Snow Drift | By : Resting-Madness Category: Final Fantasy VIII > Yaoi - Male/Male > Irvine/Squall Views: 975 -:- 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. |
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII universe nor any of the characters, I make no profit from this, its simply for fan enjoyment - haduuuuh!
Notes: I would also like to point out that this is a revise, once fully loaded the original will be deleted. So thank you for reading this for the first or second time, I really appreciate it.
...
Vaulny Canyon. 11:20 a.m.
Commander and SeeD Squall Leonhart and SeeD member Irvine Kinneas have been hiding out behind a fallen tree, atop a small hill that's surrounded by a light forest of trees; a short ways outside of Timber, for hours. The pair were asked to scout for a new type of monster that's been reeking havoc in that area. As SeeDs it's their job to manage the beasts, and any others that may be around like it. Since it's a new breed, who could say if it's a single male or a female; or if it's plural with a family. The two have been out there since eight o'clock that morning, and so far have heard nothing.
"It's better to get the drop on them when they don't expect it." Squall had said during the walk to the forest. "Instead to go looking for it, and get it riled-up."
Irvine disagreed; and has been bored since. In-fact, he'd brought along a handgun with intentions of shooting off some rounds just to beat boredom! However, it isn't loaded. But, he stopped being sated by the clicking off an empty chamber. Glancing to his side, he grabbed four bullets from Squall's person.
"Hey." Warned the commander when feeling the sniper's nimble fingers too near his butt. "Do you mind? We're on a mission."
Holding his hands up defensively, he says. "Just borrowin' some arsenal. I didn't bring any for this gun."
"Does that gun even take the same bullets as my revolver?" Squall glanced down at his artillery belts that cross over his hips. The bullets align the inside of the accessory. "And there were plenty by my hip."
"Yeah, but your butt is much better to look at." He winked at the uppity commander. "- -'sides, if you don't like it then don't wear it around your hips, put it over your chest. Maybe everyone will stop mistaking 'em for belts, O' 'King of Chastity'." He teased.
"Yeah, but then everyone would mistake them for suspenders."
Irvine chuckled about that; he loves Squall's sneaky sense of humor, always coming when one least expects it. "I guess that's true." He loaded the tiny bullets into his gun.
Watching him, Squall says absently, though, very seriously. "I hope you don't plan on wasting those."
"Why? You need 'em?" He mocked as he aimed the small gun at something making phony bang sounds. Changing subjects, he added. "Gotta wonder why we were picked for this boring work." Aiming at a tree, he squints out a far off target. Something was catching sunlight up in a tree. Looked like some old brown shirt or bag.
"Because you're better with distant combat, and I'm alright with both close range and far."
Irvine scoffed.
"What's that for?"
"I have never once, in my many years of knowing your military life, seen you use the gun on that blade of yours - - Seifer either, for that matter. But then again, I've never really been on a mission where that pyro hasn't burned the place up and down before even one swing."
"I use it."
"Use it now then," He nodded with his chin. "that beast we're tracking is right over there."
Turning in his crouch to look; Squall spotted the beast in the distance. It appeared to be sharpening its long, black, shining metal horns against a boulder. It's bigger than either of them had guessed. Navy blue fur, but accentuated crimson tufts of fur flashed by it's jowls as it bobbed it's head to get its task done.
Removing his hat, Irvine then reached into his pocket removing his Creds card. "Tell you what.. I'll give you three hundred Gil, if you use your gun."
"Deal."
Watching his lover stand up, Irvine shifts in protest. "Hold on, where's your card?"
"Didn't bring it; Garden paid for us to get out here, remember?"
"Well, what if I wanted to have lunch after a job well done?"
"I'm your boyfriend, right? Show me some of that Deling hospitality, everyone is always going on about." Leaning down he stole a quick kiss from lips pouted in a huff, before starting away for the target. "Turn on your communicator."
"Will do." Twisting the knob to the dial attached to the earpiece in his left ear, he tests it with a few words. "I'll be listening for gun fire. Don't let me down."
"Shut up, Kinneas, you'll hear it - - and I won't miss. You might not have been needed, after all."
Laughing, Irvine says. "We'll see."
...
