Disclaimer: All the characters in this story belong to Square Enix.

Hey everyone! I know its been a while since I've updated at all and I'm sorry about that xD lack of inspiration. Hopefully those of you who liked this story so far will enjoy this new chapter.

Thank you for the reviews: AnsemMesna, , Kareia, and Resoan. I really appriciated them. :)

And thank you to everyone else who is reading this story.

Now lets see if I can update some other stories as well...

Well anyways, enjoy! :D

Chapter 2: Lovers and Friends

They held each other, for what felt like forever and at the same time, not long enough, before they were brought back to their surroundings when the front door slammed loudly, causing Irvine to jump and Leon to look back.

"What was that?" Leon questioned, with his usual demanding tone.

"Um…that was Cloud." Yuffie replied uneasily as Aerith and Cid continued to watched to door. Cid looked after where Cloud had gone in confusion, while Aerith looked on anxiously. Yuffie stood rubbing the back of her head, looking to Leon with an uneasy smile.

Leon wondered briefly why Cloud had left so abruptly and loudly; the second was very unlike him. But these thoughts were blown away when Irvine suddenly clung closer to him, causing Leon to automatically return the embrace, protectively.

"Did I do something to upset him?" Irvine asked, barely above a whisper, into Leon's shoulder.

Leon turned to Irvine and pulled him back so he could look into his eyes. When their eyes met, Leon touched Irvine's face and stated, "You did nothing wrong. Alright?"

Irvine nodded, leaning into Squall's touch, just praying the heat from Squall's hand was real. He still felt so weak. He had trouble focusing on what was real.

Then he felt Squall's lips on his, and nothing else mattered.

Squall held the other's face gently between his hands as he began to lovingly caress Irvine's lips with his own. Their lips moved as they had long ago, oh it seemed like such a long time ago…

Squall then licked at Irvine's lips, sensually, causing a surprised gasp from Irvine, which Squall took it as consent to slipped his tongue into Irvine's warm mouth. Then, as their tongues first made contact, Irvine started to tremble from the intense range of emotions he felt at the contact, almost causing him to pull away. Squall dove his tongue deeper into Irvine's mouth, twining their tongues together erotically, kissing him in a desperate passion.

Irvine immediately fell submissive under Squall's affection. It was unlike him, but he needed this sign of affection, he needed Squall to show him his love.

Irvine moaned from the pressure of their lips being pressed together along with the strong hurricane of emotion coursing through his frame. He held onto Squall's shoulders and fell into oblivion.

"Ahem!" A loud clearing of the throat broke them apart. Sending Irvine blushing and, when he looked to the other, found Squall was turning red as well.

"Geez, you two. Get a room!" Cid called from the kitchen.

Yuffie was watching Cid with an amused look, as Irvine and Leon noticed, at the same time, that Aerith was standing by their side.
She looked between them in obvious confusion. She paused before she spoke, "You…you two…know each other?", she inquired through her confusion.

They nodded simultaneously but only Leon spoke, "Yes, Aerith. This is Irvine Kinneas. He was a close friend from my original world. We've know each other since we were young."

"Oh!" Aerith gasped excitedly, "Oh my -that's great! I'm so happy for you Irvine, Squall." She said to them, with a genuine smile.


Maybe Irvine will be alright.

Aerith thought to herself with hope.

Maybe Leon will be the one to help Irvine. To heal him and make him smile again…

She held her hands clasped, close to her chest, with her eyes closed, and a pure smile on her face. She really prayed she was right.

-oOo-

As dusk became dark, the lights in the little houses, all around Radiant Garden, began to glow.

And it was the same at Merlin's little house. Lights were aglow from the little building, as well as accompanied by a favorable chatter from within its walls. From the little kitchen is where the said chatter took place; for they had moved to there when the owner of the little house, Merlin himself, had come home.

They were all seated around the circular table, with the exception of Aerith, for she was cooking, and Merlin, for Yuffie had taken the only open seat next to the auburn haired visitor, besides the one Leon was occupying, and Merlin desperately wanted to learn more about the man who had fallen from the sky. So he stood, aside from the man and Yuffie, getting engrossed in any and all the details he was learning from the others. Then, when they ran out of answers, he looked to the said man himself.

