Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The one I wanted ❯ Part 2 ( Chapter 2 )

"The one I wanted"

Part 2

Squall's eyesight was suddenly impeded as a cowboy hat was dropped on his head. The hat pressed his unruly bangs down over his eyes and didn't sit properly on his head. His brief surge of joy that Irvine was back was overshadowed by his irritation, and he scowled at the tall, grinning sharpshooter and took the offending hat off. He set it on the stool beside him and combed his fingers through his bangs to get them out of his eyes. "No telling where that's been," he said crossly.

Irvine laughed and slapped his shoulder. "Same old Squall. I told them you'd be all right."

Squall threw an annoyed look over his shoulder at Rinoa and the others, but his ex and Quistis had left the bar and were out on the dance floor. Only Zell remained, and he was busy flirting with a girl who had come up beside him to order a drink. "So, you came to watch over me too?" He said, turning back to Irvine.

"Hell no. I came to have a drink and meet a lady or two. I didn't know they were spying on you until I got here." His violet eyes were friendly and unassuming, and he shook his hair out of his eyes and waved to the bartender for a drink.

Squall noticed that the sniper wasn't wearing his hair bound in a ponytail tonight, and the rich, auburn mane cascaded over his shoulders. It was slightly wavy, and it was unreasonably shiny and silken looking.

~ Most women would kill for hair like that. I wonder how he manages to keep it so healthy? I'll bet it's soft. ~

Squall shook his head and glared straight through Irvine when he realized the direction that his thoughts were going. Why was it that every time he was around his tall friend, he thought about touching his hair or his skin...or even his mouth? Irvine was what people called a "pretty boy", but he wasn't so pretty that he looked like a girl. Squall's eyes moved up and down the sharpshooter's form, and he almost sighed. No, his odd compulsions didn't come from Irvine looking like anything less than a man.

"So, what are we drinking to? Health…women…happiness?"

Squall stared up at the cowboy stupidly, seeing that Irvine had raised a glass of beer and was waiting for him. "Doesn't matter," he finally said.

Irvine leaned closer, and Squall could smell the fragrance of sandalwood. It wasn't strong, but it was a pleasing scent. He swallowed as Irvine leaned close enough to speak into his ear.

"What'd you say? You spoke right as the song came on, and I missed it." He spoke directly into the commander's ear, not raising his voice more than necessary.

"I said it doesn't matter!"

Irvine pulled back and regarded him with concerned eyes. "Sure it does. There's got to be something you're thankful for."

Squall didn't answer…he couldn't. He turned back to the bar and stared moodily into his glass. He blinked, feeling a little dizzy from the alcohol consumption. He realized that he didn't want Irvine to see him in the shape that the others had witnessed lately. "I don't feel well. I think I should go back to my room."

~ Oh, shit…I really don't feel well. I think I'm going to be sick! ~

He tried not to show his sudden attack of nausea, but Irvine put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"Hey, are you gonna throw up? You need some help?"

"I'll be fine. I just need to lay down." Squall swallowed several times to hold his rising gorge down, and he stood up. The floor rushed up to meet him.

"Whoa! I gotcha," Irvine shouted, catching the brunette as he started to collapse. He supported Squall carefully, holding him up and staring at his sweat-beaded face worriedly. "How much have you had tonight, man?"

"Dunno…five or six, I think," Squall said thickly, closing his eyes against the spinning room.

Irvine clenched his teeth and refrained from lecturing his friend about the dangers of an infrequent drinker suddenly going on binges. "I didn't even realize you were this messed up…you're looking pretty green. Here, I'll take you to your dorm."

"I can make it alone-"

"Like hell you can. You couldn't even get off the barstool alone. Come on." Irvine tightened his hold on his companion's slightly smaller frame and started to half-drag him towards the exit.

"What are you doing?" Squall mumbled, looking up at Irvine with heavy-lidded eyes.

"I'm gonna make out with you." Seeing the way Squall's eyes widened, Irvine laughed. "What do you think I'm doing, Squall? You're about to pass out! I'm taking you home."

"Okay."

Irvine paused and looked down at the commander. It wasn't like Squall to be so subdued. "I guess you're hurting pretty bad," he murmured. He nodded at Quistis and Rinoa, who had seen what happened from the dance floor and now looked very worried. "I'll take care of him," he mouthed to the women. They relaxed, and he wondered why everyone felt so comfortable giving him the responsibility of watching over Squall.

