Sweet Nothings

Summary: Squall and Rinoa couldn't get over their differences when they were going out, so why do Quistis and Zell think that a pair of handcuffs can solve everything? Possible Squinoa. Full of cheese and fluff.

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy. Square soft does. Please don't sue.

Chapter 3: There is no mathematics between love and loss

In the endless fight of grace and pride,

I don't want to win this time.

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The sharpshooter smiled to himself devilishly as he peered through the small pin-sized window. He chuckled to himself as he tried to watch the famous couple, hoping to see something that he obviously shouldn't. This is going to be sweet! He thought pervertedly. He licked his lips as he peered again until he heard a quick snap behind him.

"Irvine Kinneas, explain yourself now!" said the Vice Commander. He turned his head slowly, raising his arms up in the air.

"Quistis, Quistis, honey, you know I'm doing everything in my power to make sure that the lovebirds are doing the right thing. We don't want any code violations, now do we?"

She didn't look convinced as she placed her hands on her hips. "You know as well as I do that you're up to no good." She stepped closer to the cowboy wannabe and pointed right to his face, "Leave them alone."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Aren't you just a bit curious what they are up to?" he asked with a smirk.

Quistis stepped back; "You know what they say about curiosity." However, it seemed like her mind and heart split at that moment as she also peered into the peephole. Suddenly she lost her balance as she heard a click. "Crap!"

A very unamused Squall with his toothbrush in his mouth looked at his so-called friends on the floor looking up at him.

"I-I can explain," Quistis stuttered as she got off Irvine at an odd position which Irvine could only dream of. "Irvine was-"

"Save it," Squall mumbled and continued brushing as a wide-eyed Rinoa peeped from behind him. "Has Zell got the key out of his system yet?"

Quistis dusted herself off then revealed a small smirk; "He's in that process now."

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"YOU ARE KIDDING ME!" The blonde martial artist yelled from his cubicle. "WHAT DID THEY PUT IN MY WATER? ACID?!"

Selphie with a gas mask stood patiently reading the newspaper. "Well it did say 'rapid results.' I guess this is what they meant." She flipped over the page, "Don't pop a vein Zell."

The blonde martial artist fisted the wall, "Don't pop a vein!? I think I popped my whole nervous system! What the hell did you give me anyway?"

"It's a Centran medication. I heard you were in need of a good flushing and I know that Irvine received it as a present from one of the villagers."

"SOME PRESENT THIS IS!" he yelled as he continued to run like a tap. "When I get out of here, Squall and Rinoa better be back together because I swear-" he began to say before he gave a virile scream.

Selphie turned to next page, ignoring the men that passed by. After all, it was the men's toilet. "Yeah, I should report to the Garden council that you are an environmental disaster. I'm sure you release more carbon emissions than any refrigerator that I know of."

"I'm no fridge! I'm a bloody safekeeping box!"

"It's okay Zell, just another 5 hours."

"5 HOURS!? WHAT?" He yelled as his stomach began to churn. "SELPHIE!"

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"What was going on out there?" Rinoa asked as she wiped her mouth from having gargled some mouthwash.

Squall rolled his eyes, "Our 'friends' playing match maker."

"Ah." was all that Rinoa replied with as she moved over to the other side of the bathroom to grab her towel. Squall instinctively let her pirouette around and get her item without moving himself as if they were twined together. They both paused suddenly as if they both knew what just happened. They were falling back into their old routine.

He changed his clothes, fixed his hair and passed Rinoa her moisturiser, "My office, lunch, orphanage, dinner back here."

Rinoa furrowed her eyebrows as she took the bottle off his hands and marvelled as his mind-reading abilities.

The mysteries of Squall Leonhart, the Garden ninja. She thought smugly as she applied it on. She then looked at her legs and almost screamed. "Oh God."

"What?" her knight questioned. He looked at her legs, but she suddenly used her hands to cover his vision.

"Don't look! It's a monstrosity!" She slightly lowered her hands to look into his eyes as her heart seemed to sink suddenly. "Promise me you won't look."

Squall gave a nod as she removed her hands from his eyes. Even though Squall was the gentleman that he was, he couldn't resist looking. He didn't see anything. "What's wrong?"

Rinoa reflexively punched him in the stomach, "You said you wouldn't look." She walked over to her suitcase and whipped out a jar of wax as Squall silently winced. She then walked over to the microwave and heated up the jar. "You're going to have to cancel going to your office. This is an emergency."

