Part Five

Flight To Timber

Balamb Garden

Infirmary

When Seifer opened his aching eyes he was instantly blinded again. He knew just from the smell that he was back in the fucking Infirmity but his mind drew a blank as to why he was here again. He didn't remember fighting Squall again and he didn't fight Zell either.

The last thing he remembered clearly was getting on the truck back to Balamb Garden but after that everything was hazy. He felt as if something was missing from his mind but then he felt that warm feeling spreading out from his chest and he was hit by the memories.

He recalled a large city with black and silver buildings along with that bizarre heart shaped moon. But who the fuck was Roxas and why did he feel so...sad and lonely when he thought of the name? Groaning the blond man sat up in his bed then scowled angrily when he spotted Cid Kramer talking to both Kadowaki and the hell bitch Xu. Seifer was grateful for one thing thought, he got to explode on Xu and for that he didn't feel the least bit regretful.

How are you feeling? Axel's voice was unusually sombre.

"I've got a killer headache but other than that..." Seifer trailed off.

Sorry about that. I think my power reacted when you got pissed at bitch lady. Axel sniggered.

"So we agree on something." Seifer muttered.

What do you think will happen now?

"Don't know...but if I don't make SeeD they could take you out of my head." Seifer shrugged.

Screw that Scar, I'm staying right here. I've gotten used to the cramped space. Seifer could practically hear the smirk in Axel's voice.

"It's not up to me." The blond groaned.

Don't I get a say in all this? Axel demanded.

"You're a GF. You don't get to have a say." Seifer muttered darkly.

I'm not the kind of guy to take things lying down. Axel muttered angrily.

"Axel...who's Roxas?"

Seifer didn't get his answer because Cid chose that moment to come over and talk to the Gunblade wielder. Seifer noticed, however, that Axel felt cold when the name Roxas was mentioned. The GF was defiantly hiding something but for now Seifer let it slide. His whole future was on the line after that unbelievable outburst in the Headmaster's office. Jade eyes took in the sight of Kadowaki conversing silently with Xu. Maybe they were planning on taking Axel out of his head anyway.

"Seifer, we need to talk about your temper." Cid stated firmly.

"I'm really sorry about blowing up like that sir." Seifer sighed. "I was just really pissed."

"Seifer, you've got a record here as it is. Your temper is going to cost you." Cid frowned.

"Did I make SeeD sir?" Seifer interrupted tersely.

"I'm sorry Seifer..." Cid looked away from the blond.

"I really expected that." Seifer smirked but it took all his willpower not to just start fucking cry.

"You have to learn to follow orders Seifer." Cid tried to explain.

"And what about Phoenix?" Seifer snapped bitterly.

"We're still debating on the issue of your Guardian Force." The Headmaster answered.

"So what do I do now?" the blond crossed his arms over his chest.

"We're going to keep you in detention for now." Cid replied stiffly. "But we also want some information on your GF."

"You can talk to him if you want." Seifer frowned.

"You'll allow us to communicate with him?" Cid raised an eyebrow but he motioned for Kadowaki and Xu to enter the room.

"Is it safe to summon the GF here?" Xu questioned.

"He's my size so it's no problem...except for the wings." Seifer replied icily.

"Ok Seifer, let's see him." Kadowaki waved her hand.

Seifer got off the bed and closed his eyes so that he could summon his Guardian Force. He mentally warned Axel not to try anything stupid for the moment and then the room was encased in bright red and yellow flames. The fire took the shape of a human with large wings green eyes narrowed in suspicion and then a smirk was plastered across the GF's face.

"This is Seifer's GF?" Xu couldn't believe a GF could look like that.

"The name's Phoenix." Axel made an elegant bow. "What can I do for you?"

"This is truly extraordinary." Kadowaki was scribbling down notes.

"You guys don't have a lot of conversations with GFs do you?" Axel grinned cockily.

"It is truly amazing that you can verbally identity yourself." Cid exclaimed. "I've never seen anything like you before."

"Flattery scores you points." Axel sat on the edge of the bed next to Seifer.

"How did you become Junctioned with him?" Xu interrogated the red head.

"I saw him fighting Leonhart." Axel cocked his head to the side. "He seemed to be the best choice for me."

"Headmaster, this is out of my league." Kadowaki stated. "I've never had a conversation with a GF before and I don't know what to do with him."

"I know what you can do." The red head spoke up. "Let me stay with Scar."

"Scar?" Xu questioned with a frown.

"He calls me that." Seifer muttered.

"Very well..." Cid amended. "The GF stays with you Seifer. You'll be escorted to your detention room for the time being."

Seifer said nothing even after Axel turned into mist and returned to his host's mind. Kadowaki and Xu remained deathly silent when the guards came and took Seifer out of the medical room. Seifer kept his face stoic as ever as he was being led through the Garden towards his room. The guards, however, decided to e a little chatty and they were conversing about the mission to Timber. Seifer thought nothing of it until the guards mentioned Squall Leonhart.

"Hello Instructor Trepe." One guy said. Sure enough there was Quistis standing by the dormitories.

"Hello Instructor." Seifer sneered. "How are you?"

"Seifer..." she nodded towards him.

"And where is my perfect rival?" the blond asked icily.

"He passed the exam Seifer." Quistis snapped. "And if you must know he's on a mission."

"Leonhart is the best fighter in the Garden next to that Dincht kid." One guy remarked.

"The mission in Timber should be a walk in the part for them. Plus they took that Tilmitt girl. She's pretty good in a fight." The other guy replied.

"That girl, Rinoa I think her name was...she needed some SeeD members to help with something in Timber. She was at the Ball last night." The guard said.