"So, your name is Irvine."

Irvine nodded, a little unsure of the old man in front of him.

The old wizard smiled and said, "Well, my name is Merlin, and this is my house. I hope you feel welcomed."

Irvine, again, only nodded, still unsure how to act around these people he barely had been introduced to…and even so, they had been so kind to him, saving his life, healing him, still knowing nothing about him. Only looking to him now for answers, not out of force or need, but through pure curiosity only. It made his heart ache. Such kindness…Did he deserve it? He wasn't sure…

Irvine looked at each of them, as he thought about all of this, and then sighed and said, "I'm sorry. I would like to thank you all for helping me earlier but…I seemed to have lost track of names…Missing some of them all together." he said with a helpless smile.

Aerith was the first to speak, though all the eyes of those around him had softened at his words. "Oh I'm sorry Irvine! Here…" she quickly wiped her hands off and moved to the table, behind Yuffie, and gestured to herself, "I'm Aerith Gainsborough. This…" she gestured from right to left as she introduced the rest, "Is Merlin, Yuffie Kisaragi, Cid Highwind and …the blond who left earlier, that was Cloud. Cloud Strife."

Irvine nodded and look to them all, "Thank you so much for your help." he looked to Aeirith, "Especially you Aerith. You saved my life. I am eternally grateful." Then he turned to Cid and gave a small smile, "And Cid…thank you for helping me too…"

Cid only grunted in response while Aerith gently hugged Irvine from behind.

"You're welcome Irvine." she said. Then releasing him, she returned to readying dinner.

Yuffie decided to break the unfolding silence herself, and began to speak, "Soo, Irvine! Where did you come from? Were you still in your own world before you ended up here? But I thought Sq-err Leon said it was taken over by heartless…So yeah, where?! Where were you before you fell form the sky? How did that happen anyways? Did you like fall out of a gumi ship or something? Is that even possible? Hey Leon do you think-"

"Yuffie!" they all yelled at her with the exception of Irvine. Who just looked a bit confused.

Leon touched his scar, out of annoyance, "One question at a time Yuffie, and address only one person at a time while you're at it."

Yuffie sighed, "Okaay, man you guys are so touchy! Anyways…Irvi! I can call you that right?" When Irvine gave her a slight nod she went on, "Soo Irvi, where did you come from?" Yuffie asked leaning foreword with her head resting in her palm, elbows on the table.

Irvine looked in thought for a moment, then looked around at everyone in the room, then brought his wondering eyes to a rest on Squall as he asked, "Why are they calling you Leon?"

Leon only blinked at first. Seeming taken aback from the question.

"Hey I asked a question first!" Yuffie yelled smacking her fist to the table.

Ignoring her, as everyone else was, Leon respond to Irvine with simply, "I just prefer it."

Irvine's face scrunched, "Prefer it? It's not even your name! Where did you…" Irvine's eyes widened with realization. "You took it from your last name, didn't you? …Why? Why wouldn't you want to be called Squall?"

Leon just closed his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back in his chair, "Does it matter the reason?"

"Yes. Why would you make up new name? What was wrong with the old one?"

"Because I wanted to be separated from the man I used to be."

Irvine felt a sharp pain cross his heart, "…And what was so wrong with the man you used to be? What could you have possibly done that would make you regret it enough to need a new identity to separate yourself from it? What was so wrong with how things were Squall? What?"

Leon sighed shaking his head, "Nothing was wrong with the way things were, Irvine. It was-"

"Then what was it?!"

Leon stared at Irvine, really looking at him, and he saw how truly unstable his friend was. Leon wonder just what had happen to Irvine when their world had vanished? At that thought, a bit of guilt struck him, for he was the reason Irvine was hurting now, was because he…

"I couldn't stop the heartless from destroying our world. I couldn't save our friends. I failed everyone… I didn't…couldn't go on with the guilt of all that. I couldn't put it behind me…so, I gave myself a clean slate in a way. I changed me name to separate myself from who I was: A man who failed everyone he had love and his entire world. For a man who had no past and wanted to make a future."

