Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Liontaming ❯ Part 9 ( Chapter 9 )

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

Liontaming - Part 9

by paxnirvana Rating: NC-17 Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII Characters: Irvine/Selphie/Squall Archive: Please ask first.

Author's Note: Irvine and Selphie. They just fit. Now Squall, he's tougher. But I felt like the sullen bastard at least deserved a little TLC… or maybe just sex… and a truckload of angst… and some more emotional torture… and mucho sex… and a bunch of plot-twisting [yes, I change some facts. Deal.] … *grin * 7/30/02

Apology: I hate bridging chapters. I know where I'm going and mostly how I want to get there, but sometimes these kids just don't want to behave. You don't know how many re-writes this section went through - and I still think it's too damn long - but it's done. So after this it should flow much faster… thanks for your patience, neh?

Disclaimer: Squaresoft owns; paxnirvana does not. Get it?

The Ragnarok's descent from orbit was surprisingly smooth after the chaos of the Lunar Cry had passed. The autopilot worked beautifully. Esthar Airstation had talked him through activation and programming. They would be back on the ground in less than two hours. Back in Esthar.

The Airstation had been astonished when he broke in on their private communications channel. Apparently there were two other ships just like this one being readied for launch on the ground. The ships had been useless before, their onboard computers scrambled by the intensity of the anti-junction signal needed to keep Adel contained. Since that signal was now gone, they were able to send the other ships up to look for more survivors - and send a homing beacon to guide Ragnarok back down.

Squall sat in the pilot's seat, alone on the bridge, staring sightlessly out the front window at the cloud-dotted sky of the vast eastern sea, lost in brooding thought.

He'd asked about them first. All three of the SeeD, Airstation had informed him, were uninjured, and working to clear the city of monsters. The sense of relief had been enough to make him close his eyes and fist his hands against the panel, bracing himself there for a moment in silence. Selphie and Irvine were safe. They were alive. He had fought back the relieved moan that wanted to break free, biting his lip almost bloody in the process. Afraid he would sound desperate.

The escape pod that held Quistis and Ellone was being tracked, Airstation had continued. They hoped to recover it soon. That too was a relief.

Airstation had then asked him about Rinoa. Wanting to know if she was still alive. He had looked into her anxious eyes and calmly informed them that she was. It seemed the Esthar had finally figured out what she had become. Apparently Dr. Odine had been keeping that information back until now. Something to bear in mind. Esthar had only nominal control over Odine, and Odine appeared to be working toward some agenda of his own.

Of course, it was Odine who knew the most about sorceress powers. Something that was of even greater interest to him now - because he'd seen Rinoa change in battle. Seen the wings and the aura and the wild magic… and her power had been staggering.

Even with her help, it had taken a while to clear out the eight strangely regenerating monsters they'd found lurking aboard the ship. But once he'd figured out they were life-linked by color pairs, they'd quickly defeated the annoying things. He'd cycled the monster's corpses out the main cargo hold, dumping them in space. Rinoa had fought beside him the whole time, but there had been no chitchat along the way, none of her usual teasing attempts to draw him out. He had been glad about that at least, even though her sulky silence had begun to grate.

The link was still there. He could still feel a trace of her in his mind, though he did his best to block it out.

She had followed him to the bridge, reluctant, as always, to be alone. Where she heard everything the appalled Airstation said over the radio. About how many people were reported dead in space and on the ground. The amount of damage caused by the Lunar Cry itself. The estimated increase to the general monster populations - and how these newer beasts seemed somehow stronger than their earthly brethren.

Lunatic Pandora had apparently swallowed up Adel's Tomb without a trace.

She had also heard how the Esthar were going to take custody of her as soon as they landed. Seal her powers as they had Adel's. Rinoa had closed her eyes at that, wrapping her arms tightly around herself and shivering hard. She had looked very young and very fragile then and he had felt the fear, the anxiety building inside her. He supposed it was only reasonable for the Esthar to be panicking, even if he had found their continued exhortations for him to subdue Rinoa annoying enough to shut the radio off.

Rinoa wasn't going anywhere. He'd see to that. She'd met his hard gaze. Read the cool determination in his eyes. Or maybe she had simply felt it through the link. But her own eyes had fluttered closed for a moment, then she'd turned sharply away and all but run out of the cockpit.

That had been a while ago. Now he could hear the heavy beat of some kind of music coming from the lower observation lounge. Something from Esthar's music scene of seventeen years ago, he guessed. She had it turned up deafeningly loud if he could hear it all the way up here through the deck. Annoyed, he jerked to his feet and stalked to the lift, riding it down to the main level, then turning into the observation room where the volume almost blasted him back out the door.

Fortunately the audio controls were near the entrance. He slapped the noise off sharply.

In the sudden silence he could hear her broken sobs clearly.

Hell Fire. She was crying.

He stood in the doorway, arms folded over his chest, and stared at the floor. Feeling unsettled. Wary. Annoyed. Did she expect him to try to cheer her up? But then he remembered the volume of the music and knew she'd been trying to hide from him. She probably hated him now. Maybe she always had, if it was Seifer she truly loved.

"What do you want?" she demanded after the silence had dragged on for a painful while, her voice thick with tears. He took a few more steps into the room, stopping in the middle of the aisle. Rinoa was huddled in one of the forward seats, staring out the window at the dizzying view of the planet below. They were through the main part of re-entry already and the ship was flying in a long arc over the ocean, toward a dim shadow of land on the horizon. Their landing point was supposed to be somewhere in Southern Esthar.

"We're almost down."

"Great." Her breath hitched in on a small sob. "I bet you can't wait to turn me over to the Esthar, can you?"

He stared at the back of her head, confused by the mixture of anger, betrayal and concern that boiled inside of him. He'd been so used to watching out for her because of that ridiculous contract. It had become a habit. And even though he now knew how she'd used him, the reflex to shield her still lingered.

"It's probably best for now. At least until we can figure out a way to protect you from Ultimecia's possession."

Her shoulders jerked and she turned to face him slowly, stunned disbelief plain on her tear-streaked face.

"You'd do that for me?"

He shrugged, his expression so firmly controlled to show nothing that it felt like a mask. "It's my job."

Hurt, disappointment and then rage raced across her face. "Damn you! Get away from me, you heartless bastard!"

"Heartless?" he said, anger snapping briefly free. He glared at her. "Maybe. But I didn't pretend to be in love with someone just to get them to help me."

"What else could I do?!" she screamed, dark eyes flashing. "You let her take him! Damn you! She took him away before I could reach him… then I thought he was dead… and the only one I could count on was you." The bubble of rage collapsed back into tears. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as she sobbed brokenly again.

"Whatever." Guilt, frustration and anger mingled inside him. She confused him. She always had. He'd never understood what exactly she wanted from him, what she expected him to do. Not even now, when her duplicity was clear.

But there was still one other thing he needed from her. So he waited uncomfortably but impassively until her sobs slowed down and she was sniffling quietly again. The sound was pathetic.

"I want my rings back," he said.

The dark head lifted again, revealing eyes rimmed in red. "W-what?"

