Chapter 5
Rinoa woke up a little groggy. (Ow… pain) she thought as she sat up slowly and rubbed her head. She looked around the room, and even at the bed she had been resting on. (This isn't my room…what happened?) She slowly remembered the events of the day, and saw Squall, who had fallen asleep. She looked at the jacket that had been put over her. (His jacket… how…kind?) Rinoa fingered the leather jacket tenderly, and looked over at the handsome Squall. She saw a little blood soak through the shirt he was wearing. (Probably from that t-rex earlier today…) Rinoa hated herself for feeling tender…and even wanting towards Squall. She wouldn't admit the comfort of being in his arms. He cared for her in ways that her father never showed. (If he hadn't come in when he did…) She didn't want to think about that. Rinoa looked at her shirt, which was torn in half, and put Squall's jacket on to cover it up. (I'll give this back to him later when I change.) Rinoa got up and quietly walked to the door, but a desire swept over her that wouldn't let go. She walked back to Squall and whispered, "Thank you. You've shown me genuine kindness which I never believed existed." She paused, then made her decision. She leaned closer to Squall, and kissed his lips gently with hers. Her first kiss.
Squall woke up with her gentle touch. Her lips on his. (Am I dreaming??? Can she really be kissing me?) She backed up, shocked that he was now awake. "Rinoa?" He was still in disbelief.
She blushed terribly, and stumbled towards the door as he got up from his chair and walked towards her, trapping her unintentionally against the wall. "Um…I have to go," she whispered, nervous, wanting.
He met her eyes with his. She was just as enraptured with his eyes as he was with hers. He covered the nervousness in his voice by speaking softly, "But…do you want to go?" Squall's heart was beating so fast, hoping that her answer would be a no. He wanted; he needed to know if she cared for him too.
Rinoa stumbled with her words, not wanting to go, but not wanting him to know. "I…I.." She didn't finish, as he leaned in closer to kiss her. She wasn't repulsed like she had been with Seifer. She desired the kiss too. Rinoa closed her eyes, and met Squall's lips with hers. The pleasure and rightness of the kiss went through her body.
Squall had never been in heaven before. Until now. As he held Rinoa's shoulders, he felt every muscle in him hungering for more. He felt her kiss him back, and was encouraged. He met her tongue with his. They shared a soft, and tender kiss, and both felt desire drive them. Squall moved his hands down to her waist, and drew her closer to him. They kissed for a few more minutes and finally they both pulled away. Squall from being afraid of losing control, and Rinoa from her defensive character taking over.
They were both breathing hard. Finally Squall broke the silence. "Are you ok, you know…from Seifer? I would have taken you to your room, but I'm not sure how you would have like being searched."
She caught her breath. "Thanks for that…I think he was just drunk." Rinoa remembered her concern for Squall's shoulder when she saw him wince slightly. "You didn't put a bandage over it?"
"Oh, that…it's nothing," Squall said with his usual non-concern about himself. "Besides, I can't um…" He blushed slightly, causing Rinoa to smile inwardly. (He's so cute when he blushes,) she thought to herself.
"You can't what?" Rinoa asked puzzled.
He blushed deeper. "I'm not very good with these kind of things. You know, taking care of wounds. I'm more of a battle oriented guy."
She nodded and smiled a little. (Wow, she even looks more beautiful when she smiles! I didn't think that could be possible,) Squall thought.
"Where's your first aid kit? Surely you have one of those," Rinoa asked. Squall nodded and fetched it. He handed it to her. She raised an eyebrow at him and said, "You know, you can't battle for very long if you never heal." Squall started to say something then stopped.
Rinoa grabbed his hand gently and guided him to sit in the chair again. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Take off your shirt."
Squall's usual charm and wit took over. He winked at her. "Just dying to see me with less clothing?"
She laughed, and replied sarcastically, "Oh yes, because you without clothes is so appealing." Realizing what she just said, she blushed. Squall just raised his eyebrow at her curious reaction to her own comment. He lifted his shirt over his head and threw it on the bed. Rinoa saw the deep gash in his shoulder and gasped. "That's a 'nothing?'"
"I've had worse," Squall replied matter-of-factly. She took out the cloth bandage and wrapped it around his shoulder. She noticed the chain he wore with a funny looking lion. Then she saw his ring that matched the symbol. Squall saw her looking and replied, "That's Griever." When she looked puzzled at him, he continued. "Symbol of pride and strength. One of the legendary Guardian Forces."
"Mm hm.." She replied. She finished bandaged Squall up. "Now you won't bleed all over your clothes."
"Always a good thing." He flashed her one of his charming smiles again. Then he became more serious. "Can I ask you a question," he said softly. Rinoa became nervous but nodded. "Why don't you trust anyone?" he asked.
She paused. Then she became upset, "Why should I trust anyone when there is no trust in the world, in life…to have the only person that cares about you taken away. For what?! Why? What's the reason? To be left with a person who tries to control everything…to pretend to be a father that he never was." Tears formed in her eyes. "To be left helpless, dependent on someone you can't entirely trust. That's why I came here…to become independent…to need no one, to become dependent only on myself." She turned her back towards him. Rinoa didn't want him to see her cry, to see her vulnerable.
"Rinoa…" he whispered. Squall was at a loss for words. He wanted to tell her that there wasn't anything wrong with trusting people. That life wasn't fair sometimes, but you just had to deal. That there was nothing wrong with being dependent, for anyone else but him that is. He wanted to tell her so many things, but instead pulled her into his lap. "Shh, it's ok." He pressed her head to his uninjured shoulder, cradling her body like a child. She wept against him, not caring about crying anymore.
"Squall," she said almost inaudibly. He looked inquisitively at her.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Can I stay with you for the night?" Squall was happily amazed and protective of this girl whose trust he held. She was so fragile, but so determined and strong.
"You didn't even need to ask," he replied with a kiss to the top of her head. (Wow, she still smells good…like vanilla.) He lifted her up and placed her on his bed, under the covers, then crept in beside her. She snuggled up to him, under his chin, while he just held and watched her throughout the night.