Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Propsal ❯ The Propsal chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Three

Squall sat alone at the bar, the pub on the east side of Dollet served
well as the SeeDs base. Squall had never liked the taste of alcohol,
Zell and Irvine did, the often went out with a couple other guys to
the local pub down in Timber, Squall had never joined them, due to the
fact they most often came back drunk, Zell had came back carried by
Irvine and another guy, singing, also due to that Squall hated that
kind of company. Squall was alone today though because he had a lot on
his mind. Dollet. Rinoa and his recent rejection

She didn't actually say no though did she? She said...she didn't
know...that means that she was unsure. Unsure whether she wanted to
stay with him for the rest of her life; Unsure that she loved him that
much. Maybe she'll know when I return? But if she really does love me,
she wouldn't have to think about it. She would know. She would know
that she wanted to be with him. Thinking wouldn't' t be necessary,
would it? Squall buried his head in his palms. When the barman asked
if Squall would like anything, Squall replied that he wanted a beer.

Quistis noticed Squall sipping from the huge pint of beer, it was then
when she knew something was very wrong. Xu looked over Quistis's
shoulder to Squall. "That boy alright?" she asked, she too had noticed
that Squall was behaving oddly. Quistis shrugged looking back to Xu.

"I don't know, Xu. I can seriously say, that I really don't know. I
wish I did, but then who knows. I don't think I could help him, the
only person who has ever really got through to him....was Rinoa. I
failed where she succeeded, to be able to see deeper into Squalls
heart," Quistis replied and put her lips to her glass, tasting the
sherry. Xu sighed to herself, Squall was still as much as a mystery as
ever and he hadn't really changed too much after two years at all.
Then again, she had never really known him, maybe he had changed, but
she couldn't see the change. He was one of Gardens most valued SeeDs,
the best, maybe and yet, they knew so very little about him.
Quistis decided not to disturb him, it looked like Squall wanted to be
alone, to be alone and think. Maybe she should go up to him and
interfere with those thoughts, but she decided not to. Squall had to
help himself with his thoughts for they were his private thoughts.
They were things he had to deal with himself.
Squall sat alone thinking, dreaming. Dreaming of Rinoa and what their
next night would be like. Whether it would be celebrating their
engagement or alone with more rejection. Squall didn't notice one of
the younger SeeDs sit down by him, one who was part of his group of
SeeDs to head in the Dollet mission.

"Hey," he said, a stupid grin across his face. Squall looked at him
and didn't even give the smallest hint of a smile or welcome. "Sup?"
he asked, not taking Squalls cold hint that he wanted to be alone.
"I'm Mischa by the way, glad to meet ya!" the young SeeD said and held
out of his hand for Squall to shake it. The older SeeD didn't take it.
Mischa put his hand back down on his thigh, not looking put-off by
Squalls unfriendly and cold rejection.
Squall took a sip of his beer, tasting the cold and strongly brewed
liquid as it slid down his throat. (Good stuff..) Mischa watched
Squall and called the barman over, ordering himself a pint. Squall
continued to ignore him, hoping that the young interference would go
away, but he didn't. Mischa sipped his own drink, finding that it
tasted good, he gulped it down.
"Are you old enough to drink that stuff?" Squall asked sourly. Mischa
grimaced.

"Not really, but I suppose when they saw us together..the barman
thought we were of the same age," Mischa said quietly. Squall didn't
say anything, it wasn't as if he really cared. " So wassup Squall?
Hows Rinoa," he smiled and winked. Squall found his left hand slide
down to his gunblade and grip the hilt, he didn't pull it out though.
Instead he gripped it tight, moving his fingers down the side of his
blade, feeling the coolness caress his fingers.

(Who is this guy? Can't he see that I want to be alone?) Squall didn't
reply, hoping that the kid would get bored and move on. Mischa stayed.
"How old are you?" Squall asked. Mischa grinned.
"Seventeen! I became a SeeD at the age of sixteen ya know," Mischa
said proudly. Squall didn't like the young teenager, he reminded him
of someone else. "So how is she? Rinoa? I've seen you guys around
Garden; I think it's really sweet! It'd be awesome if you two got
married or something, you ever thought of it, huh? Asking her to marry
you. I'm sure she'll say yes," Mischa said, oblivious to Squalls
current position.

