A Final Fantasy VIII Fan Fic
All rights to the characters and names of locations are owned by SquareSoft
The Highwayman Copyright Jim Webb
Rated R for language and sexual content
By Toysaurus
Chapter Four
I was a dam builder
Across the river deep and wide
Where steel and water did collide
A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado
I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below
They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound
But I am still around.
The Highwayman
All Rights Reserved Jimmy Webb
It was very early in the morning when Cid crept down the long staircase from Edea's bedroom. He was completely dressed except for the shoes he was carrying in his hands.
When Cid reached the foot of the stairs, he heard, "Going somewhere?"
He turned and saw Edea standing at the head of the stairs. He gasped, his breath taken away again as it had been on the previous evening.
She is even more beautiful in the daylight, he thought. Staring at her, he finally realized she was waiting for his answer.
"Uhm…well, you know…I thought I should go home."
"Why? Do you have something pressing to do?" Edea asked.
"No, no, that's not it. I just didn't want to overstay my welcome."
"Come back up," Edea invited, smiling at him and offering her right hand in welcome. "And lose some of those clothes, you're embarrassing me standing there completely dressed."
"Gladly," Cid smiled while beginning to unbutton his shirt.
It was raining and Quistis was growing wetter and colder by the minute as she waited at the city bus stop. She cursed herself for not being smart enough to bring her raincoat when it had looked so gray out.
But it always looks this gray because of the pollution, how was I to know?
Hearing the loud bup-bup-bup of a large motorcycle approaching, she naturally glanced towards the sound and was surprised to see Squall approaching her on his big Harley. She was surprised because he was reputed to be as reclusive as she and also that he appeared intent on speaking to her. Squall had never even acknowledged her presence before.
"Need a lift?" he asked after gearing down making the noise at least bearable in Quistis' opinion.
"No, I'm okay," she answered stiffly. "The bus will be here in a minute."
"Come on," he said. "You'll be drenched by the time it gets here. Where are you headed?"
Not appreciating his insistence, Quistis sarcastically replied, "I'm going somewhere I'm sure you're totally unaware of - the public library."
Quistis was even more nonplussed when the young goth answered, "Not only do I know where it is, that's where I'm going. Now come on, you're getting drenched," Squall insisted, while holding out a hand to help her climb on the back of the bike.
Quistis realized if she grew more soaked she would probably end up sick and she certainly didn't want to miss any school because of having a bad cold. Scholarship committees don't understand someone being sick, they only understand top grades and good college boards.
The blonde young woman accepted his hand and climbed onto the back of the big motorcycle. She sat perplexed as to where to place her hands. Oh, this is so embarrassing, around his waist? No, that can't be right.
Squall sensed her indecision and said, "Place your hands around my chest."
As soon as Quistis had complied, Squall slipped the Harley back into gear and after waiting for his place in traffic he roared off. Quistis was initially frightened because she had never ridden on the back of a motorcycle. After a few minutes of observing Squall's consummate handling of it as he pulled around slower traffic, but was always in control of the huge road machine, she grew calm and even began to enjoy the thrill of it.
In a few minutes Squall pulled up in front of the public library and insisted Quistis run inside and he would then go park. Once inside Quistis felt immediately warmer and shook the rain water off her much in a manner reminiscent of a duck ruffling its' feathers.
Even though she was impatient to begin her search for the books she needed for some of her advanced studies, Quistis decided it would be only polite to wait for Squall. After all he saved me about thirty minutes of wet misery waiting for that damn bus.
Squall appeared slightly amused when he observed Quistis waiting for him. "Thanks," he murmured.
"No problem, where you headed?" she asked.
"I'm looking for some books on weaponry," Squall explained.
"Oh, that's on the third floor. That's the same floor I'm going."
Squall looked at her in surprise. "I used to practically live here when I was younger," Quistis explained. "I know where everything is."
"Elevator or walk?" Squall asked, while pointing at the staircase that lay to the right.
"Walk," Quistis emphatically said. "That elevator scares me. It clanks so much and it's so slow I'm always sure I'll get locked in there."
"Yeah, me too," Squall agreed.
Once they reached the third floor via the steps, Quistis quickly found the books she needed to take notes from. She carried a stack of five books over to a vacant table and sat down. Quistis pulled her notebook and pen from her small carry bag and then began searching in the books for the pertinent information she was seeking.
Squall located the weaponry shelf without any difficulty, but spent quite a few minutes standing there searching for a specific weapon. It was not a weapon he was familiar with. It was one of the mental images he had received from touching the strange coat in his closet the night before, although it was the only one that he could still remember clearly.
There it is! he thought excitedly. What is that? Some sort of gun on the end of a sword? I've never heard about anything like that.
Underneath the picture of the strange weapon it read, An example of an early gunblade.
A gunblade? What the hell is that?