"You heard me."

At his sharp words, she jumped up out of the seat, grabbed at the thin chain around her neck and yanked on it angrily. It snapped and she flung it at him. Battle reflexes strong, he dodged to the side and the rings and chain pinged loudly off the wall behind him before scattering across the floor.

He stalked toward her, furious. She tumbled back down into the seat, shrinking away from him, eyes wide with shocked fear, as if she'd surprised even herself with her actions. He glared at her, forcing himself to a halt a step away, looming over her in the seat. There was blood and a welt on the side of her neck from where the chain had cut before breaking and there were fresh tears welling in her red-rimmed eyes.

"That was petty," he said coldly.

"Bastard."

Gritting his teeth he cast Cure on her. The welt vanished, along with the evidence of her tears. She blinked at him in astonishment.

"Wh-what did you do that for?" she said.

He didn't answer, not even sure why himself as he turned away to look for his rings. He found Griever tangled up in the broken chain near the door and a slender gold band nearby in the center of the aisle. It wasn't his. He searched around, growing steadily more anxious until he found the familiar flat silver band underneath one of the seats. He immediately pulled off the glove on his left hand and slipped both rings back on. He'd felt subtly wrong without them there, Griever on his ring finger and his mother's band on his little finger; it was a relief to feel them slip back into place.

He took a long moment to pull his glove back on and smooth it carefully down before he carried the chain and gold ring back to Rinoa. She was watching him silently, a troubled look on her face.

"You know, my ring has initials on it just like yours," she said in a tiny voice as she accepted the chain and ring back in an outstretched hand, frowning down at them. He was careful to just drop them, not touching her even with his gloves. "Two Ls on the inside. Where did that other ring of yours come from, Squall?"

The ring had been his mother's. Ellone had given it to him just before she was taken away from the orphanage. She had slipped it into his pocket as he clutched at her, sobbing and begging her not to leave him behind. Then whispered that the ring and the rain would protect him, keep him safe…

But the memory of that moment had been lost for years, lost until Irvine gave the key to memory back to him in Trabia. He stood stiffly. In all those years, he'd never lost the ring, however. He'd only known it was precious to him. Irvine had helped him remember why. After a long moment, he lifted his head and met her gaze calmly.

"It's mine, that's all," he said to her, expression still.

She went still too. Stared down at the broken chain and the golden ring cupped in her palm.

"Did you ever like me… even a little?" she asked softly, then went on in a rush, her cheeks flushing, as if she didn't really want to hear an answer. "I - I'm sorry I lied to you… used you. I just didn't know what else to do. Nobody seemed to care what happened to him. Nobody would help. But I was starting to feel like I was fitting in… that maybe I could do the things you SeeD could… that I could make a difference…"

He narrowed his eyes, annoyed by her assumptions. Then he shrugged and he turned away. He wasn't going to play games with her anymore. He heard a sharp intake of breath behind him.

"Gods, you're such a cold bastard! Can't you even pretend to be human?"

"You're not a SeeD, you're a Sorceress," he said starkly. To be a SeeD involved far more than a little recently gained monster-slaying experience. He moved steadily toward the door. Feeling her angry glare on his back. The ship had changed its angle, was losing altitude rapidly now. "We're almost ready to land."

"You know what? I pity whoever it is you think you're playing around with, Squall Leonhart," she screamed after him, the words striking him like blows before the door could shut on them, block them out. "I pity her because I don't think you're capable of real love!"

He stood outside the closed door to the observation deck, eyes closed, hands fisted at his sides. Feeling cold inside. Frozen.

Because he was deathly afraid she was right. * * * * *

Squall and Rinoa waited on the exit ramp of the ship in silence. Rinoa stood as far away from him as she dared, back rigid, arms wrapped around her own shoulders despite the heat. He stood guard near the bottom of the ramp, gunblade ready in case any monsters decided to approach the ship. None dared.

The silence was thick and dull. Everything had already been said between them, it seemed.

The sound of two heli-planes as they approached across the desert was loud, drowning out the intermittent snaps and pings of the dragon-ship around them as it cooled. The Esthar representatives were nearly there. They were coming to take her away to the Sorceress Memorial. To be Sealed. Like Adel.

Finally, the two VTOL planes landed nearby and pastel-uniformed soldiers poured out, surrounding the landing site. As a precaution only, Airstation had assured him. There were four times the number of monsters running around in the wastelands now since the Lunar Cry, though a surprisingly large number of them had simply vanished into Lunatic Pandora. Which was raising fears in the Esthar of an army of monsters being massed inside in preparation for an assault on the city itself. There had as yet, Airstation had mentioned during the post-landing shutdowns, been no sign of Adel.

Or of Esthar's mysterious President. More than half the Esthar military was still searching for his escape pod in the eastern sea.

When pressed, Dr. Odine's lab had offered a brief explanation for Adel's continued silence. Even though the anti-junction field had been turned off - destroyed with Lunarside Station - there was still a sleep-induction field and a final physical seal in effect around Adel herself. It would take time for the back-up batteries in the Sealing Unit that held her to fade. Perhaps as long as a few days. Until then, they were most likely safe. They all had a little more time to prepare.

Which gave them time to deal with another potential threat - the Sorceress Rinoa.

Two people in long, concealing robes and hoods approached slowly from the nearer heli-plane. They almost looked afraid despite the full squad of troops accompanying them.

"At least I fought and… and lied… for a good reason," Rinoa said suddenly, her voice low and trembling as they watched the Esthar approach. He glanced up at her in mild surprise. She'd been giving him the silent treatment him for more than an hour, ever since their confrontation in the ship's lounge. "I did it for love." She turned wide, accusing eyes down on him. "Why do you fight, Squall? For duty? Or just because you can?"

He met her look silently. Feeling anger stir briefly again, but it was unable to pierce the shell of his dispassion. Underneath, he was weary: weary and anxious. He still hadn't heard directly from his team. There had been one other brief message that the SeeD were aiding in the retrieval of the escape pod that held Quistis and Ellone. Then nothing more. He could only assume they were still okay, since he hadn't heard otherwise, but the uncertainty was eating at him.

"I never lied to you, Rinoa. And I don't owe you any explanations."

She laughed shortly, the sound bitter and dark. Her formerly teasing gaze had gone uncharacteristically - or so he once would have thought - scornful.

"No, you just lie to yourself," she said, voice trembling. "You're nothing more than a robot. A killing machine. The world might need you right now, but what happens when this war is over, Commander? What else are you? Did you ever think about that lying on that solitary bed of yours?"

He managed somehow to keep his face impassive as he glared narrowly at her. He had. He'd thought a lot about that very thing. And he still had no answer. That made him afraid. Because Irvine and Selphie had each other. They didn't need him. They really didn't need him at all. He was a novelty. Or they thought they were doing him a favor. And neither idea was acceptable. Not when he'd finally realized his own feelings ran so much deeper for them both… but how could they? He couldn't love Selphie this much - much less Irvine too. But he did, because what else could cause this stark fear to rip through him at the very thought of losing them? The kind of fear he hadn't felt since he was little and had watched Ellone being taken away…

Rinoa was watching him closely, like she always did when his inner thoughts ran away with him, her brow wrinkled up in a confused frown. Then she shook her head slowly, as if amazed.

