Well, firstly, yet another apology on my part for taking so long again to update – it's taking one heck of a lot longer to get each chapter ready because I'm no longer working off the story parts that I saved from my stint on that FF8 continuation board I was talking about in the first chapter, not to mention I have a tendency to ramble…. O.O;;; I was intending for this chapter to contain both Squall and Selphie's POVs, but after looking at their combined length so far (6000+ words, which equals out to nearly 10 pages X___X) I decided to slice them up, so Selphie's Shinobou duel will have to wait until the next chapter! ^.^;;;; (I'm nearly done writing it up anyway, I've been working on these two chapters almost non stop these past two days and nights….)
Explanations aside, this chapter will FINALLY outlay what's going to happen from here on and will give you a hint as to what direction I'm going to make this story go in – the Squalfie shall be unavoidable, mwahaha! XD Rinoa fans, beware, this is not the Rinoa that you know… O__- and don't expect me to be very sympathetic to her later on, after what she's putting Squall through in the following sequence of events… U_U well, I'll meet you guys and gals at the end with more of my thoughts!
CHAPTER 9 – Revelations:
It was hard… so many emotions, so many reactions, so many bitter words that were howling to be uttered, yet Squall felt his body strangely shutting down, becoming unresponsive and slack, while his thought stream had congealed to a sluggish pace, his mind feeling as thick as gooey syrup. It was happening all over again… reduced to nothing before that voice and persona, unable to fight the irresistible attraction that still lay dormant beneath a weakening slab of detestation… so… unwilling to fight it… the promise of the sugary nectar that was the heady high of love… once was yours… drank your fill… got you hooked… warring with the rancid aftertaste of denial, the days and nights of endless loathing and contempt which might be more fitted for a sulking child deprived of its candy than the coldly indifferent Commander of a military syndicate. Cheeks aflame with chagrin and unwanted flutters of emotional attachment, Squall was far too bewildered by the events that had exploded around his persona to formulate coherent thoughts or words to express the bedlam of his insides…
… not to mention… I might as well be trussed as a turkey for all the progress I'm making… the reality of his situation served to swing Squall's senses back to solid ground, and he automatically felt his temper flare like a budding bonfire doused with kerosene. As futile as his previous attempts had proven, Squall nonetheless heaved himself fitfully against the invisible manacles anchoring him off the ground yet again, twisting the pillar of his spine almost painfully against the unyielding clutch enclosed around his limbs, but only succeeded in straining several tendons at the one time while additionally planting the niggling annoyance of a fresh headache in his temple. Voicing his frustration and bruised pride with a venomous string of curses, there was not much else that he could do, and the newly identified Rinoa wasted no time in pointing this out with a slightly bored edge to her words.
:Don't fight me, Squall. If I have to beat some sense into you, then so be it. You of all people should know the cost of raising a sword to one such as myself.:
She was certainly smug, languidly veiling the threat with a fine coat of purred honey. Adding insult to injury, an ironically gentle caress stroked Squall's snarling psyche with a fearless touch which he had no choice but to tolerate, albeit through grinding teeth…
How could I let this happen again?! Squall's mind voice was practically thrashing in erratic throes as he felt himself melting into something pliable at the command of such a deceivably tender mental hand. It had been so long… so long since those halcyon days of golden mornings, flowering laughter and fleeting promises of teeth-rotting courtship…
I… I never realised how much I… missed it.
Don't lie.
……
Try again…
…h-how much I've missed…
……?
Admit it.
Her.
NO! Squall fearfully bent his traitorous contemplations inwards in the manner of a threatened porcupine, a move that he had repeated so many times throughout the course of his short life that the action was as spontaneous as drawing breath and equally as perfected. Huddled in a shell of his own making, licking wounds that had never healed, this was where he felt safe… in control… running an endless marathon of detachment from that which relentlessly hounded his back… don't think about it. I refuse to think about it. She's nothing to you. Nothing. Absolutely nothing nothing nothing…
:As much fun as this is, I'm not here to kill you. Take solace in that, if you will.:
Squall's delirious mantra broke apart with a brittle snap as Rinoa smoothly interjected his fuddled thoughts like a cooling white wind.
:As a matter of fact Squall, I'm here to bargain with you.:
…'the Hell?!
"What the shit would I want from you?" Squall blurted hoarsely into the vacant air, having finally regained some former power of speech and feeling himself only growing more confused by the increasing seconds. I absolutely hate feeling unsure… but that's the way it always was with you, Rinoa… I never really knew you. Judging by what's happening now, I guess I was right. 'Never thought you'd sink to this… can't believe it. Can't believe it… or won't? Shutup, just shutup… don't think about it…
Laughter again, taking root in the base of his mind and rising like a newly sprouted shoot.
