Drifted
Chapter Twenty-One: Feeling Vulnerable
By PasifiKStaR

Author's Note: I used the song "Last Breath", but I'm not going to do a songfic excerpt like last time. It's just been described, sorry guys. Anyway, I hope everyone has a good 2005!!

All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Final Fantasy.

Squall peeked back into the darkened room. Rinoa was sleeping soundly on their king sized bed and Angelo and Demona were out in the living area sleeping. 'It's all clear...' his mind assured him. He slipped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, making his way to the door. 'Just a few more feet...'

"I trust that you'll be joining us for breakfast, oh sneaky one?" Squall slammed into the doorway as he turned his head. He was rubbing the right side of his face as he looked over at Rinoa, who rolled over on their bed.

Two unimpressed brown eyes peered at him through the darkness as Squall mentally cursed himself for not realizing that she was awake. "Just going out for a morning jog..." he trailed off feebly.

"RIGHT," Rinoa said. She sat up in bed, obviously fully awake but for how long now, Squall didn't know. She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "You weren't trying to run away, were you, SQUALL?"

"No...no, I just wanted to let out some excess energy and go out for a jog-"

"And conveniently miss the first day of shooting, am I right?"

"Yes - I mean NO. NO. Damn!" Squall cursed and sat down on the corner of the bed sloppily. His head hung low as he ran his hand through his thick mass of brown hair. "How long were you awake?"

"Since I felt the bed move and you crawl out of bed," Rinoa grinned. She crawled over behind him and draped her slim arms around his neck. "Did you really think you could get away from me?"

"No..." he sighed. He turned his head to the side and felt her 'good morning' kiss press against his lips. He pulled away. "And for the record, I'm not trying to get away from you. I'm trying to get away from Selphie's music video."

"Ah-hah! So you admit it!" Rinoa shouted as she jumped back. The bed bounced with her movement as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. "You WERE trying to run out on us!"

"Oh, come on, Rin? Can you really blame me?" Squall asked tiredly. "I don't want to be paraded around your music video like a piece of..of..."

"Eye candy?"

Squall shot her an annoyed glare. "Meat," he corrected her. Rinoa gave him a lopsided grin. "I read the lyrics to your song and I have no idea how Selphie's video idea is going to work with it."

"Trust her..." Rinoa sighed as she stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She brought her face up to his. "Besides, you're only shooting for ONE day. After tonight, we won't need you any more. Promise."

Squall let out a heavy sigh and nodded. "Let's just get it over with."

"Whoa...nice room...I didn't know this existed." Irvine said as he let out a whistle. He and Zell looked around the guest bedroom that would be used for the majority of the video.

"Who decorated this?" Zell asked as he hesitantly touched the black drapes that hung from the large canopy bed. "And where did you get all the black cloth?"

"We had a decent budget," Selphie said as she sat on her director's chair, going over her final notes. "Rinoa even put up some money so that we could get all the special effects I wanted."

"How much did all of this cost?" Irvine asked. There was some sort of lighting fixture attached to the large window by the bed and a large wooden picture frame was situated above the head board. However, inside was a blue screen.

"It costs too much if you ask me," Seifer snorted as he looked around the room. There were numerous smaller framed pictures of Rinoa on the tables, dresses, vanity tables, and night stands. Selphie and Quistis had put in their own old perfume bottles, brushes, and Rinoa provided some cheap little trinkets to adorn the dressers and vanity table for use for one particular scene. "I swear, Cid's charging us an arm and leg to rent this room for just one day."

"I thought you said you talked him down..." Quistis said as she stood next to him with an accusing frown.

"I thought so too until I told him about the equipment. Then he asked for some fee just in case we break anything or scratch the floor." Seifer grumbled.

"Hey, Selphie, how come there's a blue screen there?" Zell asked, pointing to the picture frame.

"Oh, well, I have this digitally re-mastered picture of Rinoa and Squall that I'm going to use," Selphie said, her eyes hiding a glint of excitement. "First it's going to be just Rinoa, and then Squall is going to fade into the background and appear behind her."

"Miss Tilmit, everyone is ready for the first scene," one of the camera men said. "If Miss Angel and Mr. Leonhart would come out, we can get started."

"Excellent," Selphie said. She looked over her shoulder. "Squall! Squall, you're up!"

