Running to You.
Author's Notes: Hello Everyone! This is a romance between Zell and the 'Pigtailed Librarian', who I have named Ariana. It's set after the team get their mission briefing from Laguna, but before they set off for Lunatic Pandora. I can't promise that it will strictly stick to the story line of the game but…I have tried. As usual, Squaresoft owns all the characters.
Chapter One.
Ariana Lief felt tired. So tired. Her limbs were aching, and her head was throbbing from the start of a stress headache. However, she didn't take a short break, as was her right as a librarian who had broken Garden faculty rules and had only taken a total of fifteen minutes break time the whole day. She was determined to keep working; to make sure that she stayed busy, because that was the only way she could stop herself from worrying.
She heard the chimes telling the whole of Garden that there was only an hour left until curfew. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit her. The librarian next to her noticed, and steadied her with a helping hand. "Ariana, are you alright?" The librarian asked in a worried tone of voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine Leisha," Ariana said, trying to smile at her friend, but failing as all she could manage was what looked like a grimace of pain.
Leisha's eyes narrowed. "You're lying, girl. You've been working way too hard since he left. He doesn't even notice you! Why do you worry about him so?"
Ariana blushed a deep red, and looked about for a way to change the subject. "Oh, isn't those the books that Headmaster Cid had requested?"
Leisha frowned at her best friend. "You still haven't answered my question, Ariana. Why are you doing this to yourself?"
"I'll go deliver these to him right away! I wonder if I could make it before curfew?" Ariana said out loud, ignoring Leisha.
Ariana gathered up the books and made to head out. But before she did, Leisha caught her arm. "Look, I'm not saying that he's a horrible guy and that you shouldn't like him, but how do you think all this will help?"
Ariana sighed. "I have to try something. I just…I know he's out there somewhere, and he may be in danger…and there's nothing I can do…"
Leisha cut her off. "You've got it bad girl. Really really bad." She sighed heavily. "But this isn't good for you, no matter how good it feels. You understand that don't you?"
"Mm-hmmm." Ariana said. It was nice to begin with; liking him, thinking about him, but her feelings had grown to something much stronger, without her even knowing. Now, her worry for him encompassed everything else, and she was aware at how draining it had been on her. But she didn't want to stop liking him…Confused, and suddenly angry, she asked roughly, "Can I go deliver these to Headmaster Cid now?" Leisha let go of her arm, surprised by her sudden change of mood. Turning, Ariana left the library as fast as she could without running.
Twenty-five minutes left until curfew. Ariana silently cursed the conversation she had had with Leisha. She hated hurrying. And she hated being confused. What Leisha had asked was fair enough, but what her friend could never understand was that she had her reasons. She was aware of the middle-ranking SeeD that constantly asked for her, and while he was nice enough, he couldn't match him. She remembered all the times she had seen him in the cafeteria, going ballistic over the shortage of hot-dogs, and a smile came to her face. She remembered all the times that she had seen Seifer pick on him, and how he tried to put a stop to it, and she felt sad beyond words. She remembered all the times she had seen him joyfully do handstands and back flips in the corridors, and how he tried to be everyone's friend, and she felt a certain sort of pride in him. Then she remembered the side of him that only she had seen; the times when he came to the library and quietly read book after book, not moving a muscle, his beautiful azure eyes lost and dreamy, as he absorbed every written word. She saw his eyes again, filled with so much…emotion, the eyes that she had fallen into so long ago, and a familiar sweet ache welled up in her heart. Leisha didn't know; she had drowned in those eyes, and there was no returning for her. Well, there is one way, she thought to herself. Hearing him say those three words, the words that no infatuated girl would ever want to hear: I'm sorry, but…
The jolt of the elevator stopping on the third floor brought her out of her reverie. She checked the books again, to make sure they were all in good shape and that she hadn't left any of them behind. She knocked respectfully on the imposing door to the Headmaster's office.
"Come in," a cheery, yet tired voice answered from inside. Ariana proceeded, a little anxious. She had only been to the office a handful of times, the latest being when she had recently passed her SeeD exam. He hadn't been there. She had been so disappointed.
Headmaster Cid looked up at the girl that had just entered his office. "Yes? What can I do for you, young lady?" He asked in a friendly manner.
"Sir, these are the books you requested three days ago." She told him respectfully, handing him the books.
Putting on his glasses, he inspected them, and smiled at her. "Thank you. I've really wanted to read…" All of a sudden, the new video communicator that had been installed behind him began to beep, displaying in red letters, 'COMMUNICATION INCOMING. LOCATION OF MESSAGE: ESTHAR HOTEL. RECEIVE?'
