Protecting the Lion

Chapter Nineteen
Angry Cowboys

Ragnarok was the same ship it had always been. It was an aircraft ill equipped for medical treatment. Selphie’s usual giddy manner when piloting the fast flying airship was nowhere to be found, or at least subdued. Setting an autopilot course back to Balamb Garden would have been easy enough, but she chose to steer manually. This way she could go much faster than normal and keep them from crashing. Not to mention, it kept her curious eyes from focusing on the pair beside her.

It was awkward, to say the least, to see Seifer holding Squall in such a way.

The cabin was extremely hot. After dropping a line down and reeling Seifer and Squall up, the blonde had told her to turn the heat up. Luckily, the ship had an excellent heating system, since it was meant to travel in space.

Now, in the copilot’s seat, Seifer cradled the Commander, who was wrapped in the blonde’s long black coat.

Selphie felt rather jumpy, not knowing whether it would be inappropriate to be her cheerful self. Sighing, she gave in, knowing she couldn’t pretend not to be excited and concerned. It was an odd mixture, but she was never one to be ordinary. “I saw most of what happened on Nero’s video feed. That was insane.”

Seifer didn’t answer. He could only deal with people if he was in a good mood, and right now he was in anything but a good mood. It was only a short while ago that he’d been happily lying beside the brunet. Together, in a warm bed… naked. A small grin came to his face when he remembered the way Squall looked with the sheet pooling around his slim waist.

The blonde shook his head, ridding himself of all mental images and lecherous thoughts. He was angry with the brunet. Damn Wonder Boy just had to play the hero again and get hurt in the process.

With the huddled form of Squall pressed against him, Seifer was beginning to feel equilibrium return. The warm cabin was helping a lot. The knight could only hope that Squall was simply suffering from hypothermia. It might not have been the best idea to raise the brunet’s body temperature so fast, but Seifer didn’t have the medical know-how of the proper procedures. Besides, Squall’s pulse was steadily becoming stronger, so he was doing something right.

“We’re almost there,” Selphie said, looking at Seifer cautiously out of the corner of her eye. The pair of fighters were more similar than anyone seemed to realize. Seifer was totally ignoring her. It was a skill the knight shared with the brunet. Only the Commander had ever been able to go off into his own little world and completely forget about her. Now, the blonde was doing the same thing.

Still, Selphie wasn’t put off. Her words could still be heard, even if Seifer refused to respond. “Dr. Kadowaki is on call. I didn’t even have to tell her who was coming, she already knew.” Selphie laughed at this, but trailed off when she was met with silence. “Seifer!” she finally cracked. It didn’t take much.

“What?” he grumbled, not liking the disturbance.

“He’ll be fine, it’s Squall,” she stated. Squall was practically immortal. Even if the wave had hit, the Commander would probably have been found treading water and waiting for a pick up ship.

“You over estimate him.” Seifer trained his attention on the young woman. It was becoming clear why the Commander had been put under such pressure and strain before. No one seemed to understand that Squall was nothing more than flesh and blood, a man who had feelings and insecurities.

Bright green eyes turned to focus on the blonde. “Do I?” she asked sincerely.

“He’s just a man.” Seifer wondered if she had any idea that the brunet had very nearly met his end. “He would have died, you know.” Reflexively, Seifer’s arms squeezed the brunet’s body tighter.

For once, Selphie was speechless. Her mind couldn’t quite grapple the idea of Squall dying. Was it possible for the world to exist without the stubborn brunet? Of course it was. In fact it was less than a year ago that she knew nothing of Squall Leonhart. Her childhood had been forgotten, along with her memories of ‘Squally’. Even now, when her GF was instructed not to take those memories, she had trouble remembering.

“I’m sorry,” she half whispered.

“Don’t tell me,” Seifer reprimanded. “For six months, he’s held up the weight of the world. I followed everything, heard all the rumors.” Seifer’s eyes were no longer on the regretful looking messenger girl. Instead, he stared at the pale beauty he held closely. “I think Kramer should get his ass back here. Squally-boy was never meant to be a Headmaster. He’s not fit for the job anyway, though he’d never tell you guys.”

Selphie’s brows wrinkled as she felt guilt rise in her. Seifer was always able to make a person feel extreme emotions. “Hmm?” she sounded, not sure what he meant exactly.

