Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, settings, logos, etc. from Final Fantasy 8. Never have, never will. Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome to my second try at a multi-chapter story! First of all I want to thank everyone who reviewed Winter's Knight. I really appreciated your comments! Second, hopefully this story will not be as sketchy as Winter's Knight was. Well, enough babbling from me, let's get on with the story! Don't forget to review!
Faith of an Angel
Chapter I
By Phoenix DeFuego
The morning sunlight filtered through gossamer curtains and softly illuminated the cozy room with a golden glow. Rinoa Heartilly moaned and rolled over as the cheerful light stabbed at her tightly closed eyes. With a heavy sigh, Rinoa slowly forced herself into a sitting position and lethargically blinked her bleary brown eyes. A high pitched, pathetic whine registered in the back of her foggy mind and Rinoa's head lolled to the side as she looked at her faithful companion.
A tired smile graced her lips as Rinoa mumbled, "Good morning Angelo." Rinoa's furry friend sat in the middle of her cluttered room and wagged his stubby tail with joyful abandon. Angelo's dark coat glistened in the morning light and his big brown eyes begged Rinoa unabashedly. Rinoa's lips twisted in a wry grin as she threw off the covers and said, "Alright, alright, I'm up."
Rinoa dragged herself to her feet and ruffled Angelo's fur as she shuffled past the excited dog towards her dresser. Pulling open the mahogany drawer, Rinoa slipped into a pair of faded jeans and a blue baggy sweater. Although winter was just around the corner Balamb Island rarely became much colder than a crisp autumn day in Deling. Rinoa was still not used to the idea of not having any snow for High Winter. The raven haired beauty giggled as she realized that she would not be the only one to miss the winter snow.
"Come on Angelo," Rinoa said cheerfully. "Let's go see Selphie!" Angelo barked excitedly and wagged his stubby tail, leaping and bounding after his mistress as Rinoa walked out the door. Rinoa walked down the hall with a bounce in her step and a smile on her face as Angelo trotted by her side, his pink tongue flopping in and out of his mouth. Just as Rinoa was about to knock on Selphie's door, Selphie ripped open the gray door and both girls jumped in surprise.
"Oh! Hi Rin!" Selphie exclaimed. Rinoa took in the brunette's SeeD uniform and her smile immediately fell. "Sorry, Rin, I don't have time to talk. I better go before I'm late for my mission!"
"Another one?" Rinoa asked dejectedly.
"Sorry Rinoa. Orders are orders," Selphie apologized while slipping past the sullen sorceress. "I'll see you later!" Selphie shouted over her shoulder while running down the hall. Rinoa watched the bouncy brunette leave with a heavy sigh.
Looking down at the dog sitting beside her Rinoa said, "Come on Angelo, let's go for a walk." Angelo wagged his tail and quietly walked beside his depressed girl. As the two companions walked along the circular hall Rinoa told Angelo all about her problems.
"It's not fair!" Rinoa whined. "Everyone else is always too busy to spend any time with me anymore! All of my friends get to go on these missions while I'm stuck here in this stupid Garden! All because I'm not a SeeD!" Angelo cocked his head to the side and listened patiently as Rinoa continued to rant. "Squall doesn't really go on missions anymore but he might as well be living on another planet considering how I never get to see him anymore. He's always stuck up in that office of his doing Hyne knows what. How come nobody wants to hang out with me anymore!?"
Rinoa knelt beside Angelo and scratched him behind the ears with an apologetic smile on her porcelain face. The worried dog wagged his tail and licked his girl's face in an attempt to cheer her up. Angelo didn't understand what was wrong, but something was bothering his girl and he wasn't sure how to make it better.
"At least you still have time for me Angelo," Rinoa smiled. Angelo wagged his tail harder and continued licking Rinoa's face, glad that his girl was starting to feel better. Rinoa giggled and stood up after wiping off Angelo's wet kisses. Nodding her head Rinoa said, "Let's go." Angelo barked and trotted beside his girl as Rinoa continued down the hall with a lighthearted bounce in her step. Rinoa made it all the way to the front gate when suddenly the elderly man in the glass booth stopped her.
"Sorry Ms. Heartilly, but you can't leave Garden without an escort," the old man said apologetically.
"What!?" Rinoa shouted incredulously.
"Sorry Miss, but them's the rules," the elderly man apologized. "I can't let you through here without an escort." Angelo whimpered and meekly followed Rinoa as she growled and stormed back into the main hall.
oOo
Squall Leonhart sat reclined in his plush leather chair and carefully read over the report loosely held in his gloved hands. Apparently while on route to Edea's Orphanage several SeeDs claimed to spot an unusual tower near Centra Crater. Edea wanted to rebuild the orphanage and Squall was more than willing to help out in anyway he could. Squall almost smiled as faint memories flashed through his mind. Suddenly Squall frowned as someone burst into his office unannounced.
"We need to talk," said a furious yet familiar voice. The only indication of surprise was the tiny lift in his dark eyebrows as Squall gazed at the woman stomping into his office.
Squall set the report on his desk and said, "Rinoa, I really don't have time for—"
"No, you listen!" Rinoa seethed, stabbing her finger in his direction. Squall's brows collided together in annoyance for being yelled at for no apparent reason. "I hardly ever get to see my friends anymore because they're always off on some harebrained mission!" Squall opened his mouth to argue but Rinoa continued to rant. "And now I'm a prisoner in this stupid Garden because I can't leave without an escort!"
"One, this is not a stupid Garden and two, the escort is for your protection!" Squall growled angrily.
"I'm nineteen, Squall! I don't need a babysitter!" Rinoa shouted in anger. Angelo whined and hid beneath Squall's desk.
"You're a sorceress and —"
"So I'm a threat now!?"
"No!" Squall yelled, fury and confusion battling to take over.
"Then what am I, Squall!? Why don't you trust me!?" Rinoa screamed, her face turning red with rage.
"I do!" Squall bellowed, his own face beginning to show anger's taint.
"LIAR! All you care about is this stupid Garden and your stupid repor– Ah!"
Suddenly one of the reports on Squall's desk burst into flame. Squall jumped back and threw the burning paper onto the floor and quickly stamped out the flames. Rinoa stared at the charred scrap of paper with horror filled eyes, her face drained of all color. Squall looked up at her with utter shock in his gray eyes. As Rinoa met Squall's gaze her doe eyes filled with tears and her lips trembled as she opened and closed her mouth.
"It was an accident," Rinoa whispered in a quivering voice. Squall watched, stunned, as Rinoa bolted out the door and ran to her room as fast as her legs would carry her, tears of fear and shame streaming down her flushed cheeks.