Into the Fire
Rinoa sat quietly on the bed as the doctor continued her check-up. The air between the two women was silent, almost awkwardly so; a bit discomforting to her, even for a nurse's office. She stared up at the ceiling, careful to avoid the bright lights that shined down. She could feel the doctor's hand as it gently strode along her fingers, the elder woman carefully examining the skin and tendons to ensure all was well.
Without warning, she then lifted the small flashlight upwards, causing Rinoa to close her eyes as the woman checked her face right to left.
"Well…no marks or abrasions anywhere, no sign of serious injury…" Doctor Kadowaki murmured, "Your reflexes are fine, and your eyes aren't dilating." She placed the flashlight back in her pocket and smiled in satisfaction. "I'd say you're good to go."
"…Thanks." Rinoa replied quietly. She was indeed grateful to have the doctor's consent, but for some reason, she still felt hapless to leave – though she couldn't imagine why. The day was done; nighttime having settled upon the land, classes were over and now the hallways were abound with nothing but absolute silence once again. It was still a bit surreal to her how the students of Garden were so tuned to the clock.
"Is there something else?" the doctor asked, the girl's lack of response leaving her puzzled.
Rinoa merely glanced up at her before shaking her head. "No… Sorry to have wasted your time."
Reluctant, she slowly climbed off the bed and headed for the door.
"You know…" the elder woman suddenly said, turning to face Rinoa who was now halfway across the room, "If there's anything you need, I'm here. Whether you're sick, injured, or even if you just want to talk. I'm a good listener; half the students whom come in here do so for advice. I'm sort of like the Guidance Counselor, too. While I can't guarantee what I say will be of any real help, I am always willing to try."
Her words gave Rinoa a bit of hope, and she smiled in appreciation. "...Okay. Thank you." She then departed from the Infirmary, feeling reassured as she made her way down the hall.
Dragging her feet, and lost in her musings, Rinoa soon stumbled upon the Directory. As her eyes gazed upon it, it was only in this instance that she realized she had never really taken the time to study the layout of the school, and decided to take the opportunity she had inadvertently presented to herself. Her eyes scrolled back and forth, up and down, her memory taking in the picture before her as she scanned the design. Honestly, she had never been very good with direction – and while she couldn't really see herself memorizing the entire layout, it would be good enough for her to at least memorize points of interest. She really only need to recall the locations of places she actually intended to visit, after all. Garden may be huge, but her interest in what it had to offer was limited.
"Need help?"
The sudden voice detracted her attention, and upon turning her head, instantly wished she hadn't. Of all people, it had to be him. There went the night…
"No, thank you." She nearly grumbled, immediately turning her attention back to the map.
Seifer was not swayed by her refusal. Demonstrating his high confidence once again, he casually strode up next to her and pretended to be studying the Directory as well. His ruse was easily detected by Rinoa, however, and she simply continued to ignore him. Maybe, if she just acted as though he did not exist, he would get bored and leave her alone. As unlikely as that seemed, it was all she could go on.
"How long have you been here again? Nearly a month?" he inquired, "And you still can't find your way around? The Junior Classmen have this place better memorized." He chuckled at his own joke, only further displaying the amount of pride he took in himself.
"Good for them." She replied with a blatant disdain. Pretending to note a destination on the map, she then stepped around Seifer and began to walk away.
Seifer quickly turned to watch her leave. "You know…we haven't really gotten to know each other. I like to know about everyone whom attends my school. Maybe you and I should get together sometime." He had a tone of assumption in his voice with that closing remark, as though he expected she would agree to his proposal.
Maybe it was just his amount of arrogance; or maybe she could blame it on just being a decent person – or naïve; even she couldn't really say which one was more accurate. Whatever the reason was though, Rinoa actually stopped and turned to face him. "And why would I do that?" She was cold, her tone also bearing a hint of sarcasm in such a response.
Her words were only greeted by yet another chuckle from the tall blond, whom seemed to be oddly enjoying himself despite their unfriendly encounter. It only made Rinoa hate him more.
"Okay, I get it. I've been an asshole," he acknowledged, easily reading the look on her face, "But I can be different. There's more to me than that."
"You mean, you get even more pompous?" she replied with sheer disbelief.
If anything she said irked Seifer, she couldn't say for sure. No matter what came out of her mouth, he would always react with that same smug look; it was almost as eerie as it was annoying. The fact that he appeared to get a kick out of anything she said, especially when the majority of her words were nothing but utter disdain for him, only grated her more. He was like a fly swiftly avoiding every swat she took at him. Her patience was wearing thin, much like this unfortunate reunion.
"I'm really not so bad once you get to know me," he claimed, almost strutting as he stepped towards her, "Everyone deserves a second chance, right?"
He was so frustratingly arrogant, almost to the point of being naïve. She didn't know if he wasn't hearing her, or if he simply just didn't want to. His walk, his posture, his condescending way of greeting people - everything down to his behavior reeked of over-confidence. She wanted to smack him, do something to take him down a notch. He had been nothing but rude and utterly repulsive since they first met.
