Title: Dream Mosaic

Pairings: Seifer/Zell

Disclaimer: Square owns final fantasy eight and all characters and items and locations. Some characters in later chapters may have been created by me, but since they exist in Square's world Square probably owns them, too.

10/12/09- Also, I've gone back and re-edited a few of the chapters. I have no beta reader, so every once and a while I see idiotic mistakes, and I'm kinda hoping to change some of that. And make the story clearer. It's been spread out through several years, and the story has changed a bit, enough to take out some old plot points and magnify others. You may re-read it if you like, but it will be for the most part, the same. Author's notes, save for this, will be taken out as chapters are edited yet again and any new notes will be placed on my profile.

A/N: It's been a while! Yay for quotation marks! Yay for updates!

Also in this story, aside from my first official battle scene, Zell likes bread. There are so many different variations of bread in Japan (filled with curry, cheese, sauce, or topped with potatoes or bacon or whatever), that saying Zell only likes hot-dogs doesn't really compare. So that's why the bread.

I hope it stays accurate to the game, and I hope you are unable to play the game the same way again.

Enough with my hopes. Let's give you all the fic.

…

…

…

…

Let's open up Pandora's box,

Let's see what lies inside

Spill the pieces on the table

Let us drink in their nonsense

Let them start to form into

Romance

…

…

…

…

Chapter One

…

Zell usually had the same dream every other night. He supposed this was his brain trying to tell him something, and still let him incorporate new things. He'd read somewhere that re-occurring dreams were important, but he'd had this dream for so long he'd just stopped caring.

Tonight was no different. It started off with Zell wandering down a long hall with mirrors for walls and no ceiling, just an empty blackness above and below him. Each mirror contained a different scene, bathrooms, bedrooms, faces- sometimes with people and sometimes without. He was waiting, waiting for the mirror he knew would come, a tall body mirror with an edge of red and black.

Every dream, Seifer was the one behind it. It wasn't the asshole he hated, no, this Seifer took him by surprise. With kind eyes and a face filled with a sort of loving or something, it took Zell off guard.

"Hello," Seifer would whisper and Zell could feel himself blush but he couldn't stop himself from entering in the mirror. This is where dreams varied, sometimes a game or sometimes a talk but Seifer kissed him sweetly into the moonlight as his words of the night before came to him. "Don't kiss me", he remembered. "Because then I'll fall in love with you, and you don't love me back."

Seifer struggled with Zell's coat, kissing him again. They pulled away, and Seifer held him tenderly. "I love you Zell. I'll always love you." It was too much to fight. Zell let Seifer move him onto the sand of the lake as they kissed, finally Seifer pulling away as he heard voices.

Pa and Ma were walking down the lane. Zell covered himself up but Seifer went back to kissing him, and Hyne help him, he couldn't stop himself from giving kisses back. He could see Pa shake his face at Ma. "I told you we didn't need a gay boy like him. He'll make us the laughingstock of the town." They moved off, and Zell watched them go, suddenly crying. Seifer wasn't anywhere to be found, and he was all alone again in the moonlight. Ma and Pa had left him, Seifer had left him, he was alone. His little five-year old hands barely wiped away the tears that came.

More footsteps. Zell hid away, but as Seifer appeared with Zell's clothes Zell hugged him, never wanting to let go.

Upon waking, Zell made his ritual vow to forget the dream, sighing softly into the room at night. It was so sweet, being loved and kissed and no one could reach him there in his dreams. Yet if he told her, he was convinced that Ma would leave him. How many times had Pa threatened to abandon him if he liked the other boys? Dreams were his only safe haven.

Besides, Seifer had never treated Zell as an equal before, much less a lover, despite all of Zell's attempts to show Seifer that he, too, could be a worthy adversary in fighting and in school. It had been in vain; Seifer only thought him loud and obnoxious. That's what had happened yesterday during the SeeD test. So what if Zell was interested in weapons? They had a sort of elegance about them, and Galbadian soldiers also wielded the gunblade. It would have been useful in knowing how to block it, since every block would be with Zell's own body. Yesterday, the only thing that happened with Seifer was a bunch of insults and abuse- Seifer had thrown a potion at him. Once.

It had been only half-full, anyway.

Then Zell remembered the night and formed a huge blush, glad he now had a single room. Seifer had acted like his dreams, not like an ass, He'd heard Nida- was that why? Was Seifer harboring the same secret?

