Author's Notes: First try at a FF8 yaoi fic, so bare with me, y'all! This is actually my favorite yaoi, I like them all but IrvinexSquall just appeals to me. ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own FFVIII. *sniff* A shame, ain't it? ^^ They belong to the lovely folks at Squaresoft / Square Enix

Desperately Seeking Squall

Chapter 2 - Fighting for Pride

By Kris

I had been ostracizing myself from Zell and Selphie for the past two weeks. Yeah, it was rather childish, but it prevented me from knocking Zell's teeth in. That would probably be the only good punch I'd get in, if I ever got into a fight with him. I locked myself in my room when either of them came looking for me, and ignored the pounding on my door, or attempting to cajole me out of my room. So far, it'd work. I haven't heard or saw either of them for the last two days, thank Hyne. I thought I was safe and sound, until I heard the foreboding banging on my door again.

"IRVINE KINNEAS!"

I looked to the door, grinning slightly. The sound of that voice lightened my mood, and I hopped out of bed and headed over to the door. "Yeah?"

"Open the door this instant!" The feminine voice yelled, as she twisted the doorknob violently.

"In a minute, Quistis!" I said, unlocking the double locks on the door. "Keep yer skirt on! Just until you get into the room, anyway." Upon opening the door, my eyes lowered to the floor where she was standing and eyes slowly examined her body as they moved toward her face. When my eyes met hers, she was glaring at me. Boy, if looks could kill. That infamous grin crept over my face and I stepped away from the door and headed over to my bed. "C'mon in." I sat on the edge of my bed, glancing toward her. I was only dressed in my pants, which were unfastened and unzipped. She probably thought I trying to "relieve" myself while locked up in my room.

She stepped into my room; azure hues stared at me, defiantly. "What in Hyne's name do you think you're doing?! Hiding in your room isn't going to make anything better, Irvine."

I sighed, looking to her. "It does make it better."

"How?"

"I don't have to look at Zell Dincht." I grabbed a pillow, and covered my face with it.

"Irvine, you're going to have to confront him sooner or later!" She shouted.

"No, I don't!" I shouted into the pillow.

I felt the pillow being jerked from my grasp, and I looked up to Quistis. "So, you're just going to stay in here forever?!"

"No, I'll eventually come out, just not now." I said.

She rolled her eyes, and grabbed my hand, lugged me off my bed. "Move it, Kinneas!" She moved over to my closet, and opened it. Rummaging through it, she threw my vest, and my duster on the bed.

"What're you doin'?" It was kind of odd to have a girl throwing my clothes to me. I guess I was use to them ripping them off me, wanting to see the perfection that lies beneath the cowboy clothing.

"Getting your clothes," She stopped, and looked at me. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Why?" I grabbed my vest, and placing it over my chest and zipped it up; and then picked my duster up and put it on. I zipped and fastened my pants.

"You're going to the Quad and facing Zell Dincht." She stated.

I blinked, and shook my head. "No, Quistis!"

"Yes, Irvine!" She picked my boots up, and shoved them into my hands. "If you don't, I'll hog tie you with my whip, and drag you there myself!"

I grinned and winked. "That a promise?"

She glared at me. "Hurry, Irvine."

"Just a joke, Quistis." I sat down, and put my boots on.

She rolled her eyes, and walked to the door, and waited. "Let's go, I don't have all day, Irvine." She opened the door, pointing toward the vacant corridor.

"Yes, ma'am." I grinned, saluting her, walking out of my dorm; I could hear her groan behind me. I stopped, and waited for her. When she got beside me, I offered my arm to her.

She walked by me, and headed out of the Dorm area.

Shot down, again. So, what is that? Two for two? I'm keeping count.

Sighing, I followed her, reluctantly. "Quistis, I really don't feel like getting into it with Dincht, all right?"

"Then don't." She looked to him.

"What if he rubs the fact that he stole a girl away from the playboy?" I sighed.

"Look, Irvine, just talk it out calmly with Zell." She stopped, and turned to me.