And yet…he had a point. That brash, egotistical jerk actually had a point. While it pained her to agree, and she had no real reason to believe him, she could not deny that there was some truth to his words. She had given others a second chance despite her personal feelings towards Garden as a whole. After all, giving things time was what allowed her and Selphie to at least be on speaking terms. Of course, she actually liked Selphie – or could at least stand to be around her. With Seifer…he had no redeeming qualities, at least none that she had seen. All style, no substance, and that sort of thing.
In spite of every fiber of her being saying otherwise, and her personal feelings regarding him, Rinoa soon gave a reluctant sigh. "…Fine. Whatever." She nearly hated herself for conceding, and she avoided eye contact with him as she agreed.
As expected, Seifer grinned in response, seemingly having anticipated as much. "Good. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist."
She ignored his conceitedness, only able to retain her composure at the thought of this meeting coming to an end. "Don't flatter yourself. You have a lot of work to do." She took a step back, eyeing him up and down closely before finally turning around and leaving him behind, all too pleased to put distance between them once again.
"Absolutely," Cid nodded, "You will receive those numbers tomorrow. Goodnight." Giving a light bow of his head, he then turned off the small screen he had been chatting through as Edea entered the room.
"Was that NORG again?" The rhetoric in her question was blatant, full of assumption. She had caught that last bit from just outside the doorway; NORG had a very distinct voice…and he liked to ensure he was heard when he spoke.
Cid was silent as he watched her close the door and quietly traverse the floor towards him. He had known Edea was not a fan of NORG – but even that slight tone of disdain she had tried to hide did not go undetected.
"Yes. He was just doing his usual check-up – weekly statistics, monthly earnings, that sort of thing. You would be happy to know he does care a great deal about Garden at least."
Edea nodded knowingly, complete with a look that demonstrated her doubts. "Yeah, well that's no surprise. Garden is where the money is."
There was a frustrated sigh from Cid. "Edea, we talked about this. NORG is Garden's proprietor. He helped us Found it and find an appropriate location. Likewise, half of the Garden's proceedings go back to him, as per our contract. You were there when we agreed on this."
"I didn't really approve of it then either." She was quick to respond – blunt, and unrepentant.
A bit put-off by her remark, he replied sharply. "And what would you have me do? Regardless of any concerns, he is going to be in our lives. There is nothing I can do about that." Despite his frustration, however, he was careful not to raise his voice. In all of their years, they had never fought – at least not that he could recall. But it was evident that the subject of NORG had struck a nerve with her.
There was silence.
She did not utter another word, quietly moving over to a nearby wall and folded her arms. There was no sigh or any sounds of contempt; only a moment of tension as she briefly stared at the floor, visibly troubled by the matter. She was not usually one to get too restless, but she had had a bad feeling about NORG since they had first met him. He was an outcast from his tribe of the Shumi whom dwelled in the Trabia Region, East of where Balamb was located – and that notion alone had left a lasting disturbance within her. A public reject with a monetary priority could not simply be a coincidence.
Cid exhaled deeply and relaxed himself, not wanting to argue with her over the issue. It was clear she was upset, and he did not wish to trouble her any further, especially at this hour.
"…Does he know?" she asked, her voice sounding a bit shaky as she slowly lifted her head towards him again.
"About you?" he inquired, taking a step towards her, "No. NORG is fiscal, and he's smart. But he's not sharp."
This comment brought a light chuckle from under her breath, and Cid smiled at the friendlier and gentle side of his wife that had seeped through again. He hadn't exactly intended to be amusing – but he would gladly try it again if it would help put her at ease.
"And I won't tell him," Cid assured her, "I would never put you in that kind of danger." He placed his hands on her shoulders, lowering his face to try and make eye contact. No sooner had Edea slowly embraced him, a smile graced his face, and he returned the gesture.
As she slowly pulled away, her hands covered her face in conformity. "I'm sorry… It's not your fault. I just think about it and I get so overwhelmed."
"Then don't think about it."
"Cid!" She quickly rebuffed, angered by the notion that he could seriously be snubbing her concerns. She wondered if he still had yet to understand the measure of the circumstances that surrounded them lately; circumstances that were only increasing with time.
"I just mean to take it slow," he replied calmly, "I know there is a lot going on right now, but worrying about it constantly won't make it all go away. Some things look better given time."
She would have argued back, but his wise words hit harder than the matters in her head, and she had now grown weary of it all. With a fatigued sigh, she stared towards the floor again; her heart thumping heavily in her chest, she felt her stomach drop. She did not understand how he could be so resistant to the issue at hand. Perhaps she was making things bigger than they actually were – but he was being far too impervious. His seeming inability to comprehend the seriousness of this was unfathomable to her.
And then…there was still Rinoa. It was one thing if NORG were to somehow find out about her – but if he were to discover that Balamb Garden harbored not one but two sorceresses within its walls… No. She didn't even want to think about that. All she did was worry lately and she could feel it starting to take its toll on her. Cid was right – she just needed to stop.
