Vacation

Ficlet in the Sands of Time Series
by scribblemoose

Zell looked about him with wide eyes. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen Galbadia Garden before, of course. He just hadn't seen it quite like this.

"Something else, huh?" Irvine grinned. "I don't know how they get those funny lights in the ceiling, but it's way cool."

Zell nodded mutely. "And this happens every year?" The place was a blend of muted colours, music pumping through the soundsystem. Squall would never let them pump anything through the sound system at Balamb.

"Yep. Midsummer festival. This is going to be fun."

Irvine had a determined look about him as he said that, Zell noticed. This seemed to be as much a mission to his friend as a vacation. He'd been through a lot, lately, and Zell had a feeling this fortnight was headed 'recover from anguish' in Irvine's to-do list.

He was interrupted from his musings by the arrival of Duck, who launched herself at Irvine at full speed, wrapping her astonishingly nubile body around his and showering his face in kisses that started light and playful and got more and more dangerous by the second.

Zell waited until he was actually blushing, before he cleared his throat. Then he cleared it again.

"Oh," Duck turned to Zell, noticing him for the first time. "You brought me a present, Shotgun!"

Zell blushed harder.

"Be gentle, Duck," purred Irvine. "He's a friend."

Duck pouted. "You have such lovely friends," she said. "And you never share."

"I'm sharing now," said Irvine. "We're on vacation, and I have a mission."

See, Zell knew there was a mission involved here somewhere for Irivne.

"Oh yeah?" Duck cocked an eyebrow. She had let go of Irvine, except for one arm draped around his waist, and one (naked) foot which was massaging his calf. She must have been off duty, Zell, realised, to be wearing nothing but a shimmery red shift-dress and a flower in her hair.

"Yep. Operation 'Get Dincht Laid'," smirked Irvine.

"Irvine!" Zell protested, hurt.

"Oh really?" Duck looked Zell up and down, predatorially. "Well, my. Hello, Zell."

"W... we've met," Zell stammered, hopelessly. "With the tentacle squishing and all."

Duck grinned. "And you came and stole Shotgun from me. When we were having such fun with the ice cream."

Zell nodded, and swallowed hard. "Yes," he squeaked. "Sorry about that. Emergency."

Irvine whispered something in her ear, and her eyes flared, then softened.

"He says I'm to go easy on you," she reached out one hand and cupped Zell's jaw, smoothing up to touch his ears with feather-light fingertips. "You're not a virgin, are you?"

Zell made a sort of squeaking noise, trying to shake the feeling that he was some kind of animal she was thinking of buying. "No!" he protested. "It's just. . . . been a long time is all, I've been busy, with the war and. . ." Why was he telling her any of this? Why was he even there? Going on vacation with Irvine suddenly seemed like a very dumb thing to do.

"It's okay," purred Duck. "I'm not going to eat you."

Her generous mouth curved to a predatory smile.

"At least, not yet," she added.