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A Break in Character	By : Resting-Madness Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male > Irvine/Squall Views: 919 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or setting of the Final Fantasy VIII universe and make no money from this work of fan fiction. It's all for fun.

Chapter List
- 6
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Disclaimer: I thought I had but it turns out I didn't, but in the previous chapter the "Nonsense" game is from the creative writers of a Korean variety show: Running Man. Watch it if you can, where you can, it is so funny. Used to be on YouTube, but we all know how that goes. You can see clips though. And with that, one with the reading.
...
Irvine entered the apartment he shared with Seifer grinning from ear to ear. He has a boyfriend. Squall Leonhart.. is his boyfriend. And he, Squall, asked to be. How insane is that?! The love Gods and Goddesses must have really tied one on overnight because this sort of thing, imagined the sniper, never happens to guys like him. He was sure it would take so much longer to work on Squall to trust his intentions of interest are sincere, as he's been depicted as a "lady's man", better known by others, a flip-flopping player. He knows his friend, even after all these years, Squall has got major trust issues.
He tossed his heavy boots into the corner of his bedroom then dropped onto the bed. He'd like to finish out the duration of his day just resting in blissful solitude until it was time to eat dinner. Closing his eyes he missed the door slowly closing; however, the hairs stood up on his arm during the intruders approach. Someone was in his room. But he wasn't fast enough to move to keep himself from being headlocked and spun around, while receiving slaps to the face.
"Did you have fun on your little outing, Kinneas? Huh?" Seifer questioned.
"Hi, Seifer. You're in good spirits, I see."
"Oh, shut up." He slung him away towards his bed. Arms crossed, he questioned. "So… Who died?"
"Nobody I'm aware of." Irvine composed himself. "I take it the get-together wasn't fun? I invited Fujin and Raijin for you."
Seifer rolled his eyes. "It was fine. I just would have preferred to not have been bothered." He then mumbled. "Dinky was so annoying."
Irvine chuckled. "He only does that to mess with you."
"No kidding." With a restless sigh, he sat down beside his friend. "So.. what were you doing?"
"I was just out. That's all."
"That's a lie. You saw somebody, you've got a slight boner," he pointed out. "Who was she?"
"I'm telling the truth. I wasn't seeing anybody," He looked down at his crotch wondering how Seifer caught that when he was trying to hide it. "Anyway, being a guy, you know that happens on its own sometimes." Seifer cocked his head knowing that his friend's words were true. "And speaking of attractive women, your friend Fujin is pretty hot." May as well deflect, thought the sniper.
It worked. Seifer grimaced then stood up. "I'm outta here; and, no, I won't set you up with Fujin. You can ask her out for yourself." He walked through the entryway. "Be sure to wear a cup, if you do."
With a salute, Irvine replied. "Will do." Falling back onto his bed, his grin returned in fullforce. 'I'm with Squall. I'm dating Squall!' He felt proud enough to brag, and so he did- to himself.
He'd never break his promise that they'd be strictly private until deciding otherwise. It was better towards their friendships with the others. What if they told everyone and they were all against it? It would be very uncomfortable. The others would always have an air about asking why they would be together. How weird it is for them. And they would feel the need to choose sides once they broke up.
But let's say they broke up and the others were for their being together, they would wonder what happened between them, and in turn make them uncomfortable with trying to get them back together. Or they'd understand that they are better off not being together, despite their liking their relationship, but Squall and Irvine would be uncomfortable because the others might keep telling them why it's good that they broke up. You wouldn't think something like that could wear on you, but try it for a week and you'd know otherwise. It's all too much right now.
They will tell them, someday. If things work out it's going to be hard not to tell them. Relationships can't be kept a secret forever. Not good ones. Smiling all over the place, wanting to tell someone about what's good in your life. Keeping happiness to one's self isn't as attractive as sneakers make it seem.
'Can't believe I'm heading home tomorrow.' Life sure sucks sometimes. And other times, it can be beautiful.
…
"I'll be taking that, thank you." Selphie swiped the Triad card from the playing board. "Did we agree on one or three cards per match?" She asked her game buddy.
