Original characters, world and backstory belong to Squaresoft, lucky folks.
OK, you probably know the drill by now. If you want the full NC-17 version with all the smut the author intended, it's on my website, www.scribblemoose.co.uk The version below has been censored in line with ffnet policy because I'm a scaredy cat ^_^
Thanks to Gwen for the beta ::huggles::
Still welcoming the feedback, by the way, here or by e-mail (fanfic@scribblemoose.co.uk)
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Chapter 31 - Return
Irvine woke with a start.
"What the fuck was that?" he said, pulling himself up to sitting.
"Damnit, I knew there was something she wasn't telling us," Squall cursed. "I knew it…"
"I can see why she'd want to keep that to herself," said Irvine. "Maybe she really did betray Selphie."
"No," said Rinoa. "I don't think so."
"She was trying to put things right," Ellone suggested. "I think she was just trying to make things better."
Squall snorted. "How does that work, exactly? You had a tough time so I'll just take all the memories away and it won't hurt any more?"
"Well, yes," said Rinoa.
"When did we start stealing memories from each other?" Squall's eyes glinted dangerously, and darted swiftly to Irvine before he could stop himself. "Isn't it bad enough that Guardians do it all the time?"
Irvine felt a swift stab of regret shoot through him; he plucked savagely at the grass in front of him.
"Xu can't have done it by herself," said Rinoa. "Unless the crystals…"
Squall sprang to his feet, brushing stray blossom from his leathers. "We have to get back to Garden and find out right away," he said.
"I need to talk to Selphie," said Irvine.
"You can do that while we're in the air," said Squall.
"You need food," said Rinoa, firmly. "You haven't eaten since yesterday. Stay for dinner, like you planned, and we can still be back at Garden by nightfall."
"Please, Squall," came Ellone's quiet voice. "Let's think it through together. I see you so rarely."
Rinoa could see the anger drain from Squall's face at the sound of her voice.
"Okay," he said. "I'm sorry, Sis, it's…"
"You're bound to feel anxious," she said. "But surely you can trust Xu, of all people?"
Irvine got to his feet, and quietly slipped away while the three of them were still discussing if, why and how Xu might have changed the past.
* * * * * * *
"Almasy, what are you doing out of class?"
"Give me a break, Quistis. I'm only having a cig."
Quistis gave him her sternest look over the top of her glasses. He just grinned at her.
"Good to see you've got your glare back, Quisty."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Well," Seifer smoothed back his immaculate hair with one hand, "when I arrived you seemed a little… flustered. Quite jumpy."
"I wasn't expecting to have to see you again," she snapped. "It's enough to make anyone jumpy. Now, explain again to me: why aren't you in class, Cadet?" She spat the word at him as an insult. "I would have thought being put on report your first day back would have got the message through even your thick skull. We don't. Take. Slackers."
"Really?" he smirked, lighting a fresh cigarette from the stub of his old one, and blowing the smoke in her face.
She coughed, fanning the noxious fumes away with the fistful of reports she was carrying.
"Gods, Seifer, when did you start that fucking stupid habit?"
Seifer shrugged. "Went with the being evil, I guess," he said. "And it's really hard to stop," he added, his tone surprisingly genuine.
She gave a harsh little laugh. "So there is something in the world you haven't quit on, then," she said.
"Oh, what a bitch," he taunted. "I never thought you had it in you."
"That's enough, Almasy. If you're not back in class in one minute, it goes on your report card. That's one strike down, two to go, and I'm sure it won't take me long to work up a couple more."
"Ah, well that's where you're wrong, my darling Quisty."
"What do you mean?"
"You're not going to put anything on that report card."
"Why on earth not?"
"Look at it this way. You have your own little report card, don't you? Somewhere in this godsforsaken place there's a little file with 'The Sins of Quistis Trepe' on it, all that secret, personal stuff, all those naughty things you've done over the years. Am I right?"
"What are you getting at, Seifer? I haven't got all day."
