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(Quick Disclaimer) This is my first real FFVII fic, so be gentle... I'd like to say now that I haven't been able to finish the game yet due to what I fervently hope ISN'T a glitch on my disk... and this fic is supposed to take place after the game ends. I realize I may be taking some risks here, but I wanted to write it anyway, and I have read all of the Strategy Guide... So I hope my mistakes won't be too horribly glaring. By the way, before someone has the need to flame me due to my lack of knowledge, I do realize that Squall and Rinoa are canon. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. ^_^ I'm attempting desperately to write Rinoa in character, so don't think I'm just gonna make her however stupid I want because I don't especially like her. For that matter, I'm trying to write everyone in character, and I'd like to know if I succeed or not. So review me! I'll try harder if I need to!
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Vacation.
Eight weeks of paid vacation.
Squall Leonhart stared at the notice in his gloved hand in silent dismay. Vacation. Since when were SeeDs given vacation? They were elite mercenaries, not office workers.
Eight weeks...? No missions, no anything for eight weeks? He scowled in consternation, crumpling the missive up into his fist. What in the world was he going to do with himself for eight weeks? He had a hard enough time keeping from jumping off the second floor observation deck in absolute boredom when he had a free day, let alone two full months. Squall shoved the balled paper in the a pocket of his leather jacket, standing up from his study panel and stalking towards the door.
He glanced back into the classroom, the classroom that hadn't changed for as long as he could remember... Even though he was a level A SeeD, he still took classes whenever he could. To keep himself in shape, as it were.
Though it wasn't quite as interesting now that Quistis wasn't teaching anymore. Not that he would ever tell her that, of course.
Squall cast his gaze to the floor and stepped out ito the hallway, the buzz of voices dying down briefly at his approach. Their quick glances prickled across the back of his neck, but Squall ignored it as best he could. It was nothing new, after all... His name had been widespread ever since the Headmaster had appointed him , and no matter how much he hated it, he was as much of a celebrity in Balamb Garden as Quistis was. She had been a loved instructor, and now he was the one who made all the life-and-death decisions.
Whatever forces ran the universe were determined to make his life a living hell.
Squall! Squall, wait uuuuuuuuuppppp!!!!
The dark-haired SeeD winced and doubled his pace. This was exactly what he didn't need right now. He needed a dark room and peace and quiet, not-
The elevator doors had almost dinged shut behind him when she rocketed her way in, panting heavily, doubled over and clutching at the ribs he could almost see through her thin shirt. It took only a few seconds for the girl to catch her breath again and bounce up to peer into his eyes with those smugly knowing eyes of hers. The eyes that professed to know everything about him, and yet so often got everything completely wrong.
I was gonna keep quiet until I was done, but- but- I passed my written test! Rinoa Heartlily Caraway fairly squealed, throwing her skinny arms around his neck and bouncing wildly. Squall heaved a quiet sigh, feeling the other passengers' interested gazes all too acutely, just like so many rifles trained on him ready to fire. He was well aware of the rumors that floated about the Garden about them, and he'd stopped trying to debunk them months ago. It didn't do any good anyway, and too often reinforced their convictions that he was simply in denial.
It wasn't until she subdued herself and let go that the deeper ramifications of her words actually settled into his mind. Your... written exam...? he repeated dumbly.
Rinoa beamed, a look that wouldn't have seemed out of place on Selphie's face. I just have to pass my field exam in three weeks, then I'm a SeeD, just like you! In a transformation that was as impressive as it was bone-chilling, her triumph and pride slid into sly consideration, one dark eyebrow raising as she sidled up far closer to him than he was at all comfortable with.
she fairly purred, a SeeD has to accompany me on my exam... I don't suppose-
I'm on vacation, Squall said abruptly, then directed his gaze forward as the elevator reached the first floor.
He could feel her pout burning into the back of his skull, but Squall refused to turn back, stalking out of the elevator and down the stairs, a forbidding shadow amongst the bright happiness of the other students. They left him a broad path, and always had... All those, of course, except those six...
Those six he was never going to be able to get rid of.
First, of course, had been Seifer... Seifer had never left him alone, always taunting and jeering and tripping him in the hallway. He'd never understood exactly why... and he wasn't sure he ever would. And Quistis... she had left him alone for a while, until she had quit teaching. Then she had insisted on being there, being a part of his daily life, teasing him in that infuriating way of hers and scolding him like a mother hen whenever he so much as bruised himself. She was smothering... but almost in a nice way... Like a mother would have been. Like his brief memories of Ellone and Matron from the orphanage.
Rinoa had always been the most insistent, even though she hadn't been around as long as some of the others. She had grabbed hold of him that day in Timber, and even before then, at the party. But she was different in her insistence... Demanding without words that he be there to take care of her, that he care about her... She wanted him to be dependable, he supposed. And he didn't want to be dependable. He didn't want people to depend on him.
