Disclaimer: Muwahahahaha! News flash, I have recently conquered the world so I own EVERYTHING, including SQUARESOFT and FF8!! *Gets overthrown by protesting civilians* Damn it! Never mind, I own nothing!
Chapter FourteenSquall looked up at the large corporation edifice as he got out of his vehicle. He locked his car and began trudging towards the building that his significant other dreaded more than anything at the present moment … 'This still doesn't mean she'll take me back …' He reminded himself.
He pushed through the rotating doorway and signaled to Stan, the watchman, "Hey… need to see the head honcho." He said in a fake happy voice that wasn't his own, "I've got some business to discuss."
"Sure thing…" Stan smirked and buzzed Agent Leonheart in. "He ain't in a good mood so you best be careful." The watch guard shook his head and chuckled slightly. Squall didn't smile back.
'Well, I've always been known for my excellent timing … I suppose I shouldn't expect any 'going-away' presents. Unless it's a bullet in my cranium … oh God, why do you hate me so?' He thought bitterly as he entered the elevator.
As he pressed the sixtieth floor button where Ackroyde's office was located, someone squeezed through the doors with an armful of folders. 'Oh shit… not her… not today…' He thought bitterly, 'This is definitely the last straw …'
"Hey Squall …" The overly sweet voice asked, "Why're you here so late at night?" The strawberry blonde smiled her perfect little smile and nudged up against him.
"No particular reason… I was just dropping by to discuss some things with Ackroyde." He replied, ignoring the deliberate contact that passed between his waist and her behind.
"Oh? You want to go for some coffee after?" She asked innocently, still wearing that sickeningly sweet smile, "You look tired out, I'm sure you could use it."
'I know you want to bring me out to more than just coffee, Jennifer.' Squall thought detestably, 'And I'm not interested in the empty side of your double bed. Innocent flirting … innocent … never will it go beyond that, got it?'
Rinoa had never possessed great love for Jennifer, the secretary of Ackroyde's secretary. It seemed that around here, everyone had secretaries … even secretaries. Even when they weren't dating, Rinoa used to roll her eyes when Jennifer flirted with Squall.
"I think I'll pass on the coffee… Rin would be expecting me home …" Squall replied, noticing the grimace that replaced Jennifer's innocent look. 'Sorry, I'm a one-woman guy … if it makes you feel better I do feel bad disappointing so many women.' And then another thought came naturally, 'Rinoa's worth it …'
The good-looking woman exited the elevator on the thirtieth-something floor, smiling her good-byes to the handsome agent. 'Alone at last …' He thought as the elevator ride continued in sweet solitude, ' I wonder what the kids are thinking… I wonder what she's thinking…'
He frowned slightly as a faint 'ding-ing' sound was heard and the lift doors slid opened to reveal a single, richly furnished hallway with only two double doors at the end of it… Ackroyde's office. He need not even think of knocking; he had been here so many times so he just pushed his way through.
'Oh shit, no …' He spotted a blond sitting in a armchair, her eyes fixed on him almost as if she was still accusing him of something. After their 'break-up', Quistis had cried… he had not. She had wanted to date again… he had definitely not.
He tried not to look at her so much in fear that this may ensue a conversation he did not want to have, "Mr. Ackroyde, I've come to discuss certain things…" He began, finding the hunched figure behind his rosewood, polished desk.
"I'm sure you have, Leonheart… How's the family?" His boss greeted him and a snicker was heard from the shadows as a tall, light haired man appeared. Seifer saluted Squall mockingly and dropped his weight in another armchair.
"Full house, isn't it?" Squall asked scathingly, "Mr. Ackroyde, this is private business so if you would be so kind as to dismiss these-"
"I'll tell you one thing, Leonheart… after Heartilly left, I needed some new hope for this agency and these two were the answers. You remember the good old days when you and Rinoa were like my children? Well, now that I've buried those times, I thought I might need them…"
Squall just stared back silently, 'So since one didn't feel like doing what you told her to, you decided to bury her and find a replacement?' His fists clenched slightly, "Very sorry to hear that and I hate to bring you back to reality with a crash… but no one will be able to replace Rinoa Heartilly in terms of efficiency."
