Clash of the Gardens
Capricious Insight
Before their train ride began in Balamb, Selphie had waved to the employee who had been as stiff as a dummy for who knew how long. She looked back at the others and sighed, "What do you guys suspect we'll find in Galbadia?"
"…A war?" Zell said hoping that she caught on to his sarcasm.
"No, seriously! Do you think the soldiers have taken care of the problem already?"
"Who knows, Selphie? We'll see it just as soon as we get there." Quistis assured her.
"Speaking of which, we've got about twenty minutes left." Zell said like a true know it all.
"Really?" Selphie said while facing Zell again.
"Yeah, I'm used to this ride so I know just how long it takes us to get to Timber."
"Wow." Selphie exclaimed. Irvine pushed himself from the wall and walked toward the two of them.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, always took this train with my mom, and I've had dozens of missions that required travel."
"I see."
"What about you, Mr. Kinneas? Have you traveled a lot?" Selphie asked him.
"Hey, just call me Irvine; although, I have to admit…Mister doesn't sound too bad…"
"Yo, have you traveled or not?" Zell snapped him out of his rambling.
"Oh…" He chuckled and touched the tip of his hat, "Only a few times. I'm from the west, most of the towns I had to get to were reachable by foot or car."
"Where are you from, if you don't mind my asking?" Quistis had finally joined in.
"Winhill, the same place Squall is from."
"What!" All three of them said together.
"It's true. Tell you what, when we get to Galbadia, you can ask him all about it. I'm not sure if he would want me telling all of his personal life aloud…"
" You can tell us, we're his friends."
"…Sorry, friendships don't mean a thing when it's my life on the line. That guy has already threatened me before, I don't want to push him to the edge."
"Come on, you can tell us. We won't tell him that we know." Selphie said with a sweet smile that Irvine quickly melted down to. "Please?" She added, and he smiled. Zell and Quistis looked at one another curiously, clueless as to what was going on between Selphie and the Cowboy.
"Okay, okay. I'll tell you guys, but do NOT break your word with me."
"We won't! Now tell us!" Zell and Quistis said together, but Irvine turned his back to them.
"Never mind, I don't think I trust you two just yet."
"What makes you think we trust you!"
"…Well, I'm going to Galbadia to help fend off my ex-military force from a foreign country in which I've never really paid attention to. To top all that off, I'm going with you all, three SeeDs, might I add, to put an end to a battle that has been dragging on for the past hour. SO…now what?"
Quistis and Zell growled and angrily turned their attention elsewhere. Irvine looked at Selphie and smiled sheepishly, then offered her his hand. "Come with me Ma'am, and I'll tell you everything you want to know."
"Really?"
"You have my word."
"Great!" Selphie cheered and took his hand. The two proceeded onto the next cart, leaving behind Zell and Quistis as they both looked dumbfounded toward the closing car door.
"Can you believe that?" Zell said, finally breaking the cold stares.
"…Zell keep an eye on that guy, I don't trust him."
"I'm on it." Zell said and followed behind Irvine and Selphie.
Now I'm not one to complain…but this uniform is way too tight for me. Squall thought to himself while running through the halls of the mansion. After he left and locked his clothes in the prison cell room, he ran for what felt like hours at a time. With each passing second, he grew more confused than before. Every so often, he would walk pass a real Galbadian soldier and had to salute to each one. He was careful to complete the correct salute; though, a few times he almost used the SeeD salute. He mentally told himself constantly to move his hand so that the index finger touches his forehead, and not in a way that the hand didn't make contact with the face at all.
Squall was now on the first floor of the mansion and had looked around carefully for a room that could've been a meeting room for Rinoa and Caraway. He wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation, even though he knew that eavesdropping wasn't the only thing he had in mind to do. Squall had honestly sat out to go after her from the beginning to be sure that she wasn't hurt or mistreated.
