Sun and Moon
Disclaimer: As usual, nothing's mine.
Author's note: Biggest apologies for not updating for so long!!! Anyway, he's something, hope you're not gonna kill me before I finish it.
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"I must be out of my mind..."
"That's the sixteenth time you've repeated that, Quistis."
"Well keep on countin', cause I ain't done yet," Quistis muttered under her breath as she clutched his arm. They were being ushered down a long corridor whose walls were covered in mirrors, making her even more conscious of herself. God, did Ellone dress her in the dark?! What kind of a dress did she get herself into?! It's scandalous!! At least the woman had the decency to let her hair cover part of her back, or Quistis will never live it down.
She unconsciously calculated her steps to avoid tripping on her own skirt while walking as properly as possible. 'Properly' as in walking like on the catwalk, like what Ellone had told her to do. "Just imagine everyone's only fit to see your shoes, okay?" She had winked, and Quistis had winced.
"Stopped muttering?" Squall's voice broke her train of thought and she looked up to him. With surprise, she noted that instead of wearing his usual stony / scowl expression, Squall Leonhart now looked decidedly nervous. Not enough to warrant attention, but enough –
"Squall darling!!!!" A shrill voice cooed from the other end of the hall and she felt him stiffen. Instinctively she gripped his arm as a woman dressed in a slinky turquoise number sashayed in their direction, smiling hugely. She didn't need introductions to recognize that face, but still, as any normal girl would, she froze.
"Riddel," Squall greeted her with mild enthusiasm – maybe none at all. "I haven't seen you for a while."
"But of course," Riddel smiled at him and looked adoringly at Quistis. "Look at the little canary," She cooed and Quistis blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry," She stammered slightly and Squall nodded. "Riddel, this is Miss Quistis Trepe. Quistis, I think you know Miss Riddel?"
"A pleasure, Miss Riddel," Qusitis tried to hide her nervousness. Imagine her, shaking hands with Riddel, the movie star!! She looked even more luminous in the flesh than on the screen. Her skin was flawlessly fair, perhaps one would even say ivory, and her large, dark eyes had mesmerized thousands of admirers each time she appeared on the silver screen.
"Mrs, now." Riddel laughed, a tinkling melodic sound. "Oh where is he," She paused as she looked around and she instantly brightened up. "Ah, here he is! He can be so tardy, you know!"
Coming towards them now was a tall, bronzed man with a crop of weather bleached hair. His stride was long and purposeful; Quistis could sense that this was one man who didn't do anything unless it benefited him. Miss Ridell's married, was the sentence that rang in her head. And the public doesn't know yet!!!! What a scandal!!!
Apparently Squall was thinking in the same line, but he wasn't that amused, nor gleeful. "Lord Dario," he mused faintly and Riddel giggled as she linked her arm through his. "Dario, this is – "
"Squall Leonhart," The man smiled and shook hands with him. "I don't just read the business section, you know."
In a way Squall knew he was referring to the latest news about him – his divorce; but tonight he wasn't going to let that spoil his mood. "Congratulations. Was it a private affair?" Squall smiled slightly and Riddel laughed. "This is our first debut together, isn't it darling?"
"And who, I pray," Dario settled his eyes on Quistis and the latter felt herself shrink; "Is this ravishing beauty?"
"This is Miss Quistis Trepe," Squall introduced her and she simply stared when Dario lifted her fingertips to his lips. "A rare name, fit for a rare jewel."He said softly, and Quistis could swear he gave her a discreet wink.
"Speaking of jewels," Riddel had begun to pull Dario towards the entrance of the exhibition hall. "I have to see that little bauble I've set my eyes on, Dario. You did promise to bid for me."
"I said I'd buy you Deling, but you still want this trinket, so alright," Dario teased and Riddel rewarded him with an affectionate pinch.
They halted at the entrance; Squall giving his escort time to straighten her dress out. Truth is, she couldn't care very much now. Not when she saw how... small she was compared to the other guests. Already she had spotted several of Julia's favorite actors and rock stars, and to her horror she saw that every other female was weighed down with jewels that put the stars to shame.
Except her.
"Your name, sir," The butler looked down at his nose rather disdainfully. Quistis bristled. Lucky Martine is nothing like this.
"Mr. Leonhart and Miss Trepe," Squall said quietly and the butler sniffed as he turned to announce the arrival. A sudden wave of panic washed through her. Beyond the entrance the landing split into three staircases, and below that she could see hundreds of head bobbing up and down. If –
"Mr. Leonhart and Miss Trepe!" The butler's voice rang loud and clear, and Quistis mentally slapped her forehead. Too late. The swaying sea before them had begun to turn and now hundreds of faces were looking up at them – No... she opened her eyes and looked up at Squall.
His face was a mask of stony indifference, but she could feel his hand gripping hers; and she knew, he could feel it too. This was IT. Without even trying, they had attracted the attention of everyone in the exhibition hall, and the slight murmur that was there had now increased to a frantic buzzing.
"Let's go," Squall muttered under his breath and Quistis nodded slightly. To her horror she realized he was steering her to the center staircase. She was about to jerk back when her eyes settled on one upturned face. The others were all either amazed or pleased, but this one... this one radiated pure anger. But it was surprising when Squall's hand jerked suddenly, as if shocked. His steps did not falter, however.
