He settled back against his bedroll, Rinoa plopping down across from him. He really was exhausted and he could still feel a bit of that cure spell coursing through him. They sat in silence for a few minutes and he fought to silence the images running around in his mind. Catching a few winks now was sure to make him feel better. A whooshing noise and brightening of light beyond his eyelids made him give up the idea.
"You sure you want to play with fire in here?"
"I have Leviathan junctioned, which should keep it from getting out of control."
He opened his eyes as the glow began moving around the room. He watched as three fire spells zipped around the room before colliding above Rinoa's palm. He felt concern rise in him as her eyes lit up in the dissipating glow. She looked over at him as a ball of ice appeared in her hand. He felt a twinge of fear as her eyes met him across the small room; she almost seemed to be shimmering with power. Before he could react the door opened with a mechanic whine and the spell instantly extinguished. Quistis strode heavily into the room before plopping down on her own mat.
"What are you two up to?"
Rinoa answered quickly while he was still thinking of a reply, "Just resting. How long until we get there?" She shot him a look begging for his silence as she said this and his thoughts grew muddled and guilty. Rinoa wouldn't hurt him.
"Not too much longer. The Commander sent me down to make sure you two are ready. We can see some smoke on the horizon near where we think it crashed." Quistis dug into her pack as she said this, putting various crystal vials into her hidden pockets. She gave him a dirty look as she stood up and stepped over his sprawled out legs. At the door she stopped, turned around, and fixed a contemplative look at Rinoa. He sat up in surprise when she channeled some kind of magic towards the sorceress, a little scared but too confused to sort out what. Rinoa for her part didn't look surprised and let the magic wash over her with only a slightly rebellious look on her face. Quistis' eyes widened as the spell finished, but she recovered with a nod and headed back out the door without another word.
"What was that all about?" He looked at Rinoa intently, anxious for an answer.
She took her time replying, straightening her hair and clothes. "I don't know exactly. She did the same thing when we first met as soon as Squall was out of the room. Selphie says it's because of how close Squall was standing to me, but Zell has a different idea. Zell says that Quistis is really competitive and it was purely a SeeD training thing to measure up a potential foe."
"Have you asked her about it?" She shook her head. "What about the Commander?"
"Well, he says it's probably a little bit of both. She has a book of our growth statistics somewhere that he consults sometimes. When I first joined he said that I had enough innate strength and magic power, so he gave me a really strong vitality junction. I think she does it now, though, to keep tabs on the sorceress powers."
He blinked at this explanation, taking a minute to let it all sink in. He wondered what his own stats looked like and was a little surprised that Rinoa was so blasé about it all. He was still thinking over the information when the radio on the wall crackled to life.
"We're landing. Go to the dock." He smiled as Rinoa giggled and climbed to her feet.
"Come on, Cowboy. We've been summoned." Taking her hands he laughed as she feigned weakness pulling him up. He hesitated in the doorway, the strength to face his demon failing him. He felt fingers slip into his and squeeze gently. He looked down at her confused. "Thanks Irvine, for hanging out with me." He felt guilt rise as he thought back onto the momentary fear he'd had of her earlier. "You know, after almost putting you in a coma and all."
He laughed a little at that response, trying to make his guilt and uneasiness go away. "Sugar, you can cast cures on me like that anytime, I promise." He winked and laughed again as he elbow collided with his gut. Boots stomping down the hallway cut his laughter short and he looked up into angry grey eyes.
Squall looked the two up and down before sighing. He seemed about to lecture them when Rinoa reached out and grabbed his arm. He watched as Squall froze for a second before shaking himself. "Come on, let's go face Irvine's monster."
"Hey, it's not my monster." He filed in line behind them as they began to stride down the corridors. "Are you listening to me? I said it's not my monster."
Without slowing down Rinoa looked over her shoulder. "But Irvy, you're the one who found it so it is yours." He laughed as she stumbled and Squall picked her up over her indignant shrieks. He hesitated for one last moment as the two descended from the cargo bay. Setting his jaw, he threw his ponytail over his shoulder before stepping out into the morning sunlight to face his monster.