CONSEQUENCES AND BREAK DOWNS
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII belongs to Square-Enix and some of the scenes were based on Eternal Tiet's "To Honor Odin, Starship Troopers and Passions of Christ."
Crimson Lies and Disgruntled Chocobos belong to Ashbear. Not mine
Fated Fowls belongs to Kuchiki-Jeane. Not mine again.
Author's Notes: When I was in 2nd year high school, my adviser was always reminding us that every time you committed sins especially when it is extremely severe no matter how many times had passed and somehow they'd forgive us. Time will comes and we will be collected from those mistakes we'd made and sometimes, the price is really high. That lesson, up until now, is one of my ways of living.
If you want to stop having trouble, then stop what you are doing. Otherwise, karma will come and go in a never ending cycle. The wheel of karma is run by our own sins. One sin is connected to another.
- A monk from the film "Art of the Devil 3"
"Just tell them that I am willing to surrender dad. But please don't ever tell my ladies of what's going on. I'm begging you." He drove into tears, not because of what he's going to face but for everything what he and she would endure for the rest of their lives. Squall was speaking with Laguna through mobile phone.
"If they want to arrest me, it should be at your residence not in front of mine." That time the World Council lead by the former president Mitchell was put down for good thanks to Alex's efforts to expose their anomalies regarding their intentions concerning the power of Sorceress once Rinoa Heartilly was executed.
However, before their closure, they made another impact. They'd been able to expose Squall Leonhart's unethical behavior towards the Garden and to his subordinates. His involvement with the late sorceress and how he was able to steal money behind the Government's and Garden's back but for the commander he was unaware of the plunder crime case filed against him.
Squall Leonhart then was given three options. One, he would receive a punishment for him enough to feel an extreme pain but get his freedom. Two, he could pay moral damages in exchange for escaping any heavy punishments he's going to face but Squall would suffer a lifetime imprisonment. He would never be able to see and protect his family especially his sorceress. And three, if he continues his hiding, the authorities, would declare a manhunt operation to kill him on the spot, and Laguna Loire loses his position as the president of Esthar for hiding a criminal. That's what the commander didn't want to happen.
At their house 9:28 pm
"Hon, I'm going to have a one week vacation together with my dad. Would you come along with Elizabeth?"
"Squall, you already know my answer to that." his partner said which was a good relief that she refuses. Though, he still asked, it's just he wanted to be honest on her.
Squall came out from his former room in the Garden being escorted by six SeeDs towards the Quad in handcuffs and SeeD uniform without his upper clothes, just pants and boots. He slowly walked up to the middle of two pillars and the whole Garden communities became witnesses. Two of them grabbed each of his arms and reached for a chain at the pillars to chained him up and his legs. The third escort pressed a button that forced Squall to raise his arms in a slanting position.
An officer stepped forward reminding all the people of the Garden "We come here to witness the first ever public punishment committed by one of our own. Also, this serves as a warning to all of you: We will never ever tolerate these kind of behavior no matter who you are."
Nida approached Squall and gave him the mouthpiece and whispered. "Commander, here, this will help." Squall chewed on it.
The Trabia commander spoke "Commander Squall Leonhart of Balamb Garden, for the crime of adultery, betrayal of public trust, obstruction of justice, a conspiracy with the late murderess named Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly against the world, plunder,…"
Plunder? Wait a minute, there might be a mistake. Squall didn't know what hit him. He admitted he's guilty in other crimes but a plunder? How was he's accused of money stealing related crimes? He wanted to yell, "I DID NOT STEAL ANYTHING! WHAT IS YOUR MALFUNCTION!?" But doing so would just make him a fool and take note, PLUNDER IS A MAJOR AND SERIOUS CRIME in any countries and Garden. Unknowingly, a tear escaped from his left eye and now, he was having the same feelings that Rinoa had when she was falsely accused of crime that she didn't ever committed.
"And concealing of a crime regarding president's death; you are hereby relieved of your position as the Commander of Balamb Garden. You are also sentence to administrative punishment: thirty-two lashes." Then, a flogger prepared his whip and an A level SeeD started counting.
