15
CHAPTER 15 – HONEST INTENTIONS
"Quite the temperament on that one," Caraway remarked.
Quistis ducked her head back into the limousine, and closed the door behind her. She seated herself as the general rapped on the privacy screen. The car promptly shifted back into drive, and started turning.
"Glad I ain't the only who thinks so," Irvine muttered. His head was bowed, his hands clasped before him.
"Just you and everyone else back at Balamb," Zell said. "He's not exactly the most popular guy around campus. No real friends at all, far as I know."
"So, Squall's always been like this?" Selphie asked. "That's just… really sad. He must be so lonely."
"I don't think it even bothers him anymore," Quistis responded, her words coming out colder than she'd intended. "I've tried for years to help him. It's been so long I can't even remember when it all started. Every time, he just turns me away and says he prefers to be alone. And now, I'm starting to think that's just who he is."
It pained her to admit. She'd practically begged Squall to open up to her over the years, to help her understand why he insisted on keeping himself isolated. Perhaps however, it was something she never could hope to. Perhaps it was something so ingrained into his personality that it could never be undone. And so long as he refused to recognize it was a problem, her efforts were all for nothing.
"Still, considering all that's happened, I can't blame him for wanting some alone time right now. It's obvious Seifer's death really shook him."
"Hold up," Irvine cut in. His head shot upward. "What's goin' on now?"
"Our…" Zell started; he paused as he searched for the right words. "Well, I can't say he was a 'friend', but… you know one of our guys attacked the president in Timber a couple days ago, right? We were there, and the sorceress appeared and took him. We heard from your Garden's headmaster that he was executed later that same day. It's been… well, really rough on all of us."
"Even you?" Selphie asked. "Even though you hated him so much?"
"It's true, I didn't like the guy at all. And it was a seriously stupid thing he did. But still… he was one of us. I've been thinking about it these last couple of days, and I… I don't want to believe he died for nothing."
He turned to Irvine with a determined stare.
"It's all on you now, man. Whatever you do, don't miss."
The carriage interior fell silent again. Only the humming of the engine remained as Quistis darted her eyes about. Zell had hit the nail on the head; although she had no fond memories of Seifer, he hadn't deserved his untimely end.
"Ya say it like that's all there is to it," Irvine finally spoke. "Would you be able to take that kinda shot so easy? 'Specially if it's at someone like… her?"
"You're not getting cold feet, are you?" Zell joshed him. "You heard what your headmaster said. Pull the trigger, save the world. Sounds pretty cut-and-dry to me. Hell, you'll probably go down in history when it's all over."
"Indeed," General Caraway finally interrupted as the vehicle came to a stop before his front gate. "At any rate, I trust you will deal with any more… dysfunctional elements among your team by tomorrow night."
"Yes, sir!" Quistis saluted.
She opened the car door gingerly, and ducked her head to clear the frame. As she stepped out onto the sidewalk, she noticed a streak of blue standing at the mansion's gateway with her dog beside.
Speaking of dysfunctional…
"Looks like you're getting the VIP treatment," Rinoa scoffed. "So, what's the deal? Do we have a plan?"
"We do," Quistis said as Zell and Selphie emerged behind her. "Your father doesn't want you getting involved, and frankly I agree with him. Please understand."
"I'm already in deep enough as it is!" she fired back. "If there's anything I can do to help, then let me! You're not the only ones with an axe to grind against that woman."
"It's-"
"It's none of your concern," Caraway's rugged voice cut through from behind.
Quistis turned back to see him duck out of the limousine after Irvine. He stared down his daughter from across the divide, his stern eyes tinged with unmistakable compassion; try as he might to hide it, he was obviously relieved to see her again after so long.
"This is a serious mission with serious repercussions. You are not a trained soldier, nor a SeeD. For your own safety, I am telling you to stay out of this. You have no business whatsoever in this matter. Do I make myself clear?"
The long pause that followed was broken only by Angelo's panting. The girl shifted her eyes away from her father's.
"As you command, general," she muttered irately.
