It was an hour, maybe two later when they finally made their way to Squall's room. They had spent the whole time talking, until Quistis had found them together. She hid a smile at the sight of Irvine's hat upon Squall's head. The brim was still a little crushed, but not as bad as it had been. She wished she could have seen it, but she was sure Selphie would tell her everything tomorrow.

"You know it's almost 40 degrees out here? Go back inside before you two get sick. Didn't you notice how chilly it had gotten?"
Squall smiled faintly, pink tingeing his cheeks while Irvine winked at her. His hair was loose from its usual ponytail, and was a tad tangled. "We didn't notice Quisty, sorry... But we'll head inside now, so as not to worry you. By the way...." A pause. "Nice coat."
It was her turn to blush and look away. She was wearing Seifer's gray trench. He had loaned it to her while they had been talking earlier.
"It is, isn't it?" All three turned to look at Seifer, who had snuck up on them. He draped an arm over Quistis' shoulders, green eyes narrowing as he studied Irvine and Squall. With a faint shrug, he looked back down at Quistis and smiled. "Found them, I see."
She nodded, smoothing back her bangs. "Let's go back inside, these two may like the cold but..." Seifer grinned, scooping her up. "I'll keep you warm, Quistis... Don't worry." Her cheeks flared red again as he strode off. They could hear her laughing, and telling him to put her down. Squall laughed softly, while Irvine shook his head in disbelief.

Squall stared at his door, until Irvine nudged him. "Not going to open on it's own, ya know?" Then he mentally smacked himself for ending a sentence like Raijin. Squall smirked, unlocking the door. As he opened it, he glanced up at Irvine. "You are... coming in, right?"
Irvine smiled. Was that a slight hint of nerves he heard? Squall, the unflappable, nervous? Heck, he wouldn't have believed unless he had seen it with his own eyes. "Of course..."
Squall entered, waiting for Irvine to walk in, and then he shut the door, and locked it. Irvine took a glance around, surprised that Squall would have pictures up. Zell had told him he took a peek in Squall's dorm room once. Nothing except a few issues of weapons monthly and the usual books were to be seen in Squall's room. Irvine walked around, while Squall took of his jacket. A group of pictures caught his eye, and he walked over to take a look at them. One was a group shot, minus Seifer. Zell was resting his head on Quistis' shoulder, Selphie was wearing his hat, and he was leaning over her, arms around her waist. Squall and Rinoa were the middle, holding hands. Both were smiling. He moved onto the next photo, which was one of the three girls together. He blinked, looking at it again, closely. Quistis was wearing a yellow jumper, similar to Selphie's. She had her hair loose, and was wielding a pair of nunchucks. Selphie was next to her, dressed in blue. A pair of fluffy wings could be seen, and she posed as if casting a spell. Rinoa was dressed in peach, one hand smoothing back her bangs, a deadly looking whip in her other.
"Where'd you get *this*?" Irvine asked, glancing over his shoulder. Squall was unhooking one of his belts, and he didn't look up as he answered. "Of the girls?" "Yep. The Trepies would pay out the ass to see Quistis in this getup." Squall laughed again, delighting Irvine.
"It was a Halloween joke. They were going to go as each other. I believe Zell took the photo. Only five made it though. One for each of them, his. And mine. I think Quistis has the negatives though."
"Ahh..." Irvine took a look at the last photo, chuckling. Either Selphie or Zell had managed to get this one. Seifer was hunched over, laughing. Quistis was drenched, and glaring at him. Rinoa was in the background, laughing as well. And holding a water balloon. He was surprised that there weren't more photos of Rinoa around. Perhaps he had taken them down? He heard a slight thunking sound, and glanced over his shoulder again. Squall's belt had slipped from his fingers, and fallen to the floor. He was scowling as he leaned over to pick it up.
"So, you don't sleep with them on."
Squall arched a brow as he scooped up the belt, and then tossed it onto a chair behind him. "Me an' Selphie had a bet going. As to if you slept with all those on." "Who won?"
"I did." Irvine grinned, walking over to him. "No one in their right mind would wear those things to bed."
Squall's fingers fumbled on his larger buckle, and Irvine shook his head slightly. "Allow me." Squall's eyes widened slightly as Irvine deftly unhooked the buckle and then slid the belt from his holding loops. He ran his fingers over the raised artwork on the buckle, having never seen it this close. "Does it mean anything?"
"Does what?"
Squall sounded a little flustered, and Irvine hid a sly smile. "The lines. On this. They mean anything?"
"Not that I know of..."
Irvine set the belt down next to the other, and then let his eyes rest upon Squall again. He was now getting round to taking off his gloves.
"You always take those off last?"
"You know how hard it is to clean those things?"
"... The belts?"
Squall nodded. Irvine snapped his fingers. "And here I thought that I was getting a show..." Squall's left eyebrow went up, and he smiled. "You're the one that dances, cowboy... Not I."
Irvine blinked. "You mean...."
"Selphie has it on tape. That little dance you did for Quistis?"
"Hyne...." Irvine groaned, and sunk into a chair. "I remember Quistis pointing at the camera, but I thought Selphie had just put it on me..."
Squall grinned wryly, sitting down across from him. "Nope, we've all seen the dance, Irvine."
Irvine smiled, leaning back. They just looked at each other for a few, quiet moments. Then Squall waved a hand. "You can take off your coat, if you want. Make yourself comfortable."
Irvine regarded him for another second, then leaned forward. "Why did you invite me in, Squall? Just to talk some more. Or was there something else you wanted to do?"
"....."


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A/N - I continued.... and now... I'm stuck. ^^; Well, you guys get to decide! Are they there to chat, or did Squall have a different reason for inviting him in? Let me know what you think the reason is. :)
As always, thanks for reviewing, and Square owns them. ;_; Not I.