"Talking"

Thinking

GF talking in their master's head.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 8. I only own the rights to my substantial Original Character Cast. If you are looking for a story involving a lot of The Original Game characters, Look elsewhere. I hate being constrained by the original characters. Also I do not own "I Touch Myself" by Eve 6, I do however own the character singing it in the shower...

To everyone else, enjoy.

Rated: M for Language, adult themes and violence for later chapters, for now it is for safety.

A special thanks goes out to Xiaghua4Kilik, for agreeing to be my Beta-Reader. Lord knows I needed one.

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"HEARTILY!!!" The teacher yelled startling a brown haired boy in the back row. The kid leapt to his feet from napping.

"Where's the fire?" The boy called out, looking around the room in a panic. The class erupted into laughter, causing the brown-haired boy's face to turn red from embarrassment. His short brown hair was sticking up in random angles like he had just woken up. His navy blue Garden uniform was pressed and flawless except for the wet area on his sleeve. Realizing his mistake, he bowed politely and began speaking, "Forgive my actions Instructor Trepe, I was up all night training in the Training Center."

"Jay Heartily, You are prohibited from sleeping during my class, is that understood." The blond-haired teacher said menacingly, while adjusting her glasses. She then turned back to the projection screen and asked: "Now where were we, oh yes, the Battle of Sunite Village. According to ancient texts, a small group of Paladins from the Holy Order of Saint Andrew repulsed and eventually defeated a larger, more technologically advanced invasion army from Esthar. My question is how did these holy men achieve this feat?"

A blond-haired boy of about eighteen wearing abbreviated adamantine plate mail raised an armored hand.

"Yes Argon." Instructor Trepe asked the boy in the silvery armor.

"There were many reasons that the Knights were able to hold out against the Estharian Army . Primarily every Paladin in that task force was from the area around the Village so that they knew the layout of the land, giving them the home-field advantage. Secondly every Paladin wore a set of indestructible plate armor. Also, in comparison to the Estharian soldiers, the paladins were far superior in terms of skill. Finally, the Paladins were fighting for something greater than the forces of Esthar, the defense of the citizens of Sunite village, granting the paladins an advantage in morale. The only factor in which Esthar had over the Paladins was range, but then again the Estharian army lacked the necessary firepower to successfully penetrate the paladins's heavy armor." Argon Reinhahrt, the last Paladin of the Holy Order of Saint Andrew, said through the respirator of his abbreviated adamantine plate armor. On his chest was a black cross, the symbol of the Order. Some of the younger girls had open debates and fantasized on what was beneath his face mask. A single scar ran down the left side of his face causing him to primarily use his right eye.

"Good answer, Argon. Well look at the time, it appears that class is over. Remember everyone participating in the SeeD Field Exam on Friday, don't forget to take the requisite Fire Cavern Mission before Friday. Until tomorrow, class dismissed." Instructor Quistis Trepe said as the students flooded out of the room, before turning towards the brown-haired boy who was trying to sneak out of the classroom. "Jay Heartily, I need to have a word with you."

Hanging his head in shame, he trudged towards the front of the room.

"Yes, Instructor Trepe?" Jay said as he stood there awkwardly scratching his back of his head, as he continued. "Whatever they said that I did, I swear I didn't do!"

"What are you talking about?" Quistis asked arching her right eyebrow, suspiciously.

Jay held both of his hands up in mock surrender. "No-Nothing Instructor." Jay said innocently.

"Sure, like I buy that story. Seriously, what did you do now?" Quistis stated sarcastically. "It's not like you were the one who poured laxatives into the cafeteria's soda machine."

Jay chuckled at memory of his greatest prank. That was a great day, especially since I got both Ramathorn and Instructor Aki with that one.

"You did, didn't you?" Quistis said with a stern look in her eye, which quickly dissolved into a sly grin. "But since Instructor Aki was knocked down a few pegs, I'll let you off with a warning."

