Alrighty. . .YAY another chapter is up, and I apologize for taking so long to get it out. Between work and all the other stuff going on time has been limited or spent in a state of zombie like grogginess. But that's ok! As always enjoy, read and review! Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII and blah blah blah. . .
Restless Spirit
Irvine was bored. Selphie was busy helping with the SeeD exams, Quistus and Zell were on a mission somewhere near the Galbadian border, so the only person of possible companionship and entertainment was one Squall Leonhart. He sighed and knocked on Squall's dorm room door and waited for some snide remark, but there was nothing. He tried again and began to impatiently tap his foot. Still there was no response.
"Noth'n," he said then shrugged in bitter defeat. 'Damn and he was my last hope. Oh well, guess I'll go down myself,' he thought as he turned and began walking.
He made his was to the elevator and hit the button. The elevator's bell went off and the door opened. Two female students walked out of the elevator. "Ladies," Irvine greeted them tipping his hat just so and stepped off to the side to allow them to pass.
"Hi," one of them said while the other giggled, blushing red as he walked past them. Irvine smiled.
"Still got it!" he said to himself as the elevator doors closed. The elevator stopped at the first floor. Irvin got out and made his way to the training center, whistling happily as he went.
Another student waved to him and he gave a quick nod and smiled. He walked into the training center which was surprisingly quiet. He made his way through the fist two training rooms then entered the third room where he saw something he hadn't expected. A large T-Rexaur lay in the middle of the track.
"Fuck," Irvine muttered as the picture finally sunk in. He had run into a couple of these creatures before but he always had at least two other people with him, and usually had a GF or two. He took in a deep breath of air and released it slowly as he drew Exeter from it's harness. He raised the rifle and kept it fixed on the creature in front of him.
'I don't like this, not one fuck'in bit. Something's off,' he thought as he neared the creature, "it's not even moving.' Irvine fought down the mass of butterflies that now seemed to plague his stomach as he made his way around the T-Rexaur. That was when he noticed the large puddle of blood about the monster's neck and belly. He rested the gun on his shoulder as he walked closer to the monster and inspected the deep gash along it's neck.
'This puppy's only been dead a little while,' he thought then let out a sigh of relief as he confirmed that the creature wasn't breathing. Irvine smiled and kicked the creature in the gut. The gash was a good clean cut towards the top then towards the middle of the cut it became ragged and the cut appeared as though something had exploded then ended in a clean cut. Irvine could not help but feel that he recognized or should have recognized what weapon was used . Suddenly he was snapped out of his thought when he heard a groan from the back of the monster.
Quickly he drew his gun forward once more and cautiously made his way around the creature's head. That was when he saw something he thought he'd never see. There, slumped up against one of the rocks was Squall. His gunblade was slipping from his limp grip, one leg obviously broken from the angle it was bending at, blood covered part of Squalls face and his arm.
"Squall!" Irvine yelled as he ran towards him. He dropped down beside him, putting down his gun he grabbed at the brunette's shoulders shaking him vigorously. "Squall!" he yelled again his voice edged with panic and concern. Quickly he took Squall's pulse, and when he found none he felt a small wave of panic run through him.
"Oh shit," he said as he pulled his hand away which was sticky with blood and Irvine had to work to keep himself from throwing up. Desperately he dug into his coat pocket and drew a phoenix down. He rose and stepped back from Squall then cast out the spell. Irvine watched as the spell surrounded Squall in a faint red color fog before it disappeared. At first nothing happened, Irvine watched horrified. 'Oh fuck,' he thought, 'I was too late.' He closed his eyes and tried fighting back the sudden rush of loss when he heard a gasp. Irvine opened his eyes and smiled but the smile quickly faded as he watched Squall begin to cough sending out a spray of blood.
"Squall. . .?" he said as he got to Squall's side.
"Uhh?" Squall said not bothering to look up.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Irvine cursed under his breath as he knelt down. He hooked one arm about Squall's waist and placed Squall's left arm over his shoulder. "Ok Squall on the count of three we're gonna stand." Without waiting for a reply from Squall he began to count, "One, two, three!"
Squall winced as they rose and dropped the gunblade. "My. . ." He coughed and sent out another spray of blood. 'Damn,' Irvine thought, 'must have internal injuries.'
"Don't worry about it I'll get it later. You're more important!" Irvine told him his voice sounding hard and stern in his ears.
"Whatever. . ." Squall said curtly before passing out.
"Fuck Leonhart!" Irvine hissed under his breath as Squall went limp in his grasp. Irvine was now half dragging, half pulling Squall as he went. He had made his way through the second room and upon entering the first was glad to see three other people.
"Hey," he called out to them. They turned around and Irvine watched as the student's faces went from mildly annoyed to looks of surprise and horror.
"What happened?" one of them yelled as they ran over to his side.
"I'm not sure," Irvine said shortly, in no real mood for chatting, "Listen! I need your help with him." He nodded towards Squall then turned his attention to the rather nervous looking female student, "Hey I need you to run to the infirmary and tell the doctor to get ready for us." Then he turned to one of the other student's and asked him, "Ya got a weapon, right?"
The student nodded. "Good! In the third room you'll see a T-Rexaur, don't worry it's dead." He stopped and sighed then began again more quietly, "Squall saw to that. By the rocks is mine and Squall's weapons. Will you go get them and bring them back to the infirmary?"
