Title: Word of the Day v. FFIV
Author: Garnet Eyes
Archived: fanfiction .net, livejournal .com
Last Updated: 12 Mar 2011
Summary: 30 January 2000 edition.
Rating: K+
Characters/Pairings: Cecil, Kain
Author Notes: inveterate, adjective;
1. Firmly established by long persistence; deep-rooted; of long standing.
2. Fixed in habit by long persistence; confirmed; habitual.
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy IV is owned by Square-Enix and I in no way, shape, or form profit off of my writing. This is simply for my own pleasure, and may at any time be removed and/or modified as I see fit.

...

In the commotion of trying to prevent a great evil from descending on the world, Cecil hadn't had the chance to say anything, but now he had the time and he intended to do just that. The paladin didn't appreciate how Prince Edge had complained and besmirched Kain's name in the face of all of the confusion. The dragoon was a good man, an honorable man, and he was completely undeserving of the terrible pains that he'd undergone. To not be in control of one's own mind, Cecil couldn't imagine what that could be like. And to know what was happening besides, and yet be incapable of taking the righteous path no matter how you knew that your current actions were clearly the wrong ones... Kain bore a heavy burden from that. Cecil didn't blame his friend, but he knew better than to attempt to convince the new king of Eblan that the dragoon was innocent. It was too much to claim innocence, but the paladin could very well express the blonde's history insomuch that he was more loyal than the ninja gave him credit for and he had a good heart regardless of all else. Had he really been such a terrible man, would he not have scoffed at the notion of remorse over past misdeeds? Edge needed to understand, as a fellow ruler and a man Cecil would likely be in contact with more than once in the coming years, that the blonde knight would always be his best friend and guardian, and nothing would change that.