Original characters, world and backstory belong to Squaresoft, lucky folks.

Still welcoming the feedback, by the way, here or by e-mail (fanfic@scribblemoose.co.uk)

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Chapter 29 - Truth

Rinoa was looking forward to leaving Esthar. She never felt truly comfortable there: it was full of memories of her awakening as a sorceress, and she was aware that there were some Estharians who would still happily see her entombed in Adel's seal forever. However frightening the prospect of facing an unknown past might be, she was anxious to leave Laguna's city behind and see the flower fields of Winhill again.

Odine was droning on in his usual incomprehensible way; she'd lost track of what he was saying a while ago and couldn't get back in the loop. She was trying not to look at him either, as she found herself strangely fascinated by the ruff he wore, not dissimilar to the cone-shaped device the veterinarian had put around Angelo's neck to stop him pulling his stitches out after an operation to remove shrapnel from his leg.

Squall was listening carefully, but she could see his impatience building as he tapped his pencil irritably on the pad in front of him, casting occasional glances of desperation at Kiros. Irvine's expression was rendered invisible by his hat, pulled low over his eyes and leaving Rinoa by no means certain that he was even awake, never mind paying attention. Frila was doodling in a little notebook, something that looked like a tree and two snakes.

Rinoa had taken enough Psychology options as part of her training to know she didn't want to think too hard about what that might mean. Especially considering the smile that kept appearing on the cadet's face for no readily apparent reason.

Suddenly Odine said something that, although no more intelligible than usual, made Rinoa sit up and take notice.

"Gemini was part of on-going and quite fascinating research that is a series of complex and sophisticated investigations into what might be termed the origins of what we know as guardian forces, but which actually are, or should I say could be seeing as this is only understood on a completely theoretical and as yet unproved basis as a race of what we loosely call 'beings' that probably predate the evolution of mammalian life forms on the planet, although that is, to an extent and as far as we have been able to was able to ascertain, pure conjecture on my part, and has majorly been refuted by the assertion that in fact some GFs manifest as mammalian or quasi-mammalian beasts or, again, beings; however, the fact remains that we don't know, and what we don't know could well harm us so it is therefore in the interests of us all that we are fully and entirely engaged in the origins agenda."

Odine paused for breath, and Rinoa tried to sort his sentence out into something that had a beginning, middle and end. It was like trying to untangle knotted candy floss.

"Are you saying Gemini Pandora was part of an experiment?" guessed Squall.

Odine looked at him as if he were a child. "That's what I just said," he said. "We were trying to find out…"

Kiros leapt in and, thankfully, interrupted. "Chet was working with Odine and the others to try and work out how Guardians reproduce," he said.

Even Irvine looked up at that.

It had never really occurred to Rinoa to question where Guardians came from. She supposed somehow they were generated by magic, like the monsters of the lunar cry. She'd never considered that they might reproduce like animals, or people. She'd asked her own Guardians, of course, including Gemini, but they didn't seem to be able to remember. Time was non-linear for them to some degree, so maybe that explained it.

"What kind of experiments?" she said. "What did they do to her?"

She should have known better than to ask Odine an open question like that. He spoke enthusiastically for five or ten minutes, without her understanding a word he said.

"Kiros?" she murmured, weakly.

"To summarise," he said, a twinkle in his eye, "Chet was using Odine's research on sorceress' magic to work out a way of propagating GF powers, and eventually GFs themselves. He was using Gemini for the research because she already has the ability to split into two, and theoretically the two beings could live independent lives. Therefore he hoped that by working out how the split worked, he could progress to some kind of cloning technology."

"Cloning guardians?" Rinoa stared at Odine in amazement. "Can we do that?"

"No," Kiros said quickly, before the confusing scientist could launch into yet another interminable sentence. "He was at the very early stages of the work. And it didn't go well, from what I can work out."

Odine shook his head. "He had no rigor," he said, a little wistfully. "Brilliant mind, no discipline, you could say, and the application of discipline and a thorough and accurate methodology is essential if the scientific outcome is to be robust enough to face the onslaught of real world perception."