As Squall ducked his head from hitting an oncoming low branch; he wondered how he'd managed to let Irvine talk him into being the decoy, while he lined up the shot which will take down the monster? The Lion of Balamb can hear the snarling aggressor gaining on him; its large black horns knocking down branch after branch with a simple shake of its head - better the branches than the trees, he figured. Dashing behind the safety of a large trunk, he caught his breath. He cannot believe his shot missed! Well - it hit the monster, but the damn thing had on a barrier, and the shot only alerted the beast that danger was there. And so, the chase began. Unsnapping his double-edged sword from its holster; he swore to Hyne that a certain sniper was gonna freeze his nuts off for slacking off, when he should have shot the thing down by now! He must have been running for ten minutes!
'I may as well take care of this by myself.' He flipped a latch on his weapon to loosen the blade then he turn and locked it at a 90 degree angle; the commander turned around from behind the tree and braced himself for impact. The beast smashed into him seconds after his exposing himself. 'If I can get in under its chin I should be able to bring it down in one or two shot.' He accessed the odds. His body went cruising backwards, propelled by the monster, the force was so powerful that Squall's boots dug trenches into the dirt and grass like a gardening hoe over loose soil.
"Hit the dirt." Irvine's voice came mechanically through the earpiece Squall's wearing.
"I'm gonna kill you, Kinneas." Clapped the commander.
Laughing in his usual way, Irvine replied to the death threat. "I know, I know. But I found something interesting and it distracted me, but I'm here now. So, do as I say."
"Easier said than d-done."
Squall struggled to get solid footing, but decided instead to drop his weight and let the offender pass right over him; the nameless beast had ideas of its own, and it involved snapping the human in two before eating it up. When Squall let his body get shoved over; the beast opened its mouth biting into the blade; the commander was now being dragged rather than pushed.
"Can you see me at all?" Asked Squall; he managed to break one of the teeth while pulling his blade free.
"Yyyep, and you're lookin' cute as ever when you're pissed."
"Prick."
"Just leave the rest to me and high-tail it."
Squall squeezed the trigger releasing three rounds up into the roof of the monster's mouth. The roar of pain allowed the commander to bring his weapon with him, as he finally dropped to the grass free from danger.
"AaRrrraaaaahhhhhhh!" The monster howled in pain, twisting itself and trembling to dispel the ache from its large head.
Up on his feet in a hurry once the fur-covered killer was from over him, Squall took off at a sprint; knowing that Irvine's Ulysses gun is loaded with pulse ammo meant...
The monster exploded as shockwaves pumped its body full of charged air, expanding it far greater than it should have been from the inside. And when the pressure had nowhere to escape the mutated animal blew up spewing chunks into the air which smacked into the trees and onto the ground, enough to turn it red; and enough to thoroughly dampen clothing, as it landed all over Squall, as well. The blood was disgusting in and of itself, but the fact that it was strangely cold only made it worse. It was like being hydroplaned with ice cold glue.
Irvine's laughter in his ear only added to the anger the SeeD commander was feeling right now; and he turned a hot glare in the gunman's direction.
"You don't scare me."
"Wait until I get over there." Squall tried to sound threatening, but it was hard as he was busying himself with pulling coagulated blood from his hair and clothes, flicking it from his fingers once it was removed. At least it's warm out today. No chance he'll be come down with occupational-sickness.
...
"Hurry up; I wanna show you what I've found." Irvine was moving as fast as he could considering the new bit of travelling item slowing him down.
Squall couldn't say he wasn't intrigued; Irvine rarely found anything worth a twice examination, but his boyfriend sounded pretty excited as well as persistent. He figured he may as well look into it; but before he followed along, he wanted to harvest the premium quality steel of the monster's sharp horns. He planned to use one for himself and give the other to Seifer. The ex-knight has been talking about getting a new blade on Hyperion. Hauling them back to Garden was gonna be a bitch, though. So, for getting him covered in goo, Irvine had no choice but to help him - - without complaint.
"Just a little further," Says the sniper. "Why do you want this anyway?" He would have asked after having a horn shoved into his hands, but then it didn't seem so heavy as it does now that they're moving.
"Why else? Now show me what's so great that you nearly left me to be monster food back there."
Giving a smile of apology, Irvine nudged his boyfriend with his elbow. "You know I'd never let you end up as some monster's dinner." He grunted as his shoulders groan in annoyance of being placed in an angle less than comfortable, due to his holding the horn in both hands while they're behind his back. "Its right here." He lowers the horn.
Looking around Squall shook his head. "I don't see any-" A low sound hit his ears, kind of like a whimpering. A bird maybe? No... this was different... it's more... human.
Kneeling down into a bush, Irvine lifts out what appears to be... a baby. It's wrapped up in a green blanket with something brown around it, it looks like a leather carryall. There's a postal mark on it, which means it's a mailbag.