"Calmly? Zell? That word doesn't belong in the same sentence with him," I crossed my arms over my chest, looking at her with a slightly annoyed look. "And you know it, Miss Trepe!"

"I know, Irvine, but at least try!" Turning her back to me, she started walking again.

"Hyne." I groaned, placing a hand on my head as I started walking. All right, if Zell started anything, I'd be calm. I walked in silence until I came to the Quad, and there they were, Zell and Selphie. It looked like they were waiting on me. So they DID send Quistis after me. Figures. When I came toward them, Selphie came bounding toward me.

"Irvy!" She cried, in her usual cheerful tone.

I smiled, weakly to her. "Hi Selphie."

Zell came up behind her, looking to me with a grin on his face. "Yo', Irvine!"

"Dincht." I nodded, looking to them. "…You two wanted to talk to me."

"Actually," Zell scratched the back of his head, and came toward me. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh?" I looked to him, vaguely interested. "About?"

"Selphie." He inhaled deeply. "I didn't mean to man, seriously, I was gonna tell ya! Honest!"

"Look, Zell," I tried to brush it off. "Don't worry about it, all right? Water under the bridge, ok? The best man won the girl."

"So, no hard feelings?" He rubbed his hand on his blue jean shorts, and then offered it to me.

I looked at the peace offering, and then to him. "Right."

He stood with his hand out to me for a few seconds before sighing, his shoulders slumping and then he stuffed the hand into his pocket.

I turned my back, and started walking out.

"Wait, Irvine!" Selphie said, and I turned to her.

"What?" I snapped, eying her. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anybody. I wanted to go back to my little scared haven, and forget about everything.

She blinked, taken aback by my irritated tone. "Um, don't be mad, ok?"

"Mad? Me?" I laughed, ironically. "No, Selphie, I'm not mad!"

"Hey, Irvine," Zell stepped toward me. "Calm down, ok?"

I looked at Zell, my laughter silencing for only a minute before it started again. "Zell Dincht is telling me to calm down!" My body started to shake with laughter.

Knowing Selphie, she was cowering behind Zell; her hands placed over her head with her eyes closed. Zell, on the other hand, was staring at me. "Irvine, dude, chill out!"

My head was now lowered, and my eyes fixated to the ground. I stopped laughing, abruptly, and looked to Zell. I knew my eyes were filled with rage, but I didn't care anymore. I wanted scream, I wanted to punch him; I wanted to do everything physically possible to hurt him. I couldn't, I just couldn't bring myself to punch him. I guess I didn't want to hurt a friend, even after what he did behind my back.

"Irvine, c'mon, don't freak out like this, alright?" Zell moved closer to me, and I started to growl, lowly.

"I'm not freakin' out, Dincht." I turned my back to him. "I'm goin' to go back to my room."

"Dude, c'mon!" Zell started. He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't get upset! It's not like I was doin' her or anything."

"Zell!" Selphie and Quistis yelled, simultaneously.

After that comment, I snapped. My fists clenched together so hard, my knuckles were turning white. I turned, and as I turned my arm was drawn back. My balled fist went forward, and connected with Zell's jaw and he stumbled backward.

"Yo'! What the HELL do you think you're doin', Kinneas?!" He rubbed his jaw, his eyes narrowing.

I stood there, looking at him. I got him pretty good, but if he fights back, that'll be the only good punch I'll get in through the whole fight. I didn't say a word, I couldn't. If I did, I was most likely to go off and bitch at him and cause him to be even more enraged with me that he already is. Not to mention, I'd get my ass kicked ten times harder. I looked to Selphie, who was hunched down, with her hands over her head, and looked back to see if Quistis was still…shit, she booked. Knowing her, she went to get Squall.

"HELLO! I'm asking you a question, Kinneas!" Zell pushed me.

"Watch it, punk!" I pushed him back.

Zell growled, and cuffed me in the nose.

"SHIT!" My hands flew to my nose, and I wiped the blood from it. "That's it, Dincht!"

