Chapter 5: Steel Blue Gaze
Disclaimer: FF8 characters are not mine yadayadayada. It has been a while since I last updated this fic. Me sorry hides under a rock XD
"Don't do it. Stop!" Irvine's voice echoed in the cold dark room. No one…nobody could hear him scream from where he stood. Even the walls refused to listen to him. He found no comfort in this isolated place even though he was not really alone. Another man stood silently before him with a gun pointed at his auburn head. "Locke, please." The cowboy pleaded as he also too took his aim, his hands shaking in fear of the other stronger gunman. The man with the dark hair whom Irvine called Locke just smiled and pulled the trigger.
"A dream?" The young sniper let his eyes adjust to the bright light. His vision still hazy, he tried to get up from what he assumed was a bed. "You shouldn't get up yet sir. Please rest." A small but feminine voice came from the right side of the bed. A young lady in white was checking Irvine's IV. A bit disorientated, the playboy spoke "Hey pretty lady, where exactly am I? How long was I out?" The nurse checked the papers she was carrying with her and replied "You're in Esthar City's medical facility. You've been out cold for approximately eight days." Irvine tried to recall what had happened before he lost consciousness. That's right. I remember now. I guess I must've lost too much blood 'coz of the deep wound. The young man felt for the wound on his thigh but he could not feel any pain at all. Thinking that his leg had been paralyzed, the sniper removed the blanket that covered his injured limb. "The wound is gone." The young man exclaimed. A bit embarrassed at the cowboy's sudden actions the nurse tried to reassure him "Sir may I remind you that the only clothing you have on now is a hospital gown." The young woman blushed at this and continued "The person who brought you here cast Curaga on your wound so it healed instantly. Unfortunately, you did lose a lot of blood so you had to undergo blood transfusion." Enlightened, the cowboy then asked "Who brought me here and where is this person now?" But before the talkative young nurse could tell him who his savior was, the door opened. A man with dark brown hair entered the room. There was silence for a moment then the nurse excused herself then took her leave.
"Was it you Squall? Are you the one who saved me from my ultimate demise?" The cowboy asked teasingly. Squall walked towards Irvine and without warning, punched him in the face. "You're an idiot Kinneas. Why did you agree to take on such a mission?" Dazed from the unexpected blow, the taller man retorted "That hurt damn it! What the hell is your problem? I didn't know much about this mission you know. If I knew who the target was I wouldn't have agreed to do it even if the client killed me." This made the gunblade master angrier. Squall spoke in rage "You're such an idiot. You should've just run away when you had the chance." The auburn haired man was getting angry as well. He replied "Run away and what? Let me watch you get hurt from afar…again? I'm tired of watching Squall." The brunette was getting confused now. "Watching? Nobody ever asked you to watch. I didn't ask for your help back there." Irvine tried to soothe his bruised face with his right hand as he thought about what he wanted to say next. After a while the cowboy's mood suddenly changed. "I guess this is as good a time as any." Irvine said in a hushed tone. The wielder of the gunblade crossed his arms in front of him as he waited impatiently for the other man to talk. The sniper looked away from Squall as he spoke.
"I've been watching you from afar since we met in Galbadia Garden. I knew who you were at that moment and I also knew that you have changed. You have become stronger than the Squall I used to know back in the orphanage and the mission in Deling proved that. My bullet didn't kill the Sorceress' so you had to finish the job for all of us. Things didn't turn out the way we wanted so I ended up watching you being carried off to the Desert Prison and I knew I had to find a way get you out. I volunteered to get Rinoa, an excuse of course so I could save you and the rest. It was more than I've ever expected but I was able to watch you take the lead and united Balamb Garden to fight for a common goal.
I watched you fall for Rinoa with each passing day though you deny it which is so like you. I watched the two of you from the stage where we played Sephie's music. The two of you looked so happy yet unsure then as you both talked beneath the moonlight in Fisherman's Horizon. I watched you risk everything as you went into space to save Rinoa from the Earth station."
Irvine found it difficult to continue but he knew that this may be his only chance. He took a deep breath as he said "I watched as Rinoa held you in her arms at the place where the two of you agreed to meet after the final battle with Ultimecia. I heard from Rinoa that you promised to meet her there. She used to talk a lot about her relationship with you. I guess she trusted me with her secrets of course, that's one of my many charms. Anyway, I thought long and hard about that place and there I was. I just wanted to know that you're ok even though I also knew that you'd be in Rinoa's arms by the time I got there." Irvine felt a heavy burden lifted off his chest.
Sensing that the cowboy had finished, Squall spoke "What now? I have nothing to offer you. I can take care of myself so you don't have to treat me like some weak child."
The cowboy knew Squall well enough and expected that kind of reaction. The auburn-haired man replied "I'm not expecting you to return the feeling Squall. Though it wouldn't hurt if you did but the point is I want you to know that I'm not gonna stand around and watch you get hurt." The brunette retorted coldly "Tch! Suit yourself." At that, Squall left the room. Irvine laid back on his bed and contemplated on what just happened.
Three days had past since Squall last spoke to the cowboy. Irvine had been released the same day he had regained consciousness and had been given accommodations in the Palace. The brunette had come across the sniper a couple of times since he too stayed in the Palace but neither of them took notice of the other person.
