Trust My Heart
by: Cathy-chan
Chapter 3: Many Meetings
"It's time to return to Balamb Garden. Everyone, pack up and leave," Squall instructed with a clear voice.
"Aye aye, Cap'n Leonhart!" Rinoa, Zell, Selphie and Irvine cheerfully said in unison with a navy salute.
Squall raised a brow, a response to their over-ecstatic reply. He would have given a stronger reaction, but doing so would prove them victorious. They wanted a reaction from him; after much experience with the four, energetic SeeDs he had a strategy for them. Thus he kept silent while dressing back to his usual, stiff outfit. Behind his back Rinoa and Selphie whispered. He heard a small, protesting sound from Rinoa when he started putting his shirt and jacket back on; one of the few advantages he had for succumbing into her schemes. Until due time would the incident at least be left to just memories. The worst of his dread would be finding this embarrassing incident in the front page of Selphie's B.Garden Newsletter. Gratefully he had other things to worry about such as his tasks. As the efficient leader, he marked the whereabouts of all his crew. The students were already assembled into the Garden by their instructors. Every leading SeeD save one were waiting beside him.
"Have you seen Quistis?" he directed the question to Rinoa.
"No. Last I saw her she was talking to a guy."
"Woah, an' here I thought she was right behind us. Quistis just went somewhere without telling us?" Zell asked looking puzzled. "Doesn't sound like what she would do."
"She shouldn't keep the Garden waiting. I'm going to go look for her. I need someone to take charge while I'm gone." Squall could see Zell jumping up and down in front of him. He would be more than pleased to be a temporary leader. With a shrug and a sigh he said, "Fine. Zell is going to take care of everything. I'll be back soon." Without waiting for a response, he started heading for the streets.
"Thanks, Squall! You won't be disappointed," he shouted to Squall from a distance.
"You're lucky he's in a hurry, else he would have never appointed you as leader," Rinoa said teasingly.
"Yah, I know, but who cares? I'm leader! All right, people! Pack up!" Zell grinned cheerfully as he bossed people around.
~~~~~~
Quistis and Bradley were slowly strolling down the avenue, in no hurry to get to the Garden. They wee caught in a heated yet playful debate about life goals, she noticed neither the curfew nor Squall scowling behind them as Bradley concluded his reasoning. "....and that's how I realize that my main wish in this life is to see Griever and every, single GF! So really, there are a lot of things to do in this world. I'm plannin' to see everything."
"Wow! I know how some people want to see the world, but they're not as ambitious as you."
"Hey, everybody's got goals or purposes. Care to tell me about your goals?"
She shook her head. "I don't think I can. You'd laugh at me if I tell you."
"I won't. I promise." His vow did little merit to convince Quistis for he was widely grinning from cheek to cheek.
"No. You'll just have to guess 'cause I'm not telling." Her stern and serious face had Bradley laughing for a whole minute.
After his composure returned Quistis thought to know more of his past career. "You must have been a good leader as a SeeD with all the enthusiasm you have. You haven't told me which Garden you graduated from."
"Oh ah,....hey, it's that soaked guy from before!" Bradley pointed to the young man striding towards them.
"Quistis, it's time to go. It's past the curfew time," Squall said. Easily omitting 'soaked guy' comment without pause.
"Oh, you're right! I'm sorry, Squall. I seem to have lost track of time," Quistis apologized after looking at her watch. She was astonished to know it was one hour pass the designated time.
Bradley stepped forward. "You can blame that on me, Squall. I should've known it's getting late."
He knows my name, what has Quistis been telling this freak? Squall thought. "...Whatever. Balamb Garden is going to go any minute. Lets go." Squall bumped the other man's shoulder, intentionally. He made it clear he disclaimed Bradley's existence, at least for the moment. Something in my gut's telling me something about him. Why does his face ring a bell? And does Quistis really know this guy? Squall wasn't sure if it was paranoia or instincts telling him of danger. The ominous sensation was aggravating, and he wasn't about to let it pass unnoticed.
"Er....he's rather cold shouldered, isn't he?" Bradley said after Squall quickly left earshot. He was about to add: I wonder what's up his ass? but decided to leave the forthright comment to himself.
