Chapter Text
Chapter one
The time after the war was met with many things. Happiness, relaxation, re-connections, and affections.
The people around Squall watched as he dove into his work as Commander of Garden and that was what was blamed for Rinoa leaving. But that wasn’t it. After all the celebration settled they both realised that the connection that should have been there was not. They both even went to Edea to ask what was wrong. Turns out that Shiva had formed a forbidden bond with Squall.
This Bond allows Squall to live essentially an immortal life.
Shiva had formed this bond to Squall when he was injured during the parade in Deling. Although Squall never died, his injury was life threatening enough that Shiva took action to keep him alive. This magic was forbidden as the Guardian Force was bound to the human for life and not even a magic barrier would stop any magic from being used within its boundaries.
So a bond could not be formed between that of Knight and Sorceress.
A secret formed between the three of them. Even though a forbidden bond, if it were to be undone now, would mean Squall's death. And the only ones who could undo the bond were Squall and Shiva themselves. An old relation also had the power to separate also.
Knowing that Edea and Rinoa would keep the secret, Squall threw himself into his work at the Garden, doing all he could to keep things going.
During this time he found time to get Edea and Rinoa to make statements that cleared Seifer of any evil committed while under the influence of Ultimecia. Both women seem happy to help, one more than the other but still very willing.
The running of the Garden was easy enough for Squall, all be it too easy. He always found himself just sitting at his desk waiting for more work to come in. And that is where he was right now. Just sitting and waiting for either Quisitis or Xu to walk through his office door and hand over that needed distraction.
You could just leave. Shiva's voice came through like a gentle breeze.
Squall looked to the wall clock that hung to the left of his desk. It was 15.28. His work day ended at 6pm. Even though he had over two hours to wait he knew that the chances of either of the awaited females opening his door was slim at best.
All teams for the next rotation of missions have already been sorted. And unless a new pressing mission was to come in they would not distract him.
If it helps you could tell them that you will just be in the training center. She craved movement and freedom just like Squall did.
Squall nodded in agreement and stood up from his chair.
He had barely rounded his desk when he heard shouting coming from the other side of his office doors. Clearly knowing the voices, Squall stood waiting for the owners of those voices to enter.
The doors flew open without a knock and the ever imposing blonde of Squall's life walked in with Quistis and Xu walking in behind him.
Two of them continued to shout and argue while walking in and didn’t seem to even care that Squall was even standing there.
“... I DON’T GIVE TWO SHITS WHAT HE SAID.” Seifer’s voice boomed filling the room.
“Seifer, Instructor Black has done nothing but be patient with you. He cannot have you be like this anymore. Need we remind you that he is the only instructor that was even willing to have you sit in on his classes now.” Xu said in a commanding voice.
Feeling like this was going to take some time to sort out Squall lent against his desk and crossed his arms, waiting to be a part of this conversation that someone seemed to want to involve him in. Maybe tomorrow then. Laughed Shiva as she sank to her favorite spot within Squalls mind.
As Seifer and Xu continued to argue, Quistis came over to the desk and took up a spot beside Squall with a small smile and nod.
“Please, you and I both know that I know this shit. Heck I could recite the Garden Code of Conduct to you right now. Word for fucking Word!” Seifer said the last part through gritted teeth.
Even though Seifer was acquitted of his actions during the war, Garden still deemed that Seifer be punished for the way he left that fateful day. Seifer had to have detention for a month straight watching the Gardens Contact video on repeat for the whole time. Squall had stepped in at the end of one of those sessions to take Seifer to the Training room for a spar. Seifer had been laying on the floor with an arm covering his eyes reciting the said video in perfect sink.
Feeling that he wasn’t going to get any answer unless he spoke up, Squall turned to Quistis for answers. “Have we lost another instructor?”
“Yes. We now no longer have a single instructor that will allow Seifer into their classrooms.”
Squall sighed. He had tried everything he could think of to get the instructors to take Seifer on. He knew that Seifer could pass his exam and with this now being his last chance he was determined to get him there.
The Garden Heads were very confused as to why Squall would want to help Seifer. And the reason Squall always gave them and anyone else that asked was ‘It none of your business.’
So people started to speculate what the real reason was, ranging from guilt, blood oths and even magical influence. But the real reason Squall was keeping to himself at this current moment and didn’t even see himself telling anyone ever.
Quistis could see that Squall was thinking about his next move, while keeping a close eye on Seifer. When his emotions were seemingly running this high anything was possible from the muscular blonde. They both had now blocked the screaming match that was taking place just across the room from them.
Closing his eyes and pushing himself off the desk Squall took in a deep breath and the room went silent. Everyone stood there not moving and just looked at him. And even though his eyes were close he knew he had their attention fully.
Squall snapped open his eyes, having made a decision and stared straight at Seifer. Seifer, knowing somewhere that he had messed up to have Squall looking at him like that, stepped back, crossed his arms and looked down at the floor like a scolded child. Having received the reaction he wanted, Squall finally spoke to the room.