She turned to make her way down the street. The dog remained sat by the gate, craning its neck back to her.
"You look… so much like your mother now," Caraway said, a gentler tone creeping into his voice. "If only she were here."
"She'd be so proud, wouldn't she?" Rinoa called back over her shoulder. "And have you ever wondered what she'd think about you, and the things you stand for?"
"She would understand some things are necessary for the good of the nation. She loved me despite it all. And she would love you, as I still do, regardless of the path you've chosen."
"She never really loved you," the girl venomously spat. "That's just what you tell yourself to save face."
Quistis watched the family quarrel rage on in utter shock. A quick glimpse to either side revealed she was not alone; her three comrades all looked every bit as uncomfortable. Rinoa's biting words towards her father were reprehensible; such self-righteous anger and disregard for authority reminded her of Seifer. At once, she could feel a genuine sense of empathy for the general. Perhaps it actually was the reason why they'd gotten along so well, as Squall had off-handedly remarked. Regardless, what good will she'd previously held towards the girl was waning fast.
The general stood in place, his face now a mask of frustration and impatience. Rinoa appeared willfully ignorant of it. She raised her eyes to the midday sky above, and softly began to sing.
"Whenever I played my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever I spoke my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real, or just my fantasy?
You'd always be there in the corner
Of that tiny little bar"
She slowly turned back to face him, a knowing smirk splayed across her lips.
"Doesn't sound like you, does it?" she taunted him with a cheeky wink.
Caraway's face contorted in rage. He snapped his attention to Buel at the limousine's hood, and angrily motioned for him to unlock the gate. The aide hurriedly complied. Evidently satisfied, Rinoa carried on down the street. Quistis stayed frozen to the spot. She darted her eyes back and forth between the estranged father and daughter, confused as to what had just transpired.
"The four of you are dismissed," he spoke to them at last, clearly in no mood. "If you wish to rest, please speak with Buel, and he will show you to your rooms. Otherwise, I will see you at dinner tonight. Let your 'leader' know when you see him again. That is all."
Their host stormed through the gate and across the stone bridge, his aide and the dog following on his heels. The three SeeDs and the sharpshooter remained standing by the limousine. They awkwardly glanced between one another for several moments before Zell finally broke the silence.
"Well, that was… heated."
"And totally uncalled for on her part!" Selphie agreed. "How's she expect to change his mind if she won't even listen to him?"
"It ain't 'bout changin' his mind," Irvine said. "She's jus' lookin' to take everythin' out on him, however she can. Ain't no rhyme or reason to it, jus' lashin' out 'cause it's all she knows how to do."
"You might be right," Quistis hummed. "It didn't impress me much, that's for sure."
"Best not to get caught in the middle," Zell said. "Anyway, I'm gonna take a look around town. Gotta see the sights while we can, right? Anyone wanna tag along?"
"You bet!" Selphie pumped her fist. "Let's tear it up!"
"I… suppose I wouldn't be against having a stroll," Quistis affirmed. "At least for a little while."
She turned to the remaining holdout among them. Even before she asked, she could tell his heart was no longer invested.
"What about you? You said you'd be willing to show us around before, right?"
"Yeah," Irvine sighed. "Sorry, but I'm gonna hafta walk that back. Jus' not feelin' it right now. I'm thinkin' chuckles mighta been on to somethin' 'bout needin' some alone time… to mentally prepare an' all."
"Fair enough," Zell said. "Guess we'll see you for dinner, then. Just… don't psyche yourself out too much, alright? We're counting on you."
"No pressure, huh?" he muttered. He stepped on through the mansion's gateway, the tails of his jacket swaying behind him in the light breeze.
Quistis watched as he crossed the bridge, unsettled by how his boisterous facade had fallen away so quickly. The responsibility was indeed grave, as would be the aftermath no matter how things turned out. Even should everything go as planned, the president would surely seek retaliation. There had to be some kind of contingency in place to secure their exit, which Caraway had yet to inform them of. Surely the Gardens did not expect them to become martyrs for the cause.
