A/N: This fic originally started out as a sort of screwball comedy entitled "Partners." However, for whatever reason, it kept wanting to get angsty on me, so I started rewriting it. This version is much darker. Before I get burned by incoming flames, be aware that I take a few liberties with the game--particularly the whole sorceress issue. So, if you're a purist, go read something else! This story features Irvine, but also will include most of the other characters as well. Like I said, this is going to be a darkfic--there may be character deaths in the future. I'm just not sure whose yet.

Fox and Hound

Chapter 1

Siobhan read the letter over one final time.

Cowboy,

By the time you wake up and read this, I'll be long gone. As corny as it sounds, the past four years have been everything I'd have ever dreamed of--if I'd ever allowed myself to have a dream like that. You know my past--some of it anyway--and why dreams have always been in short supply for me.

But all dreams eventually end in waking, and this one is no exception. It's not just that we had our first serious fight yesterday--it took us four years, but we finally managed it. It's almost funny when you think about it. OK. Maybe not. Anyway, I finally had it hammered into my thick skull that we're just too different. We see the world in two completely different ways--both perfectly reasonable given who and what we are--but too divergent to ever be reconciled. You made a decision yesterday that I can't live with, and the only choice I can make is to leave. I don't blame you for the choice you made--in your place, I would probably do the same.

I'm sorry for the pain I'll be causing you, but if it makes it any easier for you, I've lied to you from the very beginning. Lies of omission only, but lies, nevertheless. There's so much I've wanted to tell you, but never dared. I can't even tell you here in this damn letter--I'm too much the coward. You'll find out eventually, anyway.

On to more practical matters…In the other envelope, you'll find the deed to the house and the bankbook for our business account--both now made over entirely into your name. I won't be needing the house anymore--and as for the money--spend it on booze, gamble it away, or throw it away on cheap hookers--whatever…Seriously, there should be enough there to keep you in style for quite some time. Enough so that you, hopefully, never have to sell your soul to that ice-bastard Leonhart ever again. Sorry if I sound bitter--I guess I am. That son of a bitch has cost me a lot--everything, in fact.

There's so much left to say--but absolutely no time to say it. So I'll close by saying that these past four years have been the happiest of my life. But, things being the way they are, the greatest kindness I can do for you is to disappear from your life. Take care of yourself, Cowboy. I'll miss you.

Forgive me. Forget me.

Vonnie

She looked at her handiwork, unsatisfied.

Hyne…what a fucked-up way to say goodbye--he deserves better than to be tossed away like an empty pop-bottle. He deserves a goddamned explanation.

But she wasn't going to be the one to give it to him. She wasn't kidding about being a coward. Let someone else be the one to deliver the good news.

Siobhan folded the letter and slipped it into an envelope marked Irvine. Rising from her writing desk, she took the letter and the larger envelope containing the deed and bankbook and crossed the short distance to the bedroom.

The light from the hallway illuminated the bedroom well enough for her to make her way to the nightstand next to the bed. Siobhan propped the two envelopes up on the brim of the black Stetson that rested on the small wicker table. He'd be sure to see them there. Although she tried to avoid looking at the figure sleeping so peacefully in her bed, she ended up looking anyway.

Hyne, he's so…beautiful.

The lanky Galbadian lay in a graceful sprawl upon the bed, a small smile curving his full lips. His auburn mane spilled over his shoulders and onto the pillow. The elflocks that framed his face had fallen into his eyes, and Siobhan gently smoothed the wayward tendrils out of his face. In his sleep, Irvine had managed to kick the covers off of himself. Despite the delicious tableau her lover's nude body presented, Siobhan drew the blankets back up over his shoulders, tucking them in around him. Trabian nights were cold, after all.

Gazing at the sleeping man, Siobhan contemplated the events that had wrecked everything just that afternoon.

"You told that bastard you'd do it, didn't you?"

Irvine stood before her looking both guilty and defiant. "Yeah, darlin, I did."

Siobhan closed her eyes and clenched her jaw--trying to stifle the sudden tidal wave of rage that made her want to lash out at the man standing before her. Finally, she let her breath hiss out between clenched teeth. "Fuck," she said emphatically, "You know what I think about this!" She turned away, shaking her head in disbelief.

Irvine reached out and gently gripped her shoulders, turning her back around to face him. "I'm sorry, Vonnie, I know how you feel--"

Siobhan batted the sniper's hands away angrily. "You don't know the first fucking thing about how I feel!" she cried, her voice harsh with anger. "If you did, you'd have told Leonhart to take his offer, roll it up, and go fuck himself with it!"

Irvine--stubborn as always--shook his head. "I've got to do this--"

"Like hell you do! You're not a SeeD anymore--you don't have to do their dirty work for them!" She met her lover's pain-filled amethyst gaze. "You don't have to let them use you as a fucking weapon!"

