Disclaimer: Though final fantasy 8 is the inspiration behind this fic, I have nothing else to do with it. I own nothing. My nose stud fell out and it hurts.
~*Chapter 22*~
"Commander!"
The shout echoed across the empty entrance hall in Balamb Garden, an impatient Nida tapping his foot and looking pointedly at his watch. Squall picked up his pace a little, a sheepish, apologetic look firmly on his features. A grinning Rinoa tried and failed to suppress her giggles at his tardiness, leaving him more than a little embarrassed that even his fiancee with her impeccable record for lateness had made it to the briefing before him.
He pulled at the collar of the SeeD uniform, grimacing a little at the heavy cloth. It had been so long since he had last had occasion to wear this. He cleared his head of the painful memories and concentrated on looking at Rinoa in her own uniform. He had never thought the female version of the uniform particularly flattering on either Selphie or Quistis, but on Rinoa…he chastised himself and forced his ears to take in Cid's brief.
"Good morning SeeD's and SeeD candidates. The objective of the SeeD exam today is to rid Timber of the remaining Galbadian military personnel. We have been instructed by our contractor's, the Galbadian government themselves, to use any means necessary. That includes deadly force. The personnel that still remain are a rebel faction in their own right, still set on the goal of time compression for Ultimecia. If the SeeD candidates fail, qualified SeeD's will complete the mission, they always do. Any questions? No? Then good luck to you all and come back safe. Hyne speed and be with you."
His piece said; Cid walked to the loving embrace of his wife.
Nida continued from where the headmaster had left off. "Ok everyone, listen up. Team leaders are Squad A: Seifer Almasy, Squad B: Glaen Drobe and Squad C: Sierran Robert's. The supporting SeeD's for each squad are as follows: Squad A: SeeD's Kinneas, S and Dincht, Squad B: SeeD's Kinneas, I and Leonhart, Squad C: SeeD's Heartilly and Trepe. Assemble at the Balamb docks in thirty minutes, the supporting SeeD's will relay the rest of the briefing. That is all."
Nida turned smartly on his heel, leaving the excited candidates milling around in a panic, while the more experienced SeeD's rubbed sleep from their heavy lidded eyes, not yet back in the habit of the early starts that came with being a SeeD.
Quistis was the first to round up her hopefuls, "Come on guy's let's show them what Squad C can do!" She punched the air, leaving her comrades and several of the Trepies in her Squad open mouthed in shock. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
Zell joined in the commotion, "That's my girl! But I'm still gonna whoop your ass Trepe! Come on Squad A!" His giggling troupe followed the diminutive blonde as he sprinted to the garage to grab the car assigned to the car.
Selphie and Rinoa looked at each other silently before saluting their other halves, grinning as they pushed each other playfully out the way to catch up with their respective squad's. Squall eyed his and Irvine's squad warily, a mismatched group who seemed out of their depth already. He sighed and resigned himself to his group's probable failure.
"Sierran Robert's?" He watched as a small, red headed girl raised her hand timorously.
"I, I'm Sierran."
"Nice to meet you Sierran. Are you aquatinted with your squad?"
The girl looked terrified and shook her head, Irvine watched his friends' impatience grow and decided to intervene. "No problem guys, we'll talk more on the ship. Hey, don't look so nervous! My field exam was Ultimecia, at least yours isn't quite at that level!"
Irvine chuckled to himself before turning it into a cough when he realised no one else was laughing. He straightened his face and continued, "Okaaay, everyone. Name, age and weapon, give us something to talk about on the way there, huh? You go first squad leader."
She blushed, red merging into red and giggled, "M, me? I, I'm Sierran Robert's. I'm sixteen and I use the staff."
Squall groaned softly, staff users were notoriously weak in strength. He only hoped she was a brilliant para magic user.
"Great! So, you use magic then?" Irvine looked at her in the rear view mirror and winked.
The girl looked startled, "No, why?"
Irvine felt his smile falter, but managed to keep it in place. "Just wondering. Next?"
"Preane Lefolt. Nineteen. Swordsman." The brunette looked down his nose with distaste at Irvine, an impressive feat as he was about the same height as Selphie.
Irvine just grinned sloppily, ignoring the arrogance of the boy and pointed at the last member of the team. A plump, blond girl simpered back at him, her hair flicked at the ends like Selphie's.
"I'm Fertia Opelmier. I'm seventeen and I use the shinobou, just like Selphie! My friends say that if I dyed my hair I'd be just like her! What do you think? I think you're great!"
Squall hid a smile while Preane snorted in derision. Either Fertia didn't notice or she didn't care.
