More had changed with him than his more cavalier attitude towards her father. His hair had grown a bit longer, more shaggy and rugged, and more like the mane of a lion that he was forever linked to. His face remained as clean shaven as ever. Some people are creatures of habit and Squall standing before a mirror in his garden issued apartment and shaving his face clean each morning before the sun rose, after a three mile ‘light jog’, was a habit that he wasn't keen on breaking. He took to wearing cologne now, and she might be able to smell his manly and clean scent as she tucked her arm underneath his.<br/><br/><br/>Gunblade at his hip, and Rinoa on his arm, he was in taken back to another time in his life. For the first time in four years he wasn't completely sure what he was doing, though what he did know was that it had been a long and lonely four years apart and he was not about to waste this second chance. It always seemed like the world, his responsibilities as SeeD commander, and even time itself was conspiring to keep them apart at times.<br/><br/><br/>Flash bulbs went off at a record pace. Every reporter, blogger, and sleazy tabloid reporter wasn't going to miss the opportunity to photograph the reunion of the most popular couple on the planet. Keenly aware that they'd both be plastered across every front page story come morning, Squall led Rinoa through the hotel, his pace quickening as they dodged and avoided nosy reporters.<br/><br/><br/>“Not exactly how I pictured we would run into each other again. Heh. You know me though. When is my life ever conventional.”<br/><br/><br/>He gave a light shrug of his shoulders as the adrenaline from their dash through the hotel wore down. He stopped at a stairwell, one that he knew they wouldn't be followed into, and led her upstairs and finally outside to a balcony after a climb up several floors. Pushing the door open, he waited for her and then stepped outside with her as they were greeted with quiet a view. There would be no shooting stars this night but it took nothing away from the magnificent view of the waves crashing against the rocky Dollet coast against the backdrop of a star filled cool and crisp night. He'd never admit it but the lion of Balamb had quite an eye for romantic scenery. Staring down at the planet from space, flower fields at the end of time, and of course private balconies at Garden where no one would disturb them. Closing the door behind them, he stared out at sea a moment before turning back to her.<br/><br/><br/>“Rinoa. Thanks for coming up here with me. I've thought about what I'd say if we ever ran into each other again. And yet here we are… “ He made a light sweeping motion with his hands as his husky voice cut out a moment.<br/><br/><br/>“In this place. Together again. Feels like we are teenagers again, but then again it doesn't, does it? Our lives have changed so much since then. How are you? Really, how are you doing?“<br/><br/><br/>He fell silent then, feeling like after no words spoken to each other in four years that he was the one doing all of the talking. He hovered close to her, though he had released her arm. A persistent and chilly breeze whipped through his hair, leaving that brown mane of his slightly disheveled. His lips upturned slightly into a small smile as he watched her soft chocolate brown orbs quietly as he waited.