Disclaimer: If you think I own Final Fantasy 8 youre an idiot. I would absolutely love it if I did, but sadly I am just a poor college student.
An old Friend
Chapter 2: I AM a weapon
**********************************
Squall and Quistis walked slowly behind the two laughing people. Quistis had her curiosity peeked. Zell only told them that he had known this girl Raena before he came to Garden. Squall had been thinking about this too. If he knew her from before, it would mean after he left the orphanage at ten and before coming here at thirteen. Try as hard as they could, neither Squall nor Quistis could remember where Zell was during that time. They knew Zell told them at one point, he wasnt with his adoptive mother the entire time he was adopted. They just couldnt figure it out. Squall was angry. He should have been able to remember this. His staring eyes focused ahead of him as Zell wrapped his left arm around her waist.
Raising an eyebrow at Quistis, she only smiled a bit as she gave him a small nod and ducked into the infirmary. No doubt she wanted to gossip a little with the nurse. He knew she would want every detail after this. The three continued to the training center, the two in the front completely oblivious to the scowling commander behind them. Actually Squall was beginning to think they had forgotten about him even being there.
Watching them from behind had its advantages though, he had to admit. They seemed friendly in their banter and manors but there was something under it all. Something that reminded him he was painfully single.
Before it had never bothered him. Before he met Her, Rinoa. He had let down his walls. Even briefly as it had been, it was enough for her to wrap her smile and eyes around his cold heart. He remembered the time he realized he loved her. Holding her on the Ragnorok. It wasnt a happy time then, and he wasnt having a good time now either.
Depression and self pity never helped anyone, Squall realized as he came back to the world with Zells impatient hand waving in front of his face. Zell had already entered his ID code for the Centers doors. They walked in and Squall noticed an immediate shift in the atmosphere. Friendly and flirty changed to competitive and a little hostile.
Maybe these two wouldnt get together after all, he thought. Squall didnt really believe such a high competitiveness was too healthy in a relationship. The first Grat jumped out from the side and surprised Raena. Before she could even react Zell had it beaten. Squall rubbed his scar as he unsheathed his gunblade. And he thought ZELL had a dirty mouth. Most definitely this was beyond competing. As the two raced ahead completely forgetting him, all Squall could think of was they were even worse than him and Seifer. If that was even possible.
Looking at his watch impatiently for the seventh time in ten minutes, Raena charged ahead into the T-Rexuar den area again. How much could that girl take? She was bloody and a little bruised but she seemed to have unlimited energy. Why the hell wasnt she a SeeD already??! She had to be almost as strong as Zell himself. Who, by the way, didnt even look like he had been in here 20 minutes let alone four hours.
Squall was getting frustrated to say the least. Finally he just took his gunblade and held it horizontally. Taking a deep breath, he charged the dinosaurs before either of his two companions could attack again. Unleashing his latest and most powerful limit break, the beasts were finished quickly.
Zell did a rather cute pouty face at Squall as Raena laughed. Somehow she seemed different in here. Maybe she sounded dangerous. He`d been around Seifer his whole life, he knew what dangerous was. Until the end of the war his rival was just that. Though now as a fellow SeeD and somehow a friend, Seifer had become a little less intimidating. This young womans voice changed. It was deeper, almost secretive and completely confident. When Zell sounded like that, as on occasion Squall had heard him, he couldnt help but think the smaller blond was cute. Raenaho would have scared Squall if he hadnt been the Commander and a level 30 SeeD. She began to walk away and Zell started to follow. This was his only chance.
Squall slid between them and stood in front of them. Zell stopped but looked sad. His bright sea colored eyes turned on his friend and Squall almost relented before he even began to whine. *No.* Squall thought. Raena had to learn about the Garden and she could always come back with Zell whenever she wanted. He was a teacher and had an ID card. Raena looked curiously from one man to the other as they stared at each other silently. Zell finally smiled sadly and turned on his heel, heading for the doors.
