By Leanne Ashley
Quick summary: (AU) SeeD battles Ultimecia & her followers. When a prophecy foretells the coming of a savior (Sorceress Rinoa) SeeD, led by Squall, is ordered to protect her from Galbadia's assassins as she journeys to defeat Ultimecia. Squall/Rinoa
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Chapter 20: Watching Her
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Looking down hesitantly, Squall frowned when he accidentally stepped on yet another corpse. The closer they ventured toward the front doors of Ultimecia's castle, the more it had become unavoidable. It was nerve-racking to think that most soldiers had met their fate on merely the front steps of the castle. Had the witch struck them all down with a single blow?
In silence they walked. Rinoa lead the way with her white wings being the only object of purity in sight. They had almost reached the top; each step upon the stone-pillared staircase mocked the silence in which they voluntarily held amongst each other. The wind blew vigorously, carrying with it the bitter stench of decay as it tumbled against their hair and clothes.
Rinoa paused infront of the two massive doors and placed a hand upon her neck. She frowned in confusion as she traced her fingers nervously against her collarbone.
"Is everything alright?" Quistis asked.
"It's nothing…" she murmured. "I think I lost my necklace…"
"Squall! Are you listening to me!?"
Glaring at the whining girl through his copper bangs, Squall reluctantly broke from his thoughts and acknowledged her. "Yeah, I'm listening! What do ya want!?"
"I said I think I lost my necklace!"
"So?"
"You have to help me look for it!"
"Says who?"
The small girl brushed a hand quickly over her eyes and then through her long black hair to mask the fact that she was starting to cry over the lost possession. She sniffed and placed her hands angrily upon her hips. "Fine. I'll do it myself, Meany."
Squall shrugged and watched as Rin stomped off in a huff. He had been sitting at the top of the cliff watching the ocean when she had came nosing about his business. He usually hated company and most of the time Rinoa, or 'Rin' as she preferred to be called, was no exception. But sometimes, however, he didn't mind it so much. It was a first. Maybe it was because she was always so cheerful and compassionate, but then again, maybe it was because he just got tired of telling her to go away every five minutes. He couldn't help but be used to her company by now.
He continued to watch as she peered over the edge of the cliff and began to clumsily gain a better visual by standing on one of the boulders.
"What are you doing?" he called as he got up quickly to his feet and walked over.
"I see it!" she exclaimed excitedly. "It fell off from when I was here before!"
"Whatever, get down. I'll get it for you."
Rin glanced back at him clearly insulted. "You think I can't cause I'm a girl?"
Squall smirked. "Girls could. You can't."
She stuck her tongue out at him defiantly and climbed closer to the edge. "I'll show you… jerkface."
The smirk faded from his lips as the seriousness of Rin's situation began to sink in. "Get down or I'll tell Matron you were up there!" he threatened.
"Make me!" she shouted as she got up quickly to her feet and stood dangerously close to the edge of the highest boulder.
Squall glared at her angrily. "You're being stupid!"
Her mouth dropped open as her brown eyes narrowed down into his. "MEANY!" she spat angrily. She stepped back slightly to evenly space her footing when the smooth heel of her black shoe slid against the moss. Panic-stricken, she cried out in surprise and flailed her arms desperately for balance.
Squall reacted instantly as he sprinted forward as fast as he could. What a moron he was. Why hadn't he pulled her back sooner? His scolding, along with the sudden burst of adrenaline, pushed him into moving faster. But as he managed to reach the ascending boulders, it was already too late. Rin's shrill scream echoed loudly in his ears as she fell backwards off the stony cliff.
He moved faster.
There was no giving up, not yet.
Faster, over the abrasive rocks, carelessly scraping his skin on the way up.
No…
Falling to his knees at the top, he peered over the edge. The waters rushed violently against the merciless jagged rocks below. It was so far down.
So far.
The cold ocean air stung his face as it rushed past him. But the burning in his eyes…was that also from the wind? It seared. It wouldn't stop. Oh, how it seared. Everything was hurting at once as he stared over the edge of that cliff. His sapphire eyes were open wide with shock and dumbfounded confusion. He was afraid to blink. If he blinked, he wouldn't see her. He wouldn't find her.
