Disclaimer – I do not own the characters/settings/situations of Final Fantasy 8. Oh well…

This story, and the ones to be posted with it, are 'snapshots' of little scenes that I imagined while playing the game. I hope everyone likes my quirky interpretations of the characters. :)

Squad

Squall retreated to the darkest corner he could find in the entry hall of Galbadia Garden. Leaning against the wall, he sank to the floor and sat with his knees pulled up to his chest.

It was the strangest feeling to know that Seifer was dead. Seifer would never come back to irritate anyone again or start fights or break the rules… It wasn't even that Squall had particularly liked Seifer because, if anything, he had the most cause to hate Seifer out of everyone who'd met the guy. It was knowing someone who wasn't there anymore.

"You bottle everything up way too much," Selphie declared. Startled, Squall looked up in surprise to see Selphie and Zell sit down next to him. "I mean, I get that you like to be a loner and all, but you still bottle stuff up too much."

Zell shot the brunette girl an amused glance and shrugged. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"No you aren't," Selphie automatically contradicted. Ignoring Squall's glare, she plowed ahead. "Seifer's dead and we're all upset about it. Ergo, none of us are okay right now. "

"I didn't even get along with him," Squall protested.

Selphie nodded slowly, "that seems to be the general consensus from anyone whose name doesn't begin in 'R'. Still, he was from a Garden and he was in your class," she gestured to both guys, "and I seriously would have decked him for abandoning us without a ride if I hadn't made SeeD before I found him. The point is that we were all affected by his life; thus, we're affected by his death."

"I guess so," Zell agreed unhappily. "If we run into that Sorceress…"

"We'll just have to let her know how much we don't appreciate her capturing and executing Seifer," Squall took over. "And you'll at least attempt to keep your temper in check, right?"

"I'll give it a shot," Zell replied sheepishly. "I can't guarantee anything, though. My mom swears I should have been a redhead so that the world would be forewarned about my short fuse."

"We're squad… friends… right?" Selphie inquired, surveying her two companions. "So… whenever we need something, someone to talk to, or to just not be alone, we can go to one another, promise?"

"Promise," was Zell's immediate response.

For a moment Squall froze; he liked being alone… but maybe having these two around wasn't so bad. "Promise," he pledged. Two sets of eyes regarded him with a mixture of surprise and pleasure at his words.

-=-=-=-=

Irvine hurried around Squall and reentered the embarkation/disembarkation room, leaving the team leader alone in the hall with Selphie. The girl didn't seem to notice Squall as she muttered, "my heart is racing… what is this feeling?"

"You'll need to get used to the stress and pressure on this mission," Squall cautioned, his words catching Selphie's attention.

"I-I know." Selphie turned to face Squall with a fake smile plastered on her face. "When will we arrive at Deling?"

"Soon enough," Squall responded. There was a long silence before Squall added, "if Irvine bothers you again, just find Zell or me and we'll get him to lay off."

"You mean it?" Selphie's smile faded a little and grew genuine. "Thank you, Squall."

"We're squad," Squall reminded her.

"Good!" Twirling about, Selphie began to sing, "Train, train, take me away. Far away…"

A/N A train ride isn't a train ride without her silly song. ;)

I love Irvine, but he irritated me at first, just like he did his fellow characters. I'm envious of Selphie, though… she got to steal his hat. I would have soooo much fun doing that myself.

^_^