"Wha-...?" He can't even get the rest out, too dumbstruck at what to say.
"My thoughts exactly; I was sorta - - y'know, followin' a dragonfly through my scope, when I heard his crying. I looked up, and there in that tree," He nods. "Was this little guy, stuffed in a mailbag."
"Up a tree?" Looking around with his dual-colored gaze for something, he then asked. "The mother?"
"Ain't see her - - the father neither. Kid was just left there." Seeing that Squall was saying nothing, he went on to ask. "The parents might have been ate, or dashed off to Timber after hiding him in the woods... So like, what do we do with him?"
Squall opened his mouth with a suggestion, but then said what came as top priority. "Change him."
...
Squall had to make two trips to Ragnarok, a ship acquired during the Sorceress War a mere year ago; it now is accessible to each Garden for use - - though sparingly. It mostly stays at the space port in Esthar, but sometimes the mercinaries are granted use. Hauling two over-sized horned to Balamb seemed like fair reason to the commander. Squall couldn't imagine the train would wait for him as he dragged on one, secured it, then had to walk all the way back to the forest to grab the other. Irvine had his hands full with the possibly orphaned baby, and the commander could not drag the items on his own, they were heavy alone, but together it was a no go.
After changing the baby, Irvine did help him with the last of the newly acquired non-living cargo by securing it with straps as the other had; the child was sound asleep.
# #
Selphie Tilmitt had been walking the corridor when she saw the large dragon-looking ship approaching in the distance; she was instantly curious because Squall and Irvine took a rental to the train station, so, it caused a wonder as to what has them returning in the extreme choice of transportation. The ship rightfully stays at the Esthar space station until needed for a cause a little more extreme than not wanting to take the train home.
The progressive city is actually in the process of making flying trams for transportation. If they succeed it will be an incredible breakthrough in modern technology. She walked to the front entrance of Garden. She was on her toes, craning her neck while still mobile to meet with the pair. She has time, she's through studying, so she can engage in personal business.
She waved once seeing Irvine cresting the row of stairs; her jaw dropped upon seeing something telling in his arms. Irvine is holding what appeared to be a baby! There was no mistaking such a bundle. The shriek was heard round the Garden. When the pair walked into the cool building, a small crowd gathered behind them as they were making their ways to the headmistresses office on the third floor; chatty cadets pondering with each other who the baby was? And where he came from? What the two of them would be doing with it - - especially Squall? Although he's made changes in his personality over the years, he still has a few quirks to work out every now and then in regards to being around people comfortably. And that went for those involved and in his company.
"Alright people, let's not get stupid, its just a - - a baby?!" Xu staggering verbally upon looking at the bundle held in the sniper's arms. "What is that doing here? There is no place for a baby in a military school."
"Calm down, Xu; we found him in a tree - - can you believe it? We had to bring him here," Irvine looked down at the child that began to make little sneezing sounds. "What could we do? We'd searched Timber for hours and ain't nobody ever seen the kid before. We don't know where he's from, and we couldn't just leave him up in that tree with all the monsters roamin' around." Adjusting the child in his grip so that he's facing the woman, he says in a child's voice. "Come on, Xu, have a heart and let me live here for a while."
Not impressed upon, nor moved, by the adorable child; she clucks her tongue to the back of her teeth. "We'll see what Headmistress Edea has to say."
"I think his odds are good, considering she used to care for war orphans." Says Squall heading up the stairs with Irvine in tow.
Blushing from the hidden insult, Xu muttered. "I liked you better when you kept your opinions to yourself." Walking up the stairs after them, she got onto the elevator intending to hear the plans for herself. Wouldn't want anyone sneaking around the Garden with a baby after they've been told not to. "And where is your shirt?" She asked Irvine when noticing the young man has nothing on his chest but a buttoned up Duster.
"He's wearin' it." Irvine explained, showing off the baby bottom sporting a white t-shirt as a diaper.
Selphie twisted back and forth with glee while waiting on Seifer and Zell, then started speaking rapidly as they neared. "Squall and Irvine have a baby!"
Eyes wide, Zell shrieked, as well. "A baby! ...Wow, they didn't even show." He said to himself while scratching the back of his head.
Groaning, Seifer just about left an imprint on his face from slapping his hand to it so hard. "She means they have one with them; go back to Sex Ed, Dinky."
"Haha, I knew that. I was just messing around." Looking at Selphie, he asked. "Did they say where it came from? Or whose it is?"