"Nice try, Sel'" Zell gathered the remainder of his cards back from the board and incorporated them into his pile. "We agreed on one per match."
She stuck out her tongue, then chuckled. "Such a crier when you're not winning."
She lost five cards to him on Friday during the farewell party for Seifer and the absent Irvine. And now she's getting them back.. Sorta. She and Zell keep having draws. Dinner service is only so long. One more class and then the day is over. By then, he cared about playing cards?
"Hey Irvine," The martial artist says when spotting the tall brunet walk up the table with a tray of food. "Have fun with your unknown expedition?"
"I did. Sorry I wasn't there, it was a spur-of-the-moment situation." He sat down and scooped up a forkful of deliciously scented pasta.
"Next time don't be so quick to plan events then piss it off." Although Zell isn't really upset.
So what did Zell care, anyway? Irvine could do what he liked. And besides, he actually had fun hanging out with everyone, even Seifer. He'd like to know why Squall didn't show up. Although he could guess. He'd overheard Squall say time and again that he doesn't remember the sniper at all. And he and Seifer are always at each other. It was a bad scene, Squall wouldn't wanna be bothered. He wouldn't wanna be bothered even if it were a good scene. It was his personality. He wasn't going to change it overnight.
Irvine, seated beside Squall, noticed the commander was scooting the chunks of tomato from the rest of the pasta; and, without thinking, he reached his fork over towards the plate and pierced them in a row one by one onto his fork then dropped them onto his own plate for consumption. The owner of the vegetable offered an appreciative glance, before discretely pointing at a chunk of green pepper to offer it, as well. Without a word, Irvine removed that too.
Squall found no other offensive food stuffs in his pasta sauce, leaving the red peppers alone since he likes them, and he ate with an easy leisure.
'A boyfriend and food claims.' Irvine ate his dinner. 'If my life ends tomorrow, I'll be happy I had today.' He watched his new boyfriend from the side of his eye for just a moment.
He wished they were having long noodles instead of tubes, but the movement of Squall's lips as he chewed was just about the most sensual thing Irvine has seen in his lifetime. And the movement of his throat muscles as he swallowed caused the sniper to swallow salvation. He felt himself doing this not-of-a-zombie action and turned his gaze to his food, after having glanced around the table at the others who were in their own worlds.
"We can hang out for a bit tomorrow, right?" Irvine asked in regards to not having been at home over the weekend.
"Sure! We can barbecue!" Selphie cheered.
"It's winter." Quistis informed, a furrow of brow showed her worry for the girl's mental state.
"So? At Trabia we barbecued all the time." She waved her hands excitedly. "We had an indoor grill. We'd put on room heaters, dressed up in our summer clothes and drank frosty drinks. It was a blast!" Proud of her almost full Trabian upbringing, she added. "And for fun, we had a spray bottle water fight."
Everyone at the table looked at their perky friend like she was nuts, except for Irvine and Zell who looked at Selphie, then looked at Selphie which swept an odd smile across their faces.
"I gotta look at the Trabian video yearbook." Noted the sniper, whether as an act or sincerely.
Selphie clutched her cheeks. "Stop. You guys are gonna make me blush." Though she hardly seemed embarrassed.
Relieved that she didn't have to alert the school shrink to her friend's frayed psyche from the seasonal dissociation, Quistis still felt the need to discourage the theme. More so at the mention of water fights. "It's not really my style."
"Huh?" Selphie was literally baffled by that statement.
"I know," Zell chimed in. "She was going pretty hard on those nachos on Friday. Maybe we should do a Deling theme?"
With a blush, Quistis straightened her already impressive posture. "You're mistaken. But I will be there."
Zell and Selphie shared a private laugh between each other.
Irvine smiled. "I'll buy your barbecue, Sefie, and we can have whatever anyone likes."
Seifer scoffed. "Yeah, we leave at ten in the morning… Not exactly the right meal choice. Let's just have brunch in town and then part from there. Sound good? Good." He stood and lifted his empty tray. "Leonhart, you'd better show up."
"I'll be there." He mumbled.
"I'll drag your ass to town if you're not."
"I will be." He didn't know what else to say.
Seifer looked between Squall and Irvine with a slanted glance, before taking his leave.