Rinoa blinked.

"Is Gemini alright?" she asked, faintly.

"Oh yes," said Odine, "perfectly. Better than ever."

"Enhanced," said Kiros. "It was his only success, in all the time he worked with us. But I understand there were problems; some Guardian's shun Gemini because it's been 'tampered with'."

"Like Ether," said Irvine.

"Guardian incompatibility," Odine nodded sagely, "personality clash, prejudice, partiality, discrimination…"

"Oh no," muttered Squall to Rinoa under his breath. "Now he's in thesaurus mode."

"Only with pain," Irvine boldly interrupted Odine. "Not just being in a huff and going about half-assed. Real, actual pain."

"Defence mechanism," Odine glared at Irvine for the impertinence of his interruption. "In case of threat, no, perceived threat there having to be no actual threat, not dissimilar to the action of the pricklefish which presents its dorsal spikes retroactively and in complete disregard of need or actual imminent danger but in any case will thus render any in the vicinity harmed and therefore unlikely to ingest any portion of itself."

"They shoot pointy spikes out of their arses," said Frila, "when they feel particular frequencies of vibration behind them. Automatic response."

Squall's pencil stopped tapping, and he stared at her, one eyebrow raised.

"Exactly," said Odine. "I couldn't have put it better myself. Have you studied science, girl?"

"No sir," said Frila, straight faced, "just pricklefish, is all. The spikes hurt like buggery if they get in your hand."

Rinoa bit her lower lip to keep from laughing.

"So Ether giving me a mother of a migraine is just a defence mechanism," said Irvine, looking down at the table to hide his own smile of amusement.

"It seems likely," said Odine, "that your guardian has a natural reaction which enables it to avoid certain others which have an enhanced ability that could cause it harm and potentially pose a threat, whether or not such attributes could actually be used to cause any damage with or without presence of free will on the part of the perpetrator or if indeed your guardian has established the extent of free will or what that free will might lead the individual or beings concerned to act on, with, or about."

"Right," said Irvine, tentatively. "Can I do anything to stop Ether causing me extreme pain whenever Gemini's about?"

"Oh no," scoffed Odine, as if this were perfectly obvious. "Nothing at all."

"What about me?" said Rinoa. "You said Chet used sorceress' magic to enhance Gemini. Isn't there anything I could do?"

"Oh yes, of course," said Odine.

They waited for a moment, before it became apparent that, perversely, Odine was not intending to elucidate.

"What," said Squall through gritted teeth, "could Rinoa do, Odine?"

"Well it's beyond me to anticipate, predict or indeed know what a sorceress' powers might be at any one time or how they may interact or even interchange or be affected by a particular union with a guardian at a specific instance. However, it may also be the case that including within the junction matrix an element of masking of latent talent inasmuch as other guardians are concerned could, as we say, heh, do the trick."

Rinoa looked hopelessly to Kiros.

"I think," said Kiros, "he means you have the power to mask specific parts of Gemini's power from other people or guardians. That's how Ultimecia managed to use Greiver without broadcasting it to all and sundry until it was too late. We don't know much about how it works, but I can send you the research papers."

"Thanks," said Rinoa. "I think."

"Or you could ask Gemini," said Irvine. Odine glared at him again. "Just a thought," he added, casually.

Rinoa's eyes glazed briefly as she communed with her Guardian.

"Yes," she said eventually. "I think we can work something out." She shot a grateful smile at Irvine. She owed him big time for not having to work through those papers. Odine's writing made his spoken communication seem as straightforward as a shopping list.

"Thank you," said Squall, in his patiently rehearsed polite-Commander voice. "I guess we don't need to take up any more of your time. We have to get to Winhill as soon as we can."

Odine ignored him, staring off into the middle distance and drooling a little.

"Good luck, Squall," said Kiros, extending his arm across the table to shake Squall's hand warmly. "And send our love to Ellone. Tell her Ward and I still miss her. She should visit."

Squall nodded, although he was sure his half-sister would decline the invitation. Like Rinoa, she had bad memories of Esthar.