Quistis bowed apologetically. "You'll have to excuse Squall. He's always like that."
"Always!?" He let out a long whistle. "No need to apologize. It's nothing. I'm completely not offended. He's an okay guy. Needs an attitude adjustment, but okay." Bradley grinned and shook his head. "Though if I didn't know any better, I would've sworn he's older than me!"
Quistis agreed with him by laughing. "Lets go before Mr. Cold-Shouldered gets angry. Trust me, you don't want to see his bad side."
"That was his good side!?" he exclaimed.
~~~~~~
Rinoa hummed tunelessly in front of Squall's dormitory, waiting patiently for someone to respond on the other side. She knocked twice on the door until Squall finally welcomed her in. He returned to his desk, reverting his attention back to writing a long-winded report due the next day. As the commander of the Garden, he had to make sure that written reports (and apologies) to other Gardens, governments and cities were completed and signed by him.
"Knock, knock! Anybody home?" she said in a cheerful singsong. "Earth to Mr. Meany? You there?"
"You can see me, right?"
"Wow, I don't believe it!" Rinoa gasped, pretending to be shocked. "Squall Leonhart actually has a sense of humour!"
"That wasn't suppose to be funny."
"Oh, I'm just kidding! Why do I even bother with you?"
"I don't know."
Rinoa placed her hand on her forehead, shaking her head vehemently as she said, "If you weren't so cute, maybe I wouldn't have put up with you." She giggled shortly, then with a sashay of her hips, casually strode to his direction. "Anyway, what'cha doin'?"
"I'm finishing the report for Balamb Garden."
"You don't need to do that now. Aren't you hungry? Wanna eat something at the cafeteria? I'm in the mood for a really tasty dessert."
"I'll be finished in a while."
"Yeah right! I've heard that before and I'm never gonna fall for it."
"Not now, Rinoa. Later."
"No! Now! Don't you wanna meet Quistis' new friend?"
Quistis' new friend? Squall depicted a tall man who Quistis was avidly having a conversation with in Dollet. A particular person he was keen not to like.
Slowly, he stood up from his chair. After pacing several steps, he stopped quietly in front of her. He knew of only one friend of Quistis he hadn't met. But just to make sure he asked, "What does Quistis' friend look like?"
"Uh....Goldish-brown hair, green eyes, tall, post-teens....very handsome! I think his name is Bradley."
"You mean she invited that stranger into Balamb Garden?" Squall neither raised or changed his tone of voice, but Rinoa was one of the few who could truly discern him. By the looks of it, he was not pleased by the idea.
Although she knew it unsettled him, she approached it as a joke to lighten his mood. "Hey, don't get jealous, Squall. I said he's handsome but I still think you're the greatest guy."
Squall simply mumbled something to himself and went back to his work.
"Look, I know you're not very happy with it, but get used to it."
"Get use to it? No."
"Why not? He's not gonna do any harm."
"Right. As far as we're concerned, he might be a criminal or a killer," he uttered dryly without shifting his eyes from the screen.
"What?! Is that how you think of people you've hardly met?"
"No, this particular one is suspicious."
"Because he and Quistis have a strong connection?"
"It has nothing to do with that." He paused for one second; behind his collected, calm mien he searched for the adequate words. "He...looks familiar. I have this feeling I should recognize his face."
She stood there for a moment just staring into Squall's eyes. After a few moments of silence, he faced the computer once again.
"Squall," Rinoa stood behind him, "just tell me what's wrong. I personally don't know Quistis as long as you have, but I can tell she likes him." She spoke slowly and softly while she stroked his hair. "I don't know...to me, she seems to be laughing more, and she's at ease too. I think you should give him a chance. Not for him, but for Quistis. If she thinks he's nice, then maybe he's not such a bad person."
"...Maybe." He turned his seat around to face Rinoa. "Fine, but it doesn't mean I'm abandoning my theory about him."
Rinoa smiled and embraced him. "Thank you, Squall. You're just worried, that's all. You'll see that he's decent." Rinoa felt the tension depart in their embrace.
".....Rinoa. Thank you. I hope you're right."
"'Course I'm right!" Her brown eyes lit up with a wink, happily she pulled him up from his seat. "You can thank me better by treating me to dessert."