Zell groaned; he didn't often think things through. Nida said everyone knew, so Zell'd have to act harder to seem normal; he couldn't let Ma down like that. Pa had told him enough times to haunt his dreams. His family didn't want a gay boy. They didn't want a pansy; they wanted someone to make them proud. So what if he had to give up his heart, as long as Ma was happy?

Pride. Zell snickered at himself. Last night, he had been bawling not because of Seifer, but because of his torn feelings. He wasn't afraid of the ass Seifer, but if Seifer had kissed him, he would have betrayed his family. At the time, the only thing he had wanted was a kiss, so he'd run- at the top of the hill he had caught himself trying to inhale Seifer's scent and staring into the eyes of a girl dressed in green. Embarrassed, he had gone down to get his clothes.

He felt tears. This wasn't fair. If Seifer were truly gay, if that was the only connection they had, he could have Seifer, and then Ma would hurt. Ma didn't deserve that. Zell sighed as he got up for the bathroom, deciding if he'd already done a sin in his dream he'd do another one. Why was he cursed, he wondered as he shut the door and locked it.

He stood before the mirror, and suddenly he could feel the air around him change. He touched his reflection and it grinned, suddenly stepping back, giving him a blown kiss before disappearing. To the mirror Zell whispered, "Show me Seifer."

Ripples danced along what appeared to be solid glass, and the scene changed into Seifer's room. Seifer was sleeping lightly, sleep troubled like Zell knew it always was. His eyes softened before he heard his own voice.

"He's no better than Nida. He's just upset that you got into SeeD, and wants to crush you. He hates you."

Zell's vision blurred, then he noted Seifer sitting up and staring straight at him.

………

Zell was beneath him. This was not strange, even for his dreams. No one was ever above him for no one ever took him. Such was the way of things.

The dream was familiar, as if he had been forgetting to dream about it. What had occurred was whispering to the smaller blonde, inviting him into bed through silky, velvety words that were subtle and sweet. It made Seifer's heart ache, but it did not surprise him.

What did surprise him, however, was that it simple, sweet, and g-rated. He was cuddling the martial artist, nuzzling Zell's neck, but nothing more. The expression on Zell's face, though unclear, was making him happy enough to stay like this forever.

"Seifer…" Zell murmured, "I always thought you hated me. Calling me Chicken and everything." When Seifer offered no explanation, Zell stopped him, forcing their eyes to meet. "Do you really not like me?"

Seifer opened his mouth but words couldn't form. He honestly didn't know. Zell's eyes showed hurt before he stopped and everything disappeared, taking Seifer's happiness along with it.

Seifer sat straight up in bed, suddenly seeing a crying Zell in the mirror before the image cut off suddenly. He rubbed his eyes, more stressed than anything. Why the hell was the chicken in his dreams now? Did yesterday have something to do with it? Perhaps it was because Seifer skipped out on Zell's ticket and now his guilt was coming back to him. Stupid Chicken-boy. Stupid Chicken. Stupid. This was all completely stupid. Maybe now all the years of his troubled sleep were coming back to haunt him.

He got up, deciding to get a drink. He managed to avoid the pile of clothes and staff of Raijin, managed to avoid hitting his toes on the table, but remembered his dream and walked into the sink. Growling, he took a glass and filled it up with water. Normally in a day, he handed the puffing chicken a ticket, not admiring his unclothed form-

Seifer winced as he mentally squished that thought. Drinking, he reformed them. The chicken was loud, distracting and beautiful.

Seifer choked on his water. Zell was not beautiful. All of this was because of last night where Zell had been swimming and naked and so… vulnerable, it just wasn't something he'd been expecting. That, along with the faint memory of promising to make Zell love him had been too much for his mind to handle.

Which bothered him. Seifer was an orphan, yet Zell had a family. They wouldn't have been able to meet at that age. Or maybe Seifer was remembering it wrong. That must have been it. It was some other blonde kid by the name of Zell. Yes.

He didn't believe that one bit, though he wanted to.

The gunbladist turned around, half-empty cup in hand, staring at his coat. That stupid chicken had been wrapped around in it, wrapped around in his coat. The thought was both offending and pleasing, and Seifer didn't want to picture the image that came with it anyway: Zell wearing Seifer's clothes as he trying to get a sense of security from them, like a girlfriend who wraps herself in her boyfriends oversized shirts.

It was a sign, Seifer decided. Zell had asked Seifer not to kiss him because it was what Zell had wanted most in the world and Seifer hadn't responded in the right way. But he could now, now that he'd had time to think about it.

