"I see you've located our missing Commander." Quistis sounded cheerful as she addressed Irvine.
"Yeah, he was baking himself by the docks. I rescued him before he could burn too badly."
The two looked at Squall, his cheeks and nose a dark pink. Irvine said, "You should take a potion or something for that."
"Maybe later." Squall shrugged. "Quistis, can—"
His question was cut short by Selphie's appearance. She threw open the door of the fitting room stall and bounded into their midst. "What do you think?"
Gone was the minute yellow dress. In its place were an equally short pair of royal purple shorts topped with a lavender halter. If anything, she was even more scantily clad than before.
"Wow, Sefie, you look great!"
"Oh, yes," Quistis added. "That works so much better with that hair."
Selphie made a face at her then turned to Squall. "What do you think?" She waited. "Squall! My face is up here!"
"Huh?" He blinked and Quistis bit her lip while Irvine took a sudden interest in the ceiling tiles. "Sorry. I was just looking at the beadwork." The cloth of Selphie's top ended just beneath her breasts, followed by about three inches of intricately woven beads in a complex design of interlocking waves, all in pastel shades of purple, pink, and blue.
"Riiiiiiight," Selphie drawled. "My 'beadwork.' Of course."
Lacking an appropriate response Squall simply met her eyes for a long moment. Finally he thought of something to say. "You look good."
Something in his tone made Selphie a little uneasy so she turned to Quistis, who had joined Irvine in his staring contest with the ceiling. "Okay, Quisty, it's your turn!"
Opening her mouth to speak, Quistis looked around, caught Squall's gaze, and then silently marched into the dressing room, a very small bundle clutched in one fist.
"So," Selphie turned to Squall, "did you and Irvy have a nice chat?"
After a sidelong glance to Irvine, who was self-consciously running a hand through his unbound hair, Squall mildly said, "Yes, we did."
Selphie looked back and forth between the two men, one placid and pink in a way she couldn't decide was blush or burn, and the other nervously trying to put his hair back in order in spite of the lack of mirror, or, in fact, anything to tie it back with.
Noticing this, Squall rummaged through a pocket and produced the band he'd recently taken from Irvine. "Here," he said, passing it back to its owner, "but it looks good down."
Irvine gaped, looked at the circle of plastic in his open palm, then transferred it to his vest pocket.
Having watched the byplay between them with growing interest and excitement, Selphie exclaimed, "Isn't he a great kisser?"
"Who?" Quistis had just stepped out of the dressing room.
"Squall," Selphie answered, still looking to Irvine for confirmation of her suspicions.
Irvine nodded guiltily just as Quistis said, "Oh, yes. He is a good kisser. Very good." She sighed in happy remembrance as Selphie and Irvine swiveled to stare incredulously at her. "Very enthusiastic. You could even go so far as to say violent. There's a lot of passion hiding under that cold act of his. Right, Squall? Squall?"
Squall was staring, transfixed, at the vision of Quistis Trepe, former instructor, formidable fighter, and object of adulation for a sizable segment of Garden students, clad in a long, flowing dress of variegated blue, nearly transparent gauze. He could see the outline of her figure and, where the thin cloth grew pale, patches of flesh. The fabric fluttered and swayed with her every motion, sending the colors into a dance around her, promising a revelation that never quite came.
"…Beautiful," he breathed, completely unaware of what anyone had been saying around him.
Three very amused looks were exchanged before settling back on Squall, who was still staring in abject fascination.
"I was going to ask how you knew that," Selphie began.
"But it's obvious you're right," Irvine finished.
Blushing a little from Squall's unwavering attention, Quistis stepped forward and touched him gently on one bare shoulder. "Squall," she said.
"Hmm?" His eyes never moved.
"You're making me nervous."
He blinked a few times, and then seemed to wake from a trance. "Sorry," he apologized.
"I'm flattered," she told him, smiling, still touching him, "just a little freaked out." To her surprise, he didn't back away, apologize, or blush.
"Can we go somewhere and talk?" he asked, a hint of dark promise visible in his smoky eyes.
Surprised again, Quistis blinked and said, "Um, okay. Just let me pay for this." She pulled the tag from the dress and started for the sales counter.
Squall stopped her and plucked the tag from her unresisting fingers. "My treat," he said seriously, then, to everyone's astonishment, removed the tags from Selphie's new outfit as well. With a last half smile he left them to ring up the clothes with the bored girl at the counter.
A quiver ran through the three he left behind.
"If I could bottle that, I'd have it made," Irvine mused.
"What?" This from Selphie.
