Chapter 5- Masks and rain

Disclaimer- I don't own FF8

Enjoy XX

Chapter 5

No warnings but prepare for the next chapters.

Rinoa woke up with a banging head, the neon numbers on the alarm clock read 6:00 AM, she laid back in defeat sighing and looking up at the ceiling was she turning into an insomniac, she supposed it must be true it was probably down to her body clock regulating to Squall's since he was an early riser. Rinoa looked back at the day before, she'd cried herself to sleep but she might have been over reacting a little bit about what she'd heard and the thing that happened with Seifer didn't seem real nothing felt real anymore.

She sat up, her back against the headboard the room looked brand new she'd dreamed up the mess from the other morning but It had felt so real. Angelo was sleeping peacefully on the foot of the bed an absent kick to show that Angelo was having doggy dreams, Rinoa leaned forward and stroked her soft ears, gentle enough to not wake the dog up.

Rinoa slowly swung her legs around and stood up, her hand grasped the beige curtains and pulled them apart the room overlooked the south quad of the courtyard so she could see everything that happened below her not that she could anyway. The sky was black and grey a few fat raindrops hit the window. Rinoa looked around her room trying to think of something to do, classes began at 9:00 AM but some cadets usually went to the training room at this hour and with the weather being at is was no one would be out running.

Her white running trainers were underneath the desk, she looked in the floor length mirror her hands went to her waist, Rinoa wasn't big nor was she slim she had curves in the right place but she saw something different. Rin huffed in annoyance and disappeared into her wardrobe only to come out decked out in sport leggings, a vest top and a grey supposedly waterproof jacket, very quietly she left the room not wanting to alert Angelo, the dog would only want to join her.

"I have been preparing the itinerary for the mission, so whilst I'm gone Nida and Xu will be in charge" Squall told the meeting, he was getting good at this whole authority figure thing. He checked his watch it was 6:30 AM he'd been up for 30 minutes yet he felt weary and exhausted. Squall couldn't get his mind off a certain sorceress, he hoped she was ok even though he promised to see her for dinner yesterday she'd never arrived.

"Squall what do you think about this, should we ask Rinoa for any info" Xu shouted across the table. There was only a selected few that knew of Rinoa's delicate situation Xu and Nida were included.

"Myself and Edea have spoken we believe it is a sorceress that has suddenly come into power and doesn't know how to control her powers our mission is to reprimand her not hurt her and no Xu I we won't be bringing Rinoa into this it's not fair on her since she has only been a sorceress for a short time and why would she know anyone in Esthar" Squall growled back, he liked Xu to an extent but sometimes she forgot who was in charge.

"I don't think that's wise sir, without sounding too offhanded, you are biased, your personal attachment to Rinoa would not be ideal for a mission like this" Xu replied haughtily. Irvine and Zell looked between the two both holding a cup of coffee watching the scene unfold although it was early morning it was amusing to see them score points off of each other.

Quistis came forward confidential files in her hands, she lifted her glasses up higher on her nose.
"Xu although what you say has merit it is impossible for the commander to remain completely impartial after all his father is the president of Esthar, I believe the commander knows what he's doing". Xu now red in the cheeks looked Squall in the face.
"I understand I have overstepped a boundary and I apologise, you are the commander and you know what is best".

Squall stood upright this wasn't the first time Xu had apologised and he doubted it would be the last either. His gaze followed everyone present he turned to look at Irvine's and Zell's snickering faces.

"Something amusing that you'd like to share instructors, you are aware that I am your boss and the second highest ranking position there are a lot of things I could do that would wipe those smirks off your face say I don't know, taking hotdogs off the menu and enforcing a proper dress code for instructors" Both Zell and Irvine's face fell in fear, Squall never joked so he was obviously being very serious. Squall smirked inwardly he didn't get off on power well maybe a little.

Squall walked to the large windows that overlooked the courtyard the conference room was only two floors up so he could see the figure running around. The person stopped and leaned underneath the central oak tree. The rain had really picked up and he could see the runner was drenched, there were only a handful of cadets he knew that would be so bold to run in a storm himself included however Squall had other ideas of who it may be he decided to test the link would I be right in thinking you need a hot chocolate and a towel, Squall thought. He heard a feminine giggle in his head and shuddered. Edea had assured him it would get easier with time but at the minute he couldn't really comprehend telepathy.

I should have known you were around your aura gives off this light almost like a beacon Rinoa thought at him. And I can recognise a dripping wet sorceress when I see one. As soon as Squall thought those words he blushed at the double entendre, to his dismay it wasn't lost on Rinoa. Hehe well I only ever hope you see one wet sorceress. Rinoa replied. Squall shook his head in silent laughter. What are you doing running around anyway come up to the second floor we're in the meeting room.