"Instructor!" Zell called from down the walkway. "Are you coming?"
Just stick to the directive. Orders are orders. It's just like Xu said: That's the reality of working for a mercenary army.
Squall's eyes washed over the throng of passing pedestrians all around him. The lengthy stream of people stretched in either direction, from the station square far down the main drag, to the golden gateway immediately to his left. He finally rose from the bench, and rejoined with the flow of traffic. None paid him any mind as they traversed the sidewalk, oblivious to the storm of disparate thoughts whipping through his head. He swiveled to merge with those heading north towards the Presidential Residence.
He'd paced the city's main avenue from mouth to source, and back again. His restless mind gave him no peace as he wandered on. His rival's death ate away at him. The sorceress' power unnerved him. His former instructor's nagging irritated him. The conflict between his two concurrent clients infuriated him. And their sniper's devil-may-care attitude gave him little confidence in the plan they were to execute. What had begun as a standard first assignment for his team of fresh rookies had spiraled completely out of control in less than a week, each new development leading them from bad to worse. He had no reason to believe this operation would end differently.
He stared up at the grand archway as he passed by. Its large retracted gates hung above on either side, poised and ready to fall. The iron bars couldn't possibly stand up to the sorceress' full might should she choose to unleash it. Irvine's window of opportunity would be a narrow one, both figuratively and literally judging by the gap between each. Entrusting the assassination to him was ludicrous, as was their fallback measure of charging the sorceress directly. Even with their Guardian Forces to rely upon, he knew it would be a suicide assault. And so, he'd reluctantly volunteered to take on the burden of leadership. Beyond merely saving the world, he now had his own personal stake in the mission's success; he couldn't let Seifer's sacrifice be in vain.
He re-emerged into the bustling Presidential Square, and circled around the left-hand side. He crossed the intersection, fighting to dodge oncoming city goers and patrols alike. As he reached the other side, he craned his neck to peer through the Presidential Residence's cast-iron gateway. A swarm of technicians scurried all around and about the parade float he'd noticed before. Its wide, raised platform held up a tall golden throne. Behind was a voluminous back piece resembling white and black angel wings. An illuminated halo fixture jutting out above the seat almost reminded him of the Garden's own, its LED light display flickering a gentle blue. No expense had been spared for Deling's ambassador; the fantastical yet regal design was one fit for a queen.
"Squall?"
The voice came from his side. He swiveled back around to find an all-too-familiar face had materialized amid the passing crowd.
"Funny bumping into you here, huh?" Rinoa smiled. "So, what're you up to? Any reason you're not with the others?"
"I… needed some time to myself," he muttered, hoping she would take the hint.
"Yeah, me too. You can only be around him for so long, am I right? Though… I guess everything else that's been going on can't be helping."
"Glad you understand," he dismissed her. He quickly began to backpedal before she could take the conversation anywhere else. "See you-"
He abruptly collided with someone to his rear.
"Hey!"
He spun around to a stumbling, helmeted Galbadian soldier.
"Watch where you're going, damn punk ki-"
He cut himself off mid-sentence, his mouth still hanging open. Though his eyes were obscured by his visor, Squall knew the reaction couldn't possibly bode well for him.
"S-sir!" the soldier snapped into a salute. "I'm terribly sorry! Please forgive my rudeness. Rest assured, it won't happen again. The perimeter is secure. If there is any other way I can be of service to you, please let me know!"
Squall's dread gave way to befuddlement. The notion that he could be mistaken for an out-of-uniform officer at his age was ridiculous, and yet, the soldier seemed to think he held some position of authority over him. It was possible he was one of Caraway's loyalists; the general had mentioned a pair of men who would escort him and Irvine into the Presidential Residence.
"As you were," he ordered with the firmest tone he could muster.
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier released his salute, and quickly continued on his way across the square. Squall pivoted back to Rinoa. The look of confusion she wore echoed his own sentiments precisely.
"What was that about?" she asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine," he said, turning to take his leave. "I'll see you around."
"Hold on, Squall!"
