This story is taking off on me....oh well....I have never been good at planning ahead. XD Some more of the gang will be entering the story and eventually this will involve everyone, I think...even Rinoa, though I am not sure how yet.
Family Connections Ch. 3 – Enter Squall
Irvine looked around his tiny apartment and seeing his mission bag, half-hidden under his bed, grabbed it. Let's see what do ah need to take with me? Hmm...probably should bring some extra ammo....just in case. Never know what kinda trouble we might run into. After carefully arranging his ammo into the specialize slots in his bag, Irvine walked over to his closet to peruse the contents. He doubted he had anything suitable for this particular trip. Damn...don' think ah have anythin' t' wear for the Trabian climate. Guess ah could just wear a long sleeve shirt under my vest instead of nothin'. Yeah that'll have t' do, ah suppose. He finished stuffing all the items and clothing into his bag and sauntered over to his desk where his beloved gun, Exeter, lay snug in her case. "Hello, baby girl. You an' Daddy are goin' on a little trip today. Aren't ya excited?" he cooed lovingly as he reached for the wooden handled beauty. He nearly jumped out of his skin in startlement when he heard feminine laughter suddenly burst out behind him. Dammit Sephy, don' sneak up on me like that.
"Teehee...oh Irvy...are you talking to your gun again?" Selphie giggled. Gosh...you would swear that gun is a person, the way he acts. I feel sorry for any girl he dates...cause there's a good chance they will always play second fiddle to Exeter.
"Of course, darlin'...she is my precious baby girl after all. If ah didn't talk t' her it would hurt her feelin's. An' we can't have that now can we?" Irvine said in all seriousness, stroking Exeter. Ah'm sure she talks to her numbchuks too...though she would never ever admit it.
"If ya say so, Irvy. Are you ready to go yet?" Selphie said, tilting her head to the side and smiling.
"Almost darlin'. Only issue ah seem t' have is clothin' or rather lack thereof. Ah don' seem t' have anythin' that will work in a frigid climate." Irvine frowned slightly, then grinned as he suddenly got an idea. "Hey darlin' do ya think Cid would have a problem with us makin' a quick like stop at Trabia Garden?" Surely, they have somthin' ah can beg, borrow, or steal from em.
"I don't see why not. Now that I think about it, we probably should stop there anyway. It would be a good idea to see the Headmaster and ask him some questions. Surely we can get some intel on Dominion from him. Its not really all that far from the Garden and I distinctly remember being warned not to go there. So a little chat with him is in order. Don't you think?" Besides, I would really love to see my old friends and check up on the restoration as well.
"You are one clever girl, darlin'. Now as t' how the hell we are gettin' there?" Irvine said raising a brow in question.
"Um...I was gonna....um...kinda...um...ask if we could....you know....take the Raggy." Selphie said with a nervous giggle. She began twirling a lock of hair between her fingers and scuffing one shoe against the floor.
Irvine began to laugh at her sheer temerity and shook his head. "Ya think they'll let ya after the last time, Sephy? After that little joy ride you took while transportin' those new students? If ah remember right, half those poor kids are terrified of flyin' now an' ah'm pretty damn sure Squall said you was never t' take the Ragnarök again." Sephy an' her damn loop-da-loops. Man, was Squall pissed. It ain't like he hadn't warned her time an' again about bein' careful with that ship and its passengers...
Selphie pouted and said, "Well....maybe we could say you were piloting....or something?" She opened up her bright green orbs wide, fluttered her eyelashes, and smiled entreatingly at him. She was clearly hoping he would help her out. Come on Irvy...I wanna fly.
"Nuh uh....no way am ah fallin' for that one, darlin'. Ah won't lie for ya. You know as well as ah do that he won't believe that you would actually let me be the pilot. Sorry but the last place ah want t' be is on Squall's bad side." Irvine said smiling to soften the words. "Though he might find it in his heart t' drop us off at Trabia Garden. He bein' the pilot, of course." Sorry Sephy but a mans gotta protect his own skin sometimes.
Selphie gave a heavy sigh. "Alright, I guess we can ask him to take us that far at least." She pouted sulkily. Sniff...meanie.
"Uh, Sephy, ah think it might be best if ah asked him....alone. Ah do believe that he'd still rather sore about that incident an' might not take kindly t' YOU requestin' it." He's so unforgivin' at times, though ah have t' admit what she did was rather foolish....not t' mention dangerous. Those poor kids....
Selphie sighed. "You're probably right. I guess I'll just wait here while you ask him. Good luck, Irvy."
Irvine stepped out of the elevator and sidled over to the Squall's secretary. He put one hand on her desk and leaning forward slightly said, "Hello Gorgeous, is the Commander available?" He gave her his most flirtatious smile and winked.