Irvine just sat there for a moment, the emotions coloring his face continued to change: confusion, hurt, anger, until it settled on an utterly lost expression that quickly began to bring the life out of the auburn haired man's face, as he asked, barley above a whisper, "…Then where does that leave me?"

Leon stared at his friend for a moment and realized how his words must have sounded.

If Squall was his past and Leon had absolved himself of that past, rejecting it all together. Then that would mean that Irvine would be nothing to Leon…and that wasn't true. He had said it wrong and he could tell from the look on Irvine's face, he had hurt him, dearly. Those sky blue eyes were dim now and Leon wasn't sure how to fix it, how to take back what he had said.

Luckily Aerith came over to break the tension, as she started to set down bowls of stew for everyone, "Time to eat guys."

When she set down Irvine's bowl she smiled at him and said, "Now make sure to eat your fill Irvine. You need to build up your strength."

Irvine didn't have much of an appetite, but he didn't want to hurt Aerith's feelings, so he nodded and began to slowly eat. However as soon as he had taken the first bite and tasted the deliciously thick and warm simmered dish, his appetite had returned and he gleefully ate. It had been a long time since he had had a good meal, eaten in a place where he could feel safe. It was also the first time he had had a real home cooked meal, well since the time he spent at the orphanage. A dark haired woman with kind eyes filled his mind and he smiled; Matron had been a good cook, or at least Irvine had thought so, but then again he had never tried another person's cooking until he had joined Galbadia Garden. But the food there was just cheap cafeteria food, even so, the other students had flocked to it like animals, leaving little for those who would arrive late. Irvine couldn't help but sigh at the thought of those students.

Irvine looked down to his empty bowl and realized how quickly he had eaten what he was given. It had been years since he had had a actual decent meal…in fact, Irvine couldn't recall the last time he had eaten before now. Had it been days? Weeks? He wasn't sure, everything was such a blur, covered by so much pain, restlessness, and fear…

He recalled his last day in Dark City, though it was always night there except for about 3 hours a day. He recollected laying weakly against the side of a building in a abandoned and filthy alleyway. He recalled looking to his hand as it dripped with blood, his blood. He had been filled with agonizing pain and was bleeding to death. He had been certain he was going to die then. That it was finally the end, and he was glad for it. But in the end, his instincts had failed him…for they had saved his life.

"Irvine?"

Irvine was brought back by the coo of his name through a gentle voice. He looked to find Aerith standing across from him at the table, looking to him worriedly but smiled when their eyes had met. "Would you like more?"

Irvine looked to empty bowl then back to her nodding, "Yes, if there's enough."

She continued to smile, "Yes plenty. Don't worry about that." she quickly moved to his side of the table, taking his bowl and filling it, then after returning the bowl to its owner, she proceeded back to her own seat.

Irvine began to eat his second bowl more slowly, his initial hunger cured. Now that he was outside of his own mind, Irvine began to notice the conversations that had been going on around him, mostly circling around Squ…Leon…

Aerith was asking him about his day as the raven haired girl, Yuffie, seemed to be throwing in a few side comments of her own, mostly to annoying the stormy eyed brunet. Merlin was also throwing in a few comments of his own, while Cid just enjoyed insulting Yuffie, which failed to ruffle the girl's feathers.

Irvine watched the exchanges around him with soft eyes. All their voices were so kind to his ears, so soothing and peaceful. He felt at ease with them. He felt more content now, at this moment, than he had in years.
Though the words his friend had sad hurt him, he didn't think of it now. He'd had been in enough pain for the past 8 years, he could manage to leave his worries over the brunet for later.

As he returned to observing the others, someone called out his name to gather his attention. Irvine turned to the voice and found the strange old man looking at him, smiling as he started to curiously ask about the last world Irvine had been to. About its name and what it was like. Irvine tried to smile but it turned into a pained sorrow filled one that cause stormy eyes to look his way and Aerith to wave her hands at Merlin, signaling him to change the subject. Which he caught on and stopped, he apologizing to Irvine and began to casually tell him about Radiant Garden.

Irvine only nodded to all Merlin was telling him. He was eternally grateful for the change in subject. Dark City…he wasn't ready to talk about it just yet. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be…

Hmm, a world called Radiant Garden…Garden…
Irvine smiled. It felt like home.

