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Magic of Valentine	By : Zierra Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 664 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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After Zell had left to hunt down Irvine and Nida and deliver his message, Quistis and Selphie were given some time on their own. Somehow, Selphie had managed to raise some money for a �Welcome back� gift for Zell in an impressive 10 minutes (whether it was because most people really liked Zell, or because Selphie could be really scary when she put her mind to it, Quistis didn�t know) and now she sat mulling over a list of potential things to buy.

�Do you think Zell would want a new rubber duck? I mean, his last one was kind of mutilated by Angelo.�

�A rubber duck?�

�Yeah, you know, the kind you have in your bathtub. Or maybe some porcelain dolphins like the ones we saw on that vacation we were on a few weeks ago.�

�Selphie, that was a mission.�

�Yeah, well we didn�t do much except tanning and drinking lots and lots of water.�

Quistis grinned despite of herself. So maybe the mission hadn�t been that important. Or that eventful for that matter.

�Hey, Selphie?�

�Hmm?�

�Have you noticed how absent Squall has seemed lately?� It had bugged her for a while now. You could catch the Commander spacing out at any given time, and sometimes during the most inopportune moments. Like last weeks staff meeting� She had been so embarrassed when Galbadia Gardens headmistress had asked if Squall had had time to review the Garden budget and the brunette blurted out; �with cream, please.�

�Lately? No, why?�

Quistis shrugged. She wasn�t even sure what point she wanted to make anyway, she just wanted to know if anyone else had noticed the same as she.

�He�s just seemed so closed off for the past few months. You don�t suppose it could have anything to do with the, you know� spell?

Selphie�s head immediately shot up, the pen drawing a long line down the list she�d been making and she gasp dramatically.

�You think Ellone�s done it again?�

�No!� Quistis exclaimed a little louder than she had intended. Looking around cautiously, she leant in closer. �Maybe something happened that�s bothering him.�

Both of them looked the other in the eye and grinned at the memory. Knowing Squall the way they did, he probably was plenty bothered by everything that had happened that night. But that was not the point Quistis wanted to make.

Maybe the Cafeteria at lunchtime wasn�t the best place to have this conversation.

�Like a side affect?� Selphie asked, turning serious. �I don�t think so. Sure, I wasn�t there when he turned back, but Zell said he seemed perfectly fine. And back to normal, too.�

�Wait, Zell was there?�

This bit of information she had no idea about. Well, she knew both of them were gone by the time the clock struck midnight, but she didn�t think they�d gone off together.

�Yeah�, Selphie answered. �He said Squall was very cool about it. But then Zell left for a mission and I couldn�t grill him anymore about it.�

Quistis� mind was working overtime now. Zell had been with Squall when he�d turned back, which meant they�d been alone just before, when Squall was still� hexed. Alright. And Squall had been acting strange for the past few months. The past few months Zell had been off on a mission? Oh�

�Could something have happened between Squall and Zell?� She wondered aloud. �Zell left shortly after, they wouldn�t have had time to talk about it, even if they�d been the �talk about it� kind.�

�No�, Selphie said with great conviction. �If they�d had a fight, Squall wouldn�t come to Zell�s party.�

�I didn�t mean a fight, Selphie.�

�Then what?�

Quistis grinned, pieces clicking into place.

�Let me put it like this; you were the one saying they looked cute together on the dance floor.�

�Yeah, so?� Oh� Oh! You think?�

�Maybe. How about we give them some time alone. Say, tonight, at 5 PM?�

The brunette girl frowned at Quistis� suggestion. �But if we all say no to Zell, won�t he cancel?�

�So we won�t say no. We just won�t show."
Squall twirled the name-engraved chromed pen between his fingers, trying to make sense of the report before him. Either it was in a foreign language, or he read it upside down. But turning around hadn�t helped and he was starting to wonder if maybe it was written in some sort of code.

He needed food, he concluded, and yet again he had missed lunch. Why was it so hard for him to remember to keep time?

He heard a knock on the door; at least he hoped he heard it this time. It wouldn�t be the first time he�d called out enter, just have no one come in.

�Enter!�

The door did open and Quistis did step in. She held a box in her hands, neatly wrapped in blue metallic paper and with a large and overflowing silver bow. Little stars and hearts were drawn on it with a white maker. Obviously this was Selphie�s work.

Squall frowned. Wait, it wasn�t August was it?

�It�s not for you, Squall. It�s for Zell. Selphie had a little express fundraiser and bought this for him. Thought I�d come see you after I picked it up. You want to sign the card?�

�Whatever (of course).�

Quistis offered herself one of the visiting chairs, arranging herself pedantically, completely oblivious to Squall�s stare.

�Yes?� He had to ask. There were a few things he could not tolerate under any circumstances in his office. One of them was being thoroughly ignored.

