Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Storm Front ❯ Chapter 13 ( Chapter 13 )

Chapter 13

I awoke to the unfamiliar sensation of a warm body curled around mine and the unfamiliar weight of an arm draped around my waist. Confusion swirled in my head as my sleep-hazed brain tried to remember the previous night's events. Then the person behind me muttered to himself and started to snore, and it all came rushing back in one blush-inducing sweep.

I can't believe I slept with Laguna last night, I thought, now fully awake and wide-eyed with knowledge and remembered pleasure. I lay as still as I could next to him, not wanting to ruin the moment, but also not sure what was going to happen when he woke up. It had happened so fast - yesterday morning I was sure that Laguna was going to leave and this was never going to happen, and yet here I was, held tight in the arms of the soldier who had been dumped on my doorstep nearly a year ago.

Sunlight filtered in through the window and dust motes danced in the sunbeam falling across the foot of the bed. Our garments were scattered on the scuffed wood floor, and the oil lamp was empty - further proof, as if I needed any more proof than the naked man sleeping next to me - that last night had been anything but a dream. Furthermore, dreams didn't make noises like sawing logs in my ear.

"What a romantic way to start the morning," I muttered to myself, trying to twist my head away from the noise. Laguna just stirred in his sleep and nuzzled the back of my neck. It got harder and harder to not wriggle away as Laguna settled down again and started to snore even more loudly. Finally, I couldn't take it any more, and I elbowed my erstwhile lover in the ribs.

"Hngrhhh...." Laguna grumbled, breaking off mid-snore. To my great disgust, he rolled over on his other side and started to snore again. I sat up in bed and realized that I was still naked too - good thing that Elle hadn't decided to pay one of her early-morning visits. There was nothing about my situation that could be explained easily to a four-year-old. I yanked the sheet up around my torso.

"I guess this means that you'll be staying with us more often," I said to the dozing Laguna, amused. "Elle should be pleased with that."

"Hnnnhhh... Wha?" Laguna curled in on himself and stretched his legs. "Hunh?" Sleepy green eyes opened, and he yawned hugely. I watched him wake up, the sheet tucked demurely above my breasts. He rolled over in bed and sat up to look at me, and a huge grin spread across his face.

"You look like the cat who caught the chicobo," I muttered, blushing.

"'Scuse me for being happy about waking up next to the most gorgeous woman in the world," Laguna replied, not at all repentant. "Guess it wasn't a dream, huh?" He reached up and traced the line of my jaw with his fingertips, smiling at me with wondering eyes.

"No dream." I clutched the sheet closer to my chest, suddenly shy. Laguna tugged playfully on my hair, and it was impossible to resist his charm.

"You don't regret anything, do you? Because I don't," he said. "I still love you, even the next morning. And the one after that one, and then the next, and then..."

"Okay, okay, I get it," I laughed.

"So?" Laguna propped his elbow on one sheet-covered knee and rested his chin on his hand. "What do you say?"

"What do you want me to say?" I said, trying to resist a giggle.

"Say you love me!" Laguna made a face at me. "Say you can't live without me, say that I'm the best thing that ever came into your life, say we're just so awesome together..."

I pretended to think. "I don't know about that..."

"You better!" Laguna mock-wrestled me back down to the bed, grabbing me around the middle, and this time my laughter spilled out. "Or else..."

"Or else what?" I said, my voice muffled by the sheets.

"Or else you get the cuchie-coo treatment!" His fingers fluttered along my side, and I squirmed.

"Give me a break," I laughed, trying to get away from the imminent tickle. "You can lift heavy objects and open jars, so you have a use around the house..." I stifled a shriek in the pillow as Laguna made good on his promise, and both of us nearly fell out of bed in the ensuing struggle.

"Stop, stop!" I cried, breathless with laughter. I tried to keep my voice down so I didn't wake Ellone up - how we hadn't awakened her last night would be an eternal mystery. "Enough!"

"SO?" Laguna said in my ear, obviously pleased with himself.

"I love you, Laguna Loire. And I don't want to live without you. And you are the best thing that's happened to me, even though I didn't know it for a long time. And..." I paused for dramatic effect. "Your breath could stop a train."

The last comment earned me a poke in the ribs. "You meanie," Laguna said, but his voice was happy. "I love you too, Raine Leonhart. And this is the best morning of my entire life so far, and I wish every morning could be like this. And we are awesome together, at least I think so. Last night sure was..." Laguna's voice dropped to a suggestive growl, and suddenly I was very aware of his warm body wrapped around mine.

"Hyne, Laguna, not now..." I hissed, even as I felt him stir against my thigh and my body started to show a decided interest. "You do realize there's a very inquisitive four-year-old down the hall who is going to wake up any minute."