"You wanna brawl, Kinneas?" He got in his fighting stance, and started bouncing on his toes. "Let's get it on!"

I took another swing at him, and he blocked it, his fist connecting with my gut. I winced, my body hunching from the pain that refused to subside in my stomach. Before I could gather myself, his knee was knocked into my chest. "Oof!" I stumbled back, and collected myself. Zell had an advantage, he was a martial arts specialist, and me, well, I can hold my own in a fight, but with someone who knows what he's actually doing, I'm screwed. Not the way I want to be though.

"C'mon, Irvine!" He grinned, running his thumb across his nose.

"Zell, stop!" Selphie cried. "Irvine, just quit!"

I shook it off, growling, and went after him again, kicking him in the stomach, which caused him to double over. Just as he was rising to his feet, I nailed him in the back with my elbow, causing him to fall to the ground. "Fuck!" Zell winced, pulling himself, and wiped his mouth. "You got lucky, cowboy!" He got back to his fighting stance, and that wicked little grin, the one you see every time before he starts whaling into some poor, defenseless monster when he attacks, crossed his face. I gulped, saying a silent prayer to Hyne, and raised my fists. I was hoping he wouldn't punch me in the face, again, or worse…kick me in the groin. That shit hurt, believe me, I've been kicked there many times before, but for logical reasons.

He charged at me, his arm cocked back, and I did the same. His fist met my jaw, and his knee slammed into my stomach again. He grabbed me by my collar, pulling me down to face him. I was wincing, looking into his face. I could hear Selphie pleading in the background for Zell to stop, but it wasn't working.

"C'mon, Z-Zell, that a-all you got?!" I groaned. "Rinoa hits harder that you do."

He growled. "She does huh? Well, maybe she should teach me how to do this." He cuffed me in the nose again, my hands flying to my nose. "Or, how 'bout this?" Before I could block anything he dished out, his knee nailed me in the groin.

"…Oh, shit." A hand flew to my groin as I fell to my knees, and I started coughing. "Oh, Hyne." I was getting dizzy, and I felt like I could heave those three hotdogs I ate for lunch. Did I mention we're really sensitive when it comes to our penises? Yeah, hit us hard enough and we'll cry like a baby, or pass out. I prefer crying.

"Had enough?" Zell was standing over me, chest flared out.

"Zell, I ever tell you…" I rose to my feet, wincing. "…Your hair reminds me of a chocobo or a cockatrice?" I gave him the best grin I could. "Guess that's why they chicken-wuss." I knew what was coming next, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut. It was on auto-fire.

"THAT'S IT!" His fist flew at my face, and he socked me in the right eye, another fist connecting into my gut, causing me to double over, but I kept myself from falling to the ground. He grabbed my ponytail, and knocked my hat off with his over hand while pulling me down, again. "Shut your mouth, Irvine. I don't like doing this, but you've practically begged my to kick your sorry, cowboy ass!"

Heh, he was right. I have, but I got in some lucky shots. "Cowboy, yes, sorry, that would be you, Dincht. Stealing Selphie right out from under me when you damn well knew she was with me, you two-timin' back-stabbin' piece o' shit!"

Zell was about to punch me again when I heard the familiar, pissed voice call out to us.

"Let him go, Zell."

I turned to the voice, using my good eye to see who it was.

It was Squall, and Quistis was right behind him. Thank Hyne.

"Tch, fine." Zell let me go, and I fell to the ground.

Squall and Quistis approached us, and Quistis knelt beside me.

"You ok?" She asked, lifting me to my feet.

"Other than the fact that I feel like I've been ran over by a train," I laughed, wincing. "I feel peachy."

"Zell, you know what happens to students, SeeD or no SeeD, who participates in such actions." Squall rose a hand to his forehead, sighing.

"B-but!" Zell protested. "He started it!"

"He's right, Commander." I replied, picking my hat up, and placing it back on my head. "I did start it, I threw the first blow."