"You know, I don't know what it is about you, Squall. You don't seem to care about anyone or anything other than all things SeeD - and you never talk about how you feel to prove that wrong - but somehow… I still trust you. I trust you in battle, and I trust you to do your best to keep us all alive."

She shifted on her feet, clasping her hands behind her back, her sad eyes looking into his.

"But that's all."

He just met her look steadily. Not reacting. After a moment, she turned away sighing deeply.

"But then maybe that's the kind of person it takes to save the world…"

"Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly Caraway, Hyne's descendent..." A pair of official-looking Esthar civil servants in long robes had finally reached the foot of the ramp. They were trailed by nearly two dozen soldiers. Squall glared narrowly over his shoulder at them all, creating a nervous shifting among the Esthar. After a brief hesitation, the soldiers deployed around the base of the ramp, cutting off all access to the desert.

"Come with us. We must seal your power for the sake of the world."

Rinoa lifted her head, looking past Squall to face them. Her expression was calm and composed now. She looked almost regal and he felt a flashing instant of regret. A regret that something in him - and in her - had kept them apart. Yet he knew she had her own delusions to face as well.

"Yes. I'm ready."

"Then come with us, please."

With a last, faintly puzzled, frown at him, Rinoa walked slowly down the ramp. He just watched her go.

He stood on the dragon spaceship's ramp alone as the soldiers parted for her and the two escorts. Watched as they helped her courteously into the nearer plane. Then the hatch closed behind her and, after a moment, the plane lifted straight up into the sky before speeding away to the northeast.

Once the first plane was clear, the Esthar troops melted away, heading back toward the remaining heli-plane as it readied for takeoff. He hadn't been fooled. The soldiers hadn't been there to help protect them from monsters; they'd been there to keep him from resisting when they came for Rinoa. He turned his back on the plane even before it took off, walking back up the ramp and into the spaceship, already lost in dark, brooding thought.

Rinoa had deceived him in the name of love. Betrayed him, Garden and everyone who looked up to her - all for a chance to be with the one she loved. If she, with her so-innocent ways, her girlish enthusiasm, lied and deceived so easily, what could that emotion make him do? What would he end up betraying - all in the name of love…? * * * * *

The ship was the Ragnarok. Sister ship to the two other spacecraft Esthar had sent up searching for possible survivors in space. She'd been lost for 17 years, apparently. Lost when they took Adel up to her orbital prison. The loss of the ship had something to do with their President - the Esthar hadn't been entirely clear on that aspect, but there had been much rolling of eyes and shaking of heads among the techs at the Airstation where they'd boarded the troop plane bound for the southern island.

Now they were here, at the landing site. Waiting. The Esthar soldiers hadn't told them what was going on. But it had been requested that the SeeD wait in the cargo compartment of the airship until called. It made them all faintly uneasy, but they had reluctantly agreed. They were still under a kind of contract to Esthar, after all.

"You can go out now, sirs," the same young soldier who had come to find them in Esthar said from the main hatchway. Irvine stood up quickly, offering Selphie a hand up. She came up with a bounce, a bright smile and a twinkle in her eye. Eagerly anticipating seeing Squall again. A feeling he shared with her - along with a secret smile.

Zell helped Quistis to her feet. The tall blonde woman stood up slowly and carefully and brushed at her skirt fussily. She still seemed shaken by the crash landing of her escape pod even after several applications of curative magic. But most of it was probably just anxiety over losing Ellone, since Squall had entrusted his Sis to her care.

Irvine was concerned about Quistis, but there were other things to deal with first. He shot Zell a significant look, then transferred the same look to Quistis. "You two want Selphie and I should go in and tell Squall the news first?"

Quistis pursed her lips, folding her arms over her chest. "You don't have to do that, Irvine. I'm perfectly capable of dealing with the Commander on my own." But beside her, Zell was nodding eagerly, clearly more than happy to have Irvine take over that onerous duty. Since Irvine had joined them in Deling City, he'd often ended up with the unpleasant task of breaking bad news to Squall. Something about him not being likely to kill the new guy was Irvine's take on the matter. He didn't mind. Too much. But this was different. He needed that time alone with the Commander now.

"Okay, Quisty, I'll put it another way," Irvine said with a sharp sigh, trading pointed looks with Selphie. "I want to talk to Squall alone. Seffie too. I'll be glad to cover your news as well, but we need to see him alone first. Give us fifteen minutes or so."

"Why do you two need to talk to Squall alone?" she asked, arms folded over her chest. Suspicion flaring. Irvine traded a quick look with Selphie again, then sighed in exasperation.

"I've got somethin' kinda… personal to discuss with him."

"Personal? Now?" She raised a dubious brow higher, gaze flickering between him and Selphie. Selphie nodded solemnly and Quistis frowned. "And why Selphie too?"

"Moral support," he answered quickly.

"Aw, let him, Quisty," Zell said, throwing his weight on their side, expression somber. Chickening out on his news about Rinoa or just being sensitive to the situation between him and Selphie and Squall? Irvine chose to believe in Zell's sensitive side.

Quistis stared at him dubiously. "Really? Do you think this is the appropriate time?" He kept his gaze earnest, but direct. Nodded firmly. She searched his expression for a long moment, but didn't seem to find anything she could pin down. Finally, she gave in with an irritated sigh. "Well, I guess so. But what are Zell and I to do in the meantime?" she asked, frowning and gesturing at the returning soldiers. "The Esthar are moving on to another rescue."

"Oh, thank you, Quistis!" Selphie said clasping her hands under her chin and smiling brightly.

Irvine just shrugged. "Well, the outside of that ship sure looks purdy. Might want to make sure it's not damaged."

After glaring at them narrowly for a moment, her gaze raking from one to the other, Quistis finally just rolled her eyes and waved them off. Slipping an arm around Selphie's shoulders, Irvine gave Quistis a brief nod of thanks before leading the way outside. All four SeeD - and Rinoa's dog - walked out of the Esthar troop carrier and headed toward the massive red spaceship parked beyond. The main ramp was down but there wasn't anyone around; apparently Squall and Rinoa had gone back inside.

The Esthar soldier who had been their liaison waved them off, then the hatch behind them closed and the troop ship took off in a flurry of sand and dust. Leaving them standing in the middle of the desert outside a spaceship that looked like a Ruby Dragon. Strange. They'd seemed to be in a real hurry to leave, Irvine thought briefly.

"Hell Fire, it's big," Zell said, eyes wide with wonder as he stared up at the ship. Selphie had a matching expression of awe on her face, eyes gleaming as she looped her arm through Irvine's.

"Wow! What a cool ship! I wonder if it's easy to fly?"