-oOo-

Dinner went by smoothly the rest of the evening. By the time everyone was finished, Irvine was certain he had everyone's name down as well as a few others had yet to meet. Like Tifa, Sora, Donald, Goofy…and Cloud.

Cloud…

From what he learned of Cloud tonight, the man didn't care to be around people much. He preferred solitude and refused to help out with the Restoration Committee that Leon and the others had put together.

In ways, Cloud reminded him of how Squall used to be: so cut off from everyone emotionally, loathing to deal with other's problems.
Squall changed when Rinoa managed to break through his ice shield and heart. He had begun to care more then but…Irvine really wasn't sure how different this Leon truly was from Squall…and to be honest he was a little scared to find out.

The evening was winding down. With the table cleared and Merlin in bed, the girls set about washing the dishes, as Irvine listened to Leon and Cid discuss the town's security system and how they should improve it, while they continued to occupy their seats at the circular table.
The conversation left Irvine a little lost but he was too mentally and physically exhausted to bother asking them to elaborate on it. So, instead, he took in what he could and let his exhaustion take him over as he let out a yawn and rested his head atop his arms on the cool table.

Yuffie happened to glace over at him and turned to face the rest of them as she dried a bowl asking, "Soo, where's Irvi gunna sleep tonight?"

Before anyone could respond, Leon spoke first, "He'll stay with me."

All eyes turned to Leon. Even Irvine sat back up to look at the man he once knew, in astonishment.

"But Leon, you only have one bed." Aerith pointed out as she dried her hands on
Yuffie's towel.

"It's fine. It's large enough for two people."

"Barely!" Yuffie commented

Leon gave her a look and replied, "It'll be fine. Plus I'd think he'd be more comfortable spending the night with me."

"Good point." Aerith agreed.

Yuffie sighed and turned back to the dish rack, "Whatever~"

Cid just grumbled and replied, "Just make sure to return my shirt in the morning…"

Irvine blinked and looked down at the shirt he had borrowed from Cid before they had moved to the kitchen earlier (which he recalled the man being quite annoyed about). It was a simple white t-shirt, just like the man had on now. Irvine gave a slight smile to the blond man, "Yeah, don't worry."

"Oh wait!" Aerith said as she rushed off into the other room. They all turned to Yuffie for an explanation. When she noticed their stares she only shrugged, shaking her head. A moment latter Aerith returned into the room with purple cloth in her arms and looked to Irvine with a smile, "You're shirt is clean and dry. You can change into this before you go."

"Yeah, go do that." Cid spoke from his seat, "Go get the hell out of my shirt."

Irvine looked to the older man surprised by his outburst. Had he offend Cid in someway?

Aerith only shook her head at the blond and looked to Irvine as she said, "Excuse Cid, Irvine, he's always like that."

"What the hell's that suppose to mean!?"

"Anyways," she said, ignoring the blond as she handed Irvine the shirt, "Why don't you go down the hall and change. Leon? Will you show him to the bathroom?"

Leon nodded and got to him feet, holding a hand down to Irvine to help him up. Irvine hesitantly took the offered hand and got to his feet and left the room with Leon, flushing, for the brunet never released his hand…

Leon opened the door to the washroom and Irvine looked around the inside. It was small but it had all the essentials: a toilet, a sank, and a stand in shower. The shower caught his eye and Irvine looked to Leon with begging eyes that caused the other's eyes to widen in surprise over the gaze, "May I…use the shower?"

Stormy eyes stared into sky-blue in understanding. The brunet nodded, "Go right ahead. Here, I'll show you how it works."

