Chapter 25
(2nd half of chapter 24)
He was asleep.
She locked the door handle and deadbolt and made her way over to the bed.
The site of him was darling.
Fully dressed- mangled hat and all. Totally soaked. His sodden hair was stuck all over his cheeks and his boots were dripping on the floor, still on his feet, which hung over the side of the bed.
'He's so adorable. And such a child sometimes. . .I guess he is a little needy. . .'
As any dutiful mother and wife would, Quistis untied and removed his filthy boots. The snow had even leaked through the durable work boots, leaving his socks drenched and his feet prune-y.
Quistis crawled up the bed and picked his hat off his head. She 'tisked' at it's pathetic state.
'Hyne. . .he's not going to be a happy camper. . .'
Shrugging, she went about amputating his duster from his body. The water-absorbed leather fiercely clung to his skin, but he needed to get out of it. The task elicited sleepy-moans from Irvine. She ignored him.
"No. No. . ."He protested meekly, trying to role over. But she held him fast and worked efficiently. Irvine wriggled in her grasp and mewed softly. Quistis scanned his squirming body and noticed that his poor, naked feet were curled and contorted, vying futiley with the rest of his leg for pant-warmth.
"Just a second. . ." She mumbled, pulling his left arm from the sleeve. He cried out.
"No! No! Help!" He gasped softly. "Help! No, don't instructor Trepe! Someone help! Instructor Trepe's trying to rape me. . ."
"Irvine!" She smacked his chest and pinched his shoulder. He opened one mischievous eye and winked.
"Oh. .. I guess I was dreamin'. . ." He grinned. She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. . .I guess so. . ."
"Heh heh. . .well, I knew Someone was tryin' ta, like, get in my pants. . ."
"Only me, sweetheart. Only me. . ."Quistis leaned and kiss her cadet-her- cadet on his pink lips. He returned the favor with an gusto, pulling her into his clammy embrace. Groaning, she pulled away.
"Irvine- I won't cuddle with you unless you change. You're still wet, you're going to catch pneumonia or. . .something." She sputtered. He kissed her on the forehead.
"Sure mom." He added cheerfully and jumped to his feet. He immediately rummaged through his carry-all
"You mean. . .mommy-matron, don't you?" She asked slyly, as he shimmied out of his wet slacks and replaced them with his favorite pair of jeans. He ripped his cadet dress shirt over his neck.
"Naw. . .I never called you that. . .that was always sefie and zelly and. . ." As the shirt came over his head, Quistis was met with a pair of bug-like violet eyes. He took a step forward, gawking at her as though she's grown a third eye. "Quisty. . ." He breathed, slowly kneeling in front of her seated position on the edge of the bed. She stroked back a loose tendril of auburn hair.
"We used to play house. . .You always played "big poppa" and I. . .I was always "Mrs. Irvine Kinneas", though, you always informed me, like an enlightened husband, that I could keep my own last name if I wanted. . .Uncle Cid had told you to say that. . ." She giggled and felt empowered by the growing look of joy and mirth on her lover's face. "We had a baby girl- baby sefie- and we all dressed in matching paper-bag outfits that had our roles scrawled across the front. . ."
"You wrote them. . ."
"Because you and Selphie weren't old enough yet. . ." She finished the memory. "Yes. And you. . .would always pick us flowers in the morning, because a nice home always had fresh daisies on the breakfast table. . ."
"You washed the vase diligently every night. . ." Irvine whispered.
"We had evening wedding in august- selphie was the flower girl, zell was the ring barer, Ellone was the maid of honor, Cid gave me away then he and Matron spoke the vows for us. . ."
"Squall was my best man. . .he wasn't happy about it. . . then Seifer tried to, like, spray Squall, but soaked your 'wedding dress' instead." Irvine chuckled, but didn't dare pry his eyes from his beloved.
"Matron let us stay up past our bedtime to watch the sunset- 'for our honeymoon'. . ."Quistis spoke dreamily. "We sat on the beach, buried each other in the sand and raced to the lighthouse. Then. . .on the way back. . .you gave me my first kiss. . ."