Irvine didn't have much interest in the ship. Sure it was neat looking, but he was more concerned about the man inside right now. They all walked slowly up the ramp into the deeply shadowed interior. The shade was welcome here in the blazing Kashkalbad desert. Did Esthar have any green places left? Oh, yeah, there was the incredibly dense Grandidi Forest to the far north… it seemed Esthar was cursed with just one extreme or the other.

Selphie slipped away and danced up the ramp ahead of him, Zell on her heels with Angelo. Quistis came more slowly behind him. At the top of the ramp inside was an echoing space that had probably once been used for cargo. Two hatchways beckoned at the far end. The hold was otherwise empty, though there were several broad, suspicious-looking smears on the floor that Angelo was sniffing and growling at. Zell prodded at the marks with his toe, exchanging worried looks with the rest of them. Had there been monsters aboard? Well, there likely weren't any now. Not with Squall around.

"Looks like you guys can wait here," Irvine said, moving further into the hold. "We'll find Squall and let you know when we're done."

"Why thank you," Quistis said dryly, clearly slightly put out. She hated to be out of the loop on anything. Zell mouthed something behind her back and winked dramatically, but Irvine didn't catch all of it and so couldn't figure out exactly what he was going on about. Selphie, however, gave an annoyed hiss and whirled away. Her hand caught Irvine's, tugging him along after her deeper into the ship.

"Thanks, guys!" Selphie called over her shoulder. "You're the best!"

"What was that thing with Zell?" he asked her in a quiet undertone. She tossed her head indignantly.

"Oh, he said, 'sure that's long enough', the perv," she fumed, flushing slightly. "As if that's the only reason we'd want to see Squall alone…"

They came to the two small hatchways at the far side of the cargo bay, looked between them, wondering which way to go. Shrugging, Selphie opened the right-hand door. They walked into a small room that was clearly little more than an intersection. There was a wide double door in front of them, an elevator column to their immediate right and another smaller hatchway on the far side of that.

"Bet that goes to the bridge," Irvine said, pushing his hat back and scratching at his head thoughtfully as he examined the elevator pad. It looked almost exactly like the one that took you from Cid's office to the command deck in Balamb Garden, so that was a safe bet.

"Oh, probably," Selphie agreed, looking at it eagerly. "Do you think he's up there?"

Irvine shook his head. "Who knows? But he's brooding - I'd bet gil on it. I wonder where Rinoa is?"

Selphie looked up at him with a frown, temporarily subdued. Rinoa was still an unknown factor. Just how did Squall really feel about the girl? What would her revival mean to them? And had Squall already discovered that Rinoa really loved Seifer and not him? Irvine could read those concerns easily in her face. But then his sunshine shrugged, the light of battle entering her eyes.

"Well, if she's hanging around, we'll just have to get rid of her too," Selphie said brightly, her intent clear. She'd tell Squall about Rinoa's feelings herself. And Irvine hoped that wouldn't be necessary. He hoped that Squall had figured at least a few things out on his own already, though he was still worried about the gunblader's possible state of mind. "Hey, let's split up," Selphie said. "I'll go up there and check the bridge, you poke around down here some more."

"Sure," he said, giving her a quick smile. She danced a little in place, gleeful at the prospect of seeing Squall again; the issue of Rinoa already dismissed. Amused, he bent down and caught her chin, giving her a quick kiss. She giggled and whirled away onto the lift, keying the controls.

"It's like hide-n-seek!" she said, giving him an excited little wave as the elevator carried her up.

He shook his head in rueful tolerance then walked toward the far hatch. Selphie could make a game out of anything. It was one of the things he loved so much about her. The big hatch behind him might just lead to another cargo hold, so he'd try the smaller door first. Eliminate the obvious.

The hatch slid open revealing a surprising wash of bright sunlight, making him blink and shade his eyes under his hat-brim for an instant. The entire front of the room was one huge glassed-in curve, following the nose of the ship. The tinted glass gave a clear view outside. Right now that was only a view of a blasted desert. But what must it be like to be in this room in orbit, he wondered for an awe-struck instant. Incredible. He glanced around. The room was filled with two rows of high-backed seats, a central console of some kind at the far end. Some kind of passenger cabin? Or a briefing room?

"Squall? Rinoa? You guys in here?"

He stepped inside, looking around curiously. The seat backs were very high, the chairs wide and well able to conceal anyone who might be huddled in them from casual view. He walked forward slowly, glancing into each row.

"How did you get here?" he heard a low voice say. Squall. Irvine stopped in the middle of the aisle, stunned by the sheer lifelessness of his tone.

"Hey, Squall," he said cautiously, heart jumping in his chest. He took another step forward and caught sight of a black leather clad leg in the front-most seat. It was propped up on the thick glass that curved in front of it, boot planted securely on the view of sand, sand and more sand.

The boot dropped to the ground and Squall rose up out of the seat, turning to face him. Their gazes locked for an instant. Tension built. Gods, Irvine thought in shock, but Squall looked like hell: haggard and pale, lines of strain around his eyes, his scar standing out starkly red against his skin. Just what had he gone through up there? Quistis, even after her crash-landing, hadn't looked this bad. Oddly, there was no sign of Rinoa.

"We were worried about you," Irvine said gruffly, letting a tentative smile touch his lips. Grateful to see he was whole and uninjured, at least. Squall's expression didn't change but his eyes glittered with a kind of manic intensity.

"Whatever..."

After hours of stress and fear and worrying, hearing the other man's habitual dismissive answer just snapped something inside him. Anger ripped through him. Irvine stepped forward, catching Squall's hard shoulders between his hands, and slammed him back up against the side of the seat, eyes blazing.

"Don't," he snarled down into Squall's still-impassive face. "Don't cheapen it. Don't mock it. Damn you."

"I kept my promise. You had me for one night. Now we're done."

Squall shrugged the hands violently off his shoulders as Irvine stared at him in shock. Then took a step away from him to the middle of the aisle. Irvine could only stare, frozen, guts churning with alarm.

"Selphie cried over you."

Squall's gaze went flat. Cold. Hard. His battle look. "You should take better care of your girlfriend, sharpshooter."

Stung, anger rising again, Irvine glared at him. "What the fuck's wrong with you, Leonhart?"

"I have a job to do," Squall folded his arms over his chest, shifting his weight, glaring back at him. Looking the very image of the Commander. Remote. Controlled. Distant. "And so do you - I ran into Ultimecia in space."

"You what?"

"She used Rinoa to free Adel. Ellone put me into her memories and Ultimecia felt me."

Irvine blanched slightly. "Ellone put you into Rinoa's memories?"

"Yes." The word was clipped. Icy.

Suddenly, Irvine understood why Squall was acting this way. And he didn't know who he wanted to kick more - Zell for not telling Squall sooner or Squall for not letting them warn him before he went into space. He tilted his head, letting his hat brim cover his eyes. Not wanting to give anything away to the man in front of him until he was ready.

"Guess you saw some things in Rinoa's memories you didn't much care for, huh?" he asked quietly. Preparing himself.

"Like Ultimecia?" Squall shot back, the words bitten off sharply.

"Nope," he said, lifting his head enough to meet Squall's black glare. "Seifer."

