You've always watched her. You're the ever-silent observer.

You called it 'that big brother feeling' that you hadn't felt in so long. You were tough and she was not, that's how people saw it. When Squall was not around, she was left in your charge. But there was nothing to protect her from, so you didn't bother.

Nothing to protect her from. That's what you thought.

---

She loved the fairy-tale ending. She told you that all the time, and you agreed. You loved it too. You loved that somehow life had simplified itself, and that nothing would change. Nothing good ever changes, does it? It shouldn't. When life becomes happiness, it should stay that way.

And it did, for a time. She laughed when Squall kissed her, and you took Selphie's hand at every opportunity. Zell got to know that library girl a bit better, and Quistis remained the ever-stoic - and ever alone - woman. Everything was going the way it should.

---

You knew from past experience that good things are destroyed in segments, in small pieces, one by one.

You watched idly as Selphie and Zell became closer friends, and as the arguments between Squall and Rinoa became a daily routine. Slowly, you knew things were dying.

---

Selphie was your friend now, and Zell's girlfriend. You didn't take it as hard as you thought you would. It hurt, but other things had hurt worse.

Like seeing the faint bruise on Rinoa's arm.

You knew Squall would never mean to hurt her, but you took it as a bad sign. Things were deteriorating, and they weren't supposed to.

---

You were the one to intervene. By your twisted sense of duty, you came between her and her Knight.

They had no qualms about the publicity of their fight. They didn't care about the crowds of students flocking around them. They only knew that something within each of them had broken.

Squall insulted her. The words were because of his anger, but they hurt her all the same.

He hurt her, and you punched him. It seemed like a natural cause-and-effect. It seemed natural that you should defend her honor. It seemed right.

You took Rinoa outside, thinking the fresh air might help her breath. She didn't thank you. She didn't say anything. Instead she held onto your arm, for the fairy-tale was over, but you were still there.

That's when you became her Knight, and you've held the title ever since.