MISSING AND MOVING ON
By Wonga316
COPYRIGHT
Final Fantasy and its characters are property of Squaresoft etc, etc…
INTRODUCTION
This is my first attempt at FF8 fan fic. It takes places directly after time compression with a twist. Excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes. I'll try my best to catch them all but occasionally one does slip through. I'll also try to keep everyone IC and minimize OC.
"…" Indicates normal speech
'…' Indicates speakers thoughts
(…) Indicates any other communications e.g. – radio, television, telephone, speaker
CHAPTER 06
ESTHAR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – SICK BAY
Squall opened his eyes for hundredth time. For the pass hour, he had tried to get some rest but something plagued his mind. 'Who wants me dead and how did they know that I was here? The only people that know that…'
The door opened and Alex entered. The look on his face told Squall that his wasn't a social visit. "I have a number of questions I want answered." He said or more like demanded.
Squall tilted his head to face him properly. "What makes you think that I'll answer them?"
"Believe it or not, this is in your best interest. If something were to happen to you Rinoa would be…"
Squall cut him short. "If I was out of the picture, things would be less complicated between the both of you."
"I'm doing this for Rin and not myself. If I wanted you dead I would have done it myself."
"I know… I can see it in your eyes." Squall carefully sat up in bed, grimacing at the pain. "What do you want to know?"
"Who attacked you and what did they want?"
'He's a promising seed but a little dull' "You're not asking the right question and anyway I don't know who they were."
"I'm not playing here! So just answer my question!" he shouted.
"Find out how they knew I was at the station. I'm guessing that not many know about my reappearance and even less knew I was heading to the station this morning." Squall replied calmly.
"The only people that knew you're were back…" Alex thought for a moment. "Are you saying what I think you are?" Squall didn't say anything. "How do you know that I didn't betray you?" A knock at the door interrupted their conversation as the Dr. Odine and his assistant entered carrying a tray of medical items.
"Excuse me Mr. Leonhart, Marton informed me that you have refused healing magic and as a consequence we have to tend to your wounds and change the bandages." The doctor said then turned towards Alex. "Mr. Timmett, I'm afraid that I'll have to ask you to leave. The others are having dinner in the main dinning room."
ESTHAR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – DINNING ROOM
Servants wheeled a number of trolleys filled with extravagant dishes and placed them on the dinning table. Zell was drooling. "Man… Look at this spread!"
"We should wait for Rinoa and Laguna." Said Quistis.
"If they were here I'm sure that they wouldn't mind." He argued.
"I don't understand how you could think about your stomach at a time like this." She exasperated.
"It's always been like you to worry too much." Irvine interrupted. "Laguna went to look for Rin. So she'll be fine and it's going to take more than a few scratches to take down Squall."
"But you didn't see him at the station!" she yelled and then walked out. Edea quickly followed her. Everyone was astonished at the normally level headed member of their extended family.
"Let's eat all this good food or it will go to waste." Cid led the way by taking a seat and helping himself.
"Quistis! Wait!" Edea called down the hallway as she followed her down. But the blonde instructor ignored her and continued. The sorceress cast a minor reflection spell to block the path. It worked and she stopped.
"This is not like you, child…" Edea stopped short when she saw the tear streaks on her cheeks. "What's the matter?" Quistis took her by surprise when she grabbed her into a hug and cried.
"Shhh… It's alright…" She tired to calm the young woman. "You're still in love with him, aren't you?" Edea always knew that Quistis had strong feelings for Squall and for a time believe that the two of them would end up together.
Quistis just nodded, still crying into her shoulder. "I'm just so confused… I thought I was over it but…"
"I know… Now that he's come back and Rinoa's relationship with Alex, you don't know what to do." Marton started to giggle which caused Quistis to look up with a puzzled expression. "Don't worry; I'm not laughing at you. I just think this like one of those cheap romance novels you see at supermarket checkouts."
"Quistis, do you want my advice?" Quistis nodded. "Just follow your heart. Be true to your heart and everything will work out."
ESTHAR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – UPPER BALCONY
Tonight's summer breeze didn't carry it's usually warmth but this didn't bother Rinoa. After Squall's outburst she ran until her legs brought her to one of the many palace balconies over looking the city skyline. The bright lights from the buildings drowned out the moon and stars. It was a shame because it was a clear night sky.