Fury, hot and fierce, raced across Squall's face. After the frozen distance of his reception, it was kind of daunting to see. Then a black blur was on him, hands fisting in his coat, an angry snarl ringing in his ears. Squall shoved him back against the far row of seats, the impact making his breath leave him in a startled gasp. Irvine struggled to brace himself there, hands clutching the seats beside him, off-balance. Squall wouldn't let him up; the grip on his coat was fierce.

"How did you know?" Squall ground out, eyes mere slits of rage. And Irvine was taken aback by what he'd unleashed. He'd never seen Squall quite this furious before - except when the boy fought Seifer in Deling City - but Irvine pushed anyway. He had to.

"You don't love her. I know you don't."

"Of course I don't!" Squall spat, admitting more in his rage than he ever would otherwise. "That doesn't mean I like being used!" And the pain in his eyes was like shards of glass, slicing at Irvine as well. Squall turned away, shoving free of him and stalking toward the nose of the ship, back rigid, hands fisted at his sides, staring down at the deck.

Irvine sighed, straightening up slowly. Feeling the echo of Squall's pain inside him too. Even if the other man didn't love her, it was still a betrayal. And Squall took those hard. So he answered his first question at last.

"Zell heard her. On the side of the Quad, when she fell off. Callin' for Seifer."

"Zell did? Then why the fuck didn't he say something sooner?" Squall snapped.

"I think he was afraid to hurt you." Squall's head jerked up and he turned around slowly, staring at him in disbelief. "We all look out for you more than you know, Squall. We always have. You walk around in a little bubble most of the time and just don't see what's goin' on right in front of you…"

As soon as he said the words he knew they were wrong. You didn't handle Squall like that. Any pointing out of his emotional shortcomings just made him close down. Which he promptly did, his expression once more icy and cool, the rage vanishing as if it had never been. Irvine could only blame his own lingering fear for the blunder, but the damage had been done. Squall wouldn't listen to a word he said now - he'd brood instead.

And sure enough, leather-clad arms folded across a lean chest. Dark bangs fell across hooded eyes. Squall stood, hip-shot, head turned away, looking down in the classic 'annoyed Squall' pose. Standing no more than an arm's length away - but mentally he might as well have been back in space.

Frustrated with both himself and Squall, Irvine stripped off his hat and flung it down on the seat beside him. After a brief moment of mentally kicking himself and wondering what to do next, his gloves followed. Then it snowballed as he went with impulse and shucked his coat too; fingers moving steadily on to start unbuttoning his vest.

"What the hell are you doing, Kinneas?" Squall demanded sharply, head lifting to reveal a faint scowl on his face. Maybe the boy was paying him more attention than he thought. Encouraged, Irvine tossed his head, flicking a few stray hairs out of his face, making his long tail of hair fall forward over his shoulder. A move deliberately calculated to draw attention to the ruddy shine of it, the sleek slide. A knowing smile teased at his lips; he let the heaviness of desire enter his limbs. It was easy to do. His simmering desire had only grown from the moment Squall had risen up out of that seat, shell of indifference in place. He let each move he made become slow and precise as he pulled his vest off and let it drop on top of the rest of his stuff on the seat, baring himself to the waist.

It was a gamble, but one for which he was amply rewarded when he saw those gray eyes flare. He tucked one hand in his belt, then ran the other up his ridged stomach to the center of his chest, fingers spread, pausing to toy with one of the silver medallions that dangled on the braided leather necklace he wore.

Satisfaction surged when he noted he had the other man's undivided attention. Squall's gaze devoured every move of his hand, roamed over his face, skimmed him from head to toe.

From half-lidded eyes, he watched Squall lick his lips once; pale tongue flashing out to skim over them before retreating and leaving a damp shine behind. Irvine fixed his stare on them and watched them part again in response. Felt his own pulse leap as he heard Squall's breathing quicken. Relieved to see how easy it was to make Squall aware of him, of his body. Wanting to remind him of the pleasure they'd already shared. And the trust he'd shown when they had...

Irvine walked slowly and provocatively toward Squall; giving him ample time to protest, to leave, to do something other than stare at him with that subtle look of need on his face. Squall backed up half a step before freezing again; gaze riveted on his mouth.

"I don't want to fight with you right now," Irvine said quietly, working hard to keep the elation from his tone. Because with Squall, nothing could be taken for granted. Ever. He stopped half an arm's length away. Letting the anticipation build.

The object of his entreaty stayed silent, jaw clenched, a muscle leaping there from tension. He moved closer, pleased that Squall held his ground. The other man was breathing slightly faster now, nostrils flaring, pale face touched with a faint flush. The gray gaze moved down, locking desperately on the spot where his fingers still idly teased his necklace - not lower or higher.

"Selphie ain't here this time - it's just you and me, Squall. And the wanting's still there, isn't it? 'Cause you've already let me touch you … let me show you pleasure… and you want it again…"

A black-gloved hand rose up slowly as he spoke, reached out and touched his chest. It was trembling slightly. The dark brown head bowed further, hiding the face. The gloved hand brushed across his ribs, over to his arm. Gripped around his biceps tightly. Squall shuddered once, then went deathly still. And Irvine had to fight his own reaction to that hesitant approach. Had to fight the urge to just yank Squall into his arms and kiss him until he admitted the truth.

"…Don't you, Squall?"

There was another shudder from that lean frame, one he felt through the hold on his arm. Silence dragged for a long moment. Squall's eyes squeezed tightly shut and when he spoke, his voice was so quiet that Irvine almost had to strain to hear the words.

"I thought you both were going to die… so I didn't care if I did too."

The words went straight to his heart, striking deep. It was an admission, but not exactly the one he'd been aiming for. He'd simply wanted to hear Squall say he wanted him too. But this was more. Far more. And something he'd never, ever thought to hear. A strange combination of fear, satisfaction, jubilation and longing tore through him.

Was he saying what he thought he was saying…?

Irvine's pulse throbbed, his breath caught, then he was tugging at Squall's jacket, stripping it off impatiently. Squall was helping him, their hands getting in the way of each other until he grabbed one lean hand and yanked the glove off before lifting it to his mouth and sucking a finger in, listening avidly to Squall's sharp gasp in response.

The heavy leather jacket landed on the floor with a dull smack. He had the taste of Squall's skin in his mouth as he wrapped his other arm impatiently around the slim, muscular back. Pulled him close. Felt the lean shape, the vibrant life of him through the thin tee shirt. Squall looped his free arm around Irvine's shoulders and buried his face in the hollow of his neck, shuddering.

Irvine released the finger he was suckling with a gentle pop and tilted Squall's chin up to find his mouth instead. Covered it urgently with his own and drank him in. Squall moaned, the sound abject, desperate. Irvine tightened his hold on him, tilting his pliant neck back so he could open his mouth wider, searching him with his tongue, sharing his warmth. Trying to feed him reassurance through the caress, which served only to fan the simmering need.

After a long moment, he broke away, allowing them both to gasp for breath. Irvine dropped down to his knees, wrapping his arms around that narrow waist, feeling the bite of the heavy belts into his chest and not caring. Squall's hands gripped his shoulders, the one without the glove tangling in his long hair.

