Ack, I forgot to put in the disclaimers for the last chapter. I don't own
FF8! Phew, that's done. Now, onward...
LEGACY Chapter Two Departure
Rinoa sighed, looking down at the dejected look on her dog's face. Angelo always knew when his mistress was going away, and he always made her feel guilty for leaving him behind. His ears drooped, his eyes drooped, even his fur drooped, and he stared up at the girl with the most pathetic puppy dog look in all of Gaia.
"Angelo, for Hyne's sake!" Rinoa stepped over her partner, who was lying right in the walkway of her room, and nearly tripped over him for the third time that day. Sighing, she crouched down and ruffled the dog's ears. "Baby, you know I can't take you with me. They don't allow dogs at the Winhill inn. But, you'll have fun here. Matron will take good care of you, I promise."
Angelo gave her a wounded look and laid his head on his paws. Giving up, Rinoa resumed packing, trying not to think about the weird incident from the day before.
Squall had started towards the boy immedietely, moving with predatory speed of a jungle cat. But he hadn't taken four steps when the boy just...disappeared. He didn't run away; as far as Rinoa could see, he hadn't even moved. He simply wasn't there anymore.
Squall went to report the incident to the Headmaster, stating that he would postpone his vacation, in case some maniac with a gunblade was hanging around the school. And Cid, bless his heart, gently but firmly told the commander that his off time was in no way negotiable. In fact, if Squall inisisted upon staying in Garden, he would be forced to take diciplinary measures against him. "Squall," he had said, "you are going. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Don't worry about Garden. It will not explode if you are not around to watch it."
The commander was forced to relent, but only after he was assured that capable SeeD members would be on the lookout for anything strange. If Garden was endagered, they were to call him back immedietely. Cid had agreed, both knowing perfectly well that the entire Galbadian army would have to declare open warfare on Garden before he allowed the young commander to return before his time.
A light tap on the door interrupted her thoughts. Stepping over Angelo, who still refused to budge, Rinoa crossed the room and slid the door open, revealing a grim looking Squall Leonhart on the other side.
"Well, you're a ray of sunshine this morning," she announced, standing on tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the lips. He didn't return her smile, and she mock frowned at him. "Come on, Squall, don't be moody. Its your vacation; you're supposed to relax and lighten up."
Squall sighed, crossing the threshold and sitting on her still unmade bed, his single duffle bag at his feet. "I just don't think I should be leaving Garden right now," he confessed, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands. Angelo rose from his spot on the floor, hopped up on the bed beside Squall, and lay his head down with a heavy sigh. Rinoa scowled at the both of them and put her hands on her hips.
"Well, between you and Angelo, there's enough angst in this room to drown a drunk man. I don't know which is worse: one sulking because he can't go on vacation, or one sulking because he's being forced to. Somebody is going to have to lighten up, or you'll both be in the doghouse."
Squall exchanged a look with Angelo, who gazed back impassively as if to say: "I was here first, boyo."
"Look, Squall," Rinoa tried again. "You're going whether you like it or not. So, instead of worrying and sulking about it the whole time, just let it go and try to enjoy it."
"I do not sulk," Squall informed her, his eyes still shadowed over with concern. "And its my job to worry about Garden. That's why I'm the commander."
"Whatever," Rinoa said, grinning as if she didn't believe a word of it.
That brought the smirk she was looking for. Standing up, Squall crossed the room in a single stride and trapped against the wall. "Are you calling your commander a liar, miss sorceress?" he asked in a voice that would have been intimidating, if not for the twinkle in his eyes. "I think I might have to pull rank for insubordination."
Rinoa giggled. A month ago, she wouldn't have believed the change that had come over Squall after she had found him in the Time Compression wasteland. Something had happened in that desolate place, to make him realize that life was too short to live alone. Almost immedietely after, his walls began to come down; he became more open and outgoing--a far cry from the cold, hostile young man she had first seen in Timber. He smiled more, and spoke what was on his mind without her having to pry it out with a crowbar. Of course, he would never be as cheerfully outgoing as Zell, and this new personality was reserved exclusively for the people he trusted most, but Rinoa thought she was finally getting to see the real Squall Leonhart.