“How many instructors does that make now?” no one answered. They all knew that Squall was not asking but fully knew. “Fifteen! That fifteen instructors, Seifer!” Squall voice never change in tone or volume. “This is your last shot. You know this. Everyone knows this. And until I am able to locate a mission suitable for the exam you need to at least be present in at least one class.” Squall could see that Seifer was reaching his limit to be talked at. So Squall decided to tell them now what he had planned before Seifer really got himself in trouble. “You leave me with no choice but to put you into the only department left that hasn’t banned you. As of tomorrow you will be in the RND department. There is a trainee instructor there and she will watch over you.”
All three sets of eyes looked to Squall shocked.
“A trainee! Squall, are you insane?” - Xu
“Yeah, coz that's going to work!” - Quistis
“We have an RND?” - Seifer
“We want her to become an instructor, not quit half way through her training!” - Xu
“Seifer’s not going to play nice with her, you know.” - Quistis
“Since when?” - Seifer
“Might as well just ask her to give up right now!” - Xu
“Too bad I heard from Dr Kadowaki she is brilliant and has been making Odine size waves since her research started.” - Quistis
“Wait, do I still get to train?” - Seifer
Again Squall sighed, as everyone looked to him to answer their queries.
Once again closing his eyes as he crossed his arms and tilted his head up, answering the questions he had gotten in order. “ No. It will work. Yes. She won't quit. I will make sure he ‘Plays’ nice with her. 8 months ago. No. Yes, even Dr Odine has asked for her by name.” again opening his eyes and looking at Seifer again “Yes, Even though SeeD Vexal is training to be an instructor she is non-combative. Therefore, your combat training will be continued with the three of us taking shifts. I'm sure between the four of us you will be able to keep up with the other cadets.”
Squall looked at the wall clock. Only 16.02. Still two hours before his work day ended. “Do either of you have any other work for me to look over today?”
Both women shook their heads, no. Walking between Seifer and Xu, Squall spoke to the room again “Good, I’m finishing early for the day and going to the training Center.” He grabbed Seifers shirt in a fist and started dragging him along as he walked out the room. “I will just take this idiot with me. Goodnight Ladies.”
Quistis and Xu just looked at each other and gasped as they watched as Seifer willingly allowed Squall drag him away, while waving at them.
~ ~ / / * \ \ ~ ~
Bodies danced in perfect precision as Squall and Seifer moved in battle. Both knowing the true extent of the other's control and skill over their weapons. Squall larger but agile. Seifer heavy but powerful. Neither man letting their guard down for a single moment; knowing that a small slip up could have the other losing a limb or even their life. Well, maybe not Squall’s life. But Seifer didn’t know that.
Squall was enjoying this time. Being able to battle someone who knew the correct limits he could take and was still willing to push him just a little over that. Making it possible for his ability to grow ever more. And Squall knowing the same about Seifer.
A ravialy, yes, neither man wanting to lose but a fully understood relationship of training partners.
And this is how it has always been. And Squall would never look elsewhere for a different partner again.
He had tried to find someone else to train with after the war ended but nothing came of it. Most people were just too below him in skill level and others just didn’t want to throw their hat in with the ‘Hero of the World’; and more often than anything it was both of the above. When Squall had relised that no one other than Seifer could be his sparring partner he had been the one to release Seifer from his month-long detention.
Seifer knelt down and swapped his leg out when he noticed that Squall seemed to be lost in his own head again. A move that was common practice to Seifer now. But Squall wasn’t so in his head as Seifer had thought. As Seifer's calf was about to meet with Squall’s ankle, Squall jumped up into a backflip and for good measure kicked off Seifer’s back, unsettling him. Squall landed gracefully and lunged at Seifer. Squall blade whistled past Seifer’s neck and embedded itself in the ground below. Squall, still having complete control over the gunblade, tilted it closer to Seifer’s neck and stilled, waiting for Seifer’s next move.
It was either fight on or surrender.
And with them you never knew what it would be.
Seifer pushed back a little against the blade and felt it bit into his skin. Squall never retracted while Seifer seemed to be testing his limits to this ‘call’ for an end to this session.
With a huffed laugh, Seifer dropped his weapon. A silent surrender.
Squall left his blade still for a few moments before he withdrew. Steeping back he sheathed his gunblade and allowed Seifer to stand. Seifer stood and checked to see if any cut or blood came from Squall's final move.
Nothing.
Seifer left his weapon on the floor. An unspoken rule between them. The loser left weaponless til the victor leaves. He turned to Squall and waited with folded arms.
“Do you know why you never passed the exam in the past?”
Seifer was shocked. He never expected Squall to ask him such a question.
“Yeah, coz the old Garden masters just wanted another mindless puppet mercenary and I wouldn’t give it to them.” Seifer was so sure of the answer. No one had ever told him otherwise.
But oh boy was he about to be told a truth.