"What's happening in Timber?" Seifer faced Quistis.

"The resistance needed with the Galbadian army help so Cid sent Squall there." Quistis sighed.

"So Galbadia has taken Timber and Rinoa wants to stop the President?" Seifer couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I have to be going." Quistis spoke up and she left quickly.

Seifer felt his very blood beginning to boil. Leonhart, Dincht and the Messenger Girl all passed the exam when he was the one to actually go to the Communications Tower and retrieve information from the Galbadians.

And what the hell was Rinoa Heartilly doing in Balamb asking for help? The girl had a good heart and it was in the right place but she had a knack for getting into trouble without even trying. Seifer wondered how the guards knew about the mission but he figured that they were at the SeeD Ball when Rinoa made the proposal.

This fucking sucked big time. As always Squall Leonhart got what he wanted while Seifer was left behind in the dust cloud. He didn't make SeeD so what did he have to lose now anyway? He could easily get rid of these guys especially now that he had a GF in his head. If he could get to Timber and 'talk' to the President of Galbadia maybe he could stop a fight before one even broke out.

You are gonna get in so much trouble if you do this. Axel said.

"Here we are." the guard said and he motioned for Seifer to get inside. Once he was inside the confines of the small room he summoned Axel.

"So what's the plan?" the red head remarked.

"You wanna go along with this?" Seifer questioned.

"It's not like I can disobey my master. Besides it sounds like fun and I always did like breaking the rules." Axel grinned.

"We need to get to Timber." Seifer went to his desk and pulled out a map of the continent.

"So we're here." Axel pointed to a location marked Balamb which happened to be an island. "And we've gotta go here." Timber was across the water on the main part of the continent.

"I don't know how we can get across without a ship." Seifer frowned as he thought over his options.

"There's always me." Axel glanced at his host.

"No fucking way am I flying again." Seifer threw up his hands.

"Do you have another option?" Axel crossed his arms. "If flying freaks you out use a Sleeping Spell or something."

"This is crazy..." Seifer muttered. He glanced around the room looking for his Gunblade. "The bastards took Hyperion."

"You can use my weapons." Axel replied as he approached the door. "You ready to go? We're gonna have to leave through the front door."

"Let's get this over with." Seifer groaned as he stood by the door. He hated the fact that he was put in a room with no windows.

"Follow my lead." Axel murmured.

The fiery Guardian Force yanked open the door and moved with an inhuman speed. He used his fists and feet to knock out the guards while Seifer looked down the long hallway to see if anyone else was coming. Axel motioned for Seifer to follow him into the deserted hallway and back towards the main section of the Garden. When they reached the entrance to the dormitories Axel grabbed Seifer's wrist and pulled the protesting blond into his arms.

Seifer gripped the red head's neck by wrapping his arms tightly around that pale throat. He gulped down his fear as Axel flapped his crimson wings so that he was floating a few feet off the ground. Amazingly those wings didn't make a sound and before any of the students could react Axel flew out into the main area of the Garden. A few of the students screamed and ran while others started yelling for the Headmaster. Seifer placed his face against Axel's bare shoulder and he was surprised to find that the skin was actually comfortably warm.

"What the hell is that thing?" one girl screamed.

"I have a name sweetheart!" Axel called back.

The red head flew out of the Garden just as Cid Kramer yelled for Seifer to return along with his Guardian Force. The wind whipped through his hair, blowing the spiky red bangs away from his beautiful face. Seifer kept his face buried against that warm shoulder; his jade eyes squeezed shut even as Axel made his way across the water. It was actually quite a beautiful day. There wasn't a cloud visible and the wind resistance was pretty mild.

Despite how the map looked the distance between Balamb and the continent wasn't that large. When Axel caught sight of land he let his quivering host know about it. Seifer tore his face away from the warm skin and glanced at the land below him so he could see if they were near Timber or not. He spotted the tunnel and the train tracks that led out from below the earth. Squall must've taken the train that runs underwater through the sea to get to Timber.

The small town was now in sight. There was a large black train in the station signally that Squall and the others already made it to the town. Seifer ordered the red head to land just outside Timber; the blond was already formulating a plan to get to the Galbadian President. Axel saw a clear patch on the edge of town where the military patrols passed by. When they touched down Seifer scrambled out of a smirking Axel's arms.

"Next time we're taking the damn train." Seifer growled.

"I look forward to it." Axel drawled. His green eyes flickered towards the town. "So what's the plan?"

"We're gonna storm that." Seifer pointed towards a large building with a flat screen on top. It looked like it was used for live broadcasts.

"You think they're heading for the station?" Axel raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know how long I was out for. They could've left already but we better check it out just in case." Seifer replied.

"Back into the brain for me." Axel sighed dramatically and Seifer couldn't help but crack a small smile at the way the red head behaved.

"Wish me luck." Seifer murmured when Axel was back in his head.

I live in your head pal. If you kick the proverbial bucket I could get into trouble too. Just don't take everything on by yourself. Axel answered.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Seifer muttered then, after looking to make sure he was alone, he took off into the town.

Note-So sorry for the lack of Zexion/Demyx action but the next chapter will take you all back to Destiny Island and Zexion is tossed into a quest to stop the reopening the Gateway. I'm also giving Baralai a bigger part in my story cuz he's one of my favourite FF characters and he just doesn't get enough love. There will also be more of a back-story for Baralai concerning his taboo relationship with Gippal. Also one of my reviewers wanted a straight pairing and that will be Selphie/Irvine cuz in FF8 I can't picture those two with anyone else.