Scoffing, Seifer looked back at the bright-eyed girl. “Think about it Tilmitt. He’s not exactly a people person. Do you honestly think he should be acting the part of a high school principal? He hates it, I can tell you that much. Besides, isn’t being the Commander enough?”

“But, Cid is gone,” she defended the situation. Squall himself had told them not to worry about, because he was fine acting as both the Commander and the Headmaster on a permanent basis.

“Yeah, Kramer’s retired and Princess here probably told you all not to worry about a thing.” The blonde rolled his eyes. When he saw the face that the young woman pulled he knew he’d hit the nail on the head.

“But, we’ve tried to help. We know it’s a lot of pressure, but he always tells us to back off.” They all knew it was wrong on some level, but no one had ever said it in so many words. Now that Seifer was saying it, she felt herself asking him for advice. “What were we supposed to do?”

“Nothing now. I can handle it,” he assured, a little wary of the glistening look to the girl’s eyes. He wasn’t about to deal with a sobbing Tilmitt. The girl was the epitome of radical emotions. She was usually hopped up on happy pills, but if she was sad then she would let her tears fall freely and wail like a baby.

Selphie felt her emotions run rampant, all thanks to the antagonizing ex-knight. With a sudden mood swing she felt defensive of her position as Squall’s friend. “I’m still here too, with everyone else. We want to help. We just don’t know how.”

“You can’t help,” Seifer shot her down immediately, looking her directly in the eye.

“Why not?” she shot back. Setting the autopilot, she stood abruptly and placed her hands on her hips.

“Because you don’t know him well enough,” Seifer spoke the truth. The group might have been close, but none of them had seen through the weary façade that the brunet held up each day. Even Trepe didn’t see it. The instructor had sharp senses though, and knew that something wasn’t right, but she didn’t see the real strain the brunet was under.

“And you do?” Selphie took a step closer to the pair. It suddenly seemed odd how the knight held Squall. She knew that Seifer was doing it to give the brunet some much needed body heat, but something about it still seemed odd.

Seifer didn’t bother answering. He hadn’t meant to pick a fight with the girl. In fact, he was a little reluctant to set her off. He’d heard of her nasty temper. Seeing that she wasn’t moving from her spot, he sighed and responded. “I know you care about him. But, I’m calling Kramer. That man isn’t old enough for retirement anyway.”

“Bah,” Selphie grumbled, throwing her hands in the air and collapsing down to the floor. Balancing on her heels, she rocked back and forth with her arms wrapped around her knees. “Party pooper,” she mumbled. The blonde was able to pull her feelings around so easily. One second she’d been ready to rant and now she felt like he’d deflated her will to argue. For a moment she just rested there on the cabin floor.

Seifer nearly laughed at the childish pouting that the bubbly girl was displaying. He hadn’t been back long, but it already felt like old times. Little Selphie with her never ending supply of happiness and mood swings. He’d always liked her. Well, it was more that she didn’t seem to get on his nerves.

“He’ll be okay though?” she questioned shyly. Lowering a hand she traced imaginary figures on the cold metal floor.

“He’ll be just fine. He’s too stubborn to die so easily.” The contradiction of his own words from before had been meant to anger the girl again. With a half smirk he waited for her to blow up at him. That moment never came however.

Selphie still kept her head downcast, as if everything Seifer had said had been a lecture. “I never knew you guys were so close. I mean, we never thought you were friends or anything.”

“Heh,” Seifer mocked her words for reasons she’d never understand. “We’re not friends, I can assure you of that.” The young woman looked at him with a surprised face. This was too good a joke not to play. “But, there are many things you don’t know about us.” Subtly and without too much implication behind it, he pulled Squall even closer so that the brunet’s head rested under his chin. It was an extremely intimate position, but no one would ever dare to guess that there was any grounding behind it. Tilmitt’s eyes widened slightly as her face showed nothing but confusion.

The autopilot sensor started to beep, grabbing Selphie’s attention from the blonde knight. Pitching forward, she heaved herself into a standing position. “We’re here,” she said, walking back to her chair and taking the controls.

Nodding, Seifer pulled the collar of his coat up high around brunet’s head. It was four in the morning, but he had a feeling that a fair amount of people would be up and conveniently waiting for the Commander to arrive back. Wearing his trench coat, Squall looked especially small. The garment was much too big for the unconscious man.

