I wrote this for an event once. This was fun. Figured there was not enough Platonic!Squinoa and I will fill these absolutely barren lands with it. The superior version is posted on AO3 where I use a workskin for the text messages. But I handled them fairly ok here.

His significant other was something else. Thoughtful, but a large chunk of something else.

Never in Squall's twenty-six years of living would he have consented to the concept of a spa retreat. Something that people enjoy for a few days; he was banished to for an entire week. Yet, after the first day, he can see why people stayed here for more than a week or even a month. The rental properties for vacationing did make him consider checking his savings account and making such an investment. It would be used with fervent frequency.

Somewhere in the world, Rinoa Heartilly must be laughing while simultaneously demanding pictures from somebody, anybody for proof of this. Squall had a feeling that some thought this very concept was out of the realm of possibility. Shrugging, he'll send her some flowers and an apology. The extent of what their previous relationship consisted of for relaxation was face masks and amateur massages. He wouldn't have considered anything else for some unknown reason and he couldn't pinpoint then. After experiencing a professional massage, a deep tissue massage, a hot spring dip and his manicure and pedicure, yeah. He intends to stay here the full week.

He even made sure to get his toenails painted black to show to Zell that yes, he did go here and he actually fulfilled his request. The martial artist originally wanted his fingernails black but Squall felt his feet were fine. The average person seldom saw them and he only ever did in the shower. It was perfect.

Returning to his suite content after his full day of enjoyment, he saw his cell phone's notification was blinking. Next to it was a silver tray that had a card on it with a bouquet of roses. If he spent time counting how many, he would venture a guess there would be as many as his new age. Picking up the card first, the smile was instant due to the deliberate sharp penmanship along with a not scribbled signature at the end. The first line as obvious as the one who wrote it:

Tempest,

I trust you have not tried to escape the confines of your relaxing prison?

I applied the finer details to ensure you are the epitome of stress-free.

They do not want the Balamb's precious lion to become a voracious beast, now do they?

Well, except me, darlin'. ;)

Perhaps, I may have another surprise for you. Could be any time this week.

It will certainly be one you will thoroughly enjoy, after all.

Humming at the thought of what the surprise could be, he sets the card down before reaching for his phone and scrolling through his notifications. A few memes from the group chat he had with Selphie and Zell made him rightfully chuckle. Selphie venting about the recent client she had and the morbid memes to show what she'd do to him and Zell trying to calm her down… while also agreeing that he deserves whatever comes.

Switching over, he saw he received a text message from Rinoa and it was as nosy as he expected it would be. She wants proof that he's actually there.

Rinoa

Yesterday 17:25 PM
I'm actually going. They put in effort and I'm going to give it a chance.

Today 12:25 PM
So, you actually there?

Bc I want to see proof that you are. ? ﾟﾑﾀ

He texts her back, mock hurt.

Rinoa

Today 12:25 PM
So, you actually there?

Bc I want to see proof that you are. ? ﾟﾑﾀ

Squall: You don't believe me? ? ﾟﾥﾺ

Her reply to him was as quick as the smart ass one he sent.

Squall: You don't believe me? ? ﾟﾥﾺ
Rinoa: I believe that you were and you
somehow left an island with no port. ?

He couldn't help the laughter that erupts unexpectedly from him. She was right on that. Many of his friends and past partners have tried surprises in hopes that Squall would enjoy them. He enjoyed some up till a point until he found himself giving them the Dolletian Exit, or Trabian Goodbye as Selphie called it. Probably why he was nicknamed the Sammy Phantasm of the group, like an apparition he was gone and it only took them texting Squall to ask if he was still there to be insured by the "no" they'd receive. Maybe like the cartoon character, he should consider a catchphrase that wasn't just whatever.

Rinoa

I believe that you were and you
somehow left an island with no port. ?
Squall: If I take a picture, will you believe me? ?

After he sent that reply, he immediately got bombarded with eye emojis. Of course, Rinoa would be the only one checking to see if he's actually there as opposed to everyone else.

