A Homecoming [semi-open]

[knighted_lion]

Characters: Squall and Rinoa. Open to anyone else who happens to be in the Garden.
Progress: On-going
Summary: Rinoa finally comes home
Location: The Garden
Date: Today

Comments

[livelyangel]

Rinoa was hanging onto his arm, practically clinging on for dear life. Not just because she felt weak physically - although she did - but because she needed Squall for emotional support. It was a horrible thing to feel that there was only one person on your side in an entire city. And a worse thing to know that on some level you deserved it.

"It looks the same," she said, almost surprised. She'd half-expected the Garden to be wrecked, but the only real difference was the people: fewer students, more Alexandrian soldiers. Rinoa didn't know how many more hostile looks she could take. "Can we go to your room? Or somewhere private... Anywhere private."

[knighted_lion]

People might have thought that she deserved it, at least. But to Squall, that couldn't have been farther from the truth. She was just the unfortunate person who had to bear the stigma of Ultimecia's attack - and it was entirely possible that there were at least a few people who were still on her side.

"Sure," he answered with a nod.

The fact that it looked the same as it had wasn't something he felt like bothering to answer just now. Most of the fighting had been done elsewhere, really, and all that had been left was to deal with the assorted mayhem that had come of their rescuers attempts to free them. Minor things, really, and certainly nothing that would wreck the Garden.

[livelyangel]

Once they reached Squall's room, Rinoa relaxed a little. She hadn't realised how anxious she had been. Her stomach had tied herself in knots.

She finally let go of Squall and moved over to stare out of the window. Her hand found her mother's ring and clutched tight. She took a deep breath. "Squall..." Her voice wobbled. Okay. Try again. "I guess you didn't expect all this when you signed up to be my knight."

It was a pretty feeble attempt at a joke, but Rinoa couldn't bear the tension in the room.

[knighted_lion]

'When he'd signed up to be her knight.' It was an interesting turn of phrase, especially when compared to recent events. By all rights it should have been him standing as her knight, and not Seifer. Had it been Ultimecia who'd done that? Who'd suggested Seifer while he wasn't here? Or had Seifer offered himself to fill the role in the interim?

He wasn't sure he really wanted to hear the answer.

"I'm just glad she's gone."