"She's here now. …Yeah, everything's okay." He heard a soldier say into his radio. "Yeah, I know, I only have an hour left." The soldier laughed and clicked a button, which turned the device off.
She? Who's he talking about? Rinoa? Squall thought as he decided to approach the soldier.
When he got near, the soldier looked at him and saluted, and Squall returned the gesture. "Is my shift over with already?" The soldier asked, and Squall nodded his head.
"Yep, it's been a long day, though, hasn't it?" Squall responded casually.
"…It sure has. Well, I'm off. Take care."
"You too." Yeah, I'll take care of her.
When he saw the soldier turn the corner of the hallway, he decided to wait a few minutes before entering. The Galbadian Soldiers ran from place to place because of specific orders, Squall had learned that much as he wandered about trying to find Rinoa.
Finally, he couldn't take it any longer; he only needed to see if it was Rinoa behind the door. He looked around first, and then faced the door slowly. With a turn of the knob, he had let himself inside.
He closed the door behind himself, and saw the figure's body flinch slightly at the noise from the closing door. Squall walked toward the bed and studied the body that lay across the bed, and was not surprised when he realized that it was too familiar to him. He smiled. Rinoa…
Feeling the presence of someone else in her room, Rinoa opened her eyes and looked back at the person who had entered. She was surprised to find a Galbadian Soldier standing in her room as if he had a right to be there. She gasped and sat up quickly, "What are you doing in here? Caraway sent you, didn't he?" The soldier stood quiet and still, he had placed his hand on his hip…all too casually, so familiar. She took a moment to examine the Galbadian Soldier; the mask covered his face and the red goggles shaded his eyes, so it was impossible to tell who he was by face. Still, the way he had placed his hand on his hip had bothered her. Where have I seen that before? She thought to herself, but not taking any chances, she ordered the soldier to leave. "Get out of here!"
He smirked and folded his arms.
That smile…there's only one person who smiles just like that… "S-Squall? Is that you?"
"…Took you long enough." He said while unfolding his arms. She smiled and quickly got up from her bed, then enwrapped Squall in her arms. He was taken aback by her reaction, and shyly stepped back from her embrace.
"…Sorry." She said while giggling against her hand. He waved his hand and shook his head.
"Don't worry about it."
"…Oww." She grimaced as she sat back onto her bed.
"What's wrong?" He asked with concern and walked slowly toward her.
"It's nothing. I'm just tired."
"You should get some rest then."
"I was trying to."
"Oh…sorry."
She laughed, "No, you didn't do anything wrong. I just had to lay down for a little while, but I'm not sleepy anymore."
"Even so, you still should rest."
"Not right now, I want to know how you got that uniform."
"…This?"
"Yeah."
"…I found it outside."
"Squall!" She gave him a penetrating look, which caused him to focus his attention elsewhere. "So you won't tell me?"
"What did Caraway say? Have you met with him, yet?" He said quickly.
"Don't try to change the subject!"
"Rinoa there are more important things at hand here. I can tell you how I got this uniform later."
"…I haven't spoken with him yet." She sighed and lied back on her bed.
"Why not? Is he making you wait?"
"No…I just needed to rest first." Rinoa closed her eyes and folded her arms as she lay across the bed. They both sat silent for a few moments, in deep thought.
Squall looked down at the floor as he sat in the small wooden chair. It's quieter in here than the other rooms. I wonder what's happening out there right now… I probably shouldn't tell Rinoa about the battle, she's got enough to worry about on her own. I don't want to add to her load. What in the world would Caraway want to discuss with her anyway? He looked up and watched her as she lay with her eyes closed. She turned over and faced the wall, and opened her eyes.
"…Squall." She started, "…Why are you here?"
"…?" He stared quizzically at her, and Rinoa smiled, she knew without a doubt that she had gotten his attention. What does she mean? I came here to see what Caraway wanted with her, and to make sure she was okay.
"Squall?"
