(no subject)
Title: Your Loss, My Gain
Fandom: FF VIII
Pairings: Squall/Quistis, Seifer/Rinoa
Rating: later end of PG-13
Length: 3000 words
A/N: Written for disalaeKinks: Getting Drunk Together, UST, First Times, (almost)angry!sex
There had been rumors. There were always rumors in an institution such as this. But these ones had crawled under her skin. Something about them felt too eerie, to close to possibly being true. But she was a woman of logic, and so she shrugged them off.
Even still it became harder to ignore her friend’s quietness. Well, when talking about Squall Leonhart it was hard to imagine that being out of the ordinary. But as his relationship with the now infamous sorceress Rinoa had grown over the past two years, so had his personality. She had unlocked a piece of him that he had long ago tucked away. Except now it was a lucky day to spot him let alone speak to him.
Quistis ignored the nagging feeling and moved on. That is, until she saw the proof of suspicion staring her in the face. That is, the sight of a giggling Rinoa being dragged into the open Gardens by a rather feisty and determined Seifer. She watched as her friend and former looked over her shoulder to watch their backs.
The reinstated instructor knew she should feel rage. She should feel anger, or confusion. Or even a sense of pity for Squall. She should feel something. But she didn’t. Her mind shut off, cataloging it as she would new information as her mind slipped into the only logical conclusion she could see: find Squall.
Perhaps she was too much of a mother hen. Maybe she butted into her friend’s business too much. It was a thought that occurred to her often. But no matter the motivation, she had to make sure he wasn’t alone right now.
Eventually she found him in the same secluded part of the garden that she had lead him to what seemed like eons ago now. How fast time had gone over the past two years! And how slow. Looking at his face, gazed turned stoically into the foliage ahead in thought; she thought she could see faint trails where she was positive wrinkles would settle as he grew older.
One step was too loud and broke him from his trance. His gaze wandered over to Quistis and his posture instantly slumped. He looked at his feet as she came up to stand beside him silently. She knew Squall well enough to know that it would do no good to try to press anything out of him.
“You know.” It was a statement. She nodded.
The feeling of jealousy she had thought she had long washed away returned in small tendrils. Yet she couldn’t help but wish that she could have affected him like this. Surely she did care of him as a protector, sister, but she wouldn’t deny what she had believed for so long. Who knew? Maybe those were the true feelings, and that her logic was just an excuse.
After all, what else could explain the itching feeling in her arms that wanted to reach out to him now? The anger she hadn’t felt upon seeing her friend with an old rival had begun to bubble up. She had to restrain herself from storming off to confront her. None of those things would do any good now. No. What had passed had passed. All she could do is look after the result.
Taking his hand, and not allowing for protest, Quistis dragged him away from the floral-decorated solitude and up towards her office. It was, after all, the prefect setting. No one would question two people in a business room over the other option of her quarters. Even though giving the rumor mill something to talk about was somewhat appealing. It was her own personal vengeance against the girl who had left Squall just as neutral as she had found him.
Being a young instructor, though infamous in her own right, her personal office was small. Really, it was only an offshoot of a nearby classroom that had been abandoned for the night. But it boasted a small couch, desk and a pair of chairs. It was a secluded little nook to retreat from curious students, work, or escape when you were expected elsewhere.
Instructing Squall to close the door behind him, Quistis made her way to her desk. From it’s lower drawers she pulled out a bulky vial of a liquid that was known to make the toughest of military men sway on their feet. As she placed too glasses on the neatly organized table she caught the younger man looking at her suspiciously. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“What? A woman can’t take a drink or two now and again?” She teased lightly, pouring a little more then a splash into each cup, sliding one to him as he plopped down in one of the student chairs. She brought her own over to sit beside his. And in another movement to surprise she leaned back to place her feet at the edge of her desk. She didn’t miss the ‘who are you and what have you done with Quistis?” look.
