A/N: Okay, this is my first published fanfiction, and I would really appreciate some reviews.

Warnings: None.

Summary: It seems that their already disturbing life takes an unexpected turn when Angeal announces a new mission for them all. This is received by mixed views as for Tidus, this is the mission where he can finally fulfill his revenge and be from the life he has led so fai - his chance to flee with Rinoa. Squall however sees this as two opportunities - his chance to set things straight with Seifer, and hopefully put an end to his struggles with the demons within. Upon hearing this, Seifer dwells deeper into the mission details that Angeal refuses to divulge. With what he has learnt, he takes fright and is shortly reported missing.

The steps of the school were scorched and lay bare, the gunblader noted as he shifted his shoulders, the cold biting into his skin as he shrugged out of his leather jacket, his white sleeveless shirt clinging to the muscular build of the dark-haired man. Heaving a sigh, he carefully flicked a gloved hand through chest nut locks, edging cautiously to the rail, his jacket hunched over his tensed shoulders, as his griever necklace glinted in the sun. Steel hues skimmed the cheerful mass before him, instinctively blocking them out, huddled in his thoughts, his walk clinking to the sound of his several belts, straddled to his leather pants.

As an elite student, respect was clear in the eyes of most students, as he carried effortlessly the gunblade by his side. Making his way to his locker, he felt a soft touch to his shoulder that could only belong to the blitzer's.

Tilting his body slightly towards the sandy blond, his icy stare softened as blue-grey eyes met familiar cerulean blue.

The blond shook his sandy locks as droplets of water scattered around them, earning them several scowls from the people by their side, who by recognising the, hurriedly ran away. His own gloved hand descended from the gunblader's shoulder to intertwine with Squall's own hand, squeezing it gently, an easy smile on his face. As much as it startled most people, Squall had always felt relaxed in Tidus' company, the athlete was that he was not – it should bother him, but it did not. Squall scanned the clothing of the younger male, clicking his tongue disapprovingly as he noticed that he hadn't changed from his blitz clothes.

"You'll get cold," he cautioned in a low voice, steel hues trailing to the ball that was hitched under his arm, his blue blade strapped to his back.

Tidus let out a laugh as the corridor emptied, the ball having rung several minutes ago.

"I'm made of tougher stuff," he grinned as his baby blue eyes sparkled, fingering his necklace.

Without a word, Squall retrieved his bomber jacket, and under Tidus' protests forced it on him. Groaning slightly, Tidus obliged, thanking him softly as Squall relaxed once more.

"We're in 05," Squall said in a bored voice. He shared Tidus' distaste for indoor classes, although, to the opposite of his partner, Squall took serious notes.

The two of them strolled through the open door, the chatter stopping briefly to welcome the newcomers. Rinoa threw a rock playfully at Tidus' neck, as he released an "ouch!", moving to her side to engage in a tickle battle.

Squall marched towards their usual back seat, muttering inaudible hellos the ones he received, noticing that the teacher had not yet arrived.

Tidus claiming a win, kissed Rinoa in the neck as he moved back, seating himself beside the taciturn.

This was the elite class – they were trained and formed to hunt, to track fiends – not just defend themselves against them.

As a restricted group, they were sort of a family, but even so, some questions remained unanswered as most of the girls, including Rinoa, exchanged gleeful glances at the sight of their star athlete clad in Squall's jacket.

The blitzer, unaware of the gossiping around him, simply slipped off the sword from his back, which landed with a loud clank on the table, placed his ball carefully on the table, cupping it afterwards once he was seated to fall into a soundless sleep. Squall, used to his partner's lack of interest in class, simply shifted in his chair, in a position that best shielded Tidus from the view of the front desk.

Zack and Cloud were seated in front of them, Squall immersed himself in the black spikes that shined through the cracks of light, raking his gaze through his fluid body, slowly turning to the smaller blond next to him, as their eyes met for half a second, Squall noted that his eyes were the very same shade as Tidus'.

For a second he closed his eyes, letting the smell of the ocean reach his nostrils, a smell that Squall had come to find satisfying, as it was indistinguishably also part of the smell of Tidus.

The chattering echoing horribly through his ears, he brought his thumbs to massage his forehead. Their weapons cast aside, the sunlight filtering through the half open windows, the occasional grunt from Tidus through his sleep, Squall's eyes snapped open to bore into everyone's backs, who huddled closer to their companions, only to find the teacher finally stroll in.