"…I…Well, I just-" What the…? Why am I stuttering? He cleared his throat and looked at the floor again, "I was only trying to understand what Caraway's plans are."
Caraway? Is he the only reason? She thought to herself. "Why don't you go and ask him, then?" He looked up from the floor quickly. By her voice, it sounded as if she were angry.
"If I got near him, he'd think I was trying to take his life."
"Why not? He's already taken mine." Rinoa said in disgust.
"Rinoa…?" Squall questioned, but Rinoa stayed quiet. Her body seemed to tremble as she curled up into a ball. He heard her sniffling lightly, and had moved his eyes back to the floor. As much as she wanted to resist, she could no longer fight back all the thoughts from about her father she had been having throughout the day. All together, they poured out onto Squall, who stood staring at her quizzically.
"…All I ever wanted was for him to notice me. Even before my mom died, he had isolated himself from me. He always had work to do…" She sniveled into her bed. "…It's taken him this long to realize that I exist! I spent most of life trying to please him…but he only noticed me whenever I made a mistake."
Squall remained silent while questioning himself as to how he had upset Rinoa, and she continued to cry. As much as she tried to disassociate herself from her father, she could never escape him. I can't believe it …He came all the way here to ask about Caraway!
Squall sat at the edge of his chair unsure of what to ask. He only wished that she would tell him what he had done exactly.
"He's the last person I want to hear about right now, and he's definitely the last person I want to face…" She groaned and sniffled again.
"Rinoa-"
"Leave me alone! You're only here for Caraway!" He was surprised at her words, and only sat watching her cry as she had done so many times before. She sat up and faced the wall, purposely turning her back to him. She heard him stand from his chair and walk to the door, "That's right, go away." She said while listening at the sounds of his steps moving toward the door, but then something was wrong, the walk to the door wasn't that long. Before she realized what was happening, Squall had taken her into his arms.
Rinoa closed her eyes and let her head fall onto his chest. He rubbed her hair softly with his hand and allowed her to release all anxieties onto him. She cried and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"…Squall, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it…"
"It's okay… Everything will be okay." He said the words Rinoa had always wanted to hear him of all people speak. She felt herself wanting to smile, but she looked up at him and whispered, " It will, won't it?"
He nodded his head slowly, and she moved her face back to his body once again. He allowed her to stay there for as long as she needed to, and Rinoa closed her eyes while sighing in relief. He moved his hands up to her neck, and she felt him tugging on her necklace. She laughed shakily, "Even with Griever, I'm still crying…" He stood quiet, but continued to tug on the necklace.
"Griever can't make you stop crying. You have to believe that you're stronger, only then will you begin to change; however, all you need is your mother's ring. Unlike Griever, she was actually here, a living and breathing human being. What is Griever but some legendary beast that probably isn't even real. Your mother was alive, and while she was here, she protected you. I'm sure she doesn't think of you as a failure, and neither has she given up on you. Until you realize it doesn't matter what Caraway says or thinks of you…you'll continue to cry." He sighed, "You should probably get some rest now." He said uncomfortably and pulled himself away from her. She wiped her eyes and pushed herself back onto the bed.
Rinoa was confused, had he just badmouthed Griever? Wasn't Griever the only thing that ever comforted him; at least that was what he wanted her to believe.
As she lied back on her bed, she felt her necklace fall down into her shirt. She looked down and reached for it, but Squall took her hand and moved down to her eye level. "Have faith in yourself, Rinoa. That's what your mother would've wanted you to do." She looked up at him and used her free hand to touch his face. He stared into her eyes, something he had never done before, and smiled a little.
Rinoa slowly sat up with him once more and rubbed his face softly. Suddenly the smile was gone, seriousness overtook his face, and he removed her hand. He looked down as if searching for words.
"Squall?"
"Lie down and rest." He said while standing from the bed. He turned away as if about to leave, but Rinoa grabbed onto his hand tightly.
