Falling
“The most important thing you need to know about magic is that it isn’t endless. Use it wisely. I’m sure I’ve quizzed you all to no end about elemental weaknesses but I cannot stress how many Blizzagas you will save if you just use a Holy against the undead.” Quistis said. “If I may remind all of you, only one person got a perfect score on that last exam. As entertaining as some of the responses were…” She picked up a random quiz on her desk and read it. “Let’s see…question 4. ‘What is the best magic to use against a bomb? Answer: FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE! FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE!’” She looked at the class but few of them were paying attention. This was due in part to Selphie and Zell standing near the doorway staring at her with mouths wide open. Irvine and Rinoa had followed Xu and were no doubt doing the same as she did her paperwork. She sighed and turned to Selphie and Zell.
“Do you two mind? I’m trying to teach a class here and you gaping at me won’t help a thing.”
“Babbb…buuubb…you…gaaa?” Zell babbled.
“If there’s something you want to discuss, we’ll discuss it after class. In the mean time, please, OUT.” She said angrily, pointing at the door. The two shuffled sideways outside and the class giggled. Quistis rubbed her forehead. She didn’t regret coming out to the gang, it was just how they went about it.
“CLASS!” She shouted. “Focus. As I was saying, since you all did so poorly, you will have another quiz in the following three days. I think it would be in your best interest to pass this one.”
-
-
When Quistis finished the morning class, she sighed and slumped down in her desk. The door opened again and Xu walked in.
“You do realize you have some people out there who look a bit lock jawed, right?” She said with a smile. Quistis smiled.
“Can’t be helped. Our little secret wasn’t exactly exposed in the most graceful manner.” She replied, sticking out her hand for Xu to take.
“We should talk to them.” Xu suggested and Quistis nodded.
The two walked out and almost smack into the gang. All of them were standing there, still looking at the two rather shocked. Quistis and Xu fidgeted nervously, unsure of how to begin.
“Will someone just say something?” Xu blurted. Squall who had previously been leaning against the wall, stood up straight.
“I don’t care what you two do. It’s your private life, Quistis and I don’t want to get involved.” He said calmly.
“I think we all just need to talk about this like mature, sensi…”
“Oh enough of the hesitation! When did you two start dating? Better yet, Quistis, when did you get into girls?” Selphie demanded.
Quistis decided that they were fair questions even though Xu looked like she disapproved of them.
“Selphie, it’s kind of hard to explain what we’ve been through. Let’s just say we’ve been aware of each other’s feelings since my birthday. And I’m not into all girls…just Xu.” She answered.
“I don’t get it.” Rinoa said. “I mean…I’m not against it, I just don’t get it.”
“You don’t have to, Rin. Suffice to say, I love Xu very much.” Quistis replied, patting the girl on the head.
“Is that why you rejected Arik…!” Selphie exclaimed. “Now it makes sense!”
“It’s cool by me.” Irvine winked at the two. “Just let me know when you’re going to have some playtime. I might join you. You know you can’t resist…OW!” Selphie had kicked Irvine in the shins. “WOMAN! Have you NOT heard of shin splints? Dr. Kadowaki has yet to heal these…”
“I think it’s cool.” Zell mumbled sheepishly, his face turning red.
“It seems like everyone’s ok with it. Ayane, you haven’t said anything.” Rinoa commented. Ayane looked up, startled.
“Oh! Uh, um, I already knew.” She stammered.
“She was one of the first to figure it out.” Quistis said, smiling at her.
“Who else knows?” Squall asked seriously. “Quistis, I’m sure you remember the last teacher who was caught in a same-sex relationship. I can’t protect you if half the Garden turns on you.”
“Now that’s just being pessimistic!” Xu snapped.
“Squall, I am perfectly capable of handling this situation.” Quistis replied, annoyed at how much people assumed it was the end of her career. “I entered this relationship known the consequences, same for Xu. Both of us know what might happen but we’re prepared.” She squeezed Xu’s hand and looked at her fondly in the eyes. “Besides, I can always go back to being a SeeD.”
Squall sighed and shook his head.
“Whatever.” He said and walked away.
“Aw, he doesn’t mean it.” Rinoa said. “He’s…he’s happy for you, really. We haven’t seen you this happy in a while and it’s definitely good to see that you’re at least capable of that.”
“Finally!” Selphie exclaimed. “Now you can bring someone when we quadruple date!” Quistis laughed and hugged the two of them.
“Woah! I’m not sure if Squall would like to share!” Irvine commented. Selphie glared at him.
“Irvine, may I have a word with you about tact?”
-
-
Xu and Quistis collapsed on the bed giggling. The two of them looked at each other, love shining in their eyes.
“That turned out better than I imagined.” Xu said.
“Told you.” Quistis laughed, kissing the tip of her nose.
