v. detach

They traveled together across cities and seas to save the world. Every location is filled with a memory of her. Balamb, where they met under a dazzling sky of stars when she asked him to dance. Timber, where they met again and he learned her name; a name that so easily ran off his tongue filling his heart with emotions he never felt before.

"Mornings are always better when you have a croissant and Galbadian coffee," she says in an elated tone as she smothers strawberry jam inside of her breakfast pastry.

Esther, where he almost lost her twice and twice he felt his heart stop. Cape of Good Hope, where he made a promise as her knight along with a promise to himself that he would never let her go. Winhill, where he watched her walk along dirt roads early in the morning to pick wild flowers and realized that he was in love with her.

She is his wild flower. She is a freely growing spirit in the lush green landscape where her color and grace stand out against the rest.

"Winhill," he says out loud and her puzzled expression reveals that she hasn't the faintest idea what he's talking about. "That's where we are going next."

"What?"

"I know I'm losing you," he says talking in tangents as they sit together outside of a cafe during a breezy morning. "I know you are frustrated and feel like you don't belong at Garden."

"Squall..."

"Rinoa," he says as his hand interlaces with hers. "You belong anywhere with me."

-xx-

There is a heavy clank and clash of gunblades as she watches from afar sitting atop her dark marble throne. Her wings, once pure white, have greyed like ash. Her deep rouge lips twist to form a disturbed grin. They are both tired, torn and beaten, but she laughs as they continue to fight.

She is killing both of them and she knows it.

Hyperion is still in his hand ready to battle to the death, and death is nearby. Seifer's grey jacket, now crimson, is soaked in warm blood. Clutching his shoulder, he moves forward preparing to strike. Pain doesn't matter because he would endure the worst of it for her.

The scale isn't even and she must decide.

Gasping for breath, holding on to the last strings of life he has, Squall struggles to gain the upper hand after Fire Cross put him in a compromising position. He needs to save her, even if it is the end for him or the end of them. He tries to push harder against his opponent, but it's futile, Hyperion is crushing his vocal chords.

"Squall!" Rinoa exclaims awakening from the nightmare as she jumps out of the comfy linens in the rustic bedroom of the upscale bed and breakfast they are staying in. The lapping of the ocean waves is calming as she put on her silk robe to go out into the oceanfront balcony where she finds him reading The Dollet Times.

"I'm sorry," Rinoa whispers, but she doesn't even know if it's Squall she should be apologizing to.

-xx-

His nightmares have become a reality.

Everyday at 10:45 in the morning she comes to this spot. The air is noticeably crisper as he sips coffee that tastes bitter from his usual blend. He watches her from the corner of the coffee shop. Crunching brown leaves have spread across Garden's cobble stone path. His time is short here and he needs her to know that.

"Hey Rin," he says softly from behind her as he touches her shoulder while she pours an excessive amount of creamer in her iced coffee.

"Seifer!" She jumps startled by him and drops the canister of creamer creating white splatter marks that surround them.

"Is everything ok?" Seifer asks as he helps her clean up the mess with napkins. "It's been awhile since we've hung out."

"I'm fine." Hyne, she's going out of her way to avoid making eye contact with him. "Just been super busy."

"Did I do something to upset you?" he questions on the verge of pleading. "I'm sorry if I did, but I want to-"

"No, Seifer...it's not," Rinoa pauses and, for a brief second, seems ready to tell him everything on her mind.

"I really need to talk to you," Seifer begs lowering his voice; they have already made a scene. "It's important."

"I need to go," she says and Seifer doesn't even bother to hide the misery painted all over his face. "I'm late for BalambCycle."

"I'm sorry," Rinoa apologizes looking back at him waving. "We'll catch up soon." That's a lie and he sees right through it as she starts to walk away from more than a bruised ego.

All he wanted to tell her was that he was accepted into Deling City University. All he wanted was for her to be proud of him again.

-xx-