Galbadia 500 Endurance
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII or any of its characters, nor do I own any of the other final fantasy's or there characters that may make a cameo appearance here and there.
"Rin what happened to you?" Squall whispered as the doors to the dormitory level slid open and he stepped off the elevator. It didn't take long for Squall to find the room he'd been assigned. He awkwardly swiped his key card through the lock and walked in. he immediately took Rinoa into the bedroom and laid her down pulling the blanket up over her after removing her boots. He bent down and lightly kissed her forehead before going out to the living area for his gear bag.
Chapter 6: Mischief in the Corridor
Squall was in the living area of his assigned dorm, looking over some papers for the G-500 when he heard noise at the door. Squall glanced toward the bedroom door which stood slightly ajar; he put the papers down on the coffee table in front of the sofa and got up. He headed to the bedroom door and opened it a little more to check on Rinoa.
She seemed to be sleeping peacefully now.
The noise came again Squall reached into the bedroom and grabbed hold of his gun blade which was now standing beside the door. He pulled the door closed but kept it slightly open so he could hear if Rinoa moved or said anything, before making his way to the door which lead out to the dormitory corridor. Just before he got to the door, the same noise came again. Now that he was closer, it sounded like a soft thump; almost as if someone was up to no good and trying to hide they're actions.
Squall reached for the door knob and unlatched the door punching in the key code for the lock. He pulled the door open, keeping his gun blade out of sight. There appeared to be nothing in the corridor. Squall looked around; years of training had him looking at everything in every direction. Something shiny on the floor caught his attention. Instead of bending down to see what it was and leaving himself open, he studied it from his standing position instead. It was a key. He glanced up and down the hallway for a moment before using his foot to snag the key and head back into his room closing the door. Squall didn't set the lock or latch the door. He had taken notice of a dumb waiter shoot across the hallway from his door. He suspected that whoever made the noise was probably hiding there and when they came out to try again he'd catch them.
Squall waited only a moment before hearing the squeak of the dumbwaiter door. He quickly and quietly opened the door. To find two cadets getting out of the fairly large space.
"Is there something I can do for you two?" He asked in an even monotone voice. The two cadets froze where they were. Squall stood with his arms crossed, gun blade in one hand pointed at the floor. The cadets straightened up and saluted.
"Commander S-S-Sir." They stuttered afraid of what the commander may do to them.
"I am waiting for an answer." Squall pressed.
"I- I lost my k-key Sir. We were looking for it." One said
"We aren't supposed to be on this floor because …." The other started.
"Because?" Squall pressed.
"Because of the visiting commander and rumors of the sorceress on this floor."
"I see." Squall held out the key he'd picked up.
"Here, from now on if something is off limits, stay out of it." Squall said and turned to go back into his room.
"You're not gonna punish us?"
"Or report us to the headmaster?" the cadets asked.
"No. I'm not. Now get going."
"Thanks Commander" they said as they ran off down the hallway.
Squall shut the door latching it and resetting the lock. He shook his head and went to put his gun blade back in the bedroom. As he approached the bedroom door, he thought he heard Rinoa call his name, .Squall opened the door a little bit and poked his head in. Rinoa appeared to still be sleeping but she said his name again even still. Squall put his blade down against the wall beside the door and walked into the room closing the door slightly. He walked over to the edge of the bed and looked down at Rinoa.
Squall sat on the edge of the bed; he brushed Rinoa's hair lightly off her face with one hand.
"Rinoa." He called quietly. Placing his hand down on the other side of her body.
"Rinoa." He tried again. Rinoa's eyes fluttered open. She tried to focus he eyes on Squall's face. Her mind was trying to tell her she was dreaming, but something was telling her otherwise.
"Squall…" she whispered.
"I'm right here Rin." Squall said. Rinoa reached up with a shaky hand to touch his face.
"Am I dead?" she asked.
"No Rin. We're both very much alive." He informed her with a slight smile.
"Where are we?"
"Trabia Garden."
"Trabia? Squall you came for me. Even after what happened?"
"Of course I did, Rinoa. I love you."
"Oh Squall. I love you too." She said and through her arms around his neck pulling him down to her.
They were both quiet for a few moments just staying together the way they were.
"Rin what happened exactly?" Squall finally asked sitting up a bit to look at her.
"After I left the Garden I just kinda of wandered around for a bit. I had no clue what I was looking for exactly. You know why I left though. Right?"
Squall nodded.
"Yes it was because of an accident in the training facility while I was away on a mission.
Irvine told me you'd been training with him and got hurt. I wasn't until I'd come back that I found out you couldn't remember anything about who you were or about us."
"Squall I'm so sorry."
"Don't be it wasn't your fault."
"I remember everything now. It kinda kicked in when I was arrested because I was a sorceress. All I could think of was trying to get back to you after that."
"I'm here now. And first thing in the morning I am taking you back home."
"How is everyone else?" Rinoa asked.
"Confused I think. They've been wondering why you left without a word. I don't think any of them know what really happened." Squall said.
"I wanna go home, but I don't think I'm ready to see any of them just yet." Rinoa decided.
"Okay I'll take you back to Balamb, but we won't go back to Garden right away."
"Can you do that? I mean you are the Commander of Balamb Garden."
"Of course I can do that."
"Where will we go? We live in the Garden."
"Don't worry about that I have a place we can go." Squall said.
"Okay." Squall bent down and kissed Rinoa. She wound her arms around him tightly as if she would never let him go.
Squall laid down beside Rinoa a short time later, to settle in for the night. He'd already called the head master and made arrangements and put his things away. They were going to catch the first train back to Balamb in the morning.