The Mountains Win Again
A/N: Chapter 19! Getting closer and closer. I'm sort of in a dilemma as to where I want to go next, and how I want to end this fic. I have a few vague ideas, but I'm thinking maybe you guys can leave a few suggestions in your reviews.
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Seifer blinked sleepily, as he started the coffee pot. He had to get back into the habit of getting up early, if he was to return to work for his seed exam. He didn't intend to leave the Garden, after all he had done to rebuild his relationship with the others.
Quistis awoke slowly, the smell of coffee filling her nostrils. With a yawn, she looked to the kitchen, to see Seifer standing at the coffee pot. " That smells wonderful." She said, sitting up. "What time is it?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Around seven I think." He replied.
"Wow." Quistis started. "I don't think you've been up this early in awhile. Not since you moved in, at least. Any particular reason for your change in habit?" She asked, well aware his time was running out.
"Well, I've made a decision."
Her expression brightened, waiting for the good news.
"I'm taking the Seed exam one last time." He said, wiping the table with a wet cloth. "I don't want to leave."
She smiled inwardly, having received the answer she wanted.
"You know…" She thought. "Pretty soon, Garden Faculty will realize you're well again, and you'll have to move back into your own dorm."
"Well what about Squall and Rinoa? They're living together, aren't they?" He tossed the rag in the sink, walking over to sit next to her on the bed.
"Squall's the commander, and has been for almost a decade now. Do you really think Cid would have the balls to reprimand him?"
"True…" He scratched his head. "And we all know how the bastard has it out for me. He would raise hell if I was to live here permanently."
"So what do we do?" She asked, sighing.
"I don't know." He replied. "I don't care where we end up, as long as we don't have to hide our relationship."
"Maybe later today I can go talk to Cid about it. He's an understanding man, when Squall isn't using him to control the Garden. If I can get him on our side before Squall gets a hold of him, we may have a chance." She speculated. "But first, I need to get dressed."
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Quistis stepped into Cid's office, dressed in her normally formal attire.
"You wanted to speak with me?" Cid asked, from behind his desk.
"Yes." She said, gently setting her binders on his desk as she sat down. "It's about Seifer."
"Poor problematic Seifer…" Cid shook his head.
"He has grown aware that his time in the Garden in coming to a close. He told me personally that he plans to take the exam once more, as he wants to remain here indefinitely."
"And?" Cid asked, not seeing the point in her words.
"In the event that he is allowed to stay, would it be beyond decency for him to remain living with me?"
"Absolutely. I'm afraid I cannot allow such behavior." Cid replied.
"But as an instructor shouldn't I…" Quistis began, baiting Cid into a defeat.
"No one is above the rules." Cid stated, forcefully.
"What about Squall and Rinoa?" Quistis smirked, as it was now obvious to Cid what she had lured him into.
"Err…" Cid paused, a blank expression on his face.
"I'll need you to sign this clearance form allowing Seifer to live in my dorm for as long as I wish to allow." She smiled, handing Cid a piece of paper.
Cid sighed and applied his signature. "Crafty, as always. Just the way I taught you." He chuckled.
"I learned from the best." She smiled, taking the form and walking out.
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The door on Quistis' dorm slid open, as the blonde stepped in, holding the form just signed by Cid.
"How'd it go?" Seifer asked, walking out from the kitchen.
A smile on her face, she held up the form, with Cid's stamp of approval. Seifer's eyes brightened, his lips curling up into the biggest smile she had ever seen on his face. She squealed in excitement as he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground.
He gently kissed her on the lips, a she looked down on him from above. "You know…" She started. "It's a whole hour until my next class." She said, with a seductive smile.
To be continued…