“No!” Squall had never been one for pleasantries and Seifer knew this far too well.
“Go on then Great Commander. Tell me then why did I fail?” Seifer asked in a sarcastic tone while holding both hands up in an overly glorified manner.
“You have the skills and knowledge to pass, no one has ever denied that.” Squall looked Seifer dead in the eyes for this next statement. “But you don’t follow orders!”
“I FOLLOWED THOSE HYNE DAMNED ORDERS!” Seifer stepped forward looking about ready to start a fist fight with Squall.
Squall drew his gunblade and held it up to Seifer's throat. Seifer stopped and the look of rage was still clear on his face. This is why they had the unspoken rule. Many times in their younger training days they would comment about each other's techniques. And most of the time one of them (mostly Seifer) would get upset with what the other had said and start another battle causing injury in the process. It was only when Squall decided after a loss to not pick up his weapon that the rule began and was silently agreed upon.
“Yes, you followed the order to secure the town center. But you didn’t when it came to standing guard.”
“Soldiers were moving to a different location and we needed to ..”
“You got bored!”
Seifer knew he was right but wasn’t going to let Squall win this one. “Not like I heard you complain about going up there.” Seifer folded his arms again bearing up to the pointed tip against his neck. Standing proud that he thought he was going to win this argument.
But Squall knew better.
Being the commander now had its upsides. He had taken a look at the grading for his exam and even took a look at the comments made on Seifer’s test sheet. It was such a simple reason. But it seems that no one took the time to make the arrogant blonde understand fully where he had failed. Squall was now going to make him fully understand, even if he ended up injuring the man to make him stand and listen for once.
“I followed your orders as you were MY Squad captain.” Seifer smirked, truly believing to have won. “But, you were not in charge of the mission. And therefore, should not have changed the mission parameters without consent from the higher ups.” Squall hated all this talking, but knew he had to continue for Seifer sake. “You should have sent either myself or Zell with a message back.”
Seifer took a small step back and bit the inside of his mouth in thought.
Squall still was not lowering his gunblade as he still wasn’t done. “And even then if our orders did change, you still would have failed.” Seifer looked about ready to say something again but Squall never gave him the chance. “Because, you left Zell and I to fend for ourselves. You were OUR captain! You should have stayed with us!”
Another step back from Seifer who unfolded his arms and looked angrily at the floor to his left. Having Squall, having anyone, tell him where he had failed was all he ever needed. And now hearing it, he was angry. Not at the Garden masters but at himself. The way Squall was actually saying it made more sense than it ever had coming from those eccentric Estharian wannabes.
Squall, feeling that Seifer had backed off enough, finally lowered his weapon. Now, give him hope again that he can succeed Lion. Shiva words giving Squall encouragement to continue. “When you're doing the next exam I will be putting you in charge of a Squad again.” Seifer, not moving from his stance, looked up to Squall, anger still evident in his eyes. Squall knew that it was not directed at him. “But I want you to remember these three rules.”
Squall sheathed his gunblade again. Taking one step closer, “One, follow your orders to the letter.” Another step forwards, “Two, keep your team safe and bring them home safely.” The final step bringing Squall to stand toe to toe with Seifer. Seifer stood tall and looked down at Squall waiting for the third rule. Squall sighed and pressed his forehead to Seifer’s chest.
Seifer stood stock still. Never had Squall done this. Never had Squall willingly been so close to the point of touching, unless they were training or injured.
Squall, taking note that he had Seifer full attention through this action, stated the final rule in the softest voice he could muster. “Three, bring yourself back safely.”
They stood there for minutes. Seifer letting Squall’s word sink in and Squall trying to mentally push his thoughts on the matter into Seifer.
It was strange to the both of them, but comfortable.
After some more time had passed, Seifer slowly brought up his hands and took hold of Squall's arms. Slowly pushed him away but still kept him close. Squall raised his head and looked into Seifers emerald eyes.
To anyone else Squall looked like his normal stoic self. But to Seifer, the only person Squall truly believed to know him, saw so much more. Seifer could see the desperation in Squall's eyes. The desperation for Seifer to hear him and understand his words. Seifer saw something else but couldn’t quite work out what it was.
Seifer gave a soft nod of understanding.
And Squall gave a nod in return.
They stood there for a moment longer just staring at each other. Seifer trying to work out what he was missing in Squall look and Squall just enjoying the relief he was feeling.
Squall began to pull away from Seifer and Seifer allowed him to go, letting his hands fall back to his side. Squall turned and began to walk away. The session was now truly over and Squall was starting to feel mentally drained from the interaction. Squall got about ten feet away before he stopped and half turned back to see Seifer still standing there watching him leaving and waiting to retrieve his blade. “Meet me in the cafeteria at breakfast, no later than 8.30. I will take you to meet your new instructor.”
Seifer again nodded, still not able to speak due to the events that just transpired.
Squall left content in the knowledge that he had helped Seifer once again.