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Snow Drift	By : Resting-Madness Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male > Irvine/Squall Views: 970 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own anything involving final fantasy 8, nor do I make money from this fanfiction. The only thing that's mine is the take on a plot that's been done by just about everyone.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
The four cadets were suffering in a swelling distress as they faced the reality of having to search the area of Centra, once again, in search of their missing lieutenant. They were weather beaten from before, and had no rest time except during transit back to Balamb. They no longer had tans, just burns and peeling skin. They're smelly and dirty, and are about to accumulate more layers as they restart.
"Hopefully these babies will speed up the process;" Zell pressed a button on a panel. "And, when we find Irvine, if he's in a bad state, we can use them to carry him." He removed a T-board from a hidden closet. "One for you, one for you," he reached inside grabbing and handing out hover-boards.
"Zell, I can't ride this thing." Quistis informed very matter-of-factly. Nor was she enticed to try to operate one. She handed it back, with a look near offense.
"Suit yourself," he looked at the others. "There're five."
Phineas took one. He used to ride, but it's been a while. It should come back to him.
Selphie agreed to try one out, Luna as well. The others declined. Those without exited the ship, while Zell instructed the others on how to operate and ride the boards without fail or injury.
The dry air blasted them with dust the moment they stepped off the vessel. So many places hidden away from view. It was not going to be an easy search and rescue. Monsters roaming, dry terrain threatening comfort and health. None of it mattered. They are all determined to find their friend. They would not return without him.
Once the others exited Ragnarok, they were startled that the vessel lifted back into the air.
Selphie raised her hand to admit it was her doing. "I put it on auto, I figure it could sweep for heat signatures along with us." Holding up her phone, she informed them. "It's connected to my phone. If anything comes up, I'll know." Looking over to Squall, she asked. "I can link yours too?" Though she already knew he'd want it.
Squall was thankful, and gave her his phone. The service was a bit resistant in the location, but it connected. It pays that the world was so dependent on radio waves before television started to become popular again. He thanked her, then walked away. The others split up in pairs. After marking a place to meet up, they began the search.
...
Sucking in as much volume as her lungs can be filled, Selphie placed her hands beside her mouth then shouted with all her might and capability, "Iiiiiiiirviiiiiiiiiiine!" only to break out into a fit of coughs, due to dry air blowing into her already parched throat.
They've been out combing Centra not for hours, but for days now. The group was getting more than restless. The southern sun was blazing down on them with the force of an eighth degree burn.
"Irvine!" Squall's shouting was heard in the distance. Its just as steady and loud as it was since when they had arrived eight days ago. How was he not running on empty like the others? "Irvine!"
Rakuta sat on the ship, watching scanners that were running sweeps. He's on his break. They all get one periodically to shower, eat, restore stamina and vigor. Even junctioned to boost it, they still need the breaks. Programmed to search a wider range, so far no sign of Irvine Kinneas. Monsters and other natural wildlife are aplenty but no sniper. Nothing even remotely human, minus the ten of them. He had to wonder how much longer they would all be out here? Why didn't commander Leonhart understand that the four of them looked for a week and found nothing; he isn't saying they should give up on Irvine, but searching the grounds won't do them any good.
'Stop thinking that way, you dumbass! These guys are higher ranked, they know this area well - I've seen Seifer come out of a cave that none of us even knew was there - even after having looked for a week! They'll find him.'
Watching them was becoming pain staking, though. When they'd first arrived they were fired up and on the alert. It was amazing to see the War hero SeeD's true strength in action like that. He thought for sure he was strong, could handle himself; however, when a Grand Mantis moved after his false defeat, Quistis strangled a monster with her shimmering silver whip Scalpel. She froze the thing's head, then pulled it free from the monster's still warm body; for SeeD, fighting monsters at that level must feel like a joke. To Rakuta and the rest of his team members, it seemed to go on forever; and they exhausted very quickly.
