The Best Birthday Present Ever

Present Ever

Author: Ebraheart
Disclaimer: If they were mine, then I wouldn’t share laughs Kidding…Kidding…

Warning(s): One-shot/Long-term relationship, Fluff/Sap, mild cursing, mild sillies, and (hopefully) a full three-way Lemon! ^_^

Ebra’s notes: This was an idea I had after reading a story featuring this same three-way pairing. My buddy, Jada-Princess, requested this, so here I go. And I get to write my first three-way lemon…*_*...and I still need to get around to writting one in another fic of mine...*sigh*

~!@

First Chapter: Intro
Time and Space and stuff in between

~!@!~

{Squall}

“Do you ever smile?”

“…”

Irvine leaned further back into his chair and carefully settled his long legs on the table; scant inches from me, “Ya got’sa learn to loosen up. Us cowpoke always take it easy…”

“…”

“Never was a talker, were ya?”

“…”

Irvine smiled cheekily, “Why do I get the feeling you don’ wanna talk to me?”

That wasn’t exactly the case here…

Irvine crossed his arms over his chest and looked me over with a critical eye, “You always look so pickled off…”

I deigned that comment with the barest shrug of my shoulders, “…”

Leaning forwards suddenly and swinging his legs off the table, Irvine plucked his hat off his head and put it on mine. I reached up and was about to toss the hat off but just shoved it up for me to see properly and decided to leave it there.

Irvine grinned. For the first time, I noticed that he had a hint of dimples.

Still grinning, he cocked his head and looked at me, “See now, that adds a bit. Can’t say brown goes with the rest of it though…”

Hn…I tend to agree. Black leather and brown don’t look bad together, I guess, but when you’re wearing all black leather like I am, it’d be better if the hat were black…

Irvine reached back and pulled his hair tie until his hair came loose. He finger combed it absently and, luckily, didn’t notice the way my eyes were drawn to him. Almost as an afterthought, he sipped the pop he had been drinking and turned back to me, “How late can a man get?”

Blinking, I looked away so as not to be caught doing the unthinkable. (Hint-Hint: Starring)

Irvine, thankfully, didn’t seem to have noticed and pouted slightly as he put his hair up and replaced his hair tie, “First you won’t talk to me and now he’s late…”

Irvine had his back to the cafeteria entrance so he didn’t notice when Zell finally showed up.

Zell had changed a bit since our little adventure two years back. Having grown a bit and worked up a great tan, Zell caught a lot of attention. A bunch of student girls hanging out near the entrance to the cafeteria called after him as he bounced past. He smiled at those he knew and waved in greeting to others. Zell had always been really outgoing and, not surprisingly, after Quistis had transferred to Galbadia garden to make up for Martine’s absence, had gotten a small fan club. Not to mention that he was voted best Instructor three years in a row. I should know since Selphie held the voting every year and then insisted on cluttering up my office with her friends to count ballots.

And everyone wonders why I spend then better part of my time anywhere but in that same office…

Irvine jumped a bit when Zell tugged playfully on his ear. Turning he smiled up at Zell and they grinned at each other.

“Yo, how’s it hanging?”

Irvine reached up and wrapped his hand slowly and deliberately around Zell’s neck and drew him down to look him in the face, “Darling, you ever make me wait that much again, and you will regret it…”

The corner of Zell’s eyes crinkled up, he was smiling so wide, “Yeah?”

Irvine pulled him closer by his collar and pressed their foreheads together, “I can guarantee it, Sugar…”

They kissed briefly, always being a bit reserved in public. For my part, I appreciated it more than they knew. Not because it offended me, which would have been easier on me had that been the case. It was quite the contrary however, since I actually had what you could probably, if you really needed to label it, call a crush on both of them. My relationship with Rinoa has been over for nearly a year and a half. We had both just lost interest in each other. We stayed close friends and she stills knows my mannerisms well enough to know what I’m thinking more then half the time. The scary thing is her guesses are usually quite accurate. In any case, she moved back with her father and is now properly getting along with him. I don’t know if it’s because she’s matured a bit or if it’s because he’s finally pulled that stick out of his ass…Rinoa assured me that it was the latter.