"Nuh uh. . ."Irvine grinned, shaking his head. Quistis raised an eyebrow. "On the way back You gave me MY first kiss. You kissed me. . ."
"I did not!" Quistis laughed, feigning indignance.
"Oh yes you did!" Irvine pointed, grinning. "You grabbed me and you kissed me and I was so scared! But. . .I was more happy. Because you were my family, and I loved you so much. . ."
"We were children. . ."
"We knew. . ."
"We. . ."Quistis breathed, biting her lip. Irvine nodded.
"At least I did. I've always known. . ."He whispered. She breathed, blinking free a tear.
"Oh Irvine. . ."
"That's. . .that's why. . ."He faltered. "Quisty, I. . I've been waitin' for you for so long. . .You don't know how hard it's been. . .knowin'. . .wonderin' if. . ."
"Hyne, I'm so sorry Irvine." She gasped, throwing herself in his arms, kissing his cheek. "I'm so sorry I've left you alone. . ."
"All I ever wanted was to have you back. . .to remember, like I did. Do. So we both could know that we. . .were always supposed ta be together." He pulled her plain against his chest. "I dunno if I believe in fate or not- I'm pretty agnostic 'bout all that stuff. But. . .I do know that you and I need to be together. Or I'll go crazy.. .seriously, hun. . .I need you."
"Well. . .Selphie did say that you were 'needy'." Quistis chuckled and planted a kiss on his nose. Her entire body was humming with the power of his words. He raised an eyebrow.
"Sefie said that?"
"Yeah- She was getting a little scared of all of your orphanage stories. She wanted to make sure you were all right. She. . .really doesn't remember. Which is strange, because Trabia doesn't use GFs."
"Everyone has their reasons for forgetting stuff, Quistis. Trauma, suppression, Guardians. But yeah- she really doesn't. She's as bad as you were. . ."
"Well. . maybe that means she'll come around. And- hey- she's still small enough for us to call her our baby. . ."Quistis giggled mischievously. Irvine chuckled.
"Best not to say that too loudly, m'dear. . ."
"I know, I know." Quistis curled up against his cold skin. Her hair fell over her shoulders and back as he pulled it from it's confines. She gazed into his eyes and suddenly felt guilty.
"Irvine. . .I. . .I'm sorry." Her worry was mirrored in his luminous eyes.
"Honey- whatchya doin', sayin' that all serious-like?"
"I'm sorry."
"Quisty. . ." She ended his protestations with a fingertip to his lips. He kissed it softly.
"No, Irvine. I need to say this. If I don't, I'll feel so awful about myself- even more awful than I already do about the mess. . ." He was about to interrupt, but she reminded him with her eyes that she needed this control. "Irvine. . .earlier today, I. . .was doubting you. Doubting everything- your promises, your devotion, your fidelity and. . even your affection." She stopped to let it sink in and stopped to read his expression. Nothing but compassion.
'By Hyne, I love him.'
She continued.
"I. . .saw the way you looked at Selphie- the excitement in your eyes, the friendliness in your mannerisms and voice- and mistook it for. . .lust, infidelity. I. .. was so jealous and paranoid, that I doubted everything that you'd said and promised me. I. . .couldn't control it. I just kept sinking deeper and deeper and almost convinced myself that you didn't love me. I. . .I'm sorry. . .so sorry. I know that you do- I know that you would never hurt me. And yet. . I always seem to hurt you. . ." She finished bitterly, staring out the window.
He was silent for a moment. She expected that. But she didn't expect the tears in his eyes when she turned back. That. . .she couldn't handle. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he, in turn, put a fingertip to her quivering lips. His eyes spoke volumes of sorrow.