Squall gripped the hilt to his blade tighter, imagining pulling it out
and slicing off the annoying teenagers head from his neck. Squall
though maintained his cool. Mischa carried on talking and talking.
Squall tried not to listen. Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Do you want to
die?? You're asking for it! Squall thought madly, almost pulling his
gunblade out. Instead though, Squall said nothing, he just fingered
the trigger to his gunblade, leaving the death of this annoying kid to
his imagination.

Mischa seemed to have a never-ending bank of chatter, Squall consumed
another pint of the strong beer, making himself slightly drowsy.
Mischa nudged Squall as he closed his eyes to rest. Squall awoke,
partly thankful to the SeeD that he had woken him. "I think you're
real lucky Squall, I mean...you have Rinoa...I wish I had a girl. I
know who I want, she's one of the other SeeDs coming with us, you
know. Reene, but she doesn't know that I like her. So I'm gonna show
her what I feel for her here in Dollet. You know, prove myself to her,
to show her that I am the man of her dreams! I'll never be like you
though, a hero. Cause that's what you are, a hero, least you're my
hero, maybe if I was like you Reene would notice me more," Mischa said
dozily.

Squall finally snapped. "What? You think, that if you become some hero
that she'll notice you? The only thing she'll notice is what YOU are
not who. You fool! And do you seriously think that I found love in
Rinoa because I was her hero? If then, why didn't she fall for Zell or
Irvine? I wasn't the only one fighting you know! I am not the only
'hero'! You talk as if it was only me! It wasn't, I had my friends, my
friends are the real heros, not me. Get out of my way you little
fool," Squall spat and stalked away to his quarters.

Mischa sat down, feeling totally humiliated at Squalls load outburst.
Everybody stared at him a while longer and turned back, the only one
to get up was Quistis. She followed Squall to his quarters.

"Quistis," Xu called before the blonde woman went to Squall. Quistis
turned to listen to her friend.
"I have to go out, I need to secure a few things," Xu said.

"What things? Are you going alone?" Quistis asked. Xu shook her head.

"No, I'm going with that Mischa, Reene and Javri. Don't worry, I just
need to secure a few positions, I won't take long Quistis, you really
do worry to much," Xu replied. Quistis gave Xu an uncertain look, but
presumed it would be all right if Mischa, Reene and Javri were
accompanying her. Xu left with the three young SeeDs, leaving Quistis
to see to Squall.
Squall was sitting on his bed, deep in thought. Quistis looked at him
a while, Rinoa was a lucky young woman. "Squall, what is it?" she
asked softly. Squall didn't look up, but stayed silent. Quistis sat
down beside him. Still Squall did not say anything. "Squall? Tell me,"
she tried to persuade him. Squall though remained silent. Gently
Quistis placed a hand on Squalls shoulder. "Squall, don't you trust
me?" she asked. Squall turned to look at her, he smiled a little.

"I'm fine," he replied. Quistis sighed. "Quistis I'm Okay, I just want
to be alone," Squall almost snapped at her. Quistis hid her hurt, she
had thought he trusted her more with his feelings now then this.
Squall stared at the chest of drawers. I am fine.. Yet Squall knew he
wasn't, ever since he had left Garden after Rinoa rejection his
emotions were in turmoil. Squall tried to grasp his sanity, how was he
supposed to act like a responsible SeeD, which everyone looked up to,
if was struggling with a fight with his heart? Squall sometimes
enjoyed Quistis's big sisterly care, she was indeed like his big
sister and her support comforted him. Yet this time, he knew he had to
support himself, by himself. Rinoa's rejection was something he had to
deal with, it wasn't something he felt he could share. I have to do
this by myself.... don't I...I'll be alright...by myself...for
myself.. Squall began to frown again. Quistis smothered a laugh.

"What?" he asked irritably.

"Why do you frown when you think Squall?" Quistis asked. Squall looked
annoyed. He didn't reply. I just do.. no big deal he thought to
himself. Quistis laughed again, she felt in good humour today, even if
Squall wasn't. "How is Rinoa Squall, you haven't fallen out have you,"
the thought of this turned Quistis's tone into something of concern.
Squall looked away.

"No," he said.That wasn't a lie...we haven't fallen out....she
just...doesn't love me in the way I thought she did.. Quistis sighed,
she knew there was something more then he was letting on. She didn't
pressure him into saying it though. Squall had to tell her in his own
time and if he wanted to. Let him do things his own way. Maybe that
would be for the best.