The point is though, that my interest in Irvine and Zell had actually occurred before they had gotten together…and now that they were, I had officially considered them both off limits to myself.

I was a freaked when they both turned to me at the same time; two pairs of eyes studying me. Acting quickly, I pulled Irvine’s hat off my head while pushing my chair back and standing. I studied the hat I was holding and ran a hand thru my forever messy hair. Placing it on the table in front of Irvine, I glanced up at them both before leaving, “I have some work to do…I’ll see you guys later”

I turned away then and walked briskly out of the cafeteria. To say I was proud of myself for not stuttering when I had spoken was an extreme understatement. I continued out into the hallway and headed towards the main elevators. I did have some work to do…I was headmaster after all, but I guess I was just going up to hide in my own private sanctuary. It was the only place that required a special security key card. Irvine and Zell both had access to the upper levels, but unlike Selphie, they were sensible enough not to visit during my working hours.

Sighing, I keyed in the floor and inserted my key card…

~!@!~

{Irvine}

“Does anything seem a bit different about Squall to you?”

Zell looked up from his plate of hot dogs, “ Different or weird…cause he’s both”

I couldn’t help but grin, “Meanie…”

Zell shrugged, “He’s always running off, usually when I show up too. I dunno if its cause he’s uncomfortable about being around us when were together or if he just doesn’t like me. I hafta say we’ve always been a little rough around the edges with each other…”

I plucked my hat off the table, “Nah, that ain’t true. Least he talks to you…”

Zell looked about ready to start laughing at my pouting, “Yeah, ‘bout boring teacher related shit…”

I cocked my head and eyed my hat once more before slipping it on, “Still, he’s so uptight round me…does he really hate me that much?”

Zell laughed, “Chill out, there isn’t anybody that Squall likes. Since Rin and him broke up, he’s been doin’ pretty cool. Least he isn’t all cold-shoulder and glares with us all anymore…”

“But…”

Zell waved me off, “He’s always doin’ shit his way…it ain’t your fault or mine…”

Being the tough gunslinger I am…I continued to pout, “But it ain’t fair…”

Zell smiled understandingly, “Trust me, he doesn’t hate you”

I fiddled with the ring Zell had given me recently, “But he don’t like me neither…”

Zell laughed, “It’s not a win-win situation. Sides, you can’t have everything ya want…”

I grinned, “Tell you what…get me Squall for my birthday and I’ll officially put my skirt-chasin’ days to rest…”

Zell laughed, “Your skirt casing days are over, and that’s an impossible present…”

I pouted some more, “I thought you loved me…”

Zell gave me a meaningful look, “I do”

I sat back in my chair, “Fine, be that way…”

Zell finished his late lunch and smiled around his Pepsi, “I will”

I snapped my mouth shut and glared at nothing in particular for a moment. Dropping the look, I smiled sweetly at Zell instead.

Zell eyed me suspiciously from across the table, “I know that look man, and it always means trouble”

I shrugged lightly, and continue to smile sweetly, “If you can’t get me Squall, then we hafta have a big party instead, and you hafta get ‘im to come”

Zell groaned, “Ya gotta be kiddin’ me!”

I smiled smugly, “Nope, sorry, I ain’t”

Zell shook his head. I pretended not to notice, “So, is it a yes or do I have to involve other people?”

Zell eyed me skeptically, “Like who?”

I grinned, “Well, Selphie for a start. She is my best friend…” I paused and ignored Zell’s look of horror, “…and Seifer too, I guess. He’s a good buddy …”

Zell shook his head, “You’d ask Selphie to help you?”

I chewed on my bottom lip thoughtfully and tapped my finger against my chin; pretending to consider my words, “Course…and shouldn’t you be more worried bout Seifer?”

“Nope, were cool…but telling Selphie would turn it into some kind of event. She’d tell everybody”, Zell made a face.