Jay nodded solemnly, while his eyes hid a mischievous glint. "Your insight is as great as your beauty." He remarked slyly.

"Flattery will get you nowhere in Garden," She replied coldly, before smirking, "although I do appreciate the gesture. Now have you done the Fire Cavern prerequisite yet?" The blond teacher asked warmly.

"Not yet, it's hard to find a teacher who's up for it." Jay said, shaking it off as if it were nothing. "Why do you ask?"

"So like your father…" She said, her eyes glazing over for a second before she continued. "You might want to ask Instructor Kinneas. I'm taking Celeste Glen in about an hour."

"Ok, thanks for the advice, Instructor Trepe." Jay said as he headed out of the room, stopping when he made it to the door. Turning quickly his face red from embarrassment, he bashfully asked as he scratched the back of his head. "Instructor, which class does Instructor Kinneas teach?"

At this moment, Quistis had the unpredictable desire to laugh either because of the stupidity of his question or the way he asked it. "His classroom is next door. He teaches Firearms."

"Thanks Instructor!" He said as he ran next door.

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"Instructor Kinneas?" Jay asked as he entered the empty classroom. A tall middle-aged brown haired man was sleeping at his desk with a cowboy hat covering his face. When Jay got closer to the sleeping man, he noticed the he was wearing a khaki colored long jacket, a violet shirt, brown chaps over black pants, and a pair of brown riding boots. "Excuse me sir, are you Instructor Kinneas?"

"Yeah I'm Instructor Irvine Kinneas, what do ya want?" The man said as he lazily tilted his hat.

"I need an instructor to go with me to do the Fire Cavern test. My instructor, Miss Trepe referred me to you. Can you take me?" Jay said. The man gave him a hard look and returned his hat to its position covering his face.

"Before I give you an answer, tell me a little about ya." Irvine said care-freely.

"I'm Jay Heartily, Student no. 1120670. I'm a senior. My other teachers praise me by telling me that I'm a talented swordsman and spell-caster." Jay answered quickly. The older man tilted his hat to get a better look at the kid.

"You're Squall's kid, right?" Irvine asked as he sat up.

"Unfortunately." Jay answered as he hung his head.

"Talk to me." Irvine requested as he picked up Exeter, his silver shotgun.

"Everyone always wants to go easy on me, because I'm the commander's son. I mean I don't want everyone to think of me just as the Commander's son, because then they'd assume that I'd be some stuck-up prick like Ramathorn. Ooh I hate that guy. Acting all smug, it pisses me off." Jay vented, causing the room temperature to increase about ten degrees as he unconsciously released magic from his body.

"I understand what ya saying, my daughters tell me the same thing every time I see 'em." Irvine explained as he slung his silver rifle over his shoulder. "I'll take ya, meet me at the front gate in a…" He paused to look at the clock, "…half hour." Irvine said as he walked out of the classroom.

The wheels in Jay's head began whirling, Instructor Irvine Kinneas is pretty cool.

"I just might survive this…" The brown haired swordsman remarked as he headed towards the elevator in the center of Balamb Garden.

"Bing." Was the sound that the elevator made after he hit the 'call' button. The hydraulic doors opened to reveal a girl with dirty blond hair typing into the keyboard of her cell phone, while at the same time sucking on a lollipop.

"Hey Cherea!" He said as he recognized his roommate.

Cherea Tilmitt was the school's biggest gossip and social butterfly, as well as his closest friend. She was a sixteen year old petite girl of about five foot four and he guessed (he didn't have enough of a death wish to ask…) no more than one hundred and ten pounds. Like him she was wearing the school's uniform. Her short dirty blonde hair framed her face in such a way that she appeared to be cute and innocent. Cherea was also fascinated with technology and firearms, the former made her Jay's constant companion when he would torment Ramathorn with his pranks, and the latter made her his usual back-up on training missions.