She simply shrugged at him and took the smallest of sips from her glass. She had never handled pressure well for all her confidence and achievement. She was composed and collected to the world. But in her own little spaces, she indulged in small behaviors such as this. Sometimes it helped. It didn’t seem to distract her drinking partner for too long. Soon he too was sipping on what she had provided. No sooner had he finished his first then he found more liquid in the bottom.
They sat in silence for a while, which was awkwardly comfortable. Squall sighed, looking down into the deep brown-burgundy fluid. He watched the wavering reflection that stared back at him with mild interest. With one more gulp to wash away the pathetic vision he saw there, he started talking.
He confirmed what Quistis had suspected. Rinoa had left him. He didn’t blame her. She was upset when it had happened, and had apologized endlessly. But after the thrill of their adventure had worn off there was something missing. Squall had changed significantly. While he remained dear to her, she couldn't help but notice that Seifer had changed to. Or rather, he had reverted, back to the sly but caring person she had met and loved once.
Squall had been laid up with a minor injury. And so Seifer had been the one to accompany Rinoa on a regular diplomatic mission. Somewhere between the departure and return they had become comfortable with one another in ways that Squall would rather not think about. The sarcastic and smart side of Rinoa had returned in full. There was a bite to her peppy manner that was endearing in a different way from her sweetness. It brought a light to her eyes that had been lost after the constant focus on the war.
Simply put, she was happier.
Quistis sighed downing what was in her hands before refilling. She could hardly hate her for her actions, but her frustration hadn’t ebbed. Squall looked miserable. She supposed it was to be expected. Putting the glass down she reached out to squeeze his hand. He may have a rough exterior, but he really was quite sensitive.
“She’s foolish.” Quistis said. Her head was beginning to tingle from their refreshment though she felt fully relaxed. Squall looked over at her with reservation.
Her tongue ran over her bottom lip, her stomach knotting slightly as Squall shifted his hand so that his fingers locked with hers into a double fist. A rush of heat she had almost forgotten wafted along her skin. His eyes were drinking her in like the liquid - slowly. She wondered how she must look; slightly angry and flushed she imagined.
“Squall.” She spoke his name, surprised at how tentative it came out. “How can you be so CALM?” She was exasperated, to be honest. Squall detached himself from her and poured his own drink. She watched impressed as he downed the entire shot.
“I’m not calm.” He admitted when the glass came down with a shaky clank onto the wood. “Not…here.” He pointed to his chest. For the first time she saw a spark of fire, betrayal, light behind his eyes.
“ But I can’t…not to her.” His fists clenched against his knees. Quistis swallowed and stood up in front of him. She put her hands on her hips, her glare directed down at him to get his attention, a glare on her glasses covered her eyes. It worked.
“Then pretend I’m her.” She said with confidence. “You can’t keep this in, Squall Leonhart! It will chew you up, and I will not have you moping around here like the depressed child you once were!” She hated that version of him -the one no one could reach.
“Quistis…” He sighed, not seeing the point.
“Squall, I’m sorry… “ Quistis softened her voice her eyes softened. He realized too late that she was impersonating his former lover. “ We just never had closure, Seifer and I. And I think… I think maybe we weren’t supposed to.”
Anger flared up in Squall’s eyes. How had she known? The words were strangely familiar to what had been said to him plainly. He shot up, his hands planting themselves on Quistis’ shoulders before he realized what he was doing.
“WHY? Why can’t you just let it die?” He raised his voice to an above-average level. Which, for him, was as good as screaming. “ What has he done for you that I can’t? WHY him, of all people, HIM?” Quistis gasped at the firmness of his grip. She wasn’t scared. She was simply surprised.
The rage he felt spilled over into every muscle of his body. He glared down slightly at the blonde before him. His face muscled flinched at her blank look up to him. Frustrated he moved one hand to clutch the back of her neck and force her into a bruising kiss.