The girl blushed and nodded saying, "I believe so. I think he just finished with his last appointment. I will ask him if he will see you." She pushed a button on the phone on her desk and said. "Sir, SeeD 213, Irvine Kinneas, wishes to have a word with you. Shall I send him in?"
"That will be fine." came a light tenor voice over the intercom.
The girl pushed another button on her desk and the door to the main office opened. Irvine walked over to the door and paused at the threshold. Tilting his hat slightly he smiled and said, "Thanks, Darlin'." He entered the office and seeing the huge pile papers gracing Squall's desk, grimaced in pity. "By Hyne, how do they expect ya t' deal with all of that...that stuff? I surely don' envy yer position." Don' they know that Squall's not the type t' be a paper-pusher? This is such a waste of his talents.
"Don't remind me. I am already two days behind on it." Squall muttered with a heavy sigh. He laid his forehead on his folded hands and closed his eyes, knowing Irvine wouldn't mind his informality. I really hate my job...how I wish I was just a plain old SeeD again. I'm beyond bored with this...hassle. During the war, being Commander was okay. At least then I'd something to worthwhile to do, but now....hell, I'd kill for a decent mission. Anything but this endless paperwork. I want...no need action. I feel like my training is being wasted and the stress is starting to get to me. I can't sleep...I can barely eat. Ugh...I think I need a vacation.
"Damn...now ah feel guilty fer wantin' t' request yer help." Irvine said. Damn...he looks so tired. Ah don' think he's been sleepin' enough an' it looks like he's been skippin' meals too. Don' remember the last time ah saw him in the cafeteria. He needs a break. At this rate, bein' Commander's gonna make him ill...if not outright kill him.
"....?" Squall raised his head looked at him with questioning eyes. Hmm...?
Even though Squall didn't say anything, Irvine knew he was asking a question and automatically answered. "Well, ya see, me 'n Selphie are bein' sent on a mission to a town near Trabia Garden an' ah'm kinda wonderin' if ya could take us there on the Raggy."
Squall frowned in confusion. "A mission?...you and Selphie? I haven't been informed of any mission involving either of you lately." His face suddenly went hard and cold as he hissed, "Damn him...Cid is supposed to clear all missions with me." What the hell is going on....what are you trying to pull, Cid? You dare to send My friends on a mission without telling me? That will NOT be tolerated.
"Hey, ah'd no idea ya didn't know. If ya wanna know about the mission, you'll have t' talk t' Cid." Irvine said, nervously, inching backward toward the door slowly. One could never be too careful when it came to Squall. Ah wasn't expecting that reaction. Heh....sorry Cid...looks like I gotcha in trouble.
"I'll do that." Squall took a deep breath to calm himself. "After I have a little...discussion with Cid, I will fire up the Ragnarök and take you to where you need to be. Go ahead and get Selphie and load up your supplies. Make it very clear to her that I will be piloting. Not her. Her pilot license is on suspension until further notice. I will meet you at the Dock at 1300 hours." Cid, you had better hope you have a damn good explanation for hiding this from me.
"Thank you, Sir." Irvine said, saluting. I hope Cid has a damn good reason for not tellin' Squall.
Squall stalked into Cid's office not bothering to check with his secretary, ignoring her plea to stop. He didn't even bother knocking. "Cid, why the hell didn't you tell me about Irvine and Selphie's mission?"
Cid sighed, "How'd you find out?" Last person I needed to know about this...he won't understand.
"Irvine asked me to fly him and Selphie to Trabia Garden." And in the process informed me of your perfidity.
Cid gave an even longer sigh. "I should've seen that coming. The reason I didn't tell you was because..well...part of the mission is finding Seifer and I wasn't sure how you'd react."
"Don't you think I want to find Seifer too? Why would yo expect me to react badly to that? Despite all that happened, I don't hate him. The only thing that would upset me is if I found out you mean to turn him in to the so-called proper authorities." Upset's definitely an understatement. That would really piss me off...particularly since I know my father...(ugh...why'd I have to end up with Laguna?)....is offering Seifer a full pardon and asylum.
Cid was relieved. It had never occurred to him that Squall might not hate Seifer. If anyone had personally suffered at Seifer's hands it was Squall. He had even been tortured by him. "I guess you're a much bigger man then I gave you credit for. I should've trusted you....I'm sorry."
"Whatever....just tell me everything. Matter of fact, seeing as this is about finding Seifer, I have every intention of joining the mission. Don't bother arguing with me. I'm going...with or without your permission." Squall gave his famous icy glare, daring Cid to object. He knew that this was one fight he HAD to win.