:You're such a proud little rat sometimes, you know that? Too easy. I'll spare you my lengthy response… you look uncomfortable enough as it is.:
Rinoa's rediscovered mirth suddenly shrivelled and shrunk as quickly as it had blossomed, and when she spoke again, her voice was as sharply edged as freshly chiselled ice.
:I'm going to lay the facts out as they are, and for Ellone's sake, you had better listen – to cut a long story short, your precious Esthar is the newest addition to Galbadia's list of provinces. That includes the citizenry, not to mention all the government factions and of course, the office of presidency. I'll admit that you're rather intelligent, Squall, so I trust I don't think I have to explain the implications of the latter?:
Silence.
:I'll take that as a yes. Secondly, there is of course the matter of Ellone.:
Silence.
:Nothing to say to that? You surprise me. I certainly hope that you two haven't grown as distant as you make out to be… for her sake, of course. This would probably be an appropriate time to point out that I have no qualms with the idea of disposing of your childhood chum should you be… how to say…? Difficult with carrying out what I'm about to propose on behalf of my home nation. Trust me Squall, we're not asking for much. We're imperialistic, but even we know how and where to draw the line after all…:
There was an… incessant buzzing singing a monotonous whine within Squall's ears, powerful enough to deflect the rest of Rinoa's matter-of-fact remarks, delivered as naturally as if she were merely describing tomorrow's weather, accompanied by a roaring white wave of noise which succeeded in drowning out anything else she might have had to say. It was positively chilling to endure, yet at the same time a bilious sort of anger was calmly threading a lazy path through Squall's captured limbs… an anger that he had never experienced before, one that belied nothing of its smouldering core on his outer persona yet was festering maddeningly inside with an intensity which was practically stewing the marrow within his bones. Rinoa's words spiralled like driftwood into this dangerously heated forge, feeding it with nourishing strength, cultivating its reckless crackle and willing the licking flames higher and higher… slowly, gradually, the heart of this charged kiln expanded, stretching elongated claws charged with a crushing and ultimately awesome power through every fibre of Squall's inner being, filling him and making him swell…
:!!!:
Alarm.
"Y-you… b-b-bitch…" Squall rasped unsteadily, his shuttered eyes suddenly flinging themselves open wide as they swirled with storm tinted flames. The build-up of the unexpected internal Limit was constricting his throat, wobbling his speech and sending his blazing eyes tracking crazily towards the back of his head… broiling muscles twitching with an onslaught of jarring spasms, Squall felt Rinoa's manacles fiercely respond, rising up to resist the crumbling floodgate of power that was threatening to erupt from the sweating pores of his skin…
… a… falter…
:NO!:
It seemed as though twenty pairs of hands had chosen at that moment to clamp steel plated fingers around Squall's budding might, wrestling down upon his luminescent body with a brutal application of weight that was virtually shoving the regurgitating strength back whence it came, smothering the unworldly glow that was emanating from below the blanket of his blood and bone. He chose to roar then, a lion's affront etched frighteningly clear across the black and blue tempest that was his face, his wild mane of hair flung back against his scalp and then forwards again to break apart into multiple tassels through his lashes. But something shifted within his mind all the same, a foreign body that had not been invited yet had somehow wedged its way between a crack in the door, a presence that was sweeping through his fiery thoughts upon silent ebony wings, untouched and unblemished by the booming firestorm blowing up the path before it… weaving in, around and out of the exploding obstacles surrounding it, plunging deeper and deeper until it bore down upon the blindingly bright molten core with an arrow-like trajectory… a breach of the corona…
… and then a final smothering swish of raven coloured breath, a blast of glacial proportions.
Pause.
The white noise tentatively ebbed and subsided slightly, filling Squall's ears with nothing but his punctuated sobbing breath.
… still, beneath the icy hand of shadowy domination, the core writhed and squirmed under the agony of unbearably suppressed strength…
:Hold that thought.:
Her voice, grim and gritty, coiled tightly and securely around Squall's raving thoughts, its scales as wintry and dampening as an unfeeling kiss. He might have winced if he wasn't feeling as powerfully ionised as he felt at the time, and so all he could settle for was a warning gnash of teeth.
