Roses
The Sniper's Rose
Chapter Three-Opposites Attract
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Irvine turned his head. "Selphie?" He scratched the back of his head. Aw damn, lost my guide. He started back to the entrance of the TC. As his feet moved across the ground, he noticed a large dip or crater. He observed the huge footmarks.
"Something big, real big." He sighed coolly.
"HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Irvine quickly turned his head to the direction of the scream.
"IRVINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The girlish scream echoed. Irvine slid his arm toward his back and pulled out a thin wooden rifle. Something tells me, that the bigee found my tour guide. Irvine rushed back to the entrance. Suddenly, a large orange figure knocked him back a few feet.
"What the hell?" Irvine watched the figure; it was a tail, a very large one at that. Selphie screamed again. "Err, FIGHT BACK SELPHIE!" Irvine called.
"I-I can't!" Was the reply. Irvine aimed his gun; he had no other choice. He pressed his finger against the trigger.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Selphie opened her eyes. The T-Rexaur's eyes started to close, as it's enormous body fell to the ground, behind it was Irvine with a rifle in his right hand. Selphie looked back at the dead dinosaur. Five bullets were dented it its head.
Oh my hyne, he only used 5 bullets to kill that huge animal, FIVE!
Irvine walked towards Selphie. Man, took me five freakin bullets stupid animal wouldn't fall! He thought as he advanced closer
"You okay?" He asked as he lent a hand. Selphie sat speechless. "Hey, Selphie! Are you alright?" He repeated more loudly. Selphie blinked for a moment.
"I…think." She stuttered as she took Irvine's hand. "Maybe, we could continue after dinner. My next class starts soon."
Irvine nodded, "Uh, sure." Selphie shook her head.
"I'll see you later. Bye." She hesitated for a moment than walked away in a steady pace.
Irvine watched her leave. Was, did I, I what?………did I just enjoy myself?
Selphie walked to the elevator remembering what happened just a few minutes ago.
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The teeth grew closer to Selphie, she shivered. She wanted to scream. Did she lose her voice?
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Selphie shut her eyes, did I die? She opened them; the T-Rexaur fell to the ground after five shoots. Irvine held his rifle against his shoulder as he advanced towards her. Oh my hyne, he only used 5 bullets to kill that huge animal, FIVE!
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Irvine walked back to his dormitory. There wasn't anything different inside other than the fact the blonde boy sat on the table scribbling an essay together.
"Hi." Irvine mumbled as he pulled up a chair.
"Oh hey," Zell answered. He pushed his essay aside. "Uh, I got class right about now but you can start to unpack your stuff and I'll show you round' after lunch." Irvine bobbed his head.
"Cool." He yawned as he gathered his belongings and went inside one of the rooms in the back.
"Erm, dude, that's my room." Zell called. Irvine groaned as he exited Zell's room and headed to the other.
Selphie leaned against the wall in the 2nd floor hallway. The elevator doors opened with a small beep. Three students walked out, one of them was Rinoa.
"Hey Selphie, where were you. You weren't in the library when I got there." She said disappointingly.
"Sorry Rin, I was done with my work so I just left." Selphie replied.
"It's alright. Okay, what class do you have next?" Rinoa asked. Selphie looked at her schedule closely.
"Training Skills Of Fight."
"Really? I know a lot of people who have that class next."
"Great."
Irvine placed his last item away in a drawer.
He laid down on the small uncomfortable bed. It wasn't as if he was not used to it anyways. His eyes slowly closed as he drifted into he land of slumber.
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"There. Is that all the contracts Mrs. Kramer?"
"Yes, I do believe so. Irvine Kinneas is now in your hands sir."
"Great." The man walked out of the room and dragged Irvine along with him.
Days Later
There was a child screaming, more of a yelp of pain than a shout of fear.
"Please! No…more?" He cried softly.
"Shut up! Now get the working." Some man yelled.
"I…can't." Was the reply. The next moment was unbearable to watch. The man advanced toward the weak and helpless child, he pulled out a paddle. The child now was shivering.
"No, I'm sorry! I'll do it!"
"Too late."
"WHAM!" A few tears fell to the ground.
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Irvine's sprung out of bed. Cold sweat trickled down his bare neck. He panted slowly.
