He let out an angry moan as he spun his leg over the side of his bed, placing his head in his hands he slowly rubbed his tired face. What had happened in his life for him to deserve this, he thought to himself. Four years had now passed since they faced and beat the witch Ultimecia. Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Quistis were all still here at Garden and doing quite well for themselves.
Quistis had since settled down and married a senior professor, she even matured enough throughout the journey to again become a professor at the Garden herself. Her students were amongst the best Garden had to offer. And was it any wonder after she had participated in the downfall of the most powerful witch in history. He, himself was rather wealthy and highly ranked, together they put forth a joined effort to do everything they could to help keep the world at peace.
Irvine and Selphie became an item shortly after the events of that day. Everyone found comfort in someone else, and they were lucky enough to find comfort in eachother. They were rarely apart, and defiantely had their fair share of arguments. Being Selphie, she wasn't scared to voice her opinion in public. Not that that embarrassed Irvine. Just as loud mouthed and opinionated as her. But no matter what, within the hour, they were all over each other again.
Zell was Zell. Nothing had changed there. Still loud and obnoxious to most who hadn't learnt to deal with it yet. Still a 'chicken', couldn't even build up the courage to ask the girl of his dreams out yet, even if it was obvious to all around the two that she loved him just as much as he loved her. If any good came out of it though, he was very knowledgeable from all the time he spent reading books at the library just so he could stare and talk to her all day. He even applied for a job there. Many times infact. Each time he was turned down. It's a wonder how he couldn't figure out why. Library's are meant to be quiet, are they not?
Then there was Squall. He was happy once. But that was a long time ago.
He woke up the same time he had every morning for the passed three years, 4.27. He was getting worn down. He couldn't sleep anymore. He was returning to his shell he tried desperately to hide behind before everything happened all those years ago. Actually, he was passed that shell. Squall was in a cold world all of his own and honestly, what was the point of getting up anymore? He used to have a reason to get up every morning, but now he had nothing.
Squall finished the big stack of papers piled on top of his desk. This was his life now. He joined with Headmaster Cid in running and daily maintenance of Balamb Garden. It was long unrewarding hours. He enjoyed his job. Not the theory, but definately the practical. He liked spending time with the students, teaching them to be stronger, faster, all around better soldiers. But he hardly had time to do that anymore. He found himself minding less and less though. Now he could bury himself in some paper work. Hide away from the rest of the world. In fact, he could do it for days on end, never having to talk to a single soul. He welcomed his secluded world. His office was nothing special. Just a few frames on the wall, a plant in the corner. On his desk used to sit a picture of a certain someone, but that was now long gone. He got up and moved to look out the large window over looking the Quad. A lot of late students were rushing off to class.
He shook his head as he reached into his back pocket to retrieve a box of cigarettes. He pulled one out before digging into his jacket pocket to pull out a lighter. He placed the cigarette between his lips and took a deep breath as he lit the end. Shoving the lighter back in his pocket he exhaled deeply, the smoke leaving his lungs. It was just easier this way. Smoking was a bad habit, he knew that, but it was his aide for taking some of the pain inside away. It gave him the slow painful death he thought he deserved, let alone wanted. Finishing the last hit of the cigarette, he flicked it to the hard wood of his office floor, and stomped it out before readjusting his jacket and exiting through the door.
"Squall, wait up!"
He shuddered from the high pitched squeal as his name was yelled. He placed his hand to his forehead and continued walking down the corridor. He had a splitting headache and didn't feel like dealing with the pint sized spit fire today.
"Squall!" Selphie yelled again, struggling to catch up with his huge strides.
"What?" He spat as he turned around to face her, clearly annoyed at the fact he had to talk to someone.
"Geeze." She puffed, putting her hands up in surrender. "What are you doing?"
He rolled his eyes. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to my dorm."
"Why?" She questioned, knowing that it would irritate him. She was getting slightly annoyed herself with his attitude. "We all know you don't actually sleep. How can you... You look like shit."
"Whatever." He growled through clenched teeth and he bagan to walk off, determined to get away from this annoyance.
Down the hall Selphie called after him, "It's time you let go!"
But he didn't need anyone to tell him how to live his life.
He leaned over the balcony, letting the cool breeze run through and ruffle his hair. He had let go. In fact, he had let go of everything. He ran his hand over the stubble growing on his unkept face before closing his eyes. It had been just over three years, two months and 14 days since Rinoa Heartilly had left his life. Without so much as a goodbye. Left, without leaving so much as a note to explain her absence from his life. And it was all his fault for being so stupid. He blamed himself for the whole mess, although he tried to place all the blame on her in his own mind. He knew the truth deep down. For two weeks straight they had been fighting, and on that night she left, they had the biggest fight they had ever had.
The day she left his love left with her. His whole heart left with her. Even if he let it go, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't deny what he felt for her. And he always would feel for her. But he had no clue where she was, what she was doing, if she had moved on. Was she even alright? These thoughts teared him down. These were the ones that buried him and dug his grave. She made him what he was today, and that would always hang over his conscience. He tried, he really did. He tried to let things go back to normal but everything just got worse. The more he tried to get out of the grave he dug himself, the more dirt that was thrown over him. He wanted to be who she made him, but how could he be when she wasn't around? He couldn't carry that on, when the only person who gave his life meaning was gone. When he felt scared or uncertain, she was there to urge him on and she didn't laugh at him because he had fears.
