Wild Rose
Firion didn't let go of Lightning's hand until they reached the Lunar Subterrane – which was only due to an abrupt yank as she pulled out of his grasp.
"Firion!" she said, angrily.
He quickly turned around at the sound of her voice.
She wanted to tell him off for what he did, but thought better of it for once. She knew what he was going through and how tough it was on him: after all, she was going through the same thing. That alone…allowed her to calm down and approach the situation lightly.
"…Do you mind?" she said.
"I'm sorry, Lightning. I don't know what came over me back there." he replied.
"That makes two of us."
They looked around as Lightning sighed.
"Well, since we're here now, we might as well look around. Something's got to come up at some point."
She looked at him.
"Right?"
Firion looked at her and nodded lightly.
"…Right."
They started walking forward when Firion bumped into somebody – a grunt emerging from the third party.
"…Can I help you?" the person asked, as they turned around.
"Squall!" Firion replied, embarrassed by what just happened.
They stood in silence for a moment when Firion again, lost his nerve. Every time he thought about what they were doing, he found it hard to tell anybody. Though it may not have mattered much to them, it was everything to him. He just didn't see the point in saying anything if he was so convinced nobody would care.
"…No. Forget it." he mumbled.
"Firion, let me." Lightning said, as she stepped forward.
Squall glanced from one to the other in confusion and shock.
"What in the world?" he thought.
Lightning wasted no time as she got right to the point – as expected.
"Squall?"
He looked at her – his face bearing that undying "I don't care" expression. However, Lightning seemed unfazed by it as she spoke.
"Have you seen a rose anywhere?"
Squall didn't know what to make of her question. Of all things to bother him with, it would be something so dumb and childish. It was just another stupid obstacle best left forgotten to him. Why did nobody seem to understand this?
He looked away for a moment as he went silent.
"Like that stupid rose Laguna gave Firion? What do I care about it?"
He looked at them again and though his face said he didn't care, he at least tried to be sincere with his response.
"…Can't say I have."
Lightning and Firion tried to hide their disappointment. They knew it was a long-shot with Squall, but they'd still had to try. With his response though, they had to wonder why they'd even bothered in the first place.
Lightning looked at him and nodded lightly.
"…Thanks anyway."
She turned to Firion.
"Come on." she said, as she started walking.
Firion followed Lightning without a word, neither looking back as they walked off.
"…Whatever…" Squall mumbled.
He turned around and headed in the opposite direction.
*Author's Note* - Sorry for the late update. I've been doing other things and didn't find time to work on this. Also, I'm removing any chapter titles for this particular story. I really don't think it needs them after all.