"Hey Jay!" The girl said as she stood there texting away on her cell phone, she paused as Jay entered the elevator. Looking up at the boy with the unkempt brown hair, she asked as with a cherry lollipop in her mouth: "I was wondering if you had gone to the Fire Cavern yet."

"Not yet, I was on my way to the room to grab my swords and then meet the Instructor at the front gate." Jay responded as he pressed the 'down' as the doors closed and the music started playing, he burst out laughing. The elevator's speakers played his arch-rival's voice singing with the sound of running water in the background.

"I love myself, I want you to love me. When I feel down, I want you above me. I search myself, I want you to find me. I forget myself, I want you to remind me. I don't want anybody else. When I think about you I touch myself. Ooh I don't want anybody else. Oh no, oh no, oh no. You're the one who makes me come running. You're the sun who makes me shine. When you're around I'm always laughing.
I want to make you mine, Sa-." Then the sound of someone banging on the wall, followed by someone else's voice yelling: "Ramathorn, SHUT THE HELL UP!!! I'M TRYING TO FUCKING SLEEP HERE! YOU CAN'T SING WORTH SHIT!!!" At this point Jay and Cherea were laughing so hard that they began crying.

"Cherea that was incredible, I haven't laughed so hard since we added the laxative to the Ginger Ale." Jay remarked as he wiped away the tears from his eyes. "By the way, why did you ask about the Fire Cavern test?" He asked as he turned to his 'partner-in-crime.'

"Oh yea, with the recording I got a-little sidetracked…" She said apologetically, before turning back to her roommate with a sly grin. "Well, you know that since there are so little instructors, multiple students are allowed to take the Fire Cavern test…" She paused a second to collect herself before continuing, "I was wondering if I could join you, since I'm so tied up with the Garden Festival Committee, the Technicians' Society, Future Hackers of Balamb, and working at the Library…"

"It's fine with me. We'd better go back to the room then and prepare." Jay said as the elevator came to a stop at the ground floor and the doors opened up.

"Awesomeness! Will you come eat dinner with my sister, her roommate and me, when we get back?" She asked as she made the cutest looking face that she could. Jay sighed as they ran toward their dormitory to change and grab their weapons.

"…fine."Jay said, admitting defeat to the devious girl beside him.

"Yay! Score one for me." She said with a smile.

"Oh we keeping score now?" Jay inquired.

"Only when 'I' score a point." She answered. She then stuck out her tongue at the brunette.

"You're so going to get it one of these days."

"Ooh, is that a threat?" She asked flirtatiously.

"No, it's a promise." Jay responded as he picked up speed, passing his friend.

"Not fair! You have longer legs than me." She pouted as she tried running harder to catch up with her dense roommate. "You are such a jerk, Jay!" She said as she playfully hit her best 'male' friend in the shoulder when she finally caught up to him.

"You're the one who wanted to come with me." Jay said as he walked into his room and grabbed his swords. He tucked one of the scabbards in-between his belt and his pants. The other he draped its strap across his chest so that the scabbard would stay on his back. He un-zipped his navy blue jacket revealing his sky blue dress shirt that had the top three buttons un-buttoned. "Are you done yet?" He called to Cherea.

"Not yet. Geez, you get to be the first to see my 'battle' clothes, just give me like fifteen minutes." She called from her room.

Giving up, Jay sat down and thumbed through the latest issue of Weapons Monthly.

Fifteen minutes passed.

"You ready yet?" Jay called to his roommate, from his chair in the common room.

"Let's go." Cherea replied as she slid her door open.

Jay's jaw gapped open when he turned to look at his petite roommate.

Instead of her uniform she now wore a black halter top, a pair of black knee-high lace-up boots, black 'daisy duke' shorts, a black half-skirt that covered her right leg, and a pair of brown leather underarm pistol holsters whose straps criss-crossed across her back. Her belt had a spare magazine holder attached to it.