`Huh? Whats up Thunder?` He didnt answer and Squall followed him closely making sure he didnt run back into the center. Zell didnt answer her at all and by the time they were in the corridor she lost it.
`Thunder!`
Squall and Zell turned around. Squall was used to Zell acting pouty when he made him quit training. Zell loved to practice and so did Squall, but he began to wonder how the blond could deal with missions, classes and practice all the time. Hot - Head - Raena, as Squall would now always refer to her in his mind, was staring at both of them with her delicate but bloodstained hands on her hips. The scowl on her face was horrific and comparable to his own Squall thought. Apparently Zell thought it was funny because he started to laugh and walked back over to her and threw a scratched arm over her shoulders.
`Its not funny you Idiot! Answer me!` This time it was she who nailed him in the ribs.
`Oh knock it off Rain. Squall, Im sure, has a few things he needs to show ya and talk to ya about. Now he kinda has an idea of your strength and I wouldnt be surprised if you get a level close to mine after the SeeD exam.`
`More like YOUR level. I bet if we went one on one I could still kick yer ass!`
Squall let one of those extra rare up turns at the corners of his mouth happen as he watched them bicker. Zell was his best friend and he was sure the blond would have seen the smile if he was looking. Raena was so much like Zell. It was frightening to see them work together in the center. She didnt even wear gloves and she was almost his strength. No wonder she knocked Seifer out. *Oh, thats a problem.* Squall remembered. No one else besides Quisty knew about this new person. Zell yelled a victorious battle cry as Squall looked up and found the wiry red head hoisted above his head and thrashing growling obscenities.
Coughing he got Zells attention.
`I think thats enough.`
`Thanks Commander, he was being an ass.` Raena replied as she straightened her black vest and pulled the baggy jean capris to their normal position on her hips. Dusting herself off, Squall looked at her annoyedly. (I dont think thats really a word but oh well.) He knew she was waiting for an opening to strike.
`I wasnt taking sides. And dont call me that. At your level call me Squall unless at a formal occasion.` His words seemed to go unheard as she jumped on Zell and pulled his slightly drooping hair straight up. He yelped. Squall sighed. *Just like Zell. Theyre both like children. Maybe thats it, theyre sort of revisiting their childhood maybe?* Squall could only hope, as they glided down the halls of Garden acquiring curious stares and whispers among the lower class men.
***********On their way to the Cafeteria (Raena and Zell were both `starving`)*******
Slightly disheveled in appearance, the three arrived at the lunch room at around diner time. Most of the tables were filled or quickly becoming so and Squall went to a table in the back reserved for teachers while the two got in line.
Noticing a certain tall blond sitting a table away, Squall figured now would be a good time to tell him before he found out himself. Seifers pride was a delicate creature even though the man was not. The other gunblader was not quite on their level but if he was pissed, like Squall, he could do some amazing things with his weapon.
Sinking into an empty seat next to the guy, Squall nodded to Rajin and Fujin who were still eating. Seifer seemed un phased by his rival / friends appearance. He leaned back in his chair with one leg crossed lazily over the other, this eyes closed. Squall stared at his golden skin and briefly wondered how he could get such a tan when he was inside studying or training all the time. Seifer, almost as if he sensed the dark haired mans gaze, cracked one eye to look at him. The smirk, ever in place found its way to his face as he said,
`Sup, Commander.`
` Seifer..` Squalls eyes narrowed. The blond grinned widely as Rajin and Fujin got up to throw away their trash. Rajin took Seifers too. Breaking eye contact with Squall, he nodded to his posse as they began to leave. When he turned back he laughed at Squalls scowly frown. (Again not sure if Scowly is word, but..)
`Ha ha, man Squall loosen up a bit, huh?` Seifers heavy arm fell across Squalls smaller shoulders as he slapped him on the back. Seifers lips still curled in a smirk but his eyes were warm as he held onto Squalls shoulder and pushed him to sit back in the chair. Squall let Seifer do it, not because he wanted Seifer to think he could, but because he enjoyed (Just a little) being pushed around by Almasy. It gave him a reason to push back.
