Disclaimer: I own FFVIII ANDSquare. So there.
I'm back. So many apologies to anyone who read the story before and for some unknown reason is crazily looking at it again. I don't know why you would, but there you go. Have fun.
"Fix on one star, at last… any star in the swirling star blizzard…"
Knighted
Chapter 8: Combat?
By Knighted
The streets were dark. So incredibly black, pitch, as the Sorceress and the Knight crept forward, towards the sound ofterror that sent shivers down even Squall's back. Lionheart gunblade and projectile Shooting Star were held at the ready as the two lovers-turned warriors advanced through the night-time streets of Dollet.
Squall felt Rinoa's bare arm rub against his, sending a tingling sensation from his arm through his body, even as he thought of his standard SeeD street tactics from basic training, all those years ago, before he'd met her. He thought back to another time, also before he'd met his partner, when he'd fought in these same streets, seen a mechanical monster drop from a fifty-storey building...
"Squall!" the hiss broke him out of his reverie. He saw Rinoa looking up at him, so many emotions on her face; concern that he could be drifting off at a time like this, amusement at it, fear of what they were hearing... what they were hearing. He only just noticed - the wails had stopped.
"Quickly" he only needed to say that one word. They were getting near the sounds when they had stopped.
They headed toward the corner of the street, instinctively flattening themselves against the wall of a house, Commander taking the lead. Carefully looking round the corner, Squall saw a woman cowering against a building, her face a frozen mask of fear. Around her were several Galbadian Commanders, their red armoured suits tattered and unkempt. The SeeD narrowed his eyes; the Galbadian army had long since disbanded – this must be a few of the old-timers who weren't so keen to let go of their past. The lady's eyes flicked from each Galbadian to the other in fear. There were always a few groups in each city, generally higher ranking men who'd lost most in the destruction of the army, and always in the same state as these were. Drunk and intent on staying that way. Even if that meant beating up some girl and taking her money. Especially if that meant beating up some girl and taking her money.
"4 Galbadian Commanders, all armed, but no projectiles." He informed his partner in a whisper. She acknowledged with a nod, and they moved smoothly together from behind the corner, clasped hands letting go for now.
Squall had miss-calculated. There were 4 officers, but there was also a small blue-uniformed private. He looked small and uncomfortable, and certainly not as drunk as his superiors. Rinoa's brow furrowed.
Don't I recognise him?
The private glanced about nervously as the others started to move in on the woman, and saw them. Then he screamed.
"SIR! It… it can't be!"
One of the officers looked up and peered at them groggily through his visor. The others ignored the soldier and started to grab at the woman, who screamed again and tried to scrabble away.
Meanwhile the one who was still staring at them motioned to the smaller soldier. He grumbled something,
"Wedge… am… am I seein' w-what I think…" The two Galbadians were shaking now.
"Sir… It's them!"
Squall suddenly took a step forwards.
"Wait a minute… Wedge?" Rinoa joined him,
"Biggs and Wedge? What the-" The drunken Biggs cut them off,
"HA! They remember us alright! Yeh… y-you just, just come i-in here an' walk up sayin'…"
"Sir, I think you should sit down…" Wedge volunteered. The other Commanders were looking up now, and the girl snuck away around a side alley. Squall's brow furrowed,
"Didn't you quit the army?"
"HA!" shouted the drunken Biggs as he sank onto an empty wooden crate on the side of the alley. He leant his head back against the wall,
"We'd never… n-never qu-quit de…" he paused, apparently to collect his thoughts,
"-army. Yeh. Never." Wedge looked up towards Squall and Rinoa,
"We did quit the army, sir! But - ah - we didn't have any other clothes to wear apart from our uniform…" Rinoa looked at her partner quizzically.
"HA! S-sure we d-did, k-kiddo…" He choked, spluttering, and leaned over from his seat, vomiting on the ground.
"Ugh…" Rinoa whispered. Wedge patted his superior officer on the back concernedly, As Biggs choked over the dirt.
"Why were you pestering that woman?" demanded Squall, firmer now. Wedge looked up. There was fear in his voice and a slight tremble to his hands.
"Sir… I can't stop them… it's getting out of control Mr Leonhart Sir!" Wedge explained. Squall looked worried, but still murmured to Rinoa,
"Why does he have to call everyone 'Sir'…?"
"Must be a military thing," she teased, grinning at him. She knew full well how 'military' he thought he was. He frowned at her, but it only seemed to make her giggle. Sighing, he turned back to the ex-Galbadian soldiers. She stopped, coming back to reality and the situation.
"OK. I think I understand. What you lot need is a proper night of sleep. Clear off now. Keep off the streets. You", he gestured at Wedge, "Get them under some shelter somewhere. Anywhere will do." He wrinkled his nose. "See if you can get them washed as well. And for Hyne's sake get rid of those uniforms. They don't make people well – disposed to you."
"Sir. Yes Sir!" Wedge did a quick salute (the Commander shook his head and sighed again) before quickly turning around and hoisting the muttering Biggs to his feet. Supporting him, he led the officers off down the street away from the watching couple, speaking to them slowly and carefully,
"Come on Sir. Going to get you home Sir! Don't worry, you'll feel better tomorrow Sir…" The last thing they heard as the small troop rounded a corner in the street was,
"Who does – h-he th-ink 'e is… givin' orders…" from a half-conscious Biggs.
"He's right, you know" said Rinoa, turning to him, "Why were you giving orders like that?" She smiled.
"Must be a military thing", retorted Squall.
I know, I know, really short. To be honest I just wanted to get a new chapter out to help me start up again. Hopefully it will be easier from now. Please review! That is, if anyone reads this...
Thanks,
Knighted