010. certainty
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.
.
Just as Rinoa was entering the kitchen, she stopped mid way when she heard the front door clicking open.
Squall stepped inside, drenched from the rain.
And was completely shirtless.
"Okay..." Rinoa trailed off, arching one of her brows, "What happened to the rest of your clothes?"
"A behemoth thought they were lunch," he responded, kicking the door shut as he set his gun blade to the side and took off his gloves.
Rinoa blinked at him before she snorted out a laugh. "I think I might have to thank that behemoth then. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing you come home like this everyday!"
Squall only rolled his eyes, gently flicking her forehead before leaving a kiss on it. "Of course you'd say that," he said and then started to head upstairs, "I'm gonna go take a shower."
"Hold on a second," she said, pulling his arm as she noticed a few new bruises on his back, "Did the behemoth do that to you as well?"
"Yeah," Squall tried waving the matter off, "It's fine, it's no big deal."
"Squall Leonhart, you are not about lie to my face like that when you're practically limping as well!" Rinoa retaliated, pointing a finger at him, "You're gonna sit in that bath tub while I treat your wounds, understood?"
"...Yes, Rinoa."
Honestly, sometimes it felt like she acted more like a Commander than he did.
...
"Oh, sorry!" Rinoa cringed when Squall hissed at the ointment touching his skin, "Too much?"
"Just... rub it a little slower."
She nodded and did so. "Hyne, Squall. Sometimes I worry about this sort of thing."
"Why's that?"
Rinoa tilted her head. "Because it's dangerous out there, dummy. I feel like there'll be a day where you won't come home."
Squall didn't say anything and she took this as an indication that he was thinking of how to respond. She smiled, shaking her head before she continued treating him and helped him clean up.
They had dinner and Angelo was excited to see Squall had come back and was spoiled with the few treats he found for her. They then cleaned the dishes together and brushed their teeth before finally tucking into bed.
It was quiet, save for Angelo's soft snoring from the other side of their room. Rinoa was about to drift off to sleep until Squall's voice stopped her.
"I'm sorry, Rin."
Rinoa blinked. "What?"
Squall turned to face her, guilt being ridden in his eyes. He looked so vulnerable. "I'm sorry for worrying you all the time, I-"
"Shh," she said, placing a finger against his lips with a smile, "It's okay, Squall. I know how important your job is and I know you're the strongest person I've ever met."
"That's an understatement," Squall gave her a wry look but intertwined her hand with his, leaving a kiss against her knuckles, "But I always think about you when I'm not home. And Angelo of course," he chuckled out, "It keeps me going."
Rinoa's sleepy smile had widened. "I've been getting the hang of my sorceress powers, ya know. It won't be too long till I'm gonna be there with you, huh?"
"Yeah, it won't," he smiled, his fingers moving her hair over her ear, "You'll probably be protecting me instead."
"Probably? Oh I will be, mister!" Rinoa poked his nose as she laughed, "Now, sleep. You have the whole weekend off, right? I have stuff planned for us so I don't wanna waste it."
Having a few days off wasn't so foreign to him anymore, thankfully. "Right, right," Squall said and began watching her doze off into slumber, "Love you."
"Mm, love you too."