"Leonhart doesn't know, does he? About you? About why you were demoted on the very day he reached the heady heights of SeeD?"
She paled, hugging her reports tight across her chest. "He's never going to know," she said.
"I'm glad you see it that way." Seifer threw his half-smoked cigarette on the floor, grinding it into the tile with his boot heel. "So we're clear, then. No nasty warnings on my report card, eh? And I won't tell Leonhart about yours."
"Are you trying to blackmail me?" she said, her heart sinking.
"Oh yes," his moved closer to her, close enough that she could smell the stench of tobacco on his breath. "And I'm not just trying. It's worked, I know it has. Now, if you don't mind," a cold smile twisted his lips, "I have to go to class."
* * * * * * *
"Hey, Selphie."
She was sitting on the steps outside the pub that used to belong to Raine. She smiled up at Irvine, and patted the brick tile next to her.
"I was just thinking," she said, as he sat down next to her, "Squall was probably conceived in this building."
"That's a weird thought," he said. "I mean, Laguna and Raine…"
"Or maybe it was in the flower fields," said Selphie. "That's more romantic, somehow, and of course the flower field at the orphanage is Squall and Rinoa's special place, so..."
"Elf…" said Irvine gently. "I have to say some stuff."
"Oh. Yeah, 'course. How'd it go?"
"It looks as if it might have been Xu who altered our memories."
"Ah." Her face fell; she rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the sudden tension that had appeared there. "So she did…"
"It looks as though she changed things, the day after she brought you back from that club in Balamb. I guess that's when you got together, huh?"
Selphie gave a little smile. "Yeah," she said. "Both times, it happened like that. That's something, I guess, that she liked it so much she didn't want to change it."
"Selphie, I can't tell you how sorry I am for what I did. Squall and Rinoa are, too, but… I can't believe I fucked it up so badly. You're everything to me, Seffie."
She took his hand in hers, gave it a little squeeze. "I know. It's weird, I… I suppose I feel like I've had a couple of years to get over it in some ways. The memories are more settled now, you know? At first, when it felt like everything was happening at once…" she shivered suddenly. "But now… it's okay. I suppose it was a blessing, in a way, that we didn't have to live through the hurt."
I did live through it, thought Irvine. Not as bad, granted, but it was still painful for me, living without you for two years, hoping and hoping, while all the time you've been with Xu and I didn't even know…
"What are you going to do?" he asked, watching her tiny thumb brushing against his long, callused trigger-finger.
"I'm going to talk to Xu, and find out what she's done, try and help her put it right," said Selphie.
He took a deep breath.
"I still want you, Selphie. If it doesn't work out with Xu, I'm here. I still love you, and I could make it up to you, if you could just give me a chance."
There was a long pause.
"Nothing's changed, really," she said. "We talked about this a long time ago, and you said you understood."
"But it was different," he said. "When we split up then it wasn't because I'd hurt you, or because you had someone else. You just said you didn't love me. But you did, really. In the other… in the real world, you loved me with all your heart. That was real, Selphie." His eyes locked hers, deep pools of violet. "You loved me," he whispered. "I felt it, and it was so… Please, Seffie, let me make it better. Give me another chance."
"Oh, Irvy," she sighed, sadly. "I'm sorry."
He closed his eyes, and slowly slipped his hand out of her grip.
"Yes, we were together," he heard her say, as if from a long way away. "And yes, I loved you. But I can't live in a past I barely understand, and hardly remember. I have to live in the here and now, and the truth is that I'm not in love with you any more, Irvy. I'm in love with Xu."
He pushed his heels of his hands into his eyes, trying to stop the tears.
Ether wailed so loud in his mind he felt it even without being junctioned.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I should have told you a long time ago."
He rested his forehead on his knees, exhausted despite Siren's energy flowing through him. He needed sleep, he realised. He'd been relying on his Guardians' power to keep him awake for far too long.
"Yes," he said. "It would have been better."
"I wanted to, or part of me did, it was just…"
"You don't have to explain."
"It must have been hard for you, finding out like that."