"One" (The sound of whip hits the flesh). (Ugh!)
"Two" (The sound of whip hits the flesh). (Ugh!)
"Three" (The sound of whip hits the flesh). (Ugh!)
Not even reach the count of five, Squall dropped his mouthpiece. He's gritting his teeth trying not scream but the whip is just like a knife cutting his flesh. He must have to bear it all alone. No one can help him at that moment. He's feeling all alone again since the death of Ellone, Rinoa and their connections with their friends were truly gone.
Meanwhile, Nida and Xu were the only people who felt remorse on their now ex-commander. They couldn't no longer watch him by trying to focus their eyes on the floor but the rest of the Garden were not happy at first in the judges' decision for it should be death penalty but now they fully understood. Punishing by death would be too easy on him.
"And they lived happy ever after". Her mother slowly closed the story book and put it on the nightstand and her daughter yawned "Elizabeth, it's getting late. You should sleep now." She said while covering her daughter with a blanket unaware of her knight's struggle.
"I love you mommy. Goodnight."
"I love you too sweetie. Goodnight too." She kissed her forehead then left the room.
She went back to the master's room and about to sleep but then suddenly she felt another presence sitting on Squall's desk.
"Was that the right thing to do Sorceress Heartilly?"
"W-Who are you? And how did you get in here?" The raven haired woman asked, shocked.
"My name won't matter child." The elegant woman stood up, slowly walked towards her but she kept her distance.
"Are you really that cold? Are you really that heartless?"
"Cold? Heartless? What are you talking about?" the young sorceress asked.
"I am talking about your knight. Do still you love him?
"I always love him with all my heart. And who are you to question that?" the young sorceress spat.
"Fool! As a previous sorceress, you cannot hide or run from me. You are too obvious." The woman said as she pointed her finger toward the young one's left chest. "
"You say that you love him but deep in your heart you still never forgive him. He tells you that he is going to have a vacation with his dad. That one is already out of ordinary for you and your daughter are only now his happiness."
"Twenty-nine!" (The sound of metal whip hits the flesh). (Squall groans)
The scream of his agony continued to hear at the Garden. He had a difficulty in breathing due to his broken ribs. His upper and lower body was so bloody because of the punishment. Aside from whipping him, he was receiving kicks, punches, and slaps. They even spattered him with a pail of water from his torturers every time they saw his eyes closed so he couldn't cheat on them. Worst, the last five counts were the most difficult in flogging punishment in the Garden because the whip that previously uses was replaced by a metal chains that each of its very end had claws.
"Thirty!" (The sound of metal whip hits the flesh). (Squall groans)
Squall fell down on his knee and tried to stand up barely. His blood was spreading freely on the floor he was standing. The doctors were checking him if he's unconscious and Squall didn't like it for they were only just prolonging the punishment, two more, two more and it would be all over.
"Thirty-one!" (The sound of metal whip hits the flesh).
By the time those claws of that brutal weapon landed on his back, the flogger carelessly, forcefully and strongly pulled it off from his body and it created a lot of deep cuts. His skin had been or almost ripped off. Squall screamed very loudly, even louder than when he was tortured at District Prison. The witnesses still could bear to watch and didn't show any feelings of remorse. For all the tortures he endured, this one was the most poignant.
"Thirty-two!" (The sound of metal whip hits the flesh).
His sentence was finally over as they removed the chains and Squall fell down on the ground trembling, grimacing in pain. The only way to escape the suffering is to lose consciousness to death but the excruciating pain pulled him back in reality. However, it didn't end there, he must crawl out towards the exit as he began to taste the wrath of Garden community while being accompanied by his two escorts, and they even didn't' provide him any support. "Get up! You piece of trash! Get up!" said one of his escorts kicking him on the stomach.
"Traitor! Traitor!"
"Immoral!"
"Adulterer!"
"Corrupt!"
"You should die a long time ago with that evil sorceress!" A female SeeD yelled as she picked-up a stone and threw on his head and he was busted wide open. Others were spitting him.
