Janine tapped her pen against the pad of paper while sending another glance to the entry of the cafeteria. Come on, come on. I know you have a room in the dorms. I checked. She re-read her lesson plan for Monday while taking a sip of her coffee. Damn it! Janine hated waiting, but she was determined to keep her ass in her chair until Seifer came for his morning coffee.
Her fingers tapped a quick, impatient rhythm as she sent another look toward the entry. He wasn't in the Training Center. Janine had gone there early that morning in hopes that he would be training. More than anything she wanted a chance to cross blades with him. No such luck. It had been Zell Dincht and Sally Regal working out the details of their newest submission prospect to Combat King. So Janine had stayed; offering her opinion, pointers, and expertise when asked.
Seifer was right: Sally could take her.
Janine smirked and added another project to the syllabus. Then movement caught her eye and she looked up... But Seifer wasn't the one coming toward her. Janine released a breath and a mumbled "Damn it" as she lowered her gaze to the pad yet again. Maybe he had a meeting with Comman–-
"Hey there, darlin'."
Janine arched an eyebrow the same time she lifted her gaze to the smiling face of a tall and slender man in leather chaps, a heavy brown trenchcoat, and a cowboy hat.
He tipped said hat back with a finger as he nodded, winked, and smiled at her; all at the same time. Then he looped his thumbs on the waist of his chap-covered denims. "Haven't seen you about before," he commented in an easy drawl. "New?"
"No." And Janine lowered her gaze back to her lesson plan, oh-so-tempted to turn off her assists. The man would commonly be classified as a 'lover, not a fighter'. No fun at all.
The man chuckled and straddled the chair, crossing his arms over the top of it. "Well now, isn't that strange. I thought I'd seen all the pretty girls here."
"You'd like to fantasize. Reality would never be that good to you."
He chuckled again. "Why so hostile, darlin'? Just being friendly."
"Disgustingly so, and I haven't finished my morning coffee to dull the effect. Try again later." She glanced up to momentarily meet his gaze. "Better yet, don't. I like it jaded and hard, not sweet and soft."
The man's eyes twinkled, but Seifer entered - coffee mug in hand - just as the man started speaking again, so Janine's focus vanished. Her eyes, instead, focused on Seifer until he looked over in her direction. His previous attitude of focused calm sparked to something else as he altered his direction to her table mid-step toward the counter for his coffee.
Janine's lips twitched and she focused again on the man in front of her. "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm trying to plan a syllabus. While I guess I should be flattered and flutter my lashes at you for the attention, I'd sooner flush my head down the toilet. In other words, you're annoying the hell out of me." Just as Seifer walked up from behind she said "So if you could put your head back into your pants, I would appreciate it."
"Kinneas." The man twitched and looked over his shoulder to Seifer. "What did I tell you about coming here without notifying me first?"
Janine's smirk widened slightly as she watched the man named 'Kinneas' slowly stand. Seifer still towered over him at least two inches.
"I was in the--"
"Kinneas," Seifer interrupted in a dangerously calm voice, "I don't give a damn if you were six inches outside Garden perimeter needing medical attention. If you don't notify me, you keep your ass at Galbadia Garden. Clear?"
Kinneas gave a lopsided smirk and touched the brim of his hat. "Clear."
Seifer motioned roughly to the cafeteria exit. "Get the hell out of here."
Tipping his hat to Janine, Kinneas vocalized an easy "Ma'am" before sauntering out of the cafeteria.
Seifer watched him go, frowning darkly.
Janine leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "My hero," she intoned in a low voice.
Seifer adjusted his hold on his coffee mug as he moved his focus to her. To her surprise, the glare remained.
Her lips twitched upward. "From your look of death, it seems your morning from hell has already started." She gracefully motioned to his coffee mug. "So you better get your morning juice, big guy."
Seifer held her gaze, his jaw muscle twitching wildly before he about-faced and stalked to the counter. He slammed down his mug and barked at the cafeteria lady, who barked back while grabbing up his mug and going to fill it. Janine arched an eyebrow and absently tapped her fingers against her upper arm. Hmm.
Gathering her pad and pen, Janine stood, keeping also a close watch on Seifer as he accepted the coffee from the furious cafeteria lady. Then Janine headed for the exit just as Seifer turned. She could feel the reverberation of his steps as he approached.