"Yeah. Well. Xu and I were having problems anyway, with the incompatibility between Bane and Ether." He noticed a faint tremor pass through her body at the mention of Bane's name - or Ether's. He couldn't tell which. "We kind of sorted it out before we left. Look, if it helps any, she asked me to tell you that she didn't want you to go, and she wishes she could have kept you safe."
Selphie's eyes lit up, gleaming hope. "Really? She said that? That she didn't want me to go?"
"Well, yes," Irvine said. "She said to tell you she loved you, too."
"Oh!" There was real happiness in those beautiful green eyes, for the first time since he'd hugged her goodbye back in Balamb. "Oh, Irvine…"
He wondered why this would be such a revelation, but he didn't say anything.
"I'm sure you two'll be fine," he said, trying to get some of his usual stoicism back into his voice. "And I'll try not to die of loneliness," he teased.
"You've got Frila," said Selphie.
"Not really, she's not… it's not anything serious. ... anyway, how did you know about that?"
Selphie gave him a look.
"Oh," he said. "That obvious, huh?"
"I know you too well," she said. "And Rinoa gave the game away. She may have changed a lot over the years, but she was still naïve enough to be fooled into thinking I knew already."
He managed a feeble little laugh. "That's another mess," he said, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "I do like Frila, but… I just wish she wasn't so young and so… illegal."
"Does Squall know?"
"Yeah. I told him, and I tried to resign, but he wouldn't let me."
"That was noble of you."
"Honesty's important," said Irvine. "Especially now."
"Oh." He saw a flash of guilt pass across her face. "Sorry. I would have told you about Xu, only…"
"I didn't mean that," said Irvine, with a little smile. "I was just thinking of Squall." He plunged a hand into his duster pocket, closed around a small box. "Here, this is yours. I finally got round to mending it, while you were away."
She opened the little blue box slowly, a big smile spreading across her face.
"Oh Irvy, my bracelet! Thank you, I'd missed it so!" She flung her arms around him with a delighted squeal.
"It's got a bit of something extra in it," he said. "Just to keep you safe."
"Thank you." She held out her wrist for him to fasten it securely in place. "Oh, Irvy, you're so..."
"Shut up," he said. "You'll make me cry again."
She stroked the mended links at her wrist. "It's beautiful," she said.
"I'm glad you're pleased." He gracefully stood, adjusting his hat and brushing invisible dirt from his duster.
"You have to go?"
"Yeah. I thought I'd go find Frila, fill her in some. She gets left out of the loop a bit, if we're not careful."
"It must be hard for her," realised Selphie, "thrown in with us, and all this baggage and history that's nothing to do with her."
"Yes," said Irvine. "And I think I owe her some explanations."
* * * * * * *
Seifer paced the ground in front of Zell like a caged animal, dragging the tip of his gunblade in the dirt.
"Are you going to attack?" said Zell. "I haven't got all day."
"I'm enjoying myself," said Seifer, his mouth twisting into a smile. "I've been waiting for years to kick your ass."
"Not gonna happen. You don't seem to have the same magic as you used to when you were Ultimecia's whore."
His pacing was steady as ever, but Zell noted the flash of irritation cross his face, and it gave him a surge of confidence.
"Come on, Almasy. What you scared of?"
Seifer lunged at him with a roar, keeping his blade low until the last minute, then raising it swiftly to point straight at Zell's heart.
Zell shoved it out of the way with one arm, rolling clear in the same move. He heard Seifer's boots skidding in the dirt as he tried to stop himself slamming into the wall behind Zell.
"Too obvious," said Zell. "You need to disguise your moves better than that."
"I was just testing, Chicken Wuss. You've come on some."
"That happens if you're willing to work for it. Come on, try again." He turned to face Seifer and adopted his ready stance.
"With pleasure," snarled Seifer. He didn't wait around this time, charging straight away. It occurred to Zell that he might have bullets in his gunblade, despite the practice rules, so he rolled first, then kicked out one leg in a sweep.