The 4 commanders are something to be in awe of, even Seifer and Rinoa. The rogue ex-knight may have only just become SeeD last year but he's still a really cool guy in battle, even if he doesn't officially have a team yet. However, Squall doesn't have one either. He refused to take them, saying he needs a break and would rather remain on Special Ops rather than complete active duty; with the Sorceress War over - minus the worshippers trying to start trouble - there's nothing left but cadet-sized missions, or personal requests. They are mercenaries. Hired and required to do all sorts of work, from the dangerous to the mundane. But in order to keep seedlings sharp, they do allow a few cadets at a time to accompany heavy missions for experience. Rinoa was still taking classes, but she's no slouch in battle, that's for sure. The only difference between herself and the others is that it's not officially on paper yet.
Zell hunched over panting hard. He's just finished a fist to lightning rod battle with a Blitz; having Thundaga junctioned, he's been electrically charged just as much as the lightning hungry monster; ripples of electric current are still floating about his exhausted body. He wants to find Irvine, but these sudden attacks are beginning to wear on him - everyone, really. He turned his nose away from the stink of dissolving monster, and started away towards the small campsite where rations and water lay waiting for him.
"Irvine! Irvine!" Echoed Squall's disembodied voice.
"I wish somebody would find something, even the smallest, lamest thing will do." Zell fell down onto his butt; a canteen in hand. "So he can be momentarily satisfied." He took a long drink. "I'm really starting to burn out out here." He looked at his arm lifting the hem of his battle glove. "Fuck, I've got a third degree tan!" He's shocked to see the difference in hue's of his covered skin to the exposed.
"Irvine! ...Irvine!"
"It really is starting to get sad, now." Selphie sat beside Zell, head dipped. "I don't think Irvine is anywhere around."
Seeing Quistis approach, the two glance at her before minding their own business again.
"It's getting dark again, we should turn in." She instructs.
"Tell that to Squall." Says Zell; thirst finally quenched he set the canteen down in his bag where it will stay out of the heat. "He's gonna pull an all nighter again, just watch."
"I don't need to. I can't sleep because he isn't sleeping." She crossed her arms below her breast. "All that shouting is attracting monsters, and we're at risk the moment we close our eyes. I'm getting a little stressed by it all."
"Tell me about it. Irvine may not even be here anymore. He's been missing for two weeks - going on three; the land has been searched by two sets of teams and no one has found any sign of him. Minus what the others brought back with them." Grumps the martial artist.
Rinoa joins the conversation after putting away her boomerang Twisted Jester which looks a lot like a Jellyeye. "Maybe someone should tell Squall it's time to call it quits."
"Yeah... but it'd have to be someone he trusts." Says Selphie.
With a shrug of her shoulders Quistis adds. "Someone who can take a punch after delivering bad news."
"Someone with a kind voice, and knows how to deal with the hostile." Rinoa adds, as well.
The three women turn their gaze to the short blond sitting amongst them. Said male looks at them with hurt disbelief that they would, and pardon the expression, but throw him to the lions.
"That someone had better not be me." Zell shook his head.
"Oh, come on! You two are good friends and... he trusts you with all kinds of mechanic stuff - remember the toaster?" Selphie informs. "And what happened at the secret base?"
Only Selphie can compare a hard ass secret mission to a toaster. Zell rolled his eyes. "But... but I only like bringing good news... it's part of my sunny disposition."
"What sunny disposition?" Asks Quistis.
"My can-do attitude, and that'll be severely stunted if my body is broken and newly labelled can't-do."
The girls let out a groan.
"Quit crying," Seifer interrupts their whining session. "I'll go talk to Leonhart, and get him to come back to Garden. We can send someone else to look for the cowboy."
Getting into his face, finger pointed sternly, Selphie warns. "Seifer, this is Squall, so you be nice."
Looking down at the girl he pats her on the head. "Relax, Messenger Girl, I know Squally is sensitive. I can be very understanding." Listening for where the male's shouts are coming from, Seifer marched over with intent.