Quistis left Squall to think by himself, she returned to the pub bar
and sat alone. She didn't feel much like company herself either.
Today, she felt lonely, she wished Irvine Zell and Selphie were here
as well, it was much better when they were all together. Right now,
Quistis hated the Galbadians more then before. if it wasn't for them,
this business with Dollet would of been finished and she and Squall
would be back home in Garden with their friends, having fun. Instead
though, they were stuck out here and apart.

Quistis let the hours dwindle away, until she looked up at the clock
to see that it read seven o' clock in the evening. Xu.... .you should
be back by now... Quistis felt worried, Xu wouldn't take this long to
secure a few positions and she wouldn't stay outside of base longer
then she had to. Quistis became worried, she glanced towards the
entrance, desperately hoping, wishing that Xu and the other SeeDs
would suddenly come trough those doors, saying they become caught up
in something or other. Quistis stared, almost willing that they came
through, but they didn't, nobody did and Quistis became very worried.

Nida noticed Quistis, sitting alone with that worried gaze upon her
face, he walked over and joined her. The young blonde looked up at the
other young SeeD. Nida, more commonly found steering Garden, sat down
opposite Quistis and smiled at her warmly. "Quistis, what's up?" he
asked gently. Quistis smiled faintly and falsely
"Xu isn't back yet, Nida. I'm worried, not just about her though, what
about Mischa, Reene and Javri, they've been gone longer then they
should of been...I suppose I should of alerted someone long
ago...but..." Quistis cursed her stupidity. She had just regained her
Instructors licence too and she didn't alert the authorities about
this! Wake up woman! Nida looked reassuring.
"Don't worry, I'm sure everything'll be all right," he said, though he
didn't seem all that sure of himself. Quistis sighed. "I'll go and
tell Bjou, he'll want to know. It's not your fauly Quistis, you won't
get reprimanded," he said, trying to sound sure of this. Quistis knew
though, she should of alerted Bjou, the second in command when she
first noticed Xu missing. Nida smiled again at her and went to find
Bjou, normally in his office, a bedroom which he had converted.

Quistis was just about to re-visit Squall, maybe being with the person
she knew most would cheer her up, not that Squall was a cheering up
person. Quistis wanted companionship though, even Squalls silent
companionship would of been nice. She had a lot of things on her mind,
a lot and it was all getting too much for her, she had no one to share
it with, Xu was just a friend. All Quistis had was friends, nothing
else, just friends. (There are some guys...I know.. but. .I don't feel
that...that.. thing. I don't know.. I've never felt it before...except
with Squall...but that....don't torture yourself. I wish I could meet
him.. that man...the one for me.. the one who feels the same as I do
for him....I wonder when that will be...) Quistis sighed, returning
back to her little dream world, standing still and motionless, deep in
thought.

Quistis broke out of it as a load noise came...Quistis spun around,
half expecting an army of G-Soldiers to come bursting through the
doors, only to see her worst fear come in...Xu and Mischa....badly
beaten and barely able to stand. Mischa, slightly better off then Xu,
was carrying her, but he collapsed out of pure exestuation and from
his wounds as he fell into the hall. The place froze for a split
second around Quistis she let out a load gasp and ran towards her
friend and the young SeeD.
"Xu! Xu! Mischa? What..." she asked breathlessly as she knelt down
beside them, lifting Mischa off Xu and gently placing him by her side.
People swarmed around, shocked and curious about what had just
happened, the SeeD pushed them away, trying to give their fellow SeeDs
space to breath.
Nida and Bjou came, Bjou only just hearing of Xu's long absence looked
slightly annoyed. Quistis ignored the presence of the second in
command and rested Xu's head in her lap. "A stretcher someone they
need to be attended immediately..." Bjou suddenly boomed. Quistis
looked terrorfied, so did Xu, she tried to speak but found she
couldn't. "Quistis, move aside, let me see Xu," Bjou came down beside
Xu, his massive frame casting a dark shadow over her.
"Sir?" came a voice. Squall. Quistis looked up, glad for a friendly
face, she had never liked Bjou. "Shhh...." Squall caught himself...not
wanting to swear in front of Bjou, not that Squall really swore that
much.. "What..??" he asked, looking a bit sleepy. He looked down to
Mischa, which Quistis had just turned to comfort him, for he had began
to cry over something. Squall went over to him, feeling bad about the
mean things he had said to Mischa.