Jay just stood there speechless.

"Hello? Earth to Jay, return to reality." Cherea said as she waved her right hand in-front of his face.

Jay blinked his eyes a couple times before his voice returned.

"…um, wow." Jay stammered.

"What do you think of the look?" Cherea asked, smiling sweetly.

"Damnit Cherea. You trying to kill me." Jay asked his face a bright red.

"W-wha!?!" She took a step back, and began to pout. "You don't like my outfit but I put so much effort into making it."

Jay hung his head, mentally berating himself for his treatment of his closest friend.

"I'm sorry, Cherea." He apologized, before looking up at his sulking friend. "Your clothes look good on you. They just took me by surprise."

"You mean it?" Her pale face instantly lit up like a light-bulb.

"Do I lie?" Jay answered confidently. Cherea placed her right index finger to cheek, as if to think.

"Yes you do, especially to get out of trouble." She replied by crossing her arms across her chest. "Now why would you lie to a cutey, like me?" She asked herself as she cutely placed her finger to her lips to think. A few minutes later her eyes grew wide and she pointed to Jay: "You are afraid of cute, innocent me."

"What? Yeah right. Who could be afraid of you? I just was shocked at how much different your new look would look." Jay replied, his answer seemed to satisfy the dirty blonde girl.

"Different, eh? Is it a good different or a bad different?" She asked as she drew out her twin ten millimeter semi-automatic pistols from her holsters and began twirling them around her fingers.

"Good different." Jay said turning a very bright red. "A Very Good Different."

"Really? Thank you!" She said as she leapt on him and gave him a tight hug. Jay immediately turned a brighter red than he was before from the un-expected embrace.

"Well let's go." She said sliding her pistols into her holsters.

They walked out together.

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As soon as they left the room, the wolf calls started.

"Hey girl, how about you leave that guy and come hang out with me?" One guy asked Cherea, undressing her with his eyes.

"No thanks! 3" She replied dismissingly. Whispering to Jay, "Why is Garden filled with perverts?"

Shaking his head, he whispered back. "I'm sorry, it's just that your outfit makes you look really…"

"What!?! Tell me, how I look in this outfit, and tell me honestly." She yelled at her brunette companion, before she felt a hand grab her ass from behind. Her eyes narrowed as she quickly pulled one of her handguns from one of her holsters and stuck the barrel under the groper's chin, before cocking the hammer back with her thumb. "Just try it buddy. I'm through being nice to assholes like you." She said menacingly without even bothering to look at the perp. Almost instantaneous, the wolf calls and the groping ended.

Slightly unnerved, Jay sighed before answering.

"You look very sexy and bad-ass. Hell, I couldn't even look at you without having naughty thoughts running through my head." Jay explained quickly as Cherea began twirling her drawn semi-automatic handgun around her right trigger finger. After he finished, he hung his head down his face a bright crimson in color.

"Really? You think I look…" Cherea smiled as she took a pause, "sexy and bad-ass? That's the best compliment that you've given me." She then slid her drawn pistol into its holster and ran around the giant fountain towards the main gate. Turning back she playfully taunted: "Hurry up, Jay."

The brown haired boy sighed as he chased after her.

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The duo eventually made it to the front gate. Waiting for them was Instructor Irvine Kinneas.

"DAD!?! You're the teacher taking Jay through the Fire Cavern." Cherea asked freezing up when she saw Irvine loading a shell into his Exeter shotgun.

"Cherea, whatcha doing here?" Irvine asked, obviously confused at the appearance one of his twin daughters with the son of one of his closest friend. "And what are ya wearing?"

Jay raised his hands in mock surrender, as he started speaking: "Excuse me, Mister Kinneas. I really don't want to make this conversation anymore awkward than it already is. I'm Cherea's best friend and roommate." Irvine's eyes instantly narrowed and grew cold as it turned towards Jay as he brought his silver shotgun to bear on the brown-haired boy.

