Author's Note: Okay, I am terribly sorry about the time it has taken me to update. I had it all written out long hand; yeah I still actually write things out by hand. Anyway it is also the end of the semester crunch so, I've been busy. Plus I had spent and entire day reading FFVII fics (Elena/Rude pairings in particular) then had the need to write one. (Plug: It's called Dead Rose, check it out. It is, I am told, my best work to date so). On that note, thanks to all my reviewers and a very special thanks to my best buddy, Jesse Static for her super total beta-reader-ing. So leave me some feedback to fuel my creative-ness or something lame like that…
Disclaimer: The plot isn't mine, neither are the characters. But the words in-between are mine so.
Chapter 3
The sounds of bells rang out from one of the churches, signaling the day was now half over and most of the cities occupants were free for an hour. A short woman with raven hair paced outside of a large hotel, fidgeting, an old man standing by the front doors in a red uniform and matching cap watched her movements intently. The woman stopped her movements to look at her watch again and stomped her foot impatiently on the sidewalk, causing passersby to stare.
"Hyne, where is he?" she thought, looking around, hoping one of the people quickly walking around her would finally be the man she had been waiting for.
"What's the matter, Miss Rinoa? You look nervous. Hot date?" asked the man.
"You could say that," Rinoa said just as a brown haired man ran up behind her, gripping onto her for support. She glared at his approaching figure, demanding an explanation.
"Sorry," he wheezed, "I'm late." She lifted his hand off of her shoulder, stomping her foot watching his hunched over figure.
"Did your watch break or something?" she demanded, not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice.
"I missed the bus. So I ran here."
"Where do you live?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"West Seventeenth Street," he said to his knees, unable to straighten up.
"Oh, do you need to sit down?" she asked with concern, placing her hand on his back.
"No, jus-just give me a minute," he puffed. He smiled inwardly at the sudden concern. He had of course lied about the distance he had traveled but what did she need to know that for. As long as he played it up, she wouldn't suspect him and more importantly wouldn't nag. Who cares if he was late, the appointment wasn't for another couple of hours.
"Are you ready?" Rinoa asked removing her hand and moving away to look up at him.
"I should be asking you that," he replied, still breathing a little heavy. Rinoa squinted her eyes at him.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I didn't just run half way across town."
"I'll be fine," he said, slightly amused at the concern still etched in her face. Squall watched as the expression dissipated to her normal cheery disposition. There was something about that look that made him wish they had met under difference circumstances. But it seemed to him that Fate had different ideas in mind for them.
"Okay, let's go then," she said. "Good-bye Zone."
"Have yourself a good day, Miss Rinoa," the old man said with a tip of the hat. Rinoa smiled broadly and waved to the door man, while Squall curtly nodded and followed Rinoa down the street.
Squall fumbled a bit behind Rinoa, trying to decide whether or not to take her arm or place a hand on her back. Either way, with the looks the other guys were giving her on the street, he felt the need to give a sign that she was with him. But she wasn't with him, that pesky voice in the back of his head reminded. He folded his arms in front of him and scowled at the ground.
"What's wrong, Squall?" she asked, noticing his movements from the corner of her eye.
"Nothing," he replied, waving her off. They continued on together until they reached a large intersection. Rinoa stopped at the corner as a mass of people filed by her. Squall stopped along side her, people knocking into him and glaring angrily for his obstruction.
"So where are we going?" she asked, turning to him. He looked around, before shrugging.
"This was you idea to meet this early." He looked at the street signs then to the light of the walking man signaling it was safe to cross the street if they so desired.
"Yeah but-"
"Com'on," Squall said grabbing her elbow and pulling her down the street to a less crowded part of town.
His gloved hand remained on her arm as they walked; making him happy that she didn't pull her arm away. Sounds of people could be heard in the distance as they approached a fenced in park in the distance. Her nose crinkled as she noticed where they were headed. The old, decrepit buildings loomed over head, with their drab outers. Smells of various foods hung heavy in the air, mixing with various tobaccos, like a warning to stay out. The buildings of the industrious city blocked out most of the sun to this area making it that much colder and darker.
Rinoa could now make out figures in the approaching area. Old men huddled around trash can fires, arguing about anything they could think of, while their wives sat on benches talked about the latest gossip. The children chased each other across the cement paradise, while others played cards and making sounds depending on the outcome. Girls chanted rhymes as they skipped merrily over swinging rope.
"Is this a joke?" she asked, breaking the silence that filled between them. "Why are we in the slums?"
Squall let out a disgusted scoff, tearing his arm off of her and moving away from her and going into the park. She followed quickly waiting for a response.
"Squall," cried a woman wrapped in tattered clothes, ran to him.
"Squall?" said a man at the trash fire, looking over to where the voice had called out.
"Hello, Mom," Squall greeted the woman as they embraced. Rinoa was caught off guard by this.
"So he is from the slums," Rinoa thought. "Why does that not surprise me?" her mind scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Well, well, well," said the man with long black hair. Squall's scowl deepened and extended his hand to the man who ignored it and wrapped his arms around Squall. Rinoa wasn't sure, but she could have sworn she heard something crack.