"He was sexy when he was an asshole. Now that he's being sweet and charming… no one stands a chance."
Quistis nodded in glum agreement. "How does he do it?"
"He's Squall," Selphie said, the statement ringing with finality. "More importantly, how do you know what kind of kisser he is, Quisty?"
"Even more importantly," the honey blonde countered, "why were you asking Irvine?"
They both turned to the man in question. Irvine looked up, still absently playing with his hair and said, "He kissed me." He shrugged. "He took my hair down in the process. I think he likes long hair." Forcing himself to drop his hands, he turned to Quistis. "Your turn."
"He… he kissed me, too. Yesterday. I don't want to get into why. I think I missed my chance, though. I should have gone to see him, like I said I would, but… something came up." She was very carefully not meeting either of their gazes.
"You, too?" Selphie laughed loudly. "I wonder if Zell made his date?"
"Zell?" Irvine asked.
"No," Quistis said, simultaneously. She had no chance to clarify that, because right then Squall returned.
"You're all paid up and ready to go," he said. "Quistis, I was wondering if—"
"Hey!" Selphie interrupted. "Why don't we pick up Zell from his mom's and all have lunch?"
Squall looked around, irritated at the interruption. Seeing that the others agreed to the suggestion, he resigned himself to the inevitable. "Alright," he said, monotone.
"Great!" Selphie grabbed both Squall and Quistis by a hand and started dragging them outside.
Unable to ward off Selphie's infectious good cheer, Squall cocked a smile back over his shoulder. "Come on, Irvine," he called, holding out his free hand.
Irvine smiled widely and hurried to take it.
Before either of them could prevent it, Squall had pulled Irvine up alongside him and deftly swapped out his hands, leaving Irvine and Selphie together and a step ahead. "I'll walk on my own, thanks," Squall said, admiring the panoramic view of three of the nicest backsides in Balamb.
It was a brief stop to collect Zell before they were all seated in a corner booth of a restaurant. Zell had the center position, looking pleased with his arms around Selphie and Quistis' shoulders. Irvine and Squall flanked them.
"We're still on vacation, right Squall?" Zell wanted to know.
"Yes."
"Can we spend a night or two here in Balamb, then?"
"I don't see why not," was the mild response.
"Yeah!" Zell exclaimed. "There's a new club I want to take you guys to."
"Sounds like fun!"
"I'm game."
"I guess I can show off my new dress."
"I don't know." Squall shook his head.
They all looked at him.
"Aww… why not?" Zell's big blue eyes were wide.
"I don't like crowds."
"We'll keep you safe, won't we?" Zell looked around, getting nods from the others. "See? Nobody'll hurt our little Squallie while we're on the job." His smirk was not well disguised.
The veil closed over Squall's features, leaving him outwardly blank and uncaring. "…Whatever." The effect was spoiled slightly by the sunburn, still untreated, forming small freckles on his nose.
"Don't be like that. Eat lunch; think about it. I'd really like you to be with us tonight, though. It wouldn't be the same without you." Pale lashes closed over lapis eyes. "Pleeeeeeeease!" Zell begged.
There was a long pause as they all stared at Squall. Finally, his face thawed. "Shrimp," was his only comment.
"Is that an insult or your order?" Zell asked smugly.
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, I'll go, you shrimp, and I'll have the grilled shrimp."
"You… you'll go, just like that?"
"You'd rather I didn't?"
"No! It's just… it's so unexpected." Zell grinned, toothily.
"I'm holding you to your promise," Squall said, sternly. His lips were pulled into the faintest suggestion of a smile. "If I get mobbed, you have to beat them off me."
"It's a deal!"
The server arrived to take their orders. The meal was uneventful, barring the not-so-subtle attempts on the server's part to flirt with Squall, Irvine, and Zell in that order. She seemed a little overwhelmed by the male pulchritude.
Over dessert it was decided, primarily by Selphie, that all the guys needed club clothes, and she would be happy to take them shopping.
"Why don't you three go together and I'll take Quistis," Squall countered.
Knowing—or at least speculative—looks were passed around.
"Okay," Quistis said agreeably.
Irvine and Selphie grinned broadly; they figured they knew why Squall wanted to be alone with Quistis. Zell was oblivious, too busy chasing down the last bit of strawberry purée soaked cheesecake to notice anything around him. Squall stared at him in open fascination until Quistis lightly touched his arm.
"Shall we?" She tilted her head in the direction of the door.
A smile quirked in one corner of Squall's mouth. "We shall."
The two of them dropped gil on the table to cover their portions of the meal plus a generous tip and walked out, ignoring the giggles following them.