Meanwhile, a group of young cadets was able to free themselves from barricades, run toward Squall and they'd been able to warded off his escorts. Then they started attacking him like a pack of wolves. The escorts were calling for a back-up to fend off his attackers. He was so powerless, defenseless and covering himself was the only way he could do to survive their onslaught.
"Indeed, the evil sorceress died a long time ago at the hands of your so called savior without knowing his true colors. Now, at long last, the divine punishment is finally served for her knight. This is what you'd always been dreaming off before I come here. If you want your satisfaction for all of this then, I'll willingly give it to you but please don't make my love ones involved."
Finally, reaching the main gate, they'd put an 'icing the cake by beating him up. "Take that you bitch!" And left him… to die… unless a help came.
"So, you'd lost your knight."
"He was consumed by his own guilt so he forced to end his own life in a thought he failed me but that was only a lie made by the enemies. You should remember this child: that fear, guilt and depression for his failures are the number one enemies for any knight. Those emotions will lead to his downfall and yours eventually."
The past sorceress gently put her right hand on her chest over the heart.
"So many emotions, they just keep it right here and as long as they can, they will not let their partner know their pain, their agony."
"And the most important thing: every time a sorceress dies or killed evil, the knight is always the one who pays the price for her. Your knight needs you as much as you need him so don't waste time. Child please heeds my warnings."
The past sorceress disappeared.
The sorceress frowned. "Squall what is happening? How are you feeling?"
Two hours later the sorceress was rolling over her bed, the sleeping pill that she took seemed had no effect on her and she was having a dream. White lights got her attention as she rubbed her eyes and surprised when a group of children with one teenage girl and an old man surrounded her and the sorceress rose up.
"Who are you children?" the sorceress asked. And the eldest girl went forward with her hands severed.
"My name is Nicky and this is Robert, our school bus driver. He has only one eye. All of us were the victims of Deling City Bombings four years ago and we saw what you and your knight had been through. We all knew who you really were. And by the way, thank you very much for what you had done to us victims by giving us justice but…" She shook her head slowly. "It's not enough."
"I think we already did. But why are you still here?" The sorceress asked with a puzzled expression.
"Sorceress and Knight are always intertwined: body, mind and spirit. However, your bond was overrun by doubts. Both of you have the ability to communicate through your minds. You know that don't you? However, you too made a mistake by not trusting him and not trying to communicate with him before he made 'that decision' before your heart was filled with hatred, believing he had abandoned you. Both of you had lost your trust to each other."
Robert retorted sadly. "Knight Leonhart almost at his limit. Inflict more pain and he's going to break. Currently, he is paying for his crimes he committed against the world and to you. And it's going to continue when your daughter is old and smart enough to know the whole truth. And when that time comes you must stick together no matter what happens."
The sorceress asked. "Do you guys really know what's going on with Squall so far?"
Robert replied. "Actually, we don't but we can hear his cries always asking for your pardon."
Nicky added. "Both of you were victims of circumstances, forced to make painful choices. So, please, for the rest of our souls, forgive mister."
"Don't worry. I'll tell him when he come back." She assured them. "But for everyone here, may your soul rest in peace."
"Thank you Miss."
One by one the souls of those victims faded away going up to heaven with a smile on their faces. They found peace and the surroundings wherein the sorceress stood was being engulfed in a white and blinding light and then…
She rose up, catching her breath, sweating. Looking at the clock, it is almost five thirty in the morning. There's one and half time remaining before the sunrise reached the world. She went to refrigerator to drink water and walked back and forth to feel drowsiness.
Until…. The phone rang and she stopped for a moment, narrowed her eyes. Who the hell in this crazy world was making a phone call at that moment while the world was at rest?
She slowly got the phone and answered.
"Hello."
"Good morning ma'am. Umm, are you Lauren Rachels?"
Lauren Rachels, born Rinoa Heartilly, used that name to be with her love and daughter, though Squall really hated that name for a reason. Still, he was having difficulties on mentioning her new name. She decided to change her name so that the world would always believe that the evil sorceress was truly dead and forgotten unless the historians told them so. Decided to severe their bonds with their friends to protect them for they were hiding a dark secret, to live a normal life and to have finally peace.