The two of them lay in each other’s embrace, savoring the time they spent together. Xu breathed in deeply, trying to memorize the moment by sight, sound, smell and touch.
“It feels so good to have you.” She whispered. Quistis smiled. It was late afternoon and the sun was already setting. The two of them gazed out of the window at the dreamy sight. Quistis held Xu loosely, feeling herself begin to drift.
“Hm…you think people are going to look at us differently?” Xu murmured.
“I hope no one stares at you.” Quistis chuckled. Xu yawned cutely and curled up against Quistis.
-
-
“Bombshell much?” Selphie sighed as she and Irvine walked down the street. Selphie wore a blue, slightly shimmering dress, something she had tucked away and forgot about until she ransacked her closet trying to find something to wear. Irvine wore a nice suit, something that wasn’t all that comfortable to him but since the restaurant required a semi-formal attire, he had no other choice.
“Well, to be honest, I’m not surprised.” Selphie shot him a shocked look.
“You’re not?”
“Well, ok, maybe a little surprised. But think about it, she and Xu go way back. They’re best of friends!”
“So? Rinoa and I are best friends too. Does that mean we’re lovers?” Selphie asked.
“Oh I hope so.” Irvine muttered.
“What was that?” Selphie snapped.
“I said, ‘you look beautiful tonight.’” He replied quickly. Selphie blushed and looked away.
“Well, you’re not so bad either without those smelly boots and overly flamboyant cowboy hat.” She mumbled.
“Sephy, let Quistis do what she likes. We all agreed, she’s much happier, isn’t she? She can handle it. Now, did I mention that you look beautiful tonight?”
“As opposed to what?” Selphie joked.
“As opposed to ‘meh’ every other day.” Irvine and several other people had to duck as Selphie threw her shoe at his head.
-
-
Squall sat in his room, slightly dozing off. It has been such a long day, too long for his liking. All his concerns escalated. With everything that was going on, the attack on Winhill, Seifer, Ultimecia, Quistis and Xu dating, he could hardly sleep well. This was elevated even more so when Nida charged through the doors loudly.
“Squall, we’ve got something you might want to see.”
“What is it, Nida? It better be good.” He said, standing up and stretching. The two of them made their way back to the cockpit.
“Galbadia intercepted this transmission. You might want to listen.” Nida hit a button.
“Ffssss…We’ve got what you want…fsss…sir…fsss…yes, the very necklace you requested. Fsss…ou think? We took it off the girl. No, sir, it comes as…fssss…no enjoyment of mine to know she’s still alive. I’ll have to take care of the…fssss…irty work next time.”
Squall had closed his eyes in concentration halfway through the transmission. For a long while, he said nothing and barely moved. Nida coughed, wondering if Squall had somehow fallen asleep in place.
“Sir?”
“Do you know where the transmission came from?” Squall asked, snapping out of his near asleep stage.
“Yes! We have the general coordinates of where it came from. They came from Timber. Other than that, we have no idea.” Squall thought for a moment.
“I’ll have the usual team assembled by tomorrow morning. We’re going to check this out as soon as possible.” He commanded. “Go get some sleep.”
Nida saluted and walked out of the room, stretching and yawning. As soon as he disappeared, Squall’s eyes narrowed. He unsheathed his gunblade and stared at it. Whoever had sent the transmission would pay for hurting Rinoa.
-
-
“Hey guys, have you seen Squall?” Rinoa asked the very next morning. Everyone looked up.
“No, Rin. He’s probably in his office, mulling over something.” Selphie replied.
“No…I checked there this morning. He didn’t come back last night, I assumed he had fallen asleep in his office or was busy working or something. But I haven’t seen him this morning either which is weird.” Rinoa sighed.
“I wouldn’t worry about it, Rin.” Quistis reassured. “He’s probably at the training center. He’ll turn up eventually.”
By noon, Squall still hadn’t turned up and everyone began to worry. The seven of them split up. Selphie checked the infirmary, Rinoa checked the Quad, Zell stayed in the cafeteria, Irvine took the dorms, Ayane took the library, Quistis took the parking lot and Xu took the training center. Still Squall was no where to be seen.
“You don’t think he went into the basement, do you?” Quistis asked.
“No, the cameras in the elevator show that Squall got out on the first floor. That’s the last time he was seen.” Xu replied. She spotted Nida walking towards them, whistling and carrying a tray of food.
“Good morning everyone.” He said politely.
“Hey, Nida, you haven’t seen Squall, have you?” Zell asked. Nida looked at them, puzzled.
“Wait, he didn’t call you guys in?” Nida answered.
“We haven’t seen nor heard from him since yesterday.” Irvine said.
“That’s weird…just last night…” Nida suddenly dropped his tray of food and went pale. “Oh crap. Oh crap oh crap oh crap.”