There was a pause as their eyes widened, silence drawing in as each stiffened, it seemed as if time itself had halted; only to be broken by Zack, who finally reacting, kicked aside his chair, his violet eyes sparkling in content, brandishing a fist in victory.

"Angeal! Mate you finally made it!" his voice echoed through the walls, leaving them open-mouthed, until they joined in, crying out delightfully, only Squall having crossed his arms, waiting for the noise to die down.

Angeal had a slight pained expression but he broke into an easy smile as they questioned his whereabouts.

"We'll talk about that later," he waved his hand dismissively. "Now you're surely wondering why we're trapped in this damp hell hole" Angeal exclaimed, eyeing the room with fiery eyes, as the rest of the class nodded, exchanging fervent glances.

"He's claustrophobic," Zack whispered in Cloud's ear.

"Well- we'll be leaving on a mission. In a month."

They chimed excitedly, as Squall simply nodded, his finger tracing the hilt of his gunblade.

"However…" his voice trailed off. "I've noticed that you're all partnered up with the same people."

This was met by silence as the class looked at each other, a feeling of dread in the pit of their stomach as they realised that they did always partner up with the same people. Squall stiffened.

"Whilst fiend hunting, it is essential that you adjust yourselves to any fighter. You won't always be paired up with the same people, you might even be alone, so for a month you will train with someone different, exchanged tactics, learn from each other, match each other's pace for our mission, as you will leave together."

They groaned as Zack stood up suddenly.

"Angie! You can't!"

Angeal let out a sigh, scanning the list even though he knew the pairs by heart.

"Zack, Cloud will be in good hands." He nodded towards Squall, grinning foolishly.

Squall's expression remained unchanged as steel hues met those innocent ocean blue ones, he tensed slightly, but only Tidus would have noticed that, had he been awake.

Angeal paused and searched for Tidus, frowning slightly before breaking once more into a smile at his sleeping figure. Grinning, he cocked his head towards Bartz, who leapt up, grasping the blitzball beneath Tidus before Squall could react and hitting the athlete's head with it. The ball bounced off in a corner as Bartz scattered away, fleeing Squall's glare.

Tidus shook his sandy locks delicately, slowly emerging from his dreamless sleep as Squall bore into Bartz's back, who cowered and finally stood up to gather the ball and hand it to the blitzer, who was rubbing his eyes half-consciously.

Squall turned to Tidus, his eyes softening as sapphire eyes glistened curiously. The class slowly turned to Tidus, waiting for Angeal to speak, only to be greeted by a scene that left them perplexed.

Squall was gazing into an endless sea of blue, lowering his defences as his emotions seemed to spill over, emotions that only Tidus could comprehend as the sandy blond bit his lip.

"Squall? What's wrong?" Tidus asked quietly, his eyes trying to decipher the pained look that crossed the gunblader's face.

Steel hues wavered as they pierced Tidus' soul.

"We're sent on a mission… separated."

Tidus frowned slightly, and let out an "Oh", unsettled by this new piece of information.

Squall lifted a gloved hand, placing it on Tidus' cheeks, the blazing heat emanating from the skin spreading to his own body.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Sapphire eyes widened, questioning him.

"I swore to protect you…"

Tidus snaked his hand to join his, cradling it gently, prying it away to intertwine their fingers, before guiding it to the hollow of his neck, tapping it lightly.

"You'll always be able to protect me."

Their gaze intensified as his fingers lingered at the base, finally releasing the athlete as he met several curious transfixed eyes, who swiftly returned to the front of the class.

Angeal, his eyes twinkling in amusement at the display of intimacy between the two, knew for a fact that Squall would never lay a finger on Tidus in that manner, he choked back a chuckle at the class' shocked faces.

"Tidus, you'll be partnering with Zack."

The raven grinned broadly, and knocked on the table appreciatively.

Angeal regretted slightly partnering the two up, knowing how unbelievingly uncontrollable two hyper teenagers could be. Especially when Zack kept on hitting on Rinoa, Tidus' girlfriend, and challenging him to blitzball matches.

"Rinoa, you'll be with Bartz."

Tidus choked, Squall patted him on the back and the rest of the class stirred suddenly. The two of them shuffled closer, eyes gleaming mischievously as they took each other's hand in their own.

"Partners in crime?"

"YES."

"Against Squall?"

"OH YES."

Squall pressed his palm across his face so firmly he could have sworn he blacked out for a moment.