Disclaimer: I do not own any of this, good god I wish I did, but it all belongs to the good people of Square-Enix who provide my mind with good things to think about

A/N: This may turn into a romance after I get the feel of what's going on down, if it does then I suggest anyone opposed to anything even at least slightly yaoi based leave now. Also this takes place 2 years (give or take 8 months) after the defeat of Ultimecha Squall and Rinoa are currently together as the game dictates, but that wont last for long if i have any say in it. One more thing, Irvine is with Selphie, sortof, Zell is 'just his room mate'

Irvine's Pov

HN. He smells so good. I wonder if he knows it, I could never tell, he's so closed... He lifts his stormy grey eyes and looks at me. His lips part slowly, a light tongue darting over his pouty lips slowly. Hyne I think I'm hypnotized. His lips move slowly, his face so light and perfect, like a porcelain doll, the only visible imperfection is the red little scar across the bridge of his nose. It's hard to believe that someone so gentle looking could be the savior of the planet, the commander of a military organization, a perfectly honed killing machine and strong enough to knock almost any man on his ass if pushed. Those cloudy grey eyes are fixed on mine, sucking me in.

"Irvine" He said, his voice light and airy as a feather. "Kinneas!" I think I imagined it, he's frowning.

"Sorry what?" He's rubbing the bridge of his nose anxiously. Damn it must have been something important.

"The mission."

"Oh right." I totally forgot, this was a de-briefing. After three weeks without seeing his pretty face I just got swept away by it. Now he's glaring at me.

"The mission was a success."

"Caraway, you took care of him?"

"Was there ever any doubt in the finest sharpshooter in all of Garden?" I knew I was grinning. I hoped to get a reaction from him, usually I can warm people up a little -- I've heard my smile is sweet as honey. He just looks back at his paperwork, scribbling something down in his report. Squall and his famous reports. "It went off without a hitch. Just one bullet." He let out a sigh; he must have been really stressed. Ordering the execution of his fiancée's father, he must have felt guilty. I almost felt guilty, then I remembered why we had to do it. "Was there any news about Galbadia?"

"No."

"Oh... alright. Is that alright then? Are we done?"

"Yeah. Good work. You're dismissed."

"Commander," When I got to the door I looked back at him. He was slumped over his desk; the stress was obviously getting to him. I walked back over to the desk silently. "Squall." He lifted his head to look up at me, chocolate brown hair framing his face. His eyes were bluer than I ever remembered. His brow was furrowed and his eyes were shiny with tears. "Squally, it's not your fault." I whispered softly, lifting his chin and whipping a tear from his cheek. He felt as smooth as he looked.

"If Rinoa finds out... she... no one will ever love me again." He said it softly; I almost thought that I'd imagined it. I had never seen him so upset, not since we left the orphanage. I brushed my hand across his cheek, it was a bold move, but I had to do something, sometimes he really is like porcelain. He leaned into my caress, nuzzling my hand like a kitten.

"Squally, everything will be okay. We are SeeD, and you were just doing you job. It's your job to keep everyone safe, and you did. There's nothin' to feel guilty about Darlin'. Things'll turn out, alright?" He nodded quietly, his eyes fixed on the table, thick dark lashes veiling those sad stormy eyes just getting bluer and bluer by the second. I wanted to wrap my arms around him, but in a moment the walls were back up and he was in Commander Mode again. He pulled away from my touch and went back to writing neatly on his desk. "If you ever need anything --"

"– Whatever."

When I got back to the dorm I still had squall on my mind.

"Hey, welcome back man." Zell said with a grin.

"Did you miss me?" I know I'm grinning as big as he is but I miss the little chocobo when I'm gone.

"I couldn't sleep without you Baby!"

"Eeew Irvy, are you sleeping with Zell again?"

"I thought I locked that." Zell says sending her a bright smile then returning to his shadow boxing.

"Hello to you too." Selphie says sticking her tongue out. She's like a little ray of sunshine.

"Hey."

"Irvy!" she shouts trapping me in a tight hug. "I missed you!"

"Missed you too sunshine." She giggled a little, before planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Dirty ole' Zelly didn't already have his way with you, did he?"

"Hey! Quit talking about me like I'm a sexual predator! I'd worry more about Mr. Lady's man over here. He's the sex maniac, not me!"

"I bet you don't say that when you've got Irvy all alone." Selphie says with a giggle. Zell is banging on his punching bag.

"Well Sunshine, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well..." She shifted nervously. "You know that I'm the correspondent for Tibia Garden, so I need to know how it went."

"Now that wasn't so hard to say was it, baby?"

"Turn it off already Kinneas you're gonna make me gag." Zell says, scrunching his face at me for emphasis. I can't help but chuckle.

"You're just jealous!" Selphie shouts at him, bouncing up and down, before turning her attention back to me with a completely serious expression. "I know you don't like it, you know?"

"Hey, it's what I'm good at." I say with a shrug. "The situation was terminated."

"Thank you." She says with a slight bow.

"No need to thank me Darlin'" She favored me with a particularly sweet smile.

"I should go report back to Garden."

"Lock the door behind you!" Zell shouts after her. He stops bouncing back and forth and turns his attention to me. It always strikes me how Zell and Selphie have almost the same hyper energy. "You alright?"

"Yeah." Zell knows better than anybody how stressed out I get right after a mission, and this particular mission was worse than usual, top secret, and affecting all of my friends personal lives. Damn Carraway. He couldn't have just stayed on the level.

"Do you want to go out for a drink?" Zell asked His bright blue eyes wide with concern.

"Whiskey?"

"Sure, my treat."