Laguna kissed the back of my neck, not paying much attention. "We can be quiet."

It was getting harder to concentrate. "You really are such a pest," I said, trying to extricate myself from his embrace before things could go too far. Laguna hugged me tighter and started to nibble my ear. I shivered with delight and decided that it wasn't such a bad idea after all.

I had started to twist around in Laguna's arms to return the favor when the door down the hallway opened with an unmistakable creak of old hinges. I froze, and so did Laguna. "Oh, shit," he whispered, and I stifled a sputter of giggles. "She's up. Is the door locked?"

"I don't think so," I said, eyes wide. "Let me out." I darted to the door, sliding the latch shut just before the doorknob started to rattle. Laguna hastily grabbed at his clothing, red in the face.

"Raine?" A suspicious little voice came through the door. "Are you in there?"

"Yes, Elle, everything's okay." I tried to sound as normal as possible.

"How come your door won't open?" she said, and the doorknob shook back and forth. "What are you doing in there?"

Laguna shook with repressed mirth. "You want to talk about feeling like a teenager... you ever get caught before, Raine?"

"I'm glad you think this is so funny," I hissed at him, and gave him a swat on the arm.

"What's going on?" Ellone said, and I could almost see her standing there with her hands on her hips in imitation of me. "Lemme in!"

"In a little while, Elle," I said, stalling. "I'm going to take a shower. Why don't you go play for a bit and then we'll have breakfast?"

"Well, okay," Ellone replied, doubtful. Her footsteps retreated down the hallway and I relaxed.

"Go on!" I said to Laguna. "Hurry and get dressed."

"Just a minute," Laguna said, walking toward the bathroom. He shut the door behind him and the water started to run. I grabbed a bathrobe out of my closet, threw it over my shoulders, and tightened the sash. I could hear him brushing his teeth, and I pounded on the door in outrage.

"Laguna Loire, are you using my toothbrush?" I growled through the door.

"After last night, does it matter? And you were the one who complained..."

"I swear to Hyne, I'm gonna kick your ass..." I barged into the bathroom, and Laguna turned in surprise, mouth full of toothpaste.

"Yo! PRIVACY!" he garbled through the foam.

"After last night, does it matter?" I returned, mocking him. "Hurry up!" Laguna rinsed and spat, clearly taking his time. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

Laguna dried his face on a towel and winked at me. "You're beautiful when you're mad."

"That's my towel. And you're incorrigible," I informed him, steering him out of my bathroom and towards his pile of clothing with a well-placed hand on the small of his back.

"Incorri-what?" Laguna said. He gathered up his things, reluctantly. "What's that mean?"

"Go look it up in the dictionary. You're the writer, not me." Laguna stuck his tongue out at me and pulled on his shorts. He seemed to be taking forever.

Little feet scampered out in the hall and came to rest in front of the door. "Oh no," I groaned, quietly. "She's back."

"Raine?" the little voice said again. "Uncle Laguna left his jacket and shoes here. Was he here last night? Can I bring them over to him?"

"How about you just put them in his old room, Elle?" I said, helping Laguna with his shirt. "You know you're not allowed to go outside alone."

Silence outside as she thought this over. "How did Uncle Laguna get home last night without getting his feet wet?"

"Damn, I need those boots before I can go home," he whispered. "It's one big mud puddle out there."

"Working on it..." I muttered back. Laguna yanked on his pants and swept his shirt up off the floor. He pulled it on and fumbled with the buttons.

"Let me IN!" Ellone's voice was a scream of four-year-old frustration. She rattled the door and started to cry. "Mean!"

I shrugged helplessly. "She's going to find out sooner or later," I said to Laguna, who was getting more and more agitated as Ellone bawled outside. He always hated it when she cried. "And she'll be happy about it. You know how Elle's been going on about the two of us getting together."

"Right." Laguna unlatched the door and opened it to reveal a sobbing Ellone, and her eyes widened in surprise when she caught sight of him. "Stop crying, Elle, don't be sad!" he said, and he picked her up. The tears magically stopped - imagine that - and she threw her arms around him.

"Uncle Laguna!" Elle cheered, bouncing in Laguna's arms. "What are YOU doing here? Were you scared of the dragon too?"

"No more dragon. We got rid of the dragon," Laguna said, and he mussed Elle's hair. "It's dead. D-E-A-D."

Elle wriggled into Laguna's shoulder, content. "How come your stuff is here? Did you sleep over?" The tips of Laguna's ears turned pink in embarrassment.

"Something like that," he hedged, carrying her out of my room. "Tell you what. Let's us go downstairs and make breakfast, okay?" Laguna let Ellone down to the floor but kept hold of her hand. "Would that be all right, Raine?"