The sorceress answered hesitantly, "Yes... speaking."
"Umm… I'm sorry for disturbing your sleep at this moment but…"
"But what!?" Lauren, seemed agitated wanting the caller to be direct to the point.
"I'm sorry to tell you that Mr. Leonhart is now at the hospital."
The sorceress' eyes went wide and... "What!? But why!? What happened!?"
"We just came back from our mission yesterday afternoon when we saw a figure lying at the Garden's entrance bloodied, beaten and dying. And base on his appearance we couldn't be mistaken that he's former commander Squall Leonhart."
The sorceress gasped then nervously asks the name of the hospital and the caller tells her that there is a van outside of their residence to pick them up. But as soon as the sorceress made her way to the exit and about to open the gate of their residence, she felt suspicious. "Wait, who are you people? And how do you know Squall?"
"We do understand you but…we will explain when we get there." He pulled out his mobile phone and dialled the number then he gave it to her.
"This is Esthar Presidential Palace speaking."
"President Loire?"
"Lauren!? Lauren!? Is that you?" the man said.
"Yes! But Lauren please, you should hurry. There is no time to explain He needs you NOW! I beg of you. Please, save my son." The president was begging, crying.
The sorceress was now stricken with panic. "Okay, Okay I'll be there with my daughter." She hurriedly picked a sleeping Elizabeth up and rode on to the van towards hospital and finally, they reached their destination which was his room. The sorceress was met by the two guards standing. They led her to his room and reminded her not to bring Elizabeth there and as the door opened she saw Laguna sitting on a chair covering his face and tears already fell down from his face.
"President Loire"? She greeted him with a puzzle look on her face.
"Lauren? Oh! Thank God you're now here." The president hugged her tightly and she hugged him back.
"You're the only one who can save him. He did it to protect us, to protect you and Elizabeth."
Since the sorceress didn't have any idea of what transpired, Laguna finally led her to his room and when she did, when saw Squall, her eyes were met by a horrific sight. "Oh my God! Squall!" She covered her mouth shocked while shook her head and tears dwelled on her eyes. She had no idea that his condition was worse than she imagined. Her knight's body was full of bandages, his face and legs were full of bruises and he was just there…staring in space, unaware of his surroundings although his beautiful features were still there. The ones Mighty Lion Squall Leonhart who had full of pride was now just a shell of his former self, totally broken and it seemed there were no cures or remedies for this. Even Laguna was a little bit of surprised when he left, he was still unconscious.
"Now everyone, tell me what happened to him?" she was looking for answers.
All of them exchanged glance and one of the female SeeDs explained choking in tears. "He was accused of many crimes and he voluntary surrendered. He didn't want to make his family worry. Fuck the World Council too. Do they think we don't know that they're responsible in Deling City Bombings killing our love ones then made cover-ups. He and his former wife Trepe were the only few people who helped us. And worse they accused him of plunder."
The sorceress gasped "What!? How could they frame him up that easily? The Garden itself knows that he's not capable of doing that? Yet even in those two years of our separation he still couldn't. How could…wait…"
Lauren just remained quiet trying to playback all those events before the attack on Garden three years ago. Could it be… well, she would just try to confirm it later and then the male SeeD angrily retorted and explained to her the consequences if he didn't voluntary surrender, the way they were treating him while paying his sentence and how was he when they left him outside the Garden entrance.
Lauren gasped at what she heard just covered her face with her hands crying, "Oh Squall, I didn't know, I'd never thought that what had you been through was worse than mine because… because I'm already dead to the world evil."
"Lauren, about the plunder case they filed against him. They came up with evidences. It's just…" Laguna said, but he wasn't able to continue that story because of sobs. The doctors came back to check him and surprised also that it's a miracle that he's able to survive from extreme punishment.
Unfortunately, all of them were careless when Elizabeth caught a glimpse of her dad and she started to scream. "DADDY! DADDY! DAAAADDDDYYYYY!"
Elizabeth tried to reach him by her mother stopped her by holding her tightly while crying hysterically, kicking and screaming. "Mommy, is he going to die?"