"What did ya do to my daughter!?!" Irvine interrogated as he kept the very deadly shotgun pointed at the boy.

"Both of you stop this right now." Cherea yelled as she charged into the middle of the escalating confrontation and stuck out her hands.

"CHEREA!!!" Both Irvine and Jay yelled to the defiant girl standing between them, with her arms extended.

"Daddy, I made this outfit to give me the necessary agility and flexibility required for fighting." Cherea explained to her overly-protective father. "I'm old enough to join SeeD, you can't go around threatening my friends. Stop treating me like a child, I can fight my own battles." She threatened causing her father to lower his silver shotgun.

"I'm sorry, I just don't want to see some boy hurt ya." Irvine said as he sulked about his daughter taking him down a few notches.

"Trust me, father I do a good enough job of keeping the perverts off me, without you or mom scaring them off." Cherea replied as she pulled one of her handguns out of its holster and twirled it around her finger. "I'm not a helpless little girl anymore."

"Fine, you win. Now explain what you're doing here?" Irvine asked as he slung the silver shotgun over his shoulder, causing Jay to flinch.

"I'm going with you two to take the Fire Cavern test." Cherea answered a-matter-of-factly.

"How ya figure that?" Irvine asked his very determined daughter.

"According to Revised Garden Code Section 41, Article 22. Due to an increase of quality SeeD cadets being brought into Balamb Garden, parties of up to three students and a single qualified SeeD Instructor may partake in the Fire Cavern Pre-test. However, the Instructor must rate each student separately, for their final score on the Field Exam. I've already asked Jay to take the test with him, and he said 'yes.'" Jay started to interrupt, but was quickly cut off by Cherea's glare.

"Hahaha." Irvine laughed as he stood there watching Jay and Cherea bicker back-and-forth. "Fine, ya win. Check ya junctions and ya gear. We'll leave when ya'll are ready." The older man said before turning his back on the two teens and he checked his spells. Cure, Check. Shell, Check. Full-Life, Check. Okay now, I'm set.

Jay closed his eyes to contact his GF, Quezacoatl. Are you ready to face Ifrit again? Yes, I am ready. Good. He smiled at the thought. Okay, now what spells do I have with me? He wondered: I've got Cure, Thunder, Protect and Scan. I wish I had some Ice or Water spells, since we are going to the 'Fire' Cavern. He sighed at his lack of preparedness.

Cherea casually slid a clip into one of her pistols and pulled the slide back to chamber a round into the weapon. She effortlessly twirled the pistol around her trigger finger before sliding it into its resting spot, her holster. She repeated the process with her second one, before mediating to speak to Shiva. So we set to go kick, some fire demon GF butt? She asked her GF, only to feel the Ice Maiden, Shiva sigh. Was it something I said?

"I'm ready! 3" Cherea said enthusiastically dancing as she waited for Jay.

"Just like her mother. Ya can never tell when she was being serious. She was always blissfully dancing even when fighting Galbadian Soldiers with her giant nunchaku." Irvine remarked as he reminisced.

"Instructor, I cannot help but wonder since you are referring to Cherea's mom in past tense, is Mrs. Kinneas dead?" Jay asked the older man. Both Cherea and her father broke out into laughter.

"Mom's the headmaster of the rebuilt Trabia Garden. She also teaches 'Introduction to Elemental Magic' there." Cherea answered for her father, still dancing.

"Oh…okay. Well, let's get going, I'm ready." Jay said looking a little confused.

"Yay!" Cherea said as she stuck out both of her arms out and ran out on the plains of Balamb Island, pretending to be an airplane.

"Cherea, wait up!" Jay yelled as ran after his childish roommate.

Irvine just laughed at the scene before following after the two teens.

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End of Chapter 1.

Next Chapter: The Fire Cavern

(A/N) Thanks for reading, I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I get it written, reviewed, and edited. Adieu.