Squall shrugged the hand off as he replied in a tight voice.
` Knock it off. I have something to say to you.` Seifers grin melted off his face. *Whats he thinking? Could he possible be trying to tell me he feels the same way about me as I do him? My romantic dream since before the war, my Commander, What do you want to say?* Seifer held his breath as Squall struggled with a way to break it to him. *How do you say `Hey man, the chick that knocked you out at the club is now a student here, and soon will be SeeD. Probably a higher rank than even you.`?* Squall closed his eyes and opened his mouth. This wouldnt be easy. Hearing the quick intake of breath, Squall opened his eyes to a very pissed off looking Seifer. His face was quickly clouding with anger and Squall felt a tightening in his stomach. He had seen this look so many times.
`What the fuck is she doing here?!` Seifer bellowed. Most of the surrounding tables turned to look. Squall realized the situation could get very bad very fast. He stepped between to two tables. Zell was up and at Raenas side with a hand on her back.
`Seifer man, calm down.` Zell cooed. Raena smirked and that was ALL the big gunblader needed. *Okay, this is really bad.* Squall thought. Raenas quick tongue bit into Seifers ego and Squall could feel its slice, like a gunblade through flesh.
`Same thing you are Monsieur Knight. Learning how to fight.`
*Oh SHIT, Raena ya shouldnt have done that.* Zell thought as he stepped in front of her.
*Oh SHIT. Wonderfull, this is just great.* Squall thought as he moved closer to the man whos eyes were dangerously narrowed to slits of emerald. He lunged. Squall held his gunblade in its sheath as he tried to draw it and pressed his shoulders against Seifers chest to keep him from moving forward.
`What the HELL are you doing Lionheart?! She needs to be taught a little respect!`
`NOT in the cafeteria, Seifer.` Squalls voice was loud in context to the soft way he usually spoke. Seifer at once realized the closeness of their bodies, but quickly glared at the red head again. Trying once, even though he knew it was worthless, Seifer pushed against Squall to see if he could off balance him enough to get the man off his chest. It didnt work. All this did was put his muscular body completely up against Squalls.
`Please...`
It was spoken into his ear. It was quiet and sleek. It was a voice Seifer had never heard come from this man he`d known all his life. It set his pulse racing even faster. Abruptly, Seifer turned away and grabbed his coat that was draped over a chair. Throwing it on with his back to the three, he breathed deeply twice before making his way threw the room and out the door without a glance back.
Exhausted and slightly shaky for some reason, probably the lives of the innocent lower class men he just saved, Squall found it hard to stand. Sinking into the chair again he lowered his head to his hands. Vaguely he heard Zell warning Raena and gently reprimanding her. *Probably on his way to the Training Center.* Squall thought as he gathered himself and stood again a few minutes later.
Zell and Raena were absorbed in their food. Zell nodded to him as he left and Squall sighed in response. Zell looked up at gave a sympathetic smile to the man as he made his way out of the cafeteria and headed back to the Training Center.
He had to calm Seifer down a little. If that meant sparring, Squall was unusually up for the challenge at the moment.
As he pushed the metal doors open, Squall heard the terrible scream of an angry
T-rexuar. It was quickly followed by a chilling battle cry he knew all too well.
****** ****** ******
A/N: Im sorry I just had to have some Squall x Seifer stuff in here some where and I like it when Seifer swears. I just picture him that way. Also he would be the one to use a battle cry and Zell seems to be only using it in fun. Im sorry if Raena turned out to be a bitch in this chapter. Actually, when I went back and read that line about `learning how to fight` I really cringed. I cant believe I let her say that to my Seify! Oh well, can you get the picture? Seifer and Raena will be at odds for a while, and because of her Seifer will pick on Zell more. Well, I think Im done blithering, G`nite, its getting late. I gotta go to sleep..... mmmm.... Sleep.
-Rouko (Now affectionately called `Buella` by my friends.)