"No Sweetie, Daddy is going to be fine. I'll make sure of that. I promise." The mother cried with her, and then she gave those people a very sincere thank you for helping them and told them that it's her turn for making his fast recovery and Laguna would take care of Elizabeth.
Three days later, 10:30 am.
She was so exhausted, didn't eat too much or even drink water unless her body called for it. She never left his side except when the doctors was treating him and changing his bandages. Time to time, Laguna was making calls and of course he made sure that his grandchild could communicate with her mother. Lauren just came back to his room and gently brushed his hair away from his face; still, there was no any progress on his broken state.
"Squall, talk to me. Please. Tell me, what should I do to make you feel any better?" she asked softly as she reached out for his hand and kissed it and then she landed it on her cheek closed her eyes. By the moment she opened her eyes again she saw Squall looked at her and she froze.
"Squall." The sorceress stood up from her chair, found a new hope at the latest development, she called the staffs and explained those events moments later. The doctors reminded her to continue on supporting him by showing how much she loves him. Then she came up with an idea by letting him out of his room via wheel chair with her. They went to the garden of hospital and Lauren found those flowers and plants amazing, same with the fresh air.
The sorceress went there to pick some flowers and showed it to her knight. "Squall, look, they're beautiful isn't?"
Squall remained absent minded but when he saw two butterflies flying in front of him, he gazed upon them, trying to reach for it like it was his first time to see those insects.
She told him softly. "Squall, that's we call a butterfly." A smile formed on his face. His lover is so happy on his little progress.
They decided to rest for the night and as they're about to enter their room, Lauren saw Squall's eyes focused on something that comes to their way and Lauren followed him through. It was a child, same age as their daughter, lying on a gurney being carried by medical staff which had 3rd degree burns with no chances of survival.
And then something inside his mind had switched on after they finally put him back on his bed. And his eyes went wide. "Elizabeth?" He said softly at first and then he was starting to get delirious. "Elizabeth!? Elizabeth!? Where's Elizab…aaaaaggggghh! He cried in pain because he forgot that his wounds were still fresh as he carefully his hands covered it.
The sorceress reassured him and hold his face firmly to look at her. "She is fine with Laguna." Stroking his hair away from his face she, wrapped her arms around his neck and he leaned on her embrace while she's kissing him. That was the right time for her to know what happened although she fully understood his reasons of not telling her.
"Squall, how did you end up like this?"
"Did you remember our first night together at the cabin in Trabia?" His lover nodded.
He was catching his breath. "That bastard Mitchell sent a spy to check on me if I was doing my job on hunting you. We were unaware. That spy was able to take pictures and recorded our movements then used it as evidence." He was gasping for air. "Then, the Garden Community signed a petition to remove me from my post. They said that I'm no longer fit to be their leader."
Squall closed his eyes first to gather up courage, head's down but something's stopping him. Lauren looked up on him and... he was sobbing, while she asked him what's wrong and he answered, as he reached for her hand.
"I finally understand, that... everything that happened to me... are my punishment for all my sins." He gasped then looked at her. "Forgive me. Forgive me for everything." He's crying heavily also he remembered that one word five letters should be not mentioned for he wanted her to forget all the hellish experience she went through.
Lauren then released her hand and cupped his face. Her forehead met his. "If you want that then I already did. But Squall, forgive me too for making you worry when I left Garden, for leaving you, for doubting you. I was so selfish because the only thing that I did was thinking of my own feelings." Then she embraced him and Squall just leaned on her sobbing. They were crying together, then she looked at his condition, she should do something now...
"Squall, about your wounds, I must …"
Squall suddenly grabbed her arms stopping her, grimacing in pain. He knew what that gesture meant, "No! Don't do it. Somebody might see you." Squall said stubbornly in a low voice. "Please, think of Elizabeth, think of our friends who made sacrifices for us. Besides I was trained for this kind of torture. Remember?"
"But Squall, you're going to die from infections and…"
"I said don't! Why are you so hard headed!?
