Feelings, Irvine/Squall. PG. (sequel to 'Spark')

Title: Feelings
Author: Guenhwyvar
Fandom: FFVIII, Irvine/Squall, fluff.
Rating: PG (or the new equivalent).
Distribution: Just ask.
Disclaimer: Sadly the boys are not mine. FFVIII belongs to Square Enix.
Notes: Sequel to 'Spark'. With thanks to everyone who reviewed and hoped for more. You get your wish. ;) Extra hugs to Scribbles for the early review and Roku-chan for the beta. *glomps*

Squall flung another stone into the lake, watching with idle disinterest as it skipped across the surface before sinking into the blue depths.

He wasn't sure exactly how long he'd been here on this shore, throwing pebbles at the water, and half-heartedly trying to break his personal record for the most number of skips in one go. He didn't really even know why he was skipping rocks in the first place, except he was bored.

Not just bored. Bored and grouchy... and lonely.

He snorted out loud at that thought. Half a year ago, lonely would have suited him just fine. But here he was, throwing rocks into the lake because he was bored and grouchy and lonely and missing Irvine. Who he was trying very hard not to think about, but ultimately was failing miserably.

The cowboy was back in Galbadia, having reluctantly answered a plea for help from Martine in re-establishing Galbadia Garden now it was finally back where it belonged. The red Garden had sat idle and damaged right where the Galbadian Military had abandoned it in Centra, until the combined efforts of Squall, Martine and even Laguna had persuaded some of the technicians from FH to repair it.

That had been almost a month ago.

It seemed like every day Martine had had some new task he simply just had to need Irvine for. Squall scowled to himself and allowed a brief vision of the Galbadia Garden headmaster being run over by Doomtrain to flit through his mind. He sighed.

Maybe it wouldn't have been so hard if they hadn't been... dating? No, that didn't sound quite right... well, whatever they were - for only a couple of weeks beforehand. A couple of weeks of just being together, and talking, and kissing. Not really so different from when it had been just friendship, but deeper, warmer somehow. Exploring the spark they'd found with their first kiss and slowly discovering where it could lead them. So far it had lead to a lot more kissing.

It wasn't the kissing part he missed the most. It was the just having the cowboy there with him, supportive and kind and just.. just himself.

He'd spoken to him on the phone almost every day, but it wasn't the same. He'd tried not to let things get to him, really he had. He'd kept himself as busy as possible, though sorting through paperwork was mind-numbingly dull, and even slicing up the monsters in the training centre didn't give him the same sense of satisfaction. He'd even let Selphie and Rinoa take him shopping. All of it had completely, utterly failed to make him forget.

He flung another stone with rather unnecessary vigour.

Maybe he should be concerned, missing someone so much, it meant... he shook his head. He didn't want to think like that, not anymore. He sighed at himself again. Old habits were just hard to kick sometimes. It wasn't as if Irvine was never coming back. Even if it felt like it..

He flung another stone, even harder than the last one.

"Did the rocks do somethin' to annoy you?"

Squall whirled in surprise, to find a very there, very real Irvine, familiar duster flapping gently in the breeze and a broad grin on his face, standing just a few feet away.

"Irvine..? You're here?" He tried not to gape.

"Looks like it," grinned the cowboy. "There wasn't anythin' more they couldn't handle without me. Besides, Martine was drivin' me nuts. I figured I'd get away while I could and surprise everyone."

Squall smiled a little. His initial surprise faded into the familiar warmth he was becoming accustomed to feeling whenever Irvine was around him now, and he could see it reflected in Irvine's eyes. Amethyst met stormy blue and held for the longest moment.

"I missed you, you know."

Irvine had the decency to look a little surprised that Squall was the first one to voice their feelings. Although he had come a long way it was still sometimes tricky for him, trying to fit words to emotions he'd shut off for most of his life. The cowboy smiled warmly, gratefully.

"And I missed you too, darlin'," He said softly, resting his hands on the smaller man's shoulders. Another long moment passed before Squall stretched up as the cowboy dipped his head to kiss him. Squall's arms found themselves around Irvine's neck as they let instinct draw them together, eyes falling shut as their lips met.

Squall heard a soft sigh, something like pleasure tinged with relief, and was only faintly aware the sound had come from himself.

At moments like this is was easy, too easy to let everything else fall away. No worries, no work, no monsters, no being the leader - just Irvine, real and warm and here. And oh Hyne but he could kiss...

When they separated for air a long minute later, arms still wrapped around each other, Squall could only look into Irvine's eyes and wonder why he wasn't worried, or scared, that Irvine could so easily gain such a hold on his attention, that he could forget everything else even existed at moments like that. Did it mean he was already in too deep, at risk of being hurt? Shouldn't he be concerned?

Irvine smiled, almost knowingly.

"Want to go catch up with the others?" He asked, fingers combing softly through Squall's chocolate hair.

"In a minute," Murmured Squall, tugging a still-smiling Irvine down to meet his lips again.

End.