Squall ran a hand through his messy brown hair, and allowed his gaze to drift over the limp martial artist. The only sound in the room was the consistent beeping of the machine hooked up to monitor Zell’s heart. While the high-pitched noise would have bothered anyone else, the Squall embraced it as a sign that he had not lost another friend. A fact he was grateful for, despite what actions his duties as commander called for. Suicide was not permissible for an active member of SeeD. And that’s what bothered the handsome man.
Since when was Zell suicidal? Of course he’d lost Lex, they all had but him especially, but it just didn’t seem like a Zell thing to do. The Zell he knew, the Zell he listened to, the Zell who was one of his best friends, thought suicide wasn’t the answer to anything. A rather hard pill to swallow since the evidence stared Squall directly in the face. And at the time of his statement, Lex was hanging on his muscular arm and not gored and mutilated from a sign post. But if Zell’s opinion hadn’t changed…
That meant that Zell did not commit suicide. Which meant that once Zell was better he could be reinstated as SeeD. Which also meant that it was attempted homicide. Which meant there was a killer loose, possibly still in Garden. Which meant no one was safe, not if a top soldier like Zell was hurt. Which meant-
Squall let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, ice blue eyes filled with worry only allowed to appear because no one else was in the room. He rested his forehead in his palms and breathed in. “Why Zell? Why would you do this?”
A raspy breath echoed his own sigh, and Squall parted his fingers to peer through at the blonde on the bed, who was watching the commander out of cloudy gray eyes. Eyes that were normally clear and as blue and bright as a summer sky. Zell stared at Squall silently, before moving his gaze down to the bandages on his arms, then back up to Squall. His lips parted, cracked, and he licked them and tried again. “What happened?” The weak almost feminine voice was a far cry from the low strong tenor Squall was accustomed to hearing from the once energetic martial artist.
Squall swallowed, torn. His thoughts argued amongst themselves. Zell’s awake! He needs to be informed of his position. Zell spoke! It’s my duty to tell him. Wait until he’s better! Don’t want him to hear it from someone else…Duty won. The brunette rose, closing off any emotions from his face and cleared his throat.
“Zell Dincht,” he said quietly and commandingly. “You are stripped of your rank as SeeD mercenary and are to remain at Garden only until your wound have been healed.”
Zell’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “What?!” His muscles tensed as if he was preparing to spring at the unwilling commander. “Why?! Squall!” There was no response and his hands curled into fists. “Commander Leonhart. For what reason am I being stripped of my position?”
Their eyes met and Squall felt the surprise down to his toes. Zell really did not know. “Attempted suicide,” he blurted out, astonished, then quickly shut his mouth at the disbelief on Zell’s face. “You don’t remember?”
“Squall, you can’t…” Zell stared at the young commander. “Who found me?”
“Lila. She went to drop by some hot dogs and when there was no answer went inside. She found you.” Squall’s eyes narrowed. “You’d slit your wrists with a razor blade.” Even before he’d finished, Zell was shaking his head.
“No, Squall, you can’t believe that!”
“The word ‘Lex’ was written on the wall in your blood. The razor blades had your fingerprints all over them.” Zell was practically leaping off the mattress and Squall leaned over, gently but forcefully pushing him down. “Zell, all evidence points to suicide. There’s no sign of forced entry, no struggle, no stray blood or fingerprints.”
“Don’t you think that’s kind of convenient?!” Zell shot back, grayish eyes taking on a bluer hue. Squall said nothing and Zell stopped struggling. “Squall, I would never consider suicide. I mean, the thought crossed my mind but I couldn’t…Lex and I…We…” Zell closed his eyes, then gazed up at Squall imploringly. “Will you listen?”
Hesitantly Squall nodded, releasing his hold on Zell’s shoulders and settling onto the other cot.

* * *
“Wish me luck, Zell,” Alexya smiled nervously up at him, alternately relaxing and tightening her grip on the quarter staff. Unconsciously she reached up and tucked a stray hair back into her braid.
“Good luck,” he murmured, looking down into her apprehensive brown eyes and attempting to ignore the tight feeling in his gut.
Her first mission. Of course she could handle it. After all, she’d made SeeD. And she was killer with that staff. But still…The field exam had trained SeeD present in case of emergencies and very rarely was anyone in any danger. His, Squall’s, and Selphie’s being the only real exception. This was an important mission, and if SeeD were called in, bound to be a dangerous one at that.
Zell swallowed hard, unsure of whether or not he was ready to lose her and barely restraining himself from running to Headmaster Cid and begging him to assign someone else in Alexya’s place. But no, he couldn’t do that to her. She worked too hard.
“Zell?” The plain dark-haired girl tilted her head up at him, quizzically. “Are you okay?”
NO! His mind screamed. I’m not okay! I don’t want anything to happen to you! He examined every one of her features, from her dark almond eyes to her ski-jump nose to her rounded but stubborn chin, memorizing each one, and wondered when she had become so beautiful. Many called her plain, some even ugly, and questioned how such a girl could win the heart of Zell Dincht. Zell didn’t question, he just knew. And here she was staring at him with her big beautiful eyes about to go off into armed combat.
“Alexya!” he said suddenly, grabbing the small hand that wasn’t holding the staff. Her lips parted slightly, letting out a tiny gasp as he drew her closer to him. “Let’s make a promise.”
“A promise…” The librarian stared at him, before comprehension dawned on her face, and a small smile made her eyes crinkle at the corners. “I understand…If one of us dies, the other continues to live.”
Sky blue eyes met chocolate brown ones, and Zell squeezed her hand. “Agreed,” he whispered. “Though there won’t be much to live for without you.” He leaned his forehead down-not too far-to rest against hers. “I love you, Lex.”
“I love you too.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’ve never called me Lex before.” Before he could say anything, Lex pressed a small kiss to Zell’s lips and headed toward the front gate.
“Promise!” he yelled at her retreating back.
“Promise!” she called back.
* * *
“Squall, I can’t break my promise,” Zell whispered raggedly, fighting back the tears. “Especially now that she’s…Squall…”
Squall ran a hand through his hair, trying to sort out his thoughts, but they were running around in circles again. “Zell,” he said finally,”I don’t know what to think.” He rose, and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Rest easy, man.”
“Squall.”
The commander turned back to the man on the cot.
“Will you watch my back?” The unspoken word hung in the air. The person might try again.
“SeeD Dincht.” Squall saluted, nodded at the weak smile on Zell’s face, and left the infirmary.
So there was a killer. Squall’s blue-gray eyes narrowed. They would pay.