The room was suddenly invaded by a dark and cold silence, each individual fighting their own rage back not to lose their cool composure and lose the tyrannous battle.
Finally, Ackroyde spoke, "I know why you came here and I beg you to re-think your choice."
"There's nothing to re-think." Squall snapped suddenly.
"Squall, Squall…" Ackroyde began lightly, "I can read you so easily… I know why you're doing this and let me tell you it's not for the right reasons. She may be your wife… but you are your own man and should make these decisions for yourself…"
"Shut up!" Squall raged suddenly.
But Ackroyde continued, "Don't you see… she's controlling you. You do whatever she asks and never think for yourself. You blindly follow her orders…"
"I blindly follow your orders!" He corrected, "I'm so sick of listening to you! You sit in that fucking office chair assigning murders all fucking day long and you make more money than fifty normal citizens make honestly!"
"There are certain jobs that people must do and they are paid accordingly! We will not waste the little time I have left in this world to discuss social issues of this civilization because we do not create the rules! We do not have the power to handle justice!" Ackroyde yelled back, "I can't believe you think such things… who told you this? Rinoa?"
"Listen, I have a family! I've got a wife and I've got kids… I just want to be able to take care of them. I'll sign whatever papers you want me to sign and I'll even leave Deling forever!"
"Do you not see? Maybe you are blinded by your emotions however; let me open your eyes. Since when did you want to be a family man? Never! This wasn't meant to happen to you! You've been burdened with a responsibility that should have never come to you!"
"Aren't you aware of the rules of biology?" Squall asked, a hint of amusement visible in his tone of voice, "If Rinoa and I were old enough to do what we did… then we're old enough to assume responsibility for the consequences."
"If Rinoa and you were stupid enough to do what you did… chances are you're too stupid to assume responsibility for the consequences." Seifer couldn't help correctly smugly from his armchair.
"Did anyone tap you on the shoulder and asked you your opinion?" Squall asked his rival, taking immense pleasure noticing that Seifer's scar hadn't healed properly as opposed to his own which wasn't infected or still at risk of bleeding. "No? Then shut the hell up!"
"That will be enough!" Ackroyde silenced the heated banter with the snap of his voice, "Squall, I beg you reconsider your choices that you think you've already made. Demission from a game is a player's lost."
"This isn't a game… this is my life!" Squall hissed in a low deadly voice that possessed the purest hatred and disgust, "I want out… and I want it now."
"You will not have it until I have my say!" Ackroyde snapped at him, "I have power over you and I will use that power if I must! You shall reconsider this move on your part quietly in one of the agency's dormitories! I advise you to think clearly… don't make mistakes."
"Fine! You want to shut me in one of your little rooms for an hour or so then do so! I'll sit quietly and come to you to tell you the same goddamn thing that I just did! Then we'll really be wasting the little time you have left on this pathetic planet!" Squall spun on his heel and walked out of the doors.
"What a stubborn ass." Seifer scowled, not budging from his armchair.
"I'm … I'm going to get some coffee …" Quistis said hastily and made her way out of the office as well.
Ackroyde folded his hands on his polished desk and thought for a moment. After a few minutes, he cleared his throat and motioned Seifer over, "Close the door." He instructed. The pupil did as he was told.
"I've an important mission for you… something that will quench your thirst for revenge." Ackroyde smiled sinisterly as Seifer leaned in to listen.
***
The elevator door was already closed when Quistis got to them. She immediately went for the stairs, descending each flight quickly until she got to the fortieth floor. She got out onto that floor and saw Squall's figure exiting the elevator and entering a dormitory some way down the corridor.
She followed and entered herself, "Squall?" Her eyes searched the room to find his figure lying on the bed.
"Oh for fuck's sake, what the hell do you want?" He hissed, his eyes still closed.
Her trained body moved gracefully across the room to the bed where her hands reached out for his strong body, "Don't tell me you don't want this…" And she bent her face down to his to kiss him.
Sabam: Sorry, no Rinoa appearances in this chapter. I have a feeling you'll all want to kill me once you see what I'm going to put her through. But it's necessary … for character growth. Anyways, yeah, sorta cliffy here but we all know who's side Squall's on right? So no worries … right? Wrong. Heh heh … review and I'll love you forever!