Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Protecting the Lion ❯ Distractions ( Chapter 25 )

Chapter Twenty-Five

Distractions

 

Irvine sat leisurely with his feet propped up on the back of the co-pilot seat. Hugging Exeter to his chest, he feigned a light dozing state. Beneath his down turned hat a smile played across his lips.

 

Selphie was at the controls pouting. The injustice of a weaponry restriction was that she did not intend to actually use the grappling arms or assortment of missiles. She only wanted the freedom of it, the knowledge that she could use them. Squall always had everything under some sort of security lock. She had been taking a few courses in pick locking and cracking codes. For the first time, she had finally managed to crack the lock on Ragnarok's modified Gatling gun.

 

“Meanie,” Selphie accused over her shoulder toward the longhaired cowboy.

 

“I'm just doing my job,” the gunman responded, his smile widening.

 

Moments after Selphie had released the lock, Irvine had come aboard and reset the damn thing under a completely different code, one that was randomized and would take another two months for her to crack.

 

Rui sat directly behind the emotionally charged pilot. Buckled in tightly, he gripped the straps for dear life. “Are you sure you can fly this thing?” he asked nervously. The picture of the small teenage girl sitting in the pilot's seat was less than confidence inspiring.

 

“Sure can,” Selphie responded. She met Rui the other day when the commander had asked her to show a new student to a nearby dorm room. The skinny raven-haired boy was the cutest kid she had ever laid eyes on. If Rui had been a year or two younger, she would have adopted the unruly foreigner.

 

“Who are you again?” Irvine asked, finally focusing his attention on the boy who had followed him all the way to the hanger.

 

“Rui Valdez,” Rui replied succinctly, his eyes darting around to memorize the emergency exits. Finally directing his focus to the man with a cowboy hat, he realized he didn't know how much was permissible to explain regarding his presence in Balamb Garden. He hadn't discussed it with Commander Leonhart. Other than the commander and the perverted knight, no one else knew who had sent him or why he remained.

 

“Rui just enrolled,” Selphie explained blithely, forgetting for a moment that she was still upset with the gunman.

 

“I see,” Irvine drawled with an undertone of suspicion. Tilting his head back, violet eyes surveyed the boy from beneath the low riding brim of his hat. “Is there any particular reason as to why he's coming along?”

 

“Of course,” Selphie affirmed.

 

With a frown, Rui realized that despite being the topic of conversation, he was not allowed to be an active participant. Shrugging, he figured it made sense. People rarely trusted the words that came form a pickpocket and considering he lied quite frequently, he couldn't blame the cowboy for not asking him directly.

 

Irvine was in a rather irritated mood. The commander didn't even seem to remember his outburst earlier or care enough to issue due punishment. There was also the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that something was different about the attractive ice prince. He hadn't been able to take his eyes off the pale man throughout the meeting in the conference room. Trying to keep his racing mind distracted, he said, “Darlin', you've got to learn to elaborate.”

 

Feeling that the gunman's words were unfair, Selphie replied, “Most of the time you guys are telling me to be quiet. Squall is the one who needs to talk more.”

 

Chuckling at the good-natured fight, Irvine pushed his hat back to see more clearly. “I don't think there is any hope of changing our dearest mute,” he reasoned.

 

Shrugging her shoulders, Selphie said, “He's always been pensive, though I was surprised at how withdrawn he became.”

 

Not exactly thrilled that the subject of their conversation was exactly the person he didn't want to be thinking about, Irvine went along regardless. “You and me both,” he agreed. “I never asked Quistis or Zell what happened.” Dropping his feet from the seat, he became a bit more interested.

 

Biting her lip for a moment, Selphie looked to Rui. “There's a mini fridge below deck. It's got lots of goodies,” she suggested, knowing it was not the smoothest of hints.

 

Rui was quite interested in hearing more about the commander, especially from the people who actually knew the man. Disappointed, he complied. Slowly unbuckling his safety belt, he asked, “You won't take off before I can buckle back in will you?”

 

“Not if I remember,” Selphie offered with a mildly reassuring grin. Staying within the planet's atmosphere, it was unnecessary to buckle in.

 

Gulping, Rui looked from one SeeD to the next. Balamb Garden wasn't so different from Dollet. He still couldn't trust anybody. Rethinking his conclusion, he decided that there was at one person he could trust, but Commander Leonhart had arrived yet.

 

“You don't even have to be seated or strapped in. Selphie is the best pilot you'll ever meet,” Irvine assured, seeing fear in the boy's big brown eyes.

 

Unable to properly communicate his reasons for wanting to be strapped in, he questioned, “I don't suppose it means anything that I'm afraid of flying?”

 

Selphie smiled. “Not one bit,” she chirped.

 

Rui's eyes widened a bit, surprised at the girl's response. With no further argument, he stood up and began to walk away as though his death were eminent.