In the cafeteria, Zell and Irvine were becoming well acquainted with Bradley. He, of course, fitted in with their flamboyant lot without any effort, having much in common with their sense of humour. Within less than five minutes, quick subjects, silly jokes and jesting punches were thrown in the midst of a fast soaring friendship between the two SeeDs and Quistis' visiting friend. Selphie and Quistis watched in amazement while one discussion quickly altered into another.
"So like.....have you seen the latest issue of the "Girl Next Door"? Man! There was this hot chick there!" Irvine commented.
Behind them, they heard Selphie gasp and yell, "Irvine!"
"Yeah, I saw it myself, Irv! The October issue, right? Total babes there! I can let you borrow mine if you want. Those mags are pretty rare these days."
It was Quistis' sharp intake of air they heard next. "Bradley! He's only seventeen."
Irvine grunted and scrunched his face.
Bradley chuckled and raised a brow. "So? He's old enough for that, ain't he?"
"Hey, thanks, Rad!" Irvine slapped him on the back.
Bradley coughed after the hard smack. "No prob! Hey, Zell! You're a great martial artist! I knew a few friends that studied it, but not even close to how much you've accomplished."
"Really?!" Zell was abashed as he laughed and scratched his head. "Well...it was my favourite hobby as a kid. Still is too. I figure I might as well learn somethin' awesome and useful." He began a series of punching and kicking techniques. While he did his famous acrobatics, Squall and Rinoa entered the room from far side. Typically, Rinoa was hugging Squall's arm, unmindful of his silence while she kept talking. As the couple came closer, Bradley immediately detected hostility in the other man's scrutiny; Squall didn't even bothered hiding it. His cold, inert gaze told Bradley his credence was not as easily gained as his comrades'. Nevertheless, Bradley met his eyes with the same intensity; turquoise fixedly answering sapphire. The glower went unbroken in arm's reach as the couple joined the group.
Rinoa intentionally stepped in front of Squall to break the 'glaring contest.' She smiled kindly and said, "Hello! You must be Bradley, right? I'm Rinoa Heartilly." She gave the man behind her a persuasive nudge that said: C'mon, stupid! Say 'hi'!
"Squall Leonhart," he declared monotonously.
"Bradley Atkins," the answer came, mimicking the methodical voice. He took his eyes off Squall for a moment to Rinoa. Instantly, the icy jade became warm. "Nice to meet you, Rinoa. I saw your prank on your boyfriend on the beach. Lucky for him to have a gal like you to cool him off."
Rinoa laughed and blushed. "Oh, he needed to chill very badly."
Inevitably, the vicious glaring returned once Bradley's attention strayed to the man around Rinoa's arms. It did not waver, neither would accept defeat by shifting their eyes away.
Selphie finally broke the reticence after one full minute. Softly, she commented, "Uh-oh! There's some tense air in here!"
"Anyway! I guess me and Squall here'll be going! He owes me dessert." Rinoa towed Squall forcefully aside before the merciless perusal became physical. With him tightly around her arms, she and her scolding voice trailed off across the cafeteria.
"Hmm....cheery young fella," Bradley muttered under his breath.
"That's funny...wonder what's making him so bothered about you," Zell said, scratching his chin in puzzlement.
"What makes you think that was unusual? Maybe that's how he treats strangers," Irvine said
"No, he didn't act that way to us when we met him. He was cold, yeah, but not that cold!" Selphie blurted out.
Bradley shrugged. "It's not a big deal that one of you dislikes me."
"He takes a while to persuade." Quistis changed the subject by smiling and asking, "Would you like that tour of Balamb Garden I suggested to you?"
"Sure!" He offered his arm to Quistis.
She entwined her arm on his without reluctance. Later on she would be shocked at herself for being at ease with a man she barely knew. It was a bit disconcerting, her ease. Given reliable Squall's reaction to Bradley, she should be wary of her own conduct. Yet what 'should be' was not there at all. To Quistis, it felt as if she was reuniting with an old friend, one who understood her very well. Although, as they progressed arm-in-arm through each area of the Garden, she felt the presence of something deeper than camaraderie.
