Characters and backstory belong to Squaresoft, of course. The rest is mine…

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Chapter 2 - Matchmaker

Squall sat in the quad, dry at last and pleasantly warm. He looked at the stars, remembering the first night he'd met Rinoa, at that stupid graduation dance. When she was still with Seifer.

He held his diary, a journal he'd kept for almost two years, ever since they realised that letting the Guardians into their minds could effect their memories. Fortunately the memory loss wasn't permanent: so long as they had triggers, things came back more or less intact. It had been a pain at first, but now Squall quite enjoyed writing things down. He wondered sometimes if he'd inherited a liking, even a talent, for writing from his father.

Tonight, though, the words wouldn't come. He'd diligently recorded his account of the trip to the factory, the control tower, the monster, the energy crystals – but he still couldn't remember how he'd got them. He remembered the lobby, going to the door, but after that nothing until he was out and on the way back to the others.

He sighed deeply. Suddenly it felt like it had been a long day.

"Hey, man."

He looked up to see Irvine smiling at him.

"Hey."

"Mind if I join you?"

Squall shook his head. "It's a free country."

"Yay, thanks to us."

"I guess so."

"So, what's up? You looked kinda pissed off."

"No, I'm just... ah, it's nothing."

"Okay."

They sat in silence for a while.

"Squall... it's not Rinoa, is it?"

"What? No... what about Rinoa?"

"Well, it's just... oh, nothing. Don't mind me."

"Oh." Squall fiddled with the ribbon that marked today in his diary.

"Close call with Selphie and that rug thing," said Irvine.

"Yeah. Is she OK?"

"Fine. Thanks. They kept her in the infirmary overnight. A bit quiet, but that's understandable. I was worried."

"You really like her, huh?" Squall was amused to see a trace of a blush across Irvine's nose.

"You know me and women, man," he grinned. A little too easily.

Squall snorted. "Yeah, right."

"Anyway, look who's talking."

"Oh no, not me. Selphie's a friend, that's all. She's all yours."

"I didn't mean Selph... damn, you're mighty thick sometimes for a Garden Commander and world saver."

~No~, thought Squall, ~I know what you mean. I just don't want to talk about it. Ever.~

"You know today, at the factory?" Squall briskly changed the subject.

"Yeah?" Irvine hadn't managed to stay friends with Squall for all this time without knowing when to diplomatically back off.

"What happened when Rinoa and I went to get the crystals?"

"Well," Irvine considered carefully, "I gave Seffie the potion, made her comfortable and we waited. After a while she woke up properly, we chatted. That's it."

"Were we gone long? Longer than you expected?"

"Um... yeah. Mind you, time's weird, you know, since Ultimecia, I can't judge it right. Never feels the same. But we made it, didn't we? I guess you had all those doors to work out.."

"I can't remember."

"What?"

"I can't remember what happened. And we can't have just grabbed the crystals and run: I've gone over it again and again. I went to the door – right one first time – and next I remember we were on our way back. I don't even know how we got the crystals. All I know is we took too long – that AT705 was on a timer and we blew it."

"Not by much. And there was the fight with that carpet thing."

Squall shook his head. "Too close. And why can't I remember?"

"Guardians?"

"No. I can remember everything else, no problem. Anyway, it always takes a while, more like weeks or months than minutes, when the Guardians..." his voice faded out. He still wasn't comfortable with the idea that the forces that had saved his life so many times did so by feeding on his mind.

"Have you asked Rinoa?"

"No. I haven't seen her since we got back, she went straight to her room."

"Well there you are. She'll remember."

"I suppose so."

"Is she okay?"

"What?"

Irvine sighed. Sometimes Squall had all the communication skills of a blobra. "Rinoa, is she okay? You said she'd gone to her room?"

Squall shrugged. "I guess so. I think she just went to get changed. She was a bit.."

~Wet, he remembered. In the elevator. She was wet.~

"… tired," he finished, without conviction. "You know, big day tomorrow and all."

Irvine flashed him a grin. "Maybe that explains what you two were up to in there."

Squall laughed, in spite of himself. "Do you ever think of anything else?"

"No, not really," Irvine shrugged. "I don't have to. Not like you leader types."

Squall sighed. ~He looked different,~ Irvine thought.~ Not nearly as uptight as usual. Oh, what the fuck. It's worth a try.~

"Squall... you know Rinoa really likes you, right?"