His partner didn't have any choice but to follow him and hugged him. Once again, tears streamed from her eyes as they heard knocks from the door and Lauren opened it. It was one of the six SeeDS who helped them, bringing some documents and folders and gave it to Lauren and he explained. "Umm, here. These are the copies of their evidence in the plunder case filed against him."
Lauren immediately took the files and it shocked her when she read those. It was the two proposal projects that Squall signed before the attack and it showed it to Squall that shocked him also.
"Lauren, I only agreed to sign these proposals because Garden are not only for missions but a public service as well. But…"
"But what?" the sorceress puzzled.
Squall tried to remember some events and some point it looked somehow weird to him that why there were so many delays on those projects when the World Council made an announcement on television that they'd had enough funds. Until weeks passed they contradicted their statement by saying it was impossible and it won't be happened. But the funds they'd gathered, where did it went? Just disappeared like a bubble.
And then Squall finally remembered, "That's it! I knew it! Those funds, they used it on those explosions. They hired a bomber!"
"Oh! God!" she only muttered. In fact, it's possible for him to be accused as being one of the accomplices on those explosions by providing funds, he admitted on other crimes but he was yelling at the plunder case and suddenly he took the files from Lauren and tore it apart.
"But I did not steal anything! Garden did not believe me and they called me a corrupt person! The World Council also knew it. How!? Why!?" He cried again but this time very loudly. "I just wanted to serve my country!"
Lauren immediately embraced him massaging his back to calm him down as he returned back the gesture. She'd never seen her partner like that before, that really bothered her. Her Squall Leonhart, her knight, her lover was having an emotional breakdown.
She was weeping silently for him wetting his hair and talked to him finally, "Squall, they may not believe in you, but I do. Always. You always have good intentions. They'd used it to their advantage."
Being with him was the only comfort she could offer. His pain killed her fearing that he would come to the point that he might end his own life. And what hurt her most was her helplessness on him.
"I curse you Jefferson Mitchell for everything you'd done to all of us. You killed innocent people, taking away their parents; you'd separate us, you forced Squall to brand me as a criminal. And now this, you broke him, even in death; you still put us into a misery. If Hyne would let me access to that Hell where you are right now, Gods please help me… help me to eradicate your very existence along with your soul."
But her lover quickly pulled back and he held his head as he started complaining on too much headache; his bandages were filling with fresh blood so Lauren called for medical staffs and they're doing some treatment. The doctors reminded her that Squall should take rest now and not to stress him too much otherwise he would broke again.
There were many times that while they're sleeping, Lauren could hear his sobs and mumbling those words of how sorry he was on her, that everything happened because of him, that he failed her. He was also having nightmares of their daughter, already an adult saying that he was a totally worthless father to her and how could he abandoned and did not defend her mother from those persecutors and how could her parents lied to her by keeping a dark secret. The good thing was, that every time he woke up from his nightmares, the sorceress was there, to comfort him like protecting him from whatever was bothering him, she was always there willing to listen and whispering some soothing words that somehow made him comfortable.
One week later at their house…
"Daddy!" Elizabeth hugged him very tightly. Her enthusiasm helped them a lot. She always made their life livelier. She stopped for a moment and told them that she would get something from her room and when she came back she gave it to her father.
It was a drawing of him holding a sword protecting her and her mommy from a scary monster. "So this is who I am for her. Don't worry Ellie, I promise that I'm going to be stronger for you and mommy."
He laughed softly as he patted the child's head. "Wow! You already know how to draw. Very good sweetie and as a reward you will get something from daddy."
Squall reached for a paper bag and gave it to her, for him it's not much and when the child opened that item, it was "Fated Fowls" and "Disgruntled Chocobos" merchandise with a complete package. In exchange, Squall would keep her drawing and her daughter rewarded him with a kiss on his cheek. When the child was half-way on leaving the room she went back again sat on the bed closer to her father.
"Dad, can I ask you something?" the child asked.
"Sure go ahead."
"Um… does daddy gets punish too?"
"Of course, because… daddy is so bad." Squall said sadly.
"Why? I don't see you bad." Elizabeth asks curiously.