Nodding, she replied while walking down the hall to nowhere, just following along with her friends. "Irvine said they found the kid abdandoned in the woods, but no sign on the parents in the forest or even in the town. They're either dead or they ditched him - - which means, we have a baby!"
"We don't have anything; let the kid be their problem." Retorted Seifer.
"But isn't it exciting? And I snuck a glance at him, the kid is cute and everything!"
"Tch. Girls think that everything is cuuute; that's what's wrong with the world now. Everyone is making love and not war."
"You don't mean that," Selphie rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna tell Quistis and Rin'... oh wait, she's in class." After the war, she became interested in learning to be more brave in the face of such situations, so she applied to attend Garden for a year. "Okay, well then, Quistis. Come on, Zell."
Taking the offered hand, the martial artist let himself be stolen away with the happy brunette.
Scoffing, Seifer crossed his arms then shouted after him. "Enjoy the giggle-fest, Zell. I'll be in our room throwing darts at your stuff for ditching me."
Zell looked over his shoulder, shrugging a hand as if to say what could he do when the jaws-of-life have gripped him.
In the office of the Headmistress. Edea Kramer can't believe what she's been told. Who in the world would abdandon a baby in the forest - - that forest in particular? Is been all over the news that people should be extremely cautious when there, due to a spike in monster inhabitants. Were they trying to sacrifice the baby? Was it stolen from the parents and dumped off there as a punishment to them? So many questions, and no one to answer them. What can she do?
"He can stay here." Says headmistress Edea.
"All right!" Cheered Irvine.
Squall looked as though he's going to die from a heart attack. Xu wouldn't be far behind.
"But," The headmistress interrupts. "you have to be the one to watch him, Irvine Kinneas. Are you ready for that responsibility?"
Caught off guard by that requirement, he replied. "Uhh, aheh heh, sure thing."
"And, in the meantime, we'll get his picture out to every town and city. I'll assign some cadets to be in-charge of the search for the boy's parents."
"Yes ma'am." Irvine says saluting.
"Wait! Headmistress," Xu interrupted, walking over to the desk to better herself in the forefront rather than background; she exclaimed vehemently. "this is no place to keep a baby; what if something happens? This is a military facility, after all. Lest you forget the bomb threat from two years ago. And the rift that happened just last year between us and some war stragglers. This is no place for a baby."
"Dammit, Xu, Matron just said he could stay - - and he'll have me, and Squall, to watch him."
"Stop trying to prey on her empathy, and show some respect. She is the headmistress of Balamb Garden, not a daycare monitor."
Irvine narrowed his gaze at Xu Qiua. How could she say something so cold, when that isn't even what Irvine was doing? He can't help it to call the woman who'd partially raised him, what he's always called her.
"How did I get mixed up in this?" Asked the impartial bystander; Squall was still wondering too many things about the new situation, as well as, wanting to file his report on the mission.
"Ain't it obvious?" Irvine stated. Everyone was against him. Why was this such a bad thing?
"He can't stay here!" Xu insisted.
"Listen," Edea silenced them without so much as raising her tone. "Xu is right, Irvine, the baby can't stay here. It's too dangerous; even in times of peace, you never know about uprises."
"But you just said we could keep him around..." The hopeless sniper questioned.
"And you may, but... you can't stay here in Garden. I'll put you up in a home in the barracks." She opened her desk drawer full of the necessary papers. "You'll be staying there with the child, until we can locate his parents. Does that sound like a better option than sleeping with both eyes open?"
Irvine thought it over. Commuting will be annoying... But, he has no choice, right? "All right. How soon should we move in?"
"We?" Squall inquiried.
"As soon as after dinner." Replied their former mother.
"Got'cha." He tipped his hat to her for the kindness. "Come on, little guy, let's get packed up to move into your new home." He started away with renewed jubilation.
Still stunned, Squall shook his head to the woman that he too, sometimes, called Matron. He can remember those years of his life but only a bit, due to the Guardian Forces using parts of their brain to exist in their world. It's sort of a spirit energy displacement. He really can't say as studies haven't yet been done since the war brought the situation to light. But the rumor mill is going round and round.
"Matron, are you sure about this? I have missions to go on, so does Irvine - - coming up soon, in-fact. Wouldn't it be better to leave the kid with Dr. Kadowaki, or someone better suited from the medical team?"
"Irvine wants to do it; the child seems comfortable with him..." Smiling, she says calmly. "Don't be nervous, Squall. Children are easy to care for, more than you would think. And you will have lots of help."