Her knight rubbed the back of his neck as he could feel that something involving pain was coming on. "This isn't an emergency, Lunar Cry was an emergency."

"And if you keep staring at my legs, you're going to know what a Blobra feels like when it's struck by Firaga," She hissed as she took the warm jar from the small box. Squall watched as she lifted a wooden stick from her pocket and mixed it around the lavender smelling goo. He felt slightly queasy as she lathered it upon the top of her leg, then applied a white cloth on top.

"Oh God," the Commander gulped as he covered his eyes. "This is worse than Zell at a hotdog eating contest."

"Men," Rinoa murmured as she allowed Squall to wander and began to tort her skin.

The young SeeD leaned casually to the side, one hand against the wall. "I think I'm going to be sick." He watched as the stripping sound cracked through the room making his spine tingle. "H-How can you do that to yourself?"

Rinoa rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, we don't all have great hairless genes like you do, Squall."

The commander lifted his eyebrow, "What is that supposed to mean?"

She lifted up his shirt and pointed it out to his mirror. "Excuse me, Mr Squeaky Clean."

He narrowed his eyes. "Hey, there's a couple here," he said to himself silently as Rinoa finished her legs.

Rinoa smirked as she looked up at Squall. "What was that?"

"Nothing," He lied knowing what she was thinking. "And no, keep that wax away from me."

The sorceress pouted. "You're no fun."

He rolled his eyes. "That's a lie, it's Disneyland everyday with Squall Leonhart."

Rinoa rolled on the floor laughing, almost in tears. Just when the commander thought she got over it, with one look at his stern steely gaze, she was back on the floor laughing her heart out. "Disneyland!" She cried wiping her tears from her face. "Leonhart!" She then had another laughing fit as Squall looked at her blandly. She had to hold his shoulder to even get up before she settled down. "You should do stand-up."

"I wasn't trying to be funny," He retorted as he folded his arms.

Rinoa touched the side of his face and stuck out her tongue. "Aww, what, you angry at me now?"

He stared into her chocolate windows that made him unwittingly smile. "No. I could never be angry at you," He replied in a tone, which was brutally honest. It even took Rinoa off-guard.

W-What? She dropped her hand from his face as she quickly got dressed and tied up her loose hair.

"Your office right? Let's go," she said in an unquestionable tone.

Squall felt an empty feeling in his stomach as she totally changed the subject. Was she afraid of him? Or the better question, was she afraid of what he still felt for her?

I'll never understand women, He deliberated as they walked out of his room.

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After signing some papers that needed the Commander's signature, they walked to the cafeteria to order their lunch. Even though there were a few questionable stares, it wasn't anything that they couldn't handle.

"Could I get a chicken salad and a teriyaki tofu burger thanks," Squall ordered as he moved his tray across. "Take-away, thanks."

"Where are we going?" Rinoa asked as she took her salad and a fork from the counter.

Squall sighed. "Edea messaged saying that we don't need to be there till five, so we've got 3 hours to waste."

Rinoa frowned as she stabbed her lettuce. "Any suggestions Commander?"

There was a small glint in his eye as if he knew Rinoa was going to ask him that. "Well, there is something we can do…but it requires a lot of effort."

"Go on," she muffled through chewing her leafy food.

"And it's going to make you very hot and bothered."

Rinoa lifted her eyebrow. "All with my clothes on?"

"Maybe," Squall replied with a rare mischievous grin.

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The atmosphere was so thick that Rinoa found it hard to breathe. Her muscles were aching as she nearly hit the peak. "OH MY GOD!" she groaned as beads of sweat dropped from her delicate face. "I'm nearly there."

Her knight thrusted forward, taking her with him to the peak as they both collapsed by each other's side.

When their breathing came back to normal, the Commander turned to his sorceress. "Are you okay?"

Rinoa smiled as she tried to catch her breath back. "Yeah."

Suddenly a cracking ringtone could be heard coming from the commander's backpocket. He groaned as he lifted the wretched silver object and flipped it open. "What?"

"Squall," called the blonde martial artist. "We've been trying to find you all over Garden. Where are you?"

Squall looked around, staring out to the sea; "Rinoa and I just hiked up to the top of Balamb Hill." (What else would they be doing? Shame on you for thinking otherwise. : D )

Zell gave a grunt of acknowledgment. "Well, You're needed back in Garden pronto. I'll be there in 5 minutes with Ragnarok, so stay put."

