It had been three days since Laguna's unintentional revelation. Squall was standing in his room brooding over it, trying to decide how to handle the situation. He had avoided everyone for days but now he couldn't run anymore. Can't they leave me alone? I need time for myself. Everything is so confusing. Why is everything in my life so screwed up? Is there such thing as normal life for a guy like me? I guess there's no rest for the weary… He was awakened from his thoughts when some knocked oh his door.
"Yeah?" Squall heard Irvine's muffled voice through the door.
"Hey, Squall it's me. Hurry up and dress we have to start your lessons soon."
On the bed lay a whole new set of clothes. It was to fit his new persona.
Basically, he and Zell had to switch wardrobes. Sighing, he looked at the clothes that Zell picked out. "Hyne help me." He muttered. "Well, I wonder how Zell likes the clothes I picked out? I can't believe Kiros and Irvine tricked us like that."
*Flashback*
Zell, Irvine and Squall had just finished shopping.
"Boy, I sure am hungry."
"Yeah me too, I saw a hot dog stand around the corner. Let's go after we pay for this stuff."
Squall, looked over at the cashier's desk. "We may be here for a while."
The other two turned and looked at the huge line.
"OH MAN!"
Seemingly out of nowhere Ward and Kiros appeared.
"Ward and I can take care of your purchases."
"Thanks fellas, I'd be much obliged if you would be so kind."
"Yeah thanks man, I owe you guys."
"Whatever."
Squall and Zell gave their stuff to Kiros and Irvine gave his stuff to Ward. Then the two guys ran off for food while Squall leisurely walked to the food court. When they were out of sight. Kiros quickly exchanged the items Zell picked and out and replaced them in Squall's size. Then he did the same thing with the clothing Squall originally picked out and replaced them in Zell's size. Then he and Ward paid for the clothes and met the guys at the food court.
*End Flashback*
Finally, deciding on what to wear. Squall walked out of his room with his usual black boots, black jean shorts that had flames running up the leg and a red hoodie that said Raging Beat. His face was impassive as always but Irvine was sure that he was fuming possibly hiding some other emotion behind his façade of ice as well. He walked over to the couch and sat down staring a hole in the globe like TV.
Maybe I can goad Mr. Silent Angst into saying something. Hopefully this won't be the death of me. I've watched him brood more than usual for days. Enough is enough!
"Hey Squall you got any hot sauce to go with those chicken legs?"
"…" Squall's silence was accompanied by the glare from hell.
Thankfully Zell saved Irvine from any further attempts at conversation as he walked out his room wearing his favorite black sneakers, black leather pants with studded belt and red form fitting shirt. He then jumped over the couch and flopped down.
Grinning cheekily, "Well what do you think?"
Irvine whistled. "Well I thought I'd never see the day, but you two should have switched clothes sooner. You don't look half bad."
Zell stood up and began rocking on the balls of his feet, and then he looked over at Squall.
"WHOA! Dude, you look like me! Hey, I know. Do something like me." The only response Zell received was yet another glare from hell, followed by a restrained growl.
"Tch, someone's a little peeved."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Irvine, Squall and Zell were on the balcony of one of the palace's many rooms. Laguna gave it to them so they could train in peace. Right now the Cowboy was trying to teach Zell how a Galbaldian accent went.
"Okay Zell, at the end of your words you add a little extra flare or twang, drawl it out."
Squall was leaning against the railing and sighed. I swear I could hear Zell blink when Irvine said that. I can't blame him though. I'm having a hard time with this accent thing myself. Not to mention these clothes. I want my leather pants back.
"Twang? Drawl? I don't get it."
Irvine flared his nostrils in irritation. "All right, just listen to the way I talk and try to emulate some of it."
Zell opened his mouth to speak when Laguna, Kiros and Ward walked in.
"Hey guys!"
Ward and Kiros simply nodded their greetings.
Great, Fa… I mean Laguna is here and annoyingly cheerful too. I feel a headache coming on. I have to get out of here. I'm not ready for this, I'm not ready to deal with him…
"How's the accent coming along?"
"Terrible, I don't get what Irvine is talking about."
"Maybe you're trying too hard. People pick up accents subconsciously from hanging around others."
"Well if that's true, shouldn't we have picked up Irvine's accent by now or the other way around?"
"Not necessarily, Garden is a big school with many students and many different accents. Since that's eliminated here, it should happen before you notice. I mean Laguna and myself both have the Galbaldian accent."
"Suits me just fine, I'm not much of the teaching type."
"Sweet, you hear that Squall?"
"Whatever."
Irvine's eye twitched as soon as Squall spoke. "Excuse me, Mr. Silent Angst. I'm just a little sick and tired of your 'whatever' complex. Why don't you do yourself a favor and say what's on your mind, partner. Or do you enjoy being violently depressing? I tired of watching the angst – o – thon for the last four days."
Zell bristled at the tone in Irvine's voice as well as everyone else in the room.
Squall stiffened for a brief second before whirling around and looking at the group in front of him. He eyed them all before setting his gaze on the one irate Sharpshooter.
Squall growled his words in anger. "What business of yours is my mood?!?"
"It's my business because you're my friend, at least I like to think so. Sometimes I wish you get whatever stick is up your…"
"Yo! Calm down you two, we can't be fighting amongst ourselves, we have a mission to do plus we're the Orphanage Gang, remember? We're the only family we have. We're brothers even Seifer, he's just the older brother who gets into a lot of trouble."
"Look Squall, I'm only trying to let you know that I don't like seeing you so aloft and everything. You've got to learn to trust people. You may not remember but I have all my
memories from Orphanage intact and I know you and what happened to you." His tone softened with every word.
"Don't… Squall tried to put as much aggression behind his words as he could but it was hollow to his own ears.
"Let me continue, I remember how much you loved Ellone, hell we all did. But you took it the worst, saying you wouldn't need anyone anymore. Well no man is a fortress. It's about time you learned that. You can't keep pushing us away, we're here for you."
Squall voice was deathly calm and devoid of emotion. The Ice Prince persona was in total control. His eyes seem to flicker before dying down into a cold harsh glare. "Family's like a cheap whore on the street, they love you and leave you. Only you don't pay in money but it pain." Squall immediately turned on his heel and stalked out of the room and the palace all together.
Time seemed to stand still, as if magic was used to freeze that one isolated moment in time, especially for Laguna.