A Brief Respite

It was a nice Monday morning. A fresh, new week for the students of Balamb Garden as they quickly paced throughout the hallway heading to their respective classes. Cadets are also scattered in wait for the upcoming mission. Zell Dincht on the other hand was sporting his SeeD uniform, emerging from the cafeteria with his arms on the back of his head while humming on a random song. He's in a very good mood today even with the absence of his precious hotdogs. Irvine, Selphie and himself were included in the assigned SeeDs who will be going with the cadets on their field exam. There will be several teams who will be participating but he was lucky to be assigned for Team Farron. And that will be on this day. He grinned with excitement.

He continued on his random humming and suddenly stopped when he spotted Squall and Claire on the rounded hallway near the information area, and based on their bright faces, they seem to be engaged in a good conversation. His grin left his face and he pouted as he felt a sting of jealousy. He stood for a moment while observing the two.

"Man, how did they become this close?" He audibly asked to literally no one. After a while, he saw the woman saluted to their superior and went towards west. He took it as a cue to approach his friend. He strode angrily towards where the brunet was standing.

"Dude! How could you?!" He said in what he believed was an angry tone.

Squall was startled for a bit before giving him a look of confusion. He clearly had no idea why the man was upset. "What?"

"I can't believe you're gonna cross your own friend!" He snarled again though no one would certainly take his anger seriously.

The brunet blinked once. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Why are you talking to her, bro?! She's the girl of my dreams, you know?!" He now displayed his explosive acting like he was really betrayed by his lover and his best friend and he was about to ugly-cry.

The brunet chuckled as he decided to annoy his friend even more. "What's wrong with that? I can talk to whoever I want." He said while confidently crossing his arms on his chest.

The blond duelist looked at him in utter disbelief. "Dude, I can't believe..." His lips were shaking and his eyes were teary. It's like a scene from a morning drama on TV. If Zell wasn't a SeeD, he can make a living through acting with his exaggerated reactions.

Squall can't help but burst into laugh though it rarely happens. His friend right there is the only one who can make him even just by looking at his face. "Relax, I was just talking to her regarding their field exam. That's it."

Zell huffed like he doesn't believe him. "Seem to me like you were flirting with her." He accused his friend.

"What?" Now he's even more confused.

The blond leaned his face even nearer towards him and whispered through gritted teeth. "Your actions, you're both smiling while talking to each other." He returned to his emotional expression. "There are a lot of girls around bro, why her?!"

Squall gently pushed him away from his face on his forehead with his index finger. "You're overreacting."

"Dude, I'm not." He confidently replied.

"Then why don't you talk to her so she won't be able to talk to other guys then?" The brunet jokingly asked him again.

He was caught off guard by the suggestion. "I-I will! Watch me." He put on his bravest expression but miserably failed.

The commander chuckled again. "You're hopeless."

Zell was about to reply when a husky, feminine voice spoke just behind the brunet. "Sir."

The blond slowly rotated his head towards the said direction and surely, the pink haired woman they were arguing about was standing just few meters away from them, saluting. He stood still like he was just casted with petrify and silence at the same time.

"At ease." The brunet said. "Do you have it?"

The pinkette nodded while curiously switching her gaze towards the two men. "Is everything alright?"

And as to toy with his friend, Squall spoke. "Zell here was just saying-" He wasn't able to finish what he was about to say because the blond fighter quickly covered his mouth with his gloved hand.

"I uh..." He stuttered. "I just wanted to...uh...you know, check i-if you guys are ready...for the field exam. R-right?" He nervously asked his friend while looking at him with a threatening glare.

The brunet returned his glare before nodding. Zell finally removed his hand from his face with an awkward grin.

"Alright." She replied. "We're all prepared, sir. Don't worry." She assured him with a faint smile.

He was starting to perspire while she was talking. "O-okay. T-that's good!" He stuttered again. Squall gave him an amused look and seem like he's just controlling himself not to laugh.

"Howdy guys!" Irvine and Selphie emerged from the staircase in their respective SeeD uniforms, approaching the three.

Selphie ran towards the pinkette. "Sis! Are you ready to kick some asses?!" She asked while jumping in excitement.

"I mean, do we have to? It's just a raid right?" She asked.

The brunette pouted. "I know, it sucks. But we'll never know." She winked at her which she replied with a smile. She was genuinely thankful for the woman being supportive all the time.

Remembering the reason why she went back to her dorm, she then pulled out something from the pocket of her uniform.

"Here." She raised her palm to show them Odin's crystal.

Zell's eyes widened. "Dude! Is that..." He exclaimed.

"Yes." Squall answered him. "It's Odin."

Selphie frowned. "But I thought he was already a goner!"

"Same. But he suddenly appeared yesterday while we were both training and just freely offering himself to Claire." He replied to his friend.

