis out of the way, and grabbing Seifer, automatically assuming he had started the conflict. At first, Seifer struggled, as the faculty drug him away, but then he decided it was no use.

"Quistis… Help me!" Seifer yelled, as Zell stood.

"What did you do?" Quistis yelled at the short blonde, as she shoved him back to the floor.

"Quistis… Please forgive me." Zell pleaded.

"Answer my question!" She demanded.

"I attacked him." Zell admitted.

"And they think he attacked you!" Quistis pointed out the obvious. "I swear to God Zell if you don't tell them the truth, I'll kill you right here and now!"

"Quistis, you don't mean that."

Quistis pulled out save the queen, cracking it right next to Zell's head. Zell nearly jumped out of his skin, quickly pulling himself to his feet and running toward Cid's office.

Moments later…

"Here he is, headmaster." The faculty shoved Seifer into Cid's office.

"I'm very disappointed in you." Cid shook his head.

"It wasn't me." Seifer stated calmly.

"Oh?" Cid seemed surprised. "And what reason do I have to believe you?"

"I'm…"

"Don't even speak to me, Almasy." Cid interrupted. "I gave you another chance, and you blew it. Get out of my garden."

"But-"

"NOW!" Cid yelled, as the faculty members violently grabbed Seifer and drug him off toward the front gate.

Before the faculty members stepped onto the lift, Zell came up, halting their advance.

"Wait!" Zell stopped them. "Headmaster Cid, it wasn't Seifer who started it. It was me." Zell confessed.

"And why?" Cid stood up from his spot.

"I had just been in a heated discussion with Quistis, about their living together, and she threw me out of her dorm. In a fit of rage, I attacked Seifer."

"So it was completely unprovoked?" Cid inquired.

"Yes." Zell nodded.

"Very well then." Cid motioned for the faculty to let go of Seifer. "Seifer Almasy, I apologize"

"Yeah." Seifer shrugged off the large men holding onto him. "Whatever." He grumbled, as he stepped onto the lift, leaving Cid's office.

"I hope you know, Dincht, you will be fully punished for your actions." Cid warned.

"I will gladly accept my punishment." Zell replied.

Later…

Seifer walked into Quistis' dorm, rubbing his broken nose. Quistis jumped from her seat and enveloped him in a tight hug, which he hesitantly returned.

"Are you alright?" She examined his battered face.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He obviously didn't like people worrying about him.

"So Zell told the truth?" Quistis led Seifer into the kitchen, where they both pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Yeah… And I'm guessing you had something to do with it." For the first time since he came in, Seifer stopped rubbing his nose.

"Of course. I couldn't let him get you kicked out." Quistis smiled. "Now let me clean up your wounds."

Seifer simply nodded in response, as Quistis got up and headed toward the bathroom, coming out a minute later with a first aid kit.

"Looks like…" She pulled out a bandage, some disinfectant cloths, and some tape. "Your nose is broken."

Quistis unfolded one of the cloths, wiping the blood from Seifer's face.

"So it looks like Zell caught you pretty good. Does it hurt?" She asked him.

"Not that much anymore" Seifer replied.

"Haha, don't worry, you don't have to act tough around me." She laughed.

"No seriously-"

"You're not fooling anyone Seif."

"Whatever."

"Now you're starting to sound more like Squall." Quistis teased.

"Oh please God no…" Seifer muttered, playing along.

"Come on, it's not really all that bad." She replied, playfully hitting him on the shoulder. "Looks like we're finally starting to get along."

"I guess so." Seifer said, as Quistis finished up cleaning the blood from his face, and gently placed a bandage over his nose.

"Well, I'm all done." Quistis stood up. "Just take it easy for awhile, don't go in the training center, and it should be healed soon."

"Thank you." He mumbled in response.

"Huh?"

"I said thank you." He spoke a little louder.

"That's the first nice thing I've ever heard you say."

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A/N: I'm really not satisfied with this chapter, since the dialogue is complete crap, bu RR people!