sempiternals | Time passed, and the world changed

After their defeat of Ultimecia, the students of Balamb Garden and their comrades were hailed as heroes. Their world returned to normal, the people rejoiced, and things settled into a relative kind of peace. For a while, they even stayed that way. But as time passed, the world changed again. People on the streets looked at her with doubt, shadows of suspicion clouding their gazes. She wasn't a SeeD like the others, she was a witch. Rinoa was still learning the extent of her magic, but she didn't need it to know what they thought of her. She was different, she was wrong. She was something to be feared.

It didn't help that Squall and the others were so busy working to repair diplomatic relationships in the aftermath of the war. They all had responsibilities to manage, and when she wasn't training with Edea, Rinoa started to feel on the cusp once again. Their world was so big, and sometimes she felt like she had no real place in it. Apart, of course, from her places as the witch, or the daughter of president-elect Caraway.

Neither is something that really wins her much favor in the eyes of the public.

When the battle ended, Cid offered Rinoa and Irvine both honorary titles as SeeDs. He accepted; she did not. It was a matter of pride for Rinoa, a stubborn mental block; if she was going to have yet another title, it was going to be a title she earns, one she can wear with pride. Plus, she didn't want people saying she was given a free ride to the top due to her relationship with the Commander. And so, she convinced the former Headmaster to allow her to enroll as a cadet, a student of Balamb Garden.

The only problem: she isn't a soldier, not really. Rinoa has always had her own way of doing things, and it isn't easy for her to fall in line and salute. Not to mention that, having seen what Guardian Forces had done to the memories of her friends, she refused from the start to utilize them, preferring to rely instead on her natural - but new, and not always perfect - aptitude for magic. She is a force to be reckoned with during training exercises, but never for the right reasons.

Her instructors are patient with her, understanding, but none of that matters on days when the Commander comes down to observe the cadets in action. Days like today. And of course, it is just her luck that the man in question happens to emerge onto the field at the very moment she lands back on the ground, her wings - a telltale sign of her magic use - folding back into the aether.

Whoops...

Suddenly anxious, Rinoa smooths down her hair, her uniform's yellow tie, her skirt, steadying her weapon on her arm as if that will somehow trick him into thinking it was responsible for the blasts of fire and ice that left her opponent dazed and a little singed. And then, awkward and shaky, she joins the rest of the cadets as they greet Squall with a salute.

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He doesn't know what he felt first, her fear through their bond or the look in her eyes. His arm moves on its own accord, around her shoulder to draw her in closer and let her tuck her head against him if she wants.

"Yeah," he reassures. What he doesn't say is he's pretty sure if someone wanted to keep things from Laguna, they could. Laguna had helped placate the other Estharians who were advocating locking Rinoa away once more when their first attempt failed, but it didn't mean they won't be looking to try again. And if they succeeded this time...

He shifts his hand away from her shoulder to clench it into a fist.

No, that's not going to happen. He won't let it.

He sounds a bit tense when he speaks again.

"I refuse and they send their own team." Which could spark another war between Esthar and Galbadia. "Or I accept the mission and deal with whatever we find." And hope nothing there is planted evidence that will make things worse for everyone. There's a pause and a sigh before he continues. "...Or I tell Laguna what's going on."

The last one is the only real option here. For all that Squall still thinks his father an idiot, the man has his moment of brilliance. And as much as he hates the thought of leaving any part of their fate to adults again, political warfare is one he's never going to be better at with his current level of experience.

It's with a tired smile that Rinoa follows the movement, her head finding space easily against his shoulder, her eyes closing as she tries to follow logical thought through the worry and fear. Despite his reassurance, his careful avoidance of his own concerns, the words that follow are on their own enough to fill her in. After all, if Laguna wasn't being somehow kept in the dark, Squall wouldn't have any need to tell him, right?

And from the reluctance in his voice, she can guess it's the option he's already leaning toward, as much as the idea bothers him.

She takes a deep breath to still the welling tears, straightening even though she only just allowed herself to rest on him, meeting his eyes as she nods. "It's the best thing to do, isn't it?" She doesn't clarify, doesn't explain which of the options she's commenting on; she's sure that he'll understand her just as easily as she did him.

The best thing to do. Because the alternative is something she doesn't want to think about. She might be treated well in Balamb and its Garden, but setting foot outside of either is risky. Even in Timber, passersby watch her with suspicion. She was hoping that training as a SeeD would help quell some of the distrust, but if they find something else that vilifies her even further...

She shakes her head out of those thoughts, trying to keep the strength on her face. Squall's already dealing with so much; she doesn't want him to have to worry too much about her on top of that.

It's a tall ask--not worrying about her.

He finds himself resting a hand against the side of her face, nodding.

"Yeah." It's the only option, really. He'll do it. For her. Because he promised. Because he's her knight. Because he loves her.

"It could be nothing, but whatever happens, I'll keep you safe." Just as he's done so many times before. If it's a choice between her and the rest of the world, it's hardly a choice at all.

She smiles, something small and relieved, her head tilting into the touch at the side of her face, her hand drifting to cover Squall's in turn. It's true that she doesn't necessarily want him to worry, and yet it's always nice when he does, when she feels the flare of his protectiveness. He's her boyfriend, her knight; just by being here, he brings comfort and peace.

"I know you will. But..."

Rinoa closes her eyes, leaning a little closer into him.

"I wanna help, too. What can I do?"

It's strange that it can be so simple—just being there was enough to be a comfort. Just like Matron said she found with Cid as her knight.

He can't help but smile at her reply. Of course Rinoa wants to do something. That's what caused them to butt heads to begin with. He's silent as he considers their options.

"Come with me to Esthar."

If something's going to be revealed about sorceresses, it's only right that Rinoa gets to be there to say her piece.

To Esthar. The idea fills her with some anxiety; after all, the last time she was in Esthar, they nearly took her away from him. But after asking him to let her help, she can't exactly just back out, can she? Plus... she really does want to help. If there is something about Sorceresses - about her - she wants to be a part of it.

And so Rinoa nods, her fingers pressing between his.

"Okay. We'll go to Esthar, and figure it out. Together. Right?"

"Together," he echoes, fondly brushing the tips of his finger against her hair.

"I won't let them take you away, Rinoa." Then, quieter. "So just stay close to me."

He remembers her being so excited when he said those words again at the orphanage, even though he doesn't remember the first time he said it to her. He's no where near the romantic boyfriend on the best of days but he's earnest with his attempts sometimes.

Time passed, and the world changed | @silentnarration

revives \o\

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