King's Heart (part 23 of 31)

The Floodgates Open

Xu lay next to Quistis, trying to cuddle against her but Quistis was unresponsive and turned away. The blond curled up in as small a ball as she could manage and Xu heaved a sigh and sat up.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, the covers sliding off her bare body. Quistis said nothing and remained motionless. “Quistis, come on. This entire hour was basically you trying to get your mind off something. And you were failing too because I could see quite clearly that you weren’t focused on me. It was just empty.” Quistis rolled out of bed and slipped on a t-shirt.

“You want anything to drink? Glass of water…?” She asked, putting on a pair of jeans, the spare that she had left in Xu’s room just in case.

“Stop right where you are.” Xu ordered. Quistis’s shoulders slumped. “We’re not going to get very far with this relationship if you don’t tell me what’s bothering you.” Quistis caved and sat back down on the bed but she didn’t turn to face Xu.

“You know the four SeeDs that died today?” She asked.

“Quistis, there was nothing you could do about it…”
“It’s not that. One of them, one of them was Roan. Do you remember him? He graduated with me.” Xu’s eyes softened.

“Quisty, this is what it means to be a SeeD. It’s horrible but it’s also likely that we’re going to lose people we’re close to.” She slid her hand over Quistis’s and clasped it gently. Quistis shook her head.

“Roan helped me through…through my difficult time. When I found out that Arik had gone missing, I was worried. I slipped into depression…”

“I remember.” Xu replied.

“Xu, it was worse than you remember. I had all sorts of suicidal thoughts. I nearly acted upon them, several times. There was just this voice in my head, deep down that just hated living after he vanished.” She whispered.

“That explains these.” Xu stated, tracing her finger over the tiny scars on Quistis’s arms. She smiled sadly.

“Roan actually had to knock some sense into me. He loaded me with responsibilities; put more students in my care than any other teacher. At first, I thought he was cruel and his actions were just stupid. But then I realized that all those things he made me do, all that extra work and ‘favors’ I did for him, they were actually favors for me. I was so overwhelmed I literally didn’t have time to think about suicide. He saved me.” She explained.

“Well I’m grateful he did.” Xu lifted her hand and kissed it.

“But I couldn’t save him.” Quistis sighed and her shoulders sagged. Xu kissed her shoulder, trying to make her feel better but there was a lot weighing on the Instructor’s mind and Xu remained silent. No need to force her to talk any more than she had.

“I love you so don’t you ever think about going away because I’m not going to let you and you shouldn’t let yourself go either.” Quistis chuckled.

“That made little sense.” She turned around and embraced Xu. “I love you too. You better not go anywhere either.” Xu kissed Quistis’s cheek and smiled. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. The two of them scrambled to get clothes on and Xu was the one that opened the door.

“Um…is…Quistis here?” Selphie asked. Xu tried to hid her blush by turning around and yelling

“Quistis, Selphie’s here!” Quistis approached the door, slightly ruffled but passable.

“Selphie, it’s the middle of the night. What are you doing here?” She asked.

“Well, I could ask you the same thing.” Selphie pouted. “You hang out with Xu a lot more nowadays.”

“Well…well it’s because she understands me best. She’s been my friend for who knows how long. Take Roan for example…she knows how much he meant to me as a friend.” Quistis rambled. The short brunette pouted.

“You could tell us.”

“Selphie, what are you here for?” Xu cut the two of them short.

“It’s been bugging me for a while…and I’ve been losing sleep because of it. I’m just wondering…what ever happened with Arik. I wanted you to be happy again so I started looking for him. It just felt like the right thing to do.” She whispered, looking at her feet. Quistis looked at her sympathetically and pulled her into a hug.

“Aw, Selphie. It was the right thing to do. I did love him once and I’m glad to see he’s well. But people change, Selphie and so do their feelings. He’s not the same man he once was, and even if he does get his memory back and turns back into the Arik I once knew, I just…I wouldn’t feel the same.” She explained. Selphie sniffed a little.

“We only want the best for you.”

“Come on in.” Xu said. “We’re looking a little odd standing in the hallway.” The three of them ushered in and sat down on the couch.

