A Moment In Time

By Alexis C.


"This is ridiculous!" Irvine declared vehemently, throwing his pencil down on the table. "I fought against Ultimecia's minions countless times, saved the world from domination by some crazy witch, prevented time from compressing itself and SURVIVED. Why then, am I still required to take the Seed exam when everyone knows I'm just as qualified as the next Seed?"

All around him, students in the library were making shushing noises or giving him the evil eye. Ignoring them all, he glared at Squall, as if daring him to contradict what he had just said. Despite the impassive look on Squall's face, Irvine had the sneaking suspicion that Squall Leonheart was more than just a little amused at his indignance.

"Garden rules. You know what they're like. And it's Sorceress, not witch."

"I still don't see why I have to take this stupid exam." Irvine grumbled petulantly.

The librarian looked like she might come over soon, legendary saviours of the world or not. Irvine scowled fiercely in her direction, for once, dropping all gentlemanly charm. He was not in a good mood. Selphie had just recently called it quits with him and it had just been brought to his attention that even though he had contributed greatly towards the Sorceress War, he would still have to sit for the Seed exams if he wanted full Seed privileges.

"Look on the bright side, Seifer has to take the exam too." Squall offered lightly.

As if on cue, Seifer walked, his arms crammed full of notes and other assorted books, followed closely by his posse. He spotted them and gave them a curt nod but didn't come over, heading instead in the opposite direction.

Irvine noted the nasty looks Seifer was receiving as he stalked past the tables filled with students. As he passed, tables broke into terse whispers and angry muttering. Seifer ignored them all. The memory of whose side Seifer had taken when the world had been under the threat of the Sorceresses was still fresh in the minds of most people and Irvine knew many of them had been furious that Seifer had been given a second chance by the Garden. He'd gotten off with nothing more than a light warning and it still rankled with many of the Garden's students.

Irvine himself couldn't find it in him to hate Seifer. He hadn't really known Seifer as the rest had known him, being in a different Garden altogether. He'd heard of his arrogance, the bully in him and his total disregard for rules but whenever he thought about the man, he remembered a young boy, not much older than him, starved for attention just like the rest of them, lost in a story about a knight he'd read for weeks, convinced that the world would only love him when he became that knight.

Squall followed his gaze, an inscrutable look on his face. Irvine knew a bit about their rivalry from the others and his own memories of two boys constantly fighting to best each other in everything.

Sometimes, it was hard to be the only one with his memories intact.

"Anyway," he continued, picking up where he left off. "I just don't get it, why..."

Squall cut into what promised to be a long tirade quickly.

"Do you want my help or not?"

Irvine glowered, then snatched up the book he had previously abandoned. Soon, both of them were absorbed in the book as Squall patiently explained some stuff that Irvine hadn't quite caught during classes. They reached for the pencil at the same time, Irvine's fingers closing over the instrument the exact moment Squall's closed over his.

The jolt that raced through his hand was electric.

Irvine's head jerked up, his startled green eyes meeting Squall's own blue eyes. The warmth he saw in them made his insides quiver.

"Sorry."

Squall's fingers lingered over his and almost absent-mindedly, his thumb starting sliding over Irvine's hand in slow concentric circles.

End.