"Irvine.... What are you doing in Squall's room? At 6 am?"
"...'Noa?"

~ Please don't let this be a private line, Plllllease don't let this be a private line... ~
Those were against the rules; cadets and Seeds alike were to have only one phone line in their room. Everything else, of course, was run through a cable hookup. Although some would shell out the extra cash to add another line, few wanted to face the wrath of the Garden for doing so. Of course, since Squall was the Commander, he might be allowed to have more then one, but Irvine didn't know.
~ Why did you answer the phone? Stupid, stupid, stupid... ~
"Irvine? Hello?"
"Sorry... I'm still kinda dead. We had a mission last night, and got in a few hours ago. I kinda passed out on his couch."
A pause on the other end. He wished he could read her thoughts. And he was praying that she couldn't read his.
"Oh... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called so early then, I'm just used to him being awake around right now... Could you just tell him I called?"
"Sure... Ya want him to call you back?"
"No, no. I'll just call later, thanks Irvine."
"No problemo 'Noa."
She hung up the phone, and he hung his up just a few seconds later, staring at it. He felt that he had just committed some sort of huge mistake, in answering the phone. But, he would have to worry about that later, right now... He *needed* sleep.

Rinoa stared at the phone on her desk, fist clenched as she tried to control her breathing. He had just lied to her, about her boyfriend. Squall only had one line, and one phone. Next to his bed. She knew, because she'd awoken him enough nights. Sparks danced around her fingertips as a slow anger started to burn. The nerve of that cowboy. To be lying next to *her* Knight, and telling her he was asleep on the couch. Did he think she was some sort of idiot? She had left because Squall needed space. And he decided to make his move. She'd known he had feelings for him, which was why they had never gotten along to well. So he made his move while she was away. And he was going to pay for that. Squall was hers, by Hyne. And *nothing* would come between them.

A few hours later...

Squall's eyes slowly opened, smiling as he saw Irvine next to him. The gunslinger's eyes were closed, but he still held him in a protective embrace. No wonder he hadn't had a nightmare last night, his trench-coated angel had stayed with him. And now that he knew it was him, he couldn't afford to let Irvine go. But what if Rinoa came back? How would he explain this to her? As if feeling Squall's eyes upon him, Irvine slowly awoke, then smiled slightly.
"So, it wasn't a dream..."
"No, it wasn't..." Squall agreed. And though he wanted to bask in this newfound comfort, he sensed something was wrong.
"Is something... bothering you?"
"...I answered the phone earlier."
Squall didn't see any huge problem with that; the only ones that called him early were friends. Everyone else called the office.
"It was... Rinoa..."
Irvine bit his lower lip as Squall's eyes darkened again. Rinoa had called? Shit, she knew he had only one phone. So, that's what it was. Her anger.
"Squall, I'm..."
"Don't worry about it. We'll deal with it when she gets here."
"But what if...."
Squall waited. Irvine's eyes had taken on a slight haunted look. He could understand partly why, lying to someone with as power that Rinoa held was not a smart thing. "...What?"
Irvine shook his head. "Nothing. I. It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
The gunslinger nodded. Squall kissed him softly. Though she was mad now, Squall was sure he'd make her see reason.

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A/N - Sorry to take so long. sniffle My stupid computer died. Well, I hope everyone likes this chapter! Coming up next, She's baaaaack.
So, shall I continue? Please let me know! ^_^;;

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This was part of the original rough draft, but as you can see, it changed. But I decided to throw this in, cause I thought it was funny... I hope you do to. :)
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"I forgot where I was... And it's habit. I just picked it up. And then... I hear her voice... You don't have a separate bedroom line, do you?"
Squall frowned slightly, and Irvine wanted to cringe.
~ Ut oh... ~ "No.. But I only have one phone..."
Irvine groaned, wishing he could pull the covers over his head and just die. He'd just lied to a chick, who could blow up the world! And he had lied - about her boyfriend!
"Irvine... We'll deal with this, don't worry."
"Easy for you to say, she's not going to kill you."
Squall surprised him by laughing. Now he knew it was either a) end of the world, or b) he was dreaming.
~ Why me? Why, why, why... ~