(a/n): This is something I started a while back while I was playing FF8. Why I created this ficcy or how I don't know but it came to me while bored out of my mind. R/R and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I don't own Irvine Kinneas, Galbadia or any other bit of the FF8 world. The other people are creations and ideas of my friends and I.



Dramatis Personae:

Irvine Kinneas 15

Marix Hunter 15

Zack Beltron 16

Vincent Orzaktu 15

Sarah Mayso 13

Devin Albright 15

Trish Silverton 14

Setting: Galbadia Garden Region, Afternoon, 2 or 3 years before the whole SeeD Problems thingy

* * * * *

"Common' Albright! You want me come and get me," Marix growled at a tall blond boy dressed in sweat pants and gloves. The boy seemed to be rather upset over something.

Marix Hunter was equally upset. Her red hair, normally kept back in a neat braid was now lose and getting in her face, but she didn't seam to mind. Her long leather jacket had been taken off and thrown down to the ground, leaving her green shirt, skirt and leggings to be all she had for protective wear. At her side was a short sword.

"Get out of the way Irvine. Let the sniveling mammas boy try and touch me again." She yelled to her friend.

Irvine Kinneas stood with his hands spread out, as if a sign of no threat. With his mid-length reddish brown hair tied back in a small tail at the nape of his neck, lightly catching in the crisp breeze off the plains, he stood between the girl and boy. His own long leather coat looking a bit too large for the already tall boy and a black cowboys hat, proved he was a true westerner. His green eyes watched the seething boy in front of him. "Hey. We can talk this over cant we guys. Right?"

The blond didn't seem to be in a talking mood though. Devin Albright cracked his knuckles and swiped the back of his hand at his lower lip, coming away with a bit of blood. He was a tall boy, and rather strong for a 15 year old. Martial Arts and kickboxing were his passion and the blond was good at his work.

"Move it or lose it. You're not the target Kinneas, but I won't mind going through you to get her." He said simply, glairing at the red headed girl behind Irvine.

"Hay, hay, hay. Now lets think this over. You. a fighter with your fists. She," he jutted a thumb over his shoulder at Marix, "an extremely good swords woman. Now lets see. Who has the advantage here." He rolled his eyes and threw up his hands as if exasperated. "That's a tough one. But I think she has you beat Devvy. So lets forget about this whole thing." Irvine turned his back on the boy so as to face Marix. A wink was given to the red head.

"That brat hit me first. I have right to take revenge." Devin said moving in behind Irvine.

Marix stood back still, fists ready for the attack, and a face set in stone with a glair to melt icecaps. As she saw Devin moving she opened her mouth to worn Irvine. "Look out be-"

But she hadn't finished, for Irvine turned before she could. In his hands he held his Valiant Shot Gun. The gun was drawn and pointed so precisely at Devin that the blond boy was thrown by surprise.

Devin stopped dead in his tracks as he nearly ran into the tip of the shotgun. "What the hell Kinneas?"

"Well I had said we could talk it over. But you don't seem like you want to talk Albright. So. drastic measures were taken. Do I need to take them further and take you out?"

"Ha!" Marix yelped as she dashed over and behind Irvine, Looking over his shoulder at Devin. "You shouldn't try for something when it's a fact that you cant have it Albright."

The blond growled and took a step back from the two. "Kinneas wont be with you all the time Hunter. Watch your back, cus you wont be so lucky next time."

"She seems to have gotten you pretty good this time," he said pointing with the barrel of his gun to the other boys lip. "And if you touch my Mari' again, you -will- answer to me."

Devin snarled but said nothing. In the distance he could see the figure of a small girl. Black hair flitting wildly in the breeze, and her arms waving, "Devin! Instructor Wallis is coming."

With a growl, Devin turned and started to walk off, growling his words as he left, "This ain't over Hunter. You own me."

As Devin met up with Trish Silverton, his long time friend and partner in crime, Marix growled under her breath, "Over my dead body."

"Heya Babes. Careful or he'll attempt just that." Irvine said in that southern drawl of his as he turned around to look at his friend. "So what did that brute do to you now?"

Turning that snarling face slowly around into a grin she looked at her friend and crooked a finger to invite him in closer, as if she had a secret to tell.

Irvine inched closer and tilted his head, so she could speak, and was surprised as she kissed him lightly on the cheek, right next to his lips.

He grinned like a fool as he straightened up once again, reaching a fingerless-gloved hand back to scratch at the back of his neck. "Now Miss Marix. What was that for?"

She just smiled and stepped back form him. "You wanted to know what Devin wanted didn't you. Well that was it. And since you helped me, I thought -you- deserved one."

Irvine let out a laugh. "That's what this was all about? A kiss? You walloped him on in the jaw cus he asked for a kiss?"

"He didn't ask. It was more of a demand. Then it became a 'well I'll take it myself' thing," she said with a frown and a shiver.

The boy frowned and reached a hand out to Marix' red hair, touching a strand with bare fingers carefully. His frown grew as he pushed aside the red hair, catching a red mark at the side of her neck. "He do that as well?"

All he got was a nod, and Marix stepped away from his hand, pulling the hair back to cover it over. "He says I own him because of a training session we had. He sort of saved me by helping with the T-Rexer. Now he feels I own him and a quick snog is what he wants as payment. When I told him to shoot him self he didn't take it all that well."

"And I suppose that's about where I came in? You said No. He got pissy and grabbed you. You two started fighting. You some how got a fist past his and clocked him one. And in comes your Knight in leather and swayed, Irvine to the rescue." Irvine said as if it was all too clear to him now.

She rolled her jade eyes and poked him rather hard in the arm. "I didn't need your help or rescuing. I could have taken care of him on my own. I'm a big girl now." She said puffing up a bit to look tall and proud. "If I can deflate your ego, I can take on anyone!"

A light smirk played across his thin lips. "And what's that support to mean?"

"It means. well." She frowned and turned a glair to him. "It means I know something you don't. Yeah. That's it. And I'm not telling."

He laughed and started to walk back to the garden, knowing his friend would come with him. "You don't know anything."

"Well. sure I do!" She said jumping slightly and dashing off with him, catching up to walk slowly at his side. She really didn't know anything and tried making something up. "I know what girls you like! So ha!"

He snorted and shrugged, looking over and down to her with a face of amusement but also disbelief. "And so does the rest of the school. Guess you haven't been in the girl's bathroom much. 3rd stall down from the entrance says something about, 'Need a date? Irvine Kinneas, Dorm #48b.' Or something like that." He then shrugged and turned back to where he was going, walking with a small swagger as he hooked his thumbs in his belt loops at his hips.

Marix blinked, looking at her friend. And blinked some more. "What the hell? Kinneas? How do you know what it says in Stall 3? Don't tell me you've been in the girls bathroom befo- you have haven't you!" She said suddenly as she saw the grin spreading over his face.

"Gah! Is no place sacred form boys now a days?" The redhead said as she threw up her hands as if the world had just come to an end.

"No but if you give this lonely sharp shooter just one more kiss ill make you pretend you never heard me say it." He said with a rogue grin on his face.

She laughed and patted him on the back. "Go charm the other girls Irvine. I know you too well."

"It was worth a try."

"Well. Nice try at least." She said as she leaned up and kissed his other cheek again, then poked his side. "And that's all your getting. Common'. Zack and the others should be meeting soon at the training center. Maybe if you save me form a nasty ol' T-Rexer, ill offer another kiss. Or maybe not." A wink. "Depends on how much help I need."