"All right, you win," he murmured, his mouth quirked up in that wry, lopsided smile she adored. "I promise not to "sulk" on this vacation, and I'll try not to worry about Garden too much. But only if you let me check back every two hours to see that its okay. Deal?"
"Deal," Rinoa agreed, and closed her eyes as Squall leaned in to kiss her.
A loud bang on the door made them both jump. "Yo, Rinny! You ready to go yet?" came the distinctively obnoxious voice of Zell. "Selphie's got the Ragnorock charged and ready! We're just waiting for you and lover boy, and I can't find him anywhere! Have you seen him arou--Eep!"
His last question was cut off as the door whooshed open and he found himself face to face with Squall.
"Oh. You're here." Zell's cheeks could've shamed a tomato. "I guess I'll just, ah, tell Selphie you'll be up in a minute. Um, bye."
He took off down the hall, drawing amused stares from the passing students, his spiky hair flying out behind him. Squall shook his head, hearing Rinoa's muted giggle behind him, and closed the door.
"See?" she said as he turned to face her. "This vacation IS a good idea."
"Why's that?" he monotoned.
"Because THEY won't be around for two whole weeks. It'll be just you and me, alllllllllll by ourselves."
Squall pondered this, then smiled faintly. "I'm beginning to see your point."
* * *
The ride to Winhill took about an hour. During that time, Squall sat in the back with Rinoa and tried to convince himself that Selphie knew what she was doing piloting the ship, even though the Ragnorock would dip, shake or drop violently every few minutes. While Rinoa dozed against his shoulder, he listened to the others talk excitedly about their trip, and what they were doing once they got there.
Selphie, Irvine, and Zell were going to Esthar, to try their luck at the city's many casinos, while Quistis was off to Deling to meet a friend. Listening to their happy chitchat, Squall suddenly realized how genuinely content he was. That yawning emptiness that used to plague him was gone. He had friends; he was feeling things he never gave himself a chance to before. Sometimes, when he became angry or stressed or hurt, he would start to retreat behind that wall of ice that had kept him apart from everyone for so long. But, Rinoa was always there, coaxing him out again, tearing down the walls with her unshakable love and trust. She would not let him become an introverted loner again, and neither would any of the others. Squall was grateful for their patience, and for giving him something he never had before: being a part of a family.
The Ragnorock dropped violently, causing Squall's stomach to jump to his throat. 'You'd think I'd be used to this by now,' he thought ruefully. Rinoa stirred against his arm, and lifted her head, blinking in sleepy confusion.
"Let's go on the Ferris Wheel next," she mumbled drowsily.
Chuckling, Squall squeezed her affectionately, but the next moment his stomach did a backflip as the Ragnorock fell another dozen feet or so.
This time, even Irvine, used to Selphie's wild flying, grabbed the back of a chair. "Um, Selph? We're not flying through an astroid field, are we?"
"Sorry!" came Selphie's apologetic cry. "But, I can't help it! Something's making Rocky act all crazy!"
"Rocky" was her nickname for the Ragnorock. It was her baby, she said, and the others were content to let her have it. Selphie knew the giant ship inside and out, and if she said Rocky was acting unusual, there was no reason to doubt her.
Suddenly, the Ragnorock began shaking so violently, Zell fell out of his chair, and Rinoa grabbed Squall's jacket in alarm.
Then, for a split second, everything went completely black.
"What the hell was that!" Zell exclaimed, picking himself off the floor. "Selphie? You fly through a black hole or something?"
"Like that could really happen!" Selphie scoffed, annoyed at having her flying skills questioned.
Before they could get into an argument, however, there was a loud thump from from the lower floor. Everyone froze.
"Um, Rinny?" Zell asked, "you didn't sneak Angelo on board by any chance, did you?"
Squall stood up. "Zell, Rinoa, you're with me. We'll check out the rest of the ship. Quis, Irvine, stay here and guard Selphie. We don't want to crash if something attacks her while she's piloting."