Shortly after Selphie had taken her seat, she steered into a recently added docking port for Ragnarok. There had been discussion of expanding the landing pad, but with consideration to Gardens mobility, it was nixed. For now, it was just fit for the one ship to be stowed away. Selphie had come to think of Ragnarok as her own ship. In fact, Squall never used the aircraft unless he also sent her as the pilot. To her dismay, he always had a password set on the ammunition so that she couldn’t access it freely.

Not even waiting for the ramp to lower completely, Seifer strode down the sturdy metal plate as it descended. With Squall safely bundled up and cradled in his arms, he moved across the small hanger area. Tilmitt was bounding shortly behind him.

It had been a ten minute flight, no more. That ship could fly like no other. Momentarily, Seifer wondered why Squall hadn’t ordered someone to take the ship and rescue them earlier, but he knew the answer even as he asked the question. The last thing that stubborn Leonhart would ever do was run away. In truth, Seifer probably wouldn’t have been able to either. He might have thrown Squall’s sorry ass aboard the craft, but he’d have stayed behind himself. This was again, another instance where they were alike.

Catching up to the blonde, who seemed adamant to ignore her, Selphie asked the questions that were second to the ones of Squall’s health. “So, who was that man down on the ice with you?”

Seifer didn’t reply. Not even blinking, he kept on walking.

“Did you guys find Rinoa?” she tried another question.

Still no response. Bounding ahead, she skipped in front of him, jumping up to look him even in the face before trailing to the other side and skipping around him completely.

“What were you doing down at the beach so quickly anyway?” Selphie grumbled when the blonde continued to deny her existence. “What did Shiva say to you?” she could be just as stubborn as anyone else. “Are you ignor-”

Cutting the insufferable messenger girl off, Seifer answered her. “Michael Garrant, yes, we’re fast to act, Shiva asked me to take care of him, and I was trying to.”

“Oh, who is Michael…. hey! Why are you ignoring me?” she intoned with mock anger. It took more than that to actually hurt her feelings.

“Tilmitt, stop jumping around like a rabbit.” Surprisingly, she listened and began to walk in a normal manner.

The door they were headed towards burst open, loudly connecting with the steel wall. The bang resounded in the cavernous hanger.

Languidly, the tall form of Seifer’s favorite cowboy strode in. There was sheer venom in those violet eyes of the sharpshooter, but nothing could halt Seifer while he made his way to the Infirmary.

“Almasy,” Irvine hissed out, “What the hell have you done now!”

“Irvine!” Selphie immediately reprimanded. It wasn’t like Irvine to be so hostile.

Shrugging past Cowboy, Seifer silently dared the man to try and stop him. ‘Let’s see him try,’ his mind goaded.

Having watched what happened, Irvine was livid. His reluctance at Seifer’s return to Garden had only been produced after seeing the harassment he put Squall through. Falling into step with the arrogant knight, Irvine spoke his mind, all the while forcefully keeping his hands from drawing Exeter. “You were hired as Squall’s bodyguard, not to expose him to new dangers.”

“Thanks for the update Kinneas, I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Seifer retorted sarcastically.

“I’m serious Almasy. I didn’t say anything about you touching him, but if you’re going to endanger his life further, I will stop you.”

“Irvine Kinneas!” Selphie hurried her steps to keep up with the two taller men. “If you saw the same footage that I did then you know very well that Seifer didn’t do anything wrong.”

Seifer didn’t reply. He did raise an eyebrow and look down at the young woman on his other side. She smiled up at him goofily, as if reaffirming her support. It seemed as though the he might be treading on thin ice with the sharpshooter. Even if he enjoyed making people angry, he didn’t have the time to stop and fight with the longhaired man. It was just some jealous rage that would run its course in due time. The Cowboy was a player, always seeking that which he couldn’t have. It was a game to the free spirited young man, one that Seifer was not about to let him play with Squall. Seifer had inadvertently opened the gunman’s eyes to a new target, shedding a light on the possibility of claiming the Balamb Lion. It wouldn’t be long before the other man realized this, but for now, Seifer was left to deal with it.

“Why are you back here?” Irvine asked suddenly.

If Seifer had a free hand he would have raised it and pinched the bridge of his nose. He might have to rethink the title of Puberty Boy, and give it to the gunman instead.

Selphie dropped back a step and moved behind Seifer. Grabbing Irvine’s sleeve, she held him back while letting Seifer continue on.