She pushed through the doors and continued forward, slowing her pace a little more each second. She finally heard the simulated sound of the doors swinging open and closed again and felt his steps again pound on the marbled floor. When he stepped parallel to her, she reached out a hand to catch his arm and pull him to the side.
Janine stared unflinching up into his hard glare. "So who shoved the rod up your ass this morning?"
Seifer pulled his arm from her grasp, still glaring. "Step off, Larabie."
"'Step off'? I haven't even stepped on." She scrutinized his hard expression. "You need to take a turn in the Training Center? Bash some heads. Kick some ass..."
He clenched his jaw, and his hold on the mug tightened. "Step off."
Janine frowned. "Like hell I'm going to 'step off', you big jackass," she hissed as firmly as possible. "You look like you're about to explode, so I'm trying to give you a chance to blow some steam. Damn."
Seifer leaned toward her. "Blow some steam?" he hissed back at her. "I don't need to blow any goddamn steam!"
An eyebrow twitched, and she slowly crossed her arms. Seifer fisted his free hand so tight his knuckles popped, and Janine could have sworn she heard a growl.
Smirking, she observed, "It's all about being in control and keeping your focus and doing your job, isn't it?" Seifer's glare darkened as he held her gaze. "Seifer, don't you ever let it go? How are you going to do your job when you can't see straight for-–"
He pointed in her face. "Don't."
Janine lifted her hands. "Fine. I won't say it, but I'm telling you..." she thumped on her chest with a hand, "Bring it. Sparring in the T.C., yelling about some dumb-shit who doesn't know his head from his ass..." her smirked widened. "Hell. I don't care. The thrill and rush behind the clash brought on by a completely pissed-off gunblader? Shit! I won't be passing that up, and I'll take you on without breaking a sweat."
Seifer stepped forward fast, forcing her back against the wall while one hand firmly held her upper arm. "Don't open this box," he warned gruffly.
Janine smiled and leaned toward him. "Why not? Afraid I might stick around for the next thrill?" she countered in a low tone.
Seifer lowered his head but kept his mouth from touching hers. "Damn it," he grumbled, and there was a mere hint of skin against skin.
Janine chuckled. "I bet you say that to all the girls," she whispered.
Seifer vocalized another growl and then pushed back. "Last warning. You don't wa--"
"Like hell I don't." And Janine grabbed his shirtfront to pull him into her kiss. Mouths and thrills and coffee and-- She pushed roughly back, but kept her hold on his shirt. "Don't you tell me what I do or don't want, Seifer Almasy. I'm a big girl, and I can handle any damn thing you throw me."
Seifer stared down at her with that emerald gaze... He smirked. "I bet."
Janine's lips twitched. "Hyne you're hot when you smile." Then she pushed him gently away, fully releasing his shirtfront to smooth the wrinkles. "You better take off before I take it off."
Seifer chuckled and handed her his mug of coffee. "Hold this."
She arched an eyebrow while she looked down at the coffee mug– Seifer pulled her closer, hands on her hips, and intercepted her mouth as she lifted her head to look up. Janine smiled against his lips and lifted an arm to his neck as she urged herself closer... careful not to spill his precious coffee.
Then he pulled his mouth away and released her hips to take back his mug. "See you around, Larabie."
"Is that a threat or a promise?"
He chuckled as he moved past. "Whatever."
Janine continued to smile as she rested her hands on her hips and watched him move away.
« † »
"S-Sir?"
Seifer looked up from the collection of reports on his desk. Sally Regal wrung her hands and gnawed her lower lip while standing in the doorway of his office. He raised an eyebrow. "What, Regal?"
"Um... Well... I, uh..."
Seifer frowned and waved her in. "Shut the door," he ordered, annoyed.
Regal closed the door and then hesitantly and cautiously stepped forward to slowly sit in the chair across from him. Seifer leaned back in his chair and grabbed firm hold of his coffee, his patience, and his tongue as he prompted "Problem?"
Regal clasped her hands in her lap. "Sir, I don't think Fu-- I-I mean... I don't think... she likes me."
Seifer raised an eyebrow. "Regal, Ahndra only 'likes' two people. Don't take it personal."
"But..." Regal slowly raised her eyes from her clasped hands. "But... She doesn't even respect me."
Seifer regarded her as he slowly set down his mug.
"D-Does she?"
Seifer absently tapped his desk... He stood and made his way to his office door, opening it to catch someone's attention and direct them inside. Then he waited, opening the door wider as Ahndra cautiously entered while sending him a guarded glance.