Irvine smiled weakly at her while rubbing his chin. "Uh, yeah. I can see…that. Hey, we're here, better late than never. Hurry on board." Irvine abandoned the car and ran to his wife, the two of them whispering and giggling immediately. His charges safely on board, Squall joined Rinoa.
"Hey you. What's wrong?" Her smile melted as she saw his darkened mood.
"Nothing. They've just given us candidates who shouldn't be here at all. I'm going to spend today watching their backs and my own in case they accidentally mistake me for the enemy." He grumbled.
Rinoa laughed, "Oh, my poor Squally! Come on, the other's are waiting and we've got an announcement!" She tickled him in the ribs before running into the SeeD cabin, her fiancée hot on her heels.
Selphie looked up from Irvine's chest to met Squall's gaze, sympathy evident in her eyes. "Irvy's been telling us about your squad. Poor you, poor both of you! That must suck. Our squad's great, huh Zell?"
He nodded, a hotdog stuffed in his mouth preventing any speech. He offered a bag of hotdog's round the group, a satisfied grin lighting his face when no one took him up on his generosity.
Rinoa snuggled into Squall, his arm draping absently around her waist, "So's ours. You just must've got the bottom of the barrel."
Quistis nodded in silent agreement before letting out a squeak. She covered her mouth and pointed at Rinoa's hand. "Rin? Is that…?"
Squall and Rinoa nodded together. The cabin degenerated into chaos, everyone clamouring to see the ring Rinoa sported and to offer their congratulations to the happy couple.
"When, when did this happen? How could you not tell us?" Selphie spluttered, pointing an accusing finger at Rinoa.
"Just yesterday! When you had Angelo, Squall took me out and, well, you can see what happened." Rinoa laughed at the fuss they were making.
"Tell us how he did it!" Selphie squealed, clapping her hands in glee.
Rinoa shook her head slowly, "It's private, I want to be selfish and keep it to myself."
Selphie nodded sagely and Squall's relief was enormous. Zell began choking on his breakfast, cured quickly by a thump on the back from Irvine. He smiled weakly in thanks and looked over at Quistis, private nostalgia evident for the public to view.
Zell shook her gently, "Quisty? What's up? You're not jealous are ya? I thought…"
She laughed gently, silencing him with her smile. "No Zell. I was just thinking back to how we got together, do you remember?"
The rest of the group crowded in, eager to hear. Zell blushed and crossed his arms. "I remember, but they aren't getting to know!" He mumbled.
"Oh come on Zell! We don't even know how this came about! You and Quisty together it's, well, it's bizarre!" Selphie patted Zell's knee and he groaned, looking pleadingly at Quistis.
"Quisty?" He implored her.
She shook her head and started her story. "When we got back to Garden after everything had blown over I was made an Instructor again. Apparently, it had been NORG who had wanted me out, not Cid or anyone else. Anyway, I was in the library one day when Zell comes up to me, asking for some help with finding a book on hotdog's. He had these big, puppy dog eyes and I couldn't say no, so I helped him.
To thank me, he took me to the cafeteria to get a hotdog, only he didn't get one, he got fourteen. He tried to eat them all without inhaling I think, and he started to choke like usual. I took him to the infirmary and Dr. Kadowaki sorted him out, but he was in a pretty bad way. When he'd choked, he'd hit himself in the chest, forgetting he had his gloves on, and he'd given himself some pretty serious internal injuries. I stayed with him for the week he was in the infirmary, and as the time wore on I realised what a great guy he is. Funny, caring, sensitive…everything I love. I fell in love with him as he slept. It's the only time I saw him that peaceful! Anyway, when he came to, he looked up at me with those big blue eyes and said,
"You're still here? I thought you'd have gone home. I made such an ass of myself, huh?"
I replied that I couldn't leave him like that because he was one of my best friends. He went all quiet, mumbling about how he thought I was pretty and he wanted to be more than friends, that's why he'd pestered me about the book in the library and taken me to the cafeteria. The hotdog's were a way of showing off that backfired! Anyway, I thought it was so sweet, and that sealed it. We've been together since then."
Selphie grinned and ruffled Zell's hair, "Aw, who'd have thought you'd be such a darling!"
Zell was bright red and shook her off, "Thanks Quisty, remind me to embarrass you soon. Hey, what about you and the cowboy Sef? I mean, it was obvious he liked you, but it was obvious he liked anything female! What happened there?"