Seifer jumped the sweep and hit Zell hard on the side of his head with the flat of his gunblade. Not hard enough to really hurt him, but enough that he saw stars for a moment.
"See. Don't underestimate me, Chicken. I…"
"That's Instructor Dinct to you, you bastard," yelled Zell, and launched at Seifer with a flurry of blows to his head and vicious kicks to his gut.
He thought he was winning, for a moment. Seifer stepped back once, then again, and again, shielding himself only partially from the force of Zell's blows. In moments his back was against the wall.
Too late, Zell realised that was what he'd been aiming for. He braced himself against the brick and brought his blade round in a wide arc, timing his swing perfectly to hit the side of Zell's head. Again, not hard enough to do any damage, but he staggered back half a pace, and that's all Seifer needed.
Zell was flat on his back, a practice gunblade poised at his throat, Seifer's boot heavy on his chest.
"What's the matter, Instructor Dinct?" Seifer gloated. "Decided to let me kick your ass after all?"
"Get off me," Zell growled, finding it hard to breathe under the pressure of Seifer's weight on his chest.
"Well, seems I have a little of my own magic after all." Seifer stepped back, looking critically at the gunblade as Zell gasped air into his lungs.
"You still have things to work on," said Zell. "If the wall hadn't been there…" If I had used my brain instead of my temper…
"You still got the hots for Squall's chick?"
"What?" Zell pulled himself up to sitting, still finding it hard to catch his breath.
"Rinoa. You still after her?"
"That's none of your…"
"Yeah, I thought you would be. Of course, nothing doing there, eh Wuss? Can't get between a sorceress and her whore, after all. Well, I'll be going now, I guess I've passed this class, seeing as I could have killed you if I'd wanted." He ran his index finger down the length of the blade in his hand. "Oh, and Instructor? These weapons are crap. If the weight hadn't been all wrong I'd have got you the first time." He threw the gunblade from him; it spun through the air over Zell's head, and embedded itself in the wall with a soft twanging sound.
Seifer left Zell in the dirt of the training centre, panting and staring after him with undisguised hatred.
* * * * * * *
Rinoa watched Squall across the room, twisting a strand of hair around her index finger. He was standing in the doorway of the pub, looking out into the square, hair falling messily into his eyes as usual.
"Talk to him, Rin." Selphie's voice interrupted her thoughts. "It's not good for him to brood."
She smiled at her friend. "I'm not sure what he needs," she said sadly.
Selphie looked at their brooding Commander, leaning against the doorframe, his face creased into a frown. "At this moment, I'd say he needs some sleep," she said. "And you."
Rinoa gave her a rueful grin and a quick look that said 'wish me luck', and slowly walked over to the door.
"Squall?"
He didn't turn and smile at her. He mumbled something that might have been a greeting, and continued to gaze across the square, as if he'd barely noticed she was there.
"Squall, honey…"
"What? Oh. Sorry, I was…"
"Miles away? Yeah, I could see that," she said gently. "Are you okay?"
He looked at her, the tiniest of smiles curving his lips and warming his eyes. "I was just thinking it through, what happened… I'm so sorry I ran away. I had no right to run away."
She had to think for a minute before she realised what he meant.
"It's okay," she said. "I pretty much fell apart myself."
"I abandoned you. I let you get hurt. That was unforgivable."
"No," she said. "It's a big deal, knowing you've been manipulated like that. However much we wanted to… you did want to, didn't you?"
His eyes flickered down to the ground at his feet. "I…" He sighed, as if deliberately forcing the words out. "Yes. I did."
"And it wasn't just Ether, was it?"
He shook his head.
"It was the same for me," she said. "It was as if I could have anything I wanted, there was no guilt, no considering anyone else except the three of us. I was thinking… that must be what it's like, to be a Guardian."
He gave her a curious look from under his long lashes.
"No morality," she elucidated. "Just to have needs, desires, and nothing to hold you back."
"Hn."
"You wouldn't run away now. We're not the same people we were then."