"It's not supposed to be this way," Squall said huskily.

Irvine looked up into gray eyes half-lidded by arousal but still with a darkness other than lust lurking in their depths. Fear. Wariness. And he wanted to wipe that other darkness away and replace it with trust and joy. Longed to. But he knew it would take more than just him - and more than just a few stolen minutes - to break down the barriers it had taken a lifetime for Squall to build. One step at a time. And this was just one more step.

"Don't fight it."

Squall was silent. And he could almost see the thoughts whirling inside that bowed head.

"Don't fight us…"

Then he tugged at the crossed belts, sending them rattling to the floor after several deft pulls. Squall just gripped his shoulders tighter, even though he must have guessed his intent. Wanting this as much as he did. Helpless to deny it. He hastily unsnapped the black leather pants, yanked the zipper down, shoved the tee shirt out of the way. Found the hardness waiting inside and stroked it with a pleased groan. Fondled the silken length in his hand. Squall's head tipped back as he sucked in a hissing breath, fingers digging into Irvine's shoulders like talons.

After a moment, Irvine slipped Squall's rigid cock free of the confining leather. Saw the shine of pre-come on the tip. Despite his aggressive moves, he hesitated a brief moment, burying his lingering reservations over what he was about to do. It had been quite a while since he'd done this for another man and his memories of that past experience weren't the best, but he wanted this to be perfect for Squall. Needed it to be.

He sucked in a deep breath, smelling sweat and lust and the indefinable essence of Squall. His uncertainty lasted only for a moment. To even see Squall like this…

Lips parting slowly, he teased the hard length as he took it in. Swirled his tongue around it to get used to the sensation. Yet, like everything about Squall Leonhart, it was compellingly seductive. He found himself savoring the taste and feel of Squall's cock in his mouth with a groan.

Squall gave a muffled, grunting cry, hips jerking, pressing himself deeper. Irvine worked at him, rolling him on his tongue, reveling in the way Squall's hands clenched at him helplessly, the small broken sounds he made, the tremors that wracked his lean body. He sucked on him carefully, his hand stroking him in unison. Feeling the trembling, hearing the moans. Squall. So lovely… A sharp gasp came from above and there was a final surge as he came, filling his mouth with heat. He swallowed hard; listening to Squall's groans with heady appreciation.

Irvine just held him close, after, arms wrapped tightly around his waist, face buried against a still-shuddering belly. Squall's ragged breathing was like music to his ears. So precious. A tentative hand brushed against his hair, paused, then dropped back to his shoulder. It almost made him want to weep, that hesitation, but he put a smile on his mouth and tipped his head back, looking up at Squall from sleepy, satisfied eyes despite the ache in his own groin.

"Welcome home," he said softly. Squall was staring down at him with an almost panicked look on his face: confused longing, guilt, satisfaction, hunger - all jumbled together and edged with anger.

"What will Selphie say?"

Irvine laughed softly and shook his head a little bit, rubbing his chin lightly against Squall's skin. He felt good trapped there in his arms. Squall. So elusive. So defensive, even now. He spread his hands wide against Squall's back, under the shirt, feeling the sleekness of him, the lean ripple of muscle in his back as he shifted. Squall was aloof, sexy, apparently untouchable - and damn oblivious of his appeal. And those traits were part of why he wanted him so badly… but only part. There was far more to Squall than just surface beauty. He was complicated. He was infuriating. And he was so damn needy… He ignored his own unfulfilled arousal to concentrate on the man in his arms.

"She'll say, 'darn, I missed it!', and stamp her foot on the ground before she jumps one of us," he murmured, lips lifting in a fond smile. "Probably you first." Squall's brows drew tight in a frown and he made an abortive move to get away. But Irvine didn't release him. Squall's hands fisted on his shoulders, apparently ready to push away at the first opportunity but not yet prepared to struggle.

"I don't understand you two…" He shook his head once, expression still and closed.

Irvine's smile faded away, his gaze hardened, and he loosened his hold on Squall just enough to lean back and look more fully into his face. Sober and intent, the amber gaze locked with icy gray.

"It's all about trust, Leonhart. We trust each other. We understand each other. We talk to each other. There's nothing hidden, no lies, no deceit. We just do our best to make each other happy."

A shadow moved across his face. Anger? Fear? "And both of you fucking me - alone or together - makes her… makes you happy?"

Irvine raised a brow at him, fighting back the surge of annoyed anger Squall's words created. "You think that's all we're doin'? Fuckin' you?"

Squall pushed out of his loosened hold then, stuffing his spent cock back inside his pants before zipping them closed, hands doing up the final button as he looked over his shoulder at Irvine where he still knelt on the deck. Squall's gaze seemed to catch on his narrowed gaze before sliding away to his mouth, widening there for an instant.

Distracted, Irvine reached up and wiped at his mouth. Looked down and saw the small smear of white on his hand. A wicked smile curled his lips, and he glanced up sidelong at Squall.

"Did I mention how good you taste?" he said, deliberately lowering his voice to a throaty purr. "I thought it only fair since you've already tasted me…" Squall paled slightly, watching him. And continued to watch as Irvine deliberately raised his hand and made a production out of licking that small smear away.

"Gods…" Squall breathed out softly, his eyes darkening further as the pupil widened with renewed desire. Then he took an abrupt step toward him, tangling his hand in Irvine's hair again, holding him still as he bent down and kissed him. Hard. Tongue probing inside as if seeking the taste of himself in Irvine's mouth.

Mouths still fused, Irvine managed to climb to his feet without breaking the kiss, almost crawling up Squall to do it. Holding him close, feeling the tiny shudders that wracked the other man. Squall fought himself harder than he fought monsters. But he was going to lose here, Irvine vowed.

They broke apart at last, breathing harshly. Irvine stared, pleased, into dazed gray eyes that cleared after a moment, sharpening on him.

"Just go with it, Squall," he said quietly. "We'll take care of you…"

Another kind of shock widened those eyes again, then Squall turned away from him, pulling out of his hold. He let him go. He knew Squall would have to process this, think and brood on it. But not too much or he'd work himself into another tizzy. He'd have to sic Selphie on him before that happened. Speaking of…

Irvine turned away, taking two long steps over to his discarded clothing. He quickly shrugged into his vest and duster, aware of Squall replacing his belts even as he was snatching up his own gloves and hat.

"Well, everybody's waitin'… I better let them know I found you," he said, dropping his hat on his head and turning toward the hatchway. Squall was silent behind him, staring at the deck. Avoiding his gaze. Lost in thought. Brooding.

Irvine straightened his hat, and then, with a small sigh, opened the door to find Selphie standing on the other side, eyes wide and gleaming with tears of happiness.

"Did you know you can monitor just about every part of this really incredibly cool ship from the bridge?" she announced with a tremulous little smile. Then she jumped into his arms, sending him swaying back a step. He caught her close as she gasped out, "Oh, I love you!"

