'Well that could've been worse.' Squall said quietly and started picking up
the rest of his suit.
Selphie wrapped her arms around him.
'She'll be fine, in time. Quistis is a strong woman.' She said softly.
'I just feel bad hurting her.' Squall replied.
'You can't help the way you feel, neither can Quistis, she knows that.' Selphie told him consolingly.
'That's true I can't help what I feel.' Squall said grinning mischievously and started tickling her.
Selphie shrieked loudly 'Hey! Stop it!' she yelled at him.
Squall laughed and let her go. 'Sorry, I couldn't help it.' He told her grinning.
'Shame you don't have a shower.' He said winking.
Selphie laughed 'Down boy!' she teased.
'You'd better behave now, we have to go meet Quistis soon remember.' She told him.
'True, and I need to get out of this suit.' He replied putting on the torn remains of his shirt and jacket.
Selphie giggled 'I guess I was a little too rough huh?' she grinned.
'Well I preferred being out of the suit anyway.' Squall told her.
Squall waited for Selphie to get dressed and then they both went to Squall's room where he changed back into his own comfortable clothes.
'Better?' Selphie asked as Squall rubbed his cheek against his fur collar.
'Much.' Squall said simply and slipped his hand into hers.
Selphie smiled and said 'I thought you like to be private?' squeezing his hand.
'I like touching you more.' He whispered in reply as they headed to the cafeteria.
They arrived to find Quistis eating a muffin her eyes slightly reddened. 'Squall, Selphie.' She said with a strained smile.
'Quistis.' Squall nodded.
'Hey is that a chocolate muffin?' Selphie asked breaking away from Squall and bounced away to the counter to get her own.
Squall sat opposite Quistis and looked at her intently. 'Talk.' He said softly.
Quistis looked at him taken aback.
'What?' she asked surprised.
'This time I'll listen, I know you're hurt, stop hiding.' He told her.
Quistis laughed mirthlessly. 'You're telling me how to express myself?' she retorted.
'Maybe I'm the best person for it.' He replied still not breaking his gaze.
Selphie looked over to them and realised what was happening so she decided to eat her muffin at the counter and leave them to it.
'Why not me?' Quistis asked him.
'Because I can't feel that way about you Quistis, to let you think otherwise would hurt you more.' Squall replied.
'What stops you?' Quistis said quietly.
'Brotherly love. I've always seen you as a big sister and then when you became an Instructor you became my teacher too. With the way I grew up with you my heart and mind couldn't see you in that way.' Squall explained.
Quistis smiled 'I thought you didn't care for me at all.' She told him.
'Well back then I didn't want anyone to know I cared, didn't want to risk attachment for fear of loss, especially after Ellone. But you should know you're one of my dearest friends.' Squall said softly squeezing her hand.
'Thanks Squall. Lets hope you have the energy to keep up with Selphie.' Quistis teased.
'Hey!! I heard that!' Selphie cried out as she came over to them.
'Well you are hyperactive!' Quistis said laughing.
Selphie stuck her tongue out in reply.
'So are you ready to go back to Balamb?' Quistis asked.
'Already?' Squall groaned.
'Afraid so. No doubt you have a mound of paperwork on your desk waiting for you.' Quistis replied.
'That's true but I haven't checked out the state of Garden here yet. That was one of the main reasons for visiting.' Squall told her.
'Well we're still loading and unloading so you have a while yet.' Quistis informed him.
'Great! My turn to give you a guided tour!' Selphie said grinning and took Squall's arm whilst Quistis rolled her eyes sarcastically.
For the next couple of hours Squall strolled through Trabia Garden with Selphie chattering excitedly about each of the different areas. Like Balamb it had the eight main areas; Front Gate, the Quad whose main feature was the amphitheatre, the Cafeteria from where they had left. The Infirmary, at the back taking up a large area was the Dormitories split into male and female wings. Next was the Parking Lot with its resident snowmobiles, the Library so far filled with copies from Balmb library and finally the Training centre which unlike Balamb was a snowfield where Snowlions and Mesmerises roamed.
In an outer ring around the building were the teaching rooms and offices all furnished and filled with facilities.
'Sure have done a lot here haven't you?' Squall said in awe.
'Well we all worked together!' Selphie said happily.
'And when it's finished?' Squall asked softly.
'What do you mean?' Selphie asked unsurely.
'Will you come back to Balamb?' he replied.
'I guess...' Selphie said slowly.
'Okay I suppose it was wrong of me to suggest that.' Squall told her.
'No, you just wanted me to be with you. I'm happy about it!' Selphie replied and threw her arms around his waist and nuzzled his chest. Squall held her to him feeling strange at how easily this came to him.