To be continued...
by: Cathy-chan
Chapter 3: Many Meetings
"It's time to return to Balamb Garden. Everyone, pack up and leave," Squall instructed with a clear voice.
"Aye aye, Cap'n Leonhart!" Rinoa, Zell, Selphie and Irvine cheerfully said in unison with a navy salute.
Squall raised a brow, a response to their over-ecstatic reply. He would have given a stronger reaction, but doing so would prove them victorious. They wanted a reaction from him; after much experience with the four, energetic SeeDs he had a strategy for them. Thus he kept silent while dressing back to his usual, stiff outfit. Behind his back Rinoa and Selphie whispered. He heard a small, protesting sound from Rinoa when he started putting his shirt and jacket back on; one of the few advantages he had for succumbing into her schemes. Until due time would the incident at least be left to just memories. The worst of his dread would be finding this embarrassing incident in the front page of Selphie's B.Garden Newsletter. Gratefully he had other things to worry about such as his tasks. As the efficient leader, he marked the whereabouts of all his crew. The students were already assembled into the Garden by their instructors. Every leading SeeD save one were waiting beside him.
"Have you seen Quistis?" he directed the question to Rinoa.
"No. Last I saw her she was talking to a guy."
"Woah, an' here I thought she was right behind us. Quistis just went somewhere without telling us?" Zell asked looking puzzled. "Doesn't sound like what she would do."
"She shouldn't keep the Garden waiting. I'm going to go look for her. I need someone to take charge while I'm gone." Squall could see Zell jumping up and down in front of him. He would be more than pleased to be a temporary leader. With a shrug and a sigh he said, "Fine. Zell is going to take care of everything. I'll be back soon." Without waiting for a response, he started heading for the streets.
"Thanks, Squall! You won't be disappointed," he shouted to Squall from a distance.
"You're lucky he's in a hurry, else he would have never appointed you as leader," Rinoa said teasingly.
"Yah, I know, but who cares? I'm leader! All right, people! Pack up!" Zell grinned cheerfully as he bossed people around.
~~~~~~
Quistis and Bradley were slowly strolling down the avenue, in no hurry to get to the Garden. They wee caught in a heated yet playful debate about life goals, she noticed neither the curfew nor Squall scowling behind them as Bradley concluded his reasoning. "....and that's how I realize that my main wish in this life is to see Griever and every, single GF! So really, there are a lot of things to do in this world. I'm plannin' to see everything."
"Wow! I know how some people want to see the world, but they're not as ambitious as you."
"Hey, everybody's got goals or purposes. Care to tell me about your goals?"
She shook her head. "I don't think I can. You'd laugh at me if I tell you."
"I won't. I promise." His vow did little merit to convince Quistis for he was widely grinning from cheek to cheek.
"No. You'll just have to guess 'cause I'm not telling." Her stern and serious face had Bradley laughing for a whole minute.
After his composure returned Quistis thought to know more of his past career. "You must have been a good leader as a SeeD with all the enthusiasm you have. You haven't told me which Garden you graduated from."
"Oh ah,....hey, it's that soaked guy from before!" Bradley pointed to the young man striding towards them.
"Quistis, it's time to go. It's past the curfew time," Squall said. Easily omitting 'soaked guy' comment without pause.
"Oh, you're right! I'm sorry, Squall. I seem to have lost track of time," Quistis apologized after looking at her watch. She was astonished to know it was one hour pass the designated time.
Bradley stepped forward. "You can blame that on me, Squall. I should've known it's getting late."
He knows my name, what has Quistis been telling this freak? Squall thought. "...Whatever. Balamb Garden is going to go any minute. Lets go." Squall bumped the other man's shoulder, intentionally. He made it clear he disclaimed Bradley's existence, at least for the moment. Something in my gut's telling me something about him. Why does his face ring a bell? And does Quistis really know this guy? Squall wasn't sure if it was paranoia or instincts telling him of danger. The ominous sensation was aggravating, and he wasn't about to let it pass unnoticed.
"Er....he's rather cold shouldered, isn't he?" Bradley said after Squall quickly left earshot. He was about to add: I wonder what's up his ass? but decided to leave the forthright comment to himself.