Through the main door to the hall way, Squall entered. He wore a frown on his face as he left the changing room, which was the room next door. Irvine and Zell snickered as they saw him dressed in dark blue satin pants and a matching long sleeve top that was unbuttoned. Immediately, he shot them a glare.

"Don't even START with me." Squall growled in a low voice.

"Okay! Squall, in this scene, you just have to lay in the bed with the blankets on and pretend you're having a nightmare. I'll tell you when to go." Selphie instructed.

Squall did has he was told and pulled the sheets up to his neck. Selphie immediately corrected him and reminded him about the shirt. Grumbling and trying to hold back the swear words, he unbuttoned the shirt. She opened her mouth and he shot her his trade mark death glare. "This is ALL you're getting." he hissed.

Selphie smiled weakly and raised her hand up. "Uh...okay...we always have later, right? Heh..." Squall turned around and crawled into the bed.

The cameras were in position and Selphie yelled "action". There was something disturbing about being half naked in bed, spasming around like you were having a nightmare, while a room was filled with a little under a dozen people watching YOU. Selphie yelled out "cut" and Squall immediately stopped.

"Rinoa!" Seifer shouted out the door. "Hurry up! Time is money!"

"I'll time is money you, you impatient little..." a grumbling female voice said. Rinoa appeared in the doorway, wearing a scoop neck lace and ribbon decorated blood red and black dress with a full skirt. She looked into the room and beamed a smile at Squall, who was sitting up in bed. "What do you think?" she asked, directing the question at him.

"You look hot, Rin," Irvine grinned as he gave her a playful wink. "Whatcha wearing under there?"

"An all black corset that's digging into my ribs and probably causing internal bleeding as we speak," Rinoa chuckled. She noticed Squall glaring at Irvine. "Is he behaving?" she asked as she passed Selphie.

"He hasn't killed anyone yet, so yes." Selphie replied. She jumped off her chair and raised her arms in the air. "All right everybody! Will all the visitors step aside! That's you, Irvy."

"Squall," Rinoa said as she walked over to the fuming brown haired male. "Squall, you promised." she stressed with a frown.

He took a deep breath and nodded as Rinoa wrapped her arms around his upper arm as she knelt down by the bed. He looked over at her and frowned. "Your top is low."

Rinoa rolled her eyes. "Yes, Squall, that's how the dress was designed."

"Can't it be higher?" he asked quietly, unable to really tear his eyes away from his girlfriend's exposed cleavage.

"Too late to change it now!" Selphie shouted. "Squall! Lay back down in the bed and continue what you were doing. But lessen on the arm movements because Rin's going to be just above you and we don't want you knocking out the star."

Squall nodded and laid back down. Rinoa's hands gently guided him back on the bed. Selphie walked over to where they were and positioned Rinoa standing right next to Squall's body, in front of the window. "Just like you told me?" she asked. Selphie nodded and scrambled back to her director's chair. She began barking orders at the camera men and Rinoa quickly bent over Squall. "No matter what I do, just KEEP pretending I'm not here. Keep turning your head from side to side, all right?"

Squall immediately frowned more so. Somehow, her words didn't exactly fill him with confidence. Rather, he felt his heart almost stop and his blood drain from his face as he heard the words of warning. "What are you going to be do-"

"In three!" Selphie's voice cut out.

"Good lucky, baby!" Rinoa said cheerfully as she stood straight up again. Squall nervously closed his eyes.

"Two! One! Action!"

Behind closed eye lids, Squall could hear the music pounding around him. He felt Rinoa's hand caress the side of his face and, although still consciously trying to keep the facade of a nightmare going, unconsciously stops and moves his head closer to her hand. Two warm hands cupped his face and ran through his hair. He tilted his head upwards, his lips parting slightly with each stroke.

"Zoom in! Zoom in!" Selphie was shouting.

'Zoom in on WHAT!?' Squall's mind growled. The music wasn't stopping, meaning they were still filming. Suddenly, Rinoa's hands lifted and he no longer felt them against his head.

"Rinoa, start with the body!" Selphie ordered.

'Body?' Two hands rested on his shoulders and slipped underneath the collar of his pajama top. It took all his power not to jump up. He felt the pressure on the bed change and go down lower. Something brushed over his legs and didn't seem to be getting off. Hands rose up the side of his body, pushing aside both sides of his pajama top and exposing his bare naked flesh.

