Dementia

Series: Final Fantasy VIII (8)
Pairing: Zell Dincht & Squall Leonhart

Theme: 30 Kisses #8 - Our own world
Status: one-shot, finished

Rating: G
Warnings: Just hinting of slash

Notes: Random la la la...

It was on those particular days, when exploring Winhill, that Squall and Zell would vanish off by themselves. The usual three-person grouping approach didn't seem to matter to them, and they would be missing in action for an entire day. It was a pretty quiet town, at least, and everyone knew they would come back in tip-top shape. Never stopped the girls from asking about them, though, but he knew better. Those two were the team's top fighters, obviously, the leader and his second-in-command. Besides, what would a guy like him like better than to have three pretty girls all to himself in a quiet little inn?


"Irvy~!" whined a familiar voice from down the hall, and perhaps the only one he didn't care to hear as often as he did.


"Yes, Rinoa?" he responded, turning his head towards the approaching girl.


"Did Squall come back yet?" she asked, stopping square in front of him. My my, what a confrontational girl.


"No, he didn't come back to the room last night." Irvine jabbed a thumb towards the door he just closed behind him. He couldn't help but notice that she didn't even bother to ask about Zell.


"Argh! Where could he have gone? This dinky little town isn't even that big, how hard can it be to find him." Her gaze hardened on the tall man, as if suggesting that he should go look for Squall, er, them.


"Well I don't know, you know, boys and their things..." he smirked, but Rinoa didn't seem to be charmed by it at all. Too bad.


"Well YOU better find him back for me, we're all worried sick!"


The cowboy would've rolled his eyes if only it were gentlemanly, and so he didn't. It was obvious that she was the only one who wanted him back and under her watchful gaze. Sure they were all starting to wonder where Squall and Zell went, but they always came back as if nothing had happened.


"Okay, okay, I'll go look for them," he put his hands up in defeat and sighed, to which Rinoa responded by spinning him around by the shoulders and pushing him foward.


"Hurry!! I wanted to check out the flower field with him before lunchtime!"


"Hai hai," Irvine sighed, and then a rough hand gave him a push that nearly sent him tumbling down the stairs if he hadn't been bracing himself against the handrail already. He mumbled to himself for having to be at the whim of females. Then again, it wasn't like he didn't enjoy it.


One minute later, he ducked past the doors and breathed in the fresh air. Ah, it smelled like quiet town, brimming with flowers, seeing that it was late spring. The temperature had gone up slightly, but only slightly, and it was refreshing to be outdoors. He would've been happier if Selphie had accompanied him, but seeing Rinoa's determination, he didn't dare go disturb the girls' room.


The cowboy, seemingly fitting in the location, took a long glance about his surroundings. Sure enough, he could see half of Winhill from where he was standing, the town was that small. Yet, there were the outskirts of the town to explore, other places where Squall and Zell could have disappeared to. He shook his head silently, because he knew where they were. Maybe not exactly, but he knew better than to disturb them. They were off in a world of their own, perhaps under the pier, hidden from view, or hiding in the flower field. A frown creased the handsome Galbadian soldier's forehead, and he thought again.


Rinoa said she wanted to go to the flower field with Squall. Better make sure Squall wasn't there already, with, well, you know who.


Starting at a brisk pace and eventually tucking his head in for quicker strides, Irvine headed down the winding path towards the flower fields. He sneaked quick glances behind him to make sure he wasn't being followed, and when he was out of sight from the townsquare, he made off into a dash, bracing the bouncing Exeter on his right shoulder.


When approaching the field, he slowed his pace and made a careful survey of the area. When seeing that there was no noticeably broken patches among the blooming flowers, Irvine began talking to himself.


"Nice day for a stroll, isn't it? I think Rinoa would love it, a day out in the fields alone with Squall," he mused loudly. When there was no response, he walked a few paces before speaking again.


"Whew, these flowers are all in bloom, thank Hyne I don't have allergies to pollen!"


No response, not even a stir.


He continued walking, then noticed an irregular patch of flowers. It seemed as if someone had walked through it but made care to arrange them back, a little too carefully. Those were some neatly lined flowers. Nature couldn't have done that, could it?


"AHEM," Irvine cleared his throat loudly, then continued. "It's nearly lunchtime and Rinoa would be devastated if I didn't find Squall soon! I wish Zell would stop hogging him all to himself, not that I'm the one complaining. I can just imagine what things they're doing, and where they're doing it."


He glanced around him to make sure nobody had appeared while he was rambling to himself. Nothing but silence greeted him.


Or maybe not?


--------------------


"That bastard..." muttered Squall.



"Just chill, at least we had a good time yesterday," the blond martial artist whispered and followed with a quick peck on the cheek when nobody was looking.