"I should have cared for you better. I'm your Knight," he said, stubbornly.
Rinoa laughed softly. "I don't think it falls under the duties of a Knight, exactly," she said. "And you had yourself to worry about, it was a shock for you too. You didn't know Selphie was going to beat the crap out of me. Besides, I should fight my own battles."
"You couldn't. Not back then. But after… even when I did know… I couldn't cope. I know it looked like I didn't… It wasn't that I didn't care," he was speaking slowly, and she could sense how hard it was for him, even now, to talk about it. "I cared too much, and I didn't know what to do … I couldn't… I didn't know how to..."
Rinoa reached out one hand to squeeze his arm, tears suddenly springing to her eyes. "Squall, it's okay. Look at me."
He looked up slowly, a flicker of alarm crossing his face as he saw her tears.
"We were different people then. We did what we could. Even if all that hadn't happened, I don't think we really would have stayed together, would we? It couldn't have been like it is now. It's turned out for the best, don't you think?"
He pulled her to him and held her tight, his eyes closed as he let himself drown for a moment in the scent of her hair.
"I'd forgotten," he whispered. "I'd forgotten what it was like, to be really, truly alone. I never thought I could, but I did… and I don't want… I couldn't…"
"Shh, baby," she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, remembering the first time he'd held her like this, after he'd rescued her from the seal at Esthar. Yet another rescue. "I understand," she said. "You're not the only one. I'd forgotten how helpless I was. We're not those people any more, Squall. I'm strong, and I can kill my own monsters, and you have people all around you who love you. You'll never be alone again. I promise."
Wordless, he held her close and let her soothe him.
* * * * * * *
Irvine found Frila a little way down the road through the flower fields. She sat on the grass verge by a huge meadow, a drawing pad balanced on her knees. She smiled at him as he approached.
"Hey, Hotshot. What you drawing?"
She showed him her pad as he sat down beside her.
"Chocobo?" he grinned at her.
"It was cute," she said, adding a few more strokes to her drawing. "And the flowers behind are so pretty."
"You're good," said Irvine.
She shrugged. "You okay?"
Irvine let out a long sigh. "I've been better," he admitted.
"Oh. What happened? I mean, you don't have to tell me, but…"
"It's alright. You should know. It's complicated, though, and there's something else I needed to tell you first."
She looked up at him, her eyes a little wary.
"Is this where you tell me we mustn't keep sleeping together?"
He reached out and brushed a stray curl back from her face.
"No," he said, softly. "Not that."
"I'd understand. You've always been straight with me, and I know if it wasn't for Ether…"
"Will you shut up for a minute and listen?"
"Sorry," she said. "My mouth runs away with me sometimes."
"It certainly does," he drawled, "but I'm not complaining."
It took her a second to realise what he meant, and to his delight a faint blush rose up her cheeks.
"Shut up," she said, coyly.
He chuckled to himself, and adjusted his hat.
"What was it, then, that you need to tell me?" she asked, once she'd recovered herself a little.
"Well… I want to be honest with you. You know how I feel about Selphie?"
"Yes. Of course. It's right there all over your face whenever you look at her."
There was no jealousy in her voice, just a tinge of sadness.
"She doesn't want me. I don't know if she's going to get back with Xu, but whatever happens, she and I won't be getting together any time soon."
"I'm sorry," she said, sincerely. "That sucks."
"Yeah," he said, with a rueful smile. "I wanted you to know, because I don't think I've been fair to you."
"Oh, you have," she said, quickly. "I know it's all for Ether. You've made that perfectly clear."
"It's not all for Ether."
"What?" she looked at him in confusion.
"It's not just Ether. I like you, Hotshot. If you were older, and not a cadet, I'd just ask you out on a date, but… I can't go on pretending I don't care. I do."