Lips and teeth collided as Quistis tried to provide some resistance. But the alcohol was strong in her veins. Her heart thudded against her ribs as her head swam. I’m not me, she reminded herself. I’m supposed to be her. But she could only register the fact that after all these years: Squall was holding her. He was kissing her, a hope she had long abandoned.
Gasping for air they didn't separate long. With a slight whimper she raised her own hands to bury them into the loose strands of brown hair that framed Squall’s face. She found herself pressed up against the side of her desk. Seamlessly Squall moved to grip her waist and lifted her until she was sitting on the centerpiece. Papers flew as she took her seat, wrapping her legs loosely around his waist to prevent herself from falling back.
His hands returned to her neck, then her own hair. He undid the clip that held her hair up with surprisingly nibble fingers. He replaced it with his own digits, entwining the straight strands in small circles. Quistis gasped in shock as he used his grip to pull her head back so that he could lick along her throat; stopping to suck on the pulse point he found below her jaw line. Biting her lip, one knee drew up along his side, her toes curling in her boots as she murmured his name through pursed lips.
His hand moved down to grip that knee, it pushing away the lingering fabric of the long skirt brushing the skin beneath her knee where her boot ended. Squall murmured against her skin hateful words that she knew weren’t meant for her. In some twisted way they delighted her. For all his anger Squall knew whom he was with. And somehow, that made her feel like she had achieved her petty revenge.
The reasoning was cast aside when she felt his tongue peak out and trail from her neck down the line of her cleavage licking away the drops of sweat that had begun to collect there. She heard, as much felt, the distinct shink of a zipper being pulled up knowing that he was working on ridding her of her top. The hand holding her leg slid out from under the fabric up to her side. As delightful as his attentiveness felt, her blood was boiling from the buzz and the sheer high of his presence.
Impatiently, she tightened her grip on him unexpectedly causing him to fall into her. She hugged him with her thighs, his clothed groin pressed up against her causing them both to cry out, their voices harmonizing for the briefest of breaths. Greedily Quistis gripped at Squall’s coat ripping it away and tossing it in the general direction of her door.
Was he…smiling at what she had done? Quistis raised a serious eyebrow at him, which immediately turned her former student back to his focus that was currently found in undoing her bra. He was having little luck. A tsking sound escaped her throat by habit as she retorted, snaking her fingers underneath the plain white shirt that had been beneath the jacket. Her trimmed fingernails scraped trails around firm abs she had only dreamed of touching. It seemed to have a positive effect. The shirt joined what had been covering it.
He would be hers tonight. She’d take him back from that wench. Rinoa would pay for hurting him. She and her cute little face had never deserved him. She’d regret those horrible thoughts about a friend in the morning; Rinoa was a sweetheart. But she didn’t give a damn right now. And she suspected from his frantic work that neither did he.
“Quissst-“ Squall hissed as he attacked her mouth once more. The open vest allowed their skin to meet for the first time. Quistis wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her up the last inch to even them out. Flush against him she felt him buck up towards his heat, and grunt in frustration when he was painfully reminded that there was still that pesky thing called clothing. At the same time ridding himself of his pants would mean departing from the delicious mouth and tongue that was actively battling his own.
She was willing to chance the reprieve. Fire in her eyes she reached in between their bodies with one hand to work at his belt.
Diiiiing.
The chiming of her doorbell made them leap apart from one another. Quistis mumbled something about ignoring it when she heard her name called from the outside. Cursing Squall scrambled to get his coat as Quistis zipped up her shirt. Squall looked around with the bundle of clothes and panicked, ducking under Quistis’ desk.
“Come in.” She called, hastily straightening up the desk and stashing away the bottle and glasses as she sat down in her seat, not being able to roll entirely in thanks to the very cramped man huddling there.
