Chapter 12 – Boulevard of Broken Dreams part 2
Immediately after the play, Cid and Edea ushered the bewildered group of teens and Ma Dincht to the private SeeD lounge were the party was to be held. Moments later Seifer entered the room carrying a small bundle of clothes with him, his eyes were still unnaturally bright and upon giving the present group a smile, they could see that he still had the fangs.
"Well is that any way to greet me after my stellar performance? Just blank and confused stares."
Edea gave a soft smile. "Seifer dear you played your part well. I believe your siblings are still a bit shocked."
"Oh I see, pu…" Glancing over to caught Edea's slight grimace of displeasure, he quickly corrected himself. "I see Squall's little play went over some of your heads."
"Seifer…"
"Fine fine, I see you don't want my help. I'll just help myself to those cream puffs." Placing the clothes in a chair he grabbed a plate, and began to fill it with the food from the buffet.
The rest of the Orphanage gang sat holding their 'presents' replicas of dolls used in the play only unmarred from the damage the others received at the end.
Irvine and Quistis sat staring intently at the dolls and going over everything that they just saw. Meanwhile, Selphie and Zell chose to enjoy the play as a spectacle and quickly joined Seifer as the unlikely trio ate and discussed their favorite portions of the play. Matron and Edea stood off to one side smiling lightly at the students, waiting for them to catch on. Cid however was effectively out of the loop but Edea had consoled him early promising to explain everything later.
Selphie announced Squall's entrance as she gave a vibrant squeak of joy before launching herself at him. The slightly damp and shirtless SeeD caught the girl before they tumbled to the floor.
"Wow Squall I don't know what to say. You and Seifer should be vampires more often. Though I think you have some explaining to do mister!"
"Man that was kick ass! The audience loved it but uh what's up with you like progressing back to childhood or something with your clothes?"
Zell looked expectantly at Squall for a moment before rushing forward. "Wait a minute! Where are your piercing!" Zell's yelling caused everyone's attention to shift to the pair. Grabbing the pale right arm he noticed no trace of them. "They couldn't have possibly have healed that quickly…" Scratching his head for a moment he looked pensively at Squall and then it finally dawned on him.
"You played me! That was all an act with the piercing wasn't it?" Squall nodded once. Zell gave a solid punch to arm; afterwards he laughed jubilantly and sighed in relief all in the same breath. "Dude you had me so worried, I mean I thought you had gone off the deep end trying to steal my mom and stuff."
"Well I'll be chi..Dincht, you're the first one to get it and twin Einsteins over there are still trying to hash things out!"
Selphie spoke up, looking slightly confused. "Wait if Squall was only kidding, why'd you do it?"
"Like he all ready said in the play, Selphie Darling it's revenge for 'betraying' him."
"Huh?"
"Everyone, think back to two months ago when we pulled out little prank. Afterwards Squall drew up into his shell, Quistis called it his ice prince persona."
Zell started bouncing around excitedly, "This is like playing clue, without the murder!" Smiling widely he continued. "That was you that slaughtered everything in the training center wasn't it? Man you must've been pissed!"
"ZELLY!"
Squall just stood there letting everyone ask and answer their own questions. Well it seems like Zell has all ready forgiven me and I believe Selphie isn't too far behind. However, Irvine still looks upset and Quistis hasn't said anything yet. That can't be good.
"All right, I get why you decided to get back at us for the prank. It must've looked down right mean from your perspective. But almost two months worth of this just to get us back. Don't you think that was a bit excessive partner?"
"I knew it was risky, but I doubt you would have understood me any other way."
"You could have talked to us."
Seifer started to laugh, but held back after a stern look from Matron. "This is Squall we're talking about. Hell, he's emotionally retarded. He doesn't even know what he's feeling half the time and how to express it."
My little Seifer always needed to learn some tact.
When Quistis stood up, Squall had to reframe from taking a compulsory step backwards. "Congratulations Mr. Leonhart you've achieved your goal. I hope you enjoy your walk!" With that she shoved the Tonberry doll into his chest and stormed out the room.
Giving a quick nod to Seifer, he rushed out the room before anyone could stop him.
"All right folks, Mrs. Dincht and I have a story to tell."
Quistis sped down the corridors and quickly entered her apartment. Moments later she heard a knock at her door and her whole being filled with anger as she looked out the peep hole to see the cause of her distress. She toyed with the thought of leaving him out there, but decided to give him the tongue-lashing he deserved.
Yanking the door open, she grabbed him by his arm sporting a bruise from Zell's early punch. She took some small pleasure in seeing the purple welt. "What? Have you come to rub it in Leonhart? Hm? Or are you going to tell me that you're sorry and that you didn't mean to hurt me? I find that hard to believe, considering you did and know you did as well. I bet you didn't even mean it when you said you wanted to be in a relationship with me? Did you!?!"
