Chapter 18
Author's Note: This chapter hints at a Selvine, as does the rest of the story. I wrote that into my story because I believe the game suggested a future relationship between the two. For example Selphie and Irvine are in the cockpit of the Ragnorak and he admires her abilities. Then also another piece of evidence is when it annoys Selphie at the party at the end of the game when Irvine is looking at other women. This is just my opinion about it.
Oh yes! The rating change….it pertains to this chapter…so if you're not comfortable with it, I suggest you don't read this section of the story.
Thanks for the consistency in reviews to angel-of-the-lion and SkarKairai.
Irvine woke up at eight o'clock in the morning. That was about the earliest he could get up voluntarily. The cowboy looked around at his disarrayed room, slightly ashamed of himself for the clothes all over the place. (I was tired though), he consoled himself. He showered and changed into his usual outfit, the purple zip up vest, long dusty pants with a matching overcoat. Then he topped it with his favorite black cowboy hat. He smirked at himself in the mirror. (Good morning good lookin'.) He packed quickly, since he did not have many personal belongings. He removed the boutonnière from his jacket pocket, staring at the elegant white roses. They still looked very fresh. (Good florist.) He traced a petal of the rose with an uncanny interest. (Why do I feel like this ornament is incomplete?) He scolded himself for his strange thoughts. (Roses having soul mates, good Hyne, what am I going to think of next – that I'm a one woman man?) He laughed, a little too much. He knew in his heart that he only used his flirting to cover the emptiness he felt. He was searching for that special girl.
The cowboy gathered his light weight duffel bag over his shoulder and picked up the reminder of the dance – the white boutonniere. He did not know exactly why he cherished the little memento of the dance. He sighed and closed the door after placing the card key on the dresser as instructed. Irvine was staying in the guest room after all. He looked around at the students passing through the hall going towards the cafeteria; it was breakfast time after all. He was not hungry though. Then he heard a sound, he listened closer and heard a slight muffled sob. Irvine headed towards the sound and saw a pretty girl hiding behind some of the potted plants. She looked up at him with beautiful, innocent green eyes as she heard the footsteps stop.
He felt his heart go out to her. Irvine offered her a kind smile and a hand. She accepted and blushed. She was embarrassed to have been caught crying…behind potted plants no less. She heard him speak in a drawled cowboy accent: "What'cha cryin' for darlin'? You shouldn't stain that pretty face with tears."
She laughed – at his obvious flirtatious comment and herself. "It's nothing really. I just felt like I lost my best friend. I can't explain it though…" She looked away and furrowed her brow, still searching her brain for the answer she knew she would not be able to find. But she was the persistent type. (It feels like I've lost more than my best friend…as if I've lost …) The young woman stopped thinking to herself, smiled and thanked the cowboy for his help before skipping back to her dorm room. She needed to clean up her face after all.
Irvine smiled all knowingly. "That's my Selphie for ya," he said softly to himself. He recognized her as the little girl he grew up with from the orphanage. She did not appear to remember him though. There would be some other time. He was sure of it. Fate had led him to her after all this time. He knew in his heart, she would do it again. Irvine looked at the room Selphie bounced into and walked to her door. He did not intend to knock; she would probably think he was stalking her. He smiled at the door, imagining Selphie to be there and looked down at the boutonniere he had hidden behind his back when talking to the upset girl. He managed to tie it delicately around her doorknob. (I wonder how much she's changed since childhood…I'll see you again sweetheart), he thought before leaving Balamb Garden for what would be a long time.
***
Selphie came out of her room after ten minutes. She managed to clean herself up in a relatively short amount of time, but then again she did not wear much make-up. That's when she saw the boutonniere on the outside handle. It was the mate to the corsage in her room. She smiled widely. (I knew I met someone special at the dance!) Selphie was not going to let herself be depressed or even overly concerned about who had given it to her. She was content to know that there was someone out there for her. She knew her dream would come true over time. Fate would see to it, she was sure. (I've always been lucky!) She thought optimistically. The energetic young woman placed the corsage and boutonniere together, hanging them from her desk. She planned to always keep the flowers in hopes that its owner would reclaim his relinquished boutonniere and…the woman that was waiting for him.
