Chapter Eight:
Quistis couldn't disguise her fatigue anymore.She knew it,and to her shame so did Squall.Her former student walked by her side.his gunblade swung over his shoulder,bloodied and scratched.
"Do you want to stop?" He halted so suddenly that she stumbled forward ungracefully.A strong arm caught her and pulled her back upright.
"It's only a few miles back to Garden." She replied,dusting herself off and attempting to retain some dignity infront of Squall.He gave her a classic Leonhart frown, "You're exhausted." He glanced around the dusty track and a thankful expression dawned on his tired face. "Over there-Look,a hotspring." Quistis bit her lip, "You don't mean?" Squall took her hand,leading her into the cool,dark foliage. "We can freshen up in no time." He said, almost cheerfully.Quistis groaned.
(How bloody convenient.)
The clearing was beautiful,a bed of multi-coloured flowers blossomed around the inviting,steaming pool of crystal clear water.Shafts of pure,golden light shone through the canopy of lush,green trees above.
As squall shrugged out of his jacket and pulled his vest off to reveal a lean,muscular chest.Quistis stood silently, "What are you waiting for?" Squall asked her a sudden concern in his grey eyes.She smiled sunnily at him, "Nothing." She replied with a strained laugh.
Quistis unclasped her belts and laid them out over a nearby rock.She kicked off her boots and slipped her sleeves down,touching the zip of her dress hesitantly.
(It's Squall for Hyne's sake!)
She let the peach garment fall to the floor,instantly feeling exposed,her alabaster skin prickling with goosebumps.
Squall dumped his pants in a crumples heap and offered Quistis his hand again, "The rocks are slippy,let me help you." She looked at the flowers,the trees,the hotspring-anywhere but at Squall. "Are you okay?" He asked.Quistis nodded mutely and stepped forward,clutching a small bar of soap and sponge from her hip pack.She couldn't help but let her eyes travel down his body,migrating southward until………….
She could barely breathe as his warm,firm hands supported her.She entered the water with a tiny splash.The weariness began to bleed from her bones while the spring water suffused her skin.
Squall brushed an errant strand of hair from the back of her neck,sending a heavenly shiver down her spine.He released the clip that bound her locks and they tumbled freely over her quivering shoulders.
(Long,golden hair……the colour of sunlight……)
Squall banished the thought from his mind and spoke softly in her ear, "Give me the soap." She passed it to him,her cheeks turning crimson.
(You've dreamt of this……..)
Squall put a hand on her waist,rubbing the bubbled sponge over her collar-bone gently as if she were made of glass.He moved it down,casting slow,rhythmic strokes across her pert breasts.Quistis bit back a moan of pleasure,her fists balling under the water.He rinsed off the sponge and swept her shimmering hair back over her shoulder,carefully massaging her back,avoiding the mottled bruises on her punished arms.
(I can't take this……….)
Quistis felt her breathing grow shallow,laboured under his tender caress,She let a single tear slide down her burning cheek,washed away as she wet her face with a shaking hand.
Squall gave her hips a squeeze, "All done.Feeling better?" He said with a grin.She waded to the edge,clambering up,too afraid to look back at her dream………
"Quistis?" His voice filled with apprehension.She gathered up her clothes,barely sure if this wasn't some cruel hallucenation. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine." She replied dressing absently. "I'm just happy you found someone you truly love." She turned back now,Squall was looking up at her,almost ethereal in the mist rising from the pool.She smiled at him sadly and disappeared into the undergrowth,leaving Squall naked and alone with his thoughts.