"I never lied once when I was with you. Everything I said and… did was real."
"Bastard. Don't you dare tell me you care. Take it back"
"No, it would be a lie."
A resounding slap echoed through the empty apartment. The impact caused Squall's head to turn painfully to the side and for the water to make an arch across the room.
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and began to fall. "I said take it back! You can't possible still want me now!"
Rubbing his check slightly. He turned his head till his stormy eyes met hers. "I can't take back what I did. I wouldn't want to. It's some of the best memories that I have of us."
"Good, because that's the last time you're every going to get that close to me again Squall Leonhart."
Rubbing his check softly, he looked down at the Tonberry doll in his hand. "I still want to be with you. I'm sorry I made you cry."
Stalking forward, she poked her finger into his chest until he was effectively backed up against the door. "You. Don't. Get. To. Be. Sorry. Sorry doesn't cut it!"
Still looking down at the Tonberry doll, he made a rather pathetic figure to Quistis. His red and black hair was matted to his bowed head and dripping on his bare chest and the doll. Her eyes flowed the trail of water down his chest, where the Griever ring rested on the familiar chain, to his arms and hands, where he was gripping the doll so tightly that his knuckles were white. It was then that she noticed he was shivering slightly. He's probably freezing since the air condition is one and he's soaking wet. That's it, nothing more. He's certainly not upset. No that is definitely not the case. Yeah he's just a bit chilly, he'll probably catch a cold… Well he deserves it. Shaking her head at her thoughts, she just stood there watching him.
Lifting his head, Squall looked her directly in her eyes. "If this is my last chance to get close to you then, I want you know that I what I feel is real. Willing himself to stop shaking. "You want me to say I don't love you because then it'll be all to real. I was telling the truth back in the training center and from then on. Well you know what Quistis Trepe, I never loved before, but I think I could come to love you." Pushing the Tonberry doll back into her hands he continued. "Do you know why I made you the Tonberry? It's because it's the only being that I've ever encountered that's the most patient and analytical like you." Noting her lack of tears and almost smile he threw caution to the wind. "I was going to give it a whip in my play but I thought you would kill me."
As Quistis felt some of her anger melting she engaged in some light banter with him.
"Whatever am I going to do with you?"
"Anything you want."
"Really, does your previous offer still stand?"
"I never renege on a promise."
Placing a finger to his lips, she looked into his eyes searching for any signs that he was lying.
"I'm willing to give you another chance."
He remained quiet waiting for her to continue.
"Well aren't you going to say anything?"
"Will you forgive me?"
A soft smile appeared on her face, as she remembered the conversation that they had in the secret area recently.
"You never had to ask."
Leaning forward they shared their first tender kiss. The Tonberry fell softly to the ground as their fingers intertwined.
Quistis stood off to the side as she watched some of her former students dancing at the SeeD ball. Her sparkling midnight blue dressed matched perfectly with her eyes. Fujin, Rajin and Seifer were at the other end, looking uncomfortable in their uniforms but happy, as they had passed the SeeD exam together. Selphie was once again recording the events, with Irvine trailing dutifully behind her holding plenty of extra tapes and batteries. Zell was stuffing his face, albeit slower than last time. Smiling wistfully at her friends, she didn't notice when Squall appeared behind her until he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a lose hug. His hair no longer had the red tips but his eyes sometimes gave way to the mischievous nature that he created over a month ago.
As a waltz cued up from the band, Quistis thought she would have to drag Squall onto the dance floor but was surprised when he gave her a slight tug on the wrist.
As they moved gracefully across the dance floor, she caught glimpses of her friends smiling at them. I'm glad everything is back to normal and all is forgiven. Squall forgave us, we forgave him and Selphie earned a new member for the garden festival. It only took Irvine a day to completely let Squall off the hook; I think it had to do with Selphie's wedding proposal that occurred the next day. Of course Zell was done after the punch, which happened in all of 30 secondsor less.
As the duo continued to dance, Selphie filmed it while talking to her fiancée. "When do you think they'll realize they're in love?"
"I don't know, I hope so soon. Seeing Squall as he was about a month ago was strange, but that sometimes goofy grin is just plain scary."
"Irvy!"
"Hey it's true."
"We owe him a lot you know. I'm glad he chased off those twins."
"Yeah, I know I know. I'll make him my best man."
"That'd be great. Now we just have to make sure Quistis catches the bouquet."
Just then the fireworks went off and everyone reflexively looked up except for Quistis and Squall. "The fireworks have started. Don't you want to see them?"
"Why, I all ready now what true beauty looks like."
