(Author's Note) In this chapter, Quistis schools Squall a bit. In the end, I think she's a bit out of chracter, but that will be explained in the next chapter. But anyways, with this chapter, I wanted Squall to see that his bondage fetish isn't a bad thing. BDSM/S&M or whatever you want to call it is just different from the regular. But well, here lately, it seems to be more in the secular culture now more than ever.

Chapter 2: Subcultural Variations of an Underground Popular Trend

It was just a few minutes till Squall's meeting with Quistis. He was on edge ever since he talked to her so he thought a little training would take the edge off. He held his Revolver Gunblade in hand and flawless swiped and stabbed the air in perfect swordsman form. Even though, his skill was not affected, the edge was still there. Damn it, if I can't keep my head out of the gutter, how can I keep my composure, he thought to himself. With a few more minutes left. He hit the showers to wash the sweat off him. He ran his regular leather gear through the air washer and was off to the cafeteria. As usual, he found Treppies stalking Quistis.

"Hey, you twerps. Bug off, I have SeeD business to discuss with Instructor Trepe!" Squall shouted.

The Treppies became startled and stood at attention. "Commander sir, yes, sir!" The Treppies saluted. Squall saluted back and the Treppies ran off.

Squall sat down across the table from Squall. "Thanks for chasing those kids off." Quistis thanked Squall.

"Thanks for meeting with me about this." Squall nodded.

Quistis smiled mischievously as she took out a file folder and lied in on the table. "This way it looks like we are discussing business."

Squall's eyebrows perked up, but his eyes nervously darted from side to side. He took the file folder and opened it. His eye's widened to the sight in saw. Various photos of women and men tied in different ways with all kinds of objects. "Oh my Hyne… you mean, there are many other people who are into this kind of stuff?"

Quistis nodded. "Yes, it's been an underground subculture for years. Here recently, S&M has been growing in popularity."

Squall studied the photos carefully. "Some of these methods look very complex. Almost… artistic…"

"Exactly my thoughts, Squall. You see, there are so many parts of S&M, however, the part you seem interested in right now is bondage." Quistis explained.

"Yes, all of this is very new to me. But, I don't understand why I would even be interested in this."

"It all depends on what end of the bondage you're on, on how you enjoy it. Judging from your personality and how you discovered your interest in bondage, I'd say you'd be the dominate one. So, you'd be the one to give the bondage. From my own experience, the enjoyment of being a dom is the control over another person." Quistis explained.

"Control over another person? That sounds a little too much, but it seems to me that the one submitting to the dominate person would be a willing party, or else this would be illegal." Squall realized.

"Yes, that's right, Squall. I think you're catching onto this pretty well."

"Right, but even if Rinoa was willing to give herself to me like that, where do I start?"

Quistis giggled. "That's okay. I can teach you a few things. Come with me. I have a few things to show you."

Quistis lead Squall out of the cafeteria. Both, Quistis and Squall were looking official as ever, hiding the fact that theirs was personal business. Quistis lead Squall to her apartment. She unlocked her door. Squall walked into her apartment. Quistis came in behind Squall and shut the door behind her. SeeD officers were given apartments to live in, instead of dorms. With the crisis sometime ago, Squall, Quistis, Zell, and Selphie were all promoted, along with Irvine, who was made an honorary SeeD and promoted as well. Rinoa lived with Squall in their apartment.

Squall looked around Quistis' apartment. It looked just like a regular apartment, not what Squall was expecting. "Go on and have a seat. I'll be with you shortly." Quistis told him. She left the room and went into her bedroom. Squall sat down on her leather upholstery couch. His leather outfit made a sound against the couch as he sat down. Squall looked around the room. Quistis' apartment was very nice and warm. It reminded him of Edea's home decor back at the orphanage. Quistis came back into the living room, with a large trunk. The trunk appeared too heavy for Quistis, but Squall knew she had it covered with her junctions. Quistis sat the truck down in front of Squall. He eyed the trunk then glanced over to Quistis. "What's this?" He asked.

"This is my… toy chest." Quistis answered. She opened the chest to relieve a collection of objects and devices, most of which Squall has never seen, some of which he saw in the pictures from earlier. "Go ahead, Squall. Take a look." Quistis invited. Squall picked up a pair of handcuffs, nothing too unusual being how handcuffs are used on certain SeeD missions and most SeeD had a pair, even Squall. "All SeeD have a pair of these." Squall pointed out.

"Yes, but not everyone uses them for pleasure." Quistis explained.

"I see." Squall exclaimed looking through the trunk some more. Another object seemed to catch his eye. He picked up the object. It was a large red ball with a strap ran through the middle of it and buckles at the ends of the strap.

"It's a ballgag." Quistis identified. "The ball goes into the mouth and usually keeps the person wearing it quiet."

Squall looked at the ballgag. "Where did you get such a thing?"

"No shop in Balamb, I can say that. I ordered it from a store in Deling." Quistis remembered. Squall continued to look through the trunk. He pulled out a Velcro strap. Squall's mind pieced together what this object could be used for.

"An adjustable restraint." Squall identified.

Quistis nodded. "Yes, very good. You're starting to think like a dom."

"A dom?" Squall wondered.

"Yes, a person who is dominate."

"It would make since, after all, I am the SeeD commander."

"Oh, you'd be surprised by some people's preferences. But anyways, the Velcro strap is great for a quick restraint. It's strong and can't be pushed loose, while pulls loose quite easy. But, of course, it doesn't feel as nice as cotton rope."

"I see. I think, I've seen enough for today." Squall looked up at Quistis.

"Yes, I understand. This is a lot to absorb."

"Yes, it is. But, I'm honestly taking… a liking to this bondage. I don't know, but where do I start? How do I tell Rinoa?"

"Rinoa… I think she would go for whatever you wanted to do. Of course, she'd have her own opinions on it. You should talk to her about it and probably start slow. Like with a pair of handcuffs and/or a blindfold." Quistis smiled lightly.

"I see. Thanks for everything, Quistis." Squall nodded.

"Your welcome. Oh and could do you one thing for me?" Quistis asked.

"What?"

"Practice on me." Quistis' cheeks reddened.

"WHAT!" Squall shouted in surprise.