He looked to me, and then to Zell, whose mouth was bleeding from my last blow. "Fine." He shook his head, turning to walk away. "Both of you will be appointed separate allotted time to spend in the Discipline Room. Zell, you'll be appointed to clean the men's bathroom for two weeks and Irvine, you'll be assigned to clean the kitchen for two weeks." Squall looked over to me, and sighed. "Quistis, you can go to your next class, I'll help Irvine to Dr. Kadowaki."

"All right." Quistis nodded, and walked out.

Squall looked to Zell, finally noticing his injuries. "Selphie, you can help him with whatever."

She nodded. "Kay!"

Squall started walking out of the Quad, not wasting anytime to wait on me. When I caught up to him, he glanced over to me, shaking his head with incredulity. "You're out of your mind, you know that."

"How so?" I implored, not bothering to look at him.

"Taking Zell on in a fist fight." He rejoined, in that usual reticent voice.

"Yeah." I replied.

He exhaled noisily, his eyes gaining a look of displeasure. "Thought you had better logic then that, Irvine."

I grinned, rubbing the back of my head. "Me too."

We both walked in silence, my eyes glimpsing over to observe his body periodically; I did mention Squall always looks good in leather, didn't I? I suppose it's just the way his pants hug to his body, I'm sure if the man ever got an erection those pants would deceive him quicker than you can say Cid's your uncle. A small grin crept over my face as I imagined his body under mine, my eyes sliding shut when I hear him say my name. He was the personification of perfection, and he didn't even know it. Even after all Rinoa had done to get him to crack his shell open, he was still a frigid enigma to us. Sure, she opened him up a little, but he still had his brooding periods where he excluded himself from everybody but His Angel. Rinoa could come and go as she pleased, so she was our only way to communicate with our reclusive commander. Don't get me wrong; I don't have anything against Rinoa. My love for Rinoa is like my love for Quistis it's more of a protective love than anything else. If it was really up to me, I'd just like to have one night with Squall, and after that, I'd go woman hunting. Preferably Quistis, but I think she has a thing for Seifer. Seifer, now he's another story. Seriously, he is. Squall isn't the only one whose had the Knight in bed, but I'll spare you the hot and heavy details. Seifer's the utmost thing from my mind these days.

"Irvine."

I blinked, looking to Squall as he beckoned me from my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Dr. Kadowaki wants you to lie down." He nodded over to her.

I blinked. The hell? I became aware of my surroundings, and blinked again. I was in the infirmary! Damn, time goes by fast when yer thinkin' about sex. I looked to Dr. Kadowaki, and winked to her. "Hi, Doc."

"Don't you 'Hi, Doc' me, Irvine." Her hands went to her hips, involuntarily. "Get over there on the bed. Now."

"Yes, ma'am!" I mocked saluted her, which caused me to wince in pain, and ambled over to one of the beds in the infirmary, sat down on the edge, and then stretched my lanky body resting diagonally on the bed. I watched the doctor saunter over to me, taking the seat next to the bed. I couldn't help but wink at her. "So, you doin' anything later tonight, Doc?"

A grin crossed her face, and she started examining my body. "Yes I am, but not with you."

After her reply, I heard a soft chuckle come from the other end of the room; I glanced over to find Squall leaning against a wall, watching us. "100 gil a show, Commander." I began to laugh, but only to stop as the pain started again. Damn Zell, he did a number on me.

"Enough, Irvine." Dr. Kadowaki took off my cowboy hat, and thwaped me on the head with it. "I thought you were smarter than this, Irvine. Taking on Zell like that."

"Funny," I looked toward Squall. "Commander said the same thing."

"It proved it then." She got up from her seat, and started rummaging through her cabinets.

"Proves what?" I lifted a brow, perplexed by her words.

"You're as stupid as you are good looking." She grinned, and came back with a few bandages, a Potion, and an Elixir.

I heard another low, rumble of laughter, and my eyes darted to Squall. "What's so funny?"

"You are, Irvine." He cracked a grin, pushing himself of the wall. "Now that I know that you're not near death, I'll leave the Doctor to her duty." He raised a hand in farewell to both of us, and left.