"Sure. Just don't set the house on fire," I said, dryly. It seemed that Ellone wasn't old enough to really understand what was going on. Or maybe she did, and just wasn't interested enough to press the point. You never could tell.

Laguna beamed at me, and I couldn't help but return his smile. "We'll see you in a while. Have a good shower."

Ellone narrowed her eyes and looked from me to Laguna and back again. "You never smile so nice at Uncle Laguna," she said with renewed suspicion. "Are you getting marr..."

"Hey! What about breakfast?" Laguna interrupted smoothly. "Are you gonna help me or what? I can't find anything in the kitchen unless you show me."

"You never cook, neither." Elle replied, baffled. "What's going on?"

"You'll know when you're older," Laguna said, taking Ellone's little hand in his. "Come on, we got a job to do." He grinned back at me over his shoulder and brought Ellone downstairs. They chattered all the way, Laguna still parrying Elle's questions.

I smiled and shut the door, shedding my robe. It was such a damnable cliché to be glowing, but it was true, and it felt like nothing in the world could ever go wrong. Breakfast... how cute, Laguna making breakfast for me.

My hair was full of suds by the time it dawned on me through the haze of good feeling that Laguna really couldn't cook worth a damn. I started to worry.

Then something that smelled electrical came drifting up through the floorboards and my panic level increased.

I dried myself off as fast as I could and ran, my bathrobe askew from hasty dressing. The nattering that came from the kitchen was cheerfully normal, and I almost relaxed until Ellone said, "Uncle Laguna, is there supposed to be fire on the pan like that?"

I skidded around the corner, bathwater still trickling down my legs, and the sight that greeted my eyes was nothing short of a disaster. There were kitchen implements everywhere and eggshells on the floor. On the stove was the source of the odd smell - my electric skillet, set right on top of a burner with scorching eggs inside, and flames beginning to lick from beneath it. Laguna and Ellone were watching the pan begin to burn with identical, quizzical expressions.

"LAGUNA!" I shrieked, seizing the handle of the skillet and pulling it off the burner. "Get the fire extinguisher! Now!"

"Oh! Damn!" Laguna jerked out of his stupor, and Ellone clapped her hands over her mouth and squeaked. He rummaged frantically around the kitchen while I held the burning pan away from me. "Raine! Where is it?" he yelped.

"Next to the refrigerator! Hurry up!" The handle was getting uncomfortably warm.

"Got it!" Laguna pulled the pin on the extinguisher's nozzle.

I warded my face with my free hand. "Not in here, not in here! Open the back door! Hurry!"

Laguna rushed out in front of me and I staggered out onto the back porch. I dropped the flaming skillet as fast as I could - thankfully, the wood out back was still sodden from last night's downpour - and Laguna sprayed it with white foam. Burned eggs splattered all over, thrown out of the pan by the force of the stream. We were both covered in fire-quenching fluff by the time he was finished, and all that remained was a mess of brown-and-yellow egg goop and the sad-looking, blackened pan.

"Well, um." Laguna brushed foam away from his forehead. "That didn't work out so good at all." He shook his head at his valiant cooking effort. "No, not at all. I'm really sorry about your pan..."

I stared at the ruin of my good pan and then at Laguna, who was a truly sorry sight. He had tried so hard, with his usual "do first and think later" attitude, and now look at the mess. But still... it was the heart that mattered. I had never really understood what Laguna was talking about until right then, and I closed my eyes in the sudden bliss of realizing just how much I loved him.

Laguna, mistaking my silence for anger, edged his way back toward the kitchen. "I'm sorry, Raine," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "I didn't mean..."

I bent down and poked the egg mess with one finger, and my sudden burst of laughter stopped Laguna in his tracks. When I stood back up, I was smiling, and relief washed over his face. "Only you, Laguna," I said, starting to laugh, "could make nearly this big a mess out of scrambled eggs. You really are the cutest thing on the Planet."

Laguna broke into a grin and lunged over to pick me up and swing me around into the air. I shrieked through my laughter and grabbed at his shoulders for balance. Laguna's mouth closed over mine on my way back to earth, and the warmth of his lips smothered my startled yelp.

"Laguna," I protested, once he let me go, "Elle is in the kitchen! What if she sees us?"

Laguna rolled his eyes and gave me a withering look. "She's gonna find out one way or another, like you said, and now that I've got you, I ain't gonna let you go. How about that?"

"Behave," I told him. Laguna arched a sly eyebrow and slipped an arm around my waist.

"Maybe for now."

Ellone was waiting for us when we came back inside, peeking around the corner from the main room of the tavern into the kitchen. "You're all messy!" she said, pointing a finger. "Ewww! What's that white stuff?"