"Sit."
Ahndra made her way to the other chair and stiffly did as she was told. Seifer continued to grip the doorknob for a brief moment before stepping forward and leaning back against his desk. This was one of the major aspects of his job he could live without: encouraging communication between co-workers. Damn.
He crossed his arms. "Regal," he prompted.
Regal paled as she stared at her hands. "S-Sir..."
Seifer frowned and adjusted his crossed arms. "Regal, now."
A tear trickled from her eye, but she quickly wiped it away and asked "Ma'am, do you... Can I..." She sniffed and finally looked over at Ahndra. "What should I do to make you respect me?"
Ahndra blinked in complete shock, which Seifer could understand. But only because he knew that Ahndra had grown to respect Sally Regal since the mission in Winhill with Marshal. Only because Marshal had confessed certain things about Regal that Ahndra hadn't known. Things that Regal never told anyone.
Ahndra looked to Seifer. "I don't understand."
Seifer motioned to Regal. "So tell her," he snapped.
Regal actually held Ahndra's returning gaze. "I can do this job, Fuj--... I-I mean, Ahn--... Ma'am, I can. Really." She sniffed again. "I try not to make mistakes. And I try to do what you want as fast as I can, but... but..." Regal wiped the tears from her face. "Is it just me? Because I'm so scared of everything? Because I'm shy?"
Seifer focused on Ahndra. She looked to be at a total and complete loss. Seifer smirked. He loved to watch her squirm.
"Your work is acceptable," Ahndra finally said.
"Ahndra! Damn," Seifer hissed.
She sent him a glare and then re-focused on Regal.
"Oh," was all Regal whispered.
Ahndra tightly crossed her arms. "I do not.. I..." She pressed her lips together and sent Seifer another glare before looking away. "I respect you, Regal," she confessed in a tight tone.
Regal looked up at Ahndra with wide eyes. "Y-You do?"
"You are fast. You are thorough. You don't complain. You do more than what you are assigned."
Regal smiled, tears coming faster. "Really?" she squeaked.
Seifer shook his head, smirking. She really had no idea.
Ahndra adjusted her crossed arms and briefly glanced toward Regal before looking away again. "Yes."
Regal smiled at Ahndra in silence for another collection of very uncomfortable seconds - at least for Ahndra - before calmly wiping the tears from her face and standing. "Thank you," she said softly. Then she focused on Seifer. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."
Seifer waved it aside. Always made him damn uncomfortable. "Leave early, Regal. That's an order." He was running low on things to assign her anyway, she works so damn fast.
Regal giggled. "Yes, sir." And she hurried out of the office with another smile at the duo as well as another round of "Thank you"s. Then she closed the door.
Seifer scratched at his scalp and shook his head. "Damn if I get people like her, falling over themselves to apologize for living." He shook his head again. "She should've just called you out and beat your ass." Seifer barked out a laugh, but then he noticed Ahndra still watching him. He met her hard stare. "What."
"Janine Larabie."
Seifer smirked and re-crossed his arms. "Yeah?"
"Hothead."
Didn't he know that already? "Point?"
"Troublemaker."
Hell yes! She was already making trouble for him because the minute he clocked off, he couldn't focus. He smirked wider. A twisted part of him thought that the best part of the whole thing. Mostly because he knew she was likely having the same problem.
"Disrespectful."
Don't I know it? And she wasn't scared of him, either. Made his skin crawl all the time thinking about it. "Your point, Ahndra?"
Ahndra smirked and finished the list with "Perfect" as she stood and headed for the door.
"You forgot 'smart ass'," Seifer called after her. And tight ass. And sweet ass...
"No, I didn't." She closed the door after her.
Seifer chuckled and straightened, going around to his desk just as his door opened again. He looked up as Quistis stepped forward. Seifer sat and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "What."
Quistis crossed her arms. "I heard something I didn't like."
Seifer scoffed and sat forward in his chair to again work on reviewing the reports on his desk. He had a meeting with Squall in the morning. "Surprise."
"It's about you and Janine Larabie."
Seifer's entire body went rigid. "None of your business," he snapped without looking up.
"Like hell it's none of my business." Quistis' tone was sharp. "She's my fill-in. My temporary fill-in. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Having some goddamn fun! "My job."
"Your job?" Quistis scoffed. "Feeling up an Instructor is your job now? Since when?"
Seifer very slowly lifted his gaze to hers. "Trepe, step off," he warned under his breath.