The image of her falling played again in his mind. Over and over…her expression was so terrified. Each time he couldn't save her. Each time he was just…there. Running, watching…too late.
Too far.
Too far down.
It hurt to breathe. His chest felt heavy. He clenched his teeth to withstand the pain before he completely lost it.
He screamed her name out as loud as he could. Out to the ocean, the sky, the heavens…Entwined with the pain he felt, his voice instantly grew hoarse toward the end of his devastated plea. Exhausted from grief, he lowered his head and clutched the boulder beneath him. Blood seeped from his fingers. Squall could only watch it numbly. He had yet to shed any tears but the burning in his eyes grew relentless. The tears were so close…
"Squall?"
His head jerked up instantly. It was Rin's voice. She was crying softly…somewhere.
"Squall, I'm scared. I wanna go home…"
"Rin…?" he managed to choke.
Edging forward, he looked further over the edge of the cliff and spotted her. Rin lay several feet below him on a ledge. A single trail of blood seeped from the top of her head and down the side of her face, mixing with the tears that soaked her terrified features.
Squall was instantly drenched in relief as he swallowed back his despair. He regained his composure quickly and began climbing down over the rocks.
"You okay?" he asked when he reached the ledge.
She shook her head and tried in vain to wipe the tears from her face. "My head hurts…and my ankle sorta…"
"It's okay, Rin. C'mon, I'll take you back…" He kneeled down with his back to her. "Get on."
She smiled gratefully through her tears and climbed onto his back, her small arms wrapping a little too tightly around his neck. "H-Hey…!" he yelped in surprise. "You're chokin' me!"
She quickly loosened her grip. "Sorry," she giggled as she buried her face against the base of his neck.
Using one arm to support her leg at his waist, he began climbing back up the boulders using the other.
"Squall?" Rin asked quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Are ya still gonna tell Matwyn what I did?"
"I will if ya let go."
"I'm hangin' on tight!"
"Then I won't say anything. Tell Matron you tripped."
"Oh, okay…" she clutched onto Squall harder. It was more of an appreciative hug than a grip. "Thanks, Squall…"
He chose not to speak, but smiled despite himself.
When they reached the top, Squall left her to rest on the grass and began climbing back over the boulders to return to the edge.
"Squall!" she called in confusion. "Where ya goin'?"
He climbed down a short ways and grabbed what he was looking for.
Rin's lost necklace.
"Oh, I found it!" Rinoa said quickly as she pulled the silver chain out from her shirt. "I've had it for as long as I can remember… Sentimental luck really… I know it's silly."
"Not at all," Zell shrugged. "We all got our own lucky charms. Even Squall with that funky ring of his."
They turned to Squall expecting some sort of response, but he didn't even seem to be paying attention. While he was seemingly lost in thought, his piercing eyes remained fixated on Rinoa's necklace.
"Squall…?" Selphie asked while waving a hand infront of his face. "What is it?"
Her gesture snapped him quickly back to reality. "It's nothing."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, my head just…fucked over for a couple seconds…"
"I know what you mean," Zell sighed. "I'm still feelin' a bit off from that time spin."
Rinoa watched them silently with growing concern. Irvine quickly noticed and laughed in assurance. "Hey, we're fine! Those two are just a couple of bitches."
Zell snorted shortly and crossed his arms.
Breathing a sigh of relief, the young sorceress turned back to the castle doors, a look of determination engraved upon her features.
"What are we to expect?" asked Quistis.
"Ultimecia's on the other side of these doors…" Rinoa concluded. "She knows we're here. She's waiting..."
Squall narrowed his eyes as the breeze toyed with his bangs. "Are you sure?"
"I can feel her…and if she's a sorceress then I know she can feel me."
"This is it then."
"Looks like it..."
Selphie cleared her throat loudly. "YOU KNOW…" she practically shouted. "We should probably scout out the best possible escape route before we barge in there."
Quistis quickly caught on. "Right, right…I'll take a look at the windows and terraces on this side." She grabbed Zell's forearm and dragged him along. "Let's go, Zell." His confused 'What…? Why?' was heard yelping in the distance.