~*******************~

"Cut it out!" Squall said, or at least tried to. All that came out was an incoherent groan as his stomach heaved again. Irvine had helped him into the bathroom and was now squatting beside him as he vomited into the toilet. Squall tried to swat aside the hand that was pressing a cool, wet washcloth to the back of his neck.

"Quit being an asshole…I'm just helping you out."

"Don't want…see…me like this," Squall said hoarsely, unable to concentrate on anything except his humiliation and the nausea twisting his guts.

Irvine stared at him and tilted his head, wondering why it bothered Squall so much for him to see him in such bad shape. Pride, maybe. "Hey, you're human, and you've drank too much. It could happen to anyone." He kept holding the washcloth on the back of the commander's neck, and he reached out and laid his hand over one of Squall's clenched fists. "I don't think any less of you, for it."

He couldn't understand what Squall said after that, but he guessed it wasn't very polite. He waited patiently for his friend to finish throwing up, and when he did, Irvine handed him some wadded up toilet paper. Squall nodded his thanks grudgingly and wiped his mouth clean.

"Th-thanks. I think I can stand up on my own, now. I need to brush my teeth."

Irvine nodded and stood up smoothly. "Just give a yell if you need any help. I'll just be on the other side of the door."

Unwelcome warmth stole over Squall when he heard the concern in Irvine's voice, and he wondered why getting attention from the sharpshooter didn't annoy him as it did with others. He slowly stood up, bracing himself as he went. His strength returned a little bit, and he squeezed some toothpaste onto his toothbrush and cleaned his mouth out thoroughly. He heard Irvine whistling a tune on the other side of the door, followed by the sound of the mini-fridge opening and glasses clinking.

~ What are you getting into, Irvine? ~

Squall looked at himself in the mirror and found a pale young man with dark shadows ringing his tired eyes staring back at him. He winced and grimaced. He didn't make the most handsome picture, right now. "What the hell does it matter?" he whispered with a frown, staring at his reflection as if it would answer him, "Why should I care about what Irvine thinks of my appearance?" He didn't. He just didn't like looking weak in front of his friends. That was all.

He came out of the bathroom to find Irvine seated comfortably on the chair against the wall. The sharpshooter's long legs were stretched out and resting on the stool in front of it, and he held a glass of clear soda in one hand. His hat lay on the table in the center of the room, and he had turned the television on and was watching the late night news with only mild interest.

Seeing Squall come out, Irvine stood up with a grunt and crossed the room. "Here, I poured you a glass of soda to settle your stomach. You should lay down and rest."

Squall took the glass and sipped the liquid gingerly, trying not to notice the way Irvine watched him like a hawk. "Thanks. I feel better now. I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Irvine smiled. "I'll go after you've fallen asleep. I just want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine."

Irvine shrugged. "Yeah, you said that in the bar, too. Just humor me. I promise I'll get out of your hair when you go to sleep."

Squall sighed. He really didn't feel like arguing, but he was getting tired of his friends babying him. "What if I'm not tired?"

Irvine chuckled. "Have you seen yourself? You're practically asleep on your feet, man. Just do me a favor and lay down. I'll get in trouble if I leave before you've gone to sleep."

Squall glowered at the taller young man. "And if I say I don't want to lay down?"

"Then I'll hog-tie you. Either way, you're gonna lay down."

Squall stared at Irvine and blinked. The sharpshooter had removed his long, leather coat as they spoke, and he now stood with his arms crossed over his chest. His black, long-sleeved shirt was stretched taut over lean muscles, and Squall had to admit that he was at least a little bit imposing. His expression was serious.

"Quit fucking around, Irvine," Squall said, but there wasn't as much force in his words as he would have liked.

"I'm not fucking around this time, Squall. I've tried to stay out of it, but you're in trouble, and I'm not leaving you alone with it. This is one of those times where you need help but you're too goddamned stubborn to admit it."

Squall shook his head. "You're out of your mind, Kinneas. You can't tie me up-"

"Can't I? Normally, I'd agree with you, but you aren't at full strength right now. I've got a feeling I wouldn't have too much trouble roping you up. Do you really want to find out?" His violet eyes were flashing with anger, which stunned Squall to the core.