Squall's grey eyes narrowed. ~Oh no, not this again.~

"Irvine, don't. She likes me as a friend. Which is how I like her. Now stop matchmaking and leave us alone. If you want a romance go and ask Selphie out, or try and get Zell back with that girl in the library. Leave me out of it."

"Okay. So long as you remember I tried. When you're old and lonely."

"Yeah, right, whatever."

Irvine shook his head sadly and got up to leave, adjusting his hat, checking his duster pocket for his keys.

"Goodnight man."

"Goodnight." Squall clapped Irvine affectionately on the shoulder, smiled at him conspiratorially. "And good luck."

~This is weird,~ Irvine thought as he strode off to his room, leaving Squall standing in the quad, gazing at the stars. ~No storming off, telling me to mind my own business; manly displays of affection, and he's even noticed that Zell and his girlfriend broke up.~

~What on earth was wrong with him?~

* * * * * * *

Rinoa brushed her long dark hair in front of the mirror. The early morning sun flooded her room: she loved the spring in Balamb, fresh green colours everywhere and the smell of wet grass. She was about to pick up her pen and try to finish writing her journal when there was a knock on the door. Angelo barked dutifully once, then went back to sleep.

"Hi, come in, it's open!"

The door swooshed open to reveal Quistis, tall and beautiful and squinting in the sunlight.

"Hi Rin. Just thought I'd drop by and see if you felt like joining me for breakfast."

"Sure. Is everything OK?"

"Fine." Quistis sat on the bed while Rinoa started stuffing files and pens into a bag. "Exams today?"

"Oh yeah. Big time. And the Fire Caverns this afternoon."

"Ah, the Fire Cavern," Quistis sounded distinctly wistful, "I remember it well."

"You took Squall on his exam, didn't you?"

"Oh yes. When he got Ifrit. He seemed so… young, then."

"Do you miss being an instructor, Quis?"

Quistis turned clear blue eyes on her quickly. "No, of course not. Squall and Cid are right, I like organising things. And I'd miss the adventure if I couldn't go on so many missions. I think I'm hooked on adrenaline."

Rinoa smiled sympathetically. "With you on that one, sister."

"Actually, Rin... there was something I wanted to ask you."

Ah, that makes sense. Quistis wasn't the sort of person who just dropped by casually for breakfast without some kind of ulterior motive.

"What is it, Quisty?"

Quistis hesitated a moment, smoothing Rinoa's bedspread, picking invisible fluff off the patchwork.

"This may sound a bit odd, but... did anything happen to Squall yesterday?"

Rinoa frowned. "Happen? Well, he got soaked twice and attacked by a savage carpet and a huge security bot, but apart from that…"

"Where did you find the crystals?"

"Um... where you said they'd be. In that room. Great schematics, by the way, Squall found the right one first time."

"And nothing happened there?"

"What? Well … I don't.."

"Only he seems different."

Rinoa sighed irritably. "Quistis, what's the matter? He seemed fine to me yesterday. Come on, you're worrying me. What's wrong?"

"Nothing... no, sorry, it's just me. I just thought he seemed... happier than usual."

"Happier?! What on earth... oh. I see." Rinoa tried to fight down her annoyance, but with little success. "You mean you thought something had happened between us. I'm sorry, but no. It was just another mission. No romance, no illicit snogging under rug monsters. Just me and Squall, following orders, we fetched the crystals, went back to the others… I mean, Selphie was wounded for fuck's sake! What did you think we would be doing!"

"I'm sorry, Rin, I…"

It might have been nerves about her impending exams, or it might have been something else, but Rinoa couldn't recover her temper, even of Quistis did look genuinely repentant.

"Is that what this is all about? You know, I get sick of it sometimes. Everyone knows I like Squall, and they're always sniggering and trying to get us together, and worrying what would happen if we did, and if it would cure him or turn him into a crap leader, and just waiting for something to happen, and I can't take it anymore!" Rinoa struggled to hold back her tears and turned away as Quistis reached out to her.

"Rin, I'm sorry. Please."

All at once Rinoa abandoned herself to Quistis' arms and let the tears come.

"Quis, I love him so much," she sobbed, "sometimes it fucking hurts."

"I know. I know." Quis stroked Rinoa's back, a little stiffly. "But you know he likes you too. He just has stuff to sort out. And he is our Commander. He has to remember that."