"And don't let Laguna give you any trouble," Kiros added, with a wink.

* * * * * * *

Laguna looked up from his keyboard and gave Zell a grin.

"Hey," he said. "You're up early."

Zell shrugged. "Never bothered to go to sleep," he said. "I'm kinda hyper, after all the fighting last night."

"I'd noticed that," said Laguna. "Anything I can do for you?"

"I wanted to say thank you," said Zell, perching on the corner of Squall's desk. "For what you've done for Quistis."

Laguna felt a flush rise up his cheeks, and a familiar pain shot up his calf muscle. "It's fine," he grimaced. "I haven't done anything, really."

"You have," said Zell, his face unusually still, pale blue eyes soft and sincere. "None of us could get through to her. She's been in a dark place for the longest time. I didn't know what to do."

"I didn't do anything special," he insisted. "She maybe just needed someone to talk to who didn't know her so well."

"I was scared," said Zell. "She's been depressed before, but…"

"Did Squall… what did Squall think about it?" said Laguna, eager to change the subject a little, pressing his foot hard on the floor under the desk to try and relieve the cramp.

Zell shrugged. "Well, you know Squall," he said.

Not as well as I'd like, thought Laguna. Not as well as you do. "Did he notice?"

Zell looked at the floor. "Not really. But then, it's not his job, you know. He has so much on his mind, with the Dia and all, and him and Rinoa… it's not his fault. He's not good with people."

"No," said Laguna, sadly. "And I guess I've only myself to blame for that."

"He's much better than he was, though," Zell soothed. "He tries really hard. And, like I say, it's not his job."

"It shouldn't be about work. Quistis is his friend."

"Well… yes. But he's her Commander, too. I think Squall finds that difficult, sometimes, with all of us."

"Even Rinoa?"

"Oh yes," said Zell, with certainty. "Especially Rinoa."

Laguna considered for a moment. "I guess I can see that," he said eventually. "But she's good for him, isn't she?"

"It's a bit early to tell," said Zell. "They've only been together a couple of weeks, and gods know I'm no expert. But they've been through a lot together. And he makes her happy. So… I hope it works out for them."

Laguna recognised something in Zell's wistful expression, and smiled to himself.

"Meanwhile," he said, "we have work to do. I think we're due for an appointment with Cadet Almasy, aren't we?"

The remnants of sadness swiftly faded from Zell's face at that thought, to be replaced by a bright grin.

"Too right," he said, and leapt to his feet, once more his usual hyperactive self. "I can't tell you how long I've been looking forward to this."

* * * * * * *

"I'll go tell Selphie we're ready to go," said Irvine. "Is the Ragnarok here yet?"

Squall nodded. "We'll leave in half an hour," he said. "But first, we need to tell Selphie, about Xu."

"Are you sure?" said Rinoa. "Do you think she's strong enough? I mean, Bane and Chet have been messing with her head, and for her to find out that Xu was junctioned to Bane first and…"

"It's always better to know," said Squall, firmly. "You were right to stop me last night, I agree. But she has to know before we get back to Garden. None of us should keep secrets, especially at a time like this. It's dangerous. Our minds are fucked up enough as it is."

Irvine regarded Squall thoughtfully, surprised at the passion behind his words. But then he could understand Squall's point of view; if Xu hadn't kept things from him maybe they wouldn't be under the threat of war from an enemy they knew so little about. Squall had never liked to play with a blind deck.

"Let me tell her, then," Rinoa was saying. "It'll be easier coming from me."

"Thanks," said Squall, with obvious relief. "I'll be on the Ragnarok if you need me."

"Could you pick up my stuff, Rin, while you're with Selphie?" said Irvine. "And Hotshot, could you go by the medlab and pick up Selphie's medication? I need a few minutes with Squall."

Squall looked at him in surprise, but he didn't say anything.

Rinoa and Frila set off to their respective duties, leaving Squall and Irvine alone in the huge lobby.

"What is it?" said Squall.

"Let's get on the Ragnarok," said Irvine. "I'll tell you about it then."