A broad grin appeared on her face as she slowly took in what he was trying to tell her. "That's… wow. I thought after Rinoa caught us last night you'd dump me, I didn't even expect you to come back, and now…"
"I just wanted you to know." Irvine cupped her jaw in his hand, smoothing the soft skin over her cheekbone with his thumb. "I'm being honest here. I'm still in love with Selphie. I think I always will be. But I'm crap at being alone, and you make it better. I can't promise much, but I can promise to treat you better than I have. Okay?"
"Yes," she said, catching his hand and kissing his palm. "Won't Rinoa tell Squall?"
"I told Squall. He's alright about it, for now, at least. And Selphie worked it out, too. But no-one else must know, okay?"
"Okay." She couldn't stop smiling. She kept telling herself this didn't mean that much, just that he cared for her, and he needed her, but it was enough. She felt suddenly, outrageously happy.
Irvine reached behind her head and released her hair to fall in a cascade over her shoulders, lit fire-red by the sun, low in the sky behind her. "Thank you," he said, amazed at how much he wanted her, all of a sudden.
She ran her tongue swiftly over her lips.
"Does Ether… I mean, is it…"
Irvine slowly shook his head. "Not junctioned," he said. "And running at full power, thanks to you."
"Oh. Good." She looked vaguely disappointed.
"On the other hand," he combed his fingers through her hair, pulling her closer to him. "I'm feeling distinctly needy."
"Wha… oh!" Her eyes went wide as she realised what he meant.
He kissed her softly, teasing her tongue with his, feeling her body relax immediately against him.
She hadn't expected this to happen. When this started, just a couple of weeks ago at the graduation party, this wasn't what she wanted.
She'd seen him the first day she came to Garden, and wanted him straight away; he'd been with Rinoa in the Quad, playing ball with Rinoa's dog, laughing in the Autumn sunshine. His hair had come half loose and fell over his face; he was wearing scruffy jeans, ripped at the knee and across one thigh, and he was beautiful.
She'd always thought it was desperately uncool to be a groupie, so she'd resisted the urge to join the gaggle of cadets who followed him around, happy just for a smile or a glimpse of him as he did whatever it was he did around Garden. It took her a while to work out exactly who he was. It didn't make much difference one way or the other, to her, really. She wasn't interested in him as a hero, it was the warmth of his smile that attracted her to him, the kindness and sensitivity that he showed towards people, and, of course, that he was so fucking hot.
She hadn't been obsessive, it wasn't in her nature. She'd had boyfriends, one or two nice ones, although they tended to fade away when she wouldn't let them get close. She didn't seek him out. But she was aware of his presence, if he happened to be in the same room, or to pass her in the corridor. More often, he appeared in her fantasies, always horny and considerate and just a little dangerous.
When she decided to leave Garden, she had nothing to lose. She'd learned a fair bit about him by then, including his reputation as a womaniser, but she still hadn't really expected him to say yes. Still it was worth a try. At least then she wouldn't have completely wasted the last two years. She honestly hadn't expected more than a kiss, or maybe just one night. The plan was she'd be gone the next day, with fond memories and her heart intact.
She'd surprised herself at how badly it got to her, when he rejected her afterwards, even though she'd expected it.
Then Oceanus… and everything changed.
She hadn't meant to let him in. She didn't think she'd ever let anyone in, after Sen.
She didn't want to let him in. But it was too late.
His slowly pulled back, his tongue lingering over her lips.
He was real, and strong, and she loved him.
"I have some other stuff to tell you," he whispered, his lips tickling her ear.
"Really?" She dropped her pad and pencil onto the grass beside her, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Mmm… or we could just lay back here and fuck 'til the sun goes down."
"Oh gods," she whimpered.
He licked her neck from shoulder to ear, then blew gently across her wet skin, watching goosebumps magically appear in the wake of his breath.
"Would you like that, Hotshot?" he murmured, kissing along the line of her jaw, one hand toying with the hem of her T-shirt.
"Oh gods, fuck, yes, but…"
"Hmmm…?" he moved his kisses to her throat, his hand to her thigh.
"Squall… said we had to be back at the Inn around now…"
Irvine groaned, but he had a grin on his face. "I guess we'll have to wait til we get back to Garden, then," he whined, "if you're going to get all responsible on me."