“Selphie, I assure you, I’m happy as it is. Much happier than I’ve been in a long time. It’s just something you’ll have to trust me on.”

“I’ll be Xu knows all about it.” Selphie frowned, casting a glare at Xu. Xu glared back and Quistis looked nervously at the two.

“It’s really late. Why don’t you spend the night? We don’t want those Garden staff hounding you for being out at this hour.” Xu shot Quistis a shocked look which Selphie saw but disregarded.

“Sure, if that’s ok with Xu…” She said, smirking at the brunette.

“I don’t…” Quistis elbowed her sharply in the ribs. “Ok. But you get the couch.”

“Yay! Slumber party!” Selphie said excitedly.

“I was hoping we’d have a repeat session.” Xu muttered under her breath so that Selphie couldn’t hear. Quistis blushed and hit her on the shoulder. Selphie eyed the two warily but instead, chose to hug a nearby pillow with excitement. Xu sighed and shook her head.

“I’m going back to bed.” She yawned, getting up. Quistis stood to follow but Selphie grabbed her arm.

“Nope! We’re going to catch up on things!” The Instructor shot Xu an exasperated look but Xu had already disappeared into the bedroom.

-

-

Quistis quietly snuck into Xu’s bedroom and slipped under the covers. It was early in the morning and she suspected that it was about time to get up anyway. Xu stirred the instant Quistis wrapped her arms around her waist.

“Quistis…?” She murmured.

“No, it’s Selphie.” Quistis giggled.

“Hyne forbid.” Xu replied, yawning and turning to face her. “What time is it?”

“I dunno. 4? 5?” Xu cuddled closer into Quistis’s arms.

“Missed you last night. What did you talk about?”

“Nothing important.” Quistis stroked Xu’s hair.

“What if Selphie wakes up?” Xu asked and at this, Quistis laughed a little.

“The girl doesn’t wake any earlier than 7. Trust me. We’ve got time.”

“You have to go back to work today.” Xu remarked. The Instructor shrugged and gently leaned into a lazy morning kiss.

“Quisty…?” Selphie yawned from the doorway. The two jumped and looked at her in horror. “G’morning.”

“Selphie! You’re up…early…”

“Thirsty…” She walked into the bathroom and the two looked at each other, wondering what they were going to do.

“She didn’t seem to notice…or maybe she’s just too sleepy?” Quistis offered. Xu crawled out of bed and started getting changed.

“I have to get up anyway.” She said.

“Xu…” Quistis sighed. “They’re my friends. They won’t react badly…”

“What about everyone else? They’re not all your friends, you know.” Xu replied. Quistis finally caught on and he wasn’t sure whether to be frustrated or calm in the situation. She walked in front of Xu, who was sitting down tying her boots and squatted, looking her in the eye.

“I am not Becca.”

“I know you’re not.” Xu replied, looking away, pretending to focus on her laces.

“No. You seem to have me confused. Both you and Becca were too young to do anything about your predicament. Xu, I am an adult. Furthermore, I am a SeeD and an Instructor. No one gets here without being able to defend him or herself.”

“What if defending yourself isn’t enough? What if there are too many?”

“I assure you, Xu, the chances are very unlikely.” Xu seemed to cave. She sighed and let go of her bootlaces.

“Alright, alright." Xu replied. Quistis kissed the top of her head.

"I'll let you decide when you feel most comfortable telling them." At that moment, Selphie stumbled out and headed back towards the couch. A minute later, they heard an audible thump, signaling to them that Selphie had gone back to bed.

-

-

Zell tackled a Grat and punched it in the side for a few seconds before the Grat hissed and fell down limp. Zell barely had time to catch his breath before another Grat swiped at him. He jumped out of the way as a flurry of bullets flew past him.

“HEY! That one nearly hit me!” Zell yelled angrily, shaking a fist at Irvine before getting smacked by the same Grat in its death throes.

“You’re forgetting who you’re talking to.” Irvine smirked. “If I wanted to hit you, I would’ve.” Zell growled.

“Just wait…one of these days…”

“You seen Selphie around? We’re supposed to go to dinner tonight but I haven’t seen or heard her.” Zell smiled.

“A date? Finally! Jeez, what took you so long?” Irvine sneered at him.