If Zell was on the beach, naked, and wrapped in his coat again.

Damnnit.

He looked at the glass. He wanted something so stupid, but for once his heart was talking and it wasn't shutting up. His mind told him it was pointless, that Zell would never love him. He wasn't a SeeD, he was a bully, he wasn't anything to Zell. Why would his heart tell him these things now?

Maybe… if he followed his heart he'd be okay in life. That's the way it worked in storybooks, right? It explained why he'd have to suffer so much dealing with Squall and Quistis and unfair SeeD exams. He was going to have Zell and it would all work out in the end.

Things started to make a jagged sort of sense, pieces of a puzzle being jammed into each other. Forcing himself to draw conclusions, he decided it all made sense. Why he never liked Rinoa or Fujin or other women; why he was always trying to meet up with Zell. Hyne wanted them to be together; that's why he'd failed the exam, that's why they'd been paired together. Zell was meant to be with him.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out the gloves Zell had forgotten. Should he give those back now? Wait?

A certain timber princess would be leaving about now. He really hadn't expected her to show up at Garden, though he had said he'd help her out any time. It was awkward, the way she came up to him in her evening gown and asked him to take her to Cid. She would get the SeeDs, Cid was too softhearted to say no. Seifer had suspected for sometime it was a lead Garden Faculty- the ones with the hats and yellow skin- that was truly in charge of the entire garden. The way they commanded him around. The way that Cid looked at him with those puppy dog eyes as he said that he was sorry. The headmaster had said Seifer needed to work harder, to try and stick to the plan. Seifer had been responsible for what had happened to Zell and Squall, and if he had done as he was told and taken care of them, they wouldn't have been in danger. Yet Cid still held back, and rather than put blame on Seifer, Seifer had just been frustrated at everyone else.

Zell and Squall had made it to SeeD. Seifer remembered his anger and the glass broke, spilling onto pieces on the floor. Squall. Zell was obsessed with Squall.

He hated the stupid idiot. He had tried to kill Squall yesterday morning, at that time. What the doctor had managed to cover up was Squall's stomach, a wound no longer there. Really, Squall wouldn't have wanted to remember that.

Squall had everything. He wanted none of it, everything Seifer wanted. Squall had popularity, he had the teacher swooning over him, he had everything a guy could ask for in garden. Squall had a reputation of a good fighter, now a SeeD with high expectations, even Seifer had to clap for in recognition.

It had killed him inside, though he didn't want to admit it. It hurt that everything he wanted (someone rather than Instructor Quistis swooning over him, thank you), Squall rejected like it was the plague. Squall had everyone love and admire him, and Seifer had everyone fear and respect him.

Was Zell really afraid? He kissed the gloves. He had to make this come together, he had to make this come out all right. It was the only thing in his life that he was suddenly sure he wanted. He wanted someone to hold him and tell him everything would be alright, he wanted someone to love him, someone to look up to him.

The irony caught up to him and he gave a few short laughs that might have come out as sobs if he'd let them. Who would look up to him now? He always failed these exams. He wasn't a lapdog, but he did manage to save a few lives, or thousands of gil. He'd failed, he was a student for another year (they didn't have any classes for him now, he'd passed them all) and the one he wanted to look up to him was a SeeD. There was no way Zell would curl into him at night.

He hurt again. Right in his chest, an unmanly sort of hurt. He was inferior and he hated it. He wanted to be loved and no one was there. He placed the gloves onto his hands and went into his room. He could visit Zell in the morning.

What would he do? What would he say to Zell? Seifer fell onto the bed, pretending the martial artist was there with him.

Since when had he liked this Chicken? It'd been so sudden, or hidden underneath the hatred of Squall. He hated Squall. Squall had taken everything away from him.

If only Squall didn't exist, he thought, watching the gloves strain with his large hands. If only Squall didn't exist, Seifer would be happy.

……

A lot changed when Seifer slept well. There were only a few instances in his entire lifetime, along with various kinds of attempts to sleep better. Pills, masturbation, exhaustion- no matter what, he just couldn't sleep. Perhaps this attributed to his grouchy persona. Perhaps part of his persona was the fact that he didn't want to get close to people to begin with.

Raijin had woken up soon after to find Seifer sleeping soundly- and for two straight hours. He'd left a note for Seifer rather than wake him up, and the sleeping blonde woke up an hour later.

