Chapter 7: Everything to See the Sunset
Disclaimer: FF characters are not mine blah blah blah…I made Irvine suffer enough from Squall's issues so I'm gona be nice to our favorite cowboy this time. Ok so here's the thing, I was too lazy to play the game again to check Dollet so I based most of the town's description on memory and my imagination so don't crucify me for this :P btw please tell me if my chapters are too long. I get carried away a lot.
Dollet beach is place known for its magnificent sunsets. The town itself has a reputation of being the best tourist spot in the northwestern continent. The streets are always crowded with frequent vacationers who never fail to visit during the holidays. The special dishes served in local restaurants give foreigners a treat they would never forget. Though the lively sights and sounds from the pubs and mini-casino satisfy much of the tourists' entertainment needs, visitors can not neglect the solitude and inspiration Dollet town provides. This particular town possesses several unique wonders. A very talented artist displays his work in his home and travelers are always welcomed to view and awe at his masterpieces. A well-known landmark where one can have peace and quiet is Dollet's old concrete bridge that leads to the non-operational communication tower. Dollet is a tranquil and best place to spend the holiday.
"Yawn. Finally! I'm sick and tired of seeing water all around me." The charming ladies man said as he stretched his arms towards the sky. The two companions had just disembarked from the ship they took from FH and they have never been so thankful to be on land again. The ship had brought them closer to Balamb but they did not expect the ship to make several stops before reaching Dollet. Content to feel the steady earth beneath him, Irvine complained "Yo Squall, why didn't you tell me we were boarding a merchant ship? I should have swum back to Balamb. That would have been a lot faster." Quite annoyed and disoriented from the long trip the other man replied "If I knew that, we would've been in Balamb 3 days ago. It's a good thing I was able to contact Xu. Balamb Garden will be ready in case the rumors about the men in black suits are true. The next ship to Balamb doesn't leave until tomorrow morning so don't get any funny ideas. This isn't a vacation." The happy-go-lucky cowboy was in high spirits that day. Could it be because of the previous night he spent with the brunette in his quarters on the ship? Irvine still was not warming up to the idea of Squall being "a friend with benefits". Nevertheless, he was happy he got this close to the guy.
It was a little past noon when the men arrived and the town was lively as always. They found their way through the narrow cobbled streets of the town that eventually led them to the Dollet Hotel. The ambiance of this particular hotel was more hospitable compared to the inn in FH. The floor was covered with a carpet of intricate design, furnished classy sofas provided comfort for the weary travelers and the reception there was outstanding.
"Two rooms please." Squall said to the hotel receptionist. "Aww. We're not sharing a room this time?" the disappointed charmer whined. The brunette simply ignored the other man as he took the room keys from the receptionist. Squall tossed the one of the keys to the other man as he walked to the direction of the rooms as he said "I'm going to bed." The energetic cowboy couldn't help but say "Going to bed already? Man, you really have to build more endurance." Irvine knew Squall blushed at that last remark. Without facing the other man, the exhausted and embarrassed man in black retorted "Say what you want. I don't care." Laughing in the inside, the cowboy announced "I'm gona go sightseeing and maybe do some investigating...on some pretty girls." Squall did not care to listen to what the taller man just said since he only had one thing in mind, sleep.
How ironic. I never thought I'd ever be here again. Locke, why did you do it? Tch. I was such an immature fool then. Squall, if you only knew how happy I am to have this chance with you even if it's not exactly how I wanted it to be. If only I could show you my bloodstained hands and my wretched soul. I'm damned for all eternity.
Irvine had preoccupied himself too much with his thoughts that he failed to realize he had stopped right in front of a local pub. Even now you haunt me. The cowboy knew this establishment well. There were some changes but the structure of the building was the same. The pub had two floors, the drinks were served mainly on the first floor and there was a small casino on the second floor. What was unique to this place was the small bridge on the second floor. It led to a room in the building that stood right across the pub. The bridge was the only way anybody could get into the room that was located in the other building. I see the bridge is intact. Maybe I should see if the room is still there. The auburn-haired man walked into the noisy pub and climbed up the stairs that lead to the second floor. The second floor was unoccupied since it was still too early for the casino to open. Irvine turned the knob of the door that lead to the bridge. That's strange. It's unlocked. The cowboy made his way across the bridge and stood in front of another door that led into the special hidden room. The man stood in front of the door for some time, his heart was palpitating, body sweating and his breathing, fast. "Sharpshooter Irvine Kinneas. It's been a while since we've last met." A familiar voice of an older man said from behind. When the sniper turned around to see who it was his heart stopped. His body froze. "It's…it's…it's you." He managed to stutter. Irvine continued "It can't be." The other man wore a black suit and dark glasses that conceal the cruel intent in his eyes. The man was in his late 40's, his hair turning gray but he still had this commanding aura about him that other men his age did not possess. The unnamed man spoke "I see you've brought a young friend with you. Do you intend to kill him in there as well? You still are the bloodthirsty sniper I used to know correct?" Irvine could not speak nor move from where he stood. "So many innocent lives have been lost. By now, I thought you of all people understand why snipers are loners by nature." The older man walked by Irvine and entered the special room. "By the way, the job you did for me in Esthar was your worst yet. You do know failure is unacceptable. You better watch your back or you might lose something important to you." The overpowering man said as he closed the door behind him. The cowboy collapsed to his knees after his encounter with this mysterious acquaintance.