"Yeah, her flying is hazordous enough," Zell joked as he, Squall, and Rinoa left the room. Selphie threw a parting "Shut up, Zell," over her shoulder. Squall sighed.
The trio approached the cabin cautiously, Squall in the lead, Rinoa and Zell flanking him, ready to back him up. The squad leader didn't even need to give any instructions; his two teammates were already in perfect formation. After numerous battles together, they knew what had to be done without any orders on his part. Weapons out, they stepped through the doorway, ready for anything that came their way.
"Well, lookee here. And I didn't think I'd get a welcoming party," remarked a voice from the back of the room. Squall narrowed his eyes. The voice had a smug, cocky ring to it that was eerily familiar. Where had he heard it before? Then, it hit him.
The voice sounded exactly like a younger version of Seifer.
"Frickin' hell," Zell mumbled, his fists clenched in front of him. He'd noticed it, too. And so did Rinoa, judging from her grim, pale face. Bringing up Lionheart, letting the cool blue light wash into the room, Squall stepped confidently forward.
"Come out of there, whoever you are," he ordered, feeling his teammates press up behind him, ready to attack or defend.
"Geez, don't get your panties in a bind, Leonhart." And a small, slim figure stepped out from behind a chair, his mouth stretched into an all too familiar smirk. "I knew you were a tight ass, but you exceed all my expectations."
"Squall," Rinoa whispered behind him.
It was the dark haired boy from yesterday. He grinned at them cheerfully, and the light glinted off his gunblade as he lifted it and slung it over his shoulder. Squall drew in a breath as he recognized it. Like his own Lionheart, the boy's gunblade also had a name. It was the same weapon that had defended sorceress Edea, all those months ago; the same weapon that had given him the scar on his forehead.
Hyperion.
*************** Well, there's chapter two. This is just a thought, but does anyone else think Angelo is an Australian Shepard? Check out a picture of one if you don't believe me. Dog breeds are a hobby of mine, and Aussies are my favorites. I'd get one if I didn't live in a small apartment. Well, enough babble from me. Time to start chapter three. As always, pllleeeeeeeaasseeee review. ^_^
Arigato, SilverKitsune
LEGACY Chapter Two Departure
Rinoa sighed, looking down at the dejected look on her dog's face. Angelo always knew when his mistress was going away, and he always made her feel guilty for leaving him behind. His ears drooped, his eyes drooped, even his fur drooped, and he stared up at the girl with the most pathetic puppy dog look in all of Gaia.
"Angelo, for Hyne's sake!" Rinoa stepped over her partner, who was lying right in the walkway of her room, and nearly tripped over him for the third time that day. Sighing, she crouched down and ruffled the dog's ears. "Baby, you know I can't take you with me. They don't allow dogs at the Winhill inn. But, you'll have fun here. Matron will take good care of you, I promise."
Angelo gave her a wounded look and laid his head on his paws. Giving up, Rinoa resumed packing, trying not to think about the weird incident from the day before.
Squall had started towards the boy immedietely, moving with predatory speed of a jungle cat. But he hadn't taken four steps when the boy just...disappeared. He didn't run away; as far as Rinoa could see, he hadn't even moved. He simply wasn't there anymore.
Squall went to report the incident to the Headmaster, stating that he would postpone his vacation, in case some maniac with a gunblade was hanging around the school. And Cid, bless his heart, gently but firmly told the commander that his off time was in no way negotiable. In fact, if Squall inisisted upon staying in Garden, he would be forced to take diciplinary measures against him. "Squall," he had said, "you are going. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Don't worry about Garden. It will not explode if you are not around to watch it."
The commander was forced to relent, but only after he was assured that capable SeeD members would be on the lookout for anything strange. If Garden was endagered, they were to call him back immedietely. Cid had agreed, both knowing perfectly well that the entire Galbadian army would have to declare open warfare on Garden before he allowed the young commander to return before his time.
A light tap on the door interrupted her thoughts. Stepping over Angelo, who still refused to budge, Rinoa crossed the room and slid the door open, revealing a grim looking Squall Leonhart on the other side.
