A Dream's End

[a.n.] Well, this is certainly a change. A Squiffie that isn't a one shot? Ah! Well, folks, I have finally gotten around to writing. Yes, I know, you've all heard that about a million times before by none other than I, and yes, dearlings (ohno! I'm turning into Nii…), you're probably all fed up with me, but this time it's real, and this time I'm positive my work with continue throughout the summer. - Well, this is my precious little Squiffie, so be nice! I love it, and I love you, so please get along! [araclyzm]

To Watch The Stars

A flock of birds flew in an arrow across the navy sky, almost invisible among the millions of stars that already took up the dark expanse. It was vast, the beautiful indigo above, stretching for as far as her eyes could see. A breeze swept by with hardly a swish or sound, but she felt it on her uncovered skin. Breathing deeply, she opened her mouth to speak.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered softly, her eyes never leaving the sky. The birds that had passed indiscernibly across the layer of darkened space became specks of dust and disappeared into the horizon. The moon hid behind unseen clouds, and the speaker herself was shrouded in darkness.

The one she had spoken to didn't seem surprised, and if he was, he didn't show it when he answered her.

"I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars," he murmured, the baritone in his voice sending chills up her spine. He stared at the back of her raven-haired head, one eyebrow raised almost unnoticeably, adding, "I didn't expect you to be up here."

"Why not?" she asked. Her voice stayed at the same volume, but acquired a nervous tone that went nearly overlooked.

"I thought you'd be down at the party," he responded casually. "I thought all the lights, decorations, food, and dancing–"

"Dancing?" she interrupted, her voice filled with mirth. "Don't you mean the action of utterly degrading yourself in a fruitless body movement generally done in front of, oh, I don't know, a rather large group of people?" She smiled to herself and turned her torso so she could see the man who stood behind her. "Isn't that Aerith's thing, Squall?"

The man's stoic face took on a flash of annoyance before reverting to the blankest look the nineteen-year-old Yuffie Kisaragi had ever seen.

"Leon, Yuffie, my name is Leon," he said, irritated with her in an instant. "I really wish you would get it right."

Yuffie grinned, ignoring his request and taking on a Genie-of-the-lamp persona for a second. "Truly, Squall? Is that what you wish?"

The twenty-seven-year-old Squall Leonhart growled loudly. "Forget it," he grumbled, turning his eyes to the sky. Yuffie smiled slightly.

"Ah, Squallie, Squallie, Squallie, Squallie…"

Squall growled. "How can you say that name four times in one sentence and not drop dead?" he mumbled, gagging, the look on his face a classic of disgust.

"Because you haven't killed me yet?" Yuffie volunteered. Suddenly, a thought struck her with such strength that her jaw visibly fell open, causing Squall's eyebrow to arch again despite his exasperation at his younger companion.

"What?" he asked brusquely. Yuffie shook her head.

I just had an almost civilized conversation with Squall Leonhart. Am I dreaming?

"Squa- Leon," Yuffie said cautiously, rising to her feet and turning around to face him, "Are you…um…okay?" Squall's eyebrow rose a few more inches.

"Yes," he answered almost instantly. "Are you?"

Yuffie half-glared at him. "Yes," she murmured through gritted teeth. "I just…never mind." She turned around, rubbing her hands up and down the length of her upper arms. "To answer your earlier question, I'm not at the party because it's really boring. Boring music, boring people, boring dances…" She sighed, looking around her shoulder. "It's not all it's cracked up to be. And I'm here, in this particular spot, because, like you, I wanted to see the stars."

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Squall murmured. Yuffie glanced at him, expecting to see his eyes watching the stars, only to find them trained on her.

Pretending not to see, she gave a fleeting look to the ground below her perch on the gizmo shop roof, then to the sky.

"Yeah," she said quietly, enjoying the moment, "They really are."

{tbc}

[a.n] So…hate it? like it? wish you'd never read it? Let me know – burn me to the ground or send me to the sky. - See you around. [araclyzm]