"Quisty. . .why do you do that?" He asked quietly. She had no answer for him, so she hung her head. "I'm at a loss- I honestly don't know why you'd doubt my feelin's for you. I mean. . .I guess I have a bit of a lousy track record, or somethin', but that's not what this is about. Please. . .if you lose faith in somethin', don't let it be in your ability to hold my attention." He stress 'your' and 'my'. "'cause, frankly, I'm smitten. Whipped. . .no pun intended." He smiled. "And infinitely devoted to you. Gods, I don't know how I couldn't be- you're my dream girl, my childhood sweetheart, my first kiss, the savior of my country and my personal savior. Quisty- no one-NO one- will ever hold the same regard in my eyes as you do. Never."
"But. . ."His words were so sincere and beautiful. She honestly didn't know how she'd be able to express herself. But he gave her a patient look.
"What is it?"
"I. . .I'm awful to you." She exclaimed, bursting into tears. Where was her grace now?
"What? Honey, stop it." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and stroked her hair. "You're wonderful to me. ..stop it. . ."
"No, I'm awful. I'm such a burden." She choked. "Everything I do turns into a disaster, and everything I touch seems to wilt and wither or just die. I'm a bloody sorceress, who killed your friend, brought about your surrogate mother's death, injured you numerous times and just plain destroyed your world. Because I'm so focused on my insignificant career, I shun you in public, and I'm such a scared little virgin that I can't satisfy your needs. In two weeks, I'll be back in Balamb, leaving you here to Deling's anti-mercy. No, Irvine. I am horrible, and I know it, and. . .frankly, If you handn't listed reasons previously, I wouldn't understand why you would even be attracted to me. And, I must say, I still think the cons outweigh the pros. . ."
"Oh, Hyne, Quisty-girl-didja ever think that, maybe, it was partially because of all those things that I wanted to be with ya?" He grinned wryly and winked. "I love you despite and because of it all. You've turned my pathetic little world upside down. And, yes- some tragic things have happened, but you didn't cause them. They just happened. And so what if I can't brag about you? I can still brag to myself. And, in fact, I was braggin' ta some of the Trabian cadets here.- can you believe they didn't believe that I was dating the most beautiful woman in the world? Sheesh. . ." She pinched him lightly and kissed his cheek. "And, well, 'bout the sex. Y'know- my hand's not that great, but it's better than bein' without you. We'll do it when you're ready. I'll love you no matter how much or little I get. Finally. . .The Balamb thing. Well. . .Long distance sucks, but we can still be romantic and, when I come to Balamb and take my SeeD test, everythin' will work itself out. So. . you see. . . ." He stroked her cheek. "I'm not worried in the least. . and you shouldn't be either." With a brisk nod of his head, he indicated that the discussion was over. Quistis was just blown away. Her body was buzzing with her power, instigated by her intense emotional response to Irvine's exquisite words.
'If he asked me to marry him right now, I would. Age and garden caste be damned. I love this man.'
She planted a soft kiss on his lips and pulled him to his feet.
"Your skin is so cold. Why don't you get under the covers?" She whispered.
"You gonna lie with me for a little while?" He asked. She caressed the side of his cheek and shook her head.
"No. . .I'll stay most of the night. I'll slip back to my room early to ruffle my bed up and turn on the shower. Just to eliminate any suspicions."
"Mmm. . .okay." He murmured, nipping at her ear. Giggling, she pushed him towards the bed and padded over to the doorway to flick off the lights. She checked the lock- still bolted. Shedding her overclothes, she crawled into the bed and pressed herself against his chest. The sheets weren't as nice as those in room fifty-two, but the linen was soft and clean and cool against her burning skin. She felt his hand caressing her shoulder.
"Quisty-hun, are you okay? You feel kinda feverish. . ."
"It's just my magic." She whispered, pressing her cheek to his chest. "It reacts with my emotions. . .and. ..I'm feeling pretty emotional."
"You gonna be okay?"
"Emotional in a good way. I feel like I could fly. . .soar. . ."She whispered, kissing the base of his throat. Her magic whirred at every caress and heightened her emotions. She felt so powerful with him at her side.