The student was brief; having a question about an upcoming exam that Quistis fumed in her head could have waited until class. But no, the student just had to observe a strain of light coming out from under her door. The student wasn’t brief enough to avoid Squall getting bored and deciding to run his hand up the legs in front of him. The instructor attempted not to squirm. She also wondered if there was anyway she could dock the cadet five points anyway before promptly reminding herself that it would be unprofessional. And that she was currently more then a little tipsy -and not just on the liquor.
When they were alone again, Quistis slid her chair back and breathed out a sigh of relief. Slowly, Squall stood up from his hiding place. Papers were everywhere. He had heard her give the girl some excuse about knocking into the papers when the bell scared her. He snorted. Well, she had knocked into them. Just not in such an innocent way. He looked over at his old friend, who was doing anything not to look at him.
“What were we thinking?” She mumbled. Well, she knew exactly what she was thinking. But now that the moment had been broken, she was shocked that Squall hadn’t just run out.
She heard him exhale sharply then felt a hand on hers. Before she could question she was halted up to her feet and found herself leaning into Squall. This time, he wrapped his arms around her for a hug. Sighing she put her head into the crook of his neck. He rubbed hers lightly.
“Thank you.” He whispered into her ear. She pulled back in shock. The faintest of smiles tickled his face. Her eyes searched his only to find no answers. The moment was killed when he cleared his throat and threw his shirt on. As he dressed she gathered up the strewn papers before taking him to the door.
“Maybe you should go.” She offered, not wanting him to feel obligated to stay. He nodded.
Before she could open the door Quistis felt two fingers pull her chin up. This time when he kissed her it was soft, brief, and sweet. She didn’t let him pull away as easily as she should have. Her heart leaped when he didn’t snap away. But when he did end their exchange he looked just as confused as she. She sighed and smiled, shooing him out like she would have ages ago.
When the door closed, Quistis pressed her back to it and exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. What was she doing? People are supposed to grow, not revert back to ridiculous crushes. And hopping on one the moment of a break up, well that was bound to end in disaster.
She needed another drink.
If only she knew a slightly taller and darker figure was doing the exact same thing on the oppisite side of the barrier.
Fandom: FF VIII
Pairings: Squall/Quistis, Seifer/Rinoa
Rating: later end of PG-13
Length: 3000 words
A/N: Written for disalaeKinks: Getting Drunk Together, UST, First Times, (almost)angry!sex
There had been rumors. There were always rumors in an institution such as this. But these ones had crawled under her skin. Something about them felt too eerie, to close to possibly being true. But she was a woman of logic, and so she shrugged them off.
Even still it became harder to ignore her friend’s quietness. Well, when talking about Squall Leonhart it was hard to imagine that being out of the ordinary. But as his relationship with the now infamous sorceress Rinoa had grown over the past two years, so had his personality. She had unlocked a piece of him that he had long ago tucked away. Except now it was a lucky day to spot him let alone speak to him.
Quistis ignored the nagging feeling and moved on. That is, until she saw the proof of suspicion staring her in the face. That is, the sight of a giggling Rinoa being dragged into the open Gardens by a rather feisty and determined Seifer. She watched as her friend and former looked over her shoulder to watch their backs.
The reinstated instructor knew she should feel rage. She should feel anger, or confusion. Or even a sense of pity for Squall. She should feel something. But she didn’t. Her mind shut off, cataloging it as she would new information as her mind slipped into the only logical conclusion she could see: find Squall.
Perhaps she was too much of a mother hen. Maybe she butted into her friend’s business too much. It was a thought that occurred to her often. But no matter the motivation, she had to make sure he wasn’t alone right now.
Eventually she found him in the same secluded part of the garden that she had lead him to what seemed like eons ago now. How fast time had gone over the past two years! And how slow. Looking at his face, gazed turned stoically into the foliage ahead in thought; she thought she could see faint trails where she was positive wrinkles would settle as he grew older.
One step was too loud and broke him from his trance. His gaze wandered over to Quistis and his posture instantly slumped. He looked at his feet as she came up to stand beside him silently. She knew Squall well enough to know that it would do no good to try to press anything out of him.