Quistis looked up, head tilted in question.

�What do you want?� Squall clarified, foot tapping underneath his desk.

�Oh, nothing important. I just wanted to know if you�ve talk to Zell today?�

Squall leant back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.

�Yes (I have, actually).�

�Really? How did his mission go? Did he tell you why it took so long?�

Squall bit his lip in thought. Quistis wanted to know something, and it had nothing to do with Zell�s mission. Question was; what was she fishing for?

�His services were needed for an extended period of time. Nothing serious.�

�So there were a lot of monsters to deal with in Timber?�

�Among other things, yes.�

The blonde nodded, correcting her hair absently.

"Was that all you talked about?�

They hadn�t talked about that at all. In fact, Zell�s mission hadn�t even come up as a topic.

�Why?�

She looked up then, meeting his gaze sternly. Squall playing stupid didn�t work (or at least it hadn�t worked, now he wasn�t so sure) and Quistis playing coy wasn�t working either.

�We heard Zell asked you to come to his Valentine�s dinner.�

�And?�

�Funny, he should ask you first.�

�I was the one he saw first.�

Quistis smiled and crossed her legs.

�Why�s that?�

Squall frowned deeper. �Why? Because last time I checked, I was his Commanding officer. I don�t know if you know, but there�s a little thing called protocol and not to mention professional courtesy which requires him to report to me.�

Squall found himself drawing deeply for breath, feeling a type of winded he hadn�t experienced in a long while with his jaws clenching together tightly, teeth almost creaking under the strain.

Quistis� smile grew lewd. �But he didn�t have to ask you first. What if the rest of us said no?�

�Why would you?�

With an offended sneer, the blonde�s smile vanished. �It�s Valentine�s Day. Just because you don�t celebrate, doesn�t mean we don�t.�

�So who would you celebrate with?�

�I�ll have you know-!�

�Don�t even bother arguing with me, Quistis. Valentine�s always been a big group date.�

�So you acknowledge that it�s a date?�

Squall straightened, suddenly very cautious. This conversation - besides being most inappropriate and annoying - had become very strange. And very unnerving.

�Listen, I have no intentions of dating you, or Selphie or Rinoa or any other girl you could set me up with, so don�t even bother.�

There was a slight twitch at the corner of Quistis� mouth, and Squall couldn�t figure out what he�d said to make her want to smile again.

�Relax, Squall. Selphie�s courted by Irvine, Rinoa�s not coming and I�m� not interested in you that way.�

Why did Quistis keep insisting she didn�t like Seifer when everyone already knew she did? Even Seifer himself. �And further more, I have no intention of setting you up with any girl. Remember that, Leonheart. No intentions at all.�

After Quistis had gone, Squall sat staring at the wall. He tried to grasp the meaning of their conversation, but all he could find was bits and random pieces that didn�t explain why the blonde had looked so content after leaving.

And why would she bring up �dates�? Ok, technically he�d been the one to do that, but she had spun it further. So if Selphie was taken, and Rinoa wouldn�t come, and Quistis� otherwise engaged, then what was she going on about�? Wait a minute.

Squall did a quick calculation. Weren�t there only two girls coming? Two very not eligible girls?

I have no intention of setting you up with any girl. Remember that, Leonhart.

Oh, shit!

She was setting him up with Zell? Well, he was kinda sure she wouldn�t even consider pairing him with Seifer, even if she hadn�t a personal interest in the blond. Bloodshed and bruises were far from romantic and for some reason, those two always followed any chance encounter Seifer and Squall had.

Squall felt his heart hammer in his chest, feeling crowded in an empty office, breath coming in shallow, uneven pants.

Why the hell was he panicking? He wouldn�t fret like this if Quistis had dropped a hint about him hooking up with Selphie. Was it because Zell was a guy?

He tried a different approach while he regulated his breathing.

�Irvine�, he said aloud, trying to convince himself. �She wants you to date Irvine.�

Nothing.

He tried the same with Seifer but only got angry upon thinking of the blond.

Forcing his breathing to return to normal, Squall licked his suddenly dry lips. It was like mentally preparing for a mission.

�You can handle this, Leonhart. You�re the Commander for Hyne�s sake. You�re a fighter, a leader� and you�re totally asking your sister for help."

��

�Do you have any tangible evidence that Squall and Zell like each other? You know, beyond the friendship stuff?�

They had gathered in Selphie�s dorm room, Seifer and Quistis on the cow-patterned sofa, with Irvine in an yellow armchair and Selphie pacing the floor space in-between.

Both girls were convinced now that there was something going on between the stoic brunette and the newly returned blond. And while Irvine believed no such thing, Seifer (although sceptic at first) was quickly warming up to the idea.

