Lean on Me
A Squall/Rinoa Story
We are teenagers fighting in a war against a power-crazy sorceress. A sorceress we used to know as Matron, who watched over us kindly as we grew in an orphanage. And now we have to kill her. Kill our Matron.
How did we end up like this? How did I get this way…?
"Yo, Squall," A man with spiked blonde hair called. Zell, of course. The hyperactive, slightly foul-mouthed, martial artist. "The others are making camp, they wanna know who's taking the first watch."
A man with brown hair and stormy blue eyes jerked his head away from the Cliffside he had been gazing so intently over. The man, Squall Leonheart, sighed, rubbing the back of his neck wearily.
How did I end up being leader…?
"I don't know Zell…I'll do it I suppose…"
Zell cocked an eyebrow at his introverted friend. "Haven't you been the first like…EVERY night, man?" Squall shrugged, unconcerned.
"Well, he's not going to be alone this time," a female voice said cheerfully.
Both men jumped, turning to greet their newest companion, considering everyone else had know each other nearly all their lives. A beautiful teenage girl with long dark hair and equally dark eyes smiled brightly at her friends. Squall found himself, once again, stunned by her presence. He had felt the same way at their meeting, unable to take his eyes off her, merely for the fact that even he could tell that he had never met anyone like her.
Raised in the bowels of Galabadia, her father being the General of the army, the seventeen-year-old had run away from her home, become part of a resistance called the Forest Owls that fought to free citizens of a town called Timber from Galabadia's tyranny, and had hired SeeD to help her movement, from then on fighting with the very people she hired, as one of their own. Among her fellow Forest Owls she had been called 'Princess', and though she seemed weary of the title, it fit her well. Squall recalled, as he gazed at the beaming young woman before him, their first meeting. Mostly, he remembered her eyes. How they had looked him head on, peering into his very existence as casually as one might look through a clear window. She could look at you, and just…see things there, things that the person hardly ever knew were even there. She just knew.
"How are you going to stay awake, Rinoa?" Zell asked, looking at the girl curiously.
"You're not used to pulling all-nighters like Squall."
Rinoa just smiled even brighter.
"Easy. I drank about five pounds of caffeine."
Zell laughed, shaking his head. With a glance back at Squall, he winked at Rinoa. "Staying up all night with Squall…girl, you're gonna need it."
Rinoa rolled her eyes, a slight giggle escaping her lips. "I should get in the habit anyway. I need to be on my toes out here." Zell shrugged comfortably. "It's you're choice. I recommend keeping some of that caffeine though…" With another laugh, he joined their friends in setting up the various tents.
Rinoa laughed, shaking her head slightly. "I'd hate to see what he'd be like with a dose of caffeine…maybe he shouldn't eat so many Hot Dogs…"
Squall didn't reply, his attention focused on the sheer drop of the cliff yet again. Soft footsteps approached, and with a jerk, he turned his head to look at Rinoa who was approaching him apprehensively, hands clasped behind her back. She smiled slightly at his raised eyebrow.
"We didn't do you any favors when we elected you as leader, did we?"
Squall merely grunted, turning back to the cliff side. He didn't really trust his own words around Rinoa. Either they ended up at each other's throats or he said something else, something that seemed dependant on her. Then, knowing that she expected a response, he grumbled, "…I don't want to solve other people's problems."
Rinoa smiled sadly, coming forward so that she stood beside the stoic commander. Slowly, she raised her hand, clutching the ring on her necklace. She closed her eyes for a moment, seeming to be lost in a far-off memory.
"We chose the right person though."
Squall turned to look at her again, both eyebrows raised now. She opened her eyes, giggling at his slightly incredulous look. She sat down, swinging her legs over the edge of the cliff, motioning for Squall to sit beside her. Grudgingly, he did so, not saying a word, eyes still gazing at the now red-streaked sky of the sunset. Then, abruptly, Rinoa spoke again.
"It's…kind of like the whole Sorceress thing," She said, eyebrows furrowed slightly in thought. "They want to take over the world, so the put themselves in positions of power to get there. When they get that power that they so greedily wanted, chaos ensues." She frowned slightly, drawing her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. Her frown melted into a small smile again as she continued, "But, if you take a guy that's never tried to get there and has lived in the chaos all his life, and put him in a position of power, it starts to spread peace." She turned her head to look Squall in the eyes, much like when they had first met, smiling again. "He didn't try to be a leader. He lived in the chaos. He didn't want to be a leader." The smile slid slowly off her face as she tilted her head a little to one side, never breaking contact with his eyes. "He already knew what being a leader was all about. He knew what leaders had to face, what they had to do, and he didn't want any of it. But they looked to him in crisis, and he was leader anyway. He did it anyway. He didn't think he had a choice." Her smile was sad and tired this time. No…not tired. Weary. Confused. Hopeful.
When did I get so good at reading her emotions…?
Rinoa leaned forward slightly, staring him hard in the eyes. Squall found himself unable to look away, much like their first meeting.
"There's always a choice, Squall."
Hell…when did she get so good at reading mine?
Rinoa smiled brightly, turning back to the now darkening sky.
What do you expect me to do? I can't just walk away…I don't want any of this; I don't want this stupid leader crap. I'm tired of giving orders, I'm sick of everyone needing me to tell them what to do! I'm just so…tired of it all…tired of everything…
"Look! It's the first star of the night!"
Squall, jerked out of his thoughts yet again, turned to face Rinoa who was pointing excitedly at a single faint, star in the darkening sky. "Make a wish!"
She bent her head, hands clasped as though in prayer, murmuring quietly to herself. Gazing at the star without comment, Squall was yet again reminded of how he had met the young woman next to him. There's irony for you…
Rinoa gave a small, contented sigh, sitting up again. Squall found himself subconsciously relaxing, something this strange girl had a habit of making him do. Along with annoying and unsettling the hell out of him too.
Suddenly, Rinoa froze her eyes wide, fingers clenching the dirt. "Squall…" Slowly, she turned her head, staring in horror at something behind him. Honing onto instincts that had been pounded into him by SeeD training, Squall could easily hear the sound of heavy breathing from behind him.
Oh shit…
There was no time to draw Lionheart, no time to turn and fight the monster, no time to fight back or call for help…
No time to cry out in pain as claws raked across his chest…
No time to be afraid when he felt nothing but air beneath him as he fell…
No time to stop Rinoa from falling after him, screaming while she tried to fight against the abominable creature…
No time to register the cracking sounds that came from his body when he hit the ground…
No time to berate himself for not being more aware…for not being able to stop the creature from throwing Rinoa over the side of the cliff….
No time to wonder what would become of the others as they fought valiantly against the behemoth…
No time…No time to think or feel as Squall Leonheart closed his eyes and knew no more. Only one thought escaped his conciousness as time ran out and ceased to exist.
Rinoa…
Hey! Well...this is going to be a chapter story dealing with Squall and Rinoa having to survive together when Squall is injured. Rinoa now has to protect him! I honestly don't know where this will go...I wrote it on the whim of wanting to get more stories out there. Please Reveiw! Also, I will take any plot suggestions as mine are fairly limited...Thanks!