Fire-Cross Knight

Squall gathered the few things he was taking with him, sliding the small metal computer from the lining of his jacket to inspect his current magic and the strength of his GFs. He popped the small slide from the side of the computer and removed his left glove, pricking his index finger with a disposable needle he pulled from the back. Dropping the blood onto the slide, he closed the machine and listened as it examined the magics in his mind by their unique additions to his bloodstream; he threw the needle into the disposable slot in the back of the machine and nodded. The screen before him confirmed what he already knew- his junctions were in peak condition, including Seifer, and his magic was nothing but the best. He looked thoughtfully at the wireless watch instrument and decided against it; while some of the more scatter-brained SeeD needed constant visual reminder of what magic was locked in their mind, he had always had impeccable accuracy. He slid the thin computer back into the lining of his jacket, grateful for helpful tools like it but more grateful still at his own focus that made them obsolete.

He looked over his room, committing its appearance to memory as he always did before leaving. Only once had he returned to see anything out of place, and it was the result of a drunken roommate at the time. Now, he had no need to worry about such things, but habits like this were ingrained so thoroughly he proceeded without thinking. Grabbing the folder from the table, he walked for the main Garden entrance, Ragnarok parked just outside the gates.

As he passed Seifer’s door he did not bother to stop; he had grown accustomed to the difference in feelings when Seifer was near and was not. In his mind there was a familiar distance to Seifer, as there was to Shiva, and he knew that Seifer was not physically present in this world. He wondered vaguely what Seifer did when he went away, but dismissed the thought as meddlesome, and unimportant. He only hoped that Seifer had remembered to leave a spare change of clothes at his entrance point in Fire Cavern; it may startle or frighten veterans to see him arrive in the attire he wore as Garden’s enemy.


“...Are you trying to cheat us?” Squall asked, his eyes narrowed and deadly over the contract he held in his hand. The numbers in the paperwork alone would suggest that they were building a new space station, not repairing Trabia Garden.

“We aren’t crooks!” The mayor answered, eyes bulging in outrage at the accusation. “The damage to Trabia Garden is *extensive*, and the materials needed to replace or repair the damage done are costly ones! We aren’t even charging the full price on labor, owing to the fact that Garden helped us clear the railroad of monsters after the Lunar Cry!” Squall couldn’t tell if the horrible little man was lying or telling the truth, but at this point, it didn’t matter. No one else could do the work that they needed. Squall was glad Selphie wasn’t here to see the exorbitant fees that Cid would have to pay in order to get everything operational once more. “As a matter of fact, we were intending to ask for assistance from the students with some of the more extensive repairs- the outer plating, that stuff. I’ve worked that into the consideration, since my contractors reported that there are many students there who’d be more than willing to help...”

Even with that kindness, which Squall did notice as he skimmed the information before him, the bill was obscene. The numbers alone were larger than anything he believed that the Garden would even consider, let alone support. With so much gil at hand, Squall knew exactly what Cid would be forced to do; upkeep and maintenance on Trabia Garden would halt immediately and all students would be absorbed into either Galbadia’s suffering student body, or into Balamb’s almost overfilling halls. Understaffed in the first instance, overcrowded in the second, and in the end the Garden’s reputation might be injured.

Squall had only seen gil like that in one other capacity; his own bank account. He had been accumulating a paycheck for well over a year now as he had continued work as not only the highest-ranking of all SeeD in any Garden, but also as the Field Commander, both of which yielded to him regular and extensive paychecks. He thought for a few moments in that capacity and a plan began to form in his mind.

Selphie loved Trabia Garden; was even training to replace the dead Headmaster there. Her friends were there, her life was there- she had only come to Balamb to become a SeeD. Squall didn’t know what it must feel like to have your life suddenly destroyed by something that felt like your responsibility. The only thing that he could imagine it to be like was if he and his team had failed to thwart Ultimecia at the end of the world, and if that happened it wouldn’t have been just him that felt the repercussions. He knew that he would have to tell her that they couldn’t agree to the repairs on Trabia Garden, even with the capable help of intelligent students there, and knew what he would do.