Squall sighed. Selphie was right, why did he even bother to try sleeping? It came, but was never enough to ease his weary, fragile mind. He smacked his hand against the railing of the balcony before exiting his room, wondering aimlessly around the Garden he called his home. It was beautiful, but he only saw it in monotones. What could be as beautiful as her? Next to her, it was just some barren wasteland. Without her in it, it was all meaningless. At this time of night Garden was practically deserted. That was of course, with the exception of one loud mouthed martial artist who come jogging from where else, but from the Library looking oddly chuffed with himself.
"Squall, come out with us tonight." He requested rather than asked.
"I don't think so." He mumbled through his gruff tired voice, barely audible.
"You need to get out more. Meet some new friends. Meet someone new."
"I don't want to meet someone new." Squall said, his voice rising with each word until he was practically yelling. "Would you guys just srop it! I'm fine being alone! It's what I want, so why don't you guys just listen to what I'm telling you!"
"Whoa..." Zell buried his hands in his pockets, looking down, scorned before leaning back slightly to raise his head. "Sorry, man."
"Sorry..." The brown hair man spoke softly as he pushed past Zell. "I just need to be alone. It's what I want, so just let me have it."
The next day happened just like every other, so were the next few days after that. Squall sighed, forcing himself to rise from his bed. He glanced over at the clock. 4.27. He lifted himself and dragged his tired body to the bathroom where he leaned against the basin, splashing water on his face before staring at himself in the mirror. He hated the way he looked. His untidy hair. His unshaven face. The scar that ran between his eyes and over the bridge of his nose. Reaching up, he trailed his rough finger down the length of it. He remembered clearly how it happened. How it had been the start of all the bad things to come, and really, he should have guessed it sooner. He hit his palm hard against the basin. When she was here, she used to make everything better. When he felt subconscious about his scar, she was always there to kiss it and take all the pain he felt away. Afterall, she had told him it was all just a part of who he was. Now all he could do was pretend it wasn't there. And then, for the first time since she had left him, a single tear slid from the corner of his eye and cascaded down his cheek. As quickly as it came he wiped it away, refusing to let himself give in to his emotions. He mentally kicked himself. He couldn't believe he was doing this, not now. Frustrated he punched the wall, feeling the bones in his knuckles give way to the force from the wall. Who was he?
He layed back in his chair, his feet resting on his his desk as he looked up at the roof. As everything raced through his mind, the main thing he could focus on was boredom. He welcomed this change in a weird way. But that boredom also let other thoughts enter his head. Closing his eyes his mind began to wonder. His face flushed a deep shade of red as he saw Rinoa, tangled and asleep in his sheets, clearly worn out after a long night they had spent together. Reaching out, he brushed the hair matted from sweat off her cheeks and behind her ear. He mentally smiled. How beautiful she looked laying there. So innocent in her sleep. Well, despite what they had just done together. But after all, they had loved eachother and in his mind, that made it all okay. And back then everything was all okay. She was his and he was hers. That was just the way it was meant to be. Sliding his hand over her bare thigh, he tingled at the touch. He loved the rush it made him feel. The way she made him feel.
He jumped bolt upright, feeling his heart skip a beat and race as his feet hit the floor. The phone rung again, and it took him a moment to register what exactly it was. Rubbing his tired eyes, he picked up the phone. Grunting in acknowledgment he stood up, steadying himself for a moment until the faint feeling passed before grabbing his jacket and making his way to the conference room. Waiting there to meet him was Headmaster Cid. They briefly shook hands. He hadn't even changed. He was surprisingly good looking for his age.
"I won't mess you about, Squall. We're both very busy people at this time of year, are we not?" He mused to himself. "Come in, take a seat." Cid led Squall into the room and urged him to sit down. Just as he took a seat, a projector clicked on and showed a picture of a burning city. "As you can tell, this is Trabia Garden, you should know it well."
Squall nodded, his mind immediately turning to Selphie. "Yeah, wasn't it recently rebuilt?"
Cid nodded, his mind clearly running at a million miles a second. "Exactly. As you can see, something is definately not right." "He laughed, a serious tone behind it. "We're still not a hundred percent sure what's going on. Communications have now been lost, and no further contact has been established. I'm sure we're only all too right to assume something is hindering a help call. Before we lost contact, chaos could be heard on the other line." Cid pressed a button, and a recording of the distress call played. Squall furrowed his brows and folded his arms. "As you can see from these survalence pictures pulled damage, at the moment, seems minute. We need to get in there before anymore harm is caused."
"So what do you propose?" Squall asked, looking him dead in the eyes. "Who's behind this? A small group of terrorist, or another big player in the domination game?"
"Well..." He laughed again, "We're not too sure." He took his glassed off and gave them a rub, before placing them back on the bridge of his nose. "While we want to assume for the best, we can't really rule out a Galbadian attack. You know they're just lying in dormant."
"So what do you want me to do?"
"Squall, I want you to lead a team. One simple objective, restore calm in Tibia before any life is lost...Or, before anymore life is lost. Just restore order by any means possible. You choose the team, I trust you'll pick wisely. Take as many people as you feel nessecary. It's all on you."
Cid gave a nod and no more really had to be said. They would soon be departing into the Garden and he'd have to be prepared. He hoped it was something major, something worth giving his life for, as terrible as that sounded to him. He reached the door and pushed through them.
"And Squall!" Cid called, "By team, I don't mean yourself." He chuckled, which could be heard even after the doors had closed.