Her hand frantically caught his from behind.
"Listen… I know this has been a rough week for you. For all of us. And I feel really bad that I might have been making things harder on you and the others. I've been thinking about it these last couple of days, and… maybe you were right. Maybe I was being unreasonable back in Timber. I guess I got so caught up in my excitement at hiring SeeD that I just assumed you'd be able to make it all happen for us. I was treating you like tools instead of people. It wasn't fair to you, and… I'm sorry."
The apology was beyond anything Squall would have expected from her. While it was a SeeD's duty was to execute orders as directed by their employer, the conditions under which this particular contract had been drafted were dubious at best. He couldn't imagine she and Seifer had relayed the specifics of the train hijacking to the headmaster; the deposit required would have easily matched the amount the Dollet parliament had paid. Caught between maintaining his professional image and ensuring the safety of his squad, he'd put his foot down. That her attitude reminded him so much of Seifer had only added fuel to the fire.
"It's fine," he accepted the apology. Still, Rinoa kept her clasp on his hand.
"I've been wanting to make it up to you, somehow," she said. "It might not be much, but… since we're both here, and you're just going to go wandering off anyway… what do you say you let me show you all the hot spots around town? You know, to help take your mind off everything?"
"I told you, I want to be alone," he irritably replied.
"Squall, staying cooped up in your head all the time isn't good for you. You need to cut loose a bit. You know, let yourself have fun once in a while."
Did the entire 'mission to save the world' spiel fly clear over her head?
"I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not exactly a 'fun' guy."
"That's not what I remember from the dance," she slyly winked. "What happened to that guy? He seemed like loads of fun… once he decided to let himself be. I told you then, and I'm telling you now: just relax. Don't be so deep in thought all the time."
He recalled how she'd forcibly dragged him onto the dance floor that night; how he'd ultimately given in; how he'd let himself be swept away by her charm; how he'd felt more at peace than he had in years; and how crushed he'd been when it was over, only to later learn he'd been used as a placeholder for his rival. The same rival who now lay in an untimely grave, over whom she'd no doubt shed many a tear the last two nights.
So help me, if she's just using me to take his place again…
She finally let go of his hand, and bowed to him in faux reverence.
"What I'm trying to say is… it would be my honor to have your company, your highness, in hope that I may get your mind off of things."
She is still my client at the end of the day…
"If her majesty commands it," he reluctantly grumbled.
"She requests it," the Forest Owls' princess huffed. She grabbed his hand again, and tugged him back across the square. "Come on, let's get a move on! We've got so much to see!"
Rinoa led the lethargic Squall along the east end of Deling City for nearly an hour. Together, they navigated the cramped sidewalks packed with locals and tourists alike. Horns blared as traffic jerked in both directions, abruptly cut off by crossing pedestrians every so often. His eyes were kept awash in the glitz and glamour of his surroundings the entire way. The lengthy shopping arcade was packed with more establishments than he'd ever seen; department stores, restaurants, souvenir shops, and even a few casinos ran up and down the stretch. A multitude of mouthwatering scents wafted on the air, a veritable scavenger hunt to determine the source of each tempting aroma. It was a marvel of urban development, leaving Squall impressed both by its sheer scale, and the ease with which Rinoa navigated it.
"Anything catch your eye?" she smiled back.
"What makes you think I take an interest in shopping?" he replied. The amount of selection was too overwhelming to even know where to start.
"Well, what about something to eat?" she suggested, pointing across the way. "That place over there's always been one of my favorite spots for a bite. You like spicy stuff?"
Squall followed her finger across the road to a small dive nestled between two larger buildings. He craned his neck to peer over the passing crowd. An erected menu display sat beside the door, bearing large color pictures of the various sets on offer.
"It's just a little mom-and-pop shop," Rinoa smiled fondly. "But man, do they make a mean curry. Pretty cheap too, all things considered. Glad they're still kicking."
Fascinating commentary, as expected.