“As acting Field Commander for Balamb Garden, and all Gardens, I accept this contract,” Squall said suddenly, speaking into a deep silence that had settled around the mayor. The little man jumped, slightly, then flushed at his reaction, reaching forward to take the contract and sign it.

When Squall added his own signature, he and the mayor were forced to shake hands, Squall’s almost overpowering grip to mayor’s clammy one. Neither man liked the other whatsoever, but they had long since come to an unwritten agreement that they could still deal with one another as if there were old friends, so long as they didn’t speak out against the other openly.

“I’ll send men to start construction immediately. I’ll expect a payment wired overnight.”

“Construction will end...” Squall said, inflection making the statement a question.

“I would give us a deadline of six months, but if the students are as capable as my men seemed to believe, it could be done within three.” They nodded and Flo took the contract, working the ancient machinery at the back of the room to do so, cigarette ever in hand. The original was returned to Squall, who nodded to her as well. “I won’t say that I like what you people believe in, Squall, but I will say that you’re fair businessmen and your people are more than willing to do their share. We can renegotiate if anything unforeseen comes up, but I’m sure that construction will go smoothly.” Squall nodded and left.

Just outside of the Mayor’s house in the bowl of the city, Selphie sat on the edge of the walk, dangling her legs thoughtfully. When she heard the familiar sound of Squall’s boots on the concrete, she bounced to her feet, hands fastened behind her back.

“How did it go?” Selphie asked, bouncing on her heels a little, tilting her head. Squall looked at her as he always did, grateful that he had such a positive message to deliver to her.

“Construction will be finished within the next six months.” Selphie yelled her joy, launching herself at Squall and wrapping her arms around his neck. He had to fight to keep from falling backwards at her enthusiastic joy.

“WOO-HOO! Thank you soooo much Squall!” Before Squall had time to feel uncomfortable at having her in his personal space, she bounced back, twirling in place. “You’re the best!!” She laughed then, turning to face him, and hugged him again. “I can’t wait to tell everyone back in Trabia!” She laughed again and he slowly lifted his arms to hug her back, a good friend of his sharing her joy with him. She looked up at him in surprise, then let go, turning to the landing gear. “Let’s get you to that mission, so I can go spread the good news!” He stood on the platform with her, surprised. For the first time in a very long time, he felt pride in what he had done for her, and felt like he had found an answer to a question that had plagued him for a long time.

He had worried what to do with the increasingly large amounts of gil in his account, and now he had found something of an answer. There may not be anything he could want for in his life, but there were people around him who could benefit, and he was glad that he could do this for Selphie. While funding three-quarters of the Trabia rebuild would clean his wallet thoroughly, the exorbitant bonus that the Esthar government intended to deliver to him upon completion of his latest mission would almost replace the money he was spending here today. There were people in his life he could care for, after all. He smiled slightly thinking about it, penning a letter to Cid that explained his intention and authorizing the withdrawal of fifty-two million gil from his personal accounts. He specified in legalese that the money was to be used for this purpose only, and was grateful, not for the first time, of the elective classes he had taken in contractual agreement and law.

As they were landing, Squall ordered all the paperwork in his folders and handed them to Selphie.

“Make sure that Cid gets this as soon as you land,” he ordered. She saluted him smartly and grinned.

“Yes sir!” He shook his head at her teasing, amusement pulling at his mouth. “And thank you so much, Squall!” He nodded at her salute and turned, leaving the ship. Grateful that she didn’t know exactly what he had done for her today.


***
I couldn't resist the title. Also, if you think this is entirely too much work for smut, you don't know the half of it. I've suddenly become the worst cocktease in the history of ever. I mean, this suddenly overnight became an epic. I've been told it sounds like an "arc". I have no idea what that nonsense is- I'm just verbose. The plot suddenly quadrupled itself last night when I was writing (there's stuff I have yet to type, so patience, padawans) and is now obscene. I intend to post the rest sometime tonight but you never know.

Also, NaNoWriMo is up and I'm participating. I have NO idea how I'll handle that and this all at once. Stay tuned for that. <3