I take a minute to muse over this and conclude that although he’s a hundred percent right, I wouldn’t mind. Sides, Selphie always helps me out. She’s gotta be the best friend I’ve ever had.

To put things into a little perspective, I’ve had a crush on Squall since we first met back when they needed a sharpshooter and I needed to get outta Galbadia Garden. At the time, Zell hadn’t been aware of anything going on, but my dear, ever helpful, Selphie had filled him in on the whole sorry affair when we had a bit of free time during our short visit to Trabia Garden after the Galbadian missile crisis. Zell and me hadn’t ever really gotten along back then but things changed after the defeat of Ultimecia.

Quistis, who was chosen because of her seniority and experience, left for Galbadia garden to help re-establish the school system as a board director. Seifer, whom we found out was being controlled by Ultimecia, was allowed to return to garden and became a group leader on high rank SeeD missions. Selphie divided her time between planning festivals, fundraisers and events at Balamb Garden and acting as a summer camp director in the summer months at Trabia Garden. Squall had been appointed Headmaster long before and had continued with the role. He and Rinoa had broken up a little while ago and she’d returned to live Deling City with her father. I was a part time Instructor and responsible for younger students when they went to acquire their ‘Beginner’s GF’, and Zell worked in conjunction with me to teach the basics. We started spending a lot more time together and bam; our relationship just started outta the blue.

Zell’s a really great guy. High energy, always fun and non judgmental, he seemed to be everything I needed. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade him for a truck full a money, but that didn’t stop me from still having a major crush on my first non-female specimen. When I said Zell isn’t judgmental, I really mean it. He knows better then anyone else that I’m still…kinda…sorta…pinning after Squall. He’s also okay with it. As for my skirt-chasing days? They’ve been over since my last real girlfriend… namely Selphie.

At best though, Squall and I only sit together. Today, he was on one of his almost nonexistent lunch breaks. I swear the man must be part machine. Anyway, so I get to the cafeteria and spot our majestic Lion of Balamb eating. The fact that he was eating and that he was actually outside of his office at this time of day and that his gun blade was nowhere nearby combined to make me both curious and bold. So, seeing as how Zell wasn’t here yet, I waltz right up and sit across from Squall as calmly as you please. For a whole minute after I greeted him there was stony silence. Jus’ when things were starting to get real uncomfortable, he returned the greeting. He didn’t shoo me off or nothin’ but he sure as hell gave me the distinct impression that reminded me of a skittish colt. Ya know when they’re real young and need to be trained but they’re so scared of you that they’ll bolt the second your distracted? Squall was the poster boy at that moment for skittish animals.
Zell showed up a little later and Squall took that very opportunity to bolt.

I was startin’ to get a little worried after I notice that Zell had been sitting quietly, contemplatively, across from me and had yet to make a sound, much less breath, “Y’alright there Zee?”

Zell didn’t seem to have heard me. One of his arms was crossed over his stomach and the finger of the other hand was absently tracing the lines of his facial tattoo, “Hm?”

I sighed, “Earth to Boxer boy”

Zell gave me a mild dirty look before smiling, “I’m thinking…” glancing at his jean watch, he looked up again, “…we need to go. We have a class in a few and I still got some papers to finish tallying in…”

Not the answer I wanted to hear but I can’t have the hot guy and tell him what to do too. Resigned, I sit up, toss my trash and follow him out into the corridor.

Zell pauses, “I’ll see what I can do ‘bout Squall, but it isn’t gonna be easy…”

I grin and give him a brief, nipping kiss, “Exactly what I wanted to hear…”

~!@!~

{Zell}

“Either you’re crazy or he’s got you wrapped around his finger tighter then a whore’s ass in a leather skirt”

I gave Seifer the dirtiest look I could manage, “I was asking for advice not smart-ass commentary”

He raised his hands in defense, “Yeah yeah, I hear you, alright?”

I crossed my arms over my chest and keep glaring.

“Im thinking…”

I started tapping my foot, “Any day now…”

He seemed to give the problem a serious thought and decided to chance an answer, “Can’t I just tie him up, gag ‘im, and bring him over?”

