To those who appear concerned, yes this is a Squall/Quistis story. We just decided that the realization of the love they would share wouldn't be born overnight. Also, we kind of want to mess with Squall a little first. After all, he has made entirely too few mistakes. It's about time he acted like a real boy. On a side note, our sincerest apologies in regards to the formatting issues when the pov changes. FF is being naughty and we'll sort it out as soon as we can.
.05.
Friday was born of a beautiful morning with the sun blooming over the ocean beside Balamb which mirrored the glory with its twinkling clear tides. As Squall looked out over it, he reached for his cell phone – an item he was becoming steadily more reliant on – and accessed its camera feature to take a picture. He nearly set it as his background, but when he looked at Rinoa's grin, he couldn't do it. She'd squished her eyes closed and stuck out her tongue in a way that was just so Rinoa.
He saved the photo and didn't bother to put it to any real use. Closing the phone, he tossed it onto his desk and headed for his shower, swearing today he'd sort out this mess with his girlfriend and perhaps actually take her on a real date.
Again, as soon as the shampoo was in his hair, the phone rang. He could tell it was Cid, but was sure the old man would understand. He always did about these sorts of things.
The last thing Quistis had wanted to do today was what she was doing right now. The day was going to be a big enough pain in the ass as it was with her having to fly out to Galbadia with Xu and the two of them having to come back again before night fall. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been able to sit down in the quad and enjoy a book.
That had been her plan for the morning. To read in the cozy morning light and perhaps venture into town for some yummy treats to take with her on the afternoon trip. Maybe stop by Mrs. Dincht's home for a cup of tea.
No, instead she was about to add to the frustrations of an overly burdened friend. Squall would most likely hate her forever and then some after he returned the Headmaster's call. She half hoped he didn't reply, but of course, that too would be bad because Squall would never not reply.
She sighed and Xu placed a hand on her shoulder. "He'll get over it. It's not forever."
This was possibly true, but she doubted it. Squall did four things very well – pout, glare, fight, and hold grudges.
"Do you think he's still asleep?" Cid asked them.
"Not likely, Headmaster," Quistis replied.
"Perhaps getting washed up than," he said decidedly.
She tried very hard not to imagine Squall all naked and wet. Suds slowly slipping over his toned muscle... Her mind wandered.
Beside her, Xu cleared her throat and drew the attention of her friend back to reality. "You know," she teased, "I bet he's the type of guy to have a ridiculously girly shower habits."
"Oh really, this conversation is not appropriate," Quistis mumbled as she looked downward to conceal her blush.
The phone upon the headmaster's desk rang.
Cid picked it up and made small talk before saying, "Please come to my office. I have something I need you to do for me." He hung up moments later and beamed at the women. "He's on his way."
Squall had no idea what Cid might want, but really, how much more could the man actually ask of him? He hadn't heard of anything wildly crazy happening that required urgent response. It was probably something menial and then he'd be able to go right back to his room and relax while he plotted how to make things better with Rinoa.
The elevator was thankfully empty and the ride was pleasant enough as a result. He habitually checked his cell phone. He wasn't expecting a message. Not really. Though it had been weeks since he'd had a day go by without a message from Layla. She'd become quite dependable in this manner and yet he really knew nothing about her aside from his father's friend was her uncle and she was desperate to be a SeeD.
He toyed for a moment with the idea of what she might look like. On the one hand, she didn't give any indication of being physically active outside of errands, so possibly a bigger girl. Maybe that was why Ward was so against her joining, because he was concerned about how she'd handle the failure. On the other hand, she hadn't the kind of voice that could drive a man crazy in a good way. It was the first thing he'd noticed when she'd initially contacted him.
The doors opened before his thoughts could further analyse what he knew of his mystery companion and he found himself a little worried. Quistis was there. As was Xu. It could have been that they were just wrapping up a headmaster meeting of some sort... Or what they were about to ask was a lot more serious than he had anticipated.
He looked at each of them expectantly.
"Have a seat, Squall," Quistis advised as she gently placed a hand on his back to push him into the open chair across the oak desk form Cid. Her voice wasn't steady. Something was up and she wasn't particularly pleased by it. He could tell. She'd be awful at poker.
"I heard Edea got to sit down with all of you yesterday," Cid told him in a light tone. The voice he used for breaking bad news.
Squall's stomach fell. Seifer was back. That's what this was. He nodded slowly.
"Well, I'm sure she mentioned a few things to you, like about her plans to rebuild the orphanage?" Cid asked, but he obviously already knew. "See, she will need a little help and while Ellone has been at her side almost every step of the process thus far, as a husband it is my duty to help. My honour to help. Which is why it would help us and the orphans so much if you would just... assume my role within Garden for a week or so."