With Rinoa he had been awkward in expressing himself affectionately but here and now with Selphie it was so natural, just like wielding his gunblade.
'I suppose it's time we headed back.' Squall sighed sadly.
Selphie nodded silently in reply as she slid away from him and to his side holding his hand as they walked back to the front gate where Quistis would be waiting.
And there she was standing sternly on what once was cracked and ruptured tarmac, now smooth marble gravel with hardy green ferns growing at its edge.
'It's time to go Squall.' She said softly and was surprised as Selphie peeled away from Squall and gave her a goodbye hug which made her lips twitch into a brief smile.
This was then replaced by a pang of jealousy and she rolled her eyes in annoyance as Selphie and Squall kissed goodbye.
Squall and Selphie pulled away gazing into each other's eyes and smiling, lost in their own world.
'So when will I get to be with you again?' Squall asked softly, playing with hand.
'Soon. I have to comer back to Balamb for the festival so don't work too hard that you can't play when I arrive.' Selphie replied mischievously.
'Okay.' Squall said still holding onto her unable to tear himself away until Quistis let out an exasperated breath.
'I'm coming, I'm coming.' Squall said sadly as he finally let go of Selphie's hand with extreme reluctance.
Selphie smiled sadly in return and watched them walking up the ramp into Ragnarok. Bouncing madly she waved enthusiastically as the ramp closed swallowing Squall and Quistis.
She gazed up at the passenger cabin looking for Squall as the air rumbled and Ragnarok lifted off, steam and smoke flowing from Ragnarok's jets in huge plumes. Squall gazed out the passenger window smiling as he watched a bouncing Selphie become a smaller and smaller dot as Ragnarok flew off through the clouds.
Later that night Squall lay in his bed on his back, the warmth of his thick quilt making him drowsy as he fought back against sleep wanting to stay awake so he could keep picturing Selphie in the darkness behind his eyelids.
Eventually Squall lost this battle but was rewarded in his defeat by Selphie invading his dreams, waltzing around his mind. Her bright smile lightened up his usually dark dreams, of grey stone and heavy rain, the black sky that was synonymous with loss of a loved one.
But this night the sky was sunny, shafts of light refracted through glass, the rays catching the curves of Selphie's body, highlighting strands of her hair as she twirled in his arms. Slowly the dance floor faded away slowly replaced by snow, which crunched under their feet as they still danced unable to break away from each other.
Not looking where he was going Squall tripped over a fern falling face down in the snow. He looked up the snow melting and running down his face clearing his vision but Selphie had disappeared.
He awoke abruptly, his body cold, his hairs standing on end amidst goose- pimples. He looked down and around the room wildly, disoriented, his vision still blurry from sleep.
He groped for his quilt but found it had slipped away, but the room was warm, that couldn't explain why he was so cold.
Further mental processes picked up speed as he crept through stages of sleep to awake and alert. A message from his legs finally reached his conscious mind and let him know they couldn't move causing panic to break out in his mind.
Fear mentally froze him, unable to think, unable to move as paralysis gripped the rest of his body. Helpless he lay there chilled to the bone as he became aware of a sensation on the skin of his abdomen, his abdominal muscles clenched involuntarily as a cold invisible tendril traced serpentine lines over his flesh before circling his belly button.
The hairs rose on the back of his neck as in this grip of inexplicable fear, the cold caress was somehow arousing.
The caressing tendrils moved up his body making small dimples in his skin as they did so. They crept over the bare hairless skin of his chest, teasingly circling his nipples, which hardened automatically in response.
Strands of his hair moved away from his forehead of their own accord as his eyes frantically sought for his tormentor. He felt a cold tingle on the flesh of his forehead and then it was gone, his body twitching as movement and warmth returned and he lay there breathing heavily.
He sat up in his bed swinging his legs out over the side so his feet touched the floor. His chest heaved as he tried to calm down, his heart beating so fast it was a purr. Fear still gripped him, his spine was a tingling rod of ice as he tried futily to find what had tortured him.
Moments passed in the dark, the only sound was his own breaths and his beating heart. Fear had ebbed away leaving confusion and the exhaustion of a dying adrenaline backwash.
He picked up his quilt from the floor and pulled it over himself, comforted by the snug security of it. He lay back somewhat calmer, resting his head on his pillow as his eyelids drooped and flickered open.
Possibilities for the events of the last five minutes filed through his thoughts. Some such as ghosts and other entities were quickly dismissed while the more rational likelihood of sleep paralysis was settled on by the more logical parts of his mind.
Once his thoughts had gathered and rationalised his ordeal, Squall was able to cast it to the back of his mind and started to visualise Selphie in an attempt to draw his tired body to a blissful state and eventually sleep.