I lightened up instantly and started laughing, “I’d like to see you try to bind and gag Squall much less manhandle him into coming…sides, I want him coming willingly…Irvy wouldn’t want it any other way…”

Seifer went all quiet on me again and I got bored and started wandering around his room. There were a lot of pictures. Since coming back, Seifer is still a smart-ass but he’s not an asshole anymore. He doesn’t go out of his way to be nasty to people. He’s also made a lot of friends. He gets along well with a lot of the other Instructors and rumor has it that he and Quistis have this long distance relationship thing happening between them. Most importantly though he doesn’t call me chicken wuss anymore.

Seifer interrupts my exploration of his room, “When’s Kinneas’ birthday anyway?”

“November 24th”, I rattle off without realizing it.

“Hn…how olds he turning?”

I squint at a picture of him and his last semester class, “Twenty…”

Seifer sits on the bed behind me, “Yeah? Got a present for him?”

I shrug, “That’s for me to know and for you to never find out”

Seifer laughed, “What, are you gonna whisk him off to some hotel miles from here with a great view of the ocean and do lots of lewd, inappropriate things to him?”

I blinked and turned towards him, “How’d you guess?”

Seifer blinked right back, seeming surprised, “I’m psychic?”

I laughed again, “Major BS”

Seifer smiled smugly, “Maybe so, but I’m still right”

I rolled my eyes at him, “I need to find out how to get Squall to come. We aren’t here test your imaginary psychic powers…”

Seifer gave me a scornful look, “You’re fucking bossy! Becoming an Instructor made you a total tight ass…”

I couldn’t help but grin, “Yeah, think so?”

Seifer laughed too, “No, but you’re being real snippy right now…”

I shrugged, “Just come up with something…”

Seifer nodded as if to himself, “Definitely worse then Trepe…”

I walked over and gave his broad, muscled right shoulder a solid punch.

“Shit, take it easy!”

I grinned, “Tell you what, I’ll let you sleep on it and tomorrow you tell me what you come up with…”

Seifer rubbed his ‘injured’ shoulder ruefully, “Why the hell do I have to help?”

I walk to the door and open it. Before I leave, I turn back to him, “Cause, one, if you don’t, Selphie will…can you imagine what kind of trouble that’ll cause? She might get desperate and send for reinforcements… sides, your more subtle and two, you own me…”

Seifer made a mild face of amusement, “As fun as it would be to torture you and leave this problem in Selphie’s capable hands, I guess your right… and yeah, I do own you…but this is the last time buddy…next time I’ll just kick your ass and then say no…”

I grin, “I’d like to see you try…”

Seifer smirked and waved me away.

~!@!~

{Squall}

After hiding out in my office for most of the afternoon, I decided that even I couldn’t go without having another meal. Leaving the sanctity of my exclusive office on the top floor, I took the elevator down and made my way thru the main corridor to get to the cafeteria. It was late, but there would still be some stranglers hanging out there. I bought something simple and headed out as fast as I had gone in. On my way back towards the elevator, I spotted Irvine mussing over some reports in front of the Directory. I paused, hesitating and just watched him for a minute.

Irvine was always wearing his hat, but just then it was nowhere to be seen. Long strands of chestnut brown hair draped over his shoulders and curled around him. His face was set in a slight frown and he was chewing absently on a red pen, probably for correcting mistakes. Little square glasses that I had never seen him wearing before were perched on his elegant nose and when he reached back to tuck loose hair behind his ear I caught sight of a small violet earring. I let my eyes take in his dark clothing and gathered that he must have been teaching a late afternoon class. His customary brown leather jacket had been replaced with a tight fitting sleeveless black shirt. It had silver trim and only zipped up to the smooth place right bellow his collarbone. He wore loose, low slung, beige jeans and beach sandals. Trust Irvine to always dress comfortably regardless of the dress code. But he looked good and it wasn’t as if I was going to tell him what and what not to wear.