“Hey, look, a man has got to wait for the perfect moment, ok?” Zell burst out laughing. Irvine smacked him with the butt of his new gun but Zell kept chuckling.

“Man my ass. Anyway, last I saw she was looking for Quistis. They’re all prolly at the cafeteria now anyway. Come on, let’s go get something to eat, man, I’m starved! We always meet the gang for breakfast.” Zell said, putting a hand over his stomach.

“We always meet the gang for breakfast, would be a shame to make the ladies wait.” Irvine replied and the two walked out of the training center.

When they got to the cafeteria, Xu and Quistis were laughing together. Irvine promptly sat down while Zell rushed to get his spot in line.

“Howdy ladies. Have you seen a certain brunette…maybe, 5’2 ish…”

“She’s collapsed on my couch.” Xu replied loftily.

“Really? Now why would she be there?” Irvine asked, scratching his head.

“She was looking for me.” Quistis explained “We ended up crashing at Xu’s place.” As if on cue, Selphie walked in, looking rather perplexed. She stopped short of the table and when Irvine scooted over to make room, she didn’t take a seat. She stared from Xu to Quistis, eyebrows knitted together in slight confusion.

“I could’ve sworn…” She began and then backtracked. “I had the weirdest dream…I mean, I’m pretty sure it’s a dream but it was really real. And by really real it’s a little hazy but still…” Quistis smiled innocently.

“What kind of dream was it…?” Selphie frowned.

“Before I tell you guys, you have to swear not to laugh or anything. And I swear, I’m not like that.” Beneath the table, Xu grabbed Quistis’s hand and squeezed it gently.

“We won’t laugh. It’s just a dream, right Selphie?” Xu replied all too cattily. Selphie pouted.

“I swear by Hyne! I’m not like that!” She insisted.

“We get it, Selphie. What did you dream about?” Quistis said calmly.

“I dreamt…well, I dreamt that I got up and walked into your room, Xu, and I saw you and Quistis all snuggled and kissing.” The brunette turned bright red. “It was a stupid dream.”

“I like your dreams.” Irvine said with a grin. “Let me join your dreams!” Selphie pouted and sat down.

“It was so real…” She sighed.

“Who knows, Selphie. Maybe Xu and I really are lovers.” Quistis said. Xu nearly choked on her muffin.

“You know, they say that dreams are the key to your inner desires.” Irvine noted lecherously. Selphie smacked him.

“I am NOT like that!”

“What are you yelling about now?” Rinoa laughed as she and Squall approached their table. “Sorry we’re late. Squall had some random phone call from this creepy girl asking Squall to father her children.” Zell followed shortly, his mouth already stuffed full with food. There were remnants of what once was an omelet.

“You pig.” Ayane sighed.

“Well, the whole gang is here. Tell ‘em your story, Selphie.” Irvine said loudly. Selphie turned even redder. “Come on…tell ‘em.”

“Yeah! Tell us!” Rinoa chided. Quistis smiled brightly and stood up to throw away her trash but not before leaning over and saying,

“I can’t wait until I can actually kiss you in front of these people.” Xu blushed and watched her, Selphie’s voice in the background rambling about how her story meant absolutely nothing. Come what may…she thought and stood up, following Quistis.

“I swear! My dream meant nothing! You guys have to believe me before I tell you.”

Xu made her way towards her. Her feet seemed to drag but she knew they weren’t. SeeD weren’t trained to drag their feet as they walked.

“Selphie, just tell us.”

Xu kept walking as Quistis turned around and looked at her quizzically.

“Well, in my dream…I was getting a drink…”

Xu grabbed Quistis’s wrist before her mind registered that she had done that action. It came as a bit of a surprise to her when she finally realized she was holding her hand.

“And Quistis was in Xu’s room in the same bed.”

Xu leaned in…

“And they were kissi…”

Xu kissed Quistis, surprising her at first, but Quistis gradually relaxed.

Six mouths dropped open. An omelet, tray and a glass of orange juice fell to the ground. One of the six people choked on her milk. And as Xu wrapped her arms around Quistis’s waist and Quistis rested her arms on Xu’s shoulders, Selphie whispered,

“I told you it wasn’t a dream…”