"And, on the other end of the price range…"
She gestured to a far fancier restaurant further down the street. A dense congregation had assembled around the entrance, many slouched against the establishment's exterior walls. Squall raised his eyes to the title in flashing neon overhead: 'Desert Delicacies'.
"When it comes to food, that place's one of the biggest tourist draws around. Their specialty is dishes made from the flesh of the Wind Cacti in the desert regions down south. It's one of the most exotic and highly sought after foods in the world, mainly because of how hard it is to harvest. Not sure what their secret is, but they've made a killing off it. People come from all over to try it, even when they charge an arm and a leg for just a small meal."
"Balamb's the same way with their premium cuts of fish," Squall cut in. "You can afford to mark up your prices that steep when there's no real competition."
"And I take it that holds true for SeeD, too?"
"You catch on quick. First rate talent doesn't come cheap. Or rather, it shouldn't."
He shot her a resentful stare. On a personal level, Squall couldn't have cared less how much money the Garden administration took in per contract. That she'd exploited the headmaster's kindness, and perhaps even senility, to abuse the system was another matter. Rinoa seemed to understand the implication; a guilt-ridden look flashed across her face as she averted her eyes.
"Yeah… you're right," she conceded. "Look, can we not get hung up on this now? I want this to be an enjoyable time for both of us, okay? So, do you want to get something to eat? You've got to be starving."
He nodded with a grunt. He'd eaten nothing since the previous night at Galbadia Garden, and the eve of the Owls' kidnapping plot before that. With so much happening in such rapid succession, he'd had neither the opportunity nor appetite. The two made for the nearest crosswalk, waited for the signal to flash green, and crossed to the other side. Rinoa stepped through first. A wave of delectable spices enveloped Squall's nose as he followed her in.
The small restaurant was in fact a re-purposed private domicile. A wooden counter lined by bar-stools ran under the windows facing the street, along the right-hand wall, and to the foot of a staircase leading up to the second level. The narrow kitchen took up what was left of the former living space. A middle-aged couple toiled over their sizzling culinary craft within. The woman raised her head to greet them as the door chimed, lighting up as she recognized Rinoa.
"Oh, my!" she beamed, quickly turning to her partner. "Rick! Look who's back!"
The man bolted up from the stove, and cracked a grin every bit as wide.
"Well, I'll be!" he exclaimed. "If it ain't the little hellion, all grown up!"
"Heya, Rick, Donna," she blushed, folding her arms behind her. "It's been a few years, hasn't it? You both holding up okay?"
"Best we can, dear," the lady smiled. "It's been steady enough. All this commotion lately seems like it's keeping some of our regulars home right now, though. And who might this be? Your boyfriend?"
Not… quite," Rinoa stuttered. "This is Squall. He's kinda like… a business partner, I guess you could say. It's his first time to the city. I'm just showing him the sights, and figured we could both use a bite."
"I dunno," Rick smirked from the stove-side. "Sounds an awful lot like a date to me."
You couldn't pay me a big enough bonus to go along with that.
"Anyway, if you're Rinoa's friend, that's good enough for us. So, what'll it be? The old usual?"
"Two of 'em!"
She pivoted around to seat herself by the window. Squall pulled the stool next to hers out from under the counter, and maneuvered himself atop. The bustling streets continued to rush on by beyond the glass, the shadows on the pavement growing longer in the early afternoon sun.
"Trust me, you'll love it," she winked to him. She grabbed hold of a water pitcher set between them on the counter. "You're probably going to need a lot of this on standby, though. This stuff's liable to burn your tongue off if you're not used to it."
"I think I'll manage," he muttered. He took a translucent cup from the nearby stack. "Seems like you have quite the name, not just in Timber."
"Well, a girl's gotta get out of the house when she can, right?" she explained as she tilted the pitcher down to pour his glass full. "They're such a sweet couple. They don't know anything about the Owls, though. This is the first time I've been back since I met up with Zone and the guys. But, what about you? Don't you have anyone back home you meet up with when you're looking to get out and do something?"
"You don't want to get me started on that," he snatched his glass away. She was starting to sound like Quistis.