"I think I am," she said. "It sounds like we both owe Squall a favour for not kicking us out, eh?"
"Alright then," Irvine had somehow managed to slide his hand inside her T-shirt anyway, and was teasing her quivering belly. "But as soon as we're off duty, you're mine, okay?"
"All yours," she promised.
He dragged himself away from the temptation of her body and stood up, holding out a hand to help her to her feet.
"Let's get back to the inn then," he said. "I can tell you the other stuff on the way."
She stuffed her pad and pencils into her bag and pulled it over her shoulder. "I'm all ears," she said. "Is this about Bane? Only Oceanus is getting mighty fretful to go deal him a fatal blow."
"Well, no, it's more about Ether and… is it really that insistent? Oceanus?" They started to walk down the path back to the town.
She nodded. "Whatever Bane did sure pissed it off. We're talking major revenge kick here."
"You must tell Squall," said Irvine, worriedly. "Is it okay? It's not suggesting you go find Bane on your own or anything?"
She smiled at him, touched by his concern. "No, nothing like that. It just tells me stuff when we have our little chats."
"Chats?"
"Well, you know, we talk about stuff. It's known a lot of cadets, it's really good with the advice, and it's kind of… comforting, to have it around."
"Hm. What about Shiva?"
"Sometimes she joins in. It can be a regular chat room in here," she tapped the side of her head.
"Well, I still think you should tell Squall."
"I already have, silly. He asked me to report everything Oceanus says or does, all through the mission. And I'm a good girl, you know. I do my paperwork."
"Oh." He felt unreasonably put out that she'd told Squall all this, but not mentioned it to him. Then again, he realised, with some regret, he'd not asked her about her Guardian, or the mission, or anything much since that bar in Esthar. Except sex.
He felt for her hand, and twined his fingers through hers. She gave his hand a little squeeze, and looked up at him with a warm smile.
"So, you going to give me this briefing, or what?" she asked.
It was infectious, that smile. It took away the ache that had been with him ever since Selphie turned him down. Just a little.
He smiled back.
"Yeah. Well… it started about two years ago, on the day I drew Ether on the Island Closest to Hell…"
* * * * * * *
He didn't let go of her hand when they arrived at the Inn. Ellone had produced an enormous meal for them, and home cooked food was such a pleasure, after their usual diet of functional cafeteria fare, that even Squall seemed to stop fretting for a while.
Not for long, though. He helped Ellone with the dishes while the rest of them got ready to leave, and Irvine could hear her calm voice soothing his impatient one over the clatter of crockery.
They said their goodbyes, and set off for Garden just as darkness was setting in.
The Ragnarok was flying over the bay just north of Fisherman's Horizon when Squall noticed something.
"What's that?" He pointed out of the window into the darkness.
"Looks like the depths of night to me," said Irvine.
"No, he's right!" Rinoa joined Squall, peering over his shoulder. "What the fuck…"
"It looks like a huge pink blancmange fell out of the sky and landed on the beach," offered Frila, eloquently.
Irvine laughed.
"It's the Dia," said Selphie. "It's the fucking Dia."
"They're swarming out of a cave, or something… they don't' seem to be moving very fast…"
"Quick, blow them up," said Selphie. "The Ragnarok's armed, right?" She was already moving towards the weapons controls.
"No!" said Squall, sharply. "Not yet. It's… they're not heading for Timber and they're not going in the water. It looks as if they're staying put, so no-one's in danger, and I'd rather they didn't know we were here. I want to save the weapons until we get to Balamb, if they're coming out here they're bound to be doing the same there."
"Okay," said Selphie, regretfully. "But then can I blow them up?"
"We'll see," said Squall, with a grin.
Selphie bounced happily in her seat, and started running a weapons inventory on the computer.
Much to Squall and Selphie's irritation, there was no sign of the Dia at Balamb beach at all.
