Chapter 25 – Two Days Later
AN: Thanks to everyone for waiting and being so patient with me! The story's not over just yet though… *evil smirk*
It had been two days. Two days since they had travelled to Centra to rescue Rinoa. Two days since Morgana disappeared. Two days since President Ronan Deling had died. Two days since their lives seemed to have ceased crashing down around them.
After finding the young Sorceress, the group of SeeDs had wasted no time in flying back to Balamb Garden in the Ragnarok. She was checked out by Dr. Kadowaki and apart from some minor cuts and bruises was found to be okay. No long term damage. So everything could return to normality, couldn't it?
"Maybe we could do it?"
"Nice idea hun, but no."
"But we did fine last time!"
"Yeah, but you're not performing at your own wedding," Irvine said, fighting back a smile at the cheery young brunette.
"Okay, then Squall and Rin could lend a hand this time, they could replace us!" Selphie fought back.
"Have you seen Squall play an instrument?" Zell interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
"…Point taken," She replied, looking a little crestfallen.
"We'll find someone to hire. It'll be fine, don't worry," Irvine reassured, giving her a gentle squeeze.
"Even if he could, I don't think you'd have a good time convincing him to do it," Quistis interjected.
The four were sitting at a table in the corner of the Cafeteria. Quistis and Zell, who was upset at being too late to get any hotdogs, sat opposite Irvine and Selphie as they talked over possible wedding plans and students milled around them.
"Rin could probably do it. She's done it loads of times. She managed to convince him to wear that pink Hawaiian shirt like Mayor Dobe's once, didn't she?" Selphie replied, smiling at the memory.
"True, the lady has skills," Irvine admitted.
"Yeah but I don't think either of them are really up to that sort of thing at the moment," Quistis said.
"Does anyone else think Rinoa's been acting a little strange since she got back?" Selphie asked cautiously, looking from one person to another.
"I know what you mean, she doesn't seem like herself," agreed the martial artist.
"Well she has just been through a major trauma don't forget. She must've been so scared and helpless. It'll be a while before she's her normal self again," Quistis said.
"Yeah, I know that, but I'm just saying it's weird. She hasn't hung out with us or done anything that she used to." Selphie frowned, there just seemed to be more this than people thought.
Selphie was seriously worried about her friend. The young sorceress had barely left her room since they had returned and wasn't acting her usual self at all. Selphie had gone round to her room to visit her and see if she wanted to talk, but she didn't speak very much and didn't seem to make any kind of effort. Normally if Rinoa was upset or worried, Selphie could see it written all over her face and she would end up confiding in her – not that there was that much upset her anyway.
Quistis could see how worried she was. Selphie was trying her hardest to hide, to be the perky one as always, but she could still see the worry etched on her face.
"How about we have a girl's only excursion into town? We could do a bit of shopping and have some coffee maybe?" Quistis suggested.
"Yeah, I guess," Selphie answered quite flatly, lacking any real enthusiasm.
"And we could invite Rinoa of course, it'll help take her mind off things," Quistis added.
"Yeah! It'd be really good for her! I'll just go ask her. Meet you in the parking lot in 15?" Selphie didn't even wait for an answer, jumping out of her seat and dashing past the swarms of students towards the exit.
"You really think Rinoa'll want to go?" Zell asked doubtfully
"Not really, but it'll do them both good," Quistis replied.
"If only we could do the same for Squall."
"Is he still being moody?"
"Yeah. Well, more so than normal that is," Irvine answered. "You'd think he'd be happy, now that he's got Rinoa back but…"
Quistis sighed, they may have rescued the Damsel the Distress and driven away the bad guy, but their problems weren't over it seemed.
"…and the guys from FH say they're in the middle of a project right now but can fit us in for any repairs at the end of next month. Oh, and there's been several messages from the Galbadian government about President Delings funeral in a few days, we still need to send a representative and security team down, and also about the Delings successor."
Silence. Xu looked up at the Commander, who was hunched over his desk but with his head turned to stare out of the window. He'd barely moved since she came in and hadn't moved at all in minutes. How did he not have a sore neck? she wondered. She looked back down at the pad on her lap.
"And Esthar's been on the line too, asking how everything is and if there's anything they can do to help."
She glanced up, but there was still no response, no sign he'd heard what she'd said. Normally he would've grunted or made some kind of gesture that he'd heard, especially when it came to Esthar.
"And there's a blue Moomba in the corridor asking you to go and play croquet with him and a dwarf behemoth wearing a sombrero." She added.
Squall didn't turn his head but glared at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Sorry, I just had to check you were actually listening."
"Is that everything?" He asked grumpily.
"Yes," Xu answered, standing up and putting the sheet with the messages on his desk.
She was about to turn and leave the room but stopped. He looked so… detached, so worried, so un-Squall-like it was unsettling. He was never this upset. She sighed.