Quistis bowed apologetically. "You'll have to excuse Squall. He's always like that."
"Always!?" He let out a long whistle. "No need to apologize. It's nothing. I'm completely not offended. He's an okay guy. Needs an attitude adjustment, but okay." Bradley grinned and shook his head. "Though if I didn't know any better, I would've sworn he's older than me!"
Quistis agreed with him by laughing. "Lets go before Mr. Cold-Shouldered gets angry. Trust me, you don't want to see his bad side."
"That was his good side!?" he exclaimed.
~~~~~~
Rinoa hummed tunelessly in front of Squall's dormitory, waiting patiently for someone to respond on the other side. She knocked twice on the door until Squall finally welcomed her in. He returned to his desk, reverting his attention back to writing a long-winded report due the next day. As the commander of the Garden, he had to make sure that written reports (and apologies) to other Gardens, governments and cities were completed and signed by him.
"Knock, knock! Anybody home?" she said in a cheerful singsong. "Earth to Mr. Meany? You there?"
"You can see me, right?"
"Wow, I don't believe it!" Rinoa gasped, pretending to be shocked. "Squall Leonhart actually has a sense of humour!"
"That wasn't suppose to be funny."
"Oh, I'm just kidding! Why do I even bother with you?"
"I don't know."
Rinoa placed her hand on her forehead, shaking her head vehemently as she said, "If you weren't so cute, maybe I wouldn't have put up with you." She giggled shortly, then with a sashay of her hips, casually strode to his direction. "Anyway, what'cha doin'?"
"I'm finishing the report for Balamb Garden."
"You don't need to do that now. Aren't you hungry? Wanna eat something at the cafeteria? I'm in the mood for a really tasty dessert."
"I'll be finished in a while."
"Yeah right! I've heard that before and I'm never gonna fall for it."
"Not now, Rinoa. Later."
"No! Now! Don't you wanna meet Quistis' new friend?"
Quistis' new friend? Squall depicted a tall man who Quistis was avidly having a conversation with in Dollet. A particular person he was keen not to like.
Slowly, he stood up from his chair. After pacing several steps, he stopped quietly in front of her. He knew of only one friend of Quistis he hadn't met. But just to make sure he asked, "What does Quistis' friend look like?"
"Uh....Goldish-brown hair, green eyes, tall, post-teens....very handsome! I think his name is Bradley."
"You mean she invited that stranger into Balamb Garden?" Squall neither raised or changed his tone of voice, but Rinoa was one of the few who could truly discern him. By the looks of it, he was not pleased by the idea.
Although she knew it unsettled him, she approached it as a joke to lighten his mood. "Hey, don't get jealous, Squall. I said he's handsome but I still think you're the greatest guy."
Squall simply mumbled something to himself and went back to his work.
"Look, I know you're not very happy with it, but get used to it."
"Get use to it? No."
"Why not? He's not gonna do any harm."
"Right. As far as we're concerned, he might be a criminal or a killer," he uttered dryly without shifting his eyes from the screen.
"What?! Is that how you think of people you've hardly met?"
"No, this particular one is suspicious."
"Because he and Quistis have a strong connection?"
"It has nothing to do with that." He paused for one second; behind his collected, calm mien he searched for the adequate words. "He...looks familiar. I have this feeling I should recognize his face."
She stood there for a moment just staring into Squall's eyes. After a few moments of silence, he faced the computer once again.
"Squall," Rinoa stood behind him, "just tell me what's wrong. I personally don't know Quistis as long as you have, but I can tell she likes him." She spoke slowly and softly while she stroked his hair. "I don't know...to me, she seems to be laughing more, and she's at ease too. I think you should give him a chance. Not for him, but for Quistis. If she thinks he's nice, then maybe he's not such a bad person."
"...Maybe." He turned his seat around to face Rinoa. "Fine, but it doesn't mean I'm abandoning my theory about him."
Rinoa smiled and embraced him. "Thank you, Squall. You're just worried, that's all. You'll see that he's decent." Rinoa felt the tension depart in their embrace.
".....Rinoa. Thank you. I hope you're right."
"'Course I'm right!" Her brown eyes lit up with a wink, happily she pulled him up from his seat. "You can thank me better by treating me to dessert."