Squall's eyes flickered over Irvine's face with a kind of wary curiosity, but he kept his silence and led them to the space dock.

* * * * * * *

"So Irvy's shagging the cadet, then," said Selphie with a wry grin, folding his T-shirt carefully before stuffing it into his kit bag.

"Selphie!" exclaimed Rinoa, "of course not, he's…"

"You can't lie to me, Rin," said Selphie, "I know him too well. I could see it in his eyes, last night. He was mighty keen to go sleep on her 'floor'. And he wouldn't use Galbadian special mix elixir just for wanking." She pointed to the mostly empty bottle on the nightstand.

"He loves you," said Rinoa, suppressing her curiosity as to what might be so special about Galbadian elixir. "I don't know what he's playing at with Frila, to be honest, but he still loves you."

"How did he take it, when you told him about Xu and me?"

Rinoa considered for a minute. "Badly," she said. "He was really upset. But then you were missing, and… there was lots of other stuff going on. He and Xu haven't been getting on too well for a while."

Selphie looked up sharply. She looked much more like her old self, Rinoa noticed. Her eyes were quick and alert, and there was more of a sense of optimism about her.

Which made what Rinoa had to tell her all the harder.

"Because of me?" Selphie asked.

"No, no, it was before that. Look, Selphie, there's something I have to tell you about Xu."

"Is she alright?"

"She's… well, she's okay. She's been worried sick about you, of course. But there's something else. She was the one who found Bane. It had been in her head and…"

Selphie looked down at Irvine's bag, running her thumb gently over the strap. "I know," she said, softly. "Chet told me."

Rinoa stared at her, dumbstruck for a moment.

"He said she betrayed me," Selphie continued. "Do you think that's true?"

Rinoa shook her head. "Never," she said. "She loves you."

"So does Irvine, like you said." Selphie sat down on the bed. "And he did. Betray me."

Rinoa reached out and took Selphie's hand, squeezing as reassuringly as she could. "We don't know that for certain. And even if it's true… Xu was desperately worried about you. I've never seen her fall apart like that. I'm sure she wouldn't have done anything to hurt you."

Selphie sighed. "It felt like I'd lost everything, Rin," she said. "I was so certain, when he told me, that I was completely alone, that I'd lost everything. Everyone."

"Well, ask yourself, who do you trust? An evil megalomaniac with a guardian that feeds on fear and anger, or your friends who've fought beside you for years, who love you and care for you and would go to the ends of the earth to see you happy?"

Selphie didn't answer, looking down at her hand in Rinoa's with sad eyes.

"Come on," said Rinoa, getting up from the bed and pulling Selphie with her. "Let's get Irvine's stuff together and get out of this place. Maybe Ellone can help us sort this mess out once and for all."

* * * * * * *

Squall leaned against the Ragnarok's navigation panel, and folded his arms across his chest.

Irvine stood rather awkwardly in front of him, hat in one hand, smoothing his hair with the other and wondering where to start.

"Well?" said Squall, looking faintly amused at Irvine's embarrassment.

"I promised no more secrets," said Irvine. "And I meant it."

"Yes?" Squall's eyes narrowed slightly, grey turned to a penetrating silver-blue.

Irvine felt his resolve start to crumble under Squall's rapt attention.

"Fuck, Squall, you can be damn intimidating sometimes, you know that?"

"It kind of goes with the territory, Irvine. It usually helps me do what I have to do."

"Well, it's not helping me."

Squall tried, with little success, to soften his gaze. "Just tell me, Irvine. What have you done?"

"What makes you think…" started Irvine, briefly indignant. But of course, Squall was right. "I've been sleeping with Frila," he said in a rush, lowering his eyes to avoid the steely glare, darting just the swiftest of looks to gauge Squall's reaction.

"Oh," said Squall, surprised, but not, apparently, furious.

"I know it's stupid," said Irvine, "and I know you'll have to do something about it, so…"

"Why?" frowned Squall.

"Um… she's only fifteen," Irvine explained. "And she's a cadet. We're not supposed to…"

"Really?" Squall seemed nonplussed by this piece of news. "I hadn't thought about it."