“You know.” It was a statement. She nodded.
The feeling of jealousy she had thought she had long washed away returned in small tendrils. Yet she couldn’t help but wish that she could have affected him like this. Surely she did care of him as a protector, sister, but she wouldn’t deny what she had believed for so long. Who knew? Maybe those were the true feelings, and that her logic was just an excuse.
After all, what else could explain the itching feeling in her arms that wanted to reach out to him now? The anger she hadn’t felt upon seeing her friend with an old rival had begun to bubble up. She had to restrain herself from storming off to confront her. None of those things would do any good now. No. What had passed had passed. All she could do is look after the result.
Taking his hand, and not allowing for protest, Quistis dragged him away from the floral-decorated solitude and up towards her office. It was, after all, the prefect setting. No one would question two people in a business room over the other option of her quarters. Even though giving the rumor mill something to talk about was somewhat appealing. It was her own personal vengeance against the girl who had left Squall just as neutral as she had found him.
Being a young instructor, though infamous in her own right, her personal office was small. Really, it was only an offshoot of a nearby classroom that had been abandoned for the night. But it boasted a small couch, desk and a pair of chairs. It was a secluded little nook to retreat from curious students, work, or escape when you were expected elsewhere.
Instructing Squall to close the door behind him, Quistis made her way to her desk. From it’s lower drawers she pulled out a bulky vial of a liquid that was known to make the toughest of military men sway on their feet. As she placed too glasses on the neatly organized table she caught the younger man looking at her suspiciously. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“What? A woman can’t take a drink or two now and again?” She teased lightly, pouring a little more then a splash into each cup, sliding one to him as he plopped down in one of the student chairs. She brought her own over to sit beside his. And in another movement to surprise she leaned back to place her feet at the edge of her desk. She didn’t miss the ‘who are you and what have you done with Quistis?” look.
She simply shrugged at him and took the smallest of sips from her glass. She had never handled pressure well for all her confidence and achievement. She was composed and collected to the world. But in her own little spaces, she indulged in small behaviors such as this. Sometimes it helped. It didn’t seem to distract her drinking partner for too long. Soon he too was sipping on what she had provided. No sooner had he finished his first then he found more liquid in the bottom.
They sat in silence for a while, which was awkwardly comfortable. Squall sighed, looking down into the deep brown-burgundy fluid. He watched the wavering reflection that stared back at him with mild interest. With one more gulp to wash away the pathetic vision he saw there, he started talking.
He confirmed what Quistis had suspected. Rinoa had left him. He didn’t blame her. She was upset when it had happened, and had apologized endlessly. But after the thrill of their adventure had worn off there was something missing. Squall had changed significantly. While he remained dear to her, she couldn't help but notice that Seifer had changed to. Or rather, he had reverted, back to the sly but caring person she had met and loved once.
Squall had been laid up with a minor injury. And so Seifer had been the one to accompany Rinoa on a regular diplomatic mission. Somewhere between the departure and return they had become comfortable with one another in ways that Squall would rather not think about. The sarcastic and smart side of Rinoa had returned in full. There was a bite to her peppy manner that was endearing in a different way from her sweetness. It brought a light to her eyes that had been lost after the constant focus on the war.
Simply put, she was happier.
Quistis sighed downing what was in her hands before refilling. She could hardly hate her for her actions, but her frustration hadn’t ebbed. Squall looked miserable. She supposed it was to be expected. Putting the glass down she reached out to squeeze his hand. He may have a rough exterior, but he really was quite sensitive.
“She’s foolish.” Quistis said. Her head was beginning to tingle from their refreshment though she felt fully relaxed. Squall looked over at her with reservation.
Her tongue ran over her bottom lip, her stomach knotting slightly as Squall shifted his hand so that his fingers locked with hers into a double fist. A rush of heat she had almost forgotten wafted along her skin. His eyes were drinking her in like the liquid - slowly. She wondered how she must look; slightly angry and flushed she imagined.