Irvine caught her face between his strong hands, locking eyes with her. "I am a fucking weapon," he said bitterly. "It's what I do--remember?" The sniper gave a short bark of humorless laughter and suddenly released Siobhan. Turning around, he strode to the window and stared through the glass, gazing at the distant mountains without really seeing them.

"It's been fun playin bounty hunter--not to mention playin house--with you," he said, still staring through the window. "But tracking down a few geezards and catcherpillars ain't exactly what I was trained for."

Siobhan quirked up an eyebrow in disbelief. "You're doing this because your skills aren't being utilized to the fullest?" She would have laughed over the sheer stupidity of the argument if everything she held dear hadn't been riding on her lover's reply.

"No," Irvine finally turned to face her. "I'm doing it because I was trained as a SeeD. And SeeDs were created for one purpose."

So there it was. Nurture had won out over Nature. Irvine was not a cold-blooded murderer, but because he'd been raised by a bunch of sick, sadistic bastards who were, he was willing to once again let himself be used by the very people who had damn near destroyed him.

"Bullshit," Siobhan had retorted, unsure herself whether she was describing Irvine's explanation or the circumstances in general. Unable to listen to any more of the crap her lover was spouting, Siobhan turned abruptly and stalked out of the house, slamming the door viciously behind her. She heard Irvine call her name once, a hint of pleading in his rough baritone voice. Not in the mood to listen anymore, Siobhan resisted the urge to turn back and trudged out of the yard, taking a well-worn path through the little woods surrounding the house. About halfway up the incline to her favorite spot, she heard the thundering of Exeter--Irvine taking his anger and frustration out on the local fauna. Siobhan idly wondered whose face he was projecting onto his targets--hers, Leonhart's…or his own.

She'd been sitting for a couple of hours, her back against a tree, arms wrapped around her legs, chin resting on knees, gazing out at the mountains she loved. It suddenly dawned on her that she hadn't heard Exeter's thunderous report for quite some time. Following almost instantaneously on the realization, she became aware of the sound of approaching footsteps. When she didn't turn to face the intruder, the footsteps hesitated for a moment, then continued their approach.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the skirts of a long sheepskin coat, a capricious spring wind causing them to flutter around a pair of long, denim-clad legs. A gauntleted hand held a shotgun in a loose-fingered grip. Siobhan didn't acknowledge her lover's presence, but continued staring fixedly out at the scenery.

After a few minutes, Irvine heaved a weary sigh and dropped his shotgun gently onto the grass. The whisper of material preceded a warm softness dropping onto her shoulders. The scent of gunpowder, tobacco, and musky cologne enveloped her.

"I know it's spring, but this is Trabia," he said. "Hyne's sake, the ground's still frozen--you'll catch your death."

"Drake's keeping me warm," she'd replied after a few moments, shrugging Irvine's coat from her shoulders and onto the ground.

Another heavy sigh issued from the marksman as he sank gracelessly to the ground beside her. Reaching out, he snagged his coat and drew it back to him. A few moments later, Siobhan heard the snaps, clicks, and rattles of Exeter being broken down for cleaning. When she believed him to be preoccupied with his task, Siobhan risked a glance at the silent man beside her. His hands moved automatically about their work, seemingly of their own volition. Raising her gaze, Siobhan found her lover's violet eyes regarding her gravely. His face reflected her own misery. She turned away again to stare blankly at the mountains. Gun-callused fingers gripped her chin and turned her face back to meet his gaze.

"I don't like bein on the outs with you, darlin," Irvine said hoarsely.

"Then don't--" Whatever else Siobhan would have said was cut off when her lover's lips trapped her own in a fierce kiss. Sliding her hands between their bodies, Siobhan attempted to push him away, but the sharpshooter wrapped his arms tightly around her, his fingers digging into the flesh of her back. Stiffening her body and keeping her lips clamped shut, Siobhan resisted Irvine's attempt at reconciliation. Groaning with frustration, the marksman's hands swept furiously over her body, sliding under her tunic, caressing her waist and back, gently cupping her breasts, swirling his thumbs over the stiffening nubs of flesh at their apex.

Despite her intention to freeze him out, Siobhan arched into her lover's touch. A gauntleted hand left off teasing her breast and curled gently around the back of her neck. Her lips parted, allowing the warm slickness of his tongue to slip into her mouth, probing and tasting. Siobhan's hands slipped up over Irvine's shoulders and neck before plunging into his hair, her long fingers clutching and tangling before wrapping themselves around the back of his skull.

When their lips finally parted, Irvine held Siobhan tightly against him, his cheek pressed against hers, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Thus they sat for a time, each wordlessly extending and receiving forgiveness. At last, Irvine stirred beside her. Climbing to his feet, he extended a hand to assist her.

"Let's go home," he said simply.

Siobhan took the proffered hand and let him pull her to her feet.