"It doesn't matter what, right now, Squall, make sure a stretcher is
coming," Bjou ordered. Squall hesitated and then left to make sure the
hospital wing was ready.

"Quis..."Mischa said, his voice horse. Quistis looked down at him,
brushing some blooded hair from his face, a tanned face, which held
deeply set blue eyes, pinkish lips with a head of fine fair hair.

"Shh, calm down.." Quistis hushed, but Mischa looked very distressed.

"Quistisss.... Reeene.... Jav..ri.." he croaked. Quistis' eyes widened
in shock. Of course...how could I of forgotten...Reene and
Javri...Oh.....shit!
"Bjou..." she nudged the big man.

"What? Where are those God damned people....can't they see that
there's an emergency out here," he growled. Quistis looked at him,
trying to get his attention, but he was almost ignoring her. Quistis
hated this man, he made just about everyone smaller then him feel
insignificant.

"Bjou, sir, we have a bigger problem," she said, raising her voice,
Bjou turned most of his attention upon Quistis. "Reene and Javri, the
SeeDs who went with Xu and Mischa, haven't returned...they're not
here..." Quistis explained quickly, while Bjou was still listening to
her.

"What? Holy Mother of God......sh*t..." he almost yelled,
"Quistis....full alert..I want those SeeDs found and I want them found
now!" Bjou ordered. Quistis quickly got to her feet and took charge of
the situation a little, soon a group of heavily armed SeeDs had been
sent out to find Reene and Javri. Quistis returned to find Xu and
Mischa loaded up into a couple of stretchers and rushed to the
hospital wing.

Squall caught Quistis by the arm, stopping her from going any further.
"What's going on?" he asked, still being in the dark of things. All
Squall knew was that Xu and Mischa had been attacked. Quistis told
him, she told him about the absence of Reene and Javri, about the
possibility that they may of been kidnapped. Squall looked annoyed, he
should of been sent to find them, he should of headed that group
Quistis had just sent out. It was the first time he had ever wanted to
lead anything and he didn't get to.
"Reene....." he said, remembering something Mischa had told him, he
had told him that he loved her. Squall felt his heart drop heavily, he
would be in agony now...worrying about her...whether she was dead or
alive. Squall only had to imagine Rinoa in that position and he was
almost panicked and scared out of his mind. Squall squeezed his brow
with his fingers, trying to calm himself and settle his thoughts in an
orderly pile.

"Squall....." Quistis looked at Squall, his face had turned almost a
sickly green colour, "I think you should...." she was just about to
say 'rest' but Squall rushed of, presumably to see Xu or Mischa,
Quistis followed him to find him by Mischa's bed.

Mischa smiled at Squall, it was a weak strained smile. "Hey, Squall,"
he said, "have you found Reene?" he asked. Squall silently shook his
head, feeling guilty about all the things he had previously said to
the young man. "Oh...oh...but you will find her...right..?" he asked,
"and Javri? You'll find him too...yeah?" Mischa said, his eyes shining
with all the hurt and grief that he beheld inside.

"We'll...try our best Mischa," Squall replied, knowing they would.
They would try their best and fail. Squall already had the un-nerving
feeling that Reene and Javri were no longer in the east side of
Dollet, but held prisoner in the west.

After Xu and Mischa had fallen asleep, Quistis and Squall found time
to talk. "You know what I think, Quistis, the Galbadian's have Reene
and Javri," he said sadly. Quistis didn't want to believe this.

"We can't be sure of that...they may be badly hurt somewhere...unable
to move," she said, knowing this would be unlikely.

"Yes, we can be sure of this Quistis," Squall said in a low voice,
barley above a whisper, "the group who went out to look for
them...they would of found them by now. Xu and Mischa wouldn't of left
them behind, it's unlikely that they would split up from Xu and Misha
during the battle. Quistis, accept it, Reene and Javri...may either be
dead or held as prisoner we have a big problem on our hands a big one,
two of our SeeDs they could be killed.. killed and we could prevent it
I think.." Squall said, stress built up again.

Quistis sighed, giving into that plain and very obvious fact Reene and
Javri....two brave SeeDs, selected to take part in a special mission
to be headed by Squall, one that would of dealt with the Dollet
situation...were in dire needs of help but no one could come to their
aid yet. Quistis held her head in her hands.