"Love you too, sunshine," he murmured into her hair, amused and chagrined all at the same time. He should have known. He hugged her closer. She felt so good in his arms. So lively and soft and indescribably Selphie. "Get video too?"

"Oh, you bet!" she said, then squirmed to be put down. He did so promptly, understanding her need. She dashed across the deck and vaulted into Squall's arms. The Commander staggered back a bit as he reflexively caught her, a look of faint astonishment on his face. As if he had actually thought she wouldn't bother to greet him. Irvine rolled his eyes toward heaven and sent prayers for patience up to several gods at once even as Selphie cried out into Squall's neck, "Oh, I missed you! And I was so worried! Squall Leonhart, don't you ever scare us like that again!"

Squall held her close, his face pressed to her hair, eyes closed.

"I'll try not to," Squall murmured after a moment.

A cautious look of contentment passed over his face as he held her. Which wasn't generally the reaction he had when he held Selphie, but, Irvine acknowledged, Squall needed different things. Some of which he knew only Selphie could give. And it didn't bother him in the slightest. Together they'd take care of him, just like he'd told him.

"I've got plans for you, buddy," Selphie growled with mock menace, pulling back and cupping her hands around Squall's face, staring him sternly in the eye. He slid one hand up to support her back, hitching her up against him. He'd buttoned his pants and put his belts back on, but his coat was still crumpled on the floor behind him. Selphie squirmed a bit in his hold, shifting position, then wrapped her thighs more securely around his hips, locking her ankles behind his butt. Irvine smiled knowingly at the sight.

"Plans, huh?" Squall asked quietly as he skillfully adjusted their balance so they didn't tumble to the floor. Smiling wickedly, she released his face and dropped her hands down to flex her fingers against his tee shirt-covered shoulders possessively. Squall was staring solemnly up at her, a yearning in his eyes. The sight tugged at Irvine's heart. Oh, there was so much work yet to do on that boy…

"Yes, my Commander, dark, mysterious plans," Selphie went on. She tried to lower her voice and make it sound forbidding on the last few words but failed miserably; so she giggled instead, the sound simultaneously cheerful and teasing. Squall blinked slowly at her as if waking from a trance. "You'll just have to wait and see! You do remember the Garden Festival's coming up, don't you?"

Squall sighed in exasperation, dropping his gaze. Undaunted, Selphie just laughed at his expression, then leaned down and kissed him with fierce intensity. A shudder raced through the lean body and Squall pulled Selphie desperately closer, drawn into her embrace, responding to the sheer energy of her. Nobody could resist his sunshine for long, Irvine thought fondly.

The sight of them was reminding him of his own untended need, and he was about to take a step toward them when he heard the suspiciously loud stomping of feet in the hall outside and a muffled bark from Angelo. Zell and Quistis.

"Selphie, company!" Irvine called softly in warning. Her head jerked up and around, eyes wide with shock.

"Ohmigosh! I forgot!" she yelped, squirming frantically in Squall's hold. He seemed stunned for an instant, blinking slowly up at her. His arms actually tightened around her, preventing her from getting down until she hissed urgently at him, pushing at his shoulders, "It's Quisty and Zell!"

Squall abruptly lowered her to the floor, his gaze hooded, a faint flush high on his cheeks. He pushed her sharply away and bent over to retrieve his jacket. Selphie stared at him in dismay, but before she could do more than open her mouth to protest, the door slid open behind Irvine.

Irvine frowned as Quistis walked briskly into the room, glaring over her shoulder at Zell.

"What's with you and that dog?" she was saying to the grimacing, eye-rolling martial artist, her nose raised. Quistis and Angelo were not the best of friends ever since the dog had jumped up on her, scratching her and staining her skirt. Now the former instructor tolerated him - barely. "Irvine, did you find Squall?" Quistis looked around and came to a sharp halt just as Zell did, sensing the odd tension in the air even as she spotted the other two in the room.

Squall had finished shrugging into his coat and held the loose glove in his hand, his rigid back presented to the room, annoyance clear in his stance. Selphie was standing forlornly in the center of the aisle. Angelo padded to her side and nosed at her, whining softly.

Selphie glanced pleadingly back at Irvine over her shoulder, her gaze pained and unusually somber - he could tell she was stinging from Squall's reaction. Yet they were in 'public' again and so he knew she understood the boy's need for distance, but that didn't really lessen the hurt. Did he have to go so completely cold to them? Even to the point of ignoring them? Irvine wasn't overly pleased with Squall's reaction, but knew now wasn't the time to bring it up.

"Squall?" Quistis called, a worried frown on her face. Zell shot Irvine a wide-eyed look of surprise, which he caught only a portion of. He was too busy staring thoughtfully at Squall. Something had just slipped by him there… something not quite right… he frowned.

Straightening her shoulders, Quistis stepped forward. Squall folded his arms over his chest, frowning at the desert outside the windows.

"Glad to see you made it back, Squall, but where's Rinoa?" Quistis asked, staring at their Commander.

"The Esthar took her to be Sealed," he said sharply, frowning. "She's a sorceress."

Everyone gasped. Selphie put her hands over her mouth. Zell didn't bother, just let his mouth gape open. Quistis blinked, while Irvine just stared. Rinoa was a sorceress? He blanched at the idea - particularly in light of Zell's news and that Squall had confirmed it. Rinoa loved Seifer. And she'd been possessed by Ultimecia in space… just like Matron.

"Rinoa's a what?" Quistis managed after a moment of shocked silence. "How do you know?"

With a savage yank, Squall pulled back on the one glove Irvine had removed before finally turning to face them all; once more completely armored in black leather, arms crossed in his habitual brooding mode. His face was a cool mask, utterly controlled, his eyes like ice as his gaze flickered around the room.

"That was what was wrong with her on the Space Station; it was Ultimecia who made her free Adel. Back in Galbadia Garden, Ultimecia jumped from Matron to Rinoa," Squall told them.

"Oh my goodness! When Ellone put you into her memories..." Quistis said, her eyes wide in realization. Squall nodded at her grimly.

"Oh, man!" Zell said with a groan, slapping at his forehead dramatically. "So that's where her powers went!"

"What?"

"She told us after you took off for space!" Zell said, blue eyes wide with alarm. "Matron isn't a sorceress anymore. All her powers are gone."

Squall glared at Zell, almost as if it were somehow his fault. The martial artist shifted nervously. Selphie was looking between all of them, concerned. Quistis, her hands fisted at her sides, had a frowning, thoughtful look on her face.

With a small frown of his own, Irvine pushed his hat back and cleared his throat. "There's something else, Squall," he said quietly. "We have good reason to believe Ellone was snatched up by Galbadia. She's probably in Lunatic Pandora by now."

"What!?" Squall turned his now frigid glare on Quistis. Who was staring narrowly at Irvine; she'd caught on that he hadn't broken the news to Squall earlier, when they were alone, like he'd said he would. Quistis lifted her chin with a jerk, turning away from Irvine to meet that narrow-eyed glare steadily.