Again the brunet took hold of Irvine's hand, leading him into the bathroom and to the shower stall. Leon pulled back the curtain and proceeded to explain the controls. He showed Irvine where the soap and shampoo were and then left the shower running after he had hand tested the temperature and turned to Irvine letting him know he'd be back with towels. Irvine only nodded and watched him go, shutting the door behind him. Irvine shook his head, attempting the shake the nervousness off which he felt toward the brunet, and undressed. After making sure he set the blonde's shirt safely out of the way, he pulled the tie out of his hair, shaking his auburn hair out, and made his way under the warm wash. Irvine sighed in contentment as the warm water cascaded down his body. It all felt so good. There was to pain, no discomfort, no anxiety; only warmth, warmth and contentment. He could stand under that rinse forever, and then he'd be at peace…

Leon returned a few minutes later, setting the towels down at the edge of the sink and turned to the shower and listened. He didn't hear much movement going on and almost caught himself thinking the auburn man wasn't even in there.

"Irvine?"

The said man jumped in surprise at his name but sighed in relief when he recognized the voice. After catching his breath be responded, "Yes?"

"Make sure to hurry up before the warm water runs out. It only lasts about 10-15 minutes per hour."

"Oh…Alright, thanks Squa…err, thanks."

Leon frowned and turned to the door, "I'll wait for you outside."

The door shut and he was alone again in paradise. Well, a quickly ending paradise, for Irvine could already feel the water's warmth slightly lessen as every minute passed. He quickly moved to the shampoo graciously squeezed a good amount in his hand and began to run it through his hair and scrub it viciously. Gleefully, he rinse his hair, enjoying the clean feel of his hair as he ran his hands over it. Then he quickly turned and took the soap and continued to thoroughly wash himself, trying to beat the rapidly cooling water. Then just as the water dropped to a bitter cold, he was finished. Quickly, he shut off the water and leapt from the shower, wrapped himself in one of the towels the brunet had left for him. After recovering some warmth, Irvine removed the towel from his body and flipped his head forward as began to dry off his hair.

Finishing he dropped the wet towel to the side and taking the second towel, he finished drying off the rest of his body. He turned then to where he had left his clothes a found that they were gone, and in there place was a pair of pajama bottoms, boxers, and a long t-shirt. Irvine blinked at first in confusion, but then realized the brunet must have taken his clothes and left these for him. Shrugging off his confusion, he slipped into the clothes. Then, taking a hold of his boots and the discarded towels, he made his way to the door and out.

"Feel better?" a voice to the side of him asked.

Irvine nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound but then turned to his side and sighed, when he realized it was, again, only the brunet.

"Stop scaring me like that!" he sighed out in exasperation.

"Sorry." the man responded with little emotion. Then eyeing Irvine he commented, "You haven't put your boots on yet?"

Irvine blinked and looked from his boots to Leon and responded, "No, why would I? We're just going to your room right?"

"No, my house, though it's not much more than a room. Its just down the street, so you should throw your boots on, we'll be going when your ready."

"Oh…alright." Irvine looked from the boots he held in one hand to the towels he had in the other a little uncertain as to what to do with them.

The brunet saw this and took the towels from the auburn man.

"Um…thanks." When the man only nodded in response Irvine went on to ask, "So Cid's shirt…?"

"I already put it in the wash."

"My pants?"

"Same."

"Oh…thanks." Irvine responded looking down, then remembering something else looked up about to ask when simultaneously the brunet held up the purple vest.

"It's right here."

Irvine flushed, "Oh…okay."

"Go get your feet dressed."

Irvine nodded and walked passed the brunet and crossed the room to the couch and sat. He set down his boots and pulled sox out from them, which he realized weren't his own but someone else's clean sox, which he concluded the brunet must have given him as well. Unsure how to feel about all this kindness he was receiving from the man he thought might not want him, Irvine decided to shrug it off and began to pull on the clean sox and boots. Then looking around he happened to glance down at the spot he recalled dropping his faithful shotgun earlier, but the only problem was, it was gone.

Gone…

Ice flowed through his veins and froze him on the spot. Fear ripped through him and he began to tremble endlessly. Darkness, his eyes were pilling him into the darkness of Dark City. He was alone, he was unarmed, he was hurt, bleeding, a dark figure loomed near and knew it was going to be the end. No one could escape death twice.

The dark figure grabbed him by the shoulders, Irvine closed his eyes waiting for the blows, but when none came he opened his eyes and saw storm grey eyes with an unforgettable scar crossing between them.


Squall…

Then the world came back into focus. Squall was holding him, he was in Merlin's house, he was safe, there was no pain, no blood, it was all…a memory.