"Well. . .don't." he joked. "Just stay here with me tonight. . .you're so warm. . ." He pulled her face close and tasted her lips deeply. She opened her mouth enthusiastically and caressed his silky tongue with her own. He dipped in deeper, tracing her teeth and lips and let out a quiet chest-groan as she stroked his sides lightly, trailing her fingers up his ultra-sensitive, cold, skin. That groan triggered a pulsating stream of magic to course through her system. It was wonderful.
Wrapping his arms around her back, he rolled them over so he lavish his affections on her feverish form. The coolness of his skin and the warmth of his mouth teased her mercilessly as he planted a series of kisses down the column of her neck, while his hands stroked the inside of her thighs. Her magic hummed in her fuzzy mind and aching body, throbbing deep in her belly. She gasped as his mouth latched onto her earlobe and he suckled gently. After a month of playful teasing, he knew how to make her squirm. Quistis kneaded the developed muscles of his back while leaning into his ministrations. His hands slipped from her thighs to her stomach, then to her lace-cupped bra, which he unclasped like a seasoned lover, and perked breasts. She arched into his hands with a moan, as he rolled this thumbs over her nipples and stroked the underside of each breast. His mouth was on hers now, and they hungrily savored the interaction.
"Quistis. . ."He broke away quickly. She licked at his neck and suckled his adams apple. "Quisty. . oh god. . .We should probably. . ."
"No."
Whether it was inspired by her magic high or Irvine's earlier declarations didn't matter- she wanted him. Entirely. In every possible way.
"Hun?" Irvine was baffled. She kissed him gently.
"Tonight. . .I want you." She whispered, her voice surprisingly husky. His eyes bugged out of his skull for the third time that day.
"Q. . .Quistis? Here? Now?"
"Yes. . .It's perfect. All of this is perfect. For all of the emotional lows, this has been one of the best days of my life. I love you, and I want to have you right now. If not. . ."She chuckled and nuzzled his neck. "well. . .perhaps that 'dream' you had earlier was a premonition, 'eh'?"
"I want everything you want." He hummed, kissing her forehead, then cheek, then lips, then he traced the line from her neck to in between her breasts. His saliva was so cold against her skin, and it evaporated promptly. She gasped as he took a blisteringly-hot nipple into his mouth and lapped at it with his deft tongue. Irvine's hands took a hold of her hips and gently lifted them from the bed. He held her with one arm, while he pulled her lacy panties from the guard duty. He lay her back, feverish and naked, on the cool sheets. His mouth, still attached to her erect nub, shifted to pay it's respects to her other breast. When the cool skin of his chin brushed against her, her power surged through her again, exploding in her abdomen and womb.
"Oh Irvine. . ." She moaned out helplessly. The Blue sorceress was being seduced from the inside and out.
The sudden touch of his hand on her abdomen triggered a violent spasm that rippled through her body. His hands snaked down between her parted legs and gently stroked her wet folds. A finger dipped in slightly, rubbing at her passage, followed by a second, that filled her more fully with the erotic message. The cadet's mouth left her breast to lick at her trembling lips before it slowly made it's way down the center of her body. He drew languid patterns on her stomach and tickled her navel with his tongue, all the while lazily pulling his slick fingers in and out of her channel.
His name was on her lips as his mouth came into contact with the tiny button at the top of her mound. She arched her hips, tears springing to her eyes and magic to her fingers as he suckled her clit gently, still pistoning his fingers at her entrance. Her body was on fire, her senses were heightened and floods of magic danced over her skin in prickling waves. She wanted him. That was the only coherent thought she could form.
He instinctively knew what she wanted- he always did. Irvine pushed his fingers in deeper, thrusting, and lapped at her clitoris with fervor. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her forcefully against his face. The delicious pressure built in her abdomen, ready to shoot through her at any moment. The magic quivered with anticipation. But the sharpshooter, unconsciously, knew her, and released her shaking body.
"Quistis. . ."
