Disclaimer – I do not own the characters/settings/situations of Final Fantasy 8. Oh well…
This story, and the ones to be posted with it, are 'snapshots' of little scenes that I imagined while playing the game. I hope everyone likes my quirky interpretations of the characters. :)
The Same
"Rinoa?" Squall walked over to stand beside the seat the dark haired sorceress sat in. "Are you still afraid of what people will think of you?"
"Yes," she bit her lip and looked up at Squall. "I don't know what to do. I'm glad you stopped them from sealing me, but at the same time…"
"Don't." Squall swiveled the chair in front of her and took a seat so that he could face her at eye level. "You haven't changed, Rinoa. You're still that crazy girl who dragged me onto the dance floor and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. Just because you have magical powers now doesn't mean that you'll turn into some power hungry megalomaniac."
Rinoa giggled, her hand rising to cover her mouth. "Do you really think I'm the same person I've always been?"
"Of course. Don't you?"
"You've changed a lot, though. Doesn't that mean I might, too?"
Squall closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, trying to find an answer. "But I haven't changed… not really. You just made me stop hiding the part of myself I've always been…" his eyes opened as he trailed off. "After Sis just disappeared at the orphanage, Zell, Quistis, Selphie, and Irvine were all adopted so fast that soon it was just Seifer and me with Edea at the orphanage. Then Matron sent us to Garden where Seifer made friends so easily that he left me behind too. I closed myself off; it was easier that way."
"So even though I'm different, I'm still me," Rinoa's voice sounded calmer, more assured. "You're right." Her face lit up in a grin and she launched herself into Squall's arms. "I'm still me!"
Squall pulled Rinoa onto his lap and held her much like he had at the Sorceress Memorial. Eyes shut, he felt content; more so than he could ever remember feeling before in his life.
"Awwww…" Selphie's voice caused the two to spring apart and stare at her. "Oh, don't stop on my account. That was adorable, after all. Squally… you were smiling."
Giggling, Selphie dashed out of the room and sang in an off-key tone, "Squally and Rinny, sitting in a tree…"
"I'm starting to think that girl needs a CAT-scan and a personal psychologist," Squall muttered.
A/N I adore Selphie. She always gets away with the craziest stuff. Getting Squall in character and keeping him there is tough… and I don't seem to manage it well. Oh well… I shall bravely continue on anyway.