"Ah," she backed off. "Well then, anywhere you want to see? There's tons of stuff to check out around town. You've already seen the Iguion Gate. If we keep heading down this way for a while, we'll eventually hit the war memorial. And if you're really up for a hike, there's always the Tomb of the Unknown King. It's where the last ruler of the Dollet Empire is buried. It's a little ways outside the city, but there's a shuttle that runs back and forth."
Squall had little inclination for sightseeing, much less an expedition outside the city. That Rinoa couldn't intuit as much, or otherwise refused to take 'no' for an answer was beginning to annoy him.
"I'd prefer to stay local," he hinted.
"Somehow I knew you were gonna say that," she sighed. "Alright, I guess we'll just keep going until we hit the memorial. That sound okay with you?"
"If that's what you want to do."
"No, Squall. If that's what you want to do. This isn't about me."
Then why does it feel like I'm being dragged along for the ride?
Before long, Donna had arrived at their sides with a pair of steaming dishes. The searing spices pierced his nostrils, further provoking his rumbling stomach. True to Rinoa's warning, the curry-based dish had a remarkable kick to it; he found himself going through two more refills of water as he ate. Despite a greater tolerance to heat courtesy of his fire elemental GF, the resistance unsurprisingly hadn't extended to his tongue. As he proceeded to polish off the admittedly tasty meal, he caught a playful smirk from the seat beside him.
"Holding up okay?" she chuckled. "Don't go keeling over on me. You're not getting off that easy."
They finished their meals and split the bill evenly, a very reasonable 700 gil apiece. Rinoa thanked the couple with a hug each. Donna gave Squall a not so subtle wink over her shoulder as they embraced.
"Nice to meet you. Take good care of this one, you hear? She can be a real handful."
"You don't have to tell me," he replied. He caught a pouting glance from Rinoa as she released the hug, and followed him out the door.
The two continued eastward, the sun dipping further as they pressed on for roughly an hour more. Before long, a strange sense of deja-vu came over Squall; the further they traipsed into the city's downtown district, the stronger the unnerving feeling grew. While the various storefronts themselves were unfamiliar, the architectural design and general layout of the high-rise buildings matched his recollection perfectly. It was all as he'd seen before from a bird's eye view, just as the golden gateway. The feeling finally reached its zenith as they passed by a nearby establishment.
It stretched up into the skyline for at least eight stories. Regal red carpet extended from the rotating glass doors, leading to a polished, upscale hotel lobby. Even without the lettering above to distinguish it, there was no doubt in Squall's mind; he'd once strode through that very same lobby, taken the elevator up to the seventh floor, and spent a romantic evening with a beautiful pianist who'd aspired for so much more. It had been no innocent dream. How could it have been, when the same hotel now stood before him, as if plucked directly from his mind's eye?
His heart caught in his throat. His legs became immobile as fantasy and reality collided. He'd come full circle to the place of Laguna's fated meeting with Julia. He'd seen it all from behind those eyes she'd adored, rendered incapable of his own autonomy within the soldier's body. He felt no different now. He continued staring through the glass paneling, frozen to the spot, and wondered if he ought to head inside. What would he find should he descend those carpeted stairs to the basement lounge? Would Julia still be there, performing for the bar regulars, hopelessly awaiting Laguna's return?
"Squall?"
He broke from his trance as Rinoa called to him. She stood on the sidewalk a ways ahead.
"Everything okay?"
"Y-yeah," he stuttered, and finally turned away from the Royal Galbadia Hotel.
This has been the strangest week of my life, hands down.
He followed her further down the street. As they pressed on, the buildings to either side gradually gave way to verdant nature. Lush trees rose up to rival the ever present lampposts. Finally, a wide circular park came into view ahead. Greenery and a ring of wooden benches pointed inward to a large stone monument surrounded by fountains. The effigy portrayed two soldiers standing back to back, the Galbadian crest engraved at their feet with several lines of text. Some tourists darted around with cameras in hand. Others leisurely milled about the park, content to find a moment's reprieve from the city's hustle.