Rinoa smirked to herself as she felt his body tense up under her hands. She lowered her head and gently kissed his forehead as her hands trailed lower against stone cut abs. "Relax...the scene is almost over..." she whispered softly in his ear before she parted.

He shivered as her breath ran across his cheeks just as one violent tug pulled the unbuttoned top right off his body. "And cut!"

"Thank Hyne!" Squall shouted with as flush as he nearly threw Rinoa off of him as he sat up. Irvine and Zell let out a hoot of laughter as Rinoa squealed and fell over the side of the bed. "Rinoa!"

"I'm okay..." she grumbled as she stood up. She merely shook her head and ran her hand through her dark hair to straighten it. He threw his legs over the bed and reached to help her up.

"You look kind of flushed there, Squall..." Irvine said with a knowing grin. "A little hot under the collar?"

"Selphie!" Squall growled. "I refuse to go any further until anyone who isn't associated with the making of this film is OUT OF THIS ROOM!"

"What!?" Zell gasped. "Dude, we were only joking-"

"Okay, guys," Selphie said as she hopped off her chair once again. "You'll have to leave."

"WHAT!?" Irvine and Zell gasped. "But Selphie-"

"Sorry, guys, but we really need him," Selphie admitted as she ushered them out. Quistis and Zell's girlfriend were already outside. Seifer was allowed to say, as he was Rinoa's manager. The two males who were arguing to stay were shut out behind the wooden doors. Selphie turned to Squall. "Okay, they're gone. It's just us and the crew now. Happy?"

"No." Squall stated.

"Too bad," Rinoa said. She tossed the pajama top over to one of the costume and hair people and stepped off camera for Squall's next scene. "Now get back in bed, Squall! You have a few more scenes there."

Grumbling, the male sat back in bed as a camera was positioned over him. Rinoa grinned and Selphie looked at her written plans. "All right! Squall, here's what you do!"

"I can't believe she kicked me out!" Irvine gasped as he and Zell sat on the floor, slumped against the door to the room. "ME! Her Irvy!"

"We would still be in there if you hadn't kept cracking jokes on Squall," Zell snorted. "Thanks a lot, Irvine."

"At least you'll still get to see the music video when it's done." Shizuka suggested.

"Pssh! The MUSIC VIDEO!? Who cares about that!?" Irvine gasped. "I was in it to see the behind the scenes stuff! Now how am I going to see Squall feel like an idiot and tease him about it if I don't see him! He needs to loosen up..."

"This sucks!" Zell exclaimed.

Behind them, they heard faint, muffled music starting up again and Irvine frowned even more. "I'm missing it!" Irvine whined. "And this might be the LAST music video that Squall agrees to!"

"I'm sure that's exactly what the Squallies are thinking," Quistis sighed. Her blue eyes shot open. "I mean... once they'll hear about this."

"The Squallies?" Zell asked. "Oh, man, they'll go nuts when they see Squall shirtless spasming on a bed."

"Rinoa is a very lucky woman." Shizuka agreed as she nodded. Zell nodded and paused. He looked up at her.

"What?" he asked weakly.

"Er..." Shizuka froze and blushed. "Hey! You know what? I have to go work now! I'll see you a lunch, Zellie!" She whirled on her heels and tore down the hall.

Quistis raised an eyebrow. 'Talk about avoiding a question...' She looked down at her watch and leaned against the wall. Zell and Irvine continued to grumble about the unfairness of it all. Suddenly, the door opened and Zell fell backwards.

"AH! Hey!"

"Quist-ugh! What the hell is the matter with you, chicken-wuss! Get off my shoes, they're brand new!" Seifer growled as he nearly kicked Zell in the head. Quistis stood up straight as the tall blond male looked over at her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Rin said you could come in since you gave us some of the props," Seifer said as he stood between the open space of the door so Zell and Irvine couldn't peek inside. "They're using one of your props right now."

Quistis' face lit up. "You mean they're really going to use the hand cuffs?" she asked cheerfully as she stepped over Irvine and Zell. "I hope he doesn't strain it...you broke our other pair, you know."

The door closed and Irvine and Zell looked green in the face. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear any of that." Irvine mumbled. He looked over at Zell who had a horrified look on his face.

"My virgin ears..." he whimpered. Irvine sighed and ran his hand down his face.

"Hyne..."