Headmaster Cid forgot Ariana for the moment, and turned his back on her as he activated the message. Ariana watched as the screen flickered, and then suddenly held the face of Commander Leonhart. She recognised him of course; everyone in Garden knew who he was, but she saw that there was something…different about him. Brushing the thought away as unimportant, she listened to the conversation.
"Headmaster." Commander Leonhart stated, saluting through the screen.
"Ah, Squall!" Cid exclaimed, obviously happy to see him. "What news?"
"We have accepted the mission that the President of Esthar has requested of us." Squall said. "We have been given three days to prepare before the final battle begins."
Cid looked worried for a moment. "Do you think you will be able to handle it? Would you like back up?"
"No sir, we will be able to handle it." Squall stated gravely. "Anyway, anyone else may just be a hindrance, since we're the only ones who know of the effects of Time Compression, and how to battle it."
"And how exactly is that?" The Headmaster asked.
Squall paused, then said, "We were told to remember a place that we love, that had all the people we love there. We were told to try to get there."
Ariana felt electricity down the back of her spine as she heard the Commander's words. Something was trying to tell her something…but what?
"Hmmm." Cid said philosophically. "Where are you all planning to go?"
"When Time Compression starts, we are planning to go to Edea's house."
"And after the battle?" Cid pressed.
Squall thought for a moment. "I think it may be different for everyone, Sir. We all love people and places differently from each other." He shrugged. "We'll just have to see when the time comes."
Cid nodded his head in understanding. Squall Leonhart was maturing fast, to be able to understand all this so deeply. "Alright. And what's the situation with all of you? No one is too hurt?"
"No Sir, everyone's in good health."
"Really? Irvine and Selphie?"
"They are both well, Sir. They're both playing cards with Quistis right now."
"Ah. How is Quistis?"
"She's quite well, Sir. The same as always."
"Zell?" Cid queried.
.
Ariana felt her heart jump at the question. Her breath held, she listened closely to what Squall had to say.
Squall frowned minutely as he considered the question. "Zell's in good health, Sir," Squall began, "but for some reason, he seems to be getting…distant. He's not so loud anymore."
Ariana felt her heart clench in worry, but Cid just calmly asked "And…do you think this change in behaviour is cause for worry?"
"No…not really." Squall answered. He looked like he was about to say something else, but it seemed as if he stopped himself from doing so.
Cid sighed. "Well, I trust your judgment, Squall." He stated. Then, he asked, "How's Rinoa?"
Squall's eyes softened at the name. "She's well, Sir. She's doing her best to cope with all this as best as she can. As we all are."
Cid nodded. "And you, Squall?" The Headmaster queried gently. "How are you?"
Squall turned his face away. "……." was his only reply. The Headmaster didn't press the issue; he understood that the young man was under a lot of pressure. "Well, good luck Squall, from the bottom of my heart. You know that you all are the only ones standing between us and total annihilation."
Squall nodded, his brow furrowed slightly. "Yes Sir, we do. We won't let you, or anyone else who lives on this world down." He answered in his usual flat tone.
"Good. Wish the others good luck for me too. And tell them to look after themselves." Cid paused, giving Squall a pointed look. "And take care of yourself as well."
Squall saluted smartly. "Yes Sir." He said, his tone not changing. "Leonhart out." The screen flickered, and then his image was gone.
Cid sat at his chair for a while, contemplating the conversation he had just had. So, it's come to this, he thought to himself. All of a sudden, he remembered the librarian girl that had come to deliver his books. He swivelled his chair around to face her again. After some effort, he remembered her name. "Ariana? Ariana Lief?" But she seemed not to hear.
Ariana stood there in shock, the words of the Headmaster playing through her head over and over. "You all are the only ones standing between us and total annihilation…." She hadn't realised how serious everything was. She thought about him then, and what Commander Leonhart had said; "He seems to be getting…distant. He's not so loud anymore…." All of a sudden, another thought invaded her head. This is your last chance to tell him! You have to! You need to let him know someone cares for him! She nodded to herself; this was what she was meant to do. She was going to tell him, no matter what happens. This was a way that she could help him, and she wasn't going to let it go.
All of a sudden, her thoughts were interrupted as she heard the Headmaster say her name. Snapping out of her reverie, she said, "Yes Sir?"
Cid sighed. "Look, this probably doesn't have to be said, but could you please keep everything you have heard to yourself?"
Ariana seemed to brush the question off as unimportant. "Of course Sir." She answered, seeming to be a little preoccupied.
Cid looked at her curiously. "Is there something wrong Ariana?"
Ariana shook her head. "Nothing's wrong Sir." She assured him. "Nothing at all."