P.S: Ive started to get an idea for a Yu Yu Hakusho fic so look for the first chap in a few weeks.
An old Friend
Chapter 2: I AM a weapon
**********************************
Squall and Quistis walked slowly behind the two laughing people. Quistis had her curiosity peeked. Zell only told them that he had known this girl Raena before he came to Garden. Squall had been thinking about this too. If he knew her from before, it would mean after he left the orphanage at ten and before coming here at thirteen. Try as hard as they could, neither Squall nor Quistis could remember where Zell was during that time. They knew Zell told them at one point, he wasnt with his adoptive mother the entire time he was adopted. They just couldnt figure it out. Squall was angry. He should have been able to remember this. His staring eyes focused ahead of him as Zell wrapped his left arm around her waist.
Raising an eyebrow at Quistis, she only smiled a bit as she gave him a small nod and ducked into the infirmary. No doubt she wanted to gossip a little with the nurse. He knew she would want every detail after this. The three continued to the training center, the two in the front completely oblivious to the scowling commander behind them. Actually Squall was beginning to think they had forgotten about him even being there.
Watching them from behind had its advantages though, he had to admit. They seemed friendly in their banter and manors but there was something under it all. Something that reminded him he was painfully single.
Before it had never bothered him. Before he met Her, Rinoa. He had let down his walls. Even briefly as it had been, it was enough for her to wrap her smile and eyes around his cold heart. He remembered the time he realized he loved her. Holding her on the Ragnorok. It wasnt a happy time then, and he wasnt having a good time now either.
Depression and self pity never helped anyone, Squall realized as he came back to the world with Zells impatient hand waving in front of his face. Zell had already entered his ID code for the Centers doors. They walked in and Squall noticed an immediate shift in the atmosphere. Friendly and flirty changed to competitive and a little hostile.
Maybe these two wouldnt get together after all, he thought. Squall didnt really believe such a high competitiveness was too healthy in a relationship. The first Grat jumped out from the side and surprised Raena. Before she could even react Zell had it beaten. Squall rubbed his scar as he unsheathed his gunblade. And he thought ZELL had a dirty mouth. Most definitely this was beyond competing. As the two raced ahead completely forgetting him, all Squall could think of was they were even worse than him and Seifer. If that was even possible.
Looking at his watch impatiently for the seventh time in ten minutes, Raena charged ahead into the T-Rexuar den area again. How much could that girl take? She was bloody and a little bruised but she seemed to have unlimited energy. Why the hell wasnt she a SeeD already??! She had to be almost as strong as Zell himself. Who, by the way, didnt even look like he had been in here 20 minutes let alone four hours.
Squall was getting frustrated to say the least. Finally he just took his gunblade and held it horizontally. Taking a deep breath, he charged the dinosaurs before either of his two companions could attack again. Unleashing his latest and most powerful limit break, the beasts were finished quickly.
Zell did a rather cute pouty face at Squall as Raena laughed. Somehow she seemed different in here. Maybe she sounded dangerous. He`d been around Seifer his whole life, he knew what dangerous was. Until the end of the war his rival was just that. Though now as a fellow SeeD and somehow a friend, Seifer had become a little less intimidating. This young womans voice changed. It was deeper, almost secretive and completely confident. When Zell sounded like that, as on occasion Squall had heard him, he couldnt help but think the smaller blond was cute. Raenaho would have scared Squall if he hadnt been the Commander and a level 30 SeeD. She began to walk away and Zell started to follow. This was his only chance.
Squall slid between them and stood in front of them. Zell stopped but looked sad. His bright sea colored eyes turned on his friend and Squall almost relented before he even began to whine. *No.* Squall thought. Raena had to learn about the Garden and she could always come back with Zell whenever she wanted. He was a teacher and had an ID card. Raena looked curiously from one man to the other as they stared at each other silently. Zell finally smiled sadly and turned on his heel, heading for the doors.
`Huh? Whats up Thunder?` He didnt answer and Squall followed him closely making sure he didnt run back into the center. Zell didnt answer her at all and by the time they were in the corridor she lost it.