Irvine took a moment to absorb this gap in Squall's experience.

"You're not going to tell me you fucked your instructors when you were a cadet, are you?"

"No, of course not," said Squall crossly. "It never came up, is all. I only… I never thought of any instructors that way. And since I graduated, I was so wrapped up with Rinoa…"

"What, not even Quistis?" Irvine couldn't resist a smirk. "You never had a wet dream about Quistis Trepe?"

"No. Why, should I have?"

"Well you must be the only man in Garden who hasn't," Irvine said with genuine amazement.

"This is getting a little off topic, isn't it?" said Squall, bringing Irvine's discomfort sharply back into focus.

"It just kind of happened," said Irvine. "I was lonely, and she's really good with Ether. She's…"

"What an I supposed to do about it?" Squall interrupted. "Am I supposed to give you a warning, or something?"

"You're supposed to fire me," said Irvine. "And you can chuck her out of Garden, if you want. So I was going to resign, only I thought so long as I told you now then I could work out notice, so you could still use me while we go through all this, and please, don't kick her out. She's been through a lot and she doesn't…"

"Hang on," said Squall, his glare verging on icy all of a sudden. "You're telling me that I'm supposed to get rid of you, you, when we're facing fuck-knows what and you're the best sniper, one of our best, most intelligent SeeDs, and my best fucking friend… you're telling me I should fire you because of who you're sleeping with?"

Irvine gulped. "It's the regs," he said, weakly.

"Now you sound like Quistis."

"Squall, I'm sorry, I know this is a headache you don't need, but I didn't want you to find out later and… I didn't want any secrets."

"Who else knows?"

"Um… just Rin. She … caught us, yesterday. That's the other reason I had to tell you. I don't want her keeping secrets from you on my account."

"Oh, Irvine," Squall sighed.

"I know I should have been stronger," said Irvine. "I did try, really I did, but I was so lonely, and she's fucking hot, and … what? Are you… man, are you smiling?"

The corner of Squall's mouth twitched.

"Squall…"

"You sound like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar," said Squall, a faint trace of laughter in his voice.

"Well, I feel like I put myself up for court martial," said Irvine, plaintively.

"I'm not going to fire you, you daft wanker."

"No?"

"Just try not to hurt anyone," said Squall. "Including yourself."

It began to dawn on Irvine that Squall really was more amused than mad.

"And don't let anyone else catch you. Especially Quistis. Alright?"

Irvine nodded mutely.

"She's a good gunblader," said Squall, "she has it in her to be one of the best. Try and help her do that."

Irvine nodded again.

"And you're right," Squall turned to the controls, hiding the smirk that was spreading across his lips, and flicked the switches to set Ragnarok for standby. "She is fucking hot."

Irvine stared at Squall, slack-jawed, for a moment.

"But if you tell Rinoa I said that," Squall added, "I'll personally ram Lionheart up your arse, okay?"

"Yes," squeaked Irvine. "Got that."

There was a clattering noise from the deck below them.

"That'll be the others," said Squall, "it's time to go to Winhill."

"Squall, I…"

"I'm not going to tell you how to live your life," Squall's voice dipped low and quiet. "I asked the impossible of you yesterday, and you did it for me, even though you must have hated me for it. I know you'd do it again tomorrow if I asked. If you're happy, and Frila's happy, well, good luck to you. Fuck knows you deserve it, after all you've been through."

Irvine struggled to speak past the lump in his throat. "Thank you," he said.

Squall looked back at Irvine over his shoulder. He was smiling, that small genuine smile that set hearts fluttering all over Garden and beyond.

There was a loud thud from the doorway, as Selphie dropped Irvine's bag unceremonially to the metal floor.

"Oooh," she said, green eyes shining, fear settling into Squall's heart as he realised what she was about to say. "Can I drive?"

* * * * * * *

Irvine watched Squall and Ellone talking in a mist of cherry blossom, and thought how alike they were. There was a family resemblance, of course, but more than that: every now and then there was a gesture, a movement, a glance that belonged to both of them. Squall was open and relaxed with her in a way he wasn't with anyone else, not even Rinoa.