"What's going on Zell?"

Zell sighed and frowned knowing that he was going to the bearer of bad news. "Code 607," And with that he simply hung up.

Squall lifted his eyebrow to try and recall what that was. All codes beginning with a six were in the new legislation under the Guardian Forces act. "607?" He asked himself.

Rinoa glanced over to the commander. "Code 607? Where a GF has a right to challenge Garden authority?"

Squall gave a sharp nod, "Yeah." That's right. But we've got all the GF's under wrap. We've defeated them all fair and square. Unless... Squall's eyes widened for a second as he ravelled over the thought of the GF that nearly took his life and his soul. No. We killed him.

The sorceress pondered at what he was thinking. A GF that wanted to challenge Garden, or more likely, wanted to challenge Squall? All other GF's simply obey as they, like parents, assist and nurture their hosts for the better of the world. Rinoa looked over to a confused Squall. "You think its Griever, don't you?"

"Yeah," Squall repeated without giving any hint of his real fear. "Probably just wants to talk."

Rinoa laughed. "Yep, because all the GF's just want to talk to you, since you're so sociable and all."

Squall rolled his eyes as he spotted Zell coming. "Come on," he said as he stood up and offered to help the sorceress up. Just that small gesture seemed to bind them closer as time seemed to stand still. A small eternity passed before Zell told them to hurry up. Squall wasn't too sure what Zell yelled, but he clutched his stomach he yelled something 'enabling auto-pilot'. Squall looked down sharply, disabling their gaze and walked away, taking Rinoa with him. The sorceress gave a sheepish smile as she kicked herself mentally.

This isn't going to be good...

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Zell had confirmed Squall's suspicions that indeed, Griever had been looking for the commander and was waiting outside Garden in his dormant form. Rinoa jumped up out of the aircraft and boggled over the tiny sized winged-lion. "I-It's so cute!" She marvelled as she approached the small lion, "No way is this Griever!"

The little yellow lion narrowed its eyes as it spoke to Rinoa using its telepathy. "Put me down woman!"

The sorceress did so to the plush looking GF. "Squall," the lion called, "Long time no see."

Squall could help but smile. "You too sir, it seems you have been out of work."

The lion did not look amused as it blinked it's eyes and transformed in a full grown lion then let out a gigantic roar, scaring those around him. Rinoa hid behind Squall's back as the feline sat combing it's mane. "Take me seriously now?"

"I always do," The commander replied in his authoritative voice. "What is it that I can do for you?"

The lion looked at the couple suspiciously as he noticed that they were holding hands. "No cubs? Are you misfiring?"

Rinoa laughed as she saw the reaction on Squall's face. He wanted to crawl into a hole at that moment. A very deep hole. He swore that the GF was smiling, but lions don't smile, they just have that sinister glint in their eyes. "It's complicated," The commander replied, insisting that he should not delve any further. "Don't mind me being blunt, but what do you want?"

The lion roared as a yawn and stretched its before he spoke, as if he were choosing his words carefully. Must some sort of Lion/Leonhart trait, Rinoa thought as the GF turned towards the commander. "I would like some company. All these centuries I have been holding my pride too close to my heart. I want you to find me a lioness."

Squall looked at the GF emotionless. Then suddenly, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

Rinoa could have sworn that at that moment, multiple sweat-drops would have been involved if they were ever in an animated series.

The lion almost clawed the commander at the possibility that the GF was lying. "Of course I am. Do you think that I would even ask you if it were not important?"

Rinoa approached the lion cautiously as she stroked his mane, "It's okay. We'll find you someone. Okay?" The lion purred with Rinoa's sweet touches under his neck.

"Good woman you have here, Leonhart," He said telepathically to the commander,."Luck is on your side."

Squall stared at the oddly playfully lion with the sorceress as they played around. Never did he ever think that the brutal, proud, strong Griever would be play fighting with his ex-girlfriend.

This is Griever? The same Griever that was possessed by Ultimecia and nearly killed all of the whole world and us? And he's getting tummy rubs from Rinoa? He shook his head in disbelief.

What did I get myself into?

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The orphans played with the plush size Griever outside whilst the commander and sorceress were talking to the matron inside. The commander placed his tea down. "…And that's the whole story," He finished as he looked at the children adoring the yellow kitty-cat.

