(no subject)

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

Who: Rinoa & Squall
When: After Squall’s session with Seifer
Where: Balamb Garden
What: Rinoa leaves
Rating: PG-13



Squall ached after his session with Seifer. He was slightly torn and his lower back felt like a hundred chocobos had railroaded over him. His neck ached and the bite mark hadn't faded at all. He had slight singe marks on his skin from the fire spells, and all in all looked pretty roughed up. He had showered and made his way back to his room, sighing softly at the door before entering.

Rinoa was curled up on the bed with Loire in her arms, feeding him while she scanned the internet for more wedding preparations. When the door opened, she blinked a few times, frowning. "What happened to you?" Tilting her head she gave a slight hiss as Loire sucked slightly too hard.

Squall rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He could lie. He could lie pretty convincingly. But in the end i would only cause more hurt. He knew he was a bastard for hurting Rinoa this way, he just couldn't quit Seifer. He swallowed and looked away. "It's nothing..." He murmured, movng to sit on the bed beside Rinoa and Loire.

"You look... pretty beat up, Squall..." she frowned, her eyes not having found that bite mark yet. She finished up with feeding and sorted out her t-shirt before setting Loire against her and patting his back to wind him. "What happened?" She asked again.

"I was in the Training Center and... yeah... I'm sorry..." He murmured, watching Loire for a moment before letting his gaze fall to his lap.

Rinoa went silent for a long while, just stroking Loire's back as he fell asleep against her chest. When she finally spoke, her voice was really, really quiet. "Balthier again?"

Squall sighed before shaking his head, those chocolate coloured locks, falling in front of his eyes. "No... Not Balthier..."

She took a solid breath in to keep her tears from falling and swallowed hard. "S-someone else?" She paused for a long moment. "Seifer?"

Squall looked away. His chest ached with guilt. He loved Rinoa, he really did. He just couldn't seem to stop jumping into bed with other people. "I... I'm sorry..."

Swallowing a few more times, she managed to hold in the tears as she shifted off the bed and settled Loire in his crib, stroking her fingers over his cheek before moving silently to the bed and closing up the laptop. From there, she continued on silently, getting undressed and into an oversized t-shirt and shorts to sleep in.

Squall sighed and got off the bed, moving over to Rinoa, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "I'm sorry Rin. It all happened so quickly. One minute we were sparring; and the next..."

She gently pushed his hands away and grabbed a hairbrush, pulling her hair into a ponytail while looking in the mirror before her eyes slipped to the rings around her neck and then to the one on her hand.

"Rin... I'm sorry..." Squall murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed, burying his head in his hands. "It was a stupid mistake. I'm a jerk, I know that. I'm sorry."

She brushed her fingers over her necklace before moving to the bed, kissing the top of his head. "Get cleaned up more. Then sleep." She whispered before slipping under the blanket.

Squall gave a slight nod, making his way to the bathroom, stripping as he walked. He stepped into the shower; turning the water up so hot it scorched his skin, turning pale flesh to a light pink. He sighed, resting his head against the glass, hating himself right now.

Rinoa shifted silently from the bed and quickly packed her things and Loire's into some cases and set them back into their places, making it completely inconspicuous. At that, she wriggled back into bed and hugged a pillow, looking at her engagement ring sparkling in the light.

Squall returned a few minutes later, a towel wrapped around his waist. That bite mark on his neck showed up brighter than ever as he dropped the towel and slipped under the blankets, holding his arms open to Rinoa. "I'm really sorry, Rin... I know it doesn't fix things, but I am sorry, and I love you."

Rinoa settled into him. She planned it to be the last time. She'd be with him like this until he fell asleep because she wasn't stupid enough to stick around any longer. She'd take a leaf out of Fran's book. It was time things stopped.

Squall pressed a soft kiss to Rinoa's head, resting his chin then as he held her close. This. This is how life should be. His fiancée in his arms, son fast asleep. Was violent, rough sex with Seifer really worth losing this for? He stroked her arm gently. "I love you."

"Mm. I love you, too." She whispered, watching his chest as he breathed. She pursed her lips hard, stopping herself from crying. She'd do that when she was alone.

Squall kissed her temple, smiling a little. "I'll try, Rin. I'll try to change. I promise." He whispered, snuggling into the pillows, closing his eyes.

Rinoa nodded slightly. "I know, Squall. I know you'll try." She muttered. After a moment, she went quiet, waiting for him to fall asleep.

It only took Squall a few minutes to fall asleep. Seifer had exhausted him, and the hot shower had soothed him.

Slipping awkwardly from Squall's grasp, Rinoa got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans, a zip-up hoody and a pair of sneakers. At that, she scooped Loire up and held him close, wrapping him in his blankets. She leaned down and kissed Squall softly on his cheek before taking the picture of the three of them and slipping it in her pocket. Rinoa then grabbed her bags and left the room, trembling before turning and heading for the docking bay.

Squall shifted, but didn't wake. He curled into the warmth of the bed that Rinoa had previously been laid in, curling up into a ball as he slept. It would be a good few hours before he woke.