Her ears perked up when she heard the soft foot steps of someone approaching. "I'll like to be alone." She stated flatly and the foot steps stopped but then started again until she could sense the person directly behind her.
"Alex… I don't feel like…" She stopped short when the person walk up wasn't Alex.
"It's a cold wind." Squall said. He removed the blanket that he wrapped himself and placed it across her shoulders "You don't want to get sick."
His voice and warmth from the blanket caused her body freeze. 'Squall? What's he doing? Why is he here? What's he doing out of bed?'
"I…I…" He started nervously. "I just wanted to apologies for earlier on." Then he turned walking away. With a new sense of urgency and energy, Rinoa spun around letting his blanket fall to the ground and wrapping her arms around his waist. She felt his body tense for a moment as buried her face into the middle of his back.
"Don't leave…" She pleaded, her breath literally running the down his spine. "Please don't leave…" Tears began falling and Squall could feel them.
Squall took a deep breath and composed himself. "Dinner is in the main dinning room. You must be hungry."
"No… Stay…" her voice was weak and just above a whisper. Squall tried to move but suddenly felt the effects of his blood loss. He slowly crumple forward. "Squall!" she exclaimed, catching him before hitting the ground. Rinoa carefully moved him around so his head rested in her lap.
"Squall… Squall…" She repeated his name gently stroking his face. The sound of running foot steps brought her eyes up to see Laguna coming towards them.
"Rin?" he called out. "What happen? Hyne Squall! What's he doing out of bed." Laguna reached into his pocket and pulled his cell phone.
"Wait! He has just fainted. All he needs is some rest." She motion to the blanket that Squall draped over her earlier. The president quickly went over and retrieved it then carefully covered Squall. He removed his coat and place it around Rinoa.
"I think he should be in bed resting properly."
"I want to look after him." She said looking up with pleading eyes.
"But he could be seriously hurt."
"No…" she said looking back down at Squall. "Squall's life force is strong. I can feel it. He's not in any pain. Tell everyone that they don't have to worry about Squall or me."
"I understand… Do you want me to bring anything up from the dinning room?"
"No… I have everything I want here." For the first time in a long time Rinoa genuinely smile and continue to stroke his face.
"I'll be back to check on the both of you later." Laguna turned and left the two former lovers on the balcony.
"Would you hate me if I did this?" She asked but Squall didn't answer.
"Please… Just one…" she closed in and sealed his lips with hers. Squall didn't response which she expected but Rinoa deepen the kiss. Her heart and soul wanted some sign, any sign that Squall still had feelings for her.
"Rin… Rinoa?" Squall mubbled though the kiss. This caused her to reluctantly pull away.
"Please don't hate me for doing that?" One of her tears landed on Squall's cheek. She carefully wiped it away from and moved down for another kiss. Unknown to the both of them, two eyes peered through the darkness of the doorway.
Meanwhile, Laguna was happily making his way back to the dinning room when his cell phone began ringing. "Hello?"
(Laguna! Where are you? We have an emergency!) It was Kiros on the other end.
"I know but you don't have to worry. I found Squall with Rinoa. Everything is going to be fine."
(I'm not talking about that! We just received a message from the Gabalian government. An assassination attempt has been made on General Caraway.) The president dropped his phone and ran back to the couple on the balcony. In his hurry, collided with an irate and hiding Alex. This resulted in the both of them tumbling out on the balcony.
The commotion caused Rinoa to pull away again. Everyone except for Squall who was only half conscious just stared at each other unknown what to do.
'How long has Alex been standing there? Did he see me kissing Squall?'
'She must know that I seen her with Squall…'
'Were they kissing? Hang on! That can wait!' "Rin! Something's has happen to your father!" The president exclaimed.
TO BE CONTINUED
AUTHOR'S NOTES
I know this chapter seems to be shorter to the others but I'm trying a shorter chapter format compared to my normal writing style. But cares about that! What you want to know is…
Have Rinoa and Squall gotten back together? What is Quistis going to do now that her feelings for Squall have been renewed and what is going to be Alex's reaction to the kissing scene? Oh… what is going to happen General Caraway and is there really someone betraying the gang?
Thanks for reading, wonga316