In the silence, Cid took her hands in his, a motion which brought her to slowly lift her gaze to meet his again. There was a smile on his face as he stared back at her, and he gently kissed her hands. He did not say a thing, and his quiet act of compassion brought her to smile back at him. He always knew just what to do to relax her.
"It will be alright," he whispered, still clutching her slender hands in his, "You don't have to face this alone. We're in this together."
There was a light grunt under her breath, the slight sound of unspoken gratitude and adoration at his words. For what Cid lacked in proper empathy, he made up for in sympathy. Every time she looked into his eyes, she knew he spoke nothing but the truth.
He would not lie to her.
It was times like this where she did not know what she would ever do without him.
"I know," she said softly, "Thank you for that."
Like clockwork, Selphie had retreated to her bed for the night when the clock had struck 10:00 PM. Yet, in spite of her now month-long stay, Rinoa still had not quite gotten herself adjusted to such a strict schedule. Now alone in the silence of their dorm, she had confined herself to her small quarters, her only company being the light of the lamp atop her desk.
She stared at the blank paper in front of her. Every now and then, she would shift its position between her fingers and motion like she was going to write…only to hesitate and pull her hand back again. For the life of her, she could not concentrate. She just did not know where to begin.
For a mere second, something came to her. But no sooner had she moved to start, a faint disturbance in the hall caught her attention – that of a door closing nearby. Distracted, she slowly rose from her chair and made her way towards the door.
She quietly poked her head out into the hallway just in time to see Squall walking past. He was barely visible in the darkness, only his distinct fur-trim collar allowing her to catch quick sight of him. She watched as he walked right past her, seeming completely oblivious to her presence once again. Ever the silent one, he kept his eyes ahead as he walked in the direction of his dormitory – or so she supposed anyway.
Her curiosity became too much, and she quietly closed the door behind her as she stepped out into the hallway.
"Hey." She said softly.
Just that one word seemed to catch Squall by surprise, and he quietly turned around to face her. Rinoa merely threw him a light smile as she approached him, as though she expected he would remember her – or even bothered to.
"What are you doing here?" she inquired, taking a small step towards him, "I thought we weren't allowed to leave our dorms after-hours?"
There was a look of annoyance on Squall's face as he turned his head away, seeming hesitant – nay, reluctant, to respond. His body language emitted all signs of irritation at this unwarranted encounter, but Rinoa heeded none of them. Instead, she stood quietly, staring in anticipation as she waited for a response.
"…What are you, the curfew police?" he grumbled, placing one hand on his hip to further emphasize his frustration.
"No…" she answered, a bit displeased by his curt reaction, "It's just natural for people to wonder about what they don't know. Wouldn't you agree?" She smiled again, a bit warmer this time in attempt to welcome more friendly conversation.
Yet, her kind gestures went unrewarded once more. Squall remained just as distant as before, now folding his arms in what could only be read as complete aberration. He did not want to talk; he did not even want to look at her, as noted by his refusal to make eye-contact.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to stick your nose in where it doesn't belong?"
"Of course," she answered, "It doesn't mean I believe it." She chuckled, getting some amusement out of his aloof attitude. Honestly, she didn't care about his treatment towards her. This was the closest they had come to having an actual conversation since the first time she saw him – and while he certainly needed to work on his social skills, at least he was finally speaking to her.
To her surprise, she heard a light scoff emit from Squall's lips, soon followed by another cold response. "Well, maybe you should."
He quietly walked away, leaving her alone in the dark hallway. Rinoa was briefly taken aback by his words, able to do little more than watch him leave as she stared at his backside.
She sighed, her hurt from his curt conduct soon turning into disgust. He was rude and unfriendly, and his people skills definitely left much to be desired; his behavior was completely unacceptable. She didn't know why this came as such a surprise – every time she would encounter him, he always responded the same way: cold, mean, and completely unconcerned with how he treated people. His condescending tone, indifference; he was so quiet, yet so overbearing. It was sickening and repulsive.
Still…she was drawn to him. For some unknown reason, she could not help but feel attracted to the stoic Squall Leonhart. While the list of cons was massive, there was one factor she just could not seem to overlook. One aspect that, somehow, made what she hated about him simply not matter.
Then there was his voice… It didn't quite match up to what she had imagined. It was so deep, a voice that belied his age – yet it was also somehow alluring. Along with that cold rhetoric, it held a calmness and maturity to it not many their age had, and was further offset by his taciturn demeanor.
It lingered in her mind, his last words to her playing over again as she quietly returned to her room.
Author's Note: HOLY CRAP! It's been at least a year since I've updated this story! I am SO sorry to all of my readers. I hope you haven't lost interest in this story, as I never intended to take so long... To anyone still reading and following: I greatly appreciate it! I hope you find this chapter worthwhile. I've just been so busy with real life, and I have even been working on a Final Fantasy VIII Fandub since last October! We are going on one year now! So I'm very happy about that.
Anyway, thanks so much for your EXTREME patience with this story. I was looking for time to write, and could never really find any - but I am so proud to have finally been able to update this. I only hope that I still have retained some readers...? I hope you enjoyed reading this and I will try and update again ASAP.