:Don't. Screw. With. Me.:
The Sorceress's venomous hiss burned with an acidic bite against Squall's already inflamed senses, knocking back the remainder of his barricades and fortifications with the sheer force of sour choler, the words forcefully torn out of her throat as though she were ripping her teeth through beef jerky. The smouldering torch of Squall's defiance involuntarily flinched from Rinoa's displeasure, and beneath the choking chains of the twenty pairs of ethereal hands, he felt his cheeks tingle with the shame of his impending submission…
:No more silly games, Squall Leonhart, no matter how amusing it might be for me. This time, you will hear me out, and you are going to float there and like it.:
The effort of restraining her temper seemed to be causing Rinoa's mind voice to adopt a more breathless quality, a welcome change from the impassive and trimmed sense of self-satisfaction that had previously been radiating from her speech. Squall permitted a weak smirk to tilt a corner of his pursed lips, even as he struggled to stomach the terrible protesting fire of his flailing Limit as it wriggled fitfully against Rinoa's darkly plumed mental hand. You always had a short fuse, shorter even than mine… easy to goad… a fault that might come at an advantage for me if we ever come to blows again…
:These are the basic conditions Galbadia demands of your precious Garden in exchange for the safety of the entire Esthar population, including its President, government advisory boards and of course, everyone's favourite darling, Ellone…:
Yet another pause…
… a hesitant break of momentum that was enough for the inklings of a hunch to start clotting together within Squall's thoughts, giving way to the conception of a suspicion.
Is she… reading from something… or… being dictated to?
……
Who else is there with her?
:… you, Squall Leonhart, will journey to the city of Esthar using any form of public, land and beast-powered transport that you wish, but you will not make use of any manner of aviation craft in your travels, which includes the mobility of Balamb Garden. Arm yourself however you choose to, we assure you that no matter how well or how little you build your arsenal, it will have absolutely no bearing on your journey's end…:
A… journey? By myself? Whatever the hell for?
:It should be emphasised that you, Squall Leonhart, are not the primary focus of this expedition. Rather, you are to serve as an escort.:
Escort…?!
The bombshell dropped, amid a guttural explosion of shrapnel shock and dumbfounded disbelief.
:You will escort the SeeD known by the name of Selphie Tilmitt to the city of Esthar, guarding this individual with the utmost of your strength and skill and in cases most extreme, with your life. Know now that the untimely demise of Ms. Tilmitt before her appointed surrendering into Galbadian custody will result in severe repercussions for not only the captured citizenry of the city of Esthar, but additionally for the continuous welfare of the military faction, Balamb Garden and whomever else the nation of Galbadia chooses to punish for your incompetence. You, under the service of Galbadia, have no ground upon which to question the motives of your superior master, and likewise, the nation of Galbadia has no grounds upon which to answer any question you may pose.:
Selphie…?! Guarding… her?! But… how… why?! I…I…
For a few gratifying seconds, Squall was completely baffled enough to momentarily forget the trying predicament that he was currently entangled in as he savoured the full meaning and implications of what had just been laid out before him… why… this sudden fixation with Selphie, of all people?! That… that Galbadia would be willing to decimate the lives of thousands of hostages and innocent bystanders to ensure her safety is just… outrageous. Simply, utterly outrageous. I don't understand… what this has to do with me, as well. Why me? Why her? Why… everything?! I just don't know what the hell is going on anymore!
:Now Squall, was that so bad? It's such a nice change to actually have to listen to others for once, isn't it, instead of just your own little prattlings. Hopefully, you've gathered by now that Galbadia is solidly serious, and I, acting on behalf of Galbadia, won't hesitate to set a few examples to demonstrate that we truly do mean business. Ellone's abilities are so very helpful in that department… you've had an ample taste of what I can do once I tap into her potential, and I daresay Selphie's somewhat recovered from the little blow I dealt her this evening…:
Rinoa broke off to giggle impishly, a sound which grated with an irksome friction against Squall's already frayed nerves. :I certainly hope I wasn't too hard on her…:
"What the hell did you do to her?" Squall demanded through clenched jaws, his words whistling through the gaps between his bared teeth.
:Already taking up your new assignment with great gusto? Technically, you're only obliged to defend Selphie from the onset of dawn, but you've never been one to half-bake any sort of project, have you? I admire that about you, I really do. Why, I doubt we could have found a better candidate for the job, no one as noble and as manly…:
"Shut up. Just shut up," Squall spat like an irate wildcat, hardly in the mood to be spoon-fed such pointless and mocking flattery. Undeterred, and like a snake slithering underfoot, that achingly familiar mental caress curled deceptively soft fingers around his bad humour despite his attempts to twist away.
:Would you rather me talk like this?: Rinoa suggested with a smile in her voice, in a direct instant converting to the sweet and mellow notes that Squall knew could only ever belong to Ellone and her alone… he gulped down a catch that had sprung up in his throat, branded with the irreconcilable knowledge that someone so undeniable close to his heart had somehow winded up… in such terrible hands…
All pain, forgotten…
Instead, only guilt, a heavy pendulum crashing back and forth against his conscience with perpetual motion… All of a sudden, and in a manner hardly suited to his situation, Squall was seized by a heavy surge of hollow grief and the nagging voice of inadequacy, a powerful swell of emotion which made him grateful that he was suspended in the air for fear of his knees crumbling. Six small words came to mind, flashing with garishly bright lights before his hooded eyes in a gleeful exhibit that he knew was conceived by his sin of neglect for those he cared the most for…
How could you let this happen?
