"Squall, man, can we talk?" Irvine plopped down in the next seat, dropping his tray on the table.
"Where are the others?"
"They all went to the restroom. Beats me why they go in groups, but… " Irvine sighed. "I really don't know what to do about Selphie. What do you think?"
"About what?" Squall sipped at his tea.
"'About what?'" Irvine was incredulous. "She's got some notion about me wanting a relationship with her!"
"And don't you?" Another swallow.
"No. Why would she think that, anyway?" Confusion painted his features. "She's a friend, like you and Rinoa. She's almost a sister to me. I just don't know how to tell her that without hurting her feelings."
"You're coming to me for advice on tact? Been drinking this morning, I take it?"
Irvine laughed. "Good point." He winked broadly and touched Squall's hand companionably. "Still, I figured you might have an idea. After all," he continued, as Squall raised his cup again, "Rinoa's okay with you being gay, so I thought you could help me tell Selphie that I am, too."
Silence.
"Squall?"
Tea sprayed over the table as Squall finally managed to breathe in enough to cough. Frantically patting his friend's back, Irvine said, "You okay? What's wrong?"
Grabbing a lapel, Squall dragged the sniper away from the curious looks and into a secluded area near the infirmary.
"Explain," he demanded.
"Sorry, man." Irvine was abashed. "I thought you knew. Don't tell me you thought all the flirting was serious… "
"We'll get back to that later. What makes you think I'm gay?"
"Well… aren't you? I mean, look at you! You're beautiful! You never show any interest in women—not even for fun, like I do." He began ticking off fingers as he spoke. "You do everything Zell tells you to do. You blew off Quistis when any straight man would have had her on the floor. You act really effeminate, too. Like right now, with that hand on one hip 'I'm little Miss Attitude' thing you have."
Squall looked down, dropped his hand from where it rested on his hip, and shifted his posture so he was standing straight.
He coughed.
A pink flush was creeping up his neck, just barely visible above his furred jacket collar. He nervously adjusted his tight shirt and double belts.
He folded his arms crossly over his chest, then thought about how it all looked. Irvine's knowing grin pushed him into speech. "So… you're gay and need to tell Selphie."
Mischief danced in his eyes, but Irvine decided not to risk it. "Not exactly. I have told her, but she doesn't believe me. She gets jealous and I'm not even interested in her like that. I just need to prove it to her, so she'll understand that I flirt with women for fun."
"So, what? You're going to invite her to watch you make out with another guy?"
Irvine simply stared, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.
"No." Squall backed away a step.
"C'mon, man. You kissed Rinoa. You said you'd do the same for any of us! I'm begging you, help me out, here," Irvine pleaded.
"…Whatever."
"Squall— Fine, then. How did you break it to Rinoa?"
"I didn't!" he burst out. "I didn't have to tell her anything, she understood already. And I'm not saying I'm gay!" he added defensively. "She just understood how I felt."
"Still," Irvine pressed, "you said you'd kiss any of us. One kiss—that's all I'm asking. One kiss where Selphie can see and believe."
"Not…" Squall sighed in resignation. "Not where anyone could see. Somewhere private."
"Thanks, man." Irvine grinned and clapped him on the back. "Not to worry, discretion is my middle name."
"Irvine Discretion Kinneas?"
Irvine just laughed and turned to leave.
"Say, Irvine?" Squall interrupted.
"Hmm?" He turned back.
"Did you mean it… when you said I'm beautiful?"
"Oh, sweetheart," Irvine chuckled, just as Selphie, Rinoa, and Quistis rounded the corner, presumably looking for them, "you're absolutely gorgeous." He pulled Squall to him and kissed him deeply.
Surprised, Squall floundered for a moment, then sank into his friend's arms, wrapping his own around the auburn haired man's back, getting tangled in the riding duster that he never seemed to be without.
Breaking off with a last tender nibble of Squall's lower lip, he looked down and said, just loud enough to carry to the watching girls, "I'll see you tonight," and strode off.
"…Whatever."