"It's over…I'm not a child anymore!" He threw himself onto the floor with a loud thump. No, not me…I mean why am I looking back from then? Aren't I happy now? Sure I'm a wanted murderer, but hell, if you have a life, enjoy it right?
A half a class later
Selphie sat at her desk as she listened to her instructor, Quistis Trepe. Across form her was a guy named Seifer. He seemed like a dangerous fellow, just for the fact he said he gave Squall the scar that is placed in the middle of his face. Then again, Squall gifted Seifer the same way.
"If use an Auto ability, which I very much prefer, your magics will be placed in a way that will come only to your favor. Alters are very simple if it doesn't come to your exact need. Any questions?" Quistis lectured. Seifer raised his hand. "Yes Seifer?" Quistis replied rather aggravated.
"What are you talking about?" He said sarcastically, he was obviously used to saying this line.
"If you listen I'm sure you'll ace this class." Quistis answered as she continued to teach using large charts.
"Who needs to ace if I'm dating the teacher?" Selphie overheard Seifer mumbling to himself.
Selphie giggled slightly. She closed her eyes as she kept her mind in the TC with Irvine. His rifle laid on his shoulder completely relaxed.
"Are you okay?" Selphie placed her pen on her paper as she drew a small thin gun. A sniper… The bell echoed through the classroom.
"Class dismissed!"
Selphie gathered her belongings as she exited the room. She rushed through halls with her books tucked tightly to her chest. Her eyes wandered, as she looked straight at her feet.
"Look out!"
With a small crash Selphie felt herself tumble to the floor. Her books scattered feet away form her.
"Ow." She moaned as she rubbed her rump.
"Watch where you're…" A familiar male's voice rung through her ears. "Oh sorry." He added quickly. Selphie peered an eye upwards. Irvine stood there as he lent a hand. Selphie took it gratefully.
"Sorry about that." She said quickly. Irvine raised an eyebrow as he continued down the hall. Selphie blushed a bright red as she watched Irvine disappear into the crowd. I have no chance with a guy like that…
Irvine made his way as he squeezed between the small gaps in the crowds.
"Zell!" He called as he spotted the out-going blonde with a pig-tailed girl under his arm.
"Oh, hey Irv!" He replied as he waved.
"Irvine." Kinneas corrected.
"Yeah, okay Irv this is my girlfriend Amy." Zell introduced as the pig-tailed blonde stepped up and smiled.
"Irvine." He repeated.
"Yeah whatever, listen I can't show you around today. Sorry."
"(Scoff) Sure whatever."
Irvine kicked the ground, Zell walked away blabbering to his girl like an complete idiot. Selphie is still going to help…I think. Oh, what if she bails too? He traveled backwards towards the direction he bumped into Selphie. Obviously, Selphie had left.
Selphie walked with Rinoa into the cafeteria.
"One thing about the cafeteria is that there is always a line, get used to it." Rinoa explained. Selphie nodded.
"What's on the menu?" She asked.
"Hot dogs…oops! Zell!" Rinoa quickly ran through the doors without a reason. Selphie shrugged as she bought her food and found an empty table. She started to tap at her food, and then suddenly sighed.
I hate it here, so what if I have a nice roommate? She's like…always occupied.
"Can I sit here?"
Selphie turned around, Irvine stood there, just as charming and calm as before.
"Of course!" Selphie answered. Selphie ignored her food and smiled sweetly, her cheeks brightened to a reddish color.
"Uh, can you still show me around today?" Irvine asked. Selphie replied immediately,
"Of course, I mean, why not?" Irvine clicked his tongue.
"Thanks, 'preciate it."
"No problem…"
"You 'aright?"
"Uh huh…" Selphie's eyes were as wide as they could open and they weren't staring at Irvine. Irvine, realizing her surprised expression, turned around. His own roommate held his tray with what looked like a mountain of hotdogs.
"Is he really going to eat all those?" Selphie asked quietly.
"I wouldn't want to watch and find out. Want to take a walk?"
"Sure!" Selphie said quickly wanting to escape the cafeteria before the eating machine started.
The two rushed themselves into the open hallway.