"Hello, Laguna," Squall wheezed, squirming to break the older man's bear hug. Finally Laguna relented and Squall quickly stepped away. The woman moved along side Laguna and wrapped an arm around his waist.
"Oh, Squall it's been so long since we last saw you. How are you?" she said sweetly.
"I'm fine, Mom," he groaned. He turned to Laguna, who was eyeing Rinoa up and down.
"Who's your friend, Squally?" he asked. Squall glared at the older man, Rinoa giggled.
"Mom, Laguna, this is Rinoa. Rinoa these are my parents, Raine and Laguna," he said dully.
"Hello," Rinoa said politely shaking their hands.
"Oh, Rinoa, it's a pleasure. You know you are the first girl Squall has ever brought home," Raine said, eyeing her son. Rinoa noticed the blush forming on the young man's face.
"It's not like that, Mom," he said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Rinoa said.
"Oh com'on let me introduce you to the girls," Raine said, pulling Rinoa over to the benches before anyone could protest. He could hear the excited sounds of the old women being introduced to the Gossip Committee. When that ritual was over, the women went back to their chatter as if there had been no interruption.
"So, Squall what brings you here?" Laguna asked, moving beside his son.
"Just needed to kill sometime. We have somewhere to be later, so we can't stay long."
Rinoa turned away from the prattling women and over to where Squall was talking with his father. She saw the old man pull something from his pocket and hand it to Squall.
"No, Laguna. It's not like that. I don't need your money," Squall protested.
"Sure you do. Com'on take it," Laguna insisted thrusting the wad of gil toward at his son. Rinoa caught the shame in Squall's eyes as he accepted the charity.
"Don't tell your mother, okay?" Laguna said slapping the younger man's back. "Let me go get a drink for you and your 'friend.'" Rinoa quickly turned back around to the women as Squall looked up. She could hear him walk up behind her. Slowly she turned and faced him
"You okay?" she asked.
"Fine," he said gruffly. Raine looked up from her conversation when she heard her son's voice and walked over to him.
"Squall, can I talk with you a minute?" she asked tugging on his coat.
"Yes, Mom," he sighed allowing himself to be led away by his mother.
"We'll be right back, Rinoa," Raine called. Rinoa watched out of the corner of her eye as Raine reach into her coat pocket and produce gil, like Laguna had moments earlier. She noticed the pained look in Squall's eyes as the money was handed to him.
"Oh for Hyne's sake," he groaned, looking down to his hands.
"You take this and show that beautiful girl over there a good time. I don't want you to screw this one up like all the others," Raine smiled, patting her son's cheek.
"I don't need your money, Mom," he protested again. "I have my own." He extended his hand with the money to her. Raine held up her hands, refusing to take back the money.
"Okay, but keep it. Just in case."
"Whatever," Squall sighed, stuffing the paper money into his pocket, adding to the collection.
"Oh and Squall, don't tell your father," Raine said to which Squall rolled his eyes and walked away. Rinoa smiled weakly at Squall.
"So, I uh-" the sight of a familiar car cut Rinoa off. Her eyes bugged as she spotted the blond man getting out of his silver sports car across the street.
"We have to go," she said tugging on Squall's arm.
"What? Why?" he asked, more curious than anything. Her face was white, like she had seen a ghost. It wasn't the leaving that bothered him, but her look.
"My brother's coming," she whispered, pointing to an angry man walking toward the park.
"Your what?" Squall choked looking to where she was pointing.
"My brother," she repeated. Squall squinted, was that?
"Oh shit, let's get out of here," he suggested pulling her arm. He stopped in front of Raine. "Mom, we gotta go. Say bye to Laguna for us."
"Squall? You just got here," Raine said sadly, putting her hand on her son's arm.
"I know but we're late. Bye Mom," he kissed her cheek and dragged Rinoa with him.
"Nice to meet you," Rinoa called. She looked up, Seifer had spotted them and began pursuing them, knocking into Laguna.
"Hey," he called, but Seifer didn't stop and continued on, pushing through the mass of people, tripping slightly over a child getting in his way.
Squall and Rinoa ducked down a dark, dirty alley between buildings, Seifer getting closer. Quickly they made it to the main road and hustled toward one of the buildings. Squall stopped abruptly, causing Rinoa to run into him and pushed opened the front door to one of the buildings. Together they ducked into the building and hid behind the wall, waiting to hear Seifer run past. Breathing heavily, Squall peered around the corner to see Seifer disappear behind a building and let out a long breath.
"You never mentioned your brother was Seifer," he almost yelled, turning to Rinoa, who was leaning against the wall still trying to regain her breath.
"You never asked-Wait you know him?" Rinoa asked slightly surprised.
Squall nodded. "Went to Garden together. He hates me," he explained walking toward the elevator and motioning to her. "Com'on."
"Where are we going?" she asked, timidly walking into the lift.