Selphie wrapped her arms around him.
'She'll be fine, in time. Quistis is a strong woman.' She said softly.
'I just feel bad hurting her.' Squall replied.
'You can't help the way you feel, neither can Quistis, she knows that.' Selphie told him consolingly.
'That's true I can't help what I feel.' Squall said grinning mischievously and started tickling her.
Selphie shrieked loudly 'Hey! Stop it!' she yelled at him.
Squall laughed and let her go. 'Sorry, I couldn't help it.' He told her grinning.
'Shame you don't have a shower.' He said winking.
Selphie laughed 'Down boy!' she teased.
'You'd better behave now, we have to go meet Quistis soon remember.' She told him.
'True, and I need to get out of this suit.' He replied putting on the torn remains of his shirt and jacket.
Selphie giggled 'I guess I was a little too rough huh?' she grinned.
'Well I preferred being out of the suit anyway.' Squall told her.
Squall waited for Selphie to get dressed and then they both went to Squall's room where he changed back into his own comfortable clothes.
'Better?' Selphie asked as Squall rubbed his cheek against his fur collar.
'Much.' Squall said simply and slipped his hand into hers.
Selphie smiled and said 'I thought you like to be private?' squeezing his hand.
'I like touching you more.' He whispered in reply as they headed to the cafeteria.
They arrived to find Quistis eating a muffin her eyes slightly reddened. 'Squall, Selphie.' She said with a strained smile.
'Quistis.' Squall nodded.
'Hey is that a chocolate muffin?' Selphie asked breaking away from Squall and bounced away to the counter to get her own.
Squall sat opposite Quistis and looked at her intently. 'Talk.' He said softly.
Quistis looked at him taken aback.
'What?' she asked surprised.
'This time I'll listen, I know you're hurt, stop hiding.' He told her.
Quistis laughed mirthlessly. 'You're telling me how to express myself?' she retorted.
'Maybe I'm the best person for it.' He replied still not breaking his gaze.
Selphie looked over to them and realised what was happening so she decided to eat her muffin at the counter and leave them to it.
'Why not me?' Quistis asked him.
'Because I can't feel that way about you Quistis, to let you think otherwise would hurt you more.' Squall replied.
'What stops you?' Quistis said quietly.
'Brotherly love. I've always seen you as a big sister and then when you became an Instructor you became my teacher too. With the way I grew up with you my heart and mind couldn't see you in that way.' Squall explained.
Quistis smiled 'I thought you didn't care for me at all.' She told him.
'Well back then I didn't want anyone to know I cared, didn't want to risk attachment for fear of loss, especially after Ellone. But you should know you're one of my dearest friends.' Squall said softly squeezing her hand.
'Thanks Squall. Lets hope you have the energy to keep up with Selphie.' Quistis teased.
'Hey!! I heard that!' Selphie cried out as she came over to them.
'Well you are hyperactive!' Quistis said laughing.
Selphie stuck her tongue out in reply.
'So are you ready to go back to Balamb?' Quistis asked.
'Already?' Squall groaned.
'Afraid so. No doubt you have a mound of paperwork on your desk waiting for you.' Quistis replied.
'That's true but I haven't checked out the state of Garden here yet. That was one of the main reasons for visiting.' Squall told her.
'Well we're still loading and unloading so you have a while yet.' Quistis informed him.
'Great! My turn to give you a guided tour!' Selphie said grinning and took Squall's arm whilst Quistis rolled her eyes sarcastically.
For the next couple of hours Squall strolled through Trabia Garden with Selphie chattering excitedly about each of the different areas. Like Balamb it had the eight main areas; Front Gate, the Quad whose main feature was the amphitheatre, the Cafeteria from where they had left. The Infirmary, at the back taking up a large area was the Dormitories split into male and female wings. Next was the Parking Lot with its resident snowmobiles, the Library so far filled with copies from Balmb library and finally the Training centre which unlike Balamb was a snowfield where Snowlions and Mesmerises roamed.
In an outer ring around the building were the teaching rooms and offices all furnished and filled with facilities.
'Sure have done a lot here haven't you?' Squall said in awe.
'Well we all worked together!' Selphie said happily.
'And when it's finished?' Squall asked softly.
'What do you mean?' Selphie asked unsurely.
'Will you come back to Balamb?' he replied.
'I guess...' Selphie said slowly.
'Okay I suppose it was wrong of me to suggest that.' Squall told her.
'No, you just wanted me to be with you. I'm happy about it!' Selphie replied and threw her arms around his waist and nuzzled his chest. Squall held her to him feeling strange at how easily this came to him.
