Chocobo Feathers
a Final Fantasy VIII story
by Aimee
Squall Leonhart had a new found love for trains. He never before realized how soothing the sound of the engine could be, or how the constant vibration seemed to relax his tense muscles. Or maybe it was the fact that before this trip, he never tried to ignore everything else around him like he had been doing the whole morning. His nuisance had left the cabin for a quick nap and Squall took the time to himself and treasured it dearly.
His head rested against the soft cushion of his seat, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed. Thoughts poured through his head, invading the quiet which he longed to obtain. Thoughts of the previous night when he was sitting in his dorm and Headmaster Cid called him to the office and gave him the earth-shattering news. "But the SeeD exams are only a month away!" "Seifer needs focus and you would be perfect for the job!" 'It's just a simple little mission." Who was Squall to say no to an order? Had he been a SeeD instead of a student, he sure would have. His black gloved hand ran through his long brown hair with an long sigh. It's only one day... What's the worst that could happen. ...then again, this is Seifer Almasy. King Asshole of Balamb.
His stormy gray eyes looked up at the train's clock and noted the time. Only a few more minutes of train ride left. He pulled out the file for the mission and looked over it. From the train station they were to drive to Trabia Garden and get some records from the Headmaster. Drive back to the other side of the continent and take a boat home. Squall didn't understand why it had to be so difficult, but he wasn't one to question orders. He put the file back into his backpack and decided that it was time to fetch Seifer so they could get ready to depart.
Opening the train door with a swipe of a keycard, Squall walked into the dining area and found Seifer snacking on some chips and watching TV. "You almost ready?"
Seifer looked up to the door and smirked at Squall. "You are killing me with how thrilled you look." He dusted off his gloved hands and stood up, picking his gunblade up off the seat next to him. "Here I thought you cared about me graduating."
"You have to care about that before anyone else." Crossing his arms tightly over his chest, Squall turned around and exited out the open door leaving Seifer behind. "Come on."
It had only taken them an hour to get to Trabia Garden and get the records Cid wanted. Squall realized this might be a smooth mission after all as they got back into the dark green convertible they parked outside the Garden. The sun was high in the afternoon sky, beaming down on them in a sign of good faith.
Seifer hopped into the drivers seat as Squall put his backpack in the backseat and went around to the passenger side. "What the fuck is Cid thinking? The dock for the boat is all the way on the other side of the fucking..." Groaning out, Seifer wiped his arm across his head and looked upwards. "And it's fucking hot!"
Squall shook his head with a soft sigh. "That might have something to do with the thick trench coat you're wearing." He leaned back against the car's seat and closed his eyes.
"Like you can talk. What's that? Dead rabbit fur?" Laughing, his gloved hand stroked the white fur on the collar of his coat. Squall's eyes opened and glared at Seifer.
"Just go so we can get back home." Smacking away Seifer's hand, he went back to ignoring the blonde.
"Yeah, yeah." Seifer turned the car on and was about to take off his trench coat, but decided to just turn the air conditioner on full blast instead. He pulled up the car's map and started to head out to the dock. Squall, on the other hand, had dozed off almost right away from the blazing sun's heat.
"SQUALL!"
Sitting up with a jolt of surprise, Squall blinked the sleep out of his eyes and looked around frantically. "What? Oh." He turned around to see Seifer digging through the back of the car. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Where is the fucking gas?!" Seifer's voice had dropped the usual sarcasm for a hysterical anger.
Squall's sleepy mind didn't register what he was going on about for a minute before his eyes widened, jaw dropping. "What?! Seifer! You were supposed to pick up supplies!"
"You know I don't listen to that old fucker! SHIT!" Tossing around everything in the back, which wasn't much, he jumped out of the back and opened the trunk. "This is fucking ridiculous! We don't have any gas!"
"Where are we?" Squall asked himself, pulling up the map. "Ah shit, Seifer..." They were exactly between Trabia Garden and the dock for the boat. Taking a deep breath, Squall began to think of their situation.
"What the hell do we do?" Seifer's angry voice cut into his thoughts and Squall rolled his eyes up at him. "Mr. Wanna-be leader?"