“Squall.” She spoke his name, surprised at how tentative it came out. “How can you be so CALM?” She was exasperated, to be honest. Squall detached himself from her and poured his own drink. She watched impressed as he downed the entire shot.
“I’m not calm.” He admitted when the glass came down with a shaky clank onto the wood. “Not…here.” He pointed to his chest. For the first time she saw a spark of fire, betrayal, light behind his eyes.
“ But I can’t…not to her.” His fists clenched against his knees. Quistis swallowed and stood up in front of him. She put her hands on her hips, her glare directed down at him to get his attention, a glare on her glasses covered her eyes. It worked.
“Then pretend I’m her.” She said with confidence. “You can’t keep this in, Squall Leonhart! It will chew you up, and I will not have you moping around here like the depressed child you once were!” She hated that version of him -the one no one could reach.
“Quistis…” He sighed, not seeing the point.
“Squall, I’m sorry… “ Quistis softened her voice her eyes softened. He realized too late that she was impersonating his former lover. “ We just never had closure, Seifer and I. And I think… I think maybe we weren’t supposed to.”
Anger flared up in Squall’s eyes. How had she known? The words were strangely familiar to what had been said to him plainly. He shot up, his hands planting themselves on Quistis’ shoulders before he realized what he was doing.
“WHY? Why can’t you just let it die?” He raised his voice to an above-average level. Which, for him, was as good as screaming. “ What has he done for you that I can’t? WHY him, of all people, HIM?” Quistis gasped at the firmness of his grip. She wasn’t scared. She was simply surprised.
The rage he felt spilled over into every muscle of his body. He glared down slightly at the blonde before him. His face muscled flinched at her blank look up to him. Frustrated he moved one hand to clutch the back of her neck and force her into a bruising kiss.
Lips and teeth collided as Quistis tried to provide some resistance. But the alcohol was strong in her veins. Her heart thudded against her ribs as her head swam. I’m not me, she reminded herself. I’m supposed to be her. But she could only register the fact that after all these years: Squall was holding her. He was kissing her, a hope she had long abandoned.
Gasping for air they didn't separate long. With a slight whimper she raised her own hands to bury them into the loose strands of brown hair that framed Squall’s face. She found herself pressed up against the side of her desk. Seamlessly Squall moved to grip her waist and lifted her until she was sitting on the centerpiece. Papers flew as she took her seat, wrapping her legs loosely around his waist to prevent herself from falling back.
His hands returned to her neck, then her own hair. He undid the clip that held her hair up with surprisingly nibble fingers. He replaced it with his own digits, entwining the straight strands in small circles. Quistis gasped in shock as he used his grip to pull her head back so that he could lick along her throat; stopping to suck on the pulse point he found below her jaw line. Biting her lip, one knee drew up along his side, her toes curling in her boots as she murmured his name through pursed lips.
His hand moved down to grip that knee, it pushing away the lingering fabric of the long skirt brushing the skin beneath her knee where her boot ended. Squall murmured against her skin hateful words that she knew weren’t meant for her. In some twisted way they delighted her. For all his anger Squall knew whom he was with. And somehow, that made her feel like she had achieved her petty revenge.
The reasoning was cast aside when she felt his tongue peak out and trail from her neck down the line of her cleavage licking away the drops of sweat that had begun to collect there. She heard, as much felt, the distinct shink of a zipper being pulled up knowing that he was working on ridding her of her top. The hand holding her leg slid out from under the fabric up to her side. As delightful as his attentiveness felt, her blood was boiling from the buzz and the sheer high of his presence.
Impatiently, she tightened her grip on him unexpectedly causing him to fall into her. She hugged him with her thighs, his clothed groin pressed up against her causing them both to cry out, their voices harmonizing for the briefest of breaths. Greedily Quistis gripped at Squall’s coat ripping it away and tossing it in the general direction of her door.
