Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ FF8 SeeD and the City (Series) ❯ tic-toc BOOM! ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: All FF8 characters are courtesy of Squaresoft Enix

 

One-Shot: ...tic-toc ...tic-TOC ...TIC-TOC ...BOOM!

 

...tic-toc

 

A small figure was humming happily to herself as she placed the finishing touches on a series of small devices she'd spend the whole day constructing. Absentmindedly, she brushed a strand of stray hair away from her face, thinking that she was due a nice little break at her favourite SPA in Balamb City. `Oh yeah! After I finish with these little babies, I deserve at least the full works pedicure and manicure!'

 

Suddenly the door opened and a tall lanky figure wearing a wide brimmed hat and a light brown duster stormed into her quarters.

 

“Tell me it's not true, Sefy!”

 

“Huh?”

 

Confused green eyes turned to greet the newcomer before they lightened-up, and with a squeal of joy the girl jumped out of her chair and launched herself at her partner to welcome him properly.

 

“Irvy-poo! You're back!”

 

She'd said that breathlessly, after she'd unglued her lips from his, and he had set her down on her feet again. In spite of his undoubtedly enthusiastic reception home, Irvine Kinneas was not a happy man.

 

“I had a littl' chat with our Commander just now, darlin'.”

 

“Oh! What did Squally say t' ya?”

 

Indigo eyes narrowed and gazed fixedly at his partner's upturned face. He knew from experience that no one in Garden could ever manage to look as innocent as his Selphie, but he knew how her mind worked. Changing his tactics, he draped an arm around her shoulders and said.

 

“Come and sit with me, baby, I'm like kinda pooped from the mission, y'know?”

 

“Awww, poor Irvy-poo! Heeere ...let Sefy give you a nice shoulder massage!”

 

§

 

...tic-TOC

 

-A few moments later-

 

“So, Selphie...”

 

Oops! That can't be too good... He was calling her `Selphie' -She needed to apply damage control procedures ...Pronto! She disentangled herself from his arms and tried to get off his lap, but found to her surprise that his usually playful hands had become iron-clad manacles! She looked up into his face and saw a simmering temper there, tightly under control, but waiting patiently to erupt...

 

“...Are you gonna tell me now?”

 

“But Irvy! What d'you wanna know?”

 

She offered him her most `I-am-confused' expression, but knew that he wasn't fooled for one bit. His beautiful indigo eyes had darkened to a navy-blue, a sure sign that he was upset. She saw him turn his face in the direction of her worktable, and focus his gaze on her little finished masterpieces. Then he turned to look a her in the eyes, to say with a deceptive mildness.

 

“You've surpassed yourself this time, darlin', I'm sure those littl' explosives must pack quite a wallop.”

 

She gulped before replying, “Yeah, they're a new design...”

 

Irvine bent his head to nuzzle his wife's throat briefly before continuing, almost as if she hadn't spoken.

 

“Y'know... All the time I was out there fightin' monsters, and tryin' to ensure that rookie SeeDs don't get themselves killed, I kept thinking `bout you and how nice it would be for us to take a littl' break...”

 

A small hand covered his lips while guilty green eyes stared at him.

 

“Irvy... I-I couldn't refuse...”

 

§

 

...TIC-TOC

 

He gently pried her fingers from his lips, kissing each one of them along the way, and continued.

 

“I kept thinking `bout us havin' a nice holiday in Dollet. In that nice littl' seaside resort where we had our honeymoon...”

 

“...Irvy...”

 

“...I mean, after what you promised me and everythin'...”

 

“Irvy...”

 

“And you go ahead and VOLUNTEER to go on a mission to Esthar!”

 

“Irvy! ...Sir Laguna asked me personally ...I couldn't refuse!”

 

“ -I- asked you personally too and you don't seem to have any trouble refusing me!”

 

Selphie started to get annoyed herself. Why did he have to be so unreasonable? So? She did promise that they would go on a holiday together, but she never said when. They were both SeeD, and SeeDs went on MISSIONS! She tried again to get off his lap, and this time he let her.

 

“I don't know why you're so upset, Irvy!”

 

“Why, Selphie?” Irvine asked her quietly, “Why did you agree to go on the Lunatic Pandora mission?”

 

“I got asked by Sir Laguna and by Quisty to help them dismantle somethin'.”

 

“That something wouldn't happen to be its SELF-DESTRUCT MECHANISH, WOULD IT?”

 

Irvine had started the question mildly enough but by the time he finished he was shouting and also on his feet, looking visibly upset now. Not to be cowed by him, Selphie fisted her hands on her hips and stared up at him, stating in what she thought to be a very reasonable voice, so he would understand.

 

“QUISTY'S THERE! D'you really think Seify would allow her to be there if it were unsafe?”

 

§

 

...BOOM!

 

“But Quisty is NOT PREGNANT, is she? If she were, Seifer would have her out of there before you can finish saying her name!” Irvine grabbed Selphie's shoulder and leaned down until his nose was touching hers, “And quite frankly I don't give a rat's ass to what Almasy does or doesn't do! But I do care `bout what you do!”

 

He wanted to shake her -badly- but contained himself. Instead he watched Selphie open and closed her mouth a couple of times... Good! He'd manage to surprise her!

 

“Err... How did you find out? I only got Dr. Kadowaki to confirm it two days ago!”

 

“D'you really think that after being with you all this time I would not be attuned to the rhythms of your body, baby?”

 

He drew her to him and hugged her gently, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. Selphie closed her eyes and rested her head on Irvine's chest.

 

“I was plannin' on tellin' ya right after I returned from this mission...” She mumbled into his chest.

 

“Yeah! I bet you were!” And hugged her tighter to him. After a few moments like this, she lifted her head and told him.

 

“I'm still goin'! ...But you can come too!”

 

“Like, say that again!”

 

“Sir Laguna offered a sizeable contribution towards the rebuilding of T-Garden if I agreed to go!”

 

Bright green eyes stared up at him eagerly. Irvine sighed, he knew he was being a big sucker, but he could never resist that look...

 

“Okay, babe, we'll go ...but at the ...”

 

Selphie jumped him and looped her arms tightly around his neck.

 

“Woo-HOO!”

 

Irvine smiled. The things he did to make his little woman happy...

 

“And now to the showers, Irvy! Phewww...You stink!”

 

§

FINIS