"Well, you're a ray of sunshine this morning," she announced, standing on tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the lips. He didn't return her smile, and she mock frowned at him. "Come on, Squall, don't be moody. Its your vacation; you're supposed to relax and lighten up."
Squall sighed, crossing the threshold and sitting on her still unmade bed, his single duffle bag at his feet. "I just don't think I should be leaving Garden right now," he confessed, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands. Angelo rose from his spot on the floor, hopped up on the bed beside Squall, and lay his head down with a heavy sigh. Rinoa scowled at the both of them and put her hands on her hips.
"Well, between you and Angelo, there's enough angst in this room to drown a drunk man. I don't know which is worse: one sulking because he can't go on vacation, or one sulking because he's being forced to. Somebody is going to have to lighten up, or you'll both be in the doghouse."
Squall exchanged a look with Angelo, who gazed back impassively as if to say: "I was here first, boyo."
"Look, Squall," Rinoa tried again. "You're going whether you like it or not. So, instead of worrying and sulking about it the whole time, just let it go and try to enjoy it."
"I do not sulk," Squall informed her, his eyes still shadowed over with concern. "And its my job to worry about Garden. That's why I'm the commander."
"Whatever," Rinoa said, grinning as if she didn't believe a word of it.
That brought the smirk she was looking for. Standing up, Squall crossed the room in a single stride and trapped against the wall. "Are you calling your commander a liar, miss sorceress?" he asked in a voice that would have been intimidating, if not for the twinkle in his eyes. "I think I might have to pull rank for insubordination."
Rinoa giggled. A month ago, she wouldn't have believed the change that had come over Squall after she had found him in the Time Compression wasteland. Something had happened in that desolate place, to make him realize that life was too short to live alone. Almost immedietely after, his walls began to come down; he became more open and outgoing--a far cry from the cold, hostile young man she had first seen in Timber. He smiled more, and spoke what was on his mind without her having to pry it out with a crowbar. Of course, he would never be as cheerfully outgoing as Zell, and this new personality was reserved exclusively for the people he trusted most, but Rinoa thought she was finally getting to see the real Squall Leonhart.
"All right, you win," he murmured, his mouth quirked up in that wry, lopsided smile she adored. "I promise not to "sulk" on this vacation, and I'll try not to worry about Garden too much. But only if you let me check back every two hours to see that its okay. Deal?"
"Deal," Rinoa agreed, and closed her eyes as Squall leaned in to kiss her.
A loud bang on the door made them both jump. "Yo, Rinny! You ready to go yet?" came the distinctively obnoxious voice of Zell. "Selphie's got the Ragnorock charged and ready! We're just waiting for you and lover boy, and I can't find him anywhere! Have you seen him arou--Eep!"
His last question was cut off as the door whooshed open and he found himself face to face with Squall.
"Oh. You're here." Zell's cheeks could've shamed a tomato. "I guess I'll just, ah, tell Selphie you'll be up in a minute. Um, bye."
He took off down the hall, drawing amused stares from the passing students, his spiky hair flying out behind him. Squall shook his head, hearing Rinoa's muted giggle behind him, and closed the door.
"See?" she said as he turned to face her. "This vacation IS a good idea."
"Why's that?" he monotoned.
"Because THEY won't be around for two whole weeks. It'll be just you and me, alllllllllll by ourselves."
Squall pondered this, then smiled faintly. "I'm beginning to see your point."
* * *
The ride to Winhill took about an hour. During that time, Squall sat in the back with Rinoa and tried to convince himself that Selphie knew what she was doing piloting the ship, even though the Ragnorock would dip, shake or drop violently every few minutes. While Rinoa dozed against his shoulder, he listened to the others talk excitedly about their trip, and what they were doing once they got there.
Selphie, Irvine, and Zell were going to Esthar, to try their luck at the city's many casinos, while Quistis was off to Deling to meet a friend. Listening to their happy chitchat, Squall suddenly realized how genuinely content he was. That yawning emptiness that used to plague him was gone. He had friends; he was feeling things he never gave himself a chance to before. Sometimes, when he became angry or stressed or hurt, he would start to retreat behind that wall of ice that had kept him apart from everyone for so long. But, Rinoa was always there, coaxing him out again, tearing down the walls with her unshakable love and trust. She would not let him become an introverted loner again, and neither would any of the others. Squall was grateful for their patience, and for giving him something he never had before: being a part of a family.