"I should've had you in the team from the start. I would've...if I'd trusted you more. There's one small problem with you going." I hope he believes me.
"What is it?" Squall asked, his patience running thin. What now?
"Well...you see...the village of Dominion is very...um...selective about who they allow inside its walls. They really don't appreciate visitors. In fact, they won't let anyone in who isn't either from or at least related to someone there. Irvine and Selphie were born in that village. They have a perfect excuse to go. You do not." Cid said. He sincerely wished it wasn't true. Squall was the logical person to go after Seifer. No one knew him better. Not even Raijin and Fuujin.
"I'll just pose as Selphie's boyfriend or something. We'll figure out a way to get me inside." I'll manage one way or another....I'm a SeeD. We always do.
"Very well. I'll leave it all up to you. Have Irvine and Selphie fill you in on the details. Good luck, Squall." Squall saluted and left the room. Cid sat down with a heavy heart. I hope everything goes as planned. I've a bad feeling about this. Things are about to get very messy again. I hope Edea's right. She believes the children need to go there for some reason. She says there are things that they have to learn. She doesn't feel she has the right to tell them herself. I wonder why. I'm not prepared to send all of them yet. Quistis and Zell are both on missions and I'll not pull them out. If all goes well, I'll send them once they have completed their current missions.
Squall made a brief stop at his apartment and grabbed Leonheart and his mission bag. He quickly gathered his supplies and headed to the Ragnarök. He walked up the ramp into the ship and went directly to the cockpit, knowing that he would find them there. "Selphie," he growled menacingly, "get out of the pilot's seat. NOW!!"
Selphie jumped and practically ran to hide behind Irvine. Geez...sometimes he's so mean and scary. She pouted slightly and stayed put, saying nothing.
Squall inwardly smirked at Selphie's reaction, but kept his face chillingly calm. "Irvine. Please fill me in on the mission's details. I'll be joining you and Selphie."
Irvine was hardly surprised. He had told Selphie that he was pretty damn sure Squall would come with them. He wouldn't pass up an opportunity to escape his cell...err...office. Poor, Sephy. She so didn't wanna believe me. "We're being sent to a town called, Dominion. Its in the mountains southwest of Trabia Garden. The mission has two goals. First, he wants us to enter the town and ascertain as to whether or not Seifer is or has been there. If Seifer is in the town, we are to inform him of President Loire's offer. After this is accomplished, Cid wants us to determine why the Sorceress Adel was interested in this particular town. That is the mission."
Selphie tugged on Irvine's trenchcoat and whispered, "Are you gonna tell him about us?"
"Tell me what about you?" Squall asked. Are they hiding something from me?
"Of course, ah'm gonna tell him, Sephy." Irvine hissed. He rolled his eyes and sighed with exasperation. "Cid told us one other thing, Squall. He informed me 'n Sephy that we're cousins."
Squall blinked in surprise. Irvine and Selphie are related? He was suddenly glad that Irvine had told him that he hadn't asked Selphie out yet...saying that he wasn't comfortable about actually dating her.
"There's more....apparently Seifer is also my cousin. Mine...not hers." Irvine looked at Squall and wondered how he would react.
"Really? Hnn....never would have seen that coming. Is there anything else?" Squall was inwardly laughing at poor Irvine's expense. I don't envy him his family. Its a damn good thing him and Selphie never got past friends. That could have gotten rather messy. Irvine shook his head no. "Good. Lets go."
"One thing, Squall. Can we make a quick stop at the Garden so ah can get something warmer to wear?" Irvine asked. "Everything ah own is too light for the climate in the Trabian Mountains."
"Of course. I'd already planned to stop there first. I've a few questions to ask and we should tell the Headmaster that we are in the region. You do know that you should have clothing for all climates...right? You never know where you might be sent during a mission. Planning ahead is important." Squall raised an eyebrow as he waited for Irvine's answer.
"Yeah...ah know. Ah left all my warm things at Galbadia. Ah doubt they would fit me anymore though. Ah have put on some muscle and gained an inch since ah left there. Just haven't gotten around to buyin' any new clothes." he said smiling, slightly embarrassed. Never hurts to have a reasonable excuse.
Squall shook his head and sighed. Only Irvine..... He started the engines and entered the flight plan into the computer. He grabbed the steering wheel and pulled back on it, causing the ship to begin rising off of the ground. Once enough altitude had been gained, he pushed a button and the ship shot forward.
Selphie gave a happy whoop and started singing. "Flying away...flying away into our DESTINY......"
Both males groaned and Squall begged desperately, "Selphie...please...no singing."
TBC