[FFVIII] Staring at the sun (5/9)
At a loss for words, she simply nodded. He kept watching her, moving his fingers on her picture. “There’s nothing true in here. The light is made to flatter you. Colors are studied. There’s styling. Make-up is used to mask. This is crafted.” He followed the line of her face on her picture, lingering just above her eyes. A shudder crept along her back. “These are not.” [In which Squall, renowned black-and-white photographer, sees something raw and true he can't ignore in Rinoa's eyes.]
Characters: Rinoa Heartilly, Squall Leonheart
Pairings: Rinoa Heartilly/Squall Leonhart - barely mentioned Seifer Almasy/Quistis Trepe, and hinted Irvine Kinneas/Selphie Tilmitt
Additional tags: Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt, Artist/Muse Relationship, Mutual Pining, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Intimacy, Non-Explicit Sex, Alternate Universe, Photography, Music, Forbidden Attraction, Creative Process as Intimacy, unspoken feelings, Yearning
Chapter: V. Interlude: developing
@ffviiiotpfestival - prompt Music makes sense now, by @angelosearch;
@julybreakbingoevent and @julybreakbingo, prompt being in love isn't something they're familiar with
@monthlywritingchallenges, Golden Hour event (July 2025), prompt a half-finished sentence.
Read on AO3 | FF.net (links are to Chapter 1)