The others watched with sorrow for the hot-tempered blond.
"He's gonna get punched in the eye." Zell surmised; he then removed a protein bar from his bag. May as well enjoy the show.
Seifer sighed loudly when reaching Squall. The brunet is hacking a bolder to bits with his gunblade. Pausing in steps to watch a moment, Seifer crossed his arms. "Don't tell me you think the mountain swallowed him like in that old story Matron used to tell us? I can assure you it was make-believe." He wriggles his fingers as if a witch's nightmare dust dust were on them.
"Worth a shot." He growls over his shoulder with a voice cracked and dry from not having ate or drank anything for a long while; but, he continued to hack away at the large obstruction.
"The others are starting to worry about you... It's going on two weeks now, the cowboy's not here." To make his point more clear, he adds. "We're heading back to Garden to ask for help searching."
"Bye."
"You're coming with us."
"No. I'm not." He lowered his gunblade. "If I stop... Who's to say his voice isn't just broken from dehydration, and he's actually been calling for us all this time? ...I can't just turn my back on him."
Rolling his eyes, Seifer moved closer. "Yeah, yeah; the brave knight is gonna rescue his princess - I get it, but you're wasting your strength by being reckless about it."
"Didn't think you'd care."
"I don't. The only reason I'm talking to you at all is because the others are too fucking scared to do it, so come on..." He gestured towards the Ragnarok with a nod of his head. "It's either come back with me willingly, or the others are going to go to Plan B, which is clock you over the head - look. They're already planning on how to sneak up on you." He looked over his shoulder.
Disbelieving anything Seifer says, Squall, only to humor him, glanced past his rival; surely enough, Zell just grabbed a large branch patting it against his empty palm. The girls leaned in to whisper to him.
'Son of a bitch.' Thought Squall. His eyes widened as his personal space was suddenly invaded by Seifer leaning down towards his ear. "What are you do...?" He staggered backwards a few steps; Seifer's victorious smile was the last thing he saw before passing out. His weight dropped forward in a heavy heap to be caught by the ex-knight.
"Nighty-night." Hoisting the unconscious lion over his shoulder, Seifer walked him over to the others.
"This is the right size for kindling a fire, the mushrooms growing on it might smell a little funky" Zell says to the girls. "We'll probably be staying overnight again." He sighed in resignation.
"Good timing with the branch, Dinky." Says Seifer, as he nears the group.
"Squall?!" The girls shout rushing over to the tall blond that's carrying their knocked out friend.
"What the hell, Seifer, we didn't say to hurt him!" Selphie's puffed up, square-off, only gained her a pat on the head.
"Calm down, Tilmitt, I didn't hurt him..." With a knowing smirk, he adds. "I said that you all were planning to. Then when he looked the other way, I whispered Sleep into his ear." Seifer released Squall to the ground with the grace of a duffle bag that's strap was over his shoulder keeping it up.
Squall hit the rough dirt with not a single grunt of acknowledgement due to the strong spell over him.
"Let's get him to the ship." Zell grabbed his friend under his arms. "Seifer get his legs." He asked.
"No way. I've done enough carrying for one evening." He waved a hand over his shoulder as he strolled to the large red ship.
Rolling his eyes, Zell got a better grip on the sleeping commander in order to lift him alone, but Squall's body becomes a bit lighter when his legs are lifted into the air. "Rinoa," He says when seeing who is at the end of the brunet. "Thanks."
"Mhm.. whoa!" She stumbled to the side. "He's not as light as he lets you believe, is he?" She comments while adjusting her hold. "I'm good." She walked forward while Zell backed his way to the ship.
Selphie and Quistis gathered the bags for them; slipping the strap of the duffles over their heads to sit comfortably on their shoulder and across the chest then they followed, with their weapons in hand for just in case monsters attack.