"Irvine. . .now." She gasped out the only two words she knew at this point. He nodded, and paused a moment only to don his rubber sheath. His face approached hers and he bent down to place a kiss on her lips. She tasted a salty taste which could've only been herself, and pulled him down, arms around his strong neck, to glut herself on their combined essence. His hands were at her entrance, parting her. She wanted it so badly. His warmth, and the union of their bodies like nothing else. The head was at her entrance and had he not been controlling her hips, she would've bucked up and swallowed his member whole.
But he did it slowly. . .achingly slowly.
There was no blockage, no barrier. Her many injuries and battles had taken care of that inconvenience.
It was a tight fit-he filled her fully.
"Quistis, oh hell. . ."He groaned in her mouth as he lowered himself into her deeper.
'Holy shit'
The heat ripped through her body, causing her to contract and pull him in fully. They gasped simultaneously.
"Quistis. .."
"Yes. . .now." She yelled at him, forgetting her façade, forgetting the rules and regulations concerning fornicating with cadets. She didn't care.
He slowly began to circle his hips, pumping in and out of her superficially. Tremor after magical tremor rippled through her body. Her skin was on fire, her nervous system had gone berserk and she could do nothing but moan Irvine's name and grind her hips against his pistoning cock.
Grabbing his hips, she pulled him in deeper and wrapped her legs around his waist. She felt his breath against her neck as he plunged in and out of her, a moan escaping his mouth each time she squeezed her legs tighter.
'Holy shit'
She felt nothing, only the exquisite pleasure surging through her loins and anus and the crackling fire through her nerves. She was numb with ecstasy.
He bucked faster, his hips jetting up and down in a dangerous rhythm. She screamed and ground against him, pulling him in deeper. Quistis wanted him more than anything. More than power. More than magic. More than life.
The pressure built, and kept building. She thought she was going to explode. Above her, Irvine was watching her face through half closed lids, as his body slammed against her with a will separate from his eyes.
"Irvine. . ."
She gasped and grabbed onto his neck. The pressure and heat and desire mounted. She began to shake. He pounded into her, stroking perfectly with every violent caress. All around her, ringing in her ears, was humming, singing. Quistis opened her eyes to meet Irvine's beautiful midnight-blue eyes.
Suddenly, everything exploded.. . .
Then everything stopped- the singing, the magic, the heat, the pleasure- for a brief moment. All she saw was white, and all she heard was thunder.
Then, it ripped through in a surge of power.
The pleasure heaved through her like a crack of lightning- her internal muscles pulsated and quivered, choking Irvine's releasing member.
She watched his eyes.
Then the magic coursed through her body, echoing the pleasure and strengthening it, fuelling her cells, fuelling her brain. Instead of numbness, she because hyper acute of the pleasure and rode it over and over again, her body shuddering from a multitudes of mind-boggling orgasms.
She watched his wide eyes and held onto him for dear life.
Finally it came. She didn't know it was there.
The memory of the earth. The passage of time.
The power hit her full force and slammed her against the bed. All of her wind was forced out of her and she began to choke. She screamed soundlessly for Irvine. Irvine's eyes were frozen in the state of ecstasy.
It attacked her, inside and out, battling with her own strength. It's density forced her deeper into the bed. Quistis was paralyzed and mute and couldn't tear her eyes from Irvine's violet orbs. Screams and the sound of tearing flesh reverberated in her ears. Echoes of her own screams. Her heart began to palpitate, faster and faster- fast enough to kill her. She felt the tears stream down her cheeks. It began to flutter. As did her eyelids.
And before her-between her and Irvine- flashed all of the history of the world. In a blur.
Creation, war, peace, love, death, war, feud, innocence, experience, war, Chaos.
All dreams.
Then her body became still. And she felt no pain.
But power. Such great power.
It rushed her and she screamed.
The greatest power the world had ever known.
Control over Time.
She looked at his eyes and suddenly, the eyeballs rolled back in his head and the eyelids closed.
The light faded, time began to flow.
And Quistis lay under an unconscious Irvine. So disoriented and unaware was she that she couldn't even hear the banging on the wall and Seifer Almasy's hoarse hollers.