When he woke up, Seifer felt a lot better. The sleep had been dreamless but appreciated nonetheless. He got out of bed, realizing he'd fallen asleep with Zell's gloves on and his hands were angry at him for it. Taking them off, he read the note Raijin had left him and snorted. Raijin was helplessly in love with Fujin. The man had suffered several broken shins and still wanted, wanted to be kicked by her "kicks of love". Seifer sighed and opened the fridge, Only loquats left.

Breakfast and morning chores were finished quickly, not because it might be a school day, but due to the burning anticipation in his stomach. The corridors were empty- the day after the SeeD ball was always a holiday. People were sleeping off hangovers, giggling in bed with each other, studying- but whatever they were doing, it wasn't being done in the halls.

Seifer smirked. The SeeDs hadn't officially graduated and wouldn't until a month from now. No student was safe from Seifer, not even if they were SeeD, even if their rooms had changed. SeeDs never remembered that point, because their classes were passed automatically once they were accepted. No need for them to worry about getting other jobs. He touched the gloves with one hand and the cardkey in the other. Another burst of anticipation, and he wanted to run to the elevator.

The elevator was not the one that all the guests saw in the middle of the building. Instead, the dorm elevators were old and rickety, going to several floors consisting of hundreds of students as well as SeeD. Things would get pretty cramped on one level so they had lots of floors for that. But there was no need for guests to get confused so in the center of the building there were only three floors. On the sides there were more than twenty, some unnumbered.

Seifer hit the up button for the fourteenth floor. It was the only thing that was good that must have come out of the entire thing with Rinoa- Cid had those papers still on his desk. Seifer had put it to memory at the time so he could be extra vicious to the chicken as he ran, but now there were more important things to do. The elevator rattled dangerously and creaked to a stop, and Seifer got out, turning right. Numbers flew past until he saw the right one, heart beating into this throat. Hands trembling, he put in his key.

The door opened soundlessly.

Seifer had always liked those doors for their silence. He liked the rooms, for their private toilets (showers were still public until Zell reached a higher level of SeeD). Even if the room was right across from Zell's old one, the rooms were made differently. This room was clean and spotless, probably also due to Zell's obsessive-compulsive disorder rather than the moving. Things were still in boxes, though two overly-healthy plants were lined up on the tables. Seifer frowned; Zell hadn't seemed like a plant-person. He set the gloves down next to the plants and moved around again, shuffling through items like a raccoon until he stumbled across the most delicious sight in the entire apartment.

Zell's suits were hanging above the bed, and the dirty things from last night folded to perfection on the floor. On one shelf there were combat kings and other magazines while on the desk there was a photo of General Dincht, who had kept Adel away from the Centran Continent as well as Trabia and killed Adel's second-in-command.

Most importantly, Zell was sleeping in the room and Seifer licked his lips at the sight. It seemed swimming wasn't the only thing the chicken did naked. Quickly Seifer placed his gunblade down, He'd show Zell he was better than Squall, Moving to the bed, he added to himself, I'll show him I can kiss who I please. One stolen kiss to still his beating heart.

He leaned down, any trace of doubt vanishing. All he wanted in life at the moment was for Zell to love him. He would make Zell love him. Their lips came closer to each other, until Seifer could taste Zell's breath. He moved to finish the action.

At once, Zell snapped up and Seifer fell against the wall, his chest bruised.

…

Zell had heard clutter in his room, something where it didn't belong. He pretended to sleep and he cursed inwardly as he realized it was a person. Nida had followed him, came his thoughts. So when he'd felt the breath he came to life and snapped up, forcing the body as far away as he could. The fighter's eyes glared at the person.

"Morning to you, too, Chicken wuss," came the reply and Zell's anger transformed into horror as he clearly saw Seifer wince as Seifer touched the injured ribs. "Think you broke something," he mumbled, casting a cura.

"You aren't supposed t' have that magic," Zell stated, brain thinking more about the fact Seifer was about to kiss him. It was strangely sweet and tingly and tainted with guilt. "Get out of my room," he hissed, and Seifer sat back, just smirking. Confused, Zell grew quiet as he tried to think things through. Was that a husky promise? Or the way a predator looks before devouring its prey?

"I came," Seifer stated without shifting his gaze, "to return your gloves."

"Oh," Zell responded, suddenly coloring as he realized what Seifer was looking at. "Pervert," he hissed, covering himself up. "You just want a' easy lay. Easier t' get a guy if he's sleepin'."