"Hey Selphie, could you put the kettle on, Rin will be here any minute" Squall crossed the room to the supply closet, fortunately there was one dry towel. He looked up to the sound of the door opening and in came a wet Rinoa.

Selphie was busy filling the kettle up when Rinoa stepped through the parlour door a towel wrapped around her shoulders and Squall's arms around her waist.

"Thanks, Selphie would you be able to keep Rinoa warm and comfy for me there's a radiator over there and she can have this as well". Squall shucked out of his leather jacket and handed it to Rinoa who took it with a tired but loving smile. She sat down next to the radiator and smiled at Selphie.

"You're mad by the way as if you would go for a run in this weather and at this hour" Selphie said.

"I hope you're ready to try my hot chocolate I am the most awesome brew maker in the world.

"Thanks, Selphie I'm glad I have you, I know it was stupid but my head needed clearing I think I'm becoming accustomed to not having to deal with evil sorceresses or wars since that had become the norm" Rinoa replied and gazed down to drink her hot chocolate. Selphie's brows furrowed in concern something was wrong here she wished that the young sorceress would confide in her. Selphie was closer to Rin than Quistis or any of the others and she'd been the only one to not have second thoughts or fear the other girl.

Selphie being the person she was knew how to cheer Rin up.

"Hey Riny, whose room are we going to for makeup and getting ready cause to be honest Quisty's room is bigger so we could go there" Selphie asked.

"Oh, Hyne the masquerade how could I have forgotten that was tonight" Rinoa exclaimed. The next couple of hours went quickly Rinoa had been drifting in and out of sleep.

A rough calloused hand stroked her cheek. Rinoa quickly opened her eyes unaware that she had fallen asleep, she looked into Squall's handsome face and beautiful blue eyes.

"Hey, you ok, you've been sleeping for an hour I'd have let you sleep longer but I need to go and teach, are you sure you're well enough for the ball you didn't meet me yesterday?" Squall whispered softly.

"Sorry I didn't realise I think my body clock is matched to yours so I sort of wake when you are, it must be a sorceress thing" Rinoa shrugged nonchalantly. Squall watched her face, she wasn't lying but there a flicker of untruth in her words, he just hoped she'd tell him what had been eating her up inside soon.

"Rin it's time to move its your day off but you can sleep in my office than regroup with the girls before the ball" he said. Rinoa giggled quietly even when he was off duty he still remained an uptight military manner.

"Will you be there" Rinoa asked, she was already on her feet but she hadn't let go of Squall's hand, he'd taken his glove off especially for her. Squall signed "I have to be since I'm the commander its expected of me to uphold the good name of this garden, its bullshit really I don't care what people think of me or this garden just the people I love and care about"

It was 3:00 PM when Rinoa finally awakened she was laid on Squall's sofa with his leather jacket on and a white blanket on top of her. "You must have really needed that" Squall said without lifting his head from the paperwork he was currently marking. "How long have I been asleep for" Rinoa stood up suddenly almost falling over her blue duster.

"Around 5 hours I had Selphie bring over a fresh change of clothes and she brought Angelo along". It was then she realised the dog sat beside Squall keeping a watchful eye on the door.

"Thank you I guess I really did need sleep, I should really go find the girls to get sorted for tonight, I'll see you tonight" Rinoa said taking the jacket off and folding it, she whistled for Angelo to follow as she disappeared out of the office.

Squall watched his sorceress leave he sensed the moment she had awoke and quickly tucked the file under other papers, now that she was gone he brought them out. The file was Rinoa's personal documents he requested it the first time she'd gone to sleep back in the conference room. For the past few days he had felt anxious and sick something that never happened not even in the heat of battle he had to guess what he was feeling was linked to Rin.

He'd lied to her Selphie hadn't gone to her room he had. Her room had been spotless nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he got to get wardrobe, he remembered on her first day as his personal assistant, he knew she'd been lying to him, it wasn't red wine on her clothes but blood. Edea said physical signs of her sorceress powers fully emerging were things like nosebleeds, extreme tiredness and headaches unless he was being paranoid she'd shown all those symptoms, ever since the start of the new academic year and he'd put gil on it that the blood on his office door was hers.

In one of the books he had read, it said that sorceresses can go through a stasis period and not show any activity. Something that Squall thought was weird was that many of the books he's read some pages and even full chapters had been ripped out he'd asked Edea and she didn't have a clue either, her knowledge on sorceresses was limited despite her being one for most of her life.

Squall put his head in his hands he didn't want it to come to it but he had to talk to the snivelling rat Odine and his father.

Songs (used for inspiration)

Helium- Sia

Love- Lana del ray