"No." He couldn't have held back the word if he'd tried.
"It's just a week Squall. Two at most. Until most of the heavier work is done. I can't stand the thought of Ellone or Edea in their frail states trying to do such labour, but it must be done quickly before the weather gets cold again. Fall is nearly here."
Squall frowned and he swallowed. Why couldn't they just send a team of SeeDs to assist the women? He looked at Quistis who only tapped her already overloaded binder. She obviously had even less room on her plate for this than he did. His eyes rolled back to Cid. "Two weeks."
"That a boy! I knew we could rely on you."
Seifer wasn't sure why, but he was in an awful mood despite having slept in a real bed and having had a good, long shower. Maybe it was just the left over anxiety of everything that had happened the day before. Either way, the staff seemed to sense his feelings and made no attempt to speak to him. He made a sort of game of it – randomly looking at them, trying to catch eye contact before they could look away. They were apparently all very good at this game though and he had yet to meet anyone's eyes.
Breakfast had been filling and Fury had insisted he find a way to occupy himself, even giving him access to a car and driver. However, he decided that he'd like to throw fruit into the air and slice it with his gunblade before it fell.
He realized his skills had slowed a little and grew determined to restore them to their former glory.
Losing himself in the practice, he failed to notice when the general came to watch. When he had improved to his liking he turned to get a broom and pan to clean up the fruit chunks.
"That was impressive. Makes me wonder why you wasted your obvious talent by hiding out these last few months."
Seifer shrugged.
"You know, my men are sufficient with the gunblade, but by no means where they could be if they had a real master to teach them..."
A long moment of serious thought went into this for Seifer. The last person he'd taught to use the gunblade was out in the streets of Deling killing people without remorse. He'd already caused a lot of destruction. "I don't know..."
"Think about it than. I'll be around when you make your decision."
Swallowing the dry lump in his throat, the younger cleared the mess he'd made and than just sat upon the grass, cleaning his gunblade. He stared into the glistening steel for answers. Would teaching these men be okay? What if one of them was to be corrupt? He'd learned from the girls already how many of them were.
He'd tell Caraway no. There was no way he could risk it again. He already felt the weight of the recent murders resting on his own shoulders and it was a burden he struggled to bare. If any more was added, he'd likely collapse.
The metal reflected his face as he shifted and he froze, reaching his hand up to touch his scar. He wondered if Squall's was still as prominent. He'd watched him in news releases, but the guy's hair made it hard to tell.
The scar seemed to be proof of his sin. The more he looked at the reflection, the harsher the scar stood out against his skin. Frustrated, he reached up and mussed his hair until it was an unruly mess of bed-head and hid most of the mark from view.
Somehow, the act helped ease his anxiety and he allowed himself to fall onto his back. He could smell the fruit juices on the grass and knew he was going to get it on his clothes. It didn't matter though. No matter how he hid the scar, it was still there. No matter how much he smelt of fruit he was still Seifer.
Growling he hopped up and brushed the loose dirt from his clothing before going inside. He had to see the girl. Had to be sure she understood what it was she was doing. He also needed to know if he was still being followed.
Rinoa was still too angry to ask Squall what was wrong when she watched him saunter into the library. He was coming to her, she knew for certain, but she was still hurt and in no mood to relieve him of his guilt. Instead, she got up and walked right past him. The way she had walked past the homeless in Deling or the weird kids in school. She passed him as though he wasn't there at all.
Once in the hall, she regretted it, but was too stubborn to turn back and apologize or even say hello. So, she kept walking. Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes and she desperately wanted to find someone to make it better. It used to be Squall who would have been there, but now he was too caught up in work and this Layla.
The tears eased and she was fuming again. This damn Layla was the problem. Fucking Layla was to blame.
She pushed through a small crowd of cadets and walked straight off Garden property. Outside, she called the number she'd found in his directory again.
"Listen, before you start yelling at me again, you should probably know," began the girl as she picked up, but Rinoa didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to hear excuses. If there was an explanation, Squall would have told her right away. No, likely whatever this girl was to say now would be a lie.
"You're a whore. We used to be happy. Once upon a time, I was his damsel in distress and you just think you can take him, but you can't. I'm his important person. I'm the one who found him when he was lost during the time compression. Me, okay? ME! If you ever text or call or even think of him ever again I swear to you it will be the sorriest day of your life. My father is Galbadia's Military General. He could have you locked up for treason. You think you can mess with me? I have political connections and you... You're just nothing!" There was a dial tone on the other end. Obviously, little miss skank-tastic had learned her lesson.
She'd probably never be heard of again.