Was he…smiling at what she had done? Quistis raised a serious eyebrow at him, which immediately turned her former student back to his focus that was currently found in undoing her bra. He was having little luck. A tsking sound escaped her throat by habit as she retorted, snaking her fingers underneath the plain white shirt that had been beneath the jacket. Her trimmed fingernails scraped trails around firm abs she had only dreamed of touching. It seemed to have a positive effect. The shirt joined what had been covering it.
He would be hers tonight. She’d take him back from that wench. Rinoa would pay for hurting him. She and her cute little face had never deserved him. She’d regret those horrible thoughts about a friend in the morning; Rinoa was a sweetheart. But she didn’t give a damn right now. And she suspected from his frantic work that neither did he.
“Quissst-“ Squall hissed as he attacked her mouth once more. The open vest allowed their skin to meet for the first time. Quistis wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her up the last inch to even them out. Flush against him she felt him buck up towards his heat, and grunt in frustration when he was painfully reminded that there was still that pesky thing called clothing. At the same time ridding himself of his pants would mean departing from the delicious mouth and tongue that was actively battling his own.
She was willing to chance the reprieve. Fire in her eyes she reached in between their bodies with one hand to work at his belt.
Diiiiing.
The chiming of her doorbell made them leap apart from one another. Quistis mumbled something about ignoring it when she heard her name called from the outside. Cursing Squall scrambled to get his coat as Quistis zipped up her shirt. Squall looked around with the bundle of clothes and panicked, ducking under Quistis’ desk.
“Come in.” She called, hastily straightening up the desk and stashing away the bottle and glasses as she sat down in her seat, not being able to roll entirely in thanks to the very cramped man huddling there.
The student was brief; having a question about an upcoming exam that Quistis fumed in her head could have waited until class. But no, the student just had to observe a strain of light coming out from under her door. The student wasn’t brief enough to avoid Squall getting bored and deciding to run his hand up the legs in front of him. The instructor attempted not to squirm. She also wondered if there was anyway she could dock the cadet five points anyway before promptly reminding herself that it would be unprofessional. And that she was currently more then a little tipsy -and not just on the liquor.
When they were alone again, Quistis slid her chair back and breathed out a sigh of relief. Slowly, Squall stood up from his hiding place. Papers were everywhere. He had heard her give the girl some excuse about knocking into the papers when the bell scared her. He snorted. Well, she had knocked into them. Just not in such an innocent way. He looked over at his old friend, who was doing anything not to look at him.
“What were we thinking?” She mumbled. Well, she knew exactly what she was thinking. But now that the moment had been broken, she was shocked that Squall hadn’t just run out.
She heard him exhale sharply then felt a hand on hers. Before she could question she was halted up to her feet and found herself leaning into Squall. This time, he wrapped his arms around her for a hug. Sighing she put her head into the crook of his neck. He rubbed hers lightly.
“Thank you.” He whispered into her ear. She pulled back in shock. The faintest of smiles tickled his face. Her eyes searched his only to find no answers. The moment was killed when he cleared his throat and threw his shirt on. As he dressed she gathered up the strewn papers before taking him to the door.
“Maybe you should go.” She offered, not wanting him to feel obligated to stay. He nodded.
Before she could open the door Quistis felt two fingers pull her chin up. This time when he kissed her it was soft, brief, and sweet. She didn’t let him pull away as easily as she should have. Her heart leaped when he didn’t snap away. But when he did end their exchange he looked just as confused as she. She sighed and smiled, shooing him out like she would have ages ago.
When the door closed, Quistis pressed her back to it and exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. What was she doing? People are supposed to grow, not revert back to ridiculous crushes. And hopping on one the moment of a break up, well that was bound to end in disaster.
She needed another drink.
If only she knew a slightly taller and darker figure was doing the exact same thing on the oppisite side of the barrier.