"Squall!" Rinoa cried, dashing across the room, dark brown orbs glowing with relief and jubilance. With her arms outstretched she flew into his, clinging closely, burying her head into the crook of his neck. Squeezing her eyes shut, she inhaled his scent as if to relive every aspect of her lover.
Squall looked down at her - his height was quite a bit over hers - and stroked her ebony hair affectionately. How he adored Rinoa in every way…everything about whom she was. Strong-willed and determined, she would fight for what she believed in, including the people that captured her heart. Her natural cheerful and bubbly personality clashed with his 'strong and silent' one, which only drew him to her even more.
Eventually Rinoa stepped back from him, wide eyes stuck only on the sight before her, viewing for any type of injury or change in his appearance. From feet to head - same black slacks, loose silver rivet belt hanging down - up to the chest - white muscle shirt showing only a few scratches, complete with black jacket with the fur - and lastly to the head - sandy blonde hair messy around vivid green hues, same strict expression as before. Smiling, she nodded to herself; it was the same old Squall that she had come to know and love.
"I was so afraid…. something had happened to you," she spoke suddenly, placing a delicate hand on his cheek.
"I'd always come back to protect you, you know that," Squall replied, laying a black gloved hand across hers. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her in and gently pressed his lips to hers.
Clearing her throat, a voice spoke up. "Eww, cut out the mushy-gooshy stuff! It makes me sick!" Selphie Tilmitt exclaimed, a smirk crossing her face. Rolling a pair of emeralds, she walked over to the computer next to what seemed an ordinary chair. Punching in the keys, she continued to study the screen. "All systems green. The travel seemed to be ok."
The couple grinned, stepping up behind Selphie . They peered over her shoulder, seeing what she was examining.
"God, Selphie, how do you understand all of this?" Squall wondered, seeing all the numbers and letters flash in second spurts on the monitor.
"Brain power, Squall," she replied, a slight giggle hidden under her breath. He shoved her as a retort, Selphie just giggling, her eyes never leaving the computer.
"I'm going to have to agree with Selph on this one, Squall," Rinoa added, laughing with her best friend.
Squall glared at her, his usual expression changed to a cross one. The two girls looked at each other in mutual understanding, grins on both their faces. He sighed in defeat. "Against, two girls, there is no way I'll win."
"Just nod and smile." Selphie added, returning to the numbers.
Rinoa leaned against him. "You've finally learned, sweet. I'm proud."
Selphie laughed. "Sweet, that has to be the worst nickname in the world for a guy."
"Hey, I like it! And that's all that matters!" Rinoa protested. "And I know Squall hates it too, that just makes it even more fun."
"I don't hear you," he muttered, narrowed eyes staring straight ahead.
They stood in silence for a few minutes when Rinoa spoke up. "Now what's next for the machine? Are you going to go again, Squall, or are you Selphie?"
Squall looked at her, next at the girl at the computer. She nodded, yellow nails typing in more data. Rinoa immediately understood what they meant and backed away. "No, no, no way am I going back! I don't know how! You know that! Time traveling is your guys thing, not mine!"
Seeing that she was beginning to tremble, Squall embraced her. "Rin, don't worry, you know what to do. I've taught you… you can do it. Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"
Rinoa grumbled into his chest. "Great, now that you said that, something's going to happen! I know it!"
Sighing, Selphie tugged her friend away from Jason. "Rin, stop being paranoid! You'll be fine… it's easy! Trust me." She gave the girl a quick hug before gently pushing her towards the chair. Walking up to the computer, she continued her previous work.
Brushing her hair behind her ears nervously, Rinoa plopped down in the chair. Breathing quickened, shaking hands repeatedly clasping and unclasping. After a few minutes, Rinoa uttered the heavy words that hung in the air.
"Ok, I'm ready."
Squall moved over to her. "Now remember, Rinoa, concentrate; that's the most important step." He planted a kiss on her lips, cupping her face in his. "I love you, Rinoa Heartilly. Never forget that, ok?" He back stepped back, smothering the miniscule glisten of fear in his eyes. "Send her, Selphie."