Matron smiled as she saw the couple sitting infront of her. "Yes. It seems you two have had and eventful day. And it seems like Griever has a strong affinity with children. I'm sure they could use his wisdom here."

Rinoa placed her cup down as a thought came to her. "Matron, is Carbuncle still at the orphanage?"

The matron nodded, "Yes, she's usually around the sick room cheering...oh, she's outside with Griever- oh...they seem to be getting along nicely."

The blue GF that slightly resembled a rabbit twitched its nose as it approached the stronger GF. "Hello," she said shyly.

"Good da,y madam," the lion replied. "Have we met before?"

Carbuncle hopped closer, tilting her head as she observed the plush lion. "You were a lot bigger last time I saw you, and also possessed by a bad woman."

"Ah, and so I was," he acknowledged. "You seem very lean. How about you and I share a carcass, uh, I mean dinner tonight?"

The rabbit-like GF blushed blinking its sapphire eyes. "Okay."

Squall's jaw seemed to drop down on to the table as he observed the GF's pick up tactics. When did GF's know how to pick up the opposite sex?

"Aww Squall, how cute was that?"

Squall looked at Rinoa with dead eyes. "You seem very lean? What kind of pick-up line is that?"

The matron laughed as she watched Squall's expression. "They are GF's, they usually live in solitude for their whole lives. Give Griever a shot Squall, just because he doesn't ooze swagger and appeal like you do doesn't mean that he doesn't have a right to be happy."

"I didn't say that," The commander replied. "I was simply commenting on his hunting skills."

Rinoa chuckled as she patted Squall on the back. "Maybe since you're so good, you should give him some pointers!"

"Yes Squall," Matron voiced. "It would be a good idea to help Griever along since you two get on so well."

Squall placed his hand on his forehead and gave a disgusted sigh.

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"I acknowledge your courage and wisdom commander," The little lion said as it sat on Rinoa's lap while she stroked his fur. "Please educate me in this process, known as 'dating'," Then telepathic he said to Squall, "Lovely lioness you have, Leonhart."

Squall's eye widened as the GF looked unfazed. Rinoa lifted her eyebrow as she Squall's reaction. "Is something wrong?" She asked.

Squall swallowed hard, unsure what emotion he was feeling. "No, nothing at all. Anyway, let's proceed towards attire," He looked at the little being. "I guess a little bow-tie or something wouldn't hurt."

Rinoa took out the purple ribbon in her hair, letting it drop out smoothly as she tied it around the neck of the GF. "Doesn't that look cute now?" The lion purred as he closed eyes, enjoying her pampering.

"Beautiful mane she has too, Leonhart. And very nice coat, very smooth and supple. Does she stroke your mane like this?"

Squall could not describe the awkwardness he felt towards the legendary GF. "No, she does not stroke my hair like that. It's what humans do with pets."

"That's a shame. She is very good at this. I'm sure she's even better with-"

"ENOUGH!" Squall growled as he clenched his fists.

"Squall!" Rinoa yelled.

Squall stood up and pointed to the plush lion that was wagging its tail like a happy dog. Squall shrugged his shoulders and look towards Rinoa. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Rinoa giggled as she picked up Griever and nuzzled him. "My dear GF, don't forget who created you. Squall doesn't like it when other people complement me." Then she whispered in his ear, "He's a bit possessive."

Squall smacked his forehead in disbelief. "I wish I was in a hole…"

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The commander watched the lazy sunset with tired eyes as his thoughts wandered. He felt like a blob that was slowly melting into the ground as the warm breeze tousled past his silky hair.

Rinoa woke him from his dazed state with a cup of tea in her hand, offering it to him. He looked at the translucent liquid suspiciously as if wafted an aroma that was unfamiliar to him. The sorceress simply commented, "Coffee isn't good for you."

He grumbled as he took the small porcelain cup from her hands and sipped it slowly. He placed the cup back on the grassy ground as he gazed back to what he was assigned to do. He glanced back at Rinoa for a moment with a sleepy smile, which Rinoa returned back brightly.

"It's going well, they are getting along nicely."

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A few metres away from the famous couple, two GFs were sharing a meal on the beach. One, a yellow lion, the other, a blue feminine mammal.

"Henrietta..." The blue feline-like GF mumbled as she forked her plate. "I remember now... I was called Henrietta when I was human."