"Irvine are you alright? Can you here me now?" Leon had felt the trembling subside when Irvine's sky blue eyes met his. Then he saw the eyes scan the room once before returning to his own , Irvine then responding with a slight nod and a relieved sigh, "Yes…It's alright, I'm fine…"

"What happened? What was wrong?"

Worried storm grey met uneasy blue.

"Please Squall, my gun…please find my gun."

Leon looked to him confused, "Your gun? Why?"

"Please, I just need it."

Leon saw the desperation in his friend's eyes, "Alright, where was it last?"

Irvine pointed to the spot at his feet, "I dropped it there when I was brought in here. It's gone." Irvine almost chocked on the word. He gun was missing, he was unarmed, though he knew he was safe, just the thought of being defenseless sent his body into tremors.

Leon, afraid to leave his friend like this, but wanting to find the gun for him quickly, called for Aerith.

She rushed in behind Leon as he continued to hold Irvine by his shoulders, trying to calm him down.

"What's wrong, Leon? What happened?"

Without looking away from Irvine the brunet spoke, "Aerith, Irvine said he dropped his gun here when he came in and now it's not here. Do you know who may have moved it or where it is now?"

"It's gone?" Aeirth asked surprised looking around the couch and table.

More tremors filled Irvine at Aerith's words.

"Go find it for me Aerith, and bring it here quickly."

Aerith rushed off to the kitchen to ask the others then rushed upstairs.

Irvine couldn't hear Leon's words of comfort, couldn't feel his hands on him, nothing. Though his eyes were locked with Leon's, he wasn't truly seeing anything. Panic was rising at every second that passed. Though it had only been minutes, it felt like hours before the familiar weight was dropped into his hands. Irvine looked down to the precious weight and found his gun. He held it close, barely taking in the words being said above him.

"Where was it?" Leon asked, releasing Irvine's shoulders.

"Merlin had moved it, he was afraid of the gun laying around so he poofed it off somewhere and forgot where. It turned out to be in the hallway closet. I'm so sorry, Leon." She turned to Irvine, "I'm sorry, Irvine."

Irvine didn't hear her though. He just sat there, with his eyes closed and the gun held close. He was safe again. Everything was alright again. It was okay. It would be okay. He was okay.

A mixture of emotions coursed through Leon as he watched his friend: sadness for Irvine's pain, anger for what had happened to him, guilt for not being able to prevent it, and a few others he had trouble placing. He moved to his auburn haired friend and lifted him up into his arms.
At the feel of his body leaving the cushions, Irvine looked up to find the brunet and noticed he was being held within his arms. He flushed deeply, unable to form words.

"Well be going now. Thank you for taking care of him, Aerith. Tell the others to get rest."

"You're welcome Leon, and yes I'll tell them you said good night."

Leon only grunted as he turned and walked to the door and left.

-oOo-

Leon's house was only a few houses away from Merlin's, and on the opposite side of the street. Leon hadn't been lying, though Squall never lied, so that would be the wrong word, perhaps over exaggerated would have been more it. But he hadn't, for the house was only a room large. A large room, but only a room. There was a bed in the far corner, against the far wall with a window over it, which Leon moved towards to set Irvine down upon. Irvine moved and began to remove his boots. Then looking to the side of him found a little nightstand close to the head of the bed, on top of it was a few blueprints and notes Leon must have left for himself. Irvine continued to scan the room.

To the far right was a closet, it was closed, and to its side was a dresser, which he watched Leon set his gun blade against. Irvine couldn't help but smile, it was something familiar, something that connected to the past, their past, to Squall.

Leon moved to the opposite wall, which the headboard of the bed leaned against, and hung up his coat up on a wall hanger along side three other coats. One had been Squall's.

Irvine found himself wondering just how much of Leon hated Squall or if not hated…how much he just didn't want to be the man… What was it with the brunet? All of this was causing Irvine a headache. If this Leon was Squall then that would mean Squall was having some identity issues or…something.

Irvine only sighed, he couldn't figure it out. Was Squall doing all this out of wrongly felt guilt? Or…something more?