"I'm surprised you didn't want to do me right here," she said wryly.

Chuckling, Irvine tilted his hat back. "I did," he confessed, violet eyes glittering with amusement. "But, unlike you, I'm not junctioned against the cold." His lips stretched into a broad grin, "and the idea of bein out here, bare-assed after sundown just didn't appeal to me."

Siobhan's lips quirked into a crooked smile. "Wimp," she chided, pulling the Stetson over her lover's face and pushing him backwards. She'd only taken a few steps back toward the house when the pounding of running footsteps signaled the marksman's approach. Before she could turn, she was suddenly blinded as Irvine dropped his coat over her head. Strong arms encircled her waist, lifted her off her feet, and swung her around. Laughing, Siobhan struggled to free her arms, which were trapped by the coat and Irvine's embrace. After a moment, she gave up, and resting her head on his shoulder, allowed herself to be swung.

After a few giddy circuits, Irvine set Siobhan lightly on her feet. He slipped his coat off her head and onto her shoulders, adjusting the front like a parent dressing a child to play in the snow. The waning sunlight reflected in eyes that glowed with equal parts of laughter and desire.

"Let's go home," he said again, slipping an arm around her shoulders. Together, they took the path back down the hillside.

They'd ended up skipping dinner, deciding instead to feast on each other. Their lovemaking had been gentle and sweet. Siobhan understood that Irvine's caresses were intended as a further apology for his part in their conflict--and she had accepted them as such. Her own caresses and whispered endearments extended both acceptance and apology…as well as a goodbye. Before Irvine had met her atop the hill overlooking their property, Siobhan had already made the decision to leave that very night. She had already sent Mistral out to gather the others, a capsule containing a coded message hidden in the thick ruff of fur around his neck. The fact that she had forgiven her lover changed nothing. There were other asses on the line besides her own.

The knowledge that departure was necessary, however, did little to console Siobhan. It wasn't fair. She'd lived with this man for four years. Lived with him, laughed with him, worked and wept with him. She'd fought beside him, for him, and with him. She'd loved him and been loved by him…and now, she had to leave him. As she gazed down at Irvine's sleeping form, her earlier rage threatened to reassert itself. How could he allow himself to be used again? How could he show such total disregard for her feelings?

How could he betray me like this?

HE DOESN'T KNOW, BELOVED. Drake's voice rumbled in her mind. WAKE HIM AND TELL HIM. IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

Siobhan shook her head and held onto her rising anger. If she were angry, leaving would be easier.

LET USSS HAVE HIM, another voice hissed in her mind. HE ISSS THE ENEMY NOW--USSSSE USSS…TAKE VENGEANSSSE FOR HISSS BETRAYAL!

As she gazed down at her sleeping lover, Siobhan was suddenly assaulted by visions of Irvine's body lying torn and bleeding before her, his violet eyes dull and glazed over with death. An impossible amount of blood pooled on the sheets, dripping onto the floor. The coppery taste of blood coated her lips and tongue.

Yes!

Siobhan felt her control starting to slip as another force tried to seize control.

No! Drake, help me! Don't let her take over!

Siobhan shuddered with the effort of keeping control away from the dangerous other that shared her mind. She felt Drake's comforting presence add his strength to hers, vanquishing the hostility and blood lust of the Other.

FOR NOW…the voice hissed…BUT I'LL BE BACK.

Tisiphone…oh gods…that's ALL I need!

A cold, wet nose shoved itself into her hand, and a long, enthusiastic tail thumped against the floor. Siobhan came back to herself with a start.

"Hey, fur-face, everyone ready?"

Thump thump thumpthumpthump. Mistral's tail beat a joyful tattoo against the floor.

"Let's roll, then."

Moon-silver eyes moved from Siobhan to the sleeping man, and back to her. A high pitched whine issued from the wolf's throat.

"No, love, he'll be better off without us."

ARE YOU SURE THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BELOVED? Drake's deep rumble once again echoed in her consciousness.

This is the last thing I want to do--but I have to, and you know why!

Drake didn't answer, but Siobhan got the feeling that he didn't approve of her decision. She knew, however, that this was the correct course of action--the only course of action left to her, in fact.

She took one last look back.

Hyne…so beautiful.

After retrieving a small duffle from under the bed, Siobhan, shadowed by Mistral, slipped from the bedroom. A few moments more found her outside the house, making her way swiftly to the garage where her ATV waited. As she drew near the vehicle, four shadowy figures that had gathered near the garage turned to face her.

"It's about fucking time," an exasperated masculine voice said. "My ass just about froze--it's fucking cold out here!"

A/N--Part II: I'm not sure about this story--I don't usually write serious stuff. Let me know if I should stick to comedy. Also, there will be a LOT of flashbacks in the first few chapters--hopefully, they won't be too confusing. Let me know if they are. As always--please R/R. I'll be your frieeeeend!