"Where is this coming from? Of all people, I thought you'd be on my side, at least!"

Irvine nodded. "I am on your side. I just want you to lay down and go to sleep. It's that simple, Squall. If you can't do this one favor for me, I'm gonna get pissed." Irvine deflated suddenly, sighing and shaking his head. "I don't want to do this, Squall. Come on…let's not fight over it. You can get right back up after I leave. Just make me feel better, okay?'

Squall puzzled over this, and he reluctantly nodded. "I don't get why you're doing this, but if it means that much to you, I'll do it." He went to the bed and took his boots off. Next went the jacket, and he stopped after that. For some reason, he didn't want to get undressed in front of his friend. Frowning, Squall sat down on the bed and looked up at Irvine. "I never realized you had it in you," he said, and before he knew what he was doing, he laughed.

Irvine smiled and sat down beside him. "It's amazing what people can do when they're scared shitless for someone." He snapped his mouth shut and looked down, embarrassed.

"Why is everyone so worried about me? It seems like everyone's allowed to have a breakdown except me…why is that?" It was coming out of Squall before he could stop it…Irvine's presence had a strange way of doing that to him.

Irvine looked at him again, and his auburn hair had fallen partially over his eyes from looking down. "I don't know. I think it's because when we get upset, we let it out. You just hold everything in, and the rest of us are left wondering if you're all right. I've had nightmares about finding you hanging from the ceiling because none of us knew things were so bad for you. I'm not asking you to tell us your life's story everytime you get upset, but just let us know when you're hurting, all right? You're making us all nervous wrecks."

Squall shifted and let his gaze fall to his hands, which were resting on his knees. "Rinoa said something when we broke up that's really been bothering me. She said there might not be a girl for me." He looked back up at Irvine, who was staring at him with sympathy on his face. "I wonder if she was right. Maybe I just can't love anyone."

Irvine shook his head and frowned. "Don't think like that, Squall. She didn't mean anything by it. She was just hurting and lashing out at you. There's someone out there for you, I'm sure of it. I think there's someone for everyone. Maybe you just need to be patient and wait for the right girl to come along." He paused and laughed ruefully. "I sound like someone's Grampa."

Realization struck Squall at that moment, and he saw things with clarity that couldn't have been any brighter if he had been completely sober. "Maybe I'm not supposed to be looking for a girl," he murmured, staring at the handsome sharpshooter with intense, gray eyes.

"Eh?" Irvine turned to stare at the commander with his lips parted…his sensitive, velvety-looking lips.

~ I'm out of my fucking mind, but I've got to try it at least once! ~

Desperate to know if what his feelings were telling him was the truth, Squall let his alcohol-induced recklessness take hold, and he reached up and slid his fingers into Irvine's hair.

~ Soft…oh, yes. Softer than I imagined…God, he's beautiful! ~

He pulled Irvine's confused face to his and kissed him hard, pushing his tongue passed the parted lips and muffling the sharpshooter's choked exclamation of surprise. For a moment, Irvine was stock-still, and then he closed his eyes and kissed Squall back. Surprisingly, he allowed Squall's tongue to dominate his, and he sucked on it gently. Squall groaned as his pulse escalated and his body tingled. He kissed Irvine harder, feeling the taller boy's teeth scraping against his. Irvine responded favorably, turning his head slightly and moving his lips against Squall's.

The kiss broke so suddenly that Squall was left clutching a few strands of Irvine's auburn hair, which he had accidentally pulled out of the sniper's head when Irvine yanked his mouth away. Irvine was staring at him with wide, shocked eyes and was breathing heavily. Squall tried to speak, but his throat seemed to have closed up.

"Squall…what the FUCK?!" Irvine gasped, standing up and backing away from him.

"I…I…I…" Squall stammered dumbly, trying to figure out himself what had possessed him to do something so rash.

"You're drunk," Irvine said quickly, "It was an accident. YouwerethinkingofRinoa…ohgodohgod…I've gotta go!"

Squall stared helplessly as the sharpshooter bolted for the door, forgetting in his haste to grab his hat and jacket.

~***********************~

-To be continued