The Ragnorock dropped violently, causing Squall's stomach to jump to his throat. 'You'd think I'd be used to this by now,' he thought ruefully. Rinoa stirred against his arm, and lifted her head, blinking in sleepy confusion.
"Let's go on the Ferris Wheel next," she mumbled drowsily.
Chuckling, Squall squeezed her affectionately, but the next moment his stomach did a backflip as the Ragnorock fell another dozen feet or so.
This time, even Irvine, used to Selphie's wild flying, grabbed the back of a chair. "Um, Selph? We're not flying through an astroid field, are we?"
"Sorry!" came Selphie's apologetic cry. "But, I can't help it! Something's making Rocky act all crazy!"
"Rocky" was her nickname for the Ragnorock. It was her baby, she said, and the others were content to let her have it. Selphie knew the giant ship inside and out, and if she said Rocky was acting unusual, there was no reason to doubt her.
Suddenly, the Ragnorock began shaking so violently, Zell fell out of his chair, and Rinoa grabbed Squall's jacket in alarm.
Then, for a split second, everything went completely black.
"What the hell was that!" Zell exclaimed, picking himself off the floor. "Selphie? You fly through a black hole or something?"
"Like that could really happen!" Selphie scoffed, annoyed at having her flying skills questioned.
Before they could get into an argument, however, there was a loud thump from from the lower floor. Everyone froze.
"Um, Rinny?" Zell asked, "you didn't sneak Angelo on board by any chance, did you?"
Squall stood up. "Zell, Rinoa, you're with me. We'll check out the rest of the ship. Quis, Irvine, stay here and guard Selphie. We don't want to crash if something attacks her while she's piloting."
"Yeah, her flying is hazordous enough," Zell joked as he, Squall, and Rinoa left the room. Selphie threw a parting "Shut up, Zell," over her shoulder. Squall sighed.
The trio approached the cabin cautiously, Squall in the lead, Rinoa and Zell flanking him, ready to back him up. The squad leader didn't even need to give any instructions; his two teammates were already in perfect formation. After numerous battles together, they knew what had to be done without any orders on his part. Weapons out, they stepped through the doorway, ready for anything that came their way.
"Well, lookee here. And I didn't think I'd get a welcoming party," remarked a voice from the back of the room. Squall narrowed his eyes. The voice had a smug, cocky ring to it that was eerily familiar. Where had he heard it before? Then, it hit him.
The voice sounded exactly like a younger version of Seifer.
"Frickin' hell," Zell mumbled, his fists clenched in front of him. He'd noticed it, too. And so did Rinoa, judging from her grim, pale face. Bringing up Lionheart, letting the cool blue light wash into the room, Squall stepped confidently forward.
"Come out of there, whoever you are," he ordered, feeling his teammates press up behind him, ready to attack or defend.
"Geez, don't get your panties in a bind, Leonhart." And a small, slim figure stepped out from behind a chair, his mouth stretched into an all too familiar smirk. "I knew you were a tight ass, but you exceed all my expectations."
"Squall," Rinoa whispered behind him.
It was the dark haired boy from yesterday. He grinned at them cheerfully, and the light glinted off his gunblade as he lifted it and slung it over his shoulder. Squall drew in a breath as he recognized it. Like his own Lionheart, the boy's gunblade also had a name. It was the same weapon that had defended sorceress Edea, all those months ago; the same weapon that had given him the scar on his forehead.
Hyperion.
*************** Well, there's chapter two. This is just a thought, but does anyone else think Angelo is an Australian Shepard? Check out a picture of one if you don't believe me. Dog breeds are a hobby of mine, and Aussies are my favorites. I'd get one if I didn't live in a small apartment. Well, enough babble from me. Time to start chapter three. As always, pllleeeeeeeaasseeee review. ^_^
Arigato, SilverKitsune