"I'll 'step off' the minute you back off. She's here to teach my classes and make my story believable. She's not here for you to get your--"
Seifer stood. "Get out."
Quistis held Seifer's hard glare. "Back off, Almasy, or I go to Squall." She turned and strode from the office, slamming the door behind her.
Seifer clenched his jaw. Bitch. She had always used her position to boss and push people around, and she only got worse the closer Squall got with Rinoa. Seifer wouldn't wish Quistis on a dead dog if and when the two got married. Seifer scoffed and sat back down. He couldn't wait until Quistis left on her mission, and she had only agreed to it because Squall had asked her. Seifer scoffed again, wishing it were Monday so that she'd be off his ass and with Zack Regal in Timber. Poor idiot.
'Back off, or I go to Squall.' Seifer gripped the arms of his chair. Back off? He pressed his lips together. I always back off, you little and the words filled in faster than he could think them. Day after day. Month after month. Year after damn year he backed off and did his job. Now he wanted a little fun and she told him to back off? Like hell!
'I'll take you on without breaking a sweat.'
Seifer stood, pushing his chair back so fast that the casters caught on the carpet and tipped it over. He didn't care. He strode from his office and headed past all the cubicles and side-offices to the elevator, stepping aboard and pressing the button for the main floor.
He strode off almost before the doors opened, heading down the main corridor and around toward the dorms. But Seifer's steps halted outside the corridor to the Training Center. His job. Reports. A conspiracy. A traitor in Garden... He fisted his hands. Damn it! Seifer turned sharply, vaguely hearing the report of Squall's gunblade inside the Training Center. 'Back off, or I go to Squall–-' There was another gunblade report, but it wasn't Squall's.
Seifer sharply turned and strode down the side-hall and into the Training Center. Squall, Janine, and Zell all exited from the right-hand steel door, animatedly discussing something that had happened inside.
Seifer halted, again fisting his hands.
Janine glanced ahead and focused on Seifer while Squall spoke. Her expression changed. Then Squall and Zell noticed Seifer and headed toward him.
"Yo, Seifer," Zell greeted. "'Sup?"
"Anything wrong?" Squall prompted.
Seifer tightened his fists as he forced himself to focus on Squall from Janine. Quistis is being a controlling bitch. "No."
Janine studied Seifer a moment before turning to Squall and Zell. "Thanks, guys, for the fun. Commander, I'll keep that suggestion in mind. Right now, I need Almasy's help, so... Get together later?"
"Sure," Squall agreed.
"No prob. I'll bring Sally this time," Zell promised.
Janine saluted and then focused on Seifer. She motioned back toward the main corridor and fell into step beside him. "I'm having problems... reading what's up," she finished once they had entered the side-hall to the main corridor.
Seifer's jaw muscles ached.
"You look pissed, Almasy. Who bit down on your ass and chewed?"
"Trepe."
"What the hell for?"
"You."
Janine halted and caught him by the arm. "What?" she asked as she turned him to face her. "What the hell did I do?"
"Me."
Janine scowled and crossed her arms. "And what business is it of hers what we do? It's not against code to fraternize. Shit." She glared. "So what's she threatening to do? Tell Commander Squall?"
Seifer's jaw twitched.
Janine scoffed. "Oh brother. Squall won't give a damn about us. He's more concerned about the Garden in Deling than anything."
"I know."
"It just pisses you off that she's butting in and pushing you around." Seifer clenched his jaw. Janine smirked. "Kind of figured. You like doing the pushing." She motioned back to the Training Center. "You want to grab your blade and meet me in there? Or..." Her smirk changed. "Or do you want a little more hands-on?"
Seifer held her gaze... He turned and walked back toward the main corridor. Damn it. There was a traitor. There were missions and reports...
Janine hesitated a moment longer before jogging up to walk beside him. She regarded his profile. "Seifer."
He didn't answer.
Janine caught him by the arm and pulled him to a stop by a bench near the intersection of the main corridor and the side-hall. She sat him down and then stood behind him. "You just sit here and stew. I'll work a little magic."
Janine's hands dug into Seifer's shoulders so hard it hurt, but damn it felt good.
"Let Quistis do whatever, babe. Like I said, Squall won't care. But I don't get why she thinks he might. I mean, hell, you're a big boy. You can make your own decisions."