"First, quit being a fucking asshole." Squall all but spat at the tall blonde. "Look. We can't walk, the monsters are too strong around here and I didn't take that many potions with me." With another heavy sigh, he looked down at the map and took in a closer look, zooming in. "Hey wait..." Upon looking closer a smile of hope touched Squall's lips. "We are right next to a chocobo forest."
Seifer raised a brow and frowned. "Those huge ass birds? I heard they were dangerous."
"...If you'd pay attention in class once in a while, you'd know they are harmless." Squall shook his head and looked up and around. "It's to the north of us, a few miles." He reached around to the back of the car and grabbed his backpack. "We'll ride them back to the Garden and get some gas from there."
Seifer's jaw squared in anger, having to be told what to do by the biggest prick he knew. "Fine. Whatever." Pausing, he scoffed. "Hyne, now I'm starting to sound like you."
Squall was thankful they only ran into a few Bite Bugs on the way to the Chocobo Forrest, but he still didn't want to chance going all the way back to the Garden and getting the same luck. When they arrived at the forrest, Squall went up to the entrance and picked up a long thick green plant out of the ground and threw it to Seifer.
"Since you obviously know nothing about chocobos... This is a Gysahl Green. Chocobos eat them and if you have one, like you do, they will come up to you."
"Thank you expert bird-man." Looking at the plant in his gloved hand he shrugged and went into the forest. "How hard can this be anyway?" Placing his gunblade, Hyperion, into his holster, he walked into the clearing and looked around. "Uh, where the hell are they?"
Squall strolled up to his side with a smirk. In his other hand he had pulled out from his backpack a small silver whistle. "Watch and learn. ...for once." Getting a strong glare from the taller male, he blew into the whistle, which made a small sound.
"That's it? What good is that... Holy shit." Poking it's yellow head out of the thick trees, a large bird made a soft almost cooing noise. It was around eight-feet tall and looked like it was more than capable to carry the weight of the two men standing there.
"Alright. Now wave the green at it for it's attention." Squall said in a soft almost-whisper.
"Are you sure they don't bite?" Seifer's look of apprehension made Squall chuckle slightly. Hearing the light laughter, Seifer's eyes narrowed as he began to walk up to the bird. His mouth formed a small "o" shape, mimicking the cooing of the bird. His hand waved the greens slightly in front of him as his steps slowed. The large bird lifted it's head, walking forward. The curious black eyes were set on Seifer and the snack he was carrying. It's next steps were more relaxed and confident, making the same cooing noise as it edged to Seifer. "Told you this wasn't hard..." A short laugh as the impressive animal began to eat from his hand once it stood in front of him.
"Let it get used to you." Squall commented, an small smile gracing his lips. He was indeed impressed at Seifer, actually doing something right for a change.
Seifer couldn't believe how a bird, three times his size, could act so gentle. He had to admit to himself that he was worried at first, but once it began to eat the long plant from his hand, his stature relaxed. That's when he felt it. The fast building itch that seemed to work up from the top of his mouth and into the back of his nose. He didn't think much of it at first as he watched more and more of the Green disappear into the large beak, but once he opened his mouth to reply to Squall it hit him like a bolt of lightning. No, no, no, no... Biting down on his lip hard, he began to mentally scold himself, trying to fight the urge. "Sq..." He stopped, talking only made it grow further. He sniffed softly, hoping that would help, but it didn't. It had only made him realize it more. A short rush of air exited over his lips, eyes starting to water. "Squ...Squall..."
Squall walked closer to Seifer's side once he seen Seifer's body freeze up. "Seifer?" The look on the blonde's face looked like one of almost terror, but Squall knew that wasn't the case. "What's the matter?" He looked from the Chocobo to Seifer, alarmed.
"Sn...Sneeze." Biting in on his lip harder, the itch was burning uncontrollably now. Thoughts raced through Seifer's head at what would happen. Should I throw it down and hope I don't scare it? What if it bites me? Or attacks? Oh shit, oh shit... Squall's hand covered his mouth, not knowing wether to laugh or what.