�They looked really cute when they danced.�

�Yes, Selphie, that�s the third time you mention that. But looking good together don�t automatically make a couple.�

�Well, you can�t deny the fact that they were dancing, Irvine, and dancing together.�

Quistis was adamant about this, and about any other topic he would have relented and let her have her way, because that�s what instructors are for, but this was about something different altogether.

Because you didn�t go around speculating about a guy�s sexuality behind his back without strong, hard evidence to back it up. And you certainly didn�t set two guys up for a night alone unless they�d given you reason - ever - to believe they were gay.

�I�ve danced with a lot of people in the past without being romantically interested in them. You have no solid foundation, girls.�

�What about that time in D-District�?�

�Oh Hyne, Selph! The guy tripped! Maybe not the most graceful landing, I agree, but there was nothing more about it. Besides, if that had meant anything, don�t you think they�d be fucking by now?�

The other three gave each other long looks.

�No, can�t be. We would have seen something.� Did Selphie really think that secrets couldn�t elude her?

�And Squall would�ve been� you know, with Zell gone so long.�

�You�d think they�d both still be locked in a room if that was the case.�

Irvine just gawked at them in turn.

�Damn you all to hell, you�re not listening to me!�

�Why should we, Irvine? All that comes out of your mouth are insults and profanities.�

Quistis actually glared at him, and that would definitely have made him back off - at another time.

�Why are you denying it so vehemently anyway�, Seifer asked slowly, those aquamarine eyes like steel on Irvine. �You know something we don�t?�

It might have taken the girls awhile to understand what Seifer was getting at, but Irvine caught on like a wildfire.

�Fuck you too, Seifer�, he spat, rising to his feet. He wasn�t completely sure why he was defending Squall and Zell�s heterosexuality so strongly, but he was damn sure that he�d had enough of this.

�Good luck with you master plan�, he growled. �Don�t count on any help from me.�

He wished Garden had normal doors so he could slam it, so he settled for slamming the button instead.

Selphie, Quistis and Seifer sat staring at the closing door.

�You think he�ll tell?�

�Probably.�

�That would ruin things.�

�Definitely.�

�We should do something.�

Seifer stood, pulling on his trench coat, an evil grin spreading wide over his features.

�Just leave that to me.�

��

Zell prepared the last of the marinade for the chicken and coated the fresh filets with the spicy mixture.

He was quite proud of himself for what he had accomplished so far. He had lemon sherbet frosting in the freezer, the appetizers ready on a platter. The main course would be chicken filets with pressed potatoes and his Ma�s irresistible cream sauce.

He licked his lips and felt his stomach growl. It would have to wait for the others, but he snatched one of the appetizers anyway as he checked the time.

One hour, perfect.

��

Squall alternated his staring between Zell�s welcome home gift and his own reflection. The former eluded him for the short message in one corner of the card, written in Selphie�s hasty but readable handwriting.

�Forgive us now and thank us later.�

What was that about?

His reflection eluded him with not looking quite like he wanted it to.

He had quickly discarded the idea of wearing his leather pants. They were too �everyday� to work for something like this, so he had been forced to choose from a pair of grey sweatpants and a pair of black tuxedo trousers his father had given him. It had come with a jacket, but Squall was so resolute on never wearing it, it might as well not exist.

He had reluctantly taken the black pants off the hangers and now stood feeling naked because they were too�airy.

But his shirt had been the biggest problem. All he kept thinking about was that last time he went �casual�, he�d worn that damned leopard-spotted t-shirt and he wanted that image permanently wiped away -erased, and GONE! - from everyone�s minds.

A simple white tank top wouldn�t work either, so it was a battle between the uncomfortable and itchy SeeD button-down shirt or a royal blue pique that had been a gift from matron a few years back in a desperate attempt to add more color to Squall�s wardrobe.

It still had the tags on since he�d never worn it. Never had a reason to wear it.

He stubbornly tore the tags off and pealed on the shirt. It still fitted him pretty good, but he felt very awkward and wanted to put on his beloved leather jacket.

He stood twisting and turning in front of the mirror, trying to get a good look of himself and form a impartial opinion, failing horribly at both.

He cursed at himself for being so vain, only to fuss with the collar again.

Why was he trying to look good anyway? All these people knew him already. They�d seen him worse for wear and still wouldn�t look down on him.

Sighing at his reflection, he drew a hand through his hair, messing up the resemblance of a hair-do he had managed. It wouldn�t matter how his hair looked or what clothes he wore. He would still be Squall Leonhart, only much more uncomfortable.

So why was he making such a fuss? Why not just wear the leather pants he wanted? Why not the white tank top? Why was he going to the damned thing to begin with?

Well, it was rather simple.

It was difficult to spend Valentine's Day with the one you wanted to spend it with, if you turned down their invitation�.

TBC
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Magic of Valentine