The World on his Shoulders
As usual, I don't own Final Fantasy 8 or any of the characters.
Chapter 1
"Guess who."
"Hmmm. I don't know. Selphie? Quistis? Xu?"
"Stop teasing!"
"Are you jealous Rinoa?"
"You're mean."
"I know." Squall put his arm around Rinoa's waist and dragged her to the ground so she was seated next to him.
"What're you doing?" she asked.
"Writing a report for Cid on improving the defences in Garden."
"Sounds riveting," Rinoa drawled sarcastically. "Can it wait for a little while?"
"Maybe."
"Good, because I brought you some food. I thought we could have a picnic. It's a good place for it don't you think?"
"Yeah, I suppose it is," Squall agreed. He had to admit that he liked the quad since it had been remade after the battle with Galbadia Garden. It had been grassed over and was full of trees offering shade from the intense heat of the sun. It now resembled a garden more than a quad.
"Aren't you proud of me? I managed to get you some hotdogs," Rinoa gloated. The rarity of the cafeteria hotdogs was legendary in Garden.
"I wouldn't say that too loudly if I were you. We'll have Zell here like a shot."
"Okay. I'll be quiet," Rinoa whispered. She lay down on the grass and put her head on Squall's lap. He smiled at her, that rare smile that was reserved for her, and ran his fingers through her hair. He loved being like this with Rinoa. It was so relaxing and it made him feel so comfortable and warm.
"I've really changed," Squall thought to himself. His musings were interrupted by the PA system.
"Can Commander Leonhart please report to my office." The voice was Cid's. Squall sighed and leant down to kiss Rinoa on the forehead.
"I'm sorry my angel. I won't be long okay?"
"Squall, I have something I need to talk to you about." The headmaster seemed worried.
"What is it?"
"I'm getting too old for this. I'm leaving Garden." The impact of this statement hung heavy in the air.
"What? Where will you go?" Squall was surprised by the suddenness of his announcement. He really hadn't seen this coming.
"I plan to live at the orphanage with Edea. We haven't been able to live as proper married couple recently and I wanted to spend some time with her."
"When will you leave?"
"Next week," was the reply.
"Why are you only telling me?"
"Because, Squall, I want you to take over from me."
"No I can't. I've only been a SeeD for about a year. Wouldn't Quistis or Xu be better choices?"
"I've already decided Squall. It has to be you. You're already the Commander here. It makes sense."
"Why don't I have a choice in this?" Squall screamed, storming out of Cid's office.
"Squall, that's great," shouted Rinoa. "I'm so happy for you." She was jumping up and down excitedly.
"I don't want to take control of Garden though."
"Why not?" Rinoa was shocked. "I think you're perfect for the job."
"I don't want that much responsibility. I don't want all those people relying on me."
"But they already do. You're the Commander, everyone looks up to you. You might not realise it but everyone supports you and admires you."
"I still don't think I can do it."
"I know you can. I.I believe in you." Those words made Squall feel like he could take on the world. They gave him great confidence.
"Fine, I'll do it."
As usual, I don't own Final Fantasy 8 or any of the characters.
Chapter 1
"Guess who."
"Hmmm. I don't know. Selphie? Quistis? Xu?"
"Stop teasing!"
"Are you jealous Rinoa?"
"You're mean."
"I know." Squall put his arm around Rinoa's waist and dragged her to the ground so she was seated next to him.
"What're you doing?" she asked.
"Writing a report for Cid on improving the defences in Garden."
"Sounds riveting," Rinoa drawled sarcastically. "Can it wait for a little while?"
"Maybe."
"Good, because I brought you some food. I thought we could have a picnic. It's a good place for it don't you think?"
"Yeah, I suppose it is," Squall agreed. He had to admit that he liked the quad since it had been remade after the battle with Galbadia Garden. It had been grassed over and was full of trees offering shade from the intense heat of the sun. It now resembled a garden more than a quad.
"Aren't you proud of me? I managed to get you some hotdogs," Rinoa gloated. The rarity of the cafeteria hotdogs was legendary in Garden.
"I wouldn't say that too loudly if I were you. We'll have Zell here like a shot."
"Okay. I'll be quiet," Rinoa whispered. She lay down on the grass and put her head on Squall's lap. He smiled at her, that rare smile that was reserved for her, and ran his fingers through her hair. He loved being like this with Rinoa. It was so relaxing and it made him feel so comfortable and warm.
"I've really changed," Squall thought to himself. His musings were interrupted by the PA system.
"Can Commander Leonhart please report to my office." The voice was Cid's. Squall sighed and leant down to kiss Rinoa on the forehead.
"I'm sorry my angel. I won't be long okay?"
"Squall, I have something I need to talk to you about." The headmaster seemed worried.
"What is it?"
"I'm getting too old for this. I'm leaving Garden." The impact of this statement hung heavy in the air.
"What? Where will you go?" Squall was surprised by the suddenness of his announcement. He really hadn't seen this coming.
"I plan to live at the orphanage with Edea. We haven't been able to live as proper married couple recently and I wanted to spend some time with her."
"When will you leave?"
"Next week," was the reply.
"Why are you only telling me?"
"Because, Squall, I want you to take over from me."
"No I can't. I've only been a SeeD for about a year. Wouldn't Quistis or Xu be better choices?"
"I've already decided Squall. It has to be you. You're already the Commander here. It makes sense."
"Why don't I have a choice in this?" Squall screamed, storming out of Cid's office.
"Squall, that's great," shouted Rinoa. "I'm so happy for you." She was jumping up and down excitedly.
"I don't want to take control of Garden though."
"Why not?" Rinoa was shocked. "I think you're perfect for the job."
"I don't want that much responsibility. I don't want all those people relying on me."
"But they already do. You're the Commander, everyone looks up to you. You might not realise it but everyone supports you and admires you."
"I still don't think I can do it."
"I know you can. I.I believe in you." Those words made Squall feel like he could take on the world. They gave him great confidence.
"Fine, I'll do it."