***
Rinoa smiled as she lay curled up in Squall's arms. The gleam of the sunlight reflected off his well toned chest. She practically drooled. (I could study him forever), She thought dreamily. Then she thought to the events of the last night…after she led him away from the beautiful scenery….
---Flashback to the last night---
Squall watched his graceful and beautiful angel take his hand, guiding him back to the dormitories. He studied the slender curves the dress revealed. (Thank Hyne for good fashion designers.) He let her lead him into her room. Squall looked around at the slightly feminine room. It had a gentle touch, just like its owner. There were thankfully tasteful decorations – a small dried basket of flowers sat on top of her desk, while her books lay were in a neat row along the side. Even her bed was orderly made, without any faults. (Perfect…like her), he thought.
Her soft giggling brought him back to the present. "Aren't you going to sit down?" she asked. She gestured to the chair.
He was puzzled. "Where's Angelo? And what's with the suspense?" Squall could be so clueless sometimes.
Her voice was quiet but laced with anxiety and excitement. "Angelo's with a friend right now. Do you miss him that much already?" she teased. Then her voice changed to one of a more serious nature. "Squall…I want you to know…I want to show you the depth of my love and trust for you…"
The previously clueless Squall suddenly became very aware of what she was suggesting. "Rinoa…" He did not know how to let her down easy. He wanted her so badly, but he did not want her to regret anything later – to doubt his love for her. He shook his head at her. "We can't---I can't---I m-m-mean..." His concentration was gone as Rinoa had already taken off her shoes and walked over to him, sitting in his lap. She had begun to unzip the back of her dress. (Oh Hyne….oh sweet Hyne.) He closed his eyes to regain some of his lost brain function. "I don't want you to regret this later. I want to establish my undying love for you…otherwise you might think…" He felt her finger silence his lips, then her lips placed upon his. Her sweet warm breath coaxed his mouth to comply as his grabbed her shoulders hungrily, pulling her closer to him, crushing her lips with his. Squall felt a passion run through that he had restrained, just barely, before. He felt Rinoa break the kiss and looked up questioningly at her.
"I'm not going to regret this Squall. I know you love me…I feel it within my soul. You and I were always meant to be together. You're the love of my life Squall. I know I haven't known you for a very long time, but I understand your heart, your soul. I understand it because…it's a part of me too."
Squall wanted to smack himself for the next words that came out of his mouth. "Are you sure?" He needed to know that she wanted as badly as she did. "I won't be able to stop myself if we continue."
He saw her smile as she leaned closer to him with her luscious pink lips. "I wouldn't want you to. I'm sure…" Those were the last words she uttered before Squall kissed her with a burning passion. He needed her; he wanted to complete their bond. He easily picked her up and laid her upon the bed, stripping her of everything. He admired her beautiful shape and figure for a few seconds before she started to blush and feel self-conscious. Squall smiled and removed the rest of his clothing. Rinoa's eyes widened a little in shock and apprehension, but also in admiration of her lover's toned form. He lay gently atop of her, kissing her. He caressed her arms and incited her desires with delicately placed kisses.
Rinoa moaned. "Squalllll. Please..." she gasped.
He could not deny his lover's plea and pushed his length into her. She gasped and her grip on his shoulder tightened. Her nails dug into his skin. It was a fine line of pleasure and pain for the pair. Squall rocked slowly into her, but then faster and faster as he could no longer deny his body the ecstasy he knew would come soon. He growled her name and buried his head into the crook of her neck, enjoying the fierce pleasure running threw his body and Rinoa's. She slid her nails down his back in response, causing red lines to appear. Squall enjoyed it. The two moaned and called increasingly louder for each other as they reached that point. Squall thrust one last time, shuddering as he released. Rinoa had also climaxed and held his body to hers.
Although on the verge of sleep, Squall managed to whisper into her ear, "So what's the surprise?" Rinoa whacked him with a pillow and response and they both laughed at their games. The two lovers slept in each other's arms for the rest of the night.