Disclaimer – I do not own the characters/settings/situations of Final Fantasy 8. Oh well…
This story, and the ones to be posted with it, are 'snapshots' of little scenes that I imagined while playing the game. I hope everyone likes my quirky interpretations of the characters. :)
Welcome
"Waiting for someone?"
Irvine jumped and stumbled into the railing behind him at the sound of Squall's voice. "Cid invited the mechanics in to fix Garden. I figured you'd appreciate a heads up."
"Thanks." The two brunettes began walking back towards the Garden. "Is something wrong?"
"No…" Irvine paused, adding, "do you think that I could get the mechanics to repair a few things aside from just Garden?"
"If it doesn't retract from the repairs somehow, I don't see why not," Squall answered, staring at Garden with an unreadable expression. "This is so strange."
"What?"
"Balamb Garden flew out here to the middle of the ocean and now it's hovering, of all things. It's just… weird."
Laughing quietly and trying not to let Squall's irritated glower make him laugh harder, Irvine managed to say, "that's the most teenager-like I've ever heard you sound."
Crossing his arms and tilting his head back to see Garden better, Squall told Irvine, "I'm used to being left alone, so I'm not very good at acting my age. The whole 'depending on others and having them depend on me' thing… I don't like that at all."
"Would it help," Irvine mused, looking away, "if you depended on people you trust?"
"That does make this easier," Squall agreed, "since I do trust my squad. I should have said this before, but it slipped my mind. Welcome to the team, Irvine."
"Uh… thank you…" this time the silence was companionable as they approached Garden's entrance. As the door slid open in front of them, Irvine spoke again. "Selphie's in the Quad and she's been acting all upset. You should go talk to her; cheer her up a little."
"I don't know how to cheer people up," Squall grumbled as he turned in the direction of the elevator.
"Then I'll go too."
"Good."
A/N Another one down, more to go. :)