Chapter 5: Understanding One Another

The two were awake and moving again, just after having some more berries for breakfast. Squall let Marianne know that she was crying in her sleep again, when she only thought it was just in her mind.

"So I woke you up then, huh…" Marianne said to her only friend and savior, always walking beside her. Squall didn't reply, as his eyes were a little red in lack of sleep. "My bad," Marianne apologized as he looked her way. "What?" She remembered. It was a term Squall wasn't familiar with. "My bad is slang for 'my mistake'. Like apologizing?" Squall got that and told her, "Don't apologize. I understand you miss your parents. " He sighed. I wish I knew my parents…

The mosquitoes were back again, swarming as usual, the same time. Around noon. "Protect." Squall said as he stopped the two of them and performed the spell. The blue light circled to form a temporary forcefield around Marianne's body. The mosquitoes around her got zapped in the process. Her partner also cast Protect on himself. "Now this what I call bug repellent." Marianne smiled a little, with a pinch of humor in what she said. "I'm tired of those parasites too," Squall said. "I wish I could have thought of it yesterday. Besides, you were covered in bites." "Yeah," Marianne agreed, instantly remembering. "Damn bugs…"

Squall had to cast Protect on the both of them to keep the bugs from biting about every other hour. He had about twenty. He hoped they would reach the root of the problem soon. The source of "evil" that's been slowly killing the forest they moved in.

Marianne broke out into song, without the aid of the music this time. It was something to occupy herself with. It was some of the songs they heard last night, along with other songs Squall had not heard before. So he just listened like before, glad for the entertainment. I don't think I can even sing. Not as good as she does. he told himself in private. His new friend ran out of song eventually, mumbling about being thirsty.

When they found another small creek of water, they stopped to get a drink. Then they kept walking for a while. At this point of the day, Marianne darted her eyes between looking forward and looking at Squall. The gunblade wielder noticed, but didn't say anything.

Finally, Marianne decided to let out what she had to tell him. "I just want to get some stuff off my chest, alright? You can open up and tell me anything. I don't mind…" Squall shortly glanced at her with the corner of his right eye, and then looked forward. "I once used to bottle up my problems, through this one depression years ago. It was no fun…" she continued. Why is she telling me this? Squall wondered as he just listened to what she had to say. "This guy on Earth I used to be ex-friends with pretty much hurt my feelings, and you know how sensitive I am. But I tried to get through this one depression by myself. Didn't work. You may have gone through similar stuff for much longer than I have, but still, I know what it's like."

They both took a sideways glance towards each other, as Marianne added, "Zell and the others are right you know. It's like you're a bolt, that's been screwed up too tight. But I know something they don't." Squall had to ask, "And what is that?" "Back when I thought…you know…, I could see inside that shell you built to hide your emotions from others. It's not like I could hear your thoughts, or what anyone has been saying… Just text." Squall's eyes were narrowing. Not this again.

"I understand that childhood vision you have every now and then, when you were at the orphanage… I know you don't really want to be the way you are." Squall had to cut her off, saying, "Shut up. " They stopped walking. He pointed a shaking finger at her. Marianne knew what he was going to say.

"That's none of your business."

"That's none of my business."

They said it simultaneously. Squall was taken back by surprise for a second. "I know. I just want you to know that I want to be there for you, like you're here for me right now." Marianne was calm about this. It felt eerie to her companion. "I know hearing this ticks you off, and I'm done. I just had to let it out. Unlike you, I can't bottle it up. Not anymore…"

She was right. Squall didn't like that bit at all about her telling him what she knew about him. It was supposed to be something only kept to himself. The more angrier he got, the iris of the eyes were getting brighter. Now it was so bright that it almost blended in with the whites of his eyeballs. "You think you know everything? You're wrong." "Well, I don't know exactly everything, but quite a bit." she said, calmly and in an honest way. "More than you should." he said to Marianne, very angry. "You just stay the hell out of my personal life." She nodded. "I don't blame you. I would feel the same way." The way she was so calm about it pissed Squall off. He pointed his index finger at him. "You just shut hell up and mind your own damn business!" She didn't say anything, but looked away, not hurt. She walked a little up ahead, with Squall falling a few steps behind.

Who the fuck does she think she is? he fumed to himself, the blue of his eyes never growing darker with concern. How was I to know my own life and destiny were made by a company in HER world? It scares me, her knowing so much about me, when I barely know much about her! It's fucked!!! And how can she be so damn calm about it? The answer hit him after a minute. She just cares about me. She wants to return the favor. But, no. Not like this. It's just too upsetting for me to take.

Time passed, and the tension slowly grew less. Squall understood why she told him what she knew. He noticed he had changed a little on the past two days. And before he even met Marianne. He suddenly wasn't liking the introverted, antisocial part of him much anymore.

Marianne then stopped walking. "Could we just take a short break? Feet are tired." Squall nodded in approval as the two sat down beside each other. She gave him a calm, serene expression. "Still mad at me?" That took a moment for Squall to answer. "A little…" She slowly nodded in understanding, the calmness never leaving her side.

Music began to ring throughout the forest again. Marianne recognized it as Third Eye Blind. "I remember you and me used to spend the whole goddamned day in bed! Losing a whole year…" Squall seemed to remember that song, but forgot the band's name. "God, I miss home." Marianne said softly, closing her eyes. When she opened them, two tears dripped down her face. Squall's anger had pretty much faded, and wrapped an arm to give her a hug. He figured it's what she needed anyway. She hugged him back, just before wiping a tear away. "We're getting closer you know. Listen." Squall told her, as she heard birds chirping. She smiled a little. "I think we're almost there." Squall added. "It won't be long now. You'll see your parents again soon." She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. "Ready to get going?" he asked as the two stood up. The Third Eye Blind CD continued to play softly among the chirping birds in the background.