Selphie did the same as she grabbed Irvine and forced him to follow. "You guys keep cool up front. Me and Irvy will check out the other side."
Blankly, Squall and Rinoa stared after them in confusion.
"That was subtle." Squall commented sarcastically. Rinoa smiled at their horrible efforts and looked up at him. "Well, it's nice they're letting us catch up."
He sighed angrily before gazing down at her. "So…" he began half-heartedly. "What's new?"
"Things have been crazy."
"Never would've imagined."
Rinoa grinned as she stared off distantly with a thoughtful expression. "I met this jerk at a café."
"What are you-?" With a smirk, he folded his arms. "Okay... I was used by a goddamn sorceress."
"I fell into a coma."
"Saved a drowning girl."
"Married a general."
"Stole an airship."
Rinoa paused. "…Saved the world?"
Squall shrugged in defeat. "Got me there."
They chuckled uneasily together.
Squall sighed, inviting a more serious tone into the atmosphere. "I still wish there was something I could do…"
She shook her head quickly. "You've done more than you know, Squall…You gave me hope, inspiration…you treated me like I was real…You've done more for me than anyone else."
He stared into her eyes silently. A perfect time to be at a loss of words. She had told him something so deep and meaningful…and all he could do was let the cotton suck the life from his mouth. God, tell her something, you idiot!
She giggled at his silence and offered to save him. "…But if you really wanted to you could give me that cool ring of yours."
Squall frowned at her before staring down at his gloved hand. Without giving it a second thought, he pulled the lion-engraved ring from his finger. Rinoa stared at his actions wide-eyed in disbelief. "Squall, I was kidding! That ring's important to you!"
He handed the silver object to her. "You keep it."
She eyed it regretfully. "Squall-"
"Either take the damn thing or I'll take it back."
Smiling in defeat, she took the ring from his hand. "You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
She placed the silver ring in her pocket. They both knew it wouldn't fit, but she would hold onto it for dear life. The same as she would for any other cherished object.
"Thank you, Squall."
She reached up and kissed him softly on the cheek. Their faces lingered close for several seconds before he closed the gap and kissed her on the lips. It was a deep, demanding embrace from Squall as he placed his arms around her waist. In the midst of it all, he finally felt the forbidden texture of Rinoa's wings. The silky white feathers slid through his fingers as he pressed Rinoa against him. Not a sorceress. She was an angel in his eyes.
Rinoa's arms were up against Squall's chest as he pressed her closer. She touched his neck gently with her hands and kissed him back with her whole being. She was letting it happen and she didn't care. For once, she'd be the one who didn't care. Love was not for her… but to just taste it once in a while…
He pulled away from her slightly, their faces only inches apart. Footsteps could be heard as the others were starting to make their way back.
"What now?" he whispered roughly.
"I don't know…" she whispered back.
"Tell me something you do know."
Rinoa's expression changed as she stared into his eyes darkly. Her brown eyes narrowed in all seriousness as she took a deep breath.
"When it's all over…… you'll find me."
Uncertain as to what she meant, Squall frowned at her in confusion. "What do you mean…?"
She backed away from him as Zell and Quistis came into view. Irvine and Selphie were also heard not far behind. Rinoa's expression didn't change as she whispered to him one last time before she nodded to the others and proceeded in opening the castle doors.
"I promise."
Authors note: Concerning the flashback, I've always imagined Squall to be mature at a very young age. That's why I had him pronounce 'Matron' as 'Matron' rather then Matwyn which was the case for Rinoa. The scene was derived from a Card Captor Sakura episode that I was watching earlier (so not completely original P) episode 57 where Sakura falls down an elevator shaft and Li is overwhelmed from not saving her in time. It's one of my favorite scenes so I wanted to rewrite it as my own. It's very poetically structured cause I think flashbacks should have their own atmosphere. There was also some last minute Squall/Rinoa development before the big battle (couldn't resist!) Just to let you know, everything I'm writing about now is made to clerify things for the ending (hope it's not boring..) Anyway sorry for the late chapter. The next chapter may be a bit late too cause I'm going to New York for five days ) cya!
