Disclaimer: All of Final Fantasy 8 belongs to the demigods at Square Enix and Sony and it makes me sad
Warnings: Angst. CHARACTER DEATH. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Written for fated(underscore)children at livejournal, for the themes Smile and Freedom.
I didn't know how long I sat there, in the grassy fields just outside of Balamb, staring at the sea, but that didn't matter, I had all the time in the world to enjoy this favourite place of mine one last time.
Or rather, I had until he found me. And find me he did, the scuff of one of his boots against the ground betraying his presence, a sudden warmth against my back giving away his reluctance for the task I knew he'd already accepted and his hands, bare for once, gloves abandoned, saying goodbye to me as they took hold of my own, tangling our fingers as we'd done so many times before, but this time with a hint of what I suppose could be called desperation. Whether this feeling came from him or from me, I never figured out.
Every fiber of my being screamed at me to go, to run faster than I ever had, to escape what I knew would happen, but I stayed, wrapped up in his arms, slowly letting go of the world, drinking in the sight of the sea and the hills around us one more time, running my fingers through the lush grass at my feet just once more, exploring Squall's body with my lips one last time, one last moment of pleasure, of enjoying myself without that stab of guilt in my gut.
We both knew when it was time, needing no words to say so, simply getting up, dressing and standing in front of each other, my hands empty, Lionheart in his. I knew he wouldn't pity me, I knew he was aware of what I wanted and he gave it to me, the pain a short and sweet release, tangible freedom.
I never loved him more than when he killed me and I think I smiled, falling into his arms, fading into nothing.