Quistis knew that Squall wasn't going to be happy when he woke up. Hopefully they'll have more help by the time he comes around, so it will ease his mind. She still has a soft spot in her heart that makes her look out for the five; being a year older than them never had a thing to do with it. It's the need to want them to be safe and alright that does it.
'Where could Irvine possibly be? Is he buried underneath something calling out to us, but we can't hear him? Maybe he's in a time rift caused by that G.F.. Who knows what abilities it may have had.' She sighed. 'Knowing Squall he'll wanna start searching again the second he opens his eyes... He should really take the commander thing lightly. Except, how do you talk sense into someone that strong-willed? Especially when it comes to his lover? ...Irvine. Wherever you are just please be alive.'
Selphie, who's walking beside the woman, cocks her head smiling when Quistis comes from her thoughts and notices that she's been watched. "Sorry, but what were you thinking about?"
"Just wondering what could have happened to Irvine, that's all. People don't just disappear without a trace, unless they've been kidnapped, or..."
"Abducted by aliens?"
"Selphie, no, there's no such thing."
"I know, just trying to keep things light." Looking back at the area she sighs. "Honestly... I think Irvine isn't even out here any longer. He might have fallen from the cliff into the ocean."
"Do you think so?"
"Mhmm. So maybe when we get back we can get the police to look and some experienced marine type guys and divers, swimmers and..."
"We'll just settle with the Sub specialist for now."
"Right."
Loading the ship the large docking doors close up after them. The hall was illuminated by large emergancy lights at the heads of the doors, as well as large lights hidden beneath the floor. They pass through the left door heading into the short elevator which raises them up to the deck. Selphie lowered the bags to the floor then hurried over to Zell at the cockpit to take her seat.
Quistis situated the bags in the corner so they wouldn't slide all over the room then she took a seat behind Squall to help Rinoa, who's seated beside the sleeping male to hold his body and keep him steady for lift off and land.
Anxious, Phineas asked. "You guys aren't giving up, are you? I know he's out there somewhere."
"We're not giving up, Max. We're just taking a break and calling in other source's help." Quistis replied with an even tone hoping to calm the cadet.
But how can he be calm knowing that they were the last ones to see their commander. And because of their lack of experience they couldn't find him the first week he went missing, making it impossible for anyone to find Irvine, should he have been around then.
Phineas placed his hand on his stomach to keep his lunch in. He couldn't eat dinner, not when the others were still out there with nothing to show for it beyomd dirty clothes.
# #
Squall's eyes scrunch tightly before they flutter open with blurred vision of a white ceiling. The false view distorted to what looked like a large thumb with a blond fingernail, that has a crack along the left side. Groaning, Squall cleared his throat of, what he thinks is, a day's worth of crud that built up while he slept.
"Fucking Seifer," Gainging a bit of his senses as to who is in the room with him, he continued speaking. "Zell... what the hell happened? Are we still in Centra Ruins?"
Laughing nervously, he spun on his heels so that he's shielded by the chair he was sitting in. "Not exactly," He replied. "We, uh... that is Seifer, kinda used a spell on you to put you to sleep, and we brought you home to rest."
Groaning, Squall placed a hand to his forehead to keep himself from getting dizzy as he sat up in the bed. "Fine. Whatever. I'm rested now. Let's get back to searching."
"No!" He holds his friend back with a hand to the chest. "Dr. Kadowaki said that you've exhausted yourself by searching the wasteland without much food or water in you. You're fine now, though."
"You guys kept looking, though, right?" Squall, now seeing perfectly, looked about the room. He's in the nurse's office alright. Only problem is there's no injured sniper next to him, just a tray of a glass and a pitcher of water.
"Uuuhh, define "looking"?" He pours the brooding commander a drink upon seeing him glance at it; holding it out to him, he shrugged.
"You stopped looking!?" Squall's confusion turned into outrage and he pushed away the offered glass; getting up from the bed he heads to the door.