"I was knocked unconscious during landing," Quistis explained to Squall, her face pale. "When I woke up, Ellone and Piet were gone. It was only when I climbed outside that I found Piet's body. He'd been shot. Ellone's green shawl was nearby. I'm sorry, Squall… you know I would have fought to the death for her if I had been able."

Quistis hung her head in shame over her perceived failure. But it had been far beyond her control. Hell Fire, she was probably lucky to be alive, Irvine knew. Trust Quisty to slant the facts and not even try to defend herself to Squall.

"Oh, hey, that's not fair, Quisty," Zell piped up, obviously of the same opinion as Irvine. "That wasn't a landing - it was a crash. We saw what was left of that pod and it's damn lucky the three of you survived at all. It just sucked that Seifer's troops got to the site first. I dunno how they missed you in the wreck, but if they'd found you they'd probably just have shot you too."

Squall's frigid anger seemed to crack a bit at Zell's explanation. The icy gray gaze flickered from Zell to Quistis, softening slightly. Was that concern? Did he actually realize how close they'd come to losing Quistis?

"I understand," Squall finally said after a long, tense moment. "I'm glad you're okay, Quistis." Quistis stared at him, astonished by his comment. Squall turned away from them all, transferring his attention to the desert outside the ship, lost in brooding thought.

Quistis glanced around at the rest of them, sharing her astonishment over Squall's unexpectedly compassionate reaction. It was that rare for Squall to express concern for others. And it shouldn't be, Irvine thought angrily. He knew the boy cared about the rest of them - he'd just proved it right there. So why the hell couldn't he show it more?

Quistis narrowed her gaze on Selphie thoughtfully, who still stood near Squall, then she glared back at Irvine. He met her look blandly, forcing a casual smile to his lips, while she frowned deeper. Quistis was no dummy. He could see the gears turning in her head even now, moving the bits and pieces of information she had smoothly into place.

"So, if Rinoa's got the sorceress powers now," Zell blurted out into the charged silence, brows drawn down in a bemused frown, "and Esthar's got her - what are we gonna do about it?" He waved a hand in the general direction of the big city to the north.

Squall spun around, his expression blank.

"Nothing."

"Nothing!" Quistis repeated, stunned. "But Squall… you went into space after her… you saved Rinoa -" She broke off at a sharp snort from Zell, while Squall stood rigidly with hands fisted at his sides.

"Rinoa's in love with Seifer," Zell said suddenly. Irvine winced and Selphie gasped, while Quistis just turned her head slowly around and blinked at the tattooed blond in shocked surprise. Poor Quisty. It was her day for rude surprises.

"What?"

"Since the beginning, I guess," Zell said, a guilty flush to his face. As if it were somehow his fault everything wasn't going as she expected. "She dodged that question about her and Seifer's relationship pretty neat in Galbadia Garden after the TV station thing… Don't you remember how broken up she was when you told us Seifer'd probably been executed? She was different after that, kinda desperate, I thought. I felt sorry for her then 'cause it seemed like she really cared about him. But I only found out how she felt for sure when she was hangin' off the Quad during the attack. That's when I heard her cryin' and callin' out to Seifer to save her."

Understanding dawned on Quistis and her horrified gaze locked on Squall's impassive face. "She was using you? And us?" Quistis gasped. Then she glowered at Zell, "And you didn't tell us? Zell Dincht!"

Irvine slapped a hand over his face and rolled his eyes underneath the bars of his fingers. Zell blanched and reared back, hands held up in front of himself as if to ward Quistis off. Which was probably a good idea, since she was instantly furious. And armed. With a whip.

"Hey! I told Irvine… and I tried to tell Squall at Lunar Base…"

Quistis spun around to face him fully, hands on her hips, her blue eyes flashing angrily. "So that's why she helped Seifer escape! If I'd just known - I thought she was worried about Squall - and now look what's happened because of that, Zell!"

Zell blanched and winced. Irvine took a breath and a half-step forward to intervene, but didn't get the chance.

"Leave him alone, Quistis," Squall ordered suddenly, his tone sharp. But he didn't turn around. "We were still under contract to her - she would have been there anyway. We're SeeD. We're for hire. What the client feels isn't really our concern. All that matters is that we have a contract."

The silence in the room was thick and tense. They all stared at Squall's rigid back with various expressions of alarm. Was he seriously trying to turn this betrayal into a simple consequence of duty? Irvine badly wanted to walk over and shake some sense into their Commander and only barely restrained himself.

"So… does that mean we should go get her back from the Esthar now?" Selphie asked quietly, the only one brave enough to break the silence. "Is that dumb contract even still in effect?"

"It is," Quistis said dully, shifting her gaze down to the deck by her feet. "Timber's still controlled by Galbadia."

"That's just crazy," Irvine said, glaring at the back of Squall's head. A sinking feeling had started in his guts. Not for duty. Don't excuse it with duty, damn it, Squall, he thought frantically.

"I'm sure Headmaster Cid didn't mean for us to keep protecting her if she turned on us like that," Selphie offered, her tone hollow, her pose dejected.

"General Caraway has a copy of that contract. That's why he tracked the Garden down at sea," Squall said.

"Oh, gods," Quistis hissed, horrified anew as she pondered all of the headstrong Rinoa's once seemingly innocent actions in a new light. "And that's why Caraway tried to lock her in his mansion… he knew how she felt about Seifer and was afraid she'd do something stupid during the parade! He knew Seifer had been given to the Sorceress."

"Of course he did!" Selphie said, fuming along with Quistis. "And the General didn't warn us about that either. Those Caraways are a shifty family! Why should we worry about that dumb contract anyway? Isn't there a standard betrayal clause in there?"

Zell shook his head. "Probably not. It wasn't a standard contract, remember? Cid wrote it up special for Rinoa."

"This is pointless," Squall said, finally turning around. His grim and set. "We need to…"

"What we need to do is go talk to Matron," Irvine broke in sharply, glaring at Squall. "And Cid."

"What?" Zell and Selphie blinked at him in shock, but Irvine had eyes only for Squall. He met that icy gray gaze firmly. And tried to stifle the urge to just punch the stubborn bastard one.

"We need to know more about this whole Sorceress thing, and I don't know about you but I don't trust that Odine freak any more than I can toss this ship. So we need Matron," Irvine said, crossing his arms over his chest. Trying to will Squall go for advice. He had a very bad feeling about this whole situation. A premonition, kind of. As if dark things were waiting to take advantage of a wrong turn taken now. He hadn't cared much for Rinoa, but he'd never had the sense that she was out-and-out bad. Just kinda silly and self-centered. But if she loved Seifer half as much as he loved Selphie, then he felt a bit more sympathy for the poor girl even though she'd trod on Squall's trust, making his life that much harder.

Poor Rinoa, because Seifer was a robot. A deadly robot in the hands of their enemy. And because she'd already demonstrated she'd do just about anything to save Seifer, that made Rinoa a loose cannon.

One that just might be aimed squarely at Squall, if they weren't careful.

Silence stretched. Until he thought he'd scream in frustration.

Then, finally, Squall nodded.

"All right. Let's go talk to Matron."

- - to be continued - -