In the cafeteria, Zell and Irvine were becoming well acquainted with Bradley. He, of course, fitted in with their flamboyant lot without any effort, having much in common with their sense of humour. Within less than five minutes, quick subjects, silly jokes and jesting punches were thrown in the midst of a fast soaring friendship between the two SeeDs and Quistis' visiting friend. Selphie and Quistis watched in amazement while one discussion quickly altered into another.
"So like.....have you seen the latest issue of the "Girl Next Door"? Man! There was this hot chick there!" Irvine commented.
Behind them, they heard Selphie gasp and yell, "Irvine!"
"Yeah, I saw it myself, Irv! The October issue, right? Total babes there! I can let you borrow mine if you want. Those mags are pretty rare these days."
It was Quistis' sharp intake of air they heard next. "Bradley! He's only seventeen."
Irvine grunted and scrunched his face.
Bradley chuckled and raised a brow. "So? He's old enough for that, ain't he?"
"Hey, thanks, Rad!" Irvine slapped him on the back.
Bradley coughed after the hard smack. "No prob! Hey, Zell! You're a great martial artist! I knew a few friends that studied it, but not even close to how much you've accomplished."
"Really?!" Zell was abashed as he laughed and scratched his head. "Well...it was my favourite hobby as a kid. Still is too. I figure I might as well learn somethin' awesome and useful." He began a series of punching and kicking techniques. While he did his famous acrobatics, Squall and Rinoa entered the room from far side. Typically, Rinoa was hugging Squall's arm, unmindful of his silence while she kept talking. As the couple came closer, Bradley immediately detected hostility in the other man's scrutiny; Squall didn't even bothered hiding it. His cold, inert gaze told Bradley his credence was not as easily gained as his comrades'. Nevertheless, Bradley met his eyes with the same intensity; turquoise fixedly answering sapphire. The glower went unbroken in arm's reach as the couple joined the group.
Rinoa intentionally stepped in front of Squall to break the 'glaring contest.' She smiled kindly and said, "Hello! You must be Bradley, right? I'm Rinoa Heartilly." She gave the man behind her a persuasive nudge that said: C'mon, stupid! Say 'hi'!
"Squall Leonhart," he declared monotonously.
"Bradley Atkins," the answer came, mimicking the methodical voice. He took his eyes off Squall for a moment to Rinoa. Instantly, the icy jade became warm. "Nice to meet you, Rinoa. I saw your prank on your boyfriend on the beach. Lucky for him to have a gal like you to cool him off."
Rinoa laughed and blushed. "Oh, he needed to chill very badly."
Inevitably, the vicious glaring returned once Bradley's attention strayed to the man around Rinoa's arms. It did not waver, neither would accept defeat by shifting their eyes away.
Selphie finally broke the reticence after one full minute. Softly, she commented, "Uh-oh! There's some tense air in here!"
"Anyway! I guess me and Squall here'll be going! He owes me dessert." Rinoa towed Squall forcefully aside before the merciless perusal became physical. With him tightly around her arms, she and her scolding voice trailed off across the cafeteria.
"Hmm....cheery young fella," Bradley muttered under his breath.
"That's funny...wonder what's making him so bothered about you," Zell said, scratching his chin in puzzlement.
"What makes you think that was unusual? Maybe that's how he treats strangers," Irvine said
"No, he didn't act that way to us when we met him. He was cold, yeah, but not that cold!" Selphie blurted out.
Bradley shrugged. "It's not a big deal that one of you dislikes me."
"He takes a while to persuade." Quistis changed the subject by smiling and asking, "Would you like that tour of Balamb Garden I suggested to you?"
"Sure!" He offered his arm to Quistis.
She entwined her arm on his without reluctance. Later on she would be shocked at herself for being at ease with a man she barely knew. It was a bit disconcerting, her ease. Given reliable Squall's reaction to Bradley, she should be wary of her own conduct. Yet what 'should be' was not there at all. To Quistis, it felt as if she was reuniting with an old friend, one who understood her very well. Although, as they progressed arm-in-arm through each area of the Garden, she felt the presence of something deeper than camaraderie.
To be continued...