"Did you have fun on your impromptu road trip?" Selphie asked.
"Yup. I got out everything I needed to get out." Irvine grinned innocently.
Happy to hear that, Selphie continued her game with Zell.
Quistis finished her dinner, then left from the table. She planned to do some reading before bed. It left Squall and Irvine wondering if they should eat silently or amuse each other with conversation. What could they talk about?
"So like.. you catch any good movies out? I haven't seen many," he asked.
"Not really."
Silence. Squall could make a painting shout "say something already". His prowess of lacking conversation is fierce. At least, that's what anyone would think. Inside Squall was a well of dialogue and chit-chat. It just wasn't easy to project.
"Have you ever broken anything?" The look on Squall's face would have humiliated anyone else, but Irvine received it unfazed. "I haven't."
"My wrist, when I first started with the gunblade. It was heavier than I'd expected."
"Is that right? What about Seifer?" He noticed the cool blond wielded his with one hand.
Squall thought it over. "No. He used injury tape for his wrist from a slight sprain." He stood from the table and brought his tray along in the departure.
Zell nodded in Squall's direction, and in a low voice said. "That's the longest I've heard him speak outside of strategizing. What are you, a wizard?"
Irvine smiled. "I either annoy you to speak because you know I won't zip it, or I'm easy to speak to."
"That, or he feels guilty for blowing you off on Friday, even though you weren't there."
"Right! Must be." He ate the last bite of garlic bread, then exited the table.
Selphie gave a low sigh. "I can't believe they'll really be gone tomorrow."
Zell doesn't say so, but he agreed. He's gotten used to the amorous cowboy and warped ex-knight. But, it's not like they'll never see them again. It could even be sooner than any of them know.
It's the next day. After the farewell brunch. The Orphanage Gang are standing at the train station, amongst a few other Balamites and Galbadians who made friends while their cadets stayed at the only functioning Garden over the past few months. Everyone was bright and overly cheerful or teary eyed as they expected to not see or even hear from their friend from then on.
"Don't go disappearing on us," Selphie glumly said. "I mean it, I'll hunt you down like a behemoth."
"Of course we'll keep in touch." Irvine said bringing her in for a hug. "Bye Quistis, Zell." He hugged them next. Turning to Squall, he smiled. "Don't think you're getting out of it, pardner."
Squall rolled his eyes. It was an act, and he played his role well under the other's watchful eyes. Whispering so faintly, the ear it was meant for almost missed it, he said. "You'd better pick up and respond to every message."
He chose teasingly twisting Squall back and forth within his grip until the commander shoved him away, as a response. "Y'all better stay in touch, too."
"Stay." Fujin said to Seifer.
"You know I can't. I'm shocked I was welcomed back."
"The headmaster understood, ya know? She was his wife.. he'll let you stay in Balamb." Raijin added.
"Yeah, but the cadets are idiots, and I'm too old to play their reign deer games." Seifer accepted a hug from Fujin, quite surprised to get one. He expected the emotional latching from Raijin. He's known the pair since he started going to Balamb. He accepted them right away. They are his first friends. Squall and Quistis were more like... a brother and older sister. I don't know you, and until addressed you don't know me. The feeling seemed mutual.
"Leonhart, bask in now being the school's number one gunblade master."
Squall spared Seifer a glance. He had to be joking. "Bye, Seifer."
"Yeah, yeah. Tears are for after I'm gone." He patted his friend and rival on the shoulder, and received a grip in return.
"Seifer, if you, or Irvine, need anything.. call me." Quistis almost shyly informed. It was weird saying goodbye to the guy she's formed a bond with since childhood. They tease each other, but that's what family does. She loves them all, and knows she has it in return. If not love, than at least a sort of respect.
"Yeah." Replied the ex-knight.
"I can't say goodbye anymore, you're making it hard to wanna leave." Irvine's posture slanted with a hand on his hip and a cock of his head. "We'd better get going." He said to Seifer. His gaze lingered on Squall, who looked back.