Leon turned to Irvine when he heard him groan. "Something wrong?" he asked with an eyebrow raised but there was a hint of worry to his tone.

Irvine just looked up to him from his seat on the bed. His head was rested against his palm as he replied, "I just don't get it, Squall. Are you acting like this because you feel obligated to help me? Or does some part of in deep inside still hold feelings for me? Are you this Leon because you regret being Squall? Or are you just doing all this out of foolish guilt? Explain it to me again, please, because my head is starting to hurt trying to figure all this out."

Leon just looked at his friend for a moment. Before he spoke, he first thought through how to explain himself correctly. Then taking in a breath he responded, "Earlier…when I said Leon had no past, I miss spoke. I didn't mean I regretted my past or had forgotten even a moment of it. What I meant was…after our world had disappeared, I couldn't go on, I couldn't face the people I met with all the guilt I held.
"Squall Leonhart, SeeD, commander of Balamb Garden…failed everyone he had ever known, ever loved…people he had never met were dead because of him…Squall."

Irvine tried to speak up, most likely to disagree with him carrying this burden, but Leon held up a hand to keep him quiet and went on, "I wanted to become a different person, a better person. So I put a wall around my pain, to separate it from my mind. I met others who's worlds had also vanished. When they asked for my name…and I gave them Leon, which was neither Squall nor my mother's name, but someone who was completely alone but still was apart of Squall in a small way." Leon sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm probably not making any sense."

"…No" Irvine disagreed after a moment, "I understood, at least part of that… but, Squall, that wasn't your fault. You couldn't have stopped the heartless from what they did anymore than any of us were able too. You weren't fighting that battle alone, Squall, we were all with you. We fought together, we failed together. If your going to be blaming yourself for what happened, then you should throw some of that blame my way. You were our commander, yes, but that didn't make you any different than us. You were still a SeeD and so were we. No one expected more from you than you gave. Yes, I'm sure in end we were all hoping for a miracle but it wasn't you job to do that. You couldn't! You're only human…You were only 18... You cant blame yourself Squall, you just cant…"

Silence filled the room, and for a length of time, nothing was said. Finally Leon moved from the spot he stood, over to his dresser and pulled off his shirt. Irvine's breath caught in his throat at the site of Leon's tight chest. He wasn't the lithe teen he once was. No… Squall had grown into a man, and a gorgeous one at that.

Then suddenly, the kiss from earlier slipped into Irvine's mind and he couldn't help but wonder if the brunet truly still held feeling for him, or if what had happened earlier had been and uncontrollable rush from the past. He needed to know.

"Squall?"

The brunet had begun the task of removing the belts from his pants when he stopped and turned to the auburn-haired man with a questioning look. Irvine swallowed and asked, "About earlier today… When you kissed me…?"

Irvine watched as the red in Leon's cheek rose, trying to read the man.

"What did it mean? Was it just the shock of being reunited or…or do you still…?"

They had never said the words to each other. Irvine wasn't even sure if love was what pulled them together like this or not. Squall loved Rinoa, but he still spent nights with Irvine. Irvine cared for Selphie, but he couldn't keep away from Squall. Whatever they had back then, they were unable to ride themselves of, but now…Irvine knew it was still there, inside of himself, but, then again, he didn't know about Squall. Was he still feeling this invisible pull toward each other?

Squall turned away from Irvine, pulling off the last of his belts, setting them on top his dresser. Then, he turned to the auburn man and held out his hand. "Give me the gun, Irvine."

Irvine blinked and looked between Squall and the gun he held, then pulled the gun close to his chest protectively.

"Irvine, I want to set it here for the night. It wont go anywhere, I promise."

Irvine knew Squall always kept his promises, but the gun… "You never answered my question." Irvine changed the subject. It was pathetic, but it gave him more time.

"Give me the gun and you'll have your answer."

Irvine just stared at Squall's stern look, helplessly.

"I promise, it'll be right here when you wake up."

Irvine watched Squall for a moment. Then, being unable to doubt the man, he sighed. He gave one last longing look to his precious gun and handed it over to a man he loved.