Seifer could only grunt as the muscles within his back and shoulders began to loosen and relax; Janine's hands and fingers and elbows continued to push and knead and work at them. Seifer couldn't help but relax his head forward and close his eyes.
"Let me guess: You give everyone the look of death before they can get close enough to give you one of these?" Janine began working at his neck, leaning forward and pressing herself against him as she did. "Got you now," she told him in a low voice.
And 'relaxed' had to be the best drug on the planet. Seifer was immediately addicted.
Janine nibbled at his ear and then pulled back, her hands lingering only a fraction of a second. "Sorry, babe. Can't finish. A lesson-plan calls my name, and I don't think you want an audience for what I have in mind."
Seifer chuckled and stood as Janine came around to stand in front of him. He could hear Squall and Zell approaching while talking about Winhill-– Seifer reached out and grabbed the front waist of Janine's denim jeans to pull her close, pressing a hard kiss against her mouth. When he lifted his head, she smirked up at him.
"We'll continue later, Larabie."
"Yes, sir."
Seifer briefly tightened his grip on her jeans before releasing them and turning away. Janine smacked his butt.
"Very tight ass," she commented as he walked away.
Seifer's lips twitched, and he looked down at his watch. For the first time in his life he wondered if he could risk a lunch.
« † »
Janine knocked and entered Quistis Trepe's office, still fighting back her temper in order to have a somewhat diplomatic discussion about something that wasn't any of the woman's business. Janine didn't want to slit her own throat and the possibility of increasing her hours there at Garden. But she'd be damned if she let the woman twist Seifer up in knots and not do something about it.
Quistis looked up and then set down the paperwork she looked over. "Need some help with the lesson plan?"
And the woman sounded like she genuinely wanted to help! Which of course pissed Janine off even more; it meant she had a personal vendetta against Seifer. The man does his job and gets nothing but hell!
Janine saluted and then stood at-ease. "We need to have a dialogue," she said in a cryptic tone.
Quistis arched a damn slim eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I'm an Instructor here now, correct?"
"Yes," Quistis acknowledged slowly.
"I'm not just some floater here for a brief holiday before getting my ass kicked back to Trabia, correct?"
Quistis crossed her arms. "Janine, what's the problem."
"The problem is that you're butting into my personal life without coming to me to ask if I had a problem in the first place." Janine clasped her hands behind her back, still standing at-ease while doing her best to stay under control. "I initiated the relationship with Seifer, and now I understand that you have a problem with that. At the extreme risk of sounding insubordinate, it's none of your damn business, so you need to back the hell off... Ma'am."
Quistis regarded Janine for a tense and silent moment before calmly asking "Do you have any idea what kind of man Seifer Almasy is, Janine?"
"He's an arrogant ass who likes pushing people around," Janine countered easily. "A prick who is all about how much fun he can have pissing people off while laughing his ass off. But." Janine leaned forward, brown eyes flashing. "But he's a helluva good man who puts Garden and his duty here above every other damn thing in his life. And you know what? That's hot." Janine pointed hard at Quistis. "If you want to stand between Seifer and my business, then you better be prepared to step up to a fight. I started this, and I'm going to damn-well finish it." Janine straightened, hands again going behind her back. "Ma'am."
Quistis' eyebrow arched yet again, but this time her perfectly colored lips tilted upward. Janine clenched her jaw. There should have been a law against 'perfectly' beautiful women being in the military. They make the rest of us look bad.
"I won't hold your taste in men against you, Janine, but only because I seem to have the same problem." Quistis pointed at Janine and sat forward in her chair. "But I will tell you this, if you act inappropriate in any way that affects your duty here, or his, your ass is gone. Yours wasn't the only name on the list of prospects, and you certainly weren't the only SeeD I considered for the position."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Remember, Seifer Almasy is Head of Network Security. You don't question him on his duty or anything that might be classified, I don't care if he has a bleeding ulcer because of it. It's classified and you don't ask."
Janine clenched her jaw. Like hell. "I understand."
Quistis leaned back. "You're putting your ass and career on the line with this one, Janine. I hope you realize that."
"If there wasn't a risk, the fun wouldn't be worth my time," Janine quipped.
Quistis scoffed. "A twisted idea of fun, Janine, but I'll leave you to it."
Janine bit back a retort.
"If there's nothing else..."
"No, ma'am."
"Dismissed."
Janine about-faced and stalked out of the office, trying her best not to slam the door behind her as she muttered a few choice phrases under her breath. Problem solved, babe. Show me what you got.