With Rinoa he had been awkward in expressing himself affectionately but here and now with Selphie it was so natural, just like wielding his gunblade.
'I suppose it's time we headed back.' Squall sighed sadly.
Selphie nodded silently in reply as she slid away from him and to his side holding his hand as they walked back to the front gate where Quistis would be waiting.
And there she was standing sternly on what once was cracked and ruptured tarmac, now smooth marble gravel with hardy green ferns growing at its edge.
'It's time to go Squall.' She said softly and was surprised as Selphie peeled away from Squall and gave her a goodbye hug which made her lips twitch into a brief smile.
This was then replaced by a pang of jealousy and she rolled her eyes in annoyance as Selphie and Squall kissed goodbye.
Squall and Selphie pulled away gazing into each other's eyes and smiling, lost in their own world.
'So when will I get to be with you again?' Squall asked softly, playing with hand.
'Soon. I have to comer back to Balamb for the festival so don't work too hard that you can't play when I arrive.' Selphie replied mischievously.
'Okay.' Squall said still holding onto her unable to tear himself away until Quistis let out an exasperated breath.
'I'm coming, I'm coming.' Squall said sadly as he finally let go of Selphie's hand with extreme reluctance.
Selphie smiled sadly in return and watched them walking up the ramp into Ragnarok. Bouncing madly she waved enthusiastically as the ramp closed swallowing Squall and Quistis.
She gazed up at the passenger cabin looking for Squall as the air rumbled and Ragnarok lifted off, steam and smoke flowing from Ragnarok's jets in huge plumes. Squall gazed out the passenger window smiling as he watched a bouncing Selphie become a smaller and smaller dot as Ragnarok flew off through the clouds.
Later that night Squall lay in his bed on his back, the warmth of his thick quilt making him drowsy as he fought back against sleep wanting to stay awake so he could keep picturing Selphie in the darkness behind his eyelids.
Eventually Squall lost this battle but was rewarded in his defeat by Selphie invading his dreams, waltzing around his mind. Her bright smile lightened up his usually dark dreams, of grey stone and heavy rain, the black sky that was synonymous with loss of a loved one.
But this night the sky was sunny, shafts of light refracted through glass, the rays catching the curves of Selphie's body, highlighting strands of her hair as she twirled in his arms. Slowly the dance floor faded away slowly replaced by snow, which crunched under their feet as they still danced unable to break away from each other.
Not looking where he was going Squall tripped over a fern falling face down in the snow. He looked up the snow melting and running down his face clearing his vision but Selphie had disappeared.
He awoke abruptly, his body cold, his hairs standing on end amidst goose- pimples. He looked down and around the room wildly, disoriented, his vision still blurry from sleep.
He groped for his quilt but found it had slipped away, but the room was warm, that couldn't explain why he was so cold.
Further mental processes picked up speed as he crept through stages of sleep to awake and alert. A message from his legs finally reached his conscious mind and let him know they couldn't move causing panic to break out in his mind.
Fear mentally froze him, unable to think, unable to move as paralysis gripped the rest of his body. Helpless he lay there chilled to the bone as he became aware of a sensation on the skin of his abdomen, his abdominal muscles clenched involuntarily as a cold invisible tendril traced serpentine lines over his flesh before circling his belly button.
The hairs rose on the back of his neck as in this grip of inexplicable fear, the cold caress was somehow arousing.
The caressing tendrils moved up his body making small dimples in his skin as they did so. They crept over the bare hairless skin of his chest, teasingly circling his nipples, which hardened automatically in response.
Strands of his hair moved away from his forehead of their own accord as his eyes frantically sought for his tormentor. He felt a cold tingle on the flesh of his forehead and then it was gone, his body twitching as movement and warmth returned and he lay there breathing heavily.
He sat up in his bed swinging his legs out over the side so his feet touched the floor. His chest heaved as he tried to calm down, his heart beating so fast it was a purr. Fear still gripped him, his spine was a tingling rod of ice as he tried futily to find what had tortured him.
Moments passed in the dark, the only sound was his own breaths and his beating heart. Fear had ebbed away leaving confusion and the exhaustion of a dying adrenaline backwash.
He picked up his quilt from the floor and pulled it over himself, comforted by the snug security of it. He lay back somewhat calmer, resting his head on his pillow as his eyelids drooped and flickered open.
Possibilities for the events of the last five minutes filed through his thoughts. Some such as ghosts and other entities were quickly dismissed while the more rational likelihood of sleep paralysis was settled on by the more logical parts of his mind.
Once his thoughts had gathered and rationalised his ordeal, Squall was able to cast it to the back of his mind and started to visualise Selphie in an attempt to draw his tired body to a blissful state and eventually sleep.