"Henrietta Carbuncle. Revolutionist in medicine," Griever stated. "I remember you. You were sitting across from me at the sorceress's induction if I remember clearly."

Something lit in the blue GF's eyes. "Leonardo Griever! Leader of the Freedom Army," She dropped her fork. "Y-You were the one visited me the night before the deployment."

Griever seemed to grin as if he too recalled that night. "So you do remember."

Carbuncle giggled. "Well, it wasn't every night the Leader of the FA knocks on your door asking you to check his healing battle wound."

The lion roared as if he were laughing. "Who better to ask?"

---------

Squall stood up and gestured to help Rinoa up as she gave him an odd look. "That our cue to leave."

Rinoa furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean? W-What is Griever doing? It's like he's trying to jump over Carb-... Oh God!"

The commander's eyes widened as he pulled the sorceress towards him and walked quickly away. Rinoa laughed hysterically as she wailed. "My eyes have been soiled!"

Squall expressed a sheepish smile as they rode by carriage back to the Ragnarok while Rinoa was trying to contain her bursts of laughter. She bit her lip before saying. "What do you think they're doing now?"

"Griever's been in solitude for how many years?" He stated rhetorically in an authoritative tone.

"I was just curious," Rinoa retorted as she folded her arms. "I thought he'd have more self control! A-And they aren't even the same animal!"

"Actually, Carbuncle is half feline, half rabbit. So it actually does work out," He corrected as he shook his head at the possibility of cross breeding. "And no more talk about it. It's freaking the hell out of me."

"I second that!"

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Squall wearily typed the co-ordinates for Balamb Garden into the control keypad of the aircraft and set it to auto pilot. He yawned as he wearily wiped his eyes and sat down on the pilot's chair. He patted his lap as Rinoa obediently sat down.

"Wow, this feels familiar," she joked.

Squall snorted as he held the sorceress closely whilst the aircraft began to take off. Once it was airborne, he dropped his hands and placed them decently on the armrests. A bit of turbulance in the air made Rinoa stumble slightly, but Squall kept her from falling as he wrapped his arms around her.

"We can't keep fooling ourselves," She said silently.

The commander thought he heard wrong, but unfortunately his hearing was impeccable as usual. "So we're having that conversation?"

The sorceress sighed. "Yes, I think it's about time."

"Hi, my name's Squall Leonhart and I'm an alcoholic."

Rinoa punched him in the stomach as he gave a surprised grin. "You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"Yeah, yeah. I know... It's been a long time coming really."

"It has," Rinoa said as she shuffled closer to the commander. "And really, the time off wasn't necessary," She was going to pour her heart out to him, tell him that her feelings hadn't changed. But something Squall's reaction made her falter.

He sighed. "It was. I needed to sort things out."

"Well I never! Squall Leonhart thinking quietly in a corner?! It's the beginning of the apocalypse!" Rinoa joked sarcastically with a weak smile.

Squall narrowed his eyes. "That's so not funny."

"Yeah, it is. And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it, mister."

"Oh yeah, is that so?" Asked the commander teasingly.

"Uh huh," She replied meticulously. "I have the upper hand," She waved her free hand above him.

Squall grabbed her hand and pinned it to the chair as he closed in to steal a sweet kiss from the angel attached to him. "Unfair!" She managed to mumble between kisses.

"You dare question the commander's orders?" He teased with a smug smile.

Rinoa giggled as looked up into her knight's eyes. "I dare."

"Well, then. I guess you're going to have to suffer the cons-"

"Shut up, Squall!" She laughed as she leant forward, closing the gap between them. "No more words."

And for that moment, that small moment, just a blimp on the universal scale, everything seemed perfect. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that what he was doing was wrong. Then why did it ever feel so right? He had been contemplating over this very scenario over the past few months and finally, he now knew his answer.

He now knew what needed to be done.

Leonhartilly.

A/N: A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE GORGEOUS RIKKE LEONHART FOR THE EDIT. It's been a rough year. A very rough year. University, hospital trips, men.. did I mention men? I've been through a lot in two thousand and seven. And I thank Rikke for being so ever understanding and being there. (smiley face!) Rikke is the angel bestowed on my Christmas tree. Here's to all my loyal fans: thank you for your review and emails. I wish all of you the best of luck for the new year and to have a happy holiday. Will I be writing again? We'll see.. Thanks for reading.