As Seifer continued down the empty corridor, he heard a yelp from behind. It seemed like little Tilmitt was good for more than just piloting like a maniac. A grin came to his face when he heard the young woman hiss at the Cowboy, mentioning something about ‘tough love’.

Balamb Garden never seemed to turn its lights off. Even at the early hour of four in the morning, the hallways were lit and many of the facilities were still open. Luckily, everyone seemed to be in their dormitories, as the halls were clear. The last thing Seifer needed was a Garden full of reporters and curious cadets trying to get a peep at the Commander. The blonde could only hope the stories that would surely hit the news by morning would be free of Squall Leonhart’s name.

Seifer’s relief was short lived however, as he walked closer to the Infirmary. He could hear the mulling of students. They were near the front entrance. It was too bad for them that he’d come in the back.

As he saw one of several cadets casually walk passed the Infirmary, he backed into a corner. The pouring water of the fountain hid his presence and allowed him to retreat. Turning around, he paced towards the arguing couple he’d left behind. “Kinneas,” he called out.

The jaw muscle clenched visibly in Irvine’s cheek. “Yeah, partner?” the gunman ground out. His accent was gone, but his slang words were spoken just the same. The sickly sweet manner he spoke in earned an elbow to his ribs from Selphie.

Quirking a brow at the gunman’s odd manner, Seifer shrugged it off. “We’ve got a little situation in the main entrance.”

Selphie stood on her tiptoes, as if her short frame could see past the fountain by straightening up a few more inches. Even though she couldn’t see, she knew what Seifer was talking about. “No one else saw what happened. Why….” Her question trailed off as footsteps approached.

Reacting quickly, the three of them fell back into the corridor that lead to the hanger. Seifer was furious. He had half a mind to waltz out there and kill anyone who so much as glanced sideways at the Commander.

Falling short of squeezing the unconscious man in his arms too tightly, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He looked from Tilmitt to Kinneas, in case they might have an idea. The Cowboy was staring at the floor as though all the answers were written on its shiny surface. “Take off your coat,” he ordered abruptly.

“What?” Irvine asked, snapping his head up to look at the blonde.

Impatient, he explained hurriedly, “Carry Tilmitt to Squall’s apartment. Don’t let them see her face.”

“Ooh,” Selphie intoned with slight wonderment. “Smart,” she commented, stepping from foot to foot while waiting for Irvine to take his coat off.

Reluctantly, Irvine complied, knowing well enough that it was a clever idea and would help give Squall peace and quite while he rested. Shrugging out of his brown leather trench coat, he paused for a moment. “Why don’t you take Selphie and give me Squall?”

Seifer just laughed. “You’re funny Cowboy, real funny.”

Violet eyes narrowed at the ex-knight. The message was clear enough. He should have known better than to ask. With a sneer in the blonde’s direction, he held his coat aloft for Selphie to put on.

Selphie couldn’t help but giggle as Irvine swept her up into his arms.

“Don’t go giggling when we walk past the early risers in the main hall,” Irvine warned.

“Yeah,” Seifer agreed, “Even the newbies know enough to find a high pitched giggle odd.”

Selphie’s voice was muffled from beneath the covering of worn leather. “I still don’t know how anyone could have found out so fast.”

“That’s not my concern right now,” Seifer said, stepping back and motioning for Irvine to get going.

Peeking around the corner, Seifer watched as the group of early rising cadets pretended not to notice anything. Shortly after the cowboy had passed them, they huddled together and chattered quickly before stalking after the gunman and the supposedly injured Commander.

Frowning, Seifer knew it was hoping for too much that this whole incident wouldn’t blow up in their faces. Squall would have to deal with a renewed focus on every single move made as a Commander.

Sighing, Seifer moved out when the coast was clear.

Dr. Kadowaki stood outside the Infirmary. With her long white lab coat and her hands clasped expectantly behind her back, she greeted Seifer. Her greeting fell short of a warm hug. “What have you two been up to now?”

Grinning sideways at her, Seifer played the part of a sheepish schoolboy. As he walked closer he nodded to her. “Aww, come on doc. You know us boys will be boys. ‘Sides, Princess here could always take a hit or two.”

“So I remember,” the older woman replied with sarcasm. “His usual bed is ready.” turning, she led the way inside.