My gaze was glued to his body as he turned, my eyes lowering to his ass as he exited, and I grinned. That sight was enough to fuel my dreams for months.

"Pick your eyes off the floor and put them back in their sockets, Irvine, he's gone." The doctor replied in an amusing tone.

I looked to her, grinning slightly. "Yes, ma'am." I placed my hands behind my head, and stared at the ceiling while Dr. Kadowaki healed my wounds. My mind slowly sunk into thought, and not just any thought, mind you. The few moments spent with Squall were enough to send my brain a whirlin' with images to play back in my mind. He actually stopped a fight between Zell and I; I can't get over that. It's like he actually cared for me, he cared for me enough to stop before Zell knocked me unconscious.

"Zell beat ya up pretty good, didn't he?" She shook her head.

"Yeah, he did." My mind was torn, unwillingly, from my thoughts.

"All this, over Selphie," She started, eying me with disapproval. "And now you're drooling over your Commander?"

"Hey!" I protested. "I've liked Squall WAY before this incident."

She smirked. "I'm sure he or Rinoa wouldn't approve."

"I don't know, Doc, he wears those leather pants and the way he moves in them." I started to grin, and I looked at her.

"Maybe he just liked the feel of leather." She shrugged, opening the Potion bottle, and forced it in my face. "Drink."

I nodded, sitting up and grabbed the blue, glass bottle. I brought it to my lips, tilting it back, letting the bittersweet fluid seep down my esophagus. I soon felt the tonic start to work on my body. Restoring my stamina, energy, making the minor bruises and cuts vanish before my very eyes. I looked to her, she was busy uncorking the Elixir bottle, and poured it onto cloth. "Lay back."

I reclined on the small bed once more, and she placed the cloth over my right eye. I winced, jumping slightly at the pain. "Dammit!" I gritted my teeth, and hissed.

"Maybe if you kept that mouth of yours shut, instead of yapping on like a fool, you won't get hammered into the ground." She smirked, removing the cloth. "That should help it some." She handed me a box of butterfly bandages as I set up. "Put this over the cut before you go to sleep." She also handed me the bottle of Elixir. "Put that on it before the bandage and after you take it off." She run her thumb over it again, my teeth gritted again.

"Will do, Doc." I stood, bowing to her in thanks while grabbing my hat and gave her a wink. "Thanks."

"No problem, just try to keep yourself out of trouble, Irvine." She placed her hands on her hips, head tilting to the side as she stared directly into my eyes. "I don't want another Seifer-Squall incident, all right?"

I grinned, nodding my head. "Yes'm." I winked again, before walking out. I could her hear groan as I walked out, she knew I wasn't going to listen to her. She was right. I wasn't going to listen to her. No matter how hard Doc, Selphie, Quistis, or, shit, even Squall, would beg me; I wouldn't listen.  I was raised by the philosophy "Every man for himself." We lived, breathed, and drank that at Galbadia. Some of the guys were cruel, vulgar, and downright nasty to the female population of G-Garden. I would never say or do some of the things to a girl that they did; it was nauseating. You learned to fend for yourself, even the girls were picking up self-defense classes right before I left. I'll never disregard the first girl who did more than smack my face because I told her she had a nice ass. Right between the legs, Hyne, I'll never forget how much that hurt. I'd rather have Zell beat the piss out of me than be kicked in the nuts. Yeah, Zell went a little too far with the blow to the balls during our brawl, that's going to really hurt in the morning, ya know? The guys at G-Garden pushed me around a lot, too. Telling me I wasn't permitted around, near, or in waving distance of their girlfriends; it appeared they were threatened by my masculine, but charming presence. Guess they were scared their girlfriends would leave their sorry ass and hook up with someone who was more charismatic, pleasant, and unbearably sexy. Not that I could blame them, hell, if I were a chick I'd want to fuck me, too. But, it all boils down to this. From my time at Galbadia Garden, and my incidents with the other students, male and female a like, Zell better understand one thing.

Payback's a bitch.

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