In the distance cadet Ferris watched the scene. It seemed normal. Just the usual exchange of pleasantries between friends. He wished Fujin would scoot aside a bit so he could better access Squall. He's the victim in all this. That lecherous cowboy most likely wore him down. However, Squall should not have been receptive in the least. He hadn't wiped off that kiss in the garage, nor did he slug Irvine. Just what is really going on? He wondered, wishing he could get closer. But it didn't matter, everyone who needed to get on the train to Deling boarded to leave. And that was that.
...
Seifer turned his gaze from the window to cast it upon his companion. "I gotta tell ya, I'm a little disappointed that Galbadia is going full-on way-of-the-mercenary." Looking back out of the window, he continued. "I was into the militia aesthetic."
Irvine nodded. "It is gonna be weird. I hope no one gives Matron a hard time because of it."
Seifer's cyan gaze met with his friend's. "They pull any type of shit with her, they'll answer to me."
Irvine smiled, although he agreed... Completely.
He may not know about any of that knight stuff, but, he loves the kind woman who'd raised him until adoption. He'd lay down his life for her. Back in the war times, he'd only had a goal to take her down not out. Thankfully it all ended well. But a day would come when another poor candidate will rise up with a sorcerers abilities. Until then... All cadets young and old can only live peacefully, happily, until they're brought into another year of horror. But that hopefully won't be for some time.
The seasons began to change, the cold snow opened up over the earth looking like planet had been pelted with scalding-hot water balloons. And when the balloons hit humanity, more and more skin became exposed as they dawned shorts and short sleeved shirts ready to embrace the warm weather on any scattered day they arrived.
Irvine Kinneas was no exception. He slipped a blue and black striped t-shirt over his head, smoothed it down his torso then briefly debated on tucking it in or leaving out. Leaving his shirt as is, he grabbed his black hat to go with his jeans, then he headed out of his dorm into the hall. Two more classes then he can dedicate his afternoon with chatting up Squall via Face-Chat.
Weston slipped his arm around Irvine's shoulders, having to reach up just a bit to compensate the difference of his 5'7" stature to Irvine's 6'0". "Can you believe how boring life has gotten?" He asked; he wasn't offended when his arm was removed. "Watch this, do that. We're mercenaries."
"No kidding! Headmistress only explained that during orientation, have you been having memory loss from past battles?"
"Speaking of memory loss," and he ignored the dig. "Can you believe they want us to use G.F.s despite that memory loss rumor? Don't they care?"
"I'm sure they do, besides, they came up with a new way to junction them."
Turning into the same classroom as Irvine, Weston took a seat beside him. "It's all the fault of that asshole Cid. He doesn't care about us, he just wants power."
"Selphie says keeping a journal helps, if we do that, the memory loss is temporary."
Weston turned green. "Who's trying to do that?"
"Like I said," and he's already restless of the conversation. "We've been given a new way to junction Guardians, they don't effect our memories anymore." He neglected to tell him that the new way seems more dangerous and frightening then a little memory lapse.
"Hello students," greeted the instructor as he walked into the room.
Another new thing the cadets of Galbadia are experiencing as well as Gaurdian Force usage, is the lax attitude of the faculty. No more drill sergeants, but pleasant soldiers. Smiles. Warmth. Not the distant and brutish behavior they've come to expect. Even physical fitness classes focused not on strength but health. They took laps! Before it was run! Jump! Wall! Crawl! Some cadets collapsed their first year. How could they not since most joined as children. Others would come to Galbadia on free days thinking the cadets too casual. If they only knew what brought on the need for such a release.
Irvine admits that since coming back things were a bit dull, but a lot of them did attend Balamb training for a bit, and have already grown used to it. But others who opted out until the Garden was rebuilt were mind-fucked thoroughly. A lot of cadets fearing that Edea Kramer would become possessed again quit altogether for a commoners life or they're waiting around for Trabia to be rebuilt. They felt they could not turn to Balamb. Not after what they were forced to do to them. So, they don't know of the changes, and that this is the norm now. They are mercenaries.
He's had two assignments since Galbadia's reopening. One of which was alongside Seifer and a female cadet. They were escorting a big-wig to a function for peace talks. Seifer took it very seriously. It was inspiring. However, Irvine missed taking specialty jobs. Sad as it was being a gun for hire, most of the time it was for a truly good reason. He wasn't just offing people. General Caraway was one of his frequent employers. He'd act either as a right hand or a sniper. And he paid quite well.