"Yes, it's true Elizabeth. Daddy hurt…"
"Squall...that's enough." She said softly as she went to the other side bed and put her hand on his thigh then she leaned on his shoulder for comfort. She looked at Elizabeth and the child said she would go back to her room to look after her presents and she closed the door. Squall was unaware of his lover's presence while having conversation with his daughter.
He sighed deeply, "Rinoa,"
She immediately cut him off by putting her fingers on his lips. "Squall, don't. Now, who's the hard headed?"
She claimed his lips with hers softly at first then it became deeply more passionate. She always loved doing that so she would never forget what his lips tasted like while Squall gently brushed away her locks from her angelic face and lovingly caresses her cheek. Lauren gently pushed Squall in a laying position, her lips still on his then she trailed her lips to his cheek down to his neck while running her hands on his chest but when she reached his ribs he flinched. That area was still painful, she finally stopped.
Lauren decided to have a shower but Squall stopped her as he slowly stood up to open the cabinet, he pulled out some package from it and gave it to her.
"Here." He said.
"W-wha..." She was surprised. After all what he had been through he was been able to give her presents. Squall said it did really suited her. He was picturing her wearing that for a long time. The contents: It's two camisoles one off white and one blue. Lauren did really like it. Afterward, Lauren came out from bathroom wearing the blue new outfit and Squall was right, she look beautiful on that. Then she went to bed snuggled closed to him leaning her head carefully on his chest while Squall draped his arm around her then he told her a story.
"After they beat me and left to die. I was already accepted my fate. I would welcome death so willingly and when I'm about to close my eyes, I heard a voice."
"Whose voice was it?" His partner answered.
"At first, it's very vague but time after time it gets's clearer until I could identify it… It's Elizabeth. She saved me. She saved me. When I found out that we had a daughter I was so happy. Honestly, the moment she asked where her father was I was scared. Scared that you would tell her I'm dead or forget about me so I answered first and she gave me a reason not to die."
He sighed deeply. "Forgive me for making you believe that I didn't want it. Wished I'd known that sooner."
His partner told him to forget it, "Actually, that was my the plan but you showed me how good you are as a father. Squall, she saved me too, she kept my sanity. The moment they'd captured me I already accepted my fate too. I was picturing you looking at the horizons, blaming yourself. I wanted you to stop but you came, you didn't give up on me. You brought me back to our daughter." She was rewarded with a deep kiss on the top of her head.
"Elizabeth, you including your mom deserved a happy life just like you would in those stories you are hearing every time before you go to sleep. And yet, I, your own father was the one who deprived you of that. Those first two years of your life, you lost so much everything. Yes everything. Elizabeth, you will know the truth and if you did able to find out, I wish, I wish you could forgive us someday."
"Squall, I learned a lot from the past few weeks. That a sorceress not only should be protected from the powers she possessed but also she should protect her knight too from his own demons so, Squall Leonhart, from now on if there's something that bothers you or have any nightmares; don't ever hesitate to tell me. I am your sorceress and I'm right here to protect you too, always and forever. Please, remember that."
"I will. I promise."
"It's so easy for us to remind our love ones all the sins they'd committed against us but we barely remembered all the good things they'd done for us. And to the ones who had been hurt by them sometimes, we're so blind to see that the decisions we made had consequences that would and might led them to whatever decisions they're going to make."
The reason why I included those bold paragraphs in this story because I think it fits to their decision to prefer to live living in a lie and keeping a secret to their daughter then at least they're together.
Well if you're curious about the movie "Art of the Devil", we'll I'm warning you. IT CONTAINS AN EXTREME BRUTALITY AND GORE SO WATCH IT ON YOUR OWN RISK.
I was inspired to write this one-shot for one of the reader gave a review of that story said something like Rinoa is only thinking her feelings. What about Squall felt? This story also was started while watching a 'life changing' shows last Holy Week. It's also good thing that the author of that story decided not make continuation of Crimson Lies after all what they'd been through. Sorry to say that this story came late and my brain always drained thanks to my work so. I want to purchase a notebook so that I can write in private and peacefully.