 

“Trust me, it's perfectly safe,” Irvine assured again.

 

Nodding absently, Rui left.

 

Alone with the gunman, Selphie swiveled her seat around and crossed her legs. Looking at Irvine with a serious expression she asked, “What's wrong?”

 

Surprised at his little lady's perceptiveness, Irvine briefly tried to figure out what part of his demeanor had given away his troubled mind. “I never could put anything passed you, could I?” he drawled amicably, more than willing to pour his heart out to the copper haired woman.

 

Selphie waited with an expression of avid interest.

 

“This stays between us,” Irvine began, simply exercising precaution. Straightening up, he mentally assessed his disquieting predicament. He hadn't quite admitted that he had a problem, but figured it couldn't hurt to seek an outside opinion.

 

“Oh,” Selphie intoned with excitement. “Now I have to know.” The gunman's secrets were always juicy.

 

“Swear that this stays between us,” Irvine insisted. His words could not reach the commander's ears.

 

“I promise not to tell anyone,” Selphie said somberly. Licking her lips, her expression brightened with excited interest. “Okay, now spill it.”

 

“Recently…” Irvine began, trailing off when he struggled for the right words. He didn't want it to sound as ridiculous as it felt. “Recently, I've been attracted to Squall,” he informed seriously. Feeling no relief at giving voice to what was on his mind, he sighed and waited for the petite woman's reaction.

 

Green eyes widening, Selphie stared dubiously. “You like Squall?” she murmured.

 

Clearing his throat, Irvine ignored his discomfort. “Yeah, something like that.”

 

“As in, you want to have sex with him?” Selphie questioned with a note of curiosity.

 

Jaw dropping, Irvine stared for an unguarded moment. Quickly composing himself, he tried to seem as relaxed as possible. Fighting a faint blush that threatened to grace his face, he tried not to picture what sex with Squall would be like.

 

Selphie pointed animatedly at the gunman. “You're blushing,” she exclaimed. “Oh my goodness.”

 

“Thanks for your sympathy, Selph,” Irvine bit out defensively.

 

Forcibly removing all traces of a smile, Selphie settled back down. Putting on an apologetic expression, she did her best not to dance around and bask in the glow of the flirtatious man's insecurity. A romantically insecure Irvine was a rarity indeed, not to mention entirely shocking. Though her expression had sobered, she could not help one last remark. “Who would be bottom?” she inquired, falling into a fit of giggles as soon as the words left her mouth.

 

Before Irvine could yell at the girl for being so insensitive, his mind was suddenly filled with rather vivid images. Swallowing thickly, his active imagination raced with the phantasm of a hedonistic and submissive ice prince.

 

“Oh no,” Selphie said in slight alarm. Looking at the deepened blush on the promiscuous man's face she realized just how serious the gunman was being. “You really want him?” she asked in all seriousness.

 

“I think so,” Irvine muttered, eyes glancing to the cold metal floor.

 

Brows knit, Selphie tried to figure out why garden's resident playboy seemed so torn up over the matter. “Join the club,” she commented nonchalantly.

 

“What?” Irvine said incredulously, head snapping to attention. “Don't tell me, you too?”

 

“At least once a month,” Selphie informed, a silly smile proving it a joke. Shaking her head, she explained, “Not me, but just about everyone else. It's not like I haven't thought about it though. I think everyone's at least thought about it.” When boredom struck, strange thoughts were bound to enter her head.

 

“What?” Irvine repeated. While relieved at the possible notion that his feelings were perfectly normal, he was also quite jealous.

 

Laughing, Selphie questioned, “Irvine, have you seen Squall?” She paused to emphasize her point. “When he was officially sworn in as Commander of Balamb Garden, I caught commanders Trent and Zephlar checking him out. Trent was practically tripping over her tongue and I'm pretty sure there was only one reason for Zephlar shifting in his seat so often.”

 

“I thought he had a rash or something….” Irvine trailed off in self-thought, recalling the ceremony.

 

Nodding, Selphie continued, “Then there was General Caraway.” She held out three fingers as if counting off.

 

Leaning forward, Irvine studied the pilot's pretty face for a moment. As an expert in the field of flirting and reading signs of desire, he didn't think it was possible for all this to have escaped his attention. “Caraway? Rinoa's father?”

 

“Quistis and I were forced to let Squall duck out early during the celebration dinner at the mansion. Rinoa kept dragging him back to talk with her father and after a few drinks Caraway was getting a little touchy-feely.” Shaking her head at the memory of that night, Selphie couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Squall. The poor guy had no clue why Caraway had kept shaking his hand and throwing an arm around his shoulders.

 

“General Caraway came on to Squall?” Violet eyes stared disbelievingly.

 

“No, just copped a few feels,” Selphie corrected, not entirely certain there was a difference. She giggled in remembrance. “We got our naïve buddy out of there before Rinoa or him could catch on. You weren't there. It was while you and Zell were on mission at the prison. It's not like we want to spread the story around.”

 

Frowning, Irvine pressed, “What else has happened that I don't know about?” The idea that he was not alone in his attraction was suddenly less comforting. Who else had been ogling the commander?

 

“Do you really want a list?”

 

Looking at the cheery pilot expectantly Irvine stated the obvious, “Yes.” As an after thought he added, “Why didn't I notice any of this?”

 

“You were probably too busy chasing tail,” Selphie surmised with a wink. “Unless this little attraction of yours has been going on for a while?”

 

“A few days,” the gunman answered openly. “Did you really like Squall?” he redirected, fascinated by the topic of conversation.

 

Looking from side to side, as though someone might overhear, Selphie leaned in conspiratorially. “Between you and mean,” she said glancing around again. “My knees went week when I first saw him all grown up.” Standing up, she walked the length of the small cabin, looking down each row of seats. Her soft shoes made a dulled clanking noise against the cold metal. Returning to her seat, she scooted to the very edge and waved Irvine closer.

 

Quirking a brow at the secretive girl's odd behavior, Irvine wondered whether she might just be messing with him. Humoring the situation he shifted closer.

 

Cupping the gunman's ear, Selphie whispered, “I saved those pictures of Squall on another disk.”

 

Rearing back, Irvine stared incredulously. Furrowing his brows, he shook his head in disapproval. “Selphie, he'll kill you.”

 

“That's why he can't know.” Sitting back she smiled. “Besides, Zell asked me to.”

 

Irvine very nearly fell out of his seat. “What?”

 

Selphie fell into a fit of laughter. Irvine must have been the straightest guy in the world to not check Squall out any sooner or to not notice the rest of the world doing so.

 

Frowning, Irvine asked, “Does Zell like Squall?”

 

“I doubt it,” Selphie stated. “I think he just wants to sell the pictures. I know Nida would pay top dollar for something like that.”

 

“Hyne,” Irvine groaned. “Nida too?” Suddenly, he was beginning to feel foolish, as though his attraction were nothing more than what every giggling fan felt.

 

“That guy carries a torch for our little siren, just like Quistis did.” Sticking the tip of her tongue out Selphie tilt her head in thought. “Is it wrong to gossip like this?”

 

“It ain't gossip,” Irvine said abruptly. “Now tell me more about Nida and Quistis.”

 

Bobbing her head from side to side, Selphie considered it for a moment. Shrugging, she figured that it really wasn't classified information. “Before the war, when Quistis was still Squall's instructor, she thought she was in love with him.”

 

“And now?” the gunman prompted.

 

“It wasn't long before she realized she was just stumbling over remnants of old memories. She was certain there was nothing romantic about her feelings once she remembered everything again.”

 

“I see.” Irvine appeared deep in thought.

 

Green eyes narrowing, Selphie asked, “Is it because of Seifer?”

 

“No,” Irvine answered without thinking. “Wait, what?”

 

“You said you only recently started to like Squall sexually. Is it because of Seifer?” Recalling the hickie on the commander's neck, Selphie also considered that the legendary rivals acted different around each other. Usually, rivals acted tense when together, but Squall had never seemed so relaxed as when Seifer had been nearby. “Are you jealous?”

 

“Jealous?” the gunman spat incredulously. “That asshole is harassing the commander. The only thing I feel is concern. There is nothing good about that traitor staying in the same place as Squall.”

 

“Traitor?” Selphie questioned wryly. “That's funny, because before Seifer started proving to us that he could get away with almost anything, you didn't seem to care that he'd come back. Honestly, it was probably the only way any of us could have made Squall wear a uniform. I thought it was rather inspired.”

 

“It was more than just a hickie,” Irvine half shouted, standing up suddenly. “Yesterday, I heard them. I know those sounds very well, not to mention the marks all over his body.” Pacing he squeezed Exeter's tightly. “That cocky bastard had his mouth all over Squall,” he added with a growl.

 

Blinking a few times, Selphie absorbed Irvine's words. It was her turn to be flabbergasted. “What?”

 

The sound of the ramp rising to a close startled both of them. Falling silent, they waited like two deer caught in headlights. When the resounding steps of military boots became louder they both hastily scrambled back to their seats with blank expressions. Before the door could open, they shared one last glance. A tacit agreement to continue the conversation later was formed.

 

--

 

A meticulous strategist by nature, Squall was always levelheaded and prudent in his actions. He had been trained to think clearly in even the most stressful and chaotic situations. Sadly, none of his training stood up against what Seifer was doing to him. He couldn't form a single coherent thought. He was reeling from the feel of the ex-knight's lips against his and the sensation of rough hands squeezing his hips. Never mind the unlocked door or the unbidden moans that came forth, as long as Seifer kept touching him then it was fine.

 

Hot and wet, former rivals battled using their tongues. They tasted each other fervently, the passion continuing to well inside them, driving them to deepen the exchange.

 

Squall never knew a kiss could feel so good. Fingers twined in silky blond hair, longer than before the war, he anchored himself in place.

 

By the time they finally broke apart, Squall was panting heavily and unable to open his eyes. The ex-knight seemed rather immune to the effects of oxygen deprivation and chose to lick and suckle the skin of his neck. Gruff hands moved from his hips, spreading heat. Pulling his lower body closer, one hand firmly pressed against the small of his back and the other hand slipped beneath the loose waist of his pants. While the blond nipped at his collarbone, the hand in his pants kneaded his ass, causing him to moan softly. The sensation was pleasing, reminiscent of when Seifer had first touched him so intimately. Instinctively, he arched back into the touch.

 

Stilling, Seifer paused in his marking of a pale neck. Quickly resuming his ministrations, he slid his hand lower against the cleft of the commander's buttocks and teasingly trailed a finger over what was likely a very sore entrance.

 

Squall felt restless. His body ached to be filled again, but he knew it was too soon. Frustrated, he sought relief. Grinding his pelvis against the ex-knight's, he was contented when the man broke away and groaned. Eyes fixed on the exposed flesh of the blond's neck, he dipped low and trailed his lips across tanned skin. He nipped and licked higher under a smooth jaw line, making his way to the man's ear. Lingering long enough to toy with a soft lobe and cause his rival to shiver, he moved lower again until his lips found a beating pulse. Sucking lightly, he decided to leave his own mark. A deep groan encouraged him.

 

Seifer was in heaven. He would have let Leonhart do anything to him at that point. Removing his hand from within the brunet's pants, he gripped narrow shoulders and gently pushed the nibbling kitten away from his tingling neck. Fisting tufts of silky brown hair, he held the slick licked commander in place for a deep kiss. His tongue quickly slipped into the boy's sweetly tasting mouth, exploring every wet crevice.

 

Sucking on the slick appendage that invaded his mouth, Squall wrought forth a pleased hiss from the blond. His lips were bruised from the harsh meshing and needy consumption, but he hardly cared. It didn't matter that they were already late in flying to Dollet. His father could wait, and so could the rest of the world for that matter. He would walk with a cane if he had to, but he needed to have Seifer inside of him again. He wanted that feeling of being so completely filled that he was close to breaking. He wanted to feel ecstasy again. Anticipating having his rival inside him once again, his hips pressed harder against the blond's groin. Never breaking the kiss, he continued to rub against the hard bulge in Seifer's pants.

 

Releasing his grip on mussed tresses, Seifer pulled back and gaped at the commander. The reserved boy was proving to be a fucking sex demon in disguise. He had never seen someone so sultry or alluring. Desire emanated from the enticing kitten. Gulping, he realized exactly what the needy creature in his lap wanted. There were repercussions to take into consideration. Despite Squall's momentary enjoyment, the brunet would be upset later when forced to take a potion or bear the pain of an abused ass.

 

“We can't do this now,” Seifer spoke with the voice of reason.

 

Somewhere in the back of Squall's mind, his sensible side began to awaken. It took several moments for him to come to his senses. Biting back his urge to protest, he slipped form the blond's lap. Straightening up, he was more than happy for all his belts. He tried to fix his hair, running a hand through the tangled mess.

 

Seifer stood, adjusting his trench coat to hide his prominent arousal. Glancing at the thoroughly disheveled commander, he saw apparent desire in blue-grey eyes. It was obvious the brunet still wanted more and he was hard pressed not to give it.

 

Squall couldn't believe how overwhelming his desire was. He wanted the ex-knight inside of him, so deep that there was no telling where they separated. He wanted to taste the heavy flavor of the ex-knight's semen again. Shaking his head, he tried to compose himself. Biting his lip out of habit, he calmed down a bit. At length, he realized the blond was staring at him. Could Seifer tell just how pathetically weak he was to his sudden urges?

 

“Squall?” Seifer murmured, seeing the struggle the commander was going through.

 

Releasing his abused lip, Squall looked up in uncertainty. A little embarrassed to ask for a sexual favor, he hesitated. Feeling childish for such indecision, he finally just came out with it. “It's a fifteen minute flight. Will you let me taste you?” When the blond simply gaped at him, he realized his wording might not have been very clear. Stepping closer, he trailed a hand down to the man's arousal. “Here,” he added, palming the knight's stiff manhood.

 

Disbelieving for a long moment, Seifer finally came to. Grabbing the commander's wrist, he pulled the startled man along as he rushed out of the room.

 

 

TBC…