"Right. Ok, Rinoa, have fun. See ya in a little bit, girl!" she chirped as the chair spun around, and Rinoa disappeared into thin air.
Squall looked down at her - his height was quite a bit over hers - and stroked her ebony hair affectionately. How he adored Rinoa in every way…everything about whom she was. Strong-willed and determined, she would fight for what she believed in, including the people that captured her heart. Her natural cheerful and bubbly personality clashed with his 'strong and silent' one, which only drew him to her even more.
Eventually Rinoa stepped back from him, wide eyes stuck only on the sight before her, viewing for any type of injury or change in his appearance. From feet to head - same black slacks, loose silver rivet belt hanging down - up to the chest - white muscle shirt showing only a few scratches, complete with black jacket with the fur - and lastly to the head - sandy blonde hair messy around vivid green hues, same strict expression as before. Smiling, she nodded to herself; it was the same old Squall that she had come to know and love.
"I was so afraid…. something had happened to you," she spoke suddenly, placing a delicate hand on his cheek.
"I'd always come back to protect you, you know that," Squall replied, laying a black gloved hand across hers. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her in and gently pressed his lips to hers.
Clearing her throat, a voice spoke up. "Eww, cut out the mushy-gooshy stuff! It makes me sick!" Selphie Tilmitt exclaimed, a smirk crossing her face. Rolling a pair of emeralds, she walked over to the computer next to what seemed an ordinary chair. Punching in the keys, she continued to study the screen. "All systems green. The travel seemed to be ok."
The couple grinned, stepping up behind Selphie . They peered over her shoulder, seeing what she was examining.
"God, Selphie, how do you understand all of this?" Squall wondered, seeing all the numbers and letters flash in second spurts on the monitor.
"Brain power, Squall," she replied, a slight giggle hidden under her breath. He shoved her as a retort, Selphie just giggling, her eyes never leaving the computer.
"I'm going to have to agree with Selph on this one, Squall," Rinoa added, laughing with her best friend.
Squall glared at her, his usual expression changed to a cross one. The two girls looked at each other in mutual understanding, grins on both their faces. He sighed in defeat. "Against, two girls, there is no way I'll win."
"Just nod and smile." Selphie added, returning to the numbers.
Rinoa leaned against him. "You've finally learned, sweet. I'm proud."
Selphie laughed. "Sweet, that has to be the worst nickname in the world for a guy."
"Hey, I like it! And that's all that matters!" Rinoa protested. "And I know Squall hates it too, that just makes it even more fun."
"I don't hear you," he muttered, narrowed eyes staring straight ahead.
They stood in silence for a few minutes when Rinoa spoke up. "Now what's next for the machine? Are you going to go again, Squall, or are you Selphie?"
Squall looked at her, next at the girl at the computer. She nodded, yellow nails typing in more data. Rinoa immediately understood what they meant and backed away. "No, no, no way am I going back! I don't know how! You know that! Time traveling is your guys thing, not mine!"
Seeing that she was beginning to tremble, Squall embraced her. "Rin, don't worry, you know what to do. I've taught you… you can do it. Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"
Rinoa grumbled into his chest. "Great, now that you said that, something's going to happen! I know it!"
Sighing, Selphie tugged her friend away from Jason. "Rin, stop being paranoid! You'll be fine… it's easy! Trust me." She gave the girl a quick hug before gently pushing her towards the chair. Walking up to the computer, she continued her previous work.
Brushing her hair behind her ears nervously, Rinoa plopped down in the chair. Breathing quickened, shaking hands repeatedly clasping and unclasping. After a few minutes, Rinoa uttered the heavy words that hung in the air.
"Ok, I'm ready."
Squall moved over to her. "Now remember, Rinoa, concentrate; that's the most important step." He planted a kiss on her lips, cupping her face in his. "I love you, Rinoa Heartilly. Never forget that, ok?" He back stepped back, smothering the miniscule glisten of fear in his eyes. "Send her, Selphie."
"Right. Ok, Rinoa, have fun. See ya in a little bit, girl!" she chirped as the chair spun around, and Rinoa disappeared into thin air.