"Let's give our legs a rest," Rinoa gestured to a nearby bench. She seated herself on the left side.
Squall begrudgingly lugged himself over to sit beside her. In the distance, several young children were playing soccer, happily passing the ball back and forth to one another without a care in the world. He envied their naivete; were it only he too could return to a simpler time, free from all responsibility. And yet, as he watched them, a fierce resentment began welling up inside. It sickened him how they smiled and laughed with one another, while he was left to mire in despair on the sidelines.
He couldn't understand why. He'd always lived alone. The solitude had always given him comfort. In that moment however, he could only feel anger. The sloshing of the fountains were as waves crashing on the seashore far below, where the others frolicked without care. As he peered down on them, he could feel his sorrow contort into vengeful spite. What sense of belonging could he find with them? How could he be expected to just smile and pretend everything would be fine?
The world is cruel, and everyone faces it-
"So, listen… there's something important I want to talk to you about."
He turned to Rinoa as her words snapped him back to reality. Gentle as her tone was, her face looked more serious than he'd seen her all day.
"What?" he asked. "Is it about our contract?"
"No, no, nothing like that. It's just… like I said, I'm sorry about everything back in Timber. I realize I got too carried away with what I was asking you to do."
"Haven't we been over this?"
"Let me finish!"
She suddenly grabbed hold of his hand. Her deep brown eyes stared into his, clearly wrought with grief.
"Just listen to me for a minute, Squall. I'm… genuinely worried about you. I've been talking with Quistis these last couple of days, and… she's told me how you get when you're under pressure. About how you go off into your own little world and try to cut yourself off from everyone. Like I said, it's not good to keep yourself so deep in your own thoughts all the time."
"Did she put you up to this?" he growled irately; the entire routine did seem like something right out of Quistis' playbook.
"No, not at all!" she shrunk back as she let go of his hand. "I just… I just felt guilty about all that's happened, and wanted to make it up to you as best I could. That's all. I know you've got this huge assignment coming up. I know it has to be scary, and that the worst thing you can do is keep yourself cooped up in your own head. So, I want to let you know that if you ever need someone to talk to, even if it's just to vent, you can always come to me. So, please… let me help you. If you're scared, then tell me."
"Then tell me! I've said it before, that I'm always here if you need someone to talk to! Aren't there times when you want to share your feelings with someone? Just to make everything feel a little better?"
"Never," he coldly spoke as he rose from the bench. "And from now on, unless it's about our contract, I'd prefer you don't bother coming to me for anything, either."
"What is your problem?!" she exploded as she shot to her feet. "Why do you have to be like that?! Are you mad, or something? Please tell me you are, because this really can't be you!"
Her sudden outburst startled him. His eyes went wide as hers furiously glared back. Her arms trembled at her sides. Her bottom lip quivered. She was teetering on the edge of breaking down, just as she nearly had in front of the TV station. Her lack of emotional stability was of no concern to Squall. Regardless, nothing good could come from causing a scene in public.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, averting his eyes.
"No, you're not! You just wanna get the hell out of here, that's all! Why do you have to be like this?! Why?!"
He dared not raise his head as she stormed away in disgust. Her words were harsh, scathing, and accurate above all else. He wasn't sorry, nor did he have any reason to be. Whether or not she'd been acting at Quistis' behest, her actions had been manipulative all the same. He needed no pity from her, nor someone to confide in. He was self-sufficient. He would conquer any adversity ahead of him on his own terms, as he always had.
He finally raised his eyes from the grass below. Several onlookers had gathered around in the wake of Rinoa's fury. They were quick to return to their own devices with a single look from him. As he gazed between them, he noticed a flash of blonde quickly duck behind the trunk of a nearby tree. Whether it were a trick of the light, or a particular uninvited eavesdropper, he no longer cared. He sat back down on the bench once more, clasped his hands in contemplation, and closed his eyes. The playing children in the distance reached his ears again as he drifted off into his own thoughts.
None of this will change anything. I was just being honest. I prefer to be alone… right?