Since Squall had become Headmaster, he had directed funds to improve Balamb Garden. The Infirmary had been a major renovation. It had been a logical move, since the end of war brought many casualties. Everywhere they traveled it seemed as though there was another village or town in need of help. Dr. Kadowaki had been rather busy the past few months. But, her life had never been a dull one, not when she was stationed in a facility that trained mercenaries.

As a private joke, between the good doctor and the Commander, the bed that the brunet had so often occupied had been officially designated the special quarters for commanding officers. It was almost nostalgic to see young Almasy carrying young Leonhart in again. It had been little under a year ago that she’d seen the blonde doing the same thing.

This time was different however, she noted. The tall arrogant student had changed. His manner was not so cocky, and his eyes held unmasked concern. Last time, he’d shifted his green eyes around the room, looking anywhere but the brunet in his arms. Blood had streamed down his face, but he hadn’t seemed to care. Now, as he held the Commander, his eyes didn’t leave the smaller form.

Seifer found his way through the small hospital wing easily enough. He well remembered the bed in the far corner that Squall had been known to use. He himself had been the one to carry the lithe form there on several occasions. And, there had been just as many times when he’d woken up in the same bed, after the brunet dragged his unconscious body there. Only Kadowaki knew just how many times they’d sparred and taken things too far.

It was different now, though. Instead of simply making sure the other would live before leaving, Seifer could think of nothing more to do than sit impatiently at Squall’s bedside until he saw those gray-blue eyes flutter open.

Lowering the brunet’s small form to the secluded bed, Seifer bent down and tried to set Squall down as gently as he could. Pulling the collar away from the pale face, Seifer revealed the bundled man beneath. With one arm still holding Squall upright, he tugged the blankets back. Turing the sheets and blanket down, he unwrapped his long coat from around the smaller man. He couldn’t, however, take his coat away. Oddly enough, even while unconscious, Squall had taken a grip on one of the sleeves of the black garment. When Seifer tried to pull the bit of cloth away, delicate fingers tightened.

Seifer chuckled. It was unbelievable how stubborn the brunet could be even in such an unconscious state. Letting the younger man have his way, Seifer relented his coat. Setting Squall back against the bed, he draped the blanket over the cold form. Kadowaki was still gathering a few things, away and out of sight, so Seifer leaned down and placed a warm kiss the top of Squall’s soft hair. Standing back he smoothed over the unruly locks, brushing the strands from his forehead.

“So, Mr. Almasy, what is it this time?”

The doctor’s voice was closer than he expected. Turning around he faced the older woman, hoping she hadn’t been standing there very long. “Hypothermia as far as I can tell, but I’m no doctor, doc.”

Moving out of the woman’s way, Seifer let the practiced medic work her magic. A heating blanket was draped over Squall, and she did nothing more than check his vitals. The only time she’d paused in her ministrations had been to smirk the hand clutching at the black trench coat. But, she made no comment as she took the brunet’s blood pressure.

When she seemed done, Seifer asked incredulously, “That’s it?”

“His heartbeat is a bit weak, but nothing to be concerned about. He’s a strong boy, he’ll be fine.” The worry and concern shown by the ex-knight was curious. Personally, she’d never been too keen on the boy, always sending Leonhart her way for treatment, but there had always been something in his eyes that made her like the kid anyway.

“How long ‘til he wakes up?” Seifer asked, looking past the doctor to the bed where Squall rested.

Packing away various items she shook her head slightly. With her focus still on cleaning up, she answered, “I don’t know.” Sighing, she regarded the blonde with a serious expression. “For anyone else I’d say in an hour or two. But for Squall, it could be less or more. He’s lost weight and has signs of extreme exhaustion, but he’s stubborn as hell and likely to not let his previous condition interfere. I swear that boy is a medical anomaly.” Toting her bag, she left the secluded area and made her way to her small office nearby.

Seifer scoffed at the doctor. If that was an attempt at some sort of guilt trip then she was way out of her league and talking to the wrong person. His patience was being tested as he pulled a chair up along side Squall’s bed and waited.

It was only after a few minutes of staring at the pale face and smaller form under the blankets when Seifer lost his patience. Standing, he checked to see where Kadowaki was. The doctor was nowhere in sight. Returning to Squall’s side, he sat down on the bed and draped an arm down to the brunet’s head. It was easier to wait when he was gently stroking the silky strands of hair.


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