I shook some of the foam off my bathrobe and scraped at half-cooked egg that was drying on my sleeve. "Uncle Laguna was a little enthusiastic with the fire extinguisher."

"You need another shower," Elle informed me. "And so do you, Uncle Laguna."

"Save water, shower with a friend," Laguna said, just under his breath so that I could hear him and Ellone couldn't. I shot him a dirty look, trying to keep from blushing. "What do you think?" he asked me, attempting to seem innocent. "Do we need to shower or not?"

"I think you need to march yourself on home and do just that." I smiled, all sweetness and light. "And don't forget to take your wash while you're about it."

"Don't you think we should all stay here?" Laguna's eyes were sparkling with amusement at the little game we were playing.

"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps it would be fun to head on over to the Flower Restaurant down the way instead of worrying about this mess. Which, by the way, you and Elle can help me clean up later."

"Something is going on," Elle announced, watching us closely through narrowed eyes. "You're all weird today."

"Go on now, hurry up and we'll all go together," I said, noting Laguna's frustration with glee. "You too, Elle. I don't believe you've washed your face yet this morning."

"Don't like washing face," she grumbled.

"We'll wash faces together. Let's go." I hustled her out of the kitchen toward the stairs, catching Laguna's glance. As we walked by, I trailed my fingers against his where Ellone couldn't see. His presence was suddenly very close behind me, and his lips brushed against my neck. Little tingles of excitement prickled down my fingers at the light touch.

"I'll come over later, then," Laguna said, his voice low. I closed my eyes and wondered how I was ever going to get through the day without dragging him off to bed with me. Then I decided that it was far more likely that I was going to kill him at the first opportunity for being so annoying.

Laguna ambled off for the front door. "Hope he has his boots," I said to myself, smirking while hurrying Ellone up the stairs and into her bathroom. And, true to form, Laguna came stomping back a few minutes later. I heard him pick up his boots from the newspaper in the great room, and I poked my head out into the hallway. Laguna's feet were covered in mud nearly to his ankles.

"Forget something?" I teased. "A little distracted, are we?"

"I'll give you distracted," Laguna shot back, crossing the distance between us and pulling my mouth up to his before I could react. We were both shaking by the end of the kiss, and I pulled away with effort. Laguna gave me a triumphant smile, and I glowered.

"Take those muddy feet of yours home," I said, trying to cover the moment. His eyes never leaving mine, Laguna sat on the floor to pull on his boots, doing his best to keep me as uncomfortable as possible. I kept his gaze, biting back a tremendous laugh as I noticed what he was doing in the process - namely, failing to notice that he was putting his shoes on over his wet socks. Laguna was paying no attention at all, and in went one muddy foot.

"What the-" Laguna pulled his foot out of his boot, a look of great dismay on his face. I dissolved into laughter. "That's not funny," he grumped, stripping the dirty sock off. "You could have warned me, you know."

"How could I if I was so... distracted?"

"Hmph." Laguna balled up his socks and grabbed his boot again, angling his bare foot to slide it on.

I held out a warning hand. "Laguna, you might want to wipe out the inside before..."

"Oh, yuck," he groaned, and pulled his foot out again. Traces of wet dirt clung to his toes.

"...you put your boot on," I finished, stifling more laughter. "Are you sure you know the way back to your house?"

"If I say I forgot, does that mean I get to stay here?" Laguna mopped the inside of his boot out with the clean portion of his sock.

I leaned back against the wall of the hallway. "Nope."

"So that means you'd have to show me the way to go home, right?" Laguna chuckled at his own whimsy and started to sing. "I'm tired and I wanna go to bed... 'cause I had a little drink about an hour ago, and it's gone right to my head..."

"I know what's in your head, Mr. Laguna, and if you don't want a bucket of cold water dumped over your head in about thirty seconds, you had best be on your way."

"All right, I get it, I get it," Laguna complained. "Sheesh. You ruin all my fun."

My face warmed with remorse. Laguna had just been trying to play with me, as inappropriate as it might have seemed. I walked over to him, the wood floor rough under my feet, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. His face was prickly with yesterday's growth of beard. "I'm sorry," I said, softly, and Laguna smiled up at me. "But you know that now's not a good time for that sort of thing. Think of Elle... really."

"Yeah, I know." Laguna stood up and picked his jacket up off the floor, where it lay from the previous night. "Doesn't make it much easier, though, when all I wanna do is be with you." His voice was low and earnest. "You know I still love you, right?"

An involuntary smile spread across my face, and I thought I would melt. "I know. I love you too. See you in a while?"

"Okay." With a last brush of his hand over my face, Laguna turned for the stairs and left. I stood at the top of the stairs and stared after where he'd been, feeling like I was shining inside. Grinning like a fool, I hugged myself and went back into Ellone's bathroom.