"Squall, is everything okay?" She asked.
No answer.
"You know, we may not be the closest friends in the world, you might just see me as a SeeD and subordinate for all I know, but you can talk to me Squall."
"I'm fine."
"Is it Rinoa?" She knew it would be, but she wanted him to admit it and open up, to her if no one else.
"I said, I'm fine."
"Squall, I can't help you if you don't open up to me. No one can."
"I'm fine, now will you give it a rest? Is that all?" He said, turning to look at her.
Xu was a little taken aback by his sternness. There must have been something really troubling him. She'd ask Quistis about it when she saw her next, Squall was more likely to open up to Quistis than herself anyway.
"Yes, sir," Xu answered and turned to leave.
She paused in the doorway on her way out and saw the Commander staring out the window once more. She sighed and quietly left the room.
Glad to be left on his own once again, Squall stared out of the window. Xu had offered herself as a confidante, but he couldn't confide in her. He couldn't confide in anyone. How could he? It was absurd to himself. How could anyone understand what he was thinking?
It was post-traumatic stress, he told himself, that was why Rinoa was acting so strangely. But still there was something not quite right. How could anyone else understand that though? Why couldn't he just be happy to have her back, safe, with him?
Selphie knocked on the door and waited a moment. No answer. Was she just not answering? Selphie slowly opened the door and stuck her head inside.
"Rinoa?"
The young sorceress was sitting at the desk and looked up as the door opened and Selphie entered.
"Can I come in Rin?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you knock."
"That's fine. I musta been super-sneaky," Selphie smiled.
Angelo had been lying on the floor beside the door up to this point, and as soon Selphie came in she stood up and came over.
"Hey Angelo, watcha doing over here?" Selphie said, bending down to stroke the animal. "You should be giving your mistress a lot of hugs and kisses to make her feel better," She added in loud pretend-whispers.
Selphie smiled and looked up at the Sorceress, who just watched them expressionless.
"You okay Rin?" Selphie asked, coming over to sit on the bed right behind her, "You seem a little…?"
"I'm fine, I'm just… getting used to everything. It's strange to be here," She answered, looking at the brunette. "You know, after what happened." She added, hastily.
"It's fine. You don't have to justify yourself. We were just worried bout you is all. You can talk to us about it you know, if you wanted."
"I know, I just… can't."
"That's fine. We're here for whatever you need us for."
They sat in silence, for a few moments. Selphie gestured for Angelo to come over, as she was sitting by the door just watching.
"Listen, Quistis and I were thinking about go into Balamb for a girlie trip. You know, shopping, drinking coffee, gossiping, that sorta thing. You wanna come?" Selphie asked cheerily, trying to get a smile back on her friend's face.
"No, I-"
"Oh come Rin, it'll be fun!" Selphie interrupted.
"Really, I can't."
"Please Rin, come on-"
"I said no," the Sorceress snapped.
Selphie just looked at her sheepishly for a minute.
"Sorry, I…" Selphie trailed off.
"No, I'm sorry Selphie. I didn't mean to snap. I just don't feel up to going out just now. How about some other time?"
"Okay… Okay, sure. Maybe we could have a big movie night with five different kinds of popcorn!" Selphie suggested, perking up a bit.
"Five?" The Sorceress questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, all the best movie nights have five different kinds of popcorn. Maybe more if I can find 'em!"
"Sounds great."
Although she was agreeing to this, Selphie could see that she didn't look overly enthused by the idea. It was enough for now though, maybe Quistis was right, maybe she did just need time?
"You wanna come too, don'tcha Angelo?" Selphie said, bending down and reaching out for Angelo to come over.
While the canine partner normally would've come over immediately and enthusiastically, never missing an opportunity for praise; Angelo remained sitting perfectly still by the door.
"What's the matter with her?" Selphie asked, frowning.
"…I don't know… She's just been acting strange since I got back, maybe it's just some strange smell I picked up…"
"Really? Weird," Selphie said, she couldn't smell anything out of the ordinary, but then again, dogs noses were better than humans.
"Silly dog, there's nothing wrong with her," Selphie said, going over to stroke Angelo, who looked up at her then at her mistress and back.
"I'll see ya later then. Tell me if you need anything okay?" Selphie said, straightening up.
"Will do."
"Bye Rin. Bye Angelo." Selphie gave a small wave and then turned and left the room.
The Sorceress gave a faint smile to the brunette as she left, but it dissolved as soon as the door closed. She looked at Angelo who still sat by the door for a short moment, before turning away.
Okay, another chapter done. Sorry if it's a bit rushed, been meaning to write this for like a week and knew that if I didn't do it now I'd put it off and forget about it for ages. So yes, the story goes on =P reviewers review! Please?