I had to make a decision here. I could walk right by, ignore him if I could and head up or do what I was doing now and hesitate some more. Right when I had made up my mind to forgo going upstairs all together and stay in the spare dorm room reserved for me in the Dormitory, Selphie pounced on me from behind, “Hiya Squall!”

Her voice broke the still silence and Irvine’s head snapped up and he turned in our direction.

I didn’t look at Irvine but tried to crane my neck far enough to see Selphie, “Off”

She giggled and just tightened her arms around my shoulders and her legs around my waist, “Nope, I’m tired and it isn’t like I’m heavy”

Sighing, I tucked my arms under her legs and hoisted her up properly. Just because she wasn’t getting down didn’t mean I was going to let her fall off, “Just don’t ever do that again…”

Selphie giggled and I just knew that I’d have to spend the rest of my life checking over my shoulder for lethal flying objects a.k.a. Selphie.

Irvine made his way towards us, thick notebook tucked under his arm, glasses hung at the rim of his shirt and red pen dutifully tucked behind his ear, “Hey kid”

I could feel Selphie grinning into my hair, “Hi”

Irvine looked at me for a moment and nodded slightly, respectfully to me.

Selphie leaned her chin on the top of my head and continued her conversation with Irvine as if it wasn’t totally weird to be camped up on my back like some little yellow monkey, “D’you send out all the invites yet Irvy?”

Invites? For what?

Irvine shook his head, “Zell said he’d handle it…I ain’t allowed to do anything. I don’t even get to pick the cake…”

Ironically, he sounded a little relieved.

Selphie nodded, “Yeah, but it’ll still be loads a fun…is everybody from the gang going?”

Irvine paused, eyes flicking over to me before he shrugged.
“Dunno”

“Well that’s no good…you’ll come, won’t you Commander?”

Selphie was teasing, I could hear it in her voice. Shrugging as best I could with her draped over me I glanced at Irvine, who seemed to be watching me intently, and replied a bit indifferently, “We’ll see”

Irvine’s face fell a bit but I tried not to read too much into it.

Selphie obviously didn’t like that answer, “If you don’t show up and bring a decent present I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life. It’ll be so bad that you’ll have to back to outer space to get that privacy you like so much”

I lifted an eyebrow in barefaced disbelief and Irvine smiled, “Nah, she ain’t that persistent…”

Selphie shifted behind me, “I heard that, and yes, I can be. You better watch out Wing Leader or else…”

Normally, threatening the Headmaster of Garden was considered a huge offense and Selphie, though she probably didn’t know it, was an exception to that rule. They may not all know it, but I do consider them my friends…

I suddenly found myself laughing. It wasn’t outright laughter but the quiet chuckle I let escape could count as being a laugh. Irvine’s eyes grew to be the size of dinner plates and Selphie gasped and hoped off my back to come around and look for herself.

Done, I wiped the faint moisture from my eyes and sighed, “I have to get back…so I’ll see you later…”

Before I could leave a smiling Selphie tweaked my cheek, “You ought a smile more…your so cute…”

I gave her a pokerfaced look and tried to look mildly insulted. Irvine tentatively added, “Yeah, she’s right ya know…”

Glancing up at Irvine, I could see him smiling faintly. I surprised myself for the second time that late afternoon by smiling back.

Selphie bounded off soon after saying she desperately needed a bath and left Irvine and I to make our brief goodbyes.

This time, while heading up the elevator, the only thoughts I had were for that timid almost-smile that Irvine had offered me before saying a quiet, warm, and somewhat submissive ‘Goodnight’. The look that I had seen shift thru his eyes when I had quietly returned the words made me wonder, not for the first time if there was a God, and if his favorite past time was making me hope against hope.

~!@!~

Ebra: Sappy, I know, but once written there is only so much editing I am wiling to subject my writing to…-__- In any case, it seems to be a successful first chapter to me…I will also take this opportunity to apologize for the cliché title…but truly? Not only does it fit (you’ll see) but also it’s really all I could come up with. Please Review and let me know what you think^_^

Bye-Bye~!