The minute their feet touched level ground the two were swarmed over with both women and men alike, demanding rather good-naturedly about his whereabouts. And Squall answered each question carefully, as if they might contain bombs that can explode. Once in a while they would inquire her, but she could see the burning curiosity in their eyes. The women were all green-eyed monsters, and she unknowingly curled her hand tighter about Squall's arm for protection.
All the sudden however, the fever-high pitch that echoed about the two suddenly dropped to an unnatural hush, and Quistis soon discovered why. The crowd edged away to let a woman in her late-twenties pass, and for a second Quistis blinked.
The woman was what Quistis termed as 'perfect'. Perfect fair skin contrasted by a cascade of shining jet-black hair that framed a delicate heart-shaped face. And when she opened her lips to speak, the voice that came out matched the whole sophisticated persona perfectly.
"Hello, Squall."
It didn't take a moron to understand that everyone around them was waiting with baited breath, each unsure of the outcome of this confrontation.
"Edea," Squall finally said with the merest hint of a smile. Edea, Qusitis thought as panic rose again in her chest. His ex-wife. Here. In front of her.
Part of her mind screamed in earnest shock, the other was trying to be sensible. Clearly this confrontation means a lot to Squall. Just when he was about to walk back into society's arms, the first thing he has to confront is his old wound. Everything depends...
Edea smiled graciously at her ex-husband. "What a surprise to see you here... I thought you have dropped off the face of the earth. And to appear with a partner," her gaze fell on Qusitis and for the first time in her life, Quistis held her chin high as she smiled frostily in return. "Surprise indeed, Miss Edea. Did you come alone?" She asked politely, deliberately making her apparent insult clear. Edea turned slightly red at the cheeks, but maintained her smile. "At least I will not pick up just anyone from the street," She said under her breath, so faintly that only Squall heard it. And he was angry, but he didn't want to give Edea the pleasure of seeing him squirm. "Did you read the latest Esthar Eyes?" He asked suddenly, eyes glinting in malicious glee. "Apparently I was voted Esthar's Most Eligible right after the divorce. Strangely I didn't see your name anywhere is the female section," he mused before taking Quistis away.
Quistis walked still beside him, not sure of what to say. Around them, the noise level had returned to its former gaiety as the guests returned to admiring the exhibits. There were jewels and antiques, paintings and other odds and ends that only seem to attract the filthy rich.
The two stopped before a landscape painting on the wall and Squall stared at it, smiling slightly. "Cat got your tongue?"
Quistis snorted slightly, but looked up too. "I don't know what to say."
Squall chuckled and moved on to the next painting. "You did well," He said faintly and she looked up at him. "About what? Edea?"
He seemed undecided, but the nodded. "She hasn't changed," He said softly and Quistis' heart skipped. There was pain, pain and longing in his voice. Of course, she thought sadly. He must have loved Edea a lot, and to have the woman whom you love do this to you...
"Ah, it's Squall," Riddel's voice pierced her thoughts as effectively as an arrow. She came over and dragged Dario along, smiling hugely. "I've just been to the banquet hall and it seems that we will be sitting together. Isn't that wonderful?" She clasped her hands together and laughed. "I can get to know the little canary," She cooed and Quistis and latter smiled graciously. "That is wonderful," She answered on behalf of Squall, who didn't seem to want to say anything. "We will see you at the banquet hall,"
"She married far too early," Squall remarked as the two disappeared among the crowd. Quistis looked up inquiringly. "What do you mean?"
"Riddel is a superstar," Squall said flatly as they continued to look around. "She's been in numerous affairs, and I'd bet my life that at least half of them are true," He picked up a pair of ivory chopsticks and blanched at the gruesome design. His comment made her grin. "Were you one of them?" She teased and he grimaced again. "I don't do that," he said flatly and she looked at him in amazement. "Oh come on, Squall," She recovered and laughed as she slipped her arm around his. "Don't tell me you've never been involved in a scandal before?"
He looked wryly down at her. "If you keep clinging to me, yes I will. And not a moment too soon either," he nodded at the flashes of camera bulbs.
"Good evening, monsieur," A lilting voice greeted them, accompanied by a tinkling of bells. Quistis and Squall turned to look at a brightly dressed harlequin, face painted to match. Her bright red and blue costume was decidedly medival, with streamers and glitter. The sound of bells came from every inch of her costume, and she constantly moved to make them tinkle. She offered Squall a budding rose and laughed. "My apologies, mademoiselle, but I do not give roses to women," She made a sweeping bow and the bells on her outfit jingled again. "I am Je' Mapelle Harle, and I will be your harlequin tonight."
"And everybody else's, I'm afraid," Quistis said, eyes twinkling. Harle sighed in mock regret. 'I'm afraid so. They simply cannot find another Harle to match."
Quistis laughed and Harled cocked her head as she regarded the blonde. "La-dee-dah! Your hair shines like the eye of the heavens," Harle mused as she twirled around. 'And your eyes," She put a finger to her lip, undecided. "They match the Moon Waltz," She leaned close and Quistis had to inch back slightly. 'The... Moon what?"
Harles sighed. "The Moon danced in the night sky," She dreamily smiled out of the window. "There it dances as the stars sing their praises to the jewel of the night... and tonight it shines here," She turned and pointed a delicate finger at the glass case nearest to them. "The sun and the moon," Harle mused absently. Turning around, she gently took the rose out of Squall's hand and deposited it in Quistis'. "Perhaps the beauty of the night can only shine in the light of day," She smiled before bowing and melting among the crowd.