`Thunder!`
Squall and Zell turned around. Squall was used to Zell acting pouty when he made him quit training. Zell loved to practice and so did Squall, but he began to wonder how the blond could deal with missions, classes and practice all the time. Hot - Head - Raena, as Squall would now always refer to her in his mind, was staring at both of them with her delicate but bloodstained hands on her hips. The scowl on her face was horrific and comparable to his own Squall thought. Apparently Zell thought it was funny because he started to laugh and walked back over to her and threw a scratched arm over her shoulders.
`Its not funny you Idiot! Answer me!` This time it was she who nailed him in the ribs.
`Oh knock it off Rain. Squall, Im sure, has a few things he needs to show ya and talk to ya about. Now he kinda has an idea of your strength and I wouldnt be surprised if you get a level close to mine after the SeeD exam.`
`More like YOUR level. I bet if we went one on one I could still kick yer ass!`
Squall let one of those extra rare up turns at the corners of his mouth happen as he watched them bicker. Zell was his best friend and he was sure the blond would have seen the smile if he was looking. Raena was so much like Zell. It was frightening to see them work together in the center. She didnt even wear gloves and she was almost his strength. No wonder she knocked Seifer out. *Oh, thats a problem.* Squall remembered. No one else besides Quisty knew about this new person. Zell yelled a victorious battle cry as Squall looked up and found the wiry red head hoisted above his head and thrashing growling obscenities.
Coughing he got Zells attention.
`I think thats enough.`
`Thanks Commander, he was being an ass.` Raena replied as she straightened her black vest and pulled the baggy jean capris to their normal position on her hips. Dusting herself off, Squall looked at her annoyedly. (I dont think thats really a word but oh well.) He knew she was waiting for an opening to strike.
`I wasnt taking sides. And dont call me that. At your level call me Squall unless at a formal occasion.` His words seemed to go unheard as she jumped on Zell and pulled his slightly drooping hair straight up. He yelped. Squall sighed. *Just like Zell. Theyre both like children. Maybe thats it, theyre sort of revisiting their childhood maybe?* Squall could only hope, as they glided down the halls of Garden acquiring curious stares and whispers among the lower class men.
***********On their way to the Cafeteria (Raena and Zell were both `starving`)*******
Slightly disheveled in appearance, the three arrived at the lunch room at around diner time. Most of the tables were filled or quickly becoming so and Squall went to a table in the back reserved for teachers while the two got in line.
Noticing a certain tall blond sitting a table away, Squall figured now would be a good time to tell him before he found out himself. Seifers pride was a delicate creature even though the man was not. The other gunblader was not quite on their level but if he was pissed, like Squall, he could do some amazing things with his weapon.
Sinking into an empty seat next to the guy, Squall nodded to Rajin and Fujin who were still eating. Seifer seemed un phased by his rival / friends appearance. He leaned back in his chair with one leg crossed lazily over the other, this eyes closed. Squall stared at his golden skin and briefly wondered how he could get such a tan when he was inside studying or training all the time. Seifer, almost as if he sensed the dark haired mans gaze, cracked one eye to look at him. The smirk, ever in place found its way to his face as he said,
`Sup, Commander.`
` Seifer..` Squalls eyes narrowed. The blond grinned widely as Rajin and Fujin got up to throw away their trash. Rajin took Seifers too. Breaking eye contact with Squall, he nodded to his posse as they began to leave. When he turned back he laughed at Squalls scowly frown. (Again not sure if Scowly is word, but..)
`Ha ha, man Squall loosen up a bit, huh?` Seifers heavy arm fell across Squalls smaller shoulders as he slapped him on the back. Seifers lips still curled in a smirk but his eyes were warm as he held onto Squalls shoulder and pushed him to sit back in the chair. Squall let Seifer do it, not because he wanted Seifer to think he could, but because he enjoyed (Just a little) being pushed around by Almasy. It gave him a reason to push back.