"Squall you don't understand! We were all tired; and kinda taking a break until we were back on our feet." Zell hurried over to his friend, pulling a card from his jean's back pocket "I have the card for the door, but," tucking it safely back inside the pocket, he then stamped his foot down to show that he means business. The martial artist says sternly. "You're not allowed to leave until the nurse says so."
"But what about Irvine?"
Turning him around so they're facing each other, he kept a grip on the brunet's shoulder. "We have guys looking for him, scouters and diving specilialist."
"Diving specialist?"
"Selphie thinks Irvine might have fallen from the cliffs. So we have guys in submarines searching the water."
Popping the back of his head against the sliding door he breathed out. "Fuck." He hadn't even thought of that; Irvine's an excellent swimmer, but no one can last against the ocean's currents for too long. Face scrunched, he rolled his eyes up to avoid crying. "I just... want him back, Zell - can you understand that?"
"Of course I can. If it were Seifer..." He smirked. "I'd go on vacation, toss money from a blimp.." he dropped the act and said sincerely. "I'd move Hell and high water to get to him, but, that being said, I'd also know when to stand down." He rubbed Squall's shoulders. "In the meantime, we have to keep positive about this."
Tears turned to anger again, as he shoved the blond off him. "How can I keep positive!? They won't look as hard as we will. They don't know Irvine. And after a while, fatigue will make them quit - and you know it."
It was most likely true. However, Zell still wanted to keep positive. "I'll go get the nurse - see if she'll let you out. But I really think we should leave it to the professionals to search." Hands up in defense from any oncoming attacks from the angered lion, Zell slipped past him to the door. "I'll go get the nurse." He repeats. "Stay here."
The door slid open with the swipe of the card key through the scanner; turning around he walked out backwards for just in case, locking the door back once he's out. Zell would have jumped to the moon by the sudden bang that came from the other side of the door, had he not expected it. If it were him in this situation, he would have done the same.
Alone, Squall slumps down against the door, his head pressed back against it, legs bent, fingers linked together down at his crotch and he mumbles.
"Hyne, please let him be ok."
...
"I think we should go back to help search."
"Zell, it been an entire month and we haven't found a single sign of him..." Quistis lowered her gaze to the checkered floor. "I think we should get prepared."
"Prepared for what?!" Now it's Zell's turn to get angry. He can't believe what she's saying. If it were her who was lost, they wouldn't just "get prepared". It wouldn't be that way for any of them. "No! Quistis... we can't give up on finding him. Not just for his sake, but Squall's, too! He's gonna be totally fucked up if we quit now; not to mention, he'll never speak to any of us again... And we all know him, he'll just go looking for himself and end up in worse shape than he was last month."
"Zell's right, Quistis." Selphie agreed quietly. "We should at least look for one more month before we plan for any funerals."
"We're not planning any funeral." Squall snips out as he entered the dorms. "Irvine will be found."
"Squall.." Quistis was cut off.
"Zell, you're still under contract with Leviathan right?"
Stammered in brief confusion, he says. "E.. w-well... yeah.. why?"
"We'll need to search the ocean floor. No submarine can go as low as it can."
"Right."
"And Selphie, can you fly overhead with Quezacotl?"
"Yeah. I'll do it."
"What about the rest of us?" Rinoa asked, ready to help.
"The rest of you use the ships tracker to search. This way, I know Irvine will be found - if we're looking, he'll be found." He questioned them by meeting their gazes with his own to ensure they understand that they have to find him no matter what.
The group nods. All but Seifer, who only groaned but stood to leave with them.
After another month of searching the area, desperate friends only managed to find one more thing of Irvine's besides the hat Eurydice brought back. It was one of Irvine's boots. Squall identified it right away, and another proof of that were the initials on the inside sewn in gold thread reading: I.K.
Unfortunately, even with Leviathan swimming the ocean floors, Irvine's body was not recovered. And when the search was called off... and everyone, all 56 men and women called it quits...
Squall Leonhart watched his world turn a stark white.
- 8
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Snow Drift