It was beautiful to watch.

They were walking towards them now, smiling identical, reserved little smiles.

"We can start whenever we're all ready," said Squall. "Rin? Irvine?"

They both nodded.

"Okay," said Ellone. "You remember how it works? Let's sit down, just close your eyes and let me take it from there."

They did as she asked. Squall sat cross-legged on the grass and pulled Rinoa down in front of him, folding his arms around her middle. Comforting.

Irvine lowered himself gracefully to the ground and lay back, fixing his eyes on the brilliant blue sky, patched here and there with the slowly drifting blossom.

He felt Rinoa reach out and take his hand, and then he fell asleep.

* * * * * * *

He was in his own body, but he wasn't controlling it. It was as if he were watching himself; unable to do anything, but feeling what his former self had felt just as close up and real as he had the first time.

He was on the Island Closest to Hell, with Rinoa and Squall, and they were killing a Blue Dragon.

He was wearing his favourite green shirt. The one Selphie had given him for his eighteenth birthday, just a few weeks earlier.

The dragon was almost dead.

Irvine felt something.

"Squall, did you hear that?" he lowered his rifle for a moment, concentrating.

"Hear what?"

"There's something… can you scan, Rinoa?"

~scan~

"It's a Guardian, Irvy! It's called Ether!"

The name rang a bell in Irvine's mind, and he knew he had to call it.

"Squall? Can I take it?"

Squall shot him a look: Irvine had never asked for a Guardian before, just taken whatever Squall had given him, drawn what he'd been told to draw. "Sure," he said. "Go ahead."

Irvine took aim, targeting the dragon for what would inevitably be the last shot.

"Ether! Be with me!"

~Sniper.~

It took Irvine a moment to realise that the Guardian was projecting its voice straight into his head. Squall was looking quizzically at him, clearly curious as to why the Guardian hadn't, apparently, answered Irvine's call.

"It's a telepath," said Irvine, "I can hear it in here." He tapped the side of his head.

~You wish me to be with you?~

There was none of the fury or aggression of the other Guardians Irvine had subdued. This felt more like an invitation, like meeting someone in a bar and asking them back for coffee.

~Yes~ He thought.

~It will be an honour, Sniper.~

There was a rush of power like Irvine had never felt before; energy flooding through his veins like elixir, and a feeling that was familiar and yet…

"You okay, Irvine?" yelled Squall, about to charge to finish the dragon.

"Fine," Irvine replied, his voice coming out as a squeak, as he tried to work out just why his dick had suddenly gone rock hard and was putting the zipper of his jeans under considerable strain.

He took the shot, killing the dragon before Squall had even started his attack.

"Yes!" he punched the air triumphantly, as if he'd just killed Ultimecia herself.

Squall looked at him curiously. "How's the Guardian?" he asked.

"Fine," said Irvine, calming a little and surreptitiously adjusting his pants. "Just… fine." The feelings were settling now to a quiet exhilaration, and Ether's voice was a gentle purr in the back of his mind, like a ship's engine.

"You want to go ahead and junction?" asked Squall.

"OK."

Irvine slipped Shiva and Siren out of junction, hardly noticing the loss in his current state of euphoria. Ether slipped into junction like a key in a well-oiled lock, and Irvine felt the energy run through him like elixir, warming his bones and relaxing his muscles. He explored the balance of magic, shifting combinations of Ether's power and his own, lost in the maze of new possibilities an empathic guardian could offer him. Ether's voice murmured in his head, soothing and sensual, suggesting the most effective ways to construct the junction, patiently explaining its needs.

Irvine felt a strange kind of relief that he'd found a guardian that fed off happiness and affection; that didn't care much for conflict and detested anger, and thrilled with the knowledge that it had more power than Irvine had ever tasted, except in an enemy. The junction was strong right from the start, and just got stronger as they explored each other. It felt a little like falling in love.

When he finally opened his eyes, the sun was starting to dip over the mountains. He'd completely lost track of time. Squall and Rinoa sat on a nearby ridge, holding hands and watching the sunset.