He carried the book open to the exact page over to Quistis where she was steadily taking notes. "Excuse me, I hate to bother you when you look so busy, but have you ever heard of or seen a weapon like this before?"
Squall handed the book to Quistis as she looked up at him, but he kept his finger on the proper picture until he could see that she understood which picture he was pointing to.
Quistis looked up at him with a puzzled expression. "Sure, it's just an old fashioned six shooter."
"What?!" Squall exclaimed loudly. Someone somewhere in the library cautioned, "Shhh!"
Squall hurriedly accepted the book back and searched the page. What the hell is going on? He felt his body being covered with goose bumps. There was no picture of a gunblade on the page.
He realized that Quistis was now looking at him strangely and he apologized, "I'm sorry to have interrupted you over something so trivial."
Quistis smiled at him. He's really a lot different then I thought. "No bother, I'm about finished. How about you?"
"Yeah," Squall agreed. "I've seen more than enough or apparently even more then is there."
After Squall returned the book to the proper shelf, he helped Quistis reshelf the books she had been working with. As Squall and Quistis exited the library, they observed that the rain had stopped and the sun had made its' appearance.
Squall asked, "Would you like to go get a cup of coffee?"
Quistis flushed and hesitated for a second. "Okay," she finally replied. What's wrong with me? I need to get home and start studying. Well, it's only polite, he didn't have to give me a ride here in that rain.
"I'm parked over there," Squall pointed.
He instinctively realized that the young blonde woman was having an interior argument with herself over something and he didn't say anything until they both were seated on his rumbling Harley Davidson.
"Hang on tight," Squall said, and waited for Quistis to comply.
Squall roared out of the parking lot and back into traffic. Ten minutes later he was parking in front of 'Balamb Burger.'
"You want to go here?" Quistis asked surprised. 'Balamb Burger' was usually the place people went to on their first dates. It was considered a safe place for a young woman.
"Sure, why not? It's just Saturday morning coffee."
Quistis decided she was reading far too much into this as she often did, being the intense driven personality that she was. They retreated off Squall's bike and entered the fast food restaurant. After receiving their orders and Squall paying for both over Quistis' protestations, he led them to a table by the front window from where they could be observed readily by anyone who entered.
Quistis was surprised that Squall wanted to sit with her in such a public location. She perceived herself as a drudge rather than realizing her beauty that lay beneath her glasses, pretty hair tied in a bun, and her rather staid outfits.
"What was that you were looking for in that book?" Quistis asked.
Squall flushed. "Oh, I know it sounds stupid, but it was just something I remembered from a dream." He was too embarrassed about it to say he received the knowledge of it in a vision.
"A dream?!" she questioned.
Squall attempted to laugh depreciatingly but failed since it came out as if he was being strangled. "Yeah, but it seemed so real, I could see every detail of it."
"What's it called again? Quistis inquired.
"A gunblade."
That's strange, that sounds familiar to me too, the young woman thought. "Weird name," she offered.
"Yeah," Squall agreed.
After they had finished their coffee, Squall inquired, "Ready?"
Quistis nodded and they stood up and exited the restaurant. This time Quistis noticed she did not feel strange at all when she threw her leg up over the back of the large motorcycle that was already running. She leaned forward and snuggled up to his back while wrapping her hands, once again, on his chest.
Squall pulled out of the parking lot and ten minutes later he deposited Quistis in front of her address. He roared off but not before waving on his way. Quistis stood and waved in return feeling as though she had just let something exciting get away.
In the very early evening Zell was standing in front of the door of Kristine's house. He was holding a dozen roses in his hand and glanced around nervously hoping that no one he knew saw him holding them.
He was the owner of a few nasty appearing bruises on various parts of his muscular body from the rumble on the previous evening, although the East Academy gang had been thoroughly routed.
Zell stood there for a couple of minutes working up his nerve before he finally knocked on the door. He heard the voice of Kristine clearly call out from within the structure, "I'll get it!"
And the door opened and there she was, standing before him. Kristine exclaimed, upon seeing the roses residing in Zell's right hand, "Oh Zell, they're beautiful, you're so sweet."
She stepped up and kissed him on his right cheek, while taking the roses from him. "Wait here, I'll put them in water. I'll be right back," Kristine explained while shutting the door.
Zell was very appreciative that Kristine was attempting to act as a buffer between him and her parents. He certainly hadn't been looking forward to meeting them and having them stand there relentlessly staring while he attempted to stammer out some niceties.
Kristine was as good as her word and she returned in less than a minute. "Where are we going?" Kristine asked, closing the front door behind her.
"Where would you like to go?" Zell replied, as he actually had no idea at the time where he was taking her.
"Wherever you want," the young woman cooed.
Zell realized this was getting them nowhere and could go on all night at this rate. He was also worried if they continued standing there, her parents might open the front door so he quickly suggested they continued their discussion on the road.