Squall shrugged the hand off as he replied in a tight voice.
` Knock it off. I have something to say to you.` Seifers grin melted off his face. *Whats he thinking? Could he possible be trying to tell me he feels the same way about me as I do him? My romantic dream since before the war, my Commander, What do you want to say?* Seifer held his breath as Squall struggled with a way to break it to him. *How do you say `Hey man, the chick that knocked you out at the club is now a student here, and soon will be SeeD. Probably a higher rank than even you.`?* Squall closed his eyes and opened his mouth. This wouldnt be easy. Hearing the quick intake of breath, Squall opened his eyes to a very pissed off looking Seifer. His face was quickly clouding with anger and Squall felt a tightening in his stomach. He had seen this look so many times.
`What the fuck is she doing here?!` Seifer bellowed. Most of the surrounding tables turned to look. Squall realized the situation could get very bad very fast. He stepped between to two tables. Zell was up and at Raenas side with a hand on her back.
`Seifer man, calm down.` Zell cooed. Raena smirked and that was ALL the big gunblader needed. *Okay, this is really bad.* Squall thought. Raenas quick tongue bit into Seifers ego and Squall could feel its slice, like a gunblade through flesh.
`Same thing you are Monsieur Knight. Learning how to fight.`
*Oh SHIT, Raena ya shouldnt have done that.* Zell thought as he stepped in front of her.
*Oh SHIT. Wonderfull, this is just great.* Squall thought as he moved closer to the man whos eyes were dangerously narrowed to slits of emerald. He lunged. Squall held his gunblade in its sheath as he tried to draw it and pressed his shoulders against Seifers chest to keep him from moving forward.
`What the HELL are you doing Lionheart?! She needs to be taught a little respect!`
`NOT in the cafeteria, Seifer.` Squalls voice was loud in context to the soft way he usually spoke. Seifer at once realized the closeness of their bodies, but quickly glared at the red head again. Trying once, even though he knew it was worthless, Seifer pushed against Squall to see if he could off balance him enough to get the man off his chest. It didnt work. All this did was put his muscular body completely up against Squalls.
`Please...`
It was spoken into his ear. It was quiet and sleek. It was a voice Seifer had never heard come from this man he`d known all his life. It set his pulse racing even faster. Abruptly, Seifer turned away and grabbed his coat that was draped over a chair. Throwing it on with his back to the three, he breathed deeply twice before making his way threw the room and out the door without a glance back.
Exhausted and slightly shaky for some reason, probably the lives of the innocent lower class men he just saved, Squall found it hard to stand. Sinking into the chair again he lowered his head to his hands. Vaguely he heard Zell warning Raena and gently reprimanding her. *Probably on his way to the Training Center.* Squall thought as he gathered himself and stood again a few minutes later.
Zell and Raena were absorbed in their food. Zell nodded to him as he left and Squall sighed in response. Zell looked up at gave a sympathetic smile to the man as he made his way out of the cafeteria and headed back to the Training Center.
He had to calm Seifer down a little. If that meant sparring, Squall was unusually up for the challenge at the moment.
As he pushed the metal doors open, Squall heard the terrible scream of an angry
T-rexuar. It was quickly followed by a chilling battle cry he knew all too well.
****** ****** ******
A/N: Im sorry I just had to have some Squall x Seifer stuff in here some where and I like it when Seifer swears. I just picture him that way. Also he would be the one to use a battle cry and Zell seems to be only using it in fun. Im sorry if Raena turned out to be a bitch in this chapter. Actually, when I went back and read that line about `learning how to fight` I really cringed. I cant believe I let her say that to my Seify! Oh well, can you get the picture? Seifer and Raena will be at odds for a while, and because of her Seifer will pick on Zell more. Well, I think Im done blithering, G`nite, its getting late. I gotta go to sleep..... mmmm.... Sleep.
-Rouko (Now affectionately called `Buella` by my friends.)
P.S: Ive started to get an idea for a Yu Yu Hakusho fic so look for the first chap in a few weeks.