"Haaahh..." Seifer knew he was past trying to control the feeling when his lungs expelled air quickly, his watering eyes half-closing. Before his mind told him what to do, his head turned quickly into his shoulder as a hard and violent sneeze broke free. "Haaa...AhhHAChooo... !!" With a loud squawking noise, the chocobo flapped it's wings indignantly, which didn't help Seifer out much as loose down feathers flew through the air. Squall rushed forward, making soft sounds to calm down the chocobo, but they were to be for naught. Seifer dropped the greens as both hands covered his nose and mouth, letting very loud and booming sneezes. "AH-CHHOOO... HAAACHOOhhh... AhhHHaaCHhhooo... Now panting and bent" over, his watered eyes looked to Squall and turned around from the bird, walking to the entrance of the forrest.
"Oh, Hyne..." Squall's hand lay over his face after he watched the bird run off, obviously frightened by Seifer's outburst. "There goes our ride..." He sighed and looked at Seifer who was still helplessly sneezing into his hands. "You alright?"
"Does...does it look like I'm...HA-CHeeeh... alright?" Sniffing hard, he dug around in his back pocket and pure white handkerchief and blew his nose into it. "You didn't tell me those..." He paused for a minute, breathing heavy as if he were about to sneeze again, but the feeling went away and he went on. "...those damn things were...cursed or someth...Haaa-CHOO! ...uhhh...something." He caught that one into the white fabric, and left the handkerchief up to block out anything else.
Squall let out a laugh and shook his head. "Cursed, Seifer? Sounds like you're allergic to them. Sure scared the hell out of it, though." His head turned around to look where the chocobo had disappeared and scoffed out a short laugh.
"I'm NOT...all..al...aaaahhhAAATCHOO...Not allergic! Just something in the air..." Blowing his nose again, Squall raised a brow and shook his head.
"Who the hell are you trying to fool?" Squall put his hands on his hips and frowned. "Well, we can't have you sneezing and scaring off any more rides. Come on." Nodding his head, he walked out of the area with Seifer in toe.
Seifer managed to get a hold of himself as he walked out behind Squall. He caught a few more sneezes into the soft cloth, each losing the strong violent force they held before. He was extremely mad at the fact that he had lost control. In front of Squall, of all people. The one who practically insulted him for not knowing anything about the chocobo I n the first place. He expected Squall to laugh and make more fun of him when they left the forest.
"You alright?" Squall turned to Seifer with an honest look of concern. "Look, don't worry about it. You can keep an eye on the car and I'll ride to the Garden for gas."
"Huh. Bet you are getting a kick out of this." Seifer's green gaze looked down from Squall's eyes and to the handkerchief, folding it back up.
"No, actually I didn't." Squall nodded to the direction of the car as they began walking back. "I would have if the chocobo bit you."
Seifer narrowed his eyes and was about to retort when a sneeze caught him off guard, his body hunching over from the force. "Ughhh... I'll get you back for that, Leonhart."
"Don't make me fill your room with chocobo feathers." Squall laughed and drew his gunblade out when they spotted two Bite Bugs in their way. "You can sneeze on these guys if you want."
"Shut the fu...UUHhchhiii! Shut up!" Unfolding his handkerchief, he wiped and blew his nose, hoping to get out whatever was still irritating it. "This is all your fault... Should have brought the supplies."
Squall rolled his eyes and attacked the Bite Bugs, defeating them without breaking a sweat. "Want me to call back that bird?" Squall smirked and placed his gunblade back into his holster. He smiled over at Seifer and watched him wipe his watering eyes with the back of his hand. Somehow, watching Seifer loose his cool made Squall respect him a little more, made him realize that through the wanna-be-God-like exterior, Seifer was still human. Not just the huge asshole Squall had always thought. Seifer sniffed and looked over to Squall, catching the brunette staring.
"Whad?" Seifer asked, voice a bit congested. He must have realized Squall's gaze as a soft one and returned it with a smile.
Squaresoft owns these sexy bishies, not me. Didn't see any Final Fantasy fics up, and so here are mine. Always had a thing for Seifer sneezing (maybe because he looks like Hubb... He does...BILLIE. Lol!) And thought this would be very cute. ^.^ Uh, if anyone doesn't know, Chocobos are these HUGE ass birds in Final Fantasy games that are used to ride on, or race them if you wanna talk FF7. LOL.