“What’s wrong?” Rinoa demanded, on the verge of panicking.
Nida, ignoring the mess on the floor, spread his arms and ushered everyone into the elevator. Quistis’s stomach sank. She knew there was going to be trouble. When the arrive on the third floor, Nida ran over to the radio.
“We received this transmission that Galbadia intercepted. I played it to Squall…and…” He played it again.
“Ffssss…We’ve got what you want…fsss…sir…fsss…yes, the very necklace you requested. Fsss…ou think? We took it off the girl. No, sir, it comes as…fssss…no enjoyment of mine to know she’s still alive. I’ll have to take care of the…fssss…irty work next time.”
Everyone knew.
“Where did this come from?” Xu asked urgently.
“Timber! That’s as precise a location as I could get.”
“Squall went there by himself. If they don’t murder him, he’s going to murder them!” Ayane shouted.
“Nida, set course for Timber right now! If we’re lucky, we can intercept him before it’s too late.” Quistis ordered.
Nida flung himself at the controls, sending a brief message to the students before setting course for Timber.
-
-
I thought I saw something in the tunnel that time we took the train out of Timber. Squall thought. He pressed himself against the slimy, graffiti covered train tunnel one several yards away from the Timber train station. A train rushed by him and he flattened himself even more against the wall, feeling the train scrape a little of his fur collar. He took a deep breath and jumped onto the tracks. Heat rose from the hot metal and he tried not to step on it. He fished out a small flashlight from his pocket and turned it on, searching along the ground for something suspicious. I thought it was a trick of the mind. I knew I saw someone on these tracks! He knew he had precious time before the next train sped down his way. There seemed to be nothing.
It couldn’t be a trick of the mind! I know there was someone. He continued along, still searching. Had he passed it? He had judged the distance to be around here. Suddenly, he heard the horn of the next train blaring. NO! It’s early! Squall looked along the sides of the wall and began racing towards it. His foot got caught amongst all the cables lined on the ground. He took out his gunblade and began hacking at the wires as the train neared.
“NO!” He shouted. “There’s someone here!”
It was no use. All the trains had switched to computer conductors. No one could hear him. He hacked at the ground feverishly. His foot came free and he raced towards the wall.
Squall Leonhart was gone in seconds.
-
-
Quistis slipped on her boots and redid her hair. The two of them were in Quistis’s room, changing out of their SeeD uniforms.
“Zip me up?” Quistis asked.
“Quistis, your zipper is in the front. You’re perfectly able to do it yourself.” Xu replied, slipping into a much too small, leather jacket. The bottom hem only reached to about her ribs. She wore a grey shirt underneath and jean shorts.
“Oh please, I know you want to.” Quistis said coyly. Xu sighed though a smile crept onto her face. Quistis giggled as she walked towards her.
“What? Oh please, don’t give me that.”
“You just look so cute!” She exclaimed. “I haven’t seen you wear that in ages!”
“Please. I opted for the practical. I’m a martial artist, Quisty. I can’t go around doing the things I do in a skirt.”
Xu grabbed the zipper and tugged downward, effectively blocking any view she normally would’ve enjoyed. She grabbed her weapon and took it apart in the middle. She hooked one on either side of her and looked in the mirror.
“Let’s go.”
-
-
“My, my, my. Squall Leonhart in the flesh.” Squall groaned and tried to move his head.
He could feel his head pounding with pain and he smelled blood. “That was quite a fall you took. You knocked out one of our guards patrolling the tunnel. You’ve caused a bit of trouble for us.” Everything came into focus.
“Where am I?” He asked and suddenly became well aware of the fact that his arms and legs were shackled.
“I assume you’re where you wanted to be. No one comes down here without looking for something. Tell me, what is it that you wanted to find?”
That voice. That was the voice on the transmission. He willed himself to look up at her. She was a tall brunette, wearing very business like clothes. She wore a violet jacket and skirt, a white shirt underneath and a red tie. Her hair was almost shoulder length and her eyes, also purple, sparkled with amusement. The woman couldn’t have been more than thirty.
“Why should I tell you?” Squall spat.
“Hm. No matter, your friends will be looking for you soon. It’s only a matter of time anyway.” She replied, walking towards the door of the cell.
Squall clenched his fists and had a mind to try and break free of the shackles one way or another. He wanted to wrap his hands around the woman’s neck but he was too weak.
“One more thing.” She replied, turning her head sideways to get a good look at him. “Do you know a Xu Shen?” Squall said nothing but his eyes betrayed recognition. The woman smiled.
“I thought so. Have two guards outside these doors at all times. Prepare for a breach at anytime. We’re dealing with high caliber SeeD here, not fresh out of the pond graduates.” She ordered and the door closed behind her.
Back to King's Heart Index - Back to Final Fantasy 8 Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction