Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Blood and Sand ❯ Home ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Blood & Sand ~ Chapter 9 - Home

There was a soft pillow under his cheek, snug covers cuddled around him, and he was curled front to back with a dozing, sleep-warm Squall.

Irvine smiled.

"Mmm," said Squall, squirming his ass back into Irvine's groin and clasping Irvine's hand firmly into his belly. "Hard."

"Always," Irvine purred, his morning wood pressing happily into the valley of Squall's soft-skinned bottom.

"I meant me," said Squall, lowering Irvine's hand to feel his own impressive erection.

Irvine closed his fingers happily around it and squeezed hello. For a few minutes they idly pressed and thrusted and made contented little noises. Bit by bit, however, things got more intense, and before Irvine knew it Squall was writhing under his touch, fucking his hand with a more definite rhythm. His own cock was cheerfully burrowing between Squall's buttocks. He thought maybe about burrowing a little further, but decided there was no need. It was enough, to enjoy the warmth and gentle friction here. No need to fuck. Not after last night.

On the twenty first morning that Irvine woke up in bed with Squall, he felt mostly sated, very content and extremely happy.

Squall leaned back into him, twisted around to claim a kiss. He was smiling too, Irvine noted. And his cock felt so, so good in Irvine's hand.

"That okay, babe?"

"Mmmm," said Squall.

Irvine nuzzled into Squall's neck, nipped at his earlobe, tugged on his earring. Squall made a throaty little chuckle and started to rotate his hips a bit, massaging Irvine's delighted cock with his ass. Irvine groaned softly. "You keep doing that and I'm gonna make your ass all sticky," he whispered.

"You keep doing that and you'll have to lick your hand clean."

"Oh good," purred Irvine. "I could do with something to tide me over 'til breakfast."

Squall growled and wriggled and started to thrust more purposefully into Irvine's fist, all the time rubbing his perfect little backside all over Irvine's cock. Irvine's body shifted suddenly from languid pleasure to hunger, and when Squall's hand wormed its way between them to tickle Irvine's balls, he was done for. His cock tingled and swelled and surged between Squall's buttocks, and suddenly everything was slick and warm as he coated Squall's skin and his own cock with his semen, a few long, satisfying spurts that left him warm and glowing, and with a sudden urge to take Squall in his mouth. Ignoring his lover's cry of distress when he took his hand away, Irvine swiftly tugged Squall onto his back and dived under the covers, gentle fingers sliding through his hair as Squall gasped and surged between his lips. Hot and thick and hard as Irvine sucked the come out of him. Squall kept writhing, balls pulsing in Irvine's palm, hips bucking as he emptied himself into Irvine's mouth; thick and creamy and tasting of elixir and, faintly, strawberries.

Oh yes. Irvine smiled around Squall's cock as he remembered. The strawberries.

Squall was panting, fingers twitching against Irvine's scalp, his softening cock probably a bit sensitive for any more attention just now. Irvine let it drop from his mouth, kissed the head and nuzzled it into its usual resting position, just right of centre, pointing towards Squall's hip.

The touch in his hair was gentle now, massaging in little circles, and Squall's chest was rising and falling steadily, taking deep, satisfying breaths. He looked up and caught Squall's grin, returned it.

"Morning, beautiful."

"Morning," said Squall. Still grinning.

"I'm sticky. You?"

"Oh yeah," said Squall happily. "Shower?"

"In a minute. Just gotta catch my breath."

"Mmmm."

Irvine sank down at Squall's side, head propped on one elbow, and watched Squall smile.

"Good sleep?"

"Yeah." Squall stretched and yawned, eyes squinched shut. "What time is it?"

"Dunno. Morning, I think."

Squall opened one eye. "Early or late?"

Irvine shrugged. "I'm hungry. So late, maybe. Or perhaps it's early and I just worked up an appetite." He smirked.

Squall smirked back. "Man cannot live by strawberries alone."

"I'm not so sure." Irvine traced his fingers over Squall's chest, making little patterns. "We could try."

"Hmmm."

"So, we go home tomorrow. What d'you want to do on our last day?"

"I have a meeting," said Squall. "And, um..." His brow furrowed a little.

"What?"

"We might not be going home, exactly."

"Oh. Well, of course, there'll be things to figure out here first, right? So what, a few days? A week?"

Squall shuffled up to sitting, and glanced at the clock. He frowned. "Can you tell the time with those things?"

Irvine shrugged. "Beats me. So, how long we staying?"

"A few months, I think. Maybe a year."

"Oh."

"At least that's what I'm thinking."

Irvine wondered where Squall had found the time to think, what with saving the world yesterday and getting fucked silly last night. "You really think that's necessary?"

"I want to make sure Cass is alright." Squall picked up Irvine's hand and squeezed it. "After all, if I'd left it to Esthar fuck knows what would have happened to Rinoa."

"You can trust Laguna, though. He'll take care of her."

"I know, but. I can't, really. His track record's not too good, is it?"

"What d'you mean?" Irvine found himself feeling a little defensive on Laguna's behalf. He'd saved the world himself, after all, in his day.

"He lost Ellone - more than once. Adel escaped. And he would have let them seal up Rinoa."

"But-"

"He's a good man. But he's fucking incompetent sometimes, too. Irresponsible."

"I thought that's what Kiros was for," Irvine said lightly.

"Maybe. But the point is... I promised Cass I'd look out for her. I'm not going to let her down."

"'Course. I get that. Totally. Well, she's my friend, remember?"

Squall gave him a tentative smile, eyes searching Irvine's face. Jealousy check, thought Irvine.

"I'm fine about it. Really."

Squall seemed to believe him. "It'll help with the Trabia project, too. Selphie and Quistis would have had to spend a lot of time here anyway, and it'll be easier to oversee the monster cull if we're here in person."

"That makes sense."

"And..."

Irvine waited, but Squall didn't finish; after a moment he shrugged and made a move to get out of bed. Irvine tugged on his hand. "And what?"

"Just..." Squall looked shyly at him through his messy hair. "I'd like to spend some time with Dad. I mean. Kind of. Yeah."

Irvine flung his arms around him in a huge hug that woofed the breath from Squall's lungs. Arms folded around him in return, patted his back gently.

"I love you," Irvine breathed into Squall's neck. "You're so fucking adorable."

Squall squeaked indignantly. "Adorable?"

"In a butch, manly, heroic kind of way," Irvine elucidated.

"Oh. Well, whatever." Words muffled by Irvine's shoulder as he hugged Irvine back.

"He'll be so pleased."

"Will he?"

"He thinks the world of you, babe. Of course he'll be pleased."

Squall shrugged, clearly unconvinced. "I don't want to interfere in Esthar or anything."

"You won't be. This isn't about work, is it?"

Squall considered that for a moment. Irvine was right, of course. He hadn't really seen it that way, though. He still wasn't used to thinking about things that weren't to do with SeeD. It was a whole new world, this friends and family thing, and it still made him nervous as hell. Work was easier. There were ranks and protocols and meetings...

"Oh Hyne. Meeting!" He wriggled around to reach his watch. "Fuck, it's late. Fuck."

Irvine gave a low growl, but let Squall squirm out of his arms. "What meeting?"

"Called it last night, sorry, forgot to tell you. Debriefing and post-mission planning. Come on!"

"What, I have to go too?"

"Of course you do, moron. That means you have to get out of bed, now."

"Don't wanna," Irvine grumbled. "Warm here. Interesting. It's cold out there and meetings are boring."

"Suit yourself. I'm going to take a shower. If you want to stay here..."

"Oh. Well, if you put it like that...."

Squall padded off to the bathroom, and somehow all Irvine could do was follow.

* * * * * * *

It didn't help the meeting get off to a dignified start when Quistis and Selphie greeted Squall and Irvine's entrance with a peal of giggles. At first Squall thought he'd left his pants undone or something. Then he remembered exactly how he'd come to be locked in the back room of the Torama with Irvine for half the night. He silenced the girls with a particularly vicious glare.

Irvine just grinned at them.

Cid rose to his feet and warmly shook Squall's hand. "Thank you once again, Squall. Excellent mission."

Squall smiled politely, trying to be gracious despite the embarrassment that crawled through him. At least this incident had been kept away from public notice. He didn't think he could endure a repeat of all the fuss that had followed their defeat of Ultimecia.

He took his seat between Laguna and Irvine, and looked around the table: it appeared they'd been the last to arrive.

The shower had taken a little longer than he'd planned.

"Did you sleep well, Squall?" said Quistis, far too innocently.

Squall glowered at her.

"Shall we start?" said Laguna mildly. "Squall?"

"Yes," said Squall. "Please."

He focused on Martine, sitting across the table from him, chin resting on steepled fingers. Easier then, to keep some kind of distance from the frivolity that was definitely in the air. As always, there were things to do, decisions to make. It was never a simple matter of tying up loose ends and getting on with their lives as if nothing had happened.

"How's Cass?" he asked.

"She's doing fine," said Laguna. "They expect her to be able to leave the med. centre this morning."

"And then?"

"She's been assigned quarters in the Presidential Palace."

"Aren't there..." Squall flinched inwardly, knowing Irvine wasn't going to like this, "security implications of keeping her here?"

"Nothing our teams can't handle," said Kiros. "We're installing detectors to pick up any parapsych activity, and there will be a limiting field in place."

"We'll be monitoring her closely," said Laguna. "If there's any change I'll let you know straight away."

"She's a human being," muttered Irvine. Bristling, as Squall had expected. And not without reason.

"She's a sorceress," said Martine. "You know how it goes, Kinneas."

"We'll take good care of her, I promise," said Laguna. "It's for her own safety, too. You know how much bad feeling there is about sorceresses in the world."

Squall remembered all too well, after all he'd seen Rinoa go through. Protest marches, anonymous messages, death threats...

"I guess," grumbled Irvine.

"She's free," said Squall, firmly. "I understand what you're saying, but I don't want her to end up a prisoner."

"You have my word," said Laguna.

"Thank you. And, don't take this the wrong way, but, I propose to stay in Esthar, with my team, for the foreseeable future. To oversee Cass' training and to make sure our Trabia deal works out."

Quistis and the others looked surprised; Squall wondered briefly whether he should have told them before hand. Probably.

He'd get the hang of this eventually. At least, he hoped so.

"That's fantastic news!" exclaimed Laguna. For one terrified moment Squall thought he was going to hug him. But thankfully he restrained himself to a shoulder-slap and a broad grin. And Squall had to confess to a warm feeling inside, that Laguna was pleased.

"It certainly makes a lot of sense," said Martine. Amazingly. Squall wasn't sure the Commander of Galbadia Garden had ever agreed with him before.

Of course, it would mean that he, Squall, was a lot further away from Galbadia and whatever schemes Martine might have up his sleeve. That might explain his uncharacteristic enthusiasm. Squall made a mental note to give Xu clear orders to keep Galbadia firmly in mind while she was in charge of Balamb.

"Excellent idea," said Cid.

"That's settled then," beamed Laguna. "And you'll be able to come to the music festival."

"Um, yes. We'll also do our best to relocate Odine."

"Don't rush," Laguna murmured under his breath, at the same time as Kiros said "thank you."

"And there's still the matter of Seifer," said Martine.

"We can keep an eye on him, too," said Squall.

"Actually," said Cid, cautiously, "I had an idea."

Squall regarded him dubiously.

"Go for it," said Laguna. "What's on your mind?"

"I'd like Seifer to come back to the Orphanage with me," said Cid. "I've been rattling around there on my own these past months, trying to put things in order... I could use an extra pair of hands. And I think I could teach the boy a thing or two."

"I don't think that's a good idea," said Squall.

Cid looked a little hurt.

"Why not?" said Irvine. "Keep him out of trouble."

He was grinning, and the leg that pressed against Squall's under the table was mostly playful, but Squall had learned a lot about Irvine since the midwinter festival. His lover wanted Seifer as far away as possible, and it was nothing to do with any physical danger he might pose.

"You're not going to let him get away with what he did?!" Zell exclaimed.

"It wasn't entirely his fault," said Squall. "He's been under a lot of pressure."

There was an uncomfortable silence around the table. Even Laguna looked at Squall as though he'd gone mad.

"None of you know what it's like to lose a sorceress," Squall continued, "except for Cid and me. It's not easy to cope with."

"That's no excuse," said Quistis. "You and Cid haven't gone on a rampage since Edea and Rinoa left."

"Our circumstances are, uh, different," said Cid. "I believe we made a mistake when we exiled the boy to FH. I've been talking to his friends while you were all away on your mission, and it made me realise how much of this is our fault. He didn't know what it meant when he agreed to be a Knight. He went through some terrible, terrible things. Quite simply, he didn't know how to cope when she was gone. The loneliness..." His voice choked up and he wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. Squall shifted uncomfortably, and looked down at the pad in front of him, tapping his pencil against the crisp white paper.

"It's fitting, when you think about it," said Irvine. "Cid could help him come to terms with the whole sorceress thing, and he'd be helping rebuild the orphanage."

"Or he could stay here," Zell said, "and be locked up where he couldn't do it again. Because he will. You know what he's like."

"Or," said Quistis, with a swift glare at Zell, "he could stay here and Squall could help him."

"He could help with the Trabia project," Selphie suggested. "Seeing as how it was him who blew up the first one. Kinda."

Everyone looked at Squall. He fought back a surge of resentment - why did they always expect him to decide everything, especially where Seifer was concerned?

Still, it was an easy decision. He wanted to keep Seifer where he could keep an eye on him, and although he knew Cid was well-meaning, he had little faith in the man's abilities to control Seifer if he got it into his head to do anything stupid. Of course Seifer should stay in Esthar.

If it wasn't for the look in Irvine's eyes.

It went against Squall's better judgement. It wasn't the decision he should make, as Commander of Balamb Garden.

It was what his lover wanted.

"Seifer goes with Cid," he said. "But I want reports every day, and I want Raijin and Fujin to go too. If they agree."

"I'm sure they will," said Cid, eagerly. "Thank you, Squall. It means a lot to me."

His eyes were shining, hands clasped delightedly in front of his chest, as if Squall had given him a present rather than a six-foot arrogant headache.

Maybe Cid needed to make amends of some sort, too, Squall thought.

A foot nudged his under the table, but he didn't dare meet Irvine's eye. He was vaguely aware of Zell's fist hitting the table in anger at his decision, but left that for Quistis to deal with, which she did with a sharp word he couldn't quite hear. One thing about Zell: he may be mad now, but he'd have forgotten all about it by tomorrow. Especially once Squall put him in charge of a whole sector of the Great Plains to cull of monsters.

"If you're sure," said Kiros, clearly as surprised at Squall's decision as everyone else.

"We'll see how it goes," muttered Squall.

"It's for the best," said the delighted Cid. "You'll see."

Squall could only hope he was right.

"That just leaves Koshi," said Selphie.

"I confess I never understood her involvement," said Kiros. "Is she attached to Seifer in some way?"

"Not any more," said Quistis. "They had a falling out."

"It's-" Irvine began, but Squall kicked him sharply under the table.

"Complicated," Squall finished for him, ignoring his little squeak of pain.

"The simple version," Quistis said, with something of an amused smile, "is that she met Seifer at FH and developed a crush on him. Followed him here and then got jealous when Cass came along."

"But she did play a part in the girl's kidnap?" Kiros' brow furrowed. "Didn't she?"

"Not exactly," said Quistis. "According to Koshi there was no kidnap. Cass met Seifer at the club and went willingly with him."

"So what does she plan to do now?" asked Squall, trying not to remember how quick he was to abandon Cass outside the Torama that night. Trying not to remember the desperate, magic-laced taste of her kiss.

"She wants to go back to FH," said Quistis. "I don't think she'll cause any more trouble."

"Anyone got a problem with that?" asked Laguna, searching the faces around the table. He was met with a range of shrugs and shaking of heads. "Good. That's settled then. Anything else, Squall?"

"No," said Squall, with some relief. "I think that's about it. We'll need to meet later with your team, work out a schedule for Cass and-"

"Tomorrow," said Laguna, firmly. "Lunch next. And then tonight, there's a reception in your honour."

Squall groaned inwardly, a deep scowl appearing on his face. He shouldn't have been surprised.

"Sorry, son," said Laguna, cheerfully.

And this time, he knew that even Irvine couldn't get him out of it.

* * * * * * *

Irvine pressed the entry buzzer and waited patiently. After a few moments the door swooshed open and Cass stood blinking at him. She looked like anything but a glamorous sorceress, dressed in an old robe, hair damp and dishevelled.

"You were asleep," he realised. "I'm sorry. I can come back later-"

She yawned, shaking her head, and stepped back from the door, beckoning him in behind her. "Don't worry. Feels like I've been sleeping forever. I could do with a reason to wake up for a while."

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure. It's nice to see a friendly face."

"Are they treating you alright?" Irvine followed her through the hallway and into a modest living area. The same basic design as Squall's apartment, but much smaller.

" Yeah. The armed guard's a bit disconcerting, but I suppose I'll get used to it." She sat down on a low couch, curling her legs up underneath her, and indicated for him to sit next to her.

"It won't be forever." Irvine sat down and popped his hat on the table.

"Maybe. Besides. It's what I asked for, isn't it?"

Irvine smiled. "I guess. I want you to remember, though, if you ever want to go out anywhere or anything, let me know. You're not under arrest."

"Thanks." She shoved the hair back from her face, and yawned. Her eyes were still sleepy, but she looked well: her skin was glowing with health in a way Irvine was coming to associate with sorceresses. "It's all good, really. I know I'm going to need a lot of help to deal with this."

"It must be a shock."

"Yeah. You could say that."

"When did you realise that you were, you know..."

"A sorceress? I hadn't a clue until Squall told me. I knew something had happened to me; I felt really well all of a sudden, not half knackered like I usually am. Especially at work. And then my hand healed, and I started to feel this buzz inside. Then that night... I was frightened. Panicked."

"And that's why it seemed a good idea to go with Seifer?"

She frowned, and tugged her robe a bit tighter around herself. "You make it sound like he forced me. He didn't, not at all. I know none of you like him, and he did some stupid things... but he was the only one who really... I mean... he listened. He knew what I was talking about. He made me feel safe."

"You could have come to me, babe. Or Squall."

"Yeah. Well." She shifted uncomfortably, plucking at the beading around the sofa. "I know he's your boyfriend, and don't get me wrong, he's been great about the whole thing, but. He's a bit scary, y'know? I did try, but he's not the easiest person in the world to talk to, and you were kind of busy with him, and that Tanya woman pretty much warned me off of you anyway."

"It's not like you to let anyone tell you what to do," said Irvine, in a small voice. Because she was right, of course. His conscience prodded at him with a smug 'told you so'.

"She didn't, exactly," said Cass, wryly. "She told me you were a faithless bastard and that I'd be better off having nothing to do with you."

"Oh." Irvine looked at the floor between his feet, wishing he could strenuously deny it. But he couldn't, not really.

"It doesn't matter, anyway," said Cass. "I can see now that Seifer's no saner than the rest of you. Maybe he did just want another sorceress, maybe he didn't care for me at all. Whatever. It doesn't seem important now."

"I'm really sorry," said Irvine. "It's not that I don't care. I know I haven't been much of a... much of anything for you."

She shrugged. "You've got your own life and your own stuff to deal with. We never made any promises."

"All the same..."

"Thanks, by the way. For offering to be my Knight and all. It was a bit, um, unexpected."

"That's okay. I do try and do the decent thing from time to time." Irvine managed a fleeting grin. "Must be hanging round with these hero-types, rubs off on a man after all."

She grinned back.

"Anyway," he said. "For what it's worth I think you did the right thing. And it was very brave of you."

"Yeah. So they tell me."

"And I'm glad it's worked out. It sounds like you made the right choice."

She smiled at him. "Yeah. Well, it beats working behind a bar, huh?"

Irvine smiled back and was about to voice his agreement. But then she crumpled. In an instant the smile turned to a grimace and she burst into tears; burying her face in her hands, knees rising to her chest, curling tight. For a minute he thought she must be in pain, or perhaps, and in the seconds it took to reach her side he instinctively checked his junctions. But there was no attack, no crackle of magic. When he tentatively put out a hand to touch her shoulder she threw her arms around him and sobbed her heart out.

He held her, rocked her gently, stroked her hair.

"I can't do this," she whimpered. "I'm not strong enough. I keep thinking, what if I turn evil? What if I hurt people? And it's all so different. People never used to notice me before, not unless they wanted a drink, or someone's shoulder to cry on. Now everyone knows who I am, the whole world will know. I feel like some kind of freak."

"Oh babe. I'm sorry. You're tired, you'll feel better when you've had some sleep maybe..."

She sniffed loudly. "Maybe. Or if I got some fresh air, or... but there's no way I can go for a walk by myself. I can't even get drunk - did you know that? It's a sorceress thing, my body heals itself all the time, gets rid of toxins. However much I drink, I never get pissed."

"Really? That sucks. But y'know, it won't be forever. They'll help you, teach you to control your power. And you won't be under house arrest forever. Squall wouldn't allow it; he went through all this with Rinoa, and he has a habit of getting his way." Irvine tilted her head up, brushed the streaks of tears and snot from her face with the back of his hand. "I promise, one day you'll make the magic work for you, and just for you. One day," he said, solemnly, "you and I will get rat-arsed together again."

That raised a giggle, at least, albeit a subdued one.

"That's better," he said. "If it helps any, I'm pretty sure one of the reasons Squall's staying in Esthar is to make sure they treat you right. And he must think you're strong enough, or he wouldn't have agreed to help you do this. He doesn't do things on a whim, exactly, our Squall."

Cass managed a small smile, and there was a glint of mischief in her eyes. "And yet he's with you," she said. "How on earth did you pull that one?"

"That's a secret I can't possibly divulge. Except to say there were balloons involved."

She laughed. "I don't think I want to know."

"Just as well, 'cos I'll never tell. Now, why don't you go get dressed and I'll show you around. Have you seen the garden yet?"

She shook her head.

"We'll start there, then."

Her eyes lit up, suddenly. "Really? Now? You're serious?"

"Always, babe. Did they give you any clothes?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Estharian robes."

"Hmm. In that case, tomorrow," he got up and held out his hand to help her to her feet. "You me and Selphie are going shopping."

"I don't want to drag you away from Squall," she said, but her face was beaming with excitement, her tears drying fast.

"He's got meetings all day," said Irvine. "So. What d'you say?"

"I say thank you, Irvy. For everything."

She flung her arms around him and hugged him tight.

"You're welcome. Now, how about that tour?"

* * * * * * *

It was only when he heard the outer door to his rooms open that Squall realised he'd been listening for it. His heart skipped a beat as Irvine yelled "hi babe," and Squall could hear him in the living area, taking off coat and hat and boots, humming softly to himself.

Squall shoved the report he'd been failing to read back on the pile by the bed, and greeted Irvine with a warm smile.

"Hyne, but you're a sight for sore eyes," Irvine said, joining Squall on the bed as he tugged the band out of his ponytail to let his hair fall free over his shoulders.

"You too," said Squall. "I don't think I could read another report on the distribution of monster populations over the Estharian plains without screaming."

"That bad?"

"We've got our work cut out. Killing the monsters is going to be the easy part, though. It's the paperwork afterwards that'll be the real problem."

Irvine wrinkled his nose. "I hate paperwork."

"Yes, I know," said Squall. "Quistis is always telling me how much you hate it."

"Ah well," said Irvine with a sheepish smile, sliding his fingers through Squall's hair as he moved in for a kiss. "Nice to know she cares."

"I don't think she quite... mngnfff...." And then Irvine's mouth was on his, warm and firm and irresistible, and Squall forgot all about Quistis. He wound his arms around Irvine's neck, and settled back on the pillows.

"How long before the reception?" murmured Irvine, nuzzling Squall's neck.

"'Bout an hour," said Squall, happily.

"You got any meetings?"

"No. You got any damsels in distress to take on unauthorised tours?"

"Oh." Irvine lifted his head; his indigo eyes twinkled at Squall though long strands of auburn hair. "You heard about that, then?"

"Of course. I've asked to be told about everything to do with Cass. Including tours." Squall slid a hand under Irvine's shirt to stroke the soft skin at the small of his back.

"She was going mad, cooped up in her apartment. I figured you wouldn't mind."

"She's your friend. I trust you to know what's good for her."

"Thanks." He dropped a kiss on Squall's nose. "You know, you're my friend, too. That means I know what's good for you, as well."

"Oh yeah? And that would be...?"

Irvine grinned wolfishly. "A damn good fucking, I'd say."

Squall's belly flipped over. "Really?"

Irvine's hand slid down between their bodies to cup the outline of Squall's already rock-hard cock. "Oh yeah. You up for it?"

"Feels like it," murmured Squall, pushing himself against Irvine's palm.

"Oh Hyne." Irvine kissed him again, and this time his tongue slid into Squall's mouth, slick and warm. Squall moaned softly and twisted his own around it. He tugged at Irvine's shirt, pulling it out of his jeans and exposing a broad stripe of skin to stroke and knead and tickle. Then, to Squall's dismay, Irvine stopped kissing and stroking, and knelt back on his heels.

"Need these off." He tugged at one of Squall's belts. "And your pants. In fact, I think I want you naked."

Squall grinned at him. "I will if you will."

Irvine grinned back. "Sounds fair."

They quickly undressed, pausing every now and then when Irvine's need to kiss some part of Squall's body overcame his desire to get him naked. Finally their clothes were in an untidy heap at the side of the bed, and Squall was drinking in the sight of Irvine's lean, golden-skinned body as it stretched out on the bed next to him.

His eyes were inevitably drawn down to Irvine's long, proudly erect cock that arced towards his navel, bending just a little to the left. Squall trailed his fingers over the purplish head and along the flushed skin of the shaft, incredibly smooth and soft, until he reached his plump, fuzz-covered balls. There was a bead of fluid pooling in the tip of Irvine's cock, and Squall just had to taste it. He lowered his head and flicked out his tongue, scooping up the precious liquid in one darting lick. Irvine gasped, and his dick throbbed.

Squall licked him again. Slower this time, his tongue flat and wet, swiping thoroughly over the head of his cock. And again, licking up the shaft like a lollipop, swirling around the crown, wriggling his tongue along the ridges and dipping into the pouting slit at the top before planting a kiss there.

Irvine made a kind of whimpering noise, and stroked Squall's hair.

Squall looked up at him, opened his mouth, and swallowed Irvine whole. All in one go, right past tongue and carefully guarded teeth and down his throat, stuffing his mouth full of thick, hard dick. Irvine's hips lurched instinctively, his body wanting to thrust deep into the slick cavern it had suddenly found itself in, and Squall let him, waggling his tongue as it lay like a cushion along the underside of Irvine's cock, working his throat, teasing Irvine's balls with careful fingers. Irvine fucked his mouth slowly, cautiously, checking all the while to make sure Squall was alright, even though Squall was doing his best to render him incapable of thought.

Squall began to suck gently, and Irvine's fingers tightened in his hair. "Hang on a minute, babe. C'mere." Irvine gave Squall's ass a playful smack. "Scoot around and give me something to do here." Squall obediently wriggled around, letting Irvine arrange him to his satisfaction. He ended up straddling Irvine's shoulders, feeding his cock into Irvine's mouth as he took Irvine's back into his own. They settled to slurping each other in happy symmetry, murmuring happily around mouthfuls of hard flesh, hips rocking in a steady rhythm. Licked-wet fingers slid into Squall's ass, squirming and thrusting and rubbing, and Squall drowned in the scent of Irvine's body, male and clean and familiar as he returned the favour. Irvine's cock felt so thick and hard in his mouth, dripping precome onto his tongue every time Squall rubbed that place deep inside that made Irvine groan and shudder. Never mind the velvety caress of Irvine's mouth over his own sex, impossibly warm and wet and soft and hard all at once.

Then Irvine mumbled something that made his cock feel great but was completely unintelligible, and it didn't matter because Squall could tell, knew from the rocking of Irvine's hips that he was about to come. Wondered if he could manage to come at the same time, exactly, spurt for spurt, but in the end he couldn't, quite, Irvine's body rigid under him for a moment before he filled his mouth with thick gushes of slick cream, so much that it was all Squall could do to keep it in his mouth, and that was the thought that pushed him over the edge, sucking desperately on Irvine's cock as it dribbled the last few drops onto his tongue. All Squall was aware of was perfect suction, and that he was coming, now, and close, and now, and there, shooting from his cock straight into Irvine's throat as Irvine swallowed greedily.

Spent, Squall fell shakily to the side, just clearing Irvine's body before he collapsed panting onto the bed. Irvine sighed contentedly and closed his eyes, a wide grin on his face.

He must have dozed off for a moment; when he opened his eyes again he'd curled up with his head on Irvine's legs, and Irvine was watching him and stroking his hair.

Squall yawned, Irvine's fingers blissfully soothing against his scalp. He could easily fall asleep again like this.

"Busy day at the office, Commander?"

"Hmm." He nuzzled Irvine's thigh, breathed in his scent. "Talking. Too much fucking talking."

Irvine chuckled. "Poor baby."

"Too right." Squall fidgeted around, trying to get comfortable. "Hyne, but your hips are bony, man."

"Sorry. You want a pillow?"

"No, I'm okay." Squall kissed the nearest of Irvine's hipbones in apology - they were very sexy, after all, especially when he wore low slung jeans and that cropped top - and Irvine sat up a bit, propping himself up on pillows so Squall could rest his head in his lap.

Better.

"So who'd you have to talk to, babe? Lots of paranoid Estharian officials?"

"Seifer," said Squall. A muscle twitched in Irvine's thigh.

"Oh."

"Had to make sure he knows exactly what's going to happen if he takes advantage of the situation."

"I don't suppose that involved beating him up at all?" asked Irvine hopefully.

"No. More threats, really. But I did want to hit him. Smug, self-satisfied bastard."

Even without looking at Irvine's face, Squall could tell how happy that made him.

"And after that there was a long talk with Raijin and Fujin."

"They must be grateful you brought their glorious leader back in one piece."

"I suppose they were. They didn't much like the idea of spending the next however long it's going to be rebuilding the orphanage with Cid, though."

"Even less fun than FH, I guess."

"Yeah. I feel sorry for them, really."

"They made their choice."

"And they stuck to it. They're incredibly loyal. You've got to admire them for that."

"Or foolish," suggested Irvine. "Misplaced loyalty is foolish."

Squall sighed. Irvine clearly wasn't going to get over his new found jealousy any time soon.

Although, if he was honest with himself, he had to admit he rather liked it. It made it near-impossible to give any credence to the bitter little voice inside him that occasionally tried to convince him that Irvine didn't really care. And that was good.

"I hope this has taught them a lesson," he said. "Maybe next time they'll tell us something's up before Seifer gets totally out of control."

"We can wish." And then, after a pause: "you think there'll be a next time, then?"

"Probably," Squall admitted. "But it won't take us by surprise after this. We'll nip it in the bud. I don't want to go through all that again."

Irvine affectionately mussed his hair. "Bullshit. You love it really."

Squall raised his head from his warm muscly pillow to give Irvine a steely glare.

Even though he knew, sure as day, that Irvine was right.

* * * * * * *

There was no doubting that Esthar was beautiful. A skyline of towers and spires under the soft pink glow of the barrier that kept them isolated from the rest of the world. Like a castle in the sky.

Irvine idly wondered why most of the windows in the palace were at the ends of corridors, like this one, and not in the actual rooms. You'd think with a view like that....

"Hey, babe."

Irvine turned away from the window to see Squall watching him with a soft smile on his face. "Hey."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I knew you'd be ages getting ready so I thought I'd wait out here. It's getting dark."

He got a brief scowl for the accusation, but it was only fleeting. Irvine realised he was getting to like Squall's glares; it meant his teasing worked, and he liked the idea that he could tease Squall these days without fearing the sudden appearance of Lionheart at his throat.

"You look good. Uniform suits you."

Irvine smiled. "Thanks. You too."

Which was an understatement. Squall looked nothing short of stunning in full dress uniform, all broad shouldered and dignified, and he had his hair in a little pony tail at the nape of his neck.

Squall crossed the room to stand at Irvine's side and look out at the sunset.

"It's three weeks today," said Squall, softly.

Irvine's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah. We've come a long way in three weeks, babe." He snuck a sideways look at Squall; he was smiling.

Squall's shoulder brushed his; Irvine slipped his arm around him.

"D'you mind staying here?" Squall said.

"Sure, why not? It's a cool city. Good night life, so they tell me."

They shared a grin.

"It's going to be weird," said Squall. "Being with Dad so much and not knowing what's going on back home..."

"Living in a world of pink and purple plastic..."

"Fuck, yeah. D'you think they'll let us redecorate our apartment?"

Irvine enjoyed a warm glow at the way Squall had so casually referred to it as theirs. Not his. Theirs.

"You will know what's going on back home, babe. Xu's reports are very thorough."

"Yeah," said Squall with a sly grin. "If you stop fucking me long enough for me to read them."

"That could be a problem," Irvine admitted cheerfully.

Squall's eyes smouldered at him. "Not a problem."

Irvine melted inside, his pants suddenly tight and his legs like jelly.

They looked out at the red and purple sky for a moment, and Irvine was about to suggest they leave for the reception when Squall spoke again, this time in a small, uncertain voice.

"Thing is... 'vine, I've no idea how to be a son. What if it all goes wrong and we end up hating each other, and-"

Irvine put a finger to his lips.

"It'll be fine," he said. "I promise. Oh, and, by the way, I love you."

And before Squall could say anything else, Irvine pulled him close and kissed his doubts away.

Like magic.

~fin~