"Damn," said Squall. "We could have…"
"We don't really know how badly we can hurt them from up here," said Rinoa. "The one I killed was pretty tough. It needed magic, and the Rag only has ordinary weapons."
"I know," said Squall. "I just…"
"You want to kill something," said Irvine. "I can relate to that."
"It's just so fucking frustrating," said Squall. "To have an enemy that pops up when it feels like it, and we don't know where they're coming from, or where they get their power from…"
"The crystals?" suggested Frila, quietly. "That would make sense. With the colour, and the caves and all…"
"Yes," said Squall, "but we still don't understand how…"
"Take it easy, man." Irvine squeezed his shoulder. "We're nearly home. Maybe Xu can give us the answers."
"I hope so," said Squall, looking out into the blackness towards home. "Or I might just have to go back and blow the fuckers up for the fun of it."
"Woohoo," murmured Selphie, under her breath.
* * * * * * *
Laguna snapped his phone shut with a grin. "They're home," he told Quistis. "Shall we go and do the hugging thing or do you want to be aloof and efficient?"
"Hmm?" Quistis looked up from the map she was studying on the huge table in the middle of the ops room. She'd been somewhat distracted all day, and Laguna was starting to worry that she was backsliding into her depression.
"Squall and the others, the Ragnarok's landed. I'm going to meet them, you coming?"
To his relief a big smile appeared on her face. "Oh yes," she said. "Lead the way."
They were on their way out of the door when they bumped into Xian and Seifer.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Quis, but I need a decision about Cadet Almasy here. He claims he's exempt from several of the tests on the grounds of experience in the field, but the only witnesses who could verify are yourself and Commander Leonhart, because it was when…"
Quistis stared at Seifer in disbelief. "When you were trying to kill us?" she gasped. "You want us to count the work you did for Ultimecia as fucking field duty?!"
"We're mercenaries," said Seifer, the vaguest twinkle in his eye showing her he was enjoying this. "There's nothing in the rules says you have to be working for an approved client. Just so long as two senior SeeD officers are present to give a testimonial as to the skills used."
"I don't have time for this," said Quistis. "I really don't have time for this. I'm sorry, Xian, I'll see you about it in the morning. Come on Laguna. Let's go form a welcoming committee."
With that she stalked out of the room and down to the main entrance, Laguna at her side, not noticing Seifer following in their wake.
* * * * * * *
Selphie shivered a little as they walked up the drive.
"You okay?" said Irvine. "If you're cold I could…"
"No, I'm fine," she beamed at him. "Just good to be home, you know?"
He slipped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a brief hug.
"Who's that?" asked Frila.
The five of them stopped in their tracks.
"Seifer," said Irvine.
"Oh," said Frila. "So that's Seifer."
Rinoa touched Squall gently on the shoulder. "Squall," she said, softly, "are you okay?"
Squall was staring at Seifer with steel-grey eyes, his heart racing. He barely noticed Quistis or Laguna, or Zell flick-flacking his way across the gravel towards them. He took in Seifer's arrogant swagger, the cocky expression in his eyes.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he growled.
"Well," Seifer strode towards him, a smirk on his face and a glint of age-old rivalry in his eye. "Seems you need a little bit of help, Squally boy. Matron sent me to save the day. Or to save your sorry ass, at any rate."
Squall's temper exploded with a roar, and he whipped Lionheart around in an arc that drenched them both in blue light. He knocked Seifer to the ground with the flat of his blade in one stroke.
"I don't care who sent you," he hissed. "You get the fuck out of Garden, and off this continent, and make damn sure I never see you again, or," he hauled Seifer up by the collar of his duster, "next time I'll hit you with the pointy side."
Seifer glared at him, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
Squall dropped him roughly back to the ground and turned to Quistis. "Go fetch Xu," he said. "My office, ten minutes."
She nodded, staring at Seifer laying on the ground, her heart soaring.
"Squall?" she said.
"Yes?" He was already half way to the door.
Quistis gave him a huge smile. "Welcome home," she said.
* * * * * * *