Rinoa sniffed loudly and took the hanky Quistis offered her.

"But it's been nearly two years! I can't wait forever for him to make up his mind."

"Maybe you should talk to him?"

Rinoa flopped onto the bed, sinking her fingers into Angelo's comforting layers of fur.

"That's what Irvine said. And I tried. But somehow the time didn't come and…" she gave Quistis a weak smile, "he's not exactly easy to talk to, is he?"

She smiled back. "No. That's a fair comment. Oh, come on, Rinoa. This is just because you're nervous about your exams. You know it'll work out in the end. You were made for each other."

Rinoa blew her nose noisily. "I guess that answers your question, anyway. Nothing happened. If he's happy, you can rest assured it's not because of me."

Quistis patted her gently on the shoulder. "It's maybe wishful thinking on my part then. Or just my overactive imagination. Now, what about breakfast?"

Rinoa nodded, went to the sink and splashed cold water on her face. "Oh, Quisty... you won't say anything about this to anyone, will you?" She picked up her bag. "Only they already think I'm a complete wimp about Squall."

"Of course not. And I'm sure no-one thinks that. Now hurry up, or they'll run out of waffles."

"I'm way too nervous for waffles!"

" I don't believe that for a second."

They left together arm in arm.

"Quistis?"

"Yep?"

"What were the crystals for? The ones we collected yesterday?" she looked sheepishly at her friend "I might have sort of missed the start of the briefing."

Quistis looked at her sternly over the top of her glasses, but there was a twinkle in her eye. "I don't think we know for certain yet. Xu said there was a whole set of different crystalline structures that the Dia are collecting. I think she hopes that by studying them she can work out what kind of weapon they're building."

"Oh."

They reached the cafeteria.

"They're pretty, aren't they? It seems all wrong that they should be used to hurt people?"

"Yes. Well. Let's hope Xu can work it out, then it won't happen."

* * * * * * *

Irvine tiptoed up to the door of the Infirmary and tried to sneak a look through the window. Unfortunately for him a nurse was just coming through and he found himself flat on his back with a slightly throbbing nose.

"And what exactly are you doing there... Irvine Kinneas, isn't it?"

"Yes Ma'am," Irvine scrambled to his feet, dusting himself down in a somewhat exaggerated fashion. "I was just checking on Selphie."

"Oh, of course. Sniffing around the ladies, as usual. I've heard all about you, Mr Kinneas."

Irvine did his best to look offended. "I'm sure I've no idea what you mean."

The nurse snorted with considerable cynicism. "She's supposed to be in bed, resting. And besides, visiting time isn't for another three hours, and she'll probably be out by then. I'm sure even you can wait that long."

"Well, I just… oh, please let me see her," Irvine mustered as much of his considerable charm as he could, "you see, she's a very special friend, and however much you say she's alright I just can't believe you until I see her with my own eyes, and you wouldn't want me fretting, would you? You can't stand in the way of true love." As a final assault on the nurse's resolve Irvine treated her to his loveliest smile, blue eyes twinkling.

"True lust, more like," she snorted. Then, as the smile worked its magic: "Oh, alright. Just ten minutes. And if anyone asks, I wasn't here."

Irvine considered a quick kiss to seal his new conquest's fate, but thought better of it. Instead he bowed ceremonially, winked and rushed through the door before she could change her mind.

He spotted Selphie straight away, conspicuously out of bed and gazing out of the window, singing to herself. He took a moment to enjoy just looking at her; her slight, athletic body, bouncy chestnut hair and bright, mischievous face. She was in a world of her own, as usual.

"Hey, Selph!"

"Irvine!" she ran to him and threw her arms around his middle. "They kept me in for observation. But I'm okay, I can go back to work this afternoon. Or tomorrow at the latest."

Irvine caught her scent as she hugged him, strawberries and cinnamon.

"That's great, 'Elf. We were worried, you know."

"Were you really?" She stepped back and looked at him almost seriously. "Now, Irvine," she chastised him, "you should know better than to worry about me. It was only a rug, after all. Whoever heard of anyone being hurt by a floor covering?"

He grinned at her. "How about the great lino massacre of Esthar? Or the lunar parquet incident? The unwelcome mat disaster of Balamb High Street?"

She laughed and hugged him again. "You always cheer me up. Oh! I forgot?"

"What, my 'Elf?"

