Stiff Kittens

Stiff Kittens

Irvine was in the farthest corner of the room where he was fully able to keep his eyes on their commander. Squall had found Rinoa’s body two days ago. She had killed herself with his gunblade. They had all known she was frightened but none had expected this. Squall had not yet recovered from the experience, not that the commander talked that much anyway. It was the eyes that were the trouble for Irvine. They looked empty, a glossy black. It was important to him to watch Squall closely now. The emptiness scared the sniper, like at any second Squall would snap or break. The brunette had always held some kind of emotion in those eyes. Loneliness was almost permanent.

Headmaster Cid and Edea returned a few hours after they had been told. They were over with Quistis, Selphie, and Zell talking in hushed tones. The thought of what they were talking about almost made him sick. He was sure they were talking about Squall and how fragile his psychic is. All the attention to Squall’s fragility was smothering Irvine and he was sure it was doing the same to the said man himself. This was his only chance and if he didn’t take it now he didn’t think he would get another. So took his chance he did.

Squall didn’t even realize that the purple eyed sniper had walked up to him. Hadn’t heard Irvine speaking as the brunette felt him slip his hand around his own and gave it a gentle tug. The gunblade specialist allowed himself to be pulled from the room with no resistance. The possibility of even wondering what the Irvine was doing escaped him, leaving him open for anything the red head threw at him. It wasn’t until they passed through the gate of Balamb Garden that Squall realized he was even outside. He turned to the sniper with curious eyes. That made Irvine smile, at least there was some emotion now.
“I thought you could do with some fresh air.” He spoke carefully not wanting to alarm his commander but Squall just stared at him blankly.
“I wanted to get you away from those people who think they know what is good for you. Squall no words need to be said with me. Just let go.” The brunette took in the red head’s words and after a few minutes finally comprehended them. Deep down he was at war with his emotion. He want to let go so badly but he could never allow himself the luxury.
“Don’t fight it.” Irvine’s whisper broke through his cold shell so he had turn away.
“Leave me alone.” but as he spoke the sniper sighed.
“I am afraid I can’t do that and besides aren’t you tried of it? There is no reason for it. I will be there to catch you.” At this Squall had to turn and look at the red head in confusion and annoyance. Irvine plopped down on the luscious green grass absentmindedly picking at a patch of flowers while the commander fumed. Around an hour had passed when Squall had almost reached his boiling point when Irvine looked up at him and gave the most brilliant smile. Squall sighed, the smile melting away his shield as he sat down beside the other. Brunette bangs fluttered across the scar that graced his face as his eyes rose to meet a pair of amethysts.
“Happy?” He ask his voice giving nothing away. The sniper smiled again.
“Quite. Look Squall.” He said as a beautiful light blue butterfly landed on the tip of his finger but a great sadness took over the swordsman’s eyes.
“It’s the same color she wore.” As Squall spoke these words Irvine felt a chill go over his entire body. The butterfly flapped its wings and fluttered away.
“Maybe it was her saying her goodbye to you, so she could see you one last time.” The brunette only hung his head at the red head‘s comment. Irvine sat with his commander for another hour and a half before Squall broke the silence.
“Irvine?”
“Yeah.” He looked over to see Squall looking directly at him silent tears streaming down the corner of his eyes.
“Thank you.” The sniper pulled his hat off and placed it over Squall’s head, pulling it slightly down over the brunette’s eyes.
“There. We should go back now. It wouldn’t do for the girls to come looking for us or worse send Zell. Besides you know how the fiends get and it will get cold soon.” Irvine stood reaching a hand down to Squall and was shocked to find a small smile hidden underneath the hat that was quite fitting for the other in his opinion.
“Point. I think I could handle the cold and the fiends but the girls or Zell, no defiantly not.”

They walked back to the Garden in complete silence. Not coming into contact with anyone that they were obligated to speak to. Night had finally laid rest and the last set of curfew bells were ringing. Irvine saw Squall to his hallway then turn down the next to find his own. Once inside he sat down on the couch and turned the stereo on. Pushing play Blaqk Audio’s song Stiff Kittens filled his ears. He made to pull his hat down over his face for sleep but only slapped himself on the forehead. The events of the night replayed in his mind making the absence of the hat well worth it. Irvine’s plan had worked better than he thought it would. Never in a million years would he have thought he would get the unemotional Squall to let go.

That night the sniper was plagued by nightmares, each flash making him relive past fears, some making up all news ones. He found himself staring down at Matron again, Squall at his side urging him to calm down. The next flash Matron was bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to her abdomen. Then Squall at the end of the platform the huge shard of ice piercing his chest. Irvine threw his gun down and jumped from his hidden position, his mind racing. What had he done? Squall was going to die because he screwed up. It was mere seconds before found himself beside Squall’s still form the swordsman’s eyes glossy and blank. Matron was now standing over him.
“Foolish child, did you really think you could defeat me that easily?” she raised her hand once again gathering ice to force her will. The sniper tugged desperately on his commander’s lifeless body trying to get away when a brilliant blue light engulfed him. A soft familiar voice filled his ears.
“Forgive me Irvine. I had no choice. He will not listen to anyone else. You have to wake up now.’ He could feel Rinoa’s warm presence surround him, lifting him.

Irvine jerked up from the couch falling into the floor, then breathing heavily he padded his way to the bathroom. Sunlight filtered into the room through a small window near the ceiling. Standing over the sink he turned the faucet on and cupped some water into his hands. To his surprise the water never made it to his face. Water splashed onto the sink as he stared at his hands. Had they gotten smaller… wait had he gotten smaller? He looked up into the mirror and almost immediately wanted to run.
“No way.” He said in shock as a female face stared back at him. Reaching up to touch the mirror his arm brush against his chest. He jerked his head down to look. Irvine found himself on the edge of a total freak out.
“I am drunk that has to be it.” He said as he pinched himself hard enough to leave a bruise but noticed in horror his voice was more sing song and high pitched.
“What’s happened to me?” He asked out loud when Rinoa’s reflection flashed in the mirror.
“Take good care of him.” Irvine stared around in shock.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

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