"Someplace to wait where Seifer won't find us."
The door hissed close, leaving them in silence. Rinoa shut her eyes tight as the elevator lifted.
"What's the matter?" Squall asked, noticing her.
"I hate elevators," she replied, her eyes still shut tight. When it jerked to a stop, Rinoa quickly clung to something. The door hissed open again, but Rinoa stayed firm.
"It's over now," Squall teased. "You can let go of me." Rinoa's eyes opened slowly and noticed her hands clutched tightly around his upper arm. She let go of him and the duo shuffled out.
The hallway was as dull and plain as the outside. The paint was a faded green making it look tacky. Liter and cigarette butts coated the tattered carpeting. Rinoa wasn't sure but she could have sworn she heard a rat, squeaking behind the walls. They stopped before a wooden door with a welcome mat before it. Squall lifted up the mat and retrieved a key, opening the door.
Contrary to the rest of the building, the apartment was breathtaking. The walls were warm colored and nicely decorated with photos and paintings. The furniture looked well used, but not damaged and was expertly arranged giving the whole room a homey feeling.
"Whose house is this?" Rinoa asked taking it all in.
"My parents'. Would you like a drink?" he asked, walking into the kitchen area.
"Please," Rinoa replied, continuing to wander around the apartment looking at everything. Rinoa stopped on a picture on the wall of Squall with his parents. Both smiling, Squall stood proper in a uniform of some kind.
"That was when I graduated SeeD," he said, handing her a cup.
"It's weird," she mentioned, taking a sip of the red liquid. "Placing you with a family."
"What did you think I was hatched from a chocobo or something?" he asked. Rinoa choked back a giggle.
"No. You just seem like the loner, orphan type," she shrugged walking over to the couch and dropping gracefully into it. "They look like they really love you though."
"Yeah, it makes it harder when they love you," Squall said softly sitting in a chair across from her.
"No," she said shaking her head, "it's harder when they don't care."
"Mm. So let me get this straight. If Seifer is your brother then that means your father is…"
"Senator Caraway," Rinoa finished.
"So that explains the no clinics."
"Yeah, he fought so hard against that bill," Rinoa said, looking to the ground.
Squall laughed a little. "That's kinda funny. A former general of the Galbadian army against abortion."
Rinoa's head snapped up, fury covering her face. "What do you know?" she yelled at him standing up. Quickly, Rinoa left the room, slamming the door behind her.
"Shit," Squall sighed getting up from his chair.
Out in the hallway, Rinoa stood in the corner crying. She heard the door open and close quietly but refused to turn around.
"I'm sorry," he said, quiet and emotionlessly. Rinoa turned to see him standing at the door.
"No, I'm sorry. I overreacted. I'm just nervous, I think," she sniffled. Squall only nodded. She wiped her eyes then went back into the apartment. Squall followed her and they resumed their prior positions. To break the silence Squall pulled the remote off the table and clicked on the television. After endless flipping, he stopped on a movie channel.
When Rinoa didn't complain at his selection, he set the remote on the table beside him. The movie was boring, but time consuming.
"Is that was love is?" she asked as he felt his eyes closing.
"What?" he asked jolting up. She pointed at the television. "What?" he asked again confused.
"You have to do something ridiculous and grand and no matter how much the other person distains you all will be well because you made a jerk of yourself?" she asked studying the screen.
"I suppose. I dunno. I've never…"
"Tch, they always make it seem so easy don't they?" she asked, grabbing the remote and flipping off the television.
"Who?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"The movies, a kiss is suppose to make everything better and no matter what the guy always gets the girl," she said turned to him.
"It's make-believe. To give those poor lonely saps of the world hope, I suppose," Squall said, sitting up in his seat.
"Ya know when I was in high school there were those people who couldn't live without each other and got married right after graduation," she explained. "Now they are either divorced or miserable."
"Well of course," Squall spoke up. "Marriage is like being in prison. Even if you escape, there's always the chance of being dragged back in," Squall said with a bitter chuckle, leaning back again into the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"When I was younger, I used to be able to pick out which of my father's friends were married."
"Yeah, just look for a ring," Squall scoffed, crossing his arms across his chest.
"No, their eyes. The unmarried ones had a glassy look, like they were dead on the inside," Rinoa said staring at nothing in particular.
"I think you have it backward."
"No. I was never wrong," she said turning to him. He rolled over and looked her in the eyes.
"Do I look dead to you?" he asked. Rinoa gazed at him a moment, then to the flower vase on the table. She got up quickly and snatched a flower out of the vase and placed it into his hands.
"You do now," she chuckled bitterly walking out of the room. Squall looked at the flower and whipped it to the ground.
--
Squall sat quietly, intently looking at the television flash from one thing to another. Rinoa walked into the room and called his name.
"What?" he asked.
"Its four-fifteen, we should leave."
Squall yawned again and looked to the clock on the wall. So it was.
"Okay," he nodded and stood. "Are you ready?"
Rinoa hesitated a moment, then nodded slowly.