« † »
Seifer looked at his watch and then his nearly empty desk. He smirked. It was amazing how motivated one got when someone like Janine Larabie told him to 'Bring it.' But she sure as hell won't appreciate what I'm bringing. And the thought of the look on her face brought a chuckle.
Grabbing his keys, Seifer stood and left his office, locking the door behind him. Ahndra straightened from where she had looked over a SeeD's shoulder to check up on something. She raised an eyebrow.
"Leaving?" she asked.
He said "Appointment" while stepping past her and down the hall to the elevator beyond.
Seifer stepped aboard the elevator and pressed the button for the main floor, again stepping off before the doors could completely open. 'Bring it...' Never heard those words before. He was an ass. He knew it. He liked being an ass. Loved the thrill of seeing how far he could push people before they cracked and blew up in his face.
Pushing and being pushed by Janine was a thrill.
Seifer smirked until he strode past the Training Center. Her insistence at a sparring match brought to mind her scars, and his smirk slowly vanished. Janine Larabie had a hardness about her, like him, but... Scars on a woman. It... felt wrong, but at the same time it gave him a rush. She was tough, and he knew how to handle 'tough'. He could handle anyone that was 'tough'.
And she wanted to be handled.
Seifer fisted his hand around his keys as his chest tightened and his step widened toward the dorms. Go to hell, Trepe. I'm not backing off of this. Then he turned down the side-hall toward the dorms, taking the steps two at a time as he continued toward the room number that was burned into his brain.
He barely came to a stop outside the door before it opened and Janine had him inside, her hands working at the buttons of his shirt as her mouth met his. Seifer smirked, enjoying the rush and the fumble for a few heart-racing seconds before taking a firm hold of her wrists and halting the tug and the pull.
"...the hell?" she whispered, her quickened breath fanning his face.
"Came by to see just what exactly you're wanting me to bring," he admitted gruffly.
Janine actually chuckled, her hands fighting at his firm hold as she stepped a little closer. "Slick son of a bitch, aren't you?"
Seifer adjusted his hold on her wrists, accepted a few more kisses, and then stepped back. Janine followed. "That's what they say."
Her lips twitched and she moved even closer, following with each one of his backward steps. "I bet they love it."
Kisses, a slip of hold on wrist, and then he again moved away. "I'm sure."
This time her brown eyes sparked and she grabbed a firm hold of the front of his shirt. "What're you playing, Almasy?" she asked, tone low but not angry. "You in or out?"
His smirk widened. "Out. Early meeting."
"Ah." She released his shirt-front, but only to run her hands down the front, eyes holding his. "Do that again, Almasy, and you won't be getting any more... coffee."
His green eyes twinkled as he again gathered her wrists before they ventured lower than sanely possible to control. "It's all about control, Larabie. Remember?" He leaned in, barely touching her lips with his. "This is me in control," he whispered gruffly.
And the kiss she gave him had him cursing his decision to keep her at arms length for a while.
Then she pulled slowly back, opening her eyes to meet his. "Control is a dangerous thing, babe. You might think you're the one who has it... but do you?"
Smirking, he tugged her closer. "I always have control, Larabie."
She sounded a low laugh as her hands were released to the freedom of entwining themselves behind his neck. "Do you now? Seems to me that's a two-way street we're sharing at the moment. A damn thrill, if you ask me." She kissed him again, her mouth doing a helluva good job at persuading him to do a lot more than what he'd gone there to do. "How about you surrender?" she mumbled against his lips. "Just this once?"
Surrender and Seifer just didn't mesh.
Instead, he pulled her hands from behind his neck and pushed her back. Not so harshly that it would piss her off. Just firm enough to let her know he meant what he was about to say. "SeeDs don't surrender, Larabie."
Her lips twitched. "But no advance to victory tonight... Sir?"
Seifer's smirk widened. "Not this time, Larabie."
Saluting, she voiced a sultry, "Your loss."
Damn straight... "I'll see your sexy ass tomorrow, Larabie," he informed as he about-faced and made his way to the still-open door of her room.
She caught him by the arm before he could exit, turning him to face her as she purred, "Any time, big guy. Any time," while pressing herself against him.
Resisting the urge to perform a test of SeeD endurance, he simply gave the aforementioned 'sexy ass' a squeeze and stroke - damn gray shorts - and then turned to make his way down the hall toward his own room and a waiting cold shower.