An evening spent in Dollet was time well-spent for most people. The town became livelier with the opening of the casinos and the exclusive bars. The tourists became wild as they partied both in the bars and on the streets. Meanwhile, in a dark hotel room, Squall just woke up from his long nap. 7pm. I've been out that long? It's still noisy outside. I guess Dollet has done well for itself since its liberation during the last time I came here. The reenergized brunette heard cheerful voices of young women as they strolled beneath Squall's room window. Kinneas? He might be up to no good again. Setting the bed covers aside, the young man splashed water on his face in the bathroom, fixed his hair and left his room wearing only his plain dirty white shirt and black leather pants. He knocked on his companion's room door several times and got no reply. What the hell are you up to now? Damn that guy. He's causing way too much trouble. I should have left him to rot back in the Esthar desert. The exasperated man had no choice but to look for his missing friend outside the hotel.
A crowd of both tourists and local people had gathered in the town square. According to the fliers and posters Squall saw on the way to the area, a town event was to be held that night and everybody was invited. The town square was illuminated by colorful festival lights and there was party music all around. Everyone who attended was having fun except for one brunette who never fancied parties and special events. The young man looked for the troublesome playboy and found several guys who tried to act charming but not exactly the lady-charmer he wanted to talk to. I don't see any men in black suits here. Maybe the rumors were wrong. In any case, I need to confirm this. Where the hell is that idiot? Squall could no longer stand the crowded square and the merry people so he decided to find a quiet place where he could hear himself think. There were three roads leading to the town square and he remembered taking the street that led to the communication tower. I doubt people would go there at this hour knowing that monsters often spawn in that place. With his gunblade in hand, the SeeD leader walked towards the quiet and dimly lit bridge. The brunette then noticed a figure leaning on the concrete railing of the bridge.
"Aren't you supposed to be asleep?" The figure said. "Aren't you supposed to be flirting with the women in town?" the brunette replied. Irvine stepped into the dim light, his face hidden beneath the shadows of his hat. The cowboy replied teasingly "Are you sure you won't mind?" Squall turned away from the other man as he said "Tch! I could care less. Anyway, let's get straight to the point. What's wrong with you this time?" Shocked by the other man's keen sense of observation, the taller man scratched his head as he retorted "You know me that well huh? I didn't think you would notice." The brunette did not care to explain how he knew something was wrong. He remained silent as he waited for his question to be answered. Knowing the inevitable moment has come, Irvine had no choice but to tell him the truth.
"My hands are stained by the blood of the innocent, Squall. It's not in my records but I used to be part of a top-secret agency that trained hired assassins before I joined Galabadia Garden at age 14." The man paused as he chuckled then continued talking "Looking back, the only reason I became an exceptional sniper is because of the training I received from professional killers. You see, unlike you guys, I have no talent to wield the gunblade like you and Seifer can. I can't fight the way Zell does and I'm not as smart as Selphie or Quistis. None of the Gardens had any use for me that time so a man named Garland took me in when no one else would. I thought I finally had a family but I was wrong. I found out Garland led the agency that kill for money. He taught me how to use my first rifle. Having nowhere else to go, I did what I could and my life would have been like hell too if I didn't meet Locke Cole. I was 10 years old then and Locke was 6 years older but he lived the same kind of life that I did so we got along fine." The sniper paused, his breathing noticeably uneven. "You cared for him did you?" Squall asked to break the silence. Irvine simply nodded. "What happened to him?" the brunette inquired. "Locke and I trained together but we were more than just your ordinary training buddies." Squall could not help but interrupt "You love him then?" The taller man simply said "I did and…I killed him in this very town." Bewildered by the other man's confession, the brunette was speechless. "Garland knew Cole and I were his greatest asset in the business. We killed everyone Garland ordered us to even though we knew it was wrong. One day we just decided to quit that kind of life but Garland would not hear any of it. To show his authority over our lives, he made us play a game. You've seen the local pub with the bridge on the second floor right, Squall? That used to be owned by the agency and the hidden room on the second floor used to be a storage room for guns and ammunition. Garland locked Locke and I in the storage room together. The rule of the game was simple who kills the other first in a span of an hour gets to leave the room without punishment. If neither of us kills the other in an hour, both of us will be shot and killed by Garland's men. I did what I could to live, escaped that same night when Garland thought I came to my senses and that's when Martin, Headmaster of Galbadia found me. I never did look back since"
Before Squall could react to Irvine's story, a loud explosion caused a commotion back in the town square. The two men rushed to the scene expecting the worst. The people were confused and afraid as they tried to run away from the square. Children were separated from their parents and were left crying on the streets. The elderly simply went with the strong flow of the escaping mob as they prayed for their own safety. A raging inferno that came from an unnatural source consumed the buildings surrounding the town square. "What's going on here?" the horrified cowboy cried out as he saw the corpses of the people he came across not so long ago. Then men heard a vile laughter within the flames. "How do you like my son's work?" Garland said as he appeared behind Irvine and Squall. "Kadaj, show yourself son." The old man continued. Both men saw the most terrifying person…thing they have ever seen. He's…he's not human. Squall tightened his grip on his gunblade, Lionheart while Irvine loaded his trusty Exeter. "Let's see how you do against a perfect being." Garland mused.
The fire raged on, consuming most of the town's buildings. The beauty that was Dollet was no more. Cries of pain and grief had replaced the cheerful laughter that took place just moments ago. The foul smell of burnt corpses overpowered the scent of the salty sea surrounding Dollet. The creature with bright green eyes and platinum hair, the source of all this chaos simply smiled at the two men who stood before it.
Author's Notes: umm…did I just end the chapter at a bad moment? Heeeheee… The joys of writing your own fic… I think the ending is finally in sight… NOT… I'm gona focus on my art more in the meantime. I'm gona work on an IrvinexSquall fanart. This is gona be my first fanart with two guys in it. Feel free to visit my gallery at sajem99. Comments and reviews are very much appreciated. Thanks for reading my fic. Be seeing ya in the next chapter:P