Irvine smiled at his bride and kissed her forehead, "I'll take this one Sefie. Well, it's like this guys. Since the orphanage, Sefie and me were always close, best buds and confidantes. That grew over the years from being only a love for a friend into a lover's relationship. When I saw Sefie again I couldn't believe it. She's more beautiful everyday and it amazes me more everyday because I don't know how she can get anymore beautiful.
The night before we went through time compression I told her how I felt, I swore I'd always be there for her, love and protect her. I still mean it. So, we got together that night, she's what kept me going my whole life. I lived to see her again when I was at Galbadia and I fought for our future together when I was fighting Ultimecia."
He smiled gently at Selphie and she looked up into his eyes with love. He turned to Squall with a grin. "Squall? What about you and Rin? How did she melt that ice?"
He asked slyly, he never expected a reply at all, never mind one from Squall and stared amazed when he began to speak softly and hesitantly.
"When Rinoa was unconscious I realised I'd do anything for her. When we were in space, I knew I had feelings for her, I just couldn't express them at that point. The breaking point was when she was in that damn memorial, I, I couldn't contemplate failure. I had to get her out. I loved her. Still do, more if that's possible."
The other's contemplated his words in silence, while Rinoa smiled at her memories of his barriers breaking, slowly but surely.
The wind howled around her as she searched in vain for something, anything that would lead her to him. A slash of black moved steadily across the mottled grey before falling to the ground below. All was still.
She rushed to the figure, clasping the rings around her neck as she realised it was he. Her legs found haste anew and she felt as though she had flown the last distance that had separated them.
She looked down at the lifeless figure, not daring to breathe. Her voice came out a strangled whisper.
"Squall?" No response. She took the body in her arms, cradling her knight to her heart, willing him back to life. She spoke again, her voice gaining little strength.
"Squall!" The stormy eyes remained closed and she held him closer still, tears escaping her as she drowned in her sorrow. She hadn't got to tell him…
The wind returned as a pleasant breeze on her skin and she watched in awe as the murky landscape rolled back to reveal the flower field.
"You promised…" She whispered, fighting back the tears as his eyes fluttered open, his gloved hand coming up to caress her cheek.
"Told you I'd be waiting." He croaked, pulling her down to brush her lips with his own.
~*~*~
"Come on Squall, please?" She pleaded.
"No."
"For me?"
"No."
"Meanie."
She sat pouting on the beach, looking up at the lighthouse. It was a source of fascination, she'd never seen one before and her exploration urges were kicking in. He sat sullenly watching her. Groaning, he pulled himself to his feet and offered her his hand.
"Come on then."
She looked up at him, "Where?"
He pointed to the lighthouse and watched in amazement as she turned her back to him.
"No."
"What?" He stepped back in disbelief.
"No."
"But you wanted to go!"
"And now I don't. Go figure." She crossed her arms, trying to hide a smile.
He stared at her. Realisation dawned on him.
"Please? For me?"
She laughed and took his hand, "Well, ok. But only because you asked me so nicely!"
~*~*~
He was frantic. He told her not to go anywhere without him, and yet here he was searching the island for the wayward sorceress. He fumed silently as he destroyed another Chimera effortlessly, his rage making his strength tenfold. How could she do this?
"Making me worry like this. If I didn't love her, I swear to Hyne I'd…" He stopped with a start. He was worried about her. He loved her. A glimpse of blue caught his attention and he shoved the thoughts roughly to one side as he ran to the beach. She sat serenely watching the waves as he had done during his childhood.
"Rinoa!" She turned to him, smiling. His heart melted, and with it, his anger.
"Rinoa, I…don't go off like that again, ok? I was…scared that something had happened to you."
She raised an eyebrow quizzically, "Why?"
He tried to suppress his emotions, "Because I'm your knight and I'm here to protect you."
"Is that all?" She looked crestfallen and he softened.
"No. Rinoa, I, I…love you." He hung his head, as if expecting a reprimand. Instead, he felt her soft body press against his own solid form and she lifted his head, looking deep into his eyes.
"I love you, Squall Leonhart."
~*~*~
The jolt of the boat hitting land jerked Rinoa from her memories.
"Everyone out! It's hostile out there, watch your back!" An unknown voice boomed through the tannoy and she turned to Irvine when she realised Squall, Selphie and Quistis were missing.
"Where are the others Irvy?"
"They're finishing the brief, you've been sleeping for an hour SeeD Heartilly. Tsk Tsk!" He winked at her and she grinned, saluting smartly.
"Well then SeeD Kinneas, let the battle commence! Hope your candidates don't cramp your style!"
She ran off to get Quistis and the rest of the squad, laughing at Irvine's cry,
"Cramp my style? Ain't never gonna happen, baby!"