Seifer may have been hurt, but he masked it. "No one wants an easy lay. Then it would mean nothing." He noted the way Zell blushed and he placed his hand under his chin. "Zell," he stated. Their eyes met and burned into the other's.

"Get out of my room," Zell told him, though the anger was fading away.

Seifer smirked again. "I think you are gay, Chicken," Seifer told him. "Don't be afraid." He leaned down, slowly.

Hyne help him, Zell started to lean upwards, despite the guilt. It kept him from wrapping his hands around the taller man, but it couldn't help him from leaning up. His eyes closed and he opened his mouth slightly.

Several knocks jarred them away from each other, Zell thankful for the distraction. "Yes?" he called, pulling away from Seifer, who growled and moved away, getting the hint.

"Train?" came the voice, and Seifer died a little inside. Squall. Since when did Squall want his paws on Zell? He must have seen Seifer enter the room and wanted to take Zell away.

Zell blinked, getting off the bed. "Just a sec," he stated, attempting to pull on his boxers without Seifer peeking. As soon as they were on, he moved to the door and opened it slightly. "Yeah?" he asked.

Squall blinked, looking in. "Is that Hyperion?" he asked, watching as Zell blushed a deep shade of red. "Are… are you busy, Zell?"

Seifer sighed as he hid behind the door. Zell took the hint and gave a grin. "Nah. I just was gettin' even."

Squall shrugged. "Well, I guess you'll be…waiting for him in…"

Zell laughed. "You woke me up. That's all." Squall shrugged again and walked off. Seifer noted by the walk that Squall was looking to train; he had the gaze and those particular pants and gloves. He needed to keep Zell away from that sort of poison, he needed to keep Zell next too him. As the door shut Seifer pulled Zell into his arms, trying to keep Zell next to him. There was no surprise as Zell pulled away automatically. "Stop. Get out."

Seifer grinned, pulling up a chair. "And if Squall sees me…" The glare on Zell's face was worth it. "Oh, we could give him something to talk about." Zell glared at him, trying to resist from hitting him. He held up his hands. "Sorry."

Zell handed him his gunblade. "Just get out," he stated, trying not to think about this so much.

"Let's train later today," Seifer suddenly offered. "That's why you wanted to see Squall's gunblade, right?" Inside, though, Seifer was panicking. His only goal in the statement was to keep Zell away from away from Squall. When Zell looked like he was considering it, Seifer suddenly grabbed his hand and waited for an answer expectantly. "Seven."

"Will you leave?" came Zell's question, though it was tinted with something else. He was still panicking, and suddenly, something snapped, though he wasn't sure what it was. Seifer was aware of being thrown out of the room. "Fine." After a few seconds, Zell placed Hyperion out of the room, not daring to throw it.

The marital artist wasn't sure if he should be overjoyed or feeling sick. He knew what he wanted, he just couldn't have any of it. It was more important to make Ma happy, right?

He clenched his fist, trying to remember that. Ma was more important than some random guy who would just use him. Hell, Seifer had pretty low moral standards if he was trying to get kisses this early in the morning. Seifer was just still obsessed with last night. Since when had Seifer ever liked him, right?

Zell bit his lip, wondering if maybe Seifer really was gay and for a moment, he wanted to go back out there and find out. He hoped a plate of bread would return him to his normal overly upbeat self and clear his mind.

…

Seifer was at the site two hours ahead of time, trying hard not to picture what Zell was wearing. Seifer hoped it would be that tight blue sleeveless turtleneck that matched Zell's eyes and showed off his chest. Waiting, however, started to turn into daydreaming and it was hard not to, with the gift he'd brought to make up for the past few months. Zell had to forgive him when Seifer presented the gift.

At roughly fifteen minutes before they were supposed to meet, a T-rexaur roared and Seifer hid slightly into the bushes. It wasn't that he was afraid; he just didn't want blood on his jacket. The bush rustled in front of him and he paled, but then a huge thud was heard.

Zell walked through the bushes and gave a slight grin. Judging from the slightly messy hair and the blood on his shirt; he'd been the one to fell the beast. Seifer acknowledged a slightly approving feeling inside him. He'd grossly underestimated Zell if Zell could pull off that. Suddenly, Zell stumbled and landed straight into Seifer's arms. The coat was dirty, but Zell really didn't look too good, either.

"T-rexaur, baby," Zell stated, slightly dizzy. Seifer felt his heart jump at "baby", and instantly handed Zell a hi-potion. Zell drank it, making a funny face and stretched his back as the potion took effect in a green swirling aura.