He suddenly wished Seffie was there, only to thrill at the realisation that he'd see her in just a few hours. She'd been in Trabia far too long, as far as he was concerned. Ether shifted in his mind a little, curious to know more about Irvine's love, and Irvine had his suspicions, then, as to what might be Ether's favourite food.

It didn't bother him, though. If anything, it just made their bond all the stronger. Irvine fully intended to spend every spare minute of the rest of his life making love with Selphie, and if it made his Guardian happy, well, so much the better.

He stretched contentedly, enjoying the late afternoon breeze on his skin, and the general feeling of horniness that washed over his body and clouded his mind. He called out to Squall and Rinoa to let them know he was okay, and suggested they headed back to Garden. Rinoa threw him a smile and got to her feet, brushing dust from her unsuitable-for-fighting-but-incredibly-hot short denim skirt, and headed towards him, leaving Squall still gazing at the sunset, deep in thought.

Then Irvine noticed the T-Rex.

It was emerging from the undergrowth to Squall's left, but it was Rinoa it had it's beady little eyes on. Irvine yelled to them both to watch out, not realising at first that he made no sound.

His mind thrust itself into Rinoa's and Squall's without warning, sending shocks through all three of them. In that instant Irvine understood his friends completely, not hearing their thoughts but sensing their feelings, Rinoa's panic and Squall's fierce anger, and underneath, their love, for each other and for Irvine himself. It felt like a junction, a deepening, strengthening bond, and even as he shouted the alarm from his mind to theirs, he was starting to probe deeper, to taste thoughts and memories...

~Sniper, withdraw. You will hurt.~

Startled, Irvine pulled his mind back instantly.

~I'm sorry, Ether, I…~

Then he realised Rinoa hadn't moved. The T-Rex was on her and she simply panicked. She could have used her magic and killed it at a stroke, but she seemed petrified with fear; she just stood there, and started to scream, the sound of it galvanising Squall and Irvine to action.

They finished the beast with a few shots and one charge, blood gushing from the wound Lionheart inflicted at its neck to soak the ground as it fell.

Rinoa fell to her knees and started to throw up; Squall held back her hair, gently rubbed her back and soothed her, but Irvine could sense the irritation he was doing his best to hide.

Poor Rin. She can't help it I guess, that she's so feeble, Irvine thought. She should be going to parties and worrying about dresses. It's not her fault. She's not like us.

~No.~ Irvine started at the sound of Squall's thoughts in his head. ~She's a fucking sorceress. She has to learn, whether she likes it or not; after all, no-one gave us the choice. I just wish she'd make more of an effort...~

They stared at each other in amazement for a second, then Rinoa looked up at them, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, confused and hurt.

~You bastards!~ came Rinoa's voice in his mind. She dragged herself to her feet, tears springing to her eyes. "You bastards!" she said, out loud.

~Sniper… it hurts… I weaken…~

Irvine's head was spinning; he juggled desperately with Rinoa's anguish, with Squall's irritation, with his Guardian's pain and his own confusion. By the time he'd looked up again they were already walking away: Rinoa running back to the Ragnarok, Squall going after her with long strides.

Irvine waited until they'd gone inside before he followed.

* * * * * * *

The older, wiser Irvine felt a mixture of emotions at these memories. And they were memories: nothing here was completely new, he realised. He'd always remembered that euphoric first junction with Ether, and Rinoa freezing in front of the T-Rex. But of course in the past he'd thought he'd known she and Squall weren't together then, so there was no romantic sunset. It had been Irvine who had comforted Rinoa as she crouched, heaving and retching over the monster's corpse, while Squall stormed off to the Ragnarok in disgust.

And he hadn't been looking forward to seeing Seffie at all; her rejection of him was too fresh in his mind, in that other, imaginary past, and Ether had flinched from the deep pain Irvine felt at losing her.

Imaginary.

Irvine watched his young self follow Rinoa and Squall aboard the Ragnarok, and knew he was watching the truth.

* * * * * * *