"Dang, that guy must have one hell of a stomach." Irvine exclaimed.
"You're telling me." Selphie relied. Daylight poured in from the windows. "It's still only 3:00," Selphie sighed. Irvine walked towards the entrance of the Garden. "Where you going?" Selphie called.
"You said so yourself, it's only afternoon, I need some fresh air!" He shouted back with a smirk. Selphie laughed shortly. "Well? You coming?"
Selphie gasped, "I'm there!" She quickly followed him out the doors. The sun's rays hit the ground glaring over the grass and small bug bites swarming around. The sand on the beaches blew softly in the wind.
"It's so pretty…" Selphie breathed.
"Yeah it kinda is." Irvine admitted.
"Let's check out the beach!" Selphie chirped.
"I rather not…" Irvine began.
"Please? Where would you go?"
"The forest." Irvine replied coolly. Selphie shivered slightly.
"It's pretty dangerous in there."
Irvine winked as he lifted his coat and swung his wooden rifle out.
"They don't scare me." Selphie glanced at him,
"Okay," She sighed as she followed him.
The forest was thick in trees and mossy dead trunks. After a long walk, Irvine and Selphie made it to a clearing in the heart of the forest. The trees boarded a large open circle of fine silts of dirt. The enormous branches hung over with a thick canopy of leaves. Selphie rushed into the middle as the sunlight leaked through.
"What are you doing?" Irvine asked awkwardly.
"There's no weather like this in my home town!" Selphie shouted in singsong.
"Where did you live?"
"Trabia!" Selphie spun around waving her nunchuk wildly.
"Trabia? That cold old continent?"
"You bet!" Selphie answered still dancing alongside the trees. She suddenly stopped, "Where did you live as a child?" Irvine turned his head,
"Not important."
"C'mon tell me." Selphie pleaded. Irvine closed his eyes slowly
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"Run you brat!" A tall lady with a shrill voice passed the young boy.
"I'm tired, I've been training all day."
"You won't sleep until it's done!" The lady punched the boy and walked away through the fog and dark. The misty air surrounded the boy.
"But, but! Wait!" He cried. There was no reply. The winds howled as it started a light drizzle.
30 Minutes later
The rain poured hard against the youngster. The boy rushed up and down the muddy tracks.
"I-I'm done!" He shivered as he clutched his wet clothes around him. No one was near; all he heard was a loud command.
"No dinner for you slowpoke!" The young boy gasped in disappointment.
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"My home…was always dark and hazy."
Selphie leaned her head against her shoulder.
"Did you like it?"
"Would you?!" Irvine snapped.
"Whoa, don't bite my head off…" Selphie paused and glanced at Irvine's angry expression, and looked at the ground with guilt. "Sorry. You don't have to tell me anymore."
Wasn't going to anyways. You're nosy! People like me, don't share more than they need too.
Irvine sighed as Selphie kneeled on the soft grounding,
"You were about to say something, what?" Selphie looked up.
"Well, if you wanna know…Well I always said, when I was old enough I'd get out of Trabia as soon as possible!"
"And now you're here."
"Erm, yeah. But I could've left years ago. I dunno why I didn't. If you didn't like your home, why didn't you leave sooner?" Irvine turned his head and threw his body on top of a thick branch.
"I didn't have anywhere to go. If I did, I would have left years ago…"
Shut the hell up Kinneas! Why are you telling a freakin stranger this?
"Where'd you live?" Selphie asked curiously.
"In the…nowhere."
"I understand, you don't have to tell me." She repeated.
The Centra…an old town in the Centra. Just until the war it thrived. Poor and weak, even after the G.A.E.R.O took me. I was just a helpless kid thrown around.
"Want to head back?" Irvine gazed at Selphie. Her eyes were closed as she laid comfortably on the ground. Irvine sighed as he sat by her. He heard her breathing softly.
I'm happy…? But I never really have done something like this. Selphie. I like being here with you. I've only know you for a few hours, I want to do this again. No, I'm a murder, I can't, and I never can belong.
Selphie peered one eye open.
"Are you tired?" She yawned.
"Sorta." He answered.
"Why don't you lay down?" She said still being half asleep. Irvine unconsciously fell to the ground and fell into a deep slumber.
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