Snorting, he got up to stroll to the balcony and press the button on the wall that slides the curtains away. Squall was greeted with the bountiful scenic view of true-blue seas he had seen in a while. Sun highlighting the area while perched high in the sky and the clouds scarce to showcase the radiant day. Contemplating the scene of the other native abodes and leisure area around him, he thought it was going to be a wonderful art piece for later. Opting to take a picture of the scenic view first before he sat at the nearest chair in his fluffy and comfortable robe that he was growing fond of and reclines. Putting his legs on the rosewood table, crossed with the robe long enough to still stay on his ankles that maybe this would prove good enough.

Positioning the phone's camera and his ankle on the table in an uncomfortable fashion, he made sure to add his left hand with his Griever ring in the photo holding his leg evenly. Once the picture was snapped, he looked at it to make sure there wasn't any annoying motion movement to distort it. Staring, he noticed one thing that he didn't think would come back to remind him years later, "Raijin was right, I do have small ankles." Not much Squall could do about genetics.

Hitting send on the image and waiting for it to finish uploading in the text message. As that happened, he resumed his original position that was far more comfortable, and scrolls his phone in his completely unwound body. Nothing screams vacation like some great doom scrolling. Yet, it was short-lived when Rinoa's caller identification came up in the top part of his phone. Chortling, he hits the answer and brings it to his ear not saying a word only because Rinoa will be saying something first. She always did.

"Squall is that black nail polish on your toes?" She inquires curiously, her voice dipping into scandalized yet investigative tones. Squall knew she was just curious and excitable.

"Could be. It goes well with my eyes." Squall remarks blandly, earning a girlish shriek and snort from Rinoa over the other line.

"I'm just happy that you're finally experiencing pampering a la your partner," She gushes earnestly. He could feel that infectious grin and giggling on the other line as much as he could hear it.

"They told me all about the diabolical plan and I wanted to help!" Rinoa exuding enthusiasm and interest in how Squall spent his birthday.

He loved the effort the two put in. Squall could only infer that his significant other did most of the work, Rinoa probably handled a few small intricacies here and there. Which led him to say, "Thanks 'Noa. I appreciate it. Also, sorry for doubting all your efforts about me having spa anything all those years ago."

There were soft awwws heard on the other line before she resumes speaking, "I was trying too hard as a teenager when I was dating you; so eager to get you to try new things that I should have taken my time with, which is what I'm learning now!" She admits, providing an air of nostalgia for them to relive.

"Now you have someone that understands your temperaments and you get to enjoy so much now." She continues as he nods, responding with a dreamy yeah. The chair, the warmth from outside, and the soft breeze were lulling him to sleep. He was ready for a Rinoa-styled cat nap to go with his afternoon.

"I'll let you go since I know you will be asleep for most of this vacation. I'll call you and horribly sing you happy birthday." She says cheekily, knowing that this was something Squall could do without but because he's received them for the last nine years, it'd be strange if she didn't do this tradition. They said their goodbyes before hanging up. Placing the phone on the table, he turns his head in the direction of his too-good-to-be true king-size bed with all the pillows a man could ever ask for… and he chose to lounge in the chair.

He lived yet another year. Squall is taking more time to enjoy life, explore new things and not let his job become him. He was grateful for the people in his life. If hope was about living to the next year and getting an intricately planned spa vacation from a significant other then Squall had it made.

This is nice, he thought as he felt himself doze off. The position and how he was sleeping were a problem for Future Squall. Though if Future Squall was smart, he would go see that nice masseuse again.

Notes: Dolletian Exit = French Exit

Trabian Goodbye = Irish Goodbye

And yes, Sammy Phantasm is FF8's equivalent of Danny Phantom.
Though honestly, Sammy Daydream sounds better and I assume he changes his hero name to that in this version of the show. LOL

Another time I write a fic with an ambiguous pairing, but if you squint and have read my works, you'll have a clue as to who it is.