"Yes Sir!" the student said and saluted. He turned and ran, making his way to the doors leading to room two. Irvin turned to the remaining student.
"Alright, you help me with him. Grab him on the other side and lift." Then he quickly added, "And be careful on his ribs, I think some of 'em might be broken!" With that they were on their way.
~*~*~*~*~
Squall awoke and he let out a groan as he covered his eyes, shading them from the glow of the flourescent lights. "Shit," he moaned quietly as he tried to sit up. His mind swam and pain exploded along his back and chest. He laid back down, gasping for air, trying to stop the pounding in his head.
'Where am I?' he thought as he studied his surroundings. Then a familiar voice broke his concentration.
"Ah good you're awake." Squall's vision was blurred but he knew without a doubt that the voice belonged to Dr. Kadowaki. A hand was gently laid on Squall's forehead then pulled away. "Your warm," she said then stood there silently staring at him.
"Whatever," Squall rasped, "I have to get out of here." He tried to raise himself again but pain exploded throughout his body. He dropped back down to the bed. He coughed, squeezing his eyes tightly.
"I'm afraid you won't be leaving just yet, or by yourself for that matter." the Doctor said shortly, annoyance obvious in her voice. "But," Squall protested as he felt the Doctor's hand on his shoulder forcing him to stay down.
"Now listen to me Leonhart!" he stopped and stared coldly at Dr. Kadowaki.
"What?" he asked sharply before closing his eyes waiting for some long, exasperated speech of how he should let people help him and that he needed his rest and all the other bullshit that adults seemed to dwell on about.
"You've been severely hurt," Squall rolled his eyes and sighed as the Doctor continued, "Poor Irvin had to revive not once but twice just to get you here, plus we could only heal you so far. Your leg is still. . ."
'Blah, blah, blah!' Squall was tired of all her bitching. He, after all chose to fight the monster. He's the one that got hurt not her, and why the Hell did she care what happened to him in the first place? He could die at any time so why get so pissy?'
"Look at you! Your not even listening to me," the doctor accused and she crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at Squall in shear annoyance.
"I heard you," he retorted quickly, "It's just. . .You're giving me a headache." The Doctor shook her head.
"Smartass! You know if you don't get over your people problems, you're going to end up alone or dead Leonhart." Obviously Squall had pushed her patience to it's breaking point and he watched as she turned and made her way out of the room.
Squall closed his eyes. "Would that be so bad?" he asked quietly to himself.
He sighed and shook his head. His mind felt foggy and distant and he could feel the need for sleep working at him. He yawned and sank deeper into the pillows and blankets. Time passed slowly and blissfully as Squall neared sleep when a light knock came from the door.
"Wuh?" Squall mumbled as he cracked one eye open to see who was coming to pester him now.
"Hey." Irvine greeted quietly, concern in his voice. Squall tried pushing himself into a sitting position but pain burst from his chest.
"Shit," he gasped falling back to the bed hugging his chest tightly.
"Hey, hey! Take it easy!" Irvine said gently as he came to the side of the bed. "Yeah don't have to get up on my accord," Irvine smiled mischievously knowing full well that Squall would probably make some snide ass remark back like " you wish" or maybe "in your dreams." But was surprised when Squall just lay there, teeth clenched, eyes closed.
'Shit he must be hurtin' real bad if he just let me get away with harassing him.' Irvine watched as his friend, his comrade tried desperately to bury the pain. "You want me to go and get the Doc for you?. . ." he was cut off by Squall who was glaring at him coldly through pain filled eyes.
"No. . .I'll deal with it," Squall said curtly then relaxed back into the bed. "So what do you want?" Squall asked his voice sounding tired.
Irvine just smiled and sat down in one of the guest chairs. "Not much. . ." he paused and stood to take off his jacket, "the Doc told me you finally woke up and asked me to keep an eye on ya. That's all."
Then Irvine's eyes got a mischievous twinkle and his once cat like smile grew wide. "She also said you were being one Hell of a stubborn assed lil' fuck." Irvine laughed and even Squall felt himself smiling slightly.
"Well I wouldn't be such a pain in the ass if I could leave and go back to work," Squall retorted glaring light heartedly at Irvin.
"Yeah, well you can't soooo. . ." Irvine rolled his eyes, "You mine as well be nice. Remember she's the one in charge of ya now and I'd hate to get an her bad side." Irvine faked a fearful shiver then smiled at Squall.
"To late for that," Squall said then yawned.
Squall could feel sleep beckoning him and he closed his eyes. "You know Irvine, I don't need a babysitter. . ." Squall yawned again his thoughts lost to his clouded mind.
Irvine sighed and looked up at the ceiling, "Yeah I know you don't but the Doc said, and I'm only following orders. 'Sides I'm not such bad company am I?"
He looked down to Squall and his jaw nearly dropped. "Huh. . .! He's asleep." Irvine said quietly then smiled. "You know if you were tired ya could have just said so." Irvine smiled again and looked at the ceiling, 'Now what?' he thought as boredom quickly took it's hold.
Ok ^-^! Yay another chapter is done! Hope you all enjoyed it, and please do review, good or bad it's all welcomed. Thanks and take it easy!