"Did you kill it?" Seifer asked, impressed.

"Of course," Zell stated, trademark grin on his face. "I mean, come on, what do you think I am? Helpless?" He stood up straighter. "Well, get this right, Almasy, I ain't helpless."

Just exactly as Seifer opened his mouth to speak, a cry emerged. "Oh, mother of Hyne, it's still alive!"

Zell sighed. "All right, so I used Sleep to work on my magic," he admitted, and Seifer gave a small grin. Zell hated that smirk, like Seifer had known all along. He rolled his eyes. "Well, then, let's train, and don't you get ta thinkin' that you're gonna hog all the experience."

"It will be one, if everything goes well," Seifer muttered under his breath. Zell ignored it as was already on his way, giving the monster the worst wake-up of its life. Seifer watched for a little bit, admiring the way Zell's arms, often used for obscene gestures, flew in perfect precision at their target. His entire being was dangerous, he was completely able to empty his head and focus, he was a damn good fighter. That was the difference between one who used a weapon and one who didn't; Seifer had to think, had to process angles and strength and strategy all at once, Zell was all muscle memory. His left arm blocked and his right foot would kick and it was all second-nature. Now, if the boy should ever strategize, bless his heart, he might have turned out to be a SeeD much sooner.

Seifer fired a bullet from behind, then slashed, trying hard to back away for Zell and keep track of when Zell was backing away. It was a stupid, simple mistake to hit your partner, and since neither was used to the other's style, they were a lot less risky in what they did. Zell let off a limit break as the adrenaline finally kicked in- Seifer kept his distance. The martial artist was all over the beast, aiming mostly for the back and stomach rather than the head. As he slowed, the beast swung its tail blindly, trying to get the annoying thing away from it. Only too late did Zell realize he was directly in the path of the tail. The mess of orange and brown came at him and he braced himself, the only thing he could have done.

Metal flashed and the tail fell away, the motion only serving to fling the dismembered limb into a rock. Zell gave a thank-you grin at Seifer before continuing to beat at the beast's chest.

Eventually, blood loss met with the damage of the heart and the beast fell over, giving a last breath and a shaky existence.

"Ever feel bad for them?" Zell asked as he reached into the Rexaur's mouth. He pulled out a tooth for his collection, and Seifer shrugged.

"There are massacres everyday, Zell," he stated with darkness in his eyes. Zell blinked, unsure of what Seifer was hinting at. Seifer shrugged. "Nevermind. Come here, I got somethin' for ya."

"Another hi-potion?" Zell asked hopefully, following Seifer into the blushes. The sight that awaited him, however, was better than fifty hi-potions. His old T-board sat, waiting for him to claim him.

"Since you're a SeeD now, I don't feel bad about giving it back to you," Seifer stated offhandedly. "You know, it was just rusting-"

Zell ran past him, suddenly inspecting every inch of the board, exuberant that the entire board was exactly the same. "Oh, man, Seifer, this is AWESOME!" he yelled, face completely overjoyed.

It reminded Seifer bitterly of the dream. "Yeah. Get on with you, now, you can't train today with that T-rexaur blood on your shirt." Zell looked up at him with those blue eyes and Seifer felt them bare into his soul, and every part of him wanted Zell in some way, whether to hurt him and make him empathetic to the pain Seifer felt or to hold him or to treat him with respect.

"Thank you," Zell told him, suddenly starting up the board and riding out of the center. Seifer sighed and looked up at the sky, already dark.

"You still aren't supposed to ride it inside garden, you idiot," he stated, somehow feeling more tired than he was last night. He left the bushes to find Quistis, watching him with those all-knowing eyes. Seifer flinched; he hated those eyes, especially from her. They were the same age, and yet she…

"Seifer… you aren't trying to bribe him, are you?" she asked softly. The gunbladist jumped at her accusation, at how realistic it was, and then Quistis continued. "Really, Seifer, whether or not you make it to SeeD doesn't depend on how well you make friends with SeeD members. It really depends on how reckless you are. A show like yesterday will just lead in failure."

Anger filled him. "I'm NOT reckless!" he told her, remembering the embarrassing talk of yesterday. "I should be a SeeD!!"

"I should be an instructor," she told him softly, and Seifer blanched, trying not to remember how he'd dragged her down into it. He'd been personally responsible for her downfall, lashing out at her. And she had taken it, accepted it quietly and knowingly, as if this was going to happen for some time.

"Well, we're both failures, then," he responded quietly, walking away.