After they were safely riding down the street, Kristine broached, "I would like to meet your mother."
"You wanna meet my mother?!" Zell replied completely flabbergasted.
No young woman he had ever known had made such a strange request. "Yes, I do, why is that so strange? I'm going to marry you someday you know," Kristine answered.
Zell was so surprised by that statement he almost drove off the road. "Marry me?!"
"Yes," the pig-tailed young woman insisted. "So take me to your homestead, my glorious young knight," Kristine declared while mixing several genres.
Ten minutes later Zell parked the car by the curbside in front of his house. "You're sure you wanna do this?" he asked.
"Certainly, kind sir," Kristine assured him with a twinkle in her eye.
Zell smiled at her. He realized she was doing all she could to set him at ease and he fully appreciated it.
He's so beautiful when he smiles, I wish he would do it more often. Kristine realized the number one hoodlum of Balamb High wasn't well known for his smiles; grimaces, maybe, but never smiles.
Zell stepped out of the car and hurried around to the other side to open the door for Kristine. "Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome."
Zell took her right hand in his and led her up the walk to his front door. Opening the door and stepping inside, Zell called out, "Ma, there's someone here I want you to meet."
Kristine observed a rather rotund middleaged woman, who had her brown hair tied up in a short bun step out from the kitchen. "Well, who do we have here?" she asked.
"This is Kristine, Ma," Zell said by way of introduction.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm sure," Kristine responded while holding her right hand out.
Kristine had learned everything she knew in the way of social graces by the way of watching old movies. Zell's mother took it in her hand and exclaimed, "Aren't you just too precious," embarrassing Zell greatly.
Zell coughed and his mother took the hint. "Well, I'll be in the kitchen if you two need anything. Zell, show her around the house," the older woman spoke and dropping Kristine's hand, she returned to her former preoccupation.
As it was a very small residence, Zell was able to stay in one room and point out the other ones. "This is the dining room, that's the kitchen, and there's the living room. Are you ready to leave?"
"I haven't seen your room yet," Kristine spoke coyly.
Zell was taken aback but explained, "It's right up these stairs, follow me."
As soon as they entered Zell's bedroom, Kristine spotted the huge skateboard. "Oh, I didn't know you were a skater. That's a really expensive board."
"I'm not although I know how to. I've just always owned that."
"Let me try," Kristine demanded.
Stepping up on the skateboard and, attempting to move it across the room, Kristine immediately fell off onto her behind. Her skirts flew up to her waist displaying to Zell her frilly white panties.
Zell blushed furiously and quickly turned his head, but then realized he was going to have to assist her to regain her feet.
"Ow!" the young woman cried out.
"Are you okay?" Zell asked while attempting to reach out his hands to her without really looking at her.
"Yes, but my pride is injured," Kristine answered as she accepted Zell's hands and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.
"As long as it's just your pride, then don't worry. I won't tell," Zell attempted to joke.
As Kristine smoothed her short skirt down, she asked, "Who's that in the picture?" while pointing to a photograph that hung from his wall.
"That's my grandfather. He was a hero in the Second World War. I really look up to him," Zell spoke embarrassedly.
He had never told another living soul about his grandfather. Why was he telling her this, he wondered.
"And here's your punching bag," Kristine spoke cheerfully in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Watch me give it a shot," she vowed.
"Be careful," Zell warned. Kristine offered the small bag that was attached to the ceiling a straight right and it bounced back and hit her square in the nose.
"Ow!" she complained.
Zell laughed but then asked, "Are you okay? I told you to be careful."
"Your room is dangerous," she stated.
"That's why I don't let usually let anyone up here."
"Oh, you don't, do you?" Kristine joked, arching an eyebrow. "So what do you have in mind?"
Zell blushed again and stammered, "Uh….n-nothing, nothing at all."
"Aw," Kristine complained, "how boring."
I know she's kidding, but what if she isn't? How would I know? "Are you ready to leave?" Zell inquired.
"Nope, I was hoping we could sit and talk, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere to sit except for your bed," Kristine answered, while glancing around the room.
Zell's heart skipped a beat. "We can sit on my bed if you want to," Zell offered.
"Oh good!" she exclaimed and threw herself down on the bed in a sitting position. Zell was suddenly struck with a vague memory of another time that had happened, with another girl.
How can that be? I've never had another girl up here before.
"Are you going to sit down or just stand there?" Kristine asked archly.
Zell quickly sat beside her. They were silent for a matter of seconds and then Zell asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
"About how I've been wanting to do this," she answered and then pulled his face down to hers in a passionate kiss.
Nothing more was said for a matter of minutes as they explored each other's lips and then finally mouths.
"Oh Zell," Kristine moaned." I have dreamt of this so," and the young woman unbuttoned her blouse liberating her breasts to the eyesight of the shocked Zell.
Oh my God! he thought.