"Huh? But that bastard just kicked out our asses from his shrine before remember?" Irvine recalled.

The brunet nodded in confirmation. "I told her that."

"Why the sudden change tho?" The man in the cowboy hat asked again in confusion. Claire was only watching them while remaining silent.

"Let's just say he favored her because they both share a fondness with 'lightning.'" Squall tauntingly responded.

The pinkette gave him a meaningful glare. Be careful of what you say, you jerk!

As a bulb lit up from Zell's head he spoke, completely changing the topic. "Oh, so you also specialize with lightning?"

The clueless man just gave her a valid excuse. "Yeah just a little." She simply replied.

"That's awesome! Lightning is very difficult to cast, you know? No student was brave enough to use that magic because you simply can't control where it lands." Selphie explained.

"Nobody ever uses that magic for years now. Even the four of us rarely use it because it's a dangerous kind of magic. It strikes where it only wants to." Squall added, matter-of-factly.

"I even heard some SeeDs being toasted by lightning they casted on their own. Ooohh that's nasty!" Irvine recalled while cringing at the thought.

"You're lucky to have the ability to incorporate it in one of your moves." The commander complimented her.

Claire just nodded in understanding. "Thanks. I'll make it a point to master it someday." She replied.

"AWESOME! Dude, you really have a signature move for it?!" Zell asked the woman with an impressed expression, showing obvious interest and completely forgetting his awkwardness around her.

"I do." She simply answered, amused by the guy's sudden interest.

"Do you have a name for it?" He asked her again.

"Lightning Strike. It's simple but I just don't have any idea on what to call it." She responded as the speakers lit up and Xu spoke for an announcement.

All the SeeDs and participants for the Field Exam, please proceed at the Main Gate. I repeat. All the SeeDs and participants for the Field Exam, please proceed at the Main Gate.

"I think it's cool! Now I'm hoping to see it in action." Irvine commented while leaning his arm around Zell's shoulders.

"You think so?" Claire smiled faintly. "Soon hopefully."

"What about later? That would be really dope!" The blond fighter requested enthusiastically. The four of them were still engaged with their conversation while they walked towards the front entrance, completely forgetting to salute to their commander before leaving him alone. Not that the brunet really mind. He was contented enough to see them like this. He's just standing there, watching them with his hands on his pockets.

"I guess. If that's really needed." The woman replied. "But it would be fair for me to see your moves too. I'm sure they're more impressive." She suggested.

"Fair enough." The long haired brunet agreed while grinning. Selphie caught his mischievous grin and angrily hit him on his side with her elbow while giving him a death stare.

The blond fighter scratched the back of his head. "Well if you put it that way..."

"There's nothing special with your moves, Dinky." The nunchaku expert taunted.

"You'll only see a guy aimlessly wagging his arms on the field." Irvine added to annoy him further.

Claire looked at the man in hot seat. "For real?"

"W-what? No!" He said on his defense. "Bro! When did I ever do that? I can smash a mountain if I wanted to, you know!" He reasoned and shot daggers on his companions with his glare. They only gave him an amused look.

"Just ignore him. He's normally like that because in reality he doesn't really know how to use magic properly." Selphie quipped as she examined Claire's crystal on her hand.

"Oh, is that true?" The pinkette asked again with an amused expression.

"N-no!" Zell rapidly shook his head in denial and snapped back at the brunette. "Dude, what do you mean I don't?!"

"Bro, just admit it. No one will judge you." Irvine teased him while placing a hand on his shoulder as if consoling him.

Zell's face was red in embarassment. "You guys are the lords of jerks!" He angrily declared, pointing at the two SeeDs.

They all laughed at his hilarious reaction.

"Oh man! We gotta tell this to Quisty! I'm sure she's gonna flip!" Squall heard him say until their voices fade from the distance as he watched them among the walking students and SeeDs. He can't help but smile while slowly shaking his head.

"Are they ready?" A smooth, feminine voice spoke from behind him.

The commander nodded. "Very." He answered with a hint of pride on his voice.

Quistis walked and stopped just beside him. "Look at them. Aren't they adorable? Still having fun despite of being sent on a mission." She said while watching them from afar like a proud mom.

The brunet sighed. "I know. Makes you think of your days being out there too, right?"

The blonde instructor nodded. "Exactly."

"Well, we have our own share of responsibilities around here too..." He added.

"Which is less fun, to be honest." Quistis finished his sentence which made them both chuckle, mostly at the ridiculousness of their situation. A lot of people outside look up to them but personally, they feel like they're just a couple of pitiful elders stuck within the Garden who were already past their prime. But in reality, they were only twenty seven and twenty eight respectively. The unluckiness of bearing an obligation only fit for older people, or so they say.

Squall shook his head. "These kinds of conversation makes you really feel old."

"I agree. We better stop." The woman laughed and they both turned towards the staircase to face their own share of responsibilities.