The young Garden leader had been gathering information in Laguna's office about Esthar's experiments and the possible enemies. "Squall?" An older man's voice called from the doorway. Surprised, the young man bolted up from the president's chair. Laguna walked towards the brunette and asked "It's not that I don't like you around or anything but if I may ask what you are still doing here in Esthar?" Squall sat down and replied "The research for the experiments involved scientists from Balamb. It's also possible they come from the Garden. If things turn out for the worst, Balamb will also have enemies." Silence filled the room for a moment. Laguna could not resist but speak "Thinking like a good leader should I see. Anyway, I have received word that Kinneas is being called back to Galbadia ASAP. Having known his client's intentions, I don't think he should go back. It's dangerous for him to." The younger man just shrugged, took some papers and left the room.
The presidential palace was quiet that day. The palace employees had gathered on the first floor for Laguna's monthly 'good job everyone' speech. It is commonly known as a status report of Esthar's activities but the happy-go-lucky President calls is otherwise. It had been indeed one long day for everyone.
The brunette walked along one of the familiar empty corridors in the palace He had been thinking a lot about the appropriate course of action and the orders he had to give his subordinates when he got back to Balamb the next day. As the leader of the Balamb SeeDs it was his duty to investigate the matter regarding the Balamb citizens involved. The long walkway eventually lead him to a small balcony overlooking the large city of Esthar. The sun was setting and the sky painted with burning shades of orange and red had never been so beautiful. Squall admired this rare and magnificent view as he leaned on the metallic blue ledge covered with intricate Esthar designs. "Beautiful, isn't it?" a familiar male voice spoke from behind. Irvine sat on the ledge and also admired the view. The man with brown locks remained silent as he turned to leave the place he thought would give him solitude. "Have a safe trip tomorrow Squall." The cowboy spoke as he adjusted his hat to cover his face. The other man paused. Squall did not look at the sniper as he replied "Whatever." When Squall was about to walk towards the balcony entrance, the taller man stood and blocked the young leader's way. Irvine readjusted his hat to show his steel blue eyes. "I'm serious Squall. I won't be able to cover your back starting tomorrow." The brunette did not speak and tried to force his way through. Making his point clear, the taller man did not move. Annoyed, the man clad in black hissed "Get out of my way. I don't need you." Irvine could no longer bare it. He wrapped his slender arms around the shorter man. Squall reacted instantly and tried to break free. The cowboy then whispered almost inaudibly "You needed me once." At this, Squall stopped struggling and looked up to meet the taller man's soft and kind gaze. "Would you like me to remind you?" the auburn-haired youth said caringly. The cowboy's hand reached up to caress the young Balamb Garden leader's smooth cheek. Irvine slowly closed the gap between them as his lips brushed against Squall's. The sniper was not certain what the other man's reaction would be, seeing the surprised expression in the other man's eyes. This would be the second time he had kissed Squall without his consent so Irvine decided to keep this encounter short and sweet but what happened next exceeded his wildest expectations. The brunette spoke "You call that a kiss? I thought you were supposed to be a ladies' man." Squall placed a hand behind the cowboy's head and pulled the puzzled man closer for a deeper and longer kiss. Both men enjoyed being able to caress the other's lips but it went no further than that. When the kiss finally ended and the men were at a comfortable talking distance from each other, the young leader spoke again "Don't think of that kiss as an act of love or even pity. It was…" Irvine interrupted "It was an act of the body…not of the mind." Squall nodded at what the other man said. The cowboy was hurt at this but decided not to make it an issue. Squall, when are you going to let go of the pain? The sniper felt the awkward feeling of silence setting in so he said "I guess we have to prepare for the long trip for FH tomorrow." The brunette did not understand. "We?" Squall asked. Irvine has always enjoyed it when Squall looked confused. He looks so adorable. The cowboy thought. "Yes, WE are going back to Fisherman's Horizon tomorrow. I haven't decided if I should go back to Galbadia after that but maybe I should pay Balamb Garden a visit." Irvine showed his most charming smile. The young leader could not help but show a hint of red on his face. Irvine actually looks good when he smiles like that. Squall had to smack himself out of his inaudible monologue. "Something wrong, Squall?" Irvine asked with a concerned look on his face. "It's nothing. I have to check some documents one last time." The brunette waved at the cowboy as he left the balcony. Irvine continued to admire the darkening sky. I don't know what's gonna happen next but I sure am glad you didn't push me away this time Squall. The thought left a lingering smile on the cowboy's face.
The next day, both men had said their goodbyes to the people they have come to know during their stay in Esthar. Neither of them knew what the future holds for them but they had no choice but to move forward.
Author's Notes: I'm pretty excited to know what's gonna happen to them in FA. Heeeheee. In case you're wondering, the nurse in Irvine's hospital room is totally fictional (I don't think she'd really be embarrassed to see a half-naked man right?). Locke is a character from FF6 (Locke Cole). He is also a ladies man like Irvine. I wonder if he'll be mentioned again in this fic. O well, be seeing ya in the next chapter. Thanks for reading :D