He did love Squall, he knew that, and for a long time. But was he in love with Squall? That was the question Irvine always found himself unable to answer. Irvine could never pin down exactly what his feelings for the other man were, nor what feeling kept the other man by his side.
Was it still that strong?

Irvine wondered as he watched the brunet set his beloved gun down onto the dresser beside the belts, and turn to move towards him. He received his answer as the brunet cupped his cheek in his right hand and kissed him deeply. The brunet pulled away and looked into sky blue eyes and said only, "I still do." Then he pulled the other man back to him in another deep, longing kiss as he used his free hand to move under the long white shirt to feel the body underneath. Irvine gasped from the touch which only encouraged the brunet further, as he moved his hands to lift the other further onto the bed. Squall laid Irvine in the middle of the bed and then positioned himself between the other's legs and leaned back down to continued kissing and feeling his past lover. Soon, clothing was left behind as the two reunited and rekindled their relationship through bringing each other to oblivion and back.

-oOo-

Bright light shined through the curtainless window onto the pale naked body of the man on the bed below. Irvine shifted and growled as the light hit his eyes, waking him instantly. Sky blue eyes opened to gaze out into the morning light.

Morning…

Irvine blinked the sat up looking about himself, relaxing slightly as he remembered yesterdays events and knew he was safe. The auburn man laid back for a moment taking in the room around him. He felt…no…he knew something was missing.

Squall…

His mind supplied him.

Yes…Squall was not here. So where…?

His question was answered when a small piece of paper on the nightstand caught his eye. He sat up and carefully took the paper into his hand and brought it close as he read.

Irvine,

Sorry I left before you woke. I thought you could use the rest.
I left to go get work done for the Restoration Committee.
Stop by Merlin's and Aerith will make you something to eat. Also your clothes should be cleaned and dried by now so she'll give you those as well.
You're free to do as you please for the day. If you want you can come work with me (Aerith should know my location). Otherwise I'll see you tonight at dinner, it'll be at Merlin's like yesterday.

I'll see you soon.

Irvine smiled and set the note down. The brunet may not have signed the note Squall but neither did he put Leon… Maybe it was just from the pain from losing their world; the brunet's unnecessary guilt. Maybe it had nothing to do with their past…Well, after last night, it seemed Squall still felt the same as he used to.

Irvine felt warm…why was it knowing Squall still felt something for him did this? …It must be the feeling that you're loved. It had been so long since he had felt that…

Irvine shook off his recollection and got to his feet, stopping suddenly as a sharp pain ran up his spin.

Right…

He thought with both annoyance and pleasure.

This what happened when he got bottom…

Irvine sat back down for a moment more before he finally got to his feet and moved to gather his clothing when he found them neatly folded at the side of the bed. Irvine smiled, Squall could be so thoughtful…

-oOo-

Though he had lunch, instead of breakfast, because of how long he had slept in this morning, Irvine was feeling full and satisfied. Now freshly showered and changed into his own clothing, he readied to leave Merlin's house. Saying his goodbyes to Aerith, he left and decided to pay a certain brunet a visit. But that plan was temporally postponed when he noticed a certain blonde against a building across the street from him.

Cloud…

This was the man he was unable to meet yesterday because of his quick retreat. Irvine desperately wanted to be on good terms with this man. Heck, he wanted to be on good terms with everyone Squall knew, but as he neared the blonde and his crystal eyes opened, he had a feeling the man did not feel the same.

Crystal eyes immediately set into a death glare, seeming to warn Irvine to back off.

A little nervous but still wanting to make friendly with the man, Irvine decided to still try.

"Hi. We weren't really able to talk yesterday… I'm Irvine Kinneas, an old friend of Squa…err, Leon's."

The blonde said nothing and only continued to glare.

Irvine swallowed, "You must be Cloud. I was wonder…"

Irvine cut himself off as the man suddenly turned, giving him the cold shoulder, and walked off leaving a feeling of animosity in his wake.

Irvine only watched the man go feeling as though it may be much harder than he had first thought to become buddy-buddy with this man who seemed to completely, and unexplainably, hate him.

Well, was it worth the wait? xD

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to review and tell me what you thought of it and/or if you have anything (ideas or requests) to suggest to the story.

Take Care All! :)