"Squall, come out of the bathroom already!" Rinoa said as she knocked on his bathroom door once again. "It can't be that bad."

"I need more soap!" he shouted from within.

Rinoa frowned and finally threw the door open. "I'm coming in!" she shouted as she stomped into the bathroom. Steam flooded out of the room as she made her way through the hazy room. "Damn it, Squall! Stop being such a baby!"

"Why didn't you TELL me that those were Quistis' hand cuffs! There is only ONE person who she'd use them on!" Squall growled.

Rinoa leaned against the wall next to the shower. She could make out Squall's outline and saw him scrubbing his ankles. "You're over reacting," she insisted. "She said they were brand new."

"The point is that they're already profane!" Squall shouted.

"You've been in there for an hour, Squall! If you stay any longer, you're going to become a lobster!" Rinoa complained. "And you're going to use up the Garden's hot water! Now stop it!"

Squall saw her arm shoot into the shower, past the curtains and head straight for the knobs. She turned off the water and Squall yelled. "Rinoa! I'm not done!"

She gripped the curtain and pulled it apart. He screamed some more even as she threw a towel at him. "Stop complaining," she sighed. "It's been a very uncomfortable day for you. First you had to lay in bed in a room full of strangers with cameras on you, then I had to climb all over you, and then you were hand cuffed."

'I didn't mind when you climbed over me...' his mind mentally answered. He felt arms wrap around his face and he looked down. Rinoa beamed her warmest smile at him and leaned her head against his still damp shoulder.

"Thank you," she said tiredly. "You're the best." His face flushed and he the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

'Some how, you made it all worth it...'

"Did you get the email?" Ivy said as she sat down in the room.

"That's why you're all here, isn't it?" Cat said as the four of them surrounded television inside one of their rooms.

Talia turned it on and flipped through the channels with a remote. "This better be as good as she promised."

Quinn nodded as the right channel finally appeared on the screen and the announcer began. "And now for the music video from the second debut single of Angel's newest CD," the announcer said. "Directed once again by novice director Selphie Tilmit, we're sure that this video will knock your socks off. And now...Last Breath."

"Hello..." The dark screen that echoed with flashes of lightning and darkened silhouettes of an old house shifted to a young man laid across a large soft bed.

The four girls crawled closer to the television as the music flooded the room. The darkened colors were sharp and accentuated every lean muscle on Squall's body as the camera panned over. Blood red nails gripped his shirt and pulled it off, revealing a creamy perfection.

The entire video was mainly of Squall lost in a hallucination of his lost lover played by Rinoa. Rinoa faded in and out of the background like a distanced ghost watching him rampage across the room in madness as he tried to escape the nightmares of her. As his body laid hand cuffed to the bed posts, the climax came as Rinoa's kiss on his neck revealed pearl white fangs that dug into soft flesh. As Squall's eyes widened and stared up at her portrait above his bed, the camera panned away from him and focused on the portrait.

The song ended, the portrait of Rinoa smiled as Squall appeared behind her in the picture. The camera pulled away from the bed, revealing an empty, untouched bed. The ending scene was two people walking down the hall way and disappearing with a flash of lightning.

"How...how was it for you?" Quinn asked quietly as she looked at the other three officers. Like her, they had flushed faces and dilated eyes as a tiny bit of drool was seen trickling from Talia's mouth.

Before any could answer, the phone suddenly rang and the girls jumped. Cat reached over for the phone and lifted up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Did you watch it?" an obviously smug female voice asked.

Cat frowned. "Yeah..."

"A promise is a promise," the female voice said. "I trust it met your standards and more."

"And...and more...." Cat admitted.

"Excellent," Rinoa smirked as she leaned back against Squall's big leather desk chair. "Now, if I ever catch you or hear of you stalking him again, you're out of the Garden. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes...we understand." Cat relented.

"It's been a pleasure working with you." Rinoa grinned and hung up the phone. She chuckled as she crossed her arms over her chest and put her legs up on Squall's desk.

The door opened and Squall came in with a binder in his arms. He closed the door and gave her a look of question. "Rin, what are you doing here?" he asked as he walked over and put the binder of the desk.

She smiled widely. "Nothing," she said. Squall raised an eyebrow, not buying her words with that Cheshire cat smile on her face. "Just a little business. The video premiered today, you know."

Squall frowned. "Great."

"Oh yeah...it's GREAT."