But even Seifer has his restless days, mostly he's been spotted training intensely out in the fields with his gunblade. Those monsters must hate him, since he's mostly been scarring or disfiguring them rather than killing.
"Alright, we're picking up where we left off, which is healing civilians without using magic on them." Informed the instructor.
And class began.
Irvine fled down the hall like he'd left on a small gas burner and only just recalled this. He closed the door to his dorm then removed his phone. Should he call Squall, or would Squall call him was often a coin toss between them. It happened twice that they were trying to be the first to make contact and those three times they ended up leaving it alone, believing the other was working or sleeping. His phone buzzed in his hand while he was busy slipping his feet from his sneakers.
"Hi!" He greeted cheerily.
"Hey," came the pleasant toned reply. For Squall Leonhart, that was practically slap-happy elation compared to his usual casual disinterested, even when he's actually into whatever is going on, tone. "I see you're wearing your hat."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, went with the attire." He cruised the screen over himself. "Heh heh, I see you're nude,"
Squall's brows furrowed. "I am not."
"Could you be?" Teased the gunslinger.
"You first." He shot back. "Has it gotten any better over there?"
"Some people have quit because they think it's b.s. that the woman who basically castrated us is now running Galbadia Garden, others left because of guilt. But, more people have stayed because they wanna prove themselves like Matron. It was something that happened, they're hoping to move on from it too."
"That's good."
"...I think Seifer misses you,"
Squall scoffed. He very much doubted that.
"He'd never come right out and say it, but he practices a lot. Seems like a renegade on a mission out there." Irvine scratched his brow with his thumb. "He told me Galbadia is lacking in that aspect, and should get more diverse with weapons so there would be more gunblade users for him to burn through."
""Burn through"?" He practically rolled his eyes, and yet the compliment wasn't missed that Seifer misses him and their rivalry to be the top gunblade specialist on the planet.
"I miss you, too." Irvine confessed. "The only downside to all this, we won't be getting missions together."
Brow furrowed, Squall asked. "They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"We have a mission together next Wednesday."
"Really?!" His mood brightened from the slight falter.
"Yeah. I guess Cid didn't send the request yet. Hold on."
Irvine watched the dizzying scenery of the dorm room and his boyfriend's outer thigh as he walked somewhere in the room with it lowered. When he retrieved what he'd been looking for Squall appeared back on the screen.
"Squall Leonhart, accompanied by Irvine Kinneas, are to guard a shipment leaving for the North."
Elated, Irvine opened a second screen on his phone to check his messages. Sure enough his inbox had a sealed message for him. "I take back what I said, this mercenary thing is genius."
Squall smiled faintly. Although, as time passed between them sniper has noticed the small gesture has become a bit more pronounced, so the emotionally stunted no longer rivals any famous paintings. An onlooker can easily tell Squall is smiling when he does.
Closing the screen he then returned his full focus to his boyfriend. "So, what's for dinner?"
"Scored some hot dogs. You?"
"We're having meatloaf and potatoes, my favorite of the classics."
"I'll bring it to my room, we can eat together."
"I'll be waiting for it." He winked. "Anything exiting happening over there?"
"Besides Selphie thinking that now she has a crush on you, nothing much."
"Ahaha, oh she does?"
"Yeah. Absence fondness, I suppose."
"It must be, she never cared about my advances."
"Well, that's tough for her." Squall declared. "I'll fight a girl, wouldn't be the first time."
Irvine snickered. "Your low-key jealously is working for me."
"I'm not jealous, I know you're my boyfriend."
A broad grin spread across his face. "It's fun when I say it, but when my boyfriend says it it just makes me smile."
Squall seemed to share the sentiment. Being called boyfriend was really nice.
The pair talked for a few more minutes, catching up as though the other a diary spoken to rather than written in then hung up in wait for dinner when they would talk again until they parted for bed.
X x X
Commentary: I never know how to end these chapters :-). Thank you for reading.
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A Break in Character