That Comfortable Silence

The sky was bright; stars dusted themselves thickly over it as if they had glazed over the atmosphere like a heavy spray of morning mist. Alone, silently watching them flicker according to the beat of crickets chirping, sat a tall, slender young man with brown hair, and a scar across his face.

Squall had never really been a man of many words. Perhaps it was karma having a say in this all – after all, the brunet had a father with a mouth that even seventy turbines couldn't beat. It was also thanks to karma that Squall had never had a single leg cramp in his entire life, and that was going to save his life in whatever battle was to come tomorrow.

He sighed, his brow creasing slightly. There were a lot of things to think about, but his mind seemed ever ready to draw a blank. After a moment's lapse however, he heard the soft crunching of grass beneath boots, and the sliding of fabric against earth.

"What's up? Can't sleep?"

There was that cheeky grin; and a tail that swayed gently as if it held all the cheer in the world.

"What about you?" Slate blue eyes flickered to and fro – from the monkey and back towards the sky. Zidane rolled his eyes and lowered his back against the grass in one smooth gesture.

"Same old, same old. You're avoiding the question anyway," he said, twirling his tail round to pick up what seemed like a clover. He flicked it in the general direction of the brunet, who reflexively bent forward to avoid it. "But that's just the serious, quiet man's way of going about things, eh? Girls love that sort of thing. I'll bet that's why that scary old Ultimecia lady's so hung up over you."

"Hmph."

The gray in Squall's eyes cleared a little into a subtle sparkle. Mentally he liked to call it his laughing gaze – and he'd been having a lot of these laughing gazes since he'd met the slight blond. The brunet leaned back, taking a form very much like the posture of Zidane's, now relaxed and easy.

The need to put coherent thoughts into his mind dissolved as quickly as the night began to cool. There was no breeze, only the tranquil silent of the sleeping campers, and around them the crickets chirped loudly still. All at once, he felt a warm object possessing the comforting texture of plush toy wrap itself around his hand.

A meaningful gaze, a warm smile, and eyes that sparkled like happiness could never come soon enough. Squall idly thought about smiling back, but like always, he never did. He looked up at the sky again, but his gaze no longer clouded over. It was their moment of magic, and nothing would ever take that away.

And on that last night, just like every other night, no words were exchanged.

END 23-MAR-2013