:I think I sound better this way, don't you agree?: Oblivious to the effect that her mimicry had had on her captive listener, Rinoa continued to gloat as she pulled the strings of her one-man pantomime. :I should've thought of this sooner, I'd have…:
"What ho, varlets?!"
A crackling hullabaloo of breaking twigs and rustling foliage suddenly disrupted the sober scene, the crashing wave of the din being surfed by a gaudy yellow gadfly which effectively sliced off the remnants of Rinoa's self-congratulatory thoughts, and ensnared the full alarm and attention of the foggy-headed Squall in the half blink of an eye. The rapidly moving golden blur broke away from the back draft pushing it forwards and screeched to a sloppy halt in the slippery mud, its features coming into focus as it slowed and struck a sharply angled battle poise with twin sticks at the ready, luminous emerald eyes darting from side to side in search of an expectant enemy, while a pair of heart shaped lips impatiently blew away a loosely combed fringe from where it brushed against a mud-caked cheekbone… there was no mistaking this SeeD for any other in a crowd, clad in yellow sunshine and vertically challenged, none other than…
Selphie?! Squall fleetingly wondered just how many more shocks his already over-exercised heart could handle after this episode was over… Of all the worst times…! What the hell is she doing here?! How much does she know about what's going on? And… shit shit shit… what's Rinoa going to…
Even as a warning shout started to gather momentum within the cavern of his gullet, a painful twinge cut a path through his head and deftly corked his line of speech as his mouth opened wide to formulate the words.
:Not a word, Squall Leonhart. Although judging by the look on your face… it seems that we've actually found common ground for a change. I too, am somewhat… surprised to see her here…:
Squall could almost see Rinoa's brow furrow in contemplation, a trait he knew that she had picked up from him during their heady days of blissful and ignorant togetherness… he shook the image and memory away with a scowl that reflected his obvious distaste.
:This is Ellone's doing. I can feel her… she's not as weak as she made out to be after all…:
Ellone? Squall snapped himself out of his miserable reverie and trained his eyes upon the tense carriage of Selphie as she anchored her boots in the dirty slurry swimming through the grassy forest floor. Are you two… working together?
:Perhaps I should test the… forgive the pun… limits of Ellone's abilities?:
Squall knew that decided tone of voice very well, having been the brunt of the consequences following its utterance on more than once occasion in the past, and a cold sweat broke out across his already flushed face even before what felt liked the taloned claws of a dusky raven scraped dangerously close to the seething inner core of his Limit…
A happy purr rumbled throughout his ears, malicious to hear and illusive as a blade swathed in velvet.
:Come, Squall. We'll do this together – and I'll even let Ellone play too…:
* * *
Well, I'd Limit too if I were being teased by someone like Rinoa, you can't really blame the poor boy… XD not to worry, let's see if Selphie can save his skin! ;) So then, Squall and Selphie shall indeed be taking a little trip later down the track, and that should be rather… urm, interesting. XD More things shall be explained later as the story progresses, and I'll even throw in Rinoa's POV soon to even things out. XP The next chapter should be up relatively soon, I just need to get a couple more things in before it's ready to see the light of day. Since my holidays are coming to a close though, from now on I'll have to ask for those who are reading this to be patient… *stupid uni work, I wanna write!* T___T
And lastly, some acknowledgements to those who have reviewed since my last update:
Coca-Cola – you know, I never thought of a Squall and Ellone pairing before, and I'm surprised that I never did! =P I think it's a very good idea, and I reckon you should give it a go! Who knows, you might start a new trend! ^.^
Karla – thankyou so much for giving my fic a chance! ^_^ I hope I'll be able to meet your expectations!
Zero-Vision – now THAT was a very warm welcome! :D *Hug* I really appreciate your support, and I'll do my best to keep the story going and flowing… ;)
CTHSKI – after a call from the RSPCA, no more Grats will be subjected to such theatrical violence… ^_^;;;;; I must admit, even I felt sorry for the silly things…* XD
Mary – heh heh, yes, I got quite tired of the whole angel image as well! ^_~ I mean, c'mon, who could be THAT perfect?? *Is trying to be realistic here!* XD
Garnet – Hey, thankyou for stopping by again! *Waves* Exams are a real pain in the tush, that I heartily agree upon! Selphie action will be coming your way very very shortly! ;)