"Where are you going now?" She asked, but he stood silent. "…You took your ring back, didn't you? …Squall?"
Squall had turned around slowly to face her and stared into her eyes. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked away from her innocent eyes.
"What's on your mind? You can tell me." When he moved his eyes back to hers, he saw that they were glistening again. He moved his hand to her face and rubbed gently. She closed her eyes and placed her hand atop his with a soft sigh.
He whispered, "I…just didn't know what to say to you…I didn't mean to upset you."
"Squall…I'm not angry with you. It's just my dad…" She spoke while opening her eyes.
"Do you really feel that way about him?"
She couldn't speak, only her eyes told him so. She moved her eyes to the wall and took a deep breath, "…That's what makes it so unfair, he's never thought twice about me until recently. …To him, I'm invisible."
"…Well, I see you." Squall said, and had taken her by surprise.
Unable to control himself any longer, he bent down slowly and moved his face close to hers. As he moved closer, she felt his nervousness with every breath he took. To calm him, she touched his face softly once more and welcomed the feel of his warm lips on hers.
Squall kissed her lips softly and allowed his body to rest on the edge of her bed. He moved his arms around her and slowly laid her down. As he lowered her onto the bed with a deepening kiss, Rinoa was unable to believe what was happening. She carefully removed the Galbadian headgear from his face, which covered most of his features, to actually see him as he kissed her passionately, proving she was no dreamer. She opened her eyes and saw his brown hair falling softly onto her face. Rinoa felt her eyes stinging with tears of joy, and had returned his kiss with ardor. He moved his hand to her neck and rubbed her chin with his thumb as he began to pull away, murmuring, "…Rinoa."
She was speechless as she stared into his grayish blue eyes; only her smile assured him that everything was okay. He smiled to her and touched her face again, then planted a quick kiss on her lips once more. "…I have to go now, but I promise you'll never be alone. I know all that there is to know about loneliness… It's a terrible feeling, and I wouldn't want anyone, especially you, to live on with something as serious as being lonely…"
"…Squall…don't go." She muttered softly.
He stared into her eyes and whispered, "I promised that you won't be alone. All you have to do now is trust me. …Do you?"
She nodded her head slowly while answering, "I trust you." They lied there for a moment just staring into one another's eyes before they both moved in slowly again. Rinoa embraced him tightly as she endured his heated kiss once more, and when he pulled away, she released the breath she had held unknowingly.
Squall rose from the bed while grabbing his headgear, and looked at Rinoa for the last time. I don't want to leave her here alone…but I have no choice.
He sighed and placed the Galbadian mask back onto his face, then looked back at her. "…Goodbye, Rinoa."
"Goodbye?" She questioned him. "Squall, what are you talking about?"
Squall turned away and walked to the door. Without hesitation, he opened it and walked through. He closed the door behind himself and leaned his head back against it, heavily in thought. Come on, I had to get out of there. There's an entire battle going on between Esthar and Galbadia because of me. Rinoa would understand if she knew about it, but it was best not to tell her; otherwise, she would blame this miniature battle on herself as well. Still…I can't help but to think that I'm making a mistake. …What did I just do?
Just then, he heard the sound of heavy footsteps walking down the hallway. Squall quickly stood upright and pretended to be on guard duty. When he looked through the corner of his eye, he saw the figure of a tall man with jet-black hair, and a stern face; it was General Caraway.
"You there, you're dismissed." He called out to Squall, and Squall quickly saluted him like a Galbadian and took off, down the hall. The General watched the soldier make the turn, and then he gathered his breath before entering his daughter's room.
Rinoa was laying face down on her bed with her head dug into a pillow, she was crying again, and had given up the fight to hold back her tears. Suddenly she heard the door opening, she had hoped it to be Squall returning to stay with her for just a little while longer; however, it was her father.
"…You." She said in between her light whimpering.
"Hello to you too, Rinoa." He said huskily with a grin that Rinoa could have slapped away.