"You're missing the point, ma'am."
Headmistress Edea only looked at him with question in her eyes, and a bit of faith knowing that the pensive Squall Leonhart can - - and probably will - - end up doing it. Squall Leonhart grew up an orphan. Dead mother, absent father, a by name sister missing. He knows pain and loss and abandonment. He would not truly inflict such a life on an infant because he's the one giving care rather than receiving it.
A sigh of great dispair found exit through Squall, as he tried to salvage his nerves. "Can I at least file a report?"
"Later. You should pack."
"Then can I assist along with the search party for the kid's parents?"
"Whenever you can."
He seemed satisfied with at least that. Saluting, he left the room. How do things like this always happen to him? Running Garden in the place of the former headmaster, leading a plan to assassinate a sorceress, saving people - - one situation standing out in particular being a missile crises.. When will it end?! He got off the elevator and headed reluctantly for his dorm.
Later that early evening, he met his boyfriend in the garage. Irvine seemed to want to smooth things over by dressing to impress. He's wearing a deep maroon colored t-shirt, and black long-legged jean shorts. His dream catcher necklace was currently getting tucked down his tank to keep it from dangling against the child in his arms.
"Are you driving?"
"I don't have a choice, there's no carseat."
"You could hold him?" He suggested.
"I'll pass." Once his bag was loaded inside the van, along with Irvine's, he climbed into the car behind the wheel.
Irvine held the child to him and climbed into the back. Once situated, he pulled the seatbelt over both of their lap then gave Squall the green light by flashing a thumbs up at the rear mirror. The car roared to live and was backed out of the space then off they were to the barracks.
...
"He sure is adorable." Says Lexi from the medical team.
It's Squall's dormitory. A girl, whom he vaguely knows from, what, two missions, is in his room. He doesn't like having people in his room. The greatest appeal of becoming SeeD was that it eliminated the roommate. The near stranger, or worse, the friendly creep wanting too much to be best buddies. Things were just staying at level: Worst.
The girl, oblivious to the singular mood aimed her way, wagged a finger over the baby's nose, not earning so much as a glance from the child, who's busy trying to maul a teething corn, that Selphie spirited away from Garden and bought before the departure. She prided that it was highly recommended. It must be a top seller, because the child is really putting work into it. Lexi doesn't care in the least over being ignored, too smitten with him.
"We've prepared some diapers, bottles and formula; baby soap and a small tub." Saluting, she says brightly. "If you need anything else, we're a call away; this stuff is to just get you started... Do you need lessons on changing a diaper?"
Irvine shrugged. It didn't seem so complicated, but it made sense just to be instructed, just to be sure. "Sure"
Looking at Squall, she asked him. "Commander Leonhart?"
Squall, who was seated on the small couch with his face in his hands; was still getting over the fact that he had to packed and move to the barracks with his boyfriend and a strange baby. He shook his head with no other response to the question.
"I'll fill him in." Replied Irvine.
Nodding the girl walked into the soon-to-be empty bedroom with Irvine and the baby close behind to use the bed. Squall's nice, clean of baby accidents bed. He looked off in the direction they are going, he can see into the bedroom just a bit where they're standing; Irvine seemed really into it, this whole "foster father" thing.
'I don't believe this; it's good that we rescued the baby, but, I'd rather we hadn't found him at all. I just wanted to complete the mission, luckily grab some parts, and come home, that's it; not spend hours in Timber, questioning families about the baby. Searching the forest for his missing parents hiding place or corpses, that may not even be out there anymore because a monster at that size could have swallowed them whole' He groaned inwardly. 'I can't be responsible for a baby. Adults and people my age fine. At some point or another, when you leave them alone you know they're going to be OK, but not with him... not with a baby.'
He listened as the medical assistant explaining about diaper rash, how to wipe, and keeping the child warm but not hot.
'Listen to all of that! That's constant care and attention that I just don't think I can give to a kid - I'm a terrible son, how the hell can I be a rent-a-father?' After a thought he corrected himself and thought. 'Well, a guardian.' He heard Irvine speaking with Lexi; quietly, he sighed. Squall rubbed his hands together in nervous thought. 'I'm sorry, Irvine, but the kid has to be put in an adoption home. We can keep him for tonight, but no longer.'
Irvine said goodbye at the door, then found a seat beside the pouting lion, who dashed into his bedroom for inspection. "So, what do you wanna do?"
Scream. Squall thought. Just scream.
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