Author's Note: Well, I was writing a song and somehow I got inspiration for this instead...Slight Rinoa/Squall
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or any of it's characters in any way, shape or form...
Blurred Lines
Standing on the balcony with Rinoa in his arms and watching the stars that slid across the night-time sky, and listening to the people celebrating inside, Squall realized something important...At least, it was rather important to him.
He had changed.
It wasn't something that most people would notice or even care about, but those closest to him had seen the subtle transformation in his personality and he himself, could feel the differences.
It wasn't anything amazing or something to inform the world about, but to this young man, it was something he never thought would happen...And he was glad it had. He was still quiet and reserved, but now he was more comfortable around people and he knew that he didn't have to tackle everything on his own anymore...He wasn't alone.
Growing up had been hard for him. He had always lost something that was important and it was just easier to not become attached to anyone. His motto had always been 'If you don't care about anything or anyone , you have nothing to lose and therefore, you'd never have to be hurt or feel any pain.'
And that's what he had done. He had cut himself off from the world, focusing solely on his training to become a SeeD, never getting close to anyone or allowing his true thoughts or feelings to show...Never letting himself care too much...Performing his duty and nothing more...Creating boundaries made up of invisible lines and shields, that would protect him from any further suffering.
He probably would have continued with that sort of demeanour, if it wasn't for a series of events that followed his becoming a SeeD, and a certain group of people that had brought about his change.
Rinoa, Ellone, Selphie, Quistis, Zell, Irvine...And even Seifer to some extent, had taught him so many things. The first six had stuck with him, even when he tried to keep up his differential appearance or pretended not to care. They had overlooked his icy mask and no matter how hard he had tried to remain impartial, they had just continued to intrude upon his shield and blur the invisible lines that he had created...Until every boundary he had before, no longer existed. You'd think he would have been angry, but he was grateful. He appreciated the fact that they, his friends, had even thought he was worth all the trouble and he wouldn't alter what had happened in any way.
Being lost in time had shown him, that no matter who he had been before or what had happened to him in the past, he would never be able to be alone again...He needed them, his friends. And though the fear of losing them still existed, he found he would rather fear losing them than not have them at all...
Rinoa then smiled up at him and kissed his cheek, momentarily disrupting his train of thought.
"I'll be here..." She whispered softly as if she could read his thoughts, and Squall returned her smile.
"I know." He replied and held her close.
Yes, his boundaries were blurred and he had changed, but Squall didn't regret it one bit. He'd never have to be alone again and that was all that mattered to him.
A/N: Review and let me know what you think