There had been an argument back at Garden, most people there had
wanted to send Squall, Zell, Irvine, Selphie and Quistis some even
Rinoa, out to Dollet, seeing they were already dubbed heroes and
heroines for saving the world against the evil sorceress and so
sorting Dollet out for them would of been an easy task for them. Maybe
it would of been better she would of been surrounded by her friends
and most likely, this wouldn't of happened. However, Cid hadn't wanted
this, he had that he hadn't wanted to make superstars out of them. He
knew that if he did, every bit of trouble, every time the SeeDs were
in need, Squall and the gang, would be wanted and Cid didn't want this
and he was sure they didn't want this either.

Quistis though, right now, really wanted her friends near; she was
feeling lonely, lonelier then ever before. Sinking into a deeper
depression, she sat down outside of the hospital wing....once a
dinning room of the hotel, now converted into a medical area.

"Quistis, Xu wants you," said Bjou, coming out of the hospital wing.
Quistis looked up and went without question. Xu smiled as her younger
friend approached and sat down by the bed.

"Quistis.." Xu said, after being treated she had gained enough
strength to talk. "You have to find...Reene and Javri...they were
trying to protect us, so was Mischa, as I was weaponless," she said,
but we...we wee out numbered, seven to one. Stupid, about thirty five
soldiers attacked five people. Well...they one," she said hoarsely.
Quistis looked reassuringly at her friend.

"They haven't won, if they had won, they would of taken you and
Mischa, they haven't won the war yet, Xu" Quistis said and took Xu's'
hand and squeezing it

Mischa, who lay in the bed next to Xu was crying, Quistis looked over
to him, hearing his sobs for the first time. "It's Reene" Xu
explained. Quistis nodded sadly, she put a hand on the young mans arm,
turning to comfort him. Squall was coming up towards them at the same
time, he smiled at Quistis and Xu as he came up, his face falling at
the sight of Mischa, he felt so much guilt, he had been horrible to
him.

"Mischa.." he said, trying to sound comforting. Over the two years
with his beloved Rinoa had taught him a lot, most of all, how to show
his feelings and emotions and how to comfort people. Squall was no
scholar at this though and his best efforts still seemed slightly on
the cold side. "Everything.....everything'll be Okay....Reene'll be
fine too..." he said, stuttering a bit. Quistis smiled, pleased that
Squall was putting such an effort into this, then again, he had always
cared about his friends always. Some things surprised Quistis about
Squall. She wished he had admitted to them a long time ago that he
actually cared for them all. It had taken him long enough even to call
them his best friends, let a lone his friends always his comrades.

"But...." Mischa started, but Squall passed a smile to him, a smile
which faintly flickered across his lips and disappeared. Mischa
stopped, resting his blonde head back on the pillow, his bandaged head
was leaking blod again.

"Mischa I'll make sure Reene and Javri will be Okay! I'll....do
everything I can that I can and I'll bring Reene back to you," Squall
said. Quistis glanced at Squall, giving him a silent warning not to
promise to much if there was a probability he wouldn't be able to do
it. Mischa smiled, his eyes glowing. "But, you have to promise me this
Mischa. tell Reene how you feel about her, yeah? Tell her.." Squall
said, Reene has to know about Mischa's feelings for her. Mischa
nodded, smiling, wanting to tell her more then ever now.

"Squall thanks I want to help you..." he said weekly, "I have
to....for Reene. The nurses say I'll be fit enough to get up in a
couple of days or so.." Mischa said, the light of hope was already
making him strong.

"Only if you're ready, Mischa," Squall said. Mischa grinned, his
little face lighting up.

"I'm ready. I'm a lot better then I look, aren't I Xu?" he grinned. Xu
smiled, she liked the young mans cheerful optimism. Squall thought
about Rinoa. He would die for her...he would leave his death bed to
save her if she was in trouble, he understood Mischa's determination
Squall loved Rinoa...if whether or not she married him, Squall didn't
care he loved her and he would never forget that, no GF would make him
forget how much he loved her. Her rejection still bit down into him,
his heart was still hurting, the wound was still raw, but he didn't
care. Nothing would stop him from loving her, even if she stopped
loving him.

"Reene's a lucky young woman, Mischa," Squall said, he was right.
Reene had found someone who would love and treasure her and if she
couldn't see that in Mischa...then Squall was blind.

Squall left, he had to talk to Bjou, to get a plan to rescue the
captives from the Galbadians and their mysterious new leader, for as
of yet, no one knew who that was.........