"Flatter, I bet you say that all the girls."
"Only this one."
Letting her go for a second, he reached up and removed the infamous ring from around his neck and placed it on his ladylove. Quistis was pleasantly surprised and inhaled sharply at the implication of the gift.
With that they shared another kiss and continued to dance to their own private waltz.
The End
AN: ::sniffle:: It's over. Sorry about the wait, but with going down and with all my college hw, it took me a bit longer than expected. BTW the fanart is up. Thank you everyone for reading, reviewing and just sticking around.
Meaning of the play. Basically the play follows Squall from his childhood at the orphanage to the present day with the prank. Leon was Squall as a child around the time Ellone left him behind. When Seifer bites him, that's to signify his loneliness and to enable Squall to live beyond a single lifetime. Squall is so lonely and unwilling to let people in that he would surely die in one lifetime before making any friends. As a vampire there's no such problems. When Leon becomes Squall and he's dressed, as we normally know him, that's him during the game. When he comes out dressed as Iroi Hybrid that's immediately following the prank resulting in his foul and anguished mood at the end. The chocobo boy is Zell; Squall becomes fascinated by him and turns him. As well as the rest of the gang. Quistis is the Tonberry, Irvine is the Cactuar, Selphie is the Moogle and Zell is the Chocobo. Their individual predicaments represent the prank Squall played on each of them.
Original prank & Contest: When I wrote this story I knew what was going to happen and why. There was a prank and Squall sought out vengeance. This story was made to focus solely on his reaction and not the actual prank. In my mind, there was simply a prank but nothing specific to write about. In reality if I told you what the prank was, it would ruin the story. It would be become less believable because if the prank didn't seem harsh enough or up to everyone's expectation to warrant Squall's reaction then you wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. So, there is no original prank in the sense that I wrote a chapter of the Orphanage gang scaring Squall for life. I'm sorry if it's anti-climatic for you. It's not an evil author plot device. It's simply the truth. I wanted you to focus on his reaction to the effect and a general cause rather than a specific one. Besides, it may be best if you make up your own prank, one suitable for to you.
Okay with that said. I'm hosting a contest. Write a one-shot fanfic with your idea as to what prank the gang pulled on Squall. Winner gets a one-shot fic of their choice with any pairing, rating and plot. Tell me what you want and I'll doto it. Plus I'll host the winning fic on my site.Open one month from now. Details on my site under the Celebrity Skin fanfiction section along with the uploaded fanart.
Responses ch. 11
Phoenix-of -the-darkness: I'm happy you're enjoying it so much. I put a lot of work into the Quall sequences and I'm glad they were received well.
Zer0 Touma: ::strikes pose:: I'm not evil, just conscious of what I can do. D!
Some just say the world is changing
Many people will agree
Many changes we are seeing
I just say..
It's the end.. It's the end
It's the end of the century!
I just loves that song
seth8: :D!
FloralBlackMoon: Squall had something special for Irvy, I don't think that cowboy liked that at all. Thanks
Squall-l-l: In all honesty this was tame compared to the original idea. Which I'll write eventually and post here or on my site. Let's just say that Irvine would have never forgiven Squall along with the rest of the gang.
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Thanks!
Hanh: Thanks, hope you're not disappointed.
Chrischi: Thanks, keep in mind that I wrote this in about a series of months, just finalizing and revising before throwing up on
SsKnight: ::bows again:: Thank you! That was one of my favorite chapters.
Responses ch. 12
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Thanks, I wanted to make things rather serious yet comical for the play. I guess dark comedy? I put a lot of effort in coming up with the play. In fact it took me close to two monthes to come up with it. I had severe writer block. I'm glad you enjoyed it. In all honesty I kind of what to do a spin off featuring the gang as vampires, but I have too much on my fanfiction schedule right now. Maybe one day.
Emerald-Latias: Ah, thanks for the constructive criticism. ::rings bell:: You got it in one! That's exactly what everything represented. I hope you enjoyed the conclusion.
FloralBlackMoon: Oh man, that's kind of a bummer. Sorry you didn't get it. Check out my explanation at the top.
Griever5: I'm happy you liked it. Thanks for R&R.
Phoenix-of -the-darkness: Thank you! I worked so hard on this play, my favorite chapter to date with the exception of 11 and Rinoa getting the boot. I just picked up American Idiot and I'm in love with it. I may have to check out Lacuna Coil. I enjoy angsty stuff as well. It's surprising because I really don't like humor fics that much. I just kind of don't care for them. I'd rather read drama and angst. However, I wanted to try and make a somewhat dark comedy.
Zer0 Touma: Sorry about the wait. Enjoy.
Hanh: Thank you! Sorry about that.
Achenar: Yay! Thanks for the points!