Of course, that was all people did nowadays.
And Irvine. He had the distinct feeling that Irvine simply didn't respect his ability to take care of himself. He didn't see how he had the nerve, considering the mess of neuroses the other man was. But still... always interfering, planning things for him, taking control of the group when he wasn't around... Of course, he also had the feeling that a lot of those actions were under the sinister direction of Selphie Tilmitt. Selphie just had a way of making anybody do anything. She oozed cute' at them until they submitted. And if that failed, she would cheerfully blow some things up until she got her way.
Somehow, he couldn't help but be a bit fond of Selphie.
Selphie, in all honesty, had been the second to recieve his grudging liking. The first... The first, in blatant defiance with everything he had believed he was, and yet somehow making so much sense, had been Zell.
Zell... yes, Zell.
He'd always disliked the blond the least out of his classmates. He was loud, he was occasionally extremely annoying, he was strangely intimidating, but for some reason he had found it impossible to hate him. He still did, no matter the stupid things Zell did in the heat of the moment, and there had been quite a few...
He didn't know just why he liked him. But he did, and he had, for quite some time now. He'd proved himself a valuable ally, a trustworthy battle partner, and... well... a good friend... If he considered Zell a friend.
In truth, if he didn't consider Zell a friend, there was no one he could call one.
Squall fingered the crumpled paper in his pocket, shoving those thoughts aside for one that pressed more heavily upon him at the moment. If he had told Rinoa he was on vacation, then he damn well better go on vacation, or she would find a way to make him pay. And it wouldn't be pleasant.
So... That left the question of where he would go. What he would do.
And at the moment, Squall was drawing a complete blank. A feeling he couldn't profess to be comfortable with.
He watched the floor as he walked along, pondering his situation, seriously considering spending all eight weeks in the training center. At least he would get something useful out of the time, and maybe Shiva would finally figure out how to boost her magic damage even further-
Hyaah-! Hey, sorry, man, wasn't watchin' where I was goin'- oh. Hey, Squall!
He lifted his eyes from the floor to meet the sheepish grin of Zell Dincht, scowling darkly. he returned, taking a quick step back.
Hey, I said I was sorry! Zell frowned at him briefly, then shrugged it off. Headin' for lunch? That's where I was goin', and I thought maybe there'd be some hot dogs left if I hurried-
Where do you go when you have time off? Squall interrupted, knowing the rest of the hot dog speech by heart. Zell was used to his lack of manners by now, so he didn't even pretend to be sorry for cutting him off.
Zell blinked, mouth moving silently as he readjusted to being cut off in midsentence. Then he took some time to think, bouncing on the balls of his feet in absentminded pondering. Squall cocked his head, waiting impatiently. One could never say that Zell didn't think about things, but it was true that the first thing that came to his mind would come out his mouth. Sometimes he was just more lucky than others.
I usually go home t' see Ma, he said earnestly. Why, you got a week off?
...Two months... Squall frowned slightly. Of course Zell would go to see his mother... The people in Balamb loved him so much, he would have no reason to want to go anywhere else. Come to think of it... Most SeeDs probably went to visit either family or friends in their hometowns...
That didn't help him any. Of course, he could go to Esthar, but any time he went to visit his father it turned into a big production and Laguna insisted on going on some absurd family trip. It didn't seem to matter that Ellone could never go and Kiros and Ward weren't technically related to them. He didn't question his father's relationship with Kiros, and Laguna didn't get involved in his own relationship problems. It was fair.
It still didn't make sense that Ward always went.
Two months, wow... Zell considered him with those bright cerulean eyes. Imagine the trip Laguna could put together in two months!
The mischief in his voice was poorly hidden, and Squall scowled at him half-heartedly. That's exactly why I'm looking for somewhere else to go... he informed calmly.
Zell grinned suddenly, and Squall raised an eyebrow, nearly fearing what was to come. Hey, I got my vacation overdue! Maybe... Maybe I could get the last one they made me miss, an' a few ahead, and we could- He coughed, then fell into the familiar shadow-boxing, turning around in a lazy circle and avoiding his eyes. We could... I dunno, we could do somethin'.
Squall watched him silently, the words that trailed off into more embarassed coughing striking a chord somewhere inside him, something he couldn't put a name to... Something strangely warm.
Something... nice...
I'd like that, he said abruptly, startling himself as much as he surprised Zell. The blond spun on one heel, peering up at him with large eyes.
he gaped, the smile that fought to form on his lips already shining in his eyes.
Squall scratched at the back of his neck, already wondering why the Hell he had said that. Spending two months alone with Zell... was he that desperate for something to do...?
A strong arm flung about his shoulders, and the martial artist's formidable strength was squeezing him into a bear hug before he had a second to back up. Awright, then! Zell cheered. We're goin' on a road trip, BABY!