Birthday Conspiracies

Squall didn’t look up from where he was cleaning Lion Heart when he asked how Zell was doing, but then he was bad at eye contact.

Selphie fretted and mopped Zell’s brow; he moaned and clutched his stomach.

Irvine ducked into the tent, shotgun slung casually over one shoulder. His prediction was right, that Zell had eaten too many hotdogs trying to impress a girl and was sick.

Quistis, ever the instructor, informed Zell that he shouldn’t be lying down, that he ought to walk it off. Squall’s contribution was to order Zell to march the outer perimeter for a half-hour and watch for monsters.

Selphie insisted Zell was in no condition to fight, but Squall was Commander, so Quistis helped Zell up. Irvine shoved him out of the tent.

As soon as Zell was out of earshot, Selphie opened her mouth to scold Squall, but everyone else was moving, all military efficiency and precision. Quistis opened the med kit and pulled out of the stasis bag not transfusion blood but a birthday cake.

Irvine reached into his coat and drew out his box of ammo, inside of which were candles instead of rifle shells. He counted nineteen of them onto the cake.

Squall sheathed Lion Heart, set it aside, and brought presents out of the armor box. According to Irvine, it was Zell’s birthday. Selphie felt awful for forgetting, but Irvine reminded her that the GFs had stolen her memories and it wasn’t her fault.

Once the birthday spread was laid out, Selphie went to call Zell back, but Squall shook his head. Then he and Quistis short-sheeted Zell’s cot. Selphie said it was mean, that it was Zell’s birthday, but Squall, ever the commander, reminded her that there had to be repercussions - for all the hotdogs.

(Final Fantasy VIII post-game universe, no Rinoa because she bugs the snot out of me)