"It's Rinoa's exams today, her finals. I promised I'd go to the training centre with her after breakfast."

"That's okay, she knows you were kept here overnight."

"Yes, but I promised, she really needs to take her mind off stuff if she's going to pass. You know, with her father and Squall and everything. I hate to let her down."

"That's okay, I'll go practice with her."

"Would you? Oh, thanks, Irvine. You're such a good friend. Rin will so appreciate it."

Irvine checked the time on the wall clock over the door. "I'll go now, she'll need to get started."

"Okay, I'll see you later, at the briefing." He turned to go. "Oh, and Irvine?"

"Yes, my 'Elf?"

"Thanks for dropping by."

She beamed at him, and winked, before turning back to the window, humming softly.

* * * * * * *

When Irvine reached the cafeteria he was surprised to see Quistis and Rinoa eating breakfast together. Although they were friends they had never seemed particularly close, and yet here they were, eating waffles and giggling in a particularly girly way. He felt unusually intimidated as he approached their table.

"Hi girls." Rinoa and Quistis welcomed him with smiles and shuffled round the table to make room for him, easing his discomfort at interrupting them. "Selphie sent me. She has given me strict instructions to take one Rinoa Heartilly to the Training Centre and help her practice beating small defenceless creatures to a pulp."

"She remembered!" Rinoa was clearly delighted. "Oh, she is so sweet."

"Of course. And she looks much better."

"Thank goodness," sighed Quistis. "She looked so pale last night."

"Yeah. Even Squall was worried." Irvine looked quickly round the room. "Has anyone seen him this morning?"

"No," said Rinoa, quietly, looking suddenly subdued, Irvine thought, "not since last night, when we got back."

"He'll be along later, I'm sure," reassured Quistis, "he won't forget it's a big day for you."

"'Course," added Irvine, unable to shake the feeling that there was a subtext here he wasn't quite getting, "he's probably still drying out after you soaked him yesterday."

Rinoa laughed, despite herself. "Yeah, I hope he doesn't catch cold."

"I meant to ask you about that," Quistis gave Irvine what he called her 'librarian look' over the top of her little glasses, "what happened, exactly?"

"Not my fault!" Irvine put up his hands in surrender. "Just our enterprising novice here decided to use her initiative and call Leviathan to clean the place up."

"You liar!" squealed Rinoa, "it was your idea!" She caught his questioning look and started to giggle. "Well, the second time, anyway."

"Twice?" Quistis arched an eyebrow in disapproval. "I hope you took the mission seriously, Irvine Kinneas, and not as an opportunity for practical jokes."

"Of course not, Quisty," Irvine soothed, "if you hadn't been late we could've returned our hero to you completely dry. Well, maybe just a little damp at the edges."

"Well alright," Quistis refused to rise to the bait, "but don't forget it's dangerous to mix water elements with electricity. Leviathan could've been hurt."

"Yes, Quis," said Rinoa quickly, "honestly, we wouldn't have done it if things hadn't taken so long."

"Mmm," said Quistis, "well."

"Come on, sexy cadet," Irvine got up and held out his hand to Rinoa "time to menace the wildlife."

"Okay," Rinoa took his hand and hitched her bag onto her shoulder. "Thanks for breakfast, Quis."

"You're welcome," Quistis smiled, albeit somewhat stiffly, "good luck for today. You'll be fine."

Irvine was already on his way to the door.

"What's got her knickers in a twist?" he whispered as Rinoa caught up with him, "She's so uptight these days."

"I don't know," said Rinoa, "but I think she finds it hard not being an instructor anymore sometimes. You know she was demoted after Squall's final test?"

"Yeah, Selphie told me. Why? Does anyone know?"

Rinoa shook her head. "She never talks about it. Neither does Squall."

Irvine snorted. "Squall doesn't talk about anything, so no surprise there, eh?"

Rinoa didn't answer. She felt suddenly weary of talking about Squall and his lack of communication skills. Her irritation must have shown on her face, because Irvine put his arm round her shoulders and gave her a hug.

"What d'you want to work on, killer? Grats? Catcherpillars? Or," he leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially, "a big juicy T-Rex?"

She elbowed him playfully in the ribs. "If you're not careful it'll be you!"

"That's my girl. Have you got Leviathan?"

"Yes." They paused as they reached the Training Centre. "Have you got your scuba gear?"

* * * * * * *